and more that thou mayest be fuâ—â— shapen lyke vnto the ymage of Chryst in knowlege and loue for that is good and accepted in the sight of god our sauyour whiche wyll haue all men saued and to come vnto the knowledge of the truthe ¶ Nowe that all men shulde the better vnderstande all trewe chrysten the whiche must fyrste haue a stedfast fayth an trust in almyghty god to obtayne al the mercye that he hath promysed vs thorowe the deseruynge and merytes of Chrystes blode onely And secondarely must he for sake all euyll and tourne to God to kepe his wayes to fyght agaynst hym selfe and his corrupte nature ê‘petually that he may do the wyl of god euery day better and better For fayth in God the father thorowe our lorde Iesus Chryst accordynge to the couenauntes appoyntement made betwene god and vs is our saluacyon Further ye maye se coÌ„mynge from God vnto the beleuynge man dyâ—ers fruytes of the holy spyryte for you â—â—st vnderstande that we are borne a new not of mortall sede but of immortall by the worde of god whiche is sent vs from heauen Iacobi .i. Euery good gyft and euery perfyt gyft is from aboue and coÌ„meth downe from the father of light with whome is no veryablenes neyther is he chauÌ„ged vnto darkenes And also Ro. v. sayinge the loue of god is shed abrode in oure hertes by the holy Ghoste for the fruytes of the spyryte is in all goodnes rightwysnesse trueth Ephe. v. Gal. v. and agaynst such there is no lawe for yf we mortyfye the dedes of our bodyes by the helpe of the spyryte we shall lyue and as many as are led by the spryte of God they are the sones of God For we haue not receyued the spryte of bondage to fere any more but we haue receyued the spyryte of adopcyon wherby we crye Abba father The same spyryte certyfyeth our sprite that we are the sones of god Ro. viij ANd aso as the holy scrypture sheweth that fayth hope pacyeÌ„ce ryâ—â— wylnes peace loue that be sygnes and tokens of the fruyte that spryngeth of those vertues as fayth a herte bycause the beleue of the herte iustyfyeth c. Ro. x. And God maketh the hert pure thorowe beleue Act. x. whiche beleue worketh alwayes the wyll of God for by grace are we made saufe thorowe fayth and that not of our selues for it is the gyfte of god and coÌ„meth not thorow workes lest aâ—â— man shuld boste hym selfe for we are hâ—â— workemanshyp created in Chryste Iesâ—â— vnto good workes Ephe. ij For a good man out of the good treasure of his herte bryngeth forthe good thynges for it is not possyble to please God wtout fayth Hebre. xj ALso Hope hath heuen bycause that the chrystens hope is onely in heauen lokynge abydynge pacyently after that thynge that is promysed to â—ome onely thorowe the grace and merâ—â— of god as we hope after euerlastynge ioy whiche Chryste hath promysed vnto all that beleue and haue stedfast hope in hym sayinge feare not lytle flocke for it is your fathers pleasure to gyue you a kyngedome Luc. xij Therfore do we reioyce in hope Ro. xij whiche rychesse is Chryste in you the hope of glorye Col. j. For and we reioyce in the true hope whiche coÌ„meth of fayth and do fele the promysse of goddes mercy within our hertê then althoughe the lawe wold vs straytely condempe and that hell also wolde vs deuoure and all synne withall our ennemyes wolde fall vpon vs yet shall they all haue no power ouer vs yf that oure perfyt hope trust be in god marke with stroÌ„ge fayth what Christ onely thorowe his bytter death hath deserued for vs. ALso Pacyence hath a scourge bycause the chrysten hath alwayes in the worlde trybulacyons afflyccyons necessyte anguysshe strypes c. 〈◊〉 whiche he reioyseth greatly Ro. v. 