The first Chapter .

THe grace and peace of God our father , and of our Lorde Iesus Christ , be with you al that trust in his mercy , and that call vpon him with a pure hart , desire his comming , and the setting forth of his glory . By the which may it please him to comfort vs all , and to geue vs strength by the vertue of his holy spirit , againste all the common temptacions , that we ( which are partakers of his reconsiliation ) are afflicted with in this world . 1. Peter ● . & . 1.9.10 . For that by them we might not be discouraged , but rather made constant til the end , in the grace that god hath geuen vs to know his sonne Iesus Christe for the aucthour of our saluacion : Hebr. 7. & . 25. and euerlasting aduocat before his diuine maiestie , bicause we might haue by his onely rightuousnes , a firme & sure hope , to enioy wholly the eternall inheritance , promised to all those which are santified by the word of trueth . Amen .

1. Cor. 10 , & . 13 , God is so faithful that he wil suffer nothing to touch vs , without his expresse wil , Math. 10. & , 29 30.31 Psal. 113 , & 4.5 , whose potency & might , is without any determinate ende , equal with his wil , for that he may & can all that he will , & wil nothing that doth not serue for his honour & glory , Rom. 8. & 17 , 29 , & for the helth of his chosen , which maketh that al things how aduersse so euer they be , do serue vs for our helth , Collo . 1. & . 18 , Ephes. 1. & , 22. welth , & prosperitie . And for the god hath giuen vs of his clemency Iesus Christ his sonne to be our head , & made vs all membres of his holy body , it is not possible ( so being ) but that one of vs shuld féele spiritually the pain & trouble of another , how far soeuer we be distant a sondre corporally , bicause the spirite of Iesu Christ ( by the which we his membres do liue ) hath conioined , knit & vnited vs more nigher & closer togither than is the soule to the body

Forasmuch dearly beloued brethre , ( according to my hope ) that I am partaker of the mercy that we all shal receue , in the name & behalfe of the lord that dyd giue his lyfe for ours , I haue thought it good to confort you in your afflictions , with the which you are troubled and oppressed in this world , 2. Timo. ● . & . 11.12 , only bicause you wold liue faithfully in Christ Iesu . For the quickned & strengthened by the word of trueth , I am partaker of the ioy of your consolacion & comfort , & also of the firmnesse of your faith , for the I haue hope in his goodnes , Rom. 14. & . 8 , that he wyll make perfect his worke in euery one of vs , Philip. 1. & . 20 . 21.2● . in such maner & sort that by all wayes & meanes possible , he may be glorified , all be it we liue or dye , bicause that in lyfe & death he is our gaine & we his glory . The persecution that we suffer now at these dayes is cruel , very perilous & dangerous , for that they which persecute vs , are no Turks nor Pagans in their profession , but baptised as we are , and that saye they haue a zeale and loue to god as we haue , and in that they vse and put in vre to afflict vs with , they doo it to serue god & to merit or deserue Heauen . ( But greatly deceaued no doubt ) wherefore we ought to procure to be so much the more certaine and sure of our vocacion and calling , & of the good will that God had and hath vnto vs , and that we doo not doubt by no way nor meanes of the immutabilitie and firmnesse of his diuine councel , Ephes. 1. & 4.5 Collo . 2. & . 5.15 . Iohn . 17. & . 5. with and by the which he dyd determine before the beginninge of the worlde to saue vs in Christ Iesu , in knowledge of whome dothe concist all our wealth , comfort , and consolacion .

