himselfe but that he is thy God Whiche will cause that with the spirite thou shalt at all times féele him and that he doth thee so great a goodnesse with his continuall benefites as cannot be done but of God whereof it groweth that thou trust in him loue him and giue him thanks committest thy selfe to his gouernement and order al thy life to his honour and glorie as of him thou feelest al the good things thou hast to come so to him alone thou dost render all thankes thou accountest him to be the first beginning and the last end and therefore to be God Thou must also liuely beléeue not onely that he is the father of Christ and of the elect whiche thorough Iesus Christ are adopted for to be the sonnes of God but that he is thy father Ephes 1 Rom. 8 Gal. 4. and that thou art one of the elect and sonnes of God and an heire a brother of Christ and coheire with him Thou must féele with the spirit that God is thy best father and that as a most déere father he loueth thee most perfectly and hath a great care of thée Consider now a little howe much thou louest him with what safety thou goest vnto him for fauour with Hope to obtaine it and with how great quietnesse peace and reast of minde soule and conscience thou liuest vnder his protection if with a liuely Faith thou beléeue that in truth he is thy father and that all the creatures together that be cannot pluck of one haire from thy head without his will It is necessary also to beléeue that he is almightie so that not onely the world dependeth vpon him but that he hath all creatures in his power and can dispose of them according to his pleasure that he can bring the worlde to nothing and prolong it into euerlasting if he will neither is there any that can withstand his will we must also beléeue that this omnipotencie of God is not idle but that he vseth it and that euery day so that it neuer sléepeth but alwayes worketh as Christ saide Ioan. ◠We must beléeue that it is euer watching strong and laborious It worketh in al creatures and without it nothing is done And further it is néedefull that liuely and with thy spirite thou beléeue that this almightines belongeth to thée and that thou féelest that God doth vse the same euery day with thee in giuing thée all the good thinges that thou hast Wherefore they be greatly deceyued which doe not acknowledge al to be of God but to come by chaunce Fortune Nature of the Heauens of Men Angels or Diuels Moreouer we ought to beléeue that he is the creatour of heauen and of earth that is of all creatures both celestiall and terrestriall those that he hath created them hée preserueth gouerneth ordereth and guydeth to the end and all with his high and infinite wisedome It is not sufficient that of necessitie thou liuely beléeuest how that God not onely hath giuen thée thy being and so to all other creatures but that he preserueth guydeth gouerneth and ordereth all to thy benefite with great wisedome Thou must also liuely beléeue not onely that GOD is God in himselfe and therefore most perfect but that he is thy God and such a father that he will doe to thée all good thinges which be possible and conuenient to bée done Mat. 1. that he is thy best father bicause he is omnipotent and that he knoweth how bicause he is infinitely wise as we see in his creation and gouernaunce of the world Thou must also beléeue in Iesus Iesus is the proper name of Christ Rom. 14 giuen vnto him thorough the will of God by the Angel and doth signifie a Sauiour Therfore thou shalt then beléeue truely in Iesus when with thy spirite thou shalt féele that he hath saued thée 1. Tim. 2 Heb. 9. It is also necessary not onely to beléeue in Iesus but in Iesus Christ Christ is to say annoynted And for because in olde time they annoynted high Priestes Kinges and Prophets therefore Christ being sent into the world from the father to do the office of a high Prophet Priest and King hath also béene ordayned and annoynted with a spirituall vnction filling a tunne full of his gyftes and graces for as much as he was the chiefest Prophete Priest and King and hath done the office of euery of them moste perfectlye there-fore hée is called Christ We must then beléeue in Christ Heb. 9. that is in Iesus Christ that he is the high Priest vndefyled and holye and that he hath done the office of the chiefe and most perfect Priest Moreouer that as an onely mediatour betwixt God and vs hath offered vp himselfe vppon the crosse to the father for the elect 1. Tim. 2. Heb. 9. and that he is accepted of GOD for such a diuine sacrifice that he pacifyeth his anger and reconcyleth him vnto them That he standeth also for their sakes before the father and hauing compassion prayeth for them and obtaineth them all grace and fauour Hier. 47 Rom. 8. Ioan. 11. and that he offereth them vnto GOD vnspotted and holy by being washed with his pretious bloude and that he enrycheth thée with his giftes and graces Thou must also beléeue that in as much as he is Christ the chiefe Prophete Therefore he came into the worlde sent from the father to make manyfest vnto his elect all the will of God for to teach Isaiae 45 Ioan. 15. Heb. 8. and to imprint in their heartes all thinges profitable and necessarie to their saluation Wherefore as the onely maister and light of the worlde which making all thinges manifest he hath fulfilled the Prophetes Thou must also beléeue that he is a King Mat. 23. Ioan. 8. Mat. 11. bicause that with his spirite he moueth raigneth ouer and gouerneth the electe whiche be giuen him of God there-fore he is a King in the spirituall kingdome of GOD whiche is righteousnesse peace and ioye in the holy Ghost It is not sufficyent that thou beléeue that Iesus is Christe the chiefe Prophet Priest and king of the elect Rom. 14 but also thou must liuely beléeue that he is thy Christ that is the chiefest Prophet Priest and king ouer thée And so if with thy spirite thou shalt féele that hée hath lightened thy minde with diuine things he shall be thy Prophet Also if thou shalt féele that for thy sake he hath offered him-selfe vppon the Crosse that he hath pacyfied the father that he prayeth for thée that hée is heard that he presenteth thée vnto God and that thorough him God doth accept thée for his sonne then he shall be thy high Priest And likewise if with a liuely Faith thou shalt beleeue that he hath taken charge of thée and that he inspireth thée moueth and gouerneth thee thou shalt haue him for thy king Thou shalt there-fore truely beléeue in Christ when with thy spirite thou
not onely them and all that they possesse but also Christ with all his diuine treasures bicause Loue maketh all things common Now if with thy spirite thou shalt féele this thou shalt then beléeue the communion of Saincts Thou must beléeue the remission of sinnes that is not onely that God of his mere lyberalytie and gratious goodnesse thorough Christ crucified which hath made satisfaction for vs pardoneth the sinnes of his Elect but it is needefull for thée to beléeue and with the spirite lyuely to féele that he hath pardoned thée Then will the Gospel laugh vppon thée and shew it selfe amiable and thou shalt féele in Christ the great goodnesse of God It is néedefull also to beléeue liuelye the resurrection of the flesh which if it were so we would not accompt this world for our countrey we would not set our loue vppon it we woulde not feare death and with hope of the other lyfe with-out grounding our selues in prosperitie and with-out retyring or tourning back in aduersitie we would ioyfully runne to our heauenly countrey And lastlye it is néedefull for vs to beléeue euerlasting lyfe that is that the Elect shal be happy and shal lyue for euer and it is néedefull for thee with the spirite to féele that thou art one of them and if thou wilt say vnto me why is it not sayd that we should also beléeue the euerlasting death of the dampned I aunswere that héere is not spoken but onely of those things which must with a lyuely Faith be beléeued and felt with the spirit and this lyuely Faith and féeling is not but in the Elect and the Elect can-not lyuely beléeue nor féele in themselues any thing but those benefites which God hath promised them whereof the holy Ghost speaketh vnto them and witnesseth in their heartes Therefore in the Crede is nothing declared but onely those things which apperteine to the comforting of the consciences of the Elect and that moue them to loue Now these be the Articles which we are bounde to beleeue and they be so knit and lynked together that a man cannot beléeue one of them lyuely with-out the other and he that beléeueth the one with a lyuely Faith beléeueth all As for example no body can beléeue lyuely in God no nor yet know him sufficiently with-out the lyght of Christ which is supernaturall as Paul saith and lykewise Christ and he that beléeueth lyuely in Christ thorough Faith and the holy Ghost féeleth and accepteth his great benefite Gal. 4. Ephes 2. Mat. 11. beléeueth that God is the Father almightie Creator of all things beléeueth also the resurrection of Christ his ascention his sending of the holye Ghost and that he shall come to iudge vs and the effects of his death that there is a holye Churche the remission of sinnes the resurrection and euerlasting lyfe There be many which of their owne fantasie haue added other Articles and such as bée no other but their owne doctrines the which it is but lost time to consider off They woulde prophecie and vnderstande more then the Apostles excéeding the lymits of Faith and all is bicause they haue not a liuely Faith in the light supernaturall whiche if they had they shoulde sée wonderfull things reuealed by God which would content them and cause them to séeke not to vnderstand newe thinges but to growe in greater light of thinges reuealed that they might be able to render thankes more largely vnto God to whom be alwayes all praise honour and glory thorough Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen If it be possible to be confirmed and stablished in Faith Sermon 5. THose which doe neuer sée the trueth supernaturall and reuealed with a light inspired and cleare of Faith but onely haue had in them a certaine opinion and a humaine and purchased Faith for their light being very obscure and imperfect they neuer haue béene cleare sure and certaine of those thinges which they beléeue And therefore they thinke that there is no other manner of Faith but of that sort which they haue wherefore they suppose that of diuine thinges there can no Faith be had which is cleare certaine sure stedfast yea they doe imagine that doubting is inwarde and a thing substancial to Faith in such sort that they thincke there can be no beliefe without doubting And to maintaine this their