conscience and the peace of his Church in and for his sonne our Lorde Iesus Amen Your Honours most humbly to be alwayes vsed in the Lorde Christe VVILLIAM HOPKINSON ¶ A preparation into the waye of lyfe with a direction into the right vse of the Lords Supper Question HOwe had you your beeing at the first Answere God created mee and all men in Adam as it is written The Lorde God made man of the duste of the grounde and breathed in his face breath of life and man was made a liuing soule Question Wherefore did God create you Ans To seeke his glory as it is written Of him through him and for him are all things to him be glory for euer Amen Qu How will God be glorified Ans According to his will reuealed in his worde For it is written Deut. 12.32 Whatsoeuer I commaunde you take heede that you doe it thou shalt put nothing thereto nor take ought therefrom Iosh 1.7 Qu. In what estate were you created An. Holy and excellent without sinne in perfect righteousnes and holynes before him as appeareth Gen. Let vs make man in our image according to our likenes Gen. 1.27 c. Qu. How became you subiect to so many infirmities Ans By sinne and disobedience As it is written Because thou haste obeyed the voyce of thy wife and hast eaten of the tree wherof I commaunded thee Gen. 3.17 saying Thou shalt not eate of it cursed is the earth for thy sake in sorrow shalt thou eate of it all the dayes of thy life Qu. How became you sinnefull An. Adam transgressed the Lords precept in eating the forbidden fruite lost his innocencie and brought sinne vpon him self and all his posteritie As appeareth when he had yeelded to disobey the Lorde Gen. 3.9.10 The Lorde God called to the man and sayde to him Where art thou Who said I heard thy voyce and was afraide because I was naked therefore I hidde my selfe Also the Lorde God sent him foorth from the Garden of Eden Gen. 3.23 to till the earth from whence he was taken c. Qu. Is this sinne in euery one by nature An. Yea in all Adams posteritie none excepted as it is written Rom. 5.12 As by one man sinne entred into the world and death by sinne and so death went ouer all men in as much as all men haue sinned Qu. What is the rewarde of sinne An. Death eternall as it is written Deut. 27.26 Cursed bee hee that continueth not in all the wordes of this lawe to doe them Rom. 6.23 Gal. 3.10 Qu. Shall I escape this death by the workes of the lawe An. No. For it is written Rom. 8.3 For that that was impossible to the law in as much as it was not able because of the flesh God sending his owne sonne in the simisitude of sinnefull flesh condemned sinne in the flesh Qu. Sith the Lawe doth not instifie vs before God what profite hath a Christian by it An. The vse of the lawe Iosh 1.8 First it is a way for Gods children to walke in as it is written Let not this booke of the lawe depart out of thy mouth but meditate therein day and night that thou mayest obserue and doe according to all that is written therein for then shalte thou make thy waye prosperous and then shalt thou haue good successe c. Deut. 6.6 Secondly it teacheth man not to truste in his owne innocencie For it is written We haue proued that all both Iewes and Gentiles are vnder sinne Rom. 3.9 10. Psal 14.1.53.4 Thirdly it pulleth downe the pride of mans heart and humbleth him before God as it is written We knowe that whatsoeuer the lawe sayth it sayth it to them which are vnder the lawe that euery mouth may be stopped Ro. 3.19.20 and all the world culpable before God And by the workes of the lawe shall no fleshe be iustified for by the lawe commeth the knowledge of sinne Fourthly it is a scholemaister to Christ Gal. 3.23 for it is written Before faith came we were kept vnder the lawe and shut vp vnto the fayth that should afterwardes be reuealed wherefore the lawe was oure scholemaster to bring vs vnto Christ that we might be made righteous by fayth Qu. Why should we doe good workes sithe they do not iustifie vs An. First The right end of workes Ioh. 14.15 to shewe our loue to God our father in walking as becommeth his children For the Lorde sayth If you loue me keepe my commaundementes Leui. 11.44.19.2 Secondly to shewe our loue to our selues making our election therby sure vnto our selues For it is written Ephes 1.3.4 Blessed be God euen the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ c. He hath chosen vs in him before the foundation of the worlde was layde that we should be holy and without blame before him in loue 1. Pet. 1.2.2 Pet. 1.10 Thirdly to profite our brethren and glorifie the Lorde Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they