The want of knowledge & the doubt had hereof , is wont to , & dooth engender great amasednesse , dismayinges , & troubles , in the myndes of some of the faithfull , it dooth make them fearfull , weake , full of cowardise , sad , discomforted , mistrustfull , and doth put them into great forgetfulnesse of the benefits which they haue receiued of God . From hence dooth also arise , growe , & springe , those déepe moorninges , groninges , and sighinges , with the which many séeinge themselues afflicted for the trueth , doo repent them that they haue vsed their eares , heard , and beleeued the voyce of the Lord . Bicause that they séeinge the aduersities that doo succede & follow , by reason of professing and confessing the name of Iesu Christ , they call it guile and deceit , and doo retorne againe to wallow in the dirtie mire of their olde errours , 2. Pet. 2. & . 22. and supersticions in which they were before their calling , & doo become more enemies to God , and more cruell against the trueth , Math. 12. & . 45. 2. Pet. 2. & . 20. by meanes wherof their last ending is worser then theyr beginninge . And for the contrary , to know the trueth thereof aright , and well , and to haue the same printed in the hart , it dooth make the good christian the stronger againste all kindes of aduersities , and the more mightie to warre and fight , magnanymousely & manfully , against all the might & force of hell , and neuer more to turne his shoulders to the enemie , but doth become from day to day the more inriched with heauenly giftes whereby he is made the more exceptable to god . All that is against Iesus Christ in the world maketh war & contradiction againste him , but yet he ouercommeth all victoriously , and most triumphantly , by the vertue and strength of his perfect knowledge thereof . And how much the more as it is printed in his heart , so much the more shal be increased his confort in the time of affliction & persecucion , more strong firme & constant in aduersitie , Math. 7. & , 24 more burning in desire to be with god , greater in disdaine of the worlde , Luke , 6 , & . 48. and of all the delights the reigneth therein , & know the better how to sanctifie the name of the Lord , and to demaunde with more feruent zeale that his kingdome may quickly come , bicause his enimies might be destroied wholly , and that he alone might be obeyed and reigne in the consciences of all those which he hath redéemed with his most precious bloud .

What we were before our being reduced to God . Cap. ii .

IF we dyd vnderstand how the sinne which we dyd commit against God in the beginning dyd leaue vs , after it had once gotten power & emperye ouer vs , we should vnderstand aswel how great the loue & goodnesse of him was , that dyd redeeme and take vs out of the same , and deliuer vs from the condempnacion , so iustly due vnto vs for it . The diuell by sinne dyd breake in and destroy all goodnesse that God had indued vs with , by the which we were cléerely knowen to be his owne workmanship , he did blot out the Image of god which was grauen in our soules so that the likenes of him by whom we were created , was taken quite from vs , Genes. 3. & 2.3 , 4. &c. & we depriued of all kinde of holines & rightuousnes , & also made strangers to all trueth & cleannes . He did leaue vs without the direction & libertie that we had to confort our selues with , in all things by the diuine wil of god . Finally we did remaine voyde & emptied , of all those gifts & graces , with the which God had adorned , bewtified , & enritched vs , to be serued by : Bicause we might haue him euermore to be our god , and that we might be known to be his children , & by the effect of those his wicked works in the world , he dyd destroy in vs all the good that god had geuen vs : Fruites of the Image of the diuel so that we remayned full of all euill , that is to be abhorred , and contrary to god . For that the diuel in place of the perfect picture , Image , and likenesse , of him that was in vs , did put his owne . And so we were ful of all vnrightuousnesse of life , hipocrisie , Rom. 8. & 29.30 . &c. fornicacion , mallice , couetousnesse , enuie , guyle , hatred , wickednesse , abhominable abhorrours & haters of god and his trueth , Titus . 3. & 2.3 . &c. proud , vaine glorious , disobedient , vnfaithfull , without vnderstandinge , altogether blynde and without mercy , made at the last a pestilent picture euen like vnto the diuell , whose captiues we were .

