A goodly treatise of faith, hope, and charite necessary for all Christe[n] me[n] to know and to exercyse themselues therein tra[n]slated into englyshe — Profitelic en troostelic boexken. English.

A goodly treatise of faith, hope, and charite necessary for all Christe[n] me[n] to know and to exercyse themselues therein tra[n]slated into englyshe — Profitelic en troostelic boexken. English.

Table of contents

Title page

The translatoure.

The treatise of fayth

¶ The fyrste chapter treateth of the Fayth in Christe, and what is a true Fayth.

¶ The secōd Chapter treateth of yt inestimable, greate mercye, that we do purchase, and optaine by the lyuely fayth For true saith cā not be ydle, but bryngeth vnto hym that possesseth her plenteous saluation.

¶ The thyrde chapter shall treate how hurtefull vnbelefe is, and what is the cause that men be so colde and straunge in Godly matters and in loue towarde God.

Here foloweth the treatyse of loue and charite.

¶ Of the loue that God hath towarde vs, howe stronglye loue worketh in vs, and howe hurtefull the worldlye loue is.

¶ Hereafter shall we treate howe hurtefull the loue of the worlde is, and howe we maye despyse it.

§

¶ Here ende the two frutefull treatyses, namely, of fayth and hope, and of loue, and charite.

§

§

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A goodly treatise of faith, hope, and charite necessary for all Christē mē to know and to exercyse thē selues therin trāslated into englyshe.

Prynted in South warke, For Iames Nicolson.

Anno M. D. xxxvii

1537.

The translatoure.

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THer are many now a dayes that vse greate disputacions and reasonynge of fayth, thinking to haue faith whā they can reason muche of it. They know that by fayth only a man is iustifyed, or made ryghteous, but yet they knowe not the grounde & pyth of faith, wherby a man is made righteous. Yee true fayth can better be felt inwardly, than it can be expressed with wordes. It is plāted in at the eare by hearynge of the worde of God, it is groūded and roted in mans harte, by the operacyon of the spirite, workynge in the same worde, and finally (seynge it can not be hyd) it bresteth out in doynge of charitable dedes, the which the faythfull knoweth to be acceptable vnto God. And by thys workynge or endeuoure to please God, he conceaueth an hope to optayne euerlastynge lyfe, wherin he shall rest in ioy with God: not of dewtye, as one that were hyred therto, but only of Gods bounteous goodnesse and mercye. The dyuels also haue an hystoricall fayth of Christe, and beleue al to be true yt is spoken of hym thorow out all the scrypture: for they can not improue nor denye the treuth of it. But seynge they conceaue not suche an opinion of God, as namely, that God is theyr redimer that by hym and by none other (be he neuer so holy) they be saued, that in hym only they oughte to reioyce, to truste, and to be conforted: therfore is not theyr [...]ayth auaylable or an occasyon vnto saluacyon but rather (as sayeth saynte Iames) a cause to feare and tremble. It is not ynough to be baptysed, and to know by harte all yt articles of oure faith although euery one that wyl be called a Christian is bounde to beleue & to know the [...]) but he must also expresse them in hys lyuynge. Yf I be leue God to be a father, and a creator or maker of heauen and earth, and al that is therin of nought, and yet do not seke all ayde, conforte, and goodnesse at hym: how can I haue a true fayth or beleue in hym? howe can I saye truely: I beleue in God the father almyghtye? [Page] &c. Herken how God complayneth by hys prophet Micue. 1. Shulde not a sonne honoure hys father (sayeth he) and a seruaunte hys mayster? Yf I be now a father, where [...] myne honoure? Yf I be the ZORDE where I am feared? sayeth the ZORDE of hoostes. As though he wolde saye: who declareth hys fayth that he hath to me? who soueth me as a son hys ather? not for ony respect or regarde of auauntage that he can optayne by it: but of the inwarde and naturall mocyon of loue that he hath to my goodnesse Or who feareth me as a seruaunt? that dredeth punyshment for transgressynge of his lordes commaundemente. For as sayeth Dauid: They are all gone out of the waye, they are all become vnprofytable, ther is none that doth good: no not one By thys is it euydēt what small fayth is founde in the world now a dayes and how lyttell declaracyō of the same: specialy of those that can and do moost reason, & dispute of it. Thys I saye, and that in verbo domini that I wolde of god they vttered lesse wordes of fayth, hope, and charyte: but declared them more by outward dedes of ye same. To speake diuinite maketh not a diuine, but to lyue diuinite. Yf wyshyng? myghte do good, I wolde hartelye wyshe euery one that can speake muche of diuinite the same mynd, that saynt Augustine was in whā he sayde: The vnlearned stonde vp, and take in ye kingdome of heauen, and we synke to hell with all out learnynge. Yf we dyd take once hartye grace to vs and busyed oure selues to lyue the Gospel, than shuld not we need to be asked a counte of our fayth, than shulde we go on progresse from vertue to vertue, than shuld out lyghte lyghten the weakelynges, lest they do offende at Christe the heade corner stone But alas for pytye, the greate punyshmentes wherewith God doth and wyll punysh vs comme vpon vs because ther is no faithful nesse, ther is no mercye, ther is no knowlege of god in the londe: but swe [...]tynge lyeng manslaughter thefte, and aduoutrye haue the ouer hand, and one bloudshed dyng so! oweth another. &c. Dse. 4. Loke thorowe the [Page] whole flock of them that wyl be seyers of god, that is y• cytesyns of Ierusalē: Seke thorow hyr stretes also yf ye cā fynd one man yt doth equal & right, or yt laboureth to be saythfull: and I shall spare hym (sayeth the LORD) For though they can say: The LORD lyueth, yet to they swear to deceaue. Where as thou: o LORD lokest only vpō saith & treuth. Christ himself hath prophecyed these peryllous tymes of oures sayenge: Whā the son of mā cōmeth, suppose ye y• he shal fynd faith vpō earth? As though he wold say, no. Yee where faith is not, there is an vnbermēt of wyckednesses: as sayeth Esay. 59. There is equite gone asyde, [...] rightcousnesse stōdeth afarte of. Treuth is falledown in y• strete, & the thynge y• is playn & open, may not be shewed. Yee y• treuth is layed in preson, & he y• refrayneth hymselfe frō euell, must be spoyled. Is it not a pyteous case to heare ye prophetes thus complayne vpō oure wyckednesse, yee Christe hymselfe? What do we thynke that shal become of vs after thys vapoure rather thā lyfe? What and yf one man had gotten al the worlde, shulde it profyte oughte vnto hys soule after hys departynge hēce? seing he is come naked into this worlde, & must depart naked out of it agayn. Why do mē set so lytie by faith? & regard [...] or charite as a thing lyttel worth? where as. [...] Paul not [...]stondinge dot cal loue the greatest of the thre theological vertues

That thou mayest therfor (good te [...]der) crercyse theselfe in these thre holy vertues, as namelye faythe, hope & charite or loue: I haue trāslated to thy behofe this lyttel treatyse, treatinge of the same: whose brefenesse I trust shal draw thy mind to ye reading of it. For by manifest scriytures (the which be here sufficientlye brought forth) thou mayest perceaue y• power of fayth whereby man is saued y• which causeth mā to cōceaue an hope of y• lyfe euer lasting. And thus of inward ioy & gladnesse he breaketh forth vnto dedes of charyte, wherby he declareth his in warde gyft of fayth. So y• finally he cā not chuse but hope to come vnto lyfe eternal y• which greūt vs he yt created & redimed vs. Amē.

The treatise of fayth

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¶ The fyrste chapter treateth of the Fayth in Christe, and what is a true Fayth.

FAyth is described playn ly vnto vs in the epistle to the Hebrewes after this maner. Fayth is a sure confidence of thynges Hebre 11 which are hoped for, and a certainte of thinges which are not sene Herby we mayese which is the true fayth, namely, that we abyde & loke to optayne mercy of the LORDE: where as we fynde nought in vs yt is worthy of Gods mercy, nor se the good that God hath promysed vs, but onely trust in hym, because he is mercyfull. Wherfore receauynge the worde that wytnesseth vnto vs and beareth record of his goodnes, we haue a sure hope in God by faith that he shall shewe his goodnesse & tendernesse toward vs by his boūte ous mercy. But hereto is requyted of vs that we reste wt our whole [Page] harte vpon this promyse of mercy, reioycynge in sprete therin, and by fayth rendre vs in loue and thankfulnesse to God.

Thus haue we a sure testymony that we are come to a good fayth for we can fynde none other fundament wheron the synfull soule may test, saue onely yf we can hope that God wyll be a mercyfull father, thorowe the death of IESV CHRISTE. This is it that Paul sayeth: No mā can laye another fundament, saue 1. [...]. 3. that which is layed already, that is CHRIST IESV. Suche fayth causeth a man to walke confidently & to be sure mynded to Gods goodnesse, wherin he can reioyce, so farre as he can beleue to optayne so much as God hath declared and promysed by his worde. Now because he beleueth the same, therfore is his spirite endued with godly ioye by the sprete of God, whiche dyd appeare and teache hym the same by fayth.

[Page] Wherfore sayeth Paul: Ye haue not receaued the sprete of bondage Rom. [...]. to feare ony more, but ye haue receaued the sprete of adopciō, whereby we crye Abba deare father. The same sprete certifieth our sprete that we are the chyldren of God. Whan a man feleth this by fayth, and his harte reioyceth therin, then hath he rest and quyetnesse in his consciēce, hauynge no respecte to his owne workes or deseruynges, but onely to CHRISTE: which hath set hym atone with the father, throughe his bytter passyon and death. Thus geueth he onely CHRIST the glorye of his redēpcyon, & beholdeth hence forth no creatures more. It is sufficient to hym to knowe God in his goodnesse, beleuynge that mercy & goodnesse shalbe shewed vnto hym of God, & reioyceth in that he hath a mercyfull father in heauen, & in all thynges he cōceaueth a good opinion of God & his goodnesse. Suche [Page] fayth causeth hym to rest & to be cō tent, with all that the LORDES wyl is to do wt hym. Whether it be deth, hell, synne or deuell, none can make hym abashed. For as longe as a mā clyueth to Gods worde, beleuyng yt God hath ouercome all euel thorow his loue to warde mankynde, thē is he at rest and peace in all yt can betyde or chaūce vnto hym, beyng certified, that seynge God loueth hym, he sheweth mercy & kyndnesse in all that he doth vnto hym: and all man kynde. Whether it be thā anguyshe, painfulnesse, or ony daūger that can happen vnto man other in body or soule, yt cōmeth al to his auayl. Onely yf he cā beleue, & be persuaded in himselfe yt God loueth him. For one frēde forbeareth much of another y• which natural loue causeth. Wherfore yf naturall loue can forbeare wrōge of a frende: how muche more ought we to forbeare y• good, that is sent vs of God to our saluacyon.

[Page] Seynge fayth is a gyfte geuē of God, it is necessarye we turne oure selues lowly vnto the LORDE, desyrynge hym humbly to prepare oure hartes and make them wyllynge to accepte his worde with ioye. As muche as we loue Gods worde, so muche shal we be conforted & made glad in sprete by fayth in all that ye worde hath promysed vs. Seynge God is hyd in his worde, yee & is the worde it selfe, therfore yf we receaue the worde then by fayth and with ioye, we shall receaue so much as God hath sayd and promysed by his worde. CHRIST, which is the blessed worde of the father, geueth hym self with his goodnesse in to al faythfull hartes, and maketh hym selfe with all his goodnesse cōmune, takynge vs to his grace: yee with all the wyckednesse that is in vs.

Whan we haue synned, than wyll God haue vs to admonysshe hym of his promyse: yf we than praye [Page] with a faythfull harte, he shall remembre all that he hath promysed, and shal haue mercy vpon vs, to fulfyll hys promyse and worde.

Thys knewe Dauid what tyme he sayde: The worde of the LORDE Psal. 32. is treue, and al his workes are faithful. Upon thys trusted the same Dauid whan he had synned, he put god in mynde of his wordes, sayenge: Agaynst the onely haue I synned, & Psal. 50. done euell in thy syghte: that thou myghtest be iustifyed in thy sayenges, and shuldeste ouercome whan thou arte iudged. As though he wolde saye: LORDE. I haue trespassed, I praye the remembre thy word that thou haste promysed vnto the synners which turne agayne from theyr synnes, namely, that thou wilt receaue a sorowfull sprete vnto thy mercy. Wherfor thou oughtest to receaue me vnto thy grace, that thou myghteste be founde ryghteous. Shewenge suche mercye vnto the [Page] synner accordynge to thy promyse, than shalt thou discomfyte thyne enemyes wyth the treuth, which wyl iudge and estyme the as one that doth not accordynge to hys worde.

Whan Dauid nowe knewe inwardlye that he had optayned mercy of the LORDE, than dyd he prayse and thanke God in al his wordes and dedes sayenge: The LORDE is gracious and mercyfull, longe sufferynge, Psal. 144 and of greate goodnesse. The LORDE is louynge vnto euery man, and hys mercye is ouer all hys workes. The LORDE is ryghteous in all hys wayes, and holy in all hys workes. The LORDE is nye vnto all them that call vpon hym: Yee all such as cal vpon him faythfully. And euen thus is it wyth vs: We can prayse and thanke God so earnestlye, and reioyce so greatlye in hys goodnesse, as we can beleue that mercye, and kyndnesse can be shewed by hym. Though the lawe [Page] dyd vtterlye dāne vs, & hel wold swalow vs vp, & though all syn, and other enmyes wolde ouerrunne vs: yet muste we abyde sure vpon God, and se what CHRISTE hath deserued and geuen vs by hys bytter passyon, and what he hath promysed, & & thā shal faith worke hyr worke. Yf we haue receaued the worde in fayth through the holy goost than shal we optayne mercye, and lyfe in the myddes of death, and of synne. Wythout hope dyd holde vp oure head, and the promyses sonke in oure hartes, we muste nedes be drowned in despayre. Hope sayth: My sonne despyse not the selfe in thy syknesse, but [...]ll. 38. praye vnto the LORDE and he shal make the whole. The synfull man beholdyng God, and knowyng him by hys worde (that is) that he is mercyfull, not wyllynge the death of a synner, he lyfteth vp hys heade wt a lusty corage sayenge: I shall not Psal. 118. [Page] dye, but lyue, and shewe forth the workes of the LORDE. The LORDE chastenynge hath chastened me and not delyuered me vnto deathe. Open vnto me the gates of ryghtwysnesse, and whan I am entred than shall I confesse the LORDE. That is the gate of the LORDE, and the ryghtwyse shall entre in thorow it. All thys fayth and confydēce had de Dauid, for he was sure fyxed vppon Gods promyses. Whan his sinnes wolde oppresse hym, than turned he vnto the LORDE, and hys worde, the whiche whan he trusted vnto, he reioyced in the LORDE. All this caused the worde that was beleued: Yf he had ben weake in the faith, he wolde haue thought continually that he muste be damned.

Wherfore he sayde. Wythout the LORDE had holpen a lyttell whyle Psal. 117. my soule shulde haue dwelled and abyden in hell. Dauid sought none other comforte, saue onely, that he [Page] wolde fulfyll that vnto hym, which he had promised him, and beleuyng this he was conforted, sayenge: Psa. 118. Thynke vpon thy seruaunt as concernynge ye worde wherin thou causedest me to put my trust, that conforted me in my lowlynesse: ye thy worde hath relyued me.

Herby may we discerne the true fayth, namely, that a man is fixed & groūded vpon God and his word, that is to saye, that he shall and wyl geue so much, as his promyse is, & yt ye synfull soule can be conforted therin: or els is it not possible to knowe God in his goodnesse. Yf God be not knowē in his goodnesse by his worde, how shulde ony man reioyce in his goodnesse, or conceaue ony Exo. 15. 16 and. 17. hope to come to his mercy? What tyme as the chyldren of Israel had synned greueously agaynste God, murmurynge agaynste hym, and so prouokynge hym to anger, and after that worshippynge the golden [Page] calfe, so yt he wolde haue destroyed the whole multitude of them: Moses lyke a true and faythfull seruaūt of God, seing that God was angry, and beynge wyllynge to apeace his wrath agayne, he knewe no nearer nor feater waye to reconcyle the people agayne vnto God, than to offre a faythfull harte: wherwith he dyd knowlege God to be mercyful, kind and longesufferynge, shewyng mercy in thousandes. Moses was surely fixed vpon this grounde, that is, that the LORDE was mercyfull: But seynge his mercy was turned in to wrath by reason of the multytude and greatnesse of the synnes, he perceaued that it was not possible vnto Exo. 32. mā to fynde grace by God: Wherfore he beganne to admonyshe hym of his kynde and fatherly loue, & to remembre all that which he had promysed vnto Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob. Thus was the LORDE pacyfied, so that he dyd not the euell [Page] that he hadde spoken agaynste the people. This hadde Dauid sene in spre [...] (that is) that God in his wrath shulde remembre his conuenaunt sayenge: My conuenaunt wyll I Psal 88. not breake, nor disanull the thynge that is gone out of my lyppes. Dauid Crod. 32 Psal. 98 wytnesseth of faythful Moses, which brake and turned the wrath of God whan he admonysshed hym of his promyse. The LORDE (sayd he) wolde haue destroyed the people hadde not his chosen and electe Moses stonde for them agaynst the mysdedes.

Whan the synnes be accomplysshed, and the synner knoweth not whether to turne hym, than is ther no counsell better then to submytte hym selfe before God, praynge that he maye take his Godly worde to harte, and to knowe therby what mercy and forgeuenesse God wyll shewe vnto the, that trust in hym, & knowlege him by his fatherly loue, [Page] The LORDE requyreth nought of vs for oure synnes but an heuy and contrite sprete, a wyllynge harte to leaue synnynge, and an hūgry soule to fulfyll the wyll of God. More ouer whan we be moost forsaken, and whan oure synnes and the iudgement of God do moost greuously oppresse vs, then is it tyme for vs to knowe whiche be the true fayth, & whan we ought to haue our syght and mynde moost surest fixed vpon God. Unto the synner is God mercyful, wherfore sayeth Paul: This 1. Tim. 1 is a true sayenge, and by all meanes worthy to be receaued, that CHRIST IESV came in to the worlde to saue synners, of whom I am chefe. Notwithstandynge, for this cause optained I mercy, yt IESVS CHRIST might pryncypally shewe in me all longe pacyence, to the ensample of all thē whiche shulde beleue in hym vnto eternall lyfe. Furthermore sayeth Paul: Where abūdaūce of syn was Rom. 5 [Page] there was yet more plenteousnesse of grace. Nowe where true fayth cō meth, there shall it not be enquyred, what ther is deserued. or what a mā is worthy to haue, or howe impossible it is for a man to come vnto the mercye of God. For ther is nothyng in man that is worthye of mercyfulnesse: and fayth beholdeth God onely, and that whiche he hath promysed with hys worde, and that the LORDE is mercyful, and wyl shew mercy vnto all them that seke hym in the treuth. Thys causeth the synner to conceaue an hope to optayne mercye by oure LORDE though to hymselfe it seme impossible. Thys maye we se by Abrahā, which beyng [...]. 17. olde hūdreth yeares, and Sara his wyfe foure score and ten, herde that they shulde haue a sōne in theyr olde age. Which thynge whan he herde it, it semed vnto hym impossyble, as it myght also to ony man: for ther was no hope of ony frute. But seing [Page] it was God that promysed it, and that Abraham gaue fayth vnto the worde: therfore dyd he hope contrarye to hope, and beleued agaynst nature, Roma. [...] and thys fayth is rekened hym for ryghtwysnesse. Not because of of hys workes, nor because of the circumcisyon or vncyrcumcysyon: but seynge he beleued, he dyd geue God the glory, and optayned mercye.

