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
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
this maner Fayth is a sure confidence of thynges which are hoped for and a certainte of thinges which are not sene Herby we mayese which is the true fayth namely that we abyde loke to optayne mercy of the LORDE where as we fynde nought in vs y t is worthy of Gods mercy nor se the good that God hath promysed vs but onely trust in hym because he is mercyfull Wherfore receauynge the worde that wytnesseth vnto vs and beareth record of his goodnes we haue a sure hope in God by faith that he shall shewe his goodnesse tendernesse toward vs by his boūte ous mercy But hereto is requyted of vs that we reste w t our whole harte vpon this promyse of mercy reioycynge in sprete therin and by fayth rendre vs in loue and thankfulnesse to God Thus haue we a sure testymony that we are come to a good fayth for we can fynde none other fundament wheron the synfull soule may test saue onely yf we can hope that God wyll be a mercyfull father thorowe the death of IESV CHRISTE This is it that Paul sayeth No mā can laye another fundament saue that which is layed already that is CHRIST IESV Suche fayth causeth a man to walke confidently to be sure mynded to Gods goodnesse wherin he can reioyce so farre as he can beleue to optayne so much as God hath declared and promysed by his worde Now because he beleueth the same therfore is his spirite endued with godly ioye by the sprete of God whiche dyd appeare and teache hym the same by fayth Wherfore sayeth Paul Ye haue not receaued the sprete of bondage to feare ony more but ye haue receaued the sprete of adopciō whereby we crye Abba deare father The same sprete certifieth our sprete that we are the chyldren of God Whan a man feleth this by fayth and his harte reioyceth therin then hath he rest and quyetnesse in his consciēce hauynge no respecte to his owne workes or deseruynges but onely to CHRISTE which hath set hym atone with the father throughe his bytter passyon and death Thus geueth he onely CHRIST the glorye of his redēpcyon beholdeth hence forth no creatures more It is sufficient to hym to knowe God in his goodnesse beleuynge that mercy goodnesse shalbe shewed vnto hym of God reioyceth in that he hath a mercyfull father in heauen in all thynges he cōceaueth a good opinion of God his goodnesse Suche fayth causeth hym to rest to be cōtent with all that the LORDES wyl is to do w t hym Whether it be deth hell synne or deuell none can make hym abashed For as longe as a mā clyueth to Gods worde beleuyng y t God hath ouercome all euel thorow his loue to warde mankynde thē is he at rest and peace in all y t can betyde or chaūce vnto hym beyng certified that seynge God loueth hym he sheweth mercy kyndnesse in all that he doth vnto hym and all man kynde Whether it be thā anguyshe painfulnesse or ony daūger that can happen vnto man other in body or soule y t cōmeth al to his auayl Onely yf he cā beleue be persuaded in himselfe y t God loueth him For one frēde forbeareth much of another y ◠which natural loue causeth Wherfore yf naturall loue can forbeare wrōge of a frende how muche more ought we to forbeare y ◠good that is sent vs of God to our saluacyon Seynge fayth is a gyfte geuē of God it is necessarye we turne oure selues lowly vnto the LORDE desyrynge hym humbly to prepare oure hartes and make them wyllynge to accepte his worde with ioye As muche as we loue Gods worde so muche shal we be conforted made glad in sprete by fayth in all that y e worde hath promysed vs. Seynge God is hyd in his worde yee is the worde it selfe therfore yf we receaue the worde then by fayth and with ioye we shall receaue so much as God hath sayd and promysed by his worde CHRIST which is the blessed worde of the father geueth hym self with his goodnesse in to al faythfull hartes and maketh hym selfe with all his goodnesse cōmune takynge vs to his grace yee with all the wyckednesse that is in vs. Whan we haue synned than wyll God haue vs to admonysshe hym of his promyse yf we than praye with a faythfull harte he shall remembre all that he hath promysed and shal haue mercy vpon vs to fulfyll hys promyse and worde Thys knewe Dauid what tyme he sayde The worde of the LORDE is treue and al his workes are faithful Upon thys