with diuerse temptations And therefore when the holy Scripture threatneth and frayeth the christians they must vnderstande that it speaketh to such as are so licencious that for somuche as they kéepe not the thankfulnesse honesty that beloÌ„ng to Gods children they must be handled as seruantes and hilde in awe vntill they come to taste and féele how swéete and pleasant the Lord is and untill such time as faith worke his affectes in them and that they haue so much childly loue as may suffice to kéepe and mainteine them in honestie of Christian conuersation and in folowing the example of our Lorde Iesus Christe And when the selfe same scripture exhorteth Christians to the true feare it meaneth not that they should feare the iudgement and wrath of God as though it were presently ready to condeÌ„ne theÌ„ for as I haue saide already by the record which the holy Ghost geueth to theyr spirite they knowe that God hath chosen them and called them of his owne méere mercy and not for their deserts By reason whereof they doubt not at all but y â— by the selfesame goodnesse mercy he will mainteine them in the happy state wherein hee hath placed them And after suche manner scripture exhorteth them not to slauish feare but to childishe that is to wit that like good children they shoulde bee loath too offend against the Christian religion or to commit any thing against the duty and honestie of Gods true children and likewise too gréeue the holy Ghost that dwelleth in them to the ende that knowing the corruptednesse of our nature wée shoulde alwayes be héedefull and diligent and neuer haue any trust in our selues for in our flesh and in our mindes do the appetites and affections continually dwell which as deadly enimies of the soule lay a thousande snares and baytes for vs incessantly labouring too make vs prowde ambicious lecherous and couetous This is the feare wherevnto the whole Scripture exhorteth the Christiaes that haue once tasted howe swèete the Lorde is and which bestowe all their indeuour in following Christes footesteppes who cast not from them this holy feare because they labour to put of the old man And the good Christians must neuer bereaue themselues quite cleane of this childly feare which is the singular friende of Christian charitie like as the slauishe feare is such an enemie vnto it as they can by no meanes dwell togeather And by the the foresaide thinges a man may plainely perceiue that the good Christian ought neuer too doubt of the forgiuenesse of his sinnes nor of Gods fauour Neuerthelesse for the better satisfiyng of the Reader I purpose too set downe héere vnder certayne authorities of the holy Doctours which comfirme this foresaid trueth Saint Hyllary in his fifth Canon vpon Matthew sayth it is Gods wyll that we should hope without any doubting of his vnknowne wil. For if the beliefe bée doubtfull there can bée no righteousnesse obteined by beléeuing And thus wée sée that according to S. Hyllary a man obteineth not forgeuenesse of his sinnes at Gods hande except hèe belèeue vndoubtedly to obteine it And good right it is that it shoulde bée so For he that doubteth is like a waue of the sea which is tossed and turmoyled with the winde And therefore let not such a one thinke to obteine any thing at Gods hand But let vs heare Saint Augustine who in his Manuell counselleth vs too driue away the saide foolish imagination which intendeth to dispossesse vs of the foresaide good and sage assurednesse Let such foolish imagination sayth hee murmure as much as it lifteth saying who art thou How 's great is that glory By what desertes hopest thou too obteine it I answere assuredly I knowe in whome I haue beléeued and I know that hée of his great loue hath made mée his sonne I knowe hée is true of his promise and able too perfourme his worde For hée can doe what hée will And when I thinke vpon the Lords death the multitude of my sinnes cannot dismay mée 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 and the merâ—y of the Lorde is my desert I am not poore of desert so long as the Lord of mercy sayleth me not And sith the mercies of y â— Lord are many many also are my deseruinges The more y â— hée is of power to saue the more am I sure to bée saued The same S. Augustin talking with GOD in another place sayth that hée had despayred by reason of his great sinnes and infinite negligences if the woorde of GOD had not become flesh And aâ—one after hée sayth these wordes All my hops all the assurance of my trust is setled in his precious blood which was shed for vs and for our saluation In him my poore heart taketh breath and putting my whole trust in him I long to come vnto thée O Father not hauing mine owne righteousnesse but that righteousnesse of thy sonne Iusus Christe In these two places Saint Augustine sheweth plainely that the Christian must not be afraide but assure him selfe of righteousnesse by grounding himselfe not vpon his owne workes but vpon the precious blood of Iesus Christe which cleanseth vs from all our sinnes and maketh our peace with GOD. Saint Bernarde in his first Sermon vppon the Annunciation saueth moste euidently that it is enough to beléeue that a man can haue forgiuenesse of our sinnes but by Gods mercy nor any one good desire or abilitie too doe so muche as one good worke except GOD geue it him no nor that a man cannot deserue eternall life by his workes but if GOD geue him the gifte so to beléeue But besides all these things sayth Saint Bernard which ought rather too bée counted a certaine entraunce and foundation of our faith it is néedeful that thou beléeue also that thy sinnes are forgeuen thée for the loue of Iesus Christe Sée howe this holy man confesseth that it is not enough too beléeue generally the forgeuenesse of sinnes but hée must also beléeue particularly that his owne sinnes are forgeuen him by Iesus Christe and the reason is ready at hande namely that forasmuche as GOD hath promised thée to accept thée for righteous through the merites of Iesus Christe if thou beléeue not that thou art become righteous through him thou makest GOD a lyer and consequently thou makest thy selfe vnworthie of thy grace and liberality But thou wilt say to me and I beléeue wel the forgeuenesse of sinnes and I knowe that GOD is true but I am afraide that I am not worthie to haue so great a gift I answere that the forgiuenes of thy sinnes shall not be a gift of free grace but a wages if God woulde geue it thée for the worthinesse of thy workes But I reply vpon thée that God accepteth thée for righteous and laieth not thy sinne to thy
