deuell whiche shulde accomplyshe for vs the worke of saluacyon thorowe his death whose fleshe and bloude shulde call for mercy for vs vnto y e father Who shuld not now knowlege his glorious state where vnto the LORDE hath called vse Who can now fele and perceaue this loue and not reioyce inwardly For he hath geuē euery one power to be the chyldrē of God that beleue in his name Who can come to hygher estate thē to be electe chyldren of hym that onely hath power to exalte his frendes When CHRIST had called his beloued disciples to his loue thē cōforted he them alwaye in theyr passions saynge I am amonge you as a mynister As for you ye at they that haue bydden with me in my temptacyons And I wyl apppoynt y e kyng dome vnto you euen as my father hath appoynted me that ye may eat and drynke at my table in my kyng doine and syt vpon seates iudge the twelfe trybes of Israell No māhath greater loue thē to set his lyfe for his frend Ye are my frēdes yfye do y e I cōmaūde you I call you not seruauntes for a seruaunt knoweth not what his lord doth But I haue sayd that ye are frendes For al that I haue herde of my father haue I shewed vnto you Ye haue not chose me but I haue chosen you and ordyned y t ye go brynge forth frute that youre frute continue y t whatso euer ye aske y e father in my name he shulde geue it you Unto you it is geuen to knowe y e mistery of y e kingdom of heauē but vnto thē it is not geuen With these aforesayd sayenges are we greatly cōforted in y t we se how much the LORD wyl do vnto them y e he loueth Now cōmune maketh he hym selfe with all his kingdome wyllynge vs all to haue his loue and y e we all shulde knowlege all our saluaciō to come of his loue the which he declareth so plenteously vnto vs. Therfore sayeth Paul The LORDE hath chosen vs by hym that is CHRIST or euer the foundacyon of the worlde was layed that we shuld be holy and without blame before him in loue and ordeyned vs before to receaue vs as ehyldrē thorow IESVS CHRIST accordyng to y e pleasure of his wyll vnto the prayse of the glory of his grace wherby he hath made vs accepted in the beloued in whom we haue redempcyon thorow his bloude namely the forgeuenesse of synnes accordynge to y e ryches of his grace which he hath shedde vpon vs abundauntly in all wysedome and prudence The fatherly hart was so moued with loue to vs warde that all his thoughtes were employed how he myght shew mercy vnto his poore shepe Thoughe y e ryghteousnesse of God myght tustly haue condemned vs for Adā and we haue both transgressed hys commaundement in one fleshe And though the LORD myght haue kept vs styl in deaths daunger yet hath his loue and pytie so moued hym y t he dyd ioyne his mercy with iustice and peace with trueth so that these beynge assēbled dyd call vpon loue desyrynge that God wolde declare his loue This dyd Dauid knowlege in sprete and sayd I wyll herkē what the LORDE God wyll saye for he shall speake peace vnto his people to his sayntes that they turne not them selues vnto foolyshnesse For his saluacyon is nye them that feare hym so that glorye shall dwel in our lande Mercy and trueth are met together righteousnesse peace kysse eche other Trueth shall ryse out of the earth and ryghteousnesse shall loke downe from heauen And why the LORDE shall shewe louyng kyndnesse and our lande shall geue hir encrease Righteousnesse shal go before hym and prepare the waye for his cōmynge And agayne The LORDE is gracyous and mercyfull longe sufferynge and of great goodnesse The LORDE is louynge vnto euery man and his mercy is ouer al his workes Turne agayne then to thy rest o my soule for the LORDE hath geuē the thy desyre And why Thou hast deliuered my soule from death myn eyes frō tears my fete frō fallynge Hereby is it euident y t yf we desyre ony inwarde goodnesse wheron our synful soule myght test thē shall we loke stedfastly vpō this loue alwaye cōsider what CHRIST hath geuē vs thorow his loue whā we haue y e knowlege of his loue in vs then haue we fyrst a cause to reioyce For only in his loue may we knowlege our saluacyon Therfore sayth Paul We haue not receaued y ◠sprete of bōdage to fear ony more but we haue receaued y ◠sprete of adopcyō wherby we crye Abba dear father The same spret certifieth our sprete y t we are y ◠chyldren of God Peter also cōfirmeth this sayenge For so muche as his Godly power hath geuē vs al thynges y t pertaine vnto lyfe Godlynes thorowe the knwlege of hym y t hath called vs by his owne glory power wherby the excellēt moost great promyses are geuē vnto vs namely y t ye by y e same shuld be partakers of y e godly nature yf ye flye y e corrupte lust of the worlde He now that doth reioyce in this loue and can perceaue what is geuen hym by the same he I saye coulde lightely withdrawe hymselfe from all that is no trewe loue and suffre not hym selfe to be deceaued with false loue For God hath made vs so lyke vnto his godly nature thorowe loue he hath yelded hymselfe so louyngly vnto y e nature of mā he hath drawē it so frendly to him ward making of it a chosē tēple clensed by his bloude that his sprete myght rest in it w t al his goodnesse and that man myght vse God as a frende Now whan we perceaue y e loue of God onely to be perfect holy and good wherby redempcyon and saluacyon is geuen vs then of dewtye ought such loue only to be our ioye glory and comforte For God which is ryche in mercy thorow his great loue wherwith he loued vs euen whan we were dead in synnes hath quyckned vs with CHRIST And for cause of this nother lawe nor synne lyue in vs but CHRIST which hath powred hym selfe in vs thorow his worde so that God is in vs and we in God The lawe doth not now cōpell vs ony more but it is God that hath so moued oure hartes thorowe his loue that we by the helpe and assistaunce of his sprete shall do all y t is acceptable vnto hym This inwarde mocyon of our harte cōmeth by fayth For whan we know verely that God loueth vs then doth i◠worke in vs causyng vs to fixe our mynde on nothynge saue howe we maye reioyce in hym that doth loue vs. It is sure a greate grace geuen vs of God y t we knowlege his loue towarde vs felynge in oure entrayles by fayth peace glorye reste and ioye wherby only we perceaue that thorowe hys loue
