A goodly treatise of faith, hope, and charity necessary for all Christian men to know and to exercise themselves therein translated into english. printed in South work, For james Nicolson. Anno M. D. xxxvii 1537. The translator. There are many now a days that use great disputations and reasoning of faith, thinking to have faith when they can reason much of it. They know that by faith only a man is justified, or made righteous, but yet they know not the ground & pith of faith, whereby a man is made righteous. Ye true faith can better be felt inwardly, than it can be expressed with words. It is planted in at the ear by hearing of the word of God, it is grounded and rooted in man's heart, by the operation of the spirit, working in the same word, and finally (saying it can not be hid) it bresteth out in doing of charitable deeds, the which the faithful knoweth to be acceptable unto God. And by this working or endeavour to please God, he conceiveth an hope to obtain everlasting life, wherein he shall rest in joy with God: not of duty, as one that were hired thereto, but only of Gods bounteous goodness and mercy. The devils also have an historical faith of Christ, and believe all to be true that is spoken of him thorough out all the scripture: for they can not improve nor deny the truth of it. But saying they conceive not such an opinion of God, as namely, that God is their redimer that by him and by none other (be he never so holy) they be saved, that in him only they ought to rejoice, to trust, and to be comforted: therefore is not their ●ayth available or an occasion unto salvation but rather (as sayeth saint james) a cause to fear and tremble. It is not enough to be baptized, and to know by heart all that articles of our faith although every one that will be called a Christian is bound to believe & to know the●) but he must also express them in his living. If I be leave God to be a father, and a creator or maker of heaven and earth, and all that is therein of nought, and yet do not seek all aid, comfort, and goodness at him: how can I have a true faith or believe in him? how can I say truly: I believe in God the father almighty? etc. hearken how God complaineth by his prophet Micue. 1. Should not a son honour his father (sayeth he) and a servant his master? If I be now a father, where ●● mine honour? If I be the ZORDE where I am feared? sayeth the ZORDE of hosts. As though he would say: who declareth his faith that he hath to me? who soweth me as a son his ather? not for any respect or regard of advantage that he can obtain by it: but of the inward and natural motion of love that he hath to my goodness Or who feareth me as a servant? that dreadeth punishment for transgressing of his lords commandment. For as sayeth David: They are all gone out of the way, they are all become unprofitable, there is none that doth good: no not one By this is it evident what small faith is found in the world now a days and how little declaration of the same: specially of those that can and do most reason, & dispute of it. This I say, and that in verbo domini that I would of god they uttered less words of faith, hope, and charity: but declared them more by outward deeds of the same. To speak divinity maketh not a divine, but to live divinity. If wishing? might do good, I would heartily wish every one that can speak much of divinity the same mind, that saint Augustine was in when he said: The unlearned stand up, and take in the kingdom of heaven, and we sink to hell with all out learning. If we did take once hearty grace to us and busied ourselves to live the Gospel, than should not we need to be asked a count of our faith, than should we go on progress from virtue to virtue, than should out light lighten the weaklings, lest they do offend at Christ the head corner stone But alas for pity, the great punishments wherewith God doth and will punish us come upon us because there is no faithfulness, there is no mercy, there is no knowledge of god in the land: but swe●tynge lying manslaughter theft, and adultery have the over hand, and one bloodshedding so! oweth another. etc. Dse. 4. Look thorough the whole flock of them that will be seyers of god, that is the citizens of Jerusalem: Seek thorough her streets also if ye can find one man that doth equal & right, or that laboureth to be faithful: and I shall spare him (sayeth the LORD) For though they can say: The LORD liveth, yet to they swear to deceive. Where as thou: o LORD lookest only upon saith & truth. Christ himself hath prophesied these perilous times of ours saying: When the son of man cometh, suppose ye that he shall find faith upon earth? As though he would say, no. Ye where faith is not, there is an unberment of wickednesses: as sayeth Esay. 59 There is equity gone aside, ● righteousness standeth afarte of. truth is falledown in the street, & the thing that is plain & open, may not be showed. Ye the truth is laid in preson, & he that refraineth himself from evil, must be spoiled. Is it not a piteous case to hear the prophets thus complain upon our wickedness, ye christ himself? What do we think that shall become of us after this vapour rather than life? What and if one man had gotten all the world, should it profit ought unto his soul after his departing hence? seeing he is come naked into this world, & must departed naked out of it again. Why do men set so little by faith? & regard 〈◊〉 or charity as a thing little worth? where as. ● Paul not ●stondinge dot call love the greatest of the three theological virtues That thou mayest therefore (good te●der) crercyse theselfe in these three holy virtues, as namely faith, hope & charity or love: I have translated to thy behoof this little treatise, treating of the same: whose briefness I trust shall draw thy mind to the reading of it. For by manifest scriytures (the which be here sufficiently brought forth) thou mayest perceive the power of faith whereby man is saved the which causeth man to conceive an hope of the life ever lasting. And thus of inward joy & gladness he breaketh forth unto deeds of charity, whereby he declareth his in ward gift of faith. So that finally he can not choose but hope to come unto life eternal the which greunt us he that created & redimed us. Amen. The treatise of faith ¶ The first chapter treateth of the Faith in Christ, and what is a true Faith. Faith is described plain lie unto us in the epistle to the Hebrews after this manner. Faith is a sure confidence of things Hebre 11 which are hoped for, and a certainty of things which are not seen Herby we may se which is the true faith, namely, that we abide & look to obtain mercy of the LORD: where as we find nought in us that is worthy of God's mercy, nor see the good that God hath promised us, but only trust in him, because he is merciful. Wherefore receiving the word that witnesseth unto us and beareth record of his goodness, we have a sure hope in God by faith that he shall show his goodness & tenderness toward us by his bounteous mercy. But hereto is requited of us that we rest with our whole heart upon this promise of mercy, rejoicing in spirit therein, and by faith render us in love and thankfulness to God. Thus have we a sure testimony that we are come to a good faith for we can find none other fundament whereon the sinful soul may test, save only if we can hope that God will be a merciful father, thorough the death of JESV CHRIST. This is it that Paul sayeth: No man can lay another fundament, save 1. 〈◊〉. 3. that which is laid already, that is CHRIST JESV. Such faith causeth a man to walk confidently & to be sure minded to God's goodness, wherein he can rejoice, so far as he can believe to obtain so much as God hath declared and promised by his word. Now because he believeth the same, therefore is his spirit endued with godly joy by the spirit of God, which did appear and teach him the same by faith. Wherefore sayeth Paul: Ye have not received the spirit of bondage Rom. ●. to fear any more, but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba dear father. The same spirit certifieth our spirit that we are the children of God. When a man feeleth this by faith, and his heart rejoiceth therein, then hath he rest and quietness in his conscience, having no respect to his own works or deservings, but only to CHRIST: which hath set him atone with the father, through his bitter passion and death. Thus giveth he only CHRIST the glory of his redemption, & beholdeth hence forth no creatures more. It is sufficient to him to know God in his goodness, believing that mercy & goodness shallbe showed unto him of God, & rejoiceth in that he hath a merciful father in heaven, & in all things he conceiveth a good opinion of God & his goodness. Such faith causeth him to rest & to be content, with all that the LORDS will is to do with him. Whether it be death, hell, sin or devil, none can make him abashed. For as long as a man cleaveth to God's word, believing that God hath overcome all evil thorough his love to ward mankind, them is he at rest and peace in all that can betide or chance unto him, being certified, that saying God loveth him, he showeth mercy & kindness in all that he doth unto him: and all man kind. Whether it be than anguish, painfulness, or any danger that can happen unto man other in body or soul, that cometh all to his avail. Only if he can believe, & be persuaded in himself that God loveth him. For one friend forbeareth much of another the which natural love causeth. Wherefore if natural love can forbear wrong of a friend: how much more ought we to forbear the good, that is sent us of God to our salvation. saying faith is a gift given of God, it is necessary we turn ourselves lowly unto the LORD, desiring him humbly to prepare our hearts and make them willing to accept his word with joy. As much as we love God's word, so much shall we be comforted & made glad in spirit by faith in all that the word hath promised us. saying God is hid in his word, ye & is the word itself, therefore if we receive the word then by faith and with joy, we shall receive so much as God hath said and promised by his word. CHRIST, which is the blessed word of the father, giveth himself with his goodness in to all faithful hearts, and maketh himself with all his goodness common, taking us to his grace: ye with all the wickedness that is in us. When we have sinned, than will God have us to admonish him of his promise: if we than pray with a faithful heart, he shall remember all that he hath promised, and shall have mercy upon us, to fulfil his promise and word. This knew David what time he said: The word of the LORD Psal. 32. is true, and all his works are faithful. Upon this trusted the same David when he had sinned, he put god in mind of his words, saying: Against the only have I sinned, & Psal. 50. done evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and shouldst overcome when thou art judged. As though he would say: LORD. I have trespassed, I pray the remember thy word that thou haste promised unto the sinners which turn again from their sins, namely, that thou wilt receive a sorrowful spirit unto thy mercy. Wherefore thou oughtest to receive me unto thy grace, that thou mightest be found righteous. Shewenge such mercy unto the sinner according to thy promise, than shalt thou discomfit thine enemies with the truth, which will judge and esteem the as one that doth not according to his word. When David now knew inwardly that he had obtained mercy of the LORD, than did he praise and thank God in all his words and deeds saying: The LORD is gracious and merciful, long suffering, Psal. 144 and of great goodness. The LORD is loving unto every man, and his mercy is over all his works. The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him: Ye all such as call upon him faithfully. And even thus is it with us: We can praise and thank God so earnestly, and rejoice so greatly in his goodness, as we can believe that mercy, and kindness can be showed by him. Though the law did utterly damn us, & hell would swallow us up, & though all sin, and other enemies would overrun us: yet must we abide sure upon God, and see what CHRIST hath deserved and given us by his bitter passion, and what he hath promised, & & than shall faith work her work. If we have received the word in faith through the holy ghost than shall we obtain mercy, and life in the mids of death, and of sin. Without hope did hold up our head, and the promises sunk in our hearts, we must needs be drowned in despair. Hope saith: My son despise not the self in thy sickness, but ●●●ll. 38. pray unto the LORD and he shall make the whole. The sinful man beholding God, and knowing him by his word (that is) that he is merciful, not willing the death of a sinner, he lifteth up his head with a lusty courage saying: I shall not Psal. 118. die, but live, and show forth the works of the LORD. The LORD chastening hath chastened me and not delivered me unto death. Open unto me the gates of rightwiseness, and when I am entered than shall I confess the LORD. That is the gate of the LORD, and the rightwise shall enter in thorough it. All this faith and confidence had David, for he was sure fixed upon God's promises. When his sins would oppress him, than turned he unto the LORD, and his word, the which when he trusted unto, he rejoiced in the LORD. All this caused the word that was believed: If he had been weak in the faith, he would have thought continually that he must be damned. Wherefore he said. Without the LORD had helped a little while Psal. 117. my soul should have dwelled and abiden in hell. David sought none other comfort, save only, that he would fulfil that unto him, which he had promised him, and believing this he was comforted, saying: Psa. 118. Think upon thy servant as concerning the word wherein thou causedest me to put my trust, that comforted me in my lowliness: ye thy word hath relieved me. Herby may we discern the true faith, namely, that a man is fixed & grounded upon God and his word, that is to say, that he shall and will give so much, as his promise is, & that the sinful soul can be comforted therein: or else is it not possible to know God in his goodness. If God be not known in his goodness by his word, how should any man rejoice in his goodness, or conceive any Exo. 15. 16 and. 17. hope to come to his mercy? What time as the children of Israel had sinned grievously against God, murmuring against him, and so provoking him to anger, and after that worshipping the golden calf, so that he would have destroyed the whole multitude of them: Moses like a true and faithful servant of God, seeing that God was angry, and being willing to appease his wrath again, he knew no nearer nor feater way to reconcile the people again unto God, than to offer a faithful heart: wherewith he did knowledge God to be merciful, kind and longesuffering, showing mercy in thousands. Moses was surely fixed upon this ground, that is, that the LORD was merciful: But saying his mercy was turned in to wrath by reason of the multitude and greatness of the sins, he perceived that it was not possible unto Exo. 32. man to find grace by God: Wherefore he began to admonish him of his kind and fatherly love, & to remember all that which he had promised unto Abraham, Isaac, and jacob. Thus was the LORD pacified, so that he did not the evil that he had spoken against the people. This had David seen in spre● (that is) that God in his wrath should remember his covenant saying: My covenant will I Psal 88 not break, nor disannul the thing that is gone out of my lips. David Crod. 32 Psal. 98 witnesseth of faithful Moses, which broke and turned the wrath of God when he admonished him of his promise. The LORD (said he) would have destroyed the people had not his chosen and elect Moses stand for them against the misdeeds. When the sins be accomplished, and the sinner knoweth not whether to turn him, than is there no counsel better than to submit himself before God, praying that he may take his Godly word to heart, and to know thereby what mercy and forgiveness God will show unto thee, that trust in him, & knowledge him by his fatherly love, The LORD requireth nought of us for our sins but an heavy and contrite spirit, a willing heart to leave sinning, and an hungry soul to fulfil the will of God. More over when we be most forsaken, and when our sins and the judgement of God do most grievously oppress us, then is it time for us to know which be the true faith, & when we ought to have our sight and mind most surest fixed upon God. Unto the sinner is God merciful, wherefore sayeth Paul: This 1. Tim. 1 is a true saying, and by all means worthy to be received, that CHRIST JESV came in to the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. notwithstanding, for this cause optained I mercy, that JESUS CHRIST might principally show in me all long patience, to the ensample of all them which should believe in him unto eternal life. Furthermore sayeth Paul: Where abundance of sin was Rom. 5 there was yet more plenteousness of grace. Now where true faith cometh, there shall it not be inquired, what there is deserved. or what a man is worthy to have, or how impossible it is for a man to come unto the mercy of God. For there is nothing in man that is worthy of mercifulness: and faith beholdeth God only, and that which he hath promised with his word, and that the LORD is merciful, and will show mercy unto all them that seek him in the truth. This causeth the sinner to conceive an hope to obtain mercy by our LORD though to himself it seem impossible. This may we see by Abraham, which being 〈◊〉. 