Christ by his comming and suffering hath abolished all figures and shadows of sacrifices and ceremonies ouercomming in déede sinne death and damnation and ascending bodily vp into heauen hath sent downe the holie ghost to beare witnesse and work with the preachers of his gospell vpon earth whiche as faithfull messangers of the Lorde earnestly exhorte and humbly beseech men in Christ that they woulde bée reconciled vnto god Wherfore now after sufficient experience and tryall of all things and vtter abolishement of such as nowe might bée euil or vnprofitable God the father of mercie and pitie through the merits meanes of Christ his son by the power and presence of the holie Ghost euer woorking and witnessing with the Ministers of the Gospell doth so mooue and dispose purifie and sanctifie the harts and mindes of men as teacheth and causeth them by fayth to flee dangers of dānation deserued by their owne déedes vnto assurance of saluation in Christes merites They be taught to beleue in God by the sonne the spirite the woorde and messangers of God. I do not meane that they be taught only to say I beléeue as the Church doth or only to say the summe of a good beléefe in an vnknowen language but that as God by the minister of his worde and power of his spirit teacheth so their heartes and minds conceiue their mouthes confesse and the fruites of their charitable works bée agreable in such wise as euery one of them most truly and comfortable doth think and may say with the holie catholike Church I beleue in God the father almightie maker of heauen and earth I which was by nature a childe of wrath borne and liuing in sinne vnder Sathan in the kingdome of darkenesse nowe of grace through the holy ghost by the immortall séede of Gods worde being newe begotten and new borne vnto the kingdome of God Do beleeue as certainely as of moste sure ground and as throughly as of great triall and experience I do know and trust in god the father almightie that God which is all goodnesse in himselfe hath of his fatherly loue and almightie power made mée his good creature and deer child so that he will for euer be a gracious God and louing father vnto me which is the maker of heauen and earth which hath created and made doth rule and order al things in heauen and earth vnto his honour and glorie and vnto my comfort and cōmoditie For as hée being the Lord ouer all hath declared himself to bée a father vnto me by his promise so I am sure of the inheritance of all being his childe by faith And in Iesus Chryste hys onely sonne our Lorde I haue good knowledge by sure truste in Iesus the Sauioure of his people from their sinnes that I shall bée saued from my sinnes and from all euilles throughe Christ the annointed King priest and prophet that I shall bée a christian that I shal be annointed with grace of Christes spirit to be partaker of the kingly priesthode and godly wisedome of Christ that in such holinesse righteousnesse and godlinesse as is acceptable before him I may offer the sacrifice of my selfe in seruing him al the dayes of my life and haue the crowne of glory with him in his kingdome in the kingdom vnto the which he hath redéemed vs that is of nature and substance vnto God his only sonne making vs his brethren and Gods children by grace and adoption so that wée must take him to be our Lorde obeying the authoritie learning the doctrine and following the example of him as of our onely gouerner scholemaster and pastour VVhich vvas conceyued by the holie Ghost borne of the Virgin Mary Which in taking by the holy Ghost of a pure virgine our flesh vpon him hath purified vs from our sinnes to be sanctified in his righteousnesse VVhich suffered vnder Pontius Pilate Suffered vnder a Iudge the iudgement of death due for our sinnes to purchase for vs of god his father the reward of his righteousnesse to giue vs example and grace to followe his obedience He vvas crucified Bearing the curse of the lawe to get and giue vnto vs the blessing of grace hee Died and vvas buried So that nowe our bodies mindes with him should bée mortified and buried frō sin and not die and damned in sin for hee Descended into hell He suffered all extremitie not onely in bodie but also in soule that we should suffer no more than we might be able to bear and that no paynes or punishment for sinnes should be plagues of vengeance to destroy vs but rather corrections of fatherlie loue to amende vs. The thyrd day he rose againe from the dead The day and time appointed and afore prophecied with victorie ouer Hell Death and Damnation hée rising from the deade did make death a ready and spéedie passage for vs vnto life teaching and strengthning vs to ryse forth of sinne and walke in newnesse of life after him that Ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hande of God the father almighty And like as the sunne at midday so he in bodily presence lifte vp from the earth into heauen there in glory of Gods maiestie abiding doth from thence shine and shewe his vertue and goodnesse by the power of his spyrite most presently and comfortably vnto all creatures in euery place vpon the earth and as hée ascended bodily into Heauen to replenishe all things euen so in the same bodie From thence he shal come to iudge the quick and dead From heauen whither as he did ascende in the sight of his disciples so from thence in the sighte of all men shall hée come not only in spirite and power as he is at all times in all places but also in his bodie glorified with maiestie as he is nowe in heauen and shall not come from thence vntill the last day when as all men both dead afore and liuing then shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye from mortalitie vnto suche state as shall euer continue either in hel or in heauen according vnto the righteous iudgement of Christe in the which hee shall declare and take all vs that be vnfayned Christians to be the blessed children and heires of God with him in that kingdome which could neuer by any works or merites of any man haue bene deserued or purchased but onely in Christe vnto Christians of the only gracious goodnesse of god hath for euer bene prepared I beleue in the holie Ghost I haue knowledge with sure hope in the holy spirit of God equall with the father and the sonne proceeding from the father and the sonne to sanctifie beautifie Christes Church that I shall be sanctified from all sinnes and endued with all good giftes of grace as God seeth is moste necessarie expediente for mée to edifie and not to destroy Yea I beléeue that by him all Gods creatures be sanctified and made holie vnto all godly men and that without him there can be