haue a good opinion of God namely y t god of his bouÌ„teous goodnes hath geueÌ„ hi rest hartes ease so y e he must reioyce eueÌ„ froÌ„ his whole hart How caÌ„ he be sory yf whan he loketh vpon God he is fully persuaded y t God loueth hym And this is the tâ—ken wherby he knoweth it y t is whaÌ„ he feleth his harte to be drawen in loue towarde God For he is sure of a great and in estimable treasur that he can rest in the loue of God beleuynge God to be a mercyfull father vnto hym by reason of his tender loue And sure he is that God shal geue hym so pleteous goodnesse as he hath promysed hym by his louynge worde Yf God fynde loue in man seynge he hymselfe is loue then fyndeth he godlynesse in hym wherfore he loueth hymselfe in man and as loÌ„ge as a man continueth in this loue so longe can not God hate hym nor seperate hymselfe from maÌ„ For God is knytte and ioyned with man by hymselfe and can not forsake hymselfe so longe as he perceaueth hymselfe in man Now seynge maÌ„ is become godly thorowe loue yf God the father wolde of his ryghteousnesse coÌ„dene hym then must the godlynesse be coÌ„dempned also Wherfore because God is the glorye therfore of necessite must thys damned man lyue w t God in glorye thorowe his loue By loue haue we felowshippe with god and all that is in hym lykewyse also hath he felowship with vs hydynge our synnes with hym selfe not sufferynge that suche a vessell wherin he resteth hym selfe thorow loue be brought to confusyon By loue vse we God to our pleasure with all his gyftes and al that is in God for loue wylleth none otherwyse then God wyll Man hath it not of him selfe yf he do ony good accordynge to the wyll of God but seynge he hath the loue of God the same is constrayned by the sprete of God to do nothyng saue it that pleaseth God whom he endeuoureth euer to please thorow loue And as God alwaye delyteth in hym selfe in all that he doeth euen so wyll he also haue a pleasure in all that whiche is done in maÌ„ thorow loue God of his loue hath made all thynges good wherfore all muste be good y t man doth of loue Loue is pure and cleane and can seke none other rest or peace saue onely in hym whiche hymselfe is rest peace which hath fylled his harte with ioye so louyngly Loue is satisfied with God only sekynge nothynge but God For he hath soughte God onely thorowe loue that he myghte enioye hym in trueth No man can vse due loue in God without he be sure fyrst by fayth inwardly how wel God doth loue vs reioycyng in the same loue and put tynge all his saluacyoÌ„ therin Thus doynge he shall passe by all creatures estymynge them as donge couÌ„tynge CHRIST onely his ioye glorye hartes desyre He now that vttereth y e loue for true loue caÌ„not be ydle he vttereth it y t which God the louer of loue wyl haue y e louyng maÌ„ to do Paul sayth Owe nothing to ony man but to loue one another for he y e loueth another hath fulfylled the lawe And agayn The chefe suÌ„me of y e coÌ„maundementes is loue of a pure harte and of a good conscience of fayth vnfayned That is Yf we desyre ony goodnesse inwardly we shall praye humbly that we maye haue loue for onely loue is a wytnesse that we haue fayth in CHRIST Loue is a power wherby all oure workes are acceptable vnto God and sufficiently tryed Wherfore sayeth Paul In CHRISTIESV nother is circumcision ony thynge worth nor vncircumcysion but fayth whiche by loue is myghty in operacyon And y t we shuld knowe y e better y e power of loue so yeld oure selues to y e same therfore doth Paul shewe ful featly what worthy dede of loue CHRIST hath wrought in vs y t we shulde the better knowlege our saluacyon to be optayned by loue and so folowynge and conterfaytynge CHRISTES loue sayenge Therfore doth God set forth his loue towarde vs in that CHRIST dyed for vs whaÌ„ we were yet synners muche more then shall we be saued from wrath by hym seynge we are nowe made ryghteous thorow his bloude Yf we now desyre to folow CHRIST to fulfyl his lawe coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tes gospell theÌ„ is ther no nearer way theÌ„ to folow him in loue Paul doth exhorte vs to y e same very hartely sayenge Be ye folowers therfore of God as deare chyldren walke in loue eueÌ„ as CHRIST loued vs gaue hymselfe for vs an offerynge and sacrifice of swete sauour vnto God The cause now why man is so colde in loue toward God so sore deuyded froÌ„ the same so that he hath nother pleasure nor sauour in God is because he hath not fully yelded his harte to God to be taught of hym y e so he myght knowe how well God doth loue hym Of this maketh god none preuy saue onely suche as seke hym with all theyr harte and be alwaye hongerynge to knowe God in his goodnesse The vnfayth fulnesse lytle perceueraunce that men haue of God doth cause theÌ„ to abyde in synfulnes and to hange vpoÌ„ creatures They can not rest duely vpoÌ„ God nor his benefites by reason of theyr small vnderstandynge in godly matters for y e benefytes of God do not synke in theyr entrayles Yf man could entre euen to the grounde of the benefites of God and beholde the wonderfull glorious workes of God then shulde he no doute geue senteÌ„ce verdite that vnto such a god and suche a LORDE onely is due all prayse honour and glory Therfore oughte man to yelde al his wytte wyl and wysedome to Gods maiesty estemyng in hymself nothynge saue synne and foly with out God dyd steare oure hartes inwardlye with his loue so that we shulde perceaue nor desyre noughte with all our harte and mynde saue onely CHRIST our louer With out this wysedome is it al folyshnes that is in man For without God ther is nothyng to seke nor to fynde wherin man maye reioyce by ony meane It is God onely that can satisfye mans harte and brynge hym to loue Paul was ioyfull in God a ryghte what tyme he was come to this knowlege sayenge For I shewed not forth my selfe amonge you that I knewe ony thinge saue only IESVS CHRIST euen y e same y t was crucyfyed Oh let vs humbly beseke the LORDE that we maye knowe hym by his loue and reioyce ouer all the good y e he hath wetesafe so louynglye to declare vnto vs by his worde For as we knowe God by his worde in his loue so shal our harte agayne be kyndled in loue towarde God and shall not passe this bande For fayth consysteth in this namely that we can beleue all mercy saluacyon and health to come frely by only loue and y t we agayne vtter the same fayth
oure thoughtes wytte wyl shall be enployed howe we maye agayne tendre y e LORD al seruice loue thankfulnesse after that we know what vnoutspeakeable loue mercy is shewed vs by him It were vndoutedlye a greate losse yf god shuld loue vs for naught yf his loue shuld not worke in vs nor bryng forth the frutes of y ◠same or yf it shulde haue wrought no saluaciō in vs whereto god hath alwaye geuen it For than shuld god be ydle in vs w t his loue w t his holy word w t his goodnesse yee w t al his precious giftes Thā I say shulde not god haue ony glorye nor praise in vs for al y e benefites which we do possesse by his boūteous goodnesse By y e frutes may it be euident what a great act god hath wrought in a faithfull harte Therfore sayde CHRIST I am come to kindle a fyre vpō earth what wold I rather thā that it were kyndled alreadye Is not my worde fyre sayeth the LORDE and lyke an hammer that breaketh the harde stone It is sure a cōsumynge fyre bryngyng to naughte the iustes of y e fleshe and kyndlynge man to charitable dedes Thus muste it be workynge and maye not come agayn voyde as sayeth Esay As for the frutes of the spirite y t be wroughte by fayth in loue those maye we fele in oure selues Fyrste Yf we do reste vpon CHRISTE IESV onely reioycynge in hym onely trustyng to hys goodnesse onely the which he hath promised by his word Secondarly may we know thē by y e mortifycacion of the fleshe wyth hys desyres namely Yf we haue conquered oure selues by the loue of God and lyue nowe in all mekenesse and clenlynesse of harte Thyrdlye yf we be kyndled by the aforesayde loue w t mercye and kyndnesse to warde oure nedy neghbour To the which Pau doth exhorte vs sayenge Now therfore