Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
lord_n	dead_a	die_v	live_v	11,283	5	6.6056	4	false

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A04901	A confutation of monstrous and horrible heresies, taught by H.N. and embraced of a number, who call themselues the Familie of Loue by I. Knewstub. Seene and allowed, according to the Queenes Maiesties iniunctions.	Knewstubs, John, 1544-1624.	1579 (1579)	STC 15040; ESTC S108097	192,800	286

Lorde had pardoned him his sinne therefore euery man that is godly shoulde bee emboldened likewise in their sinnes to flie vnto him wherevpon it followeth that euery man that is godly is subiect to sinne And if this offence of Dauid which had pardon from the Lorde had not beene ommitted after his calling and walking vnto the worde of God then could it not haue beene an argument of hope for the godly because it was committed before he began to liue in the feare of God and therfore their estate condition should be so diuerse that one coulde not yeelde the helpe of hope vnto an other Now if euery godly man should haue hope by it then is there no man so illuminate but he remaineth subiect to sinne and therefore must liue by faith and with the true Church of God beleeue the forgiuenesse of sinnes Nowe forgiuenesse of sinne if H.N. his doctrine may be beleeued is not to bee had or hoped for without this his familie of loue so that euery man not beeing of that his number is shut out of the Church and kingdome of Christ and liueth without all hope of mercy and forgiuenesse from the Lorde For these be his wordes in explaning this Article No man shall obteine grace nor forgiuenesse of sinnes at God his hands without thissame holy communialtie of Christ for thissame is the holy christianity the Familie of loue wherein God himselfe dwelleth liueth walketh c. H. N. The xi Article Wee beleeue the resurrection of the fleshe wee confesse that the dead which are deceased or fallen a sleepe in Christ rise vp with their bodyes and appeare with Christ in his glory where through the whole house of Israell becommeth erected or restored in the last day according to the promises Answeare That the resurrection of the body is wholy and altogither a spirituall matter according to the doctrine of H. N it plainely appeareth in all his bookes I in deede he vseth this worde body in this place but as his accustomed kind of dealing hath beene heeretofore that the simple may the sooner be deceiued thereby in not suspecting any straunge matter to be there where they heare no other beside the knowen accustomed wordes He calleth it the resurrection of the body be cause it is acccoÌ„plished while yet we are liuing in this body for so many as nowe imbrace the doctrine of H. N. and are growen to perfection in the same in his iudgement those are risen from the deade and that is with him the resurrectioÌ„ of the body in the last day whervnto he draweth all the scriptures which mention the day of iudgement the second comming of Christ when as wel good as bad shall rise againe in the fleshe and be adiudged either to ioy or paine euerlastingly That thus he thinketh of the resurrection it is plaine and euidently to be seene in his Euangelie Chapter 35.8 Beholde in this present day is this Scripture fulfilled and according to the testimonie of the scripture the raysing vp and resurrection of the Lordes dead commeth also to passe presently in thissame day through the appearing of the comming of Christ in his maiestie which resurrection of the dead seeing that the same is come vnto vs from Gods grace we doe likewise in this present day to an Euangelie or ioyfull message of the kingdome of God and christ publish in al the world vnder the obedieÌ„ce of the loue In which resurrection of the dead God sheweth vnto vs that the time is now fulfilled that his dead or the dead that are fallen on sleepe in the Lord rise vp in this day of his iudgement appeare vnto vs in godly glory which shall also froÌ„ henceforth liue in vs euerlastingly with Christ and raigne vpon the earth wherein the scripture becommeth fulfilled in this present day like as there standeth written therof And in the seconde chapter of the Euangelie Section 3. For that cause awake now in the spirit ye louers of the trueth and throughly measure or try out the ground of this same spirit which to the making aliue of all the dead that are deceassed in the Lord is proceeded from God and meruaile not at any of thissame but search or examine the scripture whether that it make not mention of the same Likewise in the 4. Chapter Section 14. For this cause our hope standeth now in this day very little on many inhabitours of the worlde for of them there shall fewe come which shall stand minded or adioyne them vnto the loue and the requiring of her seruice with all their heart and yet many fewer which shall perseuer therin vnto the ende Therefore hope we with ioy much more on the appearing of the dead which dye in the Lorde or are dead in him to wit that they in their resurrectioÌ„ from the death shall liuingly come vnto or meete with vs For all the dead of the Lord or members of Christ shall now liue arise with their bodyes we shall assemble vs with them and they with vs to one body in Iesus Christ into one louely beeing of the loue and be altogither concordable in the loue and peace of Iesu Christ He that shall reade the booke of H.N. with iudgement shall soone see and perceiue that the knowledge of his doctrine and obedience thereunto is with him all in-all it is the coÌ„ming of Christ the sound of the last Trumpet the resurrection from the deade and euerlasting life of many I will giue you one place for proofe heereof it is in his Euangelie Chapter 38. Section 2 Wherefore awake now all lift vp your heades heare and see the wonderfull actes of God and haue regarde vnto the sounde of the laste Trumpet and consider the forefront of the true Tabernacle of God wherein the beginning of the true God seruice and of the vpright Christian life becoÌ„meth erected the holie of the true tabernacle of God wherin the true God seruice and his requiring the obedience of the belief euen vnto the vpright christian life is accomplished the vaile remoued from the most holy the most holy of the true tabernacle of god wherein the perfection of the true Christian life and al that which God hath spoken from the beginning and promised thorow his Prophets is set vp the kingdome of the God of heauens full of al pure beautie and heauenly powers wherein all mindes of pure hartes doe liue with christian triumph free without feare the day of the righteous iudgement of God in which the compasse of the earth becommeth iudged with righteousnesse the iudgement seat of Christ before which all things must needes be manifested the perfect being of God and Christ in his abundant clearnesse of the godly light the true rest of al the children of God in their perfect louelinesse and vpright being the mysterie of the heauenly trueth wherein the right seruice of loue hath his ministration the declaring of the spirituall treasures or riches

of God whereof he had a merciful promise and graunt made vnto him Likewise when Dauid his sinnes were not imputed neither laid vnto his charge that was fauour in the Lord pardoning them and not imputing them vnto him Howe doeth this hang togeather with the doctrine of H. N. who saith that wee are to folowe Christ in the death of his crosse to the pardoning releasing of vs from our sinnes And howe will this folowing of Christ in his death of the crosse for the safe making of vs froÌ„ our sinnes stand with this not imputing of our sinnes vnto vs For if our righteousnes stande by imputation then is it not purchased by imitation and following of Christe in his like death and suffering If Christ his satisfaction for sinne stande beetweene the wrath of GOD and vs then doeth not our imitation of Christ in his death keepe of the daunger of our sinnes from vs The Brasen Serpent erected in the wildernesse at the commaundement of Almightie God which was a figure of Christ declareth that it is faith in him that did hang vppon the crosse and not the following after him in the death of the crosse that doeth iustifie vs and keepe the sting of our sinnes from beeing deadly vnto vs For those who are bitten with the liuing serpentes were promised if they shoulde looke vppon the dead Serpent to liue and recouer by that meanes but were not inioyned to haue them selues after death erected and set vppe vppon a Pole for their recouery from that daunger As appeareth in the booke of Numbers And the Lord saide vnto Moses Make thee a fiery Serpent and set it vppe for a signe that as many as are bitten may looke vppon it and liue So Moses made a Serpent of Brasse and set it vppe for a signe and when a Serpent had bitten a man then hee looked to the Serpent of Brasse and liued Nowe the sharpe and daungerous biting and stingyng of the liuyng Serpent did force them to leaue them selues and too looke after comfort where it was to bee founde And when sinne shal once sting the fauourers of this opinion of H. N. theyr consciences beyng awaked which nowe are in a deadly sleepe they shall then bee forced to feele and confesse that there is no medicine in them selues able to asswage the heate and anger thereof But as it seemed vnlikely to fleshe and blood that a Serpent of Brasse beyng but a dead thing coulde euer woorke a cure vppon them who were stoong with quicke liuing Serpentes and in daunger of present death especially by the looking and beholding of the same So doeth it vnto H. N. the eyes of whose vnderstanding are altogeather fleshly that Christe his obedience vppon the crosse beeyng but looked vppon with the eies of our faith and not imitated in the selfe same practise shoulde bee able to heale the sores of our soule Albeit our Sauiour Christ affirmeth in plaine speache That as Moses lifte vp the Serpent in the wildernesse so muste the Sonne of man bee lift vp that whosoeuer beleeueth in him shoulde not perishe but haue eternall life The opinion of H. N. that our folowing after Christe and obediennce in the imitation of him shoulde be able to discharge vs of our sinnes that before were committed declareth that hee is ignorant altogether of the righteousnesse of GOD reuealed in his woorde For obedience if it were perfect in vs and no transgression to bee founde against the lawe of God either in thought woorde or deede after that once wee haue begunne to feare him yet coulde not all this answere for the least sinne that went before For it is but a part of that is due vnto the Lorde from vs Who teacheth vs that when wee shall haue discharged the whole debt and haue doone euery thing commaunded yet are wee humblie to acknowledge that wee bee but vnprofitable seruauntes and haue doone no more then that which was our dutie to doe according as hee by our owne experience and practise doth plainely prooue vnto vs For which of you sayth our Sauiour Christ Hauing a seruaunt plowyng or other wyse labouryng all the day long wyll by and by after hee bee come home say vnto him Goe and sit downe at the Table wyll hee not rather be ready to enioyne him an other woorke within the house as to prepare thynges for his owne Supper and when that is doone laye the thirde labour vppon him as to wayte at the Table and see nothing to bee wantyng vntyll hymselfe haue supped yea and when all this is doone doeth hee so muche as once open his mouth to thanke that seruant because he did that which was commaunded vnto him I trowe not saith our Sauiour Christ And in very deede we do looke for such duetie from a seruant that yf he shall deny to doe any thing of that which his maister shall commaunde him foorthwith wee geue sentence that he is no man meete for seruice because we think that the seruant ought not as if hee weere a free man to haue any libertie or priuiledge but to reache in obedience vnto all that his maister by commaundement shal enioyne him And therfore accordingly when our seruant shal haue dispatched labour after labour and obeyed commaundedement after commaundement yet do we not once thanke him for all that because wee thinke it is all duetie that a seruant doeth howe muche so euer Herevpon came that Prouerbe That no man can serue two maisters because seruice is voide of all priuiledge and libertie of infinite duetie if maisters shall make no ende of commaunding for all is accompted duetie in a seruaunt which the maister shall commaunde him to do A man cannot therefore sufficiently woonder at the blindnesse of H. N. and others who acknowledgyng that they be seruauntes vnto the Lorde dare notwithstanding in the pride of their hart make such a reckoning of their seruice a fewe dayes or yeeres as that it shoulde make a sufficient satisfaction for those dayes and times wherein they were not only loyterers and did no duetie vnto him at all but also were retained of his aduersarie and spared not to wounde his glory Dare a seruant who hath loytered one whole weeke and done his maister no woorke or seruice at all for shame open his mouth the next weeke when hee hath trauelled for his maister as a good seruaunt ought alwaies to doe and say Sir I trust now your selfe being iudge I haue made a sufficient satisfactioÌ„ for my loitering al this last weeke I cannot thinke this Famelie eyther to bee so full of loue or so empty of vpright iudgement as to take this for sufficient seruice or as a reasonable answeare to bee put vp at the handes of any of their seruantes not excepting those to whom they shall geue the least wages This familie of loue and the Papistes they are the best husbandes that I haue euer hearde of and the moste can they make of that litle they haue â–ª for

