¶Of faith

BElowed brethren aboue all thinge be ſtronge and ſtedfaſt in youre faith / Ephe. vi as S Paul teached. Aboue all / take ye ye ſhelde of faith / wherwith ye maye quench all the fyrie dartes of ye wicked.i. Petri v. Therfore be ye ſober and watch for youre aduerſary the deuil as an roringe Lion walker about / ſekinge whom he maye denore / whom reſiſt ſtedfaſt in the Faith As Ihon ſaith ī his reuelation Beholde ye deuil ſhal caſt of you in preſone / Apoca. ii to tēpte you be faithful vnto the deeth / & I ſhall geue y• an croune of lyfe. Vithout this faith ſaith Paul / Hebreo. xi It is vnpoſſible to pleaſe God. Therfore be ſtronge in youre faith. This faith is the very rocke where on the chirch is hildeth as ſaith oure ſaueour / Math. xvi ap one this rocke I vilbilde my congregation / i Corin. iij. And Paul ſaith in an other place. No man can laye a nother fundation then that which is layde which is Ieſus Chriſt / that is tho ſaye / yt faith of Ieſus Chriſt / and in an other place ſaith he / ye nowe are no moare ſtrangers ād foreners / Ephe. ij. but citeſins with the ſaynctes and of the houſholde of God / and are bildet apō the fundacion of the Apoſtles and Prophetes / Ieſus Chriſt beynge the heed corner ſtone / in whom euery bildinge coupled to gether / groweth vnto an holy temple in the lorde / in whom ye alſo are but to gether / and made an habitacion for God in ye ſprite.Apo. xxvi The fundacion of the wal of the cite ſaith Ihone was garniſſhed with all maner of precious ſtonis. The fundacion of the cite of Ieruſalē (the chirch of almigty God) is faith which is garniſſhed with the greate mercy and goodnes of God abundantly / as with all maner of precious ſtonis / or with all kynde of good workes precious & acceptable vnto God / for faith can nor be ydel / bot worketh thorowe lowe / Galath. • Mathei vij yee good to all man / like as a good tree bryngeth forth good frute / a good tree cā not brynge forth bade frute. Alſo an good mā out of ye good treaſure of his herte brīgeth forth good thī ges. Faith thorow lowe is myghty in operacion / Gala. v Gala. 3. iiij Roma. v i Corin. xiij Apoca. xxi for faith bryngeth the ſprite of God and the ſprite of God bryngeth lowe. And lowe worketh no ewil / but al good So faith continualy worketh good to all man / and maye be callit the fūdaciō garniſhed with all maner of precious ſtonis. For by faith ve are iuſtifieth / and made righteous before God.Roma. iij As it is written. Nowe merely is the righteueſnes that commeth of God / declared without the fulfillinge of the lawe hauinge witnes both of the lawe & of ye Prophetes. The righteueſnes no dout which is good before God / commeth by the faith of Ieſus Chriſt / vnto all & apon all that beleue. For there is no difference: all haue ſynned / and lacke the prayſe that is of valoure before God / but are iuſtified frely by his grace thorow the redemption that is in Chriſt Ieſu / whom God hath made an ſeate of mercy / thorow faith in his bloud / to ſhewe the righteueſnes which before hym is of valoure / in that he forgeueth the ſynnes that are paſſhed / which God did ſofre to ſheue at this tyme / the righteueſnes that is alowed of hym / that he myght be counted iuſte / and an iuſtifiar of hym that beleuith on Ieſus Chriſt. Where is then thy reioyſinge? it is excludet. By what lawe? by the lawe of workes? naye but by the lawe of faith. We ſuppoſe therfore that an man is iuſtified by faith / without the deades of the lawe. Ys he God of the iewes only? ys he not the God alſo of the gentyls? he is (no dout) God alſo of the gentyls / for it is God only which iuſtified circumciſion / which of faith / and vncircumciſiō thorow faith

¶Yf Abraham were iuſtified by deades then hath he wherin to reioyce / but not with God. For what ſaith the ſcripture.Roma. iiij. Abraham beleued God / Gene. xv and it was counted vnto hym for righteueſnes

¶To hym that worketh the rewarde is not reckened of fauour / but of duety. To hym that worketh not / but beleueth on hym that iuſtified the vngodly / is faith reckened for righteueſnes.Pſal. xxxi Euen as Dauid deſcribeth the bleſſed fulnes of an man / vnto whom God aſcribeth righteueſnes without deades. Bleſſed are they / whoſe vnrighteueſnes is forgeuen / and whoſe ſynnes are couered / bleſſed is that man / to whom the lorde imputeth not ſynne. Cam this bleſſednes then apon the circumciſed or apon the vncircūciſed? we ſaye verely howe yat faith was reckened to Abrahā for righteueſnes Howe was it reckened?Gene. xv In the time of circumciciſion / or in the time before he was circumciſed? Not in the time of circumciſion / but when he was yet vncircumciſed And he receaued the ſigne of circumciſion as an ſeale of that righteueſnes which is by faith / Gene. xvii which faith he had / yet beynge vncircumciſed. That he ſhulde be the father of all them that beleue / thougt they be not circumciſed / that righteueſnes myght be imputed to them alſo. Abraham was made ſtronge in the faith / and gaue honour to God / and ſtedfaſtly beleued that he which had made the promes was able alſo to make it good / and therfore was it reckened to hym for righteueſnes.Roma. iiij. It is not written for hym only / that it was reckened to hyme for righteueſnes / but alſo for vs / to whom it ſhal be counted for righteueſnes / ſo we beleue on hym that reyſed vppe Ieſus the lorde frō deeth. As ſaith Paul be cauſe that we are iuſtified by faith / we are at peace with God / Roman • . v thorow oure lorde Ieſus Chriſt. The Gētils which foloweth not righteueſnes / Roma. ix haue ouer takē righteueſnes. I meane ye righteueſnes which cōmeth of faith. But Iſrael which foloweth the lawe of righteueſnes / coulde not attayne vnto ye lawe of righteueſnes. And wherfore? becauſe they ſought it not by faith / but as it were by the workes of the lawe. For they haue ſtombled at the ſtomblinge ſtone. As it is writtē Beholde I put in Syō an ſtomblinge ſtone and an rocke on which ſhal men faule / Eſai. xxviij & none that beleue on hym ſhalbe aſhamed.Romano. x I beare Iſrael recorde ſayth Paul / that they haue an feruent mynde to God warde / but not accordinge to knouledge. For they are ignoraunt of the righteueſnes / which is aloued before God / ād goo about to ſtabliſſhe their aune righteueſnes. And therfore are not obedient vnto the righteueſnes which is of value before God. For Chriſt is the ende of the lawe / to iuſtifie all that beleue / ād in ye ſame chap. ſaith he. The beleue of ye herte iuſtified. And in an other place. We knowe yt no man is iuſtified by the deades of lawe / but by the faith of Ieſus Chriſt / Gala. iii. and we haue beleuet on Ieſus Chriſt / that we myght be iuſtified by ye faith of Chriſt / and noth by the deades of the lawe.Gala. iii Abraham beleued God / and it was counted vnto hym for righteueſnes / vnderſtonde therfore that they which are of faith / are the childerne of Abraham. The ſcripture ſawe afore honde that God wolde iuſtifie the gentils thorow the mouthes of lyons / quenched the violence • f fyre / eſchaped the edge of the ſwearde / of weake were made ſtronge / woxet valient in fyght / turned to flyght the armees of the alientis. The wemen receaued their deed / to lyfe agayne wother were racked / and wolde not be deliuered / yt they myght receaue a better reſurrectiō. Wother taſied of mochingis and ſcourgyndis / moreower of bondes and preſonment / were ſtoned were heawen a ſunder / were tempted were ſlayne with ſweardes / walked vppe and doune in ſhepes ſkynnes / in gotes ſkynnes / in nede tribulacion and vexation / which the worlde was not worthy of. They wandred in wildernes / in mountaynes / in dens and cayes of the erth. And theſe all thoroue faith obteyned good reporte and receaued not the promes. God prouidinge an better thinge for vs / that they without vs ſhulde not be made perfect

Belowed bethren it is writtē The eyes of the lorde beholdeth faith / • ieremi. v that is to ſaye. The lorde taketh pleaſure of faith / and faueours them in whom he findeth faith / ād imputed not their ſynnes vnto them for the pleaſure which he hath of their faith / he loket not to their ſynnes / but he loketh to their faith as ſaith ye ſcripture. • ſal. xxxiii Dearly beloued / this faith where of I ſpeake is not fayned faith / nether deed faith / nether infruteful faith / which taketh name after ye opiniō of mē / but it is perfect faith / quycke lyuinge faith / which worketh ye pleaſure of God / Galath. v frō ye herte of poore lowe This faith is not had be ye deuils nether by wicked & vngodly mē / but by ye ſaynctes of God / yee the childerne and heyres of God. Whom he had called vnto the ſupper of lyfe.Apoca. xix Nether mo the man which had this faith / conſent to do any thinge agaynſt ye lawe of God for his herte is ſo vppe lyfted thorowe lowe / yt he foryettes his awne profit and pleaſure / and continually ſeketh the pleaſure of God / ād the profit of his brethrē This faith is callit / the faith of the Goſpell and it is an ſure confidence (or truſt) in God that he is faithful / and wil without any dout fulfil they thinges which he of his greate mercy hath promiſed vnto vs in Chriſt Enſample we haue of faithful Abraham / whois faith was coūted vnto hym for righteueſnes. And his faith was an ſure confidence (or truſt) in the promes of God / as ſaith Paul. Abraham cōtrary to hope beleued in hope / Roma. iiij. that he ſhulde be the father of many nacions / accordinge to that which was ſpoken. So ſhal thy ſeed be / and he faynted not in the faith / nor yet conſideret hys aune body / which was nowe deed / euen when he was almoſt an hondred yeare olde. Nether cōſidered he the barenes of Sara. He ſta • kered not at the promes of God thorowe vnbelefe / but was made ſtronge in the faith / and gaue honour to God and ſtedfaſtly beleued / that he which hath made the promes was able alſo to make it good / and therfore was it reckened to hym for righteueſnes. It is not written for hym only / that it was reckened to hym for righteueſnes / but alſo for vs: to whom it ſhalbe counted for righteueſnes / ſo we beleue on hym that reyſed vppe Ieſus oure lorde from deeth. Here Paul ſhewet what faith was in oure father Abraham / we ſhulde beleue in hope / contrary to hope as did Abraham / which contrary the hope of his natural ſtrength or powere / belewed in the ſtrength and powere of God infulfillīge his promes. So ſhulde we beleue ſurly to obteyne they thinges which God hath promiſed to vs / thought they be vnpo • ſible to vs to obteyne them after oure naturall weake powere.Ioan. iij God hath promiſed to vs eternall life / which is vnpoſſible to vs to obteyne after oure weake naturall powere becauſe we are ſynners / • Ioan. i yet thougt it be vnpoſſible to vs to obteyne it of oure ſylfes: becauſe we are ſinful.Math. xix It is not vnpoſſible to God to geue it to vs / accordinge to his promes. Therfore let vs with Abraham beleue in hope / aboue hope / in Gods righteueſnes aboue oure vnrighteueſnes.Roma / iij▪ Iacobi ij Phili. ij.iiij Galatas iij In gods trueth aboue oure lyes. In Gods mercy: aboue oure ſynfulnes. In Gods power / aboue oure weaknes. Let vs haue faith with Abraham in gods promyſes.Ioannis i i Corin. ij And we ſhall reioy with Abraham in receawinge of theſame thynges promyſed. This faith is not knowē of the worlde / nether be ye naturall man it / for it is an ſuper naturall gyfte geuen vnto man frely by god.Epheſi. ij As ſaith Paul ye are made ſaue by faueoure throwe faith / and that not of youre ſylfes / for it is the gyfte of god / and commeth not of workes / leſt any man ſhulde boſt hym ſylfe. Belowed brethern ſen ye mo not haue this faith of youre ſylfes / but it is an excellēt gyfte of god (mother of all godly virtue) which he of his kyndnes & mercy geweth vnto you frely. Therfore crye with the Apoſtles vnto ye lorde / Luce xvij Marci ix to increaſe youre faith. And with the man which hath the poſſeſſed ſonne: which ſayde o lorde i beleue / ſucker myne vnbelefe. That god ſeen ge youre powerte in the ſprite: and takynge heed to youre peteous complayne mo graunt youre peticion / and make you rych by his precious gyfte of faith.Roma. ix.x And not only ſeke ye youre awne health / but the health of youre brethern / prayēge to god to ſent faith on the ertha • d plant it in all quarters yt all nacion maye prayſe god / which only hath immortalite / and duellit in light: that no man maye attayne / whom newere man ſawe nether cane ſe / vnto whom be honour and rule euerelaſtinge. Amen

