A Sermon preached at the Christening of a certaine Iew at London by Iohn Foxe Conteining an exposition of the .xi. Chapter of S. Paul to the Romanes Translated out of Latin into English by Iames Bell. Imprinted at London by Christopher Barker Printer to the Queenes Maiestie at the signe of the Tygres head in Pater Noster Rowe ANNO. 1578. ¶ The Contentes of this present booke Wherein be discoursed and discussed the principall groundes and foundations of our Christian faith of the true syncere church of Christ our Messias of the infinite gloriâ— and maiesty of his kingdome vvith a refutation of the obstinate Ievves and lastly touching the finall conuersion of the same Also to the later ende of this Sermon is ioyned the confession of Nathaniel this baptized Ievve vvritten first by him selfe in the Spanish tongue and novv translated into English for the more benefite of the godlie Reader ¶ To the Right honorable Sir Francis Walsingham Knight principall Secretarie to her Maiestie and one of her highnes most honorable prime councell Io. Foxe wisheth all felicitie in our Sauiour Iesus Christ. PResuming nâ—t so much vpon mine owne head as aduised or rather enfoâ—ced by request counsayle and persuâ—sion of one laâ—eâ—â—â— most â—â—unden seruaÌ„t to your honour whoseâ— name for diuers respectes I conceale aâ—â— therefore bolde to â—duenture the offer of this small work to your honourable goodnes humbly beseeching the same not only to accept it well in worth but also if any such thing occurre in this mâ— simple trauaile which may pleasure or profiteâ—â—on to â—éelde all thankes to the Lord if otherwise to let the fault onely rest vpon me Albeit notwithstanding other causes also were not wanting to admonish me of my dutiful office in this behalfe First your manifolde and gratefull benefites vpon mée bestowed which as of your part well may beséeme your honorable benignitie so of my part very litle haue bene deserued Furthermore remembring with my selfe at what time this sermon was first preached and you so earnestly required the sande matter agayne to bee repeated in your chamber being sicke certes this zealous desiâ—e of your so Christian affection requiâ—eth no lesse of duetie then the whole tractation hereof whatsoeuer it be being now published in print with some more diligence reuised to be wholy intituled to your name Ouer and besides an other cause here also falleth in of my part not to be vnremeÌ„bred For if your bountiful and courteous beneficence neuer of me prouoked lesse deserued so liberally hath refreshed my pooâ—e weake health with the wholsome fruit of your French grape litle could I do and vnkind were I if I would not remember you againe with some part of recompence in requiting the wholsome fruite of your plentifull vineyard with some branche of this gladsome and Euangelicall Oliue tree not as in equalitie of sufficient recompence to satisâ—â—e your deâ—ertes but as testifâ—ing to you a minde not ingratefull nor vnmindefull what he would do if greater abilitie would serue To your good honour both yours and to the right worshipâ—â—l Lady your wiâ—e to the yong litle plants of your domesticall Oliue sitting about your table to your good housholde I wishe the grace of Christ long to keepe yâ—u his mercie to nouâ—ish you his counsaile to direct you his peace to comfort you his gifts to eâ—creâ—se you to the profite both of the Church and common wealth Lond. Aâ—â—o 1578. Yours in Christ Iesu Iohn Foxe The Preface to the Christian Reader conteyning godly exhortation FOrasmuch as the summe absolute perfection of al our righteousnesse consisteth in the onely faith and knowledge of Iesu Christ without whom al humane power and puyssaunce is vneffectuall without whome no prouident policie preuayleth ne yet any force or actiuitie of naturall operation can bring any thing to passe no honorable ornament of vertue no excellencie of exquisite learning is auaylable according to the testimonie of the Lord himselfe Withouâ— me ye can do nothing what ought weâ— seely mortall wretches regard more entierly then that by due proceeding in dayly renewed encreases of this same faith we not only cleaue fast to this Iesu Christ the assured vndoubted chiefetaine Prince of life And coÌ„ueying him into the very intrailes of our soules we throughly possesse him as fast enclosed in a certaine holy Oratorie but also endeuour by all meanes possibly to be most neerely ioyned vnto him to be incorporate wholly in him made members of his owne body For performance wherof behoueth vs aboue all other to be guyded by his conduct and counâ—el chiefely Searche the Scriptures sayth he for they beare witnes of me Which saying S. Peter the Apostle doeth verifie aduertizing vs of the same faith And we haue sayeth he a more sâ—re worde of the Prophetes whereunto whiles yee take heede as vnto a lyght that shineth in a darke place ye doe well vntill the dawne of the day appearâ— the day starre aryse in your hearts Yea the Lorde him selfe in an other place sendeth vs backe to the scholing of the Law and the Prophets as vnto infallible preceptes and rules of pure and true doctrine And albeit I may not denye that testimonie of S. Paul to be most true where he sayth That faith is a gift of God yssuing from his free mercy bountie yet doth he not thereby meanewhyles exclude other lawfull and ordinarie meanes taught for the better attainement thereof As where he sayeth Fayth commeth by hearing hearing by the word of God. So that their error is so much the more blameworthy who contented with that intricate and confused faith as they tearme it be of opinion that to the rude vnlettered people sufficeth ynough to beleeue those things onely that all other men do beleeue But this common faith seemed not sufficient to the auncient fathers in that purer age of the primitiue Apostolique Church who though mistrusted not the lessons instructions of the Apostles