him selfe aboue god and the power of god And therfore these maters of decrees and other tradityons as offerynges tythes and other inuentyons with the whiche â—aynt Augustyne in his tyme sayd That they were more charged and â—den than the Jewes But nowe â—hat wolde he saye if he sawe the abhominable sorte of lawes and coÌ„â—ttucyons the which they haue maâ—e to take the symple people in their â—ettes And yet they coloure theym â—ith holy scripture wrastiÌ„ge and â—rithynge it at their own pleasure â—s it appereth by their decrees For â—heir lawes had neuer be receyued â—ad they nat clokyd theym with hoâ—e scripture Nowe bycause the faythefull Christen in lokynge on the scrypture shulde nat know what holy horisons they be the effecte of their lawes as be these that prestes shulde nat haue wyues by laufull maryage that men shulde nat eate of suche meate as god sendeth with gyuynge thankes clene contrary to the coÌ„maundement of god And to the ende that these thynges shuld nat be knowen they haue forbydden that any of the laye people dispute of the faith either openly or pryuely For whan one reasoneth with them of suche maters he must holde his peace or say as they saye orels they wyll curse him and make an herityke on him sayeng that he speaketh more than becometh him or to him beloÌ„geth And one of that sorte checked me ones bycause I redde the Byble hauyng nat redde before my Philosophye with the whiche they bringe oute of the right course all them that be newly planted in the faythe in all vniuersyties in christendome But this thiÌ„ge bassheth me but lytell seynge that this ordynaunce is made cleane repugnaunt vnto god to the susteyninge of all vngracyouse scyences ¶ Therefore welbeloued brother take no regarde vnto the wordes of these outraged dogges but take vnto you the worde of god which only can saue youre soule Studye in â—hat daye nyght and in all places goynge and commynge let that neuer slyde out of your hert nor mynd â—ll your studye to rede vnderstanâ—e these holye wordes in all humyâ—ytie of hert For god sayth whom shall I regarde but him that hathe â— meke herte a contryte spirite ferynge my wordes Therfore sette â—l your confydeÌ„ce in god lokyng of him onely the grace to vnderstande his right worthy wordes gyuynge dilygence to be obedyente to the holye mocyons of the spiryte so that at the last thou maist do those thynges that those holye wordes commaunde settynge no regarde by any thinge in the worlde ye though the Angels in heuen shulde tell the moche lesse than if that men full of vanytie shulde go about to perswade the excepte that it be grounded vpon the worde of god which can neither disceyue nor be disceyued wherefore it muste be receyued purely withoute addynge any thynge of maÌ„nes therto For the worde of god is so pure so net â–ª so cleane and so parfyte that it can suffre nothinge to be mengled therto And for this cause remembre the rule which I haue so often tymes inculcate vnto you Do that onely to the Lorde whiche he coÌ„maundeth you Thou shalte adde nothyng therto neither diminysshe any thinge therfro Remembre also that by faith we be made the membres of Jesu Christ and that is the thynge whiche ioyneth vs vnto him and oure conscyences By faythe we be made his espouses and by the reason of this maryage he gyueth vs all his good â—edes merytes all his rightuousnesse and holynesse and taketh vpon him all our synnes which can nat noy him seynge that he bare theÌ„ on the crosse and with the trybulacyon of this worlde made full satisfactyon for all And so the soule hathe fyrme â—nd stable fayth and charitie whiâ—he is gyuen vs whan we be vned â—nd made one with Jesus whan he gyueth vs his holye spirite whiche â—oth conduyte and guyde vs in the â—ight waye all the lawe is accomplysshed and fulfylled as ye maye more largely vnderstande if ye dilygently rede the scripture as ye do full well In the whiche god gyue you grace to contynue with the encrease of fayth and spirituall vnderstandynge The whiche gyue you he whiche hange on the crosse dyd cancell the oblygacyon of faythe in whiche we were dettours and rose the thyrde daye to iustifye vs that hauynge this vnderstandynge ye maye edifye youre housholde in the fere of god and your neighbours to the edifyenge of the verye bodye of Jesu Christ of the