aspire breath or come to ony poynte of true godlynes godly trueth w t out the inspiraciō of Gods spirite It is not wythout a cause sayde of God My spirite shall not dwell for euer in man for he is flesh If we be lefte vnto oure selues than are we nothynge but lyars that is to saye beastlyke wicked folyshe vngodly thynkynge all abhominacion breathynge all noughtynes speakynge all wickednes doynge all mischefe euen suche without faynynge as we were leafte of oure fyrste father Adam after the trāsgressiō of Goddes precepte that is to saye naked voyd of all goodnes replete with al euell Therfore before we can sa uour aright ony godlynes worke y t which is accceptable in the syght of God healthfull to oure soules we must be in this traunce into the which Dauid was cast we must be trāsformed into another nature lyfted vp vnto the contemplacion of diuine celestiall thynges But this canne not come to passe of our owne strengthes whiche are lyars of our selues not able to thyncke a good thought but by the helpe of gods spirite which workethe in vs both the wyll the dede For Christ sayth no mā can come vnto me excepte my father drawethe hym I shall reyse hym vp at the last daye It is writtē in the Prophettes Al shall be taught of God Euery one therfore that hath heard of the father hathe learned cōmeth vnto me I gayne withoute me ye can do no thynge Whan Peter confessed Christ to be the sonne of the lyuyng God he sayd vnto him Blyssed art thou Simon the sonne of Ionas for flesh bloude hath not openned that vnto the but my father which is in heauen Here se we that flesshe bloud y ◠is all that euer we haue of our selues of our forfather synful Adā cā not attayne vnto the intelligēce of the diuine misteries vnderstādynge of Gods truethe excepte we be drawne of the father by his holy spirite Nowe that we maye therfore come vnto this true knowlege of God of his trueth let vs pray with that spouse Drawe me after y ◠so shal we ron in y e swete sauourof thyne oyntmētes So shal we be su re not only to becōe new mē but al so w t a free wylling hart graūt w t Dauid that euery man is a lyare Euery man is a lyare saythe he This is to be vnderstand before he be regenerate borne anew by the seconde byrth not in Adam but in Christ. For so many as haue put of the olde man Adam put on y ◠new mā Christ so many are no more mē if we haue respecte vnto theyr spiri tuall regeneracion but Gods as y ◠holy scripture saithe ye are gods all of you are the sonnes of y ◠moost hygheste But all that haue not on the Lorde Iesus Christe remayne styll lyars all that euer they do or speake w toute Christ his moost holy word is nothynge but a very lye and mere fansy a mad dotage semeth it neuer so tru in y e iuge mēt of carnall reason And this false lyenge corrupcion commeth not of God for God is not the Author of sinne nor one that wylony vnrigh teousnes neyther tempteth he ony man vnto euell as s. Iames sayth but of Satan the mortal enemy of mankynde which lying full craftely vnto Eue sowyng this seed in her she in Adā Adam in all hys posterite brought vs into this dānable false lyinge state so that by nature as S. Paule sayth We are all borne the sonnes of wrath all that euer we do of our selues w tout the spirite of God is lyinge false wicked vnfaythfull detestable be fore God as Christ testifieth That which is borne of flesh is flesh Also S. Paule All that is not groūded on fayth is synne Of this salse and lying seed was Cain which s◅ewe his brother Ab◅ with innumerable mo of y e olde Te stament euen so many as attēpted ony thynge at all contrary to God des moost holy wyll as banyshyng Goddes worde sheddyng innocent bloud kyllynge the true Prophettes of God setting vp straung wor shyppynges of newe Idols proclamynge other gods thā the one and alone God of Israel c. In the new Testament also ther ware many li ars as Bishoppes head prestes pre stes masters of the Tēple Lawers Scribes Pharises Saduces with an innumerable cōpany of Iewes which all resisted Christ condēned his preachynge obscured the glory of his miracles hyndred y ◠honoure of God belied the verite of Goddes worde slaundered the gospell blasphemed Christe his Apostles neuer ceasyng vntyl they had broght both hym and his vnto theyr finall destruccion as they thought After thē dyd ther aryse a great swarme of pestilente lyars as Heretykes Schismatykes false Christians Of this nomber was Ebion Marcion and Cherinthus which denyed Christ to be God frō euerlastyng agenst whome S. Iohn̄ dyd write his Gospell Catarus Nouatus whiche affirmed that they whiche dyd fall after Baptisme ought not to be receaued agayne neither can they obtayne remission of theyr sinnes Eutiches which denied Christ to be both God man Montanus Marcion Manicheus which condemned