Doctrinal Treatises and Introductions to the Holy Scriptures

hath made thee safe," " Be it to thee according to thy faith,""

or " Great is thy faith," and so forth; and of which James

James i. himself speaketh in the first chapter, saying, " Of his own lheemade the w^ begat ne us w^n tne word °f life," that is, in believing

Bmu^ofood. tne promises, wherein is life, are we made the sons of God.

Which thing I also thiswise prove. Paul saith " How shall, or can they believe without a preacher? How should they preach except they were sent?" "Now I pray you, when was it heard that God sent any man to preach unto the devils, or that he made them any good promise? He threateneth them oft; but never sent any ambassadors to preach any

Antexedmple' atonement between him and them. Take an ensample that thou mayest understand: let there be two poor men both destitute of raiment in a cold winter; the one strong that he feeleth no grief, the other grievously mourning for pain of the cold. I then come by, and, moved with pity and com passion, say unto him that feeleth his disease, " Come to such a place, and I will give thee raiment sufficient." He believeth, cometh, and obtaineth that which I have promised. That other seeth all this, and knoweth it, but is partaker of nought, for he hath no faith, and that is because there is no promise made him. So is it of the devils: the devils have nos faith; for faith is but earnest believing of God's promises. Now are there no promises made unto the devils, but sore threatenings. The old philosophers knew that there was one God, but yet had no faith; for they had no power to seek his will, neither to worship him. The Turks and the Saracens know that Turks have there is one God, but yet have no faith; for they have no yet knowan power to worship God in spirit, to seek his pleasure, and to God- Ant- ed- submit them unto his will. They made an idol of God, (as we do for the most part,) and worshipped him every man after his own imagination, and for a sundry purpose. What we will have done, that must God do; and to do our will, worship we him and pray unto him: but what God will have done, that will neither Turk nor Saracen, nor the most part of us do. Whatsoever we imagine righteous, that must God admit; but God's righteousness will not our hearts admit. Take another ensample: let there be two such as I spake of Another before, and I promise both; and the one, because he feeleth w?™!'16" not his disease, cometh not. So is it of God's promises: no man is holpen by them, but sinners that feel their sins, mourn and sorrow for them, and repent with all their hearts. For John Baptist went before Christ, and preached repent- John Baptist ance; that is, he preached the law of God right, and brought peopfe' their the people into knowledge of themselves, and unto the fear theeiaw, and of God, and then sent them unto Christ to be healed. For {^^ be in Christ, and for his sake only, hath God promised to receive healed> W>T* us unto mercy, to forgive us, and to give us power to resist sin. How shall God save thee, when thou knowest not thy damnation? How shall Christ deliver thee from sin, when thou wilt not knowledge thy sin? Now I pray thee how many thousands are there of them that say, ' I believe that Christ was born of a virgin, that he died, that he rose again/ and so forth, and thou canst not bring them in belief that they have any sin at all! How many are there of the same sort, which thou canst not make believe that a thousand things are sin, which God damneth for sin all the scripture sins that are throughout! as to buy as good cheap1 as he can, and to sell sins. as dear as he can; to raise the market of corn and victuals, for his own vantage, without respect of his neighbour, or of the poor, or of the common wealth, and such like. Moreover, how many hundred thousand are there, which when they have sinned, and knowledge their sins, yet trust in a bald fruitelesAut Ceremony5 or 'in a lousy friar's coat and merits; or in the prayers of them that devour widows' houses, and eat the poor out of house and harbour; in a thing of his own ima gination; in a foolish dream, and a false vision; and not in

HO w.these Christ's blood, and in the truth that God hath sworn2! All

Si h"eous- ^ese are faithless; for they follow their own righteousness, faev^anduento an^ are disobedient unto all manner righteousness of God; God'ar?01 both unto the righteousness of God's law, wherewith he faithless. danmeth all our deeds, (for though some of them see their sins for fear of pain, yet had they rather3 that such deeds were no sin,) and also unto the righteousness of the truth of God in his promises, whereby he saveth all that repent and believe them. For though they believe that Christ died, yet believe they not that he died for their sins, and that his death is a sufficient satisfaction for their sins; and that God, for his sake, will be a father unto them, and give them power to resist sin.