challenged to himselfe in his title as you hearde before to iudge the compasse of the earth with righteousnesse and that the God of heauen hath nowe declared him selfe and his Christ to his elect with the fulnes of his garnishing and spiritual heauenly riches to an euerlasting house for God his dwelling the which as he saith is the true vndisturbable kingdome full of all godly power ioy and heauenly beautifulnesse wherin is the fulnesse of eternal life And in the 35. chapter of his Euangelie he confirmeth the same in these words Behold in this present day is this scripture fulfilled according to the testimony of the scripture the raising vp and the resurrection of the Lordes dead commeth also to passe presently in this same day through the appearing of the coÌ„ming of Christ in his maiestie Which resurrectioÌ„ of the dead seeing that the same is come vnto vs froÌ„ gods grace we do likewise in this preseÌ„t day to an Euangelie or ioyful message of the kingdoÌ„e of god christ publish in al the world vnder the obedieÌ„ce of the loue In which resurrectioÌ„ of the dead God sheweth vnto vs that the time is now fulfilled that his dead or the dead which are falleÌ„ a sleepe in the lord rise vp in this day of his iudgement and appeare vnto vs in godly glory which shal also froÌ„ henceforth liue in vs euerlastingly with Christ raigne vpon the earth Wherin the scripture becoÌ„meth fulfilled in this preseÌ„t day like as there standeth writteÌ„ therof He affirmeth here in plaine words â–ª that the dead w are fallen a stepe in the Lord rise vp in this day of his iudgemeÌ„t appeare vnto H.N. the illuminate elders of his familie in godly glory He affirmeth like wise that they shal froÌ„ heÌ„ceforth liue in him his felow elders euerlastingly theÌ„ the with what can be more erronious For by this doctrine the resurrectioÌ„ should be onely of theÌ„ that sleepe in the Lord that is of the good of which number he taketh theÌ„ to be alone who now receiue his doctrine euerlasting life which they rise vp to enioy should be onely to liue after that course of life which he his illuminat felow elders do keepe For he saith that they are to liue in him and in his fellow elders euerlastingly to reigne vppon the earth If their eies bee not altogeather closed vp who fauour the doctrine of H.N. they may well discerne that this resurrection is not that resurrection whiche the Scripture mencioneth neither is this chaunge of them that imbrace his doctrine that which the Apostle reporteth 1. Corinth 15.52 Which as he testifieth there is to be perfourmed in a moment in the twinckling of an eye at the last Trumpe Nowe I am wel assured experience wil tel theÌ„ beside the doctrine of H.N. which confirmeth the same that they are not by and by in a moment after they haue hearde the blaste of H.N. his doctrine partakers of the resurrection that is made elders and illuminate men In the 37. Chapter of of his Euangelie likewise this same matter is testified of him more cleerely yf possible that may be Yea happy is he which now respecteth wel the true light and assembleth him in this day vnto the mercy seate of the Maiestie of God and Christ to his saluation for after this day there shall no day of grace come vppon the earth because all the workes of God and his Prophecies bee come fulfilled according to the scripture in the same And for that the righteous iudgement of God to an euerlasting death and damnation of all vngodly and to an eternall life and saluation of all the holy ones and elect of God becommeth also executed therein This opinion of his is confuted before at large in my answere to that title which hee challengeth vnto him selfe This onely testimony I wyll adde to the former for the ouerthrowe of this opinion If to doe good and liue well be the resurrection of life howe is that true which S. Iohn testifieth that they which haue doone good shall come foorth of the Graues vnto the resurrection of life With what trueth or in what sence can it be said of a man that he commeth forth to that which already he hath in him selfe and is possessed of Nay if this bee the resurrection to arise vp to the imbrasing of H.N. his doctrine with what trueth can it be saide that they which alreadie haue doone good shal come forth vnto the resurrectioÌ„ of life wheÌ„ he is of opinion that we are voide of al goodnes grace vntil we become seasoned with this seruice of the loue And howe can they which haue doone good come out of the graue when by his doctrine they haue come out of theyr graues before they haue done good For death burial vnto sinne are in order before the resurrection vnto righteousnes and newnesse of life What comfort can our faith finde in this article of our beliefe yf H.N. his doctrine be true If all were perfourmed which hee promiseth yet can wee come by no other comfort from him then this that yf wee shall imbrace his doctrine then shall wee lyue as hee doeth heere vppon earth This is all the benefite that our faith obteyneth by the resurrection of H.N. his Christ from the dead H.N. The eight Article Wee beleeue in the holy Ghost and that the same in the oldnesse of the tyme when the dayes of the patience of Christ in the obedience of the holy and gratious woorde â–ª and his seruice of loue are fulfilled becommeth powred foorth from the right hand of God through Iesus Christ namely ouer them all that haue followed Christ in his death of the crosse obediently and haue kept his doctrine with the word of his patience euen vnto the ende that is which are passed through or haue accomplished the Passeouer with Christ till vnto the seconde birth from the dead Or vnto the new life of the true being of Christ Answeare Wee doe heare nothing from H. N. to mooue vs too thinke that the holy Ghost is God which thing woulde not haue beene omitted if hee had been sounde therein seeing he openeth vnto his familie the principles of religioÌ„ whereof this is one of the chiefe and setteth downe beside the woordes of our Creede his owne exposition explication of the same seyng also that of all the churches which professe Christianitie throughout the whole worlde there is no one that hath vnto this day imbrased his doctrine or ioyned with him in religion and those which throughly know hym professe warre with him considering likewise that the scripture hath not left vs without sufficient light to prooue the holy Ghost not onely to be God in substaunce one with the father and the sonne but also distinct in person I say in these and suche like respectes his silence in so principal a thing bewrayeth him selfe not to be sounde

which H. N. claimeth vnto himselfe in the first Chapter of his booke intituled Euangelium Regni The Gospel and ioyfull message of the kingdome H. N. Through the grace and mercie of God and through the holy spirite of the loue of Iesu Christe raised vp by the highest GOD from the death according to the prouidence of God and his promises annoynted with the holie Ghoste in the olde age of the holy vnderstanding of Iesu Christe Godded with God in the spirite of his loue made heyre with Christe in the heauenlye goodes of the riches of God illuminated in the spirite with the heauenly trueth the true light of the perfect Beyng elected to a Minister of the gracious woorde which is nowe in the laste time raysed vp by God according to his promises in the moste holy seruice of God vnder the obedience of his loue Answere THE first thing that H. N. would perswade vs is that God hath raised him from the dead or to vse his owne wordes that he is raised vp by the most highest God from the death For confirmation hereof hee alleageth the sixt of Iohn the 17. of the Actes and the seconde to the Ephesians For he wil not seeme to say that thing which two or three shall not be redy to witnesse with hym VVe are therefore to heare what these can say to that point In the sixt of Iohn he directeth vs by this letter f vnto this Scripture conteyned in the 54. verse Whosoeuer eateth my flesh drinketh my blood hath eternal life and I will raise him vp at the last day Heere is a promise made vnto all true christians for they onely haue their hartes prepared by faith to digest the flesh and blood of Christe that the Lorde will raise them vppe at the laste day which wee call the day of iudgement and the seconde comming of Christe The promise I graunt is past but the day taken to performe the couenant is yet to come For by the promise it is playne that wee may not looke to haue the matter perfourmed before the laste day which is the seconde comming of Christe I wil not here call it into question whether H. N. be one of them who eate his fleshe and drinke his blood that shall go as graunted at this time onely this I will saye that hee is to begge shamefully who with no other helpe then that hee hath from hence shall obteine so muche as a place among the common sorte of Christians but hee that will vppon this warrant deale as a Prophete and Teacher in the Churche It cannot be excused but that he doeth felloniously enter breake in and steale For there is no colour of anie good title to bee shewed for the same Now I pray you consider of his argument which is this The Lorde will raise vppe all his faithfull at the last day and therefore H. N. is already risen from the dead The matter is established as doone but the grounde is no other then a graunt and promise made in expresse woordes for the time yet to come For our Sauiour Christe sayth playnely that hee will raise them vp at the laste day Where there is not only noted a time to come but of that time also the laste and furthest day is taken and yet yee see that H. N. will haue the matter to be alreadie accomplished in him selfe and that not otherwise then by vertue of this promise Let that bee graunted which H. N hath begged and let his felonious acte for once bee pardoned yet hath hee proceeded no farther in proofe then that hee ought to be taken as a Prophet risen from the dead with condition to wit if that the day of iuddgemeÌ„t alredy be past The Lord open the eies of his familie leaste as hee is no Prophet vnlesse that bee paste which is yet to come so they in like maner become no true Christians before that which is for euer past heereafter shall come If the cause of suche confusion bee demaunded this it is He expoundeth the doctrine of our resurrection Allegorically and taketh it to be nothing els but to ryse in our iudgemente and affection from the likyng of all other too the embracing of his doctrine and religion And therefore the day of iudgement which wee looke for is in his opinion already come because the troumpe of his doctrine now soundeth which woorketh this his spiritual resurrection The confutation whereof you shall God willing haue more at large heereafter and yet there is sufficient euen in this place aleadged by him to ouerthrowe it For speaking of the children of GOD who are true Christians possessed by fayth of eternall life and therefore already rysen from the dead because to rise from errour to the imbrasing of the trueth which hee taketh his owne doctrine too bee is with him the rising from the dead euen of those hee sayth I will rayse them vp in the last day appoynting an other resurrection yet to come for those who by a true faith haue alredy taken holde of that spiritual rising from darknesse to light from sinne and iniquitie to righteousnesse and true christianitie If his best bulwarke appointed to beare of the first and greatest assault that shal be made against him bee thus weake there is good hope it wil be no great woorke too winne the hold it selfe His seconde confirmation is taken out of the Acts 17. verse 31. The woordes be these God wil iudge the worlde in righteousnesse by that man whom he hath appointed whereof he hath geuen assurance vnto al in that he hath raised him from the dead A place proper and peculiar vnto Christe alone whom God the father hath raised from corporall death to be an assuraunce vnto vs that hee is the man appointed who shal iudge the world in righteousnesse at the latter day There can be no other place more peculiar and proper vnto Christe then is this whereunto for all that H. N. wil be entituled Notwithstanding yf the woorde of GOD haue geuen it vnto him good reason hee shoulde enioy it Let it therfore bee considered what he hath saide for it This is his reason GOD hath geuen vs assuraunce that hee will iudge the world in righteousnesse by the man Christ in that hee hath raysed hym from the dead therefore H. N. is alreadie risen from the dead If H. N. bee Christ it foloweth necessarily though not by force of this argument yet by sufficient strength from the trueth of the matter it selfe that he shoulde be rysen from the dead because hee is the same person of whom it is sayde that he is already risen from the dead to assure vs of the last iudgement that it shal be holden by him selfe But if H.N. bee anie thing beside Christe there is no maner of helpe to bee had from this place For hee speaketh playnely heere of the bodyly death of Christe him selfe As for the affinitie betweene H. N. and Christe howe