bothe mariages meates as thynges vnpure Arrius Pelagius Artemō Sabellius Paulus Samosetanus with other īnumerable which dyd sowe much diuisiō in the chyrche of Christ brought in many pestilent detestable heresis All theyse ware lyars bycause they were w tout the spirite of god and inuented sectes opinions of theyr owne braynes without y ◠authorite of Goddes worde so easye a thynge is it for men to erre to deceaue to be deceaued whan they leane not to y e holy scriptures but to theyr owne iudgemētes and fantasies And would God that all lyinge were onlye founde in them whome I haue rehersed hytherto thā were it well with Christes chyrche But who that euer lyued Christe alone excepte hathe not shewed hymselfe in some poynte to be a man that is to say a lyer Peter confessed christ to be the sonne of the lyuyng God therfore was he called blissed and promised that agaynst that cōfession of his faythe hell gates shoulde not preuaile yet whē he afterward denied Christ and forsware hym he shewed hymselfe to be a man that is a very lyare so feble and of no strength are we if we be not endew ed with valeaunce myght power from aboue I here frely confesse y t nexte vnto the holye scriptures I owe the chefe principall honoure to the writynges of the Catholyke Doctors to whome I cleaue as vn to an holy Ancker whom I follow as great lyghtes to shewe me howe I maye walke in y e waye of trueth whome I reuerence as my mooste faythefull teachers yet dare I not
saye god hath done moch for me he hath bro ken my bondes he hathe delyuered me oute of captiuite set me agen at liberte therfore wyll I be his ser uauÌ„t yea that not faynâ—…dly but his seruauut in dede doynge what so euer he commaundethe me yea though it shoulde coste me my lyfe So it becometh vs not only to pro fesse our selues to be the seruauÌ„tes of God and christen men by mouth but also to expresse it in verye dede seyng that not the hearers but the doers of the law shall be iustified be fore God O LORDE GOD be mercyfull to vs howe many be ther nowe a dayes that caull themselues y e ser uauntes of God gospellers yet are nothynge lesse in theyr dedes They crake moch of fayth but they brynge not forth y â— fruytes of fayth They talke moch of the gospel but they lyue no part of y e gospel They reade the holy scriptures but they fashon theyr lyues nothyng theraf ter They call Christ theyr sauiour yet walke they nothynge worthye his kyndenes They thynke theÌ„ selues the sonnes of lyghte but they exercise the workes of darknes Oh that they were Goddes seruauÌ„tes in dede feruent gospellers earneste practisers of fayth true followers of the holy Scriptures to coÌ„clude both louers and lyuers of Christes gospell than wel were it with Chri stes chyrch But alas theyr lyuing is so dissolute theyr manners so wycked and vngodly that we may well saye as S. Paule wrytethe They professe that they know god but they deny hi wyth theyr actes seynge they are abhominable disobedient and vnapte to al good wor kes Moreouer Dauid callethe hym selfe here not only the true fayth full seruaunte of God but also the sonne of Gods handmayd Who is this handmayd of God Uerely the vniuersall congregacion of Christ whiche from the begynnyng of the worlde hathe serued God beleued in hym whose sonne euery one is y t beleueth in God For he is begotteÌ„ of God the sonne of god by fayth to that congregacion whose member he is made that congregacion by preachynge begetteth hym to God that beleueth the word of god So that as the congregacion is a mother by begettynge and wynnyng other to the fayth so is he that beleueth is begotteÌ„ vnto the fayth the sonne of the congregacion as s. Paule wryteth to the Galathians My lytle chyldren of whome I tra uayle in byrth agayne or w t whom I am agayne wythe chylde vntyll Christe be fasshyoned in you Also to the Corinthians althoghe ye haue many masters iÌ„ Christ yet haue ye not many fathers For I begat you in Christ Iesu by the gos pell He also writyng to Timothe calleth hym his natural sonne in 〈◊〉 fayth Agayne Syon signifyeng y â— Church of Christ sayth by the Pro phet who hath begotteÌ„ me these Al so iÌ„ another place the desolate hath mo chyldren than y â— maryed wyfe Thus se we that we must both be the true seruauntes of God and also the sonnes of the handmayd of god Christes chyrche yf we wyl en ioye the benefites that ly bent out in Christ. And verely it is not with out a cause required of vs not only that we shoulde be the faythful seruauntes of god but also the sonnes of his handemayd For many in tymes past nether want ther at this daye haue bosted valeauntly that they were the seruauntes of God yea woulde seme of a feruent zele to dye for the glory of god yet in as muche as they were not the sonnes also of gods