doe him any violence Also in the Church of God the first thing that was published was the remission of sinnes which is as it were a place of freedome into the which those malefactors that haue deserved death and the halter may retyre themselues to the end to be assured of their life and from the sentence and condemnation which the judge might giue against them if hee were not hindered froÌ„ it by reason of their refuge thither and that they are receaued into the protection and safegard of the King who is the Protector and warrant of the Church As then the Citie of Roome in her beginning was peopled but with theeues robbers murderers and people abandoned to all kinds of vices by the meanes of the place of Freedome which had beene opened for them by the founder of Rome so is the Church assembled compounded of jdolaters blasphemers prophaners drunkards rebels theeues adulterers murderers evill speakers detractours covetous ambitious and voluptuous persons ravishers robbers and other such like persons by the meanes of the remission of sinnes which hath been opened vnto them as a place of Freedome to retyre themselues in safty The which did Adam Abell Enoc Noe Abraham Isaac Iacob Samuel Gedeon Iephte Sampson Dauid the Prophets the faithfull and all the Saints that ever were Now this remission of sins is the ground of the hope of a christian man and of all consolation For seeing wee offend so many wayes and that wee cannot liue a moment and minute of an bower without having evill thoughts in our vnderstandings evill affections in our hearts evill words in our mouths evill actions in our hands and in all the members of our bodyes and a great vanity in all our sences What should we doe how should we escape wherevppon should we assure our salvation withot-the fayth which we haue of the remissiuon of our sinnes which is as it were a plaister a tent which wee apply euery day vpoÌ„ this moist corrupted wound of our nature and which festured doth alwaies drop without stenching drying cleaÌ„sing or healing by other means but by this onely remedy the which is altogether necessary for the conversation of our life and to hinder that the rottenesse spreading it selfe and ramping ouer all the parts thereof in the end should not cause vs to dye It is it which rayseth vs when we are fallen as sayth Dauid Psal 37. Though he fall he shall not be cut off for the Lord putteth vnder his hand I haue waited on the Lord Psal 130. my soule hath wayted and I haue trusted in his word My soule waiteth on the Lord more then the morning watch waiteth for the morning Let Israell wayt on the Lord for with the Lord is mercy and with him is great redemption And he shall redeeme Israell froÌ„ all his iniquities Psal 65.3 Wicked deeds haue preuailed against me but thou wilt be mercifull vnto our transgression This remission causeth that the faithfull do not sinne to the death for this seed of the grace of God of his promise and of his spirit wherewith he hath sealed our hearts causeth although that wee bee sinners that wee assure assure our selues notwitstanding our sinne and the corruption that is in vs that God who is jnfinite in goodnes and mercy maketh his grace to abound where sinne aboundeth Rom. 5. In this onely gift of the remission of our sinnes wee haue matter and argument to admyre and exalt the jmmense and jncomprehensible mercy of God which is never weary of giving vs grace for so many sinnes which we haue committed every day If a King had giuen halfe a dozen or a dozen of remissions to a murderer or other malefactor he would waxe weary at the last and although hee were the most benigne and pittifull of the world yet would he put him to death seeing his perseverance in dojng evill But our God doth not quitte vs 1 2 3 4 5 and 6. tallents parcels and debts which we owe him but 10. Thousand yea 10. Millions provided onely that wee confesse wee owe them vnto him and that we make it appeare that wee are sorry to bee so much jndebted vnto him The which we see in the parable of the bad servant wherof mention is made in S. Mathew chap. 18. and in the example of Dauid who wondering at the greatnesse of the goodnesse and mercy of God sayd in his prayse Psal 32. Then I acknowledged my sinne vnto thee neither hid I mine iniquity for â—o I thught I will confesse against my selfe my wickednes vnto the Lord and thou forgauest the punishment of my sin Therfore shall euery one that is godly make his prayer vnto thee in time when thou mayest bee found surely in the floud of great waters they shall not come neere him Conclusion this remission of sinnes is as a quittance vnto vs and a generall abolition of all that we may owe and of whatsoever we may be sought after for in the Chamber of Accompts of our God So that being furnished with it wee ought not to feare any whit to present our selues before the judgement of God with all assuraÌ„ce For there is no condeÌ„natioÌ„ for those that are in Iesus Christ as saith the Apostle Rom. 8.1 CHAP. VIII ¶ Of Iustification the third effect of Faith IT is time then to enter into the deduction of the third effect of Faith which is our justification the which is plainely declared in the Epistle to the Romanes chap. 3. vers 22. The righteousnesse of God commeth by the Faith of Iesus Christ vnto all and vppon all them that beleeue There is no difference for all haue sinned and haue need of the glory of God but are justified freely by his grace through their redemption that is in Christ Iesus whome God hath set forth to bee a propitiation through Faith in his bloud to declare his righteousnes by forgiuing the sinnes that are past which God doth suffer to shew at this time his righteousnesse that he might bee just and the justifier of him that