in his syghte but by his Fayth Rom. 3.28 as by the hande wherwith he apprehended his righteousnesse in Christ Or maye any person obiect in right as opposite hereto The words of Iames declared By the papists abused the saying of Iames the Apostle was not Abraham iustified by workes For Iames doth not in that place dispute the meanes of mans iustification before God but requyreth that good works be to Christian fayth adioyned as by which grace holye men on earth doe approoue that which God in the Heauens before through the vndoubted fayth in hys Sonne Iesus Christ hath imputed to his beloued children which may easely appeare in the Apostles owne wordes Shewe mee thy fayth out of thy works sayth he and I will shewe thee my fayth by my workes Iam. 2.18 As if he had sayde Thou which boastest to haue fayth shewe me that am but man and therefore knowe not thy state before the Tribunall seate of GOD or his graces in the inwarde man by which meanes I cannot iudge of thée Shewe me I saye thy fayth by hys works in thée and I will beléeue thée then to be a faythfull Christian Gene. 22.16 This sence Moses also testifieth the Angel or rather the Lorde by his Angel to approoue which stayde the hande of Abraham from the sacrifycing of his sonne Touch not thy sonne with violent hands for nowe I knowe that thou fearest God bicause thou hast not spared thine only sonne for my commaundement sake To conclude the Epistle written to the Hebrewes doth attribute this great worke of Abraham to the excellency of his fayth saying By fayth Abraham offred vp his sonne Isaac Heb. 11.17 It resteth therefore sythe Symeon is not able to fulfill the lawe but fayleth in many poyntes thereof and therefore guyltie of all Sithe also that those good workes which he doth be polluted in Gods syght as procéeding from hym selfe by which meanes he is become in himselfe vniuste before God that nowe his righteousnesse consysteth herein that his synnes be not layde to his charge according to the saying of the Psalmist Psal 31.1 Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiuen and whose synnes be not imputed to them Thus was Symeon vniust in himselfe but iust in his consolation Christ Iesus and that bicause he fyrmely beleeued in him by whose merittes and death on the Crosse the Fathers iustice is answered Symeons synnes raunsomed mercye to hym procured his daylie synnes not layde to his charge bycause by imputation he is accounted for iust And in the same maner are all the elect of God alyke blessed with him And so lykewise all the workes of Gods saintes are impure in his sight if tryed by the phan of hys spirite before his Tribunall seate But such is his fatherly benigne mercye that in and for his sonne Christ he accepteth vs and then our holy actions for iuste as he accepted Habel and his sacryfice but he regarded not Caine Gene. 4. and therfore not his sacryfice also he casteth our iniquities quight out of his remembrance Ezec. 18. Secondly Symeon is called pius godly religious Iere. 31.22 or fearing God This is proper to the chylde of God if iustifyed by his grace then to lyue in his feare that is in his obedience Tit. 2.12 Luk. 1. We are also redéemed to this ende That we should denye vngodlynesse and walke in puritie of lyfe in holynesse and righteousnesse before our iuste God all the dayes of our lyfe So sayth the holye Ghoste in the mouth of Zachary the good maryed Priest So did the same holye man of God and his good wyfe by vertuous lyfe expresse the graces of Gods holye spirite in them as testifyeth Saint Luke saying Both were iuste before God and walked in all the commaundementes of the Lorde without reproofe Luc. 1.6 Here hast thou good Reader the true discription of a godly man namely he that being iustifyed by Fayth in Christ walketh though he cannot performe in perfection in all the commaundements and ordinances of the Lord. Deare Reader we glorye that we be called christians but onely this is a true christian lyfe of which here thou haste heard Our wants in this profession in these oure dayes bewray from top to the toe in the Courte and thence thorowe the Countrie from the Nobilitie to the Plowman and his mate The greater personages boast and bragge of great tytles Lordships Baranies Offices and liberties of bewty byrthe brauerie manhood chyualry and force of cunning skyll learned tongue But vnlesse my Lords ye relye vpon Symeons lore vnlesse ye be worthyly endowed with his style vnlesse ye be iuste before God walke in all the commaundementes of God not only to do holyly but to be holy your selues in déede Vndoubtedly your honor and all your other pompe in pryde shall you change for horror wéeping howling and gnashing of teeth and so shall all fleshe that lyueth not in the feare of God Math. 25.30 What benefite was it to Diues nowe boyling in Hell that he was endewed with all worldlye Epicurious pleasures Luck 16. as gorgious houses costly array after the fashion diuersitie of dyshes and the worlde at wyll Or what aduantage to the other Ritchman Luck 12. that pulled downe his Barnes to make them greater sayde to hymselfe Now soule be merrie for thou hast goodes and landes in store for many yeres But how did he possesse this large and newe buylded frame Thou foole sayth the spirite This nighte shall they take thy soule from thee and who shall then possesse thy goods Shall not the wicked ritche men lykewise haue their heauen in this lyfe Shall they not after the hower of death with Diues lye in the Helles lyke shéepe and say Sapi. 3. There was no greene pasture which we wente not through whereby they note in naturall lyfe their courtly pleasures We left no token of vertue behinde vs in thys they signifie their wicked lyfe buryed in contynuall securitie We thought these men fooles vz Symeon and such other the sonnes of God Whereby they vtter their ignorance of godly men and their owne fréedome from godlynesse These are they which wee persecuted scorned and cruelly intreated but nowe see how they are taken with the iuste By which the holye ghost sealeth vp the naturall disposition of all Atheists to their gréeuous and irrecuperable condemnation Wherefore beloued Reader Noble and ignoble Courtier and Countryman séeke the Lorde earely and whyle he is to be founde attayne to his seruice who by his grace will endue thée with iustification Esa 55. and holynesse with obedience to his holy law and delight to dwell therin Ephe. 1.14 bicause his holye spirite is his Arrha and earnest penny giuen thée for thy assurance of his loue and fauour towards thée So shall your Nobilities more encrease your state most surely stande your selues with Symeon shall be famous to your posteritie a good example
