Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	ghost_n	holy_a	promise_n	5,839	5	6.9246	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A02928	The vvay of lyfe A Christian, and catholique institution comprehending principal poincts of Christian religion, which are necessary to bee knowne of all men, to the atteyning of saluation. First delyuered, in the Danish language for the instruction of those people, by Doctor Nicolas Hemmingius, preacher of the Gospell, and professor of diuinitie, for the Kynge of Denmarcke, in his Uniuersitie of Hafnia: and about three yeares past, (for the commoditie of others) translated into Latine, by Andrew Seurinus Velleius: and now first, and newly Englished, for the commodity of English readers: by N. Denham, this yeare of our redemption. 1578.; Via vitae. English	Hemmingsen, Niels, 1513-1600.; Denham, Nicholas.	1578 (1578)	STC 13067; ESTC S103963	117,088	234

good thing and commoditie of the children of God or of the Church is That God himselfe is in her as a moste lightsome Sun For euen as from this visible Sunne there commeth vnto the worlde Light Heate and Shining beames wherby al things are quickened and cherished so frō God which is the Sun inuisible there cometh vnto the Church Light that is to say cleere knowledge of GOD there commeth Heate that is affections burning with Faith Hope and Loue and shining beames which are the manifolde consolations whereby the faithfull soule is releeued cherished and comforted This Sunne as it riseth to such as feare God so it setteth to the negligent the wicked lyuer and the carelesse It is therfore with great diligence to be taken heede of that the godlie through a certaine sluggishnes of their owne in hearing or reading the word of God wherin this Sunne brightly shineth doe not suffer this Sunne to be either darkened or hidden from them For as this visible Sunne if it shall seeme to a sicke body in his dreame to be hid or darkened there is daunger as Hippocrates affirmeth of moste certaine death to the sicke body to be at hand so if our Sunne Christe be darkened vnto vs his doctrine beeing either abolished or obscured not onely darcknes hangeth ouer vs but also the death of the soule and moste assured eternall condemnation Furthermore we may heereby perceiue the misery of them as many as are destitute of this Sunne the worde of GOD. For they beeing blinde doe bothe grope in the darknesse of ignorance and beeing ignoraunt of God are stricken with dreadfull amasednesse of minde when sinne sheweth foorth it selfe in their consciences And albeit that Conscience seemeth in many to be as it were with an hot yron feared as though it were voyd of all feeling of sinne yet notwithstanding it will at sometime be wakened vp at the least in the extreame agonie of death and will driue the miserable soule into desperation than the whiche thing nothing may happen vnto manne either more heauy or more bytter as hauing leather that hee had neuer beene created and brought vnto light The second good thing or commoditie of them which knowe the Essence and will of GOD and yeelde themselues obedient to the same is that God is a defence or sheeld vnto them wherwith they are compassed defended and sheelded against the kingdome of darcknesse Of this sheeld speaketh Dauid in Psal 5. when he saith All they which hope in thee shall reioyce they shall euer be giuing thanks and thou shalt dwell in them all they which loue thy name shall reioyce in thee For thou Lord shalt blesse the righteous and with thy fauourable kindenesse shalt thou compasse vs as with a sheelde Item Psal 18. And thou haste giuen me the defence or sheelde of thy saluation and thy right hand doth vpholde me In this manner it is the good pleasure of God that he wil not only with the crowne of his fauourable kindenesse compasse his about but also will haue them to bee happie with perpetuall blessednesse Paule when he writeth to the Ephesians thus Take vnto you the sheeld of Faith wherewith ye may quench all the fiery dartes of the wicked Signifying that we are thē compassed about with the sheeld of faith when we fight a good fight holdeing a stedfast beleefe of the doctrine with a sure confidence of mercy a good conscience This sheelde forasmuch as the enemies of God doe want what I pray ye can be more miserable then they For in asmuch as they be naked and vnarmed they are not able to resist the diuel the prince of darkenes but he obteineth ful dominion in them throweth them headlong out of one wickednes into an other vntill he haue brought them to vtter destruction The third good thing or commoditie which the godly haue by the healthfull knowledge and feare of the true God is called of Dauid Grace This Grace is the fauour of God forgiuing sinne to the beleeuers for the death of his sonne and garnishing them with a most pure garment which is The obedience or righteousnesse of Christe VVhereby they are in such wise reputed righteous in the sight of God as if they them selues had fulfilled the lawe But they which are out of the congregation are voide of this grace of saluation and doe remaine vnder sinne the wrath of God and eternall damnation for their iniquitie The fourth commoditie which they