IT IS COMMONLY THE CVSstome of men in theyre testamentes , and last wylles to saye I leaue , I bequeath , I geue , wythoute onse sayinge I take or carye wyth me , wherin certes they be farre deceyued , bycause they take that , whyche they ought to leaue be hynde them , and go wythoute caryinge that whych is verye behofefull and necessarye . Wherfore to the entent they shulde no more erre on that behalfe : I wolde we shulde consyder and weyghe how a true Christian shuld make hys wyll .

Men that be either fooles , mad , phrantike , neyther cä , nor yet know how to make a wyll , by reason they haue not wytte to descerne good from euyl , what is theyrs , or what is not , what to take , nor what to restore or bequeath , nor yet to whom nor in what maner . And yf happelye they go about to make theyr testament , it shulde be but vayne and of no force god alloweth it not as a thyng made of a persone witles . Wherfore he that is wyllynge to make a testament effectuall ( as expedient is to him that wyl be saued ) behoueth to haue verye good spirituall iudgement , alyuely faith in Christe , and an vnderstandynge and lyght aboue a naturall man , he must also be the sonne , and lawfull heyre of god .

And then he may saye : I sounde of mynde , and redye of sprite and remembraunce , albeit as touchyng my fleshe secke make my testament , and bequeath fyrst of all my being and substance to god : he gaue it to me and also preserued it , and of hym I recognise to haue it , and for it I render hym thankes , I leaue to hym lykewyse the gyftes , graces benefytes temporal , bodely and gostlye , that I haue hadde , or shall here after receyue : for they be hys , and from him by grace I acknowlege to haue receyued all , as Paule sayeth , what hast thou , that thou hast not receyued at goddes handes . yea for asmoch as al the slanders , mysreportes , persecucions , syckenes , and mysfortunes , which I haue alreadye or shall from hence forth suffer , and euen death selfe , I confesse ( by the vnderstandyng that the Lorde hath geuen me ) that they haue bene and shal be hys gyftes and graces , geuen and graunted of a great loue for my welthe and profyt : wherfore as hys diuine rewardes I Araunt to haue had them of god , for them I thanke hym , and as hys owne I leaue and restore them to hym .

And for so moche as I can not but acknowledge that I haue gone alwayes backewarde from hym so often as I wolde rule my selfe by my blynde iudgemente , folyshe wysdome , and deuelishe sprite neither dyd so moch as go one steppe forth towarde God , but when I was moued , diyuen , and thruste forwarde of his holy sprite . Wherfore I commytte to the hygheste god my most deare father , and to hys gouernance , al the worlde and specially my self : in him ( as I may ) I wyll helpe my selfe wyth myne owne witte , and fredome , namely by makynge it obedient to hym .

Moreouer if euer I haue spoken or shall from hence forth vtter any word , if I haue done or shall do any worke , that is to hym plesaunte if I haue had or after thys tyme shall haue thought desier or wyll , that good is , I geue it to god , and at hys handes I professe that I haue had al my goodnes , so that if it were gods wyll , to take from me all that he hathe geuen me , there shulde in me remayne nothyng but onely synnes : those are myne owne , and all other thyngs be hys .

Thus be my synnes if I shulde go before gods presence . I were but damned , if I were minded to make satisfaction I coulde not , no nor yet any saynte that euer was , ther is none whose loue is so great to take my synnes vppon hym and sat ysfye for them , and appease goddes angre saue Chryst alone , wherfore to hym I bequeth my synnes , I leue to hym my pryde , vnkyndnes , vnbeleue , mistruste , arrogancy , enuy , wrath , ambition and all my vnnumerable wyckednes : I geue to him my euil thoughtes , affections , & desiers : to be short I make one fagott and boundell of all my offences present , past , and to com , and geue them to Christe hauynge sure faythe , and stedfast hope , that he wyll accepte them for hys owne , & hath euen alredy taken them , and for them hath satisfied on the crosse , hys father layed them on hys necke , Esai . 53. and he did not ones agayne say it , but of great loue allowed them for hys , and to consume and burne them in the flame of hys diuine loue , he bore them on hys Innocent shulders vpon the crosse , 1. Petri. 3. ( as peter wryteh ) & so was offred a sacrifice for vs . Now seyng I haue lefte almy synns to Christ , and geuen to god my substance , and beyng , wyth all other gyftes & graces , that he bestowed on me . I remayne naked wythout eyther good or euyl , and truelye to saye , I am rather nothyng , In that I haue restored to god my beynge that I had by creation and byrth .

