mystruste his worde and they that loue hym wyll kepe his coÌ„maundements c. Thus is it euydent that fayth muste nedes be a worke glorious puyssaunt wherby man optayneth so much of the LORDE How coulde ony maÌ„ comprehende and perceaue the power of faith and that by fayth we are one with God Ihon sayeth That God hath geuen all meÌ„ power to be the chyldreÌ„ of God Christ sayd All thynges are possible vnto hym that beleueth And agayn Yf ye beleue ye shall se the glorye of God And agayne Yf ye haue fayth as a grayne of mustarde sede ye maye saye vnto this mountayne Remoue hence to yonder place and he shall remoue nother shall ony thynge be vnpossible vnto you Now seynge God worketh so gloriously in all faythfull hartes then is it conuenient that we humbly beseke hym to teach vs to trust in his worde For we shall reioyce so much in his goodnesse loke for so much aide coÌ„forte at his haÌ„de as we can trust in hym and in his worde We â—ede of SusaÌ„na that what tyme she was in hir moost distresse anguish beyng iudged wrongfully to death she syghed and prayed to God trustyng stedfastly in him and y e LORD delyuered her Daniel also whan he was cast in y e LyoÌ„s denne was not hurte of them for he trusted in God The godly worde commeth not for nought it worketh wonderfully whan it is receaued in fayth Therfore doth saynt Iames erhorte vs to receaue with mekenesse the word that is grafted in vs whiche is able to saue our soules A man can not erre so longe as he can testyfye hys lyfe to be led accordynge to Gods worde Yf a man haue his myndefixed vpon mans inuencyons or inuented holynesse he maye surely be dysquyete and confortlesse But so longe as a man hath his eyen fixed vpon God and his worde bearynge Gods commaundementes in his harte so longe doth that man walke in sekernesse beynge assured of all y e is expressed by Gods worde and is sure of his sauegarde and coÌ„forte accordynge as Paul sayeth All men are lyars but God is true The sonne of God is the wysedome of y e father Who so now doth yelde hym selfe vnto the word receauyng therby the wysedome of the father the same is dryuen from death vnto lyfe by the sprete of God Syrak sayeth that wysedome breatheth lyfe in to hyr chyldren receaueth them that seke her It foloweth then that they which haue once assayed god by his worde in the wysedome of God that those I saye maye come to complete lyfe But it is contrarye with the worldly wysedome as wytnesseth Paul sayenge In so muche as the worlde by the wysedome ther of knewe not God in his wysedome it pleased God thorowe folyshe preachynge to saue them that beleue Whan Paul was mynded to conuerte ony man then wolde he laye nothynge before hym saue onely Gods worde sayenge I haue begotten you in CHRIST IESV thorowe the gospell Wherfore I exhort you be ye my folowers as I am IESV CHRISTES So longe as a man redresseth hys lyfe accordyng to Gods worde so longe shall he come walkynge the ryghte waye of saluacyon and reioyce in his conseyence For all that the worde of God doth vtter is concernynge ether mercy or in warde consolacyon Peter sayeth Ye knowe of the preachynge y t God sent vnto the chyldreÌ„ of Israel preachyng peace thorow IESVS CHRIST Of hym beare al the prophetes wytnesse that thorow his name all they that beleue in hym shall receaue remission of synnes Luke also wrytyng CRISTES wordes saieth Thus is it wrytten and thus it behoued CHRIST to suffre and the thirde day to tyse agayne from the dead and to let repentaunce and remyssioÌ„ of synnes be preached in his name amoÌ„geal nacions This knewe Esay afore hande whan he sayde Lyke as the rayne and snowe commeth downe from heauen and returneth not thy ther againe but watereth the earth maketh it frutefull and grene that it maye geue corne and bread vnto the so wer So the worde also that coÌ„meth out of my mouth shall not turne vnto me voide agayn but shal accomplyshe my wyll and prosper in the thynge whereunto I sende it Hereby we are taughte that like as the earthe is made frutefull of the rayne that God sendeth so shall we also be renewed and be frutefull yf we knowlege God a ryghte by hys worde and reioice in al that he hath wytesafe to warne vs of by hys worde Yee we shall mortifye the fleshe wyth all hys desyres and he ioyned to God He that cleueth vnto god becommeth one sprete wyth hym and optayneth all goodnesse wyth hym A man reioyceth so muche in God as he is knytte wyth him by fayth and is diligent in all thynges to forther hys glorye The olde father Symeon beholdynge the lytle babe and beynge sure in wardlye that he was hys saueoure for he loked for hym by hys fayth reioyced in hys harte desyrynge to go to hys reste by bodely death for his eyen had sene the saue garde of men Euen so lykewyse we yf we had sene by fayth the loue which God beareth to ward vs how hartelye shulde we then yelde oureselues vnto death For fayth certyfyeth the harte that God is a mercy full father and that mercye shall be shewed vnto vs by y e death of IESV CHRISTE We can optayne no greater rewarde than to beleue that God is wyth vs and we beynge wyth the LORDE are safe Steuen seynge heauen open by fayth sayde incontinentlye LORDE receaue my sprete For thys cause sayde Paule Because therfore that we are iustyfyed by faythe we haue peace wyth God thorow oure LORDE IESVS CHRISTE by whom also we haue an entraunce in faythe vnto thys grace wherein we stonde Here lo is no mencyon of workes or of y â— lawe for by the workes is noman iustyfyed But the workes muste breake oute thorowe loue and declare oure inwarde fayth by workynge of charitable dedes Iob was ashamed of all hys workes and was not so bold as to lyfte vp hys heade before hys LORDE God but submitted hymselfe lowly vnto him ye though ther had ben founde some right wy sucsse in hym Dauid also sayde LORDE entre not in to iudgemente with thy seruaunte for in thy syghte shall noman lyuynge be iustifyed Neuerthelesse God wyllynge to certifye vs what we maye optayne by fayth he shewed vs that by pure and onely loue and mercye he taketh the synner to grace wythoute ony regarde of dedes so that mercye shulde be shewed to vs of promyse and not of dewtye Therfore ought we to geue all glorye vnto God onely Dauid wytnesseth thys same sayenge Blessed are they whose vnryghteousnesse is forgeuen and whose sinnes are couered Blessed is the man vnto whome the LORDE imputeth no syn and in whose sprete ther is no gyle Herin maye you perceaue the maner of tustifienge namely
