And in dede synne may well be compared to a thorne or bramble For as the thorne breÌ„ble prycketh the body wouÌ„deth it greuouslye yea and bryngeth many tymes destruccion vpoÌ„ it except other wyse it be holpen so lykewyse synne moost greuously prycketh wouÌ„deth and vtterly destroyeth the soule excepte it be redemed by Gods mercye thorow Iesus Christ. THEO I thiÌ„ke this to be true PHIL. It therfore foloweth y t iÌ„ asmuch as all we are dead in Adam we are not able of oure selues to ryse agayne from death vnto lyfe And seyng that we are synners all that euer we do muste nedes be synne yea it is synne in dede deserueth euerlastynge death For as the scripture sayth The disposicioÌ„ and thought of maÌ„nes herte is prone to euel from his yonge age We are wicked chyldren a wicked seed We are that seed whiche was cursed froÌ„ the begynnyng We are lyke bruyte beastes We are carnall flesshely sould vnder synne We are vnprofitable seruauÌ„tes We all haue gone astray lyke shepe We all are Hypocrites wycked We are all lyers We all are vncleane all our ryghteousnesses as a cloth polluted with mensture All haue synned There is not one y â— dothe good no not one There is no man cleane from fylthynes no not the yonge chylde Ther is no man able to say my hert is cleane I am pure from sinne For our hartes are wicked and inâ—crutable We are not able to thynke a good thoughte All that euer we bryng forth is thornes braÌ„bles that is to saye synne vngodlines all abhominacion What are we nowe of oure selues I praye you tell me CHRI Very synners EVSE Yea and al that euer we do in AdaÌ„ of our own streÌ„gth is plaine synne and wickedness PHIL. I am glad that we haue learned what ye are of your selues by Adam I pray you what are ye able nowe to do for to saue your selues from this perel wherunto ye are fallen by Adam THEO Verely I can not tell EVSE Forsoth I thynke very lytle PHIL. Ye might right well haue sayde nothinge at all For I ensure you that ye beyng lefte vnto your selues can do none otherwise but synne faull headlyng into all kynde of mischefe Your wytte strength polecy imaginacion reason free wyll auayleth here nothynge to delyuer you from the captiuite of Satan He leadeth you as the mayster dothe his bonde slaue whyther soeuer it pleseth him as Christ witnesseth euery one that doth synne is the seruauÌ„t of synne Ye remember I am sure the storye of the wounded man in the Gospell of Luke which beyng dispoyled and robbed of all his clothes greuously wouÌ„ded laye styll halfe dead THEO I remeÌ„ber it very well PHIL. This wouÌ„ded maÌ„ signiâ—ieth euerye chylde of Adam The clothes signify fayth charïte iustice mercy such other vertues The theues are SataÌ„ and his aungels The woundes are synnes Haulfe deade is to be alyue in the flesshe slayne in the soule thorowe synne All this are we by AdaÌ„ And as this wouÌ„ded man could not be holpen of the Preste nor Leuyte vntyll the Samarytane came no more can we be holpen by ony creature or worke tyll christ coÌ„meth the true Samaritane We can not certes we can not helpe our seues but euen lye styll the stynkynge puddle of synne Loke in what case Satan leaueth vs in the verye same do we remayne excepte God of his mercy thorowe Christe helpeth vs. Neyther canfre e wyll nor all the wytte polecye that we haue profyte here any thynge tyll God indueth vs w t streÌ„gth from aboue For as S. Austen sayeth The nature of man all though it dyd remayne coÌ„tinue in that integryte purenes wherin it was made yet could it kepe it selfe by no meanes if the creator maker of it dyd not helpe Therfore seynge that w tout the grace of god it could not kepe the health that it receiued howe is it able to repare and get agayne that which it hath lost without y e grace of God Againe he saith free wyll sufficethe vnto euell but vnto good it auayleth lytle excepte it be holpen of that almyghty God Therfore is it well sayde of the Apostle God worketh in vs â—oth the wil the dede Hereto agreeth the sayeÌ„g of â—hrist As the vyne