Paul saith to the Romans, in the xth chapter, " If thou Rom. *. confess with thy mouth that Jesus is the Lord, and believe with thine heart that God raised him up from death, thou shalt be safe:" that is, if thou believe he raised him up again for thy salvation. Many believe that God is rich and almighty; but not unto themselves, and that he will be good unto them, and defend them, and be their God.

Pharaoh, for pain of the plague, was compelled to confess Pharaoh his sins, but had yet no power to submit himself unto the will of God, and to let the children of Israel go, and to lose so great profit for God's pleasure; as our prelates confess their sins, saying, Though we be never so evil, yet have we the power4. And again, The scribes and the Pharisees (say they) sat in Moses' seat; do as they teach, but not as they do: thus confess they that they are abominable. But to the second I answer, If they sat on Christ's seat, they would preach Christ's doctrine: now preach they their own tradi tions, and therefore not to be heard. If they preached The preach- Christ, we ought to hear them, though they were never so true°gospei abominable, as they of themselves confess, and have yet no heard.thoug power to amend, neither to let loose Christ's flock to serve God in the spirit; which they hold captive compelling them

The devils to serve their false lies. The devils felt the power of Christ, and were compelled against their wills to confess that he was God. Tnt. ed. the Son of God; but had no power to be content therewith, neither to consent unto the ordinance and eternal counsel of the everlasting God: as our prelates feel the power of God against them, but yet have no grace to give room unto Christ, because that they (as the devil's nature is) will themselves sit in his holy temple, that is to wit, the consciences of men.

Acts viii. Simon Magus believed, Acts viii., with such a faith as the

M^S'S faith. devils confessed Christ; but had no right faith, as thou seest in the said chapter. For he repented not, consenting unto the law of God. Neither believed he the promises, or longed for them; but wondered only at the miracles which Philip wrought. And because that he himself in Philip's presence had no power to use his witchcraft, sorcery, and art magic, wherewith he mocked and deluded the wits of the people, ourspiritu- he would have bought the gift of God, to have sold it much successors of dearer; as his successors now do, and not the successors of reter. w. T. Simon Peter. For were they Simon Peter's successors, they would preach Christ, as he did; but they are Simon Magus's

2 Pet. ii. successors, of which Simon Peter well prophesied l in the second chapter of his second epistle, saying, " There were false prophets among the people (meaning of the Jews), even as there shall be false teachers or doctors among you, which privily shall bring in sects damnable," (sects is part-taking, as one holdeth of Francis, another of Dominic, which thing also icor. i. Hi. Paul rebuketh2, 1 Cor. i. iii.) " even denying the Lord that bought them; " (for they will not be saved by Christ, neither suffer any man to preach him to other.) " And many shall follow their damnable ways." (Thou wilt say, Shall God suffer so many to go out of the right way so long? I an swer, Many must follow their damnable ways, or else must Peter be a false prophet.) " By which the way of truth shall be evil spoken of;" (as it is now at this present time, for it is heresy to preach the truth;) " and through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you." Of their merchandise and covetousness it needeth not to make rehearsal; for they that be blind see it evidently.