Thys is not onely written to know howe Abraham became ryghteous by hys faith, but also for our instruccyon, yf we beleue. CHRIST dyed for oure synnes, and is rysen agayn for oure iustyfycacyon. Thys thyng earnestly beleued shal also saue vs: for fayth consydereth onely howe much God maye and wyll geue of hys goodnesse.

Wherfore, let vs that be faythful rest onely vpon CHRISTE IESV that hath saued vs, although oure mysdedes be many and greate. Let vs trust and leane harde to Gods [Page] worde, it is ynough that God hath promysed it: Thys doynge we be sure and may reioyce that we be come to the trewe fayth. Thys fayth had Abraham. He was promysed that thorowe hys sonne Isaac hys sede Gene. 22. shulde so encrease, as the starres of the skye. After thys dyd God commaunde hym to offre the same sonne and to staye hym. Abraham beynge stayed in God and his promise, was redy to accomply she Gods wyll.

Thus is Abraham become ryghteous by the dede (that is) Abraham by thys worke hath testifyed, and declared hys fayth to be good & trewe before God, thus be hys workes coū ted ryghteous before God thorowe fayth: As wytnesseth Saynt Iames Thys all is spoken now to knowe a Iac [...]. 1. trewe and good fayth, namely. Not onely to beleue God to be a mercyfull and good father: but also to beleue that God through hys mercye wyll receaue a synner to grace: and [Page] that he maye come to the fauour of God. Suche fayth causeth a man to reste and [...]cane on God only, and so earnestlye to reioyce in the goodnesse of God, as doth he that fyndeth a treasure of greate value.

We speake not of a fayned faith, as the deuels haue, or as the wycked do beleue, nor of suche an hystorycall faythe as to beleue, that CHRISTE was crucyfyed: but we speake of suche fayth, and confydence, wherebye we are assured that the goodnesse, and mercye of God is oures, and that all is oures that is in God: that he is mercyfull vnto vs: that we can reioice in him, and walke confydently in hym, all thys is the operacyon of faythe.

Suche faythe causeth mortyfycacyon of the fleshe wyth all hys concupiscence, Gala, 5. whan he hath felte once by faythe the exeeadynge goodnesse, that he hath founde by the LORDE. [Page] Shulde not suche a faythfull soule reioyce in the LORDE his God by true loue? & vse all spirituall glory? Suche fayth causeth a man to captiuate and presone his witte, vnderstonding, & wyl wholy vnder Gods worde, and reioyce only in God, sayenge with Dauid: My soule wayteth Psa. 61. onely vpon God, for of hym cō meth my helpe. He onely is my strength, my saluacyon, my defence, so yt I shall not greatly fal. And agayn: Turne agayne then to thy reste (O Psal. 114. my soule) for ye LORD hath geuen the thy desyre. And why? thou hast delyuered my soule from death, myne eyes from teares, and my fete from fallynge. I wyll walke before the LORDE in the lande of the lyuynge.

Paul, what tyme he was come to such earnest fayth, sayd very ioyfully: I shewed not my selfe amonge 1. [...]. 2. you as though I knewe ony thinge saue onely IESVS CHRIST, euen the same that was crucyfied. It is not [Page] sufficient to saye: I beleue that the Note. holy church beleueth, or as myne elders haue beleued, but a man muste searche and proue how he beleueth. For by his owne fayth shall a man be acceptable to God. Yf he wyl procure to optayne ought of God, he must turne hym to God and knowlege hym by his owne fayth, that he is his LORDE and redimer. Abrahā saw God in sprete through his lyuely fayth and reioyced. This fayth [...]orageth a man agaynst death, in it a man seyth his lyfe: For (according to the wytnesse of all scriptures:) The iust lyueth by his fayth. Abat. 2. Rom. 1. G [...]l. 3. Heb. 10 11. Tim 1 Gal. 5

& This fayth is not subdued vnto the lawe: for the faythfull accomplissheth the LORDES wyll in the sprete, through loue. So that he fulfylleth all that the lawe cōmaundeth. Not [...]ecause it is a commaundement of [...]he lawe: (for the lawe geueth onely knowlege of synne) but because he [...]ath a loue to the commaundementes, [Page] and is ready to do all that is acceptable to God. Wherfore sayeth Paul: Thorow the lawe I am dead Gal. 2. vnto the lawe, that I myghte lyue vnto God. I am crucyfyed with CHRIST, yet do I lyue: Neuertheles now not I, but CHRIST lyueth in me for the lyfe which I lyue now in y• fleshe, I lyue in the fayth of the sōne of God, whiche loued me and gaue himselfe for me. Agayn sayeth Paul that God hath made vs accepted in Ephe. 1. the beloued sōne, in whom we haue redempcyon thorow his bloude, namely, the forgeuenesse of synnes accordyng to the ryches of his grace.

Seynge then that (accordyng to these testimonies of scripture) the worke of our redempcyon is accomplyshed in vs by CHRIST: therfore must oure synfull soule knowlege yt excellēt worke in CHRIST only, and in hym only rest by fayth. For CHRIST sayd: No man commeth to the father, but only by me. And: yf Ioh 14. [Page] ye are the father ought in my name Ioh. 1 [...]. he shal geue it you. But seyng faith is a gyfte of God, therfore muste we lowly and humbly praye the LORD to haue pyte vpon vs, and increase oure faith, yt we may know his goodnesse dewly by fayth, and reioyce in hym. Of this gyft speaketh Paul sayeng. By grace are ye saued thorow fayth, and that not of youre selues. Ephe. 2. For it is the gyft of God, not of workes, lest ony man shulde boast hymselfe. For weare his workemanship created in CHRIST IESV vnto good workes, to the which God ordeyned vs before, that we shulde walke in them. Whan man fyndeth rest, and quietnesse in his conscience by fayth beleuynge that all that is in God, is to mans behofe, that is a sure token that such a man is come to the faith whiche geueth health. For fayth certifyeth hym that CHRISTE hath ouercome death, hell, synne, and the deuyll for hym.

[Page] As great as his faith is, so much also can he reioyce in God, Prayse God, and thanke God whiche hath receaued his synfull soule to mercy, not for the workes of ryghtwysnesse that we haue done, but accordynge to hys mercye hath he saued vs.

Thus muche nowe is sayde to knowe the trew faith: namely, to rest onely vpon CHRIST, and to knowlege oure redempcion, and saluacion by CHRISTES death, according to hys worde. The whiche graunte vs the father thorowe hys welbeloued sonne CHRIST.

Amen.

¶ The secōd Chapter treateth of yt inestimable, greate mercye, that we do purchase, and optaine by the lyuely fayth For true saith cā not be ydle, but bryngeth vnto hym that possesseth her plenteous saluation.

WHan Paul wolde comforte the sycke, or stablyshe the weake in faith more & more than dyd he ofte rehearse and (as a man myghte saye) bette in them the [Page] glad tydinges of the Gospell: Certifienge them to what greate mercye they were called, whan God geueth them a good wyll to receaue hys worde with ioye, and to reioyce ouer all the goodnesse that the Gospel assureth vs of. Thys frute which the Gospel bringeth with it, and geueth vs oughte we hyghelye to thanke God for, and to reioyce for cause of so manyfolde gyftes, and treasures minystred, and geuen vs by hym, thankynge, and praysynge God whiche hath opened oure eyes, and inwarde syghte: So that we maye dewlye knowlege oure saluation by CHRIST IESV & reioyce in him only.

This is the intent now wherfore Paule doth so earnestly admonyshe vs not to receaue such gyftes in [...]ayne, but that the worde of God be frutefull in vs by fayth, and loue, that God myghte be praysed, thanked, and honoured for hys workynge so wonderfullye, mercyfully, [Page] and gloriouslye in all faithfull hartes. Therfore sayeth Paull: We are bounde to geue thankes al waye 2. Tess. 2. vnto God for you brethren beloued of the LORDE, because that God hath from the beginninge chosen you to saluation in the sanctifyenge of the spirite, and in beleuinge of the treuth, whereunto he hath called you by oure Gospell, to optayne the glorye of oure LORDE IESVS CHRIST. Farther more saieth Paul After that ye herd ye worde of treuth, Ephe. 1. namely, the gospell of youre saluation, wherin whan ye haue beleued ye were sealed with the holy sprete of promesse, whiche is the earneste of oure enheritaunce to oure redemption, that we mighte be his owne to the praise of his glorye. And agayn: Because we knowe (brethren beloued 1. Tess. 1. of God) howe that ye are electe. For oure Gospell hath not ben with you in worde only, but both in power, and in the holy goost, and muche [Page] certainte. In all these foresaide reasons are we exhorted, to receaue the godly worde with greate luste, and loue, prayenge the LORDE humbly to geue vs grace that we maye take it to harte, and receaue it as a gladde tydinge that is shewed, and promysed vs by the worde. Paule what tyme he preached the worde of God, he thanked hym, and sayde: for thys cause we thanke God wythout 1. Tes. 1. ceassynge, because that whan ye receaued of vs the worde of the preachynge of God, ye receaued it not as the preachynge of men, but (euen as it is of a treuth) the worde of God, whiche worketh in you that belefe.

It is not sufficiente that we can Nota bable muche of the worde, and haue many treatyses and bokes thereof: but we muste also be chaunged and renewed in the spirite through faith of the worde in oure lyuyng, so that we can reioyce in spirite, beyng sure [Page] that the worde of God hath ended a greate glorious worke in vs. By faythe of the worde muste we be renewed in sprete, and in conuersacyon: so ye we can reioyce in sprete beynge assured that the worde of God hathe fullended a glorious worke in vs. By fayth in the worde muste we be certyfyed that muche is geuen vs of the LORDE.

By fayth muste we trye oure lyues. Thys worde worketh myghtelye, whan it is receaued in faythe: for Roma. 5. CHRISTE reconcyled vs by the father, whan we were yet enemyes vnto hym. We are approched and Ephe. 2, come neare vnto God by the faythe in the worde, where as afore we were straungers: so that we be euen electe, and chosen chylderen. Ioh. 15.

CHRISTE sayeth: Nowe are yecleane, because of the worde that I haue spoken vnto you. Abyde ye in me, and I in you. Alas we be all dettours, our synnes will depreasse [Page] vs, oure conscyence is of tymes greued, whan she douteth whether to turne herselfe. We fynde nought in oure selfe, whereof we myghte haue ayde, or comforte. But yf we coulde beholde CHRISTE only in oure trouble, and pondre by oure selfe the profyte of hys passyon, and remembre the mercye promysed vnto vs by Gods goodnesse: Howe earnestlye shulde we than ryse from oure synnefull lyfe? sayenge wyth a lustye corage: Wherfore shulde I mystruste? he dyed for me whiche shall iudge me, and he hath also were safe to call me, I wyll ryse and seke my LORDE my God. He may dāne, but I am sure he wyll Esa. 3. saue. The LORDE is oure iudge, the LORDE is oure lawe geuer, the LORDE is oure kynge, he shall come hymselfe, and saue vs. yf Rom. [...]. God be wyth vs, who can be agaynste vs? whyche dyd not spare hys owne sonne, but hym hath he [Page] geuen for vs all: howe shall not he geue vs all thynges with hym also? Who wyll laye ony thynge to the charge of Gods chosen? It is God that maketh ryghteous, who wyll than condempne? It is CHRISTE that dyed, ye rather which is raysed vp agayne, whiche is also on the ryghthande of God, and maketh in tercession for vs. We haue CHRIST for aspecheman, for a mediator, and 1. Timo. 2. 1 Iohan. 2 an apeacer of Gods wrath, whose bloude calleth for mercye for vs. By CHRISTE haue we a sure, Ephe. 2. and fre entraunce to the father.

Whan the synner seyeth all this in the scrypture, and can stonde sted faste vpon these wytnesses, than maye he perceaue ryghte well that they be wrytten to oure comforte, that the synner myghte hope to optayne Rom. 15. mercy by the father. Yf he submytte hymselfe vnto God, the LORDE shall accomplyshe hys promyse in hym, and steare the synner to [Page] repentaunce. All this commeth by the worde which the synner heareth, and taketh to harte: for so myghtely worketh it in a man. Therfore doth Paul call the worde or gospell y• power of God, saynge: I am not ashamed of the Gospell of CHRIST: for it Rom. 1. is the power of God, whiche saueth al that beleue theron, the Iewe fyrst and also the Greke: For in it y• ryghteousnesse yt is of value before God is opened, which cōmeth out of faith into fayth, as it is written: The iust shal lyue by his fayth. Agayn sayth Paul: The worde of the crosse is folyshnesse 1. [...]. 1 to them that peryshe, but vnto vs that are saued it is the power of God. In these aforesaid scriptures is it euident that God doth & wyll worke a myghtye and blessed worke: namely, that he wyll turne & conuerte a synner through his wordes. Let vs therfore cal earnestly vpon hym, desyryng hym to poure out his worde feruētly vpon vs, and to [Page] worke therwith mightely in our hartes. Peter preachyng the worde dyd I. tu. 2 conuerte thre thousande men at one tyme. Scripture sayeth that what 2. Par. 14 yt tyme the chyldrē of Israell fought agaynst the Morians, in theyr anguyshe they called vpō God, and he herde them because they beleued on hym. And agayne ther is wrytten: The eyen of the LORDE beholde the 2. Par. 16. whole earth, and geue strength vnto them that trust in hym with a perfecte harte. And agayne ther is wrytten: And Iuda was greatly conforted, 2. Par. 13: for they trusted in the God of theyr fathers. And of Asa sayeth the scripture that he called vpon ye LORDE 2. Par. 14 his God, and sayd: LORDE, it is no difference with the to saue by fewor by many. Helpe vs O LORDE our God: for our trust is in ye, & in thyne name we come forth agaynst this multitude. Such lyke prayer made kynge Iosaphat in his anguyshe, & 2. Par. 20. ye LORD dyd help hym. By this may [Page] we perceaue ye power of faith, which he requyreth of vs: namely, that we must loke vpō his worde & what he requyreth of vs: Agayne what he hath promysed vs, how faythful he is of his promysse, and true in his worde. Consyderynge this we maye be stedfast in his worde, and folowe the counsell of Syrak, writynge in Ecclesi. 2. his boke called Ecclesiasticus: Beleue in God, and he shall helpe the: ordre thy waye aryght, and put thy trust in hym. Holde fast his feare & growe therin. O ye yt fear ye LORD, take sure holde of his mercy: shrenk not away frō him, yt ye fal not. O ye yt feare ye LORDE, beleue hym, & your rewarde shal not be emptye. O ye yt fear the LORD put your trust in him & mercy shal come vnto you for pleasure. O ye yt fear the LORD, set youre loue vpō him, and your hartes shal be lyghted. Cōsydre ye olde generacyns of men (O ye chyldrē) & marke them well: was ther euer ony one [Page] cōfoūded ye put his trust in ye LORD? Who euer continued in his feare, and was forsaken? Or whom dyd he euer despyse, that called faythfully vpon hym? &c. And agayne in the same chapter: They that feare the LORDE, wyll not mystruste his worde: and they that loue hym wyll kepe his cōmaundements. &c.

Thus is it euydent that fayth muste nedes be a worke glorious & puyssaunt, wherby man optayneth so much of the LORDE. How coulde ony mā comprehende and perceaue the power of faith? and that by Ioh. 1. fayth we are one with God. Ihon sayeth: That God hath geuen all mē power to be the chyldrē of God. Matt [...]. 9 Christ sayd: All thynges are possible Ioh. 11. vnto hym that beleueth. And agayn Yf ye beleue, ye shall se the glorye of Math. 17. God. And agayne: Yf ye haue fayth as a grayne of mustarde sede, ye maye saye vnto this mountayne: Remoue hence to yonder place, and [Page] he shall remoue, nother shall ony thynge be vnpossible vnto you.

Now seynge God worketh so gloriously in all faythfull hartes: then is it conuenient that we humbly beseke hym to teach vs to trust in his worde. For we shall reioyce so much in his goodnesse, & loke for so much aide & cōforte at his hāde, as we can Susān [...]. [...] trust in hym, and in his worde. We [...]ede of Susāna, that what tyme she was in hir moost distresse & anguish beyng iudged wrongfully to death, she syghed and prayed to God, trustyng stedfastly in him, and ye LORD delyuered her. Daniel also whan he Bel. [...] was cast in ye Lyōs denne was not hurte of them: for he trusted in God.

The godly worde commeth not for nought, it worketh wonderfully whan it is receaued in fayth. Therfore doth saynt Iames erhorte vs Iac [...]. 1. to receaue with mekenesse the word that is grafted in vs, whiche is able to saue our soules. A man can not [Page] erre, so longe as he can testyfye hys lyfe to be led accordynge to Gods worde. Yf a man haue his myndefixed vpon mans inuencyons, or inuented holynesse: he maye surely be dysquyete and confortlesse. But so longe as a man hath his eyen fixed vpon God and his worde, bearynge Gods commaundementes in his harte: so longe doth that man walke in sekernesse, beynge assured of all ye is expressed by Gods worde and is sure of his sauegarde and cō forte: accordynge as Paul sayeth:

All men are lyars, but God is true. The sonne of God is the wysedome Rom. 3 of ye father, Who so now doth yelde hym selfe vnto the word, receauyng therby the wysedome of the father: the same is dryuen from death vnto lyfe by the sprete of God. Syrak sayeth: Eccl [...]. 4 that wysedome breatheth lyfe in to hyr chyldren, & receaueth them that seke her. It foloweth then that they which haue once assayed god by [Page] his worde in the wysedome of God: that those I saye maye come to complete lyfe. But it is contrarye with the worldly wysedome, as wytnesseth Paul, sayenge: In so muche 1. Cor. 1 as the worlde by the wysedome ther of knewe not God in his wysedome it pleased God thorowe folyshe preachynge to saue them that beleue.

Whan Paul was mynded to conuerte ony man, then wolde he laye nothynge before hym, saue onely Gods worde, sayenge: I haue begotten you in CHRIST IESV thorowe the gospell. Wherfore I exhort you, be ye my folowers, as I am IESV CHRISTES.

