sworde of the word of God The Diuil vnder him is temptation being ouercome by faith in Christ Iesus FAith is a sure cōfidēce of things which are hoped for and a certainty of things which are not seene By it the Elders were well reported of Through fayth we vnderstand that the world was ordayned by y e word of God And things which are seene were made of thinges which are not seene By faith Abell offred vnto God a more plenteous sacrifice then Cayne by which he obtayned witnes that he was righteous God testifiyng of hys giftes by which also he being dead yet speaketh By faith was Enoch translated that he shoulde not see death neither was he found for God had taken him away Before he was takē away he was reported of that he had pleased God but without faith it is impossible to please him for he that cōmeth to God must beleue that God is and that he is a rewarder of thē that seeke him By faith Noe being warned of God eschued the thinges which were as yet not seene and prepared the Arke to the sauing of his houshold through the which Arke he condempned the worlde and became heyre of y e righteousnes which is according to faith By faith Abraham when he was called obeyed to goe out into a place which he shoulde afterward receiue to inheritaunce and he went out not knowing whether he should goe By faith he remoued into the land of promise as into a straunge countrey whē he had dwelt in tabernacles and so did Isaack and Iacob heires with him of the same promise for he looked for a Citie hauing a foundation whose builder and is God Through faith Sara also receaued strength to conceaue and be with childe and was deliuered of a childe when she was past age because she iudged him faithfull which had promised therefore sprang there of one euen of one which was as good as dead so many in multitude as are the starres of the skye and as the sand the which is by the sea shore innumerable These all dyed according to faith when they had not receiued the promises but sawe them afarre of and beleued them and saluted them and confessed that they were straungers pilgrimes on the earth for they that sawe such thinges declare that they seke a Countrey and if they had bene mindefull of the countrey frō whence they came out they had leasure to haue retourned agayne but now they desier a better that is to say an heauenly wherefore God hymselfe is not ashamed to be called their God for he hath prepared for them a Citie By fayth Abraham offered vp Isaac when he was proued and he offred him being his onely sonne in whome he had receiued the promises and to him it was sayde in Isaac shall thy seede be called for he considered that God was able to rayse vp agayne from death therefore receiued he him also for an example of y e resurrection By faith did Isaac blesse Iacob and Esau concerning thinges to come By fayth Iacobe when he was a dying blessed both the sonnes of Ioseph and bowed hymselfe towarde the toppe of his scepter By fayth Ioseph when he dyed remembred the departyng of the children of Israell and gaue commaundement of his bones By faith Moyses when he was borne was hidde three monthes of his father and mother because they saw he was a proper childe neither feared they the kinges commaundemente By fayth Moyses when he was great refused to be called the sonne of Pharaoes daughter and chose rather to suffer aduersitie with the people of God then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season and estemed the rebuke of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egipt for he had respect vnto the reward By fayth he forsoke Egipt and feared not the fiercenes of the king for he endured euen as though he had sene him which is inuisible Through fayth he ordayned the passouer and the effusiō of bloud least he that destroyeth y e first borne should touch them By faith they passed through the red sea as by dry land which whē the Egiptians had assayed to do they were drowned By faith y e walles of Iericho fell downe after they were compassed about seuen dayes By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that were disobedient when she had receiued the spies to lodging peaceably and what shall I more saye for the time wilbe to short for me to tell of Gedeon of Barach and of Sampson and of Iephtaph of Dauid also and Samuell and of the Prophets which through faith subdued kingdomes wrought righteousnes obtayned the promises and stopped the mouthes of Lions quenched the violence of fier escaped the edge of the sword out of weaknes were made strong waxed valiant in fight turned to flight the armes of the aliantes the women receiued their dead raysed to life agayne Other were racked would not be deliuered that they myght inherit a better resurrection Againe other were tried with mockkinges and scorninges moreouer with bondes and prisonment and were stoned were hewen a sunder were tempted were slaine with the sworde walked vp and downe in sheepes