Worlde This is alreadie saieth Iude begunne to bee put in practise For wee reade that this mischiefe of Bishoppes seeking Lordly authoritie and higher prerogatiue then other Christians beganne aboue a thousande yeares agoe whiche thyng in the Epistles of Hierome is euidently to bee seen And deny GOD the onely Lorde and our Lorde Iesus Christ SO also writeth Sainct Peter in his Christs But that Deniyng as it is there and here in 〈◊〉 is not with the mouthe for outwardly in woordes thei confesse that GOD is the Lords but in their woorkes and dealynges thei flatly deny the Lorde Christ not acknowledgyng hym to bee their Lorde but chalenge rather a Lordinesse and predenimation vnto themselues For when as thei Preache that Fastyng Pilgrimage buildyng of Abbaies Chastitie Obedience Pouertie and suche like is the right high waie to felicitie thei thâ—reâ—â— miserablie seduce and drawe men from the truthe to them wretched Workes vtterly suppressyng concealyng and keepyng Christ doune Which is no lesse then if thei should saie Christ auaileth that nothyng neither can his woorkes and 〈◊〉 fires any whitte helpe thee Thou must needes trust to thy self and merite Heauen with thyne owne Workes And thus thei â—â—ny the Lorde who hath bought and redeemed vs with his owne precious bloud as S. Peter afore declared I will therefore putte you in remembraune for as muche as ye onto knewe this how that the Lorde after that he had deliuered the people out of Aegipt destroied them afterward whiche beleeued not The Angels also whiche kept not their first estate but left their owne habitation he hath reserued in euerlastyng chaines vnder darknesse vnto the iudgement of the greate daie As Sodome and Gomorrhe and the Cities aboute them whiche in like maner as thei did committed Fornication and followed strange fleshe are sett forthe for an ensample and 〈◊〉 the vengeaunce of eternall Fier HEre he inferreth three seuerall examples whereof the two last are meÌ„tioned why S. Peter One onely he here addeth more and 〈◊〉 it of the children of Isral whom God by many wonders brought out of the Lande of Egipt and who for their vnbelief dyed in the Wildernesse and were destroyed so that of sixe hundreth thousande men beside women and children vnder twentie yeares that came out of Egipt there were left no moe but onely twaine Num. xj This example he bringeth for an admonition and terrour as if hee should saie let those that are called by the name of Christians and vnder colour thereof turne the grace of God into wantonnesse take heede and looke well to themselues least that happen vnto them whiche light vppon the Israelites And truely since the tyme that blind Poperie beganne and the clere light of the Gospell was couered and restrained from beeing publiquely preached one plague hath still fallen in the necke of an other whereby GOD hath still from tyme to tyme taken reuenge of the vnbeleeuers and giuen them ouer into the very Iawes of Sathan Likewise notwithstandyng these Dreamers also defile the fleshe THese Doctors Teachers he calleth Dreamers because that as when one dreameth he thynketh himself to haue somewhat and to see many thynges whiche in truth are but vaine phantasies and when he awaketh and seeth himself to haue nothyng then perceiueth he all to bee but a dreame so maketh he no accoumpt thereof So whatsoeuer these iuggling Rabbines and Lordly maisters doe saie is nothyng but mere dreames whiche they shall one daie when their eyes shalbee opened well finde and know to haue been nothyng at all And namely when thei goe about to perswade men that their shauen crounes their forked Cappes their wilfull Pouertie their counterfaite Chastitie their vowed Obedience suche like trashe and guegawes are thinges very acceptable vnto God Herein they merueilouslie bleaâ—â— themselues in their owne imaginations and thinke themselues to see that whiche in deede is but false and phantasticall and no better then a very fonde and foolishe dreame as in truthe all this their trashe and tromperie is before God nothyng els but mere dreames and lyes Therefore in callyng them Dreamers he did very wel and hit them home with their right name for that with their dreames they seduce and beguile bothe themselues and the Worlde This vice of liuyng looselie and wantonlie the Apostles doe peculiarly attribute and ascribe to those whiche bee greazed Priestes and marked Baalamites God long agoe foretolde vs that they should bee a Sect liuyng without Wiues And Daniell also prophecying of the kyngdome of the Pope foretolde long agoe that their lust should be vpon women Dan. xj because he foresawe that thei would be suche as could not abide to bee linked in lawfull mariage with any women but burne in lust and wicked concupiscence And this is one of the outwarde iolie vertues not muche vnlike to that their other inwarde properties namely that they are dreamyng Sleepers And despise gouernemente and speake euill of theÌ„ that are in aucthoritie THeir third qualitie is that thei refuse to bee subiecte to the Temporall Sworde and Ciuile Magistrate But wee knowe and so teache that so long as wee liue vppon Earth wee are bounde by the Worde of GOD to yeeld our obedience vnto Magistrates For the Faithe of Christe doeth not violate infringe and disanull externall Pollicie and therefore it is not lawfull for any man to exempt hymself from his obedience toward them Wherevpon we see it plainly and consequently prooued that the Popes Canons and Decrees touchyng Ecclesiasticall Immunitie bee nothyng but verie deuises and inuentions of Sathan Yet Michael the Archangell wheÌ„ he stroue against the Deuill and disputed about the bodie of Moses durst not blame hym with cursed speakyng but saied The Lorde rebuke thee THis is one of the places for the whiche this Epistle was of the old Fathers not allowed and receiued for Canonicall because he here alledgeth an example whiche is not read els where in any place within the whole bodie of the Bible Namely that Michaell the Archangell contended with the Deuill about the bodie of Moses This contention some thinke grewe herevpon because there are so many notable stories written of Moses namelie in the laste of Deuter where wee reade that the Angell of God buried hym but that no man knoweth of his Sepulchre where it is vnto this daie Againe because the Scripture testifieth of hym in the same Chapter that there arose not a Prophete in Israell like vnto Moses whom the Lorde knewe face to face c. Seyng therefore in what greate estimation and reuerence Moses was among the Iewes some of the Interpreters and Expositors that write vpon that same laste Chapter of Deut. saie that Moses was buried by God and that his Sepulchre was neuer hitherto knowen or founde by any man Whiche God did to the intente the Iewes should bee kept from all occasion of committyng Idolatrie whereinto thei might easily and quickly haue slipped if thei had had the bodie of so noble and renoumed a
how we ought to behaue our selues in our workes and dealinges towards our Neighbor The seconde Chapter WHerefore laiyng aside al maliciousnesse and all guile and dissimulation and enuie and all euill speakyng As newe borne babes desire that sincere milke of the worde that ye may growe thereby If so bee that ye haue tasted how bountifull the Lorde is To whom commyng as vnto a liuing stone disalowed of men but chosen of God and precious Ye also as liuely stones bee made a spirituall house an holy Priesthood to offer vp spirituall sacrifices acceptable to God by Iesus Christ Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture Behold I put in Sion a chiefe corner stone elect and precious and he that beleeueth therein shall not be ashamed Vnto you therefore whiche beleeue it is precious but vnto them whiche be disobedient the stone which the builders disalowed the same is made the head of the corner And a stone to stumble at and a rocke of offence euen to them whiche stumble at the worde beeyng disobedient vnto the whiche thyng they were euen ordeined But ye are a chosen generation a royall Priesthood an holy nation a people set at libertie that ye shoulde shewe forthe the vertues of hym that hath called you out of darkenesse into his merueilous light Whiche in tyme past wore not a people yet are now the people of God which in tyme past were not vnder mercie but now haue obtained mercie Dearely beloued I beseche you as strāgers pilgrims absteine from fleshly lustes whiche fight against the soule And haue your conuersation honest among the Gentiles that they whiche speake euill of you as of euill doers maie by your good woorkes whiche they shall see glorifie God in the day of visitation Therefore submitte your selues vnto all maner ordinance of man for the Lordes sake whether it bee vnto the King as vnto the superiour Or vnto gouernours as vnto thē that are sent of him for the punishment of euill doers and for the praise of them that doe well For so is the will of God that by well doyng ye maie put to silence the ignorance of the foolishe men As free and not as hauyng the libertie for a cloake of maliciousnesse but as the seruantes of God Honor al men loue brotherly fellowship feare God honour the Kyng Seruants bee subiect to your maisters with all feare not onely to the good courteous but also to the froward For this is thankeworthie if a man for conscience towarde God endure griefe sufferyng wrongfully For what praise is it if when ye bee buffeted for your faultes ye take it paciently but and if when ye doe well ye suffer wrong and take it paciently this is acceptable to God For hereunto ye are called for Christe also suffered for you leauyng you an ensample that ye should follow his steppes Who did no sinne neither was there guile founde in his mouth Who when he was reuiled reuiled not againe when he suffred he threatened not but committed it to hym that iudgeth righteously Who his owne self bare our sinnes in his bodie on the tree that wee beyng dead to sinne should liue in righteousnesse by whose stripes ye were healed For ye were as sheepe goyng astraye but are now returned vnto the sheepherde and bishoppe of your soules HEre beginneth he to teache vs the right works of a Christiā life the true fruites of the same Wee haue oftentymes afore shewed that in these two thinges Faithe towardes God and Loue towarde our neighbour doeth consist and is contained the whole life of a Christian Also that this Faith of Christe is not giuen to any but that there remaine neuerthelesse in our fleshe so long as wee here liue many naughtie concupiscences lustes and desires sithins that none here in this worlde can be so holie but that he liueth in the fleshe and whatsoeuer is in the flesh the same can not be perfectly cleane Therefore saieth sainct Peter be ye so instructed that ye may abstaine frō the Sinnes which as yet adhere and cleaue vnto you and against them see that ye continually fight for those be the most daūgerous and most pernicious enemies that we haue which lye within our owne bosomes and in the middest of our fleshe and bloud dooe watche sleepe and liue with vs as it were some troublesome Guest of whom when a man hath once harboured and taken hym into his house he can not againe be ridde Wherefore seeing that Christ through Faith is all and wholly yours and that you bee now possessed of his sauyng healthe and all other his benefites and graces knowe ye now that this charge and duetie lyeth vppon you that you laie aside all maliciousnesse or whatsoeuer is euill all guile that is that none deale with an other vnfaithfullie and dissemblinglie let there not bee seene any falshood in fellowshippe amōg you as the prouerbe is neither any craft and treacherie whiche God hee knoweth is now adaies too rise But as it becommeth vs that bee Christians in all poinctes towarde God to deale not feinedly and crookedly but directly sincerely and with a pure harte so also towardes men it is our partes to deale plainly simply and iustly that no man ouerreache or vndermyne an other in buying selling or suche like So saieth sainct Paule Ephes 4. Put awaie liyng and let euery man speake truthe vnto his neighbour The truthe is this that your speeche bee yea yea and naye naye Dissembling is when one sheweth him self an other maner of man outwardly then he is inwardly in minde affected It behoueth therefore and is required of euery man that he beare and shew hym self suche outwardlie as hee is in deede and in harte inwardlie A Christian ought so to liue that he maie not care though all men see and knowe what he thinketh in his harte as he that in all his conuersation and life seeketh nothyng els but to glorifie God and to be seruiceable vnto his neighbour not fearing any man at all For euery one ought to shewe hymself suche an one in the verie secretes of his minde as he is outwardly accoumpted and not vnder the visor of honestie to deceiue and bleare the eyes of the people Sainct Peter further saieth that wee must also laye aside Enuie and euill speakinges Wherein hee doeth very aptlie and well reproue those vices that among men are vsuall and common in their mutuall traffiques and dealinges This vice of euill speakyng is a sinne now adaies very common and rife quickly slipped into and sooner committed then a man would weene Therefore take heede to your selues saieth he of this fault yea although ye haue the Spirite to the intent that ye maie by proofe know what be the fruictes of the Spirite As newe borne Babes desire the sincere milke of the worde that ye maie growe thereby HEre hee bryngeth in a similitude and his meaning thereby is this ye now are newe borne by the worde of God and therefore so
and selflikyng of theimselues trustyng in their owne Merites Woorkes and rotten Ceremonies Thei beleeue that Christ the Sonne of God in his humanitie suffred death and rose againe the third daie that he is the Sauiour of the worlde c. but thei doe not firmely and onely trust in hym for if thei did thei would not so scrupulously bee tied to their owne Lowsie trashe and beggerly Traditions After the same maner did thei beare the Laitie in hande that they could not attaine to saluation except they did after their directions Ye are Christians saie thei we confesse but this is not enough ye must doe suche and suche good workes ye must build Churches in the honor of this and that Sainct ye must erect and founde Monasteries and Abbayes ye must buie certaine Trentalles of Masses to be saied or song for you ye must pyue awaie your selues with fastyng and suche like Thus haue the séely poore people been beguiled and thus haue thei been perswaded and brought to shew themselues as well likers of these trumperies thinkyng it to be the Kynges high waie to heauen and these rotten workes of blinde deuotion to be of all workes the best because they sawe them which caried the tytle of the Church to allowe and followe the same so that in processe of tyme there grewe to bee as many Factions Sectes and Religions as there were Cities yea almoste as there were Men. Whereas they should rather haue taught them thus Ye are Christians aswell as thei that bee an hundred myles distant from you ye haue all one Christ one Baptisme one Faith one Spirite one Worde one God there is no worke that ye of your selues are able to doe towarde your saluation or able to bring you to the perfection of a right Christian If this Doctrine might generally bee preached men should be kept in the fellowshippe and vnitie of one Common Faith neither would there bee any difference at all in thinges appertainyng to God but all would be alike and one the same that an other is This Communion and vnitie thei haue broken and disioynted in that thei seduce and misleade vs in teachyng vs that wee must merite heauen by our Workes drawyng vs thereby from Faith to our own Pharisâ—icall deedes S. Peters wordes therefore if he bee well marked caâ—ie this meanyng There shall arise among you Sophisticall Scholemen Doctors Teachers Priestes Munkes and suche like beyng the very offall and Skumme of the Worlde who shall bryng in pernicious sectes odible orders damnable heresies and seduce the Worlde with their lying and false Doctrines These these doubtlesse are thei of whom the Apostle here speaketh For thei are all thus perswaded and verely beleeue that their willfully Professed Orders are meritorious to theÌ„ and shall bryng them to saluation and perswade others also to put confidence and trust in them If this were not their opinion who would thinke but thei would rather liue free abroade then as thei do cage and empound themselues in their Cloysters as it were in Prisons Euen denying the Lorde that hath bought them THei are readie to saie that thei doe not denye the Lord but if this question be demaunded of them what thei meane or what they seeke to get through these their vowed ProfessioÌ„s if thei beleeue as thei saie thei doe that they are redéemed by Christ and that their sinnes are washed awaie by his bloud Thei will quickly aunswere that forsooth Faith alone is not sufficient and therefore they must haue the helpe of good Workes Thus with mouth they confesse God and in harte flatly renounce hym Consider also what pithie and vehement words S. Peter here vseth They denye saieth he the Lord that hath bought them Thei ought to bee subiect vnto hym as vnto their supreme Souereigne Lord whose inheritaunce thei are Now they dooe beleeue that he is the Lorde and that he redeemed the worlde by the sheadyng of his precious bloud but that he redeemed them thei cannot nor doe not beleeus neither dooe thei acknowledge and take hym for their Lorde for thei saye and confesse that he hath bought and redeemed them but yet thei are not perswaded that that is enough and sufficient because thei must thei saie discharge and satisfie for their sinnes by their Works To whom this answere maie wel be made If thou canst doe any worke to take awaie thy Synnes what good hath Christe by his death doen vnto thee For there can not bee twoo Christes to take awaie Synnes Hee as good right it is must bee acknowledged to be the onely Redeemer and taker awaie of Sinnes Whiche beeyng graunted to bee true as it is moste true thou thy self canst dooe no maner of worke to take away thy sinnes If thou do goe about or think any whit by thy works to merite Heauen thou canst not truly saie thou beleeuest that he taketh awaie thy Sinnes And this is flatly to denye Christe For although these fellowes doe acknowledge Christe to bee the Lorde yet doe they denye that he bought them Thei beleeue that he sitteth in heauen and is Lorde but the takyng awaie of Sinnes whiche is his proper and peculier office thei nippe and take quite from hym and attribute it vnto their owne woorkes and by that meanes leaue nothyng to hym but the bare name and tytle ascribyng his power woorke vertue and office vnto themselues And therefore Christ moste truely foretolde that there should come many in his name and saie I am Christ and shal deceiue many Math. xxiiij Mar. xiij For these Iusticiaries and Meritemongers thus tying Saluation to Woorkes shewe foorth in their so doyng as though they should saie not I am called Christe but I am Christ Whereby thei snatch and applye vnto themselues that office whiche is onely proper and peculier vnto Christ and so thrust Christ out of his seate and place themselues therein This is so euidently knowen that no man can truely denye it And therefore worthily doeth S. Peter tearme them damnable pernicious Heresies for thei leade a man straight to Hell insomuche that I greatly feare least in a thousande of them there is scarcely one saued For whosoeuer of them wilbee saued must quight abandon himself and all that of himself he hath or can doe yea he must franckly confesse and from the harte pronounce these wordes The rules of my vowed Obedience are nothyng worth my Chastitie can not saue me my workes can not take awaie any parte of my Sinnes c. And bryng vpon themselues swift damnation THeir damnation shall come vppon them sooner then thei thinke although God seeme to deferre his commyng and to tarie long yet will he hasten his iudgment and come tyme enough to their cost But this shall not bee corporallie and visiblie to the eye but so and in suche sorte as it is sett downe in the l.v. Psalme They shall not liue out halfe their dayes that is Death shall catch holde of them sooner then thei think so that thei
contented with the common profession and generall appellation of Christians wherein eche one is to serue and doe good to his neighbour thei deuise and inuent certaine newe vpstart Sectes of their owne wherby thei feigne a false counterfaite seruice to Almightie God Furthermore thei are Naturall and fleshly as brute Beastes hauyng no more Spirite and vnderstandyng then hath an Horse or an Asse thei followe the iudgement of Nature and are caried awaie with the concupiscence and luste of the Fleshe Finallie thei haue not the Worde of GOD to direct and leade them how to frame their liues and conuersations But ye beloued edifie your selues in your moste holie Faithe praiyng in the holie Ghoste And keepe your selues in the loue of God IN these fewe woordes he hath briefly comprehended the whole summe effect of all true Christianitie Faith is the grounde worke and foundation wherevpon wee muste builde and this buildyng or edifiyng is daiely and howrely to profite and goe foreward in the knowledge of God and of our Lorde Iesus Christ whiche is not doen but by the operation of the holie Ghost Beeyng in this sort builded wee are not to dooe any Worke whereby to purchase and winne to our selues any Merite or Saluation but onely to profite and doe good to our neighbours And herein must wee haue a moste diligent care that wee continue and perseuere in true and sincere Loue without any intermission not as dooe these foolishe people whiche staie themselues vpon their owne rotten Workes and deuise certaine peculiar Sectes wherewith they drawe awaie and seduce men from brotherly Loue and Charitie Lookyng forthe mercie of our Lorde Iesus Christ vnto eternall life HEre is Hope taught and the Crosse commended For our life ought so to bee framed and ledde that it should bee nothyng els then a seruent sighyng and a longyng desire for the life to come But yet so that this our desire and longyng muste bee whollie staied vppon the onely mercie of Christe vnto whom wee muste ardently praie that it maie please hym euen of his owne mercie and not for any Merite that is in vs to take and traÌ„slate vs hence into the life to come where endlesse ioyes for euer abounde And haue coÌ„passion of some in puttyng difference And other saue with feare pullyng theim out of the fier THis place is somewhat darke and obscure to bee vnderstanded but yet this is the true meanyng thereof Haue ye compassion of some and saue some That is so leade your liues that it maie euen greeue you at the hart to see some so miserablie blinded and wilfully obstinate Reioyce ye not at their miserie neither take ye any pleasure or delite in their lamentable miscreauncie But meddle ye not with their Atheisme separate your selues from theim and haue no dealyng or companie with them Other some whom ye maie pull out of so greate a daunger saue and deliuer by fearyng theim and holding them backe with godlie seueritie deale with them courteously and gentlie euen as God hath dealt with you not roughly not ragyngly and sharpely but mieldely and Charitablie Dooe not with churlishe sternesse terrifie and so spoile theim but deale with theim as ye would with those that lye in the Fier whom ye ought with carefull diligence wisely to pul out and saue If thei bee not contented to be pulled out and deliuered thei are with gentle meanes and tender mercie to bee borne withall not as the Pope and his hereticall Rabbines vse is to bee burned and spoyled And hate euen the Garment spotted by the fleshe WE haue receiued the holie Ghost by Faith and thereby are wee purified but yet neuerthelesse so long as wee here â—â—tie this rotten sacke of Fleshe and Bloud still hangeth vpon vs which is neuer without whose swarmes of euill lustes And this is that spotted Garment which while wee here liue wee ought to laie aside and put of Now vnto him that is able to keepe you that ye fal not and to presente you faultlesse before the presence of his glorie with ioye That is to God onely wise our Sauiour be glorie and Maiestie and Dominion and Power bothe now and for euer Amen THis is the conclusion and end of this Epistle And thus are the Apostles wont in the ende of their Writynges Preachynges Exhortations Prophecies to praie to wishe and to giue thankes Wee see therefore in these two Epistles aswell this of Iude as that seconde of S. Peter what a true Christian life is and how wee maye discerne the sinceritie of that Doctrine which is pure Catholike and Christian from that whiche is corrupt counterfaite and altogether Antichristian FINIS
