this maner Fayth is a sure confidence of thynges which are hoped for and a certainte of thinges which are not sene Herby we mayese which is the true fayth namely that we abyde loke to optayne mercy of the LORDE where as we fynde nought in vs y t is worthy of Gods mercy nor se the good that God hath promysed vs but onely trust in hym because he is mercyfull Wherfore receauynge the worde that wytnesseth vnto vs and beareth record of his goodnes we haue a sure hope in God by faith that he shall shewe his goodnesse tendernesse toward vs by his boūte ous mercy But hereto is requyted of vs that we reste w t our whole harte vpon this promyse of mercy reioycynge in sprete therin and by fayth rendre vs in loue and thankfulnesse to God Thus haue we a sure testymony that we are come to a good fayth for we can fynde none other fundament wheron the synfull soule may test saue onely yf we can hope that God wyll be a mercyfull father thorowe the death of IESV CHRISTE This is it that Paul sayeth No mā can laye another fundament saue that which is layed already that is CHRIST IESV Suche fayth causeth a man to walke confidently to be sure mynded to Gods goodnesse wherin he can reioyce so farre as he can beleue to optayne so much as God hath declared and promysed by his worde Now because he beleueth the same therfore is his spirite endued with godly ioye by the sprete of God whiche dyd appeare and teache hym the same by fayth Wherfore sayeth Paul Ye haue not receaued the sprete of bondage to feare ony more but ye haue receaued the sprete of adopciō whereby we crye Abba deare father The same sprete certifieth our sprete that we are the chyldren of God Whan a man feleth this by fayth and his harte reioyceth therin then hath he rest and quyetnesse in his consciēce hauynge no respecte to his owne workes or deseruynges but onely to CHRISTE which hath set hym atone with the father throughe his bytter passyon and death Thus geueth he onely CHRIST the glorye of his redēpcyon beholdeth hence forth no creatures more It is sufficient to hym to knowe God in his goodnesse beleuynge that mercy goodnesse shalbe shewed vnto hym of God reioyceth in that he hath a mercyfull father in heauen in all thynges he cōceaueth a good opinion of God his goodnesse Suche fayth causeth hym to rest to be cōtent with all that the LORDES wyl is to do w t hym Whether it be deth hell synne or deuell none can make hym abashed For as longe as a mā clyueth to Gods worde beleuyng y t God hath ouercome all euel thorow his loue to warde mankynde thē is he at rest and peace in all y t can betyde or chaūce vnto hym beyng certified that seynge God loueth hym he sheweth mercy kyndnesse in all that he doth vnto hym and all man kynde Whether it be thā anguyshe painfulnesse or ony daūger that can happen vnto man other in body or soule y t cōmeth al to his auayl Onely yf he cā beleue be persuaded in himselfe y t God loueth him For one frēde forbeareth much of another y ◠which natural loue causeth Wherfore yf naturall loue can forbeare wrōge of a frende how muche more ought we to forbeare y ◠good that is sent vs of God to our saluacyon Seynge fayth is a gyfte geuē of God it is necessarye we turne oure selues lowly vnto the LORDE desyrynge hym humbly to prepare oure hartes and make them wyllynge to accepte his worde with ioye As muche as we loue Gods worde so muche shal we be conforted made glad in sprete by fayth in all that y e worde hath promysed vs. Seynge God is hyd in his worde yee is the worde it selfe therfore yf we receaue the worde then by fayth and with ioye we shall receaue so much as God hath sayd and promysed by his worde CHRIST which is the blessed worde of the father geueth hym self with his goodnesse in to al faythfull hartes and maketh hym selfe with all his goodnesse cōmune takynge vs to his grace yee with all the wyckednesse that is in vs. Whan we haue synned than wyll God haue vs to admonysshe hym of his promyse yf we than praye with a faythfull harte he shall remembre all that he hath promysed and shal haue mercy vpon vs to fulfyll hys promyse and worde Thys knewe Dauid what tyme he sayde The worde of the LORDE is treue and al his workes are faithful Upon thys trusted the same Dauid whan he had synned he put god in mynde of his wordes sayenge Agaynst the onely haue I synned done euell in thy syghte that thou myghtest be iustifyed in thy sayenges and shuldeste ouercome whan thou arte iudged As though he wolde saye LORDE I haue trespassed I praye the remembre thy word that thou haste promysed vnto the synners which turne agayne from theyr synnes namely that thou wilt receaue a sorowfull sprete vnto thy mercy Wherfor thou oughtest to receaue me vnto thy grace that thou myghteste be founde ryghteous Shewenge suche mercye vnto the synner accordynge to thy promyse than shalt thou discomfyte thyne enemyes wyth the treuth which wyl iudge and estyme the as one that doth not accordynge to hys worde Whan Dauid nowe knewe inwardlye that he had optayned mercy of the LORDE than dyd he prayse and thanke God in al his wordes and dedes sayenge The LORDE is gracious and mercyfull longe sufferynge and of greate goodnesse The LORDE is louynge vnto euery man and hys mercye is ouer all hys workes The LORDE is ryghteous in all hys wayes and holy in all hys workes The LORDE is nye vnto all them that call vpon hym Yee all such as cal vpon him faythfully And euen thus is it wyth vs We can prayse and thanke God so earnestlye and reioyce so greatlye in hys goodnesse as we can beleue that mercye and kyndnesse can be shewed by hym Though the lawe dyd vtterlye dāne vs hel wold swalow vs vp though all syn and other enmyes wolde ouerrunne vs yet muste we abyde sure vpon God and se what CHRISTE hath deserued and geuen vs by hys bytter passyon and what he hath promysed thā shal faith worke hyr worke Yf we haue receaued the worde in fayth through the holy goost than shal we optayne mercye and lyfe in the myddes of death and of synne Wythout hope dyd holde vp oure head and the promyses sonke in oure hartes we muste nedes be drowned in despayre Hope sayth My sonne despyse not the selfe in thy syknesse but praye vnto the LORDE and he shal make the whole The synfull man beholdyng God and knowyng him by hys worde that is that he is mercyfull not wyllynge the death of a synner he lyfteth vp hys heade w t a lusty corage sayenge I shall not dye