deuell whiche shulde accomplyshe for vs the worke of saluacyon thorowe his death whose fleshe and bloude shulde call for mercy for vs vnto y e father Who shuld not now knowlege his glorious state where vnto the LORDE hath called vse Who can now fele and perceaue this loue and not reioyce inwardly For he hath geuē euery one power to be the chyldrē of God that beleue in his name Who can come to hygher estate thē to be electe chyldren of hym that onely hath power to exalte his frendes When CHRIST had called his beloued disciples to his loue thē cōforted he them alwaye in theyr passions saynge I am amonge you as a mynister As for you ye at they that haue bydden with me in my temptacyons And I wyl apppoynt y e kyng dome vnto you euen as my father hath appoynted me that ye may eat and drynke at my table in my kyng doine and syt vpon seates iudge the twelfe trybes of Israell No māhath greater loue thē to set his lyfe for his frend Ye are my frēdes yfye do y e I cōmaūde you I call you not seruauntes for a seruaunt knoweth not what his lord doth But I haue sayd that ye are frendes For al that I haue herde of my father haue I shewed vnto you Ye haue not chose me but I haue chosen you and ordyned y t ye go brynge forth frute that youre frute continue y t whatso euer ye aske y e father in my name he shulde geue it you Unto you it is geuen to knowe y e mistery of y e kingdom of heauē but vnto thē it is not geuen With these aforesayd sayenges are we greatly cōforted in y t we se how much the LORD wyl do vnto them y e he loueth Now cōmune maketh he hym selfe with all his kingdome wyllynge vs all to haue his loue and y e we all shulde knowlege all our saluaciō to come of his loue the which he declareth so plenteously vnto vs. Therfore sayeth Paul The LORDE hath chosen vs by hym that is CHRIST or euer the foundacyon of the worlde was layed that we shuld be holy and without blame before him in loue and ordeyned vs before to receaue vs as ehyldrē thorow IESVS CHRIST accordyng to y e pleasure of his wyll vnto the prayse of the glory of his grace wherby he hath made vs accepted in the beloued in whom we haue redempcyon thorow his bloude namely the forgeuenesse of synnes accordynge to y e ryches of his grace which he hath shedde vpon vs abundauntly in all wysedome and prudence The fatherly hart was so moued with loue to vs warde that all his thoughtes were employed how he myght shew mercy vnto his poore shepe Thoughe y e ryghteousnesse of God myght tustly haue condemned vs for Adā and we haue both transgressed hys commaundement in one fleshe And though the LORD myght haue kept vs styl in deaths daunger yet hath his loue and pytie so moued hym y t he dyd ioyne his mercy with iustice and peace with trueth so that these beynge assēbled dyd call vpon loue desyrynge that God wolde declare his loue This dyd Dauid knowlege in sprete and sayd I wyll herkē what the LORDE God wyll saye for he shall speake peace vnto his people to his sayntes that they turne not them selues vnto foolyshnesse For his saluacyon is nye them that feare hym so that glorye shall dwel in our lande Mercy and trueth are met together righteousnesse peace kysse eche other Trueth shall ryse out of the earth and ryghteousnesse shall loke downe from heauen And why the LORDE shall shewe louyng kyndnesse and our lande shall geue hir encrease Righteousnesse shal go before hym and prepare the waye for his cōmynge And agayne The LORDE is gracyous and mercyfull longe sufferynge and of great goodnesse The LORDE is louynge vnto euery man and his mercy is ouer al his workes Turne agayne then to thy rest o my soule for the LORDE hath geuē the thy desyre And why Thou hast deliuered my soule from death myn eyes frō tears my fete frō fallynge Hereby is it euident y t yf we desyre ony inwarde goodnesse wheron our synful soule myght test thē shall we loke stedfastly vpō this loue alwaye cōsider what CHRIST hath geuē vs thorow his loue whā we haue y e knowlege of his loue in vs then haue we fyrst a cause to reioyce For only in his loue may we knowlege our saluacyon Therfore sayth Paul We haue not receaued y ◠sprete of bōdage to fear ony more but we haue receaued y ◠sprete of adopcyō wherby we crye Abba dear father The same spret certifieth our sprete y t we are y ◠chyldren of God Peter also cōfirmeth this sayenge For so muche as his Godly power hath geuē vs al thynges y t pertaine vnto lyfe Godlynes thorowe the knwlege of hym y t hath called vs by his owne glory power wherby the excellēt moost great promyses are geuē vnto vs namely y t ye by y e same shuld be partakers of y e godly nature yf ye flye y e corrupte lust of the worlde He now that doth reioyce in this loue and can perceaue what is geuen hym by the same he I saye coulde lightely withdrawe hymselfe from all that is no trewe loue and suffre not hym selfe to be deceaued with false loue For God hath made vs so lyke vnto his godly nature thorowe loue he hath yelded hymselfe so louyngly vnto y e nature of mā he hath drawē it so frendly to him ward making of it a chosē tēple clensed by his bloude that his sprete myght rest in it w t al his goodnesse and that man myght vse God as a frende Now whan we perceaue y e loue of God onely to be perfect holy and good wherby redempcyon and saluacyon is geuen vs then of dewtye ought such loue only to be our ioye glory and comforte For God which is ryche in mercy thorow his great loue wherwith he loued vs euen whan we were dead in synnes hath quyckned vs with CHRIST And for cause of this nother lawe nor synne lyue in vs but CHRIST which hath powred hym selfe in vs thorow his worde so that God is in vs and we in God The lawe doth not now cōpell vs ony more but it is God that hath so moued oure hartes thorowe his loue that we by the helpe and assistaunce of his sprete shall do all y t is acceptable vnto hym This inwarde mocyon of our harte cōmeth by fayth For whan we know verely that God loueth vs then doth i◠worke in vs causyng vs to fixe our mynde on nothynge saue howe we maye reioyce in hym that doth loue vs. It is sure a greate grace geuen vs of God y t we knowlege his loue towarde vs felynge in oure entrayles by fayth peace glorye reste and ioye wherby only we perceaue that thorowe hys loue
