Common Places, Letters · Letter 45
To the brethren of the Citie of Luca. 47.
SInce we together bee all one bodie, (moſt déerelie beloued brethrē in Chriſt) it is wholie our part to cō municate one with an other the affections wherewith wee bee ſome time mooued, eſpecially thoſe which we think may bring any helpe to ye cōmon ſaluatiō. Wherefore I which of long time hauehave liued ioifully in God becauſe of your cōmendable proceedinges in the waie of the holie Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt (all the faithfull giuing euerie where honourable report of you) I thought it not néedefull hitherto to incourage you with my letters, and therefore I regarded this one thing, that I might giuegive thankes to the heauenlie Father for our aboundant ſpirituall fruites, and to pray that hee woulde vouchſafe to increaſe the bleſſing that hee hath giuen you. Which to accompliſh I was not a little mooued, forſomuch as I had at the beginning laide among you ſome foundations of the Chriſtian trueth, according to the will of the heauenlie Father: weaklie indéede at that time, as I before God confeſſe, yet ſo, as not by my power, but by the fauour of Ieſus Chriſt that indeuour, whatſoeuer it were, brought no ſmall profite aſwell to me as to you. Furthermore I was delighted herein, that after theſe foundatiōs, ſuch as they were, were laid, you obtained of God other teachers, which were more fitte, through whoſe prudent trauell, and moſt ſyncere doctrine, the huſbandrie begunne in you, did increaſe. Wherefore I reioyced and maruelouſlie triumphed for your ſakes, as for an incorruptible crowne of mine owne: neither was there euer anie mention made of you vntounto mée, but that I was wholie repleniſhed with ſpirituall gladneſſe. Of the fall in perſecution.But nowe when it hath ſeemed good vntounto God, to prooue his houſholde by tribulations, and to trie the ſtedfaſtneſſe of your faith, Alas what lamentable proofes, what vnhappie iſſues are there hearde of. For in the ſteede of expected conſtancie feebleneſſe hath bewraied it ſelfe. For valiant courage of a Chriſtian heart, a wauering imbecillity, a faint faith, a trembling heart with a moſt ſhamefull denying of the trueth. Of which thing, when ſoudenlie I had hearde ſo vncomfortable newes, ſtreight waie, all my ſpirite was filled with ſorrowe. For ſéeing the Prophet Samuel bewayled the falling of Saul king of the Iewes, 1. Sam. 16. 1 Ier. 9 1. & In Lam. Luk. 19. 41.that Ieremie lamented the ruine of the Iewes, that our Lorde Ieſus ſhedde teares ouer Ieruſalem for ſhewing the deſtruction thereof, 2. Cor. 2. 4.that Paul to his Corinthians wrote his Epiſtles with manie teares, howe ſhall I refraine my ſelfe from weeping, from teares and from lamentation when I ſee ſo pleaſant a garden as was the Church of my brethren of Luca, in one moment, by a moſt vehement winde and cruel tempeſt, and by diuiliſh haileſtones to be ſo waſted ſcattered and caſt héere & there, as it might not ſéeme either to hauehave conceiued before time any good ſéede, or yt it neuer felt any huſbanding or ſprinkling of the heauenly ſhoures of the holie Ghoſt? They that do not knowe you well, might iuſtlie hauehave feared becauſe of the imminent tempeſt of vexations, leaſt you ſhoulde become an offence: but I could neuer be brought to think that you woulde ſo greeuouſlie fall. O my brethren, O my bowels in the Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, who hath thus troubled your mind? Who hath thus chaunged your hearts? I would to god that I were preſent with you, and that I might with a liuely voice wéepe, ſhed teares, and lament in your dolefull and vnfortunate funerals. Nowe when by reaſon of preſent perſecutions, a valiant conflict, a glorious victorie, and a moſt noble triumph was expected: the contraries hauehave altogether followed: your mindes hauehave ſhamefullie quailed, you are vanquiſhed with great diſhonour, and you are led into horrible captiuitie. When the diueliſh furie of Antichriſt was nowe opened, and yée ſaw the danger hang euen ouer your heads, and yet for all that, woulde not prouide for your owne ſafetie, by the common remedie of weake, men as manie nowadayes call it, that is to wit by fléeing awaie, which I thinke to be a wiſe prouiſion, ſo it be orderlie vſed, he that had conceiued a good opinion of you, thus thought with himſelfe: Theſe men doe miſlike of flying away, becauſe they be valiant and approoued knights of Chriſt, they will make away for the Goſpell through our Italie, by their death bloude and Martyrdome, being mooued thereunto by the dailie examples of their brethren the frenchmen Dutchmen and Engliſhmen. Oh howe manie did this vaine hope deceiue? Oh what a matter of reioyſing did this ill ſucceſſe giuegive vntounto wicked Antichriſt? Such marueilous miſfortunes doe rather require teares than woords. Do not thinke (my moſt deere brethren) that we héere are carefull of our owne ſaluation onelyonly: there can no wounde be giuen vntounto you, but that the ſtroke doeth alſo pearce through vsus. While you doe fall, our bowels are euen plucked out, and by your fall we fall alſo. For ſo did Chriſt ioyne together all the members of his bodie, which is his Church, as they ſhould communicate affections one with another. Now did ye Lorde require of you the fruits of a long peace and tranquillity giuen you, and ſince he both called you, and indued you with faith he required a confeſſion: but ſo farre is it off that you hauehave cōfeſſed, as you hauehave abiured. Will not Chriſt be aſhamed of you, ſince ſo wretchedly you were aſhamed of him? Mat. 10. 