through hys mercye wyll receaue a synner to grace and that he maye come to the fauour of God Suche fayth causeth a man to reste and â—cane on God only and so earnestlye to reioyce in the goodnesse of God as doth he that fyndeth a treasure of greate value We speake not of a fayned faith as the deuels haue or as the wycked do beleue nor of suche an hystorycall faythe as to beleue that CHRISTE was crucyfyed but we speake of suche fayth and confydence wherebye we are assured that the goodnesse and mercye of God is oures and that all is oures that is in God that he is mercyfull vnto vs that we can reioice in him and walke confydently in hym all thys is the operacyon of faythe Suche faythe causeth mortyfycacyon of the fleshe wyth all hys concupiscence whan he hath felte once by faythe the exeeadynge goodnesse that he hath founde by the LORDE Shulde not suche a faythfull soule reioyce in the LORDE his God by true loue vse all spirituall glory Suche fayth causeth a man to captiuate and presone his witte vnderstonding wyl wholy vnder Gods worde and reioyce only in God sayenge with Dauid My soule wayteth onely vpon God for of hym coÌ„meth my helpe He onely is my strength my saluacyon my defence so y t I shall not greatly fal And agayn Turne agayne then to thy reste O my soule for y e LORD hath geuen the thy desyre And why thou hast delyuered my soule from death myne eyes from teares and my fete from fallynge I wyll walke before the LORDE in the lande of the lyuynge Paul what tyme he was come to such earnest fayth sayd very ioyfully I shewed not my selfe amonge you as though I knewe ony thinge saue onely IESVS CHRIST euen the same that was crucyfied It is not sufficient to saye I beleue that the holy church beleueth or as myne elders haue beleued but a man muste searche and proue how he beleueth For by his owne fayth shall a man be acceptable to God Yf he wyl procure to optayne ought of God he must turne hym to God and knowlege hym by his owne fayth that he is his LORDE and redimer AbrahaÌ„ saw God in sprete through his lyuely fayth and reioyced This fayth â—orageth a man agaynst death in it a man seyth his lyfe For according to the wytnesse of all scriptures The iust lyueth by his fayth This fayth is not subdued vnto the lawe for the faythfull accomplissheth the LORDES wyll in the sprete through loue So that he fulfylleth all that the lawe coÌ„maundeth Not â—ecause it is a commaundement of â—he lawe for the lawe geueth onely knowlege of synne but because he â—ath a loue to the commaundementes and is ready to do all that is acceptable to God Wherfore sayeth Paul Thorow the lawe I am dead vnto the lawe that I myghte lyue vnto God I am crucyfyed with CHRIST yet do I lyue Neuertheles now not I but CHRIST lyueth in me for the lyfe which I lyue now in y â— fleshe I lyue in the fayth of the soÌ„ne of God whiche loued me and gaue himselfe for me Agayn sayeth Paul that God hath made vs accepted in the beloued soÌ„ne in whom we haue redempcyon thorow his bloude namely the forgeuenesse of synnes accordyng to the ryches of his grace Seynge then that accordyng to these testimonies of scripture the worke of our redempcyon is accomplyshed in vs by CHRIST therfore must oure synfull soule knowlege y t excelleÌ„t worke in CHRIST only and in hym only rest by fayth For CHRIST sayd No man commeth to the father but only by me And yf ye are the father ought in my name he shal geue it you But seyng faith is a gyfte of God therfore muste we lowly and humbly praye the LORD to haue pyte vpon vs and increase oure faith y t we may know his goodnesse dewly by fayth and reioyce in hym Of this gyft speaketh Paul sayeng By grace are ye saued thorow fayth and that not of youre selues For it is the gyft of God not of workes lest ony man shulde boast hymselfe For weare his workemanship created in CHRIST IESV vnto good workes to the which God ordeyned vs before that we shulde walke in them Whan man fyndeth rest and quietnesse in his conscience by fayth beleuynge that all that is in God is to mans behofe that is a sure token that such a man is come to the faith whiche geueth health For fayth certifyeth hym that CHRISTE hath ouercome death hell synne and the deuyll for hym As great as his faith is so much also can he reioyce in God Prayse God and thanke God whiche hath receaued his synfull soule to mercy not for the workes of ryghtwysnesse that we haue done but accordynge to hys mercye hath he saued vs. Thus muche nowe is sayde to knowe the trew faith namely to rest onely vpon CHRIST and to knowlege oure redempcion and saluacion by CHRISTES death according to hys worde The whiche graunte vs the father thorowe hys welbeloued sonne CHRIST Amen ¶ The secoÌ„d Chapter treateth of y t inestimable greate mercye that we do purchase and optaine by the lyuely fayth For true saith caÌ„ not be ydle but bryngeth vnto hym that possesseth her plenteous saluation WHan Paul wolde comforte the sycke or stablyshe the weake in faith more more than dyd he ofte rehearse and as a man myghte saye bette in them the glad tydinges of the Gospell Certifienge them to what greate mercye they were called whan God geueth them a good wyll to receaue hys worde with ioye and to reioyce ouer all the goodnesse that the Gospel assureth vs of Thys frute which the Gospel bringeth with it and geueth vs oughte we hyghelye to thanke God for and to reioyce for cause of so manyfolde gyftes and treasures minystred and geuen vs by hym thankynge and praysynge God whiche hath opened oure eyes and inwarde syghte So that we maye dewlye knowlege oure saluation by CHRIST IESV reioyce in him only This is the intent now wherfore Paule doth so earnestly admonyshe vs not to receaue such gyftes in â—ayne but that the worde of God be frutefull in vs by fayth and loue that God myghte be praysed thanked and honoured for hys workynge so wonderfullye mercyfully and gloriouslye in all faithfull hartes Therfore sayeth Paull We are bounde to geue thankes al waye vnto God for you brethren beloued of the LORDE because that God hath from the beginninge chosen you to saluation in the sanctifyenge of the spirite and in beleuinge of the treuth whereunto he hath called you by oure Gospell to optayne the glorye of oure LORDE IESVS CHRIST Farther more saieth Paul After that ye herd y e worde of treuth namely the gospell of youre saluation wherin whan ye haue beleued ye were sealed with the holy sprete of promesse whiche is the earneste of oure enheritaunce to oure redemption that we mighte be his
that God wyll of pure mercye forgeue the synnes requyrynge but onely stedfaste fayth of vs. Wherfore a synner perceauynge that by the goodnesse of God onely he is come to grace he oughte to geue hym onely for it all prayse and honoure Paul saieth Yf Abraham were made righteous thorow workes then hath he wherin to reioyce but not before God But what sayeth the scrypture AbrahaÌ„ beleued God and it was couÌ„ted vnto him for righteousnesse Unto him that goeth aboute with workes is the rewarde not rekened of fauour but of dewty But vnto him y t goeth not aboute w t workes but beleueth on hym that iustifyeth the vngodly is fayth counted for ryghteousnesse for by the law commeth but knowlege of synne But nowe wythoute addynge to of the lawe is the ryghtwysnesse whiche auayleth before God declared hauynge wytnesse of y â— lawe and prophetes but I speake of the ryghtwysnesse before God whiche commeth by the fayth on IESVS CHRISTE vnto all and vpoÌ„ all them that beleue Here is no difference for they are all synners and wante the prayse that God shulde haue of them Wythout deseruynge are they made ryghteous euen by grace thorowe the redempcyon that is done by CHRISTEIESV whoÌ„ God hath set for a mercyseate thorowe fayth in hys bloude to shewe the ryghteousnesse which auayleth before hym in that he forgeueth the synnes which were done before vnder the sufferaunce of God And agayne We holde therfore that a man is rustifyed by fayth wythout the workes of the lawe c. Thus farre be the wordes of saynt Paull wherein he teacheth vs that by faythe we