handmayde they were not the seruauntes of god in dede but dissemblers Hypocrites Of this sorte were all the olde Heretikes Scismatikes false ChristiaÌ„s in tymes past which sowed dissensi on in Christes chyrche and deuided them selues from the holy catholike chyrche whiche is the fellowshyp of sayntes by teachyng straunge doctrine mayntenynge erroneous opinions coÌ„trary to the doctrine of the holy scripture the teachynge of the true godly fathers Of this sorte also at this tyme are the Anâ—… baptistes SacrameÌ„taries other Phanaticall frentyke Spirites which haue vayne visions inueÌ„ted of theyr owne braynes sowe cockel among the good wheat in the Lordes felde brynge in straunge sectes inuente newe opinions make disseÌ„cion in Christes churche allure meÌ„ from the olde true christen fayth corrupte the scriptures teache doctrine contrary to the vayne of god des word trouble the coÌ„mon weale of Christendome c. All these in as much as they haue deuided cutte of them selues from the chyrche of Christ which is the hand mayde of god pertayne not vnto god nether haue they any parte of gods mercy though they boste crake neuer so much that they be the seruauntes of god yea though they gyue theyr bodies to be plucked asunder wyth wild horses for y e glory of god For w t out the chyrche of Christ ther is no health nor saluacioÌ„ but altogyther death damnacion But I woulde haue men wyse in knowynge thys chyrche of Christe vnlesse they erre mayntayne an whore in steade of a spouse an vnchast harlotte for a true wyfe a fylthy strompette for a faythfull yokefellow a disobedient Synagoge for a christen congregacion We haue in tymes past taken the Bysshop of Rome hys paynted carnall Idolles I would haue sayd his sayncted Cardinalles Pa triarches Legates Archbysshops Bysshops Prestes Monckes Fryars Chanons Heremites Anacho rites other of the spiritualte as they call theÌ„ only to be the chyrche haue thought that by no meanes we myght departe from them and theyr doctrine excepte they would be daÌ„ned in what so euer case they stode were they on Goddes syde or contrary taught they accordynge to gods worde or otherwyse For once to hyske agenst them was coâ—… ted to cut the cote of Christe y â— had neuer a seme to subuert and tople downe the chayre of Peter Paul the chefe Apostles to defyle to tear to tread vnder fote the authorite of the chyrche Christes spouse yea to make shorte tale to caull oute of hel the heresies that were buried and layd to slepe By this meanes haue they theise many hundred yeares not only seduced the simple and vnlerned peo ple butte also falselye vsurpedde the name of the Chyrche callynge them selues the mother holye chur che beynge so rather in name thaÌ„ in very dede If they were faith full dyd continewe in y e doctrine of the holy Scripture so were they members of this chyrche of Christ yf contrarywyse than pertayned they not vnto this holy catholyke chyrche but were corrupt rotten members hâ—…ynge nothyng lesse theÌ„ pertakers of this helth and saluacion that is in this moost pure vndefyled chyrche This chyrche of Christ whome Dauid calleth here the handmayd of the LORDE is the vniuersall congregacion of the faythfull whiche w t a
e promyse of God came at the tyme appoynted ito this miserable world toke flesh of the moost glorious virginne Marye became lyke to vs in all thynges syn alone excepte preached vnto vs the wyll of his heauenly father wrought mi racles suffered dyed for oure synnes on the thyrd day rose agayne for our iustificacion Certayne day es after he ascended into Heauen where he nowe sytteth on y e ryghte hande of god the father almyghty beynge there not ydle for he incessauntly prayeth for vs beynge our mediatoure aduocate apeasynge dayly the fathers wrath purchasynge for vs all good thynges And at the latter daye he shall come ageÌ„ to iudge bothe the quicke and the dead both the faythfull vnfaythfull bothe the shepe the goates than shal he take vs both body and soule enunied togyther withe hym into eternall glory where we shall remayne wyth him for euermore If ony man desyrethe to knowe more of the benefites of god and of his vnmesurable kyndenes toward vs let hiÌ„ resorte vnto y e Pathwaye of prayer read where I entreate of thanckes gyuyng from the xlii Chap. vnto the xlix there shall he se this matter entreted of at large If we dyd consyder on this wise the inestimable benefites of god to ward vs vndoubtedly we woulde leaue our vnthanckefulnes saye wyth Dauid what shall I gyue agayne vnto the Lorde for all those thynges that he hathe gyuen me But let vs se what our Mynstrell entendeth to gyue agen vnto god that we maye followe hym and do so lykewyse ¶ The fourthe verse I wyll take the cuppe of healthe caull vpon the name of the Lorde ¶ The syxte strynge HEre Dauid expresseth two thiÌ„ ges y t he entendeth to do One is to take the cuppe of health The other to caull on the name of the LORDE These are two thynges wherin God very much delighteth Fyrst he sayth he wyll take y e cuppe of health wherby is vnderstand af fliccion trouble persecucion morti ficacion of olde Adam kyllynge of carnall affectes slayenge of fleshly lustes bearyng of the crosse and at the last death as it appeareth by y e wordes of Christ to the soÌ„nes of Ze bedeus Can ye drynke sayth he of the cuppe that I shall drynke Also to his father Let this cup departe from me wherby he vnderstandeth his passion death To recompense partely y e kyndenes of God Dauid sayth that he wyll mortifye the ra giÌ„g lustes of his owne flesh y t fyght agaynste the spirite neuer leaue vntyl he hath made y e body subiecte to the soule that in all poyntes it maye be obediente to the lawe and wyll of God For this is an hygh acceptable sacrifice to God as Dauid wytnesseth iÌ„ another place a sacrifice to God is a troubled spirite a contrite humble harte God wyl not despyse S. Paule also saythe I beseche you brothers by the tender mercyes of God that you gyue your bodies a sacrifice y t is quicke holy acceptable to God whiche is youre resonable seruynge of God And God himselfe sayth by y e Prophet vnto whome shal I looke but vnto the huÌ„ble broken in spirite vnto hym y t fearethe my wordes Agayne he confessethe here that he wyl not only mortify his carnal lustes that he maye be truely spirituall but he wyll also paciently suf fer what soeuer crosse that is trou ble persecucion and affliccion God layeth vpon hym yea thoughe it be very death His harte is nowe so en flamed w t the loue of God for the be nefites that he hathe shewed vnto hym that he recositeth not only all that he hath but also his very lyte to vile of to small a price to gyue agayn for the glory of God that he may at the least in some parte shew hymselfe thankefull vnto so bounteous geÌ„tle a Lord as S. Paule sayth The holy Ghost wytnessethe layth y â— bondes troubles abyde me in euery Citie But I care not for it neyther is my lyfe dere vnto me so that I may fynish my course with ioy the office that I haue re ceaued of the LORD Iesu to testify y â— gospel of y e grace of God For I am not only redy to be bound but also to dye for y e name of y e LORDE Iesu. It is not withoute a cause that he calleth affliccion trouble or per secucion the cuppe of helth or salua cion for it brigeth i dede helth sâ—…l uacioÌ„ to a true Christen man And though the crosse be bitter to y e flesh yet is it swete and healthfull to the spirite And y â— more y â— body be depres sed made low y â— more is y â— spirite ex alied made hygh as s. Paule saith though our outward maÌ„ be brokeÌ„ yet y â— iward is renewed day by day Agen we are not detters to y â— flesh y â— we should lyue after y â— flesh For yf ye lyue after the flesshe ye shal dye But yf ye mortifi y â— dedes of y e body in y â— spirite ye shall lyue For they that are lead with y â— spirite of god are the sonnes of GOD. Therfore sayth Christ If ony man wyl come after me let hym deny forsake hiÌ„ self take his crosse dayly follow me For by many tribulacioÌ„s must we enter into y â— kyngedome of god And all y â— wyll lyue godly in Christ Iesu muste suffer persecucion It was necessary sayth the scripture that Christ shoulde fyrst suffer and so ryse agayne enter into glorye But for asmuch as it is an hard thing for a maÌ„ of his owne streÌ„gth pacieÌ„tly to beare the Crosse and to suffer rebuke slaunder ignominy blasphemy euel reportes empresoÌ„meÌ„t losse of goodes yea percuauÌ„se very death for Gods truethe and y â— glory of his worde seyng y t though the spirite be redye yet the flesshe is weake therfore Dauid saythe He wyll call on the name of the Lorde Wherfore Uerely for streÌ„gth that he maye be able to beare the crosse y â— is layd vpon his backe y â— he swarue not whan persecucion coÌ„meth and so slaunder y â— trueth which so bolde ly he professed before For withoute the assistence of Goddes spirite no man is able to abyde in the tyme of persecucion semeth he neuer so valeaunt a souldiour at other tymes as we may se in y â— Apostles of Christ whiche before theyr master was in onye daunger promised that they woulde neuer forsake hi but sticke vnto hym euen vnto the very deth yet whan they came to the bronte wel was he that could ronne away fastest in so much that he which be fore craked moost shewed hiÌ„selfe boldest of al the other I meane Pe ter dyd not only fle away from his master but also shamefully
