and pleasaunt dayes in this world But let vs be of good cheare as men that are renued and regenerate in Christ thorow the holy Ghost And euen as he is the Lord of heauen and earth and all creatures therein so we by hym are the Lordes of all signes what soeuer semeth terrible to the eyes of maÌ„ neither can any thing hurt vs nâ—… although it take away ouâ—… life For our lyfe and conuersation is not here but we looke for an other lyfe when our body shal be deliuered which lyfe is now hid with Christ in heauen through fayth as S. Paul sayth but shortly shal be reuiued before all the world in immortall and euerlastyng bryghtnes When both in body and soule we shall raigne with God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost to whom be all prayse honour and glory world without ende Amen ¶ The Signes that were geuen to the inhabitantes of Hierusalem before their destruction A Whole yeare before the commyng of Vespasâ—…an to 〈◊〉 the Câ—…e right ouer it was sene a blasing Starre lyke vnto a sword which the common people dyd interpret to be a token of their deliueraunce out of bondage into the which they were brought by the Romanes Before the warre begon at the feast of vnleauened brâ—…ad which was then the viij day oâ—… Aprill there was sodenly sene at nyne of the clocke at night for the space of halfe an houre such a great light about the Alter and the Temple that it semed to be mydday At y same feast a Cow beyng brought to bee sacrificed brought forth a Lambe in the myddest of the Church The Cast gate of the Temple beyng of brasse and shut euery nyght but not without the strength of twenty men beyng locked â—… barred with diuers lockes and barres was sene at vâ—… of the clocke at night and as Egesippus testifieth diuers nyghtes to open it selfe without the hand of men This thyng was thought of the most parte to bée a token of good lucke and that the gates of their enemyes should open vnto them of theyr owne accorde But some that were of thâ—… wiser sorte sayd it was a token that the strength of the Temple should be dissolued without the hand of man that it myght be spoyled of theyr enemyes and destroyed A few dayes after theyr solemne â—…eastes there appeared in the cloudes before Sunne settyng a vision of charets and hostes of armed men where with all the Cities of Iurye the countrey there about were inuaded and ouerrunne At the feast called Pentecost the Priestes entryng in the nyght into the inner Temple according to theyr maner to do theyr diuine seruice first they perceaued a noyse or rushelyng after they heard a voyce saying often Let vs departe hence let vs depart hence One called Iesus the sonne of Anani a base man and of low degree foure yeares before the warre the Citie beyng in great wealth and quyetnes commyng to the celebration of one of theyr solemne feastes called the feastes of tabernacles went vp into the Temple and sodenly cryed out with a loude voyce saying A voyce from the East a voyce from the West a voyce from the foure wyndes a voyce agaynst Hierusalem and the teÌ„ple a voyce agaynst new maryed meÌ„ and new maried women a voyce against all this people crying thus day and night he went thorough all the stréetes of the Citie Certaine of the chief men beyng aâ—…ed and fearyng that it was a token of misfortune tooke the maÌ„ and whipped him But he whiles he was beaten cried styll as before and beyng still beaten vntill a man myght sée hys bare bones hée â—…er desired them to let hym go neither â—…yd hee shed any teares for the matter but cryed still at euery strype Wo wo vnto the inhabitauntes of Hierusalem and at the length dimissed as a man out of hys wittes he cryed still as before especially on the solemne feast dayes vntill the slege of the Citie at which tyme he entryng vp on the wall and crying wo wo vnto the City the Temple and the people he cryed at the last wâ—… vnto my selfe and was cast do wne dead with a stone hurled to hym by the enemyes out of one of theyr engyns They were nothyng moued with these sygnes but thinkyng they should haue victory ouer theyr enemyes resisted them vntill both they and theyr Citie was destroyed accordyng to the wordes of our Sauiour Luc. 19. 