yet were they also in this respect adiudged prayseworthy because they did conferre the doctrine which they receyued of the Apostles with the bookes of the Law and the prophets which obseruatioÌ„ of the elders was of no smal importaunce to procure credite to the establishment of faith But the state of Christianitie is nowe come I know not to what passe that this Christian faith which behoued to be most deepely engrauen in the hearts of euery of vs is either not so well garnyshed in manye of vs as it ought to be in others very faynt and feeble and in some others skarse any resemblaunce at all appearing which slender portion and sparkle of faith be it neuer so small as is not altogether to be reiected so neyther is this wonderfull sluggishnes and retcheles securitie of the men in our age in any respect tolerable of whome some ouergreedily busied in worldly affaires some feeding their fansies vpon fonde delights do either make no estimate at al of that
not mette bene concurraÌ„t together in this one persoÌ„ he could neuer haue bene the true Messhias neither would my selfe haue acknowledged him But you tarry gaping still after some gaye glorious king Well and what wanted in this person I beseeche you to the absolute measure of hyghest royaltie whome the Lord did so aduaunce to the ryght hande of his omnipotent power at that bryghtnes of whole maiestie you saw the sunne lose his light the earth quake you sawe graues opened you sawe stones cracke in sunder you saw alâ—o the veile of the Temple rent in pieces Or if you did not see it with your owne eyes your forefathers beheld them all whereof they could neuer deny any one tytle So did they see him poore and base you will say I confesse no lesse what then Yet they conceyued not the power and force of that his basenes nor how honourable that reproche was In like maner they sawe him dead yet they coâ—â—â—aued not the mystery of his death they conceiueâ—â—ot I say how it pleased the Lord by the death of this one man to open a waye for saluation to all people They conceyued not that the tyrannie of the deuil was vanquished by the ignominy of the crosse and that all sacrifices shadowes were finished by this onely sacrifice But so it pleased God the father to giue his sonne vnto vs for a patterne of perfect humilitie by this meanes to glorifie his onely begotten The brightnes of whose glorie if you do acknowledge there remayneth matter ynough to saue you but if you wyll not acknowledge him this is also matter ynough to condemne you And will ye or nill ye you shal be forced to confesse that no counsell policie or deuice of man is able to counteruayle the counsel of God neither any force and power of men is able to withstand the power of CHRIST But I hope well of your amendement for why should I not hope when as I finde S. Paul to conceiue so well of your returne againe Wherfore ye men and Iewes seeyng â—â—â—eare the name of Iewes which by interpretation is called Confessours plucke vp your hearts rayse vp your mindes perseuere no lâ—nger in your woontâ—d obstinacie against your owne Prophetes withstande not from henceforth the manifest lyght of the Gospel Lette the profession of your fayth be sounde syncere and pure at the length learne to vnderstande the Lawe of God after the spirituall meaning and sense of the holy Ghost so shal ye beginne to be accompted according to the nature of your names pure professors of the trueth Be not dismayed with despaire to attayne euerlasting life because you crucified the sonne of God your errour only procured this mischiefe God wyll not the death of a sinner but that he may be conuerted liâ—e be saued The most horrible cryme that may be imagined can be no estoppell to saluation against him that wil beleeue Only acknowâ—ledge your wickednes repose your trust in the free promises of the Gospel and ye shall freely receiue the reward of eternal felicitie freely offered vnto you It is an haynous reproche against the glory of God to be disobedient to the prophets it is much more haynous to persecute murther them But to racke the sauiour of the world vpon the crosse is â—f all other most execrable Yet hath the Lorde promised to forget all these iniuries if ye wil but repent you of them neither requireth he the blood of beastes at your handes to purge those offences Christ is the perfect Sacrifiâ—e offered for the sinnes of all people Onely acknowledge your sinnes bragge no more of your owne righteousnes from henceforth beleeue only in the sonne of the lyuing god If he were not the sonne of God declare theÌ„ vnto vs who was his father in earth if you can If he were not a Prophete howe could he not onely conceaue in minde but in words also foretell expresse the destruction of your naâ—ion the dismeÌ„bring of your coÌ„moÌ„wealth the abomination staÌ„ding in the holie place yea euery of them orderly as they enâ—ued Howe coulde he prophecie of his owne rising againe the thirde day of the sending of the holy Ghost Howe could he know the ceâ—â—aintie of the calling of the Gentiles the denying of Peter and of many other things partly come to passe already partly to be accomplished hereafter And if he vttered any one vntruth in any of al these condemne him for a lyar But if experience approued eâ—idence of the orderly successes euents thereof haue openly denounced his woordes to be true what should staye and hinder you from the trueth For to speake nothing of his miraculous workes tell vs yet if you did euer heare of the like or if any skill policie or industrie of man myght possibly reache vnto the like But if this so great and incredible power did so farre surmounte all abilitie of mans strength and capacitie hereof may you suffâ—ciently gather how you ought to iudge of the inestimable power of his Diuine nature But for as much as the excellencie of heauenly thinges are of their owne nature vnsearchable nor can be attayned vnto by mans