the labours of the day defend infantes are an ornament too men giue comfort to old folke decke women with coÌ„linesse replenish deserts with inhabiters accustome men to modestie in their meetings instruct yong beginners in their firste principles help those that haue profited with further aduauntage and strengthen those that be perfect The Psalmes are the common voyce of the Church they beautify the feastfull dayes and they woorke that sorowfulnesse which is according vnto God for they are able to wrest teares euen out of a stony harte To sing Psalmes is an Angelike office a heauenly ministracion and a spiritual perfume O woÌ„derful deuice of a most wise schoolemaster who would haue vs learne profitable things by singing Therefore are his preceptes fastned the surer in our mindes For nothing that is learned by compulsion continueth long in memorie But y which entereth with some swéete kind of delectacion doth settle more stedfastly and roote more déepely For what is it that a man shall not learne out of the Psalmes From thence ye may fetch the assured stoutnesse of harte from thence shall ye draw true rightuousnesse modestie grauitie perfect wisdome the true maner of repentance patience all kind of good things Héere is perfect diuinitie héere is propheâ—ying of Christes coÌ„ming in the flesh threatuing of the last iudgement hope of resurrection feare of punishmentes promises of glorie reuelacions of mysteries All these things are layde vp in the treasurie of the Psalmbooke as in a most large storehouse The fourth place IT entreateth of thankesgeuing wherewithall God is too bée magnified for all his heauenly benefites with a true harte and a liuely voyce in loudsounded songs and Hymnes Moreouer concerning lowlinesse and the feare of â–ª God there may bée declaracions fet out of the rules of life or out of the exposition of the vertues of the first and second Commanndement Vppon the .xxj. Sunday after Trinitie ¶ The Epistle Ephes vj. MY Brethren bee strong through the Lorde and through the power of his might Putte on all the armour of God that ye may stand ageinst all the assaultes of the Diuell for we wrestle not ageynst bloude and flesh but ageynst rule ageynste power ageynst worldly rulers euen gouernours of the darknes of this world ageynst spirituall craftines in heauenly things VVherefore take vnto you the whole armour of God that yee may bee able to resist in the euill day and stande perfecte in all things Stand therfore and your loynes gyrde with the truth hauing on the breste plate of rightuousnesse and hauing shoos on your feete that ye may be prepared for the Gospell of peace Aboue all take to you the shield of fayth wherwith ye may quench all the fiery dartes of the wicked And take the helmet of saluacion the sword of the spirit which is the worde of god And pray alwayes with all maner of prayer and supplication in the spirite and watch thereunto with all instance and supplication for all sainctes and for me that vtteraunce may be giuen vnto me that I may open my mouth fâ—eely to vtter the secretes of my Gospell wherof I am a messanger in bondes that therin I may speake freely as I ought to speake The di sposement IT is that kind of cases that are persuasiue For it is an exhortacion to the godly to continue stedfastely in true godlinesse or in the acknowledgement of God in faith and to fortifie and strengthen their hartes ageynst the assaultes of the Diuell of naughty nature of Heretikes of Tyrauntes And Paule enlargeth and garnisheth his purposed exhortacion with a lightsome similitude taken of warfare and worldly battels out of Esay lix In which warfare it behooueth first and formest that the enemies bée knowen Secondly that munition bée gotten néedfull for a mans own defence And thirdly artillerie weapon fit to put backe and vanquishe the enemie All the whole lyfe of a Christian man is as it were a warfare againste oure most mischéeuous enemies Of whom y first is y Diuel a lyer a murtherer who lyeth coÌ„tinually in wait to anoy vs in our soules in our bodies in our goods spredding abroad false opinions concerning God dropping into our minds epicurish doutes contempt of Gods word carnall carefulnesse pryde egging vs wretched wights vnto all kind of sinnes with his blast alluremeÌ„ts which he truÌ„peth in our wayes to the inteÌ„t y hauing haled vs from God he may draw vs into euerlasting destruction Agein he empayreth our bodies goods by fires battels robberies slaunders diseases deaths The second enemie is our own flesh y is to say the wandring heady braydes of our own nature corrupted with sin darknesse doutfulnesse concerning God fleshly restynesse the heates of hatred lecherie desire of reuenge of excellencie and money and finally the whole