MarginaliaThe Christians in superstitious fasting exceede the Iewes.with an other. And verely in this poynt doth our superstition much exceede the superstition of the Iewes: for we neuer read that they euer tooke it for a fast, to absteine from flesh, and to eate either fish or white meate, as they call it.

To fastyng and prayer must be ioyned almes, and MarginaliaMercy to the poore.mercy towardes the poore and needy: and that our almes may be acceptable vnto God, three thyngs are chiefly required:

Marginalia1555. Aprill.First, that we geue with a chearefull and ioyfull hart: Marginalia2. Cor. 9. MarginaliaIn almes 3. thinges required.For the Lord loueth a chearefull geuer.

Secondly, that we geue liberally, puttyng aside all nigardshyp, knowyng that he that soweth little, shall reape litle: and he that soweth plenteously, shall reape plenteously. Let euery man therfore do accordyng as he is able. The poorest caitiffe in the worlde may geue as great and acceptable an almes in the sight of God, as the richest man in the worlde can do. MarginaliaMarke 12.The poore widowe that did offer but two mites, which make a farthyng, did hyghly please Christ: In somuch that hee affirmed with an othe, That she of her penurie, had added more to the offrynges of God, then all the rich men, which of their superfluitie had cast in very much. For if there be first a willyng mynd (as S. Paule saythMarginalia2. Cor. 8.) it is accepted, accordyng to that a man hath, and not accordyng to that a man hath not.

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MarginaliaAlmes without ostentation.Thirdly, we must geue without hypocrisie and ostentation, not seekyng the prayse of men, or our owne glory or profite. And although the Scriptures in some places make mention of a reward to our almes and other good workes, MarginaliaWorkes of mercy do not merite with God touching our saluation, any thing.yet ought we not to thinke that we do merite or deserue any thyng: but rather we ought to acknowledge, that God of his mere mercy rewardeth in vs his own giftes. For what hath hee that geueth almes that he hath not receiued, he then that geueth vnto a poore man any manner of thyng, geueth not of his owne, but of those goodes which hee hath receiued of God. What hast thou (sayth the ApostleMarginalia1. Cor. 4.) that thou hast not receiued? If thou hast receiued it, why reioycest thou, as though thou haddest not receiued it?

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This sentence ought to be had in remembraunce of all men. For if we haue nothing, but that which we haue receiued, what can we deserue? or what neede we to dispute and reason of our owne merites? It commeth of the free gift of God, that we lyue, that we loue God, that we walke in his feare. Where is our deseruyng then? We must also in this our spirituall warrefare arme our selues with continuall prayer,MarginaliaMath. 26. Heb. 4. 1. Mach. 4. a very necessary, strong, and inuincible weapon, and after the example of Christ and all other Godly men, crye hartly vnto God in fayth, in all our distresses & anguishes.MarginaliaContinuall prayer. Let vs go boldly to the seate of grace, where we shalbe sure to receiue mercy, and finde grace to helpe in tyme of neede. For now is pryde and persecutiō encreased: now is the tyme of destruction and wrathfull displeasure.

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MarginaliaTo be faythfull in temptation.Wherfore my deare brethren, be ye feruent in the law of God, and ieoperde ye your liues if neede shall so require, for the testament of the fathers, and so shall ye receiue great honour, and an euerlastyng name. Remember Abraham: MarginaliaGene. 22.Was not he found faythfull in temptation, and it was reckened vnto him for righteousnes? MarginaliaGene. 41.Ioseph in tyme of his trouble kept the cōmaundemēt, and was made a Lord of Egypt. MarginaliaNum. 25.Phinees was so feruent for the honour of God, that he obteined the couenaūt of an euerlastyng Priesthode. MarginaliaIosua. 1.Iosua for fulfillyng the word of God, was made the Captaine of Israell. MarginaliaNum. 14.Caleb bare recorde before the Congregation, and receiued an heritage. Marginalia1. Reg. 24.Dauid also in his mercyfull kyndnes obteined the throne of an euerlastyng kingdome. Marginalia4. Reg. 2.Elias beyng zelous and feruent in the law, was taken vp into heauen. MarginaliaDan. 3.Ananias, Azarias, and Misael remained stedfast in the fayth, & were deliuered out of the fire. In like maner MarginaliaDan. 6.Daniell beyng vngiltie, was saued from the mouth of the Lyons.

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And thus ye may consider throughout all ages since the world began, that who soeuer put their trust in God, were not ouercome. MarginaliaPsal. 38.Feare not ye then the wordes of vngodly men: for their glory is but donge and wormes: MarginaliaHe exhorteth to zeale and courage.to day are they set vp, and to morow are they gone: For they are turned into earth, and their memoriall commeth to naught. Wherfore let vs take good hartes vnto vs, and quite our selues like men in the law: for if we do the thynges that are commaunded vs in the law of the Lord our God, we shall obteine great honour therein.

