his Spowse How can I assuredly glorie that I am Quéene and Mistresse of his greate riches as a wyfe maye I can easly beléeue that otherfolkes shall receyue this honour and glorie but I cannot perswade my selfe that I am one of thâ—se same to whome GOD hathe gyuen so greate grace For I knowe myne owne wretchednesse and imperfection My derâ—beloued brother I answer thee that thyne assurance coÌ„sisteth in trew and liuely fayth wherwith as Sainct Peter sayeth God clenzeth mens harts And this fayeth is grownded in the be leuing of the Gospell that is to saye in the beleuing of the gladde tydings which hathe bin published on GODS behalf throwgh the whole world which tydings conteyneth in effect that god hath vsed the rigorousenes of his iustis against Iesus Christ chastizing punishing all our sinnes in him And whosoeuer receiueth this good tydings beléeues it stedfastly hath the true fayth and doth inioye the forgiuenes of his sinnes and is also reconciled vnto GOD and of the chylde of wrath is become the chyld of grace and recouering the image of God entereth into the kingdome of God and is made the temple of God who maryeth mans soule to his onely Sonne by the meane of this fayth which fayth is a worke of God and the gift of god as sainct Paule saieth oftentymes And God giueth it vnto those whom he calleth to him of purpose to iustifie them to glorifie theÌ„ to giue them euerlasting lyfe according as our Lorde Iesus Christ witnesseth saying This is the will of him that sent mée euen that euery one which séeth the sonne and beleueth in him should haue euerlasting lyfe and I wyll rayse him vp agein at the latter day And lyke as Moses lifted vp the Serpent in the Wildernesse so must the sonne of man be lifted vp to the ende that euery one which beleueth in him might not perish but haue lyfe euerlasting Also he sayeth to Martha He that beleueth in me shall liue although he wer dead and euery one that liueth beleueth in me shall not dye for euer And to a companie of the Iewes he sayeth I am come a lyght into the world to the ende that euery man which beleueth in me shold not abide in darknes And sainct Iohn in his Epistle saieth Herein appéered the loue of god towards vs for that god is loue and sent his only begotten sonne into this world that we might liue through him And héere in is loue knowen not in that we loued God but in that he loued vs sent his sonne to make attonement for our sinnes And moreouer he sent him to destroy our enemies For the bringing wherof to passe he made him parttaker of our fleshe and of our blud as sayeth sainct Paule to the ende that by his death he myght destroy him that had the dominion of death that is to wit the diuel and set al such at libertie as were subiect to boÌ„dage al their lyfe long for feare of death Seing then that we haue records of the holy Scripture concerning the promises whereof we haue spoken heretofore and concerning many other promyses that are dispersed in diuers places of the same we cannot dout of it And forsomuch as the Scripture speaketh to all ingenerall none of vs oughte to distrust in himselfe that the selfsame thing which the Scripture sayeth should not belong perticularly to him selfe And to the ende that this point wherin lyeth and consisteth the whole misterie of our holie faith may be vnderstod the better Let vs put the cace that some good holie King cause proclamation to be made through his whole Realme by the sound of a Trumpet that all Rebels and banished men shall safely returne home to their howses bicause that at the sewt desert of some dere fréend of theirs it hath pleased hym to pardon them certeinly none of those Rebels ought to dout of the obteyning of trew pardon of his rebellion but rather ought assuredly to returne home to his howse to lyue vnder the shadowe of that holie king And if he will not returne he shall beare the penaltie of it bicause that through his own vnbelefe he dyeth in exyll and in the displeasure of his prince But this good king is the Lorde of Heauen and Earth who for the obedience and desert of our good brother Iesus Christe hath pardoned vs all our siunes and as we haue sayd afore hathe made open proclamaction through the whole world that all of vs may safely returne into his kingdome Wherfore he that beléeueth this proclamacioÌ„ dooth streytwayes return into Gods kingdome whereoutof we were driuen by the offence of our first parentes and is blissedly gouerned by gods holy Spirit And he that giueth no credit to the sayde proclamacion shall neuer inioy the sayd geuerall pardon but for his vnbelefes sake shall abyde in banishment vnder the tyrannie of the diuel and liue and dye in extreme miserie liuing and dying in the diâ—pleasure of the king of heauen and earthe and that iustly For we cannot commit a greater offence against this good God that to account him as a lyer and deceiuer which verely we doo in not giuing credit to his promises O how passing heauie is this deadly sinne of vnbelefe which so farre foorth as is possible beréeueth God of his glorie and perfection besydes the greate harme that it doeth to a mans selfe which is his owne damnation and the endlesse tormeÌ„t of his soule which the miserable conscience féeleth euen in this lyfe But on the contrarie he that commeth vnto GOD with assurednesse of this fayth beléeuing him without anye mistruste or dowt of his promises and warranting himselfe for a certeyntie that God will performe al that euer he hath promised him giueth all the glorie vnto God and liueth coÌ„tinually in rest and endles ioy euermore praysing and thanking the Lorde God for choozing him to the glorie of the eternall lyfe And hereof they haue an assured earnestpeny and gage that is to wit the sonne of god whom they take for their most louing Brydegrome the blud of whom hath made theyr hartes so drunken that through this passing holie belefe there is in the christen hart ingendred so lyuely a hope and so certeine a trust of gods â—ercie towards vs and such an operation is wrought in vs as we rest our selues wholly vppon God leauing the whole care of vs vnto him in suche wyse that being throughly assured of Gods good wil we are not afraid nother of the diuel uor of his ministers nor of death Which holie and stedfast trust of Gods mercie inlargeth our hart chéereth it vp and with certeine marualouse swéete affections dyrecteth it vnto GOD filling it and setting it on Fyre with an exceding feruent loue And therefore Paule incourageth vs to goe with all boldnesse to the throne of grace he counselleth vs that wée should not shake it of nor make
But it concerneth the true Christians who though they fight manfully agaynst the fleshe the worlde and the diuill doe notwithstanding fall darly and are constreyned to say Lord forgiue vs our offeÌ„ces Theis are they to whom we speake to comfort them and to hold them vp that they fall not into despayre as though the blud of christ washed vs not from all sin and that he were not our aduocate and the attonementmaker for his members And therfore when we be prouoked to dowt of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes that our own conscience beginneth to trubble vs Then must we furnish our selues with trew fayth and out of hand haue recourse to y preciowse blud of Iesus Christ shed for vs vppon the alter of the Crosse and distributed to his Apostles at his last supper vnder the veyle of a most holie Sacrament which was ordeyned by Christ to the end y we should celebrate the remembrance of his death that by the same visible Sacrament our trubbled consciences myght be assured of our attonement with god The blissed Iesus christ made his last wil when he said This is my bodie which is giuen for yow and this is my blud of the new Testament which is shed for manie to the forgiuenes of their sinnes We knowe that a Testament sayeth Sainct Paule although it be but a mans Testament yet neuertheles if it be allowed no man despyzeth it or addeth anie thing to it and that no testament is of force till the testator be dead but hathe full poure after the parties decease Then did Iesus Christ make his Testament wherin he promisethe forgiuenesse of sinnes and the grace and good fauour of himselfe and his father togither with mercie and euerlasting lyfe And to the intent that the sayd Testamente should be of full force he hathe confirmed it with his owne preciowse blud and with his owne death By reason wherof sainct Paule sayeth that Iesus Christe is the mediator of the new TestameÌ„t that by his dying for the redemption of those transgressions which were in the former testament they that are called might receyue the promis of the eternall inheritance For whersoeuer is a Testament there must also be the death of the Testator for the Testament is confirmed by the deathe of the partie insomuch as it is of no valu so long as the maker of it is aliue Wherfore we be verye certein and assured by the death of Iesus Christ that his Testament is auaylable wherby all our misdéeds are pardoned and we made heyres of eternall