Non me pudet Euangelij . The seconde parte . I am not ashamed of the Gospell .

THe Gospell hath many enimies , many that cauill at it , Diuerse sortes of ennim●es to the Gospell . and find great faults therwith , to the end that men shold be ashamed , eyther to professe it , or after profession to stande constantly in it .

Firste , there are Epicures , and godlesse persons , that Epicures . thinke al this whole matter of Faith and Religion , for certayne purposes , to be deuised , and fayned of men , and therefore , they maruayle at vs , that we bee so earnest and carefull therein , and offer our selues to so great daunger for it . Whatsoeuer is spoken of God , of the Deuill , of Heauen , or of Hell , these pleasant companyons , deryde and scorne , and thinke it of no more weight , then a poeticall fable . And therefore they grunte , with the Pigges of Epicures stie , and say : Let vs eate , let vs drinke , and make good cheare , for shortly we shall die , and after death , remaineth no pleasure .

An other sort of the Aduersaries of the Gospel , are the wise 2 Politikes . politique men of the world , and such gouernors of common weales , as haue not the true sence of God , and of his prouidence . For they condemn the doctrine of the Gospell as sedicious , and daungerous to common weales , and states of Princes , neither do they thinke it , a matter to be suffered , that Preachers should note , and openly reprooue , the faults of Princes , Magistrates , and great personages . For saye they , what other thing is this , then to shake the state of gouernment , and to sound a Trompet of discord , sedition , and rebellion . These men , do not acquaynt themselues with the vse of Gods prouidence , whoe , euer from time to time , hath sente his Prophets , & other Messengers , to reproue the faults , both of Princes and people , that swerue from his law , and reuolt from his true worship .

