Father in heauen Iohn 6.56.57 And againe Faith is the ladder that reacheth vp to heauen and by which euen nowe we remayne and sitte in the heauenly places with Christ Ephe. 2.6 Faith is the hand by which we take holde of Christe in whome is performed all the promises of God to his elect 2. Cor. 1.20 Faith is that weapoÌ„ by which we ouercome the world the end wherof is the saluatioÌ„ of our soules Faith is a cleare and effectual persuasion wrought not in the bodily eares but in the eares of the heart not by men but by the holy ghost wherby we are made certaine and sure to be the sonnes of God Faith as it is written in the. 8. Cha. to the Rom. is a firme coÌ„stant and perseuering trust in the bouÌ„tifulnes of God Faith is a lyght which lyfteth vp rauisheth aboue all sensible things and beyond that any man is not able to make discourse to comprehende the breadth length height and depth of those things which are to vs incomprehensible with naturall eyes Faith is a cleere eye of the mind wherewith pearcing through the heauens we doo see the diuine secretes of God Faith is a quickening cleere and fiery lyght which purgeth our heartes and delyuereth vs from the darke and inextricable Laborinthes of the vaine shadowes of this worlde by which we guide our blinde reason and are lyfted vp to an high estate so that by the taste of heauenly thinges we despise humane thinges Roma 4. Faith maketh vs to conceiue Christe spirituallie and by force of the spirite to be borne againe with lyfting vs vp vnto God it maketh vs put of the olde Adam and his concupiscences and to put on Christe with his vertues and to become of vngodlie iust temples of God and his chyldren brothers and members of Christe Faith iustifieth pacifieth the minde and conscience maketh merie causeth to reioyce and in such sort that we glory euen in shame This faith is such that it reneweth vs regenerateth vs quickeneth maketh noble enritcheth saueth sanctifieth preserueth defendeth and obteyneth that which it demaundeth Faith knitteth vs to God maketh vs his heyres and Children the brothers of Christe and his members yea it maketh vs diuine and happy Faith is that which in Abell made him offer Sacrifices acceptable to God In Noe caused him to frame the Arke for the sauegarde of the worlde Made Sara to conceyue and that Abraham offred his owne sonne to God Caused Moses to worke so many woonders in Egipt and in the wyldernesse Faith made the Prophets to speake loosed the tongue of Zacharias and saued men in daunger made Simeon not to feare death also made Paule to wishe for it This in the Saintes caused them ouercomming the world that they haue wrought woonderfull thinges through looue But what néede I speake any more Faith is a vertue so noble excellent and woorthy that howe much the more a man considereth of it so much the more wyll it discouer the perfection Therefore he which hath tasted it wyll neuer be satisfied with speaking in prayse thereof Whereas those which neuer haue felt nor tried it in them selues can as much speake thereof as one that is blinde can discerne of coullours yea if those speake of it as those which be carnall and brutishe they doo not vnderstand it nor knowe the excellencie thereof He that hath this liuely Faith wherof the scripture in sundry places speaketh and so highlie commendeth with so many tytles before specified he is sure to be iustified he is sure to be saued This faith made Abraham righteous Gen. 15.6 By this faith the iust lyueth Haba 2.4 This faith made the woman whole to whome Iesus sayde Confide filia fides tua saluam te fecit Daughter be of good comfort thy faith hath made thee whole 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Be not afrayde Saith Luke in the â—â— Chapt. 48. verse Beleeue onely And he sayde to the woman H 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thy Fayth hath saued thee goe in peace To him giue all the Prophetes witnesse That through his name all that beleeue in him shall receyue remission of sinnes Actes 10.43 And put no difference betwéene vs and them after that by fayth hee had purified theyr heartes There is no dyfference For all haue sinned Sayth Saint Paule Roma 3.23 and are depriued of the glorie of GOD and are iustified freelie by his grace through the redemption that is in Christe Iesus Therefore wée conclude that a man is iustified by Faith without the workes of the Lawe but to him that worketh not but beléeueth in him that iustifieth the vngodlye his Faith is coumpted for ryghteousnesse wée béeing iustified by Faith wée haue peace towards God through Iesus Christe Knowe that a man is not iustifyed by the workes of the Lawe but by the Fayth of Iesus Christe Euen as I saye we haue beleeued in Iesus Christe that we might be iustified by the faith of Iesus Christe and not by the workes of the Lawe Because that by the workes of the Lawe no flesh shall be iustified Gala. 2.16 Againe if righteousnesse be by the law