life And for a token and faythful pledge hereof in sted of a Seale he hathe left vs this diuine Sacrament which not onely giueth our sowles assured hope of their euerlasting Saluation but also warrantâ—th vnto vs the immortalitie of our flesh forasmuch as it is euen now quickned by that immortall flesh of his and in a certein maner becoÌ„meth parttaker of the immortalitie therof and he that is parttaker of that diuine flesh by faith shall not perish for euer But vnto him that receyueth it withowt the sayd fayth it turneth to a daungerouse poyson becawse that like as when bodily sustenance fyndeth the stomacke incumbred with euill humors it corrupteth likewyse and woorketh greate anoyance euen so if this spirituall féede lyght into a sinfull sowle that is full of malice and misbelef it casteth it headlong into some greater ruine not through it owne default but bycause that to the vncleane and vnbeleuer al things are vncleane notwithstanding that the things be sanctified by the Lordes blissing For as sayeth Sainct Paule he that eateth of that bread and drinketh of that cup vnworthely is giltie of the bodie and blud of the Lord and he eateth and drinketh his owne damnation bycause he maketh no difference of the Lordes bodie For he maketh no difference of the Lords bodie which presumeth to the Lords supper without fayth charitie And forasmuch as he beleueth not that bodie to be his lyfe and the clenzer of al his sinnes he maketh Iesus Christe a lyer and treadeth the sonne of God vnder foote estemeth the blud of the Testament wherby he was faÌ„ctified but as a comon or worldly thing doeth greate wrong to the spirit of grace and he shal be punished verye sore at Gods hand for this his vnbéelef and wicked hipocrisie For wheras he reposeth not y trust of his iustificatioÌ„ in the passioÌ„ of our lord sauiour Iesus christ yit neuerthelesse he receyueth this moste holie Sacrament maketh protestation that he putteth not his trust in anie other thing Wherby he accuseth himself and is a witnesse of his owne iniquitie and condemneth himself to euerlasting death by refuzing the lyfe which god promiseth him in that holie SacrameÌ„t And in this poynt when the Christian féeleth that his enemies are lyke to ouercome him the is to wit when he beginneth to dout whether he haue receiued forgiuenes of his sinns by Iesus Christ that he shal not be able to withstand the diuel and his teÌ„ptatioÌ„s that the accusation of his owne dowtfull conscience comes to presse him so as he beginneth to feare least helfyre shold swallow him vp and death hold him in his euerlasting bands by reason of Gods wrath I saye when the good christian féeleth himself in such agonie Let him get him to this holie Sacrament with a good hart and stowt courage and receiue it deuoutly saying in his hart and answering his enemies thus I coÌ„fesse I haue deserued a thousand hells euerlasting death by reason of the great sinnes which I haue committed But this heauenly sacrament which I receyue at this present assureth me of the forguiuenes of all my misdoings of myne attonement with god For if I haue an eye to my works ther is no dowt but I acknowledge my self a sinner and condemne myne owne selfe in suche wise as my conscience should neuer be quiet if I should think that my sinnes are pardoned me for my workes sake But when I looke to the promises and couenantes of God who promiseth me forgiuenes of my sinnes by the blud of Iesus Christ I am as sure that I haue obteyned it and that I haue his fauour as I am sure that he which hath made the promises and couenants cannot lye nor deceiue and through this stedfast fayth I become ryghtuouse by Christes rightuousenes wher through I am saued and my conscience quieted Hath he not giuen his most innocent bodie into the handes of sinners for our sinnes Hath he not shed his blud to wash away my iniquities Why theÌ„ doost thou vex thy self O my soule put thy trust in the Lord who beareth thée so great loue that to deliuer thée from eternal death it hath pleased him that his only sonne should suffer death and passion who hath taken vppon himselfe our pouertie to giue vs his riches layd our weakenesse vppon himself to stablish vs in
thirst after rightuousenesse he cannot taste of the swéetnesse of Iesus Christ how swéete it is to talke of him to thinke of him and to follow his most holy lyfe But when we once throughlye knowe our owne infirmitie by meane of the Lawe let vs herken to sainct Iohn Baptist who poynteth vs to the souerein Phisicion with his fingar saying Beholde y Lamb of God which taketh away y sinnes of the world For he it is that deliuereth vs from the heauie yoke of the law abrogating and disanulling the curses and sharp threatnings of the same healing all our infirmities reforming our frée will returning vs to our auncient innocencie and repayringe in vs the image of our God insomuch that according to sainct Paules saying lyke as by Adam we be all dead so by Iesus Christ we are all quickened And it is not to be beléeued y the sinne of Adam which we haue by inheritance from him should be of more force then the ryghtuousnes of Christe the which also we inherit by fayth It séemeth that mâ—n hath great cause to complayn that without any reason why he is conceiued borne in sinne and in the wickednesse of his parents by meanes of whom death reigneth ouer all men But now is all our sorow taken awaye inasmuch as by a lyke meane without anye occasioÌ„ giuen on our behalf rightuousenesse euerlasting lyfe are come by Iesus Christ and by him death is sâ—ayne whereof sainct Paule maketh a verie goodly discourse which I purpose to set downe here folowing Wherefore sayth he lyke as by one man sinne entred into the world and death by sin euen so death went ouer al meÌ„ â—orasmuch as all men haue sinned For vntill the Lawe sinne was in the worlde but sin was not regarded as long as ther was no law Neuerthelater death reigned froÌ„ AdaÌ„ vnto Moses euen ouer theÌ„ also y sinned not after y like maner of y traÌ„sgressioÌ„ of Adam who was a figur of him y was to come But yit the gift is not so as is the offence For if through the offence of one manie be dead much more the grace of God and the gift by grace which is by one man Iesus Christe hath abounded vnto many Neyther is the gift so as that which entred in by one the sinned For the fault came of one offence vnto condemnation but the gifte is of many offeÌ„ces to iustification For if by the offence of one death reigned through one much more shall they which receiue the aboÌ„dance of grace and of the gift of rightuousnes reigne in life through one that is Iesus Christ. Likewise then as by the offence of one the fault came on all men to condemnation so by y ryghtuousenes of one the benefyte abounded toward all men to the iustification of life For as by one mans disobedience many wer made sinners so by the obedieÌ„ce of one shall many also be made righteous Moreouer the law entred ther vppon that the offence shold abouÌ„d neuertheles where sinne abouÌ„ded ther grace abounded much more that as sinne had reigned vnto death so might grace also reigne by rightuousenes vnto eternal lyfe through Iesus Christ our lord By theis words of saint Paule we manifeâ—tlye perceiue the thing to be trew which we haue said heretofore that is to wit that the lawe was giuen to make sinne knoweÌ„ which sinne we do also know no to be of greater force thaÌ„ Chrisâ—es rightuousenes wherthrough we be iustifyed before god For euen as Iesus Christ is stroÌ„ger than Adam was so is his ryghtuousenes more mightie than the sinne of Adam And if the sinne of Adam was sufficient ynough to make al men sinners children of wrath without ani misdéed of our own much more shall Christes ryghtuousnes be of greater force to make vs all rightuouse and the children of grace without any of our owne good workes which cannot be good vnlesse that before we do them we our selues be made good as Awstin also affirmeth Hereby a maÌ„ may know in what an errour they bée who by reason of some great offence despayre of gods good wil imagining that he is not willing to forgiue couer and pardon all sinne hauing alredie punished and chastized al our sinnes and iniquities in his owne onely begotten and déerebeloued sonne and consequently graunted a generall pardon to all mankinde which euery bodye inioyeth that beleueth the Gospell that is to say which beléeueth the happie tydings that the Apostles haue published through the whole worlde saying We beséeche you for Iesus Christes sake be yée reconâ—yled vnto God for he that neuer knew sinne was made a sacrifyze for our sinne that we might become rightuouse in him The Prophet Esay foreséeing this great goodnes of God writeth these heaueÌ„ly words which do so well peynt out the passioÌ„ of our Lord Iesus Christ and the cause ther of as it is not to be found better descrybed euen in the writings of the Apostles Who sayth he will beleue our report to whom is the arme of the Lord reueled But hée shall grow vp before him as a braunche and