Thus seest thou that James, when he saith, " Faith without deeds is dead," and "as the body without the spirit is Sh dead, so is faith without deeds," and "the devils believe;'' Sreedof that he meaneth not of the faith and trust, that we have in the truth of God's promises, and his holy testament made unto us in Christ's blood; which faith followeth repentance, and the consent of the heart unto the law of God, and maketh a man safe, and setteth him at peace with God. But he speaketh of that false opinion and imagination, wherewith some say, I believe that Christ was born of a virgin, and that he died, and so forth. That believe they verily, and so strongly, that they are ready to slay whosoever would say the contrary. But they believe not that Christ died for their sins; and that his death hath appeased the wrath of God, and hath obtained for them all that God hath promised in the scripture. For how can they believe that Christ died for their sins, and that he is their only and sufficient Saviour, seeing that they seek other saviours of their own imagina tion; and seeing that they feel not their sins, neither repent, except that some repent (as I above said) for fear of pain, but for no love, nor consent unto the law of God, nor longing that they have for those good promises which he hath made them in Christ's blood? If they repented and loved the law of God, and longed for that help which God hath promised to give to all that call on him for Christ's sake; then verily must God's truth give them power and strength to do good works, whensoever occasion were given, either must God be a false God. But " let God be true, and every man a liar," as scripture saith. For the truth of God lasteth ever: to whom only be all honour and glory for ever. Amen.

A short rehearsal or sum of this present treatise of Justification by Faith*.

FAITH, the mother of all good works, justifieth us, before we can bring forth any good work: as the husband marrieth

his wife, before he can have any lawful children by her. Fur thermore, as the husband marrieth not his wife that she should continue unfruitful as before, and as she was in the state of virginity, (wherein it was impossible for her to bear fruit,) but contrariwise to make her fruitful; even so faith justifieth us not, that is to say, marrieth us not to God, that we should continue unfruitful as before, but that he should put the seed of his holy Spirit in us, (as St John in his first epistle calleth it,) and to make us fruitful. For, saith Paul, (Eph. ii.): " By grace are ye made safe through faith, and that not of yourselves: for it is the gift of God, and cometh not of the works, lest any man should boast himself. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath ordained that we should walk in them." Amen.

Be not offended, most dear reader, that divers things are overseen through negligence in this little treatise. For verily the chance was such, that I marvel that it is so well as it is. Moreover it becometh the book even so to come as a mourner, and in vile apparel to wait on his master, which sheweth himself now again, not in honour and glory, as between Moses and Elias; but in rebuke and shame, as between two murderers, to try his true friends, and to prove whe ther there be any faith on the earth l.

GRACE, peace, and increase of knowledge in our Lord Jesus Christ, be with thee l, reader, and with all that call on the name of the Lord unfeignedly and with a pure conscience. Amen.

Let it not make thee despair, neither yet discourage thee, 0 reader, that it is forbidden thee in pain of life and goods, or that it is made breaking of the king's peace, or treason unto his highness, to read the word of thy soul's health2. But The nature of much rather be bold in the Lord, and comfort thy soul: for- is°tobevjer- asmuch as thou art sure, and hast an evident token through such persecution, that it is the true word of God; which word is ever hated of the world, neither was ever without persecu tion, (as thou seest in all the stories of the Bible, both of the new Testament and also of the old,) neither can be, no more than the sun can be without his light; and forasmuch as con- The pope is trariwise thou art sure that the pope's doctrine is not of God, receivet&,and which (as thou seest) is so agreeable unto the world, and is so w. T.

received of the world; or which rather so receiveth the world and the pleasures of the world, and seekcth. nothing but the possessions of the world, and authority in the world, and to bear a rule in the world; and persecuteth the word of God, and with all wiliness driveth people from it, and with false and sophistical reasons maketh them afraid of it; yea, curscth them, and excommunicateth them, and bringeth them in be lief that they be damned if they look on it, and that it is but doctrine to deceive men; and moveth the blind powers of the world to slay with fire, water, and sword, all that cleave unto it1: for the world loveth that which is his, and hatcth that which is chosen out of the world to serve God in the Spirit, as Christ saith to his disciples, John xv. " If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but I have chosen you out of the world, and therefore the world hatcth you."

