Phil. It is not with out a cause: Ye know, he that standeth still, moveth nothing forward nor hasteth not unto the end of his journey. But he that walketh is ever going, & draweth alway nearer and nearer unto his journeys end. In consideration whereof, the holy Scripture useth this word, ⟨image 49⟩Walk, 1to put us in remembrance, that if we have begun well, in our profession, we should not there cease & stand still, but go forth from virtue to virtue, from faith to faith, until at the last we attain unto the perfection of pure innocency.2 For he that continueth unto end, saith christ, shall be saved. Again, be faithful unto the death, and I shall give the the crown of life.3 This word we read in divers places of the holy Scriptures, Christ saith, walk while ye have light,4 that the darkness doth not overwhelm you. For he that walketh in darkness, knoweth not whither he goeth. S. Paul also saith,5 walk as the children of light, proving what is acceptable to the LORD. Again, look that ye walk circumspectly, not as unwise, but as wise,6 redeeming the time, for y• days are evil. Hitherto pertaineth the saying of S. John,7 he that sayeth ⟨image 49⟩leth in Christ, ought to walk even as he hath walked. These places with all other such like declare to us that we ought so to walk in our profession by increasing daily in virtues, that at the last we may be perfect, & as S. Paul saith,8 make every man perfect in Christ Jesus. And this is it, that followeth in the latter end of the sentence. And be perfect. For we ought so to walk,9 that is, increase in all godliness, virtue & honest, that we might be perfect, as Christ saith, be ye perfect,10 as your heavenly father is perfect. Also Saint Paul,11 Rejoice and be perfect.12 It is one degree of virtue to love my neighbour, but it is an higher degree to love mine enemy, but the most excellent degree above all, is so to love our very enemies, that we can be contented not only to do them good, but also even to give our lives to win them unto ⟨image 50⟩Christ. It is a point of mercy• to help my poor neighbour with my superfluous goods, but it is a point of perfection to sell all that ever I have, & to give it to the poor as Christ said to the rich man, If thou wilt be perfect,13 go, and sell all that thou haste, and give it to the poor, & thou shalt have treasure in Heaven, and come on thy way & follow me.
Phil. It is not with out a cause: Ye knowe, he that stondeth styl, moueth nothing forward nor hasteth not vnto the end of his iourney. But he that walketh is euer goynge, & draweth alwaye nerer and nerer vnto hys iourneyes ende. In consideracion wherof, the holy Scripture vsethe this worde, ⟨image 49⟩VValKe, 1to put vs in remembraunce, that if we haue begun well, in oure professiō, we should not there cease & stonde styll, but go forthe frō vertue to vertue, from fayth to fayth, vntyll at the laste we attayne vnto ye perfecciō of pure innocēcy.2 For he yt cōtinueth vnto ende, sayth christ, shalbe saued. Agē, be faythfull vnto the death, and I shall gyue the the crowne of lyfe.3 This word we read in diuers places of the holy Scriptures, Christ sayth, walke whyle ye haue lyght,4 that the darkenes doth not ouerwhelme you. For he that walketh in darkenes, knoweth not whyther he goethe. S. Paule also sayth,5 walke as the childrē of light, prouyng what is acceptable to the LORDE. Agayne, loke that ye walke circumspectly, not as vnwyse, but as wyse,6 redemynge the tyme, for y• dayes are euell. Hytherto pertayneth ye sayenge of S. Iohn,7 he that sayeth ⟨image 49⟩leth in Christ, ought to walke euen as he hath walked. These places wt all other suche lyke declare to vs yt we ought so to walke in our profession by encreasynge dayely in vertues, that at the last we may be perfecte, & as S. Paule sayth,8 make euery man perfecte in Christ Iesus. And this is it, that followeth ī the latter ende of the sentēce. And be perfecte. For we ought so to walk,9 that is, encrease in all godlynes, vertu & honeste, that we might be perfecte, as Christe saythe, be ye perfecte,
- 1Psa. lxxxiii Rom. ii.
- 2Mat. xxiiii.
- 3Apoc. ii.
- 4Joan. xii.Ioan. xii.
- 5Ephe. v.
- 6Colos. iiii.
- 7i. Joan. ii.i. Ioan. ii.
- 8Colos. i.
- 9Gen. xvii.
- 10Mat. v.
- 11ii. Cor. xiii.
- 12Degrees of perfection.Degrees of perfeccion.
- 13Mat. ix. Luke. xii.
