The amendment of life comprised in fower bookes: faithfully translated according to the French coppie. Written by Master Iohn Taffin, minister of the word of God at Amsterdam.

The sixt cause of amendment, deriued of these two names, Iesus, Christ. Chap. 6.

THe angel of God being sent vnto Ioseph when the virgine was conceiued,* 1.1 declared vnto him that she should bring forth a sonne, and commaunded him to name him Iesus, and for a reason of this name, added, That he should saue his people from their sinnes, according whereto, as also to shew that he is our Sauiour, the angel that declared his natiuitie to the Shepheards, said vnto them:* 1.2 This day is borne the Sauiour, which is Christ. As therefore it is this Christ that commandeth vs to amend, so the consideration of these two names may stand vs in great stead to moue vs to yeeld vnto him al obedience, and so to amend our liues. First, this name Iesus, signify∣ing a Sauiour, admonisheth vs, that by nature we are lost, and that there is no other saluation for vs, but in him onely, as it is written,* 1.3 that There is no other name vnder heauen giuen vnto man, whereby we must be saued. This onely tytle therefore of Sauiour, doth already

binde vs to acknowledge that we are not our owne, but his that hath saued vs from euerlasting destruction: and that in that consi∣deration we are bound to deny our selues that we may liue,* 1.4 not to our selues, neither after our discretion and will, but according to the good pleasure of our Sauiour, so that not liuing to our selues, but he liuing in vs, we may amend our liues.

2 But let vs moreouer consider what manner of destruction this is wherefro he hath saued vs: it is from the fire of hell, from the curse and wrath of God, from darkenesse, from the woorme that will euer be gnawing, and from the sorrowes that engender eter∣nall weeping and gnashing of teeth: this is a merueilous enforce∣ment of our duetye to amend. And indeede, if thou fallest into a deep riuer, in apparant danger of drowning, if any man should cast thee a rope, or himselfe leap into the water to saue thy life, thou canst not sufficientlye confesse and acknowledge thy selfe his debtor, to doe him pleasure and seruice all the dayes of thy life. But we were not onely in danger of falling into hell, but were al∣ready fallen, euen from our infancy, and dayly through our sinnes fell deeper and deeper: yet Christ cast vs not in a rope to pull vs vp and saue vs, but threw himselfe into our sea of woe, into our hel, to be shorte, into horrible death, wherein wee were drowned, to plucke vs foorth: with what affection then ought we to say vnto him: Lord we are more then bound to loue, honor, serue, please and obey thee in all that we may with our whole hearts, all the dayes of our life? Ionas being in the bottome of the sea in the Whales bellie, protested that being deliuered, hee would sacrifice to the Lord a Song of thankesgiuing,* 1.5 that hee would paye vnto him his vowes, namely besides his prayses, that he would no more diso∣bey God, but readyly and willingly would obeye him, as in effect he well shewed, when being againe commaunded to go to Nini∣uie, he went boldely, and spake freelye in the name of God. Now if we could feele according as we ought, that our sinnes doe dayly cast vs, into the bottome not of the sea, but of hell: and that by them not a fish, but the deuill doth swallow vs vp: what protesta∣tions would we make to Iesus Christ, to holde our liues and salua∣tions of him in case he would vouchsafe to plucke vs out of this pit and gulfe of death? how feruently would we vow to praise him, and to renounce all rebellion and disobedience, and to amend our liues? Being therefore by such a Sauiour drawen out of such a gulf of death, are we not bound to perfourme such vowes and by a∣mendment of life to correct our passed disobedience with Ionas,

and to become ready and willing to doe whatsoeuer he shall com∣maund vs? If thou beest vpon a scaffold ready to bee beheaded for thy drunkennesse or adulterye, and thereupon hast a pardon and thy life saued, vpon condition, thou fallest no more thereinto: how hartily wilt thou promise, with thy hand subscribe, and with thy tung swear, that thou wilt neuer more cōmit adultery or drunken∣nes: that thou wilt abhorre all tauerns, and drunkards, all whores and bauds, and to be short, amend thy life? Now Iesus Christ hath saued thee, not from an apparant danger of death, but euen from death it self: and not from the death of body, but from euerlasting death. And what doth he require of thee? he cōmandeth thee to a∣mend thy life: art thou not bound so to do? shuldst thou not feele thy hart euen open to promise and sweare to amend, and to shun al occasions that might procure thee to displease and offend him?

