armed with this faith which was communicated vnto him by the Gospell did ouercome hys enimies furies so that they could not resist the wisdome and spirit with the which he spake Dauid a verie yoūg man of small age what maner of weapon had he to fight against Golias that mightie capteine of the Philistines hée sought no helpe of Saul nor could not abyde his Armour and weapons nor yet did not fauour any kynde of humaine counseile nor hys own force which was nothing in comparison to the strength of that mightie Gyaunt But onely armed with a sure faith affiance and hope in God he fought couragiously did ouerthrow him cut of his head and so set the chosen hys fellow members at libertie In this is and shall bée for euer verified to all the faythfull that God wil fulfil and performe his promises And so he sayeth by the Prophet Dauid hée that trusteth in mée I will kéepe and deliuer him for that he hath knowen my name And therfore sith he is greater that is in vs then he that is in the world let vs forsake all humayne counseill strength industrie prudencie and wisdome in the same for that how much the lesse we estéeme and depende vppon them so much the more is the efficacie strength power of God in vs and our sight the clearer perfecter to sée the great admirable works don in his elected by his most mightie potencie might Euen then doeth God discouer to our weaknesse the greatnesse of his most mightie power and strength to our health and saluation For when we think our selues most strong depend most vppō terene and earthly defence euē thē are we most weakest and our hope most frustrate Bicause those things in the worlde we accompte and holde most sure for our reliefe in our greatest necessitie falleth from vs and so we left at the worste and in displeasure with god For that we so vaynely dyd forsake him and slée to vanitie which are the things of this world for our help and defence so are we left forsaken both of God man Bicause we made a God of those things the which wée trusted in therein did forsake the true god Those which doe put their trust in worldly things doe it bycause of the fayre shewe thereof to their carnall or fleshly eyes but so they make a deuision of that hope whiche they ought to haue in God put aparte or péece therof into those which are of the worlde which is vanitie and of no value at all Our filthie flesh is fondly ledde to trust and hang all hope on creatures in place and steade of that hope which is due vnto God the creator Suerly it is such a subtle snare of the father of all subtelties lyes that it often deceyueth manye and continually it deceiueth it self For it hath alwayes a custome to couer infidelitie and hipocrisie with some one craftie cloaked colour or other that may not easily be knowen So that when wée bee beguyled by the same we doe thinke our selues in such securitie that we sléepe therein as though fortified with suche humayne helpe furniture and fauour as none might be the like when as in very déede by the ende of experience we may shal finde our owne weaknesse to be such as is of no validitie at all Whereby is manifested that these carnall furnitures weapons armour in which we hope and trust to be succoured by doe not onely serue vs nothing at all for our helpe and defence but also is and are extréeme lets and hynderances to kéepe vs from the doyng of that which we ought and are bound to doo by the commaundementes of god And therfore in this lyfe which is a tyme of trouble tirannie battail and warfare let vs be imitators and folowers of Dauid who neuer did bear other armes nor weapōs against his enimyes then onely his sure trust in God wherewith he alwayes got the victorie and ouerthrew them all How we oughte to doe and behaue our selues to our enimyes as wel visible as in visible corporall as spirituall God doeth teache vs by hys Apostles All the wyse holy and mightie of the world All the riches aucthoritie dignitie exelencie greatnesse humaine strength and policie that was in the same was against them in such sorte that it séemed inuinsible There was very fewe scarce none neither Lordes Earles Dukes Princes Kings and Emperours kingdomes nor countreis but were against them with most cruell warres and persecutions But yet they I mean the childrē and disciples of God armed with confidence and affiance in God and pacience by the onely wordes of the Gospell did convince and ouerthrow to the grounde all the power and potencie of them all aswell the principalles as the reste And by beléeuyng truely in the Gospell they did fyght with and ouerthrowe all the sublymate and supreme highnesse that dyd rise repugne against them Christ their heade in them They did ouercome captiuitie bring a great number to be ruled by preaching the pure Euangelie of truthe in the Gospell and to the obedyence of fayth therin By force wherof they made the world to tremble and did work marueilous works most worthy of memory The world was not so strong nor Sathan so mightie nor yet his ministers so subtil that they altogither with their strength mighte policie and subtiltie could let or hinder the small grayn of musterd séede the fayth in the Gospell but that it did increase florysh and growe into a great and mightie trée the braunches wherof did extend into all partes of the worlde so that the byrdes of heauen might buylde their neastes therein at hys pleasure The diuill all his vaseilles bōdslaues are beaten down daily ouercome with that Armour weapon wherwith God hath armed the faithfull elected If those which serue the prince of darkenes that are marked with the mark of the beast which S. Iohn speaketh of could make that the sonne did not aryse and shewe it selfe so that dayly he did not or might not dryue awaye the darkesome nyghtie cloudes so spread his beames into all parts of the world wherby the force may bée felte of the heate and light of the same they might as well let and hinder the shyning sonne of the Gospell that the splendant light thereof should not shine and shewe his inestimable brightnesse to giue light vnto the blynd that they might goe and be guyded thereby in the righte way of truth And also let that the potencie of God therein shoulde not take the captyue out of captiuitie open the prysons to the prysoners and that the contrite of hart should not receiue frée lybertie thereby Let them goe to heauen if they can and throwe the sonne downe oute hir place vsuall vnto the earth or let them let hinder the shining of the Gospell of glorie which doeth manyfest that
