farre better in the worlde to come both in being and suffering It is not lawfull nor requisite to depryue our selues of our liues nor yet to desire death for any euill that happeneth whatsoeuer for whye it perteyneth onely vnto God to take and giue life accordyng to hys good will and pleasure Hée dyd make vs and can vnmake vs when it pleaseth him hée willeth and desireth nothing but onely that wée be readie and doe gyue our selues wholy to his honour and glorie in suche sorte as he hath prescribed vnto vs by hys worde Whyther it be with losse of life if néede requyre or worldly possessions It maketh no matter bycause that so is executed the offyce indéede of true and perfect disciples What reason haue we thē to feare death for a thing so holy and of such rightuousnesse if it were not for that wée thynke that hée with his vglye and lothsome lookes would haue seignorie ouer vs and take vs into hys rule or Lordship when they so cruelly kill vs If we will giue credit to the word of the Lord we shal clear and plainly sée that then we die not we can not die These same are the words verily verily I say vnto you he that heareth my word beléeueth in him the sēt me shal haue life euerlasting and shal not come in cōdempnation But hath alreadie escaped from death to life He saith also I am the resurrection the life he that beleueth in me although hée were dead yet shall he liue And also all that liue beléeue in me shall neuer tast of sée death nor yet dye These are the true wordes of Gods owne mouth by the which we be fully assured that there is no death at all to them that beléeue in Christ Iesus and that in béeing his he hath alreadye dyed for vs and wée shall dye no more For that by him death is alreadie distroyed and hath no more but as it were the name thereof onely to the faithfull S. Iohn in his reuelation calleth death to the faithful a rest from traueils And in deed to die or departe this lyfe is onely to vs a rest most comfortable with God our lord The lyfe which we liue in this world diserneth not the name of life bicause it is so full of perils daungers but by death as our enimyes terme it we are vppon a sodaine taken foorth of them and deliuered from all and so brought into rest and ioye eternally And therfore S. Paul right wel did desire to be desolued or loosed from his bodie and to be with Christ to ioye of that full libertie alreadye spoken of Iesus Christ dyd distroye death and as death had no power ouer hym no more hath he in none of his members He him selfe sayeth by the Prophet Osée death I will be thy death S. Paule writeth that death hath lost the victorie and is swallowed vp therein And death where is thy sting hell where is thy victorie the sting of death is sinne and the power of sinne is the lawe But thankes be to God that hath giuen vs the victory by our Lorde Iesus Christ So that death hath no power nor naught els wherewith to hurte the faithfull for sinne is the weapon wherewith hée woundeth the which is distroyed by Christ so is death ouercome thus the lyfe that is in vs is eternall and we shall neuer dye And that which our aduersaries offer vnto vs is but a representation of death the which alreadie wee haue ouercome by our conseruator and heade Christ Iesus by whom we possesse the victorie Of the cause that Christ did feare death and hovve constant diuers martirs haue bene sithens in their martirdome c. The xxx Chapter THe cause why that our sauiour séemed to fear death was onely to shewe him self in his manhoode and that he had taken vppon him the sinnes of all mankinde bycause he would winne the victorie of all his enimyes so dryue away the doubt that was in the amased myndes of the faythfull And also to shewe that bicause de dyed death was kylled thereby and could haue no more power ouer vs The true credite and beliefe héereof dearely beloued is verie requisite and necessarie for vs. It hath béene séene that many seruants of God animated by beliefe or faith in the truth of the same haue taken their crosses with great courage ioye and contentment of mynde as if they had gone to feastes of greate honour or as if they ledde a tryumphant Bryde by the hande to sette hyr in some beautyfull throne with the Brydegroome That vertuous Virgyne Agatha when shée was caryed to death out of pryson where long shée had bene with no great worldly delyghtes I warrant you for professing the truth in the Gospell which faithfully shée beléeued sayde that euen then shée went to feastes or a feaste of greate ioye Saincte Vincent or that good holye confessor being laide vppon hoat burnyng coales a broyling for the same trueth made a mocke at his masking persecutors and sayde that the like crosse and death to any Christian was great cause of ioye to hym and all his companion members The godly man Ignacius Bishoppe of Antyoche in the persecution that the terrible Tyrant Traiano committed and vsed against the christians beyng by him an Infidell and his fidell confederates condempned to bée throwen vnto wylde beastes to the ende that most terriblie hée should bée torne in péeces by their terrible téethe Hee hearyng the roaryng of the Lyons prepared amongest other their panyons to execute the sentence gyuen so against him said with great ioy I am the wheat of Iesu Christ which shal be ground by the téene sharp téeth of those execrable beastes to bée made pure and cleane vnto the Lorde And by report of an english mā my friend this translator there was in Essex where as he was borne in England diuers faithfull witnesses as Wats Hawkes Pigot Cawson Ardely Sympson with many others there and as well in other countreis with in the sayd Realme did most ioyfully receiue valiently stande to their tryall by the fire and in the myddest thereof with great gladnesse of their forewardnesse in getting the victorie dyd imbrace the golden flames of the same eche of them saying with great courage O Lord receyue my soule and Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit for thou hast redéemed mée O Lord God of truth Moreouer many of them in going therevnto gladly and in a most triumphant maner like men goyng to moste gladsome ioyes would with great and mightie good will bid their friendes farewell and so in token therof and of the sure hope which they had in the méeting of God and his heauenly company as well those gone before as they that were to come after would drinke a cup of burned wine vnto them as wel therfore as also to moist a little their sences whereby they might be the
the cause thereof The .iiii. Chapter BVt persisting and going forewarde in suche estate as then was ours which was without Christ reputed as alients and straūgers to the common wealth of Israell and to the couenaunts conteyned in the testament and promise of reconciliacion voyde of hope and without God in this worlde It pleased him who is most ritche in mercy thorough his great loue wherewith he loued vs euen whē we were dead by sinne To quicken vs againe in Christe together with him by whose grace we be saued raysed vp made to sitte together in heauenly thinges through him notwithstādinge as I say that we were dead by sinne and at the brimme or brincke of our condempnacion yet he called vs to his knowledge that we might haue lyfe together in Christ Iesus and beinge so farre from him he called vs nigher by the power vertue of his most precious bloud And so sayth Sainct Paule in another place that God dyd set out and cōfirme his loue and charitie in vs for that we as yet beinge sinners enimies vnto him and so iustly condempned he dyd giue his own sonne to most direfull death to reconcile vs vnto him therby and to make vs partakers of his rightuousnes and sanctificacion So that the whole cause of our perdicion was in our selues bicause that by vs sinne had his first beginninge for that we dyd throw our selues so voluntaryly into his cursed handes who dyd dispoile and robbe vs of all goodnesse Wherfore God so louing vnto vs thought it most necessary for our saluacion to take all vpon him selfe for that wée might thereby obteine remission and forgiuenesse of