my soule blesse y â— Lord and forget nor al his benefites For he it is that pardonneth al thyne iniquities that healeth all thy diseases yea he it is y â— deliuereth thy lyfe from destruccion and crouneth the in mercy and louing kyndnesse Agayne let Israel trust in the Lord for with the Lord there is infinite mercy and plenteous redeÌ„ptioÌ„ And he it is that redemeth Israel froÌ„ all their sinnes Whosoeuer therfore taketh on hym to forgeue synne maketh hym selfe a sauiour and sayeth with the Aungell Apostata I will clyme vp aboue the hygh cloudes and I will be lyke vnto y â— mooste hyghest But let hym knowe that pryde will haue a faule and that the Lorde is a ielous God and will geue hys glorie to none other Who deliuered Adam from euerlastinge damnacion whan he with hys wyfe had transgressed the commaundemeÌ„t of the hygh Lord Who absolued Nohe from his dronkennes Who deliuered Loth froÌ„ the vnclennes which he committed with hys doughters Who saued Moyses and forgaue hym hys manslaughter Who absolued Dauid froÌ„ hys adultry Who had coÌ„passion on the Niniuites whaÌ„ they repeÌ„ted beleued and coÌ„uerted To be shorte who forgaue and absolued all the Patriarckes Kynges Prophetes prestes c with all other of the olde testament whan they knowledged their sinnes and returned vnto the Lord their God with faithfull repentauÌ„ce but onely God alone to whome did theifâ—e for remission of sinnes but to God alone In whome did they put their afflaunce and trust but in God alone as the Psalmographe testifieth sayinge Our fathers trusted in the o Lord yea they trusted in the and thou deliuerest them They cryed vnto the and they were made safe in the o Lord they trusted were not confounded Are not these the woordes of blessed Dauid I sayde I wil confesse my sinnes vnto the Lorde and thou forgauest the wickednes of my sinne Here is no mencioÌ„ made of AaroÌ„ or of any of that priesthode nor yet of Pope Patriarcke Cardinall Archebishop Bishop Prieste or of any other man to forgeue vs our synnes but of God alone So foloweth it that the Lorde alone remitteth the vngodlynes of oure synne and that he alone absolueth a pena et culpa This was godly doctrine in the olde testament neyther was he counted of godly meÌ„ any Heretyke that taught this kynde of learning at that tyme. God was thaÌ„ the Lorde alone omnisufficient for all hys people that truly repented and conuerted to his vnmesurable mercye neyther had he nede at that tyme of any other to be conioyned with hym as he hym selfe sayde vnto Abraham feare not Abraham I am thy defender and thyne altogether sufficient rewarder and is the Lordes hande nowe so abbreuiated and shortened that he can saue nomore or is hys eare so stopped that he can not heare Lorde God what a soâ—eÌ„ chaunge is this But I stedfastly beleue that he is thesame Lorde now that he was in the olde tyme and of no lesse power to remit sinne at thys present than he was many thousande yeres before these oure dayes in asmuche as he abydeth euer one and is not chauÌ„geable as he sayeth by the Prophet Malachie I am the Lord and am not chaunged ¶ Hytherto haue I bene holde in few wordes to proue y â— in the time of the olde law God alone forgaue the synnes of his people without the helpe eyther of Bishop Prophet prieste leuite or any other y t the whole glory of their saluacion might be ascribed to hym alone Nowe let vs also labour to declare that God alone doth the very same thynge in the new testament y â— he alone maye stil remayne the God of health agaynst the pestilent doctrine of the wicked Papistes whiche so borishelye sweate to maintaine their vsurped power and fayned authoritie to the greate obscuringe of Gods glorie and that to hym alone all honour and prayse maye be geuen ¶ We reade in the holy gospel that when a certen man beyng diseased of the palsey was brought vnto Christe to be made whole Christ sayde vnto hym Sonne be on a good conforte thy sinnes are forgeueÌ„ the. The Scribes hearing these wordes of forgeuing sinne thinking w t theÌ„ selfs y â— Christ was not God but maÌ„ onely that it was the office of God alone too remit forgeue synne spake on thys manner within them selfs Hic blasphemat this felow blasphemeth or as Marke Luke writeth Who is he y â— speaketh blasphemies Who is able to forgeue sinne but God alone here the Scribes teÌ„dering more the glory of God then our papistes pharises do at this time could not abyde y â— Christ whome they iudged only maÌ„ should chaleÌ„ge to him power to forgeue sinne seing y â— alone pertained to God And vpoÌ„ this place of y e scripture many write y t y â— Scribes erred not in this coÌ„fession y â— God alone forgeueth synne but in this thei sai thei were deceyued because thei beleued not y â— christ was bothe God and man If Christe had bene nothinge but maÌ„ he had blasphemed in dede that is to say taken that thing vpon hym whiche is the office of God alone but forasmuche as he