be numbered to the sword, and in the slaughter shall they fall. Then shall they know that their works were vain, and that they placed their refuge in lies. Their vestments of spiders' webs, which are their vain works, shall not abide the force of the Lord's wind; but they shall stand naked, and the works of iniquity in their hands, to their extreme confusion. And this shall apprehend and overtake them, because they call light darkness, and darkness light. That which was sweet, they call bitter; and, by the contrary, that which was bitter, they call sweet, seeking salvation where none was to be found. But you, most Christian brethren, humbly I beseech, and in the blood of Jesus Christ I exhort, that you read diligently this present treatise. Not only with earnest prayer, that you may understand the same aright, but also with humble and due thanksgiving unto our most merciful Father, who of his infinite power hath so strengthened the hearts of his prisoners, that in despite of Satan they desist not yet to work, but in the greatest vehemency of tribulation seek the utility and salvation of others.

It is not my purpose to commend, or advance this work with words, as commonly writers of profane or human science do, seeing the verity is only to be commended by itself. But one thing boldly I dare affirm, that no man who cometh with a godly heart hereto, shall pass from the same without satisfaction. The firm and weak shall find strength and comfort, the rude and simple true knowledge and erudition, the learned and godly humble rejoicing, by the omnipotent Spirit of Jesus Christ, to whom be glory before his congregation. Amen.

This work following contains three principal parts. The first part, How man, being in trouble, should seek refuge at God alone. And that naturally all men are subject to trouble, and how profitable the same is to the godly. Last, of the cruel persecution of Satan and his members against the chosen of God.

The second part contains, How man is released of his trouble by faith and hope in the promises of God, and therefore declares the article of justification, proving that faith only justifieth before God, without any deserving or merit of our works, either preceding or following faith; with a solution to certain contrary arguments made by the

adversaries of faith and this article, with the true understanding of such Scriptures as they allege for them.

The third and last part contains the fruits of faith, which are good works, which every man should work according to their own vocation in every estate.

All this plainly may be perceived in the life of our first parent Adam, who by transgression of God's commandment fell into great trouble and affliction. From which he should never have been released, without the goodness of God had first called him; and, secondly, made unto him the promise of his salvation. The which Adam believing, before ever he wrought good works, was reputed just. After, during all his life, he continued in good works striving against Satan, the world, and his own flesh.

The Author, unto the faithful Readers.

The love, favour, mercy, grace, and peace of God the Father, God the Son, with the illumination of God the Holy Ghost, be with you all, my beloved brethren, who thirst after the knowledge of the word of God; and most fervently desire the same to the augmentation and increasing of the church of Christ, daily to flourish in godly wisdom and understanding, through faith unfeigned, ever working by love. Amen.

DECLARING

THE ARTICLE OF JUSTIFICATION.

CHAPTER I.

What should be the study of man; and what man should do in time of tribulation.

As desirous as the wild hart is, in the most burning heat and vehement drought, to seek the cold fountain or river of water, to refresh his thirst; so desirous should we be, O Lord God, to seek unto thee, our Creator and Maker, in all our troubles and afflictions; and say with the prophet David, Psal. xlii. xliii., Wherefore art thou sad or sorrow. ful, O thou my soul or spirit, and why troublest thou me? Believe and hope surely in God—that is, confide in his mercy, and call to remembrance the time by-past, how merciful, helpful, and propitious he hath been to the fathers, and delivered them of their troubles, Psal. Ixxvi. xxii. civ. Even so shall he do to thee if thou believest unfeignedly in him, and seekest him in his word; not inquiring his name, what they call him, nor what similitude, form, or shape he is of, for that is forbidden thee in his law. He is that he is; the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and the God of the fathers, to whom he made the promise of our redemption. He would show his name no other way to Moses, Exod. iii., but commanded him to pass to the people of Israel, and say unto them, He which is hath sent me to you that is my name from the beginning, and that is my memorial from one generation to another.

CHAPTER II.

*

How man comes to the knowledge of God. Where should man seek God; and how he should receive him. And by whom we should offer our petitions.

By faith we are taught to know God the Father, Maker, and Creator of heaven, earth, and all creatures; whom we should believe to be almighty, of infinite power, mercy, justice, and goodness; and that he created, in the beginning, all things of nought, as the Scripture teacheth us, Gen. i.

