tyme the sonne of God was constituted and ordeyned to be a keper a gouernour and a sauyour of the churche Then beganne the sonne of God to giue battayle to the Deuyll That lykewyse as the Deuyll most cruelly doth rage ouer al mankind in the dispyte and hatred of God to deface and put out of al remembrance his most holy and blessed churche fastening his moste venemouse tethe in oure hels and flesshe So on that other syde the sonne of God is stronge and myghty in them which beleueth treadynge downe vnder hys fete the furye of the Deuyll restorynge and delyuerynge the faythful from the tyranny of hys enmy The worlde hathe nat the grace to consyder and se this battayle but the great falles of many with the most heuye and tragycall calamities and miseries and againe afterwarde the moste gloryous and tryumphant delyueraunce example of Dauyd and of many other do manyfestlye declare and shewe what maner a kynde of fyght and battayle this is ¶ THESE wordes also whiche are written in the Genesis The sede of a woman shall treade downe the heade of the Serpent hath none other meaninge than those wordes which Iohn did pronounce sayenge For thys purpose the sonne of God is exhibited vnto vs to distroye and breake the workes of the Deuyll Thus dyd Adam take and vnderstand the promyse So did al the fathers after him beleue that for thys sede sake which was promised they shuld obteyn remission of theyr sinnes with deliueraunce from sinne and deathe By thys faythe they were made iuste nat by fulfyllynge of the lawe This beynge that same faythe wherby in al theyr perilles and terrors they were comforted and holde vp For they knewe wel that thys Lorde was alway at theyr hand to helpe them as Iacob most lyuely dyd expresse the .xlviii. of Genesis sayeng The Angell whiche delyuered me from all euyl blesse these children In the which wordes he declared that same Lord by whoÌ„ he was deliuered from al euils desiring and prayenge to blesse and kepe hys posteritie Al those wordes can be of none other than of the sonne of God meaned As wytnesseth Paull The son of God was in the tentes of the people of Israel where soeuer they went And Iohn also By thys sonne of God al thing was made by whom lyght dyd shyne in darknesse All tryumphe and victories gotte and won agaynste and ouer the deuyll was by none other than by thys sonne Noe was reserued Abraham was defended Ioseph was wakened vp The people was delyuered forth of Egypt and Daniel also dyd speake with hym After thys fasshion the preachynges of the Apostles do teach of Chryst wytnessing that he is the sacrifice the deliuerer and sauiour counsellynge and commanding vs to set our whole trust and confidence in this captayne The which thyng many places in the prophetes doth testyfy as the second psalme kysse you the sonne Blessed be al they that trust in him with out the whiche faythe otherwyse called the certayne confydence of the trust and mercy of God promysed for Chryst sake all the prayers in the worlde seme they neuer so holy neuer so longe al the worshypfull worshyppynge that ye can do are in effect as muche as nothinge For thys is the same Bysshop by whose meanes we muste come to the father as it is written in many places The blyndnes therfore of them which do imagin and dreame that the Gospel is a lawe conteinynge certayne preceptes of amitie or mutuall loue whiche requyre the faythe that is to saye a bare and naked knowledge of the lyfe of Chryste hystorycally and that men shoulde take God as a teacher of good preceptes as they dyd vse to take Socrates and Phocillides I say agayne the depe and profounde blyndenesse of them is to be detested execrated and of all creatures abhorred Suche lyke is theyr blyndnesse in phantasyeng that men are made iuste for theyr owne good deseruynges beynge for al that in doubte whether God doeth forgyue vs oure sinnes whether he doeth heare vs or whether he wyll haue any thynge to do with vs ye or nay as one whiche nothynge regardeth what doeth or shal become of vs. Thus the greate gorbelyd Monkes and nowe our great supercyliouse proud popishe Philosophers do transforme The doctrin of the Popishe clerkes translate and make the Gospell which is the most pure and sincere worde of God to be a Phylosophy Academical dysputynge and reasonynge of good workes commaundynge men to doubt in the promyses of God But of faythe whiche leanneth on Chryste and the promises made for his sake nat ones for a