vntoo Iesus Christ and become his spouse Howe can I assuredly glory that I am Quéene and Mistres of his great riches as a wife may I can easily beléeue that other folkes shall receiue this honour and glory but I cannot perswade my selfe that I am one of those same too whome God hath geuen so greate grace For I knowe mine owne wretchednesse imperfection My déerebe loued brother I answeare thée that thyne assuraÌ„ce consisteth in true and liuely faith wherewith as S. Peter saith God cleanseth mens hearts and this faith is grounded in the beléeuing of the gospel that is to say in the beléeuing of the gladde tidinges which haue béene published on Gods béehalfe through the whole world which conteineth in effect y â— God hath vsed the rigorousnes of his iustice agaynst Iesus Christ chastizing and punishing all our sinnes in him And whosoeuer receiueth this good tidings and beléeues it stedfastly hath the true faith and doth enioy the forgiuenes of his sinnes and is also recoÌ„ciled vnto God and of the child of wrath is becom the child of grace and recouering the image of God entreth into the kingdome of God and is made the teÌ„ple of God who marieth mans soule to his onely Sonne by the meane of this sayth which faith is a worke of God and the gift of God as S. Paule saieth oftentimes And God geueth it vntoo those whom he calleth to him of purpose to iustifie theÌ„ and to glorify theÌ„ and to geue theÌ„ euerlasting life according as our Lord Iesus Christ witnesseth saying This is the will of him that sent mée euen that euery one which séeth the sonne and beléeueth in him should haue euerlasting life and I will rayse him vp agayne at the latter day And like as Moyses lifted vp the serpent in the wildernesse so must the sonne of man bée lifted vp to the ende that euery one which beleueth in him might not perish but haue life euerlasting Also he saith too Martha He that beleueth in me shal liue although he were dead euery one that liueth bele ueth in me shall not die for euer And to a company of the Iewes he saith I am come a light into the world to the end that euery man which beléeueth in me shoulde not abide in darknesse And S. Iohn in his Epistle saith Heere in appeared the loue of God towards vs for that God is loue and sent his onely begotten Sonne intoo this worlde that we might liue through him And herein is loue known not in that wée loued God but in that he loued vs and sent his Sonne too make attonement for our sins And moreouer he sent him to destroy our enimies For the bringing whereof too passe he made him partaker of our fleshe of our bloode as sayeth Sainte Paule too the end that by his death he might destroy him that had the dominion of death that is to wit the diuel and set all such at liberty as were subiect to boÌ„dage all their-lyfe long for feare of death Seeing then that we haue recordes of the holy scripture concerning the promises wherof we haue spoken héertofore and concerning many other promises that are dispersed in diuers places of the same we cannot doubt of it And forsomuch as the holy scripture speaketh to al ingeneral none of vs ought to distrust in himselfe that the selfsame thing which the scripture saith should not belong particularly to himselfe And too the end that this poynt wherin lieth and coÌ„sisteth the whole mystery of our holy fayth may bee vnderstood the better let vs put the cace that som good and holy King cause the proclamation to be made through his whole Realmâ— by the sounde of a Trumpet that al rebels and banished men shal safely return home to their houses because that at the suite deserte of some déere friende of theirs it hath pleased him to pardon them certeinly none of those rebels ought too doubt of the obtayning of true pardon of his rebellion but rather ought assuredly too returne home too his house to liue vnder the shadowe of that holie King And if he wyll not returne by shal beare the penâ—lty of it because that through his owne vnbelief he dieth in exile and in the displeasure of his Prince But this good king is the Lorde of heauen and earth who for the obedience desert of our good brother Iesus Christe hath pardoned as all our sinnes and as wee haue sayd aâ—ore hath made open proclamation through the whole world that al of vs may safely returne into his kingdom Wherefore hee that beléeueth this proclamation doth straight wayes returne into Gods kingdome whereout we were driuen by the offence of our first Parentes and blessedly gouerned by gods holy spirit And he that geueth no credite to the sayde proclamation shal neuer enioy the said generall pardon but for his vnbeleefes sake shal abide in banishment vnder the tyranny of the diuel and liue and die in extréeme misery liuing and dying in the displeasure of the King of heauen and earth and that iustly For me cannot commit a greater offence against this good God then to accompte him as a lyer and deceiuer which verily we doe in not giuing credite too his promises O howe