further proofe that no man by his owne naturall reach of wit and vnderstanding can iudge of the vertues and qualities of faith but onely such as are renewed and borne againe by the spirite of God Now then as I said is it any marueil that this precious Iewel of faith is so smally estimated slenderly accoÌ„pted of in the world of meere worldly carnal men Seing they haue no skil at al to iudge of the rare vertues and operation therof neither by meanes of the outward senses of their bodies nor yet by the force powers of their souls but are altogether like vnto the Cocke wherof the fable speaketh that seeing a precious Gem or Iewell lying on the donghill wished hee had had one graine of Barley for that precious Iewell because hee knewe not the price and vertue of the same and therefore did wish for that which serued best to the satisfying of his owne appetite and desire Seeing then the case thus standeth that most people are so miserably deceiued chusing with greedie earnestnes and desire and as it were with both hands apprehending the vaine transitory things of this life make small or none accompt but euen like filthie swine trample vnder their feete Gods Treasures contemned of worldly men those precious pearles of the worde of God of faith and free saluation purchased by the bloud of Christ to the high dishonouring of Almightie God to the endaungering of their owne soules to the great scandale or offence of other to the extreme griefe of hearte of each true faithfull and godlye Christian seeing the case thus standeth I say and these premises duely considered I haue thought it meete and verily agreeing with my calling to spend a litle time in contriuing these plaine and simple treatises of faith and the fruites thereof hereafter following to this end that partly by the helpe hereof if God giue a blessing thereunto but chiefely by prayer reading and hearing of Gods word preached the ignorant sort may attaine vnto the knowledge of faith and other misteries of God by grace which wee by our owne natural knowledge and vnderstanding are not able to attaine vnto and that also these rich gifts of God as faith the rest may be the better accompted of to Gods glorie and our eternall comfort and saluation .. And because it is the minde of the holy 2. Pet. 1 5. Ghost as Saint Peter noteth that all vertues whatsoeuer shold be linked vnto faith as the verye fountaine from whence they must spring therefore I haue made this my first Chapter wherein I will God assisting me in as briefe manner as I can declare and make plaine to those whose eyes it shall please the Lord to open what an excellent and precious Iewell fayth is as also what great profit commodity we receiue by it But here first of all intreating of fayth in generall it shall not bee amisse to make knowne what faith it is whereof I will intreate for there is a certaine Morall fayth or trust which we call fidelitie that ought to be betweene man and man and euen this is a vertue worthy of commendation ther is also an Historicall faith when we onely beleeue the bare Historie whether it bee humane or diuine without any further application of it vnto our selues and this faith is also in some sort worthy of due praise and there is a Temporary faith when some doe beleeue for a time as our Sauiour saith nothing Mat. 13.21 worthie to be commended but is like vnto that faith whereof Saint Iames speaketh that is dead in it selfe to speake nothing Iam. 2.17 of that fayth which is called miraculous because it hath ceased for the most part since the time of the Apostles Now it is not my purpose to entreate of any of these seeing they are gifts common What faith it is whereunto Saint Peter wold haue vertue ioyned to the good and to the bad neither doeth Sainte Peter meane to linke his Golden Chaine with any one of them for that wold disgrace his whole worke but that fayth which I mind to speake of is supernaturall diuine and heauenly far more glorious and excellent then can be comprehended as I haue already saide by the wit and naturall vnderstanding of man But what is it wil some say that you doe so commend Wilt thou know Surely it is that which thy tongue hath vttered a thousand times when thou hast said I beleeue in God And is this such a great matter will worldlings saye to beleeue in God Doth this onely thing deserue so great praise and commendation Yea verily But here beware A Caueat least thou deceiue thy selfe in the vnderstanding of the words for there be three things almost like in words but farre differing in true sence meaning namely to beleeue God to beleeue there is a God and to beleeue in God The deuils beleeue the first and the second that God is true of his promise which is to beleeue God and they also beleeue there is one God and no more and tremble as Saint Iames saith but they Iam. 2.19 beleue not the third that is in God which is as much as to embrace him for our good God and to rest repose our selues on him and his worde onely which is that true iustifying faith wherof I speake So then we must take heed as I said that we do not deceiue True faith beleeueth in God our selues thinking we beleeue verie well if we beleeue God and beleeue there is a God which thing indeede we ought also to do but we must goe further to beleeue in God that is to acknowledge him for our good God Sauior this is ment by saying I beleeue in God I beleeue I say not another for me for euery one shall be saued by his owne faith and not by anothers as the Prophet Habacuk saith The iust shall Haba 2.4 liue by his owne faith Furthermore to beleeue in 〈…〉 to beleeue in God the Father in Goâ—â—he son in God the holy Ghost three persons in trinity one God in vnity of esseÌ„ce And is it then so easie a matter to beleeue the trinity in vnity the vnity in trinity No verily flesh bloud doth not reueal these things vnto vs as Christ said vnto S. Peter Mat. 16.17 but onely God himselfe both by the outward preaching of his worde by the inward working of his holy spirit Wherfore Galat. 5.6 a true liuely and iustifying faith which euermore worketh by loue may bee thus A definition of a true liuely faith defined namely that it is a most certain sound perswasion of Gods great good will fauour towardes vs grounded vpon the truth of his free promises made vnto mankinde in his sonne Christ Iesus reuealed vnto vs by the preaching of his word and sealed in our harts by his holy spirite Thus then hauing briefly and plainely shewed what
