vnworthy of the name of Theology or deuinitye but rather to be called Metaphisica y â— whiche neyther hath nor geueth so much â—yght of God as can suffyse to our saluacion being a knowledge that by force of mans wit climinge the degrees of humayne reason may be attayned Wheras the true aâ—d superuatnral Theology or deuynyty is a science of the spirit a gift and light y t by grace commeth from God aboue in such wyse y â— not he that hath the pregnaunt wytte hath moost studyed and is best learned is greatest deuine but he y â— hath faith liuely lighte and vnderstandynge of god that lyueth better and more christianly And because faith is a gift of God and the true deuinity a supernatural light not attaynable or can not be attayned of vs but geuen of God to his elect Therfore euery symple ydeote and ignorauÌ„t of the humain scyences may by the grace of God sodenly become a perfect deuine and Christian as in the actes of the Apostles it is red of the â—unucho It is possyble then that a symple olde woman maye haue more of the true Theology or deuinity then al the learned meÌ„ of the world For the humayne sciences do fyl our mindes of smoke and pryde and occupy them in such wise that distract with Marta they be not attentyue wyth Mary to receiue the knowledge of God It is sene by experyence that rather and more lightly the symple haue accepted the gospel then the learned men of y e world Yea where the symple the ydeotes the lytle chyldren the Samarytanes magnified Christ the learned scrybes and Phariseis persecuted hym to the deathe of the crosse And when the world conuerteth seldom the learned men come to the faith but haue bene euer the last Ther could none enter into Sancta Sanctorum by the old law but the high bishop But Christ dying on y e crosse hath ouerthrowen the vayle of the teÌ„ple so that the respleÌ„deÌ„t treasures of gods wysdome hyd in Christ are manyfested so openly that the simple and ideotes yea the Publicanes and commune womeÌ„ haue vnderstauded them Wherof Dauid speaketh saying Thy wordes be open they lyghten and geue vnderstandyng to the litle ones That hygh and deuyne wisdom is become so low and open in Christ that euery simple may vnderstand For that Christ is not come as an humayne man to teache vs letters but is deuinely and spiritually descended to kindle the spirit light chariti grace in the hartes of his electe and so hathe he made them to vnderstand euen to the children which magnifi him saying Blessed is he that is come in the name of the Lorde And Christe reproued hys Apostles when they letted the chyldren of comming to him though now their be many that wil not allow the holy scriptures to be had in the vulgare tounge nor red and declared to y e simple as if they could not vnderstand theÌ„ noâ— were not bound to know that which is conteyned in them And yet it is certeyne they conteyne none other but profitable and necessary things to the health and that being of the holy goste those diuine verities be in maner so expressed that in what tonge so euer it be written so it be truly declared and wyth pure hart herd and vndâ—rstand they must nedes edify without offending Christ thankynge hys father sayde vnto hym I prayse the father and Lord of heauen and earth that thou hast hid these things from the wyse and prudent and opened them vnto babes not for that they haue studied but because it hath so pleased the â–ª In this is fulfylled that that God promysed by his prophet Ieremy that eueÌ„ to the least of al they shuld know Now behold if they be blynde or not that wyll buyld the true Theologye vpon Philosophy and vpon the humayne sciences wheras Christ is the true foundacion and vpon him it behoueth to build not woode straw or hay but syluer gold precious stones that is to say not the inuencyons of man but the only true reuelacioÌ„s of God Saint IhoÌ„ Baptist and not Aristotle was the precursor or forerunner of Christe It is not possible with y e light of a litle burning candel to augâ—ent the great light of y â— Sunne and likewise Christ cannot be clarified by the humain scieÌ„ces He him self saith that he hath taken hys beauty not of men but of hys father who sayd vnto hym And the I haue glorified and the I shal gloryfy And wilt thou then that Christ which is y â— light of the world shulde haue neede of the light of Aristotle That theyr dry cold and dead Theology serueth to make theÌ„ proud to presume of theÌ„ selues to contend and to deceiue the blynd ignoraÌ„t people with perswading theÌ„ falsly to reputâ— theÌ„ for diuines yea to begile them selfes that albeit y t thei be darkenes in deede yet theyâ— thynke them selues to be the light of the world and therfore humble not theyre hartes to pray vnto God to geue them light I wil not say that we caÌ„not serue our selues of al the humain sciences in the honoure of God yea and of oure synnes inasmuch as of them we may take occasyon of vertue But I say in deede that they be not necessary to make vs good deuynes For to that it behoueth a supernatural lyght of God wyth clennes and purity of hart And this lighte we oughte euermore to demaâ—â—d of God with ferueÌ„t praier we oughte also to seeke the hearynge of gods word and with humility to exercyse our selues iu studying y â— holy scriptures to the intente that as true and good dyuynes we maye render vnto God all honoure and glorye by oure sauioure Iesu Christe Amen The .vii. Sermon Howe a Christian oughte to make his last wil and testament IT is commonly the custome of men in their testameÌ„tes and last wyls to sai I leaue I bequeath I geue wythoute once sayinge I take or cari with me