braunche can not beare fruyte excepte it abyde in the vine no more can ye except ye abyde in me I am the vyne ye are y â— braunches He that abideth in me I in him the same bryngethe for the much fruyte For without me ye caÌ„ do noâ—hyng If any maÌ„ abydeth not in me he is cast out as a braunche is wythered men gather theÌ„ cast theÌ„ into y â— fyre there burne Thus se ye what â—e are of youre selues by Adam that no strengthe ye haue ones to aspyre or breath towarde ony goodnes much lesse to do or work any good thynge excepte ye be holpen of God Ye se also howe full of sinnes diseases woundes sores botches canckers al y â— euer nought is ye are Ye se agayne how ye are not able of your selues to recouer youre innoceÌ„cy that ye lost by AdaÌ„ CHRI Alas what is now to be done THEO The rehersyng of these thynges maketh me very sadde PHIL. It shoulde rather make you very glad For as S. Hierome sayeth This is y â— true wysdome of a man to knowe hym selfe to be inperfecte as I maye so speake the perfeccioÌ„ of all righteous men in the flesshe is imperfecte Agayne he sayeth Than are ye righteous when we confesse oure selues synners our righteousnesse consisteth not of our owne merite but of the mercye of God as the holy scripture sayth the righteous maÌ„ is the accuser of himselfe in y â— begynnynge of his spech Therfore must ye coÌ„fesse your selues to be that in dede which ye are y â— is very synners yf ye wyll be set free from this miserable captiuite wher w t ye are nowe to muche wrapped and ouerwhemled EVSE We confesse y e same THEO We nowe knowledge y t of oureselues by AdaÌ„ we are nothynge but synners all that euer we do without the spirytâ— of god is playne sinne as S. Paule sayeth What soeuer is not of fayth is synne PHIL. Well seynge that ye haue so fruytfully digested the fyrst dysshe of your Banket nowe haue I a fyt place a conuenient tyme a good occasion to brynge vnto you the seconde dysshe as it followeth in order CHRI I praye you let vs tast of it THEO That thynge also do I desyre ¶ The seconde dysshe YOur second dysshe is coÌ„tayned in that same chap. wher in the fyrst is recited Therfore deuoure this w t no lesse gredy appetyte than ye haue done y â— other For this dysshe is much delicious very wholsome forthe vertuous preseruacioÌ„ of the soule I now brynge it for
him For yf when we were enemies we were reconcyled â—o God by the deathe of his sonne much more sâ—ynge we are reconcyled we shall be preserued by his lyfe Not only so but we also ioy in god by the meanes of our LORDâ— Iesus Christ by whome we haue receyued this attonemente Also S. Iohn sayeth For this purpose appered the sonne of God for to loose the workes of the euel Agayne tâ— this appeared y â— loue of God to vswarâ— â–ª bycause that God sent his onlye begotteÌ„ sonne into the world that we myghte lyue thorowe hym Thus se you y t whan ther was no hope of saluacioÌ„â—or vs in ony creature God of his owne free goodness seÌ„t dâ—wne hâ—s only begotten sonne to be a Sauyour vnto vs. EVSE This do we perceyue right wel PHIL. Nowe markâ— agayne howe that by him alone we are saued His name is IESVS that is to saye a sauyour for he it is that saueth his people froÌ„ theyr synnes neyther 〈◊〉 there any other name gyuen vnto men vnder heaueÌ„ wherin they must be saued but only by this name IESVS To hym geueth all the Prophetes witâ—eg â–ª that thorow his name â—ll shall receyue remission of synnes that beleue in hiÌ„ Be it knowen vnto you ye men brothers y e by this Iesus Christ remissioÌ„ of synnes is preached vnto you from al thynges from the whiche ye coulde not be iustified by the law of Moses by him is eueri one that beleueth â—ustified He is y â— LaÌ„be of God whiche taketh awaye the synne of y â— worlde He is our resurreccion lyfe He is the waye trueth lyfe No man commeth to the father but by him He is the good shepeheard by whom we be saued from the wolfe He is the dore by whom we must enter into grace He is the vyne in whome we beyng ingrassed muste nedes brynge