〈◊〉 the father of mercy comforteth them in all theyr persecucyons for vnto you it is gyuen that not onely ye shulde beleue on chryst but also suffre for his sake Phi. j. Thus all that wyll lyue godly in Chryst Iesu must suffre persecucyons ij Ti. iij. for trybulacyon bryngeth pacyence pacyence bryngeth experyence Ro. v. let pacyence therfore haue her perfyt worke that ye maye be perfyt sounde for they that are Chrystes haue crucyfyed the flesshe with the appetytes and lustes Ga. v. biâ— saynt Peter sayeth j.iiij se that none of you suffre as a murtherer or a these or an euyl doer but yf any man suffre as a christen man let hym not beshamed but lette hym gloryfye God on this behalfe Oure lorde sayeth in the worlde shall ye haue trybulacyon but be of good chere I haue ouercome the worlde IohnÌ„ .xvj. Therfore can no man enter in to the fathers kyngedom but thorowe manyfolde temptacyons as our Lorde with his â—postles be that we folowynge theym nyght be founde vnto laude glory and honour at the aperynge of Iesu Chryst our Lorde .i. Pet. i. FVrther ryghtwysnes that is purchased by Chryst which also hath promysed it to all his elect thorowe perfyte fayth in his blode saying blessed ar they which suffre ê‘secucyoÌ„ for ryghtwysenes â—â—â—e for theyrs is the kyngdome of heuen â—â—r chryste onely is our ryghtwysenesse â—nd the ende of the lawe to iustify all that â—eleue .i. Co. i. Ro. ix.x. You must marke â—hat there is two maner of ryghtwyseâ—es the which be workes faith Nowe â—he ryghtwysenes of workes is when a â—an without fayth thorowe Ipocresy â—yll fulfyll with his workes the lawe of â—od lyke vnto the Pharesies Luc. xviii ALso the Israelites had a ferueÌ„t mynde to godwarde but it was not acâ—â—rdynge to knowlege for they were lyâ—â— as the most parte of vs nowe are vâ—ry ygnorauÌ„t of the ryghtwysnes of god and therfore are not obedient therunto bycause we seke it not by fayth but as it were by our good workes lyke vnto the learned of the scripture the Pharisies Luc. v. To whome Chryste sayde I cam not to call the ryghtwyse but synners to repentaunce Therfore the holy Ghoste shal rebuke the worlde of ryghtwysnes IohnÌ„ .xix. bycause the world wyll be made ryghtwyse by theyr good workes but except that your ryghtwysnes excede the ryghtwysnes of the learned of the scryptures Pharysies you can not enter in to the kyngdom of heuen And secondarely bycause that men be not vpryght in all theyr handelynge and lyuynge for all men do corrupte theyr wayes on the earthe lyke as dyd man before the floude of Noe for in what maner of byinge or sellynge is there nowe without deceyte lyinge and vnryghtwysnes yee what maner of people is there in the worlde ryche or pore spyrytuall or temporall that doth his offyce truely and vpryghtely do you thynke that the holy Ghoste wyll not rebuke you yes be ye sure for all vnryghtwysnes is synne .i. IohnÌ„ .v. God coÌ„mauÌ„deth sayinge ye shall not steale neytherlye neyther deale falsely one with another ye shall do no
¶ The declaracyon and power of the Chrysten fayth ¶ He that beleueth on me hath euerlastynge lyfe IohnÌ„ .vj. ¶ Here worketh in the beleuynge man fayth thorowe loue the good workes whiche God hath ordeyned to the entent that we shulde walke therin Ephe. ij ¶ He that loueth his neyghboure as hym selfe kepeth all the coÌ„maundementes of god Mat. vij Rom. xiij Gala. v. ¶ This is the victory that ouercoÌ„meth the world our Beleue .i. IohnÌ„ .v. For Chryst saith be of good chere I haue ouercome the worlde IohnÌ„ .xvj. ¶ worlde ¶ All that is in the worlde is the lust of the flesshe the lust of the iyes and the pryde of goodes .i. IohnÌ„ .ii. and he that soweth in his flesshe shall of the flesshe repe corrupcyon Gala. vii ¶ Flesshe blode ¶ Flesshe and blode shall not inheryte the kyngedom of god .i. Cor. xv Chap y. For the flesshe lusteth contrary to the spyryte Gala. Ca. ¶ Deuyll ¶ Your aduersary the deuyll as a rorynge lyon wâ—lketh aboute sekynge whoÌ„ he may deuoure i. â—…e v. Ca. Chryste hath put downe hym that hâ—… fordeshyp ouer deathe that is to say the deuâ—â—l Heb. ii Ca. C. FOr as muche as the holy Scrypture / is a mooste precyous Iuwell / and coÌ„meth thorowe grace vnto them whiche