certifieth my brethern for nowe is the last tyme. And as ye haue herde howe that Antechrist shal come euē nowe are there many Antechristes come all redy Beware of the false prophetes which come to you in shepes clothynge but inwardly they are raueninge wolues ye shal knowe them by they re frutes So men gaddre grapes of thornes or figges of brires euen soo euery good tree bryngeth forth good frute But a corrupte tree bryngeth forth euil frute A good tre can not brynge forth bad frute Nor yet can a bad tree brynge forth good frute Euery tree that bryngeth not forth good frute shal be heawen doune and cast in to the fyre wherfore by they re frutes ye shal knowe them Not all they that saye vnto me master master shal enter in to the kyngdome of heuen but he that fulfilleth my fathers wyll which is in heuen Many wil saye to me in that daye master ma◠haue we not in thy name prophesied and in thy name haue we not cast out deuyls and in thy name haue we not done many myracles and then wyl i knoudledge vnto them that I newer knewe thē Departe from me ye workers of iniquite I beseche you brethern marke them which cause diuision and gewe occasions of euyl contrary to the doctrine which ye haue learned of the oyntment which ye haue of the holy goost and awoyde them For they that are soch serue not the lorde Iesus Christ but theyr awne belyes and by swete preachynges and flatterynge wordes deceaue the hertes of the innocentes For youre obedience vnto the trueth is publeshed through out amonge all christē brethern I am glad no dout of you but yet I wolde haue you wyse vnto that which is good and to be innocent as concerninge euyl The God of peace shall treade sathan vnder youre fete in shorte tyme. To hym that is of power to stabilishe you accordynge to the Gospell wherewith Iesus Christ is preached vnto you in openynge of the mistery which was kept closse from you a longe tyme a goo thorowe bely wysdome I meane y e craft of y e ypocrites And nowe is opēned at this tyme and declared in the holy scrip◠heuenly father Which spared not his aune sonne but gaue hym for vs all Wherefore no dispare mo haue place in you for as saith Paul Ye haue not receaued the sprite of bōdage to feare eny moare but ye haue receaued the sprite of adoption wherby ye crye abba father God youre father is mercifull yee and very merciful sayth the scripture And his mercy he wyl not denye vnto his awne children whiche are ye so ye kepe sure the faith of the Gospell Herefore truste sure in the lorde for there is no damnation to you whiche are in Christ Iesu whiche walke not after the fleshe but after the sprite for the lawe of the sprite wherin is lyfe thorowe Iesus Christ hath deliuered you from the lawe of synne and deeth For what the lawe coulde not doo in as moch as it was weake because of the fleshe that performed God and sent his sonne in the similitude of sinful fleshe and by synne dampned synne in the fleshe that the righteuesnes required of the lawe myght be fulfilled in you which walke not after the fleshe but after the sprite c. It is God that iustifieth you who then shal condempne you it is Christ which is deed yee rather which is rysē agayne which is also at the ryght honde of God and maketh intercession for you Ye are dearly bought Ye are Christis awne possession Ye are members of Christ And the very housholde of God Wherfore doute not for he careth for you cast roure care on the lorde and he shall nouresshe you To put all feare all dredoure and all dispare from you Christ hath geuen you consolation sayinge Feare not lytle floocke for it is youre fathers pleasure to geue you an kyngdom Be not careful for youre heuēly father knoweth what ye haue neade of and wyll ministre all necessary thynges vnto you ¶ Axe and it shal be geuen you seke and ye shal fynd knocke and it shal be opened vnto you for whosoeuer areth receaueth and he that seketh findeth and to hym that knocketh it shal be opened Is there any man amonge you which wolde profer his sonne a stone yf he axeth hym breed or yf he axeth fisshe wolde he profer hym a serpent yf ye then which axe euyl can geue to youre children good gyftes howe moche moare shall youre father which is in heuen geue good thynges to them that axe of hym I will dwell amonge you and walke amōge and wil be youre God and ye shal be my people I wil be an father vnto you and ye shal be vnto me sonnes and doughters sayth the lorde God almyghty Beholde the dayes shal come saith the lorde and I will fynnisshe apon the hous of Israel and apone the hous of Iuda an newe testament not lyke as the Testament that I made with theyr fathers at that tyme when I toke them by the honde to leed them oute of the lande of Egipte For this is the testament that I will make vnto the hous of Israel after theyr dayes I wil put my lawes in they re myndes and in theyr hertes I will writ them and I wil be theyr God and they shal be my people And they shall not teache euery man his neybour and euery man his brothre sayinge knowe the lorde for they shal knowe me from the leest to the greatest of them for I will be mercifull to them on theyr iniquites and synnes and on they re vnrighteuesnes will I not thynke any moare ¶ I the lorde defende and water her in the due tyme. I kepe her daye and nyght leste any man inuade her I am with oute all wrathe who then mo so mowe me to be so greate an enemie to her that I my promes neglecte I shal fyght for this cytie and shall defende it saith the lorde and shal saue it for my namys sake Be of good chere be of good chere my people saith youre God se that ye counforte the hertes of Ierusalem and tell them of theyr reest and deliueraunce from captiuite tell them howe theyr synnes shal be forgeuen them after that they haue receaued theyr full chastisinge of y e lordis honde for all theyr synnes Thou shal be my seruaunte I haue chosen y e nether shal I at any tyme refuse y e ▪ se that thou feare not for I shal be with y e nether loke thou aboute for eny other for I am thy God which shal conforte y e I shal helpe y e I shal holde the fast with this same my faithful righthonde Beholde as many as prouoke the to angre shal be counfunded and shamed thy aduersares shal come to nought and peresshe so that he that shal seke for them