was not onely man but also God he blasphemeth not he chalenged nothing but that was hys righte So did the Scribes and not Christe blaspheme Let all men therefore learne of this historie that God alone forgeueth synne Doeth not Christe also in the aforesaid chapter of Matthew call hym selfe a Phisicion and shew that he came to call synners vnto repentaunce and to make them whole Why calleth he him self a phisicion but because it is his office to cure and heale Ieremy prayed vnto this phisicion sayeng heale me o Lorde I shall be healed saue thou me I shall be safe for thou arte he whome I will magnifye For he did knowe full well that all other phisicions were vnprofitable without his helpe and no more mete to cure sicke consciÌ„ces of them selfes then the olde Lyon was to heale the horse of whome Esope writeth in his fables whiche notwithstandyng take on him to practise phisicke whaÌ„ of that same scieÌ„ce he was altogether ignorante Moreouer Christe calleth all them y â— labour and are laden to hym promiseth that he will refreshe ease and conforte them He sendeth them not awaye to other but calleth them all withoute excepcion to hym whereby he sheweth that no creature neyther in heauen nor in earth can truly and sufficiently heale our infirme and sicke consciences but he alone whiche sayeth I am the resurrectioÌ„ and lyfe He that beleueth in me althoughe he be dead shal lyue and euery one that liueth and beleueth in me shal neuer dye For who can forgeue me my synne but he alone which is without al sinne Who can deliuer me froÌ„ death hel but he alone which hath
y â— other Apostles Ye meÌ„ and brethren what shall we do Peter sayde vnto them Repent be baptised euery one of you in y â— name of Iesus Christ for the remission of synnes and ye shall receyue the gifte of the holye Ghoste As they were greatly dismayde whaÌ„ the holy Apostle opened vnto theim their malicious fact in sleayng Christ the Lorde so were they very much conforted whan they hearde of sainct Peter y t there was hope of theyr synnes to be forgeuen so that they repented theym of their wickednes and were baptised in y â— name of Iesu Christ. With how entier and vnspeakeable sorow is it to be thought that the famous and notable adulterer amoÌ„g the Corinthians was ouerwhelmed whaÌ„ at y â— coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t of s. Paule he was deliuered vnto sathaÌ„ excoÌ„municate put out of the christeÌ„ company and reputed among them as an Ethnycke Publicane Contrariwyse with what excedyng ioye was he replenished whan after hys repentaunce and sorowe he heard the swete promyses of Goods mercy declared vnto hym that lygheth bent oute towarde all synners that repent in faythe and afterwarde was receyued into the company of the faythfull Christianes I passe ouer diuers other histories bothe of the olde and newe testamente whiche do abundantly declare what great conforte the faythful peniteÌ„t synners haue alway had in hearing the confortable promises of Gods mercy Now the absolucion beyng as I said before nothynge elles but the preachynge of fre deliueraunce from synne by the death of Iesu Christ for God alone forgeueth synne and absolueth the faythfull penitent it ought not to be contemned and despysed but whansoeuer the Mynyster of the Lordes woorde be it priuatly or openly shall reherse vnto â—en the swete and confortable wordes of Gods mercye towarde all them that repent in fayth they oughte too geue earnest fayth vnto them beynge vndoubtedly perswaded that their synnes at that time be assuredly forgeuen theÌ„ as thoughe God hym selfe had spoken these wordes according to this saying of Christ he that heareth you heareth me But it were expedient that al true ministers should praye that their forme or manner of absolucion be pure and agreable to y â— vayn of the holy scriptures without the intermixtion of anye mans authoritie in remittinge synne eyther of Peter Paule Fraunces Dominike Benet or anye other or yet of theÌ„ selfs agayn y â— it be declared to the penitent that God alone forgeueth the synne and that the Priestes are but the ministers of God too whome he hath geueÌ„ the keyes of the kyngdome of heauen for to shewe to y â— true penitent loosoning that is to saye remissioÌ„ of their synnes to the obstinate and hardeharted synners byndyng that is that they remayn still in the daunger of damnacion and shalbe damned except they repent beleue It wolde also be prouided that whan the faythfull penitent is desirous to haue hys conscience confyrmed stablished and conforted with the worde of God it shuld not be muÌ„bled in the latin toÌ„ge as the Papistes haue hytherto vsed in their absolucions but in the mother tounge that the Idiote and vnlearned may vnderstande it and be edifyed Or els what fayth shall he coÌ„ceyue in hys herte Howe shall he repent How shall he knowe the goodnes of God towarde synners Howe shall he arme hym selfe with fayth