wee prepare our selues to this holy sacrament quickening vp our spirites with a feruent loue to our neighbourward For what greater spurre caÌ„ we haue to prick vs to loue one another thaÌ„ to sée that Iesus Christ by giuing himself vn too vs not onely allureth vs too geue our selues one to another but also by making himselfe common to vs all maketh vs also to be al one selfesame thing in him In respect wherof we ought to couet procure that in al of vs there may be but one mind one heart one touÌ„g accorded vnited together in thought words déeds And wée must mark wel that as oft as we receiue this holy and woorthy sacrament we binde our selues to all the dueties of charity as not to offende any of our brethren nor too leaue any thing vndone that may be profitable and helpfull in their necessity But if ther come any to this heauenly table of the Lord y â— are diuided at variaÌ„ce w t their brethreÌ„ the same must assure themselues that they eat vnworthily are guilty of the body blood of the Lorde that they eate and drinke their own damnation for that there wanted nothing on their behalfe but y â— the body of Iesus Christ was rent plucked in péeces again whilest they by hatred are diuided froÌ„ their brethren y â— vs to wit froÌ„ the members of Iesus Christ haue not any part w t him and yet neuertheles in receyuing this holy communion pretended to be Iéeuâ— that their whole saluation consisteth in the participation and vnion with Iesus Christ. Then let vs goe my brethreÌ„ to the receiuing of this heauenly bread to celebrate the remembrance of our Lords passion and to strengthen and fortify the belief and assurance of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes with the remembraÌ„ce therof and to quicken vp our minds toungs to praise exalt the infinit goodnes of our God and finally to cherish brotherly loue and to witnes y â— same one to another by â— streight vnioÌ„ w t al of vs haue in the body of our Lord Iesus Christ. Besides prayer and the remembring of Baptisme and the often resorting to the most holy communion there is one other very good remedy against di strust fearfulnes which is no lesse friend to Christian charity namely the remembrance of our predestination and election to eternal life grounded vpoÌ„ the word of God which is the sword of the holy Ghost wherwith we may beate back our enimies Reioyce ye in this saith the Lorde that your names are written in heauen There is no greater ioy in this life nor any thing that more comforteth the ChristiaÌ„ that is afflicted tempted or falne into any sinne than the remembraÌ„ce of predestinatioÌ„ the assuring of our selues that we be of the number of them whose names are written in the book of life w t are chosen to be fashioned like vnto the image of Iesus Christ O how unspeakeable is the comfort of him y â— hath this fayth museth coÌ„tinually in his heare vppon this excéeding swéet predestination wherby he knoweth y â— although he fall often yet notw tstanding God his father who hath foreordeined him too euerlasting life holdeth him vp reacheth out his hand vnto him coÌ„tinually And he saith continually in himselfe if God haue chosen me and predestinated me to the glory of his children who can hinder me If God bee with vs sayth S. Paule who can be against vs Nay rather to the end that the predestination may be accoÌ„plished in vs he hath sent his déere beloued sonne who is a most sure earnest penny pledge vnto vs that wee which haue receiued the grace of the Gospel are Gods children chosen to eternall life This holy PredestinatioÌ„ mainteineth the true christiaÌ„ in a continual spiritual ioy increaseth in him the indeuour of good works and inflameth him with the loue of God and maketh him enimy tothe worlde and to sinne Who is so fierce and hardharted which knowing that God of his mercy hath made him his child from euerlasting will not by by be inflamed to loue God Who is of so vile base courage y â— he will not estéeme al the pleasures al the honors al the riches of the world as filthy myre when he knowes that he hath made him a â—itizen of heauen yea these are they that worship God rightly in spirit truthe receiuing al thinges as well in prosperity as in aduersity at the haÌ„d of God their father â—nd euermore praising and thanking him or all as their good father who is righteâ—us and holy in al his woorks These being inflamed with the loue of God and armed with the knowledge of their Predestinatiâ—n feare neither death nor sinne nor the diuel nor hel neither know they what the