thirst after rightuousenesse he cannot taste of the swéetnesse of Iesus Christ how swéete it is to talke of him to thinke of him and to follow his most holy lyfe But when we once throughlye knowe our owne infirmitie by meane of the Lawe let vs herken to sainct Iohn Baptist who poynteth vs to the souerein Phisicion with his fingar saying Beholde y Lamb of God which taketh away y sinnes of the world For he it is that deliuereth vs from the heauie yoke of the law abrogating and disanulling the curses and sharp threatnings of the same healing all our infirmities reforming our frée will returning vs to our auncient innocencie and repayringe in vs the image of our God insomuch that according to sainct Paules saying lyke as by Adam we be all dead so by Iesus Christ we are all quickened And it is not to be beléeued y the sinne of Adam which we haue by inheritance from him should be of more force then the ryghtuousnes of Christe the which also we inherit by fayth It séemeth that mâ—n hath great cause to complayn that without any reason why he is conceiued borne in sinne and in the wickednesse of his parents by meanes of whom death reigneth ouer all men But now is all our sorow taken awaye inasmuch as by a lyke meane without anye occasioÌ„ giuen on our behalf rightuousenesse euerlasting lyfe are come by Iesus Christ and by him death is sâ—ayne whereof sainct Paule maketh a verie goodly discourse which I purpose to set downe here folowing Wherefore sayth he lyke as by one man sinne entred into the world and death by sin euen so death went ouer al meÌ„ â—orasmuch as all men haue sinned For vntill the Lawe sinne was in the worlde but sin was not regarded as long as ther was no law Neuerthelater death reigned froÌ„ AdaÌ„ vnto Moses euen ouer theÌ„ also y sinned not after y like maner of y traÌ„sgressioÌ„ of Adam who was a figur of him y was to come But yit the gift is not so as is the offence For if through the offence of one manie be dead much more the grace of God and the gift by grace which is by one man Iesus Christe hath abounded vnto many Neyther is the gift so as that which entred in by one the sinned For the fault came of one offence vnto condemnation but the gifte is of many offeÌ„ces to iustification For if by the offence of one death reigned through one much more shall they which receiue the aboÌ„dance of grace and of the gift of rightuousnes reigne in life through one that is Iesus Christ. Likewise then as by the offence of one the fault came on all men to condemnation so by y ryghtuousenes of one the benefyte abounded toward all men to the iustification of life For as by one mans disobedience many wer made sinners so by the obedieÌ„ce of one shall many also be made righteous Moreouer the law entred ther vppon that the offence shold abouÌ„d neuertheles where sinne abouÌ„ded ther grace abounded much more that as sinne had reigned vnto death so might grace also reigne by rightuousenes vnto eternal lyfe through Iesus Christ our lord By theis words of saint Paule we manifeâ—tlye perceiue the thing to be trew which we haue said heretofore that is to wit that the lawe was giuen to make sinne knoweÌ„ which sinne we do also know no to be of greater force thaÌ„ Chrisâ—es rightuousenes wherthrough we be iustifyed before god For euen as Iesus Christ is stroÌ„ger than Adam was so is his ryghtuousenes more mightie than the sinne of Adam And if the sinne of Adam was sufficient ynough to make al men sinners children of wrath without ani misdéed of our own much more shall Christes ryghtuousnes be of greater force to make vs all rightuouse and the children of grace without any of our owne good workes which cannot be good vnlesse that before we do them we our selues be made good as Awstin also affirmeth Hereby a maÌ„ may know in what an errour they bée who by reason of some great offence despayre of gods good wil imagining that he is not willing to forgiue couer and pardon all sinne hauing alredie punished and chastized al our sinnes and iniquities in his owne onely begotten and déerebeloued sonne and consequently graunted a generall pardon to all mankinde which euery bodye inioyeth that beleueth the Gospell that is to say which beléeueth the happie tydings that the Apostles haue published through the whole worlde saying We beséeche you for Iesus Christes sake be yée reconâ—yled vnto God for he that neuer knew sinne was made a sacrifyze for our sinne that we might become rightuouse in him The Prophet Esay foreséeing this great goodnes of God writeth these heaueÌ„ly words which do so well peynt out the passioÌ„ of our Lord Iesus Christ and the cause ther of as it is not to be found better descrybed euen in the writings of the Apostles Who sayth he will beleue our report to whom is the arme of the Lord reueled But hée shall grow vp before him as a braunche and as a roote out of a drye gdound he hath neyther forme nor beautie when we shall sée him ther shal be no forme that we should desire him He is despized and reiected of men he is a man full of sorowes and hath experience of infirmities wée hidd as it were our faces from him he was despized we estemed him not Surely he hathe borne our infirmities and caried our sorowes yit we did iudge him as plaged and smitten of god and humbled but he was wounded for our traÌ„sgressions he was broken for our iniquities The chasismeÌ„t of our peace was vppoÌ„ him and with his stripes we are healed All we like shéepe haue gone astraie we haue turned euery one to his owne waye and the Lord hath layde vppon him the iniquitie of vs all he was oppressed he was afflicted yit dyd he not open his mouth He is brought as a shéepe to the slaughter and as a shéepe before the shearer is dumme so he openeth not his mouth O great vnkindnes O thing abhominable that we which professe our selues Christians and here that the sonne of God hath taken al our sinnes vppoÌ„ him washed them out with his preciouse blud suffering himselfe to bée fastened to the crosse for our sakes should neuertheles make as though we would iustifie our selues purchace forgiuenes of our sinnes by our our owne workes as who would say that the deserts ryghtuousenes and bludshed of Iesus Christ were not ynough to do it vnlesse we came to put to our workes ryghtuousnes which are altogither defiled and spotted with selfeloue seflyking selfeprofit and a thousande other vanities for which we haue néede to craue pardon at GODS hande rather than reward Neyther do we thinke of the threatnings which saint Paule vseth to the Galathians who hauing bin deceiued by falseprechers beleued not