procure to be so much the more certaine and sure of our vocacion and calling of the good will that God had and hath vnto vs and that we doo not doubt by no way nor meanes of the immutabilitie and firmnesse of his diuine councel with and by the which he dyd determine before the beginninge of the worlde to saue vs in Christ Iesu in knowledge of whome dothe concist all our wealth comfort and consolacion The want of knowledge the doubt had hereof is wont to dooth engender great amasednesse dismayinges troubles in the myndes of some of the faithfull it dooth make them fearfull weake full of cowardise sad discomforted mistrustfull and doth put them into great forgetfulnesse of the benefits which they haue receiued of god From hence dooth also arise growe springe those déepe moorninges groninges and sighinges with the which many séeinge themselues afflicted for the trueth doo repent them that they haue vsed their eares heard and beleeued the voyce of the lord Bicause that they séeinge the aduersities that doo succede follow by reason of professing and confessing the name of Iesu Christ they call it guile and deceit and doo retorne againe to wallow in the dirtie mire of their olde errours and supersticions in which they were before their calling doo become more enemies to God and more cruell against the trueth by meanes wherof their last ending is worser then theyr beginninge And for the contrary to know the trueth thereof aright and well and to haue the same printed in the hart it dooth make the good christian the stronger againste all kindes of aduersities and the more mightie to warre and fight magnanymousely manfully against all the might force of hell and neuer more to turne his shoulders to the enemie but doth become from day to day the more inriched with heauenly giftes whereby he is made the more exceptable to god All that is agaīst Iesus Christ in the world maketh war contradiction againste him but yet he ouercommeth all victoriously and most triumphantly by the vertue and strength of his perfect knowledge thereof And how much the more as it is printed in his heart so much the more shal be increased his cōfort in the time of affliction persecucion more strong firme constant in aduersitie more burning in desire to be with god greater in disdaine of the worlde and of all the delights the reigneth therein know the better how to sanctifie the name of the Lord and to demaunde with more feruent zeale that his kingdome may quickly come bicause his enimies might be destroied wholly and that he alone might be obeyed and reigne in the consciences of all those which he hath redéemed with his most precious bloud What we were before our being reduced to god Cap. ii IF we dyd vnderstād how the sinne which we dyd commit against God in the beginning dyd leaue vs after it had once gotten power emperye ouer vs we should vnderstand aswel how great the loue goodnesse of him was that dyd redeeme and take vs out of the same and deliuer vs from the condēpnacion so iustly due vnto vs for it The diuell by sinne dyd breake in and destroy all goodnesse that God had indued vs with by the which we were cléerely knowen to be his owne workmāship he did blot out the Image of god which was grauē in our soules so that the likenes of him by whom we were created was taken quite frō vs we depriued of all kinde of holines rightuousnes also made strāgers to all trueth cleannes He did leaue vs without the direction libertie that we had to cōfort our selues with in all thīgs by the diuine wil of god Finally we did remaine voyde emptied of all those gifts graces with the which God had adorned bewtified enritched vs to be serued by Bicause we might haue him euermore to be our god and that we might be known to be his childrē by the effect of those his wicked works in the world he dyd destroy in vs all the good that god had geuen vs so that we remayned full of all euill that is to be abhorred and cōtrary to god For that the diuel in place of the perfect picture Image and likenesse of him that was in vs did put his owne And so we were ful of all vnrightuousnesse of life hipocrisie fornicacion mallice couetousnesse enuie guyle hatred wickednesse abhominable abhorrours haters of god and his trueth proud vaine glorious disobedient vnfaithfull without vnderstandinge altogether blynde and without mercy made at the last a pestilent picture euen like vnto the diuell whose captiues we were In the Epistle to them of Ephesus Sainct Paule declareth and in them to vs that such was our condicion before God did call vs And you sayth he were dead by your owne delightes of sinne in the which sometyme ye walked according to the course of this world after the prince and gouerner that ruleth in the Ayre which is the spirit that now worcketh in the children of vnbeléefe amonge the which we all in tymes past haue béene conuersant in desires of the flesh and fulfylled the wyll and mynde thereof so that by nature we wer the children of wrathe And thus he concludeth that in vs there was not one spot of goodnesse nor rightuousnesse but that we were in all subiect to the diuell that all our delightes and pleasure was in naughtinesse and infidelitie so that all our works were of the flesh corrupted and accursed Bicause that if the flesh be an enemie to God and not subiect to his lawe nor may nor can be All the worckes that procéede thereof is so likewise and plaine demōstracions of the hatred of the truth wherewith the hart should be possessed And if that all humaine thoughts or thoughts of men doo from the beginning tend to euil all workes done by them be of the same qualitie euil cōdempned lost prouokers of gods great indignacion and ire so that all our euil commeth by nature At the first we were the childrē of god now by sinne we are the children of his wrath that is wholly lost banished disinherited of his riches goodnesse moreouer enimies to all that dooth please him All of vs are corrupted abhominable saith the Prophet there is none that dooth good there is none no not one Then being by sinne and the flesh al corrupted what may spring come therof but curssed stick of such efficacie the it corrupteth all goodnesse by the which it passeth By reasō wherof we are compared by the same prophet to an open sepulchre wher ther is nothing but bodies dead rotten ful of worms frō whēce may nor can come nothing but suche cruel stincke as dooth infect corrupt and kill The mouth of this sepulchre is our throfe as the said Prophet saith
the we cary the venome of waspes vnder our tongues bicause all the commeth out of the mouth is of such force that it killeth Our mouthes are full of curssing and bitternesse we haue our féete swift to runne to shed bloud our wayes manners of liuing are mortal deadly aswell for that they kill as also for that there is nothing in them but calamities and griefes misaduentures and mischiefes which are plaine testimonies of our perdiciō For in that miserable seruitude of sinn in the which we wer tyed deceiued we did not know the way of peace for that we did know nothing that might please god wherby we might be reduced or brought againe to his fréendship we were destitute of the feare and rightuousnesse of god We dyd runne lyke vnbrydled horses into all kinde of wickednesse if it had not béene for the vaine feare of men we had cōmitted openly and publickly all kinde of vice which was hidden in our hartes A man after that the soule is departed from the flesh ther resteth nothing but to bury the body for that it is wormes meate Euen so we beinge deade in sinne and sinfull delighte and God seperated from our soules there remayneth nothynge but to be buryed in Hell and to be made foode for eternall Deathe which we haue most iustly deserued in suche wise that if god would geue sentence definitiue against vs shut vs from the processe of his goodnesse and mercy we should be constrained by our owne proper consciences to confesse and yelde our selues to be well and rightuously cōdempned Bicause our workes our thoughtes our desires hartes and all that we haue within vs hath condempned vs and forced