wherein certes they be farre deceiued because they take that whych they ought to leaue be hynde theÌ„ and go wythoute caryinge that whyche is very behofeful and necessary Wherfore to the entent they shuld no more erre on y t behalfe I wold we shuld consyder and weyghe how a true Christian shuld make hys wyll Men that be either fooles mad phrantyke neyther 〈◊〉 nor yet know how to make a wyll by reason they haue not wytte to descerne good from euyll what is theires or what is not what to take nor what to restore or be queath nor yet to whome nor in what manner And if happely they go about to make theyr testameÌ„t it shuld be but vain and of no force God alloweth it not as a thing made of a parson witles Wherefore he that is willing to make a testament effectual as expedient is to him that will be saued behoueth to haue very good spiritual iudgment a liueli faith in Christ
possible might haue ouer man Aud if he procede forth to induce the to despayre by settynge before the thy greate synnes I wyll the to say to hym Go to Christ which as Ihon wryteth is myne attournei and aduocate he can make the an aunswere for me reason there with hym if thou haue any claime or title in me as thou sayest doest thou not know that he hath taken my synnes for hys owne and hathe for them made satisfactyon most plentuously therfore hast thou no ryght in me at al. If he chaunce to say his death is not inough to sane the answere him if Adam by tasting one apple with one only sinne was hable to damne me how is it that so manye holy workes of Christ which tasted for my sake of great loue the most bytter death be not sufficient to saue me If the disobedience of Adam had power to condemn me much more the obedyence of Christe is stronge inough to saue me yea the gift of Christ is aboue and excedeth the synne of Adā Christ hath more auayled and holpen vs then Adam annoied and harmed vs by reason the light of Christ is of more force effect then the darkenes of our fyrst parent the goodnes of Christes surmounteth and passeth y ◠malice of man and his vertue preuaileth aboue oure frailty one teare of Christe hathe bene more pleasaunt to God thē al the sins of the world be displeasaunt Christ hath be able to do more to appeace hym then we to prouoke hym to anger Christes liuing was more formal and ordinary then oures was out of order and frame Christ hath doone more to the honour of God then we haue done to his dishonoure Wherfore I maye wel say Christ that is my wisdom right wisnes holynes and redempcion is sufficient inough to saue me And if haply he shuld say it is not sufficient for thy saluacion to beleue in Christe the be houeth to keepe his commaundementes thou must loue God wythal thy hart thy neyghbour as thy self and desire nor couet any thing worldly which thinges because thou doest not ergo thou art dampned if fayth only wer inough I also and al the deuels shuld be saued because as it is writtē euen the deuels beleue and feare They beleue that God made and created heauē and earth and that Christ came dyed rose ascēded into heauen that he sent the holy ghost and that he shal come to iudge the quicke dead and yet are not we therfore saued and that because we obserue not his deuine preceptes Wherfore thou also art but lost he wyl thus labour to bring the vnder the law to thinke that thou must be iustified not by Christ but by perfourminge and fulfillinge of the lawe to the end y t thou shuld despair But I wyl that thou make answere and say if thou diddest beleue as by gods grace I beleue that is that God for thy wealthe hath created the worlde and semblably preserueth it in such sort that thou couldest fele in the creatures the loue of God and lykewyse wold beleue firmely that Christ came and dyed for thy sinnes for to saue the and for thy sake and profit and in lyke manner of the other articles thou also should be saued and then when thou haddest a liuely feling of the goodnes and loue of God thou woldest loue hym and thy neyghbour likewyse and beynge rauyshed into God wouldest begynne to set litle store by the world as al good Christen men and women do If it fortune that he say he is cursed that kepeth not and obserueth the lawe wherfore thou arte one of myne saye to hym agayne for that cause Christ dyed on the crosse for to delyuer me from all curses and in so much as I am alreadye of Christ I am deade to the lawe Agayne if he replye saying wher be thy workes whereby thou trustest to be saued answer I trust not to be saued bi mi works for they be such that if I shuld haue regard or respect to them I feare me to be damned yea I were surely acertained of my damnacion I hope only to be saued by Christ and hys workes whyche be myne owne and so much rather myne then they I dyd myself as that the spirite of Christe geuen to me is more entyer to me then myne own life or any other thyng Further if he shulde endeuour to proue the to be none of the elect by reason of the innumerable and outragiouse synnes that thou hast committed for prosperites or aduersities thou hast had for the great euylles wherin thou art founde at thy deathe or for the temptacyons thou haste susteyned sayinge that God preserueth his elected from the lyke euyls Make hym answer and say rather dothe God practyse them in diuerse such manners albeit of euerything they be certified to the honoure of God thou shalt moreouer say to hym thus I geue more credite and truste to Christe whiche when he was deade for me on the crosse tould me I was saued then to the that arte alwayes a lyer and father of erroures I wyll thou tel hym how thou geuest more fayth to Christ alone then