of Chryst your earnest zeles be reproued for that ye do not well knowe your owne minde and spirite but lamentably looking vpon the scattered flocke crie and cal vnto the father of mercie and pitie that as the Lorde of the haruest he woulde send forth labourers faithful pastors godlie preachers to gather kéepe and féede the electe people lambes and children of God in the holie Churche kingdome and inheritaunce of Christ. A meditation vppon the Lordes prayer OVr Father which art in heauen We gloriously formed vnto the Image of thy diuine Maiestie created by thy gracious goodnes vnto highest honour howe be it by our owne sinfulnesse dysfigured with vilenesse deseruing damnacion and yet by Christes death redeemed and restored vnto grace to be citizens with saincts of the familie of God Nowe altogether in christen vnitie as members of one bodie we pray desire and trust to obtayne of thée our heauenly father according vnto thy gracious goodnesse mightie power and faythfull promise vnto vs that aske abundance of thy grace That thy name may be halovved That thy diuine power and glorious maiestie may bée certainely knowen and reuerently honoured That the heartes of vs men by thy worde and prayer may bee sanctified from al sinne and vanitie so that wée with all that wée haue seruing thee in holinesse and righteousnesse may so shine afore men vppon earthe that they thereby may be occasion to honour thee our father which arte in heauen Thy kingdome come Thy worde bée so fruitfully preached amongst vs thy people that we may be thorowly instructed and taughte to bridle our sensuall appetites by naturall reason and to submit our wits and reasons vnto a good godlie spirit and to trie our spirites by the true Scriptures So that within vs may raigne the kingdome of God which is neyther meate nor drink whiche is neither superstitious ceremonies voluptuous pleasures nor vayne glorie but righteousnesse peace and comforte in the holie ghoste by the which we nowe tasting of thy heauenly ioyes may be made from henceforth wearie of all worldly vanities continually looking and praying for the appearance and comming of thy eternall and euerlasting kingdome Thy vvill bee done in earth as it is in heauen In heauen the Angels of reuerent loue do thy will and commaundement with cōfortable courage and ioyfull pleasure In hell the wicked spirits through malice and enuie repining and grudging doe torment and vexe them selues whatsoeuer they bée doing And vppon earth men being subiecte vnto sinne do think it a labour and payne to be occupied in any thing that is good and godlie Wherefore we pray that the grace of thy heauenly spirit may so worke in our earthly bodies that wée beyng deliuered from sinne and vanitie may fréely delight and take pleasure to doo thy will and commandement beyng declared by thy worde to vs men vpon earth as thy glorious Angels do which be in heauen Giue vs this day our dayly bread We hauing great néede not able of our sclues to deserue any thing beséeche thée of thy fatherly goodnesse to giue fréely vnto all vs in generall So that none bée hurt nor hindered seuerally this day when as wee crie constreyned by present néede not craftily crauing for vaine care against to morrowe our dayly bread our dayly and necessary foode and reléefe both bodily and ghostly And especially so that the spirituall foode of Christes fleshe and his bloude by dayly preaching of the Gospell and administration of the Sacramentes may replenishe our hearts and mindes with continuall remembrance of Christes death and his passion dayly to bée vsed for necessary and spirituall consolation Forgiue vs our rrespasses as vve forgiue them that trespasse against vs. Giue vnto vs that féeling our owne sinfulnesse to néede and desire thy merciful forgiuenesse of our faultes and trespasses which we haue committed against thée so that we fréely forgiuing all other that haue offended vs in any thing whatsoeuer it be may bée sure that mercy springing in thée hath procéeded vnto vs and being graciously offered of thée hath bene thankfully receyued of vs and being charitably vsed of vs towardes other shall most certainly bée cōfrmed and enlarged of thée towards vs So that by frée mercie springing and proceeding from thée all faultes may bée fréely forgiuen euen as those which other haue committed agaynste vs so likewyse those which we haue done againste thée And lead vs not into temptation Suffer not the diuell by the abuse of thy benefites to leade vs captiues into deceytfull and damnable temptation drawing vs by daintie meats vnto gréedy gluttony ▪ by money and richesse vnto vnsatiable couetousnesse and by welth and prosperitie vnto pride and vaine glory and by all thy godly gracious giftes vnto euery diuelishe abhominable sinne But deliuer vs from euill Deliuer our goodes from abuse our bodies from corruption our soules from dānation deliuer vs by Christ Iesu from the bondage of sinne vnto the liberty of the Gospell so that from all daunger of diuelishe temptation trayning and entycing men towardes damnation we may be deliuered to serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse al the dais of our life with most certaine and sure hope of euerlasting saluation through Christ Iesu in whome our hope and thy promis is most certayne that is to say Amen Youre tyme is shorte your daungers bee greate you are vvell vvarned by Gods vvord vvritten Mark. xiij Take heede watche and praye Take heede that your hearts and myndes bee not made heauie harde and dull vvith meates and drinkes vaine pleasures or worldly cares VVatch with diligence to doo youre owne duties in destrous looking for Christes comming Pray that yee may escape all dangers and stande in grace and fauour afore the face of Christ at his comming APOCAL. 22. Behold I come soone Printed by Henrie Bynneman for George Byshop 1575.