whiche we hope to be very membres whan his glorye shal appere euen as we be now in this mortall lyfe by trew quick fayth the which we must praye him to augmente to the ende that worthely we maye offre vp our body by â—rew â—ortifyeng of this olde Adam and euermore studyenge to be newe borne and so to be made a new creature after the shappe of god a man spirituall and interyor man The grace of the almighty father the peace of the mercyful Jesus the consolation of the most holy spirite be alwayes with you Amen I praye you haue remembraunce of me in your prayers that I maye worthely walke in the holye worde of god to the glory of god Amen ¶ Finis ¶ Of gouernours as Judges baylyfes other lyke An information after the gospell THe gospell is written for all persones for all estates of the worlde And there is noâ—e estate in the worlde but that he may fynde in the gospell howe that he shuld lyue if that he wyll folowe it Let none thinke that he is nat bouÌ„de to lyue after the gospell though he be neuer so great a person be he duke priÌ„ce emê‘our or bysshop For god hath coÌ„maunded that the gospell be preached to euery creature that is to saye to all mankynde Before god there is no dyfferynge neither distynction whether thou be a commen husbande man or a gouernour of a towne or of a contrey noble or vnnoble we haue al promysed at oure baptysme the one as moche as the other we haue al taken one rule that is the teachyng of the Gospell after the whiche we must lede gonerne our lyfe We maye nat saye let the monkes and preestes kepe it for we haue all promysed at our baptysme yâ— one as moche as the other Wherfore whan the lordes wyll lyue as they shulde do after the Gospell they must fyrst obserue and kepe two thigê that is to say mercy iustice And also that they knowe whan they muste be mercyfull and whan they must vse iustyce Than first it behoueth that thyne inteÌ„t be to defende the rightuouse innocent so with the seculer ryght to come in ayde vnto the right of the Gospell reprouynge and rebukyng openly without any fauoure all vnrightousnesse to th entent that the people may liue frely vnder thy protection preserued from theues murtherers and from all maner oppressyon and iniurye as farreforth as is possyble vnto the whan thou dost so thou art goddes seruaunt But it be houeth that
to wyll that these holy lawes were nat giueÌ„ to men is to wyll that god were nat such be the blasphemies of the flessh whan she receyueth the lawe which is spuÌ„all in the which she hath no inteÌ„demeÌ„t nor vnderstaÌ„ding for she weneth to coÌ„passe it by workes which thinge onely faythe doth And now whaÌ„ he seeth perceiueth that though he do neuer so moch he caÌ„ nat accomplissh or fulfil the law than is he full of horrour of dispeyre seyng that hell is redy for him bicause of the transgression of the lawe whan he can imagyn â—o wayes to auoyde the indignatioÌ„ of the law than all disolate full of dispayre he begâ—neth to abhorre the lawe without the father of heuen draw him inspyre him the way to fulfyll the lawe he doth all coÌ„trary to it For of hiÌ„ selfe he can nat chuse but synne do euyll And therfore is the lawe gyuen vs bycause we shuld know our sâ—nes the only of fyce of the lawe is nat to iustify vs but she we vs our wekenesse feblenesse in well doyng to shew man that he hath deserued deth damnation which by his own power he caÌ„ nat shon to the ende that a maÌ„ knowyng his owne wekenes vnablenes to do well dispeyre of his own vertue strength settinge asyde all coÌ„fydence in any thâ—ge that he caÌ„ do humble him selfe knowleging that if our mercyfull lorde of his vnspekable mercy delyuer him nat from deth and dampnacyon the whiche he hath deserued thorow transgressyon of the lawe he had perysshed and ben dampned for euer For if oure fearse and proude herte be nat mekened fyrst by the lawe and make vs confesse oure selfe Synners we shulde neuer be saued by Christ for he came for to saue synners and vnrightuous nat them that be rightuouse and iust which iustify them selfe by their workes ¶ But whan a man knoweth his owne fylthynes abhomination seeth that he is condeÌ„ned rightuously to euerlastynge deth thaÌ„ cometh the gospell which is to say glad tydynges in vse is presented vnto hiÌ„ which sayth Thou wretched thefe whiche woldest haue