FOr as muche as the holy Scrypture / is a mooste precyous Iuwell / and commeth thorowe grace , vnto them whiche receaue it in fayth , thorowe the holy ghost , the whiche doth teache , and leade vs to that euerlastynge lyfe , which word also is very Cihyst hym selfe . Now he that entreth not in by this dore into the shepe folde , but clymeth vp some other way , the same is a thefe and a robber . I am sayth Chryst , the way , the truthe , and the lyfe , euery one that beleueth on me , hath euerlastynge lyfe . Thus must● euery true chrysten , spryng out of christ folowing his fote steppes in thy lyuinge or els it can not appere that Chryst abideth in the , & thou in hym , as the braunch in the vyne , or in the good tree , for yf that thou ( lyke vnto the good tree Chryste , bryngeth not forth good fruyte , and fo●●we hym in teachynge , sufferynge , and to make short in all thy lyuynge , so canst thou not be of his flocke , for all that are in christ , doth folowe christ , in theyr liuing .

THe worlde sayeth that they knowe god with theyr good workes , the which is none other , but the preceptes of men , that they teache , and obserue , for that call they goddes seruys , but it is nothyng so they vnderstande not what they speake , neyther wherof they affyrme , which are but mennes fables , and with them turne they men from the truth , but the kyngdome of god standeth not in wordes , but in power . Why make ye your booste of me ( sayth christ ) & say , Lorde , Lorde , and do not that which I commaund you , not one of you , that say vnto me Lorde / lord shall come vnto me , but they that do my fathers wyll which is in heauen , that is what soeuer ye wolde that men shulde do to you , euen so do to them , for this is the lawes and the prophetes . He that he●●eth my worde , and doth not there aft●● is lyke vnto a very foole . I am the vyne , and ye are the braunches , he that abydeth in me , and I in hym , the same bryngeth forth moch frute ? wylt thou know man what maner of fruytes Christ meaneth ? Verely the fruytes of the spryte , the whiche is loue , ioye , peace , long sufferynge , gentlenes , all goodnes , faythfulnes , mekenes , temperancye , ryghtwysenes , and trueth . Who soeuer is voyde of these and foloweth not them , so is he no tree of the holy spyryte , nor yet none of his planttes , although he be bysshop docter , parson . &c. ye although he can preache , and teache , & prate neuer so goodly of the scrypture . For so longe as he foloweth not these fruytes of the spyryte with his lyuynge dysceaueth hym selfe , although he thynketh and sayeth that he beleueth in Christ and is a chrystian , neuerthelesse he is not in Chryste , but far wyde of from hym , lyke vnto those Iewes which sayde they were the sede of Abra●am , but Chryste sayd that they were of thjeyr father the deuyl , euen so are all they the chyldren of the deuyll , & in darkenes , and be yet in the olde vnfruytefull tre of Adam , so longe as we brynge not forth these true fruytes of the spryte , althoughe we fast , praye , & do neuer so moche it can not help vs , so longe as we deny hym with our dedes , & are abhomynable , and disobedyent to god , and his holy worde .