by hearing and beleuing the glad tidings that the séed of the woman should break the head of the Serpent escape al danger of sinne and damnation thorow al temptations troubles and trauels in this world vnto ioy and glory euerlasting in the kingdome of God. Here is an example in Adam at the first shewing vnto all men that should come after for euer that nothing is so good as that it may continue commodious and comfortable vnto man without fayth in Christ by the light of the Gospel nor nothing so euyl but that it shall serue by the grace of God vnto the profit and plesure of them that beleue in Christ according to the gospel Yea the righteous lawe of God which is a heauie yoke charging man with more than he is able to beare declaring sinne and working wrath when it is separated from the gospel fayth in Christe bringeth cursing death and damnation vnto man but being well vsed to driue and force men vnto the comforte and perfectiō of the gospel by fayth in Christ it is both holy and righteous in it self and also good and profitable vnto man Let vs therfore so abuse nothing as it may drawe and stay vs from faith in Christ and the libertie of his Gospell but so rightely vse the law and al things as they may best further and bring vs vnto Christe and his Gospell CHAP. III. A briefe exposition of the lawe wherein any man may learne to see and know himselfe THE first setting foorth of the lawe of God vnto man so as in wryting it should procéede thorow out all the worlde was in wildernesse at the mounte Sinai when as the Israelits deliuered out of Egipt through thered sea were assembled and stode round about the lower parts of the mountaine and the Lorde vpon the mountaine in flaming fire smoke cloud storme and thunder presently spake and sayd I am the Lord thy God O mortall man consider with what reuerence loue and diligence thou hearest remembrest and regardest this lawe then pronounced of the eternall God with such terrible sightes and signes and nowe conueyed and commended vnto thy eares and eyes by so many sounding voices and visible letters as make euery worde and iote euerie where most euident and present too be séene and heard of thée for the Lord thy God hath spoken written these words that they shall for euer by letters and voices be brought vnto thine eares and eyes in such sort as thou mayest euer heare and sée and shouldest take and kéep the law of God as a light commending the righteousnesse of God and confounding the vnrighteousnesse of man and as a good tutour or scholemaister to bring man from all presumption of himself towards a sure faith and trust in christ Sée therfore how wonderfully and how plainly the eternal God from the mount Sinai by infinite wordes and wrytings speaketh vnto thée in al places at euery time O mortall man saying I am the Lorde thy God. This shoulde with more thankefull reuerence be hearde and remembred of thée than if all men would say and assure thée that they bee thy freindes their golde thy good their riches thy tresures and that al which is theirs should bée thine For God hath well assured thée of his goodnesse VVhich brought thee out of the lande of Egipt out of the house of bondage These words wel taken applied vnto vs hée of more waighty matter than is the story of the bare letter spoken and referred too the Israelites only For when as these two things the storie in the letter and the mysterie in the full matter be not separated in sunder but ioyned together Then Pharao king of Egipt is also by signification the Diuel prince of darknesse Their passage through the red Sea wherein their enemies were drouned is also our regeneration in baptime wherby our enimies be subdued both fleshly lusts dayly mortified and spirituall powers continually vanquished Manna angels food as raine from the cloudes scattred amongst them is also the true liuely food of the worde of God out of the hart 's of the Preachers plentifully poured amongst vs Riuers of water running out of the stonie rock to refresh them is also abundance of the spirite procéeding from the father and the sonne to replenishe vs and many such matters so couered and closed vnder figures and shadows vnto them as could scarce then be perceiued which be all nowe wythout any straunge colours of darke shadows plainly and plentifully ministred vnto vs Therefore hearing or reading these wordes I am the Lorde thy God whiche brought thee out of the lande of Egipt out of the house of bondage Knowe that the eternal God speaketh vnto thée O mortal man which was by thine own corrupt nature a childe of wrath couered and kept in darknesse to serue in sinne vnder Sathan and art now from thence by gods mercie and grace deliuered and brought into the housholde of God as a Citizen wyth sainctes to serue God in suche holinesse and righteousnesse as is acceptable before him all the dayes of our life For he is the Lord that hath all power and authoritie Hee is thy God that is al gratious goodnesse with excéeding loue and fauour vnto thée which sayeth Thou shalt haue none other Goddes before mee Thou deliuered out of darkenesse of sin and danger of damnation too walke by the light of the truthe in the way of righteousnesse vnto eternall saluation shalte haue shalt honoure or serue beléeue or confesse with prayer thankes or praise none other Goddes which bée all Idols false formes and fashions of creatures craftily counterfeited by diuelishe illusion in mans imagination so that thou shalt not take any such vanitie to be thy god but mee which am in deed of perfit and infinit being and power goodnesse and glorie euen I onely am the liuing God and all others be no Goddes but vaine idols wicked diuels Therfore I giue thée this commaundement as a doctrine and charge for thée to flée from all euils dangers and damnation comming by them that thou mayst haue all good things with life and saluation of me onely And bicause althings at altimes in euery place yea euen the very secrete thoughtes of the heart be euident afore my face Therfore euer be mindefull how by thought word or déede thou dost honour or dyshonor me being euer in my presence euen openly before my face Thou shalte not make vnto thy selfe any grauen Image nor the likenes of any thing that is in heauen aboue or in earth beneath nor in the water vnder the earth thou shalt not bow downe to them nor worship them For I the Lorde thy God am a gelous God and visit the sinne of the fathers vppon the children vntoo the third and fourth generation of them that hate mee and shew mercie vntoo thousandes in them that loue mee and kepe my commaundements THOV created and made by the infinit wisedome and goodnesse of God lyke vnto his image and
