and foremoste we haue declared that we are freelye iustified that is to say deliuered from synne eternall dampnation and euerlastinge death and coumpted righteouse in the syghte of God through fayth only in our sauiour Iesus Christ without any merits or deseruynges goynge before Which thinge hathe bene mooste strongly proued both by manyfest and playne texts of the scriptures and also by the autoryties of the aunciente fathers of the primitiue churche contrarye to the sklaunderous and most lyinge reportes of the enemyes of the truth which do most vngodlye blowe abroade that we haue of late dayes sucked out thys doctrine of oure fyngers endes not one af the olde writers saying once Sola fides iustificat faith onely or fayeh alone doth iustifye But how false this their report is ye shal be iudges your selues after ye haue reade the whole worke We dyd almooste in the begynninge of this disputation least anye impedimente or let should be lefte vnto the reader concile Paul and Iames together where vnto the ignoraunt they dyd seme to disagree whiche I truste is so substantiallye done that any reasonable man wyll holde him self satisfyed Secondlye it hath bene shewed that as all the works that we do afore oure iustification I meane afore we be graffed in Christ and throughe fayth made members of his bodye althoughe they seme neuer so glorious so perfect and excellent yet are but mere synne and abhomination in the syght of God so after we be once iustifyed and made lyuely braunches of that true vyne we must not remain harein and vnfruteful trees but bringe foorth the frutes of our fayth and abounde or flow in all kinde of good woorkes that God hath prepared for vs to walk in remembring that we are therunto created in Christ Iesus who hath redemed vs and clensed from our syns to the end that we shuld be a peculiar people vnto him earnestlye geuen vnto good workes Here haue we by the waye ouerthrowen wyll workes that is such maner of works as are set foorth by the mere inuētion of man with out anye sure ground or foundation in Gods boke or wythout any promysse conteyned in the same prouinge that all suche workes for as muche as they bee done withoute fayeth canne in no wyse please god but are an abominatiō vnto him althoughe they be done as they doe commonlye terme it of a good intente and so vppon occasion we haue declared and made manifest and playne by the historyes of Nadab and Abihu of Saule and of Dauid in bringinge the Arke in to Ierusalem otherwise than God had ordayned how perilous a thinge it is to attempte any thinge of good intente without a sure warant of gods word in the religion worshipping seruice of God Thyrdlye we teach what be those workes that are to be takē for good works euen such as God doeth expresselye comaunde vs in his worde Which are moste liuely set foorth vnto vs in manye places of the old and new Testament How be it this lesson is also geuen that al they that do those good workes althoughe they be neuer so good workes in them selues do not by and by deserue the comendation and prayse of well doinge in the sight of God eyther because that they do them to the end that they may be glorified of menne or for reward sake the hope wherof beinge taken awaye they woulde not as muche as geue a cuppe of colde water or for feare of punishemente after this lyfe and not for the loue onely that they beare to God and to theyr neighboure or for to shew their obedience towardes his wyl and commaundementes But for the better instruction to the ignoraunt we haue set foorth at large all the chiefe and pryncipall causes that oughte to moue vs to do good woorkes althoughe we looked for no rewarde at all at Goddes hande who notwithstandinge wyll not leaue our good workes vncrowned or vnrewarded first because that we haue throughe sayeth felowship with his sonne Iesus Christ whose perfecte obedience he imputeth vnto vs for our owne therbye most amplye and aboundantly supplying what soeuer is wantinge and lackinge in vs. Secondlye because that he hathe made him selfe debtour vnto vs not by receauing any thinge of vs but by promissing all thinges as saint Augustine doeth witnesse Here also are the causes shewed why oure good workes althoughe in them selues they be full of imperfection do please God and are acceptable vnto him whiche ought to be vnto vs a great encoragemente to lyue Godlye and to excercise our selues in all maner of good workes that God hathe cōmaunded vs in his word beinge sure that we canne not but please him in so doing And as for merits it hath