passing heauy is this deadly sinne of vnbeleefe which so farre foorth as is possible â—ereueth God of his glory perfection besides the great harme that it doeth to a mans selfe which is his owne damnation the endlesse torment of his soule which the miserable 〈◊〉 féeleth euen in this life But on the contrary he that commeth vnto God with assurednesse of this faith beléeuing him without any mistrust or doubt of his promises and warranting himselfe for a certaintie that God will performe all that euer hee hath promised him geueth all the glory vnto God and liueth continually in rest endlesse ioy euermore praysing and thanking the Lord God for choozing him to the glory of the eternall life And héere of they haue an assured earnest penny and gage that is to wit the sonne of God whom they take for their most louing Bridegrome y â— blood of whom hath made their heartes so drunken that through this passing holy beliefe there is in the christian heart engendred so liuely a hope so certaine a trust of Gods mercy towardes vs and such an operatioÌ„ is wrought in vs as wée reste our selues wholy vpon God leauing the whole care of vs vnto him in suche wise that béeing throughly assured of Gods good will wée are not afraid neither of the Deuil nor of his ministers nor of death Which holy stedfast trust of Gods mercy inlargeth our hearte chéereth it vp with certaine merueilous swéete affections directeth it vntoo GOD filling it and setting it on Fyre with an excéeding feruent loue And therefore Paul incourageth vs too goe with all boldnesse to the throne of Grace and hée counselleth vs that
and rose againe for our iustificatioÌ„ we become al one thing with him and forasmuch as he is all one with God we also become al one with god by the meane of Iesus Christ. D woÌ„derful glory of the ChristiaÌ„ to whom it is graunted through faith to possesse the vnspeakeable benefits which the Angels long to behold By this present discourse a man may plainly perceiue the difference y â— is betwixt vs them that defend the iustification by faith woorkes together Herein we agrée with them that we stablish workes affirming that the â—aith which iustifieth cannot be without good works that those which are become righteous are they that doe the good woorks that may rightly be called good works But we differ from them in this that we say that faith maketh men righteous without the help of woorkeÌ„s And the reason is ready namely because that by faith we put on Christe and make his holinesse and righteousnesse to be ours And séeing the case so standeth that Christes righteousnesse is geuen vs by fayeth We cannot be so thanklesse blind and vnhappy as not to beléeue that he is of sufficient ability to make vs acceptable and right before God Let vs say w t the Apostle If the blood of Oxen and Goates and the Ashes of a Cow sprinckled cleanseth the vncleane as touching the cleansing of the flesh how much more shal that blood of Iesus Christ who by the euerlasting spirite offered himselfe vndefiled vnto God to cleanse our consciences from dead workes to serue the liuing God I pray thée now thou good and deuout christiaÌ„ consider wel which of these two opinions is the truest holiest and worthiest to be preached Ours which aduanceth the benefit of Iesus Christ pulleth downe the pride of man which would exalt his owne woorkes against Christes glory or the other which by affirming that faith of it selfe iustifieth not defaceth the glory and benefite of Iesus Christe and puffeth vp the pride of man who cannot abide to bée iustified fréely by our Lord Iesus Christ without some merit of his owne But say they it is a greate quickening vp to good woorkes to say that a man maketh himself righteous before God by meanes of them I answeare that we also confesse that good workes are acceptable to God that he of his méere grace and frée liberalitie recompenceth them in paradise But we say more ouer that no woorkes are good sauing those that S. Augustine saith are done by those that are become righteous through faith because that if the tree be not good it cannot yeelde good fruit And â—urthermore we say that such as are become righteous through fayth forasmuch as they knowe themselues to be righteous through Gods righteousnesse purchased by Christ make no bargayning with God for their works as though they woulde buy their maner of iustification such as it is with them but béeing inflamed with the loue of God and desirous to glorifie Iesus Christ who hath made them righteous by geuing them his merites and riches they bestow all theyr whole studie and labour to doe Gods will fighting manfully agaynst the loue of theÌ„selues and agaynst the world and the Diuel And when they fal through frailty of y â— flesh they recouer themselues by and by are so much the more desirous to do good so much the more in loue with their God coÌ„sidering that he layeth not their sins to their charge bicause they be ingrafted into Iesus Christ who hath made ful