that know and feare God doe inioy is called of Dauid Glory This Glory is The adoption of the adopted sonnes of GOD The inhabiting of the holy ghoste and the hereditary Possession of eternall blessednesse by Iesus Christe But contrarywise they whiche doe not knowe God are the bondslaues and dwelling places of the diuell are mooued by his spirit and to eternall ignominie are they reserued The fifth good thing or commoditie which God by the Psalmist promiseth vnto the godly is cōteined in these wordes He will withholde no good thing from them which walke in innocencie O how great is this promise It is all one as if he should say They which walke in innocencie that is to say they which by faith doe yeelde obedience vnto God shall be abundantly indewed with all good thinges so that they may perpetually inioy them and shall neuer stand in feare of any euill to come vnto them And albeit that all the Children of God shal in this world suffer persecution yet notwithstanding they are certaine of the good things promised which heere they obtaine by hope and in the life to come shall without all impediment for euer possesse But contrarywise they which haue neither learned to knowe God by his worde neither yet to feare him according to his will vnto them ignominies sorowes and calamities shall neuer be wanting but vnto the Diuell whome they haue serued they shall be thrall and subiect for euer Heereby now euery one may easely vnderstand that to be moste true which I propounded in the beginning namely That of all things which are in the world there is nothing either more better or more precious neither yet more profitable than rightly to know the ESSENCE and WIL of God and that this knowledge is drawne forth of the word of God in the which word he hath opened bothe him self and his wil. But least any man should suffer himselfe to be seduced by the deuill his members it is to bee knowne that the worde of GOD is not any other where to be sought than in the writinges of Moses the Prophetes the Euangelistes and Apostles whiche are beautified with the testimonie of the omnipotent God which is the eternall veritie and can not lye as Paule speaketh But some may obiect or at the least thinke with himselfe in his heart as many doe although they expresse it not by their mouth after this manner If wee were certaine that that worde were in very deede the worde of

faith saith Augustine consisteth in this that all thinges which came to passe in Christe were tolde of before Heereof our faith concludeth on this manner He alone without all doubt is the true and onely Messias and Sauiour of the worlde in whome alone doe meete together whatsoeuer hath beene foretolde touching the Messias by Moses and all others the Prophets of God In Iesus the sonne of Mary alone meeteth together whatsoeuer hath beene touching the Messias foretolde by Moses and all the rest of the Prophets of God Therefore Iesus alone the sonne of the virgin Mary is without al doubt the Sole true and only Messias and Sauiour of the worlde Vpon this foundation the Apostles of Christe Peeter and Paule builded the faith of the Gentiles whiche would neuer haue beleeued in Christe vnlesse they had shewed them this agreemente of the foresayinges and their fulfillinges in Christe Touching this matter let the 17. Act and 2. Peter 1. bee reade In like manner also the foretellings of the Prophets touching the moste greeuous persecutions of the Church which at this day we finde that Romish Antichrist and Mahomet to fulfil are extant Heere let vs comforte and lifte vpp our selues against the kingdome of the Pope the raging of Mahomet when we confer the euent with the Prophecies shewed long time before Of the tyrannie of the Roomish Bishop and Mahomet Ieremie and Daniel foreshewed when we therefore doe see these things to haue come to passe what letteth that we should not thorowly perswade our selues that those thinges shall come to passe which are foretolde of the Aduent or comming of the kingdome of IESVS CHRISTE wherein namely in the last day he will appeere and will raise vp all people from death those whiche haue doone good to the Resurrection of life but those which haue done euil vnto the Resurrection of damnation as the whole sacred Scripture touching this matter doth euery where moste plentifully teach vs. The fourth parte of the Outwarde testimonie is the consent of Moses the Prophetes Christe the Apostles and of the whole vniuersall Church in doctrine and worshipping of God For all these with one vniforme agreement haue holden the same doctrine of The Lawe and The Gospell and the same manner of worshipping God Neither hath the diuersitie of ceremonies which for the cōsideratiō of times haue beene changed troubled this agreement one the same foundation of the true and althfehull doctrine euery where remaining But if this doctrine had not beene inspired by God so greate an agreement had neuer beene in these Ministers of God whome both in teaching and propounding the same matters it is conuenient that their successours should imitate VVhere that thing is accomplished there must needs be the true Church of Christe and without this not else where The fifth parte of the Outwarde testimoninie