is to bee esteemed and also how to attaine to the certaine knowledge thereof FIrst of all is to bee noted that all the Apostles doe handle one and the self same doctrine and therfore is it not well done of some in that they say there bee onely fower Euangelistes and fower Gospels whereas all is one Gospell what so euer the Apostles haue left in writyng Now the Gospel signifieth nothing els then the preaching and publishing of the grace and mercie of God through Christ our Lorde purchased for vs by his death And to take it properly it is not that whiche is contained in bookes and comprehended in letters but rather the vocall preachyng and the liuely worde and voyce whiche soundeth in the whole worlde and is so openly vttered that it maie euery where bee heard Neither is it a booke that containeth the Lawe wherein are many points of good doctrine as it hath bin hitherto commōly beleeued For it draweth vs from all confidence and hope of any woorke of our owne whereby to become righteous and declareth vnto vs the riche graces of God freely and without any our owne merite giuen vnto vs teachyng vs also Christ who hauing by his intercession appeased y e wrath of God and satisfied for our sinnes hath quite abolished and blotted out our iniquities and by his works iustified and made vs righteous Now whosoeuer either preacheth or writeth these thynges he teacheth the true Gospell in deede whiche all the Apostles but especially S Paule and S. Peter haue done in their Epistles Whatsoeuer then is preached or published concerning Christe is one Gospell although one handle it after one sorce and in one kinde of wordes an other after an other sorce and in an other kinde For a thing may be handled either in many wordes or in fewe and may be described either briefly or at large Howbeit seeyng all tendeth vnto no other ende but to teache vs that Christ is our Sauiour and that we through faith in hym without any our owne workes are iustified and saued it is al one Word and one Gospell as there is one onely faith and one Baptisme in the whole Churche of Christ Thou readest then nothing written by any of the Apostles whiche is not also contained in the writynges of others that were as it were penners of the Scripture but thei that haue handled this poynt especially and with greater endeuour and studie then the rest namely that onely faithe in Christe doeth iustifie euen thei are the best Euangelistes of all Hereupon thou maiest more rightly call the Epistles of Paule the Gospell then those thinges whiche Matthewe Marke and Luke haue written For thei describe not muche beside the Historie concernyng the doinges and miracles of Christe as for the grace whiche Christe hath purchased for vs none doeth more fully and fitly entreate therof then S. Paule especially in his Epistle to the Romans Now seing the Word is of more importance then the actions and doynges of Christe and that if we should want the one of them it were farre better to be with out the deedes and Historie then the Wordes and Doctrine it followeth that those bookes are most highly to be esteemed whiche entreate especially of the doctrine and wordes of our Lorde Iesus Christe For asmuche as if there were no miracles of Christ and that we were altogether ignoraūt of them yet were his wordes sufficient for vs and without which wee can not so muche as liue Hereupon therefore it followeth that this Epistle of S. Peter is to bee accompted among the moste excellent bookes of the newe Testament and is the true and pure Gospell in asmuche as the Apostle herein teacheth nothyng els then that whiche Paule and the rest of the Euangelistes doe namely sincere faith and that Christe is freely giuen vnto vs who hauyng taken awaie our sinnes is our onely Sauiour as in the processe of this Epistle we shall see By this that is here saied wee maie likewise iudge of all bookes and doctrines what is the Gospell what is not For whatsoeuer is not either preached or written after this sorte and to this ende that maie wée boldly iudge not to bee the Gospell haue it neuer so faire and goodly a shewe This power to iudge haue al Christians and not the Pope or Councels alone whiche face and crake that thei and none but thei haue authoritie to iudge of doctrines And thus muche maie suffize for the argument let vs now heare the Epistle The first Epistle generall of Sainct Peter The first Chapter PEter an Apostle of Iesus Christe to the straungers that dwell here and there throughout Pōtus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithynia Elect accordyng to the foreknowledge of GOD the Father vnto sanctification of the Spirit through obedience and sprinckling of the bloud of Iesus Christ Grace and peace be multiplied vnto you Blessed be GOD euen the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ whiche according to his aboundant mercie hath begotten vs againe vnto a liuely hope by the resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead To an inheritaunce immortall and vndefiled and that fadeth not awaie reserued in heauen for you Whiche are kept by the power of God through faithe vnto saluation whiche is prepared to bee shewed in the last tyme. Wherein ye reioyce though now for a season if neede require ye are in heauinesse through manifolde tentations That the triall of your faith beyng much more precious then gold that perisheth though it be tried with fire might be founde vnto your praise and honour and glorie at the appearyng of Iesus Christ Whom ye haue not seene and yet loue him in whom now though ye see hym not yet do you beleue and reioyce with ioye vnspeakeable and glorious Receiuyng the ende of your faith euen the saluation of your soules Of the whiche saluation the Prophets haue inquired and searched whiche prophesied of the grace that should come vnto you Searchyng when or what tyme the Spirit whiche testified before of Christ whiche was in them should declare the suffrynges that should come vnto Christ and the glorie that should followe Vnto whom it was reueiled that not vnto themselues but vnto vs thei should minister the thinges which are now shewed vnto you by them whiche haue preached vnto you the Gospell by the holy Ghost sent doune from heauen the whiche thinges the Angels desire to beholde Wherefore girde vp the loynes of your minde bee sober trust perfectly on the grace that is brought vnto you by the reuelation of Iesus Christ As obedient children not fashioning your selues vnto the former lustes of your ignorance But as he whiche hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all maner of conuersation Because it is written Be ye holy for I am holy And if ye call him Father whiche without respect of persone iudgeth according to euery mans woorke passe the tyme of your dwellyng here in feare Knowing that ye were not redemed with corruptible thinges
as siluer and golde from your vaine conuersation receiued by the traditions of the fathers But with the precious bloud of Christ as of a Lambe vndefiled and without spot Whiche was ordeined before the foundation of the worlde but was declared in the last tymes for your sakes Which by his meanes doe beleeue in God that raised him from the dead and gaue him glorie that your faith and hope might be in God Hauing purified your soules in obeying the truthe through the Spirit to loue brotherly without fainyng loue one an other with a pure harte feruently Beyng borne a newe not of mortall seede but of immortall by the worde of God who liueth and indureth for euer For all fleshe is as grasse and all the glorie of man is as the flower of grasse The grasse withereth and the flower falleth awaie But the worde of the Lord endureth for euer and this is the worde whiche is preached among you ¶ The first Chapter Verse 1 Peter an Apostle of Iesus Christ to the straungers that dwell here and there throughout Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithynia Elect accordyng to the foreknowledge of God the Father vnto the sanctification of the Spirite through obedience and sprincklyng of the blood of Iesus Christ THis is bothe an inscription and subscription Thou seest here in the verie beginnyng that that whiche is here written is the Gospell He saith that he is an Apostle whiche signifieth a Legate or Messenger that doeth by woorde of mouthe the businesse whiche he hath receiued in charge which name beeing so englished of the Greeke worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it is now commonly knowne what it signifieth I haue not thought it good by any other phraze or terme to expresse and translate it Howbeeit properly it signifieth hym that declareth something by worde of mouth not a mere carier of letters but a messenger that with liuely voice deliuereth his errand and by wordes vttereth his commission and charge and suche in Latine we call Oratores that is Orators Whereas thē he calleth himself the Apostle of Iesus Christ it is as much as if he had saied I haue charge from Iesus Christ to preache of this same Iesus Christe vnto you Marke here how at the first thei are excluded debarred whatsouer thei be y t preache any of the dreggie and doatyng doctrines of seelie foolishe and vaine men for he is a messenger of Iesus Christ whiche doeth that whiche Christ hath commaunded hym If he preache any other thyng he is not Christes messenger and therefore in no wise to bee heard But if he preache that whiche Christe hath enioyned hym then is he to bee heard and to heare hym is as muche as to heare Christ hymself beyng present To the Straungers Elect. THe Apostle wrote this Epistle to those Countries that are here mentioned Thei were in tyme paste Christian but are now in miserable subiection and slauerie vnto the Turke among whom thou maiest perhaps euen at this daie finde some that faithfullie beleeue in Christe Pontus is a greate and large countrie bordering vpon the sea next vnto it is Cappadocia the borders and limites of whiche twoo countries are almoste conioyned On the hinder parte is Galatia on the former toward the Sea Asia and Bithynia all situate toward the Easte greate and large Countries Paule preached personallie in Galatia Asia whether he did y e same also in Bithynia I doe not certeinly know But in the furthermost two it is certain that he did not preache Straūgers are thei whom we call Forreiners namely such as come frō some other place and not borne in the Countrie wherein wee are Now the Apostle calleth them so because thei had been Gentiles Neither is it to be thought straunge that Peter beeyng the Apostle of the Iewes did neuerthelesse write also vnto the Gentiles The Iewes call those Proselites that is admitted to the state of the Iewes who beeyng not lineallie of their stocke and of the blood of Abraham had notwithstandyng embraced Iudaisme and submitted theim selues to the obseruation of their lawe To these therefore the Apostle writeth who before had been Gentiles and therefore no members of the common wealthe of Israell but beeyng now conuerted to the faithe had adioyned them selues to the faithfull Iewes Wherefore he calleth them Straungers Elect whom vndoubtedly hee none otherwise reputeth then true Christians and to these alone he writeth Whiche maner of callyng theim containeth in it no common doctrine as wee shall hereafter more at large heare Accordyng to the foreknowledge of GOD the Father HE calleth thē Elect but how Surely not of them selues but accordyng to the ordinance of GOD. For it lieth not in our owne powers to bryng our selues vnto heauen nor to haue faithe when wee liste neither will God receiue into heauen all whom so euer Naie hee will verie diligently and circumspectly sifte examine and trie all them that be his Awaie therefore with all mannes doctrine of free will and of all strength in our selues this thing dependeth not of our but of Gods good will and election Vnto sanctification of the Spirite God hath predestinate vs to be holie and that spirituallie These woordes holie and spirituall the Belligods of the Romishe Cleargie haue shameleslie taken from the true professors of the Gospell and entailed the same vnto their Maumetishe Monkerie whiche state thei doe now call holie and spirituall Euen as thei haue doen by this name Churche so that thei will haue none but the Pope and his mitred Bishops to bee the Churche saiyng that the Churche hath commaunded this and that whereas thei in the meane tyme at their pleasures doe and determine what thei liste Holinesse consisteth in nothyng lesse then in this that one bee a Monke a Freere or a Nunne or to bee a Shauelyng and weare a Coule or some peltyng religious habite The word Spirit signifieth that we should be holie in hart inwardly and in spirite before God And this is saied especially for this cause to shewe that nothing is holie but that whiche God maketh holie in vs. For at that tyme the Iewes had many outward sanctifications but the true sanctification thei had not This then is the meanyng of sainct Peter God hath predestinate you to this ende that now at the laste ye should bee holie in deede accordyng as sainct Paule saieth in the fourthe to the Ephesians In righteousnesse and true holinesse that is in holinesse whiche is sincere and altogether entire For suche outwarde holinesse as the Iewes had is nothyng esteemed nor regarded before God After this sort doeth the Scripture call vs holie and Sainctes when wee beleeue beeyng as yet liuyng here on earth But our Rabbines the Papistes haue taken this name from vs saiyng that we are not Holie but that thei onely are Holie whiche are in heauen We must therefore repossesse and againe take this notable name vnto vs. Thou must needes be Holie yet must thou not thinke that thou haste
perceiue and note that to be true which was said afore namely that this Epistle amōg all the reste is of moste singuler excellencie For in the verie entraunce hee beginneth to declare what Christe is and what benefite wee receiue by hym when as hee saieth that wee are begotten againe of God vnto a liuely hope by the resurrection of Iesus Christ Also that all giftes are bestowed vpon vs of the Father of his mere mercie without any our deserte These are in deede true and right Euangelicall phrazes these are comfortable speeches moste meete to bee published and preached But alas what small stoare of suche kinde of preachyng is there to bee founde in the Bookes euen of them that are accoūpted the best The written workes euen of Hierome and Augustine what small consonancie and agreement haue they with these wordes And yet must Iesus Christ bee thus preached that he died and rose againe and why hee died and did rise againe that men beeyng throughly moued with this kinde of preachyng maie beleeue in hym and beleeuyng maie obtaine saluation This it is to preache the true Gospell in deede Whatsoeuer is not preached after this sorte is not the Gospell whosoeuer hee bee that preacheth it The very summe then and effect of these woordes is this that Christ by his resurrection hath brought vs to his father and hereby also Sainct Peter goeth about euen by our Lorde Iesus Christe to bring vs to the Father and to set hym a mediator betweene GOD and vs. It hath bin hitherto preached that wee must call vpon Saincts to bee our intercessors with God Hereupon wee haue runne to the holy Virgine Marie and haue made her our Mediatour leauyng Christe in the meane season as an angrie Iudge So doeth not the Scripture it commeth and approcheth nerer it giueth this glorie to Christ our Lord that he is our onely mediator by whom alone we must come vnto the Father O inestimable treasure which is giuen vs by Christe namely that wee maie goe to the Father and aske the inheritance wherof Sainct Peter here speaketh These wordes doe moreouer plainly shewe what mynde the Apostle had why that so earnestly and with such vehement ardencie he began to praise the Father and will haue vs also to praise and blesse hym for the incomparable riches which he hath giuen vnto vs in that he hath begotten vs againe and that before we could euen so muche as thinke thereof muche lesse preuent hym so that here is nothing remaining to preach and praise but the onely mercie of God And therefore can we boaste of no workes at all but must confesse that we haue all through his onely mercie whatsoeuer wee haue Here is now no more Lawe no wrathe as in tyme past there was when it made the Iewes to flée beyng striken with terror so that they durst not goe vnto the Mount God doeth not now still vrge and strike vs but handleth vs as fauourably as maie be fashionyng and makyng vs anewe neither giueth hee vs grace to doe one good woorke or twoo but frameth in vs a newe creature and a newe life so that wee bee now an other thyng then wee were before when wee were the sonnes of Adam namely wee are translated from the inheritance of Adam to the inheritance of God that hee maie bee our Father and we his children and therein his heires euen of all good thynges that he hath See what excellent thinges are in the Scripture handled concernyng this matter Now inasmuche as wee are regenerate and the sonnes and heires of God wee are equall in dignitie and honor with Sainct Paule Sainct Peter the holy Virgin Marie and all the Saincts For wee haue the same treasure from God and all good thynges as largely as they They were no otherwise regenerate then we wherefore they haue no more then all other Christians Vnto a liuely hope OUr life here vpō the earth is for none other cause but that we should help others otherwise it were best that God should euen straight after our baptisme and the receiuyng of faith ende our daies and suffer vs to dye Howbeit he permitteth vs to liue here to this ende that we maie bring others also vnto the faith which he him self hath doen to vs before Nowe while wee liue here on the earth wee liue in hope For albeit wee be certaine that through faithe wee haue all the good thinges of God for faith as it assuredly bringeth with it regeneration so doeth it bring also adoption and inheritance howbeit we see not this as yet and therefore doeth it as yet consist in hope beyng somewhat remoued from our sight that wee can not see and beholde it Now this the Apostle calleth the hope of life which is an Hebrewe kinde of speeche as is this The man of sinne Wee call that a liuely hope wherby we certeinly hope assuredly looke for eternall life whiche is now hid as it were with a veile that it can not bee seene neither is it presently perceiued but in the harte through faith as Iohn in his first Epistle Chap. 3. writeth Now are wee the sonnes of God and yet doeth it not appeare what wee shalbe but we knowe that when he shal appeare we shalbe like hym for we shall see hym as he is Because the life present and the life to come can not be together neither can it bee that wee should eate drinke sleepe watche and doe other workes of Nature which this life bringeth with it and bee therewith also blessed therefore can wee not attaine vnto this to liue for euer vnlesse wee first dye and forgoe this present life Wherefore while wee here liue wee must still stande in hope vntill it please God to call vs hence to beholde and see those good thinges which we now hope after And how maie we come vnto this liuely hope By the resurrection saieth the Apostle of Iesus Christ from the dead I haue oftentymes saied that none can rightly beleeue in God and come vnto hym without a meane for asmuche as wee are all the children of wrathe and of our selues can doe nothyng that is acceptable before God wee haue therefore neede of an other by whom we maie appeare before hym who may make intercession for vs and reconcile vs vnto hym Now there is none other mediator then the Lord Christ who is the Sonne of God It is therefore no true faithe whiche the Turkes and Iewes haue who saie and beleeue that GOD is the maker bothe of heauen and earth for thus doeth the Deuill also beleeue and yet doeth this beleefe nothyng at all profite hym Thei presume to come into the sight of God without Christe the mediator Thus saieth Sainct Paule in the fift to the Romanes Wee haue accesse vnto God through faithe not by our selues but by Christ Wherefore wee must haue Christe with vs wee must come with hym wee must satisfie God by hym and doe all thinges with God by hym and in his name
