the circumsised but vnto them also that walke in the steppes of the fayth that was in our father Abraham before the tyme of circumcisyon For the promes that he shuld be the heyre of the worlde happened not to Abraham or to his seed thorowe the lawe but thorow the ryghtewesnes of fayth For yf they which are of the law be heyres theÌ„ is fayth but vayne and the promes of none effecte Because the lawe causeth wrath For where no lawe is there is no transgressyon Therfore by fayth is the inheritaunce geuen that it myght come of fauoure that the promes myght be sure ☞ to all the seed Nor to theÌ„ onely whiche are of the lawe but to them also whiche are of the fayth of Abraham which is y â— father of vs al â–ª As it is wrytten I haue made the a father of many nacyoÌ„s euen before God whom he beleued whiche restored the deed vnto lyfe calleth those thynges which be not as though they were Whiche Abraham contrary to hope beleued in hope that he shulde be the father of many nacyons accordyng to that which was spoken ‡ euen so shall thy sede be âšœ as the starres of heauen and the sande of the see And he faynted not in the fayth nor yet consydered his owne bodye whiche was nowe deed euen when he was almoste an hundred yeare olde nether yet that Sata was paste chyldeberynge He stackered not at the promes of God thorow vnbelefe but became stronge in fayth and gaue God the prayse beynge full certyfyed that he which had promysed was able also to make it good And therfore was it reckened to hym for ryghtewesnes Neuertheles it is not wrytten for hym onely that it was reckened to him for ryghtewesnes but also for vs to whom it shal be couÌ„ted for ryghtewesnes so y â— we beleue on him that rayseth vp Iesus our Lorde from deeth whiche was delyuered for oure synnes and rose agayne for to iustifye vs. ¶ The power of fayth hope and loue and howe death raygned from Adam vnto Chryst by whom onely we haue forgeuenesse of synnes CAPI V. BEcause therfore that we are iustyfyed by fayth we are at peace with God thorowe oure Lorde Iesus Christ by whom also it chaunsed vnto vs to be brought in thorowe fayth vnto this grace wherin we stande and ☞ reioyce in hope of the glory âšœ of the chyldren of God Not that onely but also we reioyce in tribulacyons knowynge that tribulacyon bringeth pacieÌ„ce bryngeth experience experience bryngeth hope And hope maketh not ashamed for the loue of God is shed abrode in oure hertes by the holy goost whiche is geuen vnto vs. For wheÌ„ we were yet weake accordynge to the tyme Christe dyed for vs whiche were vngodly Yet scace wyll any man dye for a ryghtewis man ParaueÌ„ture for a good man durste a man dye ✚ But God setteth out his loue towarde vs seyng that whyle we were yet synners âšœ according to the tyme Christ dyed for vs. Much more theÌ„ now seyng we are iustifyed by hê blode shall we be saued froÌ„ wrath thorowe hym For yf when we were enemyes we were reconcyled to God by the deeth of his sonne moche more seynge we are reconcyled we shal be preserued by his lyfe Not only this but we also ioye in God by the meanes of our Lorde Iesus Chryst by whom we haue nowe optayned the attonment Wherfore as by one man synne entred into the worlde and deeth by the meanes of synne Euen so deeth also wente ouer all men in so muche as all men synned For euen vnto the lawe was sinne in the worlde but synne is not imputed whan there is no lawe neuerthelesse deeth raygned from Adam to Moyses euen ouer them also that had not synned with lyke transgressyon as dyd Adam which ☞ beareth the similitude of hym that was to come But the gyfte is not lyke as the synne For yf thorowe the synne of one many be deed much more plenteous vpon many was the grace of God and gyfte by grace ☞ which was geuen by one man Iesus Christ. And the gyfte is not ouer one synne as deeth came thorowe one synne of one that synned For damnacyon came of oue synne vnto condemnacyon but the gyfte came to iustify froÌ„ many sinnes For yf by the synne of one deeth raygned by the meanes of one much more they whiche receaue aboundaÌ„ce of grace and of the gyfte of ryghtewesnes shal raygne in lyfe by y â— meanes of one that is to saye Iesus Christe ✚ Lyke wyse then as by the synne of one there sprange vp euell on all men to condemnacyon euen so by the ryghteousnes of one spryngeth good vpon all men to the ryghteousnes of lyfe For as by one mannes dysobedience many became synners so by the obedience of one shal many be made ryghteous But the lawe in the meane tyme entred in that synne shulde encreace Neuerthelater where aboundaunce of synne was there was more plenteousnes of of grace That as synne had raygned vnto deeth euen so myght grace raygne thorowe ryghtewesnes vnto eternal lyfe by the help of Iesu Chryste ⊢ ¶ For so muche as we be delyuered thorowe Christe from synne we muste fassy on our selues to lyue as the seruaâ—tes of God not after our owne iustes The vnlykely rewarde of ryghteousnesse and synne CAPI VI. WHat shall we saye then shall we contynue in sinne that there maye be aboundaunce of grace God forbyd Howe shall we that are deed as touchynge synne lyue any longer therin ✚ Knowe ye not that all we whiche are baptysed into Iesu Chryste are baptysed to dye with hym We are buryed then wyth him by baptime for to dye that lykewyse as Chryst was raysed vp from death by the glorye of the father euen so we also shuld walke in a newe lyfe For yf we be graft in death lyke vnto hym euen so shal we be partakers of the resurreccyon knowynge this that our olde man is crucyfyed with hym also that the bodye of synne myght vtterly be destroyed that hence forth we shulde not be seruauntes vnto synne For he that is deade is iustyfyed from synne Wherfore yf we be deade w t Christ we beleue that we shall also lyue with hym knowyng that Chryste beynge raysed from death dyeth no more Death hath no more power ouer hym For as touchynge that he dyed he dyed concernynge synne once And as touchynge that he lyueth he lyueth vnto God Lykewyse consydre ye also that ye are deade as touchynge synne but are alyue vnto God thorowe Iesus Christe our Lord. ⊢ Let not synne raygne therfore in youre mortall bodye that ye shulde therunto obey by the lustes of it Neyther geue ye your membres as instrumeÌ„tes of vnryghtuousnes vnto synne but gyue ouer your selues vnto God as they that of deade are alyue And geue ouer your members as instrumentes of ryghtuousnes vnto God Let not synne haue
