where was his sword now wher was his heart when the maid moued him this questioÌ„ art not thou one of this mans disciples what had he then to answer he made then a flat deniall of hys maister he was none of his disciples he knewe no suche man as Christe was and nowe was it tyme for the cocke to crowe for Peter to fall a weeping and a howling there was Christe left alone and giuen ouer on euery side for the shéepe they were all dispersed Now that guiltlesse Lambe with what a sorte of wicked wolues was he beset There was Annas the fyrste Caiphas the high Prieste Pilate the president there was the assembly of Scribes the â—ocke of Pharisies but thankes be to God the heauenly father his Christe had pacience ynough for them all There was in that Lambe bloude ynough for those greedy wolues the rulers and gouernors there were bones ynough for those hungrie dogges the Scribes and fleshe to satisfie that swarme of adders the Pharisies for all those there was pacience ynough with our suffring sauiour being ready to beare what soeuer burthen they might deuise to oppresse him wythall for they bounde him they made a scorne and a mock of him turning him into a strange disguised apparell platting a crowne of thornes vpon his heade adding thereto thorny and gauling wordes beyng haled and tossed to and fro betwixt Pilate the Priestes and the people one crying on this side beholde the man in dispite of his omnipotent godheade on the other syde another company crying hayle Kyng of the Iewes in contempt of this eternall kingdome and yet for further tryall of his pacience some blindfelded hym some buffetted him some moste shamefullye spued theyr spettle on his face then was hée tormented also wyth Pylates bitter scourge yet no resistance made Christ remedie was pacience but that was not thought ynoughe neyther scourging woulde not serue therefore he muste bée committed againe to the handes of Pylate hée muste be examined witnesse is sought and false witnesse is brought in agaynst the truth it selfe yea although Pylate himselfe coulde not but thus depose for his innocencie saying and repeating it often I finde no fault in hym wherefore yet thys friendship was shewed of Pylate that the people contented he shoulde bée let loose according to the custome of the Iewes This was the greatest curtesie that Christe founde he was set agaynste Barrabas an holy God compared wyth a wicked murtherer for so did Pylate put it to the peoples choyse saying Wil ye that I let loose vnto you Barrabas or Iesus whiche is called Christ naye if Christ should haue nowe bene let at libertie then had the Priestes his enimies froÌ„ the beginning lost al their labor wherfore Mathewe reporteth that they counselled the people to quite Barrabas and to aske Christ to be crucified wherefore the sauing and condemnation being referred vnto them when they cried for Barrabas that he might be saued then Pylate speaking somwhat fauourably as he durst on Christes part sayd what shall I do then with Iesus the answere was let him be crucified And Pylate demaunding again what euill hath he done That question might not be heard bycause it coulde not be aunswered but the more they cryed away with him crucifie him This was that rufull crie that Christe was content to heare for all the loue of God that was and shoulde be declared by him towardes the worlde he had this rewarde crucifie him nothing but crucifie him After this hard sentence as a lamb to the slaughter so was our Sauioure led out of the Citie to the place of his executioÌ„ hauing the coÌ„panie of his Crosse and bearing it part of the way himselfe Now must our Sauiour be serued as the Serpent in the wyldernesse he must be lifte vp to the crosse beholde he drinketh the cup of that curse Cursed is he that hangeth on the trée This is the true represented Isaacke that humbleth himselfe to the aultar a sacrifice for sinne and the Lorde suffereth that bloudy knife withdrawn froÌ„ Isaack to fall vpon his onely begotten sonne and to pierce his precious bowelles that the water mought runne out whiche shoulde washe away the sinnes of his people O Christians O men and brethreÌ„ this was ours by right but Christe is contented to beare our burthen he is contented to dye to dye the death the shamefull deathe the cursed death of the bitter crosse Nowe beholde the Lamb of God that taketh away the sinnes of the worlde O thou sonne of man sée what the sonne of God suffereth for thy sake sée how he is tormented let his panges enter a little into thy hart that thou mayste consider the loue of God towardes thee lette that pitifull scricke of our Sauiour alwayes ring in thyne eare as when he cryed my God my God why hast thou forsaken me for so did the sorrowes of death gripe him as thoughe he had indéede bene forsaken of his father wherefore he suffered him to be layde in the graue also that he might tast of al our infirmities as well vnder the earth as aboue howbeit nowe was it time for the Lord God to gloryfie his sonne in the heauens which had glorified him on the earth wherefore he might not leaue the soule of his dearely beloued in the graue nor suffer his holye one to sée corruption but hath raysed him vp to his ryght hande there to reigne with glorie vntil he make his enimies and our enimies if we be true Christians his footestoole and thus with the glorie of Christe doth the loue of God fully appeare towardes vs for in all this hath God and his Chryste sought our saluation for the sonne of man came for no other purpose but to saue that which was loste and by these meanes in summe hathe he atchieued the ende of his message he was deliuered to deathe for our sinnes and rose againe for our iustification The