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
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
THE BENEFITE that Christians receiue by Iesus Christ Crucifyed Translated out of French into English by A. G. 1573. IMPRINTED AT London for Lucas Harison and George Bishop ¶ To the English Reader THou hast here deliuered to thee good Reader a litle tretise first writtē in the Italian tonge printed at Venise after that translated into the French langage and printed at Lyons and now translated printed for thee to reade in the English tounge Enquire not of the Author he is vnknowen and to know him would do thee but litle good Reade the booke deuowtly regard the mater of it attentyuely it may do the much good in theis euill dayes This may be counted among the greatest euils with which this age is infected that thei which are called christians are miserably diuided about Christ. And yet in truth as the apostle saith vnto vs ther is but one God which is the father of whom are all things and we in him and our lord Iesus Christ by whō are al things we by him To discourse on this diuision and the cause thereof would be to some pleasing to some it would be displeasing For what one truth can please myndes so diuersly diuided wold God it could please all to become one in that one Christ whose name we al do carie In this litle booke is that benefite which cōmith by Christ crucified to the Christians truly comfortably handeled which benefite if all christians did truly vnderstand and faithfully embrace this diuision would vanish away and in Christ the christiās shold become one To this end reade this booke and much good in Christ may it do to all them which do reade it Amen ¶ The Translater sendeth greeting to all Christians that are vnder Heauen I Cannot maruell ynough wherof it commeth that all of vs are more moued by iniuries than by benefyts and that we take the one so much to hart imprinting them in our rememberance and forget the other so suddenly Truly vve cannot deny but that among so manie other imperfections vvherwith we are vnhappely defyled we haue also takē this of the great corruption and maymednesse of our earthly transitorie humane nature vvherin ther cannot be imagined any thing more vnconuenient nor more hurtfull than reprochefull vnthankfulnesse vvhich a man myght ryghtly terme the welspring of al vyces For by it our minds are so drawen away peruerted that the more we be beset rownd about and loden with the benefits of GOD our souerein Father so much the more become we blookish and as it were distraught and out of our wits ronning after our owne lustes and vanities where through as though wee had drunke of the riuer Lethe we fouget our selues and mispend our whole time bwisying our heads like litle children that go seeking of pinnes in the sand wherabout they are so wholly occupyed that although a man cal them they here him not or at leastwise make as though they herd him not frō whence if we did now and thē lift vp our eyes vnto heauē inforce our selues to remember the great benefits that we dayly receiue of his right fatherly goodnesse and mercie it were not to be dowted but we shold be more inclined to loue him to obei his holy will than we be wheras which worse is we be not only careles to yeald dew thākes vnto him but also at all times cease not to offende him so deepely is the vyce of vnthākfulnes rooted in vs Ryghtly may he be blamed for vnthankfulnesse which acknowledgeth not the good that hath bin done to him at leastwyse by saying gramercie Vnthankfull is he that forgetteth it but toto vnthākfull is he that rēdereth euil for good VVherfore we cā find no lawfull excuse bicause that which waye soeuer we turne our selues the bountifulnesse of this great GOD shyneth throughot vppō vs Let vs a little sturre vp our wits and let vs looke about vs as farre and wyde as this howge frame of the worlde may extende so deuynely set togither and garnished with so great diuersitie of goodly creatures so well compassed and in such an order so vvysely compacted that there is nothing superfluouse nothing vnprofitable nothing wherof ther may not be rēdred a rason This howge Sonne the fountayne of all lyght and heate and the cause of all earthly generacion the Moone which marketh