to bee vnderstoode First this difference there is betwéene the olde and newe Testament as wee haue saied that the olde signifieth Christe to come and the newe doeth performe and exhibite present those thynges which in the old were promised and by figures shadowed forth and signified Wherfore those types or figures doe now cease forasmuche as that is accomplished and performed whiche thei did signifie and that fulfilled which thei did promise Neither ought there to bee obserued hereafter any choyce of meates apparell places and tymes thei are all in and by Christe to whom thei were referred made of an indifferent vse For these obseruaunces did not saue the Iewes neither were they giuen them to this ende that thei should thereby bee iustified but that thei should by them as it were set forth Christ who was to come Furthermore in the old Testament God had a double rule or gouermente the one inward the other outward For he gouerned his people bothe inwardly in harte and outwardly in bodie and externall affaires Therefore did he giue vnto theim so many Lawes and so mingled one with an other As where the househande might giue a bill of diuorcement to the wife if he would not keepe her but put her awaie from hym it pertained to outward rule or regiment But it belonged to Spirituall gouerment whereas God commaunded theim to loue their neighbour as themselues Howbeit now he ruleth onely Spiritually ouer vs by Christ corporally outwardly by the ciuill Magistrate Wherefore when Christe was come that externall or outward gouernment was taken awaie he doeth not commaunde vs to putte any more difference betweene the outward persones tymes or places but doeth so gouerne vs spiritually by his woorde that wee are Lordes of all thynges that are without vs and are bounde and tyed to no corporall thynges But those thynges whiche pertaine to spirituall administration or gouernment are not taken awaie but are still in force as are those thynges whiche thou readest in Moses concernyng the loue of God and thy neighbour These GOD will haue duely obserued for by the Lawe he will condemne all those that doe not beleue The figures also haue their place and sense Spiritually that is thei were Spirituall thynges which were signified by these outwarde figures Whiche outward thynges are now taken awaie as where the housebande did refuse his wife for adulteries sake and put her awaie from hym whiche was a figure and had a certaine spirituall signification whiche was afterward spiritually fulfilled For God did after the same sorte refuse the obstinate Iewes whiche would not beleeue in Christe and chose the Gentiles whiche he dooeth euen yet also prouidyng that when any refuseth to liue in the faithe he bee caste out of the Churche of Christ that he maie repente After the same sorte is that constitution also wherein it was ordeined that a woman should bee maried to the brother of her housebande beyng deade and to bryng forthe children by hym who must bee called by the name of hym that was deade and possesse his substaunce Albeeit this bee now abolished yet is it neuerthelesse a figure whiche signifieth somethyng concernyng Christe For he is our brother who hath died for vs and before his Ascention into heauen commauÌ„ded vs that we should by the Gospel make soules which are his spouses as it were pregnant and fruitefull hereuppon wee retaine his name and are named of hym to whose moste excellent riches we succeede Yet must we not boaste and saie that we haue conuerted and wonne men for all suche effectes must be onely attributed vnto Christ The same maie be saied also of other figures of the old Testament whiche it were too long and tedious seuerally to rehearse Whatsoeuer then in the olde Testament is not externall or outwarde is yet in force and efficacie as are all the saiynges of the Prophetes concernyng Faithe and Loue. Whiche Christ confirmeth Matth. 7. Where he saieth Whatsoeuer ye would that menne should doe to you euen so doe ye to â—hem for this is the Lawe and the Prophets Moreouer Moses and the Prophetes are witnesses of Christ beyng to come So that if I at any tyme preache of Christ that he is our onely Sauiour I shall doe very conueniently if takyng that place which is in the 22. Chapter of Genesis namely In thy seede shall all the Nations of the yearth bee blessed I dooe therevppon with a liuely voice inferre that by Christe who is that seede of Abraham all men must bee blessed Hereof now it followeth that in Adam we are all cursed and damnable and that therefore it is necessarie if wee desire to bee deliuered from damnation that we beleeue in that Seede Vpon suche seiynges as these wee muste grounde our Faithe wherefore wee ought duely to regard and reuerentlie to esteeme theim in as muche as thei testifie and beare witnesse of Christ so that our Faithe maie bee established and confirmed by them And this is that whiche S. Peter doeth in the woordes followyng Of whiche saluation the Prophetes haue enquited and searched whiche Prophesied of the grace that should come vnto you AFter the same sort sainct Paule also speaketh in the last Chapter of his Epistle to the Romanes By the reuelation of the mysterie whiche was kept secret since the worlde beganne but now is opened and published among all Nations by the Scriptures of the Prophetes Many saiynges thou maiest read in the newe Testament taken out of the Prophetes whereby the Apostles haue proued that all thynges were so dooen and accomplished as thet were foretolde by the Prophetes For Christe Matth 11. rehearseth that saiyng out of Esaie The blinde see the halt goe c. None otherwise then if he would saie Those things which ye there read written ye see here truely dooen and in verie deede performed The same we read also of sainct Paule Actes 9. and of Apolios Act. 18. How thei coÌ„uinced the Iewes and preued by the Scriptures that Iesus was Christe in whom whatsoeuer the Prophetes had foretolde was now accomplished and fulfilled More euill Actes 15. the Apostles did after the same sorte shewe that the Gospell must be preached to the Gentiles that thei also might bee brought to the Faithe Bee assured that all these thinges were therefore dooen by the common endeuour of all that the Iewes might be conuinced and as it were compelled to acknowledge that all thynges were then so dooen as thei reade them foretolde in the Scriptures Searchyng when or what tyme the Spirite whiche testified before of Christe whiche was in theim should declare the sufferynges that should come vnto Christ THe meanyng of sainct Peter is this Albeit the Prophetes did not plainly knowe any certaine and definite tyme yet generally thei did all signifie the circumstances bothe of tyme and place as how Christe should suffer what death he should dye and how the Gentiles should beleeue in hym so that by the signes whiche thei foretold it might bee certainly
to require Hee appointeth no certen tyme as the Pope hath doen how long wee must faste but leaueth it to euery ones iudgement so to fast that hee bee alwaies sober that hee doe not so surcharge his bodie with ouermuche eatyng and drinking but that he maie haue the perfect vse of reason and knowe how to vse his senses aright and how to liue profitably and beneficially to others in his vocation For it is a very preposterous absurde and vnprofitable thyng to giue a generall precept hereof vnto the whole people or to the Churche for asmuche as wee are vnlike among our selues one hath a strong bodie another a weake so that it is needefull for one to absteine muche for an other to absteine little that the bodie maie neuerthelesse remaine in health and bee fit to doe good workes Againe there bee some that deale cleane contrarily and thinke thei doe very well in fastyng nothyng at all supposyng that thei maie without respecte of tyme eate what thei will But herein thei doe not well for albeit thei haue somewhat tasted of the Gospell yet haue thei profited little or nothyng like vnto the former For thei haue profited no further but onely to contemne the Lawes of the Pope Thei will not girde vp their mynde and senses as Peter here biddeth neither do thei bridle the desires of their bodie that the sluggishnesse and lasciuiousnesse thereof maie bee repressed It is good to faste howbeit the right Faste in deede is to giue the bodie no more nourishmente then is needefull to preserue it in healthe also to exercise it with labours and watchynges least this old Asse of ours become more wanton and lasciuious then is meete Let hym bee restrained and bridled and obedient to the Spirite whiche Saincte Peter calleth here to bee sober Not as some are wont to faste who so excessiuely engorge and pamper them selues with fishe and the beste sortes of wine at one diner that thei make their beallies like a Taber or Drumme with stuffyng and crammyng them so full Truste perfectly on the grace that is brought vnto you SVche is Christian Faithe that with all affiaunce it wholie trusteth to the woorde of God quietly committeth it self vnto it and confidently attempteth whatsoeuer it teacheth Whereupon S. Peter saith then are the loynes of the mynde girded vp then is your faith sincere and sounde when ye doe quietly and confidently commit your selues to the Worde of God and be bolde vpon trust therein hauyng no regarde whatsoeuer thyng of yours commeth into perill whether it bee riches or good name bodie or euen the life it self Excellently therefore hath he in these wordes described a sincere and vnfeined Faithe For Faithe must not be sluggishe and sleepie whiche is rather a dreame then a Faithe but it must bee liuely and effectuall so that one would with all confidence offer him self to all afflictions and troubles whatsoeuer and depende wholy on the Woorde esteemyng indifferently whatsoeuer state God sendeth that wee maie patiently susteine aduersitie as well as enioye prosperitie As for examples sake when I must dye I must confidently commit my self to Christe I muste quietly offer my life for his sake and trustyng to the Woorde whiche can not deceiue I muste boldly and couragiously triumpht ouer myne aduersaries It is needfull moreouer that Faith should passe through without declinyng any waie and that it suffer it self to be hindered and terrified by no meanes that it remoue frō the eyes whatsoeuer it seeth heareth or feeleth Suche a faithe doeth Sainct Peter require whiche consisteth not in thinkyng and woordes but in mightie power and effectuall vertue Further saieth sainct Peter Trust perfectlie on the grace that is brought vnto you that is to saie You haue not deserued this exceadyng greate grace but it is euen freelie offered and brought vnto you For the Gospell whiche declareth and publisheth this grace vnto vs wée our selues haue neither deuised nor found out but the holie Ghost hath sent it frō heauen into the worlde And what thyng is it that is brought vnto vs Forsooth euen the thinges whiche wee haue afore mentioned Namelie that whosoeuer beleeueth in Christe and cleaueth faste vnto his woorde hath together with hym all the benefites and blessynges whiche bee his in so muche that he is thereby euen a Lorde ouer Synne Death Deuill and Helle and is moste certainly assured of euerlastyng life This so greate a treasure is brought home to vs as it were to our owne doores and laied vp in our bosomes without any our owne helpe merite or deseruyng yea euen vnhoped and vnlooked for when we neither knewe of it nor so muche as once thought of any suche matter And therefore the Apostle exhorteth vs that wee should boldlie and vndoubtedlie looke for this Grace because that God whiche offereth and bestoweth the same vpon vs can not in any wise lye By the reuelation of Iesu Christe GOD offereth his Grace to none but by Christ and therefore without this Mediatour lette no mā presume to come into his sight as we haue afore admonished For he will heare no manne but hym that bryngeth with hym Christe his moste deare Sonne to bee his Aduocate and Spokesman as one whom he onely hath respecte vnto and for his sake to all those that by Faithe cleaue faste vnto hym And therefore he requireth at our handes that we acknowledge his Sonne as the persone by whose blood wée are at one with hym and now dare to present our selues before hym For to this ende came our Lord Christ who taking flesh and blood vnto him ioyned hymself with vs that hee might obtaine pardon and purchase Grace for vs at y t hādes of his Father By this faith in Christ were all the Prophetes and Patriarches saued For it behooued all menne generally to beleeue this promise made vnto Abraham In thy seede shall all Nations bee blessed And therefore the Iewes Turkes and all thei that repose any truste in their owne workes hopyng thereby to winne heauen haue no Faithe at all in them And therefore dooeth Peter saie Grace is brought to you but yet by the reuelation of Iesu Christe or to speake it more plainly by this that Iesus Christe is reuealed vnto you In the Gospell it is shewed vnto vs what Christe is that we maie throughly knowe hym namely that he is our Sauiour that he taketh awaie our Sinnes that he deliuereth vs out of all miseries that he reconcileth vs vnto his Father and that without any our workes he doeth iustifie and saue vs. Who soeuer doeth not thus acknowledge Christ is altogether deceiued For albeit thou knowe hym to bee the Sonne of GOD who died rose againe and sitteth now at the right hande of his Father yet hast thou not thereby throughly knowne Christ neither shall this knowyng of hym any whitt auaile thee vnlesse thou proceede a steppe further and bothe knowe and also beleeue that he did all these thynges for thee to helpe relieue and comfort
thou his Sonne in whom thou reposed greater confidence and trust then in thy â—â—rnal father and mother and that he will in all thy necessitie bee readie to helpe thee euen for Christes sake our onely Mediatoure and Sauiour Suche a Faithe as this commeth not of any humaine power but GOD planteth thâ— same in vs for that Christe with his Blood deserued and merited it to whom therefore be hath giuen this glorie that beyng set on his right hande he by his diuine power might settle and staie a sure faithe in vs. Hitherto therefore wee haue heard how saincte Peter exhorteth vs first to girde vp the loynes of our mynde and also sincerely to walke in a perfecte faithe Then consideryng how deare a price this hath coâ—te Christe that wee should haue our conuersation in feare not bearyng our selues hold vpon this that we are named ChristiaÌ„s sith God is suche a iudge as respecteth no maintes persone one more then an other but iudgeth equally without any parcialitie Now proceedeth he further and endeth this first Chapter saiyng Seeyng your Soules are purified in obeiyng the truthe through the Spirit to loue brotherly without â—â—inyng Loue one an other with a pure harte feruently Beeyng borne a newe not of mortall seede but of immortall by the woorde of God who liueth and indureth for euer For all fleshe is as grasse and all the glorie of man is as the flower of grasse The grasse withereth and the flower falleth awaie But the worde of the Lorde endureth for euer and this is the worde whiche is preached among you SAinct Paule in the fifte to the Galath rekoneth vp the fruites that followe faithe The fruites of the Spirit saieth he are Loue Ioye Peace long suffering Gentlenesse Goodnesse Faith Meekenesse Temperance So also here doeth saincte Peter teache vs whiche bee the fruietes of faithe To witte to purifie our Soules in obeiyng the truthe through the Spirite For where true Faithe is it bryngeth the bodie vnder and in subiection and bridleth the lustes of the fleshe and although it make not a cleare riddaunce and dispatche thereof yeâ— makers it the Bodie subiect to the Spirite and â—s with a bridle qualifieth the wilde motions thereof The same meanyng also hath sainct Paule where he speaketh of the fruictes of the Spirite It is a greate and busie peece of woorke to bryng the Spirite to Maister and beare rule ouer the Bodie and to represse the wilfull affections and fleshlie desires naturally engraffed in vs from our parentes For it is not possible for vs to liue well no not in the state of Wedlocke without speciall Grace I saie nothyng what wee can doe herein beyng without Grace But why saieth he Purifie or make chaste your Soules and not rather your Bodies Surely he full well knewe that the lustes and concupiscences of the fleshe accompainie vs to our Graues and are neuer quenched in vs although wee bee Baptized till our diyng daie Now it is not inough for a manne to conteine hymself from the acte doyng and to be outwardly chaste and a virgine his harte in the meane while boilyng in filthie desires of fleshly lustes but wee must earnestly endeuour our selues with all diligence that our Soules maie bee chaste so that this chastitie maie proceede and come from the harte and that the Soule maie bee at continuall enemitie and warre with all naughtie desires and still fight againste them till it be cleare deliuered from them And it agreeth very well that is here added that we must purifie our Soules in obeiyng the truthe through the Spirit Muche hath been preached and spoken of Chastitie and many Bookes haue been written concernyng it The Aucthours whereof haue taught vs with long Fastyng abstinence from fleshe wine and suche like to quenche these filthie motions of concupiscence and luste Whiche although some what thei helpen therevnto yet could thei not be sufficient neither could thei beate doune the inordinate desires of the flesh Sainct Hierom writeth of hymself that he so punished and pinched his Bodie that he was euen like an Ethiopian yet neuerthelesse he so little therewith profited that he many tymes dreamed he was in Rome in companie of Gentle women and faire Maiders S. Bernard also so punished and with suche abstinence almoste so spoiled his bodie y t it stonke loathsomely as afore I haue declared These holy men were greeuously teÌ„pted for with those outward thinges thei thought thei could restraine and quench their temptations but because the remedies whiche thei vsed were externall and outwarde and were applied outwardlie and not inwardly where in deede the disease was harboured thei could not serue as sufficient and able to maister and kill those desires of the mynde with whiche thei warred But S. Peter in this place sheweth vs a moste true and Soueraigne remedie wherewith to cure this euill to witte Obedience to the truthe through the Spirite Whiche the Scripture in other places also setteth doune as in the 11. of Esaie Faithfulnesse shalbe the girdle of his reynes This is the true Cataplasme wherewith the Reynes are to be girded whose soundnesse must proceede from the inner thinges to the outwarde and not contrariwise from the outwarde to the inner For the Soare whiche we would cure lieth not outwardlie in the kerther or clothes but deeyng bredde inwardlie ragingly raigneth and lyeth in the Bloud Fleshe Marrowe and Veines Therefore it is not the beste waie with outwarde thinges to goe aboute to represse and quenche fleshly concupiscence the bodie with fasting and labours may be brought into greate debility and weakenesse and at leÌ„gth thereby be vtterly marred spoyled and brought vnto death but to bee cased from euill desires it can not But Faithe is able to quenche them and so to keepe them vnder that thei shall bee brought to giue place and yeeld vnto the Spirite So also speaketh the Prophete Zacharie in his 9. Chapter of wine whereof Christe first drinketh whiche maketh them maydens to whom hee drinketh and forecasteth Then arare of other wine is wont to enkindle and stirre vp naughtie desires but this wine to wit the Gospell represseth the same and maketh the harte chast And this is it that S. Peter here meaneth when hee saieth where Truthe is bolden fast in the harte and obedience thereunto giuen through the spirite that that and none but that is the truest cure presentest remedy against this daungerous euil and mischiefe beside which there is none other that can be found so able to driue awaie and qualifie these euill cogitations and vaine thoughtes For wheÌ„ this remedie the Gospell I meane is entered and taken possessioÌ„ within the harte all naughtie leude motions do straightways giue place and vanishe awaie Let hym that wil trie this matter and hee shall duely finde it so to bee as all they that haue made triall thereof doe very well know But the Deuill doth not easely suffer any man to come to that poinct as in harte so to embrace the
