The prayse of holy scripture . VNto a Christian man , there can be nothynge , either more necessarie , or profitable , then the knowledge of holy scripture : forasmuche , as in it , is conteyned Gods true word , settyngefurth his glorie , and also mannes duetie . And there is no truth , The perfeccion of holy scripture . nor doctrine , necessary for our iustificacion , and euerlastyng saluacion , but that is , ( or may be ) drawen out of that fountain , and welle of truth . The knowledge of holy Scripture is necessary . Therfore , as many as be desirous , to entre into the right and perfect way vnto God , must applie their myndes , to knowe holy scripture , without the which , they can neyther sufficiently knowe God and his will , To whom the knowlege of holy scripture is sweete & pleasaunt . neither their office and duetie . And as drynke is pleasaunt to them , that be drie , and meat to them that be hungery : so is the readyng , hearyng , searchyng ▪ and studiyng of holy scripture , to theim that be desirous to knowe God , or them selfes , and to do his will . Who be enemies to holye scripture . And their stomackes onely , do lothe and abhorre the heauenly knowledge , and foode of Gods word , that be so drouned in worldly vanities that they neither sauor God , nor any Godlines : For that is the cause why they desire suche vanities , rather then the true knowledge of God . An apte similitude , declaryng of whom the scripture is abhorred As they that are sicke of an ague , whatsoeuer they eate or drinke ( though it bee neuer so pleasaunt ) yet it is as bitter to theim , as wormewoode , not for the bitternesse of the meat , but for the corrupt and bitter humor , that is in their awne toungue and mouth : euen so is the swetenesse of Gods woorde , bitter , not of it self , but onely vnto them that haue their myndes corrupted with long custome of synne , and loue of this world . Therfore ,

An e●hortacion vnto the diligent readynge , hearynge , & searchinge of the holy scriptures .

Matth. iiii .

THe holy Ghost , in writing the holy scripture , is in nothinge more diligent , then to pulle doune mannes vainglory , and pride , whiche , of all vices , is most vniuersally grafted in al mankynd , euen from the first infection of our first father Adam . And therfore , we reade in many places of scripture , many notable lessons against this old rooted vice , to teache vs the moste commendable vertue of humilitie , how to knowe our selfes , and to remembre , what we be of our selfes . In the boke of Genesis , Gene. iii. almighty God geueth vs al , a title & name in our great graund father Adam , which ought to admonish vs al , to considre what we be , wherof we be , from whence we came , & whether we shal , saiyng thus : in the sweat of thy face , shalt thou eate thy bread , til thou be turned again into the ground : for out of it wast thou taken , in asmuch as thou art dust , & into dust shalte thou be turned again . Here ( as it wer in a glasse ) we may learne to know our selfes , to be but grounde , earth , & asshes , & that to earth and asshes , we shall returne .

Also , the holy patriarche Abraham , did well remembre this name and title , dust , earth , and asshes , appoynted and assigned by God , to all mankynde : and therfore he calleth hymself by that name , when he maketh his earnest praier for Sodome and Gomore . And we read , that Iudith , Hester , Iudith . iiii . and .ix. Iob xlii . Hier. vi . & ▪ xxv Iob ▪ Hieremie , with other holy men and women , in the old Testament , did vse sacke cloth , and to cast dust and asshes , vpon their heddes , when they bewailed their synfull liuyng . They called & cried to God for help and mercye , with suche a ceremonie of sacke clothe , duste and asshes , that thereby thei might declare to the whole worlde , what an humble and lowly estimacion thei had of themselfes , & how well thei remembred their name & title aforesayd , their vile , corrupt fraile nature , dust , earth , and asshes . The boke of wisedom also , ●ap●en . vi●. willing to pul doune our proude stomackes , moueth vs diligently to remember our mortall and earthly generacion , whiche we haue all of hym , that was firste made : and that all men , aswell kynges as subiectes , come into this worlde , and go out of the same in lyke sorte , that is , as of our selfes full miserable , as we may dayly see . And almightye God commaunded hys prophet Esaie , to make a proclamacion , Esai . ●● and crie to the whole worlde : and Esaie askinge , what shall I crie ? The Lorde aunswered , crie , that all fleshe is grasse , and that al the glory of man therof , is but as the floure of the felde : when the grasse is withered , the floure falleth away , when the wynd of the Lord bloweth vpon it . The people surely is grasse , the which drieth vp , and the floure fadeth awaye . And the holy prophete Iob , hauyng in himself great experience of the miserable and sinful estate of man , doth open the same to the world , in these wordes . Man ( saith he ) that is borne of a woman , liuyng but a short tyme , Iob. xiiii . is ful of manifold miseries : he spryngeth vp like a floure , & fadeth again , vanishyng awaye , as