33Will he not denie you ſince you hauehave ſo ſhamefully denied him? If perhaps a friend of yours, or kinſman, or childe, or wife, ſhould periſh, vndoubtedlie you would hauehave verie dolefull funerals: and you care not at all when you your ſelues hauehave periſhed & that euerlaſtinglie. Yée will ſaie paraduenture our fact indéede doth not a little gréeue vsus and wee bewaile the ſame with great griefe: I would to God yee did. But admit it be ſo, The fruites of true repentance.I demaunde of you what wéeping auaileth without amendement. If yée kéepe the couenants of your abiuration, if you come vntounto the maſſe and other vaine ſuperſtitions, to what purpoſe are teares? Awake you at the length I beſéech you, if the heauenlie light through this perſecution bée not vtterly extinguiſhed in your minds, and conſider yée what is your preſent ſtate compared with the former. Before yée ſéemed to be ſo ſtrong, as you were readie for ye Chriſtian trueth to indure any thing: but when you were to enter into fight your courage failed euen at the firſt threats of Antichriſt and at his grimme looke. If the violence of torments had driuen you hereto, ſome pretence indéede you might hauehave, but no iuſt excuſe, namely that the infirmitie of mans nature and fleſh was ouercome. Howbeit when as yée ſuſtained neither wounds, nor rackings nor impriſonment, not baniſhment, yea and were not hurt in any manner of thing, no not the leaſt at all: conſider yée what yee are to iudge of your ſelues. Loe, I neither can nor knowe howe to flatter. My office and miniſterie conſtraineth me to tell the trueth, and to declare the thing as it is: vnleſſe that the Church were renowmed, both with more ample confeſſions and martyrdomes, it would go verie hardlie with it, eſpeciallie in theſe times, wherein by the bountiful goodnes of Ieſus Chriſt, the truth hath ſo ſhined in the world, as vndoubtedlie we hauehave ſufficient doctrine, but we want ſtrength, whereby in ſuffering afflictions, torments and neuer ſo dreadfull death, it might be defended. Theſe thinges do I not therefore write vntounto you moſt déere brethren in Chriſt, to make your cauſe the more gréeuous, nor to amplifie the fact committed more than is méete, God is my witneſſe: but that I may print in your minds the féeling of the euill wherewith you are oppreſſed, to the intent that being the more mooued, yée thereby may riſe vp againe out of the foule & deadly pit, wherinto yée hauehave fallē. The cauſe that I write freely and boldlie, happeneth not without my verie great ſorrowe, the which ſo iuſtlie troubleth me as it grieueth me excéedinglie, that I may not ſo familiarlie talke with God, as in olde time that good Moſes did, who when the people had molten the golden calfe, & had yéelded diuine worſhip vntounto it (wherupō they prouoked ſo gréeuous wrath of God againſt them, as they were in daunger of vtter deſtruction) he fel proſtrate in humble praier before God, as many other times he did, Exo. 32. 11.& ſaid, True in deede it is that ye people hauehave moſt grieuouſlie ſinned which hauehave made to themſelues a golden god, neuertheleſſe I pray thee that thou wilt forgiue them and pardon this haynous acte, or elſe blot mee out of the Booke which thou haſt written. With the like affection I alſo make ſupplication vntounto Chriſt for you, ſo greatlie doeth your calamitie preſſe and diſquiet me. And it grieueth mée, as I hauehave ſaid, that my authoritie and my faith is not of ſo great force with God as yt of Moſes was, which is not indéede through default or blame of God, ſéeing he is nowe the verie ſame yt he was in olde time: but through the defect of faith and the weakeneſſe of my confidence towardes him. And hereof it comes that my prayers are more ſlowlie heard, and thereof alſo, that ye ſlacklie bring foorth the deſired fruites of repentaunce. Yet doe I goe forward in thoſe prayers, ſéeing I knowe that euen Paul himſelfe deſiring to be accurſed from Chriſt for the ſaluation of the Hebrewes his brethren after the fleſh, Rom. 9. 1.was ſo ſoone heard. And euen as his prayers were not in vaine, ſo doe I by the goodneſſe of God promiſe my ſelfe of this that I ſhall be hearde at a time conuenient. But yt I be no longer than is méete, nor yet doe ſpeake without fruite, there appeares vntounto mée two thinges to bee conſidered of: one is yt ye rightly weigh with your ſelues what hath bin the cauſe of ſo great an euill, that the ſame being knowē, ye may throughlie roote it vp out of your mindes. For it cannot bee, that we ſhoulde bee deliuered from any diſeaſe vnleſſe the cauſe of the diſeaſe be taken awaie. And ſo ſoone as the cauſe of your euill ſhall bee diſcouered, wee will ſtraight waies in the ſeconde place incline our ſelues to ſéeke out a remedie: hauing reſpect vntounto this, that at the leaſtwiſe the ſoules may through the grace of GOD bee ſome manner of way ſaued, although they had ſuffered a grieuous ſhipwracke.