But it concerneth the true Christians who though they fight manfully agaynst the fleshe the worlde and the diuill doe notwithstanding fall darly and are constreyned to say Lord forgiue vs our offeÌ„ces Theis are they to whom we speake to comfort them and to hold them vp that they fall not into despayre as though the blud of christ washed vs not from all sin and that he were not our aduocate and the attonementmaker for his members And therfore when we be prouoked to dowt of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes that our own conscience beginneth to trubble vs Then must we furnish our selues with trew fayth and out of hand haue recourse to y preciowse blud of Iesus Christ shed for vs vppon the alter of the Crosse and distributed to his Apostles at his last supper vnder the veyle of a most holie Sacrament which was ordeyned by Christ to the end y we should celebrate the remembrance of his death that by the same visible Sacrament our trubbled consciences myght be assured of our attonement with god The blissed Iesus christ made his last wil when he said This is my bodie which is giuen for yow and this is my blud of the new Testament which is shed for manie to the forgiuenes of their sinnes We knowe that a Testament sayeth Sainct Paule although it be but a mans Testament yet neuertheles if it be allowed no man despyzeth it or addeth anie thing to it and that no testament is of force till the testator be dead but hathe full poure after the parties decease Then did Iesus Christ make his Testament wherin he promisethe forgiuenesse of sinnes and the grace and good fauour of himselfe and his father togither with mercie and euerlasting lyfe And to the intent that the sayd Testamente should be of full force he hathe confirmed it with his owne preciowse blud and with his owne death By reason wherof sainct Paule sayeth that Iesus Christe is the mediator of the new TestameÌ„t that by his dying for the redemption of those transgressions which were in the former testament they that are called might receyue the promis of the eternall inheritance For whersoeuer is a Testament there must also be the death of the Testator for the Testament is confirmed by the deathe of the partie insomuch as it is of no valu so long as the maker of it is aliue Wherfore we be verye certein and assured by the death of Iesus Christ that his Testament is auaylable wherby all our misdéeds are pardoned and we made heyres of eternall life And for a token and faythful pledge hereof in sted of a Seale he hathe left vs this diuine Sacrament which not onely giueth our sowles assured hope of their euerlasting Saluation but also warrantâ—th vnto vs the immortalitie of our flesh forasmuch as it is euen now quickned by that immortall flesh of his and in a certein maner becoÌ„meth parttaker of the immortalitie therof and he that is parttaker of that diuine flesh by faith shall not perish for euer But vnto him that receyueth it withowt the sayd fayth it turneth to a daungerouse poyson becawse that like as when bodily sustenance fyndeth the stomacke incumbred with euill humors it corrupteth likewyse and woorketh greate anoyance euen so if this spirituall féede lyght into a sinfull sowle that is full of malice and misbelef it casteth it headlong into some greater ruine not through it owne default but bycause that to the vncleane and vnbeleuer al things are vncleane notwithstanding that the things be sanctified by the Lordes blissing For as sayeth Sainct Paule he that eateth of that bread and drinketh of that cup vnworthely is giltie of the bodie and blud of the Lord and he eateth and drinketh his owne damnation bycause he maketh no difference of the Lordes bodie For he maketh no difference of the Lords bodie which presumeth to the Lords supper without fayth charitie And forasmuch as he beleueth not that bodie to be his lyfe and the clenzer of al his sinnes he maketh Iesus Christe a lyer and treadeth the sonne of God vnder foote estemeth the blud of the Testament wherby he was faÌ„ctified but as a comon or worldly thing doeth greate wrong to the spirit of grace and he shal be punished verye sore at Gods hand for this his vnbéelef and wicked hipocrisie For wheras he reposeth not y trust of his iustificatioÌ„ in the passioÌ„ of our lord sauiour Iesus christ yit neuerthelesse he receyueth this moste holie Sacrament maketh protestation that he putteth not his trust in anie other thing Wherby he accuseth himself and is a witnesse of his owne iniquitie and condemneth himself to euerlasting death by refuzing the lyfe which god promiseth him in that holie SacrameÌ„t And in this poynt when the Christian féeleth that his enemies are lyke to ouercome him the is to wit when he beginneth to dout whether he haue receiued forgiuenes of his sinns by Iesus Christ that he shal not be able to withstand the diuel and his teÌ„ptatioÌ„s that the accusation of his owne dowtfull conscience comes to presse him so as he beginneth to feare least helfyre shold swallow him vp and death hold him in his euerlasting bands by reason of Gods wrath I saye when the good christian féeleth himself in such agonie Let him get him to this holie Sacrament with a good hart and stowt courage and receiue it deuoutly saying in his hart and answering his enemies thus I coÌ„fesse I haue deserued a thousand hells euerlasting death by reason of the great sinnes which I haue committed But this heauenly sacrament which I receyue at this present assureth me of the forguiuenes of all my misdoings of myne attonement with god For if I haue an eye to my works ther is no dowt but I acknowledge my self a sinner and condemne myne owne selfe in suche wise as my conscience should neuer be quiet