Touchstone to Determine the True Catholic Faith, Part 9
When I tooke great care to write vntounto you of the commō saluation, Text. Vers. 3.it was necessarie that I should write vntounto you, exhorting you to striue for the faith once giuen to the saintes.] Here followeth the Epistle it selfe: and here first wee maie learne, that this was an Epistle of great louelove & good will. For the Apostle, as it should sée me, desired earnestlie to write this Epistle: euen as our sauiour longed to eat his passeouer with his disciples before his death. And as it was a necessarie Epistle: so it is néedefull for euerie Christian to knowe it. Other Epistles of the Apostles were written to priuate persons: As Iohn wrote to Gaius, and to the electe Ladie; as Paul to Timothy, or to Philemon; or to priuate congregations;1. Cor. …. as to the Corinthians or Philippians; and in some parte concerning priuate matters whereof they wrote vntounto him: But this Epistle is of things generall, and necessarie to be knowne of the whole church. It teacheth what is the true saluation, and what is the counterfaite; what is treacle, and what is poyson; what is the Lordes wheate, and what be the tares of the enimie: to be shorte, what is the true faith, and what is the false. And these two points who will not gladlie knowe? Secondlie, we maie knowe, what this true saluation is, how it is a common saluation. There is but one waie of saluation to all Christians, and that is, faith in the bloud of Iesus Christ, for their sinnes, whether they be Apostles, or martyrs,… Iohn. 2.1.2. or other inferiors. And therefore S. Iohn himselfe (whom Iesus loued) sayth: If anie man sinne, we hauehave an aduocate with the father Iesus Christ the righteous, and he is the propitiation or couering for our sinnes: And not for our sinnes onelie, but for the sins of the whole worlde. The Apostles were sinners, and were saued by the propitiation or couering of Iesus Christ. To the which propitiation or couering Dauid alludeth in the Psalme saying: Blessed is he whose iniquitie is forgiuen, and whose sinne is couered. Psal 32.1.And this couering or propitiation; those coates of leather signified, which God gaue Adam in Paradise, to couer his nakednesse withall.Gen. 3.21. And so S. Paul likewise speaketh of this common saluation: wee by nature Iewes, and not sinners of the gentiles, Gal. 2.16.knowe that of the deedes of the lawe, a man is not iustified, but by the faith of Iesus Christ: and we also hauehave beleeued on Iesus Christ, that wee maie bee iustified by the faith of Iesus Christ, and not by the workes of the law: Because that by the works of the law, no flesh shall be iustified. Here we sée, there is no waie of saluation, but by the fayth of Iesus Christ; and that the Apostles themselues hauehave beleeued, that they might be iustified. And here least some shoulde saie, that the Apostles had more fayth then we, and therefore were more iustified: S. Peter to take away this doubte, writeth thus to all Christians. Simon Peter a seruant and an Apostle of Iesus Christ, to you who hauehave obtained like precious fayth with vsus, 2 Pet. 1. v. 1.in the righteousnesse and iustification of God, and our sauiour Iesus Christ. So that then our faith is like precious to the Apostles faith, it saueth vsus as well, and as certainlie, as theirs saued them; there is no difference. And therefore S. Iohn saieth, That which was from the beginning, 1 Iohn. 1 11.which we hauehave heard, which we hauehave seene with our eies, and handled with our handes, of the worde of lyfe: (And the lyfe appeared (that is, Iesus Christ) and we hauehave seene it, and do beare witnesse, and shewe vntounto you the lyfe euerlasting, which was with the father, and appeared to vsus: That which we hauehave seene, and hearde, we declare vntounto you, that you might hauehave fellowship with vsus, and our fellowship is with the father, and with his sonne Iesus Christ. This is a great thing which the Apostle here teacheth, but yet because it is Gods worde, we must beléeue it: That by faith in Iesus Christ, we hauehave fellowshippe with the Apostles: naie with God the father, and with his sonne Iesus Christ; their saluation and ours is all one. And it bringeth vsus into a league, into a societie, and louelove, euen with God himselfe. This is the nature and force of faith: It is common, it is certaine, it maketh vsus friendes with God. That which wee hauehave seene, and hearde, and handled, the Apostle often repeateth, and in the same he sheweth vsus: That although wee hauehave not séene, nor heard, nor handled, we may be blessed: according to the saying of our Sauior to Thomas, Iohn. 20.29.Because thou hast seen me, thou beleeuest; Blessed are they that hauehave not seen, & hauehave beleeued. So that then if our saluation be common, if there be no way of saluation but by ye faith of Christ, & therfore the Apostles