amendes for all his members vppon the trée of his trosse and maketh continuall intercession for them to the eternall father who for the loue of his onely begotten sonne beholdeth them alwaies with a gentle countenance gouerning and defending them as his most deare children and in the end geuing them the heritage of the world making thé like fashioned to the glorious image of Christ. These louing motions are y â— spurres that pricke forward the true Christians to doe good woorks who considering that they are become the children of God through faith made partakers of his diuine nature are stirred vp by the holy Ghoste dwelling in them to liue as it becommeth the children of so great a Lord are greately ashamed that they mainteine not the beauty of their heauenly noblenes and therfore they imploy their whole indeuour to the following of their firstborue brother Iesus Christ lyuing in great lowlines and mâ—eekenes in al thinges séeking the glory of God geuing their liues for their brethren doing good to their enimies gloriyng in y â— sufferance of reproches in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ saying with Zachary We be deliuered out of hande of our enimies to serue God w tout feare in holines and righteousnes all the daies of our life They say with S. Paul The grace of the Lord is appeared to abolish al wickednes and al worldly desires in vs to the end we should liue a sober holy and honest life in this worlde wayting for the blessed hope and for the glorious appearing of the great God and sauiour These and such other like thoughts desires and affections are wrought by inspired faith in the soules of them that are become righteous And as for him that eyther wholly or partly feleth not these godly affections and operations in his heart but is geuen ouer to the flesh and the world let him assurâ— himselfe that hee hath not yet the iustifying faith nor is the member of Christ because he hath not Christes spirit and coÌ„sequently is none of his and he that is none of Christes is no Christian. Then let mans wisedom cease henceforth to fight agaynst the righteousnesse of the most holy faith and let vs geue al the glory of our iustification to the merits of Iesus Christ with whom we be clothed through faith The fifth Chapter In what wise the Christian is clothed with Iesus Christ. ALthough that by the things aforesaid a man may easily and plainly inough percâ—iue how a Christian may clothe himselfe with Iesus Christ yet neuerthelesse I mind to speake a little of it assuring my selfe that vnto the good and faithfull Christian it can séeme neither grieuous nor troublesome to speake therof although the thing were repeated a thousande tunes Therfore I say that the Christian knoweth that Iesus Christ together with al his righteousnesse holinesse and innocenâ—ie is his owne through faith And like as when a man purposeth to present himselfe before some great Lorde or Prince hâ— laboureth to aray himselfe in some faire and rostely apparreli euen so when the Christian is decked and arayed with the innocencie of Christ and with all his perfection he preseÌ„teth himselfe boldly before God the Lord of all assuring himself y â— through Christs merites he is in as good case as if he had purchased al that which Iesus Christ hath purchased and deserued And truely fayth maketh euery of 〈◊〉 to possesse
with diuerse temptations And therefore when the holy Scripture threatneth and frayeth the christians they must vnderstande that it speaketh to such as are so licencious that for somuche as they kéepe not the thankfulnesse honesty that beloÌ„ng to Gods children they must be handled as seruantes and hilde in awe vntill they come to taste and féele how swéete and pleasant the Lord is and untill such time as faith worke his affectes in them and that they haue so much childly loue as may suffice to kéepe and mainteine them in honestie of Christian conuersation and in folowing the example of our Lorde Iesus Christe And when the selfe same scripture exhorteth Christians to the true feare it meaneth not that they should feare the iudgement and wrath of God as though it were presently ready to condeÌ„ne theÌ„ for as I haue saide already by the record which the holy Ghost geueth to theyr spirite they knowe that God hath chosen them and called them of his owne méere mercy and not for their deserts By reason whereof they doubt not at all but y â— by the selfesame goodnesse mercy he will mainteine them in the happy state wherein hee hath placed them And after suche manner scripture exhorteth them not to slauish feare but to childishe that is to wit that like good children they shoulde bee loath too offend against the Christian religion or to commit any thing against the duty and honestie of Gods true children and likewise too gréeue the holy Ghost that dwelleth in them to the ende that knowing the corruptednesse of our nature wée shoulde alwayes be héedefull and diligent and neuer haue any trust in our selues