opinion with all they bring this reason The thinges which they beléeue Heb. 11. they doe not sée with corporall eyes no not if it hath also a cleare and euident vnderstanding as there is of the first naturall princyples of thinges this they may proue by reasons demonstratiue which doe binde fast and stablish the vnderstanding but in such a case it shoulde not bée Faith but a scyence The trueth which such men beleeue is onely perswaded theÌ„ by probable reasons the which bicause they make not any necessary conclusion bée very weake so that only they moue vs to thinck that it is so but they doe not force vs forasmuch as they shewe not clearely plainly the truth this therfore their Faith being bleareyed it must of necessitie be always suspecting in doubt for the nothing in them is cleare euident but euer totering wauering like those which haue the Palsy But they wold not say so if they had experienced to haue a true Faith for that the light therof is so great that euery one which hath Faith if it be perfect is safe sure clearly certified of the truth in it is stedfast firme So that as the light of a true Faith dymmeth in clearenes all other lights of this present â—â—fe so spiritual men those which by Faith be regenerated if they be perfect in the same Faith are more firme sure cleare certeine of the truth supernaturall reuealed then the carnal be of things which they haue before their eyes The light of a true Faith is so cleare that as loue cannot hate so caÌ„not a perfect Faith distrust stutter or doubt That therfore is not a true Faith which douteth but those are carnal men which being wtout Faith do wauer And although spirituall men also doe sometimes doubt this is bicause of their little Faith for that they giuing eare to carnall wisdome do locke the eyes of Faith against the trueth reuealed whiche resisting against the holy ghost and do follow the instigation of the Diuell wherefore if we doubt it is not so much for the little light which we haue of Faith as for that we doe not alwayes and continually behold the trueth supernaturall with the cleare light of a true Faith yea we would oftentimes sée discerne it with our blinde natural light and vnderstand that it doth not by and by appeare true which we sée alredy with the light of Faith And if those which haue but once séene with a cleare light of Faith the truth do proue afterwards of infidelity if they by chance do rise againe Gen. 15. Rom. 4. they
shalt féele that he illuminateth thée as a prophet gouerneth thée as a King and as an high Priest pacyfieth the wrath of God for thée and reconcyleth him offereth thée to the father acceptable holy and vnspotted Thou must also beleeue that Iesus Christ is the onely sonne of God we also be other sonnes of God but it is by adoption for that God by the meanes of Christ of straungers yea of his enimies hath thorough grace adopted and taken vs for his sonnes But Christ was neuer any enimie to God nor straunger but was alwayes full of light Ioan. 1. Coll. 1. Coll. 2. Ioan. 1. of perfection vertue treasures giftes and graces full of the spirite and of diuinitie he is a spring that euer floweth and all the graces whiche the electe haue they receiue of his fulnesse therefore in the holy Scriptures he is not onelye called the first begotten sonne Rom. 8. Ioan. 13. 1. Ioan. 4. but also the onely begotten sonne of God for bicause that GOD hath communicated vnto him all graces all vertues giftes and treasures as though he had no other sonnes but him he hath also communicated with him all his diuinitie with his deuine prefection Therfore thou must not onely beléeue that he is the onely sonne of God but that he is God Coll. 2. Thou shalt then euen lyuely beléeue that he is the onely sonne of God when thou shalt féele that thou by his meanes and not by any other hast receiued all those graces good things that thou hast It is also néedefull to beléeue that he is our Lord for that as it is written Ioan. 17. God hath giuen vs vnto Christ all the electe are his flocke hee maye order them as him listeth Mat. 28. The Father hath giuen him all power in heauen and in earth Then he which truly beleeueth that Christ is his Lord and head which féeling with his spirite his most full and totall dominion which renouncing to leane to his owne carnall wisedome to his owne strength and all other vertues that be in anye creature is wholly committed to the gouernaunce of Christ as of his lawfull and best Lorde And moreouer we must beléeue that he was conceiued in the Virgin Mary by a wonderfull operation of the holy Ghost First that hée was conceiued of the substaunce of the Virgin Mary therefore that he was very man of the séede of Dauid of Abraham as had bene prophecied before time Psal 131. Gen. 22. Heb. 2. also according to Saint Paul it was conuenient that taking in hande to sanctifie his bretheren he should become man lyke vnto them and of the same first father discended so might suffer and for obedience of his father might bée offered vppon the Crosse for their sinnes to the intent that as by the disobedience of one man we be made sinners Philip. 2 so by the obedience of one man we should be made righteous But forasmuch as he which sanctifieth others must of necessitie be without spot therefore to the intent hée might not be subiect to the vniuersall corruption of humane generation but full of puritie and holynesse it must néedes be that he was conceiued not naturally and by humane meanes but meruaylously and by the operation of the holy Ghost Thou must also beleeue that he was borne of the Virgin Mary for except thou beléeue this thou canst not beléeue the miracles which he did in this lyfe nor that he dyed vpon the crosse Thou must furthermore necessarily beléeue that he suffered vnder Pontius Pilate If thou héere demaund why ther is no mention made of the lyfe of Christ and wherefore it is not sayd in the Crede that we must beléeue that the wise men came to worship him that he was circumcised that he fled into Aegypt that he was lost and found againe in the Temple that he was baptised of Saint Ihon that he fasted fortie dayes and fortie nights that he called the Apostles that he preached wrought miracles and lykewise of all his other wonderfull workes I will aunswere that in the Crede there is no mention made but onely of those principall things which belong properly to the substance of our saluation the faith of the which is substantial and sufficient to a true Christian It also thou wouldest know wherefore Pontius Pilate is so named I will say that this was not onely to confirme the history of the passion of Christ but much more that we should beleeue lyuely that albeit he was innocent yet he with our sinnes thorough the wil of his father being attributed vnto him appeared before the iudgement seate of man whereas lyke a wicked doer he was willyng to be condempned that we thorough Christ as innocent might appeare safe before the Tribunall seate of God in whose sight we wer blame worthy It is also necessary to beléeue that he was crucified dead It is not inough to say dead but néede-full to declare the manner of his death bicause we might beléeue that he dyed vppon the Crosse and this as Saint Paul iudgeth was for that he was accursed which hanged on the Crosse and Christ for to delyuer vs from curses wherein we were thorough sinne incorporated chose that cursed death and for our sakes ouercame it and so delyuereth vs from his curse yea and from death it selfe inasmuch as to the Elect thorough Christ there is no more death but lyfe There be manye wicked or false Christians which haue a certeine dead opinion of all these things yea and the Diuells beléeue that he suffered that he was crucified and dead But that sufficeth not for thou must beléeue lyuely and féele with thy spirite that he suffered for thée that he was crucified and dyed for thée to thy benifite and for thy saluation Thou must féele with the spirite his passion and death his great loue and the fruite of his death that is that thou art saued there-by and then his death hath effect in thée It is néedefull also that as thou beléeue truly that hée dyed so that thou beléeue that he was buried It followeth immediately that he descended into Hell and for bicause these words be not found in the Crede written by the olde Doctors therefore some haue thought that they were afterward added to declare and make more manifest the words that goe before And bicause in the holy Scriptures Gen. 43. Num. 16 this name Inferno is taken for a Pit or Sepulcher and this name Geenna for the place of the dampned they haue expounded thus Descese a gl' inferi that is he was layd in in the graue but the matter it selfe doth make replye héere against Seing that both Paul and also Peter willing to proue the resurrection of Christ brought a saying out of the Psalme Thou shalt not leaue my soule in Hell Act. 2. 13. Psal 15. neither shalt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption Where Dauid maketh mention of the soule and of
the body therefore the soule of Christ was neuer in the graue in those three dayes the which he continued dead wherefore by this word Inferno cannot be vnderstoode the graue Others saye that Christ vppon the Crosse did not onely suffer the paines of death the which consist in seperation of the soule from the body but also that he suffered in his minde the tormenting of the dampned bicause that for to satisfie for our sins it was néedeful that he should suffer all punishment that was due vnto vs being in these torments he felt that horrible anguish and sorrow which he should haue felt if being vpon the crosse in all those torments of the dampned he had bene vtterly abandoned from his father Mat. 16. Act. 2 And therefore he sayd My God my God why hast thou forsaken me not bicause he despayred but he ouercame desperation with all the sins and lykewise death with all sorrowes but hée felte the payne of the desperate with-out hauing in him anye fault They doe thus expound it He descended into Hell that is into the bottomelesse pit of the torments of Hell And although this was before that he was buryed and dead and therefore should be sayd by order thus He suffered vnder Pontius Pilate he was crucified descended into Hell dyed and was buryed yet there is oftentimes vsed in the holy Scriptures to speake first of that which was done afterward It cannot be sayd that the soule of Christ seperated from the body descended into hell that is suffered torments there those thrée dayes for that Christ sayd contrarywise vnto the good Théefe Luc. 25. To day thou shalt be with me in Paradise Other saye that he descended into Hell inasmuch as he shewed his Soule vnto the Spirites of his Electe alredy departed out of this present life vnto whom as Saint Peter saith he preached the Gospel 1. Pet. 4. inasmuch as he made them sée in a most cleare sort that which he had wrought suffered for their saluation He preached also vnto the dampned the Gospell with rebuking their incredulytie and that they were altogether inexcusable and so their condempnation shoulde appeare vnto the worlde to be iust It is néedefull also to beléeue lyuely that he rose againe the third day which when with thy spirit thou shalt féele Rom. 4. 