to al the reasons and authorities of the world thou may by syde thys saye to him the spirit of God beareth witnes to mi spirit that I am the sonne of god and to him muste I rather truste then to the. When he shall saye if thou were the sonne of God he would not leaue the in such punishmentes as thou art in but would geue the sonne release and easement answere hym In case it were as thou sayest Christ shulde not haue bene the sonne of God sithen on the crosse he had no comfort nor sensual tast or feling so that he sayd my God my god why hast thou forsaken me it sufficeth to me that he sheweth me so much fauoure for I am contented with all that pleaseth hym as Christ also was yea in his sufferinge he felt excedingly the infinite loue of the father Beside these if he say thou art the sonne of Adam ergo thou art accursed Answere thou thus I am blessed agayne by brynge borne of God and by meane of that blessed sede Christ as God long agone promised Adam when he sayed In thy sede al nacyons shalbe blessed thou shalt tel hym how thou art despoiled and bereft of the old Adam clothed with Iesu Christ as Paul teacheth and aduertiseth the What time as he shal declare to the that Christ is wroth angry and sharp make him answere how Christ is not such one for he is the health and hope of sinners and whylest we be in this life present he is vttered to vs pitifull sweete and oure Iesus that is our sauiour◠and al be it he seme to speake sharpe and cruel wordes to the woman of Canany yet in heart he gaue her confidēce and boldnes and shewed him self to her ful of swetenes and
loue In dede at the day of iudgement to the damned shall he be shewed angry wrathful but in the meane tyme till that day while we be here in this present life he is shewed pitiouse to al and pryncipally to the greate synners And if it so were that he wolde saye thou art not truly confessed nor hast rehearsed al thy synnes and the circumstaunces of the same ne hast examyned sufficiently thy conscience nor yet haste noâ—â—hat pure perfecte greate and vnsayned sorowe for thy synnes that thou of dutye shuldest haue thou haste not satysfyed for those so great an vnnumerable dettes that thou haste towarde God make hym thys aunswere aud say thou art a seruaunt and not a iudge or to saye more truly thou art al ready iudged and condemned seing thou beleuest not in Christ woldest thou iudge me trouble thy selfe no longer in prouynge that I haue failed in al for sure I am and fully I beleue to be saued not by workes by reason they be vnperfect nor yet by the worthynes of my fayth for in that also I am not perfect because I beleue not with so great a faith as I oughte but I beleue I shalbe saued by Christe and not by my workes He wyl say thou art not worthy to be saued say thou to him for a ful answer the vnworthy be saued so often as they acknoweledge theyr owne vnworthines go hartelye for healpe to Christe by whose meane they be come worthye Where as he shal laye to thy charge that thou arte one of the worste of the world say to hym on thys wyse oure infyrmytyes be but small in comparision of the infinite merites of Christe and of the incomprehensyble mercye of God and the more great that my sinnes be and without number so much greater shalbe hys glorye in deliuering me and I with so muche the greater trust pray as that if he wyll heare me it shall be more to hys honoure and glorye And when I coÌ„syder and call to remembraunce that my sweete and louinge brother Iesus Christ the sonne of God whyche for my sake dyed on the crosse and wolde agayne innumerable tymes for me if neede were and that I am hys owne for so manye causes and that he may determyne of me after his own mind For so muche as hys father hathe geuen hym full power in heauen and earth when I consyder thys I say I canne in no wyse doute of my saluacion If he efte soones reason thus thou haste done no penannce for thy synnes answeare on thys manner that can I neuer doo if I shoulde alwaye stande in the fyre Christe hathe done that for me on the crosse moreouer Christe is myne the father hathe geuen hym to me wyth al his merites al the good worckes that euer he dyd are myne wherefore I maye with his deuine riches aud tresures satisfy for al. After thys manner I wolde thou shulde aunswere him when so euer he setteth afore the thy sinnes and infinite dettes that thou oughtest to God for the benefites thou hast receyued wyth dyuerse and sundrye vyces whyle he tempte the but specyallye wyth desperacion wherwith he tempteth euen y e sayntes he wyll put the in mynde and mystruste that Christe hathe forsaken the but make answere that he neuer forsoke person that trusted in hym but because he wold for sake none of vs he was myneded to be forsaken him selfe on the crosse and if he shuld at anye tyme forsake and refuse vs the whiche is a thinge impossible it shoulde be for more glorye of God and we oughte not on lye to be contented but also to take it for a synguler priuiledge and prerogatyue It be houeth vs to stande stronge in the faythe and thynke that afore God the passyon of Christ can do more to cause him to loue vs then oure synnes canne procure hys hate to ward vs we had nede to bewel armed with spirite faythe and grace for learning sufficeth not to know how to answere and wite thou well that Christe was tempted and specyallye at the ende wherefore he sayeth the prynce of thys world is common but he hathe gotten nothynge of me And if he canne not wyth these armoure hurte the he wyll tourne ouer the leafe and saye thus and al because to deceiue the â–ª Go to thou haste all readye vanquyshed me I was