policie or worldly wisedome but must be discouered by the onely operation of Almightie God I doe most humbly praye and beseecâ—e the same God the father of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ for his deare soÌ„nes sake that as he hath long sithence according to his iust iudgement executed his wrath agaynst your vnbeliefe by cutting you off from your naturall roote so it may please him of his iâ—finite mercy whereby he is of power to plâ—â—t you into your former dignitie agayne that your hearts beyng deliuered from the thicke cloudes of obstinate infidelitie our Lorde sauiour Christ Iesu the only vndoubted Messhias may enlighten your soules gather you home againe to your natural roote That is to say that he wil vouchsafe to reduce you againe into his owne familie with his elect Saints and make you partakers of his gladsome Gospell and euerlasting felicitie That as the roote is holy so the braunches also recouering the naturall verdure of their honorable stocke may be engraffed againe by faith from whence they reuolted through vnbelieâ—e For performance whereof to remoue away all mistrust of wel conceauing hope as also to be of assured confidence that the time of your recouery is eueÌ„ at hand S. Paul doth minister speciall matter of comfort who in the selfe same sermon which he preached concerning the falling away of the Iewes doth not onely sette downe his owne iudgement therof but also very plainly disclose that high mystery touching that blessed and ioyfull returne of the Iewes reuealed as it were vnto him by the secret counsel and determination of almighty God. Of the which I wyll speake more hereafter by the help of Christ after that I haue debated somewhat with the Gentiles whom the Lorde hath called and haue in
not giue his glorie to an other and what is more glorious to him than to be acknowledged of his creatures to be the onely fountayne of all goodnesse to be our lightening and saluation that wee may dwell confidently vnder the shadowe of hiâ— winges who will be called vpon in the daye of our necessitie and he will heare vs. And therefore as that doctrine is contrarie to the doctrine of our Prophet is cast away of you which in this countrey beleue in the man Iesus So I haue more willingly and with a more readie minde hearkened to the wordes of your teachers and learned by Gods good working to knowe more of our promised Messhiach thaÌ„ our fathers beleue but no more than our scriptures most truely conteine Being assured that seing you haue the wordes of our Prophets and do not followe strange gods you are to be hearkened vnto For by our Lawe no Prophet may bee reiected but the false prophet who seketh to turne vs awaye from the Lorde our God to serue other gods And therefore as I haue learned by the wordes of your teachers conferring them with our Lawe and Prophets that our promised King Messhiach is not a Prince of this worlde as one that hath to establishe a temporal kingdome amongst vs but a spirituall whose power and might consisteth in gouerning vs by his Spirit and forgiuing the sinnes of Israel and taking awaye the iniquities of Iacob bearing in his owne bodie the chastisement of our peace that is the chastisemeÌ„t that worketh and getteth vs peace as our Prophets tell vs So I confesse acknowledge that he is already come and that it is he of whom our Prophet spake Behold the dayes come sayth the Lord that I wil raise vnto Dauid a righteous branche and a King shall raigne and prosper and shall execute iudgement and iustice in the earth in his daies Iudah shal be saued and Israel shal dwell safely and this is the name whereby they shall call him The Lord our righteousnes And therefore being heartilie sorie for my so long going astraye from the faith of this man Iesus after the euill leading of my countrie men and kinsmen after the flesh for whose speedie turning to the Lorde I most earnestly praye and giuing the God of Abraham Isaac and Iacob heartie thanks for the working of his grace in me by bringing me from the darkenes wherein my fathers haue walked these fifteen hundreth yeres into his marueilous light to beholde the face of his Christ our true and onely Meshiach I protest vnto you that I vtterly forsake my former wayes and the steps that my nation walketh in leauing with them not only that false looking for an other Christ but my name also which was giuen me at my circumcision being Iehuda though in it selfe it be honourable desiring that as I haue receiued a new gift from the Lord so in token thereof I may be called Nathanael the summe of which gifte so farre forth as he hath as yet reuealed vnto me I here confesse acknowledge before you that you may be witnesses with me of my faith in Christ that Meshiach whom you beleeue in and I receiue for my redeemer I confesse with my mouthe and beleeue from my heart that the man Iesus Christ borne of the virgin Marie according to the foretelling of our Prophets and so by the flesh he toke of hir descending of the seede stocke of Dauid for the continuance of his kingdome for euer ouer his people Israel is the vndoubted Meshiach promised to our fathers for the redemption and deliuerie of vs his people out of the captiuitie wee are in which is not the captiuity of Egypt or Babylon or the captiuitie of the Romanes Empire which we haue iustly deserued by the shedding of his innocent bloud through betraying and deliuering him into the handes of the wicked to be crucified but the captiuitie of sinne death and damnation prefigured vnto vs by our Prophets vnder the shadowe of the foresaid captiuities of Egypt and Babylon Which things because our fathers vnderstoode not through ignorance of our scriptures they did all those thinges which they wrought against that holy one our only redeemer sauiour haue by that meanes estranged them selues and their posteritie from the common wealth in deede of Israel that is to saye from the