beleeueth on Iesus Which hee confirmeth in the fowrth alleadging that which Dauid saith towching the beatitude of man vnto whoÌ„e God alloweth justice without workes saying Psalm 32. Blessed is he whose vnrighteousnesse is forgiuen and whose sinne is couered Blessed is the man vnto whome the Lord imputeth not sinne and in whose spirit there is no guile Whereupon wee must note that this terme of justifying signifieth to absolue in the holy Scripture and that man is justified before God when appearing before his throne and Iudgement seat he is absolved of all his crimes and sinnes which the law the Deuill and his owne conscience may set before him to cause him to be condemned which is done in the fauour of Iesus Christ Rom. 4. who cloathing vs with his righteousnesse is cause that our sinnes hidden vnder his cloake Psalm 32. do not appeare before God but to the contrary that being clensed
vppon the rocke and ordred my goings In briefe as the Church singeth Psal 119. They haue often tymes afflicted me from my youth may Israell now say they haue oftentimes afflicted me from my youth but they could not preuaile against me And also They came about me like bees Psal 118. but they were quenched as a fire of thornes for in the name of the Lord I shall destroy them Thou hast thrust sore at mee that I might fall but the Lord hath holpen me The Lord is my strength and song for he hath been my deliuerance The right hand of the Lord hath done valiantly Even when God doth tempt vs by tribulations and adversities which hee sendeth vs as by pouerty sicknesse wars famine pestilence His goodnes towards vs in aduersitie jnfinite other euils which hee sendeth to his Church to exercise and jnduce it to watch and pray although it seeme that in them God treateth vs hardly and in an other fashion then a Father should his Children Notwithstanding in such exercises we ought yet to acknowledge the great favours which through his goodnesse he sheweth vs having the care to chasten and continue vs within our dutie by his fatherly correction that wee bee not condemned with the world which he hath abandoned to the wicked desires thereof 1. Cor 11. It is sayd of the Persians that they had a custome among them that when a malefactor was condemned to bee whipped for some cryme by him committed he was bound to kisse the rods after he had byn whipped and to go before the Iugde to present himselfe vpon his knees to giue him thankes for the punishment which he had ordayned by his sentence shewjng thereby that one of the greatest goods that can happen vnto vs is to be corrected when we faile as to the contrary the greatest evill that can happen to a man is when their faults are dissembled because that by the vnpunishing of them they perseuere and grow so strong in evill that at the last he is altogether desperate Now the favours which God doth vs are great and in great nomber Psalm 40. as sayth Dauid O Lord my God thou hast made thy woonderfull woorkes so many that none can count in order to thee thy thoughts towards vs. And also Psal 71. My mouth shall dailie rehearse thy righteousnesse and thy saluation for I know not the nomber The spring frō whēce issue all the goods which god doth for vs But yet besides that we ought in them to acknowledge the great benificence of our God If wee will consider whence it commeth that he jmparts thē vnto vs so abundātly we shall find that they are all gratis and that he is not stirred vp therevnto but of his onely goodnesse on the one part and of the pittie which he hath of our wretchednesse and misery on the other part Psal 44. as it is written They inherited not the land by their own sword neither did their owne arme saue them but thy right hand and thine arme and the light of thy countenance because thou diddest fauour them And we must yet acknowledge an other favour in that hee giueth vs the right vse thereof For we see an jnfinite sort that abuse thereof and turne them wholly to an other purpose then that for the which God hath giuen them the which sheweth well that by reason of the corruption and vice which is in vs wee cannot make good vse of his graces nor apply thē to their vses nor yet know the end for the which he gaue them vnto vs and wherevnto they ought to tend What graces also doth he vnto vs when through his mercy hee deliuereth vs from so many miseries and euils that compasse vs about by reason of the sinne that is in vs Also when in so long a patience hee waiteth for the time wherein we should turne vnto him to confesse our faults and jmplore the assistance of his great mercy giuing vs leasure to repent although we be vnworthy thereof seejng the onely jngratitude which wee vse towards him ought to bee a sufficient cause not onely to withdraw his beneficence from vs and close his hand of bounty quite from vs but also rujnate and exterminate vs wholly Wherein hee sheweth that which is sayd of him that Psal 103. The Lord is full of compassion and mercie slow to anger and of great kindnesse And who hath his eye alwayes rather turned to his promises to execute them thē to his threatnings to remēber them and wee see by experience the truth of that which Ose the Prophet sayth of him Ose 11. That if hee were a man passionate with choller and furie as men are ordinarily against those that do them any displeasure wee had long since beene reduced to the state of Sodome and Gomorrha that is to say to nothing and that there should remaine nothing else of vs but a stincking remēbrance of our name and a marke of the judgement of God most horrible and fearefull vppon vs but it is well for vs that we haue to doe with so patient and so gracious a God and who doth not onely quite vs Tenne or Twelue talents which we owe him but ten and