tvvelfth Chapter ¶ How only faith wrought in vs by the spirit of God and grounded vpon the word of God maketh vs partakers of the fruit of Christes death THus is that worthy worke finished Nowe may Abraham reioyce with ful ioy for his promised séede is performed and he hath poured out his blessing moste plentifully vpon his faithfull children now is Adam truly made vp a new creature thus far is he in the fauor of God that he hath sent his only begotten son to purchase him his pardon God said in his indignation thou shalt die the death but so hath the sonne pleased him that he nowe cryeth thou shalt not perishe but haue life euerlasting Nowe shalte thou liue for so God loueth thée that Christ hath dyed in thy stead now mayst thou stand vpright for so God loueth thée that his Chryste hath falne for thee Chryste is rysen and beholde he so loueth thée that he offereth his gentle hande to rayse thée togyther with himselfe he hath deceyued the serpent
the high Priests and presumptuous Pharisies sawe that Chryste and his doctrine began somewhat to be accepted of the people they thinking that a derogation to their worships sente out theyr officers to take Christe as he was teaching in the temple but these officers although they came with full purpose to haue apprehended our sauioure yet so were they rauished with hys heauenly preachings and wonderfull wordes flowing from hym so plentifully that they had no power to doe their purpose but retourned agayne making thys answere to their maisters neuer man spake lyke thys man but so was not the malice of those hypocrites stayed and with suche wordes they stormed and stamped against him continually saying vnto those their messangers are ye also deceiued dothe any of the Rulers and of the Pharisies beleeue in him but this people which knowe not the law are cursed So did the Serpēt deceiue them that they did still spit their venome against that vnspotted lambe that sought their saluation they helde hym accurssed that followed Christ this suffered our Sauiour the high Priests could not looke so low as to enterteine hym amongst them the Pharisies and Scribes in their owne conceit were to wise to holy and to good to take him into their company it shoulde haue stayned their good name to be called Christians it was not for their worships to haue professed themselues the disciples of Chryste so was our Sauioure an abiecte an outcast and made of no reputation he was disdained bothe of Priest and Prince and this is maruellous in our eyes But it was the good will of God so to prouide for vs that we shoulde not perish for Christe hereby hathe approued himselfe the true annointed the selfe Sauioure and very Messias and Dauid also a true Prophet saying that the head stone of the corner shoulde be refused of the builders they made no more of Christe than a stone to stumble and to spurne at where then had our Sauioure his conuersation he betooke himselfe as he disdained not the name of a phisition comming to haue the sicke euen to be amongst Publicanes and sinners there was his company to visite poore Publicanes and to saue simple sinners that was his comfort This was the comfortable tydings that he had to send Iohn Baptist into prison The blind see the halt goe the leapers are cleansed the deafe heare the dead rise againe This was his garde he was still busie about these the blinde the Leaper the lame the deafe and the dead in the meane space where was the rich the wise and the welthy Nay they would not be taken for Christes souldiers but the poore saythe he receiue the glad tidings of the Gospell and happie it was that all fell not besides but that ther stoode some at receite to receiue the precious séede sowen by our Sauioure thus we sée a greate péece of the loue of God working in his sonne our Sauioure for what loue is this that the sonne of God shuld so humble himself to set vs in honor with his heuēly father but yet the greatest péece of loue and the chiefe token of gods mercy towards vs is yet behind and that which is vnspoken is more than all that hertofore hath bin spoken that doth S. Paule set forth after a most reuerēt sort howbeit no man may vtter it with worthy words that place which I mean is in the seconde to the Philippians whome he exhorteth by the example of Christ to humilitie and wherein for our purpose is to be séene the loue of God working in hys only begotten euē to the vttermost point that may be imagined within al the compasse of loue and in that he procéedeth by degrée gathering vp in shorte summe all whiche is spoken in our former wordes concerning our Sauioure that it myghte enter into vs with a déeper consideratiō this is his saying let the same minde be in you that was euen in Christ Iesus who being in the forme of God thought it no robberie to be equall with God but he made hymselfe of no reputation and tooke vpon him the forme of a seruante and was made like vnto men and vvas founde in shape as a man Here let vs staye a while and deuide Paules sentence kéeping backe that whiche followeth vntill we haue somewhat considered this parte of Gods loue Christe the sonne of God a verye God a glorious God equal with the father and no wrong neyther is come downe frō the bright heauens to the bare earthe is content to be made of mans mettall taking on him very fleshe well pleased to be cast in the mould and simple shape of man no whit disdaining the wombe of a woman contente to be called the seede of Eue and laying aside his glory and as it were hyding his godhead emptied himselfe of all honoure becomming of the sonne of God the sonne of man like vnto man a very man a seruant of men and what else but a slaue to saue men if there had here a