communion of the sainctes and childreÌ„ of God which make pâ—â—fession of this mans name beleeue in trueth that he is the verie Christ and only anoynteâ— sauiour of the world which was so forepromised from the beginning of the world And therefore in full assurance of this full and perfect and last deliuerie wrought for all them that are both nigh and farre of that is for all that beleeue by that man Iesus whom our Prophets forenamed Immanuel which is by interpretation God with vs resting reposing my selfe in this horne of saluation I looke for no other Messhiach and Christ to come hereafter as the rest of my kindred anâ— people do blinded through vnbeliefe beeing my selfe throughly perswaded by the Prophets that this is that Shiloh which was to come that Angel of the Lord whom Elias the Thesbite as we cal him was to go before that is to say Iohn the Baptist whom soâ—e of our Prophets call the voyce in the wildernesse sent to prepare the wayes of this our King and holy one our redeemer conuerting by his preaching the fathers hearts vnto the children and the simple and vnbeleeuers to the obedience of the righteous For which cause also as our wordes meane he was by our fathers called Thesby which is by interpretation the seruant of God to worke repentance by And because this man who was appointed from the beginning to be our redeemer deliuerer out of the captiuity of sinne was to worke that great and marueilous redemption by his owne death as was prefigured vnto vs by our Passeouer and all our sacrifices and also declared by our Prophets which he performed in his time appointed being deliuered into the handes of Pontius Pilate by our Scribes and Pharisies to be put to that shamefull death of the Crosse whereof it is written in our lawe Cursed be the man that hangeth on the tree which is so well knowen to al the house of Israel that they call him euen to this daye in despite Talui which is by interpretation Hanged Therefore I also confesse and beleeue that our sacrifices commanded in our Law by the hand of Mosheh are at an end not to be vsed any more being in deede but shadowes of this bodie and truthe which was performed in and by this our Immanuel God with vs And therefore I most willingly and freely renounce that doctrine of our Elders which teacheth vs that our deliuerie forespoken 〈◊〉 by our Prophets is or shall be a restoring 〈◊〉 vs into our countrey and land of Iudea theâ— to keepe such ordinances and statutes toâ—ching sacrifices of goates and calues as werâ— commanded
inestimable Iewel of faith which only enricheth to the inheritaunce of eternall life or at the least are not so diligent searchers of the same as they ought to be To clime vnto honour what attemptes and toyle do some vndertake howe filthily do others turmoyle them selues in raking riches together how dayntily some men besmeare them selues in perfumes and pleasures who because they knowe they can not lyue here for euer do determine to liue godly neuer yeeld them selues wholly to liue delicately wantonly To be aduaunced in Court to aspire to prelacie and ecclesiasticall dignitie to be a magistrat ouer the multitude who doth not accōpt it matter most honorable who adiudgeth not that man to be most fortunate that by hooke or crooke hath cratcht wonderfull possessions together who thinketh not that man to be most happy that lyueth most pleasurably And what shal I say of those artes sciences which procure gaineful lucre estimation of the world wherin whyles wee sweate and swinke all our lyues long scarse one minute can bee spared no thought employed to the things which lead vnto christ I speake not of them who seme to sauour of no sappe of religion nor are endued with one drop of faith who resembling rather Diagoristes and Protagoristes then Christians are so vtterly fallen from Christianisme to Atheisme that measuring this life with the present pleasures thereof they doe beleeue nothing holy good or worthy to be embraced but those plausible workes obiects of nature wherewith our eyes senses are delyghted most There is also an other crewe company not much vnlike to these other who perceyuing Christian religion assaulted rackt and rent in sonder as they say with sects schismes and contrarieties of opinions do persuade them selues that religion to be best that will acquaint it selfe with no religion at all What shall I say of them wherof the nomber is exceeding great who with full mouth do professe true religion it selfe and will not deny but that they do beleeue in Iesu Christ but beyng demaunded wherefore they doe beleeue in him what the will of God the father in Christ is what Grace is what how great promises are layde vp in stoare for vs in Christ howe glorious the Maiestie royaltie of Christes kingdome is how inestimable the glorie of his riches be what is the breadth the length the depth the heyght thereof howe woonderfull the loue of his knowledge is how great the force power of faith is and vpon what principal pillers foundations it is buylded they can render scarse any reason at all For as much therfore as the infallible certeintie true vnderstanding of these thinges can be attayned vnto rightly from no where els then from the holy closets of sacred Scriptures it shal be very requisite and needefull that euery of vs employ al our senses povvers of the mind continually exercised in the same For howsoeuer Christian diuinitie is tossed and turmoyled to fro with innumerable intricate entangled and wandering questions yet remayneth faith one selfe same neuerthelesse both pure simple and as it is but one so ought all men necessarily be endued therewith wholly◠That is to say that we all know Christ that we repose all our ankerholde of affiaunce in Christ that we imprint Christ in the bowels of our soule as wee are commaunded by the mouth of God the father seeing there is no name besides this name giuen vnder heauen in whome the treasure