myneded to bring the into desperacioÌ„ but I coulde not Thou art saued by by wil y â— angels come to fet the. He wil appere to the lyke an aungel of light and say to the as he did to saynte Hilarion Haste thou serued God so longe haste thou done so many good deedes so greate penaunce geuen so many good ensamples saued so mani souls and albeit thou haste committed sinnes yet arte thou coÌ„fessed of them thou haste done penaunce thou haste taken pardons thou haste gone for indulgences thou kepeste the commaundementes and besyde these done manye voluntarye workes that thou wast not bonnden to do wherfore why shuldeste thou feare Thou shalte be safe and sure if thou be not saued then shall none be saued Yea thy good workes be ouer plusse more then sufficeth whiche thou maye sel or geue to other whiche if thou do not the church of Rome shalbe the heyre and thou shalt enrich their treasury of indulgence What ferest thou therfore hast thou happely gone another path or way Albeit thou haue admitted synnes yet seest thou not how thou art wel disposeâ— at the last only staÌ„d stoutly in the trust of these thy great and many good workes suffer thys sycknes and death for the remission of thy synnes and thou shalt be more then saued only ofteÌ„ remember thy self Of thy good workes Then it is expedient for the to say thus Thou wouldest that I shuld trust in my workes and I haue no feare of being dampned wer it not for my workes I geue thankes to my Lord Christ Iesus whych hath geuen me the grace to counte my workes for a thing of nought for such that euery one of them I deserue to be punyshed thou magnifiest my workes to draw me backe from the confydence of Christ but by gods grace thou shalt not be able to do it I fynde that I am vpon a litle bourd in the sea tossed with myghty wynds and haue embraced and be clepped a stroÌ„g pyller or rocke and thou councelest me to leaue it and to sticke to the rotten thynges whych I shuld do the windes would carye bothe me and them into the sea â–ª Rather I wyl perish with Christ which is a thyng impossible I then lyue wythout hym no I can not put my trust holy in Christ vnles fyrst al together I dispayre of my selfe and myne own works Wherfore it is necessary that we despoile our selfes of al trust in our own workes and by fayth and hope clothe vs and arme vs with Christ and in hym put our hope and although we haue not that great fayth yet
in no wyse ought we to despayre because if at the first he do not yet at length he geueth it to hys elected at theyr death as the Prophet Abacucke told a fore hand when he sayed Lord when they shal be neare to the death at the latter ende betwene thys way and the other thou wylt make knowen to them Christ and his great benefits and wilt open to them the bosome of thy graces by Iesu Christ our Lord. Amen The .ix. Sermon ☞ Howe aunsweare is to be made at the iudgment seat of god A Felon or gylty person that canne not flye but of necessity must appeare at the sessions assise or law day afort y t barre pycketh out and câ—oseth him for hys ayed and succoure attourneys protectours and counsellers and goeth deuising how he may be detended namely in a matter touching life and death which thing it standeth vs in hand more to do In so much as that we being ful of sinnes must appeare before the high iudgment seat of gods iustyce and when iudgment by definitiue sentence is geuen against vs we shal lose paradise soule grace God and al goodnes without recouery and be throwen into the depe pit of hel therto remain and abide in fyre euer lastingly â–ª Wherfore me semeth it wer expedient to imagin what way to take what answere to make with what reasoÌ„s to arme vs that we may haue the matter to passe on our syde First of al an vndouted matter is it that we al haue sinned in Adam and beside the originall sinne haue innumerable actuall ne can be saued onles first we be absolued and forgeueÌ„ and that must nedes be whilest we be in thys lyfe for afterward is no more redemcion at al. To the glotten was denyed one droppe of water Wherfore necessary is it to know y e ther be two iudgment seates of God the one is of ryghtwisenes the other of mercy grace pitie goodnes loue swetenes and liberaltty as Paule speakynge of thys laste fayth Let vs go boldly to the troue and bench of gods grace at the first bench sitteth God Christe kepeth residence at the second Now as for the synners if they wil be saued they must go al to the bench of mercy to aske and cal for pity and not iustice for fauour not strayghte reconyng because we haue al ben vniuste and withall oure rightwisnes and good workes be not hable to withstaÌ„d gods rightwisenes wherfore Dauid sayed Lord none can be iustified in thy syght if there thou wilte see a reconinge and in another place Lord if thou wilt punish our iniquyties who shalbe hable to abide Iob saith I knowe that man can not be iustified if he stande face to face a fore God And in another place what thing is man that he shuld be cleane the heauens be not cleane in hys syght And Ieremye wryteth thus If thou washe the wyth Nitrus thou shalt neuertheles be stayned And Esaye sayeth our right wisenes be lyke the clothes of an vncleane woman and Salomon witnesseth the same sayinge who is he that can saye my heart is cleane I am pure and innocent from sinne wherefore sayth God by Ieremy why wyl you striue with me in iudgment As though he shulde saye you are fooles if you thynke your selfe hable to wythstande the iustice of God seinge your ryghtwysenes is vnclene and that so muche vnclener as that not only the woorckes but also the verye inwarde thoughtes