for in our flesh and in our mindes do the appetites and affections continually dwell which as deadly enimies of the soule lay a thousande snares and baytes for vs incessantly labouring too make vs prowde ambicious lecherous and couetous This is the feare wherevnto the whole Scripture exhorteth the Christiaes that haue once tasted howe swèete the Lorde is and which bestowe all their indeuour in following Christes footesteppes who cast not from them this holy feare because they labour to put of the old man And the good Christians must neuer bereaue themselues quite cleane of this childly feare which is the singular friende of Christian charitie like as the slauishe feare is such an enemie vnto it as they can by no meanes dwell togeather And by the the foresaide thinges a man may plainely perceiue that the good Christian ought neuer too doubt of the forgiuenesse of his sinnes nor of Gods fauour Neuerthelesse for the better satisfiyng of the Reader I purpose too set downe héere vnder certayne authorities of the holy Doctours which comfirme this foresaid trueth Saint Hyllary in his fifth Canon vpon Matthew sayth it is Gods wyll that we should hope without any doubting of his vnknowne wil. For if the beliefe bée doubtfull there can bée no righteousnesse obteined by beléeuing And thus wée sée that according to S. Hyllary a man obteineth not forgeuenesse of his sinnes at Gods hande except hèe belèeue vndoubtedly to obteine it And good right it is that it shoulde bée so For he that doubteth is like a waue of the sea which is tossed and turmoyled with the winde And therefore let not such a one thinke to obteine any thing at Gods hand But let vs heare Saint Augustine who in his Manuell counselleth vs too driue away the saide foolish imagination which intendeth to dispossesse vs of the foresaide good and sage assurednesse Let such foolish imagination sayth hee murmure as much as it lifteth saying who art thou How 's great is that glory By what desertes hopest thou too obteine it I answere assuredly I knowe in whome I haue beléeued and I know that hée of his great loue hath made mée his sonne I knowe hée is true of his promise and able too perfourme his worde For hée can doe what hée will And when I thinke vpon the Lords death the multitude of my sinnes cannot dismay mée for in his death doe I put all my trust His death is my whole desert it is my refuge it is my saluation my life and resurrection and the merâ—y of the Lorde is my desert I am not poore of desert so long as the Lord of mercy sayleth me not And sith the mercies of y â— Lord are many many also are my deseruinges The more y â— hée is of power to saue the more am I sure to bée saued The same S. Augustin talking with GOD in another place sayth that hée had despayred by reason of his great sinnes and infinite negligences if the woorde of GOD had not become flesh And aâ—one after hée sayth these wordes All my hops all the assurance of my trust is setled in his precious blood which was shed for vs and for our saluation In him my poore heart taketh breath and putting my whole trust in him I long to come vnto thée O Father not hauing mine owne righteousnesse but that righteousnesse of thy sonne Iusus Christe In these two places Saint Augustine sheweth plainely that the Christian must not be afraide but assure him selfe of righteousnesse by grounding himselfe not vpon his owne workes but vpon the precious blood of Iesus Christe which cleanseth vs from all our sinnes and maketh our peace with GOD. Saint Bernarde in his first Sermon vppon the Annunciation saueth moste euidently that it is enough to beléeue that a man can haue forgiuenesse of our sinnes but by Gods mercy nor any one good desire or abilitie too doe so muche as one good worke except GOD geue it him no nor that a man cannot deserue eternall life by his workes but if GOD geue him the gifte so to beléeue But besides all these things sayth Saint Bernard which ought rather too bée counted a certaine entraunce and foundation of our faith it is néedeful that thou beléeue also that thy sinnes are forgeuen thée for the loue of Iesus Christe Sée howe this holy man confesseth that it is not enough too beléeue generally the forgeuenesse of sinnes but hée must also beléeue particularly that his owne sinnes are forgeuen him by Iesus Christe and the reason is ready at hande namely that forasmuche as GOD hath promised thée to accept thée for righteous through the merites of Iesus Christe if thou beléeue not that thou art become righteous through him thou makest GOD a lyer and consequently thou makest thy selfe vnworthie of thy grace and liberality But thou wilt say to me and I beléeue wel the forgeuenesse of sinnes and I knowe that GOD is true but I am afraide that I am not worthie to haue so great a gift I answere that the forgiuenes of thy sinnes shall not be a gift of free grace but a wages if God woulde geue it thée for the worthinesse of thy workes But I reply vpon thée that God accepteth thée for righteous and laieth not thy sinne to thy
