where was his sword now wher was his heart when the maid moued him this questioÌ„ art not thou one of this mans disciples what had he then to answer he made then a flat deniall of hys maister he was none of his disciples he knewe no suche man as Christe was and nowe was it tyme for the cocke to crowe for Peter to fall a weeping and a howling there was Christe left alone and giuen ouer on euery side for the shéepe they were all dispersed Now that guiltlesse Lambe with what a sorte of wicked wolues was he beset There was Annas the fyrste Caiphas the high Prieste Pilate the president there was the assembly of Scribes the â—ocke of Pharisies but thankes be to God the heauenly father his Christe had pacience ynough for them all There was in that Lambe bloude ynough for those greedy wolues the rulers and gouernors there were bones ynough for those hungrie dogges the Scribes and fleshe to satisfie that swarme of adders the Pharisies for all those there was pacience ynough with our suffring sauiour being ready to beare what soeuer burthen they might deuise to oppresse him wythall for they bounde him they made a scorne and a mock of him turning him into a strange disguised apparell platting a crowne of thornes vpon his heade adding thereto thorny and gauling wordes beyng haled and tossed to and fro betwixt Pilate the Priestes and the people one crying on this side beholde the man in dispite of his omnipotent godheade on the other syde another company crying hayle Kyng of the Iewes in contempt of this eternall kingdome and yet for further tryall of his pacience some blindfelded hym some buffetted him some moste shamefullye spued theyr spettle on his face then was hée tormented also wyth Pylates bitter scourge yet no resistance made Christ remedie was pacience but that was not thought ynoughe neyther scourging woulde not serue therefore he muste bée committed againe to the handes of Pylate hée muste be examined witnesse is sought and false witnesse is brought in agaynst the truth it selfe yea although Pylate himselfe coulde not but thus depose for his innocencie saying and repeating it often I finde no fault in hym wherefore yet thys friendship was shewed of Pylate that the people contented he shoulde bée let loose according to the custome of the Iewes This was the greatest curtesie that Christe founde he was set agaynste Barrabas an holy God compared wyth a wicked murtherer for so did Pylate put it to the peoples choyse saying Wil ye that I let loose vnto you Barrabas or Iesus whiche is called Christ naye if Christ should haue nowe bene let at libertie then had the Priestes his enimies froÌ„ the beginning lost al their labor wherfore Mathewe reporteth that they counselled the people to quite Barrabas and to aske Christ to be crucified wherefore the sauing and condemnation being referred vnto them when they cried for Barrabas that he might be saued then Pylate speaking somwhat fauourably as he durst on Christes part sayd what shall I do then with Iesus the answere was let him be crucified And Pylate demaunding again what euill hath he done That question might not be heard bycause it coulde not be aunswered but the more they cryed away with him crucifie him This was that rufull crie that Christe was content to heare for all the loue of God that was and shoulde be declared by him towardes the worlde he had this rewarde crucifie him nothing but crucifie him After this hard sentence as a lamb to the slaughter so was our Sauioure led out of the Citie to the place of his executioÌ„ hauing the coÌ„panie of his Crosse and bearing it part of the way himselfe Now must our Sauiour be serued as the Serpent in the wyldernesse he must be lifte vp to the crosse beholde he drinketh the cup of that curse Cursed is he that hangeth on the trée This is the true represented Isaacke that humbleth himselfe to the aultar a sacrifice for sinne and the Lorde suffereth that bloudy knife withdrawn froÌ„ Isaack to fall vpon his onely begotten sonne and to pierce his precious bowelles that the water mought runne out whiche shoulde washe away the sinnes of his people O Christians O men and brethreÌ„ this was ours by right but Christe is contented to beare our burthen he is contented to dye to dye the death the shamefull deathe the cursed death of the bitter crosse Nowe beholde the Lamb of God that taketh away the sinnes of the worlde O thou sonne of man sée what the sonne of God suffereth for thy sake sée how he is tormented let his panges enter a little into thy hart that thou mayste consider the loue of God towardes thee lette that pitifull scricke of our Sauiour alwayes ring in thyne eare as when he cryed my God my God why hast thou forsaken me for so did the sorrowes of death gripe him as thoughe he had indéede bene forsaken of his father wherefore he suffered him to be layde in the graue also that he might tast of al our infirmities as well vnder the earth as aboue howbeit nowe was it time for