The first article.

THe first sinne, whiche all wayes byteth & gna­weth with our conscien­ces, with great thought that we haue not sufficient satis­fied for our sinnes fearinge least they be not forgyuen, for bicause that we haue not sealing in oure selues nor outwarde knowledge to certifie vs that they be pardo­ned vs. And therefore runne we euer before hande cryinge and greatly desiring to prolonge our death, and to lyue longer, tru­stinge to doe yet many moo good workes by the w [...]ich wee maye perceiue and know that we haue s [...]ifie [...] & obtayned remission of o [...]re sinnes, wherfore, as it is to be iudged, a great parte o [...] Chri­sten people haue desired to satis­fie for their sinnes, and to obtayn pardon, as it appeareth by them [Page] that at the making of their Te­stamentes, ordayne a certayne nombre of masses to be songe for them. And some there haue bene that haue founded Abbeys and Monasteries,Men seke to be sa­ued by o­ther, then by Christ with other houses of Religion, to the intente, that they would bee partakers of the good deedes of monkes, Fryers, and preestes, of their abstinence, and fasting, of their doctrine and merites, for to supplie the negli­gence of theyr own woorkes, by such good deedes and merites of other men.

And it is greatly to be lamen­ted, that so many of Chrysten people are so euill instructed and taught, that they are ignoraunt, and knowe not that they oughte onely to seeke and searche theyr health, remissyon, and satisfac­tion of theyr synnes, at the wor­kes and merites of Iesu Christ, [Page] and not at their owne deedes, neyther at the workes nor dedes of any other man. As Esaie the Prophete sayeth in the parson of God, I haue pressed the wyne­presse (sayeth hee) alone, and of the people was there no man w^t me. Now yet though it be so that Iesus Christe hath satisfyed for vs, and hath optayned for vs the remission of all oure sinnes, yet therefore ought no man to think that we of our part should do no workes.

Wee should alwayes be dyly­gent to doe good workes, to ex­ercise and increase in vs daylye both fayth and charitie, flyinge sinne, crucifying and resisting the euill concupiscences of our flesh, and mortifyinge them, all oure lyfe longe, and too watche dili­gently, that the Deuil, y^e world, nor the fleshe doe not seduce vs, [Page] praying vnto god faythfully and trewly, and without ceasing for his helpe, and not for oure selues onely, but also for our Chrysten brethren and systren, wee should also helpe and succour our neighbours in all thinges whiche are needefull vntoo them, as well in bodye as in soule, euen as Iesus Christ hath ayded vs, and done his good workes, not for himself but for vs.

But in any wyse wee muste take heede, that we doe none of all these aforesayde thinges for too haue healthe, or for to haue remission of oure sinnes, or for too satisfye for our offences, for thys partayneth onely vnto the workes and merites of our Sa­uiour Iesus Christ, and to hys bitter passion and death. There­fore vnto him muste wee ascribe the remissyon and satysfaction [Page] of all our sinnes. And for that ought we to loue hym al our lyfe longe,A cause to loue Christ. to honoure him, too serue him, and too gyue him thankes: the which (as sayeth Saint Io­han) loued vs fyrste. In the whiche,Iohn. ii. and by the which deare­ly beloued sonne, god the Father hadde loued vs: And in hym, I meane in Christe Iesu, thorowe his bloud wee haue redempcion, that is to saye, remission of oure sinnes, as sayeth S. Paule, ac­cording to the riches of his grace This thing doth Sainct Paule and all the holy scripture declare aboundantly vnto vs, both in the old and also in the newe Testa­ment, affyrming that IESUS Christ is the lambe of god which was offered for vs, and hath on­ly putte awaye the sinnes of the worlde, of the whiche if it please God, we will somewhat declare.

And firste wee will begynne wyth the prophete Esay which, speaking in the personne of god, sayth: I am, I am the same,Esa. xliii [...] say­eth the Lord, which putteth a­waye your sinnes for myne own sake, and will remembre thyne iniquities no more. Also, it is spoken by the prophet O see, say­ing: Out of the power of death,Ose. 1 [...] sayeth the Lord, I shall deliuer them, and from death will I re­deeme them. And agayne, in an other place: God sayeth by hys prophet Esay: I am the Lorde,Esa. 43. and without mee there is no sa­uiour. It is also spoken by the Apostle, in hys Epistle to Ti­mothe: This is a trew sayinge,1. Tim. 1 sayeth hee, and of all men wor­thy to bee receyued, that Iesus Christe came in to the worlde, to saue Sinners. And agayne, the prophete Esay sayeth, spea­King [Page] still in the person of God: Am not I the Lorde,Esa. 45. and there is no God but I. A iust God, & there is none that saueth but I. Also it is sayde in the Actes of the Apostles: This man, mea­ning Christe, is the stone refu­sed of the Buylders,Act. 4. whiche is made the chiefe corner stone, neyther is there health in any other, nor yet any name gyuen to men, wherin we must be saued.

Now, ye must know that faith and confidence in the woorde of God, doth bring vs vntoo thys knowledge of Gods promyses, to the which wee ought onely to gyue heed, and by a strong fayth straue faste, and in no wyse flee from them, wylte thou thē know whether thy sinnes be forgiuen, and pardoned thee or no? thou oughtest not to beleue me, thogh it were so that I promised thee [Page] they were pardoned thee, neither yet also a thousand men with me how holye so euer they bee: yea and though it were so, that they would or coulde gyue vnto thee all theyr holynes, merytes, and good workes, and woulde pro­myse to gyue their soule in gage for thyne, yet oughtest thou not too bele [...]ue them, neyther yet to desire in thy mynde any suche thinges. For that is none other but the denying of Iesus Christ and his merites. But thou must resorte to the woorde of God, and there heare the forgyuenesse of thy sinnes. For fyrste it is ne­cessarye, that the pure and syn­cere woorde of GOD bee de­clared vnto thee, and his promy­ses in the holy scripture shewed vnto thee. And then afterwarde must thou wholy consente vntoo thē with thine hart that y^e worde [Page] of God is trewe, and that he wil not fayle of his promyses, but will fulfill them vnto thee to the vttermost poynte, if it bee so that thou canst fynde in thyne harte, vnfaynedly to beleue in him, that he is the God of mercy and righ­teousnes, then mayest thou by this meanes quyet, and comforte thy Conscience, beleeuinge that God which by his woorde hathe so sayde & promysed thee, whiche is faythefull, iuste, and can not lye, yea and that hee is also able to perfourme all that hee hathe promised.

And if it bee so that thou canst not so soone beleeue after the hearing of Goddes woorde, then muste thou diligently praye vn­too GOD to gyue thee faythe, for it is hee onelye that can gyue thee thys faythe, as sayeth oure Sauiour Christe:Ioan vi. No man can [Page] come to mee (sayth hee) that is, no man can beleeue in me, except my father which sent me,Cease not to pray, if thou can [...]r not beleue at the first do draw him, pray therefore with a good harte, and no dou [...]e of it, hee will surely heare thee in tyme conue­nient, hee hath prom sed and wil not fayle but keepe his promyse, praye sayth hee, and yee shall op­tayne your desire.

But before that thou canste optayne remission of thy sinnes, there must certayne tokens pro­ceede and goe before, that is, to knowledge thy selfe a great and puysaunt sinner, and therefore too repent and bee vnfaynedlye sorie in thyne harte, consideringe howe wretched that sinne hadde made thee. And then to haue a full purpose and will in thee, ne­uer more to sinne, by the grace of GOD, but to take an other waye in keepynge of the Law [Page] of God and obseruing of his will and pleasure. And then at a cer­tayne tyme if it be so that thou bee altered and turned in thyne hart vnto God and his worde, (whiche thou eyther hearest or readest) that thyne harte repen­teth earnestly of thy sinnes, as is sayd afore, then hast thou a very good beginning. See that thou cast not that from thee, but praye vnto the Lorde diligentlye, that hee will preserue thee stil in such a good mynde. And looke that thou exercise thy selfe more and more vpon his confortable pro­myse. And by such meanes with­out faulte, thou shalt obtaine re­mission of thy sinnes.

And if it bee so that thou canst not so soone beleeue, or bee assu­red that thou haste forgyuenesse of thy sinnes, yet dispayre not, but holde thy selfe fyrme and [Page] stedfast put thi trust in his word and hee will gyue it thee in a cō­uenient tyme, as is before sayde. For many tymes the synnes bee pardoned and forgotten wyth God, and yet hee gyueth vs not quickly the grace to feele it. Hee keepeth it yet hid from vs, to the intent that wee should praye the more diligently, and for bycause that hee will proue the faith that wee haue toward him, and to see whether we will be stedfast, and not doubte in his word and pro­myse, although he for a ceason do prolonge and defer it.