the old birth proceeded and came of Seede the newe Birth also must needes be of some Seede But what Seede is this Truely not fleshe and blood What then Nothing that is corruptible and mortall but euen the eternall and liuyng worde This is all that whereby we liue whereby we are nourished and haue our beyng and whereby specially as he here saieth we are regenerated But how and by what meanes is this wont to bee dooen and brought to passe God sendeth out this his Worde to 〈◊〉 the Gospell whiche casteth seede into the hartes of menne â—f this Seede abide and sticke Fast in the harte then is there presently readie the holie Ghoste who fashioneth a newe manne whiche becomneth altogether of an other fort their he was afore hath other deuises thoughtes and cogitations other wordes and other woorkes And thus is he whollie and altogether altered Whatsoeuer thou aforetyme diddest est huc and auoide now thou pursuest and seekest what soeuer thou â—aâ—ste sought thou now fleest The state of Corporall generation is suche that the Seede whiche is in manne hath his alteration and remaineth not still Seede But the Seede of the Spirite can not bee chaunged but remaineth one for euer so entirely alteryng chaungyng me that I am transmitted and altered into it and the corruption and euill whiche naturally dwelleth in me is quite abolished And therefore this is a wonderfull kinde of Birthe and of a merueilous Seede For all fleshe is as grasse and all the glorie of man is as the flower of grasse The grasse withereth and the flower falleth awaie But the word of the Lord endureth for euer THis place is takeÌ„ out of the xl Chap. of Esaiâ— Where a voice saied vnto the Prophete Crie And he saied what shall I crie To whom the voice saied Crie thus All fleshe is grasse and al the glorie thereof as the flower of the feeld The grasse withereth and the flower fadeth a waie but the word of the Lorde standeth for euer These wordes hath S. Peter here brought in and alledged For this Epistle is as I saied bothe riche and grounded vpon the aucthoritie of sondrie Scriptures Now the meanyng of the Scripture here alledged is this The woorde of the Lorde endureth for euer But whatsoeuer is fleshe and blood the same is as corruptible grasse Bee a manne of neuer so flourishyng and gallant age bee he neuer so riche and mightie neuer so wise and iuste neuer so braue freshe and beautifull all whiche appertaine to the flower yet doeth the flower in the ende wither awaie and that whiche in gallante age and beautie lately excelled is waxed olde and become ilfauoured that whiche earst was riche is growne to be poore and so forthe also all other thinges fade awaie sauyng onely the Woorde of God Whiche Seede can neuer perishe nor decaye And this is the Worde whiche is preached among you AS though he should saie you neede not to seeke farre how to come to this Woorde for behold you haue it euen before your eyes It is that Worde whiche wee preache vnto you by this you maie qualifie and restraine all wicked desires Thou needest not to seeke farre for it onely looke to this that thou gladly embrace it when it is preached vnto thee For it is so neere vnto thee that it maie bee heard As Moses also saieth in the xxx of Deuter. The worde which I commaunde thee this daie is not farre of from thee that thou shouldest neede to goe farre to seeke it as either to goe vp to heauen or to goe ouer the Sea to fetche it but it is verie neere vnto thee euen in thy mouthe and in thy harte It was straightwaies preached and heard but when it hath feased and takeâ— full possession of thy harte it can not any more dye and vanishe awaie neither dooeth it suffer thee to dye but saueth thee so long as thou stickest and cleauest faste vnto it As when I heare how that Iesus Christ died for me and bore all my synnes and purchased heauen for me and also how he hath giuen all that he hath vnto me now dooe I heare the Gospell and glad thynges I meane the Worde of God beyng preached whiche peraduenture quickly passeth awaie and is forgottenâ— but if it bee effectually receiued with the harte and that thou throughlie embrace hym in faithe then can not he any more slippe from thee nor be forgotten This truthe no Creature whatsouer is able to ouerthrowe the Gates of hell shall neuer preuaile againste it Yea although I sticke faste in the Iawes of the Deuill yet if I be able to take holde vpon and to apprehende this Woorde I muste needes bee bailed and deliuered thence and shall remaine where the Woorde remaineth And therefore it is not without good cause that the Apostle here in effect saieth that there is none other Worde to bee looked for then this whiche we haue preached vnto you To this purpose tendeth that whiche Paule in the firste to the Romaines saieth I am not ashamed of the Gospell of Christe for it is the power of God vnto saluation to all that beleeue The Woorde is the Diuine and eternall power of God For although the voice sounde or speeche dooe quicklie vanishe and passe awaie yet the kernell that is to saie the knowledge and truthe contained in that voice remaineth stil As when I putt a Goblet or Iugge of wine to my mouthe I drinke vp the Wine the Goblet or Iugge remaining still vnspent So also y e Word which being brought vnto vs by voice descendeth into the harte and there beginneth to haue life the voice remainyng still without and vanishyng awaie And therefore it is well tearmed the power of GOD yea rather God hymself For so he saied vnto Moses Exod. iiij I will be in thy mouthe And in the lxxxj Psalme Open thy mouthe wide that is shewe forthe boldlie speake out bee an hungred and I will fill it I my self beyng present with thee will speake enough So also Christe in the xiiij of Ihon saieth I am the waie the truthe and the life he that cleaueth therevnto the same is borne of God Therefore this Seede is the Lorde our God hymself All which thinges serue to this end to instruct and teache vs that wee can not possibly bee relieued and holpen by woorkes and the Woorde be it neuer so small a thyng in shewe when it is vttered out of the mouth and in apparaunce seeme nothyng glorious and honorable yet is there in it a kinde of suche incomparable vertue and force as maketh so many the children of God as faithfully cleaue thereunto Iohn 1. VpoÌ„ suche an excellent staie and goodnesse leaneth our saluation This is the first Chapter of this Epistle wherein thou seest with what singuler Arte and cunnyng sainct Peter handleth and preacheth Faithe Whereby it manifestly appeareth that is Epistle is the very Gospell or glad Tydynges it self Now followeth next the seconde Chapter wherein he teacheth vs
behaue your selues as newe borne Babes are wont to doe that is thei desire and couet after nothyng but Milke As thei therefore desire the Dugge and Milke euen so ought ye to desire the Woorde and to haue your whole delight in the same accoumpting that all delicacies and dainties are therein readie for you so loÌ„g as you may sucke that Milke whiche is sincere and without deceipt Againe these wordes bee figuratiue For he speaketh neither of bodily Milke neither of any corporal kinde of sucking nor yet of any naturall birthe and natiuitie But hee speaketh here of an other kinde of Milke whiche is Spirituall whiche is drawen by the Soule sucked with the Hart. This Milke ought to bee without deceipte and not guilefull as it many tymes nowadaies happeneth y t much paltring and deceiptfull wares are retailed and vttered in sale Truly it is moste necessarie that Christians beyng new Borne and yet Infantes should be nourished with sincere pure and perfect good milke Now this Milke is nothyng els then the Gospell whiche is the Seede whereof we be conceiued and newe borne as afore we declared thesame also is our meate wherwith after we be come to growth we are fedde it is also our Armor wherwith we bee fenced cladde and armed and to speake all at once the self same Gospell is all thynges vnto vs. Now whatsoeuer is thereunto myngled or corrupteth and infecteth the sinceritie thereof is the doctrine of men Therefore doth the holie Ghost here warne vs that euery one of them whiche bee regenerate and newe borne in Christ should carefullie looke about hym and take heede what Milke he sucketh and learne to bee able to iudge of euery doctrine The Dugges or Teates distilling and draynyng out this milke and out of whom Infantes doe sucke are thei whiche preache and teache the pure Worde in the Churche of Christ So speaketh the Bridegroome to his Spouse in the Cantic Chapter 4. Thy two Breastes are like two twinnes of yong Roes Betwene these ought there to hang a buÌ„dell of Myrrhe as the Spouse there saieth Canti 1. A bundell of Myrrhe is thy Louer vnto mee whiche lyeth betweene my breastes The meanyng whereof is that Christ onely is alwaies to be preached This Bridegrome alwaies ought to lye in the middle betweene our breastes Otherwise if Christ be not purely preached the Milke is corrupted and al thinges are preposterous noysome and contagious Purely preached I call that when it is first taught how that Christe hath dyed for vs and by his death hath rescued and deliuered vs from Synne Death and Hell this doctrine is in hearyng very pleasant and like as it were sweete Milke But withall anone after must the Crosse also bee preached to wit that wee must euen so suffer as he hymself hath suffred this is a vehement strong drinke and mightie Wine Therefore to suche as are but newly wonne and begotten in Christe gentle meate that is to saie Milke must bee first giuen whiche can no waie be so conueniently doen as first and formost by preachyng and shewyng vnto them Christe who is nothyng at all sharpe and bitter but rather euen sweetenesse it self both pleasaunt in relishe and toothsome in taste without any maner of harshnesse or harme And this is that very sincere and Spirituall Milke without all deceiptfulnesse And here againe hath sainct Peter by Milke comprehended and glaunced at other places of Scripture as his order and custome is often and very plenteously to doe namely that in the 23. of Exod. and Deut. 14 The Lorde gaue this commaundement saiyng See that thou seeth not a Kidde in his mothers Milke For what purpose I praie you willed God this to be written what matter is there in it that a Kidd must not bee killed so long as it sucketh Doubtlesse for none other cause but to signifie the same thyng whiche sainct Peter here teacheth For it is nothyng els then if hee should saie Looke that ye preache gently and softlie to those Christians that bee as yet Infantes and Weakelinges let them be well fedd and fatted in the knowledge of Christe ouercharge them not with strong learnyng for their weakenesse and age can not awaie with it nor yet digest it But after that thei bee growen and waxen strong then see them to bee killed and sacrificed with the Crosse The same sense and meanyng hath that Lawe whiche we reade Deuter. 24. That a man takyng a newe wife shall not be compelled to goe a warfare the first yeare least he should be slaine but shall be free at home and reioyce with his new wife whiche he hath taken Whereby assuredly there is none othâ—â— thyng ment but that wee are to allowe and graunt vnto those that as yet be children in the Schole and faith of Christ their conuenient tyme and space to grow vp and in the meane season that we ought to deale with them and handle them geÌ„tlie and curteously whom afterwarde being waxed strong and of sufficient growth the Lorde will bryng to the Crosse and make to be slaine as he doth other Christians And then is the Kidde killed Whereby ye maie growe if so bee ye haue tasted how bountifull the Lorde is IT sufficeth not once onely to haue heard the Gospell It must continually bee inculked that we may daiely thereby grow accordyngly as we see one endued with strongnesse of faithe so ought he to be prouided for and so to bee fedde Now do not thinke that this is spoken or ment to such as yet haue not heard of the Gospel for thei neither know what Milk is nor what Wine meaneth Therefore added he these woordes If so bee you haue tasted how bountifull and gracious the Lorde is As though he should saie He that hath not tasted this geare to hym is it neither perceiued with the harte neither hath it any pleasaunt or sweete sauour But thei that haue tasted it doe long after it and are euer desirous of this meate to theim the Woorde relisheth and sauoureth euen as it is in deede and of theim is it with wonderfull sweetenesse receiued and taken And this I call Tastyng when I dooe with my very harte beleeue that Christe hath giuen hymself vnto me and that I haue my full interest in hym that he beareth and aunswereth for all my Sinnes trangressions and harmes and that his life is my life When this perswasion is throughly settled in my hearte it yeeldeth wonderfull and incredible good taste For how should not I herewith bee euen rauished with ioye and pleasure seeyng I am so glad and so ioyfull of a small temporall commoditie as if a freende should giue vnto me but onely an hundreth peeces of gold But he that feeleth no tast of this thing in his harte can not hereof conceiue and take any ioye or pleasure Furthermore thei beste taste these thynges that are drawyng neere to the agonies of Death or are any waie disquieted with remorse of conscience In those cases
hunger is as the Prouerbe saieth the beste sauce those pinches maketh this meate meruailous sauorie For the harte and conscience when thei once beginne to haue feelyng of their miserie and wretched state can heare nothyng that is so pleasaunte as the Gospell thei whollie rely vnto it thei smell afarre of the delicacie and toothsomnesse thereof and can not bee fullie satisfied therewith So was the song of the blessed virgine Marie He hath filled the hongrie with good thinges In the meane season those stiffe mynded persones that trust to their owne holinesse and leaue to their owne woorkes and righteousnesse haue neither any feelyng of their Synnes and wickednesse neither enioye any tast of these thynges here spoken of As for example when any that is hungrie sitteth at a table eche kinde of meate sauoureth well and hath a good relishe in his mouth whereas to hym that is full stomacked nothing sauoreth well but all meates yea the beste and daintiest dishes seeme loathsome Therefore vseth the Apostle these woordes If so be that you haue tasted how bountifull the Lorde is as though he should saie If you haue not as yet tasted this my preachyng to you is but in vaine To whom comyng as vnto a liuyng stone HEre againe taketh he holde of Scriptures afore tyme written and bryngeth in the xxviii of Esaie saiyng thus Heare the woorde of the Lorde ye mockers because ye haue saied wee haue made a couenant with Death and with Hell are wee at an agreement and haue made falshood your refuge Therefore thus saieth the Lorde Beholde I will laie in Zion a Stone a tried Stone a precious corner Stone a sure foundation c. This place doeth saincte Paule also alledge and it is one of the principallest places of the Scripture For Christe is that precious Stone whom God hath laied for the foundation and vppon whom wee are to bee builded And here beholde how S. Peter taketh these wordes and interpreteth them of Christ Again that which Esaie calleth Trustyng in hym that saieth S. Peter to be the same that to bee builded vpon hym is And this is truely and aptly to expounde the Scriptures Thei that builde laie their foundation in suche a place where it maie continue faste and remaine firme so that it may beare vp the whole house and frame that is builded vpō it And euen so doth this liuyng Stone which is Christ vphold and beare all this spirituall buildyng And to be builded vpon hym is nothyng els but that we all together repose our trust confidence and hope whiche wee haue in our selues whollie vpon hym Disalowed of men but chosen of God precious HEre againe he alledgeth a place out of the Cxviij Psalme of the Prophete Dauid The same Stone whiche the builders refused is become the hedde Stone of the corner and it is merueilous in our eyes Whiche place Christ hymself also citeth in the xxj of Matthewes Gospell and is repeted in the fourth of the Actes The Stone whiche you builders reiected and set nought by You saieth he are the builders For thei taught the people preached many thynges enacted sondrie ordinaunces and Lawes but thei made men nothyng thereby but Meritemangers Hypocrites Wherevpon Christe pronouncyng sentence vppon them calleth them plaine Hypocrites and the generation of Vipers and pronounceth many terrible sentences vpon theim reckonyng theim among Synners and not for suche greate holie men as thei would faine haue semed This can thei not abide but reiect hym and saie Hereticke forbiddest thou to doe good woorkes Thou shalte dye the death for thy so saiyng And therefore saieth saincte Peter here This same corner Stone vpon whiche you must be builded is euen likewise refused and set at naught This as the Prophet saieth appeareth merueilous in our eyes and seemeth verie straunge and so wonderfull that vnlesse the Spirite did teache it vs no man by reason could conceiue in Therefore saith he before God this Stone is chosen and precious and of so high price and value that it taketh awaie Death recompenseth for Synnes deliuereth from Hell and laste of all giueth also vnto vs the Kyngdome of Heauen Ye also as liuelie Stones be made a spirituall house HOw and by what meanes are wee builded Euen by the Gospell and preaching of the Woorde The Builders are thei that preache Thei that are builded are suche Christians which heare the Gospell thei are the Stones whiche must be laied and couched vpon this corner Stone so that wee repose our whole truste vppon hym and that out harte leane onely vpon hym and so bee at reste Now it followeth that wee must so directe and frame our selues that wee maie expresse shewe forthe and imitate that course of life that he ledd For it is verie meete that I who am builded and laied vpon hym by faithe should freme my self to the same workes that he did and shewe forth the same conuersation Which order all menne generally and ioyntly ought and are bounde to resemble And this issueth forth and proceedeth frō Faithe and is the woorke of Loue that we should mutuallie bee morteised and ioyned out into an other that we all together maie make one buildyng The same reason hath sainct Paule also j. Cor. iij. Howbeeit not altogether after the same maner that this is You are saieth he the Temple of God It is not the materiall house made of woodd and stone which is his House a Spirituall house is that whiche he requireth whiche is the Churche of Christe in whiche wee are all through one Faithe equall That whiche one is an other is all builded together within our selues mutuallie and emong our selues cemented couched framed and knitte together by Loue without al maliciousnesse guile hypocrisie enuie and euill speakyng as afore hath been declared An holie Priesthood HEere taketh he awaie that outwarde and corporall Priesthood whiche was in the old Testament as also that outward Temple all whiche he quite remooueth and saieth thus That outwarde and externall pampe of Priesthoode is now cleane ceassed now therefore beginne yea newe Priesthood and offer other Sacrifices but so that all thynges be Spirituall Here haue we had somewhat adoe for that wee haue mainteined and affirmed that these persones whiche commonlie of late yeres haue been called and tearmed by y e name of Priestes are not Priestes before God at all and that assertion prooued we cheeflie out of this place And therefore vnderstande it aright and beare it well in mynde That if any should bee so wilfull in suche sorte to wreste and teare in peeces for I will not call it expounde this place as that the same were to be meant of a double Priesthoode whiche some blusteryngly and boldly haue auouched that is to witte bothe of a Spirituall and also of a Corporall Priesthoode will hym to cleare his eyesight and a little better to awake his senses For sainct Peter saieth thus Be ye builded into a Spirituall or holie Priesthood Now demaunde of
whereto I stedfastly trust Vnto you therefore whiche beleeue it is precious but vnto them whiche bee disobedient the Stone whiche the builders disalowe thesame is made the heade of the Corner And a Stone to stumble at and a Rocke of offence THis moste excellent and precious Stone is vnto some precious and moste highlie regarded Againe vnto no fewe it is not precious at all but rather a Stone of Offence and a Stone whereat many doe stumble And how commeth this geare to passe Forsooth the Scripture speaketh of the same in twoo sortes namelie there bee some that doe beleeue on hym And againe there bee many that dooe not beleeue on hym Now vnto them that doe beleue on hym he is precious and it can not be but their hartes hauyng still their hope trust and confidence in hym muste needes bee excedyngly cheared and made ioyfull And therefore it is that he saieth Vnto you whiche beleeue on hym he is precious that is to saie he is of you highlie esteemed For although he bee neuer so precious and excellēt of hymself and by himself yet would that without more nothyng at all auaile vs and therefore it behooueth that he muste bee precious vnto vs to the ende it maie enriche vs with many singuler good thynges Like vnto some precious Pearle or Gemme whiche keepeth and retaineth not his vertue to it self but vttereth and sheweth it foorthe to others and so totallie manifesteth hee his whole powers and vertues that we maie now both enioye and possesse whatsoeuer thesame is But vnto them whiche beleeue not this Stone is nothing precious for thei disalowe and caste it awaie and take offence and stumble at it whereby it falleth out that thei repose no assuraunce or trust in it and so vnto them it turneth vnto a greater detriment and maketh them worse albeit the same of his owne nature is wont rather to stirre vp in men a more strong hope and perfect trust Thei that thus stumble are not onely suche as are chained and clogged in those grosse and manifest synnes but suche hypocrites rather whiche heare themselues bold vpō their vizured sanctimonie and fained holinesse which trust vnto their owne Freewill to their owne Workes their owne Righteousnesse These fellowes can not choose but stūble and bee offended at this Stone Here now doeth God definitiuely set it downe that thei whiche come without workes must come by Faithe onely for their righteousnesse and that thei whiche come otherwise then by Faithe shall neuer speede of their purpose because thei goe about as sainct Peter saieth Rom. x. To stablishe their saluation by their owne righteousnesse And therefore saieth Sainct Peter here That he is made the Stone which the Builders disalowed and refused and here he conferreth certaine places of the Scripture together eftsoones cityng that text out of the 118. Psalme wherevnto he afore alluded The Stone which the Builders refused is the head of the Corner Who these builders bee wee haue afore sufficiently declared namely thei that teache and preach the Law and go about to iustifie men by their Works These Iusticiaries agree aswell with Christ as Winter with Sōmer and therefore it must necessarilie followe that these Meritemongers bee euen thei that reiect and refuse this Stone He further bringeth in an other place out of Esay Chap. viij wherein the Prophete foretelleth that the same thyng should come to passe whiche sainct Peter here in this place telleth is come to passe alreadie and is daily doen and put in practise His wordes are these Sanctifie the Lorde of Hostes and let hym bee your feare and let hym be your dread and he shall bee to you as a Sanctuarie but a stumblyng stone and as a Rocke to fall vppon to bothe the houses of Israell The meanyng of the Prophete is as though he should saie The Lorde shall be vnto you a Sanctification that is he ought to be sanctified in your heartes other Sanctification you neede none neither is there any other thyng required of you but that you beleeue in hym To all others he shall bee a Stone of offence and stumblyng And what is the sense and meanyng of hese wordes Offence and Stumbling Truely this when Christ is preached and that thou hearest these wordes Beholde he is the Stone that is laied for a foundation then art thou vtterly to dispaire distrust and renounce al helpe in thy self and to condemne and accoumpt as detestable all thine owne woorkes and all thyne owne Righteousnesse and onely to repose thy confidence vpō hym firmelie beleuyng that Christes righteousnesse is thine At these and suche like wordes these fellowes stand agast are offended and become worse then afore What saie thei darest thou auouche saie that Virginitie Single life Massing and suche like are nothyng worthe Thou speakest thus through the very instinct of the Deuill For nothyng but mere good deedes are accepted before GOD. Yea thei are not as they think without some strong places of Scripture for the maintenaunce of their assertion hauyng still in their mouthes that God hath commaunded vs to doe good Workes Therefore when wee reiect the same straightwaies wee heare at their handes Heretike Heretike to the Fier with him to the Fier with him And thus thei can not abide this Stone thei violently rushe and push at it and doe all thei can to pull it doune and are therein themselues so crushed and bruised that by the same very Stone thei are vtterly dashed in pieces Euen as in the xxj of Mathewes Gospell Christe himself saieth Haue you not read in the Scriptures The Stone whiche the Builders refused the same is made the head of the Corner And anone after it followeth Whosoeuer shall fall on this Stone he shall bee broken but on whomsoeuer it shall fall it will grinde hym to powder Take heede therefore what ye doe it is no game nor plaiyng matter that is spokē concernyng this Stone It is laied and shall for euer remaine in his place hee that wil rushe and bruise himself vpon it can not better escape but be dashed in peeces and grounde into pouder This is the stumblyng and offence taking at this Stone whereof the Scriptures speake muche Therefore the Iewes euen to this daie doe stumble at this Stone and still will continue till the ende of the worlde for then shall this Stone fall vppon all Infidelles and faithlesse Miscreauntes and grinde them vtterly to pouder And thus it commeth to passe that Christe albeit hee bee an elect and precious Stone is called without any fault of his owne a Stone of Offence and Stumblyng And as the Iewes did so also dooe wee and that continually For as thei greatly boasted of the name of GOD and vaunted themselues to bee the peculier people of God euen so fareth it now with vs for vnder the pretext of Christe and of the Churche of Christe wee renounce and renye the name of Christe and flatly refuse this precious Stone Hee came into