the Lord God to gloryfie his sonne in the heauens which had glorified him on the earth wherefore he might not leaue the soule of his dearely beloued in the graue nor suffer his holye one to sée corruption but hath raysed him vp to his ryght hande there to reigne with glorie vntil he make his enimies and our enimies if we be true Christians his footestoole and thus with the glorie of Christe doth the loue of God fully appeare towardes vs for in all this hath God and his Chryste sought our saluation for the sonne of man came for no other purpose but to saue that which was loste and by these meanes in summe hathe he atchieued the ende of his message he was deliuered to deathe for our sinnes and rose againe for our iustification The tvvelfth Chapter ¶ How only faith wrought in vs by the spirit of God and grounded vpon the word of God maketh vs partakers of the fruit of Christes death THus is that worthy worke finished Nowe may Abraham reioyce with ful ioy for his promised séede is performed and he hath poured out his blessing moste plentifully vpon his faithfull children now is Adam truly made vp a new creature thus far is he in the fauor of God that he hath sent his only begotten son to purchase him his pardon God said in his indignation thou shalt die the death but so hath the sonne pleased him that he nowe cryeth thou shalt not perishe but haue life euerlasting Nowe shalte thou liue for so God loueth thée that Christ hath dyed in thy stead now mayst thou stand vpright for so God loueth thée that his Chryste hath falne for thee Chryste is rysen and beholde he so loueth thée that he offereth his gentle hande to rayse thée togyther with himselfe he hath deceyued the serpent
saued Christ by his resurrection hath purchased to himselfe an euerlasting kingdome and wée rysing in hym by faith are ioyned in that purchase Christ by nature is the sonne of God so are wée of his grace by fayth finally Christ is altogither ours by fayth which doth incorporate all Christians into his misticall bodie Christ as Saint Paule sayth is our peace howe but by fayth as he sayth we beeing iustified by fayth haue peace wyth God and the Apostle sayeth that the righteousnesse of Christ is our righteousnesse and howe is that but by fayth Chrystes holynesse is our sanctification his iustice is our iustification all this commeth by none other meanes than as Saint Paule declareth when Christe dwelleth in oure heartes by fayth we are filled wyth all fulnesse of God suche then is the force of fayth that wyth this one counter we may shortly cast the whole summe of oure saluation For art thou not deade to God but lyuest vprightly before him in holynesse and righteousnesse then haste thou fayth for the iust lyueth by fayth Art thou wicked and sinfull no marueyle if thou hast not fayth for whatsoeuer is not of fayth is sinne thys is the roote we are the trées the rest as oure good workes they are but flowers and fruites Nowe suche as the roote is suche is the trée and such as the trée is suche is the fruite for Christ maketh no more differences of trées and fruites but as in the Gospell Either make the trée good and his fruit good or else make the trée euill and his frute euill and what is that that maketh this difference but fayth the roote of all righteousnesse for vnlesse by this meanes we be truly graffed in Christ the true vine all that we doe it were as good vndone as good neuer a whit as neuer the better we make but wood for the fire it is in effect nothing but as hée sayth without me ye can do nothing and our workes whatsoeuer shew they haue if they be not rooted in Christ by fayth they are neither figges nor grapes but verie thornes and thistles well may they grow for a while but they may not flourish long euen as herbes that growe in the shadowe neuer well weathered with the warme sunne or rather as the grasse on the house top which lacketh his roote and therefore although it springeth in the Sommer season yet it soone withereth in the Winter and the mower neuer filleth his hand withal Let those then that séeme fruitful in good workes consider of what roote that springeth for the beleeuer worketh well moued by fayth and his fruite is life euerlasting but the misbeléeuing hypocrite he worketh of glory and he hath his rewarde missing farre of the right marke of righteousnesse all that he maketh is marred for lacke of beléefe his works are naught but bare leaues of the fruitlesse figge trée they are but paintings and shadowes mockings and apish toies in cōparison of that iustice of the iust liuing by faith for what is he that flourisheth neuer so much in his painted grapes and wel coloured fruites which is able to please God vnlesse he be a true trée planted of the heauenly father in the faith of christ what fruit is it that God will allowe vnlesse it be fet by fayth of the true vine doest thou fast well done if it be done in fayth doest thou giue almes to the poore doest thou breake thy