charge because of Christs merits which are geuen vnto thée and become thine by faith Therefore following the Counsell of Saint Bernard beléeue thou not onely the forgeuenesse of sinnes in generall but also apply the same beliefe to thine owne particular person by beléeuing without any doubt that all thy misdoinges are pardoned thée through Iesus Christ. And in so doing thou shalt geue the glory vnto GOD by confessing hym too bée mercifull and true and shalt become righteous and holy before GOD forsomuche as by the same confession the holynesse righteousnesse of Iesus Christ shalbée communicated vntoo thée But to returne to our purpose of Predestination I say that by the thinges aboue mencioned a man may euidently perceiue that the assurance of Predestination doeth the hurt but rather greatly profite the true Christians And I thinke not that it can hurt the false Christians and reprobates For albeit that such manner of folke woulde beare themselues in hande and pretende too the worldewarde too bée of the number of the predestmate yet can they neuer perswade theyr owne consciences which will euer bée gnawing and crying out to the contrary But yet it séemeth greatly that the doctrine of Predestination may hurt them For they bée woonts to say If I bée of the number of the reprobates what shall it auayle mée too doe good workes And if I bée of the number of the predestinate I shal be saued without any labouring of mine too doe good workes I answere thée at fewâ— wordes that by suche diuelishe arguments they increase Gods wrath against themselues who hath disclosed the knowledge of Predestination too the Christians too make them whot and not colde in the loue of God and to set them forwarde and not backeward vnto good workes And therefore the true Christian on the one side holdeth himselfe assuredly predestinated vnto euerlasting lyfe and to be saued not at all by his owne merits but by Gods election who hath predestinated vs not for our owne works sakes but to shew the greatnesse of his mercie And on the other side endeuoureth himselfe to doe good woorkes after the example of Iesus Christ asmuch as if his saluation depended vpon his own pollicy and paines taking As for him that ceasseth to do good because of the doctrine of Predestination saying If I be predestinated I shall be saued without strayning of my selfe to doe good woorkes he sheweth euidently that his trauelling is not for the loue of God but for the loue of himselfe By reason whereof the woorkes that he doeth may perhaps be good and holy too the sight of men but they bee wicked and abhominable before the Lorde God who hath an eye to the intent And herevppon it may be gathered that the doctrine of PredestinatioÌ„ worketh rather good than harm to the false Christians For it discouereth their hypocrisâ—e which cannot cure it selfe so long as it lieth hidden vnder the mantle of outward workes But I woulde hauâ— them that say I will not streine my selfe to doe wel for if I be predestinated I shal be saued without tiring of my self so much I say I woulde haue them tell me howe it happeneth that when they be diseased they say not also I will haue neither Phisition nor phisicke for looke what God had determined vpon me cannot but come too passe why eate they why drinke they why till they the ground why plant they Uines why be they so diligent in doing all thinges conuenient for to sustaine y â— bodie why say they not also that all these turmoylings pollicies trauailes of ours are superfluous forasmuch as it is not possible but that whatsoeuer God hath foreséene and determined concerning our life death must néeds come to passe And therfore if Gods prouideÌ„ce make theÌ„ not negligent and idle in thinges pertayning to the bodie why should it make theÌ„ more slouthfull and negligent in that which concerneth the Christian perfection which without all comparison is farre nobler then the body But forasmuche as we sée that neyther Iesus Christ nor Saynte Paule for any doubt of offending the reprobats haue forborne to preache the trueth which is necessary to the edifying of the chosen for the loue of whom the euerlasting sonne of God became man and was put to death vpoÌ„ the Crosse we also in likewise ought not to forbeare the preaching of Predestination to the true Christians forasmuche as wee haue séene that it importeth greate edification Now are we come to the end of our purpose wherein our thiefe intent hath béene according to our small power to magnify the wonderful benefit which the Christen man hath receiued by Iesus Christ crusified to shewe that faith of her selfe alone iustifieth that is to wit that God receiueth holdeth them for righteous which beleue stedfastly y â— Christ hath made full amends for their sinnes howbeit that as light can not be separated from fire which of it selfe burneth and deuoureth al thinges euen so good woorkes cannot bee separated from saith