Another comfort hast thou, that, as the weak powers of the world defend the doctrine of the world, so the mighty God defend- power of God defendeth the doctrine of God: which thing tnnehimseif. thou shalt evidently perceive, if thou call to mind the wonderful deeds which God hath ever wrought for his word in extreme necessity, since the world began, beyond all man's reason, which are written, (as Paul saith, Rom. xv.) " for our learning, Rom. xv (and not for our deceiving,) that we through patience and comfort of the scripture might have hope." The nature of God-sword God's word is to fight against hypocrites. It began at Abel, and hath ever since continued, and shall, I doubt not, until the °r' last day. And the hypocrites have alway the world on their sides; as thou seest in the time of Christ. They had the Ho elders, that is to wit, the rulers of the Jews on their side; they had Pilate and the emperor's power on their side; they °° had Herod also on their side: moreover they brought all their worldly wisdom to pass, and all that they could think, or imagine, to serve for their purpose. First, to fear2 the The craft of people withal, they excommunicated all that believed in him, criuJw'. T.

and put them out of the temple; as thou seest, John ix. Se- j0hn ix.

condly, they found the means to have him condemned by the emperor's power, and made it treason to Caesar to believe in him. Thirdly, they obtained to have him hanged as a thief or a murderer, which, after their belly-wisdom, was a cause above all causes that no man should believe in him: for the

Jews take it for a sure token of everlasting damnation, if a man be hanged; for it is written in their law, Deut. xxi. Dem. xxi.

" Cursed is whosoever hangeth on tree." Moses also in the grievous peril and danger of the souls committed to our charge and the offence of God's divine majesty.' Having given this description of the versions without glosses, or the plain word of God, as well as of that with glosses, he proceeds to enjoin his officers to require all persons to surrender their copies of any translation of the New Testa ment into the English tongue under pain of excommunication __ Tonstal's injunction is given in Foxc, among details belonging to 1531; and in Anderson, B. I. § 3. Vol. i. p. 118, first edition.] [2 Fear: terrify.]

same place commandeth, if any man be hanged, to take him down the same day and bury him, for fear of polluting or de filing the country; that is, lest they should bring the wrath and curse of God upon them. And therefore the wicked Jews themselves, which with so venomous hate persecuted the doctrine of Christ, and did all the shame that they could do unto him, though they would fain have had Christ to hang still on the cross, and there to rot, (as he should have done by the emperor's law,) yet for fear of defiling their sabbath, and of bringing the wrath and curse of God upon them, johnxix. begged of Pilate to take him down, John xix. which was against themselves.

Finally, when they had done all they could, and that they thought sufficient, and when Christ was in the heart of the earth, and so many bills and pole-axes about him to keep him down, and when it was past man's help, then holp God. When man could not bring.him again, God's truth fetched ootrs truth him again. The oath that God had sworn to Abraham, to makdthsthaend David, and to other holy fathers and prophets, raised him up thldh°y^o°-f agam> to bless and save all that believe in him. Thus became ness!8 fw.iST\ the wisdom of the hypocrites foolishness. Lo, this was written for thy learning and comfort. The captivity How wonderfully were the children of Israel locked in of the Israel- J w- T- they in! The land also that was promised them was far off, and full of great cities, walled with high walls up to the sky, and inhabited with great giants; yet God's truth brought them out of Egypt, and planted them in the land of the ifith°tdsbwho g'ian^s- This was l also written for our learning: for there is

SaiXtus? no Power against God's, neither any wisdom against God's

Ant. ed. wisdom: he is stronger and wiser than all his enemies.

SayShthe What no^P ^ Pharaoh, to drown the men children? So bishops, to burn our men children; which manfully confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, and that there is no other name Acts iv. given unto men to be saved by, as Peter testifieth. Acts, in the fourth chapter.

Who dried up the Red sea? Who slew Goliath? Who did all those wonderful deeds which thou readest in the bible? Who delivered the Israelites evermore from thraldom and [! So H. Luft; D. has is.]

bondage, as soon as they repented and turned to God? Faith verily, and God's truth, and the trust in the promises which he had made. Read the xith to the Hebrews for thy con solation.