so fewe entred into the lande of Canaan so vnbeleefe and want of Vnbeleefe the cause that so fewe entred into the promised land Heb. 3.19 faith is the cause that so many shal die eternally in the worlde to come and bee condemned vnto the bottomles pit of hell For this is the last conclusion almost of the whole Bible spoken by him that shal iudge both quick and dead The feareful vnbeleeuing saith he that is all such as haue not this true iustifying faith whereof we haue all this while intreated shall bee cast into Reuelat. 21.8 the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone For the auoyding of which endlesse torments let vs betime bewaile our own blockishnes that hitherto haue so little esteemed of this so precious a Iewell of Faith let vs learne to make more account of Gods word then heretofore wee haue done let vs pray the Lorde to forgiue vs that is past and to increase this holy faith in vs for time to come so shall wee bee blessed here for euer And so much concerning the excellencie of faith and the vtility or profit we receiue by it Nowe it shal be necessary for vs to consider before we conclude this Chapter from whome this faith commeth that is whose gift it is and to whom it is giuen to this end that none may imagine faith to be a naturall gifte common to all seeing it is giuen onely to them whose names are written in the booke of life First that faith is the gifte of God I think Faith the gift of God none will denie and therefore I shall not neede to stande long about the proofe thereof When Saint Paul saith we are saued by grace through faith presently he saith Not of our selues it is the gift of God Ephes 2.8 Sainte Iames saith euery good giuing Iam. 1 17 euerie perfect gifte is from aboue and commeth downe from the father of light that is from God which is called the light that none can attaine vnto but faith is a good and perfecte gifte therefore surely it commeth from God Againe Saint Paule writing vnto the Philippians saith Vnto you it is giuen Phillip 1.29 through Christ to beleeue therefore to beleeue is the gift of God Againe in the twelft to the Hebrewes the holy Ghost exhorteth vs to runne with patience the race that is set Heb. 12.1.2 before vs looking vnto Iesus the authour finisher of our faith Therefore faith must needes bee the gift of God Moreouer when the Apostles of Christ doe pray the Lorde to increase their fayth Luk. 17. 5 they doe thereby plainly shew that faith is the gifte of God Againe Paule planteth Apollos watereth by preaching of Gods 1 Cor. 3.6 worde but God giueth the increase that is faith to beleeue Many such places there are but these may suffice Nexte nowe that this excellent gifte of faith is not common to all appeareth by this one saying of Saint Paule vnto the Thessalonians 2 Thess 3 2 All men haue not faith Therefore To whom faith is giuen in what measure it is a thing most necessarie to be considered to whom this faith is giuen and whether it bee giuen to all in a like measure or not Here first of all wee are to consider of the giftes of God howe some are temporall some eternall some common with the good and bad some giuen onely to Gods electe The giftes that are temporall are all things that pertaine to the vse of this present life yea and life it selfe is a temporall gifte because it is decreed that wee must all die The benefite of the aire the benefite of the earth the benefite of the water the benefite of the Sunne and firmament and all the creatures in eyther of them are temporall giftes seruing onely for the vse of man in this life and common to the good and to the bad as Christ saith that God our Father causeth the Sunne to shine vpon the euill and the good and the raine to fall vpon Mat. 5 45 the iust and vniust Againe the giftes of the minde as wisedome reason knowledge memory learning and the like are all temporal giftes togither with the giftes of healing of prophesying Temporall gifts and working of miracles as Christ saith in the seuenth of Mathewe Many will say vnto mee at the day of iudgement Lorde Lorde haue wee not by thy name prophesyed and by thy name cast out Deuils Mat 7 22 by thy name wrought many great miracles and then I will professe to them saith Christ I neuer knew you depart from mee all ye that worke iniquitie 23. Againe other accidentall giftes as we say of the body as health strength beautie riches honors and the like are all terrene and temporall giftes and no man can certenly iudge thereby whether the possessors Eccles 9. 1. No man cā certenly iudge by the hauing or not hauing of temporal blessings whether he be beloued or hated of God Spirituall gifts thereof bee eyther beloued or hated of God And that is the meaning of Salomon when hee saith No man can know whether hee bee in the loue or hatred of God meaning by the hauing or not hauing of these earthly and temporall giftes Nowe on the other side the giftes that are heauenly are faith loue ioy peace meekenes temperance patience godlines Iustification sanctification adoption glorification and finally eternal and euerlasting saluation all these giftes are giuen onely to such as God hath elected to bee heyres of saluation according as Sainte Paule saith Rom. 8 29 Those which God knewe before hee also predestinated to be made like to the image of his Sonne those whome hee predestinated them also hee called Whome he called them also he iustified and whome 30 hee iustified them also hee gloryfied So then it is certayne that Faith and all these other heauenly giftes are gyuen onely to the chosen and elect people Tit. 1 1 of God for which cause faith is called by Saint Paule the faith of Gods electe Againe it is said in the Actes of the Apostles that so many as were ordained to eternall life beleeued and so were saued Againe all Act. 13. 48. Eph. 2.8 that are saued are saued by grace through faith therefore so many as are saued haue faith and none other No man commeth vnto me saith Christ but those the father Iohn 6 44. Mat 13. 11. Faith is a mistery draweth And to his disciples hee saith To you it is giuen to knowe the misteries of the kingdome of heauen but to others it is not Againe faith is a chiefe part of the misterie whereof Saint Paul speaketh Therefore to some it is giuen to haue faith to some it 1 Tim. 3.16 is not Againe Christ saith in the tenth of Iohn Ye beleeue not why because ye are Iohn 10 26 not of my sheepe that is none of those who are elected vnto