6. thou shalt not feare death séeing that in Christ and thorough Christ death is ouercome yea if thou be grafted in Christ thorough Faith Col. 3. thou shalt in the spirite be raysed againe from sinne and being righteous shalt walke in newnesse of lyfe seeking and tasting onely the things which are aboue We must also beléeue that he ascended into Heauen hauing on earth wrought and suffered all that his father appointed him and that was expedient for our saluation it was conuenient that he should ascende into heauen for our profit to giue vs hope of our heauenly countrey seeing that he is entred in possession for vs Heb. 9. 1. Ioan. 2. for to stande also before the father for his Elect and to be their Aduocate and Intercessour remayning therefore with them in spirite vppon earth Mat. 28 But vnderstand it is needefull that thou lyuely beléeue that he is ascended into heauen for thy benefite which when thou féelest with the spirit lifting thée vp to things on high Philip. 3 thou wilt say with Paul My conuersation is in Heauen Moreouer thou must beléeue that hée sitteth on the right hand of his father Mat. 28. in-asmuch as he hath giuen him all dominion and lordship ouer all and hath ordeined him to be aboue all princedome power vertue and domination and hath giuen him a name aboue all other names hath made him the head of the Church and hath subdued all things vnder him Thou must also beléeue lyuely Ephes 1. that as he was séene ascende into heauen so he shal come visibly from heauen to iudge the quicke and the dead And if it be sayd according to Saint Paul it is decréed that men must dye Act 2. 1. The. 4 Heb. 9. 1. Cor. 15. how then shall he come to iudge the quicke Paul himselfe doth aunswere that those which then shall be alyue shal sodeinely be chaunged being made of corruptible incorruptible and that chaunge shal be vnto them as a death If then thou shalt lyuely beléeue that Christ which loued thée so much that he dyed for thée on the Crosse and hath all power which must also be thy Iudge thou shalt be sure and safe thorough Faith that his Iudgement shall be fauourable vnto thée Chiefly learne that Christ shall be our Iudge he is not onelye our Aduocate but hath taken vppon him our cause We must more-ouer beléeue in the Holy Ghost and this bicause albeit Christ dyed for vs rose againe ascended into Heauen was our Aduocate and prayed for vs yet we could not be saued if God with his holye Spirite did not open our hearts made vs to vnderstand and be partakers of these so great benefits thorough Christ done to vs. So that as thorough Christ all giftes and graces bée offered vs from GOD so the Holye Ghost béeing our guyde we doe receceiue them It is therefore néedefull that thou féele lyuely in thée this spirite of God which renueth thée lighteneth moueth inspireth imprinteth and maketh thée féele God in Christ and that thou art safe It is not possible that thou shouldest be a true Christian if thou hast not the Holy Ghost in thée And therefore he which beléeueth that Christ dyed and that not vainly beléeueth also that there be fruites of his passion and death which is the saluation of the Elect Wherefore we must also beléeue that there is a holy Catholicke Church that is the vniuersall Congregation of the faithfull and Elect of God It is not inough to beléeue that there is founde a Church which is holye and sanctified thorough Christ that Ephes 5. is a mysticall bodye of the Elect but it is néedefull that thou dost liuely beléeue and féele that thou art a portion and member of the same and that thou art one of the Elect. Thou must also beléeue the Communion of Saincts that is thou must liuely féele that thou art pertaker together with thy bretheren of all the giftes and graces of Christ the head of the Church Ephes 1. therfore more or lesse according to the measure of Faith reioyce thy selfe in their prosperitie and be sory in their mishappe as members and good brothers doe together and forasmuch as the benefites which Christ doth to his Church is not that they should be proper to one man alone but for the commoditie of them all therefore thou oughtest not to séeke for to possesse or vse anye thing for thine owne lucre but for the honour of God and safegarde of thy neighbour and so thou oughtest to this same ende or purpose procure the safetie of thy bretheren and with Faith to embrace
in the questions of your schoole Doctors ther is but a lytle Diuinitie and that most intricate full of erroures and Heresies and you will néedes haue them for your Masters Who doth not sée the obscure thicke palpable darkenesse in which we were and the great lyght which God hath giuen vs of himselfe within these few yeares Not with any new doctrine but with the verye same which Christ preached the Apostles the Prophetes and those which were true Saincts therefore olde although newe to those which had bene blinde for that it was a long while buried Know you not that the light of the Gospel is so great that it discouereth all deceipts errours and falshood And that all the false perswasions of the worlde can doe no hurt to such as be lyghtened with the truth that is to them which be illuminated Whereof are you then afraide if you with your people be in the truth together with the Gospell If you were in the lyght you would not flye it as ye doe but would desire and seeke for it not fainedly but in truth to come vnto the toppe But you as those which know that your doctrine consisteth in deceipts and falshoode fearing least you should be discouered with making your selues suspected doe not onely flye as hastely as you can all counsell but doe persecute those which preach Christ and his Gospel And it is manifest that in persecuting so grieuouslye the true Christians they are not moued by zeale of the honour of God séeing that in other things they shew no such sparkle of zeale They are moued for that they doubt their kingdome will be brought to nothing as a most vaine shadowe thorough the lyght of the Gospell And forasmuch as they saye that they cannot erre I say that they should say true if they were God himselfe or that they had his spirite but it is séene by their lyfe that they be carnall men whose propertie is to be lyers And suppose it could be that they did not fal into so great errors as not being defiled any more they could not erre Read with the spirite their decretalls and ordinaunces say they thou shalt be pure inough And withall this they would that the people leauing Christ should ground their faith vppon them hauing for their rule not the holy scriptures but their words They would also that men should haue in stéede of Christ of the Apostles albeit they haue not their spirit their zeale their doctrine their vertues their lyfe yea and their ceremonyes as sufficient But séeing that God doth let them alone being in such great blindenesse we haue to wonder of his so excessiue diuine goodnesse and bountie to force our selues with humble and feruent prayer with hearing the word of God with study of the holy scriptures to grow euery day more more in a greater light of God so that being lightened with the truth we may render to our heauenly and diuine Father all praise honour and glory thorough Iesus Christ our Lord Amen How euery one may be tryed whether he be in a true Faith or no. Sermon 7. THere be some which for to try themselues to be in a true Faith do say to themselues We beléeue in such sort as our forefathers haue taught vs and therefore it is not lykely that being their children they should haue deceiued vs wherefore we maye bée sure to be in a true Faith But tell me might it not be possible that your fathers and mothers would willingly deceiue you And much the rather vnwillingly they béeing deceiued in errour themselues might deceiue you Such manner of Faithes be all humane Faithes grounded vpon the loue and wisdome of parents therfore vpon probable reasons but they be not firme stedfast they haue so feeble a foundation that they do not only alwayes wauer but will faile in the children at all times when the parents doe denie Christ After that if when they would be tried to be in a true Faith it shuld suffice them to know those things which were taught them of their parents they should follow that which the heritikes the Turks the Idolaters and all those which beléeue according as their parents haue taught theÌ„ whether their faith be true or false thinking not onely to be excused before God but to be pure in the true Faith forasmuch as there-in they haue bene instructed of their fathers and mothâ—rs which opinion is most false Therefore some others going another way to worke to be tryed that they be in true Faith doe alwayes call to minde that they wer borne nourished and by their parents instructed in that Faith and moreouer that they sée a great multitude of people that beléeue as they doe especially those with whome they be conuersant Now this Faith also is altogether humane blinde full of darknesse weake grounded so féebly that if the multitude faile the Faith also will faile And if such as these be had bene in that time when the Apostles were when there were but a fewe that beléeued in Christ they would not had beléeued they will not beléeue that which they sée gain-said of others if also they had ben borne amongst the Turkes or had bene conuersant amongst them they would beléeue as they doe and so the Turkes should bée excused séeing they are such and lyke-wise all other Heretickes and Infidells which be a great multitude they also shoulde be proued to be in a true Faith And so it should of necessitie be sayd that euery Faith where ther is a multitude were true Now see if this be not a great errour Many other there be which for tryall of Faith do regard miracles and they thinke that bicause their Religion hath bene confirmed by many miracles therefore they suppose that it is manifest that their Faith is true But this their Faith is very weak féeble and vnperfect inasmuch as there be but a very fewe Christians which haue séene miracles the true Christians haue perceiued that it is but mens talke the which doe easelye beguyle them and bée lyes Psal 15. and for that theyr Faith is grounded vppon mens wordes it hath a féeble foundation But let vs graunt that they had séene such myracles they had not knowledge to discerne whether they were effects natural diuellish illusions or things wrought supernaturally by God Seing that Christ and also Sainct Paul haue shewed afore that in the kingdome of Antichrist false Christians and preachers shall arise and shall deceiue the worlde shewing signes and wonders Mat. 24. 2. Thess 2. Euen to the Romaines when they worshipped idols haue bene myracles shewed therefore they shoulde then be excused before God likewise with the Antichristians if these myracles were the foundation of Faith and that it sufficed to haue a certain humaine opinioÌ„ that in their religion haue ben wrought myracles For that it is manifest that the Scribes and Pharisées saw the myracles of Christ and yet beléeued not therefore
