¶ In the newe testamente Reade the Euangelistes of the passyon where they handle the Passyon of Christe ▪ there shalt thou fynde howe godly the Prophecyes be fulfilled and that the Euangelystes accorde ād agree with the Prophetes Lykewyse in the Actes of the Apostles .i. ij iij. iiij v. vij x. xiij xvij xx xxvi Witnesses of the Apostoles Paule Roma i. iij. where he proueth that we haue the redemption through the bloude of Christe in the .v. sayth he when we were enemyes we were reconcyled to god by the death of hys sonne Item Roman vi viij Christe dyed for vs. Roma xiiij xv To the Corinthians .i. Cor. i. ij vi viij x. xi xv ij Corinth iiij v. xiij To the Galathians i. ij iij. iiij vi To the Ephesians i. ij v. To the Philippians in the seconde teacheth he and sheweth that the sonne of God hath humbled hymselfe frō the hyghnes of hys maiestye for oure saluacyon euen vnto the most haynous deathe of the Crosse Philippen iij. To the Coloss i. ij iij. To the Tessaloniens i. ij iiij v. To Timot. i. ij To Titus .ij. In the Epistell to the Hebrewes in the .i. ij v. vi ix x. xiij Cha. Peter i. Petri. i. ij iij. iiij And also in the seconde Epistle Iohan. i. Iohan. i. ij iij. iiij Of the buryall reade Treno iij. They haue layde a stone vppon me Psalm iij. iiij xvi My flesshe shal lye sure Item Esaye xi In the newe Testamente Matth. xxvij Marci xv Luce. xxiij Iohan. xix The vnspeakeable fruyte of the hoolsome death of Iesu Christe and the infinite merites shalt thou fynde also in the places afore rehersed The fyfth Article He ascended into hel and the thyrd daye he rose agayne from the death Christe is our redemer and sauioure therfore ouercometh he all whatsoeuer is contrary to oure saluacion is synne death hell the deuyl through whose enuie death is come into the worlde Christ also descended into hell that he shoulde suppresse all powers and subtelties of the deuyl to the faythfull And he is rysen agayne for to geue a newe lyfe to the beleuynge that we here after may lyue innocently and godly Dauid speaketh thereof on thys wyse Thou shalt not leaue my soul in hell Christ descēded into hel Here is it cleare that he descēded into hell For he sayth not Thou shalt not leaue the work of my soule in hellethe sayth my soule so that the soule of Christ dyd truely descende into hel after her substaunce or beynge not onely after the worke And although we do not knowe properly what maner of descendynge into hell the same be Yet neuerthelesse wyll we surely truely beleue the wordes of the Prophetes whan he hadde commended hys blessed soule into the handes of God hys father than laye hys holye body styll but the soule went downe to hell Oh the mercyfull Lorde hathe ouercome for vs euery fearful thyng The resurrection of Christe ¶ The resurrection of Christe is a great article For it hath made the paines and sufferynges of all martyrs lyght and is the triumphe and ioye of all Christians Hys resurrectyon is oure righteousnes and worketh also oure resurrection bothe of bodye and soule Euen so sayth saint Paul Christe is rysen agayne Rom iiij Ro. viij If the spirite of hym that raysed vp Iesus from death dwell in you euen he that raysed vp Christe from death shal quicken your mortall bodyes because that hys spirite dwelleth in you i. Co. xv And to the Corinthians as by Adam all dye euen so by Christ shall all be made a lyue and euery man in hys owne ordre The firste is Christe then they that are Christes The inuincible glorye of the glorious resurrection of Iesu Christe declareth and glorifieth al that was weake feareful before dryueth awaye the feare of death and exalteth into great ioye the hertes of all faythfull Christians Vvhat ioye is greater thē that Christe is rysen in euerlastynge glorye and honour Rom. vi He dyed ones for vs and shall dye no more death shall haue no more power ouer hym Nowe be we hys membres and he is oure onely heade wheresoeuer then the heade becometh and reygneth there shall also the membres become There is oure ioye and reioysynge i. the .iiij Therfore sayth Paule That the Christians shoulde comforte themselues one another with suche wordes They are cōfortable wordes truely to all true beleuers Sūma Euangel ij This is the summe of the gospel Christe is a kyng of glorye he is borne and geuen vnto vs. Vve haue synne and death but he hath righteousnes and lyfe yf thou beleue in hym then be hys goodes thy goodes hys resurrection thy resurrectiō And it is thyne also whatsoeuer he hath wrought by hys glorious triumphāt resurrection Ro. viij God hath geuen vs hys sonne all thynges with hym as saynt Paule sayth Vvhat hath he wrought by hys resurrection Fruyct of the resurrection Truely great thynges he hath destroyed synne raysed righteousnes abolysshed death brought agayne lyfe ouercome hel and he hath geuen eternall glorye and honour Therfore syngeth the churche with great gladnes not without inspiratiō of the