So longe as a man redresseth hys lyfe accordyng to Gods worde, so longe shall he come walkynge the ryghte waye of saluacyon, and reioyce in his conseyence: For all that the worde of God doth vtter is concernynge ether mercy or [Page] in warde consolacyon. Peter sayeth: Ye knowe of the preachynge yt God [...]ct [...]. 10. sent vnto the chyldrē of Israel, preachyng peace thorow IESVS CHRIST. Of hym beare al the prophetes wytnesse, that thorow his name, all they that beleue in hym, shall receaue remission of synnes. Luke also wrytyng CRISTES wordes saieth: Thus Luct. 24 is it wrytten, and thus it behoued CHRIST to suffre, and the thirde day to tyse agayne from the dead, and to let repentaunce and remyssiō of synnes be preached in his name amōgeal nacions. This knewe Esay afore hande whan he sayde: Lyke as the rayne and snowe commeth downe Esay. 55. from heauen, and returneth not thy ther againe, but watereth the earth, maketh it frutefull and grene, that it maye geue corne and bread vnto the so wer: So the worde also that cō meth out of my mouth, shall not turne vnto me voide agayn, but shal accomplyshe my wyll, and prosper in [Page] the thynge whereunto I sende it. Hereby we are taughte, that like as the earthe is made frutefull of the rayne that God sendeth: so shall we also be renewed and be frutefull, yf we knowlege God a ryghte by hys worde, and reioice in al that he hath wytesafe to warne vs of by hys worde. Yee we shall mortifye the fleshe wyth all hys desyres, and he ioyned to God.

He that cleueth vnto god, becommeth one sprete wyth hym: and optayneth all goodnesse wyth hym. A man reioyceth so muche in God, as he is knytte wyth him by fayth, and is diligent in all thynges to forther hys glorye. The olde father Symeon beholdynge the lytle babe, and Luce. 2. beynge sure in wardlye that he was hys saueoure: (for he loked for hym by hys fayth) reioyced in hys harte, desyrynge to go to hys reste by bodely death: for his eyen had sene the saue garde of men. Euen so lykewyse [Page] we, yf we had sene by fayth the loue which God beareth to ward vs, how hartelye shulde we then yelde oureselues vnto death? For fayth certyfyeth the harte that God is a mercy full father, and that mercye shall be shewed vnto vs by ye death of IESV CHRISTE. We can optayne no greater rewarde than to beleue that God is wyth vs, and we beynge wyth the LORDE are safe. Steuen Actuū. 7. seynge heauen open by fayth, sayde incontinentlye. LORDE receaue my sprete. For thys cause sayde Paule: Because therfore that we are iustyfyed by faythe, we haue peace wyth Roma. 5. God thorow oure LORDE IESVS CHRISTE, by whom also we haue an entraunce in faythe vnto thys grace, wherein we stonde. Here lo is no mencyon of workes, or of y• lawe: for by the workes is noman iustyfyed. But the workes muste breake oute thorowe loue, and declare oure inwarde fayth, by workynge of charitable [Page] dedes. Iob was ashamed of all hys workes, and was not so bold Iob. 9. as to lyfte vp hys heade before hys LORDE God, but submitted hymselfe lowly vnto him: ye though ther had ben founde some right wy sucsse in hym. Dauid also sayde: LORDE Psal. 142 entre not in to iudgemente with thy seruaunte, for in thy syghte shall noman lyuynge be iustifyed. Neuerthelesse God wyllynge to certifye vs what we maye optayne by fayth, he shewed vs that by pure, and onely loue, and mercye he taketh the synner to grace, wythoute ony regarde of dedes: so that mercye shulde be shewed to vs of promyse, and not of Roma. 4 dewtye. Therfore ought we to geue all glorye vnto God onely. Dauid P wytnesseth thys same sayenge: Blessed are they, whose vnryghteousnesse is forgeuen, and whose sinnes are couered. Blessed is the man vnto whome the LORDE imputeth no syn, and in whose sprete ther is no gyle. [Page] Herin maye you perceaue the maner of tustifienge, namely, that God wyll of pure mercye forgeue the synnes, requyrynge but onely stedfaste fayth of vs. Wherfore, a synner perceauynge that by the goodnesse of God onely he is come to grace, he oughte to geue hym onely for it all prayse and honoure Paul saieth: Yf Abraham were made righteous thorow Rom. 4. workes, then hath he wherin to reioyce, but not before God. But what sayeth the scrypture? Abrahā beleued God, and it was coūted vnto him for righteousnesse. Unto him that goeth aboute with workes, is the rewarde not rekened of fauour, but of dewty. But vnto him yt goeth not aboute wt workes, but beleueth on hym that iustifyeth the vngodly, is fayth counted for ryghteousnesse, for by the law commeth but knowlege Rom. 3. of synne. But nowe wythoute addynge to of the lawe is the ryghtwysnesse whiche auayleth before [Page] God declared, hauynge wytnesse of y• lawe and prophetes: but I speake of the ryghtwysnesse before God, whiche commeth by the fayth on IESVS CHRISTE, vnto all, and vpō all them that beleue. Here is no difference: for they are all synners, and wante the prayse that God shulde haue of them. Wythout deseruynge are they made ryghteous, euen by grace, thorowe the redempcyon that is done by CHRISTEIESV: whō God hath set for a mercyseate thorowe fayth in hys bloude, to shewe the ryghteousnesse which auayleth before hym, in that he forgeueth the synnes, which were done before vnder the sufferaunce of God. And agayne: We holde therfore that a man is rustifyed by fayth, wythout the workes of the lawe. &c. Thus farre be the wordes of saynt Paull, wherein he teacheth vs, that by faythe we optayne all ryghteousnesse, and not by oure owne procuryng [Page] of suche strengthe is the grace of fayth.

Whan God perceaueth in vs a faythfull harte whiche seketh hym earnestlye, dredynge, and fearynge hym: thā doth he communicate, and ioyne hymselfe vnto suche one, geuynge hymselfe wholye ouer vnto hym, with all that is in hym. For a man optayneth by faythe all that, which God hath promysed vnto the y• faythful saiēg. I wil spouse ye vnto me foreuer. I wyll marye the vnto Dsee. 2 me in ryght wysnesse & mercy. I wyl mary the vnto me in fayth, & trueth and thou shalt knowe the LORDE. All the lawe, and commaundementes stretche therto, namely, that we shulde fulfyll them, and lyue so, that oure good workes maye testyfye, and declare oure faythe, and loue, that we haue towarde God.

But seyng we be frayl, and oftymes fall through weaknesse of the flesh: therfore shall we endeuoure oure [Page] selfes to ryse agayne wyth a good wyll, syghynge for oure mysdedes, askynge mercye wyth a sorowfull sprete. Whan we beholde oure synnes, then let vs humblye beseke God to geue vs a faythfull harte. For yf God syeth an hungrye soule in vs, whiche longeth for the ryghteousnesse of faythe, and that we do so procure grace by God, as by one whiche can comforte the synner: than shall the LORDE receaue suche a faythfull harte vnto hys grace. For faythe and loue cause a man to haue alwaye a good opynyon of God.

Yee it is the beste, and mooste excellente gyfte that we can haue to be comforted in God, and in hys gyfte. For as our opinion is of him, so shall he please vs. And euen as fayth is a gyft of God, geūe frely to man: so muste thys opinion of God come frely of him also. Yf we knowlege hym for a mercyful father, than [Page] shall we reioyce in hys mercye, trustynge in hys goodnesse, and are mercye at hym with a chearefull mynde. But yf we knowlege hym for a dredefull iudge: than shall we not reioyce in hys goodnesse, but euer feare, and tremble before hym: for we fele no certentye of hys goodnesse. Such men can not reioyce in God, nor loke for ony comforte of hym. Wherfore Paull doth exhorte vs very earnestlye to loue, that thereby we myghte know God a right, reioycynge in all hys goodnesses, and so to prayse and thanke hym, sayenge: But aboue all thynges put [...]oios. 3. on loue, whiche is the bonde of perfectnesse. And the peace of God rule in youre hartes, to the whyche peace ye are called also in one bodye, and se that ye be thankefull.

Let the worde of CHRISTEIESV dwell in you plenteouslye, in all wysedome. Teache, and exhorte youre owne selues wyth Psalmes, [Page] and hymnes, and spirituall songes, which haue fauoure with them, syngynge in your hartes to the LORD. And what so euer ye do in worde or dede, do all in the name of the LORD IESV, & geue thākes vnto god the father by hym. All this must come by fayth. For as a man reioyceth in God: euen so shall he prayse hym, thanke hym, and euen brest out in syngynge to hym, as to one by whō health and saluacyon is happened vnto hym: Yet though the flesh wyll cause hym to synne, and greue hym inwardly. But yf he knowlegeth God for a mercyfull father: then is he conforted agayne by his goodnesse, as wytnesseth Paul sayenge: God which is rych in mercy, thorow his great loue wherwith he loued vs, euen whan we were dead in synnes, hath quickened vs wt CHRIST. Than is God mercyfull vnto vs, & a father of mercy, geuen vnto vs wt al his goodnesse, and then are we saued [Page] by his goodnesse: whan we can beleue thorow fayth y• redēpcyon & iustifycacyō declared by his worde. Therfore sayeth Paul: Yf a man beleue Rom. 10. from the harte, he shalbe made ryghteous: and yf a man knowlege with the mouth, he shalbe saued.

For the scripture sayeth: Who so Esay. 28. euer beleueth on hym, shall not be confounded. Seynge then that fayth was so necessary, therfore was CHRIST so diligent, euen to beate it in vs: As for an ensample, to the syke of the palsey he sayde: My Math. 9 sonne be of good cheare, thy synnes are forgeuen the. And to the woman of Canaā: O woman, great is Math. 15. thy fayth: be it vnto the, euē as thoudesyrest. And agayne to Martha he sayeth: I am the resurreccyon Ioh. 11. and the lyfe, he that beleueth on me, shall lyue, thoughe he were dead already: And who so euer lyueth and, belyueth on me, shall neuer dye. Item to the woman that was [Page] syke of the blody yssue, he sayde: Doughter be of good conforte, thy Matt [...]. 9 fayth hath made the safe. Thus is it euident that all is ascribed vnto fayth, and not vnto vs. For oure workes can stretch no farther, saue onely to shewe oure wyllynge harte, and to yelde thankes vnto hym whiche throughe vnoutspeakeable loue hath saued vs. And thus doynge we geue only God the honour for all y• good which he worketh in vs. Loke vpon the seconde to the Hebr [...]es. And in the elenenth chapter he sayeth: Without fayth it is vnpossible to please God. For Heb. 11. he that commeth vnto God, muste beleue that God is, and that he is a rewarder of thē that seke hym. And agayne: We knowe yt a man is not [...]al. 1. made righteous by y• dedes of ye law but by ye faith on IESVS CHRIST. We haue beleued also on IESVS CHRIST, that we myght be made ryghteous by the fayth on CHRIST, [Page] and not by the dedes of the lawe. Ihon also sayeth: All that is borne 1. Ioh. 1 of God, ouercōmeth the worlde: and this is the victory that ouercōmeth the worlde, euen our fayth. Who is it that ouercōmeth the worlde, but he which beleueth that IESVS is the sonne of God? And further in the same chapter: These thynges haue A writtē vnto you, which beleue on the name of the sonne of God, that ye maye knowe how that ye haue eternall lyfe, and that ye maye beleue on the name of the sonne of God.

And this is the fre boldnesse whiche we haue towarde hym, that yf we aske ony thynge accordyng to his wyl he heareth vs. Lo, how yf a man beleueth, (that is) yf he setteth his trust vpon the goodnesse of God only, he is herde, and optayneth all that he requyreth of the LORDE, as Marke Matt. 11. also wytnesseth. Paul what tyme he preached the forgeuenesse of synnes [...]. 13. 14, 16. he dyd alwaye ascribe it vnto faith: [Page] that we myght knowe the vertue & power of CRISTES death, and that we shulde geue all glorye and praise vnto hym, which hath receaued vs vnto the fayth by his goodnesse. IESVS preached the Gospell of ye kyngdome M [...]. [...] of God, sayenge: The tyme is [...]ulfylled, and the kyngdome of god [...]s at hande, amende your selues, & beleue the gospel.

Here myght some men saye: ye speake so much of fayth, & that man [...]s iustified by fayth onely, and not by workes: Where as saynt Iames neuerthelesse sayeth, that fayth with but workes is dead. Trueth it is, & he sayeth well: For without ther ensue Nota. forsakynge and lothsomnesse of synnes, and without a man rest and reioyce onely in God, hauynge respecte to none other creature, sekyng helpe or conforte at the same: Then is it a tokē that he is not wholy fixt vpon God, nor putteth his trust in hym. So longe as a man reioyceth [Page] in synnynge, so longe is not God his ioye. As longe as man cōmeth not to God with more loue & thankfulnesse, nor can quyete hym selfe with God: so longe hath he not the trewe fayth. The trew fayth mortifyeth the synnes, that the outward workes maye testifye of the inward fayth. Thus doynge optayneth God the glorye, whiche wyll worke wonderously in all them, in whom he hath poured his worde by fayth. Therfore sayd CHRIST: Let youre lyght so shyne before men, that they Math 5 1. Pet, 2 mayese your good workes, and glorifye youre father which is in heauen. Scripture wytnesseth euery wher yt fayth must make new creatures, Pha. 2 orels shuld it not work, ye worke wherfore God sent his worde. Not that workes iustyfye a man: But seynge man is iustyfyed by fayth, therfore is he called iustifyed or ryghteous for doynge the workes of fayth: For the workes be called [Page] ryghteous before God, by reason of fayth. Here vpon bryngeth saynt Iacob. 1 Iames Abraham and Rahab as proues, sayenge: Wylte thou vnderstonde O thou vayne man, that fayth without dedes is dead? Was not oure father Abraham iustyfyed thorowe workes, whan he offred Isaac his sonne vpon the altare? Thou seyst how that faith wrought with his dedes, through the dedes was the fayth made perfecte: and the scripture was fulfylled, whiche sayeth: Abraham beleued God and it was reputed vnto hym for ryghteousnesse, and he was called the frende of God. &c. Yf Abraham had douted on Gods promyse, whan he wolde haue offered his sonne: then hadde not his faythe bene ryghte nor sufficyent. Rahab Iosu. 2 also shewed hyr fayth, where by she let the spyes go, shewynge them whiche waye they shulde go. She beleued stedfastly that God [Page] shulde cause the chyldren of Israell to wynne the cytie of Iericho, and by yt fayth was hyr faythfull worke accepted before God. God loked first vpon Abell and then vpon his Gene. 4. gyfte. The scripture hath shut vp al Gal 3. vnder synne, that the promyse shuld come by fayth on IESVS CHRIST, geuen vnto them that beleue. Hereby we maye se that fayth only iustifieth (that is:) Whan we forsake all creatures, submyttynge out selues, and passe by all mans inuencyons or holynesse, fallynge and leanynge to CHRIST only, sayenge: O LORDE I knowlege health to be happened vnto me by the. LORDE augmēt thou my fayth. CHRIST sayd: I am Ioh. 5. the lyght of the worlde he that foloweth me shall not walke in darkenesse, but shal haue the lyght of lyfe. And agayne in the same chapter: Yf ye continue in my worde, then are ye my disciples, and ye shal knowe the trueth, and yt trueth shal make you [Page] fre. Though the faythfull fell to synnynge, yet remayneth God a frende vnto the fayth and loue that he fyndeth in a mā: his promyses vnto thē that beleue are so manyfold. Dauid Psal. 36 sayeth: Yf the ryghteous falleth, he shall not be brused: for the LORDE doth staye hym with his hāde. Paul sayeth: Then is ther now no damna Rom. 8. cyon vnto them that are in CHRIST IESV, which walke not after ye flesh, but after the sprete. For the lawe of the sprete (yt bringeth lyfe in CHRIST IESV) hath made me fre from yt lawe of synne and death. Saynt Ihon also 1. Ioh. 3. wrytteth sayenge: Who so euer is borne of God, synneth not, for his sede remayneth in hym: & he can not synne, because he is borne of God.

Though a man be weake after the fleshe, and thereby fall to synne: yet Nota. doth God loue a man for the fayth wherby he loueth God. Whan he falleth, his fall is not vnto dead: for his sprete is without gyle. The [Page] LORDE suffereth the ryghteous to fall, leste he stonde to muche in hys owne conceate: but that he aske mercy with all his harte. The ryghteous falleth seuen tymes in one daye, and ryseth agayne. The LORDE taketh the faythfull for his best beloued, and reserueth hym to his mercy. Salomon sayeth: The ryghteous Prou. 10 laboureth to do good, but the vngodly vseth hys increase vnto sinnes. Oure prayer is that we maye abyde by the gladde and ioyfull tydynges of the gospell. For he that Matt. 16. beleueth, and is baptysed shall be saued. I brynge you tydynges of [...]. 2 great ioye which shal happē vnto al people: for vnto you is this daye borne the Saueoure, euen CHRIST the LORDE.

Thus farre is now sayde of the mercy, which we vptayne by fayth: For true fayth ioyfuily receaued, excludynge al ye is contrary to CHRIST bryngeth a greate health wyth her.

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¶ The thyrde chapter shall treate how hurtefull vnbelefe is, and what is the cause that men be so colde and straunge in Godly matters and in loue towarde God.

WHan we consydre our fyrste progeny, then is it euydent vnto vs, that the nature of man is created to ye lykenesse of God in wyll, reason, and vnderstandyng: folowynge God through wysedom, and by knowledge of the creatures, And that man was ioyned wt a perfecte hart vnto God, vsynge hym wt a cōplete knowlege. Upon this hath Gene. [...]. God set him in the paradyse of pleasure, geuynge hym a cōmaūdement, namely, ye he shuld not eat of the tre of knowlege of good & euell. This cōmaūdemēt was geuē vnto Adā by God, to ye entent ye he wolde proue, whether he wolde abyde stedfast by his word & cōmaūdmēt, or not. But ye deuel, which was minded to bring synne & deathe in to the worlde thorow vnbelefe, occasioned to it by his [Page] enuye to mankynde, he hath stered the serpent (which was the sotyleste creature of all creatures) to saye vnto the woman: Yee, hath God sayd Gene. 3 in dede: Ye shall not eate of all maner trees in the garden? Then sayd the woman vnto the serpent: We eate of the frute of the trees in y• garden: But as for the frute of the tre that is in the myddes of the gardē, God hath sayde: Eate ye not of it, & touche it not, lest ye dye. Whan the Serpent now perceaued that Euastode weakely vpon Gods worde, for she sayde: lest we dye (where God neuerthelesse hadde sayde: Loke in what daye so euer thou eatest therof thou shalt dye the death:) he dyd assault Eua fyrst, to make her dout in Gods worde, and to brynge her frō it. Now whan he had her so farre: than brought he her yet farther, sayenge: Tush ye shall not dye ye death. For God knoweth that in what daye so euer ye eate of it, youre eyes [Page] shalbe opened, and ye shalbe as God, and knowe both good & euell. And the woman sawe that the tre was good to eate of, and lusty vnto ye eyes, and a pleasaunt tre to make wyse: and toke of the frute of it, and dyd eate, & gaue vnto hit husbande also therof, and he dyd eate. Thus haue they both lefte Gods worde, and haue done theyr wyl, and fulfylled theyr desyre and lust. Thus hath man cast hym selfe awaye thorowe mysbelefe transgressyng gods worde and cōmaundement.

The lust and desyre that Adam conceaued in his fyrst appetite doth yet remayne in hym: for we are of the same fleshe and substaunce and also folow thē ature of it. We are so sore wrapped in mysbelefe, that it is also vnto vs the cause and occasyon of all synne: so that we be naturaly chyldren of wrath, by inspiracyon of yt prynce of the ayre, which is a sprete, workynge in the chyldren Ephe. 2. [Page] of mysbelefe, fulfyllynge the pleasure of the fleshe: for the whiche Tollo [...]. 3 the wrath of God commeth vpō the chyldren of vnbelefe. Whan man now leauynge the worde of God, regardeth not God, folowynge hys owne wytte and wysedome: than is his harte and mynde darkened and drawen awaye, trustynge more to his owne wysedome, then to his LORDE his God. And his harte conceaueth nothynge saue the lust and desyre of the fleshe, of the which he is ledde captyue: so that he axeth no more counsell at God. This doth Dauid complayne sayenge: The Psal. 13 foolysh bodyes saye in theyr hartes: Tush, ther is no God. They are corrupte and become abhominable in theyr doynges, ther is not one that doth good. The LORDE loked downe from heauen vpon the chyldren of men, to se yf ther were ony that wolde vnderstand and seke after God. But they are all gone out of the waye, they are altogether become [Page] vnprofitable, ther is none that doth good: no not one. All this commeth by mysbelefe, and whan man setteth no more by God & his worde, nor hath no more lust vnto hym. For yf man dyd abyde by God, & beheld alway the wonderous and glorious workes, whiche the LORDE hath declared vnto vs by his benefytes and goodnesse: it were not possible that he shulde forsake his LORDE his God, but shulde alwaye be gyded of God and his worde, sekynge at hym onely all his comforte and health. But seynge he is deceuered from God and his worde, and wyll stande to his owne wysedom, which is but playne [...]oly: therfore is he rest lesse, and to his LORDE his God is he vnfaythfull: as wytnesseth Esaye sayenge: He that is vnfaythfull dealeth vnfaythfully. Dauid also sayeth: Esay. 21. They kepte not the cōuenaūt of Psal. 77 God, and wolde not walke in hys law. They forgat what he had done [Page] and the wonderfull workes that he Aba [...]ut. 2. hadde shewed for them. In all this haue they synned, and dyd not beleue in his wonderfull workes: for the soule of the vnfaythfull is not stedfaste nor trewe in hyr selfe. By all these euydences and reasons are we taught, that all wyckednesse is come in the worlde by mysbelefe: for thorowe mysbelefe hath man but slender knowlege of God: and accordynge as he hath knowlege of God, so muche loueth he God, and reioyceth in his goodnesse. This mysbelefe doth so kepe a man boūd in synfulnesse, that he can not fele or perceaue ony goodnesse to come vnto hym from the blessed LORDE.

Thoughe he saye that he beleueth CHRIST to be crucyfyed, and that he hath suffred the paynfull death, which the deuyls also beleue: yet beleueth not he so, as one yt can rest in this deth only, & as one yt is fully per suaded to haue mercy & forgeuenes [Page] therby of ye LORDE. For yf he coulde beleue this, he shuld both loue God, and reioyce wholye in hym, not lokynge aboute for to optayne ony other mercye of what creature soeuer it were. It shuld suffise him to know God which will receaue him to hys mercy. Wherfore, the cause why mē be so coulde in loue towarde God, and so straunge from him is, that they knowe him so lytle, & that they haue so smal perceueraūce of yt loue that he hath towarde vs. Lo, what vnkindnesse commeth by mysbelefe as whan man is not fully certyfyed in his harte, that God will geue vs so much, as he hath promysed vs by hys worde: yee so litle is mā inwardlye reioyced, and comforted, as he doth beleue, and is assured in his cō science that God is, & will be good vnto vs. For yf he knoweth not God in hys goodnesse, howe can he reioyce in hys goodnesse? Thus is it euydent that man abydeth presoned of [Page] hys owne wytte and wysedome thorowe vnbelefe. Thys caused Esaye to saye. Therfore commeth my people Esa. 5 also in captyuyte, because they haue no vnderstondynge. Dauid also speaketh of thus myserable estate sayenge. O LORDE, howe glorious Psal. 91. are thy workes, thy thoughtes are very depe. An vnwyse man wyll not knowe thys, and a foole wyll not vnderstonde it. And agayne in another place. They wyl not be learned Psal. [...]1. and vnderstonde: but walke on styll in darknesse. Who so is not lyghtened thorowe the worde of the LORDE to knowe the LORDES waye, and to perceaue hys saluacyon by the faythe in God, that man walketh in darknesse altogether, fyndynge no restynge place for hys synfull soule, hauynge a weake hope to fynde saluacyon by the LORDE. Thys is it that Dauid sayde. They beleued not in God, and put Psal. 77. not theyr truste in hys helpe. Esaye [Page] calleth vs oute of thys darknesse sayenge: Esaye, 50, Who so walketh in darknes, and no lyghte shyneth vpon him, let hym hope in the LORDE, and hold hym by hys God. How could a man haue ony hope or truste in hys hart, seynge he is not stedfastlye perswaded that mercy can be optayned, for the whiche he maye hope: seynge ye hope & lōgyngefor cōmeth by fayth.

Because now that man doth not beleue, therfore can he also not hope ony such good as is promysed hī by faith, nother cā he loue dewly the geuer of ye good, yt hath promised hym so much of it: this may we perceaue by ye childrē of Israel: ye LORD promised to geue Abrahā al ye lōd of Canaā Gene. 15. & afterward whā he wold haue sent Moses vnto Pharao, to deliuer the same people, he promised vnto Moses Exod. 3. Deut. 1. to geue thē ye lond yt flowed with milke & hony. Now yt god was mynded thus to do, yt did he shew euidētly in deliueryng yt people frō Pharaos hādes, leadyng thē straūgly thorow [Page] the reede see, and fedinge them with heauenlye bread. But howe happened it? For whan they had ony lettynge by the way, by reason of theyr mysbelefe and vnthankfulnesse, and had forgotten the benefytes shewed vnto them of God: than fell they to murmurynge, and deceuerynge frō God, and hys worde. Agayne, what [...]u. 13. 14 tyme as the spyes had searched out [...] the londe of promyse, and came, and shewed all thynges vnto the chylderen of Israell, howe they had sene greate giauntes in comparison of whom they were but greshoppers, and that the indwellers of the lond were stronge and myghty men, and that theyr cyties were hygh walled. The chylderen of Israell hearynge thys were sore astonnyed, murmured agaynste God, Moses, & Aaron, sayenge: that they wolde turne back agayne in to Egypte. All thys murmurynge came of mysbelefe. For yf they had stād stedfastly to his worde [Page] and bydden sure by hys promyses, they shulde haue answered & sayde: We shall ouercoeme that nacyon ryght well, and take the londe in possessyon, though they were thousand tymes stronger: For the LORDE hath promysed and geuē it vs. But seynge they fel frō gods word, & hys promyses, leanynge to theyr owne polyce and strength, therfore semed it vnto them vnpossible. Neuerthelesse it was possible wyth God, and thorowe God, as hys worde dyd assure them.

Seynge than yt God made suche a promyse vnto them, and that they decyuered from hys behestynges: therfore had they no hope to take in the londe of promyse: Wherfor they were vnworthye of it, and haue not entred in to the rest, which God promysed them. For thys cause cōmeth Paull and warneth vs of thys wycked vnbelefe, sayenge: Let vs feare Heb. 4. therfore leste ony of vs forsakynge [Page] y• promyse of entrynge in to his rest, shulde seme to come behynde: for it is declared vnto vs as well as vnto them. But the worde of preachynge helped not them, whan they yt herde it beleued it not. By these reasons is it declared vnto vs euydently howe hurtefull mysbelefe is vnto vs. We cā do God no more wrong, nor bring more losse vnto oure soule, than in yt we geue no more credēce to his wordes, which not withstōding is faith full vnto vs in all hys promyses.

Thys also complayned CHRIST to ye Iewes sayenge: The father which Iohan. 5. sente me beareth wytnesse hymselfe of me. Ye haue nother herd his voyce, norsene hys shape at ony tyme: You haue not hys worde abydynge in you, for ye beleue hym not, whom he hath sente. I am come in my fathers name, and ye receaue me not: Yf another come in hys own name, hym shall ye receaue. How can ye beleue, which receaue prayse one of an [Page] other, and seke not the prayse which is of God onely? Yf ye beleued Moses, ye shulde beleue me also: For he hath written of me. But yf ye beleue not hys wrytynges, how shall ye beleue my wordes? ye wyll not come vnto me that ye myghte haue lyfe. He yt beleueth not God, hath made 1 Ioh. 5. hym a lyar: because he hath not beleued the recorde that God hath testyfyed of hys sonne. And this is the recorde: euen that God hath geuen vs euerlastyng lyfe. And thys lyfe is in hys sonne. He that hath the sonne of God, hath lyfe. Hereby is it euydent, that yf we couet to be conforted in God, thā shal we seke it in his word, and take recorde of the same, howe we maye come to hys mercye. So muche fayth as we geue to his wordes, so muche shall oure knowlege be also of hys goodnesse, and so muche shall we be comforted of hym. Howe can we be fully comforted, seynge we do so sore wauet & [Page] stonde not stedfaste in hys worde, whiche hys goodnesse doth declare vnto vs? For all that doth conforte vs commeth of God. The father loueth Iohan. 13. the sonne, and hath geuen all thynges in hys handes. Whoso beleueth Ioan. 3. in the sonne, hath lyfe euerlastynge: But he that beleueth not in the sonne, shall not se lyfe, but the wrath of God abydeth vpon hym. Thys doth scrypture specifye vnto vs, that we shulde knowe the cause and occasyon of all euel: that is mysbelefe, and it is the cause yt we know not God, nor haue ony loue toward hym. Nowe whan the loue of God is banyshed, than doth man lyghtelye fall to all maner of wyckednesse. Therfore sayde CHRISTE: Whan the holy goost commeth he shall rebuke the worlde of synne, of ryghteousnesse, and of iudgemente. Of synne, because they beleued not on me. Of ryghteousnesse, because I go to the father. Wo be vnto them Eccli. 2. [Page] that are lowse or harte, whiche put not theyr trust in God, and therfore shall they not be defended of hym. Againe: They that fear the LORDE, Prou. 18. wyll not mystrust his worde: & they that loue hym wyll kepe his cōmaū dementes. Thus maye we se how yt whan man knoweth not what God hath cōmaunded hym, nor standeth stedfastly vpon God thorow fayth: how then (I saye) he falleth vnto extreme vnkindnesse, without ony dredyng of God. Mysbelefe therfore is the cause and occasion of al synnes, wherof man shalbe iudged. For yf ye fyrst man had bydden fast by Gods worde, he shulde not haue fallen to synnynge: Therfore sayd CHRIST: The workes yt I do in my fathers Ioh. 10. name, they bear wytnesse of me: but ye beleue not, because ye are not of my shepe. Baruch also sayeth: But Baruch 3. how happeneth it Israell that thou art in thyn enemyes lande? thou art waxen olde in a straūge contry, and [Page] defyled with yt dead. Why art thou become lyke vnto them yt go downe to theyr graues? Euen because thou hast forsaken the well of wysedome. Truely, yf thou haddest walked in the waye of God, thou shuldest haue remayned styll safe in thyne owne lande. Euen this same complaineth the LORDE also by Ieremy the prophete, Ierem. 2 sayenge: What vnfaythfulnesse founde youre fathers in me, yt they wente away so farre fro me, fallynge to lyghtnesse, and beynge so vayne? They thought not in theyr hartes: Where haue we left the LORDE, that brought vs out of the lande of Egipte? that ledde vs thorow the wyldernes, thorow a desert & rough lande. &c. And continently after in ye same place: For my people hath done two euels: They haue forsaken me the wel of the water of lyfe, and dygged them pyttes: Yee vyle and broken pyttes that holde no water. And it foloweth also: Thyne [Page] owne wyckednesse shal reproue the, and thy turnynge awaye shall condempne the: that thou mayest know and vnderstande how hurtefull a thynge it is that thou hast forsaken the LORDE thy God, & not feared hym sayth ye LORD God of hoostes.

Wherfore, whan we beholde oure selues duely, remembrynge the worthynes and excellency of y• chosen soule, whiche of ryght shulde be a bryde of IES VS CHRISTE: for of nature can not she be refresshed nor comforted but, onely of God.

What so euer she seketh besyde hym, that maketh her disquyete and comfortlesse. For this cause is it nedefull for vs to lyfte oure eyen vp towarde heauen, besekynge hym humbly to conforte vs wyth his owne presence. Nother is this accomplyshed, but onely whan the LORDE declareth his goodnesse vnto vs by his word, and that we then reioyce in all the goodnesse [Page] which he hath promysed vs therin. Yf we forsake ye worde, then shal the soule become cold & straūge frō god This confirmeth Ieremy sayenge: I wyll cast you out of this lande, in Ierem. 16. to a lande that ye, nor your fathers knowe not: and there shall ye serue straunge goddes day & nyght, there wyll I shewe you no fauoure. That man verely hath no rest whiche falleth to ony shapē creature, or to ony inuencion & ymaginacyon of man. Where mā doth yet procure ryghteousnesse & saluacyō by his owne mother wytte & wysedome, there doth not god work his worke. This may be tried by many places of scripture CHRIST dyd not shewe many tokēs Rom. 1. there where was no faith, because ye they knowynge yt ther is one God, haue not praysed hym as God, nor thanked hym, but became vayne in theyr ymaginacyōs, & theyr folyshe hart was blinded. Whā they coūted thēselues wyse, they became fooles. [Page] And why? Euē because (saith Paul) Rom. 10. they knowe not the ryghteousnesse which auayleth before God, & go about to mayntayne theyr owne righteousnesse: & thus are not they subdued vnto ye ryghteousnesse whiche is of value before God. CHRIST is ye ende of the law vnto-ryghteousnesse for euery one yt beleueth. For God so loued the world, that he gaue his Ioh. 3. only sonne, that wo so euer beleueth in hym shulde not peryshe, but haue euerlastynge lyfe. Lo how saluacyō commeth by fayth. Who so therfore doth not receaue the worde by fayth the same abydeth in darknesse & dāynacion: as CHRIST wytnesseth in the same place, sayenge: But he that beleueth not, is condempned already: because he beleueth not on ye name of the onely sonne of God. But this is the condemnacion: that the lyght is come in to the worlde, and men loued the darcknesse more then the lyght, for theyr workes were euell. [Page] Who so euer doth euell, hateth the lyght, and commeth not to ye lyght, that his dedes shulde not be reproued. Here in are we enformed that it is Gods wyll, that all men be saued: and that we shall knowlege the fathers loue, whiche hath geuen vs CHRISTE to be oure Saueoure: and that we shulde knowlege oure saluacion to come by hym, whiche hath accomplyshed the worke of oure health in vs. But seynge many men do not turne them selues to God warde, walkynge after theyr owne wyll and desyre: therfore cannot they haue knowlege of the saluacyon that is promised and geuen vs by CHRIST. Man muste vtterly forsake hym selfe, with all that is in hym, and rest vpon CHRISTE onely: by whose death we maye fynde sauynge health. But alas Lollo. 2. for pytie ther be many vayne and pufte vp in theyr fleshly myndes, which holde not them selues to the [Page] heade and worde, nother come to CHRISTE to be humbly taught of hym. This is the cause why ye Pharises came not to God, but sayde it that Iob dyd prophecy aforehande, sayenge: They saye vnto God: Go Iob. 21. frō vs, we desyre not the knowlege of thy wayes. What maner of felowe is ye Almyghty, that we shulde serue hym? What profyte shuld we haue to submytte oure selues vnto hym? Esaye also sayeth: Thou hast Esaye. 57. hadde trouble for the multitude of thyne owne wayes, yet saydest thou neuer: I wyll leaue of. Thou thynkest to haue health or lyfe of thy self and therfore thou beleuest not that thou arte sycke. Yee, heare what O see the prophete sayeth: I droue Ephraim, Iuda plowed, and Iacob O see. 10 played the husbandman, that they might so we vnto righteousnes and reape the frutes of weldoynge: that they myghte plowe vp theyr fresshe & new tylled lande, and seke [Page] the LORD tyll he came, & taught thē ryghteousnesse. But now they haue plowed them wickednesse, therfore shall they reape synne, and eat ye frut of lyfe. Seynge thou puttest thy cō fidence in thyne owne wayes, & leanest to the cōfidēce of thy worthies, ther shall growe a sedicyon amonge thy people. By this is it euidēt that man remayneth in his vnfaythfulnesse thorow his owne wysedome. For the LORDE wyll teache vs wt his worde only, yf we couet to walk aryght in his way. Al is but foolyshnesse, be man neuer so well learned, yf he knewe nought of God. Therfore sayeth Paul: The worde of the 1. Corin. 1 crosse is foolyshnesse vnto thē yt perish, but vnto vs that are saued it is the power of God. For it is written: I wyl destroye the wysedome of the Esay. 29 wyse, and wyll cast away the vnderstandyng of the prudēt. For so much as the worlde by the wysedome therof knewe not God in his wysedom. [Page] it pleased God thorowe foolysh preachynge to saue them that beleue. Yf 2. Cor. 4. oure Gospell be yet hyd, it is hyd in them that are loste: amonge whome the God of thys worlde hath blynded the myndes of them, whiche beleue not, that the lyghte of the Gospell of the glorye of CHRISTE (whiche is the ymage of God) shuld not shyne vnto them. And in another place saieth Paul: Because they receaued not the loue of the treuth, 2. Tessa. 2. that they myghte haue bene saued: therfore shall God sende thē stronge delusyon, that they shulde beleue lyes, that all they myghte be damned, whiche beleued not the treuthe, but had pleasure in vnryghteousnesse. It hath bene the LORDES wyll alwaye to draw euery man vnto hym both by benefytes, and wordes. But whan he seyth the hartes to remayne styll harde, and peruerted, than threateneth he the vnbeleuynge, yt they shall come to naught, [Page] yf they do not receaue hys worde, sayenge: The kyngdome of God shall Math. 21. be takē from you, & shalbe geuē vnto y• Heythen, which shal bryng forth ye frutes of it. And who so falleth vpō thys stone, (that is CHRIST) shalbe broken [...] peces: and loke vpon whō it falleth, it shal grynde him to poul [...]r. This is fearful to heare of him, that i [...] offended at Goddes worde thorow mysbelef, nother doth knowlege thorowe loue hys saluacyon to be therein: but withstandeth it by al meanes possyble. They that be offended and dashe at the stone (that is CHRISTE) they be not drawen to hym through hys goodnesse, but be rather peyered, peruerse, & myndlesse. Yee and they become enemies of God by the lawe: whereby they be broughte to greater feare, than can wel be swaged and redressed againe by Gods worde.