ben moste strongly proued that althoughe we were able to do what soeuer God hath cōmaunded vs yet we oughte to reckenne our selues vnprofitable seruauntes that we haue done but our dutye But for as muche as no man is able to doo the tenth parte of Gods cōmaundements with such a perfection as God doth require what do we merit or deserue if our workes be examined after the streightnesse of Gods iudgement but the endelesse tormentes of hell fyer Laste of all concerninge the degrees of glorye after thys life it hathe bene sufficientelye declared and shewed that there can be no such diuersities or degrees of glorye by reason of any merites but that if therebe any it commeth of the mere mercye and goodnesse of God who doeth in vs moste liberally croune his owne giftes The chefe scope or marke that we shote at in settinge foorth of this doctrine is that we hauing learned whence our saluation doeth come shoulde geue the whole glorye thereof to the onely mercye and goodnesse of God declared vnto vs in his sonne Iesus Christ and most surely sealed vp by his bloude To whome wyth the father and the holye ghost be all prayse glorye and honoure worldes wythoute ende Amen ⧠The ouer throwe of the iustification of workes and of the vayne and found doctrine of the meryts of mē with the true assertiō of the iustification of faith of the good workes that do procede and come of thesame and in what respecte they be crowned or rewarded of God setsoorthe Dialogewise by Ihon Veron The names of the speakers Dydimus Eutrapelus Albion Philalethes DYdimus Syth the we haue already sufficiently spoken of the doctrine of predestination of the diuyne prouydence of God and of free wyll I am of opinion that it were good to entreate somewhat of the iustification of faythe and of the good workes that do spring and come of the same For manye there be which when they heare that we be iustyfied by fayth onely withoute the workes of the law streight waies do crye out that they nede not to do good woorkes yea that it maketh no matter how they liue so that they beleue onelye The blasphemers of the iustificatiō of faythe I woulde fayne that by settinge foorth this matter playnely as ye
agayne what it is too be iustifyed by fayth For these thinges being well and substantially vnderstanded I do not doubt but that the teste wyll bee a greate deale the playner PHILALETHES To be iustified by workes is by our owne deedes to deserue remission and forgeuenesse of synnes and too pourchase vnto oure selues saluation Or elles thus They are iustifyed by workes in whose life there is founde suche cleanelinesse and holynesse as maye deserue the testimonye of righteousnesse before the iudgement seat of God or that wyth the vprightenesse of theyr woorkes be able to aunswer and satysfye Goddes iustyce and iudgemente DYDIMVS I beleue that they are very thynne sowen that with the vprightnesse of theyr workes be able to aunswer and satisfy the iustice and iudgemente of God PHILALETHES They are very thyn sowen in dede For non Christ onely excepted could euer do it And therefore Christ only hath satisfied the iustyce of God all the chyldren of Adam beinge at defiaunce with their owne righteousnesse oughte to crye oute wyth Dauid and sai Enter not in to iudgemeÌ„t with thy seruauÌ„t o lord Psal 143. for in thy sight shal no maÌ„ liuiÌ„g be iustified ALBI. And what is it to be iustified by fayth PHI. They are iustifyed by faith What it is to be iustyfied by fayth that being excluded froÌ„ the righteousenesse of workes do by faythe take holde one the righteousenesse of Christe wherwyth when they are clothed and appareylled they appeare in the syghte of God not as synners but as ryghteouse personnes ALBION Obiecti ∣ on i. This me thinke is a verye coumfortable doctrine But yet it wyll not be alowed of all men for the most parte wyll stil maintaine that we are iustified by workes and not by faith onlye aleadginge for the probation of this their sayinge the second chapiter of Iames Iam. 2. wher he saieth on this maner was not our father Abraham iustified throughe workes when he offered Isaac his son vpon the altar And a little after ye se then how that of woorkes a man is iustified and not of faithe onlye Either ye muste saye they make the holy Apostels to disagree or ye muste graunte with Iames that of works man is iustified and not of faith onlye Aunswer PHILALETHES God wotte this is a poore helpe that they doe bringe for them selues For firste and formoste let vs marke the history that Iames doeth make meÌ„tion of and we shal