Look from Adam and Behold the Protestants Faith Proved, Title page – To the reader 2
Looke from Adam, And behold THE PROTESTANTS FAITH AND RELIGION, EVIDENTLY PROVED OVT OF the holy Scriptures againſt all Atheiſts, Papiſts, looſe Libertines, and Carnall Goſpellers: and that the Faith which they profeſſe, hath continued from the beginning of the world, and ſo is the true and ancient Faith.
HEREIN HAST THOU ALSO A SHORT SVMME OF THE WHOLE BIBLE, and a plaine manifeſtation, that all holy men who have pleaſed God, have beene ſaved through this Chriſtian Faith alone.
LONDON, Printed by Iohn Haviland, for Thomas Pavier, and are to be ſold at his ſhop in Ivie Lane. 1624.
TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.
HAving divers times obſerved with my ſelfe (moſt Chriſtian Reader) that the doctrine of the Goſpell, which hath beene now freely preached theſe many yeeres amongst us, in this our flouriſhing Common-wealth, is yet daily and ordinarily, by ſundry perſons, charged with noveltie, as which being an upſtart, were not of ſufficient ſtanding or antiquitie: I thought it not amiſſe in this reſpect, either for the confutation of the obſtinate adverſarie, or for the comfort of the weake and ſimple profeſſour of religion, to publiſh and ſet forth this little worke of Mr. Miles Coverdale, who for his integritie of life, and fame in learning, and other excellent gifts, was ſo renowmed in the Church of Chriſt in his age, that I doubt not, but that his onelyonly name will be a ſufficient credit, (with any man, that is not maliciouſly diſpoſed) for the full allowance, and well-liking of any ſuch monument of his, as he of pure zeale, and good affection, hath commended to us his poſteritie. By which travels of his, as hee hath generally ſhewed himſelfe a notable member in the Church of God: ſo hath he thereby eſpecially well deſerved of this his native Countrey. Wherefore not willing to detain thee from better matter, I wiſh thee to uſe this booke to thy profit, and with mee to give thanks to our mercifull Father, for this valiant Souldier, as alſo for other worthie Martyrs of his time, which after the battell by themſelves fought, have (by Gods providence) left ſpirituall children, (I meane their good bookes) to make a ſupply, that Chriſts Church may bee encreaſed, to the utter confuſion and overthrow of Antichriſt. Farewell in the Lord.
Miles Coverdale, TO ALL CHRISTIAN Readers, wiſheth grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, through our Lord and onelyonly Saviour IESVS CHRIST.
LIke as the Almighty eternall God, three in perſons, and one in ſubſtance, of his tender mercy and love, not only created man at the beginning after his owne ſimilitude and likeneſſe, but alſo when he was loſt, moſt graciouſly redeemed him, and brought him out of bond age: Even ſo when man (neither regarding his wonderfull creation, nor his moſt deare redemption) gropeth in darkneſſe, in vice and blindneſſe, lieth in the Devils priſon,The accuſtomed goodneſſe of God. and goeth in the way of damnation; God alway ſetteth up his light before him, ſendeth the meſſage of his word unto him, ſheweth him what caſe he is in, giveth him warning, openeth the priſon doore, calleth him out of the Devils ſervice, telleth him what danger it is to be his bondman, or ſervant unto ſinne. This doth God alway afore he puniſh and plague the world. This (I ſay) hath ever beene the worke of God ſince the beginning, as the ſtories and propheſies of all the holy Bible doe teſtifie. And though we had no writing of Gods acts in times paſt, yet hath he practiſed this ſame his wonderfull worke of mercy upon us. So that like as we muſt needs confeſſe,God hath ſhewed no leſſe kindneſſe to us than he did to the old world. that we are created of God, and redeemed by his only mercy in his deare Sonne Ieſus Chriſt: So can we not denie, but we have heard his holy meſſage, had no leſſe preachings and warnings of dangers to come, than other have had afore our daies. Yea even the ſame mercifull God that ſent Noe to preach righteouſneſſe unto the wicked world, and converted the Ninivites by his word in the miniſtration of the Prophet Ionas, hath done even ſo with us in every condition. And ſome (thanks be unto him therefore) hath bee brought out of darkneſſe into his wonderfull light, and out of the devils ſervice, into the kingdome of his deare Sonne.