wrath of God is for they sée none other thing in God but loue and fatherly kindenesse towardes them And if they fall into any troubles they accept them as tokens of Gods fauour crying out with S. Paule Who is it that shal separate vs from Gods loue shal tribulations shall anguish shall persecution or hunger or nakednes or perill or sword as it is written for thy sake are we killed all the day long and counted as shèep appoynted to the slaughter But in al these things we get y â— vpper haÌ„d through him that hath loued vs. Wherfore it is not for nought that Saint Iohn saith how the true Christians know right wel that they must be saued and glorified that by reasoÌ„ of the same affiance they make themselues holy as Iesus Christ is holy And when S. Paul exhorteth his disciples too a good and holy life he is wont to put them in remembrance of their election and predestination as of a thing of very great force to stirre vp the mindes of the true Christians to the louing of God and too the perfourmance of good woorkes And for the same cause our good Lord Iesus Christ speaketh openly of this holy predestination as one that knew of how great importaunce the knowledge therof is to the edifiyng of his electe But perchaÌ„ce thou wilt say to me I know well that they whose names are written in heauen haue cause to liue in continuall ioy glorifie God both in woord and déede but I know not whether I am of that nuÌ„ber or no therfore I liue in continual feare specially because I know my selfe to be an excéeding weake and frayle sinner from the violence whereof I am not able to defende my selfe but that I am ouercome of it daily And furthermore forasmuche as I sée my selfe continually afflicted and troubled with diuerse temptations mée thinks I do as it were behold with mine eyes y â— wrath of God scourging me To answere to these doubts of thine I say my right déere brother that thou must assure thy selfe that al these are but temptations of the diuel
he dwelleth Then let them begin to become god Christians and put away their Iewish mindes and imbrace the grace of the holy Gospel in good earnest then shal they know that the good and true Christians both haue the holy Ghost also acknowledg ethēselues to haue him But some one may say to me that the Christiā cannot by any meanes know that he is in Gods fauour without some speciall reuelation and so consequently that he cannot know whether he be predestinated or no. And he may specially alledge these wordes of Solomon A man knoweth not whether he be worthy of hatred or of loue and also these wordes of the Apostle S. Paul to the Corinthians I féel not my selfe guilty of any thing and yet féele I not my selfe iustified for all that It séemeth to be sufficiently declared by the textes of holy scripture that the sayde opinion is false and now remayneth onely to bee shewed briefly that these two textes wherevpon the same opinion is chiefly grounded ought not too bee taken in that sense As touching Solomons sentence although it be scarce wel faithfully translated in the commontranslation yet is there not any man so dull who in reading Solomōs whole discourse may not plainely perceiue that by saying so he ment that if any man will take vpon him to iudge by the casualties that happen in this life who is loued or hated of God Hée laboureth in vain◠considering that the selfesame chaunces which light vppon the righteous light also vpon the vnrighteous vpon him that sacrifizeth aswell as vpon him that sacrifizeth not and as soone vppon the good man as vppon the sinner Whereof it may be gathered that GOD doeth not alwayes shew his loue towards those whome hée indueth with outwarde prosperities and contrariwise that hée sheweth not his displeasure towards those whome hée punisheth Then my ryght deare brethren in Christe Iesus our Lorde doe you thinke it reason to conclude that a man cannot bee sure of Gods fauour because the same surenesse cannot bée perceiued by the sundry chaunces that happen euery day in these transitory and temporall thinges A little afore Solomon saith that a man cannot discerne any difference betwéene the soule of man and the life of a Beast for it is séene that both man and Beast dye after one manner Shall wée then conclude by this outwarde accident that the perswasiō which we haue conceaued of the immortality of y ◠soule is grounded but only vpon coniecture so surely and it were a great folly to stande vppon a thing so notably knowne And as for S. Paules wordes I say that forasmuche as he was speaking of the