approue allowe them in all thynges bycause in some poyntes they haue shewed theÌ„selues men haue manifestly erred agaynst the open trueth of Gods worde as it is not vnknowen to them that be diligeÌ„t ly exercised in the readyng of theyr workes And for an example I wyl here reherse ii or iii. not to their re proche but to admonysshe all men what we are of our selues that no man should be sworne wholly addicte to the doctrine teachynge of ony man be he neuer so holy learned excepte it agreeth with the holy Scriptures OrigeÌ„ was vndoubted a famoê° Doctor dyd write very excellent ly of diuers matters concernyng y e purite of christen religion yet shewed he hymselfe to be a man very lyare whan he fayned that the pay nes of the dyuels of the damned should cease in time to come that they should be saued Tertullian was a man of great learnyng dyd wryte many thynges very godly yet did he erre wheÌ„ he coÌ„deÌ„ned the second mariages in a christen maÌ„ He maketh his argu ment on this maÌ„ner Thou mayste not mary the wyfe of thy brother beyng dead He that maryeth a wy dowe lefte of a christen man maryeth the wyfe of his brother beynge dead Ergo he doth not well This certayne other thynges he wryteth not very godly shewynge him selfe to be a very maÌ„ that is to say a lyare Cypriane was an excellent clar ke and died for the faythe of Christ leauynge many godly worckes behynd hym yet dyd the auncient fathers of Christes chyrch condemne this his opinion that they whiche were baptised of Heretykes ought to be baptised agayne I passe ouer many other ecclesiasticall wryters which wante not theyr errours neyther haue they in all poyntes so circumspectely writ ten but that theyr faultes may easly be perceaued of them that haue whole true good pure iudgemen tes in the holy scripture For they haue declared theÌ„ selues not in few thinges to be men lyars therfore are they to be beleued no further than the worde of God mayntayneth them That whiche they haue written well let vs receaue gyue God thankes for it confessing that it came to passe by the instincte of his mooste holy Spirite not by theyr owne polecy wyt reason eloquence learnynge But y â— wherin they haue erred let vs charitablyâ—… enterpret take it into y â— best parte couer theyr faultes consythering that they were men both myght and dede erre as S. Austen withe other dydboth confesse graunt and wryte of them selues And this I desyre all men that be ghostely learned walke after y â— order of charite to vnderstond also of all my workes which I haue hy therto wrytten or shall here after if the wyll of God so be to beleue them no further thaÌ„ the holy scripture testifye that they be true For I am a manne and a lyarre of my selfe and therfore maye I erre so well as mannye learnedde and auncieÌ„t Doctors haue done before me Let God alone be true euery man a lyare Let the spirite of charite and not of coÌ„tencion reygne amonge vs. If we erre let vs charitably monysshe one another beare one with another instruct one ano ther not streightwayes furiously condemne what so euer at the fyrst blushe lyketh not our carnal iudge mentes no nor yet at euery lytyll faulte be redy to caste the ignorant offenders into preson chenes stockes fyre If ony man doth not of â—…end w t his tonge sayth S. Iames he is a perfecte man Let vs follow the long sufferaunce of God which â—…acieÌ„tly abydeth our amendment If God had takeÌ„ away Paule out of this lyfe whan so tyrauÌ„tlyke he â—…ersecuted the Chyrche of Christe â—…aule had neuer be made of a wolfe a lambe of a persecutoure an Apostle of a blasphemer a true precher of an Heretyke ketcher a faythfull Euangelist They that are stronge ought to beare the weaknes of theÌ„ that be infirme weake and not to stonde in theyr owne conceates They ought so to order theÌ„ selues that they should please theyr neygh bour vnto his wealthe edifienge For Christe pleased not hym selfe Wherfore we ought to receaue one another euen as Christ hath recea ued vs vnto the glory of God and to beare one anothers burdeÌ„ seing that we be all meÌ„bers of one body haue one heade whiche is Iesus Christ. Besydes these aforsayd the vngodly Byshop of Rome al his wic ked kygedome are lyars all theyr decrees actes lawes constitucioÌ„s councelles c. that syght with god des worde are lyes very mad â—…an tafies by no meanes to be beleued of ony faythfull harte Agayne all Hypocrites Sacramentaries Anabaptistes all authors of false sectes are lyars To conclude so many as dissente from God his moost blyssed worde are lyars whither it be in doctrine tea chyng lyuynge manners conuersacion or otherwyse Thus se we what we are of our selues eueÌ„ very lyars into what great captiuite we be throwen tho row AdaÌ„ that we can not by our owne strengthes be deliuered from this boÌ„dage but only by the spirite of hym which sayth If y e sonne ma keth you free thaÌ„ are ye fre in dede For where the spirite