Wherefore as touching the cauſe of this euill, How hurtfull is the louelove of riches.I iudge, there is nothing that hath more called men awaie from the great deſire begun towards faith, than the louelove of riches: to wit, that either riches and honour might be gotten, or elſe being gotten might be preſerued. Theſe be the ſtones vppon which, Mat. 13. 22.that good ſéede of the worde of God can neyther take roote, nor faſten. Theſe be the thornes which choke and deſtroy the holie doctrine, although it hauehave alreadie begun to beare her fruites. This is the baite, this is the hooke, theſe be the nets, wherewith the Diuell doeth perpetuallie fiſh in this ſea, namely in the worlde. Doubtleſſe there bee manie founde, as wée knowe by experience, ſo tyed with the chaines of pleaſures of this life, and of earthlie goods, as they had rather die than leaue theſe things. With great and marueilous importunitie did that young man demaunde of Chriſt, what ſhould behooue him to doe for the poſſeſſing of eternall life: Mat. 19. 16but when he heard that he ſhoulde ſell his poſſeſſions he went from thence very ſad. And thus harde a matter it is to obtaine faith. Wherefore the Apoſtle ſaid, 1. Tim. 6. 9.They that will become riche fall into temptation, and into the ſnare, and into manie [noyſome] luſtes, which drowne men in perdition and deſtruction: for the deſire of riches is the roote of all euils, which who ſo followe, doe fall awaie from faith, pearcing themſelues through with manie ſorrowes. But O thou man of God, flie theſe thinges. Beholde the roote of temptations, of ſnares, and of falling awaie from the faith. Aſſuredlie none of you hauing alreadie knowen the trueth, woulde euer hauehave ſuffered himſelfe to bee led awaie from the knowledge of the worde of GOD, vnleſſe he had feared the loſſe of the goods of this life. But what will riches, honours, and all commodities of the fleſh profite at the length? whoſe obtaining of them, hath labour: whoſe poſſeſſion, hath feare: and finallie whoſe loſſe, hath ſorrowe ioyned therewith: yea and oftentimes they caſt manie into extréeme and perpetuall miſerie. Oh howe manie are deceiued with the pleaſantneſſe of their villages, with the gorgious furniture of their pallaces, with the honour of their patrimonies, and with the wealth of their aliances. If ye in the time of peace had ſet your mindes at libertie from theſe impediments and ſnares, there is no doubt but you woulde with a chéerefull and valiant minde, euen in the perſecutions hauehave taken vp your croſſe and hauehave followed Chriſt. But by what meanes ſhall he rid himſelfe which hath both his handes and féete faſt tyed in bandes? Perhaps ye will ſaie: Who would euer hauehave thought that ſo great a calamitie ſhould come? Wee promiſed to our ſelues a quiet fruition of our goods with a holy Euangelicall peace, ſometimes going out of the Citie into the Countrie, and ſometime duplicate page duplicate page returning out of the countrie into the Citie: I vnderſtande you in déede. But this is it that is ſaid in the common prouerb, To recken without your Hoſt. Ye cannot iuſtlie complaine of Chriſt, for he foretold you: He that will bee my diſciple, Mat. 16. 24let him take vp his croſſe and followe mee. Chriſt promiſed vntounto his Diſciples and vntounto them that beléeue in him moſt bountifull good things, but yet not without perſecutions. Mat. 10. 24He taught alſo, that the Diſciple muſt not be aboue his maiſter. Wherefore if the worlde did intreate him after a miſerable manner, wee are not to thinke that it will more gentlie handle vsus. Therefore when the wife of Zebede had deſired him that he woulde cauſe her children to ſit in the honorable ſeates in his kingdome, he leauing the mother turned vntounto them and ſaid: Mat. 20. 21Can ye drinke of my cup? Whereby he meant, that none coulde come thither without the croſſe. Finally Paul in ye ſecond Epiſtle to Timothie writeth: 2. Tim. 3. verſe. 12.Whoſoeuer hauehave purpoſed to themſelues to liue godlie with Chriſt ſhall ſuffer perſecution. Who is it therefore of the familie of our Lord yt can rightlie ſay that he was not warned? Vndoubtedly no other man but he that would not heare. Ye ought alwaies to hauehave remembred that ſaying of Ieſus Chriſt, Matt. 5. 11.that the rewarde of his faithfull is plentifull, euen alreadie hidden and laide vp in heauen: and that thoſe are bleſſed which ſuffer perſecutions for his names ſake. But we reade that it is written in the Epiſtle to the Romanes: Rom. 8. 28.That wee are predeſtinated to bee conformable to the Image of his ſonne, as he is the firſt begotten among manie brethren. But & if it behooued Chriſt to ſuffer, Luke. 14. verſe. 26.that he might enter into his glory, no doubt but wée alſo ought to ſuffer if wée will be there with him. Manie other places of the ſcripture I might ſhewe, whereby you were certified before hand what ſhould happen vntounto vsus, concerning the goods and commodities of this life, if in déed ye had earneſtly determined to followe Chriſt: ſo as there is nowe left vntounto you no iuſt excuſe. But the chiefeſt cauſe of your calamitie was this, that ye did fall into the handes of the enemies, vppon the ſodaine not hauing regarde vntounto the Counſell of Chriſt, Luk. 14. 28. War muſt be thought vponupon in time of peace.