dyd delyght the before in thy body doth trouble the in thy herte than doste thou repent well saye to God to the alone haue I synned euell haue I done before the. So that the whole summe of repentaunce is this to dye vnto synne to lyue vnto righteousnes which is signified by our plonginge in y â— font when we are baptised by â—ure â—aâ—yng out agayne as S. Paule sayeth we are buryed togyther w t hym by baptisme iÌ„to death y t as Christ is raised vp from the dead by the glory of his Father so we in lyke maner shoulde walke in a newe lyfe THEO If we repent be sory for our sinnes coÌ„fesse our wickedness amende oure lyfe is this ynough PHIL. This is much certes but not all For repent is not only contayned in your dysh but also Beleue the Gospell Thys pour repentance must be ioyned w t sayth lyncked with a sure perswasion that God the father according to his promyse wyll vndoutedly for gyue you your synnes for his sonne Iesus Christes sake For Caym Esau Pharao Saul Antiochus Iudas many other repented grauÌ„ted theyr offeÌ„ces yet were they not forgyuen Many also among the very Neithen gentiles glystered out wardely with a meruaylous godly conuersacion sorowed very greatly yf at any tyme tâ—ey dydde defyle theyr innocencye with ony spotte â—â— vncleanes yet were they not made heyâ—es of eternall glorye And why Uerely they tasted after a certayne maner of y e fyrst parte of your dysh bâ—â— not of the laste They repented but they beleued not y e gospell that is they sought for no helpe of theyr wickednes at gods exceadyng mercy thorowe Iesus Christ. They had not the christen fayth in theÌ„ whâ—che commynge from a repentaunt sorowfull herte maketh haste to God and approcheth boldly to the throne of his grace that it maye obtayne â—â—uour and remission of synnes RepeÌ„taunce without fayth bryngeth desperacion but repentaunce accompanieth fayth bryngeth remissioÌ„ of sinnes tranquilite of conscience euer lastinge lyfe as we maye easely perceyue by two of Christes Disciples Iudas sold Christ Peter denied forswore Christ. Here bothe synned both repented both confessed theyr offence One by manifest it wordes the other by teares Yet was Peter saued and Iudas damned Now so Because that the repentance of Peter was ioyned with faith hope of forgyuenes the repentance of Iudas was not so Mary Magdalene dyd not only repent of her synfullyuynge but also beleued to haue remission of her synnes And therfore dyd not Christ only saye of her vnto Simon the Pharise many synnes are forgyuen her because she loued muche but he also sayd vnto her w t a lyuely voyce thy fayth hath saueâ— the goâ— thy waye in peace Heare what Chrisostowe sayth If thou be wythered worne away of synne renewe thy selfe by repeÌ„taunce Why may he that repenteth be saued yea vndoutedly Wherof of commeth it to passe of y â— LORDES fauourable mercye Truste not to thy repentaunce For thy repentaunce can neuer put away so great sinnes If it were thy repentaunce alone thou myghteste well feare but seyng that the mercy of God is accompanied with repentaunce be on a good conforte for it ouercommeth thy wickednes god is exceadynge mercyfull so full of gentlenes that he dyd not spare his owne soÌ„ne for to redeme the vnkind seruauntes Saye not vnto me I haue synned to much howe can I be saued Thou canste not in dede saue thy selfe but thy LORDE can And he so putteth awaye thy synnes y t therneth no prynte syghe or toâ—eÌ„ of theÌ„ Here ye se also by Chrisostome that repentaunce w tout an earnest fayth had reposed in the mercye of God can by no meanes put away synne This your dyshe therfore teacheth you both to repent also to beleue For what so euer is not of faythe is synne sayeth S. Paule The worde of the LORDE is right sayth Dauid and all his workes are in fayth A worke without fayth sayeth Chrisostome is nothyng Agayne he sayeth we must haue fayth euery wher I meane that fayth which is the mother of all good thynges y e medicine of helth without the which a man caÌ„not perceyue the doctrine of great excellent thynges but is lyke vnto them which takynge in hande for to swymme ouer y e see wythout a shyp whan they are a lytle forward theyâ— haÌ„des theyr fete beying once â—ery are vtterlye ouerwhelmed wyth the waues of y e see Also in