seeing your good workes maye glorifie your father which is in heauen 1. Pet. 2.12 Qu. VVhat works be good and the contrary Rom 14.23 Howe many things are principally to be considered in good workes An. Three First that they proceede from an heart purified by fayth Whatsoeuer is not of fayth is sinne Mat. 7.17.18 Secondly they muste be ruled by the worde of God for it is written Eph. 2.10 We are his workmanship created in Christ Iesus vnto good workes which he hath prepared for vs to walke in Thirdly the speciall ende for which they are done muste be the glory of God 1. Cor. 10.31 for it is written Whether you eate or drinke or whatsoeuer you doe doe all to the glory of God Exod. 32.32 Rom. 9.3 Qu. What is eternall death An. The euerlasting curse of God whiche conteineth all the tormentes that can be deuised both of soule and body for it is written Deut. 27.26 Cursed is he that continueth not in all the wordes of this lawe to doe them Gal. 3.10 Qu. By what meanes shall I escape this death An. Onely by fayth in Christ as it is written Rom. 3.28 We conclude that a man is iustified by fayth without the workes of the lawe Iohn 3.13 36. 5.24 6.40 47. 11.25 20.29 31. Math. 9.2 Luc. 7.50 Act. 10.43 16.3 Rom. 1.12 Gal. 3.26 Phil. 3.9 Col. 1.23 Eph. 3.12 Heb. 11.6 1. Pet. 1.9 c. Qu. What is a Christian fayth An. VVhat fayth is A full perswasion and assurance of mine heart that whatsoeuer Christe hath wrought for mans saluation perteineth not onely to others but to me also and is furely mine as it is written For I am perswaded that neither death for life Rom. 8.38 nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in
vs and to confirme our fayth in the same As appeareth All ye which are baptized into Iesus Christ haue put on Christ Act. 2.38 And Ioh. 6.51 I am the liuing bread which came downe from heauen if any man eate of this bread he shall liue for euer c. Qu. Are there no necessarie helpes vnto these for the increase and confirmation of our fayth An. Yes and those that can not be wanting without great preiudice to the Church of God namely true earnest and often prayer and discipline according to the worde As for the first it is sayde Aske and haue and whatsoeuer you aske of the father in my name he will giue it you And for the seconde it is written thus Cor. 5 3 4 5. I verily as absent in body but present in spiriie haue determined already as though I were present the he that hath thus done this thing when you are gathered togeather and my spirite in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christ that suche a one I say by the power of our Lorde Iesus Christ be deliuered to Satan for the destruction of the fleshe that the spirite may be saued in the day of the Lorde Iesus Qu. What is a Sacrament An. A Sacrament what it is An outward signe ordeined of God for the greater assurance and strength of our fayth beeing vnto vs sure pledges of those venesites of our saluation which we receiue in Christ to be ours For it is written Gen. 17.11 Ye shall circumcize the foreskinne of your fleshe and it shall be a signe of the couenaunt betweene me and you Exo. 12.3 4 5 6. Rom. 4.11 Qu. How many Sacraments be there in the church of Christ An. Two baptisme the Lords supper as appeareth Brethren I would not haue you ignorant the al your fathers were vnder the cloude and al passed through the sea were al baptised vnto Moses in the cloude and in the sea 1. Cor. 10.1 2 3 4. and did all eate of the same spirituall meate and did all drinke of the same spiritual drink for they dranke of the spirituall rock that followed them and the rocke was Christe Qu. Who shall minister the Sacraments An. He in whose mouth the Lorde hath put his worde for the people as it is written Go teach al nations baptising them in the name of the father and the sonne and the holy ghost Christ gaue this commaundement neither to midwiues as they call them or any other women or to priuate men but to those whom he had chosen his Apostles and had giuen them warrant habilitie to teach Mat. 28.19 The Sacraments ministred where the worde is preached whereby appeareth that the word preached and Sacraments must go together Act. 10.47 Act. 16.32.33 Qu. Where must it be ministred An. Where the worde is preached and because this Sacrament comprehendeth an holy and solemne introduction or admittance into the Church of God Priuate places be not fit for publique actioÌ„s Mat. 28.19 and is a testimonie of our heauenlie deliuerance it is not lawfull to minister it but in the asseÌ„bly of the faithful as appeareth in that is said Go preach and baptize