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A68595 A briefe and piththie summe of the Christian faith made in forme of a confession, vvith a confutation of all such superstitious errours, as are contrary therevnto. Made by Theodore de Beza. Translated out of Frenche by R.F.; Confessio Christianae fidei. English Bèze, Théodore de, 1519-1605.; Fills, Robert, fl. 1562. 1565 (1565) STC 2007; ESTC S101755 149,544 418

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Notwithstanding we accepte all those as faythfull which make exterior profession if it appeare not to vs the contrary leauing the iudgemente of the Hypocrites to God which shall reueale them and iudge them in his good tyme and pleasure 48. For what causes the younge children of the faythfull be baptised COncernynge younge Children because theyr fayth is vnknowne to vs and we haue sayde before it is requisite that they be partakers of the fruites of the sacraments and it is not very likely that they haue faith because they haue not the vse of vnderstanding excepte God do worke in them extraordinarilye the which appeareth not to vs neuerthelesse we cease not to communicate to them Baptisme Fyrste for as much as there is now the same cause in Baptisme which was sometyme in Circumcision which is called by S. Paule the seale of ryghteousnesse which is by fayth and also by expresse commaundement of God the male children were marked the eyghte day Secondlye there is a speciall regard to be had to the infantes of the faythful For although they haue not faith in effecte suche as those haue that be of age yet so it is that they haue the seede and the spring in vertue of the promise which was receyued and apprehended by theyr elders For God promiseth not vs onely to be our God if we beleeue in him but also y ● he wil be the God of our ofspring and seede yea vnto the thousand degrees that is to the last ende Therfore sayde S. Paule that the chyldren of the faythfull be sanctified from their mothers wombe By what right or title then do they refuse to geue them the marke and ratification of that thing which they haue and professe alreadye And if they alledge yet further that although they come of faithfull elders or parents it followeth not that they be of the number of the electe and by consequent that they be sanctifyed For God hath not chosen al the children of Abraham and Isaac The answer is easy to bee made that it is true all those bee not of the kingdome of God which bee borne of Faythfull parents but of good right we leaue this secret to God for to iudge which onelye knoweth it yet notwithstanding we presume iustly to be the children of God all those which bee issued and discended from faythfull Parents according to the promyse For as much as it appeareth not to vs the contrary According to the same we baptise the younge children of the faithfull as they haue vsed and done from the Apostels tyme in the Churche of god and we dout not but god by thys marke ioyned with the prayers of the Church which is there assistant doth seale the adoption and election in those which he hath predestinate eternallye whether they dye before they come to age of discretiō or whether they liue to bringe forth the fruits of their faith in due time and according to the meanes which god hath ordeyned 49. Application of all that goeth before of the Sacrament of the Supper and the right vse thereof THe signes of the sacrament of the Supper be bread and wine The substanciales ceremonies accordinge to this holy worde to the whiche no man hath anye more power to adde or diminishe then to make new promises of newe Sacramentes be concerninge the minyster who representing Iesus Christ after the rehearsinge and expounding the ordinaunce of the lord with inuocation and publyke prayers then to breake the bread and distribute to the people and lykewyse the cuppe Also for those which receyue the supper with the minister particulerlye in hys office it is for them to take eate and drinke and finallye altogether to render thankes with one hart and with one monthe The thing signified is the same which the doctrine presenteth and declareth to vs ordinarily And of Baptisme likewyse ▪ that is to say Iesus Christ conceyued borne crucified dead buryed rysen ascended into heauen to be made for vs the entrie and perfecte sapience righteousnes sanctification and redemption So thē we doubt not but according to the promise of our God the verye body and the very blood of the Lord ▪ that is to say Iesus Christ himself with all his goodnes and treasures is offered to vs verily and withoute fraude to be receyued of vs inwardly in fayth by the vertue of the holye Ghoste into euerlasting life euen as verely as is offered to our outwarde sences the breade and the wyne for our corporall sustenaunces and lyfe whiche for this cause is called the body and bloud of Iesus Christ that is to say they be the very exterior signes and corporall markes of that which the Lord offereth spirituallye on his parte that is to say of the very body and blood of Iesus Christ For it is an accustomable maner of speaking in the matter of the Sacramentes to geue to the signe the name of the thing signified by it As it is sayde that the Cup is the new alyaunce or couenaunt that is to say the marke and true signe of the new couenaunt which is made by the sheddyng of the precious bloode of Iesus Christe So is sayd also that the Circumcision is called the alliaunce that is to saye the very signe and ratifycation of the alliaunce Also the Lambe is the passage or passeouer Item the stone in the Desert was Christ that is to say verely representing Christ Also it is sayd of S. Paul concerning this matter that the breade is the communion of the bodye of Christe that is to saye the true signe or gage of the communion which we haue with Christ And this exposition is not forged by vs but expressely and playnely obserued by all the auncient Doctours of the Churche as foloweth in that the bread is broken is represēted to our senses the passion of our Lorde which was broken with dolour and sorrowes of death and the iudgement of God in his bodye and soule for vs. In that it is distributed and the cup lykewyse to all the Communicantes representeth to our senses that Iesus Christ him selfe with all his treasures and benefites is geuen to vs of God the Father into eternall lyfe ¶ These places followyng be alledged by the Fathers touching this exposition Irene agaynst the Valentians Tertulian agaynst Martion Origine vpon the booke of numbers hom 16. Item vpon s Mathew 15 26 chap. Item vpon the Leuit. homely 7 ● 9. Item against Celius 8 booke Cyprian 6 epistle of the first booke and the 3 ▪ epistle of the second booke Item in the sermon of the supper Athanase vpō s Mathew chap ▪ 12. Ambrose vpon the first to the Corin and fourth booke of Sacramentes Chapter 4. Chrisostome vpon saynt Mathew in the perfecte worke homely 11. Vpon the 2 Corint hom 27. Vpon the Psalme 22. Item in an epistle to Celarius Augustine vpon the Psalme 8 89. Item August vpon the