is The Induraunce and conseruation of the Churche from the beginning of the world vnto this time and so farther vnto the last day of Iudgement Heerunto appertaineth that which is in Acts. 5. when the Scribes and Pharises rose vp and went together to counsaile to suppresse the Apostles of Christe that auncient Gamaliell a Doctor of the Lawe rose vp and said If this counsell or this woork be of men it shall be dissolued but if it be of GOD ye cannot dissolue it This is it which Christ him selfe affirmeth that against his Church The gates of Hel shall not preuaile The sixth parte of the Outwarde testimonie is The bloody confession of many Martyres from Abell vnto this present day For they are called Martyers because they beare witnesse to the trueth of the Heauenly doctrine not onely with their mouth but also with their blood A matter worthy to bee remembred is reported of Ignatius the Scholer of Saint Iohn that when at a certaine time the Tyrant would by threatnings haue constrayned him to deny Christe hee answered How can I deny him whose name I doe beare written in my heart VVhich thing beeing heard the Tirant commanded the body of Ignatius to be cut in sunder and the heart beeing taken out to be deuided into small peeces which thing when it was accomplished in euery peece so cut of the heart the name of Iesus was found manifestly discrybed The other kinde of testimonies wherby the certaintie of the doctrine of the Church is confirmed is The inwarde certification or assurance made by the holie Ghoste sealing the heartes of faithfull people touching the veritie of the Gospell Of this thing Paule 2. Cor. 1. speaketh It is God saith he which hath annointed vs and sealed vs in Christe and hath giuen the earnest of the spirit in our heartes This Certification the godly doe feele cheefely in feruent earnest prayer vnto God For when Prayers doe proceede from a true faith we feele in our heartes the answere of God whereby we are made the more assured of the diuine promises Hetherto I haue numbred breefely the testimonyes whereupon as vpon foundations the vnmouable certaintie of the Christian doctrine is stayed God graunt that these things may be effectually confirmed in the mindes of many that they wauer not any more but that they may dayly more and more abound in all sence and knowledge This word of God beeing by so sure testimonyes approued God hath commaunded to be spread abroade through the whole compasse of the world and by the Ministerie of the same gathereth out of all mankinde a Church vnto himselfe which through Christe he hath predestinated to eternall life and saluation It therefore becommeth godly Magistrates to promote this selfe same worde that it may be purely and sincerely deliuered in Schooles and Churches and set ouer to the posteritie The charge whereof when the moste godly and wise Princes and Kings of Denmark perceiued to appertain vnto them they founded this noble vniuersitie of Hafnia and moreouer enriched the same with moste bountifull stipendes that in the same they which in deliuering the pure doctrine of the Gospel might in time to come with fruite serue their countrie might be instructed and learned I beeing called vnto this Vniuersitie that with my laboures I might assist the studyes of Learners forasmuche as I had hethervnto bothe with liuely voyce taught and also committed to open monuments of letters many things of the moste sacred diuinitie in Lattin it seemed good to me now by this writing set foorth in the common language to set forwarde the studyes of godlinesse in them whiche are ignorant of the Lattine speech I haue drawen together into this litle boke out of the writings of the Prophets and Apostles all those things which are necessary to be knowne of a Christian man to the atteyning of saluation And I will this same little booke to remaine in place of my confession of euery article of the Christian Religion which hetherto about the space of 30. yeeres I haue in the Church Schoole of Hafnia openly propounded That it hath semed best

at large beneath in the third doctrine now let vs passe to the third vse of the Law Of the spirituall vse of the Lawe THE THIRDE VSE of the Law which is called SPIRITVALL hath place in the regenerate which beleeuing in Christe haue obteyned by the death and intercession of Christe remission of their sinnes and are counted righteous in the sight of GOD through the righteousnes of Christ imputed vnto them Where this faith is liuely and voyde of hypocrisie there withall dwelleth the holie ghost which both worketh faith in the harts of men by hearing the healthfull doctrine of the Gospell and regenerateth man and stirreth him vp to thank fulnesse towards God whereby it commeth to passe that man more esteemeth the will of God and his commaundements then all the goods of the whole world how beawtifull and precious so euer they may be esteemed and continueth in purposing good keeping faith and a good conscience Then because the man that is borne anew would shew obedience vnto God he looketh againe into the lawe and setteth the same as an infallible rule before him that he may vnderstand what hee shoulde doe and what hee should leaue vndone in y e right seruing