43. ¶ Signes and wonders signifiyng alteration or misery and calamity of certaine Countreys and Nations or of great Personages ABout the yeare from the begynnyng of the world 3458. Tarquinius surnamed Superbus the seueÌ„th Kyng of the Romanes was depriued of his kyngdome by hys subiectes and thrust out by force of armes and the state of gouernaunce altered from the gouernement of one monarche vnto ij yearely offices called Consuls a little before which time in signification thereof as Historiographers do write a Dogge did speake and a Serpent â—…id barke T. Plinius lib. 8. Cap. 41. The yeare from the begynnyng of the world 3538. the light of the Sunne was so taken away by an â—…lipse séene in Grece that a man might sée the Starres aswell at midday as at midnight Shortly afterwardes folowed y warre called the warre of Peloponesus which continued seuen and twenty yeares Thucidides The yeare from the begynnyng of the world 3698. at Rome and the countrey there about bloud in stede of water gushed out of the sprynges and milke from heauen lyke raine Shortly after followed the warre of Carthage agaynst the Romanes which cost the lyues of many thousandes Orosius li. 4. Cap. 5. Anno Domini 1452. Constantinople in Grece where in those dayes was the Emperours Palace was besieged ouercome of the great Turke called Mahomet the second of that name who when he had gotteÌ„ the victory vsed most beastly cruelty towardes the Christians both men women and children old and young rich and poore The Emperour beyng slayne hys head was set vpon a speare caryed round about the Citie the more to greue his subiectes hys wife and daughter with many noble women were rauished and after cut in péeces all the noble men were slayne the common people were made bond slaues and many other such lyke vilanies were done bysides the bryngyng of the whole countrey of Grece into hys owne dominion A little before which tyme was sene at Comus a Citie in Fraunce towardes Sunne settyng a great multitude of dogges caryed in the ayre and after theÌ„ droues of diuers kyndes of beastes also men armed diuersely some with speares and shieldes who were pursued of a great army of horsemen beyng deuided into diuers coÌ„panyes For the space of thrée houres the army séemed to be settyng forth at the last came forth a tall and huge man fearefull to behold sittyng vppon a terrible horse séemyng to bée the Capitayne of the host and many such straunge thynges appeared vntill nyght when they
could be no more sene THese few examples I haue here added in the end of the Sermon to let men see that before great alterations or channges of kyngdomes and common weales God sendeth wonderfull tokens therof to signifie the same before it come to passe whereby with Martin Luther the author of this Sermon we may well conclude that before the alteration of the whole world which is the last day he will send many signes and tokens therof which he sheweth for the most part to be already fulfilled and therefore the end of all thynges is now to bee looked for bycause there hath happened of late dayes many wonderfull Eclipses or darkenyngs of the Sunne and Moone many Sunnes haue bene sene at one tyme many rayne bowes many terrible blasyng Starres and other strauÌ„ge sightes of fire in the ayre many great tempestes of wyndes with flouds and earth quakes which haue destroyed and ouerfloweÌ„ both Cities and whole countreyes Wherof here might be added diuers examples both of such as happened before Luther did write this Sermon as also since that tyme But they are almost innumerable and haue bene partly sene with our owne eyes and are at large set out in Print by Conraedus Gesnerus Marcus Fritschius and others who haue written no small bookes of such wonderful and strauÌ„ge thynges as by the prouidence of almighty God haue happened before tyme to this end that we seyng these thynges come to passe forespoken by our Sauiour might the more diligently watch for hys commyng least we folowyng the example of the lewde seruaunt leade a carelesse lyfe in all kynde of wickednes and he commyng vpon vs vnwares geue vs our portion with hypocrites and dissemblers in euerlastyng fire prepared for the deuill and hys aungels God graunt vs therfore to watch for the commyng of our Sauiour that we beyng prepared with oyle in our Lampes he may take vs with hym vnto euerlastyngâ—…lyfe Amen Esay 65. 