3. How often doth the Lord represent to his people of Israel their deliuery out of Egipt, thereby to make them to vnderstand how much they are bound to loue him and to keep his commaun∣dements? as a preface at the publishing of his law hee maketh this protestation: I am the Lord thy God, that hath brought thee out of the land of Egipt, out of the house of bondage. And in another place,* 1.6 I am the Lord thy God, that hath brought thee out of the land of Egipt, keepe my statutes and my lawes, and doe them. Again,* 1.7 Prophane not the name of my holines, for I will be sanstified among the children of Israel, I am the Lord that do sanctifie you,* 1.8 and that haue brought you out of the land of Egipt, to be your God. Moreouer, he commandeth all parents to shew their children of this bond wherein they stand bound to o∣bey his commaundements, saying: When thy sonne shal hereafter aske thee, saying: What mean these testimonies, and ordinaunces and lawes,* 1.9 which the Lord our God hath commaunded you, thou shalt say vnto thy sonne, Wee were Pharaohs bondmen in Egipt, but the Lord brought vs out of Egipt with a mighty hand: And the Lord shewed signes and won∣ders, great and euill vpon Egipt, vpon Pharaoh, and vpon all his house∣holde before our eyes: And brought vs out from thence, to bring vs in, and to giue vs the land which he sware vnto our fathers. Therefore the Lord hath commaunded vs to doe all these ordinances, and to feare the Lord our God, that it may goe euer well with vs, and that hee may preserue vs aliue, as at this present.* 1.10 And whereas their children in the dayes of Micheas did not walk according to this bond to obey Gods com∣mandements he sharply reproueth their ingratitude saying: My peo∣ple, what haue I done to thee, or wherin haue I grieued thee? Answer me: for I haue caused thee to returne out of the lande of Egipt, &c.

And this doth he alledge, to shew that he had iust cause as the pro∣phet declareth, to take the mountains and the foundations of the earth to witnes and iudge of his iust complaint and accusation a∣gainst the ingratitude and disobedience of his people.

4 If the deliuery from the bondage of Egipt were iustly obiec∣ted to the people of Israel to remember them of their duetye, to loue God and to walke in his holy ordinances: how much rather ought this name Iesus, by aduertizing vs of our deliuerye from the bondage and cursed tiranny of the deuil, and out of the furnace of euerlasting fire, make vs bonde and affectionate to the loue of Ie∣sus, and louing him with our whole harts, to amend our liues accor∣ding to his commaundement? Zachary the Father of S. Iohn Bap∣tist, saith in his song, that this was the oath that hee sware to their father Abraham,* 1.11 that he would giue to his people: That being de∣liuered out of the hands of their enemies, they should serue him without feare, in holines and righteousnes before him, all the daies of their liues. Here doth he speake of the deliuery which Iesus hath purchased for vs, in sauing vs from the power of the deuill, of hell, and of all our other enemies. What an ingratitude were it then in vs, that the remembrance of this name Sauiour, putting vs in minde of this happy deliuerance from the power of the deuil, and other our ene∣mies, should not so kindle our harts, as wholy to dedicate them to his seruice, and to thinke our selues blessed, if we could please and obey him in amending our liues.