vs out the yeeres the monethes and the seasons the Sky so trimly azured and richely sette with glistering starres this howge Sea which beateth vpon al sydes of the earth the weyght wherof is born vppon his own round counterpeis the great nomber of liuing creatures that are vppon it whereof some flye in the ayre euerywhere dispersed and othersome dwell in the holow caues of it which nature hath fashioned of set purpose for them vvhat shal I say more So many high moūtaines within whose veynes are found innumerable tresures And others from whēce issew many a fayre spring spowting out their thinne and cleere water And othersome wheroutof doo gush violent streams and plesāt riuers nourishing infinite nombers and kindes of fishes So many trees and plants yelding most delicate fruites and sweete sauours Such store of medicinable herbes and rootes So many plaines and vallyes most fruitfull Such store of medowes beawtifyed with their louely flowers And to be short the ful howgenesse of the whole the power of the Elemēts and the natural beawtie of the creatures what are they else but the vtteraunce and open shewing of gods loue great liberality towards vs of which eche one in his kinde giueth glory to the Lorde yea aske euen the beasts and they will informe thee demaund of the fowles of the aire and they wil tell thee or else speake to the earth and she will report vnto thee and to the fisshes of the Sea and they wil answer thee The Lord spake the word and we were made he commaunded and we were created For in his hand is the life of euery liuing thing Aud by him haue al of vs our being mouing continewance Such is the speech of all creaturs Onely man who is made after the image and likenesse of god indewed with vnderstāding memorie and reason shewing himselfe in that beehalfe more vnhappie than the brute beasts passeth ouer the abundāce of so great benefyes with his eyes shet betrampling and beraying them with his feete as a swyne doth precious stones In somuch that after he hath once wholly buryed remembrance ther insueth ignorance vtter blyndnesse O lamentable state of reasonable man who can hope for any change in thee except it be from euil to worse seing thou hast no knowledge at all of God and that all his benefits are despysed through thyne extreme vnthankfulnesse in this behalfe If so many creatures wherwith this whole howge worlde is garnished to thy vse and to touch thee yit more neerely if the cunning compacting togither of thyne owne bodie which may well be called a little world as
that the iustification by fayth was sufficient of it selfe but went about stil to be made rightuous by the law Unto whom S. Paule saieth Iesus Christe shall nothing profyt you that iustifie your selues by the Lawe for you be falne from grace bicause that we thorough the spirit of fayth wayte for the hope of rightuousnesse Now if the séeking of rightuousnesse forgiuenes of sinnes by the kéeping of the lawe which God gaue vppon mount Sinai with so great glorie and maiestie be the denying of Christ and of his grace what shal we say to those that will néedes iustifie themselues afore God by their owne lawes and obseruaÌ„ces I would wish that such folkes should a little compare the one with the other and afterward giue iudgment themselues God myndeth not to doe that honour nor to giue that glorie to his owne lawe and yit they will haue him to giue it to mennes lawes ordinances But that honour is giuen onely to his onely begotten sonne who alone by y sacrifice of his death and passion hath made full amends for all our sinnes past present and to come as sainct Paule and sainct Iohn declare Wherfore as ofteÌ„ as we apply this satisfactioÌ„ of Iesus Christs vnto our soules by fayth out of all dout we obteyne forgiuenes of our sinnes and become good rightuouse before God through his ryghtuousnes And therefore after that sainct Paule hathe said that as touching the ryghtuousenes of y lawe he had liued vnblameable he addeth yit whatsoeuer I haue gayned by it I haue accounted it in al respects to be but losse for the loue of christ And specially I esteme al things to be losse for the excelleÌ„t knowledge of Iesus Christ my Lord for whome I haue counted all thinges to be losse déeme them but as dung so I may