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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A03087	A simple, and religious consultation of vs Herman by the grace of God Archebishop of Colone, and prince Electour. [et] c. by what meanes a Christian reformation, and founded in Gods worde, of doctrine, administration of the deuine sacramentes, of ceremonies, and the hole cure of soules, and other ecclesiastical ministeries may be begon among men committed to our pastorall charge, vntil the Lorde graunt a better to be appoynted either by a free, and Christian cou[n]sayle, general, or national, or elles by the states of the empire of the natio[n] of Germanie, gathered together in the holye Gost; Einfaltigs Bedencken, warauff ein christliche in dem Wort Gottes gegrünte Reformation an Lehr, Brauch der heyligen Sacramenten un Ceremonien, Seelsorg und anderem Kirchendienst, biss auff eines freyen, christlichen, gemeinen oder nationals Concilii, oder dess Reichs Teutscher Nation Stende, im Heyligen Geyst versamelt, Verbesserung, bei denen so unserer Seelsorge befohlen, anzurichten seye, English	Wied, Hermann von.; Melanchthon, Philipp, 1497-1560.; Bucer, Martin, 1491-1551.	1547 (1547)	STC 13213; ESTC S103980	258,817	620

Moyses when the chyldren of Israell coulde not directe theyr eyes vnto his face signified thys vngodlie persuasion For suche men haue theyr wyttes blynded as the Apostle sayth For as then the Isralites onely behelde the vayle layed vpon Moyses his face and not the face it selfe So these hypocrites se not the true meanynge of Goddes lawe but styckynge in the letter they folowe a carnall vnderstandynge whiche they falsely laye vpon the clearnes of the lawe as a certayne couer Thys vayle remayneth vnto thys daye in readynge of the olde Testament in all them from whom Christ taketh it not awaye whiche onely with his spirite openeth the true vnderstāding of the lawe Wherefore the Apostle sayeth but when they shall be turned to God the vayle shall be taken awaye The other vnderstandyng of the lawe is true and spiritual whē we vnderstand that not onely outwarde naughtie workes are prohibited but also inwarde that is to say euyl cōc●piscēce euyl affections al thoughtes wordes dedes wyll inclination and what so euer thynges either in our body or soule be moued in anie wyse agaynste the lawe of God Then we acknowledge that not onely outward discipline is required of vs and vertues whiche wythout grace we maye perfourme of our owne strength but suche workes as the holie gooste hym selfe worketh in vs as a true and perfecte truste of grace and Gods healpe thorow Christe Iesus true inuocation in al perilles feruent loue of God and oure neighboure perfecte obedience from the whole herte and al oure strengthes to be pure and fre frō al naughtie motions and to be inclined and caryed onely hereunto that thou serue God onely that thou prayse and magnifie hym onely with the true loue of hym and of thy neighbour with al kindes of good workes wherby thou mayest further the health of men and therein sette forth the glorie of God Thys true and holesome vnderstandynge of the lawe is necessarie for all men wherewyth as all men be reproued of synne so also they be called backe vnto repentaūce and a waye vnto theyr hertes is prepared for the Lorde Thus also oure Lorde Iesus Christe interpreted certayne commaundementes of the lawe Math. v. wyllynge vndoubtedly that the rest shoulde be so vnderstanded and declared After the same sorte Paule lykewyse declareth the strength of the lawe Roma viij saying the lawe is spiritual but I am fleshly solde vnder synne Seinge then that the lawe is spiritual it requireth spiritual workes But man beinge fleshly doeth onely the workes of the fleshe For an euyll tree bryngeth not forth good fruites He then that wyll satisfie the lawe muste be made a pirituall man and he muste do spirituall workes as those be that the holy spirite worketh in vs as the true faith of Goddes worde and burnynge loue and feare of God and the fruites of these vertues We keepe no precept of our owne strēgth Whereof it appeareth that we can not do the leste cōmaundementes of the lawe thorowe oure owne strengthes wythout the healpe of the holie goste The brightnes that shone in Moyses his face whiche the eyes of the Israelites coulde not abide signified the vnderstandynge of the lawe For as the