5 But this obligation will the more plainely appeare, if we consider the reason of this name added by the Angell, say∣ing: For hee shall saue his people from their sinnes. Firste, he shew∣eth that sinne is the way to destruction and death euerlasting,* 1.12 as the Apostle Saint Paul saith: The reward of sinne is death: Now in as much as God is righteous, it was expedient for our saluation, that this Sauiour, the righteous, should by dying for vs satisfie for our sinnes:* 1.13 and as there is in vs besides the sinnes that dayly we haue and doe commit, the olde man, that is to say, the vice and corruption, the fountaine of the same: so this Iesus crucified with him this olde man and corruption, which Saint Paul so of∣ten tearmeth sinne, and the body of sinne, to the ende to mortifie him in vs, and so to deliuer vs from him, that through our trans∣gressions we should no more fal into the pit of hel. S. Paul writing to the Romains, doth at large represent vnto vs these two benefits of Iesus: the first tending to iustifie vs in the sight of God: the other

to testifie our iustification to the glorie of Iesus. And therefore the same Apostle maketh, as it were, an inseparable coniunction of those two benefites, saying, Iesus Christ is made vnto vs wisedome,* 1.14 and righteousnes, and sanctification, and redemption.

6 The consideration of the first benefite, That hee hath satisfied for our sinnes, should most liuely kindle our heartes to loue him fer∣uently, and so in folowing his commandement, to amend our liues. If I should owe a man some notable summe of monie, and not ha∣uing wherewith to paie, hee in compassion should acquite me: the greater the debt were, the greater cause should I haue, & the more should I be bound to loue and please him, as Iesus Christ himselfe sayde vnto Simon.* 1.15 But who is able to comprehend the greatnesse of the debt of our sinnes, which this Sauiour hath paide for vs, that they might not bee imputed vnto vs, but bee quite discharged and blotted out? How great therfore should our loue be towards him. as also our care and feruent affection to obey him, when he cōman∣deth vs to amend? or how much ought we to abhor the displeasing of him, wherby we againe binde our selues to euerlasting death?

7 As concerning the other benefite: Inasmuch as hee hath wyth himselfe crucified our olde man, and so put to death our vice and corruption. What a madnesse were it in vs to reuiue, nourish, and maintaine these our Sauiours enemies, and mortall poisons of our soules, euen the souldiers of that infernall Pharaoh, which labour agayne to plunge vs in the furnace of eternall fire. If wee see a mad dogge, euerie man laboreth to kill him, and therefore what should wee thinke of him that should seeke to preserue him, or after hee were dead, to reuiue him againe, if hee might? Woulde not men thinke him to bee an enemye to mankinde? yea, euen worthy to bee rooted out? and is not this sinne and corruption in man, euen as badde as a madde dogge? Are not the bitinges there∣of deadly? This madde dogge hath Iesus Christ slaine, in crucify∣ing him with himself, that so hee might die in vs. Are not we ther∣fore verie miserable wretches, that will hearken to the world and the flesh, and so reuiue, nourish, and maintain sinne in vs, as deligh∣ting in the damnable bitings thereof, which breede vnto vs euer∣lasting death? Our olde man (sayth Saint Paul) was crucifyed with Ie∣sus Christ, to the end the bodie of sinne might bee extinguished,* 1.16 that wee might no more serue vnto sinne. Againe, Beeing deliuered from sinne, yee are made the seruants of righteousnes. What else haue wee there∣fore to doo, but still to haue this name Iesus, whereby wee bee ad∣uertised that hee hath saued vs from our sinnes, and consequently,

from eternall death, before the eies of our vnderstanding, that wee remembring that he hath withdrawen vs out of hell, from eternall fire, darknesse, weeping, and gnashing of teeth, maye in heart bee feruently inflamed in his loue? And that the remembrance that he hath paide so many deadly debts, to discharge vs, maye more and more inforce his loue? Finally, let the representation of the death of our olde man, crucified with this Sauiour, make vs so to abhorre sinne and corruption, that we suffer it not to liue in vs to our owne death. Thus shall the name Iesus beget in vs a feruent desire to loue him, to please him, and to obey his commaundement, wherein hee willeth vs to amend our liues.