vs. For which cause Christ did not only preach work miracles but also praied not only dyed rose again ascended into heauen but sent the holy Ghost as was necessary to the ende that we might haue Faith It is séene by the Apostles that they neuer did beleue perfectly vntil they were filled with the holy Ghost We must with Mary conceiue Christ not with humane reson but with the holy Ghost Then the diuine supernatural Faith doth not depend vpon our own strength nor on our own wil neither on our own studie good wit wisdome knowledge or humane prudēce And this bicause ther is no certaine imprinting made in our fātasie by seing hearing or féeling nor yet is it an acte of humane reasō neither an allowing of the vnderstanding wrought by the gouernaunce of that wil but it is an imprinting of matters reuealed supernatural wrought in the spirit an acte of diuine reason an agréement made by the inward inspiratiō perswasion of the holy Ghost wherefore it dependeth not vpon any outward sensible matter Thou wilt peraduēture say seeing that it depēdeth not on me I may ought to dispaire of euer hauing it I aunswere thou oughtest so much to hope that thou shalt obtaine it as God of his great liberalitie on whō Faith dependeth without any proportiō doth loue thee more then thou louest thy selfe And woe vnto vs if it were our partes to purchase it with our owne strength or if it should depende in any part vpon vs it is better so that it be wholly in the hande of God If thou wilt say this is manifest that seing it dependeth not on me I ought not dispose my selfe to haue it nor yet to prepare me nor take any paine thereabout if that doing what I could all should be in vaine It must néedes be that God giueth it to whom it pleaseth him We on the other side may stande wayting with a curteous hande till God giueth Manna from heauen And I say that although it be the gifte of God yet the wicked who haue not Faith ought to doe all things they possibly can to haue it to assay euen things which séeme to thē impossible And the like ought the godly to doe that they might bée preserued in Faith grow therin Ioan. 15. Mat. 7 Rom. 14 Not that the wicked while they are in their impietie can do any déede meritorious or worthy in any sort of it selfe that God should giue him Faith Inasmuch as being without Christ no man can doe any good work yea for that being euil plants they can bring forth none other but euil fruits sinnes then be al their fruits wherfore they be in no wise meritorious of so rich a gift present at the hands of God as Faith is Yea the works of Saints whē they haue not ben or shal not be in this present life were not neither shal be worthy of such merit in any wise that God should increase or preserue their Faith And further I say that if God were willing to enter into iudgement with them with-out Christ to examine their life and to weigh their workes with thy ballaunce of his Iustice it should be soūd that they were worthie of great punishment for that they haue sinned at least in leauing things vndone inasmuch as in all their actions déedes in all their life through euery estate place time they haue ceased to honour God most highly as was cōueniēt for his infinit diuine goodnes as was due vnto him according to the vndispēsable diuine natural law Rom. 3. It is very true that being the mēbers of Christ their sins not onely were not imputed vnto thē but they with al their works done in faith were grateful accepted before god not for that they were in any wise worthy but thorough Christ thorough the méere mercie of God Psal 31 Ther is thē for the world offered vnto god no other merits but the merits of Christ And it is a most wicked matter to attribute vnto the Saints that which is fit for none but for the son of god he alone it is who hath purchased for the elect heauē all good things al men be saued in no wise thorough their works but through Christ through grace Ephes 2. as Paul declared Faith thē is the gift of God which bicause no man should glorie of himselfe is giuen thorough Christ and is by no meanes purchased thorough workes Neuerthelesse God will that we should doe whatsoeuer we could to haue it with accounting our selues alwaies vnworthie So that our trauayling to haue Faith must not be for that we should thinke that we coulde merite it but bicause without it we cannot honour God therefore it is our duetie to desire it to craue it of God by grace and to assaye all meanes possible to obtaine it Thou wilt say and what can we doe to haue it I aunswere and say that first we ought to labour to haue a certeine feruent desire and longing for Faith without which we cannot heartely séeke for it nor craue it of God And to haue this we must consider how noble a thing Faith is how rich fortunate mightie and needful to saluation forasmuch as without it not only we can not please God but we be most damnable It should also be néedful for the wicked to know that they be ignoraunt thereoff for that they appearing to haue it as it chaunceth with the Hipocrites superstitious people and false Christians do not séeke nor desire it yea they do not humble themselues to craue it of God so the godly ought to consider that their faith is small for that a man doth not breathe toward grace inasmuch as he doth not come to the knowledge of his miseries and of his weakenesse to ease him selfe And to this ende serueth this consideration that all our strength is not sufficient to obtaine Faith nor yet our wit our studies nor the learning knowledge wisdome of the world yea a carnal man by his corrupt nature is most ready to distrust in God is so blinde proude and affected to himselfe that with his foolish reason of an enuious Faith not onely he doth not goe vnto Faith but maketh a bulwarke against it Iam. 1. Thou oughtest therefore beléeue that onely God who is the Father of light can giue and wil giue it thée most largely And to this ende serueth the consideration of his great goodnesse and large liberalitie which is shewed vs in his creatures Then if God ceaseth not to administer vnto the moste vyle wormes continually that which is necessary so that they goe foorth and serue to that ende which he hath created them it must néedes be beléeued that hée will not forsake the soule for which hée created and conserueth al things yea for the saluation thereoff be dyed vpon the Crosse and he with the materiall Sunne lighteneth the carnall
eyes of those which were his enemyes how should they not beléeue then that he wil also lighten the eyes of their mindes Thou must also stirre vp thy selfe with saying thus if I trust the earth and therefore doe sow and plant the Sea and windes and therefore doe sayle men and that most euill therefore doe make bargaines and couenaunts with them why should I not much more put my trust in God the most good and my best Father And bicause that God doth more often make himselfe knowen with his goodnes in the holy Scriptures then in his creatures therfore we ought to be diligent industrious and carefull in the study of them inasmuch as they doe auayle greatly vnto fayth especially if a man considerth that God who is true Rom. 3. is he that speaketh in them and the large and great promises which he doth make vnto vs for that as by reading a writing wherein a creadible and honest man is become thy debter of a thousand Crowns giueth thée his promise and fayth that he will pay thée them so in reading in the holy Scriptures the promises of God there become to thée in fayth a warrant that God wil obserue them The reading of holy Scriptures also doth cause a man much the better to vnderstand how with a liuely faith Rom. 10 the worde of God may be preached for as Paul sayd fayth is by hearing hearing by the word of Christ Act. 9.10 8. God could immediately lighten his yet to the intent that loue might be exercised amongest vs orderly in giuing it the Ministers of his woorde be appointed as is séene in Paul when he was sent to Annanias in Cornelius béeing sent to Peter and in Philips comming to the Chamberlaine It is profitable also for fayth to meditate vpon the lyfe of Christ He sayd to Thomas Iohn 20 Luc. 5 bicause thou hast séene me thou hast beléeued And the consideration of his myracles is necessary Peter bicause of one onely miracle that he sawe of the fishes beléeued and left all that hée had He sawe that which wée ought to doe but perticulerly the consideration of Christ vpon the the Crosse is profitable wherfore Saint Iohn hauing briefly written the passion of Christ Iohn 20 sayde These thinges are written that we might beléeue And bicause we cannot haue trust in any person whome we despise as is séene with the fellow Country-men and naturall brothers of Christ Ioan. 17. which beléeued not in him therefore we must néedes constraine our selues to haue 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—rence also bée affectionated to the truth to the ende we may not perish We had néede also to endeuour our selues as much as in vs lyeth to forsake sinne especially arrogancie Ioan. 5 stubburnnesse and pride for bicause that as Christ sayde he coulde not trust in and séeke the glory of the worlde Mar. 1 yea we ought to repent vs of that which is past Wherefore Christ preaching sayd repent and beléeue the Gospell We ought to remoue all lettes and obstracts from the light of God 2. Pet. 1. Psal 33. yea with good woorks let vs draw néere vnto him so that we béeing lightened may certefie our selues euery day more and more of our vocation and so grow in fayth But vnderstand that whereas to haue worldly thinges is néedefull to haue strength diligence science wisdome prudeÌ„ce towardnesse subtiltie craft actiuitie sleightes and humane artes to haue Faith is néedeful to haue a simple minde sincere humble pure these be those little ones and cleane to whom be reuealed the diuine secretes of God Mat. 11 which doe receyue the Gospell and which by fayth doe sée God Mat. 6 And although the foresaid things cannot of vs be done without the grace of God yet it is our duetie not onely to knowe that we are bounde to doe them yea and most diligently to force our selues to doo them Mar. 9 Luc. 17. to assay euen things which be to vs impossible But besides all this we had néede to make feruent and continuall prayer we ought to make our petition vnto Christ with the blinde that he would giue vs light and to beséech with the Father of him that was possessed with an euill spirite that he would helpe our vnbeliefe Deut. 23 Mar. 7. 