depriued god of his godheed woldest haue ben thyne owne god thorow thy pride Thou wretched desperate caityfe which after the iust iugemeÌ„t of god haddest deserued to be hanged on the galowes of hell which hast the halter about thy necke that is to saye thy wyl thy flesshe thy lustes whiche be lordes ouer the by reasoÌ„ that the spirite of god ruleth nat in the. The most mercy full god hath sente the thy pardone and wyll nat that this iugement be executed but that thou be quyte and haue thy lyfe be delyuered from the handes of the deuyll of hell which was thy haÌ„ge man whom thou dydest serue and worke to And he hath nat alonely rydde the from dethe and made the his seruant but also graunteth the to be his soÌ„ne and inherytour with our swete sauyoure Jesus whiche is become thy brother whom the father of his infynite goodnes and kindnes nat for bicause of thy good dedes which hast done neuer but euyll hath gyueÌ„ for the to make full satis factyon for all thy euyll dedes so that thou beleue that he dyed for thy synne rose agayne to iustifye the which desyreth none other thig but to saue that the which was lost that is to saye synners whiche thorowe their owne deseruynges were in the way of daÌ„pnacion And whaÌ„ the conscience which was before full of great drede hereth this good tydynges if god gyue theÌ„ the grace to gyue credeÌ„ce therto beleue theÌ„ than they be certayne by the reason of this fayth that they be pardoned of all their offeÌ„ces thorow the deth and passyon of Jesu Christ Than coÌ„ceyue they a gret ioye myrth in warde reioysynge in theÌ„ selfe And our mercyfull lorde in gyuynge vs this fayth gyueth vs also his spirit the which maketh vs the very chyldren of god thorow faith the very â—eÌ„bres of the body of Jesu christ we be in all thynges alwayes conduyted directe by this holy spirite of god for otherwyse could we nat be the chyldren of god for they only be the chyldren of god which be led by the spirit of god So we hauiÌ„g this holy spirite in vs to be our gyde directour of our iourney whiche is all charyte loue by the whiche the lawe is accomplysshed the lawe is fulfylled in vs. And by the reason of his holy spirit which gydeth vs we go no more in the waye of the flessh For the flessh hath no leÌ„ger dominion ouer vs but is caste out of his kiÌ„gdome Christ reining in vs by the holy ghost which causeth vs dayly to mortify our flesshe which alwayes is contrary vnto the spirit destroyeng pullyng downe and coÌ„suminge our concupiscences and lustes by the fyre of charyte And albeit that this concupiscens is syn ye mortall synne of his owne nature neuertheles it is nat imputed nor rekened vnto vs which ar membres of Jesu Christ consyderynge that by the reasoÌ„ of the spirit of god we loue god with all our hert desyre nothing so moch as the wyl of god to be done in vs. And so by the reasoÌ„ that we haue this good spirit in vs we neuer siÌ„ne For this newe natiuyte by the which we be made the infantes of god doth coÌ„serue kepe vs that is the holyghost which thorowe fayth is gyuen vs. But in as moch as all our wyttes wyll intendementes be but flessh as loÌ„g as we be â—uironed clogged with this corruptyble bodye which is a gret let vnto the soule we caÌ„ nat be without sinne seing that all thinge that is in vs excepte the gyftes of god which sue come of faith is alwayes contrary vnto the spirit by the reason wherof euermore as touchynge the olde man fyrst Adam the outward man the man of syn flesshe we syn And if we saye that we haue no synne we lye deceyue our selues bycause of this haue we cause euermore to mekeÌ„ our self and to put awaye all confydence in vs or in oure workes gyuynge all glory vnto god which of his only grace delyuered vs from the captyuytie of deth makynge it of no effecte or power to lose or distroy vs. For the lyfe which he hath giuen vs by the spirite of his sonne is farre gretter than is this deth and therfore it can nat harme vs. Whiche is a greate assuraunce to a mannes conscyence for whan he beleueth surely in Jesu Christ he is assured and certifyed that Jesu Christ is in him therfore he can be afrayde of nothynge seynge that Jesu Christ is puysaunt mighty whiche hath vaynquysshed the worlde all power contrary vnto the soule in the which he dwelleth by his holy spyryte so that nothynge can ceperate him from his souerayne welth whiche is Jesu Christ which coÌ„forteth him with his holy promyses