Israelites could not suffre with there eyes this bryghtnesse but beinge afrayed fledde away So carnal reason can not attaine this vnderstandinge of the lawe but rather abhorreth it and iudgeth it veri mad For if it were so thincketh she al men must needes be damned eneriechon and she weneth that God doeth vniustly wyth vs if he commaunde those thynges that we can not perfurme of our owne strength This reasō casteth away the true vnderstandinge of the lawe and casteth a vaile before hyr eyes and conforteth hir selfe with this false opinion that we haue free wil and if we do asmuch as lyeth in vs that God can not but take it in good worth and that he requireth nomore of vs at al. But we that beleue in Christe and be taught of the holye goste knowe that thys is the true sentence of the lawe whiche we haue proposed For we see the face of Moyses vncouered and haue obtained that that Paule spaketh of ii Cor. iii But whan they shal be conuerted vnto the Lorde the vayle shal be takē awaye For after that we haue knowne and do beholde Christ thorough fayth a new glorie of god shyneth in vs and we are transformed to the same image of Christe goynge forth dailye from the clearnes of thys new lyfe be gon in vs to the clearnes of Christes lyfe and that thorough the spirite of the Lorde Seinge that Christ thā thorough the know ledge of hym selfe gyueth vs thys spiritual lyght and clearnes of newe lyfe it is certaine that it is required of vs in the lawe and that it is necessarie for vs vnto saluation For Christ came for thys purpose rose agayne and entred in to his heauenly kingdome that he myght restore and finishe the same in vs where vnto we were first made and are called agayne by the lawe of God Wherefore the face of Moyses is now vncouered and the true vnderstandinge of the lawe is disclosed vnto vs which be conuerted to Christe the Lorde and be holde hym thorough fayth and in hym partly knowe enioye and liue the lyfe that God alloweth Thirdly whan that it is declared what muste be vnderstanded by the name of the lawe of God what is the true meaninge and interpretation of the lawe we must considre and teach diligētly for what vse and ende the lawe was gyuē to vs of God For thought we haue in few wordes some what toutched it that is to wit that the lawe was gyuen for this purpose that thorough the knowledge of synnes whiche it causeth it myght worke repentaunce neuer theles we must declare this thing some what more plētifully And for asmuch as S. Paul taught the strenghth and nature of the lawe wyth singuler diligence and plaines as a man that perceyued that the strength of the lawe beinge not wel declared and knowen men wil be iustified rather with the keepinge of outward discipline and coūterfaite workes of the lawe than with fayth in Christe we thinke good to consider three sentences of Paule where wyth he moste clearely and playnly expouned the strength and nature and vse of the lawe that thus asmuch as is possible we maye take awaye that festred errour of mē wherby they go about to satisfie the law with theyr owne strēgth and being cōtēted with anoutward vaine shewe of rightuousnes they neglecte Christe and haue no care at al of the true ryghtuousnes of the herte these be the sayinges of Paule Thorow the lawe is the knowledge of syn Ro. iii. the lawe worketh wrath Ro. iiii The lawe is our scholemaister to Christ Ga. iii. Out of the first saiynge whiche is thys thorough the lawe cometh knowledge of synne we muste learne and teach that thorough the falle of Adam there is so greate darkenes broughte in to mannes reasō that of

our selfe we can not vnderstande what synne is and therefore that God gaue vs the lawe that we might know sinne therebi For thys cause we muste be resolued herevpon that that is synne in ded that God Reason of hir selfe vnderstandeth not what is sinne forbiddeth and contrarye wyse that that is a good worke that God commaundeth Wherefore whan we turne our selues from the lowe of God and looke vpon it negligētly as we haue done a greate while with the great hurte of the church the true knowledge also of synne is clearely lost and lykewyse of ryghteousnes than wyth coūterfaite sinnes and good workes we vexe both our selues and other in vaine which thinge manie haue done and do yet vnto this day For if anye thynge be omytted agaynst suprestious vowes and against other thinges What sinnes