but lyue and shewe forth the workes of the LORDE The LORDE chastenynge hath chastened me and not delyuered me vnto deathe Open vnto me the gates of ryghtwysnesse and whan I am entred than shall I confesse the LORDE That is the gate of the LORDE and the ryghtwyse shall entre in thorow it All thys fayth and confydēce had de Dauid for he was sure fyxed vppon Gods promyses Whan his sinnes wolde oppresse hym than turned he vnto the LORDE and hys worde the whiche whan he trusted vnto he reioyced in the LORDE All this caused the worde that was beleued Yf he had ben weake in the faith he wolde haue thought continually that he muste be damned Wherfore he sayde Wythout the LORDE had holpen a lyttell whyle my soule shulde haue dwelled and abyden in hell Dauid sought none other comforte saue onely that he wolde fulfyll that vnto hym which he had promised him and beleuyng this he was conforted sayenge Thynke vpon thy seruaunt as concernynge y e worde wherin thou causedest me to put my trust that conforted me in my lowlynesse ye thy worde hath relyued me Herby may we discerne the true fayth namely that a man is fixed groūded vpon God and his word that is to saye that he shall and wyl geue so much as his promyse is y t y e synfull soule can be conforted therin or els is it not possible to knowe God in his goodnesse Yf God be not knowē in his goodnesse by his worde how shulde ony man reioyce in his goodnesse or conceaue ony hope to come to his mercy What tyme as the chyldren of Israel had synned greueously agaynste God murmurynge agaynste hym and so prouokynge hym to anger and after that worshippynge the golden calfe so y t he wolde haue destroyed the whole multitude of them Moses lyke a true and faythfull seruaūt of God seing that God was angry and beynge wyllynge to apeace his wrath agayne he knewe no nearer nor feater waye to reconcyle the people agayne vnto God than to offre a faythfull harte wherwith he dyd knowlege God to be mercyful kind and longesufferynge shewyng mercy in thousandes Moses was surely fixed vpon this grounde that is that the LORDE was mercyfull But seynge his mercy was turned in to wrath by reason of the multytude and greatnesse of the synnes he perceaued that it was not possible vnto mā to fynde grace by God Wherfore he beganne to admonyshe hym of his kynde and fatherly loue to remembre all that which he had promysed vnto Abraham Isaac and Iacob Thus was the LORDE pacyfied so that he dyd not the euell that he hadde spoken agaynste the people This hadde Dauid sene in spre◠that is that God in his wrath shulde remembre his conuenaunt sayenge My conuenaunt wyll I not breake nor disanull the thynge that is gone out of my lyppes Dauid wytnesseth of faythful Moses which brake and turned the wrath of God whan he admonysshed hym of his promyse The LORDE sayd he wolde haue destroyed the people hadde not his chosen and electe Moses stonde for them agaynst the mysdedes Whan the synnes be accomplysshed and the synner knoweth not whether to turne hym than is ther no counsell better then to submytte hym selfe before God praynge that he maye take his Godly worde to harte and to knowe therby what mercy and forgeuenesse God wyll shewe vnto the that trust in hym knowlege him by his fatherly loue The LORDE requyreth nought of vs for oure synnes but an heuy and contrite sprete a wyllynge harte to leaue synnynge and an hūgry soule to fulfyll the wyll of God More ouer whan we be moost forsaken and whan oure synnes and the iudgement of God do moost greuously oppresse vs then is it tyme for vs to knowe whiche be the true fayth whan we ought to haue our syght and mynde moost surest fixed vpon God Unto the synner is God mercyful wherfore sayeth Paul This is a true sayenge and by all meanes worthy to be receaued that CHRIST IESV came in to the worlde to saue synners of whom I am chefe Notwithstandynge for this cause optained I mercy y t IESVS CHRIST might pryncypally shewe in me all longe pacyence to the ensample of all thē whiche shulde beleue in hym vnto eternall lyfe Furthermore sayeth Paul Where abūdaūce of syn was there was yet more plenteousnesse of grace Nowe where true fayth cōmeth there shall it not be enquyred what ther is deserued or what a mā is worthy to haue or howe impossible it is for a