and lacke the prayse that is of valoure before God but are iustified frely by his grace thorow the redemption that is in Christ Iesu whom God hath made an seate of mercy thorow faith in his bloud to shewe the righteuesnes which before hym is of valoure in that he forgeueth the synnes that are passhed which God did sofre to sheue at this tyme the righteuesnes that is alowed of hym that he myght be counted iuste and an iustifiar of hym that beleuith on Iesus Christ Where is then thy reioysinge it is excludet By what lawe by the lawe of workes naye but by the lawe of faith We suppose therfore that an man is iustified by faith without the deades of the lawe Ys he God of the iewes only ys he not the God also of the gentyls he is no dout God also of the gentyls for it is God only which iustified circumcision which of faith and vncircumcisioÌ„ thorow faith ¶ Yf Abraham were iustified by deades then hath he wherin to reioyce but not with God For what saith the scripture Abraham beleued God and it was counted vnto hym for righteuesnes ¶ To hym that worketh the rewarde is not reckened of fauour but of duety To hym that worketh not but beleueth on hym that iustified the vngodly is faith reckened for righteuesnes Euen as Dauid describeth the blessed fulnes of an man vnto whom God ascribeth righteuesnes without deades Blessed are they whose vnrighteuesnes is forgeuen and whose synnes are couered blessed is that man to whom the lorde imputeth not synne Cam this blessednes then apon the circumcised or apon the vncircuÌ„cised we saye verely howe yat faith was reckened to AbrahaÌ„ for righteuesnes Howe was it reckened In the time of circumcicision or in the time before he was circumcised Not in the time of circumcision but when he was yet vncircumcised And he receaued the signe of circumcision as an seale of that righteuesnes which is by faith which faith he had yet beynge vncircumcised That he shulde be the father of all them that beleue thougt they be not circumcised that righteuesnes myght be imputed to them also Abraham was made stronge in the faith and gaue honour to God and stedfastly beleued that he which had made the promes was able also to make it good and therfore was it reckened to hym for righteuesnes It is not written for hym only that it was reckened to hyme for righteuesnes but also for vs to whom it shal be counted for righteuesnes so we beleue on hym that reysed vppe Iesus the lorde froÌ„ deeth As saith Paul be cause that we are iustified by faith we are at peace with God thorow oure lorde Iesus Christ The GeÌ„tils which foloweth not righteuesnes haue ouer takeÌ„ righteuesnes I meane ye righteuesnes which coÌ„meth of faith But Israel which foloweth the lawe of righteuesnes coulde not attayne vnto y e lawe of righteuesnes And wherfore because they sought it not by faith but as it were by the workes of the lawe For they haue stombled at the stomblinge stone As it is writteÌ„ Beholde I put in SyoÌ„ an stomblinge stone and an rocke on which shal men faule none that beleue on hym shal be ashamed I beare Israel recorde sayth Paul that they haue an feruent mynde to God warde but not accordinge to knouledge For they are ignoraunt of the righteuesnes which is aloued before God aÌ„d goo about to stablisshe their aune righteuesnes And therfore are not obedient vnto the righteuesnes which is of value before God For Christ is the ende of the lawe to iustifie all that beleue aÌ„d in y e same chap. saith he The beleue of y e herte iustified And in an other place We knowe y t no man is iustified by the deades of lawe but by the faith of Iesus Christ and we haue beleuet on Iesus Christ that we myght be iustified by y e faith of Christ and noth by the deades of the lawe Abraham beleued God and it was counted vnto hym for righteuesnes vnderstonde therfore that they which are of faith are the childerne of Abraham The scripture sawe afore honde that God wolde iustifie the gentils thorow the mouthes of lyons quenched the violence â—f fyre eschaped the edge of the swearde of weake were made stronge woxet valient in fyght turned to flyght the armees of the alientis The wemen receaued their deed to lyfe agayne wother were racked and wolde not be deliuered y t they myght receaue a better resurrectioÌ„ Wother tasied of