likenesse truely in deed shalt not make vnto thy selfe shalt not deuise or abuse by the inuention and fantasie of man falsely framing in imagination any grauen image nor the likenesse of any thing any resemblaunce of creatures counterfayted through caruings or coloures in any matter place or time Thou shalt not bowe downe to them nor worship them thou being the liuely image of god created by gods wisdome vnto gods glorie shalt not submit thy self to honor or reuerence counterfeted creatures carued or coloured by the craft of man to satisfie the foolish fantasie of man vnder pretence or purpose to honor God in preferring the deuise of man vnto the wisdome of God a counterfeted resembling of a corruptible creature vnto the liuely image of the eternall god For I the Lorde thy God the maker and louer of all things truely created and made specially of thée o man as most like vnto me best beloued of me am a gelous God am greeuously offended when my beautiful image and amiable creatures bée shamfully abused by thy fowle fashioned fantasies For albeit in thy own conceit thine own work séemeth faire vnto thée yet in deed truth afore my face far fowler is that fashion of an eie which is without all sight than that which is much bleared and likewise that forme or figure of face and body which hath no life no féeling nor no sense is far fowler and worsse thā that which is full of al sicknesse sores Thy idols which haue eyes and sée not eares and heare not be nothing like vnto my creatures which séem as they be and be as they séem in forme and substance true and perfit Therefore I visit the synne I reuēge and punish the sinne of the fathers vpon the children proceding from the elders in their successors vnto the thirde and fourth generation of them that hate mee when as the elders deuise and giue and their successors take and followe occasion and ensample of sinne against mée especially when as they so disdayne mine honor abuse mine image and corrupt my creature as proueth plainly that they hate mee deserue that I shuld so punish them and shewe mercie in thousands and bestowe my mercy in forgiuing the faults and bearing with the infirmities of very many in long succession of them that loue mee liking and allowing in their heartes all my workes better than any of their owne deuises and kepe my commandementes alwayes readie and willing to do or not to do any thing as they be taught bidden of me Wherfore O mortall man sayth the eternall God concerning imagerie in the which is more noysome poison of counterfet corruption than auaileable profit of true representation of my good creatures purely and plentifully made and placed euery where by mée vnto my honour and glorie and vnto thy comforte and commodity if thou do loue and not hate me if thou wouldest escape vengeaunce and purchase mercie of mée take heede and beware that thou do not follow any subtile reason craftie inuention or common custome contrarie vnto this my commaundement Thou shalt not take the name of the Lorde thy God in vaine For the Lorde will not holde him giltlesse that taketh his name in vaine O man lacking light and void of knowledge the Lord thy God that can be resembled by nothing nor named by anie word according vnto the worthinesse of his glorious maiestie and yet wil by many words and works notifie himselfe vnto thée as is for thy capacitie and commoditie hée commaundeth and teacheth thee with suche reuerent diligence to hearken vnto his woord and regarde his workes and such his ordinarie meanes as may make continue and increase in thée vnfayned feare and loue of him by true knowledge and remembrance of him Wherefore Thou shalt not take in vaine without increase of honour vnto him and comforte vnto thée his name in anie of his wordes or workes especially his holy Scriptures and godlie saccraments For the Lorde God which by his woordes and woorkes doth declare and witnesse sufficiently vnto a ll men anye truthe wil not holde him giltelesse will not iudge him out of fault or suffer him escape vnplagued that taketh his name in vaine that taketh and abuseth his holy worde good creature or blessed ordinaunce to couer or confirme any lies and vanities or else refuseth and neglecteth the same as not necessarie and sufficient to teache trie and wytnesse any godlie truthe and veritie so as is most vnto Gods honor and glorie and best for mans comforte ▪ and commoditie Therfore O man being of thy selfe a shameful lier and yet by Gods grace called and ordayned vnto the knowledge and witnesse of God and of his truth vnto his glorie and thy comforte with dreade loue and reuerence to bring and keepe the knowledge of God and his truthe amongst men thou shalt search in the holy scriptures desire of god in faithfull prayers and declare and witnesse in time expedient the truthe of God in the name of god For vpon all such as béeleue blinde prophecies or arrogant Astronomers that call vpon Diuels in coniuring or that abuse the name of GOD in swearing or that fearing to professe the truthe haue hope in dissembling and lying will God bée reuenged when as they by strong illusion wrought by the subtiltie of Sathan bée woonderously deceyued too bée worthily plagued and damned bicause they would not receiue the loue of the truth that they might bée saued Remember that thou kepe holy the Sabbothe daye sixe dayes shalt thou labour and do all that thou hast too do but the seauenth is the sabboth of the Lorde thy god In it thou shalt do no manner of worke thou and thy sonne and thy daughter and thy man-seruant and thy mayde seruant and thy cattell and the stranger that is within thy gates For in syxe-dayes the Lorde made heauen and earth the sea and all that in them is and rested the seauenth day wherfore the Lorde blessed the seauenth daye and hallowed it O man bannished out of pleasaunt Paradise for thy sinne vnto painfull penance vpon earth to eate there thy breade in the sweate of thy face all the dayes of thy life and yet by the grace of God hauing prouided and graunted vnto thée for release and reléefe a holy sabboth of solace in the Lord thy God now in all trauayle and laboures duely seruing thine owne necessitie thou mayst and shouldest feele cheereful comfort in mindfull remembrance of keping a holy Sabboth vnto Gods glorie And as the last day and ende of the weeke was the sabboth of the Iewes so after all trauayle and labours in this life to bée ended by death beginneth rest and quietnesse in the Lorde eternally to continue wythout any ende or feare of death and in euerie Christen congregation certaine times be appointed for all men to ceasse from bodily labours that they may with more quietnesse of mynde receiue more spiritual comfort yea and euerie man priuately hath