all our transgression for euer And that being at the first true the condempnacion that we had deserued it might aswell be true the healthe and saluacion graunted to deliuer vs from the same So the holy Ghost dooth testifie vnto vs by the Prophet Osea sayinge from thée thy selfe O Israell doothe proceede thy perdicion and from mée onely doothe come thy saluacion And by the holy Apostle sainct Paule it is sayde that when the beninge kyndenesse and loue of our Sauiour God to man warde apeared he saued vs not by the workes which we had done and are vnrightuous but conformable to his mercy by the washing of the regeneracion or new birth and renewing of the holy ghost the which he hath shedde abundantly vppon vs by Iesu Christe our Sauiour for the iustifyed by his grace we should be made heires thorough according to our hope of the lyfe eternal Wherby it apeareth that of the calling by the which God dyd by is mercy most pitifully call vs vnto him dooth procéede all our health and saluacion Bicause as at the beginning God did make vs of himselfe without receiuinge any helpe of our partes and so gaue vs the being of men that we might be wholly his owne pure woork Euen so hath he now called vs and now that we be called he hath reformed and sāctified vs without our helpe in any thing that we might be his children If Lazarus were dead foure dayes buryed and stincking in his graue and coulde not frée himselfe therefro but the God dyd rayse him from death giue him a newe lyfe Much lesse may we frée our selues from death for that we be captiuated and buryed so by the help of sinne that we are much more deade stincking before God then was the corporall body of Lazarous to the sighte of men But as by the might strēgth vertue and power of that voyce with the which Iesus Christ dyd call him he was set frée from the prison stinge of death purifyed of all corrupcion restored to a new lyfe euen so we by the voyce of the same Lorde are raysed againe to a new lyfe Bicause god dooth call those things which are not as though they were For by the efficacie and strengthe of the voyce with which he dooth cal he doth giue a new being For the euill being of a sinner is as no being before god But in callinge himselfe to mynde to call vpon God with a feruent fearefull and louing heart vnfayned his louinge almightifull kindenesse will giue him a diuine essence participated ioyned with the same woord with the which he called him when as he had no sufficiencie at all to doo the woorks of lyfe We our selues in the estate which we were could not by any meanes doo any kinde of thing that might be pleasant or acceptable to God but dyd cōtinue still sléeping possessid of deathe without any féeling of lyfe We dyd not call nor séeke vpon God but were of the numbre of those which Dauid hath spoken of before which haue not knowen God bicause we called those dead which liue dyd séeke the things we knewe not And therefore it was sayde by the Prophet Esaye I am founde of them that haue not sought me haue apeared manifestly to those which haue not asked after me For that we should vnderstand that he onely did séeke vs dyd call vs and giue him selfe to be knowen vnto vs Yet we in the meane tyme were dronken with obliuion buried in sinne in all kinde of wickednesse also were possessid with the diuel whome we dyd obey in such sort that we accoūted his coūsell and workes for the vphouldinge and rule of our lyfe The cause why that God dyd so call vs out of that duskye darckenesse in the which we were to his admirable light was onely the loue that he had to vs in his sonne Iesus Christe by whome he dyd determine to saue vs By Christ Iesus sayth S. Paule we are chosen to the inheritance predestinated accordīg to the purpose of him which dooth will all thinges conformable to the councell of his diuine wil so that we which doo put our trust in him should be in all thinges for the setting foorth of his honour and glory Of the cause of our calling and redempcion Cap. v. BY the purpose counsell of GOD which he dyd ordeyne before the beginninge of the world that we might be partakers of his healthe and saluacion is the cause why he suffered vs to fall that wée might be made knowen vnto his son by whose merittes we should be made acceptable vnto him Sainct Peter sayth that we haue béene elected and chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father in sanctificacion of the spirit to obey him and to be cleansed washed in the bloud of his sonne Iesus Christ Sainct Paule considering the goodnesse of god for his benefits so much vndeserued of men dooth giue thankes vnto him for himselfe and for all the faithful that haue béene called to the participacion thereof and sayth Blessed be God the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christe which hath blessed vs with all maner of spiritual blessing in heauenly things by Christ according as he had
the we cary the venome of waspes vnder our tongues bicause all the commeth out of the mouth is of such force that it killeth Our mouthes are full of curssing and bitternesse we haue our féete swift to runne to shed bloud our wayes manners of liuing are mortal deadly aswell for that they kill as also for that there is nothing in them but calamities and griefes misaduentures and mischiefes which are plaine testimonies of our perdiciō For in that miserable seruitude of sinn in the which we wer tyed deceiued we did not know the way of peace for that we did know nothing that might please god wherby we might be reduced or brought againe to his fréendship we were destitute of the feare and rightuousnesse of god We dyd runne lyke vnbrydled horses into all kinde of wickednesse if it had not béene for the vaine feare of men we had cōmitted openly and publickly all kinde of vice which was hidden in our hartes A man after that the soule is departed from the flesh ther resteth nothing but to bury the body for that it is wormes meate Euen so we beinge deade in sinne and sinfull delighte and God seperated from our soules there remayneth nothynge but to be buryed in Hell and to be made foode for eternall Deathe which we haue most iustly deserued in suche wise that if god would geue sentence definitiue against vs shut vs from the processe of his goodnesse and mercy we should be constrained by our owne proper consciences to confesse and yelde our selues to be well and rightuously cōdempned Bicause our workes our thoughtes our desires hartes and all that we haue within vs hath condempned vs and forced God vnto it who will not suffer so much vnrightuousenesse nor yet tollerate so great and monstrous slanderours of his truthe and bewty of his worke the which wer not our selues before our fal into that estate so miserable all that was in vs was matter and cause of iust condempnacion and to sturre vp the wrath and iudgemēt of God by the which all shal be destroyed and cōsumed bicause that all was darcknesse malediction sinne and the fruites of sinne deformed and extreme contrary to that which God doth require of vs in such maner that we had not nor cold not doo any thing that was good for that we were euil tréese corrupted rotten which colde not bring forth good fruite by reason whereof we haue bene wholly subiect to all the foresayde paynes and punishments cursse malediction that was due vnto vs there hath rested nothing but to be cut of from all the goodnesse of God and put in the company of the diuel and of his ministers all redy condempned Of our blyndnesse in times past The third Chapter THose workes which we hild for good wherein we busied our selues most earnestly in those tymes passed when as we dyd thinck to doo god good seruice thereby they were of such condicion and qualitie that by them we dyd so offend him that we brought our selues more déepely into the lake of perdicion Then we fasted we vsed disciplines of mens tradicions we caused masses to be sayde often tymes we dyd heare them we erected chappels chāteries we prayed with prime and howers we were full of deuocion for soules in purgatori we did chuse dead saints to be our