wrought for the glory of God but we ought at least to do so héereafter and then euery thing that we shal do shal be acceptable vnto God so that our purpose be right vnto him Euery man therfore ought to haue God for his last ende before his eyes to order al his life vnto him with chusing those things that serue most to his glory with forsaking those things which do hinder or stay vs wtout regarding things which appertaine not to vs which we shall be constrained to doe at any time when being in loue with God we féele with the spirit in Christ his great goodnesse Let vs pray to God therfore that he would giue vs a liuely light of him to the intent that hauing alwayes our eyes open to his honour we maye render vnto him all prayse thorough Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen How that the Law of the Gospell is more perfect then all other Lawes Sermon 11. AS there is but one onely God one onely Christ one onely holy Ghost one onely Faith one onely Church and one onely Gospell so lykewise vnto the world is but one onely diuine Lawe imprinted alreadye by God in the minde of man darkened by sinne expressed somewhat by morall Philosophy but much better by Moses and most perfectlye by Christ and a new by Christ the spirit of God being the guyde powred in imprinted and written in the bowels and in the hearts of the regenerate as God afore time promised by his Prophet They call notwithstanding the naturall Law those canons rules and truth practised of that which is right and of that which is not right imprinted in the booke of the minde in the which euery one reading when he commeth to yeares of discretion without any other master and booke he discerneth by himselfe good from euil And the truth it self inasmuch as by Moses it was expressed in tables is called the Law writtē wheras afterward by Christ the holy Ghost being the guide it was in a more perfect manner imprinted in the harts of the regenerate that is called the Euangelical law of grace of the spirit Wher is to be noted that although a philosopher hath for example imprinted in minde this truth that God ought not to be dishonoured but honored knew that this thing is most right yet notwithstandinge hée obserued not this most iust lawe Yea the Iewes albeit they had this same truth not only imprinted in the minds but also expressed in the tables of Moses discerned the righteous from the vnrighteous that with greater light then the Philosophers they could in no wise obserue that iust honest law bicause they were letted by their concupisences But in a Christian already by faith regenerated the goodnesse of God thorough Christ is in such sort imprinted in his heart that by the liuely spirituall tast feeling which he hath in Christ of God he cannot dishonour him yea by the spirit which he hath the which preuayleth agaynst his carnall concupisences he is constrayned to honour him And this according to the measure of fayth which he hath The Philosopher then albeit he knew in part his bounden duetie he did not therfore fulfill it bicause the flesh resisted him And in lyke case also the Iew albeit he knew that better then all the Philosophers what the wil of God is neuerthelesse béeing without Christ without grace he obeied it not Wherefore he shall be punished the more grieuously as hée had greater knowledge of the lawe of God The naturall lawe therefore much more the written law is the Minister of death and damnation whereas the euangelicall law of spirite of grace is the minister of lyfe saluation Wherefore Paul speaking of it sayd the lawe of the spirit of lyfe in Christ Iesu hath deliuered mée from the law of death of sinne The written law therefore is vnperfect although the naturall lawe be much more vnperfect séeing that albeit they shew those thinges which ought to be done they doe not therefore giue the grace to be able to obserue them The law naturall then was as it were in darknesse the lawe of Moses in shadowes the euangelicall law in light The law natural came at midnight Moses lawe at the morning and the euangelicall law at noone day The naturall lawe came with a little candle burning Moses lawe with a great torch but couered the euangelical law with the cléere light of the Sun The natural law saw god in his creatures Moses law in the Scriptures the euangelical law in Christ The natural law séeth not Christ Moses law saw him and shewed him a farre off the euangelicall law hath seene him openly imbraced him for his owne The natural law hath imbraced no man Moses law hath painted him out with giuing him coulours the euangelical law hath giuen him spirit The naturall lawe made him serue by reasons Moses lawe for feare the euangelicall lawe for loue The natural lawe deliuereth vs from worldly infamy Moses law from the tyranny of Pharao and the euangelicall law from the tyranny of the world of the flesh of sinne and of the diuell The naturall law hath for the guide vnderstandinge Moses lawe a piller of fire and the euangelicall lawe the holy Ghost The natural lawe is the lawe of the Philosophers Moses law hath him for the author the euangelicall law is of Christ The naturall lawe féedeth men with worldly thinges Moses law with Manna and the euangelical law with God The natural law buildeth vp a worldly common wealth Moses law the holy citie of Hierusalem and the euangelicall lawe the heauenly countrey By the naturall law we were straungers by Moses law seruants and by the euangelicall frée and the sonnes of God The naturall law guided vs to a certeine humaine felicity Moses lawe into the land of promise and the euangelicall law vnto heauen The natural law is a burthen fit for humaine strength Moses lawe is a burthen sharp grieuous and the euangelicall lawe is pleasant delectable The naturall law hath a respect to the comelines of vertues Moses law vnto felicitie and the euangelical law vnto the glory of God The naturall conducteth thee into Aegipt there leaueth thee Moses law deliuereth thée frō thence maketh thée walk thorough the desert the euangelical law bringeth thée into the land of promise The natural law begetteth thee vnto the world Moses law killeth thée vnto God the euangelical law raiseth thée againe The natural law accuseth thée Moses law condemneth thée and the euangelicall law saueth thée The naturall law awaketh man when he sléepeth Moses law maketh him to tremble and the euangelical law setteth him at rest The naturall lawe maketh men righteous in their owne sight Moses law in the sight of the world and the euangelicall law maketh them righteous in the sight of God The naturall lawe promiseth not any thing that is supernaturall Moses law maketh promises of most rich diuine thinges and the euangelicall lawe obserueth them The naturall lawe maketh vs men Moses law maketh vs Angells and the euangelicall law euen as Gods Wherfore the natural law is good Moses law better the euangelicall law best and most perfect Let vs pray therefore vnto the Lorde that hée would imprint it in our heartes to the intent that we may render to him all prayse honour and glory thorough Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen FINIS ⧠IMPRINTED AT London by Thomas East dwelling betwéene Paules Wharfe and Baynards Castle 1580. MIEVLX VAVLT MOVRIR EN VERTV QVE VIVRE EN HONCTE