* That is, The manner how he will deliver.-Ed. 1584. These notes, it is supposed, were added by Knox.

1

And that, by the Word, that is, the Son of God, he made
all things which are made: who is equal to the Father in
divine nature and substance, without beginning, in the
bosom of the Father, who was with God in the beginning,
and was also God. And at the prefixed and preordinate
time, by God the Father was sent into the world, and made
man, taking our human nature, and clothing himself with
the same, and dwelled among us, John i. And after long
time conversing among us, teaching and preaching the
realm of heaven, being exercised in all troubles and cala-
mities, to the which this our mortal body is subject, except
sin only; finally, for our sakes, suffered the most vile death
for our redemption; and rose from the same the third day
for our justification; and after forty days ascended to the
heavens, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father, our
Advocate, as testify the Holy Scriptures of him, Luke xxiv.
Act i. ii.
And thereafter he sent the Holy Spirit to in-
struct his disciples of all verity, as he had promised before,
John xiv. xv. xvi., who, proceeding from the Father and the
Son, the third person of the Trinity, descended upon the
disciples in a visible sign of fiery tongues: by whom all
creatures are vivified and have life; are governed, ruled,
sustained, and comforted, without which all creatures would
turn to nought, Gen. vi. Psal. ciii.

Of this manner know thy God, three Persons distinct in one substance of Godhead; confound not the persons, nor divide the Godhead. But believe firmly and undoubtedly as thou art taught in the creed of the apostles, and- of the holy man Athanasius, confessed in the holy church of Christ. Ascend no higher in the speculation of the Trinity, than thou art taught in the Scriptures of God. If thou wilt have knowledge of the Father, seek him at the Son;* if thou wilt know the Son, seek him at the Father. For none knoweth the Son but the Father, and none may come to the knowledge of the Father but by the Son. And also Christ, being desired of Philip, one of his apostles, to show them the Father, answered, This long time I have been with you, and ye have not known me, Philip, John xiv. He who hath seen me hath seen the Father:† believest thou not

* That is, Give credit to the doctrine which Jesus the Son of God hath taught.-Ed. 1584.

†That is, Though my Father were present, no other works should he work than I have wrought in your presence: nor yet other doctrine should he teach to you than I have done.-Ed. 1584.

that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? Therefore, whatever thou desirest which is good, seek the same at the Son; for the Father hath given all things in his power. For that cause Christ commandeth us all to come to him, Matt. xi., and seeing he hath all things given to him, and also commandeth us all to come to him, great fools we are which seek any other way, of the which we are uncertain, either in heaven or in earth; as concerning our salvation we are sure he loveth us, and will hear us, according to his promise. Greater love than this can no man show, but that he put his life for his friends. Yea, verily, we being his enemies, he willingly gave himself to the death to get us life, and to reconcile us to the Father. Therefore, if we will have our thirst and drought quenched and refreshed, seek unto Christ, who is the fountain of living water, John iv., of the which, whosoever drinketh, shall never thirst, but it shall be to him a fountain of running water to everlasting life.

CHAPTER III.

The fruit of tribulation unto the faithful. God is a peculiar Father unto the faithful. What care he takes of them, and wherefore. Tribulation the sign of God's love. The judgment of the wicked concerning tribulation; what they do, and why they despair therein.

THIS vehement drought and thirst had David, the holy prophet, when he said, O God, thou art my God,* of most might and power; therefore I seek thee early in the morning; with most ardent desire my soul thirsteth after thee, and my flesh desires thee. Great and fervent was this desire of the holy man, as ye may read in the 62d Psalm, which teacheth us how profitable, wholesome, and commodious the troubles, afflictions, and incommodities of the world are to the faithful and godly men; insomuch that the flesh, which ever of its own nature is adversary and enemy to the spirit, Rom. viii., drawing and enticing the same from the true worshipping of God; with frequent troubles and calamities is so broken and debilitate, that it takes peace with the spirit, and altogether most fervently seeks God, saying, Better is thy goodness, mercy, and benignity, the which thou showest to thy faithful flock, than this corporeal life; therefore my lips shall never cease to * That is, Thou alone art sufficient to save, though all men be enemies.-Ed. 1584.