aduocates to the deitie that we might escape from the wrathe condēpnacion therof by meanes of them We dyd make vnfaithfull promises and vnlawful vowes we tooke Bulles we walked stacions pilgrimages we sought for pope antichrists pardons we were awriculerly cōfessed dyd receue the Sacrament the oftener that we might be accompted the more holy merit saluacion the rather We had them that would lende or sell vs merits or deseruinges bicause that Death should not take vs vnprouided But what had we hereby to present to god for to satisfie him for our sinnes these and other the like thinges we did for to serue him with to obteine grace glory at his hāds But with thē all although they were séene allowed of men yet it dyd not open the kingdome of heauen but rather cause it to be shut vp the gates of hell to be set wide open Bicause that all that is most high sublimate supreme in estimaciō amōgst men is greatest abhominacion before god Who dooth neither allowe nor yet is well pleased with any thinge that he dooth not commaunde Neither dooth any man doo any thinge at all according to his will without his spirite norishment Those things which we doo to serue him cannot please him bicause he hath condēpned them by his worde alredy for sinne For that they procéede of our own opinions and the opinions of our fleshly teachers not of the knowledge and loue of his holy will. For all that commeth not therof is sinne as the holy Apostle dooth testifie The summe of all that the lawe diuine dooth aske and require of vs is to loue God with all our hart and our neighbours as our selues to doo right to loue mercy and to haue faith The works that we doo vnder that tytle name of holinesse are not comprehendid in the lawe they procéede not of rightuousnesse mercy and faith without the which it is impossible to please God and therefore he dooth throw them away as wicked and euill and we our selues for most wicked and euil with them And then if the worcks and sacrifises that he dooth commaūd in his lawe be not done according to his cōmaundement he dooth cast them out for euill and abhominable and sayth that he is angry with them so angry at them that he can suffer them no longer How much the more then may he be angry accompt for euill those worckes which he dooth not cōmaunde but by his word dooth rather expressely forbyd them So that all our fayned holinesse is testimony or witnesse againste vs of our greater blyndnesse and condempnacion and will cause the wrath of God to come the sooner to rest vpon vs. Bicause it was all idolatrie with the which we dyd our deuocion It was not to the true God for that we know him not but to those which were gods of our owne imaginacion fayned according to our own inuencion and false gods yet dyd we beare the marcke of the true God which was his holy Baptisme in signe of fayth and fidelitie not to haue none other gods but one the true liuing god nor to serue him by none other rule thē by that which his word teacheth yet we wer to him traytours rebells vnfaithfull Idolatours alyed and confederate with his enimies and giuen to all vnrightuousnesse and wickednesse So that we might say with the Prophet that if the onely mercy of God wer not we had béene for euer vtterly consumed and perished together Of the loue of God and of our calling and
chosen vs in him before the foundacion of the worlde was layde that we should be saincts without blame and irreprehēsible before him through loue and ordeined vs before through Iesus Christ to be heires vnto himselfe according to the pleasure of his good will to prayse the glory of his grace wherwith he hath made vs acceptable in his beloued So by the meanes that god hath elected and chosen vs from the beginninge in Iesus Christ is the foundacion vpon the which is grounded our vocacion by the which we wer called in time to inioy a participacion of that ioy and those good thinges for the which we were elected whereby we may perceiue that how firme soeuer the foundacion of our blessednesse is euen so firme and sure is our vocacion calling so firme true is also the iustice rightuousnesse and holinesse of heauē which by meanes of our calling is cōmunicated vnto vs We could giue nothing to god for our election bicause that he dyd electe vs before our essenciall beinge and when as we were not All the whole cause of our election was onely in Christe Iesu there was nothing in vs wherby we might be called nor yet nothinge whereby we might be iustified Bicause as it is afore sayde we were so fully possessed of the diuell and of sinne that euen of iustice we were allotted to an estate so naked and miserable as might be thought Wherefore of force we must néedes conclude that it is only the grace and good will of God that hath called vs by his Gospell for although we be callid we mai not come to Christe Iesus if that the Father drawe vs not giue vs eares to heare his voyce and a heart to conceiue and vnderstande what is his wyll For that he himselfe sayth none can come to me if my Father draw him not he dooth drawe vs vnto him bicause we should be pardoned by his rightuousnesse that the bond should be broken wherwith we were so surely bounde to euerlasting death For that as the Apostle sayth by the bloud of Christ Iesus we had our redempcion which is remissiō of sinnes according to the riches of his grace which he is moste aboundantly full of He was made to vs by God onely wisedome rightuousnesse sanctificaciō and redemption for that he which neuer dyd sinne was made a sacrifise for our sinnes bicause god would haue vs made rightuous by him so that he is our whole rightuousnesse and ful satisfaction before the diuine iudgement of his Father Bicause sayth Esay the euerlasting God dyd put vpon him all our sinnes which by the potencie power and might of his deathe he dyd destroy and dyd satisfie wholly to the diuine iudgement of God the Father and so obteyne full forgiuenesse and Remission of sinnes for vs. Thus that by him we are made rightuous and beloued of God for that if the diuell were so mightie to put vs in such condempnacion againste the which we had no remedy in our selues much more mightie without comparison is the rightuousnesse of Iesus Christ to giue vs true and perfect libertie and forgiuenesse of all the wickednesse with the which the diuell had fraught and filled vs Bicause as Sainct Paule sayth if for the delight offence and transgression of one deathe dyd rule and reigne by one muche more they which receiue the aboundance of grace the gyft of rightuousnesse shall rule and reigne in lyfe by one only by Iesu christ As by the offēce and transgression of one man condempnacion dyd come vpon all men euen so by the rightuousnesse of one man is come iustificacion of lyfe vnto all men And as the sinne of Adam dyd condempne to eternall deathe all that dyd discende from him euen so the rightuousnesse of Christe is cause by the which are iustified all that beleue in him are made heires with him of his heauenly kingedome Of our iustificacion by the rightuousnesse of god c. The .vi. Chapter GOd dyd not onely call vs giue vs his woorde but also by meane of the operacion and workinge of the holly ghost he did ingendre fayth in our hartes the which is armes and handes vnto vs to imbrace Iesus Christ with all his riches blessings And in this maner we are brought vnto him the which doothe confirme in vs the sayinge of Sainct Paule Christ did redéeme vs from the cursse of the lawe made himselfe a cursse for vs bicause we should receiue by fayth the promise of the holy Ghoste for that we had sinned all and were naked of the glory of God we were graciously iustified by his grace by the redempciō gotten by Christ Iesu the which God dyd purpose for propitiacion by faythe in his bloud to the ende that he would be founde iuste a iustifier of them that haue fayth in him Of grace you haue béen saued by fayth sayth Paule to them of Ephesus and this doothe not come of your selues for it is the gyft of God not by our workes for that we should not boast bicause we are his workes created in Christ Iesus