¶Of vnfaithfulnes

DEarly belowed brethern / vnfaithfulnes is the mother of allwice ād ſynne / for it bryngeth forth all kynde of ſynne & euil. • ath. vij Lyke wiſe as euil frute cōmeth of an euil tree. So of vnfaithfulnes commeth no thynge but euil. As aduo • rie / fornication / vnclemes / wantānes / ydolatrie / witchecraft / hatred / zele / • ath. xv • a. v wra • th / ſtryfe / ſedition / partetakinges / enuyinge / murther / dronckennes glottony / and ſoche lyke▪ As ſaith oure ſaueoure an euil man out of the euil treaſure of his hert bryngeth forth euil thynges. • ath xij This euil treaſure is vnfaithfulnes / which bryngeth forth all kynde of euil and ſynne / be which cauſe it is only before God / reckened ſynne / as ſaith oure ſaueoure. The holy gooſt whē he ſhal come ſhal rebuke ye worlde of ſynne / 〈◊〉 . xvi be cauſe they beleue not on me. And it maketh an man worthy of eternall damnation / as it is writen. Whoſoeuer beleueth not ſhalbe damp • ct. And in a nother place. • ar. xvi Héth at beleueth not is condēpned already.Ioan .iij This vnfaithfulnes maketh god to hat vs / Ephe. v as ſaith the ſcripture The wraeth of God commeth apon the chyldren of vnbelefe. And in a nother place ſaith Ihon the baptiſer. He that beleueth not the ſonne / ſhall not ſe lyfe:Ioan .iij but the wraeth of God abydeth on hym. Vnfaithfulnes is no other thynge: but lackynge of faith / euen as darknes is but the lackynge of lyght. So the vnfaithful lacketh faith / ād be ye ſame cauſe / al that cōmeth of faith: as hope / lowe / ioy: peace: longe ſofferynge / gētlenes / goodnes / Gala. v kepynge of promes: meknes tēperaunce & ce. And in ſteade of them is full of allwice / as vane preſumption: hatred: diſpare and all abhomination. Nether is it poſſible to hym to lowe god or his brethrē / Hebre. xi Pſal. xxxij Roma. xiiij nor to do any thynge pleaſeſynge to god. For whatſoeuer cōmeth not of faith / ye ſame is ſynne. For he is by nature euil / and perceaueth not ye thynges of ye ſprite of God:Gene. viij i Corin. ij for they are but foliſhnes vnto hym. He is blynde and knoweth not where hence he goo: but is led by ye power of darknes. Of ye vnfaithful ſaith Paul Yf oure goſpell yet be hid:ij. Corin. iiij it is hid amonge thē yt are loſt: in whom the God of this worlde hath blynded ye myndes of thē which beleue not: leſt ſhulde ſhyne vnto thē ye light of ye glorious goſpell of chriſte: which is ye ymage of God: and in a nother place

• cobiiThe vnfaithfull is lyke ye wawes of the ſee toſt of the wynde / and caried wyth violence nether let that man thynke that he ſhal receaue any thynge of God. A wauerynge mynded man is vnſtable in all his wayes. Belowed brethern / this i ſaye not to youre rebuke / but to theyrs whoſoeuer lacketh faith which ſhalbe knowen and iudget of the faithful / by theyre frutes. As ſaith oure ſaueoure. • athei vij Ye ſhal knowe them by theyre frutes Herefor ſtudy and labour / that ye be not found vnfrutefull but that youre vnfayned faith mo be knowen by her frutes / and youre brethern mo ſee her frutes / • athei v and glorify youre father which is in heuen. For there is many (of whom alace with ſorowe i cōplayne) That confeſſe / • itum i that they knowe God / but with deades they denie hym / and are abhominable / • mano. ij and diſobedyent / and vnto all good workes diſcommendable. They do ſhayme (ſo moch as is in thē) to oure moſte holy faith. • ma. xvi They ſeke in all thynges the libertie of the fleſſhe / and not the prayſe of the lorde / nor the health of there brethern / and do diſhonour the goſpell of God. This i ſaye that ye knowōde ſoch fautes in others awoyde them from youre ſylfes: and behaue youre ſylfis / • he. v as it becommeth ſaynctes. And beare youre frute in holynes. As ſaith Paul. • omano. vi • tum iij Ye which beleue in god / be ſtudious • goo forwarde in good workes. This thyngis are good / and profitable vnto men. Foliſſhe queſtions / and genealogies / and braulingis / and ſtryfe aboute the lawe awoyde / for they are vnprofitable / and ſuperfluus. A man that is the auctor of ſectes after the firſt and the ſecond amonition awoyde / remembrynge that he that is ſoche / Marke wel is peruerted / and ſynneth / euen damned by his awne iudgement. Of theſe thyngis i wolde ye were certifieth (my brethern) for nowe is the laſt tyme. And as ye haue herde howe that Antechriſt ſhal come / i Ioan .ij euē nowe are there many Antechriſtes come all redy. Beware of the falſe prophetes which come to you in ſhepes clothynge:Mathei vij but inwardly they are raueninge wolues: ye ſhal knowe them by theyre frutes. So men gaddre grapes of thornes? or figges of brires? euen ſoo euery good tree / bryngeth forth good frute. But a corrupte tree / bryngeth forth euil frute. A good tre can not brynge forth bad frute. Nor yet can a bad tree brynge forth good frute. Euery tree that bryngeth not forth good frute / ſhalbe heawen doune / and caſt in to the fyre / wherfore by theyre frutes ye ſhal knowe them. Not all they that ſaye vnto me / maſter / maſter / ſhal enter in to the kyngdome of heuen / but he that fulfilleth my fathers wyll / which is in heuen. Many wil ſaye to me in that daye / maſter / ma • haue we not in thy name propheſied? and in thy name haue we not caſt out deuyls? and in thy name haue we not done many myracles? and then wyl i knoudledge vnto them that I newer knewe thē. • al. vi • ma. xvi Departe from me ye workers of iniquite I beſeche you brethern marke them which cauſe diuiſion / and gewe occaſions of euyl / contrary to the doctrine which ye haue learned (of the oyntment which ye haue of the holy gooſt) and awoyde them. • oan. ij For they that are ſoch ſerue not the lorde Ieſus Chriſt / but theyr awne belyes / and by ſwete preachynges and flatterynge wordes deceaue the hertes of the innocentes. • oma. i For youre obedience (vnto the trueth) is publeſhed through out amonge all chriſtē brethern. I am glad (no dout) of you / but yet I wolde haue you wyſe vnto that which is good: and to be innocent as concerninge euyl. • oma. xvi The God of peace / ſhall treade ſathan vnder youre fete in ſhorte tyme. To hym that is of power to ſtabiliſhe you accordynge to the Goſpell: wherewith Ieſus Chriſt is preached vnto you in openynge of the miſtery which was kept cloſſe from you a longe tyme a goo thorowe bely wyſdome / I meane ye craft of ye ypocrites. And nowe is opēned at this tyme / and declared in the holy ſcrip • heuenly father.Math. vi Ioan. iij Which ſpared not his aune ſonne / but gaue hym for vs all. Wherefore no diſpare mo haue place in you / for as ſaith Paul.Roma. viij Ye haue not receaued the ſprite of bō dage to feare eny moare / but ye haue receaued the ſprite of adoption wherby ye crye abba father. God youre father is mercifull yee and very merciful / ſayth the ſcripture And his mercy he wyl not denye vnto his awne children / whiche are ye / Pſal. lxxxv Mat. xxiiij Roma. viij. ſo ye kepe ſure the faith of the Goſpell. Herefore truſte ſure in the lorde / for there is no damnation to you whiche are in Chriſt Ieſu / whiche walke not after the fleſhe / but after the ſprite for the lawe of the ſprite wherin is lyfe thorowe Ieſus Chriſt / hath deliuered you from the lawe of ſynne and deeth. For what the lawe coulde not doo in as moch as it was weake becauſe of the fleſhe / that performed God / and ſent his ſonne in the ſimilitude of ſinful fleſhe / and by ſynne / dampned ſynne in the fleſhe / that the righteueſnes required of the lawe / myght be fulfilled in you / which walke not after the fleſhe / but after the ſprite. &c. It is God that iuſtifieth you / who then ſhal condempne you? it is Chriſt which is deed / yee rather which is ryſē agayne / i. Corin· vi i. Petri i. Pſal. ij which is alſo at the ryght honde of God and maketh interceſſion for you. Ye are dearly bought. Ye are Chriſtis awne poſſeſſion. Ye are members of Chriſt. 〈◊〉 : vi & xij • he. ij • etri v • al. liiij And the very houſholde of God. Wherfore doute not / for he careth for you / caſt roure care on the lorde / and he ſhall noureſſhe you. To put all feare / all dredoure: and all diſpare / from you / Chriſt hath geuen you conſolation ſayinge. • ce xij Feare not lytle floocke / for it is youre fathers pleaſure / to geue you an kyngdom. Be not careful: • ath. vi for youre heuēly father knoweth what ye haue neade of / and wyll miniſtre all neceſſary thynges vnto you

• ath. vij¶ Axe and it ſhalbe geuen you / ſeke and ye ſhal fynd / knocke and it ſhalbe opened vnto you / for whoſoeuer areth receaueth: and he that ſeketh findeth / and to hym that knocketh it ſhalbe opened. Is there any man amonge you which wolde profer his ſonne a ſtone yf he axeth hym breed? or yf he axeth fiſſhe / wolde he profer hym a ſerpent? yf ye then which axe euyl / can geue to youre children good gyftes / howe moche moare ſhall youre father which is in heuen / geue good thynges to them that axe of hym?