another place All oure elders are reported y t they pleased God by fayth therfore with out that all thiÌ„ges come to nought Hereto agreeth S. Austen sayenge The medicyne of the soule and of all woundes the alone sacrifyce to appeaâ—e Gods wrath for the synnes of all men is to beleue in Christe Neyther canne anye man at all be made cleane eyther from originall synne whiche he hath drawne of Adam in whom all haue synned be made naturally the chyldren of wrath or froÌ„ the synnes which they by not resistynge the carnall concupiâ—ceÌ„ce but by followynge it seruyng it by vngraciousnes wycked lyuyng haue added put therto excepte by fayth they be enunied ioyned togyther iÌ„ the body of him which without ony carnall entysemente mortiferous delectacion was conceyued Thus se you that repentaunce wythoute fayth anayleth nothyng but enunâ—ed ioyned with fayth is a singuler and hyghe treasure For by fayth doth God heare vs. By fayth are we blessed By faythe dothe God appere vnto vs. By fayth do we vnderstond the trueth By fayth do we kepe the commaundemeÌ„tes of God By fayth are we maryed to God By fayth haue we eternall lyfe By fayth are we purifyed By fayth are our hertes made cleane By faythe are we made the sonnes of God By fayth are we iustifyed By fayth we please God By fayth we be borne of God By fayth we subdue Satan By fayth do we ouercome the world To conclude by fayth all goodnesse chauÌ„se vnto vs and without fayth all euell thynges fall vpon vs. No meruiale for as Chrisostome sayth Fayth is the foundacioÌ„ of the moost holy religioÌ„ the bonde of charite the subsidie of loue This fayth confyrmeth holynes corrobâ—ratethe maketh stroÌ„g pure lyuyng garnissheth digâ—ities In chyldreÌ„ it shyneth in yonge men it storyssheth in olde meÌ„ it is a godly spectacle it confirmeth al kyndnes it exalteth degrees it kepeth all offices in the poore man it is pleasaunt in the meane man mery in the rytch honest Fayth preserueth frendeshyypes gathereth togyther assemblies reporteth euer wel it despyseth no man it contenmeth no man it fayle the no man excepte perchauÌ„se he fyrst fayleth her Faith vnderstandeth the commaundementes kepeth the preceptes fulfylleth promises Faith maketh vs acquainted with God constituteth vs freÌ„des with Christ. Thus haue I declared vnto you in
And in dede synne may well be compared to a thorne or bramble For as the thorne breÌ„ble prycketh the body wouÌ„deth it greuouslye yea and bryngeth many tymes destruccion vpoÌ„ it except other wyse it be holpen so lykewyse synne moost greuously prycketh wouÌ„deth and vtterly destroyeth the soule excepte it be redemed by Gods mercye thorow Iesus Christ. THEO I thiÌ„ke this to be true PHIL. It therfore foloweth y t iÌ„ asmuch as all we are dead in Adam we are not able of oure selues to ryse agayne from death vnto lyfe And seyng that we are synners all that euer we do muste nedes be synne yea it is synne in dede deserueth euerlastynge death For as the scripture sayth The disposicioÌ„ and thought of maÌ„nes herte is prone to euel from his yonge age We are wicked chyldren a wicked seed We are that seed whiche was cursed froÌ„ the begynnyng We are lyke bruyte beastes We are carnall flesshely sould vnder synne We are vnprofitable seruauÌ„tes We all haue gone astray lyke shepe We all are Hypocrites wycked We are all lyers We all are vncleane all our ryghteousnesses as a cloth polluted with mensture All haue synned There is not one y â— dothe good no not one There is no man cleane from fylthynes no not the yonge chylde Ther is no man able to say my hert is cleane I am pure from sinne For our hartes are wicked and inâ—crutable We are not able to thynke a good thoughte All that euer we bryng forth is thornes braÌ„bles that is to saye synne vngodlines all abhominacion What are we nowe of oure selues I praye you tell me CHRI Very synners EVSE Yea and al that euer we do in AdaÌ„ of our own streÌ„gth is plaine synne and wickedness PHIL. I am glad that we haue learned what ye are of your selues by Adam I pray you what are ye able nowe to do for to saue your selues from this perel wherunto ye are fallen by Adam THEO Verely I can not tell EVSE Forsoth I thynke very lytle PHIL. Ye might right well haue sayde nothinge at all For I ensure you that