God vnto it who will not suffer so much vnrightuousenesse nor yet tollerate so great and monstrous slanderours of his truthe and bewty of his worke the which wer not our selues before our fal into that estate so miserable all that was in vs was matter and cause of iust condempnacion and to sturre vp the wrath and iudgemēt of God by the which all shal be destroyed and cōsumed bicause that all was darcknesse malediction sinne and the fruites of sinne deformed and extreme contrary to that which God doth require of vs in such maner that we had not nor cold not doo any thing that was good for that we were euil tréese corrupted rotten which colde not bring forth good fruite by reason whereof we haue bene wholly subiect to all the foresayde paynes and punishments cursse malediction that was due vnto vs there hath rested nothing but to be cut of from all the goodnesse of God and put in the company of the diuel and of his ministers all redy condempned Of our blyndnesse in times past The third Chapter THose workes which we hild for good wherein we busied our selues most earnestly in those tymes passed when as we dyd thinck to doo god good seruice thereby they were of such condicion and qualitie that by them we dyd so offend him that we brought our selues more déepely into the lake of perdicion Then we fasted we vsed disciplines of mens tradicions we caused masses to be sayde often tymes we dyd heare them we erected chappels chāteries we prayed with prime and howers we were full of deuocion for soules in purgatori we did chuse dead saints to be our aduocates to the deitie that we might escape from the wrathe condēpnacion therof by meanes of them We dyd make vnfaithfull promises and vnlawful vowes we tooke Bulles we walked stacions pilgrimages we sought for pope antichrists pardons we were awriculerly cōfessed dyd receue the Sacrament the oftener that we might be accompted the more holy merit saluacion the rather We had them that would lende or sell vs merits or deseruinges bicause that Death should not take vs vnprouided But what had we hereby to present to god for to satisfie him for our sinnes these and other the like thinges we did for to serue him with to obteine grace glory at his hāds But with thē all although they were séene allowed of men yet it dyd not open the kingdome of heauen but rather cause it to be shut vp the gates of hell to be set wide open Bicause that all that is most high sublimate supreme in estimaciō amōgst men is greatest abhominacion before god Who dooth neither allowe nor yet is well pleased with any thinge that he dooth not commaunde Neither dooth any man doo any thinge at all according to his will without his spirite norishment Those things which we doo to serue him cannot please him bicause he hath condēpned them by his worde alredy for sinne For that they procéede of our own opinions and the opinions of our fleshly teachers not of the knowledge and loue of his holy will. For all that commeth not therof is sinne as the holy Apostle dooth testifie The summe of all that the lawe diuine dooth aske and require of vs is to loue God with all our hart and our neighbours as our selues to doo right to loue mercy and to haue faith The works that we doo vnder that tytle name of holinesse are not comprehendid in the lawe they procéede not of rightuousnesse mercy and faith without the which it is impossible to please God and therefore he dooth throw them away as wicked and euill and we our selues for most wicked and euil with them And then if the worcks and sacrifises that he dooth commaūd in his lawe be not done according to his cōmaundement he dooth cast them out for euill and abhominable and sayth that he is angry with them so angry at them that he can suffer them no longer How much the more then may he be angry accompt for euill those worckes which he dooth not cōmaunde but by his word dooth rather expressely forbyd them So that all our fayned holinesse is testimony or witnesse againste vs of our greater blyndnesse and condempnacion and will cause the wrath of God to come the sooner to rest vpon vs. Bicause it was all idolatrie with the which we dyd our deuocion It was not to the true God for that we know him not but to those which were gods of our owne imaginacion fayned according to our own inuencion and false gods yet dyd we beare the marcke of the true God which was his holy Baptisme in signe of fayth and fidelitie not to haue none other gods but one the true liuing god nor to serue him by none other rule thē by that which his word teacheth yet we wer to him traytours rebells vnfaithfull Idolatours alyed and confederate with his enimies and giuen to all vnrightuousnesse and wickednesse So that we might say with the Prophet that if the onely mercy of God wer not we had béene for euer vtterly consumed and perished together Of the loue of God and of our calling and
which we ought alwayes to accōpt for his plāts with a dayly study to be of that numbre which the Prophet Dauid speaketh of that haue all their affection delight in the lawe and ordinance of the Lorde and doo meditate and walke in the same bothe day and night bicause we might fructifie and bringe foorthe good fruite in dewe season God dyd plant vs in his sonne giuing him vnto vs to be our redéemer the footesteppes of whome we should followe and with whose rightuousnesse our faults were couered And therfore we ought to haue a constant faythe and beléefe that he is such a one as wée confesse him to be in our Créede or twelue Articles of our Faythe and reioyce that we haue him to be our eternall highe Preste Kinge and Sauiour that liueth eternally to be an intercessour for vs and to fulfill for vs all that God dooth commaunde or aske for that in him is hidden all science treasure and wysedome This is the faythe that muste be in our hartes by the which we are ioyned to Christ Iesus and dooe knowe the sufficiency that we haue in his ritches by him to whose goodnesse we must be appendant but not as in the tyme of our blindenesse when we confessed him with our mouthes and denyed him in our workes We confessed that wée dyd loue and beleue him but it was a lye false and nothinge so We sayde that we dyd beleue he was our sauiour but it was not true for why wée sought healpe and healthe in vaine thinges that he dyd neither commaunde nor yet alowe and also dyd liue in the beléefe and follow those vaine vanities vntill now of late We confessed him to be Christ King of all Kings and principall highe Preste and yet we gaue no place vnto the fruite of his Gospell in our hartes where it should haue béene and he also haue liued We sayde hée was a highe Preste but yet we accounted better of Antechrist and made him our high Prest Of him onely dyd we séeke pardon for our sinnes and sinfull delightes we set a syde Iesus Christe our true remitter whome by his moste precious deathe and passion dyd make and fulfiill suche satisfaction to our GOD his Father for our offences as none but hée coulde doo the like Yea although the wrath and heauie displeasure of GOD were neuer so fully satysfied yet wée dyd thincks our selues to make satisfaction by our owne deuised merittes and nothing estemed the merites of Iesus Christ which were of a most infinite and vnspeakeable vallour for the healthe of his elected beleuers Yet