optayne all ryghteousnesse and not by oure owne procuryng of suche strengthe is the grace of fayth Whan God perceaueth in vs a faythfull harte whiche seketh hym earnestlye dredynge and fearynge hym thaÌ„ doth he communicate and ioyne hymselfe vnto suche one geuynge hymselfe wholye ouer vnto hym with all that is in hym For a man optayneth by faythe all that which God hath promysed vnto the y â— faythful saieÌ„g I wil spouse y e vnto me foreuer I wyll marye the vnto me in ryght wysnesse mercy I wyl mary the vnto me in fayth trueth and thou shalt knowe the LORDE All the lawe and commaundementes stretche therto namely that we shulde fulfyll them and lyue so that oure good workes maye testyfye and declare oure faythe and loue that we haue towarde God But seyng we be frayl and oftymes fall through weaknesse of the flesh therfore shall we endeuoure oure selfes to ryse agayne wyth a good wyll syghynge for oure mysdedes askynge mercye wyth a sorowfull sprete Whan we beholde oure synnes then let vs humblye beseke God to geue vs a faythfull harte For yf God syeth an hungrye soule in vs whiche longeth for the ryghteousnesse of faythe and that we do so procure grace by God as by one whiche can comforte the synner than shall the LORDE receaue suche a faythfull harte vnto hys grace For faythe and loue cause a man to haue alwaye a good opynyon of God Yee it is the beste and mooste excellente gyfte that we can haue to be comforted in God and in hys gyfte For as our opinion is of him so shall he please vs. And euen as fayth is a gyft of God geuÌ„e frely to man so muste thys opinion of God come frely of him also Yf we knowlege hym for a mercyful father than shall we reioyce in hys mercye trustynge in hys goodnesse and are mercye at hym with a chearefull mynde But yf we knowlege hym for a dredefull iudge than shall we not reioyce in hys goodnesse but euer feare and tremble before hym for we fele no certentye of hys goodnesse Such men can not reioyce in God nor loke for ony comforte of hym Wherfore Paull doth exhorte vs very earnestlye to loue that thereby we myghte know God a right reioycynge in all hys goodnesses and so to prayse and thanke hym sayenge But aboue all thynges put on loue whiche is the bonde of perfectnesse And the peace of God rule in youre hartes to the whyche peace ye are called also in one bodye and se that ye be thankefull Let the worde of CHRISTEIESV dwell in you plenteouslye in all wysedome Teache and exhorte youre owne selues wyth Psalmes and hymnes and spirituall songes which haue fauoure with them syngynge in your hartes to the LORD And what so euer ye do in worde or dede do all in the name of the LORD IESV geue thaÌ„kes vnto god the father by hym All this must come by fayth For as a man reioyceth in God euen so shall he prayse hym thanke hym and euen brest out in syngynge to hym as to one by whoÌ„ health and saluacyon is happened vnto hym Yet though the flesh wyll cause hym to synne and greue hym inwardly But yf he knowlegeth God for a mercyfull father then is he conforted agayne by his goodnesse as wytnesseth Paul sayenge God which is rych in mercy thorow his great loue wherwith he loued vs euen whan we were dead in synnes hath quickened vs w t CHRIST Than is God mercyfull vnto vs a father of mercy geuen vnto vs w t al his goodnesse and then are we saued by his goodnesse whan we can beleue thorow fayth y â— redeÌ„pcyon iustifycacyoÌ„ declared by his worde Therfore sayeth Paul Yf a man beleue from the harte he shalbe made ryghteous and yf a man knowlege with the mouth he shalbe saued For the scripture sayeth Who so euer beleueth on hym shall not be confounded Seynge then that fayth was so necessary therfore was CHRIST so diligent euen to beate it in vs As for an ensample to the syke of the palsey he sayde My sonne be of good cheare thy synnes are forgeuen the. And to the woman of CanaaÌ„ O woman great is thy fayth be it vnto the eueÌ„ as thoudesyrest And agayne to Martha he sayeth I am the resurreccyon and the lyfe he that beleueth on me shall lyue thoughe he were dead already And who so euer lyueth and belyueth on me shall neuer dye Item to the woman that was syke of the blody yssue he sayde Doughter be of good conforte thy fayth hath made the safe Thus is it euident that all is ascribed vnto fayth and not vnto vs. For oure workes can stretch no farther saue onely to shewe oure wyllynge harte and to yelde thankes vnto hym whiche throughe vnoutspeakeable loue hath saued vs. And thus doynge we geue only God the honour for all y â— good which he worketh in vs. Loke vpon the seconde to the Hebrâ—es And in the elenenth chapter he sayeth Without fayth it is vnpossible to please God For he that commeth vnto God muste beleue that God is and that he is a rewarder of theÌ„ that seke hym And agayne We knowe y t a man is not made righteous by y â— dedes of y e law but by y e faith on IESVS CHRIST We
of Egipte that ledde vs thorow the wyldernes thorow a desert rough lande c. And continently after in y e same place For my people hath done two euels They haue forsaken me the wel of the water of lyfe and dygged them pyttes Yee vyle and broken pyttes that holde no water And it foloweth also Thyne owne wyckednesse shal reproue the and thy turnynge awaye shall condempne the that thou mayest know and vnderstande how hurtefull a thynge it is that thou hast forsaken the LORDE thy God not feared hym sayth y e LORD God of hoostes Wherfore whan we beholde oure selues duely remembrynge the worthynes and excellency of y â— chosen soule whiche of ryght shulde be a bryde of IES VS CHRISTE for of nature can not she be refresshed nor comforted but onely of God What so euer she seketh besyde hym that maketh her disquyete and comfortlesse For this cause is it nedefull for vs to lyfte oure eyen vp towarde heauen besekynge hym humbly to conforte vs wyth his owne presence Nother is this accomplyshed but onely whan the LORDE declareth his goodnesse vnto vs by his word and that we then reioyce in all the goodnesse which he hath promysed vs therin Yf we forsake y e worde then shal the soule become cold strauÌ„ge froÌ„ god This confirmeth Ieremy sayenge I wyll cast you out of this lande in to a lande that ye nor your fathers knowe not and there shall ye serue straunge goddes day nyght there wyll I shewe you no fauoure That man verely hath no rest whiche falleth to ony shapeÌ„ creature or to ony inuencion ymaginacyon of man Where maÌ„ doth yet procure ryghteousnesse saluacyoÌ„ by his owne mother wytte wysedome there doth not god work his worke This may be tried by many places of scripture CHRIST dyd not shewe many tokeÌ„s there where was no faith because y e they knowynge y t ther is one God haue not praysed hym as God nor thanked hym but became vayne in theyr ymaginacyoÌ„s theyr folyshe hart was blinded WhaÌ„ they couÌ„ted theÌ„selues wyse they became fooles And why EueÌ„ because saith Paul they knowe not the ryghteousnesse which auayleth before God go about to mayntayne theyr owne righteousnesse thus are not they subdued vnto y e ryghteousnesse whiche is of value before God CHRIST is y e ende of the law vnto-ryghteousnesse for euery one y t beleueth For God so loued the world that he gaue his only sonne that