But alas and woe to this unthankfull world. For like as a great number that be in priſon of Satan, will not come forth when they are called and the doore ſet open, but goe on ſtill ſtumbling in darkneſſe,They that follow Gods word are laughed to ſcorne. when the lanterne of light is offered them: Even ſo if any play a wiſe mans part, and doe as he is warned by Gods word, hee ſhall have a ſort of apiſh people, a number of dizerds and ſcornfull mockers, which (becauſe the man will not dance in the devils morrys with them, nor keepe their company in the bondage of ſinne and vice, neither runne with them unto like confuſion (as S. Peter calleth it) laugh him to ſcorne, and bleare out their tongues at him, even like fooles and cockſcombs of the world. And like as when a poore wretch commeth out of priſon, he ſhall have moe to ſtand gaſing and gaping upon him, than to doe him good, or to helpe him to his fees: Even ſo now that God of his mercy hath called us out of Satans priſon, and from the ſchoole of falſe doctrine, my Lords foole with his companions ſtandeth ſtaring upon us, and mocketh us, becauſe we ſit not ſtill with other priſoners. There goeth a fellow of the new learning (ſaith one) there is one of theſe new-fangled Goſpellers (ſaith another) that is one of the new brethren (ſaith the third) he followeth the new faith, &c.
The doctrine of Chriſt his faith is no new thing.Wherefore, in conſideration hereof I have here ſet forth this booke: partly becauſe it ſheweth the antiquitie and ancient age of our holy Chriſtian faith, and partly to give occaſion unto all ſuch as have received it, not to be aſhamed of it, nor to ſhrinke from it, for any opprobrious mockage or ſcornfull deriſion in this world. The Apoſtle ſaith,1 Cor. 1.18. that the preaching or word of Chriſts croſſe, is fooliſhneſſe to them that periſh, and that the thing which appertaineth to the ſpirit of God,1 Cor. 1.14. is fooliſhneſſe to a carnall minded man. Whereby like as we may learne that it is no new thing to be mocked and ſtared upon for holding with the doctrine that maketh ſo much of Chriſt his death, and the true worſhipping of God in the ſpirit: even ſo may we ſee (to the ſingular comfort of our conſcience) that no man mocketh us for it,None but reprobates deride the truth of Gods Goſpell. but ſuch as periſh and are carnally minded: and that for all their deriſion and ſcorning, it is yet the power of God, 1 Cor. 1.18. and belongeth to his holy ſpirit, 1 Cor. 2.14. and is not our owne doctrine,To us which are ſaved, it is the power of God. neither of any other mans making. This is now to us a comfort and conſolation.