huge heape of naughty inclinacions and sinfull affections cleauing in our hartes Iacob j. Euery one that is tempted is tempted of his owne concupisceÌ„ce The third enemy are Heretikes spreding abrode false opinions which are the very firy weapons wherewith they kill the faith and prayers of many The fourth enimie is the manaces and persecutions of tyraunts of all vngodly persones For through the terrours and displeasures of great men the cruelnesse of persecutions many renounce the profession of true godlinesse many by reason of the contempt néedynesse of the godly ministers are moued to withhold the fat prebends linked with Idolatrie Ageinst these foure enimies doth Paule fortify arme the godly with armour munition weapon néedful for the defence of theÌ„selues the putting backe of the enemie The armour or apparell is this FIrst the sword girdle wherewithall it behooueth vs too bée girded and closed in is truth or the true doctrine of the Gospell and the true knowledge of god They therefore that eyther bée ignorant of the doctrine or haue a delight in the corruptings of the Gospell shall make but an vnlucky match Secondly the Brestplate wherewith the brest is defended is rightuousnesse that is to wit the reconciliation of a man into Gods fauour for Christes sake through fayth Thirdly his shoes are the very profession of the Gospel which directeth the way or vocation of the godly boundeth them about with listes within which they must kéepe their standing The armour necessarie to repulse the blowes of our enemies and to defend our selues are first a Buckler or Sheeld y is to wit faith which quencheth all the firy dartes of the diuell And the firy most noysome dartes of the diuell are these Epicurish and Academical doutings whither there bée any God whither God haue care of vs whither the gospell bée true whither God regard vs in our troubles whither he will giue vs eternall lyfe Also fleshly carelessenesse which neglecteth the wrath and iudgement of God heresies and false pleasurable opinions c. SecoÌ„dly the
the holy Ghost The holy Ghost is the third persone of the Godhead procéeding from the Father and the sonne of one substance and of one euerlastingnesse with the father the sonne which in the first creatioÌ„ togither with the father the sonne did cherish and quicken all things that bréede and afterward at all tymes is sent intoo the harts of those that beléeue the gospel too kindle in them light too the true knowing of God and too bée their Aduocate cherishiug comforting quickning their harts with spiritual rightuousnesse and euerlasting lyfe This description is builded out of the Textes folowing For that the holy ghost is a persone of the Godhead or verely and in nature God of one substance with the father the sonne the institution of our Baptim dooth euidently confirme Mat. xxviij Baptizing them in the name of rhe father and the sonne and of the holy ghost For in Baptim the true and almightie God is called vppon and a record is vttered that the baptized persone is receyued intoo Gods fauor and washed from his sinnes and endewed with rightuousnesse and euerlasting saluation And that on the other syde he ought too acknowledge this only true God and too cal vppon him and woorship him Now seing that in Baptim the father the sonne and the holy ghost are called vppon toogither and ioyned in one selfe same felowship of honour the Godhead might maiestie substance of all the thrée persones must néedes bée all one like as also it is sayd j. Iohn v. There are thrée that beare witnesse in heauen the father the woord and the holy ghost these thrée are one that is too say they are of one selfsame being or substance Basill Wée must bée baptized according as wée haue receiued of Chryst and wée must beléeue as we were baptized and confesse as wée beléeue the father the sonne and the holy Ghost Eusebius Palestinus Wée cal vppon the holy God the fountain of lyght by our Sauiour Iesus toogither with the holy Ghost c. And there bée many Argumentes auouched else where whiche confirme that the holy Ghost is verely and by nature God. Act. xxviij The holy Ghost spake by the Prophet Esai Go and speake too this people say to them Herken c. But Esai in his vj. chapter sayeth he heard the voyce of the Lord God saying Go tell this people c. Ergo the holy ghost is the Lord God or verely and by nature God. Act. v. Peter sayeth that Ananias made a lye too the holy ghost and anon after he sayth Thou hast not lyed to meÌ„ but to god Hereuppon it foloweth that the holy ghost is God. Also the holy ghost is euery where yea and he dwelleth substaÌ„ciallyin the harts of the godly filleth al the saints by imparting his being vnto them he teacheth regenerateth and sanctiâ—ieth them all which