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Beloued in Christ, let vs not faynt because of affliction, wherewith God tryeth all them that are sealed vnto lyfe euerlastyng: MarginaliaActes. 14.for the onely way into the kyngdome of God, is through much tribulation. Marginalia4. Esdras 7.For the kyngdome of heauen, (as God teacheth vs by his Prophet Esdras) Is like a Citie builded and set vppon a broade fielde, and full of all good things but MarginaliaStraite is the way which the elect must walke in.the entraūce is narrow & sodaine, [full of sorrow and trauaile, perils and labours] Like as if there were a fire at the right hand, and a deepe water at the left: and as it were one straite path betwene them both, so small, that

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there could but one man go there. If this Citie now were geuen to an heyre, and he neuer went through the perillous way, how would he receaue his inheritaunce? Wherfore seyng we are in this narrow and straite way, whiche leadeth vnto the most ioyfull and pleasaunt Citie of euerlastyng lyfe: let vs not stagger, either turne backe, beyng afrayde of the daungerous and perillous way, but follow our Captaine Iesus Christ in the narrow and straite way, and be afrayde of nothyng, no not euen of death it selfe: MarginaliaDeath is a dore to lyfe.for it is he that must lead vs to our iourneyes end, and open vs the doore vnto euerlastyng lyfe.

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Consider also the course of this world, how many there be which for their maisters sake, or for a litle promotions sake, MarginaliaIf worldly men ieopard so much for earthly thinges, how much more ought we to ieopard for euerlasting thinges?would aduenture their liues in worldly affaires, as cōmonly in warres, and yet is their reward but light and transitory, and ours is vnspeakable, great and euerlastyng. They suffer paynes to be made Lordes on earth for a short season: how much more ought we to endure like paynes (yea peraduenture much lesse) to be made kynges in heauen for euermore? Consider also the wicked of this world, which for a litle pleasures sake, or to be auenged on their enemies, will fight with sworde and weapons, and put them selues in daunger of imprisonment and hangyng. So much as vertue is better thē vice, and God mightier then the deuill, so much ought we to excell them in this our spirituall battaile.

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And seyng brethren, it hath pleased God to set me, and that most worthy minister of Christ, Iohn Bradford, your countreymen in the forefront of this battaile, where (for the tyme) is most daunger, I beseeche you all in the bowelles of Christ to helpe vs and all others our felowsouldiours standyng in like perillous place, with your prayers to God for vs, that we may quyte our selues like men in the Lord, and geue some example of boldnes and constauncie, myngled with pacience in the feare of God, that ye and others our brethren, thorough our example, may be so encouraged and strengthned to folow vs, that ye also may leaue example to your weake brethren in the world, to follow you. Amen.

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Marginalia2. Tim. 2.Consider what I say: the Lord geue vs vnderstandyng in all thynges. Marginalia1. Cor. 7.Brethren the tyme is short: it remaineth that ye vse this world as though ye vsed it not: for the fashiō of this worlde vanisheth away. Marginalia1. Iohn.See that ye loue not the world, neither the thynges that are in the world: but MarginaliaColoss. 3.set your affectiō on heauenly thyngs, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Be meeke, and lōg suffering, serue and edifie one an other, with the gift that God hath geuen you.MarginaliaDoctrine of good workes. Beware of straunge doctrine: lay aside the old conuersation of greedy lustes, and walke in a new life. Beware of all vncleannes, couetousnes, foolish talking, false doctrine, & dronkennes: Reioyce and be thākefull towardes God, & submit your selues one to an other. Cease from sinne, spende no more tyme in vice, be sober & apt to pray, be pacient in trouble, loue ech other, and let the glory of God & profite of your neighbour, be the onely marke ye shoote at in all your doynges. Repent ye of the lyfe that is past, and take better heede to your doyngs hereafter. And aboue all thinges cleaue ye fast to him, who was deliuered to death for our sinnes, and rose agayne for our iustification. To whom with the father and the holy ghost be all honour and rule for euermore. Amen.

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Salute from me in Christ  

all others, which loue vs in the fayth, and at your discretion make them partakers of these letters: and pray ye all for me and others in bondes for the Gospell, that the same GOD (which by his grace hath called vs from wicked Papistry, vnto true Christianitie, and now of loue proueth our patience by persecution) will of his mercy and fauour in the ende gloriously deliuer vs, either by death, or by life, to his glory, Amen. At Lancaster the. 30. of August. 1554.

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By me an vprofitable seruaunt of
Christ, George Marsh.

Marginalia2. Cor. 13.THe grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ, and the loue of God, and the felowshyp of the holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.

MarginaliaAn other letter of G. Marsh to certaine of his frendes.After salutations in Christ, and harty thankes for your frendly tokens, and your other remembraunces towardes me, besechyng God that ye may encrease in fayth, feare, loue, and all good giftes, and grow vp MarginaliaEphes. 4.into a perfit mā in Christ: these be earnestly to exhorte you, yea and to besech you in the tender mercy of Christ, MarginaliaAct. 11.that with purpose of hart ye continually cleaue vnto the Lord, and that ye worshyp and MarginaliaRom. 1.serue him in spirite, in the Gospell of his sonne. MarginaliaColoss. 2.For God will not be worshipped after the commaundementes & traditions of

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