Wherby it doth and may apeare that our iustificacion is a new creacion and a worke onely of god who as at the beginning he dyd create vs by the sounde of his word So nowe by the vertue potency and might of the same he dooth forme and make vs a newe in his sonne He dyd giue them saith S. Iohn power to be made the children of God to as many as doo receiue him by fayth that is to saye to as many as doo beléeue in his name The which are not borne of bloud of the wyll of the fleshe nor of mans will but by the will of god Whereby we sée that to be iuste and rightuous commeth not by nature nor by humaine industrie but by the frée gift of our Lorde God that of his owne proper good will doothe regenerate vs by the woorde of trueth All of vs saith S. Iames be the children of god bicause we haue beléeued in Iesus Christ and for that we doo know that man is not nor cannot be iustified by the woorkes of the lawe but by fayth in Christ Iesus And Sainct Paule sayth we haue also beléeued to be iustified by fayth in him and not by the workes of the lawe for no flesh shal be iustified by the woorkes of the lawe And so the Apostles dooe conclude that the benediction of Iesus Christe which was promised to Abraham and his séede should perteine onely to them which doo receiue him by fayth beléeuing in his diuine promises and doo aply vnto him all that is conteined in them Sainct Paule to the Galathiās sayth again all those that haue faith are blessed with faithfull Abraham bicause all that are of the workes of the lawe are vnder the cursse and malediction thereof So that it remayneth manifest that all those
doth exhort vs to an excelent comforte The x. Chapter OVr conditions qualities estates in this world is common and according to the same which Iesus Christ him self had when he was therin For that the same causes that he did suffer for euen the lyke doe wée suffer for also The cruell intreatie that was vsed and done vnto him in the world was bicause that he was the sonne of God faythfull to his father that sent hym did séeke in all things his glory and teach vnto men suche holines rightuousnes as God his father dyd alow For the same cause doe we suffer also for that by hym made the sonnes of God we doe allow none other holines and rightuousnes then that which he doth incite vs vnto So that according to the cōmunion that we haue with him we doe séeke in all things hys glorie doe hate them that abhorre it and doe condempne by his word all the which he holdeth condempned This is the onely cause that he commaunded his discyples in them vs to reioyce saying and assuring thē with vs that theirs and ours is the kingdom of heauē We ought to ponder this in our myndes and to think of it in our afflictiōs that although they bée neuer so great our afflictors can not let vs from the kingdome promised vnto vs for the God is disposed hath purposed that we shal inherite it by them Christ Iesus is the chiefest and the greatest amongest the childrē of God which are his bretheren Euen so he is the first principallest and greatest in all things The afflictions passions and persecutions that he did suffer were in the supreme superlatyue degrée greatest of all his dishonour greatest his pouertie most déepest all kynd of hatred was had against him in most brauest maner his persecutions most violent and cruell the wrath of God wherewith he was charged dyd lye most heauily vppon him and so heauy a burthen in déede as euen the verie toyle and trouble in bearing therof did make him to sweate by extremitie water and bloud He was not only held and accompted for wicked with the wicked but amongest them hée was thought to be most chiefe principall chiefteine of sinne wickednes and vnrightuousnes Though he wer the onely wisdome of the deitie yet they intreated him as one most ignorant and diuilishe Yea and although it was he onely that was chiefe and principall pacifier and accomplisher of the lawe and maker of peace and amitie with God hys father for all mankynde yet he was condempned for the chiefest breaker of the lawe and greatest rebell to god And also though he were the first begottē sonne of God his best beloued and the Lord of all yet he was accompted for such a straunger and so vnknowne to the people that he sayde of him self I am a shadow and no man but am rather a mocking stocke to men and cast out of my people And S. Paule sayeth of him he did adnichilate him selfe taking vppon hym the forme of a seruaunt and made hym selfe a man amongest men and humbled him self to be obedyent vnto death yea the death of the crosse He was brought so lowe that he discended to the déepest of all euils and did abide the extremitie of all paine and punishment that was due for our sinnes offences We did sée him sayeth Esay and he was disfigured we did desire hym and he was the last and the most simple amongest men full of griefes and infirmities there was nothing in him wherby he might be knowne So that we did not knowe what he was hée was loaden with all our sinnes offences hée was whypped wounded for vs as though he had bene the onely offender that none had offended the maiestie of God but he Here wée may sée that he was the greatest passioned persecuted that could bée wherby as by degrées he did ascend to god to be also the greatest in glorie the fulnesse whereof he doeth participate to all beleuers And therfore for that he hath bene so passioned for our causes sinnes and offences it is iust reason necessarie that we doe not will nor desire to be of better estate then he was him self in the world and sith he was iniured and mocked it were not reason that wée should be honored and praysed sith he was so poore that he had not where on to laye his heade but was forced to weare a crowne of thorne it were not conuenient that we should abound in riches that doe perish nor yet that wée should goe apparelled in delicate royall gorgious rayment Hée was reproued of meny in séeking the glorie of his father we ought not therefore to thincke to be allowed praysed of men in séeking of the same let vs be contented that God doth allow vs accompt it good to fauour the rightuousnes of our cause And also let vs not peruert the ordinance of God sith he doth giue vs a cōforter in our passiōs for that we should be imitators folowers of his sonne bicause in allowing that which the world doth allow wée should forsake the imitatiō of him the effecte of our doings therin were none other but to leaue our being his seruāts and séeke to be his superiors or being but disciples to shew our selues to be more fauored greater thē our master We cānot haue more honor nor more firm and certeine securitie thē to tread the steps to passe the same way that he himself wēt Although to our fleshly iudgemēt to the iudgemēt of the world that in the way which we haue to passe after our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ there be many stones blocks and bryers to stumble at and more readie to tosse and teare vs in péeces that are to passe by them then to let and suffer vs to atteine to the ende of our iourney yet in truth there is none more certeine sure and substanciall passage then the same is to bring vs to that blessedest ende and moste glorious inheritance And sith our swéet sauiour hath gone and made the same so playne before vs there is no cause at all that shuld make vs to doubt of any daunger therin Let vs consider that the crosse and bitternesse thereof is ended quickly and in bearing passing and comming foorth of the same with loue and charitie we doe presently enter into an inestimable glorie as our most louyng swéete sauiour hath promised doeth vndoubtedly accomplyshe and fulfill the same dayly from day to day in all those that doe suffer persecution and are slayne for the profession of his holy and blessed name It is greatly necessarie that all the ordinaunces of god be fulfilled in and by vs as was by Iesu Christ all that god had determined in his diuine coūcell from the beginning and before any thinge hapned vnto him It was saide by the Prophetes that God dyd ordeigne