c. and. Mar. 16.15.16 Qu. To the strengthning of our faith how many thinges do we principally learne by baptisme An. Especially two First as water washeth away the filthines of the flesh so the bloode of Christe doth wash away sin from my soule as is written Mar. 1.4 Iohn did baptise in the wilderues preach the baptism of amendment of life for remission of sinns Secondly I am taught to rise to newnesse of life For it is written we are buried then with him by baptisme into his death Rom. 6.4 that like as Christ was raised vp from the dead by the glory of his father so we also should walke in newnesse of life Qu. Wherein is the faith strenthened in the vse of the Lordes supper An. First as by the hande and mouthe my bodie receiueth bread and wine so by faith my soule feedeth of the body and blod of Christ Iesus said vnto them Ioh. 6.35 I am that bread of lyfe he that commeth to me shall not hunger and he that beleeueth in mee shall neuer thirste Secondly all the benefites of Christes passion and his righteousnes are as surely sealed to be mine as I am sure my body hath receiued the bread and wine and as if I my selfe had wrought them For it is written He was deliuered to death for our sinnes Rom. 4.25 and is risen agayne for our iustification Qu. Who shal be admitted to the Lords Supper An. A Christian choyse in admitting to the Lords Supper Only they that can do those things that are required of them that be partakers thereof Qu. Children fooles madde folks and the ignorant must not be admitted for they can not doe this What must they doe that be partakers thereof An. Examine them selues as it is written Let a man examine himselfe and so let him eate c. Qu. Must euery one that receiueth the Lordes Supper of necessitie examine him selfe An. 1. Cor. 11.28 Hee must of necessitie or else hee shall bee guilty of a moste horrible sinne Qu Of what sinne shall he bee guiltie An. Vnworthy receiuers equall with the murthereâ—s of Christ 1. Cor. 11.27 Of the death of Christe and shall be equall with those murtherers that slew him for it is written Who soeuer shall eat this breade and drinke the cup of the Lorde vnworthilie shall bee guilty of the bodie and bloode of the Lorde Qu. What is the rewarde of that sinne An. Gods standing vengeance eternall death for it is written he that eateth and drinketh vnwortily 1. Cor. 11. eareth and drinketh his owne damnation Qu. Seing the necessitie of this examination is so great as may appeare by the iudgements of God for the want of it Ignorant ministers carelesse people shift sinne betvvixt them which yet is greatly to bee feared that very fewe do rightly consider of How many thinges muste they especially seeke for in them selues that do communicate An. Three Three things to be especially considered in examination Namely their estate before God their right knowledge concerning the Sacrament and their estate towards their brethren or before the Church Qu. In seeking their estate before God what must they doe An. First seeke their estate by nature according to the lawe rightly vnderstoode where they shall finde themselues in the wrath of God as S. Paule testifieth to the Ephesians saying Ephes 2.3 We were by nature the children of wrath as well as others Qu. Whereto serueth this in searching their estate before God In all our actions vve musâ—â— especially caâ—e for the glory of God An. First for the glory of God whiche is not duly considered where our condemnation is not knowen For it is written Who careth for the Phisition that is not sicke VVe must not
shrinke to looke into our sinnes seeme they neuer so horrible sith the sight of them serueth to shew vnto vs more plainly the greatnesse of the loue of God towards vs in Christe Secondly for their owne greater comfort for the more they see their condemnation by nature so muche more appeareth the loue of God to haue abounded towardes them in their deliueraunce by grace in Christ As it is written So God loued the world that he gaue his onely begotten sonne Qu. Then as you would haue the children of God to looke diligently into their naturall condemnation that is by the law which adiudgeth euery one guyltie of eternall death that continueth not in such absolute and pure obedience as the lawe requireth so you would not that they shoulde staye there An. VVe beholde our sinnes but the better to see the grace of Christ No in no case for then were there no hope of deliuerance for vntil we atteine to him that hath conquered the lawe the law still reigneth ouer vs vnto death as it is written whatsoeuer the lawe saith it saith it to them