the most excellent works and the qualities of true praier according to the work of God and the authoritye of the aunciente doctors of the Church folio 28 17 The secōd differēce of y e mater of good works is to know from whence they procéede fol. 31 18 The thyrde dyfference in the matter of good workes is to knowe wherevnto they be good fol. 33 19 To what ende good works do serue vs before God and before men foli 34 20 Remedies against the laste and most daungerous temptation which is whether we be saued or not fol. 37 21 Of two instrumentes wherewith the holye Ghoste is serued to create fayth in the hartes of his electe to wéete the worde of God and the sacraments foli 42 22 What is that we call the word of God and of the two partes that is to say the lawe and the Gospel Eodem 23 What dyfference there is betwene the law and the Gospell folio 43 24 After what maner the preaching of the law serueth the holy ghost fo 46 25 Of the other part of the word of god caled the gospel of what autoritie it is wherfore howe and to what ende it is written foli 48 26 How the gospel comprehendeth in substance all the bookes of the olde testament fo 50 27 Howe it is to be vnderstande that we haue spoken of the authority of the word written and if it be necessarye to traunslate it into all languages folio 51 28 Howe the holye ghost is serued with the exteriour preachinge of the Gospell to create fayth in the hartes of the elect and to harden the reprobate fol. 52 29 Another fruite of the preaching of the lawe after the preaching of the Gospel begynneth to worke folio 53 30 The seconde meane which the holye ghoste vseth to make vs reioyce in Iesus Christ and wherfore the lord is not only content with the symple preaching of his word fol. 55 31 The diffynition of that which is called Sacrament folio 57 32 The difference betwen the sacraments of y e olde couenaunt and those of the new fo 58 33 Whereby the false sacraments be knowen from the true and the abuse of them from the right vsage Eodem 34 Which things be common to the preaching of the word and to the sacraments fol. 59 35 What things belong properly to the sacramentes hauing respect to the ende wherefore they were ordained of God folio 60 36 Howe there is but two Sacraments in the Christian Church fol. 63 37 The fowre points which be to be consydered in the declaration of this matter Eodem 38 The first point is to vnderstand what we do meane by the name of sygnes in this matter of Sacramentes and wherfore the Lord dyd chuse for sygnes the most vulgar and cōmon thinges Eodem 39 What followeth the errour of those which take awaye the substaunce from the sygnes in the sacrament foli 65 40 What mutation or change is in the things which he vsed in the sacrament Eodem 41 From whence proceedeth this alteration the errour of those which make a charme or sorcery of the the ▪ sacramental words fo 66 42 The Sacramentes to be no Sacramentes without the vse of them Eodem 43 The seconde poynt is the thing sygnified in the sacrament Eodem 44 The thyrd poynt is howe Iesus Christ is ioygned with the sygnes Eodem 45 The distinction of sygnes and of the thing sygnified Folio 67 46 The maner to communicate aswel y ● signes of the sacraments as the thing signified eodē 47 Application of all that is beforesayde of the sacrament of Baptisme foli 68 48 For what cause the young chyldren of the faithfull be Baptised foli 70 49 Applycation of all that goeth before of the Sacrament of the Supper and the ryght vse therof foli 71 50 The conclusion of the matter of the Sacraments foli 76 51 Wherfore y e holy ghost is called y ● consolator or comfortour and to what purpose and ende the afflictions of the faithful serueth Eodem ¶ The v. poynt intreating of the Church containeth the 43. Articles 1 That there hath alwayes béene and ouer shalbe a Churche out of the whiche there is no saluation Foli 77 2 There can be but one true Church Fol. 78 3 Wherfore we call the Church catholik eodē 4 In what thynge lyeth the Communion of Saynts Eodem 5 The Churche hath but one heade that is to saye Iesus Christe to whome there néedeth no lieuetenaunt foli 79 6 The communion of the Sayntes letteth nor hindereth not the diuersytie of offices among the faithfull fol 80 7 The markes whereby we maye discerne the false Church from the true fol. 81 8 Which be the true members of y ● church fo 82 9 The marks or tokens of the Churche be not alwaies in one estate and how it ought to be gouerned fol. 83 10 Wherein consisteth the duetie and autority of the Church generally Folio 84 11 Of the autority of the vniuersal counselles and first what is an vniuersall counsel Eodē 12 Howe farre wée maye dyfferre from the counselles folio 85 13 To whom it pertaineth to cal a coūsel fo 86 14 Howe those ought to bee chosen whiche the churches do send to the counsels folio 87 15 Euery man ought to be heard in the counsel prouided that there be no confusion fol. 88 16 Who ought to procéede or to be chiefe in the counsell folio 89 17 How far extendeth the power of the coūsels and why they be ordained in the church fo 91 18 The first point to consider the case wel when or at what time they shoulde set vp publique lawes in the Churche folio 93 19 The secōd poynt which is to be considered in the Ecclesiasticall ordinaunces folio 95 20 The third consideration that ought to be had in Ecclesiasticall ordinaunces folio 96 21 What is to be aunswered to those whiche alleadge counselles against vs. folio 97 22 Of particular counselles as of nations or prouinces Foli 98 23 Howe manye sortes of speciall gouernours there be in the Churche Eodem 24 The office of Apostles Euangelists Prophetes in the primatiue Church folio 99 25 Of the office of pastours doctours fol. 100 26 The dyfference betwéene Pastours and Doctours folio 101 27 The pastours and doctours be but instrumentes by the which God conducteth the mynisterye of his worde Eodem 28 The markes and tokens of false Doctours and Pastours fol ▪ 102 29 Of degrées which ought to be among ministers of the worde according as they be disseuered by companies folio 104 30 The second degrée of Ecclesiasticall offices which is the office of deacons the distribution of the goodes of the Church foli 105 31 Of the fowre orders whiche they call minores ordine foli 107 32 The third degre of ecclesiastical offices which is the iurisdiction office of the elders fol. 108 33 To what purpose and ende serueth the ecclesiasticall iurisdiction and
that concerning afflictions First although all kinde of afflictions and also death bée entered into the worlde thorowe sinne yet God when he punisheth vs hath not euer respecte to our sinnes as it appeareth in the history of Iob and z many other places but in scorging vs he hath diuers respects tendynge to his glorye and our profyte as shalbe sayd hereafter in the laste artycle of the fowrth poynt Furthermore although god ▪ doth afflict his elect for their sinnes vntyll they feele y e very paines of death yet is he not angry with them as a Iudge to condempne them but as a Father chastising his chyldren to preserue them from perishing or geue other example 11 The remedy which onely faith fyndeth in Iesus Christ onely against the second assault of the fyrst temptation grounded vppon this that we be vnfurnyshed of the righteousnes which God requireth of vs. THe second assault which sathan may make against vs because of our vnworthines is that it is not sufficient to haue lyued without sinne or to haue satisfied for our syns but is required furthermore y ● man should fulfyll the whole lawe that is to saye that he hath loued God perfectly and his neighbor as him self Bring forth thē this righteousnes or els how wilt thou beare y ● curse of the law and the maiesty of god Now what can al the righteousnes of man helpe vs against this assault For here is spoken of a perfect obediēce according to y ● lawe