many iust occasions of some rest and quietnesse after his labours and businesse Seing therfore that al painfull labours pertaine vnto penance deserued by sinne of man and al comfortable restes be gratious giftes of Gods goodnesse vnto the reliefe and release of mans miseries Remember that thou keepe holie the sabboth day in thy painefull labours thou shalt continue chéere and refresh thy self with comfortable remembrance of ghostlie rest and quietnesse For syx dayes shalt thou labour and do all thou hast to do thou shalt with good corage in any labors to discharge thy duety continue at all times but the seauenth day is the sabboth of the Lorde thy God but then when as by any death any common ordinaunce or by some singular and peculiar occasion thou shalt of God bee dimissed from bodily businesse vnto spirituall rest and quietnesse which time as the last day of the weeke and the ende of al thy workes and businesse thou shalt euer kéep holie euer reserue referre wholly vntoo the Lorde thy god In it thou shalte doo no maner of worke theÌ„ shalt thou not be troubled with worldly affaires or bodilie businesse but receyuing comfort and consolation of the Lorde render thankes and praise with ioy and gladnesse of minde for in remembring to mortifie thy flesh with bodilie labors vpon the worke dayes thy mind shal not be weried but well dysposed vnto all charitable exercises and godly meditations vpon the holy day vpon the day time graunted and giuen of god vnto thée that then thou refreshing thy mind in quiet godlie meditation shouldeste not burthen thy bodie or cuÌ„ber thy conscience with worldly cares or businesse then shalt thou leaue of all such labours thou and thy sonne and thy daughter and thy man seruante and thy mayde seruant and thy cattel and the stranger that is within thy gates as all that béelongeth vnto thée were made partakers of punishmente when as thou was put to penance for sinne so shall they all haue their parte and portion of this reste and release graciously giueÌ„ to thy recreation renouation For in syx dayes the Lord made heauen and earth the sea and all that in them is for the Lord that made al things appointed al other times for necessary works and rested the seauenth day shewing by example that a pleasaunt rest shoulde remaine after the end of times consumed in labours VVherfore the Lorde blessed the seauenth day and hallowed it Wherfore O man the Lorde god hath blessed the time of his rest froÌ„ thy labors with most plesant blessings vnto al creatures hallowed it in most acceptable seruice vnto himself Wherfore thou remeÌ„ bring with diligeÌ„ce the dispatch of al worldly works in due time to kepe al thy rest euer wholy holie vnto the Lord shal most and best praise god please other comfort thine own coÌ„science according as thou hast here example coÌ„maundemeÌ„t of the Lorde god So this manner of kéeping of my sabboths is a sure tokeÌ„ signe that I the Lord God do sanctifie thée with all that thou hast to kepe a continuall sabboth or continuall quietnesse of conscience seruing mee the Lorde thy God in holynesse and righteousnesse all the dayâ—s of thy life As contrarywise the breaking or abusing of my sabboths is a certain signe that such as so do be subiect to Sathan the prince of this world euer labouryng with corruption of minde and conscience to serue them selues in vngodlinesse and wickednesse all the dayes of their liues So are not suche men sanctified by me but my sabboths and all that they haue of me be polluted and abused by them Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy dayes may bee long in the lande whiche the Lorde thy God giueth thee Bicause thou arte a childe of suche follie and fraylenesse that thou canst not sufficiently prouide for thy selfe nor charitably liue in order and kéep company with other but by the fatherly protection and prouision of suche as I the Lorde thy God of fatherly affection towardes thée haue placed in authority ouer thée Therfore thou shalt with all louing obeâ—ience and due payments honouring them obey and glorifie mée that thy dayes may bee long that thou maist continue wyth comforte vnder the protection of them whose heartes alwayes be in the hande of the Lorde to maintaine and direct that power and authoritie which they haue of the Lorde euer to correct punish or destroy euill doers and to cherish rewarde and defende them that do well in the lande which the Lorde thy god giueth thee in place or in places which the Lorde God of louing fauour towardes thée wil euer prouide so as he foreséeth and knoweth bée most méete and expedient for thée Thou shalt do no murther Thou thy selfe being a man shalt in no wise by thought word or déed commit anie suche euill as in any wise hurtefull vntoo the life of man for the hurt of mans life is the sheading of mans bloud and the sheading of mans bloud vpon earth cryeth vnto God for vengeaunce to fal from heauen God which searcheth the heart séeth al that lieth lurking in the minde so that if there bée in thy hart any hate of thy brother thou art afore God a murtherer yea he is the cause of the death of man afore God that lacketh loue to saue the life of man vppon earth Therfore that thou mayest kéepe thy handes cleane from sheading of innocente bloude and not be the cause and prouoker of vengeance to fal from heaueÌ„ vpon earth thou shalt do or wishe nothing that is euill vnto any man but all that is good to the vttermost of thy power vnto euery man according vnto the meaning of this commandement giuen of god vnto man for the preseruation of man. Thou shalt not commit adulterie Thou whome God hath created like vnto his pure image and vnto whom he hath made a fellowe helper in like fourme to be coupled together in honourable matrimonie for the godlie continuance of thy kinde in succession shalt eyther keep thy self chast in pure virginitie or else in sanctified matrimonie liue wyth thy yoke fellowe only so that no filthie luste in thy hearte loke of thine eye or gesture in any parte of thy bodie defile thy flesh with adultrie with any manâ—r of corruption contrary vnto the purenesse of godlie matrimonie For al filthie lust coÌ„ming of that séed which god hath created in nature and sanctified in wedlock vnto the increase of mankinde when as it is not dysposed and vsed in the holinesse of matrimonie vnto the blessing of succession and the auoiding of fornication then doth it vnnaturally and vngodly defile delude and driue bodie and minde of man to abuse refuse and breake godlie wedlocke vnto the corruption curse and perdition of man his séede and succession Therfore thou shalt auoide all such vnnaturalnesse such vngodlinesse such corruption cursse and perdition and kepe thy self pure in spirit in soule and bodie if thou kepe
