depryued of all the ryghte clayme and interest whiche they myght haue pretended to haue had in me by thauctoritie of that sentence or by reason of any synne that euer I had or haue commytted be it originall or actuall And that the dyuel with all his power craft subtilitie and malice is now subdued and made captyue not onely vnto me but also vnto all thother faythfull people and right beleuers in Iesu Christe that euer was or shal be syth the tyme of Christis sayde descendynge in to hell And that our sauiour Iesu Christe hath also by this his passyon and this his descendynge in to hel payed my raunsome and hath merited and deserued that neither my soule neither the soules of any suche as be righte beleuers in Christe shall come therin or shall fynally be encombered with any tytle or accusation that the dyuell canne obiecte ageynst vs or laye vnto our charge And I beleue that this our sauyour Iesu Christe after he had thus in sowle conquered and spoyled the dyuell and hell of all theyr force power and tyranny and made them subiecte vnto me and all true christen men in lyke case as they were vnto Adam before his fall he returned agayne frome hell lyke a moste mighty kyng and conquerour in triumphe and glorie and came vnto the sepulchre where his blessed bodye laye buryed and so resumynge and takyng agayn the very same body vppon hym the thyrde daye after his sayde death he lyued agayne and so rose out of that sepulchre in his naturall and perfyte manhode that is to say in his soule and in the selfe same body whiche was borne of the virgin Mary and dyd hange vpon the crosse And I beleue also and professe that after he had so done he lyued in the world by the space of .xl. dayes in the whiche time he was conuersant dyd eate and drynke with his apostles and his disciples and preached vnto them auctorysed them to go forthe into the worlde to manyfest and declare that he was the very Christe the very Messias the veray god and man which was promysed in scripture to come and saue and to redeme all those that wolde beleue in hym And I beleue assuredly that by this descendynge of Christe into hell and this his resurrection agayne from deathe to lyfe Christe hathe meryted and deserued for me and all trewe and faythfull christen men not onely that our sowles shall neuer come into helle but also that we shall here in this lyfe be perfytely iustifyed in the syght and acceptation of god and shall haue suche grace myght and power gyuen vnto vs by hym that we shal be made able therby to subdue to mortyfie and to extinguysshe our olde Adam and all our carnall and fleshely concupiscences in suche sorte that synne shall neuer afterwarde reigne in our mortall bodyes but that we shall be holly delyuered from the kyngdome of synne and from spyrituall deathe and shall be resuscytated and regenerated into the newe lyfe of the spyryte and grace And where as I and all other chrysten men shuld haue ben the moste myserable of all other creatures in the worlde and shulde haue dyed lyke heathens and pagans without all hope of euerlastynge lyfe or ofrysynge agayne after our death yf Christe our heed and sauiour had not rysen agayne to lyfe after his deathe I beleue and truste nowe assuredly that by the vertue and efficacie of this desendynge of Christe in to helle and of his resurrection agayne from death to lyfe not onely our corporall dethe and all the afflictions whiche we maye susteine in this worlde shal not annoy vs but shall rather tourne vnto our profyte and be as entrees and occasyons of our greatter glorie but also that we shall after our corporall deathe be preserued from the captiuitie of hell and shall be made parttakers of Christis resurrection that is to say that we shall aryse and lyue ageyne in the selfe same bodyes and sowles that we nowe haue and so shall vtterly ouercome deathe in lyke maner as our heed and our sauiour Ihesu Christ hath done before vs and shal fynally lyue with hym immortally in ioye and felycitie The sence and interpretation of the .vi. Article I Beleue assuredly and constantly do professe that this our sauiour Iesu Christ after he had perfitely accomplished perfourmed the hole misterie of the redemption of mankynde by his incarnation his byrthe his passion his deathe his buriall his dyscendynge into hell and rysynge agayne from deathe to lyfe and after he had ben here in erthe conuersaunt with his Apostles and dyscyples by the space of xl dayes after his sayde resurrection the same fortieth day whan he was amonge his sayde Apostelles he in theyr syght ascended vp agayne in to heuen in the very same his naturall bodye whiche was borne of the blessyd virgin his mother and was crucified vppon the crosse And so dyd withdrawe his corporall presence from the syghte of his apostels and from the syght of all other creatures here in erthe to the intente they shulde frome thensforthe eleuate and lyfte vp theyr hole hartes theyr myndes theyr desyres and all theyr affections from erthely thynges and frome all carnall and worldely cures towardes heuen and heuenly thynges and so shulde prepare theyr hartes and make theym selfes mete and apte to receyue the holy gooste and his spirituall gyftes whiche he wolde sende downe in to the worlde sone after his sayd ascention And I beleue in lyke maner that this our sauiour Iesu Christe after he was retourned into heuen beinge very god and very man in one person all myghty god his father did constitute and sette hym vpon his ryghte hande Ephe. i. and that euer sythe that tyme he hath so sytte and so shal sytte eternally that is to say almyghty god his father dyd cōmunicate and gyue vnto hym glorie honour felicitie power and euerlastynge monarchie gouernaunce rule and dominion ouer all the pryncipates potestates powers dominations and ouer all creatures that can be named either in this worlde or in the worlde to come And soo ordeyned that he shulde be kynge of all kynges and lorde of al lordes and that all thynges in heuen and erthe shulde be caste vnder his feete and made subiecte vnto hym And that he shulde be thonly heed of the catholyque churche and that the same churche shulde be the body vnder that heed And lykewise as the heed alwaye excelleth al thother membres so Christe shulde excelle incomparably in honour and dignitie all the membres of his sayd body the churche and that he shulde be thonly perfectyon and consummation of the same And I beleue also and professe that this our sauiour Iesu Christe beinge thus constituted and set vpon the right hande of his father was and is also constituted to be not onely the eternall kynge the heed the lorde and gouernoure of his body the catholyque churche but also to be the onely eternall priest and byshop of
