he take no liberty to sinne for this doctrine belongeth to none suche as honor themselues with the name of Christians confessing Christ with their mouth and yet deny him in theyr déedes But it cōcerneth the true Christians who though they fight manfully against the fleshe the worlde and the Deuil doe notwithstanding fall dayly and are constreyned to say Lorde forgeue vs our offences These are they to whom we speak to comfort them and to holde them vp that they fall not into despayre as though the blood of Christe washed vs not from all sinne and that hée were not our aduocate and the Attonementmaker for his members And therefore when wée bée prouoked too doubt of the forgeuenesse of our sinnes and that our owne cōscience beginneth to trouble vs then must wée furnishe our selues with true faith out of hād haue recourse to the precious blood of Iesus Christe shed for vs vpō the altar of the crosse distributed to his Apostles at his last Supper vnder the veile of a most Holy Sacrament which was ordeined by Christ to the end y ◠wée shoulde celebrate the remembrance of his death and that by the same visible Sacrament our troubled consciences might be assured of our attonement with God The blessed Iesus Christe made his last Will when he said this is my body which is geuen for you and this is my blood of the new Testament which is shed for many for the forgeuenesse of their sinnes Wée knowe that a Testament saith S. Paul although it be but a mans Testament yet neuer thelesse if it be allowed no man dispiseth it or addeth any thing to it and that no Testament is of force til the testator be dead but hath ful power after y ◠parties decease Then did Iesus Christe make his Testament wherin he promiseth forgiuenesse of sinnes and the grace and good fauor of him selfe and of his father togeather with mercy and euerlasting life And to the intent that the saide Testament shoulde be of ful force he hath confirmed it with his owne precious blood and with his owne death By reason whereof Saint Paul sayeth that Iesus Christe is the Mediator of the newe Testament that by his dying for the the redemption of those transgressions which were in the former testament they that are called might receiue the promise of the eternal inheritance For whersoeuer is a Testament there must also be y ◠death of the Testator for the Testament is confirmed by the death of the partie insomuch as it is of no value so long as the maker of it is aliue Wherefore we be very certaine assured by the death of Iesus Christe that his Testament is auaileable whereby all our misdéedes are pardoned and we made heyres of eternal life And for a token and faithfull pledge héereof in stéed of a Seale he hath left vs this Diuine Sacramente which not onely giueth our soules assured hope of their euerlasting Saluation but also warranteth vnto vs that immortality of our flesh forasmuch as it is euen nowe quickened by that immortall flesh of his in a certaine maner becōmeth partaker of the immortalitie therof he that is partaker of that diuine flesh by faith shal not perish for euer But vnto him that receiueth it without the saide faith it turneth too a dangerous poyson bicause that like as whē bodily sustenance findeth the stomacke incumbred with euill humors it corrupteth likewise and worketh great anoyance euē so if this spirituall foode light into a sinfull soule that is full of malice and misbeliefe it casteth it headlong intoo some greater ruine not through it owne default but because that too the vncleane and vnbeléeuer all thinges are vncleane notwithstanding that the thinges bee sanctified by the Lords blessing For saith S. Paul be that eateth of that bread drinketh of that cup unworthily is is giltie of the body and blood of the Lord and hée eateth drinketh his own damnation bicause he maketh no differēce of the Lordes body For he maketh no difference of the Lords body which presumeth to the Lords supper without faith and charity And forasmuch as he beleueth not that body to be his life and the cleanser of all his sinnes he maketh Iesus Christe a lyar and treadeth the sonne of god vnder foote and estéemeth the blood of the Testamente whereby he was sanctified but as a cōmon worldly thing and doth great wrōg to the spirite of grace he shal be punished very sore at Gods hād for this his vnbelief and wicked hypocriste For whereas he reposeth not that trust of his iustificatiō in the passiō of our Lord Sauior Iesus Christ yet neuerthelesse he receiueth this most holy Sacrament and maketh protestation that he putteth not his trust in any other thing Wherby he accuseth himselfe and is witnesse of his owne iniquitie and condēneth himselfe to euerlasting death by refusing the life which GOD promiseth him in that holy Sacrament And in this point when the Christiā féeleth that his enimies are like to ouercome him that is too wit when he beginneth too doubt whether hee haue receiued forgiuenesse of his sinnes by Iesu Christe and that he shall not be able to withstand the Deuill and his temptations and that the accusation of his owne doubtfull conscience comes too presse him so as he beginneth too feare least Hell fire should swallow him vp death hold him in his euerlasting bands by reason of gods wrath I say when the good Christian féeleth himselfe in suche an agony Let him get him to his holy Sacrament with a good hearte and stout courage and receiue it deuoutly saying in his heart and answering his enemies thus I confesse I haue deserued a thousand hels and euerlasting death by reason of the great sinnes which I haue committed But this heauenly Sacramēt which I receiue at that preset assureth me of the forgiuenesse of all my misdoinges of mine attonement with God For if I haue an eye to my works there is no doubt but I acknowledge my selfe a sinner condemne mine owne self in such wise as my cōscience should neuer be quiet if I should thinke that my sinnes are pardoned mée for my workes sake But when I looke to the promises and couenants of God who promiseth me forgeuenes of my sinnes by the blood of Iesus Christe I am as sure I haue obteined it that I haue his fauour as I am sure y ◠he which hath made y ◠promises couenants cannot lye nor deceiue and through this stedfast faith I become righteous by Christes righteousnes wherthrough I am saued and my conscience quieted Hath he not geuen his most innocent body into the hands of sinners for our sins Hath hee not shed his blood to wash away my iniquities Why then doest thou vexe thy selfe O my soule put thy trust in the Lorde who beareth thée so great loue that to deliuer thée
from eternall death it hath pleased him that his only sonne should suffer death and passion who hath taken vpon himselfe our pouertie to geue vs his riches laid our weakenesse vpon himselfe to stablish vs in his strength become mortall to make vs immortall come down untoo the earth to aduance vs vpp too heauen and become the sonne of man with vs too make vs the children of God with himselfe Who is hee then that shall accuse vs God is he that iustifieth vs and who shall condemne vs Iesus Christe is dead for vs yea and rysen agayne 〈◊〉 vs and sitteth at the right hande of God making intercessioÌ„ for vs. Let vs then D my soule leaue of these teares and sighes THE CIII Psalme 1 MY Soule prayse thou the Lorde and all that is within me praise his holy name 2 My soule prayse thou the Lord forget not all his benefites 3 Which forgiueth al thine iniquitie healeth all thine infirmities 4 Which redéemeth thy life from the graue and crowneth thée with mercy and compassion 5 Which satisfieth thy mouth with good thinges and thy youth is renued like the Eagles 6 The Lorde executeth righteousnessâ— and iudgement to all that are oppressed 7 No made his waies knowne vnto Moses and his workes vntoo the children of Israell 8 The Lord is ful of coÌ„passion and mercy sâ—ow to anger and of great kindnesse 9 We will not alway chide neither kéepâ— his anger for euer 10 He hath not delt with vs after our sins nor rewarded vs according to our iniquities 11 For as high as the heauen is aboue the earth so great is his mercie towarde them that feare him 12 As farre as the East is from the West so far