affections and desyres shalbe exammed and tryed Therfore sayeth God I wyl searche trye and proue Ierusalemâ— wyth lanternes it is moste profitable to go to the benche of mercy And say with Dauid Lorde I shall come a fore the not wyth the multitude of my workes but of thy mercye and in case thou be somemoned and called to the throne of iustice Appeale to the other benche of mercye for as from the iudgmente of a Lorde subiecte to the Emperour a man maye appeale to Cesars iudgemente seate so may a man appeale from the bench of iustice to the trone of merci as to the higher courte In as muche as Iames wryteth mercye excelleth iustice it is seene that Ezechias after sentence was geuen vpoÌ„ him at the benche of iustice because he appealed to the other trone of mercye had graunted to hym that he shuld lyue fiftene yeres longer And Dauid by appealynge to mercye caused the senteÌ„ce to be reuoked which was geuen that he shulde dye And what tyme that seruaunte of whome the gospell speaketh sayed haue pacience wyth me and geue me respyte he appealed to mercy and was herd In lyke manner is it and hathe be of al sinners that be saued Nowe muste we doo in the same wyse I meane when we be cyted to the court of iustyce to render and yelde an accompte then must we appeale to mercy and saye we be deade throughe Christe to the law and therfore to iustice also which iudge after y â— law are we deade then hathe iustyce no iurisdiction vppon vs at all no thoughe it were the greatest synner of the worlde saye thou to God I am Christes thou gauest me to him as Christe sayeth they were thine and thou haste geuen them to me Moreouer Christe hathe redemed me therefore am I hys for manye causes I wyll therefore stand to his iudgemente thou haste geuen hym all power in heauen and in earthe as hee hym selfe sayeth to me is geuen all power in heauen and in earthe wherefore he maye doo wyth me the thynge that lyketh hym and as to hym semeth good he is my iudge as Christ hym selfe sayeth the father hathe geuen all iudgmente to the sonne it is therfore his duty to iudge me But as in another place he sayeth he came not to iudge but to saue the worlde saye therefore to Christe doo thyne offyce saue me for thou cammeste and thy father dyd sende the for that intente I feele all readye thy voyce and in my hearte thou sayeste to me that because I truste in the thou wylte saue me all readye by thy grace haue I put in the my confidence and hope and he that beleueth in the can not be dampned saue me therfore according as thou art bounden by a couenaunt made And al be it thy conscyence accused the and all the deuels besyde layed to thy charge yea though iudgement wer geuen against the yet so loÌ„g as thou art in thys present lyfe it is alwaye lawful to appeale to the mercy of God And if it wer so that by force thou shuld he drawen to the court of iustice crye oute wyth Esay say to Christ O Lord I suffer violence make answere for me healpe me forsake me not I chose and wil haue the for my attorney and speach manne not because thou shuld defend my iuste accomptes and true reckenynges for I haue none such but to the intente thou shuld take my
goodnes of God I myghte be begiled whiche is false and impossyble yet wolde I styll say let me be deceyued for it is good to be so begyled sence I can fynd nothyng that so much doth kyndel me into a syncere and pure loue of god as to beleue to be elected bi his mere goodnes Therfore vsinge it to make me inamored of God I ought not to be wythdrawen chifely for y â— I am happy only by that fayth of y e whyche whosoeuer is voide is not yet entred in to the kyngdom of God wher is nothynge but ryghtuousnes peace and Ioie Finally Paul beleued to be elected as in many places he saythe yea he gloryed therin neuerthelesse in God and so to beleue he induced others the whiche if it had bene euel he wolde not haue done Therefore if it be not euel let vs also with Paule glorivs by God in Christe who lykewyse induced the Apostles to beleue y â— theyr names were writeÌ„ in heauen that theyr heaueÌ„ly reward was pleÌ„tuous that they shulde iudge the xii tribes therby brought them to beleue they were elect and that is also sure that if that belefe had bene euell he wold not haue caused it Thou wilt saie thou oughtest not to compare thy selfe equall wyth the sainctes I saie it is true that I oughte not to presume to be like them or holy by myne owne worckes for while I presume of my self I muste of force become a deuell but it is not euell to compare with the saintes in veritie for they were humble and in beleuing that they were elect they gaue to God all laude and glorye because they did not beleue to be of the electe for their merites but for Christes And wold to God I mighte beleue y â— firmelye and with stedfast fayth the sacred scriptures are ful that we ought not to despeire of our saluacion but that we ought to hope and beleue to be all readye saued and dayly to certifie our selues therof bi doinge good worckes which are a testimonie to vs of oure election and that we shulde also increase in charitye to take from vs all feare of oure dampnacioÌ„ to the end we may serue God without feare in rightuousnes and holinesse as Zacharie sayde And likewise we ought to demauÌ„d perseuerauÌ„ce in the good w t faith to obtein it Therfore to trust to be saued of the elected to hope beleue to be saued of the elect is not euel Paul al so saith oure hope was neuer confounded nor dyd shame to them that had it And lykewyse that fayth was neuer begiled Wherfore then is it euyll that I bleue stedfastly to be saued by Christ Let vs beholde