exercyse me in pacience and other vertues and also to signifie vnto me the great cure and fatherly loue and goodnes whiche he beareth towardes me And therfore I woll haue none other god but onely this god whiche by his almyghtie power hath created and made heuen and erthe and all thynges conteyned in the same Neyther woll I glory or put my truste and confidence in myne owne power force strength ryches lernyng science wysedome or any thynge els what so euer I haue or shall haue and possesse in this worlde Neyther woll I glory or put my confydence in any other man or creature of this worlde be it in heuen hell or in erthe nor in any crafte of Magicke sorcerie charmes wytchecraftes or any other false artes subtiled and inuented by the diuell but I woll put my hole hope my hole truste and confydence in god onely and in hym onely woll I glorye and gyue all honour and glorie vnto hym and vnto hym only and vnto his gouernaunce woll I commytte and submytte my selfe my goodes and all that euer I haue withoute fearynge or regardynge the malyce the crafte or power of the deuyll or any of his membres whiche myght enduce me to the contrary Neither woll I desyre any sygne to tempte god but I woll trust fermely faythfully vnto hym And although he shall sende any aduersitie vnto me / or shall dyfferre and tarye his pleasure in grauntynge suche requeste and petytion / as I shall make vnto hym yet woll not I murmur or grudge therat nor go aboute to prescribe or appoynt vnto hym any ende any tyme / any measure or season but I woll commytte all to his wyll with a pure and a stedfast faythe and woll pacyently abyde the tyme whiche vnto hym shall be thoughte moste expedient for me This faythe I reteyne stedfastely engraued in my harte and I promyse by the grace helpe of god neuer to swarue or declyne from the same for any argumente persuasyon or auctoritie that maye be obiected nor for any worldly affection or respecte of pleasure payne persecution or torment what so euer shall fortune vnto me From this trust and confidence woll I neuer be brought althoughe all the men in the worlde shulde forsake me and persecute me Neyther woll I the lesse truste in god for that I am a man of great power force and auctorytie endewed withall suffycyencies in this worlde ne yet bicause I want the possessions of this worlde and am but wretched and poore / rude and vnlerned and dispysed of all men nor fynally bycause I am a wretched synner For syth this God is the almyghtye lorde and maker of all thynges and hath all thynges vnder his handes and gouernaunce what can I lacke that he can not gyue or do vnto me if it be his wyll so to do And syth he is my father I am assured that for the fatherlye loue and pytie whiche he hath and beareth vnto me he woll not onely care for me but he woll be also continually present with me by his grace and fauour and woll contynually gouerne and directe me ayde and assyste me and prouyde that that shall be beste for me and woll also forgyue me all the synnes that I euer commytted or haue done contrary to his commaundemente so ofte as I shall by trewe and vnfeyned penaunce retourne vnto hym with all my harte and shall applie my hole mynde purpose and endeuour to amende my noughtie lyfe and to obserue his commaundementes ¶ The sense and interpretation of the seconde Article I BELEVE constantly in my harte with my mouth I do professe knowlege that Iesu Christ is thonly begoten sonne of almyghty god the father that he was begoten of his godly nature and substance eternally before the worlde was made or formed and that he is veray god / equall with god the father and tholy goost in substance and all other thynges belongynge vnto the godheed And I beleue lykewyse that this Ihesu Chryst was eternally preordeyned and appoynted by the decree of the hole Trinitie to be our lorde that is to say to be thonely redemer and Sauyour of mankynde and to reduce and brynge the same from vnder the dominion of the dyuell and synne vnto his onely dominion kyngedome lordeshyppe and gouernaunce And I beleue lykewyse that this Iesu Christe is true in al his wordes and promyses or rather that he is verye trouthe it selfe And that all thynges whiche be spoken of hym or by him in holye scrypture be certaynly and infallibly true And I beleue also and professe that Iesu Christ is not only Iesus and lorde to all menne that beleue in hym but also that he is my Iesus my god and my lorde For where as of my nature I was borne in synne in the indignation and dyspleasure of god was the veray chylde of wrath condemned to euerlastynge death subiecte and thrall to the power of the dyuell and synne hauyng al the pryncypall partes or portions of my soule as my reson vnderstanding and my free wyll and all thother powers of my soule and body not onely so destituted depryued of the gyftes of god wherwith they were fyrste endewed but also so blynded corrupted and poisoned with errour ignoraūce and carnall concupiscence that neyther my sayd powers coude exercyse the natural function and offyce for the whiche they were ordeyned by god at the fyrste creation nor I by theym coulde doo or thynke anye thynge whiche myghte be acceptable to god but was vtterly deade to god and all godlye thynges and vtterlye vnable and insuffycyente of myne owne selfe to obserue the leaste parte of goddis commaundementes and vtterlye inclyned and redy to runne heedlynge into all kyndes of synne and myschyefe I beleue I saye that I beynge in this case Iesu Chryste by sufferynge of moste paynfull and shamefull deth vpon the Crosse and by shedynge of his most preciouse blode and by that gloryouse victorie whiche he had whan he descendynge into helle and there ouercommynge bothe the diuell and dethe rose agayne the thyrde daye from dethe to lyfe and so ascended into heuen hath nowe pacyfyed his fathers indignation towardes me and hath reconcyled me agayne into his fauour and that he hath loosed and delyuered me from the yoke and tyranny of deathe of the dyuell and of synne and hath made me so free from theym that they shall not fynally hurte or annoy me and that he hath powred out plentyfully his holy spyryte and his graces vppon me specyally faythe to illumyne and directe my reasone and iudgement and charytie to dyrecte my wyll and affections towardes god Wherby I am so perfectly restored to the lyght and knowledge of god to the spyrytuall feare and drede of god and vnto the loue of hym and myne neyghboure that with his grace I am nowe redye to obey and able to fulfyll and accomplysshe his wylle and commaundementes Besydes all this he hath brought and delyuered me from