sonne of â—an be asshamed when he cometh in the â—lorie of his father with his holy Angels Also none that layeth his honde to the plowe and loketh backe is mere for the kingdome of heuen ¶ Neuerthelesse yet yf any man haue resisted ignorauntly as did Paul let hym loke vnto the trueth which Paul wrate after he come to knouledge Also yf any man clene agenst his herte but ouercome with the weaknes of the flesshe for feare of persecution haue denied as did Peter or haue delyuered his boke to the tyrauntes or put it awaye secretlye ¶ Let hym yf he repente come agayne and take better holde and not dispare or take it for a signe that God hath forsaken hym For God oft tymes taketh his strength eueÌ„ from his very electe when they other trust in theyr awne strength or are negligente to call to hym for his strength And that doeth he to reach them and to make them feale that in the fyre of tribulation foâ— his wordes sake no thynge canne endure and abyde false his worde and that strength only which he hath premysed For which streÌ„gth he wil haue vs to praye vnto hym nyght aÌ„d daye with all instaunce Which also is able to do excedinge aboundaÌ„tly aboue all that ye are or thynke accordynge to y e power that worketh in vs vnto whom be prayse in the congregation by Iesus Christe thorowe out all generation for euer Amen Of the mortification of the fleshe BY one maÌ„ synne entred in the worlde aÌ„d deeth by the meanes of synne and so deeth went ouer all men in so moch that all men synned Dearly beloweth bretherne it is not vnknowen to you the serâ—â—tute the bondage aÌ„d the â—hialdom where vnder we were some tyme to synne Ye were ons the seruauntes of synne Ye were one darknes But thorowe the greate mercy of almyghty God we are delyuered there from by his sonne Iesus Christ So that we are deliuered froÌ„ synne and made the seruauntes ef righteuesnes but not so perfitly that ther is no sâ—nne in vs. We are deliuered thorow faith froÌ„ the wrath of God and from the vengeaunce and curse of the lawe and from the eternal deeth we haue obteyned forgyuiÌ„g of all oure synnes so that they shal not be imputeth to vs on that daye when the lorde shal come And in the sprite we are made perfect and borne a newe vnto God so that we are no seruauntes but soÌ„nes doughters But yet in oure flesshe there is sâ—me synne yee an wicked seed is sowen in oure flesshe and is so roted that it maye not be cleanly taken awaye in this present lyfe Of the which saith Ihon. Yf we shall saye that we haue no synne we deceaue oure sylfes and the trueth is not in vs. For in many thynges we synne all When we haue done all they thynges which are commanded vnto vs we are yet vnprofitable seruauntes we haue done but that which was oure duety to do This synne is this concupiscence this lust and euyl desyre which we haue in vs contraryous to the lawe of God And this concupiscence is verely synne because it is forbydden in the lawe of God which saith thou shall not concupisce or desyre And be cause it is contraryous to God and to his pleasure and will for there maye no thynge be contraryous to God but euyl and synneful thynge and this concupiscence or euyl desyre thought it be euyll and sinnefull yet we maye not awoyde it so longe we are here in the fleshe For as saith Paul the fleshe lusteth contrary to the sprite and the sprite contrary to the fleshe Theyr ar contrary one to the other so that 〈◊〉 canne not do that what ye wolde This bâ—tayl is euen in an righteous and iustified man which hath the sprite of God For the fleshe lusteth continualy agenst the sprite 〈◊〉 that an maye not do that which he woldâ— that is that he myghâ— holely and perfâ—ue hym to the seruice of God but he mayâ— not for the fleshe lusteth contrary to the sprâ—te and wyll not nor canne not be obedienâ— to the lawe of this same saith Paul The laâ—we is spirituall but I am carnall solde vnder synne because I woâ—e not what I do Here Pa. knowledgeth hym sylfe to hauâ— an carnall concupiscence or desyre in hym and thereby knowledgeth hym subdued to synne For he saith I am carnall solde vnder synne The lawe he saith also is holy aÌ„d good yee y e lawe is spiritual but I am caâ—nall solde vnder synne And when Ierâ—me my sylfe to do and fulfil that holy and spirituall lawe I fynde in me an contrariousnes to it and maye not fulfill it Whereby I knowe that I am carnall and â—â—ldâ— that is subdued vnder synne for in the flâ—she he serued the lawe of synne In my fleshe saith he I serue the lawe of synne Bâ— thought he was subdued to the lawe of syâ—ne in the fleshe yet he was fre in the sprite I serue the lawe of God saith he in the sprite And in the sprite he fought continualy agenst the synne in the fleshe and wolde alwayes haue had it awaye And because he 〈◊〉 no meanes culde get it awaye he coÌ„playneth sayenge what I wolde that do I not but what I hat that do I. As he wolde saye I wolde the flesh lusteth not agenst