Certain Sermons or Homilies (First Book of Homilies)

this is the love of God, that we should keep his commandments. And s. John wrote not this, as a subtle proposition, devised of his own ⟨image 27⟩fantasy, but as a most certain & necessary truth, taught unto him by Christ himself, the eternal & in fallible verity, who in many places doth most clearly affirm, that faith, hope, & charity, cannot consist without good & godly works. Of faith, he saith He that believeth in the son, hath everlasting life,¹ but he that believeth not in the son, shall not see that life, but the wrath of God remaineth upon him. And the same he confirmeth with a double oath, saying:² Forsooth & forsooth, I say unto you, he that believeth in me, hath everlasting life▪ Now, forasmuch as he that believeth in Christ, hath everlasting life, it must needs consequently follow, that he that hath this faith, must have also good works, & be studious to observe Gods commandments obediently. For to them that have evil works, & lead their life in disobedience, & transgression of Gods commandments, without repentance, pertaineth not everlasting life, but everlasting death, as Christ himself sayeth:³ they that do well, shall go into life eternal, but they that do evil, shall go into the eternal fire. And again he saith, I am the first letter & the last,⁴ the beginning & the ending: to him that is a thirst, I will give of the well of the water of life freely: He that hath the victory, shall have all things, & I will be his God, and he shall be my son: But they that be fearful, mistrusting God, & lacking faith, they that be cursed people & murderers, & fornicators, & sorcerers, & Idolaters,⁵ & all liars, shall have their portion in the lake, that burneth with fire & brimstone, which is the second death. And as Christ undoubtedly affirmeth, that true faith bringeth forth good works: so doth he say likewise ⟨image 28⟩