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
mystruste his worde and they that loue hym wyll kepe his coÌ„maundements c. Thus is it euydent that fayth muste nedes be a worke glorious puyssaunt wherby man optayneth so much of the LORDE How coulde ony maÌ„ comprehende and perceaue the power of faith and that by fayth we are one with God Ihon sayeth That God hath geuen all meÌ„ power to be the chyldreÌ„ of God Christ sayd All thynges are possible vnto hym that beleueth And agayn Yf ye beleue ye shall se the glorye of God And agayne Yf ye haue fayth as a grayne of mustarde sede ye maye saye vnto this mountayne Remoue hence to yonder place and he shall remoue nother shall ony thynge be vnpossible vnto you Now seynge God worketh so gloriously in all faythfull hartes then is it conuenient that we humbly beseke hym to teach vs to trust in his worde For we shall reioyce so much in his goodnesse loke for so much aide coÌ„forte at his haÌ„de as we can trust in hym and in his worde We â—ede of SusaÌ„na that what tyme she was in hir moost distresse anguish beyng iudged wrongfully to death she syghed and prayed to God trustyng stedfastly in him and y e LORD delyuered her Daniel also whan he was cast in y e LyoÌ„s denne was not hurte of them for he trusted in God The godly worde commeth not for nought it worketh wonderfully whan it is receaued in fayth Therfore doth saynt Iames erhorte vs to receaue with mekenesse the word that is grafted in vs whiche is able to saue our soules A man can not erre so longe as he can testyfye hys lyfe to be led accordynge to Gods worde Yf a man haue his myndefixed vpon mans inuencyons or inuented holynesse he maye surely be dysquyete and confortlesse But so longe as a man hath his eyen fixed vpon God and his worde bearynge Gods commaundementes in his harte so longe doth that man walke in sekernesse beynge assured of all y e is expressed by Gods worde and is sure of his sauegarde and coÌ„forte accordynge as Paul sayeth All men are lyars but God is true The sonne of God is the wysedome of y e father Who so now doth yelde hym selfe vnto the word receauyng therby the wysedome of the father the same is dryuen from death vnto lyfe by the sprete of God Syrak sayeth that wysedome breatheth lyfe in to hyr chyldren receaueth them that seke her It foloweth then that they which haue once assayed god by his worde in the wysedome of God that those I saye maye come to complete lyfe But it is contrarye with the worldly wysedome as wytnesseth Paul sayenge In so muche as the worlde by the wysedome ther of knewe not God in his wysedome it pleased God thorowe folyshe preachynge to saue them that beleue Whan Paul was mynded to conuerte ony man then wolde he laye nothynge before hym saue onely Gods worde sayenge I haue begotten you in CHRIST IESV thorowe the gospell Wherfore I exhort you be ye my folowers as I am IESV CHRISTES So longe as a man redresseth hys lyfe accordyng to Gods worde so longe shall he come walkynge the ryghte waye of saluacyon and reioyce in his conseyence For all that the worde of God doth vtter is concernynge ether mercy or in warde consolacyon Peter sayeth Ye knowe of the preachynge y t God sent vnto the chyldreÌ„ of Israel preachyng peace thorow IESVS CHRIST Of hym beare al the prophetes wytnesse that thorow his name all they that beleue in hym shall receaue remission of synnes Luke also wrytyng CRISTES wordes saieth Thus is it wrytten and thus it behoued CHRIST to suffre and the thirde day to tyse agayne from the dead and to let repentaunce and remyssioÌ„ of synnes be preached in his name amoÌ„geal nacions This knewe Esay afore hande whan he sayde Lyke as the rayne and snowe commeth downe from heauen and returneth not thy ther againe but watereth the earth maketh it frutefull and grene that it maye geue corne and bread vnto the so wer So the worde also that coÌ„meth out of my mouth shall not turne vnto me voide agayn but shal accomplyshe my wyll and prosper in the thynge whereunto I sende it Hereby we are taughte that like as the earthe is made frutefull of the rayne that God sendeth so shall we also be renewed and be frutefull yf we knowlege God a ryghte by hys worde and reioice in al that he hath wytesafe to warne vs of by hys worde Yee we shall mortifye the fleshe wyth all hys desyres and he ioyned to God He that cleueth vnto god becommeth one sprete wyth hym