agaynst sathaÌ„ synne and desperacion Howe shall he prepare hym selfe too geue God thaÌ„kes for his kindnes and lyue worthy of his profession God grauÌ„t that al thinges maye be done vnto hys glory vnto the profit of hys holy congregacion Here hast thou moste godly Reader my mynde concerning the absolucion and forgeuenes of synnes which if it be examined by the scriptures of God al mannes doctrine set aparte I doubt not but it will stande so stronge that the gates of hell shall not once be able too preuayle agaynst it Farewel most gentle Reader and praye that the Lordes woorde maye haue fre passage that y â— name of the great God and our sauiour Iesu Christe maye be glorified amonge all nacions and that al discension layde asyde we may agree in one faythe and one truthe Amen ☞ Geue the glory to God alone ☞ ⧠☜ Imprinted at London by Ihon Daye dwellinge in Aldersgate and William Seâ—es dwellinge in Peter Colledge These bokes are too be solde by the litle CoÌ„duite in Chepeside ☞ Cum gracia et Priuilegio ad imprimendum solum ii Thes. ii Mat. xxiiii i. Pet. ii Heb. xâ—â—i Math. x. Galat. iiii Tit. i. â— Timo. iii. Phil. iii. Esa. v. Act. xx Apoc. xviii i. Ioan. ii iiii â— Ioan. i Roma iii. viiii Ephe. ii i. Timo. ii i. Ioan. i. i. Ioan. i. Heb. vii ix x. Ephe. v. Maâ—h ix Marc. ii Luc. v. ii Pet. ii Luc. xxii ii Tâ—s ii Esa. xi Esa. xliiâ— Math. xxiiii â–ª Ioan. iii. Roma iii. Roma xi â–ª Ephe. ii Luce. xvii Iob xiiii â–ª Psal. x. ii Ioan. xiii Ese xxxiii 〈…〉 〈◊〉 xii◠〈…〉 Psal. 〈…〉 Esâ— xiiii Esa. xâ—ii Gene. iii. Gene. xix Exod. ii iii. Reg. xi Ionus iiii Psal. xxâ—â— Psa. xxxii Gene. xv Esa. lix Malac. iii. i. Timo. i Math. ix Marc. ii Luce. v Math. ix Iere. xvii Math. xi Ioan. xâ— i. Peâ— iiâ— Ose. xiii Math. xix i. Cor. â— Eccle. xxiiii Mat. xi Ioan. i. Esa. iv Ioan. vii â—poc xxii Psal â–ª 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—iâ— iii. Act. â—iii xiiiâ— Act. x. Act. iiii â—â—an xv Roma â–ª x. Roma xiii Ioan. iii Math. viii ix xv Marc. v. ix Luc. xvii xvâ— Ioan. xi Iere. xvii Psal. vii Apoc. â—i â—oan xv Tit. 〈◊〉 Luc. x Roma viii Roma iiii i. Cor. i. Roma viii Galat. i. â— Cor. vi Ephe. i. Colos. i. Iac. â— i. Ioan. i i. Ioan. ii Apoc. i. Luc. vii Luc. xxiii Math. ix Luc. â—v Iohn x. Luc. â—v Mat. xxviii Psal. ◠〈◊〉 Esa. xl Maxâ— xvi i. Cor. â— i. Cor. ix 〈…〉 Ioan. iii. Ioan. xâ— Esa. lxi Luc. iiâ—â— Luc. â—iii Maâ—e â— Mat. xxiii ii Cor. iiii i. Cor. iiii Luâ— x. Ioan. xl Math. xxi Math. xviii Math. xxi ii Thes. iii Ioan. xx Ioan. xv Sapi. xvi Psal. e. vii Ose. xiii Note Ioan. iâ—â— Math. xvi Ioan. xx Esa liiii â—ere xxxi Ioan. vi Heb. viii Ioel. ii â—ct ii Psal. i. Ioan. v. viii â— Luâ— xxii ◠〈…〉 â— Cor. iii. ii Cor. v. Goolat iiii i. Thes. iiii Exod. xvi Math. x. Luc. x. i. Timo. v. â— Cor. iii. 〈◊〉 x. Luc. i. Luce. xxiiii Marc. xvi Math. xvâ— Math. xvi Ioan. xx Note Luc. xi Malach. ii Mark xv Iaco. i. ii Reg. xiâ—â— Luc. vii 〈◊〉 xxiii Act. ii Cor. v. ii Cor. ii 〈…〉
The Castell of comforte in the whiche it is euidently proued y t God alone absolueth and freli forgeueth the sinnes of so many as vnfaynedly repent and turne vnto hym Lately compyled by Thomas Becon Prouer. xviii The name of the Lord is a stroÌ„g castell vnto that doeth the righteous runne and he shal be preserued Csa lv COme to the waters all ye that be thyrsty ye that haue no money come bye that ye maye haue too eate Come bye wyne mylke without money or money worthe Wherfore do ye laye out youre money for y e thing y â— fedeth not spend your labour about the thing y â— satisfieth you not But harkeÌ„ rather vnto me ye shal â—at of y â— best your soule shall haue her pleasure in pleÌ„teousnes Encline iour eares come vnto me take hede your soul shal lyue For I will make an euerlasting couenaunt w t you euen the sure mercies that were promysed to Dauid ☞ Iohan. vii If any man be thyrstye let hym come vnto me and drynke ☞ Psal. xxxiiii Oh taste and se howe swete the Lorde is blessed is that man that putteth hys trust in hym To the moste honorable and verteous Lady Marie duchesse of RychemoÌ„de her grace Thomas BecoÌ„ wissheth from God the father thorow our Lord Iesu Christ a faythfull perseueraunce in gods most holy worde vnto the ende IT is not without a greate cause moste godly Lady that y â— holy Apostle sainct Paule desired the Thessalonians to holde faste y â— doctrine that he had taught theÌ„ afore and not sodenli to be moued from their knowlege vnderstanding nor to be troubled neyther by spirite neyther by wordes nor yet by letter For he vndoubtedly did afore se by the reuelacion of Gods spirit that there should aryse false anoynted and false preachers whiche shoulde worke great miracles and wonders insomuch that if it were possible the very elect chosen people of God shoulde be brought into errour whiche also shoulde saye beholde here is Christe or there is Christe bringing in damnable sectes vtterly denyenge the Lord that bought them as Peter sayeth