I doubt not, but we can saie all, Lord, Lord; but I feare, God may saie vnto vs, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their harts be far from me. God desireth nothing but the hart, and saith, He will be worshipped in spirit and truth. Christ condemned all hypocrisie and feigned holines, and taught sincere, pure, and true godlinesse; but we, worse than frantike, or blinde, will not followe Christs doctrine, but trust to mens doctrines, iudgements, and saiengs, which dimmeth our eies, and so the blind leadeth the blind, and both fall into the dich. Trulie, in my simple and vnlearned iudgement, no mans doctrine is to be esteemed, or preferred, like vnto Christs and the apostles; nor to be taught, as a perfect and true doctrine, but euen as it doth accord and agree with the doctrine of the gospell.

But yet, those that be called spirituall pastours, although they be most carnall, as it doth verie euidentlie and plainelie appeare by their fruites, are so blinded with the loue of themselues, and the world, that they extoll mens inuentions and doctrines, before the doctrine of the gospell. And when they be not able to mainteine their own inuentions and doctrines, with anie iot of the scripture, then they most cruellie persecute them that be contrarie to the same. Be such the louers of Christ? Naie, naie, they be the louers of the wicked Mammon, neither regarding God, nor his honour. For filthie lucre hath made them almost mad, but frantike they be doubtlesse. Is not this miserable state of spirituall men in the world much to be lamented of all good Christians? But yet I cannot allowe, neither praise all kind of lamentation, but such as may stand with Christian charitie.

THE EIGHT CHAPTER.

Of the Fruites and Rules of true Christianitie for Men to followe,

CHARITIE suffereth long, and is gentle, enuieth not, vpbraideth no anan, casteth, frowardlie, no faults in mens teeth, but referreth all things to God; being angrie without sinne, reforming others without slanders, carrieng euer a store-house of mild words to pearce the stonie-harted men. I would all Christians, that, like as they haue professed Christ, would so endeuour themselues to folowe him in godlie liuing. For we haue not put on Christ, to liue anie more to our selues, in the vanities, delightes, and pleasures of the world, and the flesh; suffering the concupiscence and carnalitie of the flesh to haue his full swinge, for we must walke after the spirit, and not after the flesh; for the spirit is spirituall, and coueteth spirituall things, and the flesh carnall, and desireth carnall things. The men, regenerate by Christ, despise the world, and all the vanities and pleasures thereof; they be no louers of themselues, for they feele how euill and infirme they be, not being able to do anie good thing without the helpe of God, from whom they knowledge all goodnesse to proceede.

They flatter not themselues, with thinking euerie thing, which shineth to the world, to be good and holie; for they knowe all externe and out

ward works, be they neuer so glorious and faire to the world, may be done of the euill as well as of the good: And, therefore, they haue, in verie little estimation, the outward shew of holinesse, because they be all spirituall, casting vp their eies vpon heauenlie things; neither looking, nor regarding the earthlie things, for they be to them vile and abiect. They haue also the simplicitie of the doue, and the policie of the serpent; for, by simplicitie, they haue a desire to do good to all men, and to hurt no man, no, though they haue occasion giuen; and, by policie, they giue not, nor minister anie iust cause to anie man, whereby their doctrine might be reproued. They be not, also, as a reede shaken with cuerie winde; but, when they be blasted with the tempests and stormes of the world, then remaine they most firme, stable, aud quiet, feeling in spirit, that God, as their best father, doth send, and . . suffer all things for their benefit and commoditie. Christ is to them a rule, a line, an example of Christian life; they be neuer offended at anie thing, although occasion be ministred vnto them: For, like as Christ, when Peter would haue withdrawne him from death, answered, and said, 'Go backe from me, Sathan, for thou offendest me;' that is, As much as lieth in thee, thou giuest me occasion, with thy words, to make me withdrawe my selfe from death, although I yeelded not thereto; for this, thy procurement, can not extinguish the burning desire I haue to shed my bloud for my chosen. Euen so the perfect men are neuer offended at anie thing; for, although the world were full of sinne, they would not withdrawe themselues from doing of good, nor waxe cold in the loue of the Lord. And much lesse they would be moued to do euill, yea rather, they be so much the more noued to do good.