if I should think that my sinnes are pardoned me for my workes sake But when I looke to the promises and couenantes of God who promiseth me forgiuenes of my sinnes by the blud of Iesus Christ I am as sure that I haue obteyned it and that I haue his fauour as I am sure that he which hath made the promises and couenants cannot lye nor deceiue and through this stedfast fayth I become ryghtuouse by Christes rightuousenes wher through I am saued and my conscience quieted Hath he not giuen his most innocent bodie into the handes of sinners for our sinnes Hath he not shed his blud to wash away my iniquities Why theÌ„ doost thou vex thy self O my soule put thy trust in the Lord who beareth thée so great loue that to deliuer thée from eternal death it hath pleased him that his only sonne should suffer death and passion who hath taken vppon himselfe our pouertie to giue vs his riches layd our weakenesse vppon himself to stablish vs in
that the iustification by fayth was sufficient of it selfe but went about stil to be made rightuous by the law Unto whom S. Paule saieth Iesus Christe shall nothing profyt you that iustifie your selues by the Lawe for you be falne from grace bicause that we thorough the spirit of fayth wayte for the hope of rightuousnesse Now if the séeking of rightuousnesse forgiuenes of sinnes by the kéeping of the lawe which God gaue vppon mount Sinai with so great glorie and maiestie be the denying of Christ and of his grace what shal we say to those that will néedes iustifie themselues afore God by their owne lawes and obseruaÌ„ces I would wish that such folkes should a little compare the one with the other and afterward giue iudgment themselues God myndeth not to doe that honour nor to giue that glorie to his owne lawe and yit they will haue him to giue it to mennes lawes ordinances But that honour is giuen onely to his onely begotten sonne who alone by y sacrifice of his death and passion hath made full amends for all our sinnes past present and to come as sainct Paule and sainct Iohn declare Wherfore as ofteÌ„ as we apply this satisfactioÌ„ of Iesus Christs vnto our soules by fayth out of all dout we obteyne forgiuenes of our sinnes and become good rightuouse before God through his ryghtuousnes And therefore after that sainct Paule hathe said that as touching the ryghtuousenes of y lawe he had liued vnblameable he addeth yit whatsoeuer I haue gayned by it I haue accounted it in al respects to be but losse for the loue of christ And specially I esteme al things to be losse for the excelleÌ„t knowledge of Iesus Christ my Lord for whome I haue counted all thinges to be losse déeme them but as dung so I may win Christ bée fouÌ„d in him not hauing myne owne rightuousenesse which is of the lawe but the righteousnesse which is by the fayth of Iesus Christ which rightuousnes is giuen of god I mene the rightuousnes of faith that I may come to the knowledge of Iesus Christ. O most notable wordes which all Christians ought to haue ingrauen in their hartes praying God to make them to tast it perfectly Lo how S. Paule sheweth plainly that whosoeuer knoweth Christ aright estéemeth all the works of the law to bée hurtful for so much as they make vs to swarue from our trust in Iesus Christ to whom euery man ought to impute his saluation to trust only vnto him alone And to inforce this sentence the more he addeth further that he estéemeth all things but as dung so he may gayne Christ and be fouÌ„d incorporated in him declaring thereby that whosoeuer trusteth in his own workes and pretendeth to iustifie him selfe by them getteth not Iesus Christ nother is ingreffed into him â–ª And forasmuch as the whole mistery of our faith consisteth in the truth hereof â—o the end we might the better vnderstand what he ment to say he addeth and repeteth oftentimes y he had nothing to doo with al the outward iustification al the rightuousnes that is grouÌ„ded vppon the keping of the law but that he wold cloth him selfe with y rightuousnes which God giueth by faith to al theÌ„ y beleue that all our sinnes are fully chastized punished in Iesus Christ that Iesus Christ as S. Paule saieth is made our wisdome rightuousnes holines redemption to the end as it is written y he which will glorie should glorie in the lord not in his own workes Uery true it is that in the holy scriptures ther are some texts to be found which being misvnderstode séeme to gaynsay this holy doctrine of S. Paules to attribute iustification remission of sinnes vnto works to charitie But those authorities haue alredy bin wel expounded by somme who haue shewed playnly y such as haue vnderstode theÌ„ in the sence aforesaid vnderstode them not aright Wherfore my déerebeloued brethren let vs not folow the fond opinion of y bewitched GalathiaÌ„s but rather let vs folow y truth which s. Paul teacheth vs let vs giue the whol glorie of our iustification vnto Gods mercy to y merits of his sonne who by his own bludshed hath set vs frée froÌ„ y souereintie of the law from y tyrannie of sin death hath brought vs into y kingdom of god to giue vs life and endlesse felicitie I say yet further y he hath deliuered vs from y dominion of the lawe insomuch as he hath giuen vs his holy spirit who teacheth vs all truth and that he hath satisfied the lawe to the full giuen the same satisfaction vnto al his members that is to wit to all true Christians so as they may safely appéere at Gods throne bicause they be clothed with the rightuousnesse of hys Christ and by him deliuered from the curse of the lawe Then cannot y lawe any more accuse vs or condemne vs nor moue our affections or appetites nor increase sin in vs And therefore Sainct Paule saieth that the Obligacion which was against vs is cancelled by Iesus Christ discharged vppon the trée of the crosse insomuch as he hath set vs frâ—e from the subiection of the lawe and coÌ„sequently from the tyrannie of sin death which can no more hereafter hold vs oppressed bicause it is ouercome by Iesus christ in his resurrectioÌ„ so coÌ„sequently by vs which are his members in such maner y wée may say with Saincte Paule and with the Prophet Osee Death is