ye beyng lefte vnto your selues can do none otherwise but synne faull headlyng into all kynde of mischefe Your wytte strength polecy imaginacion reason free wyll auayleth here nothynge to delyuer you from the captiuite of Satan He leadeth you as the mayster dothe his bonde slaue whyther soeuer it pleseth him as Christ witnesseth euery one that doth synne is the seruauÌ„t of synne Ye remember I am sure the storye of the wounded man in the Gospell of Luke which beyng dispoyled and robbed of all his clothes greuously wouÌ„ded laye styll halfe dead THEO I remeÌ„ber it very well PHIL. This wouÌ„ded maÌ„ signiâ—ieth euerye chylde of Adam The clothes signify fayth charïte iustice mercy such other vertues The theues are SataÌ„ and his aungels The woundes are synnes Haulfe deade is to be alyue in the flesshe slayne in the soule thorowe synne All this are we by AdaÌ„ And as this wouÌ„ded man could not be holpen of the Preste nor Leuyte vntyll the Samarytane came no more can we be holpen by ony creature or worke tyll christ coÌ„meth the true Samaritane We can not certes we can not helpe our seues but euen lye styll the stynkynge puddle of synne Loke in what case Satan leaueth vs in the verye same do we remayne excepte God of his mercy thorowe Christe helpeth vs. Neyther canfre e wyll nor all the wytte polecye that we haue profyte here any thynge tyll God indueth vs w t streÌ„gth from aboue For as S. Austen sayeth The nature of man all though it dyd remayne coÌ„tinue in that integryte purenes wherin it was made yet could it kepe it selfe by no meanes if the creator maker of it dyd not helpe Therfore seynge that w tout the grace of god it could not kepe the health that it receiued howe is it able to repare and get agayne that which it hath lost without y e grace of God Againe he saith free wyll sufficethe vnto euell but vnto good it auayleth lytle excepte it be holpen of that almyghty God Therfore is it well sayde of the Apostle God worketh in vs â—oth the wil the dede Hereto agreeth the sayeÌ„g of â—hrist As the vyne braunche can not beare fruyte excepte it abyde in the vine no more can ye except ye abyde in me I am the vyne ye are y â— braunches He that abideth in me I in him the same bryngethe for the much fruyte For without me ye caÌ„ do noâ—hyng If any maÌ„ abydeth not in me he is cast out as a braunche is wythered men gather theÌ„ cast theÌ„ into y â— fyre there burne Thus se ye what â—e are of youre selues by Adam that no strengthe ye haue ones to aspyre or breath towarde ony goodnes much lesse to do or work any good thynge excepte ye be holpen of God Ye se also howe full of sinnes diseases woundes sores botches canckers al y â— euer nought is ye are Ye se agayne how ye are not able of your selues to recouer youre innoceÌ„cy that ye lost by AdaÌ„ CHRI Alas what is now to be done THEO The rehersyng of these thynges maketh me very sadde PHIL. It shoulde rather make you very glad For as S. Hierome sayeth This is y â— true wysdome of a man to knowe hym selfe to be inperfecte as I maye so speake the perfeccioÌ„ of all righteous men in the flesshe is imperfecte Agayne he sayeth Than are ye righteous when we confesse oure selues synners our righteousnesse consisteth not of our owne merite but of the mercye of God as the holy scripture sayth the righteous maÌ„ is the accuser of himselfe in y â— begynnynge of his spech Therfore must ye coÌ„fesse your selues to be that in dede which ye are y â— is very synners yf ye wyll be set free from this miserable captiuite wher w t ye are nowe to muche wrapped and ouerwhemled EVSE We confesse y e same THEO We nowe knowledge y t of oureselues by AdaÌ„ we are nothynge but synners all that euer we do without the spirytâ— of god is playne sinne as S. Paule sayeth What soeuer is not of fayth is synne PHIL. Well seynge that ye haue so fruytfully digested the fyrst dysshe of your Banket nowe haue I a fyt place a conuenient tyme a good occasion to brynge vnto you the seconde dysshe as it followeth in order CHRI I praye you let vs tast of it THEO That thynge also do I desyre ¶ The seconde dysshe YOur second dysshe is coÌ„tayned in that same chap. wher in the fyrst is recited Therfore deuoure this w t no lesse gredy appetyte than ye haue done y â— other For this dysshe is much delicious very wholsome forthe vertuous preseruacioÌ„ of the soule I now brynge it for
