knowe that Christ is the fre gyfte of God giuen vs wythoute ony desertes caull I praye you to remembraunce y e faull of Adam in whome all we haue synned and deserued lyke damnacion What had he done to pacify y e wrath of God to recouer his fauour wheÌ„ God made hym this moost confortable promyse I wyll sette emnite betwene the an womaÌ„ betwene thy seed and hyr seed And that selfe seed shal tread downe thy head Chri. For sothe I thyncke very lytle Phil. Ye myghte haue sayde nothynge at all ryght well excepte ye thyncke thys somewhat whan he had once offended to put his head in a bush not to knowledge his fault nor once to dare to come in syghte Euse. Ye saye trueth Phil. What had Abraham deserued whaÌ„ God made him this promyse of Christ sayeÌ„ge in thy seed all nacions of the earth shal be blyssed Uerely nothyng at all only he beleued the promyse of God it was rekened vnto him vnto righteousnes He chosed vs sayth saynt Paule in Christ before the foundacions of the world were layd y t we should be holy fautles before hiÌ„ AgeÌ„ we were by nature the chyldren of wrath euen as other were But God whiche is ritche in mercye for his greate loue wherwith he loued vs eueÌ„ theÌ„ wheÌ„ we were dead thorowe synne quickened vs with Christ for by grace are ye sauid hathe raysed vs vp with him in heauenly thynges thorowe Christ Iesus that in tymes to come he myghte shewe the excedynge ritches of his grace iÌ„ kyndnes toward vs in Christ Iesu. For by grace are ye saued thorow fayth that not of your selues For it is y e gyfte of god commeth not of workes least anâ— man shoulde boast hymselfe Also in another place after y t the goodnesse loue y e God our sauioure hath towarde men dyd appeare not of the workes of righteousnes whiche we haue done but according to his mercy hath he saued vs by y e fountayne of the newe byrth renewynge of y e holy Ghost which he shed on vs abuÌ„dantly thorow Iesus Christ our sauiour that we beynge made righteous by his grace shulde be heyres of eternall lyfe accordynge to hoope This is a sayenge not to be doubted of Christ himselfe also sayth God loued the worlde so intierly y t he gaue his only begotten sonne that euery one that beleueth in him shulde not peryshe but haue euerlastynge lyfe For God sent not his sonne into the worlde to condemne the world but that the worlde shoulde be saued by him Of these scriptures heretofore rehearsed is it euident that Christ is frely giuen vnto vs of God y e father yea that without oure merites or desertes For whan we were vtterly damned knewe not howe to recouer ony parte of our helpe God the father of his own gracious goodnes gaue vs his sonne Christ to be oure Sauioure So that as the beginnynge of youre Newe yeares gyfte is Christ is vnfaynedly the gyft of God â–ª frely giuen vs for our great coÌ„forte saluacion Chri. It can not be expressed howe much we are bounde to God the father for this his gyfte seynge that he gaue vs not an Aungell or ony other celestiall creature but his onlye begotten sonne euen the higheste and mooste precious treasure that he hadde Philemon Y wyl say so whan ye haue once hearâ— what a treasure this youre gyfte 〈◊〉 vnto you howe many pleasures commodities ye receaue by hym Euse. I pray you let vs heare Phil. It followeth That bryngeth saluacion vnto all men Beholde youre newe yeares gyfte that God the father hath giuen you bryngeth saluacion vnto all meÌ„ It is no idle vnprofitable gifte but commodious necessary For it worke the vs health saluacion The giftes of the world bring many times perdicion destruccioÌ„ damnacion but this gyft of God bringeth lyfe health ioye pleasure saluacion an whole sea of good thynges It bringeth saluacion sayth the scripture Note this worde bringeth As though it shoulde be sayd whaÌ„ ther was no hope of health but all thynges yoked in the bond of desperacioÌ„ synne bare rule Satan triuÌ„phed ouer mankynd as his bond captiue than came the gifte of God whiche droue synne out of place vaÌ„quished Satan destroyed the powers of hel brought saluacion to man which