god to vs aâ—ayne vs to god As no naturall â—â—e that is his fathers heyre doth â—s fathers wyll bycause he wolde be heyre that he is alredy by byrth his father gaue hiÌ„ that are he was borne and is lother that he shulde go without it than he him self hath wytte to be but of pure loue dothe he that he doth And aske him why he doth any thynge that he doth he answereth My father bad it is my fathers wyll it pleaseth my father â–ª Bonde seruauntes worke for hyre Chyldren for loue For their father with all he hath is theirs alredy So doth a cristen maÌ„ frely all that he doth consydereth nothynge but the wyll of god his neyghbours welth only if I lyue chast I do it nat to opteyne heuen thereby For than shuld I do wronge to the blod of christ Christes blode hath opteyned me that Christes merites hath made me heyre therof He is bothe dore way thitherwardes Neither that I loke for an hier roume in heuen than they shall haue which lyue in wedlocke either than a hore in the stewes if she repent for that were the pryde of Lucyfere But frely to wayte on the euangelion and to auoyde the trouble of the world and occasyons that myghte plucke me ther from and to serue my brother withall euen as one hande helpeth another or one meÌ„bre another bycause one feleth anothers grefe and the payne of the one is the payne of the other Whatsoeuer is done to the lest of vs wheder it be good or bad it is done to Christ what so euer is done to my brother if I be a christen man the same is done to me Neither doth my broders paine greue me lesse thaÌ„ myne own neither reioyse I les at his welth thaÌ„ at myne owne if I loue him as well and as moche as my selfe as the law commaundeth me if it were nat so how sayth Paule Let him that reioyseth reioyse in the lorde that is to saye Christ which is lorde ouer all creatures if my merites obteined me heueÌ„ or a hier place there than had I â–ª wheri I miÈt reioyse besydê the lorde ¶ Here se ye the nature of the lawe and the nature of the Euangelion Howe the lawe is the key that byndeth dampneth all men and the Euangelion is the key that looseth theÌ„ agayne The lawe goth before and the euaÌ„gelion foloweth Where a precher precheth the lawe he byndeth all consciences whan he precheth the gospell he loseth them agayne These two salues I meane the lawe the gospell vseth god his precher to heale cure synners with all The lawe driueth out the disease maketh it appere is a sharpe salue a fretynge corsey kylleth the deed flesshe loseth and draweth the sores out by the rotes and all corruption It pulleth from a man the trust confydence that he hath in him selfe in his owne workes merytes deseruynges cerimonyes roâ—beth him of all his rightwisnes and maketh him pore It kylleth him sendeth him downe to hell bringeth him to vtter disperacion and prepayreth the waye of the lorde as it is written of Joh. the Baptiste For it is nat possyble that Christ shulde come to a maÌ„ as longe as he trusteth in him selfe or in any worldly thinge or hath any rightwysnesse of his owne or ryches of holy workes Than cometh the Euangelyon a more gentle plaster whiche soupleth and swageth the woundes of the conscyence and bringeth helth It bringeth the spirite of god which loseth the bondes of Satan and coupleth vs to god and his wyll thorowe stronge faith and â—eruent loue with bondes to stronge for the deuyll the worlde or any creature to lose theÌ„ And the poore and wretched synner feleth so gret mercy loue kyndnes in god that he is sure in him selfe how that it is nat possyble that god shuld for sake hiÌ„ or withdrawe his mercy loue froÌ„ him And boldly crieth out with Paul sayeng Who shall seperate vs froÌ„ the loue that god loueth vs with all That is to saye what shall make me beleue that God loueth me nat shall tribulation anguysshe persecution shall hungre nakednes shall swerde Naye I am sure that neither dethe nor lyfe neither angell neither rule nor power neither present thiÌ„ges nor thinges to come neither hye nor lowe neither any creature is able to seperate vs from the loue of god which is in Christ Jesus our lorde In al suche tribulacyons a Christen man perceyueth that god is his father and loueth him euyn as he loued Christe whan he shed his blode on the crosse Fynally as before whan I