soone perceiue how ignorauntly they behaue theÌ„ selues in expoundinge the wordes of the Apostell We reade in the xv chapiter of Genesis Gen. 15. that Abraham beleued the Lord and it was coumpted vnto him for righteousnesse Which texte is of Paule aleaged after this sort If Abraham were iustified by workes Rom. 4. he hath wherein to reioyce or glorye but not with God For what saith the scripture Abraham beleued God and it was imputed vnto him for righteousnesse Wherby the holye Apostle Abraham was iustyfied .xxx. yeares afore he offered his sonne Isaac doeth proue most stronglye that Abraham our father was iustified by faithe But this that Iames doeth speake of whiche is the offerynge of Isaac was done xxx yeares after that the scriptures did pronounce Abraham to be iustified or that his faith was coumpted vnto him for righteousnesse Verely fyth that .xv. yeares afore that Isaac was borne Gene. 22. Abrahams faythe was imputed vnto hym for righteousnesse it was impossible that he shoulde be iustifyed by the offering of hys sonne Isaac which was as I sayd before .xxx. years after What if we saye then that the apostle doeth only go about to shewe What faith Abraham was iustified by that the fayth whiche Abraham was iustifyed by was no idel or dead fayth but such a faith as made hym obedient vnto God as it is more playnelye set foorthe in the .ii. to the Hebrewes EV. This that ye haue brought in now is of greate strength And truly I do not see which way thei can wind theÌ„ selues out of the briers if the history the circumstaunces of the same be weyghed a ryghte PHI. We wil yet go to worke with them another way and shew how that ther is no repugnaunce at al in the doctrine of the Apostels For what contrariety or repugnaunce could ther be in their doctrine sith that they wer both lead by one spirit Therfore we shal marke that the holy Apostle S. Paul in his epistels to the Romains to the Galathians did dispute and reason against theÌ„ that did atribute iustificatioÌ„ to workes but. Note this diligeÌ„tly S Iames did wryte against them which did vtterly contempne and despise good workes And therfore Paule sheweth the causes of our iustificatioÌ„ Iames the effectes frutes of the same Paul declareth how we are iustifyed Iames how we are knoweÌ„ to be iustified Paul excludeth workes as not the cause of our iustificatioÌ„ Iames approueth workes as effects proceding of the same Paul denieth that any good workes caÌ„ be in theÌ„ that be not iustyfied Iames affirmeth that they which be iustified caÌ„ in no wise be wtout good woorkes But ye shall heare what S Augustine hath left vnto vs by writing touching the matter Augu. 83. questionum questi 76. Glossa ordinaria Quod Abraham per fidem sine operibus iustificatus est de operibus quâ—e precedebant intelligitur quia per opera quae fecit iustus non suit sed sola fide Hic de operibus agitur quae fidem sequntur Heb. 11. per quae amplius iustificabatur cum tam per fidem fuisset iustus Vnde Paulus dicit Fide obtulit Abraham Isaac quum tentaretur Haec oblatio est opus et testimonium fidei et iustitiae That is too saye That Abraham was iustifyed by faith without works it is to be vnderstaÌ„ded of the workes that dyd goo before For he was not righteouse throughe the workes which he had done but by faythe only Here it is spokeÌ„ of the works that folowe the faith whereby he was more iustifyed whereas he was alreadye before made righteouse by faithe Therfore Paule sayeth The offeringe of Isaac is a testimony of the fayth righteousnesse of Abraham Abraham did offer Isaac with faith when he was tempted This offeringe is a worke and testimonye of his faythe and of hys righteousnesse These things did he write vpon Iames epistell If the offering of Isaac is a testimonie of the faith and righteousnesse of Abraham He coulde not be iustyfied by it but rather it was therby declared that he was iustifyed alreadye So that this obedience of his Rom. 4. which he shewed vnto the word of the Lord did only manifest and shew that he was when he beleued Gods promises made ryghteous before God throughe the same fayth and beleue wherwyth he was so strengthened that geuynge the glorye vnto God he perswaded him selfe fullye that he which had promised was also able to do the thynge that he