When the children of Israel were ready to despair, for the greatness and the multitude of the giants, Moses comforted them ever, saying, Remember what your Lord God hath done How for you in Egypt, his wonderful plagues, his miracles, his we ^raelites wonders, his mighty hand, his stretched out arm, and what he hath done for you hitherto. lie shall destroy them; he God's truth shall take their hearts from them, and make them fear and us. w. T.

flee before you. He shall storm them, and stir up a tempest among them, and scatter them, and bring them to nought.

He hath sworn; he is true; he will fulfil the promises that he hath made unto Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This is written for our learning: for verily he is a true God; and is our God as well as theirs; and his promises are with us, as well as with them; and he present with us, as well as he was with them. If we ask, we shall obtain; if we knock, he will open; if we seek, we shall find; if we thirst, his truth shall fulfil our lust. Christ is with us until the world's Matt, xxviu.

cncl. Let his little flock be bold therefore. For if God be on our side, what matter maketh it who be against us, be they bishops, cardinals, popes, or whatsoever names they

Mark this also, if God send thee to the sea, and God trieth promise to go with thee, and to bring thee safe to land, he h;| children. will raise up a tempest against thee, to prove whether thou wilt abide by his word, and that thou mayest feel thy faith, and perceive his goodness. For if it were alway^TTan^'weather, and thou never brought into such jeopardy, whence his mercy only delivered thee, thy faith should be but a pre sumption, and thou shouldest be ever unthankful to God and merciless unto thy neighbour.

If God promise riches, the way thereto is poverty. Whom God workhe loveth, him he chasteneth: whom he exalteth, he casteth ward. w. T. down: whom he saveth, he damneth first. He bringeth no man to heaven, except he send him to hell first. If he pro mise life, he slayeth first: when he buildeth, he casteth all down first. He is no patcher; lie cannot build on another man's foundation. He will not work until all be past remedy, and brought unto such a case, that men may see, how that his hand, his power, his mercy, his goodness and truth, hath wrought altogether. He will let no man be partaker with him of his praise and glory. His works are wonderful, and contrary unto man's works. Who ever, saving1 he, delivered his own Son, his only Son, his dear Son, unto the death, and that for his enemies' sake, to win his enemy, to overcome him with love, that he might see love, and love again, and of love to do likewise to other men, and to overcome them with well doing?

Joseph. Joseph saw the sun and the moon and the eleven stars

worshipping him. Nevertheless, ere that came to pass, God laid him where he could neither see sun nor moon, neither any star of the sky, and that many years; and also unde served; to nurture him, to humble, to meek2, and to teach him God's ways, and to make him apt and meet for the room and honour against he came to it; that he might perceive and feel that it came of God, and that he might be strong in the spirit to minister it godly.

Israelites. He promised the children of Israel a land with rivers of milk and honey; but brought them for the space of forty years into a land, where not only rivers of milk and honey were not, but where so much as a drop of water was not; to nurture them, and to teach them, as a father doth his son, and to do them good at the latter end; and that they might be strong in their spirit and souls, to use his gifts and benefits godly and after his will.

He promised David a kingdom, and immediately stirred up king Saul against him to persecute him; to hunt him, as men do hares with greyhounds, and to ferret him out of every hole, and that for the space of many years; to tame him, to meek him, to kill his lusts; to make him feel other men's diseases; to make him merciful; to make him understand that he was made king to minister and to serve his brethren, and that he should not think that his subjects were made to minister unto his lusts, and that it were lawful for him to ^4ake away from them life and goods at his pleasure.

"stn,ctsh°rs Oh that our kings were so nurtured now-a-days! which r> our holy bishops teach of a far other manner, saying, Your grace shall take your pleasure; yea, take what pleasure you list, spare nothing; we shall dispense with you; we have power, we are God's vicars: and let us alone with the realm, we shall take pain for you, and see that nothing be well: your grace shall but defend the faith only.

