Christ, likewise, hath overcome death in a more glorious manner, if it be possible, because he hath not taken it awaie, but leauing vniuersallie all subiect to the same. He hath given so much vertue and spirit, that, whereas afore we passed thereto with great feare, now we be bold through the spirit, for the sure hope of the resurrection, that we receiue it with ioie. It is now no more bitter, but sweete; no more feared, but desired; it is no death, but life.

And, also, it hath pleased God, that the infirmities and aduersities do remain to the sight of the world; but the children of God are, by Christ, made so strong, righteous, whole, and sound, that the troubles of the world be comforts of the spirit, the passions of the flesh are medicines of the soul; for all maner of things worke to their commoditie and profite; for they, in spirit, feele, that God, their Father, doth gouerne them, and disposeth all things for their benefit; therefore they feele themselues sure. In persecution, they are quiet and peacefull; in trouble, they are without weerinesse, feares, anxieties, suspicions, miseries; and, finallie, all the good and euill of the world worketh to their commoditie.

Moreouer, they see that the triumph of Christ hath beene so great, that not onelie he hath subdued and vanquished all our enemics, and the power of them, but he hath overthrowne and vanquished them, after such a sort, that all things serue to our helth. He might and could haue taken them all awaie, but where then should haue beene our victorie, palme, and crowne? For we dailie have fights in the flesh, and, by the succour of grace, haue continuall victories ouer sinne; whereby we haue cause to glorifie God, that, by his Sonne, hath weakened our enemie, the diuell, and, by his spirit, giueth vs strength to vanquish his ofspring.

So doo we knowledge, dailie, the great triumph of our Sauiour, and reioice in our own fights; the which we can no wise impute to anie wisdome of this world, seeing sinne to increase by it; and, where worldlie wisedome most gouerneth, there most sinne ruleth; for, as the world is enemie to God, so also the wisdome thereof is aduerse to God, and, therefore, Christ hath declared, and discouered the same for foolishness. And, although he could haue taken awaie all worldlie wisdome, yet he hath left it for his greater glorie, and triumph of his chosen vessels. For before, whereas it was our ruler against God, now, by Christ, we are serued of it for God, as of a slaue in worldlie things; albeit, in supernaturall things, the same is not to be vnderstood. And further, if, at anie time, men would impugne, and gainsaie vs, with the wisdome of the world, yet we haue, by Christ, so much supernaturall light of the truth, that we make a mock of all those that repugne the truth.

Christ also, vpon the crosse, hath triumphed ouer the world. First, bicause he hath discouered the same to be naught; that whereas it was couered with the vaile of hypocrisie, and the vesture of morall vertues: Christ hath shewed, that, in Gods sight, the righteousnesse of the world is wickednesse, and he hath yeelded witnes, that the works of men, not regenerated by him in faith, are euill; and so Christ hath judged and condemned the world for naught. Furthermore, he hath giuen to all

his so much light and spirit, that they knowe it, and dispraise the same; yea and tread it vnder their feet, with all vaine honours, dignities, and pleasures; not taking the faire promises, neither the offers which it doth present; naie, they rather make a scorne of them. And, as for the threatnings and force of the world, they nothing feare.

Now, therefore, we may see how great the victorie and triumph of Christ is, who hath deliuered all those, the father gaue him, from the power of the diuell, concelling, vpon the Crosse, the writing of our debts. For he hath deliuered vs from the condemnation of sinne, from the bondage of the lawe, from the feare of death, from the danger of the world, and from all euills in this life, and in the other to come. And he hath inriched vs, made vs noble, and most highlie happie, after such a glorious and triumphant waie, as can not with tongue be expressed; and, therefore, we are forced to saie, his triumph is maruellous.

It is also seene and knowne, that Christ is the true Messias; for he hath deliuered man from all euills, and, by him, man hath all goodnesse, so that he is the true Messias. Therefore, all other helpers be but vaine, and counterfeited sauiours; seeing that, by this, our Messias, Christ, wholie and onlie we be deliuered from all euils, and, by him, we haue all goodnesse. And that this is true, it is euident and cleare, bicause the verie true Christian is a Christian by Christ. And the true Christian feeleth inwardlie, by Christ, so much goodnesse of God, that euen troublous life and death be sweet vnto him, and miseries happie. The true Christian, by Christ, is disburdened from the seruitude of the lawe, hauing the lawe of grace, grauen by the spirit, inhabiting his hart, and from sinne that reigned in him, from the power of the infernall spirits, from damnation, and from euerie euill; and is made a Sonne of God, a Brother of Christ, heire of heauen, and Lord of the world; so that, in Christ and by Christ, he possesseth all good things.