it came It is altogeather curious and vnprofitable It were a more profitable question to discusse howe wee might haue it with least hurt seing we cannot be rid of it altogeather then to examine howe it is entred into vs And he that shal cast of the care how to rid him of the daunger of it holding a disputation howe hee fell into it is no lesse foolishe in my iudgement then yf a man thruste by another into a deepe and dangerous pit shoulde refuse to speake of his comming out enquiring only of them that came by who he was that did hurle him in And when hee is resolued therin wil haue it further debated while he is yet in the pit before once he thinketh of coÌ„ming out whether the man in their iudgments preuayled against him because his heart fainted or because his strength failed Nowe if the Lord be cleere not to be touched wheÌ„ he doth harden the harts of the wicked punisheth sin with sinne which thing the scripture declareth and euery Christian confesseth because sinne hath been before in them to deserue the same Why shoulde the Lorde be blamed since that wee all being in Adam haue as was euen now prooued greeuously offended If he deale no otherwise with the soule of man then from the same ballance of equitie and iustice which wee haue approoued may returne with like equitie cleared and discharged As this doctrine of H. N. warranteth vs from any hurte by Adam his fall except wee shall be founde transgressours actually after his example against the will and commaundement of GOD so it setteth foorth in like maner Christe Iesus no otherwise to be an helper vnto vs then so farre foorth as wee shall by his example of doctrine and life be led into the like obedience And therfore as Adam in his opinion hath nothing speciall in the falling away of man from God so Christe yeeldeth no priuate and peculiar helpe to his saluation Al the wicked haue beene stumbling blockes and occasion of sinne vnto the rest and all that feared God in euery age haue brought the benefite of good instruction and example vnto those among whom they haue had their conuersation And therfore in his iudgement no one man standeth alone to holde out so muche as is the helpe of good doctrine and good lyfe towarde our iustification but all howe many so euer haue beene founde faithfull from the beginning are matched togeather and made fellowes at the prayse of that woorke That this is his doctrine touching the restoring of man it doth appeare out of this place For wheÌ„ he hath affirmed that the promise for the ouerthrow of sinne doeth consist in setting enmitie betwene the Serpent and the woman and betweene the Serpents seede and the womans seed hee declareth that this promised enmitie began with Abell and after his death was established with Seth and that Seth became the right stocke or linage whereout the beleeuees and children of God namely all they that haue beene enimies vnto sinne were borne and brought foorth to the establishing of the promises of God the father These are his owne woordes Nowe for the maner how after Abel Seth became the stocke from whence sprang all the beleeuers that it was only by imitation and folowing of his example he declareth afterwarde in these woordes All they that walked not in the forme of Abel according to the maner and ordinance of Seth were not of the right stocke of Seth but they were foraine branches which turned them away therfrom and were neuer prudent nor vnderstanding in the godly wisedome but verie wel in their owne selfe knowledge and good thinking What dampnable doctrine lurketh vner these wordes Doe the beleeuers now or did they at that time spring out of Seth as out of their stocke or were all that haue beene enimies vnto sin brought foorth out of Abel and Seth and not out of Christ the root of the righteous Who as the Apostle saith is before al thinges in him al things consist And he is the head of the bodie of the Church hee is the beginning and the first borne of the dead that in all thinges hee might haue the preheminence for it hath pleased the Father that in him shoulde al fulnesse dwell Are the promises of God the father established indifferently in all those that haue ben enimies vnto sin are not al the promises nowe in Christ yea and Amen Doeth not the Apostle reason from the woordes of the couenant and promise and prooue plainely that Christe only was this promised seede and that hee hadde no fellowes ioyned with him because the couenant was not as he sayth deliuered in these fourme of woordes To thy seedes as speaking of many but thus And to thy seede as of one which is Christe Moreouer shall wee saye that righteousnesse was deriued from Seth by imitation vnto all those that walked in the same pathe of righteousnesse When the apostle saith that God was in Christ recoÌ„ciling the world vnto himself not imputing their sinnes vnto them If we be reconciled vnto God by imputation then commeth not our righteosnesse by imitation If wee be iustified because our sinnes bee not laide to our charge then are wee not free therefore because in following the footesteps of the righteous we haue wrought our owne discharge And if this be not thought plaine enough to prooue that H. N. doeth acknowledge no other righteousnesse in man beside that which commeth by imitation neither any other helpe from the Lorde for our saluation then continuall lightes of good doctrine and good life shining out of his seruauntes at all times for the benefite of that age and time wherein they liued Toward the end of this Chapter you shall haue yet more playne confirmations thereof if possibly that may bee perfourmed For there he reckoneth vp by name the patternes examples of euery age and sayth Behold in suche sort hath this vpright seede in the light and righteousnes of his God had his procreation to righteousnes and life vpon the earth namely from Seth the seconde seede in the place of Abel till vnto Noah and Sem. From Noah and Sem vntill Abraham Isaac and Iacob Which Iacob whom GOD named Israell begot the twelue fathers of Israel out of the which GOD chose him Iuda From Iuda vntil Dauid the king of Israell and Iuda From Dauid the king vntill Zorababel in the captiuitie of Babylon From Zorababel vntill Ioseph which had a virgin to wife out of the same stocke of Dauid named Mary of whom Iesus Christ the consuÌ„mation of all the woorkes of GOD and the perfect light of the godly clearnesse was borne and brought foorth Nowe least any man might imagine that when this authour commeth to speake of Christ he dare not but giue out otherwise of him then that he should haue others ioyned with him in that woorke of our saluation Consider

preuenting of GOD his goodnesse the dignitie and desert of bringing him selfe vnto Christe by his hatred and mislyking of sinne wheras the mislyking of sinne as well as the loue of righteousnesse are fruites that followe our beeing in Christ not causes that goe before to procure the same as appeareth in the Epistle to the Romans Likewise thinke ye also saith the Apostle that ye are deade vnto sinne and liuing vnto God in Iesus Christ our Lorde He ioyneth with the Pelagians against the grace of God which renueth and regenerateth vs and inwardly draweth vs by his spirit to beleeue and doe the will of God and will haue the grace of GOD no further to stretch vnto vs then that we haue from the Lord a lawe and doctrine whereby wee may learne what to beleeue and what to doe but the power to performe this albeit they will not refuse to call it the grace of GOD yet they say it is our nature according as August reporteth Isti autem asserunt sicut a fratribus qui eorum libros legerunt cognouimus in eo dei gratiam deputandam quod talem hominis instituit creauitque naturam quae per propriam volumtatem legem dei possit implere siue naturaliter in corde conscriptam siue in literis datam eandem quoque legeÌ„ ad dei gratiam pertinere quod illam Deus in adiutoriuÌ„ hominibus dedit illam vero gratiaÌ„ qua vt dictum est Christiani sumus cuius Apostolus Praedicator est dicens condelector legi dei secuÌ„dum interiorem hominem Video autem aliam legem in membris meis repugnantem legi mentis mei et captiuantem me in lege peccati miser homo quis me liberabit de corpore mortis huius gratia dei per Iesum Christum dominum nostrum nolunt omnino cognoscere nec apertÃ¨ quidam oppugnare audent In their opinion as Augustine saieth the grace of God towards vs is this that we haue such a nature from him that by our owne wil and power we may satisfie fulfill the law of God and that this is also that other parte of the grace of God towardes vs that hee hath giuen a lawe for the helpe of man But as for that grace whereby wee are are Christians whereof the Apostle speatketh saying I am delighted with the lawe of God in the inner man but I see an other lawe in my members striuing against the lawe of my minde Miserable man that I am who shall deliuer mee from this body of sinne The grace of God thorowe Iesus Christ our Lorde that will not acknowledge that neither dare they openly impugne or speake against it This plucking thorowe the seruice of that gracious word which he affirmeth to haue the foregoing by vs in the administration of the holie woorde in the thirde and fourth Section is according to the Pelagians the other grace of GOD which is added to that of our good nature euen to haue a rule instruction from God to guide this nature which in their opinion is so franke and so free vnto good that if it may once see the way there is no stay with it or let to keepe it from going forwarde And therefore where it is written in the Gospell after Saint Iohn No man can come vnto mee except the father which hath sent mee drawe him H.N. calleth this drawing of the father a plucking that plucking to be the giuing of a lawe and worde to rule our liues by In opinion then he ioyneth iumpe with the Pelagians for denying originall sinne he is forced to confesse the grace of GOD to be in nature and againe we see the lawe which doth poynte out the right way vnto life is called the plucking of the father or baptising in the fathers name H.N. Section 10 And that this is the vpright Christian Baptisme or washing in the name of the father and is the true baptisme which hath the forgoing in the christian doctrine of the seruice of loue Section 11 We confesse likewise that all such as beleue not euen thus in God the father beleeue vnrightly and that also they all which become not euen so as is aboue saide baptized thorowe the seruice of the holie worde vnder the obedience of the law of the Lorde or of the doctrine of his word in Gods loue or true being beare or carry not Gods holy name nor the spirite of his true beeing nor are baptized in the name of the father and that in like manner it is not meete or conuenient that men should count such vnbeleeuers and vnbaptized ones for Christians neither yet also for men at whose handes one should any way suppose or trust to finde any woorde of Gods trueth or yet any workes of righteousnesse or good seruice that God regardeth or accepteth Answeare It appeareth by these wordes that H. N. reckoneth of all beside his owne secte For there are no people beside him selfe and his familie who thinke or beleeue so erroniously as this confession teacheth as of Heathen vnbeleeuers vnbaptized ones they be his owne words as also be these It is not meete that men should account such for christians WheÌ„ hee concludeth that wee may not think to finde any woorde of God his trueth or any workes of righteousnesse among them whosoeuer beleeueth otherwise he speaketh not only ignorantly for that some trueth may be founde where there is store of errour and a wicked lyfe may be founde where the groundes of religion are truely holden but also maliciously agaynst the true Churche of GOD as that no woorde of trueth or woorke of righteousnesse were among vs who abhorre his religion as Heretical deuilishe doctrine What benefite doe these men receiue by the ministerie of the worde being thus perswaded of the Church of God In what readinesse are they to ioyne with any enimie for the ouerthrowe of the Churche being perswaded of vs that neither woorke of righteousnesse nor woorde of trueth is among vs I trust the Lorde wil moue the heartes of those who haue the gouernment in their handes either to trauaile to plant in them a better opinion of the Church or if that will not bee to cut them of as rotten members before they shall woorke any greater woe vnto the same The opinion of H. N. touching the Churche of God as appeareth by this his speache is most pernicious neither thinketh he worsse of Turks and infidels then hee doeth of all Christians that receiue not his doctrine What effectes this opinion may woorke in the heartes of the simple people that be seduced by him I leaue it to their godlie care to whom it doth chiefly appertaine to refourme the same H. N. The seconde Article Section 13 Wee beleeue in Iesus Christe the onely sonne of God our Lorde We confesse that the same sonne of GOD Iesus Christ is the very like being of the liuing God his father through whom god the father hath

