regenerated and hath tasted of the grace of God and hath embraced Christ and his holy word if he fall to sin againe he is without remedy of saluation Vndoubtedly this is a very damnable error enough to bring all them that are infected therewith to desperation But albeit they ground this their error vpon this afore alledged text of Saint Paule certaine other texts yet they misse the cushion because they take this scripture too straightly not referring it to many other places of scripture which shew that whensoeuer how often soeuer a sinner repenteth him truly of his sinnes and committeth himselfe with a sure faith vnto the mercy of God through Christ God receiueth him again to grace and saluation Doubtlesse no prophecie in the scripture hath any priuate interpretation 2. Petri. 1. but must needes be expounded according to the generall articles of the Christian faith and agreeable to other texts of holy scripture and so must this text be also Now truth it is that there is almost innumerable texts in holy scripture that most plainely doe declare that whensoeuer a true repentant sinner by vnfayned faith returneth vnto God asketh mercy for Christs sake he shal vndoubtedly haue it And albeit the holy scripture is full of such places yet here by Gods grace I will shew and rehearse to you some of them to giue you occasion to marke them such like places as you shall find almost in euery leafe of the Bible A iust man falleth seauen times Pro 2-4 and riseth vpp againe Marke the scripture saith he riseth vp againe The wickednesse of the wicked shal not hurt him Ezech. 33. whēsoeuer he conuerteth Note that it saith whensoeuer he conuerteth Let the vngodly man forsake his owne way Esa 55. and the vnrighteous his own imaginations and turne againe vnto the Lord so shall hee be mercifull vnto him Thou disobedient Israell turne againe sayth the Lorde and I will not let my wrath fall vpon you Iere. 3. Thus saith the Lorde Jere. 8. doe men fall so that they rise not vp againe Or if Israell doe repent wil not God turn againe to them Zacha. 1. Turne you vnto mee saith the Lord God of hoastes and I will turne me vnto you Remember from whēce Apoc. 2. thou art fallen and do the first workee Marke in the Gospell of Luke the example of the vnthrifty sonne Luc. 15. Also Christ said vnto Peter Peter I haue prayed for thee Luc. 22. that thy faith fayle not and when thou art conuerted strength thy brethren Marke he saith when thou art conuerted Lo if you weigh these places of scripture afore alledged and almost innumerable mo of the same sort you shall perceiue euidently that though a christian haue sinned neuer so oft as who doth not daily offend God yet whensoeuer he returneth vnto God by true repentance which consisteth of inward cōtrition and a sure faith in Christ Iesus he is assured by the word of God to recouer and receaue againe the grace fauour and mercy of God which through his disobedience he had worthely lost and immediatly to enioyfull absolute and perfect remission and forgiuenes of all his sinns throgh Iesus Christ in whom he reposeth all his faith trust and confidence of saluation The Gospell assureth him no lesse saying Iohn 3. So God loued the world that he gaue his onely begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life Moreouer if you marke well the examples of godly men which are registred in holy scripture you shall playnely perceiue that albeit they were highly in Gods fauour yet for all that many of them had great fals and committed very heynous offences but they did rise vp againe returning to Gods mercy by true repentance and faith and so recouered againe their former grace which they through their owne folly had lost Aaron was so much fauoured of God Aaron that by Gods calling he was made the high bishop and curate ouer his people And yet at the light request of the Israelites hee let them make and worship the golden Calfe contrary to his conscience by reason whereof both hee and they committed that most detestable sinne of Idolatrie and yet he by true repentaunce and faith returning to grace was saued Dauid Dauid Gods deare darling after he had that knowledge of God and had much tasted of his grace being endued aboundantly with the holy Ghost and gratious gifts from aboue fell both into the sin of adulterie and murther And yet by true and vnfeyned repentaunce returning to Gods mercy was accepted and receiued againe into Gods fauour Manasses Manasses also contrary vnto his conscience fell willingly to Idolatry but yet he rose againe by true repentance and faith and recouered again the grace of God So likewise that wicked man of the Citie of Corinthus whome Saint Paul straightly charged the Corinthians to excōmunicate The sinfull Corinthian 1 Cor. 5. and exclude out of the holy congregation of Christian men and that they should neyther eate nor drinke with him because of his open and abhominable crime of incest and outragious whoredome and yet when he declared himselfe to be truely repentaunt for his great and infamous sin 1. Cor. 2. Saint Paul admonished them with