beleued, let al men iudge. wherfore my dearly beloued, MarginaliaIames. i.receiue the woorde of god with mekenesse, that is graffed in you, whiche is able to saue your soules. And see that ye be not forgetfull hearers, deceiuing youre selues with Sophistrye, but dooers of the woorde, whome MarginaliaMath. 7.Christe dothe lyken to a wyse manne, whiche buildeth his house on a rocke, that when the greate rayne descendeth, and the floudes come and beate vppon that house, it fall not, because it was grounded vpon a rocke, that is to witte: that when Sathan with al his legion of deuils, with all their subtile suggestions, the worlde with all the mightie princes thereof, with their craftie counsels, MarginaliaPsalme. 2.do furiously rage against vs, we faint not, but abide constant in the truthe, being grounded vpon a moste sure rocke whiche is Christ, and the doctrine of the Gospell, MarginaliaMath. 16.against whiche the gates of hell (that is the power of Sathan) can not preuaile. And be ye followers of Christe and the Apostles, & receiue the worde in muche affliction (as the godly Thessalonians did Marginalia1. Thess. 1.): for the true followers of Christ and the Apostles, be thei which receiue the worde of God. They onely receyue the woorde of God, whiche bothe beleue it, and also frame their liues after it, and be ready to suffer all maner of aduersitie for þe name of the Lord, as Christ and al the Apostles did, and Marginalia2. Timo 3.as all that wyll lyue godly in Christ Iesu must do: for there is none other waye into the kyngdome of heauen, but through muche tribulation. MarginaliaActes. 14. MarginaliaMath. 5.And if we suffer any thing for the kingdome of heauens sake, and for rightuousnes sake, we haue the Prophetes, Christe, the Apostles & martyrs, for an ensample to cōfort vs: for they did all enter into the kyngdom of heauen, MarginaliaMath. 7.at the strayte gate and narrowe way, that leadeth vnto lyfe, which fewe do finde. MarginaliaMark. 8.And onles we wyl be content to denie our own selfs, and take vp the crosse of Christe and followe him, we can not be his disciples. Marginalia2. Timo. 2.For if we denie to suffer with Christe and his sainctes, it is an euident argument, that we shall neuer reigne with hym. And againe, if we can fynde in our heartes paciently to suffer persecutions & tribulations, it is Marginalia2. Thess. 1.a sure token of the ryghteouse iudgement of God, that we are counted worthy of the kingdome of God, for which we also suffer. It is verely (saieth the Apostle) a righteous thing with God, to recompēce tribulation to them that trouble vs, and rest to vs that be troubled.
[Back to Top]For after this lyfe, the godlie being deliuered from their tribulations and paynes, shall haue a moste quiet and ioyful rest, where as the wycked and vngodly, contrariwyse, shalbe tormented for euermore with intollerable and vnspeakable peines, as Christ by the parable of MarginaliaLuk 16.the riche glutton and wretched Lazarus, doth playnly declare and teache. These ought we to
[Back to Top]haue before our eies alwayes, that in time of aduersitie and persecution (wherof all that wil be the children of God, shalbe partakers, MarginaliaHebr. 12. and wherewith it hath pleased God to put some of vs in vre already) we maye stande stedfast in the Lorde, and endeuour euen vnto the ende, that we may be saued. For onles we like Marginalia2. Timo. 2.good warriours of Iesus Christe, will endeuoure our selues to please him, who hathe chosen vs to be souldious, & fight the good fight of faith, euen vnto the ende, we shall not obteine that crowne of righteousnes, which the Lord, that is a righteous iudge, shal geue to al them that loue his cōming. MarginaliaIoan. 3.Let vs therfore receiue with mekenes the word that is graffed in vs, which is able to saue our soules, & ground our selues on the sure rock Christe. For (as the Apostle sayeth) other foundation can no man laye, besides that whiche is layed already, which is Iesus Christe. Marginalia1. Cor. 3.If any man buylde on this foundation gold, syluer, precious stones, tymber, haye, stubble, euery mans worke shall appeare for the daye shall declare it, and it shalbe shewed in the fire. And the fire shall trie euerye mans worke what it is: if any mans woorke that he hath builded vpon abide, he shal receiue a rewarde: if any mans worke burne he, shall suffer losse, but he shalbe safe him selfe: neuerthelesse, yet as it were through fyre.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaFier in scripture what it signifieth.By fire here doth the Apostle vnderstand persecution and trouble: for they which do trulye preach and professe the word of God, which is called the word of the crosse, shalbe rayled vpō, abhorred, hated, thruste out of company, persecuted, and tried in the fornace of aduersitye, as gold and siluer are tried in the fire. Marginaliai. Cor. 1 MarginaliaMath. 5. Luc. 6. By gold, siluer, and precious stones he vnderstandeth thē that in the middes of persecution abide stedfast in the worde: by timber, hay, and stubble are mēt such, as in time of persecutiō do fall away from the truth. And whē christ doth purge his flower with the wind of aduersity, MarginaliaMath. 3. Psalme. 1. these scatter away frō the face of the earth like light chaffe which shalbe burned with vnquencheable fire. if they then which do beleue do in time of persecutiō stand stedfastly in the truth, þe buylder (I do meane þe preacher of the word) shall receiue a reward, and the worke shalbe preserued and saued: but if so be that they go back & swarue, when persecution ariseth, the builder shal suffer losse, that is to say, shall lose his labour and cost: but yet he shalbe saued, if he being tried in the fyre of persecutiō do abide fast in the faith. Wherfore (my beloued) geue diligent heade, that ye as liuing stones be builded vpon this sure rocke, and be made a spirituall house, and a holy priesthod, for to offer vp spiritual sacrifices, acceptable vnto God by Iesus Christe. Marginalia1. Pet. 2. Marginalia1. Corinth. For we are the true temple of God: and the spirite of God dwelleth in vs, if so be that we continue in the doctrine of the Gospell: we are
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