win Christ bée fouÌ„d in him not hauing myne owne rightuousenesse which is of the lawe but the righteousnesse which is by the fayth of Iesus Christ which rightuousnes is giuen of god I mene the rightuousnes of faith that I may come to the knowledge of Iesus Christ. O most notable wordes which all Christians ought to haue ingrauen in their hartes praying God to make them to tast it perfectly Lo how S. Paule sheweth plainly that whosoeuer knoweth Christ aright estéemeth all the works of the law to bée hurtful for so much as they make vs to swarue from our trust in Iesus Christ to whom euery man ought to impute his saluation to trust only vnto him alone And to inforce this sentence the more he addeth further that he estéemeth all things but as dung so he may gayne Christ and be fouÌ„d incorporated in him declaring thereby that whosoeuer trusteth in his own workes and pretendeth to iustifie him selfe by them getteth not Iesus Christ nother is ingreffed into him â–ª And forasmuch as the whole mistery of our faith consisteth in the truth hereof â—o the end we might the better vnderstand what he ment to say he addeth and repeteth oftentimes y he had nothing to doo with al the outward iustification al the rightuousnes that is grouÌ„ded vppon the keping of the law but that he wold cloth him selfe with y rightuousnes which God giueth by faith to al theÌ„ y beleue that all our sinnes are fully chastized punished in Iesus Christ that Iesus Christ as S. Paule saieth is made our wisdome rightuousnes holines redemption to the end as it is written y he which will glorie should glorie in the lord not in his own workes Uery true it is that in the holy scriptures ther are some texts to be found which being misvnderstode séeme to gaynsay this holy doctrine of S. Paules to attribute iustification remission of sinnes vnto works to charitie But those authorities haue alredy bin wel expounded by somme who haue shewed playnly y such as haue vnderstode theÌ„ in the sence aforesaid vnderstode them not aright Wherfore my déerebeloued brethren let vs not folow the fond opinion of y bewitched GalathiaÌ„s but rather let vs folow y truth which s. Paul teacheth vs let vs giue the whol glorie of our iustification vnto Gods mercy to y merits of his sonne who by his own bludshed hath set vs frée froÌ„ y souereintie of the law from y tyrannie of sin death hath brought vs into y kingdom of god to giue vs life and endlesse felicitie I say yet further y he hath deliuered vs from y dominion of the lawe insomuch as he hath giuen vs his holy spirit who teacheth vs all truth and that he hath satisfied the lawe to the full giuen the same satisfaction vnto al his members that is to wit to all true Christians so as they may safely appéere at Gods throne bicause they be clothed with the rightuousnesse of hys Christ and by him deliuered from the curse of the lawe Then cannot y lawe any more accuse vs or condemne vs nor moue our affections or appetites nor increase sin in vs And therefore Sainct Paule saieth that the Obligacion which was against vs is cancelled by Iesus Christ discharged vppon the trée of the crosse insomuch as he hath set vs frâ—e from the subiection of the lawe and coÌ„sequently from the tyrannie of sin death which can no more hereafter hold vs oppressed bicause it is ouercome by Iesus christ in his resurrectioÌ„ so coÌ„sequently by vs which are his members in such maner y wée may say with Saincte Paule and with the Prophet Osee Death is quytâ— vanquished destroyed O Death wher is thy 〈◊〉 O Hel wher is thy victorie The sting of Death is â—in and the strength of sin is the lawe But God bée praysed who hath graunted vs vicâ—orie by our Lord Iesus Christ. He is the blesâ—ed séede that hathe crusshed the head of y veâ—emous Serpent that is to wit of the Diuell insomuch that all those which beléeue in Ieâ—us Christ reposing their whole trust in his grace doo ouercome sin death the Diuel and Hell as Christ hath done Hée is that blessed séede of Abraham in the which god hath promised blissednesse to all NacioÌ„s It behoued euery particuler person to fight with the sayd horrible Serpent and too deliuer hym selfe from that curse But that enterprise was so great that all the force of the whole world knitte together was not able too go through with it Wherfore our God y father of mercie being moued with compassion of our miseries hath giueÌ„ vs his only begotteÌ„ sonne who hath deliuered vs from y veniâ— of the Serpent is him selfe become our blissednesse rightuousnes condicionally y we accept the same renouÌ„cing al our own otward iustifications Then my déere bréethren let vs imbrace the rightuousnesse of our Lorde Iesus Christ and lette vs make it ours by means of fayth let vs assure our selues that we bée rightuouse not for our