Whan the stone (that is the blessed Nota. CHRIST) shall fall vpon the mis [Page] beleuing, & forsake y• sinner trustyng in his blindnesse, beynge despysed of God for his obstinacie, and beating his iudgemente wythout mercye at the daye of dome: than shall the vnbeleuynge se how greuous it is vnto hym, that he hath not receaued CHRIST in his worde. The LORDE sayd: He yt is not with me, is against Math. 12. me. He that gathereth not with me, scattereth. For he that seketh righteousnes, notbeholding CHRIST only wt a pure minde, he dasheth agaist y• stone. Now greuous it is to offēd at y• stone, & to be offēded at CHRIST, do many places of scripture specifie vnto vs. CHRIST is set to a fall, & to an Luce. 2. vprising agayn of many. But well is him whose trust is in ye LORD hys god. Be it knowē vnto you therfore Actu [...]. 13. ye mē & brethrē, ye thorow this mā (y• is CHRISTE) is preached vnto you ye forgeuenesse of synnes, and from al the thinges, wherby ye might not be iustified in the lawe of Moses. But whosoeuer beleueth on thys man [Page] is iustifyed. Beware therfore that it come not vpon you, which is spoken in the Prophetes. Beholde ye despysers, [...]. 2. and wonder at it, and peryshe: For I do a worke in youre tyme, which ye shall not beleue yf ony mā tell it you. And agayne in the same place sayde Paull and Barnabas to the Iewes: It behoued fyrste the worde of god to be spoken vnto you, but now that ye thruste it from you, & counte youre selues vnworthye of euerlastynge lyfe: lo, we turne to the Gentyles. Oh LORDE who cā perceaue how hurtefull the worldly wysedome is? The Byshoppes, Pharisees, Prestes, and Lawers thorowe theyr owne wysedome wold not submitte them selues to the humble, and meke fayth of CHRISTE, but rather drewe the other people from the fayth in CHRISTE, sayenge: Doth ony of the rulers or Pharisees beleue on hym? But the commune Iohan. 7. people whiche knowe not the lawe, [Page] are cursed. Thus were the Publicans and open synners (whiche beleued in CHRISTE) despysed of them. Yee because the commune people Luce. 7. Iohan. 12. folowed CHRIST, therfor haue the Byshoppes and Prestes takē coū sell how to slaye CHRIST. CHRIST also whan he saw that the couetous Pharisees dyd mocke hym, he sayd: Ye are they that iustyfye youre selues Luce. 16. before [...]n, but God knoweth youre hartes. For that which is hye amonge men, is abominacyon before God. And agayn sayd CHRIST: Why know ye not my speche? Euen Iohan. 8. because ye can not abyde the hearynge of my wordes. And agayne: I am come to iudgement into hys Iohan. 9 world, that they which se not, might se: and that they which se. myght be made blynde. And some of the Pharisees that were wyth hym, herde thys, and sayde vnto hym. Are we then blynde also? IESVS sayde vnto them: Yf ye were blynde, ye shulde [Page] haue no synne: But now that ye say wese, therfore remayneth youre synne: That is as muche, as though CHRISTE wolde saye: He that wyll se hys saluacyon by hys owne wysedom, he is blynde: For he loketh not vpon God, but is blynde in himself. But he that loketh not vpon hymselfe, but seketh hys saluacyon in CHRISTE, he is lyghtened of God. Thys wytnesseth saint Paul, sayēg Roma. 9. The Heythen whiche, solowed not ryghteousnesse, haue ouertakē righteousnesse. But I speake of the righteousnesse that commeth by faythe. Israell folowed the lawe of ryghteousnesse, and attayned not vnto the lawe of righteousnesse. Why so? euē because they soughte it not oute of faith, but as it were out of deseruing of workes. For they haue stōbled at the stomblynge stone, as it is writtē. Beholde, I laye in Syon a stone to Esaye. 28. stomble at, and a tocke to be offended at: and whosoeuer beleueth on [Page] hym, shall not be confounded.

Here haue we now herd what hurt vnbelefe bryngeth, whereby a man becommeth coulde and straunge frō God. For thorowe vnbelefe hath a man small perceuenaunce of God or godlynesse. Yee where God is not duely knowen, there is man ydle, & can haue no godly lust, nor fauoure vnto God. But yt father hath geuen vs CHRIST hys only sonne, accordynge to hys loue towarde vs (euen hys godly worde) that we shulde herken to him, & learne to know y• waye of saluaciō thorow hys word. Thus hath CHRIST called vs louingly namely vs yt were of a disquiete & troubelous hart, geuingvs knowlege of his fatherly wil thorow faith, yt we shuld be cōforted in his word, which brigeth al mercy wt it. Yf our hart be ready to accōplish yt wil of god accordinge to his worde, & not to departe thorow ony straung learnīg, thā are we surely called of hi. For Ihō saith. [Page] Whosoeuer transgresseth, and abydeth 2. Iohan. 1 not in the doctryne of CHRIST, hath not God. He that abydeth in the doctryne of CHRISTE hath both the father, and the sonne. And agayn: Yf no man wyl receaue you, Math. 10. nor heare youre preachynge, depart out of that house or cytie, and shake the duste from youre fete. Treuly I saye vnto you: It shall be easyer for the loude of Sodoma, and Gomorra in the daye of iudgement, thā for yt cuie. Thus may youse y• damage Math. 9 and hurte of mysbelese, the whiche causeth a disquyeted harte, and remorse of conscieure, and an harte ye is comfortlesse, yee a continuaunce in synfulnesse. Wherfore CHRISTE seinge the multitude, hauyng blind leaders, he is moued with pitye vpō them: for they were pined away, and dispersed, as shepe hauyng no shepe herde. And CHRISTE sayde vnto his disciples. The haruest is great, but the laborers are few. Wherfore [Page] praye the LORDE of the harueste to send forth labourers into his haruest. Now louyngly wyll the LORDE haue pytye vpon vs, seynge he calleth vs so swetelye to hys godlye worde, that we abyde not in damnacyon. 2. Tes. 3 Paul sayeth: Brethren, praye for vs, that the worde of God maye haue fre passage, and be glorified as it is with you, and that we maye be delyuered from vnreasonable, and euell men. Thys graunte vs y• heauenlye father, thorow IESVS CHRISTE his sonne.

Amen.

¶ Here endeth the treatyse of fayth and hope.

Here foloweth the treatyse of loue and charite.

[Page]

¶ Of the loue that God hath towarde vs, howe stronglye loue worketh in vs, and howe hurtefull the worldlye loue is.

PEace and mercye from God the father thorow IESV CHRIST. Ye entyerlye beloued, ye that hūger to come to ye knowlege of ye loue yt God hath to vs ward ye must turne youre selues humblye to the blessed LORDE, desyrynge hym to make youre hartes wyllinge to receaue his worde ioyfully, and to knowlege that loue in the spirite by fayth, the whiche the LORDE shewed vs so frendlye thorow his worde. Hys loue is not knowen, but onely thorowe hys worde, the which onely geueth vs true wytnesse that God loueth vs. So farre stretcheth oure knowlege of hys loue, as we haue gotten it oute of hys wordes by [Page] fayth. The LORDE sheweth vs suffycyentlye in hys wordes that he loueth vs.

As God is trewe and faythful in hys promises, so maye we lyghtelye gette perceueraunce of hys loue by hys own wordes. Yee euen that god hath promysed, that he loueth vs, were ynoughe to reioyce in, yf we coulde beleue dewly, and not to seke about for ony other louers. It shuld be ynough for vs that God loueth vs, and we shuld reioice in his loue: For hys loue is onely trewe, bounteous, holye and good. That the worlde, and al men do loue me, that doth not auayll me, nother doth it comfort, nor saue me: but that God doth loue me, yt is a cōfort vnto my sinful soul. For god geueth saluaciō holynesse, righteousnesse, & redēptiō thorow his loue. The world with al hyr louelynesse, geueth nought saue dānacion, hell, synne, & death. Therfore can ye soule finde nother rest nor [Page] peace therin. For the soule maye be comforted in hyr owne nature, and strengthe with God onely, and with his loue. Nowe whan man heareth this, and perceaueth it, than muste his harte leap vp for ioye towarde God, whiche loueth him. Thus becommeth be equall, and lyke vnto God, so y• he is so mynded in loue to Godwarde, as God agayne is mynded to him, sayenge with chearefulnesse: Is it not a greate thinge, that such a LORD loueth me, that draweth all men to him: and that because I shulde be partaker of all the good that of hys loue he hath promysed to geue vnto all them, that knowlege hym by hys loue. He that is sure of thys loue, sayeth boldelye: Who can now daunger me? Who cā condemne me? For God so loueth me y• he will saue me. Now do I feare no ther death nor hell: For God that loueth me hath ouercome death, hell, and synne for me. Let aryse nowe agaynste [Page] me castels, stronge holdes, yee the gates of hell, and though I were i y• middes of death, yet shal not they hurte me. For God, that hath al powers in his hande, doth loue me. Them that God hath electe, & chosen, Roma. [...]. them hath he called: and whome he hath called, thē hath he also made righteous, and whom he hath made righteous, them hath he glorified also. What shall we say than vnto these thinges? yf God be on oure syde, who can we be agaynst vs? whiche spared not his owne sonne, but hath geuen hym for vs all: howe shal not he geue vs all thynges also wyth hym? Who wyll laye ony thynge to the charge of Gods chosen? It is God that maketh ryghteous, who wyll then condemne?

For as muche than as the chylderen Hebre. 1. haue fleshe & bloude, he also hymselfe lykewise toke parte with them: that he thorowe death, myghte take awaye the power of hym, which had [Page] lordshyppe ouer death that is to say the deuyll: and that he myghte delyuer them, whiche thorowe feare of death were al theyr lyfe tyme in daū ger of bondage. For he in no place taketh on hym the angels, but y• sede of Abrahā taketh he on hym. Wherfore in all thynges it became hym to he made lyke to his brethren, that he myght be mercyfull, and an Hyghe Preste in thynges concerninge god, to make agrement for the synnes of the people. For us that he hymselfe suffered, and was tempted, he is able to, succurre them that are tempted. Who coulde now be comfortlesse, yf he were perswaded in hys mynd hereof? Who could not reioice in spret hauynge founde suche a redemer? Who sawe euer such a loue? Herein 1. Iohā. 4. is loue, not that we loued god, but ye he loued vs, & sente his son to make agrement for oure sinnes. The loue Roma. 5. of God is shed a brode in our hartes by the holy goost, which is geuen vn [Page] to vs. For whan we were yet weake according to the tyme, CHRIST dyed for vs vngodly. Whan we were yet enmyes, CHRIST recōcyled vs vnto Roma. 4. the father, which was geuē for oure synnes, and raysed vp for oure ryghteousnesse sake.

Oboūteful LORD, how dyd loue driue you to vs ward, what tyme ye dyd loke so louingly vpō vs wt your fatherly pitie? For, because ye might shew your moost excellent loue yt ye beare toward vs, therfor dyd ye yeld your selues vnto ye bitter death: yt we might knowlege al our saluacion, & redēptiō in you only, & reioycei you. Oh who cā fele ye bottō of your loue, what tym as we se, & perceaue what inestimable price ye gaue for our redēciō? wt your faithful & trew worde haue ye assured vs of youre loue: wt your precious bloude haue ye scaled it: wt your death haue ye cōfirmed it: & bequiethed & left vs the testament of loue, to the forgeuenesse of synnes [Page] O howe glorious are we estymed in roure syghte father? euen as electe and chosen chylderen, had in greate reputacyon of you thorowe loue.

Lo, what loue the father hath shewed vs, that we shulde be called the 1. Iohan. 3 chylderen of God, and also be the same. We are nowe the childeren of God, and yet hath it not appeared what we shall be. But we know that whan he shall appeare, we shall be lyke him: for we shal se hu [...] as he is.

O wonderful loue? Who coulde Nota. comprehende and vnderstande, that the naturall man, (which was so pytyfully destroyed thorowe Adams synne, and comme in the deuils power) shulde so be lykened vnto God, and to haue optayned suche fellowshyppe and communiō with hys inestimable goodnesse. By nature we were chylderen of the wrath of God, and coulde not ryse agayne by oureselues. But God not wyllynge to be wroth foreuer vpō his handy worke [Page] hath called to remembraūce his naturall loue and pytie: and thought how that he hadde created vs after his lykenesse, after he had once poured hym selfe in vs thorowe his tender loue. Thus was he myndefull of vs thorow hymselfe, & dyd shewe mercy: his loue steared hym to it, & our fraylnesse hath he taken to his mercy. For he sawe we were fleshe & faydynge heye, not beynge able to stande, without ye assystaunce of his goodnesse. He was also myndful of that which he promysed vnto man, hearynge the depe desyres, and the humble syghinge of the ryghteous: which longynge for his cōmynge, did cal for him, yt he shuld she we his loue to the strayeng and lost nature. Wherfore the father hath opened his fatherly harte, sendynge vs his worde, his only sōne: that he myght be for vs y• onely mediatour, speche man and swager of Gods wrath, which shulde ouercome death, hell, [Page] synne and the deuell, whiche shulde accomplyshe for vs the worke of saluacyon thorowe his death, whose fleshe and bloude shulde call for mercy for vs vnto ye father. Who shuld not now knowlege his glorious state, where vnto the LORDE hath called vse. Who can now fele and perceaue this loue, and not reioyce inwardly? For he hath geuē euery one power to be the chyldrē of God, that Ioh. 1. beleue in his name. Who can come to hygher estate, thē to be electe chyldren of hym, that onely hath power to exalte his frendes?

When CHRIST had called his beloued disciples to his loue, thē cō forted he them alwaye in theyr passions, saynge: I am amonge you as a mynister. As for you, ye at they that Luce. 22. haue bydden with me in my temptacyons. And I wyl apppoynt ye kyng dome vnto you, euen as my father hath appoynted me, that ye may eat and drynke at my table in my kyng [Page] doine, and syt vpon seates, & iudge the twelfe trybes of Israell. No mā hath Ioh. 15. greater loue, thē to set his lyfe for his frend. Ye are my frēdes, yfye do ye I cōmaūde you. I call you not seruauntes: for a seruaunt knoweth not what his lord doth. But I haue sayd that ye are frendes. For al that I haue herde of my father, haue I shewed vnto you. Ye haue not chose me, but I haue chosen you, and ordyned yt ye go & brynge forth frute, & that youre frute continue: yt whatso euer ye aske ye father in my name, he shulde geue it you. Unto you it is geuen to knowe ye mistery of ye kingdom Math. 1 [...] of heauē, but vnto thē it is not geuen. With these aforesayd sayenges are we greatly cōforted, in yt we se how much the LORD wyl do vnto them ye he loueth. Now cōmune maketh he hym selfe with all his kingdome? wyllynge vs all to haue his loue, and ye we all shulde knowlege all our saluaciō to come of his loue, [Page] the which he declareth so plenteously vnto vs. Therfore sayeth Paul: The LORDE hath chosen vs by hym [...]yhe. 1 (that is CHRIST) or euer the foundacyon of the worlde was layed, that we shuld be holy and without blame before him in loue: and ordeyned vs before to receaue vs as ehyldrē thorow IESVS CHRIST, accordyng to ye pleasure of his wyll vnto the prayse of the glory of his grace, wherby he hath made vs accepted in the beloued: in whom we haue redempcyon thorow his bloude (namely) the forgeuenesse of synnes, accordynge to ye ryches of his grace, which he hath shedde vpon vs abundauntly in all wysedome and prudence. The fatherly hart was so moued with loue to vs warde, that all his thoughtes were employed how he myght shew mercy vnto his poore shepe. Thoughe ye ryghteousnesse of God myght tustly haue condemned vs: for Adā and we haue both transgressed hys [Page] commaundement in one fleshe. And though the LORD myght haue kept vs styl in deaths daunger: yet hath his loue and pytie so moued hym, yt he dyd ioyne his mercy with iustice, and peace with trueth, so that these beynge assēbled, dyd call vpon loue desyrynge that God wolde declare his loue. This dyd Dauid knowlege in sprete and sayd: I wyll herkē Psal. 84 what the LORDE God wyll saye, for he shall speake peace vnto his people, & to his sayntes, that they turne not them selues vnto foolyshnesse. For his saluacyon is nye them that feare hym, so that glorye shall dwel in our lande. Mercy and trueth are met together, righteousnesse & peace kysse eche other. Trueth shall ryse out of the earth, and ryghteousnesse shall loke downe from heauen. And why? the LORDE shall shewe louyng kyndnesse, and our lande shall geue hir encrease. Righteousnesse shal go before hym, and prepare the waye [Page] for his cōmynge. And agayne: The Psa. 144. LORDE is gracyous and mercyfull, longe sufferynge and of great goodnesse. The LORDE is louynge vnto euery man, and his mercy is ouer al his workes. Turne agayne then to Psal. 114. thy rest (o my soule) for the LORDE hath geuē the thy desyre. And why? Thou hast deliuered my soule from death, myn eyes frō tears, & my fete frō fallynge. Hereby is it euident yt yf we desyre ony inwarde goodnesse wheron our synful soule myght test thē shall we loke stedfastly vpō this loue, & alwaye cōsider what CHRIST hath geuē vs thorow his loue. whā we haue ye knowlege of his loue in vs, then haue we fyrst a cause to reioyce. For only in his loue may we knowlege our saluacyon. Therfore sayth Paul: We haue not receaued Rom. 1. y• sprete of bōdage to fear ony more, but we haue receaued y• sprete of adopcyō, wherby we crye, Abba, dear father The same spret certifieth our [Page] sprete, yt we are y• chyldren of God. Peter also cōfirmeth this, sayenge: 2. Pet. [...] For so muche as his Godly power hath geuē vs al thynges yt pertaine vnto lyfe & Godlynes, thorowe the knwlege of hym yt hath called vs by his owne glory & power, wherby the excellēt & moost great promyses are geuē vnto vs: namely, yt ye by ye same shuld be partakers of ye godly nature, yf ye flye ye corrupte lust of the worlde. He now that doth reioyce in this loue, and can perceaue what is geuen hym by the same, he (I saye) coulde lightely withdrawe hymselfe from all, that is no trewe loue, and suffre not hym selfe to be deceaued with false loue. For God hath made vs so lyke vnto his godly nature thorowe loue, he hath yelded hymselfe so louyngly vnto ye nature of mā: he hath drawē it so frendly to him ward, making of it a chosē tēple clensed by his bloude, that his sprete myght rest in it wt al his goodnesse: [Page] and that man myght vse God as a frende.

