PHIL. His commandments. We read that the Jews said to Christ, what shall we do, that we may work the works of God? Christ answered & said to them:1 This is y• work of God that ye believe in him, whom he hath sent. This is the greatest & ⟨image 51⟩most principal work of God, that ye believe in his only begotten son Jesus Christ. He that truly fulfilleth this work,2 doth very easily accomplish the residue. For out of this work, as out of y• head fountain, do all other works of God spring & proceed. If thou canst believe, saith Christ, all things are possible to him that believeth.3 He that believeth truly in Christ, abuseth not the name of God, profaneth not the Sabbath day, dishonoureth not the magistrates of the public weal, contemneth not the ministers of gods word, despiseth not his parents & superiors, killeth not, committeth not adultery,4 iteleth not, beareth no false witness, covereth not his neighbours goods, but rather doth the contrary, hating y• vice, & en•alsyng the virtue. He mortifieth old Adā. He maketh the body subject to the spirit with the moderate use of eating & drinking. He exerciseth himself in ⟨image 52⟩godly meditations, in reading the holy scriptures, in offering up prayers & thanks continually to God. He succoureth the poor members of christ. He leaveth no man comfortless. He goeth about to hurt no man, but studieth to profit all men. He wisheth & procureth no less goodness to other, than he doth to him self. To be short all his whole life time, he doth nothing else than dye to sin, & live unto righteousness. These are the works of God, wherein so many as are created in Christ, ought unfeignedly to walk. These are the works of God, which leadeth to heaven, which through christ we deserve the reward of everlasting life. In these works therefore (most dear brethren) exercise your selves both day & night. Believe in god, love God, fear God. Confess him from the very heart to be y• alone & true God. Knowledge him to be your only & oinsufficient saviour. In all adversity ⟨image 52⟩fly unto his most blessed name as unto a strong Bulwark. Have your hearts at peace with God. Study day and night in the LORDS law.5 Exercise faithful & continual prayer. Procure in all things the glory of God. Honour your most victorious Prince,6 & redoubted king. Be faithful to him both in heart, word & deed.
PHIL. His commaundementes. We read that the Iewes sayd to Christ, what shal we do, that we may worke the workes of God? Christe aunswered & sayde to thē:1 This is y• worke of God that ye beleue in him, whom he hath sent. This is the greatest & ⟨image 51⟩most principal worke of God, yt ye beleue in his only begottē sōne Iesus Christ. He that truly fulfylleth this worke,2 doth very easely accōplyshe ye residue. For oute of this worke, as out of y• head foūtayne, do all other workes of God spryng & procede. Yf yu cāst beleue, sayth Christ, all thīges are possible to hym yt beleueth.3 He yt beleueth truly in Christ, abuseth not the name of God, prophaneth not ye Sabboth daye, dishonoreth not the magistrates of the publygue weale, contēneth not the ministers of gods worde, despyseth not his parentes & superiours, kyllethe not, cōmytteth not adultrye,4 iteleth not, beareth no false witnes, couereth not his neighbours goodes, but rather doth ye cō trary, hatyng y• vyce, & en•alsyng ye vertue. He mortyfyeth olde Adā. He maketh the bodye subiecte to the spirite wt the moderate vse of eatyng & drynkyng. He exercyseth himselfe in ⟨image 52⟩godly meditacions, in readynge the holy scriptures, in offryng vp prayers & thankes continually to God. He socoureth the poore members of christ. He leueth no man confortles. He goeth about to hurte no mā, but studieth to profytte all men. He wissheth & procureth no lesse goodnes to other, than he dothe to him selfe. To be shorte all his whole lyfe tyme, he doth nothyng els thā dye to synne, & liue vnto righteousnes. These are the workes of God, wherin so many as are created ī Christ, ought vnfaynedly to walke. Theise are ye workes of God, which ledeth to heuē, which thorow christ we deserue ye reward of euerlastīg life. In these workes therfore (most dere brethrē) exercise your selues both daye & nyght. Beleue in god, loue God, feare God. Cōfesse hī frō ye very herte to be y• alone & true God. Knowledge him to be your only & oīsufficiēt sauiour. In al aduersite
- 1Joan. vi.Ioan. vi.
- 2True faith in christ is the mother of all goo• works.True faythe in christ is the mother of all goo• workes.
- 3Mat. i•.
- 4Learn her• the christ• and true good works.Lerne her• the christ• and true good workes.
- 5Psal. i.
- 6Admonition • for true obedience toward y• kings grace.Admoniciō • for true obedience toward y• kinges grace.