then with open eyes of liuely fayeth Christ vpon the crosse in whome we se presentelye the goodnes of God in the face in such sort as we may beynge pylgrimes to the ende we may render to him al laud honour and glory through Iesus Christ oure Lorde AMEN ¶ The .xvi. Sermon Whether it be necessary to saluacion to beleue that we are elected or not FAyth is very necessarye because that wythout it not onlye God can not be pleased but he that beleueth not shalbe condempned and is already iudged But it is also impossible that one that doth not beleue to be elected shoulde beleue as he ought to do any of the artycles necessarye to saluacion And to proue that this is true if thou beleuest not that thou art onâ— of the elect thou beleuest not in god in the maner that thou arte bound bycause that it suffyseth not to haue a certeine dead opiuioÌ„ that God is but thou must effectuouslye beleue that he is thy God y t he loueth the that he is propiciatory to the y t he is coÌ„tinually beneficial to y â— that he hath most special cure of the causeth euery thinge to serue the to saluacion therfore that y u arte electe Yea who so beleueth not that he is electe doeth not fele in spirite the benefyte of Christe Therfore being without Christ he is with oute God and knoweth him not as Paule wryteth Then how is it possible that thou mayst beleue perfectli that he is thy father if thou do not beleue that thou art his soÌ„ne and therfore his heire saued Thou canst also neuer earnestly beleue that God is omnipotente if thou vnderstande not that coÌ„tinually he vseth his omnipoteÌ„cy towards the in doynge the good Whyche when w t the spirite thou didst proue thou shouldest of force beleue thy selfe to be hys heyre if thou beleue not thou art electe how canste thou beleue that God hathe created the heauens and the earth that he susteineth gouerneth all to thy behofe hauing of the most singluler cure it is nedeful that with liuely fayth embrasing al the world for thy owne thou perceiue effectuallye the goodnes of God in euerye creature And when that is thou shalte be inforced to beleue y â— thou arte the sonne of God Thou canste not also beleue in Iesu that is that he is to the Iesus and sauioure if thou beleue not that thou art saued neyther canste thoâ— beleue that he is thy Chryste that is to saye a Prophete kyng and prieste if thou fele not in spirite that he doth illuminate aud lyghten the as a prophet rule the as a king and as an only prieste is offred for the vpon the crosse The which if thou dydst beleue thou shuldest also beleue to be elected Howe shalt y u beleue y t Iesus is the only begoâ—teâ— sonne of God thy Lord come into y â— world to saue the aud genen to the wyth al his deuine treasures and graces if thou dost not beleue thy selfe to be one of hys lambes y â— canste not beleue as thou art bounde to do that he dyed for the nor perceiue his excessiue charitye so that wyth Paul y u maist saye nothinge can separate me froÌ„ the charitie of God It is necessarye to beleue that Christ vpon the cros hath satysfyed for thy synnes and that he hath reconciled the satysfyed to his father and saued the therefore that y u art the son of God he that beleueth as he ought y â— Christ is ryseÌ„ to instify vs doth also know him self saued so he y â— perfectly doth vnderstand that Chryst our head is asceÌ„ded into heueÌ„ entred for vs in possessioÌ„ of paradyse perceiueth him self risen with Christ alredy bi hope being asceÌ„ded into heaueÌ„ practiseth with y â— mynde in Paradyse where Christ is sytting in peace able possessioÌ„ of things celestial he sayth w t Paul we are made safe by hope it sufficeth not to beleue y â— he shal iudge the quick the dead y â— which also y e deuils beleue but that the seÌ„tence shalbe al in thy fauour hauing to thi iudge him y â— died vpoÌ„ y â— crosse forthe We caÌ„not liuely beleue y â—
synnes for thyne and reward me with thine innocency holynes and ryghtwysenes Thou hast all readye satissfied for me on the crosse and appoynted me by adopcion to be the sonne of God wherfore I caÌ„not be damned no not one shalbe found that dare accuse me being one of goddes elected Moreouer if thou be myneded aud wyllynge to appeare wythoute daunger at the benche of goddes ryghtewysenes dyspoyle fyrste thy selfe of the olde Adam and apparel the with Christe as Paul exhorteth vs thou shalbe safe For in so muche as thou haste embraced him for thine own thou can not be damned although thou haddest committed al the sinnes of the worlde As a woman greate with childe cannot be punished no more can thou if thou haue Christ in thy harte or rather as Christe sayeth he that be leueth in the son is not iudged he is so assured of hys saluacion that there nedeth no examinacion to be hadde of him he is one of Christes meÌ„bers and hath his spirit wherfore he can no more be dampned then Christ because he is knit to him by liuelye faythe If it be so that God woulde make there with the a reckenynge saye to hym howe thou hast made it wyth Christ for as he put on Christ al our iniquities and sinnes as Esaye sayeth and with greate loue accepted them for hys owne and bounde him selfe to make satisfaction for them Wherfore thou shalt say Lorde if thou haste anye reconing or matter agaynste me make it with Christ he knoweth wel how to answere aud can declare that he hathe satisfied for them In case be that any must be dampned for the synnes I haue doone it is Christe that muste be dampned and not I good Lorde for albeit I am he that commytted them neuertheles Christe bounde hym selfe to satisfye for them and that by consente and good wyll