the sprite And this concupiscence I â—at because it is euyll and yet I maye not be fre froÌ„ it TheÌ„ it foloweth Yf I do that which I wolde not I confesse to the lawe â—hat it is good So then nowe it is not I that do it but synne that dwelleth in me As he wolde saye Yf synne to the which I consent not in the sprite but hattes wolde haue it awaye abydeth in the fleshe yee worketh and lusteth agenst the lawe And I in the sprite consent to the lawe and graunteth is good and wolde fulfill it and haue awaye that synne out of the fleshe which is contrarious to the lawe thought I maye not get it awaye yet I synne not nor transsgresses not the lawe in the sprite but the synne that dwelleth in the fleshe doeth it ¶ Then it foloweth To will is present with me but I canne fynde no meanes to performe that which is good That is to saye I wolde this euyl lust and synne in the fleshe were awaye so that then were no thynge in me contrarious to the holy lawe of God but I can not get it awaye I hat it and yet it abydeth fast roteâ— in the fleshe It foloweth I fynde then by the lawe that when I wolde do good euyl is present with me Here Paul shewed that y e lawe gaue hym knouledge of synne for he had not knowen that this lust or concupiscence had bene synne excepte the lawe had said thou shall not lust or concupisce 〈◊〉 desyre Therfore he saith I fynde by the lawe that euyl that is to saye synne is
and lacke the prayse that is of valoure before God but are iustified frely by his grace thorow the redemption that is in Christ Iesu whom God hath made an seate of mercy thorow faith in his bloud to shewe the righteuesnes which before hym is of valoure in that he forgeueth the synnes that are passhed which God did sofre to sheue at this tyme the righteuesnes that is alowed of hym that he myght be counted iuste and an iustifiar of hym that beleuith on Iesus Christ Where is then thy reioysinge it is excludet By what lawe by the lawe of workes naye but by the lawe of faith We suppose therfore that an man is iustified by faith without the deades of the lawe Ys he God of the iewes only ys he not the God also of the gentyls he is no dout God also of the gentyls for it is God only which iustified circumcision which of faith and vncircumcisioÌ„ thorow faith ¶ Yf Abraham were iustified by deades then hath he wherin to reioyce but not with God For what saith the scripture Abraham beleued God and it was counted vnto hym for righteuesnes ¶ To hym that worketh the rewarde is not reckened of fauour but of duety To hym that worketh not but beleueth on hym that iustified the vngodly is faith reckened for righteuesnes Euen as Dauid describeth the blessed fulnes of an man vnto whom God ascribeth righteuesnes without deades Blessed are they whose vnrighteuesnes is forgeuen and whose synnes are couered blessed is that man to whom the lorde imputeth not synne Cam this blessednes then apon the circumcised or apon the vncircuÌ„cised we saye verely howe yat faith was reckened to AbrahaÌ„ for righteuesnes Howe was it reckened In the time of circumcicision or in the time before he was circumcised Not in the time of circumcision but when he was yet vncircumcised And he receaued the signe of circumcision as an seale of that righteuesnes which is by faith which faith he had yet beynge vncircumcised That he shulde be the father of all them that beleue thougt they be not circumcised that righteuesnes myght be imputed to them also Abraham was made stronge in the faith and gaue honour to God and stedfastly beleued that he which had made the promes was able also to make it good and therfore was it reckened to hym for righteuesnes It is not written for hym only that it was reckened to hyme for righteuesnes but also for vs to whom it shal be counted for righteuesnes so we beleue on hym that reysed vppe Iesus the lorde froÌ„ deeth As saith Paul be cause that we are iustified by faith we are at peace with God thorow oure lorde Iesus Christ The GeÌ„tils which foloweth not righteuesnes haue ouer takeÌ„ righteuesnes I meane ye righteuesnes which coÌ„meth of faith But Israel which foloweth the lawe of righteuesnes coulde not attayne vnto y e lawe of righteuesnes And wherfore because they sought it not by faith but as it were by the workes of the lawe For they haue stombled at the stomblinge stone As it is writteÌ„ Beholde I put in SyoÌ„ an stomblinge stone and an rocke on which shal men faule none that beleue on hym shal be ashamed I beare Israel recorde sayth Paul that they haue an feruent mynde to God warde but not accordinge to knouledge For they are ignoraunt of the righteuesnes which is aloued before God aÌ„d goo about to stablisshe their aune righteuesnes And therfore are not obedient vnto the righteuesnes which is of value before God For Christ is the ende of the lawe to iustifie all that beleue aÌ„d in y e same chap. saith he The beleue of y e herte iustified And in an other place We knowe y t no man is iustified by the deades of lawe but by the faith of Iesus Christ and we haue beleuet on Iesus Christ that we myght be iustified by y e faith of Christ and noth by the deades of the lawe Abraham beleued God and it was counted vnto hym for righteuesnes vnderstonde therfore that they which are of faith are the childerne of Abraham The scripture sawe afore honde that God wolde iustifie the gentils thorow the mouthes of lyons quenched the violence â—f fyre eschaped the edge of the swearde of weake were made stronge woxet valient in fyght turned to flyght the armees of the alientis The wemen receaued their deed to lyfe agayne wother were