17. old hundred years, and Sara his wife four score and ten, heard that they should have a son in their old age. Which thing when he heard it, it seemed unto him impossible, as it might also to any man: for there was no hope of any fruit. But seeing it was God that promised it, and that Abraham gave faith unto the word: therefore did he hope contrary to hope, and believed against nature, Roma. ● and this faith is reckoned him for rightwiseness. Not because of of his works, nor because of the circumcision or uncircumcision: but saying he believed, he did give God the glory, and obtained mercy. This is not only written to know how Abraham became righteous by his faith, but also for our instruction, if we believe. CHRIST died for our sins, and is risen again for our justification. This thing earnestly believed shall also save us: for faith considereth only how much God may and will give of his goodness. Wherefore, let us that be faithful rest only upon CHRIST JESV that hath saved us, although our misdeeds be many and great. Let us trust and lean hard to God's word, it is enough that God hath promised it: This doing we be sure and may rejoice that we be come to the true faith. This faith had Abraham. He was promised that thorough his son Isaac his seed Gene. 22. should so increase, as the stars of the sky. After this did God command him to offer the same son and to stay him. Abraham being stayed in God and his promise, was ready to accomplish God's will. Thus is Abraham become righteous by the deed (that is) Abraham by this work hath testified, and declared his faith to be good & true before God, thus be his works counted righteous before God thorough faith: As witnesseth Saint james This all is spoken now to know a Iac●. 1. true and good faith, namely. Not only to believe God to be a merciful and good father: but also to believe that God through his mercy will receive a sinner to grace: and that he may come to the favour of God. Such faith causeth a man to rest and scane on God only, and so earnestly to rejoice in the goodness of God, as doth he that findeth a treasure of great value. We speak not of a feigned faith, as the devils have, or as the wicked do believe, nor of such an historical faith as to believe, that CHRIST was crucified: but we speak of such faith, and confidence, whereby we are assured that the goodness, and mercy of God is ours, and that all is ours that is in God: that he is merciful unto us: that we can rejoice in him, and walk confydently in him, all this is the operation of faith. Such faith causeth mortification of the flesh with all his concupiscence, Gala, 5. when he hath felt once by faith the exeeading goodness, that he hath found by the LORD. Should not such a faithful soul rejoice in the LORD his God by true love? & use all spiritual glory? Such faith causeth a man to captivate and prison his wit, understanding, & will wholly under God's word, and rejoice only in God, saying with David: My soul waiteth Psa. 61. only upon God, for of him cometh my help. He only is my strength, my salvation, my defence, so that I shall not greatly fall. And again: Turn again then to thy rest (O Psal. 114. my soul) for the LORD hath given the thy desire. And why? thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living. Paul, what time he was come to such earnest faith, said very joyfully: I showed not myself among 1. 〈◊〉. 2. you as though I knew any thing save only JESUS CHRIST, even the same that was crucified. It is not sufficient to say: I believe that the Note. holy church believeth, or as mine elders have believed, but a man must search and prove how he believeth. For by his own faith shall a man be acceptable to God. If he will procure to obtain ought of God, he must turn him to God and knowledge him by his own faith, that he is his LORD and redimer. Abraham saw God in spirit through his lively faith and rejoiced. This faith forageth a man against death, in it a man saith his life: For (according to the witness of all scriptures:) The just liveth by his faith. Abat. 2. Rom. 1. G●l. 3. Heb. 10 11. Tim 1 Gal. 5 & This faith is not subdued unto the law: for the faithful accomplisheth the LORDS will in the spirit, through love. So that he fulfilleth all that the law commandeth. Not because it is a commandment of ●he law: (for the law giveth only knowledge of sin) but because he ●ath a love to the commandments, and is ready to do all that is acceptable to God. Wherefore sayeth Paul: Thorough the law I am dead Gal. 2. unto the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with CHRIST, yet do I live: Nevertheless now not I, but CHRIST liveth in me for the life which I live now in the flesh, I live in the faith of the son of God, which loved me and gave himself for me. Again sayeth Paul that God hath made us accepted in Ephe. 1. the beloved son, in whom we have redemption thorough his blood, namely, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace. saying then that (according to these testimonies of scripture) the work of our redemption is accomplished in us by CHRIST: therefore must our sinful soul knowledge that excellent work in CHRIST only, and in him only rest by faith. For CHRIST said: No man cometh to the father, but only by me. And: if Ioh 14. ye are the father ought in my name joh. 1●. he shall give it you. But seeing faith is a gift of God, therefore must we lowly and humbly pray the LORD to have pity upon us, and increase our faith, that we may know his goodness duly by faith, and rejoice in him. Of this gift speaketh Paul saying. By grace are ye saved thorough faith, and that not of yourselves. Ephe. 2. For it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast himself. For wear his workmanship created in CHRIST JESV unto good works, to the which God ordained us before, that we should walk in them. When man findeth rest, and quietness in his conscience by faith believing that all that is in God, is to man's behoof, that is a sure token that such a man is come to the faith which giveth health. For faith certifieth him that CHRIST hath overcome death, hell, sin, and the devil for him. As great as his faith is, so much also can he rejoice in God, Praise God, and thank God which hath received his sinful soul to mercy, not for the works of rightwiseness that we have done, but according to his mercy hath he saved us. Thus much now is said to know the true faith: namely, to rest only upon CHRIST, and to knowledge our redemption, and salvation by CHRIST'S death, according to his word. The which grant us the father thorough his well-beloved son CHRIST. Amen. ¶ The second Chapter treateth of that inestimable, great mercy, that we do purchase, and obtain by the lively faith For true saith can not be idle, but bringeth unto him that possesseth her plenteous salvation. When Paul would comfort the sick, or stablish the weak in faith more & more than did he oft rehearse and (as a man might say) bet in them the glad tidings of the Gospel: Certifienge them to what great mercy they were called, when God giveth them a good will to receive his word with joy, and to rejoice over all the goodness that the Gospel assureth us of. This fruit which the Gospel bringeth with it, and giveth us ought we grossly to thank God for, and to rejoice for cause of so manifold gifts, and treasures ministered, and given us by him, thanking, and praising God which hath opened our eyes, and inward sight: So that we may duly knowledge our salvation by CHRIST JESV & rejoice in him only. This is the intent now wherefore Paul doth so earnestly admonish us not to receive such gifts in ●ayne, but that the word of God be fruitful in us by faith, and love, that God might be praised, thanked, and honoured for his working so wonderfully, mercifully, and gloriously in all faithful hearts. Therefore sayeth Paul: We are bound to give thanks all way 2. Tess. 2. unto God for you brethren beloved of the LORD, because that God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation in the sanctifying of the spirit, and in believing of the truth, whereunto he hath called you by our Gospel, to obtain the glory of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. Farther more saith Paul After that ye herd the word of truth, Ephe. 1. namely, the gospel of your salvation, wherein when ye have believed ye were sealed with the holy spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance to our redemption, that we might be his own to the praise of his glory. And again: Because we know (brethren beloved 1. Tess. 1. of God) how that ye are elect. For our Gospel hath not been with you in word only, but both in power, and in the holy ghost, and much certainty. In all these foresaid reasons are we exhorted, to receive the godly word with great lust, and love, praying the LORD humbly to give us grace that we may take it to heart, and receive it as a glad tydinge that is showed, and promised us by the word. Paul what time he preached the word of God, he thanked him, and said: for this cause we thank God without 1. Tes. 1. ceasing, because that when ye received of us the word of the preaching of God, ye received it not as the preaching of men, but (even as it is of a truth) the word of God, which worketh in you that belief. It is not sufficient that we can Nota babble much of the word, and have many treatises and books thereof: but we must also be changed and renewed in the spirit through faith of the word in our living, so that we can rejoice in spirit, being sure that the word of God hath ended a great glorious work in us. By faith of the word must we be renewed in spirit, and in conversation: so the we can rejoice in spirit being assured that the word of God hath fullended a glorious work in us. By faith in the word must we be certified that much is given us of the LORD. By faith must we try our lives. This word worketh mightily, when it is received in faith: for Roma. 5. CHRIST reconciled us by the father, when we were yet enemies unto him. We are approached and Ephe. 2, come near unto God by the faith in the word, where as afore we were strangers: so that we be even elect, and chosen children. joh. 15. CHRIST sayeth: Now are yecleane, because of the word that I have spoken unto you. Abide ye in me, and I in you. Alas we be all debtors, our sins will depreasse us, our conscience is of times grieved, when she doubteth whether to turn herself. We find nought in ourself, whereof we might have aid, or comfort. But if we could behold CHRIST only in our trouble, and ponder by ourself the profit of his passion, and remember the mercy promised unto us by God's goodness: How earnestly should we than rise from our sinful life? saying with a lusty courage: Wherefore should I mistrust? he died for me which shall judge me, and he hath also were safe to call me, I will rise and seek my LORD my God. He may damn, but I am sure he will Esa. 3. save. The LORD is our judge, the LORD is our law giver, the LORD is our king, he shall come himself, and save us. if Rom. ●. God be with us, who can be against us? which did not spare his own son, but him hath he given for us all: how shall not he give us all things with him also? Who will lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen? It is God that maketh righteous, who will then condemn? It is CHRIST that died, ye rather which is raised up again, which is also on the right-hand of God, and maketh in tercession for us. We have CHRIST for aspecheman, for a mediator, and 1. Timo. 2. 1 johan. 2 an apeacer of God's wrath, whose blood calleth for mercy for us. By CHRIST have we a sure, Ephe. 2. and free entrance to the father. When the sinner sayeth all this in the scripture, and can stand stead fast upon these witnesses, than may he perceive right well that they be written to our comfort, that the sinner might hope to obtain Rom. 15. mercy by the father. If he submit himself unto God, the LORD shall accomplish his promise in him, and steer the sinner to repentance. All this cometh by the word which the sinner heareth, and taketh to heart: for so mightily worketh it in a man. Therefore doth Paul call the word or gospel the power of God, saying: I am not ashamed of the Gospel of CHRIST: for it Rom. 1. is the power of God, which saveth all that believe thereon, the jew first and also the Greek: For in it the righteousness that is of value before God is opened, which cometh out of faith into faith, as it is written: The just shall live by his faith. Again saith Paul: The word of the cross is foolishness 1. 〈◊〉. 1 to them that perish, but unto us that are saved it is the power of God. In these aforesaid scriptures is it evident that God doth & will work a mighty and blessed work: namely, that he will turn & convert a sinner through his words. Let us therefore call earnestly upon him, desiring him to pour out his word fervently upon us, and to work therewith mightily in our hearts. Peter preaching the word did I. tu. 2 convert three thousand men at one tyme. Scripture sayeth that what 2. Par. 14 that time the children of Israel fought against the Morions, in their anguish they called upon God, and he heard them because they believed on him. And again there is written: The eyen of the LORD behold the 2. Par. 16. whole earth, and give strength unto them that trust in him with a perfect heart. And again there is written: And juda was greatly comforted, 2. Par. 13: for they trusted in the God of their fathers. And of Asa sayeth the scripture that he called upon the LORD 2. Par. 14 his God, and said: LORD, it is no difference with the to save by fewor by many. Help us O LORD our God: for our trust is in thee, & in thine name we come forth against this multitude. Such like prayer made king josaphat in his anguish, & 2. Par. 20. the LORD did help him. By this may we perceive the power of faith, which he requireth of us: namely, that we must look upon his word & what he requireth of us: Again what he hath promised us, how faithful he is of his promise, and true in his word. considering this we may be steadfast in his word, and follow the counsel of Syrak, writing in Ecclesi. 2. his book called Ecclesiasticus: Believe in God, and he shall help thee: order thy way aright, and put thy trust in him. Hold fast his fear & grow therein. O ye that fear the LORD, take sure hold of his mercy: shrenk not away from him, that ye fall not. O ye that fear the LORD, believe him, & your reward shall not be empty. O ye that fear the LORD put your trust in him & mercy shall come unto you for pleasure. O ye that fear the LORD, set your love upon him, and your hearts shall be lighted. consider the old generacyns of men (O ye children) & mark them well: was there ever any one confounded the put his trust in the LORD? Who ever continued in his fear, and was forsaken? Or whom did he ever despise, that called faithfully upon him? etc. And again in the same chapter: They that fear the LORD, will not mistrust his word: and they that love him will keep his commandments. etc. Thus is it evident that faith must needs be a work glorious & puissant, whereby man obtaineth so much of the LORD. How could any man comprehend and perceive the power of faith? and that by joh. 1. faith we are one with God. John sayeth: That God hath given all men power to be the children of God. Matt●. 9 Christ said: All things are possible joh. 11. unto him that believeth. And again If ye believe, ye shall see the glory of Math. 17. God. And again: If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye may say unto this mountain: Remove hence to yonder place, and he shall remove, neither shall any thing be unpossible unto you. Now saying God worketh so gloriously in all faithful hearts: then is it convenient that we humbly beseek him to teach us to trust in his word. For we shall rejoice so much in his goodness, & look for so much aid & comfort at his hand, as we can Susān●. ● trust in him, and in his word. We ●ede of Susamna, that what time she was in her most distress & anguish being judged wrongfully to death, she sighed and prayed to God, trusting steadfastly in him, and the LORD delivered her. Daniel also when he Bel. ● was cast in the lions den was not hurt of them: for he trusted in God. The godly word cometh not for nought, it worketh wonderfully when it is received in faith. Therefore doth saint james erhorte us Iac●. 1. to receive with meekness the word that is grafted in us, which is able to save our souls. A man can not err, so long as he can testify his life to be led according to God's word. If a man have his myndefixed upon man's inventions, or invented holiness: he may surely be dysquyete and comfortless. But so long as a man hath his eyen fixed upon God and his word, bearing Gods commandments in his heart: so long doth that man walk in sickerness, being assured of all the is expressed by God's word and is sure of his safeguard and comfort: according as Paul sayeth: All men are liars, but God is true. The son of God is the wisdom Rom. 3 of the father, Who so now doth yield himself unto the word, receiving thereby the wisdom of the father: the same is driven from death unto life by the spirit of God. Syrak sayeth: Eccl●. 4 that wisdom breatheth life in to her children, & receiveth them that seek her. It followeth then that they which have once assayed god by his word in the wisdom of God: that those I say may come to complete life. But it is contrary with the worldly wisdom, as witnesseth Paul, saying: In so much 1. Cor. 1 as the world by the wisdom there of knew not God in his wisdom it pleased God thorough foolish preaching to save them that believe. When Paul was minded to convert any man, than would he lay nothing before him, save only God's word, saying: I have begotten you in CHRIST JESV thorough the gospel. Wherefore I exhort you, be ye my followers, as I am JESV CHRIST'S. So long as a man redresseth his life according to God's word, so long shall he come walking the right way of salvation, and rejoice in his conscience: For all that the word of God doth utter is concerning either mercy or in ward consolation. Peter sayeth: Ye know of the preaching that God ●ct●. 10. sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace thorough JESUS CHRIST. Of him bear all the prophets witness, that thorough his name, all they that believe in him, shall receive remission of sins. Luke also writing CRISTES' words saith: Thus Luct. 24 is it written, and thus it behoved CHRIST to suffer, and the third day to tice again from the dead, and to let repentance and remission of sins be preached in his name amongeal nations. This knew Esay afore hand when he said: Like as the rain and snow cometh down Esay. 55. from heaven, and returneth not thither again, but watereth the earth, maketh it fruitful and green, that it may give corn and bread unto the so were: So the word also that cometh out of my mouth, shall not turn unto me void again, but shall accomplish my will, and prosper in the thing whereunto I send it. Hereby we are taught, that like as the earth is made fruitful of the rain that God sendeth: so shall we also be renewed and be fruitful, if we knowledge God a right by his word, and rejoice in all that he hath wytesafe to warn us of by his word. Ye we shall mortify the flesh with all his desires, and he joined to God. He that cleaveth unto god, becometh one spirit with him: and obtaineth all goodness with him. A man rejoiceth so much in God, as he is knit with him by faith, and is diligent in all things to further his glory. The old father simeon beholding the little babe, and Luce. 2. being sure inwardly that he was his saviour: (for he looked for him by his faith) rejoiced in his heart, desiring to go to his rest by bodily death: for his eyen had seen the save guard of men. Even so likewise we, if we had seen by faith the love which God beareth to ward us, how heartily should we then yield ourselves unto death? For faith certifieth the heart that God is a mercy full father, and that mercy shall be showed unto us by the death of JESV CHRIST. We can obtain no greater reward than to believe that God is with us, and we being with the LORD are safe. Steven Actuum. 7. saying heaven open by faith, said incontinently. LORD receive my spirit. For this cause said Paul: Because therefore that we are justified by faith, we have peace with Roma. 5. God thorough our LORD JESUS CHRIST, by whom also we have an entrance in faith unto this grace, wherein we stand. Here lo is no mention of works, or of the law: for by the works is noman justified. But the works must break out thorough love, and declare our inward faith, by working of charitable deeds. job was ashamed of all his works, and was not so bold job. 9 as to lift up his head before his LORD God, but submitted himself lowly unto him: ye though there had been found some rightwysness in him. David also said: LORD Psal. 142 entre not in to judgement with thy servant, for in thy sight shall noman living be justified. Nevertheless God willing to certify us what we may obtain by faith, he showed us that by pure, and only love, and mercy he taketh the sinner to grace, without any regard of deeds: so that mercy should be showed to us of promise, and not of Roma. 4 duty. Therefore ought we to give all glory unto God only. David P witnesseth this same saying: Blessed are they, whose unrighteousness is forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth no sin, and in whose spirit there is no guile. Herein may you perceive the manner of tustifienge, namely, that God will of pure mercy forgive the sins, requiring but only steadfast faith of us. Wherefore, a sinner perceiving that by the goodness of God only he is come to grace, he ought to give him only for it all praise and honour Paul saith: If Abraham were made righteous thorough Rom. 4. works, then hath he wherein to rejoice, but not before God. But what sayeth the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Unto him that goeth about with works, is the reward not reckoned of favour, but of duty. But unto him that goeth not about with works, but believeth on him that justfieth the ungodly, is faith counted for righteousness, for by the law cometh but knowledge Rom. 3. of sin. But now without adding to of the law is the rightwiseness which availeth before God declared, having witness of the law and prophets: but I speak of the rightwiseness before God, which cometh by the faith on JESUS CHRIST, unto all, and upon all them that believe. Here is no difference: for they are all sinners, and want the praise that God should have of them. Without deserving are they made righteous, even by grace, thorough the redemption that is done by CHRISTEIESV: whom God hath set for a mercyseat thorough faith in his blood, to show the righteousness which availeth before him, in that he forgiveth the sins, which were done before under the sufferance of God. And again: We hold therefore that a man is rustifyed by faith, without the works of the law. etc. Thus far be the words of saint Paul, wherein he teacheth us, that by faith we obtain all righteousness, and not by our own procuring of such strength is the grace of faith. When God perceiveth in us a faithful heart which seeketh him earnestly, dreading, and fearing him: than doth he communicate, and join himself unto such one, giving himself wholly over unto him, with all that is in him. For a man obtaineth by faith all that, which God hath promised unto the the faithful saying. I will spouse the unto me forever. I will mary the unto Dsee. 2 me in right wiseness & mercy. I will marry the unto me in faith, & truth and thou shalt know the LORD. All the law, and commandments stretch thereto, namely, that we should fulfil them, and live so, that our good works may testify, and declare our faith, and love, that we have toward God. But seeing we be frail, and oft-times fall through weakness of the flesh: therefore shall we endeavour our selves to rise again with a good will, sighing for our misdeeds, asking mercy with a sorrowful spirit. When we behold our sins, then let us humbly beseek God to give us a faithful heart. For if God seeth an hungry soul in us, which longeth for the righteousness of faith, and that we do so procure grace by God, as by one which can comfort the sinner: than shall the LORD receive such a faithful heart unto his grace. For faith and love cause a man to have alway a good opinion of God. Ye it is the best, and most excellent gift that we can have to be comforted in God, and in his gift. For as our opinion is of him, so shall he please us. And even as faith is a gift of God, geune freely to man: so must this opinion of God come freely of him also. If we knowledge him for a merciful father, than shall we rejoice in his mercy, trusting in his goodness, and are mercy at him with a cheerful mind. But if we knowledge him for a dreadful judge: than shall we not rejoice in his goodness, but ever fear, and tremble before him: for we feel no certainty of his goodness. Such men can not rejoice in God, nor look for any comfort of him. Wherefore Paul doth exhort us very earnestly to love, that thereby we might know God a right, rejoicing in all his goodnesses, and so to praise and thank him, saying: But above all things put ●oios. 3. on love, which is the bond of perfectness. And the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which peace ye are called also in one body, and see that ye be thankful. Let the word of CHRISTEIESV dwell in you plenteously, in all wisdom. Teach, and exhort your own selves with Psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, which have favour with them, singing in your hearts to the LORD. And what so ever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the LORD JESV, & give thanks unto god the father by him. All this must come by faith. For as a man rejoiceth in God: even so shall he praise him, thank him, and even breast out in singing to him, as to one by whom health and salvation is happened unto him: Yet though the flesh will cause him to sin, and grieve him inwardly. But if he knowledgeth God for a merciful father: then is he comforted again by his goodness, as witnesseth Paul saying: God which is rich in mercy, thorough his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us with CHRIST. Than is God merciful unto us, & a father of mercy, given unto us with all his goodness, and then are we saved by his goodness: when we can believe thorough faith the redemption & justification declared by his word. Therefore sayeth Paul: If a man believe Rom. 10. from the heart, he shallbe made righteous: and if a man knowledge with the mouth, he shallbe saved. For the scripture sayeth: Who so Esay. 28. ever believeth on him, shall not be confounded. saying then that faith was so necessary, therefore was CHRIST so diligent, even to beat it in us: As for an ensample, to the sick of the palsy he said: My Math. 9 son be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven the. And to the woman of Canaan: O woman, great is Math. 15. thy faith: be it unto thee, even as thoudesyrest. And again to Martha he sayeth: I am the resurrection joh. 11. and the life, he that believeth on me, shall live, though he were dead already: And who so ever liveth and, belyveth on me, shall never die. Item to the woman that was sick of the bloody issue, he said: Daughter be of good comfort, thy Matt●. 9 faith hath made the safe. Thus is it evident that all is ascribed unto faith, and not unto us. For our works can stretch no farther, save only to show our willing heart, and to yield thanks unto him which through unoutspeakable love hath saved us. And thus doing we give only God the honour for all the good which he worketh in us. Look upon the second to the Hebr●es. And in the elenenth chapter he sayeth: Without faith it is unpossible to please God. For Heb. 11. he that cometh unto God, must believe that God is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek him. And again: We know that a man is not ●al. 1. made righteous by the deeds of the law but by the faith on JESUS CHRIST. We have believed also on JESUS CHRIST, that we might be made righteous by the faith on CHRIST, and not by the deeds of the law. John also sayeth: All that is borne 1. joh. 1 of God, overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcometh the world, but he which believeth that JESUS is the son of God? And further in the same chapter: These things have A written unto you, which believe on the name of the son of God, that ye may know how that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the son of God. And this is the free boldness which we have toward him, that if we ask any thing according to his will he heareth us. Lo, how if a man believeth, (that is) if he setteth his trust upon the goodness of God only, he is herd, and obtaineth all that he requireth of the LORD, as Mark Matt. 11. also witnesseth. Paul what time he preached the forgiveness of sins 〈◊〉. 13. 14, 16. he did alway ascribe it unto faith: that we might know the virtue & power of CRISTES' death, and that we should give all glory and praise unto him, which hath received us unto the faith by his goodness. JESUS preached the Gospel of the kingdom M●●. ● of God, saying: The time is ●ulfylled, and the kingdom of god ●s at hand, amend yourselves, & believe the gospel. Here might some men say: ye speak so much of faith, & that man ●s justified by faith only, and not by works: Where as saint james nevertheless sayeth, that faith with but works is dead. Truth it is, & he sayeth well: For without there ensue Nota. forsaking and loathsomeness of sins, and without a man rest and rejoice only in God, having respect to none other creature, seeking help or comfort at the same: Then is it a token that he is not wholly fixed upon God, nor putteth his trust in him. So long as a man rejoiceth in sinning, so long is not God his joy. As long as man cometh not to God with more love & thankfulness, nor can quiet himself with God: so long hath he not the true faith. The true faith mortifieth the sins, that the outward works may testify of the inward faith. Thus doing obtaineth God the glory, which will work wondrously in all them, in whom he hath poured his word by faith. Therefore said CHRIST: Let your light so shine before men, that they Math 5 1. Pet, 2 may se your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven. Scripture witnesseth every where that faith must make new creatures, Pha. 2 or else should it not work, the work wherefore God sent his word. Not that works justify a man: But saying man is justified by faith, therefore is he called justified or righteous for doing the works of faith: For the works be called righteous before God, by reason of faith. Here upon bringeth saint jacob. 1 james Abraham and Rahab as proves, saying: wilt thou understand O thou vain man, that faith without deeds is dead? Was not our father Abraham justified thorough works, when he offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Thou sayst how that faith wrought with his deeds, through the deeds was the faith made perfect: and the scripture was fulfilled, which sayeth: Abraham believed God and it was reputed unto him for righteousness, and he was called the friend of God. etc. If Abraham had doubted on God's promise, when he would have offered his son: then had not his faith bene right nor sufficient. Rahab josu. 2 also showed her faith, where by she let the spies go, showing them which way they should go. She believed steadfastly that God should cause the children of Israel to win the city of jericho, and by that faith was her faithful work accepted before God. God looked first upon Abel and then upon his Gene. 4. gift. The scripture hath shut up all Gal 3. under sin, that the promise should come by faith on JESUS CHRIST, given unto them that believe. Hereby we may see that faith only justifieth (that is:) When we forsake all creatures, submitting out selves, and pass by all man's inventions or holiness, falling and leaning to CHRIST only, saying: O LORD I knowledge health to be happened unto me by the. LORD augment thou my faith. CHRIST said: I am joh. 5. the light of the world he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. And again in the same chapter: If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples, and ye shall know the truth, and that truth shall make you free. Though the faithful fell to sinning, yet remaineth God a friend unto the faith and love that he findeth in a man: his promises unto them that believe are so manifold. David Psal. 36 sayeth: If the righteous falleth, he shall not be bruised: for the LORD doth stay him with his hand. Paul sayeth: Then is there now no damna Rom. 8. cyon unto them that are in CHRIST JESV, which walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. For the law of the spirit (that bringeth life in CHRIST JESV) hath made me free from that law of sin and death. Saint John also 1. joh. 3. writeth saying: Who so ever is borne of God, sinneth not, for his seed remaineth in him: & he can not sin, because he is borne of God. Though a man be weak after the flesh, and thereby fall to sin: yet Nota. doth God love a man for the faith whereby he loveth God. When he falleth, his fall is not unto dead: for his spirit is without guile. The LORD suffereth the righteous to fall, lest he stand to much in his own conceit: but that he ask mercy with all his heart. The righteous falleth seven times in one day, and riseth again. The LORD taketh the faithful for his best beloved, and reserveth him to his mercy. Solomon sayeth: The righteous Prou. 10 laboureth to do good, but the ungodly useth his increase unto sins. Our prayer is that we may abide by the glad and joyful tidings of the gospel. For he that Matt. 16. believeth, and is baptized shall be saved. I bring you tidings of 〈◊〉. 2 great joy which shall hap unto all people: for unto you is this day borne the saviour, even CHRIST the LORD. Thus far is now said of the mercy, which we uptayne by faith: For true faith ioyfuily received, excluding all the is contrary to CHRIST bringeth a great health with her. ¶ The third chapter shall treat how hurtful unbelief is, and what is the cause that men be so cold and strange in Godly matters and in love toward God. When we consider our first progeny, then is it evident unto us, that the nature of man is created to the likeness of God in will, reason, and understanding: following God through wisdom, and by knowledge of the creatures, And that man was joined with a perfect heart unto God, using him with a complete knowledge. Upon this hath Gene. ●. God set him in the paradise of pleasure, giving him a commandment, namely, the he should not eat of the tree of knowledge of good & evil. This commandment was given unto Adam by God, to the intent the he would prove, whether he would abide steadfast by his word & commandment, or not. But the devil, which was minded to bring sin & death in to the world thorough unbelief, occasioned to it by his envy to mankind, he hath stired the serpent (which was the sotyleste creature of all creatures) to say unto the woman: Ye, hath God said Gene. 3 in deed: Ye shall not eat of all manner trees in the garden? Then said the woman unto the serpent: We eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden: But as for the fruit of the tree that is in the mids of the garden, God hath said: Eat ye not of it, & touch it not, lest ye die. When the Serpent now perceived that Euastode weakly upon God's word, for she said: lest we die (where God nevertheless had said: Look in what day so ever thou eatest thereof thou shalt die the death:) he did assault Eva first, to make her doubt in God's word, and to bring her from it. Now when he had her so far: than brought he her yet farther, saying: Tush ye shall not die the death. For God knoweth that in what day so ever ye eat of it, your eyes shallbe opened, and ye shallbe as God, and know both good & evil. And the woman saw that the tree was good to eat of, and lusty unto the eyes, and a pleasant tree to make wise: and took of the fruit of it, and did eat, & gave unto it husband also thereof, and he did eat. Thus have they both left God's word, and have done their will, and fulfilled their desire and lust. Thus hath man cast himself away thorough misbelief transgressing gods word and commandment. The lust and desire that Adam conceived in his first appetite doth yet remain in him: for we are of the same flesh and substance and also follow them ature of it. We are so sore wrapped in misbelief, that it is also unto us the cause and occasion of all sin: so that we be naturally children of wrath, by inspiration of that prince of the air, which is a spirit, working in the children Ephe. 2. of misbelief, fulfilling the pleasure of the flesh: for the which Tollo●. 