forth muche fruyte He is oure wisdome righteousnes sanctificacion redeÌ„cioÌ„ He is our peace He is our mediatour aduocate He is alpha omega that is both the begynnyng and endyng of our saluacion Moreouer by him are we at peace with God By him haue we a waye in thorowe sayth vnto this fauoure wherin we stond reioyce in hope of the prayse that shall be gyuen of God By hym is the fauoure of God plenteous towarde vs. By hym his righteousnes are we made righteous By him hath the lawe of the Spirite of lyfe made vs free from the lawe of â—ynne deth By hym hath god the father blessed vs with all spiritual blessyng in heauenlye thynges By him dyd God chose vs before the foundacioÌ„s of the worlde were layd y t we should be sayntes fautles before hym By hym are we made dere to god the father By hym haue we redempcion by his bloud remission of sinnes By him are all thynges both in heauen earth gathered togyther By him we which in tymes paste were farre of are made nigh thorow his bloud By hym we haue and open waye vnto the father By him are all our sinnes forgyuen vs. By hym are we delyuered from the wrath to come By hym and by his bloude are we made cleane from all synne By hym by the oblacion of his moost blessed body done once for all are we sanctified Yea by that one oblacion hath he made perfecte for euâ—rmore theÌ„ that are sanctifyed To conclude by hym is euerlastyng lyfe gyuen vnto vs. Thus se you that by Christ all good thynges chauÌ„se vnto vs that god the father is wel pleased set at one w t vs for his sake as he himselfe witnesseth This is my welbeloued soÌ„ne in whome I am well pleased or for whose sake I am fully contented w t man Hereto agreeth the sayenge of S. Austen All y â— euer receyue euerlastynge lyfe receyue it not but by Christ. Therfore sayth he in another place All my hope is in the death of my LORDE His death is my meryte my refuge succour health â—ife my resurreccion My merite is the compasssioÌ„ of the LORDE I am not w tout meryte so long as y t LORDE of mercies shal not waÌ„t And yf y t mercies of y â— LORD be many I am plenteous in merites The stronger is to saue the more without iopardy am I let vs therfore gyue thaÌ„kes sayeth he to the LORDE our sauiour whiche no merites goynge before hathe heled vs that were wounded reconcyled vs his enemyes redemed vs froÌ„ captiuite brought vs againe out of darkenes into light called vs again from death to lyfe let vs humblye confessyng our fragilite wekenes desyre hys mercy in asmuch as he hath preuented vs as the Psalmographe sayth w t his mercye he maye vouchâ—aâ—e not only to preserue and kepe in vs but also to augment and encrese his giftes or benefytes wâ—iche he hath vouchedsafe to gyue vs. CHRI Amen THEO So be it EVSE LORDE let it so come to passe PHIL. Home dothe this seconde seruyce of your BaÌ„cket please you THEO We neuer iÌ„ our lyues tasted a dysh more pleasaunt confortable to our soules health EVSE We haue now learned what we are of oureselues and wher remedy is to be gotten but by what meanes shall we come by it What thynge maye be the occasion wherby we maye receyue so many â—o great benefytes at y e hande of god the father for Iesus Christes sake I praye you a good fellowshyppe decâ—are this vnto vs. PHIL. I neuer heard a questioÌ„ared in better tyme for the answere to it is your thyrde dysshe whiche before you proponed this question I was fullye determined to set before you And now here it is ¶ The thyrde dysshe PHILEMON REpent beleue the gospell These were y e wordes that our sauiour christ as marke testifieth vsed wheÌ„ be begaÌ„ to preach In the which he declareth by what meanes we may obtaine remission of our synnes the celâ—â—ial heritage of gods glorye Repent sateth he beleue the gospell Fryrste he exorteth vs to repentaunce whiche is as Chrisostome sayth not only to cease from the oldewithour euelles but also to folowe better offices such thynges as ought of dutie to be done as Dauid sayeth Declyne froÌ„ 〈◊〉 euel do good S. IohnÌ„ the Baptysâ—e in lyke maner in the begynnyng of his preachyng sayd RepeÌ„t for the kingdome of heauen is at hand Christ also after his resurreccion commaunded his Apostles to preach repeÌ„taÌ„ce and remission of sinnes in his name vnto al nacions Lykewyse we read in the Actes of y e Apostles then wheÌ„ Peter preached to the Iewes much of christ shewed that he was the same LORDE Iesus whom they had crucyfied they were prycked in theyr hertes sayd Ye meÌ„ breâ—â—reÌ„ what shall we do Peter sayde vnto theÌ„ Repent be baptised euery one of you in the name