aboue many of my cōpaniōs in myne owne nacion beyng a very feruent mayntener of the tradicions of the elders But when it pleosed God which seperated me from my mothers wombe and called me hereunto by his grace for to declare hys sonne by me that I shuld preache hym among the heathen immediatly I commened not of the matter wyth flesshe and bloude neyther returned to Ierusalem to them whiche were Apostels before me but wente my wayes into Arabia and came agayne vnto Damasco Then after thre yeare I returned to Ierusalem to se Peter and abode wyth hym xv dayes Other of the Apostles sawe I none saue Iames the Lordes brother The thynges whyche I wryte vnto you beholde Before God I lye not After that came I into the coastes of Siria and Cilicia and was vnknowen as touchinge my person vnto the congregacions of Iewrye which were in Chryste But this they hearde onely that he which persecuted vs in tyme paste nowe preacheth the faythe which before he destroyed And they gloryfyed God in me ⊢ ¶ He withstandeth Peter in the face and proueth that the lawe and circumcision are not necessary to saluacion CAPI II. THen xiiij yeres therafter I wente vp agayne to Ierusalem with Barnabas and toke Titus with me I went vp also by reuelacyon and commened with them of the Gospel which I preache amonge the Gentyls but specially wyth them whyche were counted chefe leest I shulde runne or had runne in vayne Also Titus whiche was with me though he were a Greke yet was not compelled to be circumcysed and that because of incommers beinge false brethren which came in preuely to spy out our lybertye whiche we haue in Chryste Iesus that they myght brynge vs into bondage To whome we gaue no rowme no not for the tyme as concernynge to be brought insubieccyon because that the trueth of the Gospel myght continue with you Of them whiche semed to be somwhat what they were in tyme passed it maketh no matter to me God loketh on the outwarde apperaunce of no man neuertheles they which semed great added nothinge to me But contrary wyse when they sawe that the Gospell ouer the vncyrcumcysion was commytted vnto me as the Gospell ouer the circumcysyon was commytted vnto Peter for he that was myghtye in Peter in the Apostleshyppe ouer the cyrcumcysyon the same was myghtye in me amonge the Gentyles when they perceaued the grace that was geuen vnto me then Iames Cephas and Iohn which semed to be pyllers gaue to me and Barnabas the ryght handes of that feloshippe that we shulde be Apostles amonge the Heathen and they in the circumcisyon onely that we shulde remember the poore Wherin also I was diligent to do the same But when Peter was come to Antioche I withstode him opēly because he was worthy to be blamed For yet y ◠certayne came from Iames he dyd eate with the Gentyls But when they were come he withdrue and seperated him selfe from them fearynge thē whiche were of the circumcysyon And the other Iewes dissembled as well as he in so muche that Barnabas also was brought into theyr simulacyon But when I sawe that they went not the ryght waye after the trueth of the Gospel I sayde vnto Peter before them all yf thou beynge a Iewe lyuest after the maner of the Gentyls and not as do the Iewes why causest y u the Gentyls to lyue as do the Iewes For we whiche are Iewes by nature and not synners of the Gentyls knowe that a mā ‡ is not iustified by the dedes of the lawe but by the fayth of Iesus Christe And we haue beleued on Iesus Chryste that we myght be iustifyed by the fayth of Chryste and not by the dedes of the lawe because that by the dedes of the lawe no flesshe shall be iustifyed If whyll we seke to be made ryghtewes by Christ we our selues are founde sinners is Christ then y ◠minister of synne God forbyd For yf I buylde agayne the thynges whiche I destroyed ▪ then make I my selfe a trespaser For ☞ I thorowe the lawe haue bene deed to the lawe that I might lyue vnto God I am crucifyed w t Christe yet do I lyue neuerthelesse nowe nat I but Chryste lyueth in me The lyfe whiche I nowe lyue in the flesshe I lyue by the fayth of the sōne of God whiche loued me and gaue hym selfe for me I despyce not the grace of God For yf ryghtewesnes come of the lawe then Chryste dyed in vayne ¶ He rebuketh the vnstedfastnesse of the Galathyans shewynge the vnparfectnesse of the lawe and declareth neuerthelesse that it was not geuen for nought CAPI III. OYe folysshe Galathyans who hathe bewitched you that ye shulde not beleue the trueth To whō Iesus Christe was described before the eyes now amōge you crucifyed This only wolde I learne of you whether ye receaued the spirit by the dedes of the lawe or by the prechynge of the fayth Are ye so vnwyse that after ye haue begone in the spyryte ye nowe ende in the flesshe So many thinges ye haue suffred in vaine yf it be also in vayne Moreouer he that ministreth to you the spyrite worketh myracles amonge you doth he it thorowe the dedes of the lawe or by prachyng of the fayth Euen as Abraham beleued God it was asscrybed to hī for ryghtewesnes ye knowe therfore that they whiche are of fayth the same are the chyldren of Abraham For the scripture seynge afore hande that God wolde iustifye the Hethē thorow fayth shewed before hande glad tydinges vnto Abraham sayenge In the shall all nacyons be blessed So then they whiche be of fayth are blessed withfaythfull Abraham For as many as are of the dedes of y ◠lawe are subiecte to the curse For it is wrytten cursed be euery one y ◠cōtynueth not in all thynges which are writen in the boke of the lawe to fulfyl them That no mā is iustifyed by the lawe in the syght of God it is euident For the iust shall lyue by fayth The lawe is not of fayth but the mā that fulfylleth the thinges contayned in the lawe shall lyue in thē Christ hath delyuered vs frō the curse of the lawe in as muche as he was made a curse for vs. For it is wrytten cursed is euery one that hāgeth on tree that the blessynge of Abraham myght come on the Gentyls thorowe Iesus Christ y e we myght receaue the promes of the spirit thorowe fayth Brethren I spake after the maner of mē Though it be but a mans testament yet no man despyseth it or addeth any thynge ther to yf it be alowed ✚ To Abraham and his seed were the promyses made He sayth not in the seedes as many but in thy seed as of one which is Christ. This I saye that the lawe whiche beganne after warde beyonde foure C. and thyrtye yeares doth not disanul the testamente that was