racked and wolde not be deliuered y t they myght receaue a better resurrectioÌ„ Wother tasied of mochingis and scourgyndis moreower of bondes and presonment were stoned were heawen a sunder were tempted were slayne with sweardes walked vppe and doune in shepes skynnes in gotes skynnes in nede tribulacion and vexation which the worlde was not worthy of They wandred in wildernes in mountaynes in dens and cayes of the erth And these all thoroue faith obteyned good reporte and receaued not the promes God prouidinge an better thinge for vs that they without vs shulde not be made perfect Belowed bethren it is writteÌ„ The eyes of the lorde beholdeth faith that is to saye The lorde taketh pleasure of faith and faueours them in whom he findeth faith aÌ„d imputed not their synnes vnto them for the pleasure which he hath of their faith he loket not to their synnes but he loketh to their faith as saith y e scripture Dearly beloued this faith where of I speake is not fayned faith nether deed faith nether infruteful faith which taketh name after y e opinioÌ„ of meÌ„ but it is perfect faith quycke lyuinge faith which worketh y e pleasure of God froÌ„ y e herte of poore lowe This faith is not had be y e deuils nether by wicked vngodly meÌ„ but by y e saynctes of God yee the childerne and heyres of God Whom he had called vnto the supper of lyfe Nether mo the man which had this faith consent to do any thinge agaynst ye lawe of God for his herte is so vppe lyfted thorowe lowe y t he foryettes his awne profit and pleasure and continually seketh the pleasure of God aÌ„d the profit of his brethreÌ„ This faith is callit the faith of the Gospell and it is an sure confidence or trust in God that he is faithful and wil without any dout fulfil they thinges which he of his greate mercy hath promised vnto vs in Christ Ensample we haue of faithful Abraham whois faith was couÌ„ted vnto hym for righteuesnes And his faith was an sure confidence or trust in the promes of God as saith Paul Abraham coÌ„trary to hope beleued in hope that he shulde be the father of many nacions accordinge to that which was spoken So shal thy seed be and he faynted not in the faith nor yet consideret hys aune body which was nowe deed euen when he was almost an hondred yeare olde Nether coÌ„sidered he the barenes of Sara He staâ—kered not at the promes of God
thorowe vnbelefe but was made stronge in the faith and gaue honour to God and stedfastly beleued that he which hath made the promes was able also to make it good and therfore was it reckened to hym for righteuesnes It is not written for hym only that it was reckened to hym for righteuesnes but also for vs to whom it shal be counted for righteuesnes so we beleue on hym that reysed vppe Iesus oure lorde from deeth Here Paul shewet what faith was in oure father Abraham we shulde beleue in hope contrary to hope as did Abraham which contrary the hope of his natural strength or powere belewed in the strength and powere of God infulfilliÌ„ge his promes So shulde we beleue surly to obteyne they thinges which God hath promised to vs thought they be vnpoâ—sible to vs to obteyne them after oure naturall weake powere God hath promised to vs eternall life which is vnpossible to vs to obteyne after oure weake naturall powere because we are synners yet thougt it be vnpossible to vs to obteyne it of oure sylfes because we are sinful It is not vnpossible to God to geue it to vs accordinge to his promes Therfore let vs with Abraham beleue in hope aboue hope in Gods righteuesnes aboue oure vnrighteuesnes In gods trueth aboue oure lyes In Gods mercy aboue oure synfulnes In Gods power aboue oure weaknes Let vs haue faith with Abraham in gods promyses And we shall reioy with Abraham in receawinge of thesame thynges promysed This faith is not knoweÌ„ of the worlde nether be y e naturall man it for it is an super naturall gyfte geuen vnto man frely by god As saith Paul ye are made saue by faueoure throwe faith and that not of youre sylfes for it is the gyfte of god and commeth not of workes lest any man shulde bost hym sylfe Belowed brethern sen ye mo not haue this faith of youre sylfes but it is an excelleÌ„t gyfte of god mother of all godly virtue which he of his kyndnes mercy geweth vnto you frely Therfore crye with the Apostles vnto y e lorde to increase youre faith And with the man which hath the possessed sonne which sayde o lorde i beleue sucker myne vnbelefe That god seen ge youre powerte in the sprite and takynge heed to youre peteous complayne mo graunt youre peticion and make you rych by his precious gyfte of faith And not only seke ye youre awne health but the health of youre brethern prayeÌ„ge to god to sent faith on the erthaâ—d plant it in all quarters y t all nacion maye prayse god which only hath immortalite and duellit in light that no man maye attayne whom newere man sawe nether cane se vnto whom be honour and rule euerelastinge Amen ¶ Of vnfaithfulnes DEarly belowed brethern vnfaithfulnes is the mother of allwice aÌ„d synne for it bryngeth forth all kynde of synne euil Lyke wise as euil frute coÌ„meth of an euil tree So of vnfaithfulnes commeth no thynge but euil As aduoâ—rie fornication vnclemes wantaÌ„nes ydolatrie witchecraft hatred zele wraâ—th stryfe sedition partetakinges enuyinge murther dronckennes glottony and soche lyke â–ª As saith oure saueoure an euil man out of the euil treasure of his hert bryngeth forth euil thynges This euil treasure is vnfaithfulnes which bryngeth forth all kynde of euil and synne be which cause it is only before God reckened synne as saith oure