stay bene made yet might not the loue of God but séeme maruellous towardes man But that which followeth in Saint Paule that is muche more maruellous that cannot but inflame the hearte of the Christian with the loue of God breake the stony stomack of the infidel To what may I then compare those wordes following it is a thunderbolt that me thinkes should sound through the whole heauens piercing the clouds and shaking the foundations of the earthe bringing with it a smoking fire by the heate whereof the very mountaines melte lyke waxe ioyned with a wind that hurleth downe the high Ceders of Libanus Harken then O heauen giue eare O earth sée the loue of the almightie he saith the Apostle euen that glorious God beside that he became man in his manhoode he humbled himselfe and became obedient with what humilitie howe farre was he obedient euen to the death what death the death of the crosse Thys is that speciall loue God so loueth the world that he hath giuen his sonne to be a sacrifice for our sinnes to be slayne that we might not perishe and to die that we might haue euerlasting life The eleuenth Chapter ¶ A description of the passion of Christe and the profite that commeth thereby BVt yet that this loue mighte enter déeper and take a more grounded roote in our hartes let vs somewhat consider the deathe of the Lorde let vs sée what a preparatiue he had to his cup let vs marke the maner of his deathe and let vs behold him with our inward eyes in hys pangs as hee hangeth on the crosse thys therefore did our Sauioure forewarne his disciples what should become of him wherin we haue also a warning to consider the loue of God Beholde saith he we goe vp to Ierusalem and the sonne of man shall be deliuered into the handes of sinners vnto the chiefe Priestes vnto the Scribes they shall condemne him to deathe and shall deliuer him to the
so he himselfe maketh comparison I am the breade of life your fathers did eate Manna in the wildernesse and are deade I am the liuing bread whiche came downe from heauen if any maÌ„ eate of this breade he shall liue for euer finally that God by the hande of his seruant Iosua conducted his people and sette them safe in the possession of CanaaÌ„ that lande so long looked for so commended that it should flow with milke and hony therein did he shew himselfe as a mightie so a most mercyfull God but blessed be the father of our Lord Iesus Christ whiche according to his abundant mercy hath begotten vs againe vnto a liuely hope by the resurrectioÌ„ of our Lorde Iesus Christ from the deade to an inheritance immortall and vndefiled and that fadeth not away This is that eternal possession whiche Christ hath purchased for vs with the price of his precious bloude euen the eternall and glorious kingdome of his heauenly father O blessed Bées that may be so happy as to swarme about Christ and to suck the swéete hony flowing from the floures of that Canaan verily there is heauenly hony eueÌ„ such as the eye hath not séen the eare hath not heard neyther yet hath euer entred into the heart of man that is it which God hath prouided for his beloued it was vndoubtedly a great losse which we had in Adam But thankes be vnto God we haue founde more in Christ than we enioyed before So saint Paule maketh conference of both estates for if by the offence of one death reigned through one much more shall they which receyue the aboundance of grace and of the gifte of righteousnesse reigne in life through one that is Iesus Christe O Lorde what is man that thou shouldest be so mindfull of him But herein is loue that Christe hath purchased vs a newe Paradise is gone to prouide vs a kingdome euen of his own kingdome doth he make vs fellow heires he rayseth vs togyther with him to the heaueÌ„ly places and with his crowne of thornes he hath gotten vs the crowne of glorie that euer florisheth and neuer fadeth although we eate not the fruite of the trée of the knowledge of good and badde yet may we be sure to auoyd the châ—king peare I meane to perish althogh we meete not with the trée of life which stood in the old Paradise yet in the high pillar of the Almightie God comming to Christe his heauenly table we shal not misse the worthy fruit to haue life euerlasting The fiftenth Chapter ¶ The assurance of such as take holde of Gods mercie freely offred in Christe THus haue we looked on and ouerlooked the beautifull worke of God concerning our regeneration in Chryste Iesus our Lorde we haue assayed to drawe vp that which was layd abrode now therfore to knit vp the knot and to make a through styche let vs cast asyde all selfe loue and sticke onely to the loue of the liuing God the true fountaine and wel of the water of life bearing still in mynde the saying of S. Iohn God so loueth the worlde and that he saithe herein is loue not that we loued him and that oure loue is but a fruite of the roote for so he saith therefore we loue him bicause he loued vs first let vs therefore begin to recken there where we haue to fetch all good things whether it be loue light or life eueÌ„ from that first fountaine whiche S. Iohn hath so set abâ—och before vs saying he loued vs first remeÌ„ber what he saith in whom God sheweth all his mercie without me ye can do nothing and what he saith to them that take parte with him to you nothing shall be vnpossible and aboue all things let vs consider the conditioÌ„ vnder which that deede of gifte passeth God hath giuen his sonne that whoso beleueth in him he should haue loue and life with God So doth God drawe vs vnto Christe as he pronounced by his Prophet he that beléeueth on him shall not be ashamed And Christe calleth vs vnto him come vnto me al ye that are heauy laden how may we