receaue it in fayth thorowe the holy ghost the whiche doth teache and leade vs to that euerlastynge lyfe which word also is very Cihyst hym selfe Now he that entreth not in by this dore into the shepe folde but clymeth vp some other way the same is a thefe and a robber I am sayth Chryst the way the truthe and the lyfe euery one that beleueth on me hath euerlastynge lyfe Thus mustâ— euery true chrysten spryng out of christ folowing his fote steppes in thy lyuinge or els it can not appere that Chryst abideth in the thou in hym as the brauÌ„ch in the vyne or in the good tree for yf that thou lyke vnto the good tree Chryste bryngeth not forth good fruyte and foâ—â—we hym in teachynge sufferynge and to make short in all thy lyuynge so canst thou not be of his flocke for all that are in christ doth folowe christ in theyr liuing THe worlde sayeth that they knowe god with theyr good workes the which is none other but the preceptes of men that they teache and obserue for that call they goddes seruys but it is nothyng so they vnderstande not what they speake neyther wherof they affyrme which are but meÌ„nes fables and with them turne they men from the truth but the kyngdome of god staÌ„deth not in wordes but in power Why make ye your booste of me sayth christ say Lorde Lorde and do not that which I coÌ„maund you not one of you that say vnto me Lorde / lord shall come vnto me but they that do my fathers wyll which is in heauen that is what soeuer ye wolde that men shulde do to you euen so do to them for this is the lawes and the prophetes He that heâ—â—eth my worde and doth not there aftâ—â— is lyke vnto a very foole I am the vyne and ye are the braunches he that abydeth in me and I in hym the same bryngeth forth moch frute wylt thou know maÌ„ what maner of fruytes Christ meaneth Verely the fruytes of the spryte the whiche is loue ioye peace long sufferynge gentlenes all goodnes faythfulnes mekenes temperancye ryghtwysenes and trueth Who soeuer is voyde of these and foloweth not them so is he no tree of the holy spyryte nor yet none of his plaÌ„ttes although he be bysshop docter parson c. ye although he can preache and teache prate neuer so goodly of the scrypture For so longe as he foloweth not these fruytes of the spyryte with his lyuynge dysceaueth hym selfe although he thynketh and sayeth that he beleueth in Christ and is a chrystian neuerthelesse he is not in Chryste but far wyde of froÌ„ hym lyke vnto those Iewes which sayde they were the sede of Abraâ—am but Chryste sayd that they were of thjeyr father the deuyl euen so are all they the chyldren of the deuyll in darkenes and be yet in the olde vnfruytefull tre of Adam so longe as we brynge not forth these true fruytes of the spryte althoughe we fast praye do neuer so moche it can not help vs so longe as we deny hym with our dedes are abhomynable and disobedyent to god and his holy worde THerfore derely beloued it is moste nedefull for vs fyrste with a repentynge herte to be conuerted to God and his worde and to edefy oure selues with the moste holy fayth that is in our lorde Chryst for the remyssyon of synnes And secoÌ„darely to loue our bretherne for our heauenly fathers sake bycause they be created after his ymage and for our lorde mayster Chrystes sake which sayth loue ye one another lyke as I haue loued you And also bycause they be the pryce of his precyous blode And thyrdely 〈◊〉 longe and hope for the lyfe to come 〈◊〉 cause this lyfe can not be leade without synÌ„e These thre poyntê I meane fayth loue and hope are the profession and relygyon of a christen man the which god thorowe his spyryte marketh all that be his immediatly and as soone as they be ioyned to Chryst and made membres of his churche therfore sayeth Christ to all faythfull Mat. v. Let your lyght so shyne before men that they maye se your good workes and gloryfy your father whiche is in heuen lyke as you may se in the holy Scripture