hope of mans felicitie may safely shroude it selfe Let Princes therefore learne to know this Christ Let subiects attend vpon him let auncient fathers take hold of him Let yong men embrace him Let the riche enlarge their treasury with this precious Iewel let the poore seek their reliefe to be refreshed by him who in deed cā els where by no meanes be found more easily then in the very sacred wellspringes of the propheticall Scriptures notwithstanding who so is desirous to procure this ioyfull Iewel must first of necessitie make earnest and diligent searche therfore For this precious pearle is not allotted to any but vnto them that vvill searche for it nor doth this heauēly Manna feede any but the hungry The soule must be very thirstie that must taste of this liquour that gusheth frō out the cōduyte pipes of eternal life This gate is not opened to the lazy slouthfull droane but vnto him that wil knocke Knocke sayth he and it shal be opened vnto you Seeke and ye shall finde All persons without exception are graunted free accesse to the treasurie of this kingdome It is layde open for all estates but all catch it not except such as scratche and offer force for it for what I beseeche you is more forcible then fayth what more mightie if it be true faith if it be liuely faith yea if it be true Christian fayth as that which displaying banner vnder his captaine Christ doeth fight in heauen and combat in the ayre against the princes and powers of the ayre against spiritual wickednesses from aboue doeth keepe continuall warres against infinite hazards in the earth and in hell agaynst Beelzebub agaynst the furies gates of the hells yea against death fighteth for eternall life against the Law for righteousnes and against horror of conscience for freedome and peace Therefore considering this faith is of such power and efficacie yea so necessarie to be frequented in all the actions of mans lyfe what remayneth from henceforth but that all and euery of vs crye out vnto the same Christ and beseeche him to impart vnto vs the true knowledge and vnderstanding of him selfe to enlighten the glimmering sight of our dazeled fleshly eyes with the most bryght and orient beames of this gladsome saith and that he wil vouchsafe at length to bring that to passe in vs that he vsed sometimes with his Apostles when as he discouered vnto them vpon the way as they trauayled the holie Scriptures For so we reade And he beganne at Moses and at all the Prophets and interpreted vnto them in all the scriptures the things which were written of him And immediately after Then opened hee their vnderstanding that they might know the Scriptures said vnto them Thus it is written Whereby appeareth playnly the duetie and office that is required in the expositours of the holy Scriptures To witte that omitting all superfluous circumlocutions and vnprofitable quiddities of questions they instruct the people in those principles rules of the Scriptures chiefely which auaile most to the nourishment and encrease of faith In which kinde of argument forasmuch as in this sermon behoued me to frame my simple skill according to the estate of the present matter and opportunitie of time and that it seemed good to my friendes to haue this litle treatise published in print to the viewe of the common people as not altogether vnworthy the reading I haue yeelded to their request that it myght be
and the staffe of their shoulder and the rodde of their oppressour hast thou broken as in the daye of Mydian You haue heard a very honorable promise of the Prophet wherein he pronâ—â—Ì„ceth a woÌ„derfull triumphaunt victorie to all them that walke in the night of darkenesse and in the shadowe of death prophecying likewise that it will come to passe that the chaynes of cruell captiuitie beyng crackt asunder yoke of seruile bondage being crusht in pieces they shall once at the length enioye most happie calme of gladsome freedome Well then To whom was this promise made to the Iewes alone is he not also the God of the Gentils Then by what meanes shall this victorie be obtained by any forreine power or warlike broile No. The Prophete doth vtterly deny that pronouncing these wordes foorthwith Because euery spoyle sayth he of the warryour that is with noyse and with tumbling of garmentes in blood shall be abolished with burning and consuming fire euen as in the victorie that Gedeon obteyned agaynst the Madianites the conquest was atchieued by the onely hande of God and the presence of Gedeon mans force power litle auayling thereunto In like maner the prophet by like comparison perswadeth vs to beleeue that this victorie and freedome must be purchased by the onely blessing of God and not by any force or policie of man and that this blessing of God is sufficiently effectual of it selfe without all force of bloody battel to establish assured and vâ—doubted peace and euerlasting freedome to all creatures Go ye to nowe let me this demaunde of you when and from whence this so great blessednes shal happen The Prophet him selfe maketh answere By the byrth of a childe sayth he and by gyuing a sonne vnto vs For vnto vs a childe is borne sayth he vnto vs a sonne is giuen the Iudgement is vpon his shoulders c. Such is the excellent dignitie of the sonne so great is the maiestie of his nature proceeding from so notable a father that he needeth none other ayde in the worlde to the attainement of absolute perfection of most blessed felicitie For what can be of more excellent effectuall operation to the through cleansing awaye of all filthie contagion of corrupt nature or more presently auaylable to remoue all matter of brabble and contention then to receyue the very sonne of God him selfe into the felowshippe of this our mortall nature beeyng a Prince of so great and superexcellent Maiestie as that he may not seeme to be borne an inheritour of a kingdome to rule as a king but that the kingdome