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
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
through hys mercye wyll receaue a synner to grace and that he maye come to the fauour of God Suche fayth causeth a man to reste and â—cane on God only and so earnestlye to reioyce in the goodnesse of God as doth he that fyndeth a treasure of greate value We speake not of a fayned faith as the deuels haue or as the wycked do beleue nor of suche an hystorycall faythe as to beleue that CHRISTE was crucyfyed but we speake of suche fayth and confydence wherebye we are assured that the goodnesse and mercye of God is oures and that all is oures that is in God that he is mercyfull vnto vs that we can reioice in him and walke confydently in hym all thys is the operacyon of faythe Suche faythe causeth mortyfycacyon of the fleshe wyth all hys concupiscence whan he hath felte once by faythe the exeeadynge goodnesse that he hath founde by the LORDE Shulde not suche a faythfull soule reioyce in the LORDE his God by true loue vse all spirituall glory Suche fayth causeth a man to captiuate and presone his witte vnderstonding wyl wholy vnder Gods worde and reioyce only in God sayenge with Dauid My soule wayteth onely vpon God for of hym coÌ„meth my helpe He onely is my strength my saluacyon my defence so y t I shall not greatly fal And agayn Turne agayne then to thy reste O my soule for y e LORD hath geuen the thy desyre And why thou hast delyuered my soule from death myne eyes from teares and my fete from fallynge I wyll walke before the LORDE in the lande of the lyuynge Paul what tyme he was come to such earnest fayth sayd very ioyfully I shewed not my selfe amonge you as though I knewe ony thinge saue onely IESVS CHRIST euen the same that was crucyfied It is not sufficient to saye I beleue that the holy church beleueth or as myne elders haue beleued but a man muste searche and proue how he beleueth For by his owne fayth shall a man be acceptable to God Yf he wyl procure to optayne ought of God he must turne hym to God and knowlege hym by his owne fayth that he is his LORDE and redimer AbrahaÌ„ saw God in sprete through his lyuely fayth and reioyced This fayth â—orageth a man agaynst death in it a man seyth his lyfe For according to the wytnesse of all scriptures The iust lyueth by his fayth This fayth is not subdued vnto the lawe for the faythfull accomplissheth the LORDES wyll in the sprete through loue So that he fulfylleth all that the lawe coÌ„maundeth Not â—ecause it is a commaundement of â—he lawe for the lawe geueth onely knowlege of synne but because he â—ath a loue to the commaundementes and is ready to do all that is acceptable to God Wherfore sayeth Paul Thorow the lawe I am dead vnto the lawe that I myghte lyue vnto God I am crucyfyed with CHRIST yet do I lyue Neuertheles now not I but CHRIST lyueth in me for the lyfe which I lyue now in y â— fleshe I lyue in the fayth of the soÌ„ne of God whiche loued me and gaue himselfe for me Agayn sayeth Paul that God hath made vs accepted in the beloued soÌ„ne in whom we haue redempcyon thorow his bloude namely the forgeuenesse of synnes accordyng to the ryches of his grace Seynge then that accordyng to these testimonies of scripture the worke of our redempcyon is accomplyshed in vs by CHRIST therfore must oure synfull soule knowlege y t excelleÌ„t worke in CHRIST only and in hym only rest by fayth For CHRIST sayd No man commeth to the father but only by me And yf ye are the father ought in my name he shal geue it you But seyng faith is a gyfte of God therfore muste we lowly and humbly praye the LORD to haue pyte vpon vs and increase oure faith y t we may know his goodnesse dewly by fayth and reioyce in hym Of this gyft speaketh Paul sayeng By grace are ye saued thorow fayth and that not of youre selues For it is the gyft of God not of workes lest ony man shulde boast hymselfe For weare his workemanship created in CHRIST IESV vnto good workes to the which God ordeyned vs before that we shulde walke in them Whan man fyndeth rest and quietnesse in his conscience by fayth beleuynge that all that is in God is to mans behofe that is a sure token that such a man is come to the faith whiche geueth health For fayth certifyeth hym that CHRISTE hath ouercome death hell synne and the deuyll for hym As great as his faith is so much also can he reioyce in God Prayse God and thanke God whiche hath receaued his synfull soule to mercy not for the workes of ryghtwysnesse that we haue done but accordynge to hys mercye hath he saued vs. Thus muche nowe is sayde to knowe the trew faith namely to rest onely vpon CHRIST and to knowlege oure redempcion and saluacion by CHRISTES death according to hys worde The whiche graunte vs the father thorowe hys welbeloued sonne CHRIST Amen ¶ The secoÌ„d Chapter treateth of y t inestimable greate mercye that we do purchase and optaine by the lyuely fayth For true saith caÌ„ not be ydle but bryngeth vnto hym that possesseth her plenteous saluation WHan Paul wolde comforte the sycke or stablyshe the weake in faith more more than dyd he ofte rehearse and as a man myghte saye bette in them the glad tydinges of the Gospell Certifienge them to what greate mercye they were called whan God geueth them a good wyll to receaue hys worde with ioye and to reioyce ouer all the goodnesse that the Gospel assureth vs of Thys frute which the Gospel bringeth with it and geueth vs oughte we hyghelye to thanke God for and to reioyce for cause of so manyfolde gyftes and treasures minystred and geuen vs by hym thankynge and praysynge God whiche hath opened oure eyes and inwarde syghte So that we maye dewlye knowlege oure saluation by CHRIST IESV reioyce in him only This is the intent now wherfore Paule doth so earnestly admonyshe vs not to receaue such gyftes in â—ayne but that the worde of God be frutefull in vs by fayth and loue that God myghte be praysed thanked and honoured for hys workynge so wonderfullye mercyfully and gloriouslye in all faithfull hartes Therfore sayeth Paull We are bounde to geue thankes al waye vnto God for you brethren beloued of the LORDE because that God hath from the beginninge chosen you to saluation in the sanctifyenge of the spirite and in beleuinge of the treuth whereunto he hath called you by oure Gospell to optayne the glorye of oure LORDE IESVS CHRIST Farther more saieth Paul After that ye herd y e worde of treuth namely the gospell of youre saluation wherin whan ye haue beleued ye were sealed with the holy sprete of promesse whiche is the earneste of oure enheritaunce to oure redemption that we mighte be his