And euen so did our Sauy­our begin his preaching,Mat. 1. as wee fynde in the gospell. The tyme (sayeth hee) is come, the kinge­dome of God draweth nyghe, doo penaunce, or repent, and be­leeue the Gospell, which is as much to saye as. A mynde youre [Page] selues, take another lyfe, and be­leeue these ioye [...]ull tydinges, so shall yee all bee forgiuen, & your sinnes forgotten: for this worde Euangelion, that is to say, Gos­pel,What the g [...]spell is. is a Greeke word, and is as much to saye as good tydings or a ioyous message.

It was surely ioyfull newes, and glad tydinges, when worde came into the worlde, that the tyme was come, in the whiche was borne the true Messias, and hee came that was lookes for so many thousand yeares, & way­ted for of so many Prophetes: y^e which glad tydings he did bring himself into the worlde, that sin­ners and Publicanes which be­leeued, were deliuered from their sinnes, hell was broken, heauen was opened, deathe was iud­ged, the Deuyll vanquisshed, & the pure kyngedome of God at [Page] hande.

The ioyfull tydinges did hee confirme by maruelous signes & miracles here vppon the earth, sealing them with his bitter pas­sion and death which was hym­selfe, onely the perfyte Sacrifice for the sinnes of the worlde, too reconcyle afterwarde eternallye vnto his heauenly father, the ge­neracion of mankynde, whiche before was vtterly lost. In such wyse hath hee reconciled vs, that what so euer a Sinner cometh too receyue this ioyous newes, and beleeueth vnfaynedly, tur­ninge hym selfe from his euyll lyuinge, all his offences are par­doned him and forgotten, and all his synnes are layde vppon the Lambes backe, for hee it is, that was an offerynge and Sa­crifice for them, and hath borne them with his crosse, payinge [Page] all him selfe, and makinge ful sa­tisfaction for them.

And of good right doth oure lord name here this time of grace to be the kingdom of God in the which tyme such a grace is plen­tie, and gyuen to man, that syn­ners lost and dampned, may eue­ry hower returne to God, and be receyued vnto suche a suer & cer­tayne grace, hauing pardon of all theyr sinnes and misdeedes, for all are forgotten: man is made the sonne of God, heire with Ie­su Christ, and of the kingedome euerlasting.

And that this is trew by the wyll and promyse of the Al­mighty Creator, one may shewe clearely by the holy Scripture. Notwithstandinge, wee wyll but onely shewe a fewe places, for to declare that synne shoulde let vs no more, to desyre for to [Page] dye ioyfully. First, God sayeth in Esay: I haue sworne by myne owne selfe,Esa. xiiii that the word of righ­teousnes and truth shall go forth of my mouth, and it shall not re­turne vnto mee agayne in vayne Hieremie also, in the parsone of God sayeth,Hiere. i. I watche vpon my worde, for to fulfyll and accom­plishe it.2. Tim. ii Also Saint Paule say­eth: Iesus Christ remayned al­wayes faythfull and can not de­nye himselfe. And in many other places hee sayth the same.

Laste of all, if thou wilt op­tayne any thing of GOD, or bee at peace with him, thou muste counte him almighty and trewe. And alwayes where thou fyn­dest his worde and his promise, that thou be surely certified and doute nothing, but that it muste needes come too passe, euen as his worde hath sayd: And these [Page] shal neuer be faulte nor belusion on his part. Now there remay­neth no more but that thou hold him not for a lyer, or counte hys wordes false.

Aboue all thinges, thou muste gyue him this honoure, that hee hath power to performe al things that the promiseth, and that he cānot lye, for what thing canst thou aske or optayne of God, whom thou holdest for a lyer? And what other thinge is it then too hold him for a lyer, when thou hearest his pure word, which co­meth out of his mouth, spoken vnto thee, and thou beleuest not that it shall so come to passe vnto thee, as it promiseth?

And for this cause searche thy conscience before all thinges di­ligently, how great a sinne thys vnbeleue and mistrusting of god is in thee, that thou holdest hym [Page] for a lyer, that thou canst not e­stablishe thi selfe and beleeue his wordes that are so cleare, know­ledge therefore and lamente this desperation so great in thee, that thou art so slowe, so dully and so farre without vnderstanding & witte, that thou canst not beleeue God himselfe, and that thou hol­dest the eternall veritie for a fa­ble and a lye.

Praye with the father of him that was possessed with an euill sprite, sayinge: Mayster, succor my vnbeleeue: praye I say, and cease not, and hee shall gyue it thee, hee can neyther lye nor dis­ceiue any man. And holde this thinge alwayes for truthe, and stedfastnes, that where so euer thou fyndest in the holy scripture the promyse of GOD, that kepe and holde, euen as sure as it wer in thyne hande. Sooner shall [Page] heauen and earth perishe, then that Gods worde shall not come to passe, and bee accomplisshed vnto them that surely trust in it. Then after that thou hast giuen this honour vnto God, that thou stakerest nothing at his woorde and promyses, but that thou hol­dest them for very truthe, consi­der his sayinges and sweet pro­mises which it hath pleaseth him to promyse vs, and thou shalte finde them so manye, yea and so goodly, that thou shalt bee con­forted, and haue such consolacion on all sydes, that thou shalt not feare death, nor the deuill, ney­ther any thing in heauen, earth, or hell. Of the which promyses, we will here note some places of the scripture to our purpose, for to shewe thee a meane to search further: and if thou seeke wyth [Page] a true hart and intent, thou shalt finde what is promised thee.

Firste, our sauiour saith: The Sonne of man is not comme to dampne the soule of man, but for to saue it,Luc. xi. hee sayeth also in an o­ther place, The sonne of man is come to gyue his lyfe for the re­dempcion of many men:Mat. x. hee spea­keth also manifestly in the ghos­pell of Iohn these woordes, God the father hath not sent his son to iudge the world,Iohn. iii but to the in­tent that the world might be sa­ued by him. Now, what is this to saye, saue, and not iudge, but to bee deliuered from death and dampnacion where as wee were bounde to sinne, for sinne is the deathe, and dampnacion of the soule.

Nowe hee can not saue vs, excepte that synne bee fyrste put out of vs, for as longe as sinne [Page] abydeth in vs, so longe abydeth death and damnacion.Synne is dānacion. Ioan. 3. The scripture sayth therefore, that for this cause appeared the sonne of God to loofe the workes of the De­uill, &c. Seeing then it is so that Iesus Christe is come into this worlde for to take awaye sinnes and loose the workes of the De­uill: seeyng this (I saye) is his intent of Iesus Christe can not faile, for his message, as ye knew well, abyde euer fyrme and true. Then hath hee without doubte,Roma. 3. put away sinne, and dampnacion from all them that trust cōstant­ly in him and beleue that it is e­uen so.

But this cometh by him only, of his pure grace and mercy by the benefites and merites of him selfe, which is our onely Sauy­our, without anye other meane or merite, for hee onely is the [Page] Lambe of GOD, which hath taken awaye the sinnes of the worlde, euen as Peter sayde vn­to the Iewes, in the .iiii. Chap­ter of the Actes. There is no health in any other, neyther is there any other name giuen vn­to men whereby they might bee saued, but onely the name of Ie­sus Christe: hee sayeth himselfe after that hee was rysen from death vntoo his Disciples:Luc. xiii. It must needes bee (sayd hee) that Christ suffer death, and that hee ryse agayn the third day. And y^e repentance and remission of sins bee preached in his name too all Nacions, and to all Gentyles.

These ar very cōfortable words and sayings spoken of God him selfe, which is the eternall very­tie: therefore should we set them in the depest of our harts, & trust stedfastly to them. Also Sainct [Page] Paule in the ii. chap. to the Col­lossians fayth, God hath quyck­ned vs with Iesus Christ, par­doning vs all our sins, and hath put out the Obligation made a­gaynst vs in the lawe written, and that hath hee taken out of y^e waye, a [...]d hath fastened it on his crosse. What meaneth he by this? but that Iesus Christe hath put awaye the Obligation, of oure debte, that is too saye, that wee ought for our sinnes, and hath taken it awaye with him on the crosse, and payed bitterly for it.

The which also is with vs and will succour vs, In case that we beleeue his worde, and that wee can esteeme his bitter passion, & his merites so mighty and of so great valure, that it is able too optayne for vs these afore sayde thinges.

The prayer of our Sauiour [Page] Iesus Christ, which prayed vn­to his heauenly father is heard and abydeth herde for euermore, when he prayed thus with many other wordes: O heauenly Fa­ther,Iohn. vii. I praye not onely for these my Disciples, but for all these that by them shall beleeue on my name, wherefore this toucheth euery one of vs, so farre as wee can beleeue and conceyue io in to our hartes. Also S. Peter in the x. chapt. of the Actes of the Apostles sayeth, Iesus Christe hath commaunded vs to preache and witnes vnto y^e people, that hee is ordayned Iudge of the quicke and dead. And of him say­eth Peter thus much more: All the prophets beare witnes, that thorowe his name, all they that beleeue in him, shall receyue re­mission of their sinnes. S. Paull sayeth moreouer: hym whiche [Page] knew no sinne for our sakes that we by his meanes should be that rightuousnes which before God is alowed.2. Cor. v.