2. Cor. 2. Mat 13 and with the Apostles intreate that he woulde increase our Faith yea with a newe heart and vnderstanding so that with the worde of his vertue he woulde open the eares of our heartes as he did to the deafe and woulde giue vs eares to heare his worde inwardlye If then we woulde haue lyght let vs go to Christ the light of the worlde and our onely Master inasmuch as without that his spirit without his fauour grace and inwarde worde the which is neuer without fruites we cannot doe any thing that is acceptable before God The reading also of the word of God is profitable for the commendations of our bretheren in theyr prayers so that praying for vs as Christ healed the man sicke of the palsie when he sawe the Faith of them which carryed him so likwise he would saue vs not for the worthynesse of our workes or of our Faith but by his méere grace so the we may as we ought yéeld vnto God al honour glory through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen ¶ Of the true Caball Sermon xiii GOD vpon the mount Synai gaue by Moses a lawe vnto the worlde Exod. 20 and that so perfect a one that to the perfection theroff could nothing be added inasmuch as it is contained all thinges profitable and necessary to saluation And all be it that Moses wrote the same lawe by the will of God yet the Hebaewes saye that hée was forbidden to expresse with letters the great treasures of the wisedome and knowledge of GOD the which were hidden vnder a coueringe of the letter reuealed to Moses himselfe Mat. 7 And this bicause that holy thinges should not bée giuen to dogges nor pearles should be cast before swine wherefore vntill the time of Esdras the Caball that is the reuealed and secrat vnderstanding of the holy Scriptures was as they say onely in the custody of certeine old men whereoff when one dyed they chose an other in his place and reuealed the lawes to him But afterwardes being captiues and dispearsed and that many of them dyed fearing least the lawe should be vtterly lost they began to write it out and after to corrupt and alter it in such sort that the Hebrewes be now ignoraunt of the true Caball and the which they haue is altogether a vain superstitious mischieuous and diuellish Caball The true Caball is a diuine knowledge reuealed and is so perfect that he which hath it hath the light of all diuine secreats can doe merueylous things and whatsoeuer he will obteineth that which he demaundeth hath that he desireth satisfieth his will and is most happie And forasmuch as it
in euery other manner that it is vsed or to any other ende it is but superstition Wherefore all they are superstitious which beléeuing that prayers the psalmes of Dauid or other wordes of the holy Scriptures except the vertue which they haue to teach vs to liue to declare vnto vs the will of God and to moue vs to praise him haue any other singuler vertues to deliuer him which caryeth them about his necke or saith these or those words from this or that euill or to make vs haue some perticuler grace And if they would say vnto me it is séene yet sometimes by experience that they haue a singuler vertue I aunswere that these are altogether illusions diuelish workes for to nourish men in superstition withall Likewise also albeit when one baptiseth an other hée is bound to say I baptise thée in the name of the father and of the sonne and of the holy ghost bicause that Christ hath so ordeined neuerthelesse it is a great superstition to beléeue that in these wordes is such a singuler vertue that he which is baptised with them is in any part saued thereby in as much as he is saued onely thorough Christ on whom alone dependeth all our saluation In like manner it is most wicked superstitiō to beléeue that in these wordes Hoc est corpus meum that is this is my body is any particuler vertue so that the Priest or Minister by vertue of consecration should as it were inchaunt it Forasmuch as Sacraments be Sacraments by the vertue of Christ and the consecrating like as the institution of Sacraments is the office of Christ the high Priest and our office is manifested in this that we doe that which Christ hath ordeyned and that we administer and vse the Sacramentes according to that which Christ hath appointed Christ hath not ordeined that we shoulde consecrate with saying these wordes yea he himselfe hath not consecrated with saying Hoc est corpus meum but hauing consecrated already he expressed with those wordes what we ought to take and eate Likewise those be superstitious which beleue that in the Letanie in the Procession in the ringing of the Bell in the exorcisme in the water of Baptisme in the holy Water in the holy Oyle or in any other méere creature is any singuler vertue supernaturall The lyke I say of those who to the same ende doe gather hearbes on Saint Iohns night doe make for Venus holy rings doe put confidence in reliques bodies of the Saintes wherefore they go to visite them do worshippe their Images and haue more deuotion to one then to an other They be also superstitious which praye or make supplications for the dead and much more if they beléeue that the torches and candells which are burned doe help them and so be also those superstitious which haue confidence in Indulgences Pardons remissions absolutions and blessings of the Pope and of his members The like also I say of all them which thinke at the least in some part to be companions of Christ in purchasing their saluation or do attribute vnto creatures more then the naturall vertue that they haue frō God some singuler vertue imagined of their owne heads without hauing witnesse of God and his woord therefore all obseruation of place time number or creature is superstitious if it bée with confidence to obtain by some supernaturall grace which is of man for as much as God in our acts whether wée be in this or that place or time if wée haue sayd these or those words done these or those workes hath respect onely to Christ and to our fayth with which we embrace him according to the measure that we be more or lesse happie Now he that openeth well his eyes shall sée that the worlde is altogether full of superstition chiefly the kingdome of Antechrist albeit they say that theirs is the church of Christ The first and chiefest cause then whereoff groweth all superstition is the ignorance or want of the the knowledge of Christ him we cannot know by any our righteousnes health treasures or goodnesse as he is Wherefore to deliuer vs from all superstition we must haue a true liuely light of Christ so that at the presence of Christ as was aforesaide we despise as earth all Idolls and superstititions Ezech. 30. Zach. 13 for that it is impossible that Christ should be exalted in any soule and knowen of it by any his righteousnesse as long as Idolatrye or superstition abideth therin Let vs praye God therefore that he woulde open our mindes and giue vs the cléere light of Christ so that thorough him we may render to him all honour and glorie Amen ¶ Of the meane how to haue all vertues Sermon .x. THere haue bene some which haue said that god hath powred into man the séede of vertues so that as in a Medowe the flowers doe growe of themselues if they bée not hindered and as the feathers do grow vpon Birds 1. Cor. 5. so doe vertues in men if they be not hindered by naughty examples wicked wordes the which corrupt good manners Mat 13. for looke as the tares béeing sowne while the master of the house slept by that his enemye ceased not to growe aboue the good corne so by wicked wordes and euill examples béeing sowen and imprinted by the wicked in the cleane tender mindes of young children whilest that theyr parents hauing no care doe sléepe so that they be letted and vertues in them choaked in such sort that they cannot become perfect Therefore according to the opinion of these it should bée néedefull most chiefly to beware of children that they kéepe no company with the wicked least they should applye themselues to their naughtinesse Other say that although all this is good Gen. 3. yet that sufficeth not to haue vertues for as much as since the sinne of our first parents the earth of it selfe bringeth foorth nothing but thornes bryers and naughtie wéeds and the good hearbs and plantes must bée sowen so that vices doe growe in vs by themselues lyke as a sedge or rush groweth in the Brooke they bée nourished without euer hauing any euill example neither in woorde nor in déede by anye meanes for that they haue in them the roote of sinne by their nature béeing corrupt in Adam there will spring and grow vp in them vnbridled lustes and immoderate affections bringing foorth the fruites of sinne wherefore man of himselfe will be wicked It is very true yet that he will not worke so much lewdenesse otherwise as if he were practised with the vngodly and haue had time and occasion to doe euill as much he would Wickednesse therefore doe growe of themselues and vertues must be sowen for oeher-wise wée shall deserue no praise by them Wherefore to haue vertuous children as they say it shall bée néedefull not onely to beware of euill examples but also to till continually their soules and spirites with sowing vertues and