Let us, therefore, look diligently whereunto we are called, that we deceive not ourselves. We are called, not to dispute, as the pope's disciples do; but to die with Christ, that we may live with him; and to suffer with him, that we may reign with him. We be called unto a kingdom that must be won with suffering only, as a sick man winneth health. God outfighting is he that doth all things for us, and fighteth for us; and we while God ' sent me, so send I you;" and, John xv. "If they persecute John xv.

me, then shall they persecute you." And Christ saith, Matt. Matt. x.

x. "I send you forth as sheep among wolves." The sheep fight not; but the shepherd fighteth for them, and careth for them. " Be harmless as doves, therefore," saith Christ,

" and wise as serpents." The doves imagine no defence, nor seek to avenge themselves. The serpent's wisdom is, The wisdom to keep his head, and those parts wherein his life rcsteth. pent. W.T.

Christ is our head; and God's word is that wherein our life resteth. To cleave, therefore, fast unto Christ, and unto those promises which God hath made us for his sake, is our wisdom. "Beware of men," saith he; "for they shall deliver you up unto their councils, and shall scourge you; and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake. The brother shall betray, or deliver, the brother to death, and the father the son; and the children shall rise against father and mother, and put them to death." Hear what Christ saith more: " The disciple is not greater than his master; neither the servant greater, or better, than his lord. If they have called the good man of the house Beelzebub, how much rather shall they call his household servants so!"

And, Luke xiv. saith Christ: "Which of you, disposed to build a tower, sitteth not down first and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to perform it? Lest when he hath laid the foundation, and then not able to perform it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to make an end: so likewise none of you, that forsaketh not all that he hath, can be my disciple."

unto the godless hypocrites and infidels. " No man can serve *wo Casters, God and mammon;" that is to say, wicked rnfohrteketh riches also. Matt. vi. Thou must love Christ above all things: bJtfomkefk but that doest thou not, if thou be not ready to forsake all w!'Th.t? for his sake: if thou have forsaken all for his sake, then Tribulation art thou sure that thou lovest him. Tribulation is our right tism. w. T. baptism; and is signified by plunging into the water. "We Rom. vi. that are baptized in the name of Christ," saith Paul, "are baptized to die with him."

The Spirit through tribulation purgcth us, and killeth our fleshly wit, our worldly understanding, and belly-wisdom,

Tribulation and filleth us full of the wisdom of God. Tribulation is a are they that suffer persecution for righteousness' sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Is not this a comfortable word? Who ought not rather to choose, and desire to be blessed with Christ, in a little tribulation, than to be cursed perpetually with the world for a little pleasure?

Prosperity is a right curse, and a thing that God giveth to his enemies. " Woe be to you rich," saith Christ, Luke vi. " lo, ye have your consolation: woe be to you that are full, for ye shall hunger: woe be to you that laugh, for ye shall weep: woe be to you when men praise you, for so did their fathers unto the false prophets:" yea, and so have our fathers done unto the false hypocrites. The hypocrites, with worldly preaching, have not gotten the praise only, but even the possessions also, and the dominion and rule of the whole world. egtftof Tribulation for righteousness is not a blessing only, but

God. w. T. a]so a gift that God giveth unto none save his special friends.

Actsv. The apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for Christ's sake. And Paul, in the second epistle

2 Tim. iii. an(j third chapter to Timothy, saith, " All that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution:" and, Phil. i. he saith, "Unto you it is given, not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for his sake." Here seest thou that it is God's gift, to suffer for Christ's sake. And Peter in the fourth chapter i Pet. iv. of his first epistle saith: " Happy are ye if ye suffer for the name of Christ; for the glorious Spirit of God rcsteth in you." Is it not an happy thing, to be sure that thou art sealed with God's Spirit to everlasting life? And, verily, thou art sure thereof, if thou suffer patiently for his sake. By suffering art thou sure; but by persecuting canst thou never be sure: for Paul, Rom. v. saith, "Tribulation maketh feeling;" that is, it maketh us feel the goodness of God, and his help, and the working of his Spirit. And, the twelfth chapter of the second epistle to the Corinthians, the Lord said unto Paul, the pope and