was bounde to the Deuyll his wyll I wrought all maner euyll wickednes nat for helles sake whiche is the rewarde of synne but bycause I was heyre of hell by byrthe and bondage to the deuyll dyd I euyll For I coulde non otherwyse do to do syn was my nature Euen so now syth I am coupled to god by christes blode do I well nat for heuens sake which is yet the reward of well doynge but bycause I am heire of heueÌ„ bi grace christes purchasynge haue the spirit of god I do good frely for so is my nature As a good tree briÌ„geth forthe good frute an euyll tree euyll fute By the frutes shal ye know what the treis A maÌ„nes dedes declare what he is within but make hiÌ„ neither good nor bad though after we be created a newe by the spirite and doctryne of Christ we waâ—e parfyter alway with workynge accordynge to the doctrine nat with blynde workes of our owne imaginiÌ„g We must be first euyl ere we do euyl as a serpeÌ„t is first poysoned ere he poison We must be also good ere we do good â–ª as the fyre must be fyrst hoâ—e ere it hete another thiÌ„ge Take an ensaÌ„ple as those blynd deffe which ar cured in the gospel could nat se nor here tyl Christ had gyuen theÌ„ syght and herynge those sycke could nat do the dedes of an hole man tyll Christ had gyuen them helth So can no man do good in his soule tyll Christ haue losed him out of the bondes of Satan and haue gyuen him wherwith to do good ye and fyrste haue powred in to him that selfe good thinge whiche he shewed forth afterwarde on other What so euer is our owne is synne What so euer is aboue that is Christes giâ—t purches doynge and workynge He bought it of his fader derely with his bloude ye with his most bytter deth and gaue his lyfe for it What so euer good thinge is in vs that is gyuen vs frely withoute our deseruynge or merytes for Christes blodes sake That we desyre to folowe the wyll of god it is the gyfte of Christes blode That we nowe hate the deuylles wyll wherevnto we were so faste locked and coulde nat but loue it is also the gyfte of Christes blode vnto whom belongeth the prayse and honoure of
our good dedes and nat vnto vs. ¶ Our dedes do vs thre maner ser uyce Fyrst they certify vs that wear heyres of euerlastynge lyfe And that the spirite of god which is the ernest therof is in vs in that oure hertes consent vnto the law of god and we haue power in oure meÌ„bres to do it though imparfytly And secondarily we tame the flesshe ther with and kyll the synne that remayneth yet in vs waxe dayly parfyter parfyter in the spirit therwith and kepe that the lustes choke nat the worde of God that is sowen in vs nor quence the giftes or workiÌ„g of the spirite and that we lose nat the spirite agayne And thirdly we do our duty vnto our neybour ther with help their necessite vnto our owne coÌ„fort also drawe al meÌ„ vnto the honoriÌ„ge praisynge of god ¶ And who so euer exelleth in the gyftes of grace let the same thinke that they be gyuen him as moche to do his broders seruyce as for his owne selfe and as moch for the loue which god hath to the weke as vnto him vnto whoÌ„ god gyueth suche gyftes And he that withdraweth ought that he hath froÌ„ his neibours nede robbeth his neybours is a thefe And he that is proude of the gyftes of god thynketh him selfe by the reason of theÌ„ better than his feble neyboure nat rather as the â—ruth is knowlegeth him selfe a seruauÌ„te vnto his poore neybour by yâ— reason of them the same hath lucyfers spirite in him and nat christes ¶ These thynges to knowe fyrst the lawe howe that it is naturall right equite that we haue but one god to put our hope trust in and hun to loue with all the hert al the soule and all oure myght power and neither to moue hert nor hande but at his coÌ„maundement bycause he hathe fyrste created vs of nought and heuen and erthe for oure sakes And afterward whan we had marred our selfe thorowe synne he forgaue vs and created vs agayne in the blode of his beloued sonne ¶ And that we haue the name of our one god in feare reuerence that we dishonoure it nat in swearynge therby about lyght trysles or vanite or call it to recorde for the coÌ„fyrmiÌ„g of wickednes or falshed or ought that is to the dyshonoure of God which is the brekynge of his lawes or vnto the hurte of our neighbour ¶ And inasmoch