quytâ— vanquished destroyed O Death wher is thy 〈◊〉 O Hel wher is thy victorie The sting of Death is â—in and the strength of sin is the lawe But God bée praysed who hath graunted vs vicâ—orie by our Lord Iesus Christ. He is the blesâ—ed séede that hathe crusshed the head of y veâ—emous Serpent that is to wit of the Diuell insomuch that all those which beléeue in Ieâ—us Christ reposing their whole trust in his grace doo ouercome sin death the Diuel and Hell as Christ hath done Hée is that blessed séede of Abraham in the which god hath promised blissednesse to all NacioÌ„s It behoued euery particuler person to fight with the sayd horrible Serpent and too deliuer hym selfe from that curse But that enterprise was so great that all the force of the whole world knitte together was not able too go through with it Wherfore our God y father of mercie being moued with compassion of our miseries hath giueÌ„ vs his only begotteÌ„ sonne who hath deliuered vs from y veniâ— of the Serpent is him selfe become our blissednesse rightuousnes condicionally y we accept the same renouÌ„cing al our own otward iustifications Then my déere bréethren let vs imbrace the rightuousnesse of our Lorde Iesus Christ and lette vs make it ours by means of fayth let vs assure our selues that we bée rightuouse not for our
his Spowse How can I assuredly glorie that I am Quéene and Mistresse of his greate riches as a wyfe maye I can easly beléeue that otherfolkes shall receyue this honour and glorie but I cannot perswade my selfe that I am one of thâ—se same to whome GOD hathe gyuen so greate grace For I knowe myne owne wretchednesse and imperfection My derâ—beloued brother I answer thee that thyne assurance coÌ„sisteth in trew and liuely fayth wherwith as Sainct Peter sayeth God clenzeth mens harts And this fayeth is grownded in the be leuing of the Gospell that is to saye in the beleuing of the gladde tydings which hathe bin published on GODS behalf throwgh the whole world which tydings conteyneth in effect that god hath vsed the rigorousenes of his iustis against Iesus Christ chastizing punishing all our sinnes in him And whosoeuer receiueth this good tydings beléeues it stedfastly hath the true fayth and doth inioye the forgiuenes of his sinnes and is also reconciled vnto GOD and of the chylde of wrath is become the chyld of grace and recouering the image of God entereth into the kingdome of God and is made the temple of God who maryeth mans soule to his onely Sonne by the meane of this fayth which fayth is a worke of God and the gift of god as sainct Paule saieth oftentymes And God giueth it vnto those whom he calleth to him of purpose to iustifie them to glorifie theÌ„ to giue them euerlasting lyfe according as our Lorde Iesus Christ witnesseth saying This is the will of him that sent mée euen that euery one which séeth the sonne and beleueth in him should haue euerlasting lyfe and I wyll rayse him vp agein at the latter day And lyke as Moses lifted vp the Serpent in the Wildernesse so must the sonne of man be lifted vp to the ende that euery one which beleueth in him might not perish but haue lyfe euerlasting Also he sayeth to Martha He that beleueth in me shall liue although he wer dead and euery one that liueth beleueth in me shall not dye for euer And to a companie of the Iewes he sayeth I am come a lyght into the world to the ende that euery man which beleueth in me shold not abide in darknes And sainct Iohn in his Epistle saieth Herein appéered the loue of god towards vs for that god is loue and sent his only begotten sonne into this world that we might liue through him And héere in is loue knowen not in that we loued God but in that he loued vs sent his sonne to make attonement for our sinnes And moreouer he sent him to destroy our enemies For the bringing wherof to passe he made him parttaker of our fleshe and of our blud as sayeth sainct Paule to the ende that by his death he myght destroy him that had the dominion of death that is to wit the diuel and set al such at libertie as were subiect to boÌ„dage al their lyfe long for feare of death Seing then that we haue records of the holy Scripture concerning the promises whereof we haue spoken heretofore and concerning many other promyses that are dispersed in diuers places of the same we cannot dout of it And forsomuch as the Scripture speaketh to all ingenerall none of vs oughte to distrust in himselfe that the selfsame thing which the Scripture sayeth should not belong perticularly to him selfe And to the ende that this point wherin lyeth and consisteth the whole misterie of our holie faith may be vnderstod the better Let vs put the cace that some good holie King cause proclamation to be made through his whole Realme by the sound of a Trumpet that all Rebels and banished men shall safely returne home to their howses bicause that at the sewt desert of some dere fréend of theirs it hath pleased hym to pardon them certeinly none of those Rebels ought to dout of the obteyning of trew pardon of his rebellion but rather ought assuredly to returne home to his howse to lyue vnder the shadowe of that holie king And if he will not returne he shall beare the penaltie of it bicause that through his own vnbelefe he dyeth in exyll and in the displeasure of his prince But this good king is the Lorde of Heauen and Earth who for the obedience and desert of our good brother Iesus Christe hath pardoned vs all our siunes and as we haue sayd afore hathe made open proclamaction through the whole world that all of vs may safely returne into his kingdome Wherfore he that beléeueth this proclamacioÌ„ dooth streytwayes return into Gods kingdome whereoutof we were driuen by the offence of our first parentes and is blissedly gouerned by gods holy Spirit And he that giueth no credit to the sayde proclamacion shall neuer inioy the sayd geuerall pardon but for his vnbelefes sake shall abyde in banishment vnder the tyrannie of the diuel and liue and dye in extreme miserie liuing and dying in the diâ—pleasure of the king of heauen and earthe and that iustly For we cannot commit a greater offence against this good God that to