saueoure The holy goost wheÌ„ he shal come shal rebuke y e worlde of synne be cause they beleue not on me And it maketh an man worthy of eternall damnation as it is writen Whosoeuer beleueth not shal be dampâ—ct And in a nother place Héth at beleueth not is condeÌ„pned already This vnfaithfulnes maketh god to hat vs as saith the scripture The wraeth of God commeth apon the chyldren of vnbelefe And in a nother place saith Ihon the baptiser He that beleueth not the sonne shall not se lyfe but the wraeth of God abydeth on hym Vnfaithfulnes is no other thynge but lackynge of faith euen as darknes is but the lackynge of lyght So the vnfaithful lacketh faith aÌ„d be y e same cause al that coÌ„meth of faith as hope lowe ioy peace longe sofferynge geÌ„tlenes goodnes kepynge of promes meknes teÌ„peraunce ce And in steade of them is full of allwice as vane presumption hatred dispare and all abhomination Nether is it possible to hym to lowe god or his brethreÌ„ nor to do any thynge pleasesynge to god For whatsoeuer coÌ„meth not of faith y e same is synne For he is by nature euil and perceaueth not y e thynges of y e sprite of God for they are but folishnes vnto hym He is blynde and knoweth not where hence he goo but is led by y e power of darknes Of y e vnfaithful saith Paul Yf oure gospell yet be hid it is hid amonge theÌ„ y t are lost in whom the God of this worlde hath blynded y e myndes of theÌ„ which beleue not lest shulde shyne vnto theÌ„ y e light of y e glorious gospell of christe which is y e ymage of God and in a nother place The vnfaithfull is lyke y e wawes of the see tost of the wynde and caried wyth violence nether let that man thynke that he shal receaue any thynge of God A wauerynge mynded man is vnstable in all his wayes Belowed brethern this i saye not to youre rebuke but to theyrs whosoeuer lacketh faith which shal be knowen and iudget of the faithful by they re frutes As saith oure saueoure Ye shal knowe them by they re frutes Herefor study and labour that ye be not found vnfrutefull but that youre vnfayned faith mo be knowen by her frutes and youre brethern mo see her frutes and glorify youre father which is in heuen For there is many of whom alace with sorowe i coÌ„playne That confesse that they knowe God but with deades they denie hym and are abhominable and disobedyent and vnto all good workes discommendable They do shayme so moch as is in theÌ„ to oure moste holy faith They seke in all thynges the libertie of the flesshe and not the prayse of the lorde nor the health of there brethern and do dishonour the gospell of God This i saye that ye knowoÌ„de soch fautes in others awoyde them from youre sylfes and behaue youre sylfis as it becommeth saynctes And beare youre frute in holynes As saith Paul Ye which beleue in god be studious â—goo forwarde in good workes This thyngis are good and profitable vnto men Folisshe questions and genealogies and braulingis and stryfe aboute the lawe awoyde for they are vnprofitable and superfluus A man that is the auctor of sectes after the first and the second amonition awoyde remembrynge that he that is soche is peruerted and synneth euen damned by his awne iudgement Of these thyngis i wolde ye were
was wounded for oure transgressions and smyten for oure vngodlynes For the punisshment wherby we haue peace was layed apoÌ„ hym Wo be vnto y e vnwyse prophetes saieth y e lord god which dissaue my people preachynge peace peace and there is no peace I make peace sueâ—nes both with them that dwell farre and with these that dwel nye sayeth y e lorde and I haue healeth them but the vngodly are lyke the wode see called Entipus which can newer reest her waters are continually troubled with slyme and stynkynge mudde and eueÌ„ so haue the vngodly newer reest nor peace sayeth my god But vnto you belowed brethern Christ hath geuen thys peace sayenge Peace I lewe with you my peace I geue vnto you Whiche peace ye haue receaued inwardly in youre soules thorowe faith aÌ„d are at peace with god thorowe oure lorde Iesus Christ which is youre peace Therfore brethern reioyce syngynge aÌ„d playinge to the lorde in youre hertes gevynge thaÌ„kes all wayes for all thynges in the name of oure lorde Iesus Christ to God the father submittiÌ„ge youre sylfes one to another in the feare of God And haue peace amonge youre sylfes And also y fit be possible yet on youre parte haue peace with all men And the god of peace shall counforte youre hertes in to hys eternall promes Amen Of lowe HEare o Israell the lorde thy god is god only And thou shall lowe thy god with all thy herte with all thy soule and with all thy streÌ„gth This lowe commeth of faith nether mo this lowe be where faith is not nor mo faith be wher of I meane without this lowe For by faith an man is made sure of y e goodnes of y e graciousnes and of the mercyfulnes of God Wherfore he must neade lowe hym Because hys excellence his goodnes and kyndnes to warde vs deserued lowe We shulde not lowe god for the deades of lowe whiche he hath shewed vnto vs. But we shulde lowe god for the goodnes graciousnes aÌ„d mercyfulnes of hym sylfe which is declared vnto vs by soche gracious and mercyfull deades wrought by hys godly wysdom for oure well The lowe and goodnes of god is not made perfect by soche workes for it is and was in hym sylfe before the workes And the workes do but shewe vnto vs hys nature aÌ„d howe worthy he is to belowed Helowed vs before the fundatioÌ„ of the worlde was layde But thys lowe he shewe vnto vs in these last dayes by hys lowely workes Hereby perceaue wethe lowe of God for he gaue hys