hath pleased God of his grace to reueale it to mee I haue determined to giue lyght thereoff to his honour and glorye vnto those who be ignoraunt and blinde There is found in the fiue bookes of Moyses a name of such and so great vertue that who so knoweth it and beareth it vpon his backe may know how and doth obstaine whatsoeuer he desireth And this is that name to which euery knée must bow and doe reuerence Philip. 2 Mar. 16. Act. 3 Iohn 16. Rom. 10 Act. 2.4 1. Iohn 2 bicause it is aboue all other names and contayneth in it Princedome that is to saye IESVS Of this name had Moses knowledge likewise the Patriarches the Prophets the Apostles all the Saints both of the olde and new Testament By vertue of this name they had their so greate light wrought all their myracles and obtayned all that they desired and craued as afterward Christ promised to his Apostles Act. 10 4 He that calleth vpon the name of Iesus is safe we haue no other name vnder heauen in which we can be saued or haue any good thing but onely Iesus By which name alone our sinnes be forgiuen vs and we receiue of God all giftes benefites and graces But note that in the holy Scriptures by the name is signified the person named So that whereas it is written that by the name of Iesus we haue remission of sinnes and saluation power to become the sonnes of God to work miracles Ion. 1 Mat. 6 Ion. 14 and to obtayne all things by that name of Iesus it is vnderstoode of Iesus himselfe For the vertue consisteth not in the letter nor in the name as the superstitious Antechristians doe saye and beléeue it consisteth not in voice in writing no nor in conceite but in Christ himselfe If thou shalt reade the holy Scriptures thou canst not finde any obseruations of words in the Apostles whē they wrought myracles and lykewise in Moses and the other Saintes They therefore did not receiue grace by vertue of words but by vertue of Christ Wherefore we had néede to doe otherwise then to pronounce or carye the name of Iesus about our neckes We must carye Iesus thorough faith and spirite in our heartes And they that doe so possesse him be great Caballistes Rom. 16. Ion. 14. and so much the greater as with a greater Faith they imbrace him as their owne as were the Apostles Moses the Prophets other great Saints In Christ himself consisteth al vertue of the true Caball hidden from vs before time and thorough Christ cléerely and manifestly reuealed and there is founde no other true Caball besides this for if there were any other Christ who made knowen to his Apostles all that hée had heard from the Father would haue reuealed it and so woulde the Holy Ghost seeing that it doth teach all truth as Christ hath promised and the Apostles haue preached vnto others but we see manifestly that they neuer taught any other Caball then Christ The true Cabal therefore consisteth not in charecters in Images or letters wherefore Moses could not write it nor yet Christ but it consisteth in possessinge thorough fayth and in spirite Iesus Whereof bicause the Hebrewes are ignoraunt therefore they be without the true Caball And onely those which haue Iesus in their hearts be the true Cabalistes for that they first by knowing Christ doe know all shinges inasmuch as in him bée hidden al the treasures of the wisdome knowledge of God Christ reueleath vnto his friēds al the which he heard from the Father Col. 2 Ion. 15. that is all thinges néedefull and profitable for their saluation Those thinges which doe not appertaine vnto them to know as for the day when the sonne of god shal come to iudge the world Christ himselfe confesseth that the Father hath not reuealed to him Luc. 13. The holy ghost instructeth the elect of God them that haue Christ in their hearts of all the which is expedient for their saluation 1. Cor. 2. we ought to desire no more The spirit of Christ goeth séeking thorough all euen to the profound things of God as Paul did write 1. Cor. 1. therefore they which by faith do possesse him do know all the diuine secrets of God profitable therefore néedfull to serue to the glory of God for the health of the soule This is the true Cabal reuealed to Moses to the Prophets to the Apostles Saints 1. Cor. 2. This wisdome did Paul preach amōg those which were perfect that is Christ wisdome righteousnesse our sanctification redemption so did all the Apostles as they that were great Cabalistes Likewise Christ forasmuch as albeit he was crucified thorough infirmitie yet he is risen againe most mightie in vertue 2. Cor. 13 Mat. 28. yea all power hath bene giuen him both in heauen in earth therefore those which by fayth haue Christ in their hearts haue an high abundance of vertue power so that not only in the name of Christ they worke myracles Ephes 1. Mar. 16. such as be fit equal with the miracles of Christ but greater as he himself promised Other vertues haue their limits but vnto faith all things are possible Ion. 14. to him that beleeueth hath Christ in his heart all enterprises are small and this bicause he doth not take them in hande but to the glory of GOD and being moued by force of the spirite Ion. 18. wherevnto euery thing giueth place as the whole multitude fell downe before Christ He is safe that hath Christ in his heart there is none that can hurt him yea Rom. 8. euery thing serueth to his saluation He also which hath Christ in his heart obtayneth whatsoeuer he desireth being thereto moued by the spirite of Christ which is alwayes hearde He himselfe who is most faythfull hath promised vs Ion. 10. that if we aske anye thing in his name we shall be alwayes hearde and further haue whatsoeuer we desire Iohn 16. for that Christ the sonne of God and his heyre hath promised vs so vnto whome the father hath put all thinges in power and he that hath Christ hath all and that for bicause hée is ordered according to the good will of God and is contented with that which he hath Iohn 13. and which it pleaseth God to bestow vpon him without desiring anye more and for as much as God giueth not his owne sonne to any but that with him he giueth all good thinges therefore he which hath Christ by fayth in his heart as his brother the sonne of GOD heire and Lorde of all it is profitable inough for him in all thinges both in his saluation and to the glory of God Faith setteth vs in possession of all satisfieth our wil and maketh vs most happie Let vs praye therefore God that he would giue vs fayth so that we may yéeld vnto him all prayse
cancelled and raced out quite the remembraunce of Christ God by meanes of his Prophets refreshed it agayne And lastly when the Scribes and Phareses with all their humaine traditions and Ceremonies concerning the face of Moses had darkend the glorye of Christ then the sonne of God appearing vpon the earth the Angells the shepheardes the starre the wise men Anna Symion discouered him to bée the Sauiour of the world Herode persecuted him euen to the death and hée then in giuing spirituall lyfe to the innocent shewed himselfe to be the lyfe of the worlde Sathan deuised that Iohn Baptyst should be in great reputation and reuerence with the Hebrewes for to darken the glory of Christ and then it came to passe that not onely Saint Iohn magnified Christ with saying Ioan. 1 beholde the Lambe of GOD which taketh awaye the sinnes of the worlde and sayde Hee is Christ Mat. 3 not I neither am I worthy to vnbuckle his shooes but also his Father from heauen declared vnto all the worlde that he was his beloued sonne The Diuell sought in the wildernesse to make him fall but hée remayned with confusion and vanquished The Scribes and Pharesies laboured with false reportes and slaunders to spotte his innocencie and Christ with his pure doctrine and holy lyfe shewed himselfe euerye daye more cléere bright and pure The Scribes and Pharesies laboured to perswade the people that Christ not onely was not the true Messias but that he was contrarye to the lawe and the Prophets and Christ with verifiyng in himselfe all the prophecies and with hauing in the mounte Thabor the testemonie of Helyas and Moses shewed all the contrarye How much the more they sought to kéepe close the diuinitie of Christ so much the more with myracles he shewed foorth the same Also howe much the more they sought to put downe his myracles so much the more they came to lyght At last they deuised with murmurings backbitinges infamyes with slaunders false accusations and witnesses with wicked iudgements with abuses beatinges with settinge him at naught as rybalde and with hanginge him vppon the Crosse betwéene two théeues as the principal and last they thought with so shamefull a death to extinguishe all his fame Ioan. 8. name creadite and reputation and then didde he most singulerlye shewe himselfe the lyght of the world and more full of force and power then euer before They buryed him with sealing vp the Sepulchre and watchinge it but thereby they made his resurrection so much the more meruaylous and glorious They corrupted the Souldyers with money to the intent they might saye that hée was not risen agayne but that his Disciples had taken awaye his bodye and CHRIT shewed himselfe to his Disciples risen againe And lastly when they had sought with all theyr power to subdue him then was hée glorious ascended into Heauen And for that they coulde not persecute him any more in the flesh therefore they beganne to persecute him in his elect with whome hée was still abidinge with his spirite Mat. 28 but on the daye which wée call Pentecoste hée so filled them with lyght zeale strength and grace that without any feare they beganne to preach openly they were forbidden with many threates by the Princes of the Iewes to preach Christ any more Act. 2. but they coulde not refrayne from it Act. 4. they sayde that they coulde not holde theyr peace of that which they had hearde and séene and it was more méete they shoulde obeye GOD then men They were oftentimes imprisoned with many iniuries beaten scourged and they with reioycing suffered all and gaue thankes to GOD Act. 5 that they were made worthy to suffer for CHRIST they went forth preachinge more vehementlye then euer they dyd before And lastly when the Iewes bicause they woulde hide the truth of the Gospell chased the Apostles out of Iewrye then was it that they beganne to preache thorough out all the world And albeit in euery place they were gaynesayde and forbidden yet the worlde coulde not withstande the wisedome giuen by God to his Apostles And lastly howe much the more Tyrauntes dyd séeke to extinguish and deface the truth of the Gospell Act. 28 with sheddinge the bloude of Martyres so much the more it shewed it selfe cléere brighte glysteringe famous mightie and glorious So that not onely the godly do serue to the glory of Christ but also the wicked against their wills Finally the Antechristians as those which be aboue all others the greatest enemyes of Christ haue deuised with all possible craft subtiltie peruersnesse malice deceite and strength to hide and quench out the cléere lyght of the Euangelicall truth and this with their such false doctrines humayne inuentions and diuellish approued with wonders wrought therefore as Paul sayth by Sathan 2. The. 2 with wicked Ceremonies and religions with hipocrisies and fayned holynesse with superstitions and Idolatryes dissemblinges flatteryes promises giftes and not sufficiencie false reportes infamies threateninges persecutions tyrannies and great cruelties and all vnder a shewe of goodnes And furthermore they haue laboured to bring to naught the fayth of Christ with al dishonestie simonie extortion treasons hatreds partialitie warres and sinnes of the worlde So that not many yeares since there was none vppon earth that had a true fayth in