and Sauiour with the holy Ghost one very God worldes without ende to whome alone be all honour glory for euer and euer Amen ¶ A brefe rehersall of all those thynges that go before THus haue I declared vnto you the moost swete moost confortable moost plesauÌ„t moost meri newes out of heaue at the coÌ„maundement of the hyghest puissauÌ„t God Ye se iÌ„ how miserable a case ye are redacted and fallen by the synne of AdaÌ„ howe that by hym ye are all damned and made y â— sonnes of wrath Ye se that of your selues because of youre imperfeccioÌ„ ye are not able to do any good thyng that maye satisfy y â— deuyne wyll apease Gods wrathe Ye se that y â— workes of the lawe can not make you fre in y â— syght of god neyther are ye able of youre owne strenth free wyll so pureâ—y so spiritually to do theÌ„ as the law requireth that you may obtayne remissyon of youre synnes by doynge of them Ye se also that the sacrifyces of the olde lawe can neuer putte away synne as for workes of your owne inuencioÌ„ are mooste of all imê‘fecte mooste vnapte to purchase grace fauoure Thus se you that of youre owne selues of your owne polecy of your owne righteousnes ye are not able to escape the dauÌ„ger of daÌ„nacion yea rather daÌ„nacioÌ„ it selfe Therfore dyd I declare vnto you the coÌ„fortable newes out of heueÌ„ shewyng you that God not for the workes of righteousnes that ye haue done which in dede are none but of his owne free great mercy hath vouchedsaufe to preserue and kepe you from the dauÌ„ger of SataÌ„ sinne death hel yea and y t by this his welbeloued sonne Iesus Christ which this daye is borne in the cytie of Dauid to be the sauioure of y â— world So that for Iesus Christes sake God is well pleased with you Ye haue heard that y â— lawe hath condeÌ„ned you in asmuch as ye are traÌ„sgressours of it and hath made you accursed FroÌ„ this cursse of the lawe shal christ delyuer you not froÌ„ the lawe it selfe that you shoulde lyue vngodly after a remisse and dissolute maner for such haue no in heritauÌ„ce in y â— kyngdome of Christe of God but from the curse seruitude bondage damnacioÌ„ of y e lawe For he shall fulfyll y â— whole law eueÌ„ to the vttermoste And hys fulfyllynge shall be accepted before God the father for the fulfyllynge of so many as beleue in him And he settyng you at libertye from the curse of the lawe shall gyue you a newe herte put in you a newe spirite he shal take away your stony herte gyue you a fleshly that is a softe gentle herte redy to enclyne to y â— accoÌ„plyshment of Goddes wyll He shal gyue his lawes into your myndes wryte them in your hertes y â— you maye euer after franckely and with a free spirite fulfyl them Ye haue hearde how this Christ shall brynge you oute of the darkenes into the lyght of trueth by the syncere declarynge of hys fathers wyll For he is the lyght of y â— world God hath gyuen hym to be a witnes vnto the people a captayne a mayster amonge the heythen And this his doctryne shall he confyrme with such miracles as shall euydeÌ„tly shew proue that he is that true Messias whiche was promysed to come Agayne ye haue hearde y â— all his good dedes are youres For with hiÌ„ hath God the father also gyueÌ„ you all thynges so that he is your wysdome your righteousnes your saÌ„ctificacion and redempcion Ye haue herde also that he shall offer himsele for you to God the father an oblacion swete swellynge sacrifice vpoÌ„ the Altare of the crosse that by this one oblacion sacrifyce of his mooste blessed body done once for all all your synnes shall be put away ye shal be made perfecte and wasshed from all deformitie so cleane by christes bloud as though ye had neuer offended heretofore Ye haue hearde agayne that as christ shal dye for your siÌ„nes so shal he ryse agayne for your iustificacion obtaynynge for you the victory of synne death and hell y â— that his moost glorious resurreccion Ye haue heard y â— after he is once rysen agayne he shal here remayne certayne dayes than ascende corporally into heauen sytte downe on the ryght hande of God y e father sendynge downe the holye Ghoste which shall lede you into all trueth Ye haue hearde also that Christe syttynge on the ryght hand of God the father shall not