For that is one of the thinges which the enemies do stoutely denye PHILALETHES Er I do satisfye your desire I doe intende to aledge yet two or three golden sentences out of the Apostel which canne not well be omitted in thys case The firste shall ye haue in the Epistel to Titus Titu 3. where he writteth on this wyse Not by the workes of righteousnes which we had done but according to his mercye he saued vs that we beinge iustified by his grace shoulde be made heyrs accordinge too the hope of eternall lyfe The second is muche like vntoo this and is setfoorth in the second Epistell to Timothee after thys maner God hathe saued vs 2. Timo. 1. and called vs with an holye callinge not accordinge to our workes The purpose of God doth exclude al merites and deseruings froÌ„ the iustification of man but according to his own purpose and grace whiche was geuen vnto vs throughe Christ Iesus afore the worlde was Truely whersoeuer this purpose of God is there workes merits or deseruinges can take no place in the iustification or saluation of man Wherby it must nedes folowe as we can gather none other of the sentences nowe aleadged that by the free mercy and goodnesse of God apprehended and taken hold vpon by fayth we are deliuered from oure synnes and from euerlasting damnation and made felowe heyers with his sonne Iesu Christ whose righteousnesse he doth impute vnto vs of his eternall and euerlastinge kingdome of heauen All these thinges I say do we obtain throughe fayeth onely withoute anye merites goynge before DIDIMVS Say what ye wil the enemies do styll whisper in to the eares of the symple and ignoraunt persons that this is but a newe sounde doctrine and that none of all the auncient doctours did euer teache it PHILALETHES Ye myght haue learned that thys is playne falâ—e in the autority that we haue already broughte out of saint Augustine Aug. 83. questionuÌ„ questione â–ª 76 Glossa ordinaria whose wordes are these Quod Abraham per fideÌ„ sine operibus iustificatus est de operibus quae praecedebant intelligitur quia per opera quae fecit iustus non fuit sed sola fide Whiche we haue alreadye englished thus That Abraham was iustified by faith without workes it is to be vnderstanded of the workes that dyd go before For he was not ryghteous throughe the workes whyche he had done before sed sola fide but by faieth onlye If it be an heresye to saye that faythe onely doeth iustifye let me see how they can excuse Saynte Augustine of heresye Vnto hym maye we ioygne father Ambrose who wrytinge vppon the epistell to the Romayns Amb. in episto ad Romanos ca. 4. speaketh on this manner Iustificari sunt gratis quia nihil operantes neque vicem reddentes sola fide iustificati sunt dono dei That is to saye They were iustyfied freelye for they worckynge nothinge nor makinge anye recompence they were iustifyed throughe faythe onelye by the gyfte of God Agayne in the same place these be hys wordes Sic decretum dicit a deo vt cessante lege Ibidem solam fidem gratia dei poscereâ— ad salutem Whyche maye be englyshed thus He sayethe that it was so decreed of God that the lawe beynge at an ende the grace of God shoulde requyre faythe alone or faythe onelye vnto saluation Ibidem These be also his wordes Hoc ipsum munit exemplo prophetae Beatitudinem hominis di it cui deus acceptam fert iustitiam sine operibus Beatos dicit quibus hoc sanxit deus vt sine labore et aliqua obseruatione sola fide iustificentur apud deum That is to say he doeth strengthene or fense this by the example of the prophette He saith that the same man hath blessedfulnes or that blessedfulnes pertained and belongeth to that man vnto whom God imputeth righteousnesse withoute workes he calleth them blessed vnto whom God had made this decree that wythoute laboure and withoute anye obseruation they shoulde by faith onely be iustified before God And in an other place Idem in 9. ca. ciusdem epistolâ—e Sola fides ad salutem posita est Faythe onelye sayeth he is appoynted vnto saluation Ye maye see nowe howe many tymes this olde father doth vse this worde sola alone or only which the aduersaries or enemies doe accuse of heresye But let vs heare what the other auncient fathers do say concerning this matter these are Ieroms words vpon the Epistle to the Romains Ieronimus in 10. caput episto ad Ro. Ignorantes quod sola fide iustificat deus et se ex operibus legis quam numquaÌ„ custodierunt iustos esse putantes noluerunt se subijcere remissioni peccatorum ne peccatores fuisse viderentur That is to saye They not knowinge that God iustifieth by faith onely and supposing them selues to be iust by the works of the law whiche they neuer obserued they would not submit them selues vnto the remission of synnes leaste they shoulde seeme too haue bene synners EVTRAPELVS By this autoritye that ye haue aleadged