howe that fayth worketh thorowe loue the workes of mercy which is the offyce of loue to powre out agayn the same goodnesse that she hath receyued of God vpon her neyghboure and to be to her as she fealeth Chryste to her selfe The offyce of loue is onely to haue compassion and to bere with his neyghbour the burdayne of his infyrmytyes for he that loueth his brother abydeth in the lyght there is none offeÌ„dynge in hym 〈◊〉 is redy alwayes to help hym yee were it his ennemye And those men be the true chrysten and moste happy Chryste sayth Math. v. Blessyd are the mercyful for they shall obtayne mercye Loo here god hath made a couenaunt with vs to be mercyful vnto vs yf we wyl be mercyfull one to another so that the man whiche sheweth mercy vnto his neyghbour may be bolde to trust in God for mercye in all nedes for loue holdeth all a lyke the ryche the poore the frende and the foo the thankefull and vnthankeful the kynsemen and strauÌ„ger So nowe yf he that sheweth no mercye trust in God for mercye his fayth is flesshely worldely for God hath promysed mercye onely to the mercyful And therfore the mercyles shall haue iudgement without mercye wherfore yf thyne ennemy hunger fede hym yf he thruste gyue hym drynke c. Roma xij Go to then and desyre god to prynte this profession of the christen fayth on thyne herte and to encrease it daylye more
vnryghtuousnes in iudgement neyther in meteyarde weyght or measure c. Leuit. xix For who soeuer doth not rightuous is not of god but of the deuyll .i. IohnÌ„ .iii. Nowe sayth christ â—lessyd are they whiche hunger thurst for ryghtwysnes for they shall be fylled Therfore he that thynketh to be made ryghtwyse by chryst must haue lust to lyue an vpryght lyfe before god be poore in herte sekynge moste specyally the kyngdome of heauen and the ryghtwysnesse therof for the ryghtwysnesse no doubte which is good before god coÌ„meth of the fayth of Iesus Chryst vnto all and vpoÌ„ all that beleue Ro. iij. For no man thorowe his owne good dedes can be made rightwyse Gala. ij ALso to haue peace whiche ouercoÌ„meth consumeth wrathe enuy malyce Therfore the deuyl our aduersary synce that peace was made bytwene God and man thorowe Chryste hath no more power ouer our soules for yf the peace of God rule in our hertê the whiche passeth all vnderstandynge Phi. iiij To the whiche peace we are called Col. iij. then is our conscience fylled with great ioy hauynge abuÌ„daunce of all spirytuall goodnesse bycause our sauyoure Chryst hath pacyfyed the father hath made an atonement for vs and for all our mysdedes For he is oure peace whiche hath put awaye thorowe his flesshe the cause of hatred so makynge peace hath reconcyled vs to God thorowe his crosse and slew hatred therby and came and preached peace vnto vs for thorowe hym we haue an open way in in one spiryte vnto the father Ephe. ij peace I leue â—ith you sayth Chryst my peace I gyue â—â—to you IohnÌ„ xiij Let vs therfore for lowe those thyngê whiche make for peace thynges wherwith one maye edyfy another Ro. xiiij For these wordes haue I spoken vnto you sayth Chryst that in me ye myght haue peace IohnÌ„ .xvj. THe laste pryncypall is loue otherwyse called charite bycause loue is a great and a pryncypall vertue aboue all other For thoughe I dyd speke with the tonges of men and aungels and yet had no loue I were as a souÌ„dyng brasse or as a tynklynge cymball and thoughe I coulde prophecye and vnderstande all secretes had all knowlege all fayth so that I coulde moue mountaynes out of theyr places yet had no loue I were nothynge And thoughe I bestowed all my goodes to fede the pore and though I gaue my body euen that I burned yet had no loue it profyteth me nothynge c. i. Cor. xiij For he that hath perfyt loue fulfylleth the hole lawe Ro. xiij also Chryst sayth A newe coÌ„maundemâ—â—â— gyue I vnto you that ye loue togyther as I haue loued you that euen so ye loue one another By this