mightye hande and outstretched arme delyuer you Whose pacient perseuerance the same Iehouah approoued when moste tryumphantly he caused the senceles seas in the faithfull answere of his merciful promise to obey his voice in the mouth of a man far inferiour to Pharaoh at whose commaundement they became against their nature seruiceable to his people Exo. 14.21 for they reared themselues as a loftie wall on either side and the sincking sandes were turned into a most firme ground and pleasaunt gréene path Hebr. 11.29 for the Israelites safetie in this their moste miraculous passage After whose ariuall on the other shore the saide Sea did returne to her former course and in the sight of the Hebrewes gaue to the Egiptiacall Tiranny his iust rewarde by the hand of God which herein drowned Pharaoh and all his host And déere Reader thou hast no lesse promise Exo. 14.27.28 but much greater to thée being a christian Israelite Namely that by faith thou shalt be deliuered from the power of spiritual Pharaoh the power of darkenes Col. 1.13 Rom. 3.24 bée translated into the kingdome of the Sonne of God in whom thou shalt be iustified and shalt haue forgiuenes of thy sinnes shalt be at peace with God shalt haue Christ thy sanctification iustification and redemption 1. Cor. 1.30 Thy Lord thy peace thy saluation thy light and thy glorie Thy selfe shalt approch the throne of grace with quiet conscience beholden of the father for his blessed and therefore beloued sonne for a citizen of the heauenly Ierusalem Ephe. 2.19 Rom. 8.17 an heire of that kingdome yea a fellowe heire with Christ Iesus And this is that peace which Symeon felt and saw with the eies of his faith when hée saide hée now went to his Fathers in peace But euerie opinion receiued in or of Christ is not this regenerating fayth There is a fayth attributed to the Deuils The Deuils beleeue saith S. Iames but they tremble and quake Iam. 2.19 There is a faith said to be in the hypocrits of the earth but Iames calleth that a dead faith And Paule to Timothy Iam. 2.17 Fides ficta a fained faith a faith all one with the Diuels and of some called an historicall fayth Iames ioyning them together saieth of them thus speaking to the counterfeite Christian Thou delightest in thy selfe and takest pride herein that thou art perswaded that there is but one God and the same thou holdest for thy God against the error of Paganisme which defend many Gods Thou doest this right and hereby thou doest farre excell them but yet art not thou ascended one step from the Deuils fayth who beléeueth euen as much and that Iesus Christ is the holye sonne of God also and the Redéemer of the world But in that he beléeueth God and Christ to be God and cannot beléeue in God that is as Augustine hath it to loue God and to walke in his feare with obedience they do al tremble at this name as the théefe before the Iudge and so do Hypocrites which haue but fictam fidem a fayned fayth Let no man obiect that the godly also doe feare God For it is easily answered their feare in God is coupled wyth fayth and loue in GOD with hope and perseuerance in constant faythfulnesse and obedience to his worde But in Deuils in wicked men and in hypocrits there is nothing but feare and desperation For as they beléeue they loue not they obey not wyllingly wherfore wanting his Spirite they haue no boldnesse they hope not but feare and looke for his anger not for his mercy bicause they cannot but be most cruell against his beloued members But the fayth which Symeon and all the iuste haue in God and Christ is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an opinion True fayth descrybed which leaneth to one parte yet so as he standeth something doubtfull of his side but it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so fyrme stable so sure an assente and consent to the worde of truth by the working of the holy ghost that no doubt can driue vs from our Ancor holde in Christ And this gracious fayth is the gift of God which by the bright beames of his truth in his holye spirite doth not onely shyne and presse into our harts the worde of our saluation and fayth in Christ but doth enflame and transforme them and maketh them of an old substance a newe creature that thus knowing God they loue him as their father they worship and honor him as God they tremble at his worde least they offende such a most louing father they walke in his statuts and ordinances to doe them and put their whole truste in hym and in the worde of his truth though their synne their conscience and Satans malice doe accuse them yea though infynite temptations to the contrary of Gods louing fauour do assault them As that their synnes might alter his good purpose or that their weaknesse in fayth might chaunge hys mynde and loue towards them yet hauing this promise by Symeon 1. Cor. 1.30 1. Pe◠2.24.25 Heb. 9.12 Christ is our peace our light our saluation our glory by Paule our sanctification iustification and redemption by Peter our Byshop and high Priest by whose strypes we be made whole by the Epistle to the Hebrewes our sacrifice which once for all offred hath founde eternall redemption Hebr. 10.26 1. Ioh. 2.2 after whose Oblation there remayneth no more offering for sinne Finally our Mediator and Aduocate and the full reconciliation for our sinnes and the sinnes of the whole worlde yet I say notwithstanding such former assaultes these present promises doe seale vs vp and we conclude by our fayth in Christ after the assured word giuen vnto vs in the Pen of Paule There is no condemnation to them which bee grafte in Christ Iesus Rom. 8.1 which lyue not after the fleshe but after the spirite and we be so stablished by hope that tryumphantly we stande the accusation of Synne Rom. 8.33 34. Satan and Hell saying It is God which iustifyeth who can condemne It is he that is dead yea but which is rysen from death is set at the right hande of God and maketh intercession for vs his spirite teacheth vs to pray and in vs doth worke effectuall suspiration and supplications with hope to receyue moste certainly the loue of God and in this manner with Symeon Ioseph of Aramathea and the rest of Gods elect we daylie wayte for and expect with pacience the redemption of our bodyes Rom. 8.23 Luc. 21.28 that is the day of the last Resurrection And this our liuely fayth hath this loue so conioyned in vs that we do loue our Christ bicause he loueth vs first and walke in the effects therof before him and our brethren 1. Iohn 4.10 through the same his loue and therefore also tryumphantly against Satan Sinne Pope and Hell Desperation and Death we say in hart Who shal seperate vs from
the loue of Christ shall oppression shall extremitie shall persecution famishment Rom. 8.35 nakednes perill or sworde as it is written For thy sake are we al day slayne and brought as sheepe to the slaughter but in all these we are more then conquerors in and by him that loueth vs. So are we with Paule perswaded that neyther death nor lyfe Aungell principalitie or potentats neyther things present or to come neyther things aboue or yet belowe or any other creature can seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesu our Lorde And this is that our fayth which is farre differente from the Iewes condemneth the Pagans conuinceth the Papists of Heresie and apprehendeth Christ Iesus which is our peace our saluation our light and eternall glory Further note here that as this christiaÌ„ faith is not without these workes of hope and loue So doe we learne that they procéede of fayth as they whose nature cannot be seperate from the same We are iustifyed by fayth sayth Paule and therefore haue peace with God by Christ Rom. 5.1 by whome we haue accesse by Fayth into that grace wherein we stande and glorye in the hope of the glorye of God Fayth hath two daughters Hope and Loue. Beholde the Apostle doth playnely affirme vs to haue accesse to God and peace