Beholde the iustice and righ­tuousnes whiche God demaun­deth and requireth,Goddes rightuousnes. for he requi­reth none other rightuousnes or goodnes, then onely that whiche abydeth, and trusteth surely vp­pon the rightuousenes and me­rites of Iesus Christ, not regar­ding or knowing the rightuous­nes or iustificacion that manye doe seeke in their owne workes. Ye haue it also euen lykewyse in the thyrd Chapyter too the Ro­maynes, Wee knowe that what soeuer the law sayeth, It sayth it to thē which are vnder the law: because that our mouthes might bee stopped, and all the worlde bee subdued vnto God, bycause that by the deedes of the Lawe, [Page] no flesh shall bee iustifyed in the sight of God, for by the law com­meth the knowledge of synne.

Now verely is the righteousnes that commeth of God, declared without the fulfilling of the law, hauing witnes yet of the lawe of the Prophetes. The rightuous­nes, sayeth hee, no doubte which is good before GOD,Fayth iu­stifyeth. commeth by the fayth of Iesus Christ, vnto all and vpon all them that be­leeue. For there is no difference. All haue sinned and lacke the prayse, that is of valure beefore God, but are iustified freely by his grace, thorow the redempci­on that is in Iesus Christ, whō God hath made a seate of hys mercye thorowe faythe in hys bloude.

Wilte thou haue a thynge more clearely spoken? sayeth he not playnely that wee are iusti­fied [Page] without our merites? euer­more affirming it to be onely by the merites of Iesus Christ, by the riche redempcion that hathe bene made by him and in him, what is this to bee iustified, but to bee deliuered and made quyte of sinne? for sinne and righteous­nes are contrary the one too the other, and they can not bee one nyghe another, if I be righteous or good, I am delyuered from sinne, and am made rightuous by the iustificacion which befors GOD is alowed, as is afore­sayde.

Can one euer make vs be­leeue that our synnes bee forgy­uen vs in suche wyse that they in our departynge doe no more trouble our conscience and draw vs backe from a ioyfull will too dye. For when sin is put awaye and wee bee iustifyed thorowe [Page] Iesus Christe, what can death doo? But no man ought to vn­derstande by this (when I saye that sinne is put away, and that I am deliuered from sinne by the righteousnes of fayth) that I do meane by this there is no more in vs, or that sinne remay­neth no more in vs. Truely sin remayneth alway in vs. But not so, that it can dampne vs.Sin aby­deth in vs but not so that it can dampn [...] I say, that in a Christen man the roote of sinne, the euill mocion and in­clination to sinne and rancoure and malice abideth not strong in him, but departeth neuer wholy from vs, vntill that our fylthye fleshe be dead, but I saye y^t they can not dampne vs, for so much as wee are in Iesus Christ, and fyght agaynste the remnaunte and dregges of sinne, althoughe that wee doo wauer sometyme [Page] perceyuing and f [...]eling that wee be mightely assayled of the tem­tacions of the fleshe.Rom. viii And I say not these thinges of my selfe, but Sainct Paule sayeth euen the same: There is no dampnacion to them that are in Christ (sayth hee) which walke not after the fleshe, but after the spirit.

Then there abydeth in vs al­wayes the residue and mocion to sinne, which would increase day­ly more largely, but wee shoulde not gyue him the brydle, nor let him growe. That euill mocion must we make subiect vnto vs, and breake him of his purpose, walking, as S. Paule sayeth, after the sprite,Rom. viii and not after the fl [...]she. And then there is no damnacion in vs. for we are iustified by the fayth of Iesu Christ, and deliuer [...]d from sinne, that is too say, from all sinnes which might [Page] condempne vs. Neuerthelesse, there abydeth alwaye in vs the roote and remnaunt of synne, as is sayd: Agaynst the which wee must fyght and resiste all oure lyues long.

But the victorie remayneth to our heade Iesus Christ by the lawe of his holy Spirite, whiche maketh vs liuely in him & hathe made vs free from the power of sinne and death. In suche wyse, that wee shoulde no more feare eyther death or sinne, throw Ie­sus Christ, which hath vanquis­shed and ouercome them bothe, to our great profyt, and hath re­conciled vs eternally vntoo hys father: the which, as oure deare father also, can not but deale mercyfully with vs, for the loue of our Sauiour Iesus Christe his welbeloued Sonne, and by thys meanes to putte awaye all oure [Page] synnes, as thoughe wee neuer had committed nor done them. Euen so doth hee promise vs by his prophete Miche. vii. God is a God that will shewe vs grace and mercye, and will turne him­selfe towarde vs, and wil putte away oure iniquities, and will cast our synnes into the botome of the sea.

Beholde these comfortable sayings, for they be certayn, sure true, and immutable, yea and the wordes spoken and come foorth from the euerlastinge veritie.

Wherefore what should now let vs, but that wee should be wil­ling to dye, if we can thus beleue that we are made iust, good, and righthous, onely by the merite of Iesus Christ, and that our tres­paces are by him, and in hym taken away, that they can now no more dampne vs, as is before [Page] sayde. And what remayneth now, but that wee should threa­ten death, and not be afrayed of it, sayinge with S. Paule:1. Cor. xv O death where is thy stinge? O hell where is thy victorye? yea, wee should yet be more desyrous of death, as of a thing which ma­keth vs an end of all our misery, of the residewe and dregges of sinne, which is deepely grafted in vs, and wold fayne grow euer our heades (if wee looke not wel to our selues) and holde it sub­iect vnto vs, and constrayne it thorow our head Iesus Chryst, by whom wee doo all togither.

This is ynough agaynst the fyrste poynte, that is to saye, a­gaynst synne, and the gnawinge of our conscience, the which is nowe to vs no more death, but thorowe the death of oure Sa­oure [Page] it is made vnto vs an in­trance and beginning of an eter­nall lyfe. And for a finall conclu­sion, all the holy scripture is full of such lyke promises of GOD. And hee that can not satisfye or cōtent himself with these places of the scripture, which wee haue here alleaged, he may search and fynde many moo.

The second article.

THe second Artycle, that doth withdraw vs from a glad will too dye, is, the iudgement of God, where we must giue accomptes both of our deeds & wordes in y^e day of iudgement, or whan wee dye.Mat. xii. As sayth our sauiour Christ of euery ydell woorde that they haue spoken, they shall gyue ac­compts at the day of iudgement. [Page] Also S. Paule sayth: wee muste all appeare before Iesus Christ,2. Cor. v. to the intente that euery one of vs receyue according to the workes of one bodye, whether they be good or bad, S. Paule sayeth more ouer: wee shall bee all pre­sente before the Seate of Iesus Christ, and euery one shall gyue accomptes for him selfe.

By the which wordes it ap­peareth playnely, that we muste giue accōptes before god of oure words & dedes. And these words do appeare to be very difficulte, and giue vs great feare: & with­out doute they be rigorous and fearfull for a sinfull conscience to beare, for they are y^e pure words of God, which shall eternally be accomplished. And for this cause whan wee beholde oure selues well, considerynge our wordes and our workes, and begynne [Page] to thinke of the accompts which we must gyue and render, wee fynde none other thing in vs thē sinne and wretchednes. ypocri­sie and vanitie bothe before and behynde. And moreouer, besyde this, wee knowe not halfe the malice and infyrmitie that is in vs.Psa xviii. And the prophet Dauid did accomplayne and praye pyteful­ly sayinge: O Lord who percey­u [...]th his sinnes? clense me from myne vnknowen iniquities.

For these and such lyke wor­des of God, we flye backwarde, fearinge greatly suche a terry­ble accomptes and iudge, desi­ring euermore to haue oure lyfe prolonged, principally because it is written, that in the sight of GOD, no man shall bee found innocent or faultles. The which thinge also Dauid fearing, sayde in his prayer: O Lorde, enter [Page] not into Iudgemente with thy Seruaunt, for no man lyuynge shall bee founde righteous in thy syght: lykewyse the holy Pro­phete Esaye: O Lorde (sayeth hee) wee are all made vncleane,Psal. cxlii and all our righteousnes bee as a clothe which is arayed or soy­led with the Flowers of a woo­man.

Consydering these and such o­ther lyke scriptures, and regar­ding the grounde of our harte, & afterwarde coming to remember the accomptes that we shall giue we are waueeing, doubtful hea­uy, and troubled in our hart, and conscience. And principally whā this accompt seemeth to be nigh, yea and at our dore, & that death beginneth to threatē vs by some great syckenes, therefore desyre wee to lyue longer, hopinge too make greate amendes for oure [Page] sinnes (and to merite yet muche more) then wee haue done afore tymes, and then shall our consci­ence be beteer disposed to yeelde these accomptes.