Ephes. 2. & . 1 2.3 . Collos. 2. & . 22.23 . In the Epistle to them of Ephesus , Sainct Paule declareth , and in them to vs , that such was our condicion before God did call vs . And you sayth he were dead by your owne delightes of sinne , in the which sometyme ye walked according to the course of this world , after the prince and gouerner that ruleth in the Ayre , which is the spirit that now worcketh in the children of vnbeléefe , amonge the which we all in tymes past haue béene conuersant , in desires of the flesh , and fulfylled the wyll and mynde thereof , so that by nature we wer the children of wrathe . And thus he concludeth that in vs there was not one spot of goodnesse , nor rightuousnesse , but that we were in all subiect to the diuell , & that all our delightes and pleasure , was in naughtinesse and infidelitie , so that all our works were of the flesh , corrupted and accursed . Rom. 8. & . 8 Bicause that if the flesh be an enemie to God , and not subiect to his lawe , nor may nor can be . All the worckes that procéede thereof is so likewise , and plaine demonstracions of the hatred of the truth , wherewith the hart should be possessed . And if that all humaine thoughts ( or thoughts of men ) doo from the beginning tend to euil , Genes. 6. & . 2.3 . all workes done by them , be of the same qualitie , euil , condempned , lost , & prouokers of gods great indignacion and ire : so that all our euil commeth by nature . At the first we were the children of god , now by sinne we are the children of his wrath , Ephes. 2. & . 1. that is , wholly lost , banished , & disinherited of his riches & goodnesse , & moreouer enimies to all that dooth please him . Psal. 14. & 2 Psal. 53. & . 2.4 . All of vs are corrupted & abhominable ( saith the Prophet ) there is none that dooth good , there is none , no not one . Then being by sinne and the flesh al corrupted , what may spring & come therof but curssed stick of such efficacie , the it corrupteth all goodnesse by the which it passeth . By reason wherof we are compared by the same prophet to an open sepulchre wher ther is nothing but bodies dead & rotten , Psalm. 5. & . 10.11 . & ful of worms , Psal. 104. & . 3. from whence may nor can come nothing , but suche cruel stincke as dooth infect , corrupt and kill . The mouth of this sepulchre is our throfe , as the said Prophet saith , Psalm. 10. & . 7. & the we cary the venome of waspes vnder our tongues , bicause all the commeth out of the mouth is of such force that it killeth . Our mouthes are full of curssing and bitternesse : Prouer. 1. & , 16. we haue our féete swift to runne to shed bloud , Psalm. 14. & . 5 , 6 , our wayes & manners of liuing are mortal & deadly aswell for that they kill , as also for that there is nothing in them but calamities and griefes , misaduentures and mischiefes , which are plaine testimonies of our perdicion . Rom. 3. & 16 , 17 , &c , For in that miserable seruitude of sinn , in the which we wer tyed & deceiued , we did not know the way of peace , for that we did know nothing that might please god , wherby we might be reduced or brought againe to his fréendship , we were destitute of the feare and rightuousnesse of God . We dyd runne lyke vnbrydled horses , into all kinde of wickednesse , if it had not béene for the vaine feare of men , we had committed openly and publickly all kinde of vice , which was hidden in our hartes .

A man after that the soule is departed from the flesh , ther resteth nothing but to bury the body , for that it is wormes meate . Euen so we , beinge deade in sinne and sinfull delighte , and God seperated from our soules , there remayneth nothynge but to be buryed in Hell , and to be made foode for eternall Deathe which we haue most iustly deserued , in suche wise , that if god would geue sentence definitiue against vs , & shut vs from the processe of his goodnesse and mercy , we should be constrained , by our owne proper consciences , to confesse and yelde our selues , to be well and rightuously condempned . Bicause our workes , our thoughtes , our desires , hartes and all that we haue within vs , hath condempned vs and forced God vnto it : who will not suffer so much vnrightuousenesse , nor yet tollerate so great and monstrous slanderours of his truthe , and bewty of his worke , the which wer not our selues , before our fal into that estate so miserable , all that was in vs , was matter and cause of iust condempnacion , and to sturre vp the wrath and iudgement of God , by the which all shal be destroyed and consumed , Iohn . 1. & 5.6.7 . &c. bicause that all was darcknesse , malediction , sinne , and the fruites of sinne , deformed , and extreme contrary , to that which God doth require of vs , in such maner that we had not nor cold not , doo any thing that was good : Math. 12. & . 33 , for that we were euil tréese corrupted & rotten , which colde not bring forth good fruite , by reason whereof we haue bene wholly subiect to all the foresayde paynes and punishments , cursse & malediction that was due vnto vs , & there hath rested nothing but to be cut of from all the goodnesse of God , and put in the company of the diuel and of his ministers all redy condempned .

Of our blyndnesse in times past . The third Chapter .