man to come vnto the mercye of God For ther is nothyng in man that is worthye of mercyfulnesse and fayth beholdeth God onely and that whiche he hath promysed with hys worde and that the LORDE is mercyful and wyl shew mercy vnto all them that seke hym in the treuth Thys causeth the synner to conceaue an hope to optayne mercye by oure LORDE though to hymselfe it seme impossible Thys maye we se by Abrahā which beyng olde hūdreth yeares and Sara his wyfe foure score and ten herde that they shulde haue a sōne in theyr olde age Which thynge whan he herde it it semed vnto hym impossyble as it myght also to ony man for ther was no hope of ony frute But seing it was God that promysed it and that Abraham gaue fayth vnto the worde therfore dyd he hope contrarye to hope and beleued agaynst nature and thys fayth is rekened hym for ryghtwysnesse Not because of of hys workes nor because of the circumcisyon or vncyrcumcysyon but seynge he beleued he dyd geue God the glory and optayned mercye Thys is not onely written to know howe Abraham became ryghteous by hys faith but also for our instruccyon yf we beleue CHRIST dyed for oure synnes and is rysen agayn for oure iustyfycacyon Thys thyng earnestly beleued shal also saue vs for fayth consydereth onely howe much God maye and wyll geue of hys goodnesse Wherfore let vs that be faythful rest onely vpon CHRISTE IESV that hath saued vs although oure mysdedes be many and greate Let vs trust and leane harde to Gods worde it is ynough that God hath promysed it Thys doynge we be sure and may reioyce that we be come to the trewe fayth Thys fayth had Abraham He was promysed that thorowe hys sonne Isaac hys sede shulde so encrease as the starres of the skye After thys dyd God commaunde hym to offre the same sonne and to staye hym Abraham beynge stayed in God and his promise was redy to accomply she Gods wyll Thus is Abraham become ryghteous by the dede that is Abraham by thys worke hath testifyed and declared hys fayth to be good trewe before God thus be hys workes coūted ryghteous before God thorowe fayth As wytnesseth Saynt Iames Thys all is spoken now to knowe a trewe and good fayth namely Not onely to beleue God to be a mercyfull and good father but also to beleue that God
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
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
wonderfull gyftes O incoÌ„prehensible treasure How happy is y e man to whoÌ„ it is geueÌ„ to haue a perceuerauÌ„ce of thys Who came euer to hygher saluacioÌ„ Who reioyced euer more thaÌ„ he y e faÌ„d god wich loueth vs euen a father Fulfeatlye doth Salomon saye Sett me as a seale vpon thyne harte as a seale vpon thyn arme for loue is as mighty as the death gelousy as the hel Hyr coales are of fire a very flaÌ„me of the LORDE so that many waters are not able to quenche loue nother maye the streames drowne it Yee yf a man wolde geue all the goodes of his house for loue he shulde counte it nothynge He that confesseth that IESVS is the sonne of God in hym dwelleth God and he in God we haue knowen and beleued the loue that God hath to vs. God is loue he that dwelleth in loue dwelleth in god god in hym Herin is the loue perfect with vs that we shuld haue a fre boldnesse in the daye of iudgement Herby is the synful conscience coÌ„forted namely yf we can perceaue by fayth that the LORD wyl receaue the sinner to grace thorow his loue And agayn yf we haue made vs vnworthy of his loue then let vs humble ourselues before y e LORDE syghynge for our mysoedes and his loue shall conforte vs agayne Unto him that loued vs and clensed vs from synne by his bloude and hath made vs kynges and prestes namely vnto God and his sonne be glory prayse for all his goodnesse Amen Hetherto haue we sayde how well God loueth vs and how we maye truste in his loue Now shall we shewe that as God hath wrought and done great mercy vnto vs eueÌ„ so must y e same loue worke in vs also toward God our neghboure wherby loue is vttered what she is This namely is whan we rendre prayse honoure and than kes vnto y e LORDE God which hath made our hart wyllynge in his loue thorow the worde so that we beleue to receaue hym to knowlege his loue therin The loue of God doth worke so much in vs to our saluacyon as we can beleue and be persuaded