the members of his eldest sonne whose perâ—ection and righteousnesse doeth supply all our vncleannesse and imperfection which arenot layde to our charge forsomuche as they be couered vnder the purenes and innocencie of Iesus Christe and come not to iudgement before God And héereupon it coâ—neth too passe that all our woorkes which proceede of a true faith notwithstanding that they be wholy sinful and corrupt of themselues shall neuerthelesse bée praysed and allowed by Iesus Christe in the generall iudgement because they bee the fruites and Testimonies of our faith whereby wee bée saued For insomuche as we haue loued y â— brethren of Iesus Christ wée shall shew euidently that wée haue also béene faithfull and brethren of Christe and therefore by faith wée shall bee put in full possession of the euerlasting kingdome which our soueraigne Lord God hath prepared for vs before y â— creating of the world not for our merites sakes but through his mercy whereby he hath chosen vs and called vs to the grace of his Gospel and made vs righteous to the intent to glorifie vs euerlastingly with his only begotten sonne Iesus Christe who is the holinesse and righteousnesse of vs but not of them which wyll not confesse that faith is sufficient of it selfe too make a man righteous and acceptable to the Lord GOD who through his fatherly goodnes and louing kindnes offereth and giueth vs Iesus Christe with his righteousnesse without any desert of our owne works What thing can work or cause a man too deserue so great a gyfte and Ireasure as Iesus Christe is This treasure is geuen only through the grace fauour and mercyfulnesse of GOD and only faith is the thing that receiueth suche a gift as too make vs inioy the forgiuenesse of our sinnes And therfore when S. Paul other Doctors say that only faith maketh men righteous without workes they meane y â— it maketh vs so inioy y â— general forgeuenesse of our sinnes and to receiue Iesus Christ who as saith S. Paul dwelleth in our heartes by faith and ouercomming and pacifiyng the troubles of our consciâ—nces satisfieth Gods iustice for our sinnes Furthermore it appeaseth Gods wrath iustly mooued against vs quenetheth the fyre of Hell whereinto our naturall corruption did throw vs headlong and chéerefully destroyeth and ouerthroweth the Deuil togeather with al his power and tyranny Which things all y â— works that al y â— men in the worlde can lay together 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 too the blessed Iesus Christe who hath power aboue all the the powers that are in heauen in earth and in Hell and giueth himselfe and his merites to al such as distrusting in theÌ„selues doe set their whole hope of being saued in him and in his merites And therefore let no man beguile him selfe when hée heareth it saide that onely fayth iustifieth without workes and think as false christians doe who drawe all thinges to liue fleshly that the true faith consisteth in beléeuing the bare sâ—rory of Iesus Christ after the same manner as men beléeue the story of Caesar or Alexander Suche manner of beliefe is but an historicall belief grounded méerely vpon the report of men vpon their writinges lightly imprinted in our conceite by a certaine custome and is like to the faith of the Turkes who for the like reasons beléeue the fables of their Alcaron And such a faith is but an imagination of man which neuer renueth the harâ— of man nor warmeth it with the loue of God neyther doe any good woorkes insue or any change of life which faith shoulde bring foorth And therfore they falsty hold opinioÌ„ against y â— holy scripture and agaynst the holy Doctors of the church y â— only faith maketh not maÌ„e righteous but y â— they must also haue works vnto whoÌ„ I answere that this historical and fond beléefe and all the workes that insue therof are not only vnable to make a man righteous but also doo cast the parties headlong to the bottome of hel like vnto those y â— haue no oyle in their larpes that is to say no liecly â—aith in their harts The fayth that maketh men righteous is a work of God in vs wherby out old man is crucified wee being transformed in Iesus Christe become newe creatures the déere beloued children of God This heauenly faith is it that graffeth vs into the death and resurrection of Iesus Christ consequently mortifieth our flesh with the affects lustes therof For when we by the operation of fayth do knowe our selues to be dead with Iesus Christe wee are at a full point with our selues with the world are throughly resolued how it is méete that they which are dead with Iesus Christe shoulde mortifie their earthly members that is to wit the sinfull affections of they mind and the lusts of the flesh forasmuch as we know we bee raysed againe in Christ we bend our selues to the leading of a spirituall holy life like vnto that which we shal liue in heaueÌ„ after the last resurrection This holy fayth making vs to inioy the general pardâ—n that is published by the Gospel bringeth vs into the kingdome of our good God and pacifieth our coÌ„sciences mainteining vs in coÌ„tinual ioy holy spiritual sweetnes This self-same faith knitteth vs vnto God maketh him to dwell in our heartes clotheth our soule with himself so as theÌ„ceforth the holy Ghost moueth vs to doe the same things wherunto he moued Iesus Christ while he was in the world was coÌ„uersant among men that is to wit vnto lo wlines meekenes obedientnes vnto God louingnes other perfections wherthrough we recouer y â— image of God For these selfsame causes Iesus Christ did rightly attribute blessednes vnto this inspired faith which blessednes cannot be v â—out good works holines of life And how can it bée that a Christian should not beocme holy seeing that Iesus Christ is become his holines through â—aith Therfore by faith we be iustified saued and therfore S. Paul doth in a maner alwaies call those Saints whom we call nowe Christians who if they haue not Christs spirit are none of Christes consequeÌ„tly no ChristiaÌ„s at al. But if they have the spirit of Iesus Christe to rule and gouerne them we must not doubte but that although they knowe well that they bee made righteous through faith onely yet for al that they will become neuer the more slouthfull to do good workes For Christes spirite is the spirit of loue and loue cannot bee idle nor cease from the doing of good works But if we will say the truth a maÌ„ can do no good works except he first know himselfe to be become righteous by faith for before he knoweth that his dooing of good woorkes is rather too make himselfe righteous
