Note this also that as long as we live we are yet partly carnal & fleshly (not withstanding that we are in Christ, & though it be not imputed unto us for Christs sake) for there abideth & remaineth in us yet of the old Adam as it were the stock of the crabtree & ever among when occasion is given him, shoteth forth his, branches & leaves, bud, blossom & fruit. Against whom we must fight & subdue him change all his nature by a little with prayer, fasting, watching, with virtuous meditation & holy works, until ⟨image 59⟩we be altogether spirit. The kingdom of heaven saith Christ, is like leaven,1 which a woman taketh & hideth in .iii. pecks of meal till all be leavened. The leaven is the spirit & we the meal which must2 be seasoned with the spirit a little & a little till we be throughout spiritual. Which shall reward every man according to his deed, that is according as the deeds are so shall every mans reward be, the deeds declare what we are, as the fruit the tree according to the fruit shall the tree be pray sed. The reward is given of the mercy & truth of God, & by the deserving & merits of Christ. Whosoever repenteth, believeth the Gospel and putteth his trust in Christ merits, the same is heir with Christ of eternal life, for assurance where of the spirit, of God is poured into his heart as an earnest, which louseth him from the bond des of satan, & giveth him lust & strength every day more and more according as he is diligent to axe of God for Christs sake. And eternal life followeth good living. I suppose (sayeth Paul in the same Epistle) that the afflictions of this world are3 not worthy of the glory which shall be showed on us, that is to say, that which we here suffer can never deserve the reward which there shall be given us. Moreover, if the ▪ reward should depend & hang of the works no man should be saved. Forasmuch as ⟨image 60⟩our best deeds, compared to the law, are damnable sin. By the deeds of the law is no flesh justified, as it is written in the third Chap to the Rom. The law justifieth not, but uttereth the sin only and compelleth and driveth the penitent or repenting sinner to flee unto the seyn tory of mercy in the blood of Christ. Al so repent we never so much, be we never so well willing unto the law of God: yet are we so weak, and the snares and occasions so innumerable that we fall daily and hourly.
Note this also yt as long as we lyue we are yet partlye carnal & fleshly (not withstandyng yt we are in Christ, & though it be not imputed vnto vs for Christes sake) for ther abydeth & remaineth in vs yet of the old Adā as it wer the stock of the crabtre & euer a mong whē occasion is gyuē him, shoteth forth his, braunches & leues, bud, blosom & fruit. Against whom we must fyghte & subdue him chaunge all hys nature by a lytle wt prayer, fasting, watchinge, with vertuous meditacion & holy workes, vntyl ⟨image 59⟩we be altogether spirit. The kingdom of heauen sayth Christe, is lyke leauen,1 which a womā taketh & hideth in .iii. peckes of meale till al be leuened. The leuen is the spirit & we the meale whiche must2 be seasoned with the spirite a litle & a lytle tyl we be throughout spiritual. Whiche shal reward euery man accordinge to his dede, yt is accordinge as the dedes are so shal euery mans reward be, the dedes declare what we are, as the fruit the tree according to the frut shal the tree be pray sed. The reward is gyuen of the mercy & truth of God, & by the deseruing & merytes of Christ. Wosoeuer repēteth, beleueth the Gospel and putteth his trust in Christ merites, ye same is heyre wt Christ of eternal lyfe, for assuraunce wher of ye spirit, of God is poured into his hert as an ernest, which louseth him from the bō des of sathan, & giueth him lust & strēgth euery day more and more according as he is diligēt to axe of God for Christes sake. And eternall lyfe foloeth good lyuing. I suppose (sayeth Paule in the same Epistle) yt the offlictions of thys worlde are3 not worthy of the glorye whyche shalbe showed on vs, yt is to say, that which we here suffer can neuer deserue ye rewarde which ther shalbe giuē vs. Moreouer, if ye ▪ reward shuld depend & hang of ye wor kes no mā shuld be saued. Forasmuch as ⟨image 60⟩oure beste deades, compared to the lawe, are damnable synne. By ye deades of the lawe is no fleshe iustified, as it is writtē in the third Chap to the Rom. The lawe iustifieth not, but vttereth the sinne only and compelleth and dryueth the penitent or repentinge synner to fle vnto the seyn tory of mercy in the bloude of Christe. Al so repēte we neuer so much, be we neuer so well willinge vnto the lawe of God: yet are we so weake, and the snares and occasions so innumerable that wee falle daily and hourely.
- 1Matthew. xiii.Mathew. xiii.
- 2Romans. ii. What leaven is▪ What is mealRomans. ii. What leuē is▪ What is meal
- 3Romans. viii.