holy goost Christe is rysen and yf he were not rysen then were all the worlde perysshed In the old Testament is the resurrection of Christe signifyeth the prophete Ionas Ione ij Mat. xij Luce. xi He laye thre dayes and thre nightes in the bely of a great whalle after that was he delyuered as Christe hym selfe bringeth in the same The scribes and the Pharisees would see but a signe Then sayde the Lorde vnto them The signe of Ionas The euyl aduoutrous generation seketh a signe but there shall no signe be geuen to them than the signe of the Prophete Ionas For as Ionas was thre daies and thre nyghtes in the whalles belly so shall the sonne of man be thre dayes and thre nyghtes in the herte of the earth Iohn ij And in Iohn speaketh he also of thys hys resurrection saynge Destroye thys temple and in thre dayes I wyl rease it vp agayne There speaketh he of hys owne body Reade more there of in Osee and in the psalter I haue slept and am rysen That is asscrybed vnto Christe Item thou shalt not leaue my soule in hell neyther wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption Here sheweth Dauid clearly the bodely resurrection of Christe For Christe is properly called in scripture the holy one of god and he sayth thou shalt not leaue hym in hell that is as muche to saye Thou shalt sone bryng hym from theus Item thou shalt not suffre thy holy to see the corruption That is Thou shalt make haste to bringe me abroade agayne to the bodely lyfe The continual readyng in the Bible shall bryng before the more suche lyke saynges Vvitnesse of the newe Testament Mathei xx He shall ryse agayne the thyrde daye That is the worde of God that can
the begynnynge of the worlde Thys is the ryght saluation whiche shal begynne euen after the temporal lyfe to them that lyue in Christ In Iohn sayth Christ Ioh. iij God so loued the worlde that he hath geuē hys onely sonne that none that beleue in hym shoulde perysshe but should haue euerlasting life The scripture speaketh of the lyfe euerlastynge euerye 〈…〉 Christe that men might knowe christ a ryght the sonne of God mat xvi Therfore asked he hys disciples what thy helde of hym Then answered Peter for hym selfe and for the other Thou art Christ the sonne of the lyuyng God Vpon suche knowledge which is necessary for vs all in the Catholyke churche buylded i. Cor i. i i Cor. iij Thus sayth Paule Vve preache Christe the power and wysedome of God He wyll also suffer none other foundation but onely Iesus Christe euen as he hath preached hym That he is come from the father in the nature of mankynd and hath redemed the worlde dyed for vs vppon the crosse and is rysen agayne oure heade and Lorde Eph. ij And is sett on the ryght hande of God vnto whome we come and are saued not by oure owne workes but of grace through fayth Ioh. x Throughout the hole Gospel of s Iohn declareth he for the moost parte that he hym selfe is the sonne of God and preacheth for the moost parte that God is hys father In so muche that the yewes did reiecte hym and would stone him for the same i. Ioh. v. For Christ is come to teache fayth whereby men beleue euen in hym as in the sonne of God And fayth is the fulfyllinge of al lawes He is the righteousnes for euer he is the worke of Goddes glorie he is the mortification of the flesshe the raysinge of the spirit the subduinge of the world the subduinge of the flesshe the subduynge of hell the gates of hell cannot preuayle agaynst hym Briefely Matth. xvi Ioh. viij Ioh. xiij he is all in all thinges as he sayeth in Iohn Excepte ye beleue that I am he ye shall dye in your sinnes Itē he that beleueth in me shall neuer dye The writynges of the Apostles be full of doctryne as concernyng fayth for thereon lyeth all the matter mar xvi He that beleueth not shal be damned he that beleueth in the sonne hath euerlastynge lyfe Ioha iij. Therfore shoulde we praye continually for the ryght faith for he bryngeth with hym loue hope and all goodnes Fayth Fayth is not a slyght meanynge 〈…〉 whiche the natural witte or wyll can make to hym selfe Act. xv but it is a liuely thynge in the herte which renueth mā and purifyeth the herte It is suche a lyuely confidence and trust to God that man is sure and certayn aboue al wysedome that he pleaseth God and that he hath a mercyfull God whiche is towardes hym kynd gracious and mercyfull and forgeueth hym in all thynges that he doeth Thys fayth is the chiefest worke of the fyrste commaundement lyke as the fyrste commaundement is a measure example rule and vertu of all other commaundementes in the which as in the heade all membres lyue and haue power thereof Goode workes Euen so is fayth the heade lyfe and power of al good workes No work is good except faith hath wrought it ye except it be thorowely mixte with fayth Ro. xiiij euen as wyth newe leuyn whatsoeuer is not of faith that same is synne Ioh. vi Thys fayth is the dearest worke of god wherof Christ speaketh in Iohn This is the worke of God that ye beleue in hym whome God hath sent Therfore doth the scripture moost requyre fayth as in the Gospell often standeth Vvhen Christe would worke any myracle asked he before yf thei beleued that he coulde and woulde do suche thynges Item in marke and Mathewe Mar. ix Matth. xiij mat vij it is written that Christe hath not done many myracles in hys owne countree because of theyr vnbeleue In Mathewe sayth Christe that hys disciples could not heale the lunatike for theyr vnbeleues sake Vvheras a ryght Catholike fayth is Ephe. ij there is a creation of a newe harte The olde harte of Adā hath not thys faith of it selfe For it is a gyfte of god Many say the Crede dayly Fayth boaste there of very sore But they knowe not what it is O it maketh a meke hūble obediēt godly peple whiche trusteth in god onely hopeth loueth him aboue al things feareth him serueth his euen christen willingly with body goodes hindereth nomā suffereth gladly dāmage persecutiō Al his workes be ordered to the vtylyte and profyte of hys neyghboure be he frende or foo euen as Christe hath done vnto vs also Therfore be not all they Chrysten manne that be called Euangelical and be inclined to hurte or endamage their neyghbours in body soule honoure or goodes They be heathen vnder the name of Christe theyr frutes shewe what they be yf they were ryght christians or Euangelicall they would be obedient seruable vnto al men intendyng to hurte no man God vouchesaue to illumine them with true fayth that they maye be suche in dede as they wil be called Amen Marci ix Lorde I beleue helpe myne vnbeleue Marci xvi He that beleueth not shal be damned Marci ix All thinges are possible to hym that beleueth ¶ Here begynneth the ryght foundation and pryncypall common places of the hole godly scripture a goodly shorte declaration to all Christians profitable and necessarye for to come to the right vnderstondyng of the holy Scripture compyled for the commoditie of all Christen people By Doctor Vrbanus Regius ⧠The contentes of the common places i. Holy Scripture ij God iij. The ryght honour of God iiij Goddes greatest dishonour v The lawe vi The gospell vij Fayth viij Good workes ix Sacramente x The death of Christ xi Flesshe xij Spirite xiij Vertue xiiij The greatest vertue xv The greatest synne xvi The soule xvij Lyfe xviij Euerlastyng lyfe xix Death xx The resurrection xxi The later daye xxij Masse xxiij Righteousnes xxiiij Honour of sainctes xxv Difference of meates xxvi Holy dayes xxvij Prayer xxviij Vowe xxix Obedience xxx The wyll of God xxxi Mannes wyl xxxij Offence xxxiij Almoses xxxiiij Othe or swearyng xxxv Christian lyberty xxxvi Churche xxxvij Ryches xxxviij Synne xxxix Infirmitie xl Health xli Persecution xlij Ioye and heuynes xliij Peace xliiij Free wyl xlv Counsayll xlvi Confessyon xlvij Merytes xlviij Shepeherde Ende of the Tabell ¶ To the most reuerende father in God Thomas by the permission of God Archebysshope of Canturburye Metrapolitane prymate of all Englande Hys dayly oratoure Gwalter Lynne wyssheth lyfe euerlastynge ME thynketh most reuerēde father that this sayenge of our Sauyoure Christ be occupied til I come is an admonicyon of all other moste necessarye and profytable Luc. xix and xij Matth. xxiiij xxv mar xiij aswell for the parentes or maysters
battell as S. Paul testifyeth Here vpon earth as longe as bodye and soul be knitte together Ro. viij Hathe the vpryght ryghteous man onelye the fyrste frutes of the spirite In such maner are here yet al workes of mā spotted and polluted of the flesshe synne before the iudgement of God Therfore lette noman buylde and trust vpō hys workes Rom. iij iiij The fayth in Christe is onely oure ryghteousnes before God Vertue The thre hyest vertues Fayth Charite Hope Out of a ryghte fayth flowe the other two Charite and hope Knoweledge of the kindnesse of God For the knowledge of the godly mercyfulnes maketh that God is loued agayne maketh also that we be willinge and subdue oure selues to serue euery creature and that is called the loue of our neyghboure Hope floweth also oute of faythe for fayth is that Hope wherewith thou beleuest the worde and with hope thou lokest for that whiche is promysed vnto the through the worde What maketh me to haue hope Answer The fayth in the worde of God Therfore hange these thre vertues together The greatest vertue ¶ The greatest vertue is Gal v where of Saynt Paule speaketh Faythe whiche through loue is myghtye in operation without fayth is no vertue The greatest synne The greatest synne is vnbeleue He that beleueth not in Christe is damned Ioh. iij He shal not see lyfe but the wrath of God abydeth on hym Ro. xiiij For whatsoeuer procedeth not of fayth that same is synne The soule The soule of man is highly honoured or made honourable Gene. i. namely created after the image of the moost hyghly blessed trinite and hath thre vertues