which alone by it selfe iustifieth And this holy doctrine which exalteth Iesus Christ and represseth abateth the pride of man hath and alwayes shal be reiected and fought agaynst by such Christians as haue Iewish myndes But happie is hée who following the example of Saint Paule spoyleth himselfe of his owne righteousness and would haue none other righteousnesse than that which is of Iesus Christ wherewith if he be clothed and appareled he may most assuredly appeare before God and shal receiue his blessing and the heritage of heauen and earth with his onely sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde too whom be al honor praise and glorie from this time foorth for euermore Amen Christ is the end of the Law ¶ Imprinted at London at the three Cranes in the Vintree by Thomas Dawson for George Bishop and Thomas Wodcocke 1580. 2. Cor. ◠〈…〉 12. The state of man before and after that he had sinned Psalm 114 Psalm 14. Originall sinne A very good comparison Who is our neighbour The first office or duety of the Law Rom. 3. 7. The second office of the law The thirde office of the law Deut. 27. 2. Cor. 3. The fourth office of the lawe Rom. 4. The fifth office of the law Exod. 2â—â— Collo 3. Actes 4. Matth. 11. Iohn â— Iohn ◠〈…〉 Iohn 8. 1. Cor. 15. Psalm 50. Rom 3â— The greatnes of sinne ought not â—o cause despayre â—or 5. Galat. 5. An excellent comparison of the vnability of our own works â—eb 7. Iohn 12. Phil. 3. 1. Cor. 1. How man is deliuered set free from the curse of the law Galat. 3. Rom. 8. Colos. 2. 1. Cor. 15. How we receiue the likenesse of God A very good similitude expressing the manner how our sinnes are taken away by Christ. Math. 28â— Philip. 2. Ephe. â— Iohn 3. Howe the â—aithfull mans soule is assured of 〈◊〉 being maâ—â—ed vnâ—o Christe Acts. 5. Mat. 3. 2. Cor. 3. Iohn 6. Iohn 3. Iohn 11. I. Iohn 12.
he take no liberty to sinne for this doctrine belongeth to none suche as honor themselues with the name of Christians confessing Christ with their mouth and yet deny him in theyr déedes But it cōcerneth the true Christians who though they fight manfully against the fleshe the worlde and the Deuil doe notwithstanding fall dayly and are constreyned to say Lorde forgeue vs our offences These are they to whom we speak to comfort them and to holde them vp that they fall not into despayre as though the blood of Christe washed vs not from all sinne and that hée were not our aduocate and the Attonementmaker for his members And therefore when wée bée prouoked too doubt of the forgeuenesse of our sinnes and that our owne cōscience beginneth to trouble vs then must wée furnishe our selues with true faith out of hād haue recourse to the precious blood of Iesus Christe shed for vs vpō the altar of the crosse distributed to his Apostles at his last Supper vnder the veile of a most Holy Sacrament which was ordeined by Christ to the end y ◠wée shoulde celebrate the remembrance of his death and that by the same visible Sacrament our troubled consciences might be assured of our attonement with God The blessed Iesus Christe made his last Will when he said this is my body which is geuen for you and this is my blood of the new Testament which is shed for many for the forgeuenesse of their sinnes Wée knowe that a Testament saith S. Paul although it be but a mans Testament yet neuer thelesse if it be allowed no man dispiseth it or addeth any thing to it and that no Testament is of force til the testator be dead but hath ful power after y ◠parties decease Then did Iesus Christe make his Testament wherin he promiseth forgiuenesse of sinnes and the grace and good fauor of him selfe and of his father togeather with mercy and euerlasting life And to the intent that the saide Testament shoulde be of ful force he hath confirmed it with his owne precious blood and with his owne death By reason whereof Saint Paul sayeth that Iesus Christe is the Mediator of the newe Testament that by his dying for the the redemption of those transgressions which were in the former testament they that are called might receiue the promise of the eternal inheritance For whersoeuer is a Testament there must also be y ◠death of the Testator for the Testament is confirmed by the death of the partie insomuch as it is of no value so long as the maker of it is aliue Wherefore we be very certaine assured by the death of Iesus Christe that his Testament is auaileable whereby all our misdéedes are pardoned and we made heyres of eternal life And for a token and faithfull pledge héereof in stéed of a Seale he hath left vs this Diuine Sacramente which not onely giueth our soules assured hope of their euerlasting Saluation but also warranteth vnto vs that immortality of our flesh forasmuch as it is euen nowe quickened by that immortall flesh of his in a certaine maner becōmeth partaker of the immortalitie therof he that is partaker of that diuine flesh by faith shal not perish for euer But vnto him that receiueth it without the