were falsely fayned whiche God requireth not if we haue been slacke in the afflictions of the bodye taken vpon vs for no regarde of Godlynes and much lesse for the vsynge of the same or if we haue lette passe anye other inuention of men that profiteth nothinge to true ryghteousnes for these thinges superstitions men are meruailously grieued and compte them for synnes they shryue them selues of these thinges carefully and thinke that they must wash thē awaye with singuler repentaunce Contrarywyse if they haue perfourmed anie thinge herein they thinke that they haue done a noble act and haue deserued much of God In the meane whyle they neglecte in them selues and wincke at those true and most greuous synnes frō whiche as from headspringes al other euil thoughtes wordes and deedes flowe out as these be the neglectinge of God and hys worde vnbelefe distruste of Godds promise despiceing of hys threates sondrye nawghtye lustes naturally engendred in vs. But whyle these verye synnes and vices be not yet knowen to vs and therefore grieue vs not how can we ryghtly acknowledge thē and aske forgiuenes of them thorough Christe Wherefore that we maye truly acknowledge oure synnes and be deliuered frō them thorough Christe we muste needes knowe them and considre them not after our reason nor mannes Paule knewe not synne without the lawe traditions but after the lawe of God Paule so greate an apostle in vii to the. Ro. wryteth thus of him felfe I know not sinne but thorough the lawe yea I had not knowen that concupiscence is sinne excepte the lawe had saide Thou shalte not luste And though the same apostle say in the same Epistle cha ii that the heathen which haue no lawe doe the thinges of the lawe by nature and that they hauinge no lawe be a lawe to them selues shewinge the workes of the lawe wrytten in theyr hertes yet it is knowen by the whole doctrine of this apostle and al the scripture that men endued onely wyth the iudgement of nature and whyche haue not the spirite that begetteth a newe determine nothynge effectuouslye but of outwarde discipline and of sinnes committed agaynst the same to stirre vp true repentaunce thereof in thē sleues For they which onely haue the lyght of reason neglecte the thinges that they cōmitte agaynst the faith in God and true worshippinge of God because they beleue not nor truste in God nor calle vpō him wyth a true herte They are nothinge payned for those thinges nether haue they anye care at al to amende the same and to turne to God and to approue them selues vnto hym with true fayth and truste Thys the apostle wrate of the wyse amonge the heathen whyche had gotten anye knowledge of God Where as they know God saieth he they honored not him as God neither were thankefull but were begiled thorough theyr thoughtes and their ignoraunte herte was darckned Whan thei beleued them selues to be wyse they where made fooles and chaūged the glory of thim mortal God thorough an image not onely made after the lyknes of manne but also of forefooted and crepinge beastes But God which is ritche in mercie gaue his spirite the teacher of all truth to manie of them both before and after the geuynge of the lawe wythout the ministerie of thys lawe onely thorowe the comon lawe of nature and doctrine receiued from the fathers And by thys spirite they both knewe and dyd the thynges that pertayne to the lawe and were to them selues in steede of a lawe Of whiche thynges they coulde do none thorow the only light of that nature wherwyth they were borne into thys world For seinge that Paule coulde not acknowledge synne without the lawe gyuē reueiled frō aboue vndoubtedly the doctrine of the law of God is necessarie to all men that they maye knowe theyr synne therby Wherfore the lawe muste be sette forth and repeted to the people wyth all diligence that they may learne to haue it euer in theyr eyes and to considre it reuerently and to directe theyr myndes and all theyr doinges thereunto that thorow true and substantial knowledgyng of synne a lyuely repentaunce of the same maye be prycked vp For that is a true and holesome knowledge of synne when we do not onely acknowledge what synne is but also that we are giltie of synne And the lawe was gyuē to steare vp in vs such a knowledge of sinne For it sayeth not onely that murther auoutrie thefte and suche lyke be synnes but it sayeth kyl not thou yea be not