it wer a shadowe ▪ and neuer continueth in one state . And doest thou iudge it mete , ( o Lorde ) to open thyne eyes vpon suche a one , and to bring hym to iudgement with the ? Who can make hym cleane , that is conceiued of an vncleane seede ? And all men of their euilnesse and natural pronesse , wer so vniuersally geuen to synne , that ( as the scripture saith ) God repented that euer he made man . Ge. v. ● . vi . And by synne , hys indignacion was so muche prouoked against the worlde , that he drouned all the worlde with Noes floud ( except Noe hymself , and hys litle housholde . ) It is not without greate cause , that the scripture of God , doeth so many tymes call all men here in this worlde , by this woorde : yearth . O thou yearth , yearth , yearth , sayth Ieremie : Hiere . xxi●● . heare the worde of the Lord . This our right name , vocacion , & title , yearth , yearth , yearth , pronounced by the Prophete , sheweth what wee bee in deede , by whatsoeuer other stile , title , or dignitie , men do call vs . Thus he plainly named vs , who knoweth best , both what we be and what we ought of right to be called . And thus he describeth vs , speakyng by hys faithfull Apostle S. Paule : all men , Iewes , and Gentiles , Roma . iii. are vnder syn : ther is none righteous , no , not one : ther is none that vnderstandeth , there is none that seketh after God , thei are al gone out of the way , thei are all vnprofitable : ther is none that doth good , no , not one : their throte is an open sepulchre , with their tongues they haue vsed craft & deceipt , the poyson of serpentes is vnder their lippes , their mouth is full of cursing and bitternes , their fete are swift to shed bloud destruccion and wretchednes are in their waies , and the way of peace , haue thei not knowen : there is no feare of God before their eyes . Roma . xi . And in another place S. Paule writeth thus : Galat. iii. God hath wrapped all nacions in vnbelefe , that he might haue mercy on all . The scripture concludeth all vnder synne , Ephe ii . that the promyse by the faith of Iesus Christ , should be geuen vnto theim that beleue . S. Paule in many places , painteth vs out in our colours , callyng vs the children of the wrath of God , when we be borne : saiyng also , that we cannot thinke a good thought of our selfes , muche lesse we can saye wel , or do wel of our selfes . And the wiseman saieth in the boke of Prouerbes : Pro. xxiiii . the iust man falleth seuen times a day . The most tried & approued man Iob , feared all hys workes . S. Ihon the Baptist , Luke . i beynge sanctified in his mothers wombe , and praised before he was borne , called an Aungell , & great before the lord , replenished euen from his birthe with the holy Ghost , the preparer of the way for our sauior Christ , and commended of our sauior Christ , to be more then a prophet , & the greatest that euer was borne of a woman : yet he plainly graunteth , that he had nede to be wasshed of Christ : he worthely extolleth and glorifieth his Lorde and master Christ , Matth. iii. and humbleth hymself , as vnworthy to vnbuckle his showes , and geueth all honor and glory to God . So doth s. Paule , bothe oft and euidently confesse himself , what he was of himself , euer geuyng ( as a moste faithfull seruaunt ) all praise to his master and sauior . So doth blessed s. Ihon the Euangelist , i. Ihon. ● . & . ●● . in the name of hymself , and of all other holy men ( be they neuer so iust ) make this open confession : if we saye , we haue no synne , we deceyue oure selfes , and the truthe is not in vs : if we knowledge our synnes , God is faithful and iust , to forgeue vs our synnes , and to clense vs from al vnrighteousnes : if we saye , we haue not sinned , we make hym a liar , and hys worde is not in vs . Wherfore the Wiseman in the boke called Ecclesiastes , Eccle. vii . maketh this true & generall confession : there is not one iust man vpon the earth , that doeth good , and synneth not . And s. Dauid is ashamed of hys synne , but not to confesse his synne . How oft , how earnestly , Psalm li. & lamentably doth he desire gods great mercy , for his great offences , & that God should not entre into iudgement with him . Psal. xxlii . And agayn , how well weigheth thys holy man his synnes , when he confesseth , that they bee so many in numbre , and so hid , and hard to vnderstande , that it is in maner vnpossible , to knowe , vtter , Psal. xix . or numbre them . Wherfore , he hauing , a true , earnest , and depe contemplacion and consideracion of his sinnes , and yet not commyng to the botome of them , he maketh supplicacion to God , to forgeue him , his priuy , secret his sinnes : to the knowledge of the which , he can not attein vnto . He weigheth rightly his sinnes , from the original roote , & spring hed , perceiuing inclinacions prouocacions , stirrynges , stingynges , buddes , braunches , dregges , infeccions , tastes , felinges , and sentes of them , to continue in hym still . Wherfore he saith : marke & behold , I was conceiued in synnes : Psalm. li. he saith not , sinne , but in the plural numbre , sinnes , forasmuch as out of one ( as fountayn ) spryngeth all the reste .