or qualities vnderstandyng wille and remembraunce and is yet but one thynge Notwithstondynge thou learnest to knowe thys creation in that that the soule hath a respecte towardes God Likenes of God and hys holy worde thys testifyeth that in vs is a lykenes and Image of God No man can satisfye the large and greate desyres of the wise and prudent menne but God the creatoure hym selfe onely Then shall I be satisfyed Ps xvij sayth the Psalme when thyne Image awaketh vp The soule hath a beginnyng for she is created of god but she hath none end for she died not For thus sayth Christ Mat. x. Feare ye not thē which kyl the body be not able to kyl the soul but rather fear him whiche is able to destroye bothe soule and body into hell The soule is suche a precyous godly worke and creature that no corporall thynge may be compared vnto her what shoulde it profite a man mat xvi though he shoulde wynne al the hole worlde yf he lose hys owne soule Lyfe There is two maner of lyfes the one temporall the other perpetuall The lyfe temporall hath a beginnyng and endynge and is full of sorrowe as Iob complayneth Hiob iij and it is onely a shadowe of the ryghte euerlastynge lyfe which the creatures haue in theyr begynnynge A ryght Christen man counteth the temporal lyfe very littell and small for he knoweth through his fayth that he is not created for thys shorte temporal life He seeth with the eyes of hys fayth aboue in the ryghte true euerlastynge lyfe whiche withoute death and departynge withoute trouble and misery in certayntye in Ioye and withoute sorrowe endureth for euer Phil. i Thus sayth Paul to the Philippians Christ is to me lyfe deathe is to me aduauntage I desyre to be lowsed and to be with Christe Willyngly to dye Whosoeuer is not wyllynge and glad to dye to departe oute of thys miserable corruptible tyme the same is yet full of the olde Adam and hath yet but a small fayth The right faith kyndleth in vs and maketh vs to hate thys vngodly lyfe and to become enemye vnto it Fayth maketh a man to dye from thys lyfe and all hys lustes whylest he is yet liuynge and vnto the beleuynge is no greater reioysynge vpon earth He hath tourned away and plucked awaye hys herte from all creatures and lyueth onely in Christ Thus sayth Paul Gal. vi God forbydde that I shoulde reioyce but onely in the crosse of oure Lorde Iesu Christ wherby the worlde is crucifyeth vnto me and I vnto the world Gala. ij And in another place sayth he I lyue yet now not I but christ lyueth in me For the lyfe which I lyue now in the flesshe I lyue by the fayth of the sonne of god which loued me and gaue hym selfe for me The tēporal life is delectable vnto the heathē that knowe no better But a Christiā doth littel regarde it because he knoweth a better Therfore departed the welbeloued elect sainctes of god with myrthy and ioye from hence as out of wretchednes into the ryghte countree of theyr father Cicero in Tuscques The heathen feare the tēporall death very sore for they thinke that hereafter it is cleane done with man Al theyr wisedome conuyng and Philosophie was not able to conforte them in the feare of death albe it that they dyd enterpretyse the same He that knoweth not CHRISTE and beleueth not in hym feareth deathe and not withoute a cause for it is horryble vnto hym and an intraunce into death euerlastynge But he that knoweth Christ hath hym doth not feare deathe muche 〈…〉 hath ouercome death And hys holy woorde doth onely conforte vs effectually agaynste the horryble tempeste of death Eternal lyfe The lyfe euerlastynge is that we knowe the very god Ioh xvij and Iesus Christ whome he hath sent Nowe we see in a glasse euē in a darke speakyng i. cor xiij But then shal we see face to face Nowe I knowe it vnparfectely That is We knowe here vpon earth by fayth all what God is and what God geueth vnto vs but it is not yet the right knoweledge nothyng nygh she is also darke and vnperfecte But the knowledge to come in our fathers mansion is the ryght bryghtnes and perfecte knoweledge i. Ioh. iij For we shall see hym as he is Death There is two maners of death the one temporall the one euerlastynge The temporal whan body and soule parte the one from the other Ebre ix It is so appoynted that euery man must ones dye The euerlastynge death whan the euerlastyng soule must nedes departe from the face of God that is from her ryght onely lyfe euer more and euerlastyng with out endynge The eternall death that is ij tim i. the damnacyon infernall is vnto the elect christen menne ouercome al ready by chrste Christ hath spoyled death of hys power and brought to lyght lyfe and incorruptyble conuersacyon by the Gospell The wayght and burthen of oure synnes hath suppressed drowned vs into the botomeles pitte of hel Esa liij But God hath layed thys burthen vpon hys dearly beloued sonne Christ the same hath satisfyed for vs and delyuered vs from synne death hell There of shalt thou fynde