* 1.178 Now let vs come to the title Christ. This name in Greeke, as also the name Messias in Hebrue, doeth signifie as much as if wee should saie Annointed. And by this annointing is meant, the ful∣nesse of the holie Ghost which he hath receiued, as Saint Luke no∣teth, and himselfe doth acknowledge, where hee applieth to him∣selfe this saying of Esaie, The spirite of the Lorde God is vpon mee, for he hath annointed me. He was fulfilled, to the end wee might be par∣takers of his fulnesse, as Saint Iohn saith, who also speaketh of the holy Ghost, saying: The annointing that you haue receiued from him, abideth in you,* 1.18 and you need not to bee taught, but as the same annointing teacheth you all thinges, and it is true, and is not lying, and as it taught you, yee shall abide in him. Saint Paul calling vs the temples of God, addeth this reason,* 1.19 that the holie Ghost dwelleth in vs. This name Christian, deriued from Christ, and proper to his disciples, confir∣meth the same: For likewise, as the same Apostle sayth, They that haue not the spirite of Christ are not his. But as there is no true or na∣turall fyre but yeeldeth heate or light, so the holye Ghost cannot bee in vs wythout the feeling and shewing forth of effectes besee∣ming his holynesse. And therefore this: name Christ aduertising vs that wee are partakers of the annointing of his holy spirite, should be vnto vs a mightie and liuely argument to amend our liues. And this shall wee the better vnderstand, by considering the names at∣tributed to this spirite, to represent vnto vs the effectes of the same.* 1.20 First, hee is called Holy, because that of himselfe and in him selfe being holy, euen in al perfection, it is he that sanctifieth vs by separating vs from the common degree of other the children of Adam, to the end we may be dedicated and consecrated to God? Whereupon Saint Peter sayth, that wee are elect through the pro∣uidence of God in the sanctification of the spirite, to obey and be sprinkled with the bloud of Iesus Christ. And that as being made

the children of God through faith, we must be wholy renued, Saint Paul teacheth vs, that this commeth of the holy Ghost. He, sayth he, that hath raised Iesus Christ from the dead,* 1.21 shall quicken your mor∣tall bodies with his spirit dwelling in you. In this sense is he named the second Adam, that proceeded from heauen in a quickning spirite. For the Apostle compareth the spirituall life that Christ by his spirit imparteth to the beleeuers, with the sensual life that men re∣ceiue from the first Adam. And therefore we do in vaine boast of Christianitie and the spirit of Christ, so long as we are not so renu∣ed, as to haue nothing in common with the vnbeleeuers that dwell vnder the tirannie of the vncleane spirit, which infecteth with all corruptions & defilings, all those that haue not the spirit of Christ.

9 Particularly he is named the earnest pennie of our inheritance. As when a man doth purchase an inheritance, hee first giueth earnest, that is, some part of the monie promised,* 1.22 that serueth as a begin∣ning to the paiment of the total summe: so God hauing redeemed vs by the bloud of Iesus Christ, giueth the earnest penie of his holy spirit, that is to saie, a beginning of knowledge of the true God, of sanctification, of loue to God, of righteousnes, and of peace & ioy in the holy spirit, attending vntill he finish in vs the communicati∣on of that light, ioy, holynes, and glory, that we shal haue perfectly in heauen. Whereby it appeareth, that wee wrongfully boast our selues to be christiās, annointed with the spirit of Christ, so long as we be not indued at the least with some beginning of this heauenly light, sanctification, loue of God, spiritual peace and ioy, which are the earnest of the spirit: & do not indeuor daily to increse in these spirituall giftes and graces. He is also called Water:* 1.23 for of the holy Ghost doth Esaie speake, saying: Come vnto the waters all yee that thirst. Againe, I will poure my spirite vppon the thirstie, and my riuers vpon the drie. Then to expound the same, he sayth, I will poure forth my spirite vpon thy seede. Heereby doth hee shewe vs, that as raine with the moisture thereof fatteth the earth to make it fruitfull, so doth the holy spirite with his inuisible grace make vs fruitfull, to produce the fruites of righteousnes, as Iesus Christ also declareth, saying: He that beleeueth in me,* 1.24 out of his belly shall flowe riuers of the water of life. This, saith S. Iohn, he spake of the spirit that all they should receiue that beleeued in him. As therefore if hearbs wate∣red do stil continue drie, we iustly saie they are dead, so can we not aduow our selues to be Christians, watered with the spirit of Christ so long as in sted of bearing fruit, by amendement of life, and gi∣uing our selues to good workes, we continue drie and withered.