be ydle but styll prouyde seke youre helth He shall be your mediatoure aduocate He shall make contynuall intercessyon for you He shall pleate youre cause before God his father He shall auaunce your matter before the deuyne presence Yf ye at any tyme excite or styre vp gods wrath against you thorowe your iniquitie he shall streyght wayes apease it and make God the father styll youre louynge father which elles would be to you an extreme reuenger Ye haue herde agayne y â— Christe at y â— laste daye shal come gloriously froÌ„ y â— right haÌ„d of his father to iuge the quicke the deade howe that after the iudgemente is once done ye shall enter into glory with hym lyuynge for euer after in such ioye pleasure gladnesse as can not by any meanes eyther be expressed by tong or coÌ„ceyued in herte All these coÌ„modities pleasures profyttes shal ye haue by this your new kiÌ„ge sauiour Iesus Christ which this day is borne in Bethleem a citie of Dauid What more pleasaunt and thanckeworthye newes coulde be brought to you then theise What coulde haue set suche a ioye in your hertes as the hearynge of these newes CaÌ„ any thyng lyke vnto these chaunse vnto you so great so welcome so acceptable so ioyful Uerely yf ye seriously coÌ„syder the misery wherwith ye were obruted ouerwhelmed before ye shall easlye perceyue that ye haue an earnest cause to reioyce No prisoner no captiue no bond slaue was euer in so great captiuite thraldome as ye were before these news were brought to you Iâ— a prisoner reioysethe for his delyuerance oute of pryson whiche once muste nedes haue an ende yf none otherwyse yet at the leest by death howe great a cause theÌ„ haue you to reioyse for your deliuerauÌ„ce which were captiues prisoners to that horrible monsture and pestiserous serpent euen SataÌ„ hymselfe yea and that not for certayne yeares but for euer worldes wythout ende Neyther was it youre body alone that was in captiuite and boÌ„dage but your soule also both your body soule were captyue to hym so that yf this your newe kynge redemer
afterward gaue of it to her husband whiche dyd eate in lyke maner so y t streyght wayes both theyr eies were opened they saw that they were naked that is perceyued ryghte well y t they were nowe become miserable wretched synfull redacte to extreme calamite and vtterlye fallen from the fauour of God for the transgressioÌ„ of his mooste blessed precepte whiche thyng made them to be very much ashamed and to hyde theÌ„ selues froÌ„ the face of God O miserable pitefull chauÌ„ge O chaunse more perryllous than it can be expressed Nowe is a man become of immortall mortall of good euel of righteous wycked of wyse folysh of holy prophane of vertuous yll desposed of fre boÌ„d of mercyful cruel of godly deuilysh of faythful vnfaythfull of spirituall carnal of true false of a vessel of mercy the vessell of wrath of y e soÌ„ne of God the soÌ„ne of the dyuell of the heyre of glory the heyre of damnacion Alas whan man was in honour he perceyued it not and therfore is he nowe becomme euen lyke vnto a brute beast He is altogyther wythout the spiryte of God he is all carnall and fleshelye therfore can not gods spiryte abyde in hym neyther can he perceyue those thynges that pertayne to the spirite of God yea that is more to be lamented not Adam alone is fallen into this daÌ„pnable state but also al his posterite For thorowe this his faulte wycked synne all the earth with the inhabitaÌ„tes therof are accursed So that so many as come of thys olde AdaÌ„ are daÌ„pned cursed throwen from the fauour of God This one transgression of Gods coÌ„maundement hath made you al subiecte to the yoke tyranny of Satan and bonde to euerlastynge damnacion Adam is youre father and you are his childreÌ„ Loke therfore in what case he is in the very same are you AdaÌ„ is carnall therefore are ye carnall Adam is wicked therefore are ye wycked Adam is the sonne of wrathe therfore are ye the soÌ„nes of wrath AdaÌ„ is a lyer nothing but vanite therfore are ye liers and no thyng but vanite AdaÌ„ is captyue bonde prisoner to Satan synne deth hell therfore are ye captiues and bond prisoners to Satan syn death and hell Howe can it otherwyse be That whiche is borne of