He considered the imbecillitie weakenes and chyldishe hertes of men whiche excepte they be corroborated fortefied with y â— streÌ„gth of Gods spirit are sone caried aboute with diuers and strauÌ„ge learninges embrasing no lesse gredely that that is to them selfs noysome and pestiferous than that whiche is good and profitable as we at thys present time se dayly before our eyes both in the Papistes and Anabaptistes with suche other damnable sectaries Therfore this moste excellent Apostle desired the Thessalonians yea so many of vs as professe Christ vnfaynedly to perseuer abide in the worde of trueth eueÌ„ vnto the ende that we may be saued not lightly to be moued with the subtile and crafty persuasions of them that teache weake and beggarly tradicions with humayne constitucions which gyue hede to fables and mens commaundementes that turne away the folowers of them froÌ„ the trueth whiche professe that they know God but with their dedes they deny him inasmoch as they are abhominable disobedient yea and vnmete to al good workes which loue their owne pleasurs more than God hauinge an vtter apperans of godly liuing but denyeng the power therof whiche runne froÌ„ house to house and bringe into bondage both men and women lodeÌ„ with synne which are ledde with diuers lustes euer learnynge and neuer able to come vnto the knowlege of the truth which are enemies of the crosse of Christe whiche call that is euill good and y â— is good euill ce In fewe whiche are rauenynge wolfes not sparyng the flocke Dothe the world wante these enemies of Gods glory Haue not we also nede to take hede vnto the aforesayde wholsome admonicion of the holye Apostle saincte Paule Doeth not the worlde at this daye norishe such vngodly monstures What age hath bene withoute them syns the beginning of the worlde What nede I to speke of that great whore of BabiloÌ„ the mother of fornicacions and abhominacions of the earthe whiche hath made dronken w t the wyne of the wrathe of her whoredom all the nacions of y â— earth yea the very kinges and rulers of the earth haue playde the aduouterers with her The fornicacioÌ„ of that most filthy stinking strompet is so openly knowen made manifest vnto vs both by godly bokes and learned sermons that it nedeth not here to be rehersed And woulde God that as the name of this Babilonical strompet is exiled out of mennes mouthes and rased out of bokes among vs so in lyke maner her whoredome I meane the popysh and deuelish decrees which fighte with y â— manifest worde of God mighte ones be vtterly exiled banyshed and for euer dryuen away from the bondes of Christendome that all thinges in the Christen publique weale both in this and in other foren Realmes mighte be instituted ordered and appoynted accordinge to the veritie of Christes moste blessed Gospell But besides this monstrous beaste are there rysen not a few which are playne Antichristes daily labour to obscure the glory of God No maruel seyng that in the Apostles time blessed Iohn coÌ„fesseth that there were many Antichristes and false Prophetes What nede I to speake of them which teache that Christ by his moste precious death deliuered vs onely from original synne Which teache that man is iustified by his owne workes and not by the fayth alone that he hath in Christes moste blessed death which teache that by obseruinge mens tradicions euerlasting life is gotâ—eÌ„ Which teach that external ceremonies iustifie and put awaye synne Whiche teache that maÌ„ is able of his owne strengthe to fulfill the lawe and to satisfie the iustice of God which teache that our prayers can not be hearde without the intercession of other Which teache that all honour pertayneth not too God alone whiche teache that the bloude of oure sauioure Iesu Christ is not a sufficient Purgatorye for all oure synnes except we be broyled boyled and perboyled in y â— Popes fornace Whiche teache that the Lorde Christe gaue not hym selfe so plenteously a swete smelling sacrifice to God the father for vs that with the one oblacion of hys moste blessed body he hath made theÌ„ perfect for euermore that are sanctified Which teache that God alone forgeueth not synne but synnefull man also Are not these very Antichristes enemies of y e crosse of Christ defacers of Gods glory fals annoynted fals preachers rauening wolfs cloudes without water trees without frute raging waues of y â— sea foming out their owne shame waÌ„dring starres to whome is reserued y â— myste of darkenes for euer meÌ„ pleasers hauing men in greate reuerence for auauntage sake curssed chyldren whiche haue forsaken the right waye are gone astray these are they doubtles of whome