But let vs knowe, that Christ yet fighteth in spirit, in his elect vessels, and shall fight cuen to the daie of iudgment; at whiche daie shall that great enemie, death, be wholie destroied, and shall be no more. Then shall the Children of God reioice on him, saieng, O death, where is thy victorie and sting? there shall be then no more trouble nor sinne; naie, rather, none euill, but heauen for the good, and hell for the wicked. Then shall, wholie, be discouered, the victorie and triumph of Christ, who, after Paule, shall present vnto his Father the Kingdome, together with his chosen saued by him.

It was no little fauour towards his children, that Christ was chosen of God to saue vs, his elect, so highlic, by the waie of the crosse. Paule calleth it a grace, and a most singular grace. We may well thinke, that he, hauing becne, to the world, so valiant a captaine of God, was full of light, grace, vertue, and spirit; therefore, he might iustlie saie, Consummatum est. Wee seeing then, that the triumph and victorie of our captaine, Christ, is so maruellous, glorious, and noble, to the which war we be appointed; let vs force our selues to folowe him, with bearing our crosse, that we may haue felowship with him in his kingdome.

THE SIXT CHAPTER.

That we ought to submit our selues to the Schoole of the Crosse, and stil¿ looke and learne in the booke of the Crucifix.

TRULIE, it may be most iustlie verified, that to behold Christ crucified, in spirit, is the best meditation that can be. I certeinlie neuer knew mine owne miseries, and wretchednes, so well by booke, admonition, or learning, as I haue done, by looking into the spirituall booke of the crucifix. I lament much, I haue passed so manie yeeres, not regarding that diuine booke; but I iudged, and thought my selfe to be well instructed in the same; whereas now I am of this opinion, that if God would suffer me to liue here a thousand yeeres, and I should studie continuallie in the same diuine booke, I should not be filled with the contemplation thereof. Neither hold I my selfe contented, but alwaies haue a great desire, to learne and studie more therein. I neuer knewe mine owne wickednes, neither lamented for my sinnes trulie, vntil the time God inspired me with his grace, that I looked in this booke; then I began to see perfectlie, that mine owne power and strength could not help me, and that I was in the Lords hand, euen as the claie is in the potters hand; then I began to crie, and saie:

Alas! Lord, that euer I haue so wickedlie offended thee, being to me, from the beginning, so gratious, and so good a father, and, most speciallie, now hast declared and shewed thy goodness vnto me, when, in the time, I haue done thee most iniurie, to call me, and also to make me knowe, and take thee for my Sauior and Redeemer.'

Such be the wonderfull works of God, to call sinners to repentance, and to make them to take Christ, his welbeloued Sonne, for their Sauiour; this is the gift of God, and of all Christians to be required and desired. For, except this great benefit of Christ crucified be felt and fixed surelie in mans hart, there can be no good worke done, acceptable before God; for, in Christ, is all fulnesse of the godhead, and, in him, are hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge: euen he is the water of life, whereof whosoeuer shall drink, he shall neuer more thirst, but it shall be in him a well of water, springing vp into euerlasting life. St. Paule saith, there is no damnation to them that are in Christ, which walke not after the flesh, but after the spirit. Moreouer he saith, If, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God, by the death of his Son, much more, seeing we are reconciled, we shall be preserued by his death. It is no little or small benefit we haue receiued by Christ, if we consider what he hath done for vs, as I haue perfectlie declared heretofore. Wherefore I praie the Lord, that this great benefit of Christ crucified may be stedfastlie fixed and printed in all Christians harts, that they may be true louers of God, and worke as children for Loue, and not as seruants, compelled with threatenings, or prouoked with hire.

The sincere and pure louers of God doo embrace Christ, with such feruencie of spirit, that they reioice in hope, be bold in danger, suffer in aduersitie, continue in praier, blesse their persecutors. Further, they be not wise in their owne opinion, neither high-minded in their prosperitic, neither abashed in their aduersitie, but humble and gentle alwaies to all men: For they knowe, by their faith, they are members all of one bodie, and that they haue possessed all one God, one faith, one baptisme, one ioie, and one saluation. If these pure and sincere louers of God were thicke sowne, there should not be so much contention and strife growing on the fields of our religion, as there is. Well, I shall praie to the Lord, to take all contention and strife awaie, and that the sowers of sedition may haue mind to cease their labour, or to sowe it among the stones, and to haue grace to sowe gratious vertues, where they may both take roote, and bring foorth fruit, with sending alsò a godlie vnitie and concord amongst all Christians, that we may serue the Lord in true holinesse of life.

THE SEUENT CHAPTER.