And in this maner are manye people sore abused, for there was neuer man so holy, that was able to render or giue such accomptes by exteriour outward woorkes before God. Thou shalt doo thy workes, and art bound to do thē, not after the fleshe, but after the spirit, to tame and crucifie in the crosse with Iesu Christ our head this synfull rebellious fleshe, or elso we shal be none of his mem­bers, and haue no parte wyth him.

But by these meanes yee shall not make your rekening cleare,Mat. 18 but are bounde yet with great debtes, and shall come behynde hande wel ten thousand pon̄des. [Page] For ye heard what the Prophet I say sayeth here before, that all our righteousnes, that is to say,Esa. 63. all our good woorkes are before God, as a filthy or soyled clothe with the flowers of a woman.Luc. 17.

Remember well the woordes of our Sauior Christe, when yee haue done all things (saith hee) that are cōmaunded you, yet say: we are vnprofitable seruaūtes.

Consider nowe, how nyghe thou hast done all things that is commaunded thee and loke thou how much thou lackest in accomplishing all that is commaunded thee, and so much art thou worse then an vnprofitable seruaunt.

Nowe, the ve [...]y truthe is that thou hast not done the hundreth parte of that which was com­maunded the.

What name then shall one giue thee? There is no name euyll [Page] ynough for thee, where become then thy good workes or thy me­rites the which thou thinkest to gather togither for too comme and giue thy accomptes? wher­in also thou puttest thy truste, desyring to haue thy lyfe prolon­ged that thou mayst yet do mo.

Consydre how farre wyde thou arte nowe and knowe for certayne that by no maner of workes that thou canst do thou shalt bee able to rendre and per­forme these accomptes, nor no manne that is borne vppon the Earth, how vertuousely so euer that he hath lyued. The longe lyfe that thou requyrest and too bee healed of thy syckenesse, can not optayne thee this. Then is this yet all one thynge and perauenture worse, yea though thou shouldest lyue longer, for the longer we lyue, the more and [Page] more encrease the tale and nom­bre of our sinnes and iniquities.

It was surely the deuyll that dyd fyrst brynge this saying in to the Earth. The longer we lyue, the more we meryte: yet sayth he truth and lyeth neuer a whit, for we do meryte in deede, but it is hell where as he wolde vnder the colour of holines that as long as the breath is in vs, we flee backe from God: and dye in greate resystence and dis­obedyence of God. And so dothe hee leade vs and drawe vs vnto suche a great synne, specially in oure ende, too the entent that we should haue this great sinne of false merite besyde the feare of our accompte. And this synne was neuer knowne at tyme, for it was couered vnder the sha­dowe of goodnesse and vertue to merite styll more and more.

Sathanas meaning was, that we should merite hell, but wee seek euermore for heauen by our merites.

Shewe me, wherin are you a­mended, since your laste sicknes, when ye thought that ye should haue dyed? ye are now ten times worse, haue yee not well mery­ted? for a conclusion, the longer that we lyue, the more we do of­fend God, and the sooner that we dye, so much the sooner doo wee cease to displease God. Therfore exercyse thy selfe in thy fayth vp­pon the worde of GOD. For there are none exteriour or out­ward workes that can either sa­tisfie that mightie Iudge, or quiet thyne owne conscience.

Thou beinge falsely dyscey­ued and abused, mayst well con­forte thy selfe or suffre thy selfe to take consolacion vppon thyne [Page] owne woorkes or other mennes merites so long as thou lyueste here in this worlde and also at thy departynge, yea and vntoo the verye dethe (as there be ma­ny that dye now adayes, GOD gyue them knowledge in Christ, but suche a consolacion shall not cōfort or gyde thee long. It shall not bringe thee at all before the iudge. The iudge Iesus Christe knoweth none other merite but his own merite, which hee hathe merited vppon the crosse, and a stedfast fayth and confidence in his worde onely, as is aforesaid. Thy consolacion muste come of that, for it is a thing which will neuer leaue thee, but will goe with thee before the iudge, will answere for thee, and will neuer suffer thee to be confounded.Roma. x. As sayeth saynct Paule: who so e­uer beleeueth on Christe, shall [Page] not be ashamed. Of this (if it please God) yee shall yet heare more, and also how and to whom ye shall giue your accemptes.

Now must wee vnderstande, that God in the holy Scripture speaketh vnto vs of many things and layeth them sometime before our eyes, speakinge onely accor­ding to his wrath and iustice.

And agayne, sometime hee spea­keth vnto vs according too hys great grace and mercye, hee fyl­leth vs a cuppe of foure wyne, & afterward hee gyueth vs a taste of the most sweete & dulcet wine, hee hurteth and healeth, he brin­geth also into hell, yea euen hys very electe: but he leaueth them not there, hee draweth them frō thence out agayne, if thou haste found here a taste of bitter wyne searche further, and thou shalte fynde agayne a draughte of the [Page] most sweetest wyne that is possi­ble to be had.

Hee hath by these Scriptures aleaged here before, gyuen thee great feare and dread, and hathe almost cast thee into hell by the meanes of these terrible accom­ptes whiche hee demaundeth of thee, but seke further in the word of GOD, and there shalt thou fynde howe gentilly and fauou­rablye hee draweth thee oute a­gayne.

Note fyrst of all, how sweetely and louingly hee calleth thee too him, when he sayth: Come vnto me al ye that are laden or greued with any burthē,Mat. xi. & I sh [...]l refresh you. Art thou nowe laden and in feare for this great accomptes y^t thou shalt gyue before God, and knowest thou no Councell nor helpe? Come hardly vnto mee & howe small or poore a Sinner [Page] how great or wicked a trespaser so euer thou be, come vnto mee, and spare not. I flee not awaye from thee, for I am comme and sent for such peoples sakes: I will ease you, I shall gyue you reste and quietnes.

But thou must not rest in any other thing, nor seeke any com­fort in any other mā, thou mayst not seeke nor looke after any o­ther consol [...]cion or succourre in heauen or in earth, but onely in mee. I am a ielouse louer, I wil bee thy only comfort, thyne only health, refuge and consolacion, for I haue the power only to bee all this vnto thee, yea and it is my will so for to bee, and verye much hath it cost mee too shewe thee that it is euen so.

To come then to these ac­comptes which wee muste gyue wee ought to knowe that wee [Page] haue none other thing to bringe with vs,Mat. 18. then detres and trespa­ces, being ten thousand poundes behynde hande, and not one far­thinge to paye, for wee haue not kepte one commaundement as we ought to do, wherewith we might paye our Lorde. And as touching this wee will see some­what, what the lawe requyreth of vs.

First of all, our almyghtie god and creatour commaunded in y^e old testament vnto the children of Israell: ye shalbe parfite, and without spotte with your Lorde your God: he sayde also:Deut. 18. bee yee holy, for I am holy. Christe also commaundeth in the gospell and sayth:Mat. 8. be ye perfyte as your hea­uenly father is parfyte.

The principall and great com­maundement is this:Mat. xxii thou shalt loue thy Lorde God aboue all [Page] thinges, with all thy hart, with all thy Soule, and with all thy might. Shew mee, who dare say that hee hath kept and obserued this commaundement? Truely there is no person vpon y^e earth, that can do this, with all y^e pow­er that hee hath. It is not, ney­ther was it euer in the power of mā to do this. It is not possible also for the lawe it selfe too gyue man strength to do it, althoughe it doth commaund it. For as S. Paule sayeth, the lawe bringeth nothinge too perfection, neyther doth it gyue any power or perfection vnto man, too accomplisshe the Commaundementes after such a maner as it commandeth them.

But by the lawe cometh the knowledge of synne,Rom. vii. that is too saye: By the Lawe wee knowe fyrste [...]hat is synne. And so by [Page] this meanes is our wickednesse and imperfection shewed and declared vnto vs. And the Lawe wrought in vs all synne. In suche wyse, that wehn we know our synne fyrste of all, then are wee more desirous and ready to doo euill, for the Lawe doth for­byd and prohibite vs that thing, which wee dyd before, euen after eure owne appetites, without a­ny resisting or forbydding of the Lawe.

Tehrefore (as Sainct Paule sayth moreouer,) The law stur­reth vp in vs the wrath of God. I denye then y^t thorough it wee should come to any perfectiō, for that thing did wayt for an other tyme. It was of necessitie that Iesus Christ himselfe should do that thing fyrste in vs and wyth vs. This was the worke, to iu­stifie vs, and to giue vs perfecti­on, [Page] this was the cause of his cō­ming. As for the law, it wrought his office in vs.

It vttered synne and made it to be knowē, and so by this mea­nes increased synne in vs to the intent that the grace of Iesus Christ might fynd some what to do: which thing if the law could haue done, then dyed our sauiour Christ in vayne,Gala. ii. as sayeth saint Paule.

Euen likewise is it of vs with the aforesayde great and chiefe commaundement, which is, too loue God aboue all things, with all our hart, with all oure soule, with all our might.Mat. xxii. The whiche declareth playnely that all oure mynd, all our might all our hart all our soule and reason, shoulde neither do nor thinke any other thing, but to haue God in remē­braunce onely, and euermore too [Page] consider and beare in mynde his loue, his benefites, his grace, his glory, his honour and kyndnes. Which thing it is not possible for any man vpon earth to doe, with all the power hee hath, after the mynde of the commaundement.