enioy the most blessed fruite thereof which is as a thing of inestimable vallew appendant and regardant or belonging to the excercisours of the same A great comfort to the Christian with a terrible threate to the vngodly and wicked c. Cap. xvi ALso God would haue vs to vnderstand thereby how great how vile a villanous euil sinne is And how great without measure the rewarde thereof is to those vnfaithfull ones that will not know him for that thereby of a suerty they are set a farre distance from god and brought in hatred with him For if god haue loued vs so much that he hath all ready pardoned and reconsiled vs to him by the death of his sonne then for the rest of the sinne that remayneth in vs he dooth with the greater iustice treate and deale with vs so seuerely as to make vs liue and dye in crosses and calamitie And therefore what a wonderfull correction or punishment may we thinck that he wil vse to them that are so fully fraught with mischiefe that they be euen the seruants of sinne and of the diuell enimies to all kinde of rightuousnes But yet for all this god dooth not punish vs for sinne bicause that Christe hath bene punished therefore already But he dooth punish the sinne that dooth alwayes reigne in vs not for the hatred he hath vnto vs but for the mallice that he hath vnto sinne And if we beinge sonnes children be put in such a streight by our father that for the sinne that is in vs we be iudged of men to be stranges and forriners to him what shall be come of those or them that beléeue not the gospell but are rather enimies thereof He will not onely punish the sinne that is in them but also will of necessitie consume them and their sinnes together to euerlasting destructiō for that they cānot abide so rigorrous a iudgement of God who most horribly hateth sinne as is due for the same The tyme is already come sayth S. Peter that iudgement must begin at the house of god If it begin first with vs what ende will then come of thē which haue not nor doo not beléeue his gospel nor yet wil be none of his houshould If the rightuous can scarsely be saued what will then become of sinners or where shall they appeare If amongst vs I say which are his temple and holy habitacion he doo beginne to punishe with suche rigour what wyll he then dooe when as his wrath and ire shal be inflamed against all both one and the other That is to say as well the househould of god as the houshould of the diuell When he beginneth to take vengeance of that house where the diuell dwelleth is obeyed and all his will fulfilled he will take in his hand the cuppe of his wrath against sinne all shal drincke thereof for all are sinners But the children of God shall drincke tast of the first best purest thereof bicause they may vnderstande what enmytie they ought to haue to sinne Sith god doth abhorre it so much that he will punishe it first in vs it is a great significacion that the rest I meane the reprobate shall be also punished tast of his wrath and shall not escape although they thincke themselues at libertie and loose there from And if we the sonnes of God be subiect to suppe the first and best thereof it cannot be but that the other must néedes drinck and swallow vp the dregges last and worst But for the childrē and sonnes of God I meane the faithful to drinck of that cuppe in such maner of wyse and to that ende that God hath determined me thincketh it is more saludable and healthfull to them for that the lorde will vse suche moderacion so much alay the extréeme bitter taste thereof bicause he giueth it them to none other ende but to bring them to humilitie that being humbled brought low in mynde they might with more greater earnestie in christian affectes imbrace the benefites of him already receaued open their eyes with such clearenesse that they might the more soner sée and behoulde how dearely louingly he loueth fauoureth them So that thereby he hathe made them more capable of his riches as Dauid sayth although the Lorde doo cast them downe neuer so déepe yet he leaueth them not therein but lifteth and exalteth them thereby into his great glory bicause it is his condicion and qualite to exalt the humble and méeke to reise the poore from the dounghill Sith the determinacion of the almightie Iehouah is so fatherly frēdly for vs let vs drinke with a good wil of the cup that he dooth giue vs be they crosses or griefes whatsoeuer for that thereby he dooth call vs to his knowledge which for our ingratitude other vices were seperated frō him for a season with deseruing of most rigorous pain punishmēt for the same And therefore I saye we ought that rather too take in good part the bitter tast of being tost in the floud of any affliction We haue deserued to be chorlishly cheined in perpetual prison world without ende yet god is so mercifull louing vnto vs that without respect of any thinge he hath allotted vs but a lyght penance with suffering a few of short sorrowes calamities But we moste stobbernly refuse thē with al our strōgist forces that we haue Yet for all that sith Iesus Christ hath called vs to the crosse we ought not to grudge at the bearing therof but accept it paciētly bicause of the cōdiciō with it alredy performed If we wold looke and sée about vs we should sée finde know that it is not we our selues that bear these crosses alone but he himselfe in vs for the prophet Esay saith that it is he it is he himself that dooth carry his kingdom vpon his shoulders Whom shal we vnderstand for his kingedom but the persecuted the imprisoned the abhorred and condempned that are kylled for his name sake It is he him selfe that they persecute and punishe in vs his membres for the hate they haue to his inheritance which he beareth on his shoulders So the althoughe he doo giue vs to drinck of his wrath yet he dooth mynister with it such moderacion and gentlenesse as is possible for in the ende all commeth to rest vpon his owne shoulders and so we by him are vnleaden and discharged And therefore let vs loue him and giue him thankes sith we haue deserued to drincke of the extreme bitternesse of his wrath and yet he giueth vs the purest with the moste lenitie and gentlenesse that may be But the dregges which is all the rigour of his wrath of his indignaciō his fury his condempnacion his cursse eternall sentēce irreuocable are kept for thē to drincke which haue not beléeued the Gospell but in stéede of the worship and due obedience to be done therby they did afflict
are we his faithfull by the way and mean is onely that we might bear bring forth more copious plentious aboundance of true fruite So that Christ is he by whom we gaine Antichrist is he by whom those that folow him doe loose And Christ is hée that gayneth and Antichrist he that looseth Bicause that where he thought thinketh that by his tirānicall meanes he had and hath gotten a number for his owne of those persecuted lambes out of the handes of God he was and is deceiued for that Iesus Christ doeth possesse them most mightifully who will in no wise loose them He doeth vnyte and knit them with him selfe most streightly in and with the cheine or bonde of most vnfayned loue for that he will not vary from the truth of hys promyse with the which hée sayeth that neyther the force of hell the diuil death sinne Antichrist and all that they can doo with the helpe of all their mynisters is not so muche to preuayle agaynst them that bée elected as is his strength to preuayle in defence to kéepe them for the inherytance of lyfe euerlastyng which hée hath alreadie gyuen them from the fyrst day of theyr calling The wysedome of God is suche that hée knoweth perfectly that of or amonge all those which hée hath called there is none without sinne but are most subiecte and apte therevnto and to all kynde of wickednesse And yet notwithstandyng hée doeth accept them for hys own and knowing of theyr great féeble weakenesse will not the losse of one of them Iesus Christ dyd know right well that all his disciples would feare faynte forsake and deny hym yet although he knewe it at hys laste supper with most firme loue and fauourable