this maner Fayth is a sure confidence of thynges which are hoped for and a certainte of thinges which are not sene Herby we mayese which is the true fayth namely that we abyde loke to optayne mercy of the LORDE where as we fynde nought in vs y t is worthy of Gods mercy nor se the good that God hath promysed vs but onely trust in hym because he is mercyfull Wherfore receauynge the worde that wytnesseth vnto vs and beareth record of his goodnes we haue a sure hope in God by faith that he shall shewe his goodnesse tendernesse toward vs by his boūte ous mercy But hereto is requyted of vs that we reste w t our whole harte vpon this promyse of mercy reioycynge in sprete therin and by fayth rendre vs in loue and thankfulnesse to God Thus haue we a sure testymony that we are come to a good fayth for we can fynde none other fundament wheron the synfull soule may test saue onely yf we can hope that God wyll be a mercyfull father thorowe the death of IESV CHRISTE This is it that Paul sayeth No mā can laye another fundament saue that which is layed already that is CHRIST IESV Suche fayth causeth a man to walke confidently to be sure mynded to Gods goodnesse wherin he can reioyce so farre as he can beleue to optayne so much as God hath declared and promysed by his worde Now because he beleueth the same therfore is his spirite endued with godly ioye by the sprete of God whiche dyd appeare and teache hym the same by fayth Wherfore sayeth Paul Ye haue not receaued the sprete of bondage to feare ony more but ye haue receaued the sprete of adopciō whereby we crye Abba deare father The same sprete certifieth our sprete that we are the chyldren of God Whan a man feleth this by fayth and his harte reioyceth therin then hath he rest and quyetnesse in his consciēce hauynge no respecte to his owne workes or deseruynges but onely to CHRISTE which hath set hym atone with the father throughe his bytter passyon and death Thus geueth he onely CHRIST the glorye of his redēpcyon beholdeth hence forth no creatures more It is sufficient to hym to knowe God in his goodnesse beleuynge that mercy goodnesse shalbe shewed vnto hym of God reioyceth in that he hath a mercyfull father in heauen in all thynges he cōceaueth a good opinion of God his goodnesse Suche fayth causeth hym to rest to be cōtent with all that the LORDES wyl is to do w t hym Whether it be deth hell synne or deuell none can make hym abashed For as longe as a mā clyueth to Gods worde beleuyng y t God hath ouercome all euel thorow his loue to warde mankynde thē is he at rest and peace in all y t can betyde or chaūce vnto hym beyng certified that seynge God loueth hym he sheweth mercy kyndnesse in all that he doth vnto hym and all man kynde Whether it be thā anguyshe painfulnesse or ony daūger that can happen vnto man other in body or soule y t cōmeth al to his auayl Onely yf he cā beleue be persuaded in himselfe y t God loueth him For one frēde forbeareth much of another y ◠which natural loue causeth Wherfore yf naturall loue can forbeare wrōge of a frende how muche more ought we to forbeare y ◠good that is sent vs of God to our saluacyon Seynge fayth is a gyfte geuē of God it is necessarye we turne oure selues lowly vnto the LORDE desyrynge hym humbly to prepare oure hartes and make them wyllynge to accepte his worde with ioye As muche as we loue Gods worde so muche shal we be conforted made glad in sprete by fayth in all that y e worde hath promysed vs. Seynge God is hyd in his worde yee is the worde it selfe therfore yf we receaue the worde then by fayth and with ioye we shall receaue so much as God hath sayd and promysed by his worde CHRIST which is the blessed worde of the father geueth hym self with his goodnesse in to al faythfull hartes and maketh hym selfe with all his goodnesse cōmune takynge vs to his grace yee with all the wyckednesse that is in vs. Whan we haue synned than wyll God haue vs to admonysshe hym of his promyse yf we than praye with a faythfull harte he shall remembre all that he hath promysed and shal haue mercy vpon vs to fulfyll hys promyse and worde Thys knewe Dauid what tyme he sayde The worde of the LORDE is treue and al his workes are faithful Upon thys trusted the same Dauid whan he had synned he put god in mynde of his wordes sayenge Agaynst the onely haue I synned done euell in thy syghte that thou myghtest be iustifyed in thy sayenges and shuldeste ouercome whan thou arte iudged As though he wolde saye LORDE I haue trespassed I praye the remembre thy word that thou haste promysed vnto the synners which turne agayne from theyr synnes namely that thou wilt receaue a sorowfull sprete vnto thy mercy Wherfor thou oughtest to receaue me vnto thy grace that thou myghteste be founde ryghteous Shewenge suche mercye vnto the synner accordynge to thy promyse than shalt thou discomfyte thyne enemyes wyth the treuth which wyl iudge and estyme the as one that doth not accordynge to hys worde Whan Dauid nowe knewe inwardlye that he had optayned mercy of the LORDE than dyd he prayse and thanke God in al his wordes and dedes sayenge The LORDE is gracious and mercyfull longe sufferynge and of greate goodnesse The LORDE is louynge vnto euery man and hys mercye is ouer all hys workes The LORDE is ryghteous in all hys wayes and holy in all hys workes The LORDE is nye vnto all them that call vpon hym Yee all such as cal vpon him faythfully And euen thus is it wyth vs We can prayse and thanke God so earnestlye and reioyce so greatlye in hys goodnesse as we can beleue that mercye and kyndnesse can be shewed by hym Though the lawe dyd vtterlye dāne vs hel wold swalow vs vp though all syn and other enmyes wolde ouerrunne vs yet muste we abyde sure vpon God and se what CHRISTE hath deserued and geuen vs by hys bytter passyon and what he hath promysed thā shal faith worke hyr worke Yf we haue receaued the worde in fayth through the holy goost than shal we optayne mercye and lyfe in the myddes of death and of synne Wythout hope dyd holde vp oure head and the promyses sonke in oure hartes we muste nedes be drowned in despayre Hope sayth My sonne despyse not the selfe in thy syknesse but praye vnto the LORDE and he shal make the whole The synfull man beholdyng God and knowyng him by hys worde that is that he is mercyfull not wyllynge the death of a synner he lyfteth vp hys heade w t a lusty corage sayenge I shall not dye
