n the laste daye. Let them therfore
beware of this bottomles pytt which feare to breake their
neckes. But some there are which in this their dissemblinge are
wonte to defende them selues after this sorte: we do not theis
thinges (saye they) with our hartes / we do only thus behaue our
selues in bodie / and in outward behauiour. To whom I do answer:
god he is the lorde of harte and bodie / as he requireth the
worshippe of the harte / euen as iustlie and seuerlie dothe he
commaunde the owtwarde worshippe of the bodye: for these
owtwarde doinges are a kinde of confession / and therfore as men
owght to be sounde and vprighte in the beleif of harte / so
owght they to be in owtwarde confessinge and expressinge of their
godlynes and religion. The doinges of men be as it were a tongue:
The tongue dothe confes the thinge that lyeth in the harte by
wordes: so doinges do giue a confession therof in dede: As he
therfore which denyethe with tongue is a denyer of Christe / so
he that in owtwarde worckes and doinges denyeth Christ / is
iustlie called a deniar. Of whom Christe doth saye.
[[mat. 10.]]
he that denyeth me before men / him will I denye before my
father which is in heauen: wherfore as the tongue owghte not in
the confession of godlines and religion to differ from the
mynde / so muste not the owtwarde doinges of the body disagree
from the same. And vnto these men this also I saye / with
paule /
[[Rom. 10.]]
that the belefe of the harte doth iustifie / but the mouthe and
owtwarde doinges do make the confession vnto saluation / And
therfore Christe dothe saie /
[[mar. 8.]]
he that is ashamed of me before men / of him will I also be
ashamed before my father which is in heauen. Morouer I wold it
wer well knowen vnto these men / that it is no true faythe which
doth not breake forthe in workinge that worke which dothe agree
with faithe. As is writen of Christe / who verylie soughte the
glorye of his father / The zeale of thy house hathe eaten me /
This zeale dyd not lye in Christes brest only / but it brake
forthe into wordes / as it apeareth by his sermons / and into
deedes also / as yt apeareth ther / wher he withe a whippe dyd
dryue the byars and sellers owt of the temple:
This is a zeale / which only deseruyth the name of a christian
zeale. And euen the same I saye of faythe. What zeale then / what
faithe / what studie or care for faithe is it / that these men
do bragge of / that they haue shutt vp so
|