as the electe of God holye and beloued put on tender mercye kyndnesse humblenesse of mynde mekenesse longe sufferynge forbearinge one another and forgeuynge oue another yf ony man haue a quarell agaynst another Lyke as CHRIST hath forgeuē you euen so do ye also But aboue all thynges put on loue whiche is the bonde of perfectnesse And the peace of God rule in youre hartes to the whiche ye are called in one body se y t ye be thākful Loue couereth the multitude of synnes Hereby haue we perceaued loue y t he gaue hys lyfe for vs and therefore oughte we also to geue oure lyues for the brethren But he that hath thys worldes goode and seyng hys brother haue nede shutteth vp hys harte from hym howe dwelleth the loue of God in hym My lytle chylderen let vs not loue with worde nother wyth tunge but wyth the dede and with the treuthe And agayne Dearlye beloued let vs loue one another for loue cōmeth of God and euery one that loueth is born of god and knoweth God He that loueth not knoweth not God for God is loue We knowe that we are translated from death vnto lyfe because we loue the brethren He that loueth not hys brother abydeth in deathe Whosoeuer hateth hys brother is a manslayer And ye know that a man slayer hath not eternall life abyding in hym Iames sayeth that ther shal be iudgemente mercylesse to hym that sheweth no mercye CHRISTE in the daye of iudgemente shall verye rouglye requyre of vs y ◠dedes of charite Wherfore lyke a true watch man he doth admonyshe vs of hys loue that he myghte draw vs to the same sayenge Be ye therfore mercyfull as youre father also is mercyfull And agayne A newe commaundemente geue I you that ye loue together as I haue loued you euen so loue ye one another By thys shall euerye man knowe that ye are my dyscyples yf ye haue loue one to another By all these afore sayed places of scrypture doth the LORDE admonyshe vs howe we oughte so be lyke hym in loue For fayth doth declare herselfe openly by loue As God is the loue hymselfe euen so is man lyke vnto God yf he be louynge And as God of hys loue hath redymed vs wythout oure helpynge handes euen so must we vtter the same loue to our neghboures behofe He therfore that hath no loue to warde his neghbour how cā he haue ony goodnesse in him wherby he might be acceptable vnto god or wherin he may be equal w t god by loue He y t fulfylleth not it y t god hath commaunded howe shall he optayne it of god that which god hath promised It is loue y e causeth mā al y t he doth to to be acceptable vnto God Therfore speaketh Iames so muche of workes Fayth muste declare it selfe by dedes of charite not that the workes are an occasyon of oure ryghteousnesse for than shulde God be depryued of hys glorye the which maketh vs ryghteous in the fayth thorowe CHRISTE leste we shulde boaste oure selues but rather make oure boaste of CHRISTE IESV which maketh y e synner ryghteous by faith workinge loue in man Of thys treateth Paull very muche Whan workes come from a beleuynge harte than are they acceptable vnto God thorowe fayth the whiche a mā doth vtter by the workes of loue God loked fyrst vpon Abel and than vpon hys gyftes For thys cause sayeth Iames What auayleth it my brethren thoughe a man saye he hathe fayth whan he hath no dedes For sayth yf it haue no dedes is dead in it self Abraham is made ryghteous thorowe workes that is the workes were coūted ryghteous by faith and gaue testymonye that he hadde fayth what tyme he wolde haue offered hys sonne Isaac Therfore sayth scrypture Abraham beleued God and it was counted hym for ryghteousnesse For thys cause shall man searche and examine hymselfe whether he hath declared hys faythe by dedes of charite or not lest he deceaue hymselfe thynkyng to haue faith and loue whan he can talke and vtter many wordes of the same Who so therfore fyndeth himselfe without loue beynge yet fleshlye mynded grauntynge the fleshe hys requeste he I saye is not yet come to y e true faith Yf we now be come to the true loue than are we caried by death vnto lyfe and can reioyce duely in hym that loueth vs. For this cause sayde Paule We praye alwayes for you that oure God make you worthy of the callynge and fulfyll all delectacyon of goodnesse and the worke of fayth in power that the name of our LORDE IESVS CHRISTE maye be praysed in you and ye in hym accordynge to the grace of oure God of the LORDE IESVS CHRISTE I beseke the LORDE entierlye which is onely the geuer of al goodnesse that he wyll so lyghten and steare our hartes inwardly that we maye reioyce a ryghte in hys loue rendre hym agayn thākes prayse with a feruēt loue though oure synfull soules be not worthye of suche loue But
owne to the praise of his glorye And agayn Because we knowe brethren beloued of God howe that ye are electe For oure Gospell hath not ben with you in worde only but both in power and in the holy goost and muche certainte In all these foresaide reasons are we exhorted to receaue the godly worde with greate luste and loue prayenge the LORDE humbly to geue vs grace that we maye take it to harte and receaue it as a gladde tydinge that is shewed and promysed vs by the worde Paule what tyme he preached the worde of God he thanked hym and sayde for thys cause we thanke God wythout ceassynge because that whan ye receaued of vs the worde of the preachynge of God ye receaued it not as the preachynge of men but euen as it is of a treuth the worde of God whiche worketh in you that belefe It is not sufficiente that we can bable muche of the worde and haue many treatyses and bokes thereof but we muste also be chaunged and renewed in the spirite through faith of the worde in oure lyuyng so that we can reioyce in spirite beyng sure that the worde of God hath ended a greate glorious worke in vs. By faythe of the worde muste we be renewed in sprete and in conuersacyon so y e we can reioyce in sprete beynge assured that the worde of God hathe fullended a glorious worke in vs. By fayth in the worde muste we be certyfyed that muche is geuen vs of the LORDE By fayth muste we trye oure lyues Thys worde worketh myghtelye whan it is receaued in faythe for CHRISTE reconcyled vs by the father whan we were yet enemyes vnto hym We are approched and come neare vnto God by the faythe in the worde where as afore we were straungers so that we be euen electe and chosen chylderen CHRISTE sayeth Nowe are yecleane because of the worde that I haue spoken vnto you Abyde ye in me and I in you Alas we be all dettours our synnes will depreasse vs oure conscyence is of tymes greued whan she douteth whether to turne herselfe We fynde nought in oure selfe whereof we myghte haue ayde or comforte But yf we coulde beholde CHRISTE only in oure trouble and pondre by oure selfe the profyte of hys passyon and remembre the mercye promysed vnto vs by Gods goodnesse Howe earnestlye shulde we than ryse from oure synnefull lyfe sayenge wyth a lustye corage Wherfore shulde I mystruste he dyed for me whiche shall iudge me and he hath also were safe to call me I wyll ryse and seke my LORDE my God He may dāne but I am sure he wyll saue The LORDE is oure iudge the LORDE is oure lawe geuer the LORDE is oure kynge