But becauſe the world is angry with us for our faith, and giveth us ſo euill report for teaching it, it ſhall be expedient for us to declare what faith is, and what faith we meane, when we make mention thereof. Firſt, becauſe we may not deſcribe it after our owne judgement, we will rehearſe the words of the Apoſtle, which writing to the Hebrewes,What faith is. Hebr. 11.1. ſaith after this manner: Faith is a ſubſtance of things to be hoped for, an evidence or certaintie of things which doe not appeare. By the which definition, it is manifeſt, that when we ſet forth or teach this faith, we meane no vaine faith, no falſe opinion of faith, no fond imagination of faith, no dead faith, no idle faith; but a ſubſtantiall thing, even a ſure beleefe of things that are to be hoped for, and a proofe, experience, or knowledge of things that are not ſeene. This faith then is the inſtrument, whereby we feele and are certaine of heavenly things, that our corporall eye cannot ſee. Now becauſe none other vertue can ſo apprehend the mercy of God, nor certifie us ſo effectually of our ſalvation, as this living faith doth, therefore hath the Scripture imputed our juſtification before God, only unto faith among all other vertues: not without other vertues following, but without any other worke or deed juſtifying. This is the faith of Chriſt,Rom. 3.28. Gal. 2.16. Epheſ. 2.8. Phil. 3.9. Iaco. 2.14. which all the Scripture ſpeaketh of. This is the faith that S. Paul preacheth to juſtifie in the ſight of God: as S. Iames teacheth, that works juſtifie in the ſight of men, and that it is but a dead faith which hath no works. This is the faith, without the which it is impoſſible to pleaſe God, and of the which whatſoever proceedeth not, is ſinne. This is the faith whereby God purifieth our hearts,Heb. 11.6. Rom. 14.23. Act. 15.9. 1 Pet. 1.9. Gala. 5.6. 1 Cor. 10.3. Heb. 11.4. and whoſe end is ſalvation. This is the faith that worketh by charitie or godly love, & is of value before God. This is the faith whereby the holy fathers which were afore Chriſts incarnation did in ſpirit eat and drinke & enjoy the ſame mercy of God in Chriſt, that we are partakers of. To be ſhort, this is the ſame faith, whereby God ſaved thoſe his elect, of whō S. Paul maketh mention in the foreſaid epiſtle to the Hebrewes, and rehearſeth many godly fruits of the ſame in their converſation.
This then is no new-fangled faith, no ſtrange faith, no faith invented by mans braine, but even the ſame that Gods holy ſpirit teacheth in the infallible truth of his Scripture, and that Adam, Abel, Enoch, and all the other ſervants of God were ſaved in. Why doe men therefore either call it a new-fangled faith, or report evill of us, for ſetting it forth? Why? I feare me this is one cauſe: The old faith that all thoſe ſervants of God had, whom the Apoſtle nameth in the eleventh to the Hebrewes,Heb. 11.4, 5. had a life and converſation joyned unto it, which was rich and full of all good works. Therefore ſeeing there be ſo many bablers and pratlers of faith, and ſo few that bring forth the worthy fruits of repentance, it giveth the world occaſion to report of us, that our faith is but new-fangled. They ſee us not fall to labour and taking of paines, as Adam did: They ſee not the righteouſneſſe and thankfulneſſe in us, that was in Abel: They ſee us not walke after the word and will of God, as Enoch did: They ſee us not take Gods warning ſo earneſtly as Noe did: They ſee us not ſo obedient to the voice of God, nor ſo well willing and content to leave our friends, to forſake our owne wils, our owne lands and goods at Gods calling, and dwell in a ſtrange country, to doe Gods pleaſure, as Abraham did: they ſee that wee chuſe not rather to ſuffer adverſitie with the people of God, than to enioy the pleaſures of ſinne for a ſeaſon: They ſee us not eſteeme the rebuke of Chriſt, or trouble for his ſake, to be greater riches than all the treaſures of this world, as Moſes did: To be ſhort, they ſee not in our garden thoſe ſweet flowers and fruits of Gods holy Spirit, which were in them that had the old faith.