Corin. viI will dwell amonge you and walke amō ge / and wilbe youre God / and ye ſhalbe my people I wilbe an father vnto you / and ye ſhalbe vnto me ſonnes and doughters ſayth the lorde God almyghty.Hiere. xxxi Beholde the dayes ſhal come (ſaith the lorde) and I will fynniſſhe apon the hous of Iſrael / and apone the hous of Iuda / an newe teſtament not lyke as the Teſtament that I made with theyr fathers at that tyme when I toke them by the honde / to leed them oute of the lande of Egipte. For this is the teſtament that I will make vnto the hous of Iſrael / after theyr dayes / I wil put my lawes in theyre myndes / and in theyr hertes I will writ them / and I wilbe theyr God / and they ſhalbe my people. And they ſhall not teache euery man his neybour / and euery man his brothre ſayinge knowe the lorde / for they ſhal knowe me from the leeſt to the greateſt of them / for I willbe mercifull to them on theyr iniquites and ſynnes / and on theyre vnrighteueſnes will I not thynke any moare

¶ I the lorde defende / Eſaie. xxvij and water her in the due tyme. I kepe her daye and nyght leſte any man inuade her. I am with oute all wrathe / who then mo ſo mowe me to be ſo greate an enemie to her that I my promes neglecte?

Eſa. xxxviijI ſhal fyght for this cytie / and ſhall defende it (ſaith the lorde) and ſhal ſaue it for my namys ſake.Eſaie xl Be of good chere / be of good chere / my people (ſaith youre God) ſe that ye counforte the hertes of Ieruſalem / and tell them of theyr reeſt and deliueraunce from captiuite / tell them howe theyr ſynnes ſhal be forgeuen them / after that they haue receaued theyr full chaſtiſinge of ye lordis honde for all theyr ſynnes. Thou ſhalbe my ſeruaunte / Eſaie xli I haue choſen ye / nether ſhal I at any tyme refuſe ye ▪ ſe that thou feare not / for I ſhalbe with ye: nether loke thou aboute for eny other / for I am thy God which ſhal conforte ye / I ſhal helpe ye / I ſhal holde the faſt with this ſame my faithful righthonde. Beholde as many as prouoke the to angre / ſhalbe counfunded and ſhamed / thy aduerſares ſhal come to nought and pereſſhe: ſo that he that ſhal ſeke for them / ſhal no where fynde them. Thy enemies which dare mowe batayle agaynſte the ſhalbe diſtroyed. For I the lorde thy God ſhal holde faſte thy right honde / which alſo nowe ſaye vnto the feare not / for it is I that ſhal helpe the / be not afrayde my litle ſeruaūte Iacob / feare not poore diſpyſed Iſrael / for I ſhal helpe the ſaith the lorde / and I that maketh holy Iſrael ſhall auenge the / yee I ſhal trende • the lyke a wayne and lyke a newe ſhode car • e to threſſhe doune mountayns and to bete them in poulder / and the lytle hyls ſhalt thou dryue into duſte / thou ſhalt wenowe them / and dryue them awaye lyke the wynde / and ſcater them abrode kyke a whyrle wynde / whyles thou thy ſilfe ſhal reioyce greatly in the lorde: and prayſe hym that maketh the holy Iſrael. When the poore afflicte deſyred • ater / and fynde it not / and theyr tonge is drye for thyrſte: then do I the lorde geue it them: I the God of Iſrael forſake them not.Eſaie xlij I ſhal lede the blynde in to a waye that they knowe not: and directe them into a pathe of which they are ignoraunt / I ſhal turne the darknes into light before them / and the kroke in to an euen waye / this thynges wyll I do for them / nether wyl I forſake them.

¶ This ſpeaketh the lorde which hath created the o Iacob: and faſſhioned ye o Iſrael / Eſaie xliij feare thou not / for I ſhall redeme ye / I haue chalenged ye for my awne ſylfe / and geuen the thy name / that thou ſhuldeſt be myne / ſo that when thou paſſedſte thorowe the waters I wylbe with the. Remembre wel theſe thynges Iacob and Iſrael / Eſaie xliii for thou arte my ſeruaunt whom I haue faſſhioned to thentēte that thou ſhuldeſt be my ſeruaunt newer to be oute of my mynde o Iſrael I do awaye thy wickednes euē as I diſperſe a cloude: and thy ſynnes take I 〈◊〉 waye lyke a myſte / turne the therfore to • for I wyll delyuer the.Eſaie li Lyfte vppe you • eyes to heuen / and beholde the erth vnd • you: for heuen ſhalbe diſperſed lyke ſmoke and the erth ſhalbe broken lyke a garme • and her inhabitours ſhal pereſſhe in ly • maner / but my ſauynge health ſhall indure for euer / and my mercy wherwith I make men righteous ſhal newer fayle. It is that conforte you at all tymes ſaith the lorde

Eſaie. liiij¶ I forſoke the for a litle tyme / but I called the to me agayne with moche mercy. 〈◊〉 hyd my face from the for a litle ſpace why • les I was angrye: but I will take ye 〈◊〉 my armes agayne with an euerlaſtinge me •• cy: ſaith the lorde thy redemer: for this thynge ſhalbe to me as were the waters of n • he apon the erth. For lyke wyſe as I ſwore newermoare to brynge agayne the waters of nohe vpon the erth / euen ſo haue I ſworne to be not angrye with ye agayne / nether yet to chyde with the: for ye mountanys ſhal ſoner forſake theyr places: and the hylles ſhall ſoner fall doune / then other my mercy ſhall forſake ye: or the promyſe of my peace ſhall fayle yt / ſaith thy mercifull lorde. Beholde my lytle poore afflicte and for • aken: I ſhall make thy walles of precious • arboncles: and ſhall laye thy fundati • n with Saphyrs: thy wyndous and yer • s ſhal I make of cleare Chriſtal: and all • y wttermoſte byldinge ſhal I ſette with • ych ſtones. And beſyde all this / all thy • ilderne ſhalbe taught of the lorde: and • hal endue them with ryche peace / thou ſhal • e byldeth all of righteueſnes / and be oute • f all daunger of violence / wherof thou • hal • not neade to feare / no plage ſhal come • y • the &.c. Gyue eare to me ād come to me: and youre ſoules ſhalbe refreſſhed / for I wy • l • myt hondes with you into an euerla • tinge conuenaunce to geue you theſe aſſuerd marcyes promyſed vnto Dauid.

¶ My deare brethern geue faith vnto theyr promyſes / ād let not ye diſſaytfull workinge of ſathan / make you anys to doute in the mercifulnes of youre heuenly father / for ſoner ſhall the mountaynis leawe theyr places / then his mercy ſhalbe drawyne from you: he hath ſworne / and hath not repented: to ſhewe his aboundante and euerlaſtīge mercy vnto you Therfore my welbelowed brethren / be ſtronge in the faith: and geue honoure to God: ād ſtedfaſtly beleue ye he which hath made the promyſes vnto you is able alſo to make them good. And geue no hede to other falſe prophetes that wolde drawe you from god.Math. vij They are wolues and wolde deuore you / be not tayne awaye with the erroure of the wicked: But reioyce in the lorde alwayes / and agayne Iſaye reioyce / Philipp. iiij les youre ſoftenes be knowen vnto all men / the lorde is euen at honde / which is able to ſaue you: and all that truſteth in hym.i. Thimo • . i. To whom only be honoure and prayſe for euer and euer. Amen

Of peace

PEace commeth of faith / nether mo faith be withoute peace / nor peace withoute faith for peace commeth of ryghteueſnes (which is of faith) Peace ſhalbe the end of ryghteueſnes.Eſaie xxxij· Roman. iij Romano. v An man is iuſtified by fayth wythout the deades of the lawe. Herefore Paul concludeth. Becauſe therfore that we are iuſtified by fayth / we are at peace wyth god. &c. Thys peace wherof I ſpeake is the peace whiche Chriſt gaue and left to the apoſtles and diſciples ſayenge. Peace I l • ue with you / Ioan. xiiij my peace I geue vnto you / no • as the worlde geueth / geue I vnto you Let not youre hertes be greued / nether feare ye. The ſame peace Paul cōmended vnto the people (to whom he wrote his epiſtles) ſayinge Grace be with you:Roma. i i Cori. i • . ij Gala. i Eſaie xxxij and peace frō God oure father / and from the lorde Ieſus Chriſt. My people ſhal dwel in the fayer hous of peace / in ſure tabernacles / and in rych beddes / hayle when it ſhal deſcende / it ſhal fall only vpon wodes and ceties. & • . Chriſt the prince of peace / Eſai • ix an kynge which ſhal newer haue an ende: in encreſſinge his impery / and yet ſhal • e there with noreſſhe peace.Eſaie xlv Eſaie lxv • I am the lorde that maketh peace This ſpeaketh the lorde / lo I ſhallede forth peace to her lyke a floude. This peace is an ioyful reeſt ād quyetnes in a faithful mānis cōſcience. The whiche cōmeth of faith / Ioan. i for faith maketh hym ſure / that his ſynnes are forgeuen hym / and that he is in Gods faueours. Wherfore the dredoure / the trouble & in quyetnes / whiche he had before of his ſynnes is awaye. And he hath peace that is to ſaye / an ioyful reeſt and quyetnes in his conſcience. Of the whiche ſayeth Chriſte. Come vnto me • e all that labour / Math. xi and are • aden / and I wyl eaſe you. Take my yoke on • ou: and learne of me / for I am meke and • oly in herte: and ye ſhal finde reeſt vnto you • e ſoules The vnfaithful hath not this peace for theyr conſciences are troubleth wyth theyr ſynnes.Eſaie xlviij As it is written vnto the vngodly there is no peace ſayeth the lorde for they knowe not the waye of peace / whiche only is Chriſt whiche was wounded for oure tranſgreſſions / Pſal. xiij Eſaie liij and ſmyten for oure vngodlynes. For the puniſſhment wherby we haue peace was layed apō hym. Wo be vnto ye vnwyſe prophetes (ſaieth ye lord god) which diſſaue my people / Ezechie. xiij preachynge / peace / Eſaie lvij peace / and there is no peace. I make peace & ſue • nes both with them that dwell farre / and with theſe that dwel nye ſayeth ye lorde / and I haue healeth them / but the vngodly are lyke the wode ſee called Entipus which can newer reeſt: her waters are continually troubled with ſlyme and ſtynkynge mudde / and euē ſo haue the vngodly newer reeſt nor peace ſayeth my god. But vnto you belowed brethern Chriſt hath geuen thys peace ſayenge Peace I lewe with you / Ioan. xiiij my peace I geue vnto you.

Whiche peace ye haue receaued (inwardly in youre ſoules) thorowe faith: ād are at peace with god / Roman. v Ephe. ij. Ephe. v thorowe oure lorde Ieſus Chriſt which is youre peace Therfore brethern reioyce ſyngynge ād playinge to the lorde in youre hertes / gevynge thākes all wayes for all thynges (in the name of oure lorde Ieſus Chriſt) to God the father: ſubmittīge youre ſylfes one to another in the feare of God. And haue peace amonge youre ſylfes. And alſo y fit be poſſible (yet on youre parte) haue peace with all men.Roma. xij. ij Cori. xiij. Eſay. xl And the god of peace ſhall counforte youre hertes in to hys eternall promes. Amen.