that God loueth vs that we can reioyce in his loue onely beyng assured that we can optayne nother mercy nor fauout saue only thorow his loue y t whiche he declared so louyngly toward vs in suffring death Wherby we may be assured that he doth loue vs without gaynsaynge y t he wyll geue vs so muche goodnesse as he hath promysed by his worde As we knowlege our saluacyon redeÌ„pcion by his loue so shal we yelde hym only y e glory of our saluacyon Seynge he only is a geuer of al goodnes thorow his loue therfore ought we to glorye reioyce in hym onely He y t could vnderstande this duely in sprete by fayth y e same shuld rest vpoÌ„ CHRIST in al peaceablenes knowleging his saluacyoÌ„ to come by him only require mercy grace of hym onely For this cause wyll God thus declare his loue to vs y t we shuld know how to reioyce namely y t god loueth vs that we know our redeÌ„pcioÌ„ to be by his loue Wold God euery maÌ„ knewe y e power of y e loue y t god hath toward vs for then shulde we be euer prayeng and euer readyng scripture that we might learne how to knowe God in his loue by his word and to reioyce in hym For nother of God nor his loue are we assured inwardly saue onely by the worde where vnto we geue faith and credence And as the loue of God is in our harte and as we knowlege his loue perfectly so is oure harte agayne steared with loue towarde God beynge ready wyllynge to do all that is acceptable vnto hym that all loue thankfulnesse myght be recompensed him agayne which hath heaued and exalted vs so hyghly by hym thorowe great loue hereby do we know that God hath wrought a woÌ„derful glorious worke in vs. Seynge the ther is no goodnesse in maÌ„ therfore must all his dedes be assured and sealed with fayth yf they shalbe acceptable vnto god And in this fayth we shal beleue y t God doth worke in vs both to wyll and to fulfyll It is God y t hath accomplyshed the worke of saluacyon in vs. What worke of saluacyon that euer we can deuyse or requyre that hath CHRIST accoÌ„plysshed in vs. Yf we beleue this thorowe loue vtter it then are we iustified saued not for the dede or workynge but because we are ryghteous thorow fayth thefore be the dedes of loue or charite ryghteous also For a faythfull man doth alway beholde his owne ryghteousnesse in god ascrybyng to his goodnes only all honoure and vnto hym selfe nothynge but synne confusyon that God onely maye haue the glorye Paul doth demaunde saye What hast thou that thou hast not receaued yf thou haste receaued it why makest thou theÌ„ thy boast as thoughe thou haddest not receaued it Agayne sayeth Paul Suche trust haue we thorow CHRIST to God warde not that we are sufficient of our selues to thynke ony thynge as of our selues but our ablenesse commeth of God The LORDE also exhorteth vs by Ieremy saieng Let not y â— wyseman reioyce in his wysedome nor the stronge man in his strength nor the rych man in his ryches But who so euer wyl reioyce let hym reioyce in this that he vnderstandeth knoweth me for I am the LORDE which do mercy equyte ryghteousnesse vpon earth All these places testify that we must loke vpoÌ„ CHRIST beleuynge that we be saued only by his loue yf we couet to seke rest and peace in oure conscience Therfore doth Ieremy agayne speake confortably sayeng The mercyes of y e LORDE are not clene gone his louinge kyndnesse ceasseth not His faythfulnesse is great reneweth it selfe as the mornynge The LORDE is my porcyon sayeth my soule therfore wyll I hope in him O how good is the LORDE vnto theÌ„ that put theyr trust in hym to the soule y t seketh after hym Seyng now that God is alwaye workynge w t his loue therfore muste we coÌ„fesse and knowlege all our saluacyon to be onely by the workynge of his loue so doynge we geue hym onely the glorye of all the goodnes that is in vs. This loue shall stear our hartes to fulfyll the LORDES wyll cause man not to remayne ydle in y t loue where vnto y e worde of y e LORD doth exhort him so louyngly Loue coueteth to come to perfectnes desyryng alway to be so mynded iÌ„ loue to god ward as god by his loue is minded to vs hoÌ„geryng alway to be equall w t God in loue The spret exhorteth vs to end euoure vs thorow loue to please God euen as he thorowe his loue hath done well by vs. A oâ—e is mery coÌ„meth froÌ„ a ioiful hart For loue causeth a maÌ„ to