insomche that he reioyceth or suffereth in his members Therfore like as Iesus Christe 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 meÌ„bers of our body wherof Christ is the head And this is the holy godly loue charity which springeth and procéedeth of the true vnfeined faith which GOD hath breathed into his elect which faith as saieth S. Paul worketh by loue Howbeit forasmuche as the life of our Lorde Iesus Christe wherewithal we must be clothed was a continuall crosse ful of troubles reproches persecutions if we wil fashion our selues like vnto his life we must coÌ„tinually beare the crosse as he himself saith If any man wil come after me let him forsake himselfe take vp his crosse and follow me But the chief cause of this crosse is for that our god purposeth to mortifie the affections of our mind and the lustes of our flesh by that exercise to the end we may conceaue in our selues the great perfection wherein we bee comprised by our Lorde Iesus Christe by being grafted into him Also his wil is that our faith being â—ined like gold in a furnace of troubles should shine bright too his glory Moreouer his intent is that we by our infirmities should set out his great power which the world in despite of it beholdeth in vs inasmuch as our frailtie becommeth strong by troubles and persecutions the more that it was beaten downe and oppressed so much the more it is strong stedfast Whereof the Apostle S. Paul saieth wee carry this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellencie of the power might be gods and not ours On all sides we suffer tribulation but wée are not ouercome wée bée poore but not ouercome of pouertie we suffer persecution but yet are we not forsakeÌ„ we be despised but yet we perish not and so we daily beare about vs the dying of our Lord Iesus Christin our body that the life of Iesus Christ may also be openly shewed in vs. And séeing the case is so y â— our Lorde Iesus Christ and all his deare disciples glorified God by tribulations let vs also imbrace them ioyfully and say with the Apostle S. Paul God forbid that I should glory saue in the Crosse of our Lorde Iesus Christe and let vs so deale as the worlde may whether it wil or no perceiue and sée with his eyes the wonderfull effectes that God worketh in such as sincerely imbrace the grace of his Gospell Let vs so deale I say as the worldlinges may sée with how great quietnesse of minde the true Christians indure the losse of theyr goodes w t death of their children slaunders the diseases of the body and the persecutions of false christians and also that they may sée how the only true Christians doe worship God inspirite and truthe taking in good woorth at his hand whatsoeuer hapneth and hoâ—ding all that he doeth to be good righteous and holy praysing him alwayes for the same whether it be inprosperite or aduersitie thanking him as a most gracious and louing father and acknowledging it for a right great gift of Gods goodnesse too suffer any aduersitie and chiefly for the go spell and for following the steps of Christ specially forasmuch as we know that tribularioÌ„ ingendreth pacience and pacience tryall and trial hope and hope maketh vs not ashamed I say y â— patience engendereth triall because that whereas God hath promised helpe in trouble to suche as trust in him we finde it by experience in that wee continue strong and stedfast all the whyle and are vpholden by the haÌ„d of God which thing we could not doe withal the powers that wée haue of our owne So then by patience wée finde that our Lorde geueth vs the helpe that he hath promised vs at our néede whereby our hope is confirmed And it were an ouer great vnthankfulnes not to trust to such an aide fauour for the time to come as wee haue founde by experience to be so certaine stedfast hâ—réfore But what néede wee so many wordes It ought to suffise vs to knowe that the true christians are through tribulation clothed with the image of our Lord Iesus Christe crucified which if wée beare willingly and with a good hearte we shall in the ende bée clothed with the image of Iesus Christe glorified For as the passions of Iesus Christe doe abounde so through him shall the consolations ouerabounde and if wée suffer with him héere below for a tyme we shall also regine with him there aboue for euer The sixth Chapter Certaine remedies against distrust BUt forasmuch as the Deuil and manâ— wisdome labour continually to dispossesse us of this most holy faith wherethrough we beléeue that all our sinnes are chastized punished in Iesus Christe and that through his most precious bloodshed we be reconciled to the maiestie of God it is very néedefull for a ChristiaÌ„ to haue his weapons alwaies in a readinesse to defend himselfe from the saide most mischieuous temptation which séeketh to bereaue the soule of her life Among the saide weapons in my iudgement the mightiest and best are Prayer the often vse of the holy communion the remembring of holie Baptisme and the minding of Predestination In our prayer we may well say with the father of the poore Lunatike person of whoÌ„ mentioÌ„ is made in the Gospel of S. Mark Lorde Iesus helpe mine vnbeliefe Or else we may say with the Apostles Lorde encrease our faith And if there reigne in vs a continuall desire to growe in faith hope loue we wil continually pray as S. Paul instructeth vs. For prayer is nothing else but a feruent minde setled vpon God By the remembring of Baptisme we shall assure our selues that we are at peace with God And forasmuch as S. Peter saith that the Ark of Noe was a figure of Baptisme therefore like as Noe was saued from the flood of the Arke because he beléeued y â— promises of God so also are we by faith saued in Baptisme from Gods wrath Which faith is grounded vppon the worde of our Lord Iesus Christe who saith y â— hee which beléeueth is baptized shal be saued And good right it is for in baptisme we put on Iesus Christ as the Apostle S. Paul affirmeth consequeÌ„tly we be made partakers of his righteousnes and of all his goodes vnder this precious robe the sinnes y â— our â—railtie committeth lie hidden and couered and are not imputed vnto vs. And so according as S. Paul saith the blessednes which the Psalmist speaketh of apperteineth vnto vs namely Blessed are they whose misdoings are forgeuen and whose sinnes are couered Blessed is the man to whomâ— the Lorde imputeth not sinne But it standeth a Christian in hand to take good héed that vpon these wordes