But for bycause it is impossible that he shuld saue me wythout beinge , and so it is that he wyll saue me , therfore fyrst I carye with me Christ hym selfe , whych is my lyfe . God hath so loued me , 〈◊〉 . 3. that he hath geuen hym selfe to me . For so hath god loued the world , that for theyr synnes he hath geuen vs hys onely begotten sonne . I carye also with me his sprite , that was of his eternall father geuen me of hys most royal liberalytie , as wel declareth Paule , 〈…〉 where he sayeth , god hath sent the sprite of hys sonne into our hertes wherby we crye and call father , father .

And in that he hath geuen me hym , he hath restored me to my selfe and former beinge , with a new substance and nature spirituall , so that for the possibilite of my saluacion , I haue a beinge : but yet lacke I treasure to discharge my great dettes , & to apere rych in goddes sight , in consyderacion whereof I bere wyth me christes watchyng , abstinences , traueyls , prayeres , persecucions , sclanders , I take with me his teares , hys swet , his , blood , and all that euer he did or suffered in thre and thyrtty yeres is myne every deal , and wyth lyuely fayth I embrace it as for myne owne . I carye bysyde this wyth me hys patience , mekenes , loue , and all other his diuine vertues , hys giftes and graces , hys tresurs , and and all that he hath mereted and deseruid , hys lyfe , passyon , death , resurrection & assension be myne , ye all the euer he hath done or shall from henceforth do is myne . and what nedeth more to saye , if god haue geuen vs hys own sonne , how hath not he wyth hym geuen vs all thynges , wherfore wyth faith I embrace my sweete Iesus for myne owne , he is my ryghtwysnes , Corin. 1. wisdome , raunsom , & holynes he is my strength , he is my sprite , my lyght , lyfe , hope , & all my goodnes , euen Christ hymselfe in hys last wyll bequethed me all that he had of the father . wherfore he sayeth , I entertayn you at my table as my father hath vsed me , 〈…〉 as my father hath made me hys heyre so now I ordeyne you , I wyll that as you be my bretherne so you shal be my folowers : And in another place he sayeth I haue loued you , as my father hath loued me sithen I am nouthrough christ so rych of treasures , vertuse , & graces , I shal be hable not onely tosatilfy for my deites , but also to purchase infinite paradise , when soeuer they shal be sould .

Who shal be now either to acuse or condemne me , after that christ hath thus clothed me wyth hys innosency , ryghtwysnes , holynes , loue , with al hys vertuse , graces , treasures , merites , and with hys ownself , I may wyth no lesse boldenes and suretie , than christ , apeare before god , I am hys sonne , as he is , and heyre of heauen , semblably I am innocent as christe is now that he hath satystied for me , and payed my raunsom , and rewarded me wyth hys innocency , Christe sayed , Iohn . 17. I hallow my self that they also may be holye , euen he is our holynes , and we be hys members . wherfore it is as possible for god not to loue me , as it is possible that he shuld not loue christe by reason wherof Paule sayeth who shall deuid me from the loue of god that is in Christe Iesu . Roma. 8. it muste nedes be that he be salued , whych wyth lyuing fayth embraceth Christe for hys owne . And consyderyng that the treasures , and merites of Christ are infinite , and able to enryche a thowsand worldes , I entende not to carye with me any other merites , or spirituall riches , saue those that Christe hath prouyded for me , for they be not onely sufficient for me , but also ouer aboundance and vnmesurable .