mochingis and scourgyndis moreower of bondes and presonment were stoned were heawen a sunder were tempted were slayne with sweardes walked vppe and doune in shepes skynnes in gotes skynnes in nede tribulacion and vexation which the worlde was not worthy of They wandred in wildernes in mountaynes in dens and cayes of the erth And these all thoroue faith obteyned good reporte and receaued not the promes God prouidinge an better thinge for vs that they without vs shulde not be made perfect Belowed bethren it is writteÌ„ The eyes of the lorde beholdeth faith that is to saye The lorde taketh pleasure of faith and faueours them in whom he findeth faith aÌ„d imputed not their synnes vnto them for the pleasure which he hath of their faith he loket not to their synnes but he loketh to their faith as saith y e scripture Dearly beloued this faith where of I speake is not fayned faith nether deed faith nether infruteful faith which taketh name after y e opinioÌ„ of meÌ„ but it is perfect faith quycke lyuinge faith which worketh y e pleasure of God froÌ„ y e herte of poore lowe This faith is not had be y e deuils nether by wicked vngodly meÌ„ but by y e saynctes of God yee the childerne and heyres of God Whom he had called vnto the supper of lyfe Nether mo the man which had this faith consent to do any thinge agaynst ye lawe of God for his herte is so vppe lyfted thorowe lowe y t he foryettes his awne profit and pleasure and continually seketh the pleasure of God aÌ„d the profit of his brethreÌ„ This faith is callit the faith of the Gospell and it is an sure confidence or trust in God that he is faithful and wil without any dout fulfil they thinges which he of his greate mercy hath promised vnto vs in Christ Ensample we haue of faithful Abraham whois faith was couÌ„ted vnto hym for righteuesnes And his faith was an sure confidence or trust in the promes of God as saith Paul Abraham coÌ„trary to hope beleued in hope that he shulde be the father of many nacions accordinge to that which was spoken So shal thy seed be and he faynted not in the faith nor yet consideret hys aune body which was nowe deed euen when he was almost an hondred yeare olde Nether coÌ„sidered he the barenes of Sara He staâ—kered not at the promes of God
thorowe vnbelefe but was made stronge in the faith and gaue honour to God and stedfastly beleued that he which hath made the promes was able also to make it good and therfore was it reckened to hym for righteuesnes It is not written for hym only that it was reckened to hym for righteuesnes but also for vs to whom it shal be counted for righteuesnes so we beleue on hym that reysed vppe Iesus oure lorde from deeth Here Paul shewet what faith was in oure father Abraham we shulde beleue in hope contrary to hope as did Abraham which contrary the hope of his natural strength or powere belewed in the strength and powere of God infulfilliÌ„ge his promes So shulde we beleue surly to obteyne they thinges which God hath promised to vs thought they be vnpoâ—sible to vs to obteyne them after oure naturall weake powere God hath promised to vs eternall life which is vnpossible to vs to obteyne after oure weake naturall powere because we are synners yet thougt it be vnpossible to vs to obteyne it of oure sylfes because we are sinful It is not vnpossible to God to geue it to vs accordinge to his promes Therfore let vs with Abraham beleue in hope aboue hope in Gods righteuesnes aboue oure vnrighteuesnes In gods trueth aboue oure lyes In Gods mercy aboue oure synfulnes In Gods power aboue oure weaknes Let vs haue faith with Abraham in gods promyses And we shall reioy with Abraham in receawinge of thesame thynges promysed This faith is not knoweÌ„ of the worlde nether be y e naturall man it for it is an super naturall gyfte geuen vnto man frely by god As saith Paul ye are made saue by faueoure throwe faith and that not of youre sylfes for it is the gyfte of god and commeth not of workes lest any man shulde bost hym sylfe Belowed brethern sen ye mo not haue this faith of youre sylfes but it is an excelleÌ„t gyfte of god mother of all godly virtue which he of his kyndnes mercy geweth vnto you frely Therfore crye with the Apostles vnto y e lorde to increase youre faith And with the man which hath the possessed sonne