him For yf when we were enemies we were reconcyled â—o God by the deathe of his sonne much more sâ—ynge we are reconcyled we shall be preserued by his lyfe Not only so but we also ioy in god by the meanes of our LORDâ— Iesus Christ by whome we haue receyued this attonemente Also S. Iohn sayeth For this purpose appered the sonne of God for to loose the workes of the euel Agayne tâ— this appeared y â— loue of God to vswarâ— â–ª bycause that God sent his onlye begotteÌ„ sonne into the world that we myghte lyue thorowe hym Thus se you y t whan ther was no hope of saluacioÌ„â—or vs in ony creature God of his owne free goodness seÌ„t dâ—wne hâ—s only begotten sonne to be a Sauyour vnto vs. EVSE This do we perceyue right wel PHIL. Nowe markâ— agayne howe that by him alone we are saued His name is IESVS that is to saye a sauyour for he it is that saueth his people froÌ„ theyr synnes neyther 〈◊〉 there any other name gyuen vnto men vnder heaueÌ„ wherin they must be saued but only by this name IESVS To hym geueth all the Prophetes witâ—eg â–ª that thorow his name â—ll shall receyue remission of synnes that beleue in hiÌ„ Be it knowen vnto you ye men brothers y e by this Iesus Christ remissioÌ„ of synnes is preached vnto you from al thynges from the whiche ye coulde not be iustified by the law of Moses by him is eueri one that beleueth â—ustified He is y â— LaÌ„be of God whiche taketh awaye the synne of y â— worlde He is our resurreccion lyfe He is the waye trueth lyfe No man commeth to the father but by him He is the good shepeheard by whom we be saued from the wolfe He is the dore by whom we must enter into grace He is the vyne in whome we beyng ingrassed muste nedes brynge forth muche fruyte He is oure wisdome righteousnes sanctificacion redeÌ„cioÌ„ He is our peace He is our mediatour aduocate He is alpha omega that is both the begynnyng and endyng of our saluacion Moreouer by him are we at peace with God By him haue we a waye in thorowe sayth vnto this fauoure wherin we stond reioyce in hope of the prayse that shall be gyuen of God By hym is the fauoure of God plenteous towarde vs. By hym his righteousnes are we made righteous By him hath the lawe of the Spirite of lyfe made vs free from the lawe of â—ynne deth By hym hath god the father blessed vs with all spiritual blessyng in heauenlye thynges By him dyd God chose vs before the foundacioÌ„s of the worlde were layd y t we should be sayntes fautles before hym By hym are we made dere to god the father By hym haue we redempcion by his bloud remission of sinnes By him are all thynges both in heauen earth gathered togyther By him we which in tymes paste were farre of are made nigh thorow his bloud By hym we haue and open waye vnto the father By him are all our sinnes forgyuen vs. By hym are we delyuered from the wrath to come By hym and by his bloude are we made cleane from all synne By hym by the oblacion of his moost blessed body done once for all are we sanctified Yea by that one oblacion hath he made perfecte for euâ—rmore theÌ„ that are sanctifyed To conclude by hym is euerlastyng lyfe gyuen vnto vs. Thus se you that by Christ all good thynges chauÌ„se vnto vs that god the father is wel pleased set at one w t vs for his sake as he himselfe witnesseth This is my welbeloued soÌ„ne in whome I am well pleased or for whose sake I am fully contented w t man Hereto agreeth the sayenge of S. Austen All y â— euer receyue euerlastynge lyfe receyue it not but by Christ. Therfore sayth he in another place All my hope is in the death of my LORDE His death is my meryte my refuge succour health â—ife my resurreccion My merite is the compasssioÌ„ of the LORDE I am not w tout meryte so long as y t LORDE of mercies shal not waÌ„t And yf y t mercies of y â— LORD be many I am plenteous in merites The stronger is to saue the more without iopardy am I let vs therfore gyue thaÌ„kes sayeth he to the LORDE our sauiour whiche no merites goynge before hathe heled vs that were wounded reconcyled vs his enemyes redemed vs froÌ„ captiuite