account him as a lyer and deceiuer which verely we doo in not giuing credit to his promises O how passing heauie is this deadly sinne of vnbelefe which so farre foorth as is possible beréeueth God of his glorie and perfection besydes the greate harme that it doeth to a mans selfe which is his owne damnation and the endlesse tormeÌ„t of his soule which the miserable conscience féeleth euen in this lyfe But on the contrarie he that commeth vnto GOD with assurednesse of this fayth beléeuing him without anye mistruste or dowt of his promises and warranting himselfe for a certeyntie that God will performe al that euer he hath promised him giueth all the glorie vnto God and liueth coÌ„tinually in rest and endles ioy euermore praysing and thanking the Lorde God for choozing him to the glorie of the eternall lyfe And hereof they haue an assured earnestpeny and gage that is to wit the sonne of god whom they take for their most louing Brydegrome the blud of whom hath made theyr hartes so drunken that through this passing holie belefe there is in the christen hart ingendred so lyuely a hope and so certeine a trust of gods â—ercie towards vs and such an operation is wrought in vs as we rest our selues wholly vppon God leauing the whole care of vs vnto him in suche wyse that being throughly assured of Gods good wil we are not afraid nother of the diuel uor of his ministers nor of death Which holie and stedfast trust of Gods mercie inlargeth our hart chéereth it vp and with certeine marualouse swéete affections dyrecteth it vnto GOD filling it and setting it on Fyre with an exceding feruent loue And therefore Paule incourageth vs to goe with all boldnesse to the throne of grace he counselleth vs that wée should not shake it of nor make
vnto vs not only allureth vs to giue our selues one to another but also by making himself common to vs all maketh vs also to be all one selfsame thing in him In respect wherof wée ought to couet and procure that in all of vs there may be but one mind one harte one tung accorded and vnited togither in thoughtes words and déeds And we must mark well that as oft as we receyue this holy and worthy Sacrament we bind our selues to al the deuties of charitie as not to offende any of our brethren nor to leaue anything vndon that may be profitable and helpfull in their necessitie But if there come any to this heauenly table of the Lord that are diuided at variance with their brethreÌ„ the same must assure themselues that they eate vnworthely and are gilty of the bodie and bloud of the Lorde and that they eate and drinke their own damnation for that there wanted nothing on their behalf but that the body of Iesus christ was rent and plucked in péeces again whilest they by hatred are deuided froÌ„ their brethren that is to wit from the members of Iesus Christ and haue not any parte with him and yit neuertheles in receiuing this holy communion pretended to beléeue that their whole saluation consisteth in the participation and vnion with Iesus Christ. Then let vs go my brethreÌ„ to the receiuing of this heauenly bread to celebrate the remembrance of our Lordes passion and to strengthen and fortifie the beléefe and assurance of the forgiuenes of our sinnes with the remembrance thereof and to quicken vp our myndes and tungs to prayse and exalt the infinite goodnes of our God and finally to cherish brotherly loue and to witnes the same one to another by the streyght vnion which all of vs haue in the bodie of our lord Iesus christ Besydes prayer thé remembring of Baptim and the often resorting to the most holy communion ther is one other verie good remedy against distrust and fearfulnes which is no lesse fréende to christian charitie namely the remembrance of our predestination and election to eternall lyfe grounded vppon the word of God which is the sword of the holie Ghoste wherwith we may beate backe our enemies Reioyce yée in this sayeth the Lorde that your names are written in heauen There is no greater ioy in this life nor any thing that more comforteth the christian that is afficted tempted or falne into anie sinne than the rememberance of predestination and the assuring of our selues that we be of y nomber whose names are written in the booke of lyfe and which are chosen to be fashioned like vnto the image of Iesus Christ. O how vnspeakable is the comfort of him that hath this fayth museth coÌ„tinually in his hart vppon this exceding swéete predestination whereby he knoweth that although he fall often yit notwithstanding god his father who hath foreordeined him to euerlasting life holdeth him vp and reacheth out his hand vnto him continually And he sayeth continually in himselfe if god haue chozen me and predestinated me to the glorie of his children who can hinder me If God be with vs sayeth sainct Paule who can be ageinst vs Nay rather to the ende that the predestination may be accomplished in vs he hath sent his déere beloued sonne who is a most sure earnest penny and pledge vnto vs that we which haue receyued the grace of the Gospell are gods Children chozen to eternall lyfe This holie predestination maynteyneth the trew Christian in a continuall spirituall ioye increaceth in him the indeuer of good works inflameth him with the loue of god maketh him enemie to the world to sinne Who is so fearce hardharted which knowing y god of his mercy hath made him his child froÌ„ euerlasting will not by and by bée inflamed to loue GOD Who is of so vyle and baâ—e courage that hée will not estéeme all the pleasures all the honours and all the riches of the world as filthy myre wheÌ„ he knowes y god hath made him a citizen of heaueÌ„ yea theis are thei y worship god rightly in spirit truth receyuing all things as wel in prosperitie as in aduersitie at the hand of God their Father and euermore praysing and thaÌ„king him for all as their good father who is rightuouse and holy in all his workes These being inflamed with the loue of God and armed with the knowledge of their predestination feare neither death nor sin nor the Diuill nor hell neyther knowe they what the wrath of god is for they sée none other thing in god but loue