angrie with out a cause committe not thou auoutrie yea desire not an other mannes wyfe steale not thou yea defraude not thy neyghboure in anie busines He that heareth these thynges wyth a purged mynde and lyghtened wyth the spirite of adoption acknoledgeth that it is required in the law that we embrace and perfourme the thinge that God commaundeth wyth all our herte wyth all our soule and wyth all our strength and that we all togyther abhorre from that that he forbyddeth wyth al our vnderstandynge all oure wyll and all our nature Therefore when a man perceyueth that he is yet farre frō this true obedience and studie of Goddes lawe he acknowledgeth hym selfe though he absteyne outwardly from murther adulterie theft and fraude of his neighbour to be neuertheles before God a murtheer an adulterer and a thefe and to be in daunger for giltines of all these euyls For all be it that he hath not conceyued in his mynde ani reuengeaunce luste or wronge nor hath consented to cōmitte the same whereof no man wyl lightly boste neuerthels he shall fynde in him selfe an inclination and a readines of mynde to the same mischiues Thus when he laboureth to lift vp his mynde vnto vertue gētlenes liberalitie and patiēce he feeleth his mynde repugnynge and euer wyth drawyng it selfe from those dedes and if it be somewhat steared vp thereunto yet he perceyueth it to faynt therin and not to be moued and to burne wyth so greate desire as it shoulde But this lust to do euil this repugnaūce to good this difficultie slownes fayntnes and slarkenes be verie synnes before God because they be agaynste the

lawe of God whiche of right requireth of vs that we do the thinges that he commaundeth vs to do moste desirously and abhorre the thynges that he forbiddeth with al our herte and all our strength so that we abhorre nothynge more in all oure lyfe Here of it appeareth playnly that we are taughte by the lawe of God whyle we beholde it after the meaning of Christ that we be not onely sinners but also prisoners and solde vnder synne For we can not represse in any wise those inward motions with our owne strength which thing whē we learne and acknowledge out of the lawe then we haue a true and an holesome knowledge of the lawe Therfore as the Apostle teacheth diligently and beateth in thys knowledge of the law so al preachers must be most diligēt to teach and print the same in the people omitting the subtile disputations of the lawe that make nothinge to the purpose For while they cōtinually beate in this substantial obseruaūce of the law which Paule teacheth they shall steare vp in men a true knowledge of synnes and thereby a lyuely and effectuous repentaunce and a careful and earnest conuersation vnto Christe For they that geue them selues earnestly to thys perfecte obediēce of the law and turne their lyfe thereunto shall muche better perceyue then anie man can teache how great corruption there is of nature and howe greate tirannie of synne in vs. An other sayinge of Paule whereby we may know the true vse of the lawe is thys The lawe worketh wrath wherwith the Apostle signifieth that we do not onely not acknowledge sin of our selues but also neglecte it when we haue acknowledged it and dispice carelesly the iudgement and wrath of god against synne which the law threatneth as though God were not so much offēded with our sinnes as the scripture wytnesseth and as though he could wynke at them Where as yet Dauid testifieth that God wyl not iniquitie For thus he sayeth Thou arte not the God that wylleth iniquitie And thou hatest al that worke iniquitie and shalt destroy them that speake lyes Wherfore God would fraye steare and moue vs agayne wyth his heauenly voice that we myght feele his wrath in oure consciences And thys he doeth wyth threateninges of punishmētes and miseries which he added to his cōmaundemētes in the law both corporall and euerlastynge manie tymes and ryght horribly and al sinners shal suffre them if they repent not and be deliuered thorowe Christ Therfore the preachers muste diligently declare to the people these punishmētes miseries that at length they maye vnderstande the wrath of God and feele it in theyr cōsciences that being frayed wyth the intollerable iudgement of God they may be steared to seke grace in Christ and deliueraunce from thys wrath of God Hereof it appeareth sufficiently that the law was not geuē to