the body therefore the soule of Christ was neuer in the graue in those three dayes the which he continued dead wherefore by this word Inferno cannot be vnderstoode the graue Others saye that Christ vppon the Crosse did not onely suffer the paines of death the which consist in seperation of the soule from the body but also that he suffered in his minde the tormenting of the dampned bicause that for to satisfie for our sins it was néedeful that he should suffer all punishment that was due vnto vs being in these torments he felt that horrible anguish and sorrow which he should haue felt if being vpon the crosse in all those torments of the dampned he had bene vtterly abandoned from his father Mat. 16. Act. 2 And therefore he sayd My God my God why hast thou forsaken me not bicause he despayred but he ouercame desperation with all the sins and lykewise death with all sorrowes but hée felte the payne of the desperate with-out hauing in him anye fault They doe thus expound it He descended into Hell that is into the bottomelesse pit of the torments of Hell And although this was before that he was buryed and dead and therefore should be sayd by order thus He suffered vnder Pontius Pilate he was crucified descended into Hell dyed and was buryed yet there is oftentimes vsed in the holy Scriptures to speake first of that which was done afterward It cannot be sayd that the soule of Christ seperated from the body descended into hell that is suffered torments there those thrée dayes for that Christ sayd contrarywise vnto the good Théefe Luc. 25. To day thou shalt be with me in Paradise Other saye that he descended into Hell inasmuch as he shewed his Soule vnto the Spirites of his Electe alredy departed out of this present life vnto whom as Saint Peter saith he preached the Gospel 1. Pet. 4. inasmuch as he made them sée in a most cleare sort that which he had wrought suffered for their saluation He preached also vnto the dampned the Gospell with rebuking their incredulytie and that they were altogether inexcusable and so their condempnation shoulde appeare vnto the worlde to be iust It is néedefull also to beléeue lyuely that he rose againe the third day which when with thy spirit thou shalt féele Rom. 4. 6. thou shalt not feare death séeing that in Christ and thorough Christ death is ouercome yea if thou be grafted in Christ thorough Faith Col. 3. thou shalt in the spirite be raysed againe from sinne and being righteous shalt walke in newnesse of lyfe seeking and tasting onely the things which are aboue We must also beléeue that he ascended into Heauen hauing on earth wrought and suffered all that his father appointed him and that was expedient for our saluation it was conuenient that he should ascende into heauen for our profit to giue vs hope of our heauenly countrey seeing that he is entred in possession for vs Heb. 9. 1. Ioan. 2. for to stande also before the father for his Elect and to be their Aduocate and Intercessour remayning therefore with them in spirite vppon earth Mat. 28 But vnderstand it is needefull that thou lyuely beléeue that he is ascended into heauen for thy benefite which when thou féelest with the spirit lifting thée vp to things on high Philip. 3 thou wilt say with Paul My conuersation is in Heauen Moreouer thou must beléeue that hée sitteth on the right hand of his father Mat. 28. in-asmuch as he hath giuen him all dominion and lordship ouer all and hath ordeined him to be aboue all princedome power vertue and domination and hath giuen him a name aboue all other names hath made him the head of the Church and hath subdued all things vnder him Thou must also beléeue lyuely Ephes 1. that as he was séene ascende into heauen so he shal come visibly from heauen to iudge the quicke and the dead And if it be sayd according to Saint Paul it is decréed that men must dye Act 2. 1. The. 4 Heb. 9. 1. Cor. 15. how then shall he come to iudge the quicke Paul himselfe doth aunswere that those which then shall be alyue shal sodeinely be chaunged being made of corruptible incorruptible and that chaunge shal be vnto them as a death If then thou shalt lyuely beléeue that Christ which loued thée so much that he dyed for thée on the Crosse and hath all power which must also be thy Iudge thou shalt be sure and safe thorough Faith that his Iudgement shall be fauourable vnto thée Chiefly learne that Christ shall be our Iudge he is not onelye our Aduocate but hath taken vppon him our cause We must more-ouer beléeue in the Holy Ghost and this bicause albeit Christ dyed for vs rose againe ascended into Heauen was our Aduocate and prayed for vs yet we could not be saued if God with his holye Spirite did not open our hearts made vs to vnderstand and be partakers of these so great benefits thorough Christ done to vs. So that as thorough Christ all giftes and graces bée offered vs from GOD so the Holye Ghost béeing our guyde we doe receceiue them It is therefore néedefull that thou féele lyuely in thée this spirite of God which renueth thée lighteneth moueth inspireth imprinteth and maketh thée féele God in Christ and that thou art safe It is not possible that thou shouldest be a true Christian if thou hast not the Holy Ghost in thée And therefore he which beléeueth that Christ dyed and that not vainly beléeueth also that there be fruites of his passion and death which is the saluation of the Elect Wherefore we must also beléeue that there is a holy Catholicke Church that is the vniuersall Congregation of the faithfull and Elect of God It is not inough to beléeue that there is founde a Church which is holye and sanctified thorough Christ that Ephes 5. is a mysticall bodye of the Elect but it is néedefull that thou dost liuely beléeue and féele that thou art a portion and member of the same and that thou art one of the Elect. Thou must also beléeue the Communion of Saincts that is thou must liuely féele that thou art pertaker together with thy bretheren of all the giftes and graces of Christ the head of the Church Ephes 1. therfore more or lesse according to the measure of Faith reioyce thy selfe in their prosperitie and be sory in their mishappe as members and good brothers doe together and forasmuch as the benefites which Christ doth to his Church is not that they should be proper to one man alone but for the commoditie of them all therefore thou oughtest not to séeke for to possesse or vse anye thing for thine owne lucre but for the honour of God and safegarde of thy neighbour and so thou oughtest to this same ende or purpose procure the safetie of thy bretheren and with Faith to embrace
not onely them and all that they possesse but also Christ with all his diuine treasures bicause Loue maketh all things common Now if with thy spirite thou shalt féele this thou shalt then beléeue the communion of Saincts Thou must beléeue the remission of sinnes that is not onely that God of his mere lyberalytie and gratious goodnesse thorough Christ crucified which hath made satisfaction for vs pardoneth the sinnes of his Elect but it is needefull for thée to beléeue and with the spirite lyuely to féele that he hath pardoned thée Then will the Gospel laugh vppon thée and shew it selfe amiable and thou shalt féele in Christ the great goodnesse of God It is néedefull also to beléeue liuelye the resurrection of the flesh which if it were so we would not accompt this world for our countrey we would not set our loue vppon it we woulde not feare death and with hope of the other lyfe with-out grounding our selues in prosperitie and with-out retyring or tourning back in aduersitie we would ioyfully runne to our heauenly countrey And lastlye it is néedefull for vs to beléeue euerlasting lyfe that is that the Elect shal be happy and shal lyue for euer and it is néedefull for thee with the spirite to féele that thou art one of them and if thou wilt say