hauehave beléeued yt they might be iustified; if Iesus Christ be ye propitiatiō for our sins; if we hauehave obtained like precious faith with them; if we hauehave fellowship with them, nay with God himselfe: why then, they erre greatlie, which teach, that the Apostles might be sure of their saluation, but not other christians.Rom. 8.38 That the Apostle might saie, I know that nothing can separate vsus from the louelove of God, that is in Iesus Christ: but we may not saie so. That by the vertue of this faith, hee might assuredlie saie,Phil. 1.23. I desire to be loosed and to be with Christ Iesus: but we may not say so, that teach men to doubt whether they shall bee saued or not. This doctrine is enemie to faith, it is against the nature of it:Mark. 11.22 HaueHave ye the faith of God (saith our Sauiour) whosoeuer shall say to this mountaine, bee thou remoued, and cast into the sea, (that is, shall take in hand some notable and impossible worke in mans iudgement) and shall not doubt in his heart, but beleeueth what things he speaketh shall come to passe, that same shall bee vntounto him, whatsoeuer hee speaketh. Here wee may learne, what is the faith of God,foreign. not to doubt, or dispute, or reason in our heart, (for so the gréeke worde signifieth) but to beléeue. This is the true faith, this pleaseth God: This is the faith we ought to hauehave in God: This is the faith that God giueth to his. And therefore (saith our sauiour) I say vntounto you, whatsoeuer you shall aske praying, beleeue that you receiue them: Mark. 11.24and it shall be vntounto you. And no doubt to this doctrine of our sauiour alludeth S. Iames, where he speaketh of praier: and he hath also the same worde of doubting, and his wordes bee these: But let him aske in faith, doubting nothing at all. For hee that doubteth is like a waue of the sea, Iames 1.6 foreign.tossed with the winde: Neither let such a one thinke, that he shall obtaine any thing at Gods hands. And here first, if we must thus belieue and not doubt, that the things we aske, shall be done vntounto vsus, or else we shall neuer obtaine them; then surelie wee must knowe, what wee praie for. This assurance, of obtaining the thinges we aske, this doubtfulnesse of our flesh, which is to bee ouercomed by faith: argueth a knowledge of these thinges we aske. He that knoweth not what he asketh; he that praieth in a tongue vnknowne, cannot be assured that the thinges be asketh, are done vntounto him; nor cannot but doubt, whether he shall hauehave them or not. And therefore both our sauiours and S. Iames doctrine condemneth latine and vnknowne praiers.
Secondlie, it is to be feared, that the lacke of this faith, causeth that manie, that know what they praie, do not obtaine their prayers. They pray doubtfullie, they prayeareleslie, they pray vainelie: So that they say ouer their praiers, they make no accompt, how their hearts be affected. But such, though they praie neuer so often, nor so long, shall obtaine nothing at Gods handes. And lastlie, if we may not doubt in our praiers, for smaller matters, for temporall thinges, much lesse in the greatest matter of all, for our saluation; without doubt wee must be sure of yt, or else we shall neuer obtaine it: God loueth no wauerer or doubter. This doubting is against the nature of faith, it is against our common saluation, it is against the doctrine of the Apostles. Wherefore of all thinges that we are assured of, let vsus bee of this one thing most assured in our hearts, without doubtfulnesse: that wee shall be saued, euen as the Apostles were. Let no landes we hauehave purchased, no fine or recouerie passed, be so sure vntounto vsus: as the purchase of Iesus Christ, bought with his precious bloud, as our heauenlie inheritance. Nowe euerie christian must saie with Simeon, embracing Iesus Christ with the armes of his faith,Luke. 2. v. 29. Lord nowe lettest thou thy seruaunt depart in peace, &c. They must not feare death, they must be sure of their saluation.
Now is that fulfilled which Esay prophecied of Christes church.Esay. 42.2 For thus saith the Lord God that made thee, fashioned thee, and helped thee, euen from thy mothers wombe: Bee not affraide Iacob my seruant, thou righteous, whom I hauehave chosen. Here is feare first taken away: that feare whereof Zacharie prophecieth, that is feare of enemies. God, saith Zacharie, Luke 1.74.hath raised vp a mighty saluation for vsus, that wee being deliuered out of the handes of our enemies, might serue him without feare, all the daies of our life. Now the enemies of man are; sathan, death, and hell: God hath by Iesus Christ, deliuered vsus, out of the handes and powers of these enemies, that wee might serue him without feare, all the daies of our life. So that nowe saieth God, feare not, O my seruant Iacob: neither sathan, death, nor hell. Thou hast a mightie sauiour, who hath conquered all these enemies.