brought vs againe out of darkenes into light called vs again from death to lyfe let vs humblye confessyng our fragilite wekenes desyre hys mercy in asmuch as he hath preuented vs as the Psalmographe sayth w t his mercye he maye vouchâ—aâ—e not only to preserue and kepe in vs but also to augment and encrese his giftes or benefytes wâ—iche he hath vouchedsafe to gyue vs. CHRI Amen THEO So be it EVSE LORDE let it so come to passe PHIL. Home dothe this seconde seruyce of your BaÌ„cket please you THEO We neuer iÌ„ our lyues tasted a dysh more pleasaunt confortable to our soules health EVSE We haue now learned what we are of oureselues and wher remedy is to be gotten but by what meanes shall we come by it What thynge maye be the occasion wherby we maye receyue so many â—o great benefytes at y e hande of god the father for Iesus Christes sake I praye you a good fellowshyppe decâ—are this vnto vs. PHIL. I neuer heard a questioÌ„ared in better tyme for the answere to it is your thyrde dysshe whiche before you proponed this question I was fullye determined to set before you And now here it is ¶ The thyrde dysshe PHILEMON REpent beleue the gospell These were y e wordes that our sauiour christ as marke testifieth vsed wheÌ„ be begaÌ„ to preach In the which he declareth by what meanes we may obtaine remission of our synnes the celâ—â—ial heritage of gods glorye Repent sateth he beleue the gospell Fryrste he exorteth vs to repentaunce whiche is as Chrisostome sayth not only to cease from the oldewithour euelles but also to folowe better offices such thynges as ought of dutie to be done as Dauid sayeth Declyne froÌ„ 〈◊〉 euel do good S. IohnÌ„ the Baptysâ—e in lyke maner in the begynnyng of his preachyng sayd RepeÌ„t for the kingdome of heauen is at hand Christ also after his resurreccion commaunded his Apostles to preach repeÌ„taÌ„ce and remission of sinnes in his name vnto al nacions Lykewyse we read in the Actes of y e Apostles then wheÌ„ Peter preached to the Iewes much of christ shewed that he was the same LORDE Iesus whom they had crucyfied they were prycked in theyr hertes sayd Ye meÌ„ breâ—â—reÌ„ what shall we do Peter sayde vnto theÌ„ Repent be baptised euery one of you in the name
of Iesus Christe for the remission of synnes ye shall receyue the gyfte of the holy Ghost Here se you that Christ and his Apostles declared Repentaunce to be a meane wherby we maye obtaine remission of our synnes euerlastying lyfe And that you maye perceyue y e matter y t more playnly I wyll lyuely paynt in moost euydent coloures and set it out before your eies w t certayne other histories of both Testamentes y t ye maye learne to be true whiche Chrisostome sayeth THEO I pray you what sayth he PHIL. Ther is not sayeth he there is not beleue me ony synne in y â— worlde that doth not gyue place to the vertue of repeÌ„tance yea rather to y e grace of God which when we turne to better thiges dothe streyght wayes worke w t vs. EVSE This is a confortable sayeng for synners PHIL. Yea and in al pointes agreable to the holy scriptures For Christ came not to call the ryghteous but synners vnto repentaunce Nowe marke for your helth and consolacion Dauid committed both maÌ„slaughter adultrye therfore was he threatened many euels of God by his Prophet NathaÌ„ Not withstandynge he had not so sone repented hym of his acte coÌ„fessed his faute sayenge I haue offended the LORDE but the Prophet sayde The LORDE hath turned awaye thy syn thou shalt not dye Kynge Achab also dyd slaye his subiecte Nabotch y t he myght enioy his vyneyeard And God therfore sent his Prophet Heli as vnto hym for to tell him that the dogges shoulde lycke his bloude olso euen there where they lycked the blonde of Naâ—othe and that euery one of the house of Achabbe that maketh water agaynst y â— wâ—ull should be slayne c. Achab streyghte waye was ashamed of his faulte repeÌ„ted cutte his clothes couered his flesshe with garmeÌ„tes of heere fasted slept in sacke cloth walked with a heuy countenaunce therfore god seyng