them w t gredy stomakes maye haue the more luste desyre to retourne to theÌ„ shortlye I praye you syt downe euery maÌ„ in a chayre Nowe wyll I serue you w t your fyrst dysshe coÌ„tayned in y e fyrstboke of Moses Fayle not you therfore to whette your stomakes gredely to deuour whatsoeuer I bring forth vnto you ¶ The fyrst dysshe CUrsed is y e erth in theyr worke It shall brynge forth vnto the thornes braÌ„bles THEO This is a disshe lytle pleasuÌ„t for the begynnynge of our bancket PHIL. Content youre selues it is necessary that this dysshe hath y â— fyrste place y t the other that follow may sauour y â— more deliciously to your mouthes The acrimony and tartenes oâ— this dysshe shall so pearce youre stomackes that it shall minister to you an appetyte lust to deuour y â— other y â— more gredely For I do not iÌ„ this behalfe followe the maner of SataÌ„ which promised fyrste to Eue swete delectable thynges afterwarde payed her w t thynges moost sower displeasaunt but rather of the Prophet Esay of IohnÌ„ Baptist which fyrst of all greuously rebuked y â— wicked in theyr sermons afterwarde coÌ„forted theÌ„ agayne moost swetelye Neyther differed Christ and his Apostles from this maner of preaching Takâ— therfore thys dysshe in good worth heare me now paciently Whan thorowe y â— suggestion of the olde wyly serpeÌ„t AdaÌ„ Eue had traÌ„gressed Gods coÌ„mauÌ„dement God accordynge to theyr desertes eâ—pulsed them out of Paradyse sente them into this vale of misery sayeng vnto Adam amonge all other thynges this aforesayd text Cursed is y e erth in thy worke It shall brynge for the vnto thornes brymbles Here do we learne y t for the synne of AdaÌ„ all the earth that is to say all the creatures are cursed made subiecte to vanite They nowe brynge forth no more goodly pleasauÌ„t fruytes but thornes breÌ„bles that is synne wickednes vice all other abhominacâ—on This one synne of our fyrst father AdaÌ„ hath condeÌ„ned vs all that euer haue ben borne syns or shall be here after EVSE Me thynketh that thoughe he offended yet his offence should not turne to our daÌ„nacion seynge we were not then borne PHIL. Yies in good fayth brother Eusebius For his synne was oure synne His daÌ„nacion was our damnacion His death was our deth I wyl read vnto you the mynde of the famous Doctour Origen concernyng this matter If Leuy sayeth he whiche was borne the fourth generacion after Abraham was than counted to be in the loynes of Abraham muche more all men that are borne or haue ben borne in this world were in the loynes of Adâ—m when he was yet in Paradise And all men w t hym in him were expulsed out of Paradise when he was put out from theÌ„ce by him death which came vnto him by the enterpretacion came also consequeÌ„tly vpon theÌ„ whom he had in his loynes PHIL. I praye you lette vs heare what the holye scriptures say in this behalfe THEO We reade in the fourth boke of Esâ—ras y â— third chap. on this wyse The fyrst Adam bearyng a wicked herte dyd synne was ouercome not onely be but al that were borne of hym Also Ose the Prophete sayeth They euen as Adam haue traÌ„sgressed the couenaÌ„t therin haue they synned agaynste me that is sayth S. Ierome vpon this texte in Paradyse all haue synned agaynste me eueÌ„ lyke vnto the synne of AdaÌ„ For it is no meruayle sayeth he yf that which went before in the father be also condemned in y â— chyldren But I wyl reherse to you more scriptures Of a woman came the begynnynge of synne sayeth the wyse