THerfore derely beloued , it is moste nedefull for vs , fyrste with a repentynge herte to be conuerted to God and his worde , and to edefy oure selues with the moste holy fayth that is in our lorde Chryst for the remyssyon of synnes . And secondarely to loue our bretherne , for our heauenly fathers sake ( bycause they be created after his ymage ) and for our lorde & mayster Chrystes sake , which sayth loue ye one another , lyke as I haue loued you . And also bycause they be the pryce of his precyous blode . And thyrdely 〈◊〉 longe and hope for the lyfe to come 〈◊〉 cause this lyfe can not be leade without synne . These thre poyntis ( I meane fayth , loue , and hope ) are the profession and relygyon of a christen man , the which god thorowe his spyryte marketh all that be his immediatly , and as soone as they be ioyned to Chryst , and made membres of his churche , therfore sayeth Christ to all faythfull . Mat. v. Let your lyght so shyne before men , that they maye se your good workes , and gloryfy your father whiche is in heuen , lyke as you may se in the holy Scripture , howe that fayth worketh thorowe loue the workes of mercy , which is the offyce of loue , to powre out agayn the same goodnesse that she hath receyued of God vpon her neyghboure , and to be to her , as she fealeth Chryste to her selfe . The offyce of loue is onely to haue compassion , and to bere with his neyghbour the burdayne of his infyrmytyes , for he that loueth his brother , abydeth in the lyght , & there is none offendynge in hym , 〈◊〉 is redy alwayes to help hym , yee were it his ennemye . And those men be the true chrysten and moste happy . Chryste sayth . Math. v. Blessyd are the mercyful for they shall obtayne mercye . Loo , here god hath made a couenaunt with vs , to be mercyful vnto vs , yf we wyl be mercyfull one to another , so that the man whiche sheweth mercy vnto his neyghbour may be bolde to trust in God for mercye in all nedes ( for loue holdeth all a lyke , the ryche & the poore , the frende and the foo , the thankefull and vnthankeful , the kynsemen and straunger . ) So nowe yf he that sheweth no mercye trust in God for mercye , his fayth is flesshely & worldely , for God hath promysed mercye onely to the mercyful . And therfore the mercyles shall haue iudgement without mercye . wherfore yf thyne ennemy hunger , fede hym , yf he thruste gyue hym drynke . &c. Roma . xij . Go to then and desyre god to prynte this profession of the christen fayth on thyne herte , and to encrease it daylye more and more , that thou mayest be fu●● shapen lyke vnto the ymage of Chryst in knowlege and loue , for that is good and accepted in the sight of god our sauyour whiche wyll haue all men saued , and to come vnto the knowledge of the truthe . ¶ Nowe that all men shulde the better vnderstande all trewe chrysten , the whiche must fyrste haue a stedfast fayth an trust in almyghty god to obtayne al the mercye that he hath promysed vs , thorowe the deseruynge and merytes of Chrystes blode onely . And secondarely must he for sake all euyll , and tourne to God to kepe his wayes , & to fyght agaynst hym selfe and his corrupte nature perpetually , that he may do the wyl of god euery day better and better . For fayth in God the father thorowe our lorde Iesus Chryst accordynge to the couenauntes & appoyntement made betwene god and vs is our saluacyon . Further ye maye se , commynge from God vnto the beleuynge man dy●ers fruytes of the holy spyryte , for you ●●st vnderstande that we are borne a new , not of mortall sede , but of immortall by the worde of god , whiche is sent vs from heauen . Iacobi .i. Euery good gyft , and euery perfyt gyft is from aboue , and commeth downe from the father of light , with whome is no veryablenes , neyther is he chaunged vnto darkenes . And also . Ro. v. sayinge the loue of god is shed abrode in oure hertes by the holy Ghoste , for the fruytes of the spyryte is in all goodnes , rightwysnesse , & trueth . Ephe. v. Gal. v. and agaynst such there is no lawe , for yf we mortyfye the dedes of our bodyes by the helpe of the spyryte we shall lyue , and as many as are led by the spryte of God , they are the sones of God . For we haue not receyued the spryte of bondage to fere any more , but we haue receyued the spyryte of adopcyon , wherby we crye Abba father . The same spyryte certyfyeth our sprite that we are the sones of god . Ro. viij .

ANd aso as the holy scrypture sheweth that fayth , hope , pacyence , ry●● wylnes , peace , & loue , that be sygnes and tokens of the fruyte that spryngeth of those vertues , as fayth a herte bycause the beleue of the herte iustyfyeth . &c. Ro. x. And God maketh the hert pure thorowe beleue . Act. x. whiche beleue worketh alwayes the wyll of God , for by grace are we made saufe , thorowe fayth , and that not of our selues , for it is the gyfte of god and commeth not thorow workes , lest a●● man shuld boste hym selfe , for we are h●● workemanshyp created in Chryste Ies●● vnto good workes . Ephe. ij . For a good man out of the good treasure of his herte bryngeth forthe good thynges , for it is not possyble to please God without fayth . Hebre. xj .

ALso Hope hath heuen bycause that the chrystens hope is onely in heauen , lokynge & abydynge pacyently after that thynge that is promysed to ●ome onely thorowe the grace and mer●● of god , as we hope after euerlastynge ioy , whiche Chryste hath promysed vnto all that beleue and haue stedfast hope in hym ( sayinge ) feare not lytle flocke , for it is your fathers pleasure , to gyue you a kyngedome . Luc. xij . Therfore do we reioyce in hope . Ro. xij . whiche rychesse is Chryste in you , the hope of glorye . Col. j. For and we reioyce in the true hope ( whiche commeth of fayth ) and do fele the promysse of goddes mercy within our hertis , then althoughe the lawe wold vs straytely condempe , and that hell also wolde vs deuoure , and all synne withall our ennemyes wolde fall vpon vs , yet shall they all haue no power ouer vs , yf that oure perfyt hope & trust be in god , & marke with stronge fayth , what Christ onely thorowe his bytter death hath deserued for vs .