as be delited and drouned in Iewishe ceremonies and superstition and a foolishnesse vnto such as glory in Gréekish learning and wisedome but for all faithfull Christians whiche beléeue the Gospell of the same crosse death and passion it is the power of God vnto their euerlasting rest and saluation Grosse idolaters do boldly and blindly imagine a presence of God in imagerie or vnder the forme of some maner of bodie to be kept and honored of them according vnto their fantasie but the cléere light of the Gospell doth euidentely vnto the faithfull shewe EMANVEL him which is God with vs so that they most comfortably sée by fayth Christ God and man so in his naturall bodie glorified in heauen that in power of his spirit with the ministers of hys worde and members of his mystical bodie vpon earth he is alwayes present amongst men bestowing suche giftes of his grace vpon them and receiuing suche honoure thankes seruice of them as may be most for his honor and glory and their comforte and commoditie Uoluptuous ▪ Epicures be alwayes wery of the time present and voide of all good hope of that which is to come but faithfull Christians chéerefully bestowe their time in honest godly study labors and exercise with most comfortable hope and desire of Christ to come in Maiestie to receiue them into his eternall ioy and glory Coniurers and Charmers doe imagine suche a vertue too be in their wordes and waters circles and crosses brethinges and blessinges as shoulde poure aboundance of holynesse into any thing as pleaseth them yea as coulde force the deuil from hell and God from heauen to appeare vnder some likenesse presently vnto them Faithefull Christians by Gods worde doe learne and knowe how that the holy Ghost by faithe in Christ doth purge mennes hartes from al vngodlynesse and replenishe them with such gratious goodnesse as sanctifieth them and all things as causeth them with all manner of Gods good creatures euer too serue God in holinesse and rightuousnesse without any presumption or desire to coniure either God or the deuill Superstitious hypocrites can sée no face of that Churche whiche they wil cleue vnto but in solemne shewe of Ceremonies and pompe of Prelates faithfull Christians do euidently sée in the holy Scriptures suche a foundation of the Prophets and Apostles ioyned vnto Christe the heade corner stone as is moste necessary commodious and sufficient for them in faith doctrine and conuersation to be framed ioyned and made members and partes agréeable vnto that head foundation They sée by faith that face of Christes church which god by his word hath shewed to the faithful Desperate persons can neuer trust nor desire of God forgeuenesse of sinnes resurrection of their bodies nor life euerlasting But faithfull Christians by glad tydinges of the Gospell be taught and encouraged to desire and beléeue that their sinnes shall be vtterly abolished their bodyes from corruption and deathe chaunged and raysed that they themselues vnto the image of God in Christ reformed may in life euerlasting with Christ be glorified For in the light of the gospel of Christ is the vncouered face of Christ the euidente example and doctrine of Christ so shewed to be séene as doth transforme the faithfull beleuers into the same image of godlinesse which is in Christes doctrine and conuersation as doth moue and make men to put of olde Adam that they may become newe creatures in christ So they be taughte of the father to know the sonne they be drawen of the father to come vnto the sonne they be transformed from the custome and trade of this world to be framed and fashioned like vnto the sonne of God as vnto the heade corner stone of a spirituall house of a holie temple to offer spirituall sacryfices acceptable vnto God to offer as Paule teacheth the Romaines their owne bodies a sacrifice holie liuely and acceptable vnto God and as Paul calleth the charitable bestowing of the Philippians goods odours of swéete sauour acceptable sacrifices plesaunt vnto god So that fayth which commeth by the Gospell maketh mens bodies and mindes landes and goods and al that they haue to be sanctified sacrificed and offered vnto god For the Gospell teacheth howe that God ordeyneth and gyueth all things vnto mannes comfort and commoditie and howe that men should do all thinges vnto Gods honour and glorie So by the Gospel al holinesse and godlinesse ▪ all gracious goodnesse all true treasures and riches be giuen abundantly vnto man and all honour and seruice all thanks and prayse be rendred duely vnto god But vnto all manner of men lacking the lyghte of the Gospell all manner of things be vnprofitable yea al their owne dooings be abhominable afore God ▪ and damnable vnto thēselues For nothing can be good or profitable vnto man which doth offend and displease god Nothing can please God without faith in Christe and it is vnpossible to haue fayth in Christe and not to haue the Gospell of Christe Therfore it was verie necessarie and expedient that afore the cleare lyghte of the Gospell did fully shine vnto the world that the experience of other thinges shoulde be well tried and knowne in the world For suche is the good ordinance of God to vse all maner of meanes to bring mē frō vaine hope in any other thing vnto a sure faith in christ only which cōmes by hering of gods word according to Christes gospel For of all the good creatures of God and of the habilitie of fréewill man had sufficient experience in paradise afore there was any infirmitie and corruption of nature by reason of sinne And afterwardes the promisses made vnto the fathers the lawe giuen by Moyses with all Sacrifices and ceremonies in the Tabernacle and in the Temple dyd serue for a season to make men myndefull and desirous of the commyng and kingdome of Chryste whyche should performe the promisse and satisfye the Lawe beautifying his Churche with suche cleare lyght of the Gospel as shoulde vtterly abolishe all shadowes and figures of Sacrifices and Ceremonies with the Tabernacle and the Temple And Christ himselfe did in bodie depart from the earth to be glorified in Heauen so as by sending from thence the holie Ghoste was most expedient for men to haue Christe in spirite alwayes present with them vppon earthe So therfore after all other good thinges as the last and the best God hath thus in the ende of the worlde set vp the kingdom of Christ with the clere lighte of the Gospell and comfortable presence of his spirite Seeing therefore that man in Paradyse amongest all Goddes creatures hauing a pure nature did not then by the habilitie of his Fréewill nor by the goodnesse of other creatures continue and stande in vprightnesse he should not imagine that now in the vanities of this worlde and infirmities of his fleshe being drowned in sinne he can finde any thing able to rayse him vp vnto rightuousnesse Also it is a cruel thing by the heauie