vs for faith is as before is noted the A Similitude hande wherewith wee apprehende and laie sure holde vppon the righteousnesse of Christ Iesus And euen as a lyttle childe maye as truelye holde a golde ring or precious iewell wyth his litle and weake hand as a giant with all the force of his hande and fist beeing one and the selfe same ring so the merits of the sonne of God bee one and the same whether our faith bee weake or strong to apprehend them This then beeing as wee haue sayde the least measure of faith when wee haue an earnest desire to bee saued and yet haue not the full assurance of our saluation it is then our dutie daily to praie the Lord to increase our faith till we come by little and little vnto the greatest measure which wee shall not haue at the first but in some continuance of time when wee haue bene well practised in repentance for as soone as wee haue the least measure of faith repentance will also appeare in some measure When therfore I saie we haue some time bin well practised in repentance and haue had diuerse experiences of Gods loue towards vs in Christ then afterwardes will appeare in our hearts the fulnesse of perswasion which is the ripenesse and strength of faith For this is the greatest measure of faith when anie one daylye increasing in faith comes to be fully perswaded of Gods loue in Christ The greatest measure of faith towards himselfe particularly of the forgiuenes of his owne sins This I suppose is the greatest measure of faith how be it I am still perswaded that there is no mans faith so strong but it is No mans faith so strong but it is sometimes shakeÌ„ sometimes shaken with the winde of doubfulnes Thus are wee come now at length thorough Gods assistance to the concluding shutting vp of this discourse of faith being the foundation of our whole worke wherein wee haue seene what true faith is what excellent vertues and operation it hath what great profit and commoditie we The summ of the first chapter receiue by it that many of our forefathers haue bene renowned for their faith lastlie whose gift it is to whom it is giuen and in what measure Now to him that is of power to establishe vs according to the gospell of Rom. 16 Iesus Christ by the reuelation of the mistery 25. which was kept secrete since the world began 26. but nowe is opened and published among all nations by the scripture of the 27. prophets at the commaundement of theeuerlasting God for the obedience of faith To God I say onely wise be all praise and honour and glorie thorough Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Praier for faith and the increase thereof O Almightie God and omnipotent creator Lord of heauen and earth the giuer of all good things from whence euerie good perfect gift doth proceed and by whose mercifull goodnes it is augmented and increased within vs I beseech thee of thine infinite clemencie to plant deeply in my soule that most sweet root of faith and to water it continually with the dew of thy heauenly grace that it may spring and bud forth into the greene and liuelie branches of a godly life with peace of conscience and ioye in the holie Ghost and that the seed thereof so soone as it is ripe may fall downe againe into the garden of my heart to the further increase of the same til it growe vp into that great tree of euerlasting life through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour To whome with thee O father and the holy Ghost be all honor and glorie for euer Amen OF VERTVE IN GENERALL CHAP. 2. THE order and course of nature being duly obserued doth make this plaine vnto vs that though there bee manye and innumerable thinges in this worlde yet that euery thing hath a certaine head root fountaine beginning from whence each particular is deriued For when God which is the cause of nature woulde shew forth in the theatre of this world the surpassing excellencie of his wisedome not onely in creating all things of nothing but also in gouerning and preseruing all things that were created that they might continue and indure out the time which he had appointed The Scripture saieth that God did make euerie thing according to his kinde withall did put certaine seedes of thinges in the Gen. 1 12 The course of natural things continued by Gods prouidence tiâ— the ende oâ— the world things themselues wherby there might be a propagation or continued course of things from generation to generation so long as the world should indure Right so Gods mightie power and infinite wisedome doth no lesse plainelie appeare in things supernatural I meane in the gifts of the mind wherwith he doth beutify adorne the soule of man for it is God that giueth both the beginning increase of al Faith the roote of vertue vertue and goodnes Now the beginning of vertue in vs is faith which God doth first plant in the hart of man faith then may be coÌ„pared vnto the roote froÌ„ whence doth arise the stemme of vertue Vertue in generall breaketh out into particular branches as knowledge temperance patience and the rest and euery branch bringeth foorth fruit according to his kind Therfore Saint Peter writing vnto such as were conuerted vnto 2. Pet. 1. 5 the faith willeth them to ioyne therevnto vertue saying Ioine vertue with your faith whereby doubtlesse he meaneth that they should endeauour to lead a ciuill honest life as euery one had receiued the measure of faith and to the end they shoulde not thinke it a matter indifferent he biddeth them to giue al diligence therunto euen to ioyne vertue with their faith because by throgh their faith in Christ God had giuen them all things that pertaine vnto life and godlines through the knowledge of him By flying â—he corrupâ—…oÌ„s of this â—orld wee â—aw neervnto God that had called them vnto glory vertue wherby most precious promises were giueÌ„ vnto them that by them they should bee partakers of the godly nature in flying the corruption which is in the world through lust So that now wee see what must bee the chiefe and principall care of all those that haue receiued this excellent gift of faith wherof we haue spoken in the former chapter Namely to giue all diligence to ioyne vnto our faith vertue that so our faith may appeare by our honest liuing godly conuersation Wherefore in this chapter wee must speake of vertue in generall being the second lincke in Saint Peters Chaine afterward come to her particular branches Vertue in generall is obedience to Gods commaundements wrought in Gods children what vertue is from whome we haue it by the spirit of sanctification directed or referred to the glorie of God and accepted of him in Christ Iesus And to speake plainly whatsoeuer thing