or lesse accordynge to that naturall disposition portion and place whiche it hath within the same body Euen so I beleue that what soeuer spirytuall gyfte or treasure is gyuen by god vnto any one parte or membre of this mysticall body of Christe all though the same be gyuen particularly vnto this membre and not vnto an other yet the fruyte and meryte therof shall by reason of that incomprehensible vnion and bande of charite whiche is betwene them redounde necessaryly vnto the profyte edifieng and increase in Christis body of all the other membres particularly in so moche that there shall nede no mans auctorite to dyspence distribute the same or to apply it vnto this mēbre or that lyke as the bishop of Rome pretended to do by vertu of his pardons but yf the mēbre The bisshop of Romes pardons whiche shal receyue this tresure be a lyuinge membre in this mysticall body not putrified or cutte of from the same I beleue assuredly that he shall be made participant of the sayde treasure and shall haue and enioy the fruite and benefyte of the same and that in suche quantitie and measure as for the rate proportion and qualitie of the spirituall lyfe faythe and charite whiche he hath in the same body shall be expedient and necessarie for hym to haue And I beleue that I beinge vnited and corporated as a lyuynge membre into this catholyque churche as vndoubtedly I trust that I am not onely Christe hym selfe beinge heed of this body and the infinite treasure of all goodnes and all the holy sayntes and membres of the same body do and shall necessarily helpe me loue me pray for me care for me weye on my syde comforte me and assyste me in all my necessities here in this worlde but also that I shall be made partaker of the frute benifite and treasure of Christis moost blessed lyfe and his bytter passyon and of all the holy lyfe passions and pacience and of all the prayers and other good workes of faithe and charitie whiche haue ben or shall be done or susteyned by any and euery one of all those faithfull and rightuous people whiche euer haue ben or shal be membres of this catholique churche And I beleue that in this catholique churche I and all the lyuely and quycke membres of the same shall contynually and from tyme to tyme so longe as we shal lyue here on erth obteyne remission and forgyuenes of all our synnes aswell originall as actuall by the merites of Christis bloude and his passion and by the vertue and efficacie of Christis sacramentes instituted by hym for that purpose so oft as we shal worthily receyue the same And lyke as it is not in the power of any man to dispense minister or distribute any parte of that nutriment whiche he receyueth in at his mouthe vnto any membre whiche eyther is mortified and deed in his body or that is cut of from the same Euen so I beleue assuredly that neyther Christis bloude nor his sacramentes nor any of the graces of the holy goost nor any good worke in the worlde do or can any thynge profyte to remission and forgyuenes of synne or saluation vnto any person whiche is in veray dede out of the catholyque church as longe as he shall so stande and continue out of the same For I beleue assuredly that out of this catholyque churche there neither is nor can be any suche cōmunion of sainctes or remission of synnes as is before rehersed but that lyke as all the people and beastes whiche at the tyme of Noes floude were out of his arke of shyp Genes vii were all drowned and perished euen so all the people of the world be they Iewes Turques Saracenes or of any other nation what so euer it be whiche either for theyr infidelitie heresie or scisme or for theyr induratenes and obstinate perseuerynge in mortall synne be separated and diuided from the membres of the sayde catholyque churche and soo shall fynally be founde either to be out of the same churche or els to be as deed membres therin shall vtterlye perysshe and be dampned for euer The sense and interpretation of the .xi. and xii Artycle I Beleue stedfastly in my harte and with my mouthe I do professe that at the daye of the generall dome or iugement whan Christ shal come syt to iudge both quicke and deade almyghty god shall by the operacyon of his holy spyryte stire and rayse vp agayne the veray flesshe and bodyes of all men women and chylderne bothe good and badde christened and heathen that euer lyued here in this worlde from the begynnynge of the same and dyed before that daye And althoughe the sayde flesshe and bodyes were deed before and buryed yea and consumed by fyre or water or by any other meanes dystroyed yet I beleue that god shall of his infynyte power make them all at that daye hole and parfyte agayne and so euery man generally shall resume and take agayne the very selfe same body and flesshe whiche they had whyle they lyued here on erthe and so shall ryse from deathe and lyue agayne in the very selfe same body and sowle whiche they had before And I beleue that euery man beyng thus made perfite mā in body and sowle shall at that daye appere before the hyghe Iudge our sauiour Iesu Christe and there shall make a strayt accompte of his owne propre workes and dedes suche as he dyd good or yuell while he lyued here in the worlde And accordynge there vnto shall be iudged to receyue bothe in body and soule to gether eyther euerlastynge ioye and bliffe or elles euerlastynge peyne and woo And I Beleue that I my selfe shall the same daye ryse againe in this very fleshe and body whiche I nowe haue and in none other Euen lyke as our sauyour Ihesu Christe of whose misticall body I am a porcion or membre dyd aryse from deth to lyfe in the selfe same naturall body whiche he had whan he was borne of his mother and crucified vpon the crosse And after that I shall be so rysen ageyne from dethe to lyfe I beleue that I and all true penitent synners that euer dyed or shall dye in the fayth of Christ i. Cor. xv shall than be perfytely sanctified purified and delyuered from all contagion of synne and from all corruption and mortalitie of the fleshe and shal haue euerlastynge lyfe in glorie with god in his kyngedom not for by nor through the workes of rightuousnes whiche we shall haue done for all passions and marterdomes Titū iii. that maye be suffred in this worlde Rom. viii be nothynge comparable to the glory whiche we shall then receaue and shall be shewed vnto vs but by thonely grace goodnes and mercy of god and by and for the redempcion whiche is in Christe Iesu that is to saye for and by his most preciouse deathe and most peynfull passion Rom. vii For I beleue