in him the hope of glory by fayth in Christ But more playnely to the Ephesians saying We haue accesse in hope which is by fayth Ephe. 3.12 Here is hope sayde to be conceyued of the spirite and borne of fayth That Charitie also is borne of her as her second daughter 1. Tim. 1.5 Paule to Timothy doth wytnesse thus The ende of the commaundement is loue out of a pure harte and of a good conscience and of fayth vnfayned And how can it be but loue of force must procéede of fayth For thereby we beholde the Lorde our God to be our best good most mightie wise and best belouing father in whose loue he hath giuen vs his onely begotten sonne to dye for vs and wyth him hath giuen vs all things Howe cannot I saye then this Charitie to breake out of vs in floodes of loue to oure good God and elect brethren for him in euery such office as the rules therof requyreth at our hands But still obserue this for their order Fayth is the Noble parent the daughter of Gods holy worde whose father is Gods spirite begotten in the bed of a christian harte and hope is the fyrst Daughter of fayth Eph. 17. expecting the fruite of Gods faythfull promise and cannot be drawne from her mother bicause she is holden by the holy ghost nor thrust down to distrust or doubtfulnesse for that she is sustayned in her mothers lappe the most assured fayth in God And loue is the laste daughter and of longer contynuance For when the mother and her elder Sister shall giue ouer their office hauing attayned their rewarde and promise this vertuous loue in the saints of God shall neuer cease 1. Cor. 13.13 but contynue in the heauens with them for euer And thus hath loue of vs her due commendation but so as she is set orderly in her besytting place against the cauils of al Papists Atheists whatsoeuer Further to thée which art an olde man our aged Symeon standeth a perfite patterne to follow That not thy gray heares but thy graue and godly conuersation may with him approoue thée in the house of God a manne venerable and worthy regarde A Lesson to olde men His steps to lead thée are his fayth in Christ his feare in GOD his godly lyfe his loue to his Countrie and his desyre to departe these miserable dayes at the wyll and worde of God But in his godly lyfe thâ—e is by the Euangelist set downe for great and chiefe that he followed his guyde the holye Ghost O ye olde fathers whose gray heads doe sommon your toyled Soules to the Tribunall seate of God take care that ye follow Symeons trace in the obedience to Gods holye spirite For they alone are Gods children Rom. 8.14 which are ledde by his spirite and thereby doe mortifye and kyll the lustes of the flesh It is ynough and tootomuch that you haue spent the dayes of your youth after the wanton guyse of fleshlye lustes Learne to say with Paule when I was a chylde 1. Cor. 13.11 Psal 19.12 13. Eph. 24 7 I did as a chylde but now I am a man I haue cast away childishnesse Pray with holy Dauid O Lord forgiue me the rebellion of my youth lay not my presumptuous syns against me Reioyce with Sophocles that Nature hath bidde adue to the fleeting feates of fleshly affects Cast away whoredome and lasciuious delights A Christian cautar and aboue all delight not in thy former euils but reprooue thy selfe in them Ephes 5.11 and condemne thy hart for them Ioy in God and begge earnestly for repentance at his hands Luk. 15.21 and aske mercy with the prodigall sonne for thy wasting dayes past thee Defye the receypt of Satans baytes which now that Nature cannot ruffle as to fore do enflame thy hart with conceypt of fryuolous and fylthy ioy for the euill done déede so long time paste Eph. 4.29 Let no fylthy communication proceede out of thy mouth nor haue thou anye fellowship with the workes of darknesse but rather reproue them For so shalt thou be learned in Christ Be not so farre from the duety of an olde christian Father that a Heathen though a cyuill naturall man may well condemne thée A notable and pythie saying of Cicero Fylthy lustes sayth Cicero is hatefull to gréene dayes but most odyous to gray heares as of which commeth two pestilente euilles It bréedeth common crye of shame and dishonor to the aged Eccle. 9.25.2 and their example giueth beastly boldnesse to youthfull intemperance There be three things sayth the wyse man that God hateth A pore man that is prowde a ryche man that is a lyar and an olde Adulterer that doteth The Preacher Ecclesiastes Eccle. 11.9 derydingly sayth to a yong manne which olde men are in wisedome to recorde Reioyce in thy youth let thine harte cheere thee walke in the wayes of thyne harte and in the sight of thine eyes But knowe that for al these things God will bring thee to iudgement Doctrine for yong Gallants Therfore take away griefe out of thyne harte and cause euill to depart from thy fleshe for chyldhood and youth are vanity Hereto shall it much profite you you elder fathers if with Symeon ye enter the Temples of God where hys worde is daylie preached his graces exhibited and sealed to you in his Sacraments Where with the iust your contynuall prayers shall be acceptable and receyuing fruite in Christ Where shall this counsell of the Lorde be giuen you to your eternall good forth of his holy word Remember now thy Creator Eccle. 12.1 c.
themselues but hoped after Oyle of the wyser Virgins were denyed and had the gates of the Bridegrome shut vp against them Séeke therefore by the Gospell of God to nourishe thy fayth in Christ by whom thou shalt be at peace with God and in a most quyet conscience thou shalt ende a godly lyfe and make a ioyful departure Otherwise albeit thou haue the Popishe Oyle of all the Virgin Priests and saintes in the worlde it cannot helpe thée thy departure shall be the beginning of sorrowe and an absolute departure from God his Aungels Saints and saued creatures and shalt haue thy portion in the Hels for euer Be not deceyued beléeue the truth God graunt thée with vs so to doe and to lyue in truth all the dayes of thy lyfe and in perfite departing from spirituall death which is sinne and iniquitie For after thy departure here hence thou shalt be as frée from the state of the lyuing and the actes and déeds of them for thée as the wicked dead in sinne are frée from righteousnesse estranged from the lyfe of God Secondly we haue sayde that the soule is immortall and therfore cannot dye For the holy Scriptures do euerie where recorde it Thou shalt not leaue my soule in Hell vz in graue sayth Dauid neyther shall thy holye one see corruption Psal 16.8 As this Scripture serueth chiefely to Christ so doth it to all other his members Againe the Preacher sayth deuyding the soule and body a sunder The bodye sayth he shal returne to dust from whence it came but the soule to him that gaue it Eccle. 