spake these wordes loosen hym and let hym go rather to his Disciples than to all the other indifferently I thynke rather that he spake them to y â— women as mooste comonly occupied aboute suche thinges But to whom he spake the text maketh no mencioÌ„ therfore caÌ„ they proue nothyng As touchyng the losoninge of y â— Asse who seeth not their folishnes the occasion why christ sente the disciples for the Asse was not to geue theym power to losen men from their sinnes at their pleasure but to fulfil y e prophecy of zachary whiche so loÌ„ge before prophecied y â— Christ shoulde come rydynge mekely vpon an Asse contrarye to the expectacion of the ambicious vayne glorious Iewes What is this to the purpose Where as Christ by this example teacheth humilite the papistes gather pryde Christe submitteth hym self euen with the mooste lowest and they exalt theÌ„ selfs with the mooste hyghest yea aboue all that is called God or that is worshypped and syt in the temple of God and shewe them selfes as God Tell me good Reader are not these swete Allegorymakers I woulde they woulde ones cease to moralyse for they haue lyed too longe Some of them also alledge this sayinge of Christe Whatsoeuer thou shalt bynde on the earth shalbe also bouÌ„de in heaueÌ„ And whatsoeuer thou shalt loosen on earthe shall be loosoned in heauen Here they esteme them selfes more thaÌ„ Goddes By this texte they thynke they maye do whatsoeuer pleaseth theym saue or condemne bynde or loose holde vp or cast doune buylde or subuerte briÌ„g to heauen or caste doune to hel but if the good men woulde take the paynes to looke what goeth before theyr coÌ„be should sone be plucked doune they wold not make somuch of their paynted shethe Christ sayeth a littel before I will geue y â— the keyes of y â— kyngdom of heaueÌ„ He sayeth not I geue y â— Christ in this place onely promised y â— keyes to the congregacion and performed his promise after his resurreccion as we maye se in y â— Gospel of Ihon. Hereof maye y â— papistes rightwell perceyue y â— this texte wherof hytherto they haue so greatly gloried and out of the whiche they haue sucked so greate aduauntage maketh littel vnto the aduauncemeÌ„t of theyr fayned power Their laste and moste stroÌ„g bulwarke where y â— keyes were geuen to the true ministers is this text Whosoeuer synnes ye forgeue they are forgeuen vnto them And whosoeuers synnes ye retayne they are retayned Here they triumphe perswade themselfes that they haue gotteÌ„ the victory though they neuer fight stroke But if they will be fauorable to God and worke no iniurie to the other scriptures afore rehersed they shall haue no cause to lifte vp their bristles Christe speaketh here after the manner of our speache whiche diligently must be noted vnles we wil depriue God of his glorie Whan we se a man restored to his healthe whiche longe before hathe ben vexed of some greuous disease is made whole thorowe the diligence of some Phisicion we vse to saye Doctor Turner made this maÌ„ whole or doctor Byll or some other whiche is expert in that kynde of science and yet is it not the doctor that made hym whole but rather y e emplastures and medecines y â— he ministred vnto hym yea rather god if we wil speake truly which gaue such vertue to hys creatures to worke health vnto the sicke So doeth the scripture speake Somtyme it attributeth our health to the ministers of the worde as in thys aforesayde place somtyme and moste comoÌ„ly to God hym self as we tofore haue abundantly hearde somtyme to the worde of God as it is written Nowe are ye clene for the wordes sake which I haue spokeÌ„ vnto you IteÌ„ Neyther herbe nor emplasture hathe healed theÌ„ but thy worde o Lord y â— healeth al thinges Hereto pertaineth y e saying of y e Psalmographe he sent his worde healed theÌ„ deliuered theÌ„ froÌ„ their destruccions and yet doeth God onely make vs whole forgeue vs our sinnes as he himself witnesseth by the Prophet saying thy destruccioÌ„ o Israel cometh of thy self only of me cometh thy helpe saluacion What caÌ„ be more plainly spoke Who is able once to hiske against these thinges Who wil once opeÌ„ his mouth to barcke agaist this doctrine NomaÌ„ I suppose except he be altogether drouned in papisme This therfore is the true meaning of thaforesayd text WhaÌ„ soeuer y â— ministers of y â— Lordes worde declare vnto me y â— swete promises of God y â— father made to me in Christes bloud I beleue theÌ„ thaÌ„ are my sinnes forgeuen me at y â— very instauÌ„t but if I do not beleue theÌ„ than are my synnes retayned y â— is to saye not forgeueÌ„ And forasmuch as I eyther repeÌ„t beleue or els coÌ„tinew still in myne olde daÌ„nable state at the preaching of y â— Lordes ministers therfore y â— scripture attributeth my deliuerauÌ„s from synne or otherwyse to theÌ„ whan notwithstandynge God alone remitteth my synne if I repent and beleue If I do not the vncircumcision of my hert that is my incredulitie and vnfaithfulnes is the occasion that my sinnes are retained and not forgeuen For thys sayinge alwaye muste nedes avyde true thy destruccioÌ„ o Israel cometh of thy selfe onely of me cometh thy helpe and saluacion So y t the priestes I meane the ministers of Gods worde are counted to