Then shuld I do no smal iniuri to Christ , if I shuld search to store my selfe by any other meane or shyfte , although I myght do it neuer so easely , nay rather with Paule wyll I rekenne all other thynges as myre and dyrt so that I haue Christe , Philip. 3. wyth whom alone I wyll appeare before god , and of and by hym wyl I glory and make boast , yea god forbydde , Gala. 6. that I shuld make my auaunte of any thyng , saue of the crosse of our lord Iesu Christ of whome onely hangeth all oure health . And All beit al the sayntes be riche by meane of Christ , neuerthelesse , yf they hadde meanes of theyr owne most plentuose , & wolde geue them to me , yet would I none , my Christe is inough for me , with him had I rather suffer , than take pleasure & ioye without him . It would be a thing pleasaunt to me , yf euery man shulde make prayer to god for me , not bycause I myght purchase , or haue any other treasures than those that I haue of Christ , but that I might by liuely faith euery daye acknowlege possesse and embrace those that I haue receyued of Christe , and count them for myne and so enforme my selfe , I myself were it not by Christe , shulde not know what to aske , for in him is al and with out hym all other thynges be but mere vanitie , only this peticyon I make to hym , that he vouchesafe euery daye to geue me light and vnderstandynge , that I may haue wytte to accounte and take his treasures for nyne owne . Wherfore yf any man wyll praye for me let hym not tarye tyll I be deade , for then I can no more encrease in light and grace . Let him praye nowe , that I may grow in faith and more and more instructe my selfe of Christes ryches . I am well assured that in purgatorye I shal not come , both bicause ther is found no other purgatory but christ in whom at the full be purged and punished al the synnes of the elected , and also bycause in case there were one ) yet Chryste not by my merytes , but by hys mere goodnes dothe satisfie for al my synnes trespasses , & paynes , & for as moch as hope neuer made any man ashamed , nor confounded any persone , Roma . 3 that had it in hys harte ( as Pause wrote ) therfore am I sure and secker that he wyll saue me without other purgacion . We can not promesse our selfes to moch of goddes goodnes , no we neuer can vehete vs so moche , but he wyll recompence moch more . I wyl not suffer therfore that after my lyfe any good be done for me . Truth it is that yf I haue any goodes then must I leaue to the poore flocke of Christ , not bicause they shuld praye for me , that am already saued , but for the vse of other that lyue , & shal be borne , as Christ dyd , ●●on . 17. and also bycause the rather they may lyue godlye , and knowe that they shal neuer lacke that be hys , and putte theyr trust in hym . To whome be alwayes , honour and glory through Iesu Christe our Lorde Amen .

And if haplye he shulde say , it is not sufficient for thy saluacion to beleue in Christe , the behoueth to kepe hys commaundements , thou must loue god wyth all thy harte , and thy neyghboure as thy selfe , and desier nor couet anye thynge worldlye , whych thyngs because thou doest not , ergo , thou art damned , if fayth onlye were inough I also & all the diuels shuld be saued , because ( as yt is wrytten ) euen the deuels beleue & feare . lames . ii . They beleue the god made & created heuen and earth , and that christ came , dyed , rose , ascended in to heuen , that hesent the holy ghost , & that he shal come to iudge the quicke & dead , and yet are not we therfore saued , & that bicause we obserue not his diuine preceptes . wherfore thou also art but lost , he wyll thus labour to bryng the vnder the law , to thinke that thou be iustified not by christ , but by per fourmynge and fulfyllynge of the lawe , to the ende that thou shulde despayre .

But I wyl that thou make answere and say , yf thou dyddest beleue as by goddes grace I beleue : that is , that god for thy wealthe hath created the worlde , and semblably preserueth it , in such sorte that thou couldest fele in the creatures the loue of god , & lykewyse wolde beleue firmely , that Christe came and dyed for thy synnes , for to saue the , and for thy sake & profyt , and in lyke maner of the other articles , thou also shulde be saued , and then , when thou haddest a lyuely feling of the goodnes and loue of god thou woldest loue hym , and thy neyghbour likewyse , & beynge rauished into god woldest beginne to set litle store by the worlde as al good Christen men and women do If it fortune that he say , Deut. xx 7 he is cursed that kepeth not and obserueth the law , wherfore thou art one of myne , saye to him agayne , Gala. 3 for that cause christ dyed on the crosse , Roma . 7 for to delyuer me from all curses , and in somoche as I am all ready of christ I am dead to the law .

Agayn yf he reply esaying , wher be thy workes , wherby thou trusteth to be saued , answere , I trust not to be saued by my workes , for they be soch that yf I shulde haue regarde or respecte to them , I feare me to be damned , yea I were surely ascerteyned of my damnacion . Roma. 8. I hope onelye to be saued by Christ , and hys workes , whyche be myne owne , and so moche rather myne , then they I dyd my selfe , as that the sprite of christ geuen to me is more entyer to me then myne own lyfe or any other thyng .