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
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
some one may say to mée that the christian can not by any means know that he is in gods fauour without some speciall reuelation and so consequently that he cannot knowe whither he be predestinated or no. And hée may specially alledge these woordes of Salomon A man knoweth not whither he be worthy of hatred or of loue and also these wordes of the Apostle Sainct Paule to the Corinthians I féele not my selfe gilty of any thing and yit féele I not my selfe iustifyed for all that It séemeth to be sufficiently declared by the textes of holy Scripture that the saide opinion is false and now remaineth onely to be shewed briefely that these two textes whereuppon the same opinion is chiefly grounded ought not to be taken in that sence As touchinge Salomons sentence although it bée scarse well and faythefully translated in the common translation yit is there not any man so dul who in reading Salomons whole discourse may not playnely perceyue by saying so he ment that if any man will take vppon him to iudge by the casualties â–ª that happen in this lyfe who is loued or hated of GOD he laboreth in vayne considering that the selfesame chaunces which light vppon the rightuouse light also vppon the vnrightuouse vppon him that Sacriâ—â—zeth as wel as vpon him that sacrifizeth not as soone vpoÌ„ the good maÌ„ as vpoÌ„ y sinner Wher of it may be gathered y god doth not always shew his loue towards those whoÌ„ he indueth with outward prosperities contrariewyse that he sheweth not his displeasure towards those whom hee punisheth Then my right deere brethren in Christ Iesus our Lorde doe you thinke it reason to conclude that a man cannot be sure of Gods fauour bycause the same surenesse cannot bee perceyued by the sundrie chaunces that happen euery day in theis transitory temporal things A litle afore SalomoÌ„ saith y a man can not discerne any difference betwene y soule of a maÌ„ the life of a beast for it is seene that both maÌ„ beast die after one maner Shal we then conclude by this outward accident y the persuaâ—ioÌ„ which we haue conceiued of the immortality of the soule is grouÌ„ded but only vppon coniecture No surely and it were a great follye to stande vppon a thing so notablye knowen And as for Saincte Paules words I say that for asmuch as he was spâ—aking of the administration of the gospell hée ment that his hart misgiues him not of any misdealing therin and yit for all that that he is not sure he hath done his whole duetie to the full and therein obteyned the prayse of rightuousenes to Godward as if hée had done all that pertained and was conuenient to be done by a faithfull Steward and therfore in speaking of his office like a iust and discrete persone he durst not iustifie himself nor auow that he had discharged his deutie to the vttermost and satisfyed his lords wil but â—eferred all things to the only iudgemeÌ„t of his lord And verely who soeuer readeth these words of the Apostle Sainct Paule and considereth the wordes going afore them with some iudgement and likewise the woordes that folowe will not doubt but this is the true sence of them I know well that some men in expounding these words of the Apostle sainct Paule say that although he knewe himself to be without sin yit he knewe not whether he were rightuouse to Godward or no accordinge as Dauid affirmeth that no man can perfectly knowe his owne sinnes But these meÌ„ perceiue not that Saint Paule groundeth not rightuousenes vppon woorks but vpon faith and that hée vtterly refuseth his own rightuousenesse to imbrace only the rightuousnes which God hath giuen vs thorough our Lord Iesus Christ. Also they consider