seÌ„ding of y â— holy ghost if we feele it not in our selues and if we do feale it we shalbe forced with Paul to saye the spirite of God rendrethe testymony to oure spirite that we are the sonnes of God therfore heires and saued Neither is it inough that there is a church of God but thou must beleue to be a porcion thereof one of the lyuely stones therfore one of the electe And to beleue the coÌ„munioÌ„ of sayntes thou must feele that as a meÌ„ber of Christ he doth perticipate his grace w t the and y â— thou art therby saued y u must also be leue y e remission of syns y â— is not ouly that he dothe pardon synnes but that he hathe pardoned the thine and so elected the. EueÌ„ so thou must beleue that thou shalt ryse glorious and haue life euerlasting TheÌ„ there is no article of oure fayth y â— can be beleued in suche sorte as it ought to be of those whiche doo not beleue they are elected To the Christian it is then necessary to beleue that God is hys God and father that he worketh all for his benefite â–ª and that Christe is come was borne hath liued dyed and risen agayne for his saluacion so that w t lyuelye faith he eÌ„braceth Christ wholi for his owne with al his treasure grace And lykewyse al his life death resurreccyon assention glorye and perceiueth the charitie of God in Christ as if there hadde bene no mo but only him selfe in the world and that Christe for him onlye wold haue wrought and suffered no les then he hath done The which when thou dost beleue thou shalt perceyue thou art electe Yea he that beleueth not he is electe can not praye as he ought beynge withoute fayth wythout the whiche after Paul we cannot effectuously recommend vs to god bicause y â— we must ask in faith if we wil askin veriti be hard now if y u beleue not to be his soÌ„ne heir how caÌ„st y u as Christ taughte saye our father as a soÌ„ne wyth coÌ„fideÌ„ce aske him grace Praier may wel be made of inside ls and Ipocrits but lyke folishe scoffers and mockers WheÌ„ y u saiest halowed be thy name thy kyngdom come thou must haue in the the spirit of aâ— opcion of the sonne of God And as y e soÌ„ne is moued of vehemente loue pure and sincere to desyre the kyngdome and glori of y e father so must thou seyng the the sonne of God wyth a deuyne spirit by the force of loue aske and desyre that thy heauenly father be honored and reygne in hys electe w t out rebellyon Lykewyse shalt thou neuer thanke God wyth all thy herte if thou beleue not to be one of y e electe yea if y u shalte doubte therin or thincke to be dampned in thy hart and in thy lyfe and paradnenture also with thy words thou wylte dysprayse him that he hath giuen the a beyng that he hath create the world sente Christe and so the rest his benefytes and wilt say If I am not saued what do these thyngs profit me it had ben better for me y â— I had neuer ben as Christ sayd of Iudas If I shalbe damned the death of Christ serueth me not but doth inflame burne w t al y e rest of hys benefyts y u canst not in perfection theÌ„ thaÌ„cke god if y u feare daÌ„pnacioÌ„ But who so beleueth he is one of y e elect therby y â— al thynges serue hym to saluacion euen the verye troubles he holdeth for a specyall grace benefyte in theym perceyuynge the goodâ—es of God he gyueth hym thankes wyth all his herte Who shal he be that committeth hym selfe holy to the gouernaunce of God as euery one ought to do if he beleue not that God is hys father that he pardoneth hym doth take of him most singuler cure Otherwise they shall neuer truste in God but wyth Adam shal feare hym and flye seking to hide hym selfe from the face of God nether is it possyble to loue God in veryty honor hym as he ought to be honored and approue for iust and holy all his workes and so delite wholye in hym if he fele not in Christ so muche the goodnes of God that he se hym selfe hys sonne also heire If he know not him self to be a sonne he shal feare as a seruaunt in al his workes haue respect to him selfe his pains displeasures incommodytyes dyshonoures hel or els to this paradise not to y e glori of God As he y â— seeth hym selfe a soÌ„ne lord of al heire sure therof such a one worketh only by streÌ„gth of spirit vehemeÌ„ci of loue to the glory of god to whoÌ„ he hath turned hys whole intent to that end ordreth his whole life Also it can not be possible to loue thy neighbour as thy self as a brother in Christ meÌ„ber w t the of the same bodye if thou do not beleue to be in the number of the sonnes of God And fynally ther caÌ„not one good worcke be done but of them that are regenerate sonnes of God members of Christe and haue in them the holy spirit which testifieth in their hertes that they â—e the sonnes of God And mai parteli be sene howe false and vngodlye is the doctrine of the antichristians that where as it is cheifelye necessarie to beleue that we are elected also aboue all thinges most commodious thei force theÌ„ selues to withdraw euery one froÌ„ this fayth perswading them to stand in doubte as thoughe they had wherin to mistruste the goodnes of God vppon whome onlie dependeth oure saluacion as our daÌ„pnacion doth of our selues But let vs praye to God to open oure eyes to the ende they maye no longer blaspheme but render to God all honoure lande and glorye by Iesu Christe oure Lorde Amen The .xvii. Sermon If it be good to seeke to know wherefore God hathe some electe and some reprobate THy desyre maye be wycked as it is in manye to whome it appeareth that it should haue bene better if God who beinge of power as he is had elected al meÌ„ â–ª and semeth theym that in thys God hathe lacked of charitye yea in theyr language they saye in theyr heart secretely If we had bene God we woulde haue elected all and would haue had more charitie theÌ„ he Now behold whether this be vngodlye folyshe proude plasphemy or not They Imagyne to haue more loue to the souls then he that for to saue theym gaue hys onlye begotten and dearlye beloued sonne vpon the crosse There are some other to whome it semeth on the one syde that God can not erre and on the other parti hearinge that he hath reproued many they thinke the coÌ„trary Thei are not certeine by fayth that God can not erre and that al that he willeth must nedes be iuste Therfore
it resteth not therfore that Iesus is not the Messias for y t the promises were made to the spiritual Hebrues the which in faith do imitate folow AbrahaÌ„ they ar y â— elect When God also in Mala. sheweth to the Iues that he hath loued theÌ„ because he loued Iacob of whom they descended and hated Esau His reason had bene vnuailable if God dyd loue and chose by workes For the Iewes might haue answered if thou didest loue Iacob and the Hebrues it was because thou dydest forese theyr good works and in lyke case thou woldest haue done to Esau and the Gentils if thou haddest foresene and good workes in them But Paule sheweth that the Messias is come also to y e geÌ„tils because God geueth hys gyfts with out hauinge respect to workes If thou demaund wherfore he hath elected theÌ„ Paul answereth because it is written I wil shew mercye on whom it pleaseth me Therfore Paule doth in ferre and bring in that paradyse is not hys that wil nor that runnethor laboreth by hym selfe to get it but his that God wyl shew mercy vnto He myght also haue answered that althoughe God hated Esau before he was borne before he dyd sinne he is not therefore wicked for he had hym not in hate or he did forese his wickednes But he saith that he doth indurate whoÌ„ he wyl to set forth the brightnes of his glorye And to hys purpose he doth alledge the example of Pharao Now tell me how it is possible that God can forse in vs any good if he determin not to geue it vs. Thou wilt say he saw that some could vse well frewil and some not â–ª therfore he chose the first and refused the seconde they coulde not vse it wel wythout his grace Wherfore then did he determyne to geue y t grace of wel vsyng to the one and not to the other It behoueth to returne to the deuine wyll and say because it pleased hym not for the vsing wel of fre wyl is the effecte and frute and not the cause of election PeradueÌ„ture thou wylte saye he dyd determyne to geue grace to all but he sawe that some wold vse it wel and those he chose and some euel and those he forsoke But tell me the vse of that grace is also the gyft of god wherfore dyd he not determine to geue that grace to all also to vse it Thou muste nedes sayat laste also because it pleased hym not If y u wylte say those that vsed it not well was not because they lacked y â— grace to vse it no more then the other but they dyd not occupyeâ—t when they had it the defalt was theirs and not of God nor of the grace If it were so we shuld haue wherin to glorye in our selues But Paul is in the contrarie willeth that to God ought to be rendred all honour and glorye so as froÌ„ hym commeth al goodnes We might also of our selues seperate vs froÌ„ the reprobate and so our hope shuld not be al wholy in God our saluacioÌ„ could not be certeyn and sure as Christ saide nor the cause of our eleccion so hidde as Paule saieth it is yea fre mercye shuld be no more fre merci if we might be saued by worckes and paradise shuld be a rewarde and not a gyfte cleane agaynst Paule The Hebrues dyd mo worckes theÌ„ the gentils and neuer theles he did chose the gentils and reproued the Iewes that soughte to be iustified by theyr workes God from the beginning for sawe in vs nothing but repugnancy and rebellioÌ„ agaynst his grace being by the sinne of Adam the childrene of ire prone and enclined to all euyl Paul calleth our election the eleccion of fre mercye Dauid sayth he saued me because he loued me and because it pleased him He saueth then his electe because he delyteth in them and dystrybuteth hys mercy after his own wyl TheÌ„ he hath begotten vs voluntarily by mere mercye and not by our workes so that the xii Apostels dyd not chose Christe but he chose theÌ„ to the Apostelship So wee be not they that haue chosen God to saue vs but God is he that hathe chosen vs to saluacion Euen as Paul was called withoute workes by free mercy because it pleased God so he was elected to shewe his mercye and the aboundaunt ryches of his glorie It is humility it selfe to beleue that we are chosen by grace Thys opynion geueth al glory to god and to vs onlye confusion And because we can not erre in glorifying to much the