forgeue synne whan they preache to the truly repentauÌ„te remission of synnes thorowe Christe and to retayne synne whan they declare too the vnfaythfull damnacion and that the wrath of God abydeth vpoÌ„ them so long as they remayne still in their incredulitie and vnfaythfulnes as it is writteÌ„ He that beleueth not on y â— sonne shall not see lyfe but the wrathe of God abydeth vpon hym Thus se we that those teâ—teâ— of the holy scripture which the papistes alledge for y â— maintenaunce of their fayned vsurped power in remitting synne maketh nothing for their purpose if they be truly alledged vnderstande accordinge to the vayne of the holy scriptures The scriptures of God maye not be rent and torne neyther harked nor wrested to serue the priuate affectes of menne but euery text must be so weyed poÌ„dered alledged and vnderstoÌ„d that it may agre with the other textes of the holy Bible that al the glory of our saluacion may be ascribed to God alone which is both the beginner finisher of all our health to hym therefore be all honour and prayse for euer Amen NOw wil I make hast to the laste parte of this treatyse which requireth y â— I should expresse my mynde concernyng the keyes which Christe before hys passion promised too hys churche and after his resurreccion performed hys promyse and shew by the sacred scriptures that the gyfte of the keyes is no vayne and idle gyfte but a necessarie ioyfull and confortable treasure
For y e Papistes will here obiecte If remissioÌ„ of sinnes cometh from God alone than were the keyes geuen to the congregacioÌ„ in vayne But to the entent that I maye stop the mouthes of y e aduersaries and that they may haue no occasion to barke agaynst the glory of God after this marke wel good Reader what shal be spoken Trueth it is y â— God alone teacheth men hys verite by the holy Ghoste as it is written Al shal be taughte of God Again I will poure oute of my spirite vpon all fleshe and youre sonnes and your doughters shall prophecye The Psalmographe also sayeth I will heare what the Lord speaketh in me yet will he that they shoulde be studious of the holy scriptures bothe daye and nyghte as it is commaunded of Christe Searche the scriptures and also diligently heare the preachynge of hys woorde as it is written He that is of God heareth the woordes of God My shepe heare my voyce Euery one that is of the trueth heareth my voyce So in like maner although God alone remitteth all synne yet will he y â— remission of synnes shoulde be preached to the people that by this meanes they maye repent beleue and be made whole as Christ testifieth saying It behoued Christ to suffer and too ryse agayn froÌ„ death the thirde day and that repentaunce and remission of synnes shoulde be preached in hys name amonge all nacions Faythe cometh by hearing hearing by the worde of God For the ministers of the gospell are the organnes instrumeÌ„tes of Christ by whom God worketh thorow his holy spirit health and saluacion in so many as are predestinate vnto eternal lyfe They are Gods laborers ministers by whom we beleue eueÌ„ as the Lord geueth euery man grace They are the oratours messengers interpreters Asigels Apostles and Embassadours of the Lord as the Apostle sayeth all thinges are of God which hath reconciled vs vnto hym selfe by Iesu Christ and hath geueÌ„ vs the office to preache the attonement For God was in Christ reconciled the worlde vnto him self and imputed not their sinnes vnto them and among vs hath he set vp the worde of attonement Now then are we messengers in the roume of Christ euen as though God exhorted by vs. We beseche you nowe therfore in Christes steade that yâ— be at one with god Agayne to the Galathians he writteth on this manner Ye did not despyse nor abhorre me but receyued me as an Aungell of God yea euen as Christe Iesu. Hereto pertayneth hys saying to the Thessalonians He that casteth awaye vs casteth not awaye menne but God whiche hath geuen hys holy spirit into vs. Moyses also in tymes paste sayde to the people that murmured agaynste hym The Lorde hath hearde your grudgynge and murmuryng wherwith ye murmure against him For what are we Youre murmuriÌ„gs are not against vs but agaynst the Lorde So likewise reade we in the Gospell that the Lord spake of hys ministers Uerely verely I saye vnto you He that receyueth wlâ—ome soeuer I shall sende receyueth me And he that receyueth me receyueth him that also that sent me Agayne he sayeth he that heareth you heareth me and he that despyseth you despiseth me and he that despyseth â—e despyseth hym also that sent me Here se we that the ministers of Goddes woorde are not to be despysed for they are necessarye instrumentes vnto the health of men and they are worthy of double honoure as the Apostle sayeth Therefore maye it be concluded that the absolucion of the Prieste is not too be despysed seynge it is none other thynge if it be a true and Christen absolucion than