may seeme rather to spryng vp and be erected together with his byrth For so he sayeth The gouernment is layd vpon his shoulders not purchased by any his industrie or trauayle but layde vpon his backe euen from his first entry into this worlde and growyng vp together with him euen from his very swathling cloâ—tes And the same beyng so great an authoritie or principalitie raysed vp by so much aboue the compasse of all earthly empires by howe much he obtayned to be aduaunced and called by a more excellent tytle and name aboue all the princes of the worlde And nowe if you be desirous to knowe the name of this famous Prince the Prophete him selfe will forthwith declare vnto you His name sayth he shal be called Wonderfull a Counseller The mightie God The euerlasting Father The Prince of peace The increase of his gouernment and peace shall haue none ende c. Where you see mention made of the kingdome of peace and patience you may easily discerne not a kingdome onely but a distincte maner of kingly preeminence far vnlike to an earthly or worldly gouernment Nowe hearken where the place and nation is ouer which this King must exercise his dominion Hee shall sitte vpon the Throne of Dauid and vpon his kingdome to order and establyshe it with Iudgement and with Iustice. Behold here vnder these Tytles Iudgement and Iustice is excluded all blooddye tyrannie And nowe listen to the perpetuitie of thiâ— kingdome From henceforth sayth he euen for euer and euer Was euer man so froward of iudgement as to wreste and racke this place of the Prophet of releasing the yoke of the burdens of breaking the rodde of the oppressour to any other purpose appliable though he endeuor to the contrary neuer so much then to the very comming of Christ Iesu the sonne of God in whome we do beleeue who was sent of God the father giueÌ„ vnto vs for an euerlasting king For where is it possible to find a king yssuing from out so notable a parentage and of such an vndefiled life who by dying the death could crush in pieces the tyrannie of death and after he had tasted the death coulde of his owne power reuiue and rayse him selfe vp to the glorious maiestie of euerlasting kingdome this one Meschias onely except before whom all nations of the earth do shal bowe the knee Wel nowe And what buzzing will those Thalâ—â—de glosers keepe in the glose or what exposition wil they fetch out of their Thargum Wil they referre this intolerable yoke of thraldome vnto their seruitude endured in the time of Sennacherâ—â— He woulde in deede haue charged the shoulders of the Iewes with this yoke of burden rod of oppressour but he neuer pinched theÌ„ so much therewith Will they interprete the same of the captiuitie of Babylon Neyther will this hang together by any meanes For albeit it pleased that mighty king of Babylon Cyrus of his bountiful mercy to graunt free passage to the Israelites to returne into their owne countrey yet was not he able to vnloose this propheticall yoke and establishe a peace that coulde neuer be dissolued for that he was not onely a meere straunger but also voyde of all colour to clayme the throne of his father Dauid by any maner of descent from him Moreouer whereas the prophet Esay doth note here especially the vtter taking away of all occasions of warlike furie from amongst worldly men and of restoring a kingdome of peace and the same also to be endurable beyonde all ages who doth not see that by no shyft of forged circumstaunce these sayinges may be translated to your fleshly bondage syth your selues also which do beleeue and expect for an end of this brittle life a rysing againe at the last day as well as we neither wil ne can deny but that all maner things in this worlde either priuate or publique must haue an end Then if this be true howe dare yee mortall men flatter your selues with a possession of an immortall kingdome in this worlde For that which is immortall is not limited within any compasse of time Againe by what argument can ye perswade that the thing which is euerlasting may haue a last day and determined end of time Forasmuch therefore as this kingdome of Meschias and Dauid is pronounced by the mouthe of the prophets to be
tremble for feare The holie companie of Apostles and Martyres doe confesse it all tongues and Nations do speake of his glorie bowe the knees and worshippe him Finally the holie Ghost through woonderfull sâ—crete operation doeth daylye and hourely enlarge and enseaâ—e the infallible assurance thereof in the hearts of the faythfull Lastly you also euen you that are Iewes albeit as yet it be not reueiled vnto you shall knowe and acknowledge once at the length I trust the inestimable treasure and incomparable riches of this kingdome the inuinâ—ible euerlasting power of this king who shall breake and ouerthrowe all other kingdomes of the worlde and shall not possibly bee destroyed it selfe neither shall haue anie ende Daniel 2 But as this greatnes of power is not carâ—â—â— nor can be discerned with â—â—rnall eyes â—â—â—oeth it not wrestle with 〈◊〉 â—nd blood with carnall weapons Tâ—â—â—onâ—â—est of this â—â—â—nce doâ—th extend it self 〈◊〉 a farre more â—â—â—streâ—thed vnmeasurablenes creepeth not â—â—â—ng the ground like a worme but pearâ—â—â— the height of the heauens doeth not proâ—â—â—e men to bloody battel but assaulteth â—â—e Prince of this world euen the deuill him selfe and being aduaunced into heauen hath throwen headlong out of heauen the auncient Arche enemie and accuser of mankinde yea and slaine him with the sword of his Maiestie hath remoued away wrath hath blotted out the curse of the Lawe hath cured the canker of sinne hath troden death vnder his feete hath taken into his owne gouernement the power of all iudgement in so much that the Prophet Esay seemeth astonied amazedly wondring at the marueilous course of his incomprehensible power who hauing vanquished incomparable enemies doeth likewise