fre mercye and bountye of God and a batinge the pryde of man Therfore it is most sure yea although it stode not wyth the holye scryptures as it doth And the more it displeaseth the carnal man becauseit coÌ„foundeth al his glory so much the more it is pleasing to the spiritual because it magnifieth God Christ his fre mercy the gospel And to say my opinion it pleaseth me best to be all wholy in the hande of God Yea if mine eleccioÌ„ wer in my custody I wold if I myghte render it vnto God in whose hand it must of force be better and more sure Yea woe to vs if in the least point it did depend vpoÌ„ our selues Sethen what becommeth of them that imagine although falsely that it dependith only vpon the goodly workes that they do to make theÌ„ selues elected again wher on y e other partie y u shalt se that those which with lyuely faith beleue to be by the mere mercy of God and by the deathe of Christe in the noumber of the electe and sonnes of God for that they fele in Christe and by Christ the greate charitie of God are by strengthe of the spirite and loue forced to do worckes to bee wondered at not seruile for they see them selues heyres but the workes of a son sincere and pure to the glory of their lyuely father beynge preuented by soue If thou woldest beleue we arâ— not worthy to be so elected by fre mercy I wold answer nether that Christ shuld suffer for vs vpoÌ„ the câ—osse but dyd he not therfore die Christ hath not elected vs because we were worthy therof but for the glory of his goodnes The cause of oure eleccyon is not theu to bee soughte but at the deuyne wyll Of the reprobat I entend not to dyspute wherfore god hath cast them of because it is nether nedeful to vs nor profitable to know It serneth to humble vs and to knowe better y e great goodnes of God that we are elected by his grace and not by our workes The Christiane oughte to beleue to be one of the chosen and it ought to suffise hym to haue Christe for hys booke in the whych he seeth hymselfe electe and to knowe that that apperteyneth to hym And althoughe Paule to the Romanes spake a worde therof it was but
rocke he hathe the greate deuyl to chase awaye And if in the lunatycke soÌ„ne there was a greate commocion when Christ oute of his bodye wold haue drawen the malignaunte spirite y t had possessed hym thynck what commocion there is when he chaseth hym from the soule in the whyche he dwelleth more wyllyngely And know that it maketh a coÌ„mocion not onli outward in ceremonies as do coÌ„monly y â— false christians when it is neare Easter but there is a coÌ„mocion within the verye bowels of the soule and inward part of the herte there is nothing that so caÌ„ perce the soule as doth the spirite of god when it entreth into it by speciall slidinge Not only it spoileth vs of the olde Adam wyth hys concupisence and doth cloth vs with Christ wyth all his vertues but also maketh vs to be borne a new that as if a poore man were sodenly made an Emperoure he shoulde be wholy chaunged so he that of a vile sinner is made the soÌ„ne of God chauÌ„geth thoughtes effectes desyres and wyll chaungeth frenshipes practises wordes worckes and life and of humayne beastly carnal earth and deuelyshe he becommeth heauenly spirituall angelicall and deuine as did Paul goyng to Damasco when Christ did enter hys hert Ther was a mutacion from the ryghte hande of God When the spirite of the Lorde entreth in a person he is chaunged into a nother man for that diyng to the world he beginneth to lyne to him self And if when Christ dyd enter into the temple he purged it from those that bought and sold thyncke if wheÌ„ he entreth into the spiritual temple he clenseth it from euery vnclennes of sinne there resteth not in it any thyng of dampnacion he healeth it moste perfectly so that if the vncleane woman was healed at the touche of the hemme of Christs garment y u mayst thinke what it is wheÌ„ Christ in spirite entryng into the soule and the person with lyuely fayth imbraceth him wholy for hys Also as when the sonne beames enter into thy house thou perceiuest in the ayre eueÌ„ to the smalest mote whych y u couldest not se before so wheÌ„ in the soule do enter the beames of lyght of the diuine grace the sinnes are perceyued in more cleare maner Yea as the prodigial soÌ„ne neuer knew nor perceiued truly his own errour til with such pitie he was imbraced of his father had profe how greate was y e fatherly goodnes and charitie which he had offended so the sinner when he conuerteth begynneth with the spirit to taste the diuine goodnes he beginneth also to know his malice pride and ingratitude with the rest his vnlawful sinnes He restoreth w t Zacheus that which is not his if Christ enter into his house and dyspenseth the superfluous thynges yea beyng rych wyth the treasures of Christ he leaueth al wyth vnmeasurable loue He can not participate or take part of the bountye of god that doth not coÌ„municate distribut to others The lyuelye flame muste nedes breake forth or els beyng smoudered it queÌ„cheth and the fountaynes that contynuallye receiue ruÌ„ning water must of force ouer flowe so they that haue in them the holye gost by the testimony wherof they are sure to be the sonnes of God haue contynuallye one suche and so entire sincere pure gladnes which groweth of the liuely knowledge y t they haue of the greate goodnes of god that they caÌ„ not expresse it nor they caÌ„not coÌ„preheÌ„d theÌ„ selfes Therfore not being able to w thold theÌ„ selues they spring leape for ioy with Iohn Baptist with his mother they make exclamacioÌ„ as to Zacharye so are their toÌ„ges losed so y t although in praysyng of god they perceiue with Moses that they stammer and are of an vnlearned toÌ„g neuertheles with the Apostles they can not kepe scilence of that which they haue herd sene felt wyth the spirit they must nedes speake by the superabundauÌ„ce of loue that they haue they desire wyth the woman of Samarye that euery one shoulde taste that which they them selues haue had experieÌ„ce of And although for preachynge the gospell they be persecuted for al that they do not desiste and leaue of but triumphing in al thei perseuer and go forth euen to the deth they feele in such sorte in the herte the charity of god that not onlye it is swete to theÌ„ to suffer for his loue but wyth the Apostels they reioice therin And for that they participate of that greate charitie of Christe by beynge his members Therfore wyth hym they pardon al men beyng ready to shed their bloud and put theyr lyfe for their enemies with Paul also to be accursed from Christe And this because that as to Stenen so the heauens are opened to them in suche sorte that in spirite with clere supernatural lyght of fayth they se the glory of god in hauing geuen his only begotteÌ„ dearly beloued soÌ„ne for them vpon the crosse they rest also quiet as the shyp when Christ entered into it they haue the peace of coÌ„scyence knowing with certeyne fayth that god by Christ by hys mercy hath pardoned them They haue also quietnes of mynde in suche maner that thoughe they were in al the perils necessyties of the world yet alwayes aprouing for iust the iudgemenâ—es of god knowing that he is their only father that he hath most singuler cure of them that euery thynge serueth them to saluacion they stand most surely quiet in peace traÌ„quility These suche for that they walke accordyng to the vocacion of god haue honour of euery enterprise that they take in hand they can not be letted or resisted no more theÌ„ God Yea it is force that euery one feare theym as Herode feared Saint Iohn Baptyste for that he had in hym the spirit of the Lorde as Abimelech did AbrahaÌ„ Isaac They are daylye more firme stablyshed in good purposes to doo euer better beyng lyfted vp coÌ„tinualy to a greater perfeccion with Paule althoughe their mind be conuersaunt in heauen neuertheles descendyng by ChristiaÌ„ pytye to fele the miseryes of theyr brethren they laboure also to drawe them to Christ and moue theÌ„ to haue the spirite to be in veryty Christianes not Ipocrites As y e very grape doth moue the birdes to taste therof and not the pyt fal And finally although with the Apostels they neuer remayne wyth Christ and wyth the Canauite whiche woulde not departe for his vngentle wordes neuertheles they are prompte and ready for his honour and glorye to leaue wyth the Samaritane hys swete presence And what is more to be sayde when the spirite of God doothe enter into a soule he suffereth it not to slepe nor stand in idlenesse but maketh it worcke thynges merueylous and inexplicable for the loue of God to whome be euer al laâ—d honour and glory by Iesu Christe our
and an vnderstanding and light aboue a natural maÌ„ he must also be the sonne and lawful heyre of God And then he may say I sound of mynde and ready of spirit and remembraunce albeit as touching my flesh syck make my testament and â—equeath fyrst of al my being and substaunce to god he gaue it to me and also preserued it and of hym I recognise to haue it and for it I render him thanckes I leaue to him like wise the giftes graces benefites temporal bodely and gostly that I haue had or shall heare after receyue for they â—e his and from hym by grace I acknowledge to haue receyued all as Paule sayeth what hast thou that thou hast not receiued at gods handes Yea for asmuch as al the slaunders misreportes persecucioÌ„s sickenes and misfortunes which I haue already or shal from hence forth suffer and euen death self I confesse by the vnderstanding that the Lord hath geuen me that thei haue beue and shalbe his giftes and graces geuen and graunted of a great loue for my wealth and profit wherfore as his deuyne rewardes I graunt to haue had theÌ„ of god for them I thancke him and as hys owne I leaue and restore them to him And for so much as I caÌ„not but acknowledge that I haue gone alwaies backward from him so often as I wolde rule my selfe by my blynde iudgement folyshe wisdome and deuelishe spirite nether did so much as go one steppe forthe toward God but wheÌ„ I was moued dryuen and thrust forwarde of his holy spirit Wherefore I commit to the highest God my most deare father and to his gouernance al the world and specially my self in him as I may I wil help my selfe with myne owne wytte and fredome namely by makynge it obedyent to hym â–ª Moreouer if euer I haue spoken or shal from hence forth