THE benefit that Christians receiue by Iesus Christ crucified Translated out of French into English by A. G. Imprinted at London at the three Cranes in the Vintree for George Bishop and Thomas Woodcocke 1580. To the English Reader THou hast here deliuered to thee good Reader a litle treatise first written in the Italian tongue and printed at Venice after that translated intoo thâ— French language and printed at Lions and nowâ— translated printed for thee to reade in the Englishe tongue Enquire not of the Author he is vnknowen and to know him would doe thee but little good Reade the booke deuoutly regard the matter of it attentiuely it may doe thee much good in these euil dayes This may be counted among the greatest euils with which this age is infected that they which are called christians are miserably diuided about Christ. And yet in trueth as the Apostle saith vnto vs there is but one God which is the father of whom are all things and we in him our Lord Iesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him To discourse on this diuision and the cause thereof woulde be to some pleasing to some it would be displeasing For what one truth can please mindes so diuersly diuided would God it could please al to become one in that one Christ whose name we all doe carrie In this little booke is that benefitâ— which commeth by Christ crucified to the Christians truely and comfortably handled which benefit if all Christians did truely vnderstand and faithfully embrace this diuision would vanishe away and in Christ the Christians should become one To this ende reade this booke and much good in Christ may it doe to all them which doe reade it Amen The Translator sendeth greeting to all Christians vnder heauen I Cannot maruell ynough whereof it commeth that all of vs are more mooued by iniuries then by benefites and that we take the one so much too hearte imprinting them in our remembraunce and forget the other so suddaynely Truely wee cannot denie but that among so many other imperfections wherewith wee are vnhappily defiled wee haue also taken this of the greate corruption and maymednesse of our earthly and transitorie humane nature wherein there cannot be imagined any thing more vnconuenient nor more hurtefull than reprochefull vnthankfulnesse whiche a man might rightly terme the welspring of all Vices For by it our myndes are so drawne away and peruerted that the more wee bee besette rounde aboute and loden with the benefites of GOD our Soueraigne Father so muche the more become wee blockishe and as it were distraught and out of our wits running after our own lusts and vanities wherthrough as though wee had drunke of the Riuer Lethe we forget our selues and misspende our whole time busying our heades like litle Children that goe seeking of pinnes in the Sande whereaboute they are so wholly occupied that although a man call them they heare him not or at leastwise make as though they hearde him not from whence if wee did nowe and then lifte vp our eyes vntoo Heauen and inforce our selues too remember the greate benefite that wee daily receiue of his right fatherly goodnesse and mercy it were not to be doubted but we shoulde be more inclined to loue him and too obey his holy will than wee be whereas which worse is we be not onely carelesse to yeeld due thanks vnto him but also at al times cease not to offend him so deepely is the vice of vnthankfulnesse rooted in vs. Rightly may he be blamed for vnthankefulnesse which acknowledgeth not the good that hath been doone to him at leastwise by saying Gramereie Vnthankfull is he that forgetteth it but tootoo vnthankful is he that rendereth euill for good Wherefore wee can finde no lawful excuse because that which way soeuer we turn our selues the bountifulnesse of this greate God shineth throughout vppon vs. Let vs a little stirre vp ouâ— wittes and let vs looke aboute vs as farre and wyde as the huge frame of thâ— world may exteÌ„d so diuinely set together garnished with so greate diuersitie of goodly creatures so wel coÌ„passed in such an order so wisely coÌ„pacted that ther is nothing superfluous nothing vnprofitable nothing whereof there may not be reÌ„dred a reasoÌ„ This huge Sun the fouÌ„tain of al light heat the cause of al earthly generation the Moone which marketh vs out the yeeres the monthes and the seasoÌ„s the sky so trimly azured richly set with the â—â—istering starres this huge Sea which beateth vpon all sides of the earth the weight wherof is borne vppon his owne rounde counterpeise the great number of liuing creatures that are vppon it whereof some flye in the Ayre euery where dispersed and othersome dwell in the hollow Caues of it which nature hath fashioned of set purpose for them what shal I say more So many high mountaynes within whose veynes are founde innumerable treasures And others from whence issue many a faire spring sprouting out their thin and cleere water And othersome whereout doe gushe violent streames and pleasaunt Riuers nourishing infinite numbers and kindes of fishes So many trees and plantes yeelding most delicate fruites and sweete sauours Such store of medicinable hearbes and rootes So many Playnes and Valleys moste fruiteful Such store of medowes beautified with their louely flowers And to be short the full hugenesse of the whole the power of the Elementes and thâ— naturall beautie of the creatures what are they else but the vtterance and open shewing of Gods loue and great liberaltie towardes vs of which ech one in his kinde giueth glory to the Lord yea aske euen the â—eastes they will informe thee demaund of the foules of the ayre and they wil tell thee or else speake to the earth and shee will reporte vnto thee and to the fishes of the Sea and they will answeare thee The Lorde spake the woorde and wee were made hee commaunded and we were created For in his hande is the life of euery liuing thing And by him haue all of vs our being moouing and continuance Suche is the speache of allcreatures Onely man who is made after the image and likenesse of God indued with vnderstaÌ„ding memorie and reason shewing himselfe in that behalfe more vnhappy then the brute beastes passeth ouer the aboundance of so greate benefites with his eyes shut betrampling and beraying them with his feete as a swine doth precious stones Insomuch that after he hath once wholly buried remembrance there insueth ignoraunce and vtter blindnesse O lamentable state of reasonable man who can hope for any change in thee except it be from euil to woorse seeyng thou hast no knowledgâ— at all of God and that all his benefites are despised through thine extreeme vnthankefulnesse in this behalfe if so many creatures wherewith this whole huge world is garnished to thy vse and to touche thee yet more neerely if the cunning compacting together of thine owne body which may well