trusted the same Dauid whan he had synned he put god in mynde of his wordes sayenge Agaynst the onely haue I synned done euell in thy syghte that thou myghtest be iustifyed in thy sayenges and shuldeste ouercome whan thou arte iudged As though he wolde saye LORDE I haue trespassed I praye the remembre thy word that thou haste promysed vnto the synners which turne agayne from theyr synnes namely that thou wilt receaue a sorowfull sprete vnto thy mercy Wherfor thou oughtest to receaue me vnto thy grace that thou myghteste be founde ryghteous Shewenge suche mercye vnto the synner accordynge to thy promyse than shalt thou discomfyte thyne enemyes wyth the treuth which wyl iudge and estyme the as one that doth not accordynge to hys worde Whan Dauid nowe knewe inwardlye that he had optayned mercy of the LORDE than dyd he prayse and thanke God in al his wordes and dedes sayenge The LORDE is gracious and mercyfull longe sufferynge and of greate goodnesse The LORDE is louynge vnto euery man and hys mercye is ouer all hys workes The LORDE is ryghteous in all hys wayes and holy in all hys workes The LORDE is nye vnto all them that call vpon hym Yee all such as cal vpon him faythfully And euen thus is it wyth vs We can prayse and thanke God so earnestlye and reioyce so greatlye in hys goodnesse as we can beleue that mercye and kyndnesse can be shewed by hym Though the lawe dyd vtterlye dāne vs hel wold swalow vs vp though all syn and other enmyes wolde ouerrunne vs yet muste we abyde sure vpon God and se what CHRISTE hath deserued and geuen vs by hys bytter passyon and what he hath promysed thā shal faith worke hyr worke Yf we haue receaued the worde in fayth through the holy goost than shal we optayne mercye and lyfe in the myddes of death and of synne Wythout hope dyd holde vp oure head and the promyses sonke in oure hartes we muste nedes be drowned in despayre Hope sayth My sonne despyse not the selfe in thy syknesse but praye vnto the LORDE and he shal make the whole The synfull man beholdyng God and knowyng him by hys worde that is that he is mercyfull not wyllynge the death of a synner he lyfteth vp hys heade w t a lusty corage sayenge I shall not dye
through hys mercye wyll receaue a synner to grace and that he maye come to the fauour of God Suche fayth causeth a man to reste and â—cane on God only and so earnestlye to reioyce in the goodnesse of God as doth he that fyndeth a treasure of greate value We speake not of a fayned faith as the deuels haue or as the wycked do beleue nor of suche an hystorycall faythe as to beleue that CHRISTE was crucyfyed but we speake of suche fayth and confydence wherebye we are assured that the goodnesse and mercye of God is oures and that all is oures that is in God that he is mercyfull vnto vs that we can reioice in him and walke confydently in hym all thys is the operacyon of faythe Suche faythe causeth mortyfycacyon of the fleshe wyth all hys concupiscence whan he hath felte once by faythe the exeeadynge goodnesse that he hath founde by the LORDE Shulde not suche a faythfull soule reioyce in the LORDE his God by true loue vse all spirituall glory Suche fayth causeth a man to captiuate and presone his witte vnderstonding wyl wholy vnder Gods worde and reioyce only in God sayenge with Dauid My soule wayteth onely vpon God for of hym coÌ„meth my helpe He onely is my strength my saluacyon my defence so y t I shall not greatly fal And agayn Turne agayne then to thy reste O my soule for y e LORD hath geuen the thy desyre And why thou hast delyuered my soule from death myne eyes from teares and my fete from fallynge I wyll walke before the LORDE in the lande of the lyuynge Paul what tyme he was come to such earnest fayth sayd very ioyfully I shewed not my selfe amonge you as though I knewe ony thinge saue onely IESVS CHRIST euen the same that was crucyfied It is not sufficient to saye I beleue that the holy church beleueth or as myne elders haue beleued but a man muste searche and proue how he beleueth For by his owne fayth shall a man be acceptable to God Yf he wyl procure to optayne ought of God he must turne hym to God and knowlege hym by his owne fayth that he is his LORDE and redimer AbrahaÌ„ saw God in sprete through his lyuely fayth and reioyced This fayth â—orageth a man agaynst death in it a