come but by the foote of faith for whom he calleth theÌ„ he iustifieth and we being iustified by fayth haue peace towardes God through oure Lorde Iesus Christe by whome also we haue accesse through faythe sayth the Apostle vnto this grace wherein we stand for want of fayth it was that Christe was not receiued of his owne but the beloued beleeuers they receiued him to them he gaue the power to be the sonnes of God they are knit fast to Christe they are the body and he is the heade they are frée by him they are frends in one house felowes in one inheritance and sonnes of one father with our Lorde Iesus O how happy are we if we haue faithe for then are we chosen we are called we are iustified we are glorified God is on our side who may stand against vs what shall we now dout to obtaine at Gods hands for he that spared not his sonne but gaue him for vs al howe shall he not with him giue vs all things also we are Gods chosen who shall lay any thing to our charge Christ is dead he is rysen euen he to whome all iudgement is committed he maketh earnest sute and continuall request he pleadeth for vs who shal then condemne vs who shal separate vs now from the loue of Chryst Shall tribulation or anguishe or persecution or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword in all these things sayth S. Paule we are more than conquerors through him that loued vs And vpon this is he so bold that he sayth I am persuaded that neyther death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things presente nor things to come nor heigth nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lorde O let vs set this example of faithfull Paule before vs let vs holde fast the loue of God with him howe came he by that bolde and mightie spirite by the grace of God I am that I am sayth he againe we haue boldnesse and entrance by fayth in him that is in Christ Iesus wherefore his exhortation shall be moste necessarie at al tymes watch ye saith he stand fast in the faith quit you like men be strong let vs put on the armor of God let vs not feare to enter the fielde hauing Christ our Captaine aboue al let vs be sure to take with vs the shielde of faithe that hath S. Iohns warrant that therewith we may conquer the world as Christ hath done and S. Paules that therewith we maye quenche the fierie dartes of the wicked and S. Peters also that with the mightie force of faith we may mousell vp the bloudy mouth of that roring Lyon so we being armed and fortified with fayth we maye walke free without all feare now we
thy selfe will sinne for that Thou waste once in the fauoure of God he shewed hymselfe a moste fauourable father vnto thée whilest thou behauedst thy selfe as an obedient childe but nowe hath he iustly turned thée of Thou wast once the frée friende of God but nowe art become the sworne seruant of sinne and bondslaue of Sathan this is spoken as by the mouth of God. Then are you my friendes if you doe what I commaunde you nowe therefore arte thou an enimie vnto God bycause thou hast neglected his holy commaundement whosoeuer committeth sinne is the seruaunt of sinne therefore arte thou Adam out of Gods seruice he that sinneth is of the Deuill thou haste sinned Adam therefore arte thou not of god Thou didst once receiue a blessing at Gods hande thou didst féele no part of paine God cared altogyther for thée thou tookest no care for thy selfe thou wast warme without clothes naked without shame satisfied without trauel thy meat was put into thy mouth God hadde so blessed euery thing for thée that the earth the herbes the trées the cattell the foules the fishe they gaue thée their fruite and yelded their encrease of their owne accorde in the meane while mightest thou take thy pleasure in thy garden but now thou haste sinned Adam therefore must thou harden thy handes to labour thou must set thy shoulders to heauie burthens thou must buie thy breade dearely with the sweate of thy face this might haue bene foreséene hadst thou not sinned thou néedest not haue sweated but there is no remedie that man may finde Thou art sicke Adam thou art sicke vnto deathe thou hast prouoked the wrath of God thou hast caused him to poure out his vengeance and to open his cup of curses O beholde howe the wrath of God being once kindled ouerrunneth the whole worlde for the disobedience of man sée what a flame riseth of the burning sparke of sinne As before in obedience man was blessed so in disobedience of the iustice of God muste he néedes be cursed harken therefore vnto the dreadfull iudgement and hard sentence pronounced vpon disobedience Adam thus sayth the Lorde bycause thou hast eaten of the tree whiche I commaunded thée thou shouldest not eate of Cursed is the earth for thy sake in sorowe shalte thou eate of it all the dayes of thy life thornes also and thistles shall it bring forthe vnto thee in the sweate of thy face shalt thou eate breade till thou returne to the earth thou art dust and to dust thou shalt returne againe O lamentable fall O pitifull case wherin thou nowe standest Adam so cladde and clogged with the intollerable burthen of sinne so ouerwhelmed with the bloudie floudes of Gods vengeance and curses so pitifully and plentifully poured out vpon thy heade and besides this he may no longen enioye his paradise he is dispossessed thereof he is banished he is turned abrode into the wide worlde whereas nowe he might not so much as come neare the trée of knowledge of good and euill for the which he ventred so far neyther might any longer enioy any part of that libertie as to eate of all other the trees and fruites of the garden lost also the fight of the trée of life These are the wages of sinne payde as debte due vnto