of the threatnings which S. Paule vseth to the Galathians who hauing béene deceiued by false Preachers beleeued not that the Iustification by fayth was sufficient of it selfe but went about stil to be made righteous by thelaw Unto whom S. Paule saith Iesus Christ shall nothing profite you that iustifie your selues by the law for you bee falne from grace because that we through the spirit of sayth wayt for the hope of righteousnesse Now if the seeking of righteousnesse forgiuenesse of sinnes by the keeping of the law which GOD gaue vpon mount Sinai with so greate glorie and maiestie bée the denying of Christe and of his Grace what shall wée say to those that will néeds iustifie themselues afore God by theyr owne lawes and obseruances I woulde wishe that suche folkes shoulde a little compare the one with the other and afterwarde geue Iudgement themselues God myndeth not too doe that honour nor to geue that glory to his owne lawe yet they will haue him too geue it too mens lawes and ordinances But that honour is geuen onely to his onely begotten sonne who alone by the sacrifice of his death and passion hath made full amendes for al our sinnes past present and to come as Saint Paule and Saint Iohn declare Wherfore as often as we apply this satisfaction of Iesus Christs vnto our soules by fayth out of all doubt we obteine forgeuenesse of our sinnes and become good and righteous before God through his righteousnesse And therfore after that Saint Paule hath said that as touching the righteousnesse of the law he had liued vnblameable he addeth and yet whatsoeuer I haue gained by it I haue accompted in all respectes too bée but losse for the loue of Christe And specially I esteeme all thinges to bée losse for the excellent knowledge of Iesus Christe my Lord for whom I haue compted all things too bée losse and déeme them but as doung so may I winne Christ and be founde in him not hauing mine owne righteousnes which is of the lawe but the righteousnes which is by the fayth of Iesus Christe w t righteousnes is giuen by God I meane the righteousnes of faith that I may come to the knowledge of Iesus Christ. O most notable words which al Christians ought to haue engrauen in their hearts praying God to make them to fast it perfectly Lâ—e howe Saint Paule sheweth plainely that whosoeuer knoweth Christe aright estéemeth al the woorks of the lawe to be hurtfull for somuch as they make vs too swarue from our trust in Iesus Christ too whom euery man ought to impute his saluation and too trust onely vnto him alone And to inforce this sentence the more he addeth further that he estéemeth all things but as doung so he may gayne Christ he found incorporated in him declaring therby that whosoeuer trusteth in his owne workes pretendeth not iustifie himselfe by them getteth not Iesus Christ nother is engraffed into him And forasmuch as the whole mystery of our faith consisteth in the truth hereof to the end we might the better vnderstand what he meant to say he addeth and repeteth oftentunes that he had nothing to do with all the outward iustification all y â— righteousnes that is grounded vpon the keping of the law but y â— he would cloth himself with the righteousnes which God geueth by sayth to all them that beléeue that all our sinnes are fully chastised and punished in Iesu Christ and that Iesus Christ as Saint Paule saith is made our wisedom righteousnesse holinesse and redemption to the end as it is writteÌ„ that he which wil glory should glory in y â— Lord and not in his owne woorks Uery true it is that in the holy Scriptures there are some textes to be found which beyng misvnderstood séeme to gainesay this holy doctrine of Saint Paules to attribute iustification remission of sinnes vnto works and to charity But those authorities haue already byn well expounded by some who haue shewed plainly that such as haue vnderstood them in the sense aforesaid vnderstood them not aright Wherefore my déere beloued brethren let vs not folow the fond opinions of the bewitched Galathians but rather let vs followe the trueth which S. Paule teacheth vs and let vs geue the whole glory of our iustification vnto Gods mercie and to the merites of his Sonne who by his owne bloodshed hath set vs frée from the soueraintie of the law and from 〈…〉 geue vs life and endlesse felicitie I say yet further that he hath deliuered vs from the dominion of the lawe insomuch as he hath geuen vs his holy spirit who teacheth vs al truth that he hath satisfied the law to the ful giuen the same satisfactioÌ„ vnto al his members that is to wit to al true Christians so as they may safely appeare at Gods throne because they be clothed w t the righteousnes of his Christ by him deliuered from the curse of the lawe Then can not the law any more accuse vs or coÌ„ndenm vs nor moue our affections or appetites nor increase sinne in vs. And therefore S. Paule saith that the obligation which was against vs is cancelled by Iesus Christ discharged vpon the trée of the crosse insomuch as he hath set vs frée froÌ„ the subiectioÌ„ of the law consequently from the tyranny of sinne and death which can no more holde vs oppressed because it is ouercome by Iesus Christ in his resurrection so coÌ„sequently by vs which are his members in such maner that we may say with Saynte Paule and with the Prophet Osée Death is quite vanquished and destroied O death where is thy sting O Hel where is thy 〈…〉 strength of sinne is the law But God bée praised who hath granted vs victory by our Lorde Iesus Christ. He is the blessed séede that hath crushed the head of the venomous Serpent that is to wit of the Diuel insomuche that al those which beleue in Iesus Christe reposing their whole trust in his grace doe ouercome sinne death the diuel hel as Christ hath done He is that blessed séed of Abraham in the which God hath promised blessednesse to al nations It behooueth euery particular person too fighte with the sayd horrible serpent to deliuer himselfe froÌ„ that curse But that enterprise was so great that all the force of the whole world knit together was not able too goe through with it Wherfore our God the father of mercy being moued with compassion of our miseries hath geuen vs his onely begotten sonne who hath deliuered vs froÌ„ the venim of the serpent and is himself become our blessednesse and righteousnesse condicionally that we accept the same renouncing all our owne outwarde iustifications Then my déere brethren let vs imbrace the righteousnesse of our Lord Iesus Christ and let vs make it ours by meanes of fayth let vs assure our selues that we be righteous not for our own workâ— but