of the Actes of the Apostles touching the holy ghost appearing in clouen tongues like fire was nothing else but the appearing of this his Christ after the spirit These are his wordes touching this matter His disciples therefore were mindfull of all this and what he had said vnto theÌ„ remained within IerusaleÌ„ waiting coÌ„cordably with supplication praier for the promises of the father vntil that christ after the spirit appeared vnto them out of the heauenly being The subtiltie of that ancient enimie vnto mankind may here euidently be seene for albeit heaueÌ„ be not further distant froÌ„ the earth then the meaning of H.N. is from the truth of the doctrine set forth in this coÌ„mon Creede these articles of our belief yet to colour his craft withall he keepeth him to the same words which the church vseth professing the christ rose the third day froÌ„ the dead saue that he interlaceth some odde words which cannot wel be discerned but by theÌ„ that are well acquainted with his bookes vnder the which he conueyeth all his corrupt doctrine Here hee sayeth that the God of AbrahaÌ„ hath raysed vp this his sonne Iesus hauing relation in these wordes this his sonne vnto that Christ which he describeth And likewise when he affirmeth that Christ rose euen so the thirde day from the dead by this speach euen so hee caryeth vs from the resurrection in the fleshe vnto the rising in the spirite according as himselfe hath imagined of the matter and yet is hee content to make mencion of the thirde day as if there were no ill meaning in the man when as indeede this rising the thirde day must bee euen so as hee meaneth that is nothing so as the truth is Where the scripture affirmeth that Christ appeared in the flesh after his resurrection vnto his disciples and shewed vnto them his handes and his side and that hee willed Thomas who had affirmed he woulde neuer beleeue his resurrection vnlesse hee shoulde put his finger into the print of the nayles and his hande into his side to put his finger where the nayles had beene and his hande into his side H.N. to mainteine his doctrine of the resurrection in the spirite affirmeth that he shewed vnto his disciples nothing else but the victorie ouer sinne death deuil and hell as if he had declared vnto them howe by his suffering passion he came by the victorie ouer sin death the deuil and hell to the ende they might follow him in the same footesteppes and so become partakers of the like victorie with him Which thing in plaine woordes hee professeth in the next Section Heere he setteth foorth the matter not altogither so plainely and yet clearely enough to him that is anie thing acquainted with his subtile writing and craftie manner of speaking These bee his woordes in this place Hee appeared or made manifest him selfe to his friendes which loued him shewing vnto them thorowe his suffering and death of the Crosse the victorie ouer the sinne death deuill hell the fleshe and the worlde What plainer proofe can be brought not onely that Christ did rise in the fleshe but also that he rose in the same flesh wherein he suffered then this euen now alledged out of the Gospel after saint Iohn for the Apostles see his handes and his side Thomas putteth his finger into the place where the nayles had beene and his hande into his side which thing H. N. shall neuer bee able to wipe away by any mystical interpretation whatsoeuer inasmuch as our Sauiour Christ reproouing the want of fayth in Thomas and that he was so hardly led to beleeue his resurrection before his senses were satisfied sayth vnto him Thomas because thou hast seene me thou beleeuest blessed are they that haue not seene and haue beleeued In the second of the Actes saint Peter proueth that Christ must be raised vp concerning the flesh and bee set vpon the throne of his father and that he should not bee left in the graue neither should his flesh see corruption and that Dauid long before as he was a prophet did both foresee foretel this therfore seeing he was a prophet knew that God had sworne with an othe to him that of the fruit of his loines he wold raise vp christ coÌ„cerning the flesh to set him vpoÌ„ his throne he knowing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ that his soule should not be left in graue neither his flesh shuld see corruptioÌ„ This testimony of the apostle cannot agree with H. N. his Christ For his flesh must necessarily bee left in the graue and see corruption because when his Christ after the fleshe is dead hee neuer resumeth or taketh vnto him againe that estate but as hauing for euer done with it riseth vp in the spirite and continueth in the same being for euer after an illuminate elder who neither can erre in iudgement nor offend anie more in conuersation So that death or the graue do still keepe that possession or power which once they had of his flesh neither will he that they yeelde it vnto him anie more againe As for the true Christ it was impossible for death to keepe and continue that holde which once it had of him as appeareth in the Actes The Lord if it be his good will giue this Familie to see what a Christ H. N. hath brought vnto them that they refuse no longer the true Christ and onely comfort of all Christians for this miserable Christ whome the graue hath closed vp and holdeth all that euer it had of him For their Christ after the spirite was neuer in the graue and their Christ after the fleshe by H. N. his owne testimonie doeth neuer arise after that once he hath beene in the graue How shall these men bee euer able to gette out at the doores of death when their Christ and Captaine is yet groping and to this day hath not founde the gate that leadeth out of the graue H.N. Wee confesse that no man can become partaker with all the holie ones of God and beleeuers of Iesus Christ of the resurrection of Christ nor of the resurrection from the dead or yet rise vp with the holie ones of God and Christ but such as indeuour themselues in the beliefe vnder the obedience of the loue of Iesus Christ to become implanted into Christ the gracious worde of the Lorde and euen so then to die with Christ in his like death as also to lay away slay and burie through the death of his crosse the sinne in the flesh whereby they may euen so out of the second birth from the dead become renued in the spirit of their minde in Iesus Christ For therethrough wee all obteine and enioy in the vpright righteousnesse and holinesse which GOD esteemeth the making aliue from the dead namely with all the righteous and holie ones of God in the day of the

