Moreover, all the merits of Chrift are ours; his fulfilling of the law is ours, and fo we be justified before God, and finally attain to everlafting life. As many therefore as feed worthily of this dish, fhall have all things with it, and in the end, everlafting life. St Paul faith," He which spared not ← his own Son, but gave him for us all, how shall he not with him, give us all things alfo?" Therefore they that be in Chrift, are partakers of all his merits and benefits, of everlafting life, and of all felicity. He that hath Christ, hath all things that are Christ's: He is our preservation from damnation, he is our comfort, he is our help, he is our remedy. When we feed upon him, then fhall we have remiffion of our fins: the fame remiffion of fins, is the greateft and most comfortable thing that can be in the world.

O what a comfortable thing is this, when Chrift faith, " Thy fins are forgiven unto thee." And this is a standing fentence, it was not spoken only to the fame man, but it is a general Proclamation unto us all: that is, to all and every one that believeth in him, that they fhall have forgivenefs of their fins. And this Proclamation is cried out daily by his Ministers and Preachers; which Proclamation is the word of grace, the word of comfort and confolation. For like as fin is the moft fearful, and the moft horrible thing in heaven and earth, fo the most comfortable thing is the remedy against sin; which remedy

for the remission of fins, and the increase of faith. And this is what our Church has appointed her Priests to declare to her Communicants in her Exhortation to them to frequent the holy Supper. "I purpofe, fays the Curate, through God's affiftance, to adminifter to all fuch as fhall be religioufly and devoutly difpofed, the most comfortable facrament of the Body and Blood of Christ-whereby we alone obtain remiffion of our fins, and are made partakers of the kingdom of heaven,-for God hath given his Son our Saviour Jefus Chrift, not only to die for us, but alfo to be our SPIRITUAL FOOD and fuftenance in that holy * facrament."

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remedy is declared and offered unto us in this word of grace: and the power to diftribute this remedy againft fins, he hath given unto his Ministers, which be God's Treafurers, Diftributers of the Word of God: for now he fpeaketh by me, he calleth you to his wedding by me, being a poor man; yet he hath fent me to call you. And though he be the Author of the Word, yet he will have men to be called through his Minifters to that word. Therefore let us give credit unto the Minister when he fpeaketh God's word: yea, rather let us credit God when he Speaketh by his Ministers, and offereth us remiffion of our fins by his word. For there is no fin fo great in this world, but it is pardonable, as long as we be in this world, and call for mercy; for here is the time of mercy, here we may come to forgiveness of our fins. But if we once die in our fins and wickedness, fo that we be damned, let us not look for remiffion afterwards: for the state after this life is unchangeable: but as long as we be here, we may cry unto God for forgiveness of our fins; and then no doubt we shall obtain remiffion, if we call with a faithful heart upon him, for fo he hath promised unto us in his most holy word.

The holy Scripture makes mention of a fin against the holy Ghoft, which fin cannot be forgiven, neither in this world, nor in the world to come: And this makes many men unquiet in their hearts and confciences: for fome there be which ever be afraid left they have committed that fame fin against the holy Ghoft, which is irremiffible. Therefore fome fay, I cannot tell whether I have finned against the holy Ghoft or not: if I have committed that fin, I know I fhall be damned. But I tell you what you fhall do, despair not of the mercy of God, for it

is

* Among those who are faid to commit the fin against the holy Ghoft, we must include all thofe who deny his divinity, co-equality, and co-eternity with God the Father and God the Son.

is immeafurable. I cannot deny but that there is a fin against the holy Ghoft, which is irremiffible; but we cannot judge of it beforehand, we cannot tell which man hath committed that fin or not, as long as he is alive: but when he is once gone, then I can judge whether he finned against the holy Ghost or not. As now I can judge that Nero, Saul, and Judas, and fuch like, that died in their fins, and wickednefs did commit this fin against the holy Ghoft: for they were wicked, and continued in their wickedness ftill to the very end; they made an end in their wickedness: but we cannot judge whether one of us fin this fin against the holy Ghoft, or not: for though a man be wicked at this time, yet he may repent, and leave his wickedness to morrow, and fo not commit that fin against the holy Ghoft.

