¶ The declaration and power of the christian faith.  
 depiction of the scourging of Christ  ¶ He that believeth on me, hath everlasting life. Iohn uj  
¶ Here worketh in the believing man faith thorough love, the good works which God hath ordained to the intent that we should walk therein. Ephe. ij. ¶ He that loveth his neighbour as himself, keepeth all the commandments of god. Mat. seven. Rom. xiii. Gala. v. ¶ This is the victory that overcometh the world, our Believe i Iohn .v. For Chryst saith, be of good cheer I have overcome the world. Iohn xuj 

¶ world.  ¶ All that is in the world is the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes, and the pride of goods i Iohn ii and he that soweth in his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption. Gala. seven.  

¶ Flesh, blood.  ¶ Flesh and blood shall not inherit the kingdom of god i Cor. xv. Chap y. For the flesh lusteth contrary to the spirit. Gala. Ca  

¶ devil.  ¶ Your adversary the devil as a roaring lion w●lketh about, seeking whom he may devour i. ●…e. v. Ca christ hath put down him that h●… fordeshyp over death, that is to say the devil. Heb. two. Ca C.   

FOr as much as the holy scripture/ is a most precious juwell/ and cometh thorough grace, unto them which receive it in faith, thorough the holy ghost, the which doth teach, and lead us to that everlasting life, which word also is very Cihyst himself. Now he that entereth not in by this door into the sheep fold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. I am saith Chryst, the way, the truth, and the life, every one that believeth on me, hath everlasting life. Thus must● every true christian, spring out of christ following his foot steps in thy living or else it can not appear that Chryst abideth in thee, & thou in him, as the branch in the vine, or in the good tree, for if that thou (like unto the good tree christ, bringeth not forth good fruit, and follow him in teaching, suffering, and to make short in all thy living, so canst thou not be of his flock, for all that are in christ, doth follow christ, in their living.  
THe world sayeth that they know god with their good works, the which is none other, but the precepts of men, that they teach, and observe, for that call they gods service, but it is nothing so they understand not what they speak, neither whereof they affirm, which are but men's fables, and with them turn they men from the truth, but the kingdom of god standeth not in words, but in power. Why make ye your boast of me (saith christ) & say, Lord, Lord, and do not that which I command you, not one of you, that say unto me Lord/ lord shall come unto me, but they that do my father's will which is in heaven, that is what soever ye would that men should do to you, even so do to them, for this is the laws and the prophets. He that he●●eth my word, and doth not there aft●● is like unto a very fool. I am the vine, and ye are the branches, he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit? wilt thou know man what manner of fruits Christ meaneth? Verily the fruits of the sprite, the which is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, all goodness, faithfulness, meekness, temperancy, rightwiseness, and truth. Who soever is void of these and followeth not them, so is he no tree of the holy spirit, nor yet none of his planttes, although he be bishop doctor, parson. etc. ye although he can preach, and teach, & prate never so goodly of the scripture. For so long as he followeth not these fruits of the spirit with his living dysceaveth himself, although he thinketh and sayeth that he believeth in Christ and is a Christian, nevertheless he is not in christ, but far wide of from him, like unto those jews which said they were the seed of Abra●am, but christ said that they were of thjeyr father the devil, even so are all they the children of the devil, & in darkness, and be yet in the old unfruitful tree of Adam, so long as we bring not forth these true fruits of the sprite, although we fast, pray, & do never so much it can not help us, so long as we deny him with our deeds, & are abominable, and disobedient to god, and his holy word.  