as a roote out of a drye gdound he hath neyther forme nor beautie when we shall sée him ther shal be no forme that we should desire him He is despized and reiected of men he is a man full of sorowes and hath experience of infirmities wée hidd as it were our faces from him he was despized we estemed him not Surely he hathe borne our infirmities and caried our sorowes yit we did iudge him as plaged and smitten of god and humbled but he was wounded for our traÌ„sgressions he was broken for our iniquities The chasismeÌ„t of our peace was vppoÌ„ him and with his stripes we are healed All we like shéepe haue gone astraie we haue turned euery one to his owne waye and the Lord hath layde vppon him the iniquitie of vs all he was oppressed he was afflicted yit dyd he not open his mouth He is brought as a shéepe to the slaughter and as a shéepe before the shearer is dumme so he openeth not his mouth O great vnkindnes O thing abhominable that we which professe our selues Christians and here that the sonne of God hath taken al our sinnes vppoÌ„ him washed them out with his preciouse blud suffering himselfe to bée fastened to the crosse for our sakes should neuertheles make as though we would iustifie our selues purchace forgiuenes of our sinnes by our our owne workes as who would say that the deserts ryghtuousenes and bludshed of Iesus Christ were not ynough to do it vnlesse we came to put to our workes ryghtuousnes which are altogither defiled and spotted with selfeloue seflyking selfeprofit and a thousande other vanities for which we haue néede to craue pardon at GODS hande rather than reward Neyther do we thinke of the threatnings which saint Paule vseth to the Galathians who hauing bin deceiued by falseprechers beleued not
God by the meane of Iesus Christ. O wonderfull glorie of the christian to whom it is graunted through fayth to possesse the vnspeakable benefites which the Angels long to beholde By this present discourse a man may playnly perceiue the difference that is betwixt vs and them that defend y iustification by fayth and workâ—s togither Herein we agrée with them that we stablish works affirming that the fayth which iustifieth cannot be without good works and that those which are become rightuouse are they that doo the good workes that may rightly be called good workes But we differ from theÌ„ in this that we say that faith maketh men rightuouse withoute the helpe of workes And the reason is redy namely bycawse that by fayth wée putte on Christ and make hys holyness and rightuousenesse to bée ours And seyng the cace so standeth that Christes rightuousenesse is gyuen vs by faith Wée cannot be so thanklesse blynde and vnhappye as not to beleue that he is of suffycient abilitie to make vs acceptable and ryghtuouse before god Lette vs saye with the Apostle if the blud of Oxen and Gotes and the asshes of a Cow sprincled clenzeth the vncleane as touching y clenzing of y flesh how much more shal the blud of Iesus Christ who by the euerlasting spirit offered himselfe vndefiled vnto God clenze our consciences from dead workes to serue the liuing God I prey thée now thou good deuout christian consider well which of theis two opinions is the trewest holyest and worthiest to be preached Ours which aduaunceth the benefyte of Iesus Christ pulleth down the pride of man which would exalt his owne works ageinst Christes glorie or the other which by affirming that fayth of it self iustiâ—ieth not defaceth the glorie and benefyte of Iesus Christ and puffeth vp the pryde of man who cannot abyde to be iustified fréely by our Lorde Iesus Christ without some merit of his owne But saye they it is a gret quickning vp to good works to say that a maÌ„ maketh himself rightuouse before good by means of them I answer that we also confesse that good workes are acceptable to god that he of his mere grace and frée liberalitie recompenseth them in Paradise But we say moreouer that no workes are good sauing those y as S. Austin saieth are done by theÌ„ that are become rightuouse through fayth bicause that if the trée be not good it cannot yeld good frute And furthermore we saye that such as are become ryghtuouse through faythe forasmuch as they knowe themselues to be ryghtuouse through Gods rightuousnesse purchased by Christe make no bargayning with GOD for their workes as though they would bwy their maner of iustification suche as it is with them but being inflamed with the loue 〈◊〉 GOD and desirouse to glorifie Iesus christ who hath made them rightuouse by giuing them his merites and riches they bestow 〈◊〉 their whole study and labor to doe gods wil fighting manfully against the loue of theÌ„selues and against the world and the Diuell And when they fall throughe frayltie of the flesh thei recouer themselues by and by and are so much the more desirous to doe good so much the more in loue with their God considering that he layeth not their sinnâ—â— to their charge bicause they be ingraffed 〈◊〉 Iesus Christe who hath made full 〈◊〉 for all his members vppon the tree of his crosse and maketh continuall interceâ—â—â— for them to the eternal Father who for the loue of his onely begotten sonne beholdeth them alwayes with a gentle countenance gouerning and defending them as his most deare children and in the end giuing them the hâ—ritage of the world making them like fashioned to the glorious Image of christ These louing motions are the spurs that prick forward y true christiaÌ„s to do good works who considering y they are become the childreÌ„ of god through faith made partakers of his diuine nature are sturred vp by the holy ghost dwelling in theÌ„ to liue as it becoÌ„meth y children of so great a lord and are greatly ashamed y they maintein not the beauty of their heaueÌ„li noblesse therfore they imploy their whole indeuer to the folowing of their first-born brother Iesus christ liuing in gret low lines méeknesse in al things séeking y glory of God giuing their liues for their brethren dooing good to their enemies glorying in y sufferance of reproches in the crosse of our Lord Iesus christ saying with Zacharie We be deliuered out of the hand of our enimies to serue god without feare in holines and rightuousenesse all the dayes of our life They say with Sainct Paule The grace of the Lord is appeared to abolishe all wickednesse and all worldly desires in vs to the end we should liue a sobre holy and honest lyfe in this world wayting for the blissed hope and for the gloriouse appearing of the great God and Sauiour There such other like thoughtes desires and affections are wrought by inspired fayth in the soules of them that are become rightâ—â—use And as for him that either wholly or partly féeleth not these godly affections and operations in his hart but is gyuen ouer to the fleshe and the world let him assure himselfe that hée hath not yit the iustifying faith nor is the member of Christ bicause hée hath not Christes spirit and consequently is none of his and he that is none of Christs is no christian Then let mans wisdome cease henceforth to fight agaynst the rightuousenesse of the most holy faith and let vs giue all the glorie of our iustification to the merits of IESUS Christ with whom we bée clothed thorough faith The fyfth Chapter In what wyse the Christian is clothed with Iesus Christ. ALthough that by the things aforesayd a man may easely and plainly inough perceiue howe a Christian maye cloth himselfe with Iesus Christe yit neuerthelesse I mynde to speake a little of it assuring myselfe that vntoo the good and faythefull Christian it can séeme nether grenouse nor troublesome to speake thereof although the thing were repeted a thousand times Therfore I say that the Christian knoweth that Iesus Christ togither with al his righteousnesse holinesse and innocencie is his owne through faith And like as when a man purposeth to present himselfe before some great Lord or Prince he laboreth to aray himself in some fayre and costly apparell euen so when the christian is decked and arayed with the innocencie of Christ with all his perfection he presenteth himself boldely before God the Lord of all assuring him selfe that through christes merits he is in as good cace as if he had purchaced all that which Iesus Christ hath purchaced and deserued And truely faith maketh euery of vs to possesse Christ and all that is his as we possesse our own garment And therefore to be clothed with Iesus christ is nothing else but to beleue for a certaintie that Christe is wholly