Lykewyse is it of the other commaundement, which is too loue oure neyghboure, yea and that so well as our selfe. Shewe mee now (if ye can) who is hee that in all thinges doth too hys neyghbour as he would be done to him, and gyueth hym,No man kepeth y^e cōmaund­mentes as hee ought to do. len­deth him, assisteth, and aydeth hym in all his necessities, euen as hee woulde that his neygh­bour shoulde do vnto him in like case? Who is hee in the worlde, that with all his humayne possi­bilitie or strength is able for too doo that so on the earth? And therefore it is true, as S. Paule [Page] sayeth, that all the worlde is made debter vnto GOD. So that there is none outward saint nor holy or vertuous Pharisey, (which thinketh or st [...]dieth too keepe the Lawe as nyghe as is possible outwardly) that can ac­complishe or fulfyll any thyng at all before God. For they beholde not the mynde of the Law.

Can such a Pharysey (thinke yee) satisfie or pleale God with such outwarde deedes? no true­ly, they muste needes bee deb­ters vnto God, as is afore sayde. And thus are all our rightuous­nes and good deedes founde, as it were a soyled or sylthy clothe defyl [...]d wyth the floures of a woman.

But these men that wee laste intreated of whiche after suche maner do and mustre theyr gaye glistering woorkes outwardly: [Page] are the most perillous and worst to helpe, for they recken not thē­selues for sinners, but contrary­wyse, they beleue that they haue great merites, yea and moreouer that they lacke nothinge, in so much that they may parte wyth some of their good deedes too o­ther: where shall a maune fynde now any, that after hee knoweth this commaundement doeth the outwarde worke thereof, onely for the loue of God and of hys neyghbour? And then doth not hee fulfyll the Lawe or comman­dement, for hee dothe not toys thinge of a pure and a willinge harte onely for the loue of God. Now hee seeketh more his own profyte therein, or else hee doeth it to optayne heaven, or for feare of hell And (to be shorte) in all thinges that hee doth or leaueth vndone, after the Doctrine of [Page] the outwarde law, hee hath res­pecte to heauen or hell, and doth it not purelye for the Loue of God.

Now God requyreth and will haue the harte with the Lawe, and is not satisfyed in the out­ward worke without the harte, hee will that the harte do it, and that purely and only for the loue of him. Now can no manne dis­ceyue him therefore, hee regar­deth principally the ground and botome of our harte. And this is the intencion both of the Lawe, and the lawe maker also.

Who is hee nowe that can doe this with all the power that hee hath? of a truthe, no other poore sinners They thinke that they shall yelde none other accompts then to bringe thyther, the resi­dewe of their merites, whyche were not bestowed on other men [Page] and for them too bee crowned.

GOD gyue them knowledge and lyghten theyr hartes, that they maye see their mad blynd­nes.

For to gyue these accomptes then, there is but only one coun­sell, that is, that we dispose our­selues (so long as we are in this present lyfe) to liue according to the law of God as nyghe as wee can, and diligently to seeke after God and his woorde, in the ho­ly scripture, and to exercise oure selfe continually in this loue of God and of our neighbour. And when wee haue done all the best that wee canne, that then wee do yet knowledge and confesse that we are much worse then vnpro­fitable Seruauntes,Luc. xvii. and that wee haue not done the one halfe. No, not the hundreth parte of that whyche is commaunded [Page] vs, In asmuch as wee see that of a truthe it is euen so. Lette vs not then auance our power, nei­ther externe our merits or wor­kes any thing worth, nor yet a­ny other mennes, whether they bee in heauen or in earth, but on­ly to trust vnto the merites and workes of our Sauioure Iesus Christ, our onely Mediatour.

And to holde vs stedfastly tho­rowe fayth vnto him, too runne to him with a free courage and sure confidence, and to lay on his backe all our accomptes with al our dettes and trespaces, for vn­to this thing hee was ordayned, prepared and eternally prouided of his heauenly father, to take & beare our synnes vppon him and answere for them.

i. Cor. 1.For, as sayeth Saint Paule, Iesus Chryst is gyuen vntoo vs of God, and is made oure [Page] wysedome, oure rightuousnes, our iustification, our holynes & redempcion. So that thorowe the meanes of him wee shall bee able to gyue a iust and true reke­ninge, for though wee bee full of synne on euery syde, yet is Ie­sus Chryste righteous, thoughe wee are so wycked and euill, yet is hee holy and good. Thoughe wee of very righte are dampned and lost, yet is Iesus Christ sa­ued, yea the very health and sal­uacion it selfe. It is hee that is ordayned, I say, and appointed of GOD for vs, too bee oure righteousnes, wisedome, sancti­fying and redemption.

Nowe, our heauenly Father, in this his dearely beloued sonne and for his sake, will receyue vs as hys well beeloued chil­dren, and will not requyre or de­maunde eyther debte or accomp­tes [Page] of vs any more, because wee haue beleeued in this his Sonne vnfaynedly, putting our truste and confidence stedfastlye in him.

But they which thinke too giue any other maner of accōpts by any good deede or merites, whether of themselues, or of any other saynte, ether in heuen or in earth, such people (I saye) are fore abused and piteously decey­ued, as ye haue sufficiently heard before. These shall bee fore boūd to gyue their accomptes, and to yeelde a very strayte rekenynge of all their wordes and workes. These shall paye all euen vntoo the vttermost farthynge.

Vnto this people belongeth that fearefull and terrible ac­comptes that the scripture spea­keth of. And vnto them that walke without feare after thee, [Page] not looking towarde God nor his commaundementes, and dye euen so. These twoo manner of folke are they which shall gyue this strayte rekeninge. And of them is the worde of God very­fyed as touching the dreadful accomptes which must bee gyuen as it is sayd before.

And although this were suf­ficient for the second artycle that we intreat of (that is to saye, of the accomptes) so that euerye Christen man might herewith be satisfied, yet shall you heare by Gods grace, howe Dauid in his psalme doth recite thre small articles which will not come e­uill to our purpose in this place,psal. 32. he speaketh there of our accōpts and of our acquitaūce, and sayth on this maner: Blessed are they, whose sinnes are forgyuen: bles­sed are they, whose synnes are [Page] hydde or couered: Blessed is hee to whom God imputeth not his sinne, hereby wee see howe God our maker doth receyue in three maner of wayes, the accompts, the reconciliation or satisfaction of our sinnes: fyrst in pardoning the sinnes: secondly in coueryng them: thirdly in not imputing or compting our euil deedes for sin.

The first is, that all is satisfi­ed vnto God, and that hee wyll not demaund any more actes for the sinnes that hee hath pardo­ned, which wee beleeue surely to bee payde, quyte, and pardoned onely by his sonne Iesus Christ, and by his merites, for of that thing whiche is once forgyuen, quyte and payde, there muste no more rekening he made.

Esa. xliiiiAnd that it is true, that sin­nes are pardoned only by the me­rites of Iesus Christ, wee haue [Page] shewed sufficientlye before, and of this is all the Scripture full, for our Sauiour sayth hym selfe by his Prophet Esay: I am hee, I am hee which putteth awaye thy sinnes for myne owne sake, and I will not remember thy i­niquities. And by his Prophete Hieremy hee sayeth:Hier. x. xl I wil haue mercy vpon their iniquities, and will remember their sinnes no more. The Prophete Ezechiell also speaking in the personne of God sayeth: At all tymes when a sinner turneth to me,Eze. viii. I wil no more bere his iniquities in mind.

By these wordes it is many­feste, that all is pardoned and forgotten, and all accomptes out of memory. Therefore say­eth the Prophete Dauid also: Hee hath not done vntoo vs ac­cordynge to our sinnes, and hath not dealte wyth vs after oure [Page] iniquities, but as much as dif­fereth betweene heauen & earth. And as farre as the east is from the Weste, so farre hath hee sett oure sinnes from vs. And euen as a father hath pitie vppon hys sonnes (sayeth Dauid) so hathe God mercy on vs, for he know­eth our frayle nature. Nowe, I truste ye be content as touching the fyrst way whereby almighty God receiueth accomptes of our sinnes.

The seconde way is in coue­ring sinnes by char [...]tie. The ac­comptes of them are made before God with perfyte loue & workes of mercy vnto our neighboures, that is to saye▪ to forbeare & suf­fer their weaknes, to giue them almes, to shewe them comforte & succour, to gyue them good en­sample both in worde and deede, of the which yee maye reade in [Page] Paules epistles. So that the re­kening shalbe no more demaun­ded, for our sinnes are euermore hydde by the meanes of Iesus Christ. In whose name, and for whose sake onelye wee doo these workes. Nowe, hee that is fer­uent in the loue of God, wil loue also his neighbour and couer his faultes. As sainct Peter sayth:1. Pet. 4. Aboue all thinges haue loue one with an other, for charitie dooth couer the multitude of synnes.