Aſhamed may wee be therefore, as many of us as either write, teach, preach, ſpeake or talke of the old faith, if wee endevour not our ſelves to have thoſe old heavenly vertues that were ever plentifull in all Gods true ſervants, in every one (I meane) according to his calling. Not that it is evill, to teach or talke of the true old faith, but this I ſay,Iames 1▪21 becauſe that (according to the doctrine of S. Iames) they are but deceivers of themſelves, that are not doers of Gods word, as well as hearers thereof. And through ſuch ſlender receiving of Chriſts holy Goſpell, it is now come to paſſe, that like as we hauehave need of ſuch an Apoſtle as was holy S. Paul, to rebuke this vaine confidence that men put in their workes, and to tell us that no worke of our doing (but faith of Gods working, doth juſtifie us in his ſight. Even ſo have wee no leſſe need of ſuch another Apoſtle (as was holy S. Would to God we had many ſuch as Iames the Apoſtle was.Iames) to rebuke this horrible unthankfulneſſe of men, that profeſſing themſelves to bee Chriſtians, and to hold of Chriſts old faith, are yet dead unto all good workes, receive not the word of God in meekeneſſe, caſt not away all uncleanneſſe and malitiouſneſſe, are ſwift to ſpeake, to talke, to jangle, and to take diſpleaſure; are forgetfull hearers of the Word, and not livers thereafter, boaſting themſelves to be of Gods pure and undefiled Religion, and yet refraine nor their tongues from evill, viſit not the poore, the friendleſſe, and the deſolate in their trouble, neither keepe themſelves undefiled from this world. Reade the firſt chapter of his Epiſtle.Iames 1.
What an occaſion might ſuch an Apoſtle (as holy Iames was) have, to write another, yea a ſharper Epiſtle, ſeeing ſo many pretending to be of Ieſus Chriſts old faith, are yet ſo partiall, have ſuch a carnall reſpect of perſons, are not rich in faith, deſpiſe the poore, practiſe not the law of godly love, talke and jangle of faith, not having the workes thereof,O unthankefull world. clothe not the naked, helpe not the poore to their living, regard not their neceſſitie, have but a dead faith, declare not by good and godly workes, the true and old faith of Chriſt, are but vaine beleevers, have not the eflectuous, the working and living faith,Iames 2.25. that Abraham and Rahab had. Reade the ſecond chapter of his Epiſtle.
How would holy Iames reprove theſe bringers up of ſtrange doctrines,Saint Iames would not ſpare to rebuke ſuch. blaſphemers, backbiters, belie…s of good men, falſe teachers againſt Gods truth, diſſemblers with the ſame, cary fire (as they ſay) with the one hand, and water in the other: pretend to be learned, and yet bring not forth the workes of good converſation in meekeneſſe out of Gods wiſdome, but in frowardneſſe, and out of carnall doctrine. How would he take up theſe, that delight in malice and ſtrife, belie Gods truth, are given to earthly, fleſhly, and devilliſh wiſdome, are unſtable, full of all evill workes, are not in the ſchoole of Gods wiſdome and learning, are not given to unfainedneſſe of heart, are not peaceable, are churliſh, uneaſie to be intreated, &c. Reade the third chapter of his Epiſtle.Iames 3 17.
What would ſuch an holy Apoſtle ſay to this wicked world,Iames 4.1. wherein a great number (pretending to be Chriſtian men) are given ſo to quarelling and fighting, to voluptuouſneſſe and inordinate luſts,Againſt ſuch groſſe vices would not Saint Iames ſpare to ſpeake. to envie and indignation, to unlawfull ſpending and conſuming of that they may get, to advoutrie, to the deſpiſing of holy wedlocke, to ſhamefull uncleanneſſe, either not willing to marry, or elſe putting away their wives for light occaſions, and for ſatisfying of their owne trifling luſts, falling in love with the vaine friendſhip of this world, taking part againſt God: yea whereas by their profeſſion, oath, and allegiance (which they owe to their moſt high Soveraigne the King of heaven) they ſhould in a vertuous converſation maintaine all godlineſſe, are become even enemies, ſuppreſſours and overthrowers thereof, as well through their obſtinate and cruell reſiſting of Gods word, as by other wicked examples of their vicious and filthy living? What would holy S. Iames ſay to ſuch unthankfull bellies, that knowing the truth, live after ſuch a ſort? Would he ſpare them though they were never ſo rich and wealthie? Reade the fourth chapter of his Epiſtle, and the firſt part of his fifth chapter,Iames 4. and yee will judge the contrarie.