lyfe for vs. He lowed vs euer and prepared an kyngdom for vs from the beginninge of the worlde Yee he lowed vs euer for he in hys incomprehensible godhed is very lowe but thys lowe was declared openly vnto vs by his workes which he hath wrought to warde vs And not only shulde we lowe hym be cause he lowed vs but for his awne goodnes aÌ„d mercyfulnes the whiche we knowe in that he receaued vs to his grace whiche are vnworthy Faith maketh an man sure of the excedynge goodnes of god the whiche goodnes maketh an man yee drawed an man with soche power to the lowe of God that he can not do but lowe God for he is so lowe worthy that it is vnpossible to knowe hym and not to lowe hym Wherby ye shall knowe that faith bryngeth lowe and mo not be without it moare no the fyre withoute heeth For faith bryngeth ye sprite of God as saith Paul to the Galathy This only wolde I learne of you receaued ye the sprite of God by the deades of the lawe or els by preachynge of the faith and the sprite of God which coÌ„meth of faith bryngeth lowe as Paul writteth to the Romayns The lowe that God hath vnto vs is shee l abrod in oure hertes by y e holy goost which is geuen vnto vs. The frute of the sprite is lowe So of faith commeth lowe nether mo it be withoute lowe faith by lowe is myghty in operacioÌ„ Howe perfect that this lowe shulde be in vs almyghty God hath shewed vnto vs by hys lawe Wherin it is commaundeth vs that we lowe oure lorde God with all oure herte with all oure soule and with all oure streyngth The whiche lowe no maÌ„ in this present lyfe mo fulfill because of the seed of synne sowen in vs by Adam which thought it sprynge not and beare no frute yet it remaneth euer ready to sprynge yee and wolde beare frute vnto the deeth were not the holy sprite subdued it and mortyfyed it and holdeth it doune I am carnall soulde vnder synne because I wote not what I doo For what I wolde that do I nâ— but what I hate that do I. Yf I do nowâ— that whiche I wolde not I graunte to the loâ—we that it is good So then nowe it is not I that do it but synne that dwelleth in me For I knowe that in me that is to saye in my flesshe dwelleth no good thynge To wyll is present wyth me but I fynde no mâ—â—anes to performe that whiche is good For I do not that thynge which I wolde but that euyl do I whiche I wolde not Fynally yf I do that I wolde not then is not I that do it but synne that dwelleth in me doâ—eth it I fynde then by the lawe that when I wolde do good euyl is present wyth me I delite in the lawe of God as concerninge the inner man but I se a nother lawe in my meÌ„bers rebellinge agaynst the lawe of my mynde and subduinge me vnto the lawe of syâ—ne whiche is in my members O wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from this body of deeth I thank God by Iesus Christ oure lorde so then I my sylfe in my mynde serue the lawe of God and in my flesshe the lawe of synne Here Paul sheâ—wed the synfulnes of his flesshe laudinge God by Iesus Christ that he was not ther vnto subdued Yf ye mortyfie the deades of the flesshe by the helpe of the sprite ye shall liue for as many as are ledde by the sprite are the sonnes of God Here it is openly declared that it is by the powere of the sprite of God and not by oure deades that the synne whiche is in oure flesshe is mortyfied subdued or dampned But soche perfection haue we not nor yet mo haue that synne shal be clene taken oute of vs so longe as we are in this corruptible body The flesshe lusteth euer coÌ„trary to the sprite But yet let not y e synne which is in youre mortal bodyes regne y e ye shulde there vnto obey in the lustes of it Nether gyue ye youre members as instrumentes of vnrighteuesnes vnto synne but geue youre sylfes vnto God as they that are aliue from deeth and geue youre members as instrumentes of righteuesnes vnto God Synne shall not haue powere ower you
for ye are not vnder y e lawe but vnder grace aÌ„d ye are borne a newe in ye sprite The sprite is made fre Ye sprite is fylled with y e holy gost And ye sprite fulfilleth the lawe In my mynde sayeth Paul I serue the lawe of God howebeit y e synne dwell in the flesshe yet the sprite wyl not coÌ„sent nor obey there vnto because it is borne a newe aÌ„d made fre by faith but wyl obey vnto the lawe of God by the power of his holy sprite by whom spryngeth very lowe from the herte And so in the sprite the lawe is fulfilled Thaâ— commande vs to lowe God With all oure herte with all oure soule with all oure streyngth oute of this lowe spryngeth all good workes for lowe canne not be ydel but must of neade worke to the pleasure of hym whom is lowed when occasion commeth An man that hath perfect lowe to God seketh with all diligence to knowe they thynges wherin God hath pleasure And when he knowed the wyll of God there mo nothynge holde hym from the doinge of it Yee he is glade that God hath commaunded hym to do soche thynges Because his pleasure is to be occupyed in the lawe of the lorde nether is his lawe heuy to soche a man For it is an easy yoke and an light burdynge thorowe lowe wherin I praye God to coÌ„ferme youre hertes by his sprite thorowe faith Amen Of pacience BE ye pacient bretherne vnto the coÌ„mynge of the lorde Belowed brethern pacence is an virtue whiche is necessary in theyr euyl and peralouse dayes aÌ„d thereby all y e saynâ—â—eâ— of God haue ouercoÌ„me all persecutioÌ„ aÌ„d trouble put om them in this present lyfe and this pacience Paul coÌ„mended vnto vs sayinge In all thynges let vs behaue oure sylfes as the ministers of God in moche pacience in afflictions in necessâ—te in auguyâ—she