that are vnder the law c. which no Christian is for Christ is not vnder the lawe Qu. Wherein standeth the deliuerance of Gods chosen from his condemnation that is by the lawe An. Not in the works of the Lawe nor in any childe of man but onely in the free grace of God through Iesus Christe as it is written Rom. 7.24.25 Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliuer mee from this body of death I thank God through Iesus Christ our Lorde Qu. What is the meane of our attayning to this righteousnes of Christ An. Faith in him as it is written This is the will of him that sent me Ioh. 6.40 that whosoeuer seeth the sonne and beleeueth in him hath euerlasting life c. Qu. I remember you said that this faith was the peculier worke of the spirite of Christ and his ordinarie meane to be only the preaching of the Gospell but I pray you wherevpon must this fayth be stayde or grounded for a house without a fountation will not long continue An. Vpon the free promises of Christ A conscience feared with the sighte of Gods iudgementes for sinne muste not deal with the conditionall promises Qu. Why say you free promises An. Because in the gospel are promises with condition of our doing or perfourming which appertaine to the Lawe Qu. What is the triall whether we haue this faith or no for as it is easy to say that we haue it so are there verie fewe or none that do not say so An. We must by the effects learne to knowe the cause whiche woorketh them The tree is knowen by his fruites This iustifiyng faith is a peculier worke of the Spirite of Christe who lurketh noâ— but reneweth the heart as Christe testified to Nichodemus Ioh. 3.3 saying Except a man be borne againe he can not see the kingdome of God He worketh in vs first He doth not rightly hate others sinnes that loues his owne Rom. 7.23 an hatred and detestation of sinne in all men but especially in our selues As it is written I see an other law in my members rebelling against the lawe of my minde c. Secondly it maketh vs to haue our whole delight and ioye The Lordes vvayes are grieuous to our corruption Rom. 5.1 2. in those thinges which be agreeable to the will of God as it is written being iustified by faith we haue peace with God thorough Iesus Christ our Lorde by whome also we haue accesse into this grace wherein we stande and reioice vnder the hope of the glorie of God c. Thirdly it frameth our liues in obedience to the word as There is no condemnation to them which are in Christe Iesus which walke not after the fleshe Rom. 8.1 but after the spirite And fourthly it worketh effectually in Their imaginations are vayne vvho holde their hope in huggermugger and professe it not in the sight of men Ioh. 15.5 vs that we expresse the same in our liues and conuersations as it is written I am the vine and ye the vranches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth muche fruite c. Mat. 7.18 Iames. 2.17 Qu. Now concerning the seconde parte of this examination whiche apperteineth the supper it selfe I pray you what is the Lordes supper An. The Lordes Supper vvhat it is It is a ceremonie instituted by Christ to confirme and manifest our society and communion in his body and blood vntill he come to indgement as appeareth He tooke bread and when he had giuen thankes he brake it and gaue to them saying This is my body whiche is giuen for you doe this in remembrance of me Mat. 26.26 27 28. Likewise also he tooke the cup saying This cup is the new testament in my bloude which is shed for you c. Mar. 14.27 And as oft as thou shalt eate this bread and drinke of this cup thou shall shewe the Lords death till he come 1. Cor. 11.26 Qu. Howe many thinges are to be considered in the supper An. The author the water and the end Qu. Who is the authour of it An. The Lorde Iesus Christ him self as appeareth Mat. 26.26 Mat 14.27 Luk. 22. c. Qu. What thinges are wee taughte by that knowledge namely that Christ is the author of it An. By the maiesty and wisoome of the author is signified vnto vs the excellencie and necessity of the thing Qu. Where must it be ministred An. In the assembly of the faithfull where the word is preached for it is a publike action or deamed for the Churche as may appeare 1. Cor. 11.17.18.20 Now in this that I declare I praye you not that you come together not with profite but with hurt Also when you come together into one place c. Qu. How manie persons are to be considered in this action An. Two The pastor and the people Qu. What is to bee considered of both An. In the pastor or minister is required not onely that he be able but that he do preach the