Now whan we perceaue ye loue of God onely to be perfect, holy and good, wherby redempcyon and saluacyon is geuen vs: then of dewtye ought such loue only to be our ioye, glory and comforte. For God which Ephe. 2 is ryche in mercy, thorow his great loue, wherwith he loued vs, euen whan we were dead in synnes, hath quyckned vs with CHRIST. And for cause of this, nother lawe nor synne lyue in vs, but CHRIST, which hath powred hym selfe in vs thorow his worde: so that God is in vs, and we in God. The lawe doth not now cō pell vs ony more, but it is God that hath so moued oure hartes thorowe his loue, that we by the helpe and assistaunce of his sprete shall do all yt is acceptable vnto hym. This inwarde mocyon of our harte cōmeth by fayth: For whan we know verely that God loueth vs, then doth i [...] [Page] worke in vs, causyng vs to fixe our mynde on nothynge, saue howe we maye reioyce in hym that doth loue vs. It is sure a greate grace geuen vs of God, yt we knowlege his loue towarde vs, felynge in oure entrayles by fayth peace, glorye, reste, and ioye: wherby only we perceaue that thorowe hys loue all mercye and for geuenesse is happened vnto vs.

This wytnesseth Paull saieng. But after that the kindnesse, and loue of Titum 3. God oure saueoure towarde man appeared, not for the dedes of ryghteousnesse which we wroughte, but after hys mercye he saued vs by the fountayne of the newe byrth, and renewynge of the holy goost, which he shed on vs abundauntly, thorow IESVS CHRIST oure saueoure, that we beynge made ryghteous by hys grace, shulde be heyres of eternall lyfe, accordynge to hope. Therfore hath god declared his loue vnto vs, that he onely shulde haue the glorie [Page] of our saluaciō by fayth, wherby we are assured, yt of oure selues we haue nought: but ye al is geuen vs frely of his fatherly loue and goodnesse. By sayth only are we assured of gods loue, & ye we may walke confidently in this loue. Therfore sayde CHRIST: God so loued ye worlde, that he gaue Ioh. 3. his only sonne, that whosoeuer beleueth in hym, shulde not peryshe, but haue euerlastynge lyfe.

The ioy & cōforte of our cōscience shal endure so longe, as his loue is had in price & worthynesse of vs: but yf it begyn once to fayde and waxe coulde, so yt we can nother fele reste, nor ioye in his loue, thā do we drede god as a tyraūt or a strayght iudge, not trustyng to optayn mercy of his loue & goodnesse, nor ye we be made worthy of hys loue, & goodnesse by his bitter passion & death. This is ye moost blashhemie & wrong ye can be done vnto God. Where such knowlege of god is, there do men beginne [Page] to seke health & cōforte in creatures, in mās inuēciōs, in straūg holynesse & in ye workmāship of ye craftisman. Thus waxeth mā could & straūg frō god, hauing nother faith of god, nor sauoure of godlynesse, the which not withstōding did loue vs for his own sake. Euē as our opiniō is of him, so shal he please vs, as CHRIST sayeth: This is ye lyfe euerlasting, that they Ioh. 17 know ye (ye thou art only ye true God) & whō thou hast sent IESVS CHRIST. This loue doth ye boke of wysdō cō mende vnto vs, estyminge it to be a precious treasure ye we be come to ye knowlege of ye same, saiēg: But thou Sap [...]. 15. (o our god) art swete, long suffering and true, and in mercy ordreste thou all thinges. Though we syn, yet are we thyne, for we know thy strength. Yf we synne not, shan are we sure that thou regardest vs. For to know the, is perfecte ryghteousnesse: Yee to knowe thy ryghteousnesse, and power, is the rote of immortalyte. [Page] By thys knowlege is God hyhglye praised and thanked of his loue. Yee he hath caused to geue testimony of his loue thorow out all scriptures, y• we shulde be certifyed of it, and to runne confidentlye to hym thorowe the same. By Ieremye the prophete Iere. 31, he sayeth: I loue the with an euerlastynge loue, therfore do I sprede my mercy before the. I wyll repayre the agayn, that thou mayest be fast and sure. Now whan mā doth perceaue (by reason of many places of scrypture) ye Nota. God doth loue vs, thā ought he to lyft vp hys eyen towarde heauen vnto hym, that onely can lyghten oure eyen, and that can geue vnderstandynge of all that, whiche he teacheth by hys worde. Wolde God we dyd receaue hys worde by faythe in the spirite, that we myghte fele, and beleue his loue therin, and how we maye optayne mercy, grace, and saluacyon by the same: than shulde oure synfull soule be comforted in al [Page] the goodnesse, the which the LORDE hath promised and declared vnto vs so louyngly by hys worde. O LORD I can perceaue nother the, nor thy goodnesse, saue onely by thy worde, wherebye thou saydest that thou louest me. Poure therfore a clean hart wythin me, and I shall be conforted in all thynges, whereby thou declareste thy loue. My soule is restlesse, vntyll I can rest in the. Encrease my fayth (for it is thy gyfte) and I shall haue perceueraunce of the. My soul shall be cōforted in thy loue, for thou arte my saueoure, my glorye, my reioycynge and ioye.

Whan the LORDE doth heare the hongrie soule syghing after this maner, lōging and hoping for hym, than doth he turne hymselfe spedely and meteth man, comforting him wt himself sayenge: Come to y• waters all ye that be thyrstye, and ye yt haue Esaye. 55. no monye, come, bye, yt ye may haue to eate. Come bye wyne and mylke, [Page] wythout ony mony or mony worth. Come to me all ye that laboure, and Math. 11. are laden, and I wil ease you, & learn of me: For I am meke and lowlye of hart, & ye shal find rest vnto your soules. It is al touching mercy & forgenesse wher wt god doth cal his shepe.

Hereby is it euident vnto man, ye gods loue is vnto hym a sure fundament a strong hold, a rock & an hard ground, wherevpon he may buylderightwel. Wherfore he bringeth his ship to his hauen, he casteth out hys anker vpō this sure groūd, tyeng al his diseases and grifes at this stony rocke, he escapeth thorow god onely all the wawes and peryls of the see, euen as God dyd promyse by Esaye the prophete, sayenge: Whan thou Esaye. 45. wentest in the water, I was with the that the stronge floudes shulde not plucke the awaye. Whan thou walkest in the fyre, it shal not burne the, and the flamme shal not kyndle vpō the: for I am the LORD thy God, y• [Page] holyone of Israell, thy saueour. And Salomon also sayeth: The name of Pro. 1 [...]. the LORDE is a stronge castell, the righteous flyeth vnto it, and shal be saued. He that loketh stedfastly vpō the LORD, shall not be broughte to cōfusyon: for the loue that he knowlegeth in God shal cause him to walke confidently and assuredly. And wt such a faythfully harte is God well apayed, ye hongereth alway to come vnto farther knowlege of his wyll. Such hartes shal yt LORD cal vnto hym, shewynge them his loue, sayeng: Sonne be of good cheare and comforte, all that is in my is for the. Yf thou haue sinned, yf thou haue offended me, remēbre ye I loue ye, truste vnto my loue, I haue payed thy det, I haue geuē myself ouer vnto death for thy sake, ye thou shuldest knowlege thy saluacion to be of my loue.

Whan man doth begyn to perceaue this, thā fideth he cōfort & rest, & doth vnderstood how strong ye loue was, [Page] the which dyd subdue death. Thys loue hath God to oure behofe, that in oure nede we maye runne to hys loue, and admonysh hym of y• same. And seynge God is loue, therfore cā he not forsake hymself: but wyl geue after the power of hys loue, and all that of his loue he hath promised by hys godlye worde.

This teacheth vs to know CHRISTES death in hys power, glorye, and victory, in whose loue we maye se so clearly our redempcion, and reioyce therin. O wonderfull gyftes, O incōprehensible treasure. How happy is ye man, to whō it is geuē to haue a perceueraūce of thys? Who came euer to hygher saluaciō? Who reioyced euer more, thā he ye fād god (wich loueth vs) euen a father? Fulfeatlye doth Salomon saye: Sett me as a [...]. 8. seale vpon thyne harte, & as a seale vpon thyn arme: for loue is as mighty as the death, & gelousy as the hel. Hyr coales are of fire, & a very flāme of the LORDE: so that many waters [Page] are not able to quenche loue, nother maye the streames drowne it. Yee yf a man wolde geue all the goodes of his house for loue, he shulde counte it nothynge. He that confesseth that IESVS is the sonne of God, in hym 1. Ioh. 14. dwelleth God, and he in God: & we haue knowen and beleued the loue that God hath to vs. God is loue, & he that dwelleth in loue, dwelleth in god, & god in hym. Herin is the loue perfect with vs, that we shuld haue a fre boldnesse in the daye of iudgement. Herby is the synful conscience cōforted, namely yf we can perceaue by fayth, that the LORD wyl receaue the sinner to grace thorow his loue. And agayn, yf we haue made vs vnworthy of his loue, then let vs humble ourselues before ye LORDE, syghynge for our mysoedes, and his loue shall conforte vs agayne. Unto him that loued vs, and clensed vs from synne by his bloude, and hath made vs kynges and prestes, namely, [Page] vnto God and his sonne, be glory & prayse for all his goodnesse. Amen. Hetherto haue we sayde how well God loueth vs, and how—we maye truste in his loue: Now shall we shewe, that as God hath wrought and done great mercy vnto vs, euē so must ye same loue worke in vs also toward God, & our neghboure, wherby loue is vttered what she is. This namely is, whan we rendre prayse, honoure and than kes vnto ye LORDE God which hath made our hart wyllynge in his loue thorow the worde, so that we beleue to receaue hym, & to knowlege his loue therin. The loue of God doth worke so much in vs to our saluacyon, as we can beleue and be persuaded, that God loueth vs, & that we can reioyce in his loue onely, beyng assured, that we can optayne nother mercy nor fauout, saue only thorow his loue: yt whiche he declared so louyngly toward vs in suffring death [Page] Wherby we may be assured, that he doth loue vs without gaynsaynge: & yt he wyll geue vs so muche goodnesse, as he hath promysed by his worde. As we knowlege our saluacyon & redēpcion by his loue, so shal we yelde hym only ye glory of our saluacyon. Seynge he only is a geuer of al goodnes thorow his loue, therfore ought we to glorye & reioyce in hym onely. He yt could vnderstande this duely in sprete by fayth, ye same shuld rest vpō CHRIST in al peaceablenes, knowleging his saluacyō to come by him only, & require mercy & grace of hym onely. For this cause wyll God thus declare his loue to vs, yt we shuld know, how to reioyce namely, yt god loueth vs, & that we know our redēpciō to be by his loue

Wold God euery mā knewe ye power of ye loue yt god hath toward vs Not [...], for then shulde we be euer prayeng, and euer readyng scripture, that we might learne how to knowe God in [Page] his loue by his word, and to reioyce in hym. For nother of God, nor his loue are we assured inwardly, saue onely by the worde, where vnto we geue faith and credence. And as the loue of God is in our harte, and as we knowlege his loue perfectly: so is oure harte agayne steared with loue towarde God, beynge ready & wyllynge to do all that is acceptable vnto hym: that all loue & thankfulnesse myght be recompensed him agayne, which hath heaued and exalted vs so hyghly by hym thorowe great loue: hereby do we know that God hath wrought a wōderful glorious worke in vs. Seynge the ther is no goodnesse in mā, therfore must all his dedes be assured and sealed with fayth, yf they shalbe acceptable vnto god. And in this fayth we shal beleue yt God doth worke in vs both to wyll and to fulfyll. It is God yt hath accomplyshed the worke of saluacyon in vs. What worke of saluacyon [Page] that euer we can deuyse or requyre, that hath CHRIST accōplysshed in vs. Yf we beleue this, & thorowe loue vtter it, then are we iustified & saued, not for the dede or workynge, but because we are ryghteous thorow fayth, thefore be the dedes of loue or charite ryghteous also. For a faythfull man doth alway beholde his owne ryghteousnesse in god, ascrybyng to his goodnes only all honoure: and vnto hym selfe nothynge but synne & confusyon that God onely maye haue the glorye. Paul doth demaunde & saye: What 1. Cor. 4. hast thou that thou hast not receaued? yf thou haste receaued it, why makest thou thē thy boast, as thoughe thou haddest not receaued it? Agayne sayeth Paul: Suche trust haue we thorow CHRIST to God 2. Cor. 3 warde, not that we are sufficient of our selues to thynke ony thynge, as of our selues, but our ablenesse commeth of God. The LORDE also exhorteth [Page] vs by Ieremy saieng: Let not y• wyseman reioyce in his wysedome, Ieremi. 9. nor the stronge man in his strength nor the rych man in his ryches: But who so euer wyl reioyce, let hym reioyce in this: that he vnderstandeth & knoweth me: for I am the LORDE which do mercy, equyte & ryghteousnesse vpon earth. All these places testify that we must loke vpō CHRIST beleuynge that we be saued only by his loue, yf we couet to seke rest and peace in oure conscience. Therfore doth Ieremy agayne speake confortably sayeng: The mercyes of ye LORDE are not clene gone, & his louinge [...]. 3 kyndnesse ceasseth not. His faythfulnesse is great, & reneweth it selfe as the mornynge. The LORDE is my porcyon (sayeth my soule,) therfore wyll I hope in him. O how good is the LORDE vnto thē, that put theyr trust in hym, & to the soule yt seketh after hym. Seyng now that God is alwaye workynge wt his loue, therfore [Page] muste we cōfesse and knowlege all our saluacyon to be onely by the workynge of his loue: & so doynge we geue hym onely the glorye of all the goodnes that is in vs.

This loue shall stear our hartes to fulfyll the LORDES wyll, & cause man not to remayne ydle in yt loue, where vnto ye worde of ye LORD doth exhort him so louyngly. Loue coueteth to come to perfectnes, desyryng alway to be so mynded ī loue to god ward, as god by his loue is minded to vs, hōgeryng alway to be equall wt God in loue. The spret exhorteth vs to end euoure vs thorow loue to please God, euen as he thorowe his loue hath done well by vs. A o [...]e is mery, & cōmeth frō a ioiful hart. For loue causeth a mā to haue a good opinion of God, namely, yt god of his boūteous goodnes hath geuē hi rest & hartes ease, so ye he must reioyce euē frō his whole hart. How cā he be sory, yf whan he loketh vpon God. [Page] he is fully persuaded yt God loueth hym? And this is the t [...]ken wherby he knoweth it: yt is, whā he feleth his harte to be drawen in loue towarde God. For he is sure of a great and in estimable treasur, that he can rest in the loue of God, beleuynge God to be a mercyfull father vnto hym by reason of his tender loue. And sure he is, that God shal geue hym so pleteous goodnesse, as he hath promysed hym by his louynge worde. Yf God fynde loue in man (seynge he hymselfe is loue) then fyndeth he godlynesse in hym, wherfore he loueth hymselfe in man: and as lōge as a man continueth in this loue so longe can not God hate hym, nor seperate hymselfe from mā. For God is knytte and ioyned with man by hymselfe, and can not forsake hymselfe so longe as he perceaueth hymselfe in man.

Now, seynge mā is become godly thorowe loue, yf God the father [Page] wolde of his ryghteousnesse cōdene hym, then must the godlynesse be cō dempned also. Wherfore, because God is the glorye, therfore of necessite must thys damned man lyue wt God in glorye thorowe his loue. By loue haue we felowshippe with god and all that is in hym: lykewyse also hath he felowship with vs, hydynge our synnes with hym selfe, not sufferynge that suche a vessell (wherin he resteth hym selfe thorow loue) be brought to confusyon.

By loue vse we God to our pleasure, with all his gyftes, and al that is in God: for loue wylleth none otherwyse then God wyll. Man hath it not of him selfe, yf he do ony good accordynge to the wyll of God: but seynge he hath the loue of God, the same is constrayned by the sprete of God to do nothyng saue it that pleaseth God, whom he endeuoureth euer to please thorow loue. And as God alwaye delyteth in hym selfe, & [Page] in all that he doeth: euen so wyll he also haue a pleasure in all that, whiche is done in mā thorow loue. God of his loue hath made all thynges good: wherfore all muste be good yt man doth of loue. Loue is pure and cleane, and can seke none other rest or peace, saue onely in hym whiche hymselfe is rest & peace, which hath fylled his harte with ioye so louyngly. Loue is satisfied with God only, sekynge nothynge but God. For he hath soughte God onely thorowe loue, that he myghte enioye hym in trueth.

No man can vse due loue in God, without he be sure fyrst by fayth inwardly how wel God doth loue vs, reioycyng in the same loue, and put tynge all his saluacyō therin. Thus doynge he shall passe by all creatures, estymynge them as donge, coū tynge CHRIST onely his ioye, glorye, & hartes desyre. He now that vttereth ye loue, (for true loue cānot [Page] be ydle) he vttereth it, yt which God the louer of loue wyl haue ye louyng mā to do. Paul sayth: Owe nothing Rom. 13. to ony man, but to loue one another for he ye loueth another, hath fulfylled the lawe. And agayn. The chefe 1. Tim. 1 sūme of ye cōmaundementes is loue of a pure harte, and of a good conscience, & of fayth vnfayned. That is: Yf we desyre ony goodnesse inwardly, we shall praye humbly, that we maye haue loue: for onely loue is a wytnesse that we haue fayth in CHRIST. Loue is a power wherby all oure workes are acceptable vnto God, and sufficiently tryed. Wherfore sayeth Paul: In CHRISTIESV Galat. 5. nother is circumcision ony thynge worth, nor vncircumcysion, but fayth: whiche by loue is myghty in operacyon.

And yt we shuld knowe ye better ye power of loue, & so yeld oure selues to ye same, therfore doth Paul shewe ful featly, what worthy dede of loue [Page] CHRIST hath wrought in vs, (yt we shulde the better knowlege our saluacyon to be optayned by loue, and so folowynge and conterfaytynge CHRISTES loue) sayenge: Therfore doth God set forth his loue towarde Rom. 5. vs, in that CHRIST dyed for vs whā we were yet synners: muche more then shall we be saued from wrath by hym, seynge we are nowe made ryghteous thorow his bloude Yf we now desyre to folow CHRIST & to fulfyl his lawe, cōmaūdemētes & gospell: thē is ther no nearer way thē to folow him in loue. Paul doth exhorte vs to ye same very hartely, sayenge: Be ye folowers therfore of God as deare chyldren, & walke in Ephe. 5. loue, euē as CHRIST loued vs, & gaue hymselfe for vs an offerynge and sacrifice of swete sauour vnto God. The cause now why man is so colde in loue toward God, & so sore deuyded frō the same, so that he hath nother pleasure nor sauour in God is, [Page] because he hath not fully yelded his harte to God, to be taught of hym, ye so he myght knowe how well God doth loue hym. Of this maketh god none preuy saue onely suche as seke hym with all theyr harte, and be alwaye hongerynge to knowe God in his goodnesse.

