[232] In the old printed copies, including the Acts of Parliament
1567, this Chapter is numbered 14, and the mistake is continued
throughout, so that the last Chapter 25, is numbered 26.
[Sidenote: John. 15.]
[Sidenote: Ephes. 2.]
[Sidenote: Gal. 5.]
[Sidenote: Rom. 8.]
[Sidenote: Joan 15.]
So that the caus of Good workis, we confess to be, nott our free will,
but the Spreit of the Lord Jesus, who dwelling in oure heartis be trew
faith, bringis furth sick good workis as God hath prepared for us to
walk into: for this we most boldlie affirm, that blasphemy it is to
say, that Christ Jesus abydis in the heartis of sick as in whome thair
is na spreit of Sanctificatioun. And thairfoir we fear nott to
affirme, that murtherraris, oppressouris, cruell persecutaris,
adulteraris, whoremongaris, filthy personis, idolateris, drounkardis,
theavis, and all workaris of iniquitie, have neather trew faith,
neather any portioun of the spreat of Sanctificatioun, whiche
proceadeth frome the Lord Jesus, so long as thei obstinatlie continew
in thair wickednes. For how sone that ever the spreit of the Lord
Jesus, (whiche Godis elect children resave by trew fayth,) takis
possessioun in the heart of any man, so soon dois he regenerat and
renew the same man; so that he begynnis to hate that whiche befoir he
luffit, and begynnis to luif that whiche befoir he hated; and from
thence cumis that continewall battell which is betwix the flesche and
the spreit in Godis children; while the flesche and naturall man
(according to the awin corruptioun) lustis for things pleasing and
delectable unto the self, grudges in adversitie, is lyfted up in
prosperitie, and at everie moment is prone and reddye to offend the
Majestie of God. Bot the Spreit of God, whiche giveth witnessing till
our spreit, that we ar the sones of God, makis us to resist the
devill, to abhorr[233] fylthy pleasouris, to groane in Godis presence
for deliverance from this boundage of corruptioun; and finally, so
triumphe over syne that it reigne not in our mortall bodyes. This
battell hes nott the carnall men, being destitut of Goddis Spreitt;
but do follow and obey syn with greadynes, and without repentance,
evin as the devill and thair corrupt lustis do prick thame. But the
sonnes of God (as befoir is said) does feght against syn, do sobb and
murne, when they perceave thame selfis tempted to iniquitie; and gif
they fall, they ryse agane with earnest and unfeaned repentance. And
these thingis they do nott by thair awin power, but the power of the
Lord Jesus (without whome thai war able to do nothing) wyrketh in
thame all that is good.[234]
[233] In the old printed copies, the words, "the devill, to abhorr,"
are omitted.
[234] In the editions 1561, and in the Acts 1567, the last seven words
are omitted: the sentence runs thus, "but by the power of the Lord
Jesus, without whom thai war hable to do nothing."