worde of the Lorde before vnto the people Mat. 26.24 for Christ first preached to them of his death and the indgement of God vpon the wicked c. And the Apostles also did the like as appeareth Act. 2.42 and Act. 20.7 Also in the people that they examine them selues For when Christ spake vnto them of the wicked fact of Iudas euery one entred into his selfe and sayd Master is it I Mat. 26.25 Qu. What is needefull for euery one that is willing to receyue the Sacrament aright to consider of An. When in examining him selfe he come to consider of the thing and so to deale with the worde of the Lorde he is especiall to beware of wrong meaning VVrong taking the vvorde is cause of much mischiefe and false gloses of the worde wherein as we
confesse him to one which they wil not grant therfore they do but ingle with the Lordes trueth Qu. Then you will take nothing from any mans warrant No warrant is fase but the Loras namely the Papistes without proofe of the worde of God rightlie vndersteode An. No for leauing thē their friendes w e their vnwritten verities Ioh. 4.25.5 39 16.13 Their chopping changing of the worde Deut. 5.2.12.32 Their holding them miufficient to deeide controuersies Psa 19.7 Luk. 16.20 Therfore keeping them from the people Psal 95.10 Iohn 17.3 Their imagination of the Scriptures darknesse Psal 19.7 Some of the dregges of the Popes Church Their vayne boasting of the Churches authoritie agaynst the worde of God Iero. 7.8 1. Tim. 3.15 Their false opiniō of works Iob. 9.3 Rom. 3.10 Their presumptuous opinion of the Popes supremacie Mat. 1.28.19 Iohn 20.23 Luc. 22.26 1. Pet. 5.1 2 3. Their eare confession Psal 25.7 Their Purgatorie Mat. 25.26 Psal 51.3 4. Their praying for the dead their Masses and trentals and dirgies 2. Sam. 12.21 Luc. 19.26 Their praying to Samtes Iere. 17.5 Rom. 10.14 Their olde customes and following of forefathers Mat. 15.2 3.12.30 Their Latin seruice Mat. 7.6 7 8. Their Images Exod. 20.4 Their transubstantiation Mark 16.19 Luc. 24.16 Act. 1.9 10 11. Their vnpreaching priesthood 1. Tim. 3.2 Act. 20.28 1. Pet. 4.1 The diuersities of meates for conscience sake and a thousand mo abhominatiōs Mat. 6.11 Rom. 14.14 2. Tim. 4.3 4. We rest our selues wholly safely in the alone word of God as vpon a most trustie witnesse of all trueth that fayleth not for it is written Heauen and earth shall perishe Mat. 24.35 but not one sote of the worde of the Lorde shall fayle Qu. I woulde be moste glad to participate with the Church of God in the vse of this Saccament so oft as they come together to that ende but I see it is a thing most worthy such reuerent consideration as is commanded vnto vs in the word I see the horror of my sinnes so great The best consciences are soonest feared vvith sinne fecle in my selfe so litle repentance and fayth that I feare I am vnworthy to receiue it An. In deede to the worthy receiuing of the Lords supper suche examination of euery one in his owne conscience as the Apostle requireth is very needfull But as for sinne which is in euery one by nature which also of it selfe is deadly euen from the greatest to the least we are to discerne our estate in that case not by the sinne but by the partie as we are taught in the Rom. 6. where he willeth that sinne do not reign in vs which it doth in euery child of man till the spirite of Christ be giueu vnto vs by the preaching of the Gospell As it is written A strong man armed keeping the house all that he possesseth be in peace till a stronger then he come c. Then our sinnes bee deadely VVho sinne deadly when they haue the reigne and dominion in vs And sinne reigneth when we giue ouer to sinne when we striue not agayust it VVhen sinne hath the masterie it flayeth the man but alowe of it and consent vnto it If you yeelde your selues to obey his seruauntes you are to whom you obey whether it be of sinne vnto death or of obevieuce vnto righteousnes And this power of sinne thus raigning doth testifie that the grace of Gods spirit is wanting But if we striue against our sinne if our eye be single that is our minde vpright striuing into the waye of the Lord without hypocrisie or dissimulation though sinne be in vs yet our sinnes are not of force to separate vs from God nor are any such things as shall euer condemne vs but for Christes sake whose peculier spirite hath wrought in vs this misliking of sinne as ignoraunce want of feeling of the Lords kindnes and whatsoeuer of like sort with a longing alter the wayes of the Lorde they are forgiuen vs and shall neuer be layde to our charge because we beleeue in Christ For the distance betweene