administration of the Gospell hee ment that his hearte misgiues him not of any misdealing therein and yet for all that that hée is not sure hee hath doone his whole dutie to the full and therein obteined the prayse of righteousnes to Godward as if he had done all that perteyned and was conuenient to be done by a faithful Steward and therefore in speaking of his office like a iust and discrete person he durst not iustifie himselfe nor auow that he had discharged his dutie to the uttermost and satisfied his Lords wil but referred all thinges to the only iudgement of his Lord. And verily whosoeuer readeth these wordes of the Apostle S. Paul and considereth the wordes going afore them with some iudgement and likewise the wordes that folow wil not doubt but this is the true sense of them I know well that some men in expounding these woordes of the Apostle S. Paul say that although hée knew himselfe to be without sinne yet hée knew not whether hee were righteous to Godward or no according as Dauid affirmeth that no man can perfectly know his owne sinnes But these men perceiued not that S. Paul groundeth not righteousnes vppon woorkes but vppon faith and that he vtterly refuseth his owne righteousnes to imbrace onely the righteousnesse which God hath geuen vs through our Lord Iesus Christ. Also they cōsider not y ◠he was most certaine to be accepted for righteous in mainteining the soundnesse purenes of the Christian faith and that hee knewe well how the crowne of that righteousnes was laide vp for him in heauen and also that he was fully assured that no creature in heauen earth nor hel was able to separate him from the loue of God and that he longed to die because he knew for a trueth that after his death he should bée with Iesus Christ. All which things should be false if he had not béen well assured that he was righteous I meane by faith and not by works therefore my dearely beloued brethren let vs ceasse to speake y ◠thing of the Apostle S. Paul w t he neuer once thought of himself but fircely fought against it continually in answering suche as measured righteousnesse by workes and not by faith in our Lorde Iesus Christe But beside◠these two authorities of Solomon and S. Paul a man myght alledge some other places of Holy Scripture which wheras they warne and encourage men to feare GOD séeme too bée contrary too the assurance of this our Predestination And if I would declare them all particularly I shoulde be ouerlong But I say generally that the feare of punishment was proper to the old Testament and childly loue too the newe Testamente according as Saint Paul witnesseth when hée saith to the Romans yée haue not receiued the spirite of bondage too feare but yée haue receiued the spirite of adoption whereby wée crie father father And likewise vnto Timothie he saith that GOD hath not geuen vs the spirite of fearefullnes but rather of power and loue which spirite Iesus Christe hath geuen vs according too the promise made by the mouth of the Holy Prophetes and brought to passe that wèe being deliuered out of our enimies handes may serue him without feare before his holy presence in all holynesse righteousnesse all the dayes of our life By these and many other places of the holy Scripture a man may playnly gather that the paineful and slauish fearefulnesse agréeth not with a Christian and this is already confirmed by this that such manner of fearefulnesse is vtterly contrary to the spirituall chéerefulnesse and ioy which is peculiar to the Christian as the Apostle Saint Paul sheweth openly to the Romanes saying that the kingdome of God is righteousnesse and peace and ioy in the holy Ghost that is to say that euery man which entereth into the kingdome of the grace of the Gospell is become righteous through faith and afterwarde addeth peace of conscience which consequently bréedeth such a spirituall and holy rest and gladnes in respect wherof the same Saint Paul doth oftentimes incourage the Christians to liue meryly And Saint Peter sayth that all they which beléeue in Iesus Christe doe continually reioyce with an unspeakeable and glorious ioy notwithstanding that they be afflicted