vtter any word if I haue done or shal do anye worcke that is to hym pleasaunte if I haue had or after this tyme shal haue thoughte desyre or wil that good is â–ª I geue it to God and at hys handes I professe that I haue had al my goodnes so that if it were gods wil to take from me al that he hath geuen me there shuld in me remayne nothynge but onely sinnes those are myne own and al other thinges he his Thus be my sinnes if I shuld go before gods presence I were but dampned if I were mynded to make satisfaction I could not no nor yet anye sayncte that euer was ther is none whose loue is so greate to take my sinnes vppon him and satisfy for them and appease gods anger saue Christ alone wherfore to him I bequeath my synnes I leaue to hym my pride vnkindenes vnbeleue mistrust arrogancy enuy wrath ambitioÌ„ and al my vnnumerable wickednes I geue to him my euil thoughtes affectioÌ„s and desires to be short I make one fagot boundel of al my offences present past and to come and geue them to Christ hauynge sure fayth and stedfast hope that he wil accept them for his own and hath euen already taken them and for them hath satisfyed on the crosse hys father layed them on hys necke and he did not ones agayn say it but of great loue allowed them for hys and to consume and burn them in the flame of his deuine loue he bore them on his innocente shoulders vppon the crosse as Peter writeth and so was offered a sacrifice for vs. Now seing I haue left al my sins to Christ and geuen to God my substaunce and being withal other giftes and graces that he bestowed on me I remayn naked wythout eyther good or euyl and truly to say I am rather nothyng In that I haue restored to God my beinge that I hadde by creatyon and byrthe But for because it is impossible that he shuld saue me wythout being and so it is y â— he wil saue me therfore first I carye wyth me Christ him selfe which is my life God hathe so loued me that he hathe geuen hymselfe to me For so hath God loued y â— world that for theyr syns he hath geuen vs his only begutten sonne I cary also with me hys spirit that was of his eternal father geuen me of his most roiâ—l liberaliti as wel declareth Paule wher he sayeth God hath sent the spirit of his sonne into our hartes wherby we cry and cal father father And in that he hathe geuen me hym he hath restored me to myself and former being With a new substance and nature spiritual so that for the possibility of my saluacioÌ„ I haue a being but yet lacke I treasure to discharge my great dets and to appeare rych in goddes syght in consideracioÌ„ wher of I beare with me Christes watching abstinences trauayles praiers persecutions slaunders I take with me hys teares hys swet hys bloud and al that euer he dyd or suffered in thre and thirty yeres is myne euery deale and with liuely faith I embrace it as for mine own I cary beside this with me hys pacyence mekenes loue and al other hys denyne vertues his gifts and graces hys treasures and al that he hath mereted and desâ—rued hys lyfe passion deathe resurreccion and assension be mine ye all y t euer he hath done or shal from henceforthe do is mine and what nedeth more to say if God haue geuen vs his owne sonne howe hathe not he with him geuen vs al thynges wherfore with faithe I embrace my sweete Iesus for mine owne he is my rightwysenes wysdom raunsome and holines he is my strengthe he is my spirite my lyghte lyfe hope and al my goodnes euen Christ him selfe in hyslaste wyl bequethed me all y â— he had of the father Wherfore he sayth I entertayne you at my table as my father hathe vsed me as my father hath made me hys heyre so nowe I ordein you I wil that as you be my brethren so you shalbe my folowers And in another place he sayeth I haue loued you as mi father hath loued me sithen I am nowe through Christe so ryche of treasures vertuouse and graces â–ª I shal be hable not onely to satisfy for my dettes but also to purchase infinite paradise when soeuer they shalbe soulde Who shalbe nowe either to accuse or coÌ„demne me after that Christ hathe thus clothed me with his innocensy rightwisenes holynes loue with all his vertuse graces treasures merites and with his own selfe I may with no lesse boldenes and suretye then Christ appeare before God I am his sonne as he is and heyre of heauen semblably I am innocent as Christ is now that he hathe satisfied for me and payed my raunsome and rewarded me wyth his innocency Christe saied I hallow my self that they also maye be holye euen he is oure holynes and we be his members Wherfore it is as possible for God not to loue me as it is possible that he shuld not loue Christ by reason wherof Paule sayeth who shall
possible might haue ouer man Aud if he procede forth to induce the to despayre by settynge before the thy greate synnes I wyll the to say to hym Go to Christ which as Ihon wryteth is myne attournei and aduocate he can make the an aunswere for me reason there with hym if thou haue any claime or title in me as thou sayest doest thou not know that he hath taken my synnes for hys owne and hathe for them made satisfactyon most plentuously therfore hast thou no ryght in me at al. If he chaunce to say his death is not inough to sane the answere him if Adam by tasting one apple with one only sinne was hable to damne me how is it that so manye holy workes of Christ which tasted for my sake of great loue the most bytter death be not sufficient to saue me If the disobedience of Adam had power to condemn me much more the obedyence of Christe is stronge inough to saue me yea the gift of Christ is aboue and excedeth the synne of Adā Christ hath more auayled and holpen vs then Adam annoied and harmed vs by reason the light of Christ is of more force effect then the darkenes of our fyrst parent the goodnes of Christes surmounteth and passeth y ◠malice of man and his vertue preuaileth aboue oure frailty one teare of Christe hathe bene more pleasaunt to God thē al the sins of the world be displeasaunt Christ hath be able to do more to appeace hym then we to prouoke hym to anger Christes liuing was more formal and ordinary then oures was out of order and frame Christ hath doone more to the honour of God then we haue done to his dishonoure Wherfore I maye wel say Christ that is my wisdom right wisnes holynes and redempcion is sufficient inough to saue me And if haply he shuld say it is not sufficient for thy saluacion to beleue in Christe the be houeth to keepe his commaundementes thou must loue God wythal thy hart thy neyghbour as thy self and desire nor couet any thing worldly which thinges because thou doest not ergo thou art dampned if fayth only wer inough I also and al the deuels shuld be saued because as it is writtē euen the deuels beleue and feare They beleue that God made and created heauē and earth and that Christ came dyed rose ascēded into heauen that he sent the holy ghost and that he shal come to iudge the quicke dead and yet are not we therfore saued and that because we obserue not his deuine preceptes Wherfore thou also art but lost he wyl thus labour to bring the vnder the law to thinke that thou must be iustified not by Christ but by perfourminge and fulfillinge of the lawe to the end y t thou shuld despair But I wyl that thou make answere and say if thou diddest beleue as by gods grace I beleue that is that God for thy wealthe hath created the worlde and semblably preserueth it in such sort that thou couldest fele in the creatures the loue of God and lykewyse wold beleue firmely that Christ came and dyed for thy sinnes for to saue the and for thy sake and profit and in lyke manner of the other articles thou also should be saued and then when thou haddest a liuely feling of the goodnes and loue of God thou woldest loue hym and thy neyghbour likewyse and beynge rauyshed into God wouldest begynne to set litle store by the world as al good Christen men and women do If it fortune that he say he is cursed that kepeth not and obserueth the lawe wherfore thou arte one of myne saye to hym agayne for that cause Christ dyed on the crosse for to delyuer me from all curses and in so much as I am alreadye of Christ I am deade to the lawe Agayne if he replye saying wher be thy workes whereby thou trustest to be saued answer I trust not to be saued bi mi works for they be such that if I shuld haue regard or respect to them I feare me to be damned yea I were surely acertained of my damnacion I hope only to be saued by Christ and hys workes whyche be myne owne and so much rather myne then they I dyd myself as that the spirite of Christe geuen to me is more entyer to me then myne own life or any other thyng Further if he shulde endeuour to proue the to be none of the elect by reason of the innumerable and outragiouse synnes that thou hast committed for prosperites or aduersities thou hast had for the great euylles wherin thou art founde at thy deathe or for the temptacyons thou haste susteyned sayinge that God preserueth his elected from the lyke euyls Make hym answer and say rather dothe God practyse them in diuerse such manners albeit of euerything they be certified to the honoure of God thou shalt moreouer say to hym thus I geue more credite and truste to Christe whiche when he was deade for me on the crosse tould me I was saued then to the that arte alwayes a lyer and father of erroures I wyll thou tel hym how thou geuest more fayth to Christ alone then to al the reasons and authorities of the world thou may by syde thys saye to him the spirit of God beareth witnes to mi spirit that I am the sonne of god and to him muste I rather truste then to the. When he shall saye if thou were the sonne of God he would not leaue the in such punishmentes as thou art in but would geue the sonne release and easement answere hym In case it were as thou sayest Christ shulde not haue bene the sonne of God sithen on the crosse he had no comfort nor sensual tast or feling so that he sayd my God my god why hast thou forsaken me it sufficeth to me that he sheweth me so much fauoure for I am contented with all that pleaseth hym as Christ also was yea in his sufferinge he felt excedingly the infinite loue of the father Beside these if he say thou art the sonne of Adam ergo thou art accursed Answere thou thus I am blessed agayne by brynge borne of God and by meane of that blessed sede Christ as God long agone promised Adam when he sayed In thy sede al nacyons shalbe blessed thou shalt tel hym how thou art despoiled and bereft of the old Adam clothed with Iesu Christ as Paul teacheth and aduertiseth the What time as he shal declare to the that Christ is wroth angry and sharp make him answere how Christ is not such one for he is the health and hope of sinners and whylest we be in this life present he is vttered to vs pitifull sweete and oure Iesus that is our sauiour◠and al be it he seme to speake sharpe and cruel wordes to the woman of Canany yet in heart he gaue her confidēce and boldnes and shewed him self to her ful of swetenes and