him For yf when we were enemies we were reconcyled â—o God by the deathe of his sonne much more sâ—ynge we are reconcyled we shall be preserued by his lyfe Not only so but we also ioy in god by the meanes of our LORDâ— Iesus Christ by whome we haue receyued this attonemente Also S. Iohn sayeth For this purpose appered the sonne of God for to loose the workes of the euel Agayne tâ— this appeared y â— loue of God to vswarâ— â–ª bycause that God sent his onlye begotteÌ„ sonne into the world that we myghte lyue thorowe hym Thus se you y t whan ther was no hope of saluacioÌ„â—or vs in ony creature God of his owne free goodness seÌ„t dâ—wne hâ—s only begotten sonne to be a Sauyour vnto vs. EVSE This do we perceyue right wel PHIL. Nowe markâ— agayne howe that by him alone we are saued His name is IESVS that is to saye a sauyour for he it is that saueth his people froÌ„ theyr synnes neyther 〈◊〉 there any other name gyuen vnto men vnder heaueÌ„ wherin they must be saued but only by this name IESVS To hym geueth all the Prophetes witâ—eg â–ª that thorow his name â—ll shall receyue remission of synnes that beleue in hiÌ„ Be it knowen vnto you ye men brothers y e by this Iesus Christ remissioÌ„ of synnes is preached vnto you from al thynges from the whiche ye coulde not be iustified by the law of Moses by him is eueri one that beleueth â—ustified He is y â— LaÌ„be of God whiche taketh awaye the synne of y â— worlde He is our resurreccion lyfe He is the waye trueth lyfe No man commeth to the father but by him He is the good shepeheard by whom we be saued from the wolfe He is the dore by whom we must enter into grace He is the vyne in whome we beyng ingrassed muste nedes brynge forth muche fruyte He is oure wisdome righteousnes sanctificacion redeÌ„cioÌ„ He is our peace He is our mediatour aduocate He is alpha omega that is both the begynnyng and endyng of our saluacion Moreouer by him are we at peace with God By him haue we a waye in thorowe sayth vnto this fauoure wherin we stond reioyce in hope of the prayse that shall be gyuen of God By hym is the fauoure of God plenteous towarde vs. By hym his righteousnes are we made righteous By him hath the lawe of the Spirite of lyfe made vs free from the lawe of â—ynne deth By hym hath god the father blessed vs with all spiritual blessyng in heauenlye thynges By him dyd God chose vs before the foundacioÌ„s of the worlde were layd y t we should be sayntes fautles before hym By hym are we made dere to god the father By hym haue we redempcion by his bloud remission of sinnes By him are all thynges both in heauen earth gathered togyther By him we which in tymes paste were farre of are made nigh thorow his bloud By hym we haue and open waye vnto the father By him are all our sinnes forgyuen vs. By hym are we delyuered from the wrath to come By hym and by his bloude are we made cleane from all synne By hym by the oblacion of his moost blessed body done once for all are we sanctified Yea by that one oblacion hath he made perfecte for euâ—rmore theÌ„ that are sanctifyed To conclude by hym is euerlastyng lyfe gyuen vnto vs. Thus se you that by Christ all good thynges chauÌ„se vnto vs that god the father is wel pleased set at one w t vs for his sake as he himselfe witnesseth This is my welbeloued soÌ„ne in whome I am well pleased or for whose sake I am fully contented w t man Hereto agreeth the sayenge of S. Austen All y â— euer receyue euerlastynge lyfe receyue it not but by Christ. Therfore sayth he in another place All my hope is in the death of my LORDE His death is my meryte my refuge succour health â—ife my resurreccion My merite is the compasssioÌ„ of the LORDE I am not w tout meryte so long as y t LORDE of mercies shal not waÌ„t And yf y t mercies of y â— LORD be many I am plenteous in merites The stronger is to saue the more without iopardy am I let vs therfore gyue thaÌ„kes sayeth he to the LORDE our sauiour whiche no merites goynge before hathe heled vs that were wounded reconcyled vs his enemyes redemed vs froÌ„ captiuite brought vs againe out of darkenes into light called vs again from death to lyfe let vs humblye confessyng our fragilite