which sayde o lorde i beleue sucker myne vnbelefe That god seen ge youre powerte in the sprite and takynge heed to youre peteous complayne mo graunt youre peticion and make you rych by his precious gyfte of faith And not only seke ye youre awne health but the health of youre brethern prayeÌ„ge to god to sent faith on the erthaâ—d plant it in all quarters y t all nacion maye prayse god which only hath immortalite and duellit in light that no man maye attayne whom newere man sawe nether cane se vnto whom be honour and rule euerelastinge Amen ¶ Of vnfaithfulnes DEarly belowed brethern vnfaithfulnes is the mother of allwice aÌ„d synne for it bryngeth forth all kynde of synne euil Lyke wise as euil frute coÌ„meth of an euil tree So of vnfaithfulnes commeth no thynge but euil As aduoâ—rie fornication vnclemes wantaÌ„nes ydolatrie witchecraft hatred zele wraâ—th stryfe sedition partetakinges enuyinge murther dronckennes glottony and soche lyke â–ª As saith oure saueoure an euil man out of the euil treasure of his hert bryngeth forth euil thynges This euil treasure is vnfaithfulnes which bryngeth forth all kynde of euil and synne be which cause it is only before God reckened synne as saith oure saueoure The holy goost wheÌ„ he shal come shal rebuke y e worlde of synne be cause they beleue not on me And it maketh an man worthy of eternall damnation as it is writen Whosoeuer beleueth not shal be dampâ—ct And in a nother place Héth at beleueth not is condeÌ„pned already This vnfaithfulnes maketh god to hat vs as saith the scripture The wraeth of God commeth apon the chyldren of vnbelefe And in a nother place saith Ihon the baptiser He that beleueth not the sonne shall not se lyfe but the wraeth of God abydeth on hym Vnfaithfulnes is no other thynge but lackynge of faith euen as darknes is but the lackynge of lyght So the vnfaithful lacketh faith aÌ„d be y e same cause al that coÌ„meth of faith as hope lowe ioy peace longe sofferynge geÌ„tlenes goodnes kepynge of promes meknes teÌ„peraunce ce And in steade of them is full of allwice as vane presumption hatred dispare and all abhomination Nether is it possible to hym to lowe god or his brethreÌ„ nor to do any thynge pleasesynge to god For whatsoeuer coÌ„meth not of faith y e same is synne For he is by nature euil and perceaueth not y e thynges of y e sprite of God for they are but folishnes vnto hym He is blynde and knoweth not where hence he goo but is led by y e power of darknes Of y e vnfaithful saith Paul Yf oure gospell yet be hid it is hid amonge theÌ„ y t are lost in whom the God of this worlde hath blynded y e myndes of theÌ„ which beleue not lest shulde shyne vnto theÌ„ y e light of y e glorious gospell of christe which is y e ymage of God and in a nother place The vnfaithfull is lyke y e wawes of the see tost of the wynde and caried wyth violence nether let that man thynke that he shal receaue any thynge of God A wauerynge mynded man is vnstable in all his wayes Belowed brethern this i saye not to youre rebuke but to theyrs whosoeuer lacketh faith which shal be knowen and iudget of the faithful by they re frutes As saith oure saueoure Ye shal knowe them by they re frutes Herefor study and labour that ye be not found vnfrutefull but that youre vnfayned faith mo be knowen by her frutes and youre brethern mo see her frutes and glorify youre father which is in heuen For there is many of whom alace with sorowe i coÌ„playne That confesse that they knowe God but with deades they denie hym and are abhominable and disobedyent and vnto all good workes discommendable They do shayme so moch as is in theÌ„ to oure moste holy faith They seke in all thynges the libertie of the flesshe and not the prayse of the lorde nor the health of there brethern and do dishonour the gospell of God This i saye that ye knowoÌ„de soch fautes in others awoyde them from youre sylfes and behaue youre sylfis as it becommeth saynctes And beare youre frute in holynes As saith Paul Ye which beleue in god be studious â—goo forwarde in good workes This thyngis are good and profitable vnto men Folisshe questions and genealogies and braulingis and stryfe aboute the lawe awoyde for they are vnprofitable and superfluus A man that is the auctor of sectes after the first and the second amonition awoyde remembrynge that he that is soche is peruerted and synneth euen damned by his awne iudgement Of these thyngis i wolde ye were