thousande pound they wyl neither thynke nor speake herein they be as domme as stones and as drie as a stocke fyshe Therfore I pray and desyre with all my hert al gentyl readers that they wolde weye and consyder the difference of the lawe and the Gospel of Moyses and of Chryst And to marke diligently what is the glorye of God what was the ryght honour seruyce and worship done to hym by our olde fathers Adam Iacob the Prophetes and the Apostles Of these men let vs learne that Chryste is alway the valyant Captayne the only gouernour delyuerer sauyour protector an dedfeÌ„der of hys church against the Deuyll with al his members Let â—s learne I say that by fayth we must perceiue and receiue the benefites of Christ Let vs haue in remembrance and nat for gette that the gospell is a swete voyce which promyseth and sheweth to vs as it were puttynge into our bosoms these great benefites Paul bearynge thereta wytnesse sayenge The gospell is the power of god to saluatyon to hym that doeth beleue That is as muche to saye as the gospell doethe offer vnto vs pardon of our sinnes and lyfe euerlastynge frely for Christ his sake and nat for the law By thys gospel god worketh in vs effectuously gyuyng to vs his holy spirite he beginneth in vs a newe life and gyueth vs lyfe euerlastynge ¶ Synne THYS VOCABLE AND word Syn doth nat signify noughty corrupt viciouse maners only Vnder thys worde synne is comprehended our Originall synne as the Phylosophers do take it but it coÌ„prehendeth vnder the same vocable also the great feblenes and weaknes whiche is brought into this world with vs and in vs beyng called original sinne The which sinne though carkles men do nat muche passe for regardyng and settyng it lyght as though it were a very small tryfle or rather no sinne at all as the Philosophers do iudge it yet we maye nat so mystake it but must make an other maner of rekenynge therof For the darke blyndnes with â—ubitation and ignoraunce of God beynge vncertayne whether God doethe passe and regarde mortall men ye or nay whether he doth punishe offenders or nat whether he norisheth fedeth and helpeth or herkeneth to men and theyr inuocations and cryes ye or naye to be withoute the feare and drede and loue of God to set muche by oure selfes and our paynted shethes
tyranny of the Deuyll and extreame death Therfore when that lyfe euerlastinst is begon in vs then we do obaye the Lawe and kepe the commaundementes as it is wrytten I wyl poure forthe on the house of Dauid the spirite of Grace and of prayer ¶ IF I hadde in me all Fayth The thy tâ— obiectyon â–ª and nat loue I am nothinge Which is thus to be answered as before is sayd I coÌ„fesse that loue is necessary but the loue of God can nat be nor be acceptable except fyrst by Fayth we do receyue remissyon of sinne imputation of iustice Euery man maye inuente and deuyse of theyr owne braine a loue of God but the very loue of god which is a perfect loue must be referred to the wrasteling of the minde and to the true motions in our inuocations and perylles Some men there be whiche do doubte whether God doethe passe or regarde mannes necessitie and causes whether that eyther prosperitie or aduersitie doeth chaunce and happen by fortune withoute any prouision and gouernance of God or nay Some men feling and perceyuyng in them selfe the angre and wrath of God doeth in theyr afflictioÌ„s trobles fal down dispairiÌ„ge rayling against the iugement of God Of these great stormes and bytter shures of the mynde preacheth the heauenly voyce comforting the mindes of meÌ„ in the middes of the great waues sourges of theyr troubles with the promise of the Gospel When the mynde of man doth comfort and lyft vp him selfe with this Fayth kowledginge the mercye of god then foldweth loue It is necessary therfore that Faythe doethe go before whiche askethe remyssyon of synne The whiche feyth dothe not leane and depende of our worthynesse or deseruinges Therfore thoughe that loue dothe folowe it is not consequente that for that loue we be iustified but for Christ sake only Men commonly do expounde this word loue of the loue of god and of our neyghbour therfore I haue answered as touchynge the loue of god But Paule in this place speaketh not of the loue of god but of the loue of our neighbour which much lesse can meryte remission of sinne Forgiue and thou shalt be forgiuen Ergo. The fourt obiection By our forgiuenesse remission to other we merite to vs our