his repentaunte herte sayd that he would not bryng in that euel in his dayes but iÌ„ his soÌ„nes tyme. Agayne kinge Manasses in asmuch as he repented for all the abhominacioÌ„ that he committed agaynst god his glory was forgiueÌ„ afterward noÌ„bred among y e fredes of god The Niniuites were threatened withiÌ„ forty daies to be subuerted for theyr dissolute wicked lyuynge But they beynge striken with repentauÌ„ce in y e meane season mendynge theyr lyfe receyued fauour were saued As I may come nerer home as they saye who was more famous in sinne thaÌ„ Mary Magdalene yet in asmuch as she faythfully repented bewailed her synfull lyuyng her synnes were forgynen her Peter denyed Christ yet seynge he repented wepte bytterly for his offeÌ„ce he was fauourably receyued to grace The prodigal sonne althoughe he had consumed all hys goodes was ioyfully receyued in as muche as he repented knowledged his offeÌ„ce The thefe called neuer for grace tyl y e hour of deth yet seyng y t he bewayled than his misery axed merci he was herd weÌ„t w t Christ iÌ„ to Paradyse Do not these histories besydes other shewe of what greate strength repentaunce is CHRI Certes they be very coÌ„fortable for poore afflicte synners PHIL. Thus se you that repentaunce is a great cause of the mitigacion of gods wrath yea an acceptable Sacrifice to God as Dauid saith a sacrifice to God is a troubled spirite a contryte huÌ„ble herte god wyl not despyse Thus repentaunce maketh a man to dye vnto lynne to syne to righteousnes It maketh vs so loÌ„g as we iÌ„ this worlde valeantly to enarme our selues and to enter battayle with SataÌ„ his army coÌ„tinually to fyght against our enemies It maketh vs to hate all wyckednes enbrace all vertue so y â— dayely we procede more more from faith to faith froÌ„ vertu to vertue It maketh vs to hunger thyrst after ryghteousnes It makethe vs to desyre to be dissolued from this mortal body to be with Christ. No maÌ„ is able to expresse sufficiently y e excellency vertu of this true and faythfull repentauÌ„ce And this is it which maketh Chrisostom to crye out on this maner O repentaunce which thorowe gods mercy forgyuest sinne openest Paradise which healest a man contryte brokeÌ„ makest merye hym that is sad callest agayne lyfe froÌ„ deathe restorest the state renuest the honour gyuest boldenes reformest streÌ„gthes powrest iÌ„ agayne grace more aboundaÌ„t O repetauÌ„ce what new thyng shall I tell of the Thou doste loseÌ„ althynges that are bounde All thynges losened doste thou set at liberty All troublous thynges doste y u mitâ—gate All thynges broken doste thou make whole All confused thynges doste thou make cleare Al desperate thynges doste y u encourage O repentaunce more rutulante than golde more bryght than the sonne whome synne doth not ouercome nor defeccion suppresse nor desperacioÌ„ put awaye Repentaunce refuseth couetousnes abhorrethe lecherye excheweth furour madnes maketh loue stronge treadethe downe pryde refrayneth the tonge fasshyoneth maners hateth malyce excludeth enuy Perfecte repentaunce compelleth a synner to suffer all thynges gladly If a violente persoÌ„ seke that that he hathe he forbyddeth hym not Yf he taketh awaye his garment he stryueth not agaynst hym To him that striketh the one cheke he profereth y e other If ony man wyl compell him to go a myle with him he wyll of his owne free wyll go two If he be chastised he geueth him thanâ—kes If he be prouoked he holdeth his peace If he be sharpeâ—ye spoken vnto he speaketh gentely agayne To his superiour he geueth reuerence To his inferiour he is lowlye In his herte is contricion in his mouth confession in his worke all humilite This is y â— perfecte and fruytful repentaunce To him that repenteth so God is at hand a noryssher to hym that is huÌ„gry a gyuer of drinke to him that is thyrstye O repentaunce the mother of mercye the maystres of vertues thy workes are great wher w t thou dost loosen the gylty refressheth theÌ„ that offend reuelest them that slyde â—ecreatest y e desperate By y e Christe