man seyth his lyfe For according to the wytnesse of all scriptures The iust lyueth by his fayth This fayth is not subdued vnto the lawe for the faythfull accomplissheth the LORDES wyll in the sprete through loue So that he fulfylleth all that the lawe coÌ„maundeth Not â—ecause it is a commaundement of â—he lawe for the lawe geueth onely knowlege of synne but because he â—ath a loue to the commaundementes and is ready to do all that is acceptable to God Wherfore sayeth Paul Thorow the lawe I am dead vnto the lawe that I myghte lyue vnto God I am crucyfyed with CHRIST yet do I lyue Neuertheles now not I but CHRIST lyueth in me for the lyfe which I lyue now in y â— fleshe I lyue in the fayth of the soÌ„ne of God whiche loued me and gaue himselfe for me Agayn sayeth Paul that God hath made vs accepted in the beloued soÌ„ne in whom we haue redempcyon thorow his bloude namely the forgeuenesse of synnes accordyng to the ryches of his grace Seynge then that accordyng to these testimonies of scripture the worke of our redempcyon is accomplyshed in vs by CHRIST therfore must oure synfull soule knowlege y t excelleÌ„t worke in CHRIST only and in hym only rest by fayth For CHRIST sayd No man commeth to the father but only by me And yf ye are the father ought in my name he shal geue it you But seyng faith is a gyfte of God therfore muste we lowly and humbly praye the LORD to haue pyte vpon vs and increase oure faith y t we may know his goodnesse dewly by fayth and reioyce in hym Of this gyft speaketh Paul sayeng By grace are ye saued thorow fayth and that not of youre selues For it is the gyft of God not of workes lest ony man shulde boast hymselfe For weare his workemanship created in CHRIST IESV vnto good workes to the which God ordeyned vs before that we shulde walke in them Whan man fyndeth rest and quietnesse in his conscience by fayth beleuynge that all that is in God is to mans behofe that is a sure token that such a man is come to the faith whiche geueth health For fayth certifyeth hym that CHRISTE hath ouercome death hell synne and the deuyll for hym As great as his faith is so much also can he reioyce in God Prayse God and thanke God whiche hath receaued his synfull soule to mercy not for the workes of ryghtwysnesse that we haue done but accordynge to hys mercye hath he saued vs. Thus muche nowe is sayde to knowe the trew faith namely to rest onely vpon CHRIST and to knowlege oure redempcion and saluacion by CHRISTES death according to hys worde The whiche graunte vs the father thorowe hys welbeloued sonne CHRIST Amen ¶ The secoÌ„d Chapter treateth of y t inestimable greate mercye that we do purchase and optaine by the lyuely fayth For true saith caÌ„ not be ydle but bryngeth vnto hym that possesseth her plenteous saluation WHan Paul wolde comforte the sycke or stablyshe the weake in faith more more than dyd he ofte rehearse and as a man myghte saye bette in them the glad tydinges of the Gospell Certifienge them to what greate mercye they were called whan God geueth them a good wyll to receaue hys worde with ioye and to reioyce ouer all the goodnesse that the Gospel assureth vs of Thys frute which the Gospel bringeth with it and geueth vs oughte we hyghelye to thanke God for and to reioyce for cause of so manyfolde gyftes and treasures minystred and geuen vs by hym thankynge and praysynge God whiche hath opened oure eyes and inwarde syghte So that we maye dewlye knowlege oure saluation by CHRIST IESV reioyce in him only This is the intent now wherfore Paule doth so earnestly admonyshe vs not to receaue such gyftes in â—ayne but that the worde of God be frutefull in vs by fayth and loue that God myghte be praysed thanked and honoured for hys workynge so wonderfullye mercyfully and gloriouslye in all faithfull hartes Therfore sayeth Paull We are bounde to geue thankes al waye vnto God for you brethren beloued of the LORDE because that God hath from the beginninge chosen you to saluation in the sanctifyenge of the spirite and in beleuinge of the treuth whereunto he hath called you by oure Gospell to optayne the glorye of oure LORDE IESVS CHRIST Farther more saieth Paul After that ye herd y e worde of treuth namely the gospell of youre saluation wherin whan ye haue beleued ye were sealed with the holy sprete of promesse whiche is the earneste of oure enheritaunce to oure redemption that we mighte be his