10 Sometimes hee is also called Water, to signifie his power to purge and cleanse our filth and corruption, as Ezechiel sayth: I will poure vpon you cleane waters and yee shall bee cleansed,* 1.25 I will cleanse you from all your filthines, and from your Gods of doung. And will giue vnto you a new heart, and will put into you a new spirite, and I will take your stonie heart out of your flesh, and will giue you a heart of flesh, and I will put my spirit into you, and cause you to walke in my statutes, and to keepe my ordinances, and you shall doo them. But if we in lieu of amen∣ding our liues, do abide in our filthinesse and corruption, with sto∣nie heartes, and keepe not the ordinances of the Lord, it is in vaine for vs to intitle our selues Christians, watered with the holye wa∣ters of his spirit. And because that by watering vs with the liquors of his graces, hee maketh vs strong and cheerefull in the seruice of God,* 1.26 of the effect heereof is the name of oyle and oyntment giuen vnto him. How then can wee saie, that we are annointed with the spirite of Christ, so long as we doo not amend our slacknesse in the seruice of God, growing forward in strength and disposition to im∣ploy our selues cheerfully therein.

* 1.2711 To conclude, hee is called Fire, for two considerations: First because it is hee that refineth, burneth, and consumeth our vicious lusts, which are as the superfluities and excrementes of our soules: and on the other side, it is hee that kindleth our heartes in the loue of God, and feruent desire to serue and honor him. But if we per∣ceiue no effects of this fire of the holie Ghost in vs ••ourning & con∣suming our vice and corruption, that by amending our liues, wee may growe in purenesse and holynes: With what conscience can wee saie, that the spirite of Christ is in vs? As this spirit cannot be dead, neither can it bring forth vicious or corrupt fruit. Likewise if wee increase not in zeale and loue to God, this want of the opera∣tion of the holy Ghost, is an assured testimonie of that hee is not in vs,* 1.28 because wee feele not his fire heating vs in the loue of God. Fi∣nally, the holy Ghost is called the finger and hand of God, because that by him hee exerciseth his vertue, and that by his inspiration wee are regenerate into heauenly life, that wee may no more bee driuen or lead by our selues, but bee gouerned by his motion and operation. If therefore wee denie not our owne wisedome, and the affections of our flesh, and so suffer our selues to bee guided and lead by the hand of the holy spirite, wee doo wrongfully challenge the name of Christians, and boast of the spirite of Christ dwelling in vs. Thus this name Christ, aduertising vs that hee hath receiued the holie spirite, to make vs partakers thereof, according to the

measure to euerie one ordained, ought to bee vnto vs a mightie inducement and sharpe spurre, to mooue vs to amendement of lyfe.