loked only for damnacion yea that frely without ony desertes euen of mere grace pure mercye O the inestimable excellency of this gifte which both wyllyngly frely bryngeth saluacion to mankynde Howe can it otherwyse be Is not y e name of this our gyfte IESVS gyuen hym of God the father published by his Aungell Embassadoure Gabriel And what other thyng I pray you soundethe IESVS than a sauioure This our gyfte Christ is a sauiour For he saueth his people from theyr synnes Feare ye not sayth the aungell For beholde I shewe vnto you a great ioye which shall chaunse to all people For this day is borne vnto you a sauiour whiche is Christ y e Lorde of the cytye of Dauid Thus sewe that Christ is a sauiour Therfore maye he righte well brynge saluacion saue so many as beleue in hym Theo. Is there no saluacion to be loked for but only at the hand of Christ Phil. No verely ye heard that the gyfte of God which is Christ briÌ„geth saluacion It is Christes office alone to saue besydes hym is ther no sauiour neither in heauen nor in earth Who so euer seaketh saluacioÌ„ at y e hande of ony other but at Christes alone he doth not only deceaue hym selfe but also robbe christ of his office depriue him of hys glory blaspheme his blissed name tread vnder foote his moost precious bloud vtterly maketh of none effecte y e whole misterye of Christes incarnacion Euse. It were pite that ony maÌ„ shuld be of this mind Phil. You say trueth Notwithstandyng there haue bene that haue sought health at other besydes Christ would God there were none at this day S. Paule feareth not to saye if righteousnes cometh by y e lawe thaÌ„ dyed Christ in vayne Agayn ye are gone quyte froÌ„ Christ so many of you as wyl be made righteous by the lawe are fallen from grace Chri. Let vs hear it proued by the scriptures that ther is no saluacion but by this gifte of God Christ alone Phil. The matter is more euident than it neadeth ony probacion to the faythful as for theÌ„ that are obstinately blynd all the scriptures in the worlde can profit nothyng at al. NotwithstoÌ„dyng to satisfy your godly desyre of many I wyl reherse a fewe yea and those that shall seme moost fyt for y e purpose Theo. I praâ— you let it so be Phil. Whense shall I take my begynnyng but of the Prâ—â—phet Esaye whome Christ our sauâ—oure had so ofte in his mouthe By hym Christ speaketh on this
as a cloth polluted wyth menstrue We were conceaued borne in syn The imaginacioÌ„s and thoughtes of mannes harte are prone vnto euell euen from his yonge age There is no man innocent before God there is no man but that synneth There is not a righteous man on y e earth that doth good and synneth not Euery one is an hypocrite wickeâ— and the mouthes of theÌ„ all haue spokeÌ„ folyshnes All we haue erred and gone astraye lyke shepe euery one hath followed his owne fansye The harte of man is wicked inâ—crutable No man is pure from synne no the starres are not clene in his sight howe much more is man fylthy and vnclene which is nothyng but corrupcion a very worme in comparison of God Who is able to say my harte is clene and I am pure from syn No maÌ„ is good but God alone We are al vnprofitable seruauntes The Lorde looked downe from heauen vpon the chyldren of men to se yf there were ony one y t had vnderstandyng or saught after God But all are swarued clene gone oute of the waye they are become all togyther vnprofitable there is â–ª none that dothe good no not one They are corrupt become abhominable iÌ„ theyr studies Theyr throte is lyke a wyde mouthed graue they worke deâ—eate with theyr tonges the poyson of adders is vnder theyr lyppes Theyr mouthe is full of cursynge bytternes theyr feete are swyfte to shed bloude Destruccion and werynes are in theyr wayes the waye of peace haue they not knowne Ther is no feare of god before theyr eyes Howe lyke ye these scriptures Do they not paynte oute man in his natiue colours What haue we of oure selues to reioyse boste of Chri. We maye perceaue now right wel that we be all wretched miserable synners Theo. If god had not gyuen vs