3 the wrath of God cometh upon the children of unbelief. When man now leaving the word of God, regardeth not God, following his own wit and wisdom: than is his heart and mind darkened and drawn away, trusting more to his own wisdom, then to his LORD his God. And his heart conceiveth nothing save the lust and desire of the flesh, of the which he is led captive: so that he asketh no more counsel at God. This doth David complain saying: The Psal. 13 foolish bodies say in their hearts: Tush, there is no God. They are corrupt and become abominable in their doings, there is not one that doth good. The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that would understand and seek after God. But they are all gone out of the way, they are altogether become unprofitable, there is none that doth good: no not one. All this cometh by misbelief, and when man setteth no more by God & his word, nor hath no more lust unto him. For if man did abide by God, & beheld always the wondrous and glorious works, which the LORD hath declared unto us by his benefits and goodness: it were not possible that he should forsake his LORD his God, but should alway be guided of God and his word, seeking at him only all his comfort and health. But saying he is decevered from God and his word, and will stand to his own wisdom, which is but plain ●oly: therefore is he rest less, and to his LORD his God is he unfaithful: as witnesseth Isaiah saying: He that is unfaithful dealeth unfaithfully. David also sayeth: Esay. 21. They kept not the covenant of Psal. 77 God, and would not walk in his law. They forgot what he had done and the wonderful works that he Aba●ut. 2. had showed for them. In all this have they sinned, and did not believe in his wonderful works: for the soul of the unfaithful is not steadfast nor true in her self. By all these evidences and reasons are we taught, that all wickedness is come in the world by misbelief: for thorough misbelief hath man but slender knowledge of God: and according as he hath knowledge of God, so much loveth he God, and rejoiceth in his goodness. This misbelief doth so keep a man bound in sinfulness, that he can not feel or perceive any goodness to come unto him from the blessed LORD. Though he say that he believeth CHRIST to be crucified, and that he hath suffered the painful death, which the devils also believe: yet believeth not he so, as one that can rest in this death only, & as one that is fully per suaded to have mercy & forgiveness thereby of the LORD. For if he could believe this, he should both love God, and rejoice wholly in him, not looking about for to obtain any other mercy of what creature soever it were. It should suffice him to know God which will receive him to his mercy. Wherefore, the cause why men be so could in love toward God, and so strange from him is, that they know him so little, & that they have so small perseverance of that love that he hath toward us. Lo, what unkindness cometh by misbelief as when man is not fully certified in his heart, that God will give us so much, as he hath promised us by his word: ye so little is man inwardly rejoiced, and comforted, as he doth believe, and is assured in his conscience that God is, & will be good unto us. For if he knoweth not God in his goodness, how can he rejoice in his goodness? Thus is it evident that man abideth prisoned of his own wit and wisdom thorough unbelief. This caused Isaiah to say. Therefore cometh my people Esa. 5 also in captivity, because they have no understanding. David also speaketh of thus miserable estate saying. O LORD, how glorious Psal. 91. are thy works, thy thoughts are very deep. An unwise man will not know this, and a fool will not understand it. And again in another place. They will not be learned Psal. ●1. and understand: but walk on still in darkness. Who so is not lightened thorough the word of the LORD to know the lords way, and to perceive his salvation by the faith in God, that man walketh in darkness altogether, finding no resting place for his sinful soul, having a weak hope to find salvation by the LORD. This is it that David said. They believed not in God, and put Psal. 77. not their trust in his help. Isaiah calleth us out of this darkness saying: Isaiah, 50, Who so walketh in darkness, and no light shineth upon him, let him hope in the LORD, and hold him by his God. How could a man have any hope or trust in his heart, saying he is not steadfastly persuaded that mercy can be obtained, for the which he may hope: saying the hope & longyngefor cometh by faith. Because now that man doth not believe, therefore can he also not hope any such good as is promised him by faith, neither can he love duly the giver of the good, that hath promised him so much of it: this may we perceive by the children of Israel: the LORD promised to give Abraham all the land of Canaan Gene. 15. & afterward when he would have sent Moses unto Pharaoh, to deliver the same people, he promised unto Moses Exod. 3. Deut. 1. to give them the land that flowed with milk & honey. Now that god was minded thus to do, that did he show evidently in delivering that people from Pharaos' hands, leading them strangely thorough the reed see, and feeding them with heavenly bread. But how happened it? For when they had any letting by the way, by reason of their misbelief and unthankfulness, and had forgotten the benefits showed unto them of God: than fell they to murmuring, and decevering from God, and his word. Again, what ●u. 13. 14 time as the spies had searched out● the land of promise, and came, and showed all things unto the children of Israel, how they had seen great giants in comparison of whom they were but grasshoppers, and that the indwellers of the land were strong and mighty men, and that their cities were high walled. The children of Israel hearing this were sore astonied, murmured against God, Moses, & Aaron, saying: that they would turn back again in to Egypte. All this murmuring came of misbelief. For if they had stand steadfastly to his word and bidden sure by his promises, they should have answered & said: We shall overcoeme that nation right well, and take the land in possession, though they were thousand times stronger: For the LORD hath promised and given it us. But saying they fell from god's word, & his promises, leaning to their own policy and strength, therefore seemed it unto them unpossible. Nevertheless it was possible with God, and thorough God, as his word did assure them. saying than that God made such a promise unto them, and that they decyvered from his behestynges: therefore had they no hope to take in the land of promise: Wherefore they were unworthy of it, and have not entered in to the rest, which God promised them. For this cause cometh Paul and warneth us of this wicked unbelief, saying: Let us fear Heb. 4. therefore lest any of us forsaking the promise of entering in to his rest, should seem to come behind: for it is declared unto us as well as unto them. But the word of preaching helped not them, when they that heard it believed it not. By these reasons is it declared unto us evidently how hurtful misbelief is unto us. We can do God no more wrong, nor bring more loss unto our soul, than in that we give no more credence to his words, which not withstanding is faith full unto us in all his promises. This also complained CHRIST to the jews' saying: The father which johan. 5. sent me beareth witness himself of me. Ye have neither herd his voice, norsene his shape at any time: You have not his word abiding in you, for ye believe him not, whom he hath sent. I am come in my father's name, and ye receive me not: If another come in his own name, him shall ye receive. How can ye believe, which receive praise one of an other, and seek not the praise which is of God only? If ye believed Moses, ye should believe me also: For he hath written of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? ye will not come unto me that ye might have life. He that believeth not God, hath made 1 joh. 5. him a liar: because he hath not believed the record that God hath testified of his son. And this is the record: even that God hath given us everlasting life. And this life is in his son. He that hath the son of God, hath life. Hereby is it evident, that if we covet to be comforted in God, than shall we seek it in his word, and take record of the same, how we may come to his mercy. So much faith as we give to his words, so much shall our knowledge be also of his goodness, and so much shall we be comforted of him. How can we be fully comforted, saying we do so sore wavet & stand not steadfast in his word, which his goodness doth declare unto us? For all that doth comfort us cometh of God. The father loveth johan. 13. the son, and hath given all things in his hands. Whoso believeth joan. 3. in the son, hath life everlasting: But he that believeth not in the son, shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth upon him. This doth scripture specify unto us, that we should know the cause and occasion of all evil: that is misbelief, and it is the cause that we know not God, nor have any love toward him. Now when the love of God is banished, than doth man lightly fall to all manner of wickedness. Therefore said CHRIST: When the holy ghost cometh he shall rebuke the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement. Of sin, because they believed not on me. Of righteousness, because I go to the father. Woe be unto them Eccli. 2. that are louse or heart, which put not their trust in God, and therefore shall they not be defended of him. Again: They that fear the LORD, Prou. 18. will not mistrust his word: & they that love him will keep his commandments. Thus may we see how that when man knoweth not what God hath commanded him, nor standeth steadfastly upon God thorough faith: how then (I say) he falleth unto extreme unkindness, without any dreading of God. misbelief therefore is the cause and occasion of all sins, whereof man shallbe judged. For if the first man had bidden fast by God's word, he should not have fallen to sinning: Therefore said CHRIST: The works that I do in my father's joh. 10. name, they bear witness of me: but ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep. Baruch also sayeth: But Baruch 3. how happeneth it Israel that thou art in thine enemies land? thou art waxed old in a strange country, and defiled with that dead. Why art thou become like unto them that go down to their graves? Even because thou hast forsaken the well of wisdom. Truly, if thou hadst walked in the way of God, thou shouldest have remained still safe in thine own land. Even this same complaineth the LORD also by jeremy the prophet, jerem. 2 saying: What unfaithfulness found your fathers in me, that they went away so far fro me, falling to lightness, and being so vain? They thought not in their hearts: Where have we left the LORD, that brought us out of the land of Egipte? that led us thorough the wilderness, thorough a desert & rough land. etc. And continently after in the same place: For my people hath done two evils: They have forsaken me the well of the water of life, and digged them pits: Ye vile and broken pits that hold no water. And it followeth also: Thine own wickedness shall reprove thee, and thy turning away shall condemn thee: that thou mayest know and understand how hurtful a thing it is that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, & not feared him saith the LORD God of hosts. Wherefore, when we behold ourselves duly, remembering the worthiness and excellency of the chosen soul, which of right should be a bride of JES US CHRIST: for of nature can not she be refreshed nor comforted but, only of God. What so ever she seeketh beside him, that maketh her disquyete and comfortless. For this cause is it needful for us to lift our eyen up toward heaven, beseeking him humbly to comfort us with his own presence. Nother is this accomplished, but only when the LORD declareth his goodness unto us by his word, and that we then rejoice in all the goodness which he hath promised us therein. If we forsake the word, then shall the soul become cold & strange from god This confirmeth jeremy saying: I will cast you out of this land, in jerem. 16. to a land that ye, nor your fathers know not: and there shall ye serve strange god's day & night, there will I show you no favour. That man verily hath no rest which falleth to any shapen creature, or to any invention & imagination of man. Where man doth yet procure righteousness & salvation by his own mother wit & wisdom, there doth not god work his work. This may be tried by many places of scripture CHRIST did not show many tokens Rom. 1. there where was no faith, because the they knowing that there is one God, have not praised him as God, nor thanked him, but became vain in their imaginations, & their foolish heart was blinded. When they counted themselves wise, they became fools. And why? Even because (saith Paul) Rom. 10. they know not the righteousness which availeth before God, & go about to maintain their own righteousness: & thus are not they subdued unto the righteousness which is of value before God. CHRIST is the end of the law unto-ryghteousnesse for every one that believeth. For God so loved the world, that he gave his joh. 3. only son, that woe so ever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Lo how salvation cometh by faith. Who so therefore doth not receive the word by faith the same abideth in darkness & danynation: as CHRIST witnesseth in the same place, saying: But he that believeth not, is condemned already: because he believeth not on the name of the only son of God. But this is the condemnation: that the light is come in to the world, and men loved the darkness more than the light, for their works were evil. Who so ever doth evil, hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, that his deeds should not be reproved. Here in are we informed that it is God's will, that all men be saved: and that we shall knowledge the father's love, which hath given us CHRIST to be our saviour: and that we should knowledge our salvation to come by him, which hath accomplished the work of our health in us. But saying many men do not turn themselves to God ward, walking after their own will and desire: therefore cannot they have knowledge of the salvation that is promised and given us by CHRIST. Man must utterly forsake himself, with all that is in him, and rest upon CHRIST only: by whose death we may find saving health. But alas Lollo. 2. for pity there be many vain and puffed up in their fleshly minds, which hold not themselves to the head and word, neither come to CHRIST to be humbly taught of him. This is the cause why the Pharisees came not to God, but said it that job did prophecy aforehand, saying: They say unto God: Go job. 21. from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. What manner of fellow is the almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have to submit ourselves unto him? Isaiah also sayeth: Thou hast Isaiah. 57 had trouble for the multitude of thine own ways, yet saidest thou never: I will leave of. Thou thinkest to have health or life of thyself and therefore thou believest not that thou art sick. Ye, hear what O see the prophet sayeth: I drove Ephraim, juda ploughed, and jacob O see. 10 played the husbandman, that they might so we unto righteousness and reap the fruits of well-doing: that they might plough up their fresh & new tilled land, and seek the LORD till he came, & taught them righteousness. But now they have ploughed them wickedness, therefore shall they reap sin, and eat the fruit of life. saying thou puttest thy confidence in thine own ways, & leanest to the confidence of thy worthies, there shall grow a sedition among thy people. By this is it evident that man remaineth in his unfaithfulness thorough his own wisdom. For the LORD will teach us with his word only, if we covet to walk aright in his way. All is but foolishness, be man never so well learned, if he knew nought of God. Therefore sayeth Paul: The word of the 1. Corin. 1 cross is foolishness unto them that perish, but unto us that are saved it is the power of God. For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the Esay. 29 wise, and will cast away the understanding of the prudent. For so much as the world by the wisdom thereof knew not God in his wisdom. it pleased God thorough foolish preaching to save them that believe. If 2. Cor. 4. our Gospel be yet hid, it is hid in them that are lost: among whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them, which believe not, that the light of the Gospel of the glory of CHRIST (which is the image of God) should not shine unto them. And in another place saith Paul: Because they received not the love of the truth, 2. Tessa. 