all gentlenesse and christian charity to receiue him againe into the congregation as a christian brother and so to esteeme him and take him VVhat shall I say of Peter Peter Christs Apostle had not he a sure knowledge of Christ confessing him openly before all the Apostles to be very Christ the sonn of the liuing God was not hee euen then endued with the holy ghost grace from aboue Mat. 16. vnto whome Iesus Christ said Blessed art thou Simon the sonn of Ionas for flesh and bloud hath not opened that vnto thee but my father which is in heauen And yet after all this hee had such a fall that contrary to his owne conscience willingly without any cōpulsion threates or imprisonment he did most cowardly and shamefully forsake and deny Christ not without blasphemy swearing that he neuer knew him cursing and committing himselfe to the deuill if euer he had to doe with him VVhat would the Nouatian and Anabaptist say vnto this was it not a fal could there be any greater sinne then this was it not done of knowledge was it not done willingly was it not against his owne conscience Yes doubtles it was no lesse but against his owne conscience But yet thankes be vnto Almighty God it was not the sinne of blasphemy against the holy ghost neyther the sinne vnto death the which Saint Iohn speaketh of for he continued not therein vnto his end 1 Iohn 5. but immediatly hee went forth of the bishop◠house and wept bitterly very much lamenting his heynous offence and by faith he returned againe vnto Christ knowing his mercy to be infinite and without measure
backe again open sinners and blasphemers to earnest repentaunce for their owne sinfulnesse and to haue a sure trust in the mercy of God and in the merit of Christs passion and death though they be euen at the departure out of this presēt life for it is neuer too late so long as life lasteth Let vs therefore with all feruentnesse call vpon them and exhort them in any wise with a good courage and a sure and vndoubful faith aske call and cry for Gods mercy for his sweet sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ his sake and vndoubtedly they shall haue it For since the beginning of the world hitherto was there neuer one that in faith asked mercy heartely but he had it through the gratious goodnesse of our aforesaid most mercifull sauiour Iesus Christ vnto whome with the Father and the holy Ghost be all honour laude and praise world without end Amen Yours at commaund to his power T. C. Giue all the honor laud and praise to God onely 1. Tim. 1. The prayer of Daniel turned into metre and applyed vnto our time Daniel IX O Lord thou high and fearefull God By whom all things do moue Thy mercies great are sure to such As thy precepts doe loue We sinfull men haue sore transgrest Against thy lawes deuine Full frowardly we haue fled backe From these precepts of thine Thy Prophets deare to speake were prest In setting forth thy name Both rich and poore as bold were bent For to gainesay the same To thee therefore thou Lord of hoastes All iustice doth belong To poure on vs such shame and griefe In this we haue no wrong Our shame is great and due to all Our flight is but in vaine To tread strange lands our sin hath sought Our shame doth still remaine But though such shame a reward iust To all in common be Yet mercy Lord and to forgiue Doth still belong to thee Indeede O Lord as for our selues No lesse confesse wee can But that thy lawes wee set at nought Much lesse haue kept them than Thy Prophets spake wee would not heare Ne of thee stand in awe Strange plagues from time to time we felt For breaking of thy lawe The force whereof so fiercely bent Was such as hath not bene For all the plagues in Moses lawe Fell on this Realme for sinne And yet to thee who made his sute His path way so to guide That flying vice might learne thy lawe And therein to abide Wwerefore thou sawest all would not helpe And couldst not hold thine hand But haste thy curse which now doth fall Vpon this sinfull land For as thou art a righteous God Thy workes doe soe appeare Consuming such as scorne doth take Thy louing voyce to heare But yet O Lord thou broughtest forth Thy flocke from Egipt land Whereby thy name was largely spread So now stretch forth thine hand But we haue sinned more then they Oh Lord yet stay thy rod. As for this land was sometime thine And thou also our God Our sinnes and eke our fathers faultes This day to passe hath brought That all which border vs about They set vs cleane at nought Now then O Lord hide not thy face Oh heare thy seruaunts cry Behold thine house sometime full rich How wast it doth nowe lie Thy truth is fled thy flock fast bound As sheepe led to be slaine Thy foes preuaile and prosper much Though mischiefe they maintaine And wilt not thou thy foes confound That thus thy workes reproue At least yet for thy great names sake Their vile intents remoue For why as for our owne deserts We can no such thing haue It is for thy great mercies sake That we such thinges doe craue Forgiue vs Lord intreated be To heare vs make no stay We beare thy name