haue beleued also on IESVS CHRIST that we myght be made ryghteous by the fayth on CHRIST and not by the dedes of the lawe Ihon also sayeth All that is borne of God ouercoÌ„meth the worlde and this is the victory that ouercoÌ„meth the worlde euen our fayth Who is it that ouercoÌ„meth the worlde but he which beleueth that IESVS is the sonne of God And further in the same chapter These thynges haue A writteÌ„ vnto you which beleue on the name of the sonne of God that ye maye knowe how that ye haue eternall lyfe and that ye maye beleue on the name of the sonne of God And this is the fre boldnesse whiche we haue towarde hym that yf we aske ony thynge accordyng to his wyl he heareth vs. Lo how yf a man beleueth that is yf he setteth his trust vpon the goodnesse of God only he is herde and optayneth all that he requyreth of the LORDE as Marke also wytnesseth Paul what tyme he preached the forgeuenesse of synnes he dyd alwaye ascribe it vnto faith that we myght knowe the vertue power of CRISTES death and that we shulde geue all glorye and praise vnto hym which hath receaued vs vnto the fayth by his goodnesse IESVS preached the Gospell of y e kyngdome of God sayenge The tyme is â—ulfylled and the kyngdome of god â—s at hande amende your selues beleue the gospel Here myght some men saye ye speake so much of fayth that man â—s iustified by fayth onely and not by workes Where as saynt Iames neuerthelesse sayeth that fayth with but workes is dead Trueth it is he sayeth well For without ther ensue forsakynge and lothsomnesse of synnes and without a man rest and reioyce onely in God hauynge respecte to none other creature sekyng helpe or conforte at the same Then is it a tokeÌ„ that he is not wholy fixt vpon God nor putteth his trust in hym So longe as a man reioyceth in synnynge so longe is not God his ioye As longe as man coÌ„meth not to God with more loue thankfulnesse nor can quyete hym selfe with God so longe hath he not the trewe fayth The trew fayth mortifyeth the synnes that the outward workes maye testifye of the inward fayth Thus doynge optayneth God the glorye whiche wyll worke wonderously in all them in whom he hath poured his worde by fayth Therfore sayd CHRIST Let youre lyght so shyne before men that they mayese your good workes and glorifye youre father which is in heauen Scripture wytnesseth euery wher y t fayth must make new creatures orels shuld it not work y e worke wherfore God sent his worde Not that workes iustyfye a man But seynge man is iustyfyed by fayth therfore is he called iustifyed or ryghteous for doynge the workes of fayth For the workes be called ryghteous before God by reason of fayth Here vpon bryngeth saynt Iames Abraham and Rahab as proues sayenge Wylte thou vnderstonde O thou vayne man that fayth without dedes is dead Was not oure father Abraham iustyfyed thorowe workes whan he offred Isaac his sonne vpon the altare Thou seyst how that faith wrought with his dedes through the dedes was the fayth made perfecte and the scripture was fulfylled whiche sayeth Abraham beleued God and it was reputed vnto hym for ryghteousnesse and he was called the frende of God c. Yf Abraham had douted on Gods promyse whan he wolde haue offered his sonne then hadde not his faythe bene ryghte nor sufficyent Rahab also shewed hyr fayth where by she let the spyes go shewynge them whiche waye they shulde go She beleued stedfastly that God shulde cause the chyldren of Israell to wynne the cytie of Iericho and by y t fayth was hyr faythfull worke accepted before God God loked first vpon Abell and then vpon his gyfte The scripture hath shut vp al vnder synne that the promyse shuld come by fayth on IESVS CHRIST geuen vnto them that beleue Hereby we maye se that fayth only iustifieth that is Whan we forsake all creatures submyttynge out selues and passe by all mans inuencyons or holynesse fallynge and leanynge to CHRIST only sayenge O LORDE I knowlege health to be happened vnto me by the. LORDE augmeÌ„t thou my fayth CHRIST sayd I am the lyght of the worlde he that foloweth me shall not walke in darkenesse but shal haue the lyght of lyfe And agayne in the same chapter Yf ye continue in my worde then are ye my disciples and ye shal knowe the trueth and y t