of the LORDE is there is liberte Therfore that we maye haue that vnccion an noyntyng in vs I meane the holy Ghost y â— maye teache vs all trueth we muste with continuall prayers resorte vnto oure heauenly father whiche vndoubtedlye wyll gyue a good spirite to so many as aske it of hym For he is a beneficiall Lord sufficieÌ„tly rytch for so many as call on him in spirite and trueth as it followeth ¶ The thyrde verse Uvhat shall I gyue agen vnto the Lord for al those thynges that he hath gyuen me ¶ The fyfte strynge AFter that our Mynstrell Dauid hath diligently pondered with hiselfe what he is of his owne nature euen a very lyare and one that is replete with all synne iniquite thynkyng breathynge speakynge and doynge all that euer is nought vnthankefull in the sight of God whan on the othersyde he hath agayne consydered howe that God of his mere marcy fre bounte vnspeakable goodnes hath deliue red hym froÌ„ all these greuo us enor mities without his merites or deser tes he begynneth nowe to delighte no more in carnall traÌ„sitory thin ges but in spirituall and heauenly thynges weyeth pondreth con siderethe howe he maye shewe hym selfe thanckefull agayne vnto God for y e innumerable benefites which he hath receaued at y â— hand of God What shall I gyue agen saythe he vnto the LORDE for all those thynges that he hath gyueÌ„ me O kynd thanckefull harte farre estraunged from al ingratitude vnthaÌ„ke fulnes He knowethe full well that to recoÌ„pence make God amendes for y â— kyndnes
denyed hym vnto a poore mayde sware y t he neuer knewe hym so impotente weake frayle ful of all imbecilite is man if he be lefte vnto hymselfe not endewed with strength from aboue Therfore our Mynstrel Da uid kynge Prophet not crakyng of his owne streÌ„gthes nor boasting of his owne free wyll withoute the healpe of Gods spirite saythe that he wyll call on the name of y â— Lord for strength valeaunce y t he maye manfully abyde in the tyme of persecucion confesse the trueth of God des worde publysshe his glory before all meÌ„ yea though a thousand deathes should followe It is very profitable for adflicte troubled coÌ„ sciences to caull on the name of the Lorde For as Salomon sayth the name of the LORDE is a myghtye toure very strong Bulwarke vn to that doth the ryghteous maÌ„ fly he shall be exalted fynd socoure Blissed is that man which putteth his truste iÌ„ the name of the LORDE regardeth not vanities false ymaginacions Call on me sayth God in the day of thy trouble and I wyll delyuer the and thou shalte honoure me Thus se we partely how Dauid goeth about to shewe hiÌ„selfe thaÌ„ke full agayne vnto God for the inesti mable benefites that he hath gyueÌ„ hym He wyll mortify his carnall af fectes paciently suffer what so euer crosse persecucioÌ„ trouble or affliccion be layde vpon his backe for Gods truethes sake And that he maye be the more able to do theyse thynges he wyll caull on the name of the LORDE All these be very acceptable thynges in y â— sight of god And God thyncketh his benefites wel bestowed where such gyftes be gyueÌ„ agayne vnto hym procedyng from a gentle thanckefull harte Nowe we beynge no lesse bound vnto God for his gentlenes thaÌ„ Da uid was ought to shewe our selues no lesse thankefull agayne to hym theÌ„ Dauid dyd or els are we muche vnworthy this inestimable beneficence of God We ought therfore to prouyde y â— no synne reygne in this oure mortal body but that we mor tifye our earthly members whoredome fornicacion vnclennes wan tonnes euell concupiscence couetousnes which is the worshypping of Idolles for the which the wrath of God is wonte to come vpon the chyldren of vnbeleue All wrath indignacion maiyce cursed speaking fylthy coÌ„municacion lying oughte we to laye asyde put vpon vs ten der mercye gentylnes honest behauour mekenes softenes goodnes charite peace ioy fayth teÌ„perauÌ„ce with all the other fruytes of y â— spirite For they y â— are of Christe haue crucified the flesh with the lustes concupiscenses therof yea they are dead to the world and theyr lyfe is hyd wyth Christ in God Moreouer we must be conteÌ„ted to take the cuppe of helth at y â— LORDES hande paciently suffer what soeuer crosse he layeth vpon vs yea prayse hym in the myddes of our trouble recountynge our selues so moche the more blyssed seynge that it is gyuen vnto vs not only to beleue in hym but also to suffer for y â— glory of his name beyng thorowly perswaded that yf we suffer wyths Christe we shall reygne with hym For many are the troubles of the ryghteous in this world but from theÌ„ all shall the LORDE delyuer theÌ„ yf none otherwyse yet at y â— least by death which is the nexte waye vnto the very true lyfe And because it is hard for y e flâ—…sh to awaye with the crosse which seketh glory