it is thy cause Oh Lord make no delay A Prayer against Despaire O Eternall God most louing and gratious father in Iesus Christ who art alwaies praysed and magnified by thy children in theyr great deliuerances and preseruation from their perils and daungers but especially when they perceiue themselues freede from the power of Satan death and hell from the which no creature can saue and deliuer them but thou onely O Lorde And because no chaine of the deuill or euill temptation is more strong to fetter the body and soule of man then despaire which is a wilfull forsaking of faith and confidence in thee O God it arising springing from fear and doubt as if thou wert not faithfull in thy promises or able in thy power to preserue vs Helpe Lord I beseech thee and free and deliuer me thy poore seruaunt from this temptation thraldome of Satan and soe strengthen I humbly pray thee my faith and confidence euer more in thee that in al my perils necessities wants sorrowes and griefe in this world I may haue a strong and stedfast hope in thee whereby I may ouercome repell and keepe backe the dangerous and subtill suggestions of Satan the world and the flesh to thy great glory and praise and my eternall and vnspeakable comfort through Iesus Christ my onely Lord and Sauiour Amen ¶ A Prayer for the Morning O Lord thou which couerest the night with darkenesse and causest man therein to take his rest and by euery day and night doest shew thy great glory in the heauens and also thy wisdome and power by gouerning and preseruing all thy creatures vpon the earth O Lord I thy poore seruaunt and creature doe most humbly thanke thee from the bottome of my heart for my sweete and comfortable rest this night past and for watching ouer mée by thine eye of prouidence and kéeping both my body and soule by thy grace from sinne and death beseeching thée O Lorde God my father Sauiour and comforter to blesse to sanctifie direct and preserue me in this thy new day and that I may become a newe creature vnto thée O God in holinesse and righteousnesse labouring faithfully and painfully in my calling that so my laboures this day may be sanctified and blessed vnto mée and mine and that I may shew forth thy praise in al my waies and declare my loue and charity vnto men in all my works that after the dayes of this my life and pilgrimage finished and ended here in this world I may liue with thee for euer in the world to come throgh Iesus Christ my Lorde and Sauiour who liueth and reigneth with thée and the holy Ghost euer one God world without end Amen ¶ A Prayer for the Euening O gratious and mercifull God I am most bound vnto thy heauenly Maiesty for my preseruatiō this day because I and al men are continually subiect vnto all dangers and perils griefes sorrowes sicknesse and death yea we lie open vnles thy grace and might doe defend vs vnto the temptations tyranny of the world the flesh the deuill which daily seek and desire our hurt and confusion both of body soule for euer Wherefore O gratious and euerliuing God as thy right hand and sauing health hath bene with mée this day and thou hast directed blessed and comforted mee thy poore seruaunt in all my wayes and labours for the which I most hūbly thank thée so I most earnestly entreat thy Maiesty in thy loue and mercy for Christ Iesus sake to keepe mée and al mine in safety this night and to couer vs vnder the shadow of thy winges from all perils and dangers whatsoeuer and that our soules as well as our bodies may take their swéet and comfortable rest and ioy in thée and likewise that thou wouldest grant that whensoeuer thou shalt knocke at the doore of our hearts to call vs vnto thee O God we may with the wise Virgins be watchfull haue oyle in our lamps that we may be receiued into eternall rest through Iesus Christ thy deare sonn and our onely Sauiour Amen FINIS
of Christ and the punishment of the vngodly are set first in the second place those that shew the ioyes of the world to come and in the last roome those that teach that by faith sincere repentance and amendment of our liues we may inioy that heauenly blisse My petition to thee is this that thou daine to accept my labour which if thou doe I shall bee occasioned to iudge my trauell well bestowed The Lord of his mercy grant that sith wickednes neuer more abounded nor men neuer lesse remembred the comming of Christ vnto iudgement wee may heartely repent vs of our sinnes because the wrath of God hangeth ouer our heads and that wee may as good Christians liue worthy of our vocation liuing so as though euery one particularly should say with that holy man S. Hierome as often as I remember that day euery member of my body quaketh for whether I eate or drinke or do any thing else mee thinketh alwaies that dreadful trumpet soundeth in mine eares arise O ye dead and come to iudgement because the last houre is at hand Amen As desirous of thy profit as of his owne in the schoole of Christ Iesus R. Wol. OENIPODES Non cistae sed pectori Sentences collected out of the fathers workes which haue such agreement with the