his sonne christ to be our sauioure we hadde bene in a damnable case Euse. We were so pocky full of diseases that yf christ had not bene ourâ— Phisicion to heale our woundes 〈◊〉 his moost precious wouÌ„des we had continued styl disesed for euermore Phil. I am glad ye haue learned that all men are synners that therfore they haue nede of christ the gyfte of God whiche bryngeth saluacion to all men For this is the fyrst poynte to knowe christ aryght Nether can ony man to muche deiecte and casâ—e downe hym selfe For the more man humbleth hym selfe the more dothe he exalte y e glorious maieste of god But that ye maye be without dout in this matter I wyll rehearse certen vnto you out of both the Testamentes which shall declare that we be all synners Adam as ye knowe transgressed the commaundement of God in Paradise by his transgression made vs all bonde to eternall damnacion Nohe fell into the synne of dronkeÌ„nes Lothe was not only dronken but also lay with hys owne doughters so commytted y e greuous synne of inceste Abraham denyed hys wyfe Moses coÌ„mytted man â—aughter Dauid commytted bothe manslaughter whoredome Salomon was an Idolater Mathew was a tolle gatherer The Apostles dyd stryue amonge them who shoulde be hyghest of greatest aucthorite Mary Magdalene was a greuous synner Peter denyed and forsoke Christ thryse Paule persecuted the coÌ„gregacion of christ â—hat shoulde I make many wordes So many as euer were clad wythe this flesh Iesus christ alone excepte whiche was both God and man conceued borne without the seed of maÌ„ by the operacion of the holy Ghoste of the moost blyssed vndefyled virgin Mary were synners and so many as are in the same at this day 〈◊〉 shal be vnto the worldes ende are 〈◊〉 shall be synners saued onely by the fre mercy of god thorow Iesê° christ We all offende in many thynges sayth S. Iames. Here are none excerted If we saye saythe S. Iohn that we haue no synne we deceyue ourselues and the trueth is not in vs. Here S. IohnÌ„ which was so holy vertuous dearly beloued of god nombreth him selfe among synners neyther is he ashamed so to do that al glory maye be gyuen to God and the prayse of oure saluacioÌ„ to Iesus Christ our Lorde sauiour Chri. If all be synners with oute excepcion what is than to be sayde of y e moost glorious blyssed virgyn Mary Is she also to be rekened in the nomber of synners Phil. I answere with S. AusteÌ„ whan so euer there is disputacion of synne all must nedes coÌ„fesse them selues synners excepte y e holy virgyn Mary of whom for the honour of the Lorde I wyl haue no question at all whan we entreate of synne For we know that there was giuen to her more grace than to ony other creature for to ouercome â—yn on euery parte for as muche as she deserued to conceaue bryng â—orth hym whom it is euideÌ„t to haue had no synne Therfore this virgyn excepte if we coulde gather all y e sayntes both men and women whâ— they lyued here demaund of them whyther they were wtout synne What do we thyncke that they would aunswere as this Pelagian sayth or as IohnÌ„ the Apostle affyrmeth Uerely ware theyr excellency of holynes neuer so great in this bodye if they myghte be asked thys thynge they woulde surely crye with one voyce yf we shoulde saye that we haue no synne we deceaue oure selues 〈◊〉 the truethe is not in vs. Hytherto haue I rehearsed the wordes of S. Austen which as they excepte the moost blyssed virgyn Mary from the spot of synne so do they proue all other wythoute excepcion to be sinners Yet this dare I boldly affyrme say that this moost holy pure and glorious virgyn disdayned not to confesse Christ to be also her Lorde and sauiour Her wordes are these My soule magnifyeth the Lorde my spirite hath reioysed in god my sauiour Behold she bosteth not her good dedes she crakethe not of her merites she swelleth not with her owne dignite but humbly grauÌ„tyng herselfe to be the handemayde of the lord redy to do his moost godly pleasure and wyll in all thynges she confesseth God to be her sauiour and not her selfe nor her owne good dedes