12. And Christ Iesus sayth in Iohn Verily Ioh. 5.24 verily I say vnto you he that heareth my worde and beleeueth in him that sent me The soule sleepeth not with the bodye hath eternall lyfe and he shall not come into iudgement but hath passed from death to life This place as it most plainely prooueth the immortalitie of the soule saying He hath euerlasting life he hath passed from death to lyfe which cannot be once dreamed to bée spoken of the bodye for that passeth from lyfe to naturall death and to the sléeping graue So doth it refell those Heretiques which eyther denie the immortalitie of the soule or imagine the same to sleepe tyll the day of iudgement with the body And to this ende serue the words of Paule I desyre to be dissolued and to be with Christ But the Storie or Parable of Diues Lazarus Phil. 1.23 most lyuely expresseth the one the other Diues in body is sumptuously buried Luc. 16. but his soule is presently in Hell in torments and beholde he sléepeth not for he féeling his terrible payne is exercised in beholding the ioy of his late despised Lazarus and calleth for succour and maketh peticion for his Brethren which yet remayne a lyue all which approoue the soule immortall and not to sléepe a sencelesse death wyth the bodye So the bodye of Lazarus cast in some Dytche or open Fielde his soule by the ministrie of Angels Math. 8.11 is taken vp into Abrahams bosome where he sléepeth not but enioyeth the pleasant comforte of the Heauens But possible thou wouldst aske me then howe these places can stande with those which affirme the soule to dye and also say that the godly after death doe sléepe As that soule that synneth shall dye We confesse for answere that the soule is not altogether immortall as our God is and not all subiect to death we confesse that there is a death wherewith the wicked soule shall be ouerwhelmed and so is the soule but after a spirituall sorte both mortall and immortall The death of the soule is when his lyfe is not in him Mans soule mortall and immortall the lyfe of the soule is Christ Iesus by whose spirite the godly doe lyue in soule a lyfe to eternall lyfe Of this lyfe speaketh Paule thus I lyue yet not I Gal. 2.20 Colo. 3.3 1. Iohn 5.11.12 but it is Christ that lyueth in mee And to the Colloss Our lyfe is layde vp with God in Christ when Christ which is our lyfe shall appeare we shal appeare with him glorious That soule that hath not Christ hath not lyfe but is already dead though in bodye he lyueth For the wrath of God abydeth vppon him Vnderstande then that this worde Death is mente not of the substance of the soule which cannot dye but of her condition which shall lye in the Lake of fyre and shall burne and lyue for euer which is called the Second death Reuel 20.14 Eph. 3.17 Ephe. 2.1 1. Tym. 5.6 Tess 4.13 By fayth Paule prayeth that Christ may dwell in our harts and affirmeth Christ by fayth to lyue in him Ergo wythout fayth the soule is dead lyuing in dead workes and dead sinnes as the vnprofitable Wydowes are deade in soule though aliue in body To the place of Paule where he sayth He would not haue vs ignorant touching them which sleepe and such other places of scripture We must interprete him to speake of the body and not of the soule for as when the soule is ioyned with the bodye he alwayes waketh when the body taketh rest So disioyned much lesse he is said to sléepe And the body is sayde to sléepe not in respect that the soule lyeth deade or sléeping within him for we haue prooued the soule to be with God but in regarde of his rysing againe when the soule shal returne to his former bodye at the day of iudgement And by the sléepe of Death he awayteth the retyre of his mortall lyfe by the reconiunction of his selfe soule and bodye sanctified in Christ the lyfe of the bodye with whome tyll then the soules of the saints raigne vnder the Aulter in heauen not sléeping but waking and crying vpon God How long Lorde holy and true doest not thou iudge and auenge the blood of them that dwel on the earth These were the soules of them sayth Iohn Reue. 6. which lay vnder the Aulter which is Christ that were kylled for the worde of God and for the testimonie they maintayned Beholde ye cruell Papistes you haue killed the bodies but the soules of our English saints are with their Protector Christ Gen. 4.10 and their blood doth begge you vengeance if ye repent not Abrahams Bosome Thirdly Symeon calleth Death but a departure bicause for a tyme onely the soule taking leaue of the massy fleshe as we haue sayde doth depart to the rest in peace prepared for him in his consolation Christ Namely the Bosome of his Father Abraham which by Salomon is called the hand of God Sapi. 3. Apo. 69. The soules of the righteous sayth he are in the hands of God the torments of Hel doe not touch them And by Iohn the Heauens and the Aulter which is Christ and by Christ Paradise as to the Théefe saying on the Crosse This day shalte thou be with me in Paradise And in
last hower the spirite of God lightened the harte of the théefe vpon the Crosse Luck 23.40 Ezech. 18. Eph. 1.4.5 Ioh. 1.9 1. Tim. 2.4 Eph. 1.18 Heb. 1.3 so that in yéelding to death he sawe Christ onely to be his lyfe So the same most louing father who wylleth not the death of a synner hath euen in the hower of death and in all the dayes of Popery tourned the hartes of as many as were predestinate before all tymes in Christ to lyue eternally And that our Christ which lighteneth all men that come into the worlde and would haue all men that is to say of euerye country nation people and families some to be saued and come to the knowledge of the truth Hath also illuminated the hartes of all those whome the father hath by his spirite drawne out of the Dungeon of Papistrie to thys brightnesse of his glory wherby they haue with the eyes of their fayth séene this Iesus Christ to be the onely saluation of Iewe Turke Pagan Papist and Gentyle and consequently haue in harte felt him for theirs to their greate and synguler consolation After which sight they haue in the integritie of their soules 1. Cor. 3.12 Phil. 3.8 accounted al the hey tymber stubble and Popishe stuffe as fylthie doung and paciently abode the paine of death for their former ignorance and rest in hope of eternall peace and in the assurance of hys spirite that their synnes in his bloude are washed awaye They are perswaded that death is to them lyfe in cause whereof they haue in Christ banished that feare which bringeth paynefulnesse 1. Io. 4.18 and with Symeon haue sayde Now Lorde let vs thy seruants depart in peace for the eyes of our minde nowe in the agony of our soule hath through the day spring which from an high hath visited vs perfitly seene the Lorde thy Christ to be our sauing health â—uc 1.78 in whome wee departe to thee who neuer before this hower in these dayes of ignoraunce could attayne to this grace But now Lord receiue vs in peace through Christ our lord our God of peace and the same to all his chosen children The prouydence of God in tyme of Popery féedeth this our sentence of the forefathers thus blessed in the dayes of ignorance In that he conserued and during those tymes continued among men the Symbole of our fayth which very manye at their death haue constantly repeated and by open declaration haue affirmed in that fayth to ende their lyfe But thys Symbole preacheth onely the gloryous fayth in God the Father God the sonne and God the holy Ghost In Popery no saluation wherfore I conclude that manye of our forefathers were in the daies of Popery saued by fayth alone in Christ and that by Popery no man may or can be saued For the whole course of the Romishe Religion is to disperce Mat. 12.30 and not to gather together the saintes of God to the vnitie of fayth and knowledge in the sonne of GOD but to hayle to the fayth of Rome which maketh as many Sauiours as