ours and so is he in very déed if we beleue so and hold our selues assured that by the same heauenly garmeÌ„t we be receiued into fauor before god For it is most certain that he as a most déere father hath giuen vs his sonne meaning that al his rightuousnes all that euer he is can or hath done shold be in our power inrisdictioÌ„ in such wise as it should be lawful for vs to make our boast of theÌ„ as if we had done purchaced desâ—rued them by our own strength And whosoeuer beleueth this shal find that his beléef is good and tru as we haue shewed heretofore TheÌ„ must the christian haue a stedfast faith beleef that all the goods all the graces all the riches of Iesus christ are his for sith y God hath giuen vs Iesus christ himself how shold it be possible that he hath not giuen vs all things with him Now if this be true as tru it is in déed the christiaÌ„ may rightly say I am y child of god Iesus christ is my brother I am Lord of heaueÌ„ earth of hell and of death of the law in so much as the law caÌ„not accuse me nor lay any curse vpoÌ„ me bicause the righteousnes of god is becom myn And this faith is it alone y maketh a man to be called a christian which clotheth him with Iesus christ as we haue said afore And boldly may this be called a great mistery whervnder are coÌ„teined maruelous things and things not herd of coÌ„cerning the great God which cannot enter into mans hart except god do first softeÌ„ it with his holy grace as he hath promised to do by his holy prophet saying I will giue you a new hart and I will put a new mynde into you and I wyll take away the stony hart out of your bodie and I will giue you a hart of fleshe Now then he that beleueth not after the sayde maner that Iesus Christe with all the goods that he possesseth is his cannot call himself a trew christian nor euer haue a quiet and ioyfull conscience nor a good and feruent corage to doo good but shall easly faint in doing of good works yea and moreouer he shall neuer be able to do works that are truly good This only beléef and trust that we haue in the merits of Iesus Christ maketh men trew christians stowt cherful merrie louers of God readie to doo good workes possessers of gods kingdome and of god himselfe and his right derebeloued children in whome the holie Ghoste dooth truly dwell What hart is so cowardly cold and vyle which considering the inestimable greatnes of the gift that god hath bestowed vppon him in giuing him his owne so welbeloued sonne with all his perfectnes is not inflamed with an exceding carnest desyre to become like vnto him in good workes specially seing that the Father hath giuen him vnto vs for an example whereon we must continewally looke framing our lyfe after such a sort as it maye be a trew counterpaine of the lyfe of Iesus Christe forasmuch as Christe as sayeth Sainct Peter hathe fuffered for vs leauing vs an insample to the ende that we shoulde folowe his footesteppes Out of this consideracion issâ—weth another kind of clothing of a manes selfe with Christ which we may terme An example clothinge for so much as the christian must frame his whole lyfe after the example of Christ fashyoning himself like vnto him in all his dedes words and thowghtes leauing his former wicked lyfe and decking himself with the new lyfe that is to wit with the lyfe of Christe By reason wherof sainct Paule sayeth Let vs cast away the works of darknesse and put on the aâ—mour of lyght not in feasting nor in drunkennesse nor in chambering and wantonnesse nor in stryfe but put vpon you the Lorde Iesus Christ and make no preparation for the flesh nor for the lustes therof Héeruppon the trew Christian being in loue with Iesus Christ sayeth in himself Sith that Iesus Christe not hauing anye néede of me hathe redemed me with his own blud and is become poore to inrich me I wil likewise giue my gâ—â—ds yâ—â— my very lyfe for the loue welfare of my neighbour And like as I am clothed with Iesus christ for the loue he hath borne to me so will I haue my neighbor in Christ to cloth himself with me with my goods likewise for the loue that I beare him for christes sake He y doth not so is no true christian for he caÌ„not say that he loueth Iesus christ if he loue not the meÌ„bers brothers of him and if we loue not our neighbour for whose sake christ hath shed his blud we cannot truely say that we loue Iesus christ who being equall with God was obedient to his father euen to y death of the crosse hath loued redéemed vs giuing himselfe vnto vs with all that euer he hath After the same maner we being rich hauing abundance of good things at Christes hand must also be obedient vnto god to offer giue our works al that we haue yea and euen our selues to our neighbours and brethren in Iesus Christ seruing them helping them at their néed and being to theÌ„ as another christ And like as Iesus Christ was lowly and gentle and far from all debate and stryfe so must wée set our whole mynde vpon lowelinesse méeknesse eschewing all stryfe and impatieÌ„ce as wel which consist in words and reasoning as in déeds And as in Iesus Christe hath indured al the persecutions and spytes of the world for the glorie of God so must wée with all patientnesse chéerfully beare the persecutions and reproches that are doone by false christians too all suche as will liue faythfully in Iesus Christe who gaue his life for his enemyes and prayed for them vppon the crosse and so must we also pray always for our enemies and willingly spend our lyfe for their welfare And this is too folowe Christs steppes according as sainct Peter sayeth For when we knowe Iesus Christ with all his riches to be our owne good which thing is to bée clothed with Christ and to become pure and cleane without spot there remayneth nothing more for vs to do but to glorifye God by folowing the lyfe of Iesus Christe and to do to our brethren as Christe hathe doone to vs and specially for somuch as we bée warranted by his word that whatsoeuer we do to his brethren and ours he accepteth it as a benefyte done to himself And dowtlesse seing that the trewe christians are the members of Christ we cannot do eyther good or euill too the trew Christians but wée dâ—â— it likewyse vnto Christ in so much that he reioyceth or suffereth in his members Thâ—reTherefore like as Iesus Christ is our clothing by faith so also must we through loue become the clothing of our brethren haue as good care
of them as of our owne bodies for they be members of our bodie whereof Christe is the heade And this is the godly loue and charitie which springeth and procéedeth of the true vnfeyned faith which god hath breathed into his electe which faith as sayeth Saint Paule worketh by loue Howbeit for asmuch as the lyfe of our Lorde Iesus Christ wherewithall wée must bée clothed was a continuall crosse full of troubles reproches and persecutions if wee will fashion our selues like vnto his life we must continually beare the crosse as hée him selfe sayeth If any man will come after mée let him forsake him selfe and take vp his crosse and followe mée But the chief cause of this crosse is for that our GOD purposeth to mortifie the affections of our minde and the luftes of our fleshe by that exercise to the end wée may conceyue in our selues the great perfection wherein wée bée comprised by our Lord IESUS Christ by being graffed into him Also his will is that our fayth béeing fyned like golde in the fornace of troubles should shine bright to his glorie Moreouer his intent is that we by our infirmities should set out his great power which the worlde in dispite of it beholdeth in vs in asmuch as our frayeltie becommeth strong by troubles and persecutions and the more that it is beaten downe and oppressed so much the more is it strong and stedfast Whereof the Apostle Sainct Paule sayeth we carrie this treasure in earthen vesselles that the excellencie of the power might bée Gods and not ours On all sides wée suffer tribulation but we are not ouercomme wée be poore but not ouercomme of pouertie wée suffer persecution but yit are we not forsaken we be dispised but yit we perish not and so we dayly beare about vs the dying of our Lord Iesus Christ in our bodie that the life of Iesus Christe may also be openly shewed in vs And séeing the case is so that our Lord Iesus christ and all his deare Disciples glorified God by tribulations let vs also imbrace them ioyefully and saye with the Apostle Saincte Paule GOD forbid that I should glory saue in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ and let vs so deale as the world may whither it will or no perceiue see with his eies the woÌ„derful effects that god worketh in such as sincerely imbrace the grace of his gospell Let vs so deale I say as the worldlings may sée with how great quietnes of mynd the trew christians indure the losse of their goods y death of their children flaunders the diseases of y bodie the persecutions of false christians and also that they may sée how the only true christians do worship God in spirit truth taking in good worth at his hand whatsoeuer happeneth holding al that he doth to be good rightfull holie praising him alwaies for the same whither it be in prosperitie or aduersitie thaÌ„king him as a most graciouse and louing father and acknowledging it for a right great gift of gods goodnes to suffer any aduersitie and cheâ—â—y for the gospell for folowing the steps of Christ specially forasmuch as we know that tribulation ingendreth patience and patience triall and trial hope and hope maketh vs not ashamed I say that patience ingendreth triall bicause