twelue millions Mat 19. Yet is there one thing to obserue to acknowledge the greatnesse of the benificence of our God to wit that we would neuer acknowledge his goods if hee did not giue vs the grace to knowe them and wee would not thanke him for them if hee did not open our mouthes to thanke him as it is written Deliuer me from bloud O God Psal 51. which art the God of my saluation and my tongue shall sing ioyfully of thy righteousnesse Open thou my lippes O Lord and my mouth shall shew forth thy prayse Seeing then that hee doth vs so many fauours in so many sorts ought wee not to say with Dauid Psal 116. What shall I reuder vnto the Lord for all his henefits towards mee I will take the Cup of Saluation and call vppon the name of the Lord. ¶ The First propertie of Faith NOw hauing treated the definition wee must close our eyes and open our eares the parts the causes and the effects of Faith It remaines consequently to declace the properties thereof whereof the first is to close the eyes and open the eares as sayth S. August according to the definition which the Apostle giueth of it in the Epistle to the Hebrues Heb. 11. That Faith is a substance of those things which men hope for and a demonstration of those things which men see not For the sences as well of the body as are the eyes and the eares as of the soule as are the jmagination the reason and humane prudence are altohether enemies of Faith as the Scripture teacheth vs that carnall prudence is enemie to God Rom. 8. and altogeather rebellious to his word wherevnto it cannot subiect it selfe And that the reason is but
THE FOVNDATION OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION Comprehended in three godlie and learned Treatises 1. Faith 2. Hope 3. Charitie And now abydeth Faith Hope and Loue euen these three but the cheefe of these is Loue. 1. Cor. 13.13 AT LONDON Printed by Tho Purfoot for Iohn Royston and William Bladon and are to be sold at their shop at the great North dore of Paules at the signe of the Bible An. Dom. 1612. TO THE RIGHT worshipfull Sir James Lancaster Knight S. Veghelman wisheth all happinesse externall internall and eternall SIR IT IS A VSVal thing wheÌ„ men haue any worke to be published to dedicate it vnto some worthy personage like your selfe vnder whose patronage it may be sheltered But although this small volume be not originally my owne onely the translation thereof yet I present it to a farther end vnto your worship not so much to protect which is a thing as easie as common as to affect the matter therein contained to wit Faith Hope and Charity as the principall foundation of christian Religion They are three points which I doubt not but you as many other haue often heard of therfore are not onelie well acquainted with them but know how to put them in practise according to that measure of grace wherewith God the fountaine of all goodnesse hath plentifullie endued you Beseeching your worship not to mistake for I present it not to instruct you who thanks be to God are well knowne to be a dailie exerciser of these vertues and therefore haue now no need to learne But partly to refresh your memorie to continue in such blessed practises the perseuerance wherein not the beginning shall bee crowned with an euerlasting reward and partlie to manifest my loue and dutie You may well maruaile at my presumption in presenting so small a gift as is this Translation vnto one that deserueth so much but the matter being so heauenlie that I hope not onelie your selfe if you vouchsafe the reading thereof but many others of Gods children shall receaue comfort thereby I presume you will not haue so much regard to the breuitie as to the excellencie of it And if I find that this my little labour shall prooue acceptable I shall not onelie thinke it well bestowed but be incouraged to goe on in greater of the same quallitie and to doe your Worshippe any other seruice my best indeauours can extend vnto so I humbly take my leaue desiring the Almighty to graunt you in all felicity the scope and accomplishment of your hearts faire desires In London this 4. of October 1611. Your Worships euer to be commanded S. VEGHELMAN A TREATISE of FAITH Which is the foundation of Christian Religion CHAP. I. ¶ What ought to make vs to esteeme and seeke after Faith aboue all things THere is nothing ordinarily that hath more power and efficacie to stirre vp the desires and appetites of the will of man then the profite which he knoweth to be in the thing that he pursueth As to the contrary there is nothing that diswadeth him more from an enterprise than the inconveniences losses and dammages which he foresees and feares may happen vnto him in the pursute thereof Because that naturally men are enclined to desire and seeke after their profit and advantage in all things Now in all that man can thinke on or jmagine in this world there is nothing that is more nor so profitable nor healthfull vnto him as is the true Faith for many reasons of the which to avoyde prolixity I will onely touch three The first shall be that without faith as saith the Apostle it is jmpossible to please God Heb. 11. as to the contrary with faith it is not possible to displease him It remaines then to consider what the fauour and grace of God is towards those vnto whome it pleaseth him to jmpart them and what are the profits gaines and advantages that wee may hope for froÌ„ them receaue as well in this life Rom. 1. as herafter for from the grace of God first commeth a peace that is to say Psal 119. an vniversall prosperity which spreads it selfe ouer vs and vniversally ouer all things that may appertaine or happen vnto vs. For those things which we thinke are euill in themselues Mat. 5. as poverty sicknesse warre