in Saynte Paule .i. Cor. i. Gal. i. ij Ephe. i. Col. i. Roma ij Ebre ix and to Titus ij Iohn iij In so muche that he that beleueth in Christe shal not perysshe but haue euerlastynge lyfe For thus sayth S. Paule Ro. viij There is then no damnation to them whiche are in Christe Iesu whiche walke not after the flesshe but after the spirite Therfore is there no meryer thynge vppon earthe than a ryght Christen man for he dothe not muche esteme the temporall lyfe he is sure of a better lyfe He is a Lorde ouer synne death and helle Vvhy so Answer Rom. vi Christe dyed once and dyeth no more Death shal haue no more power ouer hym Iohn Nowe bei he hath ouercome it and taken awaye synne Now he that beleueth in Christe hath Christ before hys eyes becometh one spirite wyth hym ouercometh in him and by hym synne death helle Deuyll and the worlde Ro. viij For thus sayth Saynte Paule Yf God be on oure syde who can be agaynste vs. Vvhiche also spared not hys owne sonne but gaue hym for vs all Howe shall he not with him geue vs all thynges Psalm xxx viij Vve are well delyuered into death but we ouercome all those thynges through Christe whiche hath loued vs. Vvhat hath Christe Answer He hath the righteousnes peace lyfe and saluation Euē that same hath the christen soule also which is knytte in vnite vnto Christe her lorde and head thoroughe a ryght faith Ro. viij Hose xiij She defyeth death sayth neyther death nor any creature is able to separate her from the loue of god whiche is in Christ Iesu She speaketh ioyfully i. Co. xv Death is consumed in the victory Death where is thy styng Hell where is thy victory But thankes be vnto god which hath geuē vs victory thorough our Lord Iesu Christ Deathe is not fearfull to a christen mā The tēporall deathe is vnto such a christen man no more so fearful Yea he doth desyre it for it is to hym onely a delyueraunce frō thys sinful wretched blasphemous lyfe an intraunce into the ryght lyfe vnto Christe our onely saluation A Christian knoweth that the euer lastynge death can do nothing to him yea as littel as to Christe hym selfe and the temporall death is onely a departing of the soule from the body to thiutent that they bothe beynge puryfyed pure and cleare in all perfection in the Later daye maye be agayne coupled to gether glorifyed and clarifyed And knoweth that the soule stondeth in the hande of Christ and is well preserued in the bosome of Abraham Luc. viij Therfore doth the scripture calle the Christen death a slepe because that then a Christian doth firste amende hys estate and cometh from disquietenesse to reste The ryghte Christians also should not behaue thē selues euyl or sorrowe ouer muche whan any thynge dyeth from them Paule sayth i. the. iiij Vve woulde not bretheren haue you ignorant concernynge them whiche are fallen a slepe that ye sorrowe not as the other whiche haue no hope For yf we beleue that Iesus dyed and rose agayne euen so them also whiche slepe by Iesus wyll God brynge agayne with hym The Resurrection esa xxix Ezeche xxxvij and viij In the latter daye shall the bodyes of menne by the infinite power and myght of god be raysed agayne and be coupled agayne with the soules But in the blessed shall they wonderfully be chaunged and endued with foure gyftes honour and glorye with impassiblenes with brightenes with swyftenes and with subtilenes For thus sayth Saynt Paule i. Co. xv The flesshe is sowen in corruption and ryseth in incorruption It is sowen in dishonour ryseth in honour It is sowē in weakenes ryseth in power It is sowen a naturall body ryseth a spiritual body For a lyttell before sayth he For as in Adam all dye euen so by Christe shall all be made a lyue and euery mā in hys owne ordre The fyrste is Christe then they that are Christes at his commynge Then commeth the ende when he hath delyuered vp the kyngdome to God the father when he hath put downe all rule authorite and power Christ is rysen from death therfor shall we ryse also Thys artycle of oure fayth is al the hole somme and contayned all the hole matter Yf Christe were not rysen then had synne and death ben to stronge for him But for as moche as he is rysen from death so is synne and death ouercome and we shall ryse also in glorye purchaced prepared for vs by Christe Ro. viij But then when the spirite of God that raysed vp Iesus from death quickeneth your mortall bodyes because of his spirite whiche dwelleth in you Ioh. xi Christe sayth I am the resurrectiō and the lyfe He that beleueth on me yea though he were deade yet shall he lyue And whosoeuer lyueth and beleueth on me shall neuer dye Item this is the wyl of hym that sent me Ioh. vi that euery man which seyth the sonne and beleueth on hym haue euerlastinge lyfe And I wyll rayse hym vp at the last daye hiob xix Item I am sure that me redemer lyueth and that I shall ryse oute of the earthe in the later daye that I shall be clothed