12 This vnction of the holy spirite dyd our Lorde Iesus Christ receiue, to the end to exercise three offices requisite to our saluati∣on: namely, to be our king, our Priest, and our Prophet. And this also to represent vnto vs, how deeply this name Christ bindeth vs to amend our liues. First for the office of king:* 1.29 If his kingdome be not of this world, as himselfe confessed before Pilat, but spiritual, we are to correct our false imaginations that leade vs to seeke the world in his kingdome, as looking that hee shoulde giue to his ser∣uants great riches, honorable offices, and other carnall commodi∣ties. For it is the part of the princes of this world, to present earth∣ly kingdoms to those that reuerence them:* 1.30 but as for our king Ie∣sus Christ, hee willeth vs to seeke all the felicitie that hee promi∣seth in heauen. And therefore when wee are persecuted, or other∣wise afflicted, wee must correct this false opinion, of thinking our selues miserable, or that our king hath no care of vs: For contrary∣wise, afflictions should make vs to lifte vp our heartes to heauen, the dwelling of our king, where hee hath layed vp the treasures, ioyes, and glorie of his kingdome. Secondly, sith hee is our king, that hee may raigne in vs, wee are warned to forsake the worlde, sinne, and the deuill his enemies, so that hee onely raigning in vs, mortifying sinne, may make vs to denie the world, and strengthen vs against Sathan. Let not sinne, sayth Saint Paul, raigne in you,* 1.31 to o∣bey the lusts thereof. And Iesus Christ sayth; Bee of good cheere for I haue ouercome the world. And the Apostle promiseth vs that God will tread downe sathan vnder our feet. Thus this king hauing de∣liuered vs out of the handes of our enemies, bindeth vs, as Zacha∣rie sayth, Without feare to serue him in righteousnes and holynes all the dayes of our lyfe: and so to amend. Let vs also remember that the scepter of a good pastor is deliuered vnto him blessedly to guide his sheepe that shall heare his voyce,* 1.32 and by amendement followe him. As also hee hath an iron rodde to bruse as a potters vessell, all such as shall rebell against him. Let vs therefore amend, and re∣nounce euerie thing whereat this king may be displeased, that we may bee happily gouerned by the sheepehooke of our good shep∣heard, and not brused wyth the iron rodde of this iust king, that breaketh those that wythout amendement of lyfe doo continue in vnbeleefe, and obstinate in their sinne. The kingdome of Sathan, from which Christ hath redeemed vs, doth consist in darknesse, in∣fidelitie,

and bad conscience, and all vice, silthynesse, and corrup∣tion. Contrariwise, the kingdom of Iesus Christ consisteth in light, in knowledge of the true God and his sonne Iesus Christ, in faith, loue, holynes, patience, and other like vertues. These are the true effectes of the spirituall kingdome of Iesus Christ. We must there∣fore effectually shew that wee are transported from the kingdome of Sathan to the kingdome of Iesus Christ. But how? By amend∣ing our liues, and growing more and more in faith, loue, patience, and holynesse: to bee short, in all good workes and vertues requi∣red in the subiects of this spirituall king, Iesus Christ.

13 The second office of Christ, is to be our high Priest, who of∣fered himselfe a sacrifice vnto God, that by his death hee myght satisfie his iustice, and so reconcile vs to him. Who is there then a∣mong vs, that representing to himselfe, that it is the welbeloued sonne of God, and the prince of glorie, that giueth himselfe, not to a common death, but euen to the shamefull and cursed death of the crosse, together with the apprehension and feeling of the wrath and terrible indignation of God, ingendering in his bodie horri∣ble terrour and mortall anguish in his soule: And all this for his enemyes, by nature the children of wrath, poore sinners, and the bond men of Sathan: What man is there, I saie, that meditating vpon these things, shall not bee euen rauished in admiration of his incomprehensible loue towardes vs? which loue Saint Paul doeth at large and verie often make mention of. Is it possible that this name Christ,* 1.33 representing vnto vs this priest, thus offering himselfe in such a sacrifice for vs poore and abhominable sinners, and con∣sequently the apprehension of his incomprehensible loue towards vs, should not rauish and force our verie soules to loue him wyth all our heartes, our mindes, and our strength, and through feruent loue to obey his commandement of amendement, and to abhorre to thinke, saie, or doo anie thing that may displease this Christ, our high Priest?* 1.34 If anie man (sayth the Apostle Saint Paul) loue not the Lord Iesus Christ, let him bee had in execration, yea, maranatha, or ex∣communicate to death. That is to saie, let him bee cut off from the Church, as the reprobate shal be at the comming of Christ, where∣of they are warned in this word Maran-atha, which signifieth, The Lorde commeth. Yet is there more. This Priest dying for vs, hath killed sinne and corruption in his owne bodie, as is before decla∣red: And to the end that sinne might die in vs, and that we might practise this saying of the holy Apostle Saint Peter, Inasmuch as Christ hath suffered for vs in the flesh,* 1.35 that is to saie, in his humanitie,