famine banishment prison and other such like jncommodities are turned vnto vs into as many fortunes aâ—d blessings when we are in the grace of God who by his jnfinite wisdome for the loue which he beareth vs can so wel accoÌ„modate apply all things that happen to vs of what nature or condition so euer they be that they alwayes helpe vs to our saluation and cannot be noysome or hurtfull vnto vs Rom. 11. although we should thinke they did through a false and vaine oppinion that we haue thereof Afterwards being fauorites and welbeloued of God according to the common proverbe which sayth that amongst friends all things are common there is a communalty of all good things betweene God and vs Mat. 25. In so much that not onely Heaven Earth and all that is in them doe appertaine vnto vs but also the kingdome of Heaven Life everlasting that jntire perfect felicity that is in God 1. Cor. 1. and even his power his wisedome his goodnesse his justice his truth his clemency and mercy which are the true and proper goods of our God and in the contemplation and possession of the which hee taketh his delight are ours by title of marriage and of the allyance which hee hath contracted with vs by his grace So that this day we are applyed therevnto by the guift which hee hath given vs of them as saith the Apostle 1. Cor. 1. All things are yours and you are Iesus Christs and Christ is Gods from whence we may jnfer that being in the grace of God we are consequently in the grace of the Angels Arch-angels Cherubines Seraphines Thrones Powers Governments and other spirituall creatures that are in Heaven Also the Heavens the Sonne the Moone the Starres the fower Elements to wit the Fire the Ayre the Water the Earth and in generall all creatures compounded of them are for vs that is to saye to keepe preserue and defend vs to accommodate every one according to his faculties meanes and power and to oppose themselues with all their might against whomsoeuer should go about to annoy or offend vs yea that wee may also put in this rancke the Divels themselues Gen. 3. Iohn 11. the which although they be the cappitall enemies of mankind and murderers of many from the beginning are nevertheles maugre them constrained to procvre our salvation without minding it or desiring to do it being thervnto compelled by the almighty power of God the which he doth jmploy in the favour and friendship which he beareth vs to turne the counsels and purposes of the Divell to the contrary of that which hee desireth and thinketh causing that his temptations by the which
hath done or suffered for vs And in generall all that is needfull for vs to beleeue and wherevpon we ought to ground and settle the hope of the everlasting life and happinesse Wherevpon may be jnfered that the doctrine of the Pope and of all his Pastors and Muncks of Papistry cannot availe any thing to edifie our Faith the which is not setled vpon the jnventions foolish traditions and vaine jmaginations of men But vpon the pure word of God the which ought to be layd open in the church to the people purely and simply without any mingling of dreames ravenings of men As saith the Prophet Ieremie Ierm 14. You must not mingle the chaffe among the good graine nor the drosse among the fine Siluer nor the water with the good wine Peter also willeth that if any one speake in the assembly 1. Pet. 4. let him speake like the words of God S. Paul exhorteth his Disciple to preach the word of God without adding or changing 2. Tim. 4. for as it written by the Prophet Psalm 12. The words of the Lord are pure words euen as the siluer which from the earth is tryed and purified seuen times in the fire for which cause nothing may bee mingled with it but it must needs corrupt it The third cause to wit the formall of Faith is Iesus Christ for as much as he is our Christ that is to say our Mediatour and jntercessor For in this quality hee is as it were the forme of our Faith the which hee quickneth and giveth a being therevnto as doth the shape to the matter which it shapeth and vnto the which it is applyed Now as we see all things take their being and denomination of their forme as the fire is named by it forme the fishes the beasts the birds and all things in generall are called according to the forme which â—hey beare Also so is Faith and calleth it selfe Christian because that Iesus Christ who is the forme thereof and wee are also for this reason called Christians because that wee are provided therewith which causeth that through Iesus Christ â—e are regenerate to be new creatures Moreover it is he that hath kept the commandement of God It is he who vndergoing the wrath and the malediction of the threatnings of God hath delivered vs from them Finally it is he that obtayneth the blessing set downe in the promise made to Abraham and to his posterity and who in doing so hath beene a meanes that the law the threatnings and the promises which are the three principall parts of the scripture were accomplished in his person and by consequent the Faith thereof healthfull to all belieuers Whereby wee may say of Iesus Christ that hee is ths forme Faith the which cannot subsist without the efficacy of the word nor the word haue her efficacy without him Therefore is it that we may say that Iesus Christ contaynes all the causes and parâ—s of Faith in himselfe for divers respects First the efficient because that as God he produceth it in vs by his spirit As he did in Paul when going jnto Damascus he called him and in his mercy did change him in an jnstant and made him of a furious persecutor of the Church a faithfull servant vnto him and it Afterwards that hee is also the matter of our Faith by reason of those things which he hath suffered for vs by the