former Treatise as that they are not vnfit for this place Of the punishments of hell and of the day of iudgement IN that terrible ho wex of the death of a wretched sinner Bernard in spec pec immediatly there will come euil spirits like roaring lions to snatch away their pray When suddenly shal appeare the horrible places of torments the Chaos and obscuritie of darkenesse the dread of miserie and confusion the terror of that fearefull mansion where is the place of weepers where is the place of groaners where is the voyce of them that crie wo wo wo bee to vs the children of Euah when the miserable soule departing from the body shall heare see and seele these and sēblable thinges yea a thousand times worse then may be spoken in what I pray how great and how wonderous feare and trembling shall shee be what tongue can vtter it what booke declare it what will now auaile the boasting of knowledge the pompe of the people the vanitie of the world the greedinesse of earthly dignitie what shall then auaile the appetite of ryot delitiousnesse of meate exquisite drinke curiositie of garments nicenesse of the flesh gluttony of the belly superfluousnesse of foode surfetting and drunkennesse curious building of houses possessiō of terrene goods scraping together of prebends hoording of riches whether can these thinges deliuer the wretched soule of a man from the mouth of the hydious and horrible Lion that is from the iawe of the cursed dragon when that cunning deceiuer Idem ibid. that sonne of iniquitie that most eager enemy of our soules shall miserably and dreadfully meet with thy soule how wilt thou be able to abide the fearefull sight of his terrible countenance the intollerable stink of his mouth the brimstone-like flames of his eyes How then wilt thou be of force to abide so great feare of so horrible a beast Be assured that the feare of his dreadfull presence exceedeth euery kind of torments which may be deuised in this world At which the Prophet quaking betooke himselfe to prayer saying heare my prayer O God when I call vpon thee deliuer my soule from the feare of the enemy He said not from the power of the enemy but from the feare of the enemy But alas my brother if the sinfull soule bee so much and so greatly daunted at the sight onely of Sathan how great confusion or how great horror how great affiction and how great lamentation shal she haue through his touching and tormenting when the Lord shall be about to iudge the sorrowfull world Hierom. ad Heliod it shall make a great noyse and one kindred shal strike the breast to another kindred The Kinges once most puissaunt shall quake without a guard foolish Plato with his schollers shal be brought forth then Aristotles argumēts shall not be profitable when that sonne of the poore woman which exercised a craft shall come to iudge the endes of the earth That iudge is neyther preuented with fauour Augu. li. 3. de symb nor mooued with pitty nor bribed with money neyther will he be appeased with satsfaction or repentance Here let the soul deale for it selfe while it hath time as long as there is a place for mercy because there will be a place of iustice Greg. hom 15. In the last day of iudgment when the heauens being opened the Angels ministring the Apostles sitting together Christ shall appeare in the seate of his maiestie all the elect reprobate shal see him that both the iust may reioyce without end of the gift of theyr reward and the vniust euer lament for the reuengement of theyr plague Ansel de similitudini bus mundi On the right hand there shall be our sinnes to accuse vs on the left hand infinite deuils beneath the horrible confusion of hell aboue an angry Iudge without the worlde flaming within our conscience burning there scarce the iust shall be saued Alacke wretched sinner whither wilt thou flee It is impossible to be hidden intollerable to appeare The ioy of the time present must be so vsed Greg hom 32. that the remembrance of the bitternes of the iudgment to come may neuer depart from vs. Of the ioyes of heauen SO great is the beautie of righteousnes Aug. lib. de morb so great is the sweetnesse of the euerlasting light that is of the immutable wisdome that although we might not tarrie in it more then one day for this alone innumerable yeares of this life replenished with delights and aboundance of temporal goods were not without cause and reason to be contemned Jdem li 3. de symb Wee can easilier tell what there is not in that eternall life then what there is There is not death there is not mourning there is not wearinesse there is not weaknesse there is not hunger there is no thirst no parching heat no corruption no lacke no sorrowe no sadnesse Make haste thither where you may liue for euer Ide devtil agen poen For if you so loue this miserable and transitorie life wherein you liue with such labour and wherein by running trauelling sweating breathing thou scarce get things necessary for the body how much more ought you to loue the life euerlasting where you shall sustaine no labour where alwaies is great quietnes great felicitie happy libertie happy blessednesse where shal be fulfilled that the Lorde spake in the Gospell Men shall be like the Angels And that the iust shall shine c. Temporall life compared with eternall life Greg. in homil is rather to be called death then life For the daily fainting of corruption what is it els but a certaine long continuance