(For I wil powre water vponupon the drie grounde, and riuers vponupon the thirstie: I shall powre my spirit vponupon thy seed, and my blessing vponupon thy stocke.) Here is baptisme, and our regeneration plainelie prophecied: For the heart of man was euen a drie ground voide of the moisture of all goodnesse, till God watered it with the heauenly dewe of his graces. (They shall growe together like as the grasse and the willowes by the waters side.) Here is the charitie, and humilitie, and continuall fructifying and florishing in good workes, that should be in christians. (They shall growe togither) here is charitie, (like the grasse) here is humilitie (like willowes by the riuers side:) here is continuall florishing and bringing forth of good workes. (One shal say I am the Lords, another shal cal himselfe after the name of Iacob; the thirde shall subscribe with his hande vntounto the Lord, and giuegive himselfe vnderunder the name of Israell:) What meaneth this? but that euerie christian shall bee sure of his saluation. One shall say, I am the Lords, that is, the Lorde most assuredlie loueth me, and therefore I shall assuredly be saued. Another shal cal himselfe after the name of Iacob, that is, shall beléeue assuredly that he is euen Iacob; that God euen loueth him, as well as hee louelove… Iacob. And so the thirde shall call himselfe Israell, euen preuailing with God. Such shall bee the assurance, through faith, of Iesus Christes saintes, of the louelove of God towardes them, that they shall not yéelde, either to Isaack, Iacob, or Israel, in the fauour and grace of God.Psal. 87.3 So that here also may bee verified, that saying of the Psalme, God loueth the gates of Sion, that is, (the meanest in Christs church;) more thē the dwellings of Iacob that is, then the exlentest of the Iewish sinagogue.Mat. 11.12 This is the faith of God, this is our common saluation, this is the first point of catholique religion.Phil. 3.1.4.4 The scripture teacheth vsus in many places to reioice, as S. Paul to the Philippians thrise; and twise together: the better to imprint it, as a speciall doctrine into our heartes: Reioice in the Lord (saieth he) and againe I say reioyce. But this ioie taketh away all doubtfulnesse, he that doubteth, especiallie of any matter of waight, can neuer be merrie: and what can bee more weighty then our saluation? And this assurance of our saluation, is that strong and forcible consolation, which wee hauehave in the bitter troubles and afflictions in this life, confirmed vntounto vsus by two things immutable:Heb. 6 17.18 19. Gods promise, and his oath. This is that staff… and strong anchor, whereunto we fasten the ship of our soules amidst the waues of the sea of this worlde, as S. Paul teacheth vsus. This is that comforte which the Lord himselfe from heauen gaue Paul, being by Sathan wonderfully afflicted: My grace is sufficient for thee: 2. Cor. 12.9.That is, if I louelove thee, if thou shalt be saued, if thou hauehave my grace and fauour, what carest thou for anie more? Let Sathan do what he can against thee. But here against this certainlie of saluation the enimie obiecteth,Phil. Die… conc. 1. assumptionis. that certaintie of glorie is not wont to be giuen in this lyfe; but rather it belongs to the reward of the lyfe to come: which the good Angelles hauehave not obtained, and yet some saynts in this lyfe extraordinarilie hauehave obteined it; as Paul, Marie Magdeline, Iohn the Baptist. But here first I answeare, that the Angelles hauehave now obteined it through Christ: And that if the angels hauehave it not now in heauen, neither the saintes hauehave it, (which thing yet this disputer seemes to grant:Mat. 12.25) for our Sauiour saith that the saintes … foreign, equall to the angels. So that it may seeme, if the angels now hauehave it not, neither the saintes hauehave it. But that all the saints of God ought to hauehave this certainty of their saluation, marke I beseech yee, what S. Iohn writeth to all christians.1. Iohn. 5.13. These thinges I write to you, which beleeue on the name of the sonne of God, that ye may know ye hauehave eternall life, and that yee may beleeue on the name of the sonne of God. S. Iohn writes to all christians, that they may know they hauehave eternall life. And Scientia, or foreign, is so called, of setling the mind, that it wauer not. And the Philosophers define knowledge thus, that