Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

And yet, all this doth not tend to y• making void of the stipend of good woror ⟨p. 468⟩to the denying of the reward that is prepared for virtues. For he is true which promised, and what he promised he will perform. Now he promised rewards to them that work righteousness: even as also according to his justice and trueth he hath threatened terrible punishments to wicked & impenitent sinners. But the promises of God are of two sorts, to wit, they lay before our eyes the gifts and rewards of this present life, and of the life to come. For the Lord in the Gospel after S. Mark doth say, Verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath forsaken house, or brethren, or lands for my sake and the Gospels, but he shall receive an hundred fold now at this present with persecutions, and in the world to come life everlasting. And Paul saith, Godliness is profitable to all things, having promise of the life that is now, & of that which is to come. This is a sure saying and by all means worthy to be received. For therefore we both labour and suffer rebuke, because we have our hope settled in the living God, &c. And here it will do well to reckon up and cite the testimonies of Scripture which do concern the reward of good works, I will therefore recite a few, but such as shall be evident and pertaining to the matter. The Lord in Isaiah crieth, Say to the just that it shall go well with him, for he shall eat the fruit of his study or travail. And woe to the wicked sinner, for he shall be rewarded according to the works of his hands. In Jeremiah we read, Leave off from weeping, for thy labour shall be rewarded thee. And in the Gospel the Lord saith, Blessed are ye when men speak all evil sayings against you, lying, for my sake. Rejoice ye and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven. The Apostle Paul also saith, Glory, honour, and peace to every one that worketh good, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile. Again, We must all appear before the Judgement seat of Christ, that every one may bear the deeds of his body according to that which he hath done, whether it be good or bad. And again, Every one shall receive a reward according to his labour.

And yet, all this doth not tend to y• making void of ye stipend of good woror ⟨p. 468⟩to the denying of the reward that is prepared for vertues. For he is true which promised, and what hee promised he will performe. Now he promised rewards to them that worke righteousnesse: euen as also according to his iustice and trueth hée hath threatened terrible punishments to wicked & impenitent sinners. But the promises of God are of two sortes, to witt, they lay before oure eyes the giftes and rewards of this present life, and of the life to come. For the Lord in the Gospell after S. Marke doth say, Verilie I saye vnto you, there is no man that hath forsaken house, or brethren, or landes for my sake and the Gospels, but he shall receiue an hundreth fold now at this present with persecutiōs, and in the world to come life euerlasting. And Paul saith, Godlinesse is profitable to all thinges, hauing promise of the life that is nowe, & of that which is to come. This is a sure saying and by all meanes worthie to bee receiued. For therefore wee both labour and suffer rebuke, because wee haue oure hope settled in the liuing God, &c. And here it will do well to reckon vp and cite the testimonies of Scripture which doe concerne the reward of good woorkes, I wil therefore recite a fewe, but such as shalbe euident and perteyning to ye matter. The Lord in Esaie crieth, Say to the iuste that it shall goe well with him, for he shall eate the fruite of his studie or trauaile. And wo to the wicked sinner, for he shalbe rewarded according to the workes of his hands. In Ieremie we read, Leaue off from weping, for thy labour shalbe rewarded thee. And in the Gospel the Lord saith, Blessed are ye when men speake all euill sayinges against you, lying, for my sake. Reioyce ye and be glad, for great is your reward in heauen. The Apostle Paule also saith, Glorie, honour, and peace to euery one that worketh good, to the Iewe first and also to the Gentile. Againe, Wee must all appeare before the Iudgement seate of Christ, that euerie one may beare the deedes of his bodie according to that whiche hee hath done, whether it bee good or badd. And againe, Euery one shall receiue a reward according to his labour.