which paying our raÌ„some he hath fully satisfied to the justice of God for all our jniquities Againe that he is the forme of our Faith in as much as he is the Mediatour and jntercessour who by his merite keepeth vs perpetually in the grace of God his Father in the which resteth all our life salvation and beatitude And to conclude that he is also the end thereof because it is hee vnto whome we ought wholy to referre and attribute the praise and glory of our salvation which are the reasons for the which it is sayd Iohn 1. that in him consists all fulnesse of gifts and graces of God Also that God the Father hath giuen vs all things with him that is to say not only life but also the meanes whereby wee may attaine therevnto And that in him are all treasures of the knowledge wisedome and other graces and blessings of our God Which considering S. Augustine saith That in our selues we are nothing and that in him we are all things And the Apostle to the Hebrues Who is the cheefe and the accomplisher of our Faith who insteed of the ioy which he had in hand hath indured the crosse hauing despised the shame and is set at the right hand of the throne of God The finall cause which is the fourth and last of Faith is the glory of God and the salvation of men for the mercy of God manifesting it selfe in the remission of our sinnes and his vertue in the execution and in the accomplishment of his promises and his justice in the paine which Iesus Christ did endure vppon the crosse for vs and his power in the discomfiting of our enemies and his wisedome by the which he hath by death brought life by sinne justice by jnfirmitie force by darknesse light by wounds healing by lowlinesse exaltation and by hell whither Iesus Christ did descend Paradice and the kingdome of Heaven being I say all the vertues of God manifested and layd open in Iesus Christ all christian men apprehending them by Faith haue matter and cause to prayse and glorifie God for God doing that which is sayd hath shewed how glorious and wonderfull his name was Men then believing these things in their hearts and publishing them with their mouths cannot better magnifie the workes vertues and miracles of our God then in doing it CHAP. VI. ¶ Of the effects of Faith wherof the first is the reconciliation betweene God and man HAving spoken of the causes of Faith it is also needfull to declare the effects thereof which are great and admirable the first is the reconciliation betweene GOD and vs. For when we were as farre from GOD as the East might bee from the West that there was no creature vpoÌ„ earth more miserable then man in this estate Esay 58. to draw vs out of it to set vs againe in the hope of his grace and of our saluation from the beginning after that our first parents out of whose loynes wee came were departed froÌ„ God through their rebellion and disobedience God to prevent their ruine which was all apparant and very neere pleased to rayse them againe being so fallen That of them should come the seede which should bruse the head of the Serpent Gen. 3. The which promise he repeated since to Abraham Gen. 12. promising that of him a child should be borne that should bring an vniuersall blessing vppon all the Nations of the earth and againe since hath likewise repeated it to Dauid assuring him that from him should descend a King whose raigne should be
everlasting and permanent for ever 2. Sam. 7. Now this promise was occasion to Adam Abraham and Dauid and to all their posterity to beleeue and conceaue a certaine and assured hope of salvation perswading themselues that God offering himselfe so benignely vnto them did shew that he was not willing to destroy theÌ„ although that by their rebellion they had well deserved it but was content againe to gather to loue and to embrace them and even to bind himselfe as straightly vnto them as by marriage wee see man and wife joyned and vnited together Gen. 17. It is that which the Scripture sayth speaking so often of the alliance betweene God and his Church the which hath beene brought to passe by the mutuall promises which are made betweene God and it God promising it that he will bee her God and it promising to God that it will be his people the which allyance is the greatest happiest that ever was treated or brought to passe in the world for therin wholy coÌ„sisteth the assurance of our beatitude as sayth the Prophet Psalm 33. Blessed is that Nation whose God is the Lord euen the people that hee hath chosen for his inheritance Psalm 89. Blessed is the people that can reioyce in thee they shall walke in the light of thy countenance O Lord They shall reioyce continually in thy name and in thy righteousnesse shall they exalt themselues Blessed are the people that be so Psal 144. yea blessed are the people whose God is the Lord. For as the body liveth and is happy whiles the soule remaines in it of which it receaveth mooving feeling and all the force and vigour which is in it also and more happy is the Church that is joyned with God of whome as of it soule it receaueth all the good and the happinesse that it can haue desire and hope for And to the contrary as the soule separated from the body that body is no more any thing but a stincking and jnfectious rottonnes also that Church which is sequestred from her God is nothing else but all misery and vanity Now the greatnes of the felicity which falleth vnto vs by the allyance which we haue with God may bee yet better knowen by the comparison of the allyance which the jdolaters haue with their jdols Psal 115. Who haue eyes but see not mouths but speake not eares but heare not hands but feele not and feet but goe not The trust in which jdols is altogether vaine as sayth the Prophet Psal 135. They that