" My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made gj&fii perfect through weakness." Lo, Christ is never strong in us till we be weak. As our strength abateth, so groweth the The weaker strength of Christ in us: when we are clean emptied of our the stronger' own strength, then are we full of Christ's strength: and look, Ant- £dhow much of our own strength remaineth in us, so much lacketh there of the strength of Christ. " Therefore," saith Paul, in the said place in the second epistle to the Corin thians, " very gladly will I rejoice in my weakness, that the strength of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore have I delectation," saith Paul, "in infirmities, in rebukes, in need, in persecutions, and in anguish for Christ's sake; for when weakness of I am weak, then am I strong." Meaning, that the weakness the strength of the flesh is the strength of the Spirit. And by flesh JV^T- w T understand wit, wisdom, and all that is in a man before the Spirit of God come; and whatsoever springeth not of the Spirit of God, and of God's word. And of like testimonies is all the scripture full.

Behold, God setteth before us a blessing and also a curse: in two things a blessing, verily, and that a glorious and an everlasting, if our we suffer tribulation and adversity with our Lord and Saviour Christ; and an everlasting curse, if, for a little pleasure sake, we withdraw ourselves from the chastising and nurture of God, wherewith he teacheth all his sons, and fashioneth them after his godly will, and maketh them perfect (as he did Christ), and maketh them apt and meet vessels to receive his grace and his Spirit, that they might perceive and feel the exceeding mercy which we have in Christ, and the innumer able blessings and the unspeakable inheritance, whereto we are called and chosen, and sealed in our Saviour Jesus Christ, unto whom be praise for ever. Amen.

Finally: whom God chooseth to reign everlastingly with

-^ Christ, him sealcth he with his mighty Spirit, and poureth effoadndnof strength into his heart, to suffer afflictions also with Christ the devii. £or bearmg witness unto the truth. And this is the difference between the children of God and of salvation, and between the children of the devil and of damnation: that the children of God have power in their hearts to suffer for God's word; which is their life and salvation, their hope and trust, and whereby they live in the soul and spirit before God. And the children of the devil in time of adversity fly from Christ, whom they followed feignedly, their hearts not sealed with his holy and mighty Spirit; and get them to the standard

The dcvirs of their right father the devil, and take his wages, the

' pleasures of this world, which are the earnest of everlasting damnation: which conclusion the twelfth chapter to the He-

Heb. xii. brews well confirmeth, saying, " My son, despise not thou the chastising of the Lord, neither faint when thou art rebuked

AH God's of him: for whom the Lord loveth, him he chastiseth; yea, under chas- and he scourgeth every son whom he receivetn. Lo, perse cution and adversity for the truth's sake is God's scourge, and God's rod, and pertaineth unto all his children indiffer ently: for when he said, he scourgeth every son, he maketh none exception. Moreover saith the text: " If ye shall en dure chastising, God offereth himself unto you as unto sons. What son is it that the Father chastiseth not? If ye be not under correction, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons."

Forasmuch, then, as we must needs be baptized in tribu lations, and through the Red sea, and a great and a fearful wilderness, and a land of cruel giants, into our natural coun- children are under chas tising. W.T.

which way try; yea, and inasmuch as it is a plain earnest that there is heaven8then? no °^ner wa7 m^° the kingdom of life than through persecution, and suffering of pain, and of very death, after the ensample of Christ; therefore let us arm our souls with the comfort of the scriptures: how that God is ever ready at hand, in time of need, to help us; and how that such tyrants and persecutors are but God's scourge, and his rod to chastise us. And as the father hath alway, in time of 'correction, the rod fast in his hand, so that the rod doth nothing but as the The tyrants father moveth it; even so hath God all tyrants in his hand, whatetheyd° wtteth them not do whatsoever they would, but as much Wouid. W.T. only as he appointeth them to do, and as far forth as it is necessary for us. And as, when the child submitteth himself unto his father's correction and nurture, and humbleth him self altogether unto the will of his father, then the rod is taken away; even so, when we are come unto the knowledge of the right way, and have forsaken our own will, and offer ourselves clean unto the will of God, to walk which way soever he will have us, then turneth he the tyrants; or else, if they enforce to persecute us any further, he putteth them out of the way, according unto the comfortable ensamples of the scripture.