of God And although no man doth fulfill the Lawe by his owne woorks yet notwithstanding the obedience of the faithful pleaseth God because he is set free from the malediction of the Lawe and is by the meanes of Christe vnder grace For so Paul saith There is no damnation to them which are in Iesu Christe which walke not after the fleshe but after the spirit This obedience is 〈◊〉 onely acceptable vnto God as who of his fatherly goodnes cōmaundeth willeth the faithfull to loue him and to exercise charity toward their neighbour but hee also addeth a promise of rewarde that hee will recompence all good doinges so that he which shall giue a cuppe of colde water in the name of Christe shall not bee voyde of his reward Hereof it commeth to passe that examples do remayne of many of the godlye which for their obedience perfourmed to God through fayth haue receyued both spirituall and corporall blessinges But they which say they do beleeue and yet notwithstandinge purpose not to eschue sinne but suffer them selues to bee ruled by their owne corrupt concupiscence and to bee drawne away of the desires of the fleshe these treade not in the steppes of Abraham which had leiffer kill his onely Sonne and heyre then by turninge backe to commit any thinge against the commaundement of God They doo also agaynst the doctrine of Sainct Paule which commaundeth the beleeuers and such as with Abraham would bee made partakers of the grace of God that they should declare their fayth by obedience towardes God which hath set foorth his vnmeasurable grace towardes all men in that that hee hath deliuered his only begotten Sonne for them But how wicked and not to bee vttered is this argument which some beeinge gone forwarde vnto that state of vngodlynesse dare vtter VVee are Iustified and made free freely by fayth to what end then shall we neede to apply our selues to doe good woorks Hearken what Paule answereth to these people whose damnation saith hee is iust yea truely Iust forasmuch as they by this errour doe draw sinnes vnto them selues as dark cloudes For first they are coutemelious against God moreouer they treade vnder their feete the precious blood of Christ Furthermore they expell the holie ghost Besides this they reproue themselues of vntrueth Lastly by giuing offēce they offend many and instraunging their mindes from the doctrine of the Gospel obediēce them foreward to perdition and destruction First of all I say they are cōtumelious against God which by his infinite mercy desireth to haue them free from sinne and condemnation These ●ontruely are to be compared as it seemeth to me to disobedient children which hauing beene sometime for their manifolde malice wickednesses excluded frō all hope of successiō in their fathers riches yet notwithstāding being againe becōe suppliāt and receiued into fauoure haue returned backe againe to their former disposition and contemning their fathers commaundement haue againe abused his goodnesse and gentlenesse what other thing heere shall the father put in practise but to deale with them by extreme iustice euen as their stubbernesse requireth Moreouer these do tread vnder their feete the pricious blood of CHRIST which was shed vpon the crosse for the remission of sinnes As though Christ had therfore shed his blood and stretched foorth his hands armes and feete yea and his whole body imbrewed with blood vpon the gibbet of the crosse that it might bee lawfull for vs to prostitute our hartes our handes our feete and our whole body to all filthinesse wantonnes tyranny vnrighteousnes craftines deceipt subtiltie as I may speak in one word to all these together to the which the corruption of the world and the lust of the flesh prouoketh vs and yet notwithstanding in the meane time to say CHRISTE is my sauiour I will beleeue in him and I will wholy cleaue vnto him Who so in such sorte frameth his life is altogether like to an vnfaithfull traitour which doeth his businesse hypocritically vnto his Lorde whose wages he taketh and in the meane time fauoureth his enemie and laboureth by all the meanes that hee may to please him and with his diligence to serue him Euen in like manner to boaste of faith in Christe and in the meane time to liue loocely and wickedly what other thinge is it then to speake outwardely those things with our mouthes from which both the heart it selfe and all the studyes and actions of our whole life doe disagree The Iewes boasted them selues to be the sonnes of GOD and the seede of Abraham but what saide Christe to these things Ye saith he are of the Deuil because ye doe the woorkes of him from which Abraham was farre of It is therefore an horrible thing and ioyned with extreame daunger of damnation to cary Christe outwardly in our mouth and priuely to hide his enemie in our heart and with all our members aswell inwarde as outwarde to frame our selues to obey him What is this els I say then to spurne with our feete the precious blood of Christe to set at nought his bitter passion and death which he suffered for our sinnes not that there might lye open for vs a libertie to sinne but that we by faith receiuing forgiuenesse of our sinnes might keepe him in our hearts and denying the diuell with all his woorkes namely sinne and iniquitie should yeelde pure and continuall obedience to this our onely Lord and redeemer Thirdly whosoeuer by hearing of the healthfull doctrine of the Gospel are iustified by faith in CHRISTE and doe againe fall back into manifest wickednesses are led and gouerned by the rule of the flesh the world and the Diuel these doe make sorowfull the holie Ghoste and expell him foorth of their heartes and admit and receiue into his place the spirit of