whiche was neuer founde but in Iesus Christ only Let vs learne here again to appropriate to vs by faith another treasure benefite of Iesus Christe that is to say his righteousnes For we know that it is he that hath fulfilled al righteousnes hauing perfectly obeyed God his Father perfectly loued his enemies so y ● he became accursed for them as s Paul sayth that is to wete he did beare the iudgement of the wrath of God for them to the ende y ● we being ●lad with this perfect rightousnes which is imputed to vs by faith as though it were properly our own we may be made acceptable before God as brethren and coheyres with Iesus Christ Now for this poynt Sathan must perforce haue his mouth stopped so that we haue y e fayth which maketh proper to vs Iesus Christ with all the riches and treasures which he hath to communicate to those which beléeue in him 12 The third assault of the same temptation grounded vppon the naturall corruption or originall sinne whiche is within vs. SAtan hath yet remaining one assault in the temptation of our vnworthynes which is this Although thou hast satisfyed for the payne of thy sinnes in the person of Iesus Christe that thou art also clothed with his righteousnesse yet art thou corrupted in thy nature wherein alwaye remayneth the roote of all sinne How darest thou then appeare before the maiestie of God enimy to all vncleanes and also which séeth the botome of thy hart Now cōcerning this poynt we fynde yet one easie remedie in Iesus Christ only vpon whom we must staye But we be yet so enclosed in this mortall body that wée doo not the good whiche wée woulde and yet doo féele the synne that remayneth in vs and the flesh that striueth against the spirit by reason whereof we be yet defyled in body and soule concerning our selues but for as much as by fayth wée be vnyted incorporated rooted and grafted in Iesus Christe by whome our nature hath bene from the first moment of his conception more fullye restored sanctified and made more pure then euer it was created in Adam for asmuch as Adam was made but accordinge to the image of God and Iesus Christ is very God who hath taken vpon him our ●iesh conceyued by the vertue of the holy ghost this sanctification of Iesus Christ is imputed to vs as our owne then cannot y ● naturall corruption which resteth partly yet in vs come in accompt for as much as it is couered cloathed with the holynesse of Iesus Christe who is much more able to sanctifye and cleanse vs before God then the natural corruption is to defyle and corrupt vs. 13 The remedye against the seconde temptation whether we haue faith or not IN the second temptation Sathā shall replye vpon this that Iesus Christ is not deade for all synnes for as muche as all shall not be saued Then let vs haue recourse to our fayth and answere him that true it is none but the beléeuers doo receyue the fruite of this passion satisfaction of Iesus Christe But this in steade of desmayinge vs doth rather establishe vs. For that we do know in our hartes that wée haue faith wherby it is already saide in the thyrd article of this fourth point it is not inough only to beléeue that Iesus Christe came to saue synners but we must particularlye euerye man applye and appropriate Iesus Christ to himself in such wise that he doo conclude with him selfe I am in Iesus Christ by faith and therfore I cānot perishe but am sure of my saluation so then to be assured that we haue ouercome Sathan in these thrée assaults of the first temptation and also to resist the second wée must examine our selues whether we haue this faith or not The meanes is to ascend by the effectes vnto the knowledge of the cause which worketh them Nowe the effectes which Iesus Christe worketh in vs when wée haue apprehēded him by faith be of two sortes The first is the testimony which the holye spirite bringeth to our spirites that we be the children of god and which maketh vs cry abba father in a certain assoraunce Secondlye we must vnderstand when we do ioyne appropriat to oure selues Iesus Christe by fayth it is not by a certaine vaine or folish fantasie Imagination but really and in déede although it be spirituallye in such wyse y ● as the soule bringeth foorth her effects and woorkes being naturallye vnited to the body so when by faith Iesus Christ is geuen to vs to dwell in vs his vertue then bringeth and sheweth forth his force vertues The which is vnderstād in the Scripture by this worde regeneration because they make vs become newe creatures concerninge the qualities And this regeneration hath thrée partes For as the naturall corruption holdeth our personnes captiue bothe in body and soule working in vs bothe synne and death Lykewyse the vertue of Iesus Christe commeth and taketh possession in vs and bringeth to vs thrée effectes that is to saye mortifycation of this corruption which the Scripture calleth the olde man the burying also thereof and finallye the rysynge and restoringe of the newe man as S. Paule describeth these thinges The mortyfication of our corruption and synne is the worke of Iesus Christ in vs wherby hée quencheth and
the preaching of the word of God and his sacraments as shalbe hereafter saide For first we wil declare what this precious faith is and what be the effects thereof 5. Hovve necessarie faith is and vvhat faith is WE be such enemies of our own saluation by reason of our naturall corruption that yf God did but only aduertise vs that we should fynd our saluation in Iesus Christe wee woulde make but a mocke of it as the world hath alwayes done and wil doe vntyl the ende of the world Moreouer if he had not ioyned other thinges to it but onelye tolde vs that the means to feele the fruite of this medicin against eternall death is to beleue in Iesus Christe this had serued no more then the other For concerning al this wee be but dumbe deafe and naturally blind and it had bene as impossible for vs to beleue of our selues as it is impossible for a man y ● is dead to flye Wherefore it was necessarye that with the same this our Good father which hath elected vs should com and redouble his mercy ●owardes his enemies and declaring to vs that he hath so loued the worlde y ● he hath geuen his onel●e begotten sonne vppon this condycyon that whosoeuer embrace him by fayth shall not peryshe He createth in vs likewyse this meanes of fayth which he requireth of vs. Nowe the faith which we speake of is not to beleue onelye that God is God and that the contentes of his word bee ●rewe for the Deuilles haue thys faythe and can not but tremble at it but we call faythe a certayne knowledge which the holy Ghost by his onely grace and goodnes engraueth more and more in the hearts of the elected of god by y ● which eche one of thē being ass●r●eined in his heart of his election doth apply appropriat to himself the promyse of hys saluatyon in Iesus Christ Fayth I say beleueth not only that Iesus Christ is dead rysen for sinners but procedeth to embrace Iesus Christ in whom only she trustoth and so assureth her selfe of hir saluation that she douteth not and for that cause saide Sainct Bernard according to all the Scripture as foloweth If thou beléeue that thy synnes maye not be put awaye but by him whome thou hast offended and also who is not subiect to sinne thou dost well but yet ioyne thereto another poynt that is so saye that thou beleue also that by hym thy sinnes befor geuen And this is the witnesse whiche the holy Ghost bryngeth in our