man by her all wâ— dy Christ also sayeth y â— whych is borne of flesh is â—leshe Agayne how can ye speake good thynges â—hen ye youre selues are euell Also in an other place euery one that doth synne is y e seruauÌ„t of synne S. Paule also sayeth By one maÌ„ synne entred iÌ„to this world by synne death so went deth tho rowe all men in as muche as all we haue synned Agayne in AdaÌ„ all are dead In another place also he sayth all haue synned want the glory oâ— God Therfore Dauid coÌ„fesseth that he was begotteÌ„ in synne borne in synne And saynte Paule affyrmeth playnelye y t we are borne by nature the chyldren of wrath What saye ye nowe my frendes do ye not now at the laste perceyue that the synne of AdaÌ„ hath condemned vs all so y â— his synne is oure synne CHRI We perceyue it well beleue it also PHIL. I wyll reherse vnto you a sayeng of S. Bernarde In the faull of y e fyrst man sayeth he dyd we all faull We fell vpon an heape of stones in the myer so that we are not only inquinated spotted and defyled but also wouÌ„ded greuously shaken brused broken Agayne he sayeth Verely we are begotten in synful pleasure therfore although it be agaynst our wyll yet do we fele certayne vnlawfull beastlyke mocioÌ„s of concupiscences in our selues Hereto agreeth S. Austen sayenge marke brothers behold that mankynde came forthe from the fyrst death of the fyrst maÌ„ For sinne from the fyrst man entred into the worlde by synne death so went death thorowe all men Marke this word went thorow CoÌ„sither that ye haue herde loke what this is went thorowe It went thorow Hereby is y e yong chylde gilty Syn he hath not done but drawne For y t syn dyd not remayne in y e fouÌ„taine but went thorow not hiÌ„ or hiÌ„ but went thorow al meÌ„ The fyrst siner y t fyrst preuaricatour begat synners bonde to death Thus se you y t both the holy scriptures also y â— auÌ„cient Doctours do conclude that all we are daÌ„ned righteouslye for AdaÌ„s offence So that euery maÌ„ naturally as S. Iohn Chrisostome sayth is not only a synner but also euery whytte synne as the Apostle sayeth we were by nature y e soÌ„nes of wrath And this is it that God the father sayde to AdaÌ„ Cursed is the earth in thy worke as I rehersed to you before THEO Than haue we learned here that all we are cursed daÌ„ned in Adams worke that is for y e synne which he he coÌ„mytted in breakynge Gods moost holy coÌ„mauÌ„dementes PHIL. Ye saye trueth EVSE This is a thynge necessary to be knowen PHIL. Withoute y â— knowledge of our selues we caÌ„ neuer truly know god nor vnderstand his holy scriptures Therfore wyl I go foâ—th to minister vnto you the residue of youre fyrste dysshe It followeth It shall brynge forth vnto the thornes braÌ„bles I praye you what other thynge dothe your corrupte nature brynge forth vnto vs than thornes brambles y t is to saye synne wickednes vngodlynes all that euer is contrary to the wyll of God
of Iesus Christe for the remission of synnes ye shall receyue the gyfte of the holy Ghost Here se you that Christ and his Apostles declared Repentaunce to be a meane wherby we maye obtaine remission of our synnes euerlastying lyfe And that you maye perceyue y e matter y t more playnly I wyll lyuely paynt in moost euydent coloures and set it out before your eies w t certayne other histories of both Testamentes y t ye maye learne to be true whiche Chrisostome sayeth THEO I pray you what sayth he PHIL. Ther is not sayeth he there is not beleue me ony synne in y â— worlde that doth not gyue place to the vertue of repeÌ„tance yea rather to y e grace of God which when we turne to better thiges dothe streyght wayes worke w t vs. EVSE This is a confortable sayeng for synners PHIL. Yea and in al pointes agreable to the holy scriptures For Christ came not to call the ryghteous but synners vnto repentaunce Nowe marke for your helth and consolacion Dauid committed both maÌ„slaughter adultrye therfore was he threatened many euels of God by his Prophet NathaÌ„ Not withstandynge he had not so sone repented