baptized with the Baptisme wherewith I am baptized As though the Lorde shoulde say yee all aspire to ioy and glory but ye must of necessitie suffer somewhat before that it shalbe lawful to inioy this glory and gladnesse Moste bitter death falleth in ouer whome we must triumph before we come vnto this glory Therfore to be sprinkled with the water in Baptisme noteth foorth the death of Christe to tary vnder the water shadoweth foorth his buriall To bee drawne from the water representeth the glorious Resurrection of Christe As often therfore as we remember our baptisme or be present at the Baptisme of others let vs call to minde the history of the three dayes Of the Death Buriall and Resurrection of Christe But if you demaunde VVhy Christe hath doone this Paul aunswereth and in two words knitteth together the whole matter in Rom. 4. Christe sayth he dyed FOR OVR SINNES and was raised againe FOR OVR IVSTIFICATION For as Christe by the merite of his death wypeth out our iniquities and by his blood cleanseth our consciences from all mortall sinne So in like manner by his resurrectiō from death he declareth himselfe to be righteous and in all respectes perfectly pure according to the lawe of God Therfore Dauid in the 16. Psal sayth Thou shalt not leaue my soule in hel neither shalt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption Christe also meaneth the same thing when he saith in Ioh. 16 The holy Ghost shall reprehend the world of Righteousnesse because I go to the father that is to say Herode Pilate and the Iewes deny me to be righteous and without all sinne but when they shall see me not to be ouercome of death my resurrectiō from death shalbe a testimony of my righteousnesse before them For that cause Paule saith Hee was raysed againe for our iustifycation that is to say that by his rising againe he might declare his owne righteousnesse which righteousnesse he giueth and imputeth vnto all those which beleeue in him Furthermore VVhat Christe doth in Baptisme Iohn sheweth saying He baptizeth with the holy Ghoste and with fyer And Paule when he saith He cleanseth vs in the fountaine of water through the worde Whereas Iohn affirmeth Christe to baptise VVith the HOLIE GHOST and VVith FYER he sheweth that Christe giueth in Baptisme the holye Ghoste who by his presence is effectuall in the worde and Baptisme What the holy Ghost woorketh in the partie which is baptized according to the commandement of Christ is shewed by the word Fyer For as the Fyer altereth things sometimes by burning out sometimes by inflaming So the holy Ghost altereth man by regenerating burneth out by mortifying the olde man inflameth by quickening and raysing vp the new man And heereof it is that Paule sayth Christe clenseth vs in the fountaine of water through the word of life In which words hee ioyneth together three things namely Outwarde Baptisme which hee calleth The fountaine of water Then Christe who cleanseth vs inwardly with his blood and holy spirit And lastly The VVorde that is The promise of Christe whereupon the whole efficatie of Baptisme doth depend For Baptisme is not effectuall for the water which the Minister of God sprinckleth neither for the words which are recited by him but all the force of Baptisme floweth from the moste ample promise of Christ who with his holy spirit and with fier baptizeth him which with the externall element of water is sprinkled But although this be the institution and ordinaunce of Christe yet notwithstanding let vs not thinke his hand to be shortened to baptize spiritually without water those which are partakers of his promise that is to say all the Infantes of the Christians and those cheefely whiche departing in the mothers wombe doe not touche the outwarde Baptisme Therefore godly Parents should not despayre of the saluation of such Infantes neither with vncomelynesse and contempt bury them in a grounde which the common people call not consecrated but let them surely persuade themselues y t these are in the same couenāt with the children of Abraham as Paule in Gallath 3. plainely teacheth Therfore as the fleshely children of Abraham which departed this life before the eight day of Circumcision were not condemned but by the vertue of the promise and couenaunt of GOD were saued so also after the same manner the spirituall Children of Abraham that is to say the infantes of all the Christians are not condemned if they decease before baptisme but are saued by the efficatie of the promise of God and by inuisible baptisme wherewith Christe baptizeth them who by his death and precious blood hath redeemed them With this consolation let christian Parents lifte vp themselues whose Children departe hence either in the mothers wombe