The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in…The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in…

Thus ye have heard declared out of the scriptures, that Jesus Christ was the true Messiah and saviour of the world, that he was by nature & substance perfect God, and perfect man, and for what cause it was expedient he should be so. Now that we may be the more mindful and thankful unto God in this behalf, let us briefly consider and call to mind, the manifold and great benefits that we have received by the Nativity and birth of this our Messiah and saviour.

Thus ye haue hearde declared out of the scriptures, that Jesus Christe was the true Messias and sauiour of the world, that he was by nature & substaunce perfect God, and perfect man, and for what cause it was expedient he should be so. Nowe that we may be the more mindefull and thankefull vnto God in this behalfe, let vs briefly consyder and call to minde, the manifolde and great benefites that we haue receaued by the Natiuitie and byrth of this our Messias and sauiour.

Before Christs coming into the world, all men universally in Adam, were nothing else but a wicked and crooked generation, rotten and corrupt trees, stony ground full of brambles and briers, lost sheep, prodigal sons, naughty and unprofitable servants, unrighteous stewards, workers of iniquity, the brood of Adders, blind guides, sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death: to be short, nothing else but children of perdition, and inheritors of hell fire. To this doth saint Paul bear witness in divers places of his Epistles, and Christ also him self in sundry places of his Gospel. ⟨p. 352⟩But after he was once come down from heaven, and had taken our frail nature upon him, he made all them that would receive him truly, and believe his word, good trees, & good ground, fruitful and pleasant branches, children of light, citizens of heaven, sheep of his fold, members of his body, heirs of his kingdom, his true friends and brethren, sweet and lively bread, the elect and chosen people of God. For as saint Peter saith in his first Epistle and second Chapter: He bare our sins in his body upon the cross, he healed us, & made us whole by his stripes: and whereas before we were sheep going astray, he by his coming brought us home again to the true shepherd and Bishop of our souls, making us a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people of GOD, in that he dyed for our offences, and rose again for our justification. Saint Paul to Timothy the third Chapter: We were (saith he) in times past unwise, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in hatred, envy, maliciousness, and so forth. But after the loving kindness of God our Saviour appeared towards mankind, not according to the righteousness that we had done, but according to his great mercy, he saved us by the fountain of the new birth, and by the renewing of the holy ghost, which he poured upon us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our saviour, that we being once justified by his grace, should be heirs of eternal life, through hope and faith in his blood.