Salomon also sayeth, that Loue couereth all sinnes. Thoroughe mercy and fayth are sinnes for­gyuen vs, but loue compelleth vs to forgyue other menne their sinnes. According to this sayeth Sainct Iames: My brethren, if any haue erred and fallen from the ryght waye,Iacob. 5. and an other of you dothe retourne him vn­te the true knowledge: lette the [Page] same knowe that hee which con­uerteth a sinner from goinge a­stray out of his waye, shall saue his soule from death, and shall hyde the multitude of sinnes.

Thus yee heare how that loue doth couer sinnes, and that god had promised forgyuenes too all them that forgyue their neygh­bours. Neyther will GOD re­quyre any accompts of such men for the fayth and stedfast truste that they haue onely in Iesus Christ, in his merites and satis­faction, is the cause why they do any thing that please God. And the benefites and loue of Iesus Christ with the which he loueth vs, couereth and hydeth all oure wyckednes and imperfection, so that God hys heauenly Fa­ther will not see nor knowe anye faute in vs.

And therefore my dearely be­loued [Page] brethren and systers, let vs betake our selues euermore vn­to God with al our good deedes and workes, in a perfyte harte, in true fayth and loue of GOD and our neyghbours, sufferinge our celestial Creatour and faith­full GOD from hencefoorth to care for vs whither that it please him that wee shall yet remayne seperate styll from him in thys vale of misery, or that it bee hys will to call vs to him into eternal reste: beleeuinge parfytely that his eyes are alwayes vppon vs, holding vs and caringe for vs as his well beloued children, for y^e loue of his Sonne IESVS Christ, in whom we are beloued and trusted. And for this cause let vs yeelde our selues wholy in to his handes, and committe our selues altogither vnto him, both Body and Soule, beeynge sure, [Page] that whether wee lyue or dye, wee bee his, and pertayne vnto him. And therefore let vs with a pure hart and mynd saye vnto him: Oh Father, thy will bee fulfilled in earth, as it is in hea­uen.

Here to may one also alleadge the wordes of Christe in Iohn: Verely, verely, I say vnto you, hee that keepeth my wordes and beleeueth on him that sent mee, hath lyfe euerlastinge, & shal not come into iudgement, but is es­caped already from death vntoo lyfe.

Lo, ye heare that they shal not come into iudgement, & by thys menes haue they none accompts for to make, neither are they cal­led therto, for they are alreadye passed frō death vnto lyfe. Con­sider also y^t our lord sayth not he shall passe from death vnto lyfe, [Page] but hee is passed already from death vntoo lyfe, for a Christen man which is not fained: is as sure of that which our Sauiour here speaketh, as though it wer done already. The fayth & loue in Iesu Christe, the kyndnesse wherewith hee loueth vs, that saueth vs, hydeth all our sinnes, purchaseth pardon and forgyue­nesse of all our iniquities, & quy­teth vs of our accomptes.

Thyrdly, God will not im­pute nor recken our sinne to vs, therefore shal wee gyue none ac­comptes of them, for in Iesus Christe, and thorowe the menes of him, they shall bee put awaye, quyte, and pardoned for euer, without any accomptes.

And that it is truthe, that God doth not impute nor recken our synnes vnto vs, wee fynde in many places of holy Scrip­ture, [Page] for Sainct Paule sayeth: All thinges are of GOD which hath reconcyled vs vnto him self by Iesus Christe: for God was in Christ reconcyling the world, not imputing their synnes vnto them.

Here yee see how God dissem­bleth and will not see the euyll deedes of our imperfection and wyckednes, and rekeneth them not for sinne, I meane of vs that are in the fayth of Iesu Chryste his sonne. And as sure as it is that hee imputeth not oure sinne vntoo vs, so sure it is, that wee shall gyue none other accomptes for them, then Christes bloude and merites: whereby (as saynt Paule sayeth) wee are broughte into the fauoure of God his Fa­ther which doth count vs with­out spot in his sight.

Iesus Christe, thorowe the [Page] great loue that hee bare vnto vs tooke our sinnes vpon him, pay­ing dearely for them. As Esay hadde Prophesyed longe before howe that God hadde layde all our sinnes and trespaces vppon Iesus Chryste sayinge: Truly hee (meaning Christ) dyd beare our sorowes and suffer oure my­series, hee was wounded for our iniquities, and humbled for oure synnes.

Beholde I pray you how the prophet speaketh here, as thogh the thing had bin done alreadye, which was fulfilled in so manye hundreth yeares after. Consider how he sayth, he was wounded, he hath borne, hee hath taken a­way our iniquities. For the sal­uacion of mankynde was from the beginning preordinate in the wyll and ordinaunce of the Fa­ther, whyche hee purposed too [Page] worke and doo. In, and by hys dearely beloued Sonne, for hee knew that wee were the worke of his handes, though all that is in vs, is vanitie, falshed, ypocri­sye, and synne. Therefore was it needfull that he should ordein an other saluacion then was in vs, and that by one man, whom hee should ordayne to helpe all other men, whose nature was so cor­rupte and poysoned in Adam, y^t they should haue remayned in it for euermore, if the mercy of god in Chryste had not bene so plen­teous.

Our nature was so corrupt, and venomed by the firste synne of Adam, that synne abydeth in vs, and is made our possession & heritage, so that by nature wee are al the children of gods wrath and can do nothing of our self but sinne, no not able to think a good [Page] thought.

Against this hath God our fa­ther most mercyfully taken vs to his grace, in one, and by one man Iesus Christ, so that hee is of power to excuse oure corrupt nature, and the workes thereof, in the sight of God, agaynste all maner of complaynt that sinne or damnacion can make agaynst vs For as S. Paule sayeth,Ephe, 2. Lyke as by the synne of one man dam­nacion is come vpon all men,Rom. v. so by the iustice of one man, is the rightuousnes of lyfe come vppon all men.

Here is it playne that God re­ceyueth our accomptes in pardoning, couering and not imputing our sinnes to vs. And all that by the meanes of Iesu Christ, tho­row whom also he is to vs also a louing and a mercyfull Father, whose nature is pure louinge & [Page] kinde, as Dauid sayth: his mer­cy is aboue all his workes.Psa. xliiii. And God himselfe sayeth the same by his Prophete Esay: for a lyttle ceason I haue forsaken you,Esa. liiii but I will gather you togyther a­gayne in my great and mightye mercie. And for a minute haue I hydden my face from you, but in an euerlasting mercy & grace I haue pitie vpon you, and haue shewed you kyndnes and fauour These wordes be spoken by him that is your Sauioure, Redee­mer and Lorde. And afterwarde hee sayeth: The Mountaynes shall passe. &c. but my mercy and grace shall not depart from you, and the couenaunt of my peace, shall not bee taken from you.

The Lord your God hath sayd these thinges, euen hee whyche hath mercy vpon you.

Saynct Paule sayeth also: [Page] Bee it knowen vnto you ye men and brethren, that thorowe him (meaning Chryst Iesu) is prea­ched vntoo you forgyuenes of synnes.Act. 14. And by him are all that beleeue, iustifyed by the lawe of Moyses.

These wordes be very playne sure, and confortable, and well worthy to be grounded in a chri­sten mannes harte,Heb. 8. therefore let vs that are Christen, as Sainct Paule sayth, flee vnto God the Father, with a strong confidēce and with a stedfast fayth, and vnto the Throne of his grace, euen Iesus Christe our only Media­tor and recōcilier of gods wrath appoynting him to bee oure Sa­tisfactour and paymayster of our accomptes. And without doubte wee shall fynde a perpetuall peace in oure Conscience, wyth reste and quyetnes in our soule. [Page] For this cause dyd hee shed hys bloude, suffering so shamefull & bitter death, too the intente that wee should bee without spot or wrinkle, made pure, and free by him, to be presented and offered vnto his celestiall father, in the houre of death, and at the day of iudgemente. Therefore sayeth S. Paule moreouer, that Iesus Christ hath reconcyled thorowe his bloud vpon the crosse, al that is in heauen and earth. And vs also (which were his enemies in our vnderstanding, in oure wyc­ked and euill workes) hath hee recōciled by the body of his flesh and by his death, to the intente, that hee might offer vs vp in the sight of his father, holy & with­oute faute, if so bee that wee a­byde in the fayth, and trust sted­fastly in him, & turne not awaye from this hope of the gospell.

By all these authorities it is nowe cleare ynough that we shal not bee rebuked and discouraged of the Iudge Iesus Christ vnto our dammage and vtter confu­sion. But euen as Christ Iesus hath made vs holy and blameles and as hee our head is without spotte or wrinkle, all pure, clene and holy. So in him and by him, we which are his members, shal departe without spotte or faute, being pure and sanctified, and no maner of accompt shal be requy­red of vs.