a sinfull and disobedient man Let vs therfore by this knowe our selues what we are What is Adam he is but dust he is hated of GOD he is ashamed of himselfe he is cursed he is sicke with sinne he is deade he is twice deade subiecte to mortalitie and subiecte to eternall damnation Crie out then Adam giue thy Children warning that they maye knowe themselues tell them in what case thou standest and what an inheritance thou hast purchased for them Thus sayth your father O children of men he that hath cares to heare let him heare I was once a man a frée man a blessed man full of life as God had breathed into me the light shining rounde aboute me the mercie of God embrasing me on euery side if I behelde the earth there was blessing for me ingraued as it were in the herbs the flowrs the fruits thereof turning me to the firmamēt ther I sawe the sunne the moone the stars in them was God to be séene a blessed God likewise in the waters there were innumerable tokens of Gods tender mercie towards me so far was I in the fauor of my creator I might stand in his presence enioying his ioyfull countenance yea he made me like vnto his own Image But alas wretch that I am whē I was in honor knew not my self forgot my duetie became far vnlike to my God not like to my selfe but altogither like vnto a beast yea rather worse thā a beast for behold the dul ore he knoweth his owner the simple Asse he knoweth his masters crib but I man nay the shadowe of man a very worm no mā I could not bear the yoke of my creator I would not herken vnto his voice I denied him my seruice I haue sinned I haue sinned therfore I am worthily rewarded I presumed am therfore brought low I aduanced my self therefore I am throwne downe I haue eaten without néed therefore I am subiect to hunger I pine away for desire of the fruit of that pleasant garden I thirste as the Harte after the waters of those swéete rūning riuers I am become of the sonne of God the childe of wrath I am cleane altered I haue lost the light I walke in darknesse of a blessed creature I am become a cursed caitife Where may I rest myselfe I haue sinned and my sinne is euer before me against thée alone against thée Lord haue I sinned I dare not present my selfe in thy presence I tremble at thy voyce I am ashamed of my selfe Whither then may I flée what stay may I finde I sinke in sinne O that sting of death howe it pierceth me O death O graue yours is the victorie and thou Sathan mine enimie how ruefully thou roarest thou standest with open mouth readie to deuour me I finde yet no defense Thou subtill serpent that drewest me into this net how thou spettest thy poyson howe busie art thou about my héele how faste hangest thou howe suckest thou my bloude O that I coulde shake thée of or that I might bruse thy heade And thou Eue which shouldest be my comfort thou hast as muche néede of comfort thy selfe thou shouldest haue comforted me but thou hast deceiued me and thy selfe also we are become a cursed couple and with my creator I finde this comfort thou shalt die the death verily it had bene better for me neuer to haue bene made than so to haue falne into the handes of the liuing god This might be a true confession of Adams follye and the description of his estate after his fall wherein we haue to consider what we are of our selues without Christe euen as it were sworne
enimies and at vtter defiance with God. The sixt Chapter ¶ That all Adams posteritie are ioyned with him in the same guiltinesse of sinne and so stand in the same miserable estate NOw the matter standing at this stay if God did so stretch his mercie as that he woulde voutsafe to take vs into his fauour againe to make attonement with vs if we maye perceiue him notwithstanding our frowardnesse to receiue vs as his children then if we did not worthily estéeme that loue we were worthy double damnation But let euery man be thus minded that he standeth in case like with Adam Let euery one consider his necessitie and search his wounde and sée what néede he hath of suche a medicine for some peraduenture there be hauing so little taste of the truthe that they will say what tell ye me of Adam what haue I to doe with him Other not considering their owne infirmitie in whome the inposthume of sinne lyeth so hidden that they will beare themselues as whole and sounde whereas within like painted Sepulchers they are full of corruption hauing nothing in them to shewe when they shall come to be opened but rustie and rotten bones and suche sayings procéede from them as doe declare their hollowe heartes puffed vp with painted hipocrisie and double dissimulation These men will say I am not like Adam or if I had bene in Adams case I would haue looked better before I had made so rashe a leape But O thou man dissemble not with God iudge thy selfe leaste thou be iudged of the Lorde searche the bottome of thy conscience take thy glasse in thine hande is it a true glasse what then findest thou there but the very face of Adam be it neuer so well coloured It is true it is to true euery one of vs are falne we haue sinned euery mothers childe as truely as we are the séede of sinfull Euē it is but vaine to say this if I had bene in Adams coate for we haue each one of vs in our coates cloathed a sinfull Adam or to say if I hadde bene in his case for euery mans skinne is the case of a sinner Nay we maye not so ridde our handes we can not washe our fingers so cleane but that pitche of sinne will sticke faste what soeuer face be set on the mater O thou man that yet knowest not thy selfe that art so benummed of thy senses that thou féelest not the serpent whiche lyeth gnawing at thy héele whiche sléepest in a deade slumber and féelest not