THose workes which we hild for good , wherein we busied our selues most earnestly , in those tymes passed when as we dyd thinck to doo god good seruice thereby : they were of such condicion and qualitie , that by them we dyd so offend him , that we brought our selues more déepely into the lake of perdicion . Then we fasted , Math. 15. & . 7. we vsed disciplines of mens tradicions , Esai . 2● . & . 1● . we caused masses to be sayde , & often tymes we dyd heare them , we erected chappels & chanteries we prayed with prime and howers , we were full of deuocion for soules in purgatori , we did chuse dead saints to be our aduocates , to the deitie , that we might escape from the wrathe & condempnacion therof , by meanes of them . We dyd make vnfaithfull promises and vnlawful vowes , we tooke Bulles , we walked stacions & pilgrimages , we sought for pope antichrists pardons , we were awriculerly confessed , & dyd receue the Sacrament the oftener , that we might be accompted the more holy , & merit saluacion the rather . We had them that would lende or sell vs merits or deseruinges , bicause that Death should not take vs vnprouided . But what had we hereby to present to god for to satisfie him for our sinnes , these and other the like thinges we did for to serue him with , & to obteine grace & glory at his hands . But with them all , although they were séene & allowed of men , yet it dyd not open the kingdome of heauen , but rather cause it to be shut vp , & the gates of hell to be set wide open . Bicause , that all that is most high , sublimate , Luke , 16 , & , 18 , & supreme , in estimacion amongst men , is greatest abhominacion before God . Who dooth neither allowe nor yet is well pleased with any thinge that he dooth not commaunde . Deut , 12. & , 8 , 16 , Esai . 1. & 14. Neither dooth any man doo any thinge at all according to his will without his spirite & norishment . Those things which we doo to serue him cannot please him , bicause he hath condempned them by his worde alredy for sinne . Rom. 14. & 1.2 . &c. For that they procéede of our own opinions , and the opinions of our fleshly teachers , & not of the knowledge and loue of his holy will . For all that commeth not therof is sinne , as the holy Apostle dooth testifie . Math. 22. & . 37. The summe of all that the lawe diuine dooth aske and require of vs , Math. 23. & . 23 , is to loue God with all our hart , and our neighbours as our selues , to doo right , to loue mercy , and to haue faith . The works that we doo vnder that tytle & name of holinesse , Hebre. 11. & 1.2 . &c. are not comprehendid in the lawe , they procéede not of rightuousnesse , mercy and faith , without the which it is impossible to please God , and therefore he dooth throw them away as wicked and euill , and we our selues for most wicked and euil with them . E●a● . 1. & . 11. Iere. 6. & . 20. And then if the worcks and sacrifises that he dooth commaund in his lawe , be not done according to his commaundement , he dooth cast them out for euill and abhominable , and sayth that he is angry with them , & so angry at them that he can suffer them no longer . How much the more then may he be angry , & accompt for euill , those worckes which he dooth not commaunde , Math. 5. & 19. &c. but by his word dooth rather expressely forbyd them . So that all our fayned holinesse , is testimony or witnesse againste vs , of our greater blyndnesse and condempnacion , and will cause the wrath of God , to come the sooner to rest vpon vs . Iohn . 9. & 18.19 . &c. Bicause it was all idolatrie with the which we dyd our deuocion . It was not to the true God , Gal● . 4. & . 8. for that we know him not , but to those which were gods of our owne imaginacion , fayned according to our own inuencion and false gods , yet dyd we beare the marcke of the true God , which was his holy Baptisme , in signe of fayth and fidelitie , & not to haue none other gods , but one , ( the true liuing god ) nor to serue him by none other rule , than by that which his word teacheth , yet we wer to him traytours , rebells , vnfaithfull Idolatours , alyed and confederate with his enimies , and giuen to all vnrightuousnesse and wickednesse . So that we might say with the Prophet , that if the onely mercy of God wer not , we had béene for euer vtterly consumed and perished together .

Of the loue of God , and of our calling , and the cause thereof . The .iiii. Chapter .

BVt persisting and going forewarde in suche estate as then was ours , Ephes. ● . & . 12. which was without Christ , reputed as alients and straungers to the common wealth of Israell , and to the couenaunts conteyned in the testament and promise of reconciliacion , voyde of hope , and without God in this worlde . Ephes. 2 , & . 4 , 5 , 6 , It pleased him who is most ritche in mercy , thorough his great loue wherewith he loued vs , euen when we were dead by sinne . To quicken vs againe in Christe together with him , by whose grace we be saued , raysed vp & made to sitte together in heauenly thinges through him , & notwithstandinge ( as I say ) that we were dead by sinne , We were called by the mercy of God . and at the brimme or brincke of our condempnacion , yet he called vs to his knowledge that we might haue lyfe together in Christ Iesus , and beinge so farre from him , he called vs nigher by the power & vertue of his most precious bloud : Rom. 5. & 8.10 . And so sayth Sainct Paule in another place , that God dyd set out and confirme his loue and charitie in vs , for that we as yet beinge sinners , enimies vnto him , and so iustly condempned , he dyd giue his own sonne to most direfull death , to reconcile vs vnto him therby : and to make vs partakers , of his rightuousnes and sanctificacion . So that the whole cause of our perdicion , was in our selues , bicause that by vs , sinne had his first beginninge , for that we dyd throw our selues , Gen. 3. & . ● so voluntaryly into his cursed handes , who dyd dispoile and robbe vs of all goodnesse . Wherfore God so louing vnto vs , thought it most necessary for our saluacion , to take all vpon him selfe , for that wée might thereby , obteine remission and forgiuenesse of all our transgression for euer . And that being at the first true , the condempnacion that we had deserued , it might aswell be true , the healthe and saluacion graunted to deliuer vs from the same . So the holy Ghost dooth testifie vnto vs by the Prophet Osea , sayinge , Osea . 13 , & . 9. from thée thy selfe O Israell , doothe proceede thy perdicion , and from mée onely doothe come thy saluacion .