testifie and to quicke but that thorowe it we mighte vnderstande that synne raygneth myghtely in vs and that we shoulde seeke an other waye wherby we myghte come into Goddes fauoure and obtayne that lyfe that the Gospell sheweth namely fayeth in Christ Wherof S Paule wrate to the Galathians iij. For if there had bene a lawe that had bene able to quycken ryghtuousnes had ben of the lawe in dede But the lawe iustifieth not but condemneth while it prescribeth and requireth that that God requireth of man to be done and threateneth death and hell to all them that perfourme not the thynge that it prescribeth and requireth whiche thynge no man can do For we are so destitute of the glorie of God and true ryghtuousnes so solde to sinne and plainly so dead as Paule witnesseth that the law it self which should be a remedie vnto vs and brynge vs againe to lyfe is turned into oure destruction and casteth vs further into hell concupiscence beinge steared vp thorowe it and synne encreased Wherefore thys is the vse of the whole lawe that it shewe vs thys oure perdition thorowe synne and that it dryue vs beinge stryken wyth true griefe for syne and wyth the feare of Goddes iudgement and being destistute of all hope of saluation to begotten otherwyse to Christe the sauiour which thorowe his passion and death hath remoued the wrath of God from vs hath obtayned fauoure gyueth the spirite of regeneration thorowe whiche spirite beinge sanctified and strengthened we are dryuen forth to worke well and we are stayed wyth this consolation that he is oure onely Meditoure and Sauiour whiche maye sette his perfect obediēce and rightuousnes betwene the father and vs and at length in the resurrection wyll deliuer vs from all synnes and gyue vs perfecte ryghtuousnes The thyrde place of Paule is thys The The lawe is our guyde or scholemaister to Christe law was made vnto vs a scholemaister vnto Christ Thys ende then of the lawe must be diligentlye declared and repeted in sermons For all we haue yet neede of thys scholemaistringe accordyng to the measure of fayth and the spirite gyuen to euery one For there remayneth a greate weakenesse in vs all by reason whereof we haue neede thorowe the feare of the seruile spirite to be euer dryuen to Christe and to be kept in the obedience of God vnto a fulle libertie of the spirite of chyldren Further more no small parte of christian people in thys laste and so corrupte age of the worlde after so notable a defection from the lawe of God foloweth theyr lustes without care and lyueth in manifest vices It is then as necessarie to preache the lawe to thys kynde of people and to rayse them vp from the sleepe of theyr vices thorowe the feare of Goddes iudgementes and to dryue them to Christe as it was to the olde people Therefore it shall pertayne to the preachers whyle they exhort to good workes to beate in diligently the cōmaundementes of the lawe the promises and threates ioyned to the commaundementes Howe be it they muste do it wyth such moderation that togyther wyth principall diligence they teache that it is Christe onely that worketh the true obedience of the lawe and that he satisfied thorowe his obedience that that wāted in ours wherin there is no perfection For as longe as we lyue here oure obedience is verie sclender and vnperfecte nor satissieth the lawe at anie tyme whiche lawe setteth thys marke of our obedience that we loue God wyth our whole herte our whole soule and all our strenghthes Wherefore those places in the lawe and in the prophetes that preache of Christ Euē the lawe leadeth and remitteth to Christe whereof there be manie in the scripture shal be declared and commended to the people wyth greate diligence For the lawe profiteth vs not onely in this poynte that thorouge the knowledge of synne whiche it stirreth vp and the feare of Goddes wrath whiche it causeth it calleth vs agayne to Christe and keepeth vs thorough obediēce towardes god in Christ and yet by none other strēgth thā of Christ but also it magnifieth and sheweth