make them are like to them so are all that trust in them But wee beeing vnited with God hee by his jnfinite wisedome hath the care of vs and of our affayres and by his providence doth provide for all our necessities and preserveth vs from all dangers And by his charity and the loue which hee beareth vs can never forsake vs so that having once contracted allyance with vs we are assured that it shall be permanent for ever and shall continue towards vs without any jnterruption for ever and ever as it â—s written by the Prophet Psal 23. Doubtlesse kindnesse and mercie shall follow me all the dayes of my life and shall remaine a long season in the house of the Lord. Psal 30. In his fauour is life My mercy will I keepe for him for euermore Psal 89. and my couenant shall stand fast with him And that which ought yet to make this allyance more recommendable vnto vs is that God with whome wee are allyed is alwayes present to know and to provide for all our affayres as it is written The Lord is thy keeper the Lord is thy shaddow at thy right hand The Sunne shall not smite thee by day nor the Moone by night Also Psal 33. Behold the eyes of the Lord is vppon them that feare him and vpon them that trust in his mercy CHAP. VII ¶ The second effect of Faith is the remission of sinnes THe second effect of Faith is the resion of sinnes by the which the hinderance that men could not be reconciled with God was taken away For God being perfectly just and we to the contrary most sinfull and vnjust in every fashion there was no meanes to vnite vs vnto him but that the sinne and vnjustice which was in vs must first be abolished 2. Cor. 6. And as sayth the Apostle What fellowship hath righteousnes with vnrighteousnes or what communion hath light with darkenes or what concord hath Christ with Beliall either what part hath he that belieueth with an Infidell or what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols for as the Philosophers say two things that are quite contrary cannot agree in one and the same subject It was then needfull that the sinne which was in vs should be abolished before we could be capable to come neere vnto God and to bee joyned with him Now this abolishment was done for the remission of our sinnes the which God gaue vs by his grace and by the meanes of the satisfaction which Iesus Christ made for it by his death the which satisfaction is allowed and jmputed vnto vs by the faith which we haue in him And it is the article of Faith which we protest to beleeue in the end of our confession saying I belieue the remission of sinnes Wherevpon wee must note one thing which S. Bernard sayth that is to say Even as the grace of God continueth towards vs for ever and that the efficacy and vertue of the death of Iesus Christ is perpetuall also is the remission and abolition of all our jniquities which come thereof perpetuall without being any whit jnterrupted So that as it is written in the Epistle to the Hebrewes Heb. 9.10 That we are continually sprinckled with the bloud of Iesus Christ the which is neuer clutterd but is alwaies fresh to be powred vppon vs to wash vs and to cleanse vs froÌ„ all our filthines And we may say of this bloud and of the remission of sinnaes which is therein established that it is the Asile the freedome of Christians whither they must alway haue their recourse to bee warranted and to saue their life when they haue chanced to commit any criminall cause And that may be very well fitted to this purpose which S. Augustine sayth in his booke of the Cittie of God making a comparison between the Church and Roome in this poynt that is to say that as to people and edifie the Citie of Roome in her beginning by the aduise of Romulus the first building that was there set vp was the place of Libertie and Freedome after the framing wherof hee caused a Proclamation to bee made in all the places thereabouts that who so euer found himselfe to haue committed any capitall crime retyring himselfe into this pace of Freedome he should obtaine his fauour and should be receaued into the place of Citizen and defended by the Inhabitants against all those that should
Euangelized that is to say that receaue the Gospell and the good tydings which Iesus Christ at his comming brought into the world Examples of humilitie Moyses Gen. 9.8 in Faith and Obedience All the great personages that euer were vpon earth were all furnished and adorned with this goodly vertue Moyses acknowledgeth that in his nature is but a heape of all vice and corruption and that his heart is jnclined to nothing but wickednesse Dauid confesseth that all men are nothing Plal. 92. in sum be all vanity The Children of men are vanity the cheife men are lyars to lay them vppon a ballance they are altogether lighter then vanitie Esay sayth Esay 95. that all the righteousnesse of men and all that is most apparant and jllustrious among them iâ— nothing else but old rags filthy and stinking and such as are the habits of beggars torne and tottered and couered with filth and vermine wherewith they cloath themselues ordinarily to stirre vp men to haue pittie and compassion on them to succour them with some almes Danil 9. Daniell confesseth and deploreth as well in his owne name as in all his fathers the great iniquitie wickednesse rebellions disobedience contempt and obstinacy whereof all were culpable and inbebted to the Iudgement of God Peter hauing acknowledged Iesus Christ and the great admirable vertues that were in him sayd Lord withdraw thy selse from mee who am a poore and wretched sinner vnworthie to appeare before thy face and to be in thy companie S. Paul acknowledgeth himselfe a blasphemer Tim. 1.11 a persecutor the most scelerate and wicked in the world and vnworthy of