or foorthwith after the birth before they be made partakers of Baptisme Yet I would not that any should heereof take occasion to protract to Baptisme of Infants yea rather I am an exhorter that assoone as they be newe borne they should haue a regarde to haue them sealed with this outwarde Symbole or token of saluation and therewithall to be assisted with the prayers of the godly whiche shall bee present at the Baptisme It remayneth now to be explycated VVhat Christe wil doe to those which are Baptized This thing he himselfe sheweth in his last comaundement which ascending vnto heauen he gaue to his Apostles in these wordes Go and Baptise all nations whosoeuer beleueth and is Baptized shalbe saued but he that beleeueth not shalbe condemned For euen as they whiche were in the Arke of Noah were preserued from the floud so whosoeuer doth earnestly stick to the couenant of this outwarde Baptisme are deliuered from the euerlasting floud that is to say from the paines and torments of Hel by IESVS CHRIST Breefely as he which is baptized is drawen frō the water so Christe will take vs from all calamities and bring vs into his kingdome where with him we shall reigne in all eternitie After that we haue sayd How our Baptisme is a Symbole or token of the actions of Christ we will now see Howe it also admonisheth vs of our dutie that is to say what we shuld perfourme vnto GOD what we owe vnto our selues what we must suffer And what we must looke for How we must passe from miseryes to saluation For of euery of these partes of our duetie our Baptisme doth admonish vs. But VVhat shall we performe vnto GOD This Christe teacheth vs when hee sayth Baptize them In the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghoste In which woordes hee comprehendeth the principall end of Baptisme which it were conuenient we should alwayes and continually haue in remembrance For this is the moste simple and plaine meaning of these wordes I Baptize thee in the name of the Father of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost that is to say I Baptize thee to this ende cheefely that thou shouldest acknowledge confesse inuocate

hee will in Heauen and in Earth Againe if we looke vpon the commaundement Christe willeth all nations to be baptised that this might bee a testimonie that God will remit sinnes to all those whiche beleeue and turne them selues vnto him To conclude if we fasten our eyes vppon his presence Christe himselfe will appeare heere who baptising with the holy Ghoste woorketh that inwardly which the water outwardly applyed doth signifie By foure vnmouable arguments therfore we haue proued this to be the wil of God That he would haue all men to be saued as many as turne them selues vnto him by faith in Iesus Christ Whosoeuer therefore inwardly regardeth his saluation let him stedfastly rest in this will of GOD which God hath not onely manifested in his woorde but also by many meanes effectually proued and shewed Let vs therfore conclude that they teach falsely which to the slaūdring of the death and passion of Christe doe say that his sacrifice made for the forgiuenesse of sinnes is not profitable for all men but for a certaine few elected The second errour is of those which defend that there be certaine sinnes which cannot bee remitted for the mirite of the passion and death of Christe To this opinion these wordes of Paule are contrary VVhere sinne did abounde there Grace in Iesu Christe did superabound Likewise Iohn when he affirmeth Christe to take away the sinnes of the worlde giueth to vnderstande that the sacrifice of Christe is of farre greater force to saue then the sinnes of the whole worlde are to destroy Therefore let vs thinke that there is no sinne greater then to thinke that there is any sinne greater then the grace of GOD in Iesu Christe Such was the sinne of Cayne who beeing ouercome with the conscience of his wickednesse and dispayring sayde Greater is myne iniquitie than that it may bee forgiuen But rightly doeth Augustine aunswere him Thou lyest Cayne for the mercy of God is greater than the misery of all sinne He therefore argueth God of vntrueth whosoeuer despayreth of forgiuenesse for the heape and greatnes of his sinnes he contemneth the othe of GOD who by an othe confirmeth That hee will not the death of a sinner but that he should be conuerted and liue For when GOD beholdeth thy sinne he therwithall considereth that an infinite price is payde for the same namely the Lords passion From whence also peceedeth that voyce of the conscience reioycing in Bernarde concerning the remission of sinnes I holde sayth hee a moste strong argument THE PASSION OF THE LORD for his voice was of much more force than the voyce of the blood of Abell crying in the heartes of the elect the forgiuenesse of all offences For hee was betrayed for our sinnes neither is it to be doubted but that his death is mightyer and of more force vnto good then our sinnes vnto euill I haue sinned saith Manasses aboue the sande of the Sea but thou O LORDE according to thy greate mercie shalt saue mee though vnwoorthye But heere some body may obiect and say I haue oftentimes promised amendment of my life and yet notwithstanding wittingly and