then Christe dyed without a cause And that no man is iustified by the lawe in the sight of God it is euident For the iust shall liue by faith Gala. 3. By grace are ye saued through faith Sayth Paule to the Ephe. 2.8 and that not of your selues it is the gifte of God The scripture hath included all vnder sinne that the promise by the faith of Iesus Christe should be giuen to them that beléeue Origene writeth in his thirde Booke and third Chapter to the Romaines that Saint Paule by these wordes A rbitramur enim iustificari hominem absque operibus legis We suppose therfore that man is iustified by faith without the workes of the lawe Affyrmeth that the iustification Solae fidei Of faith onely is sufficient so that any man beléeuing onely can be iustified although no manner of worke hath béene fulfilled or done by him And if we require an example who was iustified Sola fide By faith onely without workes I suppose that the same Théefe dooth suffise who when he was crucified with Christe did crye vnto him froÌ„ the Crosse Lord Iesu remember me when thou commest into thy kingdome Neither any good worke of his is described or set foorth vnto vs in the Gospels but for HaÌ„c solaÌ„ fideÌ„ This faith onely Iesus sayde vnto him Verelie I saye vnto thee this daye shalt thou be with mee in Paradise This Théefe then was iustified by faith with out the workes of the lawe For the Lord dyd not vpon this requyre what he had wrought before neyther dyd he looke what worke he should doo after he did beléeue but béeing ready to enter into Paradise he tooke him for his waighting-man béeing iustified by that confession onely Hesichius in his fowrth Booke and first Chapter vpon Leuiticus saith That the grace of God is giuen onely of mercie and fauour and is embraced
the auncient Fathers much to blame who in setting downe the Articles of our Creede dyd neglect and lightly passe ouer this vpstart Article of the Romish sea that where we be commaunded to beléeue one Catholique and Apostolique Church they dyd not in manner commaund vs to beléeue the Romaine Church withall Héereby you perceyue well enough my fréendes into what combersome straights and absurdities the Papistes haue hurled them selues by their blinde and vnaduised rashnesse For first if no certaintie of saluation be to be hoped for out of the Church which Church must be without all question that same verie Church of Roome as they frame theyr argumentes and that the Church of Roome be none other but the same which is strained and straighted to the vniuersall commaundementes and decrées of the Bishoppe of Roome Nowe then they doo exempt out of the priuiledge of the Church not onely this our English nation but together with them also they doo exclude out of the number of the Catholique Church infinite other famous learned Clarks of the auncient and pure age of the Church as Doctors Patriarches and Bishoppes yea amongst these also all the Bishoppes of Roome as many as were Gregories predecessors But what néede many proofes in a matter of it selfe so manifest and well knowne Vndoubtedlie sithens Christe would vouchsafe to lay the first foundation yea and to build vp that beautifull and euerlasting building of his owne house vpon none other ground worke then vpon that corner stone of Christian faith and Christian confession And if Paule doubted nothing to recoumpt the same faith to be the only and infallible shoote-Ancker of saluation By what Lawe then will the Pope adiudge them as out-castes worthy to be banished from the Catholique and Apostolique Church which professe the selfe same faith of Christe that the Apostles and other Catholique Churches dyd professe Why should the Papistes thus cruelly deale with the Christians for following Christe and his Apostles Why should they thus furiously persecute the godlie burne them or consume them in prison for denying the Romaine Church to be the holie Catholique Church Séeing that no mention thereof is made to be such a Church as the Papistes would haue it to be throughout all the Scriptures But we gather by the Scriptures that the Church of Roome is the Church of the deuill for if the Church of Roome were the true Church of Christe Christes sheepe heare his voice But the Church of Roome heareth not his voyce but heareth rather the voyce of Courtezanes therefore it is not the true Church but the Sinagogue of Sathan Shee wryteth in her coyne That Kingdome and people that doo not obey mee shall be rooted out contrarie to that the Kinges of Nations beare rule ouer them but ye shall not so doo therefore shée is not the true Church Ambrose sayth That the true Church is the Mother of the liuing But those that be in this Church are dead for they haue no faith because they haue no knowledge therfore this Church is not the true Church Shée committeth idolatrie and spirituall adulterie many wayes therefore shée is not the holie Catholique Church The Church of Roome numbers her multitudes as