that God wyll of pure mercye forgeue the synnes requyrynge but onely stedfaste fayth of vs. Wherfore a synner perceauynge that by the goodnesse of God onely he is come to grace he oughte to geue hym onely for it all prayse and honoure Paul saieth Yf Abraham were made righteous thorow workes then hath he wherin to reioyce but not before God But what sayeth the scrypture AbrahaÌ„ beleued God and it was couÌ„ted vnto him for righteousnesse Unto him that goeth aboute with workes is the rewarde not rekened of fauour but of dewty But vnto him y t goeth not aboute w t workes but beleueth on hym that iustifyeth the vngodly is fayth counted for ryghteousnesse for by the law commeth but knowlege of synne But nowe wythoute addynge to of the lawe is the ryghtwysnesse whiche auayleth before God declared hauynge wytnesse of y â— lawe and prophetes but I speake of the ryghtwysnesse before God whiche commeth by the fayth on IESVS CHRISTE vnto all and vpoÌ„ all them that beleue Here is no difference for they are all synners and wante the prayse that God shulde haue of them Wythout deseruynge are they made ryghteous euen by grace thorowe the redempcyon that is done by CHRISTEIESV whoÌ„ God hath set for a mercyseate thorowe fayth in hys bloude to shewe the ryghteousnesse which auayleth before hym in that he forgeueth the synnes which were done before vnder the sufferaunce of God And agayne We holde therfore that a man is rustifyed by fayth wythout the workes of the lawe c. Thus farre be the wordes of saynt Paull wherein he teacheth vs that by faythe we optayne all ryghteousnesse and not by oure owne procuryng of suche strengthe is the grace of fayth Whan God perceaueth in vs a faythfull harte whiche seketh hym earnestlye dredynge and fearynge hym thaÌ„ doth he communicate and ioyne hymselfe vnto suche one geuynge hymselfe wholye ouer vnto hym with all that is in hym For a man optayneth by faythe all that which God hath promysed vnto the y â— faythful saieÌ„g I wil spouse y e vnto me foreuer I wyll marye the vnto me in ryght wysnesse mercy I wyl mary the vnto me in fayth trueth and thou shalt knowe the LORDE All the lawe and commaundementes stretche therto namely that we shulde fulfyll them and lyue so that oure good workes maye testyfye and declare oure faythe and loue that we haue towarde God But seyng we be frayl and oftymes fall through weaknesse of the flesh therfore shall we endeuoure oure selfes to ryse agayne wyth a good wyll syghynge for oure mysdedes askynge mercye wyth a sorowfull sprete Whan we beholde oure synnes then let vs humblye beseke God to geue vs a faythfull harte For yf God syeth an hungrye soule in vs whiche longeth for the ryghteousnesse of faythe and that we do so procure grace by God as by one whiche can comforte the synner than shall the LORDE receaue suche a faythfull harte vnto hys grace For faythe and loue cause a man to haue alwaye a good opynyon of God Yee it is the beste and mooste excellente gyfte that we can haue to be comforted in God and in hys gyfte For as our opinion is of him so shall he please vs. And euen as fayth is a gyft of God geuÌ„e frely to man so muste thys opinion of God come frely of him also Yf we knowlege hym for a mercyful father than shall we reioyce in hys mercye trustynge in hys goodnesse and are mercye at hym with a chearefull mynde But yf we knowlege hym for a dredefull iudge than shall we not reioyce in hys goodnesse but euer feare and tremble before hym for we fele no certentye of hys goodnesse Such men can not reioyce in God nor loke for ony comforte of hym Wherfore Paull doth exhorte vs very earnestlye to loue that thereby we myghte know God a right reioycynge in all hys goodnesses and so to prayse and thanke hym sayenge But aboue all thynges put on loue whiche is the bonde of perfectnesse And the peace of God rule in youre hartes to the whyche peace ye are called also in one bodye and se that ye be thankefull Let the worde of CHRISTEIESV dwell in you plenteouslye in all wysedome Teache and exhorte youre owne selues wyth Psalmes and hymnes and spirituall songes which haue fauoure with them syngynge in your hartes to the LORD And what so euer ye do in worde or dede do all in the name of the LORD IESV geue thaÌ„kes vnto god the father by hym All this must come by fayth For as a man reioyceth in God euen so shall he prayse hym thanke hym and euen brest out in syngynge to hym as to one by whoÌ„ health and saluacyon is happened vnto hym Yet though the flesh wyll cause hym to synne and greue hym inwardly But yf he knowlegeth God for a mercyfull father then is he conforted agayne by his goodnesse as wytnesseth Paul sayenge God which is rych in mercy thorow his great loue wherwith he loued vs euen whan we were dead in synnes hath quickened vs w t CHRIST Than is God mercyfull vnto vs a father of mercy geuen vnto vs w t al his goodnesse and then are we saued by his goodnesse whan we can beleue thorow fayth y â— redeÌ„pcyon iustifycacyoÌ„ declared by his worde Therfore sayeth Paul Yf a man beleue from the harte he shalbe made ryghteous and yf a man knowlege with the mouth he shalbe saued For the scripture sayeth Who so euer beleueth on hym shall not be confounded Seynge then that fayth was so necessary therfore was CHRIST so diligent euen to beate it in vs As for an ensample to the syke of the palsey he sayde My sonne be of good cheare thy synnes are forgeuen the. And to the woman of CanaaÌ„ O woman great is thy fayth be it vnto the eueÌ„ as thoudesyrest And agayne to Martha he sayeth I am the resurreccyon and the lyfe he that beleueth on me shall lyue thoughe he were dead already And who so euer lyueth and belyueth on me shall neuer dye Item to the woman that was syke of the blody yssue he sayde Doughter be of good conforte thy fayth hath made the safe Thus is it euident that all is ascribed vnto fayth and not vnto vs. For oure workes can stretch no farther saue onely to shewe oure wyllynge harte and to yelde thankes vnto hym whiche throughe vnoutspeakeable loue hath saued vs. And thus doynge we geue only God the honour for all y â— good which he worketh in vs. Loke vpon the seconde to the Hebrâ—es And in the elenenth chapter he sayeth Without fayth it is vnpossible to please God For he that commeth vnto God muste beleue that God is and that he is a rewarder of theÌ„ that seke hym And agayne We knowe y t a man is not made righteous by y â— dedes of y e law but by y e faith on IESVS CHRIST We
haue a good opinion of God namely y t god of his bouÌ„teous goodnes hath geueÌ„ hi rest hartes ease so y e he must reioyce eueÌ„ froÌ„ his whole hart How caÌ„ he be sory yf whan he loketh vpon God he is fully persuaded y t God loueth hym And this is the tâ—ken wherby he knoweth it y t is whaÌ„ he feleth his harte to be drawen in loue towarde God For he is sure of a great and in estimable treasur that he can rest in the loue of God beleuynge God to be a mercyfull father vnto hym by reason of his tender loue And sure he is that God shal geue hym so pleteous goodnesse as he hath promysed hym by his louynge worde Yf God fynde loue in man seynge he hymselfe is loue then fyndeth he godlynesse in hym wherfore he loueth hymselfe in man and as loÌ„ge as a man continueth in this loue so longe can not God hate hym nor seperate hymselfe from maÌ„ For God is knytte and ioyned with man by hymselfe and can not forsake hymselfe so longe as he perceaueth hymselfe in man Now seynge maÌ„ is become godly thorowe loue yf God the father wolde of his ryghteousnesse coÌ„dene hym then must the godlynesse be coÌ„dempned also Wherfore because God is the glorye therfore of necessite must thys damned man lyue w t God in glorye thorowe his loue By loue haue we felowshippe with god and all that is in hym lykewyse also hath he felowship with vs hydynge our synnes with hym selfe not sufferynge that suche a vessell wherin he resteth hym selfe thorow loue be brought to confusyon By loue vse we God to our pleasure with all his gyftes and al that is in God for loue wylleth none otherwyse then God wyll Man hath it not of him selfe yf he do ony good accordynge to the wyll of God but seynge he hath the loue of God the same is constrayned by the sprete of God to do nothyng saue it that pleaseth God whom he endeuoureth euer to please thorow loue And as God alwaye delyteth in hym selfe in all that he doeth euen so wyll he also haue a pleasure in all that whiche is done in maÌ„ thorow loue God of his loue hath made all thynges good wherfore all muste be good y t man doth of loue Loue is pure and cleane and can seke none other rest or peace saue onely in hym whiche hymselfe