wekenes desyre hys mercy in asmuch as he hath preuented vs as the Psalmographe sayth w t his mercye he maye vouchâ—aâ—e not only to preserue and kepe in vs but also to augment and encrese his giftes or benefytes wâ—iche he hath vouchedsafe to gyue vs. CHRI Amen THEO So be it EVSE LORDE let it so come to passe PHIL. Home dothe this seconde seruyce of your BaÌ„cket please you THEO We neuer iÌ„ our lyues tasted a dysh more pleasaunt confortable to our soules health EVSE We haue now learned what we are of oureselues and wher remedy is to be gotten but by what meanes shall we come by it What thynge maye be the occasion wherby we maye receyue so many â—o great benefytes at y e hande of god the father for Iesus Christes sake I praye you a good fellowshyppe decâ—are this vnto vs. PHIL. I neuer heard a questioÌ„ared in better tyme for the answere to it is your thyrde dysshe whiche before you proponed this question I was fullye determined to set before you And now here it is ¶ The thyrde dysshe PHILEMON REpent beleue the gospell These were y e wordes that our sauiour christ as marke testifieth vsed wheÌ„ be begaÌ„ to preach In the which he declareth by what meanes we may obtaine remission of our synnes the celâ—â—ial heritage of gods glorye Repent sateth he beleue the gospell Fryrste he exorteth vs to repentaunce whiche is as Chrisostome sayth not only to cease from the oldewithour euelles but also to folowe better offices such thynges as ought of dutie to be done as Dauid sayeth Declyne froÌ„ 〈◊〉 euel do good S. IohnÌ„ the Baptysâ—e in lyke maner in the begynnyng of his preachyng sayd RepeÌ„t for the kingdome of heauen is at hand Christ also after his resurreccion commaunded his Apostles to preach repeÌ„taÌ„ce and remission of sinnes in his name vnto al nacions Lykewyse we read in the Actes of y e Apostles then wheÌ„ Peter preached to the Iewes much of christ shewed that he was the same LORDE Iesus whom they had crucyfied they were prycked in theyr hertes sayd Ye meÌ„ breâ—â—reÌ„ what shall we do Peter sayde vnto theÌ„ Repent be baptised euery one of you in the name
this your thyrd seruyce that the onelye meanes to obtayne remission of oure synnes to be made heyres of eternall glorye is vnfaynedly to repent faythfullye to beleue that is to saye to forsake oure olde lyuynge to become newe men garnisshyng our lyues with al the fruites of the spiryte and to beleue earnestly that thorowe this repentaunce and fayth God wyll vndoubtedly for Iesus Christes sake for gyue vs all oure synnes receyue vs agayne into fauour make vs heyres of his eternall glory EVSE This is the moost pleasaunt dysshe that euer I tasted THEO These thiâ—ges that you haue spoken vnto vs are so confortable y e me thynke I am now enflamed more set on fyre thaÌ„ euer I was before CHRI As I maye vnâ—ainâ—dly reporte vnto you the affect of my herte verely synce that ye declared to vs the goodnes of God y e father toward vâ— thorow Iesus christ I haue felte in my herte such an earnest fayth burnyng loue towarde God and his worde that me thynke a thousande fyres coulde not plucke me away from the loue of hym I be gynne nowe vtterlye to contemne despyse reiecte cast awaye sette at nought al y e pleasures of this world â—herein I haue â—o greatlye reioyced in tymes past All the thretes of god all the displeasures of God al y e fyres paynes of hell coulde neuer before this daye so allure me to the loue of God as you haue nowe done by expressynge vnto me the excedyng mercye vnspeakable kyndeses of God towarde vs wretched synners insomuch that now from the very herte I desyre to knowe what I maye do that by some meanes I maye shewe agayne my herte to be full fyred on the sekynge of his glory For I nowe desyre nothyng more theÌ„ the auauÌ„ce meÌ„t of his name PHIL. It reioyceth me to heare these thynges of you Therfore nowe wyll I as due order requireth brynge forth your fourth yea last dyshe that ye may knowe what ye ought to do agayn toward God for his vnmesurable bountie infinite benefites toward you that yelyuynge in this worlde worthy of his kyndnes maye after this lyfe receyue the crowne of glorye THEO I praye you brynge it forth streyghte wayes for we much desyre to tast of it EVSE There is nothynge that I wysshe more than