Dauid nūbred his Souldiors and therfore shée is not the holie Catholique Church These Papistes are like Cockles they carry theyr house about with them so doo they theyr Church Aspalathus will not growe but in Boetia ye kill these men if ye take away the couerture of the Church of Roome This Church is the ritch Arras that couereth all her faultes follies But admit good people that we were wunderfull hūble obediēt to this Church and most willing to come againe as foolishe Béetles to the shirt of this Church and to aske of her questions and demaundes I protest before heauen and earth and the founder of them bothe that I thinke it not good we should be holde in asking for the great imminent daunger in her aunswering For if we aske Whether Iesus be Christe or no This Romishe Church giueth out her aunswere That the Bishop of Roome is the high Preest and that the sayde Bishoppe hath the strength of the kingdome of Christe and the infallible veritie of a Prophete And therefore they allowe to ouer rule Christe by adding and taking too and fro his woorde If we aske If Christe were the onely oblation offered once vp for all for the sinnes of the world Her aunswere is verie daungerous That the Masse is a sacrifice for the quicke and the dead And shee falleth into commendation of her wheaten God and dooth attribute the health of the world to that abhominable bread and Idoll If we aske her If Christe be her intercessour to God Shée aunswereth vs most wickedlie Iure Matris imperat That Christe forsoothe shall commaund his Father by the right of his Mother If we aske her Of the state and condition of man since the fall of Adam Shée aunswereth That hee may ouertake heauen of him selfe and well enough by him selfe worke out his owne saluation Aske her What faith is And shee wyll tell of an implicite thing and of a generall faith and to be holden fast by that hand there shée kéepeth silence and is as spéechlesse as a Fishe If we aske her What the Lawe is Shée ladeth our shoulders with the heauy Ceremonies of Judaisme and Paganisme If we aske her What the Gospell is Shée maketh voide Gods promise with her owne Iustice If we aske her Of good workes Shee aunswereth iust lyke Saint Lukes Pharasie Then againe shée deuiseth good workes to be thus to hyre certayne men for money to pray and to mumble vp much quantitie of Psalmes in a couert tongue to kéepe huge troughes of Ling and Saltfishe many yéeres to waxe spéechlesse with seldome speaking to waxe lame with much sitting to vse many knottes in theyr gyrdles and many windowes in theyr showes to be buried in Monkishe wéedes and Nunnishe Cowles c. If we aske her Of the number of Christes Sacramentes Shee aunswereth That there be seuen Without Scripture shée hath added fiue to Gods two as though God hath let her his two Sacramentes to vsurie If we aske her Whether we goe after this life Shée telleth vs of Virgils Platoes and Mahomets Purgatorie If we should say vnto her Fayre Church of Roome whether is thy belooued gone Shée would say He went in his body to harrowe hell And then I wyll aske her Howe she can aunswere to Signum Ionae et signum Lazari The signe of Ionas and the signe of Lazarus that Christe should be three dayes in his graue If we would say Fayre Church of Roome whether is thy belooued gone Shée wyll say To heauen But then shée dreameth grosely of heauen as Mahomet and besides that in euerie hyll Alter and grone Alter shée wyll saye Here is Christe and there is Christe The more shée aunswereth the more shée aunswereth of lesinges Vneath hath shée nowe these many long yéeres aunswered any
and receyued Sola fide by onely fayth Hierome vpon the tenth Chapter to the Romaines They not knowing that God iustifieth Sola fide by Faith onely and suppose them selues to be iust by the workes of the lawe which they neuer obserued they would not submit them selues vnto the remission of sinnes least they should seeme to haue beene sinners Hillarie in the ninth Canon vpon the. 8. of Mathewe It mooueth the Scribes that sinne was forgiuen by man for they dyd onely beholde man in Christe Iesu and that to be forgiuen of him which the lawe could not release Fides enim sola iustificat For faith only iustifieth Basill in his Homilie of Humility That at length is a perfect and sound reioycing in God when a man dooth not bragge and boast of his owne righteousnesse he is iustified Sola fide By faith onely in Christe Thus haue I recited bothe Scriptures and Doctours for proofe that a man is iustified onely by Faith more places out of the Scriptures and Doctours might be gathered But these may suffise for this matter ¶ Of Free wyll I Wyll prooue bothe by Scriptures and Doctours that frée wyll was giuen vnto man euen before his fall after his fall That man had frée wyll before his fall these testimonies of the Scriptures alleadged doo testifie the same In Genesis the first Chapter and 26. verse there it is written Et ait Deus faciamus hominem