is rest peace which hath fylled his harte with ioye so louyngly Loue is satisfied with God only sekynge nothynge but God For he hath soughte God onely thorowe loue that he myghte enioye hym in trueth No man can vse due loue in God without he be sure fyrst by fayth inwardly how wel God doth loue vs reioycyng in the same loue and put tynge all his saluacyoÌ„ therin Thus doynge he shall passe by all creatures estymynge them as donge couÌ„tynge CHRIST onely his ioye glorye hartes desyre He now that vttereth y e loue for true loue caÌ„not be ydle he vttereth it y t which God the louer of loue wyl haue y e louyng maÌ„ to do Paul sayth Owe nothing to ony man but to loue one another for he y e loueth another hath fulfylled the lawe And agayn The chefe suÌ„me of y e coÌ„maundementes is loue of a pure harte and of a good conscience of fayth vnfayned That is Yf we desyre ony goodnesse inwardly we shall praye humbly that we maye haue loue for onely loue is a wytnesse that we haue fayth in CHRIST Loue is a power wherby all oure workes are acceptable vnto God and sufficiently tryed Wherfore sayeth Paul In CHRISTIESV nother is circumcision ony thynge worth nor vncircumcysion but fayth whiche by loue is myghty in operacyon And y t we shuld knowe y e better y e power of loue so yeld oure selues to y e same therfore doth Paul shewe ful featly what worthy dede of loue CHRIST hath wrought in vs y t we shulde the better knowlege our saluacyon to be optayned by loue and so folowynge and conterfaytynge CHRISTES loue sayenge Therfore doth God set forth his loue towarde vs in that CHRIST dyed for vs whaÌ„ we were yet synners muche more then shall we be saued from wrath by hym seynge we are nowe made ryghteous thorow his bloude Yf we now desyre to folow CHRIST to fulfyl his lawe coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tes gospell theÌ„ is ther no nearer way theÌ„ to folow him in loue Paul doth exhorte vs to y e same very hartely sayenge Be ye folowers therfore of God as deare chyldren walke in loue eueÌ„ as CHRIST loued vs gaue hymselfe for vs an offerynge and sacrifice of swete sauour vnto God The cause now why man is so colde in loue toward God so sore deuyded froÌ„ the same so that he hath nother pleasure nor sauour in God is because he hath not fully yelded his harte to God to be taught of hym y e so he myght knowe how well God doth loue hym Of this maketh god none preuy saue onely suche as seke hym with all theyr harte and be alwaye hongerynge to knowe God in his goodnesse The vnfayth fulnesse lytle perceueraunce that men haue of God doth cause theÌ„ to abyde in synfulnes and to hange vpoÌ„ creatures They can not rest duely vpoÌ„ God nor his benefites by reason of theyr small vnderstandynge in godly matters for y e benefytes of God do not synke in theyr entrayles Yf man could entre euen to the grounde of the benefites of God and beholde the wonderfull glorious workes of God then shulde he no doute geue senteÌ„ce verdite that vnto such a god and suche a LORDE onely is due all prayse honour and glory Therfore oughte man to yelde al his wytte wyl and wysedome to Gods maiesty estemyng in hymself nothynge saue synne and foly with out God dyd steare oure hartes inwardlye with his loue so that we shulde perceaue nor desyre noughte with all our harte and mynde saue onely CHRIST our louer With out this wysedome is it al folyshnes that is in man For without God ther is nothyng to seke nor to fynde wherin man maye reioyce by ony meane It is God onely that can satisfye mans harte and brynge hym to loue Paul was ioyfull in God a ryghte what tyme he was come to this knowlege sayenge For I shewed not forth my selfe amonge you that I knewe ony thinge saue only IESVS CHRIST euen y e same y t was crucyfyed Oh let vs humbly beseke the LORDE that we maye knowe hym by his loue and reioyce ouer all the good y e he hath wetesafe so louynglye to declare vnto vs by his worde For as we knowe God by his worde in his loue so shal our harte agayne be kyndled in loue towarde God and shall not passe this bande For fayth consysteth in this namely that we can beleue all mercy saluacyon and health to come frely by only loue and y t we agayne vtter the same fayth
thorow loue in the syght of all men To this exhorteth vs CHRIST sayenge Let your lyght so shyne before men that they maye se youre good workes and gloryfy your father which is in heauē s Peter also exorteth vs to lede an holy lyfe amōg y e heythē Loue doth declare herselfe by fayth workyng wonderously to the ryghteousnesse and saluacyon of all such men as knowlege God in his loue ready alwaye to rendre hym loue and thankes agayne Paul what tyme he hadde a tayste of this loue and felte the power of the same he gaue vnto thys holye loue the glorye of all the good that is acceptable before God in mā saynge Thoughe I spake with tunges of men and angels and yet had not loue I were euen as soundyngebrasse or as a tynklyng cimbal And though I bestowed al my goodes tofede the poore though I gaue my body euē that I burned yet haue not loue it profyteth me nothynge Loue is pacyent and curteous loue enuyeth not loue doth not frowardly is not pufte vp dealeth not dishonestly seketh not hyr own is not prouoked vnto anger thynketh not euell reioyceth not ouer iniquite but reioyceth ouer the trueth beareth al thynges beleueth all thynges hopeth all thynges suffereth all thynges Thus much suffyseth to be spoken of the loue that God hath towarde vs how man is ioyned vnto God by loue For true loue muste worke by fayth in such as god hath elect chose therto it causeth man to optayne al thynges lawful wherfore we shall treate farther wherein we oughte to declare and vtter oure loue agayne Seynge that we haue here sufficientlye shewed that god loueth vs and that the same loue worketh alwaye therfore shall man examyne hymselfe and searche hys entrayles whether he be come to a true loue by faythe Faythe muste declare it selfe thorowe loue and mortyfycacyon of the fleshe S. Ihon exhorteth vs earnestlye to a renewynge of our sin ful lyfe after that we haue receaued the worde of the LORDE with ioye beinge assured by faith that we may optayne mercye thorowe IESV CHRISTE sayeng God is light and in hym is no darknesse at all Yf we saye that we haue felowshyppe wyth hym and yet walke in darknesse we lye and do not the treuthe But yf we walke in lyghte euen as he is lyghte than haue we felowshyppe together and the bloude of IESVS CHRIST hys sonne clenseth vs from all synne CHRIST also sayeth I am the lyghte of the worlde he that foloweth me shal not walke in darknesse but shall haue the lyghte of lyfe And agayne The lyght is a lytle whyle with you walke whyle ye haue the lyghte that the darknesse fall not vpon you He that walketh I darknesse woteth not whether he goeth Beleue ye on the light whyle ye haue it that ye maye be the chylderen of lyghte It foloweth I am come a lyghte in to the worlde y e whosoeuer beleueth on me shulde not abyde in darknesse By all these aforesayde sayenges are we taught that God hath geuen hymselfe alyghte in oure hartes yf we haue learned to knowe hym in hys loue by hys worde The worde is y ◠lyght and foode of the soule whereby the loue of God is clearlye set forth vnto vs. That we therfore be founde trutefull and thankefull before the LORDE it is hys wyll to leade yee to dryue vs wyth hys lyghte to lyghten vs and to teache vs al that whereby oure synfull soule maye be conforted and reioyce in God oure louer Whan Dauid knewe thys lyghte he was gladde thereof and sange Howe precious is thy mercye O God that the chylderen of men maye put theyr truste