Further yf he shuld endeuoure to proue the to be none of the electe , by reason of the innumerable , and outragiouse synnes that thou hast committed , for prosperites , or aduersites thou hast had , for the great euils wherin thou arte founde at thy deathe , or for the temtacions thou hast susteyned , sayinge , that god preserueth his elected from the like euels . make hym answer and say : Roma. 3. rather doth god practise them in diuerse soche maners , albeit of euery thynge they be certifyed to the honor of god , thou shalt more ouer say to hym thus . I geue more credite and trust to christ , whiche when he was deade for me on the crosse , tould me I was saued , then to the , that art always alyer and father of erroures . I wyll thou tel hym , how thou geuest more fayth to Christ alone , then to al the reasons and autorities of the worlde : thou may bysyde thys say to hym , the sprite of god bearyth wytnesse to my sprite , Roma. 8. that I am the sonne of god , and to hym must I rather trust then to the. when he shal say , if thou were the sonne of god he woulde not leaue the in souch punishments , as thou art in , but wold giue the some release and easment Answer hym , In case it were as thou sayest Christ shulde not haue bene the sonne of god , sithen on the crosse he had no comfort , nor sensual tast or feling , so that he saied my god , Marci . 15. my god why haste thou forsaken me : it sufficith to me that he she wyth me so moche fauouer , for I am contented wyth all that pleasethe hym , as Chryste also was , yea in hys sufferynge , he felte excedynglye the infinite loue of the father .

Besyde these of he say : ●●he . ii . thou art the sonne of Adam , ergo thou art acursed . ●●hn . 1. Answere thou thus : I am blessed agayne by beyng borne of god , and by meane of that blessed sede Christ as god longe agone promysed Adam when he sayed . ●ene . xii . In thy sede al nacions shal be blessed , thou shalt tell hym : how thou art despoiled and berest of the olde Adam , ●oma . 13 and clothed with Iesu Christ as Paule teacheth and aduertyseth the.

What tyme as he shal declare to the that christ is wroth , angry and sharpe : make hym answere howe Christ is not soch one , for he is the healthe and hope of synners , and whylest we be in thys lyfe present he is vttered to vs pytiful , sweete , and our Iesus , that is , our sauiour and albeit heseme to speke sharpe , and cruel wordes to the woman of Cananye , Math. 1● yet in herte he gaue her confydence and boldnesse , and shewed hym self to her full of sweetnes and loue . In dede at the daye of iudgement to the damned shall he be shewed angry , and wrathful but in the meane tyme tyll that day while we be here in this present life , he is shewed pitiouse to al , and principally to the great synners .

And yf it so were that he wolde saye thou art not trulye confessed , nor haste rehersed all thy synnes , and the circumstances of the same , ne hast examyned suffyciently thy conscyence , nor yet hast not that pure perfecte great , and vnfayned sorow for thy synnes that thou of dutye shuldest haue , thou hast not satysfyed for those so great an vnnumerable dettes , that thou hast towarde god , make hym thys answere and saye : thou art a seruaunt and not a iudge : or to saye more truelye , ●●●n . 3. thou art all ready iudged and condemned , seyng thou beleuest not in Christ , and woldest thou iudge mettrouble thy selfe no longer in prouing that I haue failed in al , for sure I am , and fully I beleue to be saued , not by my workes by reason they be vnperfecte , nor yet by the worthynes of my fayth , for in that also I am not perfecte , bycause I beleue not with so great a faith as I oughte , but I beleue I shal be saued by Christe , and not by my workes .

He wyl say : thou art not worthy to be saued , saye thou to hym for a ful answer : the vnworthy be●●ued so often as they acknowledge theyr owne vnworthynes , go hartelye for helpe to Christ , by whose meane they be come worthy .

Where as he shall laye to thy charge that thou arte one of the worst of the worlde : say to hym on thys wyse our infyrmyties be but smal in comparison of the infinite merites of Christe , and of the incomprehensible mercy of god : and the more great that my synnes be and without number , so moch greater shal be hys glory in deliuering me , and I wyth so moche the greater trust pray as that yf he wyll heare me , it shal be more to hys honoure and glory . And when I consyder and call to remembraunce , that my swete and louyng brother Iesus Christe the sonne of god , which for my sake dyed on the crosse , & wolde agayne innumerable times for me , yf nede were , & that I am hys owne for so many causes , & that he may determine of me after his owne mynde . For so moch as his father hath geuen hym full power in heuen and earth : when I consyder thys , I saye , I canin no wyse dout of my saluacion .

