"But at the last I heard speake of Jesus, even then when the new Testament was first set forth by Erasmus. Which when I understood to be eloquently done by him, being allured rather for the Latine, than for the word of God, (for at that time, I knew not what it meant) I bought it even by the providence of God, as I doe now wel understand and perceive: And at the first reading, as I well remember, I chanced upon this sentence of Saint Paul ( most sweet and comfortable sentence to my soule!) in his first epistle to Timothy and first chapter; It is a true saying and worthie of all men to be imbraced, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinner's, of whom I am the chiefe and principall. This one sentence, through Gods instruction and inward working, which I did not then perceive, did so exhilarate my hart, being before wounded with the guilt of my sinnes, and being almost în despaire, that immediately I felt a marvellous comfort and quietnesse, insomuch, that my brused bones leapt for joy, (Psalm. 50.)

"After this, the Scripture began to be more pleasant unto me than the honie or the honie comb: wherein I learned that all my travels, all my fasting and watching, all the redemption of masses and pardon's, being done without truth in Christ, which onelie saveth his people from their sinnes: these, I say, I learned to be nothing else but even (as S. Augustine saith) a hastie and swift running out of the right way, or else much like to the vesture made of fig leaves, wherwithall Adam and Eve went about in vaine, to cover them; and could never before obtaine quietnesse and rest, untill they beleeved in the promise of God, that Christ the seed of the woman, should tread upon the serpents head. Neither could I be relieved or eased of the sharpe stings and bitings of my sinnes, before that

VOL. II.

D

I was

I was taught of God that lesson, which Christ speaketh of in the third chapter of John; Even as Moses exalted the serpent in the desert, so shall the son of man be exalted, that all which beleeve on him should not perish, but have life everlasting.

"As soone as (according to the measure of grace given unto me of God) I began to tast and savour of this heavenly lesson, which no man can teach but onely God, which revealed the same unto Peter; I desired the Lord to increase my faith. And at last, I desired nothing more, than that I being so comforted by him, might be strengthened by his holy spirit and grace from above, that I might teach the wicked his waies, which are mercie and truth, and that the wicked might be converted unto him by me, which sometime was also wicked. Which thing, whilest that with all my power I did endevour, before my Lord Cardinall and your fatherhood Christ was blasphemed in me (and this is my onelie comfort in these my afflictions) whom with my whole power I do teach and set forth, being made for us by God his father, our wisdome, righteousnesse, sanctification and redemption, and finally, our satisfaction. Who was made sinne for us, (that is to say, a sacrifice for sinne) that we through him, should be made the righteousnesse of God. Who became accursed for us, to redeeme us frm the curse of the law: Who also came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance; the righteous (I say) which falslie judge and thinke themselves so to be; (for all men have sinned and lacke the glory of God; wherby he freely forgiveth sins unto al beleevers, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus) because that all mankind was grievouslie wounded in him which fell amongst theeves betweene Jerusalem and Jericho. "And

"And therfore with al my whole power, I teach that al men should first acknowledge their sinnes and condemne them, and afterward hunger and thirst for that righteousnesse, whereof Saint Paul speaketh (Rom. 3); The righteousnesse of God by faith in Jesus Christ, is upon all them which beleeve in him, for there is no difference, all have sinned, and lacke the glory of God, and are justified freely through his grace, by the redemption which is in Jesus Christ. The which, whosoever doth hunger or thirst for, without doubt, they shall at the length so be satisfied, that they shall not hunger and thirst for ever.

"But forsomuch as this hunger and thirst was wont to bee quenched with the fulnesse of mans righteousnesse, which is wrought through the faith of our owne elect and chosen works, as pilgrimages, buying of pardons, offering of candles, elect and chosen fasts, and oftentimes superstitious, and finallie all kind of voluntarie devotions (as they call them *) against the which Gods word speaketh plainelie in the fourth of Deuteronomy and in the twelfth, saying, Thou shalt not doe that which seemeth good unto thy selfe, but that which I command thee for to doe, that doe thou, neither adding to, neither diminishing any thing from it: therefore I say, oftentimes have I spoken of those workes, not condemning them (as God I take to my witnessed but reprooving their abuse, making the lawful use of them manifest, even unto children; exhorting all men not so to cleave unto them, that they being satisfied therewith, should loath or wax wearie 4 Voluntarie devotions (as they call them).] "Voluntary works besides, over and above God's commandments, which they call works of supererogation, &c." Article 14th of the Church of England.

of Christ, as many doe. In whom I bid your fatherhood most prosperouslie well to fare.

"And this is the whole summe. If you will appoint me to dilate more at large the things here touched, I will not refuse to doe it, so that you will grant me time: for to doe it out of hand, I am not able for the weaknesse of my body; being readie alwaies if I have erred in any thing, to bee better instructed."

After his abjuration made, about the yeere of our Lord 1529. the said Bilney took such repentance and sorrow, that he was neere the point of utter despaire: as by the words of M. Latimer, is crediblie testified; whose words for my better discharge, I thought heere to annexe, written in his seventh sermon preached before K. Edward, which. be these:

"I knew a man my selfe, Bilney, little Bilney, that blessed martyr of God, who what time he had borne his fagot, and was come againe to Cambridge, had such conflicts within himselfe (beholding this image of death) that his friends were afraid to let him be alone. They were faine to be with him day and night, and comfort him as they could, but no comforts would serve. And as for the comfortable places of scripture, to bring them unto him, it was as though a man should run him thorow the heart with a sword. Yet afterward for all this, he was revived and tooke his death patientlie, and died well against the tyrannicall see of Rome."

Againe, the said M. Latimer speaking of Bilney in another of his sermons preached in Lincolnshire, hath these words following; "That same M. Bilney, which was burnt here in England for Gods words sake, was induced and perswaded by his

friends

friends to beare a fagot at the time when the Cardinall was aloft, and bare the swinge. Now when the same Bilney came to Cambridge again, a whole yeere after, he was in such an anguish and agonie, that nothing did him good, neither eating nor drinking, nor any other communication of Gods word: for he thought that all the whole scriptures were against him, and sounded to his condemnation. So that I many a time communed with him (for I was familiarlie acquainted with him) but al things whatsoever any man could alleage to his comfort, seemed unto him to make against him. Yet for all that, afterward he came againe: God indued him with such strength and perfectnes of faith, that he not only confessed his faith in the Gospel of our saviour Jesus Christ, but also suffered his bodie to be burned for that same gospels sake, which we now preach in England."

Furthermore, in the first sermon of the said M. Latimer before the dutches of Suffolke, hee yet speaking more of Bilney, inferreth as followeth;

Here I have (saith he) occasion to tell you a storie which happened at Cambridge. M. Bilney, or rather S. Bilney, that suffered death for Gods words sake, the same Bilney was the instrument whereby God called me to knowledge. For I may thanke him next to God, for that knowledge that I have in the word of God. For I was an obstinate papist as any was in England: insomuch that when I should be made Bacheler of divinitie, my whole Oration went against Philip Melancthon and against his opinions. Bilney heard me at that time, and perceived that I was zealous without knowledge, and came to me afterward in my studie, and desired me for Gods sake to heare his confession. I did so: and (to say the truth) by his confession I learned more than afore in many yeeres.

So