flesshe is flesshe Do meÌ„ gather grapes of thornes or fygges of briers So lykewyse euery good tree bryngethe for the good fruyte but a corrupt tree bringeth forth yll fruyte A good tree can not bryng forth yil fruyte nother a corrupte tree good fruyte Euen as it is impossible for a sower crabbe tree to brynge forth sauery and swete apples so is it impossible for a synfull man drowned and buryed all in synne I meane AdaÌ„ to beget any other theÌ„ synnefull vngodly and wicked chyldren A good tree oute of the good treasure of his herte briÌ„geth forth that which is good And an yll man out of the yll treasure of his herte bryngeth forth that which is yll Nowe was Adam euell therfore whatsoeuer he brought forth muâ—te nedes be euell Yea verely by the synne of this one maÌ„ AdaÌ„ euel was brought forth vpon all men vnto daÌ„pnacioÌ„ By the dysobedyence of hym were ye all made synners and by nature the sonnes of wrathe For this one maÌ„nes faulte dyd synne enter into the worlde thorowe synne death and so came death vpon all men in so muche as all ye haue synned Ye were therfore begotten in synne coÌ„ceyued in synne brought forth in synne None of you al are pure but euery one is polluted wyth vngodlynes Ther is no differeÌ„ce all haue synned and want the glory of god Ye are corrupte and become abhominable in youre studies there is not one that doth good no not one for the LORDE hath loked from heuen vpon the children of men for to se yf there were anye that hathe vnderstandynge or seakethe after God But all are falleÌ„ from y â— true waye they are become all togyther vnprofitable there is not one that doth good no not one Their throte is lyke a wide mouthed graue they worke deceyte wyth theyr tonges the poysoÌ„ of adders is vnder theyr lyppes Theyr mouth is ful of cursynge bytternes theyr feete are swyfte to shed bloud Destruction wretchednes are iÌ„ theyr wayes they knowe not the waye of peace neyther is there anye feare of God before theyr eyes Theyse are y e synful wycked and daÌ„pnable fruytes which you full of synne wyckednes and daÌ„pnacion brynge forth Your mindes thoughtes also are prone to euel at al tymes Ye are not able once to thynke a good thought of youre selues Who beyng borne of a woman can appeare pure and cleane in the syghte of God before whome the starres are not pure What is thaÌ„ to be thoughte of maÌ„ which is nothynge but duste and a very worme Who is able to sai my herte is cleane and I am pure froÌ„ synne Ye haue al synned ye are all become vncleane all youre ryghteousnes are lyke a cloth polluted w t menstrue Ye are fallen as a leafe and youre iniquityes haue caryed you awaye as the wynd Yf ye say that ye haue no synne ye deceyue youre selues the trueth is not in you For your herte is wycked and inserutable Ye are vnprofytable seruasites Yea ye are Hypocrites and wycked and the mouthes of you al haue spoken folyshnes Al y â— sorte of you haue gone astraye as shepe euerye one haue walked after his owne fantasye Ye all are of stuburne harte ye loue vanities seke after lyes To be shorte ye are folysh people vnwyse chyldren and madde To do myschefe ye are wyse ynough but to do good ye are very fooles Here may ye se as in a clere mirroure youre deformyte youre botches youre sores youre greuous woundes Nowe maye ye learne what ye are of youreselues certes very fleshe that is to saye al that euer noughte is enemyes to God louers of your selues captyues to Satan and fyrye brondes of hell What remedy What shyfte wyl ye fynd Whyther wyl ye go to what coast wyl ye turne you Howe wyll ye escape the fearce wrath of God Whyther wyll ye go from hys spyrite Whyther wyll ye flye from his face Yf ye go vp into heauen he is there yf ye go downe to hel ther is he redy also Yf ye take your flyght in the mornynge dwel in the furthest parte of y â— see verely his hand wyll retche you there yea and hys ryght hand shall catch you What wyll ye do nowe to flye profyteth nothynge to abyde also bryngethe dampnacion Thus se you that yâ— can not escape by no meanes To demulse mitigate swage y â— deuyne yre Gods wrath ye are not able Your syn hath made God angry w you What