The regenerated by Christ are neuer offended at the works of God, because they knowe, by faith, that God doth all things well; and that he can not erre, neither for want of power, nor by ignorance, nor malice; for they knowe him to be almightie, and that he seeth all things, and is most abundantlie good. They see, and feele in spirit, that, of that will most highlie perfect, can not but proceede most perfecte works. Likewise, they be not offended at the works of men; for, if they be good, they are moued, by them, to take occasion to folowe them, and to reknowledge the goodnes of God, with giuing of thanks, and praising his name dailie the more. But if they be indifferent, and such as may be done with good and euill intents, they judge the best part, thinking they may be done to a good purpose, and so they be edified. But, if they be so euill, that they can not be taken in good part, by anie meanes, yet they be not offended, although occasion be giuen; naie, rather, they be edified, in asmuch as they take occasion to be better, though the contrarie be ministred to them.

Then begin they to thinke, and saie thus: If God had not preserued me with his grace, I should have committed this sinne, and worsse. how much am I bound to confesse and knowledge the goodnesse of God!' They go also thinking and saieng further: He that hath sinned, may be one of Gods elect; peraduenture the Lord hath suffered him to fall, to the intent he may the better knowe himselfe. I knowe he is one of them that Christ hath shed his bloud for, and one of my Christian brethren; trulie, I will admonish and rebuke him, and, in case I find him

desperate, I will comfort him, and shewe him the great goodnesse and mercie of God in Christ; and, with godlie consolations, I will see if I can lift him vp.' And thus ye may see how the men, regenerated by Christ, of eucrie thing, win and receiue fruit.

THE NINT CHAPTER.

Of the Fruits of Infidelitie, and Offence of Weakelings.

AND contrariwise, the yonglings, and vnperfect, are offended at small trifles, taking euerie thing in euill part, grudging and murmuring against their neighbour; and so much the more, as they shew themselues feruent in their so doing, they are iudged of the blind world, and of themselues, great zeale-bearers to God. If this were the greatest euill of these yonglings, it were not the most cuill; but I feare they be so blind and ignorant, that they are offended, also, at good things, and iudge nothing good, but such as they embrace and esteeme to be good, with murmuring against all such as folowe not their waics. If there be anic of this sort, the Lord giue them the light of his truth, that they may increase and growe in godlie strength. I suppose, if such yonglings and vnperfect had seen Christ, and his disciples, eate meate with vnwashen hands, or not to haue fasted with the pharisies, they would haue beene offended, seeing him a breaker of mens traditions. Their affections dispose their eies to see through other men, and they see nothing in themselues; where charitie, although it be most full of cies, to see the faults of others, whome it coueteth to amend, thinketh none euill, but discreetlie, and rightlie, interpreteth all things, by the which more iustlie and trulie eueri thing is taken.

Now, these superstitious weaklings, if they had been conuersant with Christ, and scene him leade his life sometime with women, sometime with Samaritans, with publicanes, sinners, and with the pharisics, they would haue murmured at him. Also, if they had seene Marie powre vpon Christ the pretious ointment, they would baue said, with ludas, This ointment might haue beene sold, and giuen to the poore.' If they also had seene Christ, with whips, driue out of the temple those that bought and sold, they would, foorthwith, haue iudged Christ to haue beene troubled and moued with anger, and not by zeale of charitie. How would they have beene offended, if they had seene him go to the Lewes fcast, heale a sicke man vpon the sabbath daie, practise with the woman of Samaria, yea, and shew vnto hir of his most diuine doctrine and lif? They would haue taken occasion to haue hated and persecuted him, as the scribes and pharisics did; and euen so should Christ, the Sauiour of the World, haue beene to them an offence and ruine.

There be an other kind of little ones vnperfecte, which are offended after this sort and maner. As when they see one that is reputed and esteemed holie, to commit siune, foorthwith they learne to do that, and woorse, and waxe cold in dooing of good, and confirme themselues in euill; and then they excuse their wicked life, publishing the same with

the slander of their neighbour. If anie man reprooue them, they saie: Such a man did this, and woorse. So it is euident, that such persons would denie Christ, if they sawe other men doo the same. If they went to Rome, and sawe the enormities of the prelates, which is said to reigne there amongst them, I doubt not, if they sawe one of them sinne, which wer reputed and taken for holie, their faith should be lost, but not the faith of Christ, which they neuer possessed; but they should loose that humane opinion which they had of the goodnesse of the prelates: For, if they had the faith of Christ, the Holie Ghost should be a witnes vnto them; the which should be mightie in them, that, in case all the world would denie Christ, yet they would remaine firme and stable in the true faith.