ad imaginem et similitudinem nostram et praesit piscibus maris et volatilibus caeli et bestijs vniuersaeque terrae omnique reptili quòd mouetur in terra God sayd let vs make man in our owne Image according to our likenesse and let him rule ouer the Fishes of the sea and ouer the Fowles of the heauen and ouer the Beastes and ouer all the earth and ouer euerie thing that creepeth and mooueth on the earth If hee had rule ouer the Beastes of the féelde of the Fowles of the ayre and of the Fishes of the Sea he had then frée wyll And whereas it is written That God made man to his own image It is not meant of the body nor yet of the soule but of principallitie dominion In the. 2. Chap. of Gen it is written Tulit ergo Domnus Deus hominem et posuit eum in Paradisum voluptatis vt operaretur et custodiret illum praecepitque ei dicens ex omni ligno Paradisicomedes Then the Lord God tooke the man and put him into the garden of Eden that he might dresse it and keepe it and the Lord God commaunded the man saying thou shalt eat freely of euerie Tree of the garden By these words I gather that séeing it was graunted by God to man to eate of euerie Trée of the garden then had he frée wyll to doo as he would to eate or not to eate Againe Ecclesi 15.14 Deus ab initio cōstituit hominem et reliquit illum in manu consilij sui adiecit mandata et praecepta sua si volueris mandata seruare conseruabunt te c. He made man from the beginning and left him in the hand of his counsell and gaue him his commaundementes and preceptes if thou wilt thou shalt obserue the commaundementes and testifie thy good wyll You sée that frée wyll was graunted vnto man before his fall God created him and left him in the hand of his counsell to doo what he would he had his owne choise eyther to the eating of euerie Trée of the garden and so to lyue eternallie in pleasures delightes ioye rest and quietnesse or to eate of the Trée of knowledge of good and bad and so to become mortall to léese his former state to become myserable wretched a caitife subiect to death hell and dampnation Againe in the same Chap. of Eccle. 15.17 Apposuit tibi aquam et ignem ad quod volueris porrige manum tuam And in the 18. verse Ante hominem vita et mors bonum et malum quod placuerit ci dabitur illi He hath set water and fire before thee stretch out thy hand vnto which thou wilt Before man is life and death good and euyll what it lyketh him it shall be giuen him Héere we sée moste manifestly that man had frée wyll before his fall For if the first man Adam could haue chosen eyther lyfe or death good or euyll who can with reason denie but that he had frée wyll For frée wyll is nothing else but a frée and loose lybertie of the minde to doo as he lyst Our Parentes An euident signe of free wyll Adam and Eue might haue lyued but they would not Adam and Eue had theyr choyse eyther to lyue or to dye to lyue and to doo good obseruing his commaundement and to dye if they would doo euyll neglecting his precept They followed the counsell of the Serpent in eating the fruite forbidden and so offended Gods Maiestie Wherefore it appeareth by these wordes that they had frée wyll to doo as they were commaunded and so to lyue in Paradise or to breake the commaūdement of God and so to dye bannished out of Paradise Eccle. 17.1 Deus creauit de terra hominem et iterum conuertit illum in ipsam The Lord hath created man of the earth and turned him to it againe Numerum dierum et tempus dedit illi c. He gaue him the number of dayes and certaine tymes and gaue him power of the thinges that are vpon earth He cloathed him with strength as he had néede and made him according to his Image He made all fleshe to feare him so that he had dominion ouer the Beastes and Fowles He created vnto him a helper lyke vnto him selfe and gaue him discretion and tongue and eyes cares and an heart to vnderstand and sixtlie he gaue him a spirite and seuenthly he gaue him spéeche to declare his workes and he filled him with knowledge of good and euyll And he sayde vnto him Beware of all vnrighteous thinges Wisd 23. Deus creauit hominem inexterminabilem et adimaginem similitudinis sue fecitillum God created man without corruption and made him after the Image of his owne lykenesse Coloss 3.9 Lye not one to an other seeing that yee haue put off the olde man with his workes and haue put on the newe which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him Ephesi 4.23 Be yee renewed in the spirite of your minde 24. And put on the newe man which after GOD is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse Omnes homines Sayth Ambrose in his first Booke and third Chapter of the calling of the Gentiles in primo homine creati sunt sine vicio et culpa et tota natura nostra integra et valida erat et peccato istius hominis totius nostrae naturae integritatem et salutem amisimus All men in the first man were created without vice or faulte and all our nature was sounde and in health and by the sinne of the