certifieth my brethern for nowe is the last tyme. And as ye haue herde howe that Antechrist shal come euē nowe are there many Antechristes come all redy Beware of the false prophetes which come to you in shepes clothynge but inwardly they are raueninge wolues ye shal knowe them by they re frutes So men gaddre grapes of thornes or figges of brires euen soo euery good tree bryngeth forth good frute But a corrupte tree bryngeth forth euil frute A good tre can not brynge forth bad frute Nor yet can a bad tree brynge forth good frute Euery tree that bryngeth not forth good frute shal be heawen doune and cast in to the fyre wherfore by they re frutes ye shal knowe them Not all they that saye vnto me master master shal enter in to the kyngdome of heuen but he that fulfilleth my fathers wyll which is in heuen Many wil saye to me in that daye master ma◠haue we not in thy name prophesied and in thy name haue we not cast out deuyls and in thy name haue we not done many myracles and then wyl i knoudledge vnto them that I newer knewe thē Departe from me ye workers of iniquite I beseche you brethern marke them which cause diuision and gewe occasions of euyl contrary to the doctrine which ye haue learned of the oyntment which ye haue of the holy goost and awoyde them For they that are soch serue not the lorde Iesus Christ but theyr awne belyes and by swete preachynges and flatterynge wordes deceaue the hertes of the innocentes For youre obedience vnto the trueth is publeshed through out amonge all christē brethern I am glad no dout of you but yet I wolde haue you wyse vnto that which is good and to be innocent as concerninge euyl The God of peace shall treade sathan vnder youre fete in shorte tyme. To hym that is of power to stabilishe you accordynge to the Gospell wherewith Iesus Christ is preached vnto you in openynge of the mistery which was kept closse from you a longe tyme a goo thorowe bely wysdome I meane y e craft of y e ypocrites And nowe is opēned at this tyme and declared in the holy scrip◠heuenly father Which spared not his aune sonne but gaue hym for vs all Wherefore no dispare mo haue place in you for as saith Paul Ye haue not receaued the sprite of bōdage to feare eny moare but ye haue receaued the sprite of adoption wherby ye crye abba father God youre father is mercifull yee and very merciful sayth the scripture And his mercy he wyl not denye vnto his awne children whiche are ye so ye kepe sure the faith of the Gospell Herefore truste sure in the lorde for there is no damnation to you whiche are in Christ Iesu whiche walke not after the fleshe but after the sprite for the lawe of the sprite wherin is lyfe thorowe Iesus Christ hath deliuered you from the lawe of synne and deeth For what the lawe coulde not doo in as moch as it was weake because of the fleshe that performed God and sent his sonne in the similitude of sinful fleshe and by synne dampned synne in the fleshe that the righteuesnes required of the lawe myght be fulfilled in you which walke not after the fleshe but after the sprite c. It is God that iustifieth you who then shal condempne you it is Christ which is deed yee rather which is rysē agayne which is also at the ryght honde of God and maketh intercession for you Ye are dearly bought Ye are Christis awne possession Ye are members of Christ And the very housholde of God Wherfore doute not for he careth for you cast roure care on the lorde and he shall nouresshe you To put all feare all dredoure and all dispare from you Christ hath geuen you consolation sayinge Feare not lytle floocke for it is youre fathers pleasure to geue you an kyngdom Be not careful for youre heuēly father knoweth what ye haue neade of and wyll ministre all necessary thynges vnto you ¶ Axe and it shal be geuen you seke and ye shal fynd knocke and it shal be opened vnto you for whosoeuer areth receaueth and he that seketh findeth and to hym that knocketh it shal be opened Is there any man amonge you which wolde profer his sonne a stone yf he axeth hym breed or yf he axeth fisshe wolde he profer hym a serpent yf ye then which axe euyl can geue to youre children good gyftes