agayne with thys skynne and see God in my flesshe yea I my selfe shal beholde hym not with other but with these same eyes Itē the houre shall come in the whiche al that are in the graues shall heare hys voyce and shall come forthe they that haue done good vnto the resurrection of lyfe and they that haue done euyll vnto the resurrection of damnation One Christian shoulde conforte another with suche wordes of Scripture agaynst the feare of death as Saynte Paule teacheth in the Epistle to the Thessalonians i. Th. iiij The Latter daye Of the last daye hath the Scripture two poyntes The fyrst Christe hath geuen sure sygnes which be the messagers of the last iudgement Reade the Gospelles of Mathewe Marke Matth. xxiiij mar xiij Luc. xxi and Luke All maner of persecutions of the faythfull shall aryse Item warre insurrection offence euyl maners quenchynge of charite Item the abhomination in the holy place in the tempel of God Dan. ix whiche exalteht hym selfe and sheweth hym selfe as God Item an abhominable departynge ij Th. ij and fallyng from the faythe vnto mānes institutions and traditions For thus sayth Christe when the trees shute forth theyr buddes it is a sure signe that Sōmer is then nygh at hāde So lykewyse ye when ye see those thynges come to passe vnderstonde that the later daye is at hande The other Euen thesame poynte of thys laste tyme the daye or houre can no man knowe Christe geueth signes Matth. xxiiij but he sayth in Mathewe Of that daye and houre knoweth noman no not the Angels of heauen but my father onely and recyteth euen in the same place
euen so the sonne quickeneth whome he wyll The father hath geuen power to the sonne also to iudge The houre shal come in the whiche all that are in the graues shal heare hys voyce and shal come forth they that haue done good to the resurrectyon of lyfe and they that haue done euyll vnto the resurrection of damnatyon In the Actes of the Apostles Act. xvij preacheth Paule vnto those of Athenes the resurrectyon of the deade Item in another place sayeth Paule act xxiiij I beleue all thynges which are writtē in the lawe and the Prophetes and haue hope towardes God that the same resurrection of death which thei loke for also shal be act xxvi bothe of iuste and vniuste Rom. vi Item to the Romaynes sayth he yf we be grafte in death lyke vnto hym Ro. viij euen so muste we be lyke in the resurrection yf we be dead with christ we beleue that we shall lyue with him ¶ Item to the Corinthians i. Co. vi God hath raysed vp the Lorde and shal rayse vs vp by hys power knowe ye not that youre bodyes are the membres of Christe yf they be the mēbres of Christe then muste they be glorifyed and claryfyed with theyr heade ⧠The fyfthene Chapyter in the fyrste Epystle to the Corinthyans haue dearly in commendation wherein Sayncte Paule so excellentely and commyngly writeth of the resurrection of Christe and of oure resurrection and maketh suche an argumēt and ground Christ is rysen frō death therfore shal we ryse also Vvherfore dyed he howe hath slayne hym Truely our synnes The father hath layed all oure synnes vpon hym therfore hath he satisfyed Esa liij as Esay sayth Nowe yf he were not rysen then were all oure doyng in vayne yea we were yet in synne and dominacyon as depe as euer we were No man were poorer and more miserable then we christians yf we onely in thys shorte lyfe shoulde put oure trust in Christe and afterwarde all shoulde be at an ende Then the sinnes had ben to heauy and to stronge for hym But nowe is christe risen from death death hath no more power ouer hym Truely then hath he ouercome oure synne and death that they can beare no more rule ouer vs. He is become theyr myghtye and stronge Lorde And as by Adam all dye euen so by Christe shal all be made a lyue Therfore let vs be mery in the Lorde oure enemys synne death hell be layde downe Christ is a kynge myghtely hys kyngedome endureth for euer where as he is there shal we be also Vvhe haue a good cause to reioyce and with thankefulnes to be freeharted and blode in Christ oure ouercomer and Lorde and to be with death at defyaunce death is swallowed vp in victory The Lorde sayth O death Ose xiij I wil be thy death O hel I wil be thy stynge Death where is thy stynge Hel where is thy victory But thankes be vnto God whiche hath geuen vs the victory Through our Lord Iesus Christe In the seconde Epistle to the Corinthians sayth he ij Cor. i that we should not put oure trust in oure selues but in God which rayseth the dead to lyfe agayne Reade a goodly example the fyfth Chapiter in the same Epistle Item we knowe that ij cor iiij he whiche rayseth vp the Lorde Iesus shall rayse vp vs also by the meanes of Iesus ij co xiij Item we shall lyue with hym by the power of God Item to the Philippians Oure cōuersacyon is in heauen from whence aso we loke for the sauyour euen the Lorde Iesus Christ whiche shal chaūge oure vyle body that