wo so euer beleueth in hym shulde not peryshe but haue euerlastynge lyfe Lo how saluacyoÌ„ commeth by fayth Who so therfore doth not receaue the worde by fayth the same abydeth in darknesse daÌ„ynacion as CHRIST wytnesseth in the same place sayenge But he that beleueth not is condempned already because he beleueth not on y e name of the onely sonne of God But this is the condemnacion that the lyght is come in to the worlde and men loued the darcknesse more then the lyght for theyr workes were euell Who so euer doth euell hateth the lyght and commeth not to y e lyght that his dedes shulde not be reproued Here in are we enformed that it is Gods wyll that all men be saued and that we shall knowlege the fathers loue whiche hath geuen vs CHRISTE to be oure Saueoure and that we shulde knowlege oure saluacion to come by hym whiche hath accomplyshed the worke of oure health in vs. But seynge many men do not turne them selues to God warde walkynge after theyr owne wyll and desyre therfore cannot they haue knowlege of the saluacyon that is promised and geuen vs by CHRIST Man muste vtterly forsake hym selfe with all that is in hym and rest vpon CHRISTE onely by whose death we maye fynde sauynge health But alas for pytie ther be many vayne and pufte vp in theyr fleshly myndes which holde not them selues to the heade and worde nother come to CHRISTE to be humbly taught of hym This is the cause why y e Pharises came not to God but sayde it that Iob dyd prophecy aforehande sayenge They saye vnto God Go froÌ„ vs we desyre not the knowlege of thy wayes What maner of felowe is y e Almyghty that we shulde serue hym What profyte shuld we haue to submytte oure selues vnto hym Esaye also sayeth Thou hast hadde trouble for the multitude of thyne owne wayes yet saydest thou neuer I wyll leaue of Thou thynkest to haue health or lyfe of thy self and therfore thou beleuest not that thou arte sycke Yee heare what O see the prophete sayeth I droue Ephraim Iuda plowed and Iacob played the husbandman that they might so we vnto righteousnes and reape the frutes of weldoynge that they myghte plowe vp theyr fresshe new tylled lande and seke the LORD tyll he came taught theÌ„ ryghteousnesse But now they haue plowed them wickednesse therfore shall they reape synne and eat y e frut of lyfe Seynge thou puttest thy coÌ„fidence in thyne owne wayes leanest to the coÌ„fideÌ„ce of thy worthies ther shall growe a sedicyon amonge thy people By this is it euideÌ„t that man remayneth in his vnfaythfulnesse thorow his owne wysedome For the LORDE wyll teache vs w t his worde only yf we couet to walk aryght in his way Al is but foolyshnesse be man neuer so well learned yf he knewe nought of God Therfore sayeth Paul The worde of the crosse is foolyshnesse vnto theÌ„ y t perish but vnto vs that are saued it is the power of God For it is written I wyl destroye the wysedome of the wyse and wyll cast away the vnderstandyng of the prudeÌ„t For so much as the worlde by the wysedome therof knewe not God in his wysedom it pleased God thorowe foolysh preachynge to saue them that beleue Yf oure Gospell be yet hyd it is hyd in them that are loste amonge whome the God of thys worlde hath blynded the myndes of them whiche beleue not that the lyghte of the Gospell of the glorye of CHRISTE whiche is the ymage of God shuld not shyne vnto them And in another place saieth Paul Because they receaued not the loue of the treuth that they myghte haue bene saued therfore shall God sende theÌ„ stronge delusyon that they shulde beleue lyes that all they myghte be damned whiche beleued not the treuthe but had pleasure in vnryghteousnesse It hath bene the LORDES wyll alwaye to draw euery man vnto hym both by benefytes and wordes But whan he seyth the hartes to remayne styll harde and peruerted than threateneth he the vnbeleuynge y t they shall come to naught yf they do not receaue hys worde sayenge The kyngdome of God shall be takeÌ„ from you shalbe geueÌ„ vnto y â— Heythen which shal bryng forth y e frutes of it And who so falleth vpoÌ„ thys stone that is CHRIST shalbe brokenâ—â— peces and loke vpon whoÌ„ it falleth it shal grynde him to poulâ—â—r This is fearful to heare of him
all mercye and for geuenesse is happened vnto vs. This wytnesseth Paull saieng But after that the kindnesse and loue of God oure saueoure towarde man appeared not for the dedes of ryghteousnesse which we wroughte but after hys mercye he saued vs by the fountayne of the newe byrth and renewynge of the holy goost which he shed on vs abundauntly thorow IESVS CHRIST oure saueoure that we beynge made ryghteous by hys grace shulde be heyres of eternall lyfe accordynge to hope Therfore hath god declared his loue vnto vs that he onely shulde haue the glorie of our saluaciō by fayth wherby we are assured y t of oure selues we haue nought but y e al is geuen vs frely of his fatherly loue and goodnesse By sayth only are we assured of gods loue y e we may walke confidently in this loue Therfore sayde CHRIST God so loued y e worlde that he gaue his only sonne that whosoeuer beleueth in hym shulde not peryshe but haue euerlastynge lyfe The ioy cōforte of our cōscience shal endure so longe as his loue is had in price worthynesse of vs but yf it begyn once to fayde and waxe coulde so y t we can nother fele reste nor ioye in his loue thā do we drede god as a tyraūt or a strayght iudge not trustyng to optayn mercy of his loue goodnesse nor y e we be made worthy of hys loue goodnesse by his bitter passion death This is y e moost blashhemie wrong y e can be done vnto God Where such knowlege of god is there do men beginne to seke health cōforte in creatures in mās inuēciōs in straūg holynesse in y e workmāship of y e craftisman Thus waxeth mā could straūg frō god hauing nother faith of god nor sauoure of godlynesse the which not withstōding did loue vs for his own sake Euē as our opiniō is of him so shal he please vs as CHRIST sayeth This is y e lyfe euerlasting that they know y e y e thou art only y e true God whō thou hast sent IESVS CHRIST This loue doth y e boke of wysdō cōmende vnto vs estyminge it to be a precious treasure y e we be come to y e knowlege of y e same saiēg But thou o our god art swete long suffering and true and in mercy ordreste thou all thinges Though we syn yet are we thyne for we know thy strength Yf we synne not shan are we sure that thou regardest vs. For to know the is perfecte ryghteousnesse Yee to knowe thy ryghteousnesse and power is the rote of immortalyte By thys knowlege is God hyhglye praised and thanked of his loue Yee he hath caused to geue testimony of his loue thorow out all scriptures y ◠we shulde be certifyed of it and to runne confidentlye to hym thorowe the same By Ieremye the prophete he sayeth I loue the with an euerlastynge loue therfore do I sprede my mercy before the. I wyll repayre the agayn that thou mayest be fast and sure Now whan mā doth perceaue by reason of many places of scrypture y e God doth loue vs thā ought he to lyft vp hys eyen towarde heauen vnto hym that onely can lyghten oure eyen and that can geue vnderstandynge of all that whiche he teacheth by hys worde Wolde God we dyd receaue hys worde by faythe in the spirite that we myghte fele and