all the graces so great and in such great number which he had receaued of God All the Apostles yea all the Church of God desire of him euery day Mat. 6. pardon vs our offences as we pardon those that haue â—ffended vs. Acknowledging by his geâ—erall confession the infinite nomber of â—er sinnes which it were jmpossible to â—eckon by particulers as Dauid also â—aith Who can vnderstand his faults Psal 19. Dutie of the Christians â—lense me from secret faults We haue â—ll then great need to humble our selues before God to hold downe our heads â—owards the earth for shame griefe to see in vs such a disorder and confusion as wee see And to say with Iob Cursed was I when I sinned Iob. 9.10 but if I haue donne well yet shall not that make me lift vp my head nor looke the higher S. Augustine in his confessions Cursed be all our vnrighteousnesses if they bee examyned and Iudged without the pittie and mercie of God Psal 99. Seeing then as saith the prophet that the sinnes which greeue vs are as an jmmortable burthen which presseth vs downe Psal 143. Psal 130. we ought euery day continually to desire of God that he enter not into Iudgement with vs that he correct vs not in his anger and that he hould not his expresse region in the examination and condemnation of our sinnes Psal 96. But that he vnfold his greatest compassion ouer vs. And although that to shew his liberality and bountie towards vs he hath communicated and enlarged many of his graces and blessings fit Comparison neverthelesse that ought not to lift vp our eye lids but wee ought alwayes to haue our head bended downwards like vnto the eares that are loaden with corne in a good yeare and to acknowledge that that proceedes not from vs but of his onely grace and favour which dojng we shall breake all the colour and anger of our God who seejng vs so abated will rayse vs againe by his goodnes and will forget all our faults and wee experiment that as the plants or young trees doe bend with the wind and yeelding vnto the will and jmpetuosity of them are preserued and maintayned an other which the great trees are not as the Oakes and Walnut-trees which by resisting of the stormes are many times beaten downe bruised and rent that also in humbling our selues wee shall avoyd the fury of God an other even â—s also we see in the thunder-bolts and â—n Artillerie whose furie is quenched when they come to encounter with the â—arth or a bag of Wooll which bejng â—oft giveth place to the blow ¶ The Eight effect of Faith it is the Mother of Prayer FAith also is the mother of Prayer in the which the truely faithfull exercise themselues jncessantly followjng the commaundement of Iesus Christ who exhorteth his Apostles and consequently all the faithfull to pray without end and without ceasing in Faith without the which wee cannot in any wise hope that our requests be heard of God nor likewise graunted For also the prayer which is made in doubt and jncertitude is displeasing to God as sayth S. Iames Iames. 2. That the vncertaine man must looke for nothing from God whatsoeuer he demandeth Rom. 10. And S. Paul demandeth How it is possible to call vppon God if first we doe not belieue and hope in him Now this prayer when it is well made and grounded vppon the promises of God and that then it is addressed vnto his Majestie it cannot choose but obtaine of him what it demandeth Wherfore Dauid sayd Psal 139. That prayer was his refuge in all aduersitie Wee haue in the holy Scripture jnfinite examples of the prayers that this good Prophet hath made to God for to obtaine of him some good and happy jssue in all his afflictions Psalm 3. I did call vppon the Lord with my voice and he heard me out of his holy mountaine I layd mee downe and slept and rose vp againe for the Lord sustained mee I will not bee affrayd for tenne Thousand of the people that should beset me round about And in the 18. Psalme where hee records the meanes that hee vseth to avoide the furie of his enemies that kept him besieged on every side he sayth that for to repulse and beat them backe he helped himselfe principally with prayer But in my troubles did I call vpon the Lord and cryed vnto my God he heard my voyce out of his Temple and my cry did come before him vnto his eares Then the earth trembled and quaked the foundations also the Mountaines mooued and shooke because he was angry Psal 18. And also Some trust in Chariots Psal 20. and some in Horses but wee will remember the name of the Lord our God They are brought downe and fallen but wee are risen and stand vpright Saue Lord let the King heare vs in the day that we call And in the 9. Psalme The Lord also will bee a refuge for the poore a refuge in due time euen in affliction And they that know thy name will trust in thee for thou Lord hast not failed them that seeke thee And in the same Psalme The wicked shall turne into Hell and all Nations that forget God For the poore shall not alwaies bee forgotten the