blinde peruersenes of the Papists In the. 10. of Iohn Christe sayth I am the doore dooth it followe that hée is a doore in déede no forsooth I thinke but that a doore is to harde for any man to eate they would haue takē that place of scripture to make God Though Christ sayd I am the doore it followeth not Note heere that he was a materiall doore no more dooth it followe that this word Hoc est corpus meum This is my body to be the same body that Marie the Virgin bare it is plaine errour and they are fowly deceyued For when Christe sayd This is my body that shall be giuen for you the worde that he spake was him selfe him selfe was the worde or else must the bread haue béene crucified as is afore which I will prooue by the manifest scriptures Christ sayth in the 6. of Iohn I am the liuing bread that came from heauen your fathers did eate Manna in the desert and are dead but I am the bread of lyfe So it demonstrateth that Christe was the bread Note heere which was giuen for vs but these Gentlemen say that the bread is he Nowe héere is all the cōtrouersie betwéene the Christiās and the Papists Christ fayth that he is the bread that was giuen for vs or broken for vs the Papists say that the bread is Christ now how can we agree for we say as Christ saith that he is the bread these Gētlemen say that the bread is he marke well the scriptures Paul sayth That which I receyued of God I gaue vnto you Let them answer me to this dyd Paul receiue any thing of the Lord but his word for Paul was not with the Lord at the supper to receiue any other thing Oblinde creatures they wot not what they doo will they haue the blood of wytnesse of Iesus Christe required at their hāds still O good christian brethrē for the tender mercy of our Lord sauiour Iesus Christ beléeue not this erronious doctrine of the Papistes worship not a wheaten God In the. 6. Chap. of Iohn Christ sayth The bread which I will giue you is my fleshe which I will giue for the life of the world Héere you may perceyue that the bread that Christ gaue vs was his fleshe Ergo his fleshe was the bread that he brake which was him selfe him selfe was the word and his word was his body which was giuē for the life of the world Then stroue the Iewes among them selues sayd How can this fellow giue vs his flesh to eate for they tooke it carnally as our cleane fingred Gētlemen doo now a daies thinking the they should haue eaten him vp flesh blood bones Iesus sayd vnto thē Iohn 6. Except ye eate the fleshe of the sonne of man ye haue no life in you for whosoeuer eateth my flesh drinketh my blood hath euerlasting lyfe And I shall raise him vp at the last day for my flesh is very meat and my blood hath euerlasting life and I shall raise him vp at the last day for my flesh is very meat and my blood is very drinke and whosoeuer eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abydeth in me and I in him Nowe I tolde you afore that Christe was the bread that was giuen for vs and euen as the materiall bread féedeth the body so this liuely bread féedeth the soule And Christe speaketh heere of his fleshe and blood which was offered in sacrifice for our saluation and our redemption as Iohn sayth Chap. 1.8 The worde became fleshe and we see the glorie of it as the onely begotten sonne of the Father and who so dooth beleeue this dooth eate Christes fleshe and drinketh his blood But not as these Papists do for they say that they crash him with their teeth carnally Oh abhominable blasphemy the same body that Mary bare but they which receiue him in a Christian Cōmunion receiue him by faith For Christe sayd Hoc facite in meam cōmemorationem Doo this in remembraunce of me And whosoeuer beléeueth that this body was done vpon the Crosse for his saluation and that the shedding of his blood is for the remissiō of his sinnes taken in the remembrance of Christes death eateth Christes body and drinketh his blood spiritually God graūt we may doo so for our own soules health Amen Thus much bréefly touching the supper of the Lord. Against mennes Merites and righteousnesse GReate controuersie and disputation there is betweene the Papists and vs Christians touching mennes merites righteousnesse The Papists say that they are iustified by good woorkes and not by faith We say that Sola fides iustificat omnes Faith alone iustifieth all men It is marueilous dearely beloued to see with what rashnes and boldnesse iustification of woorkes is commonly debated yea and it is to be seene how none doe more boldly or with fuller mouthes as the saying is prate of the righteousnesse of workes then they that are monstrously sicke of open outward diseases or be redy to burst with inward vices That commeth to passe because they thinke not vpon the righteousnes of God wherof if they had neuer so little feeling they would neuer make so great a mockerie of it And truely it is out of measure lightly regarded whē it is not acknowledged to be