fatherly kindnesse towards them And if they fall into any troubles they accept them as tokens of gods fauour trying out with S. Paule who is it that shall separate vs from Gods loue shall tribulations shall anguish shall persecution or hunger or nakednesse or perill or sword as it is written for thy sake are we killed all the day long and counted as shéepe appointed to the slaughter But in all these things we get the vpper hand thorough him that hath loued vs Wherefore it is not for nought that sainct Iohn sayeth how the true christians know right well that they must be saued and glorified and that by reason of the same affiance they make themselues holy as Iesus Christ is holy And when Saint Paule exhorteth his Disciples to a good and holy life he is wont to put them in remembrance of their election and predestination as of a thing of very great force to stirre vp the mynds of the true Christians to the louing of God and to the performance of good works And for the same cause our good lord Iesus christ speaketh openly of this holy predestination as one that knew of howe great importance the knowledge thereof is to the edifying of his elect But perchaunce thou wilt say to me I know wel that they whose names are written in heauen haue cause to liue in continuall ioy and to glorifie GOD but in word and deed but I know not whither I am of that number or no and therefore I liue in continuall feare specially bycause I knowe my selfe to bée an excéedinge weake and frayle sinner from the violence wherof I am not able to defend my self but that I am ouercome of it daily And furthermore for asmuch as I se my self coÌ„tineually afflicted and troubled with dyuerse temptations methinks I do as it were behold with myne eyes the wrath of God squorging me Too answere to theis dowtes of thyne I say my ryght dere brother that thou must assure thy selfe that al theis are but temptations of the deuill who by all meanes séeketh to rob vs of that faith and confidence that springeth of faythe and assurethe vs of Gods good will towardes vs He laboreth to strip our sowle out of this preciouse garmeÌ„t for he knoweth that none is a trew Christian except he beleue Gods
bâ—e handled as seruaâ—â—â—â—â— and hild in awe vntill they come to taste and feele how sweete and pleasant the Lord is and vntill such time as fayth worke his effectes in them that they haue so much childly loue as may suffize to keepe maintaine theÌ„ in honestie of christeÌ„ conuersation and in folowing the example of our lord Iesus Christ. And wheÌ„ the selfsame scripture exhorteth y christiaÌ„s to y true fear it meaneth not that they should feare the iudgement and wrath of god as though it were presently ready to condemne them for as I haue said already by the record which the holy ghost giueth to thier spirit they knowe that God hath chosen them and called them of his owne mere mercy and not for their desertes By reason whereof they doubt not at al but that by the selfsame goodnes mercie he will mainteine theÌ„ in the happy state wherin he hath placed them And after suche maner the scripture exhorteth them not too flauish feare but to childly feare that is too wit that like good children they should bée loth to offend against the christen Religion or to commit any thing against the deutie honestie of Gods true children and likewise to gréeue the holy ghost that dwelleth in theÌ„ to the ende that knowing the corruptednesse of our nature we shouâ—â— always be héedfull and diligent and neuer haue any tâ—ust in our selues for in our flesh and in our mynds do the appetites and affections continually dwell which as deadly enemies of y soule lay a thousand snares and baytes for vs incessantly labouring to make vs proud ambitiouse lecherous and couetouse This is the feare whereunto the whole scripture exhorteth the Christians that haue once fasted howe swéet the Lord is and which bestowe all their indeuer in followinge Christes footesteps who cast not froÌ„ theÌ„ this holy fear bycause they labour to put off the old man And the good christians must neuer beréeâ—â— themselues quyte and cleane of this childlie feare which is the singular friend of christeÌ„ charitie like as the slauish feare is suche an enemie vnto it as they can by no meanes dwell togither And by the foresayd things a man may plainely perceiue that the good Christian ought neuer to doubt of the forgiuenesse of his sinnes nor of Gods fauour Neuerthelesse for the better satisfying of the Reader I purpose to set downe here vnder certaine authorities of y holy Doctors which confirme this foresayd truth Sainct Hilary in his fifth Canon vppon Matthewe sayth it is Gods will that wée should hope without any douting of his vnknowen will. For if the beléefe be doubtfull there can bée no rightuousenesse obteyned by beléeuinge And thus wée sée that according to Sainct Hilarie a man obteyneth not forgiuenesse of his sinnes at Gods hand except he beléeue vndoubtedly to obteyne it And good right it is that it should be so For he that douteth is like a waue of the Sea which is tossed turmoyled with the wynd And therfore let not such a one think to obteyne any thing at gods hande But let vs here sainct Austin who in his Manuel counseleâ—h vs to driue away the sayd foolish imagination which intendeth to dispossesse vs of the foresayd good and sage assurednes Let such foolish imagination sayeth he murmur as much as it listeth saying who art thou how great is that glorie by what desertes hopest thou to obteyne it I answer assuredly I know in whome I haue beléeued and I know that he of his great loue hath made me his sonne I know he is trew of his promis and able to performe his word for he can do what he will. And when I thinke vppon the Lords death the multitude of my sinnes cannot dismay mee 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 the mercie of the Lord is my desert I am not poore of desert so long as the lord of mercie fayleth me not And sith the mercies of the Lord are manie manie also are my deseruings The more y he is of power to saue the more am I sure to be saued The same sainct Austin talking with GOD in another