vnder the shadowe of thy wynges They shall be satysfyed wyth the plenteousnesse of thy house and thou shalte geue them drinke of the ryuer of thy pleasures For by the is the well of lyfe and in thy lyghte shall we selygthe Whan we haue nowe receaued CHRISTE so rychelye and ioyfully by hys worde than shall also the Godly worde onely be our light guyde and mayster so that we shall herken diligentlye what God hath commaunded admonyshed and taughte vs in hys worde Noman feleth inwarde ioye or comforte of the Gospell wythout he be sure that it hath wroughte euidentlye in hym the mortyfycacyon and subduynge of hys owne synfulnesse and y e loue towarde hys neghboure Whan it hath wroughte thus in man than perceaueth he fyrste the incomparable loue and fauoure the which god doth declare by hys worde Moreouer whan he hath tryed the same w t the renewynge of hys lyfe than is he sure that God hath wroughte a passynge greate worke of mercye in hym Thys knewe Dauid whan he sayde I wyll herken what the LORDE God wyl saye for he shal speake peace vnto hys people Now is it euidente and playne that God doth sende his worde and lyghte in oure hartes that we thorowe the lyghte in hys worde shuld knowlege all oure saluacyon and redempcyon reioycynge in hym only Yf man do not yet fyxe hys syghte only vpon God and hys loue but seketh comforte ether of mens inuencyons or ony creatures not reioycynge in God onely than is it to be doubted lest such one be not foūded a ryghte on God onely Paull sayeth But we wayte in the spirite of hope to be made righteous by faith The faythfull lyueth alway in ioye for the iuste lyueth by fayth Scripture wytnesseth euery where y t God doth call vs and sayeth I am I only am he that putte awaye synne wythoute me ther is no saueoure In y ◠tyme of trouble and in the strayghtnesse of synfulnesse than doth god be holde vs mooste of all yf so be we seke hym wyth oure whole hartes The soule can reioyce in nothynge y t is wythout God Therfore seynge God loueth vs he exhorteth vs to putte oure confidence in hym onely sayenge Yf ye fyxe youre syght vpō an other than shall ye remayne confortlesse and ye shall serue straunge goddes daye and nyghte that wyll shewe you lyttell fauoure But my people shall dwell in the ynnes of peace in my tabernacle and pleasure where ther is ynoughe in them all For thys cause shall man trye hymselfe whether he be mortifyed in hys owne synfulnesse and carnal desyres For Paull sayeth They that are CHRISTES haue crucifyed theyr fleshe with the lustes and desires He shall also searche howe he oughte to behaue hymself in loue toward god doynge it that he is sure to be acceptable vnto God that the father may be glorifyed thereby the whiche wyl worke wonderously thorow his loue in all them in whome he hath powred hys worde so louynglye Of this maye the auncyent father Symeon be an ensample the whiche seynge the lytle babe reioiced in sprete The two disciples also herde CHRIST and they learned to know him with ioyfull and mery hartes Now shal we procede and shewe that al
folowe him in loue that our good conuersacyon and lyfe prayse the heauenlye father that hath declared hys bouÌ„teous loue so wyllyngly in sedyng vnto IESVS VS CHRISTE hys sonne AMEN ¶ Here ende the two frutefull treatyses namely of fayth and hope and of loue and charite ¶ Imprynted in South warke for Iames Nicolson Anno M. D. xxxvii Hebre 11 1. 〈◊〉 3. Rom. â— Psal 32. Psal 50. Psal 144 â—â—â—ll 38. Psal 118. Psal 117. Psa 118. Exo. 15. 16 and. 17. Exo. 32. Psal 88. Crod 32 Psal 98 1. Tim. 1 Rom. 5 〈◊〉 17. Roma â— Gene. 22. Iacâ— 1. Gala 5. Psa 61. Psal 114. 1. 〈◊〉 2. Note Abat 2. Rom. 1. Gâ—l 3. Heb. 10 11. Tim 1 Gal. 5 Gal. 2. Ephe. 1. Ioh 14. Ioh. 1â— Ephe. 2. 2. Tess 2. Ephe. 1. 1. Tess 1. 1. Tes 1. Nota Roma 5. Ephe. 2 Ioh. 15. Esa 3. Rom. â— 1. Timo. 2. 1 Iohan. 2 Ephe. 2. Rom. 15. Rom. 1. 1. 〈◊〉 1 I. tu 2 2. Par. 14 2. Par. 16. 2. Par. 13 2. Par. 14 2. Par. 20. Ecclesi 2. Ioh. 1. Mattâ— 9 Ioh. 11. Math. 17. SusaÌ„nâ— â— Bel. â— Iacâ— 1. Rom. 3 Ecclâ— 4 1. Cor. 1 â—ctâ— 10. Luct 24 Esay 55. Luce. 2. ActuuÌ„ 7. Roma 5. Iob. 9. Psal 142 Roma 4 P Rom. 4. Rom. 3. Dsee 2 â—oios 3. Rom. 10. Esay 28. Math. 9 Math. 15. Ioh. 11. Mattâ— 9 Heb. 11. â—al 1. 1. Ioh. 1 Matt. 11. 〈◊〉 13. 14 16. Mâ—â— â— Nota. Math 5 1. Pet 2 Pha. 2 Iacob 1 Iosu 2 Gene. 4. Gal 3. Ioh. 5. Psal 36 Rom. 8. 1. Ioh. 3. Nota. Prou. 10 Matt. 16. 〈◊〉 2 Gene. â— Gene. 3 Ephe. 2. Tolloâ— 3 Psal 13 Esay 21. Psal 77 Abaâ—ut 2. Esa 5 Psal 91. Psal â—1 Psal 77. Esaye 50 Gene. 15. Exod. 3. Deut. 1. â—u 13. 14 Heb. 4. Iohan. 5. 1 Ioh. 5. Iohan. 13. Ioan. 3. Eccli 2. Prou. 18. Ioh. 10. Baruch 3. Ierem. 2 Ierem. 16. Rom. 1. Rom. 10. Ioh. 3. Lollo 2. Iob. 21. Esaye 57. O see 10 1. Corin. 1 Esay 29 2. Cor. 4. 2. Tessa 2. Math. 21. Nota. Math. 12. Luce. 2. Actuâ— 13. 〈◊〉 2. Iohan. 7. Luce. 7. Iohan. 12. Luce. 16. Iohan. 8. Iohan. 9 Roma 9. Esaye 28. 2. Iohan. 1 Math. 10. Math. 9 2. Tes 3 Roma â— Hebre. 1. 1. IohaÌ„ 4. Roma 5. Roma 4. 1. Iohan. 3 Nota. Ioh. 1. Luce. 22. Ioh. 15. Math. 1â— â—yhe 1 Psal 84 Psa 144. Psal 114. Rom. 1. 2. Pet. â— Ephe. 2 Titum 3. Ioh. 3. Ioh. 17 Sapâ— 15. Iere. 31 Nota. Esaye 55. Math. 11. Esaye 45. Pro. 1◠〈◊〉 8. 1. Ioh. 14. Notâ— 1. Cor. 4. 2. Cor. 3 Ieremi 9. 〈◊〉 3 Rom. 13. 1. Tim. 1 Galat. 5. Rom. 5. Ephe. 5. Nota. 1. Corin 2. Math. 5 1. Peâ—t i. â— 1. Cor. 13. 1. Iohan. 1. Iohan. 8. Iohan. 12. Psal 35. Psal 14. Eâ—lâ— 5. Abaâ—â—â— 2. Roma â— Heb. 10. Esaye 43 Esaye 32. Gala. 5. Luce. 2. Luce. 24. Luce. 12. Iete 23. Esaye 55. â—ollos 3. Ephe 4. 1 Petri. 4. Iohan. 3. 1. IohaÌ„ 4. 1. IohaÌ„ 3. Iacobi 2. Math. 25. Luce. 16. Iohan. 13. Gene. 4. Iacob 2. Gene. 15. Roma 4. Galat. 3. Iacobi 2. Nota. 2 Tessa 1. Eccls. 1. Sap. 1. 1. Ioh. 1. Iaco. 4. â—ala 1. Iohan. 15. 1. Ioh. 5 Rom 6. Ecclâ— 4 Rom. 6. Iacobi 1. Math. 1â— Math. â— Luce. 9 Math. 19. Matti 10 Luce. 12. Nota. 1. Reg. 25. Luce. 16 1. Tim. 6 Eccler 11. 1. Tim. 6 1. 〈◊〉 6 Math. 6 Hebre. 10 Eccles 11. Esay 3. Eccâ—â— 11. Ecâ—â—â—â— â— Luce. 12. Iohan. 9. Roma 6. Roma 1â— 1. Tessa 4 Eccâ—â— 21 Iob. 21. 〈◊〉 9. Coâ—â—â— â—
A goodly treatise of faith hope and charite necessary for all ChristeÌ„ meÌ„ to know and to exercyse theÌ„selues therin traÌ„slated into englyshe Prynted in South warke For Iames Nicolson Anno M. D. xxxvii 1537. The translatoure THer are many now a dayes that vse greate disputacions and reasonynge of fayth thinking to haue faith whaÌ„ they can reason muche of it They know that by fayth only a man is iustifyed or made ryghteous but yet they knowe not the grounde pyth of faith wherby a man is made righteous Yee true fayth can better be felt inwardly than it can be expressed with wordes It is plaÌ„ted in at the eare by hearynge of the worde of God it is grouÌ„ded and roted in mans harte by the operacyon of the spirite workynge in the same worde and finally seynge it can not be hyd it bresteth out in doynge of charitable dedes the which the faythfull knoweth to be acceptable vnto God And by thys workynge or endeuoure to please God he conceaueth an hope to optayne euerlastynge lyfe wherin he shall rest in ioy with God not of dewtye as one that were hyred therto but only of Gods bounteous goodnesse and mercye The dyuels also haue an hystoricall fayth of Christe and beleue al to be true y t is spoken of hym thorow out all the scrypture for they can not improue nor denye the treuth of it But seynge they conceaue not suche an opinion of God as namely that God is theyr redimer that by hym and by none other be he neuer so holy they be saued that in hym only they oughte to reioyce to truste and to be conforted therfore is not theyr â—ayth