reygneth in vs so longe as slouthe glottony lechery or any kynde of synne reigneth in vs soo longe we be vnder the dominion and kyngedome of the dyuell For the dyuell vndoubtedly is kynge ouer all the chyldren of pryde that is to say ouer all them that be synners rebelles and disobedient vnto god And for asmoche as it is not in our powers to delyuer our selfes from vnder this tyranny of the dyuell Osee xiii but onely by goddis helpe for our perdicion and vndoynge is of oure selfes but oure helpe and saluation is onely of god as fayth the prophete Osee therfore it is very necessary for all true christen people to make this peticion incessantlye vnto our heuenly father and to beseche hym accordyng to this doctryne of Christe that by his grace and helpe we maye escape the dominion and power of the dyuell and that we maye be made subiecte vnto his heuenly kyngdome ¶ The sense and interpretation of the thyrde petition FAther graunte vs we beseche the that lyke as thy holy Angels and saynctes in heuen in whome thou reygnest perfytely and holy do neuer cesse ne shall cesse to gloryfy the and prayse the and to fulfyll thy wyll pleasure in all thynges and that moost redyly and gladly without any maner of grutchynge or resystynge therunto knowynge certaynely and clerely that thy wyll is alwaye beste Euen soo we thy chyldren here on erth may dayly and contynually prayse the by our holy conuersation in good workes and good lyfe i. Petr. i. and that we maye frome tyme to tyme so mortifie our owne carnall affections and yuell desyres and soo renounce and deny our owne corrupte and synfull appetite and wyll that we maye be euer redy lyke louynge chyldren humblye lowely and obedyently to approue allowe and accomplysshe thy wyl in all thynges and to submytte oure selfe with all oure harte vnto the same And to knowlege that what soo euer is thy wyll the same is moost parfyte moost iuste moost holy and most expedyent for the welthe and helthe of our soules Gyue vs true and stable pacience when our wyll is letten and broken Graunte vs that whan any man speketh or dothe any thynge contrary to oure wyll that therfore we be not out of pacience neyther curse or murmure Graunte that we seke not vengeaunce agaynst our aduersaries or theym whiche let our wyll but that we may say well of them and do good to them Endue vs with thy grace that we maye gladly suffre all dyseases pouertie dyspysynges persecutions and aduersities knowing that it is thy wyl that we shulde crucifie and mortifie our wyls Make vs that we impute not to the dyuell or yuell men when any aduersitie chaunceth vnto vs but that we maye attribute all to thy godly wyll and gyue the thankes therfore whiche doste ordeyne all suche thynges for oure weale and benefyte Gyue vs grace that when soo euer it shall please the to calle vs out of this transytorie lyfe we maye be wyllynge to dye and that for thy wyll we may take our deathe gladly so that by feare or infirmitie we be not made dysobedient vnto the. Make that al our membres eyes tongue harte hande and feete be not suffered to folowe theyr desyres but that all maye be vsed to thy wyll and pleasure Gyue vs grace that we malycyousely reioyse not in theyr troubles whiche haue resysted our wyll or haue hurted vs nor that we be enuyously sory when they prospere haue welfare And fynally that we maye be contented and pleased with all thynge that is thy wyll ¶ For the better vnderstandynge of this thyrde petition we thynke it conuenient that all bysshoppes and preachers shall instructe and teache the people commytted vnto theyr spyrytuall charge howe that by the occasyon and euer sythe the dysobedyence and synne of oure fyrste father Adam the wyll of man hath ben so corrupted with originall synne that we be all vtterly enclyned to dysobeye the wyll and preceptes of god and so to loue our selfes our owne wylles that without a specyal grace and a synguler inspiration of god we can not hertely loue neyther god nor man but in respecte to our selfes as we may haue benefytte and commoditie by them ¶ Item that we haue this corruption in our nature and this inordynate loue of our selfes from Adam as it were by enherytaunce and that it goethe from one to an other from the fathers and mothers vnto the chyldren as soone as they be conceaued within theyr mothers wombes For as the chyldren take of theyr parentes theyr originall and naturall qualities and conditions euen so they receyue with the same this orygynall corruption of nature whiche commeth by original synne And thoughe the parentes be neuer so cleane purged and pardoned of theyr originall synne by baptysme and by the grace and mercy of god and be drawen vp from the loue of theyr selfes and of these worldely thynges vnto the pure loue of god yet neuertheles the chyldren of them be gotten be conceaued and borne in originall synne and corruption louyng thē selfes better than god or man lyke as corne though it be neuer so cleane wynnowed and purged frome chaffe yet if it be sowen the yonge sede is full of chaffe ageyne vntyl it be wynnowed and made clene Euen so be the chyldren borne full of chaffe and corruption of originall synne vntyll that by baptisme in the blode of our sauyour Iesu Christe they be wasshed and purged as theyr parentes were Item that so longe as we be in this mortall lyfe we shall neuer be soo cleane purged frome this concupiscence and this inordinate loue of our selfe and of this worlde and of worldly thynges and pleasures but some rote woll euer remayne of this corrupte wede Whiche yf the grace of god helpe vs not and we also applie not al our forces to mortifie and ouercome the same no doubte woll soo ouergrowe the hoole gardeyne of our harte that there shall be lefte no good herbe therin but it shal be so ouergrowen with the loue of our selfe and of this worlde that the loue of god and our neyghbour shall contynually decay from tyme to tyme and at length it shal grow not onely to a neglygence and a small regardynge but also vnto an vttter contempte bothe of god and of our neighbour and than we shall appertayne holly vnto the citie of the dyuell For as saynct Augustine sayth There be in this worlde two cities the one buylded by god in the whiche he reygneth as a moost gracious lorde and kynge The other is buylded by the dyuel wherin the dyuel reigneth as a moost mercylesse and cruell tyranne The citie of god consisteth is inhabited of them which loue god so moche that for to accomplyshe his wyll and cōmaundementes they be content to refuse theyr owne wylles and pleasures The citie of the dyuell hath inhabytantes all suche as loue them selfes so moche that for to haue theyr owne wylles and pleasures