And our sauior Christ saieth : Marke . x. Luke . xviii Ihon. xv . Luke . xvi● . there is none good but God : and that we can do nothyng that is good , without hym : nor no man can come to the father , but by hym . He commaundeth vs all to saye , that we be vnprofitable seruauntes , when we haue done al that we can do . Luke . xviii . He preferreth the penitent Publicane , before the proude , Matth. ix . holy , & glorious Pharisey . He calleth hymself a phisicion , but not to them that be whole , but to them that be sicke , and haue nede of his salue for their sore . He teacheth vs in oure prayers , to reknowledge our selfes sinners , & to aske forgeuenes and deliueraunce from all euilles , at our heauenly fathers hande . He declareth that the synnes of oure awne hartes , Matth. xii . do defile our awne selfes . He teacheth that an euill worde or thought , deserueth condempnacion , Matth. xv . affirmyng , that we shall geue an accompte , for euery idle worde . He saieth , he came not to saue , but the shepe that were vtterly lost , and cast away . Therfore fewe of the proude , iust , learned , wise , perfect , and holy Phariseis , were saued by him , because thei iustified themselfes , by their counterfeit holynes before men . Wherefore ( good people ) let vs beware of suche hypocrisy , vainglory , and iustifiyng of our selfe . Let vs loke vpon our fete , and then , doune pecockes fethers , doune proude harte , doune vile clay frayle and britle vessels . Of our selfes , we be crabbe trees , that can bryng furth no apples . We be of our selfes , of suche yearth , as can brynge furthe but wedes , netles , brambles , briers , cocle and darnell . Oure fruites be declared in the ▪ v. Chap. to the Gala. Galat. v. We haue neither faith , charitie , hope , pacience , chastitie , nor any thyng els that good is , but of God : & therfore , these vertues be called there , the fruites of the holy Ghost , and not the fruites of man . Let vs therfore , acknowledge our selfes before God , ( as we be in dede ) miserable and wretched synners . And let vs earnestly repent , and humble our selfes hartely , and crie to God for mercye . Let vs all confesse with mouthe and harte , that we be full of imperfeccions . Let vs know our awn workes , of what imperfeccion they be , & then we shall not stande foolishly , and arrogantly , in our awne conceiptes , nor chalenge any part of iustificacion , by our merites or workes . For truly , there be imperfeccions in our best workes : we do not loue God so much as we are bounde to do , with all our hart , mynd , and power : we do not feare God , so muche as we ought to do : we do not praye to God , but with greate and many imperfeccions : we geue , forgeue , beleue , liue , and hope vnperfectly : we speke , thinke , & do vnperfectly : we fight agaynst the deuill , the worlde , and the fleashe , vnperfectly . Let vs therfore , not be ashamed to confesse plainly , our state of imperfeccion : yea , let vs not be ashamed to confesse imperfeccion , euen in all our awne best workes . Let none of vs be ashamed , to say with holy s. Peter . I am a sinfull man . Luke . v. Psalm. ●vi . Let vs al saye with the holy prophet Dauid : we haue synned with our fathers , we haue doen amisse , & dealt wickedly . Let vs all make open confession , with the prodigal sonne to our father , and saye with hym : we haue synned agaynst heauen , and before the , Luke . xv . ( O father ) we are not worthy to be called thy sonnes . Let vs al saye , Baruch . ●i . with holy Baruch : O Lorde our God , to vs is worthily ascribed shame and confusion , & to the , righteousnes : We haue synned , we haue doen wickedly , we haue behaued our selfes vngodly , in all thy righteousnes . Daniel . ●i . Let vs al saie with the holy prophet Daniell : O Lorde , righteousnes belongeth to the , vnto vs belongeth confusion . We haue synned , we haue bene naughtie , we haue offended , we haue fled from the , we haue gone backe from al thy preceptes , and iudgementes . So we learne of all good men in holy scripture , to humble our selfes : and to exalt , extoll prayse , magnifie , and glorifie God .