vnto me why is it not sayd that we should also beléeue the euerlasting death of the dampned I aunswere that héere is not spoken but onely of those things which must with a lyuely Faith be beléeued and felt with the spirit and this lyuely Faith and féeling is not but in the Elect and the Elect can-not lyuely beléeue nor féele in themselues any thing but those benefites which God hath promised them whereof the holy Ghost speaketh vnto them and witnesseth in their heartes Therefore in the Crede is nothing declared but onely those things which apperteine to the comforting of the consciences of the Elect and that moue them to loue Now these be the Articles which we are bounde to beleeue and they be so knit and lynked together that a man cannot beléeue one of them lyuely with-out the other and he that beléeueth the one with a lyuely Faith beléeueth all As for example no body can beléeue lyuely in God no nor yet know him sufficiently with-out the lyght of Christ which is supernaturall as Paul saith and lykewise Christ and he that beléeueth lyuely in Christ thorough Faith and the holy Ghost féeleth and accepteth his great benefite Gal. 4. Ephes 2. Mat. 11. beléeueth that God is the Father almightie Creator of all things beléeueth also the resurrection of Christ his ascention his sending of the holye Ghost and that he shall come to iudge vs and the effects of his death that there is a holye Churche the remission of sinnes the resurrection and euerlasting lyfe There be many which of their owne fantasie haue added other Articles and such as bée no other but their owne doctrines the which it is but lost time to consider off They woulde prophecie and vnderstande more then the Apostles excéeding the lymits of Faith and all is bicause they haue not a liuely Faith in the light supernaturall whiche if they had they shoulde sée wonderfull things reuealed by God which would content them and cause them to séeke not to vnderstand newe thinges but to growe in greater light of thinges reuealed that they might be able to render thankes more largely vnto God to whom be alwayes all praise honour and glory thorough Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen If it be possible to be confirmed and stablished in Faith Sermon 5. THose which doe neuer sée the trueth supernaturall and reuealed with a light inspired and cleare of Faith but onely haue had in them a certaine opinion and a humaine and purchased Faith for their light being very obscure and imperfect they neuer haue béene cleare sure and certaine of those thinges which they beléeue And therefore they thinke that there is no other manner of Faith but of that sort which they haue wherefore they suppose that of diuine thinges there can no Faith be had which is cleare certaine sure stedfast yea they doe imagine that doubting is inwarde and a thing substancial to Faith in such sort that they thincke there can be no beliefe without doubting And to maintaine this their opinion with all they bring this reason The thinges which they beléeue Heb. 11. they doe not sée with corporall eyes no not if it hath also a cleare and euident vnderstanding as there is of the first naturall princyples of thinges this they may proue by reasons demonstratiue which doe binde fast and stablish the vnderstanding but in such a case it shoulde not bée Faith but a scyence The trueth which such men beleeue is onely perswaded theÌ„ by probable reasons the which bicause they make not any necessary conclusion bée very weake so that only they moue vs to thinck that it is so but they doe not force vs forasmuch as they shewe not clearely plainly the truth this therfore their Faith being bleareyed it must of necessitie be always suspecting in doubt for the nothing in them is cleare euident but euer totering wauering like those which haue the Palsy But they wold not say so if they had experienced to haue a true Faith for that the light therof is so great that euery one which hath Faith if it be perfect is safe sure clearly certified of the truth in it is stedfast firme So that as the light of a true Faith dymmeth in clearenes all other lights of this present â—â—fe so spiritual men those which by Faith be regenerated if they be perfect in the same Faith are more firme sure cleare certeine of the truth supernaturall reuealed then the carnal be of things which they haue before their eyes The light of a true Faith is so cleare that as loue cannot hate so caÌ„not a perfect Faith distrust stutter or doubt That therfore is not a true Faith which douteth but those are carnal men which being wtout Faith do wauer And although spirituall men also doe sometimes doubt this is bicause of their little Faith for that they giuing eare to carnall wisdome do locke the eyes of Faith against the trueth reuealed whiche resisting against the holy ghost and do follow the instigation of the Diuell wherefore if we doubt it is not so much for the little light which we haue of Faith as for that we doe not alwayes and continually behold the trueth supernaturall with the cleare light of a true Faith yea we would oftentimes sée discerne it with our blinde natural light and vnderstand that it doth not by and by appeare true which we sée alredy with the light of Faith And if those which haue but once séene with a cleare light of Faith the truth do proue afterwards of infidelity if they by chance do rise againe Gen. 15. Rom. 4. they
his neighbour all that he ought to doe Therefore it must of necessitie be saide either that none can be saued or els they that be saued are saued thorough grace But it wer greatly amisse to say that none can be saued for that God in such a case shoulde in vaine haue created and preserued the worlde if there shoulde not be reaped some fruite thereof Wherefore we must néedes say that some men are saued and that by grace and for that none can tel vs this but Christe in as much as all other sectes and opinyons say that men are saued wholly or els in parte by the workes of men therefore onely the Faith of Christ is true There is not founde also any Relygion which doeth not in some part exalt man with diminishing of the grace of God except that relygion which is of Christ and that onely doth debase a carnall man to be altogether earth giuing all glory vnto God and for-bicause this Religion cannot erre therefore it must of necessitie be sayde that onely this is the true Religion of God Also that God hath so loued sinners that for their saluation he hath appointed his owne Sonne to suffer death on the Crosse Ioan. 3. which is an acte of so high and excéeding loue that if such a secret thing God as a truth had not himself reuealed there is no vnderstanding that were able to beléeue it and therefore néedes we must conclude that this was the truth And graunt that albeit men of themselues had bene able to haue imagined so incomprehensible a loue of god yet they could not in any wise haue beléeued that in one who was crucified consisted all their saluation that he was both God and man especially with so stedfast a Faith that for this Truth they woulde spende and venture their owne lyues if God had not perswaded this in their hearts we must then néedes saye that it is so in very déede If Christ had not bene the Sonne of God séeing hée would be so accompted he should haue bene very proude and it is séene that all his lyfe was full of humilitie It could not be hidden when men would haue crowned him if he had not fled away Ioan. 6. but had sought the friendship of great men and the meanes how to haue bene exalted It is manifest that Christ neuer