and trust to receive of God a certificate and sure looking for them, although they yet sensibly appear not unto us. And after he saith, He that cometh to God, must believe, [Heb. 11. 6.] both that he is, and that he is a merciful rewarder of welldoers. And nothing commendeth good men unto God so much as this assured faith and trust in him. Of this faith three things are specially to be noted. Se- are to be noted of faith. First, that this faith doth not lie dead in the heart, but Three things is lively and fruitful in bringing forth good works. cond, that without it can no good works be done, that shall be acceptable and pleasant to God. Third, what manner of good works they be that this faith doth bring forth. For the first, as the light cannot be hid, but will shew Faith is full of forth itself at one place or other; so a true faith cannot be good works. kept secret; but when occasion is offered, it will break out, and show itself by good works. And as the living body of a man ever exerciseth such things as belong to a natural and living body, for nourishment and preservation of the same, as it hath need, opportunity, and occasion; even so the soul that hath a lively faith in it will be doing alway some good work, which shall declare that it is living, and will not be unoccupied. Therefore, when men hear in the scriptures so high commendations of faith, that it maketh us to please God, to live with God, and to be the children of God; if then they phantasy that they be set at liberty from doing all good works, and may live as they lists, they trifle with God, and deceive themselves. And it is a manifest token that they be far from having the true and lively faith, and also far from knowledge what true faith meaneth. For the very sure and lively Christian faith is, not only to believe all things of God which are contained in holy scripture, but also is an earnest trust and confidence in God, that he doth regard us, and that he is careful over ust, as the father is over the child" whom he doth love, and that he will be merciful unto us for his only son's sake, and that we have our saviour Christ our perpetual advocate and priest, in whose only merits, oblation, and suffering, we do trust that our offences be continually washed and purged, whensoever we, repenting truly, do return to him with our whole heart, steadfastly determining with ourselves, looking for] expectation of A.B. 9 as the light] that the light D. r belong] belongeth A.B.C. list] lust C.D. t and that he is careful over us] and hath cure of us A.B. is over the child] of the child A.B. Jer. 17. [7.] [Ps. 1.3.] through his grace to obey and serve him in keeping his commandments, and never to turn back again to sin. Such is the true faith that the scripture doth so much commend, the which, when it seeth and considereth what God hath done for us, is also moved, through continual assistance of the Spirit of God, to serve and please him, to keep his favour, to fear his displeasure, to continue his obedient children, showing thankfulness again by observing or keeping his commandments, and that freely, for true love chiefly, and not for dread of punishment, or love of temporal reward, considering how clearly, without deservings, we have received his mercy and pardon freely. This true faith will show forth itself, and cannot long be Habak. 2. [4.] idle: for as it is written, The just man doth live by his faith. He neverz sleepeth, nor is idle when he woulda wake and be well occupied. And God by his prophet Jeremy saith, that he is a happy and blessed man, which hath faith and confidence in God. For he is like a tree set by the water-side, and spreadeth his roots abroad toward the moisture, and feareth not heat when it cometh; his leaf will be green, and will not cease to bring forth his fruit: even so, faithful men, putting away all fear of adversity, will show forth the fruit of their good works, as occasion is offered to do them. The Second Part of the Sermon of Faith. YE have heard in the first part of this sermon, that there be two kinds of faith, a dead and an unfruitful faith, and a faith lively, that worketh by charity: the first, to be unprofitable; the second, necessary for the obtaining of our salvation; the which faith hath charity always joined unto it, and is fruitful, and bringethe forth all good works. Now as concerning the same matter, you shall hear what followEcclus. 32.[24.] eth. The wise man saith, He that believeth in God will hearken unto his commandments. For if we do not shew ourselves faithful in our conversation, the faith which we pretend to have is but a feigned faith: because the true c. 2. Gen. 4. [4.] Christian faith is manifestly showed by good living, and not by words only, as St. Augustin saith, Good living cannot Libro de Fide be separated from true faith, which worketh by love. And et Operibus, St. Chrysostom saith, Faith of itself is full of good works: Sermo de Lege as soon as a man doth believe, he shall be garnished with et Fide. them. How plentiful this faith is of good works, and how it maketh the work of one man more acceptable to God than of another, St. Paul teacheth at large in the eleventh chapter to the Hebrews, saying, that faith made the oblation Heb. 11. [4, 7, of Abel better than the oblation of Cain. This made Noe to 8, 9.] build the ark. This made Abraham to forsake his country, Gen. 6. [22.] and all his friends, and to go into a far country, there [Gen. 11. 31. to dwell among strangers. So did also Isaac and Jacob, Ecclus. 44.[23.] depending or hanging only of the help and trust that they had in God. And when they came to the country which God promised them, they would build no cities, towns, nor houses; but lived like strangers in tents, that might every [Heb. 11. 9.] day be removed. Their trust was so much in God, that they set but little by any worldly thing, for that God had prepared for them better dwelling-places in heaven, of his own foundation and building. This faith made Abraham Gen. 22. [10.] ready at God's commandment to offer his own son and heir Ecctus. 44.[20.] Isaac, whom he loved so well, and by whom he was promised to have innumerable issue, among the which, one 12. 4.] should be born, in whom all nations should be blessed, [Gen. 22. 