that wheras God hath promised help in truble to such as trust in him we find it by experieÌ„ce in that we continew strong and stedfast all the while and are vpholden by the hand of God which thing we could not doo with all the powers that we haue of our owne So then by patience we fynd that our Lord gyueth vs the help that he hath promised vs at our néede whereby our hope is confirmed And it were an ouergreat vnthankfulnesse not to trust to such an ayd and fauour for the tyme to come as we haue found by experience to be so certein and stedfast heretofore But what néede we so manie wordes It ought to suffyze vs to knowe that the trew christians are through tribulation clothed with the image of our lord Iesus christ crucifyed which if we beare willingly with a good hart we shall in the ende be clothed with the image of Iesus Christ glorifyed For as the passions of Iesus Christe doe abound so through him shal the consolations ouerabound if we suffer with him here bylowe for a tyme we shal also reigne with him there aboue for euer The sixt Chapter ¶ Certein remedies against distrust BUt forasmuch as the diuell mans wisedome labour continually to dispossesse vs of this most holy fayth wherthrough we beleue that all our sinnes are chastized punished in Iesus christ that 〈…〉 preciouse bludshed we be reconcyled to the maiestie of god it is verie néedful for a christiaÌ„ to haue his weapons alwaies in a redines to defend himself from y sayd most mischeuouse temptation which séeketh to beréeue the sowle of hir lyfe Among the sayd weapons in my iudgment y mightiest and best are Prayer the often vse of the holie Communion the rememberinge of holie Baptim and the minding of predestination In our Prayer wée may well say with the father of the poore Lunatik person of whom mencion is made in the Gospell of Saynct Mark Lord Iesus help myne vnbeléef Or else we may say with the Apostles Lorde increace our fayth And if there reigne in vs a continewall desyre to grow in fayth hope and Loue we will continewally pray as sainct Paule instructeth vs. For Prayer is nothing else but a feruent mynd settled vpoÌ„ god By the remembering of Baptim we shall assure our selues that we are at peace with God. And forsomuch as â— Peter sayeth that y Ark of Noe was a figure of Baptim therefore like as Noe was saued from the flud by the Arke bycause hée beléeued the promises of GOD so also are we by fayth saued in baptym from Gods wrath Which faith is greunded vppon the woord of our Lord Iesus Christ who saieth that he which beléeueth and is baptized shal be saued And good right it is for in baptisme wée put on Iesus Christ as the Apostle Sainct Paule affirmeth and consequently we bée made partakers of his rightuousenesse and of all hys goods and vnder this preciouse robe the sinnes that our frayelty committeth lye hieden and couered and are not imputed vnto vs And so according as Saint Paule sayeth the blissednesse which the Psalmist speaketh of apperteineth to vs namely Blissed are they whose misdooinges are forgiuen and whose sinnes are couered Blissed is the maÌ„ to whom the Lord imputeth not sinne But it standeth a christian in hande to take good héede that vpon these wordes he take not libertie to sinne for this doctrine belongeth to none such as honor them selues with the name of Christians confessing Christe with their mouth and yit denie him in their déedes
vnto vs not only allureth vs to giue our selues one to another but also by making himself common to vs all maketh vs also to be all one selfsame thing in him In respect wherof wée ought to couet and procure that in all of vs there may be but one mind one harte one tung accorded and vnited togither in thoughtes words and déeds And we must mark well that as oft as we receyue this holy and worthy Sacrament we bind our selues to al the deuties of charitie as not to offende any of our brethren nor to leaue anything vndon that may be profitable and helpfull in their necessitie But if there come any to this heauenly table of the Lord that are diuided at variance with their brethreÌ„ the same must assure themselues that they eate vnworthely and are gilty of the bodie and bloud of the Lorde and that they eate and drinke their own damnation for that there wanted nothing on their behalf but that the body of Iesus christ was rent and plucked in péeces again whilest they by hatred are deuided froÌ„ their brethren that is to wit from the members of Iesus Christ and haue not any parte with him and yit neuertheles in receiuing this holy communion pretended to beléeue that their whole saluation consisteth in the participation and vnion with Iesus Christ. Then let vs go my brethreÌ„ to the receiuing of this heauenly bread to celebrate the remembrance of our Lordes passion and to strengthen and fortifie the beléefe and assurance of the forgiuenes of our sinnes with the remembrance thereof and to quicken vp our myndes and tungs to prayse and exalt the infinite goodnes of our God and finally to cherish brotherly loue and to witnes the same one to another by the streyght vnion which all of vs haue in the bodie of our lord Iesus christ Besydes prayer thé remembring of Baptim and the often resorting to the most holy communion ther is one other verie good remedy against distrust and fearfulnes which is no lesse fréende to christian charitie namely the remembrance of our predestination and election to eternall lyfe grounded vppon the word of God which is the sword of the holie Ghoste wherwith we may beate backe our enemies Reioyce yée in this sayeth the Lorde that your names are written in heauen There is no greater ioy in this life nor any thing that more comforteth the christian that is afficted tempted or falne into anie sinne than the rememberance of predestination and the assuring of our selues that we be of y nomber whose names are written in the booke of lyfe and which are chosen to be fashioned like vnto the image of Iesus Christ. O how vnspeakable is the comfort of him that hath this fayth museth coÌ„tinually in his hart vppon this exceding swéete predestination whereby he knoweth that although he fall often yit notwithstanding god his father who hath foreordeined him to euerlasting life holdeth him vp and reacheth out his hand vnto him continually And he sayeth continually in himselfe if god haue chozen me and predestinated me to the glorie of his children who can hinder me If God be with vs sayeth sainct Paule who can be ageinst vs Nay rather to the ende that the predestination may be accomplished in vs he hath sent his déere beloued sonne who is a most sure earnest penny and pledge vnto vs that we which haue receyued the grace of the Gospell are gods Children chozen to eternall lyfe This holie predestination maynteyneth the trew Christian in a continuall spirituall ioye increaceth in him the indeuer of good works inflameth him with the loue of god maketh him enemie to the world to sinne Who is so fearce hardharted which knowing y god of his mercy hath made him his child froÌ„ euerlasting will not by and by bée inflamed to loue GOD Who is of so vyle and baâ—e courage that hée will not estéeme all the pleasures all the honours and all the riches of the world as filthy myre wheÌ„ he knowes y god hath made him a citizen of heaueÌ„ yea theis are thei y worship god rightly in spirit truth receyuing all things as wel in prosperitie as in aduersitie at the hand of God their Father and euermore praysing and thaÌ„king him for all as their good father who is rightuouse and holy in all his workes These being inflamed with the loue of God and armed with the knowledge of their predestination feare neither death nor sin nor the Diuill nor hell neyther knowe they what the wrath of god is for they sée none other thing in god but loue fatherly kindnesse towards them And if they fall into any troubles they accept them as tokens of gods fauour trying out with S. Paule who is it that shall separate vs from Gods loue shall tribulations shall anguish shall persecution or hunger or nakednesse or perill or sword as it is written for thy sake are we killed all the day long and counted as shéepe appointed to the slaughter But in all these things we get the vpper hand thorough him that hath loued vs Wherefore it is not for nought that sainct Iohn sayeth how the true christians know right well that they must be saued and glorified and that by reason of the same affiance they make themselues holy as Iesus Christ is holy And when Saint Paule exhorteth his Disciples to a good and holy life he is wont to put them in remembrance of their election and predestination as of a thing of very great force to stirre vp the mynds of the true Christians to the louing of God and to the performance of good works And for the same cause our good lord Iesus christ speaketh openly of this holy predestination as one that knew of howe great importance the knowledge thereof is to the edifying of his elect But perchaunce thou wilt say to me I know wel that they whose names are written in heauen haue cause to liue in continuall ioy and to glorifie GOD but in word and deed but I know not whither I am of that number or no and therefore I liue in continuall feare specially bycause I knowe my selfe to bée an excéedinge weake and frayle sinner from the violence wherof I am not able to defend my self but that I am ouercome of it daily And furthermore for asmuch as I se my self coÌ„tineually afflicted and troubled with dyuerse temptations methinks I do as it were behold with myne eyes the wrath of God squorging me Too answere to theis dowtes of thyne I say my ryght dere brother that thou must assure thy selfe that al theis are but temptations of the deuill who by all meanes séeketh to rob vs of that faith and confidence that springeth of faythe and assurethe vs of Gods good will towardes vs He laboreth to strip our sowle out of this preciouse garmeÌ„t for he knoweth that none is a trew Christian except he beleue Gods