iustification These wordes be exhortynge to repentaunce as be many suche lyke in the prophettê as Esai the .i. Cap. Cease and leaue you of from doyng euil and lerne to doo good Then shall your synnes be wyped from you The fyrste part of this is a precepte of repentance The second part conteyneth a promise Precept Christ doth not say you shal obtein pardon for your pardon but he commaundeth only that we do pardon and forgiue our neighbour Promise Afterward he doth giue vs knowledge of a promyse which promyse is dependinge of an other thynge than of the worthynesse of our workes what a trouble and vexacion wold it be to our consciences if we shuld thyncke that the pardon of god shoulde depende on the purenes and worthy dignitee of our forgiuenesse pardon to other whiche haue offended vs For be they neuer so well made frendes those which were at variaunce yet remayneth some scarre grudge of the old displeasure Therfore it is necessary some other cause waye of remission of our sin to be sought and so to kepe the true sence and mynde of the Gospel concerning the free forgiuenes of sinne There is also such an other saienge in Daniel The fyrst part whereof perteynethe to pennance or repentance as this Loue and enbrace iustyce helpe the miserable wroÌ„gfully oppressed and defend the church against tyrantes and persecutours The seconde part conteyneth the promise as this And thy sinnes shal be forgiuen thou shalt be heled and made whole of thy infyrmities Repentaunce must nedes be and yet our forgiuenes and pardon must be frely giuen and receyued by Faythe For if the promise shulde be none otherwise a promise than we are worthy depending on oure worthynes then it shulde be made voide and no promise as Rom. viii ¶ Loue is the pryncipall and chifest of all vertuse Ergo. The fyft obiectyon for loue we are reputed iuste I doo denie plainly the consequent the reason is manifest for it wold folowe muche better if you wolde saye Loue is the chefest and godliest of al vertuse Ergo. Bycause we canne not perfourme that loue as we ought to do we are nothing iustified for that vertue If we had the vertues whiche the lawe of god doth require and were without syn then we might be sayde well to be iuste for loue other vertues but bycause of our wekenesse and gret infirmite is far from that parfection of the law not begynnyng in loue as we ought to do therfore the gospel setteth forth an other iustice teaching vs not for our owne vertuse but for some other thyng that is not in vs that is for our mediatours sake the sonne of god to be reputed iust but vnder a condition that by feithe we do assure our selfe that god is merciful to vs for his sonne sake It foloweth that we be by imputation that is to saye bycause it pleaseth hym to impute it to vs of his only goodnes and fauour beinge made iuste nat for oure owne vertues though we seme to haue some beginniÌ„g of them in vs. But if a man wyll demaund and knowe the difference of vertues marke well Fayth Hope Faythe receyuethe in this life remission of sinne Hope is a lokinge and a trusting in dede after that thinge whiche is promised that is oure cleane deliuerance whiche is to come Fayth is a consent wherwith the wyll of man wylleth and receyueth the promise so beinge made quiet and at rest wel setteled in his minde for the mediator the sonne of God his sake And when the wyl is so contented then the hert is at rest and wel pleased receyuyng comfort and gladnes which is the beginniÌ„g of a newe life These motions foloweth Hope and Loue. ¶ Bycause that Faythe doeth make vs certayne that God is merciful to vs we do call and loke for the other benefytes promised to vs. Loue. And so loue doth ryse bicause we do knowledge that God is nat ydle as the folyshe reason of man doeth feyne and that he is our frende and no enmye to vs as the Lawe doeth declare And that he is a merciful father taking pitie of our great affliction calamitie coueting to deliuer vs. Bearing thereto his selfe witnes by an other sayinge I do liue and wil nat the death of a sinner By this way we knowledginge that we are receyued into Grace and our inuocations harde and granted to vs of god We do submit our selfes vnto him and so is kyndeled in vs a certayne reuerent loue and desyre to him ward preferring God before all other thinges Whiche loue in this lyfe is nat brenninge as it ought to be but very weake and colde ¶ They do