sought any commoditie to himselfe alone as it appeareth by his life by his words but onely the glory of God wherefore of necessitie must be sayd that he was no carnall man but altogether diuine and spirituall and so was his lyfe and doctrine It is also manifest that Christ willyngly tooke vpon him a shamefull and bitter death and he saw that in dying so he should loose both his lyfe and all that he had euen that worldly credit which he had so that his owne disciples would be offended Mat. 26. as his proper commoditie fore-tolde him Yea he should haue séemed to haue lost his soule if he were not the sonne of God bicause he named himselfe so No worldlye thing then coulde moue him to dye so wherefore we must néedes say that he was moued not for his owne pleasure but for the truth for the glory of the Father and for our saluation Consider all the lyfe of Christ and thou shalt finde that albeit it was wholly a Crosse yet he neuer shewed any signe of impatience yea vppon the Crosse with-out any trouble of the flesh he shewed himselfe diuine altogether euen till he gaue vp the ghost and pronounced still words of great charitie Is it not manifest séeing that Christ vpon the crosse being naked spoyled and depriued of al riches pleasures honours dignities friendes fauours strength and helpe of the worlde Philip. 2 humbled brought to nothing as if he had not bene yea being opprobrious and accursed of al men hath vanquished and ouercome death the world the flesh sinnes the Diuells and all the enimyes of God which he could not possibly haue done with-out the fauour of God If also in lyke sort his Church had not bene altogether spirituall when the fauour of the worlde decayed it must also haue waxed féeble whereas when the world stroue against it it became alwayes more mightie forcible and tryumphant Christ also where-as in the flesh he séemed weake arising againe and ascending into Heauen to the right hande of his Father shewed him-selfe so stronge in Spirite that twelue vnlearned and simple Disciples with-out eloquence with-out learning with out humane industrie and subtiltie with-out strength and with-out anye promise of worldlye things onely with preaching that one who was crucified hath saued them conuerted the worlde notwithstanding that all the armed men with their whole force resisted them and with learning wisedome treasures honoures dignityes and all other meanes which the worlde possible coulde deuise Yea and in our time onely with the worde of GOD such a mightie kingdome of Antechrist hath bene already decayed There is not founde nor can be founde in the world any lyfe so truely holy pure and spirituall as the lyfe of good Christians which is so diuine that it worketh more then myracles and they are made such thorough Christ crucified An innumerable sorte of Christians haue forsaken riches pleasures friendes parentes their countrey fauours honours dignities the worlde themselues and all and by way of pouertie of infamye dispossessed of their owne tormented and put to death are willyngly and ioyfully gone to Christ crucified not being by anye worldly thing drawen there-to which is most manifest inasmuch as they were wholly naked there-off then it must néedes be sayd that their diuinitie drewe them to it Which thinge also doth appeare not onelye bicause that howe much the more they be ioyned and vnited together so much the more chaunging their lyfe they be renewed and doe become more humble lyberall holye diuine and in all vertues moste perfecte but also for that where-as in pleasures riches honoures and benefites of this present lyfe they neuer finde reste béeing naked of worldlye thinges onely in Christe crucified they finde the greatest felycitye that canne bée and this shoulde bée impossible if that Christe were not the Sonne of the lyuing God I doe lette passe the myracles which declare all the vertuous actes done by Christe and his Saints for a Testimonye of the truthe of the Gospell And the longe continuall cruell irkesome hatefull dolorous irremediable bitter and shameful captiuitie of the Hebrewes or Iewes for the sinne which they committed in crucifying the Sonne of God Let vs pray then to our heauenly and diuine Father that of his cléere manifest truth he woulde giue vs an inward lyght so that we may render vnto him all praise honour and glory thorough Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen Of the meane how to be delyuered from all superstition Sermon 9. ALbeit that men by the sinne of their first parents be fallen into great ignoraunce yet notwithstanding ther is left in them a lyttle
to vnderstand the truth his vnderstanding is neuer perfectly satisfied but when he hath found it then it remaineth satisfied quyet and contented And forasmuch as in the world there is in truth nothing which wholly doeth fill satisfie make quiet and at rest and is fit to our vnderstanding 1. Tim. 6 but God therefore he alone is truth But for the God in his maiestie dwelleth in a light which we cannot come vnto and that only in Christ in whome dwelleth all the fulnesse of his diuinitie Col. 2. is shewed vs by Ged and may of vs be comprehended Ioan. 14 therefore Christ is sayd to be truth it selfe as he sayd of himselfe Christ alone therefore is he who being the very truth doth satisfie and content vs neither ought we to meruaile any thing héereoff séeing that in him alone be hidden all the treasures of the wisedome and knowledge of God Col. 2. So that in Christ as in him who is the ende of the Law not onely be verified and fulfilled all shadowes figures sacrifices oracles prophecies scriptures of the olde Testament yea in him as in an abridgement Rom. 10 1. Cor. 1. Ioan. 15. God hauing put all vertues profitable and necessary for our saluation and being his owne sonne he hath reuealed him to vs most playnly He himselfe said that he had made knowen to vs all that which he had heard from the Father in such sort that in him is verified that which Esaye had prophecied before Esay 10 1. Co. 1. that is that the ende béeing shortened righteousnesse shoulde flowe It is therefore no meruayle if Paul preached Christ crucified the vertue of God and wisedome and among the Corinthians he adiudged not good to vnderstande anye other thing but Christ him alone he preached tasted 1. Cor. 2. and had before the eyes of his minde him onely he studyed knewe and hée was Truth so that Christ was to him all thinges and without Christ he saw no things but shadowes vanities and falshoode All truthes therefore profitable and necessary to saluation be in Christ in him alone men ought to séeke them as in their proper spring there can be in vs no very truth except Christ lyuing in vs Gal. 2. Ioan. 14. Psal 15. we bée pertakers of him who is truth it selfe Forasmuch as man of himselfe and without Christ is a lyar and vanitie it selfe Nowe lyke as albeit the truth is alwayes persecuted of the wicked and fought agaynst yet as that which is inuincible resisteth agaynst all yea how much the more it is oppressed so muche the more it appeareth manifest mightye and gloryous so that in the ende it vanquisheth and tryumpheth ouer all his enimies so Christ who is Truth it selfe although he hath ben alwayes persecuted lyke as he shall bée also euen till the daye of the laste Iudgemet yet hée ouercommeth Psal 8. Heb. 2. vanquisheth and tryumpheth ouer all so that at lengthe euerye thing shall continue subiecte vnto him And his Vertue shall be suche and so great that howe muche the more his enimyes séeke to oppresse him to subdue him to hyde or kéepe him close and