A goodly treatise of faith hope and charite necessary for all ChristeÌ„ meÌ„ to know and to exercyse theÌ„selues therin traÌ„slated into englyshe Prynted in South warke For Iames Nicolson Anno M. D. xxxvii 1537. The translatoure THer are many now a dayes that vse greate disputacions and reasonynge of fayth thinking to haue faith whaÌ„ they can reason muche of it They know that by fayth only a man is iustifyed or made ryghteous but yet they knowe not the grounde pyth of faith wherby a man is made righteous Yee true fayth can better be felt inwardly than it can be expressed with wordes It is plaÌ„ted in at the eare by hearynge of the worde of God it is grouÌ„ded and roted in mans harte by the operacyon of the spirite workynge in the same worde and finally seynge it can not be hyd it bresteth out in doynge of charitable dedes the which the faythfull knoweth to be acceptable vnto God And by thys workynge or endeuoure to please God he conceaueth an hope to optayne euerlastynge lyfe wherin he shall rest in ioy with God not of dewtye as one that were hyred therto but only of Gods bounteous goodnesse and mercye The dyuels also haue an hystoricall fayth of Christe and beleue al to be true y t is spoken of hym thorow out all the scrypture for they can not improue nor denye the treuth of it But seynge they conceaue not suche an opinion of God as namely that God is theyr redimer that by hym and by none other be he neuer so holy they be saued that in hym only they oughte to reioyce to truste and to be conforted therfore is not theyr â—ayth auaylable or an occasyon vnto saluacyon but rather as sayeth saynte Iames a cause to feare and tremble It is not ynough to be baptysed and to know by harte all y t articles of oure faith although euery one that wyl be called a Christian is bounde to beleue to know theâ— but he must also expresse them in hys lyuynge Yf I be leue God to be a father and a creator or maker of heauen and earth and al that is therin of nought and yet do not seke all ayde conforte and goodnesse at hym how can I haue a true fayth or beleue in hym howe can I saye truely I beleue in God the father almyghtye c. Herken how God complayneth by hys prophet Micue 1. Shulde not a sonne honoure hys father sayeth he and a seruaunte hys mayster Yf I be now a father where â—â— myne honoure Yf I be the ZORDE where I am feared sayeth the ZORDE of hoostes As though he wolde saye who declareth hys fayth that he hath to me who soueth me as a son hys ather not for ony respect or regarde of auauntage that he can optayne by it but of the inwarde and naturall mocyon of loue that he hath to my goodnesse Or who feareth me as a seruaunt that dredeth punyshment for transgressynge of his lordes commaundemente For as sayeth Dauid They are all gone out of the waye they are all become vnprofytable ther is none that doth good no not one By thys is it euydeÌ„t what small fayth is founde in the world now a dayes and how lyttell declaracyoÌ„ of the same specialy of those that can and do moost reason dispute of it Thys I saye and that in verbo domini that I wolde of god they vttered lesse wordes of fayth hope and charyte but declared them more by outward dedes of y e same To speake diuinite maketh not a diuine but to lyue diuinite Yf wyshyng myghte do good I wolde hartelye wyshe euery one that can speake muche of diuinite the same mynd that saynt Augustine was in whaÌ„ he sayde The vnlearned stonde vp and take in y e kingdome of heauen and we synke to hell with all out learnynge Yf we dyd take once hartye grace to vs and busyed oure selues to lyue the Gospel than shuld not we need to be asked a counte of our fayth than shulde we go on progresse from vertue to vertue than shuld out lyghte lyghten the weakelynges lest they do offende at Christe the heade corner stone But alas for pytye the greate punyshmentes wherewith God doth and wyll punysh vs comme vpon vs because ther is no faithful nesse ther is no mercye ther is no knowlege of god in the londe but sweâ—tynge lyeng manslaughter thefte and aduoutrye haue the ouer hand and one bloudshed dyng so oweth another c. Dse 4. Loke thorowe the whole flock of them that wyl be seyers of god that is y â— cytesyns of IerusaleÌ„ Seke thorow hyr stretes also yf ye caÌ„ fynd one man y t doth equal right or y t laboureth to be saythfull and I shall spare hym sayeth the LORD For though they can say The LORD lyueth yet to they swear to deceaue Where as thou o LORD lokest only vpoÌ„ saith treuth Christ himself hath prophecyed these peryllous tymes of oures sayenge WhaÌ„ the son of maÌ„ coÌ„meth suppose ye y â— he shal fynd faith vpoÌ„ earth As though he wold say no. Yee where faith is not there is an vnbermeÌ„t of wyckednesses as sayeth Esay 59. There is equite gone asyde â— rightcousnesse stoÌ„deth afarte of Treuth is falledown in y â— strete the thynge y â— is playn open may not be shewed Yee y â— treuth is layed in preson he y â— refrayneth hymselfe froÌ„ euell must be spoyled Is it not a pyteous case to heare y e prophetes thus complayne vpoÌ„ oure wyckednesse yee Christe hymselfe What do we thynke that shal become of vs after thys vapoure rather thaÌ„ lyfe What and yf one man had gotten al the worlde shulde it profyte oughte vnto hys soule after hys departynge heÌ„ce seing he is come naked into this worlde must depart naked out of it agayn Why do meÌ„ set so lytie by faith regard 〈◊〉 or charite as a thing lyttel worth where as â— Paul not â—stondinge dot cal loue the greatest of the thre theological vertues That thou mayest therfor good teâ—der crercyse theselfe in these thre holy vertues as namelye faythe hope charite or loue I haue traÌ„slated to thy behofe this lyttel treatyse treatinge of the same whose brefenesse I trust shal draw thy mind to y e reading of it For by manifest scriytures the which be here sufficientlye brought forth thou mayest perceaue y â— power of fayth whereby man is saued y â— which causeth maÌ„ to coÌ„ceaue an hope of y â— lyfe euer lasting And thus of inward ioy gladnesse he breaketh forth vnto dedes of charyte wherby he declareth his in warde gyft of fayth So y â— finally he caÌ„ not chuse but hope to come vnto lyfe eternal y â— which greuÌ„t vs he y t created redimed vs. AmeÌ„ The treatise of fayth ¶ The fyrste chapter treateth of the Fayth in Christe and what is a true Fayth FAyth is described playn ly vnto vs in the epistle to the Hebrewes after