when hee was reuiled reuiled not againe when hee suffered hee threatned not but in great humility committed his cause to God that iudgeth righteously Therefore Christ for his great meekenesse and humilitie is compared in the Scripture vnto a Lambe Christ for his humility compared to a sheepe and to a lambe Ioh. 1.36 Esay 53.7 Christians called the sheepe of Christ Ioh. 21.16 and a sheepe Iohn saith Behold the Lambe of God And Esay by the spirite of prophesie saide that Christ was oppressed and afflicted that hee was brought as a sheepe to the slaughter yet opened he not his mouth This great humilitie of Christ ought to bee followed of all Christians who are therfore called the sheepe of Christ Vnto this humilitie Christ himselfe doth exhorte vs saying Learne of me that am meeke and lowly of heart and ye shall finde rest vnto your soules Learne of Christ what Mat. 11.29 shall we learne Learne humilitie learne patience if thou bee rich and an heire borne vnto great lands and possessions yet learne humilitie of Christ for hee was Lorde and heire of heauen earth when he so humbled himselfe for thy sake Art thou poore hauing nor house nor liuing Learne of Christ to be contented for he had them not The All vertues are to be learned of Christ Mat. 8.20 Foxes haue holes and the birds of the ayre haue nestes but the sonne of man hath not wheron to rest his head Art thou afflicted grieued and tormented in this life O learne of Christ to bee patient for hee suffered a great deale more for thee Blessed are they that mourne for they shall bee comforted Mat. 5.4.5 Blessed are the meeke for they shall inherite the earth In one word learne humility patience and all other vertues of Christ God sayth Saint Austen was made humble let man blush to be proud And to say the truth what cause hath man to bee proud that is nought else but Nothing in man wherof he shuld be proude before he was man he was dust before dust was made hee was nothing dust and ashes Dust thou art and to dust thou shalt returne saith the Scripture Puluises saith Isydore in puluere sede Cinis es in Cincre viue Dust thou art in dust therefore sit and abide Ashes thou art and therein spend thy life These things indeede are proper vnto vs our bodies are earthy weake fraile subiect to hunger to thirst to colde to heate to wearinesse to all kind of defect and sicknesses and last of all to death and corruption Our soules which are the chiefest parts of man are defiled and polluted with sinne and filthines whereof then should man be proud O esca vermium saith that sweete father O massa pulueris c. O Wormes meate O froath O vanitie why art thou so proud and insolent Learne therfore betimes of Christ to bee humble least Pride will haue a fall that pride haue a fall Knowe that without humilitie thou shalt neuer bee praised for any vertue Similitudes Isydore saith he that will heape vertues together without humilitie doth nothing else but carrie dust in the ayre As a little Colloquintida doth marre a whole pot of pottage so pride doth make all other vertues abhominable Pride and vaine-glorie hath brought many men otherwise indued with very rare gifts to shame and ignominie * Quanto doctior es tante te geras submissius is a good lesson for all that are or haue The better learned the more humble wee should be beene Schollers to remember Saint Gregorie saith al our gifts whatsoeuer are nothing worth except they bee seasoned with the salt of humilitie For this cause is it that I haue made mention thereof in this Chapter Humilitie is as salt to season al other vertues of vertue If any take profite thereby it is that I haue wished If any other by meanes of their pride scorne at it their case is to be lamented Now we will follow the other vertues in order euen as they are linked together by S. Peter when he saith Ioyne vertue with your faith with vertue knowledge and so forth A Praier for the vertue of humilitie O Most glorious God mercifull Father whose dwelling is in eternitie whose Maiestie filleth both heauen and earth I thy vile and wretched seruant nought else but dust and ashes doe prostrate my selfe here before thy throne of mercy beseeching thee euermore to giue me true knowledge and feeling of mine owne defects and miserie of the corruption of my body and deformitie of my soule polluted with sinne and iniquitie to this end that I may be truely humbled when I shall see all the partes of my soule and body and whatsoeuer proceedeth from them both euen my best deedes to bee stayned as a menstruous and defiled cloth O Lord let neuer the foot of pride get the vpper hand of me nor the winde of of vaine glorie ouerthrow me let faith bring me to the tower of vertue but let humilitie keepe me from falling Let me not glory in any thing that I doe or in any vertue that I haue seeing I haue nothing which I haue not receiued from thee Let not learning strength honour riches or beautie make me proude and hautie for they are but the fading flowers of this life Let me euer haue this poesie written in my heart Hee that exalteth himselfe shall be brought low but he that humbleth himselfe without hypocrisie shall be exalted because it is thou O Lord that resistest the proude and giuest grace to the lowly This grace good Lord I bescech thee graunt vnto mee for his sake that through humilitie hath purchased vnto vs eternall glorie euen Christ Iesus thy Sonne and Prince of our saluation to whom with thee O deare Father and the holy Ghost be all praise and glorie for euer Amen Of Knovvledge CHAP. 3. ASsone as Almightie GOD by his infinite wisedome had created heauen earth of nothing presently he saith let there be light shewing thereby as also Gen. 1.3 we finde by experience that nothing in the world would either haue beene pleasant or comfortable if therunto had not beene added the benefit of light And is not the same thing to be noted in the creation of man who is called by Phylosophers a little world Yes truely for the life of man without light is most tedious and vncomfortable Now looke what the Knowledge vnto the soule is as light vnto the eyes of the body light of the eyes is vnto the body the same is knowledge vnto the soule for a man that hath neuer an eye to see with all if he haue knowledge in his minde is much more happie then hee that hath two eyes without knowledge They that want the benefite of their eyes and sight are called blinde and they that want the benefit of knowledge are called ignorant the one is blindnesse of the body the other of the soule As therefore it is