the preachynge of fre remission of oure synnes in Christes name And although he y â— plaÌ„teth be nothing he that wattereth be nothing but God which geueth the encrease agayne albeit the Lorde blesseth vs with al spiritual benediction yet inasmuche as the inestimable kyndnes manyfolde benefytes of God toward vs can not be knowen nor beleued without preachinge for fayth cometh by hearynge and hearing by the worde of God therefore hath God appoynted hys ministers to open declare vnto men those excellent misteries those confortable ioyful promyses of Gods mercy and good wil towarde mankynde that they maye perceyue learne and vnderstande what is geueÌ„ them of the Lorde what they ought to beleue how thei shuld obtayne the giftes of God and lede a lyfe worthy the kyndnes of so bounteous a father God also hath appoynted the ministers to beget men in Christ Iesu by the Gospell too open the eyes of the blynde to turne theÌ„ from darkenes to lighte to coÌ„uerte the hertes of fathers into children and the disobedient to the wysdome of the righteous He hath commaunded them to preache repaÌ„taunce and remissioÌ„ of synnes in his name vnto all nacions Go youre waye sayeth he into the worlde vniuersall and preache the gospell to euery creature He that beleueth and is baptised shall be saued He that beleueth not shal be condemned Moreouer he hath geuen to his faythful ministers the keyes of the kyngedom of heaueÌ„ that whatsoeuer they loosen in earthe maye be also loosened in heauen And whatsoeuer thei bynde in earth maye also be bounde in heaueÌ„ that is to saye he hath committed to theim the office of preachyng the Gospel y t they should go forth into the worlde preache vnto all men the grace and fauoure that is geuen of God the father for Christes sake yea and that thei should proclaime publish and set abrode vnto all men that so many as repent beleue are losoned froÌ„ the captiuitie of sathaÌ„ purged froÌ„ syn deliuered froÌ„ death made enheritours of eternal life Again that so many as beleue not remayne still y â— captiues bonde sâ—aues of sataÌ„ coÌ„tinew bouÌ„de in their synnes and in the state of damnacion and that therefore thei shal dye the death and for euer more be damned excepte they repent turne and beleue And thus their preachynge is so certeyn and sure before God that whatsoeuer they pronounce beynge conformable to the worde of God shall as certenly come to passe as thoughe God hym selfe had spoken it As for an example Whan soeuer the ministers preachers of Gods woorde in this worlde shall declare to the faythfull repentaunce remission of synnes tell them that they be losoned froÌ„ y â— captiuitie of sathaÌ„ it is euen as certen sure as though God hym selfe had sayde these woordes vnto them Thy synnes are forgeueÌ„ the. In lyke manner whan they shall saye to the vnfaythfull that they remayne still bouÌ„de in their synne and that the wrathe of God abydeth vpon them and therefore they shall be damned God approapproueth their sayinge and it shal vndoubtedly come to passe according to their preachinge So that whatsoeuer the minister of Gods worde sayeth accordynge to the worde of
God ought to be receyued w t greate reuerence and takeÌ„ as an oraele sent doune from heauen vndoubtedly beleued as a manifeste and infallible veritie of God And this preaching of remittyng or retaynyng sinnes are the keyes of the kyngdome of heauen which Christ promysed his Apostles before hys death as we maye se in Matthew and after hys resurrectioÌ„ performed hys promyse as we rede in the Gospel of saint Iohan And by a Metaphore Christ calleth the preachyng of his worde a keye For as a keye hath twoo properties one too shutte another to open so hath the worde of God It openeth to the faythfull the treasure of the giftes of God grace mercy fauouâ—e remission of synnes quietnes of conscience euerlastyng life but to the vnfaithfull it shutteth all his treasures and suffereth theÌ„ to receiue none of them all so loÌ„g as they persiste and remayne in theyr incredulity and vnfaithfulnes These keyes are geuen too so many as beynge truely called vnto the office of ministracion preache y â— worde of God They loosen that is to say they preache to the faythfull remissioÌ„ of synnes by Christe They also bynde that is they declare to y â— vnfaythfull damnacion But he y â— preacheth not the woorde of God can neyther bynde nor loose though he chaleÌ„ge neuer so great dignitie authoritie power For Christ calleth it the keye of knowlege And the Prophet sayth y â— lyppes of a Priest kepe knowledge and at hys mouthe shall they requyre the lawe for he is the Aungell or messenger of the Lorde of hoostes Therefore where there is no kâ—â—wlege there is no keye And where there is no keye there is neyther openynge nor shuttinge that is neyther byndynge nor loosonynge Here let all menne iudge what is to be thoughte of the Papistes absolucion whereof they crake so muche whiche also