he is saued thorowlye by him and he that seeth this with supernatural vnderstandinge hauinge no respect to him self nor his workes but only to the goodnes of God discouered in Christ vpon the Crosse caÌ„not by any meanes be disceiued because that light which he hath to be in the fauor of God elect to saluacion can not growe but onlye of the bountye of God consydered in Christ wherof can spring no false nor deceitfull knowledge Full well may he be be giled and shalbe that doth behold his workes and by them thincketh that he is in the fauour of God and his soÌ„ne But seing him selfe in Christ saued chosen in the fauour of God it muste nedes be said that he seeth the truthe and that which is once trewe although it were but for the twincke of an eie must be saide to be euer true he then which beleueth in Christe were it but a mynute of an houre in perceyuynge of hym selfe elect by Christ seeth that which is true therfore shall it euer be true that he is one of the legitimaâ— sonnes of God so that the same his faythe be not in anye maner founded vpon him self nor his own worckes but in christ and the diuine excellence and that it be not a certeine trifleinge lighte baren and deade opinion but a liuely faithe It must be said then that Iudas had neuer perfect faith nether was elect to saluacioÌ„ although he was chosen to the apostelshippe and the like say I of al y â— reprobate al such theÌ„ as haue had at ani time liuely belefe to be saued bi christ may be sure of their saluation And so also they whiche haue once at the least bene perfectely geuen to God and committed to his gouernaunce vpon the couenaunte that he shall serue him selfe of them accordynge to his owne purpose and with truste that by Christ and his mere goodnes he hath accepted them for hys owne they maye also beleue that they are saued bycause that he shal be no lesse God to them then they shal be promysed of hym Therfore hauing had in that couenaunte lyuely faythe that God wyll forgeue them as his Chyldren in suche sorte that he wyll conducte them to saluacion althoughe they as muche as lyeth iu them were contynuallye prompte to all euyl yet is it necessary to saye that sence God hathe taken theym for hys as they knowe by the lyuely faythe that they haue hadde thereof that they shal ouercome that wyckednesse and haue honoure thereby For hys goodnes passeth their euelnes he wold not haue inspired theÌ„ to gyue them selfes if from without beginning he had not elected them and takeÌ„ theÌ„ for his own Some peraduenture wyl say if we were onlye ones sure to haue ben for a litle time in the fauour of god to haue had his spirit in vs and liuely faith in him that we did beleue surely to be his elect yet we know not if it haue bene a perfect fayth or not wee feare it to haue bene a certeyne cold opinion and least we were begyled in beleuing to be in gods fauoure elected of him I answer that thys is an euideÌ„t sygne that ye neuer had hytherto liuely fayth and knowledge of Christ For as it is vnpossible to haue fyre within the brest and not â—ele it so is it impossible to haue in the hart christ the holy ghost ardent charity and the fiery light of fayth and not to perceiue it thys is for that his lighte is so clere and effectuous that not only it maketh them to se and lyuelye to fele with the spirite that Christe is deade for them vpon the crosse that they are electe and saued but also it dothe make them knowe that it whyche they see is by diuine inspiracion that it is the holye spirit whiche testifieth vnto theyr spirite that thei are the sonnes of God Whose testimonye is more clere open firme and certein then al the outward oracles and miracles of the world which without the inward testimonie of the spirit can leaue vs none other theÌ„ doutful Now y t he that hath in him Christ and the spirite of God doth fele know and perceiue it it is clere by Christ which sayde that the world knew not the holy gost but that he was knowen of them in whome he was And by saynct Iohn which sayd also In this we know that Christ is in vs euen by the holy gost whiche he hathe geuen vs. Therfore sayd Paul trie your selues make some profe of your selues is it possible that ye should not knowe Christ in you if ye be not reprobate And in an other place â–ª know ye not how ye are the temple of God that the holy gost dwelleth in you The holy spirite goth searching throughout and iudgeth euery thing fayth is so clere y t it sheweth vs the profuÌ„ditie of god thou wilt that it be blynde of it selfe Yea Paul sayth that the holy gost is geuen to vs to the ende we might know those thinges that haue ben geuen vs of Christ The kyngdome of God is peace as wryteth Esai and Paul without seruile feare in much certentie Therefore as Chryst sawe that he was in the fauoure of his father and his beloued sonne so also do the electe se them selues all thoughe not wyth so cleare lyghte and certenty but that they goo somtyme doubtynge stumbling and wauering Bnt they ought wyth the Apostles to pray Christ to augmeÌ„t their faith And seke with their good workes continually to make knoweÌ„ to theÌ„ selfs more perfect their saluacion and vocacioÌ„ that therby as by the effectes or fruites they shuld come in to the ful riches of certein perswacion and vnderstandinge of their election and saluation Paule also knew he was in the fauour of God in faith hope and charitye elected the sonne of God safe and sure and that he had the holy goste and Christ wythin hym when he sayd that he was one of them that Christ was come to saue and that he knew in whome he beleued that he looked for the Crowne that nothynge could seperate hym froÌ„ the loue of God which had elected him before the constitution of the world that he had the spirite of adopcion of the sonnes of God and that Christe was he who lyued and spake in him Saint IhoÌ„ also saied we are sure we know God and that we liue in him worldlie and carnall beastes are they which know not God in the holye gost nor those thynges which be his euen as meÌ„ not regenerate they are rustical paysauÌ„ts of so abiecte and base a spirite that they can not beleue that God hath loued them so much that by the death of his onlye begotten and most intierly beloued sonne he would saue them take them for his chyldren and make them hys hepres But astonied of theyr sinnes they are euer afrayed of hell Where the regenerate fele in such sorte the charitie of God in Christ
presume but assuredlye to hope and beleue to be saued and elected Mary by oure owne worckes this is an euyll vyce and ought to be fled But to beleue to be elected and saued by the liberalitie of God by the deathe of Christe vpon the crosse and hys workes thys is no presumpcioÌ„ but a hope which hath regard as diuine theological vertue not to oure merytes but onelye to God by Christ And as we caÌ„ not loue him so much but y â— we euer lacke of y â— perfectioÌ„ so can we not to much hope trust in hym Yea we lacke euer bycause we do not promise of god so much as we should do he y â— beleueth to be saued becoÌ„meth not proud nether magnifieth him selfe nor his workes but the goodnes of God the grace y â— we haue by Christ Therfore is it not euel Per adueÌ„ture y u wilt saie one ought to stande in fere I agre therto in the reureÌ„d soÌ„nelike feare y â— which importeth obseruauÌ„ce of reuereÌ„â—e to God but now not so vile for we ar no more seruaÌ„tes but soÌ„nes not Hebrues but Christians we are not vnder the lawe but grace we haue God for oure father not onelye for a Lorde Therfore our office is to loue him like chyldren not to feare him as seruauntes sence that we haue the spirit not of seruitude but of adopcioÌ„ of y â— sonnes of God If our saluacioÌ„ did depeÌ„de in any part vpon our selfes I woulde saye we ought to fere our daÌ„nacioÌ„ yea to be sure therof but sence it is al in y â— haÌ„des of God therfore beholdinge not our selues but his goodnes discouered in Christ vpoÌ„ the cros we may be sure and certayne of our saluaon Perfect chariti chafeth away al seruile feare faith neuer douteth if it be perfecte the feare then of our daÌ„nacyon groweth of imperfeccioÌ„ of our charitye fayth hope We ought neuer to frare the mercyfulnes of God but our owne wyckednes Thou woldest saye if we were wholie coÌ„firmed in grace we shuld not nede to feare but we synne dayly therfore it is necessary to staÌ„d in doubte I aunswere that yet thou gost aboute to builde my hope vpon my workes the whych shuld be no hope but a presumpcion If we shoulde hope wyth condicioÌ„ if we do well and perseuer therein my hope shuld stande wyth desperaciun for of my selfe I know I ought to despaire If I had the synnes of the whole world yet wold I most stedfastly beleue to be saued without any feare of daÌ„pnaciou neyther maye thys be sayde to be euell for that I woulde not builde my hope but vpon Christe If thou woldest say y â— feare of dâ—mpnacioÌ„ causeth meÌ„ to abstain froÌ„ sinne therfore it is good I aunswer that it causeth men to refrayne in their own loue as doth the fear of death wherby they become dayly more sensual in them selues and therefore trulye worse inwardly Feare worketh wrathe in God euen as the law doth and although it cause the abstaine froÌ„ some euill outward worke uenerthelesse the venime remaineth within the which is so much y â— worse as it is more vnited to the inward partes yea that feare geuen to the vngodly is the scorge of God The electe knowing that God in this present life doth punyshe more the legittimate childreÌ„ then the bastardes abstaine also by thys feare more theÌ„ the other But truly the loue of God the quycke feelynge of hys great goodnes to beleue firmely by Christ and his grace to be the sones of God elect and sure in deede are those thinges whiche mortifie vs