And by the holy Apostle sainct Paule it is sayde : Titus . 3. & . 4.5 , that when the beninge kyndenesse and loue of our Sauiour God to man warde apeared , Ephes. 9. & . 2. he saued vs , 22. Tim. ● & . 10 not by the workes which we had done ( and are vnrightuous ) but conformable to his mercy , by the washing of the regeneracion or new birth , and renewing of the holy ghost , the which he hath shedde abundantly vppon vs by Iesu Christe our Sauiour , From hence dooth procede our saluacion . for the iustifyed by his grace , we should be made heires thorough & according to our hope , of the lyfe eternal . Wherby it apeareth that of the calling by the which God dyd by is mercy most pitifully call vs vnto him , dooth procéede all our health and saluacion . Bicause as at the beginning God did make vs of himselfe ( without receiuinge any helpe of our partes ) and so gaue vs the being of men , Genes. 3. & , 7. that we might be wholly his owne pure woork . Euen so hath he now called vs , and now that we be called , he hath reformed and sanctified vs , without our helpe in any thing , that we might be his children . Iohn . 11. & . 17 , 39. If Lazarus were dead , foure dayes buryed and stincking in his graue , and coulde not frée himselfe therefro , but the God dyd rayse him from death , & giue him a newe lyfe . Much lesse may we frée our selues from death , for that we be captiuated and buryed so , by the help of sinne that we are much more deade & stincking before God , then was the corporall body of Lazarous to the sighte of men . But as by the might , strength , vertue , and power , of that voyce , with the which Iesus Christ dyd call him , he was set frée from the prison & stinge of death , purifyed of all corrupcion , & restored to a new lyfe : euen so we , by the voyce of the same Lorde , are raysed againe to a new lyfe . Rom. 4. & 17 , 19 , 24. Bicause god dooth call those things which are not , as though they were . Ezech. 39 & . 21 , For by the efficacie and strengthe of the voyce with which he dooth cal , he doth giue a new being . For the euill being of a sinner , is as no being before god . But in callinge himselfe to mynde to call vpon God , with a feruent , fearefull , and louing heart vnfayned , his louinge almightifull kindenesse will giue him a diuine essence , participated & ioyned with the same woord , with the which he called him , when as he had no sufficiencie at all , to doo the woorks of lyfe . We our selues , in the estate which we were , could not by any meanes doo any kinde of thing , that might be pleasant or acceptable to God : Psalm. 55. & . 2.4 . &c. but dyd continue still sléeping , possessid of deathe , without any féeling of lyfe . We dyd not call nor séeke vpon God , but were of the numbre of those which Dauid hath spoken of before , which haue not knowen God , bicause we called those dead which liue , & dyd séeke the things we knewe not . And therefore it was sayde by the Prophet Esaye , Esai . 65. & . 1.2 . Rom. 10. & . 20.22 , I am founde of them that haue not sought me , & haue apeared manifestly to those which haue not asked after me . For that we should vnderstand that he onely did séeke vs , dyd call vs , and giue him selfe to be knowen vnto vs . Yet we in the meane tyme were dronken with obliuion , Iohn . 8. & . 1 ● . 3 . &c. buried in sinne & in all kinde of wickednesse , & also were possessid with the diuel , whome we dyd obey : in such sort , that we accounted his counsell and workes , for the vphouldinge and rule of our lyfe .

The cause why , that God dyd so call vs , Osea . 2. & 23. out of that duskye darckenesse in the which we were , to his admirable light , 1. Peter . 2. & . 9 , 10. was onely the loue that he had to vs in his sonne Iesus Christe : by whome he dyd determine to saue vs . By Christ Iesus sayth S. Paule we are chosen , to the inheritance , Ephes. 1. & . 4.5 . predestinated according to the purpose of him , Colos. 1 , & 26 , 27 , which dooth & will all thinges , conformable to the councell of his diuine wil , so that we which doo put our trust in him , should be in all thinges for the setting foorth of his honour and glory .