beleue his loue therin and how we maye optayne mercy grace and saluacyon by the same than shulde oure synfull soule be comforted in al the goodnesse the which the LORDE hath promised and declared vnto vs so louyngly by hys worde O LORD I can perceaue nother the nor thy goodnesse saue onely by thy worde wherebye thou saydest that thou louest me Poure therfore a clean hart wythin me and I shall be conforted in all thynges whereby thou declareste thy loue My soule is restlesse vntyll I can rest in the. Encrease my fayth for it is thy gyfte and I shall haue perceueraunce of the. My soul shall be cōforted in thy loue for thou arte my saueoure my glorye my reioycynge and ioye Whan the LORDE doth heare the hongrie soule syghing after this maner lōging and hoping for hym than doth he turne hymselfe spedely and meteth man comforting him w t himself sayenge Come to y ◠waters all ye that be thyrstye and ye y t haue no monye come bye y t ye may haue to eate Come bye wyne and mylke wythout ony mony or mony worth Come to me all ye that laboure and are laden and I wil ease you learn of me For I am meke and lowlye of hart ye shal find rest vnto your soules It is al touching mercy forgenesse wher w t god doth cal his shepe Hereby is it euident vnto man y e gods loue is vnto hym a sure fundament a strong hold a rock an hard ground wherevpon he may buylderightwel Wherfore he bringeth his ship to his hauen he casteth out hys anker vpō this sure groūd tyeng al his diseases and grifes at this stony rocke he escapeth thorow god onely all the wawes and peryls of the see euen as God dyd promyse by Esaye the prophete sayenge Whan thou wentest in the water I was with the that the stronge floudes shulde not plucke the awaye Whan thou walkest in the fyre it shal not burne the and the flamme shal not kyndle vpō the for I am the LORD thy God y ◠holyone of Israell thy saueour And Salomon also sayeth The name of the LORDE is a stronge castell the righteous flyeth vnto it and shal be saued He that loketh stedfastly vpō the LORD shall not be broughte to cōfusyon for the loue that he knowlegeth in God shal cause him to walke confidently and assuredly And w t such a faythfully harte is God well apayed y e hongereth alway to come vnto farther knowlege of his wyll Such hartes shal y t LORD cal vnto hym shewynge them his loue sayeng Sonne be of good cheare and comforte all that is in my is for the. Yf thou haue sinned yf thou haue offended me remēbre y e I loue y e truste vnto my loue I haue payed thy det I haue geuē myself ouer vnto death for thy sake y e thou shuldest knowlege thy saluacion to be of my loue Whan man doth begyn to perceaue this thā fideth he cōfort rest doth vnderstood how strong y e loue was the which dyd subdue death Thys loue hath God to oure behofe that in oure nede we maye runne to hys loue and admonysh hym of y ◠same And seynge God is loue therfore cāhe not forsake hymself but wyl geue after the power of hys loue and all that of his loue he hath promised by hys godlye worde This teacheth vs to know CHRISTES death in hys power glorye and victory in whose loue we maye se so clearly our redempcion and reioyce therin O
mystruste his worde and they that loue hym wyll kepe his coÌ„maundements c. Thus is it euydent that fayth muste nedes be a worke glorious puyssaunt wherby man optayneth so much of the LORDE How coulde ony maÌ„ comprehende and perceaue the power of faith and that by fayth we are one with God Ihon sayeth That God hath geuen all meÌ„ power to be the chyldreÌ„ of God Christ sayd All thynges are possible vnto hym that beleueth And agayn Yf ye beleue ye shall se the glorye of God And agayne Yf ye haue fayth as a grayne of mustarde sede ye maye saye vnto this mountayne Remoue hence to yonder place and he shall remoue nother shall ony thynge be vnpossible vnto you Now seynge God worketh so gloriously in all faythfull hartes then is it conuenient that we humbly beseke hym to teach vs to trust in his worde For we shall reioyce so much in his goodnesse loke for so much aide coÌ„forte at his haÌ„de as we can trust in hym and in his worde We â—ede of SusaÌ„na that what tyme she was in hir moost distresse anguish beyng iudged wrongfully to death she syghed and prayed to God trustyng stedfastly in him and y e LORD delyuered her Daniel also whan he was cast in y e LyoÌ„s denne was not hurte of them for he trusted in God The godly worde commeth not for nought it worketh wonderfully whan it is receaued in fayth Therfore doth saynt Iames erhorte vs to receaue with mekenesse the word that is grafted in vs whiche is able to saue our soules A man can not erre so longe as he can testyfye hys lyfe to be led accordynge to Gods worde Yf a man haue his myndefixed vpon mans inuencyons or inuented holynesse he maye surely be dysquyete and confortlesse But so longe as a man hath his eyen fixed vpon God and his worde bearynge Gods commaundementes in his harte so longe doth that man walke in sekernesse beynge assured of all y e is expressed by Gods worde and is sure of his sauegarde and coÌ„forte accordynge as Paul sayeth All men are lyars but God is true The sonne of God is the wysedome of y e father Who so now doth yelde hym selfe vnto the word receauyng therby the wysedome of the father the same is dryuen from death vnto lyfe by the sprete of God Syrak sayeth that wysedome breatheth lyfe in to hyr chyldren receaueth them that seke her It foloweth then that they which haue once assayed god by his worde in the wysedome of God that those I saye maye come to complete lyfe But it is contrarye with the worldly wysedome as wytnesseth Paul sayenge In so muche as the worlde by the wysedome ther of knewe not God in his wysedome it pleased God thorowe folyshe preachynge to saue them that beleue Whan Paul was mynded to conuerte ony man then wolde he laye nothynge before hym saue onely Gods worde sayenge I haue begotten you in CHRIST IESV thorowe the gospell Wherfore I exhort you be ye my folowers as I am IESV CHRISTES So longe as a man redresseth hys lyfe accordyng to Gods worde so longe shall he come walkynge the ryghte waye of saluacyon and reioyce in his conseyence For all that the worde of God doth vtter is concernynge ether mercy or in warde consolacyon Peter sayeth Ye knowe of the preachynge y t God sent vnto the chyldreÌ„ of Israel preachyng peace thorow IESVS CHRIST Of hym beare al the prophetes wytnesse that thorow his name all they that beleue in hym shall receaue remission of synnes Luke also wrytyng CRISTES wordes saieth Thus is it wrytten and thus it behoued CHRIST to suffre and the thirde day to tyse agayne from the dead and to let repentaunce and remyssioÌ„ of synnes be preached in his name amoÌ„geal nacions This knewe Esay afore hande whan he sayde Lyke as the rayne and snowe commeth downe from heauen and returneth not thy ther againe but watereth the earth maketh it frutefull and grene that it maye geue corne and bread vnto the so wer So the worde also that coÌ„meth out of my mouth shall not turne vnto me voide agayn but shal accomplyshe my wyll and prosper in the thynge whereunto I sende it Hereby we are taughte that like as the earthe is made frutefull of the rayne that God sendeth so shall we also be