things are the properties of the Godhead too doo That the holy ghost procéedeth fruÌ„ the father the soÌ„ne yet is a distinct persone froÌ„ the father the soÌ„ne there be many proofs Ioh. xv WheÌ„ the coÌ„forter shalbecoÌ„me whoÌ„ I wil send you froÌ„ the father the spirit of truth which procéedeth from the father Iohn xvâ— When that spirit of truthe shalbée come he shall take of myne bycause al things whiche the father hath are myne that is too say I am of the same substaÌ„ce with the father I haue the same power maiestie glorie being that the father hath And this my being do I coÌ„municate to the holy ghost who though he take of myne that is too say of my substance yet is he a distinct persone from mée according as it is sayd a little erst If he come not I c. Roma viij And ofte elswhere he is named the Spirit of Chryst and the spirit of the Sonne Therefore he is in very déed the spirit of the sonne and procéedeth from the sonne as well as from the father as in Iohn xx Chryst breathing vppon his Disciples méeneth that he will impart too the Apostles the spirit procéeding out of his owne bresâ— That in the first creation the holy ghost cherished things growing and euer since hath bin present too the Church and gouerned all the godly it is euident by the Textes cited in the beginning of this second place And the rest of the members of this definition which reherse the operations and benefites of the holy Ghost shall bée declared foorthwith The third place THe office and chéef benefites of the holy Ghost are comprehended by Chryste in twoo termes when he nameth him the spirit of Truthe and the Comforter And therefore we will vnfold these two Termes shortly He is termed the spirit of truthe first bycause he is not only soothfast and voyd of vntruthe but also is the authour and preseruer of the true doctrine concerning God in the publike ministerie and the shewer of the true interpretation and discernement of all sectes and opinions Iohn xiiij The holy Ghost shall teache you al things j. Ioh. ij These things haue I wrytten concerning them that seduce you And the anoynting which you haue receyued of God abydeth in you and teacheth you all things and is true and there is no vntruthe with him Secondly bycause that in the hartes of them that beléeue the Gospell he kindleth the lyght of the true knowledge of Gods being and will and true acknowledgement of sinne and true fayth settled in the fatherly good will of God promised for Chrystes sake sake j. Corin. ij None knoweth the things of God but the spirit of god But God hath opened them too vs by his spirite For the spirit sercheth all things yea euèn the bottome of Gods secretes concerning our redemption and saluation Thirdly bycause he stirreth vp true inâ—oâ—ation in meÌ„nes hartes Zach. xij I will poure out the spirite of Thankes giuing and prayer vppon the house of Dauid â—oma viij Yée haue reâ—eyuâ—â— the spirit of adoption of sonnes by which wée â—â—ye â—bba father Fourthly by cause that in the haâ—â—â—â— of the godly he kindleth the fyre of true loue or louingnesse towardes God and our neyghbour out of which flowe all other vertues â—oÌ„ v. The loue of God is shed in our hartes by the holy Ghoste which is giuen vs Gal. v. The frutes of the spirite are ioy peace louingnesse c. The Gréeke woord Paracletus signifieth an Aduocate or coÌ„forter For like as an Aduocate in court matters is at haÌ„d with his clyent couÌ„selling hartening and comforting him so dooth the holy Ghost play the same partes in the myads of the godly For in so great darknesse of mennes mynds and so horrible falles euen of the wyse â—orâ— the holy Ghost hadde néede too stand continually too the helme in all the intentes and dooings of this lyfe according as Dauid prayeth psal lj A pure hart create in mée O God and renew a right spirits in my bowels Giue mâ—â—
counsel of the Godhed for mankind and turning vppon himselfe the most rightful wrath of God against sin ioyning too himself our nature by euer lasting and indissoluble bond Secondly the holy ghost hath sanctified the flesh taken of the substance of the virgin Marie and fashioned in Maries wombe the body of Chryst redy too bée borne Luke j. The causes inforcing the birth and Incarnation of the Sonne of God our mediatoure were chéefly foure First the excéeding loue and mercy of God towardes mankind which he would not haue forlorne for euer Secondly Gods iustice binding men either too obedience or too sufficient punishment Therefore when man had transgressed it was of necessitie that the punishment should be performed by man Thirdly Now that the pryce might bée of full value and the greatnesse of the desert might excéede the greatnesse of the sinne it béehoued the redéemer too excell all