hym of his acte coÌ„fessed his faute sayenge I haue offended the LORDE but the Prophet sayde The LORDE hath turned awaye thy syn thou shalt not dye Kynge Achab also dyd slaye his subiecte Nabotch y t he myght enioy his vyneyeard And God therfore sent his Prophet Heli as vnto hym for to tell him that the dogges shoulde lycke his bloude olso euen there where they lycked the blonde of Naâ—othe and that euery one of the house of Achabbe that maketh water agaynst y â— wâ—ull should be slayne c. Achab streyghte waye was ashamed of his faulte repeÌ„ted cutte his clothes couered his flesshe with garmeÌ„tes of heere fasted slept in sacke cloth walked with a heuy countenaunce therfore god seyng his repentaunte herte sayd that he would not bryng in that euel in his dayes but iÌ„ his soÌ„nes tyme. Agayne kinge Manasses in asmuch as he repented for all the abhominacioÌ„ that he committed agaynst god his glory was forgiueÌ„ afterward noÌ„bred among y e fredes of god The Niniuites were threatened withiÌ„ forty daies to be subuerted for theyr dissolute wicked lyuynge But they beynge striken with repentauÌ„ce in y e meane season mendynge theyr lyfe receyued fauour were saued As I may come nerer home as they saye who was more famous in sinne thaÌ„ Mary Magdalene yet in asmuch as she faythfully repented bewailed her synfull lyuyng her synnes were forgynen her Peter denyed Christ yet seynge he repented wepte bytterly for his offeÌ„ce he was fauourably receyued to grace The prodigal sonne althoughe he had consumed all hys goodes was ioyfully receyued in as muche as he repented knowledged his offeÌ„ce The thefe called neuer for grace tyl y e hour of deth yet seyng y t he bewayled than his misery axed merci he was herd weÌ„t w t Christ iÌ„ to Paradyse Do not these histories besydes other shewe of what greate strength repentaunce is CHRI Certes they be very coÌ„fortable for poore afflicte synners PHIL. Thus se you that repentaunce is a great cause of the mitigacion of gods wrath yea an acceptable Sacrifice to God as Dauid saith a sacrifice to God is a troubled spirite a contryte huÌ„ble herte god wyl not despyse Thus repentaunce maketh a man to dye vnto lynne to syne to righteousnes It maketh vs so loÌ„g as we iÌ„ this worlde valeantly to enarme our selues and to enter battayle with SataÌ„ his army coÌ„tinually to fyght against our enemies It maketh vs to hate all wyckednes enbrace all vertue so y â— dayely we procede more more from faith to faith froÌ„ vertu to vertue It maketh vs to hunger thyrst after ryghteousnes It makethe vs to desyre to be dissolued from this mortal body to be with Christ. No maÌ„ is able to expresse sufficiently y e excellency vertu of this true and faythfull repentauÌ„ce And this is it which maketh Chrisostom to crye out on this maner O repentaunce which thorowe gods mercy forgyuest sinne openest Paradise which healest a man contryte brokeÌ„ makest merye hym that is sad callest agayne lyfe froÌ„ deathe restorest the state renuest the honour gyuest boldenes reformest streÌ„gthes powrest iÌ„ agayne grace more aboundaÌ„t O repetauÌ„ce what new thyng shall I tell of the Thou doste loseÌ„ althynges that are bounde All thynges losened doste thou set at liberty All troublous thynges doste y u mitâ—gate All thynges broken doste thou make whole All confused thynges doste thou make cleare Al desperate thynges doste y u encourage O repentaunce more rutulante than golde more bryght than the sonne whome synne doth not ouercome nor defeccion suppresse nor desperacioÌ„ put awaye Repentaunce refuseth couetousnes abhorrethe lecherye excheweth furour madnes maketh loue stronge treadethe downe pryde refrayneth the tonge fasshyoneth maners hateth malyce excludeth enuy Perfecte repentaunce compelleth a synner to suffer all thynges gladly If a violente persoÌ„ seke that that he hathe he forbyddeth hym not Yf he taketh awaye his garment he stryueth not agaynst hym To him that striketh the one cheke he profereth y e other If ony man wyl compell him to