heartes saying thy sinnes are forgeuen thée 9. vvhat is the obiect of the trevve fayth and of vvhat force it is FOr as muche as Iesus Christe is y e mark of our fayth euen as is declared vnto vs in the holye Scripture and worde of God There foloweth two poyntes whiche are well to be noted the one that where there is no worde of god but onely the worde of man what soeuer it be there is no fayth but onely a dreame or opinion which cannot but deceiue vs y e other Poynet is that faith embraceth and approbriateth to it selfe Iesus Christe and al y ● is in him for as much as he is geuen vs on that condition that wée beleeue in him from whence one of these two thynges doe folow that eyther all that which is necessary to our saluation is not in Iesus Christe or if al be there that hee which hath Iesus Christ by faith hath all Nowe to saye that all that is necessary to our saluation is not in Iesus Christ is a blasphemy most execrable for that were to make him no sauiour but in a part There resteth then the other parte that is to saye that in hauynge Iesus Christ by fayth we haue all thynges in him according as the Apostle saith that ther is no condemnation to those which be in Iesus Christ 7. Hovve this is to be vnderstande vvhich vve saye as Sainet Paule sayth that vve be iustified by onely faithe THe reason is bicause that faith is the instrument which receiueth Iesus Christ and by consequent receyueth his righteousnes that is to say all perfection When we say than as Sainct Paul saide that we be iustified by only faith it is not to say that fayth is a vertue whiche maketh vs righteous in our selues before god for that were to set our selues in the place of Iesus Christ the which only is our perfect and en●●ier righteousnes but we vnderstand that we be iustified by fayth for as much as it embraceth him which iustifyeth vs that is to say Iesus Christ in such wise that it vniteth and knitteth vs together with him to be partakers of all the goodnes whiche he hath the whiche being allowed and imprynted in vs is fully sufficient to make vs perfect accepted for righteous before God 8. To be assured of our saluation by faith in Iesus Christ is nothing lesse then arrogancie or presumtion BY this it appeareth that to be assured of oure saluation by faythe is not any arrogancy or presumption but on the contrary part it is the onely meanes to take all pryde from our selues for to giue all glory to god For fayth onely teacheth vs to go out of our owne selues and to know that in vs there is nothyng but matter of all damnation and sendeth vs to one onely Iesus Christe by whose onelye iustice it teacheth and assureth vs that we shall fynde saluation before God For all that whiche is in Iesus Christ that is to saye all righteousnes and perfection is counted and allowed to vs as properly our owne so y ● we embrace hym by faythe And hereupon Sainct Bernard sayd that the witnes of our owne conscience is our glorye not such a wytnes as the glorious proude Pharisey had being deceyued in his owne thought and deceyuinge his mayster the whiche witnes is not trewe but the wytnes is trewe which the holy ghost wytnesseth to our spirit 9 Faith fyndeth in Iesus Christ al that is necessary to saluation THis word ought to be expounded particularly so that it maye be knowen whether by faythe wee doo apprehende suffycient remedye for to assure vs fully of eternall lyfe according as is sayde the iuste shall lyue by fayth We say then that all that whiche letteth man to haue acquaintaunce with God which is perfitly iust and good lyeth in three poynts in the whiche we fynde as many remedies ready prepared not in our selues but in Iesus Christ onely So we haue nowe nothinge else of our owne but Iesus Christ and al that which he hath Prouided alwayes that wée be by fayth vnited and conioyned with him as pertakers of all his goodnes For the which cause the Churche that is to say the assemble of the faythfull is called the spowse of Iesus Christ her husbande for to shewe the coniunction and communion which is betwéene Iesus
the roote or fyrste springe of that lytle goodnesse which is in vs vtterlye there is no beginning at all of any naturall disposition in vs to receyue the grace to the ende that suche disposition shoulde bee assysted by the seconde grace But cleane contrarie there is naturallye in vs nothinge but darknes and enemitie against God wherfore it was néedefull y ● god should of his onelye mercie fyrste of all drawe vs that is to saye to make vs altogether newe creatures concernyng the quallyties lyghtning those which be not onely partlye blynded but vtterlye darknesse it selfe geuinge vs hartes to vnderstande chaunginge our steny heartes into fleshie heartes creatyng in vs pure hartes that is to saye makinge newe altogeather that is within vs of a wycked wyll a good and godlye wyll briefelye workinge in vs to wyll and also to doo So that the Apostles woordes be verified that we cannot only thinke of our selues any thing that is good and that the children of God haue nothing but that which they receyued by grace So then for asmuch as grace must make vs good trées before wee can beare good fruite it foloweth that there is no méeting together of grace and free wyll for the spirite of God by his pure grace hath made vs free from sinne in vnyting vs by fayth to Iesus Christ from whome we get a new life to bring foorth fruite to God and lykewyse when our wyll being made free worketh thorowe grace there is no merites but onely frée rewarde geuen not being due For on y e contrary the best workes that we can doo deserue eternall payne were it not for the grace of God for the best workes of them selues doo but pollute the grace which God hath put in them 18 The thirde difference of the matter of good worke is to knowe wherto they be good THe thirde difference is yet greater that is to saye touchinge the worthinesse of good workes for our parte to speake in fewe wordes that for to vnderstande by what ryght or tytle we bee assured of eternall lyfe onelye Iesus Christ contenteth vs being geuen to vs and applyed to vs by fayth onely by the onelie grace mercie of God as we haue sayde before more at large And therefore wee detest and abhorre this woorde merites or to merite and confesse with harte and mouth that concernynge the beste woorkes whiche we can doo we count our selues vnprofytable seruauntes and that eternall lyfe is altogether of the pure and frée mercye and gyft of God Wherefore I make this argument more then hath béene sayde before in the tenthe article Good woorkes commeth from Iesus Christe dwellinge in vs by whose power and vertue we do them by grace as the corrupt nature of Adam in the whiche we were borne bryngeth forth in vs sinne For we must possesse Iesus christ which is y ● good trée before we can bring foorth good fruite in him For the cause ought to go before the effect And as S. Paul declareth that whatsoeuer is done without faith is sinne it foloweth then consequentlie that faith goeth before good works For by it onely we embrace Iesus Christe Nowe he which hath true faith is immediatly iustified being fullie quieted and pacified in his cōscience Howe then can good workes Iustifie vs and consequentlie saue vs. For we must of necessity be iustified and so consequentlie haue iust tytle to Saluation before wée can doo any one good worke In this lyeth all our consolatiō that we haue our onelie refuge to the speciall grace and mercie which is