place sayeth that he had despayred by reason of his greate sinnes and infinite negligences if the woord of god had not becommne flesh And anon after he sayth theis words All my hope all the assurance of my trust is settled in his preciouse blud which was shed for vs and for our saluatioÌ„ In him my poore hart taketh breth and putting my whole trust in him I longe to come vnto thée O father not hauing myne owne ryghtuousenes but y ryghtuousenes of thy sonne Iesus christ In theis two places sainct Austin sheweth playnly that the christiaÌ„ must not be afrayd but assure himselfe of ryghtuousenes by grownding himselfe not vppon his own works but vppoÌ„ the preciouse blud of Iesus Christ which clenzeth vs from all our sinnes and maketh our peace with god Sainct Barnard in his first sermoÌ„ vppon the Annunciation sayeth most euidently that it is not ynough to beleue that a man can haue forgiuenes of his sinnes but by gods mercie nor any one good desyre or abilitie to doe so much as one good worke except God giue it him no nor that a man cannot deserue eternall lyfe by his workes but if GOD giue him the gift so to beleeue But besydes all theis thinges sayeth Sainct Bernard which ought rather to be counted a certayne entrance and foundation of our faith it is néedfull that thou beléeue also that thy sins are forgiuen thée for the loue of Iesus christ Sée how this holy man confesseth that it is not ynough to beléeue generally the forgiuenesse of sinnes but he must also beléeue particularly that his owne sinnes are forgiuen him by Iesus Christ and the reason is ready at hand namely that forasmuch as God hath promised thée to accept thée for rightuouse through the merites of Iesus Christ if thou beléeue not that thou art become rightuouse through him thou makest GOD a lyer and consequently thou makest thy selfe vnworthie of his grace and liberalitie But thou wilt say to me I beléeue well the forgiuenesse of sinnes and I know that god is true but I am afrayd that I am not worshie to haue so great a gift I aunswer that the forgiuenesse of thy sinnes shall not bée a gift or frée grace but a wages if God should giue it thée for the worthines of thy works But I replie vppon thée that God accepteth thée for rightuouse and layeth not thy sin too thy charge bicause of Christs merits which are giuen vnto thée and become thyne by fayth Therefore following the councell of Sainct Bernard beleue thou not only the forgiuenesse of sinnes in generall but also apply the same beléefe to thine own particular person by beleuing without any dout y all
thy misdoinges are pardoned thée through Iesus christ And in so doing thou shalt giue y glorie vnto God by confessing him to be mercifull and trew shalt become rightuouse and holy before God forsomuch as by the same confessioÌ„ y holines righteousnesse of Iesus Christ shal be communicated vnto thée But to returne to our purpose of predestinatioÌ„ I say that by the thinges aboue mencioned a man may euidently perceyue that the assuraunce of predestination doth not hurt but rather greately profit the trew Christians And I thinke not that it can hurte the false Christians and reprobates For albeit that such maner of folk would beare them selues in hand and pretend to the worldward to be of the nomber of the predestinate yit can they neuer perswade their owne consciences which wil euer bée gnawing and crying out to the contrarie But yit it séemeth greatly that the doctrine of predestination may hurt them For they be wont to say If I bée of the nomber of y reprobates what shall it auaile mée to do good works And if I be of y nomber of the predestinate I shal be saued without any laboring of myne to do good works I answer thée at fewe wordes that by suche diuelish argumeÌ„ts they increace gods wrath ageinst themselues who hath disclozed the knowledge of predestination to the Christians to make them whot and not câ—ld in the loue of God and to set them foreward and not backward vnto good workes And therfore the trew Christian on the one side holdeth himself assuredly predestinated vnto euerlasting lyfe and to be saued not at all by his owne merites but by Gods electioÌ„ who hath predestinated vs not for our own workes lakes but to shewe the greatnesse of hys mercie And on y other side indeuereth himselfe to do good workes after the example of Iesus Christ as much as if his saluation depended vppon his own policie and paynestaking As for hym that ceasseth to do good bycause of the Doctrine of predestination saying if I be predestinated I shalbée saued without streyning of my self to do good workes he sheweth euidently that his traueling is not for the loue of God but for the loue of himself By reason whereof the workes that he doth may perhaps be good and holy to the sight of men but they be wicked and abhominable before the Lorde God who hath an eye to the intent And hereuppon it may be gathered that the doctrine of predestination worketh rather good than harme to the false christians For it discouereth their hipocrisie which can not cure it selfe so long as it lyeth hidden vnder the mantel of outward works But I would haue them that saye I will not streyne my self to do well for if I be predestinated I shal be saued without tyring of my self so much I say I would haue them tell mée how it happeneth that when they be diseased they say not also I wil haue neyther Phisicion nor phisick for looke what God had determined vppon mée cannot but come to passe why eate they why drincke they why till they the ground why plant they Uines and why bée they so diligent in dooing all thinges conuenient for too susteyne the body why saye they not also that all theis turmoylynges pollices and trauels of ours are superfluouse forasmuch as it is not possible but that what soeuer God hath foreséene and determined concerning our lyfe and death muste néedes come to passe And therefore if Gods prouidence make them not negligent and idle in things perteining to the body Why should it make them more slothfull and negligent in that which concerneth the Christen perfection which without all comparison is farre nobler than the bodie But for