affection he made them promises of performance of the whole summe of hys goodnesse tyll the end and in the end lyfe euerlastyng And did also declare vnto them that his death and passyon should bée to distroy sinne in them and their discendentes or successors and that they with them therby shuld receyue eternall lyfe How be it for all that afterwardes they did all fall feare faint did haue a doubt in him But yet for that he had taken charge ouer them with promyse of forgyuenes he did not deny forsake thē but had regard vnto them with such a loue that he would not suffer them to perish Although that wilfully with a wauering mind they had gyuen them selues into the perdurable estate of perdition yet hee with a francke frée and euerlastyng pardon dyd restore them to strength from thencefoorth against all kynde of weakenesse and infirmytie Vppon vvhat condition God receiueth vs vvith an excelent comfort to the Christian c. The xxiij Chapter SO that nowe although the ouercome with weaknesse we haue fallē vnderneath the crosse of froward furyous affliction and persecution yet God will not forsake vs bicause he hath elected accepted and taken vs for hys owne with promise of lyfe euerlasting Those which he at any tyme of his mercy doth take charge of he will not at no time suffer to perish but wil helpe them in all their necessities and cure theyr woundes to the glorification of hym selfe therein also giue them life euerlasting Bycause that when he doeth receyue vs he doeth it not with any such cōdition that we should doe any good of our selues be faithfull or perseuer in any goodnesse for it for that he knoweth our natures to be to to much corrupted whereby of force it doth and will doo to to much to the contrary But he dooth receiue vs with condicion that we should onely truste in him that he wil be our lyfe remittour pardoner and forgeuer of our sinnes our strēgth and perseuerance our Phisicion and medicine our maister our teacher our saluacion and perpetuall redéemer It is a most greuous offence to deny the truth of God and to giue our selues vnto lyes and errours It is most execrable before God to bereaue him of all worship due vnto him and giue the same vnto a beast it is a true testimony of our ingratitude and that we haue forsaken the lorde by whose liberalitie we haue receiued so great and mightie a multitude of benifits Go my people sayth the Lord by Ieremy the Prophet into the Ilelandes a farre of sée and consider attentiuely and behoulde If the people there dooe like vnto you if any of them doo change their owne proper gods for others which in déede are no gods yet you haue changed the glory of your god for an Idoll God dyd call vs bicause we should accompt him for our father that we should loue and worshippe him as our father he dyd take vs out of the most darcke and drowsie cloudes of deceit and errours and dyd discouer vnto vs that onely Iesus Christe is our moste gracious saluacion When that we went lyke children of perdicion worshippinge of stockes and stones he dyd reduce vs into the right waye when we were possessid of the diuell and of sinne he did deliuer vs from theyr mischeuous tiranny being a lost people he made vs his people treated and vsed vs as his owne people geuinge vs his worde for our spirituall sustenaunce He beinge our onely Lorde GOD and Father we dyd denye him in an Idoll the glory which he had geuen vs beinge his people we chaunged for vainest vanitie takinge in and allowinge of false doctrine and forsakinge of the trueth We haue left and forsaken our true and lawefull spouse Iesus Christ with whome we dyd contract matrimony by fayth in him as saythe the Prophet Oseah and haue commytted fornicacion in seperatinge oure selues from and denyinge the faythe that wée dyd vowe to haue in him when we receiued our Baptisme The Turckes nor the Mores doo dot refuse theyr religion no more dooe the Indians nor the slauishe subiectes of Antechrist denye theirs and yet is it false abhominable and full of lyes But we hauinge a religion so diuine and pure as is possible and also suche a benefite thereby as is wholly holy and trwe euen come downe from heauen the authour whereof is the LORD GOD almyghtie maker of all thinges doo deny it most shamefully for a vain feare of loosing our liues and yet our liues without gods true religion what are they better then liues of brute beastes surely nothinge at all what doo we differ from all other nacions vnder heauen but onely in that we doo know Iesus Christ the sonne by the reuelacion of the father and that we haue by him lyfe euerlasting And where as they walke in the darcknes of theyr misticall errours we if we be ruled by this true doctrine which he hath giuen vs doo walke in the light of lyfe by the worde of truth By vertue whereof and to be conserued and kept thereby God created all things If God had béene our enimie
in moste dispiteous or spightfull maner signe of mockery dyd make him naked dispoiling him of his apparreile cloath him at theyr pleasures with purple and put a réede in his hande and a crowne of sharpe thornes vppon his bare tender head they dyd wounde boffet his tender body with most cruell blowes and strypes of fistes and whips they made as it were a may game of him a king in mockery misconstruing the accompt which ought to haue bene had of him and accompted hym a man deceyued in his opynion a deceyuer of the people and not the sonne of God. Of the same sorte and in the lyke maner doe they deale at this day with and to the faithful the members of his blessed bodie our bretheren onely bycause they call them selues the children of God as in truth they are they doe spoile persecute thē euen vnto the death But they shame not to shew themselues if they be faithful in déed therfore they be not apparelled nor doo not were nor yet delight in the ornaments of honor which are vsed in the world bicause they be not thereof They doe onely apparell thēselues with the spitefull dishonors vsed vnto Christ in thē nothing ashamed therof they are hidden therby couered shadowed from the spite of wicked worldlīgs as he hym self was they are cloathed by their foes the enimies of God with S. Bennets liuery coate in significatiō that they are only allowed known of god though the world doe the contrary that he doeth loue them as childrē though the world doe abhorre them as fooles full of folly deceyued in their opinions of the truth great deceyuors Then are they tryed with a certaine kynde of thing on their heads lyke vnto a myter that is painted full of diuilles which doth signify the kingdom that Christ Iesus gayned for the elected when as hée did were the crowne of thorne did suffer his passion precious death so spitefull vppō the crosse by the diuilles painted theron we may vnderstād the sin hell death the diuil are already ouercome killed they haue no more force against them nor can doe no more harme vnto them then those vaine painted pictures Bicause euen as Iesus Christ dyd lyue héere vppō earth dyd wear those or such like cognisāces or badges of dishonor himself So now he doeth liue reigne vnder those ornamēts apparels in thē his own so scorned spited crucified for his loue and professyng of his name Sith he then is thus lyuing in them then by him in them is distroyed all the workes of the diuill Bycause as S. Iohn sayeth Christ came into the world to the same end Whereby it is manifest that those things by the which our persecutors doe thinke to dryue vs from the knowledge of God for that they know him not them selues are sure signes and perfect tokens of our probation tryall and of the certeine inheritance of his blessed kingdome Wherein after the ende of a fewe houres a moment or twinckling of an eye in effect wée are to enter and shall reigne most trivmphantly in great glorie for euer world without ende It is gréeuous vnto vs the faithful when in béeyng persecuted with the peruerse and crooked crueltie of men if any of vs doe happen to faint and for feare renounce to trust vnto the mercy and ayde of God yet by the gift of his holy spirit we doe not