the sting of deathe fast fired in thy fleshe whyche bréedest in thy breste the consuming worme of sinne awake out of thy slumber stande vp and hearken to the cry of Esdras in his disputation wyth the Aungell O Adam saythe he what haste thou done for in that thou haste sinned thou arte not fallen alone but thy fall also redoundeth vnto vs that come of thée and so saith the Apostle that by one man sinne entred into the world and death by sinne and so went death ouer all men for as much as al men haue sinned this floude of sinne it goeth with a higher streame thā the floud of Noe that went euen ouer the top of the Arke for so saith S. Iohn the whole world is set on wickednesse Thus do they say of vs and we can make no better of oure selues we are lost euery one of vs haue gone astray we haue lost our selues in the wilde wood of worldly wickednesse following that blinde guide our owne wilfull appetite Adam he gaue the first onset and we brake not the araye he brake the yce and we are lept into the ditch we are all hong on one hooke like fishe taken with the baite for we haue tasted of the cup of short swéete concupiscence and as Esdras saith we and our fathers haue all one disease meaning sinne that shrewe amongst the shepe of Gods pasture we are al sicke of sinne that is the griefe that Esdras complaineth of Ieremie 31. The fathers haue eaten a sowre grape and the childrens téeth are sette on edge withall This Prouerbe did the people vse in the time of Ieremie murmuring againste God as though they were punished for the offence of their fathers But thus saith the Lord euery one shall die for his owne iniquitie euery man that eateth the soure grape his téeth shall be set on edge Now what father what childe is it that hath not tasted of the sowre grape of sinne Dauid maketh thy confession we haue sinned we haue done wickedly wyth oure fathers recken al the children to the last all the fathers to the firste who is it that hath not eaten with Adam the Apple that grape it sticketh yet in our teeth we are all choked with the core of carnall cōcupiscence that subtil counsell of the Serpent which deceyued the first man it will also deceiue the laste that venime hath infected the whole race the whole broode of Adams birdes Dauid he thus saythe of no worse man than himselfe I was borne in iniquitie and in sinne hath my mother conceyued me Beholde no sooner conceiued in Eue but as soone deceyued of the Serpent and this hath God to lay against vs as he doth againste the Israelites Thy first father hath sinned and thy teachers haue transgressed against me Séeing then we haue tasted one meate seeing that we haue sucked sinne of the forbidden fruite what maye we looke for but to be serued of the same sauce euen that bitter gall the dreadfull curse of God to turne to duste and to dye the death In this state stande we vnlesse God take pitie on vs we are falne we lie flatte on our faces we are become dustie deadly we can not helpe our selues but as the byrd taken in the nette we lie fast fettered our owne eyes not seruing vs to espie any way to winde out we are not able to moue our féeble legs nor to stretch forth our wearie handes our soules are sicke our hearts are faint we must néeds yéelde to our enimie and be taken as prisoners of Satan that fierce Serpent and fierie Dragon The seuenth Chapter ¶ That the sinne wherewith God may charge euery one of vs can neyther be bidden by vs nor excused by blaming any other NOwe by this we maye consider our fall that we are loste without some special remedie and that we haue no part in Paradise we are in darkenesse wythout light sick for sinne panting for breth and bléeding to death But yet before we despaire let vs looke about vs see whither we can espie any hooke to hang oure hope on let vs conferre and take counsel with our father Adam what is to be done if there appeare any staffe to stay on lette vs there catch holde if we haue any thing to say for our selues it is good to speak in time What then shall we say how shall we begin with God let him that thinketh himself best speak first wil he say
euill and he that followeth euill counsell bycause he hath sinned he muste be payde with the wages of sinne here then are we as far to séeke as at the firste here then are we as farre out of the way as before here is no sure ground for vs to stand on yet that sting of death sticketh as déepe in vs as euer it did The eight Chapter ¶ The distresse and dispaire of man in the viewe of his owne wickednesse HOwe then is there no remedie to be founde must we néedes lie stil sweating in the greace of our own fleshly wickednesse is there none to delyuer vs from this body of death if it be so then sucke on Serpent then death take thy pleasure then craue thy righte graue open thy mouth Hell swallowe vp thy portion for thou God haste forsaken vs thou hast yéelded vp all thy right whyther shall we flée then where may we finde rest for our soules Thy face thou mightie one is alwayes against vs we sweate we burne we frie with the furie of wrath all places are to hote for man to reste on so is thine indignation kindled If I saye I haue done iustly then thou reprouest me as a lyer if I haue sinned then thou wilt streightly looke vnto me and wilte not holde me guiltlesse of mine iniquitie and séeing thou markest iniquitie straightly who shall abide it wherefore then hath thine handes fashioned me O that I had perished in my conception and that none eye had séene me and that I were as I had not bene that my graue had bene my mother beholde I goe and shall not returne euen to the lande of darkenesse into a lande I saye darke as darkenesse it selfe into the shadowe of deathe where is no