17. and. 66. 22. 2. Thes. 2. 3 Mat. 20. 1. Mat. 20. 6. Math. 24. 49. Mat. 25. 4 Actes 17. â—…1 The effect of the Gospel â–ª and the cause why it was written Signes be fore y last day proued by humane reasoÌ„ grouÌ„ ded vpon a certayne truth Rom. 15. 4 Example hereof are the inhabitantes of Hierusâ—… â–ª before whose destruction God sent most horrible tokens thereof Whereof som they re garded not â–ª some they enterpreted to signifie victory ouer theyr enemies coÌ„trary to the true meanyng of them and of God which sent them â–ª and contrary to the expresse wordes of our Sauiour which before had foretold them Luke 14. 43 The faithful haue no more cause to feare the signes of y last day the Noe had when the flud came â–ª or Lot at y destruction of â—…odome Goâ—…orra which sâ—… company of them that then were preserued is a signe of the little flock which goeth by the narrow gate Math. 14. Math. 24. 29. Prou. 17. 22. Reade that discouery of the Spa nish Inqui sitioÌ„ for the further declaration of these wordes Gene. 4. 8. â—…e â—…7 41. Exod. 1. 15 1. Sam. 19 11. and. 1. Reg. 18. 13. and. 19. 2. Math. 2. 16 Godâ—… king â—…oure as it â—… takeÌ„ for the whole world can â—…t be enlarged but â—…s it is taken for the congregation of the Christians when hys worde is truly preached so it may and is dayly enlarged 1. Cor. 15. 19. Apoc. 22 â–ª 20. Unto this place apper tayneth the hystory of of y Emperour Char les the v. of that name who the yeare of our Lord. 1521. seÌ„t for Luther vnto Wormes a Citie in Germany by an Herauld of armes with letters of safe coÌ„duct to whom hee came boldly although some persuaded hym that hee should neuer haue come from theÌ„ce alyue There he was examined before the Emperours Maâ—…esty of y bokes that he had wriâ—…teÌ„ and whether he would recaÌ„t them or any thyng in them contained Who aunswered that he would â—…cant so much as any maÌ„ was able to proue false by the worde of GOD otherwise he would deny nothyng that hee had written After a while when no other aunswere could be gotteÌ„ of him â–ª the Emperour gaue hym leaue to departs without dauÌ„ger bycause of his safe conduct aâ—… though many laboured to the contrary especially the Popes Embassadour as in the booke of y Actes and Monâ—… meÌ„ts more playnly is declared Esay 4. 11 Psal. 146. 3. Psal. 33. 10 Prou. 21. 1â—… The â—…romise of God is the ground of true fayth which promise was thoroâ—…ly â—…oted in Luthers hart as ap peareth euâ—… dently by his words The secoÌ„â—… part of the Sermon Christes 〈◊〉 â—…araphastically expounded â—… Cor. â—… 9. The difference betwene the prognosâ—…ication of Christ and Astronoâ—… Certain similitudes whereby it is declared with what ioy wee ought to looke for y commyng of ouâ—… Sauiour to Iudgement Math. 27. 34. The commoditie of affliction in this world Mat. 24. 30. 1. Thes. â—… 3 Math. 24. 27. 1. Cor. 15. 52. This saying of the wicked is after a sorte true For the good preacher may bee a cause of trouble first bycause where y word of GOD is sincerelye preached the deuill moueth and rayseth tumultes to suppresse it secondly where it is preached and not obeyed the greater shall bee the plagues of the stubburne and stiffenecked people Mat. 6. 10 Mat. 6. 13. The Adder as they say euery spryng of purpose â–ª wresting him selfe thorow a narrow place leaâ—…eth hys olde skynne behynd him as it were leauyng of his old coate â–ª and putting on a new one This is a a true saying that we can not pray faythfully nor beleue in god a right excepte we ioyfully â—…ooke for commyng of our Sauiour to iudgemeÌ„t Mat. 24. 30. and. 25. â—…1 Act. 1 â–ª 11. 10. 42. 17. 30. 2. â—…im 4. 1. Pet. 4. 5. Esay â—…6 19. Ezec. 37. 5. Iob. 19. 26. Mat â–ª 12. 