onely repent presently and are greatly gréeved in déede to thinke that so fondly we followed the foolish fleashly folly of our enemies and forsooke the blessed banner of Iesus Christ our carefull captaine But also we are then fresh of force in faith and are litle or nothing discomforted thereby nor do not thinke that much is lost though we did stumble stagger and fall by the crosse as aforesaide and so did doubt in the truth of Christe no nor yet we do not looke for our redirection from men nor momishe mamotes the piuish puppetly pelting patchery priests of Baall It is altogether by the good will and loue of God that we do remēber our selues how that we were not onely without sinne but also subiect greatly vnto the same and not onely to the euils of vs had in experience but also to all kinde of wickednesse by vs vnexperimented And also by his like loue wee do remember that God did make promise vnto vs that his mercy should be euerlasting to the humble and penitent with a speciall pardon and forgiuenes of sinnes without any more remembrance of them For as the father hath pittie and compassion vppō his children Euen so hath the Lord almightie pittie and compassion vppon all them that feare him Bycause he doeth knowe right well of what a myschyeuous massye moulde or mettall we are made off and doeth consider that wée are but dust And therefore sith that our Iehouah our most almightie God as a most louing father hath alwayes had mercy vpon vs let vs be most certainly assured that euen so he wil haue now and alwayes for euer Wherefore let vs forsake and cast of that curssed and execrable mercy offered of our aduersaries the condempnors of the Gospell otherwyse we are to forgo our partes and porcions of the true mercye of God which is at as greate enmytye and contrarie with and to their mercie as can bée Of the true similitude of the true church The xxvi Chapter FRom hēceforth neither let vs not feare nor doubt the trueth of Iesu Christ that is crucyfied nor yet beleue as the blynde doe for amongest the christians at this day the conditiō of Christ and the true doctryne of the Gospell is euen as it was when hée him selfe was conuersant on earth amongest our predecessors The rightuousnesse truth preached taught vnto vs now is so the very same that it was then all one Abhorred and euil spoken of by the world now as then Of those that be giuen to superstition holines such as the world doeth allow he is condempned to bée false fained And of those that be fully fraight with worldly affects wisdom he is condempned to be foolysh very ful of folly all of thē both one other doe condēpne him for an heritike ful of errours And also as at the fyrste he was condemned by the sayde holy and wise of the world the doctors of the law the learned the Bushoppes Prouisors Inquisitors Pharises Iudges of religion Euen so now are their others like vnto them so to be poped that they condemne both hym and his gospel together and as much as in them is they vse and set abroch to kill the heire our principall menber and to throwe hym out of the Viniarde And suche as goe aboute to reedifye and builde againe the Temple so longe layde waste they do reproue and séeke to dispoile them of the chiefe and principall cornerstōe of their
and little the more to increase our tormeÌ„ts for theyr reuenge onely bycause we confesse the trueth of Christe our maister whome they can not abyde Howe can it be sayth our blynd fleshsences but that suche crueltie must néedes ouercome our patience What other thyng may this bée called but a blasphemie wherewith we denie the myghtie potenciall power of God that which he is to vse to all the trust in him a mean to seperate vs from his crosse to which he dooth call vs so amorously and louingly bicause we might be gloryfied with Christ And therefore let vs not heare nor yet giue credit to any suche leasinges and errours Worldly men doo easily suffer those thinges wherin they féele some grief for their gain By these firy tormeÌ„ts wherof we haue such horrour there can be no kynde of harme nor griefe that is euill but rather a great and mightie blessednesse much more to our gayne wherefore wée ought not to beleue nor thincke that our pacience which God giueth wil be ouercome thereby From syx trybulacions the Lord will deliuer thée and in the seueÌ„th no maner of euill shall touch thée sayth the holy ghost by iust Iob the seauenth is the very last instant howre or tyme of death So that when it séemeth to sight that al our euills are heaped vppon vs and that our enimies doo vse theyr greatest tiranny and make account to haue gotten the victory and that wée remayne ouercome swallowed vp with all maner of mischief Euen then the same holy Ghost doth assure vs that no maner of euil doth touch vs. What occasioÌ„ is ther theÌ„ for vs to flie froÌ„ that which hurteth nor toucheth vs not or to make accompt that humain persecution will or can ouercome our pacience or thâ—â— our patience is not able to abide 〈◊〉 All things are possible to them that beléeue saith the Lord So that vnto such it is also certainly possible to haue patience to abide the extremitie and furie of the fyre and to suffer the same with great constancie It was patiently passed ouer by the Prophets in the olde time Euen so it is now to them that be holy faithfull and beléeue Bycause that which the Apostle sayth concerning the same must néedes bée true therein God is faithfull sayeth hée and will suffer no man to bée tempted more then he will make him able to beare but rather with our temptatioÌ„s he sendeth good successe bicause we may suffer Wherby it is most manifest plain that christian patience doeth not onely ouercome death executed by extremitie of fyre but also all the moste cruell kynds of deaths and torments that any Triant and all the Tirants in the world can vse deuise Bycause that with all the tyrannie they can execute God will not alter his purpose from accordyng to his worde nor leaue to admynister some one secret vertue or other to them that be his whereby they shall ouercome death tirannie hell sinne the diuill and all other kynde of mischiefes So full of compassion pittie is our high priest Iesus Christ that as hée ouerpassed temptations which happened to him selfe so will he also by hys power and might ayde strengthen all those which are tempted As the Apostle sayth if Iesus Christ in whom wée beléeue and for whom wée suffer doe knowe by experience our griefes and troubles and is not onely moste myghtie louyng and good to vs in our helpe but also doth suffer with vs as the heade with the members shall he be so weak in vs that he can not abyde the fyre or being strong as hée is will not he help vs in the middest therof béeyng principall in persecution and suffering the same with vs. Is it possible that God will forsake and leaue vs or that we should fear or doubt the same when that for professyng of hys name wée are by our enymies throwen into the myddest of the fyre or that wée should thinke God to bée forgetfull of hys louing chyldren and that hée loueth vs in wordes and not in déedes and truth Surely in so dooyng wée should much iniure hym and gyue hym greate cause to bée gréeuouslie offended with vs for it For vs to thynke that hys almightinesse will forsake vs in any necessitye it were an abhomynable actyon of vs if he haue not as in déed hée hath not forsaken but remembred vs in the greatest matters of a suertie hée will not forsake but remeÌ„ber helpe and deliuer vs in and from such trifles it were abhominable to think the contrarie much more worsser to beleeue it Well my dearely beloued bretheren and sweet fellow members I trust there is none of vs that doeth eyther beléeue or thynke any such thing but rather my hope is that we thinke and surely beléeue to féele his goodnesse according to the saying of the holy Ghost by Esay the Prophet who sayeth the Lorde God thy creator sayeth feare thou not for I haue redéemed thée and called thée by thy name thou arte myne and when thou passest by the water I will bée with thée the ryuers shall not ouerwhelme thée