An Comfortable Exhortation, Part 2
¶Of vnfaithfulnes
DEarly belowed brethern / vnfaithfulnes is the mother of allwice ād ſynne / for it bryngeth forth all kynde of ſynne & euil.…ath. vij Lyke wiſe as euil frute cōmeth of an euil tree. So of vnfaithfulnes commeth no thynge but euil. As aduo…rie / fornication / vnclemes / wantānes / ydolatrie / witchecraft / hatred / zele / …ath. xv …a. vwra…th / ſtryfe / ſedition / partetakinges / enuyinge / murther / dronckennes glottony / and ſoche lyke▪ As ſaith oure ſaueoure an euil man out of the euil treaſure of his hert bryngeth forth euil thynges.…ath xij This euil treaſure is vnfaithfulnes / which bryngeth forth all kynde of euil and ſynne / be which cauſe it is only before God / reckened ſynne / as ſaith oure ſaueoure. The holy gooſt whē he ſhal come ſhal rebuke ye worlde of ſynne / …. xvibe cauſe they beleue not on me. And it maketh an man worthy of eternall damnation / as it is writen. Whoſoeuer beleueth not ſhalbe damp…ct. And in a nother place.…ar. xvi Héth at beleueth not is condēpned already.Ioan .iij This vnfaithfulnes maketh god to hat vsus / Ephe. vas ſaith the ſcripture The wraeth of God commeth apon the chyldren of vnbelefe. And in a nother place ſaith Ihon the baptiſer. He that beleueth not the ſonne / ſhall not ſe lyfe:Ioan .iij but the wraeth of God abydeth on hym. Vnfaithfulnes is no other thynge: but lackynge of faith / euen as darknes is but the lackynge of lyght. So the vnfaithful lacketh faith / ād be ye ſame cauſe / al that cōmeth of faith: as hope / lowe / ioy: peace: longe ſofferynge / gētlenes / goodnes / Gala. vkepynge of promes: meknes tēperaunce & ce. And in ſteade of them is full of allwice / as vane preſumption: hatred: diſpare and all abhomination. Nether is it poſſible to hym to lowe god or his brethrē / Hebre. xi Pſal. xxxij Roma. xiiijnor to do any thynge pleaſeſynge to god. For whatſoeuer cōmeth not of faith / ye ſame is ſynne. For he is by nature euil / and perceaueth not ye thynges of ye ſprite of God:Gene. viij i Corin. ij for they are but foliſhnes vntounto hym. He is blynde and knoweth not where hence he goo: but is led by ye power of darknes. Of ye vnfaithful ſaith Paul Yf oure goſpell yet be hid:ij. Corin. iiij it is hid amonge thē yt are loſt: in whom the God of this worlde hath blynded ye myndes of thē which beleue not: leſt ſhulde ſhyne vntounto thē ye light of ye glorious goſpell of chriſte: which is ye ymage of God: and in a nother place
…cobiiThe vnfaithfull is lyke ye wawes of the ſee toſt of the wynde / and caried wyth violence nether let that man thynke that he ſhal receaue any thynge of God. A wauerynge mynded man is vnſtable in all his wayes. Belowed brethern / this i ſaye not to youre rebuke / but to theyrs whoſoeuer lacketh faith which ſhalbe knowen and iudget of the faithful / by theyre frutes. As ſaith oure ſaueoure.…athei vij Ye ſhal knowe them by theyre frutes Herefor ſtudy and labour / that ye be not found vnfrutefull but that youre vnfayned faith mo be knowen by her frutes / and youre brethern mo ſee her frutes / …athei vand glorify youre father which is in heuen. For there is many (of whom alace with ſorowe i cōplayne) That confeſſe / …itum ithat they knowe God / but with deades they denie hym / and are abhominable / …mano. ijand diſobedyent / and vntounto all good workes diſcommendable. They do ſhayme (ſo moch as is in thē) to oure moſte holy faith.…ma. xvi They ſeke in all thynges the libertie of the fleſſhe / and not the prayſe of the lorde / nor the health of there brethern / and do diſhonour the goſpell of God. This i ſaye that ye knowōde ſoch fautes in others awoyde them from youre ſylfes: and behaue youre ſylfis / …he. vas it becommeth ſaynctes. And beare youre frute in holynes. As ſaith Paul.…omano. vi …tum iij Ye which beleue in god / be ſtudious …goo forwarde in good workes. This thyngis are good / and profitable vntounto men. Foliſſhe queſtions / and genealogies / and braulingis / and ſtryfe aboute the lawe awoyde / for they are vnprofitable / and ſuperfluus. A man that is the auctor of ſectes after the firſt and the ſecond amonition awoyde / remembrynge that he that is ſoche / Marke welis peruerted / and ſynneth / euen damned by his awne iudgement. Of theſe thyngis i wolde ye were certifieth (my brethern) for nowe is the laſt tyme. And as ye hauehave herde howe that Antechriſt ſhal come / i Ioan .ijeuē nowe are there many Antechriſtes come all redy. Beware of the falſe prophetes which come to