And therefore God would vanquish the malice and perversity of mans heart, and condemn it by the works that are manifest, for to declare unto him, and to make him confess by the fruit, that he is the root a•d the tree, to the end that he may not glorify himself to be the Fig & the O life 1tree, when one doth evidently show unto him the thorns & thistles that it hath born. And even so every creature is constrained to acknowledge and conf•sse, that the judgement of God is just, and that it consisteth in all truth and equity. Now the works y• men do for us, after that we 2be dead, are not ours. Wherefore we cannot say, that they follow us. For it is another matter to be in the way and journey, and to have already ended his journey and to be arrived at the port, whilst that we are in the course of this present life, he taketh us as a sree which yet groweth, the which one may dress and prune, for to 3make him bear fruit. But when he is once cut down, there is no more hope, he lieth where lie falleth, he must travail ⟨p. 86⟩no more afterwards. In like manner may we judge of man. Whilst y• he is in the way, & that he is in his course & 4sight, one may aide him by admonitions, entreatings & other morkes of charity, which we owe y• one to y• other, whilst y• we are herein the work of god, for us to help the one the other to obtain & win the victory. But after that he hath called us from the work in the which he hath set us, we must attend and look no more but for the reward and Crown of righteousness, the which the righteous Judge shall give unto us, as Saint Paul hoped for himself, as 5we have fought for him the good fight, and have fulfilled our course and have kept the faith unto the end: On the contrary, we must look for fear, confusion, and eternal death, as the slothful servant, unfaithful and ungracious, we have hid away and stolen the Talent away 6from our Master, without bringing unto him any profit. 7Therefore Saint John saith: Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance: that is to say, through which you show forth that truly you repent you of your sins, and that you have amended your evil life. For the are is put unto the root of the tree, so that every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewen down and cast in to the fire. Upon that ma•ter Saint Augustine did writ 8unto Macedonius after this manner:
And therefore God would vanquishe the malyce and peruersitie of mans hearte, and condemne it by the workes that are manifest, for to declare vnto him, and to make him confesse by the fruite, that he is the roote a•d the tree, to the ende that he may not glorify himself to be the Figge & the O life 1tree, when one doth emdently shewe vnto him the thornes & thistles that it hath born. And euen so euery creature is constrayned to acknowledge and conf•sse, that the iudgement of God is iust, and that it consisteth in all truth and equitie. Now the workes y• men do for vs, after that wee 2bee dead, are not ours. Wherefore wee cannot saye, that they follow vs. For it is another matter to bee in the way and iourney, and to haue already ended his iourney and to be arriued at the port, whylest that we are in the course of this present life, he taketh vs as a sree which yet groweth, the which one may dresse and proyne, for to 3make him beare fruite. But when he is once cut downe, ther is no more hope, he lieth wher lie falleth, he must trauayle ⟨p. 86⟩no more afterwards. In like maner may we iudge of man. Whilest y• he is in ye way, & that he is in his course & 4sight, one may aide him by admonitiōs, entreatings & other morkes of charitie, which we owe y• one to y• other, whilst y• we are herein ye work of god, for vs to helpe the one the other to obteine & win the victory. But after that he hath called vs from the worke in the which he hath set vs, wée must attend and looke no more but for the rewarde and Crowne of righteousenes, the which the righteous Iudge shall giue vnto vs, as Sainct Paul hoped for himselfe, as 5we haue fought for him the good fight, and haue fulfilled our course and haue kept the faith vnto the ende: On the contrary, we must looke for feare, confusion, and eternall death, as the slougthfull seruant, vnfaithfull and vngrations, we haue hid away and stollen the Talent away
- 1Mat. 7. c. 16
- 2The works dene for us after our death.The vvorks dene for vs after our death.
- 3To be in the wayTo be in the vvay
- 4Luc. 13. b. 6
- 52. Timo. 4. b. •
- 6Mat. 25. c. 26
- 7Mat. 3. b. 8.
- 8Mat. 3. c. 10.