2. that they might have been saved: therefore shall God send them strong delusion, that they should believe lies, that all they might be damned, which believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. It hath been the LORDS will alway to draw every man unto him both by benefits, and words. But when he saith the hearts to remain still hard, and perverted, than threateneth he the unbelieving, that they shall come to nought, if they do not receive his word, saying: The kingdom of God shall Math. 21. be taken from you, & shallbe given unto the heathen, which shall bring forth the fruits of it. And who so falleth upon this stone, (that is CHRIST) shallbe brokenly pieces: and look upon whom it falleth, it shall grind him to poul●●r. This is fearful to hear of him, that i● offended at God's word thorough mysbelef, neither doth knowledge thorough love his salvation to be therein: but withstandeth it by all means possible. They that be offended and dash at the stone (that is CHRIST) they be not drawn to him through his goodness, but be rather peyered, perverse, & myndlesse. Ye and they become enemies of God by the law: whereby they be brought to greater fear, than can well be suaged and redressed again by God's word. When the stone (that is the blessed Nota. CHRIST) shall fall upon the misbelieving believing, & forsake the sinner trusting in his blindness, being despised of God for his obstinacy, and beating his judgement without mercy at the day of doom: than shall the unbelieving see how grievous it is unto him, that he hath not received CHRIST in his word. The LORD said: He that is not with me, is against Math. 12. me. He that gathereth not with me, scattereth. For he that seeketh righteousness, notbeholding CHRIST only with a pure mind, he dasheth against the stone. Now grievous it is to offend at the stone, & to be offended at CHRIST, do many places of scripture specify unto us. CHRIST is set to a fall, & to an Luce. 2. uprising again of many. But well is him whose trust is in the LORD his god. Be it known unto you therefore Actu●. 13. ye men & brethren, the thorough this man (that is christ) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins, and from all the things, whereby ye might not be justified in the law of Moses. But whosoever believeth on this man is justified. Beware therefore that it come not upon you, which is spoken in the Prophets. Behold ye despisers, 〈◊〉. 2. and wonder at it, and perish: For I do a work in your time, which ye shall not believe if any man tell it you. And again in the same place said Paul and Barnabas to the jews: It behoved first the word of god to be spoken unto you, but now that ye thrust it from you, & count yourselves unworthy of everlasting life: lo, we turn to the gentiles. Oh LORD who can perceive how hurtful the worldly wisdom is? The bishops, Pharisees, priests, and layers thorough their own wisdom would not submit themselves to the humble, and meek faith of CHRIST, but rather drew the other people from the faith in CHRIST, saying: Doth any of the rulers or Pharisees believe on him? But the common johan. 7. people which know not the law, are cursed. Thus were the Publicans and open sinners (which believed in CHRIST) despised of them. Ye because the common people Luce. 7. johan. 12. followed CHRIST, therefore have the bishops and priests taken counsel how to slay CHRIST. CHRIST also when he saw that the covetous Pharisees did mock him, he said: Ye are they that justify your selves Luce. 16. before ●●n, but God knoweth your hearts. For that which is high among men, is abomination before God. And again said CHRIST: Why know ye not my speech? Even johan. 8. because ye can not abide the hearing of my words. And again: I am come to judgement into his johan. 9 world, that they which see not, might see: and that they which see. might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees that were with him, heard this, and said unto him. Are we then blind also? JESUS said unto them: If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: But now that ye say we se, therefore remaineth your sin: That is as much, as though CHRIST would say: He that will see his salvation by his own wisdom, he is blind: For he looketh not upon God, but is blind in himself. But he that looketh not upon himself, but seeketh his salvation in CHRIST, he is lightened of God. This witnesseth saint Paul, saying Roma. 9 The heathen which, followed not righteousness, have overtaken righteousness. But I speak of the righteousness that cometh by faith. Israel followed the law of righteousness, and attained not unto the law of righteousness. Why so? even because they sought it not out of faith, but as it were out of deserving of works. For they have stumbled at the stumbling stone, as it is written. Behold, I lay in Zion a stone to Isaiah. 28. stumble at, and a tocke to be offended at: and whosoever believeth on him, shall not be confounded. Here have we now herd what hurt unbelief bringeth, whereby a man becometh could and strange from God. For thorough unbelief hath a man small percevenaunce of God or godliness. Ye where God is not duly known, there is man idle, & can have no godly lust, nor favour unto God. But that father hath given us CHRIST his only son, according to his love toward us (even his godly word) that we should hearken to him, & learn to know the way of salvation thorough his word. Thus hath CHRIST called us lovingly namely us that were of a disquiet & troublous heart, gevingus knowledge of his fatherly will thorough faith, that we should be comforted in his word, which bridgeth all mercy with it. If our heart be ready to accomplish that will of god according to his word, & not to depart thorough any strange learning, than are we surely called of hi. For John saith. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth 2. johan. 1 not in the doctrine of CHRIST, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of CHRIST hath both the father, and the son. And again: If no man will receive you, Math. 10. nor hear your preaching, depart out of that house or city, and shake the dust from your feet. truly I say unto you: It shall be easier for the loud of Sodoma, and Gomorra in the day of judgement, than for that cuie. Thus may youse the damage Math. 9 and hurt of mysbelese, the which causeth a disquieted heart, and remorse of conscieure, and an heart the is comfortless, ye a continuance in sinfulness. Wherefore CHRIST seeing the multitude, having blind leaders, he is moved with pity upon them: for they were pined away, and dispersed, as sheep having no sheep herd. And CHRIST said unto his disciples. The harvest is great, but the labourers are few. Wherefore pray the LORD of the harvest to send forth labourers into his harvest. Now lovingly will the LORD have pity upon us, saying he calleth us so sweetly to his godly word, that we abide not in damnation. 2. Tes. 3 Paul sayeth: Brethren, pray for us, that the word of God may have free passage, and be glorified as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable, and evil men. This grant us the heavenly father, thorough JESUS CHRIST his son. Amen. ¶ Here endeth the treatise of faith and hope. Here followeth the treatise of love and charity. ¶ Of the love that God hath toward us, how strongly love worketh in us, and how hurtful the worldly love is. PEace and mercy from God the father thorough JESV CHRIST. Ye entyerlye beloved, ye that hunger to come to the knowledge of the love that God hath to us ward ye must turn yourselves humbly to the blessed LORD, desiring him to make your hearts willing to receive his word joyfully, and to knowledge that love in the spirit by faith, the which the LORD showed us so friendly thorough his word. His love is not known, but only thorough his word, the which only giveth us true witness that God loveth us. So far stretcheth our knowledge of his love, as we have gotten it out of his words by faith. The LORD showeth us sufficiently in his words that he loveth us. As God is true and faithful in his promises, so may we lightly get perseverance of his love by his own words. Ye even that god hath promised, that he loveth us, were enough to rejoice in, if we could believe duly, and not to seek about for any other lovers. It should be enough for us that God loveth us, and we should rejoice in his love: For his love is only true, bounteous, holy and good. That the world, and all men do love me, that doth not avail me, neither doth it comfort, nor save me: but that God doth love me, that is a comfort unto my sinful soul. For god giveth salvation holiness, righteousness, & redemption thorough his love. The world with all her loveliness, giveth nought save damnation, hell, sin, & death. Therefore can the soul find neither rest nor peace therein. For the soul may be comforted in her own nature, and strength with God only, and with his love. Now when man heareth this, and perceiveth it, than must his heart leap up for joy toward God, which loveth him. Thus becometh be equal, and like unto God, so that he is so minded in love to Godward, as God again is minded to him, saying with cheerfulness: Is it not a great thing, that such a LORD loveth me, that draweth all men to him: and that because I should be partaker of all the good that of his love he hath promised to give unto all them, that knowledge him by his love. He that is sure of this love, sayeth boldly: Who can now danger me? Who can condemn me? For God so loveth me that he will save me. Now do I fear no there death nor hell: For God that loveth me hath overcome death, hell, and sin for me. Let arise now against me castles, strong holds, ye the gates of hell, and though I were i the mids of death, yet shall not they hurt me. For God, that hath all powers in his hand, doth love me. Them that God hath elect, & chosen, Roma. ●. them hath he called: and whom he hath called, them hath he also made righteous, and whom he hath made righteous, them hath he glorified also. What shall we say than unto these things? if God be on our side, who can we be against us? which spared not his own son, but hath given him for us all: how shall not he give us all things also with him? Who will lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen? It is God that maketh righteous, who will then condemn? For as much than as the children Hebre. 1. have flesh & blood, he also himself likewise took part with them: that he thorough death, might take away the power of him, which had lordship over death that is to say the devil: and that he might deliver them, which thorough fear of death were all their life time in danger of bondage. For he in no place taketh on him the angels, but the sede of Abraham taketh he on him. Wherefore in all things it became him to he made like to his brethren, that he might be merciful, and an High Pressed in things concerning god, to make agreement for the sins of the people. For us that he himself suffered, and was tempted, he is able to, succurre them that are tempted. Who could now be comfortless, if he were persuaded in his mind hereof? Who could not rejoice in spirit having found such a redeemer? Who saw ever such a love? Herein 1. johan. 4. is love, not that we loved god, but the he loved us, & sent his son to make agreement for our sins. The love Roma. 5. of God is shed a broad in our hearts by the holy ghost, which is given unto to us. For when we were yet weak according to the time, CHRIST died for us ungodly. When we were yet enemies, CHRIST reconciled us unto Roma. 4. the father, which was given for our sins, and raised up for our righteousness sake. Obounteful LORD, how did love drive you to us ward, what time ye did look so lovingly upon us with your fatherly pity? For, because ye might show your most excellent love that ye bear toward us, therefore did ye yield yourselves unto the bitter death: that we might knowledge all our salvation, & redemption in you only, & reioycei you. Oh who can feel the bottom of your love, what time as we see, & perceive what inestimable price ye gave for our redemption? with your faithful & true word have ye assured us of your love: with your precious blood have ye scaled it: with your death have ye confirmed it: & bequiethed & left us the testament of love, to the forgiveness of sins O how glorious are we esteemed in roure sight father? even as elect and chosen children, had in great reputation of you thorough love. Lo, what love the father hath showed us, that we should be called the 1. johan. 3 children of God, and also be the same. We are now the children of God, and yet hath it not appeared what we shall be. But we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him: for we shall see hu● as he is. O wonderful love? Who could Nota. comprehend and understand, that the natural man, (which was so pytyfully destroyed thorough Adam's sin, and come in the devils power) should so be likened unto God, and to have obtained such fellowship and communion with his inestimable goodness. By nature we were children of the wrath of God, and could not rise again by ourselves. But God not willing to be wroth forever upon his handy work hath called to remembrance his natural love and pity: and thought how that he had created us after his likeness, after he had once poured himself in us thorough his tender love. Thus was he mindful of us thorough himself, & did show mercy: his love steered him to it, & our frailness hath he taken to his mercy. For he saw we were flesh & fading hay, not being able to stand, without the assistance of his goodness. He was also mindful of that which he promised unto man, hearing the deep desires, and the humble sighing of the righteous: which longing for his coming, did call for him, that he should she we his love to the straying and lost nature. Wherefore the father hath opened his fatherly heart, sending us his word, his only son: that he might be for us y● only mediator, speech man and swager of God's wrath, which should overcome death, hell, sin and the devil, which should accomplish for us the work of salvation thorough his death, whose flesh and blood should call for mercy for us unto the father. Who should not now knowledge his glorious state, where unto the LORD hath called use. Who can now feel and perceive this love, and not rejoice inwardly? For he hath given every one power to be the children of God, that joh. 1. believe in his name. Who can come to higher estate, them to be elect children of him, that only hath power to exalt his friends? When CHRIST had called his beloved disciples to his love, them comforted he them alway in their passions, saying: I am among you as a minister. As for you, ye at they that Luce. 22. have bidden with me in my temptations. And I will apppoynt the king doom unto you, even as my father hath appointed me, that ye may eat and drink at my table in my king doine, and sit upon seats, & judge the twelve tribes of Israel. No manhath joh. 15. greater love, than to set his life for his friend. Ye are my friends, yfye do the I command you. I call you not servants: for a servant knoweth not what his lord doth. But I have said that ye are friends. For all that I have herd of my father, have I showed unto you. Ye have not choose me, but I have chosen you, and ordained that ye go & bring forth fruit, & that your fruit continue: that whatso ever ye ask the father in my name, he should give it you. Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom Math. 1● of heaven, but unto them it is not given. With these aforesaid sayings are we greatly comforted, in that we see how much the LORD will do unto them the he loveth. Now common maketh he himself with all his kingdom? willing us all to have his love, and the we all should knowledge all our salvation to come of his love, the which he declareth so plenteously unto us. Therefore sayeth Paul: The LORD hath chosen us by him ●yhe. 1 (that is CHRIST) or ever the foundation of the world was laid, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: and ordained us before to receive us as ehyldrens thorough JESUS CHRIST, according to the pleasure of his will unto the praise of the glory of his grace, whereby he hath made us accepted in the beloved: in whom we have redemption thorough his blood (namely) the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace, which he hath shed upon us abundantly in all wisdom and prudence. The fatherly heart was so moved with love to us ward, that all his thoughts were employed how he might show mercy unto his poor sheep. Though the righteousness of God might tustly have condemned us: for Adam and we have both transgressed his commandment in one flesh. And though the LORD might have kept us still in death's danger: yet hath his love and pity so moved him, that he did join his mercy with justice, and peace with truth, so that these being assembled, did call upon love desiring that God would declare his love. This did David knowledge in spirit and said: I will hearken Psal. 84 what the LORD God will say, for he shall speak peace unto his people, & to his saints, that they turn not themselves unto foolishness. For his salvation is nigh them that fear him, so that glory shall dwell in our land. Mercy and truth are met together, righteousness & peace kiss each other. Truth shall rise out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. And why? the LORD shall show loving kindness, and our land shall give her increase. Righteousness shall go before him, and prepare the way for his coming. And again: The Psa. 144. LORD is gracious and merciful, long suffering and of great goodness. The LORD is loving unto every man, and his mercy is over all his works. Turn again then to Psal. 114. thy rest (o my soul) for the LORD hath given the thy desire. And why? Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, & my feet from falling. Hereby is it evident that if we desire any inward goodness whereon our sinful soul might test them shall we look steadfastly upon this love, & alway consider what CHRIST hath given us thorough his love. when we have the knowledge of his love in us, then have we first a cause to rejoice. For only in his love may we knowledge our salvation. Therefore saith Paul: We have not received Rom. 1. the spirit of bondage to fear any more, but we have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, dear father The same spirit certifieth our spirit, that we are the children of God. Peter also confirmeth this, saying: 2. Pet. ● For so much as his Godly power hath given us all things that pertain unto life & Godliness, thorough the knwlege of him that hath called us by his own glory & power, whereby the excellent & most great promises are given unto us: namely, that ye by the same should be partakers of the godly nature, if ye fly the corrupt lust of the world. He now that doth rejoice in this love, and can perceive what is given him by the same, he (I say) could lightly withdraw himself from all, that is no true love, and suffer not himself to be deceived with false love. For God hath made us so like unto his godly nature thorough love, he hath yielded himself so lovingly unto the nature of man: he hath drawn it so friendly to him ward, making of it a choose temple cleansed by his blood, that his spirit might rest in it with all his goodness: and that man might use God as a friend. Now when we perceive the love of God only to be perfect, holy and good, whereby redemption and salvation is given us: then of duty ought such love only to be our joy, glory and comfort. For God which Ephe. 2 is rich in mercy, thorough his great love, wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quyckned us with CHRIST. And for cause of this, neither law nor sin live in us, but CHRIST, which hath powered himself in us thorough his word: so that God is in us, and we in God. The law doth not now compel us any more, but it is God that hath so moved our hearts thorough his love, that we by the help and assistance of his spirit shall do all that is acceptable unto him. This inward motion of our heart cometh by faith: For when we know verily that God loveth us, then doth i● work in us, causing us to fix our mind on nothing, save how we may rejoice in him that doth love us. It is sure a great grace given us of God, that we knowledge his love toward us, feeling in our entrails by faith peace, glory, rest, and joy: whereby only we perceive that thorough his love all mercy and for gevenesse is happened unto us. This witnesseth Paul saying. But after that the kindness, and love of Titum 3. God our saviour toward man appeared, not for the deeds of righteousness which we wrought, but after his mercy he saved us by the fountain of the new birth, and renewing of the holy ghost, which he shed on us abundantly, thorough JESUS CHRIST our saviour, that we being made righteous by his grace, should be heirs of eternal life, according to hope. Therefore hath god declared his love unto us, that he only should have the glory of our salvation by faith, whereby we are assured, that of ourselves we have nought: but the all is given us freely of his fatherly love and goodness. By saith only are we assured of god's love, & the we may walk confidently in this love. Therefore said CHRIST: God so loved the world, that he gave joh. 3. his only son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. The joy & comfort of our conscience shall endure so long, as his love is had in price & worthiness of us: but if it begin once to said and wax could, so that we can neither feel rest, nor joy in his love, than do we dread god as a tyrant or a straight judge, not trusting to obtain mercy of his love & goodness, nor the we be made worthy of his love, & goodness by his bitter passion & death. This is the most blashhemie & wrong the can be done unto God. Where such knowledge of god is, there do men begin to seek health & comfort in creatures, in man's inventions, in strange holiness & in the workmanship of the craftisman. Thus waxeth man could & strange from god, having neither faith of god, nor savour of godliness, the which not withstanding did love us for his own sake. Even as our opinion is of him, so shall he please us, as CHRIST sayeth: This is the life everlasting, that they joh. 17 know thee (the thou art only the true God) & whom thou hast sent JESUS CHRIST. This love doth the book of wisdom commend unto us, estyminge it to be a precious treasure the we be come to the knowledge of the same, saying: But thou Sap●. 15. (o our god) art sweet, long suffering and true, and in mercy ordreste thou all things. Though we sin, yet are we thine, for we know thy strength. If we sin not, shan are we sure that thou regardest us. For to know thee, is perfect righteousness: Ye to know thy righteousness, and power, is the rote of immortality. By this knowledge is God hyhglye praised and thanked of his love. Ye he hath caused to give testimony of his love thorough out all scriptures, that we should be certified of it, and to run confidently to him thorough the same. By jeremy the prophet jere. 31, he sayeth: I love the with an everlasting love, therefore do I spread my mercy before the. I will repair the again, that thou mayest be fast and sure. Now when man doth perceive (by reason of many places of scripture) the Nota. God doth love us, than ought he to life up his eyen toward heaven unto him, that only can lighten our eyen, and that can give understanding of all that, which he teacheth by his word. Would God we did receive his word by faith in the spirit, that we might feel, and believe his love therein, and how we may obtain mercy, grace, and salvation by the same: than should our sinful soul be comforted in all the goodness, the which the LORD hath promised and declared unto us so lovingly by his word. O LORD I can perceive neither thee, nor thy goodness, save only by thy word, whereby thou saidest that thou lovest me. Pour therefore a clean heart within me, and I shall be comforted in all things, whereby thou declarest thy love. My soul is restless, until I can rest in the. Increase my faith (for it is thy gift) and I shall have perseverance of the. My soul shall be comforted in thy love, for thou art my saviour, my glory, my rejoicing and joy. When the LORD doth hear the hungry soul sighing after this manner, longing and hoping for him, than doth he turn himself speedily and meeteth man, comforting him with himself saying: Come to the waters all ye that be thirsty, and ye that have Isaiah. 55. no money, come, buy, that ye may have to eat. Come buy wine and milk, without any money or money worth. Come to me all ye that labour, and Math. 11. are laden, and I will ease you, & learn of me: For I am meek and lowly of heart, & ye shall find rest unto your souls. It is all touching mercy & forgiveness where with god doth call his sheep. Hereby is it evident unto man, the gods love is unto him a sure fundament a strong hold, a rock & an hard ground, whereupon he may buylderightwel. Wherefore he bringeth his ship to his haven, he casteth out his anchor upon this sure ground, tying all his diseases and griefs at this stony rock, he escapeth thorough god only all the waves and perils of the see, even as God did promise by Isaiah the prophet, saying: When thou Isaiah. 45. wentest in the water, I was with the that the strong floods should not pluck the away. When thou walkest in the fire, it shall not burn thee, and the flame shall not kindle upon thee: for I am the LORD thy God, the holyone of Israel, thy savour. And Solomon also sayeth: The name of Pro. 1●. the LORD is a strong castle, the righteous flieth unto it, and shall be saved. He that looketh steadfastly upon the LORD, shall not be brought to confusion: for the love that he knowledgeth in God shall cause him to walk confidently and assuredly. And with such a faithfully heart is God well apaid, the hongereth always to come unto farther knowledge of his will. Such hearts shall that LORD call unto him, showing them his love, saying: Son be of good cheer and comfort, all that is in my is for the. If thou have sinned, if thou have offended me, remember the I love thee, trust unto my love, I have paid thy det, I have given myself over unto death for thy sake, the thou shouldest knowledge thy salvation to be of my love. When man doth begin to perceive this, than fideth he comfort & rest, & doth understood how strong the love was, the which did subdue death. This love hath God to our behoof, that in our need we may run to his love, and admonish him of the same. And saying God is love, therefore canhe not forsake himself: but will give after the power of his love, and all that of his love he hath promised by his godly word. This teacheth us to know CHRIST'S death in his power, glory, and victory, in whose love we may see so clearly our redemption, and rejoice therein. O wonderful gifts, O incomprehensible treasure. How happy is the man, to whom it is given to have a perseverance of this? Who came ever to higher salvation? Who rejoiced ever more, than he the found god (which loveth us) even a father? Fulfeatlye doth Solomon say: Set me as a 〈◊〉. 8. seal upon thine heart, & as a seal upon thine arm: for love is as mighty as the death, & jealousy as the hell. Her coals are of fire, & a very flame of the LORD: so that many waters are not able to quench love, neither may the streams drown it. Ye if a man would give all the goods of his house for love, he should count it nothing. He that confesseth that JESUS is the son of God, in him 1. joh. 14. dwelleth God, and he in God: & we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love, & he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in god, & god in him. Herein is the love perfect with us, that we should have a free boldness in the day of judgement. Herby is the sinful conscience comforted, namely if we can perceive by faith, that the LORD will receive the sinner to grace thorough his love. And again, if we have made us unworthy of his love, then let us humble ourselves before the LORD, sighing for our mysoedes, and his love shall comfort us again. Unto him that loved us, and cleansed us from sin by his blood, and hath made us kings and priests, namely, unto God and his son, be glory & praise for all his goodness. Amen. Hitherto have we said how well God loveth us, and how— we may trust in his love: Now shall we show, that as God hath wrought and done great mercy unto us, even so must the same love work in us also toward God, & our neighbour, whereby love is uttered what she is. This namely is, when we render praise, honour and thanks unto the LORD God which hath made our heart willing in his love thorough the word, so that we believe to receive him, & to knowledge his love therein. The love of God doth work so much in us to our salvation, as we can believe and be persuaded, that God loveth us, & that we can rejoice in his love only, being assured, that we can obtain neither mercy nor favour, save only thorough his love: that which he declared so lovingly toward us in suffering death Whereby we may be assured, that he doth love us without gainsaying: & that he will give us so much goodness, as he hath promised by his word. As we knowledge our salvation & redemption by his love, so shall we yield him only the glory of our salvation. saying he only is a giver of all goodness thorough his love, therefore ought we to glory & rejoice in him only. He that could understand this duly in spirit by faith, the same should rest upon CHRIST in all peaceableness, knowledging his salvation to come by him only, & require mercy & grace of him only. For this cause will God thus declare his love to us, that we should know, how to rejoice namely, that god loveth us, & that we know our redemption to be by his love Would God every man knew the power of the love that god hath toward us Not●, for then should we be ever praying, and ever reading scripture, that we might learn how to know God in his love by his word, and to rejoice in him. For neither of God, nor his love are we assured inwardly, save only by the word, where unto we give faith and credence. And as the love of God is in our heart, and as we knowledge his love perfectly: so is our heart again steered with love toward God, being ready & willing to do all that is acceptable unto him: that all love & thankfulness might be recompensed him again, which hath heaved and exalted us so highly by him thorough great love: hereby do we know that God hath wrought a wondered glorious work in us. saying the there is no goodness in man, therefore must all his deeds be assured and sealed with faith, if they shallbe acceptable unto god. And in this faith we shall believe that God doth work in us both to will and to fulfil. It is God that hath accomplished the work of salvation in us. What work of salvation that ever we can devise or require, that hath CHRIST accomplished in us. If we believe this, & thorough love utter it, then are we justified & saved, not for the deed or working, but because we are righteous thorough faith, therefore be the deeds of love or charity righteous also. For a faithful man doth always behold his own righteousness in god, ascribing to his goodness only all honour: and unto himself nothing but sin & confusion that God only may have the glory. Paul doth demand & say: What 1. Cor. 4. hast thou that thou hast not received? if thou haste received it, why makest thou then thy boast, as though thou hadst not received it? Again sayeth Paul: Such trust have we thorough CHRIST to God 2. Cor. 3 ward, not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing, as of ourselves, but our ableness cometh of God. The LORD also exhorteth us by jeremy saying: Let not the wiseman rejoice in his wisdom, Ieremi. 9 nor the strong man in his strength nor the rich man in his riches: But who so ever will rejoice, let him rejoice in this: that he understandeth & knoweth me: for I am the LORD which do mercy, equity & righteousness upon earth. All these places testify that we must look upon CHRIST believing that we be saved only by his love, if we covet to seek rest and peace in our conscience. Therefore doth jeremy again speak comfortably saying: The mercies of the LORD are not clean gone, & his loving 〈◊〉. 3 kindness ceaseth not. His faithfulness is great, & reneweth itself as the morning. The LORD is my portion (sayeth my soul,) therefore will I hope in him. O how good is the LORD unto them, that put their trust in him, & to the soul that seeketh after him. Seeing now that God is alway working with his love, therefore must we confess and knowledge all our salvation to be only by the working of his love: & so doing we give him only the glory of all the goodness that is in us. This love shall steer our hearts to fulfil the LORDS will, & cause man not to remain idle in that love, where unto the word of the LORD doth exhort him so lovingly. Love coveteth to come to perfectness, desiring always to be so minded in love to god ward, as god by his love is minded to us, hongering always to be equal with God in love. The spirit exhorteth us to end evoure us thorough love to please God, even as he thorough his love hath done well by us. A o●e is merry, & cometh from a joyful heart. For love causeth a man to have a good opinion of God, namely, that god of his bounteous goodness hath given him rest & hearts ease, so the he must rejoice even from his whole heart. How can he be sorry, if when he looketh upon God. he is fully persuaded that God loveth him? And this is the t●ken whereby he knoweth it: that is, when he feeleth his heart to be drawn in love toward God. For he is sure of a great and in estimable treasure, that he can rest in the love of God, believing God to be a merciful father unto him by reason of his tender love. And sure he is, that God shall give him so pleteous goodness, as he hath promised him by his loving word. If God find love in man (saying he himself is love) then findeth he godliness in him, wherefore he loveth himself in man: and as long as a man continueth in this love so long can not God hate him, nor separate himself from man. For God is knit and joined with man by himself, and can not forsake himself so long as he perceiveth himself in man. Now, saying man is become godly thorough love, if God the father would of his righteousness condene him, then must the godliness be condemned also. Wherefore, because God is the glory, therefore of necessity must this damned man live with God in glory thorough his love. By love have we fellowship with god and all that is in him: likewise also hath he fellowship with us, hiding our sins with himself, not suffering that such a vessel (wherein he resteth himself thorough love) be brought to confusion. By love use we God to our pleasure, with all his gifts, and all that is in God: for love willeth none otherwise than God will. Man hath it not of himself, if he do any good according to the will of God: but saying he hath the love of God, the same is constrained by the spirit of God to do nothing save it that pleaseth God, whom he endeavoureth ever to please thorough love. And as God alway delighteth in himself, & in all that he doth: even so will he also have a pleasure in all that, which is done in man thorough love. God of his love hath made all things good: wherefore all must be good that man doth of love. Love is pure and clean, and can seek none other rest or peace, save only in him which himself is rest & peace, which hath filled his heart with joy so lovingly. Love is satisfied with God only, seeking nothing but God. For he hath sought God only thorough love, that he might enjoy him in truth. No man can use due love in God, without he be sure first by faith inwardly how well God doth love us, rejoicing in the same love, and putting all his salvation therein. Thus doing he shall pass by all creatures, estyming them as dung, counting CHRIST only his joy, glory, & hearts desire. He now that uttereth the love, (for true love cannot be idle) he uttereth it, that which God the lover of love will have the loving man to do. Paul saith: Own nothing Rom. 13. to any man, but to love one another for he the loveth another, hath fulfilled the law. And again. The chief 1. Tim. 1 sum of the commandments is love of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, & of faith unfeigned. That is: If we desire any goodness inwardly, we shall pray humbly, that we may have love: for only love is a witness that we have faith in CHRIST. Love is a power whereby all our works are acceptable unto God, and sufficiently tried. Wherefore sayeth Paul: In CHRISTIESV Galat. 