The thirde sort of Aduersaries are Hipocrites , Monks , 3 Hypocrites . Freers , and such as put saluation , in the outward obseruations of mens deuises , and deuised holynesse , beside the word of God : for they crie , that the doctrine of the Gospell doth ouerthrow the lawes of God : The holy ordinances of Fathers , doth hinder good workes , and take awaye all deuoti●n . To answere all the forged cauils and slaunderous obiections , that all these men deuise , to make vs ashamed of the Gospell , were a matter at this time vnpossible . But I will touch such as cheefely they stand vpon , and most are thoughte to shake the consciences of them that haue any sense of god . The first sort are hipocrits , & iusticiaries , which Sixe Obiections made agaynst the Gospell , to bryng it into dyscr●d it , and the answers to them . being puffed vp with confidence in their owne strength thinke eyther whallye , or in a great parte by theire owne Vertues and good workes , to obtayne Gods fauoure , and euerlasting lyfe . Suche in tymes paste , were the Phariseyes among the Jewes , and such in these dayes are Monkes , Freers , and others in the Churche of Roome , which pretende misliking of the Gospell , because it teacheth that al men naturally are sinners and the children of wrath , and that they haue grace and free remissyon of sinnes by fayth only , condemning in it selfe , all mannes iustice and worthinesse , and declaring that wee haue no iustice , but that wee haue in Christe Jesu . These men because they stande muche in theire owne lykinges , and greatly seeke their owne glorye , are passinglye muche greeued , to haue that Doctrine published , whereby their strength and powers are diminished , their wisedome defaced , their iustice before God condemned , and grace and forgiuenesse taughte to bee attayned , by Gods free mercy , without any respecte of worthinesse , or deserte , in our selues . This Doctrine ( say they ) is an ennimie to 2. Obiection against the Gospel : that it doth not further , but hinder good co 〈…〉 on all good life : This Doctrine discourageth from indeuour of honestie and godlinesse : This Doctrine openeth a wyde gappe to all Dishonestie , and Dissolutenesse . For wh●e will bende himselfe to Godlynesse , when hee is taughte that hee is not hable to doe any thing ? Whoe wyll not tumble headlonge into Vyce , when hee vnderstandeth forgiuenesse to bee so readye ? Who will bridle his affections , and punishe himselfe by fasting , praying . and other godlye excercises , when hee seeth there is so easye , and lighte a waye to Heauen , by Grace and Fayth onely ? Therefore , ( say they ) no maruayle though wee be ashamed of this gospell , and mislyke the Professoures of it . But ( dearely beloued ) this is no new reproch & slaunder , Answere . Fathered vppon the gospell , and Heauenlye Doctryne of our Saluation . You knowe , these prowde and selfeliking Pharisies , vpbrayded euen Christe himselfe , that hee preached Gods free grace , to Publicanes , and Sinners . You knowe that they sayde to Saynte Paule , Rom. 6. ● . setting foorth the same Doctryne : Why ? then lette vs do ill , that grace maye abounde : seeing Gods grace is so ready , let vs still wallow in naughtinesse , that it may shewe it selfe more plentifully . Wherefore agaynste this temptation , Christian men shoulde arme themselues at this daye : and not thinke that wee teache anye newe Doctrine , but the same that Chr●ste and S. Paule hath layde out before vs . For when wee vtterlye condemne manne in himselfe , and pronounce him to bee the chylde of wrath and damnation , what other thinge doe wee , then that Saint Paule , in the fyrste parte of his Epistle to the Romaynes at large declareth , whyle he wrappeth all menne , as well Jewes as Gentiles , in the guilte of sinne , and in the indignation of GOD , And in generall wordes concludeth : Omnes peccauerunt Rom. 3. 23. 24. & destituuntur gloria Dei , iustificantur autem gratis per illius gratiam , per redemptionem , que est in Christo. All haue sinned , and are depriued of the glory of God , and are iustified freelye by grace , thorowe the redemption that is in Christ Jesus . And agayne , Conclusit deus omnia sub peccato vt omnium miseretur . God hath concluded al thinges vnder sinne that he might haue mercye vppon all . And this meaneth hee , not onelye of the grosse outwarde actes , but of the verye inwarde gilte and corruption of their nature , as in many other places hee sheweth . Rom. 5. 12. 14. Vt per vnum hominem peccatum intra●it in mundum , & ꝑ peccatum mors , & it a in onnes homines mors ꝑuasit , quia omnes peccauimus . Regnauit mors ab adam vsque a● Mosen , etiam in eos , qui non peccauerunt , ad similitudinem , transgressionis Adam . As by one man sin entered into the world , and deth by sinne , & so deth went ouer al men : for so much as al men haue sinned . But Death reigned from Adam to Moyses , euen ouer them also that sinned not after the like manner of transgression of Adam . And to the Cor. 15. 22. Cor. In Adam omnes moriuntur , In Adam all dye .