who can not abide to see his Seruauntes to take wrong and therefore thei haue the best and the iustest cause whiche strike not againe neither seeke reuenge God hymself careth and respecteth theÌ„ and their praiers sound in his eares He is our protectour ayder and mainteinour he is our Guardian and ouerseer he will not be vnmindfull of vs neither can wee slide out of his sight for his eyes are alwaies vppon vs. And this is it that ought to erect and stirre vp our courages and to perswade and prouoke euery Christian paciently to suffer all maner of iniurie without requiring one euill with an other For al I coÌ„sider the matter with my self aright I muâ—â— thus thinke that the Soule of that man whiche hurteth me without earnest repentaunce shalbe in endlesse tormentes in hell and there vppon a Christian harte can not choose but thâ—s burst out in hartie and zealous praier vnto God and saie most louyng and gracious Father forsomuche as this man hath so horriblie incurred thy displeasure and so miserably thereby throwne himself into the daunger of Hell fier I humbly praie and beseeche thee that thou wouldest pardon and forgiue hym this his fault and so doe to him as thou haste doen vnto me in deliueryng me froÌ„ this thy heauie wrath and anger For as he hath his eyes euer readilie bent and with fauour moste graciouslie beholding them that be good so looketh he with a sterne and frounyng countenaunce vppon them that bee euill Wee therefore whiche knowe that hee fauourably and graciouslie looketh vpon vs but vpon them angerly frouningly and with indignation ought to pitie their wofull case and to be throughly sorie for their miserable estates and hartily to praie for theÌ„ And who is it that will harme you if ye followe that whiche is good WHen wee followe that whiche is good and recompeÌ„ce not euill for euill but rather most curteouslie and with the very bowelles of tender affection embrace and loue all menne there is none that can doe vs any harme For although thei should take from vs our wealth our name and bodie yet are not wee in any poynt harmed because wee possesse suche abundant stoare of good thinges vnto whiche the thinges taken from vs can by no meanes and in no respect bee compared Thei that persecute and seeke after vs to dooe vs harme haue no goodes at all sauyng onely these lame momentarie vnperfect and transitorie trashe of the worlde and shall afterward if thei continewe in impenitencie bee cast into Hell fier there for euen to bee tormented But our goodes are eternall and incorruptible although wee suffer a little losse of these worldly and temporall goodes Notwithstanding blessed are ye if ye suffer for righteousnesse sake HE not onely saieth that no man shalbe able any whitt to harme you if ye suffer any thyng for Gods sake but he further addeth Blessed are ye for the same so that ye haue greate cause of reioycing if ye so be afflicted For so saith Christ Matth. v. Blessed are ye when men reuile you and persecute you and say all maner of euill against you for my sake falselie Reioyce and bee glad Hee that rightlie and throughlie waigheth these wordes and considereth that the Lord hymself speaketh them and that so louingly and so comfortably how should he but constantlie stande to his tacklyng and paciently abide all that can or maie happen Againe thei that in these wordes feele no comfort and inwarde consolation can not but bee voide and vtterly without all strength ioye and comfort Yea feare not their feare neither be troubled But sanctifie the Lorde God in your heartes THis place againe hath sainct Peter cited out of the Prophete Esay where he hath these words Feare ye not their feare neither bee ye afraied of them but sanctifie God in your hartes and let hym bee your feare and let hym bee your dread c. Esay viij Here wee haue a verâ— greate protection and refuge so that we maie boldly repose ourselues in safetie and bee assured that none shall harme vs Let the worlde terrifie and rage threaten and menace neuer so tyrannouslie yet shall their terrour come to an ende whereas our ioye and consolation shall be endlesse And therefore we ought not to feare the worlde any thing aâ— all but rather to bee valiauntlie minded and constantly encouraged againste it but before God to humble our selues and â—o feare with all reuerence And what meaneth sainct Peter in bidding vs to sanctifie the Lord God How can we sanctifie hym of whom we must be sanctified I answere that wee after this sort praie Hallowed or sanctified bee thy name for that it is our dueties to sanctifie his name whereas notwithstandyng he hymselfe sanctifieth his owne name Wherefore sainct Peter is thus to bee vnderstoode Sanctifie the Lorde God in your hartes that is whatsoeuer it shall please God to laie vppon vs whether it seeme to vs good or badde pleasaunt or greeuous honorable or ignominious luckie or vnluckie it is our partes and dueties not onely to embrace and take the same in good parâ—e as thinges sent to vs for our furtheraunce and benefite but also to accoumpt the same as holie and therevpon to saie This that I now receiue from the Lordes hande is a thyng so precious and holie that I am not worthie to bee partaker thereof So saieth the Prophete Dauid Psal Cklv. The Lord is iust in all his waies and holie in all his woorkes When as I therefore in these thinges doe thus glorifie God and repute his workes as precious and holie I doe thereby sanctifie hym in my harte But those fellowes that dwell so muche vpon the poinctes of the Lawe that thei thinke not God to bee righteous but that he doeth them wrong and that he is asleepe and neither wil maintaine his owne iustice and righteousnesse nor yet repulse wrong and iniurie doen vnto hym these fellowes I saie dishonour God in thus deemyng him to bee neither iust nor holie But hee that is a true Christian must entierlie ascribe all iustice vnto God and vnto himself as truthe it is all iniustice to acknowledge God euer holie and himself prophane and sincerely to professe and confesse that God is in all his doinges most iust and holie This harty acknowledgment he requireth at the handes of euery one of vs. And foreade we Dani. ix O Lorde God iuste and true are thy Iudgmentes which thou hast doen vnto vs for we haue sinned and committed iniquitie and haue doen wickedlie yea wee haue rebelled and haue departed from thy preceptes and from thy iudgementes and therefore vnto thee O Lorde belongeth Righteousnesse honour and glorie but vnto vs open shame and confusion To conclude when any calamitie or mishappe as it is commonlie taken betydeth vs let vs hartilie thanke God and blesse his holie name for it and that is it which sainct Peter and Esay doe here cal the right sanctifiyng of the Lord our God Notwithstanding it
is not hereby required at our handes to saie that he whiche hath harmed vs hath doen therein well and iustly For the Iudgment that is betwene God and thee is of a farre other sorte then the iudgment betweene thee and me I maie foster and nourish in my harte hatred euill lustes and dissolutes desires wherein I nothyng at all hinder or harme thee as thou likewise hurtest not mee in that whiche thou doest but yet before God I am vnjust and haue deserued sharpe punishment and therefore if he punish me for the sinne he dealeth iustly with me and doeth me no wrong for I haue deserued it If he doe not punishe me but pardon my trespasse offence yet he doeth therein iustlie for alwaies and in all thinges iustice and righteousnesse is to bee ascribed vnto hym albeit herevpon it followeth not but that he doth vniustly which persecuteth mee For although I haue grieuouslie sinned and am guiltie of hainous offences before the Maiestie of God yet haue I not thereby wronged hym that without cause persecuteth mee Therfore when God giueth leaue to the Deuill and euill persones to haue power to woorke any harme vnto thee and to afflict thee hauyng doen no harme vnto them knowe this that God vseth them as Executioners of his Iustice that thou maiest thereby learne that godlesse persons and wrongfull practises are to the godlie thinges bothe good expedient and profitable For so reade we Ezech. xxix of Kyng Nebuchadnezzar where the Lorde by his Prophete saieth Dooest thou not knowe that he is my seruaunte and serued a greate seruice for me And then he further saieth Behold I will giue hym a rewarde for I haue not as yet recompenced hym for the labour and seruice that he did for me I will giue vnto hym the lande of Aegypt for his labour and it shall bee the wages for his Armie for he serued againste it and thei wrought for me saieth the Lorde God This Kyng had neither right nor aucthoritie ouer the Egyptians but GOD had bothe And therefore it pleased hym by this Kyng and his Armie as by his instrumentes to take punishement on theim And in this sorte also are euill and gracelesse persones the Seruauntes of GOD and serue hym because thei should not bee fedde at his hande francklie and freelie without doyng somewhat for their liuyng For God commonlie franketh and pampereth theim full of these Temporall pleasures and worldlie delightes in lieu whereof he vseth their ministerie and seruice to woorke his will and that thei should Butcherlie persecute his Sainctes Whiche purpose of God because these bloodie Wolues by their fleshelie reason can not looke into thei thereby nozzle themselues in this errour that thei thinke themselues to deale therein verie well and godlie Whereas in deede thei are in this present worlde onely rewarded with wealth prosperitie Pompe Dignities Reuenues Iurisdictions and Seigniories and that for none other cause but for that thei bee Gods Hangmen and Executioners to persecute the godlie Christians And therefore if thou pacientlie suffer and sanctifie God in thy dealynges yeeldyng vnto hym thankes for all thinges whatsoeuer it pleaseth him to sende vnto thee there is no doubt but all goeth well with thee For he will neuer faile them that vnfeinedlie truste in hym but will assuredlie throwe and caste thy persecutours excepte thei earnestlie repent into hell fire there to bee perpetually tormented euen for the wronges that thei haue dooen vnto thee whereas thée he will mercifullie receiue into endlesse blisse and felicitie And therefore be contented to let hym iudge and requite for of hym shall euery one receiue accordyng to his desertes An example hereof wee haue in the holie man Iob. Who after that all his goodes were consumed his Cattall taken awaie his Children slaine and al that he had wasted brake out into no worse woordes then these The Lorde hath giuen and the Lorde hath taken awaie againe euen as it hath pleased the Lord so is it come to passe blessed be the name of the Lord. Iob. j. And when as his wife came to hym mocking and skornyng hym saiyng What meanest thou What gettest thou by this thy vprightnesse Blaspheme God and dye But he said vnto her Thou speakest like a foolishe woman what Shall wee receiue good at the hande of God and not receiue euill Wherefore euen as it hath pleased him so is it come to passe as the Lorde hath giuen saieth he so hath he taken awaie againe It was not God that gaue and the Deuill that tooke awaie but yet the Deuill was the meane or Instrumēt whereby all this was doen but he did it none otherwise then as a minister or Tormentor appoincted therevnto by GOD. This man righly sanctified God wherefore God also highly commended hym and wonderfully enryched and dignified hym And bee readie alwaies to giue an answere to euery man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you and that with meekenesse reuerence WEE must needes confesse that sainct Peter writeth these wordes vnto all Christians in general aswell to Popes and Popishe Clergie as to the Laitie to Women aswell as to Men to yong aswell as to old of what state sexe or condition so euer they bee willyng euery one that professeth Christianitie without any exception to hold fast the sure ground worke of their Faith wherby thei maie at all tymes bee able to yeeld a reason of the same and to aunswere for it when and wheresoeuer occasion requireth The Laytie hitherto hath been debarred and inhibited the readyng of the Scriptures in whiche practise the Deuill vsed a meruailous suttle deuise to terrifie abashe waine and estraunge men from the Scriptures wherein the more to bee lamented he preuailed and attained to the verie ende and pitche of his firste conceiued drifte For thus thought he with hymself If I maie once bryng to passe that the Laitie may not read the Scriptures I doubt not but within a while I shall driue the Popes themselues from the Scriptures also to the studie of Aristotle and of the Schoolemen Whereby it shall come to passe that ere it bee long thei shall babble and prate on nothing so muche as their owne dreamyng deuises and make a Religion of their owne foolishe and absurde phantasies and as for the Laitie thei shalbe driuē to haue none other instruction but what it shall please the Clergie to tattle and preache vnto them For if it were otherwise and that the Laitie also might bee suffered to reade the Scriptures then should the Popes also theimselues bee driuen to applie the Scriptures least thei should be iustly reprehended of the Laitie and their falshoode and forgerie detected But marke these woordes of Sainct Peter thus generally spoken vnto vs all that we should all bee readie to yeeld an accoumpt and reason of our Faithe When thou diest it is neither I nor yet the Pope that is able to helpe thee if thou stande not vppon a sure foundation of the hope
at one woorde what soeuer is naturally to bee doen in this bodie and is fraile and transitorie To all these died Christe Saincte Paule calleth these the Naturall or Animall bodie for that all other Creatures haue the vse of all these actions as well as we But his fleshe died not in any other sorte but accordyng to the fleshe that is accordyng to those Naturall and corporall functions whiche are done and exercised by the bodie To this life I saie Christe died so that all these functions likewise died and ceassed in hym and hee hymself transported into an other life And beeyng quickened accordyng to the Spirite tooke vnto hym a life Spirituall and supernaturall comprehendyng and possessyng in it self all that life whiche Christe now possesseth as well in Bodie as in Spirite Who now hath not any longer suche a carnall Bodie as he had afore but a Spirituall bodie And thus doeth sainct Paule expounde this place The very same hope wee also at the latter daie to enioye to witt that our fleshe and bloud shall passe and bee altered in to a spirituall life wherein these our Bodies shal no more eate and drinke begette children digest concoct euacuate or any suche like but shall 〈…〉 in Spirite and this bodie shall bee as clearâ— as nâ—w the Sâ—nne is yea 〈◊〉 clearer Fleshe and bloud shall not thenceforth bee naturall there shall then be no suche function either 〈◊〉 or corporall suche as other Creatures now 〈◊〉 aswell as wee These bee in a maner the woordes whiche sainct Paule vseth j. Cor. xv The first man Adam saieth he was made a liuyng Soule and the last Adam was made a quicknyng Spirite And it there followeth That as we haue borne the Image of the earthie and naturall Man so shall we beare the Image of the spirituall and heauenlie From Adam wee haue all the offices and functions naturall euen as brute Beastes haue accordyng to our outwarde senses and faculties But Christe liueth in the Spirit and is fleshe and bloud but not so as he did afore all outwarde functions of bodily Senses are ceassed in hym he neither sleepeth nor watcheth and yet knoweth he all thinges and is in euery place Suche also shall wee bee for he is the first fruictes the oblation and first boxâ—re as S. Paule saieth of the 〈…〉 that is he is the first that arose from the dead and tooke vnto him a spiritual life Therefore Christ doeth now liue accordyng to the Spirite that is to saie He is still very perfect Man but he hath a spiritual Body And therfore that whiche is here saied is not so to 〈◊〉 taken as we vsually doe wheÌ„ we separate Fleshe and Spirite asunder the one from the other but that the Bodie and Fleshe are now spirituall and that the Spirite is bothe in the Bodie and with the Bodie For sainct Peters meanyng is not here that Christe was raised by the holie Ghost but he vseth this worde Spirite after a general maner 〈◊〉 if a man should saie the Spirit doth this or that In whiche wordes is not simplie meant the holie Ghoste but rather that inwarde working and effectuall force whiche worketh in vs by the operation of the holie Ghost By the whiche he also went and preached vnto the spirites that are in person Whiche were in tyme passed disobedient THis place I dooe take to bee as obscure and harde to bee vnderstoode as any in the newe Testament insomuche that I confesse my self not yet to haue founde out the certaine meanyng thereof First the words them selues doe sounde as though Christe had preached vnto Spirites I meane the Soules of them that would not beleeue in the tyme that Noah built the Arke The sense thereof beeyng somewhat harde to conceiue hath hitherto so entangled mee that neither can I aduouche any sounde interpretation of it neither any other as yet that hath takeÌ„ in hand the exposition thereof Some peraduenture will not sticke to take these woordes so as that Christe after his deathe on the Crosse went downe into Hell and preached to the Soules there with whiche vain opinion I meane not here to enter disputation But mee thinkes these wordes doe very well admit an other sense meanyng to wit that our Lorde Christ after his ascension into Heauen came in Spirite and preached albeeit not bodilie For hee speaketh not now with any bodilie voyce as he also vseth none of the other functions of corporall or bodily nature And therefore let vs take the wordes to signifie and meane accordyng as thei sounde that is in Spirite and that he preached to the Spirites in that his spirituall life Wherevppon it also followeth that his preachyng then was spirituall emplantyng the same in their hartes and Soules so that there was no neede for him to goe in bodie and preache with mouth for the same These words of sainct Peter proue not that after he dyed he went doune vnto the Ghosts that are in Hell to preache vnto them For he saieth thus In whiche he went c. Whiche is asmuche as if he had saied After he was deade accordyng to the fleshe and quickened accordyng to the Spirite that is after hee had laied doune and left his life in the fleshe and all other naturall workes and functions of his bodie and had now taken vnto him a spirituall life and conuersation as now he hath and doeth in heauen then hee went and preached to the Spirites c. Now it is most euident and certaine that Christ descended not eftsoones to Hell after he had receiued this his newe glorified life And therefore wee must vnderstande that he made this preachyng after his Ascension into Heauen Seyng therefore that the wordes doe well beare to be vnderstood of a Spirituall preachyng wee are to thinke that S. Peter in this place speaketh of the Office of Christe for that as the worde is outwardly preached by Voyce so worketh he inwardly in the harte Hee enioyned his Apostles to preache the Gospell bodily but yet is hee hymself present spiritually and whatsoeuer the Apostles vtter in outwarde speeche to the bodily eares of men that doethe he speake and preache into the hartes and myndes of them inwardlie And then preacheth hee to the Spirites whom the Deuill holdeth captiue and in thraldome so that wee take this worde went and these wordes preachyng to the Spirites that are in prison accordyng to the accoumpt and computation of God himself because in the sight of Christe thei that haue been long since are euen in the same state as thei bee that now presently liue For his Kyngdome reacheth to the deade aswell as to the liuyng In that life wherein hee now liueth the Beginning the Middle and the ende of the Worlde are conteined and reckened after one and the same accoumpt all as one although in this life these thinges bee not reckened so but eche thyng accordyng to his orderly succession as the Sonne after the Father and so of others All thinges