5. neither is circumcision any thing worth, nor uncircumcysion, but faith: which by love is mighty in operation. And that we should know the better the power of love, & so yield ourselves to the same, therefore doth Paul show full featly, what worthy deed of love CHRIST hath wrought in us, (that we should the better knowledge our salvation to be obtained by love, and so following and conterfayting CHRIST'S love) saying: Therefore doth God set forth his love toward Rom. 5. us, in that CHRIST died for us when we were yet sinners: much more than shall we be saved from wrath by him, saying we are now made righteous thorough his blood If we now desire to follow CHRIST & to fulfil his law, commandments & gospel: them is there no nearer way than to follow him in love. Paul doth exhort us to the same very heartily, saying: Be ye followers therefore of God as dear children, & walk in Ephe. 5. love, even as CHRIST loved us, & gave himself for us an offering and sacrifice of sweet savour unto God. The cause now why man is so cold in love toward God, & so sore divided from the same, so that he hath neither pleasure nor savour in God is, because he hath not fully yielded his heart to God, to be taught of him, the so he might know how well God doth love him. Of this maketh god none privy save only such as seek him with all their heart, and be alway hongering to know God in his goodness. The unfaith fullness & little perseverance Nota. that men have of God, doth cause them to abide in sinfulness and to hang upon creatures. They can not rest duly upon God, nor his benefits, by reason of their small understanding in godly matters: for the benefits of God do not sink in their entrails. If man could enter even to the ground of the benefits of God, and behold the wonderful & glorious works of God, then should he no doubt give sentence & verdict, that unto such a god, and such a LORD only is due all praise, honour, and glory. Therefore ought man to yield all his wit, will and wisdom to God's majesty, esteeming in himself nothing save sin and folly, with out God did steer our hearts inwardly with his love: so that we should perceive nor desire nought with all our heart and mind, save only CHRIST our lover. With out this wisdom is it all foolishness that is in man. For without God there is nothing to seek nor to find wherein man may rejoice by any mean. It is God only that can satisfy man's heart, and bring him to love. Paul was joyful in God a right, what time he was come to this knowledge, saying: For I showed 1. Corin 2. not forth myself among you that I knew any thing, save only JESUS CHRIST, even the same that was crucified. Oh let us humbly beseek the LORD, that we may know him by his love, and rejoice over all the good the he hath wetesafe so lovingly to declare unto us by his word. For as we know God by his word in his love, so shall our heart again be kindled in love toward God, and shall not pass this band. For faith consisteth in this, namely, that we can believe all mercy, salvation, and health to come freely by only love: and that we again utter the same faith thorough love in the sight of all men. To this exhorteth us CHRIST, saying: Let your light so shine before men, Math. 5 that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven. s. Peter also exhorteth us 1. Pe●t i. ●. to lead an holy life among the heathen. Love doth declare herself by faith, working wondrously, to the righteousness and salvation of all such men, as knowledge God in his love, ready alway to render him love and thanks again. Paul what time he had a taste of this love, and felt the power of the same, he gave unto this holy love the glory of all the good that is acceptable before God in man, saying: Though I spoke with tongues of 1. Cor. 13. men and angels, and yet had not love, I were even as soundyngebrasse, or as a tinkling cimbal. And though I bestowed all my goods tofede the poor, & though I gave my body even that I burned, & yet have not love, it profiteth me nothing. Love is patient and courteous, love envieth not, love doth not frowardly, is not puffed up, dealeth not dishonestly, seeketh not her own, is not provoked unto anger, thinketh not evil, rejoiceth not over iniquity, but rejoiceth over the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, suffereth all things. Thus much sufficeth to be spoken of the love that God hath toward us, & how man is joined unto God by love. For true love must work by faith in such as god hath elect & chose thereto, & it causeth man to obtain all things lawful, wherefore we shall treat farther wherein we ought to declare, and utter our love again. saying that we have here sufficiently showed that god loveth us, and that the same love worketh alway; therefore shall man examine himself, and search his entrails whether he be come to a true love by faith. Faith must declare itself thorough love and mortification of the flesh. S. John exhorteth us earnestly to a renewing of our sin full life, after that we have received the word of the LORD with joy, being assured by faith that we may obtain mercy thorough JESV CHRIST, saying: God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If 1. johan. 1. we say that we have fellowship with him, and yet walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. But if we walk in light, even as he is light, than have we fellowship together, and the blood of JESUS CHRIST his son cleanseth us from all sin. CHRIST also sayeth: I am the light of the johan. 8. world, he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. And again: The johan. 12. light is a little while with you, walk while ye have the light, that the darkness fall not upon you. He that walketh I darkness woteth not whether he goeth, Believe ye on the light while ye have it, that ye may be the children of light. It followeth: I am come a light in to the world, the whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. By all these aforesaid sayings are we taught, that God hath given himself alight in our hearts, if we have learned to know him in his love by his word. The word is the light and food of the soul, whereby the love of God is clearly set forth unto us. That we therefore be found, trutefull and thankful before the LORD, it is his will to lead, ye to drive us with his light to lighten us, and to teach us all that, whereby our sinful soul may be comforted, and rejoice in God our lover. When David knew this light, he was glad thereof, and sang: How precious is thy mercy (O God) that the children of men Psal. 35. may put their trust under the shadow of thy wings? They shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of thy house, and thou shalt give them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For by the is the well of life, and in thy light shall we selygthe. When we have now received CHRIST so richly, and joyfully by his word, than shall also the Godly word only be our light, guide, and master, so that we shall hearken diligently what God hath commanded, admonished, and taught us in his word. Noman feeleth inward joy, or comfort of the Gospel, without he be sure that it hath wrought evidently in him the mortification, and subduing of his own sinfulness, and the love toward his neighbour. When it hath wrought thus in man, than perceiveth he first the incomparable love and favour the which god doth declare by his word. Moreover, when he hath tried the same with the renewing of his life, than is he sure that God hath wrought a passing great work of mercy in him. This knew David when he said: I will hearken what the LORD Psal. 14. God will say, for he shall speak peace unto his people. Now is it evident, and plain that God doth send his word, and light in our hearts, that we thorough the light in his word should knowledge all our salvation, and redemption, rejoicing in him only. If man do not yet fix his sight only upon God, and his love, but seeketh comfort either of men's inventions, or any creatures, not rejoicing in God only: than is it to be doubted, lest such one be not founded a right on God only. Paul sayeth: But we wait in the spirit of E●l●. 5. hope to be made righteous by faith. The faithful liveth always in joy. Aba●●●. 2. for the just liveth by faith. Scripture Roma ●. Heb. 10. witnesseth every where, that God doth call us, and sayeth: I am, I only am he that put away sin, without Isaiah. 43 me there is no saviour. In the time of trouble, and in the straightness of sinfulness, than doth god be hold us most of all, if so be we seek him with our whole hearts. The soul can rejoice in nothing that is without God. Therefore saying God loveth us, he exhorteth us to put our confidence in him only, saying. If ye fix your sight upon an other, than shall ye remain comfortless, and ye shall serve strange god's day, and night, that will show you little favour. But my Isaiah. 32. people shall dwell in the inns of peace, & in my tabernacle, and pleasure, where there is enough in them all. For this cause shall man try himself whether he be mortified in his own sinfulness, and carnal desires. For Paul sayeth. They that are CHRIST'S, have crucified their Gala. 5. flesh with the lusts and desires. He shall also search how he ought to behave himself in love toward god, doing it that he is sure to be acceptable unto God, that the father may be glorified thereby: the which will work wondrously thorough his love in all them, in whom he hath powered his word so lovingly. Of this may the ancient father simeon be an ensample, the which saying Luce. 2. the little babe rejoiced in spirit. The two disciples also heard CHRIST, and they learned to know him with Luce. 24. joyful and merry hearts. Now shall we proceed and show that all our thoughts, wit, & will shall be employed, how we may again tender the LORD all service, love & thankfulness, after that we know what unoutspeakable love, & mercy is showed us by him. It were undoubtedly a great loss if god should love us for nought: if his love should not work in us, nor bring forth the fruits of the same: or if it should have wrought no salvation in us, whereto god hath alway given it: For than should god be idle in us with his love, with his holy word, with his goodness, ye with all his precious gifts: Than (I say) should not god have any glory, nor praise in us for all the benefits, which we do possess by his bounteous goodness. By the fruits may it be evident what a great act god hath wrought in a faithful heart. Therefore said CHRIST: I am come to kindle a fire upon earth, & what would I rather than Luce. 12. that it were kindled already? Is jete. 23. not my word fire (sayeth the LORD,) and like an hammer that breaketh the hard stone? It is sure a consuming fire bringing to naught the jousts of the flesh, and kindling man to charitable deeds. Thus must it be working, and may not come again void, as sayeth Esay. As for the fruits of the spirit, that Isaiah. 55. be wrought by faith in love, those may we feel in ourselves. first, If we do rest upon CHRIST JESV only, rejoicing in him only, trusting to his goodness only, the which he hath promised by his word Secondarly may we know them by the mortification of the flesh with his desires, namely. If we have conquered ourselves by the love of God, and live now in all meekness, and cleanliness of heart. thirdly, if we be kindled by the aforesaid love with mercy, and kindness to ward our needy neighbour. To the which Pau doth exhort us, saying: Now therefore as the elect of God, holy, and ●ollos. 3. Ephe 4. beloved, put on tender mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving ove another, if any man have a quarrel against another. Like as CHRIST hath forgiven you, even so do ye also. But above all things put on love which is the bond of perfectness. And the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which ye are called in one body: & se that ye be thankful. Love 1 Petri. 4. covereth the multitude of sins. Hereby have we perceived love, that he gave his life for us: and therefore johan. 3. ought we also to give our lives for the brethren. But he that hath this worlds good, and seeing his brother have need shutteth up his heart from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love with word, neither with tongue: but with the deed, and with the truth. And again: dearly beloved, let us love one another, 1. johan. 4. for love cometh of God: and every one that loveth is born of god and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God: for God is love. We know that we are translated 1. johan. 3. from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother, abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a manslayer. And ye know that a man slayer hath not eternal life abiding in him. james sayeth that there shall jacobi. 2. be judgement merciless to him, that showeth no mercy. CHRIST Math. 25. in the day of judgement shall very rouglye require of us the deeds of charity. Wherefore like a true watch man, he doth admonish us of his love, that he might draw us to the same, saying: Be ye therefore merciful, Luce. 16. as your father also is merciful. And again: A new commandment give I you, that ye love together johan. 13. as I have loved you, even so love ye one another. By this shall every man know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. By all these afore said places of scripture doth the LORD, admonish us, how we ought so be like him in love. For faith doth declare herself openly by love. As God is the love himself, even so is man like unto God, if he be loving. And as God of his love hath redymed us without our helping hands, even so must we utter the same love to our neghboures' behoof. He therefore that hath no love to ward his neighbour, how can he have any goodness in him, whereby he might be acceptable unto god, or wherein he may be equal with god by love? He that fulfilleth not it that god hath commanded how shall he obtain it of god, that which god hath promised? It is love the causeth man, & all that he doth to to be acceptable unto God. Therefore speaketh james so much of works. Faith must declare itself by deeds of charity, not that the works are an occasion of our righteousness: for than should God be deprived of his glory, the which maketh us righteous in the faith thorough CHRIST, lest we should boast ourselves, but rather make our boast of CHRIST JESV, which maketh the sinner righteous by faith working love in man. Of this treateth Paul very much. When works come from a believing heart, than are they acceptable unto God thorough faith: the which a man doth utter by the works of love. God looked Gene. 4. first upon Abel, and than upon his gifts. For this cause sayeth james: What availeth it my brethren, jacob. 2. though a man say he hath faith, when he hath no deeds? For saith if it have no deeds, is dead in itself, Abraham is made righteous thorough works (that is) the works were counted righteous by faith, and gave testimony that he had faith, what time he would have offered his son Isaac. Therefore saith scripture. Abraham believed God, Gene. 15. Roma. 4. Galat. 3. jacobi. 2. and it was counted him for righteousness. For this cause shall man search, and examine himself, whether he hath declared his faith by deeds Nota. of charity, or not: lest he deceive himself, thinking to have faith and love when he can talk and utter many words of the same. Who so therefore findeth himself without love, being yet fleshly minded, granting the flesh his request, he (I say) is not yet come to the true faith. If we now be come to the true love, than are we carried by death unto life, and can rejoice duly in him 2 Tessa. 1. that loveth us. For this cause said Paul: We pray always for you, that our God make you worthy of the calling, and fulfil all delectation of goodness, and the work of faith in power, that the name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST may be praised in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God, & of the LORD JESUS CHRIST I beseek the LORD entierlye (which is only the giver of all goodness), that he will so lighten and steer our hearts inwardly, that we may rejoice a right in his love, & render him again thanks & praise with a fervent love: though our sinful souls be not worthy of such love. But this again is our comfort, namely, that the father hath given us CHRIST, the which hath given himself over unto the bitter death to declare his excellent love unto us, that we might knowledge our salvation in his love by faith accomplishing his will, and pleasure. Unto him that of his love hath called us so gently by his word unto all mercy, unto him (I say) be thanks, praise, honour, and glory, both by us, and by all other creatures now and for ever. Amen. ¶ Hereafter shall we treat how hurtful the love of the world is, and how we may despise it. saying that we have spoken so largely of the love the God hath toward us, and how strongly the same love worketh in us, we shall therefore now treat how dangerous worldly love is: that is, that either the world loveth us, or that we love it. When man doth consider the world, and all that is therein, than findeth he nought for his soul to comfort, to rest, or to satisfy herself in. He that doth behold the world duly, may see that it is hurtful, & fading, with all that belongeth thereto: Ye all such as will either seek, follow, love, serve or please the world must stain & join themselves with the same. It is all vanity & vexation of mind Eccls. 