the sunne shyning giueth shadowes which can in no case permit a man eyther to rest alone in the death of Christ or to assure himselfe of saluation in hym But to attayne lyfe Popishe Treasures the Papists must fetch the treasures of the Church of Rome parte whereof is the blood of Martyrs though some of them be notable Traytors It is to playne that they make such not Mediators onely but Sauiours also from synne Who can forget this solemne Anthemne to that Traytor Thomas Becket sometimes Byshop of Caunterbury which the Popes Portuse and all laten Primers haue farsed in them for men in prayer to vse In the Popishe Primers Tu per Thomae sanguinem quem pro te impendit fac nos Christe scandere quo Thomas ascendit That is graunt vs Christ by the vertue of saint Thomas his bloud which he shedde for thée to ascende whether Thomas is gone where note that Christ hath but that office which else they giue to Peter Namely to be the dore kéeper and to admit those soules into heauen which clayme it by the bloud of Barrabas I should say Thomas and they do refuse bicause they doe distrust the raunsome of Christ our onely way to lyfe Oh horrible and most abhominable blasphemy Ioh. 14.6 But deare Reader No man can come to the father sayth our sufficient Sauyour but by mee And therefore praying for the Papists conuersioÌ„ if it be Gods good will let vs as Paule doth exhort vs Heb. 12.19 seeing by the bloud of Iesus we may be bold to enter into the holy place into heauen by the newe and lyuing way which he hath prepared for vs thorow the vayle that is to say his fleshe and seeing we haue an high Priest ouer the house of God let vs drawe neare with a true hart in assurance of fayth sprinckled made pure in our hearts from an euil conscience and washed in our bodies with pure water Let vs keepe the profession of our hope without wauering for he is faythfull that promised And let vs consider one another to prouoke vnto loue and to good workes not forsaking the felowship that we haue among our selues as the maner of some is but let vs exhorte one another that so much the more bicause ye see the day draweth neere Let vs expect his comming and loue the Lorde so shall we not feare any perrill of death And God graunt our Englishe Papistes once to sée and be ashamed of their wylfulnesse to damnation sléeping in the bedde of the whore of Babilon Reuel 18. which is prepared to desolation and perpetuall fyre And to imbrace his Gospell which is the onely ioy of soule and solace in death â—â—t 3.17 the path to lyfe in that Sauiour in whome God the father is onely pacifyed The second note is that the godly are so farre from fearing naturall death that on the contrary part they humbly many tymes at the hande of God can earnestly pray for it and wyshe it yea and eaten vp of griefe for the dayes of synne they lament that they are not disburdened of the bodye thereof Finally in desyre of the full accomplishment of the bodye of Christ that the same his Church might be thorowly glorifyed in heauen as she is in parte and in earth perfitly sanctifyed The saints in this lyfe praye for the dissolution of the world and Christ to come with speede to iudgement For the fyrst Paule prayeth thus I desyre to be dissolued and to be with Christ and our Symeon here Lorde now let thy seruaunt depart in peace Secondly in the seuenth to the Romaynes Paule cryeth out of synne lamenting and saying O wretched man that I am who shall delyuer me from the body of this death that is from this lumpe of fleshly sinne and death Where note gentle Christian that the saintes of God are subiect to the
fulnesse of our lyfe perfited in him 2. Cor. 5.16 Heb. 1.2 We doe not in déede beholde Christ nowe anye more after the fleshe or that waye to imbrace him in our armes But he shyneth the beames of his fathers glorye into our ignorante harts and in the bosome of our faythfull brests he maketh his habitation By his holy gospell he sheweth himselfe face to face and not by the infyrmitie of his flesh but by the deuine power of his holy spirite he teacheth vs purgeth vs and pardoneth our sinnes and changeth vs to a lyfe most méete for his holy presence And to be short he is so absent from vs in body that we maye with boldnesse spiritually approch to his grace Heb. 12. Rom. 5.1 set on the right hand of his father in glory Loe this is that christian sight and heauenlye presence that we haue of our Christ And if this cannot worke in vs a wyllingnesse to dye with ioye bicause oure synnes by Christes death purged we shal raigne with him eternally then are we a thousand tymes more harde then the Adamant blinder then the Moules and more vnkinde then the vnnaturall Iewes it is verye significante that Symeon sayth No man saued but by hys owne fayth Because mine eyes hath seene c. In which wordes are layde vp this Emphasis that not other mens fayth could worke this comfort in this good father excepte together his owne eyes in fayth had séene this Babe to be hys sauiour Abac. 2.4 Gal. 3.11 Hebr. 10.37 according to the Prophet Abacuck his saying The iust man shall lyue by his fayth Note he sayth not by the fayth of the Church or by the fayth of another for him but he sayth he shal lyue by his owne fayth For the fayth of an other man cannot saue thée or yet the fayth of the whole church Or that which more is Christ will not saue thée or can his death be thy lyfe vnlesse thou in thine owne hart fyrmely beléeue in him Wherefore let not the Papist longer deceyue thee which teach it sufficient thoughe thou know not what to beléeue if thou yet beléeue as their Churche beléeueth which is the greatest daunger to thy soule that possibly can bée eyther to rest in the later Romishe fayth since the daies of Popery or not to beléeue vpon assured knowledge of Gods promise in the warrant of his word thy selfe For the holy scriptures do condemne al those which themselues effectually beléeue not in christ and promiseth saluation to him that beléeueth 1. Pet. 2.7 To you which beleeue sayth Peter he is precious but to them which beléeue not he is the stone which the buylders refused which stone shal crushe his enemies that beléeue not al to powder 1. Ioh. 3.36 Iohn sayth Hee that beleeueth in the sonne of God hath eternall lyfe But he that beleeueth not the wrath of God abydeth vpon him And Christ our Sauiour Hee that beleeueth in me hath eternall lyfe Againe Ioh. 3.18 He that beleeueth not is condemned already that is to saye it is impossible but he that dyeth not beléeuing shall be damned And to the Gallathians Paule sayth Gal. 3.26 Ye are all the sonnes of God bicause ye haue beleeued in Christ Iesu but as manye as rest in the workes of the lawe are subiect and vnder Gods cursse By this speciall gift in euerye mans owne soule from God is he made the sonne of God and by no other meane is God his father vpon whome he maye call with boldnesse in and by his spirite as the chylde vpon his Parentes and shall be heard For thus the Euangelist sayth As many as beleued in him he gaue them prerogatiue to be the sonnes of God The worde that was preached to Israell in the wildernesse profited them not sayth the author to the Hebrewes bicause it was not mixed with faith in those that heard it yet in the wildernesse God had hys Church Moses Aaron and the rest which beléeued notwithstanding