And thus shall wee come to knowledge howe these Scrip­tures of gyuynge the accomptes oughte to bee vnderstande, that is too saye, for the exhortation and sturring vppe of the Elect, and to shewe them their weake­nesse, howe vnable they are too gyue suche accomptes, as the [Page] lawe requyreth of them. And so by these meanes to cause them to mourne, and syghe for helpe and succoure of GOD, for they can fynde nothing in them selues but onely great dettes, great sinnes, and (to be shorte) all euill. And to the intent that they maye run vnto such a sure comfort, and so certaine a succourer, as is Iesus Christe of whom they may bee bolde too requyre any needefull thing that they lacke.

And then as for the infideles and suche personnes as haue no fayth nor trust in Christe, which thinke too satisfye the Iudge with outwarde woorkes, and thereby to comme vnto the ende of their accomptes. And as for them also that lyue negligently and fleshly, hauinge no respecte to God nor vntoo his Lawes, [...]or suche accomp [...]es as hee de­maundeth. [Page] Vnto such people i [...] is sayde before, that they muste gyue such a ry [...]ourous accomptes too the greatier feare and more dampnacion of them selues. And as concerning the fyrste sorte, if they regarded well them selues, how that all is nothinge that is in theyr power, they might haue an occasion to leaue all togyther waytinge onely and trustynge stedfastly in the merite of Ie­sus Christ. And the other too a­uoyde their dampnacion, would leaue theyr synnes and iniqui­ties, fearing the rigorous iudge, the strayte accomptes that are demaunded, before the whiche Iudge (if it be so that they will not receyue the grace of GOD in tyme conuen [...]ent and whyle they maye) they shall yeelde suche accomptes and rekeninge, that they shall neuer be able too [Page] pay it. As it is written in Iob: They shall recompence and la­ment all that they haue done, and that shal neuer come to an ende. Esay sayth also: Their fire shall neuer bee quenched. Therefore, (as our Sauiour Christ biddeth vs in the Gospell) lette vs take vayne to agree with our aduer­sarie whyles wee are in the way with him: that is to say with the woorde of God which doth euer more reprehende vs, and is al­waye agaynst vs. For if we wil not looke circumspective, and a­gree with it, wee shall be cast in­to the pryson of hell, and shall not departe from thence, vntyll wee haue payed the vttermost Far­thyng, which is not possible for vs to doe, and therfore must we abyde there for euer.

These twoo maner of people sayeth the scripture, shall yeelde [Page] these accomptes, and it is to bee vnderstande of them, and tou­cheth them onely which will not heare God, but despyse his com­maundements, and will not liue after them. Nowe haue ye estee­med and valued Iesus Chryste and his merites to little for thē, not seeking health onely by him, but bring in their merites, and hope to bee saued by them. Ther­fore shall they for euer be deiecte and forsaken of God, and hys sonne Iesus Christ: hauing no helpe to gyue this accomptes so terrible, but them selues onely, and too satisfye it withoute the helpe or comforte of anye other man, as reason is. Therefore let vs gyue diligence so long as we are yet in this lyfe, too agree and accorde with the worde of God which is oure contrepartie, and to liue after it as nyghe as wee [Page] can, exercising our fayth in the same word and encreasing it frō day to day in porfyte loue & cha­ritie of our neyghbours without ypocrisie, with full purpose and intention so to remayne.

And if it chaunce at any tyme that wee doo fall or slippe & fynd no remedie in vs too fulfyll the worde, wee may not for that bee discouraged or dispayre but be­leeue that Christ Iesus is sette and ordayned to accomplishe it for vs, as wee haue hearde suffi­ciently here before, taking all our iniquities vpō him with so great a passion and death, not onely for vs, but for all men that beleeue in his worde, and trust surely in him, for these shall not come into iudgement or gyue any accomp­tes, but are passed already (as sayeth oure Sauyoure) from death vnto lyfe. This is suffici­ent [Page] for the second Article.

¶ The thyrd Article.

THe third artycle or cause wherefore wee dye not with a good will, is (as we sayd before) ignorāce which is that wee knowe not, neyther are sure whether wee shall goe after we be dead. Vpon the which poynt we shal not need to speake much vnto them that vnderstande the two fyrst arty­cles, for this foloweth the other two of necessitie. But they y^t are not instruct in the other twoo, & know not, neither wil know this present faith, I can not tell howe to satisfye suche people too cause them bel [...]u [...]. And I would fayn aske t [...]em if they haue any faith in God, or if they beleeue that there is a God, and that there [Page] is an other lyfe euerlasting after this, or if they beleeue that God hath created them to such a lyfe, and ordayned them to dwel eter­nall with him after this lyfe, I suppose they woulde saye yea.

Neuerthelesse, as they perceyue no faulte in them, and as they feele no sinne in theyr conscienc [...]: euen so say they, we beleeue that wee shall come to heauen after thys lyfe. And therefore I saye, if they were well taught in the two fyrst poyntes, it shoulde hee no neede to speake much of thys thyrde, for that would followe the other well ynough.

But for the multitude of sim­ple people that are not taught in the twoo fyrst Artycles, beinge from their youth learned and ac­customed to stande in feare and dreade of the greeuous daye of Iudgemente and death, some­tyme [Page] by hell, sometyme by pur­gatorie, and sometyme troubled with the feare of the deuill, and howe hee shall assayle vs at the houre of death, and thorowe the terrible death it self and the payn therof, of gyuing a strate accōpts of a rigourous Iudge, and suche lyke doctrynes. For these I say, for the consolacion of the igno­raunt, and for the confirmacion of this thyrde poynte, wee shall bringe forth authorities of holye Scripture.

And it is to be noted, that these Doctours and preachers which haue on this manner taught the people, and knowe no waye too bringe them to well doeinge and to lyue vertuously, but by such a feare, they greatly erred, & haue bin to long themselues out of the ri [...]ht way, to leade the people of [Page] God, and to make a true Chry­sten manne, for by this meanes they haue brought farther from God, all them that they haue taught.

The true way was once and is yet, that ought and is bounde to leade the people to the loue of God fyrste and before all other thinges. Euen as the first com­maundement sayeth: That wee shall loue our Lorde God aboue all thinges, with all our hart. &c. For why, hee is euermore oure deare Father, and wee are al­wayes his children and heyers, so longe as wee are found in the fauour of Iesu Christ his sonne, and in good purpose to liue from henceforth after the will of oure d [...]are father This is the fyrste stone and foundacion that ought to be [...] pr [...]c [...] vnto the pe [...]ple, an [...] gyue them [...]o vnd [...]rsta [...]de, [Page] and made to beleeue. And than, all that is founde in the Scrip­ture correspondent to this, that is to say vnto the sonne of God, should bee declared for the in­crease of fayth and trust in God, & loue of our neighbours, which immediately foloweth the loue of God.

One maye preache vnto mee long ynough of hell, of the deuil, of gyuing a strayte accomptes, of a rygourous Iudge and suche lyke thinges, or [...]u [...]r I can haue a loue to God, for they should ra­ther make mee draw backe from God and bringe me to haue s [...]ch a conceyte, that I should bee al­wayes af [...]y e of God willing­ly to abyde s [...]ll [...] this lyfe, or els to dye as beast [...]s doe in body and soule, and so by that meanes to escape death-h [...]ll, the Deuill, and that dreadful accompts also [Page] in the day of iudgement.

Therefore, I say, wee muste beginne on an other facion too make a Christen man In shew­ing him the grace, fauoure, loue, with the kind and fatherly mer­cy of GOD our Father. Also that the same deare Father of ours, besydes that hee doth par­don oure synnes, (as is before sayde) hee dissembleth and ma­keth as though hee sawe not our euill inclination to synne, when wee are so strongly assayled a­gaynst our mynde and will-r [...]kening them all satisfied & payde, in and by the merites and bitter passion of his deare sonne Iesus Christe. So that by these mea­nes there is nowe neyther synne nor death, deuill, nor hell, nor a­ny other thing that can disturbe any other thing that can giue vs a [...]y more dread or feare.

For after that ye know what sinne is takē alway, what dread or feare can death make? yee see now that death bringeth greate profyte, in so muche that it sen­deth you vnto an other lyfe that is much better then this is. And it serueth you for this purpose, to kyll your sinfull fleshe, so that it can not let you nor drawe you any more vnto synne, that ye be­inge deliuered from that, may of­fende GOD no more, but maye wethout let or impediment serue him for euer.

Moreouer, when sinne is for­gyuen and Chryste Iesus hathe taken it vppon him, what can all the Deuils of hell do to you? yea hell it selfe, what can it doe? And if Hell can doe nothynge, what can Purgatory doe? If there were anye suche as wee haue feared so greatlye thys [Page] many yeares? which Purgato­rie, thoughe it bee but onely an Imaginacion of false ypocrites, and no fyer in verye deede, yet many menne stand in more feare of it, then of the fyre of hell, s [...] e­uill are wee instruct and taught, but oure synnes haue deserued it.