such and so perfect that nothing be imputed vnto it but euery way whole absolute and defiled with no vncleannesse such as neuer was and neuer shal be able to be found in man It is in deede easie and readie for euery man in schooles to talke vainlie vpon the worthinesse of woorkes to iustifie men but when they come into the sight of God such dalliances must auoyd because there is earnest doing vsed and no trifling strife aboute wordes To this to this I say we must applie our minde if we will profitably enquire of true righteousnesse how we may answere the heauenly Iudge when he calleth vs to account Let vs thinke him to be a Iudge not such a one as our own vnderstandinges do of themselues imagine but such a one as he is paynted out in the Scripture with whose brightnes the stars shal be darckned by whose strength the hils doe melt away by whose wrath the earth is shaken by whose wisdome the wise are takē in their suttletie by whose purenesse all thinges are prooued vnpure whose righteousnes the angels are not able to beare which maketh the innocent not innocent whose vengeance when it is once kindled pearceth to the bottome of hell If he I say sit to examine mens doinges who 〈…〉 peare assured before his throane Who shal dwell with a deuouring fire saith the prophet Esaie 3.34 Who shall abide with continuall burninges he that walketh in righteousnes and speaketh trueth c. But let such a one come foorth whatsoeuer he be but that aunswere maketh that none commeth foorth for this terrible saying soūdeth to the contrary Lord if thou marke our iniquities Lord who shall abide
the more boldly because it presumeth not hauing large matter to glorie vpō euen the many mercies of the Lord. This is the trueth the exercysed consciences perceiued this to be the onely sanctuarie of safety wherein they may safelye rest themselues when they haue to doe with the iudgement of God For if the starres that seemed most bright in the night season doe loose their brightnes with light of the Sun what thinke we shal become euen of the rarest innocencie of man when it shal be compared with the purenesse of God For that shal be a most seuere examination that shall pearce into the most hidden thoughtes of the heart And as Paule sayth Shall reueale the secrets of darcknes disclose the hidden things of the heart which shall compell the lurking and vnwilling conscience to vtter all thinges that now are fallen out of remembrance The Deuill our accuser will presse vs which is priuie to all the wicked deedes that he hath moued vs to doe There the outwarde pompous shewes of good works which now only are esteemed shal nothing profite vs. Onely the purenesse of will shall be requyred Wherefore the hipocrisie not onely whereby euery man knowing him selfe giltie beefore God desireth to boaste him selfe before men but also wherewith euery man deceiueth himselfe before God as we bee all inclined to flatter our selues shal fal down confounded howsoeuer it now be proud with more than dronken boldnesse they that bende not their wit to such a sight may in deede for a shorte time sweetly and pleasantly frame a righteousnes to themselues but it is such a righteousnes as shal be by and by shaken away frō them at the iudgement of God Like as great riches heaped vp in a dreame vanish away from men when they wake But they that shall earnestly as it were in the sight of God enquire of the true rule of righteousnes certainly finde that al the woorkes of men if they be iudged by their own worthines are nothing but defilinges and filthines That which among the common people is accoūted righteousnes is before God meere wickednes that which is iudged puritie is vncleannesse that which is reckoned glory is but shame From this beholding of the perfection of God let it not greue vs to descend to look vpon our selues without flatterie or blinde affection of loue for it is no maruell if wee be all so blinde in this behalfe forsomuch as none doth beware of the pestilent tendernes towardes him selfe which as the scripture cryeth out Naturally sticketh fast in vs all To euery man saith Solomon Prouerb chap. 21. vers 2. 16. His own way is right in his owne eyes Againe All the wayes of man seeme cleane in his own eyes But what is he acquited by his blindnesse no But as hee further saieth in the same place the Lorde wayeth the hearts that is to say while man flattereth him selfe by reason of the outwarde visor of righteousnesse that hee beareth in resemblance In the meane time the Lord with his ballance examineth the hidden vncleannes of the heart Therefore seeing we see nothing profite with such flatterers let vs not wilfully mock our selues to our own destruction But that we may traine our selues rightly wee must necessarily call backe our conscience to the iudgement seate of God For we doe altogether neede his light to disclose the secrete foldinges of our peruersnesse which otherwise lie too deeply hidden For then and