Our Saviour Chrift pronounced against the Scribes and Pharifees that they had committed that fin against the holy Ghoft: because he knew their hearts, he knew they would still abide in their wickednefs to the very end of their lives. But we cannot pronounce this fentence againft any man, for we know not the hearts of men: he that finneth now, peradventure shall be turned to morrow, and leave his fins, and fo be faved. Farther, the promifes of our Saviour Chrift are general, they pertain to all mankind; he made a general Proclamation, faying: "Whofoever believeth in me hath everlasting life." Likewife St Paul faith, "The grace and mercies of "God exceedeth far our fins." Therefore let us ever think and believe that the grace of God, his mercy and goodness, exceedeth our fins.

Alfo confider what Chrift faith with his own mouth: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will eafe you" Mark, here he faith, "Come all ye:" wherefore then should any man defpair, to fhut up himself from the promises of Chrift, which be general, and pertain to the whole

world :

And

world: For he faith, "Come all unto me." then again he faith, "I will refresh you :" you fhall be eafed from the burden of your fins. Therefore, as I faid before, he that is blafphemous, and obstinate, and wicked, and abideth in his wickedness ftill to the very end, he finneth against the holy Ghost; as St Auguftine, and all other godly writers do affirm that he that leaveth his wickednefs and fins, is content to amend his life, and then believing in Chrift, feeketh falvation and everlafting life by him; no doubt that man or woman, whofoever he or they be, fhall be faved: for they feed upon Christ, upon that meat that God the Father, this feast-maker, hath prepared for all his guests.

You have heard now who is the maker of this feaft or banquet and again you have heard what meat is prepared for the guests; what a coftly dish the house-father hath ordained at the wedding of his fon. But now ye know, that where be great dishes and delicate fare, there is commonly prepared certain fauces, which fhall give men a great luft and appetite to their meats, as muftard, vinegar, and fuch like fauces. So this feaft, this coftly dish, hath its fauces; but what be they? Marry, the crofs, and affliction, tribulation, perfecution, and all manner of miferies: for, like as fauces make lufty the ftomach to receive meat; fo affliction ftirreth up in us a defire to Chrift. For when we be in quietnefs we are not hungry, we care not for Chrift; but when we be in tribulation, and cast in prison, then we have a defire to him, then we learn to call upon him; then we be hungry, and thirft after him; then we are defirous to feed upon him: as long as we be in health and profperity, we care not for him we be flothful, we have no ftomach at all, and therefore thefe fauces are very neceffary for us. We have a common faying among us, when we see a fellow sturdy, lofty, and proud, this is a faucy N° XXI. VOL. II. fellow;

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fellow; fignifying him to be a high-minded fellow, which taketh more upon him than he ought to do, or his eftate requireth; which thing, no doubt, is naught and ill; for every one ought to behave himself, according to his calling and estate.

But he that will be a christian man, that intendeth to come to heaven, must be a faucy fellow; he must be well powdered with the fauce of affliction, and tribulation; not with proudnefs and ftournefs, but with miferies and calamities: for fo it is written, "Whosoever will live godly in Chrift, he shall "fuffer perfecution and miferies:" he fhall have fauce enough to his meat. Again, our Saviour faith, "He that will be my difciple, muft deny "himself, and take his cross upon him, and follow " me." Is there any man that will feed upon me, that will eat my flesh and drink my blood? "Let "him forfake himself." O this is a great matter, this is a biting thing; it is the very denying of my own will.

As for example. I fee a fair woman, and conceive in my heart an evil appetite to commit letchery with her; I defire to fulfil my wanton luft with her. Here is my appetite, my luft, my will: but what muft I do? I must deny myself, and follow Chrift. What is that? I must not follow my own defire, but the will and pleasure of Chrift. Now what faith he?"Thou shalt not be a whoremonger; thou fhalt "not be a wedlock breaker." Here I muft deny myself, and my will, and give place unto his will; abhor and hate my own will: yea, and farthermore, I must earnestly call upon him, that he will give me grace to withstand my own luft and appetite, in all manner of things which may be againft his will as when a man doth me wrong, taking my living from me, or hurteth me in my good name; my will is to avenge myself upon him, to do him a foul turn again: but what faith God: "Unto me

belongeth