he shall come hymselfe and saue vs. yf God be wyth vs who can be agaynste vs whyche dyd not spare hys owne sonne but hym hath he geuen for vs all howe shall not he geue vs all thynges with hym also Who wyll laye ony thynge to the charge of Gods chosen It is God that maketh ryghteous who wyll than condempne It is CHRISTE that dyed ye rather which is raysed vp agayne whiche is also on the ryghthande of God and maketh in tercession for vs. We haue CHRIST for aspecheman for a mediator and an apeacer of Gods wrath whose bloude calleth for mercye for vs. By CHRISTE haue we a sure and fre entraunce to the father Whan the synner seyeth all this in the scrypture and can stonde sted faste vpon these wytnesses than maye he perceaue ryghte well that they be wrytten to oure comforte that the synner myghte hope to optayne mercy by the father Yf he submytte hymselfe vnto God the LORDE shall accomplyshe hys promyse in hym and steare the synner to repentaunce All this commeth by the worde which the synner heareth and taketh to harte for so myghtely worketh it in a man Therfore doth Paul call the worde or gospell y ◠power of God saynge I am not ashamed of the Gospell of CHRIST for it is the power of God whiche saueth al that beleue theron the Iewe fyrst and also the Greke For in it y ◠ryghteousnesse y t is of value before God is opened which cōmeth out of faith into fayth as it is written The iust shal lyue by his fayth Agayn sayth Paul The worde of the crosse is folyshnesse to them that peryshe but vnto vs that are saued it is the power of God In these aforesaid scriptures is it euident that God doth wyll worke a myghtye and blessed worke namely that he wyll turne conuerte a synner through his wordes Let vs therfore cal earnestly vpon hym desyryng hym to poure out his worde feruētly vpon vs and to worke therwith mightely in our hartes Peter preachyng the worde dyd conuerte thre thousande men at one tyme. Scripture sayeth that what y t tyme the chyldrē of Israell fought agaynst the Morians in theyr anguyshe they called vpō God and he herde them because they beleued on hym And agayne ther is wrytten The eyen of the LORDE beholde the whole earth and geue strength vnto them that trust in hym with a perfecte harte And agayne ther is wrytten And Iuda was greatly conforted for they trusted in the God of theyr fathers And of Asa sayeth the scripture that he called vpon y e LORDE his God and sayd LORDE it is no difference with the to saue by fewor by many Helpe vs O LORDE our God for our trust is in y e in thyne name we come forth agaynst this multitude Such lyke prayer made kynge Iosaphat in his anguyshe y e LORD dyd help hym By this may we perceaue y e power of faith which he requyreth of vs namely that we must loke vpō his worde what he requyreth of vs Agayne what he hath promysed vs how faythful he is of his promysse and true in his worde Consyderynge this we maye be stedfast in his worde and folowe the counsell of Syrak writynge in his boke called Ecclesiasticus Beleue in God and he shall helpe the ordre thy waye aryght and put thy trust in hym Holde fast his feare growe therin O ye y t fear y e LORD take sure holde of his mercy shrenk not away frō him y t ye fal not O ye y t feare y e LORDE beleue hym your rewarde shal not be emptye O ye y t fear the LORD put your trust in him mercy shal come vnto you for pleasure O ye y t fear the LORD set youre loue vpō him and your hartes shal be lyghted Cōsydre y e olde generacyns of men O ye chyldrē marke them well was ther euer ony one cōfoūded y e put his trust in y e LORD Who euer continued in his feare and was forsaken Or whom dyd he euer despyse that called faythfully vpon hym c. And agayne in the same chapter They that feare the LORDE wyll not
hym a coÌ„mauÌ„dement namely y e he shuld not eat of the tre of knowlege of good euell This coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t was geueÌ„ vnto AdaÌ„ by God to y e entent y e he wolde proue whether he wolde abyde stedfast by his word coÌ„mauÌ„dmeÌ„t or not But y e deuel which was minded to bring synne deathe in to the worlde thorow vnbelefe occasioned to it by his enuye to mankynde he hath stered the serpent which was the sotyleste creature of all creatures to saye vnto the woman Yee hath God sayd in dede Ye shall not eate of all maner trees in the garden Then sayd the woman vnto the serpent We eate of the frute of the trees in y â— garden But as for the frute of the tre that is in the myddes of the gardeÌ„ God hath sayde Eate ye not of it touche it not lest ye dye Whan the Serpent now perceaued that Euastode weakely vpon Gods worde for she sayde lest we dye where God neuerthelesse hadde sayde Loke in what daye so euer thou eatest therof thou shalt dye the death he dyd assault Eua fyrst to make her dout in Gods worde and to brynge her froÌ„ it Now whan he had her so farre than brought he her yet farther sayenge Tush ye shall not dye y e death For God knoweth that in what daye so euer ye eate of it youre eyes shalbe opened and ye shalbe as God and knowe both good euell And the woman sawe that the tre was good to eate of and lusty vnto y e eyes and a pleasaunt tre to make wyse and toke of the frute of it and dyd eate gaue vnto hit husbande also therof and he dyd eate Thus haue they both lefte Gods worde and haue done theyr wyl and fulfylled theyr desyre and lust Thus hath man cast hym selfe awaye thorowe mysbelefe transgressyng gods worde and coÌ„maundement The lust and desyre that Adam conceaued in his fyrst appetite doth yet remayne in hym for we are of the same fleshe and substaunce and also folow theÌ„ ature of it We are so sore wrapped in mysbelefe that it is also vnto vs the cause and occasyon of all synne so that we be naturaly chyldren of wrath by inspiracyon of y t prynce of the ayre which is a sprete workynge in the chyldren of mysbelefe fulfyllynge the pleasure of the fleshe for the whiche the wrath of God commeth vpoÌ„ the chyldren of vnbelefe Whan man now leauynge the worde of God regardeth not God folowynge hys owne wytte and wysedome than is his harte and mynde darkened and drawen awaye trustynge more to his owne wysedome then to his LORDE his God And his harte conceaueth nothynge saue the lust and desyre of the fleshe of the which he is ledde captyue so that he axeth no more counsell at God This doth Dauid complayne sayenge The foolysh bodyes saye in theyr hartes Tush ther is no God They are corrupte and become abhominable in theyr doynges ther is not one that doth good The LORDE loked downe from heauen vpon the chyldren of men to se yf ther were ony that wolde vnderstand and seke after God But they are all gone out of the waye they are altogether become vnprofitable ther is none that doth good no not one All this commeth by mysbelefe and whan man setteth no more by God his worde nor hath no more lust vnto hym For yf man dyd abyde by God beheld alway the wonderous and glorious workes whiche the LORDE hath declared vnto vs by his benefytes and goodnesse it were not possible that he shulde forsake his LORDE his God but shulde alwaye be gyded of God and his worde sekynge at hym onely all his comforte and health