shall all men knowe that ye ar my disciples yf ye shall haue loue one to another IohnÌ„ .xiij. He that hath my coÌ„maundementes and kepeth theym the same is he that loueth me and he that loued me shall be loued of my father and I wyll loue hym we wyl come vnto hym and wyll dwel with hym For God is loue and he that dwelleth in loue dwelleth in God and God in hym .j. IohnÌ„ .iiij. FOr as fayth hope pacyence ryght wysenes peace and loue be vnseperable and that no maÌ„ can haue the one without the other lyke as fayth coÌ„meth of the worde of god and hope coÌ„meth of fayth charite spryngeth of them both For the worde of God is quycke myghty in operacyon sharper then any two edged swerde and entreth thorowe eue◠〈◊〉 the deuydynge a sounder of the soule and the spyryte and of the ioyntes and the mary iudgeth the thoughtes and the intentes of the hert neyther is there any creature inuisible in the sight of hym Hebre .iiij. So that we can not do nor yet obtayne any goodnesse without the wyll of God in whome must be alwayes our hope Thus may you marke that faith beleueth onely in god and in his worde hope trusteth after it that is promysed by the worde charyte doth good vnto her neyghbour thorowe the loue that it hath to God and his worde Nowe when you wyll take vpon you to lyue after goddes worde so haue you tysynge agaynst you many ennemyes to make you to forsake god as the worlde the flesshe the deuyll but fayth loketh to God and his worde hope loketh vnto his gyft and rewarde charyte loketh on her neyghbours profyte Therfore bretherne yf we be stablysshed in the trueth of gods worde it wyll make vs that we shall not be ydle noâ— unfruytefull THerfore sayth Chryste be of good there for yf the worlde hate you yâ— knowe that he hated me before he hated you c. IohnÌ„ xv The worlde is nothynge els but the hole companye of carnall men whiche lyue after the lustes of the flesshe and blode beynge deade in trespasse and synne as natural chyldren of the wrath of god and be frembe from the testamentê of promysse that is in chryste beynge without hope yee and without god in this worlde whiche walke in vanyties of theyr owne myndes blynde in theyr vnderstandynge thorowe they ygnorancy and beynge past repentauÌ„ce haue gyuen themselues ouer vnto wantoÌ„nesse for the ymagynacyon of maÌ„nes hert is euyl from the very youth of hym contynually Ge. vj. viij What is more wycked then the thynge that flesshe and blode hath ymagyned Eccle. xvij For 〈◊〉 which is hyghly estymed amoÌ„ge men iâ—â—bhominable in the syght of god Lu. xvj â—â—t god so loued the worlde that he hath gyuen his onely sone that none that beleue in hym shuld perysshe but shuld haue euerlastinge lyfe For god sent not his sone in to the worlde to coÌ„dempe the worlde but that the worlde throughe hym myghte be saued He that beleueth on hym shall not be condempned But he that beleued not is coÌ„dempned all redy bycause he beleueth not in the name of the onely sone of god And this is the condempnation that lyght is come into the worlde and the men loued darkenes more then light bycause theyr dedes were euyl c. IohnÌ„ iij. Se therfore that ye loue not the worlde neyther the thynges that are in the worlde yf any man loue the worlde the loue of the father is not in hym For he that is in the worlde as the lust of the fleshe the lust of the iyes and the pryde of goodes is not of the father but of the worlde And the worlde vanyssheth away and the lust therof i. IohnÌ„ ij Who soeuer wyll be a frende of the worlde is made thâ— enemye of God Ia. iiij For it cannâ—â— stande togyther that a man maye be a frende of God and the worlde both yf a man wyl haue frendship with the worlde so must he consent with the worlde in the wyckednes of the worlde whose gyft and rewarde is none other then synne death hell dampnacyon Nowe when the righteous knoweth al this strayght waye flyeth he to god with all his herte soule and mynde and