oute of Ierome two thinges maye be learned Firste and foremost we learne that God doeth iustifye by fayth only which of the enemies is coumpted playn heresye whervpon we maye conclude that they be wrapped in the same moste pestiferous ignoraunce that the scribes and Pharisees were wrapped in What credit ought to be geuen vnto the enemies of the truth and what sâ—aÌ„full ignoraunce they be wrapped in and that therfore no credit ought to be geuen vnto them nor yet to their doctrine For why thei be altogether ignoraunt in the highest and moste principall poynte of our religion causinge the people to seeke for saluation wher there is nothinge elles but desperation and shippewracke of conscyence Secondlye we see here moste euidentlye the cause whye the scribes and Pharisees Why the scribes Pharises wer vtter enemies vnto the gospell Luc. 18. were suche extreme enemies vnto the gospel which offereth vnto all them that wyll beleue in oure sauioure Iesu Christ free pardone and remission of their sinnes Forsoth they iustyfyed them selues that they were perfect and withoute synne Lest then they shuld lose any part of their estimation for thei sought their owne glorye more than the glorye of God they woulde in nowyse submitte them selues vnto the doctryne of the remyssion of sinnes nor yet receaue the generall pardone that was offered vnto them of God For then they muste needes to haue acknowledged them selues with the other to haue bene sinners But they would none of that beinge in this pointe moste like vnto oure greate Rabbis Why our great rabbis will not acknowledge their errour whiche althoughe their conscyences beare them recorde that they be in a moste pernicious errour and haue most shamefully deceiued the people yet because they wyll not mynishe one iote of their reputation that they haue hadde amonge simple and
a kingedome of lyes folio 4. They that are iustified by workes are able or must be be able to aunswere fullye to the iustice of God folio 5. The offeringe of Isaac is a testymonye of the fayth and righteousnesse of Abraham fol. 8. This word to iustify is otherwise taken of Paul then of Iames. fo 9. To attribute iustificatiō vnto any merites goyng before is a derogation of the grace of God fo 12. The enemies of the truth are to be likened to the Arians fol. 15. The purpose of God doeth exclude all merites and deseruinges from the iustification of man fo 17 The fathers were to be blamed that do affyrme fayth onely to iustify if that doctrine wer not true fo 24 The history of Cornelius fo 30 The frutes of iustification fo 31 The firste frute of iustifycation folio eodem The 2. frute of iustification fo 32. The certaynety of Gods promise folio 33. The .4 frute of iustificatiō fo eodē The .5 frute of iustificatiō fo eodē The common doctrin of preachers touching good works fol. 35. The deuil did peruerte the ende of our creation which Christ restored agayne fo eodem The works of the papistes fo 36 They that are enemies of the papistes good workes are enemies of synne and of most detestable abhomination fo 37. Terrible and dreadefull histories folio 38. The order that god had appointed touchinge the Arke fo 39. The historye of Saul fol. 40 The vntrue reporte of the papists folio 43. They the worke for feare are lewde seruauntes fol. 44. The causes whye our good works do please God fo 47. The causes why we canne by our good workes merit no part of our saluation fo 51. The imperfection of our workes folio 57. The inestimable glorye of lyfe euerlastynge doeth cutte awaye all merites fo 59. To attribute any parte of the heauenly felicitye and glorye vnto the merits of men it is to be iniurious vnto the glory of the grace of God folio 62. The exposition of Daniels words folio 63. The diuersity that now is among Aungels shal ceasse at the generall resurrection of the righteous fo 67 To the parable of the talents fo eodē To the place of the .2 to the Cor. fo eo To the place of the .22 of Luc fo 99 The epilogus or cōclusion fo eod Three sortes of people althoughe thei do good works do not deserue the praise of wel doinge fo 73 The perfecte obedience of Christe is imputed vnto vs. foli 73. V. Vzah smitten of the Lord fo 39. Vayn shadowes of men fo 47 W. Why ther is a diuersity in the punishementes of the reprobate and non in the rewarde of the elect and chosen foli 65 Who thei be that can sing the new songe foli 70. Why the true electe are called virgines foli eodem What it is to folowe the lambe whether soeuer he goeth fo eodem Who the be that storme at the doctryne