willingly I haue againe oftentimes sinned and doone against my conscience To this I aunswere thus This kinde of sin is in the sight of God horrible and dangerous and many for the same are condempned as Saule and many others who by soudaine death are caught from hence without repentaunce but notwithstanding Grace in our Lorde Iesu Christe aboundeth aboue bothe this and all the sinnes of the whole worlde For whosoeuer doe rise againe from sin by earnest repentance they all for the death and passion sake of Christe doe obtaine forgiuenesse of sinnes This temptation did so assaulte the Iewishe people that despayringly brusting foorth into this voyce they cryed out in Ezechiel 33. Our sinnes and iniquities are gone ouer vs and wee are waxed faynt in them How then can we liue Tell them sayth the mighty Lorde As truely as I liue I will not the death of a sinner but that he be conuerted and liue Turne ye turne yee from your most wicked offences O yee house of Israell wherefore will ye dye Whosoeuer therfore is afflicted with the conscience of his owne wickednesse let him remember the greatnesse of the mercy of GOD exceeding all y e works of God Let him consider that the will of God is not to will the death of a sinner but his conuersion and life Let him beholde the raunsome throughly payd by Christe which is farre greater than the sink of all the sinnes of whole worlde Let him consider the examples of suche as haue beene turned after moste horrible offences as the example of the Theefe of Manasses and of many other Let him beware leaste vnto the greatnesse of his sinnes he ad desperation wherby the trueth of God is denied than the which sinne doubtlesse none can be more greeuous And so let him approche to the Throne of Grace and with an earnest heart for Christ his sake aske forgiuenesse neither let him ceasse by faithfull prayer to knock before that he feele in his heart an aunswere to be giuen him by the holie Ghoste which thing without all doubt shalbe accomplished so that he cast from him earnestly the purpose of sinninge When the minde is by this meanes strengthened perceiuing the aunswere of God by the consolations of the heart then a confirmatiō by the voice of y e Ministers of the Gospel and the vse of the Lordes Supper is rightly required But he which asketh forgiuenesse and neuerthelesse keepeth still a purpose to sinne is a damned hypocrite which thinketh God to bee like to himselfe as which should be mooued and delighted or els deceiued through hypocrisie To the same as long as he shal be such a one aswell the absolution by the ministerye of the Church as also the vse of the Lords Supper doth stretch to his greater dampnation so farre of it is that he should hope that any commodity shall thereof come vnto him Of the sinne Jrremissible commonly called the sinne against the holie Ghoste BUt what is then to be saide touching Christ which maketh mention of y e 12. of Matt. of a sin not to be forgiuen when he saith All sinne basphemy shalbe remitted vnto men but the blasphemy against the spirite shall not be forgiuen neither in this worlde neither in the worlde to come In like manner Mar. 3. Verely I say vnto you that all sinnes and blasphemies shall be forgiuen to the children of men but he which shall blaspheme against the holy Ghoste shall neuer be forgiuen but shall be guiltie of eternall offence 1. Iohn 5. He which knoweth his brother to sinne a sinne not vnto death let him aske and life shall be giuen him for him which sinneth not vnto death there is a sinne vnto death for the which say I not that a man should pray All vnrighteousnesse is sin and there is a sinne not vnto death

we say I beleeue in the holie Church The Communion of Sainctes Of this Sanctification Christians may boast against the kingdome and members of the Deuill so that they may worthyly say that they haue fellowship with GOD the father the sonne and the holy Ghoste and are seperated from the Prince of darcknesse that is to say from the Deuill and his members VVee declare vnto you saith Iohn that yee also haue felowship with vs and our fellowship is with the father and with the sonne IESV CHRISTE With this Sanctification Dauid comforteth him selfe Psal 86. where he prayeth in this maner Keepe thou my Soule for I am holie O my GOD saue thy seruant which hopeth in thee Heere first of all Dauid affirmeth himselfe to be Holie Furthermore how this Santification commeth he sheweth namely when by a sure faith we rest in GOD and trust in him alone For he which doth this hee is spiritually ingraffed into our Lord Iesu Christe of whome he obteineth perfecte and personall Sanctifycation of the whole man For as I haue said the Sanctifycation of Christe is imputed to the beleuer as Christe himselfe teacheth in Iohn 17. I Sanctifie my selfe saith he for them that they also might bee holie This HOLYNESSE therefore consisteth in the forgiuenes of sinnes in the imputation of the righteousnesse of Christ in renouncing the Deuil breefely in faith it self whiche taketh fast holde of Christe with his RIGHTEOVSNES and HOLINESSE With this holynesse of man is also ioyned the holynesse of the thing it selfe which for the measure of faith hath also her increasements and