Christ Notwithstanding Luc. 10. for as much as truth is so mightie pure that how much the more it is fought against and withstoode it shineth the more therefore it must néedes be sayd and beléeued that like as the persecution agaynst Christ made by Antechrist and by his members hath bene the most wicked cruell and diuellish of all others Euen so the truth of the Gospell is made manifest with greater vertue brightnesse cléerenesse and light as nowe in this our time is séene such a beginning that euery one ought to take courage in confessing Christ without feare openly and so much the more as by fayth we knowe that Christ who is truth is euer present with his vertue and grace to all them which suffer for his loue He strengtheneth theyr mindes comforteth them ayedeth and giueth them strength hée maketh their persecutions pleasaunt and making them safe at last they doe triumph ouer all the enimies of God Séeing then that Christ who is truth not onely is inuinsible in himselfe and in his elect but vanquisheth ouercommeth and triumpheth ouer all Let vs indeuour our selues to embrace him with a supreme fayth for our owne and to haue him continually in our heartes so that preuaylinge agaynst all the enimyes of GOD wée maye render to our eternall Father all honour and glorye thorough Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen ¶ Of the meane how to bring to a vnitie all Faithes Religions and Sectes and chiefly the Papistes with the Protestants Sermon xvi LIke as there is not founde in the worlde any thing which is in it selfe more honest rich mery and fortunate to God more acceptable and
sayde Lorde what wilt thou that I should doe as if he should saye I commit my selfe wholly into thy handes doe with me what it pleaseth thée O happie sicke man séeinge that he committed himselfe into the charge of one so expert able and louing a Phisitian O happie lost flocke seeing it is now fallen into the pitifull armes of the heauenly shephearde Christ sayd then arise vp and goe into the citie and there it shall be tolde thée what thou oughtest to do Those which were in his company stoode astonyed hearing the voyce although they vnderstoode not the worde and séeinge nothing And Saul arising from the earth opening his eyes saw nothing in token that he was altogether lifted vp and rauished vnto God Then leading him by the hande they brought him vnto Damascus where he was afterward instructed by Ananias Then béeing perfectly illuminated he sawe how greatly blinde his prudence had bene his wisedome foolish his pietie vngodly his righteousnesse vniust his goodnes mischieuous his charitie cruell his innocencie spotted all his vertues full of vice Then putting off vtterly the olde Adam he clothed himselfe with Christ countinge himselfe of no reputation he was transformed in God And likewise Christ made of him a glorious and diuine conquest inasmuch as where he went to attach the elect of God he himselfe was attached of Christ He woulde haue bond them himselfe was bound with the golden cheines of charitie brought vnto Hierusalem was euē rauished and lifted vp vnto the third heauen he woulde haue imprisoned them and himselfe was shut close in the good will of God he would haue slayne them he was mortified vnto the world made liuing vnto God His conuersion also was wonderfull not onely bicause Christ stayed him on a sodain from so great an anger violence with which he went to the dishonour of God but moreouer conuerted him turned and drew him vnto him with great force so that he conducted him to the top height of all vertues in such sort that concerning his following of Christ he sayd Be ye like vnto me followers of Christ I know not who could more haue despised the world his owne righteousnesse séeing that he accounted for dounge euery thing that was without Christ Who is it that hath for Christ so despised this present life as Paul did who sayd I desire to be disolued and to be with Christ And as concerning mortification of the olde Adam he said I chastise my body and bring it in subiection He was crucified with Christ wherfore he sayd with Christ I am nailed vpon the crosse Ther was none of the Saints that tooke so much paines for Christ as he did he himselfe writing to the Corinthians sayd that he had laboured more abūdantly thē al the other Apostles He was so inamoured on Christ that he was ready prepared not onely to be taken bound for Christes sake but also to dye yea he said God forbid that I should glorie but onely in the crosse of Christ His glorious Ensignes were the markes of Iesus Christ which he beare in his body And his glorye was the witnesse not of men but of the holy Ghost and of his owne conscience When he was for Christ reuiled apprehended bounde and imprisoned hée accompted himselfe moste happye then when he was taken vppe to the thirde Heauen Writing his Epistles béeing willing to giue authoritie to his word he called himselfe most often Paul in bondes for Christ adiudging himselfe greater when hee was imprisoned for Christ then if he had bene in the most high throne and seate of dignitie in the world His fayth was certeyne wherefore he sayde I runne not as to an vncerteyne thing his hope was stedfast wherefore he sayde we are made safe thorough hope and his charitie was perfect therefore he sayd who shal seperate me frō the loue of God he had such zeale and loue of soules for the honour of God that he desired to be accursed from Christ for the glory of God and the saluation of his brethren He was euer fixed with his heart and minde in heauen wherefore he sayd our conuersation is in heauē And for all this he was so humble that he called himselfe the least of the Apostles vnworthy the name of an Apostle borne out of due season and nothing yea the chiefest sinner of the world Paul was a spirituall temple of God in which he wrought wonderfull things And what néede I say more he was an instrument of Christ and a vessell elected to publish all abroade the name of Iesus to suffer for him Séeing then that from the bottomlesse gulfe of his sinnes he was rauished vp euen to the third heauen enriched with so great light vertues giftes and graces so that in him is verefied that which was aforesayd that whereas sinne doth abound grace doth superabound Let vs set this glasse before our eyes not onely to the intent that we may neuer dispayre but also so that following him in all good thinges we may render vnto God all prayse honour and glorye thorough Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen The ende of the Sermons of Hope ¶ What thing it is to loue God Sermon I. THere be some who forbicause they saye that they loue God doe thinke that they loue him sufficiently but God is loued with the heart not with wordes To loue God is an other manner of thing then onely to say I loue GOD. Some other bicause they fast giue almes praye and doe lyke workes doe thinke that the dooing thereoff is a louing of God But loue consisteth in the heart not in the handes albeit by the workes it is declared made knowne Such outwarde woorkes may be done by hipocrites and by such as be not in loue with God and when they are done also by those which loue God notwithstanding albeit those outward workes do grow of loue they are not therefore loue it selfe but the effects theroff Also those be deceyued which bicause when they talke haue a féeling of that they talke when they read or meditate on any deuout thing haue a certeine tast and doe feele a certeine pleasaunt swéetnesse therein doo beléeue that the hauing of such lyke tast and féelinge is the louing of God but forasmuch as such like pleasure and tasting is many times graunted not onely to the vnperfect but also to the wicked the which be not in loue with God therefore such sensuall appetites and effects be effects of the flesh and not of the spirit It is very-true that they which loue God truely for that they féele with the spirite that they be of the elect that God loueth them that he is theyr Father and that he hath a singuler care of them wherefore they haue in theyr heartes as it were alwayes a certeine ioyfulnesse but sincere and pure they take pleasure to reason of God to heare his worde to read the holy Scriptures to behold his diuine goodnesse and
themselues will then say we ought not to doubt séeing that we haue séene so clearely the trueth we be assured that it is so Luc. 1. Iacob 1. as God with the cleare light of Faith doth plainly shewe vs. Faith then being perfect with Abraham doubteth not if that with Mary the virgin it maruaileth yet it doubteth not it wauereth not to and fro like young children it stutteth not nor stackereth as a thing that is weake neither doth it tosse one while this way another that way wherof Helias reproued certaine Prophets but it is pure 3. Reg. 8. stedfast firme hauing respect to the goodnes of God his promises without doubting to obtaine that which it demaundeth And therefore it is that which confirmeth stablisheth vs in God Heb. 6. 11. wherefore saint Paul calleth it the substance of thinges which be hoped for a making manifest of thinges inuisible and also a sure shippe in God of our soule Wherupon Dauid saith trusting in the Lord Psal 25. I shal not go astray It is possible then to be stablished in Faith to be lyghtened and come into a certaine perswasion of the trueth wrought in vs by the holy Ghost yea it is not possible to beléeue liuely in truth wtout clearenes Col. 2. assurance certainty stedfastnes wherfore more or lesse according as thy Faith is more or lesse perfect Let vs therfore pray vnto the Lord that he would giue vs of his liuely cleare light so that we being strong stedfast wholly in him may yeld him al praise honour and glory thorough Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen If it be good or euill that euery one shoulde seeke to be lightened with Faith if that be the true way or no. Sermon 6. THere be many especially they of the kingdome of Antichrist which beléeue that it is euil that euery one indifferently especially women vnlearned folke idiotes simple persons if they wold séeke to be lightened in Faith whether it be the right way or not But they say the euery such one ought to beléeue simply that is to say grosly blindly with-out any discussing or consideration that which hath béene taught them by their parents and by their Prelates bicause that as they say those cannot erre yea they perswade that euery one must flye all thoughts and desires which shoulde happen willing them to be lightened thorough Faith as a temptation instigation of Satan They also condemne that the holy scriptures should be translated into any vulgar tongue bicause the vnlearned should not studie thereon yea they will that the Psalmes their Masses the