the fayth of this Church could not saue the other Israelits which beléeued not No more can the fayth of the church of God nowe saue them which are not conglutinate by the same spirite in the fayth of Christ loue in him by which the whole body growing together by synewes and ioynts doth encrease to an holye temple in the Lorde But without this coniunction no fayth Ephe. 2.21 no saluation or can the workes of such please God in whose heartes Christ dwelleth not by fayth as sayth the scriptures without fayth it is impossible to please God I denie not Rom. 14.23 Gen. 18. but the fayth and godlynesse of some may temporally bring some benefite to the Infydels as the Cities of Sodome had bene saued if there had bene founde in them but ten iuste persons And for Helias sake the wicked king Achab Iesabel The faythfull may obtayne temporall blessings and bodily helth but saluation is the gift of God to him that beleeueth onely and that persecuting kingdome Samaria had raine to fertyl the soyle which thrée yeares had lyen barren Also the Euangelists report the fayth of them which bare the man taken with Palsye much to profyte his health to whose fayth the Lorde Christ gaue respect and not chiefely their worke and healed the man But to the man he sayde My sonne thy synnes are forgiuen thee This worde sonne approoueth the Palsye man to beléeue in Christ by which fayth his sinnes are forgiuen him as by his bearers fayth his body was healed Luc. 9.8 Mar. 2.3 Mat. 9.1 I also comfortably confesse that the fayth of our father Abraham doth so much profite his posteritie bicause of the couenant of God with him and hys seede after him so as they are imputed to be gods children and that so long as they continue in that couenant But when they degenerate from their fathers fayth Gen. 17. God cutteth of this imputation and that the chylde borne of contrarie parents as the father an Infidell the mother a christian 1. Cor. 7.14 Abac. 2. Ezec. 18.20 I say with Paule that the chylde is holye through the fayth of the beléeuing parent But to iustification it is established that euerye man should be saued by his owne fayth To this sayth Ezechiel The righteousnesse of the righteous shal be vpon him and the wickednesse of the wicked shall be vpon himselfe To this end serueth that whole excellent Chapter to the reading whereof I referre thée The prayers of the faythfull doe much preuayle to those that yet are not fully brought to Christ Yea the ardent zeale of others fayth doth enflame the soules of their brethren to follow their steps in Christ and the prayer of one faythful man doth promise auayle to another for encrease in fayth Ephe. 6.18 19. Phil. 1.19 Wherefore Paule prayeth for all saints and desyreth them to pray for him For by the prayers of the Phillipians he perswadeth the trouble of
God in vs we are none of Christs Ioh. 16.7 Rom 8.9 Act. 3.21 1. Cor. 15.25 This corporal presence is absolutely with a cloude taken from our eyes and is at the right hande of God and shal containe the heauens till his enimies be made his footestoole But the last enimy is death therfore till death by the dissolution of the world be slaine shall the corporall bodye of Christ inhabite the heauens from whence the faythfull and not from the priests head doe looke then for him their sauiour whose comming shall be with glorie and therefore not inuisiblye in a Popishe cake Thy sight knowledge and fayth in Christ now he is ascended must therefore be no more carnall 2. Cor. 5.7 but onely spirituall as Paule teacheth thée saying we walke by fayth and not by sight neuerthelesse we are bold loue rather to remoue out of the body and to dwell with the Lorde Againe Henceforth know we no man after the fleshe Vers 16. yea though wee haue knowne Christ after the flesh yet now henceforth know we him no more Fynally Symeon sawe Christ borne was blessed But we beléeue in him with Symeon that is dead yea rysen agayne set at the right hande of God his father and maketh intercession for vs vpon which sight our Sauior hath pronounced in check of Thomas sturdy fayth Ioh. 20.29 Thomas thou beleeuest bicause thou hast seene but I say vnto thee Thomas blessed are they which see not and yet beleeue This fayth in Christ is the speciall gifte of God I tell thée once agayne good Reader and ryseth not of our selues 1. Cor. 3.14 Mat. 16.17 For the natural man cannot perceyue the things that be of God Thou art sayth Peter the sonne of the lyuing God Truely beloued Peter but who gaue thée this fayth Not flesh and bloud but my heauenly father sayth Christ which is in heauen It is giuen to you sayth Paule to the Philippians not onely that you should beléeue but that you shoulde also suffer for his sake This is nourished and encreased by his worde For fayth commeth by hearing not of a Popishe Masse Rom. 10.17 or Saraphicall Doctor but of the word of God By the ministerie of preaching and not by daylie sacryficing is this obteyned How shall they heare without a preacher sayth Paule he sayth not without a Massemunger By his Sacraments and prayer the same encreased wherefore pray earnestly with the Apostles Luc. 17.5 O Lorde encrease our sayth And if thou wouldest learne to know that fayth which only iustifyeth This it is to beléeue vndoubtedly the Symbole of thy Creede or more shortly to beleeue God to be thy good God that goodnesse from whome all goodnesse commeth to be in Christ thy best beloued Father thy Christ to be thy brother Lord and onely sauiour by whose death and lyfe thou art in him fréed from synne death and Hell The holy Ghost to be the Lorde and giuer of lyfe thy comforte and Arha of saluation thy Guyde What fayth it is that iustifyeth and author of all goodnesse in thée and that power by whome thou doest thus beléeue by the rule of the worde and promise of God and by hys holynesse sanctifyed doest lyue and loue this thy good God and thy brethren for and by him And as the fruitfull trée in his tyme giueth profitable fruite So doest thou in this his spirite by thy good workes profite his church and glory thy father which is in heauen Mat. 5.16 This is that fayth which iustifyeth and is the onely gifte of God The Lorde graunt it sounde perfite stable experimented and alwayes stedfast as well in the author of this booke as the Readers thereof for Christes sake our Lorde So shall we see Christes day with Abraham imbrace him with Symeon depart in peace and rest in ioy All other opinions besides this or not fyxed in this are called fayth as an Image beareth the name of a man But as the Image is without lyfe so such fayth not adourned with good workes as Iames sayth is an Image of fayth a deade fayth This fayth working by loue Fayth compared to a Vyne is by Barnarde compared to a Vine thus Fayth is the Vine christian lyfe be her branches Psal 2. and good woorkes her clustering Grapes And Chysostome compareth it as elegantly to a Lampe wryting vpon Mathew For as a Lamp burning giueth light to the whole house So doth fayth giue light intelligence of God and Christ to the soule of man but as in a Lampe fyre and Oyle are ioyned together so in the shyning Cresset of a good conscience are contynually resiant fayth and good workes True fayth and good workes resydent in a good conscience alwaies Notwithstanding as the Trée is before the Apple