Therefore dearly beloved, it is most needful for us, first with a repenting heart to be converted to God and his word, and to edify ourselves with the most holy faith that is in our lord Chryst for the remission of sins. And secondarily to love our brethren, for our heavenly father's sake (because they be created after his image) and for our lord & master Christ'S sake, which saith love ye one another, like as I have loved you. And also because they be the price of his precious blood. And thirdly 〈◊〉 long and hope for the life to come 〈◊〉 cause this life can not be lead without sin. These three poyntis (I mean faith, love, and hope) are the profession and religion of a christian man, the which god thorough his spirit marketh all that be his immediately, and as soon as they be joined to Chryst, and made members of his church, therefore sayeth Christ to all faithful. Mat. v. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven, like as you may see in the holy Scripture, how that faith worketh thorough love the works of mercy, which is the office of love, to power out again the same goodness that she hath received of God upon her neighbour, and to be to her, as she feeleth christ to herself. The office of love is only to have compassion, and to bear with his neighbour the burdayne of his infirmities, for he that loveth his brother, abideth in the light, & there is none offending in him, 〈◊〉 is ready always to help him, ye were it his enemy. And those men be the true christian and moste happy. christ saith. Math. v. blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. Loo, here god hath made a covenant with us, to be merciful unto us, if we will be merciful one to another, so that the man which showeth mercy unto his neighbour may be bold to trust in God for mercy in all needs (for love holdeth all a like, the rich & the poor, the friend and the foo, the thankful and unthankful, the kinsmen and stranger.) So now if he that showeth no mercy trust in God for mercy, his faith is fleshly & worldly, for God hath promised mercy only to the merciful. And therefore the merciless shall have judgement without mercy. wherefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him, if he thrust give him drink. etc. Roma. xii. Go to then and desire god to print this profession of the christian faith on thine heart, and to increase it daily more and more, that thou mayest be fu●● shapen like unto the image of Chryst in knowledge and love, for that is good and accepted in the sight of god our saviour which will have all men saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. ¶ Now that all men should the better understand all true christian, the which must first have a steadfast faith an trust in almighty god to obtain all the mercy that he hath promised us, thorough the deserving and merits of Christ'S blood only. And secondarily must he for sake all evil, and turn to God to keep his ways, & to fight against himself and his corrupt nature perpetually, that he may do the will of god every day better and better. For faith in God the father thorough our lord jesus Chryst according to the covenants & appointment made between god and us is our salvation. Further ye may see, coming from God unto the believing man dy●ers fruits of the holy spirit, for you ●●st understand that we are borne a new, not of mortal seed, but of immortal by the word of god, which is sent us from heaven. Jacobi i Every good gift, and every perfit gift is from above, and cometh down from the father of light, with whom is no veryablenes, neither is he changed unto darkness. And also. Ro. v. saying the love of god is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost, for the fruits of the spirit is in all goodness, rightwiseness, & truth. Ephe. v. Gal. v. and against such there is no law, for if we mortify the deeds of our bodies by the help of the spirit we shall live, and as many as are led by the sprite of God, they are the sons of God. For we have not received the sprite of bondage to fere any more, but we have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba father. The same spirit certifieth our spirit that we are the sons of god. Ro. viii.  
ANd aso as the holy scripture showeth that faith, hope, patience, ry●● wylnes, peace, & love, that be signs and tokens of the fruit that springeth of those virtues, as faith a heart because the believe of the heart justifieth. etc. Ro. x. And God maketh the heart pure thorough believe. Act. x. which believe worketh always the will of God, for by grace are we made safe, thorough faith, and that not of ourselves, for it is the gift of god and cometh not thorough works, lest a●● man should boast himself, for we are h●● workmanship created in christ Ies●● unto good works. Ephe. ij. For a good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things, for it is not possible to please God without faith. Hebre. xj.  
ALso Hope hath heaven because that the chrystens hope is only in heaven, looking & abiding patiently after that thing that is promised to ●ome only thorough the grace and mer●● of god, as we hope after everlasting joy, which christ hath promised unto all that believe and have steadfast hope in him (saying) fear not little flock, for it is your father's pleasure, to give you a kingdom. Luc. xii. Therefore do we rejoice in hope. Ro. xii. which richesse is christ in you, the hope of glory. Col. j For and we rejoice in the true hope (which cometh of faith) and do feel the promise of god's mercy within our hertis, then although the law would us straightly condemn, and that hell also would us devour, and all sin withal our enemies would fall upon us, yet shall they all have no power over us, if that our perfit hope & trust be in god, & mark with strong faith, what Christ only thorough his bitter death hath deserved for us.  