and rose againe for our iustificatioÌ„ we become al one thing with him and forasmuch as he is all one with God we also become al one with god by the meane of Iesus Christ. D woÌ„derful glory of the ChristiaÌ„ to whom it is graunted through faith to possesse the vnspeakeable benefits which the Angels long to behold By this present discourse a man may plainly perceiue the difference y â— is betwixt vs them that defend the iustification by faith woorkes together Herein we agrée with them that we stablish workes affirming that the â—aith which iustifieth cannot be without good works that those which are become righteous are they that doe the good woorks that may rightly be called good works But we differ from them in this that we say that faith maketh men righteous without the help of woorkeÌ„s And the reason is ready namely because that by faith we put on Christe and make his holinesse and righteousnesse to be ours And séeing the case so standeth that Christes righteousnesse is geuen vs by fayeth We cannot be so thanklesse blind and vnhappy as not to beléeue that he is of sufficient ability to make vs acceptable and right before God Let vs say w t the Apostle If the blood of Oxen and Goates and the Ashes of a Cow sprinckled cleanseth the vncleane as touching the cleansing of the flesh how much more shal that blood of Iesus Christ who by the euerlasting spirite offered himselfe vndefiled vnto God to cleanse our consciences from dead workes to serue the liuing God I pray thée now thou good and deuout christiaÌ„ consider wel which of these two opinions is the truest holiest and worthiest to be preached Ours which aduanceth the benefit of Iesus Christ pulleth downe the pride of man which would exalt his owne woorkes against Christes glory or the other which by affirming that faith of it selfe iustifieth not defaceth the glory and benefite of Iesus Christe and puffeth vp the pride of man who cannot abide to bée iustified fréely by our Lord Iesus Christ without some merit of his owne But say they it is a greate quickening vp to good woorkes to say that a man maketh himself righteous before God by meanes of them I answeare that we also confesse that good workes are acceptable to God that he of his méere grace and frée liberalitie recompenceth them in paradise But we say more ouer that no woorkes are good sauing those that S. Augustine saith are done by those that are become righteous through faith because that if the tree be not good it cannot yeelde good fruit And â—urthermore we say that such as are become righteous through fayth forasmuch as they knowe themselues to be righteous through Gods righteousnesse purchased by Christ make no bargayning with God for their works as though they woulde buy their maner of iustification such as it is with them but béeing inflamed with the loue of God and desirous to glorifie Iesus Christ who hath made them righteous by geuing them his merites and riches they bestow all theyr whole studie and labour to doe Gods will fighting manfully agaynst the loue of theÌ„selues and agaynst the world and the Diuel And when they fal through frailty of y â— flesh they recouer themselues by and by are so much the more desirous to do good so much the more in loue with their God coÌ„sidering that he layeth not their sins to their charge bicause they be ingrafted into Iesus Christ who hath made ful amendes for all his members vppon the trée of his trosse and maketh continuall intercession for them to the eternall father who for the loue of his onely begotten sonne beholdeth them alwaies with a gentle countenance gouerning and defending them as his most deare children and in the end geuing them the heritage of the world making thé like fashioned to the glorious image of Christ. These louing motions are y â— spurres that pricke forward the true Christians to doe good woorks who considering that they are become the children of God through faith made partakers of his diuine nature are stirred vp by the holy Ghoste dwelling in them to liue as it becommeth the children of so great a Lord are greately ashamed that they mainteine not the beauty of their heauenly noblenes and therfore they imploy their whole indeuour to the following of their firstborue brother Iesus Christ lyuing in great lowlines and mâ—eekenes in al thinges séeking the glory of God geuing their liues for their brethren doing good to their enimies gloriyng in y â— sufferance of reproches in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ saying with Zachary We be deliuered out of hande of our enimies to serue God w tout feare in holines and righteousnes all the daies of our life They say with S. Paul The grace of the Lord is appeared to abolish al wickednes and al worldly desires in vs to the end we should liue a sober holy and honest life in this worlde wayting for the blessed hope and for the glorious appearing of the great God and sauiour