presented to vs in Iesus Christ onelie which is not our Sauiour and redéemer in part but all altogether 19 To vvhat ende good vvorkes doo serue vs before God and before men BY this it appeareth plainelie howe wrōgfully they charge vs as though we did disalow good workes where as on the contrarie we doo with all our powers endeuour our selues as muche as is possible for vs to declare which be the verie true good workes and from what spring or fountaine they procéede that the symple people be not deceyued ignorauntlie Notwithstanding we do not groūd our selues in any respect vpon our workes neither in part nor in al whē we come to declare by what tytle eternal life is giuen vs but content our selues with Iesus Christ only And also we acknowledge our regeneratiō with the fruites proceedinge to our synguler comfort as foloweth Fyrste good workes serue to profite our neighbours and also to prouoke the verie Infidels to geue glorie to God Secondlie they assure vs more and more of our Saluation not as causes thereof but as testimonies and effectes of the cause to wéete of our fayth as wee haue declared in the thirtéenth article Beholde also whye it is sayde that God rendereth to euery manne accordyng to his workes and also that Abraham was Iustified by his workes not that our workes bée causes of our saluation in no wyse for that our a feeble foundation and vncertaine neyther dooe oure workes make vs righteous before God but because our good workes bee Testimonies and effectes of oure faythe the whiche apprehendeth Iesus Christe oure true and onelye ryghteousnesse as hath béene sayde heretofore Thirdelye wée knowe that water is of the nature of his firste Spryng So lykewise for that oure regeneration is neuer accomplyshed nor fullye perfecte here on earthe but there is continuall battayle betwéene the fleshe and the Spirite and there remayneth I saye greate and grosse darckenesse in oure vnderstandynge and lykewyse greate rebellyones in oure fleshe It followeth then that the beste workes whiche maye proceede from the perfectest man in the worlde if they were strayghtlie examined they shoulde bee founde none otherwise but de●●lynge the graces of GOD lyke as wee see a cleare running water whiche is of it selfe pure is defyled and polluted by runninge throughe some vyle or filthie place Wherefore Dauid sayde that no lyuinge creature is founde iuste before GOD by his workes Also Sainte Paule cryed ▪ out and saide I doo not the good whiche I woulde doo and the euyll that I woulde not doo that doo I. O miserable man that I am who shall deliuer mée from this boddie of death Beholde howe the Saintes of God teache vs to speake of our beste workes in steade to vse this woorde meriting and of merites Notwithstandinge wee confesse the goodnesse of our GOD to be so great that in consideringe his Chyldren not in themselues but in Iesus Christe his welbeloued Sonne with whome they be vnited and ioygned by Faith and also regardinge the fruites of his Graces not as they be polluted by our infirmities and weaknesse but because they be as it were procéeded or issued from him he doth accepte them and allowe them yea euen so farre as to recompence them as well in this lyfe by many blessynges bothe
temporall and Spirituall as is declared in the symmilitude of the Talentes as also in this celestyall kingdome accordinge to his good pleasure not because it is dewe to our workes as though wee deserued them but by his pure grace and mercie onelie according as God sayde in his Lawe p not that he wyll paye theyr merites as dewe to those whiche loue him and keepe his commaundementes but that he wyll shewe mercie to them Fowrthlie good workes be certaine testimonies of our Faith and also doo assure of our eternall Election for fayth is necessarilie ioyned to Election Nowe that this is so muche more necessarie as the worlde maketh lesse accoumpt of it supposing that the doctrine of election were a certaine curious and incomprehensible thing which is contrarie Fayth is no other thing but an assuraunce whiche wee haue that the promyses of eternall lyfe appertayneth vnto vs because we were predestined and elected therevnto Wherefore all that is spoken of fayth and of the fruytes of faythe is spoken in vayne and vnprofytable excepte wee Ioyne this poynct of election as the onely staye and foundation of all that is aforesayde Nowe when Sathan putteth vs in doubte of oure election wee maye not search first the resolution in the eternal counsel of god whose maiesty we cannot comprehende but on the contrarye wée must begin at the sanctification whiche we fele in our selues to ascende vp more hier for asmuch as our sanctification frō whence procéedeth good works is a certaine effect of the faith or rather of Iesus Christe welling in vs by faith And whosoeuer is vnited to Iesus Christe is necessarilie called and elected of God to saluation in such wise as he shall neuer be reiected nor forsakē So it appeareth that the sanctifycation with the fruites therof be as y ● fyrst step or degrée wherby we begin to ascende vp to the fyrst true cause of our saluation to wéete of our frée eternall electiō For whosoeuer saith that he beleueth notwithstanding gouerneth not his life by the spirit of God declareth wel that he is a lyar deceiueth himself For this cause Saint Peter admonished vs to make our vocation Election sure by good workes Not that they be the cause or y ● foundation of our vocation Election For S. Paule declareth plainly the contrarie But for asmuch as good works bring a certaine testimony to our conscience that Iesu Christ dwelleth in vs consequently we cannot perishe beinge elected to saluation 20. Remedies against the last and most daungerous temptation vvhiche is ▪ vvhether vve be saued or not HEre resteth yet the last and moste daungerous temptations of all Sometime it hapneth that Iesus Christ deferreth to call some of his elected vntyl y ● last howre of their life so y e it séemeth y ● they be not very well furnished with these vertues wherof we haue spoken neither did euer féele them for that y e cause was not as yet working in them and the cause must goe before the effect And also sometimes the perfectest and most holyest persons fall into this extremitie sorrowing and lamenting for that they feele not these good mocions but séemeth that it is vtterly quenched in them and then Sathan bringeth in these doubtes that where as before they thought they had faith but was not but a shadow or vain appearāce of faith Or elles that whereas they beleued before nowe by theyr owne fault the gift is taken from them Nowe wee muste take heede to resist thys temptatyon as most daungerous of all Concerning those whiche feele theyr vocatiō to be long ere it come to thē yet their assurance is neuerthelesse grounded and established vppon some of these articles and effects aforesaid And as for their interior testimonie of cōscience of tentymes it worketh more lyuelye then in some of those which are called muche sooner as the experience is well declared in the poore théefe that was hanged by Christe And concerning the workes of regeneration it is to be vnderstande that the gretest and most eccellent workes whiche the holye ghoste worketh in vs is the hate of synne the loue of God the assuraunce of our saluation in Iesus Christe and the inuocation of hys name Wherefore he that feeleth these mocions in hym selfe although it bée not vntyll the houre of death hathe a certayne