The pharisies also tooke occasion of the euill of others, to waxe hautie and proud, taking themselues to be men of greater perfection than anie other, bicause of their vertue; euen as the pharisie did when he sawe the publicans submission. And so they be offended with euerie little thing, judging euill, murmuring against their neighbour; and, for the same, they are, of manie, reputed, and taken for the more holie and good, whereas, in deed, they be the more wicked. The most wicked persons are offended, cuen at themselues; for, at their little stabilitie in goodnesse, and of their delectable and euill life, they take occasion to despaire, where they ought the more to commit themselues to God, asking mercie for their offences; and, foorthwith, to giue thanks, that it hath pleased him, of his goodnesse, to suffer them so long a time.

But what needeth it anie more to saie, the euill men are offended euen at the workss of God? They see God suffer sinners, therefore, thinke they, sinne displeaseth him not. And, bicause they see not the good rewarded with riches, oftentimes they imagine that God loueth them not: It seemeth to them God is parciall, bicause he hath elected some, and some reprooued. And, therefore, they saic, that the elected be sure of saluation; taking, by that, occasion to do euill inough, saieng, Whatsoeuer God hath determined, shall be performed. If also they see the good men oppressed, and the euill men exalted, they iudge God vniust, taking occasion to liue euille, saieng, Inasmuch as God fauoureth the naughtie men, let vs doo euill inough, to the intent he doo vs good. If then the wicked be offended, euen at God, it is no woonder if they be offended at those that followe and walke in his paths and waies.

THE TENTH CHAPTER.

Of carnall Gospellers, by whose euill Living, Gods Truth is shamefullie slandered.

I WILL now speake with great dolor and heauinesse in my hart, of a sort of people which be in the world, that be called professors of the gospell, and, by their words, doo declare and shew they be much affected to the same: But, I am afraid, some of them doo build vpon the sand, as Simon Magus did, making a weake foundation; I meane, they make

not Christ their chiefest foundation, professing his doctrine, of a sincere, pure, and zealous mind; but either, for bicause they would be called gospellers, to procure some credit and good opinion of the true and verie fauourers of Christs doctrine, either to find out some carnall libertie, either to be contentious disputers, finders, or rebukers of other mens faults, or else, finallic, to please and flatter the world. Such gospellers are an offence, and a slander to the word of God, and make the wicked to reivice and laugh at them, saieng, Behold, I praie you, their faire fruits. What charitic, what discretion, what godlinesse, holinesse, or puritie of life, is among them? Be not they great auengers, foule gluttons, slanderers, backbiters, adulterers, fornicators, swearers, and blasphemers, yea, and wallowe and tumble in all sinnes? These be the fruits of their doctrine.

And thus it may be seene, how the word of God is euill spoken of, through licentious and cuill liuing; and yet the word of God is all holic, pure, sincere, and godlie, being the doctrine and occasion of all holie and pure liuing. It is the wicked that peruert all geod things into cuill, for an cuill tree can not bring foorth good fruit; and, when good seede is sowne in a barren and cuill ground, it yeeldeth no good corne; and so it fareth by the word of God: For when it is heard, and knowne of wicked men, it bringeth no good fruit; but when it is sowne in good ground, I meane the harts of good people, it bringeth foorth good fruit abundantlie; so that the want and fault is in men, and not in the word of God. I praie God, all men and women may haue grace to become meete tillage for the fruits of the gospell, and to leaue onlie the iangling of it. For onlie speaking of the gospell maketh not men good Christians, but good talkers, except their facts and works agree with the same; so then their speech is good, bicause their harts be good. And euen as much talke of the word of God, without practising the same in our Jiuing, is cuill and detestable in the sight of God; so it is a lamentable thing to heare, how there be manie, in the world, that do not well digest the reading of scripture, and do commend and praise ignorance, and saie, That much knowledge of Gods word is the originall of all dissention, scismes, and contention; and maketh men hautie, proud, and presumptuous, by reading of the same.

This maner of saieng is no lesse than a plaine blasphemie against the Holie Ghost; for the spirit of God is the author of his word, and so the Holie Ghost is made the author of cuill, which is a most great blasphemie, and, as the scripture saith, a sinne that shail not be forgiuen in this world, neither in the other to come. It were all our parts and duties, to procure and secke all the waics and meanes possible, to haue more knowledge of Gods word set foorth abroade in the world, and not allow ignorance, and discommend knowledge of Gods word, stopping the mouthes of the vnlearned, with subtile and craftie persuasions of philosophic and sophistrie, whereof commeth no fruite, but a great perturbation of the mind, to the simple and ignorant, not knowing which waie to turn them. For how, is it not extreame wickednesse, to charge the holic sanctified word of God with the offences of man? To alledge the scriptures to be perillous learning, because certaine readers thereof fall into heresies ?