not that he was most certein to bée accepted for rightuous in maynteining the soundnesse and purenesse of the christeÌ„ faith and that he knewe well howe the crowne of that righteousnes was layd vp for him in heauen and also that hee was fully assured that no creature in heauen earth nor hell was able to separate him from the loue of God and that he longed to dye bicause hée knew for a truth y after his death he should be with Iesus Christe All which thinges should be false if he had not bin well assured that he was rightuouse I meane by faith not by works Therfore my déerbeloued brethren let vs cease to speake that thing of the Apostle Sainct Paule which he neuer once thought of himself but féersly fought agaynst it continually in answering such as measured rightuousenes by woorks not by faith in our Lord Iesus Christ. But besides these two auctorities of Salomon and sainct Paul a man might alledge some other places of holy scripture which wheras they warne and incorage men to feare God séeme to be contrarie to the assurance of this our predestination And if I would declare them all particularly I should be ouer long But I say generally that y feare of punishment was proper to the old TestameÌ„t and childly loue to the new Testament according as S. Paule witnesseth when he sayeth to the Romanes ye haue not receyued the spirit of bondage to feare but ye haue receiued y spirit of adoptioÌ„ wherby we â—rye father father And likewise vnto Timothie he sayeth y god hath not giueÌ„ vs y spirit of fearfulnes but rather of power and loue which spirit Iesus Christ hath giuen vs according to the promis made by the mouth of the holy Prophets and brought to passe that we being deliuered out of our enemyes handes may serue him without feare before his holy presence in all holinesse and rightuousenesse all the dayes of our life By theis many other places of the holy Scripture a man may plainly gather that y peynfull and slauish fearfulnesse agreeth not with a Christian and this is alredie confirmed by this that such maner of fearfulnesse is vtterly contrarie to the spirituall cherefulnes and ioy which is peculiar to the christian as the Apostle Sainct Paule sheweth openly to the Romanes saying that the kingdome of God is rightuousenesse peace ioy in the holy ghost that is to say y euery man which entereth into the kingdome of the grace of the gospel is become rightuouse through fayth and afterward addeth peace of conscience which consequently bréedeth such a spiritual and holy rest gladnesse in respect wherof the same Sainct Paule doth oftentimes incorage the christians to liue merily And sainct Peter sayeth that all they which beleeue in Iesus Christ do continually reioyce with an vnspeakable and gloriouse ioy notwithstanding that they be afflicted with diuerse temptations And therfore wheÌ„ the holy scripture threateneth and frayeth the christians they must vnderstand that it speaketh to such as are so licenciouse that forsomuche as they kepe not the thankfulnesse and honestie that belong to GODS children they must
thy misdoinges are pardoned thée through Iesus christ And in so doing thou shalt giue y glorie vnto God by confessing him to be mercifull and trew shalt become rightuouse and holy before God forsomuch as by the same confessioÌ„ y holines righteousnesse of Iesus Christ shal be communicated vnto thée But to returne to our purpose of predestinatioÌ„ I say that by the thinges aboue mencioned a man may euidently perceyue that the assuraunce of predestination doth not hurt but rather greately profit the trew Christians And I thinke not that it can hurte the false Christians and reprobates For albeit that such maner of folk would beare them selues in hand and pretend to the worldward to be of the nomber of the predestinate yit can they neuer perswade their owne consciences which wil euer bée gnawing and crying out to the contrarie But yit it séemeth greatly that the doctrine of predestination may hurt them For they be wont to say If I bée of the nomber of y reprobates what shall it auaile mée to do good works And if I be of y nomber of the predestinate I shal be saued without any laboring of myne to do good works I answer thée at fewe wordes that by suche diuelish argumeÌ„ts they