they sell derely If no remission of synnes cometh from them but by preachynge Gods woorde it foloweth that their absolucion auayleth but littel seyng they neuer preache neyther the lawe of God nor the swete promyses of hym but onely mumble a fewe woordes in the latin tonge yea and this is not vnderstanded so likewise many tymes contrarye too the diuine scriptures and y e glory of god Miserable doubâ—les is that coÌ„gregacion which hath a blynd guyde to their Curate whiche hath neyther the gyfte nor the knowledge of preachynge For if the blynde leadeth the blynd both falle into y e dyche Agayn greately fortunate is that Paryshe and hyghly blessed of God to whome a learned shepeheard hath chaunced which can feede them wyth knowlege and doctrine Whatsoeuer they shall heare of suche a learned and godly minister lette theym beleue it as a voyce comynge doune frome heauen And so ofte as by suche a shepeharde remission of synnes in y e bloude of Christe is preached vnto the congregation let theÌ„ esteme that preachinge none otherwyse than if the Lord hym self had preached it Let them stedfastly beleue the woorde of God and vndoubtedly by their fayth thâ—row the grace of God they shall obtayne remission of all theyr synnes Contrariwise iâ— they beleue not their synnes are retayned and by no meanes forgeuen These thinges haue I spoken concernyng the absâ—lâ—cion or the keyes which consisteth only in preaching Gods worde that the Papistes maye haue no occasioÌ„ iustly to barke agaynst me as they haue done hytherto both for my sermons and bkes God forgeue them and sende them a better mynde Nowe forasmuche as the true and Christen absolution is nothing els but the preachinge of fre deliueraunce from synne by y â— death of Iesu Christ it ought not to be contemned and despised but rather to be receiued w t great humilitie and reuerence euen as a diuine oracle sente doune from the father of lightes For no maÌ„ caÌ„ expresse how greatly it conforteth infirme weake consciences whiche are troubled with y â— feare of Gods iudgementes Whan the Prophet Nathan came vnto kyng Dauid and rebuked hym for sleyng Urias the Hethite for takiÌ„g his wyfe Bethsabe vnto hys wyfe and tolde hym howe greatly God was angrye with hym and what plages shoulde fall vpon hys house yea vpon hym selfe for hys wickednes it is not to be doubted but that Dauid was stryken with a woÌ„derfull great heuynes and his hert pearsed with an inwarde sorowe insomuche that he was righte ashamed of hym selfe of his faulte of his wickednes was coÌ„pelled euen of conscieÌ„ce to braste out into the knowlege of hys synne to saye I haue synned agaynst the Lorde As Dauid was now full of sorow griefe trouble disquietnes in his hert had ioye of nothing vnto suche shame and confusion was he broughte in hys conscience so likewyse it is not to be doubted but that he was wonderfully reuiued maruelouslye restored vnto the peace and quietnes of his conscience yea and plenteously replenisshed with ioye in hys mynde whan the Prophet sayde these wordes vnto hym The Lorde hath put away thy synne thou shalt not dye Mary magdalen was a famous synner whan she herde her vnclene conuersacion rebuked by the woorde of God she hertely repented and was replenished w t an inwarde sorow lamenting greatly that she had offended so bounteous a Lorde mercifull God insomuche that a large fountayne of teares folowed out of her teÌ„der eyes All this tyme vndoubtedly her sorow was greater thaÌ„ it can be here expressed But whan she herde this confortable absolucion of our sauioure Christe RemittuÌ„tur tibi peccata Thy synnes are forgeuen the. Again thy faith hath made the safe Go thy way in peace that is to saye wyth a quiete and mery conscience O good God who is able to expresse w t howe great ioye and singular solace she was affected So sure and confortable is it to weake and troubled consciences too heare the swete and confortable wordes of our fre deliueraunce froÌ„ the greuous burden of â—ynnes by Christes bloude The thiefe was full of great anguysh and trouble in his conscience whan he hanged vpon the crosse in y â— time of Christes passion confessed that both he hys felowe thefe suffered worthely euen according to their desertes and in the middes of his troubled conscience he cryed vnto the Lord Christe on this maner sayeng Lorde remember me whaÌ„ thou comest into thy kyngdom But whan Christ had made him auÌ„swere and sayde Uerely I saye vnto the this day shalt thou be wyth me in Paradyse O wyth what a quiet conscieÌ„ce suffered he hys paynes and with howe gladde an hert yeldeâ— he vp his spirit into the haÌ„des of the eternal father So confortable a thynge is it to a troubled conscience for to heare any thynge that maye quiet it Agayn whaÌ„ blessed Peter preached vnto the Iewes and tolde theÌ„ that they had crucifyde Christ the Lord the scripture sayeth that they were pricked in their hertes sayde vnto Peter and vnto