hath he remoued our sinnes from vs. 13 As a father hath compassion on his children so hath the Lord compassion on them that feare him 14 For he knoweth whereof we be made he remembreth that we are but dust 15 The dayes of man are as grasse as a floure of the field so florisheth he 16 For y â— winde goeth ouer it it is gone and the place therof shall know it no more 17 But y â— louing kindnes of y â— Lord endureth for euer euer vpoÌ„ theÌ„ that feare him amp his righteousnes vpon childrens childreÌ„ 18 Unto them y â— keep his couenaÌ„t think vpon his commaundements to doe them 19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in heauen and his kingdome ruleth ouer all 20 Praise the Lord ye his Angels that excel in strength that doe his commandemeÌ„t in obeying the voyce of his woordâ— 21 Praise the Lord al ye his hostes ye his seruants that do his pleasure 22 Praise the Lord all ye his works in al places of his dominion my soule prayse thou the Lorde So hath he had mercy on vs in giuing vs his onely sonne With this faith w t those thaÌ„ksgeuings with these or such other like thoughts must wee receiue the sacrament of the body and bloode of our Lorde Iesus Christ. After this maner is all fearfulnesse driuen out of the soule of the Christian and charity is increased fayth strengthened the conscience quieted the toung neuer ceasseth to prayse God and to yéeld him infinit thanks for so great a benefite This is the vertue efficacie only trust of our soule This is the rocke wherevpon if the conscience be buylded it feareth nother tempest nor the gates of hel nor Gods wrath nor the law nor sinne nor death nor the diuels nor any other thing And forasmuch as the substance of the Lords supper and table consisteth is this diuine sacrament When the Christian is at it he must hold his eyes fastened continually vppon the passion of our gratious Sauiour beholding him on the one side vppon the crosse loden with all our sinnes and God on the other side punishing chastising and whipping his owne onely begotten and Déerebeloued sonne in steade of vs. O happie is that man that shutteth his eyes from al other sights and will neither heare nor sée any other thing than Iesus Christ crucified in whoÌ„ are layde vp and bestowed al the treasures of Gods wisdome and diuine knowledgeâ— Blessed say I is he that féedeth his minde with so heauenly a foode and maketh himselfe drunken in the loue of God with so sweete and singular a liquor But before I make an ende of this matter I will first aduertise the Christian that Sainte Augustine hath ordinarily béene woont too terme this holy Sacrament the bonde of charity and the mystery of vnity And he saith that whosoeuer receiueth the mystery of vnitie regardeth not the bond of peace receiueth not the Sacrament to his owne behooâ—e but as a witnesse agaynst himselfe Therfore we must vnderstaÌ„d y â— the Lorde hath ordeyned this holy sacrameÌ„t not only to make vs sure of y â— forgiueues of our sins but also to inflame vs to peace vnity brotherly charitie For in this Sacrament the Lord doth after such a maner make vs parlakers of his body as he becommeth al one thing w t vs we with him By reasoÌ„ wherof forasmuch as he hath but one body wherof he maketh vs Partakers it is méetâ— that we also shoulde by such partaking becom al one body together amoÌ„g our selues And this vntoÌ„ is represeÌ„ted by the bread of the sacrament which as it is made of many grains mingled kneaded together in such wise as one of them caÌ„ not be discerned froÌ„ another So also must we be toyned together after such a sort so vnited together into one agréement of mind as no diuision may créep in And this doth S. Paule shew vs when he saith Is not the cup of blessing which we blesse the coÌ„munioÌ„ of the blood of Iesus Christ is not the bread y â— we break the coÌ„munion of the body of Iesus Christe whereas we be many yet are we but one bread and one body forsomuch as we be all Partakers of one bread By these thinges we vnderstand that when we receiue his most holy coÌ„munion we must coÌ„sider that we are al of vs ingraffed into Christ are all become members of one selfsame body that is to wit of Iesus Christ in such wise as we caÌ„not offend defame or despise any of our brethren but we must therewithall offend defame and despise our saide head Iesus Christ neyther caÌ„ we be at variance w t any of our brethren but in likewise we must be at oddes with him Also we cannot loue him excepte wee loue him in our brethren Look how much care we haue of our owne bodie so much must we haue of our Christian brethren who are the meÌ„bers of our body And like as no parte of our body féeleth any griefe which spreadeth not it selfe into al the other parts so ought we to determine w t our selues that our brother feleth not any inconuenience which should not moue vs to coÌ„passioÌ„ With such maner of thoughtes must
his first spring from our first fathers and is the cause and fountaine of al the vices and iniquities that we commit wherfrom if we wil be deliuered return again to our first innocency to recouer the image of god first of all it standeth vs on hand so knowe our own wretchednes For like as no maÌ„ will euer séeke to the phisition except he know himselfe to be diseased or acknowledge the excellency of the Phisition and how much hée is boundâ— vnto him except hée knowe his own disease to be pestilent and deadly eueÌ„ so no maÌ„ acknowledgeth Iesus Christ the onely Phisition of our soules except he first know his owne soule to bee diseased neither can he perceiue the excelleÌ„cy of him nor how much he is bouÌ„d vnto him except hee first enter intoo the knowledge of his owne outrageous sinnes and of the incurable infirmity which wee haue receyued through the infection of our first fathers The second Chapter Howe the Law was geuen by God to the end that we knowing our sinne and not hauing any hope of ability to make our selues righteous by our own works should haue recourse to Gods mercy and vnto the righteousnes of faith OUR God therfore minding of his infinite goodnesse and mercy to send his onely Sonne to set free the wretched children of Adam knowing that first of all it behoued him to make them vnderstaÌ„d their owne misery chose Abraham in whose seede he promised to blesse al nations and accepted his ofspring for his peculiar people vnto whom after their departure out of Aegypt deliuerance from the bondage of Pharao hee by the meanes of Moyses gaue the Lawe which forbiddeth all lusting and commandeth vs to loue GOD with al our heart with al our soule and with all our strength in suche wise as our whole trust be reposed in him and we ready to leaue our life for his sake to suffer al tormentes in our members and to be berefte of all our goodes dignities and honours for the loue of our God choosing too die rather then to doe any thing that may mislike him bee it neuer so little and doyng all thinges in that behalfe with a mery heart and with all forwardnesse and cheerefulnesse Moreouer the Lawe commandeth vs to loue our neighbour as our selfe meaning by the Neighbor all maner of men as well friends as foes and it willeth us to doe to euery man as we woulde be done vnto to loue other mens cases as our owne And so by looking in this holy Law as in a cléere lookingglasse man doeth out of hand espy his owne great imperfection and vnablenesse too obey Gods commandementes and to render him the honour and loue which he ought to yeelde to his maker The first office of the Law then is to make sinne knowen as Saint Paule affirmeth And in another place hée sayth I had not known what sinne is but by the lawe The second office of the law is to make sinne increase for asmuche as we being quite gone from the obeying of God and become bondslaues to the Deuil being full of wicked works and inordinate affections cannot abide that God shoulde forbid vs to lust which increaseth so much the more as it is the more prohibited by reason whereof S. Paule saith that sinne was dead but the law came and raysed it vp againe and so it became out of measure great The thirde office of the Lawe is to shewe the wrath and iudgemente of God who threatneth death and euerlasting punishment