If so holye and pure a virgyne which was replenyshed wythe all grace vertue and goodnes dyd not bost of her own dignite worthynes merites dedes good worâ—kes but cleued to God alone and sought for saluacion at his hande howe wicked and goâ—les are they which seâ—e health at ony other sauyng aâ— thys gyfte of God Iesus christ which briÌ„â—geth saluacion to all meÌ„ Euse. This is godly spoken Dothe christ therfore bryng saluacion to all menne Phil. To all men that repent beleue and labour to 〈◊〉 a good lyfe â–ª were they neuer so greuous synners before For christ came not to call the righteous that is such as wyt iustify them selues by theyr owne good dedes merites but synneâ—s vnto repentaunce He
true owner to restore vs to our old liberte to set vs agayne in that fauour wherin we were with God y e father before we offended All this hathe Christ and none other done for vs by hys mooste precious bloude the sheddynge of hys bloude was the perfecte and wholly sufficient raunsome for al our synnes as S. IohnÌ„ saythe The bloude of Iesus Christ maketh vs clene from all synne By hys owne bloud sayth S. Paule entred Christ once for all into the holy place and found euerlastyng redemcion Agayne we are made holy by y e oblacion of the body of Iesus christ done once for all IteÌ„ by christ haue we redeÌ„cion by his bloud remissioÌ„ forgyuenes of our synnes By the bloude of Christes crosse are all thinges pacifyed set at a staye y t ether be in earth or in heauen Chri. Hathe Christ by hys bloud redemed vs froÌ„ all vnryghteousnes Phil. Yea verely Chri. Let me aske you one question what do ye vnderstand by vnrighteousnes Phil. Unrighteusnes is here taken for synne and for all that we offende God wt. From all this hathe Christ redemed vs. Chri. I haue herd some saye that Christ only redemed vs froÌ„ originall synne that as for all other synnes we must make ameÌ„des â—atisfy for them our selues by our owne workes and merites Phil. This is not farre froÌ„ theyr opinion which holde that there is no remission of those synnes that be committed after baptisme But as that is an heresy so is this no godly doctrine Of the remissioÌ„ of synne after baptisme we talked the last Lent abundaÌ„tly in our PotacioÌ„ therfore leauyng that I wyll shewe proue nowe vnto you that Christ hath redemed vs from all vnrighteousnes as your new yeres gyfte sayth and that by his bloud we are delyuered not onely from originall synne but also actual veneall mortall call theÌ„ by what name ye wyll so that they which offende repent beleue take a newe lyfe vpoÌ„ them Only y e synne agaynst the holy Ghost which hath desperacioÌ„ obstinate malyce to her coÌ„pagnions is irremissible neuer forgyueÌ„ for asmuch as it excludeth repentance fayth amendement of lyfe as Christ witnessethe Euerye sinne blasphemy shall be forgyuen men but the blasphemy agaynst the holy Ghost shall not be forgyuen vnto men And who so euer shall speke a worde agaynst the sonne of man it shall be forgyuen hym But he y t speaketh agaynst the holy Ghoste it shal not be forgyuen hym nether in this worlde nor in y e world to come AgeÌ„ Al sinnes shal be forgyueÌ„ to meÌ„nes chyldreÌ„ and blasphemies wherwythe so euer they blaspheme But he that blasphemeth the holy Ghost shall neuer haue forgyuenes but is gyltye to euerlastynge damnacion Thys is the synne whiche S. IohnÌ„ calleth the synne vnto death for the which he would that no man should praye Of these wordes it is euident that all synnes shal be forgyuen meÌ„ if they repent beleue amend besydes the synne agaynst the holy ghost But nowe let vs se by what means these synnes are forgyueÌ„ Whyther for our dedes merites or for Christes bloudes sake and so shal we easely perceaue whyther Christ by hys death hath delyuered vs onely from original synne or rather from all other vniuersally Euse. This is it that we would gladly heare Phil. By the Prophet Esaye Christ speakethe on this maÌ„ner I am he I am he which put away thyne vnrighteousnesses yea and that for myne owne sake I wyl remeÌ„ber thy synnes no more