skinnes and goates skinnes being destitute troubled and vexed which men the worlde was not worthy of They wandered in wildernes and in mountaynes and in dennes and caues of the earth and these all through fayth obtayned good report and receiued not the promise because God had promysed a better thynge for vs that they without vs should not be made perfect By faith we resist the Deuill and ouercome him in the worlde Finally my brethren be stronge in the Lord and in the power of his might put on the armour of God that ye may stand stedfast against the crafty assaultes of the Deuill for we wrestle not against flesh and bloude but against rule against power and against worldely rulers of the darckenes of thys worlde against spirituall wickednes for heauēly thinges for this cause take vnto you the armoure of God that ye may be able to resiste in the euill day and stand perfect in all thinges They that haue receiued the faith and the holy Ghost and also tasted the gospel of God if they do forsake it and blaspheme it willing to be saued by other sacrifice then that by Christ do abide the iudgement of God wythout mercy we y t beleue Christ let vs follow Christes liuing The faith of a Christian is ioyned with charitie and without charitie is the faith of the Deuill Like as the bodye is deade wherein is no spirite so faith is dead where there lacketh workes Fayth not exercised soone waxeth sicke and being vnoccupied is assaulted with sundry displeasures Well may he be counted right valiaunt in dede which in ioy nor in sorow doth not exceede the faithfull man possesseth his treasure whose modestie moueth still to minde
measure He that teacheth the liuely faith in Christ buildeth the building and doctrine of God For faith in tribulation causeth patience Let euery man see therfore whether he continue in the same Faith also maketh vs to obtayne that whiche we desire in prayer and by the which we are by the number of saintes in receauing remission of our sinnes Thus faith is our vâ—â—tory for all that is borne of God ouercommeth the world and this is the victory that ouercommeth the worlde euen our faith Who is it that ouercommeth the worlde euen he which beleueth that Iesus is the sonne of God Christ is risen from the dead and is become the first frutes of them that slepe for as by man came death euen so by man also came life euerlasting to all that faythfully beleue ¶ Of Hope The signification THe troubled seas signifie the temptations of mankinde the shippe beyng rent signifieth the dispersed churche of God who beyng tossed to and fro by the force of temptations and throwne out yet they not fearyng the boysterous windes of aduersitie but thorough assured hope in Christ they flie to the rocke of endles felicitie which is Christ. BEcause therefore that we are iustified by fayth we are at peace with God thorough our Lorde Iesus Christ by whom we haue a way in through faith vnto his grace where in we stand and reioyce in hope of the praise that shalbe geuen of God neither do we see onely but also reioice in tribulation for we know that tribulatioÌ„ bringeth pacience pacience bringeth experience experience bringeth hope and hope maketh not ashamed for the loue of God is shed abrode in our hartes by the holy ghost which is geuen vnto vs. All suche as be right Christians are not ashamed of this hope for they are well assured that by the death of Christ God loueth vs and will bring the hope of all Christians to passe Hope here is not alone but is ioyned with fayth and charitie so that the one cannot be without the other neither the one to haue the lacke of the other For as Faith cannot be iustified without workes no more can hope without charitie for as faith without workes is deade so is hope without charitie deade also Therfore it is necessary for all christians to ioyne theÌ„selues to these foure and although they be named in foure seuerall names yet but two in effect as may be very plainly vnderstanded Faith workes hope and charitie workes in the name of a plurall number signifieth all as well the euill as good But I meane those workes in the which all faithfull Christians ought to arme themselues withall and all those that with willing mindes doo further any of these vnto such the rewarde is most happy and fortunate with faithfull hope there is alwayes constant charitie the which worketh so diligently that she neuer seaseth but is still labouring by all meanes to helpe and relieue all such as of her hath neede Example herein may be compared vnto all diligent preachers furtherers of Gods worde the which neither for persecution nor preferment of liuing will once leaue of froÌ„ teaching the poore of whom they haue cure charge of such there is very fewe which signifieth most euident and playne that charitie is nere blynde and can not very well see Therefore I wishe or desire all estates so to bridle their affections that with sufficiencie eche man