appoynteth vs that y â— kiÌ„gdom of heuen is at hande sayenge repent for the kyngdome of heauen is at hanâ— Nither to haue I rehersed vnto you the mynd of Chrisostome coÌ„cerning repentaunce whereby ye maye perceyue as I sayde before that repentaunce is one of the principal meanes wherby we obtayne remissioÌ„ of synnes the kyngedome of heauen EVSE God gyueth vs all grace truly to repent THEO But howe shall we know whaÌ„ we truly repent on such maner that it prouoketh God to be mercyfull to vs. CHRI In dede this is a thynge necessary to be knowen PHIL. To this youre question shall S. Austen aunswere which sayeth Whan thou dost so repent y t y t thing sauoereth to the bytter iÌ„ thy mynd which before was swete in thy life that whiche
dyd delyght the before in thy body doth trouble the in thy herte than doste thou repent well saye to God to the alone haue I synned euell haue I done before the. So that the whole summe of repentaunce is this to dye vnto synne to lyue vnto righteousnes which is signified by our plonginge in y â— font when we are baptised by â—ure â—aâ—yng out agayne as S. Paule sayeth we are buryed togyther w t hym by baptisme iÌ„to death y t as Christ is raised vp from the dead by the glory of his Father so we in lyke maner shoulde walke in a newe lyfe THEO If we repent be sory for our sinnes coÌ„fesse our wickedness amende oure lyfe is this ynough PHIL. This is much certes but not all For repent is not only contayned in your dysh but also Beleue the Gospell Thys pour repentance must be ioyned w t sayth lyncked with a sure perswasion that God the father according to his promyse wyll vndoutedly for gyue you your synnes for his sonne Iesus Christes sake For Caym Esau Pharao Saul Antiochus Iudas many other repented grauÌ„ted theyr offeÌ„ces yet were they not forgyuen Many also among the very Neithen gentiles glystered out wardely with a meruaylous godly conuersacion sorowed very greatly yf at any tyme tâ—ey dydde defyle theyr innocencye with ony spotte â—â— vncleanes yet were they not made heyâ—es of eternall glorye And why Uerely they tasted after a certayne maner of y e fyrst parte of your dysh bâ—â— not of the laste They repented but they beleued not y e gospell that is they sought for no helpe of theyr wickednes at gods exceadyng mercy thorowe Iesus Christ. They had not the christen fayth in theÌ„ whâ—che commynge from a repentaunt sorowfull herte maketh haste to God and approcheth boldly to the throne of his grace that it maye obtayne â—â—uour and remission of synnes RepeÌ„taunce without fayth bryngeth desperacion but repentaunce accompanieth fayth bryngeth remissioÌ„ of sinnes tranquilite of conscience euer lastinge lyfe as we maye easely perceyue by two of Christes Disciples Iudas sold Christ Peter denied forswore Christ. Here bothe synned both repented both confessed theyr offence One by manifest it wordes the other by teares Yet was Peter saued and Iudas damned Now so Because that the repentance of Peter was ioyned with faith hope of forgyuenes the repentance of Iudas was not so Mary Magdalene dyd not only repent of her synfullyuynge but also beleued to haue remission of her synnes And therfore dyd not Christ only saye of her vnto Simon the Pharise many synnes are forgyuen her because she loued muche but he also sayd vnto her w t a lyuely voyce thy fayth hath saueâ— the goâ— thy waye in peace Heare what Chrisostowe sayth If thou be wythered worne away of synne renewe thy selfe by repeÌ„taunce Why may he that repenteth be saued yea vndoutedly Wherof of commeth it to passe of y â— LORDES fauourable mercye Truste not to thy repentaunce For thy repentaunce can neuer put away so great sinnes If it were thy repentaunce alone thou myghteste well feare but seyng that the mercy of God is accompanied with repentaunce be on a good conforte for it ouercommeth thy wickednes god is exceadynge mercyfull so full of gentlenes that he dyd not spare his owne soÌ„ne for to redeme the vnkind seruauntes Saye not vnto me I haue synned to much howe can