saide faith it turneth too a dangerous poyson bicause that like as whē bodily sustenance findeth the stomacke incumbred with euill humors it corrupteth likewise and worketh great anoyance euē so if this spirituall foode light into a sinfull soule that is full of malice and misbeliefe it casteth it headlong intoo some greater ruine not through it owne default but because that too the vncleane and vnbeléeuer all thinges are vncleane notwithstanding that the thinges bee sanctified by the Lords blessing For saith S. Paul be that eateth of that bread drinketh of that cup unworthily is is giltie of the body and blood of the Lord and hée eateth drinketh his own damnation bicause he maketh no differēce of the Lordes body For he maketh no difference of the Lords body which presumeth to the Lords supper without faith and charity And forasmuch as he beleueth not that body to be his life and the cleanser of all his sinnes he maketh Iesus Christe a lyar and treadeth the sonne of god vnder foote and estéemeth the blood of the Testamente whereby he was sanctified but as a cōmon worldly thing and doth great wrōg to the spirite of grace he shal be punished very sore at Gods hād for this his vnbelief and wicked hypocriste For whereas he reposeth not that trust of his iustificatiō in the passiō of our Lord Sauior Iesus Christ yet neuerthelesse he receiueth this most holy Sacrament and maketh protestation that he putteth not his trust in any other thing Wherby he accuseth himselfe and is witnesse of his owne iniquitie and condēneth himselfe to euerlasting death by refusing the life which GOD promiseth him in that holy Sacrament And in this point when the Christiā féeleth that his enimies are like to ouercome him that is too wit when he beginneth too doubt whether hee haue receiued forgiuenesse of his sinnes by Iesu Christe and that he shall not be able to withstand the Deuill and his temptations and that the accusation of his owne doubtfull conscience comes too presse him so as he beginneth too feare least Hell fire should swallow him vp death hold him in his euerlasting bands by reason of gods wrath I say when the good Christian féeleth himselfe in suche an agony Let him get him to his holy Sacrament with a good hearte and stout courage and receiue it deuoutly saying in his heart and answering his enemies thus I confesse I haue deserued a thousand hels and euerlasting death by reason of the great sinnes which I haue committed But this heauenly Sacramēt which I receiue at that preset assureth me of the forgiuenesse of all my misdoinges of mine attonement with God For if I haue an eye to my works there is no doubt but I acknowledge my selfe a sinner condemne mine owne self in such wise as my cōscience should neuer be quiet if I should thinke that my sinnes are pardoned mée for my workes sake But when I looke to the promises and couenants of God who promiseth me forgeuenes of my sinnes by the blood of Iesus Christe I am as sure I haue obteined it that I haue his fauour as I am sure y ◠he which hath made y ◠promises couenants cannot lye nor deceiue and through this stedfast faith I become righteous by Christes righteousnes wherthrough I am saued and my conscience quieted Hath he not geuen his most innocent body into the hands of sinners for our sins Hath hee not shed his blood to wash away my iniquities Why then doest thou vexe thy selfe O my soule put thy trust in the Lorde who beareth thée so great loue that to deliuer thée
from eternall death it hath pleased him that his only sonne should suffer death and passion who hath taken vpon himselfe our pouertie to geue vs his riches laid our weakenesse vpon himselfe to stablish vs in his strength become mortall to make vs immortall come down untoo the earth to aduance vs vpp too heauen and become the sonne of man with vs too make vs the children of God with himselfe Who is hee then that shall accuse vs God is he that iustifieth vs and who shall condemne vs Iesus Christe is dead for vs yea and rysen agayne 〈◊〉 vs and sitteth at the right hande of God making intercessioÌ„ for vs. Let vs then D my soule leaue of these teares and sighes THE CIII Psalme 1 MY Soule prayse thou the Lorde and all that is within me praise his holy name 2 My soule prayse thou the Lord forget not all his benefites 3 Which forgiueth al thine iniquitie healeth all thine infirmities 4 Which redéemeth thy life from the graue and crowneth thée with mercy and compassion 5 Which satisfieth thy mouth with good thinges and thy youth is renued like the Eagles 6 The Lorde executeth righteousnessâ— and iudgement to all that are oppressed 7 No made his waies knowne vnto Moses and his workes vntoo the children of Israell 8 The Lord is ful of coÌ„passion and mercy sâ—ow to anger and of great kindnesse 9 We will not alway chide neither kéepâ— his anger for euer 10 He hath not delt with vs after our sins nor rewarded vs according to our iniquities 11 For as high as the heauen is aboue the earth so