order but the light is there as darknesse my dayes are as the smoke and my life as the shadowe O ye wormes I am your foode O corruption thou art my father O death thou art my mother out of thee was I taken and into thée I return to thée I bequeath that whyche I hadde from thée this lumpe of earthe this masse of fleshe To whome shall I betake my spirite I maye not long possesse it my selfe séeing thou wilte not haue it thou holy one I muste néedes yéelde it vp as a praye vnto myne enimie The ninth Chapter ¶ That Chryste from the beginning hath bene is and shall be the only staye and comforte of all sortes of men BVt thou sonne of man staye thée a whyle in pacience doe not so gyue ouer thy soule as to saye thy sinne is greater than it may be forgiuen humble thy selfe acknowledge thy rebellion but despaire not cast not thy selfe headlong into Hell is there no remedie to be found on earth then lifte vp thyne eyes to heauen there is a comfort there is a comfort cōming there is a sauing healthe in hande thy wounde is great indeede but there is a strong medicine a tempering thy fall was grieuous but thy rysing vp shall be as wonderfull many and mightie are thine enimies but there is one that shall fight for thée whose name is the Lorde of Hostes and he shall subdue all power Beholde thy creator hath not vtterly cast thée off thou hast found fauor in his sight S. Iohn saith God loueth the world yea suche store of mercie there is with God that although we were his enimies yet he is become our God againe and wyll stand an enimie against our enimies and although he seeth that the imagination of mans heart is euill euen from his youth yet he doth not vtterly cast vs off Goe to then Lorde we beséech thée we haue séene thy iudgements how terrible they are we are full fedde with the gall of thy bitter vengeance now if it be thy good pleasure turne thy face from our sinnes and blot out our offences create in vs a new hart renew a right spirit in our bowels shewe thy selfe once againe a mercyfull God we knowe we are not worthy to be called thy children we haue sinned againste heauen and against earth they bare part of our curse againste thée againste thée haue we sinned but if it be thy good pleasure turne thy louing countenaunce towardes vs Surely there is mercie wyth God he hath heard the gronings and afflictions of his people he is moued wyth compassion and pitie towardes vs beholde we that were shattered in pieces lying still in the sounde of sinne and buried vp in death the Lorde of his infinite goodnesse goth about togather vs vp and to set vs vpright agayne he intendeth to cast Adam in a newe mould and to make him a newe creature not of earth earthly but of heauen heauenly For there is a Lambe a killing whose bloud shall washe awaye our sinnes there is a stone framing it shall be layde in Sion it shal fall vpon our enimie it shal grinde his heade and crushe it in pieces we are but héele hurted but he shall be wounded on the head And it shall be thine owne childe Adam thyne owne séede Eue that shall thus subdue the Serpent So good and gracious is the Lorde he promiseth a victorie his owne mouth hath spoken it and wyth his mightie hande hath he brought it to passe for God so loueth the worlde that he hath sente what hath he sente euen that sauing séede that innocent Lambe prouided from the beginning he hath sent his onely begotten sonne bringing with him that pearle not to perishe with that heauenly treasure to haue lyfe euerlasting héere then maye we caste anchor all other remedies failing vs this is it we muste trust vnto this is the sure pledge of Gods fauor towardes vs without this comforte we had bene altogither comfortlesse but nowe is our ioy full and plenteous This is that ioyfull tydings sent from heauen brought by the Angell belonging to all as well as to those ioyful shepherdes be not afrayd saith the angel for beholde I bring you tidings of greate ioy that shall be to all the people that vnto you this day is borne a Sauiour in the citie of Dauid which is Christe O glorious daye wherein shineth suche a sunne the verye sun of God the bright sunne of righteousnesse in that day so bright were the beames of the sunne that they shyned euē into the dim eyes of Abraham this was the glorious day which he saw with such ioy Nowe by this is God truely become the God of Abraham Isaack and Iacob here is the performance of the heauenly promise and blessed bargaine made for him vs all betwixt Abraham and his God for when it might séeme a hope against hope that aged Abraham should haue any suche séede the Lorde knew that Sara would laugh and wonder at his worde yet the Lorde of his loue wherewith he loued the worlde established his couenaunt wyth them that in them sholude all nations be blessed yea we of England Irelande haue our parte in this blessing and of
saued Christ by his resurrection hath purchased to himselfe an euerlasting kingdome and wée rysing in hym by faith are ioyned in that purchase Christ by nature is the sonne of God so are wée of his grace by fayth finally Christ is altogither ours by fayth which doth incorporate all Christians into his misticall bodie Christ as Saint Paule sayth is our peace howe but by fayth as he sayth we beeing iustified by fayth haue peace wyth God and the Apostle sayeth that the righteousnesse of Christ is our righteousnesse and howe is that but by fayth Chrystes holynesse is our sanctification his iustice is our iustification all this commeth by none other meanes than as Saint Paule declareth when Christe dwelleth in oure heartes by fayth we are filled wyth all fulnesse of God suche then is the force of fayth that wyth this one counter we may shortly cast the