to suche as kéepe not the Lawe throughout in al points For the holy scripture saith Curfed is hée that perfourmeth not throughly al the things that are written in the booke of the law And therefore S. Paul saith that the Law is a ministerie and that it bringeth foorth wrath The lawe then hauing discouered sinne and increased it and shewed foorth the wrath and inâ—igâ—ation of GOD who threatneth death executeth his fourthe office which is too put a man in feare who there vppon falleth â—â—too sorrowefulnesse and would faine satisfie the law but forasmuch as he séeth clearely that he is not able he wareth angry against God and would with all his heart y â— there were no God because he feareth too bée sore chastized punished by him according as S. Paul saith That the wisdome of the flesh is the enimie of God because it neither is nor can be subiect to the law of God The fifth office of the law which is the principall end and the most excellent and necessary office of it is to constraine a man too goe vnto Iesus Christ in like wise as the Hebrewes being dismaied were constrayned to appeale vnto Moses saying Let not the Lord speake vnto vs least we dye but speake thou vnto vs and we wil obey thée in all thinges And the Lorde answered vâ—rily they haue spoke excéeding well Yea they were not praysed for any other thing than for theyr desiring of a Mediator betwixt God and them which was Moyses who represented Iesus Christ that should be the Aduocate and Mediator betwéene God and man in respect whereof God said vnto Moyses I will rayse vp a Prophet among their brethren like vnto thée and I will put my worde in his mouth and hée shall speake vnto them all the things that I shall commande him and I will punish all those that wil not obey my word which he shall speake in my name The third Chapter How the forgiuenesse of our sinnes our iustification and our saluation depend vpon Iesus Christe WHen as our God theÌ„ had sent the said great Prophet which he had promised vs who is his only sonne to the end that he should set vs frée from the curse of the law and reconcile vs vnto our God that he should make our will fitte for good workes healing our fréewil and repayring in vs the foresaid Image of God which we had lost through the fault of our first parentes for asmuch as we know that vnder heauen there is none other name giuen vnto men whereby we may be saued but the name of Iesus Christ Let vs run vnto him with y â— feete of liuely faith east our selues betwéene his armes sith hée allureth vs so graciously crying Come vnto me all you that labour and are heauy load and I wil refresh you What comfort or what ioy in this life can bee comparable to this his saying there when as a man fâ—eling himselfe oppressed with the intollerable waight of his sinnes vnderstandeth so swéete and amiable wordes of the sonne of God who promiseth so graciously to refreshe and ryd him of his great paynes But all the matter lieth in acknowledging our owne weakenesse miserie in good earnest For he shall neuer know what is swéete who hath not tasted of the sowre And therefore Iesus Christe sayth If any man thirst let him come to me and drinke as if hee
had ment to say if a man know not himself to be a sinner nor thirst after righteousnesse hée cannot tast of the swéetnesse of Iesus Christe how swéete it is to talke of him to thinke of him and to follow his most holy life But when we once throughly knowe our owne infirmity by meanes of the law let vs hearken too S. Iohn Baptist who poynteth vs too the soueraigne Phisition with his Finger saying Beholde the Lambe of GOD which taketh away the sinnes of the worlde For hée it is that deliuereth vs from the heauie yoke of the Lawe abrogating and disanulling the curses and sharpe threatninges of the same healing all our infirmities reformyng our free will returning vs too our ancient innocency and repairing in vs the image of our God insomuch that according to S. Paules saying like as by Adam we bée all dead so by Iesus Christ we are al quickened And it is not to beléeued that the sinne of Adam which we haue by inheritance from him shoulde be of more force than the righteousnesse of Christe that which we also inherite by faith It séemeth that man hath great cause to complayne that without any reason why hée is conceaued and borne in sinne and in the wickednes of his parents by meanes of whoÌ„ death reigneth ouer all men But nowe is all our sorow taken away in as muche as by a like meane without any occasion geuen on our behalfe righteousnes and euerlasting life are come by Iesus Christe and by him death is sâ—aine whereof Saint Paul maketh a very godly discourse which I purpose too set downe héere following Wherfore faith he like as by one man sin entred into the world death by sinne euen so death went ouer al men forasmuch as al men haue sinned For vntil the law sinne was in the worlde but sinne was not regarded as long as there was no law Neuer the latter death reigned from Adam vnto Moyses euen ouer them also that sinned not after the like manner of the transgression of Adam who was a figure of him that was to come But yet the gift is not so as is the offence for if through the offence of one many be dead much more the grace of God and the gift by grace which is by one man Iesus Christe hath abounded vnto many Neither is y â— gift so as that which entred in by one that sinned For the fault came of one offence vnto condemnation but y â— gift is of many offences to iustification For if by the offeÌ„ce of one death reigned through one much more shall they which receiue the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousnesse reigne in life through one that is Iesus Christ. Likewise then as by the offence of one that fault came on al men to condeÌ„nation so by the righteousnesse of one the benefite abounded toward all men to the iustification of life For as by one mans disobedieÌ„ce many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shal many also bée made righteous Moreouer the lawe entred thereupon that the offence should abound neuerthelesse where sinne abounded there grace abounded muche more that as sin hath reigned vnto death so might grace also reigne by righteousnesse vntoo eternall life through Iesus Christe our Lord. By these wordes of S. Paul wée manifestly perceiue the thing to be true which we haue said héereto fore that is to wit that the law was geuen too make sinne knowne which sinne wée doe also knowe not to be of greater force than Christes righteousnesse wherethrough we be iustified before God For euen as Iesus Christ is stronger than Adam was so is his righteonsnesse more mightie than the sinne of Adam And if the sinne of Adam was sufficient enough to make al men sinners and children of wrath without any misdéedes of our owne muche more shall Christes righteousnesse be of greater force to make vs all righteous and the children of grace without any of our owne good workes which cannot be good vnlesse that before we doe them we our selues be made good as Augustine also affirmeth Hereby a man may know in what errour they bée who by reason of some great offence despaire of Gods good wil imagining that he is not willing to forgeue couer and pardon al sinne hauing already punished and chastized all our â—â—â—es and iniquities in his owne onely begotten and dearly beloued sonne and consequently graunted a generall pardon to all mankinde which euery body enioyeth that beléeueth the gospel that is to say which beléeueth the happy tidings of the Apostles haue published through the whole world saying We beséeche you for Iesus Christes sake bée yée reconciled vnto GOD for he that neuer knew sinne was made a sacrifice for our sinne that we might become righteous in him The prophet Esay for seeing this great goodnesse of God writeth these heauenly wordes which doe so well paint out the passion of our Lorde Iesus Christ and the cause thereof as it is not to be founde better described eveÌ„ in the writings of the Apostles Who saith he wil beléeue our report and to whom is the arme of the Lord reuealed But hée shall growe vpp before him as a branch and as a roote out of a dry grounde hée hath neither forme