haue beleued also on IESVS CHRIST that we myght be made ryghteous by the fayth on CHRIST and not by the dedes of the lawe Ihon also sayeth All that is borne of God ouercoÌ„meth the worlde and this is the victory that ouercoÌ„meth the worlde euen our fayth Who is it that ouercoÌ„meth the worlde but he which beleueth that IESVS is the sonne of God And further in the same chapter These thynges haue A writteÌ„ vnto you which beleue on the name of the sonne of God that ye maye knowe how that ye haue eternall lyfe and that ye maye beleue on the name of the sonne of God And this is the fre boldnesse whiche we haue towarde hym that yf we aske ony thynge accordyng to his wyl he heareth vs. Lo how yf a man beleueth that is yf he setteth his trust vpon the goodnesse of God only he is herde and optayneth all that he requyreth of the LORDE as Marke also wytnesseth Paul what tyme he preached the forgeuenesse of synnes he dyd alwaye ascribe it vnto faith that we myght knowe the vertue power of CRISTES death and that we shulde geue all glorye and praise vnto hym which hath receaued vs vnto the fayth by his goodnesse IESVS preached the Gospell of y e kyngdome of God sayenge The tyme is â—ulfylled and the kyngdome of god â—s at hande amende your selues beleue the gospel Here myght some men saye ye speake so much of fayth that man â—s iustified by fayth onely and not by workes Where as saynt Iames neuerthelesse sayeth that fayth with but workes is dead Trueth it is he sayeth well For without ther ensue forsakynge and lothsomnesse of synnes and without a man rest and reioyce onely in God hauynge respecte to none other creature sekyng helpe or conforte at the same Then is it a tokeÌ„ that he is not wholy fixt vpon God nor putteth his trust in hym So longe as a man reioyceth in synnynge so longe is not God his ioye As longe as man coÌ„meth not to God with more loue thankfulnesse nor can quyete hym selfe with God so longe hath he not the trewe fayth The trew fayth mortifyeth the synnes that the outward workes maye testifye of the inward fayth Thus doynge optayneth God the glorye whiche wyll worke wonderously in all them in whom he hath poured his worde by fayth Therfore sayd CHRIST Let youre lyght so shyne before men that they mayese your good workes and glorifye youre father which is in heauen Scripture wytnesseth euery wher y t fayth must make new creatures orels shuld it not work y e worke wherfore God sent his worde Not that workes iustyfye a man But seynge man is iustyfyed by fayth therfore is he called iustifyed or ryghteous for doynge the workes of fayth For the workes be called ryghteous before God by reason of fayth Here vpon bryngeth saynt Iames Abraham and Rahab as proues sayenge Wylte thou vnderstonde O thou vayne man that fayth without dedes is dead Was not oure father Abraham iustyfyed thorowe workes whan he offred Isaac his sonne vpon the altare Thou seyst how that faith wrought with his dedes through the dedes was the fayth made perfecte and the scripture was fulfylled whiche sayeth Abraham beleued God and it was reputed vnto hym for ryghteousnesse and he was called the frende of God c. Yf Abraham had douted on Gods promyse whan he wolde haue offered his sonne then hadde not his faythe bene ryghte nor sufficyent Rahab also shewed hyr fayth where by she let the spyes go shewynge them whiche waye they shulde go She beleued stedfastly that God shulde cause the chyldren of Israell to wynne the cytie of Iericho and by y t fayth was hyr faythfull worke accepted before God God loked first vpon Abell and then vpon his gyfte The scripture hath shut vp al vnder synne that the promyse shuld come by fayth on IESVS CHRIST geuen vnto them that beleue Hereby we maye se that fayth only iustifieth that is Whan we forsake all creatures submyttynge out selues and passe by all mans inuencyons or holynesse fallynge and leanynge to CHRIST only sayenge O LORDE I knowlege health to be happened vnto me by the. LORDE augmeÌ„t thou my fayth CHRIST sayd I am the lyght of the worlde he that foloweth me shall not walke in darkenesse but shal haue the lyght of lyfe And agayne in the same chapter Yf ye continue in my worde then are ye my disciples and ye shal knowe the trueth and y t trueth shal make you fre Though the faythfull fell to synnynge yet remayneth God a frende vnto the fayth and loue that he fyndeth in a maÌ„ his promyses vnto theÌ„ that beleue are so manyfold Dauid sayeth Yf the ryghteous falleth he shall not be brused for the LORDE doth staye hym with his haÌ„de Paul sayeth Then is ther now no damna cyon vnto them that are in CHRIST IESV which walke not after y e flesh but after the sprete For the lawe of the sprete y t bringeth lyfe in CHRIST IESV hath made me fre from y t lawe of synne and death Saynt Ihon also wrytteth sayenge Who so euer is borne of God synneth not for his sede remayneth in hym he can not synne because he is borne of God Though a man be weake after the fleshe and thereby fall to synne yet doth God loue a man for the fayth wherby he loueth God Whan he falleth his fall is not vnto dead for his sprete is without gyle The LORDE suffereth the ryghteous to fall leste he stonde to muche in hys owne conceate but that he aske mercy with all his harte The ryghteous falleth seuen tymes in one daye and ryseth agayne The LORDE taketh the faythfull for his best beloued and reserueth hym to his mercy Salomon sayeth The ryghteous laboureth to do good but the vngodly vseth hys increase vnto sinnes Oure prayer is that we maye abyde by the gladde and ioyfull tydynges of the gospell For he that beleueth and is baptysed shall be saued I brynge you tydynges of great ioye which shal happeÌ„ vnto al people for vnto you is this daye borne the Saueoure euen CHRIST the LORDE Thus farre is now sayde of the mercy which we vptayne by fayth For true fayth ioyfuily receaued excludynge al y e is contrary to CHRIST bryngeth a greate health wyth her ¶ The thyrde chapter shall treate how hurtefull vnbelefe is and what is the cause that men be so colde and straunge in Godly matters and in loue towarde God WHan we consydre our fyrste progeny then is it euydent vnto vs that the nature of man is created to y e lykenesse of God in wyll reason and vnderstandyng folowynge God through wysedom and by knowledge of the creatures And that man was ioyned w t a perfecte hart vnto God vsynge hym w t a coÌ„plete knowlege Upon this hath God set him in the paradyse of pleasure geuynge