may so liue in this world that in y e world to come he may haue euerlasting felicitie Hope thou in the Lorde and kepe his way and he shall promote thee that thou shalt possesse the land WheÌ„ the vngodly perishe thou shalt see it But my hope hath bene in thee O Lord. I haue sayd thou art my God God is our hope and strength a very present helpe in tyme of trouble For thou lord art my hope thou hast set thine house of defence very hye My soule hath longed for thy saluation and I haue a good hope because of thy worde Thou O God art the thyng that I long for thou art my hope eueÌ„ from my youth I also cried vnto the Lord and sayd thou art my hope and my portion in the land of the liuing Blessed be the Lorde my strength which teacheth my handes to warre my fingers to fight my hope and my fortresse my castle and deliuerer my defender in whome I trust which subdueth my people that is vnder me for I suppose that the afflictions of this lyfe are not worthy of the glory which shall be shewed vpon vs also the feruent desire of the creatures abideth loking when y e sonnes of God shall appeare because the creatures are subdued to vanitie against their wyll but for hys will which subdued them in hope for the very creatures shall be deliuered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious libertie of the sonnes of God for we know that euery creature groneth with vs also and trauaileth in payne euen vnto this time not they only but euen we also which haue the first fruites of the spiritie mourne in our selues and waite for the adoption and loke for the deliueraunce of our bodies for wee are saued by hope but hope that is seene is no hope for howe can a man hope for that which he seeth but and if we hope for y t which we see not then doo we with patience abyde for it for where fayth is there is hope and where as there is no sure hope there is no christian fayth wherefore it may be right well sayd we are saued by hope That is by the most certayne and sure faith in Christes promise whiche causeth vs to hope certainly that at the tyme appointed we shall be deliuered from this great burden of the flesh The desire of y e righteous is acceptable but the hope of the vngodly is iudgement The vngodly is cast a way for his iniquitie but the righteous hath a good hope euen in death The hope that is put in a false man in tyme of neede is like a rotten tooth but let not thy soule be moued to slay him Also as there is a good hope vnto the godly which before is expressed so is there a fayned hope among the wicked and very seldome can be redressed whiche is when a man in worldly causes hopeth to bring to passe that thyng which by no meanes may be entertayned or gotten Example of one Iphis the sonne of Theucer kyng of Mesia a countrey ioyning to Hungary the which for the loue of a damosell called Anaxareten hanged him selfe Wherefore the Poetes haue fayned the saide Anaxareten to be turned into a stone because that she loued not him the which for her loue had hanged him selfe Moreouer what ensued of the Princes whiche sought the death of the Prophet Daniell their folishe vayne hope was vtterly frustrated for they thought that Daniell being once among the lyons could
which doth mercy righteousnesse and equitie on the earth Also thus sayth the Lord God beholde I will bring enemies vpon thee euen the tyrantes of the heathen these shall drawe out thy swordes vppon thy bewty and wisedome and shall defoyle thy glory Wisedome shall not enter into a froward soule nor dwell in thy body that is subdued vnto sinne Who so despiseth wisedome and nourture is vnhappy and as for the hope of such it is but vayne theyr laboures vnfrutefull and theyr workes vnprofitable For as much as all men be conceaued and borne in sin and that with out the free mercy of God there were no hope of saluation let vs therfore arme our selues with constant prayers vnto almighty God to strengthen vs with the wisedome of his holy spirite that in all our affayres we may therby be able to withstand our aduersary the Diuell Who like a roaring Lion seaseth not but goeth continually about seking whome he may deuoure yet forasmuch as our sauiour Christ hath promâ—sed that to al that with harty repentance and true fayth turne vnto him that on those he will haue mercy let vs therefore yelde vnto God all honour and count our selues moste ignoraunt and pray the Lorde so to enflame our hartes with spirituall wisedome that we may thereby come to the knowledge of hys grace and heauenly benediction Steuen full of faythe and power did great wonders and miracles amonge the people then there arose certayne of the sinagoge which is called the sinagog of the Libertines and Sirenites and of Alexandria and of Cilicia and of Asia disputing with Steuen and they could not resist the wisdome and the spirite which spake Where constant fayth is there is alwayes the spirite of Godes wisdome and to those that do continue