to darken his glory so muche the more hée will shewe him-selfe mightye pure and gloryous which thing is séene alwayes by experyence euen from the beginning of the worlde vntyll this our time In that first lyke as the Iewes kylled Christ so also as Christ expressed the Diuell theyr Father was lykewise a manâ—â—ear from the beginning Ioan. 8. Rom. 5. and this inasmuch as séeing that for the sinnes of the first parents he was come to seduce the whole world thinking that in such a case God would not vouchsafe to send his owne sonne by tempting man hée thought to hinder the comming of Christ and to darken his glory This also as some thinke was the sinne of the Dragon and of his company when they fought in heauen with Michael and with the good Angells Apoc. 12 Ephes 1. that is for that they woulde not acknowledge their saluation to be thorough Christ they would not accept him for their Lorde and head they stroue against him and willingly slew him in séeking as much as they could not onely to darken his glory but to stop that he should not come into the world But lyke as then the Diuells being chased out of Heauen by the vertue of Christ Apoc. 12 Christ shewed himselfe in spirite mightie glorious so also after that the Serpent had deceiued Eue he supposed that he should haue had victorye against Christ but God said vnto him of this woman by whose meanes thou thinkest to haue triumph ouer Christ Gen. 3 shall spring seede that is Christ who with tearing downe all thy force shall breake thy heade and shall declare vnto the world the great vertue power and glory of Christ Also the great Diuell sought afterwarde meanes that in the world were multiplied so many and such great sinnes that the world being altogether corrupted and ful of malice Gen. 6. God was so angrye that he vouchsafed not to sende Christ yea it euen repented him that he had made man But God in sauing the Arke framed by the meanes of Noe figuring shewing that he would likewise saue his church his elect by the meanes of Christ declared vnto the world more manifestly the glory of Christ To the verye same ende the great Diuell had at the time of Abraham Gen. 22. Isaac and Iacob inclyned all the world to Idolatry God making them refraine did by them make manifest and discouer the remembraunce of Christ and his glory euery day more and more The Diuel also hauing afterward vnderstoode that Christ must descend of Abraham thorough Isaac and Iacob with intent to extinguish and roote out all his stocke and so to let the Natiuitie of Christ procured Pharao to oppresse in Aegypt all the people of Israel But GOD so much the more encreasing them made also more famous the glorye of Christ And forbicause hée could not by this meane obteine his entent be sought yet to hinder the incarnation of the worde by causing all the male children of the Hebrewes to be slayne but GOD in sauing Moses who delyuered the people from Pharaos bondage with so greate signes Exod. 1 figured the true delyueraunce of the people of God from the tyrannie of the Diuell which is wrought by Christ partly declared what and how great the power and glorie of Christ should bée Sathan also ceased not after that the Hebrewes had passed the red sea still to hinder that Christ should not come into the world to assay by diuerse meanes for to bring theÌ„ to death euen with stirring vp so many heathen people agaynst him but alwayes he remained with confusion and Christ shewed himselfe in spirit and vertue euermore manifest and famous Also when as afterward in the lande of promise they had with their sinnes vnfaythfulnesse as it were
cancelled and raced out quite the remembraunce of Christ God by meanes of his Prophets refreshed it agayne And lastly when the Scribes and Phareses with all their humaine traditions and Ceremonies concerning the face of Moses had darkend the glorye of Christ then the sonne of God appearing vpon the earth the Angells the shepheardes the starre the wise men Anna Symion discouered him to bée the Sauiour of the world Herode persecuted him euen to the death and hée then in giuing spirituall lyfe to the innocent shewed himselfe to be the lyfe of the worlde Sathan deuised that Iohn Baptyst should be in great reputation and reuerence with the Hebrewes for to darken the glory of Christ and then it came to passe that not onely Saint Iohn magnified Christ with saying Ioan. 1 beholde the Lambe of GOD which taketh awaye the sinnes of the worlde and sayde Hee is Christ Mat. 3 not I neither am I worthy to vnbuckle his shooes but also his Father from heauen declared vnto all the worlde that he was his beloued sonne The Diuell sought in the wildernesse to make him fall but hée remayned with confusion and vanquished The Scribes and Pharesies laboured with false reportes and slaunders to spotte his innocencie and Christ with his pure doctrine and holy lyfe shewed himselfe euerye daye more cléere bright and pure The Scribes and Pharesies laboured to perswade the people that Christ not onely was not the true Messias but that he was contrarye to the lawe and the Prophets and Christ with verifiyng in himselfe all the prophecies and with hauing in the mounte Thabor the testemonie of Helyas and Moses shewed all the contrarye How much the more they sought to kéepe close the diuinitie of Christ so much the more with myracles he shewed foorth the same Also howe much the more they sought to put downe his myracles so much the more they came to lyght At last they deuised with murmurings backbitinges infamyes with slaunders false accusations and witnesses with wicked iudgements with abuses beatinges with settinge him at naught as rybalde and with hanginge him vppon the Crosse betwéene two théeues as the principal and last they thought with so shamefull a death to extinguishe all his fame Ioan. 8. name creadite and reputation and then didde he most singulerlye shewe himselfe the lyght of the world and more full of force and power then euer before They buryed him with sealing vp the Sepulchre and watchinge it but thereby they made his resurrection so much the more meruaylous and glorious They corrupted the Souldyers with money to the intent they might saye that hée was not risen agayne but that his Disciples had taken awaye his bodye and CHRIT shewed himselfe to his Disciples risen againe And lastly when they had sought with all theyr power to subdue him then was hée glorious ascended into Heauen And for that they coulde not persecute him any more in the flesh therefore they beganne to persecute him in his elect with whome hée was still abidinge with his spirite Mat. 28 but on the daye which wée call Pentecoste hée so filled them with lyght zeale strength and grace that without any feare they beganne to preach openly they were forbidden with many threates by the Princes of the Iewes to preach Christ any more Act. 2. but they coulde not refrayne from it Act. 4. they sayde that they coulde not holde theyr peace of that which they had hearde and séene and it was more méete they shoulde obeye GOD then men They were oftentimes imprisoned with many iniuries beaten scourged and they with reioycing suffered all and gaue thankes to GOD Act. 5 that they were made worthy to suffer for CHRIST they went forth preachinge more vehementlye then euer they dyd before And lastly when the Iewes bicause they woulde hide the truth of the Gospell chased the Apostles out of Iewrye then was it that they beganne to preache thorough out all the world And albeit in euery place they were gaynesayde and forbidden yet the worlde coulde not withstande the wisedome