it is a determination or fastening of the mind, to one part, with a certainty. Why then, if christians must knowe they hauehave eternall life, they must be setled, they must be resolute in this, they must fasten their hart and soule to this, with a certaintie. So S. Paul speakes resolutely of himselfe, and also of all other christians: We know, 2, Cor. 5.1that if our earthly tabernacle were dissolued, we hauehave a building of God, made without hands, which shall last for euer in heauen. And what is this else, but euerlasting life? So Iob saieth of himselfe: I know my redeemer liueth; and I shall see him with these eies. Iob. 19.25What is this else but to saie, I know surelie I shall be saued? And this certaintie of our saluation Saint Iohn setteth out more at large in his fourth chapter:verse 16 We knowe and beleeue (saith he) the louelove that God hath towardes vsus. And what is the louelove of God, but saluation? And whereas the enemies of Gods gospell obiect,Mat. 25.24 that God is a seuere God, (as did that wicked seruant in the gospell,) S. Iohn addeth here: that, God is seuere? Nay, to all the faithfull, to all yt bele…e on the nam… of Iesus Christ, that he is louelove it selfe. They be l… the goodnesse of God, which teach the contrarie. And our Sa…iour himselfe saith,Ioh. 17.23 he loueth those that beleeue on him, euen as hee loued him. O vnspeakeable louelove! And whom nowe shall we beleeue, whether S. Iohn or our Sauiour, who affirme that God … ued vsus, and that so vnspeakeablie; or the enemies of the gospell, which teach men to feare whether God louelove them or not? Nay S. Iohn addes, that to this ende his louelove is perfect towardes vsus, that we might hauehave boldnes in the day of iudgment. At that terrible daie,Psal. 97.7 Reu. 6.16 when as all Image worshippers shall be confounded, when all proude infidels shall hide their heades, and call the rockes to couer them, God will hauehave all his to looke vp, to be bolde, to be of good courage.1 Iohn. 4.18 And whie? because he loueth vsus so perfectlie. For perfect louelove casteth our feare. Who will be afraid of him, whom he knoweth loueth him perfectlie? And so God loueth vsus, that wee might hauehave courage and boldnesse against the daie of iudgment. For as he is, so are we in this worlde. And here by the waie, the consideration of this louelove, expounds this hard and obscure place: There is nothing makes man doubt of Gods louelove more, then because he seemes absent:Psal. 10.1 Psal 31.24 As Dauid so often complaines; Why art thou absent so long ô Lorde, why hidest thou thine eyes? And I sayd in my haste, I am cast out of the sight of thy countenance. And therfore the holie ghost here witnesseth to eueryevery christian soules comfort: That as he is: so are we in this world. That is, as S. Paul speaketh in another place,Gal. 4.9 We know him, nay rather we are knowne of him. Our knowledge is nothing to his knowledge; no more is our being in the world, to his being in the world, though we iudge him manie times absent. As we are héere liuing: so is hee héere, louing vsus: as we in dangers, so he defending: as we wandering, so he guiding: as we often stumbling, so he (of his great merciemercy) holding vsus vp. And from hence was that first name giuen our Sauiour, Immanuel, Psal. 94.18that is, God with vsus. This is that wee read of in the Prouerbes: The words of Augur the sonne of Iache (Assumptionem dixit,) the knitting vp of al. The man spake of Ithiel, of Ithiel and Vcal: Pro. 30.1.Ithiel compounded of thrée Hebrew wordes, signifieth, the mightie God is with vsus: and Vcal, he is of all power, he can doe all thinges. And what is this, but Iesus Christ is with vsus? the mightie God, which hath all power in heauen and earth, who is alone all in all. So that as he is; so are we in this worlde: Nay, he more then we, though we often times thinke not so: And he loueth vsus perfectlie. Hereof is that saying of the psalme,Psal. 105.15 Touch not mine annointed, my christians (for so the worde signifieth) and doe my prophets no harme. O beloued greatlie! whome the wicked are commanded not to touch, not to do them any harme. This is also that lesson, which God himselfe teacheth by the prophet Ioel: And you shall know, that in the midst of Israell, I, Ioel. 2.27.euen I am (saieth the Lord) your God, and no more my pleople shall bee confounded, no more for euer.