wee prepare our selues to this holy sacrament quickening vp our spirites with a feruent loue to our neighbourward For what greater spurre caÌ„ we haue to prick vs to loue one another thaÌ„ to sée that Iesus Christ by giuing himself vn too vs not onely allureth vs too geue our selues one to another but also by making himselfe common to vs all maketh vs also to be al one selfesame thing in him In respect wherof we ought to couet procure that in al of vs there may be but one mind one heart one touÌ„g accorded vnited together in thought words déeds And wée must mark wel that as oft as we receiue this holy and woorthy sacrament we binde our selues to all the dueties of charity as not to offende any of our brethren nor too leaue any thing vndone that may be profitable and helpfull in their necessity But if ther come any to this heauenly table of the Lord y â— are diuided at variaÌ„ce w t their brethreÌ„ the same must assure themselues that they eat vnworthily are guilty of the body blood of the Lorde that they eate and drinke their own damnation for that there wanted nothing on their behalfe but y â— the body of Iesus Christ was rent plucked in péeces again whilest they by hatred are diuided froÌ„ their brethren y â— vs to wit froÌ„ the members of Iesus Christ haue not any part w t him and yet neuertheles in receyuing this holy communion pretended to be Iéeuâ— that their whole saluation consisteth in the participation and vnion with Iesus Christ. Then let vs goe my brethreÌ„ to the receiuing of this heauenly bread to celebrate the remembrance of our Lords passion and to strengthen and fortify the belief and assurance of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes with the remembraÌ„ce therof and to quicken vp our minds toungs to praise exalt the infinit goodnes of our God and finally to cherish brotherly loue and to witnes y â— same one to another by â— streight vnioÌ„ w t al of vs haue in the body of our Lord Iesus Christ. Besides prayer and the remembring of Baptisme and the often resorting to the most holy communion there is one other very good remedy against di strust fearfulnes which is no lesse friend to Christian charity namely the remembrance of our predestination and election to eternal life grounded vpoÌ„ the word of God which is the sword of the holy Ghost wherwith we may beate back our enimies Reioyce ye in this saith the Lorde that your names are written in heauen There is no greater ioy in this life nor any thing that more comforteth the ChristiaÌ„ that is afflicted tempted or falne into any sinne than the remembraÌ„ce of predestinatioÌ„ the assuring of our selues that we be of the number of them whose names are written in the book of life w t are chosen to be fashioned like vnto the image of Iesus Christ O how unspeakeable is the comfort of him y â— hath this fayth museth coÌ„tinually in his heare vppon this excéeding swéet predestination wherby he knoweth y â— although he fall often yet notw tstanding God his father who hath foreordeined him too euerlasting life holdeth him vp reacheth out his hand vnto him coÌ„tinually And he saith continually in himselfe if God haue chosen me and predestinated me to the glory of his children who can hinder me If God bee with vs sayth S. Paule who can be against vs Nay rather to the end that the predestination may be accoÌ„plished in vs he hath sent his déere beloued sonne who is a most sure earnest penny pledge vnto vs that wee which haue receiued the grace of the Gospel are Gods children chosen to eternall life This holy PredestinatioÌ„ mainteineth the true christiaÌ„ in a continual spiritual ioy increaseth in him the indeuour of good works and inflameth him with the loue of God and maketh him enimy tothe worlde and to sinne Who is so fierce and hardharted which knowing that God of his mercy hath made him his child from euerlasting will not by by be inflamed to loue God Who is of so vile base courage y â— he will not estéeme al the pleasures al the honors al the riches of the world as filthy myre when he knowes that he hath made him a â—itizen of heauen yea these are they that worship God rightly in spirit truthe receiuing al thinges as well in prosperity as in aduersity at the haÌ„d of God their father â—nd euermore praising and thanking him or all as their good father who is righteâ—us and holy in al his woorks These being inflamed with the loue of God and armed with the knowledge of their Predestinatiâ—n feare neither death nor sinne nor the diuel nor hel neither know they what the wrath of God is for they sée none other thing in God but loue and fatherly kindenesse towardes them And if they fall into any troubles they accept them as tokens of Gods fauour crying out with S. Paule Who is it that shal separate vs from Gods loue shal tribulations shall anguish shall persecution or hunger or nakednes or perill or sword as it is written for thy sake are we killed all the day long and counted as shèep appoynted to the slaughter But in al these things we get y â— vpper haÌ„d through him that hath loued vs. Wherfore it is not for nought that Saint Iohn saith how the true Christians know right wel that they must be saued and glorified that by reasoÌ„ of the same affiance they make themselues holy as Iesus Christ is holy And when S. Paul exhorteth his disciples too 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 mindes of the true Christians to the louing of God and too the perfourmance of good woorkes And for the same cause our good Lord Iesus Christ speaketh openly of this holy predestination as one that knew of how great importaunce the knowledge therof is to the edifiyng of his electe But perchaÌ„ce thou wilt say to me I know well that they whose names are written in heauen haue cause to liue in continuall ioy glorifie God both in woord and déede but I know not whether I am of that nuÌ„ber or no therfore I liue in continual feare specially because I know my selfe to be an excéeding weake and frayle sinner from the violence whereof I am not able to defende my selfe but that I am ouercome of it daily And furthermore forasmuche as I sée my selfe continually afflicted and troubled with diuerse temptations mée thinks I do as it were behold with mine eyes y â— wrath of God scourging me To answere to these doubts of thine I say my right déere brother that thou must assure thy selfe that al these are but temptations of the diuel