I be saued Thou canste not in dede saue thy selfe but thy LORDE can And he so putteth awaye thy synnes y t therneth no prynte syghe or toâ—eÌ„ of theÌ„ Here ye se also by Chrisostome that repentaunce w tout an earnest fayth had reposed in the mercye of God can by no meanes put away synne This your dyshe therfore teacheth you both to repent also to beleue For what so euer is not of faythe is synne sayeth S. Paule The worde of the LORDE is right sayth Dauid and all his workes are in fayth A worke without fayth sayeth Chrisostome is nothyng Agayne he sayeth we must haue fayth euery wher I meane that fayth which is the mother of all good thynges y e medicine of helth without the which a man caÌ„not perceyue the doctrine of great excellent thynges but is lyke vnto them which takynge in hande for to swymme ouer y e see wythout a shyp whan they are a lytle forward theyâ— haÌ„des theyr fete beying once â—ery are vtterlye ouerwhelmed wyth the waues of y e see Also in another place All oure elders are reported y t they pleased God by fayth therfore with out that all thiÌ„ges come to nought Hereto agreeth S. Austen sayenge The medicyne of the soule and of all woundes the alone sacrifyce to appeaâ—e Gods wrath for the synnes of all men is to beleue in Christe Neyther canne anye man at all be made cleane eyther from originall synne whiche he hath drawne of Adam in whom all haue synned be made naturally the chyldren of wrath or froÌ„ the synnes which they by not resistynge the carnall concupiâ—ceÌ„ce but by followynge it seruyng it by vngraciousnes wycked lyuyng haue added put therto excepte by fayth they be enunied ioyned togyther iÌ„ the body of him which without ony carnall entysemente mortiferous delectacion was conceyued Thus se you that repentaunce wythoute fayth anayleth nothyng but enunâ—ed ioyned with fayth is a singuler and hyghe treasure For by fayth doth God heare vs. By fayth are we blessed By faythe dothe God appere vnto vs. By fayth do we vnderstond the trueth By fayth do we kepe the commaundemeÌ„tes of God By fayth are we maryed to God By fayth haue we eternall lyfe By fayth are we purifyed By fayth are our hertes made cleane By faythe are we made the sonnes of God By fayth are we iustifyed By fayth we please God By fayth we be borne of God By fayth we subdue Satan By fayth do we ouercome the world To conclude by fayth all goodnesse chauÌ„se vnto vs and without fayth all euell thynges fall vpon vs. No meruiale for as Chrisostome sayth Fayth is the foundacioÌ„ of the moost holy religioÌ„ the bonde of charite the subsidie of loue This fayth confyrmeth holynes corrobâ—ratethe maketh stroÌ„g pure lyuyng garnissheth digâ—ities In chyldreÌ„ it shyneth in yonge men it storyssheth in olde meÌ„ it is a godly spectacle it confirmeth al kyndnes it exalteth degrees it kepeth all offices in the poore man it is pleasaunt in the meane man mery in the rytch honest Fayth preserueth frendeshyypes gathereth togyther assemblies reporteth euer wel it despyseth no man it contenmeth no man it fayle the no man excepte perchauÌ„se he fyrst fayleth her Faith vnderstandeth the commaundementes kepeth the preceptes fulfylleth promises Faith maketh vs acquainted with God constituteth vs freÌ„des with Christ. Thus haue I declared vnto you in
this your thyrd seruyce that the onelye meanes to obtayne remission of oure synnes to be made heyres of eternall glorye is vnfaynedly to repent faythfullye to beleue that is to saye to forsake oure olde lyuynge to become newe men garnisshyng our lyues with al the fruites of the spiryte and to beleue earnestly that thorowe this repentaunce and fayth God wyll vndoubtedly for Iesus Christes sake for gyue vs all oure synnes receyue vs agayne into fauour make vs heyres of his eternall glory EVSE This is the moost pleasaunt dysshe that euer I tasted THEO These thiâ—ges that you haue spoken vnto vs are so confortable y e me thynke I am now enflamed more set on fyre thaÌ„ euer I was before CHRI As I maye vnâ—ainâ—dly reporte vnto you the affect of