siluer pearles or precious stones Here then are most rare iewels for kinges Queenes and Rich Iewels for gentilitie to adorne themselues withall Princes for Lords Ladies and gentlemen to adorne and decke themselues withall yea and also for the poore and meaner sort to inrich themselues withal Why take we so much paynes to trauell by sea and by land from one ende of the worlde to the other for Gemmes and Iewelles and let lie the Iewell of all Iewelles the true vnderstanding We trauaile more for gold then for Gods word and knowledge of Gods word which Salomon saith is more precious then pearles and all Iewels that thou canst desire are not to bee compared to it No not the Iasper the Topace or the Chrisolite nor any precious stone whatsoeuer Beleeue mee Sainte Peter was a cunning workeman and a perfecte Ieweller S. Peter a cunning Ieweller that coulde chuse such a precious stone or rich pearle to beautifie and adorne his Chayne withall Surely that must needes The true knowledge of God more worth then a kings ransome The true practise of Gods word in the court doth giue light to all the cuntry People liue more by examples then by lawes bee a riche Chayne where one lincke of it is more worth then a Kinges raunsome O howe this rich Iewell the knowledge of Gods worde and the true practise thereof woulde make noble men and gentlemen Ladies and gentlewomen to shine in the court Surely the brightnesse of their vertue woulde giue a great light throughout this whole lande to others that haue a great desire to followe the fashions of the Courte for the worlde is come to this passe nowe a daies that wee liue more by examples then by good Lawes and preceptes this saying was neuer more verified then in our time Regis ad exemplum totus componitur Inferiours will followe their superiors orbis The whole world is giuen to followe the example of those that are aboue them in authoritie Let euery one therefore consider of his owne calling and studie to profite others by his example that depend vpon him let our lighte shine before men that others Mat. 5.16 seeing our good workes may glorifie God our heauenly father Especially let them that are called lightes leade other after them by their light of doctrine They that are called lightes ought to giue light vnto others Psal 1 32 9 and holy conuersation let the ministers of the Lord be clothed with righteousnes that the Saintes may sing with ioyfulnes Let vs labour by all meanes possible to encrease our knowledge by reading and meditating on the word of God which as Dauid saith must be a lanterne to our feet a Psal 116. 150. Coloss 3.16 light vnto our pathes Let the word of Christ dwel in vs plenteously in all wisedome teaching and admonishing one another as euery one hath obtayned more knowledge one then another that yee may bee blamelesse saith the Apostle and pure and the sonnes of God without rebuke in the mids of a naughtie and croked nation Phil. 2.15 among whome see that ye shine as lightes in the world Thus let euery one endeauour to make vse of that which hee knoweth for that No vertue to know much and do nothing is no vertue to knowe much and to do nothing but to practise that good which we haue learned is a vertue worthy of much prayse In vaine saith one is that long trauell in studie and learning where actuall experience doth not shew forth her fruites for learning knowledge is of good mē sought for and lodged euen in their breastes to this only end that they may therby know sinne and eschewe the same knowe vertue and attaine vnto it for if learning and knowledge be not applied heerevnto of them that haue it shee leaueth in them her whole dutie vndone Therefore Saint Peter saith Ioyne with 2. Pet 1. 5. Knowledge teacheth the way to vertue your vertue knowledge that is let knowledge teach you the way to vertue and by vertue and godlynes of life let it appeare that you haue knowledge Let knowledge vertue bee ioined together for they may not be separated as a generall or captaine is the directour of an whole host so reason lightened with true knowledge is the A similitude guide of mans life But here we are to note that euen in this knowledge whereof wee speake there is a meane to be kept for the prouerbe is Omne nimium vertitur in vitium euery too much is an euil and S. Paul saith Scientia inflat Knowledge puffeth men vp 1. Cor. 8. 1. Knowledge without humilitie puffeth men vp with pride 1. Cor. 2.2 with pride We must therefore keepe our knowledge within compasse and neuer desire more then is meete for vs to knowe Saint Paule though hee were excellent in knowledge yet he esteemed not to know anye thing saue Iesus Christ and him crucified Heereof might arise this saying Si Christum discis satis est si caetera nescis Si Christum nescis nihil est si caetera discis If To knowe Christ is the chiefest knowledge thou knowe Christ it skilleth not though thou bee ignoraunt in manye other thinges contrarywise if thou knowe not Christ all other knowledge in the world is to no purpose This caueat and admonition I thinke not to be vnnecessarie in these dayes of ours when as manie wanton wittes haue wandered abroad in the fields of their owne inuentions to seeke and search out for hidden and secrete thinges such as God hath not reuealed vnto vs in his worde yea they will not sticke to enquire what God did before the world was created forgetting in the meane while what their duties do require of themselues heere on earth nothing fearing that saying of Salomon Hee that searcheth out the secretes of Gods maiestye shall bee ouerwhelmed Wee must not enquire out of Gods secrecies more then is reuealed in his word with his glorye They remember not that Adam in seeking by tasting the forbiden fruite to knowe more then God would haue him to knowe was depriued of that excellent knowledge hee had before The same thing doubtlesse doth befall still vnto his posteritie that will not bee content with the knowledge of those deepe and heauenly misteryes of mans saluation reuealed vnto vs in the word of God but in seeking to know other thinges that pertaine Adam by seeking to know more then was meete was depriued of that knowledge he had before not vnto them they become verie fooles in those things which they ought to know Thus haue wee seene what an excellent thing learning and the true knowledge of God is and how we ought to applie the studie thereof to this end that wee might liue honestly godly and vertuously in this life where as wee doe knowe but in parte that so at length thorough the merits of Christ Iesus wee maye come to that life 1. Cor