haue ye nowe I praye you wherwith ye may please him your selues as ye haue hearde here to fore are the children of wrath be gotten in synne conceyued in syn borne in synne carnall wycked and vngodly your herte is corrupte vncleane stynkynge flowynge wythe iniquite arrogaÌ„t puffed vp proud hatyng God louyng it selfe full of hypocrisy and all euell Your fruytes are lyke vnto your selues y â— is detestable in y â— syght of God What â—ertu theÌ„ can ther come out of such corrupte and polluted place What purenes can ther flow out of a puddle so fylthy so dyrtye so vncleane so stynkyng so vnsauery Thus se ye that ye haue no waye to pacyfye Gods wrath whiche ye haue styred vppe agaynst youre selues thorowe your owne wickednes What therfore remayneth but only that you loke for all cruel and greuous thinges Helles mouthe is open redye to swallow you vp The fyre of hel which shall neuer be quenched tarieth you Euerlastynge tormentes Intollerable punishments perpetual turmoylynges abyde you Ye are appoynted to the place where wepyng gnasshyng of teth is where the fyre is inextinguible where the worme of them that be there neuer dye What wyll ye do nowe What shyfâ—e wyll ye fynde Wyll ye fulfyl the lawe whiche God gaue you by Moyses and so pacifye his wrath But this to do ye are not able For of your selues ye are nothynge but flesshe and cleane without God Flesshe and bloud can not possesse y â— kyngedome of God They that are flesshly regarde those thynges that pertayne to the flesshe And the desyre of the flesshe is death Yea the desyre of y â— flesshe is emnite agaynst God For it is not subiecte to the lawe of God neyther canne it be by any meanes They that are in the flesh can not please God Yea they that lyue after the flesshe shall dye â–ª And he that hath not Gods spirite pertayneth not to God Now haue not ye the spirite of god in asmuch as by Adam ye be all flesshe for the flesshe lusteth agaynst the spirite the spirite agaynst the flesshe howe than wyll ye fulfyl the lawe to apease Goddes wrath Moreouer the lawe is spiritual that is it requireth not only polytyke cyuple workes but also the pure affectes and cleane mocyons of the spirite and must be fulfylled not with the externall worke only but also wythe a francke and free herte doing the workes of the law not of constraynte for feare of punyshment but of loue For perfecte charitie or loue casteth out feare But as the law is spirituall so are ye carnall that is prone and redye to all noughtines buryed in synne and no lesse bonde to Satan than a bought slaue is obstricte bonde vnto his mayster Nowe is the law you of a contrary nature When then shall ye agre The lawe I confesse is holy the precepte is holy righteous goood but ye are vnholy wicked euel How wil ye theÌ„ accomplysh the lawe that ye maye pacify Gods wrath deserue remission of youre synnes thorowe youre owne merytes and desertes CaÌ„ he that is deade erecte lyfte vp hym selfe Can he resume take agayne his armonies Can he recouer new strengthes CaÌ„ flesshe teach flesshe no more to synne CaÌ„ the Egle commaund her selfe no more to flye CaÌ„ the Dolphynne cease to swymme Can the man of Inde chaunge hys skynne and the catte of the mountayne her spottes Nether caÌ„ ye of your selues cease to be y â— ye are nor yet worke good which so long haue ben exercysed in euel The lawe kylleth it gyueth not lyfe The lawe worketh wrath displeasure damnacion it purchaseth not grace fauoure mercye remission of synnes peace and tranquilite of coÌ„science For cursed is euerye one that abydeth not in all thynges y â— are wrytten in the boke of the lawe that he maye do them No man fulfyllethe the whole lawe ergo no man is iustifyed by the lawe but rather cursed and brought to dampnacion For he that kepeth the whole lawe and yet offende the in one is made gylty of them all Moses gaue you a lawe and yet none of you all do fulfyll it Neyther ye nor youre fathers were euer able to bere y â— yoke of the lawe Who euer entred into the glorye by the fulfyllynge of the lawe Wyl ye therfore seke to be iustifyed by the lawe ye are vtterlye fallen from that which ye soughte You not knowynge the righteousnesse of God and sekyng to stablysh youre owne ryghteousnes can not be made subiecte to the