of Egipte that ledde vs thorow the wyldernes thorow a desert rough lande c. And continently after in y e same place For my people hath done two euels They haue forsaken me the wel of the water of lyfe and dygged them pyttes Yee vyle and broken pyttes that holde no water And it foloweth also Thyne owne wyckednesse shal reproue the and thy turnynge awaye shall condempne the that thou mayest know and vnderstande how hurtefull a thynge it is that thou hast forsaken the LORDE thy God not feared hym sayth y e LORD God of hoostes Wherfore whan we beholde oure selues duely remembrynge the worthynes and excellency of y â— chosen soule whiche of ryght shulde be a bryde of IES VS CHRISTE for of nature can not she be refresshed nor comforted but onely of God What so euer she seketh besyde hym that maketh her disquyete and comfortlesse For this cause is it nedefull for vs to lyfte oure eyen vp towarde heauen besekynge hym humbly to conforte vs wyth his owne presence Nother is this accomplyshed but onely whan the LORDE declareth his goodnesse vnto vs by his word and that we then reioyce in all the goodnesse which he hath promysed vs therin Yf we forsake y e worde then shal the soule become cold strauÌ„ge froÌ„ god This confirmeth Ieremy sayenge I wyll cast you out of this lande in to a lande that ye nor your fathers knowe not and there shall ye serue straunge goddes day nyght there wyll I shewe you no fauoure That man verely hath no rest whiche falleth to ony shapeÌ„ creature or to ony inuencion ymaginacyon of man Where maÌ„ doth yet procure ryghteousnesse saluacyoÌ„ by his owne mother wytte wysedome there doth not god work his worke This may be tried by many places of scripture CHRIST dyd not shewe many tokeÌ„s there where was no faith because y e they knowynge y t ther is one God haue not praysed hym as God nor thanked hym but became vayne in theyr ymaginacyoÌ„s theyr folyshe hart was blinded WhaÌ„ they couÌ„ted theÌ„selues wyse they became fooles And why EueÌ„ because saith Paul they knowe not the ryghteousnesse which auayleth before God go about to mayntayne theyr owne righteousnesse thus are not they subdued vnto y e ryghteousnesse whiche is of value before God CHRIST is y e ende of the law vnto-ryghteousnesse for euery one y t beleueth For God so loued the world that he gaue his only sonne that wo so euer beleueth in hym shulde not peryshe but haue euerlastynge lyfe Lo how saluacyoÌ„ commeth by fayth Who so therfore doth not receaue the worde by fayth the same abydeth in darknesse daÌ„ynacion as CHRIST wytnesseth in the same place sayenge But he that beleueth not is condempned already because he beleueth not on y e name of the onely sonne of God But this is the condemnacion that the lyght is come in to the worlde and men loued the darcknesse more then the lyght for theyr workes were euell Who so euer doth euell hateth the lyght and commeth not to y e lyght that his dedes shulde not be reproued Here in are we enformed that it is Gods wyll that all men be saued and that we shall knowlege the fathers loue whiche hath geuen vs CHRISTE to be oure Saueoure and that we shulde knowlege oure saluacion to come by hym whiche hath accomplyshed the worke of oure health in vs. But seynge many men do not turne them selues to God warde walkynge after theyr owne wyll and desyre therfore cannot they haue knowlege of the saluacyon that is promised and geuen vs by CHRIST Man muste vtterly forsake hym selfe with all that is in hym and rest vpon CHRISTE onely by whose death we maye fynde sauynge health But alas for pytie ther be many vayne and pufte vp in theyr fleshly myndes which holde not them selues to the heade and worde nother come to CHRISTE to be humbly taught of hym This is the cause why y e Pharises came not to God but sayde it that Iob dyd prophecy aforehande sayenge They saye vnto God Go froÌ„ vs we desyre not the knowlege of thy wayes What maner of felowe is y e Almyghty that we shulde serue hym What profyte shuld we haue to submytte oure selues vnto hym Esaye also sayeth Thou hast hadde trouble for the multitude of thyne owne wayes yet saydest thou neuer I wyll leaue of Thou thynkest to haue health or lyfe of thy self and therfore thou beleuest not that thou arte sycke Yee heare what O see the prophete sayeth I droue Ephraim Iuda plowed and Iacob played the husbandman that they might so we vnto righteousnes and reape the frutes of weldoynge that they myghte plowe vp theyr fresshe new tylled lande and seke the LORD tyll he came taught theÌ„ ryghteousnesse But now they haue plowed them wickednesse therfore shall they reape synne and eat y e frut of lyfe Seynge thou puttest thy coÌ„fidence in thyne owne wayes leanest to the coÌ„fideÌ„ce of thy worthies ther shall growe a sedicyon amonge thy people By this is it euideÌ„t that man remayneth in his vnfaythfulnesse thorow his owne wysedome For the LORDE wyll teache vs w t his worde only yf we couet to walk aryght in his way Al is but foolyshnesse be man neuer so well learned yf he knewe nought of God Therfore sayeth Paul The worde of the crosse is foolyshnesse vnto theÌ„ y t perish but vnto vs that are saued it is the power of God For it is written I wyl destroye the wysedome of the wyse and wyll cast away the vnderstandyng of the prudeÌ„t For so much as the worlde by the wysedome therof knewe not God in his wysedom it pleased God thorowe foolysh preachynge to saue them that beleue Yf oure Gospell be yet hyd it is hyd in them that are loste amonge whome the God of thys worlde hath blynded the myndes of them whiche beleue not that the lyghte of the Gospell of the glorye of CHRISTE whiche is the ymage of God shuld not shyne vnto them And in another place saieth Paul Because they receaued not the loue of the treuth that they myghte haue bene saued therfore shall God sende theÌ„ stronge delusyon that they shulde beleue lyes that all they myghte be damned whiche beleued not the treuthe but had pleasure in vnryghteousnesse It hath bene the LORDES wyll alwaye to draw euery man vnto hym both by benefytes and wordes But whan he seyth the hartes to remayne styll harde and peruerted than threateneth he the vnbeleuynge y t they shall come to naught yf they do not receaue hys worde sayenge The kyngdome of God shall be takeÌ„ from you shalbe geueÌ„ vnto y â— Heythen which shal bryng forth y e frutes of it And who so falleth vpoÌ„ thys stone that is CHRIST shalbe brokenâ—â— peces and loke vpon whoÌ„ it falleth it shal grynde him to poulâ—â—r This is fearful to heare of him