he maye make it lyke vnto hys gloryous body accordyng to the workyng whereby he is able also to subdue all thynges vnto hym selfe Colo. iij Item to the Colossyans ye be now rysen with Christe therfore seke those thynges whiche are aboue i. Th. iiij Item to the Thessalonyens sayeth Paule I would not bretheren that ye should not be ignorant concerning them whiche are fallen a slepe that ye sorrowe not as other doo whiche haue no hope For yf we beleue that Iesus dyed and ryse agayne euen so them also whiche slepe by Iesus wyll God brynge agayne wyth hym And thys saye we vnto you in the worde of the Lorde that we whiche lyue and are remainynge in the commynge of the Lorde shal not come yerre then they whiche slepe For the Lorde hym selfe shall descende from heauen with a showre and the voyce of the Archangell and trompe of God And the dead in Christe shall ryse fyrste then shall we whiche lyue and remayne be caught vp with them also in the cloudes to mete the Lorde in the ayer and so shall we euer be with the Lorde wherfore comforte youre selues one another with these wordes The twelfte Artikel And the lyfe euerlastynge The life here in thys worlde is called a calamitye for we haue no restynge place here neyther shall we abyde here alwayes as Paule sayeth Ebr. xiij Here haue we no contynuynge City but we seke one to come Heauen is oure home the lyfe euerlastynge thether long we in the lyfe euerlastynge Summa summarum there is all the desyre of man whiche can be satisfyed with nothynge elles than with beholdynge and browkynge of the godly essence as Dauid saith psa xvij I wyl beholde thy presence in ryghteousnes and I shal be satisfyed when I awake vp after thy lykenes The Philosophers and world wysemen haue taken great paynes to studye seke out what thyng it myght be Saluation of man wherein the harte of man without all calamytye and miserye were satisfyed and stedfastly rested an in the ende wherevnto it is ordeyned and whiche myght be oure saluacion But lyke as they coulde see no ryghte vertue by the naturall power withoute grace euen so coulde they not knowe also that thynge where in the saluacyon of man consisteth The one thought that health is the greatest good Another toke ryches for it Some haue named vertue the saluacyon Some dyd put theyr saluatiō in thre goodes namely the goodes of fortune as ryches honour power The goodes of the bodye as healthe strengthe The goodes of the soule as science and vertue But the blynde lyghte of nature knoweth nothyng of the ryght saluation and of the ryghte lyfe euerlastynge The spirit of God doth teache it vs by the scripture For thus sayth Iohn i. Ioh. v Ioh xvij Christe is very God and eternall lyfe Item thys is lyfe eternall that then myght knowe the onely true God and Iesus Christe whome thou hast sent That is oure heauen thether be we bounde sayng This is my rest for euer that is oure kyngedome Psalm cxxxij wherein Christ hath preipared for vs many maners of dwellinge places Ioh. xiiij Matth. xxv Matt. v Into that housse shal he sende the electe and shall saye Come ye blessed of my father inherite the kyngdome prepared for you from
corrected vs shoulde we not moche rather be in subiectiō vnto the father of spirituall gyftes that we myght lyue Healthe The beste health is the health of the soule that she is in the ryghte faythe The bodely health is well a precyous gyfte of God But she is vnto vs oftentymes accordynge to oure naturall inclination an occasyon to sinne Augustyne sayth Vvhen we be in health then is the infirmitye of the euyll concupiscence moost weakest Persecution A man must nedes suffre he that wyll be a discyple of Christe must geue hym selfe lustely and willyngely into all manner of affliction for Matth. xxiiij for hys names sake shal we be hated The crosse must we nedes beare there is no remedy Ro. viij For those whiche he knewe before he also ordeyned before that they should be lyke fashioned vnto the shape of hys sonne For thus sayth S. Peter i. Pet. ij Christe suffred for vs leauyng vs an ensample that we shoulde followe hys steppes i. Pe. iiij Item in another place doth he admonyshe vs that we shoulde not be troubled and take it for a straunge thynge when persecution and trybulation cometh vpon vs for thereby are we tryed and preserued as the golde through the fyre We must be partakers of Christes passyons for thus sayth he If ye be rayled vpon for the name of Christe happye are ye For the spirite of glory and the spirite of God resteth vpon you On theyr parte he is euyll spoken of but on your parte he is glorifyed Where as Christe is preached there is also alwayes a Iudas an Annas Cayphas Pilate Herode and the crosse By them is it sene where the Gospel is preached Nowe let euery man beware that he suffre not as a malefactour i. Pe. iiij that hath deserued it Thus sayth Peter Se that none of you suffre as a murtherer or as a thefe or an euyll