let vs arme our selues with the same minde, which is, that wee hauing suffered and beeing dead with him, as concerning the corruption of the flesh, shoulde desist from sinne, to the ende, that hence forwarde wee shoulde liue (as much time as remaineth in the flesh) not after the lustes of men, but after the will of God. And this is the amendement that Iesus doeth commaunde. Saint Iohn sayth, that Christ hath made vs kinges and Priestes vnto God: This is another reason to moue vs the more seruently to amende, in respect as well of the one of∣fice as of the other. First,* 1.36 seeing wee are raysed to this honour to bee kinges, shall wee bee so miserable and senselesse, as to make our selues the vile and wretched bonde men of Sathan, and the seruauntes of sinne and the worlde. If a king redeeming a poore bonde man, whome his master diuersely tormented, shoulde be∣sides so farre fauour and honour him, as to adopt him for his child, Were it not a frantike or senselesse parte in him to forsake such honour and preferment, and to returne to liue vnder the tyrannie and thraldome of his olde master? Yet this doo they, who bee∣ing deliuered from the tyrannie and crueltie of Sathan, and made kinges in Iesus Christ, doo giue themselues to the lustes and plea∣sures of the flesh, and the allurementes of the worlde, thereby returning themselues into the wretched bondage of the deuill, to abide eternally vnder his tyrannous dominion. Let therefore this title King, aduertise and admonish vs so to amende our liues, that forsaking and vtterly renouncing the dominion and tyrannie of Sathan, and the corruptions of the flesh, wee may effectually shew our selues to bee spirituall Kinges, and that the kingdome of Ie∣sus Christ is in vs. Moreouer, in as much as wee are also made Priestes, let vs remember, that if wee will amende our liues, wee must with the kingly Prophet Dauid offer contrite and broken heartes, pulled downe and humbled with the feeling of our sinnes, with condition that wee will heereafter beware and take heede of the same. Let vs also call to minde, that we must offer our bodies a liuely, holy, and acceptable sacrifice vnto God, which is our rea∣sonable seruice, and not to forme our selues after this worlde,* 1.37 but bee transformed by the renuing of our mindes, to the ende wee may proue what is the good, perfect, and acceptable will of God. Neyther let vs forget alwayes to offer vnto God thorough Iesus Christ the sacrifice of praise and thankesgiuing, which is the fruite of our lippes, confessing and acknowledging his name.* 1.38 To conclude, let vs remember his benefites and communication wyth vs, for God is delighted with such sacrifices.

Beholde therefore howe this honour which wee receiue of Iesus Christ,* 1.39 euen to bee kings and priests to our God, may be a mighty inducement vnto vs to amend our liues.

14 There doth yet remaine the office of a Prophet, which also doth admonish vs to amend, because hee hath reuealed vnto vs all that hee hath knowen of his father,* 1.40 and declared as well what wee must doo in obeying him, as what wee are to beleeue to our salua∣tion. And this is an incomprehensible benefite, as wee may euy∣dently consider by the miserable and wretched estate of those to whome the worde of God comprised in the Lawe and the Gospel, is not preached. And this doth Saint Paul in few words represent vnto vs, saying: They are not in Christ, neither haue anie portion in the commonwealth of Israel, but are straungers to the couenant of the pro∣mise,* 1.41 without hope, and are without God in the world. And in deede, if Gods worde bee, as Dauid calleth it, a light to our steps, those men to whome the worde is not directed,* 1.42 are poore and blinde, & can∣not choose in all their wordes and deeds but stumble and fall. All that they doo is sinne, because they doo it wythout faith, whereof the word is the foundation. Much lesse also haue they any know∣ledge of the remission and satisfaction of theyr sinnes in the bloud of Christ:* 1.43 and therefore all theyr sinnes doo remaine and shall be imputed vnto them to be in the daie of iudgement most horribly and eternally punished. If they then that neuer heard this prophet shall bee iustly punished in eternal fyre, what iudgement and ven∣geance are they to expect for theyr ingratitude and rebellion, that heare this Prophet, and by him, eyther by reading or hearing his worde, doo vnderstand the will of God, and yet doo make no care of amendement of lyfe by obeying the will of God vnto them re∣uealed,* 1.44 and by them knowen? The seruant, sayth Iesus Christ, that hath knowen his masters will, and hath not done it, shalbe punished much more grieuously than hee that neuer knew it. And surely the sins com∣mitted by those that know the wil of God, are not only transgres∣sion against the lawe, but also contempt & misprision against the maiestie of God. And in that regard doth Iesus Christ denounce agaynst many townes wherein the Gospell was preached, a more horrible and terrible iudgement, than against Sodome, Gomorrha and other townes that heard the word of the Lorde. Seeing there∣fore that this worde,* 1.45 to vs addressed by this prophet Iesus Christ, doeth tend to illuminate and to exhort vs to amendement of life. Let this office and name of Prophet, attributed to Iesus Christ, make vs to remember our bonde and duetie, whereby wee are