But this certaintie of saluation, is confirmed to all christians by another most excellent testimonie:2. Cor. 5.5 God (saieth S. Paule) hath giuen vsus the earnest of his spirit: And therfore we are of good courage alway. Here is plainlie set downe, for our learning and instruction, S. Paules comforte: hee was in many troubles, as himselfe witnesseth, in shipwrackes, in imprisonments, in persecutions, being accused before Magistrates and princes: but in all these, hee was euer of good cōfort. And why? what was his comfort do you think? Surelie hee himselfe declares to all Christians, that they themselues hauing the like, should bee alwaies of good comfort, whatsoeuer should befal them: God (saith he) hath giuen vsus the earnest of his spirit, and therefore wee are of good courage alwaies. Euen as one making a bargaine, if hee hauehave the earnest, hee is sure of the bargaine: so God hauing promised vsus heauen, giueth to all his the earnest thereof, in this life, that they might be assured of it. If the earnest giuen and taken, confirme the bargaine and couenant of a mortall man: much more the earnest of the immortall and immutable God, confirmeth his couenant of saluation made to all his. And this earnest S. Paul saith not onlie of himselfe, that he hath receiued it (as the papistes would perswade vsus) but of all the faithfull: God hath giuen vsus the earnest of his spirit (saieth hee) and therefore wee bee of good courage alwaies. But some will say to me, how shall I know whether I hauehave this earnest or no? whether I hauehave Gods spirit in me or no? I answere, examine thine owne heart: If thou hauehave good thoughts, good cogitations, faith in Iesus Christ, louelove to his worde, desire to pray, and such like good workes: be sure thou hast the earnest in thee.2. Cor. 3.5 Gen. 6.5 Ezech. 36.26 For of our selues we are not able to think a good thought. The deuises of man are wicked euen from his birth. Mans heart is a heart of stone, wherein it is impossible, that of it selfe any true goodnes should grow. Therefore if thou feele in thy selfe these good fruites; be sure, thou hast the holie ghost: And therefore the earnest of thy saluation: and be sure thou shalt bee saued. God which hath giuen thee this his earnest, to be a comfort vntounto thee, in this thy pilgrimage and iourney towardes him; will not at thy iourneys ende, denie thee the thing it selfe. And therefore alwaies be of good comfort, in this thy iourney, what stormes soeuer assault thée: remembring this earnest: And therefore that christians should alwaies bee merrie, this certaintie of saluation,Ephes. 6.16 is called the helmet of saluation: As one hauing an helmet on his heade, will not passe what his enemie can do against him: so this certainetie of saluation, alwaies makes a christian enduce and despise all the blowes and assaultes of sathan.
2. Co. 12.9And this God himselfe taught S. Paul, being nowe buffeted of Sathan, and destring to be eased: My grace is sufficient for thee. What doest thou passe, what the enemie can doe against thee, if thou hauehave my fauour. There are two great cities in this worlde, the one of God, and the other of the diuell; and all men whatsoeuer are enfranchised, in the one, or in the other. And their names declare their natures; the one is called Babilon, that is confusion, trouble, vncertaintie, doubtfulnesse: the other Ierusalem, that is the vision of peace, quietnes, securitie, safetie, happinesse. They which are citizens of Ierusalem, beeing iustified through a liuelie faith in Iesus Christ, are at peace with God, they tast that pleasant fruit,Ro. 5.1. the certainty of their saluation, they are most certaine of it, they euen see it with their eies. And therefore that citie is called a vision or beholding of peace, with the eies: But contrariwise Babilon is called confusion, all turned vpside down, trouble, wauering of conscience. And therefore the citizens thereof are compared to waues of the sea, James. 2.6 Eccle. 27.11 Psalm. 1 4 Matth. 16.18 1 Pet. 2. v. 4. Pro. 28.1 Psal 92.12 Esay. 48.12 Psal. 85.8.to the moone, to leaues of trees, to chaffe: but the citizens of Ierusalem, to rocks, to Lyons, to mountaines, to palme trees. And therefore thus speakes the Lorde to all his faithfull: GiueGive eare to me, ô Iacob and Israel (called mine,) I am, I am the first and last. And therefore Dauid saith, I will harken what the Lorde God will speake concerning mee in particular. Hee shall speake peace vntounto his people, and vntounto his saints, that they turne not againe to destruction. Euerie particular man must applie Gods promises of saluation to himselfe.