the same Chapter he addeth If any manne haue Prophecie let hym Prophecie accordyng to the proportion of Faithe If he haue an office lette hym waite on his office Or he that teacheth on his teachyng After suche an order and course doeth he teache in other of his Epistles as namely j. Cor. xij And Ephes iiij And this is the cause why God hath diuersely distributed his giftes vnto menne namely to the intent wee should vse them to the benefite and mutuall helpe one of an other specially and chiefly thei that bee in any maner of publique office or function whether it bee in the ministerie and preachyng of the Woorde of God or in any other To the office of preachyng that properly belongeth whiche here sainct Peter prescribeth namely vnto whom soeuer the office vocation and charge of preachyng the Woorde of GOD is allotted let hym speake As the woordes of GOD. Whiche caueat and lesson ought moste carefully to bee taken heede vnto that no man presume to preache or teache any thyng whereto he hath not the expresse Woorde of GOD for his warraunt and except he bee moste certaine that the same bee directly to bee auouched out of the sacred Scriptures Whiche beeyng so what maie bee thought of the Pope and of his dirtie Dregges traditions Doe wee not see his mouth with this one worde notably stopped This I saie to the intent euery one maie manifestly see how shamelesly and ridiculously he braggeth and vauÌ„teth him self to bee sainct Peters Heire and Successour not makyng any accoumpt at all of that whiche saincte Peter in this place prescribeth and willeth If any man minister let hym doe it as of the abilite whiche God ministreth WHo soeuer executeth any function in the Churche or hath the cure of Soules committed vnto hym maie not deale as be liste hymself or to ouerrule matters accordyng to his owne sensuall will â—â—â—ither maie he saie Tushe I am a Prelate the people muste all listen to that whiche I saie and obserue my Lawes Ordinaunces and Iniunctions without gainsaie For God requireth this that no manne minister or doe any thyng contrarie or repugnaunt to that whiche he commaundeth and appoineteth A Prelate or Bisshoppe I saie ought to dooe nothyng in the Churche vnlesse he be certaine and sure of the warrantise thereof by Gods Woorde For God can not abide to haue his seruice iumbles and mingled at pleasure with euery foolishe guegawe and light tromperie And therefore he ought to haue an assuraunce and certaintie in his mynde and conscience that euen GOD bothe speaketh and worketh in hym and to stande vpon so sure a grounde for the veritie thereof that his Faithe dare boldlie witnesse with hym and saie Whatsoeuer I haue spoken and what soeuer I haue doen or dealt herein I am so out of doubt that the same in eche respect is consonant to the Worde will of God that I am readie and dare to seale the same with my blood to confirme it with my death For other wise if I wauer and totter this waie and that waie not knowyng whose cause and businesse I haue in hande my Faithe is builded vppon the Sande so that the Deuill myne aduersarie is able to shake and tumble it whiche waie be liste And therefore we are here straightly forbidden not to relye vnto nor to allow what soeuer decree or constitution these Bisshoppes liste to obtrude and enioyne vnlesse thei stande vppon a sure grounde that the thynges whiche thei doe are allowed of God yea doen of God hymself and vnlesse thei bee able to saie Doe this for it is the will and commaundement of GOD and we haue his expresse Woorde and Commaundement for our warrant If thei bee not able to saie thus thei ought to bee accoumpted as Lyers and deceiuers muche lesse ought any Christian to yeelde vnto them therein any obedience or subscriptioÌ„ For the Lorde hath so appoincted that our Consciences should not elsewhere bee staied but vpon the moste sure and infallible Rocke And thus muche for publicke functions wherein it is not lawfull for vs at any hande to followe our owne wilfull deuises and sensuall conceptes nor to prescribe any role or order to bee embraced vnlesse wee bee vndoubtedly assured that it standeth with the will and Worde of God Wherein wee euidently see how cleane againste the Kyngdome of the Pope and his Mitred Bisshopps as thynges therein are now handled Sainct Peters mynde and Iudgement was long before any Pope were knowen in the worlde to rule the roste in suche Pontificalitie as since thei haue doen. That God in all thinges maie be glorified through Iesus Christe to whom is praise and dominion for euer and euer Amen I Would haue you so sure and certaine that that whiche you speake and doe God hymself speaketh and dooeth that ye maie therein glorifie God as the aucthour thereof humbly thanking him for his bounteous gift whiche thing ye can not doe when ye doe any thyng whereof ye bee not sure whether God allowe it or no. But beeyng sure and certaine thereof how can ye choose but with moste humble thankes to praise and extoll so good so gracious and so bounteous a Lorde who vouchsafeth to giue his blessed Woorde to speake in you and he hymself to doe his owne woorke in you Whom otherwise ye should but mocke and skorne and lye vnto hym so long as ye pretende to giue thankes vnto hym for his good gifte beeyng not sure whether it were his gifte or some idle deuise and imagination of your owne braines And therefore there is nothyng so pernicious nothyng so monstruous nothyng so beastlie as to goe about to gouerne the Churche of God without the warrant of Gods owne Woorde and Woorke and therefore sainct Peter sawe greate reason to adde this muche therby to teache how the Churche ought to be gouerned Dearely beloued thinke it not strauÌ„ge concernyng the firie triall which is emong you to proue you as though some straunge thing were come vnto you HEre againe he vseth a phraze or forme of speech where with our tongue is not acquainted But Sainct Peter therefore vseth it to putte vs in minde of sundrie is textes and places of the Scriptures whiche many tymes tearmeth Persecution and Affliction by the name of a fierie Furnace After whiche sort Sainct Peter hymself afore in the first Chapter of this his first Epistle hath these words That the triall of your Faithe beyng muche more precious then gold that perisheth though it bee tried with fire might bee founde vnto your praise honour and glorie at the appearyng of Iesus Christe Likewise we read in the Prophete Esaie Chap. xlviij that the Lorde speaketh these woordes Beholde I haue tried thee in the furnace of affliction And in the xxvj Psalm Trie me O Lorde prooue and examine my reines and my harte Againe Psal lxvj Wee passed through fire and water To bee short it is an vsuall phraze in the Scripture to call affliction Fier and triall
that wee Christians haue in that wee maie saie the worde whiche I preache is none of myne owne neither is my Faithe myne owneâ— thei are all the workes and the giftes of God He that reuileth and raileth on me reuileth and raileth on God accordyng to Christes owne saiyng Math. x. He that receiueth you receiueth mee and he that despiseth you despiseth mee Sainct Peters woordes therefore are in effect as though hee should saie Knowe ye that the Spirite whiche ye haue is of that power and might that he can easelie auenge himself of his enemies as the Lord himself Exod. xxiij promiseth saiyng If thou wilt has Led vnto my voyce and do all that I speake I will bee an Enemie vnto thyne Enemies And the Scripture in many places calleth the Enemies of Gods people the Enemies of GOD himself And therefore when wee are rayled on for none other cause but for that wee bee Christians and truely honour Christe let vs bee assured that so long as wee stedfastlie beleeue it is not wee that are railed on but the spight and railyng properly reboundeth vnto God And therefore saieth he paciently abide it and reioyce in your mynde is for that which is doen vnto you is doen vnto the Spirite whiche is the Spirite of God And now be proceedeth and giueth good fruiteful 〈◊〉 that we should take heede and not suffer for 〈◊〉 But lette none of you suffer as a Murtherer or as a thiefe or an euill doer or as a busie bodie in other mens matters But if any man suffer as a Christian let hym not be ashamed but let hym glorifie God in this behalfe HIs meaning is this Ye haue heard both how ye must needes suffer affliction and also in your affliction how you must behaue your selues alwaies forseen that ye suffer not for your owne ill desertes but for Christe Ye haue heard also how in this our Age the case so standeth that wee are coÌ„pelled to suffer persecution vnder wicked bloudsuckers who notwithstanding beare the name of ChristiaÌ„s So that now a true follower and embracer of the truth of Christe suffering for the sincere profession of Christ is not thought to suffer persecution as a Christian but is rather reputed and taken as an Enemie of Christe for that thei whiche bee the persecutours chalenge to themselues the name and tytle of the true Christians affirmyng aswell as wee that he is blessed and happie which dieth for Christ In this case none but the Spirite is able to discerne who be the true and who be the dissemblyng and counterfaite Christians And therefore thou must be firmely settled in Faithe throughly perswaded in soundnesse of CoÌ„science that thou art before God a right Christian and that thy heauenly Father doeth so accept and take thee whatsoeuer otherwise the Worlde iudgeth of thee When ye are therefore afflicted as Christians let none of you saieth sainct Peter bee ashamed but rather let hym glorifie God for the same Wherein he sheweth that tribulations afflictions and tormentes are thynges so precious that wee ought to giue God hartie thankes therefore and to glorifie his holie name for so greate a domitie in that of his especiall fauour towardes vs of vnworthie he maketh vs worthie to suffer for the profession of his name But alas this bearyng of the Crosse nowadaies in many places is thought in a maner whollie to consist in a garishe carryng aboute of a materiall Crosse after a ioâ—ie ceremonious solempnitie whiche doeth a man as muche good as Saite cast into his eyes It is not the Crosse of Christ that shall faue mee I ought to beleeue it but to beare myne owne If thou in thine harte conceiue and think vppon his affliction thou haste obtained and arte possessed of a right true treasure The Boanes of S. Peter bee holie but what good gette I by that Thou must so striue that thou thy self and thy boanes maie attaine to bee holie which thing thou art sure of when thou art afflicted and suffrest persecution for Christ For the time is come that iudgment must beginne at the house of God If it first begin at vs what shall the ende be of them whiche obey not the Gospell of God HEre he bringeth in two places of the Prophets at once tendyng both to this purpose The first is in the xxv of Ieremie saiyng thus Beholde I beginne to plague the citie where my name is called vpon I will first chastise and punishe my best beloued and dearest children thei must first haue some tryall and experience of this fier of tribulation wherein the iust are proued tried And shall ye that are myne enemies saith Ieremie goe free Ye shall not goe free And againe Cap. xlix Behold thei whose iudgment was not to drinke of the Cuppe haue assuredly drunken and art thou he that shalt goe free Thou shalt not goe free but thou shalt surely drink of it that is to saie I strike and punish those whom I dearely loue to the intent thou shouldest see what I meane to dooe to them that be myne enemies The meaning of whiche wordes are worthie of diligent consideration The holier and godlier children that God hath in this worlde the more ignominiously and cruellie he suffreth them to be dealt withall and massacred in the worlde What then maie the rest looke for The other place is out of the ix of Ezechiel The Prophet there sawe certaine armed men cariyng tooles and weapons of destruction in their hands who were commaunded to smite all that were in the Citie young and olde men women and children that were not marked in their forheades with TAV And vnto them GOD there further saied Beginne ye at my Sanctuarie Assoone as euer the Gospell is preached God beginneth to punishe Sinne that he maie bothe kill and quicken again but he vseth to beate the godly to their no harme but as it were with a Foxetayle as the common Prouerbe soundeth and with a fewe twigges after a motherly affection What shall wee thinke then will he dooe to those that doe not beleeue As though he should saie if he deale so roughly and so seuerely with his welbeloued children wee maie easily gesse what the tormentes shall bee that tarie for the vnbeleeuers And if the righteous scarsely be saued where shall the vngodly and the sinner appeare THis place is taken out of the xj of the Prouerbes Behold the righteous shall receiue punishment in the earth how muche more then the wicked and the synner If the godlie bee beaten where shall the wicked remaine The verie same here reporteth Sainct Peter saiyng The iuste shall scarce bee saued He is iuste whiche stedfastly beleeueth but no manne persisteth and perseuereth in Faithe without greate labour trouble and sweate he must passe many Pikes taste of many a sharpe brunte and calamitie and go through the fire of many tribulations Where then shall there bee any place for hym that beleeueth not When as Faithe is so violently and forcibly
might haue doen but calleth himself a Fellowe Elder and also a witnesse of the suffrynges of Christe As if he had saied I doe not onely preache but I am also emong those Confessours of Christ that are exercised in daiely afflictions And withall he also sheweth that so many as bee Christians must bee persecuted and suffer affliction And this is a true Apostle of Christe vnto whom if the Pope and his Bishoppes were any thing like as thei are shamelesse enough to chalenge to themselues the same title we would not greatly stick willingly to kisse their feete And also a partaker of the glory that shalbe reueiled THis parte of the Apostles Style and Title is of farre more excellencie then any that our Popishe Bishopps dare pretende to vse For thereby doeth Sainct Peter take and recken hymself holie and a blessed Manne And alhouâ—gh he perfectly knewe that he should be a partaker of the glorie to come yet taketh he no pride therein he lifteth not hymself vp in any swellyng glorie but modestly conteineth hymself within the boundes of temperate softnes and curtesie Feede the flocke of God whiche dependeth vpon you caryng for it not by constraint but willingly not for filthie lucre but of a readie minde CHrist is the first and chiefest Pastour who hath many Pastours vnder hym as he also hath many Flockes whom beeyng dispersed in sundrie quarters of the worlde he committeth to the charge and ouersight of their Shéepheardes and Pastours as in this Epistle of S. Peter written into diuers Countreis and Regions appeareth But what is the charge of these Pastors to do Forsooth to feede the Flocke of Christ This worde Feede the Pope hath raked and haled vnto hym self whereby he goeth aboute to prooue hymself Lorde and Prince of all and that it is in his owne choise and aucthoritie to deale with the Sheepe as he listeth hymself But alas who is so ignoraunte that knoweth not what this woorde Feede meaneth To witte that the Pastours and Sheepheardes ought to prouide Pasture for their Sheepe and to see theim haue their meate in conueniente and due season whereby thei maie growe to bee fruitfull And moreouer to watche that deuouryng Wolues rushe not in emong theim and teare the Flocke in peeces This word Feede signifieth nothyng lesse then to kill and spoile Furthermore S. Peter calleth it peculierlie the Flocke of Christ as though he should saie Thinke not that the Flocke is any of your owne ye are but onely Seruauntes and Minister to looke vnto it ye are no Lordes nor Maisters ouer it Contrarie to the bold practise and customable dealyng of many Bishops whiche accoumpt and call euery one within their Diocesse and iurisdiction their Sheepe We are the Sheepe of Christe for he saied afore Ye are now retourned vnto the Sheepheard and Bishoppe of your Soules Bishopps are the Ministers of Christe to keepe his Sheepe and to giue them meate and pasture And therefore to feede is nothyng els then to preache the Gospel wherwith their Soules maie be fedde fatted and fructified that so the Shepe maie be nourished with the Gospell This is the onely and proper office of a Bishopp So saied Christ vnto Peter Feede my Sheepe Ioh. xxj that is the Sheepe whiche I committe vnto thee to feede are not thyne but myne Howbeeit these woordes haue been so canuassed and wrested by my Lorde the Pope that he thereby vsurpeth and exerciseth an externall domination and Lordship ouer the Churche of Christe whereas neither he nor any of his sacrilegious Chapleins preacheth so muche as one worde of the Gospell Thei bragge that thei haue their succession froÌ„ S. Peter If it were so yet feare I that it could scarcely bée prooued that any Pope euer preached the Gospell For none of them hath left any thyng behynde hym that is written and extant wherein a man maie read the Gospell Sainct Gregorie the Pope was surely an holie man and yet the thynges which he preached are not to bee esteemed worth a strawe whei eâ—y it maie appeare that the same See of Rome is peculiarly and specially accursed of God I deny not but sundrie of the Popes suffred Martiredome vnder cruel Tyrauntes for the Gospels sake but yet there is nothyng extant that was written by any of them whiche is Euangelicall And yet thei still bragge and crake that it is their charge to feede whereas in deede thei doe nothing els but entangle and clogge mennes consciences with Lawes of their owne and make hauocke and sale of mennes Soules neuer troublyng theimselues with preachyng one woorde of Christe his sacred Gospell True it is that there are many to bee founde aswell women as men whiche are able to preache and that with no lesse dexteritie and sufficiencie then he vnto whom that charge and office is peculiarly committed But because the greatest number in the flocke alwaies is of weakelynges therefore it is expedient that some bee appoincted to strengthen and confirme suche and to keepe backe the Wolfe from russhyng in emong them and deuouryng them For a Preachers office and duetie is not onely to feede that is to teache his Sheepe how thei ought to frame theimselues to become true and sincere Christians but he hath the charge also to looke that the Wolfe bee kept out and that none of the Sheepe be deuoured or seduced by false doctrine and so drawen into errour whiche is the continuall drifte and practise of the Deuill Now there bee many that can well enough abide to haue the Gospell preached so that there might bee no exclaimyng and speakyng againste Wolues I meane so that Preachers in their Sermons would forbeare railyng and tauntyng against Prelates But although I preache sounde doctrine and that whiche is true and although I feede and teach my charge the Sheepe well and rightly yet is not that sufficient for it is further required at my handes to keepe the Sheepe from daunger and to haue a carefull regarde vnto theim that Wolues come not emong theim to driue theim awaie out of their fertile and wholesome pastures For to what purpose is my building if when I haue couched and orderly laied my Stones an other straightwaies come hurle them doune as fast againe and I seyng him forbidde him not The Wolfe is well enough contented that the Sheepe bee well fedde and fatted in good pasture because the fatter thei bee thei pleasaunter and daintier praie thinketh he to make of them But that Dogges should incessauntly barke and baule at hym that can he not abide And therefore it is a matter of no small waight and charge to feede well accordyng as GOD hath giuen in commaundement to doe and it behooueth eche one in that function carefully to consider his charge in this behalfe The Flocke saieth he whiche dependeth vpon you that is ouer whiche ye haue charge or whiche is among you and not whiche is subiect and liyng at your Feete Care for it and that not by coÌ„straint because ye can none