bound to amend, and to yeld obedience vnto all that our Prophet Christ doth teach, ordaine, and command, as being assured that as they that will not heare this Prophet to obey him, shall bee roo∣ted out: so contrarywise, they that shall heare and obey him, shall by the path of good workes, proceeding of faith, apprehend∣ing the iustice of Christ, attaine to the fruition of life euerlasting. In this sort must these two names and titles, Iesus and Christ, serue to make vs to feele our bond and dutie, and to inflame our affecti∣ons to amend all the daies of our lyfe.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mat. 1.21.
• * 1.2

  Luke 2.11.
• * 1.3

  Act. 4.12.
• * 1.4

  1. Cor. 19.
• * 1.5

  Ionas 2.10.
• * 1.6

  Exod. 20
• * 1.7

  Leuit. 19.36.
• * 1.8

  Leuit. 22.32.
• * 1.9

  Deut. 6.20.
• * 1.10

  Michens 6.1.
• * 1.11

  Luke 1.73.
• * 1.12

  Rom: 6.23.
• * 1.13

  Rom. 6.6. Rom 6. Col. 2.11.
• * 1.14

  1. Cor. 1.30
• * 1.15

  Luke 7.40.
• * 1.16

  Rom. 6.61 & 6.8.
• * 1.17

  Acts 10.38 Luke 4.18. Esay 61.1 Iohn 1.16 1. Ioh. 2.27
• * 1.18

  1. Cor. 3.16
• * 1.19

  Rom. 8, 9.
• * 1.20

  1. Pet. 5.2
• * 1.21

  Rom. 8.11. 1. Cor. 15.45
• * 1.22

  Ephe. 1.14
• * 1.23

  Esay 55.1. & 44.3.
• * 1.24

  Iohn 7.38.
• * 1.25

  Ezech. 36.25
• * 1.26

  1. Ioh. 2.20.27
• * 1.27

  Luke 3.16
• * 1.28

  Exod. 8.19. & 21.18 Luke 11.20 Luke 1.66
• * 1.29

  Iohn 18.36
• * 1.30

  Math. 4.9.
• * 1.31

  Rom. 6.13 Iohn 16.33 Rom. 16.20 Luke 1, 74
• * 1.32

  Psalme 2.
• * 1.33

  Rom. 5 Ephes. 2
• * 1.34

  1. Cor. 16.22
• * 1.35

  1 Pet. 4.1
• * 1.36

  Apoc. 1.6.
• * 1.37

  Psal. 51.19
• * 1.38

  Rom. 12.1
• * 1.39

  Heb, 13, 16
• * 1.40

  Iohn 15.15
• * 1.41

  Ephes, 2, 12
• * 1.42

  Psa. 119.105
• * 1.43

  Rom. 14.25 & 10.17.
• * 1.44

  Luke 12.47
• * 1.45

  Math. 10.15