of predestination foli 2. We ought not for the feare of men to hyde the truth fol. 3 What scope or marke we oughte to shote at in settinge foorth the doctrine of iustification of fayth fo 3. What it is to be iustified by workes fo eodē What it is to be iustified by fayth folio 6. What fayeth Abraham was iustified by fo 7 What be the meanes whereby we are iustified or deliuered frome the state of dampnation fol. 11. What Paul vnderstandeth by the workes of the law fo 14. What they must do that wyll enioye the righteousnesse of Christe folio 15. What credyt ought to be geuen to the enemis of the truthe and what shamful ignoraunce thei be wrapped in fo 19. Whye the scrybes and Pharisees were vtter ennemies vnto the gospell fol. eodem Whye our greate rabbies wil not acknowledge theyr errour fo 20 We ar not deliuered frō our sins to this end that we should walow in them agayne fo 23. Why the Athenians woulde here Pauls doctrine fo 29. Why the spirit of Christ is geuen vnto them that be iustified fo 34. Whereof the enemies of the truth be ashamed fo eodem Why man was created fo 35. Why we be regenerate in Christ folio 36. Who they be that are offended at the doctrine of iustification of faith folio 36. Whiche be the true good workes that God doth require of vs. fo 41 Whye the good workes of mercye are set most chieflye foorth vnto vs folio eodem Whiche be the good workes that god hath prepared for vs to walke in foli 42. Whye all they that doe those good workes that God hath commaunded in his word do not deserue the prayse of well doing fo eodem Why fayth is likened to a sparke folio 45. Wherin our iustification doth consyste foli 5. What causeth Turkes and Paynimes to abhorre Christs religion folio 46. Whether our good workes be acceptable vnto God or not fo 47. Whether our good works shal be rewarded or not fo 49. We are all debters vnto god fo 51 Woorkes of supererogation are blasphemous and iniurious to the merits of Christ and therfore they oughte rather to be called workes of derogation fol. 55. Whereupon they grounde them selues that do appoynte diuersities or degrees of glorye in the lyfe to come foli 59. Here endeth the Table ¶ IMPRYNTED at London by Ihon Cysdale and are to be solde at his shoppe in the vpper ende of Lombard strete in Allhallowes churchyard nere vnto grace churche 1561.
The ouer throw of the iustification of workes and of the vain doctrin of the merits of men with the true assertion of the iustification of faith and of the good workes that procead or come of the same and in what respect our good workes are crouned or rewarded of God sette foorth dialoge wise by Iohn Veron Ephe. 2. Ye are saued by grace and that throughe fayth not of your selues it is the gyfte of God not of workes least any man shoulde glorye ¶ Newlye set foorthe and alowed accordynge to the order appoynted in the Quenes maiesties iniunctions Ano. 1561. TO THE RIGHT honorable Syr Iames Blount knight Lord Mont ioy c. Iohn Veron wisheth grace peace of conscience and encrease of Godlye honoure frome God the father throughe his sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. HEre haue I added right honourable Lorde vnto my treatises of predestination and of free wyll a small booke whiche I haue entituled The ouer throwe of the iustification of workes and of the vayne doctryne of the merites of men with the true assertion of the iustification of fayeth and of the good workes that do proceade of the same and in what respecte our good workes are rewarded or crouned of God because that these doctrines do so depende one of an other that they can in no wyse be separated or put a sunder onlesse we wyll wante the perfecte vnderstandinge of them all and so be blynde styll in the cheyfest and moste principall poyntes of oure relygion Of predestination howe frutefull and necessarye the doctrine of it is what so euer the swynishe gruntynge Epicures and carnall worldelinges doth saye to the contrary I wyl speake nothing nowe at this presente because that I am fullye determined by the healpe and assistaunce of the holye spirite of God shortlye to set foorthe an Apologye or defence of my doctrine touchinge that poynte of our religion beyng directed to the quenes maiestye vnto whome the treatyse therof is dedicated Neyther do I nede greatlye to speake of the doctrine of free wyll sythe that in the settinge foorthe of it I haue so tempered my style that I kepte my selfe alwayes within the lymites and boundes of Gods worde goinge neyther on the ryghte nor on the lefte hande but walkinge