otherwise choose but willingly not for filthie lucre sake but of a readie mynd Here he comprehendeth in one worde all that whiche the Prophete Ezechiell in the xxxiiij Chapter of his Prophesie writeth concerning Pastors or Bisshoppes The meaning of this place is thus Not onely feede ye but take ye care also and prouide for them that thei want nothing and where any standeth in necessitie or neede there see that ye relieue them and in eche respect doe the partes and dueties of right 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is good Watchmen and faithfull Espialles Looke out least daunger appeare stande alwaies preste and readie on your guarde and diligently beholde and espie out of your Watch-tower what it is that is wantyng or what it is that is befallen vnto euery one within your charges Hereby wee maie well perceiue and knowe that a Bisshoppe is euen the same that is here meant by an Elder And therefore it is not true whiche some saie that a Bisshopricke is a dignitie and a Bisshop onely he that weareth a forked Mitre Episcopacie is not a name of Dignitie but of Office for he that is inuested with that name and tytle ought to looke to his Flocke to be carefull for it and to serue as a good Watchman to see abroade learne what thinges be amisse any where within his charge As if there be any that is weake hauing his conscience wounded hym ought he to confirme comforte and heale if any fall him ought he to lift vp againe and so as other defectes arise to bee readie to helpe whereby Christian people maie bee sufficiently looked vnto and prouided for bothe in Soule and in Bodie This is the reason that hath moued mee heretofore oftentymes to saie that if wee would institute a right Christian Common wealth it were necessarie that in euery Citie there should bee three or fower Superintendentes to take care and regarde ouer the Churche and Congregation and to reforme and restore whatsoeuer therein is amisse or wantyng And here he toucheth two speciall poyntes ynough almost to terrifie and discourage any man from bearyng authoritie ouer the people or to take this greate charge and burden vpon hym For first there bee some vertuous and honest men who half vnwillynglie are drawen into the Ministerie and function of Preachyng for that thei see it to be a painfull and laborious office to skoute aboute euery where to see how the Sheepe liue to succour and helpe them that bee in want to strengthen and raise vp them that bee waueryng and readie to fall and finallie to haue suche diligent care and continuall watche ouer them that the Wolfe finde no entraunce to inuade and come russhyng in among them yea in that he must not sticke to laie downe his life for their preseruation and safegarde And also for that it is suche an harde matter of so great difficultie trulie to discharge the office of a godly Pastor yea of so greate daunger also because it must be throughly executed that not vnwillingly or as though it were by constraint True it is that no man ought to intrude himself into that Office but if he â—â—â—hereunto called and required he ought willingly to take it vpon hym and to discharge and perfourme as muche as to his function and office appertaineth For thei that take this matter vpon theÌ„ vpon necessitie and constraint and haue neither courage nor pleasure in the same shall neuer with any profite fruitfully discharge or execute their office Againe there bee others worse then these which take this Office vpon them for none other ende but for filthie Lucre to scrape and rake together wealth and to pamper and cramme their bellies These fellowes seeke onely for the Wooll and the Mylke of the Sheepe but as for good pastures for them thei care not and with this scabbe is the Popishe Clergie horriblie infected And this is a moste hurtfull daungerous noysome and filthie Vice then whiche there can not bee any so dishonorable or shamefull for him that taketh on him the name and charge of a Christian Bisshoppe or Pastor Whiche was the thing that caused both the Apostles Peter and Paule and also the Prophetes so oft to recorde and inculke it This caused Moses to saie Num. xvj I haue not taken so muche as an Asle from them neither haue I hurt any of them And Samuell also Ye know that I haue not taken any mans Oxe or Asse from hym nor doen wrong to any c. j. Sam. xij For if he that hath this charge and function of feeding the Flocke be gréedily giuen to scraping together of richesse and wealth and to gape after filthie Lucre suche a one I saie is hymself easilie and soone chaunged from a Pastor into a Wolfe But of a readie mynde THat is euen with pleasure Let the Pastor or Bisshoppe applie his Office and vocatioÌ„ and that with a readie willingnes Thei that thus cherefully proÌ„ptly and zealously discharge their function are those which as thei dooe their dueties willingly so dooe thei not greedily pull the fleeze from the Sheepe There bee therefore twoo sortes of false Pastors The one sorte occupie their roume grudginglie and vnwillingly the other willingly and gladlie but yet for gaine and filthie lucre Not as though ye were Lords ouer Gods heritage SVche are thei that are willing to take the office vpon them for dignitie sake because thei would liue pompouslie and beare greate swaie and authoritie in the Worlde He therefore exhorteth Bisshoppes Elders Pastors that thei practise not any Lordly tyrannie ouer the Flocke as though the people were their Slaues and Vnderlings or as though they had suche authoritie and Lordshippe ouer them to commaund what thei list For wee haue but one Lorde whiche is Christe and he it is whiche gouerneth our Soules Elders and Pastors haue no further charge theÌ„ to féede And here in one word Saincte Peter vtterly ouerthroweth all the kingdome of the Pope and concludeth that no Bisshoppe hath any authoritie somuche as in one worde to clogge and tye the consciences of the faithfull to the obseruation of their preceptes For they themselues ought to bee Seruauntes and Ministers and to saie Thus saieth the Lord and these be the Words of Christ it is not wee the woordes are none of ours and therefore ye ought to doe that whiche is here commaunded Accordyng to that whiche Christe saieth Luc. xxij The Kynges of the Gentiles reigne ouer them and they that beare rule ouer them are called gracious Lordes but ye shall not bee so Contrary wherevnto the Pope boasteth and braggeth saiyng Wee ought to bee Lordes and to vs onely it belongeth to exercise chief rule and supreme authoritie But that ye maie bee ensamples to the Flocke And when the chiefe Shepeheard shall appeare ye shall receiue an incorruptible croune of glorie SEE that ye bee the formost in the battaile vsyng suche honest conuersation that your life maie bee a Lanterne to giue light
are in countenaunce and credite accoumpted and reputed for the best and the grauest Clerkes Therfore this must be holden as a firme generall rule that no man whosoeuer he be interpretyng y e Scripture after his owne humour is to bee credited no although he alledge and bryng Scripture for hymself because the true Sense thereof can not by any meanes bee attained and founde by the priuate enarration of Man In this poynct haue stumbled and foulie failed our Graund maisters and teachers whiche haue heretofore taken vppon them to expounde and interprete the Scripture As when thei expound and stretch that saiyng of Christ Matth. xvj Thou art Peter c. to be meant of the Pope which addle interpretatioÌ„ is of mans owne deuise and forged by the Expositours themselues to drawe it to the pitch of their own conceit and to serue their owne turnes and therefore not to be credited for that thei be not able to prooue by Scripture that this name Peter any where signifieth the Pope but wee are well able to proue that Christ is the Rock as S. Paule saith j. Cor. x. This interpretatioÌ„ is true and sound for we are sure thereof and knowe that it is not deuised and inuented by man but grounded and drawen out of the very Word of God For those thinges that are written mentioned in the Prophetes were not inuented and deuised by men but holy meÌ„ spake as thei were inspired and mooued by the holie Ghost And thus endeth this firste Chapter wherein Sainct Peter hath first taught vs the right and true good Woorkes in deede whiche wee ought to practise and walke in thereby to notifie and declare our Faithe And next that in the Church of Christe there ought nothyng to bee preached but onely the Worde of God which remaineth and continueth for euer and by the whiche our Soules are saued and made to liue eternallie Now next here followeth a fruictfull admonition wherein bothe Christ and his Apostles warne vs diligently to beware of false Preachers And this also must wee with all diligent care looke vnto that wee suffer not our selues to bee bereaued and cozened of this right and power of examining iudging and proouyng doctrines neither to be so pent in and curbed that we should staie and expect till we see what the Councelles define and decree what wee shall beleue and what not keepyng our heades so vnder their girdles that thei would not willingly suffer vs to beleeue and embrace any thyng but what they list to set downe ratifie and determine ¶ The second Chapter BVT there were false Prophetes also among the people euen as there shalbee false teachers among you which priuily shall bryng in daÌ„nable heresies euen denying the Lorde that hath bought them and bryng vpon themselues swift damnation And many shall followe their damnable waies by whoÌ„ the waie of truth shalbe euill spoken of And through couetousnesse shall they with fained wordes make marchandise of you whose iudgement loÌ„g agone is not farre of and their damnation sleepeth not For if God spared not the Angels that had sinned but cast them downe into hell and deliuered them into chaines of darknesse to be kept vnto damnation Neither hath spared the olde world but saued Noah the eight person a preacher of righteousnesse and brought in the flood vpon the worlde of the vngodly And turned the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrhe into ashes condemned them and ouerthrewe them and made them an ensample vnto them that after should liue vngodly And deliuered iust Lot vexed with the vncleanly conuersation of the wicked For he being righteous and dwellyng among them in seeyng and hearyng vexed his righteous soule from daie to daie with their vnlawfull deedes The Lorde kâ—oweth to deliuer the godly out of tentation and to reserue the vniust vnto the day of iudgement to be punished And chiefely them that walke after the fleshe in the lust of vncleannes and despise the Gouernement which are presumptuous and stande in their owne conceit and feare not to speake euill of them that are in dignitie Whereas the Angels which are greater both in power and might giue not railyng iudgement against them before the Lorde But these as brute beasts led with sensualitie and made to bee taken and destroyed speake euill of those thinges whiche they know not and shall perish through their owne corruption And shall receiue the wages of vnrighteousnes as they which count it pleasure to liue deliciously for a season Spots thei are and blottes delyting themselues in their deceiuings in feastyng with you Hauyng eyes full of adulterie and that can not cease to sinne be guilyng vnstable soules they haue hartes exercised with couetousnesse thei are cursed children Whiche forsakyng the right waie haue gone astraye following the waie of Balaam the sonne of Bosor which loued the wages of vnrighteousnesse But he was rebuked for his iniquitie for the dumme Asse speakyng with mans voyce forbade the foolishnesse of the Prophete These are Welles without water and Cloudes caried about wiâ—h a tempest to whom the blacke darknesse is reserued for euer For in speakyng swelling wordes of vanitie they beguile with wantonnes through the lustes of the fleshe them that were cleane escaped from them whiche are wrapped in errour Promising vnto them libertie and are themselues the seruauntes of corruption for of whom soeuer a man is ouercome euen vnto the same is he in bondage For if they after they haue escaped from the filthinesse of the worlde through the knowledge of the Lorde and of the Sauiour Iesus Christ are yet tangled againe therein and ouercome the latter ende is worse with them then the beginnyng For it had been better for them not to haue knowen the waye of righteousnesse then after they haue knowen it to turne from the holy commaundement giuen vnto them But it is come vnto them accordyng to the true prouerbe The dogge is returned to his owne vomit and The sowe that was washed to the wallowyng in the myer But there were false Prophetes also amoÌ„g the people euen as there shalbe false teachers among you ALL true Prophecie hath his proceedyng from the holie Ghost and so hath had froÌ„ the beginnyng of the worlde and shall haue till the ende of the same so that nothyng is to be preached but the sound and sincere Worde of God Howbeit it hath alwaies béen seen that as there haue been true Prophetes sincerely vtteryng the pure Woorde of the Lorde so haue there still been false Teachers and malicious Seducers And shall so hencefoorthe continue till the ende of the Worlde When ye therfore haue the true Worde of God thinke none otherwise but y t ye also shall haue false Teachers This admonition maie stand for a generall and infallibe rule that wheresoeuer the Worde of GOD is sincerely preached and taught there also by and by arise false Teacher's and dissemblyng Hypocrites The reason is because although the Worde bee preached to all yet doe not all embrace
heard and God is moste humbly to bee desired and praied vnto to turne his heauie wrath and plague from vs. For this calamitie and wretchednesse commeth not vpon vs by chaunce or blinde fortune but it is sent vnto vs from God as a plague for our wickednesse and impietie as S. Paule witnesseth ij Thes ij Because saieth he they receiued not the Loue of the truth that they might bee saued therefore shall God sende them strong delusion that they should beleeue lyes For if this punishment and reuenge of God had extended no further but to the perishing onely of these false counterfaite and seducing Teachers thēselues it might haue seemed very tollerable but now they hauyng maistered and ouerruled the whole Worlde at their own pleasures they haue caried with them to hell whole multitudes of people that haue beene bewitched and enchaunte◠with their spirituall sorceries There is no remedie therefore for vs to recure this mischiefe but to prostrate our selues before the mercie seate of almightie God in all feare and humilitie moste penitently confessyng our faultes and suppliauntlie imploryng his diuine grace and assistaunce◠that it might please him to vouchsafe to remoue and take awaie this plague from vs. It is earnest and hartie praier wherewith wee must impugne and withstande these false and deceiptfull Teachers for Sathan our Aduersarie the Deuill will not bee driuen awaie with any other weapons ¶ The third Chapter THis seconde Epistle I now write vnto you beloued wherewith I stirre vp and warne your pure myndes To call to remembraunce the wordes whiche were told before of the holie Prophetes and also the commaundement of vs the Apostles of the Lorde and Sauiour This firste vnderstande that there shall come in the laste daies mockers whiche will walke after their lustes And saie Where is the promes of his comming for since the Fathers died all thynges continue alike from the beginnyng of the creation For this thei willyngly knowe not that the Heauens were of olde and the Earth that was of the water and by the water by the woorde of God Wherefore the worlde that then was perished ouerflowed with the water But the Heauens and Earth whiche are now are kepte by the same Woorde in store and reserued vnto fire against the daie of Iudgemente and of the destruction of vngodlie men Dearely beloued bee not ignoraunt of this one thyng that one daie is with the Lorde as a thousande yeres and a thousande yeres as one daie The Lorde is not slacke cōcernyng his promise as some men count slackenesse but is pacient toward vs and would haue no man to perishe but would all men to come to repentaunce But the daie of the Lorde will come as a Thief in the night in the whiche the Heauens shall passe awaie with a noyse and the Elementes shall melte with heate and the Earth with the woorkes that are therein shalbe burnt vp Seeyng therefore that all these thinges must bee dissolued what maner persones ought ye to bee in holie conuersation and godlinesse Lookyng for and hastyng vnto the commyng of the daie of God by the whiche the Heauens beeyng on fire shal be dissolued and the Elementes shall melt with heate But we looke for newe Heauens and a newe Earth accordyng to his promise wherein dwelleth righteousnesse Wherefore beloued seyng that ye looke for suche thinges bee diligent that ye maie bee founde of hym in peace without spot and blamelesse And suppose that the long sufferyng of our Lorde is saluation euen as our beloued brother Paule accordyng to the wisedome giuen vnto hym wrote to you As one that in all his Epistles speaketh of these thinges emong the whiche some thynges are harde to bee vnderstande whiche thei that are vnlearned and vnstable peruert as thei doe also other Scriptures vnto their owne destructiō Ye therefore beloued seeyng ye knowe these thynges before beware least ye be also plucked awaie with the error of the wicked and fall from your owne stedfastnesse But growe in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to hym bee glorie bothe now and for euermore Amen This secōd Epistle I now write vnto you beloued wherwith I stirre vp and warne your pure mindes To call to remembraunce the wordes which were tolde before of the holy Prophets and also the cōmaundement of vs the Apostles of the Lorde and Sauiour IN this Chapter wee are admonished to bee in a readinesse and euery minute of an hower to looke for the last daie And first S. Peter declareth vnto them how that he hath not written this Epistle to theim purposely and with intent to laye doune vnto them the foundation of Faith for that had he laied doune very substancially effectually and sufficiently afore but to excite and stirre them vp and to admonishe and put them in remembraunce that thei forgett not those thinges whiche thei had afore heard and receiued but rather that thei should perseuere in that sinceritie of mynde and vnderstandyng whiche was requisite fitte expediente and appertinent vnto true Christianitie For the office and duetie of all true Preachers is not onely to teache but also continually to admonishe and exhort Because so long as wee bee clad with this fleshe and bloud wee haue greate neede to haue the Worde of God to dwell plentifully in vs to raigne beare soueraigne authoritie in vs whereby wee maie resist the motions suggestions delites and concupiscences of the Fleshe and with faithfull constancie valiantly subdue resist and striue against the lustes thereof This first vnderstande that there shall come in the last dayes mockers whiche will walke after their lustes And saie Where is the promise of his commyng for since the fathers dyed all thynges continue alike from the beginnyng of the creation THere bee some yet at this daie very waueryng and ficklemynded being caried awaie through certaine reasons sette downe in a Booke entituled and written of Antichrist in whiche Booke is declared that before the latter daie men should fall into suche grosse and Deuilish errour as to denye God and to mocke deryde all that thei heare preached of Christe and of Domesdaie And this saiyng is true from whence soeuer it was borowed But it ought not so straictly to bee taken as though the whole World should fall into suche a generall Apostacie and so vniuersally blaspheme God but that the greater parte and portion thereof should fall awaie For we see it now plainly come to passe and more and more dailie will it burst out that when and where the Gospell shall be published and openly preached among men many wicked shall be wraie themselues and the inward hartes of many shalbe openly detected whose wickednesse and impietie now secretly lurketh is dissimuled And the number now adaies is not small that beleeue little or nothyng of the latter daie neither thinke that euer it will come Of suche mockers and skorners S. Peter here forewarneth vs tellyng vs that there should be
wherein God himself will dwell For he not onely dwelleth in the Heauens but euery where and therfore where he is there shall the elect also bee Wherefore beloued seeyng that ye looke for such thynges bee diligent that ye maie bee founde of hym in peace without spot and blamelesse FOrsomuche saieth he as ye haue escaped so great mischieues and daungers and shall come to suche and so great ioyes this ought not a little to moue you to contemne and despise all the thinges of the Worlde and with pacient myndes to suffer what aduersitie soeuer shalbe allotted vnto you and this is it that he saieth ye ought diligently to endeuour yourselues to liue without spot and blame and after this â—orce in peace to expect and looke for that daie And suppose that the long suffryng of our Lorde is saluation IN that hee so long spareth you and deferreth his iudgement and doth not by and by iudge you think ye it your greate gaine and auaile He hath cause enough to be angrie with you and euen by and by to take present reuenge vpon you but suche is his mercie and clemencie y t he spareth you pardoneth all your transgressions Euen as our beloued brother Paule accordyng to the wisedome giuen vnto hym wrote to you As one that in all his Epistles speaketh of these thinges among the whiche some thinges are hard to bee vnderstande which they that are vnlearned and vnstable wrest as thei do also other Scriptures vnto their owne destruction SAinct Peter here giueth expresse testimonie and allowaunce of the sounde doctrine contained in S. Paules Epistles whiche prooueth that this Epistle was written long after the Epistles of Paule And this is one of those places whereby a man maie take occasion to thinke that this Epistle was not written by S. Peter as also an other senteÌ„ce a little afore in this present Chapter expressed dooeth insinuate and purporte where he saieth that God would haue no man to perish but would all men to come to repentaunce For it seemeth to sauour of a lower spirite and to carie a meaner grace then to one inspired with an Apostolicall spirite is vsuall Yet is it not altogether incredible nor amisse to thinke this Epistle to bee written by Peter For seeyng that in this Epistle his purpose and meanyng was not to write of Faithe but of Loue and Charitie be purposely abazeth hymself in his Style as the nature of Charitie alwaies is to dooe to the intent thereby to humble hymself to his Neighbour as on the other part Faith alwaies mounteth and lifteth vp it self to Godwarde And this 〈◊〉 he well see would come to passe that many light and vnstable Spirites would wrest and wring inuert and peruert S. Paules wordes in sundrie places For that in his Epistles there are some Textes harde to bee vnderstoode as where he saieth that no man is iustified by workes but by Faithe onely Rom. iij. Againe that the Lawe was giuen to knowe Sinne. Rom. iiij vij And moreouer Where sinne abounded there grace abounded muche more Rom. v. and suche like places For assoone as they heare this they straight ways breake out into these or y e like speeches â—f it be thus we will liue ydlie and merilie wee will doe to good worke at all and yet shall wee neuerthelesse be saued and iustified and after this sorte euen nowadaies doe they â—aise on vs and shamefullie helpe vs faiyng that wee in our Sermons condemne and dispraise good Workes But wee maie not thinke it any meruaile or straunge thyng seeyng thei haue not spared to wrest and misconstrue S. Paules wordes Ye therefore beloued seyng ye knowe these thinges before beware lest ye bee also plucked awaie with the errour of the wicked and fall from your owne stedfastnesse But growe in grace and in the knowledge of our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christe to him bee glorie bothe now and for euermore Amen SEyng therfore ye perfectly know all these thinges afore declared and are certainly giuen to vnderstande that many false Teachers shalbee chopped and foysted in among you to seduce the Worlde and many froward mockers shal wilfully mistake and wrest the Scriptures not beyng willyng to vnderstande them aright it greatly standeth you vpon to take good heede to your selues and moste carefully to beware of them least with their false and erroneous doctrine thei carie you awaie from the right Faithe but looke rather that ye dailie encrease in godlinesse and knowledge that from daie to daie through continuall preachyng and exercise of the Worde of God ye maie bee more and more confirmed and strengthenes And here wee are to beholde and note the greate care that the Apostle had ouer them which had now receiued the Faith whiche caused hym to write vnto them these twoo Epistles wherein is largely and plentifully layed doune al and whatsoeuer is expedient and necessarie for a Christian man to know yea concernyng those thynges also whiche are to come God graunt vnto vs his grace that we maie both rightly vnderstand also effectually keepe and obserue the same to the glorie of his holy and blessed name and to the comforte and consolation of our own Soules and consciences Amen ⧠THE GENERALL Epistle of S. Iude. IVDE a seruaunt of Iesus Christ and brother of Iames to theim whiche are called and sanctified of God the Father and reserued to Iesus Christ Mercie vnto you and peace and loue bee multiplied Beloued when I gaue all diligence to write vnto you of the common Saluation it was needefull for me to write vnto you to exhorte you that ye should earnestly contende for the maintenaunce of the Faithe whiche was once giuen vnto the Sainctes For there are certaine men crept in whiche were before of old ordained to this condemnation vngodlie men thei are whiche tourne the grace of our God into wantonnesse and deny God the onely Lorde and our Lorde Iesus Christ I will therefore putt you in remembraunce forasmuche as ye once knewe this how that the Lorde after that he had deliuered the people out of Egypt destroied them afterward whiche beleeued not The Angelles also whiche kept not their first estate but lefte their owne habitation he hath reserued in euerlastyng chaines vnder darkenesse vnto the Iudgement of the greate daie As Sodom and Gomorrhe and the Cities about theim which in like maner as thei did coÌ„mitted fornicatioÌ„ followed strauÌ„ge Flesh are set forth for an ensample suffer the vengeance of eternall Fier Likewise notwithstaÌ„dyng these dreamers also defile the Fleshe and despise Gouernement and speake euill of theim that are in aucthoritie Yet Michaell the Archangell when he stroue against the Deuill and disputed aboute the bodie of Moses durste not blame hym with cursed speakyng but saieth The Lorde rebuke thee But these speake euill of those thynges whiche thei knowe not and whatsoeuer thynges thei knowe naturallie as beastes whiche are without â—eason in those thynges thei corrupt themselues Wo bee vnto them