A Christian bewailing of the miserable ignorance and blindnesse of men.

THE example of good liuing is required of all Christians, but speciallie in the ecclesiasticall pastors and shepheards. For they be called, in scripture, workmen with God, disbursers of Gods secrets, the light of the world, the salt of the earth; at whose hands all other should take comfort in working, knowledge of Gods will, and sight to become chitdren of light, and taste of seasonable wisdome. They haue, or should haue, the holie spirit, abundantlie to pronounce and set foorth the word of God, in veritie and truth. If ignorance and blindnesse reigne amongst vs, they should, with the truth of God's word, instruct and set vs in the truth, and direct vs in the waie of the Lord.

But thanks be giuen vnto the Lord, that hath now set vs such a godlic and learned King, in these latter daics, to reigne ouer vs; that, with the vertue and force of Gods word, hath taken awaie the vailes and mists of errours, and brought vs to the knowledge of the truth, by the light of Gods word; which was so long hid, and kept vnder, that the people were nigh famished, and hungred, for lacke of spirituall food. Such was the charitie of the spirituall curats and shepheards. But our Moses, and most godlie wise gouernour and king, hath deliuered vs out of the captiuitie and bondage of Pharao. I meane by this Moses, King Henrie the Eight, my most souereigne fauourable lord and husband; one, if Moses had figured anie more than Christ, through the excellent grace of God, meete to be an other expressed veritie of Moses conquest ouer Pharao. And I meane by this Pharao, the Bishop of Rome, who hath beene, and is a greater persecutor of all true Christians, than euer was Pharao of the children of Israel; for he is a persecutor of the gospell and grace, a setter foorth of all superstition and counterfeit holinesse, bringing manie soules to hell with his alchimic and counterfeit

monie, deceiving the poore soules, vnder the pretence of holinesse; but 10 mvch the greater shall be his damnation, bicause he deceiueth and robbeth vnder Christs mantell. The Lord keep and defend all men from his iuglings and sleits, but speciallie the poore, simple, and vnlearned soules. And this lesson I would all men had of him, that, when they begin to mislike his dooing, then onlie begin they to like God, and certeinlie not before.

As for the spirituall pastors and shepherds, I thinke they will cleaue and sticke to the word of God, euen to the death; to vanquish all Gods enemies, if neede shall require; all respects of honour, dignitie, riches, welth, and their priuate commodities, laid apart; following also the examples of Christ, and his chosen apostles, in preaching and teaching sincere and holesome doctrine, and such things as make for peace, with godly lessons, wherewith they may edifie others; that euerie man may walke after his vocation, in holinesse of life, in vnite and concord, which vnitie is to be desired of all true Christians.

It is much to be lamented, the schismes, varieties, contentions, and disputations, that haue beene, and are in the world, about Christian religion, and no agreement nor concord of the same among the learned men. Truelie, the diuell hath beene the sower of the seede of sedition, and shall be the mainteiner of it, euen till Gods will be fulfilled. There is no war so cruell and euill as this; for the war, with sword, killeth hut the bodies, and this slaieth manic soules; for the poore vnlearned persons remaine confused, and almost eueric one beleeueth and worketh after his owne waie; and yet there is but one truth of Gods word, by the which we shall be saucd. Happie be they that receiue it, and most vnhappie are they which neglect and persecute the same: For it shall be more easie for Sodom and Gomor, at the daie of iudgement, than for them. And not without iust cause, if we consider the beneuolence, goodnesse, and mercie of God, who hath declared his charitie towards vs, greater, and more inestimable, than euer he did to the Hebrues. For they liued vnder shadowes and figures, and were bound to the lawe. And Christ, we being his greatest enemies, hath deliuered vs from the bondage of the lawe, and hath fulfilled all that was figured in their lawe, and also in their prophesies; sheading his owne pretious bloud, to make vs the children of his father, and his brethren, and hath made vs free, setting vs in a godlie libertie: I meane not licence to sinne, as manie be glad to interpret the same, when as Christian libertie is godlie intreated of.

Trulie, it is no good spirit that moueth men to find fault at euerie thing, and, when things may be well taken, to peruert them into an euill sense and meaning. There be, in the world, manic speakers of holines and good works, but verie rare and seldome is declared, which be the good and holie works. The works of the spirit be neuer almost spoken of, and, therefore, verie few knowe what they be. I am able to iustifie the ignorance of the people to be great, not in this matter alone, but in manic other, the which were most necessarie for Christians to knowe. Because I haue had iust proofe of the same, it maketh me thus much to saic, with no little sorowe and greefe in my hart, for such miserable ignorance and blindnesse amongest the people.