auaylable or an occasyon vnto saluacyon but rather as sayeth saynte Iames a cause to feare and tremble It is not ynough to be baptysed and to know by harte all y t articles of oure faith although euery one that wyl be called a Christian is bounde to beleue to know theâ— but he must also expresse them in hys lyuynge Yf I be leue God to be a father and a creator or maker of heauen and earth and al that is therin of nought and yet do not seke all ayde conforte and goodnesse at hym how can I haue a true fayth or beleue in hym howe can I saye truely I beleue in God the father almyghtye c. Herken how God complayneth by hys prophet Micue 1. Shulde not a sonne honoure hys father sayeth he and a seruaunte hys mayster Yf I be now a father where â—â— myne honoure Yf I be the ZORDE where I am feared sayeth the ZORDE of hoostes As though he wolde saye who declareth hys fayth that he hath to me who soueth me as a son hys ather not for ony respect or regarde of auauntage that he can optayne by it but of the inwarde and naturall mocyon of loue that he hath to my goodnesse Or who feareth me as a seruaunt that dredeth punyshment for transgressynge of his lordes commaundemente For as sayeth Dauid They are all gone out of the waye they are all become vnprofytable ther is none that doth good no not one By thys is it euydeÌ„t what small fayth is founde in the world now a dayes and how lyttell declaracyoÌ„ of the same specialy of those that can and do moost reason dispute of it Thys I saye and that in verbo domini that I wolde of god they vttered lesse wordes of fayth hope and charyte but declared them more by outward dedes of y e same To speake diuinite maketh not a diuine but to lyue diuinite Yf wyshyng myghte do good I wolde hartelye wyshe euery one that can speake muche of diuinite the same mynd that saynt Augustine was in whaÌ„ he sayde The vnlearned stonde vp and take in y e kingdome of heauen and we synke to hell with all out learnynge Yf we dyd take once hartye grace to vs and busyed oure selues to lyue the Gospel than shuld not we need to be asked a counte of our fayth than shulde we go on progresse from vertue to vertue than shuld out lyghte lyghten the weakelynges lest they do offende at Christe the heade corner stone But alas for pytye the greate punyshmentes wherewith God doth and wyll punysh vs comme vpon vs because ther is no faithful nesse ther is no mercye ther is no knowlege of god in the londe but sweâ—tynge lyeng manslaughter thefte and aduoutrye haue the ouer hand and one bloudshed dyng so oweth another c. Dse 4. Loke thorowe the whole flock of them that wyl be seyers of god that is y â— cytesyns of IerusaleÌ„ Seke thorow hyr stretes also yf ye caÌ„ fynd one man y t doth equal right or y t laboureth to be saythfull and I shall spare hym sayeth the LORD For though they can say The LORD lyueth yet to they swear to deceaue Where as thou o LORD lokest only vpoÌ„ saith treuth Christ himself hath prophecyed these peryllous tymes of oures sayenge WhaÌ„ the son of maÌ„ coÌ„meth suppose ye y â— he shal fynd faith vpoÌ„ earth As though he wold say no. Yee where faith is not there is an vnbermeÌ„t of wyckednesses as sayeth Esay 59. There is equite gone asyde â— rightcousnesse stoÌ„deth afarte of Treuth is falledown in y â— strete the thynge y â— is playn open may not be shewed Yee y â— treuth is layed in preson he y â— refrayneth hymselfe froÌ„ euell must be spoyled Is it not a pyteous case to heare y e prophetes thus complayne vpoÌ„ oure wyckednesse yee Christe hymselfe What do we thynke that shal become of vs after thys vapoure rather thaÌ„ lyfe What and yf one man had gotten al the worlde shulde it profyte oughte vnto hys soule after hys departynge heÌ„ce seing he is come naked into this worlde must depart naked out of it agayn Why do meÌ„ set so lytie by faith regard 〈◊〉 or charite as a thing lyttel worth where as â— Paul not â—stondinge dot cal loue the greatest of the thre theological vertues That thou mayest therfor good teâ—der crercyse theselfe in these thre holy vertues as namelye faythe hope charite or loue I haue traÌ„slated to thy behofe this lyttel treatyse treatinge of the same whose brefenesse I trust shal draw thy mind to y e reading of it For by manifest scriytures the which be here sufficientlye brought forth thou mayest perceaue y â— power of fayth whereby man is saued y â— which causeth maÌ„ to coÌ„ceaue an hope of y â— lyfe euer lasting And thus of inward ioy gladnesse he breaketh forth vnto dedes of charyte wherby he declareth his in warde gyft of fayth So y â— finally he caÌ„ not chuse but hope to come vnto lyfe eternal y â— which greuÌ„t vs he y t created redimed vs. AmeÌ„ The treatise of fayth ¶ The fyrste chapter treateth of the Fayth in Christe and what is a true Fayth FAyth is described playn ly vnto vs in the epistle to the Hebrewes after
this maner Fayth is a sure confidence of thynges which are hoped for and a certainte of thinges which are not sene Herby we mayese which is the true fayth namely that we abyde loke to optayne mercy of the LORDE where as we fynde nought in vs y t is worthy of Gods mercy nor se the good that God hath promysed vs but onely trust in hym because he is mercyfull Wherfore receauynge the worde that wytnesseth vnto vs and beareth record of his goodnes we haue a sure hope in God by faith that he shall shewe his goodnesse tendernesse toward vs by his boūte ous mercy But hereto is requyted of vs that we reste w t our whole harte vpon this promyse of mercy reioycynge in sprete therin and by fayth rendre vs in loue and thankfulnesse to God Thus haue we a sure testymony that we are come to a good fayth for we can fynde none other fundament wheron the synfull soule may test saue onely yf we can hope that God wyll be a mercyfull father thorowe the death of IESV CHRISTE This is it that Paul sayeth No mā can laye another fundament saue that which is layed already that is CHRIST IESV Suche fayth causeth a man to walke confidently to be sure mynded to Gods goodnesse wherin he can reioyce so farre as he can beleue to optayne so much as God hath declared and promysed by his worde Now because he beleueth the same therfore is his spirite endued with godly ioye by the sprete of God whiche dyd appeare and teache hym the same by fayth Wherfore sayeth Paul Ye haue not receaued the sprete of bondage to feare ony more but ye haue receaued the sprete of adopciō whereby we crye Abba deare father The same sprete certifieth our sprete that we are the chyldren of God Whan a man feleth this by fayth and his harte reioyceth therin then hath he rest and quyetnesse in his consciēce hauynge no respecte to his owne workes or deseruynges but onely to CHRISTE which hath set hym atone with the father throughe his bytter passyon and death Thus geueth he onely CHRIST the glorye of his redēpcyon beholdeth hence forth no creatures more It is sufficient to hym to knowe God in his goodnesse beleuynge that mercy goodnesse shalbe shewed vnto hym of God reioyceth in that he hath a mercyfull father in heauen in all thynges he cōceaueth a good opinion of God his goodnesse Suche fayth causeth hym to rest to be cōtent with all that the LORDES wyl is to do w t hym Whether it be deth hell synne or deuell none can make hym abashed For as longe as a mā clyueth to Gods worde beleuyng y t God hath ouercome all euel thorow his loue to warde mankynde thē is he at rest and peace in all y t can betyde or chaūce vnto hym beyng certified that seynge God loueth hym he sheweth mercy kyndnesse in all that he doth vnto hym and all man kynde Whether it be thā anguyshe painfulnesse or ony