nor beautie when wée shall sée him there shal be no fourme that wée should desire hym Hée is despised aâ—d reiected of men he is a man full of sorrowes and hath experience of infirmitie wee hidde as it were our faces from him hée was despised and wee estéemed him not Surely hée hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrowes yet we did iudge him as plagued and smitten of God humbled but he was wounded for our transgressions he was broken for our iniquities The chastisement of our peace was vpon him and with his stripes we are healed All we like shéepe haue gone astray wee haue turned euery one to his owne way and the Lorde hath laide vpon him the iniquitie of vs all he was oppressed and he was afflicted yet did he not open his mouth He is brought as a shéepe to the slaughter as a shéepe before the shearer is dumme so he openeth not his mouth O great vnkindnesse O thing abhominable that we which professe our selues Christians and heare that the sonne of God hath taken all our sinnes vpon him and washed them out with his precious blood suffering himselfe to bee fastened too the Crosse for our sakes shoulde neuerthelesse make as though we woulde iustifie our selues and purchase forgeuenesse of our sinnes by our owne woorkes as who woulde say that the desertes righteousnesse and bloodshed of Iesus Christe were not enough too doe it vnlesse we came to put too our workes and righteousnesse which are altogether deâ—iled and spotted with selfe loue selfcliking selfprofite and a thousande other vanities for which wee haue neede to craue pardon at Gods hand rather then reward Neither doe we thinke
of the threatnings which S. Paule vseth to the Galathians who hauing béene deceiued by false Preachers beleeued not that the Iustification by fayth was sufficient of it selfe but went about stil to be made righteous by thelaw Unto whom S. Paule saith Iesus Christ shall nothing profite you that iustifie your selues by the law for you bee falne from grace because that we through the spirit of sayth wayt for the hope of righteousnesse Now if the seeking of righteousnesse forgiuenesse of sinnes by the keeping of the law which GOD gaue vpon mount Sinai with so greate glorie and maiestie bée the denying of Christe and of his Grace what shall wée say to those that will néeds iustifie themselues afore God by theyr owne lawes and obseruances I woulde wishe that suche folkes shoulde a little compare the one with the other and afterwarde geue Iudgement themselues God myndeth not too doe that honour nor to geue that glory to his owne lawe yet they will haue him too geue it too mens lawes and ordinances But that honour is geuen onely to his onely begotten sonne who alone by the sacrifice of his death and passion hath made full amendes for al our sinnes past present and to come as Saint Paule and Saint Iohn declare Wherfore as often as we apply this satisfaction of Iesus Christs vnto our soules by fayth out of all doubt we obteine forgeuenesse of our sinnes and become good and righteous before God through his righteousnesse And therfore after that Saint Paule hath said that as touching the righteousnesse of the law he had liued vnblameable he addeth and yet whatsoeuer I haue gained by it I haue accompted in all respectes too bée but losse for the loue of Christe And specially I esteeme all thinges to bée losse for the excellent knowledge of Iesus Christe my Lord for whom I haue compted all things too bée losse and déeme them but as doung so may I winne Christ and be founde in him not hauing mine owne righteousnes which is of the lawe but the righteousnes which is by the fayth of Iesus Christe w t righteousnes is giuen by God I meane the righteousnes of faith that I may come to the knowledge of Iesus Christ. O most notable words which al Christians ought to haue engrauen in their hearts praying God to make them to fast it perfectly Lâ—e howe Saint Paule sheweth plainely that whosoeuer knoweth Christe aright estéemeth al the woorks of the lawe to be hurtfull for somuch as they make vs too swarue from our trust in Iesus Christ too whom euery man ought to impute his saluation and too trust onely vnto him alone And to inforce this sentence the more he addeth further that he estéemeth all things but as doung so he may gayne Christ he found incorporated in him declaring therby that whosoeuer trusteth in his owne workes pretendeth not iustifie himselfe by them getteth not Iesus Christ nother is engraffed into him And forasmuch as the whole mystery of our faith consisteth in the truth hereof to the end we might the better vnderstand what he meant to say he addeth and repeteth oftentunes that he had nothing to do with all the outward iustification all y â— righteousnes that is grounded vpon the keping of the law but y â— he would cloth himself with the righteousnes which God geueth by sayth to all them that beléeue that all our sinnes are fully chastised and punished in Iesu Christ and that Iesus Christ as Saint Paule saith is made our wisedom righteousnesse holinesse and redemption to the end as it is writteÌ„ that he which wil glory should glory in y â— Lord and not in his owne woorks Uery true it is that in the holy Scriptures there are some textes to be found which beyng misvnderstood séeme to gainesay this holy doctrine of Saint Paules to attribute iustification remission of sinnes vnto works and to charity But those authorities haue already byn well expounded by some who haue shewed plainly that such as haue vnderstood them in the sense aforesaid vnderstood them not aright Wherefore my déere beloued brethren let vs not folow the fond opinions of the bewitched Galathians but rather let vs followe the trueth which S. Paule teacheth vs and let vs geue the whole glory of our iustification vnto Gods mercie and to the merites of his Sonne who by his owne bloodshed hath set vs frée from the soueraintie of the law and from 〈…〉 geue vs life and endlesse felicitie I say yet further that he hath deliuered vs from the dominion of the lawe insomuch as he hath geuen vs his holy spirit who teacheth vs al truth that he hath satisfied the law to the ful giuen the same satisfactioÌ„ vnto al his members that is to wit to al true Christians so as they may safely appeare at Gods throne because they be clothed w t the righteousnes of his Christ by him deliuered from the curse of the lawe Then can not the law any more accuse vs or coÌ„ndenm vs nor moue our affections or appetites nor increase sinne in vs. And therefore S. Paule saith that the obligation which was against vs is cancelled by Iesus Christ discharged vpon the trée of the crosse insomuch as he hath set vs frée froÌ„ the subiectioÌ„ of the law consequently from the tyranny of sinne and death which can no more holde vs oppressed because it is ouercome by Iesus Christ in his resurrection so coÌ„sequently by vs which are his members in such maner that we may say with Saynte Paule and with the Prophet Osée Death is quite vanquished and destroied O death where is thy sting O Hel where is thy 〈…〉 strength of sinne is the law But God bée praised who hath granted vs victory by our Lorde Iesus Christ. He is the blessed séede that hath crushed the head of the venomous Serpent that is to wit of the Diuel insomuche that al those which beleue in Iesus Christe reposing their whole trust in his grace doe ouercome sinne death the diuel hel as Christ hath done He is that blessed séed of Abraham in the which God hath promised blessednesse to al nations It behooueth euery particular person too fighte with the sayd horrible serpent to deliuer himselfe froÌ„ that curse But that enterprise was so great that all the force of the whole world knit together was not able too goe through with it Wherfore our God the father of mercy being moued with compassion of our miseries hath geuen vs his onely begotten sonne who hath deliuered vs froÌ„ the venim of the serpent and is himself become our blessednesse and righteousnesse condicionally that we accept the same renouncing all our owne outwarde iustifications Then my déere brethren let vs imbrace the righteousnesse of our Lord Iesus Christ and let vs make it ours by meanes of fayth let vs assure our selues that we be righteous not for our own workâ— but