of death But what tongue can tell or what vnderstanding conceiue how great these ioyes are of that supernall Cittie to be in the assembly of Angels with the most blessed soules to stand by the glorie of the Creator to beholde in presence the face of God to see that immeasurable light to feele no pangs of death to enioy the gift of euer-enduring incorruption Against despaire THe theefe acknowledged Aug. in lib. de symb Peter denied In Peter there is shewed that no iust man ought to presume of himselfe in the theefe that no wicked man being conuerted should despaire Therefore let the good feare least he perish through pride and let not the wicked despair throgh much naughtines Idem de vtil agen poen Let none despaire as Iudas the traitor not so much the haynous wickednesse which he committed was the cause of his eternall destruction as the despaire of forgiuenesse Let none distrust Amb. sup Luc. lib. 2. let none in the priuitie of his olde sinnes despaire of the rewardes of God God knoweth how to change his determination if thou know how to amend thy fault Let no man despaire of pardon Isido de suÌ„ bon lib. 2. although about the end of his life he bee turned to repentance God iudgeth euerie one according to his end not according to his life past To commit some foule offence is the death of the soule but to despaire Idem ibid. is to descend into hell Of Repentance IF I proffer thee golde Amb. in ser de eleem ieiun thou sayest not I will come to morrow but at the instant thou requirest it none prolongeth none maketh excuse the redeeming of our soule is promised and none maketh hast Conuersion is neuer too late the theefe went from the Crosse to Paradise Hier. in ep ad Laetam Greg. hom 34. sup eua There is greater ioy in heauen of a sinner conuerted then of a righteous man that standeth for a captaine also in warre loueth that souldier more who being returned from flight hath valiantly slaine his foe then him that neuer fled and hath neuer done any manly act So the husbandman loueth more that ground which after thornes yeldeth forth plentifull corne then that which neuer had thornes and neuer bare a fertile graine In nothing to sinne is only the property of God Amb. ep 3 ad Simplicianum it is the propertie of a wise man both to correct his fault and to repent for his sinne with God not so much the measure of time Hierom. in quod serm as the measure of griefe preuaileth not so much the abstinencie of meates as the mortificatton of vices Repentance is the medicine of our wound Isid li. 3. de sum bon the hope of saluatioÌ„ by which sinners are salued by which God is prouoked to mercy The which is not weighed by time but by deepenesse of lamentation and teares O repentance what new thing shall I speake of thee Cyprian de laud. paen Thou loosest all thinges which are boundeÌ„ thou openest al thinges which are shut thou mitigatest all aduersitie thou healest that is bruised thou illuminest that is confounded thou incouragest all that is out of hope Be not negligent because the Lord forbeareth you when you sinne Aug. in lib. de vti poen for how much the longer hee waiteth that ye amend so much the more grieuously will hee punish if you bee negligent Idem de 10 chordis Better is a little bitternesse in the cheekes then a perpetuall torment in the bowels Id. de poen Althogh the theefe was pardoned in his latter end of all his sins yet he gaue not an example to them that are baptized to sinne and perseuere in euill For then he was first baptized with the baptisme of the spirit in that then first hee professed Christ The sweetenesse of the apple recompenceth the sowrenesse of the roote Hier. super Mat. the dangers of the sea for hope of gaine delight vs the hope of health asswageth the griefe of phisicke Hee that desireth the kirnell breaketh the nut and hee that will be partaker of euerlasting goodnesse repenteth It is no great matter to fall in wrestling but to lie when one is cast downe Chrys in ep ad Heliod Monach. It is not deadly to bee wounded in battle but after the wound is inflicted through despaire to be cured to deny a plaister to the bile And oftentimes we see wrestlers crowned after often slides and many downe-casts VVe see also a souldier after many flights to bee a stout man and to ouercome him that discomfited him Behold the kingdome of God is to be solde Aug. de spir anima buy it if thou wilt Neither think of some great thing for the greatnesse of the price it is worth so much as thou hast seeke not what thou hast but what manner of body thou art This thing is worth so much as thou art giue thy selfe and thou shalt haue it But I am euill thou wilt say and happily it will not receiue me by giuing thy selfe vnto it thou shalt be