in some is founde greater in some lesser euen as faith it selfe is greater and lesser For when man conceiueth faith by the holy Ghoste by whose woorkmanship he is also borne anew there foorthwith is felt the efficacie of the holie Ghoste whiche dayly innouateth the minde the affections the hearte and to bee shorte by little and little the whole life of the man He deliuereth the minde by the woorde from the darcknesse of ignorance from errours and corrupt cogitations and afterwarde shineth into and lighteneth the same with the true knowledge of GOD with the doctrine of saluation and good cogitations whereby it commeth to passe that the affections beeing purged doe by little and little free themselues frō the vncleane desires of the flesh and by y e effectuall working of the holy ghost are inflamed to good motions according as the mind it self shalbe illuminated The heart of man in like case waxeth meeke and beginneth to molifie and putting away that naturall stubbernesse sprong from originall sin it beginneth to yeeld and obey vnto God according to the knowledge infused into the hart by the holy ghost To this obedience of the hart also aswel the inwarde as the outwarde workes of the man are answerable Breefely this Sanctification consisteth in true repentance and in a right holy purpose so that the man doth to this ende direct all the indeuours of his heart and minde that hee might obay God not to commit any thing vpon knowledge and wilfulnes which is forbidden of GOD more esteeming the will of GOD then all other matters of the whole worlde Furthermore this Sanctification is sharply assaulted with moste greeuous temtations as being that thing which of moste mightie enemies the deuill the flesh and the world is oppugned wherby it commeth to passe that oftentimes in this spirituall battail of the spirit and the flesh the Christian feeleth the weakenes of his owne power so that somtimes he semeth to fal vnder yea rather to be cast downe to the grounde and vtterly as it were thrown downe prostrate but in the meane time by the ayde presence and power of the holy ghost he is lifted vp againe After this maner Dauid beeing ouercome of y e flesh was subdued defiled himselfe with adulterie and murther but when hee heard the admonitions of the Prophet Nathan by the working of the holy Ghoste hee was lifted vp The same thing doth in like case happen to many other the holy ones of GOD so that Paule saide not in vaine Let him which standeth take heede least hee fall Therefore hee exhorteth the Galathians Chapter 5. saying VValke in the spirit and fulfill not the lustes of the flesh for the flesh lusteth contrary to the spirite and the spirite contrary to the fleshe And so the life of a true faithfull Christian is nothing else then a perpetuall warfare as Prosper showeth in his Epigrammes when he sayth Vnto the good both battails sharpe and daungers great are alwayes rife The godly minde eke euer hath with whome to fight and holde the strife The whiche thing dayly experience witnesseth and also Christ himself when he commaundeth vs dayly to pray Forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. Salomon sayth The iuste man sinneth seuen times in a day and ryseth againe For this difference is betwene the children of God the children of the deuil The children of the Deuill through stubbernnesse doe sinne and continue in their sinnes but the children of GOD doe sinne through infirmitie and are sometime seduced by the worlde by their owne flesh and by the Deuill but they rise againe and apprehende the right hande of GOD the father that is to say they imbrace with a stedfast faith Iesus Christe The fifte benefite of Christe THe fifte benefite of Christe wherevnto al these former are directed is FINALL DELIVERANCE and REDEMPTION so that afterwarde no manner of euill either of the worlde the flesh the deuill or any other thing either in Heauen in earth or in hel is to be feared This finall Redemption is called in the Scripture SALVATION wherevnto GOD in the beginning created man and afterwarde by the death and passion of his Sonne redeemed him This Saluation hath foure conditions The firste is That wee are vtterly deliuered from all miserie aduersitie and euils The second is That heereafter wee may not feare of any euill to come vnto vs. The third is That wee obtaine so great good things that we are not able to wish greater The fourth is That wee inioye these good things FOR EVER without all impediment and mutation This Saluation with her Conditions we obtaine in Christe alone These fiue benefites of Iesu Christe already rekened these two names IESVS and CHRIST do contain The first name sheweth him to be GOD and MAN and the Sauiour of the worlde The other sheweth by what meanes he is the Sauiour For CHRIST that is to say annointed sheweth that Christ is A PRIEST A KING and A PROPHET A Prieste which by his sacrifice wipeth out our sinnes by his prayer maketh intercession to our heauenly father for vs and by his innocencie sanctifyeth vs. A Prophet whiche teacheth vs the way of saluation And lastly a King which taketh vs out of the kingdome of the Deuill and leadeth vs into saluation and ioy of life euerlastinge Of the sixt point or