with diuerse temptations And therefore when the holy Scripture threatneth and frayeth the christians they must vnderstande that it speaketh to such as are so licencious that for somuche as they kéepe not the thankfulnesse honesty that beloÌ„ng to Gods children they must be handled as seruantes and hilde in awe vntill they come to taste and féele how swéete and pleasant the Lord is and untill such time as faith worke his affectes in them and that they haue so much childly loue as may suffice to kéepe and mainteine them in honestie of Christian conuersation and in folowing the example of our Lorde Iesus Christe And when the selfe same scripture exhorteth Christians to the true feare it meaneth not that they should feare the iudgement and wrath of God as though it were presently ready to condeÌ„ne theÌ„ for as I haue saide already by the record which the holy Ghost geueth to theyr spirite they knowe that God hath chosen them and called them of his owne méere mercy and not for their deserts By reason whereof they doubt not at all but y â— by the selfesame goodnesse mercy he will mainteine them in the happy state wherein hee hath placed them And after suche manner scripture exhorteth them not to slauish feare but to childishe that is to wit that like good children they shoulde bee loath too offend against the Christian religion or to commit any thing against the duty and honestie of Gods true children and likewise too gréeue the holy Ghost that dwelleth in them to the ende that knowing the corruptednesse of our nature wée shoulde alwayes be héedefull and diligent and neuer haue any trust in our selues for in our flesh and in our mindes do the appetites and affections continually dwell which as deadly enimies of the soule lay a thousande snares and baytes for vs incessantly labouring too make vs prowde ambicious lecherous and couetous This is the feare wherevnto the whole Scripture exhorteth the Christiaes that haue once tasted howe swèete the Lorde is and which bestowe all their indeuour in following Christes footesteppes who cast not from them this holy feare because they labour to put of the old man And the good Christians must neuer bereaue themselues quite cleane of this childly feare which is the singular friende of Christian charitie like as the slauishe feare is such an enemie vnto it as they can by no meanes dwell togeather And by the the foresaide thinges a man may plainely perceiue that the good Christian ought neuer too doubt of the forgiuenesse of his sinnes nor of Gods fauour Neuerthelesse for the better satisfiyng of the Reader I purpose too set downe héere vnder certayne authorities of the holy Doctours which comfirme this foresaid trueth Saint Hyllary in his fifth Canon vpon Matthew sayth it is Gods wyll that we should hope without any doubting of his vnknowne wil. For if the beliefe bée doubtfull there can bée no righteousnesse obteined by beléeuing And thus wée sée that according to S. Hyllary a man obteineth not forgeuenesse of his sinnes at Gods hande except hèe belèeue vndoubtedly to obteine it And good right it is that it shoulde bée so For he that doubteth is like a waue of the sea which is tossed and turmoyled with the winde And therefore let not such a one thinke to obteine any thing at Gods hand But let vs heare Saint Augustine who in his Manuell counselleth vs too driue away the saide foolish imagination which intendeth to dispossesse vs of the foresaide good and sage assurednesse Let such foolish imagination sayth hee murmure as much as it lifteth saying who art thou How 's great is that glory By what desertes hopest thou too obteine it I answere assuredly I knowe in whome I haue beléeued and I know that hée of his great loue hath made mée his sonne I knowe hée is true of his promise and able too perfourme his worde For hée can doe what hée will And when I thinke vpon the Lords death the multitude of my sinnes cannot dismay mée for in his death doe I put all my trust His death is my whole desert it is my refuge it is my saluation my life and resurrection and the merâ—y of the Lorde is my desert I am not poore of desert so long as the Lord of mercy sayleth me not And sith the mercies of y â— Lord are many many also are my deseruinges The more y â— hée is of power to saue the more am I sure to bée saued The same S. Augustin talking with GOD in another place sayth that hée had despayred by reason of his great sinnes and infinite negligences if the woorde of GOD had not become flesh And aâ—one after hée sayth these wordes All my hops all the assurance of my trust is setled in his precious blood which was shed for vs and for our saluation In him my poore heart taketh breath and putting my whole trust in him I long to come vnto thée O Father not hauing mine owne righteousnesse but that righteousnesse of thy sonne Iusus Christe In these two places Saint Augustine sheweth plainely that the Christian must not be afraide but assure him selfe of righteousnesse by grounding himselfe not vpon his owne workes but vpon the precious blood of Iesus Christe which cleanseth vs from all our sinnes and maketh our peace with GOD. Saint Bernarde in his first Sermon vppon the Annunciation saueth moste euidently that it is enough to beléeue that a man can haue forgiuenesse of our sinnes but by Gods mercy nor any one good desire or abilitie too doe so muche as one good worke except GOD geue it him no nor that a man cannot deserue eternall life by his workes but if GOD geue him the gifte so to beléeue But besides all these things sayth Saint Bernard which ought rather too bée counted a certaine entraunce and foundation of our faith it is néedeful that thou beléeue also that thy sinnes are forgeuen thée for the loue of Iesus Christe Sée howe this holy man confesseth that it is not enough too beléeue generally the forgeuenesse of sinnes but hée must also beléeue particularly that his owne sinnes are forgeuen him by Iesus Christe and the reason is ready at hande namely that forasmuche as GOD hath promised thée to accept thée for righteous through the merites of Iesus Christe if thou beléeue not that thou art become righteous through him thou makest GOD a lyer and consequently thou makest thy selfe vnworthie of thy grace and liberality But thou wilt say to me and I beléeue wel the forgeuenesse of sinnes and I knowe that GOD is true but I am afraide that I am not worthie to haue so great a gift I answere that the forgiuenes of thy sinnes shall not be a gift of free grace but a wages if God woulde geue it thée for the worthinesse of thy workes But I reply vpon thée that God accepteth thée for righteous and laieth not thy sinne to thy
bee called a little worlde as wherein a man may beholde the soueraigne wisedome of the woorkemaister if thy soule wherein shineth the inuisible image of the euerlasting God if thine owne life if the consideratioÌ„ of so great abundance of good things wherof he geueth thee the vse euery day are not sufficient ynough to moue the affections of thy heart at leastwise yet oughtest thou of reason too bee inflamed and prouoked by the benefite of all benefites and by that moste precious gifte which he hath made vntoo thee of his owne proper and onely Sonne who is the very image of his substance and in whom dwelleth the whole fulnesse of the Godheade together with al the treasures of Wisedome and al knowledge Yea and so muche ought it too mooue thee the more because that without hauing regarde that thou werte his great enimie hee hath layde all thine infirmities pon his backe and made him to die vppon the crosse for thy sake punishing thy sinnes in him for the which thou thy selfe haddest deserued eternall damnation Goe nowe thou vnthankefull person and deuize all the excuses that thou wilte and they shall serue to no purpose but too accuse thee and too geue sentence against thy selfe The woonderfull creation order and gouernment of this huge worlde can giue thee knowledge of his fatherly loue wisdom and infinite power although not in al pointes to the ful But in Iesus Christ crucified all the bowelles of Gods mercy are opened vntoo thee at large and perfectly