as he is our lorde and god and we his double possessyon by creacion redemption and therfore ought as I said neither to moue hert or hande without his coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t it is right that we haue nedefull holyedayes to come togyther lerne his wyll both the lawe which he wyl haue vs ruled by also the promyses of mercy which he wyll haue vs trust vnto to gyue god thaÌ„kes togyther of his mercy and coÌ„mytte our infyrmities to him thorow our sauyour Jesus to reconsyle our selues vnto him eche to other if ought be betwene brother brother that requyreth it And for this purpose suche lyke as to vyset the sycke nedy and redresse peace vnytâ—e were the holydayes ordeyned only so farforth ar they to be kepte holy from al maner workes that may be coÌ„uenyently spared for the tyme tyll this be done and no further but than laufully to worke ¶ And that it is right that we obey father and mother mayster lorde prince kynge all the ordynaunces of the worlde bodily and gostly by whiche god ruleth vs and ministreth frely his benefytê vnto vs al. And that we loue them for the benefytes that we receyue by theÌ„ fere them for the power they haue ouer vs to punyssh vs if we trespace the lawe and good ordre So farre yet ar the worldly powers or rulers to be obeyed onely as their coÌ„mauÌ„dementes repugne nat agaynst the coÌ„maundement of god and than ho. Wherfore we must haue goddes coÌ„maundement euer in our hertes by the hyer lawe interprete the inferyor that we obey nothiÌ„ge against the belefe of our god or agaynst the faith hope and trust that is in him only or agaist the loue of god wher by we do or leaue vndone all thing for his sake that we do nothinge for any mans coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t against the reuerence of the name of god to make it dispysed and the lesse fered and set by that we obeye nothinge to the hynderaunce of the know lege of the blessed doctryne of god whose seruaunt the holye daye is ¶ Nat withstandynge though the rulers whiche god hath set ouer vs commaunde vs against god or do vs opeÌ„ wronge oppresse vs with cruell tyraÌ„ny yet bycause they are in goddes rowme we maye nat auenge our selues but by the proces and ordre of goods law lawes of man made by the auctorite of goddes law which is also goddes lawe euer by an hier power remyttiÌ„ge yâ— vengeaÌ„ce vnto god in the meane season suffre vntyll yâ— hour be come And on the other syde to know that a man ought to loue his neibour equally fully as well as him selfe bicause his neibour be he neuer so siple is equally created of god as full redemed by the blode of our sauyour Jesu Christ Out of whiche coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t of loue springe these Kyll nat thy neibour defyle nat his wyfe bere no false witnes agaynst him fynally nat only do nat these thynges in dede but coueyt nat in thyne herte his house his wyfe his manseruant maydseruant oxe asse or whatsoeuer is his So that these lawes perteynyng vnto our neyboure are nat fulfylled in the syght of god saue with loue He that loueth nat his neyboure kepeth nat this coÌ„maundement defyle nat thy neighbours wyfe though he neuer touche her or neuer se her or thinke vpon her For the commaundement is thoughe thy neybours wyfe be neuer so fayre thou haue neuer so great oportunytie gyuen the and she content or haply prouoke the as Putiphers wyfe dyd Joseph yet se thou loue thy neibour so well that for very loue thou can nat fynde in thyne herte to do that wyckednesse And euen so he that trusteth in any thinge saue in god onely and in his soÌ„ne Jesus Christe kepeth no commâ—uÌ„demeÌ„t at al in the syght of god ¶ For he that hath trust iÌ„ any creature wherther in heuen or in erth faue in god his sonne Jesus caâ—se no cause to loue god with all his herte c. Neither to abstayne â—rom dishonourynge his name nor to kepe the holy daye for the loue of his doctryne nor to obey louyngly the rulers of the worlde nor any cause to loue his neyghboure as him selfe and to abstayne frome hurtynge him where he maye get profyte by him and saue him selfe harmles And in lyke wyse agaynst this law loue thy neibour as thy self I may obey no worldly power to do ought at any mans coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t vnto the hurte of my neybour that hath nat