howe moche moare shall youre father which is in heuen geue good thynges to them that axe of hym I will dwell amonge you and walke amōge and wil be youre God and ye shal be my people I wil be an father vnto you and ye shal be vnto me sonnes and doughters sayth the lorde God almyghty Beholde the dayes shal come saith the lorde and I will fynnisshe apon the hous of Israel and apone the hous of Iuda an newe testament not lyke as the Testament that I made with theyr fathers at that tyme when I toke them by the honde to leed them oute of the lande of Egipte For this is the testament that I will make vnto the hous of Israel after theyr dayes I wil put my lawes in they re myndes and in theyr hertes I will writ them and I wil be theyr God and they shal be my people And they shall not teache euery man his neybour and euery man his brothre sayinge knowe the lorde for they shal knowe me from the leest to the greatest of them for I will be mercifull to them on theyr iniquites and synnes and on they re vnrighteuesnes will I not thynke any moare ¶ I the lorde defende and water her in the due tyme. I kepe her daye and nyght leste any man inuade her I am with oute all wrathe who then mo so mowe me to be so greate an enemie to her that I my promes neglecte I shal fyght for this cytie and shall defende it saith the lorde and shal saue it for my namys sake Be of good chere be of good chere my people saith youre God se that ye counforte the hertes of Ierusalem and tell them of theyr reest and deliueraunce from captiuite tell them howe theyr synnes shal be forgeuen them after that they haue receaued theyr full chastisinge of y e lordis honde for all theyr synnes Thou shal be my seruaunte I haue chosen y e nether shal I at any tyme refuse y e ▪ se that thou feare not for I shal be with y e nether loke thou aboute for eny other for I am thy God which shal conforte y e I shal helpe y e I shal holde the fast with this same my faithful righthonde Beholde as many as prouoke the to angre shal be counfunded and shamed thy aduersares shal come to nought and peresshe so that he that shal seke for them
for ye are not vnder y e lawe but vnder grace aÌ„d ye are borne a newe in ye sprite The sprite is made fre Ye sprite is fylled with y e holy gost And ye sprite fulfilleth the lawe In my mynde sayeth Paul I serue the lawe of God howebeit y e synne dwell in the flesshe yet the sprite wyl not coÌ„sent nor obey there vnto because it is borne a newe aÌ„d made fre by faith but wyl obey vnto the lawe of God by the power of his holy sprite by whom spryngeth very lowe from the herte And so in the sprite the lawe is fulfilled Thaâ— commande vs to lowe God With all oure herte with all oure soule with all oure streyngth oute of this lowe spryngeth all good workes for lowe canne not be ydel but must of neade worke to the pleasure of hym whom is lowed when occasion commeth An man that hath perfect lowe to God seketh with all diligence to knowe they thynges wherin God hath pleasure And when he knowed the wyll of God there mo nothynge holde hym from the doinge of it Yee he is glade that God hath commaunded hym to do soche thynges Because his pleasure is to be occupyed in the lawe of the lorde nether is his lawe heuy to soche a man For it is an easy yoke and an light burdynge thorowe lowe wherin I praye God to coÌ„ferme youre hertes by his sprite thorowe faith Amen Of pacience BE ye pacient bretherne vnto the coÌ„mynge of the lorde Belowed brethern pacence is an virtue whiche is necessary in theyr euyl and peralouse dayes aÌ„d thereby all y e saynâ—â—eâ— of God haue ouercoÌ„me all persecutioÌ„ aÌ„d trouble put om them in this present lyfe and this pacience Paul coÌ„mended vnto vs sayinge In all thynges let vs behaue oure sylfes as the ministers of God in moche pacience in afflictions in necessâ—te in auguyâ—she in strypes in presoÌ„ment in stryfe in labour in warche in fastinge in purenes in knowledge in loÌ„ge sufferinge in kyndnes in the holy goost in lowe vnfayned in the wordes of trueth in the power of God by the armâ—â—â— of righteuesnes on the ryght honde and on the lyfte honde in honoure and dishonoure in euyll reporte and good reporte as disceauers and yet true as vnknowen and yet knowen as deyinge and beholde we yet liue as chastened and