yoke of the law to force men thoroughe feare to fall into Desperation which should by the libertie of the Gospell be allured of loue to walke in the way of saluation And it is a perillous presumption of man with gréeuous offence against God and a great blemishing of the gospell to renue the same or deuise any other such like sacrifices or Ceremonies as God hathe now once abolished by the light of the gospel And finally there can be nothing more contrary vnto the truth of god the comfort of man than to imagin any bodily presence of Christ vpon earth with men vnto whome he sayde it was expedient that he shuld depart from them for else the holy Ghost the comforter should not come vnto them But if I depart sayth Christ I will send him and he when he commeth shal reproue the worlde of sinne of righteousnesse and of iudgement but he shall comforte you and hée shall remayne with you For beholde through his power and presence you preaching the Gospell haue me alwayes wyth you in all tymes and places euen vnto the ende of the worlde Thus therefore it is euident howe that al other things did serue in other times and places so that now remaineth vnto vs only the Gospell of Christe with suche spiriall presence of Christe as is the power of God vnto the saluatiō of all that do beléeue For all that do beleeue the Gospel be made children of God to enherite his heauenlye kingdome membres of Christes mysticall body to be liuely stones of an holy churche and temple garnished not with golde siluer copper or colour in caruings or paintinges to please the eyes of men but with holynesse and righteousenesse acceptable afore god The goodly costly ornamentes deckings of the tabernacle of Moses of the temple of Salomon curiously wrought by the hands of cunning workmen serued but for a season coulde no longer continue either to please God or profit man But faith which worketh by charitie is in hearing of the gospel wrought in the harts minds of men by the inspiration of the holy gost with beautiful frutes of charitable works shall alwayes shyne and set forth the glory of God in the church of Christe for Christes churche is the elect kinred the Kingly Priesthood the holie assemblie and the peculiar people which God hath called oute of darknesse vnto his maruellous light for to shewe and set forth his vertues They be surely built vpon the foundation of the Prophetes and the Apostles fast framed vnto the heade corner Christe in faithe euer working and fashioning them by charitie so conformably vnto the example and doctrine of Christe set forth by the Prophets Apostles and Euangelists that al diuelish deceytfulnesse in the world can neither blynde nor bring them to mistake and forsake their Lord and sauiour Christ ▪ and his holy Catholike Church for they in Faith doe euer sée the face of Christe and the forme and fashion of Christes churche in holy Scriptures euen so as God by his worde dothe sufficiently shewe to be séene knowne and reuerenced of all men at all tymes and in all places But suche men as care not for the scriptures can not cléerely sée or knowe any thing that is good and godly but boldly and blyndely in all thinges misiudge mystake and mislike Christ and his holye Churche according vnto the common custome and mannes fonde imagination For when as they will not learne to vnderstand know the truthe by the worde of God then they do deserue to be deceiued with lyes by the crafte of the Diuell in learning suche sayings as lacketh all knowledge and vnderstanding What knowledge or vnderstanding gette they which learne to saye that they doe beléeue as the Churche teacheth and bée taught to say and confesse their beléefe in a straunge Language When as they say I doe beléeue as the Churche teacheth and the Churche teacheth them that vnderstand no Latine to say Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem c. Surely in suche sayings they learne to vnderstand and perceiue nothing but take what soeuer commeth by the craft of the deuill into their imagination so highly that they wil neuer hūble themselues to be taught of gods spirite by gods word truly For there is no lesson that lyketh and pleseth them so wel as the lesson of that Doctor which sayth Say that thou beléeuest as the Church doth and my soule for thyne O what auayleth it a man to say wordes the whiche he doth nothyng perceyue in mynde nor declare in déeds or who is able in heauen or earth to paye the price or guage the pledge of mannes soule but onely Christ the sonne of God Take héede for the falling of their Doctor or teacher into the Dungeon of damnation is no excuse for them that wylfullye folowe a blinde guide They are wilfull and blynd which refuse the gospell of God and folow the Doctrine of men They deserue to bee damned for folowing a blinde guide which will not be taughte the Christian Beléefe but in suche a tongue as they can vnderstand neuer a worde which wil not be persuaded to beleue the holy catholike church but in such sort as they shal neither beléeue nor know the Gospell of christ For they which learn by the Gospel to know Christ and beléeue in him haue a lyuely Faythe working by charitie not of selfe loue séeking by their owne merites to saue themselues or to haue vainglorie but knowing and beléeuing that they be saued wholly by Christes merites onely of a pure loue towardes God and their neighbour without any truste or looking vnto the worthynesse of their owne déeds they be earnestly bent vnto good woorkes to the glorie of God and the profite of all men Thou that lackest the light of the gospel maist say that thou beléeuest as the church doth and yet thinke in thy heart that thou by thy good déedes maist be saued yea that thou wouldest not do good deedes but that thou beleeuest by them to win heauen And so trusting to winne Heauen by thy good workes which the truth of the gospel teacheth can not be purchased but by Christes bloud and doing all thy workes for loue of thy selfe without pure loue of God and thy neighboure albeit thou say vnto men that thou beléeuest as the Church doth yet afore God thy heart and mynde is voyd of Christen faith and godly charitie and far from any true loue of Christ and his Gospell CHAP. VI. Certayne differences of chaste loue and of corrupte loue of Christianitie and of Idolatrie of Christes Churche and of Antichristes kingdome of the Masse and of the Communion THere is a greate difference betwixte the pure loue of honeste matrimonie and the filthy loue of vile harlotrie If the harlot knowe she shall not be forsaken then will she set light to offend hir paramour in daliance with other the more assured that an honest matrone is of hir husbandes loue the more diligent will