Marke that he sayth vnrighteousnesses and synnes in the plurall noÌ„ber because no man shoulde pycke a cauilacion and say y e Christ only putteth awaye one offence whiche is y e originall synne S. Paule in oure newe yeres gyfte sayth Christ gaue hym selfe to redeme vs from all vnrighteousnes And by the Prophet Christ sayth y t he putteth away our vnryghteousnesses and synnes Is it not all one Do they not tell both one tale So se we that it is no new doctrine to say that Christ putteth awaye all our synnes both original actuall veneall mortall c. They that affyrme the contrary derogate not a lytle the vertue glory of christes death and are very they whom S. Paule callethe the enemies of y e crosse of Christ whole ende damnacion is whose God theyr belly is c. These are those false Prophettes lyeng techers whiche as Peter prophecied shuld come priuyly bryng in daÌ„nable sectes denyeng y e Lorde which bought them Are not they very enemies of Christes crosse and do not they vtterly deny Christ which teache that Christ by hys pashyon bloud and death did only put away but one synne And that for those whiche we commyt after baptisme we oure selues must satisfy make ameÌ„des so that for them there is no remissioÌ„ and forgyuenes to be asked of God the father for Iesus Christis sake What ony other thyng is this than to make our selues equal with Christ yea to exalt our selues aboue Christ to holde that oure good dedes merites be of greater pryce more value than the death bloude of christ For this doctrine I grauÌ„t teacheth that Christ is a sauyoure but yet that he saueth only froÌ„ originall synne whiche we receaued of our fyrst father AdaÌ„ so that by him we are delyuered but from one syn It techeth agayne that we our selues are sauiours for asmuch as we saue our selues thorow our good dedes and merites from all those synnes which we coÌ„mit after baptisme Nowe lette vs se whyther Christ be the better sauiour or we our selues whyther there is more saluacioÌ„ in the death of Christ or in oure good workes Christ by his death sauethe only from one synne which is origâ—â—nal We saue our selues from maâ— and innumerable synnes for seuen tymes in a daye synneth the righteous whiche we commyt after baptisme Ergo we are better sauiours than Christ and there is more vertue of saluacion in our workes thaÌ„ in the bloud and death of Christ So that Christ is but a quarter sauiour and we make vp the whole O pernicious and dyuellyshe doctrine Who hath euer opened his mouth to speake blasphemies agaynst the moost highest if they do it not which maintayne this wycked damnable doctrine But let vs heare mo scriptures Esay the Prophet sayth vnfaynedly he that is to saye Christ hath taken vpon hym oure syckenesses borne our sorowes Agayne he was wounded for our wyckednesses and broken for our mischeuous and vngracious actes Beholde howe vniuersally the scripture speaketh oure syckenesses sorowes wyckednesses myscheuous and vngracious actes Are all these but one synne If they be many ergo Christ delyuered vs from many If he delyuered vs froÌ„ many ergo not from original synne alone To what poynâ—e are the authors of thys wycked doctrine become now wyth what eyes do these Owles and blynd Andabates
crosse the vertue strengthe wherof abydeth in so full power that iâ— is able to saue so many as repent bâ—leue labour to lead a good and innocent lyfe for euermore Neyther haue I spoken theyse thynges to discorage ony man from doyng good workes but for â—o set forth christ to be a perfecte sauyoure agaynst the wycked doctrine of the Anabaptistes which nowe begyn to crepe in amonge vs vnto the great dishonour of God y e extreme blasphemy of Christes most precious bloud noysome perturbacioÌ„ of the holy catholyke chyrche And as I maye knytte vp all thys matter in fewe wordes know good brothers that in Adam all we were damned so that thorowe his wickednes we were begotten conceaued borne in synne yea by nature the very sonnes of wrathe Nowe to be delyuered from this miserable state wherinto we were caste by