to the world and to our selues and maketh synne displeasaunt to vs euen froÌ„ the botome of the hert Therfore wher y â— seruice feare maketh Ipocrites y â— sonlyke loue maketh true christiaÌ„s If y u woldest say to beleue so is a thynge verye perilous because y â— hereof they take occasioÌ„ to lyue idle yea to geue theÌ„ self to alvice saying I wyll make my paradise in this world for euery wai I shalbe saued seÌ„ce y â— alredi I am elect I answer that wheÌ„ one beleueth to be elect and perceiueth in spirit the mercifulnes of God in Christe then God tasted in Christ hath in the hert such efficacie and strength that he cannot offende but is forced to dyspraise the world is rapt to so hygh estate that he falleth to obliuion of the world him selfe and his paradise setting only God be fore his eies Therfore sayth saynte Iohn Who so hath thys fayth sanctyfyeth hym self So as theÌ„ of chariti springeth but goodnes â–ª euen so is it of thys faith hope Knowest thou wherin is the paril In beleuing to be elected by their workes and by beleuynge in Christe not sted fastly but to haue only a certaine barraine idle and a dead opinion therof the which staÌ„deth in y â— worst life in suche sorte that of that colde and vnfruteful fayth they maye take occasyon to geue theÌ„ to Idelnes and al vice But nowe not of that perfect fayth the whych is effectuous in doing worckes by loue being an enflamed lyght the whiche is neuer wythoute burning If also thou wouldest say in beleuinge to be elect thou shouldest peraduenture be begyled therefore it is euell I wold yet answer that I would soner geue faithe to the holy gost whiche testifieth in y e hartes of the electe that thei are the sonnes of God as Paule wryteth then to the that woldest put me in doubt of it The electe to heare inwardlye in their hertes a spirituall voyce quycke and deuyne whiche biddeth theym not doubte and that they are sure of theire saluacion that God loueth them and hathe taken them for his chyldren and that they cannot perishe the testymonye of God is greater then mans Therfore not onlie he is to be beleued afore man but he deseruethe to haue giuen vnto him vndoubted credite If thou woldest sai it might be not the spirite of God but their imagynacyons I saye that what so euer it is they knowe better then thou for that as Paule saythe none knoweth what is in maÌ„ but the spyryte of man that is wythin hym Farder I am sure that the same spyryt whiche saith to me I am elected is the spyrit of God because the faythe I haue of the eleccion spryngeth not of my worckes but onlye of the goodnes of god vnderstaÌ„d in Christe and for that of hys goodnes can growe nether gyle nor falshod therfore am I sure to be in the trueth Deceites falshedes mai do come of the belefe to be saued by workes and elected Moreouer the lyght whyche the electe haue of theyr saluacyon is so cleare that they do not onlye se them selues sure thereof but they knowe also that the lyghte and knowledge they haue is supernaturall deuyne But we suppose as thou sayst that in beleuynge to be electe only by Christe and the
goodnes of God I myghte be begiled whiche is false and impossyble yet wolde I styll say let me be deceyued for it is good to be so begyled sence I can fynd nothyng that so much doth kyndel me into a syncere and pure loue of god as to beleue to be elected bi his mere goodnes Therfore vsinge it to make me inamored of God I ought not to be wythdrawen chifely for y â— I am happy only by that fayth of y e whyche whosoeuer is voide is not yet entred in to the kyngdom of God wher is nothynge but ryghtuousnes peace and Ioie Finally Paul beleued to be elected as in many places he saythe yea he gloryed therin neuerthelesse in God and so to beleue he induced others the whiche if it had bene euel he wolde not haue done Therefore if it be not euel let vs also with Paule glorivs by God in Christe who lykewyse induced the Apostles to beleue y â— theyr names were writeÌ„ in heauen that theyr heaueÌ„ly reward was pleÌ„tuous that they shulde iudge the xii tribes therby brought them to beleue they were elect and that is also sure that if that belefe had bene euell he wold not haue caused it Thou wilt saie thou oughtest not to compare thy selfe equall wyth the sainctes I saie it is true that I oughte not to presume to be like them or holy by myne owne worckes for while I presume of my self I muste of force become a deuell but it is not euell to compare with the saintes in veritie for they were humble and in beleuing that they were elect they gaue to God all laude and glorye because they did not beleue to be of the electe for their merites but for Christes And wold to God I mighte beleue y â— firmelye and with stedfast fayth the sacred scriptures are ful that we ought not to despeire of our saluacion but that we ought to hope and beleue to be all readye saued and dayly to certifie our selues therof bi doinge good worckes which are a testimonie to vs of oure election and that we shulde also increase in charitye to take from vs all feare of oure dampnacioÌ„ to the end we may serue God without feare in rightuousnes and holinesse as Zacharie sayde And likewise we ought to demauÌ„d perseuerauÌ„ce in the good w t faith to obtein it Therfore to trust to be saued of the elected to hope beleue to be saued of the elect is not euel Paul al so saith oure hope was neuer confounded nor dyd shame to them that had it And lykewyse that fayth was neuer begiled Wherfore then is it euyll that I bleue stedfastly to be saued by Christ Let vs beholde then with open eyes of liuely fayeth Christ vpon the crosse in whome we se presentelye the goodnes of God in the face in such sort as we may beynge pylgrimes to the ende we may render to him al laud honour and glory through Iesus Christ oure Lorde AMEN ¶ The .xvi. Sermon Whether it be necessary to saluacion to beleue that we are elected or not FAyth is very necessarye because that wythout it not onlye God can not be pleased but he that beleueth not shalbe condempned and is already iudged But it is also impossible that one that doth not beleue to be elected shoulde beleue as he ought to do any of the artycles necessarye to saluacion And to proue that this is true if thou beleuest not that thou art onâ— of the elect thou beleuest not in god in the maner that thou arte bound bycause that it suffyseth not to haue a certeine dead opiuioÌ„ that God is but thou must effectuouslye beleue that he is thy God y t he loueth the that he is propiciatory to the y t he is coÌ„tinually beneficial to y â— that he hath most special cure of the causeth euery thinge to serue the to saluacion therfore that y u arte electe Yea who so beleueth not that he is electe doeth not fele in spirite the benefyte of Christe Therfore being without Christ he is with oute God and knoweth him not as Paule wryteth Then how is it possible that thou mayst beleue perfectli that he is thy father if thou do not beleue that thou art his soÌ„ne and therfore his heire saued Thou canst also neuer earnestly beleue that God is omnipotente if thou vnderstande not that coÌ„tinually he vseth his omnipoteÌ„cy towards the in doynge the good Whyche when w t the spirite thou didst proue thou shouldest of force beleue thy selfe to be hys heyre if thou beleue not thou art electe how canste thou beleue that God hathe created the heauens and the earth that he susteineth gouerneth all to thy behofe hauing of the most singluler cure it is nedeful that with liuely fayth embrasing al the world for thy owne thou perceiue effectuallye the goodnes of God in euerye creature And when that is thou shalte be inforced to beleue y â— thou arte the sonne of God Thou canste not also beleue in Iesu that is that he is to the Iesus and sauioure if thou beleue not that thou art saued neyther canste thoâ— beleue that he is thy Chryste that is to saye a Prophete kyng and prieste if thou fele not in spirite that he doth illuminate aud lyghten the as a prophet rule the as a king and as an only prieste is offred for the vpon the crosse The which if thou dydst beleue thou shuldest also beleue to be elected Howe shalt y u beleue y t Iesus is the only begoâ—teâ— sonne of God thy Lord come into y â— world to saue the aud genen to the wyth al his deuine treasures and graces if thou dost not beleue thy selfe to be one of hys lambes y â— canste not beleue as thou art bounde to do that he dyed for the nor perceiue his excessiue charitye so that wyth Paul y u maist saye nothinge can separate me froÌ„ the charitie of God It is necessarye to beleue that Christ vpon the cros hath satysfyed for thy synnes and that he hath reconciled the satysfyed to his father and saued the therefore that y u art the son of God he that beleueth as he ought y â— Christ is ryseÌ„ to instify vs doth also know him self saued so he y â— perfectly doth vnderstand that Chryst our head is asceÌ„ded into heueÌ„ entred for vs in possessioÌ„ of paradyse perceiueth him self risen with Christ alredy bi hope being asceÌ„ded into heaueÌ„ practiseth with y â— mynde in Paradyse where Christ is sytting in peace able possessioÌ„ of things celestial he sayth w t Paul we are made safe by hope it sufficeth not to beleue y â— he shal iudge the quick the dead y â— which also y e deuils beleue but that the seÌ„tence shalbe al in thy fauour hauing to thi iudge him y â— died vpoÌ„ y â— crosse forthe We caÌ„not liuely beleue y â—