weyght With what poyson dedly and venomouse hate hateth a man his enemyes With howe great malyce of mynde inwardlye doo we sleye murther â–ª With what vyolence rage ye and with how feruent lust commyt we aduoutrye fornication such lyke vnclennesse with what pleasure dylectacyon inwardly serueth a glottoÌ„ his bely With what dilygence disceyue we Howe busely seke we the thinges of this worlde Whatsoeuer we do thynke or ymagin is abhomynable in the syght of god For we can referre nothinge vnto the honour of god neither is his law or wyl written in our membres or in our hertê neither is there any more power in vs to folowe the wyll of god thaÌ„ in a stone to ascende vpwarde of his owne selfe And besyde that we are as it were a slepe in so depe blidnes that we can nether se nor fele i what misery thraldom wretchednes we ar in tyll Moses come wake vs and publysshe the lawe Whan we here the lawe truly preached howe that we ought to loue honor god with all our strength might from the lowe bothom of the hert bycause he hath created vs both heuen and erthe for our sakes made vs lorde therof and oure neyghbours ye our enemyes as our selues inwardly from the grouÌ„de of the hert bycause god hathe made them after the lykenes of his owne image and they ar his sonnes as well as we Christ hathe bought them with his blode made them heyres of euerlastynge lyfe as well as we how we ought to do what so euer God biddeth absteyne froÌ„ whatso euer god forbyddeth with all loue mekenes with a feruent a burnynge lust from the center of the hert than beginneth the conscyence to rage agaynst the lawe agaynst god No see be it neuer so great a tempest is so vnquyet for it is nat possyble for a naturall man to consent to the lawe that it shulde be good or that god shulde be rightwise which maketh the lawe in asmoch as it is coÌ„trary vnto his nature dampneth him all that he can do neither sheweth hi where to fetch helpe nor precheth any mercy but onely setteth man at varyance with god as wytnesseth Paul Ro. iiii and prouoketh him and styrreth him to rayle on god to blaspheme him as a cruel tyrant For it is nat possyble for a man tyll he be borne agayne to thynke that god is rightwyse to make hi of so poison a nature either for his owne pleasure or for the synne of another man and to gyue him a law that is impossyble for him to do or to consent to his wytte reason and wyll beynge so fast glued ye nayled and cheyned vnto the wyll of the deuyll Neither can any creatures lose the boÌ„des saue the blode of christ only ¶ This is captiuyte and bondage wheÌ„ce christ delyuered vs redemed and losed vs. His blode his deth his pacience in suffrynge rebukes wronges his prayers fastynges his mekenes fulfyllyng of the vtmost poynte of the lawe peased the wrath of god brought the fauoure of god to vs again opteined that god shulde loue vs first be our father and that a merciful father that wyl consydre our infirmites wekenes and wyll gyue vs his spirit againe whiche was taken awaye in the fall of Adam to rule gouerne and strengthe vs to breke the bondes of Satan wherin we were so streit bounde Whan Christ is thus wyse preched and the promyses rehersed which ar conteyned in the prophettes in the Psal in dyuers places of the fyue bokes of Moses whiche preachynge is called the gospell or glad tâ—dynges than the hertes of them which are electe and chose begyn to waxe softe to melte at the bountuous mercy of god and kyndnes shewed of Christ For whaÌ„ the Euangelion is preched the spirite of god entreth into theÌ„ which god hath ordeyned and appoynted vnto eternall lyfe and openeth their inwarde eyes and worketh such beleâ—e in them whan the wofull conscyences fele cast howe swete a thige the bytter deth of Christ is howe mercyfull louyng god is through Christes purchasynge merytes they begyn to loue agayn to consent to the lawe of god howe that it is good oughte so to be and that god is ryghtwyse whiche made it and desyre to fulfyll the lawe euen as a sycke man desyreth to be hole and ar an hongred and thirst after more riÈtwysnes aft more streÌ„gth to fulfyll the lawe more parfytly And iÌ„ all that they do or omyt leue vndon they seke goddes honour his wil with mekenes