vp the lad from the place in whiche he is take hym in thy hande for I wyl make of hym a great peple And god opened her eyes she sawe a well of water â–ª she wente fylled the bottell with water gaue the boy drynke And god was with the lad he grewe dwelte in the wyldernesse and became an archer And he dwelte in the wyldernesse of Pbaran And his mother got hym a wyfe out of the lande of Egypte And it chaunsed the same season that Abimelech and Phicol cheyf captayne of his hoost spake vnto Abraham sayeng God is with the in all that thou doest And now therfore swere vnto me euen here by God thâ—â— thou wylt not hurte me nor my chyldren nor my chyldrens chyldren But that thou shalte deale with me and the â—olintrey where thou haste beâ—â—â—â—â—â—aungeâ— accordynge vnto the kyndnesse thaâ— I haâ—â—â— shewed the. And Abraham sayd â–ª I wyll swâ—â—â— And Abraham rebuked Abâ—â—elech for a wel of water which Abimelechs seruauntes had vyolently taken away And Abimelech sayde I wote not who hath done this thynge Also thou toldest me not neyther herde I of it but this daye And Abraham toke shepe and oxen and gaue them vnto Abimelech And they made bothe if them abâ—nde togyther And Abraham set all ewe lambes by themselues And Abimelech â—â—d vnto Abraham â–ª What meane these vii ewe lambes whiche thou hast set by them selues He answâ—â—d For these vii lambes shalte thou take of my hande that they maye be a wytnesse vnto me that I haue dygged this well Wherfore the place is called Beer Seba bycause that there they sware both of them Thus made they a bonde togyther in Beer Seba. And Abimelech and Phicoll the cheyf Captayne of his hoost rose vp and turned agayn vnto the lande of the Philistines And AbrahaÌ„ planted a wood in Beer Seba and called there on the name of the lorde the euerlastynge god and soiourned in the Philistius lande a long season The fayth of Abraham is proued he offred his son Isaac Chryst our sauyour is promysed The generation of Nachor Abrahams brother CAPI XXII AFter these sayenges it happened that God dyd * proue Abraham and sayde vnto hym Abraham which answered here am I. And he sayd take thy onely sonne Isaac whome thou louest and get the vnto the lande Moria and offre hym vp there for a Sacrifyce vppon one of the mountaynes which I wyll shewe the. Then Abraham rose vp early in the mornyng and sadled his asse and toke two of his yong men with hym and Isaac his sonne and cloue wood for the sacrifice and rose vp and got hym to the place whiche God had appoynted hym The thyrde day Abraham lyft vp his eyes and sawe the place a farre of And Abraham sayde vnto his yonge men Abyde you here with the asse I and the lad wyll go yonder and worshyp and come agayne vnto you And AbrahaÌ„ toke the wood of the sacrifice laybe it vpon Isaac his sonne but he hym selfe toke fyre in his hande and a knyfe And they went baâ—â—â— of them togyther When spake Isaac vnto Abraham his 〈◊〉 and sayde My father And he answe 〈…〉 thâ—â—e am I my sonne He sayde Se here â—â—â—yre and wood but where is the shepe for sacrifyce Abraham answered my son God wyll prouyde hym a shepe for sacrifyce And so they went bothe togyther And when they camâ— vnto the place which God had shewed hym Abraham made an aulter there and dressed the woode bounde Isaac his sonne and layde him on the aulter aboue vpon the woode And Abraham stretchynge â–ª forthe his hande toke the kynfe to haue kylled his sonne And the angell of the Lorde called vnto hym from heuen sayenge Abraham Abraham And he sayd here am I. And he sayde lay not thy hande vpon the chylde neyther do any thyng at al vnto him for nowe I knowe that thou fearest god and hast for my sake not spared thyne only sonne And Abraham lyftynge vp his eyes loked aboute and behold there was a ram caught by the hornes in a thycket And he went and toke the ram and offered hym vp for a sacryfyce in the steade of his son And Abraham called the name of the place the Lorde wyll se. As it is sayde this day in the mounte wyl the Lorde be sene And the angel of the lorde cryed vnto Abraham from heuen the second tyme and sayde By my selfe haue I sworne sayeth the Lorde bycause thou haste done this thynge and haste not spared thy onely sonne that in blessynge I wyll blesse the and in multiplyenge I wyll multiplye thy seede as the sterres of heuen as the sande which is vpon the see syde And thy seede shall possesse the gate of his enemyes And in thy seed shall all the nacions of the earth be blessed bycause thou haste herde my voyce And so turned Abraham agayn vnto his yong men and they rose vp and came togyther to Beer Seba. And Abraham dwelte in Beer Seba. And it chauÌ„sed after these thynges that one tolde Abraham sayenge Beholde Milcha she hath also borne chyldren vnto thy brother Nachor Hus his eldest sonne and Bus his brother and Kemuel the father of the Siraans and ceased and Haso and Pyldas and Iedlaph and Bethuell And Bethuel begat Rebecca These viii dyd Milcha bere to Nachor Abrahams brother And his concubyne called Rhuma she bare also Tebah and Gaham Thaas Maacha ¶ Sara dyeth and is buryed in the felde that Abraham bought of Ephron the Hethite CAPI XXIII SAra was an hundred and .xxvii. yeare olde so longe lyued she and Sara dyed in Kyriat Arba. The same is Hebron in the lande of Canaan And Abraham came to mourne Sara to wepe for her And so Abraham stode vp from the syght of his coorse spake to the sonnes of Heth sayenge I am a straunger and a foryner amonge you gyue me a possession to burye iâ—â— with you that I maye bury my corse out of my syght And the chyldren of Heth answered Abraham sayeng vnto hym Heare vs lorde thou arte a prynce of God amonge vs. In the chefest of our sepulches bury thy deed None of vs also shall forbyd the his sepulchre but thou mayst bury thy deed therin And Abraham stode vp bowed him self before the people of the land the chyldren of Heth. And he comoned with them sayeng Yf it be your mynde that I shal bury my deed out of my syght heare me and speake for me to Ephron the sonne of Zoar that he may gyue me the double caue which he hath and that is in the ende of his felde but for asmoch money as it is worth shal he gyue it me in the presence of you for a possessyon to burye in For EphroÌ„ dwelled among the chyldren of Heth. And EphroÌ„ the Hethite answered Abraham in the audyence of the chyldren of Heth of all that went in at the gates of his citye sayeng Not