world his sonne to make for vs satisfaction and layed on hym the iniquities of vs al as Esay wrot And he right louingly although he were a verye innocent toke them for hys own and was contented to satisfy for oure offences to suffer that we had deserued and dye vpon the cros according to his fathers wyl as Paule wryteth he toke our infirmities for his own and he hath borne oure iniquities and miseries bi reason he came into the world as though he had ben an offender he toke a similitude of sin to serue our turne on the behalfe of our sinnes as though we had ben most innocent and he committed al the sinnes on his wil was to go alone to the death and therfore he sayed to hys disciples in the garden stand there in peace rest and wythout care and suffer me alone to enter into the battayle and abyde on my boones that you haue deserued And metynge the multitude he sayd to thē whō seke you they aunswered Iesus of Nazareth as thoughe they shuld haue said we seke for him which hath vpon him al the sins of the world And Christ made answere ▪ I am he I haue takē on me al the sinnes loue hath layed them on my shoulders therfore if you seke for me as a man in whom be al the synnes let my dysciples and my elected passe as innocentes ease satisfy reuenge do your wurst to me which am cōtented to suffer for al one cause also wherfore Christe beinge accused at the iudgment seat of Ierufalem made no aunswere was to shewe that they had agaynste him all actyons in so much as he had ēbraced for hys owne al our synnes It pleased hym also to be crowned wyth thornes as kinge of al miseries set betwene ii thefes as the starkest errand thefe of all lykewyse was he contented to be striken and beaten for our synnes as Esay sayeth he was smiten for our infirmities and brused for our iniquities and offences God hath chastised and beaten him for the sinnes of hys people and by his wounds passions we be made hole he payed that he owed not as Dauid saied I haue paied those things that I toke not And Esay also dyd say in the parson of Christ you haue put me to trouble for your iniquities He was contended that vppon hym shuld come al those infrmies slaūders rebukes which we haue deserued for our syns which thing Dauid singnified in spirit in the parson of Christ where he sayeth the rebukes and reproches wherwith they slaunderd the fel al vpon me yea and those curses also that wer due to vs fel vpō him as Paule sayeth he hath redemed vs from the cursse in that he became a curst for vs And lyke a godly shepherd hauyng on hys backe the lost shepe for he hath his kingdō vpon his shulders hath he born our synnes on the crosse as Peter sayeth he hath born our synnes in hys body vpon the crosse and tree Vpon it as it had bene an altar to condempne our synnes wyth the syn that was imputed to hym was he offered as a sacrifice to be burned in the fyre flame of gods loue and to the Corinthians Paul writeth he that knew no syn was made syn for vs. It was gods wyl and mynd that he which was most innocēt should be don on y e crosse as though he wer not only a synner but euē lyn it self and thus as Daniell prophesyed was iniquity consumed and in one day god toke it out of the world according to y e prophesy of Zachary wherfore saynt Ihon saieth he appeared to take away our fyns and saynt Ihon Baptist sayeth of Christ that he is the lambe of God y t taketh away the sins of the world Therfor when Christ suffered most louingly al that which we haue deserued he satisfied for vs and purged vs from our synnes He after the manner of the prodygal sonne of an excedyng loue y t he bare to the soul when he had geuen hys deuyne treasures of grace to the very open synners and harlots and had taken to hym selfe our synnes as if he had done them hym self he made prayer to hys father that he wold pardon them to hym and to hym he pardoned them for we were not worthy nether wold he yeld vp hys spirit tyl fyrst he had bowed down hys head that is vntyl he had moued God whyche is as Paul writeth his head to pardon vs to Christ therefore were our◠sins ascribed so that iustly he meryted that death for hys syns not because he committed them but because he admitted them for his own so hath he satisfied for thē not only sufficiently but also more thē was requisite For to God is one teare of Christ more pleasaunt then al the sins of the world dyspleasaunt and that lyfe death of his were more to the honour of god thē our life was to his dishonour yea he hath not only satisfyed for our synnes but hath purchased for vs lyfe euer lastynge But happely wylt thou say then nede I to take no paynes nor trauail to satisfy for my sins nor to deserue paradise I mai take myne ease or do what euil that liketh me geuing me to plesure and good chere for if it be as thou saiest I cannot but be saued I answere thus First I say y t truth it is thou oughtest not to labour thy self for the entēt to satysfy for thy syns nor yet to deserue paradyse for that is only Christes offyce nor thou canst haue any such entent without doing greate iniurye and wronge to God but wheras thou sayest y t thou wold lyue idelye or do euel after that Christ hath now delyuered the from al euil and purchased the the greatest felicity I make the answere on thys wyse If case wer that one were led to the gallowes for hys rybaldry and noughtynes and hys Lorde or maister of mere fauour and good wil shuld delyuer hym and count him for his sonne and yet would say My Lord or master hath deliuered me frō al euell and taken me for hys sonne heyre therfore wyl I go my way and be idle and in folowing myne own lustes and wyll do hym wronge how thinke you in this case be not these wycked wordes euen the lyke sayest thou Christ hath delyuered me from hel and made me the son of God and heyre of heauen wherfore I wyl stand lyke an idle parsō or rather do more euil Christ certes died not for the nor satisfied for thy dets nor yet merited for the paradise to the intēt thou shulde stand idle commit syn and become a starke rybald but that thou seynge hys great loue and how greatly synne dyspleased hym seeing he was willynge to dye because to take them out of the world shuld no more do syn but honour hym loue him thanke hym put thy trust in hym and work
damne you I am sure theÌ„ men shuld know their owne frailtye ignorauÌ„ce malice And on y e other party y â— exceding voâ—Ì„ty of God remit it holy to him again much more if they loued him for the greater glory to God yea and also for their own proper commoditie for it shuld neuer be done if it be depended vpon them selues And therfore for euery respecte euerye one shuld stand to gods determinacioÌ„ it it wer but to doo honoure to him It is a thynge more magnificent and to God more conuenient to geue paradise by fre mercy then if he shuld sel it his liberality is therby most discouered Then for his greater glorye I would alwayes saye God hathe geuen me thys And also for my owne commodytye that wheras now I hold my saluacion sure for that I know it haÌ„geth only vpon god I wold thinke me daÌ„ned or at the least presuming on my self stande indoute if in the least point it did repend vppon me because God in comparably doth loue me more theÌ„ I can do my selfe Yea I am the greatest enemy traitor to my self y â— mai be Therfor meÌ„ ought by euery consideracion to coÌ„tent then that their saluacion doth staÌ„d in the haÌ„d of God yea in taking y â— whole cure of vs he hath shewed vs most dere loue he hathe wylled vs to be sure of it And therefore he wolde not trust to vs knowinge we are so vnpefect y t if we had paradise in our hands we should let it fal to the earth wher nowe we are sure knowinge that al our syns can not let the deuine eleccion neither quenche or diminish the diuine charitie Yea here of our sins toke occasion to be shewed with excesse of more loue We are not by this inuited to more Idlenesse nor to watche when we shall haue Manna from heauen nether to be wickedly occupyed but we are draweÌ„ and moued so much more to loue him as he is discouered to vs by more bounty and charitie But those that are not by Christe regenerate ar of so base vyle a minde through sinne that they cannot thincke God to be so liberall as to geue heaueÌ„ without our workes But they ought at the leaste to thynke that to bye it the bloud of Christ is sufficieÌ„t without adioyninge therto theyr workes to hoote which surely are rich iuels to be mingled with hys God is so fraÌ„ke that he hath geuen vs Christ and in him al thinges and canst thou not thinke he hath geuen the heauen It is also our greater glory that God hath loued vs so muche that hys own selfe hath willed to take the care charge of our saluacion And so to that ende hathe wylled his only sonne to die vpon the crosse so that if with all our trauaile we might enter into heauen by our selues the glory only of the crosse is a far greater glory then any other which by our selues we could attaine Yea there is no other trew glory then to glorye to be so much loued of God that he hath to saue vs put his sonne vppon the crosse He may not dwel in hys own loue that willeth to be happy and only glorye in God If we myght glory of our selues we should haue wherof to ware proude and prefer our selues afore oure brethren where otherwyse we should haue occasion to be humble and geue to God all honoure and glorye as to him it apperteineth And further such as beleue theÌ„ selues to be by grace elected saued sonnes of God heyres and sure therof not only because ther remaineth no more to get God in Christ hauing geuen them all but also by the great vnderstandyng they haue of the goodnes of the Lord they are coÌ„strained to worke as childreÌ„ for the glori of their father and not for their owne gaine and so also sure of their saluacion with Christ thei turne them withal their force to seke the saluacion of their brother they demaund also grace with a bolder spirite and confidence sence they are it not for theyr owne lucre but for the honour of God and to his laud and glory so that in the worldes to come may be sene the abundant riches of his fre mercye Moreouer such hoope to be hearde for that they thinke not to deserue grace nether put their trust in their owne woorkes but in the goodnes of God beinge inspired and moued there to by the holye gost Such also as feele that our saluacioÌ„ depeÌ„deth not vpon vs but our damnacion and that it staÌ„deth wholy in the hande of God are forced to turne their backes to theÌ„ selues theyr faces to God Wher as the coÌ„trary belefe wold make y â— coÌ„trary operacioÌ„ they would withdraw them from God and seke to rest with hope in them selues also if God had elected vs with this condicion If we wolde do well we should be vnder the lawe contrary to Paul neither we should be saued for the law saueth not but worketh wrath and is the minister of cursing and damnacion Let him therfore that lusteth haue Christ for his iudge for I wil none of him but as a sauiour If our election by fre mercy dyd harme vs he wold not theÌ„ haue elected vs so But note them that thinke to haue theyr eleccioon in their owne hands thou shalt se that thei are in their owne loue and trust presumtuous and full of vice and yet for all thys they be so blind and arrogant that they wyl haue heauen by iustice ¶ But let vs praye to the Lorde that he gyue them knowledge to the end they maye render to God all lande honour and glorye throughe oure Lorde Iesus Christe Amen ¶ The .xiii. Sermon ¶ Howe excellente oure eleccyon is PAul magnifieth oure eleccion firste in his behalfe that hath elected vs saying We are elected nether by man nor Angell bnt by God Hyer can not he go Then concernynge hym that elected vs our eleccion is most excellente And lykewise concernyng the circumstance of time although aboue there is properlye no course of time He elected vs as Paule wryteth before the constitucion of the worlde meanyng from wythoute begynnynge sooner coulde he not electe vs. And moreouer he saith that he elected vs which are most base most vile most abiect worms in comparison of him By the sinne of Adam we were all defyled infected in firme frayle blynde malignaunte full of venum coÌ„trary to god enemies rebels â–ª so that a thyng more myserable coulde not haue binne chosen Paule doth also magnifye oure election in respect of the dignitye to the which we are elected aâ—d sayeth he hath not chosen vs to be hys seruauntes or frendes but to be hys children nothing to god caÌ„ be more nyghe entire and deare theÌ„ his children nether is it possible to imagine a greater dignitie It doth include al other vertues and goodnes it is so hyghe and excellent Being then elected from so miserable an estate to be