of hys father wherefore who so euer beleueth lyuelye in Christe is all to gether safe and sure Besyde thys if God wolde needes make the audite and accompt wyth vs and wold saye I am not contente wyth Christes satisfactyoÌ„ for you I wil that your selues make recompence for that you haue offeÌ„ded whiche is a thynge impossyble all readye from the beginninge he is contented and hath accepted that deuine sacryfyce of the vndefyled lambe Christe Iesus whyche dyed on the crosse to be obedyente to hys father as Paule hathe wrytten al readye is the right wysenes of God satysfyed vp Christe more then suffycyente and made his sonnes and so consequentlye hys hepres he hath alreadye geuen vs paradyse and when God hath once geuen a gyfte it neuer repenteth hym wherfore the gyfte canne not be called agayne vp reason God is not chaungeable I neuertheles althoughe as I sayed he shulde saye I wyll that thou thy selfe satisfye Answere hym on thys wyse Lorde if I were as dere beloued to the as is Christe and had done and suffered lonynglye for thy honoure All that Christ did and suffered in this case woldeste thou not holde thy selfe sufficiently satisfyed for me in case he graunted thereto Thou shulde make hym this answer Then is it all readye done Form that Christ suffered I myself suffered By reason I am chaÌ„ged into Christ Yea the true Christians y t haue Christ in theyr heartes as Paule sayeth let Christe dwel in our harts maye pitiouslye lamente and complayne to of God and saye to him thou hast punished vs more bytterlye then we haue deserued coÌ„sidering that we offended and not Christe reasone wolde thou shulde haue punyshed vs oure wyll and oure lyfe and soule and not that innocent and vndefiled lambe Iesus Christ and thou hast punished Christ which is the lyfe of my soule The harte of my heart the spirite â—f my spirite as Dauid sayth God my fleshe and my hearte God of my hart Thou shuldest if my deathe had not bene inoughe for my synnes tourned me into nothynge and letten a loue that innocent and iust Christ more deare and intier to me then myne owne soule wherefore I feele more that that he suffered for me then I shoulde haue felt if I had suffered al y â— torment possible on mine own body but wel wyst thou that I could not by reason of my fraylty abyde and suffer al that I had deserued for my synnes and therfore thou chose y â— myghty and strong Christ to suffâ—r for them in misteade and moreouer hast set him in my hart to the intent that I shuld not only feele that he suffered also but also that he myght geue me strength to be able to suffer Thou maiest also say Lord albeit I haue synned I am regenerate and boâ—n again by Christ I am no more y t maÌ„ that synned but I am a new creature wherfore thou cannot iustâ—y punish me because that spirit of mine that sinned is dead and Christ liueth in me I lyue no longer my selfe but Christ in me Punysh kyl and turne to nought that spyrite of myne that wyll of myne spoile from me that olde Adam that sensuliality and al that in me hath synned and punysh not me sithen by the newe spirite that I receiued of Christ I am his most innocent creature Moreouer thou Lord hast geuen me Christ withal his diuine treasures and graces and that to be more surelye myne then I am my selfe and in so much as he is myne entyer I am able to satisfy for al my dets What fearest thou then O synful soule Seest thou not that as the blud of Abel cried for vengaunce so this bloud of Christ calleth for mercy and he caÌ„ not but must nedes be heard one depenes calleth on another I meane the bottomeles abisse of my synnes hath neede of the abisse of Christes passyon and the abisse of Christes passyon calleth to the abisse of the mercye of God Saye therfore to Christ O Lorde make thy marcye maruelous and wonderful thou sauest them that truste in the cry saue me for thy mercye sake take and embrace thine y e right wysenes of Christ and then canne I be contented thou say Iudge me Lord accordyng to my rightwisnes Let euery man therfore go to the court of the mercy of God and if we be called to the barre of iustice let vs appeale alwayes to mercy and see that neuer a man appeare before the throne of iustyce except fyrst he be clothed w t Christ through fayth and then he may be presented boldly as he that is armed with innocency truth may be presented a fore any place of iudgement And God shal accept them for ryghtwyse To whome be all honoure and glory through Iesu Christ oure Lorde Amen ¶ The .x. Sermon By what meane to come to heauen Experyence proueth that euerye creature hathe naturallye a desyre and appetite to resort to it own proper place and mansyon and namely man because he is the most souerein creature of al other And for so much as our
natyue country is not heare vpon the earth but in heauen is our place of reast consideringe that al men haue thys desyre to go to heauen I take it to be expedyente to weigh and poâ—der how we maye go together God hathe geuen vs Christ for an onlyâ— mirrour glas squier Maister and guide wherfore whoâ—soâ—is willinge to walke thyther I meane to heauen muste go the same path that he hathe gone and troden before vs because he knoweth y e way most perfectly and taught it to vs wythout any gile as wel by his examples as by his words therfore he that enteÌ„deth to go to heauen must follow him And firste as he beynge in the shape and fourme of God was not proud nor an arrogaÌ„t vsurper nor ascribed to him self that he myght conueniently haue done but contrariwise was louely humble of no reputacion and to ke vpoÌ„ him the shape of a seruaunte or rather of a synner and