testimonie of hys true faythe ▪ and consequently of his election and saluation And for those whiche féele those good mocions quenched in them sorowing and lamentyng as it happeneth sometimes to the holiest most perfectest persons Let them consyder these pointes folowyng to ouercome suche temptations First for as much as the two operations and effectes aforesayde bee as the two Ankers to holde vs fast and when one fayleth to sticke the more surer to the other vntyll wee haue gotton strength on bothe sydes againe As when Dauid and Sainct Peter fell so beastly yet there is no doubt but they lamented and sorrowed vntyll they felt the workyng of theyr regeneration and sanctification But béeyng in theyr temptation they stayed them selues vpon the Anker of the testymonye which the spirite of God broughte into their conscyence whyche caused them not to doubte not withstandynge theyr fall but that they were the children of God and that theyr fault was forgeuen them Secondly although both these operations and effectes bee verye féeble and weake yet ther is no cause to be discouraged For it is not required of vs for to beleue fullye and perfecttlye but to beleue onelye in suche wise as if one lytle sparke of fayth and so folowyng one lytle mocion of the workyng of it so that it be true and vnfaynedly that is to saye comminge from the true roote of fayth bee sufficient to assure vs of oure saluation The reason is for that oure saluation is not onely stayed vpon oure fayth although without faythe none can be saued but vpon hym whome we apprehende by fayth that is to saye Iesus Christ And fayth is of suche vertue that accordinge to the promise of God one lytle sparke thereof how lytle so euer it bee doth apprehende Iesus Christ fully and perfectlye Yet not withstandyng the greater our fayth is the greater power it hath to ioyne vs nearer nearer and to graffe vs déeper in Iesus Christe And wee ought to be displeased and to lament when in steede of goinge forewarde we recoyle and slyde backwarde and yet the Diuell hath not wonne his processe Although we slyde backe so that our slyding bring vs to steppe vp againe and go the better forwarde Thyrdlie when we be so lamenting and troubled for the feelynge of our neclygence and synnes let vs séeke to the lyke examples of the Saintes which were as deepe in as wée or rather deeper yet neuerthelesse they ceased not to pray with assurance to be hard because they were the chyldren of God howe great and beastly sinnes soeuer they
brought vs neyther for what purpose it was ordayned of God And concerning the gospel they haue almost estéemed it to be no other thing but an other lawe more perfect than the olde from whence immediatly did spring this distinction betwéene precepte and councell with y e whole ruine of al y e benefits of Iesus Christ But we must consider these things more nerer It is easy to gather of that whyche hathe ben sayde in the former article what is common bothe to the law and the Gospell and what eche hath properly belonging to it self They haue this in common bothe be of one onely very God who remayneth continually like vnto him selfe so that we may not thinke that the one abolisheth the other concerninge the substaunce but contrarye the one establysheth the substaunce of the other As we shall saye hereafter ▪ They bothe doe purpose and sette foorth to vs one God onely and one righteousnesse in substaunce wherein consisteth the perfyte loue of GOD and oure neyghboure But beholde where the dyfference lyeth The lawe is naturally in man in whose harte God prynted and engraued it from the creation For those preceptes whiche God did declare a longe tyme after in the twoo tables of hys lawe was not to make a newe lawe but onelye to quycken and reuiue the lawe naturall whych by litle and litle was quenched and blotted out in the harts of men through the corruption of sinne But the gospell is a doctrine supernatural y ● which our nature coulde neuer attayn neither could allowe without y e special grace and gifte of god who reueled it vnto Adam sone after his fall as Moyses reciteth and after to the patriarches and Prophets from generation to generation as semed good to hym vntill such time as he sent Iesus Christ his sonne personally whiche declared fulfylled all that is contayned in the gospell and also declareth it vnto this day and will declare it vntill the ende of the world by the preaching of the same word instituted in his Church Furthermore the lawe declareth to vs the maie●●y and iustice of God seuerely and straightly the gospell declareth to vs the same iustice but so as it is appeased and satisfyed through mercy as it is declared in the third point 26. article Thirdly the lawe sendeth vs home in to our selues to fulfill the righteousnes whiche it declareth and requireth of vs that is to say the entire and perfect fulfylling of the commaundementes without omytting or fayling in any poynte so setteth before vs oure curse malediction and subdueth vs vnder it as the Apostle declareth But the Gospell sheweth vs where we shall finde that whyche we haue not and fynding it how we may enioye it and so deliuer vs from the malediction curse of the law For a conclusion the law pronounceth vs blissed and happy in fulfilling it perfectly nothing left out nor omitting the Gospel promiseth vs saluation in beléeuing that is to say in embracing him by faithe who hath intirely and fully those things which we do lacke yea and more than we do lacke Nowe these two couenantes that is to say to do that which y e law commaundeth or beleue that which God offreth in Iesus Christe be two things not onely most hard difficil but vtterly vnpossible to our corrupt nature y e which cannot only somuch as think a good thought as sayth S. Paule Wherfore we muste ioyne yet an other fourth difference which is that that lawe doth but declare vnto vs yea rather augment our euil and doth encrease our condēnatiō not by hir fault for the lawe is good holy but bycause that our corrupt nature is inclined and inflamed to sinne so much y e more as it is reproued threatned as S. Paule declareth by his owne example but the Gospel ouer beside y e declaration of the remedy medicine against the malediction of the lawe then immediatly being ioyned accompanied w t the vertue power of the holy ghost regenerateth vs as we haue sayde here before creating in vs the instrument meane to appropriate to vs thys medicine To speake more plainly the Gospell declareth not onely to vs barely and symple our Saluation by the ryghteousnes of Chryste Iesus in beléeuing but also the holy ghost with the same giueth vs power and strengthe to beléeue and to perceyue and sée the fruite and profyte of Iesus Chryst whiche it declareth to vs. So that now the law whiche killed damned vs in oure selues nowe saueth vs in Iesus Chryst thorow fayth For this cause I sayd that the law and the Gospell bée not contrary in the substaunce of the ryghteousnesse which wée ought to bryng before GOD but onely in the meane howe to haue his ryghteousnesse For the lawe searcheth it in vs and that wyth good ryghte not regarding what we can or maye but what we owe forasmuche as man by his onely faulte hathe broughte hymselfe detter and not able to paye and therefore is not discharged althoughe hée be not able to satisfie therefore And the lawe doothe vs no wrong to demaunde of vs that whyche we owe although we can not paye it but the Gospell dothe temper thys rygour