These and such other like thoughts desires and affections are wrought by inspired faith in the soules of them that are become righteous And as for him that eyther wholly or partly feleth not these godly affections and operations in his heart but is geuen ouer to the flesh and the world let him assurâ— himselfe that hee hath not yet the iustifying faith nor is the member of Christ because he hath not Christes spirit and coÌ„sequently is none of his and he that is none of Christes is no Christian. Then let mans wisedom cease henceforth to fight agaynst the righteousnesse of the most holy faith and let vs geue al the glory of our iustification to the merits of Iesus Christ with whom we be clothed through faith The fifth Chapter In what wise the Christian is clothed with Iesus Christ. ALthough that by the things aforesaid a man may easily and plainly inough percâ—iue how a Christian may clothe himselfe with Iesus Christ yet neuerthelesse I mind to speake a little of it assuring my selfe that vnto the good and faithfull Christian it can séeme neither grieuous nor troublesome to speake therof although the thing were repeated a thousande tunes Therfore I say that the Christian knoweth that Iesus Christ together with al his righteousnesse holinesse and innocenâ—ie is his owne through faith And like as when a man purposeth to present himselfe before some great Lorde or Prince hâ— laboureth to aray himselfe in some faire and rostely apparreli euen so when the Christian is decked and arayed with the innocencie of Christ and with all his perfection he preseÌ„teth himselfe boldly before God the Lord of all assuring himself y â— through Christs merites he is in as good case as if he had purchased al that which Iesus Christ hath purchased and deserued And truely fayth maketh euery of 〈◊〉 to possesse
who by al meanes seeketh to rob vs of that faith and confidence that springeth of faith assureth vs of Gods good will towardes vs. He laboureth to strip our soule out of this precious garmēt for he knoweth y ◠none is a true Christian except he beléeue Gods woorde which promiseth forgeuenesse of all sinnes and peace too all them which accept the grace of the Gospel Uerily I say that he which vpon these promises of God perswadeth not himselfe assuredly that God is a mercifull and louing father vnto him nor with stedfast confidence looketh to receiue the inheritance of the heauēly kingdome at his hand is not faithful in déed maketh himselfe vtterly vnwoorthy of Gods grace In respect whereof S. Paule saith that we be the temple of God so farfoorth as we firmely mainteine the confidence and glory of our hope vnto the ende And in another place he exhorteth vs that we shoulde not geue ouer our trust which hath great reward of recompence And therfore my brethren let vs geue our whole indeuour to doe the will of God as it becommeth good children and beware that wee sinne not as neere as wee can And although wee fall oftentimes intoo sinne through our owne frailtie yet let vs not by by surmise that we be vessels of wrath or that we be vtterly forsaken of the holy Ghost for we haue our Aduocate Iesus Christ before God the father and he is the attonement maker for our sinnes Let vs bethinke vs of the opinion of S. Augustine who saith that none of the Saints is righteous and without sinne and yet notwithstanding that he ceaseth not to be righteous and holy so farfoorth as he retaine his holinesse with affection And therfore if we haue afflictions and tribulations let vs not think that God sends thē because he is our enimy but bicause he is our most louing father The Lord saith Salomon chastiseth him whome hee loueth and scourgeth euery childe of his whō he receiueth Wherfore if we haue receiued the grace of the gospel wherby man is receiued of God for his childe me must not doubte of Gods grace and good will towardes vs. And when wée perceiue our selues too delight in Gods word and to haue a desire to folow the life of Iesus Christ we must stedfastly beleue that we be the children of God the temple of the holy Ghost For those thinges cānot bee done by the power of mans wisedome but are the giftes of the holie Ghost who dwelleth in vs by fayth and is as it were a seale of authoritie which sealeth vp Gods promises in our heartes the certainly wherof is printed aforehād in our minds and is geuen vs as a pleadge to stablishe confirme the same Assoone as you beléeue saith the Apostle S. Paule ye be sealed by the holy spirit of promise who is the earnest peny of our inheritance Beholde