bâ—e handled as seruaâ—â—â—â—â— and hild in awe vntill they come to taste and feele how sweete and pleasant the Lord is and vntill such time as fayth worke his effectes in them that they haue so much childly loue as may suffize to keepe maintaine theÌ„ in honestie of christeÌ„ conuersation and in folowing the example of our lord Iesus Christ. And wheÌ„ the selfsame scripture exhorteth y christiaÌ„s to y true fear it meaneth not that they should feare the iudgement and wrath of god as though it were presently ready to condemne them for as I haue said already by the record which the holy ghost giueth to thier spirit they knowe that God hath chosen them and called them of his owne mere mercy and not for their desertes By reason whereof they doubt not at al but that by the selfsame goodnes mercie he will mainteine theÌ„ in the happy state wherin he hath placed them And after suche maner the scripture exhorteth them not too flauish feare but to childly feare that is too wit that like good children they should bée loth to offend against the christen Religion or to commit any thing against the deutie honestie of Gods true children and likewise to gréeue the holy ghost that dwelleth in theÌ„ to the ende that knowing the corruptednesse of our nature we shouâ—â— always be héedfull and diligent and neuer haue any tâ—ust in our selues for in our flesh and in our mynds do the appetites and affections continually dwell which as deadly enemies of y soule lay a thousand snares and baytes for vs incessantly labouring to make vs proud ambitiouse lecherous and couetouse This is the feare whereunto the whole scripture exhorteth the Christians that haue once fasted howe swéet the Lord is and which bestowe all their indeuer in followinge Christes footesteps who cast not froÌ„ theÌ„ this holy fear bycause they labour to put off the old man And the good christians must neuer beréeâ—â— themselues quyte and cleane of this childlie feare which is the singular friend of christeÌ„ charitie like as the slauish feare is suche an enemie vnto it as they can by no meanes dwell togither And by the foresayd things a man may plainely perceiue that the good Christian ought neuer to doubt of the forgiuenesse of his sinnes nor of Gods fauour Neuerthelesse for the better satisfying of the Reader I purpose to set downe here vnder certaine authorities of y holy Doctors which confirme this foresayd truth Sainct Hilary in his fifth Canon vppon Matthewe sayth it is Gods will that wée should hope without any douting of his vnknowen will. For if the beléefe be doubtfull there can bée no rightuousenesse obteyned by beléeuinge And thus wée sée that according to Sainct Hilarie a man obteyneth not forgiuenesse of his sinnes at Gods hand except he beléeue vndoubtedly to obteyne it And good right it is that it should be so For he that douteth is like a waue of the Sea which is tossed turmoyled with the wynd And therfore let not such a one think to obteyne any thing at gods hande But let vs here sainct Austin who in his Manuel counseleâ—h vs to driue away the sayd foolish imagination which intendeth to dispossesse vs of the foresayd good and sage assurednes Let such foolish imagination sayeth he murmur as much as it listeth saying who art thou how great is that glorie by what desertes hopest thou to obteyne it I answer assuredly I know in whome I haue beléeued and I know that he of his great loue hath made me his sonne I know he is trew of his promis and able to performe his word for he can do what he will. And when I thinke vppon the Lords death the multitude of my sinnes cannot dismay mee for in his death doe I put all my trust His death is my whole desert it is my refuge it is my saluation my life and resurrection the mercie of the Lord is my desert I am not poore of desert so long as the lord of mercie fayleth me not And sith the mercies of the Lord are manie manie also are my deseruings The more y he is of power to saue the more am I sure to be saued The same sainct Austin talking with GOD in another place sayeth that he had despayred by reason of his greate sinnes and infinite negligences if the woord of god had not becommne flesh And anon after he sayth theis words All my hope all the assurance of my trust is settled in his preciouse blud which was shed for vs and for our saluatioÌ„ In him my poore hart taketh breth and putting my whole trust in him I longe to come vnto thée O father not hauing myne owne ryghtuousenes but y ryghtuousenes of thy sonne Iesus christ In theis two places sainct Austin sheweth playnly that the christiaÌ„ must not be afrayd but assure himselfe of ryghtuousenes by grownding himselfe not vppon his own works but vppoÌ„ the preciouse blud of Iesus Christ which clenzeth vs from all our sinnes and maketh our peace with god Sainct Barnard in his first sermoÌ„ vppon the Annunciation sayeth most euidently that it is not ynough to beleue that a man can haue forgiuenes of his sinnes but by gods mercie nor any one good desyre or abilitie to doe so much as one good worke except God giue it him no nor that a man cannot deserue eternall lyfe by his workes but if GOD giue him the gift so to beleeue But besydes all theis thinges sayeth Sainct Bernard which ought rather to be counted a certayne entrance and foundation of our faith it is néedfull that thou beléeue also that thy sins are forgiuen thée for the loue of Iesus christ Sée how this holy man confesseth that it is not ynough to beléeue generally the forgiuenesse of sinnes but he must also beléeue particularly that his owne sinnes are forgiuen him by Iesus Christ and the reason is ready at hand namely that forasmuch as God hath promised thée to accept thée for rightuouse through the merites of Iesus Christ if thou beléeue not that thou art become rightuouse through him thou makest GOD a lyer and consequently thou makest thy selfe vnworthie of his grace and liberalitie But thou wilt say to me I beléeue well the forgiuenesse of sinnes and I know that god is true but I am afrayd that I am not worshie to haue so great a gift I aunswer that the forgiuenesse of thy sinnes shall not bée a gift or frée grace but a wages if God should giue it thée for the worthines of thy works But I replie vppon thée that God accepteth thée for rightuouse and layeth not thy sin too thy charge bicause of Christs merits which are giuen vnto thée and become thyne by fayth Therefore following the councell of Sainct Bernard beleue thou not only the forgiuenesse of sinnes in generall but also apply the same beléefe to thine own particular person by beleuing without any dout y all
rightuousenes doth supply all our vnclennes imperfection which are not laied to our charge forsomuch as thei be couered vnder the purâ—nes and innoceÌ„cie of Iesus Christ and come not to iudgement before god And hereuppon it commeth to passe that all our workes which procede of trew faith notwithstanding that they be wholly sinfull and corrupt of themselues shall neuertheles be praysed allowed by Iesus Christ in the generall iudgement bicause they be the fruites and testimonies of our fayth wherby we be saued For insomuch as we haue loued y brethren of Iesus Christ we shal shewe euidently y we haue also bin faithful and brethreÌ„ of Christ and therefore by fayth we shal be put in full possession of the euerlasting kingdome which our souerein Lord god hath prepared for vs before the creating of the world not for our merits sakes but through his mercie wherby he hath chozen vs called vs to the grace of his gospel and made vs ryghtuouse to the intent to glorifie vs euerlastingly with his only begotteÌ„ sonne Iesus Christ who is the holines and rightuousenes of vs but not of them which wyll not confesse that faith is sufficieÌ„t of it selfe to make a man rightuouse and acceptable to y Lord God who through his fatherly goodnes and louingkindnes offereth giueth vs Iesus Christ with his rightuousenes without any desert of our owne workes What thing can worke or cause a man to deserne so great a gift treasure as Iesus Christ is This treasure is giuen only through the grace fauour