dyuell hym selfe coulde euer fynde in hym suspycion of any the leaste crime or offence that myght be deuysed yet the blynde ignoraunt Iewes replete with enuy and malyce and the very membres of the dyuell by whom they were prouoked and enduced there vnto laboured contynually by all crafte and meanes they coulde to dystroye hym and at lengthe conspirynge to gether and subornatynge false wytnesse they toke hym and after they had bet hym and spyt in his face and vsed all the vilany they coulde vnto hym they bounde and brought hym before one Pontius Pilatus beynge then the chiefe iudge in Hierusalem vnder the Emperour of Rome and there they mooste falsely accused hym as a subuerter of the lawes of god and as a person that seduced the people and moued sedicion amonge them and as a traitour against themperour of Rome And I beleue that our sauiour Iesu Christe beynge thus moste falsely and wrongfully accused and broughte before the sayde iudge was at length in publyque and open iudgemente condempned by the sentence of the sayde iudge to be nayled vnto a crosse and to be hanged vpon the same to the intent he shulde so suffre that kynde of death whiche amonge the Iewes was euer mooste abhorred and detested and accompted to be the moost shamefull and cursed of all others And I beleue that after this sentence and iudgement thus pronounced and gyuen contrarye to all Iustyce and equitie the Iewes dyd take this innocent Iesu Christe our sauyour and fyrst of all byndyng hym fast to a pyller pressyng with great violence a crowne of thorne vpon his heed they dyd not onely mooste spitefully mocke hym and scorne hym but they also most cruelly scorged tourmented and afflicted hym finally they crucified hym that is to saye they nayled hym throughe handes and feete vnto a crosse and so hanged hym vp vpon the same on a certayne hyll called Caluarie And I beleue also and professe that he hanged there vpon the same crosse betwene two theues whiche were malefactours vntyll he was deade and his soule departed from his body And that after he was thus deade one Ioseph ab Aramathia beinge one of Christis disciples certayne other deuout men women whiche also beleued in Christ opteyned lycence of the sayde Iudge to take downe this blessed bodye of our sauyour Iesu Chryste frome the sayde Crosse And that whan they hadde so done they wrapped and folded the same body in a clene syndone and so layde it and buryed it in a newe graue or sepulchre whiche the sayde Ioseph had made of stone wherin there was neuer man buryed before And I beleue that our sauyour Iesu Christ in al the tyme of his moste bytter and greuouse passyon and in suffrynge this moste vyle and shamefull deathe not onely endured and susteyned all the peynes and iniuries and all the opprobries and ignominies whiche were done vnto hym therin mooste patiently without resystaunce and lyke an innocent lambe not openynge ones his mouthe to the contrarye but also that he dyd wyllyngly and gladly without force or constrainte of any power suffre this crosse and this kynde of deathe and his soule also to departe from his body And I beleue that by this passion and dethe of our sauiour Iesu Christe not onely my corporall deathe is so destroyed that it shal neuer haue power to hurte me but rather it is made holsome and profytable vnto me but also that all my synnes and the synnes also of all them that do beleue in hym and folowe hym be mortyfyed and deed that is to say all the guilte and offence therof and also the damnation and payne due for the same is clerely extyncted abolyshed and washed away so that the same shal not afterwarde be imputed or inflycted vnto me And therfore woll I haue this passyon and this death in my dayly remembraunce And I woll not onely glorye and reioyce contynually therin and gyue all the thankes I can vnto god for the same consyderynge I haue and shall assuredly attayne therby my redemption my iustyfycation my reconcilyation vnto goddis fauour and lyfe euerlastynge but I woll also endeuour my selfe to my possyble power and by the helpe of god to folowe this my sauyour Iesu Chryste in the bearynge of myne owne crosse accordynge to the wyll and commaundement of god that is to say I woll dayly labour and study to mortyfie and kyll my carnal affections and to subdue them vnto the spyryte and I woll paciently beare all the aduersyties afflictions and punyshementes that god shall sende vnto me in this worlde and I woll in my harte hate abhorre and detest all synne consyderynge that the same was euer so odiouse and dyspleasaunt vnto god that nothynge in the worlde coulde worthyly satysfie and contente hym for the same but onely the death and the bloud of his onely and most dere beloued sonne Iesu Chryste The sence and interpretation of the fyfth Artycle I Beleue assuredly with my harte and with my mouthe I do professe that this our sauyour Iesu christe after he was thus deed vpon the crosse he descended immedyatly in his soule downe into hell leauynge his mooste blessed body here in erthe and that at his comynge thyther by the incomparable myght and force of his godheed he entred into hell And lyke as that myghty man Luke xi of whome saynt Luke speaketh whiche entryng into the house of an other stronge man fyrste ouercame hym and bounde hym hande and foote and afterwarde spoylynge hym of all his armure and strength wherin he trusted toke also awaye from hym all the goodes substaunce he had Iud. xiiii and lyke as stronge Sampson slewe the mighty Lyon and toke out of his mouth the swete hony euen so our sauyour Iesu Chryst at his sayd entre into hell fyrst he conquered and oppressed bothe the dyuell and hell and also deathe it selfe wherunto al mankynde was condempned and so bounde theym faste that is to saye restrayned the power and tyrrannye whiche they had before and exercysed ouer all mankynde that they neuer hadde sythe that tyme nor neuer shall haue any power fynally to hurte or annoy any of them that do faythefully byleue in Iesu Christe and afterwarde he spoyled helle and delyuered and brought with hym from thens all the soules of those ryghtuouse and good menne whiche from the fal of Adam died in the fauour of god and in the faith and bylefe of this our sauiour Iesu Christe whiche was then to come And I beleue that by this descendynge of our sauiour Iesu Christe in to hel not only his electe people whiche were holden there as captyues were delyuered from thens but also that the sentence and iudgement of the malediction and of eternal damnation whiche god hym selfe mooste rightfully pronounced vpon Adam and all his posteritie and so consequently vpon me was clerely dissolued satisfied released and dyscharged and that the dyuel and hell bothe haue vtterly loste and be