lyke vnto Gomorra Heare the worde of the Lorde ye Lordes of Sodoma harken vnto the lawe of our God thou people of Gomorra sayth y â— lorde Why offre ye so many sacrifyces vnto me I am ful of the brent offerynges of wethers and of the fatnesse of fed beastes I haue no pleasure in the bloude of bullockes lambes and gotes When ye appere before me who requireth you to treade within my porches Offre me no mo oblacyons for it is but lost labour Incense is an abhominable thynge vnto me I may not awaye with your newe mones your Sabbathes solemne dayes Your fastingê are also in vaine I hate your new holy dayes fastinges euen fro my very herte They make me wery I can not abide them Whan ye holde out your handes I wyl turne myne eies froÌ„ you And though ye make many prayers yet will I heare nothynge at all seynge your handes ar full of bloude Washe you make you cleane put away your euyll thoughtes out of my syght cease from doing of euell Learne to do ryght apply your selues to equite delyuer y â— oppressed helpe the fatherlesse to his right let the wydowes coÌ„playnt come before you Nowe go to saythe y â— Lorde let vs talke together Though your synnes be as reade as searlet they shal be as whyte as snow And though they were lyke purple they shal be as whyte as wolle â–ª If ye be louing obedyent ye shal enioye the best thing y â— groweth in the lande But yf ye be obstinate rebellious ye shall be deuoured w t the swerde for thus the lorde hath promysed with his owne mouth Howe happeneth it then that the ryghtuous cytie whiche was full of equyte is become vnfaythfull as an whore ryghtuousnes dwelt in it but nowe murther Thy syluer is turned to drosse and thy wyne myxte with water Thy Prynces are wycked and companyons of theues They loue gyftes all together and gape for rewardes As for the fatherles they helpe him nat to hê ryght neyther wyll they let the wydowes causes c 〈…〉 e before them Therfore sayth the Lord ¶ 〈…〉 of Hostes the myghtye one of Israel Al I muste ease me of myne enemyes and auenge me of myne aduersaries I shall lay my hande vpon the burne out the drosse from the fynest and purest and put out all thy fynne and sette thy iudges agayne as they were somtyme and thy Senatours as they were from the begynnyng Then shalt thou be called ryghtuous citie the faith full cyte Syon shall be redemed with equite and they shall turne agayne vnto her in ryghtuousnesse For the transgressours and vngodly and suche as are become vnfaythfull vnto the Lorde must al together be vtterly destroyed And excepte ye be ashamed of y â— oke trees wherin ye haue so delyted of the gardens y â— ye haue chosen ye shal be as an oke whose leaues are fallen awaye as a garden that hath no moistnesse And as for y â— glory ☞ of these thiges it shal be turned to drye strawe and he y â— made theÌ„ to a sparke And they shal both burne to gether so that no man shal be able to quench them ¶ Of the commynge and death of Chryste and of the callynge of the Heathen CAPI II. THis is the worde that was opened vnto Esay the sonne of Amoz vnto Iuda and Ierusalem It wyll be also ☞ in the last dayes That the hyll where the house of the Lorde is buylded shall be the chefe amonge hylles and exalted aboue all lytle hilles And al nacyoÌ„s shal preace vnto him and the multytude of people shall go speakynge thus one to another vp let vs go to the hyll of the Lorde and to the house of the God of Iacob that he maye shewe vs hys wayes and that we maye walke in hys pathes For the lawe shal come out of SyoÌ„ and the worde of the Lorde from Ierusalem and shall geue sentence amonge the Heathen and shal reforme the multytude of people They shal breake theyr swerdes also in to mattockes and theyr speares to make sythes And one people shall nat lyfte vp weapen agaynste another nether shall they learne to fyght from thens forth Come ye O house of Iacob let vs walke in y â— lyght of the Lorde But thou hast forsakeÌ„ thy people the house of Iacob be cause they go farre beyonde theyr fathers in Sorceres whoÌ„ they haue as the Philistines had and ☞ in straunge chyldren they thynke them selues to haue ynough Theyr lande is full of syluer and golde neyther is there any ende of theyr treasure Theyr lande is also full of horses and no ende is there of theyr charets Theyr lande is also full of vayne goddes and before the worke of theyr owne handes haue they bowed them selues yee euen before the thynge that theyr owne fyngers haue made There kneleth the man there falleth the man downe before them so that thou canst nat brynge him away froÌ„ thence And therfore get them to some rocke and hyde the in the grounde for feare of the Lorde â–ª and for the glory of his magestye Whiche casteth downe the hygh lokes of presumptuous personnes bryngeth lowe the pryde of man and the Lorde onely shall be exalted in that daye For the daye of the Lorde of Hostes shall go ouer all pryde and presumpcyon vpon all them that exalte theÌ„ selues and shall brynge them all downe vpon al hygh and stoute Cedre trees of Libanus and vpon al the okes of Basan vpoÌ„ all hygh hylles and vpon all stoute mountaynes vpon al costly rowres and vpon all stronge walles vpon all shyppes of the see and vpon euery thynge that is gloryous pleasaunte to loke vpon And it shall brynge downe the pryde of man and laye mans presumptuousnesse full lowe and the Lorde shall onely haue the vyctory in that daye But the Idols shal vtterly be roted out Men shall crepe in to holes of stone in to caues of y â— earth for feare of the Lorde and for the glory of his magesty what tyme as he shall ryse vp to condemne the earth Then shall man caste awaye his goddes of syluer and his goddes of golde whiche he neuertheles had made to honour theÌ„ vnto Molles and Backes And they shall crepe in to the caues and rockes in to the clyftes of harde stones for feare of God and for the glory of his magestye when he ryseth to condemne the earth Feare nat ye then any man whose breth is in hys nostrels For what is he of reputacyon ¶ He prophecyeth that at the coÌ„myng of Chryst all streÌ„gth and power shall be put forth of Iurâ—e CAPI III. FOrlo the Lorde God of Hostes dothe take away from Ierusalem and Iuda all possessyons and power all meate and drynke the captayne and the soudyar the iudge the prophete the wyse and the aged man the prynce of fiftie yeare olde and the honorable the Senatours and men of vnderstandynge the master of craftes