Adâ—Ì„ we of our owne wytte polecy wisdome â—olynes ryghteousnes c. could inuent no means but so styll remayned in the daunger of euerlastynge daÌ„nacioÌ„ Therfore God moued w t pitie towarde mankynde euen of hys owne free mercy goodnes wtoute ony of our desertes sent downe his only begotten sonne Iesus christ in to â—his vale of misery which for our sake toke flesh of the moost holy and pure virgin Mary thorow the operacion of the holy ghost became maÌ„ at the tyme to fore appoynted he offered voluntaryly his moost blyssed â—ody an acceptable swete smellynge Sacrifice to God the father which was is of so great vertue power that by it alone all our synnes are putte awaye not only that which we committed in Adam but those also whiche we oure selues in processe of tyme do perpetrate coÌ„mit Now so many of vs as are baptised in the name of the father of y e sonne of the holy Ghost and haue taken vpoÌ„ vs a newe lyfe forsakyng y e world y e deuil the flesh w t al theyr poÌ„pes workes haue at that verye tyme of Baptisme all theyr synnes forgyuen them and are so clerely redemed deliuered and made fre from all vnryghteousnes be they yonge or olde as though they had neuer coÌ„mitted ony of them at all And this is it that S. Paule sayth christ loued the congregacion gaue hymselfe for it to sanctifye it and cleÌ„sed it in y e fountayne of water thorowe the worde to make it vnto hymselfe a glorious congregacion wythoute spot or wryncle or ony suche thyng but that it shulde be holy and without blame Nowe if whan they be once baptised and growne vppe in age they thorow eyther fragilite or ignorancy do agen offende breake the lawe of God contrarye to theyr profession vow made at baptisme than haue they an holye anchore â—o flye vnto whiche is the holye sacrament of Penaunce so that if they truly repent be sory for the faultes committed bewayle theyr synful lyuynge mortifye theyr carnall affectes slay theyr worldly lustes banish theyr dyuellysh concupiscences confesse theyr wyckeâ—nes flye vnto the mercy of god beleue to haue forgiuenes and take a newe lyfe vpon theÌ„ God the father wyll surely forgyue them theyr synnes be they neuer so great or many yea and that for the dignite of that one sacrifice whyche hys only begotteÌ„ sonne offered once for all vpon the altare of the crosse So that if repentaunce amendement of lyfe come christes sacrifice serueth to put away sinnes for euer euer But as the bloud of christ is sufficient to pacify y e father althogh one man had coÌ„mitted so many offeÌ„ces as all the worlde hathe done or shall do vnto y e very ende of y e world so lykewyse is ther no saluacioÌ„ layd vp for hym in store which wyll not repent nor cease to synne although christ shuld suffer an hondred thousande tymes For christ is a sauiour to penitent synners and not to the wicked vngodly And as there is no damnacion to them that are engraffed in christ Iesu whiche walke not after y e flesh but after y e spirite so is there no helth nor saluacion to them that lyue after y e flesh though they bable neuer so muche of christ of christes passion bloud death of the remission of sinnes of the mercy of God of the gospell of y e swete promiseâ— of God of euerlastyng lyfe God hath not called vs y t we shulde be vnclene but holy and vertuous God sayth S. Peter sent his sonne to be a beneficial sauiour vnto you that euery one of you should turne from his wyckednesse But of thys we wyl speake more hereafter Therfore brothers whan so euer ye perceaue y t ye offend God in ony thyng dispayre not flye vnto that blyssed sacrament of Penaunce bâ— sory for your synful lyuynge bewayle your wycked maÌ„ners thyrâ—t after streÌ„gth to do the wyll of God confâ—sse your synnes from the very harte call for grace desyre mercy and praye vnto God y t he wyl forgyue you your faultes he wyll vndoubtedly remit forgyue you al the faultes synnes trespasses that ye euer coÌ„mitted agaynst hym for the loue that he beareth towarde his sonne our Lord sauiour Iesus christ which as your newe yeres gyfte sayth hathe redemed