that they knowe them selues to be saued Neyther canne they once thyncke that Christe who hathe all his fathers power and shall be theyr iudge wyll refuse lose or dampne them and geue sentence agaynst hys brethren and members for whom he dyed on the crosse and would dye agayne if it were necessarie They haue in them also the holye ghoste for an earnest of theyr saluation But if God had geuen vs nothyng but our beynge should not we for that onlye benefite feele so muche the greate goodnes of God that we myghte be sure and certayne of our saluacyon And nowe he in euery creature doth sparkle towardes vs loue wyth innumerable benefites yea in Christ vpon the Crosse casteth he the flame of perfecte charitye and shall not we feele so muche the goodnes of God that we should beleue to be hys electe If one onlye shoulde be saued I wolde truste suerly to be he if all the men angels wold tel me that I were dampned I cold not beleue them although they dyd alledge al the reasonnes possible but I wolde euer gyue more truste to Christe alone who vpon the crosse wyth hys bloude and deathe doeth tel me I am saued theÌ„ I wold to al the rest for he alone hath more power in me theÌ„ all the reasons authorities without him Prouided only y t I se him w t liuely faythe dead for my saluacion Yea in that case seing my selfe by Christe to be the sonne of God I wold with Paule excommunicate the very angels as superior to them if they wold sai the contrary or gainesaie the gospel and y â— great loue and benefit which in that case I shuld fele by Christ Paraduenture y u wilte say it semeth me not that I caÌ„ be sure of my saluacion because I am fre to do euell so may I sinne and be damned Our lyfe is in such sort variable y â— to giue a certeyne iudgment we must tarye the end for euerye one wold haue thought that Iudas shuld haue bene saued when he was called of Christ yet it is sene that it is contrary I auswere thou begilest thy selfe in thinking thy saluacion dependeth vpon the lykelyhode of thy worckes Paule affirmeth that God hathe â—ected vs by his mere mercy in Christe not because we wer holy or for that he fore saw oure good workes but because we shoulde be holy and should do good works perseueryng in theÌ„ we should dye in his fauonr and grace Inwardlye dothe God call hys electe geueth them knowledge of hym and doth iustifie glorifie them Therfore doth Paul adde and say if god be with vs who caÌ„ be against vs And he ment if we be once electe we can no more lose our selues meanyng there is nothing that can let the eleccion of God Yea euery thing serueth to saluacion euen sinne Therfore wher thou saieste thou mayst sinne it is true and peraduenture thou shalt syn Neuertheles if thou be the electe thou shalt algates ryse agayne and be saued wherof thou mayst be certein and sure so that once at the least thou haue perceyued thy selfe in Christ and by Christ saued neither thou oughtest so much to dispayre in thy selfe as that thou shuldest not muchemore truste in the goodnes of God knowynge that the Gospel is not the lawe but mercye and knowe thou that when the electe fall in anye synne whyche God doth not permytte but for the benefyte of them and the other electe whilest they are in that erroure they fele in them selues a certeyne hydden vertue whyche wyth holdeth and refrayneth them from doynge worsse it biteth nyppeth and reprehendeth them of the euel fact and doth enduce and spurre them to conuerte There remayneth euer a certeyne hate of synne althoughe they be some time ouercome of frailtye So that they are neuer turne from God with al their power nor run wholy to vyce wyth a lose brydell God hath them euer for hys owne and gouerneth them as hys lawefull Chyldren And speaking ofteÌ„ in their hertes he saith y â— which he said to his Apostles feare not litle flocke for it hathe pleased youre father to giue you his kingdom of his mere goodnes although you be vnworthi And if thou woldest bring in SalomoÌ„ who sayth none knoweth whether he be worthy of hate or loue I answere It is clere chyflie by the words whych folow that he ment that man were he neuer so iust wise was so blinde in this world that he cannot know by the worckes of God y â— is by prosperity or aduersiti whether of him self he be worthy of hate or loue And this is bicause God giueth his gifts so indifferently to the good and euell to theelect and reprobat Thou wilt say yet Paul said mi coÌ„scieÌ„ce doth not reproue me yet am I not therby iustified before God therefore it can not be knowen But I answere that thentent of Paul was to saye that thoughe by grace of the Lorde he had ministred the Gospell in suche sorte that hys conscyence dyd not rebuke hym of any erroure which was imputed vnto hym for a sclaunder of false christians neuertheles he held not him selfe iuste for this neyther was he iuste he iudged him selfe iuste by Christ and not by preaching the Gospel irreprehensibly in the syght of man but yet not in the presence of God for that he hath not preached it w t the whole force of spirit fayth and loue So y â— here Paul did condeÌ„ne the opinioÌ„ of them which iudge theÌ„ selues iuste by theyr owne workes but he doth not reproue the iudgement of those which iudge theÌ„ selues righteous saued by the bountie of God death of his only begotten soÌ„ne but doth approue it Wyth Paule also a greeth Iob when he sayde that although he were iuste he durste not iudge him selfe so that is he durste not holde hym for ryghteous by hys owne proper ryghtuousenes and worckes but by the iustice of Christe Sence then that it maye and oughte to bee knowen of vs that wee are in the fauoure of God and hys electe lette vs force vs continuallye to encrease in more knoweledge of the goodnes of God so that firmelye established in the lyuelye faythe of oure saluacyon we maye as children render him all honoure laude and glorye â—y Iesus Christe oure Lorde Amen The .xv. Sermon Whether it be good or euell to beleue that we are elect SOme saye that it is euell to beleue that we are electe bycause that as the beleif to be reprobate bringeth men in dispeyr so y â— belief of eleccioÌ„ is cause of presumpcioÌ„ But the iust the holy flye both y e one the other extremiti They are not exalted in presuÌ„pcion beleuing to be elect nor fallen in y e bottomles pytte of dyspeyre wyth beleif of dampnacion but kepe the meane waye euer standing betwene both And I say that it is true that none ought to dispeyre or 〈◊〉 to
to make it cleare they go searchyng wherfore he hath not elected all men and they would fynd a cause where is none If such were godly they shuld quiete and satisfie theÌ„ selues shuld haue their felicitie in the deuine plesure w tout searching to asseÌ„d anyhier It is euyl theÌ„ to seke wherfore god hath elected some other some not if this grow of the suspicion that God may or haue erred The godly knoweth certeinli by faith y t he caÌ„not erre hereupoÌ„ resteth There are some that aske after it of arrogeÌ„cie and presumpcion They woulde be answered that god had elected them for theyr good workes to haue wherein they myght glory of them selues And wheÌ„ they hear sai that God hath elected them by grace it displeaseth them they gainsaâ—e it seming them there resteth nothinge to glory in And they perceyue not that this is the whole glory of the humble and true christiane to be saued by the mere grace of God and Christ crucified and to glorye onlye in God by Christe and in them selues not to see but thynges worthy to be a shamed of to thend y â— to god only be honour and glory It groweth also to many of vnreuerence for if they coulde se howe inaccessible the maiestie of God is howe irreprehensible is hys wyll and how incoÌ„preheÌ„sible is his wisedome they wolde not set them selues to dispute wyth god specially if they knewe howe blynd darke fraÌ„ticke and folishe they be And who art thou sayd Paul that wilt dispute with God answer and contend with God Paul was returned from the thyrd heauen where he had heard secrets so hygh that it was not lawfull to speake to man Neuertheles doynge reuerence to the diuine secret iudgementes he sayd O profouÌ„d riches of the wisdome and science of God how incoÌ„preheÌ„sible are his iudgementes And man blynd folyshe and vngodly is so high minded that he wil do wronge to God condeÌ„pning him and reproue his holy iust irreprehensible iudgementes And how many are thei that seke to knowe speake wryte of it aud he commeÌ„ded therfore And al that they can Imagine by force of their owne wytte and natural knowledge which can not perce so high secretes they put in wryting And they are as arrogant as if they wer in goodnes and sapiâ—nce superior to God to be adored of the worlde they condemne the workes of god Ther are mani which ar not coÌ„teÌ„t to know asmuch as God hath vouchsaued to opeÌ„ to vs but they wold know also a greate deale more But it is not the offyce of a good serâ—aunt to wyl to know al the secretes of his Lorde yea the sonne oughte to content hym with the secretes of his father and to know of it