bread to the néedie doest thou cloth the naked and succour the harbourlesse Good fruites verily therefore belike they come of a good trée whose roote is fayth watered with the precious bloud of our Sauiour Doest thou withdrawe thy handes from iniurie then doest thou beleeue of likelihood doest thou suffer wrong with pacience a good signe it is that thou art alreadie iustified by fayth and all those with such like good works of men of themselues they are not meritorious but with fayth they are acceptable for so generally speaketh the Apostle without fayth it is vnpossible to please God. Marke this infidelitie hath with it an impossibilitie but contrariwise if thou haue fayth feare not for that bringeth a possibilitie so large is the promise of Christ speaking to the beléeuers Nothing shall bée vnpossible vnto you O great is the force of fayth as the whiche to withstande it is impossible a little fayth is muche worth and will go farre yea although it be but as much as a grayne of Mustarde séede it shall plucke vp the rootes of sinne yea let the diuell cast vp Mountaynes agaynst vs yet will it haue his frée course and may not be seuered from Christ whatsoeuer standeth in the way it is whole in sicknesse frée in bandes strong in torments it shyneth in darkenesse it dyeth not with death it is cast into the waters and perisheth not it is tried in the fiery fornace and yet wasteth not it is troden downe but it ryseth againe it is assaulted but neuer yéeldeth it is wounded but yet getteth the victory Such as Chryst is such is the fayth of the Christian Christ is the body fayth is the shadow where so Christ goeth there faith fayleth not to followe It is no earthly thing but as Chryst came from the hyghe heauens so is that the heauenly gift of the holy Ghost Where Christe is occupied fayth is not ydle when Chryste worketh myracles in the body fayth worketh saluation in the soule when Christe vttered the worde fayth printed in the heart whē he fed the body with bread he fed the soule with faith the spittle was the meane to heale the eye but faith the instrument to saue the soule fayth hath his course with Christ in al places to al purposes it folowed Christ to the temple to the mountaine it was with him in the fielde in the house on the Sea on the lande it abydeth with him in temptations in torments it suffreth the scourge with him it hangeth on him on the crosse it goth into the graue with him it riseth with him it foloweth him through the clouds as it were with the wings of an Eagle entring the heauens after him there findeth foode to féede on where Christe suffreth hir to hang on his brest and to sucke of his precious bloud vntill she be satisfied Thus is faith exalted that it taketh vp hir place in the high heauens and is still so far in fauour with God that it can no rather call but it is heard no rather aske but it obtaineth no soner seeke but it findeth no rather knock but it is opened vnto hir So doth fayth worke for the beleeuer for he is the beloued of god to him is the sonne sent he receiueth the sonne Christe is his Sauiour the death of Christ is his life Christ taketh him vp with him in his Resurrection Christ is altogither his and who maye resiste him for God so loueth him that by Christ he shall not perishe but haue life euerlasting The
of offence that rocke it is that shattereth our shippes that shooteth vs on the sandes but the anchor of fayth fast fixed on the sure ground Christ hauing holde by his worde that neuer deceyueth him that hopeth for helpe that saueth vs sounde from storme and tempest from all winde and weather he maketh sure worke that worketh by the worthie and sure instrument of fayth and he buildeth once for all that hath Christ laid for his foundation directing himselfe alway by the right rule of his worde for they that come to that liuely stone they are a spirituall house as Saint Peter sayth yea they are the sure grounded and glorious temple of the liuing God thus then we being builded vp by faith casting anchor on Christ nowe let the floudes aryse let the windes blowe yet stande we sure for we beléeue in him that will sée we do not perishe those that are in that raging sea of the wilde wicked worlde they séeme to stande in great daunger of shipwracke but if we enter the Arke by fayth with Noe for S. Paule attributeth his fauour vnto fayth then let the Pyrates come let Satan assaulte vs yet are we harmelesse Christ is on oure syde what maye preuaile against vs not sands not Rockes not stormes nor tempestes no windes ne floudes nor fire nor water no not all the power of Satan not the gaping gates of hell shall moue vs a whitte Such commoditie doe those finde that be so happie as to enioy the inestimable iewell of faith but those that haue no experiēce hereof and féele not the force of faith they make light of the matter not séeking Christ by faith nor faith by his word and therfore no marueyl though they be stil ouershadowed with death