my herte verely synce that ye declared to vs the goodnes of God y e father toward vâ— thorow Iesus christ I haue felte in my herte such an earnest fayth burnyng loue towarde God and his worde that me thynke a thousande fyres coulde not plucke me away from the loue of hym I be gynne nowe vtterlye to contemne despyse reiecte cast awaye sette at nought al y e pleasures of this world â—herein I haue â—o greatlye reioyced in tymes past All the thretes of god all the displeasures of God al y e fyres paynes of hell coulde neuer before this daye so allure me to the loue of God as you haue nowe done by expressynge vnto me the excedyng mercye vnspeakable kyndeses of God towarde vs wretched synners insomuch that now from the very herte I desyre to knowe what I maye do that by some meanes I maye shewe agayne my herte to be full fyred on the sekynge of his glory For I nowe desyre nothyng more theÌ„ the auauÌ„ce meÌ„t of his name PHIL. It reioyceth me to heare these thynges of you Therfore nowe wyll I as due order requireth brynge forth your fourth yea last dyshe that ye may knowe what ye ought to do agayn toward God for his vnmesurable bountie infinite benefites toward you that yelyuynge in this worlde worthy of his kyndnes maye after this lyfe receyue the crowne of glorye THEO I praye you brynge it forth streyghte wayes for we much desyre to tast of it EVSE There is nothynge that I wysshe more than continually to be fedde with the meate of such an heaueÌ„ly bancket Therfore I praye you go forth to minister vnto vs the residue of oure mooste delicious feaste PHIL. Agreed but marke well for here it is ¶ The fourth dysshe WE are the workemanshyp of God created in christ Iesus vnto good workes whiche God hath prepared that we should walke in them This is y â— sayâ—nge of S. Paule whiche a lytle before this sentence in his Epistle to y e Ephe declareth as I haue hitherto taughte you that by nature we are the chyldreÌ„ of wrath are saued only by grace thorow fayth that not of our selues for it is y e gyfte of god commethe not of workes bycause no man shoulde boste hym selfe And whan he hath this done immediately he exorteth vs to good workes saienge that we are the workemanship of God created in Christ Iesu vnto good workes which God hath prepared y e we should walke in them Here maye ye learne what is your duety to do vnto God agayn seing that he frely thorowe sayth hath saued you withoute any merites deseruynges or good dedes on your behalfe Your duty is to lyue wel to practyse good workes to exercyse al godlye actes to lede a vertuous conuersacioÌ„ and in all your lyfe thorowe the study of innocency to seke the glory of God Now shall your coÌ„uersacion declare and shewe by externall workes whether your repentaunce be vnfayned or not whether your fayth loue towarde God be syncere true procedyng from a godly herte or not For yf your repentaunce faith loue be christian vnfayned than shal good workes ensue followe agreable to the same For faythe sayeth Chrisostome sheweth that whiche is true And out of syncer fayth coÌ„meth charite in so much that he whiche beleueth truly in God caÌ„ neuer be with out it S. Ambrose also sayth fayth is the mother brynger for the both of good wyll righteous workyng Agayne he sayeth A new creature hath this property by grace y e they which are the workemanshyp of god which are made in Christ by an heauenly natiuite be no more sluggysh nother gyueÌ„ to lyue dissolutely but they go forth profyte from vertue to vertue in walkynge by the waye of good workes Also iÌ„ another place he sayeth God gyueth to theÌ„ whom he choseth without merites whereof they maye be garnysshed with merites also And it is not truely sayde that the entent and determinacion of wel workyng is not in the electe For the gyftes of vertues caÌ„ not beydle Thus se you that lynysh fayth whereby ye are ingrassed in Christe brynge the forth good workes Neyther is true repentaÌ„ce syncer faith vnfayned loue in you yf good christen workes do not followe your conuersion Yea they