his sayde churche that is to saye to be the onely patrone and aduocate and thonely mediatour betwene god and mankynde and the onely intercessor for the synnes of all them that ryghtfully beleue in hym And I beleue that accordynge therunto our sauiour Iesu Christ is of his owne goodnes not onely more redy alwayes than any other creature in the worlde is to helpe me by his mediacyon and intercession but also that whan so euer I do inuocate and calle vpon hym in ryght fayth and hope with full intent and purpose to amende and retourne from my noughty lyfe he presenteth and exhibiteth vnto the sight of his father his moste blessed body as it was wounded crucified and offred vp in sacrifyce for the redemption of mankynde and so from tyme to tyme maketh continuall request and intercession vnto god his father for the remission of all my synnes and for my reconciliation vnto his fauour and finally doth obteyne that god so reconciled woll vouchsafe to sende downe his holy spyrite to dwell within my harte there to rule to gouerne and to sanctifie me with all my thoughtes and dedes and to comforte and strengthe me with all spirituall gyftes necessary to the attaynynge of euerlastynge lyfe And therfore sithe my heed and my sauiour Iesu Christ ascended vp into heuen and sytteth there vpon the ryght hand of his father and maketh there continuall intercession for me I shall neuer from hens forthe by the grace of god seke nor set my felicitie in any worldly thynge but shall alwayes vse the creatures and ordynaunces of this worlde and all worldly thynges as a passynger or a pylgrime vseth the commodities of a straunge countrey wherin he intendeth not to tary but to passe forthe vntyll he shall come vnto his owne dwellynge place And I shall conuerte my hole cure desyre and study from these erthely pleasures to the attaynynge of that heuenly and euerlastynge life whiche is prepared and ordeyned for me And beinge assured of so good so louynge and therwith so myghty a gouernour mediatour and aduocate in heuen as Chryst is I woll by the helpe of his grace from hens forth continue styll perseuer vnder his kyngedome his tuicion and his gouernaunce and so being I woll accompt my selfe safe and sure in all maner aduersities and agaynst all maner aduersaries and enmyes And I woll neuer by the helpe and grace of god seke other gouernour or mediatour nor all the displeasures iniuries or aduersities in the worlde nor all the malyce crafte and subtilitie of the dyuell nor all the multitude or burden of my sinnes shall cause me to distruste or dispayre of helpe at his handes nor yet shall make me afrayde to prosecute this my said desyre and purpose or cause me to desyst from the same The sence and interpretation of the seuenth Artycle I Beleue assuredly and constanly do professe that our sauiour Iesu Christ beyng thus ascended in to heuen sette there on the right hand of almighty god his father shall at the laste ende of the worlde whiche we call Domesday retourne ones ageyne and come from heuen and appere vnto all the people of the worlde both quicke and deed in his perfyte manhode and in the selfe same body wherin he ascended to the inestimable comforte and reioyce of the good and to the extreme terrour confusyon of the wycked And although our sauiour Iesu Christ at his fyrst aduent or commyng into the world which was whan he came to be incarnate appered in the habyte and fourme of a very lowe seruaunt and of an abiecte person in all humblenes pouertie affliction and myserie and suffred him selfe to be iniustly iudged and condempned to dethe by others and although he hath euer syth that tyme and euer shal vntyl Domesday vse his mercy and longe pacience and suffrance towardes the wretched synners of the worlde inuitinge alwayes and callynge them from tyme to tyme to repentance yet I beleue assuredly that at his seconde aduent or commynge he shall appere in the high and almighty power glorie and maiestie of his kyngedome and beinge accompanyed with all the orders of aungelles waytinge vpon hym as his ministres Matth. xxv Apoc. i. he shall sytte openly in the clowdes of the ayre and shall iudge all the worlde quicke and deed and that straitely accordynge to trouthe and iustice and accordynge as he hathe promysed and thretned to do by his holy worde expressed in scripture that is to say accordynge to euery mannes owne workes and dedes done by hym while he lyued in the world without sparyng or fauourynge or shewynge of mercy vnto any whiche haue not deserued the same in theyr lyfe tyme. And I beleue assuredly that at this day whan Christ shal thus sytte in the seate or throne of his iudgement all the people of the worlde quicke dead that is to saye aswell al those whiche shall be founde on lyfe in the worlde at the daye of this seconde aduent or commynge of Christ as also al those whiche euer sythe the creation of Adam lyued here in this worlde and dyed before that daye shall come and appere before the presence of Christe in theyr very bodyes and sowles And whan they shal be so gathered and assembled togyther our sauiour Iesu Christe shall pronounce the extreme or fynall sentence and iudgement of euerlastynge saluation vpon all those persones Ro. ii whiche in theyr lyfe tyme obeyed and conformed them selfe vnto the wylle of god and exercysed the workes of ryght belefe and charytie and so perseuerynge in well doynge soughte in theyr hartes and dedes the honoure and glorye of god and lyfe immortall And contrarye vppon all those whiche in theyr lyfetyme were contentious and dyd repugne agaynst the wyll of god and folowed iniustice and iniquitie rather than trouthe and vertue our sauyour Christe shall than and there pronounce the sentence of euerlastynge punyshement and dampnation And I beleue that our sauyour Iesu Christe shall also than and there calle a parte and make a perfyte separation or diuysyon betwene these two sortes of people that is to saye betwene the shepe and the gootes the corne and the chaffe the good and the bad the blessed and the cursed the membres of his bodye and the membres of the dyuell And so settynge the good and the blessed vppon his ryght hande he shall cleerely and perfytely rydde delyuer and redeme them for euer from the power and malyce of the wycked and from all paynes and euyll and so take them all vp with hym into heuen there to be crowned and rewarded in body and sowle with honour glorie and euerlastynge ioye and peace whiche was prepared for them from the begynnynge of the worlde And contrary he shall sette all the other whiche shall be iuged to euerlastynge peyne and death vpon his lefte hande and so shall sende them downe into hell there to be punysshed in body and soule eternally with fyre that neuer shall haue ende whiche was