and peace to the Iewe first and also to the Gentile for 11 there is no respecte of persons with God Wherefore let vs hearken vnto Saynt Peter who biddeth vs to ioyne godlines with patience and the other vertues yea God no accepter of persons Leuit. 11. 1 Pet. 2. 11 let vs hearken vnto God himselfe who biddeth vs bee holy as hee is holie let vs eschewe euill and doe good let vs seeke peace and follow after it Let vs not bee dismaied with the multitudes of the vngodly for there are some Reuelat. 22 11. which are vniust and wil bee vniust still some filthy and will be filthy stil but let him that is righteous bee righteous still and let him that is holye bee holy still for beholde I come shortly saith Christ and my rewarde is with mee to giue to euerye 12 man as his worke shall be Blessed are they that doe his commaundements 14. mentes that their right may bee in the tree of life and that they may enter in through 15. the gates into the Cittie for without shall bee dogges and inchaunters and whoremongers and murtherers and Idolaters and whosoeuer loueth or maketh lyes A Prayer for godlines O Good and gracious God most louing merciful Father seeing thou hast not onely created mee after thine owne image but also redeemed mee being lost that I might bee thy child by adoption grace I most humbly beseech thee so to assist me with thy holy sanctifying spirite that I may lead my life in a holy christian godly conuersation as behoueth me professing thy name that I may be holy as thou O Father art holy that I may bee partaker of thy Godly nature in fleeing the corruption which is in the worlde through lust that I may dayly offer vp vnto thee my soule body as a holy and acceptable seruice that I may cast of the old man the whole body of sinne bee renewed in the spirit of my mind put on the new man which after thy likenes is created in righteousnes and true holmes that seeing Christ Iesus is made vnto me wisedome righteousnes sanctification and redemption I may by vertue of his resurrection die dayly vnto sinne and liue vnto thee in godlines newnes of life during mine abode here in this world that in the world to come I may haue life euerlasting through the same Christ Iesus our Lord and Sauiour Amen Of Brotherly kindnesse Chap. 7. THe Apostle Saint Peter hauing furnished sixe linkes of his Chaine the vertue vse whereof doe especially profite and appertaine to ech particular person that is indued with them as euery particular man and woman must be saued by his owne faith euery one must haue vertue to addorne and beautifie his faith euery one must haue true knowledge to leade him the way vnto vertue euery one must labour by temperaunce and sobrietie to keepe his owne bodie in subiection to his spirite according as his knowledge out of Gods worde doth teach him euery one hath need of patience to endure the sundry trials and temptations of this life and of godlinesse which is the maintayner and supporter of christian patience Thus I say euery one of these vertues do in a special peculiar mānerprofite themselues that are endued with them But because man is not borne alone for himselfe as heathen men also haue taught and therefore must not onely haue vertues to benefite himselfe but also such as wherewith hee may doo good to others Therefore Saint Peter biddeth vs to ioyne with the other forenamed vertues first brotherly kindnes which is a most feruent 2. Pet 1. 7. What brotherly kindnes is loue and kinde affection that all the children of God do beare one vnto the other and therefore rightlye called of the Apostle brotherly kindnes as wee are brethren in Christe by grace of redemption then bids vs last of al to ioyne with our brotherly kindnes loue or charity which extendeth it selfe farther then brotherly kindnes doth not onely to the saints and children of God but vnto all men in generall euen vnto our verie mortall and deadly enemies For this cause then is it that Saint Peter doth not bring loue and brotherly kindnes together within the compasse of one linke but speaketh of them seuerally distinctly yet lincketh them one in the other because there can bee no brotherlie kindnes where there is no loue nor any true loue where there is not brotherlie kindnesse Whereupon it must needs follow that none but the children of God can haue either loue or brotherly kindnes Obiection First then to intreat of brotherly kindnes which is not so generall as loue is seeing that none but the faithfull are endued with it a question maye heere bee mooued what kind of loue affection that is which is shewed by one man to another euen of them that are not christians but heathen people and infidels yea and also many of them which beare the names of christians shewe great kindnes one to the other not because they are christians of the household of faith for that is the least thing they account of but for some other cause and in some other respecte Answere I answere that this kind of loue and affection may also in a sort bee called brotherly kindnes to wit as we are brothers by creation But to make a distinction between the one the other seeing the holy ghost doth call that kindnes of affection which christians beare one to the other brotherly kindnes let vs call this other kindnesse and affection naturall kindnesse for so indeede it is a naturall vertue giuen vnto mankinde in his first creation but sithens greatlye corrupted and defaced by sinne as all other giftes of nature are Now for as much as naturall kindenes was before brotherly kindnes and because brotherly kindnes wherevnto Saint Peter exhorteth vs doth not take a way naturall kindnes but rather seeketh to repaire nature thorough grace therefore I thinke it not amisse in this chapter to speake first of naturall kindnes and how wee do degenerate heerein contrary to our kinde and nature and then to come to this christian brotherlie kindnes that Saint Peter speaketh of which doth excell and exceede the other by many degrees shewing withall the want of this brotherlie kindnes which doth too much bewray it selfe euen among those countryes and nations which are professed christians First then concerning naturall kindenes wee maye consider the greate and wonderful wisedome of almightie GOD as in all thinges so especiallye in this one thing forming in numerable sortes of creatures wherwith the whole world is replenished Gen 1 24 Nature hath taught all beasts to loue theyr kind infused into eache creature this secrete force of nature that euerie one shoulde loue and liue together with such as were best like the one vnto the other The birdes of the aire by themselues the beastes of the fielde by themselues
in christendome France Germany and many other countries may be produced for witnesses yea I am perswaded that the King of Spaine himselfe which at this day is content to be in this respect at the Popes command to runne to go to fight when he bids him woulde also confesse this The Spanish cleargy the drudges of popery truth if he were not affraide of his cleargy the very drudges of Popery The Turkes and Sarasens neede not trouble themselues to make warre against Christendome for wee haue them that by name and profession are Christians which doe trauel in paine as a woman ready to be deliuered till they heare or see all christendome together by the eares But let Spaine aboue all take heede lest while they prepare A good caueat for Spaine their forces to fight against christians their countrie be ouerthrowen by Turkes and Barbarians And as for that beaste of Rome and the Cittie and country thereof which a long The iudgement of the whore time haue fed and pampered such a blouddy beast and beastly whore Let her I say assuredly knowe that her sinnes