to remembraunce howe oure fathers also in tymes past were tempted that they myght be proued yf they worshypped theyr God a ryght They ought to remembre howe our father Abraham beynge tempted and tryed thorowe many trybulacyons was founde a louer and frende of God So was Isaac so was Iacob so was Moises and al they that pleased God beyng tryed thorowe many troubles were founde stedfast in fayth Agayne they that receyued not theyr teÌ„ptacyons with the feare of God but put them selues forth with vnpaciency and murmurynge agaynste God peryshed of the destroyer and were slayne of serpentes And therfore shuld not we vndertake to be auenged for the thyng that is done vnto vs but to consydre that all these punyshementes are farre lesse then our synnes and mysdedes Beleuinge also that this correccyon commeth vnto vs as to the seruauntes of God for amendemente and not for our destruccion Then sayde Osias the elders vnto Iudith All that thou speakest is true and no man can reproue thy wordes Pray thou for vs now therfore vnto God for thou arte an holy woman and fearest God And Iudith sayde vnto them Seyng ye knowe that my wordes are of God then proue my councell and deuyse yf it be of God beseche God y â— he wyll brynge my councel to good ende Thus haue I deuised Ye shal stande this nyght before the porte and I wyll go forthe w t Abra my mayden Praye ye therfore vnto God that he wyl graciously remeÌ„bre his people of Israel wtin fiue dayes as ye haue said As for the thynge that I go in hande wtal aske ye no questions of it tyl I open it vnto you my selfe do ye nothiÌ„g els but pray vnto the Lorde our God for me Then Osias the prince of the people of Iuda sayd vnto her Go thy way i peace the Lorde be w t the that we may be aueÌ„ged of oure ennemyes And so they wente from her agayne ¶ The prayer of Iudith for the vyctory CAPI IX NOwe when they were gone theyr way Iudyth wente into her closet put on an hearrye smocke strawed asshes vpon her heade fell downe before the Lord and cryed vnto hym sayinge O Lorde God of my father Symeon which gauest hym a swerde for a defence agaynst the enemyes that vsed vyolence and wylfulnes and that rauisshed the vyrgin and put her to dyshonesty Thou that gauest theyr wyues into a pray theyr daughters into captiuite and al theyr praye for a spoyle vnto thy seruauntes whyche bare a zele vnto the helpe me wyddowe O Lorde my God I beseche the. For thou hast done all thynges from the begynnynge and loke what thou hast taken in hande and deuised it came euer to passe For all thy wayes are prepared and thy iudgementes are done in thy euerlastyng for knoweledge O loke nowe vpon the armies of the Assyrians lyke as it was thy pleasure somtime to loke vpon the host of y â— EgipciaÌ„s when they being weapened ê‘secute thy seruauÌ„tê put theyr trust in their charettes horsmeÌ„ in the multitude of their men of warre But y u lokedst vpon their host castyng a thycke darkenes before them when they came into the depe the waters ouerwhelmed them Euen so Lorde let it go with these that truste in the power multitude of their men of warre in theyr charettes arowes speares and knowe not that thou onely art our God whiche destroyest warres from the begynnyng and that thou art the Lord. O lift vp thyne arme nowe lyke as euer troÌ„ the begynning in thy power brynge their power to naught cause theyr myght to fall in thy wrathe They make theyr boste that they wyll vnhalowe and defyle thy Sanctuary and to wayst the tabernacle of thy name to cast downe the horne of thyne aulter with theyr swerde Bryng to passe O Lorde that the pryde of the enemye maye be cut downe with his owne swearde that he maye be takeÌ„ w t the snare of his eyes in me and that thou mayest smyte hi with the lyppes of my loue O geue me a stedfast minde that I maye despyse him and his strength that I may destroye hym Thys shall brynge thy name an euerlastynge remembraunce yf the hande of a woman ouer throwe hym For thy power O Lord staÌ„deth not in y â— power of men neyther hast y u any pleasure in the strength of horses There was neuer proude persone y t pleased the but in the prayer of y â— humble and meke hath thy pleasure bene euermore O thou God of the heauens thou maker of the waters and Lorde of all creatures heare me poore woman callynge vpon the puttynge my truste in thy mercy Remembre thy couenaunt O Lorde and mynister wordes in my mouth and stablysh this deuice in my hert that thy house maye contynue styll in holynes and that all the Heythen maye knowe that thou art God and that there is none other but thou ¶ Iudish decketh her selfe â—o go to Holofernes The blessynge that the Elders gaue Iudith Holofernes is in loue with Iudith CAPI X. ANd wheÌ„ she had left of cryeng vnto the Lord she rose vp from the place where she had lyen flat before the Lord called her mayden wente downe into her house layed the hearrye clothe freÌ„ her put of the garmneâ—es of her wyddowhode wasshed her body anoynted her selfe with precyous thynges â–ª of swete sauoure broyded and platted her hearre set an hooue vpon her head and put on suche apparell as belongeth vnto gladnesse slyppers vpon her fete armellettê spaÌ„ges earynges fynger rynges and deckt her selfe w t all her best aray The Lorde gaue her also a specyall beautye and fayrenes for all this deckyng of her selfe was not done for any voluptuousnesse and pleasure of the fleshe but of a ryght discrecyon and vertue therfore dyd the Lorde increase her bewtye so that she was exceadyng amiable and welfauoured in all mens eyes She gaue hyr mayde also a botell of wyne a pot with oyle pottage cake bread chese and went her way Nowe whan she came to the porte of the cytie she founde Osias and the elders of the cytie waytyng there Whiche whaÌ„ they sawe her they were astonnyed marueled greatly at her vewty Neuerthelesse they asked no questioÌ„ at her but let her go saying The god of our fathers geue the his grace with hys power perfourme al the deuyse of thy herte y â— IerusaleÌ„ maye reioyce ouer the that thy name may be in the noÌ„bre of the holy ryghtuous And al they y â— were there sayde w t one voyce so be it so be it Iudith made her prayer vnto the Lord went out at the porte she and her mayde And as she was going downe the mountayne it happened that aboute y â— sprynge of the day the spyes of the AssyriaÌ„s met w t her toke her saying whence coÌ„mest y u Or whither goest y u She answered I am a