heauen and earth is not so great as is the difference betweene sinne beeing in vs Rom. 7.20 and sinne raigning in vs as maye appeare in that it is sayde Gal. 5.17 If therefore your sinnes do displease you These fruites of Christes spirit assureth vs of the grace of Christ if you purpose to be an enimie to sinne in your selfe and others if you purpose to walke al your life in the true feare of God and in the light of his worde if you beleeue in Christ Iesus for pardon of your sinnes and stay your selfe vpon his promises I testifie vnto you that you shall be a moste welcome guest to this table of the Lorde Christ hath already sealed in you that you are deare in his sight he hath giuen you of his spirite They that are least in their owne sighte are moste dear vvith the Lord. and you shall haue fellowship with him and with the father by him and with the whole Church of God Christe will dwell in you and you shall dwell in him for euer therefore measure not the Lords mercies by reason which is corrupted but let fayth holde fast his promises and be ioyfull in the Lorde and from the grounde of a pure heart giue all prayle to him to whom all prayse is due for euermore Qu. Not the deed but the maner of doing is al. How many sortes be there of them which receiue not the Sacrament An. There be two sortes namely those that will not and those that can not Qu. What is the estate of both An. The estate of the one namely those that can not is not daungerous for the necessitie of the Sacramentes extendeth not so farre as to exclude them from eternall life which can not enioy the vse therof and those that haue faith which giueth them title and right to eternall life and power to discerne rightly of the Sacramentes though they haue not the means to be partakers of the Sacraments shall not be depriued nor excluded from saluation Their estate i◠not daungerous vvhiche vvould and can not Also as this estate is not dangerous so the condition of such as will not namely of those which contemne the Lords mysteries is damnable For it is vndoubtedly an act of infidelitie and worthy of damnation Their estate is damnable that can and vvill not for this and all wickednes proceedeth from vnbeliefe For it is written Take heede brethren that there be not in any of you an euill heart and vnfaithfull Heb. 3.12 to departe away from the liuing God c. Frō which estate of men the Lorde keepe all that be his for euer Amen FINIS ¶ A most godly and comfortable letter written by by maister Edvvard Deering to a Christian gentlevvoman beeing in heauinesse of spirite very needefull and by the grace of Christ helpfull to suche as be in
we wil not cast it out but the Lorde be thanked who hath had mercie vppon vs to make hold fast the word of truth what soeuer our fathers haue vainely taught vs And yet we are not in securitie But a third enimie is in the hart of man that the word of God may not haue his perfect honor and that is an opinion conceiued of earthly thinges planting of holines in corruptile creatures As in meates drinkes daies garmentes conditions of life places times Cerimonies neither hearing our Sauiour Christ that God is a spirite and onelie he is to be worshipped in spirite and trueth neither his Apostle Paule that the element of that world commend vs not vnto God for neither if we eate are wee euer the worse neither if we eate not are we euer the better These many and great tentations stand against vs assoone as wee woulde giue our selues to the word of God which is the beginning of a christian life Trowe you that in the continuance of our course and iorney before we come at our sauiour Christ shall we not be sifted and tried to see what is within vs. And you good mystresse H. to apply this to your selfe tell me howe you haue learned Christe hath his gospell bene peaceable in you from the first day til now without all contradiction was your minde neuer puffed vp in vaine imaginations did the traditions and persuasions of men neuer shake your thought haue you not ben tēpted w e opinions of creatures as though some wer more holy some more prophane I knowe as you long after Christ desire his trueth in single heart so his grace you haue not without sharp bitter trials and the more freely the word of God shall possesse your soule and fill your hart full with all desire of it the more you shall feele what fight is againste it looke for the like in all your life and when you approche to the true feare of God prepare youre hearte to the strongest assault The word of God thus made knowen vnto vs and when we follow it with all our soule that we