now déerely beloued let vs account for vaine all our owne deseruinges and all mens merites so full of vnrightuousnesse trust onely to his mercy in his diuine iudgement in which none may perfectly percist but onely his owne He was giuen vnto vs for our onely euerlasting Aduocate to God the Father commaūding vs that we should aske any thinge that we haue néede of at the handes of god the Father in his name But making little price hereof lesse regarding him we sought other mediatours as to this sainct and by the diuillish helpe of that relique c. What was this but to denie the fayth by ours workes which we confessed with our lippes bicause therein we would be accompted christians yet in our hartes we were condempned for vngodly For why with our mouthes we made confession to serue and honour Christ when as in déede with all our workes and studies we serued curssed Antichrist and walked in errors euery man after his owne way and accordyng to our owne inuentions as sayeth the Prophet Esay But now sith it is so apparant that by the great goodnes and singular benifit of the almightie God we doe beleue truely in Iesu Christ his onlye sonne our sauiour Let vs accordingly liue in that godlinesse and trueth that he hath taught and shewed vnto vs by his word and spirite hée hath marked vs for his owne with the same signe seale the which he hath marked his chosen They which doe persecute vs doe not knowe vs but doe both holde accompt vs for aliaunts and straungers vnto themselues they maye nor can not suffer vs in the world no more then they might suffer our Lord Iesus Christ who hath done such a benifite for all mankinde and of whom assuredly we are So that we ought to vnderstand and accompt for most certeine and sure that all the causes of our troubles wherewith we are so hated afflicted persecuted in this world is as S. Paule saith bicause we trust beleue in the lyuing God who is the sauiour of all the faithfull Notwithstāding the false coulers which they vse in their quarelsome war that they make with vs they couer thēselues with a cloak say that we are heritikes that they are holy it is so in déede but yet it is but a fayned holynesse the which God by his worde hath cōdempned for abhominable Wherfore let vs arme our selues with a firme sure hope the God yea our God will bée our sure helper defender against thē in all our troubles for that we be the worke of his handes he hath made vs redéemed vs and we be his owne the cause is his and will suffer no harme nor euil to touch vs Let vs not fal from nor yet be weake in this truth which God hath reuealed vnto vs but let vs be fully assured that it is his might power will the deliuereth vs saueth all beleuers We are set sure therby from all perils dangers and taken out of all afflictions S. Simon in the gospel of S. Luke doth prophesie that Iesus Christ was sent for the rysing falling of many people in Israel that by him are reuealed the thoughtes of meny hartes that wée should be saued from all that hate vs Euen now in these dayes is this prophesie fulfilled Assoone as the worde of the Gospel was preached amōgst vs and that it did reueale vnto vs thē our lord Iesus both they we might haue séene the effect of this prophesie euen so it may be still some of them he did please to condempne for that they did resist furiously did persecute condempne him Others which were thē that did beleue were reysed edifyed and saued by him for whose sake they are hated held accoūted for abhominable in the world And the thoughtes of some that were holy hallowers sanctifiers of mē were are discouered and shewed to be of such cōditiō qualitie that they cānot suffer the holines of our Lord sauiour Iesus Christ but do so rebell against him that they vse their vttermoste force wyth crueltye to throw him out of the world Of a great cause of comfort by reason of the crosses of Christ c. Cap. ix BVt sith it hath pleased God that our lotte hath bene so luckye our happe so
and grieue with persecutions him in his members The which will take effecte as S. Paule sayeth when our Lorde Iesus shall manifest and shewe him selfe from heauen with his mightie holy Angels in flames of fyre then will hée take vengeance of those that doe not know him nor obey not the Gospell of our Lorde Iesus Christ his sonne and will giue them punishment of eternal dampnation from the presence of our Lord God and from the glorie of his potencie when he shall come to be glorifyed in his Sainctes and bée made admirable to all those whiche stedfastly beléeue An Inuectiue against the vvicked vvith a merueylous comfort to the godly Christian c. Cap. xvij ALthough that God for a tyme doe staye and doeth not shewe his vengeance presently that hee hath prepared agaynste them that condempne his rightuousnesse yet he doth not allow any thing which they say or doe against him His patience and long suffering is no certain signe nor seale that may confirm them any sufficient acquittance from him for condempning of them whom he doeth best loue in the worlde nor yet for any other kynde of their wickednesse vsed But he is mercifull to all yea euen to them although they dispise and disdayne hym hys mercy and all that is in him and doe truste to theyr owne penitenciary merites They doe thinke to haue a prosperous successe in all their doings and why mary bycause sinne is so setled in thē and hath such rule Lordship and power ouer them But all their prosperitie and good successes is nothynge but a heapyng vp of the fulnesse of the measure of the Lordes wrath till it bée so full in déede as vppon the sodayne when they looke not for it it must and will runne ouer or turne the bottome vpwarde vppon them and destroye and dryue them to the déepest dungeon in hell and they shall be suffered stil to ryse the higher that their falles may be the greater And therfore the holy ghost doth commaūd the faithfull that they should not flie from the truth although their aduersities bée neuer so great nor thoughe the prosperitie of their aduersaries be neuer so sublimate and high By the Prophet Dauid he sayeth Fret not thy self against the vngodly neyther bée thou enuyous agaynste the euyll dooers for they shall sodeynly be cut downe lyke grasse and withered like the gréene hearbes Obey the Lord with patience bycause the wicked shall be deuoured and destroyed and they that trust in the Lorde shall inherite the earthe And therfore let vs be firme in rightuousnesse and feare as the spirite of God doeth commaunde vs For sithe that wée can not nor maye not escape the afflictions and calamityes in this worlde muche lesse shall our persecutors escape but our temporal tribulatiōs are nothing to be cōpared to their paynes eternall Temporall tribulations are but momentary to the eternall troubles which are to touche the vngodly in tyme to come for that they beléeue not the Gospel and are persecutors of the rightuous As S. Peter sayeth be ye mery and glad to be persecuted that you may be partakers of Christes passions and so be glorifyed in him for by that mean shal we be strengthened to withstand the feare of any present euil Sylence and hope sayeth the Prophet shall be your foretresse and bulwarke Howe much the more we are sylent trustfull in tolleratyng of trouble in our trials So much the more are we strēgthened and