ministracion of lyfe Paule calleth it in the fore rehersed place of the seconde â—â—ap to the CorinthiaÌ„s the ministracion of the spirit â–ª of rightwysnes In the gospell whan we be leue the promyses we receyue the spirite of lyfe and are iustifyed in the blode of Christ from all thinges whereof the lawe condempneth vs. And we receyue loue vnto the lawe and power to fulfyll it grow therin dayly Of Christ it is written in the fore â—â—hersed fyrste chapiter of John this is he of whose abuÌ„dance or fulnes all we haue receyued grace for grace or fauour for fauoure That is to saye for the fauour that god hath to his son christ he giueth vnto vs his fauour good wyl al gyftes of his grace as a fader to his soÌ„nes As affermeth Paule sayeng whiche loued vs in his beloued before the creatyon of the world So that Christ bringeth the loue of god vnto vs and nat oure owne holye workes Christ is made lorde ouer all is called in scripture goddes mercy stole whosoeuer therfore flyeth to christ can neither here nor receyue of god any other thynge saue ¶ In the olde testament mercy ar many ê“mises which ar nothyng els but this euangelyon or gospell to saue those that beleued theÌ„ from the vengeaunce of the lawe And in the new testament is oft made mencion of the lawe to condempne theÌ„ which beleue nat the promyses Moreouer the lawe gospell maye neuer be seperate for the gospel and promyses serue but for troubled couscyences whiche are brought to disperacion and fele the paynes of hell and deth vnder the lawe and are in captiuyte bondage vnder the law In all my dedes I muste haue the lawe before me to condempne myne vnê‘fytnes For all that I do be I neuer so parfyte is yet dampnable synne whan it is compared to the lawe which requyreth the grounde and bottome of myne herte I must therefore haue alwayes the lawe in my syght that I may be meke iÌ„ the spirit gyue god all the laude and prayse ascribiÌ„ge to hiÌ„ all rightwysnes to my selfe all vnright wysenes synne I must also haue the promyses before myne eyes that I dispeyre nat in which promyse I se the mercy fauour and good wyl of god vpoÌ„ me in the blode of his soÌ„ne christ which hath made satisfaction for myne vnparfytenes fulfylled for me that which I coulde nat do ¶ Here maye ye perceyue that two maner of people are sore disceyued Fyrst they which iustifye them selfe with outwarde dedes in that they absteyne outwardly from that whiche the lawe forbyddeth and do outwardly that whiche the lawe commaundeth They compare themselues to open synners and in respecte of them iustify theÌ„ selues condempnynge the open synners They set a vayle on Moses face se nat howe the lawe requyreth loue froÌ„ the botthom of the hert that loue only is the fulfyllynge of the lawe If they dyd they wolde nat condemne their neybours Loue hydeth the multy tude of synnes sayth saynt Peter in his fyrst Pistle For whom I loue from the depe bothom grounde of myne herte him condempne I nat neither reken his synnes but suffre his wekenesse infyrmyte as a mother the wekenesse of her sonne vntyll he grow vp into a parfyte man ¶ Those also are disceyued which without all feare of god gyue them selues vnto all manner vyces with full consent full delectacion hauynge no respect to the lawe of god vnder whose vengeaunce they are locked vp in captiuytie but saye God is mercyfull Christ dyed for vs supposynge that such dremynge and ymaginacion is that fayth whiche is so greatly commended in holy scripture Naye that is nat fayth but rather a folysshe blynde opinyon springynge of their owne corrupt nature and is nat gyuen them of the spirit of god but rather of the spirit of the deuyl whose faith now a dayes the popysshe compare and make equall vnto the best trust confidence and beleue that a repenting soule can haue in the blode of oure sauyour Jesus vnto their owne confusyon shame vttrynge what they are within But trewe fayth is as sayth the apostle Paule the gyft of god is gyuen to synners after the lawe hath passed vpon them hath brought their conseyences vnto the brim of disê‘acion sorowes of hell ¶ They that haue this right fayth consente to the lawe that it is right wyse good and iustifye god whiche made the lawe