creatures and too bée a person of the Godhed Fourthly It is the duetie of a redéemer and high priest too appease Gods wrathe and too ouercome sinne and death and too bée at hand in all places and too héere and defend the Churche and too restore ryghtuousnesse and eternall life vntoo it But this can no man doo that is not also Emanuell that is too say in very déede and by nature God. The outward forcing cause is sinne and the most sorowfull damnation of all mankind which God wold not should vtterly perish The finall cause is shewed in the Sermon of the Angell Beholde I bring you tidings of great ioy for there is borne too you a sauioure Chryst the Lord. For the highest benefit that the sonne of God hath wrought vntoo vs by his birth is saluation that is too say deliuerance from Gods wrath from sinne from death from curse of the law from the tirannie of the deuil and from endlesse damnation and on the other side attonement with God ioy of conscience adoption too be the sonnes of God the gift of the holy ghost rightuousnesse and euerlasting life Too bée short the woord of God Iesus Christ is become that which wée bée too the intent he might make vs fully that which he is For that I may vse the woordes of Ciprian Chryst the sonne of God voutsaued too become the sonne of man to the intēt he might make vs men the sonnes of God He tooke vppon him the shape of a seruant too the intent he might set vs frée that are the seruauntes of sinne and death He was wounded that he might heale our wounds and it was his will too die that he might giue vs mortal wights immortalitie These benefits are brefly conteined in the promises made too Adam Abraham In thy séede shall all nations be blissed Also the womās séede shall tread downe the serpents head And the summe is vttered in cléere and lyghtsome woords by Paule Galath 4. After that the fulnesse of time was come God sent his sonne borne of a woman made vnder the lawe too the intent he myght redéeme those that were vnder the law that wée myght bée adopted the sonnes of God of which notable sentence I will intreat more at large the next Sunday The .iij. Of the applying NOw forasmuch as these are great good things which the sonne of God bringeth the sorowful minds demād how wée wretches defiled with sinnes can atteine them That do the Angels teach vnto you is borne a sauior And Esay a child is born vnto vs a sonne is giuen vntoo vs And hereuppon is grounded this sentence Iohn 3. So God loued the world that he gaue his only begotten sonne to the intent that all y beleeue in him should not perish but haue lyfe euerlasting For too this purpose was the sonne of God sent that wée al whoo are vtterly vnwoorthy and horibly defiled should bée accepted of God for his sake and atteyne remission of sinnes and eternall saluation And wee are most straightly commaunded of God too beléeue assuredly that these good things are giuen vs for his sonnes sake and through this faith shining before vs too sing all our life long with the Angels 1 Glorie bee too God on high that is too say nowe that the sonne is borne for the same sonnes sake is true and perfect glorie yéelded vntoo God not only for that he is God wyse rightuous and a iudge but also for that he is mercifall and certeinly accepteth vs for his sonnes sake and rewardeth vs with eternall life This glorie doo neyther heathenmen nor Turkes nor hipocrites but only they that beleeue in the sonne that is borne too vs and giuen too vs yéelde vntoo God. 2 In earth peace that is too say men haue God reconciled and fauorable too them and mainteine mutuall loue among themselues 3 Too men gladnesse that is too say although miseries and distresses befal them yet are their hartes quiet and merie and rest stedfastly in this souereine goodnesse that the sonne is borne too vs and giuen too vs. ¶ THE CONCLVSION In the knitting vp let the thrée places bée repeted and let a thanksgiuing bée added for the sending of the sonne and a prayer that God will voutsaue to gather a churche too his sonne among vs and kindle our mindes and hartes with his holy spirit so as wée may looke somewhat more déepely intoo this woonderfull deuise of our redemption and magnifie it with thankfull hartes Vppon Christmas day ¶ The Epistle Heb. j. GOd in times past diuersly many ways spake vntoo the fathers by Prophets but in these last days he hath spokē vntoo vs by his own sonne whom he hath made heire of all things by whō also he made the worlde Which sonne beeing the bryghtnes of his glory and the very image of his substāce ruling al things with the woord of his power hath by his own person purged our sinnes and sitteth on the right hand of the maiestie on hie beeing so much more excellent than the Angels as he hath by enheritaunce