FOr so much as God hath constitute me a creature reasonable , Gene. ij . Psal. xv and indued me wyth an vnderstandynge , I am naturally desyerouse to knowe , to what ende I am created .

Than wyl it be necessary for yow to haue fayth . For he that shal haue a do with god or with godlynesse , Hebr. xi . Ioan. iij must fyrste of all beleue after the sacred scrypturs .

Than tel me whatfaith is , by those same sacred scriptures .

Hebr. xi . Gal. iiij . After the saynge of S. Paule , it is a certen assuraunce of godly thynges , whyche we trust vnto , and a grounded euydence in the sprete of heauenvly causes that neuer are seane with the eye .

What suppose ye moste fytt to dyrect me in thys faythe .

The eternall Testament or Gospell of Iesus Christ , for that is the power of the Lorde into saluacyon to all them that beleue . Apo. xiiij Roma . i. What shal I esteme the tradicions of men besides that gospel ?

The leuen of Pharisees , chaffe , Ihon xvij Luce. xij Mat. xiij Sa. xiiij . cockle , tares , stubble , swylle , swines draffe ydelnesse , ydolatry , whordome of the sprete , fylthynesse , false worshyppynge , the call of straungers , the fearfull curse of God and abhomiuacion standing in the holy place . Ihon .iiij and .x. ma. xxiiij

Whan was this gospel first taught

Sone after the worldes beginning , whan Adam had ones offended , least he shulde haue fallen into vtter dispair and so haue bene lost for ener.

Gene. iij Gala. iij And hath the Gospell contynued euersens to the confort of manne ?

Yea , truly hath it , & oft sens that time bene confirmed by more earnest promises from age to age , tyll that meke lambe come , Gen. xxij Psalm. cxxxi . Ihon .i. i. Petr. i. Luce. 1. Ma. xxij Luc. xiiij . whyche toke awaye the synnes of the worlde , thorough the shedynge of his most innocent bloud . For the scrypture sayth , that hys mercye was plenteouse , from kyndrede to kyndred to them that feared the Lord .

Hath all menne bene called to grace by that Gospell of saluacyon ?

Yea doubtlesse haue they , yet haue they not al thankefully receyued it . So well was it taught of our fyrste father Adam to Cain , Ge. iiij . Gen. vi as to Abel . So wel to the fleshely chyldren of menne as to the ghostly chyldren of God . So well ded Noe preache it vnto Cham , as vnto Sem and Iapheth . Gen. ix . Ge. xxi . Exo. v. ij . re. xiij iij. Reg. xviij . So well ded Abraham shewe it to Ismael , as to Isaac . So well Moyses to Pharao , as to the people of Israel . Dauid to Amnon , and Absolon , as to Salomon , & Nathan . Helias to Achab & Iesabel , as to the moste faythfull beleuers . No lesse ded Christ open therof to Iudas , than to Peter Iohan , & Iames. And so forth the Apostles with other true preachers to this present day , Mat. x. Act. viij Rom. i. so that non is without excuse ,

How cometh it then to passe , that so many are lost , and still yet doth dayly peryshe through their lewde conuersacyon Hiere . l. and lycencyouse lyuyng .

Rom. i. ij . Co. xi ij . Tes. ij No faute can be ascribed to the Gospel , but to their vnthankeful receiuing of the frutes therof , so frely offered them , as I sayd afore . The disdayneful spurninge a syde or throwinge at their tayles of that necessary health in Christ is cause of their decaye , and not the set ordinaunce of God , whych willeth all menne to be saued .

If Adam thus receyued thys gospel , i. Tim. ij Gene. iij & so taught it vnto his posterite , it hath continued much longer then I supposed .

The gospell is as that Lord is , euerlasting . Apa . xiiij Ihon .i. ps. cxviij For as wytnesseth the Apostle saynt Iohn . In the beginninge was the word , & the word was with God , & God was that word .

Then was not Mathew the fyrst wryter therof wyth the other Euangelistes , as the popyshe churche hath taught vs ?

No , God wrote it fyrst in the naturall hart of man , Heb. viij Luc. xvi . & so yt remained here styll tyll Moyses and the prophetes ded leaue it in outward wrytinge to the peoples farder erudicyon . i. Cori. x. Exo. xvij Mat. xvi For as S. Paule doeth wytnesse , all they ded eate from the first beginninge of one spiritual meate & dranke of one spiritual drynke , that harde rocke folowinge them which was Iesus christ . And this is a clere token that one gospel hath reigned in the people of god sence that worldes beginninge .

Yonge infantes departinge hence in their chyldehode , Act. vij . Hiere . ix . shoulde seme to be no partyners therof .

How so I pray you ? Sapi. xij What is your reason .