daūger that can happen vnto man other in body or soule y t cōmeth al to his auayl Onely yf he cā beleue be persuaded in himselfe y t God loueth him For one frēde forbeareth much of another y ◠which natural loue causeth Wherfore yf naturall loue can forbeare wrōge of a frende how muche more ought we to forbeare y ◠good that is sent vs of God to our saluacyon Seynge fayth is a gyfte geuē of God it is necessarye we turne oure selues lowly vnto the LORDE desyrynge hym humbly to prepare oure hartes and make them wyllynge to accepte his worde with ioye As muche as we loue Gods worde so muche shal we be conforted made glad in sprete by fayth in all that y e worde hath promysed vs. Seynge God is hyd in his worde yee is the worde it selfe therfore yf we receaue the worde then by fayth and with ioye we shall receaue so much as God hath sayd and promysed by his worde CHRIST which is the blessed worde of the father geueth hym self with his goodnesse in to al faythfull hartes and maketh hym selfe with all his goodnesse cōmune takynge vs to his grace yee with all the wyckednesse that is in vs. Whan we haue synned than wyll God haue vs to admonysshe hym of his promyse yf we than praye with a faythfull harte he shall remembre all that he hath promysed and shal haue mercy vpon vs to fulfyll hys promyse and worde Thys knewe Dauid what tyme he sayde The worde of the LORDE is treue and al his workes are faithful Upon thys trusted the same Dauid whan he had synned he put god in mynde of his wordes sayenge Agaynst the onely haue I synned done euell in thy syghte that thou myghtest be iustifyed in thy sayenges and shuldeste ouercome whan thou arte iudged As though he wolde saye LORDE I haue trespassed I praye the remembre thy word that thou haste promysed vnto the synners which turne agayne from theyr synnes namely that thou wilt receaue a sorowfull sprete vnto thy mercy Wherfor thou oughtest to receaue me vnto thy grace that thou myghteste be founde ryghteous Shewenge suche mercye vnto the synner accordynge to thy promyse than shalt thou discomfyte thyne enemyes wyth the treuth which wyl iudge and estyme the as one that doth not accordynge to hys worde Whan Dauid nowe knewe inwardlye that he had optayned mercy of the LORDE than dyd he prayse and thanke God in al his wordes and dedes sayenge The LORDE is gracious and mercyfull longe sufferynge and of greate goodnesse The LORDE is louynge vnto euery man and hys mercye is ouer all hys workes The LORDE is ryghteous in all hys wayes and holy in all hys workes The LORDE is nye vnto all them that call vpon hym Yee all such as cal vpon him faythfully And euen thus is it wyth vs We can prayse and thanke God so earnestlye and reioyce so greatlye in hys goodnesse as we can beleue that mercye and kyndnesse can be shewed by hym Though the lawe dyd vtterlye dāne vs hel wold swalow vs vp though all syn and other enmyes wolde ouerrunne vs yet muste we abyde sure vpon God and se what CHRISTE hath deserued and geuen vs by hys bytter passyon and what he hath promysed thā shal faith worke hyr worke Yf we haue receaued the worde in fayth through the holy goost than shal we optayne mercye and lyfe in the myddes of death and of synne Wythout hope dyd holde vp oure head and the promyses sonke in oure hartes we muste nedes be drowned in despayre Hope sayth My sonne despyse not the selfe in thy syknesse but praye vnto the LORDE and he shal make the whole The synfull man beholdyng God and knowyng him by hys worde that is that he is mercyfull not wyllynge the death of a synner he lyfteth vp hys heade w t a lusty corage sayenge I shall not dye
owne to the praise of his glorye And agayn Because we knowe brethren beloued of God howe that ye are electe For oure Gospell hath not ben with you in worde only but both in power and in the holy goost and muche certainte In all these foresaide reasons are we exhorted to receaue the godly worde with greate luste and loue prayenge the LORDE humbly to geue vs grace that we maye take it to harte and receaue it as a gladde tydinge that is shewed and promysed vs by the worde Paule what tyme he preached the worde of God he thanked hym and sayde for thys cause we thanke God wythout ceassynge because that whan ye receaued of vs the worde of the preachynge of God ye receaued it not as the preachynge of men but euen as it is of a treuth the worde of God whiche worketh in you that belefe It is not sufficiente that we can bable muche of the worde and haue many treatyses and bokes thereof but we muste also be chaunged and renewed in the spirite through faith of the worde in oure lyuyng so that we can reioyce in spirite beyng sure that the worde of God hath ended a greate glorious worke in vs. By faythe of the worde muste we be renewed in sprete and in conuersacyon so y e we can reioyce in sprete beynge assured that the worde of God hathe fullended a glorious worke in vs. By fayth in the worde muste we be certyfyed that muche is geuen vs of the LORDE By fayth muste we trye oure lyues Thys worde worketh myghtelye whan it is receaued in faythe for CHRISTE reconcyled vs by the father whan we were yet enemyes vnto hym We are approched and come neare vnto God by the faythe in the worde where as afore we were straungers so that we be euen electe and chosen chylderen CHRISTE sayeth Nowe are yecleane because of the worde that I haue spoken vnto you Abyde ye in me and I in you Alas we be all dettours our synnes will depreasse vs oure conscyence is of tymes greued whan she douteth whether to turne herselfe We fynde nought in oure selfe whereof we myghte haue ayde or comforte But yf we coulde beholde CHRISTE only in oure trouble and pondre by oure selfe the profyte of hys passyon and remembre the mercye promysed vnto vs by Gods goodnesse Howe earnestlye shulde we than ryse from oure synnefull lyfe sayenge wyth a lustye corage Wherfore shulde I mystruste he dyed for me whiche shall iudge me and he hath also were safe to call me I wyll ryse and seke my LORDE my God He may dāne but I am sure he wyll saue The LORDE is oure iudge the LORDE is oure lawe geuer the LORDE is oure kynge he shall come hymselfe and saue vs. yf God be wyth vs who can be agaynste vs whyche dyd not spare hys owne sonne but hym hath he geuen for vs all howe shall not he geue vs all thynges with hym also Who wyll laye ony thynge to the charge of Gods chosen It is God that maketh ryghteous who wyll than condempne It is CHRISTE that dyed ye rather which is raysed vp agayne whiche is also on the ryghthande of God and maketh in tercession for vs. We haue CHRIST for aspecheman for a mediator and an apeacer of Gods wrath whose bloude calleth for mercye for vs. By CHRISTE haue we a sure and fre entraunce to the father Whan the synner seyeth all this in the scrypture and can stonde sted faste vpon these wytnesses than maye he perceaue ryghte well that they be wrytten to oure comforte that the synner myghte hope to optayne mercy by the father Yf he submytte hymselfe vnto God the LORDE shall accomplyshe hys promyse in hym and steare the synner to repentaunce All this commeth by the worde which the synner heareth and taketh to harte for so myghtely worketh it in a man Therfore doth Paul call the worde or gospell y ◠power of God saynge I am not ashamed of the Gospell of CHRIST for it is the power of God whiche saueth al that beleue theron the Iewe fyrst and also the Greke For in it y ◠ryghteousnesse y t is of value before God is opened which cōmeth out of faith into fayth as it is written The iust shal lyue by his fayth Agayn sayth Paul The worde of the crosse is folyshnesse to them that peryshe but