doer or as a busy bodye in other mennes matters Yf any man suffre as a Christen man let hym not be ashamed but let hym glorifye God on hys behalfe Rom. v Paule sayth to the Romaynes we reioyce in tribulation For we knowe that tribulation bryngeth pacience Pacience bryngeth experience experience bryngeth hope and hope maketh not ashamed Iacob i. Item Iames layth My bretheren counte it excedynge ioye when ye fal into diuers temptations for as muche as ye knowe howe that the tryenge of your fayth bryngeth pacience and let pacience haue her perfecte worke that ye maye be perfecte and sounde lackyng nothynge Paule doth onely reioyce and boaste hym selfe of the infirmities ij Co. ij rebukes nede persecutions and anguyshe whiche he suffred for Christes sake And howe shoulde not be conforted hearynge the fatherly voyce of Christe Matt. v where he sayth to hys discyples Blessed are they whiche suffre persecution for ryghteousnes sake for theyrs is the kyngdome of heauē Blessed are ye when men reuyle you and persecute you and falsely saye all maner of euyl sayenges agaynst you for my sake In the Actes of the Apostles sayth Luke Actu v that Peter and the discyples at Ierusalem when they had ben imprysoned and beaten and let go agayne departed from the councell reioysyng that they were counted worthy to suffre rebukes for the name of Iesu Christe Ioye and heuynes There is no ryght ioye that hath any continuance but onelye the ioye of a pure conscience all other ioye of thys present tyme and of these temporall corruptyble thinges doth soone vanyshe awaye and is mixte with muche sorowe and bitternes and hath the sorowe vpon her backe for the same ioye is of a creature Nowe no creature continueth immutable but wauereth to and fro as the wynd Vvhē any thynge is taken from the or altered wherein thou haddest delyte ioye and pleasure than arte thou sory and heauy now no creature contynueth with the alwayes but she is taken from the or elles thou arte separated from her Therfore is there no permanent Ioye vpon earth in al creatures or thynges created The sorowe and ioye of the spirite and of the flesshe haue a great difference not onely the sorowe for the creatures sake but also suche temporall Ioye hath smarte and damage Contrarywyse not onely the spirituall ioye but also the spirituall sorowe hath pleasure and profyte Therfore sayth Paule I nowe reioyce ij co vij not that ye were sory but that ye so sorowed that ye repented For ye sorowed godly so that in nothynge ye were hurte by vs. For godly sorowe causeth repētaunce vnto saluation not to be repēted of but worldely sorowe causeth death A ryght Christian reioyseth in nothynge but onely in hys Lorde Christ and thys is a ryght stedfast ioye whiche maye withstonde all aduersities for she hāgeth not vpō any waueryng creature but vpon hym whiche is the Ioye of the Angels and taketh away all the sorowe and gronynges of hys seruauntes as he saith in Iohn Ioh. xvi I wyl se you agayne and youre hertes shall reioyce and your ioye shall no man take from you To thys pure bodelye Ioye Phi. iiij doth Paul exhorte hys Philippians sayenge reioyce in the Lorde alwaye and agayne I saye reioyce A right Christian soroweth for nothynge but onely for synne whereby he hath offended hys moost deare Lorde Therfore whan he is persecuted then soroweth he more for the sinne of the persecutoure then for hys owne redukes and hurtes he seeth that hys enemye doth and handeleth so cruelly and wilfully agaynst the Godly maiestie and before he persecuteth another hath he synned in God and hurte hym selfe moost perniciously in the soule And the vpryght Christen man thinketh I haue ful well deserued all persecutions for my synnes sake but O Lord howe cometh he to thys that he must be an instrument of the godly iudgement and offende God in me wretched synner and hath compassion vpon hys euen Christen and prayeth vnto God for him because that he knoweth not what he doth Peace There is two maner of peace The temporall or worldly peace is when a man hath no disquietnes of any man and standeth in certaynte of hys lyfe The spirituall peace is certeynte of the harte which no man hath but onely a Christen faythfull herte through fayth for it knoweth perceyueth that it hath escaped the moste daungerous battell and the greatest dammage namely the euerlastyng wrath of God and is through Christ made sure agaynst the feare of synne death hell and vnto hym is nowe persecution sickenes and sufferyng in earth yea death and whatsoeuer the worlde counteth to be horryble and fearfull a small matter whiche he regardeth not so ioconde peaceable and sure is hys herte vnto hym Thys is the quiete herte whiche is a continuall feast as Salomon sayth Pro. xv Thys is that peace whiche the worlde can not geue neither can she take it awaye with al her inimity and rumour it passeth al myndes and vnderstandynge as Paule sayth The peace of God