The vnfayth fulnesse & lytle perceueraunce Nota. that men haue of God, doth cause thē to abyde in synfulnes and to hange vpō creatures. They can not rest duely vpō God, nor his benefites, by reason of theyr small vnderstandynge in godly matters: for ye benefytes of God do not synke in theyr entrayles. Yf man could entre euen to the grounde of the benefites of God, and beholde the wonderfull & glorious workes of God, then shulde he no doute geue sentēce & verdite, that vnto such a god, and suche a LORDE onely is due all prayse, honour, and glory.

Therfore oughte man to yelde [Page] al his wytte, wyl and wysedome to Gods maiesty, estemyng in hymself nothynge saue synne and foly, with out God dyd steare oure hartes inwardlye with his loue: so that we shulde perceaue nor desyre noughte with all our harte and mynde, saue onely CHRIST our louer. With out this wysedome is it al folyshnes that is in man. For without God ther is nothyng to seke nor to fynde wherin man maye reioyce by ony meane. It is God onely that can satisfye mans harte, and brynge hym to loue. Paul was ioyfull in God a ryghte, what tyme he was come to this knowlege, sayenge: For I shewed 1. Corin 2. not forth my selfe amonge you that I knewe ony thinge, saue only IESVS CHRIST, euen ye same yt was crucyfyed. Oh let vs humbly beseke the LORDE, that we maye knowe hym by his loue, and reioyce ouer all the good ye he hath wetesafe so louynglye to declare vnto vs by [Page] his worde. For as we knowe God by his worde in his loue, so shal our harte agayne be kyndled in loue towarde God, and shall not passe this bande. For fayth consysteth in this, namely, that we can beleue all mercy, saluacyon, and health to come frely by only loue: and yt we agayne vtter the same fayth thorow loue in the syght of all men. To this exhorteth vs CHRIST, sayenge: Let your lyght so shyne before men, Math. 5 that they maye se youre good workes, and gloryfy your father which is in heauē. s. Peter also exorteth vs 1. Pe [...]t i. [...]. to lede an holy lyfe amōg ye heythē.

Loue doth declare herselfe by fayth, workyng wonderously, to the ryghteousnesse and saluacyon of all such men, as knowlege God in his loue, ready alwaye to rendre hym loue and thankes agayne. Paul what tyme he hadde a tayste of this loue, and felte the power of the same, he gaue vnto thys holye loue [Page] the glorye of all the good that is acceptable before God in mā, saynge: Thoughe I spake with tunges of 1. Cor. 13. men and angels, and yet had not loue, I were euen as soundyngebrasse, or as a tynklyng cimbal. And though I bestowed al my goodes tofede the poore, & though I gaue my body euē that I burned, & yet haue not loue, it profyteth me nothynge. Loue is pacyent and curteous, loue enuyeth not, loue doth not frowardly, is not pufte vp, dealeth not dishonestly, seketh not hyr own, is not prouoked vnto anger, thynketh not euell, reioyceth not ouer iniquite, but reioyceth ouer the trueth, beareth al thynges, beleueth all thynges, hopeth all thynges, suffereth all thynges. Thus much suffyseth to be spoken of the loue that God hath towarde vs, & how man is ioyned vnto God by loue. For true loue muste worke by fayth in such as god hath elect & chose therto, & it causeth man [Page] to optayne al thynges lawful, wherfore we shall treate farther wherein we oughte to declare, and vtter oure loue agayne.

Seynge that we haue here sufficientlye shewed that god loueth vs, and that the same loue worketh alwaye; therfore shall man examyne hymselfe, and searche hys entrayles whether he be come to a true loue by faythe. Faythe muste declare it selfe thorowe loue and mortyfycacyon of the fleshe. S. Ihon exhorteth vs earnestlye to a renewynge of our sin ful lyfe, after that we haue receaued the worde of the LORDE with ioye, beinge assured by faith that we may optayne mercye thorowe IESV CHRISTE, sayeng: God is light, and in hym is no darknesse at all. Yf 1. Iohan. 1. we saye that we haue felowshyppe wyth hym, and yet walke in darknesse, we lye, and do not the treuthe. But yf we walke in lyghte, euen as he is lyghte, than haue we felowshyppe [Page] together, and the bloude of IESVS CHRIST hys sonne clenseth vs from all synne. CHRIST also sayeth: I am the lyghte of the Iohan. 8. worlde, he that foloweth me shal not walke in darknesse, but shall haue the lyghte of lyfe. And agayne: The Iohan. 12. lyght is a lytle whyle with you, walke whyle ye haue the lyghte, that the darknesse fall not vpon you. He that walketh I darknesse woteth not whether he goeth, Beleue ye on the light whyle ye haue it, that ye maye be the chylderen of lyghte. It foloweth: I am come a lyghte in to the worlde, ye whosoeuer beleueth on me shulde not abyde in darknesse. By all these aforesayde sayenges are we taught, that God hath geuen hymselfe alyghte in oure hartes, yf we haue learned to knowe hym in hys loue by hys worde. The worde is y• lyght and foode of the soule, whereby the loue of God is clearlye set forth vnto vs. That we therfore be founde, [Page] trutefull and thankefull before the LORDE, it is hys wyll to leade, yee to dryue vs wyth hys lyghte to lyghten vs, and to teache vs al that, whereby oure synfull soule maye be conforted, and reioyce in God oure louer. Whan Dauid knewe thys lyghte, he was gladde thereof, and sange: Howe precious is thy mercye (O God) that the chylderen of men Psal. 35. maye put theyr truste vnder the shadowe of thy wynges? They shall be satysfyed wyth the plenteousnesse of thy house, and thou shalte geue them drinke of the ryuer of thy pleasures. For by the is the well of lyfe, and in thy lyghte shall we selygthe.

Whan we haue nowe receaued CHRISTE so rychelye, and ioyfully by hys worde, than shall also the Godly worde onely be our light, guyde, and mayster, so that we shall herken diligentlye what God hath commaunded, admonyshed, and [Page] taughte vs in hys worde. Noman feleth inwarde ioye, or comforte of the Gospell, wythout he be sure that it hath wroughte euidentlye in hym the mortyfycacyon, and subduynge of hys owne synfulnesse, and ye loue towarde hys neghboure. Whan it hath wroughte thus in man, than perceaueth he fyrste the incomparable loue and fauoure the which god doth declare by hys worde. Moreouer, whan he hath tryed the same wt the renewynge of hys lyfe, than is he sure that God hath wroughte a passynge greate worke of mercye in hym. Thys knewe Dauid whan he sayde: I wyll herken what the LORDE Psal. 14. God wyl saye, for he shal speake peace vnto hys people.

Now is it euidente, and playne that God doth sende his worde, and lyghte in oure hartes, that we thorowe the lyghte in hys worde shuld knowlege all oure saluacyon, and redempcyon, reioycynge in hym only. [Page] Yf man do not yet fyxe hys syghte only vpon God, and hys loue, but seketh comforte ether of mens inuencyons, or ony creatures, not reioycynge in God onely: than is it to be doubted, lest such one be not foūded a ryghte on God onely. Paull sayeth: But we wayte in the spirite of E [...]l [...]. 5. hope to be made righteous by faith. The faythfull lyueth alway in ioye. Aba [...]. 2. for the iuste lyueth by fayth. Scripture Roma [...]. Heb. 10. wytnesseth euery where, yt God doth call vs, and sayeth: I am, I only am he that putte awaye synne, wythoute Esaye. 43 me ther is no saueoure. In y• tyme of trouble, and in the strayghtnesse of synfulnesse, than doth god be holde vs mooste of all, yf so be we seke hym wyth oure whole hartes. The soule can reioyce in nothynge yt is wythout God. Therfore seynge God loueth vs, he exhorteth vs to putte oure confidence in hym onely, sayenge. Yf ye fyxe youre syght vpō an other, than shall ye remayne confortlesse, [Page] and ye shall serue straunge goddes daye, and nyghte, that wyll shewe you lyttell fauoure. But my Esaye. 32. people shall dwell in the ynnes of peace, & in my tabernacle, and pleasure, where ther is ynoughe in them all. For thys cause shall man trye hymselfe whether he be mortifyed in hys owne synfulnesse, and carnal desyres. For Paull sayeth. They that are CHRISTES, haue crucifyed theyr Gala. 5. fleshe with the lustes and desires. He shall also searche howe he oughte to behaue hymself in loue toward god, doynge it that he is sure to be acceptable vnto God, that the father may be glorifyed thereby: the whiche wyl worke wonderously thorow his loue in all them, in whome he hath powred hys worde so louynglye. Of this maye the auncyent father Symeon be an ensample, the whiche seynge Luce. 2. the lytle babe reioiced in sprete. The two disciples also herde CHRIST, and they learned to know him with Luce. 24. [Page] ioyfull and mery hartes.

Now shal we procede and shewe that al oure thoughtes, wytte, & wyl shall be enployed, howe we maye agayne tendre ye LORD al seruice, loue & thankfulnesse, after that we know what vnoutspeakeable loue, & mercy is shewed vs by him. It were vndoutedlye a greate losse yf god shuld loue vs for naught: yf his loue shuld not worke in vs, nor bryng forth the frutes of y• same: or yf it shulde haue wrought no saluaciō in vs, whereto god hath alwaye geuen it: For than shuld god be ydle in vs wt his loue, wt his holy word, wt his goodnesse, yee wt al his precious giftes: Thā (I say) shulde not god haue ony glorye, nor praise in vs for al ye benefites, which we do possesse by his boūteous goodnesse. By ye frutes may it be euident what a great act god hath wrought in a faithfull harte. Therfore sayde CHRIST: I am come to kindle a fyre vpō earth, & what wold I rather thā Luce. 12. [Page] that it were kyndled alreadye? Is Iete. 23. not my worde fyre (sayeth the LORDE,) and lyke an hammer that breaketh the harde stone? It is sure a cō sumynge fyre bryngyng to naughte the iustes of ye fleshe, and kyndlynge man to charitable dedes. Thus muste it be workynge, and maye not come agayn voyde, as sayeth Esay.

As for the frutes of the spirite, yt Esaye. 55. be wroughte by fayth in loue, those maye we fele in oure selues. Fyrste, Yf we do reste vpon CHRISTE IESV onely, reioycynge in hym onely, trustyng to hys goodnesse onely, the which he hath promised by his word Secondarly may we know thē by ye mortifycacion of the fleshe wyth hys desyres, namely. Yf we haue conquered oure selues by the loue of God, and lyue nowe in all mekenesse, and clenlynesse of harte. Thyrdlye, yf we be kyndled by the aforesayde loue wt mercye, and kyndnesse to warde oure nedy neghbour. To the which Pau [Page] doth exhorte vs, sayenge: Now therfore as the electe of God, holye, and [...]ollos. 3. Ephe 4. beloued, put on tender mercye, kyndnesse, humblenesse of mynde, mekenesse, longe sufferynge, forbearinge one another, and forgeuynge oue another, yf ony man haue a quarell agaynst another. Lyke as CHRIST hath forgeuē you, euen so do ye also. But aboue all thynges put on loue whiche is the bonde of perfectnesse. And the peace of God rule in youre hartes, to the whiche ye are called in one body: & se yt ye be thākful. Loue 1 Petri. 4. couereth the multitude of synnes.

Hereby haue we perceaued loue, yt he gaue hys lyfe for vs: and therefore Iohan. 3. oughte we also to geue oure lyues for the brethren. But he that hath thys worldes goode, and seyng hys brother haue nede shutteth vp hys harte from hym, howe dwelleth the loue of God in hym? My lytle chylderen, let vs not loue with worde, nother wyth tunge: but wyth the dede, [Page] and with the treuthe. And agayne: Dearlye beloued, let vs loue one another, 1. Iohā. 4. for loue cōmeth of God: and euery one that loueth is born of god and knoweth God. He that loueth not, knoweth not God: for God is loue. We knowe that we are translated 1. Iohā. 3. from death vnto lyfe, because we loue the brethren. He that loueth not hys brother, abydeth in deathe. Whosoeuer hateth hys brother is a manslayer. And ye know that a man slayer hath not eternall life abyding in hym. Iames sayeth that ther shal Iacobi. 2. be iudgemente mercylesse to hym, that sheweth no mercye. CHRISTE Math. 25. in the daye of iudgemente shall verye rouglye requyre of vs y• dedes of charite. Wherfore lyke a true watch man, he doth admonyshe vs of hys loue, that he myghte draw vs to the same, sayenge: Be ye therfore mercyfull, Luce. 16. as youre father also is mercyfull. And agayne: A newe commaundemente geue I you, that ye loue together Iohan. 13. [Page] as I haue loued you, euen so loue ye one another. By thys shall euerye man knowe that ye are my dyscyples, yf ye haue loue one to another.

By all these afore sayed places of scrypture doth the LORDE, admonyshe vs, howe we oughte so be lyke hym in loue. For fayth doth declare herselfe openly by loue. As God is the loue hymselfe, euen so is man lyke vnto God, yf he be louynge. And as God of hys loue hath redymed vs wythout oure helpynge handes, euen so must we vtter the same loue to our neghboures behofe. He therfore that hath no loue to warde his neghbour, how cā he haue ony goodnesse in him, wherby he might be acceptable vnto god, or wherin he may be equal wt god by loue? He yt fulfylleth not it yt god hath commaunded howe shall he optayne it of god, that which god hath promised? It is loue ye causeth mā, & al yt he doth to to be acceptable [Page] vnto God. Therfore speaketh Iames so muche of workes.

Fayth muste declare it selfe by dedes of charite, not that the workes are an occasyon of oure ryghteousnesse: for than shulde God be depryued of hys glorye, the which maketh vs ryghteous in the fayth thorowe CHRISTE, leste we shulde boaste oure selues, but rather make oure boaste of CHRISTE IESV, which maketh ye synner ryghteous by faith workinge loue in man. Of thys treateth Paull very muche. Whan workes come from a beleuynge harte, than are they acceptable vnto God thorowe fayth: the whiche a mā doth vtter by the workes of loue. God loked Gene. 4. fyrst vpon Abel, and than vpon hys gyftes. For thys cause sayeth Iames: What auayleth it my brethren, Iacob. 2. thoughe a man saye he hathe fayth, whan he hath no dedes? For sayth yf it haue no dedes, is dead in it self, Abraham is made ryghteous [Page] thorowe workes (that is) the workes were coūted ryghteous by faith, and gaue testymonye that he hadde fayth, what tyme he wolde haue offered hys sonne Isaac. Therfore sayth scrypture. Abraham beleued God, Gene. 15. Roma. 4. Galat. 3. Iacobi. 2. and it was counted hym for ryghteousnesse. For thys cause shall man searche, and examine hymselfe, whether he hath declared hys faythe by dedes Nota. of charite, or not: lest he deceaue hymselfe, thynkyng to haue faith and loue whan he can talke and vtter many wordes of the same. Who so therfore fyndeth himselfe without loue, beynge yet fleshlye mynded, grauntynge the fleshe hys requeste, he (I saye) is not yet come to ye true faith. Yf we now be come to the true loue, than are we caried by death vnto lyfe, and can reioyce duely in hym 2 Tessa. 1. that loueth vs. For this cause sayde Paule: We praye alwayes for you, that oure God make you worthy of the callynge, and fulfyll all delectacyon [Page] of goodnesse, and the worke of fayth in power, that the name of our LORDE IESVS CHRISTE maye be praysed in you, and ye in hym, accordynge to the grace of oure God, & of the LORDE IESVS CHRISTE

I beseke the LORDE entierlye (which is onely the geuer of al goodnesse), that he wyll so lyghten and steare our hartes inwardly, that we maye reioyce a ryghte in hys loue, & rendre hym agayn thākes & prayse with a feruēt loue: though oure synfull soules be not worthye of suche loue. But thys agayne is oure comforte, namelye, that the father hathe geuen vs CHRISTE, the whiche hath geuen hymselfe ouer vnto the bitter death to declare hys excellent loue vnto vs, that we myghte knowlege our saluaciō in his loue by faith accomplyshynge hys wyll, and pleasure. Unto hym that of his loue hath called vs so gentelye by hys worde vnto all mercye, vnto hym (I say) be [Page] thankes, prayse, honoure, and glorye, both by vs, and by all other creatures nowe and for euer.

Amen.

¶ Hereafter shall we treate howe hurtefull the loue of the worlde is, and howe we maye despyse it.

SEynge that we haue spoken so largely of the loue ye God hath towarde vs, and howe stronglye the same loue worketh in vs, we shall therfore now treate how daungerous worldlye loue is: that is, that ether the worlde loueth vs, or that we loue it.