being in darknesse comprehended not the light howe should they beléeue except they heare fayth commeth by hearing hearing of the word of god They then that haue lost their hearing howe shoulde they finde fayth where the séede of the worde is not sowne how shoulde the fruite of fayth spring howe may they enioy Christ or any part of his loue that receyue not his witnesses The Scriptures sayth Christ they beare witnesse of mée These things sayth S. Iohn meaning the contents of the Gospell are written that ye might beléeue that Iesus is Christ the son of God and that in beléeuing ye myght haue lyfe through his name Wherefore vnderstande ye that vpon this double point standeth the whole course of oure saluation art thou in the right waye therefore then it is bicause thou hast followed the counsell of our sauiour saying searche the scriptures Art thou out of the way The cause learne of Christ ye are deceyued not knowing the Scriptures This is the marke wherewith Christ marketh his shéepe by the voyce we know our shepeheard and by hearing we are knowne of him my shéepe heare my voyce sayth that good shepeherd and I knowe them and they followe mée Thus knowe where we haue to fetche fayth that wée bée not to séeke on this sid◠where we finde also howe God loueth the worlde in prouiding so mercifullye the lyuely foode of his worde that our soules faint not in fayth but let vs treade a little deeper in thys matter and that wée maye value faythe somewhat neere the worthie pryce it shoulde beare with vs let vs consider howe the market goeth with vs let vs consider in what case wée stand then shall we see what seruice faith will doe vs first this we knowe that we haue but borrowed breath and that lying in our nostrelles as the scripture speaketh our life what is it but a plaine warfare wherein we haue either to yéeld or to ouercome we vnderstande with what enimies we are beset as that wily witch the world the prowde swelling fleshe euer rebelling agaynst the spirit the serpent and his seede dayly spetting out his fierie flames and venimous poyson vpon vs Satan I meane that ramping roring Lion continually séeking and searching how to deuour vs Now he that must abide the brunt of such a battell and hath to encounter with so fierce and cruell aduersaries as whome we sée dayly murthering many a soule it is necessarie that such a souldiour shoulde go well appoynted to the fielde Wherefore in this behalfe it shall be good we follow the counsell of Saint Paule who speaketh not without booke but of experience for hée fought a good fight his councell is that we put on the armour of God and this is the furniture that he appointeth for to arme suche a Souldiour as we seeke He wisheth our loynes to be gyrded with veritie hauing on the breastplate of righteousnesse oure féete being shod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace But aboue all sayeth he take vnto you the shield of faith wherewith ye may quenche all the fierie dartes of the wicked and Saint Iohn likewise strong in the spirite he giueth vs good instruction and warneth vs whiche waye we may winne the fielde All that is borne of God sayth he ouercommeth the worlde and this is the victorie that ouercommeth the worlde euen our fayth then he addeth this question with his answere who is it that ouercommeth the worlde but he whiche beleeueth that Iesus is the sonne of God And S. Peter also when he had declared what an aduersarie we haue of the deuill as that lyke a roaring Lyon he séeketh to deuour vs then maketh he this exhortation shewing howe we may stande agaynst the assaultes of Satan resist him sayth he stedfast in the fayth Thus is fayth commended vnto vs of all hands as a shielde to defende vs in all assaultes and as a sure tryed weapon to conquere and beate downe to the dust the diuell the worlde and all that stande agaynst vs it is Christ in déede that hath gotten the victorie but suche is his loue he dothe not enioy it alone but he giueth vs part also Thus he comforteth vs lyke a captayne of courage be of good chéere for I haue ouercommed the worlde He fought the fight indéede he hath taken the fort but he giueth vs the spoyle and is content that his victorie be accounted our victorie so speaketh Saint Paule acknowledging the loue of God therein Thankes be to God sayth he which hath giuen vs victorie through our Lorde Iesus Christ and howe hath Christ giuen vs the victory but as he sayeth fayth quencheth the fierie dartes of the wicked and as Saint Iohn sayth our faith in Christ ouercommeth the worlde and as Saint Peter exhorteth by stedfastnesse of fayth to resist the Deuill Suche is the marueylous vertue of true beliefe that by it we enioye all the fruites whiche spring so plenteously oute of that flourishing roote of Ishai for Christ had subdued sinne so haue wée by fayth in Christe Christe by death hath ouercommed death so haue we by faith Christ is proued by suffering a Sauiour and wée by fayth are