ryghteousnes of God The lawe was gyuen you by Moses from God not that you shoulde seke to be made ryghteous by it which is a thynge impossible but that it shoulde declare to you the wyll of God proue the obedieÌ„ce of your herâ—e kepe you in an honest and godly trade of lyuynge refrayne you from wycked doynge represse ydolatry swearing vngodlines disobedieÌ„ce thefte maÌ„slaugter adultrye false wytnesse c. set before your eies your abhominable wickednes and synful lyuyng that you may learne to knowe your selues and make the more hast to approch vnto Gods mercy For by y â— lawe commethe the knowledge of synne Ye should not haue knowen synne but by the lawe For ye had not knowen concupiscence excepte the law had sayd thou shalt not coâ—ytte The lawe is a schole mayster to teache you what ye ought to do Whose admonicioÌ„s warnynge and instruccions seynge ye folowe not nor obeye as it teachethe and as ye oughte it rather coÌ„deÌ„pne thaÌ„ saue you kyll then quicken you For no fleshe shalbe iustifyed by y â— workes of the lawe in y â— syght of god Your laboure therfore in thys behalfe is vayne seynge that ye seke Gods fauour remission of synne iustificaâ—ion saluacion and eternall glorye by y â— workes of the lawe only Whyther wil ye now fly wil ye pacyfye Gods wrath by offrynge vp the sacrifyces of the ceremoniall lawe This also is in vayne For yf y â— workes of y â— moral law I meane the. x. commaundementes brynge no maÌ„ to perfeccion and are nothyng lesse thaÌ„ able to pease y â— deuine wrath by cause of theyr vncleanes whiche do y â— coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tes yea rather which do theÌ„ not how thaÌ„ caÌ„ this be brought to passe by external ceremonies which are nothing but types fygures cloudes shadowes of good thiâ—ges to coÌ„e Here therfore do ye no thing els thaÌ„ as the commune Prouerbe is go about to make an Ethiop whyte For as touchynge youre sacrifyces it is manyfest by diuers places of the scriptures that God hath no pleasure in theÌ„ Wherfore sayeth he do ye brynge vnto me enlence out of Saba and swete smellynge Calamus oute of farre countrees Youre burnt offrynges are not
clypper shal he hold his peace nether shal he once opeÌ„ his mouth Thus because it is his pleasure shall he offer hym selfe vpon the altare of the crosse by hys moost precious bloude paye our rauÌ„some By this his glorious passion shal he take vpon hym your infyrmities beare awaye youre synnes By his moost blessed woundes shal al your iniquities be putte awaye Al your synnes shalbe layd on his backe His bloud shall make you cleane from al your synne By his bloude shal ye haue remission of your synnes By y e precious bloude of this Christ as of an immaculate and pure lambe shal ye be redemed from the tyrany of Satan By y â— oblacion of Christe shall ye be made free from al wyckednes delyuered from the power of darkenes caried into the gloryous kyngedome of God For he is the lambe of GOD whiche taketh awaye the synne of the worlde This is that sonne of man which is come to saue that which was lost not to destroy the soules of meÌ„ but to saue theÌ„ And al this shall come to passe by the oblacion offryng of his owne moost precious blessed body For he shal by your Bysshop not suche one as also shall haue nede to offer for hys owne synnes but for youres onely nether shal he be like y â— bishoppes of y â— old law which offer dayly for y â— sinnes of y â— people suche sacrifyces as can neuer take away sinne nor yet make men perfecte But this your Bysshop shalbe godly innoceÌ„t fautles segregated from synners and made higher then y e heaueÌ„s whiche shal not nede as the other Bisshoppes do dayly to offer sacrifices first for hys owne synnes afterwarde for the synnes of the people For he beynge without al synne shall once for all offer hymselfe And this one sacrifyce or oblacion of hys mooste blessed bodye shal be able to saue so many as beleue in him euen to the vttermoost Christ beynge the Bysshop of good thynges to come shall enter into y â— holy place by hys own bloud fynd euerlastyng redeÌ„pcioÌ„ He thorow the holy Ghoste shall offer hymselfe immaculate to God pourge your conscience from deade workes to serue the lyuynge