trueth shal make you fre Though the faythfull fell to synnynge yet remayneth God a frende vnto the fayth and loue that he fyndeth in a maÌ„ his promyses vnto theÌ„ that beleue are so manyfold Dauid sayeth Yf the ryghteous falleth he shall not be brused for the LORDE doth staye hym with his haÌ„de Paul sayeth Then is ther now no damna cyon vnto them that are in CHRIST IESV which walke not after y e flesh but after the sprete For the lawe of the sprete y t bringeth lyfe in CHRIST IESV hath made me fre from y t lawe of synne and death Saynt Ihon also wrytteth sayenge Who so euer is borne of God synneth not for his sede remayneth in hym he can not synne because he is borne of God Though a man be weake after the fleshe and thereby fall to synne yet doth God loue a man for the fayth wherby he loueth God Whan he falleth his fall is not vnto dead for his sprete is without gyle The LORDE suffereth the ryghteous to fall leste he stonde to muche in hys owne conceate but that he aske mercy with all his harte The ryghteous falleth seuen tymes in one daye and ryseth agayne The LORDE taketh the faythfull for his best beloued and reserueth hym to his mercy Salomon sayeth The ryghteous laboureth to do good but the vngodly vseth hys increase vnto sinnes Oure prayer is that we maye abyde by the gladde and ioyfull tydynges of the gospell For he that beleueth and is baptysed shall be saued I brynge you tydynges of great ioye which shal happeÌ„ vnto al people for vnto you is this daye borne the Saueoure euen CHRIST the LORDE Thus farre is now sayde of the mercy which we vptayne by fayth For true fayth ioyfuily receaued excludynge al y e is contrary to CHRIST bryngeth a greate health wyth her ¶ The thyrde chapter shall treate how hurtefull vnbelefe is and what is the cause that men be so colde and straunge in Godly matters and in loue towarde God WHan we consydre our fyrste progeny then is it euydent vnto vs that the nature of man is created to y e lykenesse of God in wyll reason and vnderstandyng folowynge God through wysedom and by knowledge of the creatures And that man was ioyned w t a perfecte hart vnto God vsynge hym w t a coÌ„plete knowlege Upon this hath God set him in the paradyse of pleasure geuynge
youre selues humblye to the blessed LORDE desyrynge hym to make youre hartes wyllinge to receaue his worde ioyfully and to knowlege that loue in the spirite by fayth the whiche the LORDE shewed vs so frendlye thorow his worde Hys loue is not knowen but onely thorowe hys worde the which onely geueth vs true wytnesse that God loueth vs. So farre stretcheth oure knowlege of hys loue as we haue gotten it oute of hys wordes by fayth The LORDE sheweth vs suffycyentlye in hys wordes that he loueth vs. As God is trewe and faythful in hys promises so maye we lyghtelye gette perceueraunce of hys loue by hys own wordes Yee euen that god hath promysed that he loueth vs were ynoughe to reioyce in yf we coulde beleue dewly and not to seke about for ony other louers It shuld be ynough for vs that God loueth vs and we shuld reioice in his loue For hys loue is onely trewe bounteous holye and good That the worlde and al men do loue me that doth not auayll me nother doth it comfort nor saue me but that God doth loue me y t is a cōfort vnto my sinful soul For god geueth saluaciō holynesse righteousnesse redēptiō thorow his loue The world with al hyr louelynesse geueth nought saue dānacion hell synne death Therfore can y e soule finde nother rest nor peace therin For the soule maye be comforted in hyr owne nature and strengthe with God onely and with his loue Nowe whan man heareth this and perceaueth it than muste his harte leap vp for ioye towarde God whiche loueth him Thus becommeth be equall and lyke vnto God so y ◠he is so mynded in loue to Godwarde as God agayne is mynded to him sayenge with chearefulnesse Is it not a greate thinge that such a LORD loueth me that draweth all men to him and that because I shulde be partaker of all the good that of hys loue he hath promysed to geue vnto all them that knowlege hym by hys loue He that is sure of thys loue sayeth boldelye Who can now daunger me Who cā condemne me For God so loueth me y ◠he will saue me Now do I feare no ther death nor hell For God that loueth me hath ouercome death hell and synne for me Let aryse