ALso patience hath a scourge, because the christian hath always in the world tribulations, afflictions, necessity, anguish, stripes. etc. 〈◊〉 which he rejoiceth greatly. Ro. v. 〈◊〉 the father of mercy comforteth them in all their persecutions, for unto you it is given that not only ye should believe on christ, but also suffer for his sake. Phi. j Thus all that will live godly in Chryst jesus must suffer persecutions. ij. Ti. iij. for tribulation bringeth patience, patience bringeth experience. Ro. v. let patience therefore have her perfit work that ye may be perfit & sound, for they that are Christ'S have crucified the flesh with the appetites and lusts. Ga. v. bi● saint Peter sayeth. j.iiij. see that none of you suffer as a murderer, or a these, or an evil doer, but if any man suffer as a christian man, let him not beshamed, but let him glorify God on this behalf. Our lord sayeth, in the world shall ye have tribulation, but be of good cheer I have overcome the world. Iohn xuj Therefore can no man enter in to the father's kingdom, but thorough manifold temptations, as our Lord with his apostles be, that we following them night be found unto laud, glory, and honour, at the apering of jesus Chryst our Lord i Pet. i.  
further rightwiseness, that is purchased by Chryst, which also hath promised it to all his elect, thorough perfit faith in his blood, saying, blessed are they which suffer persecution for rightwiseness ●●●e, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ●●r christ only is our rightwiseness, ●nd the end of the law, to justify all that believe i Co. i Ro. ix.x. You must mark ●hat there is two manner of ryghtwyse●es, the which be works & faith. Now ●he rightwiseness of works is, when a ●an without faith, thorough Ipocresy ●yll fulfil with his works the law of ●od, like unto the Pharisees. Luc. xviii.  
ALso the Israelites had a fervent mind to godward, but it was not according to knowledge, for they were (ly●● as the most part of us now are) v●ry ignorant of the rightwiseness of god and therefore are not obedient thereunto because we seek it not by faith, but as it were by our good works, like unto the learned of the scripture & the pharisees. Luc. v. To whom christ said, I came not to call the rightwise, but sinners to repentance. Therefore the holy Ghost shall rebuke the world of rightwiseness. Iohn xix because the world will be made rightwise by their good works, but except that your rightwiseness exceed the rightwiseness of the learned of the scriptures. Pharisees you can not enter in to the kingdom of heaven. And secondarily, because that men be not upright in all their handling and living, for all men do corrupt their ways on the earth, like as did man before the flood of Noah, for in what manner of buying, or selling is there now without deceit, lying, and unrightwiseness, ye what manner of people is there in the world, rich, or poor, spiritual, or temporal, that doth his office truly, and uprightly, do you think that the holy Ghost will not rebuke you, yes be ye sure for all unrightwiseness is sin i Iohn .v. God commandeth, saying, ye shall not steal, neytherlye, neither deal falsely one with another, ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgement, neither in meteyarde, weight, or measure. etc. levit. nineteen. For who soever doth not righteous is not of god, but of the devil i Iohn iii Now saith christ ●lessyd are they which hunger & thirst for rightwiseness, for they shall be filled. Therefore he that thinketh to be made rightwise by christ, must have lust to live an upright life before god, & be poor in heart, seeking most specially the kingdom of heaven, and the rightwiseness thereof, for the rightwiseness no doubt, which is good before god cometh of the faith of jesus Chryst, unto all, and upon all that believe. Ro. iij. For no man thorough his own good deeds can be made rightwise. Gala. ij.  