Of lowe

HEare o Iſraell / Deute. vi. the lorde thy god / is god only. And thou ſhall lowe thy god / with all thy herte / with all thy ſoule / and with all thy ſtrēgth. This lowe commeth of faith / nether mo this lowe be where faith is not / nor mo faith be (wher of I meane) without this lowe. For by faith an man is made ſure of ye goodnes of ye graciouſnes and of the mercyfulnes of God. Wherfore he muſt neade lowe hym.

Becauſe hys excellence / his goodnes and kyndnes to warde vs deſerued lowe.Ioan. iiij We ſhulde not lowe god for the deades of lowe whiche he hath ſhewed vnto vs. But we ſhulde lowe god for the goodnes: graciouſnes / ād mercyfulnes of hym ſylfe / which is declared vnto vs by ſoche gracious and mercyfull deades wrought by hys godly wyſdom for oure well. The lowe and goodnes of god is not made perfect by ſoche workes: for it is and was in hym ſylfe before the workes. And the workes do but ſhewe vnto vs / Romano. .i hys nature: ād howe worthy he is to belowed.Ephe. i. Helowed vs before the fundatiō of the worlde was layde. But thys lowe he ſhewe vnto vs in theſe laſt dayes: by hys lowely workes. Hereby perceaue wethe lowe of God / i Ioan. iij. for he gaue hys lyfe for vs. He lowed vs euer and prepared an kyngdom for vs / Mat. xxv from the beginninge of the worlde. Yee he lowed vs euer / i. Ioan. iiij. for he in hys incomprehenſible godhed is very lowe / but thys lowe was declared openly vnto vs: by his workes which he hath wrought to warde vs And not only ſhulde we lowe hym be cauſe he lowed vs / but for his awne goodnes ād mercyfulnes / the whiche we knowe in that he receaued vs to his grace whiche are vnworthy. Faith maketh an man ſure of the excedynge goodnes of god / the whiche goodnes maketh an man yee drawed an man with ſoche power to the lowe of God / that he can not do but lowe God / for he is ſo lowe worthy / that it is vnpoſſible to knowe hym and not to lowe hym. Wherby ye ſhall knowe that faith bryngeth lowe / and mo not be without it moare no the fyre withoute heeth For faith bryngeth ye ſprite of God as ſaith Paul to the Galathy.Gala. iij This only wolde I learne of you / receaued ye the ſprite of God / by the deades of the lawe? or els by preachynge of the faith? and the ſprite of God which cōmeth of faith bryngeth lowe as Paul writteth to the Romayns.Romano. v The lowe that God hath vnto vs: is ſheed abrod in oure hertes by ye holy gooſt / Gala. v which is geuen vnto vs. The frute of the ſprite is lowe So of faith commeth lowe / nether mo it be withoute lowe / faith by lowe is myghty in operaciō. Howe perfect that this lowe ſhulde be in vs / almyghty God hath ſhewed vnto vs / by hys lawe.Deutero. vi Wherin it is commaundeth vs that we lowe oure lorde God with all oure herte / with all oure ſoule / and with all oure ſtreyngth. The whiche lowe no mā in this preſent lyfe mo fulfill / becauſe of the ſeed of ſynne ſowen in vs by Adam:Romano. iij which thought it ſprynge not and beare no frute / yet it remaneth euer ready to ſprynge / Romano. vi Iacobi. i. yee and wolde beare frute vnto the deeth were not the holy ſprite ſubdued it / and mortyfyed it / Roma. vij and holdeth it doune I am carnall ſoulde vnder ſynne / becauſe I wote not what I doo. For what I wolde / that do I n • but what I hate: that do I. Yf I do now • that whiche I wolde not / I graunte to the lo • we that it is good. So then nowe it is not I that do it / but ſynne that dwelleth in me. For I knowe that in me (that is to ſaye in my fleſſhe) dwelleth no good thynge. To wyll is preſent wyth me / but I fynde no m •• anes to performe that whiche is good. For I do not that thynge which I wolde / but that euyl do I: whiche I wolde not. Fynally yf I do that I wolde not / then is not I that do it / but ſynne that dwelleth in me do • eth it. I fynde then by the lawe that when I wolde do good: euyl is preſent wyth me. I delite in the lawe of God / as concerninge the inner man / but I ſe a nother lawe in my mēbers rebellinge agaynſt the lawe of my mynde / and ſubduinge me vnto the lawe of ſy • ne whiche is in my members. O wretched man that I am who ſhall deliuer me from this body of deeth? I thank God by Ieſus Chriſt oure lorde / ſo then I my ſylfe in my mynde ſerue the lawe of God / and in my fleſſhe the lawe of ſynne. Here Paul ſhe • wed the ſynfulnes of his fleſſhe / laudinge God by Ieſus Chriſt / that he was not ther vnto ſubdued.Roma. viij Yf ye mortyfie the deades of the fleſſhe / by the helpe of the ſprite ye ſhall liue: for as many as are ledde by the ſprite are the ſonnes of God. Here it is openly declared: that it is by the powere of the ſprite of God / and not by oure deades / that the ſynne whiche is in oure fleſſhe is mortyfied: ſubdued: or dampned. But ſoche perfection haue we not / nor yet mo haue that ſynne ſhalbe clene taken oute of vs / ſo longe as we are in this corruptible body. The fleſſhe luſteth (euer) cōtrary to the ſprite.Roman. vi But yet let not ye ſynne which is in youre mortal bodyes regne ye ye ſhulde there vnto obey in the luſtes of it. Nether gyue ye youre members as inſtrumentes of vnrighteueſnes vnto ſynne: but geue youre ſylfes vnto God / as they that are aliue from deeth / and geue youre members as inſtrumentes of righteueſnes vnto God Synne ſhall not haue powere ower you / for ye are not vnder ye lawe / but vnder grace / Io. i.iij.viij and xx Gala. iij T • um iij Gala. iiij Roma. vii ād ye are borne a newe in ye ſprite. The ſprite is made fre. Ye ſprite is fylled with ye holy goſt And ye ſprite fulfilleth the lawe. In my mynde (ſayeth Paul) I ſerue the lawe of God / howebeit ye ſynne dwell in the fleſſhe / yet the ſprite wyl not cōſent nor obey there vnto becauſe it is borne a newe:i Corin. i.xij ii Corin. iij Roma. viij Gala. v ād made fre by faith / but wyl obey vnto the lawe of God / by the power of his holy ſprite / by whom ſpryngeth very lowe from the herte. And ſo in the ſprite the lawe is fulfilled. Tha • commande vs to lowe God. With all oure herte / i. Corin. xiij with all oure ſoule / with all oure ſtreyngth: oute of this lowe ſpryngeth all good workes / for lowe canne not be ydel / but muſt of neade worke to the pleaſure of hym whom is lowed / when occaſion commeth An man that hath perfect lowe to God ſeketh with all diligence to knowe they thynges wherin God hath pleaſure. And when he knowed the wyll of God:Pſal. i there mo nothynge holde hym from the doinge of it. Yee he is glade that God hath commaunded hym to do ſoche thynges Becauſe his pleaſure is to be occupyed in the lawe of the lorde:Math. xi nether is his lawe heuy to ſoche a man. For it is an eaſy yoke / and an light burdynge thorowe lowe / wherin I praye God to cōferme youre hertes by his ſprite thorowe faith. Amen.

Of pacience

Iacob iv BE ye pacient bretherne vnto the cō mynge of the lorde Belowed brethern pacence is an virtue whiche is neceſſary in theyr euyl and peralouſe dayes:Epheſio. v ād thereby all ye ſayn • • e • of God haue ouercōme all perſecutiō ād trouble put om them in this preſent lyfe / and this pacience Paul cōmended vnto vs ſayinge.ij Corint. v • In all thynges let vs behaue oure ſylfes as the miniſters of God in moche pacience / in afflictions / in neceſſ • te / in auguy • ſhe in ſtrypes / in preſōment / in ſtryfe / in labour in warche / in faſtinge / in purenes / in knowledge / in lōge ſufferinge / in kyndnes / in the holy gooſt / in lowe vnfayned / in the wordes of trueth in the power of God / by the arm • •• of righteueſnes on the ryght honde / and on the lyfte honde / in honoure / and diſhonoure / in euyll reporte / and good reporte / as diſceauers / and yet true / as vnknowen / and yet knowen / as deyinge / and beholde we yet liue / as chaſtened and not kylled / as ſorowynge / and yet alwayes mery / as poore / ād yet make many ryche / as hauynge no thynge / and yet poſſeſſynge all thynges.Beholde Iob This pacience is to ſoffre and receaue gladly withoute any murmure whatſoeuer trouble / payne / vexation / Romano. v and aduerſite that God ſent And this pacience commeth of perfect lowe whiche commeth of ſtronge and ſure faith This paciēce teached vs the apoſtle Iamys ſayenge. Be ye pacient bretherne / Iaco. v. vnto the commynge of the lorde. Pacience do marke ſome trouble / for in proſperite ſhe loſt her • ome / ſhe ragne neuer but wher trouble ād Beholde wicked Iezabel cauſed to kyll all the holy prophetes in Iſrael excepte they that were hyd ſecretly / or fledde to the deſerte / iij Regū xix as Elias &.c. Of the trouble ād perſecution of the prophetes and ſeruauntes of God ſaith Chriſt to the olde ſcribes and phariſees.Mat. xxiij Beholde I ſende vnto you / prophetes wyſe men / and ſcribes / and of them ſome ſhall ye kyl and crucifie / and ſome ſhall ye ſcourge in youre ſynagogges / and perſecute them from citie to citie. Take (my brethern) the prophetes for an enſample of ſufferinge aduerſitie / Iacobi v and of longe pacience which ſpake in the name of the lorde. Beholde we counte them happy which endure. Ye haue herde of the pacience of Iob: and haue knowen what ende the lorde made / for the lorde is pityfull / Tobie i. & ij ād merciful. Beholde alſo the greate aduerſitie and trouble of holy Tobie: for all his ſubſtance was taken from hym / ād hymſylfe was ſought to be kylled / ād his ſyght was taken from hym by God / alſo ye haue herde what endethe lorde made of all his aduerſite.God tryeth he faith of his children Market his alſo: yf God ſende the to the ſee / and promyſe to goo with ye / and to brynge the ſaffe to londe / he wyl reyſe vp a tempeſt agenſt the / to proue whether thou wilt abyde by his woorde / and that thou maiſt feale thy faith and perceaue his goodnes / for were it all wayes fayre wether ād • ou neuer brought to ſoch ieoperdy when • e his mercy only deliuered the / thy faith • ulde be but a preſumption and thou ſhul • eſt be euer vnthankefull to God and mer • yleſſe vnto thy neyboure