emparten his faithful seruants with very riche spoyles not transitorie and soone vanishing away but enduring beyond all ages Will ye yet heare more concerning the power of this mightie Monarche Listen then a while to the testimonie of the veritie it selfe in the Gospel This is the will of my father that sent me that euerie man which seeth the sonne beleeueth on him shal haue euerlasting life What can be more princely then this And I will rayse him vp at the last day What can be of more power For as the father hath life in him selfe so likewise hath hee giuen to the sonne to haue life in him selfe to giue life vnto him vnto whom he wil and hath giuen him power also to execute iudgement What can be more heauenly Neither doeth the father iudge anie man but hath giuen all the iudgement vnto the sonne What can be more admirable Vnto whom all power is giuen in heauen and in earth What can be required more Moreouer that ye may be assured that the sonne of man is of power to forgiue sinnes vpon earth beholde a signe wrought vpon the sicke of the palsey Take vp thy bed and walke Againe As the liuing father hath sent me euen so do I send yo whosoeuer sinnes ye forgiue shal be forgiuen them Besides all this let vs heare what Peter speaketh of him To him saith he all the Prophets do giue witnes that through his name all that beleeue in him shall receiue remission of sinnes What can bee more marueilous When the sonne of man shal be exalted I will drawe all thinges vnto my selfe What can be more glorious Let vs adioyne herewith the tâ—stimonie of Saint Paul Who hath reconciled all things in heauen and in earth who vndertooke in his owne person all the hatred and enmitie betwixt God and men who with a becke of his countenance reliâ—ueth the afflicted consciences humbled euen to hell gates who doeth refreshe and comfort them with his spirite healeth with a worde of his mouth looseth them that are fettered with the chaynes of sinne dischargeth from all feare of iudgement and death acquiteth from the tyrannie of the deuil What may bee comparable to the Maiestie of this Empire and withall what can be more amiable then the same Maiestie at the naming of whome all knees in heauen earth and hell do fall prostrate and worship Yea the deuils themselues do tremble and quake for feare the dead arise againe maladies are healed prisoners are loosed the hungrie are fylled the oppressed with labour are refreshed and disburdened mourners and such as pyne awaye with sorowe and anguish are recomforted death is subdued teares are wyped awaye sorowe and sadnes is turned into mirth and gladnes enterchange is made from the lowest to the highest mountaynes are throwen downe hidden things are discouered rough crabbed things are made plaine and streight the first become the last and the last are made the first All which heauenly graces albeit you miserable Hebrues wil not acknowledge most disdainfully do blaspheme in your synagogs the angel of the euerlasting testament hauing regard to y part of him only wherin he seemeth weake according to the vtter apparance dispensation of the flesh by reaâ—on of his death and burial yet we for our part beholding his heauenly diuinitie vnseparably vnited together with the basenes of his humanitie and comparing his miraculous life death and resurrection yea the whole course and actions of his life with the reportes of the Prophets and being established in faith with infallible testimonies of the sacred scriptures instructed hereunto by the guyding of the holy ghost persuaded by the assured promises of the Prophets and casting ankerholde in the assured hauen of his wonderfull miracles do firmely beleeue and with vnshaken faith confesse that this is the very same Messhias whome you do yet expect and looke for Finally reposing all our trust and affiaunce vpon his mightie power garded with the inuincible protection of so great Maiestie do with so valiant forwardnes of minde raise vp the vndaunted courage of our hearts against all assaultes and battrie of the worlde against all stormes of fretting aduersitie that now neither the raging railing of your blasphemous mouth nor fearful delusions of wyly Satan not the dreadful sight of hel gates nor the tyrannous threatnings therof not the griesely couÌ„tenaunce of gastful death be it neuer so terrible nor the cruel curse continuall accusations of the Lawe which is more horrible then all the rest can in any respect appall terrifie our setled consciences For why shoulde that person tremble or be amazed with the threatninges of the Lawe whose Lorde and master Christ Iesu is Iudge and ruler ouer the Law Why should he dread death or the diuell him selfe procurer of death or all the furious champions of the deuill for the safetie of whose life and assured raysing from death to life the very soÌ„ne of God Christ Iesu is become surety pledge who sitting at the right hande of the Father doeth keepe the keyes of death and hell and therewith alone shutteth and no man openeth setteth wyde open and no man shutteth restrayning and disposing al things in heauen and earth with an onely becke of his