increace gods wrath ageinst themselues who hath disclozed the knowledge of predestination to the Christians to make them whot and not câ—ld in the loue of God and to set them foreward and not backward vnto good workes And therfore the trew Christian on the one side holdeth himself assuredly predestinated vnto euerlasting lyfe and to be saued not at all by his owne merites but by Gods electioÌ„ who hath predestinated vs not for our own workes lakes but to shewe the greatnesse of hys mercie And on y other side indeuereth himselfe to do good workes after the example of Iesus Christ as much as if his saluation depended vppon his own policie and paynestaking As for hym that ceasseth to do good bycause of the Doctrine of predestination saying if I be predestinated I shalbée saued without streyning of my self to do good workes he sheweth euidently that his traueling is not for the loue of God but for the loue of himself By reason whereof the workes that he doth may perhaps be good and holy to the sight of men but they be wicked and abhominable before the Lorde God who hath an eye to the intent And hereuppon it may be gathered that the doctrine of predestination worketh rather good than harme to the false christians For it discouereth their hipocrisie which can not cure it selfe so long as it lyeth hidden vnder the mantel of outward works But I would haue them that saye I will not streyne my self to do well for if I be predestinated I shal be saued without tyring of my self so much I say I would haue them tell mée how it happeneth that when they be diseased they say not also I wil haue neyther Phisicion nor phisick for looke what God had determined vppon mée cannot but come to passe why eate they why drincke they why till they the ground why plant they Uines and why bée they so diligent in dooing all thinges conuenient for too susteyne the body why saye they not also that all theis turmoylynges pollices and trauels of ours are superfluouse forasmuch as it is not possible but that what soeuer God hath foreséene and determined concerning our lyfe and death muste néedes come to passe And therefore if Gods prouidence make them not negligent and idle in things perteining to the body Why should it make them more slothfull and negligent in that which concerneth the Christen perfection which without all comparison is farre nobler than the bodie But for asmuch as wée sée that neither Iesus Christe nor Sainct Paule for any doubt of offending the reprobates haue forborne to preache the trueth which is necessarie to the edifying of the chosen for the loue of whom the euerlasting Sonne of GOD became man and was put to death vppon the crosse wee also in like wise ought not to forbeare the preaching of predestination to the true Christians for asmuch as wee haue seene that it importeth great edification Now are we come to the end of our purpose wherein our chief intent hath bin according to our small power to magnifie the wonderfull benefite which the Christen man hath receyued by IESUS Christ crucified and to shewe that faith of hir self alone iustifieth that is to witt that God receyueth and holdeth them for rightuouse which beleeue stedfastly that Chryste hath made full amends for their sinnes how beit that as light cannot be separated from Fyre which of it selfe burneth and deuoureth all things euen so good woorks can not bee separated from fayth which alone by iâ—selfe iustifieth And this holy doctrine which exalteth Iesus Christ and represseth and abateth the pryde of man hath and alwayes shal be reiected and fought against by such Christians as haue Iewish mindes But happy is hee who folowing the example of Sainct Paule spoileth himselfe of his owne rightuousenesse and would haue none other rightuousenesse than that which is of Iesus Christ wherwith if he be clothed and apparelled he may most assuredly appeere before God and shall receiue his blissing and the heritage of heauen earth with his only Sonne Iesus Christ our lord to whom be all honor praise glory from this time forth for euermore Amen Christ is the ende of Law. â— Cor. 8. Iob. 12. The statâ— of man before and after that he had 〈◊〉 Psal. 114. Psal. 14. Originall sâ—n A verye good compaâ—ison Who is our neybour The 〈◊〉 office or dewtie of the lawe Rom. 3. and 7. The second office of the lawe The third office of the lawe Deu. 27. 