is and muche wished for of oure Lorde Iesus Christe namely that he came for thys cause into the worlde beinge made man to deliuer all them that beleue in hym from synne death and eternall damnation and to gyue them a newe and perpetuall ryghtuousnes and lyfe Whiche thynge al the prophetes spake afore hāde of him as the lorde him selfe expouned in the laste of Luke So sayeth he it behoued Christ to suffre and to ryse from the dead the thirde daye and that repentaunce and remission of synnes should be preached in his name among all nations The Apostles taught the same thynge euerie where as it appeareth in theyr actes For thus Petre preacheth repente your fautes and let euerie one of you be baptised in the name of Iesus Christ for the forgyuenes of synnes and ye shall receyue the gyfte of the holy goste actes ij Item the God of oure fathers hath raysed Iesus whom ye kylled hangyng vpon wodde hym God hath exalted wyth his ryght hande a prince and a sauiour to gyue repentaunce vnto Israell and forgyuenes of synnes etc. And agayne he commaunded vs that we shoulde preach to the people and testifie that it is he which was appointed of god a iudge of the quicke and the deade To hym all the Prophetes beare wytnes that who so beleueth in hym he shall receyue remission of synnes thorowe his name Saynt Paule preacheth the same thynge actes xiij Be it knowen to you then bretherne that thorowe thys man remission of synnes is preached etc. Though thys preachyng of the Gospell be short neuertheles it is the power of God vnto saluation to euerie one that beleueth Ro. i. Wherfore Christe also compareth the Gospell to a mustarde corne to a treasure hidde in a felde to a precious margarite for the gettyng wherof we must sell and leaue all thynges Math. xiiij But that the strēgth and efficacie of the Gospel may be more euident the preachers muste euer studiously set forth Christe and religiously preache howe great thynges he suffered for our saluation howe great thynges he did Further howe he wil haue these thynges shewed vnto vs and what he wyll worke in vs thorowe thys preaching It is euident thorow the preachyng of the lawe that all we be synners of oure selues and destitute of the glorie of God Rom. iij. Item that we are deade thorowe misdedes and synnes and be by nature the children of wrath as other be Ephesi ij prisoners and solde vnder synne that we oure selues can not ryse out of thys perdition of oure owne strengthe Roma viij Wherfore to obtaine saluation there needed a mediatour and sauiour whiche might pacifie God beinge angrie and recōcile vs to God and deliuer vs frō synne and death and make vs heyres of euerlastynge lyfe Suche a sauiour and intercessour Christe is made vnto vs. i. Timo. ij one God and one attonemaker of God and men Christe Iesus a man whiche gaue hym selfe a price of redemption for al men etc. Thys Mediatour first entreateth wyth God the father thorowe his lyfe death passion and intercession to turne his wrath frō vs to receyue vs into fauour and to gyue to vs as to his children the holy spirite and euerlastyng lyfe Further he cometh to vs and handleth his matter with vs thorowe the misterie of the Gospell his holy spirite and the crosse that we maye beleue hym and thorow faith obtayne ryghtuousnes and euerlasting life And he handleth his matter wyth God after thys sorte firste he ordred his whole lyfe accordyng to the wyl of the father beinge made obedient vnto hym vnto death whiche thynges we should haue done But bicause he sawe that they were impossible vnto vs he perfourmed them hym selfe he fulfylled the lawe as he sayth in Mathew I came not to destroye the lawe but to fulfyll it And Paule to the Gala. iiij Whē the fulnes of tyme came God sent forth his sonne made of a woman made subiecte to the lawe to redeame them that were subiecte to the lawe Therfore he wrate also to the Cor. Christe is made rightuousnes vnto vs of God that is to saye his rightuousnes was perfourmed for our sakes and gyuen vnto vs. Item Phil. iij. Yea and I thynke all thinges to be losse for the excellencie of the knowledge of Christe my Lorde and I cōpt them for refuse that I maye wynne Christe and be founde in hym not hauing my rightuousnes of the lawe but that that is thorowe the fayth of Christe etc. For whoso beleueth in Christ to him whole Christ and his perfecte ryghtuousnesse is imputed at once and togyther Secondly Christe translateth and remoueth all our synnes vpon him selfe dieth for them and suffreth al those thinges that we should haue suffred for our sinnes As Iohn Baptiste testifieth Beholde the lambe of God whiche taketh awaye the synnes of the worlde Item Esaie of a truth he bare our diseases and he susteyned our sorowes and we cōpted hym