burnt without mercy, and would not be delivered, because they looked to rise again to a better state.

All these fathers, martyrs, and other holy men, whom St. Paul spake of, had their faith surely fixed in God, when all the world was against them. They did not only know God to be the Lord, maker, and governor of all men in the world; but also they had a special confidence and trust, that he was and would be their God, their comforter, aider, helper, maintainer and defender. This is the Christian faith which these holy inen had, and we also ought to have. And, although they were not named Christian men, yet was it a Christian faith that they had, for they looked for all benefits of God the Father, through the merits of his Son Jesus Christ, as we now do. This difference is between them and us, that they looked when Christ should come, and we be in the time when he is come. Therefore saith St. Augustine, The time is altered and changed, but not the faith. For we have both one faith in one Christ. The same Holy Ghost also that we have, had they, saith St. Paul. For as the Holy Ghost doth teach us to trust in God, and to call upon him as our Father: so did he teach them to say, as it is written, Thou, Lord, art our Father, and Redeemer, and thy name is without beginning, and everlasting. God gave them then grace to be his children, as he doth us now. But how, by the coming of our Saviour Christ, we have received more abundantly the Spirit of God in our hearts, whereby we may conceive a greater faith, and a surer trust than many of them had. But, in effect, they and we be all one: we have the same faith that they had in God, and they the same that we have. And St. Paul so much extolleth their faith, because we should not less, but rather more, give ourselves wholly unto Christ, both in profession

1 Cor. iv. Isa. xliii.

and living, now when Christ is come, than the old fathers did before his coming. And by all the declaration of St. Paul, it is evident that the true, lively, and Christian faith, is no dead, vain or unfruitful thing, but a thing of perfect virtue, of wonderful operation or working, and strength, bringing forth all good motions and good works.

All holy Scripture agreeably beareth witness, that a true lively faith in Christ, doth bring forth good works: and therefore every man must examine and try himself diligently, to know whether he have the same true lively faith in his heart unfeignedly, or not, which he shall know by the fruits thereof. Many that professed the faith of Christ were in this error, that they thought they knew God, and believed in him, when in their life they declared the contrary: which error St. John in his first epistle confuting, writeth in this wise, Hereby we are certified that we know God if we observe his commandments. He that saith he knoweth God, and observeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. And again he saith, Whosoever sinneth doth not see God, nor know him: let no man deceive you well-beloved children. And moreover he saith, Hereby we know that we be of the truth, and so we shall persuade our hearts before him. For if our own hearts reprove us, God is above our hearts, and knoweth all things. Well-beloved, if our hearts reprove us not, then have we confidence in God, and shall have of him whatsoever we ask, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that please him. And yet further he saith, Every man that believeth that Jesus is Christ, is born of God, and we know that whosoever is born of God doth not sin: but he that is begotten of God, purgeth himself, and the devil doth not touch him.

1 John ii. iii.

And finally he concludeth, and sheweth the cause why he wrote this epistle, saying, For this cause have I thus written unto you, that you may know that you have everlasting life, which do believe in the Son of God. And in his third epistle, he confirmeth the whole matter of faith and works in few words, saying, He that doth well, is of God, and he that doth evil, knoweth not God. And as St. John saith, that as the lively knowledge and faith of God bringeth forth good works: so saith he likewise of hope and charity, That they cannot stand with evil living. Of hope he writeth thus, We know that when God shall appear, we shall be like unto him, for we shall see him, even as he is: and whosoever hath this hope in him, doth purify himself, like as God is pure. And of charity he saith these words, He that doth keep God's word and commandment, in him is truly the perfect love of God. And again he saith, This is the love of God, that we should keep his commandments. And St. John wrote not this, as a subtle saying, devised of his own fantasy, but as a most certain and necessary truth, taught unto him, by Christ himself, the eternal and infallible verity, who, in many places, doth most clearly affirm, that faith, hope, and charity, cannot consist or stand, without good and godly works. Of faith, he saith, he that believeth in the Son, hath everlasting life; but he that believeth not in the Son, shall not see that life, but the wrath of God remaineth upon him. And the same he confirmeth with a double oath, saying, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth in me hath everlasting life. Now, forasmuch as he that believeth in Christ hath everlasting life; it must needs consequently follow, that he that hath this faith, must have also good works, and be studious to observe God's commandments obe

diently. For to them that have evil works, and lead their life in disobedience and transgression, or breaking of God's commandments, without repentance, pertaineth not everlasting life, but everlasting death, as Christ himself saith, They that do well shall go into life eternal; but they that do evil shall go into everlasting fire. And again he saith, I am the first letter and the last, the beginning and the ending; to him that is a thirst, I will give of the well of the water of life freely he that hath the victory shall have all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son: but they that be fearful, mistrusting God, and lacking faith; they that be cursed people, and murtherers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and all liars, shall have their portion in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. And as Christ undoubtedly affirmeth, that true faith bringeth forth good works, so doth he say likewise of charity, whosoever hath my commandments, and keepeth them, that is he that loveth me. And after he saith, he that loveth me will keep my word, and he that loveth me not keepeth not my words. And as the love of God is tried by good works, so is the fear of God also, as the wise man saith, the dread of God putteth away sin. And also he saith, he that feareth God will do good works.

Matt. xxv. Apoc. xxi. John xiv. Ecclus. i. xv.

True Faith is shewn to be always the same, whether in those who before the incarnation of Jesus Christ believed in the Saviour to come, or in those who know he is already come; so that whosoever enjoys the faith of the gospel, overcomes the world, the flesh, and the devil, keeps God's holy will and commandment, and bas eternal life abiding in him.

The Third Part of the Sermon on Faith.

YOU have heard in the second part of this Sermon, that no man should think that he hath that lively faith which Scripture commandeth, when he liveth not obediently to God's laws: for all good works spring out of that faith: and also it hath been declared unto you by examples, that faith maketh men stedfast, quiet, and patient in all affliction. Now as concerning the same matter, you shall hear what followeth. A man may soon deceive himself, and think in his own fantasy that he by faith knoweth God, loveth him, feareth him, and belongeth to him, when in very deed he doeth nothing less. For the trial of all these things is a very godly and Christian life. He that feeleth his heart set to seek God's honour, and studieth to know the will and commandments of God, and to frame himself thereunto, and leadeth not his life after the desire of his own flesh, to serve the devil by sin, but setteth his mind to serve God for his own sake, and for his sake also to love all his neighbours, whether they be friends or adversaries, doing good to every man, as opportunity serveth, and willingly hurting no man: such a man may well rejoice in God, perceiving by the trade of his life, that he unfeignedly hath the right knowledge of God, a lively faith, a stedfast hope, a true and unfeigned love, and fear of God. But he that casteth away the yoke of God's commandments from his neck, and giveth himself to live without true repentance, after his own sensual mind and pleasure, not regarding to know God's word, and much less to live according thereunto; such a man clearly deceiveth himself, and seeth not his own heart, if he thinketh that he either knoweth God, loveth him, feareth him, or trusteth in him. Some, peradventure, fancy in themselves that they belong to God, although they live in sin, and