goodnes of almyghty god shewed vnto hym and all mankind in that partie and shuld also be afraide to vse the thynges created by god otherwyse than vnto his glory But it is to be feared least the mooste parte of them whiche pronounce and speke dayly this Article with theyr mouthe do not beleue the same with theyr hartes or yf they do beleue it that theyr belefe is but faynt and a colde belefe For we see no doubte the moste parte of christen people lyue in maruelous darkenes and blyndenes declarynge by theyr outwarde factes and dedes that they haue no respecte in the worlde to god nor that they knowlege hym to be theyr creatour or at the leaste they gyue vnto hym no suche feare and reuerence as is due vnto a lorde and maker nor no suche honoure and obedience as is dewe vnto a father Malac. i. nor no suche prayse and thankes as his sondrye benefytes and goodnes towardes vs do requyre All whiche thynges no doubte procede for that we haue not the ryght and harty feyth in god the father whiche is requyred in this fyrste artycle of our Crede The second thinge to be noted in this fyrst article is this maner of speakynge I beleue in God For therby no doubte is sygnifyed that we must not onely beleue stedfastly that god is and that he is true in all his wordes and promyses and that he is omnipotent and creatour of heuen and erthe and so forthe but we muste also with this beleue goo into god by loue and adhere onely vnto hym and that with all our harte and power and so continue and dwell styll in hym by loue It sygnyfyeth also that we muste obeye vnto his wyll and expresse the same our obedience as well in all our inwarde thoughtes and affectyons as also in all our outwarde actes and dedes and that we muste abhorre all tyranny and vyce and wysshe or desyre of god noo vayne or vngodlye thyng It sygnyfieth also that we must constantly and boldly betake and commytte our selfes and all ours holly vnto god and fyxe all our hole hope trust and confidence in hym and quyet our selfes in hym beleuynge perfytely and assuredly that he woll in dede shewe no lesse goodnesse loue mercy and fauour vnto vs than he promyseth by his worde to do and knowynge also for certayne that we and all the creatures in the worlde be conserued by his onely goodnes and hyghe prouydence and that without his specyall grace we shulde not be able to contynue on lyue the space of one mynute of an howre This maner of belefe we oughte to haue in no creature of god be it neuer so excellent but in god onely and therfore in this crede the sayde maner of speakynge is vsed onely in the thre Artycles whiche concerne the thre persons in Trinitie that is to say the father the sonne and the holy goost In the thyrde Article it is to be noted that the cause The notes of the thyrde Article why it was ordeyned by god that our sauiour Iesu Christ shulde be borne of a virgine and conceyued by thonly operation of the holy gooste whose worke is euer without all maner of synne was for that he was ordeyned and appoynted by god to come and delyuer mankynde from the captyuitie of the dyuell and the malediction whiche man was in and to redeme hym cleare from all synne deathe and damnation and to restore hym ageyne to the veray blessynge of god that is to say to Iustyce ryghtuousnes helth lyfe euerlastynge and all other the gyftes and graces of the holy gooste And for as moche as it was necessarye that he whiche shoulde worke this effecte shuld be hym selfe al blyssed al innocent all ryghtuouse all voyde and pure from synne and vtterly free and clere from the yocke and power of the dyuell therfore was it ordeyned by god that this chylde Iesu Christe shulde be so conceyued and borne as was sayde before For surely yf Christe shulde haue bene otherwyse borne or conceyued that is to saye of the seede of man and woman and by thacte of generation whiche is done betwene them he shulde haue ben borne in lyke synne in lyke fylthynes and iniquitie as all other the chyldren of men that euer was sith Adam or euer shal be be borne and conceyued But surely neyther was it cōuenient neither the wyll of god that Christ shulde by suche generation contracte any spotte of synne or shulde be subiecte to any parte of that malediction whiche was inflycted vnto Adam The notes of the .iiii. Article In the fourthe Article it is to be noted that the same dothe folowe vpon the seconde and the thyrde Articles For surely the cause why Christ was thus made man and borne of his mother was for that he shulde in the same nature of man not onely be conuersaunt in the worlde with other people and so partly by the example of his moste godlie and moste innocent and perfyte lyfe and partely by his meruaylous workes and miracles and partly by the heuenly doctrine of his gospell shulde induce the worlde vnto the ryght knowlege of the wyll of god his father and shulde declare vnto them his infinite mercy and goodnes towardes mankinde but also that he myght in the same nature whiche was mortall suffre deathe and so offre vppe the same his corporall deathe and his bloude in sacrifice vnto god his father as the sufficient hoste oblation or expiation and as the verye iuste price and valoure for the whiche god the father shulde holde hym selfe satisfied for all our synnes and offences and shulde remytte and forgeue vs the same and receyue vs agayne into his grace and fauour Whiche sacrifice and oblation Christe coulde not haue made by his deathe and by his bloude yf he shulde haue continued styll only god and shuld not haue taken also this our nature of man vpon hym In the fourthe Article it is also to be noted that it is the the wyll of god our father that we his sonnes and his children shulde in this worlde folowe our heed Christe in pacience and humilite and that we shulde beare our own crosse as Christe dyd his And that we shulde also hate and abhorre all synne knowynge for suretie that who so euer dothe not in his herte hate and abhorre synne but rather accompteth the breache and violation of goddis commaundement but as a lyght matter and of small weight and importaunce he estemeth not the price and valour of this passyon of Christe accordynge to the dignitie and worthynes therof but rather semeth to consent and as moche as in hym is to go aboute to cause Chryste to be crucified ageyne In the .v. article it is to be noted The notes of the fyfth Artycle Ro. x. that therin is included and conteyned the groundes and foundations of the greattest parte of all the misteries of our catholyque faythe In so moche that saynt Paule sayth that whosoeuer beleueth in his