oure thoughtes wytte wyl shall be enployed howe we maye agayne tendre y e LORD al seruice loue thankfulnesse after that we know what vnoutspeakeable loue mercy is shewed vs by him It were vndoutedlye a greate losse yf god shuld loue vs for naught yf his loue shuld not worke in vs nor bryng forth the frutes of y ◠same or yf it shulde haue wrought no saluaciō in vs whereto god hath alwaye geuen it For than shuld god be ydle in vs w t his loue w t his holy word w t his goodnesse yee w t al his precious giftes Thā I say shulde not god haue ony glorye nor praise in vs for al y e benefites which we do possesse by his boūteous goodnesse By y e frutes may it be euident what a great act god hath wrought in a faithfull harte Therfore sayde CHRIST I am come to kindle a fyre vpō earth what wold I rather thā that it were kyndled alreadye Is not my worde fyre sayeth the LORDE and lyke an hammer that breaketh the harde stone It is sure a cōsumynge fyre bryngyng to naughte the iustes of y e fleshe and kyndlynge man to charitable dedes Thus muste it be workynge and maye not come agayn voyde as sayeth Esay As for the frutes of the spirite y t be wroughte by fayth in loue those maye we fele in oure selues Fyrste Yf we do reste vpon CHRISTE IESV onely reioycynge in hym onely trustyng to hys goodnesse onely the which he hath promised by his word Secondarly may we know thē by y e mortifycacion of the fleshe wyth hys desyres namely Yf we haue conquered oure selues by the loue of God and lyue nowe in all mekenesse and clenlynesse of harte Thyrdlye yf we be kyndled by the aforesayde loue w t mercye and kyndnesse to warde oure nedy neghbour To the which Pau doth exhorte vs sayenge Now therfore as the electe of God holye and beloued put on tender mercye kyndnesse humblenesse of mynde mekenesse longe sufferynge forbearinge one another and forgeuynge oue another yf ony man haue a quarell agaynst another Lyke as CHRIST hath forgeuē you euen so do ye also But aboue all thynges put on loue whiche is the bonde of perfectnesse And the peace of God rule in youre hartes to the whiche ye are called in one body se y t ye be thākful Loue couereth the multitude of synnes Hereby haue we perceaued loue y t he gaue hys lyfe for vs and therefore oughte we also to geue oure lyues for the brethren But he that hath thys worldes goode and seyng hys brother haue nede shutteth vp hys harte from hym howe dwelleth the loue of God in hym My lytle chylderen let vs not loue with worde nother wyth tunge but wyth the dede and with the treuthe And agayne Dearlye beloued let vs loue one another for loue cōmeth of God and euery one that loueth is born of god and knoweth God He that loueth not knoweth not God for God is loue We knowe that we are translated from death vnto lyfe because we loue the brethren He that loueth not hys brother abydeth in deathe Whosoeuer hateth hys brother is a manslayer And ye know that a man slayer hath not eternall life abyding in hym Iames sayeth that ther shal be iudgemente mercylesse to hym that sheweth no mercye CHRISTE in the daye of iudgemente shall verye rouglye requyre of vs y ◠dedes of charite Wherfore lyke a true watch man he doth admonyshe vs of hys loue that he myghte draw vs to the same sayenge Be ye therfore mercyfull as youre father also is mercyfull And agayne A newe commaundemente geue I you that ye loue together as I haue loued you euen so loue ye one another By thys shall euerye man knowe that ye are my dyscyples yf ye haue loue one to another By all these afore sayed places of scrypture doth the LORDE admonyshe vs howe we oughte so be lyke hym in loue For fayth doth declare herselfe openly by loue As God is the loue hymselfe euen so is man lyke vnto God yf he be louynge And as God of hys loue hath redymed vs wythout oure helpynge handes euen so must we vtter the same loue to our neghboures behofe He therfore that hath no loue to warde his neghbour how cā he haue ony goodnesse in him wherby he might be acceptable vnto god or wherin he may be equal w t god by loue He y t fulfylleth not it y t god hath commaunded howe shall he optayne it of god that which god hath promised It is loue y e causeth mā al y t he doth to to be acceptable vnto God Therfore speaketh