not kylled as sorowynge and yet alwayes mery as poore aÌ„d yet make many ryche as hauynge no thynge and yet possessynge all thynges This pacience is to soffre and receaue gladly withoute any murmure whatsoeuer trouble payne vexation and aduersite that God sent And this pacience commeth of perfect lowe whiche commeth of stronge and sure faith This pacieÌ„ce teached vs the apostle Iamys sayenge Be ye pacient bretherne vnto the commynge of the lorde Pacience do marke some trouble for in prosperite she lost her â—ome she ragne neuer but wher trouble aÌ„d Beholde wicked Iezabel caused to kyll all the holy prophetes in Israel excepte they that were hyd secretly or fledde to the deserte as Elias .c. Of the trouble aÌ„d persecution of the prophetes and seruauntes of God saith Christ to the olde scribes and pharisees Beholde I sende vnto you prophetes wyse men and scribes and of them some shall ye kyl and crucifie and some shall ye scourge in youre synagogges and persecute them from citie to citie Take my brethern the prophetes for an ensample of sufferinge aduersitie and of longe pacience which spake in the name of the lorde Beholde we counte them happy which endure Ye haue herde of the pacience of Iob and haue knowen what ende the lorde made for the lorde is pityfull aÌ„d merciful Beholde also the greate aduersitie and trouble of holy Tobie for all his substance was taken from hym aÌ„d hymsylfe was sought to be kylled aÌ„d his syght was taken from hym by God also ye haue herde what endethe lorde made of all his aduersite Market his also yf God sende the to the see and promyse to goo with y e and to brynge the saffe to londe he wyl reyse vp a tempest agenst the to proue whether thou wilt abyde by his woorde and that thou maist feale thy faith and perceaue his goodnes for were it all wayes fayre wether aÌ„d â—ou neuer brought to soch ieoperdy whenâ—e his mercy only deliuered the thy faith â—ulde be but a presumption and thou shulâ—est be euer vnthankefull to God and merâ—ylesse vnto thy neyboure ¶ Yf God promyse riches y e waye therto is â—owerte WhoÌ„ he loweth hym he chasteset â—hom he exaltet he casteth downe whom he â—â—ueth he daÌ„neth fyrst He bringeth no man â—o heuen excepte he sende hym to hell first Yf he promise lyfe he sleyeth first when he â—yldeth he casteth all downe fyrst He is no â—atcher he can not bylde on a nother mans foundacion He will not worke vntyll all be past remedy and brought vnto soch a case that men may se how that his haÌ„de his power his mercy his goodnes aÌ„d trueth hath wrought all to gether He will let no man be partetaker with him of his prayse aÌ„d glorie His workes are wonderful and contrary vnto mans workes Who euer saue he delyuered his awne sonne his only sonne his dere sonne vnto the deeth and that for his enemies sake to winne his enemie to ouercome him with lowe that he myght se lowe and lowe agayne and of lowe to doo lyke wyse to other men and to ouercome them with well doinge ¶ Ioseph sawe y e sonne and the mone and xi ster res worshepinge him Neuerthelesse shameful deeth of the crosse as a thef or a mortherer Yee an cursed deeth as saith the lawe cursed is whosoeuer hangeth on tree He vas â—ende in the warlde by the father to suffre trouble whiche before he apoynted to hym Yee he se et an stroÌ„ge batayl before hym in the which he do fyght aâ— an worthy knyght and obtayned victory and haue receaued y e rewarde but fyrst he fought or he waÌ„ne the rewarde yee he suffered to be sore wounded be fore he obtayned victory As the holy prophete sawe longe afore honde and spake of hym He shal haue nether beutye nor fauoure wheÌ„ we shall beholde hym he shal be oute of shappe so that we shal not desyer hym he shal be despysed and leste set bye of al men a man hauynge experience and fealinge bothe oure sorowes and sykenesses we shal I saye repute hym so vyle and lothly that we shall hyde oure faces froÌ„ hym When this not withstondinge yet is euen he muste beare oure sykenesses and sorowes But we shall iudge hym to be thus cast doune and smyten with some plage of God yee when he is wounded euen of oure transsgressions and thus smyten for oure vngodlynes for the punyshment for oure correction shal be layde apon hym and by his stripes and hurte shal be healed All we are