wealth ease rytches ho nour not ignominy scasenes dis quietnes pouertie shame opprobry therfore must we flye with feruent and continuall prayers vnto God vnto his moost holy name y â— we maye haue strength sent vs froÌ„ aboue to do these thinges aforsayd that by no meanes we be found ingrate vnthanckefull vnworthy y e great vnmeasurable kyndenesse whiche God hath shewed vnto vs. So shall God not only not take away his giftes from vs but also en crease them dayly more more as the Scripture sayth to euery one that hath it shall be gyuen and he shall haue abundance But who so hath not from hym shall be taken a waye euen that he hath also But lette vs heare more of oure Mynstrelles songe ¶ The fyfte verse I wyl pay my vowes vn to the Lord before al his people ¶ The seuenth stryng DAuid goethe forthe to declare what he wyll reÌ„der vnto God for all those thynges that he hathe gyuen hym Before he sayd that he would take the cuppe of helth and caull vpon the name of the LORDE Nowe he addethe that he wyll also paye his vowes vnto the LORDE yea and that before all his people But what vowes are these Uerely not vnfaythfull folyshe vowes which displease god as y â— scripture say the but y â— earnest promises that he made vnto God for to fulfyl his moost holy Commaundementes These vowes wyll he paye These promises wyl he performe For they make vnto the glory of god the edifienge of his Chyrch the health of his owne soule Therfore wyll he stycke to them euen vnto the very death God gyueth a commaundement sayth heare Israel thy God is y â— one alone God Thou shalte haue no straunge Goddes in my syghte Thou shalte make the no grauen Image c. Dauid beynge one of the true israelites hath made a vow to kepe this moost holy precepte And as he hathe this vowe so wyll he laboure to pforme it For it is not vnfaythfull nor folyshe but agreable to the scripture neyther dothe it prouoke the keper of it vnto muche inconue niece absurdite but rather vnto great vertu holynes So that he is fully bent to performe his vowe Let the vnfaythful Idolaters wor shyp what Idoll or false God they lyste Dauid wyll surely cleaue to this one alone true God For in his hart shall none syt but this one God alone neyther wyll he admyt so moch as the shadow of ony other to be ioyned with hym to haue fe lowshyppe with his God This his God alone wyll he worship honour lerue This his God alone wyl he how do reuerence vnto This his God alone wyll he loue with all his harte mynde soule withe all hys powers This his God alone wyll he magnify prayse for euer euer And bicause he may not once be mo ued by ony vayne spectacle seduced from the honour worshyp and seruice of this god vnto ony image seruice Idolatry he hath made a sure vowe faythful promise that he wyll make no grauen Image ydoll or mawmet but he wyll onlye cleaue to this his one alone God serue hym not in external ceremo nies but in spirite trueth For coÌ„ founded be all they shame lyghteÌ„ on them sayth he that worship gra uen ymages glory in theyr mawe mettes
sure vndoubted fayth beleue in Christe acknoweledge hym to be theyr heade confesse hym to be the sonne of the lyuynge God graunt vnfaynedly that he came in y e flesh heare the voyce of theyr Sheppard cleaue only to his worde flye y e voyces of straungers stycke vnto him us to theyr alone treasure looke for all good thynges at hys hande only Unto this churche pertayne so many as from the begynnyng of the world vntyl this tyme haue vn faynedly beleued in Christe or shall beleue vnto y e very ende of y e world Agaynste this chyrche the gates of hell shall not preuayle seynge it is bylte on the rocks Christ For Chri◅ hymselfe hathe promised y t he wyll be with it by his holy spirite euen vnto the very cōsummaciō and end of the world Moreouer Christ loued this chirch so well that he gaue hymselfe for it to sanctify it clensed it in the fo◅ tayne of water by y e word to make it vnto hym selfe a glorious congre ciō hauynge no spot or wryncle nor ony suche thyng but that it should be holy without blame This chir che is the spouse of Christ and matrone of heauen the house of God whiche is the congregacion of the li uynge God the pyller ground of trueth This chyrche is the mount Syō the Cytye of the lyuyng god the celestiall Hierusalē the company of innumerable aungelles the congregacion of the fyrst begotten which are written in heauen This chyrche is the holy cytie that newe Ierusalem which came downe frō God oute of heauen prepared as a bryde garnysshed for her husbonde This chyrch is that loue that dere dearlynge that doue that fayreste amonge all women without spotte or deformite of whome we rede in y ◠Balades of Salomō This chyrch cā neuer erre seinge that it is euer gouerned with the spirite of Christ seynge