by the mercye of God without diminishyng any parte of the diuine Iustice We learne to pay by him who hath set himselfe detter and payer for vs whiche hath put hymselfe I saye in our place and hathe payde oure dette as the principall detter euen vnto the vttermoste pennye in suche wyse that the rygoure of the lawe whiche did before feare vs nowe comforteth vs in Iesus Chryste for as muche as lyfe eternall is due to those whiche haue fully obeyed the law and Iesus Chryste hathe fulfylled the same for vs. So it followeth that according to the extremitie and rigour of the lawe Saluation can not fayle to those which by fayth be vnited and incorporated into Iesus Christ 24 After vvhat maner the preachyng of the lavve serueth the holy Ghost VNderstandyng well the distinction of the two kyndes of the woorde of God that is to saye the lawe and the Gospell It is easye to vnderstande howe the holy Ghost is serued with them for an instrumente of oure saluation For it is not to be doubted but the holy Ghoste doth ioyne them to the vse they were ordeyned For as much then as we be al so blinded whylest our corruption raygneth in vs that euen we forgette oure owne blyndenesse and ignoraunce and cease not to quenche out the small lyght of vnderstanding which hath bene lefte to vs to make vs more inexcusable we reioyce and please our selues in that whyche ought most to displease vs. Fyrste before all thyngs it is requisite that the spirite of God who is al goodnesse and ful of all pietie doe make vs to vnderstande perfectely the depthe of the malediction and curse wherein we
as Autentyke seales tende to one onely Iesus Christ For it is he onelye which is declared to vs and represented with all his goodnes treasours by the signes of sacramentes and by that word which is ioyned with it for to quicken and confirme ou● fayth wherewith we doo embrace him and to aduertise vs of our duety a●well towarde him as towardes our neyghboures 44. The thirde poynt is how Iesus Christ is ioyned with the signes THe thing signified that is to saye Iesus Christe with al his benefits is alwayes presented ●●●itably and without any fraud on Gods pa●te which is true in his premis so that the signe and the thing signified be alwayes knyt together in this respect that is to say God offereth both the one the other truly ▪ not by the vertue of woordes pronounced for it is for●ery to speake so nor by a naturall and local coniunction for the body of Iesus Christ is not a fantastical body nor an inuisible body which occupieth no place nor by the holines of him which pronounceth the wordes ordayned of God or ministreth the Sacramentes For the Sonne of man cannot make voyde the will of God but by the vertue of the holye Ghoste ▪ which worketh that notwithstāding Iesus Christ being as he is man corporallye in heauē absent from vs as the scripture witnesseth yet neuerthelesse is presented truly and verely to vs so that our fayth do embrace him in spirit inwardlye as the signes do represent to vs outwardly lysting vp our mindes into heauen for to enioy and possesse him more effectually and ioyne vs to him 45. The distinction of signes and of the thing signified NOtwithstanding such coniunction we confounde not the signes with the thing signified nor abolish the substaunce of the signes but make a distinction of that which is conioyned 94. The maner to communicate aswel the signes of the Sacramentes as the thing signifyed FOr asmuch as the signe and the thing signified as we haue said be so knyt and ioyned together yet neuerthelesse not confounded the one w t the other ▪ but a distinction betweene thē concerning y ● exterior outwarde signe it is receiued by a corporal natural maner aswel of y ● faithful as y ● vnfaithful but to diuers ends purposes For the faithful receiuing the thing signified w t the signe do perceyue augmentation and encrease of theyr faith vnto saluation eternal life But the vnfaythfull not receyuing but the bare signe onely receyue it to theyr condemnation because that refusing the thing signifyed which is offered to them of God with the signe they polute dishonor it as much as in them is Thus much concerning the communicating of the signe But concerning the thing signifyed which is Iesus Christe with all his benefits and goodnesse We haue already declared that the onely meane to cōmunicate with hym is by true fayth And therfore he that bringeth not true fayth cannot receyue hym but he that bryngeth fayth receyueth him truelye effectuallye but not with teeth nor by the bellye after a corporall manner but spirituallye by fayth embrasing that which God promiseth vs by his worde and offreth to vs by the exteriour signe or to speake yet more properly in ioyenynge our selues more nerer then we were before vnto Iesus Christ For the vertue and power of fayth is suche that in steade to brynge Iesus Christe downe on earthe whiche can not bee vntyl the daye that Iudgemente it ascended vp from the earthe into heauen and there doeth knytte and incorporate vs with Iesus Christe whiche was the cause of the primatiue Church did singe sursum Corda that is lyfte vp your hartes 47. Application of all that is before said of the facrament of Baptisme THe signe of Baptisme in water the substaunce of the ceremonies agréeing with the Scripture to the which maye not bee added or diminished without sacriledge bee these the parson is weat with water and then the water tarieth a certain space before it be cleane dried or passed a way and finallye the water vanisheth and consumeth The thing signified and verely represented is the aspersion or sprinkling of the death and passion of Iesus Christ in remission of all our sins imputation of righteousnes Also by the exterior wetting with water is signified y ● mortification sepulture or burying of our olde man that is to saye of our natural corruption dead buried by the bertue of the death burying of Iesus Christ is signified by this that the person is wet continueth vnder the water or the water vpon him a certain time And finallye the generation of the new man with a certayne and sure hope of the resurrection of Iesus Christ is signifyed by this that he which is Baptised commeth out of the water clean purged and washed Besyde this Baptisme is an exteryour and solemne profession of the Christian religion by the which wee all doe bynde our selues to accept and take Iesus Christe for our onelye Sauiour and to lyue in brotherlye charitie as beynge all together but one boddye baptysed with one Baptisme and by one spirit vnited and knit in him The word that is to say the ordinaunce of Iesus Christ ioyned with the promise sincerely as God spake it is this to Baptise in the name of the father the sonne and the holy Ghost whosoeuer shall beléeue and be Baptised shalbe saued The accorde and agreement of that sygne is most proper and méete because the water is the element most conuenient of all thyngs to washe and putte away all bodily fyithynesse and therfore is most mate to fygure and represent the blond of Iesus Christ the sonne of god by the which onely the Church is made clean Moreouer one vniformity is appointed and common to al and to one end and purpose which declareth the concorde and charitye whiche wee ought to haue together The meane whereby this is communicated to vs is y e holy ghost fréely cōmunicated to the electe who condiscendynge to our infyrmitye will be serued by a mortall mā ordained appointed in the Churche for that ende Secondlye with the worde truelye and intelligybly pronounced expounded so that it may be vnderstād beleued And for the third y ● exterior oroutward signe with the ceremonies aforesayd yet neuertheles w tout cōmunicating his vertues to any of these instruments but as S. Paule sayth he that planteth and he that watereth is nothing but GOD which geueth the encrease ▪ The meanes of our parte is fayth acording as fayeth S. Augustine The word maketh vs cleane not being spoken or pronounced onely but being beleued Now this fayth commeth not of our selues but is freelye geuen vs in dewe tyme ●o that we be of the number of the elected the which secrete wee leaue to god to iudge For it is he which knoweth those that be his