In these places he speaketh not only of the death of the body , but of the death of the soule . Eramus natura , filij irae , quemadmodum Eph. 2. 3. et ce●eri , We were by nature the children of wrath as wel as other . Whereby it appeareth , that all men in themselues are the Children of wrath and damnation , shutte from the Kingdome of Heauen . Therefore Christ in Iohn 3 chapt . sayth : vnlesse a man bee borne Ioh. 3. 3. agayne from aboue , he cannot see the Kingdome of God . In which wordes it is euident that our firste byrth in Adam , is vtterly corrupt , and subiecte to sinne . So Iob. 14. 4. lamenteth Iob also : Who can mak that cleane , which is conceaued of vncleane seede ? So lamenteth Dauid his owne corruption : Beholde I was borne in iniquitie , Psa. 51. 5. and in sinne , hath my mother conceiued mee . Upon which wordes sayth Ambrose , Merito Dauid flebiliter deplorauit ipsa inquinamenta naturae , quod pri●s incipit in homine macula quam vita . Vpon iust cause did Dauid with teares bewaile the imperfections that we haue in nature , for bicause corruption doth first begin in vs , before that we haue life . Seing then our nature is so corrupted , Gen. 6. 5. seing ( as God himself saith ) our hart is bent only to ill , euen from our youth , how can any goodnes proceede from vs , as of our selues ? howe canne wee challenge power to fulfill Gods lawe , and by our good doinges to be reconciled vnto him ? Without mee ( sayeth Christe ) you can Ioh. 15. 5. 2. Cor. 3. 5. do nothing . And , I am not able , sayth Paule , to thinke a good thoughte as of my selfe , but all my sufficiencie is of GOD . If Saint Paule doth so humblye acknowledge his weakenesse , why shoulde we stande so proudly in our own conceites ? Liberum arbitrium , ( sayeth August . Saint Augustine ) ad diligenda dei precepta primi peccati granditate perdidimus . i. We lost free will , to loue and imbrace the commandements of God , through the gretnesse Aug. ser. 2. de verbis . of the sin of our first Father Adam . And , De verbis Apost. ser. 2. Sunt homines ingrati grati● dei ▪ multum tribuen●●● inopi sauciaeque naturae . Verum est , magnas arbitrij vires , homo cum conderetur , accepit , sed peccando amisit . i. Men are vnthankful , Opinion of freewill is vnthankfullnes . or vnkind vnto the grace of God , attributing much vnto needy and wounded nature : It is true , man when he was made , receiued great power of frewill , but he lost it againe , when he sinned . And Epist. 107. August . Primus homo sic factus est , vt nihil voluntati eius resisteret : postquam an●em libera voluntate peccauit , nos in necessitatem percipitati sumus , quicunque ab eius stirpe descendimus : that is : The firste man ( Adam ) was so made , that nothing How we had freewill ▪ And how we haue it not . resisted his will , but after thorow freewill he sinned , We , as many as descende from his stock , are cast down headlong into necessitie of sinning .

If in the fall of Adam we lost freewill , to loue and imimbrace the commaundement of GOD , if wee shewe our selues vngratious to Gods grace , by attributing so much to our maymed and corrupte Nature : If by Adams How profitable the doctrine is which is againste free-will . offence , wee bee cast into a necessitie of sinning . Lette vs , as the Gospell teacheth , caste awaye this confydence of oure owne powers , lette vs shake of this selfe lyking Hipocricie , lette vs submitte our selues vnder the mightye hande of God , and acknowledge our owne infyrmitie , lette vs not kicke at that Doctrine of the Gospell , that layeth before vs our owne weakenesse , and teacheth howe great neede wee haue of the sauing grace of God in Christ Jesu .

As touching that they pretende , the Gospell , in Preaching free grace by fayth onely , doeth discourage men from well doing , and sette open a wyde Wyndowe to loosenesse and naughtinesse : It is a very false and wicked slaunder , not bearing any countinaunce or lykelihoode The doctrine of iustification by faythe only , doth procure good workes and no● hinder them . of truth in it . For the same Spirite that is the Spirite of fayth , and perswadeth our consciences to beleeue the great goodnesse and free mercies of GOD toward vs in Christe Jesu , is also the spirite of loue , and doeth inflambe oure hartes earnestlye , to loue so bountifull and so mercifull a God , that did vouchsafe when we were yet his enemies , to giue his dearely beloued Sonne to death for vs . Nowe then , if by the motion of one spirite , we doe by fayth assuredly knowe Gods goodnesse towarde vs , and by the knowledge , and true sence thereof , doe loue him for the same , needes must there followe obedience , to hys lawe , and perpetuall studie to please him . Fayth then of necessitie breedeth loue of God , and loue bryngeth foorthe obedience to hys wyll . Qui diligit me ( saith Ioh. 14. 2● Christ ) Sermonem meum seruat . j. Hee that loueth mee keepeth my sayings . This loue then shoulde leade vs to obedience , Thys loue shoulde bee the roote of all good dooings , and not a proude hope to merite Gods fauour , and deserue euerlasting lyfe by our workes : For when Luk. 17. 10 wee haue done all wee can doe , as Christ witnesseth , We haue yet not done so muche as of duetie we should doe . Euen so then as nothing can keepe good children , so muche in obedience , as to knowe theyr Parentes goodnesse towarde them : so nothing can more pithylie moue Christian men , to the true seruice of God , and keeping of hys lawe , then by the Gospell to learne hys vnspeakable goodnesse towardes vs .