you in ſhepes clothynge:Mathei vij but inwardly they are raueninge wolues: ye ſhal knowe them by theyre frutes. So men gaddre grapes of thornes? or figges of brires? euen ſoo eueryevery good tree / bryngeth forth good frute. But a corrupte tree / bryngeth forth euil frute. A good tre can not brynge forth bad frute. Nor yet can a bad tree brynge forth good frute. EueryEvery tree that bryngeth not forth good frute / ſhalbe heawen doune / and caſt in to the fyre / wherfore by theyre frutes ye ſhal knowe them. Not all they that ſaye vntounto me / maſter / maſter / ſhal enter in to the kyngdome of heuen / but he that fulfilleth my fathers wyll / which is in heuen. Many wil ſaye to me in that daye / maſter / ma… hauehave we not in thy name propheſied? and in thy name hauehave we not caſt out deuyls? and in thy name hauehave we not done many myracles? and then wyl i knoudledge vntounto them that I newer knewe thē.…al. vi …ma. xvi Departe from me ye workers of iniquite I beſeche you brethern marke them which cauſe diuiſion / and gewe occaſions of euyl / contrary to the doctrine which ye hauehave learned (of the oyntment which ye hauehave of the holy gooſt) and awoyde them.…oan. ij For they that are ſoch ſerue not the lorde Ieſus Chriſt / but theyr awne belyes / and by ſwete preachynges and flatterynge wordes deceaue the hertes of the innocentes.…oma. i For youre obedience (vntounto the trueth) is publeſhed through out amonge all chriſtē brethern. I am glad (no dout) of you / but yet I wolde hauehave you wyſe vntounto that which is good: and to be innocent as concerninge euyl.…oma. xvi The God of peace / ſhall treade ſathan vnderunder youre fete in ſhorte tyme. To hym that is of power to ſtabiliſhe you accordynge to the Goſpell: wherewith Ieſus Chriſt is preached vntounto you in openynge of the miſtery which was kept cloſſe from you a longe tyme a goo thorowe bely wyſdome / I meane ye craft of ye ypocrites. And nowe is opēned at this tyme / and declared in the holy ſcrip… heuenly father.Math. vi Ioan. iij Which ſpared not his aune ſonne / but gaue hym for vsus all. Wherefore no diſpare mo hauehave place in you / for as ſaith Paul.Roma. viij Ye hauehave not receaued the ſprite of bō dage to feare eny moare / but ye hauehave receaued the ſprite of adoption wherby ye crye abba father. God youre father is mercifull yee and very merciful / ſayth the ſcripture And his mercy he wyl not denye vntounto his awne children / whiche are ye / Pſal. lxxxv Mat. xxiiij Roma. viij.ſo ye kepe ſure the faith of the Goſpell. Herefore truſte ſure in the lorde / for there is no damnation to you whiche are in Chriſt Ieſu / whiche walke not after the fleſhe / but after the ſprite for the lawe of the ſprite wherin is lyfe thorowe Ieſus Chriſt / hath deliuered you from the lawe of ſynne and deeth. For what the lawe coulde not doo in as moch as it was weake becauſe of the fleſhe / that performed God / and ſent his ſonne in the ſimilitude of ſinful fleſhe / and by ſynne / dampned ſynne in the fleſhe / that the righteueſnes required of the lawe / myght be fulfilled in you / which walke not after the fleſhe / but after the ſprite. &c. It is God that iuſtifieth you / who then ſhal condempne you? it is Chriſt which is deed / yee rather which is ryſē agayne / i. Corin· vi i. Petri i. Pſal. ijwhich is alſo at the ryght honde of God and maketh interceſſion for you. Ye are dearly bought. Ye are Chriſtis awne poſſeſſion. Ye are members of Chriſt.…: vi & xij …he. ij …etri v …al. liiij And the very houſholde of God. Wherfore doute not / for he careth for you / caſt roure care on the lorde / and he ſhall noureſſhe you. To put all feare / all dredoure: and all diſpare / from you / Chriſt hath geuen you conſolation ſayinge.…ce xij Feare not lytle floocke / for it is youre fathers pleaſure / to geue you an kyngdom. Be not careful:…ath. vi for youre heuēly father knoweth what ye hauehave neade of / and wyll miniſtre all neceſſary thynges vntounto you
…ath. vij¶ Axe and it ſhalbe geuen you / ſeke and ye ſhal fynd / knocke and it ſhalbe opened vntounto you / for whoſoeuer areth receaueth: and he that ſeketh findeth / and to hym that knocketh it ſhalbe opened. Is there any man amonge you which wolde profer his ſonne a ſtone yf he axeth hym breed? or yf he axeth fiſſhe / wolde he profer hym a ſerpent? yf ye then which axe euyl / can geue to youre children good gyftes / howe moche moare ſhall youre father which is in heuen / geue good thynges to them that axe of hym?