¶ Yf God promyſe riches: ye waye therto is • owerte. Whō he loweth hym he chaſteſet / • hom he exaltet / he caſteth downe / whom he •• ueth he dāneth fyrſt. He bringeth no man • o heuen excepte he ſende hym to hell firſt. Yf he promiſe lyfe he ſleyeth firſt: when he • yldeth / he caſteth all downe fyrſt. He is no • atcher / he can not bylde on a nother mans foundacion. He will not worke vntyll all be paſt remedy and brought vnto ſoch a caſe / that men may ſe how that his hāde / his power / his mercy: his goodnes ād trueth hath wrought all to gether.Eſaie xl • He will let no man be partetaker with him of his prayſe ād glorie. His workes are wonderful and contrary vnto mans workes.The worke of God ar • wonderfu • Who euer ſaue he delyuered his awne ſonne / his only ſonne / his dere ſonne vnto the deeth and that for his enemies ſake / to winne his enemie / to ouercome him with lowe / that he myght ſe lowe and lowe agayne / and of lowe to doo lyke wyſe to other men / and to ouercome them with well doinge

¶Ioſeph ſawe ye ſonne and the mone and xi. ſter res worſhepinge him. Neuertheleſſe ſhameful deeth of the croſſe as a thef or a mortherer. Yee an curſed deeth as ſaith the lawe curſed is whoſoeuer hangeth on tree.Deuter. xxi He vas • ende in the warlde by the father to ſuffre trouble / whiche before he apoynted to hym. Yee he ſeet an ſtrōge batayl before hym in the which he do fyght a • an worthy knyght:Ioann. • vi and obtayned victory / and haue receaued ye rewarde / but fyrſt he fought / or he wā ne the rewarde / yee he ſuffered to be ſore wounded be fore he obtayned victory. As the holy prophete ſawe longe afore honde / and ſpake of hym.Eſaie liij He ſhal haue nether beutye nor fauoure / whē we ſhall beholde hym he ſhalbe oute of ſhappe / ſo that we ſhal not deſyer hym / he ſhalbe deſpyſed and leſte ſet bye of al men / a man hauynge experience and fealinge bothe oure ſorowes and ſykeneſſes / we ſhal (I ſaye) repute hym ſo vyle and lothly that we ſhall hyde oure faces frō hym. When this (not withſtondinge yet) is euen he muſte beare oure ſykeneſſes and ſorowes. But we ſhall iudge hym to be thus caſt doune and ſmyten with ſome plage of God / yee when he is wounded euen of oure tranſſgreſſions: and thus ſmyten for oure vngodlynes / for the punyſhment for oure correction ſhalbe layde apon hym: and by his ſtripes and hurte ſhalbe healed. All we are ſtrayed awaye lyke ſhepe / euery man folouynge his awne waye / but the lorde layeth all oure wykedneſſes vpon hym to forgeue vs. It is he that ſhal abyde the anguyſhe and be ſcourged: and yet ſhal he not ons opene his mought / he ſhalbe led lyke a lambe to be offered vp / and he ſhalbe as ſtyl as a ſhepe vnder her clyppers hondes / ād ſhal not ons open his lippes / he ſhalbe taken awaye and put to deeth / his cauſe not examined after true iudgement: as a man frenleſſe and kynleſſe. And yet who maye noumbre his kynrede euen then when he ſhalbe thought clene to be kut oute of this worlde? whiche plage ſhal fal apon hym for the tranſgreſſiō of his awne people Farthermore he ſhalbe thought to dye amonge the vngodly and be lyfted vp on the croſſe betwen theues: al thought he neuer dyd hurte nor yet any deſayt founde in his wordes / but the lorde had decreed hym to be thus broken with infirmite that he offered for oure ſynnes / mought ſe his longe lyued proſperite. And this decree of the lorde ſhal proſpere in honde / with the petel of his awne lyfe he ſhall fynde ryches And by this means my right ſeruaunte ſhal iuſtyfie many mē / for he hym ſylfe ſhal beare awaye theyr ſynnes. Wherfore I ſhall diuide to hym the praye bothe of the many men: and alſo of the ſtronge violence / becauſe he ſhal let his lyfe to deeth / and be reputed amonge the myſdoers / whiche not witſtondinge / yet ſhall he take awaye the ſynnes of many / and make interceſſion for the tranſſgreſſours. Therfore be lowed brethern folowe manfullye youre bleſſed lorde vnto the batayl: ſeynge hym fyght as youre ſtronge captayne before you / and his baner blowynge on bredht. Trowe ye to receaue the rewarde but yf ye ſuffre? or trowe ye to obtayne victory but yf ye put youre ſylfe in ieopardye? no verely. Be not therfore deceaued (my brethern) with fleſſhlye luſtes / but ſtonde vppe and put on the armure of God that ye maye be able to reſiſt in the euyl daye / and to ſtōde perfect in all thynges.Epheſio. vi Stonde therfore and youre loynes gyrd aboute with veritie / hauynge on the breſt plate of righteueſnes / and ſhood with ſhewes prepared by the goſpell of peace. Aboue all take to you the ſhelde of faith / wherwith ye maye quenche all the fyrye dartes of the wicked. And take the helmet of health and the ſwearde of the ſprite / and rynne vnfeardlye to the batayl that is ſet before you / & put youre ſylfe in to preſe folowynge youre maſter. Care not thought ye be wounded / for deeth ſhall haue no power ower you / and of youre woundes ye ſhalbe made hole: by youre awne mooſte noble phiſitiane Ieſus Chriſt.Mat. ix Herefore murmure not thought the batayl be ſtronge / for youre maſter had the greateſt burden of it.Pſal. lxvij By whois helpe ye ſhall ſone haue victory: when youre enimies ſhalbe ſubdued: and ye ſhall regne eternaly in glory with Ieſus Chriſt.Hebreo. • Belowed brethern deſpyce not ſo greate health / for a litle and ſhorte trouble· but ſuffre ād ye ſhal regne. Loke vnto Ieſus:Hebreo. xij the auctor and fynnyſſher of youre faith / whiche for the Ioye that was ſet before hym: abode the croſſe / ād deſpyſed the ſhame and is ſet doune at the ryght honde of the troune of God. Conſider therfor howe that he endured ſoche ſpeakinge agaynſt hym of ſynners / leſt ye ſhulde be weried ād faynte in youre myndes. For ye haue not yet (all) reſiſted vnto the bloud ſhed dynge. &c.Ioann. xv. Epheſio. i Zacha. ix Roma. viij Prefere not youre ſylfes aboue youre maſter and lorde / yee youre heed / and youre kynge. Deſyre not to be ſpared ſeynge that God ſpared not his only begotten ſō ne / but gaue hym for vs all. Yf ye be ſōnes and children with Chriſt / Hebreo. xij ſuffrethe chaſtiſinge of youre heuenly father (with Chriſt) for and ye be not vnder chaſtiſinge / whereof al are partetakers▪ then are ye baſtardes ād not ſonnes nor children / caſte not the croſſe from you / whiche Chriſt and all the ſaynctes hath borne. Beholde the heuy croſſe that God layde on the ſhulders of his welbelowed apoſtles / as Chriſt before or they ſuffred ſhewed vnto them

Ioan. xx. Ioan. xv Mat. xAs my father ſēt me: ſo ſende I you. Yf the perſecute me / then ſhal they perſecute you I ſende you forth as ſhepe amonge wolue The ſhepe fyght not / but the ſheparde fyghteth for them and careth for them. Be harmeles as doues therfore (ſaith Chriſt) and wiſe as ſerpētes.The wiſdome of the ſerpente The doues ymagen no defence nor ſeke to auenge them ſilfes The ſerpētes wiſdome is to kepe his heed and thoſe partes wherin his lyfe reſteth. Chriſt is oure heed: ād Gods worde is that wherin oure lyfe reſteth. To cleue therfore faſt vnto Chriſt ād vnto thoſe promyſes whiche God hath made vs / for his ſake is oure wiſdome. Let vs therfore loke diligently where vnto we are called / that we diſceaue not oure ſilfes.Roman. vi We are called to dye with Chriſt: yt we maye lyue with hym: and to ſuffre with hym that we maye regne with hym. We are called vnto a kingdome / that muſt be wonne with ſufferinge only / as a ſeke mā winneth health. God is he that doeth all thynge for vs and fyghteth for vs / and we do but only ſuffre. Beware of men (ſaith Chriſt) for they ſhall delyuer you vp vnto theyr counſels / Math. x. and ſhall ſcourge you. And ye ſhall be brought before rulars and kynges for my ſake. The brother ſhall betraye or delyuer the brother to deeth / and the father the ſonne. And the childerne ſhall ryſe agenſt father and mother / and put them to deeth / and ye ſhalbe hated of all men / for my name / but whoſoeuer ſhall continew vnto the ende / ſhalbe ſaued. When they perſecute you in wonne citie / flye into an other. The diſciple is not aboue his maſter / nor the ſeruaunt aboue his lorde. It is ynought for the diſciple to be as his maſter is / and that the ſeruaunt be as his lorde is. Yf they haue called the maſter of ye houſſe Beelzebub / howe moche moare ſhall they call them of his houſſholde ſo? feare them not therfore.Luce xiiij Whiche of you diſpoſed to bylde a toure (ſaith Chriſt) ſitteth not doune firſt and counteth the coſt wheter he haue ſufficient to performe it? leſt when he hath layed the foundacion and then not able to performe it / all that beholde beginne to mocke hym ſayenge. This man beganne to bylde: and was not able to make an ende. So lyke wiſe none of you that for ſaketh not all that he hath canne be my diſciple. Whoſoeuer therfore caſteth not this afore honde. I muſt ieopardy lyfe: goodes honoure / whorſepe and all that ther is for Chriſtes ſake diſceaueth hym ſylfe and maketh a mocke of hym ſylfe vnto the godleſſe ypocrites and infidels. No mane can ſerue two maſters / God and mammon / Mathei vi. that is to ſaye weked ryches alſo. Thou muſt lowe Chriſt aboue all thynge but that doeſ • is not ſlokned / but they abyd for theyr praye wa • thynge as raweninge wolues / yf they mo ſe any of Chriſtes poore ſhepe to deuoure Belowed brethern be ſtronge in the lorde / and feare them not whiche canne do vnto you no harme but kyll the body:Math. x wher vnto ye are apoynted of God (yf it ſo come to paſſe) as it is written For thy ſake are we kylled all daye longe:Pſal. xliij and are counted as ſhepe apoynted to be ſlayne. Tribulation is oure righte baptim / and is ſignified by plunginge in to ye water / we that are baptyſed in ye name of Chriſt (ſaith Paul) are baptiſed to dye with hym.Roma. vi The ſprite thorowe tribulacion purgeth vs and kylleth oure fleſſhly witte: oure wordly vnderſtondinge and bely wiſdome / and fylleth vs full of the wiſdome of God. Tribulacion is a bleſſinge that cometh of God / Tribulatiō i • a bleſſige Math. v as Chriſt witneſeth. Bleſſed are • hey that ſuffre perſecution for righteueſneſſ is ſake: for theyrs is the kingdome of heuen. Ys not this a confortable worde? who ought not rather to choſe ād deſyre to be bleſſed with Chriſt in a litle tribulation then do be curſed perpetually with the worlde for a litle pleaſure?Proſperite is • a curſe Lu •• vi proſperite is a ryght curſe and a thynge that God geueth vnto his enemies. Woo be to you rich ſaith Chriſt Lo ye haue here youre cōſolatiō: woo be to you yt are full: for ye ſhall hōgre / woo be to you that laugh / for ye ſhall wepe / woo be to you when men prayſe you. For ſo did theyr fathers vnto the falſe prophetes / yee and ſo haue oure fathers done vnto the falſe ypocrites. The ypocrites with worldly preachynge haue not goten the prayſe only / but euen the poſſeſſions alſo and the domination and rule of the hole worlde.Tribulatiō for righteueſnes is ye gyfte of god Actor .v ij Thimo. iij Philippe. i Tribulaciō for righteouſnes is not a bleſſinge only / but alſo a gyfte that God geueth vnto none ſaue his ſpeciall frendes▪ The apoſtles reioyſed that they were counted worthy to ſuffre rebuke for Chriſtes ſake. And Paul ſaith. All that wil lyue godly in Chriſte Ieſu muſt ſuffre perſecution. And in a nother place vnto you it is geuen not only to beleue in Chriſt / but alſo to ſuffre for his ſake. And Peter ſayeth Happy are ye / i Petri iiij yf ye ſuffre for the name of Chriſte / for the glorious ſprite of God reſteth in you. Is it not an happy thynge to be ſure yt thou arte ſealed with gods ſprite vnto the euerlaſtinge lyfe? ād verely thou arte ſure therof / yf thou ſuffre paciently for his ſake. By ſuffrynge arte thou ſure.Whereby thē are youre tyrannes ſure? Romano. v ij Corint. xij But by per perſecutinge canſt thou neuer beſure. For Paul ſaith. Tribulation maketh fealinge / that is / it maketh vs feale the goodnes of God and his helpe and the workynge of his ſprite. And in another place he ſaith. The lorde ſayde vnto hym / my grace is ſufficiente for ye / for my ſtrength is made perfecte thorowe weaknes. Lo Chriſt is neuer ſtronge in vs / tyl we be weake. As oure ſtrength abateth / ſo groueth the ſtrength of Chriſt in vs. When we are clene empted of oure awne ſtrength / then are we full of Chriſtes ſtrength. And loke howe moche of oure ſtrength remayneth in vs / ſo moch lacketh there of the ſtrēgth of Chriſt. Therfore ſaith Paul in the ſame place. Very gladly wil I reioyſe in my weaknes / that the ſtrength of Chriſt maye dwell in me