for thei haue followed the waie of Cain and are caste awaie by the deceipt of Balaams wages and perisheilâ— the gainsaiyng of Core These are spottes in your feastes of Charitie when thei feast with you without all feare feedyng themselues cloudes thei are without water caried about of windes corrupâ—trees and without fruit â—wise dead and plucked vp by the rootes The late the ragyng waues of the Sea fomyng out their owne shame Thei are wandâ—yng Staires to whom it reserued the blacknesse of darkenesse for euer And Enoch a so the seuenth from Adam prophesied of suche saiyng Behold the Lorde commeth with thousandes of his Sainctes To giue Iudgement against all men and to rebuke all the vngodlie emong them of all their wicked deedes whiche thei haue vngodlie committed and of all their cruell speakynges whiche wicked synners haue spoken against hym These are murmurerâ— complainers walkyng after their owne lustes whose mouthes speake proude thynges hauing mennes persones in admiration because of avantage But ye beloued remember the woordes whiche were spoken before of the Apostles of our Lorde Iesus Christ How that thei told you that there should bee mockers in the laste tyme whiche should walke after their owne vngodlie lustes These are makers of sectes Fleshely hauyng not the Spirite But ye beloued edifie your selues in your moste holie Faithe praiyng in the holie Ghoste And keepe your selues in the loue of God lookyng for the mercie of our Lorde Iesus Christ vnto eternall life And haue compassion of some in puttyng difference And other saue with feare pullyng them out of the fier and hate euen the Garment spotted by the fleshe Now vnto him that is able to keepe you that ye fal not and to presente you faultlesse before the presence of his glorie with ioye That is to God onely wise our Sauiour bee glorie and Maiestie and Dominion and Power bothe now and for euer Amen IVDE a seruaunt of Iesus Christ and brother of Iames to them whiche are called and sanctified of God the Father and reserued to Iesus Christ Mercie vnto you and peace loue be multiplied THis Epistle is attributed vnto S. Iude the Apostle brother of Iames the lesse and Symon Mark vj. Luk. vj. Whose mother was Marie the wife of Cleopas and Sister of the blessed Virgin Marie the mother of Christ Ioh. xvj But it appeareth not expressely to bee written by that Iude who was the Apostle because heerein hee speaketh and maketh mention of the Apostles as though hee were but one of their Disciples and had written certaine yeares after them Neither conteineth it any speciall or peculiar matter in it other then that maie well and fullie bee gathered out of the afore going second Epistle of S. Peter vnto the which it hath entier reference and out of which al his reasons and saiynges are in a maner taken To conclude this is nothing els but an Epistle directly painetyng and poinctyng out the abuses fleightes and treacheries of our Papisticall Clergie Beloued when I gaue all diligence to write vnto you of the common saluation it was needefull for mee to write vnto you to exhorte you that ye should earnestly contend for the maintenaunce of the faith which was once giuen vnto the Sainctes THE effect of his meanyng is this I could not choose but write vnto you to admonishe and exhorte you to persist and manfully gooe forwarde in that Faithe whiche hath now once been preached vnto you As if he should saie It is needefull and necessarie that I should put you in remembraunce to striue and with al your endeuour to continue and perseuere in the right waie The cause why it is so needefull and necessarie here followeth For there are certaine men crept in whiche were before of olde ordained to this condemnation THis is the cause why I haue taken in hande to admonish you to perseuere and continue in that Faith whiche ye haue heard because euen now there are creepyng in and alreadie are entred certaine false seducers and deceiptfull Preachers whiche goe about to teache and sowe among you other counterfaite Doctrines contrarie to those rules of Faith whiche ye haue soundly learned take ye heede therfore for they be suche a mischieuous and flye generation that thei will suttlie and sodainly steale a waye mens consciences and with their erroneous tromperie seduce and eatie them out of the right waie of truthe before they can perceiue it or bee a ware of their fetchyng collusions So saied S. Peter afore There shalbee among you false teachers c. And S. Iude here saieth they were long agoe foreordained to this coÌ„demnation iudgement Which thing is easie for vs to vnderstande which knowe that no man is iustified by any of his owne Woorkes but by Faithe onely in Christe in whom who so assuredly and faithfully beleeueth and staieth as vpon his chief buttresse and onely piller of safetie is made partaker of al his benefites all Christes Workes by Faith are become his After this sure groundworke of Faith once layed all our workes that wee are able to doe ought to tende to the benefite and commoditie of our Neighbour What workes so euer are wrought to any other ende then this are Deuilishe and damnable Let a man therefore diligentlie take heede how he dealeth and lette hym direct his woorkes as fruictes of his liuely Faith to the helpe and benefite of his Neighbour for al other be odious and abhominable in the sight of God of which sorte are these vowed Professions and meriting Woorkes of Massyng Priestes and mumbling Munkes He therfore that carieth men from the ankerholde of faithe to the â—â—â—she bables and lowsie Ceremonies of these greasie Votaries and their woorkes is a deceiuer and a seducer and draweth men with them into the like daunger of condemnation Vngodlymen they are whiche turne the grace of our God into wantonnesse THE preachyng whiche is opened vnto vs of the grace of God and wherein Christ is set foorth and commended vnto vs and how hee with all his good benefites is exhibited and freely giuen vnto vs so that wee are now cleerely freed and deliuered from Sinne Death Hell and all miserie This free grace and gift I saie thus offred vnto vs in the Gospell these seducyng and false deceiptfull Hypocrites dooe abuse to the maintenaunce of themselues in all lasciuious wantonnesse That is they beare themselues bolde vnder the name of Christians and they bâ—ast and prate muche of the Gospell but they liue so dissolutelie and disorderlie that they dooe all thynges accordyng to the pitche of their owne wilfull affections and lawlesse lustes spendyng the tyme in ryâ—t banquettyng carowsing and Gluttonie They vaunt and bragge saiyng that thei haue taken vpon them in a spirituall kinde of life and vtterly renouÌ„ed the delightes of the seculer state and worldly dealynges whereas vnder the vizarde of this pretended simplicitie thei haue inuaded and raked into their handes in a maner all the wealthe delites and dignities in the
the Christian Congregation whereas in deede thei be but the Spotts and Wennes of the Common wealth the Skumme and Filthe of the people and the detestable vizardes of hypocriticall holinesse thei keepe iolie cheare and fare moste deliciously accordyng to the old Adage or Prouerbe whiche calleth delicate and daintie cates morselles for a Priest Finallie thei are without feare and care verily thinkyng that Sathan hymself is not able to ouerthrowe them The flocke thei feede nothyng at all but are rather themselues the rauenous Wolues that deuoure and eate vp the Sheepe Thei are Cloudes that are caried on high and swaied alofte in the Aire For thei haue enstalled themselues in the chiefest places and beste roumes and carie all the credite and countenance in the Churche thei ought to teache others but thei care nothing at al for that suffryng them to bee caried hither and thither into the Foggie miste of errour and ignoraunce by the Deuill the professed enemie of mankinde Thei are also fruitlesse and naked Trees such as are in the beginning of Winter bearing neither fruite nor leaues yet thei occupie a roume as other Trees doe Thei beare a shewe of the Bishopps of Christ but thei haue in them no peece nor parte neither of hym nor yet of his Woordes or Workes but are dead at the rootes They are also ragyng waues of the Sea that is euen as the windes in the Sea do tosse and stirre the waues this waie and that waie so are thei also caried whither soeuer Sathan driueth them They foame out their owne shame euen as a pot that hath a greate heate vnder it thei are so full of malice that it runneth ouer at the brim thei are so nozzeled in spightfulnesse and crueltie that their swellyng and cankered stomackes can not holde it but must needes cast vp and vomite out all their beastly filthinesse and therwith also defile and pollute others They are wandryng Starres such as they call planetes retrograde hauyng their motion backwarde in like maner these fellowes whose life and doctrine is nothyng but errour seduce and beguile bothe themselues and all those that followe them And therefore there is reserued for them the mist of darkenesse for euer In these wordes and examples Iude hath depaincted and set out our Massyng mates and pollshorne Prelates who vnder the name of Christ and of the Churche doe bring in a Sea of moste lewde and execrable maners and yet neuerthelesse vnder pretence thereof dooe catche and rake vnto themselues all the wealth of the Worlde and bryng all mens heades vnder their girdles And Enoch also the seuenth from Adam prophecyed of suche saiyng Behold the Lorde commeth with thousandes of his Sainctes to giue iudgment against all men THis place is not any where read in the Scripture which is an other reason why some of the auncient Fathers would not admitt receiue this Epistle as canonicall howbeit this is no sufficient cause whereby to disallowe or reiect any Booke for S. Paule also ij Timot. iij. nameth Iannes and Iambres two aduersaries of Moses whose names notwithstandyng are not read in the whole Byble beside Howsoeuer mens iudgements haue béen or bee we will not presently stande vpon that poinct But this is true that God from the beginnyng of the Worlde hath euer reueiled his Woorde to some wherein to the beleeuers grace and saluation is promised but to the vnbeleeuers iudgement and damnation is threatened and so it still continued euen till the Ascension of Christ from whiche tyme the Word of God hath been openly and generally preached ouer all the Worlde But before the natiuitie of Christ GOD still chose some to himself whom he vsed as it were a certaine threede from hande to hande to deliuer the manifestation and publication of his Word first from Adam to AbrahaÌ„ then from him to Dauid and so to the Virgin Marie the mother of Christe and others moe to whom he reueiled and deliuered his truth The Gospell therfore was alwaies preached in the world but neuer so openly as now in these latter daies After this sorte did this Patriarch Enoch preache and publish the Word of the Lorde whiche vndoubtedly he had learned of his Father Adam by influence from the holy Ghost For it is recorded of hym in the Scriptures Gen. v. that he led an vpright and godly life and therefore was taken vp of God and was no more seen Wherevppon sprong that fable that hee should come againe before the daye of Iudgement whiche thing is not to bee looked for vnlesse wee will vnderstand it in this sense that he shall come againe in spirite namelie for that his preachyng dooeth fitly iumpe and agree to the tyme next afore the generall Iudgement as here this present place very truely agreeth thereto wherein he speaketh so certainly of the laste Daie as if he had presently seene it with his eyes The Lorde saieth he commeth with thousandes of his Sainctes that is with an infinite multitude For these words must needes be vnderstood onely of the last Daie wherein the Lorde will come to Iudgement with all his Saintes For when he first came into the Worlde he came not with many thousandes of his Sainctes but alone and that not to iudge but to giue Grace And to rebuke all the vngodlie among them of all their wicked deedes whiche they haue vngodlie committed THis place doth Iude not vnaptly here inferre directly sounding against false Guides and counterfaite Teachers whiche he knewe in greate swarmes should come a little afore the last Daie but it seemeth also very aptly to beare this interpretation and signification that the Lorde at his comming will first destroye and quight ouerthrowe the Pope with al his imperious PoÌ„tificalitie For to such a great mischieuous euill there is none other helpe or remedie for the vtter abolishyng and quite takyng of hym awaie For so long as the Worlde endureth there will neither bee ende of hym neither can there any reformation and amendment in hym be hoped for And truely this place can not bee vnderstoode of any other then of our Papistes who so miserably and lamentablie seduce the Worlde For a more forlorne desperate and wicked life then that of the Papistes can not possiblie be imagined wherein as thei impiously alreadie wallowe so wil thei still continue worse and worse pretending notwithstanding greate sanctimonie and holinesse vnder the name of Christe whom thei vse as a cloke to contriue and hide all their villaynous treacherie Vnder the name of Papistes wee may vnderstande both them and all the rable of seducyng Imposters and deceiuers beside which shal come a little before the last Daie and all suche as embrace and followâ— their godlesse impietie This place therfore that he here alleâ—geth is to be vnderstood of the last daie of Iudgement Wee see of whom he speciallie meaneth that the saied Iudgement is to be looked for Whervpon wee conclude that our tyrannous Shauelinges and shauen Tyrauntes are with tremblyng
expectation reserued sorthe last daie and commyng of the Lorde whether the same come and approche with speede or staie yet somewhat longer And of all their cruell speakynges whiche wicked synners haue spoken against hym IN these wordes he both reprooueth their life and reprehendeth their saiynges and it is as much as if he should saie Thei speake presumptuously and malapertly against the Lord and against his commyng they bee impudent and tooto arrogant thei deryde and blaspheme hym as S. Peter also in his Epistle writeth of them He speaketh not here of their life as it is defiled and deformed with sinnes and iniquities but as it is giuen ouer and entierly addicted to woorke all impietie I call that Impietie when the life is led without Faith although the outwarde conuersation bee not altogether flagitious and damnable Euill works be in deede the fruictes of Impietie but Impietie it self is properly called that life whiche glittereth outwardly with a gaie shew of hypocriticall workes whereas the harte is vtterly voyde of Faithe Suche impious persons saieth he the Lord will reproue because the presumptuous doctrine whiche thei boldly teache thei stiflie defende and obstinately maintaine leanyng alwaies to their owne brainsicke glosses and constructions and not sufferyng themselues to bee conuerted and turned to the truthe but are harder then the Flint and will neuer desist from condemnyng and blasphemyng the doctrine of true godlinesse Here we see how liuely these wordes of Enoch paint out and describe these kinde of persons that are and should foyst themselues into the Churche towarde the latter ende of the Worlde whiche vndoubtly are y e Papistes as to euery man euidently appeareth These are murmurers complainers walkyng after their owne lustes whose mouthes speake proude thynges IF a man finde fault with their dealynges and reproue them as vnlawful and dissonaunt to the Worde of God he shalbee sure to bryng himself thereby into a pecke of troubles they will murmure repine and gnashe their teeth at him As for example if a man should but leaue out or omit any peece or parte of the Bishoppes ordinarie style and wonted tytle they straightwaies with open throates crye out Contempt and Disobedience There is no waie left to withstand their lawlesse lustes and selfwilled dealinges for thei bragge that they haue power bothe ouer our bodies ouer our soules thei haue gotten into their handes bothe the Swordes so that they can not bee compelled by Lawe to dooe that is iust and right and that any man should preache against them that can thei not at any hand abide They haue exempted thēselues and all theirs from all maner of taxe tribute and imposition so that no man dare once touche any thing that belongeth vnto them finallie thei are growen to that degree of tyrannie that no man dare presume to preache a worde contrarie to the order of their peeuish Proceedings To alledge any Scriptures against them it is altogether bootelesse for they saie that none maie expoūd or enterprete the same sauing thei themselues By which meanes it is come to passe that in all places and in all thinges they liue as licentiously as thei list For these saiynges can not bee wrested or applied against vs professours of the true Gospell for that wee reuerently and dutifully submitt our selues and yeeld our obedience aswell to the Scriptures as to the ciuile Power from bothe whiche thei wilbe free and not compellable by any Last of al their Decrees and Cannons be pestered and thwacked full of proude arrogant and swellyng wordes vtterly voyde of all good and godlinesse Hauing mens persones in admiration because of a vantage THis hitteth their natures and dispositions very iumpe for thei iudge all thinges accordyng to the person In all the whole Popes Canons ye shall not once finde it commaunded that the Bisshoppe should humble himself beneath the poore Parishe Priest nor any of the fruictes of a Christian life whatsoeuer But al thinges rather sounde thus Let the Curate bee vnder the Priest the Priest vnder the Bisshoppe the Bisshoppe vnder the Archbishoppe the Archbishoppe vnder the Patriarch and the Patriarch vnder the Pope Finallie how euery one should weare his Habite his Amyse his Weede and Cowle after what fashion he should clippe his hayre shaue his crowne and beard and make his apparaile how many Benifices and how many Prebendes he might keepe c. Thus thei brought all thinges to certaine externall Ceremonies and traditions of their own makyng and wholly occupied themselues in mere childishe foolish and friuolous trifles which thei had in greate accoūpt and estimation yea thei iudged it no lesse then deadly sinne if any man should refuse to adore reuerence these their boyishe toyes And therefore very well saieth Iude in this place Thei haue mens persons in admiratiō for thei lappe vp their lewd and loude lyes in vizardes of hypocrisie and only admire those gaie shewes that are visiblie obiect to the eye All this while thei neuer speake woorde neither knowe any thyng as they should knowe of Faith of Charitie or of the Crosse And yet the poore vulgare people suffer themselues still to be beesotted with these Popishe Bugges and thinke themselues to doe very acceptable seruice to God in giuing all their Goods Substaunce and Patrimonie to feede these filthie Swine in the Stye of this their lewd sensualitie But ye beloued remember the woordes whiche were spoken before of the Apostles of our Lorde Iesus Christ How that thei told you that there should be mockers in the laste tyme whiche should walke after their owne vngodlie lustes THis place also giueth some occasion to thinke that this Epistle was not written by Saincte Iude the Apostle because the Aucthour hereof reckeneth not hymself among the other Apostles but speaketh so of theim as though thei had preached long before his tyme whereby it maie well bee thought that this was rather written by some other godlie man that had read Sainct Peters Epistle and out of it culled and gathered these woordes and Sentences Who these mockers bee wee haue afore declared and who thei also bee that walke after their owne lustes not onely carnall and fleshely lustes but those rather that sauour of horrible impietie wherin thei liue in eche respect accordyng to their owne inordinate desires neither reuerencyng the Ciuile Magistrate nor obeiyng the Worde of God but liue so loosely and contemptuously that thei neither obediently acknowledge any externall nor yet internal Gouernement Al Lawes aswell Diuine as Humaine thei flatly despise and sette at naught and so flye in the Aire in the middle betweene Heauen and Earth euen as thei are hoised vp and caried aloft by their Maister the Deuill These are makers of sectes Fleshely hauyng not the Spirite HEre he alludeth to that whiche sainct Peter in his Epistle saied That there should come false Teachers whiche priuilie should bryng in damnable heresies These are thei that disobediently breake asunder the vnitie of Faithe and beyng not