lawe vnto them selues whiche shewe the dede of the lawe wrytten in theyr hertes whyll theyr conscyence beareth wyâ—ues vnto them also theyr though tes accusynge one another or excusynge at the daye when the Lorde shall iudge the secretes of men by Iesus Christ accordyng to my Gospell Beholde thou art called a Iewe and trustest in the lawe and makest thy boast of God and knowest his wyll and alowest the thynges that be excellent art infourmed by the lawe and beleuest that thou thy selfe art a gyde of the blynde a lyght of them whyche are in darcknes an infourmer of them whyche lacke dyscrecyon a teacher of the vnlearned whyche hast the ensample of knowlege of the truth by the lawe Thou therfore whyche teachest another teachest not thy selfe Thou preachest a man shulde not steale yet thou stealest Thou that saist a man shulde not coÌ„myt aduoutry breakest wedlocke Thou abhorrest ymages yet robbest God of hys honoure Thou that makest thy boast of the lawe thorow breakynge the lawe dyshonourest God For the name of God ys euyl spoken of amonge the GeÌ„tils thorow yow as yt is wrytteÌ„ ☞ For cyrcumcisyon verely auayleth yf thou kepe the lawe But yf thou be a breaker of the lawe thy cyrcumcysyon is turned to vncyrcumcysyon Therfore yf the vncyrcuÌ„cysed kepe the ryght thynges contayned in the lawe shall not hys vncyrcumcisyon be couÌ„ted for cyrcumcysyon And shall no vncyrcumcysyon whyche is by nature â–ª yf yt kepe the lawe iudge the whyche beynge vnder the letter and circumcisyon dosâ— transgresse the lawe He is not a Iew which ys a Iewe outwarde Nether is it circumcisyon which is outwardes in the flesshe But he is a Iewe whiche is hyd wythin and the cyrcumsyon of the herte is the true cyrcumcysyon whyche consysteth ☞ in the spyrit and not in the letter whose prayse is not of men but of God ¶ He sheweth what prefermeÌ„t the Iewes haue and that both the Iewes and Gentilo are vnder synne and are iustyfyed only by the grace of God in Chryst. CAPI III. WHat preferment then hathe the Iew or what aduauntageth circumcysyon Surely very moche Fyrst * because that vnto them were commytted the wordes of God What then though some of them dyd not beleue shall their vnbeleue make the promes of God wythout effecte God forbyde Let God be true and euery man a lyar as it is wrytteÌ„ that y â— mightest be iustified in thy sayiÌ„ges and ouercome when thou ar iudged ☞ Yf oure vnryghtwesnes make the ryghtewesnes of God more excellent what shal we saye Is God vnryghteaus which taketh vengeaunce I speake after the maner of men God forbyd For how then shall God iudge the worlde For yf the trueth of God appeare more excellent thorow my lye vnto his prayse why am I hence forth iudged as a synner not rather as meÌ„ speake euyl of vs as some affyrme that we saye let vs do euyll that good may come therof Whose damnacyon is iuste What then Are we better then they No in no wyse For we haue all ready proued howe that bothe Iewes and Gentyls are all vnder synne as it is wrytten there is none ryghteous no not one there is none that vnderstaÌ„deth there is none that seketh after God they are al gone out of the waye they are all vnprofitable there is none that doeth good no not one Theyr throte is an open sepulcre with theyr tounges they haue deceaued the poison of aspes is vnder theyr lyppes whose mouth is full of curssynge and bytternes Theyr fete are swyft to shede bloude * Destruccyon and wretchednes are in theyr wayes and the waye of peace haue they not knowen There is no feare of God before theyr eyes ✚ We knowe that what thynges soeuer the lawe sayeth it sayeth it to them whiche are vnder the lawe That all mouthes may be stopped and that all the worlde maye be subdued to God because that by the dedes of the lawe there shall no flesshe be iustyfied in his â—yght For by the lawe commeth the knowledge of synne But nowe is ☞ the ryghtewysnes of God declared without the lawe for asmuche as it is alowed by the testimonye of the lawe and of the Prophetes The ryghtewesnes of God commeth by the fayth of Iesus Chryste vnto all and vpon all them that beleue âšœ on hym There is no dyfference for all haue synned and are destitude of the glorye of God but are iustified frely by his grace through the redempcyon that is in Chryste Iesu whom God hathe set forth to be the obtayner of mercy thorowe fayth by the meanes of his bloude to declare hys ryghteousnes in that he forgeueth the synnes that are passed whiche God dyd suffre to shewe at this tyme his ryghtewesnes that he myght be counted iuste and the iustyfyar of hym whiche beleueth on Iesus ⊢ Where is then thy reioysynge It is excluded By what lawe of workes Naye but by the lawe of fayth Therfore we holde that a man is iustyfyed by fayth without the dedes of the lawe Is he the God of the Iewes onely Is he not also the God of the Gentyles Yes euen of the Gentyls also For it is God only whiche iustyfyeth the circumcysyon that is of fayth vncircumcysyon thorowe fayth Do we then destroye y â— lawe thorow fayth God forbyd But we rather mayntayne the lawe ¶ He declareth by the example of Abraham that fayeth iustyfyeth and not the lawe nor the workes therof CAPI IIII. WHat shall we saye then that Abrahan our father as pertaning to the feshe dyd fynde If Abraham were iustyfyed by dedes then hathe he wherin to reioyce but not with God For what sayeth the scripture Abraham beleued God and it was counted vnto hym for ryghtewesnes To hym that worketh is the rewarde not reckned of fauoure but of dutye ☞ To hym y â— worketh not but beleueth on hym that iustyfieth the vngodly is his fayth counted for rightewesnes âšœ accordynge to the purpose of the grace of God EueÌ„ as Dauid descrybeth the blessedfulnes of that maÌ„ vnto whoÌ„ God imputeth rightewesnes without dedes Blessed are they whose vnryghtewesnesse are forgeuen and whose synnes are couered Blessed is y â— maÌ„ to whom the Lorde wyll not impute synne Came this blessednes then vpon the vncyrcumcysyon or vpon the cyrcumcysyon also For we saye that fayth was rekened to Abraham for ryghtewesnes Howe was it then rekened whan he was in the circumcisyon or whan he was in the vncircuÌ„cision Not in the tyme of circumcision but when he was yet vncircumcised And he receaued the sygne of circumcisyon as a seale of the ryghtewesnes of fayth whiche he had yet beynge vncircumcised that he shulde be the father of all them that beleue thought they be not circuÌ„cysed that ryghtewesnes myght be imputed to them also and that he myght be father of circumcisyon not vnto them onely whiche came of