forthe of the worde of God that is from the Gospell From wheÌ„â— commethe faythe whiche Gospell is the promise wherein the benefyte of Chryst is bothe promysed to vs and also exhibited For the wyt and reason of man by it selfe coulde neuer come to the knowledge of the remission of sinne yf God had nat opened his wil in a certayne worde or a certayne promyse to vs. ¶ VVE muste also be certaynlye assured that thys promysed of the Gospell is vniuersal The promyse of the Gospell to vniuersalâ— wherfore it is most necessary of all thynge that good and Godly men be infourmed therof and taught that it is so bycause that feble and fearefull myndes and weake consciences be alway with these .ii. questyons combered of worthynesse and of election as by example worthynesse ¶ FYRST they doubt whether that God wyll receyue to hys mercye those whiche be vnworthy Electyon or nay On that other syde in case that they be worthye they do mystruste and thynke that God hathe chosen certayne specyall freendes whome he fauoureth aboue other wyllyng to bestowe hys benefytes on them They do feare also lest that those benefytes do nat perteyne to them doubting that they be nat of the number of the elected And thus the reason of man hangethe as it were in a payre of balaunce wauerynge hyther and thither in doubt fulnesse and mystrust of the wil of God For the philosophers be of that opinion that God doth fauour and loue a few in noÌ„bre The blynde opinion of the Phylosophers â—onceruynge election of those which be noble men gouernyng and prosperyng theyr affaires in especyallye at ouâ— all other all other kynde of men neglected and nat regarded And thys is the minde of some men concerninge predestination as they cal it whiche folysshe and weake opinion of man the heauenly voyce of God reprehendeth In thys poynte dyfferethe the Gospell from the opinions of the Philosophers and from the lawe wherein doth the Gospell dyffer from the lawe declaring to vs after an other maner of fasshyon the wyll of God than the lawe doeth set forth to vs shewinge and teachyng that God wyllyngly doethe receyue to hym ye those whiche be vnworthy offerynge to all men hys spirite with thys condycion that they do beleue stedfastlye in the promyse ¶ VVHERFORE let al chrysteÌ„ meÌ„ learne to knowe that the promise is vniuersall perteynynge to all men as wytnesseth many sayenges in the Gospell as Come you to me all that laboure and are burdened And to the Romaynes the iii. cap. The iustice of God thorowe the faythe of Iesu Chryste in and on al men whiche do beleue And to the Romaines the .x cap. The selfe same Lorde of all men and ryche for all men Let vs therfore vnder thys generall and vnyuersal worde comprehende al and euery one of vs togyther iointly and seuerally beleuynge that no man is excluded from the promyse whiche perteynethe to all men indyfferently Predestinatyon ¶ VVHERFORE in our communication of iustification we haue nought to do with predestination We must begynne at the Gospell whiche fyrste rebukynge sinne doeth afterward extende and holde forth to vs the grace and pardon promysed for Chryste hys sake and that frely so it be receyued with fayth Loke we vp therfore al and euery one of vs on thys general worde taking good hede that we be nat with the speculations and reasonynge of predestination seperated and pluckt away from the promyse By what way is the wyl of God searched For the wyll of God maye nat by any mannes blynde reason but by hys owne worde onely be searched iudged and demed And lykewyse as the promyses be generall so do I vnderstand this sayenge God wylled al men to be saued the whiche saluation in hys promyses he doeth offer to al men But mannes folyshe wyl in those thynges which they wyl nat beleue doeth repoung and goth agaynste the promyses And contraryewyse those whiche do holde vp and vndersette them selfes with the promyses they do nat doubte but that the benefytes of Chryste doethe perteyne to them and be theyrs bycause they wyll nat make God a lyer So that when in receyuynge of the Gospell they do erecte and coragyously lyft vp them selfes coÌ„fortynge them therewith Then worketh the holy ghost effectuously in them thorowe the voyce of the Gospell accordynge to that sayenge Faythe is by hearynge And to the Galathyans .iii. cap that we maye receyue the promyse of Chryste by faythe And thus when the sycke feble and feareful myndes be comforted holpen and made strong by faith then do they receyue the holye Ghoste The