For they neuer haue it taught them . And yf they had , yet shuld it lytle profyght them hauing so smal understanding

God neuer distributeth his gyftes to that measure of age & discression , for then had Annas bene more faythfull then Peter , Iacobi . i Io. xviij mat . xvi and Caiphas more godlye then Iohan. For they were both elder and wyser . As fayth is an vnknowne gyft of God , so is it of hym secretelye ministred . Ephesi. i Galat. v Ioan. ij Luc. i We knowe not from whence it cometh when menne are borne of the spirit . Iohan Baptist knewe Christ in his mothers wombe , & yet had he neither age nor vnderstanding that was sene . God is their secrete instructour & preacher , which taught it first withoute voyce & wrote it without penne in the hydden Psalm cxviij Sap. x Roma . ij hart of man . As the spirite of prophecyded happen vnto menne by the fre gift of god without age , so doth fayth to the infantes . ij . Pet. i. As he gaue that benefyght of his grace to the babe Hieremye , so doth he secretely ministre vnto them that necessarye health of saluacion . Hier. i. He alone made the child Daniel rightlye to iudge the vngodlye . The Apostles spoke not of them selues , Da. xiij . Mat. x. Marci . xvi . but out of the abundaunce of hys eternal spirit also . The aged are left to the outwarde gospell , the chyldren are reserued to Gods secrete workynge . And therfore Christe said vnto hys Apostles suffre the children to come vnto me , Lu. xviij Mar. x. Mat. i. for to them belongeth the kingdome of heauen . Theyr angels are euermore beholdinge the face of my father which is in heauen . Suche secrete doubtes ought not to be moued . Ecc. iij. pro. xxv For nothing perteyne that vnto vs , whych is aboue our compasse .

For the nature , tyme , Za. vij . Esai . v. and passage of this gospel , I am wel satisfied . But now tel me what shal here after become of them whych hath not of all this longe season in the true Ose. ix . feare of god , regarded the swete promises therof ? Rom. i. ij . thes. ij Sa. xvij Matth. xxv .

As they haue in their vnfaythfulnesse here , bene left to them selues to worke al vngodlynesse , and so departed hence with a desperate conscience . So shall they at the latter daye be condempned to eternall fyre wyth the deuyll and hys angels .

Oure mercyfull redemer defende vs from that malediccyon . But what shall moste spedylye brynge me to that Gospel of health ?

The meke knowlege of thy selfe , Act. xv . Luc. iij. Ephe. ij . that thou art of nature the synnefull sonne of Adam , iustlye condempned in his transgression besydes thyne owne wycked doynges , and so lost for euer were not that recouer whiche thou hast in Christe Iesu. Iaco. v. i. Co. xv

Shewe me by what meanes I maye come to that knowlege .

Seke fyrste vnto the lawe , Io. vij . Rom. iij whych the Lorde taught by Moyses , and that shall declare the a synner .

Will the lawe do nothinge els but manifest my synne ?

Yes , Gal. iij. it wyl shewe the also thy condempnacyon .

If these be the only fruites of the lawe , I will not ones beholde it , least I by the searche , therof do fall into dispayre .

Then shalt thu not do wyselye . Rom. v. ij . cor. vij Gala. iij Rom. iij Gala. iij For yf thou know not thy sore , thou shalte not be occasyoned to seke the remedye . When thu hast therfore in that law as in a clere myrrour beholden thy manyfolde mysheues & considered the depe daungers of them , thu shalt of necessite be moued to seke vnto Christe as vnto an onlye relefe , Act. iiij . i. Cor. i. health , confort , peace , attonement , grace , righteousnesse , wysedome & redempcion .

Esa. liij Ioan. i Why , is there non other saluacion , but that which is in Christ ?

No surely frynde , he alone is that lambe , which taketh awaye the synnes of the worlde . ij . Pet. ij Ap. xviij

What shall we then call our spiritual sacrifiars , which saye they delyuer vs from synne wyth their masses , absolucions , blessinges , vnccions , Matth. xxiiij . Luc. xvij Coloss. ij & holy water .

Not sauers but deceyuers , lyke as Christ of them hath prophecyed . Manye seducers ( sayeth he ) shal come in my name and saye : Here is Christe , and there is thy maker . But beware they deceyue you not .

Where shall I then seke to open vnto hym my grefe , and so to haue remedy for my soules disease ?

Not out of thy selfe , i. Io. iiij . i. Cor. vi Luc. xvij Ioan . xiiij to thy soules behoue . For thy faythful hart is the temple of God , or that holy habitacion that Christ hath promised to dwell in . The false worshippers seke him in outwarde thinges , & neuer finde him . Apo. xiij Ioan. iiij But seke thu him in spirite and verite , and thou shalt haue hym present .

Then is he not vnder the deliueraunce of menne , nor yet bounde to their dispensacyon ?

By this your hole protestacion it should seme than vnto me , that I am ordayned of God to this ende . First to acknowlege my selfe a wycked synner , Psal. l. Rom. vi than to aryse from it through true repentaunce , and so to leade a newe lyfe after the gospell , ephe. iiij tyll suche tyme as my eternall father shall wy●saue to call me from this corruptible mansyon , Iob. x. Ro. vij . Ro. viij . thys foren lande , this vale of myserye , this castell of synne , and thys habytacle of deathe , into the eternall heretage of hys sonne Iesus Christe . To whom with the holye ghost be euerlastynge prayse , honour and glorye worlde wythout ende .