so doth fayth go before good workes So the Apostle connexing Fayth Hope and Loue together giueth fayth the fyrst place And Augustine in his booke de fide operibus sayth Except fayth go before a godly lyfe cannot in any wise come after Cap. 7. If we be Virgins hauing our Lamps thus burning we shall be sure to enter wyth our Brydegrome Christ into his heauenly chamber Mat. 25.10 But in no case can our Oyle doe anye others good for our owne works shall follow vs good or euill they shall not be imparted to others Apoc 14. Ioh. 14. If we become such Vines our father wyll proyne and purge vs when he cutteth downe the wythered Images and dead branches and will make vs more fruitfull Laste of all note here that Symeon hauing séene the Saluation set by the God of heauen stayeth his conscience in him which is the true nature of lyuely fayth and though there be infynite saluations sought for by men yet he hungreth after Gods saluation and sayth Now I haue ynough let me Lord depart in peace For my eyes haue seene thy saluation Hee that hath Christ hath lyfe No Christ no lyfe So deare Reader hauing by the mercies of god once with the eyes of our fayth in hart séene confessed Christ our saluation Though the Iewe the Pharisey the Turke the Panyme Papist and carnall Atheist haue their trust in broken Cysterns which can holde no water yet doe thou stande with Symeon and the iust in lyfe to the ende of death in persecution and pleasure to this the saluation giuen of God to Iewe and Gentyle euen the Lorde Iesus And saye to kings and Prelates there is no other name giuen vnder heauen wherein we can be saued but the name Iesus Act. 4.12 Nor can other foundation be layde then which is already layde euen the Lorde Iesus Or can anye man attaine to iustifycation before the iust father by other then his beloued sonne in whome alone he resteth for our synnes well pleased Neyther are we from the pyt of perrillous death in Hell redéemed by Golde or syluer but by the bloud of this immaculate and
therin and whosoeuer of these do desyre and séeke at me aright for health and lyfe But sayth Symeon this light is sent to be reuealed made knowne to thys worlde For the same cause Christ fyrst preached it Iohn Baptist and the Apostles were sent to manifest him thereto that as saluation was wrought by him so they by fayth which commeth by hearing the worde reuealed might apprehend it in him Of which more a little after God so wylling But possibly some man would aske me if Christ be the light and Sauiour of the whole worlde The cause of our great blindnesse in so clere light howe it is that so manye therein are notwithstanding still blynded and so condemned Christ aunswereth drawing his generall spéeche to a speciall which onely receyue health by him in the eyght of Iohn Ioh. 8.12 He that followeth mee walketh not in darknesse It is not ynnough that God hath made his sonne our light vnlesse we embrace and walke therein And this is the condemnation of the worlde sayth Christ hymselfe that light came into the worlde Ioh. 3.19 and men loued darkenesse rather then the light The nature of these men is to hate the light and to absent themselues from it least their déedes should be made manifest thereby Loe it is not that these wante in the world that they hate it but for that they lust after their owne wyll to lyue wickedly still therfore they refrayne it yea and to their power restrayne it also But here they are conuinced in conscience that the gospel is light and they are the sonnes of darknesse drawing to themselues damnation I aske againe and if Christ be the light of the worlde The worlds darkenesse what it is what is the darknesse then of the same It is a profitable question and it may be aunswered thus The darknesse of the worlde reprehended by Christ walloweth in two myrie dangerous doungeons that is to say in false Religion and fylthye conuersation bothe which Christ the lyght calleth darknesse in that he sayth Lighte came into the worlde and men loued darknesse more then lyghte Iohn 3.19 That a Religion or worship of God deuised of mans brayne wythout warrante of Gods worde is darknesse and the author and fautors blynde it is more then apparente to him that hath but halfe an eye Therfore the teachers therof be called blynde guydes Math. 23.24 Eph. 4.17.18 the hartes imbracing it blynded and the whole which follow it in much paine to themselues walkers in the vanity of their darkned minds to their owne damnation what intent purpose or séeking soeuer they haue to serue God But amongst manye the former false Religions the Romishe is not the least Romishe Fayth the roote bottomlesse pyt of darknesse from whose Pope and Clergy hath come the Cup of fornication whereof all Princes haue dronke not as the saying is till they stare but that which more is vntyll they became starke blynd through that gréedy draught of excecating ignorance Apo. 17.4 And to proue the Religion of Rome a false corrupte and humane blynde Religion First I say I speake of the latter Rome who hath as an Apostata and fylthy strumpet runne farre awaye from her fyrst fayth and faythfull husbande Iesus Christ and his couenant the gospell of God Rome is runne from God That the Church of Rome nowe is become an Apostata from her former fayth it shall appeare to all that measure hir Religion with that fayth delyuered to that Churche and of them receyued by the pen of Paule in his Epistle sente to Rome extante in the Lordes Testament Paule teacheth it folly and wickednesse Rom. 1.23 To serue the immortal God by the ymage of a mortal man Is not the Church of Rome fallen from this fayth now Doth not her chiefe ioy consist in Images of mortall men and séeketh and commaundeth men to serue God and saints by before them neyther fearing Gods prohibiting lawe or Paule theyr chiefe Doctors proclamation from his mayster Christ Paule and Rome then beléeued Rom. 5.28 that man was iustifyed by fayth in Christ and not by the works of the Lawe But the Church of Rome nowe denyeth it flatly and condemneth them for Heritiques which be of that iudgement Rome did then as Tertullian sayth acknowledge one God the Creator of all things Tertul. de prescript Hereticorum and Christ Iesus the sonne of the Virgin Mary to be the sonne of God to haue suffred death and to arise againe She did ioyne the lawe and the Prophets the Gospell and the Apostolicall Epistles together and from that Fountayne she did drinke her fayth she baptized wyth symple water she was adorned with the giftes of Gods spirite she fedde her people with the Euchariste note he sayth not Rome offred vp the sacramēt of Christs bodye for the synnes of the people But Rome receyueth it of the Lords institution and fed hir people therewith she exhorted her flocke to the fayth by the constancie of Martyrdome in her example and against his order and institution she admitted no man But what doth Rome nowe Euen as the Samaritans The Papistes beleue with vs as the Samaritans dyd with the Iewes ioyned with the Iewes in some and sundry poyntes but varyed from them in many most wickedly So doth newe Rome with Gods Churche in olde Rome and ours nowe they ioyne in some principall poyntes of our Religion as in the Trinitie and vnitie of persons of the profession of the holye ghost c. But if ye once come to the