whiche is the true conuersion beynge called in the Gospel the regeneration or newe byrthe conteynynge in it iii. thynges moost notable and for vs expedyente Remission of â—ane ouâ— iustificatioâ— and the giâ—â— of the holy Ghoste aâ—â— togyther 〈◊〉 our conuersyon Remission or forgyuenes of sinne Our iustification that is that we be accepted of God and imputed iuste Thyrdly the gift of the holy Ghost with lyfe euerlastyng I haue nowe spoken of the sharpe motions tormeÌ„tes terrors of the conscieÌ„ce and also of the comfort whiche we do receyue by faythe Where fore thys sentence of Paull is to be receyued of al men beynge nat entangled with foolysshe and ydle questions but playne open and agreable to al the preachynges and techinges of the prophetes and Gospels gyuynge vs knowledge of greate and weyghtye matters whiche good and Godly men in this lyfe by experience do fynde true The knowledge whereof is so necessarye to the churche that nothynge is more ¶ NOVVE therfore I entende with as fewe wordes as the matter wyl giue me leue to make playne and declare vnto you what these vocables and termes folowynge doo signifie The lawe Gospell Synne Iustification Grace and Faythe Lawe ¶ THE Lawe from the Gospell doeth dyffer no small thynge For the lawe is a doctryne by the whiche we are taught and commaunded of God what maner of men we oughte to be what thynges we are bounde to do and obserue and what the contrarye And albeit that the common weale of Moyses is vtterly extyncte and nowe nothynge at all yet the moral lawe abideth and remaineth styl beynge at all tymes one thynge that it was at the begynnyng The knowlege wherof we are nat so sone borne but we are endued with it The lawe of nature For God wold that some knowlege shuld remain in maÌ„ natuâ— to knowe and perceyue what is synne besyde that at all times the voyce of the lawe doethe rebuke sinne what tyme it preacheth repentaunce Whiche thyng Paull wel perceyuynge was induced to saye by the lawe is the knowledge of sinne Nat meanynge and speakyng only of the ceremonies but also of the morall lawes and of the commandementes accusynge alwaye at all tymes al maner of men We maye nat reason of the deuine lawe of God as we do when we do talke
These are the secrete and moste propre workes of a christian man which we must nedes vnderstande The examples whereof are sene in those Godlye men whiche God hath sette before vs as maysters and teachers In Abraham Isaack Iacob Ioseph Samuâ—l Dauid Ieremy Danyel and such lyke He commaundeth vs also that we haue a whote and an ardent desyre both to knowe and also to set forth abrode to all men the Gospell This is the worshyppynge whiche he teacheth for the whiche we are al chefely ordeyned created regenerated and called As Peter writeth Being called from darknesse to shewe and sette forth to all men the benefites of God and the psalme .34 I wyl confesse to the c. and psalme .95 I wyl rendre and perfourme to the lord before all the people my vowes in the porches of the house of our god He willeth that in the profession of the gospel we be constant and in afflictions obedient callinge and trusting for helpe and succour from him He willeth vs to take hede that with our yll examples of lyfe we do gyue none occasion of sclaunder He commaundeth vs to refute hate and abhorre al wicked doctrines and nat to corry fauell with the instrumentes and membres of the Deuyl whiche do go aboute to obscure and darken the mooste clere pure and holsome doctrine of the Gospell I go nat about nowe to make none exposition of the commaundementes but yet I wolde councel all men always to loke earnestly on them and to considre howe many greate and harde matters they do comprehende ¶ Howe workes may be done TO the seconde question by what reason and howe maye so greate workes both the inward and the outwarde workes be perfourmed and done our weakenes being so great as it is Although that the outwarde workes by mannes power and diligence may be somewhaâ— likely and skant so so performed yet the inwarde discipline worke being in the spiritual motions agreing to the worde of God without the working of the holy Ghost can by no meanes be done as they ought to be Therefore when that with Fayth the hertes of meÌ„ are erected and lifte vp with comforte then is giuen the holye Ghost to kindle in the mindes of men godly motions respondent to thâ— lawe of God according to the sayinge of Paul that we may receyue the