God HeÌ„ once for al offeryng vp him selfe shall take awaye the synnes of many By the oblacion of the bodye of Iesus Christ done once for all shall you be sanctifyed With one oblacioÌ„ shall he make perfecte for euermore theÌ„ that are sanctifyed Here se you of what iÌ„estimable pryce the sacrifyce of Christ your bysshop is The vertue of it neuer ceaseth but endurethe in perfecte strengthe for euer euer y â— the sinnes of y â— faythful repentant maye be forgyuen at all tymes by it Christes bloud shall not crye for vengeauÌ„ce as y â— bloude of Abell dyd but for mercy grace fauour Yea by Christes bloud shall all thynges both in heauen eâ—the be pacifyed apeased set at a stay reconcyled to God the father abouÌ„daÌ„tly So that nowe ye shalbe purged of al your synnes by this one omnisufficiente oblacion of Iesus Christe your Bisshop For he alone shal treade downe the wynepresse take vpon his backe the great importible burden of your synnes all He by his death shall slaye death ouercome SataÌ„ synne hel desperacion all y â— euer maye be agaynste you So y â— nowe ye shal be made so cleare as though ye had neuer offeÌ„ded Ye shall now be so set at liberty as though before ye had neuer ben in captiuite And all this shall come to passe by the deathe alone of thys yonge chylde nowe borne whose body shall be the alone sacrifyce of all your synnes vnto the which as vnto an holy ancker ye muste alwaye ronne for ayde refuge succoure trustynge assuredly that his death â—s youre whole hope youre meryte youre refuge helth lyfe resurreccion For youre meryte is the compassion excedyng mercy of Christ your LODRE ye are not w toute meryte so longe as y â— LORD of mercyes doth not fayle And yf the merytes of the LORDE be many than are ye plenteous in merites The more able y â— he is to saue the more safe and w toute dauÌ„ger are ye Thus se you what a great occasioÌ„ ye haue to reioy se in the deathe of the LORDE Christ your alone sauyour wherby so many synguler great commodities shall chaunse vnto you God forbydde therfore that ye should reioyse in ony thynge at all saue only in the crosse death of your LORDE Iesus Christ. Syrtely but in asmuch as it is not sufficient that this youre newe hynge Iesus Christ do dye for your synnes except he also ryseth againe for youre iustificacion therfore do I also declare vnto you these moost ioyful coÌ„fortable newes y t after he be once dead buried he by y â— power of his deite shall gloriouslye ryse again y â— thyrd day froÌ„ deth to life for your iustificacioÌ„ accordiÌ„g to y â— holy scriptures For God his father shal make him alyue after two dayes vpon the thyrde daye he shall rayse hym vp he shal lyue in his syght As Ionas was iÌ„ y e belly of a whale thre dayes thre nightes so shall y e sonne of man be in the herte of the earth thre dayes and thre nightes And as Ionas by y â— power of God came out of y â— whalles belly y e thyrd daye so in semblable wyse shall this Christ by y e puissauÌ„ce of God his father ryse agayne y â— thyrd daye from deathe to lyfe By this glorious resurreccion of Iesus Christ shall ye gette the victory of Satan synne death hell desperacion c. By this glorious resurreccioÌ„ of Iesus christ shall ye be made ryghteous in God the fathers sight By this glorious resurreccioÌ„ of Iesus Christ shal heauen gates be opened for you which so longe haue ben sparred By this glorious resurreccioÌ„ of Iesus christ shall ye also ryse agayne enter iÌ„to euerlastyng lyfe By this glorious resurreccioÌ„ of Iesus christ shal god of his excedynge mercy beget you a new into euerlastyng hope an immortall heritage which is kepte for you in heaueÌ„ For Christ is y â— resurreccioÌ„ lyfe he y â— beleueth in him al though he be dead yet shall he lyue euery one that lyueth beleuethe in hym shall neuer dye Here se you in howe ioyfull and mery a state ye shall be set by Christes moost glorious resurreccion What is here but that moueth styreth vs to ioye gladnesse To muche brutall is he which at the heryng of these moost swete delectable newes dothe not seriously reioyse Furthermore after that thys LORDE Iesus Christ is risen agayn from death to lyfe hath continued here vpoÌ„ the earth certayne dayes