Moreouer the same Gospell that teacheth by Christes bloud onely to attayne remission of sinne , dothe teache vs also , that the ende , and cause of thys our free redemption , is to lyue in the seruice of God , and no more to bee subiect to sinne . Apparuit gratia Dei Saluatoris nostri omnibus ●it . 2. 11. 12 hominibus vt abnegata impietate & mundanis concupisentijs pie , sobrie & caste vi●amus in hoc seculo . Ipsius sumus opus conditj in Christo Iesu ad opera bona quae praeparauit deus , vt in illis ambularemus : that is to say , The grace of God hath appeared , that wee denying vngodlynesse and worldly lustes , shoulde lyue soberly , righteously , and Ephe. 2. 10. godly in this worlde . Wee are ( sayth S. Paule ) his workemanshippe , created in Christ Iesu vnto good workes which God ordayned , that wee should walke in them . Zacharie saieth , He hath perfourmed the othe Lu● . 1. 73. 74. 75. whiche hee sware to our forefather Abraham , that he woulde giue vs , that wee beeing deliuered out of the handes of our enemyes , myght serue him without feare in holynesse and righteousnesse . &c. No man raunsometh a Captayne , to this ende , that he shoulde continue to serue his enemie . God by Christ , hath deliuered vs from sinne , and Sathan , and therefore must wee nowe , forsake them , and lyue in obedience of hym , that hath so mercifully and freely redeemed vs . For this cause doe Rom. 6. 4. wee professe in our Baptisme , that wee forsake the Diuell and all hys workes , and as Saint Paule ( sayeth ) binde our selues , to rise with Christ in newnesse of life . Eph. 6. 5. &c. Rom. 13. 12. That seeing wee bee nowe made by him the children of lyfe , wee haue no more to doe , with the workes of darkenesse . This is the true doctrine of the Gospell : wherefore no good man , hath cause to bee ashamed of it . ●an nedeth not by the G●spell thinke himselfe so debased that he should thereby be any whit disco●●aged from good works for he is also therby maruellously exalted by gods goodnes toward him . 1. Pet. 3. ● . Ioh. 15. 4. 5.

It is an impudent cauill , and no true crime , when the aduersarie pretendeth a shame & misliking of the Gospel , because in preaching free grace , it debaseth mans dignitie , discourageth from studie of godlynes , and giueth occasion to continue in sinne and wickednesse . Although it teach you , that of your selues , you are the children of wrath , and damnation : yet it telleth you ( also ) that by Christ , you are the heires of euerlasting lyfe and saluation . Though it teache you , that of your selues you can doe nothing : yet it telleth you also , that by the spirite of God in Christ Jesu , you maye doe all things . Though it teach you that by your good workes , you cannot merite Gods fauour an● remission of sinnes : yet it telleth you also , that God by faith in Christes bloud onelye , hath so taken away your Rom. 3. ●5 . sinnes , and restored you to his fauour againe , that you yet to shewe your selues thankefull vnto hym , are ●ounde to walke in holynesse and ryghteousnesse , before him all the dayes of your lyfe . You may therefore , safely and boldly say with S. Paule , notwithstanding this shamelesse cauile , That you are not ashamed of the Gospell , for that it is the power of God . &c.

An other sorte there is that are ashamed of the Gospell cleane contrarie to these that before I spake of , that is the loose and sensuall Epicure , giuen to the pleasures of the fleshe & of the world . For , as the other sort found fault that The second obiection against the Gospell that it doth make this lyfe lesse pleasant to vs , then it should be . we make too casie a waye to Heauen , so , these accuse the streightnesse of the Gospell , & are offended to heare the Preachers to reproue , not onely their outwarde euill workes , but also to require , that man shoulde vtterly forsake himselfe , die vnto sinne , mortifie the fleshe together with the lustes thereof , and so wholy to be giuen and addicted to Christ , and his holy will , that we should not so much as keepe company with the wicked and vngodly . Oh saye they , you cleane take away all curtesie , and pleasaunt life , and bring into the worlde a Monkish & Stoicall seueritie , and solitarinesse , contrarie to all ciuill fashion and humanitie .