that bost of fayth and brynge not forth the workes of fayth derogate muche the glorye of fayth cause the true and christian fayth to be slaundered yll reported amonge theÌ„ which neuer tasted nor yet at ony tyme in theyr hertes felte what a precious thyng and of howe great strength effycacy power the syncere faythe is Therfore yf youre fayth be not accoÌ„panied wyth good workes youre fayth is dead as S. Ia. fayeth y â— is to saye it is a true christen fayth no more than a deade corse is a man For that faith which is approued before God worketh by charite charite caÌ„ not be ydle but brasteth out into good workes whâ— so euer it seeth an occasioÌ„ gyueÌ„ who can loue his neighbour suffer him to perysshe for want of his helpe Therfore is a faythfull man compared in y â— first Psalme to a tree which is planted by the waters syde bringeth forth her fruytes in due tyme. I am the true vyne sayeth Christ ye are the braunches He that abydeth in me I in hiÌ„ â—â—yngeth forth much fruyte Agayne he sayeth He that beleueth iÌ„ me floudes of lyuish water should flowe out of his belly Here se you that he which dwelleth iÌ„ Christ by fayth beleueth in hiÌ„ briÌ„geth for the plenty of good workes He therfore that is an vnâ—ruytfull tree briÌ„geth forth no good fruite surelye he beleuethe not arighte in Christ neyther hath he the Christen faythe boste and crake he neuer so much of it EVSE Methinke than by your wordes y â— good workes necessarely follow the christen fayth PHIL. Yea euen as necessarelye as the shadow followeth the body death the lyfe THEO They than whiche lyue dissolute withoute doyng of good workes haue not the christen
the vnto you Beholde here it is I wyll sette ennemytâ— betwene the an womaÌ„ betwene thy seed her seed that selfe seed shall tread downe thy heade Nowe dothe this fauour in your mouth THEO Very pleasauÌ„tly forsoth but we do not perceyue what it meneth PHIL. Heare therfore These were the wordes of God the father to the serpent whan by his craft sutâ—elty he had made AdaÌ„ to offende in theÌ„ is comprehended an whole See of treasures For they declare both oure free delyueraunce from captiuite also the victory ouer Satan and all his army When Satan had thought y t he had gotteÌ„ the ouerhand of man and brought him into the same case wherinto he was throwen for his to much arrogancy pryde thynking by this menes to deceiue God of his purpose which had made man for to supply y e noÌ„ber of Aungelles which perysshed when Lucifer fel from heuen God wyllyng to shewe himselfe of no lesse puissaunce to saue maÌ„ thorowe his mercy than SataÌ„ was to condeÌ„ne hym thorowe his crafte pytied streyght way the miserable fall of maÌ„ afterwarde spake these confortable wordes to the great coÌ„fusion of Satan the excedyng consolacion of man I wyl set enimite betwene the an womaÌ„ betwene thy seed and her seed that selfe seed shall treade downe thy head Thys woman is the mooste blessed and pure virgyn Mary which was here promysed to brynge forth y t seed whiche should tread downe Satans heade This seed is Iesus christ which toke sâ—eâ—sh vnfaynedly of that moost pure virgyn became man for our sake And he it is which was promised of God the father to treade downe the heade of the Serpent THEO I perâ—eyue that by the serpente ye meane Satan But what is mente by the treadyng downe of his head PHIL. The destruccion of his power For y e these streÌ„gth power of a serpent coÌ„systeth iÌ„ his head Though his tayle or body be stryken or wouÌ„ded he forceth not much For he wyl put them both in perrel for the safegard of his head but yf his head be once striken or wosided thaÌ„ loseth he his power than dyeth he shortelye Therfore is Christe promysed here not to tread downe the tayle or bodye of the serpent but his head wherby is sygnified the destruccion of his whole power So that nowe Satan shall neuer more triuÌ„ph agaynst Gods electe Do ye nowe perceyue this matter EVSE Yea forsoth CHRI I neuer hearde so muche before PHIL. Well nowe beholde the great excedynge