and haue delectacyon in the lawe natwithstaÌ„ding that they can nat fulfyll it as they wolde for their wekenes they abhorre what so euer the lawe forbyddeth though they can nat alwayes auoyde it And their great sorowe is bycause they can nat fulfyll the wyll of god in the lawe the spirit that is in theÌ„ cryeth to god night day for strength helpe with teres as saith Paul that can nat be expressed with tonge of which thingê the be lefe of our popish or of their father whom they so magnify for his stroÌ„ge faith hath none experience at all ¶ The firstâ— that is to say he whiche iustifyeth himselfe with his outward dedê consenteth nat to the law inward nether hath delectatioÌ„ their in ye he wolde rather that no such lawe wer So iustifieth he nat god but hateth hiÌ„ as a tyraÌ„t neither careth he for the promyses but wyll with his own streÌ„gth be sauyour of himselfe no wise glorifyeth he god though he seme outwarde to do ¶ The secoÌ„d that is to say the sensuall person as a voluptuous swyne neither fereth god in his lawe neither is thankefull to him for his ê“mises mercy which is set forthe in Christ to all them that beleue ¶ The right christeÌ„ man coÌ„senteth to the lawe that it is rightwyse iustifyeth god in the lawe for he affermeth that god is rightwyse and iust which is author of the lawe he beleueth the promyses of god iustifyeth godâ— iugynge him true and beleuing that he wyl fulfyll his promyses With the lawe he condempneth him selfe all his dedes gyueth all the prayse to god He beleueth the promyses and ascrybeth all trauth to god Thus euery where iustifieth he god prayseth god ¶ By nature through the fall of Adam are we the chyldren of wrath heyres of the vengeauÌ„ce of god by byrth ye from our coÌ„ception And we haue our felowship with the dampned deuels vnder the power of derknes rule of Sathan whyle we ar yet in our moders woÌ„bes though we shewe nat forth the frutes of syn as sone as we be borne yet are we full of the naturall poyson wherof all synfull dedes springe can nat but syn outwardes be we neuer so yonge as sone as we be able to worke if occasyon be gyueÌ„ for our nature is to do syn as is the nature of a serpent to stynge And as a serpent yet yonge or yet vnbrought forthe is full of poyson and can nat afterwarde
weyght With what poyson dedly and venomouse hate hateth a man his enemyes With howe great malyce of mynde inwardlye doo we sleye murther â–ª With what vyolence rage ye and with how feruent lust commyt we aduoutrye fornication such lyke vnclennesse with what pleasure dylectacyon inwardly serueth a glottoÌ„ his bely With what dilygence disceyue we Howe busely seke we the thinges of this worlde Whatsoeuer we do thynke or ymagin is abhomynable in the syght of god For we can referre nothinge vnto the honour of god neither is his law or wyl written in our membres or in our hertê neither is there any more power in vs to folowe the wyll of god thaÌ„ in a stone to ascende vpwarde of his owne selfe And besyde that we are as it were a slepe in so depe blidnes that we can nether se nor fele i what misery thraldom wretchednes we ar in tyll Moses come wake vs and publysshe the lawe Whan we here the lawe truly preached howe that we ought to loue honor god with all our strength might from the lowe bothom of the hert bycause he hath created vs both heuen and erthe for our sakes made vs lorde therof and oure neyghbours ye our enemyes as our selues inwardly from the grouÌ„de of the hert bycause god hathe made them after the lykenes of his owne image and they ar his sonnes as well as we Christ hathe bought them with his blode made them heyres of euerlastynge lyfe as well as we how we ought to do what so euer God biddeth absteyne froÌ„ whatso euer god forbyddeth with all loue mekenes with a feruent a burnynge lust from the center of the hert than beginneth the conscyence to rage agaynst the lawe agaynst god No see be it neuer so great a tempest is so vnquyet for it is nat possyble for a naturall man to consent to the lawe that it shulde be good or that god shulde be rightwise which maketh the lawe in asmoch as it is coÌ„trary vnto his nature dampneth him all that he can do neither sheweth hi where to fetch helpe nor precheth any mercy but onely setteth man at varyance with god as wytnesseth Paul Ro. iiii and