42. Maâ—… 12. 25. Luc. 14. 14. Ioan. 11. 24. Luc. 321. 1. Cor. 15. 12. Colos 3. 4. 1. Thes. â—… 14. Ioan. 3. 36 5. 2. â–ª Rom 6. 33. Dan. 12. 2. Mat. 19. â—…9 and 25. 45. Ioan. 3 15. and 4. 1â—… 36. Ioan. 6. 27. and 40. and 47. and 54. Ioan. â—…0 28. and 12. 15. and 50. and 17. 2. Act. 1â—… 46 48. Rom. 2. 7 â–ª and 5. â—…1 and 6. 22 Gal. 6. 8. Tit. â—… 2. and 3. 4. 1. Cim 1. 16. and 6. 12. 1. Ioan. 1. 2. and 2. 25. and 5. 11 â–ª and 13. and â—…0 Iude Epist. â—…1 Mâ—… â—… â–ª 16. Exod. 20. 2 Gal. 3. 24. Mat. 6. 9. Apoc. 6. 10. The Saintes of God do not require vengeance of theyr enemyes bycause of priuate hatred but bycause they know theÌ„ to be Gods enemyes and do rage with deuelishe fury agaynst his holy Church and agaynst hys euerlastyng truth And in this case the loue of our neighbour hath no place where it is repugnant to the loue of god whose glory we ought to perferre before the commodities of all the world Therfore when man is such an enemye vnto GOD that we must needes hate the one and loue y other we must loue God hate man Psal. 139. 21. and in Gods cause pray for the destruction of man Ier. 18. 11 ver 21. as agaynst the enemy of GOD vppon a zeale and ferueÌ„t loue of Gods glory especially if they be such as we perceaue offende not of ignoraunce but of malicious stubburnes and that agaynst theyr coÌ„scieÌ„ce But in our own cause as they are iniurious vnto our own persoÌ„ we must rather pray for man then agaynst maÌ„ as we are taught by the exaÌ„ple of our Sauiour and Steuen Act. 7. 60. Heâ—… 4. 3. Gen. 3. 15. Reuel 13. 8 Ioan 1. 2â—… 1. Pet. 1 â–ª 19 Ro. 16. 25. Ephes â–ª 3. 9. Colos. 1 26 2. Timo. 1. 10. Tit. 1. 2. â—…it 2. 13. Math. 10. 32. Mat. 10. 38 Rom. 8. 17 2. Tim. 3. 12. Math. 10. 25. Ioan. 16. 2 and. 33. Math. 24. 48. 1. Thes. 4. 17. 1. Cor. 15. 32. IoaÌ„ 14. 27 Iob. 1. 17. Rom. 8. 11. IoaÌ„ 7. 38 Act. 9. 31. Rom. 5. 3. and. 10. 17. 1â—… 14. 5. 1. Lor. 2. 10 1. Lor. 5. 7 2. Cor. 5. â—… 〈◊〉 6. 15 Eph. 4. 24 That is best which is new vnto the world but old vnto God. Colos. 3. 9 Collos. 2. 8 Heb. 11. 1 1. Pet. 1. 12 Rom. 8. 22 A mynde speach attributed to creatures without lyse Esa. â—…4 23. and not properly but figuratiuely â–ª as wheÌ„ we say the earth doth prayse the Lord that is to say it doth declare hys wonderous workes and the workemanshyp therof ministreth a man matter to prayse the Lord so it desireth y last day that is to say it being accursed dayly more and more for our synne sheweth our miserable estate and what cause we haue to â—…ament and to desire our deliuerauÌ„ce by the coÌ„myng of our sauiour to iudgemeÌ„t 2. Pet. 3. 13 Apoc. 2â—… 1. Esa. 65. 17. and. 66. 22. Here an age may be taken for the space of two thousand yeares whereof there are but thre in all the world one froÌ„ the beginning of the world vnto the law the secoÌ„d froÌ„ the law vnto the coÌ„myng of our Sauiour and the last from the commyng of our Sauiour vnto the ende of the world which shal be shortened But how much it is vncertain Phil. 3. 20 Collos. 3. 3 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. * Imprinted at London by Iohn Daye ouer Aldersgate ¶ Cum gratia Priuilegiâ—… Regiâ—… Maiestatis 2570.
¶ A very Comfortable and necessary Sermon in these our dayes made by the right reuerend father and faithfull seruaunt of Iesus Christ Martin Luther concerning the comming of our Sauior Christ to iudgement and the signes that go before the last day Which Sermon is an exposition of the Gospell appointed to be red in the Church on the second Sonday in Aduent and is now newly translated out of Latin into English and something augmented and enlarged by the translator with certaine notes in the margent Act. 17. 30. ¶ Now God admonisheth all men euery where to repent because he hath appointed a day in the which he will iudge the world in righteousnes by that man whom he hath appointed whereof he hath geuen an assurance to all men in that he hath raised him from the dead 2. Pet. 3. 