renewed and be frutefull yf we knowlege God a ryghte by hys worde and reioice in al that he hath wytesafe to warne vs of by hys worde Yee we shall mortifye the fleshe wyth all hys desyres and he ioyned to God He that cleueth vnto god becommeth one sprete wyth hym and optayneth all goodnesse wyth hym A man reioyceth so muche in God as he is knytte wyth him by fayth and is diligent in all thynges to forther hys glorye The olde father Symeon beholdynge the lytle babe and beynge sure in wardlye that he was hys saueoure for he loked for hym by hys fayth reioyced in hys harte desyrynge to go to hys reste by bodely death for his eyen had sene the saue garde of men Euen so lykewyse we yf we had sene by fayth the loue which God beareth to ward vs how hartelye shulde we then yelde oureselues vnto death For fayth certyfyeth the harte that God is a mercy full father and that mercye shall be shewed vnto vs by y e death of IESV CHRISTE We can optayne no greater rewarde than to beleue that God is wyth vs and we beynge wyth the LORDE are safe Steuen seynge heauen open by fayth sayde incontinentlye LORDE receaue my sprete For thys cause sayde Paule Because therfore that we are iustyfyed by faythe we haue peace wyth God thorow oure LORDE IESVS CHRISTE by whom also we haue an entraunce in faythe vnto thys grace wherein we stonde Here lo is no mencyon of workes or of y â— lawe for by the workes is noman iustyfyed But the workes muste breake oute thorowe loue and declare oure inwarde fayth by workynge of charitable dedes Iob was ashamed of all hys workes and was not so bold as to lyfte vp hys heade before hys LORDE God but submitted hymselfe lowly vnto him ye though ther had ben founde some right wy sucsse in hym Dauid also sayde LORDE entre not in to iudgemente with thy seruaunte for in thy syghte shall noman lyuynge be iustifyed Neuerthelesse God wyllynge to certifye vs what we maye optayne by fayth he shewed vs that by pure and onely loue and mercye he taketh the synner to grace wythoute ony regarde of dedes so that mercye shulde be shewed to vs of promyse and not of dewtye Therfore ought we to geue all glorye vnto God onely Dauid wytnesseth thys same sayenge Blessed are they whose vnryghteousnesse is forgeuen and whose sinnes are couered Blessed is the man vnto whome the LORDE imputeth no syn and in whose sprete ther is no gyle Herin maye you perceaue the maner of tustifienge namely
haue beleued also on IESVS CHRIST that we myght be made ryghteous by the fayth on CHRIST and not by the dedes of the lawe Ihon also sayeth All that is borne of God ouercoÌ„meth the worlde and this is the victory that ouercoÌ„meth the worlde euen our fayth Who is it that ouercoÌ„meth the worlde but he which beleueth that IESVS is the sonne of God And further in the same chapter These thynges haue A writteÌ„ vnto you which beleue on the name of the sonne of God that ye maye knowe how that ye haue eternall lyfe and that ye maye beleue on the name of the sonne of God And this is the fre boldnesse whiche we haue towarde hym that yf we aske ony thynge accordyng to his wyl he heareth vs. Lo how yf a man beleueth that is yf he setteth his trust vpon the goodnesse of God only he is herde and optayneth all that he requyreth of the LORDE as Marke also wytnesseth Paul what tyme he preached the forgeuenesse of synnes he dyd alwaye ascribe it vnto faith that we myght knowe the vertue power of CRISTES death and that we shulde geue all glorye and praise vnto hym which hath receaued vs vnto the fayth by his goodnesse IESVS preached the Gospell of y e kyngdome of God sayenge The tyme is â—ulfylled and the kyngdome of god â—s at hande amende your selues beleue the gospel Here myght some men saye ye speake so much of fayth that man â—s iustified by fayth onely and not by workes Where as saynt Iames neuerthelesse sayeth that fayth with but workes is dead Trueth it is he sayeth well For without ther ensue forsakynge and lothsomnesse of synnes and without a man rest and reioyce onely in God hauynge respecte to none other creature sekyng helpe or conforte at the same Then is it a tokeÌ„ that he is not wholy fixt vpon God nor putteth his trust in hym So longe as a man reioyceth in synnynge so longe is not God his ioye As longe as man coÌ„meth not to God with more loue thankfulnesse nor can quyete hym selfe with God so longe hath he not the trewe fayth The trew fayth mortifyeth the synnes that the outward workes maye testifye of the inward fayth Thus doynge optayneth God the glorye whiche wyll worke wonderously in all them in whom he hath poured his worde by fayth Therfore sayd CHRIST Let youre lyght so shyne before men that they mayese your good workes and glorifye youre father which is in heauen Scripture wytnesseth euery wher y t fayth must make new creatures orels shuld it not work y e worke wherfore God sent his worde Not that workes iustyfye a man But seynge man is iustyfyed by fayth therfore is he called iustifyed or ryghteous for doynge the workes of fayth For the workes be called ryghteous before God by reason of fayth Here vpon bryngeth saynt Iames Abraham and Rahab as proues sayenge Wylte thou vnderstonde O thou vayne man that fayth without dedes is dead Was not oure father Abraham iustyfyed thorowe workes whan he offred Isaac his sonne vpon the altare Thou seyst how that faith wrought with his dedes through the dedes was the fayth made perfecte and the scripture was fulfylled whiche sayeth Abraham beleued God and it was reputed vnto hym for ryghteousnesse and he was called the frende of God c. Yf Abraham had douted on Gods promyse whan he wolde haue offered his sonne then hadde not his faythe bene ryghte nor sufficyent Rahab also shewed hyr fayth where by she let the spyes go shewynge them whiche waye they shulde go She beleued stedfastly that God shulde cause the chyldren of Israell to wynne the cytie of Iericho and by y t fayth was hyr faythfull worke accepted before God God loked first vpon Abell and then vpon his gyfte The scripture hath shut vp al vnder synne that the promyse shuld come by fayth on IESVS CHRIST geuen vnto them that beleue Hereby we maye se that fayth only iustifieth that is Whan we forsake all creatures submyttynge out selues and passe by all mans inuencyons or holynesse fallynge and leanynge to CHRIST only sayenge O LORDE I knowlege health to be happened vnto me by the. LORDE augmeÌ„t thou my fayth CHRIST sayd I am the lyght of the worlde he that foloweth me shall not walke in darkenesse but shal haue the lyght of lyfe And agayne in the same chapter Yf ye continue in my worde then are ye my disciples and ye shal knowe the trueth and y t trueth shal make you fre Though the faythfull fell to synnynge yet remayneth God a frende vnto the fayth and loue that he fyndeth in a maÌ„ his promyses vnto theÌ„ that beleue are so manyfold Dauid sayeth Yf the ryghteous falleth he shall not be brused for the LORDE doth staye hym with his haÌ„de Paul sayeth Then is ther now no damna cyon vnto them that are in CHRIST IESV which walke not after y e flesh but after the sprete For the lawe of the sprete y t bringeth lyfe in CHRIST IESV hath made me fre from y t lawe of synne and death Saynt Ihon also wrytteth sayenge Who so euer is