maye haue a liuely fayth to reioyce at the promises of God to feare at his threatning and feele a full perswasion of a certayne performance of all his words O Lorde what is the malice of Satan and though many temptations are against vs the long prosperities of the wicked in which they triūph whiles the goodnes of God prouoketh thē still to repentaunce the bitter sighing of the godly in which they mourne vnder many crosses whiles God maketh their fayth precious before him these haue rooted quite out of the hearts of the vngodly the fayth and truth which they owe vnto God so that agaynst all his iudgementes they haue opened their mouths and said aloude Where is the promise of his cōming and against all his mercies they haue proclaymed warre and sayde they will not haue Christ to reigne ouer them But these temtations Christ hath ouercome in vs and giuen vs his spirite in which we know assuredly that the Lord reigneth neither slacketh he his comming as many accounte slacknes but he will come and his glory shall be knownen And yet we are not in peace but Satan wil sift vs another way He will lay our sinnes before vs to make vs feare that the promises of God belong not vnto vs and this of all temptations is the greatest yet we feare not for what belongeth to all our sinnes which Christe hath not borne sorowe sicknes death hel condemnation were they not in his body and are they not all crucified vppon the Crosse Is he not risen from them and hath he not broken the chaynes of death and so is ascended vnto glory If this be my feare because I am a sinner rather let me reioyce for Christ hath takē my sinnes vpon him and hath buried them deeper then the bottome of the sea he hath ledde it openly in triumph and nayled it vppon the crosse from henceforth and for euermore It hath no strength whosoeuer secme to colour it as redde as scarlet or make it like purple it is still nothing and casteth but a vayue terror before our eyes we will neuer deny this but freely confesse it that we be miserable sinners and not worthy to lifte vp our eyes to heauen but who will lay our sinnes to our charge now god hath iustified vs Or what sinne can rest vpon vs now Christ hath washed them away That which once was in fight with Christ and he hath ouercome it who shall set to his hande the seconde time to make the victorie perfect This is true and euerlasting trueth hath sealed it vp that sinne is abolished for euer and euer howsoeuer we feare or tremble or be faynt harted yet before the Lorde with whom our life is hid there is no perill no daunger no fcare but peace and righteousnes without ende Let our sinnes be neuer so great neither we nor our sinnes can chaunge the new testament that God is mercifull to our sinnes and will blot out all our transgressions therefore this care is paste that our sinnes be many the more they are the greater is his mercy who hath forgiuen them And this is the token which God hath giuen vs that we are his because we are greeued with our sinnes for our Sauiour Christe ouercame sinne with paynes sufferings which belong vnto it and this is the badge of our redemption to be made like him in afflictions we haue sinne and abhorre it it woundeth vs with feare it setteth before vs condemnation we haue a sence and feeling of Gods anger agaynst it and hell gnaweth vpon our soules because of transgression O blessed state and treasure of gladnes this was the image of Christ when he ouercame sinne a marke of my redemption in my owne flesh that I should not faynt As the sunne maketh the day and the night darknes so this affliction of sinne is the badge and cognisaunce of our certayne forgiuenes And herein see the goodnes of God which turneth all things to the best to those that loue him Through feare of sinne the diuell fighteth agaynst vs without feare of sinne we could neuer haue boldnes through anguish of heart the diuell woulde ouerwheline vs with sorrowe without anguish of heart we coulde neuer haue ioye In feeling Gods anger the diuel would make vs to dispayre without feeling his threatning and trembling before him we could neuer haue strength of fayth that his mercies are for euer In all sufferings I am like to Christ they are the markes of mine addoption that I am hys childe do we not heare the Lord him selfe doth speake If we be without correction then are we bastardes and not sonnes and to shewe what our correction shall be he sayth in another place If we be planted with him into the similitude of his death then shall we also be partakers of his resurrection Who hath heard so great salnation as this Euery weapon