and optayneth all goodnesse wyth hym A man reioyceth so muche in God as he is knytte wyth him by fayth and is diligent in all thynges to forther hys glorye The olde father Symeon beholdynge the lytle babe and beynge sure in wardlye that he was hys saueoure for he loked for hym by hys fayth reioyced in hys harte desyrynge to go to hys reste by bodely death for his eyen had sene the saue garde of men Euen so lykewyse we yf we had sene by fayth the loue which God beareth to ward vs how hartelye shulde we then yelde oureselues vnto death For fayth certyfyeth the harte that God is a mercy full father and that mercye shall be shewed vnto vs by y e death of IESV CHRISTE We can optayne no greater rewarde than to beleue that God is wyth vs and we beynge wyth the LORDE are safe Steuen seynge heauen open by fayth sayde incontinentlye LORDE receaue my sprete For thys cause sayde Paule Because therfore that we are iustyfyed by faythe we haue peace wyth God thorow oure LORDE IESVS CHRISTE by whom also we haue an entraunce in faythe vnto thys grace wherein we stonde Here lo is no mencyon of workes or of y â— lawe for by the workes is noman iustyfyed But the workes muste breake oute thorowe loue and declare oure inwarde fayth by workynge of charitable dedes Iob was ashamed of all hys workes and was not so bold as to lyfte vp hys heade before hys LORDE God but submitted hymselfe lowly vnto him ye though ther had ben founde some right wy sucsse in hym Dauid also sayde LORDE entre not in to iudgemente with thy seruaunte for in thy syghte shall noman lyuynge be iustifyed Neuerthelesse God wyllynge to certifye vs what we maye optayne by fayth he shewed vs that by pure and onely loue and mercye he taketh the synner to grace wythoute ony regarde of dedes so that mercye shulde be shewed to vs of promyse and not of dewtye Therfore ought we to geue all glorye vnto God onely Dauid wytnesseth thys same sayenge Blessed are they whose vnryghteousnesse is forgeuen and whose sinnes are couered Blessed is the man vnto whome the LORDE imputeth no syn and in whose sprete ther is no gyle Herin maye you perceaue the maner of tustifienge namely
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
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
but lyue and shewe forth the workes of the LORDE The LORDE chastenynge hath chastened me and not delyuered me vnto deathe Open vnto me the gates of ryghtwysnesse and whan I am entred than shall I confesse the LORDE That is the gate of the LORDE and the ryghtwyse shall entre in thorow it All thys fayth and confydēce had de Dauid for he was sure fyxed vppon Gods promyses Whan his sinnes wolde oppresse hym than turned he vnto the LORDE and hys worde the whiche whan he trusted vnto he reioyced in the LORDE All this caused the worde that was beleued Yf he had ben weake in the faith he wolde haue thought continually that he muste be damned Wherfore he sayde Wythout the LORDE had holpen a lyttell whyle my soule shulde haue dwelled and abyden in hell Dauid sought none other comforte saue onely that he wolde fulfyll that vnto hym which he had promised him and beleuyng this he was conforted sayenge Thynke vpon thy seruaunt as concernynge y e worde wherin thou causedest me to put my trust that conforted me in my lowlynesse ye thy worde hath relyued me Herby may we discerne the true fayth namely that a man is fixed groūded vpon God and his word that is to saye that he shall and wyl geue so much as his promyse is y t y e synfull soule can be conforted therin or els is it not possible to knowe God in his goodnesse Yf God be not knowē in his goodnesse by his worde how shulde ony man reioyce in his goodnesse or conceaue ony hope to come to his mercy What tyme as the chyldren of Israel had synned greueously agaynste God murmurynge agaynste hym and so prouokynge hym to anger and after that worshippynge the golden calfe so y t he wolde haue destroyed the whole multitude of them Moses lyke a true and faythfull seruaūt of God seing that God was angry and beynge wyllynge to apeace his wrath agayne he knewe no nearer nor feater waye to reconcyle the people agayne vnto God than to offre a faythfull harte wherwith he dyd knowlege God to be mercyful kind and longesufferynge shewyng mercy in thousandes Moses was surely fixed vpon this grounde that is that the LORDE was mercyfull But seynge his mercy was turned in