vs from all vnrighteousnes y t is to say both from originall synne and all other Euse. Brother PhilemoÌ„ we shal neuer be able to recompense thys your kyndenes which so gentylly at our request hathe declared this matter vnto vs concernyng y e remission of synnes thorowe christ I beseche God gyue vs all grace so to institute order our lyfe that we maye be found in the nomber of theÌ„ whose synnes are put away by this moost holy sacrifice of christes blyssed bodye whose wyckednesses are washed awaye by christes moost precious bloude Chri. Amen For than shall we be sure not only to be delyuered from all our synnes but also to enioye euerlastyng lyfe which is the gyfte of GOD thorowe Iesus Christ oure Lorde Phil. We wyll go forthe wyth your newe yeares giftâ— and make an ende It followethe And to pourge vs a peculier people vnto hym selfe Christ gaue not hymselfe only vnto death for to redeme vs from all vnrighteousnesse but also to pourge vs a peculiare people to hymself For as he hath redemed vs by hys death so hath he pourged purified made vs cleane by his bloud as S. IohnÌ„ sayth the bloude of Iesus christ makethe vs cleane from all synne For what entent hath he thus pourged and made vs clene Uerely that we should be a peculiare people vnto hiÌ„ selfe Chri. What is mente by that I praye you Phil. To be the peculiare people of God is to be chosen out of the company of the vnfaythful and wycked people and to be coÌ„secrated dedicated wholly gyuen to serue God to seake his glory to magnify his moost blyssed name and to do al thynges accordyng to his worde as the Iewes in tymes
past were chosen awaye from the Gentiles to be the people of God to serue him and to walke in hys holye ordinaunces ye are a chosen generacion saythe Peter a royall prestehode an holye nacion and a peculiare people that ye should shewe forth the vertues of hym that called you oute of darkenes â—to his maruelous lyght which in times past were not a people yet are nowe the people of God whiche were not vnder mercy but now haue obtayned merci Of these wordes may we lerne vnto what end christ hathe redemed purifyed vs by his bloud Uerely y t we shuld be a peculiare people to hym selfe ThaÌ„ are we here taught that we maye nomore â—romhense forth serue the Prynce of darkenes be conuerseÌ„t in hys court were ony lenger hys cogniscauns fulfyll ony more hys pleasure and wil but wholly gyue oure selues to serue God which is y e PriÌ„ce of lyght yea the true lyght it selfe whiche lyghteneth euery man y t cometh in to this world what nacion wylyngly serueth a straunge Prince what faythful and honest seruaunte forsakethe a gentle louyng master ronneth vnto a Tyraunt How vnsemely than were it for vs whych before were in so miserable a case and delyuered from it only by the goodnes fre harte of our Lord and master Iesus Christ to forsake hiÌ„ to ronne backe agen vnto the powers rulers of darknesse we are nowe lyght in the Lrde shall we become darkenes agen we are now the sonnes of God shall we become the children of wrathe agayne â–ª we are now the beautifull spouse of Iesus christ shall we be made the horlot of Satan agayne we are nowe nomore Ghestes straungers but Cytysenses of the saynctes and of the house hold of God shall we become Captines bonde seruitours to Satans courte againe we are now by christ made prestes and kynges shall we faull from thys dignite and becom vilious and abiectes agen we are now y e peculiare people of God sanctifyed vnto his vse and vnto y e workynge of those thynges y t make vnto hys glory shal we neglecte oure dignite worshyp and honoure as I maye so speake fall awaye agayne from our Master and so behaue our selues y t thys prouerbe may worthely be obiected and layde agaynst vs The dogge is returned vnto his vomitte and the sowe after she hathe washed herselfe is gone agayne vnto hyr olde wallowyng in the myer Therfore seyng that Christ by hys bloude hathe purifyed and pourged vs a peculiare people vnto hymselfe let vs manfully fyghte vnder y e staÌ„darde of our Captayne against Satan