2. Cor. 3. The forth office of the Lowe Rom. 4 The fifth office of the lawe Exod. 20 Coloss. 3 Act. 4. Mat. 11. Iohn 7. Iohn â— Gal. 3. Iohn 8. 1. Cor. 15. Psal. 50 Rom. 5 The greatneâ—â—e of sin 〈◊〉 not to cause despayre â— Cor. 5. Gala â— An excellent comparison of the â—â—â—bilitie of our owne woorks Hebr. 7. Iohn 12. Phil. 3 â— Cor. 1. How man is deliuered and set free from the curse of the lawe Gal. 3. Rom. 8. Colost 2 1. Cor. 15 Gen. 3 How we 〈◊〉 the likenesse of God. A very good sâ—militude expressing the maner how our 〈◊〉 are taken away by Christ. Math. 28 Phil. 2 Ephe. 5. Iohn 3. How the faithfull mans sowle is assuâ—ed of his being maried vnto Christ. Act. 5 Mat. 2 2. Cor. 3. Iohn 6 Iohn 3 Iohn 11. Iohn 12. 1. Iohn 4 Hebr. â— A very goodly sâ—â—ilitude â—it for the expressing of the free for giuensse of siâ—â—es for Iesus Christes sake â— Cor. 1. Heb. 4 Heb. 10. Heb. 8 Rom. 4. Gen. 1â— Rom 2. Gala. 3. Abac. 2. Gal. 3. Rom. 10. S. Augustin Origen * Marie magdalen Luke 6. Fayth is the mark of those that are iustified Esai 64. S. Basil. S. Hilary S. Ambrose Rom. 4 Psal. 31 S. Bernard Gen. 17. A very good comparisoÌ„ how we be clothed with the rightuousenesse of Iesus Christ. No man 〈◊〉 boast of the performaÌ„ce of gods lawe Psal. 102. Pro. 20. Iob. 1â— â—â—ohn 2. Math. 6. Luke 17 Acts. 1â— How the workes of y faithfull though thei be vnperfect please GOD. Math. 2â— In whaâ— maner faith iustifyâ—th Ephe. 3. Mat. 12. Rom. 6. Sainct Paule calleth them Sainctes whom we call Christians He that beleueth cannot be with out good workes Markâ— 9. Iames. 2. Apoc. 3. A liuely coÌ„parison Whâ—t S. Iames ment concerning workes Iames. 2. â— heauenly 〈◊〉 Iohn 17. Rom. 4. 2. Cor. 6. 1. Peter 2 Gala. 3. Hebr. 9. Gala. 6. Luke 2. Tit. 2. Rom. 8. Gala. 3. Rom. 8. Iesus Christ y trew exaÌ„ple of chriâ—â—â—ans 1. Peter 2 Ephe. 4. Rom. 15. Phil. 2. Math. 1â— 2. Tim. 2 Rom. 12. 1. Tim 1 Gala. 5 Luke 9. Iohn 15. Phil. 3. 2. Cor. 12 2. Cor. 4. Gala. 6. Rom. 5. After what sort patience ingendereth triall Rom. â— 2. Cor. 2. Mark. 9. Foure remedies against the teÌ„ptacioÌ„s of distrust Prayer Math. 9. 1. Thes. 5 Tru prayer Baptisme 1. Pet. 3. Mark. 16 Gala. 3. Rom. 4. Psal. 36. The supper of the Lord. Luke 22 Mark. 16 Gala. 3. Hebr. 9. Ireneus Lib. 1. Iohn 6. 1 Cor. 11. What is ment by not making a difference of the lords bodie He y receiueth this Sacrament protesteth himself to trust in none other thing than the blud of Christ. Uery coÌ„fortable counsel Rom. 4. Rom. 8. Why the holy SacrameÌ„t of thankesgiuâ—ng was ordeyâ—ed Christen peace and vnyoâ— are betokened by the bread and Wyne â—e that offendeth one of his Christen brethren offendeth Christ himself A preparatioÌ„ to y receyuing of y holy Sacrament He that receyueth y SacrameÌ„t byndeth himself to al y dewlies of charitie The trew and for which the holy Sacrament is ordeined The fourth remedie against distrust Ephe. 5. Luke 10 Psal. 36. Rom. 8. He y reâ—eyueth y Gospel is sure y he is predestinated â— he effect y precede of y knowleg for predestination Rom. 8. 1. Iohn 3. â—phe 1. Hebr. 3. Hebr. 10 AfflictioÌ„s at no signes of reprobation Pro 5. 〈◊〉 trew 〈◊〉 to know â—â—ods children by â—phe 2. Wherefore y Apostle calleth y holy Gost y sâ—irit of 〈◊〉 Gala. 3. Rom. 8. Rom. 8. A true mark of predestis nation 1. Cor. 2. Rom. 8. 1. Cor. 12 He that glorieth not y he hath y holy ghost is no true ChristiaÌ„ Iohn 14. Eccle. 6. 1. Cor. 4. A Man may knowe y he is in Gods faâ—or By the chaunces Of this life no maÌ„ caÌ„ iudge whther a maÌ„ be in Gods fauor or displeasure Rom. 3. 5 Phil. 3. 2. Tim. 4 Rom. 8. Phil. 1. The two â—ortâ—s of feare child y 〈◊〉 Rom. 8. 2. Tim. â— Rom. 14 Ephe. 6. Phil. 4. 1. Peter 1 The slaâ—ish feare threateneth the wicked and the childly feare 〈◊〉 y chozen The effects of childly fear Eph 4. The christian may warrant him self y forgiuenes of his slunes S Hilary Iames. 1. S. Augustin S. Bernard Eche one must beleue particularly that hie sinnes are released forgiueÌ„ him freely Eche one must beleue particularly that his sinnes are released forgiueÌ„ him freely ¶ Imprinted at London by Thomas East for Lucas Harison and George Bisshop