thorow loue in the syght of all men To this exhorteth vs CHRIST sayenge Let your lyght so shyne before men that they maye se youre good workes and gloryfy your father which is in heauē s Peter also exorteth vs to lede an holy lyfe amōg y e heythē Loue doth declare herselfe by fayth workyng wonderously to the ryghteousnesse and saluacyon of all such men as knowlege God in his loue ready alwaye to rendre hym loue and thankes agayne Paul what tyme he hadde a tayste of this loue and felte the power of the same he gaue vnto thys holye loue the glorye of all the good that is acceptable before God in mā saynge Thoughe I spake with tunges of men and angels and yet had not loue I were euen as soundyngebrasse or as a tynklyng cimbal And though I bestowed al my goodes tofede the poore though I gaue my body euē that I burned yet haue not loue it profyteth me nothynge Loue is pacyent and curteous loue enuyeth not loue doth not frowardly is not pufte vp dealeth not dishonestly seketh not hyr own is not prouoked vnto anger thynketh not euell reioyceth not ouer iniquite but reioyceth ouer the trueth beareth al thynges beleueth all thynges hopeth all thynges suffereth all thynges Thus much suffyseth to be spoken of the loue that God hath towarde vs how man is ioyned vnto God by loue For true loue muste worke by fayth in such as god hath elect chose therto it causeth man to optayne al thynges lawful wherfore we shall treate farther wherein we oughte to declare and vtter oure loue agayne Seynge that we haue here sufficientlye shewed that god loueth vs and that the same loue worketh alwaye therfore shall man examyne hymselfe and searche hys entrayles whether he be come to a true loue by faythe Faythe muste declare it selfe thorowe loue and mortyfycacyon of the fleshe S. Ihon exhorteth vs earnestlye to a renewynge of our sin ful lyfe after that we haue receaued the worde of the LORDE with ioye beinge assured by faith that we may optayne mercye thorowe IESV CHRISTE sayeng God is light and in hym is no darknesse at all Yf we saye that we haue felowshyppe wyth hym and yet walke in darknesse we lye and do not the treuthe But yf we walke in lyghte euen as he is lyghte than haue we felowshyppe together and the bloude of IESVS CHRIST hys sonne clenseth vs from all synne CHRIST also sayeth I am the lyghte of the worlde he that foloweth me shal not walke in darknesse but shall haue the lyghte of lyfe And agayne The lyght is a lytle whyle with you walke whyle ye haue the lyghte that the darknesse fall not vpon you He that walketh I darknesse woteth not whether he goeth Beleue ye on the light whyle ye haue it that ye maye be the chylderen of lyghte It foloweth I am come a lyghte in to the worlde y e whosoeuer beleueth on me shulde not abyde in darknesse By all these aforesayde sayenges are we taught that God hath geuen hymselfe alyghte in oure hartes yf we haue learned to knowe hym in hys loue by hys worde The worde is y ◠lyght and foode of the soule whereby the loue of God is clearlye set forth vnto vs. That we therfore be founde trutefull and thankefull before the LORDE it is hys wyll to leade yee to dryue vs wyth hys lyghte to lyghten vs and to teache vs al that whereby oure synfull soule maye be conforted and reioyce in God oure louer Whan Dauid knewe thys lyghte he was gladde thereof and sange Howe precious is thy mercye O God that the chylderen of men maye put theyr truste vnder the shadowe of thy wynges They shall be satysfyed wyth the plenteousnesse of thy house and thou shalte geue them drinke of the ryuer of thy pleasures For by the is the well of lyfe and in thy lyghte shall we selygthe Whan we haue nowe receaued CHRISTE so rychelye and ioyfully by hys worde than shall also the Godly worde onely be our light guyde and mayster so that we shall herken diligentlye what God hath commaunded admonyshed and taughte vs in hys worde Noman feleth inwarde ioye or comforte of the Gospell wythout he be sure that it hath wroughte euidentlye in hym the mortyfycacyon and subduynge of hys owne synfulnesse and y e loue towarde hys neghboure Whan it hath wroughte thus in man than perceaueth he fyrste the incomparable loue and fauoure the which god doth declare by hys worde Moreouer whan he hath tryed the same w t the renewynge of hys lyfe than is he sure that God hath wroughte a passynge greate worke of mercye in hym Thys knewe Dauid whan he sayde I wyll herken what the LORDE God wyl saye for he shal speake peace vnto hys people Now is it euidente and playne that God doth sende his worde and lyghte in oure hartes that we thorowe the lyghte in hys worde shuld knowlege all oure saluacyon and redempcyon reioycynge in hym only Yf man do not yet fyxe hys syghte only vpon God and hys loue but seketh comforte ether of mens inuencyons or ony creatures not reioycynge in God onely than is it to be doubted lest such one be not foūded a ryghte on God onely Paull sayeth But we wayte in the spirite of hope to be made righteous by faith The faythfull lyueth alway in ioye for the iuste lyueth by fayth Scripture wytnesseth euery where y t God doth call vs and sayeth I am I only am he that putte awaye synne wythoute me ther is no saueoure In y ◠tyme of trouble and in the strayghtnesse of synfulnesse than doth god be holde vs mooste of all yf so be we seke hym wyth oure whole hartes The soule can reioyce in nothynge y t is wythout God Therfore seynge God loueth vs he exhorteth vs to putte oure confidence in hym onely sayenge Yf ye fyxe youre syght vpō an other than shall ye remayne confortlesse and ye shall serue straunge goddes daye and nyghte that wyll shewe you lyttell fauoure But my people shall dwell in the ynnes of peace in my tabernacle and pleasure where ther is ynoughe in them all For thys cause shall man trye hymselfe whether he be mortifyed in hys owne synfulnesse and carnal desyres For Paull sayeth They that are CHRISTES haue crucifyed theyr fleshe with the lustes and desires He shall also searche howe he oughte to behaue hymself in loue toward god doynge it that he is sure to be acceptable vnto God that the father may be glorifyed thereby the whiche wyl worke wonderously thorow his loue in all them in whome he hath powred hys worde so louynglye Of this maye the auncyent father Symeon be an ensample the whiche seynge the lytle babe reioiced in sprete The two disciples also herde CHRIST and they learned to know him with ioyfull and mery hartes Now shal we procede and shewe that al