how he sheweth vs hereby that the heartes of the faythfull are marked with the holie Ghost as it were with a seale in respect◠whereof he calleth the holy Ghost the spirit of promise forasmuch as he cōfirmeth the promise of the Gospel the which as I haue oftentimes tolde you is a happy tidinges that promiseth forgeuenesse of sinnes and euerlasting life to all such as beléeue that all their misdoings are blotted out in Iesus Christ. All we that beléeue in Iesus Christ saith Saint Paule are become the children of God and because we bee his children he hath sent the spirit of his sonne into our heart which crieth Father Father And to the Romaines those saith he that are guided by the spirit of God are the children of God for ye haue not receiued again the spirite of bondage in feare but the spirit of adoption whereby me cry father father For certeinly the same spirite beareth our spirite recorde that we be the children of God Now then if we be children we be also heires And we must mark wel that in these two places the Apostle Saint Paule speaketh plainly not of any speciall reuelation but of a certayne record which the holy Ghost doeth commonly yéelde too all such as receiue the grace of the Gospel Then if the holy Ghost assure vs that wee bée Gods children and heires why shoulde we doubt of our Predestinatiō The same man saith in the same Epistle Whome hée hath predestinated them hath hee also called and whom he hath called them hath he also made righteous and whom he hath made righteous them also hath he glorified What shall wee then say too all these things if God be on our side who can bee against vs And therefore if plainly perceiue that God hath called mee by geuing me faith and the fruites of fayth that is to wit Peace of conscience mortification of the flesh and quickening of the spirit whether it be in whole or in parte why shoulde I doubt that I am not predestinated And moreouer we say with Sainte Paule that all true Christians that is to wit all such as beleeue the Gospel receiue not the spirite of this worlde but the spirit that commeth from God by the inspiration whereof they discerne the thinges that God hath geuen them What maruel then is it if we know that God hath certeinly geuen vs euerlasting life But there are some which say that no man ought to presume so farre as to boast humselfe to haue the spirit of God They speake in such wise as if the Christian should glory of y ◠hauing of it for his owne desertes and not by the onely and méere mercy of God and as though it were a presumptuousnes to professe himselfe a Christian or as though a man coulde be a Christian without the hauing of Christes spirite or as though wee coulde without flat hipocrisie say that Iesus Christ is our Lord or call God our father if the holy Ghost moued not our harts and toungs to vtter to sweete wordes And yet notwithstanding euen they that count us presūptuous for saying that God hath geuen vs his holy spirite with faith forbid vs not to say euery day Our Father but rather commaunde vs. But I would haue them to tell me how it is possible to separate fayth and the holy Ghost asunder séeing that faith is the peculiar worke of the holy Ghost If it be presumption to beléeue that the holy Ghost is in vs why doeth S. Paul bid y ◠Corinthiās try thēselues whether they haue faith or no affirming them to be reprobates if they know not y ◠Iesus Christ is in thē But in very déed it is a great blindnes to accuse the Christiās of presumptuousnes for taking vpon them to glory of the presence of the holy Ghoste without w t glorying there cannot be any Christianity at al. But Iesus Cherist who cānot ly saith y ◠his spirit is vnknowē to y ◠world and that they onely doe know him within whom
he take no liberty to sinne for this doctrine belongeth to none suche as honor themselues with the name of Christians confessing Christ with their mouth and yet deny him in theyr déedes But it cōcerneth the true Christians who though they fight manfully against the fleshe the worlde and the Deuil doe notwithstanding fall dayly and are constreyned to say Lorde forgeue vs our offences These are they to whom we speak to comfort them and to holde them vp that they fall not into despayre as though the blood of Christe washed vs not from all sinne and that hée were not our aduocate and the Attonementmaker for his members And therefore when wée bée prouoked too doubt of the forgeuenesse of our sinnes and that our owne cōscience beginneth to trouble vs then must wée furnishe our selues with