But seynge he is deceuered from God and his worde and wyll stande to his owne wysedom which is but playne â—oly therfore is he rest lesse and to his LORDE his God is he vnfaythfull as wytnesseth Esaye sayenge He that is vnfaythfull dealeth vnfaythfully Dauid also sayeth They kepte not the coÌ„uenauÌ„t of God and wolde not walke in hys law They forgat what he had done and the wonderfull workes that he hadde shewed for them In all this haue they synned and dyd not beleue in his wonderfull workes for the soule of the vnfaythfull is not stedfaste nor trewe in hyr selfe By all these euydences and reasons are we taught that all wyckednesse is come in the worlde by mysbelefe for thorowe mysbelefe hath man but slender knowlege of God and accordynge as he hath knowlege of God so muche loueth he God and reioyceth in his goodnesse This mysbelefe doth so kepe a man bouÌ„d in synfulnesse that he can not fele or perceaue ony goodnesse to come vnto hym from the blessed LORDE Thoughe he saye that he beleueth CHRIST to be crucyfyed and that he hath suffred the paynfull death which the deuyls also beleue yet beleueth not he so as one y t can rest in this deth only as one y t is fully per suaded to haue mercy forgeuenes therby of y e LORDE For yf he coulde beleue this he shuld both loue God and reioyce wholye in hym not lokynge aboute for to optayne ony other mercye of what creature soeuer it were It shuld suffise him to know God which will receaue him to hys mercy Wherfore the cause why meÌ„ be so coulde in loue towarde God and so straunge from him is that they knowe him so lytle that they haue so smal perceuerauÌ„ce of y t loue that he hath towarde vs. Lo what vnkindnesse commeth by mysbelefe as whan man is not fully certyfyed in his harte that God will geue vs so much as he hath promysed vs by hys worde yee so litle is maÌ„ inwardlye reioyced and comforted as he doth beleue and is assured in his coÌ„science that God is will be good vnto vs. For yf he knoweth not God in hys goodnesse howe can he reioyce in hys goodnesse Thus is it euydent that man abydeth presoned of hys owne wytte and wysedome thorowe vnbelefe Thys caused Esaye to saye Therfore commeth my people also in captyuyte because they haue no vnderstondynge Dauid also speaketh of thus myserable estate sayenge O LORDE howe glorious are thy workes thy thoughtes are very depe An vnwyse man wyll not knowe thys and a foole wyll not vnderstonde it And agayne in another place They wyl not be learned and vnderstonde but walke on styll in darknesse Who so is not lyghtened thorowe the worde of the LORDE to knowe the LORDES waye and to perceaue hys saluacyon by the faythe in God that man walketh in darknesse altogether fyndynge no restynge place for hys synfull soule hauynge a weake hope to fynde saluacyon by the LORDE Thys is it that Dauid sayde They beleued not in God and put not theyr truste in hys helpe Esaye calleth vs oute of thys darknesse sayenge Who so walketh in darknes and no lyghte shyneth vpon him let hym hope in the LORDE
wonderfull gyftes O incoÌ„prehensible treasure How happy is y e man to whoÌ„ it is geueÌ„ to haue a perceuerauÌ„ce of thys Who came euer to hygher saluacioÌ„ Who reioyced euer more thaÌ„ he y e faÌ„d god wich loueth vs euen a father Fulfeatlye doth Salomon saye Sett me as a seale vpon thyne harte as a seale vpon thyn arme for loue is as mighty as the death gelousy as the hel Hyr coales are of fire a very flaÌ„me of the LORDE so that many waters are not able to quenche loue nother maye the streames drowne it Yee yf a man wolde geue all the goodes of his house for loue he shulde counte it nothynge He that confesseth that IESVS is the sonne of God in hym dwelleth God and he in God we haue knowen and beleued the loue that God hath to vs. God is loue he that dwelleth in loue dwelleth in god god in hym Herin is the loue perfect with vs that we shuld haue a fre boldnesse in the daye of iudgement Herby is the synful conscience coÌ„forted namely yf we can perceaue by fayth that the LORD wyl receaue the sinner to grace thorow his loue And agayn yf we haue made vs vnworthy of his loue then let vs humble ourselues before y e LORDE syghynge for our mysoedes and his loue shall conforte vs agayne Unto him that loued vs and clensed vs from synne by his bloude and hath made vs kynges and prestes namely vnto God and his sonne be glory prayse for all his goodnesse Amen Hetherto haue we sayde how well God loueth vs and how we maye truste in his loue Now shall we shewe that as God hath wrought and done great mercy vnto vs eueÌ„ so must y e same loue worke in vs also toward God our neghboure wherby loue is vttered what she is This namely is whan we rendre prayse honoure and than kes vnto y e LORDE God which hath made our hart wyllynge in his loue thorow the worde so that we beleue to receaue hym to knowlege his loue therin The loue of God doth worke so much in vs to our saluacyon as we can beleue and be persuaded that God loueth vs that we can reioyce in his loue onely beyng assured that we can optayne nother mercy nor fauout saue only thorow his loue y t whiche he declared so louyngly toward vs in suffring death Wherby we may be assured that he doth loue vs without gaynsaynge y t he wyll geue vs so muche goodnesse as he hath promysed by his worde As we knowlege our saluacyon redeÌ„pcion by his loue so shal we yelde hym only y e glory of our saluacyon Seynge he only is a geuer of al goodnes thorow his loue therfore ought we to glorye reioyce in hym onely He y t could vnderstande this duely in sprete by fayth y e same shuld rest vpoÌ„ CHRIST in al peaceablenes knowleging his saluacyoÌ„ to come by him only require mercy grace of hym onely For this cause wyll God thus declare his loue to vs y t we shuld know how to reioyce namely y t god loueth vs that we know our redeÌ„pcioÌ„ to be by his loue Wold God euery maÌ„ knewe y e power of y e loue y t god hath toward vs for then shulde we be euer prayeng and euer readyng scripture that we might learne how to knowe God in his loue by his word and to reioyce in hym For nother of God nor his loue are we assured inwardly saue onely by the worde where vnto we geue faith and credence And as the loue of God is in our harte and as we knowlege his loue perfectly so is oure harte agayne steared with loue towarde God beynge ready wyllynge to do all that is acceptable vnto hym that all loue thankfulnesse myght be recompensed him agayne which hath heaued and exalted vs so hyghly by hym thorowe great loue hereby do we know that God hath wrought a woÌ„derful glorious worke in vs. Seynge the ther is no goodnesse in maÌ„ therfore must all his dedes be assured and sealed with fayth yf they shalbe acceptable vnto god And in this fayth we shal beleue y t God doth worke in vs both to wyll and to fulfyll It is God y t hath accomplyshed the worke of saluacyon in vs. What worke of saluacyon that euer we can deuyse or requyre that hath CHRIST accoÌ„plysshed in vs. Yf we beleue this thorowe loue vtter it then are we iustified saued not for the dede or workynge but because we are ryghteous thorow fayth thefore be the dedes of loue or charite ryghteous