when thou passest by the fyre thou shalt not be burned nor the flames thereof shall not bende them selues against thée for I am the Lord thy holy God of Israell which kéepeth thée God hath alwayes in remembrance the benifite which he vsed in calling and makyng vs partakers of his redemption and in adopting vs hys children neuer to leaue vs. So that when it shall séeme to the iudgement of the world that hée hath left vs that is when he suffereth vs to passe into the middest of the fyre or any other torment euen then is he most nighest vnto vs and so nyghe in déede that he is closely ioyned with vs and temperating the furie of the fyre bicause it should doe vs no harm and for that it might appeare that he is both God and father to all his and will kéepe and defende vs from all euill in all tymes of torment and tribulation If the gates of hell may not preuayle agaynst vs how can the fire which is visible and corporall preuail against vs if eternal and euerlasting death haue no parte in vs how can any thing that is temporal and momeÌ„tarie harme vs will God deliuer vs from the greatest euilles and suffer vs to perish in the little ones no for a certeintie his euerlasting promise is to the contrarie A meruailous comfort to those that are afflicted eyther by fyre or othervvise The xxxij Chapter THe fyre and all things terestriall are creatures of God and serue for the health and wealth of his chosen and also for the distruction of his enimyes As it is written in the booke of wisdom Bycause the iust should bée sustayned and vpholden the fyre doeth loose his force furie for that it béeing a creature in seruing him that is his creator and maker doeth vse hys furies and inflame hym selfe to
any other rule to serue him by then that which he doth cōmaund and teach for a rule by the holy ghost Let vs not feare the creatures but the creator onely Let vs not take héed nor make accompt of things that be visible but of things which are inuisible Let vs not meruaile bée dysmayed nor afrayde of the crueltie of men but let vs behold and be inamored of the clemencie and goodnesse of God our good and louing father Bicause that he in all things is true let vs be louers faithfull and true vnto him Hée dyd not forget that he did knowe and elect vs to bée made conformeable and lyke vnto hys sonne hée doth alwayes remember and will neuer forget that hée called vs of his owne singuler mercie to vs warde and dyd let others alone in the same condempnatiō in the which we were and béeyng vnrightuous as we were in déede he did iustifie vs washe vs by the bloude of Christ bycause wée should be holy in his presence Let vs remember all this how he loued vs in Christ when we were his enimies and would not pardon him in his passions one iote Yet he did pardon vs and gyue hym self vnto death yea the most vile death on the crosse to distroy sinne the which but for hys mercye and loue had distroyed vs vtterlie and all bycause wée should haue life in hym Syth hée loued vs so then béeing so horrible sinners and hys cruell enymies it is most sure and certain that he loueth vs nowe muche better for that he hath so rebuked and killed sin in vs that we are reconsiled vnto him and hath also made vs the children of his mercie And therefore for that hée doeth so loue vs with the burnyng bowels of his true loue he will also gloryfye vs in Christe for why all that he doth vnto vs is to the same ende wherefore he wyll that we suffer whilst wee liue in this worlde that we might be partakers of the crosse and death of Christe also of his resurrection and gloryficacion So that to be like vnto hym in suffering heere he gueth vs to vnderstand that we shall be with him and like vnto hym in his kingdome and therefore it is very necessary that wee passe many tribulationes in entring therinto Wherefore with shuttinge our eyes to all the impedimentes of our glorificacion and with geuing no eare to the resons of our flesh and the world let vs run with pacience to the battayle wherevnto we are so louingly pressed lookinge to our chieftaine Iesus Christ who hauing before him as we haue such ioy as is vnspeakeable did willingly suffer his crosse nothing regarding the dishonor of hys death and is set on the right hande of God in his inestimable glory Thus considering the contradiction that his enimyes vsed to him selfe whilest be was on earth amongest them let not vs be troubled nor faint in our minds at any kynde of calamitie but with a great and stout courage let vs go forward and not stay to rest till that we haue gotten that Iewell which is his blessing and set vp for a pryse or rewarde for all those which perseuer vpryght and in the true knowledge of hys trueth and obedience of the same till the ende An entrie into the conclusion vvith many godly exortations The xxxiii Chapter ANd therfore let vs haue alwayes before our eyes the admonytion and counsaile that our onely sauiour Christ did often exhorte hys disciples with saying let your myndes bée possessed with patience and be ye prudent and wyse as Serpents and simple and innocents as Doues Let vs be therfore so wyse and prudent that we doe vse all things at all tymes to the glorie of Christ our redéemer Wherefore let not our wysedom bée cautelous and subtile with malyce agaynst God according to the worlde but according to the knowledge that we haue from God by his good will so that we may be guyded by the holy Ghost in all that we doe or suffer And let our innocencio bée no otherwyse but in such maner as wée may vouchsafe with good will to tast of the bitter gall hatred and enmitie offered vs by men so that we be not ignorāt of that we be not ignorant of that which belongeth to christianitie bicause that to be otherwise simple were but rudenesse and bestiallitie and no simplicitie euangelicall Let vs not be slow nor colde in the workes of the Lorde but with a feruente zeale to GOD with knowledge and Christian modestie Let vs follow our forefathers the Prophets and Apostles in our vexatiō calling that wée may haue all one selfesame féeling in Christ Iesus Let vs all and euerie one of vs confesse hym in all places and the rather that edification might come therby so that we cast not pearle amōg swine Let our communication be seasoned with salte of knowledge of fayth with the word of god so that it may be gracious acceptable to the hearers And let thē not be to scorne mock and murmour at the ignorant blind such as be alwayes vnder the clouds of errors curssed captiues vnder the emperie gouernmēt of the diuil but alwaies let vs speak with grauitie christian honestie in the fear of the lord Let vs vse our words with all honor reuerēce bicause we may stop the mouthes of euil curssed speakers constrain thē to say cōfesse the God hath his dwilling in vs Behold what the Apostle Peter writeth saith the hée that speaketh let him speak the words of God let him not onely pronoūce with hys mouth but also let the same come frō his hart So that whē we speak we should thinke bona fide from our hartes to be beléeued therby not to be hard onely bicause God is neither contented nor any thing pleased that we should onely haue him dissēblingly in our mouths nothing in our hartes wherfore doth he cōmaūd vs earnestly to engraue print his picture law gospel most déepely in our best booke of remēbrāces which is our hartes for that from thēce it might come to our tonges bicause it shuld not happen to vs as it doth to many which for the ther haue him but in their toūgs to talk of if they chaūce to be examined by their enimies what Christ is they do easly deny forsake fear remain doubtful of him are occasiō by their incōstācie for others to do the lyke bicause so shamefully slēderly they let slip their faith do doubt of Gods most mightie power But although the some of these weaklings do so let vs be firm in our faith not faile to shew the same in profession of true religion which assuredly came downe from heauen It is not the religion of men which is contented with wordes onely and outwarde shewes but it is of God which asketh first and principally the