Woodes, Nathaniel · published 1581 · first performed or written 1572 [1570-1581] (Annals) moral T5 Christian faith, sin and salvation typicality 0.77 · 466 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T5: god, christ, david, sin, holy, israel, lord, mercy, sins, faith.
I did believe in heart, that Christ was' that true sacrifice. Which did appease the father's wrath, and that by him alone We were made just and sanctified: I did believe likewise, That without him, heaven to attain, sufficient means were none. But to reknowledge this again, alas, all grace was gone: I never loved him again, with right and sincere heart, Neither was thankful for the same, as was each goodman's part. But rather took the faith of Christ, for liberty to sin, And did abuse his graces great, to further carnal lust, what wickedness I did commit, I cared not a pin: For that, that Christ discharged had any ransom, I did trust: wherefore the Lord doth now correct, the same with torments just. My sons, my sons, I speak to you, my counsel ponder well, And practise that in deeds, which I in words shall to you tell. I speak not this, that I would aught, the Gospel derogate, which is most true in every part, I must it needs confess, But this I say, that of vain faith alone, you should not prate: But also by your holy life, you should your faith express, Believe me sires, for by good proof, these things I do express: Peruse the writing of S. Iames, and first of Peters too, which all God's people, holiness of life exhort unto. By sundry reasons, as for first, because we strangers are, Again, sin from the flesh proceed, but we are of the spirit, The third, because the flesh always, against the spirit do war, The fourth, that we may stop the mouths of such as would backbite, The fifth, that other by our lives, to God reduce we might: Again, they sing a pleasant song, which sing in deed and word, But where evil life ensue good words, there is a foul discord: But I alas, most wretched wight, whereas I did presume, That I had got a perfect faith, did holy life disdain: And though I did to other preach, good life I did consume: My life in wickedness and sin, in sport and pleasures vain, No, neither did I once contend, from them flesh to refrain, Behold therefore, the judgements just, of God doth me annoy, Not for amendment of my life, but me for to destroy. We do not altogether like of this your exhortation, whereas you warn us not to trust, so much unto our faith, But that good works we should prepare, unto our preservation, There are two kinds of righteousness, as Paul to Romans faith: The one dependeth of good works, the other hangs of faith: The former which the world allows, good counts it least of twain, As by good proof, it shall to you, in words be proved plain.
seed 43: T4 · seed 44: T5 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
I did beleeue in hart, that Chriſt was 'that true ſacrifice. Which dyd appeaſe the fathers wrath, and that by him alone We were made iuſt and ſanctified: I dyd beleeue lykewiſe, That without him, heauen to attaine, ſufficient meanes were none. But to reknowledge this againe, alas, all grace was gone: I neuer loued him againe, with right and ſincere harte, Neither was thankfull for the ſame, as was ech goodmans part. But rather tooke the faith of Chriſt, for lybertie to ſinne, And did abuſe his graces great, to further carnall luſt, what wickedneſſe I did commit, I cared not a pinne: For that, that Chriſt diſcharged had any ranſome, I dyd truſt: wherfore the Lord doth now correct, the ſame with torments iuſt. My ſonnes, my ſonnes, I ſpeake to you, my counſell ponder well, And practiſe that in déedes, which I in wordes ſhall to you tell. I ſpeake not this, that I would ought, the Goſpell derogate, which is moſt true in euery part, I muſt it néedes confeſſe, But this I ſay, that of vaine faith alone, you ſhould not prate: But alſo by your holy lyfe, you ſhould your faith expreſſe, Beléeue me ſyres, for by good proofe, theſe thinges I doo expreſſe: Peruſe the wrighting of S. Iames, and firſt of Peters too, which all Gods people, holyneſſe of lyfe exhort vnto. By ſundrie reaſons, as for firſte, becauſe we ſtrangers are, Againe, ſinne from the fleſh procéede, but we are of the ſpirit, The third, becauſe the fleſh alway, againſt the ſpirit doo warre, The fourth, yt we may ſtop the mouthes of ſuch as would backbight, The fifth, that other by our lyues, to God reduce we might: Againe, they ſing a pleaſant ſong, which▪ ſing in déede and word, But where euill life inſue good words, there is a foule diſcorde: But I alas, moſt wretched wight, whereas I did preſume, That I had got a perfect faith, did holy life diſdaine: And though I did to other preach, good lyfe I did conſume: My lyfe in wickedneſſe and ſinne, in ſport and pleaſures vaine, No, neither did I once contende, from them fleſh to refraine, Beholde therfore, the iudgements iuſt, of God doth mée annoy, Not for amendement of my lyfe, but mée for to deſtroy. We doo not altogether like of this your exhortation, whereas you warne vs not to truſt, ſo much vnto our faith, But that good workes we ſhould prepare, vnto our preſeruation, There are two kindes of righteouſneſſe, as Paul to Romanes faith: The one dependeth of good workes, the other hangs of faith: The former which the world allowes, good counts it leaſt of twaine, As by good proofe, it ſhall to you, in words be proued playne.