stricken wyth a plage and depressed of God But he was wounded for oure iniquities and beaten for oure synnes the chasteninge of peace was vpon hym and we were healed wyth his stripes And we haue strayed lyke sheepe euery mā into his owne way and God hath putte vpon him the iniquities of al vs. Item Paule Rom. viij God spared not his owne sonne but gaue him for vs all and Chap. iiij He was deliuered for oure synnes and raysed for our iustification So Gala. iij. Christ redeamed vs from the curse of the lawe beinge made a curse for vs for it is wrytten cursed is euerie one that hangeth on tree Thirdly he is a mediatour for vs that God wyll receyue vs into fauoure Esaie liij He bare the synnes of manie and prayed for transgressours The prayer of Christe Iohn xvij teacheth the same thynge I praye for them not for the worlde but for those whome thou hast gyuen me keepe them in thy name etc. And Paule Ro. viij Christe is at the right hande of the father and maketh intercession for vs. Itē to the Hebr. v. whiche in the dayes of his fleshe when he had offered vp with strōge criyng and teares prayers and supplications before him that was able to deliuer him etc. Yea the whole epistle sheweth thys thinge mooste euidently that Christe oure high bishoppe offred hym selfe for our sinnes and entred into the most holie place wyth his owne bloude an euerlastyng redemption beinge founde out So then Christe handled and doeth handle the matter for vs thorowe his death and obedience shewed to the father and thorowe his intercession that he reconcileth vs to God the father and for thys cause he is made Lorde ouer all thynges as the Apostle witnesseth Psal ij whiche beinge in the fourme of God thought it no robberie to be equall wyth God but he emptied him selfe taking the fourme of a seruaunt constituted in the lykenes of men and in shape founde as a man he humbled him selfe made obedient vnto the death and that of the crosse Wherfore God

washeth them and doth other thinges pertainyng to nuresing and when she enstructeh them vnto the inuocation of God and religion But the chiefest worshipping of God resteth in these poyntes if they be done in fayth that is if the mother truste that she is acceptable to God for Christes sake and beleue that hyr doinges please God for the same mans sake if she call for healpe of God to the perfourmaunce of those thynges that he wyll prosper them and make them holesome finally that he wyll keepe and nourishe vp hir infant and gouerne his lyfe in all thynges After thys sorte our fayth muste be exercised in al other busines and offices of thys lyfe Magistrates and wariars be exercised wyth sundrie daungers troubles and difficulties Neuertheles if they execute their office after thys maner and wyth suche fayth as we haue spoken of all suche thynges be worshippinges of God Thys is no small consolation to a godlie mynde And it is the true propre doctrine of the Gospel which Adam Noe Abraham Iacob Ioseph Samuel Dauid and Paule taught ¶ The fourth question Why are good workes to be done ¶ Answer Firste because God hath commaunded them Al creatures serue God and be made to the obedience of God It is euident then that seinge that man ought to shewe obedience vnto God Goddes commaundement is the fyrst chiefest cause why we shoulde do good workes And in as muche as God hath cōmaunded good workes it foloweth of the same cause that they that exercise not them selues in wel working but continue in the contempt of Goddes cōmanndementes deserue euerlastynge paynes Howe be it God punisheth sinnes in this lyfe also with infinite miseries Thys thē is an other cause whiche oughte to steare vp our myndes to worke well that we fal not into euerlasting paynes For so Paule sayeth i. Corhin vi Erre not Neither adulterers nor worshippers of Images etc. shall possesse the kyngdome of God And Gala. v. They whiche do suche thynges shall not possesse the kingdome of God The thyrde cause of doing good workes is verie necessarie for that that it is not possible that a true fayth and a certayne truste in Christe can stande wythout perfecte conuersion vnto God or wyth synnes whiche are committed agaynst a mannes cōscience These thynges appeare playnly by the verie nature of fayth For fayth is that assent to the Gospell out of whiche there aryseth a sure confidence of Goddes mercie promised for Christes sake But suche a