Thus we haue heard , how euill we be of our selfes : how , of our selfes , and by our selfes , we haue no goodnes , helpe , nor saluacion : but contrariwise , synne , dampnacion , and death euerlastynge : whiche , if we depely weigh & consider , we shall the better vnderstande the great mercy of God , and how our saluacion commeth onely by Christ . ●● . Cor. iii. For in our selfes ( as of our selfes ) we find nothing , wherby we may be deliuered from this miserable captiuitie , into the which we were caste , throughe the enuie of the deuill , by transgressing of Gods commaundement , in our first parent Adam . Psal ● . We are all become vncleane , but we all are not able to clense our selfes , nor to make one another of vs cleane . Ephe. ii . We are by nature , the children of Gods wrathe , but we are not able to make oure selfes the children , and inheritors of Gods glorye . We are sheepe that ronne astraie , but we cannot of our awn power , ● . Pet. ii . come agayn to the shepefold , so great is our imperfeccion & weakenes . In our selfes therfore maye not we glorie , which ( of our selfes ) are nothyng but synfull : Neither we maye reioyse , in any woorkes that we do , which al be so vnperfect & vnpure , that thei are not able to stande , before the righteous throne of God , as the holy Prophete Dauid saieth : Psal. ●xliii . entre not into iudgement with thy seruaunt , O Lorde , for no man that liueth shal be found righteous in thy sight . To God therfore , muste we flee , or els shall we neuer finde peace , rest and quietnesse of conscience in our hartes . ii . Corin. i. For he is the father of mercies , and God of all consolacion . He is the Lorde , with whom is plenteous redempcion . He is that God which of his awne mercie saueth vs , Psalm. cxxx . and setteth out his charitie , and exceding loue towardes vs , in that of his awne voluntary goodnesse , when we wer perished , he saued vs , and prouided an euerlastyng kyngdom for vs . And all these heauenly treasures , are geuen vs , not for our awne desertes , merites , or good deedes ( whiche , of our selfes wee haue none ) but of his meere mercie , frely . And for whose sake ? Truely , for Iesus Christes sake , that pure and vndefiled lambe of GOD . He is that dearely beloued sonne , for whose sake , god is fully pacified , satisfied and sette at one with man . He is the lambe of God , Ihon. i. whiche taketh awaie the synnes of the worlde : of whom onely , it maie be truely spoken , i. Peter . ii . that he did al thynges well , & in his mouthe was founde no craft nor subtilitie . None but he alone , maie saie , Ihon. xiiii the Prince of the worlde came : and in me he hath nothyng . And he alone maie saie also : Ihon. viii . whiche of you shall reproue me of any faulte ? Hebre. vii . He is that high and euerlastyng priest , whiche hath offered hymself once for all , vpon the aulter of the Crosse , and with that one oblacion , hath made perfect for euermore , them that are sanctified . He is the alone mediator , i. Ihon. ii . betwene God and man , whiche paied our raunsome to God , with his awne bloud , and with that hath he clensed vs all from synne . He is the Phisicion , whiche healeth al our diseases . He is that sauior , Matthew i. whiche saueth his people from all their synnes . To be shorte , he is that flowyng , Ihon ● . & moste plenteous fountain , of whose fulnesse ▪ all we haue receiued . For in hym alone , are all the treasures of the wisedom , and knowledge of God hidden . And in hym , and by hym , haue wee from God the father , all good thynges , perteinyng either to the body , or to the soule . O howe muche are wee bounde , to this our heauenly father , for his greate mercies , whiche he hath so plenteously declared vnto vs , in Christe Iesu our Lorde and sauior ? What thankes worthy and sufficient can we geue to him ? Let vs all with one accorde , burste out with ioyfull voyces , euer praisyng and magnifiyng this Lorde of mercy , for his tendre kyndnesse shewed to vs in his derely beloued sonne , Iesus Christ our lord .