Wherefore, moſt deare Readers, whoſoever of you hath beene ſlacke to follow the good life and godly converſation that S. Iames, and all the other Scripture beſide requireth to be in them, which profeſſe the old faith, let them take better hold, turne againe to the truth, and follow that loving exhortation, which holy S. Iames 5.19.Iames maketh in the latter end of his Epiſtle. And if he hath at the firſt not enclined to Gods word, nor received it unfainedly in meekeneſſe,Let every man take the paines to rebuke his owne fault. nor ſubmitted himſelfe to be ordered thereby, and to caſt away all uncleanneſſe, &c. But hath haply ſuffered it, promoted it, ſet it forth, or taken a pretence of favour and love to it, for ſome other purpoſe to obtaine any carnall profit, gaines or libertie by it; let him not put holy S. Iames, or any other true meſſenger of God, to the paines of rebuking him for ſo doing: let him rather enter into himſelfe, reprove his owne fault and abuſe in that behalfe, abhorre it in any wiſe, be angry, diſpleaſed and diſcontent with himſelfe, ſorie and repentant for it, ſhame not to aske God merciemercy, and by good workes from hence forward to labour, that the glory of God, and worſhip of his truth, may be preferred and ſet up, which he by ſuch his unchriſtian living, hath in times paſt cauſed to be hindred.
In concluſion: Though there be never ſo many that recant and deny Gods holy word, either in their living and converſation, or in their words, writing or preaching, yet as many of us as are entered into the ſchoole of that wiſdome which is from aboue, let us be true ſcholers of the ſame, and practiſe it both in our thought, word and deed: let us even enter into the nature and kinde thereof: which (as S. Iames 3.17. We muſt put on the nature of Gods doctrine.Iames ſaith, Iam. 3.) is pure, peaceable, gentle, and eaſie to be intreated, full of merciemercy and good fruits, without judging and diſſimulation. Which thing if we doe, then ſhall we follow no filthy doctrine nor counterfeited wiſdome, then ſhall we be no breakers of peace, then ſhall we be as glad to forgive, as we would be forgiven, glad to be reformed, rich and plentifull in the workes of merciemercy and good fruits of the old faith: then ſhall we be no quarrell-pickers or diſſemblers with any man: Then ſhall wee not only be found the maintainers of peace and all good order, but peaceably alſo, and in all gentle manner ſhall we (both in word and deed) ſow, ſpread abroad, and ſhew the fruit of that righteouſneſſe, which commeth only of God through Ieſus Chriſt.
If any of them that are gone (of high or low eſtate, pretending to be maintainers, favourers, ſetters forth, or ſcholers of Chriſts doctrine) hath in any condition diſſembled therewith, fallen from God, misbehaved himſelfe in the affaires of his Prince, miſgoverned his houſhold, maintained riot, vice and ſinne, or brought the good word of God into any evill report by his ungodly converſation (as I feare me, it be too true) let us beware by ſuch mens fall. Let us not receive the grace of God in vaine. For like as they that harden their hearts at Gods word, and ſpurne wilfully againſt it, are ſure of their damnation,Let the workes of God, which are paſt, be a warning to us. except they repent; Even ſo they that diſſemble withall, ſhall finde their judgement. Wherefore let us that have received the old true faith of Chriſt, not only be content to abide any ſtorme or trouble for it (yea to be mocked, ſcorned, perſecuted, and put to death therefore, if it ſo pleaſe God) but alſo unfainedly every man to his power, in his heart by fervent prayer, in his mouth by good words, and in all his bodie by vertuous converſation and good Chriſtian workes, helpe and labour, that the bleſſed word of God may have the due honour belonging thereunto, and that the ſame which it hath loſt through ungodly behaviour of ſome, may through the grace and goodneſſe of God bee wonne againe in our good living: That God may have of us better ſervants, our Prince truer ſubjects, and our neighbours more unfained lovers, than many have been before us. Amen.