neuer till then wee shall cleerelye perceiue what is meant hereby that man being rottennesse and a worme abhominable vaine which drinketh wickednes as water is far from being iustified before God For who should make that cleane that is conceiued of vncleane seede not one man Then shall we also finde that by experience which Iob sayd of him selfe chapter 19. St iustificare me voluero os meum condemnabit me si innocentem ostendero prauum me comprobabit If I will goe about to shew my selfe innocent my own mouth shall condemne me If I wil shew my selfe righteous it wil prooue me wicked For that is not meant of one age onely but of all ages which the Prophet in old time of Israel that all went astray like sheepe that euery one turned aside to his owne way For he there comprehendeth all them to whom the grace of redemption should come and the rigorousnesse of this examination ought to proceede so far till it subdue vs so that we be fully throwen downe with all and by that meane prepare vs to receiue the grace of Christ For he is deceiued that thinketh himselfe able to receiue the enioying of this grace vntill he haue first throwen downe all hautinesse of minde This is a knowen saying that God confoundeth the proud and geueth grace to the humble O I would to God that mē would no longer trust to their owne righteousnesse but geue place to the mercie of God that they doe not presumptuously aduaunce them selues nor reprochfullye triumphe ouer others but vnfaynedly submitting thēselues before God acknowledging their own miserie and needinesse at last yealde to the trueth and say with vs and with S. Paule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Non est iustus ne vnus quidē there is none righteous no not one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There is none that doth good no not one Ex operibus Legis non iustificabitur omnis caro in conspectu eius By the workes of the Law shall no flesh be iustified in his sight Againe to the Rom. 4.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If Abraham were iustified by workes hee hath wherein to reioyce but not with God Agayne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The wayes of sinne is death but the gifte of God is eternall life through Iesus Christ our Lord. Againe to the Rom. 10.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They beeinge ignoraunte of the Righteousnesse of God and going about to stablish their own righteousnes haue not submitted themselues to the righteousnesse of God Againe in the 11. chap. 5. ver 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euen then so at this present time is there a remnant through the election of grace and if it be of grace it is now no more of woorkes or els were grace no more grace But if it be of works it is no more grace or els were workes no more woorkes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who hath geuē to him first he shal be recompenced for of him and through him for him are all thinges To him be glorie for euer Amen Againe to the Cor. 1. Epist and 4. chap. 4. ver Nullius omnino rei mihi conscius sum sed non per hoc iuctificatus sum caeterum qui me iudicat Dominus est I know nothing by my selfe yet I am not therby iustified but he that iudgeth me is the Lord. S. Paule in his 2. Chapter to the Ephesians 8. verse Gratia enim estis saluati perfidem idque non ex vobis Dei donum est By grace are ye saued through faith and
that not of your selues it is the gifte of God not workes least any mā should boast him selfe 2. Tim. 1.9 Qui saluos fecit nos vocauit vocatione sancta non secundum opera nostra sed secundum suum propositum gratiam quae dat a quidem est per Christum Iesum ante tempora aeterna Who hath saued vs and called vs with an holy calling not according to our workes but according to his own purpose and grace which was geuen to vs through Iesus Christ before the world was Titus 3.5 Non ex operibus quae sunt in iustitia quae faciebamus nos sed secundum suam misericordiam saluos nos fecit per lauacrum regenerationis ac renouationis Spiritus sancti That is Not by the workes of righteousnes which wee had done but according to his mercie he saued vs by the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the holy Ghost that we being iustified by his grace should be made heires according to the hope of eternal life 1. Iohn 4.10 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Herein is loue not that we loued God but that he loued vs and sent his Sonne to bee a recōciliation for our sins In the 9. ver We loue him because he loued vs first To the Reue. 21.