mercifulnes of god and only faith is the thing that receiueth such a gift as to make vs inioy the forgiuenes of our sinnes And therfore when S. Paule other doctors say that onâ—ly â—ayth maketh men ryghtuouse without workes they mene that it maketh vs to inioy the generall forgiuenes of our sinnes toâ— receiue Iesus Christe who as saieth sainct Paule dwelleth in our hartes by fayth ouercomming and pacifying the trubbles of our consciâ—Ì„ces satisfieth gods iustice for our sinnes Furthermor it appeaseth gods wrath iustlimoued ageinst vs quencheth the fyre of hell wherin our natural corruption did throw vs headlong chéerfully destroieth ouerthroweth y Diuel togither with al his power and tiranny Which thinges all the works that all the men in y world can lay togither are not able to deserue nor to bring to passe That glory and that prerogatiue is reserued alonly to the sonne of God that is to wit to the blissed Iesus Christ who hath power aboue all the powers that are in Heauen in Earth and in Hell and giueth himself his merits to al such as distrusting in theÌ„selues do set their whole hope of being saued in him and in his merits And therefore let no maÌ„ begwyle himselfe when hée hereth it sayd that only faith iustifieth without works and think as falâ—e christians doe who drawe al thinges to liue fleshly that the trew faith coÌ„sisteth in beleuing the bare storie of Iesus Christ after the same maner as men beleue y storie of Caesar or of Alexander Such maner of beléef is but an historicall beléef grouÌ„ded merely vppon the report of men and vppon their writinges lighly imprinted in our conceyt by a certeint custome is like to the faith of the Turkes who for the lyke reasons beleue y fables of their Alcorane And suche a fayth is but an imagination of man which neuer reneweth the hart of maÌ„nor warmeth it with the loue of God neyther do any good works insew or any chauÌ„ge of life which faith should bring forth And therfore they falâ—â—y hold opinion ageinst the holy scripture and ageinst the holy Doctors of the church that only faith maketh not meÌ„ rightuouse but y they must also haue works Unto whom I answer that this historicall and fond beleef and all the works that insew thereof are not only vnable to make a man rightuouse but also do cast the parties headlong to the bottom of hel like vnto those that haue none oile in their Lampes y is to say no liuely faith in their harts The fayth that maketh men rightuouse is a work of God in vs wherby our old man is crucified and wée being transformed in Iesus Christ become new creatures and the derebeloued childreÌ„ of god This heauenly fayth is it that graffeth vs into the death and resurrection of Iesus Christ and consequently mortifieth our flesh with the effectes and lustes therof For when we by the operation of fayth do know our selues to be dead with Iesus Christ we are at a full point with our selues and with the world and are throughly resolued how it is méet that they which are dead with Iesus Christe should mortifie their earthlyâ— members that is to wit the sinfull affectioÌ„s of their mynd and the lustes of the flesh and forasmuch as we know we be raysed again which Christ we bend our selues to the leading of a spirituall and holie lyfe like vnto that which we shall liue in heauen after the last resurrection This holie faith making vs to inoy the generall pardon that is published by the gospel bringeth vs into the kingdome of our good god and pacifyeth our consciences mainteyning vs in continewal ioy and holie and spiritual swéetnes This selfe same faith knitteth vs vnto god and maketh him to dwell in our harts and clotheth our sowle with himself so as thenseforth the holie Ghost moueth vs to doo the same thinges wherunto he moued Iesus Christ whyle he was in this world was conuersant among men that is to wit vnto lowlines mekenes obedientnes vnto God louingnes and other perfections wherthrough we recouer the image of god For this selfesame causes Iesus Christ did rightly attribute blissednes vnto this inspyred fayth which blissednes cannot be without good works holines of lyfe And how can it be that a christian shold not become holie seing y Iesus Christ is become his holines through fayth Therfore by fayth we be iustified and saued and therfore S. Paule doth in a maner alwaies call those Saincts whom we call now christians who if they haue not Christes spirit are none of Christes and consequently no christians at all But if they haue the spirit of Iesus Christ to rule and gouerne them we must not dowt but that although they know well y they be made rightuouse thorough fayth onely yit for all that they will become neuer the more slouthfull to do good workes For Christes spirit is the spirit of loue and loue cannot be ydle nor cease from the dooing of good workes But if we will say the truth a man can do no good workes except he first know himselfe to be become ryghtuouse by fayth for before he knoweth that his doing of good workes is rather to make himselfe ryghtuouse than for the loue and glorie of God and so he defyleth al his works with selfeloue for the loue of himself for his
his strength become mortal to make vs immortall come downe vnto the earth to aduaunce vs vp to heauen and become the sonne of man with vs to make vs the children of God with himself Who is he then that shal accuse vs God is he that iustifieth vs who shall condemne vs Iesus Christ is dead for vs yea rizen agein for vs and he sitteth at the right hand of God making intercession for vs Let vs then O my Sowle leaue of these teares and sighes ¶ THE. C. III. PSALME 1 MY soule praise thou the LORD and all that is within me praise his holie Name 2 My soule praise thou the Lord and forget not all his benefites 3 Which forgiueth al thine iniquitie and healeth all thine infirmities 4 Which redemeth thy life from the graue crowneth thée with mercie compassion 5 Which satisfieth thy mouth with good things thy youth is renued like y Egles 6 The Lord executeth righteousenes and iudgement to al that are oppressed 7 He made his waies knowen vnto Moses his workes vnto the children of Israel 8 The Lord is ful of compassion and mercie slow to angre and of great kindnes 9 He will not alwaye chide nether kepe his angre for euer 10 He hath not dealt with vs after our sinz nor rewarded vs accordiÌ„g to our iniquities 11 For as high as the heauen is aboue the earth so great is his mercie towarde them that feare him 12 As farre as the East is from the West so far hath he remoued our sinnes from vs. 13 As a father hath coÌ„passioÌ„ on his childreÌ„ so hath y Lord compassioÌ„ on theÌ„ y fear him 14 For he knoweth whereof we be made he remembreth that we are but dust 15 The dayes of man are as grasse as a floure of the field so florisheth he 16 For the winde goeth ouer it it is gone and the place therof shal know it no more 17 But y louing kindenes of y Lord endureth for euer euer vpon theÌ„ that fear him his righteousenes vpon childrens children 18 Unto theÌ„ that kepe his ceuenaÌ„t think vpon his commandements to do them 19 The Lorde hath prepared his throne in heauen and his kingdome ruleth ouer all 20 Praise the Lord ye his Angels that exrel in strength that do his commandement in obeying the voice of his word 21 Praise the Lord all ye his hostes ye his seruants that do his pleasure 22 Praise the Lord all ye his workes in al places of his dominion my soule praise thou the Lord. So hath he had mercie on vs in giuing vs his only sonne With this faith with theis thanksgiuings with theis or such other like thoughts must we receiue the sacrameÌ„t of the bodie blud of our Lord Iesus christ After this maner is al fearfulnes driuen out of the soule of y christiaÌ„ charitie is incresed faith streÌ„gthened y conscience quieted the tung neuer ceasseth to prayse God and to yéelde him infinite thanks for so great a benefyte This is the vertue efficacie and onely trust of our sowle This is the Rocke wher vppoÌ„ if the conscience be bwilded it feareth nother tempest nor the gates of hell nor gods wrath nor the Lawe nor sinne nor death nor the diuels nor any other thing And forasmuch as the substance of the Lords Supper and table consisteth in this diuine Sacrament When the christian is at it he must hold his eyes fastened continewally vppon the passion of our graciouse Sauiour beholding him on the one syde vppon the crosse loden with all our sinnes and GOD on the othersyde punishing chastizing and whipping his owne only begotteÌ„ and derbeloued sonne in stede of vs O happie is that man that shetteth his eyes from all other syghts and will nother héere nor sée any other thing than Iesus Christ crucifyed in whome are layd vp bestowed all the treasures of Gods wisdome deuine knowledge Blessed say I is he that fedeth his mind with so heauenly a foode maketh himselfe drunken in the loue of God with so swéete and singular a liquor But before I make an end of this matter I will first aduertise the christian that Sainct Austin hath ordinarily bin woont to terme this