not in the law, but in Christ, who hath fulfilled the same, and given us freely his fulfilling.

not

And this is the chief cause wherefore Christ would fulfil the law. But all the papists think themselves to be saved by the law, and I myself have been of that dangerous, perilous, and damnable opinion, till I was thirty years of age: so long I walked in darkness, and in the shadow of death. And no doubt he that departeth out of this world in that opinion, shall never come to heaven. For when we consider the works of the law, which the law requires, and again, how we do them, we shall find that we may be justified by our doings; for the flesh reigneth in us, it beareth rule and hindereth the Spirit, and so we never fulfil the law. Certain it is that those who believe in Christ have the Holy Ghost who ruleth and governeth them; yet for all that there are a great many lacks* in them, so that if they would go about to be saved by their works, they would come too short, for their works are not able to answer the requests of the law. And so Christ should be but a Judge, who should give to every one according to his merits, and should not deserve for us. If we had no other help but that, then we should all go to the devil; but the everlasting God be praised, we have a remedy and a sure helper. Christ the Son of the living God, hath fulfilled the law for us, to deliver us from sin. Such is the office of Christ, to deliver us from the law, and the wrath of it. The law requires a perfect righteousness and holiness; now all those who believe in Christ are holy and righteous, for he hath fulfilled the law for us which believe in him: we are reputed just through faith in Christ. What does the law require of us? Truly, righteousness and holiness. This we have, we are righteous, but how? not by our works, for our works are not able to make us just,† and deliver us from our sins, but we are just by this, that our sins are pardoned unto us, through the faith which we have in Christ our Saviour; for he, through his fulfilling of the law, took away the curse of the law from our heads. "He took away the power of the sin." Sin is made no sin.

I desire you in the reverence of God to bear away this one sentence which I will now speak unto you, for it shall be a good stay for you against the temptations of the devil. The sentence is this, "That which the law could * Deficiencies, things wanting. + Righteous.

not do," (for it was hindered by the flesh.) But what can the law do when it hath no hinderance? It can justifythat is to say, "by the infirmity of our flesh" man was not able to do it, the lack was in us; for we are wicked, and the law is holy and good. Now that which we lacked, that same has God fulfilled and supplied; for he hath sent his Son to supply that which man's works could not do, and with his fulfilling of the law, and painful death, he merited that as many as believe in him, though they had done all the sins of the world, yet should they not be damned, but they are righteous before the face of God, believing in Christ; so that remission of sins and everlasting life may be sought no where else but only in Christ. "He that spared not his only Son, but gave him for us, why should he not with him give us all things also?" (Rom. viii.)

By this text it appears, that he who hath Christ, hath all things; he hath Christ's fulfilling of the law, he hath remission of his sins, and so consequently everlasting life. Is not this a comfort? What greater consolation, comfort, and heart's-ease can there be in heaven and earth, than this, namely, to be sure of the remission of thy sins, and that Christ bound himself unto the law, that he might fulfil it to the uttermost? This, I say, is the greatest comfort, specially when the devil goeth about to cast our sins in our teeth, and no doubt he forgets them not, but hath them, as they say, at his fingers'-end; as thus, when he will so go to work with us, saying, "Sirrah, thou art damned, thou art a sinful wicked fellow, thou hast not kept God's commandments; God must needs judge thee according unto his law."

Now then, when I have the grace to have in remembrance the circumcision of Christ, when I remember that Christ hath fulfilled the law for me-that he was circumcised that he will stand between me and my damnation, when I look not upon my works to be saved by them, but only by Christ; when I stick unto him, when I believe that my soul is washed and made clean through his blood, then I have all his goodness, for God hath given him unto me; and when I believe in him, I apply all his benefits unto me.

I pray God the Almighty to give every one of us such a heart that we may believe in him; for he is "the end of the law, the fulfilling of the same, to the salvation of all

that believe on him." What can be more comfortable? Therefore let us believe in him and be thankful.

Now I must needs speak a word or two of good works, lest peradventure some of you be offended with me. I told you before wherein standeth our righteousness, namely in this, that our unrighteousness is forgiven us; for we must needs confess, that the best works which we do, have need of remission of sins, and so are not meritorious, for they are not perfect as they ought to be; and therefore we live by borrowing-we have no proper righteousness of our own; but we borrow, that is to say, we take the righteousness of Christ, which he offered freely to as many as believe in him. And this treasure of his righteousness is not wasted or spent; he hath enough for all the world, yea, if there were a thousand worlds. Therefore when we have been wicked, let us be sorry for our wickedness, and come to Christ, and call for forgiveness, and then take a good earnest purpose to leave sin.

There is a common saying amongst us here in England, "Every thing is as it is taken;" which indeed is not so; for every thing is as it is, howsoever it be taken: but in some manner of things it is true, as in this matter. We of ourselves are unjust, our works are imperfect, and so are disagreeable unto God's laws; yet for Christ's sake we are taken for just, and our works are allowable before God; not that they are so indeed for themselves, but they are taken well for his sake. God hath a pleasure in our works, though they are not so perfectly done as they ought to be, yet they please him, and he delighteth in them, and he will reward them in everlasting life. We have them not by our merits, but by Christ. And yet this sentence is true, "He will reward every one according to his deserving;" he will reward our good works in everlasting life, but not with everlasting life, for our works are not so much worth, nor ought to be esteemed so as to get us heaven; for it is written, "The kingdom of heaven is the gift of God." So likewise St. Paul saith, "Ye are saved freely without works." (Ephes. ii. 8.) Therefore when ye ask, Are ye saved? say, Yes. How? Why, gratis-freely; and here is all our comfort to stay our consciences. You will say now, Here is all Faith, Faith, but we hear nothing of good works; as some carnal people make such carnal reasons to please themselves; but I tell you we are bound

to walk in good works; for to that end we are come to Christ, to leave sin, to live uprightly, and so to be saved by him; but you must be sure to what end you must work, you must know how to esteem your good works. As if I fast and give alms, and think to be saved by it, I thrust Christ out of his seat: what am I the better when I do so? But I will tell you how you shall do them. First, consider with yourselves how God hath delivered you out of the hands of the devil. Now to show yourselves thankful, and in consideration that he commands you to do good works, you must do them, and thereby we wrestle with sin. When the devil tempts me, or in any way moves me to wickedness, then I must withstand, and reprove it; and when he hath gotten at any time the victory, we must rise again, and be more wary afterwards. And when thou feelest thyself feeble and weak, then call upon God, for he hath promised that he will help: there was never a man yet, nor ever shall be, but he either hath or shall find ease and comfort at God's hand, if he call upon him with a faithful heart. For as St. Paul saith, "God is true, he will not suffer us to be tempted above our strength." (1 Cor. x.) If therefore we would once enter into a practice to overcome the devil, it were an easy thing for us to do it; if every one in his calling would direct his ways to Godward, and to do good works; as the parents in their calling to live quietly and godly together, and to bring up their youth in godliness; so likewise masters should show good examples, to keep their servants from idleness and wickedness. These are good works, when every one doth his calling, as God hath appointed him to do; but they must be done to show ourselves thankful, and therefore they are called in Scripture sacrifices of thanksgiving, not to win heaven withal. For if we should do so, we should deny Christ our Saviour, despise and tread him under our feet. For to what purpose suffered he, if I shall with my good works merit heaven? as the papists, who deny him indeed, for they think to get heaven with their pilgrimages, and with running hither and thither. I pray you note this, we must first be made good, before we can do good; we must first be made just, before our works please God; for when we are justified by faith in Christ, and are made good by him, then cometh our duty, that is, to do good works, to make a declaration of our thankfulness.