therein is euerlasting life Hath not God made the wisdome of the worlde foolishnes for after that the world through wisdome knew not God in y e wisdome of God it pleased God through foolishnes of preaching to saue them that beleue For the Iewes require a signe and the Greekes seeke after wisdome but we preach Christ crucified vnto the Iewes an occasion of falling and vnto the Greekes foolishnes but vnto them which are called both of the Iewes and Greekes we preach Christ the power of God and y e wisdome of God If any of you lacke wisdome let him aske of hym that geueth it euen God whiche geueth to all men indifferently and casteth no man in the teeth and it shall be geuen hym But let hym aske in faith and wauer not The description of Peace PEace being vsed according to y e commaundementes of our sauiour Christ among all faythfull christians is not onely profitable to the body but also to the soule for peace signifieth the ioy of conscience and surenes against the deuill our aduersarye And generally the aboundaunce of all spirituall goodnes because our sinnes are forgeuen vs by Christ. Abraham for that he so peaceably and quietly obayed the commaundemeÌ„tes of the eternall and most mighty God receaued the reward of euerlasting ioyes and also in that he beleued the promises of God without any maner doubt or feare offering vp his onely sonne Isaak and beleuing stedfastly that y e God which had created hym of earth and dust was able to restore hym hys sonne agayne peaceably went to fulfill the Lordes commaundemeÌ„t Therfore y e lord blessed his whole posteritie saying thou shalt goe with thy fathers in peace and shalt be buried in a good age Also wheÌ„ the great dearth and lacke of corne fell in the land of Canaan Iacob sent his sonnes into Egipt to buye corne and there they were knowen of their brother Ioseph and as they returned homeward they found their money in the sackes mouthes at their returne backe agayne into Egipt they came vnto the man that was the ruler ouer Iosephes housholdes and sayde vnto hym Oh sir we came downe hether at the first tyme to buye foode and as we came to an Inne it happened that we opened our sacke and beholde euery mans money was in his sacke with full waight and we haue brought it againe in our handes and other money haue we brought also in our haÌ„des to buy foode but we cannot tel who put our money in our sackes And he saâ—d peace be vnto you and feare not your God and thâ— God of our fathers hath geuen you that treasure in your sackes I had your money Herein is shewed that there was in them a quiet and peaceable conscience not desiring more then that which was dew â—ate them and fearing also that the money being found in their sackes might be an occasion vnto them of a continuall seruitude and bondage with sorowfull myndes brought it agayne vnto the man the which they had thought had formally receaued it Herein they also shewed themselues not onely peaceable and quiet men but also constant and true dealers desiring no more then that which of right appertayned vnto theÌ„ this example may seeme very necessary and profitable among all the professours of Christianitie whereby they may the better know how to vse their crafte and occupiyng wyth truth and equitie Which beyng kept bringeth all such to the peaceable hauen of quiet immortalitie And if thou thus abide in my lawes and obserue my commaundementes I wyll sende peace in the lande and ye shall fleene wythout any man to make you afrayde and I wyll rydde euyll beastes out of your lande and there shall no sworde goe through out your lande and ye shall chace your enemyes and they shall fall before you vppon the sworde and fiue of you shall chace a hundred and a hundred of you shall put a thousande to flight and your enemyes shall fall before you vppon the sworde for I will haue respect vnto you and make encrease and multiply you and set vp my couenaunt with you and ye shal eate olde store and carry out olde for the new And the Lord spake vnto Moyses saying Phinehes the sonne of Eleazer the sonne of Aaron the priest turned myne anger away from the children of Israell in my gelosie wherefore say beholde I geue vnto hym my couenaunt of peace and he shall haue it and hys seede after hym euen the couenaunt of the Priestes office for euer because he was gelious for hys Gods sake and made atonement for the children of Israell When thou commest nygh vnto a Citie to fight agaynste it offer them peace and if they aunswere thee agayne peaceably and open vnto thee then let all the people that is found therein be tributaryes vnto thee and serue thee By these pleasaunt examples is manifestly shewed the mighty power of God to al those that put theyr trust in hym as for example Phinies then which shewed hym selfe a true follower of the commaundementes of God and woulde in no wyse suffer any thing to be done contrary to Gods precept and therefore God made a couenaunt with