to wrath by reason of the multytude and greatnesse of the synnes he perceaued that it was not possible vnto mā to fynde grace by God Wherfore he beganne to admonyshe hym of his kynde and fatherly loue to remembre all that which he had promysed vnto Abraham Isaac and Iacob Thus was the LORDE pacyfied so that he dyd not the euell that he hadde spoken agaynste the people This hadde Dauid sene in spre◠that is that God in his wrath shulde remembre his conuenaunt sayenge My conuenaunt wyll I not breake nor disanull the thynge that is gone out of my lyppes Dauid wytnesseth of faythful Moses which brake and turned the wrath of God whan he admonysshed hym of his promyse The LORDE sayd he wolde haue destroyed the people hadde not his chosen and electe Moses stonde for them agaynst the mysdedes Whan the synnes be accomplysshed and the synner knoweth not whether to turne hym than is ther no counsell better then to submytte hym selfe before God praynge that he maye take his Godly worde to harte and to knowe therby what mercy and forgeuenesse God wyll shewe vnto the that trust in hym knowlege him by his fatherly loue The LORDE requyreth nought of vs for oure synnes but an heuy and contrite sprete a wyllynge harte to leaue synnynge and an hūgry soule to fulfyll the wyll of God More ouer whan we be moost forsaken and whan oure synnes and the iudgement of God do moost greuously oppresse vs then is it tyme for vs to knowe whiche be the true fayth whan we ought to haue our syght and mynde moost surest fixed vpon God Unto the synner is God mercyful wherfore sayeth Paul This is a true sayenge and by all meanes worthy to be receaued that CHRIST IESV came in to the worlde to saue synners of whom I am chefe Notwithstandynge for this cause optained I mercy y t IESVS CHRIST might pryncypally shewe in me all longe pacyence to the ensample of all thē whiche shulde beleue in hym vnto eternall lyfe Furthermore sayeth Paul Where abūdaūce of syn was there was yet more plenteousnesse of grace Nowe where true fayth cōmeth there shall it not be enquyred what ther is deserued or what a mā is worthy to haue or howe impossible it is for a man to come vnto the mercye of God For ther is nothyng in man that is worthye of mercyfulnesse and fayth beholdeth God onely and that whiche he hath promysed with hys worde and that the LORDE is mercyful and wyl shew mercy vnto all them that seke hym in the treuth Thys causeth the synner to conceaue an hope to optayne mercye by oure LORDE though to hymselfe it seme impossible Thys maye we se by Abrahā which beyng olde hūdreth yeares and Sara his wyfe foure score and ten herde that they shulde haue a sōne in theyr olde age Which thynge whan he herde it it semed vnto hym impossyble as it myght also to ony man for ther was no hope of ony frute But seing it was God that promysed it and that Abraham gaue fayth vnto the worde therfore dyd he hope contrarye to hope and beleued agaynst nature and thys fayth is rekened hym for ryghtwysnesse Not because of of hys workes nor because of the circumcisyon or vncyrcumcysyon but seynge he beleued he dyd geue God the glory and optayned mercye Thys is not onely written to know howe Abraham became ryghteous by hys faith but also for our instruccyon yf we beleue CHRIST dyed for oure synnes and is rysen agayn for oure iustyfycacyon Thys thyng earnestly beleued shal also saue vs for fayth consydereth onely howe much God maye and wyll geue of hys goodnesse Wherfore let vs that be faythful rest onely vpon CHRISTE IESV that hath saued vs although oure mysdedes be many and greate Let vs trust and leane harde to Gods worde it is ynough that God hath promysed it Thys doynge we be sure and may reioyce that we be come to the trewe fayth Thys fayth had Abraham He was promysed that thorowe hys sonne Isaac hys sede shulde so encrease as the starres of the skye After thys dyd God commaunde hym to offre the same sonne and to staye hym Abraham beynge stayed in God and his promise was redy to accomply she Gods wyll Thus is Abraham become ryghteous by the dede that is Abraham by thys worke hath testifyed and declared hys fayth to be good trewe before God thus be hys workes coūted ryghteous before God thorowe fayth As wytnesseth Saynt Iames Thys all is spoken now to knowe a trewe and good fayth namely Not onely to beleue God to be a mercyfull and good father but also to beleue that God