also that it cleaueth only to the worde of God neyther dothe it heare y e voyce of ony straunger but only heare and followe the voyce of her Sheppard which is Christ. To know therfore this chyrch of Christ from the Synagoge of Antichriste it is very easye For the Chyrche of Christ leaneth with a sure fayth to Christ alone the sonne of the liuing God as an omnisufficient sauiour The Synagoge of Antechriste although it confessethe Christ after a certayne manner yet it sekethe saluacion also at the handes of other The chyrch of Christ followeth only the word of God accordyng to that worketh in all thynges The Synagoge of Antechrist followeth the voyces of straungers deuyseth newe decrees constitucions lawes ordinaunces c. vnto them it stic keth maynly The chyrch of Christ practysethe those workes that ar◅ commaunded in the holye Scripture The Synagoge of Antechrist worketh thynges of her owne yma ginacion not prescribed in the law of God The chyrch of Christ seketh aboue all thynges the glory of god the health of her neyghbour The Synagoge of Antechrist seketh her owne pōpe honour glory prayse The chyrche of Christ is redy at all tymes to suffer persecuciō for Goddes truethes sake The Synagoge of Antechrist hateth y ◠crosse seketh to lyue all in pleasure to persecute so many as loue god and his word The chyrche of Christ seaketh euer after heauenly thynges The Synagoge of Antechrist hūtethe after temporall promocions worldly honours fleshly dignities easy lyuin ges carnall pleasures galant pasti mes sumptuous fare gorgious apparell c. The chyrche of Christ spē deth her goodes vpon the poore mē bers of Christe The Synagoge of Antechrist bestoweth her goodes af ter her owne fansye not after the commaundement of God To conclude The chyrche of Christ is alto gyther godly celestiall The syna goge of antechrist is altogither wic ked earthly Hereby do we learne which is the true chyrch which is y e false which is y e chyrche of Christ which is y e sinagoge of Antechrist But it is not to be gone ouer w t a lyght fote as they vse to say that Dauid calleth this chyrch of Christ the handemayde of God neither is it withoute a cause For as a true faythfull and diligent handmayde haue her eyes alwayes fyxed vpon her mastres for to wayte se what shall be her pleasure to commaund her to do that she maye do it wyth all redines spede euē so becometh it them of Christes chyrche diligent lyto wayte vpon theyr Lord God to marke what his moost godlye wyll pleasure and commaundemēt is that they shoulde do And thys shall they assuredly knowe by searchynge the holye Scriptures And as it becometh not an honest hand mayde to leaue the cōmaundement of her mastres vndone and to busy herselfe about suche thinges as she her selfe thynketh best to be done of her owne brayne euē so doth it not become them that professe them selues members of Christes chyrch to leaue the cōmaundementes of God vndone to fall in hande withe doynge thynges of theyr owne fansy ymaginacion For they that do so shewe them selues no handmaydes but mastresses nether are they obedient subiectes vnto God but rather take vpon them to be arrogāt superiours presumteous checke-mates Let them therfore that wyl be of Christes chyrche learne to be handmaydes no mastresses to be obedient subiectes not arrogant superiours presumpteous checke mates vnlesse whyle they followe theyr owne fantasyes and dreames they fall from the chyrche of Christ vnto Antichristes Synagoge as we may se in the Papistes Anabap tistes Sacramentaries c. Moreouer we reade that thys chyrch is not only called the hande mayde of the LORDE but also the spowse of Christe yea that not vn worthy For as a good honeste and faythfull wyfe is obediēt to her hus bonde in all thinges loueth hī pure ly cleaueth vnto hym only hath no pleasure to ronne after other men delyghteth her self w t her husbōdes cōpany alone is glad to please hym alway seketh the accomplyshment of his wyll by no meanes wyll at tempte ony thynge that shoulde be displeasaunt to hym So lykewyse this chyrche which is the spouse of Christ is obedient to her husbonde Christ in all thynges loueth him w t an ernest pure vnfayned loue cle ueth to him only hath no plesure to ronne after other men wherby she may be entised from the loue of her husbonde delyghtethe only in hym and in his worde sea◅eth the accōplyshment of his wyl sheweth her selfe in all poyntes conformable to his moost diuine wyll beynge lothe that ony thynge shoulde be commit ted on her behalf that should be displeasaunt to hym in ony poynte Let them therfore nowe take hede that recoūte thē selues to be of this chyrche wyll be called the spouse of Christe that they cleaue onlye to theyr husbonde Christ his worde heare hym alone followe hys voyce