anymated to drinke of the clearenesse of the cuppe which the Lord shall giue vs So that it shall be no detrimēt nor harme to vs more then is already spoken of by his word The Apostle S. Paule in the Epistle that hée doeth wryte to them of Corinthe sayeth when that wée bée iudged of the Lord we are but chastised bycause wée should not be dampned with the world In this the spirit of God doeth testefie vnto vs that by the means of those tribulations which we doe suffer we be made frée from the condempnation of the world the which of necessitie is to bée condempned So that the punishments persecutions which we suffer God doeth not suffer vs in them to loose vs or seperate vs from him and his trueth as our flesh and the world doe iudge or imagine but to correct and consume in vs all those things which are lets and stumbling blockes to put vs from the similitude or lykenesse that wée ought to haue vnto his sonne Iesus Christ our Lord redéemer Bycause that howe muche the more we bée afflicted and troubled with so much the more affyance and trust in his mercy we should deplore and bewayle our sinnes and wickednesse lyke his children of mercy and so be banished from the participation or part taking of the condempnation of the world And this is the effect of the supplication or praier that our Lorde Iesus Christ dyd make at his last supper when he dyd pray to hys father for thē onely which did beleue in him by his worde and he was hearde But sithe he dyd not pray for the wicked which he calleth the worlde wée oughte not to merueyle at theyr peruersenesse for that all the peruersitie whiche they doe vse doeth leade them with stealyng steppes to the brincke of theyr perdition and dampnation Hée did pray for vs that wée myght be deliuered from euil and euen now boholde howe by afflictions he doeth deliuer vs from the condempnation due for sinne and wickednesse and doeth reserue the same onely for the children of vnbeliefe And therefore it is sayde by the Prophet Blessed is the man that thou haste chastened O Lorde and instructed in thy law that thou mayest gyue hym patience and reste in the tyme of aduersitye vntyll the pitte bée dygged vp for the vngodly Héerein are we surely certified of our blessednes by the afflictions that we suffer for that we are corrected of the Lord that we should not be cast of but inioy our porcions of his sauing health And therfore the holy woman Iudith sayde Let vs beleue that the Lord doth correct vs but as his seruauntes not to our losse but to our gain not to spoile vs but to amend vs. And Esdrasse a man of God sayeth the hunger the plagues the tribulations and the vexation of mynde with the whych the Lorde doeth scourge vs they are but to correcte and purge vs of and for our sinnes And therefore the Apostle Paule sayeth to the bretheren of Thessalonia ye are the children of lighte and of the day and not of the night nor of darkenesse Wherefore let vs not sléepe as others doe but let vs watche and bée sober armed with the brest plate of fayth and loue and with the helmet of hope of saluation For God hath not appoynted vs to wrathe and condempnation but to obteine saluation by the meanes of our Lord sauior Iesus Christ which died for vs the whither we wake or
at the death of the redéemer of the world yet he fainted nor feared not in his truth to shew what he was nor yet did his truth loose any parte of the valor for all the terrible trouble and pagan passions and persecutions that happened vnto him So true so good so iust a iustifier so immutable so almightie was he as was none yet his own denied him were in such feare and doubtes of his doings as though they had neuer knowne him So that the truth of God dependeth nothing vppō men although they be euen his verie disciples ministers but on him selfe onely Although they fainted feared and doubted of him bicause of his passions persecutiōs which he suffered yet for all that did not he forget put out of knowledge abhorre nor deny thē but did most louingly reduce thē and bring them again vnto the truth true knowledge therof And there where now he is sitting on the right hande of his father he hath not altered his cōdition nor yet hydden hys accustomed loue from them that be his Although they were weake strayed out of the way stombled fell with the weight of the crosse of cruell persecution yet did he make them partakers of his mercie with a free forgiuenes or pardon generall and did giue them strength and force a freshe to ouercome all their weakenesse And therefore he being such a one as he is that did loue the weakelinges so that hée would nor did not cast them away for all their weakenesse rebellion Wée also being lyke vnto them oughte to loue him not to forget nor forsake him but to hope and trust that he wil doe with vs as hée dyd with his fyrst disciples which had the first fruites of the spirite Let vs not be of the number of the enimies of God nor of those which haue any enmitie vnto hym or hys which doe take and vse all hys workes so that it is an occasion why they are set farther distant from him doe refuse to loue him as he ought and in the company of his aduersaries doo blaspheme his holy name But rather as obedient and faithfull children let vs vnderstand the intent of our celestiall father and take and gather out of his workes only all such fruite as he doeth pretend in them Which is the better to knowe him the more to submit our selues to his good pleasure and will and not to flye further from him as the wicked doe but to cleaue more nigher vnto hym by fayth that by recouerie of newe force wée maye perseuer in the way of truth Now if there be any weakenesse in any of vs as no doubt there is contrary to our expectation that weakenes commeth not of nor from the truth but from our selues our filthy flesh Let vs not think it a straunge thing that there is such weaknesse in man for that all of vs in as muche as wée are men and of the fleshe our delight is in nothing but in weaknes things of no validitie nor force but of the flesh Here we may all of vs vnderstād and sée what great necessitie we haue as well those which stande vpright as they which bend and fall of the helpe and power of Christ without whome we can in no wise indure to doe any parte of our dueties And therfore let vs be vigilant looke vppō the weaknesse falling one of another as in a glasse bicause therby we might know our owne weaknesse so humble our selues before God as we ought for of our selues wée are cleane repugnant vnto him to all goodnes whereof he is the author And sith that we are all called to the crosse of affliction and calamitie and to fight against the pride and presumption that is in vs and so to be occupyed in contemplation therfore Let none of vs iudge a wrye or amisse of those which are fallen or doo fall but let him which is vpright and on his féete take héede he fall not also Bycause that God is almightie and wil raise vp and cast down whom him lifteth will not forsake but rayse vp them that fall will exalte the humble and méeke and knit close theyr cracks and breakings most sure The cause whye hée doeth not forsake them that are fallen is for that they bée his children and that he wil make hys glorious workes to illustrate and appeare more brighter in thē by the meanes thereof bycause where as sinne