Corin. viI will dwell amonge you and walke amō ge / and wilbe youre God / and ye ſhalbe my people I wilbe an father vntounto you / and ye ſhalbe vntounto me ſonnes and doughters ſayth the lorde God almyghty.Hiere. xxxi Beholde the dayes ſhal come (ſaith the lorde) and I will fynniſſhe apon the hous of Iſrael / and apone the hous of Iuda / an newe teſtament not lyke as the Teſtament that I made with theyr fathers at that tyme when I toke them by the honde / to leed them oute of the lande of Egipte. For this is the teſtament that I will make vntounto the hous of Iſrael / after theyr dayes / I wil put my lawes in theyre myndes / and in theyr hertes I will writ them / and I wilbe theyr God / and they ſhalbe my people. And they ſhall not teache eueryevery man his neybour / and eueryevery man his brothre ſayinge knowe the lorde / for they ſhal knowe me from the leeſt to the greateſt of them / for I willbe mercifull to them on theyr iniquites and ſynnes / and on theyre vnrighteueſnes will I not thynke any moare
¶ I the lorde defende / Eſaie. xxvijand water her in the due tyme. I kepe her daye and nyght leſte any man inuade her. I am with oute all wrathe / who then mo ſo mowe me to be ſo greate an enemie to her that I my promes neglecte?
Eſa. xxxviijI ſhal fyght for this cytie / and ſhall defende it (ſaith the lorde) and ſhal ſaue it for my namys ſake.Eſaie xl Be of good chere / be of good chere / my people (ſaith youre God) ſe that ye counforte the hertes of Ieruſalem / and tell them of theyr reeſt and deliueraunce from captiuite / tell them howe theyr ſynnes ſhal be forgeuen them / after that they hauehave receaued theyr full chaſtiſinge of ye lordis honde for all theyr ſynnes. Thou ſhalbe my ſeruaunte / Eſaie xliI hauehave choſen ye / nether ſhal I at any tyme refuſe ye ▪ ſe that thou feare not / for I ſhalbe with ye: nether loke thou aboute for eny other / for I am thy God which ſhal conforte ye / I ſhal helpe ye / I ſhal holde the faſt with this ſame my faithful righthonde. Beholde as many as prouoke the to angre / ſhalbe counfunded and ſhamed / thy aduerſares ſhal come to nought and pereſſhe: ſo that he that ſhal ſeke for them / ſhal no where fynde them. Thy enemies which dare mowe batayle agaynſte the ſhalbe diſtroyed. For I the lorde thy God ſhal holde faſte thy right honde / which alſo nowe ſaye vntounto the feare not / for it is I that ſhal helpe the / be not afrayde my litle ſeruaūte Iacob / feare not poore diſpyſed Iſrael / for I ſhal helpe the ſaith the lorde / and I that maketh holy Iſrael ſhall auenge the / yee I ſhal trende… the lyke a wayne and lyke a newe ſhode car…e to threſſhe doune mountayns and to bete them in poulder / and the lytle hyls ſhalt thou dryue into duſte / thou ſhalt wenowe them / and dryue them awaye lyke the wynde / and ſcater them abrode kyke a whyrle wynde / whyles thou thy ſilfe ſhal reioyce greatly in the lorde: and prayſe hym that maketh the holy Iſrael. When the poore afflicte deſyred …ater / and fynde it not / and theyr tonge is drye for thyrſte: then do I the lorde geue it them: I the God of Iſrael forſake them not.Eſaie xlij I ſhal lede the blynde in to a waye that they knowe not: and directe them into a pathe of which they are ignoraunt / I ſhal turne the darknes into light before them / and the kroke in to an euen waye / this thynges wyll I do for them / nether wyl I forſake them.