obteined a more excellent name than haue they For vntoo which of the Angels said he at any time Thou art my sonne this day haue I begottē thee And agein I wil bee his father and he shal bee my sonne And agein when he bringeth in the first begotten sonne intoo the world he saith And let all the Angels of God woorship him And of the Angels he saith he maketh his Angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire But vnto the sōne he saith thy seat o God shal be for euer and euer The scepter of thy kingdom is a right scepter Thou hast loued rightuousnesse and hated iniquitie Wherefore God euen thy God hath anointed thee with Oile of gladnesse aboue thy fellowes And thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the foūdation of the earth And the heauens are the woorkes of thy handes They shall perish but thou endurest They all shall wex old as dooth a garment and as a vesture
promis Luke xj How much more shal the heuenly father giue the holy ghost to those the ask him Therfore let this most large promise stir vs vp to sue daily vnto God with most harty and ernest entreatance that this gouerner the holy ghost may be sent into our harts his gifts be incresed in vs And let vs with so much the more héed circumspectnesse modestie rule our behauior least through our offences coÌ„mitted ageinst coÌ„science the holy ghoste be gréeued and so taking displeasure depart out of the teÌ„ple of our hart vtterly forsake vs Finally let vs coÌ„tinually recite this prayer of Dauids A clean hart create in me O God renue a stedfast spirit in my bowels Cast mée not away from thy face and take not thy holy spirit from mee Restore to mée the gladnesse of thy saluatino and strengthen mée with thy free spirite Vppon Whitson Monday ¶ The Epistle Act. ij BVt Peter stepped forth with the eleuen and lift vp his voyce and sayd vnto them Yee men of lewry all yee that inhabite Hierusalem be this known vntoo you and with your eares heare my wordes These are not drunkeÌ„ as ye suppose for it is yet but the third houre of the day But this is that which was spoken by the prophete Ioell It shal be in the last days sayeth God of my spirit I will poure out vppon all fleshe And your sonnes and your doughters shal prophesy and your yong men shal see visions and your old men shal dreame dreames And on my seruaÌ„ts and on my handmaydens I will poure out my spirit in those days and they shal prophesie And I will shewe woonders in heauen aboue and tokens in the earth beneath bloude and fyre and the vapour of smoke The Sunne shal be turned into darknesse and the Moon into bloud before that great and notable day of the Lord come And it shal be that whosoeuer shall call on the name of the Lorde shal be saued Yee men of Israel heare these woordes Iesus of Nazareth a man approued of God among you with miracles woonders and signes which God did by him in the mids of you as yee your selues know him haue ye taken by the hands of vnryghtuous persons after he was deliuered by the determinate counsell and fore knowledge of God and haue crucified and slayne whom God hath raysed vp and loused the sorowes of death by cause it was vnpossible that he shoulde bee holden of it For Dauid speaketh of him A fore hand I saw God alwayes before me for hee is on my right hande that I shoulde not bee moued Therfore did my hart reioyce my tongue was glad More ouer also my flesh shall rest in hope bicause thou wilte not leaue my soule in Hell neyther wilte suffer thyne holy too see corruption Thou haste shewed mee the wayes of lyfe and shalt make mee full of ioy with thy countenaunce Men and brethren let me freely speak vnto you of the patriark Dauid For hee is bothe dead and buried and his sepulchre remaineth with vs vnto this day Therfore seing he was a Prophete and knew that God had sworne with an othe to him that Chryst as concerning the flesh should come of the frute of his loynes and sit on his seat he knowing this before spake of the resurrection of Chryst that his soule should not be left in hel neither his flesh shoulde see corruption This Iesus hath God raised vp wherof we al are witnesses Since now that he by the ryght hand of God is exalted and hath receiued of the father the promise of the holy ghost he hath shed foorth that which ye now see and heare For Dauid is not ascended into heauen but he sayd The lord sayd to my Lord syt on my right hand vntill I make thy foes thy footestoole So therfore let all the house of Israell knowe for a suretie that God hath made that same Iesus whom ye haue crucified Lord and Chryst When they heard this they were pricked in their heartes and sayde vntoo Peter and vntoo the other Apostles Yee men and brethreÌ„ what shall we do Peter said vnto them repeÌ„t and be