whole summe of oure saluation For art thou not deade to God but lyuest vprightly before him in holynesse and righteousnesse then haste thou fayth for the iust lyueth by fayth Art thou wicked and sinfull no marueyle if thou hast not fayth for whatsoeuer is not of fayth is sinne thys is the roote we are the trées the rest as oure good workes they are but flowers and fruites Nowe suche as the roote is suche is the trée and such as the trée is suche is the fruite for Christ maketh no more differences of trées and fruites but as in the Gospell Either make the trée good and his fruit good or else make the trée euill and his frute euill and what is that that maketh this difference but fayth the roote of all righteousnesse for vnlesse by this meanes we be truly graffed in Christ the true vine all that we doe it were as good vndone as good neuer a whit as neuer the better we make but wood for the fire it is in effect nothing but as hée sayth without me ye can do nothing and our workes whatsoeuer shew they haue if they be not rooted in Christ by fayth they are neither figges nor grapes but verie thornes and thistles well may they grow for a while but they may not flourish long euen as herbes that growe in the shadowe neuer well weathered with the warme sunne or rather as the grasse on the house top which lacketh his roote and therefore although it springeth in the Sommer season yet it soone withereth in the Winter and the mower neuer filleth his hand withal Let those then that séeme fruitful in good workes consider of what roote that springeth for the beleeuer worketh well moued by fayth and his fruite is life euerlasting but the misbeléeuing hypocrite he worketh of glory and he hath his rewarde missing farre of the right marke of righteousnesse all that he maketh is marred for lacke of beléefe his works are naught but bare leaues of the fruitlesse figge trée they are but paintings and shadowes mockings and apish toies in cōparison of that iustice of the iust liuing by faith for what is he that flourisheth neuer so much in his painted grapes and wel coloured fruites which is able to please God vnlesse he be a true trée planted of the heauenly father in the faith of christ what fruit is it that God will allowe vnlesse it be fet by fayth of the true vine doest thou fast well done if it be done in fayth doest thou giue almes to the poore doest thou breake thy bread to the néedie doest thou cloth the naked and succour the harbourlesse Good fruites verily therefore belike they come of a good trée whose roote is fayth watered with the precious bloud of our Sauiour Doest thou withdrawe thy handes from iniurie then doest thou beleeue of likelihood doest thou suffer wrong with pacience a good signe it is that thou art alreadie iustified by fayth and all those with such like good works of men of themselues they are not meritorious but with fayth they are acceptable for so generally speaketh the Apostle without fayth it is vnpossible to please God. Marke this infidelitie hath with it an impossibilitie but contrariwise if thou haue fayth feare not for that bringeth a possibilitie so large is the promise of Christ speaking to the beléeuers Nothing shall bée vnpossible vnto you O great is the force of fayth as the whiche to withstande it is impossible a little fayth is muche worth and will go farre yea although it be but as much as a grayne of Mustarde séede it shall plucke vp the rootes of sinne yea let the diuell cast vp Mountaynes agaynst vs yet will it haue his frée course and may not be seuered from Christ whatsoeuer standeth in the way it is whole in sicknesse frée in bandes strong in torments it shyneth in darkenesse it dyeth not with death it is cast into the waters and perisheth not it is tried in the fiery fornace and yet wasteth not it is troden downe but it ryseth againe it is assaulted but neuer yéeldeth it is wounded but yet getteth the victory Such as Chryst is such is the fayth of the Christian Christ is the body fayth is the shadow where so Christ goeth there faith fayleth not to followe It is no earthly thing but as Chryst came from the hyghe heauens so is that the heauenly gift of the holy Ghost Where Christe is occupied fayth is not ydle when Chryste worketh myracles in the body fayth worketh saluation in the soule when Christe vttered the worde fayth printed in the heart whē he fed the body with bread he fed the soule with faith the spittle was the meane to heale the eye but faith the instrument to saue the soule fayth hath his course with Christ in al places to al purposes it folowed Christ to the temple to the mountaine it was with him in the fielde in the house on the Sea on the lande it abydeth with him in temptations in torments it suffreth the scourge with him it hangeth on him on the crosse it goth into the graue with him it riseth with him it foloweth him through the clouds as it were with the wings of an Eagle entring the heauens after him there findeth foode to féede on where Christe suffreth hir to hang on his brest and to sucke of his precious bloud vntill she be satisfied Thus is faith exalted that it taketh vp hir place in the high heauens and is still so far in fauour with God that it can no rather call but it is heard no rather aske but it obtaineth no soner seeke but it findeth no rather knock but it is opened vnto hir So doth fayth worke for the beleeuer for he is the beloued of god to him is the sonne sent he receiueth the sonne Christe is his Sauiour the death of Christ is his life Christ taketh him vp with him in his Resurrection Christ is altogither his and who maye resiste him for God so loueth him that by Christ he shall not perishe but haue life euerlasting The