holy sacrament the bond of charitie and the misterie of vnitie And he saieth that whosoeuer receiueth the misterie of vnitie and regardeth not the bond of peace receiueth not the Sacrament to his owne behoof but as a witnesse ageinst himself Therfore we must vnderstand that the Lord hath ordeyned this holy Sacrament not only to make vs sure of the forgiuenes of our sins but also to inflame vs to peace vnitie brotherly charitie For in this Sacrament the lord doth after such a maner make vs partakers of his body as he becoÌ„meth al one thing with vs and we with him By reason wher of forasmuch as he hath but one bodie wherof he maketh vs partakers it is méete that we also should by such partaking become all one body togither amoÌ„g our selues And this vnion is represented by the bread of the SacrameÌ„t which as it is made of many grayns mingled and kneaded togither in such wyse as one of them cannot be discerned from another So also must we be ioyned togither after such a sorte and so vnited togither into one agrement of mynd as no diuision may créepe in And this dooth sainct Paule shewe vs when he saieth Is not the cup of blissing which we blisse the communion of the blud of Iesus Christ is not the bread y we break the communion of the bodie of Iesus christe whereas we be manie yit are we but one bread and one bodie forsomuch as we be all parttakers of one bread By theis things we vnderstand that when we receiue this most holy communion we must consider that we are all of vs ingreffed into Christe and are all becomme members of one selfesame bodie y is to wit of Iâ—sus Christ in such wyse as we cannot offend defame or dâ—spyse any of our brethren but we must therwithall offend defame and despyse our sayde head Iesus Christ neyther can we be at variance with any of our brethren but in lykewise we must be at odds with him Also we cannot loue him except we loue him in our brethren Looke how much care we haue of our owne bodie so much must we haue of our christen brethren who are the members of our bodie And like as no part of our bodie féeleth anye gréefe which spreddeth not it selfe into all the other parts so ought we to determine with our selues that our brother féeleth not any inconuenience which should not moue vs to compassion With such maner of thoughts must we prepare our selues to this holie Sacrament quickening vp our sprites with a ferueÌ„t loue to our neibour ward For what greater spurre can we haue to prick vs to loue one another thaÌ„ to sée y Iesus christ by giuing himself
word which promiseth forgiuenesse of all sinnes peace to all them which accept the grace of the Gospel Uerely I say that he which vppon theis promises of God perswadeth not himselfe assuredly that god is a mercifull and louing father vnto him nor with stedfast cōfidence loketh to receyue the inheritance of the heauenly kyngdome at his hand is not faythful in dede maketh himself vtterly vnworthie of gods grace In respect whereof sainct Paule sayeth that we be the temple of God so farforthe as we firmely mainteine the confidence and glory of our hope vnto the ende And in another place he exhorteth vs that we shuld not giue ouer our trust which hath great rewarde of recompence And therfore my brethren let vs giue our whole indeuer to do the will of God as it becommeth good children and beware that we sinne not as néere as we can And although we fall oftentimes into sinne through our own frayeltie yet let vs not by and by surmise that we be vessels of wrath or that wée bee vtterly forsaken of the holy Ghoste for wee haue our Aduocate Iesus Christ before God the father and he is the attonement maker for our sinnes Let vs bethinke vs of the opinion of Saint Austin who fayeth that none of the Saincts is rightuouse and without sinne and yit notwithstanding that he ceasseth not to be rightuous and holy so farforth as he retaine his holynesse with affection And therefore if wee haue afflictions and tribulations let vs not think that God sends them bicause he is our enemie but bicause he is our most louing father The Lord sayeth Salomon chastiseth him whom hee loueth and scourgeth euery child of his whom he receyueth Wherfore if we haue receiued the grace of the Gospel whereby man is receiued of GOD for his childe wee muste not doubt of Gods grace and good will towards vs. And when wee perceyue our selues to delight in GODS woord and to haue a desire to followe the life of Iesus Christe wee must stedfastly beleeue that wee bee the children of GOD and the temple of the holy Ghost For those things cannot be done by the power of mans wisedome but are the gifts of the holy Ghost who dwelleth in vs by faith and is as it were a seale of authoritie which sealeth vp Gods promises in our hartes the certeinty wherof is printed aforehand in our mindes and is giuen vs as a pledge to stablish and confirme the same As soone as you beleeue sayth the Apostle Sainct Paule yee be sealed by the holy Spirit of promise who is the earnestpenny of our inheritance Behold howe he sheweth vs heereby that the hartes of the faithfull are marked with the holy Ghost as it were with a seal◠in respect wherof he calleth the holy ghost the spirit of promis for so much as he confirmeth the promis of the Gospell the which as I haue oftentimes told you is a happy tydings that promiseth forgiuenesse of sinnes and euerlasting life to all suche as beleeue that all their misdooinges are blotted out in Iesus Christ. All we that beléeue in IESUS Christ sayeth Sainct Paule are becomme the children of GOD and bicause we bée his children hée hathe sent the Spirit of his Sonne into our hart which cryeth Father father And to the Romanes those sayeth he that are guided by the spirit of GOD are the children of God for ye haue not receyued again the spirit of bondage in feare but the Spirite of adoption whereby wee crie father father For certeinly the sam◠spirit beareth our spirit record that wée bée the children of god Now then if we be children wée bée also heires And we must marke well that in these twoo places the Apostle Saint Paule speaketh plainly not of any speciall reuelation but of a certeine recorde which the holy Ghost doth commonly yéelde to all such as receyue the grace of the Gospell Then if the holy Ghoste assure vs that we be Gods children and heires why should we doubt of our predestination The same man sayeth in the same Epistle whom hée hath predestinated them hathe hee also called and whō he hath called them hath he also made rightuouse whom he hath made rightuouse thē also hath he glorified What shal we thē say to al these things if god be on our side who can be against vs And therefore if I plainly perceiue that God hath called me by giuing me fayth and the fruiets of faith that is to wit Peace of conscience mortification of the flesh and quickening of the spirit whether it be in whole or in parte why should I doubt that I am not predestinated And moreouer we saye with Sainct Paule that all true christians that is to wit all such as beléeue the Gospell receyue not the spirit of this world but the spirit that commeth from god by the inspiration wher of they discerne the things that God hath giuen them What maruell then is it if wée know that god hath certeinly giuen vs euerlasting life But there are some which saye that no man ought to presume so farre as to boast himselfe to haue the spirit of god They speake in such wyse as if the christiā should glory of the hauing of it for his owne desertes not by the onely mere mercie of God and as though it were a presumptuousnesse to professe him selfe a christian or as though a man could be a Christian without the hauing of Christes spirit or as though we could without flat hipocrisie say that Iesus Christ is our Lord or call God our Father if the holy ghost moued not our hartes tungs to vtter so swéete wordes And yit notwithstanding euen they that count vs presumptuouse for saying that God hath giuen vs his holy spirit with faith forbid vs not to say euery day Our Father but rather commaund vs But I would haue them too tell me how it is possible to separate faith the holy gost asunder séeing that faith is the peculiar work of the holy ghost If it be presumption to beléeue that the holy ghost is in vs why doth sainct Paule bid the Corinthians try them selues whither they haue faith or no affirming them to be reprobats if they know not that Iesus Christ is in them But in very déede it is a great blindnesse to accuse the christians of presumptuousnesse for taking vppon them to glorie of the presence of the holy ghost without which glorying there cannot be any Christianitie at all But Iesus Christe who cannot lye sayeth that his spirit is vnknowen to the worlde that they only do know him within whome he dwelleth Then let them begin to become good christians and put away their Iewish minds imbrace the grace of the holy gospell in good earnest and then shall they know that the good and true christians both haue the holy Ghost and also acknowledge themselues to haue him But