If he efte soones reason thus : thou hast done no penance for thy synnes : answere on thys maner : that can I neuer do , yf I shoulde alwaye stande in the fyre , Christe hath done that for me on the crosse more ouer , Christe is myne , the father hathe geuen hym to me wyth all hys merites , all the good workes , that euer he dyd are myne , wherfore I maye wyth hys deuine ryches , and treasures satysfye for all .

After this maner I wolde thou shulde answere hym , when soeuer he setteth afore the thy sinnes , and infynite dettes , that thou oughtest to god for the benefites , thou hast receyued wyth dyuerse and sundry vyces whyl he tempte the , but specyally wyth desperacion , wherwyth he tempteth euen the saintes he wyll put the in mynde and mystruste that Christe hath forsaken the : but make answer that he neuer forsoke persone that trusted in hym , but bycause he wold forsake none of vs , he was mynded to be forsaken him selfe on the crosse , and yf he shoulde at any tyme forsake and refuse vs ( the which is a thing impossyble ) it shoulde be for more glorye of god , and we oughte not onely to be contented , but also to take it for a syngular pryuylege and prerogatiue . It behoueth vs to stande stronge in the fayth , and thynke that afore god the passyon of Christ can do more to cause him to loue vs , then oure synnes can procure hys hate towarde vs , we hadde nede to be wel armed wyth spryte , sayth , and grace , for learnynge sufficeth not to know how to aunswer , and wyte thou well that Christ was tempted , and specyally at the ende , wherfore he sayeth : ●●hn . 15. the prynce of thys worlde is comene , but he hathe gotten nothynge of me .

And yf he can not wy ●h these armour hurte the , he wyll turne ouer the leafe , and say thus , and all bycause to deceaue the. go to thou haste alredy vanquished me , I was myneded to brynge the in to desperacyon , but I colde not . thou arte saued : and by and by wyll the angels com to fett the. ii . Corin. 15. he wyll apere to the like an angell of lyght , and saye to the as he did to saynte hilarion . haste thou serued god so long , hast thou done so many good dedes so greate penance , geuen so many good ensamples , saued so many soules : and allbeit thou hast committed synns , yet art thou confessed of them , thou hast done penance , thou hast taken pardones , thou haste gone for indulgences , thou kepest the commaundementes , and besyde these done many voluntary workes that thou wast not bounden to do , wherfore why shuldest thou feare . thou shalt be safe and sure , if thou be not saued , then shall none be saued . yea thy good woorkes be ouerpluse , more than sufficith , The deuell is a lyar . Iohn . 3. which thou may sell or geue to other , whych if thou do not the Church of Rome shal be thy heyre , and thou shalt enryche theyr treasory of indulgence . what ferest thou therfore : hast thou haply gone another path or way . albeit thou haue admitted sines , yet seeste thou not how thou art well disposed at the laste , onelye stande stoutlye in the truste of these thy great and manye good woorkes , suffer thys sicknes , and death for the remission of thy synnes , & thou shalt be more then saued , onely often remember thy selfe . of thy good woorkes . Then it is expedient for the to saye thus . Thou wouldeste that I shuld trust in my woorkes , and I haue no fere of being damned , were it not for my woorkes , I geue thankes to my lord Christe Iesus , whych hath geuen me the grace to counte my woorkes for a thing of nought , and for such , that euery one of them I deserue to be punyshed , thou magnyfy este my woorkes , to draw me backe from the confydence of Christe , but by gods grace , thou shalt not be able to do it . I fynde that I am vpon a litle bourd in the sea tossed wyth mighty wyndes , and haue embraced and beclepped a strong pyller or rocke , and thou councelest me to leaue it , and to sticke to the roten thynges whych if I shulde do , the wyndes wolde cary bothe me and them in to the sea . rather I wyll peryshe wyth Christe whyche is a thing impossible I then lyue with owte hym , no I cane not put my trust holy in Christ oneles firste al to gether I dispayer of my selfe and myne owne woorkes . Wherfore it is necessary that we dispoil our selfes of all trust in our owne woorkes , and by fayth and hope , clothe vs and arme vs with Christ and in hym put oure hope , and al though we haue not that greate fayth , yet in no wyse ought we to despayre , bycause if at the firste he do not , yet at lenghthe he geueth it to hys elected at theyr deathe , as the prophete Abacucke tolde aforehande , when he sayed , Lorde when they shal be nere to the deth at the latter ende , betwene thys waye and the other , thou wylte make knowen to them Christe and his great benefytes , and wylte open to them the bosome of thy graces by Iesu Christe oure Lorde . Amen .