euer coÌ„demniÌ„g the vnê‘fytnes of their dedê by the law ¶ Nowe Christe standeth vs in double steede and vs serueth two maner wyse Fyrst he is our redemer delyuerer reconsyler medyator intercessor aduocate or turney solyciter our hope conforte shelde protection defender strength helth satisfaction saluacion His blode his deth all that he euer dyd is ours And Christ himselfe with all that he is or can do is ours His blode shedynge and all that he dyd doth me as good seruyce as though I my selfe had done it And god as gret as he is is myne with all that he hath as an husbaÌ„de is his wiues thorowe Christ his purchasynge â–ª ¶ SecoÌ„darily after that we be ouercome with loue kyndnes and now seke to do the wyl of god whiche is a christenmaÌ„s nature Than haue we christ an example to couÌ„ter feyt as sayth Christ hi selfe in Joh. I haue gyuen you an example And in another EuaÌ„gelist he sayth He that wyl be gret amonge you shal be your seruaunt minister as the son of man â—ame to minister â—at to be ministred vnto Paul saith couÌ„terfet Christ And peter saith christ dyed for you left you an ensample to folowe his steppes What so euer therfore faith hath receyued of god thorow christes blode deseruyng that same must loue shede out euery whyt bestowe it on our neybours vnto their profyt ye that though they be our enemys By faith we receyue of god by loue we shede out again And that must we do frely after the ensaÌ„ple of Christ with out any other respecte saue oure neybours welth only neither loke for rewarde in erth nor yet in heuen for the deseruiÌ„ge merytes of oure dedes as freres prech though we knowe that good dedes are rewarded â–ª bothe in this lyfe in the lyfe to come but of pure loue must we bestow our seluê al that we haue al that we ar able to do euyn on our enemyes to bringe theÌ„ to god coÌ„syderige nothinge but their welth as christ did ours â–ª christ â—yd nat his dedes to obteyne heuen â—herby that had beÌ„ a madnes heueÌ„â—as his alredy he was heyre therâ—f it was his by inherytaunce but â—yd theÌ„ frely for our sakes consydeâ—â—nge nothinge but our welthe to â—ringe the fauoure of
to wyll that these holy lawes were nat giueÌ„ to men is to wyll that god were nat such be the blasphemies of the flessh whan she receyueth the lawe which is spuÌ„all in the which she hath no inteÌ„demeÌ„t nor vnderstaÌ„ding for she weneth to coÌ„passe it by workes which thinge onely faythe doth And now whaÌ„ he seeth perceiueth that though he do neuer so moch he caÌ„ nat accomplissh or fulfil the law than is he full of horrour of dispeyre seyng that hell is redy for him bicause of the transgression of the lawe whan he can imagyn â—o wayes to auoyde the indignatioÌ„ of the law than all disolate full of dispayre he begâ—neth to abhorre the lawe without the father of heuen draw him inspyre him the way to fulfyll the lawe he doth all coÌ„trary to it For of hiÌ„ selfe he can nat chuse but synne do euyll And therfore is the lawe gyuen vs bycause we shuld know our sâ—nes the only of fyce of the lawe is nat to iustify vs but she we vs our wekenesse feblenesse in well doyng to shew man that he hath deserued deth damnation which by his own power he caÌ„ nat shon to the ende that a maÌ„ knowyng his owne wekenes vnablenes to do well dispeyre of his own vertue strength settinge asyde all coÌ„fydence in any thâ—ge that he caÌ„ do humble him selfe knowleging that if our mercyfull lorde of his vnspekable mercy delyuer him nat from deth and dampnacyon the whiche he hath deserued thorow transgressyon of the lawe he had perysshed and ben dampned for euer For if oure fearse and proude herte be nat mekened fyrst by the lawe and make vs confesse oure selfe Synners we shulde neuer be saued by Christ for he came for to saue synners and vnrightuous nat them that be rightuouse and iust which iustify them selfe by their workes ¶ But whan a man knoweth his owne fylthynes abhomination seeth that he is condeÌ„ned rightuously to euerlastynge deth thaÌ„ cometh the gospell which is to say glad tydynges in vse is presented vnto hiÌ„ which sayth Thou wretched thefe whiche woldest haue depriued god of his godheed woldest haue ben thyne owne god thorow thy pride Thou wretched desperate caityfe which after the iust iugemeÌ„t of god