also For a faythfull man doth alway beholde his owne ryghteousnesse in god ascrybyng to his goodnes only all honoure and vnto hym selfe nothynge but synne confusyon that God onely maye haue the glorye Paul doth demaunde saye What hast thou that thou hast not receaued yf thou haste receaued it why makest thou theÌ„ thy boast as thoughe thou haddest not receaued it Agayne sayeth Paul Suche trust haue we thorow CHRIST to God warde not that we are sufficient of our selues to thynke ony thynge as of our selues but our ablenesse commeth of God The LORDE also exhorteth vs by Ieremy saieng Let not y â— wyseman reioyce in his wysedome nor the stronge man in his strength nor the rych man in his ryches But who so euer wyl reioyce let hym reioyce in this that he vnderstandeth knoweth me for I am the LORDE which do mercy equyte ryghteousnesse vpon earth All these places testify that we must loke vpoÌ„ CHRIST beleuynge that we be saued only by his loue yf we couet to seke rest and peace in oure conscience Therfore doth Ieremy agayne speake confortably sayeng The mercyes of y e LORDE are not clene gone his louinge kyndnesse ceasseth not His faythfulnesse is great reneweth it selfe as the mornynge The LORDE is my porcyon sayeth my soule therfore wyll I hope in him O how good is the LORDE vnto theÌ„ that put theyr trust in hym to the soule y t seketh after hym Seyng now that God is alwaye workynge w t his loue therfore muste we coÌ„fesse and knowlege all our saluacyon to be onely by the workynge of his loue so doynge we geue hym onely the glorye of all the goodnes that is in vs. This loue shall stear our hartes to fulfyll the LORDES wyll cause man not to remayne ydle in y t loue where vnto y e worde of y e LORD doth exhort him so louyngly Loue coueteth to come to perfectnes desyryng alway to be so mynded iÌ„ loue to god ward as god by his loue is minded to vs hoÌ„geryng alway to be equall w t God in loue The spret exhorteth vs to end euoure vs thorow loue to please God euen as he thorowe his loue hath done well by vs. A oâ—e is mery coÌ„meth froÌ„ a ioiful hart For loue causeth a maÌ„ to
thys agayne is oure comforte namelye that the father hathe geuen vs CHRISTE the whiche hath geuen hymselfe ouer vnto the bitter death to declare hys excellent loue vnto vs that we myghte knowlege our saluaciō in his loue by faith accomplyshynge hys wyll and pleasure Unto hym that of his loue hath called vs so gentelye by hys worde vnto all mercye vnto hym I say be thankes prayse honoure and glorye both by vs and by all other creatures nowe and for euer Amen ¶ Hereafter shall we treate howe hurtefull the loue of the worlde is and howe we maye despyse it SEynge that we haue spoken so largely of the loue y e God hath towarde vs and howe stronglye the same loue worketh in vs we shall therfore now treate how daungerous worldlye loue is that is that ether the worlde loueth vs or that we loue it Whan man doth consydre the worlde and all that is therin than findeth he nought for hys soule to cōforte to rest or to satisfye herselfe in He that doth beholde the world duely maye se that it is hurtefull faydyng with all that belongeth thereto Yee al such as wil ether seke folowe loue serue or please y e world must stayne ioyne thē selues w t the same It is al vanyte vexacion of mynde that is vnder the skye What ioye or glorye shulde man fele inwardlye whan he consydereth that he serueth such a lord as bryngeth nought saue damnacion hel and sinne with him As the soule is noble and heauenly euen so can she fynde nothynge amonge these earthlye creatures wherein she myghte vse true glorye and ioye And seynge the soule cā refresh herselfe in nothynge that is transytory therfore must she forsake al creatures and knowledge God to be glotious in all that he hath declared and wroughte in hys creatures for he is wonderfull in hys power wysedome and goodnesse wherebye al creatures haue receaued theyr bewty growynge fashyon and lyfe The creatures call to vs sayēg We geue nothinge that may satisfye you saue onelye the eye syghte By vs may ye perceaue God to be wonderfull and glorious in all hys workes Yf ye re mayne and abyde w t vs and go not vnto God by vs For he wyll be knowen in his loue by vs than shal ye be restlesse surely seynge we geue nought wheron youre soules maye rest Yf man coulde consyder this dewly then shulde he se euidently y t he was neuer aryght conforted that sought to fulfyll his lust and pleasure in ony creature The worlde smyleth and promyseth a mā much but seynge ther is nothynge stable in it therfor can not it also geue ony thynge to rest vpon Thoughe all the worlde dyd loue vs yet shulde it not be profytable and auaylynge to our saluacyon but rather a stoppe or lette of the same makynge man vnworthy of the loue of God For God doth not poure his loue in that harte wherin the worlde with his loue is abydynge This wytnesseth saint Ihon warnyng vs lest we suffre vs to be begyled of the worlde sayeng Se that ye loue not y ◠world nother the thynges that are in the worlde Yf ony man loue the worlde the loue of the father is not in hym for all that is in y e worlde namely y e lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes the pryde of lyfe is not of the father but of the worlde And the world passeth awaye and the lust therof but he that fulfylleth the wyll of God abydeth for euer Iames confirmeth thys sayenge Who so euer wyll be a frende of the world is made the enemye of God This is the profyte that we haue by y e loue of the world namely that for the loue of the same we do become enemyes to God For this cause sayd Paule Yf I shulde yet please men I were not the seruaunt of CHRISTE The apostles also what tyme they were chosen and sundered they were hated of the worlde For it coulde not agre to be atone wyth God and to haue frendshippe wyth the world Yf ther shal be an atonement wyth y e world then muste ther be also a consente to his synfulnes And bycause that nother CHRIST nor his disciples were of the worlde nor consented to the lust of the same therfore doth he admonishe and conforte his disciples at his departynge sayenge Yf the world hate you thē knowe y e it hath hated me before you Yf ye were of the worlde the world wolde loue his owne Howbeit because ye are not of the worlde but I haue chosen you from the worlde therfore the worlde hateth you And the prophetes all though they were hated of y e worlde yet were not they sory for it For yf they wolde haue procured the loue of the worlde then shulde not they haue rebuked the synnes of y e world but lyued in synfulnesse with them and forsakē God nother shulde they haue reioyced in his spret The loue of God no doute ouercame the loue of the worlde This is euident in many patriarches prophetes and holy men and wemen y e which were al slayne for rebukyng of the world and because they folowed not the lustes of it as namely Abell Esay Ieremy Helyas Micheas Susanna Daniel with diuers other that haue bene slayne and persecuted of the worlde The world therfore is a wycked thynge for it geueth nought wherin mā myght reioyce by ony meanes but his rewardes be synne hell and damnacyon and itselfe