the Prynce of darckenes let vs seake the glory of our master let vs obserue suche preceptes as he hathe commaunded let vs reuereÌ„ce feare honoure worshyp loue hym aboue all thynges lette vs not suffer hys moost precious bloude to be shed in vayne let vs so behaue our selues y t it may euidently appere y t we be no vnkynd nor vnthanckful personnes but euermore walke worthy his kiÌ„dnes and tender coÌ„passion This thiÌ„g shall come to passe if we be suche as the ende of your Newe yeres gyfte paynteth Euse. What is that PHIL. Euen such as be earnest folowers of good worckes If we wyll shewe oure selues to pertayne vnto Christe to be hys people to be wholy addycte vnto hym we muste be earnest folowers of good workes we may no lenger loytour nor play the idle lubbers we must worck earnestly and as the Kentysh men say a good For Christ hath redemed vs from all vnryghteousnes not that we shuld continewe styll in our olde wyckednes and vngodly conuersacion but that we shuld be hys peculiare people chosen out to serue hym and to worcke hys moste godly pleasure agayne y t we shuld be earneste followers of good workes And here is answer to be made to theÌ„ whych saye If Christ hath redemed me froÌ„ all vnrighteousnes made me clene by hys bloude from all my synnes purchased frely by hys death for me eternall lyfe and made a perpetuall agremente betwene God the father and me what nede I to worke what can my workes profitte what shall my laboures auayle me Christ hath done ynoughe for me Christ is my sufficient Sauyoure Christ hath made al thynges so perfect that nothyng caÌ„ be added thervnto Therfore let vs be mery and take no thought O fylthye swyne and careles dogges Becaus Christ hathe don that for them which they could not do for them selues behold how wyllyngly they caste them selues in to hell fyre who treadeth the bloude of Christ vnder hys foote if these bellygods do it not â–ª Who defaceth y e price of Chrystes death the glory of his resurreccion if these fylthy swyne heades do it not Who dishonoureth Gods most holy worde yf these Epicures do it not But let these swyll bellyes wel knowe that they haue no part of Christe of Christes passhon bloude death nor yet of none of all hys merites so longe as they continew in thys ther wycked to muche detestable purpose crake the neuer so muche of Christe of christes bloud of fayth of the gospell of the christen liberty c. They shall go to the Deuell hedlonge wtout ony mercy for al christ Christes bloude fayth Gospel Christen libertye and what soeuer they caÌ„ alledge more yf they haue tyme conuenient leasure to do good workes yet wyll not who was euer saued wythout good worckes hauynge oportunite to worcke Ye obiect and laye agayâ—st me the thefe Uery theuyshly done For what lesure had he to worke Nether do I knowe whyther the waye of healthe was euer preched vnto hym or not although he was not vtterlye voyde of good workes For he beyng at the poynte of death bewayled his wretchednes lamented hys synnefull manners confessed hys wyckednes repented hym of hys abhominable lyuynge turned to Christ knoweledged him to be the sonne of God the sauiour of the world and desyred him to remembre hym whan he came in to hys kyngdome If thys maÌ„ had had leasure vndoutedlye he wolde haue shewed forth hys repeÌ„tauÌ„ce fayth by doyng externall good workes Therfore y e exaÌ„ple of hiÌ„ helpe the nothiÌ„g your sluggish dissolute maÌ„ner of lyuiÌ„g which haue both red hard Christ many tymes preched to you yet are ye neuer y e better Only ye perswade your selfe well of christe Christes merites but al iÌ„ vaine For he is no sauiour to those siÌ„ners whiche lyue wtout al feare of god but to such as repeÌ„t beleue labour ernestly to briÌ„gforth good workes from y e noÌ„ber of y t which ye seme to be no les far thaÌ„ y e west is froÌ„ the East Christ hath redemed vs sayth y e scripture that we shuld be hys people and earnest folowers of good workes We must be his people and earneste folowers of good wockes or els haue we no redempcioÌ„ by christ as S. IohnÌ„