Neuertheles in those sacrifices is there mencyon made of synnes euery yeare For the bloud of oxen and of goates can not take awaye synnes Wherfore when he cōmeth into the world he sayth Sacrifyce offerynge thou woldest not haue but a bodye haste thou ordeyned me Burnt offeriges also for synne hast thou not alowed Then sayde I lo I am here In the begynnynge of the booke it is written of me that I shulde do thy wyll O God Aboue when he sayeth sacryfyce and offeryng and burnt sacrifyces and sinne offerynges thou woldeste not haue neyther hast thou alowed thē which yet are offered by the law then sayd he Lo I am here to do thy wyll O God he taketh awaye the fyrst to stablysshe the latter by the which wyl we are sanctifyed by the offeringe vp of the body of Iesu Christ once for all And euery prest is ready dayly ministring and offring ofte tymes one maner of oblacyon whiche can neuer take awaye synnes But this mā after he hathe offered one sacryfyce for synnes is set downe for euer on the ryghte hande of God and from hence forth tarieth tyll his foes be made his forestole For with one offering hath he made perfecte for euer them that are sanctyfyed The holy goost himselfe also beareth vs recorde euen when he tolde before This is the testamēt that I wyll make vnto them after those dayes sayeth the Lorde I wyll put my lawes in theyr herte and in theyr mindes wyl I write them and their sines and iniquities wyl I remember nomore And where remyssyon of these thynges is there is nomore offerynge for synne Seinge therfore brethren that by the meanes of the bloude of Iesu we haue lyberty to enter into that holy place by the newe and liuing way which he hath prepared for vs through the vayle that is to say by his flesshe And seing also that we haue an hye prest which is ruler ouer the house of God let vs drawe nye with a true herte in a sure fayth sprynckeled in our hertes from an euyll conscience and wesshed in our bodies with pure water let vs kepe the profession of our hope w tout waueryng for he is faythful that promysed let vs cōsider one another to the intēt that we maye prouoke vnto loue and to good worckes not forsakynge the fellyshyppe that we haue among our selues as the maner of some is but let vs exhorte one another that so muche the more because ye se that the day draweth nye For yf we sinne wilfully after that we haue receaued the knowledge of the trueth there remaineth nomore sacrifice for sinnes but a fearfull loking for iudgemēt violēt fyre which shall deuoure the aduersaries He that despyseth Moses lawe dyeth without mercy vnder two or thre wytnesses how much sorer suppose ye shall he be punisshed which treadeth vnder fote the sonne of God counteth the bloude of the testamente wherwith he was sanctifyed as an vnholy thynge and doth dishonoure to the spyryte of grace For we knowe hym that hath sayde It belongeth vnto me to take vengeaunce I wyll recompence sayth the Lorde And agayne the Lorde shall iudge his people It is a fearfull thynge to fal into the handes of the lyuynge God Call to remembraunce the dayes that are passed in the whiche after ye had receaued lyght ye endured a greate fight of aduersities partly whyle all men wondred and gased at you for the shame and trybulacyon that was done vnto you partly whyle yee became cōpanyons of them which so passed their tyme. For ye became partakers also of y ◠afflyccyōs which happened thorow my bondes and toke in worth the spoylynge of your goodes and that with gladnes knowing in your selues howe that ye haue in heauen a better and an enduring substaūce Caste not awaye therfore youre confidence which hath a great recompence of rewarde For ye haue nede of pacyence that after ye haue done the wyl of god ye myght receaue the promes For yet a very lytell whyle and he that shall come wyl come wyl not tary But the iust shall lyue by fayth And yf he withdrawe him selfe my soule shal haue no pleasure in hym It is not we that withdrawe oure selues vnto dampnacyon but we partayne vnto fayth to the wynnyng of the soule ¶ What fayth is and a commendacyon of the same The sted fast beleue of the fathers in olde tyme. CAPI XI FAythe is a sure confydence of thynges which are hoped for and a certayntye of thynges which are not sene For by it the elders obtayned a good reporte Thorowe fayth we vnderstande that the worlde was ordeined by the worde of God and that thinges whith are sene were made of thynges which were not sene By faythe Abel offered vnto God a more plenteous sacryfyce then Cayn by whiche he obteyned wytnes that he was ryghteous God testyfyinge of hys gyftes by whiche also he beynge deed yet speaketh By fayth was Enoch translated that he shuld not se deeth nether was he founde for god had taken hym away For afore he was taken away he obteyned a good report that he pleased God but without faythe it can not be that any man shulde please him For he that commeth to God muste beleue that God is and that he is a rewarder of them that seke hym By faythe Noe beynge warned of God eschued the thynges whiche were as yet not sene and prepared the arcke to the sauynge of hys houssholde thorowe the which arcke he condempned the worlde and became heyre of the ryghtwesnes whyche is accordynge to fayth By fayth Abraham when he was called obeyed to go out into a place whiche he shulde afterwarde receaue to inheritaunce and he went out not knowynge whether he shulde go By faythe he remoued into the lande of promes as into a straunge countre whan he had dwelte in tabernacles and so dyd Isaac and Iacob heyres with him of the same promes For he loked for a cytye hauynge a foundacyon whose buylder and maker is God Thorowe fayth Sara also receaued strength to cōceaue and be with chylde and was delyuered of a childe when she was past age because she iudged hym faythfull which had promysed And therfore sprange there of one euen of one whiche was as good as deed so many in multytude as are the starres of the sky as the sande the which is by the see shore innumerable These all dyed accordynge to faythe ☞ whan they had not receaued the promyses but sawe them a farre of and beleued them and saluted them and confessed that they were straungers and pylgremes on the erthe For they that saye suche thynges declare that they seke a countre Also yf they had bene myndfull of that countre from whence they came out they had leasure to haue returned agayne but now they desyre a better that is to saye a heauenlye Wherfore God is not ashamed