3. THis first vnderstand that there shall come in the last daies mockers which will walke after their lustes and say where is the promisse of his commyng for since the fathers dyed all thynges continue a like from the begynning of the creation For this they willingly know not that the heauens were of olde and the earth that was of the water and by the water through the word of god Wherfore the world that then was perished ouerflowed with the water But the heauens and earth which are now are kept by the same word in store and reserued vnto fire agaynst the day of iudgement and of the destructioÌ„ of vngodly men Dearely beloued be not ignorant of this one thyng that one day is with the Lord as a thousand yeares and a thousand yeare as one day The Lord is not slacke concernyng hys promes as some men count slackenes but is pacient toward vs would haue no man to perish but would all men to come to repeÌ„taunce But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night in the which the heauens shall passe away with a noyse and the elementes shal melt with heate and the earth with the workes that are therein shal be burnt vp Seyng therfore that all these thynges must be dissolued what maner persons ought ye to be in holy conuersation and godlynes Lookyng for and hastyng vnto the commyng of the day of God by the which the heauens beyng on fire shal be dissolued and the elementes shall melt with heate But we looke for new heauens and a new earth accordyng to hys promes wherein dwelleth righteousnes Wherefore beloued seyng that ye looke for such thynges be diligent that ye may be founde of him in peace without spot and blameles ¶ To all the inhabitauntes of England and other els where that vnderstand the English toung the translator whisheth true knowledge of God contained in his word which is lyfe euerlastyng BEfore tyme not many yeares since dearely beloued brethren countreymen the Disciples of Antichrist and Apostles of Sathan for the establishyng of their Lordes kyngdome knowyng that the coÌ„tinuance therof was the increase of their owne estimatioÌ„ wealth and pleasure in this world haue deuised many politicke practises so wicked and so deuilish that whosoeuer beholdeth them well shall soone perceaue they were not inuented without the counsayle of their Lord and master Wherof this was the first and chief and as I may say the ground of the residue to keepe all men both Princes and their subiectes in ignoraunce of God hys word that they not knowyng the truth might the more casely be brought into all kynd of deuilish heresies that they not vnderstanding vice should not be able to repreheÌ„d the horrible wickednes of Antichrist and hys ministers To this end they haue restrayned all the laity throughout Christendome from readyng the Scriptures and haue forbydden them to be Printed in their vulgare tounges an din stede thereof haue geuen them to occupie theyr braynes withall fables of Robin Hood of Gie of Warrike of Geuis of Hampton of the Knightes of the round table of the iiij sonnes of AmoÌ„ filthy tales Chaucer the Court of Uenus most horrible blasphemous lyes out of Saintes Legendes and such lyke Wherby men beyng drowned in ignorauÌ„ce and detestable heresies haue bene cast downe headlong into the most miserable pit of hell But now it hath pleased almighty God towardes the commyng of our Sauiour to Iudgement by the preachyng of hys word through the workyng of hys holy spirite to oppresse the power of Sathan to cut the hornes of Antichrist to reueale the man of sinne Which sittyng in the Temple of God boasteth hym selfe as god Now it hath pleased our Sauiour Christ to diminish the kyngdome of Antichrist to aduaunce his owne kyngdome to deface y Disciples of Antichrist and to glorifie hys owne Disciples He hath driuen out the filthy swyne and wylde bores that haue spoyled hys vineyarde and hath hyred laborers to husband it agayne that it may yeld hym frute now at haruest tyme wheÌ„ he commeth to receiue the same into hys euerlastyng kyngdome at which tyme hys faythfull seruauÌ„tes shall receiue for their hyre a peece of money that neuer shall fayle and shall eate and drinke the frutes of their labours with hym world without end Therfore it