resurrection and inherite euerlasting life Answere All the comfort that H. N. doeth assure his familie of by the resurrection of their Christ is that such as shall become obedient vnto his doctrine which thing he expresseth in these woordes such as indeuour themselues in the beliefe vnder the obedience of the loue of Iesus Christ to become implanted into Christ the gracious woorde of the Lord for Christ as you haue heard before signifieth somtimes nothing else with H. N. but this worde and doctrine which he hath brought into the worlde shall by this their slaying and burying of sinne in the flesh become renued in the spirite of their minde obteyne and inioy the resurrection or as he speaketh the making aliue from the deade and inherite the euerlasting life But wee haue not thus learned Christ so manie as haue beene taught out of the woorde of God the truth of him and the true fruite of his resurrection For as Christ Iesus died in our sinnes and went downe into the graue in our iniquities inasmuch as it was our sinnes and no offence of his owne that drewe him vnto death so his resurrection was the perfect absolution and clearing of the faithfull from al their transgressions For had one sinne of his seruants bene vnsatisfied for neither woulde death haue resigned hir right who had arested him as suretie for sinne neither would the righteous Lord by raising him from the dead bringing him out of the danger that he lay vnder for our sinnes haue giuen sentence on his side so iustified vs in him Which thing the apostle coÌ„firmeth triumphing ouer condeÌ„nation not onely because we haue discharged it by his death but also because we haue our Quietus est acquittance to shew for the same euen his resurrectioÌ„ Who shal lay any thing to the charge of god his chose It is God that iustifieth who shal coÌ„deÌ„ne it is Christ that is dead yea or rather which is riseÌ„ againe And likewise the same apostle in his epistle to the Corin. affirmeth plainly that if Christ be not risen from the dead we haue nothing to shewe for our discharge against sinne but do remaine yet vnder the danger thereof And in the Epistle to the Romanes he declareth also that wee are by his resurrection cleared from our sinnes and they nowe no longer imputed vnto vs And therefore when he had before declared that not only Abraham his faith was imputed vnto him for righteousnesse but also that ours shal be imputed vnto vs hee telleth vs more particularly how this commeth to passe to wit because Christe who was deliuered to death for our sinnes is risen againe for our iustification For as God the father in deliuering Christ vnto death did cast all our sinnes vpon him and condemned our sinnes in him so in raysing him froÌ„ the dead he iustified and absolued him vs in him inasmuch as but for vs neither sinne nor death could haue any thing to doe with him from all our sinnes and traÌ„sgressions whatsoeuer Now if the Lorde had let him make an escape who was in holde for our sinnes inasmuch as he had once taken vpon hym to satisfie for the same or wrougt his deliuerance and set him at libertie before a ful sufficient satisfaction had bene made then coulde not himselfe haue bene cleared of iniurye offred vnto vs nor his Iustice haue bene vnspotted euen before vs which if once wee suffer to enter but into our thoughtes it maketh vs giltye of high treason against our god This doctrine therefore of H. N. who will haue our dying vnto synne not onelie to preuent but also to procure our rising vnto righteousnesse not mencioning any other benefite that wee haue from Christ his resurrectioÌ„ beside the example that is set before vs for our imitation and following after him in the same is at defiance and vtter enmitie with the trueth which is taught in the word of god For Christ his resurrection which H. N. maketh so small an accounpt of not onelie is our iustification from the giltinesse and daunger of sinne but also the head and wel spring of al that righteousnes holinesse and newenes of life that is to be founde ni the conuersation of his seruaÌ„ts And therfore the Apostle in the 2. to the Ephe. doth fetch our rising vnto righteousnesse froÌ„ Christ his resurrection and ioyning them togither speaketh thus God which is rich in mercie euen when we were deade by sinnes hath quickened vs togither in Christ and hath raysed vs vp togither And accordingly to the Collosians draweth his exhortation vnto newnesse of life from the resurrection of Christ as from the fountaine from the which floweth the reformation of our life If ye theÌ„ be risen with Christ saith the Apostle seeke those thinges which are aboue where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God set your affection on things that are aboue and not on thinges which are on the earth Which thing is also confirmed out of the Ephesians where we doe reade that the large and liberall distribution of his graces did followe his resurrection and ascention when that notable victorie and conquest ouer sinne death was fully accomplished The resurrection therfore of Christ according to the trueth of his worde is not onely our discharge against sinne but the fountaine and spring also of all that chauÌ„ge of life and conuersation which is to be seene in his seruants But according to this doctrine of H.N. it is neither our discharge against sinne nor yet the beginning of our good life therfore without mention either of iustification from sinne by it or viuification and quickening in the wayes of righteousnesse we are sent to make warre with our affections according to the rules of his doctrine that so wee may obteine the resurrection from the deade and the renewing of our spirit and minde So that we haue nothing in H.N. his Creed to be beleeued but many things in our conuersation to be practised nothing to leaue vnto that was once doone by him but al that we may trust to must proceede from our selfe Touching this poynt Whether our dying vnto sin doe both preuent and purchase the renewing of our minde it hath beene answeared in the article immediatly going before H. N. The sixt Article We beleeue that this same Iesus like as the Scripture mencioneth thereof is ascended into Heauen sitting at the right hand of God his almightie Father We confesse that he hath taken in the heauen and reigneth and ruleth essentially in the heauenly beeing with his father vntill that all his enemyes be layde vnder his fete and that he in like maner shall in euery behalfe take in the kingdome and all dominion and power and render it all ouer vnto his father that God may euen so be all in all according to the promises Answeare This confessor H. N. acknowledgeth and confesseth that this same Iesus of

seate habitation Neither haue the arguments tokens of his loue here had their end but he hath set him on his right hand that is hath coÌ„mitted the whole gouernment administratioÌ„ of his kingdome heervpon earth into his hands How can it goe harde with vs when our mediatour and he that hath had all these dealings for vs is become so great with our God as to bee made the head of his church to haue receiued the gouernmeÌ„t charge ouer his chosen May we not with the Apostle triumph say Who shal lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen it is Christ which is dead or rather which is risen again nay which is at the right haÌ„d of God making intercession for vs If his death brought vs from such danger what benefite wil this his life bring vnto vs and against how many and how great dangers shal it be able to defend vs If when we were enimyes we were reconciled vnto God by the death of his sonne much more beeing reconciled we shall be saued by his life For both the instrument hath now more power and strength to performe and the matter is the fitter to be wrought vpon Christ is not entred into the holie places that are made with hands which are similitudes of the true sanctuary but is entred into very heauen to appeare now in the sight of God for vs Seeing then we haue an high Priest whiche is ouer the house of GOD let vs draw neare him with a true heart in assuraunce of faith sprinkling in our heartes from an euil conscience and washed in our bodyes with pure water abhorring from our heartes this cursed and comfortlesse Christ which H.N. hath brought out not meaning to comforte feede but to pyne famish his familie withall We haue not onely comforte by our Christ touching his priesthood for that he appeareth nowe in the sight of our God for vs and that the sacrifice is continually before his eyes whereby we stand discharged against sinne and made acceptable and in good fauour and grace with our God neither yet for that he beeing ascended on high and leading captiuitie captiue doth giue giftes to his Church generallie and to the seuerall members therof particularly in gouerning them by his spirite and worde beeing forcible by the working thereof to promote his glory in them but also touching his kingdome because he is our Christ to whome is giuen all power both in heauen and earth and of whome it is written The Lorde saide vnto my Lorde sitte thou at my right hand vntil I make thine enemyes thy footestoole Be thou ruler in the middest of thine enemyes without whose licence and leaue euen in his humilitie lowest estate the deuils themselues durst not to deale no not against Hogges and swine And therefore beeing now exalted into such glory how dare they be bolde to attempt any thing against the least of his seruantes without speciall licence from himselfe The Familie can finde no such comforte in their counterfaite Christe who setteth and breedeth onely in their braine hatching his reuelations and coyning these such like mysteries ruling ouer no other enemyes neither beeing carefull to kepe of other aduersaries besides the true naturall meaning of the worde of god Thus as you haue hearde hath H.N. stopped the heads of all the wel springs of life taking from vs all the seuerall comfortes which by these Articles of our beliefe we are lawfully intituled vnto sending vs to dig pittes in our selues and there to seeke for this spring of life where by the worde of God wee are well assured it can neuer be founde H.N. The seuenth Article We beleeue that Iesus Christ shal come from thence namely from the right hand of God his father out of heauen to iudge the liuing and the dead Wee confesse that he wil euen so in his coÌ„ming shewforth his great power and maiestie and make manifest with him the glorious Lordlines of the many thousands of his holy ones in their garnishing possesse his inheritance with God his father and with al his saintes in triumph and perpetual ioy euerlastingly And iudge eueÌ„ so with all his holy ones as a righteous Iudge the worlde and all nations generations and languages according to the trueth with righteousnesse Answeare This coÌ„ming of Christ to iudge the quicke the dead is by the doctrine of H.N. in this life yea it is euen now in this time wheÌ„ H.N. and his doctrine are manifested and brought to light Now saith H.N. shal the glorious lordlynesse of the many thousand of his holie ones in their garnishing be made manifest now shal Christ possesse his inheritaunce in triumphe perpetuall ioy euerlastingly and iudge euen so all nations and languages according to the trueth with righteousnesse In his title I haue sufficiprooued that the day of iudgement is in this life if we wil beleeue his doctrine and that it is no other thing then the publishing of this his doctrine Yet because I woulde not haue any sent away vnsatisfied herein I will adde one or two testimonies vnto the former In his Euangelie cap. 34. thus he speaketh of that matter Behold and consider my beloued how wonderfully god worketh in his holie ones and how that now in this day or light of the loue the iudgement seate of Christ is reuealed and declared vnto vs out of heauen to a righteous iudgement vpon earth from the right hand of God how that on the same iudgement seate of Christ that the Scripture might be fulfilled there sitteth one nowe in truth in the habitation of Dauid which iudgeth vprightly thinketh vppon equitie and requireth righteousnesse Through him God will now in this day which he him selfe hath appointed or ordained thereunto iudge the compasse of the earth with righteousnes In which this same day or last time namely in the perfection of the woorkes of God and in his righteous iudgement the God of heauen hath now declared him selfe and his Christ togeather with al his Saints vnto vs his elect also made a dwelling with vs and brought euen so vnto vs out of his holy beeing the most holy of his true tabernacle with the fulnesse of his garishing and spirituall heauenly riches to an euerlasting fast standing Ierusalem and house for Gods dwelling according to the Scripture the which is the very true vndisturbable kingdome ful of all godly power ioy and of al heaueÌ„ly beautifulnesse wherein the laude of the Lorde with fulnes of eternal life and louely sweetnesse is song from euerlasting to euerlasting and wherein al mindes of pure hartes doe dwell liue and walke with freedom and christian triumphe in al loue He professeth heere that the iudgement seat of Christ is now reuealed in this day of loue that God wil now in this same day through him whom hee hath appointed that is him selfe for this same place and authoritie out of the 17. of the Actes hee hath