¶ Therfore haue I delectation ſaith he inmy infirmites / in rebukes / in neade / in perſecutions / and in anguiſſhe for Chriſtes ſake. For when I am weake / then am I ſtronge / meaninge that ye weakeneſſe of ye fleſhe is the the ſtrength of the ſprite. And by fleſhe vnderſtonde witt wiſdome / and all that is in a man before the ſprite of God come / and whatſoeuer ſpryngeth not of the ſprite of God / and of Gods worde. And of lyke teſtimonyes is all the ſcripture full▪

¶ Beholde God ſetteth before vs a bleſſinge and alſo a curſe. A bleſſinge verely and that a glorious and a euerlaſtinge▪ yf we wil ſuffre tribulation and aduerſite with oure lorde and ſaueoure Chriſt. And an euerlaſtinge curſe / yf for a litle pleaſures ſake we with drawe oure ſylfes from the chaſtiſinge and murtoure of God / wherwith he teachet all his ſōnes and faſchioneth thē after his godly will and maketh them perfect (as he did Chriſt) and maketh them apte and mete weſſels to receaue his grace and his ſprite / that they myght perceaue and feale the exceadinge mercy which we haue in Chriſt / and the innumerable bleſſinges / and the vnſpeakeable enheritaunce where vnto weare called and choſē and ſealed in oure ſaueoure Ieſus Chriſt vnto whom be prayſe for euer. Amen

¶ Finally whom God choſeth to regne euerlaſtyngly with Chriſt / hym ſealeth he with his myghtye ſprite / and powreth ſtrength into his herte to ſuffre afflictions alſo with Chriſt for berīge of vit • es vnto ye trueth.The differē ce betwene ye childerne of God and of the deuil Deute. viij And this is ye differēce betwene the childerne of God and ſaluation / and betwene the childerne of the deuil and of damnation / that the childerne of God haue power in theyr hertes to ſuffre for Gods worde which is theyr lyfe and ſaluation / theyr hope and truſt / and wherby they lyue in the ſoule before God

And the childerne of the deuyll in tyme of aduerſite do flye frō Chriſt.Ioan .vi Whom they folowed faynedly / theyr hertes not ſealed with his holy and myghtie ſprite / and get them to the ſtondert of theyr ryght father the deuyl / Ioan .viij and take his wages / the pleaſures of this worlde / which are erneſt of euerlaſtinge damnation. As ye reade in many places of the holy ſcripture.i. Corin. ix. The whiche are writtē for oure learnynge

Mat. xix.¶ Ieſus ſayde / vnto his diſciples. Verely I ſaye vnto you / a ryche man ſhall with difficulte enter into the kingdom of heuen. And moreouer I ſaye vnto you / it is eaſier for a camel to go through the eye of a nedle then for a ryche man to enter in to the kingdom of heuen

Luce. xij.¶ The londes of a certayne man brought forth frutes plenteouſly: and he thought in hym ſylfe ſayinge / what ſhall I do: becauſe I haue no roume where to beſtowe my frutes? and he ſaide. This will I do. I will deſtroye my barnes / and bilde greater ād ther in will I gadder all my frutes / and all my goodes / and I will ſaye to my ſoule. Soule thou haſte moch goodes layde vp in ſtoore for many yeares / take thyne eaſe / eate / drinke / and be my mery. But God ſayde vnto hym. Thou fole / this night will they fetche awaye thy ſoule agayne frō the. Then whoſe ſhall thooſe thynges be which thou haſt • rouided? So is it with hym that gaddreth ryches / and is not ryche in God

¶ There was a certayne riche man / which was cloethin purpure / and fine raines / Luce. xvi and fared deliciouſly euery daye. And ther was a certayne begger named Lazarus / whiche laye at his gate full of ſoores deſiringe to be refreſſhed with the cromes whiche fell from the riche mannes borde / but there was no mā that gaue hym ought. Neuertheleſſe / ye dogges cam / and licked his ſoores. And it fortuned that the begger dyed / and was caryed by the angelles into Abrahams boſome. The riche man alſo dyed / and was buried in hell

¶ When he lifte vppe his eyes / as he was in tormentes / he ſawe Abraham a farre of: and Lazarus in his boſome / and cried / and ſaith / haue mercy on me / and ſende Lazarus that he maye depe the rippe of his finger in water / and cole my tonge / for I am tourmented in this flame. Abraham ſaith vnto hym. Sonne remembre: that thou in thy lyfe tyme receauedſt thy pleaſure / and contrary wyſe Lazarus payne. Nowe therfore is he conforted: and thowe arte puniſſhed. &.c.

¶ For as moch then as we muſt neades be baptiſed in tribulations / and goo thorowe the redde ſee / and a greate and fearful wildernes:Hebreo. xiij and a londe of cruell ge • untes into oure awne contree / for here haue we no contynuinge citie / but we ſeke • citie to come / yee and in as moch as it is of playne erneſt there is no nother waye into ye kyngdome of heuē / Which way goo youre perſecuters to heuen thē Mathei vij then thorowe perſecutiō and ſufferinge of payne and very deeth: after the enſā ple of Chriſt. For we • uſtenter in at ye ſtrayte gate▪ for wyde is the gate: and broade is the waye that leadeth to diſtruction / and many there be which goo in there at. For ſtrayte is the gat: and narawe is the waye which leydeth vnto lyfe / and feawe there be that fynde it

¶ Therfore let vs arme oure ſoules with the conforte of the ſcriptures / howe that God is euer ready at honde in tyme of neade to helpe vs. And howe that ſoch tyrauntes and perſecuters are but Gods ſcourge and his rodde to chaſtiſe vs. And as the father hath alwaye in tyme of correction the rodde faſte in his honde / Youre perſecuters haue no power to do vnto you what they wolde ſo that the rodde doeth no thynge but as he moweth it / euen ſo hath God all tyrauntes in his honde / and letteth them not doo whatſoeuer they wolde / but as moch only as he apoynteth them to do and as for forth as it is neceſſa • y for vs. And as when the childe ſubmit • eth hym ſylfe vnto his fathers correction / and nurtoure and humbleth hym ſylfe all to gether vnto the will of his father: then • he rodde is taken awaye / euen ſo when we are come vnto the knowleage of the righte waye and haue forſakē oure awne wyll and offer oure ſylfes clene vnto the will of God to walke which waye ſo euer he will haue vs / then turneth he the tyrauntes. Or elſe yf they enforce to perſecute vs any forther: he putteth them out of the waye accordynge vnto the confortable enſamples of the holy ſcripture

¶ Moareouer let vs arme oure ſoules: with the promyſes both of helpe and aſſiſtence: and alſo of the glorious rewarde that foloweth.Mat. v Mat. x Greate is youre rewarde in heuen ſaith Chriſt. And he that knowledge me before men / hym ſhall I knowledge before my father that is in heuen.Pſalm. xlix And call on me in tyme of tribulation:Pſal. xxxij. and I ſhal delyuer ye And beholde the eyes of the lorde are • uer them that feare hym / ād ouer them that truſt in his mercy. To delyuer theyr ſoules from deeth / and to fede them in the tyme of hongre

Pſal. xxxiij.And Dauid ſayeth. The lorde is nye the • that are troubled in theyr hertes / and the m • ke in ſprite he wyll ſaue. The tribulation of the righteous are many / and out o • them all will the lorde delyuer them. Th • lorde kepeth all the bones of them / ſo tha • not one of them ſhalbe broſed. The lor • de ſhal redeme / the ſoules of his ſeruauntes. And of ſoch lyke conſolation are the pſames full / the lorde open youre hertes / to reade them and vnderſtonde them perfectly in the ſprite.Mat. x When ye delyuer you take no tho • ught what ye ſhal ſaye. It ſhalbe geuen you the ſame houre what ye ſhall ſaye. For it is not ye that ſhall ſpeake / but the ſprite of you • re father ſpeaketh in you. The very heares of youre heedes are noumbred. Yf God care for oure heares / he moch moare careth for oure ſoules which he hath ſealed with his holy ſprite.i Petri v Therfore ſaith Peter. Caſt al you • re care apon hym / for he careth for you / and Paul ſaith. God is true he will not ſuffre you to be tempted aboue youre myght·Pſal. liiij A Chriſten mans care Caſt thy care apon the lorde. Let thy care be to prepare thy ſylfe with all thy ſtrēgth to wal • ke which waye he wyl haue the / and to beleue that he wyl goo with the / and aſſiſte the and ſtrength the agenſt all tyrannes and delyuer the out of all trib • lation. But what waye or by what meanes he wyll do it / that committe vnto hym and to his godly plea • ure and wiſdome and caſt that care apon hym. And thougth it ſeme neuer ſo vnlikely or neuer ſo vnpoſſible vnto naturall reaſon yet beleue ſtedfaſtly that he will doo it. And • hen ſhall he accordynge vnto his olde vſe / chaunge the courſe of the worlde / euen in the • winkelinge of an eye / and come ſodēly apon youre tyranntes and myghtye geauntes as a thefe in the nighte / and compaſſe them in theyr wiles and worldly wiſdome: when they crye pece ād all is ſaffe / then ſhal theyr ſorowes begynne / as the ſorowes of a woman that traueleth with childe. And then ſhall he dyſtroye them / ād delyuer you / vnto the glorious prayſe of his mercy ād trueth. Amen