Whan man doth consydre the worlde, and all that is therin, than findeth he nought for hys soule to cō forte, to rest, or to satisfye herselfe in. He that doth beholde the world duely, maye se that it is hurtefull, & faydyng, with all that belongeth thereto: Yee al such as wil ether seke, folowe, loue, serue or please ye world must stayne & ioyne thē selues wt the same. It is al vanyte & vexacion of mynde Eccls. 1. [Page] that is vnder the skye. What ioye or glorye shulde man fele inwardlye, whan he consydereth that he serueth such a lord as bryngeth nought saue damnacion, hel and sinne with him. As the soule is noble, and heauenly, euen so can she fynde nothynge amonge these earthlye creatures wherein she myghte vse true glorye, and ioye. And seynge the soule cā refresh herselfe in nothynge that is transytory, therfore must she forsake al creatures, and knowledge God to be glotious in all that he hath declared, and wroughte in hys creatures: for he is wonderfull in hys power, wysedome, and goodnesse: wherebye al creatures haue receaued theyr bewty, growynge, fashyon and lyfe. The creatures call to vs sayēg: We geue nothinge that may satisfye you, saue onelye the eye syghte: By vs may ye perceaue God to be wonderfull, and glorious in all hys workes. Yf ye re mayne, and abyde wt vs, and go not [Page] vnto God by vs: (For he wyll be knowen in his loue by vs) than shal ye be restlesse surely, seynge we geue nought wheron youre soules maye rest. Yf man coulde consyder this dewly, then shulde he se euidently, yt he was neuer aryght conforted, that sought to fulfyll his lust and pleasure in ony creature. The worlde smyleth and promyseth a mā much: but seynge ther is nothynge stable in it, therfor can not it also geue ony thynge to rest vpon. Thoughe all the worlde dyd loue vs, yet shulde it not be profytable and auaylynge to our saluacyon: but rather a stoppe or lette of the same, makynge man vnworthy of the loue of God. For God doth not poure his loue in that Sap. 1. harte, wherin the worlde with his loue is abydynge. This wytnesseth saint Ihon, warnyng vs, lest we suffre vs to be begyled of the worlde, sayeng: Se that ye loue not y• world 1. Ioh. 1. nother the thynges that are in the [Page] worlde. Yf ony man loue the worlde the loue of the father is not in hym: for all that is in ye worlde (namely ye lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, & the pryde of lyfe) is not of the father, but of the worlde. And the world passeth awaye, and the lust therof: but he that fulfylleth the wyll of God abydeth for euer. Iames confirmeth thys sayenge: Who so euer wyll be Iaco. 4. a frende of the world, is made the enemye of God. This is the profyte that we haue by ye loue of the world, namely, that for the loue of the same we do become enemyes to God. For this cause sayd Paule: Yf I shulde [...]ala. 1. yet please men, I were not the seruaunt of CHRISTE. The apostles also what tyme they were chosen and sundered, they were hated of the worlde. For it coulde not agre to be atone wyth God, and to haue frendshippe wyth the world. Yf ther shal be an atonement wyth ye world, [Page] then muste ther be also a consente to his synfulnes. And bycause that nother CHRIST nor his disciples were of the worlde, nor consented to the lust of the same, therfore doth he admonishe and conforte his disciples at his departynge, sayenge: Yf the Iohan. 15. world hate you, thē knowe ye it hath hated me before you. Yf ye were of the worlde, the world wolde loue his owne. Howbeit because ye are not of the worlde, but I haue chosen you from the worlde, therfore the worlde hateth you. And the prophetes all though they were hated of ye worlde, yet were not they sory for it. For yf they wolde haue procured the loue of the worlde, then shulde not they haue rebuked the synnes of ye world but lyued in synfulnesse with them, and forsakē God, nother shulde they haue reioyced in his spret. The loue of God no doute ouercame the loue of the worlde. This is euident in many patriarches, prophetes and [Page] holy men and wemen, ye which were al slayne for rebukyng of the world, and because they folowed not the lustes of it: as namely Abell, Esay, Ieremy, Helyas, Micheas, Susanna, Daniel with diuers other that haue bene slayne and persecuted of the worlde.

The world therfore is a wycked thynge, for it geueth nought wherin mā myght reioyce by ony meanes, but his rewardes be, synne, hell, and damnacyon: and itselfe is altogether set on wyckednes. The nature 1. Ioh. 5 of man is cōmunely such, that it is chaunged in to it, where his loue is moost set on. But what ioye can a man vse in that thynge that is wycked of itself? The worldly wysedom coulde not brouke CHRIST, nother coulde the worldly holynesse rendre all glorye vnto CHRIST only: Yee because CHRIST dyd rebuke wyckednesse, and fayned holynesse, therfore rose y• worldly men agaynst CHRIST [Page] and haue determined to slaye hym. This one thynge myght of ryght open the eyen of many men. Seynge the loue of ye world was neuer good nor profytable, how myght we then get ony goodnesse by fulfyllyng his lustes? as Paul sayeth: What frute Rom 6. had ye at that tyme in those thinges wherof ye are now ashamed? for the ende of suche thynges is death. O death, how bytter is the remēbraūce Eccl [...] 4, of the to a man, that seketh rest and comforte in his substaunce and ryches: for death is the rewarde of syn. Whan lust hath conceaued, she bringeth Rom. 6. Iacobi. 1. forth synne: and synne whan it is fynyshed, bryngeth forth death.

Whan a man now hath well cō sydered the worlde, and begynneth to perceaue that it is nothynge but vanite and hartes grefe, then beginneth he to withdrawe his hart from it. Wherfore yf he can then praye to God entierly and hartely, he shall se how glorious and nobell he is esty| [Page] med in the syghte of God, namely, that he is a vessel of synne, where as God notwithstandynge hath created hym to be a tabernacle or a temple, wherin he wyl dwel wt his spret, and all his gyftes. Yf he can beleue this with a stedfast fayth, than shall his harte reoyce in God, trustynge to vse suche gyftes more frely with hym. By fayth doth man se where to he is created and called, & what is promysed and geuen hym. And seynge that by fayth he doth loke for a better worlde, then this wretched worlde and vale of mysery is, therfore is not he cōtente with it: for ye world geueth his hart nothing to reioyce in. Whan man hath dont longe and trewe seruyce vnto the worlde, he fyndeth none other rewarde, saue great grefe and heuynesse of harte. For man is made a straunger from God, and colde in loue, whā he goeth about to serue [...] please the worlde. Now whan h [...] [Page] hath once a tayst of this, and is sure that it is so, then doth he wende his harte from the worlde, sayenge: Fare well all transytory creatures, fare it well all that euer deceaued me, fare well with all thy lustes. I wente astraye whan I soughte the, I was begyled whan I tande the, I was blynde whan I set my loue vpon the, I was amased whan I pleased the, I was cōfortlesse whan I occupyed the, I was parted from God whan I serued the, I was in [...]eath whā I lyued with the, I was [...]estelesse whan I behelde the, I was sorye whan thou gauest me [...]oughte, I was not suffised whan [...]hou gauest me muche, I was mysaryed whan thou madest my glad. Oh thy wysedome is folyshnesse be [...]re God, thy glyrye is heye, thy [...]ylynge is deceate, thy bewtye is [...]lthynesse, thy ryches are vnsta [...]e, thy presence is without rest, [...]y rewarde is but death, thy ioye [Page] endeth with sorow. He that fyndeth the leseth hymselfe, and commeth in deaths daunger. He that loued the was neuer dealt faythfully withall. He was not conforted aryghte that sought thy frendshippe. He that busyed hym to please yt was neuer ioyfull. He neuer reioyced aryght that reioyced in the. He neuer happened wel that was seruiable vnto the. He that folowed the dyd neuer happen well. He that knewe the aryght dyd neuer passe greatly vpon thyne amyte or frēdshippe. Thou deceauest al thy louers. Thy loue is vntrusty Thy dealyng is craftynesse. O how happy is he that neuer soughte for the: but happye is he whose hope is in the LORD his God. He that seketh God, cōmeth from death vnto lyfe: But he that loueth the worlde, falleth from lyfe vnto death. CHRIST therfore not wyllynge vs to be damned thorowe the worlde, hath warned vs of the daungers of it, sayeng [Page] What helpeth it a man thoughe he Math. 1 [...]. wanne the whole worlde, and yet suffered harme in his soule? Whan CHRIST dyd cal ony body, thē dyd he drawe hym from the snares and peryls of the world, as namely, Mathew, Zache, Mary the opē synner. CHRIST sayd vnto the yongeman: Math. [...] Luce. 9 Let the dead bury theyr dead. But go thou thy waye and preache the kyngdome of God. And to another that wolde haue folowed hym he sayd: Who so purteth his hande to the plowe, and loketh backe is not mete for the kingdome of God. And agayne whan another that deman̄ ded of hym, what he shulde do to come in to the kyngdome of heauē, he sayd: Yf thou wylt be perfecte, go thy waye and sel that thou hast, and Math. 19. Matti. 10 Luce. 12. geue it vnto the poore, & thou shalte haue a treasure in heauen, and come and folowe me. Whā the yongemā herde that worde, he wente awaye [Page] sory, for he had great possessions. IESVS sayd vnto his discyples: Uerely I saye vnto you, It shall be harde for a ryche mā to entre in to ye kyngdome of heauen. Hereby maye it be euidente that ryches drawe a man somtyme to synnynge, wherfore he can not folowe his LORDE his God, to serue hym humbly. For ryches & worldly loue cause man somtyme to fall to pryde and obstinacy. Yf the Nota. ryche mā coulde vse his ryches well (that is) to dispend them charitably to the behofe of his neyghboure, & in the meane season prouydyng for h [...]s owne necessite, releuinge ye nedy with the rest: then shulde not his ryches be hurtefull vnto hym. Abraham, Isaac. Iacob, Iob, Dauid, & many other holy men and wemen haue had great ryches. But seynge they haue worshipped & serued God & shewed kyndnes vnto theyr neghbures with theyr substaūce: therfore were theyr ryches a furtherauce rather [Page] thē a let vnto theyr saluacyō, accordyng to ye mynde of Tobias ye elder. Nabal though he was rych, and 1. Reg. 25. Dauid hauynge nede, requyrynge only what it pleased hym to geue, wold depart frō nothyng. The rych glutton also wolde shewe no mercy Luce. 16 vnto Lazarus. Because of suche abuse were theyr ryches hurteful vnto thē. Therfore sayd Paul: They yt 1. Tim. 6 wyl be rych fal in to ye rēptacion and snare, & into many folysh & noysome lustes, which drowne mē in destruccyō & dānacyon. For couetousnes is the rote of al euel. Iesus Sirak coū feleth euery man also, sayeng: My Eccler. 11. sōne, medle not wt many maters: Yf thou wylt be rych thou shalte not be without wyckednes. For this cause sayd Paul: Charge them which are rych in this worlde, that they be not 1. Tim. 6 proude, nor trust in ye vncertayne ryches, but in ye lyuynge God (whiche geueth vs abundauntly all rhynges to enioye them:) that they do [Page] good, y• they be rych in good workes that they geue & destribute wt a good yt wyl, gathering vp treasure for thē selues, a good fundacyon, agaynst the tyme to come, that they may lay hande on eternall lyfe. The cause why saynt Paul doth thus exhorte vs, is: For we brought nothynge in 1. [...]. 6 to the worlde, therfore is it a playne case, that we can cary nothyng out. Whan we haue foode and rayment let vs therewith be content. CHRIST lykewyse exhorteth vs not to be so carefull for this short season, nother to set an outragious loue vpon ony creatures, sayenge: Se that ye gather you not treasure vpon earth, Math. 6 where ruste and mothes corrupte, & where theues breake throughe and steale: but gather you treasure together in heauen, where nother ruste nor mothes corrupt, & where theues nother breake vp, nor yet steale.

That man myghte withdrawe his [Page] hart the better from these creatures, he shulde call oftymes to remembraunce how trāsitory and faydyng all it is, that is without God. All yt he beholdeth with his bodyly eyen, geueth his harte nother rest, peace, nor ease, yee it geueth nothyng saue hartes grefe. Man ought also to remember that we haue here no abydynge Hebre. 10 cytie, but we hope and loke for another, the which is better by a thousande partes then all that is in this worlde. Whan dyuerse saintes dyd consyder this, they haue set the worlde at nought, sekinge theyr glorye in CHRIST only: which can satisfye his frendes with the trueth, and make them ryche with hym selfe: so that whan his frendes shal haue plē ty, his enmyes shal suffre great scarcenesse. For ye world geueth nothing wherin ye louer of ye same cā rest and satle his mind. They y• haue opprest the symple, they that haue vsed policyes [Page] and craftes to auaunce them selues in worldly dignities: those shall be brought to confusion at the daye of dome, and shall se that they haue procured nothynge saue hell & synne. For they wold geue no eare vnto the trueth of Gods wordes. At that tyme shall they saye: Tedious wayes haue we gone, but as for the waye of the LORD, we haue not knowen it. What good hath our pryde done vnto vs? Or what profite hath the pompe of ryches brought vs?

All those thynges are passed a waye lyke a shadowe, and as a messaūger rūnynge before. &c. Euery mā ought well to considre this, for the worldly seruice cōmeth to a bytter ende. Herken what scripture sayeth: Yf a man lyue many yeares and be gladde in Eccles 11. them all, let hym remembre yt dayes of darcknesse, whiche shalbe many: and whan they come, all thynges shalbe but vanite. Be glad then (O [Page] thou yonge man) in thy youth, & let thyn hart be mery in thy yōge daies folowe ye wayes of thyne owne hart and ye lust of thyne eyes. but be thou lure, that God shall brynge the in to iudgement for all these thynges.

This is ment of the louers of this worlde. For though it seme to be sō what, truly it is nothyng (yee thoughe man lyued a thousande yeares) in comparison to it that is euerlastynge. Whan we thynke in our selues: where are the myghtye? where are the great mē? where are y• wyse men? whose name and fame hath all the worlde maruayled at. At [...] ende haue they concluded all with death. Salomō perceaued ryghtwell, that for all his wysedome and ryches, he was equall in dyenge vnto all other men: Therfore hath he coūted it al foolyshnesse yt is vnder the skye Esay also sayeth: O my people, they Esay. 3. [Page] that call the happy, do deceaue the. As though he wolde saye: They that prayse you here of oughte that is in you, they deceaue you. For ther is nought in man that is worth prayse, or glory. Be not proude of thy raymente, and exalte not thy selfe in the daye of thyne honoure: for the workes Ecc [...]. 11. of the Hygheste onely are wonderfull: yee glorious, secrete, and vnknowen are his workes. Many tyrauntes haue bene fayn to syt down vpon the earthe, and the vnlykelye hath worne the crown. Many mighty men haue bene brought lowe, and the honorable haue ben delyuered in other mens handes. They that be nowe exalted, shall be brought lowe tomorow. And they that be nowe broughte lowe, shall be exalted tomorowe. It is greate folye that man hath confydence in that thynge that is vnstable and geueth no goodnesse from it selfe. Suche one buyldeth [Page] vpon a sandy grounde, whereby his house must sodenly fall, and perishe. Suche a foolyshe body saieth: Now Ec [...] [...]. [...]. haue I gotten rest, and nowe will I eate and drynke of my goodes myself alone. And yet he cōsydereth not, that the tyme draweth nye that he muste leaue all these thynges vnto other men, and dye hymselfe. CHRIST sayd: Ther was a rych mā Luce. 12. whose feldes had broughte forth trutes plenteouslye, and he thoughte in hymselfe: What shall I do? I haue nothynge wherein to gather my frutes. And he sayde: thys wyll I do: I wyll breake downe my barnes, and buylde greater, and therin wyl I gather all myne encrease and my goodes, and wyll saye vnto my soule: Soule, thou haûe muche goods layed vp in stoare, for many yeares, take now thyne ease, eate, drynke, and be mery. But God sayde vnto hym: Thou [...]oole, thys nyghte shall they [Page] requyre thy soule from the, & whose shall it be that thou haste prepared?

Seyng that the end of the seruyce of this world is so bytter, and that it rewardeth his seruauntes with remorse of conscience, therfore dothe God shewe vs so greate mercye in drawynge vs so louynglye from the loue of the worlde: & that doth he, because we shulde reioyce with hym in the treuth. It is a ioyful thyng to folowe CHRIST: for he maketh hys seruauntes glad with hymselfe. But he that foloweth the worlde, fulfylling the synful desyres of the same: becommeth a seruaunt of synne. And Iohan. 9. Paul sayeth: that the rewarde of syn Roma. 6. is death. Fashion not youre selues (then) lyke vnto thys worlde, but be Roma. 1 [...]. chaunged thorow the renewynge of your mynd, that ye may proue what thynge that good, that acceptable, and perfecte wyl of God is. And this is the wyll of God, euen your sanctifienge, 1. Tessa. 4 [Page] that ye shulde abstayne from whoredome, that euery one of you shulde know how to possesse his vessel in holynesse & honor, & not in the lust of cōcupiscence. And that no man go to farre, nor defraude his brother in bargenyng. For the LORDE is the auenger of all suche thynges, as we haue sayde and testified afore tyme. Nowe as the worlde and the wysedome thereof haue alwaye persued CHRISTE and hys, separatyng thēselues frō god, & fallyng to synnynge, from the leaste vnto the mooste: therfore maye we thynke ryghte wel that we also shal optayne but lyttell goodnesse of it. For thys cause dothe Syrack warne vs sayenge: My sonne, yf thou haste synned, Ecc [...]. 21 do it no more: but praye for thy foresynnes, that they maye be forgeuen the. Flye from synne, euen as from a serpente. For yf thou cōmest▪ to nye hee she wyll byte the. The [Page] teth therof, are as the teth of a lyon, to slaye the soules of men. The wyckednesse of man is as a sharpe twoegged swearde, which maketh suche woundes, that they can not be healed. Iob also speakynge very largly of the welthe of the wycked, sayeth: They spende theyr dayes in welthynesse, but sodenlye they godowne to Iob. 21. hell. They saye vnto God: go from vs, we desyre not the knowlege of thy wayes. &c. Dse lykewyse sayeth: They are gone to Baal Peor, and [...]. 9. runne awaye fro my to the shameful Idoll, and are become as abhominable as theyr louers. For the vngraciousnesse of theyr owne inuencions wyll I dryue them out of my house. Yf we were now enfourmed of ye wickednesse of the worlde, and knewe it well, than shulde we lyghtelye forsake it and seke CHRIST, whose loue calleth vs to the lyfe eternal: and thā shulde it be to vs that Paule sayeth: [Page] Yf ye be now rysen with CHRIST, Co [...]. [...] than seke those thynges whiche are aboue, where CHRIST is sittynge on the righthande of God. Set your mynde on the thynges which are aboue, not on thē thynges that are vppon earthe. For ye are dead, & youre lyfe is hydd wyth CHRIST in God. But whan CHRISTE oure lyfe shall appeare, than shall ye also appeare wyth hym in glorye.

Thus haue we nowe shewed vnto you howe God loueth vs, wyth what strengthe and power hys loue worketh in vs, how we agayn shuld vtter loue to oure neghboure, and finally howe hurtefull the loue of this worlde is. I praye God now, that we maye so folowe him in loue, that our good conuersacyon and lyfe prayse the heauenlye father, that hath declared hys boūteous loue so wyllyngly, in sedyng vnto IESVS VS CHRISTE hys sonne.

AMEN.

[Page]

§

§

¶ Imprynted in South warke for Iames Nicolson, Anno, M. D. xxxvii.

[Page]

Information about this book

Title statement

A goodly treatise of faith, hope, and charite necessary for all Christe[n] me[n] to know and to exercyse themselues therein tra[n]slated into englysheProfitelic en troostelic boexken. English.

Edition statement

1537

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2007-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A13919

ID [STC]

STC 24219.5

ID [STC]

ESTC S107348

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99843050

ID [PROQUEST]

99843050

ID [VID]

7757

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This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A13919)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 7757)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 449:12)

Source

— A goodly treatise of faith, hope, and charite necessary for all Christe[n] me[n] to know and to exercyse themselues therein tra[n]slated into englyshe, Profitelic en troostelic boexken. English., Coverdale, Miles, 1488-1568..

Extent

lxxiii [i.e. lxxxiii] p.

For [i.e. by] James Nicolson,. Prynted in Southwarke :: Anno M.D.xxxvii 1537.. (A translation, by Miles Coverdale, of: Een profitelic en troostelic boexken.) (With Arabic date 1537 in woodcut border's lower sill.) (Folio lxxxiii misnumbered lxxiii.) (Formerly STC 24218.) (Identified as STC 24218 on UMI microfilm.) (Reproduction of the original in the Cambridge University Library.)

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