in strypes in presoÌ„ment in stryfe in labour in warche in fastinge in purenes in knowledge in loÌ„ge sufferinge in kyndnes in the holy goost in lowe vnfayned in the wordes of trueth in the power of God by the armâ—â—â— of righteuesnes on the ryght honde and on the lyfte honde in honoure and dishonoure in euyll reporte and good reporte as disceauers and yet true as vnknowen and yet knowen as deyinge and beholde we yet liue as chastened and not kylled as sorowynge and yet alwayes mery as poore aÌ„d yet make many ryche as hauynge no thynge and yet possessynge all thynges This pacience is to soffre and receaue gladly withoute any murmure whatsoeuer trouble payne vexation and aduersite that God sent And this pacience commeth of perfect lowe whiche commeth of stronge and sure faith This pacieÌ„ce teached vs the apostle Iamys sayenge Be ye pacient bretherne vnto the commynge of the lorde Pacience do marke some trouble for in prosperite she lost her â—ome she ragne neuer but wher trouble aÌ„d Beholde wicked Iezabel caused to kyll all the holy prophetes in Israel excepte they that were hyd secretly or fledde to the deserte as Elias .c. Of the trouble aÌ„d persecution of the prophetes and seruauntes of God saith Christ to the olde scribes and pharisees Beholde I sende vnto you prophetes wyse men and scribes and of them some shall ye kyl and crucifie and some shall ye scourge in youre synagogges and persecute them from citie to citie Take my brethern the prophetes for an ensample of sufferinge aduersitie and of longe pacience which spake in the name of the lorde Beholde we counte them happy which endure Ye haue herde of the pacience of Iob and haue knowen what ende the lorde made for the lorde is pityfull aÌ„d merciful Beholde also the greate aduersitie and trouble of holy Tobie for all his substance was taken from hym aÌ„d hymsylfe was sought to be kylled aÌ„d his syght was taken from hym by God also ye haue herde what endethe lorde made of all his aduersite Market his also yf God sende the to the see and promyse to goo with y e and to brynge the saffe to londe he wyl reyse vp a tempest agenst the to proue whether thou wilt abyde by his woorde and that thou maist feale thy faith and perceaue his goodnes for were it all wayes fayre wether aÌ„d â—ou neuer brought to soch ieoperdy whenâ—e his mercy only deliuered the thy faith â—ulde be but a presumption and thou shulâ—est be euer vnthankefull to God and merâ—ylesse vnto thy neyboure ¶ Yf God promyse riches y e waye therto is â—owerte WhoÌ„ he loweth hym he chasteset â—hom he exaltet he casteth downe whom he â—â—ueth he daÌ„neth fyrst He bringeth no man â—o heuen excepte he sende hym to hell first Yf he promise lyfe he sleyeth first when he â—yldeth he casteth all downe fyrst He is no â—atcher he can not bylde on a nother mans foundacion He will not worke vntyll all be past remedy and brought vnto soch a case that men may se how that his haÌ„de his power his mercy his goodnes aÌ„d trueth hath wrought all to gether He will let no man be partetaker with him of his prayse aÌ„d glorie His workes are wonderful and contrary vnto mans workes Who euer saue he delyuered his awne sonne his only sonne his dere sonne vnto the deeth and that for his enemies sake to winne his enemie to ouercome him with lowe that he myght se lowe and lowe agayne and of lowe to doo lyke wyse to other men and to ouercome them with well doinge ¶ Ioseph sawe y e sonne and the mone and xi ster res worshepinge him Neuerthelesse shameful deeth of the crosse as a thef or a mortherer Yee an cursed deeth as saith the lawe cursed is whosoeuer hangeth on tree He vas â—ende in the warlde by the father to suffre trouble whiche before he apoynted to hym Yee he se et an stroÌ„ge batayl before hym in the which he do fyght aâ— an worthy knyght and obtayned victory and haue receaued y e rewarde but fyrst he fought or he waÌ„ne the rewarde yee he suffered to be sore wounded be fore he obtayned victory As the holy prophete sawe longe afore honde and spake of hym He shal haue nether beutye nor fauoure wheÌ„ we shall beholde hym he shal be oute of shappe so that we shal not desyer hym he shal be despysed and leste set bye of al men a man hauynge experience and fealinge bothe oure sorowes and sykenesses we shal I saye repute hym so vyle and lothly that we shall hyde oure faces froÌ„ hym When this not withstondinge yet is euen he muste beare oure sykenesses and sorowes But we shall iudge hym to be thus cast doune and smyten with some plage of God yee when he is wounded euen of oure transsgressions and thus smyten for oure vngodlynes for the punyshment for oure correction shal be layde apon hym and by his stripes and hurte shal be healed All we are
dyed and was buried in hell ¶ When he lifte vppe his eyes as he was in tormentes he sawe Abraham a farre of and Lazarus in his bosome and cried and saith haue mercy on me and sende Lazarus that he maye depe the rippe of his finger in water and cole my tonge for I am tourmented in this flame Abraham saith vnto hym Sonne remembre that thou in thy lyfe tyme receauedst thy pleasure and contrary wyse Lazarus payne Nowe therfore is he conforted and thowe arte punisshed .c. ¶ For as moch then as we must neades be baptised in tribulations and goo thorowe the redde see and a greate and fearful wildernes and a londe of cruell geâ—untes into oure awne contree for here haue we no contynuinge citie but we seke â— citie to come yee and in as moch as it is of playne ernest there is no nother waye into y e kyngdome of heueÌ„ then thorowe persecutioÌ„ and sufferinge