borne of God synneth not for his sede remayneth in hym he can not synne because he is borne of God Though a man be weake after the fleshe and thereby fall to synne yet doth God loue a man for the fayth wherby he loueth God Whan he falleth his fall is not vnto dead for his sprete is without gyle The LORDE suffereth the ryghteous to fall leste he stonde to muche in hys owne conceate but that he aske mercy with all his harte The ryghteous falleth seuen tymes in one daye and ryseth agayne The LORDE taketh the faythfull for his best beloued and reserueth hym to his mercy Salomon sayeth The ryghteous laboureth to do good but the vngodly vseth hys increase vnto sinnes Oure prayer is that we maye abyde by the gladde and ioyfull tydynges of the gospell For he that beleueth and is baptysed shall be saued I brynge you tydynges of great ioye which shal happeÌ„ vnto al people for vnto you is this daye borne the Saueoure euen CHRIST the LORDE Thus farre is now sayde of the mercy which we vptayne by fayth For true fayth ioyfuily receaued excludynge al y e is contrary to CHRIST bryngeth a greate health wyth her ¶ The thyrde chapter shall treate how hurtefull vnbelefe is and what is the cause that men be so colde and straunge in Godly matters and in loue towarde God WHan we consydre our fyrste progeny then is it euydent vnto vs that the nature of man is created to y e lykenesse of God in wyll reason and vnderstandyng folowynge God through wysedom and by knowledge of the creatures And that man was ioyned w t a perfecte hart vnto God vsynge hym w t a coÌ„plete knowlege Upon this hath God set him in the paradyse of pleasure geuynge
and hold hym by hys God How could a man haue ony hope or truste in hys hart seynge he is not stedfastlye perswaded that mercy can be optayned for the whiche he maye hope seynge y e hope lōgyngefor cōmeth by fayth Because now that man doth not beleue therfore can he also not hope ony such good as is promysed hī by faith nother cā he loue dewly the geuer of y e good y t hath promised hym so much of it this may we perceaue by y e childrē of Israel y e LORD promised to geue Abrahā al y e lōd of Canaā afterward whā he wold haue sent Moses vnto Pharao to deliuer the same people he promised vnto Moses to geue thē y e lond y t flowed with milke hony Now y t god was mynded thus to do y t did he shew euidētly in deliueryng y t people frō Pharaos hādes leadyng thē straūgly thorow the reede see and fedinge them with heauenlye bread But howe happened it For whan they had ony lettynge by the way by reason of theyr mysbelefe and vnthankfulnesse and had forgotten the benefytes shewed vnto them of God than fell they to murmurynge and deceuerynge frō God and hys worde Agayne what tyme as the spyes had searched out◠the londe of promyse and came and shewed all thynges vnto the chylderen of Israell howe they had sene greate giauntes in comparison of whom they were but greshoppers and that the indwellers of the lond were stronge and myghty men and that theyr cyties were hygh walled The chylderen of Israell hearynge thys were sore astonnyed murmured agaynste God Moses Aaron sayenge that they wolde turne back agayne in to Egypte All thys murmurynge came of mysbelefe For yf they had stād stedfastly to his worde and bydden sure by hys promyses they shulde haue answered sayde We shall ouercoeme that nacyon ryght well and take the londe in possessyon though they were thousand tymes stronger For the LORDE hath promysed and geuē it vs. But seynge they fel frō gods word hys promyses leanynge to theyr owne polyce and strength therfore semed it vnto them vnpossible Neuerthelesse it was possible wyth God and thorowe God as hys worde dyd assure them Seynge than y t God made suche a promyse vnto them and that they decyuered from hys behestynges therfore had they no hope to take in the londe of promyse Wherfor they were vnworthye of it and haue not entred in to the rest which God promysed them For thys cause cōmeth Paull and warneth vs of thys wycked vnbelefe sayenge Let vs feare therfore leste ony of vs forsakynge y ◠promyse of entrynge in to his rest shulde seme to come behynde for it is declared vnto vs as well as vnto them But the worde of preachynge helped not them whan they y t herde it beleued it not By these reasons is it declared vnto vs euydently howe hurtefull mysbelefe is vnto vs. We cā do God no more wrong nor bring more losse vnto oure soule than in y t we geue no more credēce to his wordes which not withstōding is faith full vnto vs in all hys promyses Thys also complayned CHRIST to y e Iewes sayenge The father which sente me beareth wytnesse hymselfe of me Ye haue nother herd his voyce norsene hys shape at ony tyme You haue not hys worde abydynge in you for ye beleue hym not whom he hath sente I am come in my fathers name and ye receaue me not Yf another come in hys own name hym shall ye receaue How can ye beleue which receaue prayse one of an other and seke not the prayse which is of God onely Yf ye beleued Moses ye shulde beleue me also For he hath written of me But yf ye beleue not hys wrytynges how shall ye beleue my wordes ye wyll not come vnto me that ye myghte haue lyfe He y t beleueth not God hath made hym a lyar because he hath not beleued the recorde that God hath testyfyed of hys sonne And this is the recorde euen that God hath geuen vs euerlastyng lyfe And thys lyfe is in hys sonne He that hath the sonne of God hath lyfe Hereby is it euydent that yf we couet to be conforted in God thā shal we seke it in his word and take recorde of the same howe we maye come to hys mercye So muche fayth as we geue to his wordes so muche shall oure knowlege be also of hys goodnesse and so muche shall we be comforted of hym Howe can we be fully comforted seynge we do so sore wauet stonde not stedfaste in hys worde whiche hys goodnesse doth declare vnto vs For all that doth conforte vs commeth of God The father loueth the sonne and hath geuen all thynges in hys handes Whoso beleueth in the sonne hath lyfe euerlastynge But he that beleueth not in the sonne shall not se lyfe but the wrath of God abydeth vpon hym Thys doth scrypture specifye vnto vs that we shulde knowe the cause and occasyon of all euel that is mysbelefe and it is the cause y t we know not God nor haue ony loue toward hym Nowe whan the loue of God is banyshed than doth man lyghtelye fall to all maner of wyckednesse Therfore sayde CHRISTE Whan the holy goost commeth he shall rebuke the worlde of synne of ryghteousnesse and of iudgemente Of synne because they beleued not on me Of ryghteousnesse because I go to the father Wo be vnto them that are lowse or harte whiche put not theyr trust in God and therfore shall they not be defended of hym Againe They that fear the LORDE wyll not mystrust his worde they that loue hym wyll kepe his cōmaūdementes Thus maye we se how y t whan man knoweth not what God hath cōmaunded hym nor standeth stedfastly vpon God thorow fayth how then I saye he falleth vnto extreme vnkindnesse without ony dredyng of God Mysbelefe therfore is the cause and occasion of al synnes wherof man shalbe iudged For yf y e fyrst man had bydden fast by Gods worde he shulde not haue fallen to synnynge Therfore sayd CHRIST The workes y t I do in my fathers name they bear wytnesse of me but ye beleue not because ye are not of my shepe Baruch also sayeth But how happeneth it Israell that thou art in thyn enemyes lande thou art waxen olde in a straūge contry and defyled with y t dead Why art thou become lyke vnto them y t go downe to theyr graues Euen because thou hast forsaken the well of wysedome Truely yf thou haddest walked in the waye of God thou shuldest haue remayned styll safe in thyne owne lande Euen this same complaineth the LORDE also by Ieremy the prophete sayenge What vnfaythfulnesse founde youre fathers in me y t they wente away so farre fro me fallynge to lyghtnesse and beynge so vayne They thought not in theyr hartes Where haue we left the LORDE that brought vs out of the lande