is altogether set on wyckednes The nature of man is cōmunely such that it is chaunged in to it where his loue is moost set on But what ioye can a man vse in that thynge that is wycked of itself The worldly wysedom coulde not brouke CHRIST nother coulde the worldly holynesse rendre all glorye vnto CHRIST only Yee because CHRIST dyd rebuke wyckednesse and fayned holynesse therfore rose y ◠worldly men agaynst CHRIST and haue determined to slaye hym This one thynge myght of ryght open the eyen of many men Seynge the loue of y e world was neuer good nor profytable how myght we then get ony goodnesse by fulfyllyng his lustes as Paul sayeth What frute had ye at that tyme in those thinges wherof ye are now ashamed for the ende of suche thynges is death O death how bytter is the remēbraūce of the to a man that seketh rest and comforte in his substaunce and ryches for death is the rewarde of syn Whan lust hath conceaued she bringeth forth synne and synne whan it is fynyshed bryngeth forth death Whan a man now hath well cōsydered the worlde and begynneth to perceaue that it is nothynge but vanite and hartes grefe then beginneth he to withdrawe his hart from it Wherfore yf he can then praye to God entierly and hartely he shall se how glorious and nobell he is esty med in the syghte of God namely that he is a vessel of synne where as God notwithstandynge hath created
hym to be a tabernacle or a temple wherin he wyl dwel w t his spret and all his gyftes Yf he can beleue this with a stedfast fayth than shall his harte reoyce in God trustynge to vse suche gyftes more frely with hym By fayth doth man se where to he is created and called what is promysed and geuen hym And seynge that by fayth he doth loke for a better worlde then this wretched worlde and vale of mysery is therfore is not he coÌ„tente with it for y e world geueth his hart nothing to reioyce in Whan man hath dont longe and trewe seruyce vnto the worlde he fyndeth none other rewarde saue great grefe and heuynesse of harte For man is made a straunger from God and colde in loue whaÌ„ he goeth about to serue â— please the worlde Now whan hâ— hath once a tayst of this and is sure that it is so then doth he wende his harte from the worlde sayenge Fare well all transytory creatures fare it well all that euer deceaued me fare well with all thy lustes I wente astraye whan I soughte the I was begyled whan I tande the I was blynde whan I set my loue vpon the I was amased whan I pleased the I was coÌ„fortlesse whan I occupyed the I was parted from God whan I serued the I was in â—eath whaÌ„ I lyued with the I was â—estelesse whan I behelde the I was sorye whan thou gauest me â—oughte I was not suffised whan â—hou gauest me muche I was mysaryed whan thou madest my glad Oh thy wysedome is folyshnesse beâ—re God thy glyrye is heye thy â—ylynge is deceate thy bewtye is â—lthynesse thy ryches are vnstaâ—e thy presence is without rest â—y rewarde is but death thy ioye endeth with sorow He that fyndeth the leseth hymselfe and commeth in deaths daunger He that loued the was neuer dealt faythfully withall He was not conforted aryghte that sought thy frendshippe He that busyed hym to please y t was neuer ioyfull He neuer reioyced aryght that reioyced in the. He neuer happened wel that was seruiable vnto the. He that folowed the dyd neuer happen well He that knewe the aryght dyd neuer passe greatly vpon thyne amyte or freÌ„dshippe Thou deceauest al thy louers Thy loue is vntrusty Thy dealyng is craftynesse O how happy is he that neuer soughte for the but happye is he whose hope is in the LORD his God He that seketh God coÌ„meth from death vnto lyfe But he that loueth the worlde falleth from lyfe vnto death CHRIST therfore not wyllynge vs to be damned thorowe the worlde hath warned vs of the daungers of it sayeng What helpeth it a man thoughe he wanne the whole worlde and yet suffered harme in his soule Whan CHRIST dyd cal ony body theÌ„ dyd he drawe hym from the snares and peryls of the world as namely Mathew Zache Mary the opeÌ„ synner CHRIST sayd vnto the yongeman Let the dead bury theyr dead But go thou thy waye and preache the kyngdome of God And to another that wolde haue folowed hym he sayd Who so purteth his hande to the plowe and loketh backe is not mete for the kingdome of God And agayne whan another that demanÌ„ded of hym what he shulde do to come in to the kyngdome of heaueÌ„ he sayd Yf thou wylt be perfecte go thy waye and sel that thou hast and geue it vnto the poore thou shalte haue a treasure in heauen and come and folowe me WhaÌ„ the yongemaÌ„ herde that worde he wente awaye sory for he had great possessions IESVS sayd vnto his discyples Uerely I saye vnto you It shall be harde for a ryche maÌ„ to entre in to y e kyngdome of heauen Hereby maye it be euidente that ryches drawe a man somtyme to synnynge wherfore he can not folowe his LORDE his God to serue hym humbly For ryches worldly loue cause man somtyme to fall to pryde and obstinacy Yf the ryche maÌ„ coulde vse his ryches well that is to dispend them charitably to the behofe of his neyghboure in the meane season prouydyng for hâ—s owne necessite releuinge y e nedy with the rest then shulde not his ryches be hurtefull vnto hym Abraham Isaac Iacob Iob Dauid many other holy men and wemen haue had great ryches But seynge they haue worshipped serued God shewed kyndnes vnto theyr neghbures with theyr substauÌ„ce therfore were theyr ryches a furtherauce rather theÌ„ a let vnto theyr saluacyoÌ„ accordyng to y e mynde of Tobias y e elder Nabal though he was rych and Dauid hauynge nede requyrynge only what it pleased hym to geue wold depart froÌ„ nothyng The rych glutton also wolde shewe no mercy vnto Lazarus Because of suche abuse were theyr ryches hurteful vnto theÌ„ Therfore sayd Paul They y t wyl be rych fal in to y e reÌ„ptacion and snare into many folysh noysome lustes which drowne meÌ„ in destruccyoÌ„ daÌ„nacyon For couetousnes is the rote of al euel Iesus Sirak couÌ„feleth euery man also sayeng My soÌ„ne medle not w t many maters Yf thou wylt be rych thou shalte not be without wyckednes For this cause sayd Paul Charge them which are rych in this worlde that they be not proude nor trust in y e vncertayne ryches but in y e lyuynge God whiche geueth vs abundauntly all rhynges to enioye them that they do good y â— they be rych in good workes that they geue destribute w t a good y t wyl gathering vp treasure for theÌ„ selues a good fundacyon agaynst the tyme to come that they may lay hande on eternall lyfe The cause why saynt Paul doth thus exhorte vs is For we brought nothynge in to the worlde therfore is it a playne case that we can cary nothyng out Whan we haue foode and rayment let vs therewith be content CHRIST lykewyse exhorteth vs not to be so carefull for this short season nother to set an outragious loue vpon ony creatures sayenge Se that ye gather you not treasure vpon earth where ruste and mothes corrupte where theues breake throughe and steale but gather you treasure together in heauen where nother ruste nor mothes corrupt where theues nother breake vp nor yet steale That man myghte withdrawe his hart the better from these creatures he shulde call oftymes to remembraunce how traÌ„sitory and faydyng all it is that is without God All y t he beholdeth with his bodyly eyen geueth his harte nother rest peace nor ease yee it geueth nothyng saue hartes grefe Man ought also to remember that we haue here no abydynge cytie but we hope and loke for another the which is better by a thousande partes then all that is in this worlde Whan dyuerse saintes dyd consyder this they haue set the worlde at nought sekinge theyr glorye in CHRIST only which can satisfye his frendes with the trueth and make them ryche with hym selfe so that whan his frendes shal haue pleÌ„ty his enmyes shal suffre