promise of the spirite by faith Zachary the .iiii. cap. I wyl poure oute vpon the dwellers of Ierusalem the spirite of my grace fauoure and pardone Very godly forsothe did this Prophete set forth and declare the office workes of the holye Ghoste in the hertes of the vertuouse and also the righte worshippinges that we oughte to do He doethe name the spirite of Grace bicause that when by Fayth we are lyfte vp then we are holpen of the holy Ghoste whereby we are persuaded that God is mercifull to vs and againe that we are acceptable to him ⧠FIRST therfore he doth declare and signifie to vs that Faythe is styrred vp in vs by the holy Ghost in the which motion and styrrynge the holye ghoste doth giue vs testimonie and witnes As Paul sayeth For as much saieth he as by faythe we do knowledge the mercye and presence of god we do thâ—n also cal on him we do submit our selfes to hym beginning al other true worshippinges which vnder the name of praâ—eâ— the prophete doeth comprehend For this is the chefe honour that can be done and exhibited to god It is therfore easy ynough to be perceyued that Fayth of the whiche we do speake is the beginninge of the inwarde obedience good purpose or intentes as men vse to call it Neyther can the fyrst precept which techeth of the wrath of God agaynst sinne and also of his free pardon haue any roote or beginninge in vs except thorowe the hearing of the worde of God whiche is the Gospel with a strong Fayth we doo certaine our selfes that for Christ sake we do obteyne remission of our sinne For Fayth doeth beholde the son of god in his kingdome knowinge perfectly that he is nat idle but alway giuing bat tayle to the Deuyl whiche continually ragynge ouer mankynde neuer ceasseth with his cautels and giles to illure and prouoke him to sinne and other misfortunes for none other cause but to draw him into desperatioÌ„ with diuers kindes of errors and other epicuris opinions whiche doo flatter and deceyue gentyll and soft wittes On that other side he styrreth vp tyrantes for to putte downe and to suppresse withal crueltie the name of Christe For as muche therfore that it is manifest that the nature of maÌ„ is so weake and feble that without the heuenly helpe it is nat able to vanquish and ouercome so cruel fierce an enmy whiche neuer slepeth Therfore Faith calleth to remembrance the kingdom of Christ beleuyng stedfastly that he hathe ben contynually with his faythful euen from the tyme of his fyrst promise whiche was The fyrste promise the sede of the woman shal trede to pouder and dust the head of the Serpent The which promise by Iohn is made playne sayinge Christ appered to distroy the workes of the deuyl The Lorde was at hand with Iacob and blessed him with the holy Ghost he was by Danyel and talked with him he doeth reygne so that he is alway preseÌ„t with his members confyrmynge them with the holy Ghost gydynge them agaynste the crafty gyles and deceytes of the Deuyl with all his assaultes What maner and howe glorious these victories be The examples of Dauyd Ezechias and Danyel do declare ye and Christ at the resurrection of the deade shal shewe those gorgious triumphes which the world doth make lyght at naye they do openly deride and laugh to skorne ☞ BVT to good men these battailes are well inoughe knowen which in the tymes of perylles and daungers muste practyse thys Fayth knowledging and callyng on Christ theyr captaine and so hauing confidence in him to fight with the Deuyl remembringe the wordes of Iohn Christ came downe among vs to distroy the workes of the Deuyli By thys men maye se that Faythe is nat an ydle speculation or phantasy but that it is a lyght which gouernethe all oure actes ye and al our perylles and daungers We may therfore by the helpe of the sonne of God which reygneth begyn this newe obedience which lyke a valiaunt captayne neuer forsaketh hys beloued puttynge into them his holye spirite We may nat thynke that Christ lyueth and reygneth in Heauen ydelly as the Poetes fayned Iupiter to banket and to make mery in Heauen nothinge regardinge what is done in earth Such darknes is in the mynd of men contemnynge and settynge lyght by God The which errors by the lyght of the Gospell and by Fayth must be redressed Of this practise and exercise of Fayth with true inuocation of God what can the aduersaries of god say and speke which in the steade of the Gospel and of Faith doeth inculcate and teache vs the Pirrhonious