ſaying: He that will builde a Towre firſt reckeneth with himſelfe what charges he muſt be at, leaſt if he beginne the worke, and bee not able to perfourme it he become a laughing ſtocke to all that paſſe by, who will mocke him ſaying: This man began to build, but was not able to bring it to perfection. In like manner if a king minde to make warre vppon another, firſt he taketh counſell and conſidereth with howe manie thouſand ſouldiers he is able to fight with his enemies: if he perceiue himſelfe an vnequall match hée leaueth his purpoſe. Wherefore you alſo after this manner ſhoulde hauehave taken counſell, when ye might doe it in reſpect of leaſure and quietnes, weighing theſe things in your minde: if perhappes the cruell tempeſt of perſecution ſhould ariſe (which eaſilie may happen) are wee ſtrong ynough? HaueHave we courage ynough? If we incounter with our aduerſarie, we ſhall looſe riches, honours and perhappes this life alſo. If the matter ſhall come to this paſſe, are wee readie to ſuffer all theſe things? Wherefore if the ſpirit had giuen you courage, (which thing was chiefelie to bee deſired of God) you ſhoulde wiſely and valiantly hauehave perſiſted in the worke which you begun, and hauehave fought with the enemie. But and if you had felt your mindes weake and doubtfull, ſo as they coulde not endure the loſſe of all your goods honours, and life, another Counſell was to bee taken, not that you ſhoulde forſake the faith, and leaue Chriſtiā profeſſion, but that you ſhoulde goe to another place (ſince yee neither wanted long oportunitie of time nor the commoditie of other thinges) where with other of the ſeruaunts of Ieſus Chriſt, ye might bee ſafe from the imminent daungers, & in applying your ſelues to the continuall hearing of ye ſyncers word of God, you might more & more arme your ſelues, if perhaps ye ſhould hauehave entered into new daungers. For vntounto this end doeth God ſometime graunt quiet times, that we ſhoulde commodiouſlie weigh with our ſelues, howe great is the ſtrength which the holie Ghoſt giueth vsus, and howe readie we are to ſuffer the croſſes which are at hande: For it is not the part of a Chriſtian man to be idle. Truſes indéede there maie ſometime bee betwixt the Chriſtians and Sathan and Antichriſt, but a firme peace may there neuer be. Wherefore he that doeth not well imploy the time graunted of peace and quietneſſe, he is in one moment oppreſſed by the fury of the enimies. And when he hath not retyred himſelfe into ſafe places, nor hath conſidered of his owne proper ſtrength nor indeuoured by ardent prayers to obtaine greater ſtrength, nor hath prepared himſelfe to the conflict, that he might fight valiantlie in the battell of Ieſus Chriſt: what maruell is it if hee afterwarde fall, if he come to ruine, if in denying the trueth hee to his owne incredible harme bréede confuſion and ignominie to the reſt of the brethren? To tell you in fewe wordes my brethren, hence commeth all the miſchéefe and miſerie, that yee hauehave made more account of riches, honours, pleaſures, and ſolaces of this life than you ſhould hauehave doone: becauſe ye iudged in your carnall ſenſe that your ſtate or condition wherein ye then ſtoode, was firme, as if ſo be it had béene perpetuall, and that there woulde neuer hauehave folowed anie alteratiō of thinges. Through which cauſes it came to paſſe, that ye hauehave not in the time of quiet ſtate prepared your mindes to abide the daungers, which dailie hang ouer your heades. Oh howe great hurt hath it alwayes doone, and alwaie will doe in the Church of Chriſt, to make delay in the more happie times? For then ſhoulde wee confirme our mindes, and hauehave regarde to ourſelues I meane by Chriſtian wiſedome to prouide for our ſelues. To what end do ye thinke that peace is ſometime graunted vsus by God our excellent father? How doth our fleſh ſwimme abroade in the delightes and pleaſures of this life? Howe doe wee for a while yea exceſſiuelie laie aſide the indeuour of worſhipping of GOD, the exerciſes of faith, good actions and prayers, and doe wholie incline our ſelues vntounto the heaping vppe of golde, ſiluer, poſſeſſions and riches? Vndoubtedlie this is not the will, nor counſell, nor purpoſe of our excellent Father. Nowe hauehave I declared vntounto you vntounto what end God ſuffereth vsus ſometimes to inioy peace and quietneſſe: which thing eitheir yée did not know or elſe being knowen, ye did not execute: therefore it is no maruel, if thinges hauehave not fallen out happilie vntounto you.