and baptism he shall become saued but who so beleeueth not hee shall according to the worde of Iesu Christ become coÌ„demned 35. For that cause let no maÌ„ boast him to be a christiaÌ„ that hath not in the vpright faith receiued the true tokens of the Christianitie that is that beareth or carieth not the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holie Ghost essentially and liuingly in him otherwise he shall assuredly in this same day of the loue of the righteous iudgement before al the holie ones of God which are compreheÌ„ded in the communialtie of the loue bee founde false and lying For the woorde that the Lorde Iesus Christ hath spoken shal iudge him in this same newest day Answeare H.N. proceedeth nowe to the sentence of euerlasting condemnation which hee thundreth out agaynst all howe many soeuer who shall not nowe in this present day of the loue beleeue this doctrine which he hath here published and professed What sentence hee himselfe lieth vnder I leaue it vnto the Lorde but if there be any place left vnto prayer for him I pray God hee may be so truely touched with repentaunce as that curse may be turned from him which wayteth for so many as by damnable doctrine shall leade blinde and simple soules out of the way In the meane time we stande assured from the mouth of the lorde that the curse which is causelesse shall not come The true Churche of Christ acknowledgeth the holy Ghost to be God equall with the Father and the Sonne because the Scripture geueth libertie and freedome vnto him in distributing of graces and giftes vnto the children of god According as we reade in the former Epistle to the Corinthes Al these thinges worketh one and the self same spirite distributing to euerie man seuerallie as he will because in like maner it ioyneth him with the father and the sonne makinge but one God of those three persons as it is written in the first Epistle of Saint Iohn There are three which beare recorde in heauen the Father the worde and the holy Ghost and these three are one Wee doe assuredly beleeue that the holie Ghost will bee our comforter vnto the ende as well in woorking the woorkes of sanctification in vs as in making strong and sealing vp vnto our spirite the assurance of saluation and euerlasting life bringing all that to passe in our weakenesse which the Lorde hath promised in his woorde For the which ende he is sent from the Father and the Sonne into the world Which effectes are many in number and merueilous for the great workemanshippe thereof in such frailtie as wee are forced to feele and confesse to be within our selues For what a wonderful worke is this in flesh and bloud to haue a wise and vnderstanding heart in the will and word of his God The Apostle setteth this sight of God his goodnesse towardes vs which is offered in the Gospel farre aboue the reach eyther of sense or reason attributing it onely to the holy Ghost The things which eye hath not seen neither eare heard neither came into mans heart hath God prepared for them that loue him but God hath reuealed them vnto vs by his spirit for what maÌ„ knoweth the thinges of a man saue the spirit of a maÌ„ euen so the things of God knoweth no maÌ„ but the spirit of god What a rare work is this in like manner to geue vnto men who are priuie to themselues of manifolde offences and great wretchednes the confidence and boldenesse to call God Father making a full reckoning of his fauour and good wil towards them which thing is notwithstanding wrought in the seruants of God by the spirit of God as the Apostle witnesseth because ye are sonnes God hath sent forth the spirite of his sonne into your hartes which crieth Abba Father Of what difficultie likewise is that woorke to quicken this not dull but dead disposition within vs in the wayes of the Lorde his lawes and in the woorkes of his commaundementes yet doeth the spirite of God performe it in vs as wee reade in the Epistle to the Romanes If the spirite of him that raised vppe Iesus from the dead dwell in you he that raysed vp Christe from the dead shall also quicken your mortall bodies by his spirite that dwelleth in you Moreouer that passeth the power of man in our afflictions to be guided vnto God and to haue beside the matter the acceptable maner also of mourning and groning ministred vnto vs which proceedeth from the spirite of God as it is written to the Romanes Likewise the spirite also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what to pray as we ought but the spirite it selfe maketh request for vs with sighes which cannot be expressed but he that searcheth the heartes knoweth what is the meaning of the spirite for he maketh request for the faultes according to the will of God. And howe woonderfull is the Lorde by this woorke of his spirite in vs who are yet kept from our Countrey kingdome and oftentimes so euill intreated and so litle regarded that not onelie men but the Lorde himselfe seemeth to reckon of vs as vnwoorthie of any welfare here vppon earth to haue notwithstanding within vs a good earnest of our inheritance in heaueÌ„ eueÌ„ the spirit of God who hath also to name Comforter for these and like effectes of consolatioÌ„ after that ye beleued ye were sealed with the holy spirite of promise which is the earnest of our inheritaunce for the redeÌ„ption of that libertie purchased to the praise of his glory As for H.N. his holie Ghost there are no suche thinges to bee had from him for concerning the earnest and assurance to be made for our inheritaunce what vse can there be thereof when once wee are entred vpon the same nowe by H.N. his doctrine euerlasting life is in this life and in this estate of perfection which he professeth therfore when possession is taken there is no longer place for anie pledge or earnest of assurance and therefore H.N. his holie Ghost cannot bee he which the Scripture setteth foorth and maketh knowen by the propertie of a pleadge or earnest Beside this when H.N. his holie Ghost is once come they are past praier for sinne they haue not to pray against it beyng no sinners and goodnesse they want not beyng perfect and therefore he is not that holie Ghost which the Scripture speaketh off that helpeth their infirmities who know not what to pray as they ought making request with sighes and grones that cannot be expressed H.N. The nienth Article Wee beleeue one holy Churche a communialtie of holie ones which is the conioyned bodie of Christ or incorporated through the loue to Christ and that the shedding forth of the holy Ghost commeth to passe vnder the obedience of the loue vppon the same For through the holie Ghost wherewith shee is in

of the heauenly goods which are administred and brought thorow the seruice of loue to an euerlasting perfection vnto the vpright of heart and wherin al vnperfect or childish things Images figures and shadowes do ceasse becommeth nowe in this present day O ye louers of the truth euangelized and declared vnto you all and thereto also yee all so well as we were created for to liue therein and are called and bidden vnto the same out of the grace and mercie of God by me H. N. in whom God hath sealed the dwelling of his glorie and his holie name Wee are taught out of the worde of God to beleeue and assuredly to looke for the resurrection of this our flesh which by death is taken downe and layde into the dust For by that league and couenant wherein the Lord standeth bound vnto vs to become our God he hath not onely taken our soule but our fleshe and bodie also into his fatherly protection and that not for the time of this life alone but in like maner for the life to come And therefore our Sauiour Christ Iesus by these words of the couenant proueth that the dead shal rise againe yea that Abraham who had bene alreadie partaker of rising from sinne in truth the shadow whereof H.N. vrgeth for the rising againe of the flesh should haue yet an other resurrection which is to rise vp in flesh and bone to inherite euerlasting comfort as well in bodie as in soule For as the godly doe glorifie GOD here vpon earth both in bodie and soule so shall they likewise be glorified of him in both in the life to come And this is an article of our beliefe and especiall comfort left vnto Christians But how can it be that H.N. should be priuie vnto these such like comfortes who is vtterly ignoraunt of Christ the procurer of theÌ„ The Apostle Paule whose conuersation was in heauen and therefore already possessed of the rising from sinne looked notwithstanding for this resurrection of the bodie when it should be chaunged and made like vnto the glorious bodie of Iesus Christ as it is written in the Epistle to the Philippians But our coÌ„uersation is in heauen from whence also wee looke for the sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ who shall chaunge our vile bodies that it may be fashioned like vnto his glorious bodie according to the working whereby hee is able euen to subdue all things vnto himselfe It is manifest then by this which hath bene spoken that the resurrectioÌ„ of the bodie cannot be drowned as H.N. his doctrine doeth teach vs in the rising from sinne and wickednesse And beside in this short abstract of the principal points of our faith is it possible to perswade any man that one and the same thing shoulde bee the matter and argument of sundrie articles Now by the doctrine of H.N. this article is the same in effect with those of Christ his rising the third day froÌ„ the dead his ascending into heaueÌ„ his sitting at the right hand of God his father yea it is the same in meaning with those of the holy ghost the holy catholike Church the coÌ„munion of Saints the forgiuenes of sinnes For all these be nothing else besides that estate of life which his doctrine doeth describe to bee the louely being and that estate of perfection which his illuminate elders bee possessed of What cause haue all true hearted Christians to crie out agaynst this doctrine which shrinketh vp so manie and speciall comfortes so proper and peculiar vnto them H. N. The .xij. Article And we beleeue one euerlasting life Amen We confesse that the same euerlasting life is a true light of men and that God hath made and chosen him the man hereto that hee shoulde liue in the same light euerlastingly it is verie true Answere This euerlasting life which H. N. speaketh of is no other thing then that doctrine which he professeth And therfore he calleth it a true light of men according as we haue heard before in his title that in respect of this doctrine he chalengeth vnto him selfe to bee called the true light of the perfect being alledging the same place that here is cited for proofe thereof But least some might say that this place is not plaine inough to warrant this to be their opinion let vs heare himself open his owne meaning more at large These are his owne wordes in the 34. Chapter of his Euangelie Section 4. In this same day or last time namely in the perfection of the workes of God in his righteous iudgement the God of heaueÌ„ hath now declared himself his christ together with al his saints to vs his elect also made a dwelling with vs brought euen so vnto vs out of his holy being the most holie of his true tabernacle with the fulnes of his garnishing and spiritual heauenly riches to an euerlasting fast standing Ierusalem and house for Gods dwelling according to the Scripture the which is the verie true vndisturbable kingdome full of all godly power ioy and of all heauenly beautifulnesse wherin the land of the lord with fulnesse of eternall life and louely sweetenesse is sung from euerlasting to euerlasting and wherein all mindes of pure heartes doe dwell liue and walke with freedome and Christian triumph in all loue This day of loue is with him as you heare the last time and therefore nowe doeth God make his dwelling with vs and bringeth the fulnesse of his spiritual riches And this kingdome as he sayeth here is the verie true vndisturbable kingdome full of all godly ioy and heauenly beautifulnes wherein is the fulnesse of eternall life He calleth it the eternall life because this doctrine must reigne on earth for euer and therefore in his exposition vpon this Article he doeth not affirme that anie one man shall liue in the same light euerlastingly but speaking indefinitely sayeth the man shall liue in it euerlastingly because there shall bee from hencefoorth in all times hereafter men founde that shall walke in perfecte obedience vnto this Doctrine It appeareth likewise out of his Euangelie that he professeth euerlasting life to be nothing else but his doctrine So that to liue in perfect obedience vnto that is no other thing then to liue in the life euerlasting in that light that shineth therein And it is therefore called euerlasting because it shal be professed for euer and no religion preuaile against it These bee his owne woordes Euangelie 37.13 Therefore also is this day or light of the loue with his seruice in the most holie the last day and the perfection or conclusion of all the workes of God in the which God himselfe with his Christ and with all the thousandes of his Saintes as in the moste holy of his true tabernacle appeareth and commeth vnto the beleeuers and obedient ones to the requiring of his worde to an eternall rest of his holy ones and to a godly consolation for all afflicted