doeth abound there doeth grace superabound and his mercy and goodnesse is shining the brighter The wicked worlde cannot abyde that any man shuld repugne or geinsay agaynst his iudgement nor yet allow any thing that is condempned therein But the children of God as they haue a sence féeling of Christ so they doe allow by Christ all which God doth commaund And so likewise by him doe they reproue cōdempne the iudgement of the world for abhominable and wicked And therfore the worlde and his worldlings togither doe against them all the mischief they can to the ende to banish from them this féeling of the truth and so by consequent to dispoyle them from God whose they are But in consideration thereof hée will confounde both the worlde worldlings and their iudgements altogither And if it happen that the chyldren of God doe stumble and fall with the weight of the crosse of cruell persecution giue wrong iudgement disalowing the truth which they ought to alow and doe alowe a lye which they ought to reproue yet their louing god and father wil bring it so to passe that it shal serue them for their best greatest cōmoditie to bring them to be enriched with true humilitie with their onely trust in God whose goodnesse is wonte to ryse stirre and take out of greatest euilles and wickednesse most great blessednesse and happinesse For that those which loue him he doth cōuert vnto them all things for the best yea euen out of sin he doth take great riches to glorify them with As he did to Noah Dauid to Peter after their fals he tooke such occasiō therby as he turned many thinges to their greate goodnes commoditie did make to shyne in them great light out of the darkenesse the which they were in By meanes hereof wée béeyng forsaken of the world and crucified therin And also the worlde béeyng forsaken of vs wée shall come to great knowledge by experyence that neyther honors riches noblenes of birth humayne fauour wisedome nor yet estimation had of men is of no force nor valour in our spirituall batteile But onely a sure fayth and hope in God our Lord. And so beeyng made mightie méeke and hūble in this maner we remain vnited and suerly knit with the vine which is Iesus Christ more prompt and ready to receiue his gifts then at the first The cause why the father doth so picke prime purge and make clean the braūches which
in moste dispiteous or spightfull maner signe of mockery dyd make him naked dispoiling him of his apparreile cloath him at theyr pleasures with purple and put a réede in his hande and a crowne of sharpe thornes vppon his bare tender head they dyd wounde boffet his tender body with most cruell blowes and strypes of fistes and whips they made as it were a may game of him a king in mockery misconstruing the accompt which ought to haue bene had of him and accompted hym a man deceyued in his opynion a deceyuer of the people and not the sonne of God. Of the same sorte and in the lyke maner doe they deale at this day with and to the faithful the members of his blessed bodie our bretheren onely bycause they call them selues the children of God as in truth they are they doe spoile persecute thē euen vnto the death But they shame not to shew themselues if they be faithful in déed therfore they be not apparelled nor doo not were nor yet delight in the ornaments of honor which are vsed in the world bicause they be not thereof They doe onely apparell thēselues with the spitefull dishonors vsed vnto Christ in thē nothing ashamed therof they are hidden therby couered shadowed from the spite of wicked worldlīgs as he hym self was they are cloathed by their foes the enimies of God with S. Bennets liuery coate in significatiō that they are only allowed known of god though the world doe the contrary that he doeth loue them as childrē though the world doe abhorre them as fooles full of folly deceyued in their opinions of the truth great deceyuors Then are they tryed with a certaine kynde of thing on their heads lyke vnto a myter that is painted full of diuilles which doth signify the kingdom that Christ Iesus gayned for the elected when as hée did were the crowne of thorne did suffer his passion precious death so spitefull vppō the crosse by the diuilles painted theron we may vnderstād the sin hell death the diuil are already ouercome killed they haue no more force against them nor can doe no more harme vnto them then those vaine painted pictures Bicause euen as Iesus Christ dyd lyue héere vppō earth dyd wear those or such like cognisāces or badges of dishonor himself So now he doeth liue reigne vnder those ornamēts apparels in thē his own so scorned spited crucified for his loue and professyng of his name Sith he then is thus lyuing in them then by him in them is distroyed all the workes of the diuill Bycause as S. Iohn sayeth Christ came into the world to the same end Whereby it is manifest that those things by the which our persecutors doe thinke to dryue vs from the knowledge of God for that they know him not them selues are sure signes and perfect tokens of our probation tryall and of the certeine inheritance of his blessed kingdome Wherein after the ende of a fewe houres a moment or twinckling of an eye in effect wée are to enter and shall reigne most trivmphantly in great glorie for euer world without ende It is gréeuous vnto vs the faithful when in béeyng persecuted with the peruerse and crooked crueltie of men if any of vs doe happen to faint and for feare renounce to trust vnto the mercy and ayde of God yet by the gift of his holy spirit we doe not onely repent presently and are greatly gréeved in déede to thinke that so fondly we followed the foolish fleashly folly of our enemies and forsooke the blessed banner of Iesus Christ our carefull captaine But also we are then fresh of force in faith and are litle or nothing discomforted thereby nor do not thinke that much is lost though we did stumble stagger and fall by the crosse as aforesaide and so did doubt in the truth of Christe no nor yet we do not looke for our redirection from men nor momishe mamotes the piuish puppetly pelting patchery priests of Baall It is altogether by the good will and loue of God that we do remēber our selues how that we were not onely without sinne but also subiect greatly vnto the same and not onely to the euils of vs had in experience but also to all kinde of wickednesse by vs vnexperimented And also by his like loue wee do remember that God did make promise vnto vs that his mercy should be euerlasting to the humble and penitent with a speciall pardon and forgiuenes of sinnes without any more remembrance of them For as the father hath pittie and compassion vppō his children Euen so hath the Lord almightie pittie and compassion vppon all them that feare him Bycause he doeth knowe right well of what a myschyeuous massye moulde or mettall we are made off and doeth consider that wée are but dust And therefore sith that our Iehouah our most almightie God as a most louing father hath alwayes had mercy vpon vs let vs be most certainly assured that euen so he wil haue now and alwayes for euer Wherefore let vs forsake and cast of that curssed and execrable mercy offered of our aduersaries the condempnors of the Gospell otherwyse we are to forgo our partes and porcions of the true mercye of God which is at as