As touching the originall of your fall me thinks I hauehave ſufficiently diſputed, wherfore it is woorth the labour to ſhewe what remedy muſt be had for ſo great a miſchiefe. For if no medicine ſhould be applyed, The remedies for thē which be fallen in perſecutionof two euils, either one or both together would followe: namely, that either yée ſhould fall into the eternall death of deſperation, or elſe of fauourers and defenders of the Goſpel, you woulde become haters or aſſailers of it: euen as the late examples of other men doe more than ynough declare. Take heed I beſéech you (euen as much as you louelove your owne euerlaſting ſaluation) both of deſpaire and of the hatred of the knowne Chriſtian trueth: and rather in the place and ſtéede of theſe euils embrace yee a ſyncere, pure, and vnfeined repentance. For the heauēly father hath appointed this to be the beginning of ſaluation, if at any time his children forſaking him, had fallen into the hands of ſinne and death. Marke what a difference there is betwéene the predeſtinate and the reprobate. The predeſtinate, The difference betweene the predeſtinate & the reprobate▪ſo ſoone as they are fallen doe ſtraight waie returne to them ſelues, doe ſorrowe and lament, and being ſuppliants vntounto God doe crie out with feruent teares: I hauehave ſinned father, Luk. 15. 18.I hauehave ſinned before thee I hauehave ſinned in heauen and in earth, A forme of prayer for them that be fallen.I dare not lift vp mine eyes or my face vntounto thee. Alaſſe I am euen hee whom thou for thine infinite mercy haſt vouchſafed to adopt vntounto thy ſonne, but I hauehave neuer feared thee as a father, but as a forrener and ſtraunger hauehave tranſgreſſed thy commaundements: wherefore I doe not iudge my ſelfe worthie to be called thy ſonne. I am euen hee for whom thou gaueſt vntounto the croſſe thine onelie begotten ſonne Ieſus Chriſt very God and man hauing in himſelfe all the treaſures of thy wiſedome, being the authour of all creatures, which he vpholdeth and preſerueth by his words: This thy ſo excellēt ſonne (I ſay) thou haſt deliuered for my ſake vntounto the ſhamefull death of the croſſe, thou hauing reſpect vntounto this one thing, namely that I being mad… conformable to his image might together with him become thy ſonne. But I being vnmindfull of ſo great a benefite, hauehave moſt ſhamefully denied his trueth and holie faith. Wherefore O father I hauehave ſinned, I hauehave ſinned grieuouſlie before thee, I hauehave ſinned in heauen and in earth, I am no more worthie to be called thy ſonne. I am euen he whom thou according to thy bountiful goodneſſe, leauing manie other better than I in darkeneſſe) haſt illuminated with the light of thy word, haſt called me, haſt ingraffed me into the bodie of thy Church: whom thou haſt made partaker of regeneration and remiſsion of ſinnes, and of the holie ſacraments: finallie, whom thou haſt enriched with ſpirituall treaſures, which thou wouldeſt not open vntounto the mightie, vntounto the Philoſophers, and vntounto the moſt wiſe men of this worlde. I neuertheleſſe making ſmall account of theſe thy moſt pretious giftes, giuen vntounto me both by thee, and by Ieſu Chriſt thy ſonne my Lorde, my wiſedome, my righteouſneſſe, my holines, & my redemption, hauehave trecherouſly fallen from thee, and hauehave wretchedly ioyned my ſelfe vntounto the enemies, rebels, and perſecutors of thy holie name: I hauehave ſinned, Father, I hauehave ſinned before thee, I hauehave ſinned in heauen and in earth, and I am not woorthie to bee called thy ſonne. I am he whom being polluted with the filthineſſe of ſinnes, and with ye fouleneſſe of wicked deedes, thou haſt cleanſed by the bloud of Ieſus Chriſt, thou haſt lightened by thy ſpirit, reſtored vntounto holie life, and haſt made an heire, a fellowe and a partaker of eternall felicitie. What could I at any time hauehave deſired more of thee, ſeeing thou haſt giuen mee all thinges with Chriſt? And albeit thou haſt giuen mee theſe giftes & ornaments which are in deede incomparable, yet doe I confeſſe that I hauehave dealt moſt leawdlie againſt thee. The Oxe and the Aſſe doe better knowe their owner, and the dogge alſo being a moſt vile beaſt, doeth attend and followe his Maiſter with greater faithfulneſſe than I, whom thou my God haſt ſo greatlie aduaunced, glorified and adorned with all kinde of good things: wherefore I hauehave no more excuſe remaining. To thee of verie right belongeth glorie and honour, and vntounto mee nothing elſe but ſhame and confuſion of heart, of countenaunce and of deedes. I hauehave ſinned Father, I hauehave ſinned before thee, I hauehave ſinned in heauen and in earth. Determine thou of mee whatſoeuer it ſhall pleaſe thee, yet will I be thine. I am ſorie that I hauehave ſo ſhamefullie ſinned, and I doe deteſt this fact. The more grieuouſlie I hauehave ſinned, the more earneſtly I deſire thine euerlaſting merciemercy. Seeing I am wholie vncleane, I am not able to cleanſe my ſelfe: This if I ſhall goe about to doe I ſhall the more pollute my ſelfe. O thou my Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, who art the verie pureneſſe it ſelfe, which cameſt into this world not for the iuſt but for ſinners: cleanſe mee againe (I beſeech thee) with thy bloud, repleniſh mee wholie with faith, that I maie embrace thy death, that giueth life; thy bloud, that is the price of eternall life; and thy paſſion, that is the reſt, comfort, hauen and refuge vntounto wretched and vnhappy ſinners. Seeing thou diddeſt receiue into former grace Peter which had denied thee, diddeſt graciouſlie receiue againe the Apoſtles which had forſaken thee, Ioh. 20. 21. 2. Sa. 12. 