haddest deserued to be hanged on the galowes of hell which hast the halter about thy necke that is to saye thy wyl thy flesshe thy lustes whiche be lordes ouer the by reasoÌ„ that the spirite of god ruleth nat in the. The most mercy full god hath sente the thy pardone and wyll nat that this iugement be executed but that thou be quyte and haue thy lyfe be delyuered from the handes of the deuyll of hell which was thy haÌ„ge man whom thou dydest serue and worke to And he hath nat alonely rydde the from dethe and made the his seruant but also graunteth the to be his soÌ„ne and inherytour with our swete sauyoure Jesus whiche is become thy brother whom the father of his infynite goodnes and kindnes nat for bicause of thy good dedes which hast done neuer but euyll hath gyueÌ„ for the to make full satis factyon for all thy euyll dedes so that thou beleue that he dyed for thy synne rose agayne to iustifye the which desyreth none other thig but to saue that the which was lost that is to saye synners whiche thorowe their owne deseruynges were in the way of daÌ„pnacion And whaÌ„ the conscience which was before full of great drede hereth this good tydynges if god gyue theÌ„ the grace to gyue credeÌ„ce therto beleue theÌ„ than they be certayne by the reason of this fayth that they be pardoned of all their offeÌ„ces thorow the deth and passyon of Jesu Christ Than coÌ„ceyue they a gret ioye myrth in warde reioysynge in theÌ„ selfe And our mercyfull lorde in gyuynge vs this fayth gyueth vs also his spirit the which maketh vs the very chyldren of god thorow faith the very â—eÌ„bres of the body of Jesu christ we be in all thynges alwayes conduyted directe by this holy spirite of god for otherwyse could we nat be the chyldren of god for they only be the chyldren of god which be led by the spirit of god So we hauiÌ„g this holy spirite in vs to be our gyde directour of our iourney whiche is all charyte loue by the whiche the lawe is accomplysshed the lawe is fulfylled in vs. And by the reason of his holy spirit which gydeth vs we go no more in the waye of the flessh For the flessh hath no leÌ„ger dominion ouer vs but is caste out of his kiÌ„gdome Christ reining in vs by the holy ghost which causeth vs dayly to mortify our flesshe which alwayes is contrary vnto the spirit destroyeng pullyng downe and coÌ„suminge our concupiscences and lustes by the fyre of charyte And albeit that this concupiscens is syn ye mortall synne of his owne nature neuertheles it is nat imputed nor rekened vnto vs which ar membres of Jesu Christ consyderynge that by the reasoÌ„ of the spirit of god we loue god with all our hert desyre nothing so moch as the wyl of god to be done in vs. And so by the reasoÌ„ that we haue this good spirit in vs we neuer siÌ„ne For this newe natiuyte by the which we be made the infantes of god doth coÌ„serue kepe vs that is the holyghost which thorowe fayth is gyuen vs. But in as moch as all our wyttes wyll intendementes be but flessh as loÌ„g as we be â—uironed clogged with this corruptyble bodye which is a gret let vnto the soule we caÌ„ nat be without sinne seing that all thinge that is in vs excepte the gyftes of god which sue come of faith is alwayes contrary vnto the spirit by the reason wherof euermore as touchynge the olde man fyrst Adam the outward man the man of syn flesshe we syn And if we saye that we haue no synne we lye deceyue our selues bycause of this haue we cause euermore to mekeÌ„ our self and to put awaye all confydence in vs or in oure workes gyuynge all glory vnto god which of his only grace delyuered vs from the captyuytie of deth makynge it of no effecte or power to lose or distroy vs. For the lyfe which he hath giuen vs by the spirite of his sonne is farre gretter than is this deth and therfore it can nat harme vs. Whiche is a greate assuraunce to a mannes conscyence for whan he beleueth surely in Jesu Christ he is assured and certifyed that Jesu Christ is in him therfore he can be afrayde of nothynge seynge that Jesu Christ is puysaunt mighty whiche hath vaynquysshed the worlde all power contrary vnto the soule in the which he dwelleth by his holy spyryte so that nothynge can ceperate him from his souerayne welth whiche is Jesu Christ which coÌ„forteth him with his holy promyses