baptized euery one of you in the name of Iesus Christ for the remissioÌ„ of sins and ye shal receiue the gift of the holy ghost The disposement of Peters Sermon taken out of the redings vpon the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles THe state of Peters first Sermon which he made vpon Whitson Sunday is a doctrine concerning the holy ghost of the maner how to obtein euerlasting saluation The parts of this Sermon are chiefly three FIrst of the principall efficient cause of oure conuersion and saluation that is to wit of the holy ghost by whom the eternal father kindleth in mens harts the true knowledge of himselfe and true fayth and Inuocation Secondly of the forcing cause or the deseruing of our saluation that is too wit of the death and Resurrection of our lord Iesus Chryst by whom and for whom only forgiuenesse of sinnes the holy ghost rightnousnesse and saluation euerlasting are giuen to them that belâ—eue Thirdly of the means by which the holy ghost worketh and by which he offreth and applyeth vnto vs Chrysts benefites or euerlasting saluation Which are the Woorde Of the law Repentance Of the Gospell Faith. Sacraments Of Baptim Of the Lords supper THe enterance of his oracion though it bâ—e shorte hath neuerthelesse the two places of Beneuolence and attentiuenesse He seeketh beneuolence or the fauour and good will of his héerers by a most honorable title such a one as was wel liked of amoÌ„g theÌ„ Yee men of Iury and ye that dwel at Ierusalem For like as Demosthenes doth ofteÌ„times speak to his couÌ„trimeÌ„ by these words Ye men of Athens bicause they thought theÌ„selues farre to excell the inhabiters of all other cities of Grece for many giftes so it liked well the people of IerusaleÌ„ too bée termed by the name of Iewes as wherby was mente that they were the professers of the true God and of the true doctrine woorshipping of God and that they were better than all other nations And he procureth attentiuenesse in these wordes Let this bee knowen vnto you and geue eare vnto my woordes This doone like as Cicero in his oration for Milo before â—e entreate of the matter dooth dispatch certeine doutes out of the Iudges mindes and preuenteth certeine foredéemings So Peter first of all displaceth out of the minds of his hearers that brute which wandred farre abroade that opinion y the Apostles were dronke with wine Afterward be steppeth too the case it selfe and that it may bée of the more authoritie hée vseth the saying and witnesse of the Prophete Ioel whiche in singular lightesomnesse of woordes comprehendeth the doctrine concerning the persone and benefites of the holy Ghoste Of which doctrine for asmuch as the chéef pointes are touched in the story of Whitsun Sunday I will now breefly
ministerie of the Gospell or other offices for whiche they fynde themselues farre vnsufficient For it is most true which Paule sayeth Wee are not able to thinke a good thought of our selues as of our selues And so is also this of Ieremies I know Lord y it is not in mannes power to direct his owne waye Ageinst this temptation whiche often times vexeth the harts of vs al let vs set Gods commandment who biddeth vs obey his calling vppon trust of his helpe and the promises of God assuring vs of his helpe and of successe to the welfare of all those that bring faithfulnesse with them to the executing of all the dueties of their vocation And this woord Faithfulnesse comprehendeth in the ministerie of teachyng the congregation or a schoole these foure vertues 1. First a conuenient good skill in the Christen doctrine and a continual endeuer to lerne and encrease his knowledge For lyke as a practitioner that is ignorant of lechcrafte is not a faythfull Physitian but a deceyuer euen so he that hath not learned the chéefe poyntes of the doctrine that concerneth God is not a faythfull stewarde or minister of Christ 2 Secondly Heedfulnesse and diligence too bée performed in al the poyntes of ministration before mencioned and chéefly in teaching after this manner First that hauing a Catechisme or summe of the christen doctrine lernedly distributed intoo certeyn places hée beate it continually and busily intoo his héerers heades requireth an account of them what they haue caryed away Secondly that in expounding the Gospels or Epistles he apply all his expositions to suche places of the Catechisme as make vp the body of the doctrine And afterward let him imploye the doctrine too the kindelyng of some effectes in the myndes of the godly as too Fayth Inuocation repentance pacience c. 3 Constantnesse in professing the true doctrine and in the mysterie 4 Fourthely continuall and earnest requesting and crauing of Gods helpe Vppon the .iiij. Sunday in Aduent ¶ The Epistle Philip. iiij