1. that is under the sky. What joy or glory should man feel inwardly, when he considereth that he serveth such a lord as bringeth nought save damnation, hell and sin with him. As the soul is noble, and heavenly, even so can she find nothing among these earthly creatures wherein she might use true glory, and joy. And saying the soul can refresh herself in nothing that is transitory, therefore must she forsake all creatures, and knowledge God to be glotious in all that he hath declared, and wrought in his creatures: for he is wonderful in his power, wisdom, and goodness: whereby all creatures have received their beauty, growing, fashion and life. The creatures call to us saying: We give nothing that may satisfy you, save only the eye sight: By us may ye perceive God to be wonderful, and glorious in all his works. If ye remain, and abide with us, and go not unto God by us: (For he will be known in his love by us) than shall ye be restless surely, saying we give nought whereon your souls may rest. If man could consider this duly, then should he see evidently, that he was never aright comforted, that sought to fulfil his lust and pleasure in any creature. The world smileth and promiseth a man much: but saying there is nothing stable in it, therefore can not it also give any thing to rest upon. Though all the world did love us, yet should it not be profitable and availing to our salvation: but rather a stop or let of the same, making man unworthy of the love of God. For God doth not pour his love in that Sap. 1. heart, wherein the world with his love is abiding. This witnesseth saint John, warning us, lest we suffer us to be beguiled of the world, saying: See that ye love not the world 1. joh. 1. neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world the love of the father is not in him: for all that is in the world (namely the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, & the pride of life) is not of the father, but of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that fulfilleth the will of God abideth for ever. james confirmeth this saying: Who so ever will be jaco. 4. a friend of the world, is made the enemy of God. This is the profit that we have by the love of the world, namely, that for the love of the same we do become enemies to God. For this cause said Paul: If I should ●ala. 1. yet please men, I were not the servant of CHRIST. The apostles also what time they were chosen and sundered, they were hated of the world. For it could not agree to be atone with God, and to have friendship with the world. If theridamas shall be an atonement with the world, then must there be also a consent to his sinfulness. And because that neither CHRIST nor his disciples were of the world, nor consented to the lust of the same, therefore doth he admonish and comfort his disciples at his departing, saying: If the johan. 15. world hate you, them know the it hath hated me before you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own. Howbeit because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you from the world, therefore the world hateth you. And the prophets all though they were hated of the world, yet were not they sorry for it. For if they would have procured the love of the world, then should not they have rebuked the sins of the world but lived in sinfulness with them, and forsaken God, neither should they have rejoiced in his spirit. The love of God no doubt overcame the love of the world. This is evident in many patriarchs, prophets and holy men and women, the which were all slain for rebuking of the world, and because they followed not the lusts of it: as namely Abel, Esay, jeremy, Helyas, Micheas, Susanna, Daniel with divers other that have been slain and persecuted of the world. The world therefore is a wicked thing, for it giveth nought wherein man might rejoice by any means, but his rewards be, sin, hell, and damnation: and itself is altogether set on wickedness. The nature 1. joh. 5 of man is commonly such, that it is changed in to it, where his love is most set on. But what joy can a man use in that thing that is wicked of itself? The worldly wisdom could not brook CHRIST, neither could the worldly holiness render all glory unto CHRIST only: Ye because CHRIST did rebuke wickedness, and feigned holiness, therefore rose the worldly men against CHRIST and have determined to slay him. This one thing might of right open the eyen of many men. saying the love of the world was never good nor profitable, how might we then get any goodness by fulfilling his lusts? as Paul sayeth: What fruit Rom 6. had ye at that time in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of such things is death. O death, how bitter is the remembrance Eccl● 4, of the to a man, that seeketh rest and comfort in his substance and riches: for death is the reward of sin. When lust hath conceived, she bringeth Rom. 6. jacobi. 1. forth sin: and sin when it is finished, bringeth forth death. When a man now hath well considered the world, and beginneth to perceive that it is nothing but vanity and hearts grief, then beginneth he to withdraw his heart from it. Wherefore if he can then pray to God entirely and heartily, he shall see how glorious and noble he is estymed med in the sight of God, namely, that he is a vessel of sin, where as God notwithstanding hath created him to be a tabernacle or a temple, wherein he will dwell with his spirit, and all his gifts. If he can believe this with a steadfast faith, than shall his heart reoyce in God, trusting to use such gifts more freely with him. By faith doth man see where to he is created and called, & what is promised and given him. And saying that by faith he doth look for a better world, than this wretched world and vale of misery is, therefore is not he content with it: for the world giveth his heart nothing to rejoice in. When man hath doubt long and true service unto the world, he findeth none other reward, save great grief and heaviness of heart. For man is made a stranger from God, and cold in love, when he goeth about to serve ● please the world. Now when h● hath once a tayst of this, and is sure that it is so, then doth he wend his heart from the world, saying: Far well all transitory creatures, far it well all that ever deceived me, far well with all thy lusts. I went astray when I sought thee, I was beguiled when I tanned thee, I was blind when I set my love upon thee, I was amazed when I pleased thee, I was comfortless when I occupied thee, I was parted from God when I served thee, I was in ●eath when I lived with thee, I was ●estelesse when I beheld thee, I was sorry when thou gavest me roughte, I was not sufficed when ●hou gavest me much, I was mysaryed when thou madest my glad. Oh thy wisdom is foolishness be●re God, thy glyrye is hay, thy ●ylynge is deceit, thy beauty is ●lthynesse, thy riches are unstate, thy presence is without rest, ●y reward is but death, thy joy endeth with sorrow. He that findeth the loseth himself, and cometh in death's danger. He that loved the was never dealt faithfully withal. He was not comforted aright that sought thy friendship. He that busied him to please that was never joyful. He never rejoiced aright that rejoiced in the. He never happened well that was serviable unto the. He that followed the did never happen well. He that knew the aright did never pass greatly upon thine amity or friendship. Thou deceivest all thy lovers. Thy love is untrusty Thy dealing is craftiness. O how happy is he that never sought for thee: but happy is he whose hope is in the LORD his God. He that seeketh God, cometh from death unto life: But he that loveth the world, falleth from life unto death. CHRIST therefore not willing us to be damned thorough the world, hath warned us of the dangers of it, saying What helpeth it a man though he Math. 1●. wan the whole world, and yet suffered harm in his soul? When CHRIST did call any body, them did he draw him from the snares and perils of the world, as namely, Matthew, Zache, Mary the open sinner. CHRIST said unto the youngman: Math. ● Luce. 9 Let the dead bury their dead. But go thou thy way and preach the kingdom of God. And to another that would have followed him he said: Who so purteth his hand to the plough, and looketh back is not meet for the kingdom of God. And again when another that demannded of him, what he should do to come in to the kingdom of heaven, he said: If thou wilt be perfect, go thy way and sell that thou hast, and Math. 19 Matti. 10 Luce. 12. give it unto the poor, & thou shalt have a treasure in heaven, and come and follow me. When the yongeman heard that word, he went away sorry, for he had great possessions. JESUS said unto his disciples: verily I say unto you, It shall be hard for a rich man to enter in to the kingdom of heaven. Hereby may it be evident that riches draw a man sometime to sinning, wherefore he can not follow his LORD his God, to serve him humbly. For riches & worldly love cause man sometime to fall to pride and obstinacy. If the Nota. rich man could use his riches well (that is) to dispend them charitably to the behoof of his neighbour, & in the mean season providing for h●s own necessity, relieving the needy with the rest: then should not his riches be hurtful unto him. Abraham, Isaac. jacob, job, David, & many other holy men and women have had great riches. But saying they have worshipped & served God & showed kindness unto their neghbures with their substance: therefore were their riches a furtherauce rather than a let unto their salvation, according to the mind of Tobias the elder. Nabal though he was rich, and 1. Reg. 25. David having need, requiring only what it pleased him to give, would departed from nothing. The rich glutton also would show no mercy Luce. 16 unto Lazarus. Because of such abuse were their riches hurtful unto them. Therefore said Paul: They that 1. Tim. 6 will be rich fall in to the remptation and snare, & into many foolish & noisome lusts, which drown men in destruction & damnation. For covetousness is the rote of all evil. jesus Sirak counfeleth every man also, saying: My Eccler. 11. son, meddle not with many matters: If thou wilt be rich thou shalt not be without wickedness. For this cause said Paul: Charge them which are rich in this world, that they be not 1. Tim. 6 proud, nor trust in the uncertain riches, but in the living God (which giveth us abundantly all rhynges to enjoy them:) that they do good, that they be rich in good works that they give & distribute with a good that will, gathering up treasure for themselves, a good foundation, against the time to come, that they may lay hand on eternal life. The cause why saint Paul doth thus exhort us, is: For we brought nothing in 1. 〈◊〉. 6 to the world, therefore is it a plain case, that we can carry nothing out. When we have food and raiment let us therewith be content. CHRIST likewise exhorteth us not to be so careful for this short season, neither to set an outrageous love upon any creatures, saying: See that ye gather you not treasure upon earth, Math. 6 where rust and moths corrupt, & where thieves break through and steal: but gather you treasure together in heaven, where neither rust nor moths corrupt, & where thieves neither break up, nor yet steal. That man might withdraw his heart the better from these creatures, he should call oft-times to remembrance how transitory and fading all it is, that is without God. All that he beholdeth with his bodily eyen, giveth his heart neither rest, peace, nor ease, ye it giveth nothing save hearts grief. Man ought also to remember that we have here no abiding Hebre. 10 city, but we hope and look for another, the which is better by a thousand parts then all that is in this world. When diverse saints did consider this, they have set the world at nought, seeking their glory in CHRIST only: which can satisfy his friends with the truth, and make them rich with himself: so that when his friends shall have plenty, his enemies shall suffer great scarcenesss. For the world giveth nothing wherein the lover of the same can rest and settle his mind. They that have oppressed the simple, they that have used policies and crafts to advance themselves in worldly dignities: those shall be brought to confusion at the day of doom, and shall see that they have procured nothing save hell & sin. For they would give no ear unto the truth of God's words. At that time shall they say: Tedious ways have we gone, but as for the way of the LORD, we have not known it. What good hath our pride done unto us? Or what profit hath the pomp of riches brought us? All those things are passed a way like a shadow, and as a messenger running before. etc. Every man ought well to consider this, for the worldly service cometh to a bitter end. hearken what scripture sayeth: If a man live many years and be glad in Eccles 11. them all, let him remember that days of darkness, which shallbe many: and when they come, all things shallbe but vanity. Be glad then (O thou young man) in thy youth, & let thine heart be merry in thy young days follow the ways of thine own heart and the lust of thine eyes. but be thou lure, that God shall bring the in to judgement for all these things. This is meant of the lovers of this world. For though it seem to be somewhat, truly it is nothing (ye though man lived a thousand years) in comparison to it that is everlasting. When we think in our selves: where are the mighty? where are the great men? where are the wise men? whose name and fame hath all the world marveled at. At ● end have they concluded all with death. Solomon perceived right well, that for all his wisdom and riches, he was equal in dying unto all other men: Therefore hath he counted it all foolishness that is under the sky Esay also sayeth: O my people, they Esay. 3. that call the happy, do deceive the. As though he would say: They that praise you here of ought that is in you, they deceive you. For there is nought in man that is worth praise, or glory. Be not proud of thy raiment, and exalt not thyself in the day of thine honour: for the works Ecc●●. 11. of the highest only are wonderful: ye glorious, secret, and unknown are his works. Many tyrants have been fain to sit down upon the earth, and the unlykelye hath worn the crown. Many mighty men have been brought low, and the honourable have been delivered in other men's hands. They that be now exalted, shall be brought low tomorrow. And they that be now brought low, shall be exalted tomorrow. It is great folly that man hath confidence in that thing that is unstable and giveth no goodness from itself. Such one buildeth upon a sandy ground, whereby his house must suddenly fall, and perish. Such a foolish body saith: Now Ec●●●●. ●. have I gotten rest, and now will I eat and drink of my goods myself alone. And yet he considereth not, that the time draweth nigh that he must leave all these things unto other men, and die himself. CHRIST said: There was a rich man Luce. 12. whose fields had brought forth trutes plenteously, and he thought in himself: What shall I do? I have nothing wherein to gather my fruits. And he said: this will I do: I will break down my barns, and build greater, and therein will I gather all mine increase and my goods, and will say unto my soul: Soul, thou haûe much goods laid up in store, for many years, take now thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him: Thou ●oole, this night shall they require thy soul from thee, & whose shall it be that thou haste prepared? Seeing that the end of the service of this world is so bitter, and that it rewardeth his servants with remorse of conscience, therefore doth God show us so great mercy in drawing us so lovingly from the love of the world: & that doth he, because we should rejoice with him in the truth. It is a joyful thing to follow CHRIST: for he maketh his servants glad with himself. But he that followeth the world, fulfilling the sinful desires of the same: becometh a servant of sin. And johan. 9 Paul sayeth: that the reward of sin Roma. 6. is death. Fashion not yourselves (then) like unto this world, but be Roma. 1●. changed thorough the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what thing that good, that acceptable, and perfect will of God is. And this is the will of God, even your sanctifying, 1. Tessa. 4 that ye should abstain from whoredom, that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in holiness & honour, & not in the lust of concupiscence. And that no man go to far, nor defraud his brother in bargaining. For the LORD is the avenger of all such things, as we have said and testified afore tyme. Now as the world and the wisdom thereof have alway pursued CHRIST and his, separating themselves from god, & falling to sinning, from the least unto the most: therefore may we think right well that we also shall obtain but little goodness of it. For this cause doth Syrack warn us saying: My son, if thou haste sinned, Ecc●●. 21 do it no more: but pray for thy foresynnes, that they may be forgiven the. Fly from sin, even as from a serpent. For if thou comest▪ to nigh he she will bite the. The teeth thereof, are as the teeth of a lion, to slay the souls of men. The wickedness of man is as a sharp twoegged sword, which maketh such wounds, that they can not be healed. job also speaking very largely of the wealth of the wicked, sayeth: They spend their days in wealthiness, but suddenly they godowne to job. 21. hell. They say unto God: go from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. etc. Dse likewise sayeth: They are gone to Baal Peor, and 〈◊〉. 9 run away fro my to the shameful Idol, and are become as abominable as their lovers. For the ungraciousness of their own inventions will I drive them out of my house. If we were now informed of the wickedness of the world, and knew it well, than should we lightly forsake it and seek CHRIST, whose love calleth us to the life eternal: and than should it be to us that Paul sayeth: If ye be now risen with CHRIST, Co●●●. ● than seek those things which are above, where CHRIST is sitting on the right-hand of God. Set your mind on the things which are above, not on them things that are upon earth. For ye are dead, & your life is hid with CHRIST in God. But when CHRIST our life shall appear, than shall ye also appear with him in glory. Thus have we now showed unto you how God loveth us, with what strength and power his love worketh in us, how we again should utter love to our neighbour, and finally how hurtful the love of this world is. I pray God now, that we may so follow him in love, that our good conversation and life praise the heavenly father, that hath declared his bounteous love so willingly, in seding unto JESUS US CHRIST his son. AMEN. ¶ Here end the two fruitful treatises, namely, of faith and hope, and of love, and charity. ¶ Imprinted in South work for james Nicolson, Anno, M. D. xxxvii.