great is his mercie towarde them that feare him 12 As farre as the East is from the West so far hath he remoued our sinnes from vs. 13 As a father hath compassion on his children so hath the Lord compassion on them that feare him 14 For he knoweth whereof we be made he remembreth that we are but dust 15 The dayes of man are as grasse as a floure of the field so florisheth he 16 For y â— winde goeth ouer it it is gone and the place therof shall know it no more 17 But y â— louing kindnes of y â— Lord endureth for euer euer vpoÌ„ theÌ„ that feare him amp his righteousnes vpon childrens childreÌ„ 18 Unto them y â— keep his couenaÌ„t think vpon his commaundements to doe them 19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in heauen and his kingdome ruleth ouer all 20 Praise the Lord ye his Angels that excel in strength that doe his commandemeÌ„t in obeying the voyce of his woordâ— 21 Praise the Lord al ye his hostes ye his seruants that do his pleasure 22 Praise the Lord all ye his works in al places of his dominion my soule prayse thou the Lorde So hath he had mercy on vs in giuing vs his onely sonne With this faith w t those thaÌ„ksgeuings with these or such other like thoughts must wee receiue the sacrament of the body and bloode of our Lorde Iesus Christ. After this maner is all fearfulnesse driuen out of the soule of the Christian and charity is increased fayth strengthened the conscience quieted the toung neuer ceasseth to prayse God and to yéeld him infinit thanks for so great a benefite This is the vertue efficacie only trust of our soule This is the rocke wherevpon if the conscience be buylded it feareth nother tempest nor the gates of hel nor Gods wrath nor the law nor sinne nor death nor the diuels nor any other thing And forasmuch as the substance of the Lords supper and table consisteth is this diuine sacrament When the Christian is at it he must hold his eyes fastened continually vppon the passion of our gratious Sauiour beholding him on the one side vppon the crosse loden with all our sinnes and God on the other side punishing chastising and whipping his owne onely begotten and Déerebeloued sonne in steade of vs. O happie is that man that shutteth his eyes from al other sights and will neither heare nor sée any other thing than Iesus Christ crucified in whoÌ„ are layde vp and bestowed al the treasures of Gods wisdome and diuine knowledgeâ— Blessed say I is he that féedeth his minde with so heauenly a foode and maketh himselfe drunken in the loue of God with so sweete and singular a liquor But before I make an ende of this matter I will first aduertise the Christian that Sainte Augustine hath ordinarily béene woont too terme this holy Sacrament the bonde of charity and the mystery of vnity And he saith that whosoeuer receiueth the mystery of vnitie regardeth not the bond of peace receiueth not the Sacrament to his owne behooâ—e but as a witnesse agaynst himselfe Therfore we must vnderstaÌ„d y â— the Lorde hath ordeyned this holy sacrameÌ„t not only to make vs sure of y â— forgiueues of our sins but also to inflame vs to peace vnity brotherly charitie For in this Sacrament the Lord doth after such a maner make vs parlakers of his body as he becommeth al one thing w t vs we with him By reasoÌ„ wherof forasmuch as he hath but one body wherof he maketh vs Partakers it is méetâ— that we also shoulde by such partaking becom al one body together amoÌ„g our selues And this vntoÌ„ is represeÌ„ted by the bread of the sacrament which as it is made of many grains mingled kneaded together in such wise as one of them caÌ„ not be discerned froÌ„ another So also must we be toyned together after such a sort so vnited together into one agréement of mind as no diuision may créep in And this doth S. Paule shew vs when he saith Is not the cup of blessing which we blesse the coÌ„munioÌ„ of the blood of Iesus Christ is not the bread y â— we break the coÌ„munion of the body of Iesus Christe whereas we be many yet are we but one bread and one body forsomuch as we be all Partakers of one bread By these thinges we vnderstand that when we receiue his most holy coÌ„munion we must coÌ„sider that we are al of vs ingraffed into Christ are all become members of one selfsame body that is to wit of Iesus Christ in such wise as we caÌ„not offend defame or despise any of our brethren but we must therewithall offend defame and despise our saide head Iesus Christ neyther caÌ„ we be at variance w t any of our brethren but in likewise we must be at oddes with him Also we cannot loue him excepte wee loue him in our brethren Look how much care we haue of our owne bodie so much must we haue of our Christian brethren who are the meÌ„bers of our body And like as no parte of our body féeleth any griefe which spreadeth not it selfe into al the other parts so ought we to determine w t our selues that our brother feleth not any inconuenience which should not moue vs to coÌ„passioÌ„ With such maner of thoughtes must