teacheth vs to deny vngodlynesse neither doeth it onely tell vs barely and nakedly what is to be doone But with sweete promises allureth and with great perswasion and most louing councell and aduise doeth exhorte and prouoke vs therevnto crauing beseeching and intreating vs to yeelde and consent not leauing out any thing that is likely to further the matter that is in hand The nature of man beeing as it is destrous of knowledge howe can hee but bee welcome vnto vs that professeth to teache If there were no more but the name of a Teacher it were inough to driue vs to some consideration for the good intertainment of him Albeit we had neuer seene nor hearde the manne before But when these Teachers bring giftes with them the better to perswade and when those become Teachers and perswaders to whome for all our welfare and happy estate wee are wholly beholden may there aduise possibly thinke you bee neglected and not esteemed of any who hath but the least sparke of humanitie or good disposition in him And beholde the grace of GOD that bringeth with it our saluation teacheth and intreateth vs to deny vngodlynesse and worldly lustes and to liue soberly righteously and godly in this present worlde If you like Teachers that perswade and enter into the heartes of men by giftes you can not mislike him I am wel assured that bringeth no lesse gift then your saluation If giftes doe commende I thinke he is sufficiently commended vnto vs and most true it is that giftes and benefites canne not but commende their Maisters that bring them Salomon sayth That a gift laid secretly and closely in the bosome of him that is offended with vs is able to asswage anger when it is growen so stronge that it may bee saide to haue sinewes and bones Hee sayth more and besides this That a rewarde is as a precious stone it prospereth and preuaileth whethersoeeuer it turneth Rewardes and giftes receiued holde a man as captiue and Prisoner vnto the giuer so that hee is scarce his owne manne but seeth with an other mans eyes and dealeth with an other mannes handes for he who commeth commended vnto vs by some rewarde and gifte is able as it were by some inchantment to set what coulour he will vppon his matter and that so cunningly as the wisest man that is of vs all shall not bewray it For doe we not reade in Deuteronomie That rewardes blinde the eyes of the wise and peruerte the woordes of the iust And this is the cause why in that same place the Iudges are forbidden to take rewards for such is the corruption of man that he will not stick to perswade his euill cause by those meanes if hee shall vnderstande that the Iudge lyeth any whitte open on that parte But this infirmitie of man who oftentimes furthereth his euill cause by giftes may not so preiudice the holie Ghoste who is without all suspecion to commende euill causes vnto vs but that it shall be alwaies lawfull for him to vse what way of perswasion as shall best like him yea to enter vppon vs euen by giftes and to cause the grace of God bringing with it our saluation to intreate vs to deny vngodlines and worldly lustes to see if that which is so pearcing of it selfe be able to touch vs that which perswadeth so greatly be of force to preuaile with vs that which often times speedeth in euil matters may finde fauour with vs to promote the best things For what hath he not obtayned among men that by giftes hath continued to perswade and among gifts there is some diuersitie some be more able to moue vs then others are some perswade more effectually then others doe For those benefites haue alwaies beene regarded aboue the rest that haue drawen vs out of some great daunger or haue comforted vs in some great extremitie the memorye of such is wont to be of greatest continuance of moste thankful remembrance with vs WheÌ„ Dauid would perswade Bethsabe his wife that Salomon should be king after him and put her out of all doubt that shee neede neuer to feare the matter any longer hee pledgeth for the assuraunce of his woorde his thankefulnesse vnto God for suche benefites as coulde not but binde his obedience That is his often deliueraunce out of trouble As the Lorde liueth sayeth Dauid who hath brought my soule out of aduersitie Salomon thy sonne shall reigne after me The benefites are not lightly regarded that are receiued in aduersitie For the present sense and feeling of the misery doeth greatly enhaunce the price thereof And therefore Dauid tooke away all occasion of doubting when he pawneth for assuraunce of his woorde so great a matter as was his thankefulnesse for deliueraunce out of aduersitie For it coulde not be that hee shoulde forget to redeeme so great a gage And in this highest degree of giftes commeth this benefite commended vnto vs for it is the grace of GOD that bringeth saluation And bringing of saluation prooueth our estate to haue beene damnable before It is not only misery then that wee were plunged in before this benefite came but a miserie of miseries for wee were holden vnder the thraldome of death and damnation Suche a benefite deserueth thankeful remembraunce it speedeth where any perswasion will preuayle Suche a gift a man woulde thinke shoulde finde fauour and prosper whither so euer it turneth Hauing succeeded so great and greeuous a miserie how can it but haue the taste of most bountifull and sweete mercy We may learne by this that hath beene saide what the cause is why the holy Ghost saith not simply The Gospel teacheth and exhorteth vs but saith the grace of GOD which bringeth saluation teacheth and exhorteth vs for it is the Gospell that hee meaneth and yet he calleth it the grace of GOD that bringeth saluation to make vs more mindefull of the matter This maner of perswading by giftes and benefites vsed of the holy Ghoste may learne vs a profitable lesson howe to withstande temptations vnto sinne what so euer to wit by keeping freshe in memory the seuerall benefites of GOD towardes vs making them as Bulwarks against our sinfull assaultes so that when they allure vs we may thus aunsweare them the GOD who hath redeemed my soule from all aduersitie doeth forbid it mee The grace of GOD to whome I owe my saluation doeth deny it vnto mee the goodnesse of that GOD of whome I haue receiued life health honour wealth delieraunce out of these and these troubles preseruation from the murtherer euill tongue and slaunderer doeth desire mee that for all the good wil that euer hee hath borne mee I woulde not consent vnto it If any Prince shoulde by speciall pardon deliuer a Subiecte from death that by Lawe and Iustice had deserued it and after aduaunce him to some place of honour in the Lande harde and vnthankfull were his heart if those sutes especially of the Prince whiche broughte with them the

into a straunge sense Howe manie be there among vs that goe into great matters at aduenture as they say euen led by the common ordinarie course of custome because they haue been so accustomed notwithstanding that Salomon doeth teach vs not to let thoughtes tarie in the heart but such as haue beene placed there by councell and authoritie from the worde and so doeth he thinke also of warre and chargeth vs that we should not enterprise it but by counsell from the worde Which both of them might seeme of duetie to pleade priuiledge and to claime pardon in regarde of the sodaine comming and vnaduised bursting out of them Nowe when it commeth to passe that we are particularly pressed by the worde to let goe anie pleasure or profite that we haue long inioyed who seeth not then howe with full mouth we crie depart from vs wee will none of thy wayes Then you see there is no remedie but we must holde the Lorde fast to vs in his woorde for it hath beene alwayes the commendation of the godly to haue walked with god We are not saide to walke with God according to his infinit Maiestie and essence neither yet in that sense are we sayde to depart from him for his diuine being doth not shewe it selfe vnto creatures neither is he visible vnto vs but he hath drawne nie vnto vs in his worde and wee must walke with him by that For how shall we feare that corruption that is so naturally ingraffed in vs if his presence doe not fray vs from it And what Christian who anie whit hath knowne his owne infection dare but once dreame that his presence by his word should not be greatly needfull to awake him often and to rouse him out of the sleepe of sinne while he vnderstandeth by the word euer anon that the Lord goeth quite contrary to him and is departed altogether from him We are therefore to question with the word of God how fareth it with me in this deed am I gone from my God haue I in displeasure taken my leaue of my Lord haue I driuen my Sauiour farre out of my sight Can it be well with me while my God turneth his backe on me But when men liue without remorse of conscience while they cannot abide once to looke vppon themselues in the glasse of God his word while it is death for them once to examine their doinges doe they not say depart from vs we will none of thy wayes When Ieremie the Prophet in his 8. Chapter woulde note out the desperate state of the people in his time hee setteth no other marke vppon them but this There is no man that saith what haue I done but euerie one turneth to their rase as the horse rusheth to the battaile Then there is no way vnlesse we would ioyne with this desperate people but that we must still holde God before vs in the light of his worde and often come into his presence while wee take at sundrie times the accountes of our doinges by the worde accounting not onely with the worde of God for the generall duties of Christianitie but also for the seuerall dueties that our particular calling and place doth bind vs vnto We must needes conclude then that vngodlinesse reacheth further then to Turkes Atheists and Papistes who set the Lorde cleane beside his woorde euen to those which without remorse runne on without any presenting of them selues and their deedes before the presence of his worde which the Lord seeth to be so necessarie as that we can not want it being otherwise as vntowarde scholers that will do nothing when their maister his eye is not vpon them Therefore let vs all in the feare of God pray that we may haue loue vnto the worde and liking to be in the sight of our God which is when wee haue our lust and longing to be vnder the gouernment of the Gospel This is it that Salomon spendeth so muche time about in the Prouerbes vrging still that Wisedome must delight vs and finde some louing entertainment with vs and that we neuer so please our selues in our towardnes as to imagine we coulde long want this necessary helpe of his presence Vnto this familiar conuersation with GOD in his word he promiseth al blessigs and deliuerances from the greatest daungers We must deny this vngodlynesse that speaketh these wordes vnto the Lorde Depart from vs for wee desyre not the knowledge of thy wayes What wickednesse were it either with the Papaist to set a visour vppon the Lorde his face and to make him looke as we list either els with the secure and carelesse Christian to let him looke as he liketh so we neede not to looke vpon him The Lorde hath planted the ministerie of the woorde in his Church not onely to teach bs barely but also to comfort vs in our iourney and to quicken vs in our dueties yea and to feare vs also from sinne Who is the Almightie that we shoulde serue him This is a seconde note of vngodlinesse an vsuall speeche of vngodly hartes howesoeuer the tongue be cleare of it For in deede they haue no inward acquaintance with him neither doe they in trueth see any such desertes towardes them why they shoulde be seruantes vnto him The benefites they haue they see them coÌ„mon with other but as for any special regarde had of them they doe not vnderstande of it and while they see nothing in God towarde them but that is general vnto all they ascribe nothing vnto him but a general kinde of goodnesse which they take to be indiffereÌ„tly cast downe among men to be taken vp of so many as wil. Besides this they neuer acquaint them with the sight of their sinnes the desert therof which should leade them into a misliking of themselues and let them see other wages then benefites to bee by all equitie and right due vnto them Thus it falleth out that they would haue him shew wherein he hath so bound them as he might demaund so great things of them as if they should call for a reckoning to see what is come in seeing the charges arise so great and the dueties layde vpon them so manie and diuerse Thus while the vngodly receiue benefits but not as tokens of fatherly affection while in the vse of the benefite they are no whit confirmed in the peculial care affection which hee beareth his elect they cannot but say Who is the Almightie that we should serue him What token haue wee of his speciall good will why wee shoulde in such difficult matters serue him and with such daunger attende vppon him For in verie deede hee that shall gette out more then ordinarie seruice had neede see more then common good will in him who shall exact it They enioy the benefite as other doe but so as they doe repose them in it and returne no speciall thing into the accountes of the benefactour whereby they might knowe he maketh an other reckoning of