good Idem in soliloquijs That repentance is in vaine which afterward a fault polluteth lamentations profit nothing if sins be doubled It auaileth nothing to craue pardon of euils and anew to commit euils Hee that knocketh his breast Idem in quodaÌ„ ser and correcteth not himselfe strengtheneth his sinnes and doth not take them away NAZIANZENVS 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sicubi chalcógraphus titubârit lector amice Da veniam lapso sic petis ipse tibi FINIS AN EPISTLE OF COMFORT From one Friend to another wherein the Anabaptists error of Desperation is briefly confuted and the Sinne against the Holy Ghost plainly declared Whereunto is added certaine effectuall Prayers LONDON Printed for Iohn Helme 1609. An Epistle of comfort from one friend to another wherein the Anabaptists error of desperation is briefly confuted and the sinne against the holy Ghost plainely declared VVhereunto is added certaine effectuall Prayers Syr whereas it pleased you to require mee to write vnto you my mind concerning the true sense and meaning of this place of Saint Paule in his Epistle to the Hebrewes Heb. 6. It can not be that they which were once lightned and haue tasted of the heâ—â—enly gift and were become partakers of the holy Ghost and hauing tasted of the good word of God and of the power of the world to come if they fall away and as concerning themselues crucifie the sonne of God afresh and make a mocke of him that they should be renued againe by repentance Syr Many in time past and at this present day mistaking this text and not truely vnderstanding it The error of the Nouatians now of the Anabaptists both haue bene and are encombred with the Nouations error which is that after man by baptisme and the holy ghost is
Mat. 26. and so he was accepted vnto grace againe and Christ appeared vnto him to his great comfort after he arose againe from death to life and afterwards sending downe his holy spirit indued him with wonderfull gifts of grace from aboue And then Peter became a strong champion setting forth Christ to be the onely Sauiour of the whole world preaching and openly confessing him before all men wtout any feare either of the Scribes Pharises or Magistrates Now good sir lay this example of Saint Peter to this text of Saint Paule to the Hebrewes It cannot be that they which were once lightned c. If they fall away c. that they should be renued againe by repentance If a man would apply the aforesaid example of S. Peter vnto this text of Saint Paule hee would thinke that Peter should vtterly haue bene cast away from Gods fauour mercy and grace For first it can not be denyed but that he was once lightned that is endued with the true knowledge of Christ to be the onely Messias Sauiour of the world Secondly he had also casted of the heauenly gift which wes a true faith in Christ Iesus openly confessing the same before all the Apostles being fully perswaded in his owne conscience what Christ was Thirdly that Peter was become partaker of that holy Ghost had tasted of the good word of God it appeareth euidently by Christes sentence saying Blessed art thou Simon for flesh and bloud that is man shewed thee not that but my Father which is in heauen VVhich was by the inspiration of his holy spirit Finally Peter had a tast of the world to come For he did see in the mountaine the transfiguration of Christ Mat 17. and so did Iames the more and Iohn the Euangelist also VVhere in the presence of them all Christ was transfigured and shewed himselfe vnto them in the forme of a glorified body so that his face did shine as the Sun and his cloathes appeared as white as the light there appeared also among theÌ„ Moses and Elias And euen there the cleare voyce of God the father of heauen was plainely hearde among them out of the cloud saying vpon Christ this is my dearly beloued sonne in whom I delight heare him Loe all this and much more Peter both heard and saw being almost continually in Christs company eating and drinking with him hearing dayly his heauenly Doctrine preaching and teaching seeing euery where as occasion serued his great and wonderful myracles And yet for all this what a great fall Peter had it appeareth plainely by his deniall of Christ his louing master and Sauiour and the circumstances thereof which I touched before But yet to make Peters fall more horrible Christ said vnto him and vnto all other his Apostles when he sent them forth to preach the Gospell of saluation He that denyeth me before men I shall deny him also before my father Alas good Peter what case standedst thou in now How doth this saying of Christ now touch thee Remembring this saying of Christ art thou not at thy wies end Is it not most certaine true that thou hast too horribly fallen after that thou haddest tasted of al these gracious gifts before rehersed Hast thou not contrary to thine own coÌ„science most shamfully denyed thy master Sauiour before men Ah good soule what shall become of thee how wilt thou answere for thy selfe For it seemeth here plainely that both S. Paule in the afore aleadged