REioyce in the Lord alway and agein I say reioyce Let youre softnesse be knowne too all men the Lord is euen at hand Be carefull for nothing but in all prayer and supplication let your petitions bee manifest vntoo God with giuing of thaÌ„ks And the peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding keepe youre hartes and mindes through Chryst Iesu The disposement AS short as this Epistle is it conteyneth many notable places and of very large compasse 1 Of peace and ioy of conscience settled in God. 2 Of méeknesse 3 Of fayth assuring vs that God is with vs eschuing thought which ryseth vppon distrust 4 Of true Prayer and Thanksgiuing vntoo God. The first place GOd hath created mannes nature after such a sort that when the good which the hart coueteth is graunted it settleth and is glad For it was his will that mens harts should before al things settle vpon the souerayn good that is to wit God and to ioy in the same Now the Christen ioy of which Paule speaketh héere is not a rysing of the mynde vppon trust of his owne goodes as Seneca defineth it but it is a calmenesse and gladnesse of the hart rysing vpon Gods most certeyne promyses and comforts wherwith the hart béeing assured beleeueth certeinly that he is in Gods fauor for Chrystes sake and that God is with vs helpeth vs and will imparte ioy and lyfe euerlastyng vnto vs This definition wil bée the cléerlyer vnderstoode by laying toogither examples of mens ioyes whiche Virgile decketh with a speciall tytle in the sixth booke of his Aeneas For thou knowest howe wée spent the laste nyght in false ioyes Euery one of vs doo leade this lyfe as long as it is in excéedyng greate darkenesse and daunger And the vngodly are ignoraunt of the true good things and of the true comfortes bycause they doo despyse the lyghte of the Gospell One ioyeth in pleasures as the Epicures of whom there is moste nowe adays The Nigaâ—â— séeketh money as the true ioy The Ambitious man gapeth after honor The wittie sort hunt for learning and glory Other some with great trauel séeke the defence of fréends and riches And when any of these things are forgone all the ioye is gone As long as Pompey ruled the rost and was lord of all men he was mery at the harte But as soone as he was vanquithed by Cesar he found that al worldly things were but deceiueable ioyes As long as Cicero hath luckie successe and gouerneth the common weale with singular commendation he is glad and ioyfull But when Augustus is made freend with Antonie whome he would haue dispatched out of the way and that he sées he muste néedes dye he hath no more ioy but cryeth out O vnwise man that I am and nothing lesse than that which I was somtyme falsly thought to hée O the madnesse of my doting olde age But Christen folke in the very extremitie of trouble and in the middes of death are able to reioyce in the Lord with a true hart bycause they know they stand in Gods fauour they know that God is to be obeyed in tribulation they know for a certentie that a ioyfull issue shall ensue And therefore Steuen went to his death with a glad hart and eased his harmes with hope Laurence lying vppon the gréedyron laugheth at the tirant Decius and skorneth him to his head And Simeon sayth Lord now lettest thou thy seruaunt departe in peace according to thy word This is the true and substantiall ioy settled in the Lord and rysing vppon Gods promise which refresheth and strengthneth mens harts in all perills The second place WHeras the latine interpreter hath translated it Modestia vestra not a sit omnibus Let youre modestie or softnesse be knowne to all men the gréeke worde is Epiceia a vertue of the fifth commaundement and comprehendeth pacience méekenesse pitie myldenesse mercy treatablenesse and suche other neyghbour vertues And therfore the definitions causes effects and examples of these vertues and the vices that encounter them may bée conueyed from the exposition of the fifth Commaundement vntoo this place The third place FAyth is a perceyueraunce of all the Articles of the doctrine deliuered by God an assent to the same wherby wée embrace the whole doctrine And it is a truste certeinly assuring vs that the Lorde is at hande and that although sorowes daungers persecutions and other calamities hang ouer vs yet it persuadeth a man for a certeintie that God is with him and helpeth him and will bring them to a quiet ende Therefore it quayleth not through thought and distruste that it should eyther gad after worldly helpes or yet despayre like as Moyses staÌ„ding at the red sea although he saw no meane of deliueueraunce yet beleeueth he that God is at hand and so he is not discouraged with pensiuenesse So sayth the Psalme though thousands of men compasse mée about yet wil I not