greate enmytye and contrarie with and to their mercie as can bée Of the true similitude of the true church The xxvi Chapter FRom hēceforth neither let vs not feare nor doubt the trueth of Iesu Christ that is crucyfied nor yet beleue as the blynde doe for amongest the christians at this day the conditiō of Christ and the true doctryne of the Gospell is euen as it was when hée him selfe was conuersant on earth amongest our predecessors The rightuousnesse truth preached taught vnto vs now is so the very same that it was then all one Abhorred and euil spoken of by the world now as then Of those that be giuen to superstition holines such as the world doeth allow he is condempned to bée false fained And of those that be fully fraight with worldly affects wisdom he is condempned to be foolysh very ful of folly all of thē both one other doe condēpne him for an heritike ful of errours And also as at the fyrste he was condemned by the sayde holy and wise of the world the doctors of the law the learned the Bushoppes Prouisors Inquisitors Pharises Iudges of religion Euen so now are their others like vnto them so to be poped that they condemne both hym and his gospel together and as much as in them is they vse and set abroch to kill the heire our principall menber and to throwe hym out of the Viniarde And suche as goe aboute to reedifye and builde againe the Temple so longe layde waste they do reproue and séeke to dispoile them of the chiefe and principall cornerstōe of their
fulfilled that the Lord hath spoken of to or against his enimies he him self sayth I say vnto you that if my disciples holde their peace in preaching yet the very stones in the stréetes shall giue their voices and sound my glorie And now is the same in fulfillyng amonge the faythfull for that our aduersaries enimies and persecutors doe what they can and doe vse as many lettes and impediments as may be to defeÌ„d vs from speakyng with our proper tonges the commendation praise and glorie of our sauiour and iustifier Iesus Christ But he himselfe in place of one tongue which they tie wil loose vntie and commaunde a number innumerable to speake prayse and glorifie him worlde without ende The long beardes of the persecuted ouer growen so greatly their garments to vncleane rotten and torne with the filthie vncleane filthinesse of the pryson the biting bitter taunts their enimyes byte them with the cordes halters and stringes they tye them with the engines they vse to strangle them with they all will God coÌ„uerte into tounges which with one voice shall vse so great a harmonie as is most wonderfull to the superlatiue prayses of our moste benifitiall brother and head Iesus Christ And shall discouer that hée onely is our Lord and redéemer and we so persecuted the faithfull witnesses of hys truth and rightuousnesse Those tyranicall tirantes and pestilent persecutors can not heare thys heauenly harmonie that so highely soundeth with so excelent an accorde bycause their owne impietie hath so deadly be deafed them Yet all those whiche are sanctified by Iesu Christ shal hear it and also some of them being waked by it will desire to be consortes complisses and companyons with vs in our crosses vppon coÌ„dition they might be made mates with vs in so greate delight witnesses of so beautifull a rightuousnes dyuine sanctification the which the Lorde hath giuen vs to possesse Our death shall be no more barrein theÌ„ was the death of Iesu Christ whose footesteppes we must follow God will make that the verie ashes of our bodies shall fructifie and bée a cause to make many faythfull chosen children to shewe themselues Bycause that many hearing and séeing our firmenesse in fayth of the gospel and vnderstanding our constancie at our death wherewith we are strengthened from aboue will open their eyes for to sée it and so acknowledge him the author thereof for their father And reduce theÌ„selues to his obedience renouncing the seruice of Images Idols leaue altogither the false religioÌ„ of Antichrist his coÌ„federates For that the wordes of our sauiour Christ must néedes be fulfilled who sayth if a grayne of wheat being cast into the earth doe not dye it remayneth alone whole fructifieth not but if we die it bringeth foorth much fruit as to vs is wel experieÌ„ced likewise if it be in the garner or sheafe in the barne it abideth barren beareth no fruit So that to die suffer in the Lord increase commeth therof as of a grain of wheat that dyeth in the earth and more aboundantly manifold To the iudgement of the worlde and of our flesh by our death we are drawen into perdition but it is verie false and an vntruth for in very déed we die to arise againe to beare and carry most copious aboundant plentie of fruit to our glorification with God the father and to the imitation of his sonne Iesus Christ who brought forth more aboundancie and plentie of fruit by his death then he did by his lyfe So that those which suffer doe fulfill that which the holy ghost speaketh of the faithfull they which haue béene called and iustified sayeth he it is conuenient that they be also glorified bicause that by their death they might fructifie to the glorie of God and bée ioyned togyther and glorified with hym God hath ordeined to sublimate and exalt them that be his So that not onely their persons be liuing instruments of his and their glorie but also their passions serue to the same effecte And thus euerie one of them doeth verifie that which the Apostle S. Paule speaketh of him self saying I doe suffer and fulfill the rest of the afflictions of Christ in my fleshe for his bodies fake which is his churche or congregation So that the passions that euerie one of vs hys members doe suffer is to the filling vp of the measure of conformitie that euerie member of the same bodie oughte to haue with the head Wherefore euery one that is persecuted and killed for the truth endeth the filling vp of his part of that measure and remayneth wholy made conformeable vnto Christ he hath distroyed the whole bodie of sinne and left a confirmation to the rest his fellow members of his patience and constancie bicause they are to passe by the same way after Christ and so come togyther to bée gloryfied with him in his kingdom It appeareth howe our troubles paynes and passions are dignified by reason of the communion that is betwéene the head and his members The holy Ghost doeth call and terme them the afflictions and passioÌ„s of Christ For as by the calamities which he did suffer in his own proper person God was glorified he him selfe lifted vp on high So that by those which we suffer being his faithfull shall we be gloryfied togyther in and with hym Bycause that as he dyd suffer béeing our heade we must also suffer that be his members An excelent comfort against the feare of death vvith a confutation of his povver c. The xxix Chapter ANd therefore sithe hée hathe thus honored exalted vs that he hath made vs wytnesses of hys trueth and of the sauing health that hys sonne dyd bryng into the world and hath sublimate our passions in such sort as consecrating them in his own person that he doth call them his owne wil be glorified in them And also for that our death is so precious before him that he wil take from the world so many liuyng instruments into his presence to hys glorie there is no cause to the contrarie but that we should stifly stand to the professâ—on of hys truth the giuing of our liues ioyfully for the same There bée some which for the vanities and thyngs of thys worlde will ventour lyues goodes and all that they haue yet it sodeinly perisheth The truth of God neuer perisheth no more can none the trust therein Why doe we then flye from being glorifyed with him sith we are no lesse certaine thereof then we are of our passions persecutions troubles death He loued vs with so feruent an effect and so serued vs that he did not rest till tyme that he dyed with wounds of our loue And shall wée bée so vngrateful as to saue or kéepe our liues from him not to venter them with the lyke loue to honour hym likewise with them if we could Shal we so forget