to be married Yet is it saide that rather the basest of the people shal be compelled to enter in then that these who haue ben bid and are hindred by these thinges though in them selues not vnlawful shoulde taste of the supper Wee see then how needeful this sobrietie is that keepeth vs from surfettyng with these transitorie thinges The very Ethnickes haue founde and taught that there is a blessing which a good man may finde in euery estate Scaenica hath these woordes Assuescendum itaque conditioni suae nihil tam acerbum in quo non equus animus solatium inueniet If Heathen men founde ioy in euery estate by custome and continuance shall wee finde none who haue the promise of our God for speciall blessinges and assistaunce Let vs answere our affections which will not heere of our abasing as Dauid did Michal the daughter of Saul 2. Sam. 6. Who scornefully checking him that he had so abased himself in bringing home the arke of the the Lorde and that before the maides of his seruauntes receiued this answeare from him it was before the Lord who chose me rather then thy father and all his house and coÌ„maunded me to be ruler ouer al the people of the Lord and therefore I will yet be more vile then this and wil be lowe in my owne sight and of the very same maide seruantes which thou hast spoken of shal I be had in honour Let vs I say answeare our affections and say it is before him and for him of whom we holde all let vs say wee are yet redy to be more vile and lowly if neede require our God see it so good for we must cheine vp our affections with coÌ„sideration that our bondes are limitted vnto as and that we are redy to be abased yf suche a condition shoulde be layde vpon vs from the lord Let vs learne in the feare of God to take vp our affections from pursuing these delightes remembryng that the Lord hath pledged him selfe for assurance of a sufficient prouision Let your conuersation be without couetousnesse for it is said I wil not leaue thee nor forsake thee If we had but the woorde of some wealthie man to assure vnto vs a sufficiencie howe woulde it comfort our hartes and lessen our labours and cares Beholde the woordes of the highest for hym that is content with that he hath yf this will not mooue vs let vs remember that in the eight of Luke there is mention made of a cursed kinde of grounde that receiued the precious seede of Gods woorde into it but either riches cares or voluptuous life doth so choake it as there commeth no fruite of it And if this will not preuayle with vs let vs call to minde the watchwoorde that is giuen vs by our Sauiour Christe in the 21. of Luke Take heede least at any time your hartes be oppressed wirh surfetting and drunkennesse and cares of this life Nowe if there happen to be any who beeing weery with the burden of their weakenesse in this part shal be come earnest suters vnto the Lorde to preuaile against their corruption in this behalfe let them assure them selues that the vnfaigned petition and prayer of a man leaden with the burden of his want beeyng continued cannot returne emptie from that GOD who by name calleth out such to come vnto him with promyse that he will heare them Therefore to conclude this matter of sobrietie let our lot giuen vs of the Lord be our limitte let a lower estate be well digested by meditation let God his assurance be sufficient let his threatninges feare vs let his promyse yf wee be weery incourage vs. To liue righteously is so to order our life as euery man may haue his owne at our handes for iustice is a vertue that geueth to euery man his due The Lorde to maintaine brotherly loue among his hath made one the store-house of necessaries for another So is the welfare of euery man layde out of himselfe that loue may by suche meanes rather be maintained He that is in the place of iustice and iudgement is to remember that he geue to euery man his owne For the fatherlesse in his good cause hath the right of a father in him The Widowe of an husbande the blinde and ignorant man that cannot discerne where the helpe of his cause lieth hath the right and title of an eie in him the oppressed of a Patron Thus doeth Iob cleare him selfe in the 29. of Iob. I deliuered the poore that cried and the fatherlesse and him that had none to helpe him the blessing of him that was redy to perish came vpon me and I caused the widowes heart to reioyse I was the eye to the blinde feete to the lame I was a father to the poore and when I knew not the cause I sought it out diligeÌ„tly I brake the iawes of the vnrighteous man and pluckt the pray out of his teeth Thus did Iob discharge him of the defence he did owe vnto theÌ„ lending his eie vnto the blinde to spie out the right of his cause and his hande to the oppressed to plucke the pray out of the vnrighteous maÌ„s teeth More and besides this the whole land hath title to a defence and safetie by them from sinn For sinne and wickednes vnpunished maketh the lande giltie of blood and bringeth the wrath of God vppon it Which wee haue notably prooued vnto vs in the 21. of Deut. A man is founde dead it is not knowne who slue him the Elders and Iudges muste come forth and measure to the cities that are round about him that is slaine the Elders of the Citie next vnto the slayne man muste take a Heifer out of the droue and bring it vnto a stony valley and strike of the Heyfers necke and washe theyr handes ouer the Heifer that is beheaded and testifie and say Our hands haue not shedde this blood neither haue our eies seene it O Lorde be mercifull vnto thy people Israel and lay no innocent blood to the charge of thy people Israel so the blood shal be forgeuen them so shal yee take away the crie of innocent blood This care and prayer was there to vnburden the lande of blood euen when the malefactour coulde not be founde and this confessing of a kinde of guiltinesse in the Elders and Iudges next vnto that Citie for that if iustice had beene straightly looked vnto by them it is credible the malefactour durst not haue approched so neare Thus woulde the Lorde teache vs that wickednesse vnpunished crieth out against the land wherein it is committed Nowe seeing by the expresse commaundement of GOD there was suche care taken to purge the lande of murder or manslaughter when the aucthour thereof was vnknowen And that not otherwyse then by sacrifice prayer and solempne protestation before the Lorde of their innocencie either for doeyng it or seeing it doone they were discharged of the daunger thereof What conscience and

shal finde life righteousnesse and glorie A faythfull man shall abound in blessing but he that maketh hast to be riche shall not be innocent Men who being greedie of gaine had sodainly attained vnto wealth were the most infamous of all other men euen among the heathen so that ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ ã€ˆâ—Šã€‰ grew with them to be a name of greatest reproch A verlet is not more odious with vs theÌ„ he was with them The order that here is obserued may in no wise be neglected for sobrietie is set before righteousnesse in this place We must liue soberly and righteously sayth the Apostle Without sobrietie and temperance righteous iust dealing cannot be holden vp mainteined for if a man haue not learned to be rich to be poore he shall neuer hold out the course of iustice righteous dealing when it lieth vpon the losse of fauour estimation credite wealth or countenance to proceed in iustice and righteousnesse He shal neuer buie and sel with conscience that hath not accouÌ„ted with himselfe to carie a lowe saile lower then he hath done if God see it so good We should haue more iustice if we had more sobernes in the laÌ„d for if whatsoeuer come the old estate must be holden iustice and righteous dealing must somtime be stretched It is this teÌ„perance sobrietie that strengtheneth righteous dealing and iustice For if we could be content to be humbled in the worlde if God could not otherwise be serued or a good conscience mainteyned we should haue more power to do iustice and to liue vprightly in our calling whatsoeuer But while men are so drowned in profites pleasures and honours in the worlde they are neuer put to any strait but iustice is stretched that the olde compasse may be kept and their estate vpholden Let vs imbrace this temperance and sobernesse so shall we holde fast this reine of iustice and vpright dealing in our places and callings Many good lawes we haue made to cause vs liue iustly one with another but litle fruit of them for why the roote is not touched VVe haue taken so large a measure of port and countenance being voyde of this temperance that the cloth must needs be cut out therafter The sobrietie that pleased our fathers in attire in faire in port in couÌ„tenance will not suffice vs we haue taken a larger measure and therfore must we not stretch out the cloth they haue left vs accordingly Must not our rentes be raysed our reuenues increased the prises of our wares augmented our paines dearer our giftes greater our pleasuring of meÌ„ better coÌ„sidered our paines more rewarded our liberalitie to the pore or to any good purpose lessened our compassion abated and so our fathers good report decaied Let euery man tast more of temperance so shall he be able to afoord a better peniworth of righteous and vpright dealing in his calling whatsoeuer For sure while the measure is so infinitely inlarged the cloth must needes be set vppon the Tainters and excessiuely stretched It shall bee in vaine to make lawes agaynst iniurious and vnrighteous practises if before this great excesse and intemperancie that ruleth in all estates bee not repressed For if that in no case may bee abated howe can it bee but that the olde ordinarie dealinges in righteousnesse and equitie must bee racked The great want of sobrietie that is euery where speaketh that there is much vnrighteousnesse in this land and so consequently doeth plainly and euidently foretell vs that the righteous God hath a quarell with the inhabitants of this our Countrey for the vnrighteousnesse therof which increaseth in euerie kingdome as moderation and sobrietie abateth Now how sobrietie decayeth and intemperancie is dayly augmented euen he that is most guiltie herein wil not seeme to denie it Wherby it is euident that this land shall not be able anie long time to beare the vnrighteousnesse therof For this great intemperancie telleth vs that the burthen of vnrighteousnesse which it beareth is growne to such greatnesse as cannot long be susteyned if our reformation herein be not speedily attempted and taken in hande which the Lorde in mercie graunt may be throughly thought vpon by you who haue especiall helpe in your handes to performe it To liue righteously is the request of our God The grace of God that bringeth saluation hath appeared teaceth vs to liue iustly His graces offer themselues to take vp their consideration in our righteous conuersation they craue that our vpright dealing may speake in what regarde we haue them howe wee thinke our selues beholden vnto them they haue set ouer the pleasuring of them to vpright liuing there they woulde haue it seene howe they are valued prised and esteemed Let vs then beholde a Christian Meditation for men of all callings and trades when they deale in the woorke of their callings to mooue them to equitie conscience and regarde of those with whome they deale Beholde my GOD calleth mee to witnesse to the worlde my thankefulnesse for his benefites he calleth me nowe forth to value his deseruings nowe am I called to set my price vpon his mercies and to leaue a recorde behind me howe highly or basely I esteme of his goodnes for the recoÌ„pence of his kindnesse hath he turned and set ouer to be answered in obedience and vpright dealing one with another The grace of God that bringeth saluation hath appeared biddeth vs liue righteously Now am I to signifie vnto the world howe I think my self indebted vnto God for the benefite of redemption for the benefite of his worde for honour health for children for friends peace welth â–ª these are now crauing some consideration Were it not great crueltie that crauing so little they should neuerthelesse be repelled bringing all things their consideration shoulde be nothing Now therefore will I consider of my God for this blessing now will I answere in dutifull remembrance for that benefit And so draw forth his special mercies to haue them seuerally considered in our vpright life and iust dealing with men Not with the Papistes to seeme to requite him by merite but with the godly Christian to shew him selfe not vnmindefull of them in humble obedience to his will. Saying after our best obedience with Dauid in the building of the Temple Who am I and what is my people that we should bee able to offer willingly after this sort for all thinges come of thee and of thine owne hande haue we giuen thee all this aboundance That we haue prepared to build thee an house is of thy haÌ„d and all is thine This meditation will in like manner meete with our crooked and disordered affections in our dealinges which are voyde of all consideration of iustice and mercie While that we shall in this manner vrge and presse them doest thou thus answeare thy redemption is here the price of thy sanctification dost thou thus requite thy preseruation is this the thankfulnesse for thy health al thou maiest

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