place to the Heb. also Christ himselfe in the scripture afore rehearsed haue giuen sentence of coÌ„demnation against thee VVherefore the Anabaptists grounding vpon these scriptures wil plainely pronounce thee to be a reprobate and that thou art dispatched and vtterly cast away from all hope of saluation But here let vs not too lightly passe ouer but earnestly and deeply consider what may be said in this matter on Peters behalfe And first it may be rightly answered that that place of S. Paule vnto the Hebrews Heb. 6. maketh nothing against S. Peter neither yet against any Christian man how grieuously or how often soeuer he hath sinned so that he hath not vtterly forsaken Christ and fallen cleane away from him For S. Paule saith It cannot be that they which were once lightned c. If they fall away c. that they should be renued by repentance Marke here diligently It is not all one thing to fall and to fall away that S. Paule saith if they fall away He saith not if they fall but if they fall away for it is not all one thing to fall and to fall away For Peter did fal but did not fall away from Christ but returned vnto him againe And old prouerbe A prouerbe it is a man runneth very farre that neuer returnâ—th againe All wee Christians doe daily fall for we daily breake Gods commandements but yet we doe not fall away from Christ neither refuse wee him to be our Sauiour but acknowledging our manifold sinnes and offences we daily turne vnto him againe by true repentance faith and amendment of life nothing doubting of his great and vnmeasurable mercy towards vs. They fall away from Christ that vtterly forsake him and refuse him Who falleth away froÌ„ christ to be their Sauiour and neuer returne vnto him againe to obtaine his mercy but are become plaine apostaes vtterly forsaking the christian faith making but a mocke of Christ perseuering in their obstinate apostacy and vnbeleefe euen to their liues end As did Iudas the traitor 1. Tim. 1. 2. Tim. 4. Iulianus Apostata Simon Magus Porphyrius Hymeneus and Alexander the Copersmith Mat. 10. A good generall rule to be noted Secondarily as touching that saying and threatning of Christ saying He that denyeth mee before men I shall deny him before my father c. It is to be considered that all the terrible threatnings that are in the holy Scripture threatned against great sinners are threatned conditionally that is to say if the sinners do not truely repent and returne vnto God by faith and amendment of life this plague or punishment or that shal light vpon them But if they at the preaching reading or hearing of Gods holy word do repente and returne vnto God by faith and godly life then that plague threatned shal not once touch them Example be the Niniuites vpon whom Ionas Gods minister and preacher or rather God by him pronounced this terrible iudgment saying Ion. 3. there are yet forty dayes and then shall Niniue bee ouerthrowne But there as the scripture saith the people of Niniue beleeued God earnestly repented them of their great sinnes and so was the sentence of God retracted and the Cittie saued and not ouerthrowne So likewise this terrible sentence of Christ he that denyeth mee before men I shall deny him before my Father must needes haue this coÌ„dition ioyned with it if he doth not repent neyther returne againe A conditon but Peter did both
repent and returne againe vnto Christ For albeit his faith was weake and faint as was the faith of all the Apostles yet it was not vtterly extinct Luk. 22. for Christ had said vnto him before Simon I haue prayed for thee that thy faith faile not And in any wise take heede and note this well Christ saide not hee that denyeth mee I shall deny him though he repent and returne but remember well that Christ said Mat. 9. I came not to call the righteous but sinners vnto repentaunce Peter therefore repented and returned vnto Christ againe and so was receiued vnto grace and was saued Question VVherefore good Madam in this hard text of Saint Paule vnto the Hebrewes way wel this condition if they fall away for they onely fall away which commit that most horrible crime which is called in the holy scripture the sinne vnto death blasphemy against the spirit and the sinne against the holy Ghost which neuer shall be forgiuen neyther in this world neyther in the world to come But here it might bee demaunded what the sinne against the holy Ghost is and wherein it differeth from all other greeuous sinnes Answere VVhereunto I answere that there is difference in sinnes it may clearely be gathered of Christes wordes saying Mat. 12. I say vnto you all sinne and blasphemy shall bee forgiuen vnto men but the blasphemy against the spirit shall not be forgiuen vnto men Loe here is the matter plainely opened by our Sauiour Christ what kind of sinnes shal be forgiuen and what neuer forgiuen blasphemy against the spirit shall neuer be forgiuen all other sinne and blasphemy shall be forgiuen And Christ in saying all sinne shall be forgiuen compriseth both originall sinne Three sorts of sinnes Sinne Blasphemy Blasphemy