God is the Lord and that by his worde he ought to be serued and worshipped of all mankinde I say let them doe it if they can but in despight of them I say againe they cannot For all that euer they doe is no more but as if by spetling they shuld prooue or goe about to pearse the heauens and so spitte vpward accordingly and then the same fall backe again into their owne faces whereby they are filthily fouled to their owne reproche Wherefore let vs not feare them in none of their bragges but let vs put on the armour of the Apostles and throw away all humain affiance Let vs assure our selues that by our afflictions and death are distroyed and ouerthrowen the enimies contradytors and geinsayors of vs the Gospell For God doeth deale with our enimies nowe in the same order maner and forme as he did with them in tymes past which persecuted spake against the Prophets and Apostles bycause that they taught the same gospell of lyfe which we now haue and teach by Christ we liue and for him we suffer persecutiō euen so did they yet he hath alwayes gotten the victorie as well for them as for vs And therefore let vs not tempt God but let vs trust wholy in him his mercy power and strength And also haue in hatred all humaine helpes and fauours whatsoeuer What is the cause that so many do fainte fall become amased in their mindes so that they can not perseuer in that trueth which God hath commaunded And also that some other being wonderfully lighted with the cleare and pure light of the Gospell and séeing the workes and wonders so admirable that God doth shew vnto them by the same are so sluggyshe and colde that they stande at a staye and care not whither they goe forewardes yea or no Surely and without doubt there is none other cause but that onely by the instigatiō of the diuill they are so deceiued that they robbe God of his honour put their trustes wholy one in an other taking men for their staffe to staye vppon to the end they might stande in all their troubles regardyng humayne fauor so muche that they leaue God and flye therevnto for refuge in all theyr aduersities and calamities Some doe trust in their ryches others in theyr honours some in the friendshippe of great men other some in that they be Gentlemen and of the noble bloude and so foorth in other the lyke prerogatiues What other thing is thys but as if one should trust in a shadow or a smoake which vanysheth almost so soone as it is seene When that we consider the causes for which we are afflicted whereof God is the author from whom we flée and doe put our trust in men or in any thing that they can doe for vs is as muche in our ayde as to truste vnto Egipt or to the strength of the Egyptians or as in a broken Réede whiche one holdeth to staye him selfe by and it doeth not onely suffer him to fall but also with the slyuers thereof doeth so prick and hurte hys handes as maketh him repent that he had no more vnderstandyng in tyme then to trust thervnto It belongeth to one that is a Christian and faythfull to bée buylded and firmely founded vppon that fyrme Rocke or stone which is Christ and not to flee from the same to any humaine helpe or succour that perisheth for that against this true foundation the wyndes of tribulations tempests of torments nor stormes of mischiefs and wickednesse cannot preuayle agaynst it or make it to remoue or alter And therfore hauing so sure a foundatiō as Christ let vs assure our selues that there is nothyng in the worlde that can remoue vs from it As the holy Ghost doeth testifye saying hée that trusteth in the Lord shal neuer bée confounded but shal be alwayes firme sure as the holy hyll of Syon Hovv vve ought to bee instructed in trueth and veritie and to haue no confidence in mens traditions The xxij Chapter GOd will that we beliue trust and be ruled by him and his word onely and not in no maner of wyse by the aucthoritie of men although they séeme neuer so wyse holy and faythfull if they teach and instruct not by the prescript worde of God wherein is all trueth Bycause if our trust in God be accordyng to had by theyr outward fained holines and goodnes it serueth for little or nothing but to make vs so weake and féeble that we cannot tast the drink of the liquor of lyfe which is the fruit of the Gospell with so stiffe stoute a stomake as we oughte And also that the rather our weakenesse shall bée made more weake our infirmitie more infirme and sicke But if we belieue onely in Iesu Christ trust stedfastly in him we shall be necessarily instructed and strengthened not to dismaye vs but to be more firme and strong agaynst all kynde of euill and wickednes Yet for all that the ministers of God will onely teache according to the worde that mē should repose their trust wholy in Christ as aforesayde and that he is the aucthor of all truth and rightuousnesse Their intent is nothyng but to be faithfull to the Lord which sent them And to prepare his waye teachyng and shewyng vnto men by the law the condempnation in which they were by sinne and howe seuere God is in his iudgementes to the vnbeléeuers and superstitious aucthors of guyle and deceipt and the folowers thereof contrary to true religion they will reduce and induce as many as they can to Iesus Christ their master by the gospell onely as to one in whom is alwayes a remedie for any kynde of mischiefe For that from him the elected doe receiue all things and doe know by him that God is theyr father almightie they do not nor wil not sel nor giue them selues for gods nor yet maintain themselues for gods Viccars generall vppō earth nor one of them doeth not chalenge more authoritie in bynding and loosing blessing or curssing nor in distributing the word of God then an other doth they shewe them selues for men subiecte to all humaine infirmities as wel one as another of them They doe teache and preach that our faith must not come from men from them but from God the word of truth doth teach them this doctrine and vs also And therfore let vs not attribute any kind of thing vnto any maner of mā neither faithfull holy nor Saincte but vnto God who giueth lyfe to the dead some time conuerteth the hartes of and calleth our persecutors into the way of rightuousnesse and truth Although the men be weake lacketh strength doth often stumble to do any thing that is good yet Gods truth which they teache is not so Although they be discoraged afraid bicause of the persecution which they sée yet the word of trueth is almightie fayleth not All the disciples themselues fainted and feared