18. ] trusting so much in God, that though he were slain, yet that God was able by his omnipotent power to raise him from death, and perform his promise. He mistrusted not the promise of God, although unto his reason every thing seemed contrary. He believed verily that God would not forsake him in dearths and famine that was in the country. And in all other dangers that he was brought unto, he trusted ever that God should be his God, and his protector and defenderi, whatsoever he saw to the contrary. This faith wrought so in the heart of Moses, that he re-Exod. 2. [11.] fused to be taken for king Pharao his daughter's son, and [Heb. 11. 24, to have great inheritance in Egypt, thinking it better with the people of God to have affliction and sorrow, than with naughty men in sin to live pleasantly for a time. By faith [v. 27.] he cared not for the threatening of king Pharao: for his trust was so in God, that he passed not of the felicity of this world, but looked for the reward to come in heaven: setting his heart upon the invisible God, as if he had seen him ever f or hanging] omitted A.B. 8 dearth] death D. h should] would A.B.C. i and defender] omitted A.B. 25, 26.] Dan. 6. [22.] Exod. 14. [22.] present before his eyes. By faith the children of Israel Josh. 6. [20.] passed through the Red Sea. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down without stroke, and many other wonderful miracles have been wrought. In all good men that heretofore have been, faith hath brought forth their good works, and obtained the promises of God. Faith hath stopped the lions' mouths: faith hath quenched the force of fire: faith hath escaped the sword's edges: faith hath given weak men strength, victory in battle, overthrown the armies of infidels, raised the dead to life: faith hath made good men to take adversity in good part; some have been mocked and Heb. 11. [36- whipped, bound and cast in prison; some have lost all their Dan. 3. [27.] Heb. 11 [34, 35.] 40.] goods, and lived in great poverty; some have wandered in mountains, hills, and wilderness; some have been racked, some slain, some stoned, some sawn, some rent in pieces, some beheaded, some brent without mercy, and would not be delivered, because they looked to rise again to a better state. All these fathers, martyrs, and other holy men, whom St. Paul spake of, had their faith surely fixed in God, when all the world was against them. They did not only know God to be the lord', maker, and governor of all men in the world; but also they have a special confidence and trust, that he was and would be their God, their comforter, aider, helper, maintainer, and defender. This is the Christian faith, which these holy men had, and we also ought to have. And although they were not named Christian men, yet was it a Christian faith that they had; for they looked for all benefits of God the father, through the merits of his son Jesu Christ, as we now do. This difference is between them and us, that they looked when Christ should come, and we be in the time when he is come. Therefore, saith St. Augustin", The time is altered and changed, but not the faith. For we have both one faith in one Christ. The 2 Cor. 4. [13.] same Holy Ghost also that we have, had they, saith St. Paul. For as the Holy Ghost doth teach us to trust in God, and to call upon him as our Father, so did he teach them to say, Is. 43. [10, 11.] as it is written, Thou, Lord, art our father and redeemer; and thy name is without beginning, and everlasting. God gave them then grace to be his children, as he doth us now. But now, by the coming of our saviour Christ we have received more abundantly the Spirit of God in our In Johan. Tract. 45. [Is. 63. 16.] k beheaded] headed A.B.C. 1 the lord] lord A. in that they looked] for they looked A.B.C. n Augustin] Austen A. • and changed] omitted A. B. hearts, whereby we may conceive a greater faith, and a surer trust, than many of them had. But in effect they and we be all one: we have the same faith that they had in God, and they the same that we have. And St. Paul so much extolleth their faith, because we should no less, but rather more, give ourselves wholly unto Christ, both in profession and living, now when Christ is come, than the old fathers did before his coming. And by all the declaration of St. Paul, it is evident, that the true, lively, and Christian faith is no dead, vain, or unfruitful thing, but a thing of perfect virtue, of wonderful operation or working, and strength, bringing forth all good motions and good works. All holy scripture agreeably beareth witness, that a true lively faith in Christ doth bring forth good works; and therefore every man must examine and try¶ himself diligently, to know whether he have the same true lively faith in his heart unfeignedly, or not; which he shall know by the fruits thereof. Many that professed the faith of Christ were in this error, that they thought they knew God, and believed in him, when in their life they declared the contrary: which error St. John in his first Epistle confuting, writeth in this wise: Hereby we are certified that we know 1 John 2. [3, 4.] God, if we observe his commandments. He that saith he knoweth God, and observeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. And again he saith, Whosoever sinneth doth not see God, nor know him: Let 1 John 3. [6, 7.] no man deceive you, well-beloved children. And moreover he saith, Hereby we know that we be of the truth, and so we 1 John 3. [19. shall persuade our hearts before him. For if our own hearts reprove us, God is above our hearts, and knoweth all things. Well-beloved, if our hearts reprove us not, then have we confidence in God, and shall have of him whatsoever we ask, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that please him. And yet further he saith, Every man that believeth that Jesus is Christ, is born of 1 John 5. [1.] God; and we know that whosoever is born of God doth not sin: But he that is begotten of Godt purgeth himself", and [1 John 5. 18.] the devil doth not touch him. And finally he concludeth, r P or working] omitted A.B. ¶ and try] omitted A.B. professed] profess B. • his commandments] is commandments B. t But he that is begotten of God] 22.1 |