13.diddeſt reconcile to thy ſelfe Dauid, who was ouerwhelmed with moſt grieuous ſinnes, diddeſt ſuffer with great clemencie the people of the Hebrewes which daylie prouoked thee by their manifolde falling from thee, and ſince thou taking pitie of the fal of thy weake and fooliſh creature, haſt ſignified by thy Prophet, that thou wouldeſt not the death of a ſinner, but that he ſhoulde conuert and liue, and wouldeſt that a miſerable ſinner, if he repent, ſhould bee receiued and returne to thy flocke not onelie once, but alſo if neede require ſeuentie times ſeuen times: Beholde I am here, condemning, deteſting, reuoking, and renouncing whatſoeuer I hauehave committed againſt thine honour, and againſt thy holie will: And I proteſt that I will order all my whole life in a better manner. Wherefore I beſeeche thee good father that ſince thou haſt ſo incouraged mee through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord, thou wilt giuegive vntounto mee ſuch ſtrength as may bee ſufficient. I am thy woorke aſwell touching naturall conſtitution as touching this ſpirituall and newe regeneration. I pray thee therefore that thou wilt not deſpiſe me, and that which cannot be doone for my own merites (whereof I finde none good) may bee doone for the merites of Ieſus Chriſt, and for thy holie names ſake: vntounto whom be honour and glorie for euer and euer, Amen.
I hauehave ſhewed or rather in a groſſe maner deſcribed, The maners of the reprobate.what the ſonnes of God predeſtinated vntounto eternall life are woont to doe when they hauehave grieuouſlie fallen: for, if not with the wordes aforeſaide, at leaſt with the like, they flie vntounto their heauenly Father, whom by ſinning they knowe to hauehave offended. But contrariwiſe doe thoſe that are reiected. For they when they cannot excuſe their ſinnes doe diſſemble them: and as though they had committed none or elſe eaſie faultes, they ſay that it behooueth to ſerue places, times, and preſent occaſions. They pretend that it ſufficeth to hauehave a pure heart and vnſpotted minde, and that outwarde faultes are not much to be weighed, as if ſo bee they ſhould acknowledge God to be onelie the Lorde of Soules, and ſhoulde thinke yt thoſe things which are expreſſed in worde & outward déedes belong nothing vntounto him. Thus are theſe men woont to couer their ſinnes. VntoUnto whom if a godlie man (as it often happeneth) indeuoureth to laie before their eyes the Image of their ſinne committed, they ſometimes knowing the outragiouſneſſe of the fact which they hauehave doone, being deſtitute of faith and ſpirit, doe ſometimes deſpaire with Caine and Iudas, and doe fall into moſt miſerable madneſſe, or elſe they kill themſelues, as we knowe it happened in our time by the horrible and dreadfull iudgement of God. But ſometimes they perſwading themſelues that they did not grieuouſlie ſinne, doe pleaſe themſelues, as if they were cleane and holie: and otherwhile doe proſecute thoſe with deadly hatred, of whom they were ſeuerelie and of a good zeale rebuked: For which cauſe of abiurers they become perſecutours. The Church of Chriſt at this day hath no enemies more hurtfull, euen as in times paſt it had Iulian the Apoſtata, who being onelie inſtructed in Chriſt, became afterwarde an enemie and excéeded all the tyrannie and crueltie of the other tyrantes to whom Chriſt was neuer knowen. Wherefore brethren beware, leaſt after this firſt fall ye runne not into deadly ruines and downefalles of eternall damnation. Rather flie yee vntounto the Anchor of repentaunce, and with the elect returne yee vntounto him whom ye hauehave offended. Deuiſe not vntounto your ſelues newe formes of obtaining ſaluation: this is the onlie forme ſet foorth by God to them that are fallen. Suffer not your ſelues to be ſeduced by the intycements of falſe Prophetes. 2. Sa. 12. 13. Luk. 15. 17.Saie with Dauid and with the Prodigall childe: I hauehave ſinned; but ſpeake it from the heart. Wéepe ye with Ezechias: Eſa. 38. 3.but wéepe with faithfull and ſyncere teares. Proſtrate your ſelues before Chriſt with the ſinfull woman. Luke. 7. 37Wéepe yee bitterlie with Peter with prayers and faſtinges procéeding from a true faith. Mat. 26. 75Crie you out vntounto God with the Niniuites. Ionas. 3. 5. Acts. 2. 37.Bée ye conuerted with thoſe Iewes of whome Chriſt was crucified, whome if ye ſpared, no doubt but hee will alſo ſpare you. For this doe I promiſe you by the authoritie of the word of God, ſo that this repentance which I laie before you be firme and effectuall. But and if ye demaund what I meane by a firme and effectuall repentaunce, I will ſhewe you the cauſe and effectes thereof, that it maie be diſcerned from a vaine, Effectuall repentance.feigned, and hypocriticall repentaunce. The originall & mother thereof is of neceſſitie true and perfect faith. For what ſoeuer is doone of vsus without the grounde of the worde of God, is vnfruitfull and hurtfull. But wee hauehave not the worde of God for anie grounde but ſo farre foorth as we beléeue. Therefore if ye ſorrowe, if ye lament, if ye bewayle the fall that is paſt, ye muſt néedes be mooued by the worde of God. If a man beléeue it, he reuealeth aboundaunt fruites, for it cannot be idle in the heart of the faithfull. Beholde therefore vntounto you, the beginning, originall and fountaine of true repentance. Nowe let vsus conſider the effectes. True and effectuall repentaunce ſuffereth not ſinne to goe vnpuniſhed and without iuſt amendement. But (you will ſay) coulde it euer bée brought to paſſe, yt the thing which is doone might bee vndoone? That indéede cannot be vndoone which is doone: but yet afterwarde the contrarie vntounto that