he dwelleth Then let them begin to become god Christians and put away their Iewish mindes and imbrace the grace of the holy Gospel in good earnest then shal they know that the good and true Christians both haue the holy Ghost also acknowledg ethēselues to haue him But some one may say to me that the Christiā cannot by any meanes know that he is in Gods fauour without some speciall reuelation and so consequently that he cannot know whether he be predestinated or no. And he may specially alledge these wordes of Solomon A man knoweth not whether he be worthy of hatred or of loue and also these wordes of the Apostle S. Paul to the Corinthians I féel not my selfe guilty of any thing and yet féele I not my selfe iustified for all that It séemeth to be sufficiently declared by the textes of holy scripture that the sayde opinion is false and now remayneth onely to bee shewed briefly that these two textes wherevpon the same opinion is chiefly grounded ought not too bee taken in that sense As touching Solomons sentence although it be scarce wel faithfully translated in the commontranslation yet is there not any man so dull who in reading Solomōs whole discourse may not plainely perceiue that by saying so he ment that if any man will take vpon him to iudge by the casualties that happen in this life who is loued or hated of God Hée laboureth in vain◠considering that the selfesame chaunces which light vppon the righteous light also vpon the vnrighteous vpon him that sacrifizeth aswell as vpon him that sacrifizeth not and as soone vppon the good man as vppon the sinner Whereof it may be gathered that GOD doeth not alwayes shew his loue towards those whome hée indueth with outwarde prosperities and contrariwise that hée sheweth not his displeasure towards those whome hée punisheth Then my ryght deare brethren in Christe Iesus our Lorde doe you thinke it reason to conclude that a man cannot bee sure of Gods fauour because the same surenesse cannot bée perceiued by the sundry chaunces that happen euery day in these transitory and temporall thinges A little afore Solomon saith that a man cannot discerne any difference betwéene the soule of man and the life of a Beast for it is séene that both man and Beast dye after one manner Shall wée then conclude by this outwarde accident that the perswasiō which we haue conceaued of the immortality of y ◠soule is grounded but only vpon coniecture so surely and it were a great folly to stande vppon a thing so notably knowne And as for S. Paules wordes I say that forasmuche as he was speaking of the administration of the Gospell hee ment that his hearte misgiues him not of any misdealing therein and yet for all that that hée is not sure hee hath doone his whole dutie to the full and therein obteined the prayse of righteousnes to Godward as if he had done all that perteyned and was conuenient to be done by a faithful Steward and therefore in speaking of his office like a iust and discrete person he durst not iustifie himselfe nor auow that he had discharged his dutie to the uttermost and satisfied his Lords wil but referred all thinges to the only iudgement of his Lord. And verily whosoeuer readeth these wordes of the Apostle S. Paul and considereth the wordes going afore them with some iudgement and likewise the wordes that folow wil not doubt but this is the true sense of them I know well that some men in expounding these woordes of the Apostle S. Paul say that although hée knew himselfe to be without sinne yet hée knew not whether hee were righteous to Godward or no according as Dauid affirmeth that no man can perfectly know his owne sinnes But these men perceiued not that S. Paul groundeth not righteousnes vppon woorkes but vppon faith and that he vtterly refuseth his owne righteousnes to imbrace onely the righteousnesse which God hath geuen vs through our Lord Iesus Christ. Also they cōsider not y ◠he was most certaine to be accepted for righteous in mainteining the soundnesse purenes of the Christian faith and that hee knewe well how the crowne of that righteousnes was laide vp for him in heauen and also that he was fully assured that no creature in heauen earth nor hel was able to separate him from the loue of God and that he longed to die because he knew for a trueth that after his death he should bée with Iesus Christ. All which things should be false if he had not béen well assured that he was righteous I meane by faith and not by works therefore my dearely beloued brethren let vs ceasse to speake y ◠thing of the Apostle S. Paul w t he neuer once thought of himself but fircely fought against it continually in answering suche as measured righteousnesse by workes and not by faith in our Lorde Iesus Christe But beside◠these two authorities of Solomon and S. Paul a man myght alledge some other places of Holy Scripture which wheras they warne and encourage men to feare GOD séeme too bée contrary too the assurance of this our Predestination And if I would declare them all particularly I shoulde be ouerlong But I say generally that the feare of punishment was proper to the old Testament and childly loue too the newe Testamente according as Saint Paul witnesseth when hée saith to the Romans yée haue not receiued the spirite of bondage too feare but yée haue receiued the spirite of adoption whereby wée crie father father And likewise vnto Timothie he saith that GOD hath not geuen vs the spirite of fearefullnes but rather of power and loue which spirite Iesus Christe hath geuen vs according too the promise made by the mouth of the Holy Prophetes and brought to passe that wèe being deliuered out of our enimies handes may serue him without feare before his holy presence in all holynesse righteousnesse all the dayes of our life By these and many other places of the holy Scripture a man may playnly gather that the paineful and slauish fearefulnesse agréeth not with a Christian and this is already confirmed by this that such manner of fearefulnesse is vtterly contrary to the spirituall chéerefulnesse and ioy which is peculiar to the Christian as the Apostle Saint Paul sheweth openly to the Romanes saying that the kingdome of God is righteousnesse and peace and ioy in the holy Ghost that is to say that euery man which entereth into the kingdome of the grace of the Gospell is become righteous through faith and afterwarde addeth peace of conscience which consequently bréedeth such a spirituall and holy rest and gladnes in respect wherof the same Saint Paul doth oftentimes incourage the Christians to liue meryly And Saint Peter sayth that all they which beléeue in Iesus Christe doe continually reioyce with an unspeakeable and glorious ioy notwithstanding that they be afflicted