great scarcenesse For y e world geueth nothing wherin y e louer of y e same caÌ„ rest and satle his mind They y â— haue opprest the symple they that haue vsed policyes and craftes to auaunce them selues in worldly dignities those shall be brought to confusion at the daye of dome and shall se that they haue procured nothynge saue hell synne For they wold geue no eare vnto the trueth of Gods wordes At that tyme shall they saye Tedious wayes haue we gone but as for the waye of the LORD we haue not knowen it What good hath our pryde done vnto vs Or what profite hath the pompe of ryches brought vs All those thynges are passed a waye lyke a shadowe and as a messauÌ„ger ruÌ„nynge before c. Euery maÌ„ ought well to considre this for the worldly seruice coÌ„meth to a bytter ende Herken what scripture sayeth Yf a man lyue many yeares and be gladde in them all let hym remembre y t dayes of darcknesse whiche shalbe many and whan they come all thynges shalbe but vanite Be glad then O thou yonge man in thy youth let thyn hart be mery in thy yoÌ„ge daies folowe y e wayes of thyne owne hart and y e lust of thyne eyes but be thou lure that God shall brynge the in to iudgement for all these thynges This is ment of the louers of this worlde For though it seme to be soÌ„what truly it is nothyng yee thoughe man lyued a thousande yeares in comparison to it that is euerlastynge Whan we thynke in our selues where are the myghtye where are the great meÌ„ where are y â— wyse men whose name and fame hath all the worlde maruayled at At â— ende haue they concluded all with death SalomoÌ„ perceaued ryghtwell that for all his wysedome and ryches he was equall in dyenge vnto all other men Therfore hath he couÌ„ted it al foolyshnesse y t is vnder the skye Esay also sayeth O my people they that call the happy do deceaue the. As though he wolde saye They that prayse you here of oughte that is in you they deceaue you For ther is nought in man that is worth prayse or glory Be not proude of thy raymente and exalte not thy selfe in the daye of thyne honoure for the workes of the Hygheste onely are wonderfull yee glorious secrete and vnknowen are his workes Many tyrauntes haue bene fayn to syt down vpon the earthe and the vnlykelye hath worne the crown Many mighty men haue bene brought lowe and the honorable haue ben delyuered in other mens handes They that be nowe exalted shall be brought lowe tomorow And they that be nowe broughte lowe shall be exalted tomorowe It is greate folye that man hath confydence in that thynge that is vnstable and geueth no goodnesse from it selfe Suche one buyldeth vpon a sandy grounde whereby his house must sodenly fall and perishe Suche a foolyshe body saieth Now haue I gotten rest and nowe will I eate and drynke of my goodes myself alone And yet he coÌ„sydereth not that the tyme draweth nye that he muste leaue all these thynges vnto other men and dye hymselfe CHRIST sayd Ther was a rych maÌ„ whose feldes had broughte forth trutes plenteouslye and he thoughte in hymselfe What shall I do I haue nothynge wherein to gather my frutes And he sayde thys wyll I do I wyll breake downe my barnes and buylde greater and therin wyl I gather all myne encrease and my goodes and wyll saye vnto my soule Soule thou haûe muche goods layed vp in stoare for many yeares take now thyne ease eate drynke and be mery But God sayde vnto hym Thou â—oole thys nyghte shall they requyre thy soule from the whose shall it be that thou haste prepared Seyng that the end of the seruyce of this world is so bytter and that it rewardeth his seruauntes with remorse of conscience therfore dothe God shewe vs so greate mercye in drawynge vs so louynglye from the loue of the worlde that doth he because we shulde reioyce with hym in the treuth It is a ioyful thyng to folowe CHRIST for he maketh hys seruauntes glad with hymselfe But he that foloweth the worlde fulfylling the synful desyres of the same becommeth a seruaunt of synne And Paul sayeth that the rewarde of syn is death Fashion not youre selues then lyke vnto thys worlde but be chaunged thorow the renewynge of your mynd that ye may proue what thynge that good that acceptable and perfecte wyl of God is And this is the wyll of God euen your sanctifienge that ye shulde abstayne from whoredome that euery one of you shulde know how to possesse his vessel in holynesse honor not in the lust of coÌ„cupiscence And that no man go to farre nor defraude his brother in bargenyng For the LORDE is the auenger of all suche thynges as we haue sayde and testified afore tyme. Nowe as the worlde and the wysedome thereof haue alwaye persued CHRISTE and hys separatyng theÌ„selues froÌ„ god fallyng to synnynge from the leaste vnto the mooste therfore maye we thynke ryghte wel that we also shal optayne but lyttell goodnesse of it For thys cause dothe Syrack warne vs sayenge My sonne yf thou haste synned do it no more but praye for thy foresynnes that they maye be forgeuen the. Flye from synne euen as from a serpente For yf thou coÌ„mest â–ª to nye hee she wyll byte the. The teth therof are as the teth of a lyon to slaye the soules of men The wyckednesse of man is as a sharpe twoegged swearde which maketh suche woundes that they can not be healed Iob also speakynge very largly of the welthe of the wycked sayeth They spende theyr dayes in welthynesse but sodenlye they godowne to hell They saye vnto God go from vs we desyre not the knowlege of thy wayes c. Dse lykewyse sayeth They are gone to Baal Peor and runne awaye fro my to the shameful Idoll and are become as abhominable as theyr louers For the vngraciousnesse of theyr owne inuencions wyll I dryue them out of my house Yf we were now enfourmed of y e wickednesse of the worlde and knewe it well than shulde we lyghtelye forsake it and seke CHRIST whose loue calleth vs to the lyfe eternal and thaÌ„ shulde it be to vs that Paule sayeth Yf ye be now rysen with CHRIST than seke those thynges whiche are aboue where CHRIST is sittynge on the righthande of God Set your mynde on the thynges which are aboue not on theÌ„ thynges that are vppon earthe For ye are dead youre lyfe is hydd wyth CHRIST in God But whan CHRISTE oure lyfe shall appeare than shall ye also appeare wyth hym in glorye Thus haue we nowe shewed vnto you howe God loueth vs wyth what strengthe and power hys loue worketh in vs how we agayn shuld vtter loue to oure neghboure and finally howe hurtefull the loue of this worlde is I praye God now that we maye so