which before was doone maie be doone. VntoUnto the deniall of the trueth made before, the confeſſion of the ſame is contrarie. It behooueth therfore that by your teſtimonie you affirme whatſoeuer by abiuring yee hauehave denied. And this maie be doone two maner of waies: Firſt, if ye will in that place where ye committed the crime boldly confeſſe that ye hauehave erred, & wil by a liuelie contradiction teſtifie that ye hold no ſuch opinion as the forme of the abiuration ſheweth. But in verie déede becauſe this kinde of remedie requireth fortitude, conſtancie, and a ſingular valiantnes of minde, becauſe the waie is welnéere moſt certaine vntounto Martyrdome, (which all men hauehave not the gift to ſuffer) therefore dare I not require ſo great a matter of euerie one of you: Let euerie man meaſure the ſtrength giuen him by God, and let him conſider, whether he bee able to performe this excellent and laudable worke. If he hauehave confidence enough, let him goe forwarde in the name of the Lorde: for he ſhall doe no new thing in the Church of Chriſt. Mat. 26. 69Peter when hee had denied Chriſt, he for Chriſtes ſake ſuffered the death of the croſſe. The renued conſtancie of the godlyMarcellinus Biſhoppe of Rome, hauing firſt doone ſeruice vntounto the Idols, hee being led with repentance, preached that which hee had denied, and being made a martyr, hee by his bloude, gaue a teſtimonie vntounto the trueth. Holy Cyprian in his Sermon De Lapſis maketh mention of Caſtus & Aemilius, which when they were ouercome with the bitterneſſe of perſecutions, were humblie afterwarde conuerted to repentance, and were ſo ſtrengthened by Chriſt, as the fight being renewed with the aduerſary, they gate the victory, being made ſtronger than the fire and mightier than the flames, confeſſing in the meane time with great conſtancie whatſoeuer they had before denied. Howbeit (thankes bee to God) there is no néede to recite olde examples: Some ſuch thing within our age hath happened at London in England. A certaine Prieſt being ouercome through cruell tormentes and long captiuitie did abiure. The Biſhoppe not content with his abiuration, requireth his hande writing. It is giuen him, whereuppon the poore wretch goeth home, and there is mooued and ſtirred vppe with ſo great ſorrowe, with ſuch remorſe, and with ſuch true and effectual repentance, as (when he coulde inioye, no comfort, reſt, nor anie quietneſſe of minde, nor could anie longer indure the ſharpe threates of the conſcience) he commending him ſelfe to God, returneth home to the Biſhoppe, and deſireth to ſée his hande writing which hee a fewe dayes before had deliuered, and being ſhewed him he takes it violentlie and teares it, blaming himſelfe that he had béene ſo diſloyall and notable a traytour vntounto the Lord Ieſus Chriſt: adding moreouer: Beholde here I am, handle mee at your owne pleaſure, I ſaie, I iudge, and I affirme contrarie vntounto thoſe thinges that I firſt wrote. Which when he had ſo boldlie and notably confeſſed, hee was againe taken, and within a while after burned. I woulde to God that at the leaſtwaie, ſo much valiant courage might happen to each one of you from the father eternal, that by this meanes the truth of Chriſt may be made famous in you, and that they which through you are made the weaker and hauehave ſuffered offence, might be confirmed and returne againe into the way of God, and goe forward in the purpoſed iourney. But if that the weakeneſſe of your ſtrength, be ſuch as hauing ſhewed the forme of repentance, it cannot bring foorth fruite, wee muſt come to an other kinde of remedie, which conſiſteth in this that yée make voide your abiuration by your flight and departure: otherwiſe the ſame doth yet burne before God and men. For how ſhall it by repētance be extinguiſhed or blotted out, while yee remaine in the ſelfeſame ſtate? while there appeareth in you no ſignification of a contrarie opinion: doe not you by tarying and holding your peace plainlie confirme that which yée hauehave doone? Depart yée at the leaſt way (I beſéech you) from this kind of intolerable death. For your departure ſhalbe a certaine kinde of martyrdome and confeſſion. So often as I conſider in my minde the ſtate of your affaires, if happily there be left in you any féele of Godlineſſe, if anie ſparke of light, if any ſmall droppe of the holie Ghoſt, as I verilie thinke there is ſome left: I maruell, yea I am amaſed that ye ſo ſtaie your ſelues. For I ſée not how you can liue, what quietneſſe of minde yée can inioy, with what confidence yee can pray, nor what communication yee can hauehave one with another. Can any thing, be it neuer ſo good whether the ſame belong vntounto the ſpirit or vntounto the body be ſwéete and delectable vntounto you or refreſh you? Are yée not all whollie ſhaken with feare when yée go vntounto maſſes, in making no account of the commaundements of God, but in ſeruing of men and as witneſſes & conſenters in crucifying againe the ſonne of God? Is not this torment more bitter vntounto you than a thouſand deathes? By this one idolatry yée communicate with antichriſt in all things. I maruel how it comes to paſſe, that yée there fall not downe, if not deade, yet like thoſe that are deade. Furthermore when yée be partakers of the communion once euerie yeare, or oftner, with what minde, with what heart, vponupon what purpoſe doe yee corrupt, doe yée confounde, doe yée rent in ſunder the order of this noble ſacrament inſtituted by Chriſt? Hebr. 6. 