Ther is no more any veyle that can hinder thee from the knowing of so great loue Seest thou not how that at his death the veyle was rente asunder in the middes And when he cryed that all was finished and bowed downe his holy head he gaue a token that peace was made between God man Let vs therefore henceforth learne O my brethreÌ„ to acknowledge the soueraine benefite which we haue receiued by Iesus Christe crucified Let vs beholde the perfectnesse of his life and his most holy doctrine Let vs open our eyes at the vnmeasurable brightnesse of his euen lasting trueth and let vs with all our force followe the way wherein hee hath gone afore vs. Let vs with a cheerefull and glad hearte imbrace the Crosse which hee hath set afore vs and discharging our shoulders from all burdens and all sinne wherein wee 〈◊〉 wrapped let vs runne with pacience too the combate that is appointed for vsâ— hauing an eye to the beginner and accomplisher of faith Iesus Christe who in steede of worldly glory susteyned the Crosse and despised all the shame thereof Let vs put of the old man with all his wretched and combersome doinges and greeuous burdens and clothe our selues with the new man whose yooke is sweete and burden light Let vs by true faith runne betweene the armes of his mercy and pray him to vouchsafe to lighten vs and to make vs capable of all his graces and specially of the great benefite that wee haue receiued of him by his crosse Concerning the which forasmuche as there is lighted into my hands a little treatise compiled in the Italian tongue where in he is merueilously wel liuely drawne with another maner of pensil than painters vse I thought it good to put it into Frenche too the end that my Countreymen also might take profite by it and receiue like comforte as I haue receiued by it and specially the simple people and suche as haue no great depth of knowledge For it semeth that the Author whosoeuer he was was wholly mynded to apply all thinges vnto them without seeking or affecting any finenesse of speech or great darknesse of sentences But euen as in Sommer time we see the Riuer Saon goe gently to ioyne himself with the Riuer of Rhone without doing any domage to any body euen so goeth this man slyding so smoothely into the bosome of his deare spouse Iesus Christ without staying at any other thing that ouermalicious shoulde hee bee which woulde looke awry on him or by any meanes let him of his course And thus my brethren fare yee well in God who enrich you with his gracious gifts from day to day Amen Of the benefite that Christians receiue by Iesus Christ crucified The first Chapter Of Originall sinne and of mans wretchednesse THe holie scripture sayeth that God created man after his owne Image likenes making him as in respect of his body impassible and as touching his soule righteous true good merciful and holy But after that he being ouer com with desire of knowledge had eaten of the Apple that God had forbiddâ—â— him he lost the saide image and likenes of God became like the brute beasts like the diuel who had abused him For as touching his soule hee became vnrighteous vntrue cruell pâ—â—â—â—lesse and the enimy of God and as touching his body he became passible and subiect to a thousand inconueniences and diseases and not onely like but also inferiour to brute beasts And eueÌ„ as if our forefathers had obeyed God they shoulde haue left vs theyr righteousnesse and holynesse as an heritage euen so by being disobedient vnto God they haue left vs the inheritance of vnrighteousnes wickednesse and Gods displeasure in such sort as it is vnpossible for vs through our own strength to loue GOD or to frame ourselues vnto his holy will May wee bee enimies vnto him as to oâ—e that must punish our sinnes because hee is a iust iudge and therefore can wee not any more trust wholy to his holy mercy To be short our whole nature was corrupted by Adams sinne And like as erst it had superiorite aboue all creatures so became it an vnderling to all the bondslaue of Satan sinne death condemned to the miseries of hell 〈◊〉 he lost his iudgement altogeather and began to say that good was euill and euill gâ—d estéeming false things to be true and true things to be false Which thing the Prophet considering saithâ— that all men are lyers 〈◊〉 that there is not one that doeth good because the Deuill like a stout man of armes ruleth his owne pallace that is too 〈◊〉 the world wherof he became a prince and Lord. Therâ— is no tongue that can expresse the thousandth part of our mise rie in that wee beeing created by Gods owne hand haue lost the saide image of God and are become like the Deuill and too like to him in nature and coÌ„dition willing whatsoeuer he willeth and likewise refusing what soeuer he misliketh By reason wher of being giuen vp for a pray to that wicked spirite there is no sinne so greevous which euery one of vs would not be ready to doe if the grace of God stay vs not And this our depriuation of righteousnesse and this forward inclination to all vnrighteousnes and naughtinesse is called original sinne the which wée bring with vs from out of our mothers wombe so as we be borne the children of wrath and it hath had
through the merites of Iesus Christe and let vs liue merily and assured that the righteousnes of Iesus Christ hath vtterly done away all our vnrighteousnes made vs good righteous holy before God who beholding vs ingrafted into his sonne by fayth estéemeth vs not nowe any more as the children of Adam but as his own children and hath made vs heyres of all his riches with his owne begotten sonne The fourth Chapter Of the effectes of liuely faith and of the vnion of mans soule with Iesus Christ. THis holy faith woorketh after suche a sorte in vs that hée which beléeueth that Iesus Christ hath taken all his sinnes vppon him becommeth like vnto Christ and ouercommeth sinne the diuel death hell And the reason thereof is this namely that the Churche that is to witte euery faithfull soule is Christes wyfe Christ is her husbaÌ„d For we know how the law of marriage is that of two they become one selfsame thing being two in one flesh that the goods and substance of eyther of them become common too them both by meanes wherof the husband saith that thâ— dowry of the wife is his and likewise the wife sayeth that her husbands house and al his riches are hers of a truth so they are for other wise they should not be one flesh as the Scripture saith After the same maner hath God married his onely begotten déere beloued sonne to the faithfull soule which hath not any other thing peculiar of her owne saue onely sinne yet the sonne of God hath not disdayned to take her for his wel beloued spouse together with her peculiar dowry which is sinne And nowe by reason of the vnion which is in this holy mariage look what the one hath is also the others Iesus Christ therfore saith thus y â— dowry of mans soule my déere wife that is to wit her sinnes traÌ„sgressings of the law Gods wrath agaynst her the boldnes of the diuel ouer her the prison of hell and al other her euils are become mine are in my power to do what I list with them Wherfore it is at my choyce to deale with them at my pleasure therfore I will put out the hand writing which is agaynst the soule my wife I wil take it out of y â— way I will fasten it to my crosse in mine owne body in the same will I spoyle principalities and powers make a shew of them openly triumph ouer them and consumâ— them vtterly vnto nothing Now when God sawe his sonne who knew no sinne neither had any sinne in him thus willingly taking on him the foulenesse of our iniquity he made him to be sinne for vs eueÌ„ the very sacrifice for our sinne did sharply punish our sinne in him putting him to death euen the death of the Crosse. Howebeit for asmuche as hee was his welbeloued obedient Sonne he woulde not leaue him in death nor suffer his holy one to sée corruptioÌ„ but raised him vp from death to life geuing him all power in heauen and earth and set him at his right hande in glory Nowe then the wise likewise with excéeding great ioy doth say the Realmes and Kingdomes of my most déere husband sauiour are mine by him I am an heyre of heaueÌ„ my husbaÌ„ds