ALso to have peace, which overcometh & consumeth wrath, envy & malice. Therefore the devil our adversary (since that peace was made between God and man thorough christ) hath no more power over our souls, for if the peace of God rule in our hertis, the which passeth all understanding. Phi. iiij. To the which peace we are called. Col. iij. then is our conscience filled with great joy, having abundance of all spiritual goodness, because our saviour Chryst hath pacified the father, & hath made an atonement for us, and for all our misdeeds. For he is our peace which hath put away, thorough his flesh the cause of hatred, & so making peace hath reconciled us to God thorough his cross, and slew hatred thereby, and came and preached peace unto us, for thorough him we have an open way in, in one spirit unto the father. Ephe. ij. peace I leave ●ith you (saith Chryst) my peace I give ●●to you. Iohn. xiii. Let us therefore for low those things which make for peace, & things wherewith one may edify another. Ro. xiv. For these words have I spoken unto you (saith Chryst) that in me ye might have peace. Iohn xuj  
THe last & principal is love, otherwise called charity, because love is a great and a principal virtue above all other. For though I did speak with the tongues of men and angels, and yet had no love I were as a sounding brass, or as a tinkling cymbal, and though I could prophecy and understand all secrets, & had all knowledge, & all faith, so that I could move mountains out of their places, & yet had no love I were nothing. And though I bestowed all my goods to feed the poor, and though I gave my body even that I burned, & yet had no love, it profiteth me nothing. etc. i Cor. xiii. For he that hath perfit love, fulfilleth the hole law. Ro. xiii. also Chryst saith. A new commaundem●●● give I unto you, that ye love together as I have loved you, that even so ye love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye shall have love one to another. Iohn xiij He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, the same is he that loveth me, and he that loved me, shall be loved of my father, and I will love him, & we will come unto him, and will dwell with him. For God is love, and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him i Iohn four  
FOr as faith, hope, patience, righteousness, peace, and love, be unseparable, and that no man can have the one without the other, like as faith, cometh of the word of god, and hope cometh of faith, & charity springeth of them both. For the word of God is quick & mighty in operation, & sharper than any two edged sword, and entereth thorough eue● 〈◊〉 the dividing a sounder of the soul and the spirit, and of the joints and the marry, & judgeth the thoughts and the intentes of the heart, neither is there any creature invisible in the sight of him. Hebre four So that we can not do, nor yet obtain any goodness without the will of God, in whom must be always our hope. Thus may you mark, that faith believeth only in god, and in his word, hope trusteth after it that is promised by the word, charity doth good unto her neighbour, thorough the love that it hath to God and his word. Now when you will take upon you, to live after god's word, so have you 'ticing against you many enemies (to make you to forsake god) as the world, the flesh, & the devil, but faith looketh to God and his word, hope looketh unto his gift and reward, charity looketh on her neighbours profit. Therefore brethren if we be stablished in the truth of god's word, it will make us, that we shall not be idle, no● unfruytefull.  
Therefore (saith christ) be of good there, for if the world hate you, y● know, that he hated me before he hated you. etc. Iohn. xv. The world is nothing else, but the hole company of carnal men, which live after the lusts of the flesh and blood, being dead in trespass and sin, as natural children of the wrath of god, and be frembe from the testamentis of promise that is in christ being without hope, ye and without god in this world, which walk in vanities of their own minds, blind in their understanding thorough they ygnorancy, and being past repentance have given themselves over unto wantonness, for the imagination of man's heart, is evil from the very youth of him continually. Goe vj. viii. What is more wicked, than the thing that flesh and blood hath imagined. Eccle. xvij. For 〈◊〉 which is highly esteemed among men, i●●bhominable in the sight of god. Lu. xuj. ●●t god so loved the world, that he hath given his only son, that none that believe in him should perish, but should have everlasting life. For god sent not his son in to the world to condempe the world, but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him, shall not be condemned. But he that believed not, is condemned all ready, because he believeth not in the name of the only son of god. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world and the men loved darkness more than light, because their deeds were evil. etc. Iohn. iij. See therefore that ye love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, if any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him. For he that is in the world (as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of goods) is not of the father, but of the world. And the world vanisheth away, and the lust thereof i. Iohn. ij. Who soever will be a friend of the world, is made th● enemy of God. ja. iiij. For it cann●● stand together, that a man may be a friend of God and the world both, if a man will have friendship with the world, so must he consent with the world in the wickedness of the world, whose gift and reward is none other, than sin, death, hell, & damnation. Now when the righteous knoweth all this, straight way flieth he to god with all his heart soul, and mind, and leaveth the world● saying: Adieu all that hath deceived me Adieu world with all thy vain desires and pleasures. I went astray as I the sought, I was deceived as I the found, I was full blind, as I the loved, I was not right minded, as I the pleased, I was comfortless, as I the broked, I was fremb● from god, as I the served, I was in death when I with the lived, I was out of 〈◊〉 yet, as I that saw, I was full of sorrow when thou rewardest me not, I was never satisfied of thy gifts, I was lead ●ut of the way, with thy mirth and glad●●●. Oh thy wisdom is foolishness before god, thy glory is but a flower of the field, or hay; thy laughing is deceit, thy beauty is stinking, thy richesse is not durable, thy council bringeth unquietness, thy reward is death, thy mirth endeth with sorrow and pain, he that doth the service, leaseth his own soul, there came never good unto him that loved thee, there was never comfort to him, that sought any at thee, he was never good that pleased thee, there was never done right merry, that rejoiced in thee, he was never well that was servant to thee, there came never good to him that followed thee, there was never none that desired friendship with the that knew the well, thou bringest all them out of the right way that love thee, thy love is not just nor upright, thy dealing is all deceit, Oh how happy is he that never sought thee, but blessed be he which hath his lord god for his hope, and that seeketh god with all his heart, soul, and mind, fo● he cometh out of death in to life.  