office of Christ the fruite of his death the valour of his Sacrifice the authority of hys worde the contynuance of hys sole priesthoode and the truth of his sacraments they flée from you as farre as East from weast and vtterly denie the auncient fayth and moste fylthylye corrupt the true administration of Gods mysteries as men that neuer had heard of such matters Charge them with the scriptures and they would compell them to stoope to the false gloses Offer them the name of Paule and he is as odious in harte to them as a venemous Serpent to a woman Gen. 3. betwixt whom God hath for euer set a perfite hatred Notable is that saying of the learned Lodouicus agaynst the blyndnesse of his tyme in the latyn Church Lodo. viues in li. 13 de ciuit Dei cap. 2. Augustinum vetustas tuetur c. Augustine is safe for his age But if he and Paule were aliue agayne he should be shaken of as a badde Rethoritian or a poore Gramarian But saint Paule should be taken for a mad man The Romans nowe would call Paule an Heretique were he alyue or else for an Heretique Thys learned man approoued by them thus openly conuinceth them of flatte Apostasye and horrible blasphemy Neyther let anye man obiect to me that thys Church of Rome could possibly neuer erre so wickedly for thou seest by comparing
worldly cares and enimies there is consolation and happy euent easely had If destrest and perplexed there is sound counsell and faythfull friendship If doubting of Gods lyfe there is a most sure Towre of defence and well buylded bulwarkes against all such assaultes And truely our second Dauid Christ did not else where 1. Sam. 17.40 Mat. 4. then forth of this Scrip take those little stones which slue the olde Goliath Satanas in his subtile assaulte and cruell temptation Scriptum est c. What wouldest thou haue Hence floweth the Ryuers of God in Christ to the drinking of which Ioh. 4.14 our Christ doth daylie inuyte vs whose nature is absolutely to quenche oure intollerable thyrst The treasures dwelling in the worde of God and to satisfie vs in desire of most happinesse Here is the Storehouse of GOD whether we ought to goe to satisfie oure hungry soules Thys is the Table of the Lorde most amply furnished with all dyshes of necessary dyet dressed by the finger of God wherewith he doth most lyberally féede vs Here is also moste pleasaunt Wyne of consolation and lyfe the Fountayne of Christs bloud daylie open for euery soule that thyrsteth after it to washe away his synnes In this holy Byble is situate the Heauenly Paradise farre passing the Garden of Eden where is all kinde of fruit for vs to eate in which the Trée of lyfe Christ Iesus is most fayre and frée to vs. The trée of knowledge of good and euill is set to our instruction vz the worde of God of which we maye eate and muste eate wyll we be saued But that we eate not as our fyrst Father Adam did in earthly Paradise it is fyt that we come as Bées and not lyke vnto venemous Spyders Let vs search and séeke therein the most swéete lycour of lyfe the knowledge of God and his Christ the knowledge of our synnes the reward of them the forgiuenesse of them by whome and the maner howe The will of God and the strength to serue him orderly the power of Satan and his wylie engins and how to escape them The weapons and armour of God and how to be armed therewith and by battayle in our Captayne Christ to beate downe Satan vnder our féete If on this sort we come and humbly with open hartes pray and reade aduisedly and eftsoones meditate in the lawe of God we shall moste ioyfully returne daylie to our brethren into the Hyue of Gods Churche where we shall become profitable to all men by the honey of lyfe euen his spirite and truth which forth of the Garden of Gods scriptures we haue receyued But if we come with mindes to cauill forestuffed with errors and bent to gather to féede our yll we shall misconster the worde for his truth is open to babes Mat. 11.15 that are content to take the lesson at the parents mouth and not to the worldly wyse and lyke learned resting in their owne wouen webbe of frayle humayne spynning Hence commeth darknesse error heresies schismes backslydings from God and running into Hell without remorse Take héede therfore how thou commest to this holy booke and looke not therein superficially but in great diligence and let the hardnesse thereof procure thy whole industrie as before consydering wyth what paynes men attayne to skyll and how harde things by often vse become both swéete and easie Mortall men take great paines to read prophane but little in gods Booke The mortall bookes of heathen men we toyle and turne ouer with incredible endeuour and contynuall labor beating body and brayne the solace and safetie of health often berefte and contemned hereby that we might attayne the perfection of the wryters will And yet doe such labors but teach or the kéeping or recouery of Natures health or the increase of state and wealth or the ruled lynes of common welths guyde or such other artifyciall poyntes of temporall blessings which in themselues consydered are in deede precious but compared with the treasures of Gods booke the lyght of lyfe there is no comparison For we haue not therein mannes earthy but Gods heauenly wisedome speaking vnto vs to whose worde Gods word wyll make vs apt to all perfection if we giue obedient eare we shall receyue most synguler aptnesse and ability to al heauenly things we shall dryue from vs all heauy depressing pleasures that hinder godly paines in Gospel studie we shall be lightened with consolation in the booke of God and his worde shal become most swéete and easie vnto vs of what estate soeuer Kings shall haue in this booke their rule to gouerne learned Preachers to teache and the matter and Methode Counsellors Lordes and Lawyers matters of health the déepe wyttes and great Clarkes high and déepe mysteries and louing lowly persons plaine and most open doctrine sufficient to their saluation Therfore reade diligently and praye continually and no doubt the Lord according to his promise seeke and you shal finde Luc. 11.10 Math. 6. Ezech. 36. pray and it shall be giuen you c. will giue thée his holye spirite change thy heart of stone into a fleshy heart and teach thée his statutes giue thée the vnderstanding of hys lawe and teach thée himselfe This onely remayneth that we which be Gentyls should cast away our former darknesse and put on this armour of lyghte and embracing Christ for our lead Starre as he is of his father giuen to vs should by his spirite and sacred worde of fayth in his power cast of the power and workes of darknesse Otherwise it shall be to all Recusants their condemnation that light is come into the worlde Ioh. 3.19 and those blynde men loue darknesse rather then the light The Iewe ought to refuse his Righteousnesse by the lawe also and the Pharisey not to bragge glory of his holynesse but sincerely to receyue this our light Christ and in him onely to repose his trust bycause he is giuen him of GOD to be his onely glory And this God graunt to his good pleasure in Christ To the which Christ with God the Father and the holy Ghost be all honor and glory nowe and for euer Amen Laus Deo A. A. ⧠Imprinted at London in Fleetestreate beneath the Conduite at the Signe of Saint Iohn Euangelist by H. Iackson 1581.