a doar of the worke the same shal be happye in his dede If any maÌ„ among you seme to be denoute refrayneth not his tonge but deceaueth his owne herte this mannes deuocion is in vayne Pure deuocyon vndefyled before God the father ys this to vysyt the fatherlesse widdowes in their aduersyte and to kepe hym selfe vnspotted of the worlde ⊢ ¶ He for byddeth to haue any respect of persones and not to boast of fayth where no dedes are CAPI II. MY brethren esteme not the fayth of our Lorde Iesus Christ the Lorde of glory with respecte of persons For if ther come into youre company a man wearinge a golden rynge clothed in goodly aparell and ther come in also a poore maÌ„ in vyle raymeÌ„t and ye haue a respecte to him that weareth the gaye clothyng saye vnto hym Syt y u here in a good place saye vnto the poore stande thou there or syt here vnder my â—ote stole are ye not parcyal in youre selues and haue iudged after euyll thoughtes Harken my deare beloued brethren Hath not God chosen y â— poore of this worlde such as are ryche in sayth heyres of the kyngdome which he promysed to them that loue hyme But ye haue despysed the poore Do not ryche men execute â—â—rannye vpon you drawe you before the iudgemeÌ„t seates Do not they speake euell of y â— good name which is called vpon ouer you If ye fulfyll the royall lawe accordyng to the scripture Thou shalt loue thyne neyghboure as thy selfe ye do well But yt ye regarde one person more then another ye commyt synne are rebuked of the lawe as transgressours Whosoeuer shall kepe the whole lawe yet fayle in one poynte he is gyltie of al. For he that sayd Thou shalt not câ—myt adulterye sayde also thou shalt not kyll Though thou do none adulterye yet yf thou kyll y u art become a transgressor of the lawe So speake ye and so do as they that shal be iudged by the lawe of lybertye For he shall haue iudgement without mercy that sheweth no mercy mercy reioyseth agaynste iudgement ⊢ What auayleth it my brethren though a maÌ„ saye he hath â—ayth yf he hathe no dedes Can sayth saue him If a brother or a syster be naked destitute of dayly â—ode one of you saye vnto theÌ„ depart in peace â–ª God sede you warmnes fode notwithstandynge ye geue theÌ„ not those thynges whiche are nedfull to the body what shal it helpe Euen so fayth yf it haue no dedes is deed in it selfe But some maÌ„ wyll saye y u hast fayth I haue dedes shewe me thy fayth by thy dedes I wyl shewe y â— my fayth by my dedes Beleuest y u that ther is one god Thou doest well The deuyls also beleue and tremble But wylt thou vnderstande O thou vayne maÌ„ that fayth without dedes is deed Was not Abraham oure father iustifyed thorow workes when he had offred Isaac his sonne vpon the aulter Thou seest howe that fayth wrought with hys dedes and thorugh the dedes was the fayth made parfecte and the scripture was fulfylled which sayth Abraham beleued God and it was reputed vnto hym for ryghtewesnes and he was called the frende of God ✚ Ye se then howe that of dedes a man is iustifyed and not of fayth onely Lyke wyse also was not Raab the harlot iustifyed thorowe workes when she had receaued that messengers and had sent theÌ„ out another waye For as the body without the spirit is deed euen so fayth without workes is deed also ⊢ ¶ What good and euell commeth thorowe the tonge The dutye of suâ—he as belerned The difference betwyxte the wysdome of the Gospell and the wysdome of the worlde CAPI III. MY brethren be not euery maÌ„ a master knowynge howe that we shal receaue the greater damnacion for in many thinges we synne all If a man synne not in worce the same is a perfecte man and able also to tame all the body beholde we put byttes in to the horses mouthes y â— they may obeye vs and we turne about all the body of the. Beholde also the shyppes which thought they be so greate are dryuen of fearce wyndes yet are they turned about with a very smal helme whyther soeuer the violeÌ„ce of the gouerner wyll Euen so the tonge is a syctel member also and boasteth great thynges Beholde howe great a thynge a lyttell fyre kyndleth and the tonge is fyre euen a worlde of wyckednes So is the tonge set amonge oure membres that it defyleth the whole body setteth a fyre all y â— we haue of nature and is it selfe set a fyre euen of hell All the natures of beastes and of byrdes and of serpentes and thynges of the see are meked tamed of the nature of maÌ„ But the tonge can no man tame It is an vnruely euyll full of deedly poyson Therwith blesse we God the father therwith curse we me whiche are made after the âšœ ymage and symilitude of God Out of one mouth proceadeth blessinge and cursyng My brethreÌ„ these thynges ought nat so to be Dothe a fountayn sende forth at one place swete water and bytter also Can the fygge tree my brethren beare olyue bertes eyther a vyne beare fygges So can no fountayne geue bothe salt water fresshe also If any man be wyse endued with knowledge amonge you let hym shewe his workes out of good conuersacyon with mekenes of wysdome But yf ye haue bytter enuyeng and stryfe in your herte reioyce not nether be lyars agaynst the trueth For such wysdome dissendeth not froÌ„ aboue but is earthy natural dyuelysshe For wher enuyenge stryfe is there is vnstablenes and all maner of euyl workes But the wysdome y â— is froÌ„ aboue is fyrst pure then peasable gentle easy to be entreated full of mercy good frutes with out iudgynge without simulacyon yee and the frute of rightewesnes is sowen in peace of them that mayntayne peace CAPI IIII. ¶ Warre and fyghtynge coÌ„meth of voluptcousnesse The frendshype of the worlde is enimyte before God â–ª 〈◊〉 orâ—acyon to 〈◊〉 sclaunder and the vanyâ—e of thys lyke FROM whence coÌ„meth warre fyghtynge amonge you come they not here hence eueÌ„ of your lustes that fyght in your meÌ„bres Ye lust haue not Ye enuye haue indignacyon cannot obtayne Ye fyght warre Ye haue not because ye aske not Ye aske receaue not because ye aske a mysâ—e euen to consume it vpon your iustes Ye aduouterars wemeÌ„ that breke matrimonye knowe ye not howe y â— the freÌ„dshype of the worlde is enemyte w t God whosoeuer therfore wylbe a freÌ„de of y t worlde is made the enemy of God Ether do ye thinke y e y e scripture saith in vayne The spirit y t dwelleth in vs lusteth euen coÌ„trary to enuy our geueth more grace wherfore he sayth God resisteth the proude