giuen by God to his Apostles And lastly howe much the more Tyrauntes dyd séeke to extinguish and deface the truth of the Gospell Act. 28 with sheddinge the bloude of Martyres so much the more it shewed it selfe cléere brighte glysteringe famous mightie and glorious So that not onely the godly do serue to the glory of Christ but also the wicked against their wills Finally the Antechristians as those which be aboue all others the greatest enemyes of Christ haue deuised with all possible craft subtiltie peruersnesse malice deceite and strength to hide and quench out the cléere lyght of the Euangelicall truth and this with their such false doctrines humayne inuentions and diuellish approued with wonders wrought therefore as Paul sayth by Sathan 2. The. 2 with wicked Ceremonies and religions with hipocrisies and fayned holynesse with superstitions and Idolatryes dissemblinges flatteryes promises giftes and not sufficiencie false reportes infamies threateninges persecutions tyrannies and great cruelties and all vnder a shewe of goodnes And furthermore they haue laboured to bring to naught the fayth of Christ with al dishonestie simonie extortion treasons hatreds partialitie warres and sinnes of the worlde So that not many yeares since there was none vppon earth that had a true fayth in Christ Notwithstanding Luc. 10. for as much as truth is so mightie pure that how much the more it is fought against and withstoode it shineth the more therefore it must néedes be sayd and beléeued that like as the persecution agaynst Christ made by Antechrist and by his members hath bene the most wicked cruell and diuellish of all others Euen so the truth of the Gospell is made manifest with greater vertue brightnesse cléerenesse and light as nowe in this our time is séene such a beginning that euery one ought to take courage in confessing Christ without feare openly and so much the more as by fayth we knowe that Christ who is truth is euer present with his vertue and grace to all them which suffer for his loue He strengtheneth theyr mindes comforteth them ayedeth and giueth them strength hée maketh their persecutions pleasaunt and making them safe at last they doe triumph ouer all the enimies of God Séeing then that Christ who is truth not onely is inuinsible in himselfe and in his elect but vanquisheth ouercommeth and triumpheth ouer all Let vs indeuour our selues to embrace him with a supreme fayth for our owne and to haue him continually in our heartes so that preuaylinge agaynst all the enimyes of GOD wée maye render to our eternall Father all honour and glorye thorough Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ Of the meane how to bring to a vnitie all Faithes Religions and Sectes and chiefly the Papistes with the Protestants Sermon xvi LIke as there is not founde in the worlde any thing which is in it selfe more honest rich mery and fortunate to God more acceptable and
notwithstanding after that he was cast into the Sea deuoured of the fish and sawe that he liued he opened his eyes and perceyued that it was god which sustayned him wherefore he recommended himselfe vnto him from his heart and gaue him thanks but we although we be in the Sea of this miserable tempestuous world already thorough our sinnes swallowed in by Sathan and God for all this preserueth vs we yet doe not in any wise seale his grace his benefits in his goodnesse and we thinke that creatures and not God doth susteyne vs. God beeing willing to make vs sure of our saluation coulde not giue vs any greater knowledge signe of our saluation then his own son vppon the crosse nor a more sure pledge then his owne spirit Christ hanging vppon the Crosse forsooke himselfe aboue the senses of man and woulde concerning his passion be abandoned euen of his Father to the intent that wée might haue confidence in him and might thinke that he would neuer forsake vs any more Wherefore we doe a most great iniurye to God if wée trust not in him And so much the greater as on the other part besides God there is nothing in whiche wée ought or may iustly put our confidence And this bicause that creatures be all most vaine shaddowes the which as without the good will of God they cannot hurt vs so they cannot helpe vs. Séeing that the thinges of this world are not stéedfast the whéele thereoff alwayes turneth therefore if wée arme them vpon vs with our own Hope we must néeds be in continual turmoilings miseries and trauayles The men also in whom GOD doth not reigne although they appeare now thy déere friendes or they be now thy bounden kinsfolkes and to reach a great way they wil shew themselues to be selfe louers lyars vnfaythfull and trayterous If also thou wilt put confidence in Saints thou shalt displease both them and God they cannot helpe thée God shall be hée who will suffer thée to forsake thy selfe to the intent thou mayst be constrayned to goe for helpe vnto him Thou must thinke that it is not without cause that god by his prophet hath cursed those which put their trust in men And if thou shalt put confidence in thy selfe thou shalt put confidence in the greatest enemie that thou hast Ier. 17 Also if thou shalt trust in thine own proper wisdome power and goodnesse this shall be none other but to put trust and repose thy selfe vpon foolishnesse in impotencie and malice And what néede I say more the power of Aegypt the strength of the world Esay 36. is nothing els but a most vaine réede whervnto if any man leane by and by it breaketh with hurting those that would rest theron If the thinges of the strong men of the worlde as Iob did write be lyke a spiders web Iob. 8. what shall those be which are most weak All the wisdome of the world in the sight God as Paul sayth 1. Cor. 3. is nothinge but foolishnesse the goodnesse thereoff abhomination Wherefore in God alone we ought to trust Luc. 16. on whome alone dependeth all our helpe He onely therefore is happy who as a true and good diuine hath god for all his goodnesse dependeth on him alone and in him onely doth repose himselfe This is a most high diuinitie which cannot be learned in bookes nor taught by men wée must néedes haue Christ our onely Master to teach it vs with imprinting it in our heartes with his spirit and with makinge vs vnderstande by experience not of the flesh but of the spirit so that thorough him we may render vnto the father all prayse honour and glory Amen ¶ Whereoff it groweth that men with hope doe not depend wholly vpon God Sermon 3. MEn haue many desires amongst which this is principal that they would be like vnto god The which thing is manifest inasmuch as ther is no man the naturally doth not abohorre seruide We all would if it were possible be as GOD Lordes ouer all know all thinges haue power and dominion ouer all be in euery place and time most happye and to conclude we would haue a beeing that were infinitly noble perfect and excellent without passions immortal euerlasting necessary without depending vppon any and most diuine And for as much as this desire is so high that it conteyneth all things which can be of men desired therfore aboue al others it is most mightie in vs. Man therefore by his owne nature in Adam béeing corrupted and thorough the pride which he hath for inheritaunce woulde if it were possible be as a God vpon the earth and neuer to haue néede neither of creatures nor of God And for as much as he is not by nature happie he desireth to purchase him heauen by himselfe bicause he would not acknowledge it to be of god as he should doe if he had it by grace And this his diuellish pride is