Iames so muche of workes Fayth muste declare it selfe by dedes of charite not that the workes are an occasyon of oure ryghteousnesse for than shulde God be depryued of hys glorye the which maketh vs ryghteous in the fayth thorowe CHRISTE leste we shulde boaste oure selues but rather make oure boaste of CHRISTE IESV which maketh y e synner ryghteous by faith workinge loue in man Of thys treateth Paull very muche Whan workes come from a beleuynge harte than are they acceptable vnto God thorowe fayth the whiche a mā doth vtter by the workes of loue God loked fyrst vpon Abel and than vpon hys gyftes For thys cause sayeth Iames What auayleth it my brethren thoughe a man saye he hathe fayth whan he hath no dedes For sayth yf it haue no dedes is dead in it self Abraham is made ryghteous thorowe workes that is the workes were coūted ryghteous by faith and gaue testymonye that he hadde fayth what tyme he wolde haue offered hys sonne Isaac Therfore sayth scrypture Abraham beleued God and it was counted hym for ryghteousnesse For thys cause shall man searche and examine hymselfe whether he hath declared hys faythe by dedes of charite or not lest he deceaue hymselfe thynkyng to haue faith and loue whan he can talke and vtter many wordes of the same Who so therfore fyndeth himselfe without loue beynge yet fleshlye mynded grauntynge the fleshe hys requeste he I saye is not yet come to y e true faith Yf we now be come to the true loue than are we caried by death vnto lyfe and can reioyce duely in hym that loueth vs. For this cause sayde Paule We praye alwayes for you that oure God make you worthy of the callynge and fulfyll all delectacyon of goodnesse and the worke of fayth in power that the name of our LORDE IESVS CHRISTE maye be praysed in you and ye in hym accordynge to the grace of oure God of the LORDE IESVS CHRISTE I beseke the LORDE entierlye which is onely the geuer of al goodnesse that he wyll so lyghten and steare our hartes inwardly that we maye reioyce a ryghte in hys loue rendre hym agayn thākes prayse with a feruēt loue though oure synfull soules be not worthye of suche loue But
thys agayne is oure comforte namelye that the father hathe geuen vs CHRISTE the whiche hath geuen hymselfe ouer vnto the bitter death to declare hys excellent loue vnto vs that we myghte knowlege our saluaciō in his loue by faith accomplyshynge hys wyll and pleasure Unto hym that of his loue hath called vs so gentelye by hys worde vnto all mercye vnto hym I say be thankes prayse honoure and glorye both by vs and by all other creatures nowe and for euer Amen ¶ Hereafter shall we treate howe hurtefull the loue of the worlde is and howe we maye despyse it SEynge that we haue spoken so largely of the loue y e God hath towarde vs and howe stronglye the same loue worketh in vs we shall therfore now treate how daungerous worldlye loue is that is that ether the worlde loueth vs or that we loue it Whan man doth consydre the worlde and all that is therin than findeth he nought for hys soule to cōforte to rest or to satisfye herselfe in He that doth beholde the world duely maye se that it is hurtefull faydyng with all that belongeth thereto Yee al such as wil ether seke folowe loue serue or please y e world must stayne ioyne thē selues w t the same It is al vanyte vexacion of mynde that is vnder the skye What ioye or glorye shulde man fele inwardlye whan he consydereth that he serueth such a lord as bryngeth nought saue damnacion hel and sinne with him As the soule is noble and heauenly euen so can she fynde nothynge amonge these earthlye creatures wherein she myghte vse true glorye and ioye And seynge the soule cā refresh herselfe in nothynge that is transytory therfore must she forsake al creatures and knowledge God to be glotious in all that he hath declared and wroughte in hys creatures for he is wonderfull in hys power wysedome and goodnesse wherebye al creatures haue receaued theyr bewty growynge fashyon and lyfe The creatures call to vs sayēg We geue nothinge that may satisfye you saue onelye the eye syghte By vs may ye perceaue God to be wonderfull and glorious in all hys workes Yf ye re mayne and abyde w t vs and go not vnto God by vs For he wyll be knowen in his loue by vs than shal ye be restlesse surely seynge