asmuch as wée sée that neither Iesus Christe nor Sainct Paule for any doubt of offending the reprobates haue forborne to preache the trueth which is necessarie to the edifying of the chosen for the loue of whom the euerlasting Sonne of GOD became man and was put to death vppon the crosse wee also in like wise ought not to forbeare the preaching of predestination to the true Christians for asmuch as wee haue seene that it importeth great edification Now are we come to the end of our purpose wherein our chief intent hath bin according to our small power to magnifie the wonderfull benefite which the Christen man hath receyued by IESUS Christ crucified and to shewe that faith of hir self alone iustifieth that is to witt that God receyueth and holdeth them for rightuouse which beleeue stedfastly that Chryste hath made full amends for their sinnes how beit that as light cannot be separated from Fyre which of it selfe burneth and deuoureth all things euen so good woorks can not bee separated from fayth which alone by iâ—selfe iustifieth And this holy doctrine which exalteth Iesus Christ and represseth and abateth the pryde of man hath and alwayes shal be reiected and fought against by such Christians as haue Iewish mindes But happy is hee who folowing the example of Sainct Paule spoileth himselfe of his owne rightuousenesse and would haue none other rightuousenesse than that which is of Iesus Christ wherwith if he be clothed and apparelled he may most assuredly appeere before God and shall receiue his blissing and the heritage of heauen earth with his only Sonne Iesus Christ our lord to whom be all honor praise glory from this time forth for euermore Amen Christ is the ende of Law. â— Cor. 8. Iob. 12. The statâ— of man before and after that he had 〈◊〉 Psal. 114. Psal. 14. Originall sâ—n A verye good compaâ—ison Who is our neybour The 〈◊〉 office or dewtie of the lawe Rom. 3. and 7. The second office of the lawe The third office of the lawe Deu. 27. 2. Cor. 3. The forth office of the Lowe Rom. 4 The fifth office of the lawe Exod. 20 Coloss. 3 Act. 4. Mat. 11. Iohn 7. Iohn â— Gal. 3. Iohn 8. 1. Cor. 15. Psal. 50 Rom. 5 The greatneâ—â—e of sin 〈◊〉 not to cause despayre â— Cor. 5. Gala â— An excellent comparison of the â—â—â—bilitie of our owne woorks Hebr. 7. Iohn 12. Phil. 3 â— Cor. 1. How man is deliuered and set free from the curse of the lawe Gal. 3. Rom. 8. Colost 2 1. Cor. 15 Gen. 3 How we 〈◊〉 the likenesse of God. A very good sâ—militude expressing the maner how our 〈◊〉 are taken away by Christ. Math. 28 Phil. 2 Ephe. 5. Iohn 3. How the faithfull mans sowle is assuâ—ed of his being maried vnto Christ. Act. 5 Mat. 2 2. Cor. 3. Iohn 6 Iohn 3 Iohn 11. Iohn 12. 1. Iohn 4 Hebr. â— A very goodly sâ—â—ilitude â—it for the expressing of the free for giuensse of siâ—â—es for Iesus Christes sake â— Cor. 1. Heb. 4 Heb. 10. Heb. 8 Rom. 4. Gen. 1â— Rom 2. Gala. 3. Abac. 2. Gal. 3. Rom. 10. S. Augustin Origen * Marie magdalen Luke 6. Fayth is the mark of those that are iustified Esai 64. S. Basil. S. Hilary S. Ambrose Rom. 4 Psal. 31 S. Bernard Gen. 17. A very good comparisoÌ„ how we be clothed with the rightuousenesse of Iesus Christ. No man 〈◊〉 boast of the performaÌ„ce of gods lawe Psal. 102. Pro. 20. Iob. 1â— â—â—ohn 2. Math. 6. Luke 17 Acts. 1â— How the workes of y faithfull though thei be vnperfect please GOD. Math. 2â— In whaâ— maner faith iustifyâ—th Ephe. 3. Mat. 12. Rom. 6. Sainct Paule calleth them Sainctes whom we call Christians He that beleueth cannot be with out good workes Markâ— 9. Iames. 2. Apoc. 3. A liuely coÌ„parison Whâ—t S. Iames ment concerning workes Iames. 2. â— heauenly 〈◊〉 Iohn 17. Rom. 4. 2. Cor. 6. 1. Peter 2 Gala. 3. Hebr. 9. Gala. 6. Luke 2. Tit. 2. Rom. 8. Gala. 3. Rom. 8. Iesus Christ y trew exaÌ„ple of chriâ—â—â—ans 1. Peter 2 Ephe. 4. Rom. 15. Phil. 2. Math. 1â— 2. Tim. 2 Rom. 12. 1. Tim 1 Gala. 5 Luke 9. Iohn 15. Phil. 3. 2. Cor. 12 2. Cor. 4. Gala. 6. Rom. 5. After what sort patience ingendereth triall Rom. â— 2. Cor. 2. Mark. 9. Foure remedies against the teÌ„ptacioÌ„s of distrust Prayer Math. 9. 1. Thes. 5 Tru prayer Baptisme 1. Pet. 3. Mark. 16 Gala. 3. Rom. 4. Psal. 36. The supper of the Lord. Luke 22 Mark. 16 Gala. 3. Hebr. 9. Ireneus Lib. 1. Iohn 6. 1 Cor. 11. What is ment by not making a difference of the lords bodie He y receiueth this Sacrament protesteth himself to trust in none other thing than the blud of Christ. Uery coÌ„fortable counsel Rom. 4. Rom. 8. Why the holy SacrameÌ„t of thankesgiuâ—ng was ordeyâ—ed Christen peace and vnyoâ— are betokened by the bread and Wyne â—e that offendeth one of his Christen brethren offendeth Christ himself A preparatioÌ„ to y receyuing of y holy Sacrament He that receyueth y SacrameÌ„t byndeth himself to al y dewlies of charitie The trew and for which the holy Sacrament is ordeined The fourth remedie against distrust Ephe. 5. Luke 10 Psal. 36. Rom. 8. He y reâ—eyueth y Gospel is sure y he is predestinated â— he effect y precede of y knowleg for predestination Rom. 8. 1. Iohn 3. â—phe 1. Hebr. 3. Hebr. 10 AfflictioÌ„s at no signes of reprobation Pro 5. 〈◊〉 trew 〈◊〉 to know â—â—ods children by â—phe 2. Wherefore y Apostle calleth y holy Gost y sâ—irit of 〈◊〉 Gala. 3. Rom. 8. Rom. 8. A true mark of predestis nation 1. Cor. 2. Rom. 8. 1. Cor. 12 He that glorieth not y he hath y holy ghost is no true ChristiaÌ„ Iohn 14. Eccle. 6. 1. Cor. 4. A Man may knowe y he is in Gods faâ—or By the chaunces Of this life no maÌ„ caÌ„ iudge whther a maÌ„ be in Gods fauor or displeasure Rom. 3. 5 Phil. 3. 2. Tim. 4 Rom. 8. Phil. 1. The two â—ortâ—s of feare child y 〈◊〉 Rom. 8. 2. Tim. â— Rom. 14 Ephe. 6. Phil. 4. 1. Peter 1 The slaâ—ish feare threateneth the wicked and the childly feare 〈◊〉 y chozen The effects of childly fear Eph 4. The christian may warrant him self y forgiuenes of his slunes S Hilary Iames. 1. S. Augustin S. Bernard Eche one must beleue particularly that hie sinnes are released forgiueÌ„ him freely Eche one must beleue particularly that his sinnes are released forgiueÌ„ him freely ¶ Imprinted at London by Thomas East for Lucas Harison and George Bisshop