riches that is to wit his holines his innocencie his righteousnes and his godhead together with al his vertue might are mine and for me therfore in him I am holy innocent righteous godly and there is not any spotte in me I am welâ—auoured faire inasmuch as my lawful husband hath not any blemish in him but is altogether goodly fayre And sith that he is wholy mine so consequently al that he hath is mine all that he hath is pure and holy it followâ—th that I also am pure and holy Therfore to begin at his most innoceÌ„t birth he hath thereby sanctified the birth of his spouse coÌ„â—â—â—ued in sin The godly childhood youth of the bridegrom hath iustified the childish and youthfull life of his déerely beloued bride For the loue vnioÌ„ that is betwixt the soule of a true ChristiaÌ„ and the Bridesgrome Iesus Christ maketh all the works of either of them to be coÌ„moÌ„ to them both By reason wherof when a man saith Iesus Christ hath fasted Iesus Christ hath prayed Iesus Christ was heard of the father raised y â— dead draue diuels out of men healed the sicke dyed rose again and ascended into heauen Like wise a man may say that a christen maÌ„ hath done all y â— selfsame works forsomuch as y â— works of Christ are the works of the ChristiaÌ„ bicause he hath done them for him Uerily a man may say that the Christian hath béene nailed to the crosse buried raised again is gone vp into heauen become the childe of God madâ— partaker of the godhead On the other side all the works that a Christian man doeth are Christes works because it is his will to take theÌ„ for his And forasmuch as they be vnperfect he throughly perfect and canot away with any vnperfect thing he hath made them perfect with his vertues to the end that his wife should be alwayes ioyfull well contented and not be afraide of any thing assuring herself that although there be yet still some defalte in her works yet notwithstaÌ„ding they be acceptable to God in respect of his sonne vpoÌ„ whoÌ„ he hath his eyes alwayes fastened O that vnmeasurable goodnes of Godâ— how greately is the christiaÌ„ bound vnto God there is no loue of maÌ„ be it neuer so great that may be coÌ„pared w t the loue that God beareth too the soule of euery faithfull Christian whereof Christ is the bridegrome Where vpon S. Paul saith that Iesus Christ hath so loued his wife the church which is builded of liuing stones that is of the soules of the beléeuing Christians that for to sanctifie her he hath offered himselfe to the death of the crosse cleansing her with the washing of water by his word to ioyne her to himself a glorious church without spot or wrincle or other like thing but that the shoulde be holy and vnblameable that is to wit like vnto him in holinesse and innocency and also be the true lawful daughter of God who hath loued the world so well that as Iesus Christ himselfe saith he hath geuen his onely begotten sonne to the ende that euery one which beléeued in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting For God sent not his sonne into the worlde too condemne the world but too the ende that the world might be saued by him insomuche that he which beléeueth in him shal not be damned Some man might demand after what maner the vnioÌ„ of this holy mariage is made how the soule which is y â— bride and her bridegrome Iesus Christ are knit together What assurance can I haue that my Soule is vnited
than for the loue and glory of God and so he defileth all his works with selfeloue for the loue of himselfe and for his own profit But he that knoweth himselfe to be become righteous by the merits and righteousnesse of Christe which hee maketh his owne by fayth laboureth happily doeth good woorkes alonely for the loue and glory of Christ and not for love of himselfe nor to make himselfe righteous And thervpoÌ„ it coÌ„meth that the true ChristiaÌ„ that is to wit he that accounteth him self righteous by reason of Christes righteousnes asketh not whether good works be coÌ„manded or not but being wholly moued prouoked with a certaine violence of godly loue he offereth himselfe willingly to doal the works that are holy Christianlike and neuer ceaseth to doe well He therefore which féeleth not the meruailous effects by his faith which we haue heretofore declared y â— the inspired faith worketh in y â— heart of the christiaÌ„ Let him assure himselfe that he hath not the christiaÌ„ faith let him pray earnestly vnto God to giue it him saying Lorde helpe mine vnbeleefe And when he heareth it said that only faith maketh men righteous let him not deceiue himself say What néede I to weary my selfe in doing good workes faith is inough to send me to Paradise To such an one I answeare that onely fayth sendeth vs to Paradise but yet let him take good héed for the diuels doe also beléeue and tremble as saith S. Iames O miserable man wilte thou goe w t them too Paradise By this false coÌ„clusioÌ„ thou maist know my brother in what an error thou art for thou wéenest to haue the faith that maketh men righteous and thou hast it not Thou sayest thou art rich and hast no néede of any thing and thou seest not howe thou art poore wretched blind and naked I councel thée to buy golde of God that is throughly fixed w t fire that is to say true faith set on fire with good works to the intent thou maist become riche and to cloth thy self with white raiment that is to wit with Christes innocencie to the ende that the shame of thy nakednesse which is the great filthinesse of thy sinnes be not séene to the whole world Then is the iustifying faith as it were a flame of fire which caÌ„not but cast foorth brightnesse And like as the flame burneth the wood without the helpe of the light and yet the flame cannot bee without the light so is it assuredly true that fayth alone consumeth and burneth away sinne without the helpe of woorkes and yet that the same fayth cannot be with out good woorkes Wherefore like as if we see a flame of fire that giueth no light we knowe by and by that it is but vayne and painted euen so when wee see not some light of good woorkes in a man it is a token that he hath not the true inspired faith which God giueth to his chosen too iustifie and glorify them withall And hold it for certayne that S. Iames meant so when he sayde shewe mee thy faith by thy works I wil shewe thée my faith by my works For his meaning was that he s â— is pluÌ„ged in ambitiousnes and worldly pleasurs beleueth not though he say he beleue forasmuch as he sheweth not in himself the effects of faith Also we may liken this holy faith too the Godhead which is in Iesus Christ who being very maÌ„ but w tout sin did wonderful thinges healing the sicke giuing sight to the blind walking vpon the water and raysing vp the dead vnto life again yet these merueilous works were not the cause that he was God For before he did any of those things he was God and the lawful and only begotteÌ„ sonne of God and he néed not to worke those miracles to make himself God by them but forasmuch as he was God therfore he did them And so the miracles that Christ wrought made him not to be God but shewed openly that he was God In likewise true fayth is as it were a Godhead in the Soule of a Christian which doeth wonderous works is neuer weary of well doyng and yet those works are not the cause that a Christian is a christian that is to wit that he is righteous good holy and acceptable vntoo God neither néedeth he to woorke all those good workes to become such a one But forasmuch as he is a christian by fayth lyke as Iesus Christ being a man was also God by his Godhead hee dooth all those good woorkes which make not the christian too be righteous and good but shewe him to be good righteous and holy So then like as Christes Godhead was the cause that hée wrought miracles euen so faith working through loue is the cause of the good works that a christen man doeth And like as a maÌ„ may say of Iesus Christ that hee hath done this miracle or that that those miracles besids that they glorified God were also a great honor vnto Iesus Christ as he was maÌ„ who for his obedience euen vnto death was recoÌ„penced at Gods haÌ„d in his resurrectioÌ„ had geuen vnto him al power both in