we geue nought wheron youre soules maye rest Yf man coulde consyder this dewly then shulde he se euidently y t he was neuer aryght conforted that sought to fulfyll his lust and pleasure in ony creature The worlde smyleth and promyseth a mā much but seynge ther is nothynge stable in it therfor can not it also geue ony thynge to rest vpon Thoughe all the worlde dyd loue vs yet shulde it not be profytable and auaylynge to our saluacyon but rather a stoppe or lette of the same makynge man vnworthy of the loue of God For God doth not poure his loue in that harte wherin the worlde with his loue is abydynge This wytnesseth saint Ihon warnyng vs lest we suffre vs to be begyled of the worlde sayeng Se that ye loue not y ◠world nother the thynges that are in the worlde Yf ony man loue the worlde the loue of the father is not in hym for all that is in y e worlde namely y e lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes the pryde of lyfe is not of the father but of the worlde And the world passeth awaye and the lust therof but he that fulfylleth the wyll of God abydeth for euer Iames confirmeth thys sayenge Who so euer wyll be a frende of the world is made the enemye of God This is the profyte that we haue by y e loue of the world namely that for the loue of the same we do become enemyes to God For this cause sayd Paule Yf I shulde yet please men I were not the seruaunt of CHRISTE The apostles also what tyme they were chosen and sundered they were hated of the worlde For it coulde not agre to be atone wyth God and to haue frendshippe wyth the world Yf ther shal be an atonement wyth y e world then muste ther be also a consente to his synfulnes And bycause that nother CHRIST nor his disciples were of the worlde nor consented to the lust of the same therfore doth he admonishe and conforte his disciples at his departynge sayenge Yf the world hate you thē knowe y e it hath hated me before you Yf ye were of the worlde the world wolde loue his owne Howbeit because ye are not of the worlde but I haue chosen you from the worlde therfore the worlde hateth you And the prophetes all though they were hated of y e worlde yet were not they sory for it For yf they wolde haue procured the loue of the worlde then shulde not they haue rebuked the synnes of y e world but lyued in synfulnesse with them and forsakē God nother shulde they haue reioyced in his spret The loue of God no doute ouercame the loue of the worlde This is euident in many patriarches prophetes and holy men and wemen y e which were al slayne for rebukyng of the world and because they folowed not the lustes of it as namely Abell Esay Ieremy Helyas Micheas Susanna Daniel with diuers other that haue bene slayne and persecuted of the worlde The world therfore is a wycked thynge for it geueth nought wherin mā myght reioyce by ony meanes but his rewardes be synne hell and damnacyon and itselfe is altogether set on wyckednes The nature of man is cōmunely such that it is chaunged in to it where his loue is moost set on But what ioye can a man vse in that thynge that is wycked of itself The worldly wysedom coulde not brouke CHRIST nother coulde the worldly holynesse rendre all glorye vnto CHRIST only Yee because CHRIST dyd rebuke wyckednesse and fayned holynesse therfore rose y ◠worldly men agaynst CHRIST and haue determined to slaye hym This one thynge myght of ryght open the eyen of many men Seynge the loue of y e world was neuer good nor profytable how myght we then get ony goodnesse by fulfyllyng his lustes as Paul sayeth What frute had ye at that tyme in those thinges wherof ye are now ashamed for the ende of suche thynges is death O death how bytter is the remēbraūce of the to a man that seketh rest and comforte in his substaunce and ryches for death is the rewarde of syn Whan lust hath conceaued she bringeth forth synne and synne whan it is fynyshed bryngeth forth death Whan a man now hath well cōsydered the worlde and begynneth to perceaue that it is nothynge but vanite and hartes grefe then beginneth he to withdrawe his hart from it Wherfore yf he can then praye to God entierly and hartely he shall se how glorious and nobell he is esty med in the syghte of God namely that he is a vessel of synne where as God notwithstandynge hath created