hym to be a tabernacle or a temple wherin he wyl dwel w t his spret and all his gyftes Yf he can beleue this with a stedfast fayth than shall his harte reoyce in God trustynge to vse suche gyftes more frely with hym By fayth doth man se where to he is created and called what is promysed and geuen hym And seynge that by fayth he doth loke for a better worlde then this wretched worlde and vale of mysery is therfore is not he coÌ„tente with it for y e world geueth his hart nothing to reioyce in Whan man hath dont longe and trewe seruyce vnto the worlde he fyndeth none other rewarde saue great grefe and heuynesse of harte For man is made a straunger from God and colde in loue whaÌ„ he goeth about to serue â— please the worlde Now whan hâ— hath once a tayst of this and is sure that it is so then doth he wende his harte from the worlde sayenge Fare well all transytory creatures fare it well all that euer deceaued me fare well with all thy lustes I wente astraye whan I soughte the I was begyled whan I tande the I was blynde whan I set my loue vpon the I was amased whan I pleased the I was coÌ„fortlesse whan I occupyed the I was parted from God whan I serued the I was in â—eath whaÌ„ I lyued with the I was â—estelesse whan I behelde the I was sorye whan thou gauest me â—oughte I was not suffised whan â—hou gauest me muche I was mysaryed whan thou madest my glad Oh thy wysedome is folyshnesse beâ—re God thy glyrye is heye thy â—ylynge is deceate thy bewtye is â—lthynesse thy ryches are vnstaâ—e thy presence is without rest â—y rewarde is but death thy ioye endeth with sorow He that fyndeth the leseth hymselfe and commeth in deaths daunger He that loued the was neuer dealt faythfully withall He was not conforted aryghte that sought thy frendshippe He that busyed hym to please y t was neuer ioyfull He neuer reioyced aryght that reioyced in the. He neuer happened wel that was seruiable vnto the. He that folowed the dyd neuer happen well He that knewe the aryght dyd neuer passe greatly vpon thyne amyte or freÌ„dshippe Thou deceauest al thy louers Thy loue is vntrusty Thy dealyng is craftynesse O how happy is he that neuer soughte for the but happye is he whose hope is in the LORD his God He that seketh God coÌ„meth from death vnto lyfe But he that loueth the worlde falleth from lyfe vnto death CHRIST therfore not wyllynge vs to be damned thorowe the worlde hath warned vs of the daungers of it sayeng What helpeth it a man thoughe he wanne the whole worlde and yet suffered harme in his soule Whan CHRIST dyd cal ony body theÌ„ dyd he drawe hym from the snares and peryls of the world as namely Mathew Zache Mary the opeÌ„ synner CHRIST sayd vnto the yongeman Let the dead bury theyr dead But go thou thy waye and preache the kyngdome of God And to another that wolde haue folowed hym he sayd Who so purteth his hande to the plowe and loketh backe is not mete for the kingdome of God And agayne whan another that demanÌ„ded of hym what he shulde do to come in to the kyngdome of heaueÌ„ he sayd Yf thou wylt be perfecte go thy waye and sel that thou hast and geue it vnto the poore thou shalte haue a treasure in heauen and come and folowe me WhaÌ„ the yongemaÌ„ herde that worde he wente awaye sory for he had great possessions IESVS sayd vnto his discyples Uerely I saye vnto you It shall be harde for a ryche maÌ„ to entre in to y e kyngdome of heauen Hereby maye it be euidente that ryches drawe a man somtyme to synnynge wherfore he can not folowe his LORDE his God to serue hym humbly For ryches worldly loue cause man somtyme to fall to pryde and obstinacy Yf the ryche maÌ„ coulde vse his ryches well that is to dispend them charitably to the behofe of his neyghboure in the meane season prouydyng for hâ—s owne necessite releuinge y e nedy with the rest then shulde not his ryches be hurtefull vnto hym Abraham Isaac Iacob Iob Dauid many other holy men and wemen haue had great ryches But seynge they haue worshipped serued God shewed kyndnes vnto theyr neghbures with theyr substauÌ„ce therfore were theyr ryches a furtherauce rather theÌ„ a let vnto theyr saluacyoÌ„ accordyng to y e mynde of Tobias y e elder Nabal though he was rych and Dauid hauynge nede requyrynge only what it pleased hym to geue wold depart froÌ„ nothyng The rych glutton also wolde shewe no mercy vnto Lazarus Because of suche abuse were theyr ryches hurteful vnto theÌ„ Therfore sayd Paul They y t wyl be rych fal in to y e reÌ„ptacion and snare into many folysh noysome lustes which drowne meÌ„ in destruccyoÌ„ daÌ„nacyon For couetousnes is the rote of al euel Iesus Sirak couÌ„feleth euery man also sayeng My soÌ„ne medle not w t many maters Yf thou wylt be rych thou shalte not be without wyckednes For this cause sayd Paul Charge them which are rych in this worlde that they be not proude nor trust in y e vncertayne ryches but in y e lyuynge God whiche geueth vs abundauntly all rhynges to enioye them that they do good y â— they be rych in good workes that they geue destribute w t a good y t wyl gathering vp treasure for theÌ„ selues a good fundacyon agaynst the tyme to come that they may lay hande on eternall lyfe The cause why saynt Paul doth thus exhorte vs is For we brought nothynge in to the worlde therfore is it a playne case that we can cary nothyng out Whan we haue foode and rayment let vs therewith be content CHRIST lykewyse exhorteth vs not to be so carefull for this short season nother to set an outragious loue vpon ony creatures sayenge Se that ye gather you not treasure vpon earth where ruste and mothes corrupte where theues breake throughe and steale but gather you treasure together in heauen where nother ruste nor mothes corrupt where theues nother breake vp nor yet steale That man myghte withdrawe his hart the better from these creatures he shulde call oftymes to remembraunce how traÌ„sitory and faydyng all it is that is without God All y t he beholdeth with his bodyly eyen geueth his harte nother rest peace nor ease yee it geueth nothyng saue hartes grefe Man ought also to remember that we haue here no abydynge cytie but we hope and loke for another the which is better by a thousande partes then all that is in this worlde Whan dyuerse saintes dyd consyder this they haue set the worlde at nought sekinge theyr glorye in CHRIST only which can satisfye his frendes with the trueth and make them ryche with hym selfe so that whan his frendes shal haue pleÌ„ty his enmyes shal suffre