go a myle with him he wyll of his owne free wyll go two If he be chastised he geueth him thanâ—kes If he be prouoked he holdeth his peace If he be sharpeâ—ye spoken vnto he speaketh gentely agayne To his superiour he geueth reuerence To his inferiour he is lowlye In his herte is contricion in his mouth confession in his worke all humilite This is y â— perfecte and fruytful repentaunce To him that repenteth so God is at hand a noryssher to hym that is huÌ„gry a gyuer of drinke to him that is thyrstye O repentaunce the mother of mercye the maystres of vertues thy workes are great wher w t thou dost loosen the gylty refressheth theÌ„ that offend reuelest them that slyde â—ecreatest y e desperate By y e Christe appoynteth vs that y â— kiÌ„gdom of heuen is at hande sayenge repent for the kyngdome of heauen is at hanâ— Nither to haue I rehersed vnto you the mynd of Chrisostome coÌ„cerning repentaunce whereby ye maye perceyue as I sayde before that repentaunce is one of the principal meanes wherby we obtayne remissioÌ„ of synnes the kyngedome of heauen EVSE God gyueth vs all grace truly to repent THEO But howe shall we know whaÌ„ we truly repent on such maner that it prouoketh God to be mercyfull to vs. CHRI In dede this is a thynge necessary to be knowen PHIL. To this youre question shall S. Austen aunswere which sayeth Whan thou dost so repent y t y t thing sauoereth to the bytter iÌ„ thy mynd which before was swete in thy life that whiche
dyd delyght the before in thy body doth trouble the in thy herte than doste thou repent well saye to God to the alone haue I synned euell haue I done before the. So that the whole summe of repentaunce is this to dye vnto synne to lyue vnto righteousnes which is signified by our plonginge in y â— font when we are baptised by â—ure â—aâ—yng out agayne as S. Paule sayeth we are buryed togyther w t hym by baptisme iÌ„to death y t as Christ is raised vp from the dead by the glory of his Father so we in lyke maner shoulde walke in a newe lyfe THEO If we repent be sory for our sinnes coÌ„fesse our wickedness amende oure lyfe is this ynough PHIL. This is much certes but not all For repent is not only contayned in your dysh but also Beleue the Gospell Thys pour repentance must be ioyned w t sayth lyncked with a sure perswasion that God the father according to his promyse wyll vndoutedly for gyue you your synnes for his sonne Iesus Christes sake For Caym Esau Pharao Saul Antiochus Iudas many other repented grauÌ„ted theyr offeÌ„ces yet were they not forgyuen Many also among the very Neithen gentiles glystered out wardely with a meruaylous godly conuersacion sorowed very greatly yf at any tyme tâ—ey dydde defyle theyr innocencye with ony spotte â—â— vncleanes yet were they not made heyâ—es of eternall glorye And why Uerely they tasted after a certayne maner of y e fyrst parte of your dysh bâ—â— not of the laste They repented but they beleued not y e gospell that is they sought for no helpe of theyr wickednes at gods exceadyng mercy thorowe Iesus Christ. They had not the christen fayth in theÌ„ whâ—che commynge from a repentaunt sorowfull herte maketh haste to God and approcheth boldly to the throne of his grace that it maye obtayne â—â—uour and remission of synnes RepeÌ„taunce without fayth bryngeth desperacion but repentaunce accompanieth fayth bryngeth remissioÌ„ of sinnes tranquilite of conscience euer lastinge lyfe as we maye easely perceyue by two of Christes Disciples Iudas sold Christ Peter denied forswore Christ. Here bothe synned both repented both confessed theyr offence One by manifest it wordes the other by teares Yet was Peter saued and Iudas damned Now so Because that the repentance of Peter was ioyned with faith hope of forgyuenes the repentance of Iudas was not so Mary Magdalene dyd not only repent of her synfullyuynge but also beleued to haue remission of her synnes And therfore dyd not Christ only saye of her vnto Simon the Pharise many synnes are forgyuen her because she loued muche but he