true faith out of hād haue recourse to the precious blood of Iesus Christe shed for vs vpō the altar of the crosse distributed to his Apostles at his last Supper vnder the veile of a most Holy Sacrament which was ordeined by Christ to the end y ◠wée shoulde celebrate the remembrance of his death and that by the same visible Sacrament our troubled consciences might be assured of our attonement with God The blessed Iesus Christe made his last Will when he said this is my body which is geuen for you and this is my blood of the new Testament which is shed for many for the forgeuenesse of their sinnes Wée knowe that a Testament saith S. Paul although it be but a mans Testament yet neuer thelesse if it be allowed no man dispiseth it or addeth any thing to it and that no Testament is of force til the testator be dead but hath ful power after y ◠parties decease Then did Iesus Christe make his Testament wherin he promiseth forgiuenesse of sinnes and the grace and good fauor of him selfe and of his father togeather with mercy and euerlasting life And to the intent that the saide Testament shoulde be of ful force he hath confirmed it with his owne precious blood and with his owne death By reason whereof Saint Paul sayeth that Iesus Christe is the Mediator of the newe Testament that by his dying for the the redemption of those transgressions which were in the former testament they that are called might receiue the promise of the eternal inheritance For whersoeuer is a Testament there must also be y ◠death of the Testator for the Testament is confirmed by the death of the partie insomuch as it is of no value so long as the maker of it is aliue Wherefore we be very certaine assured by the death of Iesus Christe that his Testament is auaileable whereby all our misdéedes are pardoned and we made heyres of eternal life And for a token and faithfull pledge héereof in stéed of a Seale he hath left vs this Diuine Sacramente which not onely giueth our soules assured hope of their euerlasting Saluation but also warranteth vnto vs that immortality of our flesh forasmuch as it is euen nowe quickened by that immortall flesh of his in a certaine maner becōmeth partaker of the immortalitie therof he that is partaker of that diuine flesh by faith shal not perish for euer But vnto him that receiueth it without the saide faith it turneth too a dangerous poyson bicause that like as whē bodily sustenance findeth the stomacke incumbred with euill humors it corrupteth likewise and worketh great anoyance euē so if this spirituall foode light into a sinfull soule that is full of malice and misbeliefe it casteth it headlong intoo some greater ruine not through it owne default but because that too the vncleane and vnbeléeuer all thinges are vncleane notwithstanding that the thinges bee sanctified by the Lords blessing For saith S. Paul be that eateth of that bread drinketh of that cup unworthily is is giltie of the body and blood of the Lord and hée eateth drinketh his own damnation bicause he maketh no differēce of the Lordes body For he maketh no difference of the Lords body which presumeth to the Lords supper without faith and charity And forasmuch as he beleueth not that body to be his life and the cleanser of all his sinnes he maketh Iesus Christe a lyar and treadeth the sonne of god vnder foote and estéemeth the blood of the Testamente whereby he was sanctified but as a cōmon worldly thing and doth great wrōg to the spirite of grace he shal be punished very sore at Gods hād for this his vnbelief and wicked hypocriste For whereas he reposeth not that trust of his iustificatiō in the passiō of our Lord Sauior Iesus Christ yet neuerthelesse he receiueth this most holy Sacrament and maketh protestation that he putteth not his trust in any other thing Wherby he accuseth himselfe and is witnesse of his owne iniquitie and condēneth himselfe to euerlasting death by refusing the life which GOD promiseth him in that holy Sacrament And in this point when the Christiā féeleth that his enimies are like to ouercome him that is too wit when he beginneth too doubt whether hee haue receiued forgiuenesse of his sinnes by Iesu Christe and that he shall not be able to withstand the Deuill and his temptations and that the accusation of his owne doubtfull conscience comes too presse him so as he beginneth too feare least Hell fire should swallow him vp death hold him in his euerlasting bands by reason of gods wrath I say when the good Christian féeleth himselfe in suche an agony Let him get him to