And as perteyninge vnto them that deſpice Gods worde:The deſpicers perſecuters ād they that fall frō Gods worde ar •• h •• a • ead countinge it as a phantaſy or a dreame / and to them alſo that for feare of a litle perſecutio flye frō it ſetthes before thy eyes. How God ſens the beginnynge of the worlde before a general plage: euer ſē te his true prophetes and preachers of his worde / to warne the people / and gaue them ſpace to repente. But they for the greateſt part of them hardened theyr hertes and perſecuted the worde that was ſente vnto them And then God deſtroyed them vtterly and toke them cleane from the erthe. As thou ſeiſt what folowed the preachynge of Noe in the olde worlde / Noe Lot Moſes Aaron what folowed the preachinge of Lot amonge the Sodomites / and the preachinge of Moſes: and Aaron amonge the Egiptians / and that ſodenly agenſt all poſſibilite of mans witte. Moareouer as ofte as the childerne of Iſrael fell frō God to the whorſepinge of ymages / he ſente his prophetes vnto them. And they perſecuted and waxed harde herted.The prophetes And then he ſente them into all places of the worlde captiue. Caſt of all he ſente his awne ſonne vnto them.Chriſt And they waxed moare harde herted then euer before. And ſe what a fearfull enſample of his wrath and cruell vengeaunce he hath made of them vnto all the worlde nowe almoſt fyftene hūdred yeres

¶ Marke alſo howe Chriſt threathnet them that forſake hym for whatſoeuer cauſe it be Whether for feare: eyther for ſhame / eyther for louſſe of honoure / frendes / lyfe or goodes?Mat. x he that deniet me before men (ſaith he) hym wil I denie before my father that is in heuen / he that loweth father or mother moare then me / Marci viij is not worthy of me. Whoſoeuer is aſſhamed of me (ſaith he) or of my wordes amonge this adoutours and ſinneful generation / of hym ſhall the ſonne of • an be aſſhamed when he cometh in the • lorie of his father with his holy Angels.Luc. ix Alſo none that layeth his honde to the plowe and loketh backe / is mere for the kingdome of heuen

¶ Neuertheleſſe yet yf any man haue reſiſted ignorauntly / as did Paul / Thimoth. i God receaueth them that come agayne let hym loke vnto the trueth which Paul wrate after he come to knouledge. Alſo yf any man clene agenſt his herte: but ouercome with the weaknes of the fleſſhe for feare of perſecution: haue denied as did Peter / or haue delyuered his boke to the tyrauntes or put it awaye ſecretlye

¶Let hym (yf he repente) come agayne and take better holde and not diſpare or take it for a ſigne that God hath forſaken hym.Why letteth god his choſē childerne fall? For God oft tymes taketh his ſtrength euē from his very electe: when they other truſt in theyr awne ſtrength or are negligente to call to hym for his ſtrength. And that doeth he to reach them and to make them feale that in the fyre of tribulation fo • his wordes ſake no thynge canne endure and abyde / falſe his worde and that ſtrength only which he hath premyſed. For which ſtrēgth he wil haue vs to praye vnto hym nyght ād daye with all inſtaunce

Epheſi. iijWhich alſo is able to do excedinge aboundātly / aboue all that ye are or thynke: accordynge to ye power that worketh in vs vnto whom be prayſe in the congregation by Ieſus Chriſte / thorowe out all generation for euer. Amen

Of the mortification of the fleſhe

Roma. v BY one mā ſynne entred in the worlde / ād deeth by the meanes of ſynne: and ſo deeth went ouer all men / in ſo moch that all men ſynned. Dearly beloweth bretherne it is not vnknowen to you / the ſer •• tute the bondage / ād the • hialdom where vnder we were ſome tyme to ſynne. Ye were ons the ſeruauntes of ſynne.Roma. vi Epheſ. v Ye were one darknes. But thorowe the greate mercy of almyghty God we are delyuered there from / by his ſonne Ieſus Chriſt.Rom. vi. So that we are deliuered frō ſynne / and made the ſeruauntes ef righteueſnes:Ephe. ij but not ſo perfitly that ther is no ſ • nne in vs. We are deliuered thorow faith / frō the wrath of God / and from the vengeaunce and curſe of the lawe / and from the eternal deeth / Roman. iiij Pſal. xxxi & we haue obteyned forgyuīg of all oure ſynnes / ſo that they ſhal not be imputeth to vs on that daye when the lorde ſhal come. And in the ſprite we are made perfect / and borne a newe vnto God / Ioan. i Roma. viij ſo that we are no ſeruauntes / but ſōnes / & doughters. But yet in oure fleſſhe / there is ſ • me ſynne / yee an wicked ſeed is ſowen in oure fleſſhe: and is ſo roted / that it maye not be cleanly taken awaye in this preſent lyfe.i Ioan. i Of the which ſaith Ihon. Yf we ſhall ſaye that we haue no ſynne / we deceaue oure ſylfes / and the trueth is not in vs.Iacob iij Luce xvij For in many thynges we ſynne all. When we haue done all they thynges which are commanded vnto vs / we are yet vnprofitable ſeruauntes / we haue done but that which was oure duety to do. This ſynne: is this concupiſcence / this luſt / and euyl deſyre which we haue in vs contraryous to the lawe of God And this concupiſcence is verely ſynne / becauſe it is forbydden in the lawe of God / Exod. xx which ſaith thou ſhall not concupiſce or deſyre. And be cauſe it is contraryous to God and to his pleaſure and will / for there maye no thynge be contraryous to God / but euyl and ſynneful thynge / and this concupiſcence or euyl deſyre / Gala. • thought it be euyll and ſinnefull / yet we maye not awoyde it: ſo longe we are here in the fleſhe. For (as ſaith Paul) the fleſhe luſteth contrary to the ſprite / and the ſprite contrary to the fleſhe Theyr ar contrary one to the other / ſo that 〈◊〉 canne not do that what ye wolde. This b • tayl is euen in an righteous and iuſtified man which hath the ſprite of God. For the fleſhe luſteth continualy agenſt the ſprite 〈◊〉 that an maye not do that which he wold • that is / that he mygh • holely and perf • ue hym to the ſeruice of God but he may • not: for the fleſhe luſteth contrary to the ſpr • te / and wyll not nor canne not be obedien • to the lawe / Roman: vij. of this ſame ſaith Paul. The la • we is ſpirituall / but I am carnall ſolde vnder ſynne / becauſe I wo • e not what I do Here Pa. knowledgeth hym ſylfe: to hau • an carnall concupiſcence or deſyre in hym and thereby knowledgeth hym ſubdued to ſynne. For he ſaith. I am carnall ſolde vnder ſynne. The lawe he ſaith alſo is holy ād good / yee ye lawe is ſpiritual: but I am ca • nall / ſolde vnder ſynne. And when Ier • me my ſylfe / to do and fulfil / that holy and ſpirituall lawe / I fynde in me an contrariouſnes to it / and maye not fulfill it. Whereby I knowe that I am carnall and •• ld • (that is) ſubdued vnder ſynne / for in the fl • ſhe he ſerued the lawe of ſynne. In my fleſhe ſaith he I ſerue the lawe of ſynne. B • thought he was ſubdued to the lawe of ſy • ne in the fleſhe / yet he was fre in the ſprite. I ſerue the lawe of God (ſaith he) in the ſprite. And in the ſprite he fought continualy agenſt the ſynne in the fleſhe / and wolde alwayes haue had it awaye. And becauſe he 〈◊〉 no meanes culde get it awaye he cōplayneth ſayenge / what I wolde that do I not / but what I hat that do I. As he wolde ſaye. I wolde the fleſh luſteth not agenſt the ſprite. And this concupiſcence I • at becauſe it is euyll: and yet I maye not be fre frō it. Thē it foloweth. Yf I do that which I wolde not / I confeſſe to the lawe • hat it is good. So then nowe it is not I that do it / but ſynne that dwelleth in me. As he wolde ſaye. Yf ſynne to the which I conſent not in the ſprite (but hattes & wolde haue it awaye) abydeth in the fleſhe: yee worketh and luſteth agenſt the lawe. And I in the ſprite conſent to the lawe / and graunteth is good / and wolde fulfill it / and haue awaye that ſynne out of the fleſhe which is contrarious to the lawe / thought I maye not get it awaye: yet I ſynne not / nor tranſſgreſſes not the lawe in the ſprite / but the ſynne that dwelleth in the fleſhe doeth it

¶ Then it foloweth. To will is preſent with me / but I canne fynde no meanes to performe that which is good