onlye as muche as is reueled to hym to be sure and certeine that he wil not fail to manifest al that shal be expedieÌ„t for him euen so we ought to contente vs to knowe that which God hath and dothe reuele vs knowing that he doth loue vs in suche sorte that we haue not wherein to doubte that he wyll fayle to manifest vnto vs all those secretes the knowledge wherof shalbe profytable and necessari Yea Christ him self said that he had made knowne all that he hadde heard of the father oure office is to seke to taste and fele with the spirite that which he hath opened to vs and we maye also desyre to know all that pleaseth God to reuele vs forthe benefite of oure soule and his glory nowe for that God to beate downe carnall man to the ende that to him be geuen al honoure laude and glorye hath vouche safed to open in the holy scriptures wherefore he hath elected some other some he hathe not Therfore we mai ought to seke to know it that we may so much y e more honour god but we oughte to beleue it to be so as God hath declared to coÌ„tent vs with that way God hath taken in electing reprobating neither to thinke nor suspect that god hathe erred nor ought to despre anye other waye but to be satisfied and pleased with somuch as pleaseth the lord without being curious in wyllyng to know more then that whych pleafeth God to reuele vnto vs al that to the end by Iesus Christ we may render him al honor lande and glory Amen ¶ Th .xviii. Sermon ☞ Of the diuerse effectes that it worketh in maÌ„ to beleue that our eleccion is al in the hands of god and that of him only it depeÌ„deth IT is seene by expeience that of one selfe cause doth grow sometymes contrary effectes And is euydent by the sun whych hardneth myre and melteth waxe and this is by theyr dyuerse disposicions Euen so of the belief that our eleccion is wholye in the handes of God dothe springe in men contrary effectes by theyr contrary disposicyons The vngodlye perceyuyng that in the deuyne mynde is resolued theyr beynge to be saued or dampned they are wroth wyth God they blaspheme hym wyth their heart they call hym parcyall and vniuste they gyue them selues to do euell ynoughe sayinge euerye waye that shall be which God hathe infallyblye foresene and immutably determyned yea their faltes they cast in the face of God thynkynge that he is the cause therof many also despaire of their saluacyon presume more of them selues then they hope in God they beleue that they shuld be saued if theyr saluacion dyd depende vpon them selues and therefore if they could disturbe the deuyne counsayles and make that theyr saluacyon shoulde not be in the handes of God they woulde do it And thys is for that they knowe not theyr owne greate myserye howe blynde infirme frail and vnprofytable they are to God impotent of them selues to goodnes full of all wickednes and that they dyd neuer worke if it were put in y e baleÌ„ce of deuine iustice that merited not to be punished and so lyke wise they fele not y â— great goodnes of God nor the benefits of Christ but thinke him to be Irefull reuengable disdaineful proude parpetual vniust and malignaunt as them selfes are There are some whiche haue not perfecte fayth but they are not so vngodly as the fyrst Now these when they here say or thincke y t their saluacion is all in the handes of God they remayne confused and euell contented And this is also for want for knowledg of the goodnes of god they trust partly in God partly in them selues they loue not God nor trust nor hope perfectlye in him they remain doubtful and know not whether it be best to depend al vpon god or not and it semeth them that it shoulde haue bene beste that in some part it shuld depend vpon them selues and yet they thyncke it wel being al in the hands of God troubled in such sort that they canne not tel which to chuse Therfore they liue in a great perplexiti They consult sometimes w t the holy scripture or w t
theÌ„ y t haue y t knowledge of y â— truth they find that it is al in the hands of God â— they iudge when their eies are somewhat opened to the goodnes of god theyr owne miseries that it staÌ„deth wel and that so it is beste but then harkenynge to humane prudence the whyche not being wholye mortyfyed wolde haue parte of the glorye to it selfe so proude it is And as that that is blynd and seeth not the impotencie and malignitie of man it perswadeth hym y t maâ— might in some parte be saued by hym selfe wher els he mai despair if it staÌ„d al in y t haÌ„d of God Therfore it coÌ„cludeth that it were better if it dyd depend vpon vs and chiefly for that men become negligeÌ„t in thynkyng that it depeÌ„deth wholâ— vpoÌ„ God wher thei wold styrre them selues to be ferueÌ„t if they dyd beleue that in any part it rested in theÌ„ And although such finde the contrary in the sacred scriptures neuertheles they forcetheÌ„ wyth y e obscure lyghte of theyr blynde prudeÌ„ce to draw it out of the texte expounding it as may best serue to theyr purpose But y â— godly perceyue on the one syde in such sort theyr own proper ignorauÌ„cy fraylty impotency malice And on the other partye the great bouÌ„ty of god in Christ crucyfyed y t it contenteth them to be so al in the hand of God not only for y t it hath so pleased god but also for theyr own commoditie because that wheras if in the leaste iote it depended vpon them they should hold theÌ„ selues daÌ„ned Now they fele so much the excellencie of god that certified of their saluacion thei know theÌ„ selues elected hold it to be sure seyng by fayth that it is al in the haÌ„d of one their so mighty sapyeÌ„t excelleÌ„t loving father Wherfore by this benefite thei ar stirred to loue hym singularly to thaÌ„ke laude and serue hym as childreÌ„ for his mere glori without respecte at all to them selues their hel or heauen And if god wold set in theyr handes although he woulde be bound that they should be able to do al thinges w t ease toward theyr saluacioÌ„ yet they wolde not accept the bargayne that is because they knowe that they are contrary enemies and traitours to them selues so that if they had paraâ—yse in theyr handes then they should let it fal to the ground And also for y t they do make experiment and proue so gret charyty of god in Christ that it certifieth them of their eleccyon They cannot thynke that Christ beyng theyr iudge and dying vpon the crosse for them should geue sentence against them yea they know that who so be leueth in hym shall not be iudged but shal be so certayne of his saluacion that he shal not nede to makâ— disscussion of his lyfe for there shal not be any to accuse hym nether should it be coÌ„uenieÌ„t that those which haue the spirite of God and are hys sonnes the brethren and members of Christ should be examined iudged But with Christe they shalbe iudges of the other Therfore the elect sure of theyr saluacioÌ„ wolde not chaÌ„ge Christ theyr udge wyth any in this world although it were theyr deare frynd or â—ere parent Yea if God did put in their arbitrement to haue Christe for theyr iudge or els to be their owne iudges of theÌ„ selues with full power to geue sentence in their fauour althoughe it were not iuste yet to be approued they wold for all thys chuse Christe to be theyr iudge for that they truste more in him then in them selues Also thei loue god so much that they wold not glory but only in him by Christe And this is al there true glorye Yea if they could let or disturbe the deuine counsayle or if it were necessary to be dampned they would chuse rather to be in payne for the wyll of God then in al the pleasures disagreinge to the deuine wil if it were possible they count them selues vnworthy to suffer for the wyl of God They holde themselues happye to honoure hym with sufferynge and wyth beynge wher it pleaseth to theyr lord they lamente only of the iniuryes they haue done to God but of that whiche God wyl do of them with the spirite they are contente although y t fleshe be repugnaunte and wold not suffer Thys shuld be a hel to them wheÌ„ God if it were possible wold not dispose them to his glori but to vse them to his honoure they wolde satisfy them selues withall and content theÌ„ to know it so to be the deuyne plesure now those are in a continuall paradise by fayth al readye they haue had the sentence geuen in their fauoure by hope they are ascended into heaueÌ„ saying with Paul we are made safe by hope and by loue they enioy God In them theÌ„ of y â— belief that their eleccioÌ„ is all in the handes of God groweth firme 〈◊〉 and hope to be saued the loue of god leiâ—â—e 〈…〉 pure and christian vertues w t the frutes of good workes I woulde haue pitie on the fyrst sorte but their desperacioÌ„ groweth of an vngodlye mynde yea it is most impâ—â—tye to despayre of the goodnes of God moste perfecte shewed in Christe crucified as in one his Imeli image I haue compassion of the second and enuye at the thyrde The seconde maye easelye be cured wyth shewynge them their frailtye ignorauncy and malice and on the other party the omnipotency infinite sappence perfect goodnes pity mercy and charity of God shewed in Christe vpon the crosse Of the first I do not despaire vtterly but I know well it is very difficile to cure theÌ„ but God is of power of the stones to rayse vp chyldren to AbrahaÌ„ they haue nede to be praied for and that the Lord take froÌ„ before their eies suche veiles of ignorauncye make them see their owne great miseries and the incomprehensible goodnes of God to the ende y â— reknowledgeing al their wealthe to come of God they maye render hym al honor laude and glory by Iesu Chryste oure Lorde Amen ¶ The .xix. Sermon Howe it ought to be answerd to theÌ„ that lament that God hath created them forseyng theyr damnacyon THere are many the whych althoughe of God they haue had their beynge many other benefytes neuerthelesse they thanke hym not but are vngratefull They are sorye and lamente of all the wealth they haue had of hym saying Lord if the beyng wher thou hast geuen vs with the rest of thi gyftes dyd serue vs to saluacicoÌ„ we shuld thaÌ„k y e therfore But bicause they serue vs not but to daÌ„pnacioÌ„ therfore we caÌ„not but coÌ„plaine vs of the. Nowe to these oughte to be of answered thus Eyther you beleue to be y t elect or not If thei sai yea it ought to be said to theÌ„ ye shuld thaÌ„k God of so much grace that he hath shewed to you alreadye in chosynge you froÌ„