4.Séeing yée hauehave taſted the gift of God and hauehave knowen the trueth and yet will euen with your owne hands handle ye greateſt hypocriſie, iniuries and blaſphemies, contained in thoſe diueliſh rites and ſeruices: verilie I am euen beſides my ſelfe, ſo often as I conſider that yee burſt not for ſorrowe when yee come together to doe thoſe thinges. Therefore ſince your ſtate is ſo vnhappie and miſerable, what is a let vntounto you héerein? Natiue countrie? houſe? farme? kinſfolke? riches? the pleaſures of this world? Wherefore you eſtéeme theſe things more than you doe God himſelfe: theſe things are your God, ſince in compariſon of theſe you deſpiſe any other thing: by which meanes doubtleſſe you diſcouer the idolatrie of your heart. If it ſeeme to be a harde matter to forſake patrimonie, heritages and poſſeſſions, what will yée doe when yée ſhall die? then ſhall yée be conſtrained will yée, nill yée, to forſake them. If yée continue in dealing wickedly, how can you euer truelie ſay, that yée are heartilie ſorie for this abiuration? Take away the euill from among you, then will we beléeue that yée hauehave repented. Chriſt, to the intent hée might wholie certifie vsus of his incomparaloue towards vsus, forſooke his owne glorie, laide aſide his kingdome, became a ſtraunger and poore man for vsus, deſpiſed not infamie and a contumelious death. Oh howe ill ſhall we anſwere him, who for him or rather for our owne ſaluation refuſe to ſuffer ſo ſmal a thing! I ſhould be ouer long, if beſides the example of Chriſt, I woulde alledge the examples of the Apoſtles and of all the other Saints which liue and reigne with him. Wherefore ſetting them aſide, I will ſpeake of your brethren, who leaſt they ſhould commit ſuch things forſooke their countrie, prouoking you to the imitation of them. Theſe are made of fleſh as well as you, of the ſame countrie, of the ſame condition: They alſo had rather as touching the deſire of the fleſh, tary in their coūtry, be recreated with their cities and houſhold pleaſures, be conuerſant with their friends, and inioy their fathers poſſeſſions. Howbeit Chriſt by his grace did more mooue them than did the worlde: They vanquiſhed themſelues, they followed Chriſt to the intent they might hauehave a quiet conſcience, that they might not be plucked away from God: finallie that they might giuegive a cleare teſtimonie vntounto the Goſpel. Wherefore there is no cauſe why you ſhould ſay, that this cannot be doone, ſince it was not onelie vſed of the faithfull in times paſt, but nowe alſo fullie perfected of your brethren. I exhort you therefore that yée wil giuegive eare vntounto this calling, and that ye wil not feigne deafeneſſe: weigh with your ſelues that the whips are made readie, and that the daunger is at hand that yee ſhall ſhortlie euen againſt your willes forſake thoſe thinges, which of your owne accorde, faith, vertue, and guide of the ſpirite you ſhoulde forſake.
Hitherto hauehave I deſired you, but nowe I deſire and will deſire Chriſt, that according to his owne counſel which is full of compaſſion, he will open your hearts, he will incourage your will, and will giuegive ſtrength vntounto your ſpirit, that you will chéerefully take in hande the one or other of the two remedies ſet foorth, which in this caſe are the fruites of a ſounde repentaunce. If yee ſhall deſpiſe both, (which God forbid) although there come no other calamitie vntounto you thereby yet ſhall this miſerie followe you: ye ſhall be depriued of the light of the trueth, ye ſhall euerie day goe further backe from the heauenly father, your heart ſhall ſo greatly bee hardened, as ye ſhall bee deſtitute of your minde and vnderſtanding. And what other beginning of eternall damnation is there if this be not? Turne awaie I beſéeche thée my Lorde Ieſus Chriſt this horrible miſfortune from theſe deare brethren, from thy bruſed members, and from theſe miſerable ſtrayed ſhéepe. Thou which haſt firſt created them, afterwarde faſhioned them anewe, fed them with heauenly foode, thy worde, I meane, and thy fleſh, quickened them with thy ſpirit, and endued them with moſt precious giftes: ſuccour them with thy mightie and ſtretched out arme, wherewith thou in times paſt brought the Hebrewes out of Egypt, Exo. 14. 21. Acts. 12. 8. Acts. 28 44 Gen. 12. 1.the thrée companions out of the burning furnace, Peter out of priſon, Paule from ſhipwracke, Abraham out of his owne lande and kindred. Deſpiſe not I beſéeche thée thine inheritaunce: giuegive eare for thy holy names ſake, deliuer them from ſinne, raiſe them vp from perdition, leade them vntounto thy faithful flocke, that they may there acknowledge their brethren, and may in like manner of them bee receiued, inſtructed and confirmed with ſpirituall peace, with the gladneſſe of charitie and ſyncere louelove, that they may find an aſſured peace and reſt to their owne conſciences, to the intent that all of them ioyned in a good and holie fellowſhip, they with vsus and wee with them, may come vntounto thée when it ſhall bee thy good pleaſure to inioy thine euerlaſting giftes.