of payne and very deeth after the ensaÌ„ple of Christ For we â—ustenter in at ye strayte gate â–ª for wyde is the gate and broade is the waye that leadeth to distruction and many there be which goo in there at For strayte is the gat and narawe is the waye which leydeth vnto lyfe and feawe there be that fynde it ¶ Therfore let vs arme oure soules with the conforte of the scriptures howe that God is euer ready at honde in tyme of neade to helpe vs. And howe that soch tyrauntes and persecuters are but Gods scourge and his rodde to chastise vs. And as the father hath alwaye in tyme of correction the rodde faste in his honde so that the rodde doeth no thynge but as he moweth it euen so hath God all tyrauntes in his honde and letteth them not doo whatsoeuer they wolde but as moch only as he apoynteth them to do and as for forth as it is necessaâ—y for vs. And as when the childe submitâ—eth hym sylfe vnto his fathers correction and nurtoure and humbleth hym sylfe all to gether vnto the will of his father then â—he rodde is taken awaye euen so when we are come vnto the knowleage of the righte waye and haue forsakeÌ„ oure awne wyll and offer oure sylfes clene vnto the will of God to walke which waye so euer he will haue vs then turneth he the tyrauntes Or else yf they enforce to persecute vs any forther he putteth them out of the waye accordynge vnto the confortable ensamples of the holy scripture ¶ Moareouer let vs arme oure soules with the promyses both of helpe and assistence and also of the glorious rewarde that foloweth Greate is youre rewarde in heuen saith Christ And he that knowledge me before men hym shall I knowledge before my father that is in heuen And call on me in tyme of tribulation and I shal delyuer y e And beholde the eyes of the lorde are â—uer them that feare hym aÌ„d ouer them that trust in his mercy To delyuer theyr soules from deeth and to fede them in the tyme of hongre And Dauid sayeth The lorde is nye theâ— that are troubled in theyr hertes and the mâ—ke in sprite he wyll saue The tribulation of the righteous are many and out oâ— them all will the lorde delyuer them Thâ— lorde kepeth all the bones of them so thaâ— not one of them shal be brosed The lorâ—de shal redeme the soules of his seruauntes And of soch lyke consolation are the psames full the lorde open youre hertes to reade them and vnderstonde them perfectly in the sprite When ye delyuer you take no thoâ—ught what ye shal saye It shal be geuen you the same houre what ye shall saye For it is not ye that shall speake but the sprite of youâ—re father speaketh in you The very heares of youre heedes are noumbred Yf God care for oure heares he moch moare careth for oure soules which he hath sealed with his holy sprite Therfore saith Peter Cast al youâ—re care apon hym for he careth for you and Paul saith God is true he will not suffre you to be tempted aboue youre myght· Cast thy care apon the lorde Let thy care be to prepare thy sylfe with all thy streÌ„gth to walâ—ke which waye he wyl haue the and to beleue that he wyl goo with the and assiste the and strength the agenst all tyrannes and delyuer the out of all tribâ—lation But what waye or by what meanes he wyll do it that committe vnto hym and to his godly pleaâ—ure and wisdome and cast that care apon hym And thougth it seme neuer so vnlikely or neuer so vnpossible vnto naturall reason yet beleue stedfastly that he will doo it And â—hen shall he accordynge vnto his olde vse chaunge the course of the worlde euen in the â—winkelinge of an eye and come sodeÌ„ly apon youre tyranntes and myghtye geauntes as a thefe in the nighte and compasse them in theyr wiles and worldly wisdome when they crye pece aÌ„d all is saffe then shal theyr sorowes begynne as the sorowes of a woman that traueleth with childe And then shall he dystroye them aÌ„d delyuer you vnto the glorious prayse of his mercy aÌ„d trueth Amen And as perteyninge vnto them that despice Gods worde countinge it as a phantasy or a dreame and to them also that for feare of a litle persecutio flye froÌ„ it setthes before thy eyes How God sens the beginnynge of the worlde before a general plage euer seÌ„te his true prophetes and preachers of his worde to warne the people and gaue them space to repente But they for the greatest part of them hardened theyr hertes and persecuted the worde that was sente vnto them And then God destroyed them vtterly and toke them cleane from the erthe As thou seist what folowed the preachynge of Noe in the olde worlde what folowed the preachinge of Lot amonge the Sodomites and the preachinge of Moses and Aaron amonge the Egiptians and that sodenly agenst all possibilite of mans witte Moareouer as ofte as the childerne of Israel fell froÌ„ God to the whorsepinge of ymages he sente his prophetes vnto them And they persecuted and waxed harde herted And then he sente them into all places of the worlde captiue Cast of all he sente his awne sonne vnto them And they waxed moare harde herted then euer before And se what a fearfull ensample of his wrath and cruell vengeaunce he hath made of them vnto all the worlde nowe almost fyftene huÌ„dred yeres ¶ Marke also howe Christ threathnet them that forsake hym for whatsoeuer cause it be Whether for feare eyther for shame eyther for lousse of honoure frendes lyfe or goodes he that deniet me before men saith he hym wil I denie before my father that is in heuen he that loweth father or mother moare then me is not worthy of me Whosoeuer is asshamed of me saith he or of my wordes amonge this adoutours and sinneful generation of hym shall the