mercye of God toward you that ye maye learne that to be true whiche God speaketh by his Prophet Ose Thy destruccion oh Israell coÌ„meth of it selfe but thy saluacion coÌ„meth only of me Ye haue heard that AdaÌ„ synned that thorowe his synne all we were daÌ„â—ed THEO I remeÌ„ber it well PHIL. The scripture testifieth y â— so sone as Adam had offeÌ„ded he hyd hymselfe fled from the face of god he was so gretly ashamed of y â— synne that he had coÌ„mytted For after his offence he came not to GOD as he ought to haue done neyther sought he grace remission of his synne at the goodnes of God by coÌ„fessing his synne with a faythfull repentaunto herte but streyghtway after y â— traÌ„â—gressioÌ„ of y e precept he fled from God hyd himselfe froÌ„ y â— face of god as they vse to saye putte his head in a busshe lyke a cowarde for feare Oh where are the powers of free wyl yâ— man be once withoute the spirite of God Man hath nowe no power to seke for saluacion but rather continueth styll in his olde wickednes seketh to be far from the face of god couetynge rather to be damned thaÌ„ he would once approch vnto y â— sighte of God synne hath so slayne his courage SataÌ„ in him hath so great dominion yea whan he coÌ„sidereth his wickednesse he is angrye w t GOD hateth God and wyssheth that ther were no God that he myghte escape vnpunysshed euen as an enemy of y â— publigue weale wyssheth that there were no kynge no Emperour no ruler no gouernor no magistrate but all lyke himselfe that freely w tout punysshement he myght deforme renâ—e teare despoyle y â— publigue weâ—e at his owne pleasure Nowe beholde the vnspeakable benygnite of God When Adam had fled from him and hyd himselfe so that he had no hoope of helth but vtterly despayred of all consolacioÌ„ lokyng for extreme tyraÌ„ny to be exercysed vpon him at euery houre accordyng to his desertes God lyke a mercyfull father sought hiÌ„ vp spake before hiÌ„ y e swete wordes heretofore rehersed to Satan y t by this meanes he might receyue coÌ„solacioÌ„ so be saued by geuyng earnest fayth to that moost confortable promyse O the vnmesurable goodnes of this celestial father he is that shepe herde whiche neuer leaueth sekyng vntyll he hath found the shepe that was loste He is y t father which ioyefully receiueth agayne into his house that sonne whiche prodigally had spente all his substance He is y â— Samaritane which healeth y â— wouÌ„ded man He is that LORDE whiche maketh of a blasphemer an Apostle of a ê“secutor a preacher And wheÌ„ce commeth this his goodnes of vs of our good dedes of our merites Naverely but of his bounteous mercy and great goodness Frely and with out deserte worketh he this thynge We are saued by grace thorow faith that not of our selues for it is the gyfte of God commeth not of workes bycause no maÌ„ should bost himselfe We beiÌ„g iustified by his grace are made heyres accordyng to hope of euerlastyng lyfe Not for the workes of ryghteousnes which we haue done but accordynge to his mercye hathe he saued vs. We are iustyfyed frely by his grace By grace are we saued not by workes Yf by grace theÌ„ not of workes or els grace were not grace He dyd chose vs by hys grace not we hym by our workes as christ wytnesseth ye haue not choseÌ„ me but I haue choseÌ„ you Paule also sayth God did chose vs in Christ before the foundacions of the world were layd Hereto pertayneth y t sayeng of the Psalmograph Blessed is he o Lord whome thou haste chosen and taken vnto the for he shal dwel in thy inner courtes That God of his free mercy did chose vs without our desertes whan we were synfull poore w toute onye goodnes or godlynes he hymselfe testifyeth by hys Prophet sayeng I haue chosen the in the fyre of pouertie EVSE So far as I can perceyue nowe God alone is y â— author of our saluacion he of his free mercy and abouÌ„dant grace dyd chose vs to be his heyres before the foundacions of the worlde were layde CHRI Yea and that before we wrought ony goodnes or shewed ony poynte of kyndnes toward hym PHIL. Ye saye trueth And