a barke vpon the Sea without being able to rest in any place beeing tossed hither and thither with euery winde of Doctrine by the jugling of men Ephe. 4. as sayth the Apostle and by their slight and cautelous seducing Which is nothing answerable to Faith by the which being justified wee haue peace with God through Iesus Christ wee are like vnto the prudent man who hath builded his house vppon a rocke Rom. 5. then the raine fell and the stormes came and the windes blew Mat. 7. and did beate against that house but it did not fall for it was grounded vppon a Rock But whosoeuer heareth these words that I speake The nature of Faith and doth not put there in practise shall be like vnto the man that builded his house vpon the sand when the raine fell and the stormes rose and the winds blew and beate against this house it fell and the ruine thereof is great Dauid also speaking of the faithfull man and of his assurance said They that trust in the Lord Psal 121. shall bee as mount Syon which cannot be remooued but remaineth for euer Saint Paul condemnes those scrupulous people Inconstancie in Religion very dangerous who haue always their consciences troubled with vaine feares and doubts which hinder them from rest and from setling themselues firmely vppon the promises of God saying If you are dead with Christ as concerning the rudiments of the world Coloss 2. why are you charged with ordinances as if you liued in the world To wit eate not taste not touch not All which things ordained by the commaundements and doctrine of men perish with the vse the which haue neuerthelesse some kind of sapience in voluntarie deuotion and humilitie of spirit and insomuch as they spare not the body but haue no regard to the satisfying thereof Remedie thereof Now euery faithfull man must take great heede least hee fall into such a vice which is one of the most dangerous and contrariest to faith that is to say when men are like vnto a spunge which drinketh vp all the lyquors presented therevnto 1. Iohn 4. And that they also lend the eare to all doctrines indifferently without vsing the prudence and counsell which is giuen them to trye their spirits whether they are of God and the doctrines likewise whether they bee conformable to the word of God and to the analogie of Faith Mat. 16. For as sayth Iesus Christ wee ought carefully to beware of the Pharisises leauen knowing that wee cannot mingle neuer so little of it with the good dowe but it will bee corrupted and if when wee will receeue a paiment of any thing that is due vnto vs we are attentyue to way it and to examine it by the sound and otherwises least wee should bee deceaued what ought we to do when it is done of our selues and of the things appertainning to our salvation Mat. 10. Ought wee then indiscreetly to trust all persons that shall speake to vs of it Let vs then bee prudent as Serpents and simple as Doues Of the obiect subiect of Faith It is now time to come to deduce what is the obiect and subiect of Faith that is to say the word of God the which as we haue shewed before being diuided into three parts of the law of the threatnings and of the promises of God The promises of God the promises are those wherevppon Faith principally relieth Because they set before vs the Grace of God his mercy and the remission of our sinnes which are the meanes by the which our consciences are assured and the troubles pacified wherewith they may be disturbed for the lawe of god requiring of vs a whole and perfit righteousnesse which is impossible for vs to obtaine whiles wee are in the world vice corruption and infirmitie withstanding which are in vs which hinder vs from being able to attaine to the of this perfection as also the threatnings propouÌ„ding nothing else vnto vs but the wrath and curse of God it is impossible that by them wee can resolue our selues of the grace and charitie of God who hateth wickednesse as it is written Psal 5. Thou art not a God that loueth wickednesse neither shall euill dwell with â—hee It remaines then to conclude that why Faith hath the promises of God for an obiect that which Faith regardeth is principally the promise of God who setteth his mercie before it and the remission of her sinnes which are the points wherwith Faith is vpheld Faith then regardeth not the traditions of men nor the decrees of Antichrist nor any doctrine other then that of Iesus Christ which was denounced vnto vs as well by himselfe as by his Prophetâ— and Apostles It is the reason for the which God by his Prophet sayd Esay 29. That for nothing and to no purpose the people endeauoured to serue him by the traditions and coÌ„mandements of men Which he cannot allow of considering that which he hath forbiddeÌ„ in his law not to adde nor diminish any thing but onely to obserue that which is there commaunded and contained Now that which is spoken of the commandement by thâ— which our obedieÌ„ce ought to be directed also is it vnderstood of the promise by the which our faith ought to be ruled And as we ought to do nothing but thaâ— which God hath commanded to obay him also ought we to beleeue nothing but what hee hath promised vs seeing the only word of God and that whicâ— is once come forth of his lips is firmâ— and resolute Psal 89. For all that the diuell caâ— say the father and author of lyes all thaâ— which also Antichrist can say and thâ— false Prophets her complices and adherents is nothing else but lying and vanitie wherevpon our Faith being grounded should bee no firmer nor surer then a building set vpon the sand the which being beaten with the winds and waues would presently bee ouerthrowne and cast to the ground The faithfull man must then meditate day and night vpon the word of God But let him principally settle himselfe vpon the thankfull promises of God vpon the which as vpon Pillars and Colloms he ought to stay assure his Faith The promises of God are I Amen in Iesus Christ And to the promises let him adde Iesus Christ who is their warrant and pledge without whome it is jmpossible that the Evangelical promises can be A men vnto him as saith the Apostle that is to say stable and certaine There is the reason why the Apostle sayth that Iesus Christ is the principall matter and subiect of the Gospell 1. Cor. 1. because that by him the opening of the prison is made vnto vs our ransome is payed our sicknesse healed the wrath of God appeased towards vs and his grace is purchased for vs and that in suÌ„m all that he hath done suffered for vs is to assure our faith For his righteousnes his