hym to be a tabernacle or a temple wherin he wyl dwel w t his spret and all his gyftes Yf he can beleue this with a stedfast fayth than shall his harte reoyce in God trustynge to vse suche gyftes more frely with hym By fayth doth man se where to he is created and called what is promysed and geuen hym And seynge that by fayth he doth loke for a better worlde then this wretched worlde and vale of mysery is therfore is not he coÌ„tente with it for y e world geueth his hart nothing to reioyce in Whan man hath dont longe and trewe seruyce vnto the worlde he fyndeth none other rewarde saue great grefe and heuynesse of harte For man is made a straunger from God and colde in loue whaÌ„ he goeth about to serue â— please the worlde Now whan hâ— hath once a tayst of this and is sure that it is so then doth he wende his harte from the worlde sayenge Fare well all transytory creatures fare it well all that euer deceaued me fare well with all thy lustes I wente astraye whan I soughte the I was begyled whan I tande the I was blynde whan I set my loue vpon the I was amased whan I pleased the I was coÌ„fortlesse whan I occupyed the I was parted from God whan I serued the I was in â—eath whaÌ„ I lyued with the I was â—estelesse whan I behelde the I was sorye whan thou gauest me â—oughte I was not suffised whan â—hou gauest me muche I was mysaryed whan thou madest my glad Oh thy wysedome is folyshnesse beâ—re God thy glyrye is heye thy â—ylynge is deceate thy bewtye is â—lthynesse thy ryches are vnstaâ—e thy presence is without rest â—y rewarde is but death thy ioye endeth with sorow He that fyndeth the leseth hymselfe and commeth in deaths daunger He that loued the was neuer dealt faythfully withall He was not conforted aryghte that sought thy frendshippe He that busyed hym to please y t was neuer ioyfull He neuer reioyced aryght that reioyced in the. He neuer happened wel that was seruiable vnto the. He that folowed the dyd neuer happen well He that knewe the aryght dyd neuer passe greatly vpon thyne amyte or freÌ„dshippe Thou deceauest al thy louers Thy loue is vntrusty Thy dealyng is craftynesse O how happy is he that neuer soughte for the but happye is he whose hope is in the LORD his God He that seketh God coÌ„meth from death vnto lyfe But he that loueth the worlde falleth from lyfe vnto death CHRIST therfore not wyllynge vs to be damned thorowe the worlde hath warned vs of the daungers of it sayeng What helpeth it a man thoughe he wanne the whole worlde and yet suffered harme in his soule Whan CHRIST dyd cal ony body theÌ„ dyd he drawe hym from the snares and peryls of the world as namely Mathew Zache Mary the opeÌ„ synner CHRIST sayd vnto the yongeman Let the dead bury theyr dead But go thou thy waye and preache the kyngdome of God And to another that wolde haue folowed hym he sayd Who so purteth his hande to the plowe and loketh backe is not mete for the kingdome of God And agayne whan another that demanÌ„ded of hym what he shulde do to come in to the kyngdome of heaueÌ„ he sayd Yf thou wylt be perfecte go thy waye and sel that thou hast and geue it vnto the poore thou shalte haue a treasure in heauen and come and folowe me WhaÌ„ the yongemaÌ„ herde that worde he wente awaye sory for he had great possessions IESVS sayd vnto his discyples Uerely I saye vnto you It shall be harde for a ryche maÌ„ to entre in to y e kyngdome of heauen Hereby maye it be euidente that ryches drawe a man somtyme to synnynge wherfore he can not folowe his LORDE his God to serue hym humbly For ryches worldly loue cause man somtyme to fall to pryde and obstinacy Yf the ryche maÌ„ coulde vse his ryches well that is to dispend them charitably to the behofe of his neyghboure in the meane season prouydyng for hâ—s owne necessite releuinge y e nedy with the rest then shulde not his ryches be hurtefull vnto hym Abraham Isaac Iacob Iob Dauid many other holy men and wemen haue had great ryches But seynge they haue worshipped serued God shewed kyndnes vnto theyr neghbures with theyr substauÌ„ce therfore were theyr ryches a furtherauce rather theÌ„ a let vnto theyr saluacyoÌ„ accordyng to y e mynde of Tobias y e elder Nabal though he was rych and Dauid hauynge nede requyrynge only what it pleased hym to geue wold depart froÌ„ nothyng The rych glutton also wolde shewe no mercy vnto Lazarus Because of suche abuse were theyr ryches hurteful vnto theÌ„ Therfore sayd Paul They y t wyl be rych fal in to y e reÌ„ptacion and snare into many folysh noysome lustes which drowne meÌ„ in destruccyoÌ„ daÌ„nacyon For couetousnes is the rote of al euel Iesus Sirak couÌ„feleth euery man also sayeng My soÌ„ne medle not w t many maters Yf thou wylt be rych thou shalte not be without wyckednes For this cause sayd Paul Charge them which are rych in this worlde that they be not proude nor trust in y e vncertayne ryches but in y e lyuynge God whiche geueth vs abundauntly all rhynges to enioye them that they do good y â— they be rych in good workes that they geue destribute w t a good y t wyl gathering vp treasure for theÌ„ selues a good fundacyon agaynst the tyme to come that they may lay hande on eternall lyfe The cause why saynt Paul doth thus exhorte vs is For we brought nothynge in to the worlde therfore is it a playne case that we can cary nothyng out Whan we haue foode and rayment let vs therewith be content CHRIST lykewyse exhorteth vs not to be so carefull for this short season nother to set an outragious loue vpon ony creatures sayenge Se that ye gather you not treasure vpon earth where ruste and mothes corrupte where theues breake throughe and steale but gather you treasure together in heauen where nother ruste nor mothes corrupt where theues nother breake vp nor yet steale That man myghte withdrawe his hart the better from these creatures he shulde call oftymes to remembraunce how traÌ„sitory and faydyng all it is that is without God All y t he beholdeth with his bodyly eyen geueth his harte nother rest peace nor ease yee it geueth nothyng saue hartes grefe Man ought also to remember that we haue here no abydynge cytie but we hope and loke for another the which is better by a thousande partes then all that is in this worlde Whan dyuerse saintes dyd consyder this they haue set the worlde at nought sekinge theyr glorye in CHRIST only which can satisfye his frendes with the trueth and make them ryche with hym selfe so that whan his frendes shal haue pleÌ„ty his enmyes shal suffre