puffed vp with so vnbrideled and blinde a loue of himselfe that whereas he hath néede not onely of God but also of all the creatures of God he perswadeth himselfe that hée is able euen to saue himselfe He is also so blinde of himselfe that his vices doe appeare vertues vnto him so that it may bée thought how he can know his miseries By our great pride therefore in not willinge to bende or humble our selues to craue helpe at others and by being deceiued by the vnbrideled blinde loue which we beare vnto our selues in beléeuing and thinking that we can and know howe to helpe our selues and that we shal euer haue a will to doe it in our owne power doth grow all the confidence and trust that we put in our selues And if sometimes we be by open and manifest necessitie constrayned to seeke other helpe besides our selfe we haue not accesse vnto God as we ought but vnto creatures And this bicause as carnal people we beléeue not that god hath care of vs. The graces benefits which we cōtinually receiue we do not acknowledge to be of God from whō they doe come being inuisible but frō creatures which are before our eyes vsed by him for instrumēts to do vs good So that although God being vnmeasurable is most ready at our handes with his presence yet notwithstanding forasmuch as he is most high and in such sort that betwixt vs and him is no agreement lykenes nor any proportion but an infinite distaunce it appeareth that he is most farre off from vs and as though he were not at all And if that sometimes we haue any smal opinion of God that he regardeth vs by and by knowing that we haue offended him and not séeing that he is pacified with Faith in Christ and that he is our most deare Father we imagine him to be as a most seuere Lord and Iudge angred against vs wherfore we can not place any of our Hope in him but he constrayned with our first Father to run
away to hyde vs and to distrust of him So that albeit it should happen that we being forsakē of all creatures shoulde be driuen to haue refuge vnto God we shoulde not altogether recommend our selues in any wise with our whole hearts vnto him nor with a stedfast confidēce and sure Hope to be heard as is fit and conuenient for vs to doe and so much the more as that God hath neuer suffered the like we could not thinke that he would haue compassion of vs. Whereas on the other parte for that the creatures be afore our eyes we haue with them agréement and lykenesse they haue some pitie of vs and a great deale of themselues they not onely haue not ben by vs hurt and iniuried but haue receiued benefites at our handes we are bent to put our trust in them rather then in God and especially in men bicause they are of the same forme and kinde that we be and singularly in friends and kinsfolke bicause they are most néere vnto vs but aboue al we are inclined to trust in our selues being vnto vs I will not say more lyke and néere but one and the selfe same thing with our selues And héere may be séene the great ignoraunce blyndenesse pride of man for that hauing their béeing and all beatitudes from God by whom alone he may trust for and haue all benefites doth leaue him and doth rest with his Hope on vayne shadowes of this world which of themselues béeing most vayne and depending onely vppon God can not of themselues doe any good For the Sonne of God descending from heauen hath taken it vppon him not the Angells but the séede of Abraham to the intent that he béeing to vs the next neighbour lyke to vs of the same forme man together with vs our déere friend our next kinsman and brother we should be altogether vnexcusable if we doe not put our confidence in him And so much the more as with his spirit with a speciall illuminating to his elect he maketh them more properly féele that it is not their owne spirit For this cause also Christ would both in his passion and in other things except in sinne be made lyke vnto his bretheren to the intent that knowing that Christ our high Priest hath experience our miseries we might thinke that he will haue compassion on vs and so we might trust in him He also would dye for vs vpon the Crosse to the ende that séeing in him thorough him satisfaction is made for our sinnes and God is reconciled with vs we should not feare to goe vnto him but should hasten thether with a most sure confidence At all times therefore when we consider of God without Christ by diuers respectes we can-not haue a true Hope in him inasmuch as he appeareth to be a very great way off from vs vnlike vs such a one as we are not worthy off that he cōmeth not néere vnto that he loueth vs not that he estéemeth vs not And further bicause we haue done him iniury it appereth vnto vs that he is our enimy angry with vs vniust and cruell wherefore we cannot put our trust in him In Christ alone therefore God is discouered vnto vs and we sée him and hee is mercifull vnto vs a most delycate friend and a most déere Father in him alone is séene how much he loueth vs how he holdeth vs in price and estimation and how great his pittie mercie goodnesse and loue which he hath vsed towardes vs is Wherefore lyke as thorough Christ alone our Mediatour all graces descende from God vnto vs so onely by him we may lyfte vp to God all our Hope let vs fixe our selues stedfastly therefore vppon Christ with the eye of a lyuely Faith to the ende that thorough him our Hope béeing lyfted vnto Heauen wée maye yéelde vnto the Father all prayse honour and glorye thorough Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen How that hee which trusteth in God can not be confounded but of necessitie must obtaine all that hee hopeth for Sermon 4. IT is no meruayle if manye trusting that thorough their good workes GOD ought to giue them beatitudes in this present lyfe and more-ouer afterwarde euen the fruition of Heauen doe abide with confusion with-out obtayning that which they hope for forasmuch as that is no true Hope but a presumption bicause it is founded vppon their owne workes where-as true Hope hath no other foundation but the pure grace and goodnesse of GOD and therefore is euer safe firme and stedfast There be also many which as they say hope to haue continuaunce in a good lyfe and further to haue it amended and this to be gotten by the grace of God which as they iudge shall neuer fayle and thys bicause they haue their will and arbitrement frée and be wise as they think they giue themselues to marke what they can doe they will knowe and be willyng to doe that good thing to perseuer and continue therein chiefly thorough the meanes of their owne good deuices wherefore they binde themselues with continuall vowes Now this is also is a presumption and distrusting bicause it hath not God alone for the foundation but also the wisedome power goodnesse of man And God most iustly suffereth such as these to fall to the intent the opening theyr eyes and knowing their foolishnesse weakenesse and malice they might learne not onely not to put confidence anye more in themselues but rather dispayre thereoff and so put their whole trust in God Also that Hope which many haue is not true who beléeue that God will bestowe his gracious giftes vpon him thorough the intercession of Saints or of the Virgin Mary They wickedly imagine that the Saints and Saintesses whilest they were in this present life did workes which wer in themselues of such goodnesse and excellencie that by them they did merite not onely that glory in which they are but that also moreouer they deserued to be heard when they béeing in Paradice doe pray for vs. This also is not true Hope séeing in some parte it is founded vppon mennes workes It is very true that I maye and ought intreate people that be in this present lyfe that they would make prayers for me to exercise vs in vertue and not bicause I should thinke that they must of necessitie be hearde thorough the worthinesse and excellencie of their prayers but onely thorough Christ and the méere goodnes of God Now this is the true Hope founded wholly in the bountifull goodnesse of God and therefore most sure and certaine Lykewise to speake of worldly thinges I say that those be no true Hopes which beeing mens guides they hope to haue preseruation or recouery of health by meanes of Phisitians or Medicines with putting confidence therein to haue and obtaine iudgement fauourable toward them by meanes of Iudges Aduocates procurators friends kinsfolke fauours gifts sleights or reasons to haue meanes to defend themselues or to ouercome their enimies by force of theyr owne