vnto vs that are saued it is the power of God In these aforesaid scriptures is it euident that God doth wyll worke a myghtye and blessed worke namely that he wyll turne conuerte a synner through his wordes Let vs therfore cal earnestly vpon hym desyryng hym to poure out his worde feruētly vpon vs and to worke therwith mightely in our hartes Peter preachyng the worde dyd conuerte thre thousande men at one tyme. Scripture sayeth that what y t tyme the chyldrē of Israell fought agaynst the Morians in theyr anguyshe they called vpō God and he herde them because they beleued on hym And agayne ther is wrytten The eyen of the LORDE beholde the whole earth and geue strength vnto them that trust in hym with a perfecte harte And agayne ther is wrytten And Iuda was greatly conforted for they trusted in the God of theyr fathers And of Asa sayeth the scripture that he called vpon y e LORDE his God and sayd LORDE it is no difference with the to saue by fewor by many Helpe vs O LORDE our God for our trust is in y e in thyne name we come forth agaynst this multitude Such lyke prayer made kynge Iosaphat in his anguyshe y e LORD dyd help hym By this may we perceaue y e power of faith which he requyreth of vs namely that we must loke vpō his worde what he requyreth of vs Agayne what he hath promysed vs how faythful he is of his promysse and true in his worde Consyderynge this we maye be stedfast in his worde and folowe the counsell of Syrak writynge in his boke called Ecclesiasticus Beleue in God and he shall helpe the ordre thy waye aryght and put thy trust in hym Holde fast his feare growe therin O ye y t fear y e LORD take sure holde of his mercy shrenk not away frō him y t ye fal not O ye y t feare y e LORDE beleue hym your rewarde shal not be emptye O ye y t fear the LORD put your trust in him mercy shal come vnto you for pleasure O ye y t fear the LORD set youre loue vpō him and your hartes shal be lyghted Cōsydre y e olde generacyns of men O ye chyldrē marke them well was ther euer ony one cōfoūded y e put his trust in y e LORD Who euer continued in his feare and was forsaken Or whom dyd he euer despyse that called faythfully vpon hym c. And agayne in the same chapter They that feare the LORDE wyll not
mystruste his worde and they that loue hym wyll kepe his coÌ„maundements c. Thus is it euydent that fayth muste nedes be a worke glorious puyssaunt wherby man optayneth so much of the LORDE How coulde ony maÌ„ comprehende and perceaue the power of faith and that by fayth we are one with God Ihon sayeth That God hath geuen all meÌ„ power to be the chyldreÌ„ of God Christ sayd All thynges are possible vnto hym that beleueth And agayn Yf ye beleue ye shall se the glorye of God And agayne Yf ye haue fayth as a grayne of mustarde sede ye maye saye vnto this mountayne Remoue hence to yonder place and he shall remoue nother shall ony thynge be vnpossible vnto you Now seynge God worketh so gloriously in all faythfull hartes then is it conuenient that we humbly beseke hym to teach vs to trust in his worde For we shall reioyce so much in his goodnesse loke for so much aide coÌ„forte at his haÌ„de as we can trust in hym and in his worde We â—ede of SusaÌ„na that what tyme she was in hir moost distresse anguish beyng iudged wrongfully to death she syghed and prayed to God trustyng stedfastly in him and y e LORD delyuered her Daniel also whan he was cast in y e LyoÌ„s denne was not hurte of them for he trusted in God The godly worde commeth not for nought it worketh wonderfully whan it is receaued in fayth Therfore doth saynt Iames erhorte vs to receaue with mekenesse the word that is grafted in vs whiche is able to saue our soules A man can not erre so longe as he can testyfye hys lyfe to be led accordynge to Gods worde Yf a man haue his myndefixed vpon mans inuencyons or inuented holynesse he maye surely be dysquyete and confortlesse But so longe as a man hath his eyen fixed vpon God and his worde bearynge Gods commaundementes in his harte so longe doth that man walke in sekernesse beynge assured of all y e is expressed by Gods worde and is sure of his sauegarde and coÌ„forte accordynge as Paul sayeth All men are lyars but God is true The sonne of God is the wysedome of y e father Who so now doth yelde hym selfe vnto the word receauyng therby the wysedome of the father the same is dryuen from death vnto lyfe by the sprete of God Syrak sayeth that wysedome breatheth lyfe in to hyr chyldren receaueth them that seke her It foloweth then that they which haue once assayed god by his worde in the wysedome of God that those I saye maye come to complete lyfe But it is contrarye with the worldly wysedome as wytnesseth Paul sayenge In so muche as the worlde by the wysedome ther of knewe not God in his wysedome it pleased God thorowe folyshe preachynge to saue them that beleue Whan Paul was mynded to conuerte ony man then wolde he laye nothynge before hym saue onely Gods worde sayenge I haue begotten you in CHRIST IESV thorowe the gospell Wherfore I exhort you be ye my folowers as I am IESV CHRISTES So longe as a man redresseth hys lyfe accordyng to Gods worde so longe shall he come walkynge the ryghte waye of saluacyon and reioyce in his conseyence For all that the worde of God doth vtter is concernynge ether mercy or in warde consolacyon Peter sayeth Ye knowe of the preachynge y t God sent vnto the chyldreÌ„ of Israel preachyng peace thorow IESVS CHRIST Of hym beare al the prophetes wytnesse that thorow his name all they that beleue in hym shall receaue remission of synnes Luke also wrytyng CRISTES wordes saieth Thus is it wrytten and thus it behoued CHRIST to suffre and the thirde day to tyse agayne from the dead and to let repentaunce and remyssioÌ„ of synnes be preached in his name amoÌ„geal nacions This knewe Esay afore hande whan he sayde Lyke as the rayne and snowe commeth downe from heauen and returneth not thy ther againe but watereth the earth maketh it frutefull and grene that it maye geue corne and bread vnto the so wer So the worde also that coÌ„meth out of my mouth shall not turne vnto me voide agayn but shal accomplyshe my wyll and prosper in the thynge whereunto I sende it Hereby we are taughte that like as the earthe is made frutefull of the rayne that God sendeth so shall we also be renewed and be frutefull yf we knowlege God a ryghte by hys worde and reioice in al that he hath wytesafe to warne vs of by hys worde Yee we shall mortifye the fleshe wyth all hys desyres and he ioyned to God He that cleueth vnto god becommeth one sprete wyth hym and optayneth all goodnesse wyth hym A man reioyceth so muche in God as he is knytte wyth him by fayth and is diligent in all thynges to forther hys glorye The olde father Symeon beholdynge the lytle babe and beynge sure in wardlye that he was hys saueoure for he loked for hym by hys fayth reioyced in hys harte desyrynge to go to hys reste by bodely death for his eyen had sene the saue garde of men Euen so lykewyse we yf we had sene by fayth the loue which God beareth to ward vs how hartelye shulde we then yelde oureselues vnto death For fayth certyfyeth the harte that God is a mercy full father and that mercye shall be shewed vnto vs by y e death of IESV CHRISTE We can optayne no greater rewarde than to beleue that God is wyth vs and we beynge wyth the LORDE are safe Steuen seynge heauen open by fayth sayde incontinentlye LORDE receaue my sprete For thys cause sayde Paule Because therfore that we are iustyfyed by faythe we haue peace wyth God thorow oure LORDE IESVS CHRISTE by whom also we haue an entraunce in faythe vnto thys grace wherein we stonde Here lo is no mencyon of workes or of y â— lawe for by the workes is noman iustyfyed But the workes muste breake oute thorowe loue and declare oure inwarde fayth by workynge of charitable dedes Iob was ashamed of all hys workes and was not so bold as to lyfte vp hys heade before hys LORDE God but submitted hymselfe lowly vnto him ye though ther had ben founde some right wy sucsse in hym Dauid also sayde LORDE entre not in to iudgemente with thy seruaunte for in thy syghte shall noman lyuynge be iustifyed Neuerthelesse God wyllynge to certifye vs what we maye optayne by fayth he shewed vs that by pure and onely loue and mercye he taketh the synner to grace wythoute ony regarde of dedes so that mercye shulde be shewed to vs of promyse and not of dewtye Therfore ought we to geue all glorye vnto God onely Dauid wytnesseth thys same sayenge Blessed are they whose vnryghteousnesse is forgeuen and whose sinnes are couered Blessed is the man vnto whome the LORDE imputeth no syn and in whose sprete ther is no gyle Herin maye you perceaue the maner of tustifienge namely