God layed on hym all oure wyckednesse ye and most louingly admitted and allowed them for hys own as though he had commytted them hym self Now in lyke maner a Christen man being al ready regenerate and born agayn by Christ graffed into him by a liuing faith Commeth down from heauen that is from hys own pryde and false excellency for as Christ sayeth no man goeth vp into heauen but he that commeth down that is the son of man and hys members Wherfore by by as a Christen man hath a liuely tast and feling of Christ and his great bene fyt he is humble counteth him self of no value nothing in his reputacion for wheÌ„ he seeth by deuine influence the mekenes of Christ his liberality pacience loue goodnes innoceÌ„cy wyth other of his vertues he is of force constrayned to feele his own pride vnkindnes vnpacientnes wyckednes vngodlynes and his other iniquities And as God put vpon Christ al our synnes and he with most tender loue receiued them so wil this Christen man ascribe to him self al the offeÌ„ces of the world by reason that he perceaueth that if God had with drawen froÌ„ him hys grace and had not born him vp but ministred to him occasion and oportunity to offend ther had not ben a syn in al y e world but he had don it wherfore he wyl attribute to hym self al as though he had committed them in dede so that albeit in Christ and by Christ he perceiueth him self innocent and safe not withstanding of him self he taketh it that he is most damned and greatest synner of al the world and is forced to say that whych Paul spake long a go Christ came into the worlde to saue synners whereof I am one of the chefe The second act of Christ was that after he was thus humbled clothed wyth oure frayle nature borne and shewed forth to y e world he liued al together for hys neyghbour and sought only y â— glory of his father and saluacyon of hys brethren without any regard or respect to hym self cause whye is for that he was so full of loue grace fauour truth godlines and all light vertue and perfeccion wherfore coÌ„sidering he had no nede to enrych hym self he lyued holy to the wealth and benefyte of others as Paul sayeth Christ hath not pleased hym selfe he was inflamed in such wyse wyth a feruent desyre to saue the world for the glory of his father that he being cleane swalowed vp in God had no mynde nor consyderacyon of hym self Nowe in semblable forte that true Christen man that seeth hym self the sonne and heyre of God as Lord of all studyeth not to lyue to hys own vse but is holy benâ— to the benefitinge of hys brethren for gods glory and beinge as it were chaunged into theyr nature feeleth al theyr good and euyl as Paule dyd Next ensueth the thyrd acte that lyke as y e world persecuted Christ so it pursue hym and that because in sauynge his neighbour and sekyng the glory of God he auaunceth and set forthe the grace the gospell and the great mercy of God thrusting down submittyng throwing down to the ground makyng nothynge of man and because the world repyneth at thys therfore immediatly foloweth persecutyon in lyke case therefore as the hoole life of Christ was one contynual persecution because it was godly so chauÌ„ceth fytly and agreably to a true christian that magnifieth the greate benefyte whych we haue receiued by Christe which thing is open and manifest in sundry places of the Actes of the Apostles For immediatly as the Apostles had preached the gospel they wer pursued and so the case goeth in thys our time More ouer as Christ was done on the crosse from whence he wolde not come down althoughe in scorne it was sayed to hym that if he were the sonne of God he shoulde come downe of the crosse and they woulde beleue hym but because he was the sonne of god he wold not come downe but adyde there and wyth his own death make perfect our saluacion in lyke maner also a Christen man must be transformed and changed into Christ crucified so that wyth Paule he may say I am crucified with Christe in such wise also knitte to hym on the crosse that nothinge is hable to part me from the loue of God whych is in Christe Iesus Furthermore as Christ dyed on y â— crosse so a Christen man that lyueth in Christ dieth to the world in such sort that he passeth not of riches honour dignity kinred freÌ„ds worldly pleasures or prosperity coÌ„sidering that he seeth by fayth that he is safe happy and sonne and heyre of God yea euen as Christ was buryed so is he so that y â— world counteth him not only for a thing dead but rotten stynkyng and lothsome wherfore he must say wyth Paule the world is crucifyed to me and I to the world He besyde this must ryse with Christe in newnes of lyfe lintug after another maner then be did before that he was regenerate by Christe because he is be commen spirituall he lyueth to the glory of God And thus finally with Christ he asceÌ„deth into heueÌ„ staÌ„ding as touching his thoughts affeccions and desyres aboue in his celestial country so that he say with Paul our conuersacion is in heauen where he enioyeth taketh pleasure and comforte in God To whome be alwayes al honoure and glorye through Iesu Christ our Lord. Amen The .xi. Sermon Howe God hathe satysfied for oure synnes and hathe purchased Paradyse for vs. GOd by hys absolute and free power myght haue saued vs without any saâ—isfaction at al In as much as the iustice of God is contented and pleased of al that is liking his good wil neuerthelesse he hath appointed from euerlasting by his deuyne minde and wisdom neuer to saue sinner onles first he wer fully satisfied and sethen he perceyued that we coulde not dooe it our selfes he was minded to send into the