prayers euen those things which Christ taught the Godly precepts or commaundements the Articles of the Faith and all other things necessarie to saluation should be learned taught in the Latine tongue as though the vertue of Faith of prayer and of the holy scriptures did consist in this Latinytie were not néedefull for a Christian to know how he ought to liue what he ought to demaunde of God and what he saith when he maketh his prayer and to vnderstand what he beléeueth when in making confession of his Faith he saith Credo in deum Patiem c. I meruaile greatly that as they haue ordained that the holy scriptures and their diuinitie is not reade but in the Latine so that their sermons or preachings be not also in Latine that they might not be vnderstoode It is verye true that they bring all their authorities in Latine and many times in Gréeke and Hebrew to shewe that they be learned in the tongues They thincke that in the end their Bulles Briefes indulgeÌ„ces absolutions blessings excommunications yea and their contractes made of things of this world will be the better kept close and deceiue the simple that they shall sell them the dearer for the maiesty of this Latinytie and therfore they write and pronounce them in Latine And I say against them first that those which haue not a true and liuely Faith are bounde to séeke it by all meanes that they possible can and to be lightened that they may be in a true Faith for as much as they ought not to refuse the inspiration which commeth to lighten them for in so doing they should forsake the grace of the holy ghost It is very true that those which be alreadye in a true Faith and thereby certaine that they be in the trueth ought to refuse all other fantasies contrary as the instigation of the diuel and to continue stedfast in the Faith wherin they are with séeking by al meanes possible to growe therein and to be lightened euery day more and more for the glory of God Seing then that true Faith is euer ioyned with clearnesse it must néeds be said that as it is not euil but good to séeke for to haue Faith and to groâ— therin so it is not euill but good to séeke to be lightenâ—â— and to growe in light certainetie and clearenesse for if you procéede by due order ther can be no daunger vnto you for looke how much more the trueth is discussed of so much more it shineth Let vs suffer the false doctrine of Turkes to lye hidden and likewise of the heretikes Antichristians and all such as be in errour Mat. 10. but the doctrine of Christ and his Gospell it is most true that it ought not to be hidden in darkenesse but ought to be preached and taught in the light aboue the houses plainely and openly Ioan. 12. as Christ appointed the Apostles and himselfe obserued But note that forasmuch as we can-not with our owne strength purchase nor deserue Faith bicause it is a gifte of God Ephes 2. giuen to whom it pleaseth him therfore we ought to séeke it princypally of God by way of prayer and humilitie But for that also serueth the learning of the worde of God and studying of the holy scriptures bicause we ought to studie wholly thereon and therefore to haue it in euery language And that whiche is contained in the holye scriptures is it any thing els but the benefites which God hath done for vs the riches which he hath promised vs that which he requireth of vs Then tell me is not euery one bound to vnderstand know al those things aforesaid Hath Christ paraduenture spoken only to the learned or such things that the vnlearned can not vnderstand Was Christ so proud vppon earth that he 〈◊〉 to teach or would let none vnderstande but 〈◊〉 the learned and wise of this worlde yet Paul said 〈…〉 humbled and debased himselfe 〈…〉 Math. 11. euen to the death of the Crosse and that God hath chosen the weake ignoble things of the worlde to confound the things that be strong and noble Christ himselfe gaue thankes vnto the father for that he had hidden his diuine secreates from the wise and prudent and had reuealed them to babes Is it peradueÌ„ture necessary by Aristotle to know Christ
Or be not men capable of the things of God except they be learned The holy scriptures and chiefelye the Gospel ought to be had in euery language to be preached reade and taught to all men and likewise to be hearde of euery one studyed and learned as they did before time in the primitiue Church of Christ To this ende was giuen to the Apostles the gifte of tongues and they were enioyned that they shoulde goe preaching the Gospel thorough all the worlde Christ would that it should be vnderstoode of all men and likewise would the Apostles Before time the holy Scriptures were translated out of Hebrewe and also out of Gréeke into Latine bicause the Latine tongue especially in Italie was common to all men there-fore they said the Créede the Gospel the Psalmes the Lords prayer other prayers in Latine but nowe séeing that the common Italian tongue is no more Latine we ought to haue those things which be necessary to be knowne brought into a tongue which may be vnderstoode which thing I say were also conuenient in all other nations I say not nowe that the ministers of the worde of God are not bounde to studie and vnderstande better the holy scriptures then the simple people that they may be able as Paul writeth to instruct others and moreouer to resist and ouercome those which shall gaine-say the trueth But to others concerning the thinges whiche be of God it is sufficient for them to knowe as much as is néedefull for their saluation They doe not euill but well if they studie the holy scriptures so that they studie them in such sort as they ought But I thinke that the heades of the kingdome of Antichrist with their subtile and deuilish craftinesse are forced so to hide these thinges bicause they might be so worshipped like diuyne creatures and as though they among all others had the light of diuine secreates They also haue deuised so to kéepe close the trueth that it should not be declared bicause if men should haue the light of the holy scriptures they shoulde see the doctrin of Antichrist to be not only vnprofitable vaine but false wicked contrary and repugning against Christ and his Gospel They will say that if the vnlearned should studie the scriptures they should easilye fall into many errours and heresies and there-fore it is not good And I say 1. Cor. ◠that the wise of this worlde doe so much more easily fall as that by their greater prudence humaine wisedome which being compared to God is but foolishnesse they are further of from God aduersaryes and enemies of Christ of grace of Faith and of the Gospel and in as much as with greater force they doe withstand the holy Ghost As it hath béen séene by experience that where as the simple people haue receiued the Gospel and beléeued in Christ Ioan. 7. the worldly wise men haue not beléeued but haue persecuted him And the errours heresies are growen of their learned doctours as is to be séene by hereticall doctrine and theologie of Antichrist And albeit that the vnlearned by studying the holye scriptures do sometimes fall into errours it is not thorough defect of the scriptures nor yet bicause it is not good that euery bodie should studie it but thorough their owne defect for that they doe not study it with humilytie purenesse and a right purpose as they ought They craue not at Gods hande the true vnderstanding thereof with such zeale and Faith as of duetye they shoulde wherefore they néede not withdraw themselues from studying it but apply themselues to studie it as is conuenient Otherwise forasmuch as many good thinges are vsed to the dishonour of God men had néede euen to withdrawe themselues from all companyes and to heare the word of God But they will say if the ignorant would study the word of God they cannot vnderstand it Then according to that opinion they vnderstande it by force of the letter and humaine wisdome and not by diuine reuelation contrarye to saint Paul which would that the interpretation and vnderstanding of the holy scriptures shoulde be the gift of God 1. Cor. 12 Luc. 24. It must néedes be for that Christ opened the mindes of the Apostles to the intent that they shoulde vnderstande the holy scriptures and for that they thorough their simplicitie made smaller resistance against the holy ghost then the wise men of the worlde therefore that they vnderstoode it better forasmuch as they studyed it with reuerence and for the glory of God and in such sort as they ought And if they will say they cannot vnderstande the harde places I will say that God is able to giue them light as well as to thée and more too whiche be so much the apter to vnderstand then the worldly learned as that not hauing their so much dead learning they haue occasion to be more humble to which sort of people God reuealeth his secretes Math. 11. And if by and by they doe not vnderstand thinking that they please not God he immediately giueth them light so that with yelding thankes vnto God they passe away to the vnderstāding of the other places do not as you that be proud which not séeking to haue light from God nor hauing patience to tary with humblenesse vntill the Lord giue you the right vnderstanding ye haue expounded them falselye and vngodly according to your owne fantasie so you be fallen into a thousand errours They will saye that in studying the scriptures they would be contented to haue vs onely which can-not erre for their Masters and to vnderstand them according as we haue expounded wée would not say that it were euill that they should studye them but forasmuch as there be many Wolues and especially in these our times which being cloathed in the manner of Shéepe doe preach new doctrines and do not expound the holy scriptures in many places after our fashion therefore we doe not onely excommunicate persecute and burne whosoeuer sticke vnto their opinions but who so doe read those bookes And if we feared not that it would be accompted vnto vs for a great impietie we would not onely forbid vnto the vnlearned the studye of holy Scriptures but we woulde burne the Epistles of Saint Paul and the Gospell bicause we would not suffer men to haue any further knowledge séeing of studying them doe grow euery day new Heretickes To this I first say that if that be true which Christ sayd that by the fruites by the lyfe and by the workes Mat. 7. false Prophets shall be knowen we maye make a sure iudgement that you be no true shepheards nor Pastors of soules but most rauening Wolues inasmuch as ye féede not the soules with the word of God but persecute euen to the death those which preach it being with your wicked lyuing an offence to all the world Is it possible that you should be so blinde peruerse obstinate that you see not how