prouoketh him and styrreth him to rayle on god to blaspheme him as a cruel tyrant For it is nat possyble for a man tyll he be borne agayne to thynke that god is rightwyse to make hi of so poison a nature either for his owne pleasure or for the synne of another man and to gyue him a law that is impossyble for him to do or to consent to his wytte reason and wyll beynge so fast glued ye nayled and cheyned vnto the wyll of the deuyll Neither can any creatures lose the boÌ„des saue the blode of christ only ¶ This is captiuyte and bondage wheÌ„ce christ delyuered vs redemed and losed vs. His blode his deth his pacience in suffrynge rebukes wronges his prayers fastynges his mekenes fulfyllyng of the vtmost poynte of the lawe peased the wrath of god brought the fauoure of god to vs again opteined that god shulde loue vs first be our father and that a merciful father that wyl consydre our infirmites wekenes and wyll gyue vs his spirit againe whiche was taken awaye in the fall of Adam to rule gouerne and strengthe vs to breke the bondes of Satan wherin we were so streit bounde Whan Christ is thus wyse preched and the promyses rehersed which ar conteyned in the prophettes in the Psal in dyuers places of the fyue bokes of Moses whiche preachynge is called the gospell or glad tâ—dynges than the hertes of them which are electe and chose begyn to waxe softe to melte at the bountuous mercy of god and kyndnes shewed of Christ For whaÌ„ the Euangelion is preched the spirite of god entreth into theÌ„ which god hath ordeyned and appoynted vnto eternall lyfe and openeth their inwarde eyes and worketh such beleâ—e in them whan the wofull conscyences fele cast howe swete a thige the bytter deth of Christ is howe mercyfull louyng god is through Christes purchasynge merytes they begyn to loue agayn to consent to the lawe of god howe that it is good oughte so to be and that god is ryghtwyse whiche made it and desyre to fulfyll the lawe euen as a sycke man desyreth to be hole and ar an hongred and thirst after more riÈtwysnes aft more streÌ„gth to fulfyll the lawe more parfytly And iÌ„ all that they do or omyt leue vndon they seke goddes honour his wil with mekenes euer coÌ„demniÌ„g the vnê‘fytnes of their dedê by the law ¶ Nowe Christe standeth vs in double steede and vs serueth two maner wyse Fyrst he is our redemer delyuerer reconsyler medyator intercessor aduocate or turney solyciter our hope conforte shelde protection defender strength helth satisfaction saluacion His blode his deth all that he euer dyd is ours And Christ himselfe with all that he is or can do is ours His blode shedynge and all that he dyd doth me as good seruyce as though I my selfe had done it And god as gret as he is is myne with all that he hath as an husbaÌ„de is his wiues thorowe Christ his purchasynge â–ª ¶ SecoÌ„darily after that we be ouercome with loue kyndnes and now seke to do the wyl of god whiche is a christenmaÌ„s nature Than haue we christ an example to couÌ„ter feyt as sayth Christ hi selfe in Joh. I haue gyuen you an example And in another EuaÌ„gelist he sayth He that wyl be gret amonge you shal be your seruaunt minister as the son of man â—ame to minister â—at to be ministred vnto Paul saith couÌ„terfet Christ And peter saith christ dyed for you left you an ensample to folowe his steppes What so euer therfore faith hath receyued of god thorow christes blode deseruyng that same must loue shede out euery whyt bestowe it on our neybours vnto their profyt ye that though they be our enemys By faith we receyue of god by loue we shede out again And that must we do frely after the ensaÌ„ple of Christ with out any other respecte saue oure neybours welth only neither loke for rewarde in erth nor yet in heuen for the deseruiÌ„ge merytes of oure dedes as freres prech though we knowe that good dedes are rewarded â–ª bothe in this lyfe in the lyfe to come but of pure loue must we bestow our seluê al that we haue al that we ar able to do euyn on our enemyes to bringe theÌ„ to god coÌ„syderige nothinge but their welth as christ did ours â–ª christ â—yd nat his dedes to obteyne heuen â—herby that had beÌ„ a madnes heueÌ„â—as his alredy he was heyre therâ—f it was his by inherytaunce but â—yd theÌ„ frely for our sakes consydeâ—â—nge nothinge but our welthe to â—ringe the fauoure of