That is to ſaye. I wolde this euyl luſt / and ſynne in the fleſhe were awaye: ſo that then were no thynge in me contrarious to the holy lawe of God / but I can not get it awaye: I hat it and yet it abydeth faſt rote • in the fleſhe. It foloweth. I fynde then by the lawe: that when I wolde do good / euyl is preſent with me. Here Paul ſhewed that ye lawe gaue hym knouledge of ſynne for he had not knowen that this luſt or concupiſcence had bene ſynne / excepte the lawe had ſaid: thou ſhall not luſt / or concupiſce / 〈◊〉 deſyre. Therfore he ſaith I fynde by the lawe: that euyl. that is to ſaye / ſynne is preſēt with me / not in the ſprite / but in the fleſhe. Then it foloweth. I delite in the lawe of God / as concerninge the inner man / but I ſe another lawe in my members rebellinge agenſt the lawe of my mynde: and ſubduinge me vnto tye lawe of ſynne which is in my members. Not that this lawe of ſynne in his members ouer come hym / that he was in the ſprite ſubdued vnto it. But it ſubdued hym to ſynne / becauſe it made hym in daunger of the lawe / for it requireth the hole mā with his ſtrength and power.Deutero. vi And becauſe ther was an euyl luſt and concupiſcence in hym contrarious vnto the lawe / therfore he was ſubdued to ſynne / not in the ſprite but thorowe ſynne in the fleſhe. Nowe Paul ſeinge this ſynne ſowen and faſt roted in his fleſhe / that it was vnpoſſible to get it cleane awaye in this lyfe / he longeth and murneth for the delyueraunce of the ſynnefull fleſhe / ſayenge. O wretched man that I am who ſhal delyuer me frō this body of deeth? thē it foloweth I thank God by Ieſus Chriſt oure lorde. As he wolde ſaye: thought I wolde delyuer my ſylfe from ſynne / I maye not: and no other man maye delyuer me from ſynne / for they are all in the ſame bondage and thrall with me ſo many as are yet in the fleſhe.Pſal. xiij There is none righteous / no not one / ther is none that vnderſtōdeth / there is none that ſeketh after God / they are all gone out of the waye. They are all made vnprofitable / there is none that d • eth good no not one. Theyr throte is an open ſepulchre / with they • tounges they haue diſceaued: the poyſon of aſpes is vnder theyr lippes. Whoſe mouthes are full of churſinge and bitternes. Theyr fete are ſwifte to ſheed bloud. Deſtruction and wretchednes are in theyr wayes / and the waye of peace haue they not knowen: there is no feare of God before theyr eyes. But thou alone o lorde God / and father which art the weake mans ſtrenght / ād refuge / ready at the honde of hym that is in ſtreſe / arte my delyueroure. For thou ſhal delyuer me of this preſonment of ſynne / and body of deeth / by thy wellbelowed ſonne Ieſus Chriſt / oure lorde. And thought for an tyme I muſt neade ſuffre / or I receaue the finall ende of my deliueraunce / ye • by hope I ā ſure of it. For thou arte true in all thy ſayēges. And thy trueth is ſure to all age for euer. And thought in the fleſhe be ſome ſynne / yet in the ſprite I ſhall conſent to the lawe / and ſerue it. Belowed brethern / thoughe there be in vs ſome ſynne / and euyl luſt / ād concupiſcence / yet let vs not conſent to it in the ſprite. But reſiſt to it / and fyght agenſt it / ſeruynge the lawe of God in the ſprite. As did Paul.Roman. vij And as he reached vs ſayenge. Let not ſynne regne in youre mortall bodyes: that ve ſhulde there vnto obey in the luſtes of it / Roma. xiij make not prouiſiō for the fleſhe / to fulfill the luſtes of it. Walke in the ſprite / and fulfill not the luſtes of the fleſhe. Yf ye liue after the fleſhe / Gala. v ye muſt dye: So thought we haue ſynne in the fleſhe / oure ſprite is fre of it / but not thorowe oure ſylfes / but thorowe the holy gooſt

ij. Corint. iij Ioann. viij¶ Where the ſprite of the lorde is / there is libertie. And Chriſt ſayd to the Iewes. Yf the ſonne ſhall make you fre / then are ye fre in deade. The ſonne worketh by the holy gooſt. So doeth the father alſo. And theyr workynge is indiuiſible

Ioan: v¶ For that which the father doeth / the ſonne doeth / and lyke wyſe the holy gooſt. So when the holy gooſt maketh vs fre / the ſonne maketh vs fre. And when the father / ād the ſonne maketh vs fre / the holy gooſt maketh vs fre. And though one of the iij. perſones of the holy trinite be named in any place of the ſcripture / yet it ſhalbe vnderſtonde after the indiuiſible workinge of the holy trinite / hauynge ſome workes after oure maner of ſpeakinge / appropriet to euerych perſone Thyſe fredome that we haue (as ſaith Paul) we haue it thorowe the ſprite of the lorde and not be oure ſylfes. For God hath ſent his ſprite in oure hertes / wherby we are louſeth in the ſprite from the bondes of ſynne / and delyuered out of ſeruitute / and cryes to God Abba father.Roman. viij Nowe ſeinge that we are made fre in the ſprite from ſynne / let vs not tangle oure ſylfes agayne in ſubiection therto / but fyght agenſt it / reſiſt to it / ād with all diligence labour to dante and tayme the wantannes of it / to holde it doune and mortifie it as it is written. Yf ye thē be ryſen agayne with Chriſt / ſeke they thynges which are aboue / where Chriſt ſitteth at the ryght honde of God. Set youre affectiō / on thynges that are aboue / and not on thynges which are on the erth. For ye are deed:Colloſſen. iij and youre lyfe is hyd with Chriſt in God When Chriſt which is youre lyfe ſhal ſhew • hym ſylfe / then ſhal ye alſo apere with him in glory / mortifie therfore youre mēbers which are on ye erth. &.c. And in another place it is writtē.Gala. v They yt are Chriſtes / haue crucifyed the fleſhe with the appetites and luſtes. Not that we maye mortifie the fleche / thorowe oure awne ſtrength / and labours / as preache the falſe preachers. No: no but by the holy ſprite / as it is written.Roma. viij Yf ye mortyfie the deades of the fleſhe / by the helpe of the ſprite / ye ſhall lyue. And of what ſprite he ſpeaketh: he ſhewed immediatly after ſayenge. As many as are ledde by the ſprite of God / are the ſonnes of God. This mortyfication and crucifienge of the fleſhe and ſynne / is an ſubiection where vnder ſynne is • ut / not that it is takē cleane awaye / but ſubdued / holden doune: and not ſuffered to worke. An thynge when it ſca • es workynge / it is called deed. An • tree when it ſpringeth not: and beareth no frute nor braunches / it is called deed. So ſynne when it worketh not / and ſhewed not the ſylfe / by workes / it is called deed: ſo we ſhall make ſynne to dye and we ſhulde crucifie it / not ſufferinge it to worke. And this we maye not do of oure ſylfes / but by the holy ſprite which regneth in oure hertes: and of his power mortyfies and crucifies this ſynne which reſteth in the fleſhe. He ſtrenghteth vs / for in to the inner man he maketh vs able and ſtronge to reſiſt to all the aſſautes of oure enimies He eyketh oure power / and miniſhet they • s He maketh vs fre / and ſubdued them. He gyueth vs lyfe / and kylled them. The fleſhe and ſynne (as is ſaid) is mortifieth by the ſprite of God / but to the ſame mortification oure workes are required / but oure ablenes commeth of God. Not that we maye do any good of oure ſylfes.ij Corint. i • No we are not ſufficient of oure ſylfes / to thynke any thynge as it were of oure ſylfes / but our ablenes (there to) cometh of God / by his holy ſprite.Philippe. i • For it is God that worketh in vs / both the will ād alſo the deade / yee euē of his awne good wyll. He worketh in vs / the workes which are neceſſary to the mortification of the fleſhe / yee he maketh vs to chaſtifie the body & brynge it into ſubiection / by reſiſtinge vnto the luſtes of it / and continuall excertion of good workes. For the moare that an man be vſeth to ſynne / the harder ſhall it be to reſiſt vnto the euyl vſe and luſtes therof. For the luſtes of ſynne / are euer the ſtrōger / the moare that an man folowe them be an euyl vſe. And by the contrary / the reſiſtinge of ſynne and excercition of good workes taketh ſome thynge awaye of the ſtrength of ſynne.i Thimo. ii • Herefore brethern exerce youre ſylfes vnto Verely I ſaye vnto you / they haue receaued theyr rewarde. But when ye faſte anoynte youre heed: and waſhe youre face / that it apere not vnto men howe ye faſte / but vnto youre father whiche is in ſecrete. &.c.

¶ Herefore bretherne in all thynges kepe meaſure be diſcrete / folowe the ſprite / and mortyfie the fleſhe / by the holy gooſt whom ye haue receaued / as the erneſt of youre enheretaunce / by whom ye are teached in all trueth / and as he hath teached you abyde therin.i Ioan. ij Hebreo. xiij And be not caryed hidder / and thydder / with diuers and ſtraunge learninge.

¶(I ſaye the learninge of men whiche the holy ſcripture do not knowe) as ye haue bene in tyme paſſed. Wherwith ye were drawene from the faith and gaue hede vnto ſprites of erroure / and deuylſhe doctrine of them which ſpeake lyes thorowe ypocriſy / and haue theyr conſciences marked with an hett yerne forbiddynge to mary / and cō maundynge to abſteyne from meates / whiche God hath created to be receaued with geuynge of thankes of them whiche beleue: and haue knowen the trueth. For all the creatures of God are good: and no thynge to be refuſed / yf it be receaued with geuynge of thankes. For it is ſanctified by the worde of God and prayer. Yf thou ſhall put the bretherne in remembraunce of theſe thynges (ſaith Paul to Thimothe) thou ſhalbe a good miniſter of Ieſu Chriſt whiche haſt bene noriſhed vppe in the wordes of faith / and good doctrine / whiche thou haſt continualy followed: but caſt awaye vngoſtly and olde wyues fables

This I ſaye leſt eny man ſhulde begylle you with entyſinge wordes. For though I be abſent in the fleſhe: yet am I preſent with you in the ſprite ioyinge and beholdinge youre ſtedfaſt faith in Chriſt. As ye haue therfore receaued Chriſt Ieſu the lorde: euē ſo walke ro • ed and bilt in hym / and ſtedfaſte in the faith / as ye haue learned / and therin be plenteous in geuinge thankes

¶ Beware leſt eny man come and ſpoyle you thorowe philoſophy and diſceatful vanitie / thorowe the tradicions of men / and ordinaciōs after the worlde and not after Chriſt. For in hym duelled all the fulnes of the go • heeth boddyly / and ye are full in hym / which is the heed of all rule and power / in whom alſo ye are circumciſed with circumciſion made without hondes by puttinge of of the ſinful body of the fleſhe / thorowe the circumciſion that is in Chriſt. In that ye are buried with hym thorowe baptim / in whom ye are alſo riſen agayne thorowe faith / that is wroght by the operation of God which rayſed hym from deeth

¶ And hath with hym quickened you alſo which were deed in ſynne and in the vncircumciſiō of youre fleſhe / and hath forgeuē vs oure treſpaſes: and hath put out the obligation that was agaynſt vs / made in the lawe written / and that hath he taken out of the waye: and hath faſtenet it on his croſſe and hath ſpoyled rule and power / and hath made aſhewe of them openly / and hath triumphed ouer them in his awne perſone

¶ Let no man therfore trouble youre cōciences aboute meate and drincke: or for a peace of an holy daye / which are no thinge but ſhadowes of thinges to come / but the body is in Chriſt. Let no man make you to ſhute at a wronge marke / which after his awne ymaginacion walketh in the humblenes and holynes of angels / thinges which he neuer ſawe / cauſleſſe puft vppe with his fleſhly mynde / and holdeth not the heed / wherof all the body by ioyntes and couples receaueth noriſhment: and is knet to gedder and encreaſeth with the increaſynge that commeth of God

¶ Wherfore ſen ye are deed with Chriſt from the doctrine of the worlde: why as thought ye yet lyued in the worlde / ſhuld ye be yet ledde with tradicions of them that ſaye touche not / taſt not / handle not. &.c. Nowe in cōcluſiō be ye all of one mynde ād the God of peace / that rayſed from deeth oure lorde Ieſus Chriſt:i Corin. xiiij Ioan x the greate ſheperde of you his ſhepe / thorowe the bloude of the euerlaſtinge teſtament / make you perfect in all good workes / to do his godly and holy will / and brynge to paſſe that whatſoeuer ye do maye be accepted in his fyght / by the meanes of Ieſus Chriſt. To whom be prayſe for euer. Amen

¶ I beſeche you bretherne / ſuffre the wordes of exhortation: for I haue written vnto you in feawe wordes. Salute all the ſaynctes / they which are here ſalute you in the lorde. Grace be with you all. Amen

¶ At Pariſhe / by me Peter congeth A.M.D. xxxv.xx. Ianuarij