nowe agaynste me castels stronge holdes yee the gates of hell and though I were i y ◠middes of death yet shal not they hurte me For God that hath al powers in his hande doth loue me Them that God hath electe chosen them hath he called and whome he hath called thē hath he also made righteous and whom he hath made righteous them hath he glorified also What shall we say than vnto these thinges yf God be on oure syde who can we be agaynst vs whiche spared not his owne sonne but hath geuen hym for vs all howe shal not he geue vs all thynges also wyth hym Who wyll laye ony thynge to the charge of Gods chosen It is God that maketh ryghteous who wyll then condemne For as muche than as the chylderen haue fleshe bloude he also hymselfe lykewise toke parte with them that he thorowe death myghte take awaye the power of hym which had lordshyppe ouer death that is to say the deuyll and that he myghte delyuer them whiche thorowe feare of death were al theyr lyfe tyme in daūger of bondage For he in no place taketh on hym the angels but y ◠sede of Abrahā taketh he on hym Wherfore in all thynges it became hym to he made lyke to his brethren that he myght be mercyfull and an Hyghe Preste in thynges concerninge god to make agrement for the synnes of the people For us that he hymselfe suffered and was tempted he is able to succurre them that are tempted Who coulde now be comfortlesse yf he were perswaded in hys mynd hereof Who could not reioice in spret hauynge founde suche a redemer Who sawe euer such a loue Herein is loue not that we loued god but y e he loued vs sente his son to make agrement for oure sinnes The loue of God is shed a brode in our hartes by the holy goost which is geuen vn to vs. For whan we were yet weake according to the tyme CHRIST dyed for vs vngodly Whan we were yet enmyes CHRIST recōcyled vs vnto the father which was geuē for oure synnes and raysed vp for oure ryghteousnesse sake Oboūteful LORD how dyd loue driue you to vs ward what tyme ye dyd loke so louingly vpō vs w t your fatherly pitie For because ye might shew your moost excellent loue y t ye beare toward vs therfor dyd ye yeld your selues vnto y e bitter death y t we might knowlege al our saluacion redēptiō in you only reioycei you Oh who cā fele y e bottō of your loue what tym as we se perceaue what inestimable price ye gaue for our redēciō w t your faithful trew worde haue ye assured vs of youre loue w t your precious bloude haue ye scaled it w t your death haue ye cōfirmed it bequiethed left vs the testament of loue to the forgeuenesse of synnes O howe glorious are we estymed in roure syghte father euen as electe and chosen chylderen had in greate reputacyon of you thorowe loue Lo what loue the father hath shewed vs that we shulde be called the chylderen of God and also be the same We are nowe the childeren of God and yet hath it not appeared what we shall be But we know that whan he shall appeare we shall be lyke him for we shal se hu◠as he is O wonderful loue Who coulde comprehende and vnderstande that the naturall man which was so pytyfully destroyed thorowe Adams synne and comme in the deuils power shulde so be lykened vnto God and to haue optayned suche fellowshyppe and communiō with hys inestimable goodnesse By nature we were chylderen of the wrath of God and coulde not ryse agayne by oureselues But God not wyllynge to be wroth foreuer vpō his handy worke hath called to remembraūce his naturall loue and pytie and thought how that he hadde created vs after his lykenesse after he had once poured hym selfe in vs thorowe his tender loue Thus was he myndefull of vs thorow hymselfe dyd shewe mercy his loue steared hym to it our fraylnesse hath he taken to his mercy For he sawe we were fleshe faydynge heye not beynge able to stande without y e assystaunce of his goodnesse He was also myndful of that which he promysed vnto man hearynge the depe desyres and the humble syghinge of the ryghteous which longynge for his cōmynge did cal for him y t he shuld she we his loue to the strayeng and lost nature Wherfore the father hath opened his fatherly harte sendynge vs his worde his only sōne that he myght be for vs y ◠onely mediatour speche man and swager of Gods wrath which shulde ouercome death hell synne and the
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