that iâ— offended at Goddes worde thorow mysbelef nother doth knowlege thorowe loue hys saluacyon to be therein but withstandeth it by al meanes possyble They that be offended and dashe at the stone that is CHRISTE they be not drawen to hym through hys goodnesse but be rather peyered peruerse myndlesse Yee and they become enemies of God by the lawe whereby they be broughte to greater feare than can wel be swaged and redressed againe by Gods worde Whan the stone that is the blessed CHRIST shall fall vpon the mis beleuing forsake y â— sinner trustyng in his blindnesse beynge despysed of God for his obstinacie and beating his iudgemente wythout mercye at the daye of dome than shall the vnbeleuynge se how greuous it is vnto hym that he hath not receaued CHRIST in his worde The LORDE sayd He y t is not with me is against me He that gathereth not with me scattereth For he that seketh righteousnes notbeholding CHRIST only w t a pure minde he dasheth agaist y â— stone Now greuous it is to offeÌ„d at y â— stone to be offeÌ„ded at CHRIST do many places of scripture specifie vnto vs. CHRIST is set to a fall to an vprising agayn of many But well is him whose trust is in y e LORD hys god Be it knoweÌ„ vnto you therfore ye meÌ„ brethreÌ„ y e thorow this maÌ„ y â— is CHRISTE is preached vnto you y e forgeuenesse of synnes and from al the thinges wherby ye might not be iustified in the lawe of Moses But whosoeuer beleueth on thys man is iustifyed Beware therfore that it come not vpon you which is spoken in the Prophetes Beholde ye despysers and wonder at it and peryshe For I do a worke in youre tyme which ye shall not beleue yf ony maÌ„ tell it you And agayne in the same place sayde Paull and Barnabas to the Iewes It behoued fyrste the worde of god to be spoken vnto you but now that ye thruste it from you counte youre selues vnworthye of euerlastynge lyfe lo we turne to the Gentyles Oh LORDE who caÌ„ perceaue how hurtefull the worldly wysedome is The Byshoppes Pharisees Prestes and Lawers thorowe theyr owne wysedome wold not submitte them selues to the humble and meke fayth of CHRISTE but rather drewe the other people from the fayth in CHRISTE sayenge Doth ony of the rulers or Pharisees beleue on hym But the commune people whiche knowe not the lawe are cursed Thus were the Publicans and open synners whiche beleued in CHRISTE despysed of them Yee because the commune people folowed CHRIST therfor haue the Byshoppes and Prestes takeÌ„ couÌ„sell how to slaye CHRIST CHRIST also whan he saw that the couetous Pharisees dyd mocke hym he sayd Ye are they that iustyfye youre selues before â—â—n but God knoweth youre hartes For that which is hye amonge men is abominacyon before God And agayn sayd CHRIST Why know ye not my speche Euen because ye can not abyde the hearynge of my wordes And agayne I am come to iudgement into hys world that they which se not might se and that they which se myght be made blynde And some of the Pharisees that were wyth hym herde thys and sayde vnto hym Are we then blynde also IESVS sayde vnto them Yf ye were blynde ye shulde haue no synne But now that ye say wese therfore remayneth youre synne That is as muche as though CHRISTE wolde saye He that wyll se hys saluacyon by hys owne wysedom he is blynde For he loketh not vpon God but is blynde in himself But he that loketh not vpon hymselfe but seketh hys saluacyon in CHRISTE he is lyghtened of God Thys wytnesseth saint Paul sayeÌ„g The Heythen whiche solowed not ryghteousnesse haue ouertakeÌ„ righteousnesse But I speake of the righteousnesse that commeth by faythe Israell folowed the lawe of ryghteousnesse and attayned not vnto the lawe of righteousnesse Why so eueÌ„ because they soughte it not oute of faith but as it were out of deseruing of workes For they haue stoÌ„bled at the stomblynge stone as it is writteÌ„ Beholde I laye in Syon a stone to stomble at and a tocke to be offended at and whosoeuer beleueth on hym shall not be confounded Here haue we now herd what hurt vnbelefe bryngeth whereby a man becommeth coulde and straunge froÌ„ God For thorowe vnbelefe hath a man small perceuenaunce of God or godlynesse Yee where God is not duely knowen there is man ydle can haue no godly lust nor fauoure vnto God But y t father hath geuen vs CHRIST hys only sonne accordynge to hys loue towarde vs euen hys godly worde that we shulde herken to him learne to know y â— waye of saluacioÌ„ thorow hys word Thus hath CHRIST called vs louingly namely vs y t were of a disquiete troubelous hart geuingvs knowlege of his fatherly wil thorow faith y t we shuld be coÌ„forted in his word which brigeth al mercy w t it Yf our hart be ready to accoÌ„plish y t wil of god accordinge to his worde not to departe thorow ony straung learniÌ„g thaÌ„ are we surely called of hi. For IhoÌ„ saith Whosoeuer transgresseth and abydeth not in the doctryne of CHRIST hath not God He that abydeth in the doctryne of CHRISTE hath both the father and the sonne And agayn Yf no man wyl receaue you nor heare youre preachynge depart out of that house or cytie and shake the duste from youre fete Treuly I saye vnto you It shall be easyer for the loude of Sodoma and Gomorra in the daye of iudgement thaÌ„ for y t cuie Thus may youse y â— damage and hurte of mysbelese the whiche causeth a disquyeted harte and remorse of conscieure and an harte y e is comfortlesse yee a continuaunce in synfulnesse Wherfore CHRISTE seinge the multitude hauyng blind leaders he is moued with pitye vpoÌ„ them for they were pined away and dispersed as shepe hauyng no shepe herde And CHRISTE sayde vnto his disciples The haruest is great but the laborers are few Wherfore praye the LORDE of the harueste to send forth labourers into his haruest Now louyngly wyll the LORDE haue pytye vpon vs seynge he calleth vs so swetelye to hys godlye worde that we abyde not in damnacyon Paul sayeth Brethren praye for vs that the worde of God maye haue fre passage and be glorified as it is with you and that we maye be delyuered from vnreasonable and euell men Thys graunte vs y â— heauenlye father thorow IESVS CHRISTE his sonne Amen ¶ Here endeth the treatyse of fayth and hope Here foloweth the treatyse of loue and charite ¶ Of the loue that God hath towarde vs howe stronglye loue worketh in vs and howe hurtefull the worldlye loue is PEace and mercye from God the father thorow IESV CHRIST Ye entyerlye beloued ye that huÌ„ger to come to y e knowlege of y e loue y t God hath to vs ward ye must turne
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