are come Reuel 18.5 vp into heauen and God hath remembred her iniquities and will rewarde her as shee hath rewarded other and giue her double according to her workes and in the cuppe which she hath filled to other shall bee filled to her the double In as much as she hath glorified her self liued in pleasure so much shal she haue torment and sorrowe for she saith in her harte I sit as a Queene and am no widdow and shall see no mourning Therefore shall her plagues come at one day death and sorrow Ver. 8. When God iudgeth there is no end of torment and famine and she shal be burnt with fire for strong is the Lorde God that will condemne her Yea God doth dayly destroy her with the breath of his mouth but shal vtterly abolish her at the brightnes of his comming which 2. Thess 2 8 shal be at the day of iudgement And that this day is at hande this is not one of the least signes that nation shal rise against nation kingdome against kingdom as now is to be seene in christendome that Tokens that the day of iudgement is at hand brotherly loue kindnes among christian nations is waxen colde iniquitie abounding euen as our sauiour foretolde shoulde come to passe before the end of the world Therefore let all the wicked ones of the Mat. 24.7.12 world specially they that haue receiued the marke of the beaste in their right Reue. 13.16 hand or in their foreheade howle crie and weepe for the iudgement of the great day is comming But O heauen reioyce of this 18.20 and ye holy Apostles and prophets martirs for God hath giuen you iudgement vpon The godly reioyce for the iudgement of the whore Luk. 21.28 the beast and let all the godly and faithfull people in the worlde bee glad and lift vp their heades with ioy because their redemption draweth neare Thus haue wee seene howe the bondes of brotherly loue and kindnes are broken and rent asunder throughout all the landes of christendom And I would to God ther were no breach of this brotherly loue and kindenes among those christians which liue together in one land vnder one christian Prince hauing all one God one faith one baptisme one true religion that we would walke worthy Contentions among Christians lamentable Ephes 4. 1 2 3 4 5.6 of the vocation whereunto wee are called in all humblenes of mind and meeknes with long suffering supporting one the other through loue endeuouring to keep the vnity of the spirite in the bonde of peace euen as we are called in one hope of our calling and that wee woulde all speake one thing that there were no dissentions among vs but 1 Cor. 1.10 that wee woulde bee knit together in one mind and in one iudgement So should God be glorified so should all our Princes good and godly lawes be obeyed The fruit of Christian concord so should the mouthes of our aduersaries bee stopped so shoulde vertue florish and righteousnes should looke downe from heauen vpon vs so should Sion reioyce and Israel would be glad to see brotherly kindnes maintayned among vs. God is not the authour Galat. 6 16 of confusion but of peace and as many as follow this rule the God of loue and peace bee with them Amen A Prayer for brotherly kindnes O Most wise and mightie creator Lord of heauen and earth who by thine infinite wisedome hast knit mankind together in a most wonderfull order to this end that wee shoulde shew all frendlines and brotherly kindnes one to the other and as in all other liuing creatures of this worlde so specially in man thou didst at the beginning infuse into his breaste this secreat force of nature that we should like and liue together in godly fellowship societie among our selues but so it hath fallen out by reason of sinne the malice of Sathan that as in all other good things so especially in this we do degenerate and grow out of kind one man careth not for another but eueryman for himselfe selfeloue is strong and headdy but brotherly kindnesse weake decayed Therefore good Lord I beseech thee renew agayne in me and in all people by the benefite of grace that which we haue lost by sinne and corruption that as we are all brothers by creation so all nations if it be thy will may shew natural kindnes one to the other but specially graunt grace O Lord to me al Christians that as we are nowe knit together againe by a more neerer bond of religion christianitie so we may shew our selues in all dutifull kindnes to be the children of one God members of one bodie heyres and coheyres with Christ Iesus of eternall saluation purchased vnto vs by his death and passion to whom with God the Father God the holy Ghost bee all praise and glory for euer Amen Of Loue or Cheritie Chap. 8. IT is the manner of cunning and curious golde-sinithes that worke onely vpon fine and pure gold euermore to put vnto their worke some priuie signe or marke whereby they will know their owne doinges from others that vse not so fine gold as they doe The very same thing in a sorte our skilfull and perfect workeman Sainte Peter seemeth to doe in this excellent peece of worke now in hand he hath beaten out all his linckes of the purest and finest golde hee hath so curiously lincked one lincke in the other riuited the same fast with the hammer of Gods worde that it cannot bee perceiued where the soldering is Now being about Saint Peters chaine made all of pure gold to finish his chaine he addeth this last linck of loue vnto it which serueth him as a priuie signe or marke to know this chaine made all of purified gold from all
for hee maketh the Sunne 45. to rise vpon the euill and the good and his raine to fall vppon the iust and vniust On the contrarie saith Christ if yee loue them that loue you what reward shall yee haue doe not the Publicans euen the same Be ye 46. perfect therefore in loue euen as your heauenly Father is perfect To giue our goods 47. only to such poore as we loue and like such as we know wil blaze the same abroade and to hate other whome we should loue is not to be perfect but partiall in loue and so for such loue we shal haue no thanke of GOD. We haue spoken before of brotherly-kindnesse that doeth keepe it selfe within some limites but this Loue wherof now we speake hath no bounds but extendeth it selfe ouer Loue hath no bounds all the world euen to our verie enemies He that cannot loue his enemies for Christs sake is not perfect in loue God loued vs when we were his enemies wee must follow God in this respect Be followers of God saith Rom. 5.6 Saint Paul and walke in loue euen as Christ hath loued vs and so forth Beloued saith Eph. 5.1 Saint Iohn If God so loued vs we ought also to loue one another The loue that God hath 1. Ioh. 4.11 shewed vnto vs is infinite and vnmeasurable wee must therefore endeauour to loue God and our enemies for his sake in some We must loue our enemies because God loued vs being his enemies measure Or else Woe Woe be vnto vs. We must loue God because hee loued vs first and wee must loue our enemies for Gods sake because he loued vs when we were his enemies This doctrine by how much more it is hard for flesh and bloud to performe because it is against our fleshly nature which is euermore desirous of reuenge by so much If we cannot forgiue we must pray God to change our hearts Mat. 18. 