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will geeue to him that is a thirst of the wel of the water of life freely Many other places of Scripture could I alleadge against mennes merites righteousnesse but these already alleadged may suffise any Christian man Now briefly will I see what the Doctors speake against this matter of Iustification by good works Origene in his 4. booke and 4. Chap. I doe scarcely beleeue that there can be any woorke that may of duetie require a reward Basill vpon the Psalme 32. Hee that trusteth not in his owne good deedes nor hopeth to be iustified by his woorkes hath the onely hope of his saluation in the mercies of God Hilarie vpon the 118. Psalme If wee faste once we thinke we haue satisfied If out of the barnes of our houshold stoare we geue somewhat to the poore we beleeue that wee haue fulfilled the measure of righteousnesse But the Prophet hopeth all of God and trusteth all of his mercie Hierome vpon the 64. Chapter of Esay If we beholde our owne merites we must be driuen to desperation Vpon the. 3. Cha. to the Ephesians In Christe Iesu our Lord in whome we haue boldnesse and lyberty to come and trust and affiance by the faith of him not through our righteousnes but through him in whose name our sinnes be forgiuen In his first booke against the Pellagians Our ryghteousnesse dooth not confist of our merites but of the grace and mercy of God Augustin in his 50. Booke of Homyles 14 Hom. Dyd not he giue that thou mightest fight a good fight if he him selfe dyd not giue what was it that thou sayst In an other place I laboured more then all they yet not I but the grace of God within me behold thou sayst I haue ended my course dyd he not also giue vnto thee that thou shouldest finish thy course If he gaue not vnto thee that thou shouldest finish thy course what is it that thou sayst In an other place It lyeth not in the willer nor in the runner but in God that sheweth mercy I haue kept the faith I acknowledge and allowe it I confesse and grant that thou hast kept the faith but except the Lord dooth keepe the Citty he watcheth in vaine that dooth keepe it Pardon me O Apostle I know nothing of thine owne but euyll Pardon vs O Apostle we say so because thou hast taught vs. Therefore when he crowneth thy merites he crowneth nothing but his owne gyfts Thus you haue heard déerely beloued what both scriptures and Doctors write against mens merites and righteousnesse Wherefore I pray you in the name of Christe to embrace the trueth THus was the Sermon ended at Roome in the yéere of our Lord. 1578. in the moneth of May which Sermō is registred only for this cause the if I should reuolt frō Papistry mine own writing which is registred should cōdemne me to the fire for pardō there were none Otherwise if they had not registred this Sermon I might haue forsaken Papistrie without any feare of burning I might haue repayred vnto them be reconciled to the Romishe Church againe But nowe if I were so wicked lewde by meanes of my Sermō registred at Roome the Pope him selfe could graunt me no pardon according to theyr owne lawes But without any faile I should be burnt as an Heretique for thus tearme they Christians But God defend me from theyr clawes strengthē me in his faith graunt me patience vnto the ende and in the ende God graunt me an heart to looue him and obey my Soueraigne Quéene Elizabeth During her life I hope the Papists shall not burne me God graunt her Grace many yéeres to raigne with much felicitie encrease of honour and ioy of health bothe of body and soule Pray well O England for her Maiestie for truely thou hast much néed thou knowest the cause as well as I wherfore the same I doo omit to write This booke is ended Momus holde thy peace for there was neuer Momus that euer thriued vnlesse he became a mome for his labor Men wyll say as they haue done before this tyme that this Booke was the labour of other men as they say the other was It is well knowne of twēty and not so few that I had the helpe of none in this book neyther in the first booke which was called my Recantation All the helpe I had was of God and my bookes as for other helpe had I none not so much as one sentence or clawse had I by other mens industrie to be written in my booke This haue I spoken not to win prayse or that I should séeme to be coumpted learned before I be But I thought it good so much to write to certifie the Readers howe falsely I am accused and slaundered and what vntruethes the Papists report of me I crane no more of them then they would of me in the lyke case to speake no more then trueth is And let them not spare to report that which is trueth so shall they as I thinke neyther displease God nor molest their owne conscience And before the any man ought to beléeue them in misreporting ought of me let them first trie examine theyr wordes whether they be true or false and as they haue prooued theyr wordes so let them beléeue Thus I haue ended to write any farther to God be prayse vnto me to accomplishe what to a Christian belongeth If you like this simple worke of mine expect for a better which I hope to God ere it be long shal be brought to lyght to the misliking of the Papists and to the discredite of theyr hypocriticall Religion and to the profite of the Christians and aduancement of