degrées Concerning publike offences S. Paul wylleth that they should be reproued publikely for to redresse the slaunder and also practysed it him selfe in reprouing S. Peter If the most easiest meanes can profite it sufficeth if not they must procéede frō degrée to degrée vntyl they come to the last remedy w t such discretion that principally the honour of God may be kept that all maye be done to the edification of the body of the Churche As for offences which concerne the ecclesiasticall order there be aūcient canons ordayned from degrée to degrée yet neuertheles the rygour ought to bee moderated and out of them to chose those which bee most connenient for to edifie 41 vvhat excommunication is what the right vse thereof is THe ecclesiasticall corrections hath to degrées the firste is admonition Sometime easye and sometime sharpe according as the offēce of the case requyreth The second and last degrée is that we call excommunication wherin must be noted the poynt folowing First what is excommunication We cal excōmunication a sentence wherby the ecclesiasticall Seniors after lawfull knowledge of the cause dooth declare in the name and authoritie of God and his holy word that such or such one or many be iustlye excluded and seperated from y e company or communion of the Saynts that is to say y e Church of God by consequent delyuered to sathan for asmuch as without the Church there is no saluation yet not to continue for euer but so long as they continue vnreformed and vntil that they haue satisfied for the slander or offence geuen Secondly it must be vnderstande that such a power is not groūded vpon man for man hath no manner of power ouer the soule but by the authoritye of God who vseth them in the Churche as organes and instrumentes by whome hee speaketh therefore it is not to be doubted but such sentences be ratified and confyrmed in heauen For as muche as Iesus Christ hath so sayde and promised to all his church in the person of hys xii Apostles vnder the name of keies of the kingdome of heauen and to bynde and vnbinde as also S. Paule practised the lyke with the Churche of Corinthe and others Yet neuertheles the Churche ought after lawful satisfactiō to receyue him again which hath bene cast out that is to saye if afterward be shall satisfy to the Church make amends for the publyke offence according to the ordinaunce of the Church sufficient proofes had of true amendment as farre foorth as man may iudge And there is no doubte but such absolutary sentence is ratifyed and confirmed in heauen Thirdly it is to be noted diligently that such authoritie neuer pertayneth to one man alone except God worketh at any tyme extraordinarilye but to the whole ecclesiasticall senate Fourthly this is not geuen to al those whiche call them selues of the Churche but to the true ecclesiastical senate lawfullye and cannonicallye elected as wee haue sayde for to gouerne the affayres of the Church The fift poynt is y ● the very true ecclesiasticall senate cannot nor may not vse it at their wyls as we see al men be subiect to many infirmities But this power is lymitted appointed by the worde of God And for this cause Iesus Christ and his Apostles despised the excommunications of the Scrybes Pharisees And according to y e same Irene a most auncient Bishop of Lyons reproued verye sharplye the temerious excommunication which Victor Bishoppe of Rome made about the yeere of God a hundred nynetie and eight which declareth very well what was the primatiue or first be gynninge of the Byshoppes of Rome where as then they walked in vpryght conscience And there were other Bysshops y ● vnderstoode their office and one of the causes that the prouincial and nationall counsels were ordained and holden for was to heare and decide the causes of those whiche complayned of theyr pastors Also it appeareth sufficiently thorowout the whole ecclesiasticall hystorye howe the Byshoppes in these cases ought to helpe one another to edyfye without ambition Beside this the Metropolitans ought to be content thēseues with their lymites and ought to doo nothyng without the deuise of theyr brethrē in their Iurisdiction But ambition hath so wrought that of longe tyme the Bishops of the principall townes and aboue all hée of Rome hath drawn all to themselues witnesseth the falsehood of Boniface whiche was discouered and reuealed at the Counsell of Carthage where as was S. Augustine where it was ordayned that those of the Clergie of Affrica which appealed ouer the sea to Rome should be deposed from theyr office For the sixt poynt it is to bee noted to what end excommunication was ordayned of God First that the church of God shoulde he as pure as might be possyble and that there myght be no occasion to think that it should be a refuge or den of the wicked Secondly for feare that the infected shoulde not defyle those whiche were whole Thirdly if it were possible y ● the synner might bée brought home to the flocke againe It followeth then that this punishment must be applyed and vsed for to edifie as may be expedient and that there be good héede taken least they confounde the sinner by too much heauynes and sorowr when he geueth a sgyne of repentaunce but ther to mitigate the punishment when néede shall require ▪ 42 Of the ciuill and Christiā magistrate and to what ende his office tendeth IT resteth nowe to speake of Magistrates which bee in their estate the pryncipall members of the Churche ordained of God yea namely aboue al others in their estate To these appertayneth the doing execution of ciuyll and temporall affayres so as their subiectes maye lyue in peace By reason whereof the taxes and subsidies are due vnto them and to them appertayneth to vse the swoord which God hath geuen thē for the preseruation aswell of the countreyes which be committed to them as also for the defence and mayntenaunce of good lawes and punishment of the euyll and wicked doers Secondlye the duetye and offyce of the magistrates is not to regarde simplye the peace and concorde of subiectes but principallye for thys ende that the peace and concorde maye tende to the honour and glorie of God that all men maye lyue not onelye in a certayne ciuyll honestye but also with pyetie and true worshyppe of God ▪ as wytnesseth Saynte Paule For thys cause especiallye it appertayneth to the Magistrate that the Lawes whiche hée vseth and executeth maye bée conformable to the wyll of God and pryncipallye to geue order that the relygyon bee perfecte and holye and that all the Churche bee ordered accordynge to the woorde of God forbyddyng and punyshynge as the case requyreth All those which trouble the Churche or concerning the discipline thereof Also Dauid discribed the estate of a faithfull Prince