24. more ought wee to desire God to change or mollifie our hard harts that we may be readie to forgiue others one hundred pence seeing God is so kind to forgiue vs ten thousand talents alwaies remembring this definitiue sentence of Christ If yee forgiue not other their trespasses no more wil your heauenly Father forgiue you your trespasses Mat. 6.15 Therefore Christians are taught daylye to pray the Lord to forgiue them as they doe Mat. 6.12 forgiue others that is if wee doe not forgiue others then wee desire the Lord not to forgiue vs which is most fearefull if wee haue any grace to consider ofit This then is to be When wee pray doe not forgiue we sinne grieuously perfect in loue as farre as we can attaine to perfection in this life to loue God with all our harts with all our soules and with al our strength our neighbour though our enemy as our selus The which thing because no mā can do in such absolute sort as he ought therefore we cannot bee perfect in loue til Wē cannot be perfect in loue in this life we haue laide down our fleshly nature be clothed with immortalitie but we must doe the best we can and though we cannot loue God and our neighbors as we should yet we must forgiue our enemies freely as wee are commanded yea loue them euen as our dearest frendes though they bee our mortal enemies and haue sworne our death yet wee must loue them not with a fayned We must pray for our enemies Luk. 23.24 Act. 7.60 but true Christian loue and praye for them that God woulde change their harts and forgiue them euen as Christ and Saint Stephen prayed for their persecutors saying To forgiue iniuries is giuen vnto vs of God Lorde lay not this sinne to their charge This loue which causeth vs to suffer iniuries patiently and to forgiue them freely is the speciall gift of God and giuen onely to his 1 Cor. 13.4 elect Therefore Saint Paule saith Loue suffereth long and is curteous Loue enuieth 5. not loue doth not boast it selfe it swelleth not it disdayneth not it seeketh not her 6. owne things it is not prouoked to anger it 7. thinketh no euill it reioyceth not in iniquitie but reioyceth in the truth it suffereth all thinges it beleeueth all things it hopeth all thinges and indureth all thinges Why then he that hath this lincke of loue hath Loue hath all vertues included in it all these vertues included in it O rich chain where one lincke is bedecked with so many precious pearles contrariwise then it must needes follow that they which can suffer no iniuries they that are of a currish nature and not curteous they that enuy at other mens good successe prosperitie they that are puffed vp with pride and vaine glorie Vices contrary vnto the fruits of loue as a bladder with winde they that will commende none but disdaine all they that are not contented with their owne but seek other mens by deceite or oppression they that not onely thinke euill but study to deuise mischiefe they that are sory to haue truth knowen reioyce in iniquitie These and such like whosoeuer they are of what calling or degree soeuer they be of haue not receiued this badge of loue whereby they should be knowen to be true christians Last of all S. Paul saith that loue neuer Verse 8. falleth away but abideth with vs in this life shall continue with vs for euermore in the life to come O then let vs make much of Loue and charitie for it is a surpassing Loue a surpassing treasure treasure It is no maruell that Sainte Peter would not finishe his Chayne before this lincke of loue were aded vnto it That must A glorious Chaine that beginneth with faith and endeth in loue Happy are they that weare this chaine 2. Pet. 1.8 needes be a golden and glorious chaine that beginneth with faith and endeth in loue hauing lincked vnto them both all graces and vertues whatsoeuer happy yea thrise happy are they that weare this Chaine surely they shall neuer be bound in euerlasting chaines If these things saith S. Peter be among you and abounde they will make you that ye shall neuer be idle nor vnfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lorde Iesus 9. Christ But he that hath not these thinges as faith loue the rest is blind cannot see farre of and hath forgotten that hee was 10 purged from his old sinnes wherefore breethren giue all diligence to make your calling election sure for if ye do these things ye shal neuer fall but by these meanes an 11 entring shal bee ministred vnto you aboundantly into the euerlasting kingdome of our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ to whome with the Father and the holy Ghost bee all prayse glory power and maiestie from age to age world without end A Praier for Loue or Charitie O Blessed Lord God most louing mercifull Father for as much as thou hast shewed vnto mankind thine infinite vnmeasurable loue not onely in creating vs of the dust of the earth then preferring vs to be lords ouer all the works of thy hands but also and especially hast manifested this thine vnexpressable kindnes towardes vs in giuing thine onely beloued sonne to death for vs that hee might bring vs vnto life to this end that in a thankeful remembrance of this thy so great loue kindnes we should shew our loue to thee againe to our neighbours and brethren for thy sake Grant therefore vnto me good Lord that I may loue thee aboue all thinges and my neighbour as myselfe not onely my frends and those that do me good but also mine enemies because thou louedst mee when I was thine enemie that I may neuer suffer the sunne to go down vpon my wrath but with all gentlenes and from my hart I may suffer iniuries and forgiue myne enemies O Lord if thou wilt vouchsafe to receaue me into thy seruice giue vnto me thy badge of christian loue or charitie whereby I may be assured that I am thy seruant let the fire of this loue breake out from me into flames of good works that I may be ready to do good vnto all but specially vnto them that are of the houshold of faith This grace vouchsafe vnto me and to all christians for his sake in whom thou art wel pleased So shalt thou O God dwel here in earth with me and I shal euermore dwelhere and in heauen with thee to whom with thy blessed sonne our Sauiour and the holy Ghost our euerlasting comforter be all lande and honour for euer and euer Amen FINIS Laus Deo honos