is conuenient and necessary for all Gods labourers that is to say Princes and their Magistrates Prelates and all Ecclesiastical Ministers to labour diligeÌ„tly in the Lords vineyard to kepe out these swyne which Antichrist hath sent to deuoure it not onely to yoke them but also to set dogges on theÌ„ which wil both barcke and plucke of their â—…ares if they enterprise to breake through the hedge and to route vp y vines with theyr deuilishe bookes altogether voyde of Gods word and of reason to euery man that hath any vnderstandyng and knowledge of god To this end by the authority of our soueraigne Lady the Queenes Maiestie in our Realme and other Princes in other Realmes a great number of godly men haue preached diligently other haue written very profitable bookes of Diuinitie both in Latin and in theyr own vulgare toung and diuers haue translated good bookes out of straunge tounges into their owne language husbanding therby the Lordes vineyard and keepyng out the swyne that endeuer to destroy it Amongest whom I beyng one more ready to shew my good will then able to do any great seruice haue chosen this short Sermon of Martin Luther the faythfull seruant of God GraÌ„dcapitaine vnder our Sauiour Christ and chief hunter of these wyld bores vnto theyr father the deuill from wheÌ„ce they were sent to destroy the sincere true worshyp of god This mans Sermon I say concernyng the commyng of our Sauiour to IudgemeÌ„t and the signes that go before the last day I haue chosen to translate into our English toung as that which I thought a most coÌ„uenient labour in this last houre of the day to preserue in the Lordes vineyard the ripe grapes from rottyng and from wild beastes and to hast those that are vnrype agaynst the Lordes
the length he will be reuenged on those wicked and desperate verlettes for the spitefull handlyng of hys holy and precious bloud No Christian man ought or cā pray otherwise then thus especially such as are molested and afflicted for the confession of Christ and preachyng of the Gospell and kyngdome of God who haue no other refuge on earth but feruent faythfull prayer He that is not thus affectioned in his mind that he doth not desire y last day with all his hart doth not yet vnderstand the Lordes prayer much lesse can he say it with his hart As I by experiēce did once plainly perceaue in my selfe at what tyme I was more delighted with other formes of prayer deuised by mās braine then with that which our Sauiour himself hath taught vs But to him that is oppressed with the miserie and calamitie of this world it will seme a swete prayer such a man will say it with all his hart For who in such a case will not desire and pray most feruently that we be deliuered from euill to the end all plagues vexations and troubles of the world may haue an end seyng we see the world will remaine as it is It will not folowyng the exāple of the Adder suffer his old skyn to be taken of that is it will not repent amend but will continue as before or rather dayly encrease more and more in wickednes Therfore of all thinges this is the best withal spede possible to departe out of it For here we liue euē as it were in a den of theues and manquellers and can hardly no not at all sometymes defēd our selues from violēt iniury and losse of life Therfore for myne owne part I care not what shift I made honest and lawfull to ryd my selfe out of the world For as S. Cyprian sayth who can haue any delight to liue in so filthy and troublesome estate and condition beyng as it were beset about with swords and daggers ready drawen agaynst vs so that it seemeth vnpossible to escape if we had a thousand liues Who in this case can be mery before he see some man come to deliuer hym But we are they which are in this case as we may easily vnderstand if we consider well our estate and condition our misery calamity the daunger that hangeth ouer our heades how busyly the deuill goeth about to entrap vs how fiercely he setteth vpon vs and how we are constrayned with great payne and trouble to award his most bitter and venemous dartes so that we can