sayde Lorde what wilt thou that I should doe as if he should saye I commit my selfe wholly into thy handes doe with me what it pleaseth thée O happie sicke man séeinge that he committed himselfe into the charge of one so expert able and louing a Phisitian O happie lost flocke seeing it is now fallen into the pitifull armes of the heauenly shephearde Christ sayd then arise vp and goe into the citie and there it shall be tolde thée what thou oughtest to do Those which were in his company stoode astonyed hearing the voyce although they vnderstoode not the worde and séeinge nothing And Saul arising from the earth opening his eyes saw nothing in token that he was altogether lifted vp and rauished vnto God Then leading him by the hande they brought him vnto Damascus where he was afterward instructed by Ananias Then béeing perfectly illuminated he sawe how greatly blinde his prudence had bene his wisedome foolish his pietie vngodly his righteousnesse vniust his goodnes mischieuous his charitie cruell his innocencie spotted all his vertues full of vice Then putting off vtterly the olde Adam he clothed himselfe with Christ countinge himselfe of no reputation he was transformed in God And likewise Christ made of him a glorious and diuine conquest inasmuch as where he went to attach the elect of God he himselfe was attached of Christ He woulde haue bond them himselfe was bound with the golden cheines of charitie brought vnto Hierusalem was euē rauished and lifted vp vnto the third heauen he woulde haue imprisoned them and himselfe was shut close in the good will of God he would haue slayne them he was mortified vnto the world made liuing vnto God His conuersion also was wonderfull not onely bicause Christ stayed him on a sodain from so great an anger violence with which he went to the dishonour of God but moreouer conuerted him turned and drew him vnto him with great force so that he conducted him to the top height of all vertues in such sort that concerning his following of Christ he sayd Be ye like vnto me followers of Christ I know not who could more haue despised the world his owne righteousnesse séeing that he accounted for dounge euery thing that was without Christ Who is it that hath for Christ so despised this present life as Paul did who sayd I desire to be disolued and to be with Christ And as concerning mortification of the olde Adam he said I chastise my body and bring it in subiection He was crucified with Christ wherfore he sayd with Christ I am nailed vpon the crosse Ther was none of the Saints that tooke so much paines for Christ as he did he himselfe writing to the Corinthians sayd that he had laboured more abūdantly thē al the other Apostles He was so inamoured on Christ that he was ready prepared not onely to be taken bound for Christes sake but also to dye yea he said God forbid that I should glorie but onely in the crosse of Christ His glorious Ensignes were the markes of Iesus Christ which he beare in his body And his glorye was the witnesse not of men but of the holy Ghost and of his owne conscience When he was for Christ reuiled apprehended bounde and imprisoned hée accompted himselfe moste happye then when he was taken vppe to the thirde Heauen Writing his Epistles béeing willing to giue authoritie to his word he called himselfe most often Paul in bondes for Christ adiudging himselfe greater when hee was imprisoned for Christ then if he had bene in the most high throne and seate of dignitie in the world His fayth was certeyne wherefore he sayde I runne not as to an vncerteyne thing his hope was stedfast wherefore he sayde we are made safe thorough hope and his charitie was perfect therefore he sayd who shal seperate me frō the loue of God he had such zeale and loue of soules for the honour of God that he desired to be accursed from Christ for the glory of God and the saluation of his brethren He was euer fixed with his heart and minde in heauen wherefore he sayd our conuersation is in heauē And for all this he was so humble that he called himselfe the least of the Apostles vnworthy the name of an Apostle borne out of due season and nothing yea the chiefest sinner of the world Paul was a spirituall temple of God in which he wrought wonderfull things And what néede I say more he was an instrument of Christ and a vessell elected to publish all abroade the name of Iesus to suffer for him Séeing then that from the bottomlesse gulfe of his sinnes he was rauished vp euen to the third heauen enriched with so great light vertues giftes and graces so that in him is verefied that which was aforesayd that whereas sinne doth abound grace doth superabound Let vs set this glasse before our eyes not onely to the intent that we may neuer dispayre but also so that following him in all good thinges we may render vnto God all prayse honour and glorye thorough Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen The ende of the Sermons of Hope ¶ What thing it is to loue God Sermon I. THere be some who forbicause they saye that they loue God doe thinke that they loue him sufficiently but God is loued with the heart not with wordes To loue God is an other manner of thing then onely to say I loue GOD. Some other bicause they fast giue almes praye and doe lyke workes doe thinke that the dooing thereoff is a louing of God But loue consisteth in the heart not in the handes albeit by the workes it is declared made knowne Such outwarde woorkes may be done by hipocrites and by such as be not in loue with God and when they are done also by those which loue God notwithstanding albeit those outward workes do grow of loue they are not therefore loue it selfe but the effects theroff Also those be deceyued which bicause when they talke haue a féeling of that they talke when they read or meditate on any deuout thing haue a certeine tast and doe feele a certeine pleasaunt swéetnesse therein doo beléeue that the hauing of such lyke tast and féelinge is the louing of God but forasmuch as such like pleasure and tasting is many times graunted not onely to the vnperfect but also to the wicked the which be not in loue with God therefore such sensuall appetites and effects be effects of the flesh and not of the spirit It is very-true that they which loue God truely for that they féele with the spirite that they be of the elect that God loueth them that he is theyr Father and that he hath a singuler care of them wherefore they haue in theyr heartes as it were alwayes a certeine ioyfulnesse but sincere and pure they take pleasure to reason of God to heare his worde to read the holy Scriptures to behold his diuine goodnesse and