against the spirit and also actuall sinne moreouer Christ speaketh here of three sorts of sinns the first he calleth sinne the second blasphemy and the third blasphe◠against the spirit which the scripture also calleth the sinne vnto death and the sinne against the holy ghost These three kindes of sinnes and the difference of euery of them I intend by Gods helpe seuerally to declare vnto you so shortlie as I can and so for this time tommit you vnto God And first consider well what sinne is Sinne Sinne. is euery wilfull disobedience act or deede that is done contrary vnto the Law and commaundements of God without murmur grudge or euill speaking eyther against the Law commaundements or God himselfe which is the maker and giuer of the Lawe As is Idolatry superstition periury swearing vnaduisedly breaking of the holy day dishonouring father and mother murther malice hatred enuie wrath strife treason sedition slaunder whordome theft and such like All these and such other are called and are indeede sinne so long as the dooers of them doe neyther murmur repine grudge nor speake euill against God or his holy lawe neither allowe in their conscience the thing and euill that they doe but rather doe vtterly disalowe accuse and cōdemne in their own conscience those their owne damnable acts as euil and detestable The second kinde of sinne is blasphemy marke it well and consider howe it differeth first from sinne and then from the sinne against the holy ghost Blasphemy Blasphemy is more heynous then is sinne alone for all blasphemy is sinne but all sinne is not blasphemy for truth it is that blasphemy compriseth in it selfe both sinne also a murmure grudg reuiling euill speaking slaunder and reproach of God and godlinesse but it is alway couple◠with ignoraunce and vnbeleefe and proceedeth not of such obstinate malice as continueth to the end of the life as doth the sinne against the holy Ghost In this sinne of blasphemy Saint Paule offended before his conuersion vnto the faith of Christ Iesu For thus he speakkth of himselfe before I was a blasphemer 2. Tim. 2 and a persecutor and a tyraunt but I obtayned mercy because I did it ignorantly in vnbeliefe Lo here it is plaine and euident that this blasphemy thogh it be a great offence yet it is remissible and forgiueable and is not excluded from grace and mercy because it proceedeth of ignorance and not of knowledge nor of obstinate malice that doth endure to the liues end neyther is it the sinne vnto death and therfore we may lawfully pray for such blasphemers As Saint Iohn saith 2 Iohn 5 if any man see his brother sinne a sinne not vnto death let him aske and he shal giue him life In this simple blsphemy for so wee may call it many of the Iewes offended takinge Christ to be nothing lesse then the sonne of Dauid or Messias because his parents were very poore and himselfe supposed to be but a poore carpenters sonne which bare but a simple port in the world yea and some of them that crucified Christ were ouerwhelmed in this simple blasphemy and therefore Christ prayed for them saying father forgiue them for they know not what they doe Luc. 23. So Peter in his sermon excused the crucifiers of Christ saying now deare breethren I knowe that you haue done it through ignorance c. Act 3. Repent you therefore and returne that your sinnes may be done away So did Saint Steuen also pray for his persecutors whome before hee called stifnecked Act 7. aduersaries of the holy ghost traitors and murtherers of Christ doubtlesse he would not haue prayed for them so earnestly vnlesse their sinnes had bene forgiueable and therefore their sin and offence was no more but simple blasphemy The third kind of sinn is blasphemy against the spirit They commit blasphemy against the spirit Blasphemy against the spirit or sin against the holy ghost which willingly vpon knowledge and aduisedly contrary to their owne conscience doe deny forake impugne slaunder reuile and persecute the plaine open manifest and knowne truth stifly malitiously and obdurately perseuering and continuing without vnfayned repentaunce in that their willfull blindnes and obstinate malice so long as they liue in this world as did Pharaoh Saule Herod Iudas the traytor Iulianus Apostata Porphirius Himeneus and Alexander the copper-smith with other But marke this diligently that wee cannot as farre as I can perceiue certainely iudge of these blasphemers against the spirit before the time of their departure out of this present life because wee cannot certainely knowe whether at the end of their life they can repent and by faith returne and take holde of the mercy of God or not Coniectures are vncertaine Luc. 23. VVee may coniecture but we can not as I suppose certainely define of them Let vs consider that the theefe that hung on the right hand of Christ euen at the last houre repented and with a strong faithful prayer committed himselfe wholly vnto the mercy of Christ and was saued In consideration whereof let vs thinke it to be our bounden duty as the Prophets Christ and his Apostles did to reuoke and call