his holy Sacrament with a good hearte and stout courage and receiue it deuoutly saying in his heart and answering his enemies thus I confesse I haue deserued a thousand hels and euerlasting death by reason of the great sinnes which I haue committed But this heauenly Sacramēt which I receiue at that preset assureth me of the forgiuenesse of all my misdoinges of mine attonement with God For if I haue an eye to my works there is no doubt but I acknowledge my selfe a sinner condemne mine owne self in such wise as my cōscience should neuer be quiet if I should thinke that my sinnes are pardoned mée for my workes sake But when I looke to the promises and couenants of God who promiseth me forgeuenes of my sinnes by the blood of Iesus Christe I am as sure I haue obteined it that I haue his fauour as I am sure y ◠he which hath made y ◠promises couenants cannot lye nor deceiue and through this stedfast faith I become righteous by Christes righteousnes wherthrough I am saued and my conscience quieted Hath he not geuen his most innocent body into the hands of sinners for our sins Hath hee not shed his blood to wash away my iniquities Why then doest thou vexe thy selfe O my soule put thy trust in the Lorde who beareth thée so great loue that to deliuer thée
1. Iohn 4. 〈◊〉 2. A very goodly similitude and fitte for the expressing of the free forgiuenes of 〈◊〉 for Iesus Christes â—ake 〈…〉 â—eb 4. â—eb I0 Heb. 8. Rom. 4. Gen. 15. Rom. 2. Galat. 3. Abac. 2. Galat 3. Rom. 10. S. Augustin Origen * Mary Magdalâ— Luke 6. Faith is the marke of those that are iustified Esay 64. S. Basil. S. â—iâ—â—â—lary S. Ambrose Rom. 4. Psalm 31. S. Bernard Gâ—n 17. A very good comparison how we bee clothedwith the righteousnes of Iesus Christe No man can boast of the perfourmance of Gods lawe Psalm 102 Prou. 20. Iob. 15. â— Ihon. 2. Matth 6. Luke 17. Acts. 15. How the woorkes of the faithful though they be vnperfit please God Matth. 25. In what maner faith iustifiet â—phe 3. Mat. 12. Rom. 6. S. Paule calleth theÌ„ saints whoÌ„ we call Christians He that beleeueth cannot be with out good workes Mark 2. Iames 2. Apoc. 3. A liuely coÌ„parison Ihat S. Iames meant concerning works Iames. 2. A heanenly comparison Iohn 17. Rom. 4. 2. Cor. 6. 1. Pet-2 â— Galat. 3. 〈◊〉 9. Galat. 6. â—â—ke 2. 〈◊〉 2. Rom. 8. Gala. 3. Rom. S. Iesus thrist the 〈◊〉 example of Christians 2. â—et 2. Ephe 4. Rom. 15. 〈◊〉 2. Marke 12. 2. â—im 2. Rom. 12. 1. Tim. 1. Galat 5. Luke 9. Iohn 15 Phillip 3. 2. Cor. 12. 2. Cor. 4. Galat. 6. Rom. 5. After what sort pacieÌ„ce ingendreth tryall Rom. 8. â— Cor. 2. Marke 9. Fourereme dies against the temptations of Distrust Prayer Math. 9. 1. Ches 5. True praiâ— Baptisme 1. Pet. 3. Marke 10. Galat. 3. Rom. 4. Psâ—lâ—â— 3. The supper of the Lord. Luke 22. Marke 16. Gaâ—at 3. Heb. ◠〈◊〉 lib. 1 Iohn 6. 1. Cor. 11. What is ment by not making a diâ—fereÌ„ce of thâ— Lords body Hee that receiueth this Sacramenâ— protesteth himselfe too trust in none other thing than the blood of Christe Rom. 4. Rom. 8. Why the holy sacrament of thankesgiuing was ordainâ—d Christen peace and vnion are betokened by the bread and wine â—e that offeÌ„eth one of his ChristeÌ„ brethren offendeth Christ 〈◊〉 A preparation to the receiuing of the holy Sacramenâ— He that receiueth the Sacrament bindeth himâ—selfe to all the dueties of charity The true end for which the holy sacrament is ordained The foâ—rth remedy against 〈◊〉 Ephe. 5. Luke 10. Psal. 36. Rom. â— Be that receiueth the Gospel is sure that he is predesinateâ— The effect proceeding of the knowledge of predestination Rom. 8. Heb. 3. Heb. 10. Afflictions are no signes of reprobation Pro. 5. A true mark to knowe God children by Ephe. 2. Wherefore the Apostle calleth the holy Ghost she spirit of promise Galaâ— â— Rom. â— Rom 8. A true mark of Predestiâ—n 1. Eor 2. Rom. 8. 1. Cor. 1â— He that glorieth not that he hath the holy Ghost is no true Christian Iohn 14. Eccle. 6. 1. Cor. 4. A man may know that he is in Gods fauoure By the chaâ—ces of this life no maâ— can iudge whether a man bee in Gods fauor or displeasure Rom. 3. 5. Phillip 3. 2. Tim. 4. Rom. 8. Phâ— 1. The two sortes of feare childly â—â—uish â— Tim. 1 Rom. 14 Ephe. 6. Phillip 4. 1. Pet. 1. The slauish feare threateneth the wicked and thâ— childly feare encourageth the chosen The effects of childly feare Ephe. 4. The Christian may warrant himself the forgeuenesse of his sinnes S. Hillary Iames. 1. S. Auguâ—t S. Bernard Eche one must beleue particularly his sinnes are released forgeuen him freely