Esay. 12.1.The prophet Esay seemes as it were in a briefe map to set forth the true church of Christ: and first hee putteth downe the particular workes of euerie Christian, and then the generall workes of the whole Church. And in that day of the kingdome of Christ, thou shalte say, euerie Christian must saie, I will confesse thee O Lorde, thou hast beene angry with mee: but thou hast comforted me. He must saie he is an vnprofitable seruant, when he hath done what he is able. To the Pharisies that said they did see, their sinne remained. The first marke of Christs church is to be poore in spirit, that euerie one confesseth himselfe to be shal lost sheepe, that Iesus Christ came downe from heauen, to seeke for: and to be as thankefull, as though he had died for him alone. And truely he must saie; behold the Lord is my saluation: I wil trust in him, and I wil not feare. He must accompt his saluation a wonderful work, such a one as neuer was heard of: the which, that word (behold) seemes to infer. That Dauid shoulde kill Goliah, Sampson so manie Philistines, that Alexander should conquer the whole worlde, that the thrée children should walke through the midst of the fierie furnace: All these wonders were nothing to the worke of our redemption, to the conquest of the diuell, the world and hell, by our sauiour, by deliuering vsus from the lions mouthes, by enduring the fierie furnace of Gods wrath, and the paines of hell which we should hauehave suffered. So that wee may iustlie saie, beholde the Lord is my Sauiour, I will trust in him, and I wil not feare. He must accompt especiallie Iesus Christ to be his, amongst his other possessions whatsoeuer. He must liue by his owne faith, and not by the faith of the church. And he must accompt his saluation so certaine: that he must not feare. And the reason followeth, because God is his strength daily: he doth not onlie saue in the beginning; but dailie strengthens: according to that saying of S. Paul, Phil. 1.6 Iohn. 13 1 Psal. 48.14 Rom. 8.15Hee that hath begun a good worke in you, will perfit it euen to the ende: And S. Iohn, Iesus Christ loued his euen to the ende: And Dauid, Thou Lorde shalt bee my guide euen to death. S. Paul also yéeldeth his consent to this doctrine; For yee hauehave not receiued the spirit of bondage to feare againe: but ye hauehave receiued the spirit of adoption, whereby we crie Abba, father. And to make the matter more sure, he repeateth the same doctrine:2. Tim. 1.7 For God hath not giuen to vsus the spirit of feare, but of power, and of louelove, and of a sound mind. Where wee may note, that the first fruit of the spirit of God, is this certaintie of our saluation, which is heere expressed by crying Abba, Gal. 5.22.father; and by not fearing: and in an other place by the name of ioy. They which hauehave this root of Gods spirit in their hearts, without all doubt hauehave this fruit also. Feare commeth of doubtfulnes as security of trust and confidence.
Yea the Lord God is my song.) We do sing in great and assured ioy: as that saying teacheth, how can we sing the Lordes song in a strange lande? Psal. 137. v. 4.when anie is in sorrow or griefe, hee will hauehave no lyst to sing: but our saluation is so sure, that we euen sing for ioy thereof. And that which followeth in the prophet euidentlie prooueth the same: The Lorde is my song, and hee is become my saluation. This is as it were the burthen, or ground of the song, this is often repeated, againe, and againe; The Lorde is my saluation. So that here may séeme to be the particular works of eueryevery christian, to confesse his sinnes, to acknowledge Iesus Christ his sauiour, not to feare or doubt: but euen to sing for ioy and certainty of his saluation. The workes of the church in generall, likewise followe:Es. 12.3. And they shall drawe water out of the welles of saluation with ioie. The welles of saluation, of comfort; are the scriptures, as S. Paul sayth:Rom. 15.4. The scriptures are written for our learning, that through patience and comfort of the holie scriptures, Psal. 36.9.wee might hauehave hope: And Dauid sayth, With thee is the well of lyfe, and in thy light shall wee see light: Io. 6.68.And it is called the worde of lyfe, which is all one, with the welles of saluation. So that then, all men must knowe and meditate vponupon the scriptures in that daie of Iesus Christ (as Dauid also witnesseth) if they will be blessed. This is the first common worke of all Christians.Gen. 26.18. Abraham and Isack historicallie digged wels, and the Philistines stopped them vp. The Philistines, Gods enimies,Es. 12. v. 4. the deuill and all his adherents, cannot abyde Gods worde. And they shall saie in that daie: praise the Lorde, call in his name, make his workes to be knowne among the people, cause it be had in remembrance, that his name is magnified. These also are the common workes of Christians, these workes all must do, to praise the Lorde, for all the good thinges daylie they receiue: to call in his name, for whatsoeuer they shall lacke, not in anie other name;Iohn. 15.16. according as our sauiour teacheth all men in the gospell, Whatsoeuer you shall aske the father in my name, he will giuegive it you: And to declare among people his workes,Psal. 111. v. 4. The gracious God (saith Dauid) hath so done his maruellous workes, that they ought to bee had in remembrance. Exod. 18.7.Moses tolde Iethro what thinges God had wrought for him in the red sea and in the wildernesse. And the Iewes were comaunded to teach their children what the passeouer ment:Deut. 4.10.11.19.6.6.7. And so no doubte all Christians are bound to declare the wonderfull worke of their redemption, and to teach it their children and families. And this is to shewe the Lordes death till he come.