charge because of Christs merits which are geuen vnto thée and become thine by faith Therefore following the Counsell of Saint Bernard beléeue thou not onely the forgeuenesse of sinnes in generall but also apply the same beliefe to thine owne particular person by beléeuing without any doubt that all thy misdoinges are pardoned thée through Iesus Christ. And in so doing thou shalt geue the glory vnto GOD by confessing hym too bée mercifull and true and shalt become righteous and holy before GOD forsomuche as by the same confession the holynesse righteousnesse of Iesus Christ shalbée communicated vntoo thée But to returne to our purpose of Predestination I say that by the thinges aboue mencioned a man may euidently perceiue that the assurance of Predestination doeth the hurt but rather greatly profite the true Christians And I thinke not that it can hurt the false Christians and reprobates For albeit that such manner of folke woulde beare themselues in hande and pretende too the worldewarde too bée of the number of the predestmate yet can they neuer perswade theyr owne consciences which will euer bée gnawing and crying out to the contrary But yet it séemeth greatly that the doctrine of Predestination may hurt them For they bée woonts to say If I bée of the number of the reprobates what shall it auayle mée too doe good workes And if I bée of the number of the predestinate I shal be saued without any labouring of mine too doe good workes I answere thée at fewâ— wordes that by suche diuelishe arguments they increase Gods wrath against themselues who hath disclosed the knowledge of Predestination too the Christians too make them whot and not colde in the loue of God and to set them forwarde and not backeward vnto good workes And therefore the true Christian on the one side holdeth himselfe assuredly predestinated vnto euerlasting lyfe and to be saued not at all by his owne merits but by Gods election who hath predestinated vs not for our owne works sakes but to shew the greatnesse of his mercie And on the other side endeuoureth himselfe to doe good woorkes after the example of Iesus Christ asmuch as if his saluation depended vpon his own pollicy and paines taking As for him that ceasseth to do good because of the doctrine of Predestination saying If I be predestinated I shall be saued without strayning of my selfe to doe good woorkes he sheweth euidently that his trauelling is not for the loue of God but for the loue of himselfe By reason whereof the woorkes that he doeth may perhaps be good and holy too the sight of men but they bee wicked and abhominable before the Lorde God who hath an eye to the intent And herevppon it may be gathered that the doctrine of PredestinatioÌ„ worketh rather good than harm to the false Christians For it discouereth their hypocrisâ—e which cannot cure it selfe so long as it lieth hidden vnder the mantle of outward workes But I woulde hauâ— them that say I will not streine my selfe to doe wel for if I be predestinated I shal be saued without tiring of my self so much I say I woulde haue them tell me howe it happeneth that when they be diseased they say not also I will haue neither Phisition nor phisicke for looke what God had determined vpon me cannot but come too passe why eate they why drinke they why till they the ground why plant they Uines why be they so diligent in doing all thinges conuenient for to sustaine y â— bodie why say they not also that all these turmoylings pollicies trauailes of ours are superfluous forasmuch as it is not possible but that whatsoeuer God hath foreséene and determined concerning our life death must néeds come to passe And therfore if Gods prouideÌ„ce make theÌ„ not negligent and idle in thinges pertayning to the bodie why should it make theÌ„ more slouthfull and negligent in that which concerneth the Christian perfection which without all comparison is farre nobler then the body But forasmuche as we sée that neyther Iesus Christ nor Saynte Paule for any doubt of offending the reprobats haue forborne to preache the trueth which is necessary to the edifying of the chosen for the loue of whom the euerlasting sonne of God became man and was put to death vpoÌ„ the Crosse we also in likewise ought not to forbeare the preaching of Predestination to the true Christians forasmuche as wee haue séene that it importeth greate edification Now are we come to the end of our purpose wherein our thiefe intent hath béene according to our small power to magnify the wonderful benefit which the Christen man hath receiued by Iesus Christ crusified to shewe that faith of her selfe alone iustifieth that is to wit that God receiueth holdeth them for righteous which beleue stedfastly y â— Christ hath made full amends for their sinnes howbeit that as light can not be separated from fire which of it selfe burneth and deuoureth al thinges euen so good woorkes cannot bee separated from saith which alone by it selfe iustifieth And this holy doctrine which exalteth Iesus Christ and represseth abateth the pride of man hath and alwayes shal be reiected and fought agaynst by such Christians as haue Iewish myndes But happie is hée who following the example of Saint Paule spoyleth himselfe of his owne righteousness and would haue none other righteousnesse than that which is of Iesus Christ wherewith if he be clothed and appareled he may most assuredly appeare before God and shal receiue his blessing and the heritage of heauen and earth with his onely sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde too whom be al honor praise and glorie from this time foorth for euermore Amen Christ is the end of the Law ¶ Imprinted at London at the three Cranes in the Vintree by Thomas Dawson for George Bishop and Thomas Wodcocke 1580. 2. Cor. ◠〈…〉 12. The state of man before and after that he had sinned Psalm 114 Psalm 14. Originall sinne A very good comparison Who is our neighbour The first office or duety of the Law Rom. 3. 7. The second office of the law The thirde office of the law Deut. 27. 2. Cor. 3. The fourth office of the lawe Rom. 4. The fifth office of the law Exod. 2â—â— Collo 3. Actes 4. Matth. 11. Iohn â— Iohn ◠〈…〉 Iohn 8. 1. Cor. 15. Psalm 50. Rom 3â— The greatnes of sinne ought not â—o cause despayre â—or 5. Galat. 5. An excellent comparison of the vnability of our own works â—eb 7. Iohn 12. Phil. 3. 1. Cor. 1. How man is deliuered set free from the curse of the law Galat. 3. Rom. 8. Colos. 2. 1. Cor. 15. How we receiue the likenesse of God A very good similitude expressing the manner how our sinnes are taken away by Christ. Math. 28â— Philip. 2. Ephe. â— Iohn 3. Howe the â—aithfull mans soule is assured of 〈◊〉 being maâ—â—ed vnâ—o Christe Acts. 5. Mat. 3. 2. Cor. 3. Iohn 6. Iohn 3. Iohn 11. I. Iohn 12.