ALso Pacyence hath a scourge , bycause the chrysten hath alwayes in the worlde trybulacyons , afflyccyons , necessyte , anguysshe , strypes . &c. 〈◊〉 whiche he reioyseth greatly . Ro. v. 〈◊〉 the father of mercy comforteth them in all theyr persecucyons , for vnto you it is gyuen that not onely ye shulde beleue on chryst , but also suffre for his sake . Phi. j. Thus all that wyll lyue godly in Chryst Iesu must suffre persecucyons . ij . Ti. iij. for trybulacyon bryngeth pacyence , pacyence bryngeth experyence . Ro. v. let pacyence therfore haue her perfyt worke that ye maye be perfyt & sounde , for they that are Chrystes haue crucyfyed the flesshe with the appetytes and lustes . Ga. v. bi● saynt Peter sayeth . j.iiij . se that none of you suffre as a murtherer , or a these , or an euyl doer , but yf any man suffre as a christen man , let hym not beshamed , but lette hym gloryfye God on this behalfe . Oure lorde sayeth , in the worlde shall ye haue trybulacyon , but be of good chere I haue ouercome the worlde . Iohn .xvj. Therfore can no man enter in to the fathers kyngedom , but thorowe manyfolde temptacyons , as our Lorde with his ●postles be , that we folowynge theym nyght be founde vnto laude , glory , and honour , at the aperynge of Iesu Chryst our Lorde .i. Pet. i.

FVrther ryghtwysnes , that is purchased by Chryst , which also hath promysed it to all his elect , thorowe perfyte fayth in his blode , saying , blessed ar they which suffre ꝑsecucyon for ryghtwysenes ●●●e , for theyrs is the kyngdome of heuen . ●●r chryste onely is our ryghtwysenesse , ●nd the ende of the lawe , to iustify all that beleue .i. Co. i. Ro. ix.x. You must marke ●hat there is two maner of ryghtwyse●es , the which be workes & faith . Nowe ●he ryghtwysenes of workes is , when a ●an without fayth , thorowe Ipocresy ●yll fulfyll with his workes the lawe of ●od , lyke vnto the Pharesies . Luc. xviii .

ALso the Israelites had a feruent mynde to godwarde , but it was not ac●●rdynge to knowlege , for they were ( ly●● as the most parte of vs nowe are ) v●ry ygnoraunt of the ryghtwysnes of god and therfore are not obedient therunto bycause we seke it not by fayth , but as it were by our good workes , lyke vnto the learned of the scripture & the Pharisies . Luc. v. To whome Chryste sayde , I cam not to call the ryghtwyse , but synners to repentaunce . Therfore the holy Ghoste shal rebuke the worlde of ryghtwysnes . Iohn .xix. bycause the world wyll be made ryghtwyse by theyr good workes , but except that your ryghtwysnes excede the ryghtwysnes of the learned of the scryptures . Pharysies you can not enter in to the kyngdom of heuen . And secondarely , bycause that men be not vpryght in all theyr handelynge and lyuynge , for all men do corrupte theyr wayes on the earthe , lyke as dyd man before the floude of Noe , for in what maner of byinge , or sellynge is there nowe without deceyte , lyinge , and vnryghtwysnes , yee what maner of people is there in the worlde , ryche , or pore , spyrytuall , or temporall , that doth his offyce truely , and vpryghtely , do you thynke that the holy Ghoste wyll not rebuke you , yes be ye sure for all vnryghtwysnes is synne .i. Iohn .v. God commaundeth , sayinge , ye shall not steale , neytherlye , neyther deale falsely one with another , ye shall do no vnryghtuousnes in iudgement , neyther in meteyarde , weyght , or measure . &c. Leuit. xix . For who soeuer doth not rightuous is not of god , but of the deuyll .i. Iohn .iii. Nowe sayth christ ●lessyd are they whiche hunger & thurst for ryghtwysnes , for they shall be fylled . Therfore he that thynketh to be made ryghtwyse by chryst , must haue lust to lyue an vpryght lyfe before god , & be poore in herte , sekynge moste specyally the kyngdome of heauen , and the ryghtwysnesse therof , for the ryghtwysnesse no doubte , which is good before god commeth of the fayth of Iesus Chryst , vnto all , and vpon all that beleue . Ro. iij. For no man thorowe his owne good dedes can be made rightwyse . Gala. ij .