And lastlie to put all men in remembrance, of the magnifience of this name Iesus Christ. It should séeme, the prophet did foresée that in spirit, which we sée verified indéede: howe the magnifience and greatnes of this name, should be forgotten; and how other names should be had in estimation. And therefore he giueth all true Christians a lesson: that they onelie call vponupon God in his name, and that they cause the magnifience of his name to be had in remembrance. These workes the carnall man accompteth nothing: to reade or meditate vppon the scriptures, to praise God daylie, for what good thing soeuer he receiueth, to be talking daylie of Gods wonderfull workes, hee doth continuallie and hath done: (for men louelove to be talking of great & strang works:) and when they lacke anie thing (as they are daylie standing in néede of manie thinges euen the richest of them all) to begge of God, in the name of Iesus Christ: to magnifie and extoll this name onelie, to hauehave it euer in their mouthes, to do all thinges in the name of Iesus Christ. But these passe all their pilgrimages, gylding of Images, building of guyldes or chantries, which heretofore men so highlie estéemed.
Ferus also writing vponupon the Epistle of S. Iohn, Ferus in. 1. Epist. cap. 5.confesseth this certaintie of our saluation. As Christ had testimonies from heauen and earth, that hee was the onelie sauiour of the worlde: so hath euerie Christian the same testimonies, that hee is the sonne of God. And who then will doubt? And here see (sayth he) how great is the certaintie of our faith. There is no other fayth, hath so manie and so great testimonies. But as Christ had witnesse from heauen and on earth, that onelie he was the true and onelie sauiour of the worlde: so eueryevery Christian hath the same testimonies, that he is the sonne of God. For this thing the father witnesseth when he sayth. They shall bee to me sonnes and daughters, And I will be a father to them. Ier. 31.1. 2. Cor. 7.32. Mat. 6.32. Iohn. 16 27. Rom. 8.16.The same thing also Christ witnesseth when hee sayth, your father in heauen knoweth that you stand in neede of all these thinges. And also the father himselfe loueth you. Also the holie ghost witnesseth to our spirit, that we are the sonnes of God, and maketh vsus cry, Abba, father. The same thing also that we are the sonnes of God, our baptisme witnesseth, because we are washed in the name of the holy Trinitie, And also the sacrament of the bodie and bloud of Christ, wherewith wee are fedde, and the moouing of the holie ghost which we feele inwardly: what therefore can bee more happie then a Christian man, who hath so manie testimonies? And after, The sum of all that hee hath said is, that beleeuing in Christ, we hauehave lyfe assuredlie: and that not by anie other then by Christ. And after, He would hauehave these two things beaten into our heads, that through fayth we hauehave lyfe: and that onelie by Christ. 2. Cor. 1.30Therefore let no man ascribe any thing to himselfe: for Christ is made to vsus of God, our righteousnesse, sanctification and redemption. Gal. 6.14God forbid therefore that wee should reioice in any thing but in the crosse of Iesus Christ. And to know this is the chiefest wisdome of christians: then the which no greater or more profitable can be thought, &c. I would to God all christian catholiques, would learne these two pointes of Christian wisedome, of Ferus: that through faith they hauehave life assuredlie: and that they woulde not doubt of their saluation: and that onelie by Christ. And that in the matter of their saluation, they woulde attribute nothing to themselues, nothing to their workes: but all to Iesus Christ … his perfect redemption.
This certaintie of saluation, made so many martyrs in the primitiue church.Euseb. Eccles. hist. lib. 11. ca. 5 I reade in Eusebius, vnderunder the persecution of Valentinius, an excellent history of a womā in Edessa, a citie of Mesopotamia. When as the Emperor had seene himselfe the christians (being banished all churches) to assemble themselues in the field: hee is saide to hauehave striken his Lieutenant, because they were not driuen away from thence also. But he, although he was a Pagane, and also had suffered iniury at the Emperors handes for their sakes: yet beeing mercifull, the next day when he should hauehave gone to hauehave killed and destroied all the christians he found there; he caused it secretly to bee made manifest to the citizens, that they might take heede to themselues, and not be found in that place. And in the morning, when he should go forward with his officers, he made more a doe then he was wont, and he did all things so, that if it were possible, very few or none might be in danger: yet notwithstanding, hee sawe the people moe in number then they were wont, to go to the place, and to run headlong, and to make haste, as though they were afraide least any man should be lacking to death. In the meane time, he sawe a woman to to run out of her house so hastily and speedily, that she did not so much as shut her doore, & also she her selfe was half ready & halfe vnready. And she drew her little child with her, and she made such haste, that she brake thorow the midst of the ranke of his officers. Then he being able to endure no longer, lay hands on the woman (saith he,) and bring her to me, and being brought, hee saieth: O vnhappy woman! whither doest thou make such haste? To the field (saith she) where the people of the Catholiques do meete. And hast thou not heard (saieth he) that the Lieutenant goeth thither, that he may kill all that he shall finde? I hauehave heard (saith shee:) and therefore I make haste, that I may bee found there. And whither, saith hee, drawest thou this little one? That it also, saith she, may deserue martyrdome. The which things when the pitifull man had heard, he commanded the officers to returne, and his chariot to be caried to the Emperors pallace. And entering in, he saith, ô Emperour, if thou commandest me to die; I am readie: but the worke which thou commandest me, I cannot fulfill. And when as he had shewed him all thinges of the woman, hee staied the furie of the Emperour. No doubt this was a common lesson in those daies, that all they that beléeued in Iesus Christ, shoulde surelie bee saued, which this simple woman had learned: No doubt she was surelie perswaded she should bee saued, or else shee would neuer hauehave made such haste to death. I reade also of Cyprian bishop of Carthage,Anton. hist. part. 1. Tit. 7. c. 8 whose famous works are at this day extant in the church of God, that for the christian religion beeing first banished of the Emperors Galienus and Valerianus; and afterwarde called backe againe, and condemned to death for the same, yt when he heard the sentence of his condemnation: he gaue God thankes, and shewed no token of sadnes. And after hee commaunded his friendes, to giuegive his executioner fiue and twenty ryals for his paines: because he should receiue a benefit, and not any harme or destruction at his handes. Euseb. lib. 3. c. 36The saying also of Ignatius declareth the same: Fire, saith he, gibbet, wilde beasts, breaking of bones, tearing of members, the dismembring of my whole body, and all the tormentes of the deuill: let them come vponupon mee, that I may enioy Iesus Christ. This certainty of enioying Iesus Christ, this benefit of saluation which they were sure to receiue, made them to despise all torments in the world, and willingly to become martyrs. Neither was this faith and assurance of saluation in these bishops and learned men, but generally in all christians.
Euseb. lib. 4. c. 17In the raigne of Antoninus Pius, a certaine woman of Alexandria, being instructed in the faith of Christ by one called Ptolomeus, began to detest her husbands ryot & adulteries: when he would not amend, after many admonitions, she preferred a bill of diuorcement, and was diuorced from him. The wicked husband doth incense Vibitius the Centurion or gouernour of the city against Ptolomeus; he is cast into prison, and his cause being not heard, he is drawne to execution. This cruelty one Lucius a christian boldly reprehending, he also was commanded to be caried to execution. And he thanked the Gouernour: saying, by this meanes hee should goe from an euill master, to a good father. Hereby wee may plainelie see, that euen priuate men of the common sort, had this faith in those daies. And to prooue this more plainely:Euseb. lib. 8. c. 11 We reade of a whole city in Phrigia, who confessed themselues to bee christians, and woulde not sacrifice to Idols: the which thing being knowne, the Romanes commanded the whole citie to be compassed about with souldiours, and fire to be throwne vponupon it, and the whole citie was burned with man, woman and childe; yea insomuch that none when they had leaue giuen them, woulde depart. This was no doubt the catholique faith, that when they died they shoulde most assuredlie go to God. And this made so manie martyrs at those daies. This hony made that bitter cuppe of martyrdome so sweete. Take this awaie, and take awaie all martyrs.
Lib. 8. contra gentes.Arnobius of christian martyrs writes thus: Our children and our women by patience inspired to them from aboue, laugh at your crosses and tormentes, your wilde beastes, and al your terrors of punishments. Neither do you perceiue (O wretches) that no man will suffer punishment without some reason, or can endure torments without God. And after speaking of the martyrs, hee saith, Whereas they obiected that the christians worshipped dead men: Surely, saith he, with the same quietnes of mind as we liue: neither do we crown them with withering crownes, but wee looke for from God a liuelie crowne, better then all earthly flowers. So wee are content with the bountifulnes of our God (concerning worldly affaires) and carelesse, through that hope of happines to come, in our martyrdomes: and through the faith of the presence of his maiestie, wee are encouraged in our tormentes; so we doe rise againe blessed, and wee liue nowe, through the hope of that which is for to come. Heere wee may see what made so many martyrs in those daies, the certaine hope of the felicity to come: Through that hope they both liued & died.
But some will saie vntounto mee, doe not the scriptures in many places teach vsus to feare God? Yes verely, but not to doubt: The good childe feareth to offend his father; he neuer doubteth of his good will and louelove; he doubteth not of his disinheriting. He praieth euerie daie: Our father which art in heauen, hallowed be thy name, let thy kingdome come. &c.