continually to be fedde with the meate of such an heaueÌ„ly bancket Therfore I praye you go forth to minister vnto vs the residue of oure mooste delicious feaste PHIL. Agreed but marke well for here it is ¶ The fourth dysshe WE are the workemanshyp of God created in christ Iesus vnto good workes whiche God hath prepared that we should walke in them This is y â— sayâ—nge of S. Paule whiche a lytle before this sentence in his Epistle to y e Ephe declareth as I haue hitherto taughte you that by nature we are the chyldreÌ„ of wrath are saued only by grace thorow fayth that not of our selues for it is y e gyfte of god commethe not of workes bycause no man shoulde boste hym selfe And whan he hath this done immediately he exorteth vs to good workes saienge that we are the workemanship of God created in Christ Iesu vnto good workes which God hath prepared y e we should walke in them Here maye ye learne what is your duety to do vnto God agayn seing that he frely thorowe sayth hath saued you withoute any merites deseruynges or good dedes on your behalfe Your duty is to lyue wel to practyse good workes to exercyse al godlye actes to lede a vertuous conuersacioÌ„ and in all your lyfe thorowe the study of innocency to seke the glory of God Now shall your coÌ„uersacion declare and shewe by externall workes whether your repentaunce be vnfayned or not whether your fayth loue towarde God be syncere true procedyng from a godly herte or not For yf your repentaunce faith loue be christian vnfayned than shal good workes ensue followe agreable to the same For faythe sayeth Chrisostome sheweth that whiche is true And out of syncer fayth coÌ„meth charite in so much that he whiche beleueth truly in God caÌ„ neuer be with out it S. Ambrose also sayth fayth is the mother brynger for the both of good wyll righteous workyng Agayne he sayeth A new creature hath this property by grace y e they which are the workemanshyp of god which are made in Christ by an heauenly natiuite be no more sluggysh nother gyueÌ„ to lyue dissolutely but they go forth profyte from vertue to vertue in walkynge by the waye of good workes Also iÌ„ another place he sayeth God gyueth to theÌ„ whom he choseth without merites whereof they maye be garnysshed with merites also And it is not truely sayde that the entent and determinacion of wel workyng is not in the electe For the gyftes of vertues caÌ„ not beydle Thus se you that lynysh fayth whereby ye are ingrassed in Christe brynge the forth good workes Neyther is true repentaÌ„ce syncer faith vnfayned loue in you yf good christen workes do not followe your conuersion Yea they that bost of fayth and brynge not forth the workes of fayth derogate muche the glorye of fayth cause the true and christian fayth to be slaundered yll reported amonge theÌ„ which neuer tasted nor yet at ony tyme in theyr hertes felte what a precious thyng and of howe great strength effycacy power the syncere faythe is Therfore yf youre fayth be not accoÌ„panied wyth good workes youre fayth is dead as S. Ia. fayeth y â— is to saye it is a true christen fayth no more than a deade corse is a man For that faith which is approued before God worketh by charite charite caÌ„ not be ydle but brasteth out into good workes whâ— so euer it seeth an occasioÌ„ gyueÌ„ who can loue his neighbour suffer him to perysshe for want of his helpe Therfore is a faythfull man compared in y â— first Psalme to a tree which is planted by the waters syde bringeth forth her fruytes in due tyme. I am the true vyne sayeth Christ ye are the braunches He that abydeth in me I in hiÌ„ â—â—yngeth forth much fruyte Agayne he sayeth He that beleueth iÌ„ me floudes of lyuish water should flowe out of his belly Here se you that he which dwelleth iÌ„ Christ by fayth beleueth in hiÌ„ briÌ„geth for the plenty of good workes He therfore that is an vnâ—ruytfull tree briÌ„geth forth no good fruite surelye he beleuethe not arighte in Christ neyther hath he the Christen faythe boste and crake he neuer so much of it EVSE Methinke than by your wordes y â— good workes necessarely follow the christen fayth PHIL. Yea euen as necessarelye as the shadow followeth the body death the lyfe THEO They than whiche lyue dissolute withoute doyng of good workes haue not the christen