Wherfore when we tell the iolly Gentlemen , and lustie The answere is anne●ed to euerie perticular part of the obiection Courtiours , that their gorgeous apparell , is but a lewde wasting of their thrift , and a loose vanitie , that their ydle swearing is horrible blasphemie : that their Dicing , Daunsing , and dalieng , is wicked spending of time , and practises of impietie : they mislike this doctrine , they are ashamed of this Gospell , and in their outrage , depraue the Preachers , and speake ill of them . When we tell the fine Ladyes Esay . 3. 16. ●c . and Gentlewomen , that their painted coates with gazing colours , their fri●●ed heare , and imbrodered hattes , their ●itle Cappes and light Fethers , are but instruments of wantonnesse , snares of sinne , and open tokens of lightnesse , they are displeased with vs . In their brauerie they scoffe at vs , they thinke it a shame , for them to be taught out of the Gospell , to goe like graue Ladies , and sober or sad Matrons . When we tell the couetous riche men , that they shoulde not heere , laye vp the treasures of the world , Mat. 6. 19. 20. but seeke after euerlasting ryches , that no rust can consume . When wee tell them , that they brought nothing 1. Tim. 6. 7 into the worlde , and as assuredly , shall carrie nothing out of the worlde : when wee byd them gyue the one halfe of their goods vnto the poore , and restore agayne those that Luc. 19. 8. they haue yll gotten as Zacheus did : They mislyke our doctrine , they are ashamed of the Gospell , they go with heauie heartes from the Sermon , as the yong riche man Mat. 19. 22. went from Christ . When with Saint Paule , wee tell the riotous gluttons , that they shoulde walke soberly , as in the daye time , and not pamper vp theyr fleshe to vice and wantonnesse , by feastyng , by banqueting , by riotous feedyng and drunkennesse , but that they shoulde put on the Lorde Iesu Christ , and not followe the fleshe by Rom. 13. 13 satisfying the lust thereof : they thinke it an harde doctrine , they thynke the sweete of their life taken from them , and therefore are ashamed in that , to followe the Gospell .

But they that bee the true people of God consider , that Joh. 15. 19. as Christ sayth , He hath chosen his out of the world : so he requireth that they shoulde forsake the worlde , abandon the pleasures of the fleshe , and vanitie of this lyfe , die vnto sinne , and by the seede of hys holy Gospell bee borne agayne to a newnesse of lyfe . His Apostles also soundyng vppon the same string , tell vs that wee should 1. Pet. 2. 9. be seperated from this naughtie generation , that wee may rise in Christ , to a newnesse of life , as an holy nation , and set foorth his goodnesse , that hath deliuered vs , from darknesse , to light vnestimable . The same Apostles crie vnto vs , and by Proclamation ( as it were ) exclude out of the Kingdome of heauen , Whooremaisters , 1. Cor. 6. 9. 10. Adulteres , couetous men , nyce and wanton persons , drunkards , backbiters ▪ contenders , brawlers , idolaters , theeues and extorcioners .

Wherefore wee may not chaunge the lawes of the Citie of God , and make these things , to hang on the pleasures 〈◊〉 of the answere . and affections of men : that Christ and his Apostles , haue so straightly , and seuerely forbydden . Therfore , neuer let the pleasures of the worlde , nor the maisters , and maintainers of them , pull you from the profession of the Gospel , but still say with Saint Paule , I am not ashamed of the Gospell of Christ . &c.

Nowe are wee come to another quarrell , that they make against the Gospell , but as for this and other quarrels that they make against the Gospell , they shall afterwarde bee intreated of .