For to saye then some thinge for the consolacion of the simple, and to confirme this present Ar­ticle: euery Christen man ought to knowe that the very naturall, death is no other thing of it selfe but a dreame or sleepe, and one dyeth euen as it were a man that sleepeth. So that, as a man doth sleepe without payne: euen so shall death comme, when it plea­seth our Lorde, and bringe wyth it no payne or sorrowe, for that doth alwayes the sicknes bring, which commeth with death, and [Page] one mans death is more payne­full then an other, euen after as the disease or sicknes is.

It is of a truth and a natu­rall thing, that the soule and the body departe not willingly asun­der, but would fayne abyde styll ioyned togyther one with immortalitie and bee sente into an other lyfe without departinge the one from the other, as Saint Paule sayeth. And as touching oure nature, wee can not depart from thys lyfe, withoute great feare and terrour, for suche separacion of the body and soule which wer so naturallye ioyned togyther of God in one naturall knot.

But a true Christen manne, whiche is nowe an other man­ner of thynge then a pure Na­turall man and sauoureth other­wyse then a very carnall man, (whiche Christen man hathe [Page] knowledge also of his maker and of him selfe) knoweth vnto what ende hee is ordeyned, not for too lyue here as hee liueth now, but to liue aboue eternally with hys Creatour and God. And this is the will and ordinance of GOD in vs all, that wee must fyrst die in our body, and afterwarde im­mortally to ryse agayne, and so liue with him for euermore. And therefore hee him selfe would go before and dye, and would be the fyrst that rose from death.

So that a Christen man, which knoweth this to bee euen so, and beleeueth it stedfastlye, pleaseth GOD very well, and followeth his Mayster willing­ly: First to death, and after vn­too the resurrection, accordynge vntoo the good mynde and or­dinaunce of God.Ioan. 8 And it shall come vnto him as Christ saieth, [Page] hee that keepeth my worde shall neuer see death, so that suche a personne shall not see, nor taste death at all, hauinge onely his eyes and his hart vnto the other lyfe, and to such an eternal frui­cion of God, whereto hee know­eth that hee is made and orday­ned, therefore vpon Gods word and promises is all his hope and trust.

To this I councell you, suffer no man to bringe you into anye terrible feare or dreade of death, for of a truthe it is not fearefull vnto a faythful Christen to whō wee write, or at the least whiche labour to bee such and to comme thereto, we speak not vnto them that haue but onely the name.

It is very true, that an vn­beleeuynge personne, or a false Christen man hath at his death, terrible feare, seeinge that all [Page] his lyfe longe hee hathe greate dreade that hee shall bee seperate eternally from the face of God, and wayteth for the paynes of hell which surely he thinketh for to haue.

But death bringeth him not this, for it commeth of his sinful­nes and remorse of conscience, & of the infidelitie and desperation which hee hath, for hee seeth now that such terrible feare commeth vpon his necke, which as longe as hee liued, hee would not be­leeue, nor passe vpon it, but nowe is commeth vppon him, and ap­procheth a pase. Therefore must hee now beleeue it when hee be­gineth to taste the terroure and deed, with the payne also whiche the sickness [...] bring [...]th.

Is it any maruayll then that suche people looke fayntlye in t [...]eir rages and raues, and many [Page] tymes piteousely discomfort thē­selues at theyr ende, whiche bee­ing desperate, dye without anye hope or succoure? And when many men heare or see that famine folkes dye on this man [...]er▪ they laye all the faute vntoo death, which they ought to ascribe vn­to the conscience and sickenes.

And this is the cause that death is described and painted so terri­bly and with so grimme a face or visage. But what belongeth this vnto a true and faythf [...]l [...] Christē man? truely nothing at all, for hee seeth that all is otherwyse, he knoweth that his Conscience is in God, and set sure in his word, so confortable, h [...]e beleueth that thorow Iesu Christ, his synnes are forgyuen and pardoned him, and that hee is the chylde of GOD, and heyre of eter­nall lyfe, hopinge surely that hee [Page] shall chaunge this presente lyfe for an other, whiche is without comparison better, and spea­keth not of any feare or dread of death.

And if peraduenture ther come vpon him at any time any phan­tasie of sinne, hell, or of the deuil, hee knoweth the way too tourne straight to Iesu Christ, and set him before his eyes, after the maner as hath ben ofte sayd here before, so shall such a phantasie vanishe awaye by and by. Ney­ther hath hee any other melan­colye or greefe, but onely such as his syckenes doth cause him too haue.

Death at his houre commeth vnto him (as is afore sayd) with­out any feare or greefe, euen like a dreame, or as a man whiche when hee sleepeth canne not tell that hee is sleepinge. So deeth [Page] hee sleepe and reste in the Lorde. As wee fynde written of dyuers holy men, which in their depar­ting and death, haue sweetelye slepte in the LORD, and as wee see dayly in the departynge of many good men, whiche dye as peaceably, as they sleepe na­turally.

Now it is conuenient that we speake of our mansion after this death, accordinge to holy scrip­ture, that wee may see what it sayeth thereof. Fyrst, S. Paule sayeth: Though oure outwarde man (that is to saye our bodye) doe perishe and dye,2. Cor. 5 yet the in­warde man is renewed daye by daye. For our exceeding tribula­cion, which is momentanye and lyght, prepareth an eternall glo­ry vnto vs, whyle we looke not on the things which are sene, but on thinges which are not seene, [Page] for things which are seene, are temporall, and thinges whiche are not seene, are eternall. Wee knowe (sayeth hee) that if oure earthy mansion, that is our body were destroyed wee haue a buil­ding ordeyned of God, and habi­tacion not made with mannes handes, but eternall in heauen.

And therefore sygh we, desiring to be clothed with oure mansion which is from heauen: if it hap­pen that wee bee found clothed and not naked, for as longe as wee are in the habitacion of oure body, wee syghe and are greeued for wee would not bee vnclothed that mortalitie might be swalowed vp of lyfe. But hee (say [...]th S. Paule) that hath ord [...]yned vs vntoo this thynge is GOD, which of himselfe hath giuen vn­to vs the earnest of his spirite: wee are alwaye of good cheere, [Page] and knowe well that as longe as we are in this bodye, wee are absent from God, for we walke by fayth in him, and not by visi­ble thinges. Neuertheles, wee are of good comfort, and had ra­ther be absent from the body, and to bee present with GOD, here was the harte of a true christen, that spoke on this maner. And so ought a Preacher to teach other men, that they may knowe God, Christ, themselues, and the ve­ry true pro [...]ssion of their Bap­tisme: so that they maye hau [...] a better will to depar [...]e he [...]ce, and to bee deliuered from this styn­king fl [...]she. And so ought euery man too exam [...]ne him s [...]lfe, if hee haue suche a desyre or no, for so much as hee l [...]cketh of s [...]che a will or d [...]sire, so farre is [...]ee off from a true christen man.

Saynct Paule sayeth [...]ore­ouer: [Page] ye are nowe no more stran­gers or pylgrymes, but citizens with the Sainctes, and of the houshold of God, buylded vpon the foundacion of the Apostles and Prophetes by IESVS Christ. He sayth also in an other place: yee ar come vnto y^e mount Syon, and to the Citie of the ly­uing God the celestiall Hierusa­lem, and to innumerable sight of Angels, and to the congregation of the first borne sonnes, whiche are written in heauen, and too God the Iudge of all, and to the Spirits of good and parfit men, and to Iesus Christ the media­tor of the newe Testament.

Haue wee not nowe spoken playne ynough of our mansions after this mortall lyfe? that is to saye, that we shall bee of the housholde of God,Heb. xii Citezens and possessours of eternall lyfe, with [Page] and innumerable nombre of An­gelles and Sainctes, and that we shall remayne and possesse e­ternally the kingdome of heauē, and the Citie of the liuing God, that celestiall Hierusalem, whervnto Iesus Christ him self shall call vs at the day of iudgement,Mat. 25 saying: come ye blessed children of my father, possesse the kinge­dome of heauen, which was pre­pared for you before the begyn­ning of the world: hee hath also promised that hee is gone before vs to prepare vs a place, & will come agayne for vs, and take vs with him, to the intēt that wheras hee is, wee may bee also eter­nally: who would nowe knowe more of the place or beinge after this lyfe: are we not contente w^t the mansion of god whereas his son hath prepared vs a place? by [Page] whom and in whome wee shall perpetually be one with God.

Therefore such a place or a­bydynge must needes exceede all other places, and lodginges that a man can thinke or his hart can ymagine. For there was neuer tonge yet that was able to speak it, neyther shall hee, as Sayncte Paule sayeth, and as Esay sayd long tyme before: No eye hathe seene, nor eare hearde, neyther hath it entred into the harte of a man, what God hathe prepared for them that loue him. Vnto the which ioye we pray him to leade and conduit vs of his only grace and mercy in Iesu Chryste, tho­rowe the knowledge of him and of his woorde, and fulfyllynge of his will, now and euer.

AMEN.