also sayd vnto her w t a lyuely voyce thy fayth hath saueâ— the goâ— thy waye in peace Heare what Chrisostowe sayth If thou be wythered worne away of synne renewe thy selfe by repeÌ„taunce Why may he that repenteth be saued yea vndoutedly Wherof of commeth it to passe of y â— LORDES fauourable mercye Truste not to thy repentaunce For thy repentaunce can neuer put away so great sinnes If it were thy repentaunce alone thou myghteste well feare but seyng that the mercy of God is accompanied with repentaunce be on a good conforte for it ouercommeth thy wickednes god is exceadynge mercyfull so full of gentlenes that he dyd not spare his owne soÌ„ne for to redeme the vnkind seruauntes Saye not vnto me I haue synned to much howe can I be saued Thou canste not in dede saue thy selfe but thy LORDE can And he so putteth awaye thy synnes y t therneth no prynte syghe or toâ—eÌ„ of theÌ„ Here ye se also by Chrisostome that repentaunce w tout an earnest fayth had reposed in the mercye of God can by no meanes put away synne This your dyshe therfore teacheth you both to repent also to beleue For what so euer is not of faythe is synne sayeth S. Paule The worde of the LORDE is right sayth Dauid and all his workes are in fayth A worke without fayth sayeth Chrisostome is nothyng Agayne he sayeth we must haue fayth euery wher I meane that fayth which is the mother of all good thynges y e medicine of helth without the which a man caÌ„not perceyue the doctrine of great excellent thynges but is lyke vnto them which takynge in hande for to swymme ouer y e see wythout a shyp whan they are a lytle forward theyâ— haÌ„des theyr fete beying once â—ery are vtterlye ouerwhelmed wyth the waues of y e see Also in another place All oure elders are reported y t they pleased God by fayth therfore with out that all thiÌ„ges come to nought Hereto agreeth S. Austen sayenge The medicyne of the soule and of all woundes the alone sacrifyce to appeaâ—e Gods wrath for the synnes of all men is to beleue in Christe Neyther canne anye man at all be made cleane eyther from originall synne whiche he hath drawne of Adam in whom all haue synned be made naturally the chyldren of wrath or froÌ„ the synnes which they by not resistynge the carnall concupiâ—ceÌ„ce but by followynge it seruyng it by vngraciousnes wycked lyuyng haue added put therto excepte by fayth they be enunied ioyned togyther iÌ„ the body of him which without ony carnall entysemente mortiferous delectacion was conceyued Thus se you that repentaunce wythoute fayth anayleth nothyng but enunâ—ed ioyned with fayth is a singuler and hyghe treasure For by fayth doth God heare vs. By fayth are we blessed By faythe dothe God appere vnto vs. By fayth do we vnderstond the trueth By fayth do we kepe the commaundemeÌ„tes of God By fayth are we maryed to God By fayth haue we eternall lyfe By fayth are we purifyed By fayth are our hertes made cleane By faythe are we made the sonnes of God By fayth are we iustifyed By fayth we please God By fayth we be borne of God By fayth we subdue Satan By fayth do we ouercome the world To conclude by fayth all goodnesse chauÌ„se vnto vs and without fayth all euell thynges fall vpon vs. No meruiale for as Chrisostome sayth Fayth is the foundacioÌ„ of the moost holy religioÌ„ the bonde of charite the subsidie of loue This fayth confyrmeth holynes corrobâ—ratethe maketh stroÌ„g pure lyuyng garnissheth digâ—ities In chyldreÌ„ it shyneth in yonge men it storyssheth in olde meÌ„ it is a godly spectacle it confirmeth al kyndnes it exalteth degrees it kepeth all offices in the poore man it is pleasaunt in the meane man mery in the rytch honest Fayth preserueth frendeshyypes gathereth togyther assemblies reporteth euer wel it despyseth no man it contenmeth no man it fayle the no man excepte perchauÌ„se he fyrst fayleth her Faith vnderstandeth the commaundementes kepeth the preceptes fulfylleth promises Faith maketh vs acquainted with God constituteth vs freÌ„des with Christ. Thus haue I declared vnto you in