ANother enemy is the flesh, whose deeds are these, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, wantonness, idolatry, wytchecraftꝭ, hatred, variance, wrath, strife, sedition, sects, envying, murder, drunkenness, gluttony, unnatural lust, covetousness, and such like. Ga. v. Col. iij. which followeth after flesh, for we are all without understanding, rude, & unhansom in matters belonging to God's glory, and our souls health, & be yet in the old man of Adam, & are all together flesh, as saith Chryst what that is borne of flesh is flesh. If that we thorough the holy Ghost be not borne a new. Flesh is also called the holy nature of man, as life, soul, reason, understanding, free-will, with the chief and highest powers that man hath, if he be without the holy Ghost, for such a man such a body of sin, which can also do none other than sin, how goodly that he doth shine, & name himself, doctor▪ ●●rson, or priest. etc. We know (sayeth saint Paul) that the fleshly mind is enmity against god, for it is not obedient to the law of God neither can be, so that they which are given to the flesh, can not please god, we know that every man is tempted, drawn away, and enticed of his own concupycence, and when this concupycence and lust hath conceived, she bringeth forth sin, and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death Ro. seven. Then let us give ourselves to prayer, calling for the holy sprite of God, that this concupysence reign not in our mortal bodies, ever knowledging with a meek heart our iniquities to our father which is in heaven, for he is faithful & just to remit us our sins, & to purge us from all evils, by the blood of jesus christ his son. Amen.  
THe third enemy and principal is the devil, which tempted, and beguiled Eve in Paradyse thorough his sucrelite two Co. xj. Also the great dragon that old serpent called the devil and s●thanas, which deceiveth all the world. Re. xii. Thus our adversary the devil as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour i Peter .v. He blindeth the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Chryst, which is the image of God, should shine unto them ii Cor. iiij. He taketh the word of god out of their hearts, lest they should believe, & be saved Mat. xiii. Luc. viii. He preventeth them he corrupteth their wits ii Cor. two. … He worketh in the children of unbelief Ephe. two. He accuseth mankind before god, and the power of his christ, day and night. Reu. xii. He changeth himself in to the fashion of an angel of light that is to say Satan hath made h●m self, as though he were the true messenger, or preacher of god's word, who ●e (nevertheless) can speak none other but lies, for he is a liar, and the father thereof, & as many as be false preachers ●nd teachers, are not better than sathan himself is. Therefore put on the armour of God, that ye may stand steadfast against the crafty assaults of the devil, & against the wickedness of your enemies. Take to you the shield of faith, wherewith ye may quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Withstand the devil, so shall he fly from you. jaco. iiii. For Chryst hath put down him that had lordship over death, that is to say the devil. Hebre. two. Chryst hath delivered us from the law from the devil, & from hell. Let us not give place to his temptation, but keep faithfully our profession, for faith receiveth god, hope receiveth his reward, charity lo●eth her neighbour with a glad heart. Let ●s therefore go boldly to the seat of grace ●●r faith pertaineth to god only, & charity to her neighbour, that we all may find grace & mercy of the lord our god, to withstand the temptacyous of the devil, that w● be not overcome with his fair flattering which bringeth eternal damnation.   

¶ Imprinted by me Robert wire.