¶ This ſpeaketh the lorde which hath created the o Iacob: and faſſhioned ye o Iſrael / Eſaie xliijfeare thou not / for I ſhall redeme ye / I hauehave chalenged ye for my awne ſylfe / and geuen the thy name / that thou ſhuldeſt be myne / ſo that when thou paſſedſte thorowe the waters I wylbe with the. Remembre wel theſe thynges Iacob and Iſrael / Eſaie xliiifor thou arte my ſeruaunt whom I hauehave faſſhioned to thentēte that thou ſhuldeſt be my ſeruaunt newer to be oute of my mynde o Iſrael I do awaye thy wickednes euē as I diſperſe a cloude: and thy ſynnes take I … waye lyke a myſte / turne the therfore to … for I wyll delyuer the.Eſaie li Lyfte vppe you… eyes to heuen / and beholde the erth vnd… you: for heuen ſhalbe diſperſed lyke ſmoke and the erth ſhalbe broken lyke a garme… and her inhabitours ſhal pereſſhe in ly… maner / but my ſauynge health ſhall indure for euer / and my mercy wherwith I make men righteous ſhal newer fayle. It is that conforte you at all tymes ſaith the lorde
Eſaie. liiij¶ I forſoke the for a litle tyme / but I called the to me agayne with moche mercy. … hyd my face from the for a litle ſpace why…les I was angrye: but I will take ye … my armes agayne with an euerlaſtinge me…cy: ſaith the lorde thy redemer: for this thynge ſhalbe to me as were the waters of n… he apon the erth. For lyke wyſe as I ſwore newermoare to brynge agayne the waters of nohe vponupon the erth / euen ſo hauehave I ſworne to be not angrye with ye agayne / nether yet to chyde with the: for ye mountanys ſhal ſoner forſake theyr places: and the hylles ſhall ſoner fall doune / then other my mercy ſhall forſake ye: or the promyſe of my peace ſhall fayle yt / ſaith thy mercifull lorde. Beholde my lytle poore afflicte and for…aken: I ſhall make thy walles of precious …arboncles: and ſhall laye thy fundati…n with Saphyrs: thy wyndous and yer…s ſhal I make of cleare Chriſtal: and all …y wttermoſte byldinge ſhal I ſette with …ych ſtones. And beſyde all this / all thy …ilderne ſhalbe taught of the lorde: and …hal endue them with ryche peace / thou ſhal …e byldeth all of righteueſnes / and be oute …f all daunger of violence / wherof thou …hal… not neade to feare / no plage ſhal come …y… the &.c. Gyue eare to me ād come to me: and youre ſoules ſhalbe refreſſhed / for I wy…l …myt hondes with you into an euerla…tinge conuenaunce to geue you theſe aſſuerd marcyes promyſed vntounto Dauid.
¶ My deare brethern geue faith vntounto theyr promyſes / ād let not ye diſſaytfull workinge of ſathan / make you anys to doute in the mercifulnes of youre heuenly father / for ſoner ſhall the mountaynis leawe theyr places / then his mercy ſhalbe drawyne from you: he hath ſworne / and hath not repented: to ſhewe his aboundante and euerlaſtīge mercy vntounto you Therfore my welbelowed brethren / be ſtronge in the faith: and geue honoure to God: ād ſtedfaſtly beleue ye he which hath made the promyſes vntounto you is able alſo to make them good. And geue no hede to other falſe prophetes that wolde drawe you from god.Math. vij They are wolues and wolde deuore you / be not tayne awaye with the erroure of the wicked: But reioyce in the lorde alwayes / and agayne Iſaye reioyce / Philipp. iiijles youre ſoftenes be knowen vntounto all men / the lorde is euen at honde / which is able to ſaue you: and all that truſteth in hym.i. Thimo…. i. To whom only be honoure and prayſe for euer and euer. Amen