Moreover, let us arm our souls with the promises both The promises i ot God are of help and assistance, and also of the glorious reward that y° followeth. " Great is your reward in heaven," saith Christ, ' Matt. v.; and, " He that knowledgeth me before men, him Matt, v. & x. will I knowledge before my Father that is in heaven;" and, " Call on me in time of tribulation, and I will deliver thee," PS. i. Psal. 1.; and, " Behold the eyes of the Lord arc over them PS. xxxin. that fear him, and over them that trust in his mercy, to deliver their souls from death, and to feed them in time of hunger." Psal. xxxiii. And in Psalm xxxiv. saith David: "The Lord is nigh them that are troubled in their hearts, PS. xxxiv. and the meek in spirit will he save. The tribulations of the righteous are many, and out of them all will the Lord deliver them. The Lord keepeth all the bones of them, so that not one of them shall be bruised. The Lord shall re deem the souls of his servants." And of such like consolation are all the psalms full. AVould to God when ye read them ye understood them! And, Matt. x. " When they deliver Matt. x. you, take no thought what ye shall say; it shall be given you the same hour what ye shall say: for it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." " The very hairs of your head are numbered," saith Christ also, Matt. x. If God care for our hairs, he much more careth Matt. x. for our souls, which he hath sealed with his holy Spirit. Therefore saith Peter, 1 Pet. v. " Cast all your care upon him; for he careth for you." And Paul, 1 Cor. x. saith: i ret. v. "God is true, he will not suffer you to be tempted above icor. x your might." And Psalm Iv. " Cast thy care upon the PS. iv. Lord."

Let thy care be to prepare thyself with all thy strength, for to walk which way he will have thec; and to believe that ™> The will go with thee, and assist thee, and strengthen thee against all tyrants, and deliver thee out of all tribulation. But what way, or by what means he will do it, that commit unto him and his godly pleasure and wisdom, and cast that care upon him. And though it seem never so unlikely, or never so impossible unto natural reason, yet believe stedfastly that he will do it: and then shall he (according to his old use) change the course of the world, even in the twinkling of an eye, and come suddenly upon our giants, as a thief in the night, and compass them in their wiles and worldly wisdom. " When they cry, Peace and all is safe, then shall their sorrows begin, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth with child:" and then shall he destroy them, and deliver thee, unto the glorious praise of his mercy and truth. Amen.

And as pertaining unto them that despise God's word, counting it as a fantasy or a dream; and to them also that for fear of a little persecution fall from it, set this before wreT.ened' thine eyes; how God, since the beginning of the world, be fore a general plague, ever sent his true prophets and preachers of his word, to warn the people, and gave them time1 to repent. But they, for the greatest part of them, hardened their hearts, and persecuted the word that was sent to save them. And then God destroyed them utterly, and took them clean from the earth. As thou seest what followed

Noah, Lot, the preaching of Noc in the old world; what followed

Aaron! w.T. the preaching of Lot among the Sodomites; and the preach ing of Moses and Aaron among the Egyptians; and that suddenly, against all possibility of man's wit. Moreover, as oft as the children of Israel fell from God to the worshipping iKspr w T. °f images> ne sent his prophets unto them; and they perse cuted and waxed hard-hearted: and then he sent them into all places of the world captive. Last of all, he sent his own

Christ. W.T. Son to them, and they waxed more hard-hearted than ever before: and see what a fearful example of his wrath and cruel vengeance he hath made of them to all the world, now almost fifteen hundred years.

Unto the old Britons also (which dwelled where our na- W.T. tion doth now) preached Gildas; and rebuked them of their