neuer haue rest What els therfore should we desire but that withall spede we may be deliuered out of these vntollerable greuaunces and daungers which is by the comming of our true Sauiour to iudgement at the last day which who so euer doth not desire he can not say the Lordes prayer nor the Articles of our fayth with his hart as he ought For with what fayth can a man say I beleue the resurrection of the flesh and life euerlastyng and doth not desire it For if a man beleue it he must nedes desire it with hys hart and be glad of it when soeuer it shall come otherwise he is no Christiā in dede neither can he iustly brag of his faith For faith is a certaine knowledge of Gods bountiful goodnes towardes vs which we tast dayly but shall chiefly and perfectly enioy it at the last day whereof we are put in mynde by three Articles of our faith by the which we are taught to say 1. We beleue that our Sauiour shal come from heauē to iudge the quicke and the dead 2. Who at hys cōmyng shall rayse vp oure bodyes 3. And receaue both body and soule together vnto the euerlastyng life This is part of our faith wher by we are iustified apprehendyng therby the mercy of God almightye towardes vs miserable synners Without the which we can not be saued For it is written He that beleueth shall be saued and he that beleueth not shall be damned Faith therfore is as I may terme it the onely staffe wherupon we must rest in this our pilgrimage beyng ouer laden with vntollerable burdens of sinne and daūgers that ensue thereof Which staffe will do vs no seruice except we take it in our handes and vse it at all tymes conuenient But we can not nor will not streatch forth our handes to receaue it except we be desirous therof Again except we desire those things which we are taught to beleue it is a manifest argument that we do not take them to be Gods benefites and to procede of his bountifull goodnes towards vs which is the propertie of the true iustifiyng faith Therfore I conclude that we cānot well say the Articles of our faith that is we can not beleue a right in Christs cōming to iudgement the resurrection of our flesh and life euerlasting except we desire that the last day may come at what time our true Sauiour will put vs in full possession of these excedyng great benefites of his Agayne a man that hath no desire of the last day doth not well vnderstand the ten commaundementes For what meaneth it when he saith I am the Lord thy God thou shalt not take my name in vayne thou shalt not steale thou shalt not kill ▪ thou shalt not commit adultery ▪ c. but that we are in daunger of al these vices and wickednesses and that such is our state and condition that without sinne and great daunger we can not liue the deuill endeuoryng by all meanes to persuade vs that we do not take God onely for our God by crafty meanes to withdraw vs from a quiet ioyfull and godly life He setteth vp idolatry raiseth vp blasphemy and vnhalowyng of Gods name he stirreth vp men to disobedience sedition wrath filthy lust robbery theft murder and all kinde of wickednes These incommodities who so euer seeth in deede would fayne be ryd of them must nedes desire the last day which is the tyme when all these and such other miseries and calamities shall haue an end Agaynst which the Lordes prayer was appointed and deuised by our Sauiour Christ as a remedy especially where he hath taught vs to say Halowed be thy name thy kyngdome come Thy will be done and deliuer vs from all euill It remaineth therfore that we vse this remedy hartely praying to God our heauenly father for these thinges which we cānot throughly and perfectly receaue before the end of the world For as I said before there is no hope of any better then this miserable estate present as lōg as the world endureth especially in this our lat ter tymes towardes the end therof it beyng now euen at the point to be cōsumed vtterly destroyed for euer For it is euen the deuils derling past all hope of amendement so that all labour that is bestowed vpō it to any such end is in vaine Which we may euidently perceaue considering