trust can not stande with a purpose of sinning wherin there is a manifest comtempte of God and an vndoubted prouocation of Goddes wrath By reason of thys fyghtynge betwene fayth and synne Paule sayed that what so euer is not of fayeth is synne signifiynge that the nature of fayth is suche that it bringeth forth good fruites of it selfe Wherfore whē a mā sinneth as that is done by wrōge confidence so the truste in Christe is reiected and grace and eternall lyfe is cast awaye and mannes saluation is paste remedie excepte he recouer a trust in Christe and puttynge awaye all wronge affiaunce he wholly restore hym selfe into the obedience of God The large promises of Goddes reward ministre the forth cause of good workes For it is the commaundement of God that his moste ample promises shoulde be preached to all men As Paule sayeth Godlines is profitable vnto all thynges and hath a promise of the present lyfe and of the lyfe to come And we shewed before that euyll workes be punished wyth euerlastyng paynes whiche yet often tymes haue their begynnynge in thys lyfe as it apppeareth in Saul Achab Iuda So contrarie wise God requireth their workes that repent wyth eternall rewardes Howe be it thys fundation of our saluation standeth styll that is to say the trust of euerlasting lyfe in Christ the Lorde whereof we spake before namely that we obtaine remission of synnes euerlastyng lyfe thorow fayth for Christes sake and not for the worthines of our workes For thys sentence standeth fast and sure in which the Lorde testifieth of him selfe Ihō vi Thys is the wyll of the father that euerie one that beleueth in the sonne shall haue eternall lyfe For though God thorowe a merueilous purpose suffre his churche to be pressed greuously with the crosse and exerciseth it with great miseries as shal be sayed hereafter yet forasmuche as he wyll be knowen to men in thys lyfe and be magnified he steareth vp preserueth and defendeth the preachers of his name the teachers of his Gospell and also the hearers as he promised that his churche shoulde continue here vnto the ende of the worlde Therfore for thys purpose that his church maye continue perpetually he dealeth forth sundrie giftes of his spirite and he gyueth to his sayntes that thorowe good workes they deserue the encrease of vertues accordynge to the worde of Christ there shal be gyuen to him that hath And seinge that in thys life we haue neede of fode peace lawfull gouernaunce of the common weale health etc. God addeth these thynges also and recompenseth the good workes of his therwyth yet with thys moderation that neuertheles he holdeth styll his churche vndre the crosse Of thys rewarde of good workes Christe speaketh Gyue and there it shal be gyuen vnto you And Esaie xxxiij He that walketh in ryghtuousnes etc. shall dwell in an high and therfore a sure place He shall not wante meate and drynke his eyes shall se the kynge in his glorie So though Esaie Hieremie Daniel and Paule were pressed wyth sundrie and moste grenous aflictions yet God after a merueylous forte preserued them a greate whyle in lyfe and ministred vnto them abundauntly thynges necessarie for lyfe And surely for thys cause God promised vs corporall goodes that being steared vp thorowe such promises we shoulde exercise fayth and inuocation and laboure the more to be busie in good workes When thou hearest then that God commaundeth the to gyue almes and addeth his promises that he wyll gyue the agayne fode and other good thinges Giue thyne almes liberally and exercise thy faith therin and confirme thy mynde that it is God that gyueth the corne a lyuynge and all good thinges that maynteyneth the and thyne and that he wyll recompence thy liberalitie shewed for his sake And whē thou considerest these thynges wyth fayeth and hast afterwarde confirmed thys sentence of fayth in thy mynde thou muste exercise also the inuocation of God and trustynge in his promises thou muste praye hym thorowe Christe his sonne that as he hath promised he wyll gyue the thynges necessarie for life and maynteyne the and thyne and thou muste also wyth a sure hope loke for those thynges whiche thou haste so prayed for of hym nothynge doubtynge but that he wyl gyue them to the as farre as they maye be good for the in dede For if the mynde be so farre from God and so emptie of the truste of his goodnes that it can not so muche as aske