vs by the hand of Mosheh beeing assured by the scriptures that the Ierusalem which we shal be restored vnto is the kingdome of heauen from which wee were cast through vnbeliefe and are againe restored vnto it as manie of vs as beleeue in this our Immanuel by the same God with vsâ— whose bloud hath opened vs the waye anâ— not the bloud of our goates calues whicâ— were figures of this true and perfect sacrifice wrought by this man vpon the crosse by vertue whereof they were auaylable to so many of our fathers as did beleeue for the remissâ— of sinnes and deliuerie out of that thraldoâ—â— of the soule and not out of the captiuitie â—â—ther of Egypt or Babylon or this wherâ—â— we and our forefathers haue iustly bene euâ—â— since the vnrighteous shedding of this riâ—â—â—teous mans bloud Moreouer I confesse with my mouthe 〈◊〉 beleeue in my heart that this same man Iesus the sonne of that virgin is not onely 〈◊〉 but God both God and man so called by our Prophets Immanuel God with vs God not made in time nor after a season but God from the beginning and without beginning who was before the sunne shal be after the sunne as our Prophet Dauid sayth by whoÌ„â—s al things were made from the beginning so are they preserued by his mightie power and of his kingdome there shal be none ende Who as he is called the word of God his father so were all the Prophets giuen and sent â—y him the onely true interpreter and messenger of his Fathers will which he reueaâ—â—d from time to time to his people by the handes of his Prophets as he thought best ordering the measure of the reuelatioÌ„ of him selfe as might best stand with the time of his comming when he was to be presented vnto the world And therefore he opened him self â—nto our fathers in the times and dayes of â—ur Prophetes but darkely vnder types and â—igures laying a vayle as it were ouer our eyes to the end we should be more earnest painefull in seeking after him But in the fulâ—es of time when the season appointed hy his Father was come then he reuealed him selfe fully and plainly preaching both him selfe the kingdome of heauen and sending forth his Apostles to do the same vpon whom therefore he powred out the holy Ghost which is called his Spirit so performing that which our Elders set downe as a proper marke of the comming of our Meshiach to witte that in that daye our Prophets should cease thâ— holy Ghost should be giuen to ignorant anâ— vnlearned men which we haue seen fulfilled in the eyes of all Israel And therefore I receiue this word of God which hath been froâ— those daies called the New Testament as the true vndoubted word of God vttered by y same Spirit which spake in our Prophets Againe I confesse with my mouthe and beleeue in my heaâ—te that that holye Ghost and Spirit who was the directour of all our Prophets and was also promised by this mâ—â—â— Iesus our Immanuel to be alwayes with 〈◊〉 people to leade them into all trueth vnto 〈◊〉 worldes ende is also verie God one in sâ—â—â—stance and nature with God the Father 〈◊〉 God the Sonne but an other in persone◠〈◊〉 the Father the SoÌ„ne differ in person 〈◊〉 that there are not three Gods but one Goâ—â— neither one onely person but three personâ—â— Which person of the holy Ghost as he hath bene from the beginning of the world by the euerlasting counsel and determinate purpose of God the directour and gouernour of his Church that is to say the assemblie and companie of his people agreeing together in vnitie of faith and doctrine and did therefore for the bringing and maintenance of them into the vnitie of this faith and doctrine deliuer them from God diuers rites ceremonies diuers in outward shewe but one selfe same in effect and substance hauing onely for their ground and matter this man and God Iesus Christ our Immanuel So doth he continue still to nourishe vs vp in the same and therefore commendeth to vs to be kept for 〈◊〉 euerlasting couenant two sacraments the one of Baptisme the other of the Lordes supper which two the will of our Lord God was and is should be in place of the circumcision and Passeouer coÌ„manded to our forefathers Which I stedfastly beleeue and religiously confesse and therefore renouncing the former as also al other rites and ceremonies of the Lawe being but shadowes of the bodie which is now performed and come I most humbly desire to be receiued into the fellowship of these Sacramentes that as it hath pleased our Lord God and heaueÌ„ly 〈…〉 ther to reueale his sonne vnto me to 〈◊〉 me againe into the stocke of my father Abâ—â—â—ham from whence I was cast out throâ—â—â— vnbeliefe with my forefathers the stifneck 〈◊〉 and disobedient So I may through Bâ—â—tisme be receiued and taken for a membe◠〈◊〉 this our Meshiach whom I confesse and 〈◊〉 knowledge to be the â—â—â—ly promised Chrâ—â— in whome whosoeuer will haue life must 〈◊〉 saued whereof I â—â—â—ke and trust to be 〈◊〉 taker in the 〈◊〉 of the righteouâ— which shal 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 agaiâ—â— of this our Immanâ—el when hee shaâ— come to iudge the â—uâ—cke and the â—eaâ— FINIS To his beloued Mother I. K. sendeth greeting in the Lorde THE desire that I haue to heare of your continuaÌ„ce which Christ Iesus in the day of this his battell which shortly shall end to the confusion of his proud enimies neither by tong neither yet by penne can I expresse beloued Mother Assuredly it is such that it vanquisheth and ouercommeth all remembrance solicitude which the fleshe vseth to take for feeding and defence of herselfe For in euery realme and nation God wil stirre vp some one or other to minister those thinges that appertaine to this wretched life and if men wil ceasse to doe their office yet will hee sende his rauens so that in euery place perchance I may finde some fethers to my body But alas where I shal finde children to be begotten vnto God by the worde of life that can I not presently consider And therfore the spiritual life of such as somtime boldly proâ—essed Christ god knoweth is to my hearte more deare then all the glory riches and honour in the earth And the falling backe of such men as I heare dayly Fides implicita Luke .24 Act .17 The theame out of the xi to the Romanes The summarie effect of Paules discourse câ—mprehâ—nded in few words The first isâ—ues of Gods promise The Oliue tree consisteth of three members the roote the stocke the braunches The Church how it standeth and groweth Augustin putat non amputat The authoritie of the person that speaketh I wil magniâ—ie mine office Rom. 11. Galat. 5. An expositioÌ„ of the matters here treated vpoÌ„ The first part concerning the Iewes and Gentiles The second part concerning the reiection of the one and receyuing of the other