styll in that most sure and plain hyghe waye that the Patriarches Prophettes and Apostels wyth the Godlye aunciente wryters of the primitiue church had alreadye trodden or beaten vnto vs. Many obiections of the Popepelagians and free wyllmen of our tyme which neuer were touched before haue I fully answered in it as it shall playnlye appeare vnto them that wyll wyth a syngle eye and with an vprighte iudgement reade the whole treatise The only marke that I shoote at in all these woorkes is that the grace of God maye be throughlye magnified and the vayne gloryinge of men in theyr owne strength which all thinges beynge rightly considered and diligently wayed is nothinge at al beinge taken awaye the whole glorye of oure saluation shuld be geuen only vnto the mercy goodnes of our heauenly father ▪ who as by the death passion bloudshedding of his son Iesu Christ doeth fully saue vs so by his holye spirit he doeth regenerate vs and takinge awaye our stony heartes from vs he geueth vs fleshy hearts that is obedyente and treatable he maketh vs of vnwyllinge wyllinge ▪ of the bounde slaues of synne the seruauntes of his sonne Iesu Christ for to serue him in holynesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of oure lyfe and so brynginge vs in to the freedome of the children of God for where the spirit of the Lord is there is fredome he maketh vs to walke in those good workes that he hath prepared for vs to walke in Neyther can it iustely be sayed that eyther in my booke of predestination or in my booke of free wyll I did minister to any man occasion eyther to lyue lycentiouslye asthough it made no matter how they lyue that are by the immutable decree of God ordayned vnto lyfe euerlastinge or to beslacke in doynge of those good woorkes that are required of vs in Goddes booke Whiche all menne shall moste euidently see excepte they wyll be wylfullye blinde by this booke that now at this present I haue set foorth and dedicated vnto your honourable Lordship whom I see of all men to be most earnestlye geuen vnto good letters and moste principally to the study of the holy and sacred scriptures Which as it is a thinge verye rare amonge the greatest part of the noble men of our tyme so wyl it be a most precious ornamente bothe to you and to to the honourable stocke that ye come of For what greater cōmendacion can there be to suche as ye are than to haue a knowledge and vnderstandinge of the liberall sciences and of the tonges that they be written in and specially to be so acquainted wyth the infallible worde of God the onlye Antidotus or conterpoyson against all venimous sects and heresyes that ye shal at all tymes be able mightely to withstande all false and erroneous doctrines that by the procuremente of Sathane the deuyll the enemye of oure saluation haue heretofore rysen and doo daylye ryse in Christes church I do here let passe how muche good ye wyll do by youre good example vnto those that are of the basseste sort when they see your Lordship to be so seriously geuen to suche vertuous excercises it wyll be an wonderfull encoragemente vnto them and vnto the other that be of the same degree that ye are of or of an higher a marueylous prickinge forrewardes For if ther be any sparke or drop of Godly shamefastenes in them they wil blushe and be ashamed when they shall heare you grauely and learnedly to reason of highe matters of learninge and of the principall poynts of our religion to stand lyke domme and paynted ymages and able to saye nothinge Therfore go on styll as ye haue Godlye begonne beinge most sure that he which hath of his free mercy and goodnesse begonne this good worke in you by his holy spirit styrring vp your hearte to such Godly studyes wyll shortlye performe it and bringe to suche a perfect end that it wyl be not onely to your euerlastinge comforte but also to the vnspeakeable vtility vnd profit of your own naturall contrey I woulde haue declared brieflye what be the chiefest poyntes that I do entreate of in this my boke but because that the argumente of it is set foorth afore the beginninge of the whole woorke I haue thought it vnnecessarye Here therfore wyll I make an ende most humblye besechinge your good Lordship too take this my symple laboure in good parte not so much consideringe the smallnesse of the gyfte as the heart and pure good wyll or zeale of the geuer Thus the eternal and euerlasting god preserue bothe youre good Lordshippe and my good ladye youre wyfe wyth all youre Godlye famylye and household ¶ The argument of the whole boke FYrste