darkenes and blyndenes to lyght from deathe to lyfe and from synne to Iustyce and he hath taken me into his protection and made me as his owne peculyar possessyon and he hath planted and grafted me into his owne bodye and made me a membre of the same and he hath communicated and made me partycypant of his iustyce his power his lyfe his felycytie and of all his goodes so that nowe I may boldly say and byleue as in dede I do perfytely byleue that by his passyon his dethe his blode and his conquerynge of dethe of synne and of the dyuel by his resurreccion and ascension he hath made a sufficient expiation or propiciation towardes god that is to say a suffycyente satisfaction and recompence as welle for my origynal synne as also for all the actuall synnes that euer I haue commytted and that I am so clerely rydde from all the guylte of my sayde offences from the euerlastynge payne due for the same that neyther synne nor deathe nor helle shall be able or haue any power to hurte me or to let me but that after this transytorye lyfe I shall ascende in to heuen there to raygne with my Sauyour Christ perpetually in glorye and felicytie All whiche thynges consydered I may worthyly call him my Ihesus that is to say my sauyour and my Christ that is to saye myne annoynted kynge and prieste and my lorde that is to saye my redemer and gouernour For he hathe doone and fulfylled the verye offyce bothe of a prieste and of a kynge and of a lorde Of a prieste in that he hath offered vp his blessed bodye and bloude in the Altare of the Crosse for the satysfaction of my synnes And of a kynge and lorde in that he hath lyke a moste myghty conquerour ouercome and vtterly oppressed his ennemyes whiche were also myne ennemyes and hath spoyled theym of the possessyon of mankynde whiche they wanne before by fraude and deceyte by lieng and blasphemy and hath brought vs nowe into his possession and dominion to reygne ouer vs in mercy and loue lyke a moste louynge lorde and gouernour Fynally I beleue assuredly also professe that this redemption and iustyfication of mankynde coulde not haue bene wrought / nor brought to passe by any other meanes in the worlde but by the meanes of this Iesu Christe goddis onely sonne and that neuer man coulde yet / nor neuer shal be hable to come vnto god the father or to beleue in hym or to attayn his fauour by his owne wytte or reason or by his owne scyence and lernynge or by any his owne workes or by what so euer maye be named in heuen or in erthe but by the faythe in the name and power of Iesu Chryste and by the gyftes and graces of his holy spyryte And therfore syth he is my Iesu Chryste and my lorde I woll put my hoole truste and confydence in hym and woll haue the selfe same faythe and affyaunce in hym in all poyntes which I haue in god the father And I woll knowledge hym for my onely lorde and woll obeye all his cōmaundemētes durynge my lyfe without any grutchynge And I am sure that whyle he is my lorde and gouernour I vnder his protection neyther synne neyther the dyuell nor yet deathe nor helle / can do me any hurte The sense and interpretation of the thyrde Artycle I Beleue in my harte assuredly and constantely do professe that whan the tyme was come in the which it was before ordeyned and appoynted by the decree of the hoole Trinitie that mankynde shulde be saued and redemed this Iesu Chryste the seconde person in Trinitie and veray god descended from heuen into erthe to take vppon hym the veray habyte forme and nature of man and in the same nature to worke to suffer and fulfyll all those thynges whiche were necessary for our redemption And I beleue also and professe that he so descendyng from heuen dyd lyght downe into the wombe of a most blessed virgin called Marie and that he dyd there take vppon hym our nature and was conceyued begotten and borne of her veray fleshe nature and substance and so dyd vnite and conioyne togyther the same nature of man with his Godheed in one persone with suche an indyssoluble and inseparable knotte and bonde that he beinge one persone Iesu Chryste was than and euer shall be in the same person veray persyte god and veray perfyte man And I beleue also and professe that this moste blessed virgine conceyued this her chylde Iesu Chryste without spotte or blotte of synne or carnall concupyscence and without any cōmixtion or coniunction had betwene her and any mortall man or any other creature in heuen or erthe And that the holy goost the thyrde person in trinitie descendynge also from heuen lighted downe in to this moste blessed virgin there of her fleshe substaūce wrought this ineffable incomprehensyble worke of the Incarnation of this chylde Iesu Chryste And I beleue also and professe that this worke and operation of the holy goost was all holy without any synne or impurite that it was done without any violation or detriment vnto the virginitie of that blessed virgin saynt Mary And I beleue also that this chylde Iesu Chryste was not onely thus conceyued without synne but also that he was borne in lyke maner of his sayde moste blessed mother and that she both in the conception and also in the byrth and natiuitie of this her chylde and euer after reteyned stil her virginitie pure and immaculate and as clere without blotte as she was at the tyme that she was fyrst borne And I beleue that this conception and Natiuitie of our sayde sauiour was ordeyned to be thus pure holy and vndefyled to thintent that al fylthines and malediction wherwith the conception and byrthe of me and of all other men that euer were sithe Adam or shal be and al the filthines and malyce of the synnes of the hole worlde as well origynal as actuall shulde therby be puryfyed purged and made cleane The sence and interpretation of the fourthe Artycle I Beleue assuredly in my harte and with my mouthe I do professe that this Christe very god and man after he was thus cōceyued and borne of his blessed mother waxed and lyued forthe here in the worlde vntyll he came vnto the age of .xxxii. yeres and aboue and that in all this tyme of his lyfe he suffered and endured for our sakes and for our welthe moche boiely afflyction moche laboure and trauaylle moche hungre thurste and pouertie moche iniurie and ignominie and many other the myseries and infirmities wherunto all mortall men be subiecte And I beleue that although this our sauyour Iesu Christ passed ouer all the hole course of his sayde lyfe euen from his Natyuitie vntyll his deathe in suche perfyte obedience vnto the lawes of god and man and in suche perfyte innocencie of lyuynge that neyther any man in the worlde nor the