heauen earth which he had not afore as in respect of his manhood but deserued it by the vnion w t is betwixt the worde of God and the maÌ„hood of Christ So doeth faith in a Christian which faith by reasoÌ„ of the vnion that it hath with the soule attributeth that thing too the one in is proper to the other whervpon it coÌ„meth that the holy scripture promiseth the christian euerlasting life for his good woorks because good works are the fruites and testimonies of liuely faith and procéed of it as light procéedeth froÌ„ a flame of fire accoÌ„rding as I haue said hertofore And by this holy faith which imbraceth Iesu Christ it commeth to passe that our soule is ioyned with Christ and is so vnited and knit to him that whatsoeuer Christ hath merited deserued the same is imputed vnto the soule as though it had merited and deserued it And therefore S. Augustine saith that God crowneth his owne giftes in vs. Of this vnion of the soule with Iesus Christ Christ himselfe beareth good recorde where hee prayeth so his father for his Apostles and for such as should beléeue in him by their preaching I pray not saith he for them onely but also for al those that shal beléeue in me through theyr word to the end they may be all one thing that like as thou my father art in me and I in thee so they also may bâ—e one in vs and that the world may beléeue that thou hast sent me and that I haue geuen them the glory which thou hast geuen me so as they should be one selfsame thing like as thou and I are one Whereby it appeareth euidently that if we beléeue the word of the Apostles who preached that Iesus Christ died for our sinnes
insomche that he reioyceth or suffereth in his members Therfore like as Iesus Christe is our clothing by faith so also must we through loue become the clothing of our brethren haue as good care of them as of our owne bodies for they be meÌ„bers of our body wherof Christ is the head And this is the holy godly loue charity which springeth and procéedeth of the true vnfeined faith which GOD hath breathed into his elect which faith as saieth S. Paul worketh by loue Howbeit forasmuche as the life of our Lorde Iesus Christe wherewithal we must be clothed was a continuall crosse ful of troubles reproches persecutions if we wil fashion our selues like vnto his life we must coÌ„tinually beare the crosse as he himself saith If any man wil come after me let him forsake himselfe take vp his crosse and follow me But the chief cause of this crosse is for that our god purposeth to mortifie the affections of our mind and the lustes of our flesh by that exercise to the end we may conceaue in our selues the great perfection wherein we bee comprised by our Lorde Iesus Christe by being grafted into him Also his wil is that our faith being â—ined like gold in a furnace of troubles should shine bright too his glory Moreouer his intent is that we by our infirmities should set out his great power which the world in despite of it beholdeth in vs inasmuch as our frailtie becommeth strong by troubles and persecutions the more that it was beaten downe and oppressed so much the more it is strong stedfast Whereof the Apostle S. Paul saieth wee carry this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellencie of the power might be gods and not ours On all sides we suffer tribulation but wée are not ouercome wée bée poore but not ouercome of pouertie we suffer persecution but yet are we not forsakeÌ„ we be despised but yet we perish not and so we daily beare about vs the dying of our Lord Iesus Christin our body that the life of Iesus Christ may also be openly shewed in vs. And séeing the case is so y â— our Lorde Iesus Christ and all his deare disciples glorified God by tribulations let vs also imbrace them ioyfully and say with the Apostle S. Paul God forbid that I should glory saue in the Crosse of our Lorde Iesus Christe and let vs so deale as the worlde may whether it wil or no perceiue and sée with his eyes the wonderfull effectes that God worketh in such as sincerely imbrace the grace of his Gospell Let vs so deale I say as the worldlinges may sée with how great quietnesse of minde the true Christians indure the losse of theyr goodes w t death of their children slaunders the diseases of the body and the persecutions of false christians and also that they may sée how the only true Christians doe worship God inspirite and truthe taking in good woorth at his hand whatsoeuer hapneth and hoâ—ding all that he doeth to be good righteous and holy praysing him alwayes for the same whether it be inprosperite or aduersitie thanking him as a most gracious and louing father and acknowledging it for a right great gift of Gods goodnesse too suffer any aduersitie and chiefly for the go spell and for following the steps of Christ specially forasmuch as we know that tribularioÌ„ ingendreth pacience and pacience tryall and trial hope and hope maketh vs not ashamed I say y â— patience engendereth triall because that whereas God hath promised helpe in trouble to suche as trust in him we finde it by experience in that wee continue strong and stedfast all the whyle and are vpholden by the haÌ„d of God which thing we could not doe withal the powers that wée haue of our owne So then by patience wée finde that our Lorde geueth vs the helpe that he hath promised vs at our néede whereby our hope is confirmed And it were an ouer great vnthankfulnes not to trust to such an aide fauour for the time to come as wee haue founde by experience to be so certaine stedfast hâ—réfore But what néede wee so many wordes It ought to suffise vs to knowe that the true christians are through tribulation clothed with the image of our Lord Iesus Christe crucified which if wée beare willingly and with a good hearte we shall in the ende bée clothed with the image of Iesus Christe glorified For as the passions of Iesus Christe doe abounde so through him shall the consolations ouerabounde and if wée suffer with him héere below for a tyme we shall also regine with him there aboue for euer The sixth Chapter Certaine remedies against distrust BUt forasmuch as the Deuil and manâ— wisdome labour continually to dispossesse us of this most holy faith wherethrough we beléeue that all our sinnes are chastized punished in Iesus Christe and that through his most precious bloodshed we be reconciled to the maiestie of God it is very néedefull for a ChristiaÌ„ to haue his weapons alwaies in a readinesse to defend himselfe from the saide most mischieuous temptation which séeketh to bereaue the soule of her life Among the saide weapons in my iudgement the mightiest and best are Prayer the often vse of the holy communion the remembring of holie Baptisme and the minding of Predestination In our prayer we may well say with the father of the poore Lunatike person of whoÌ„ mentioÌ„ is made in the Gospel of S. Mark Lorde Iesus helpe mine vnbeliefe Or else we may say with the Apostles Lorde encrease our faith And if there reigne in vs a continuall desire to growe in faith hope loue we wil continually pray as S. Paul instructeth vs. For prayer is nothing else but a feruent minde setled vpon God By the remembring of Baptisme we shall assure our selues that we are at peace with God And forasmuch as S. Peter saith that the Ark of Noe was a figure of Baptisme therefore like as Noe was saued from the flood of the Arke because he beléeued y â— promises of God so also are we by faith saued in Baptisme from Gods wrath Which faith is grounded vppon the worde of our Lord Iesus Christe who saith y â— hee which beléeueth is baptized shal be saued And good right it is for in baptisme we put on Iesus Christ as the Apostle S. Paul affirmeth consequeÌ„tly we be made partakers of his righteousnes and of all his goodes vnder this precious robe the sinnes y â— our â—railtie committeth lie hidden and couered and are not imputed vnto vs. And so according as S. Paul saith the blessednes which the Psalmist speaketh of apperteineth vnto vs namely Blessed are they whose misdoings are forgeuen and whose sinnes are couered Blessed is the man to whomâ— the Lorde imputeth not sinne But it standeth a Christian in hand to take good héed that vpon these wordes