imagiue a bodily presence of God too be wyth them at the foote of the mountayne coulde not be contented and comforted with a true spirituall presence of God but were deceiued and plagued for the vaine imagination of a bodily presence Those can haue no cōfortable feeding of the words which be spirite and lyfe at the Lordes supper whiche will haue a wonderfull gasing stocke at a gorgeous Masse Which will desire and imagine Christ to be bodily vpon earth bicause they do not see and knowe by fayth Christes body so glorified in Heauen as causeth his spiritual presence euer to continue most comfortable vnto all the faithfull in any place vpon earth The playne preaching of Gods woorde surely sealed with the Sacramente of the Lordes Supper sheweth and offereth in spirite and truthe to be seene and receyued by faith the body and bloud of Christe glorified in heauen in the forme of man. The strange language secrete whisperings and solemne shew of ceremonies in the masse serue and please the blinde imagination of man in forged vanitie presuming to place the body bloud of Christ vpon the altar there to be honored and sacrificed vnder the forme of breade wine CHAP. VII The euill and daungerous abuses of the good creatures and workes of God. GOd is al truthe and all goodnesse therefore euery thing of gods creation ordinance or institution is true good All men be liers and all the imagination of mannes hearte is nothing but euill therfore man presuming to counterfait the creature and to contrary or amende the ordinaunce and institution of God can deuise and imagine nothing but that which is fained and fantasticall euill and abhominable Some say that they doe not otherwise imagine honor God there but as they be taught and commaunded by their priestes and suche as haue highest authoritie ouer them So mighte the Idolaters in wildernesse with Aaron in Dan and Bethel vnder Ieroboam haue answered For Aaron and Ieroboam did teache and commaund the people to do reuerence ther not as vnto Images or Idols but vnto the God that broughte them out of the land of Egipt Howbeit for all that euer the priest could teach or the king commaund those Images were Idols and all they abhominable Idolatrers which did beléeue that Doctrine of the priest or obey that cōmaundement of the king Wherfore it is not the teaching of prelates nor the commaundement of princes which cā cause Christ to be bodily present after suche sort in any thing as may there be honored as God or that shall excuse any person beléeuing or honouring that which is taughte and commaunded according vnto mannes imagination against the worde of God. They say that Christ said This is my body and Christes saying is Gods worde and not mannes imagination I graūt that Christes saying is gods worde and that he so saide of the bread which he toke and after thankes geuing brake and gaue vnto his Disciples to be eaten in remembrance of him But how agreeth that saying vnto such bread as the prieste taketh and after brethings and blessings lifteth vp and sheweth vnto the people to be honoured and reuerenced in the steade of him The word of God wrongly wrested and not rightly applied is at some times abused to teache Deuilish lies in steade of godly truth The woord written by the spirit of God to raise a man from vnder danger of despaire vnto hope of Goddes helpe vpwardes was wrongly wrested by the Deuill to moue Christ standing vpon the pinacle wilfully to fall downewardes So like wise the woords spoken of Christ vnto his disciples to raise vp their mindes in comfortable remembrance of him glorified in heauen be euil abused of priestes to bring downe his bodily presence amongste them to be sacrificed vpon earth Surely this same saying He shall geue his Angels charge ouer thee c. Which is the woorde of God spoken and applied to raise vp a man frō daungerous sorowes in miseries vnto a comfortable trust in Gods grace and mercies may be abused by the deuil to make a man of presumption in refusing the euident ordinance of God to fall into the danger of tempting god And so such woordes as be good and godly spoken with suche circumstances of Christes supper as teacheth men to keepe a comfortable remembrance of Christes death according vntoo Christes institution may be Diuelishly whispered in suche sorte by the priest at the aulter as shuld séeme to make a bodily presence of Christ to be sacrificed and honored according vnto mannes imagination There is nothing more perillous than to take the woorde or any good gifte of God and to abuse it contrary vnto the will and commaundement of god The vnprofitable seruant which said vp to kéepe safely the talent or treasure of his Lord which was deliuered vnto him to haue bene béestowed in vsurie was by the woorde of his owne mouthe condemned when as he did confesse that he did otherwise keepe the Lords treasure than as the Lord had commaunded And if any man thinke that he may say vnto Christe Lord I knowe that thou did say of the bread and the wine this is my body this is my bloud take eat and drinke in remembrance of mée and therefore haue I euer with suche reuerence honoured them as was due vnto thée surely vnto such a man Christe in conscience wil at some times answer O wicked seruant by these woordes of thine owne mouthe do I condemne thée For thou doest confesse that I bad thée take eate drinke this in remembrance of me why diddest thou then contrary vnto my commaundement imagine this to be kept honored and sacrificed as the bodily presence of me The woordes of Christ be moste true but when as they be pronounced with such circumstances as be moste contrary vnto the custome of the christians then they haue a meaning most contrary vnto the doctrine and commaundement of Christe The giftes of God in all things and especially his sacraments be good and godly but the abuse of them contrary vnto Gods commaundement is diuelish and abhominable The preacher and the coniurer vse bothe the name and the word of God and good praiers howbeit not in like manner nor for one purpose for in beléef behauior and purpose they be cleane cōtrary the one vnto the other There was neuer séene in the world two things so muche contrary the one vnto the other as is the masse the Lordes supper Therefore whatsoeuer is well vsed in the one is euill abused in the other And truely that fault of abuse is no smal offence albeit that which is abused séemeth sometime to be but a little thing For it is a great sin to delight or be occupied in little trifles neglecting or refusing Gods great giftes and benefits in waightie matters So do Priests in their masse abuse gaie garments neglecting the seemely simplicitie of the Lordes supper and therein commit no small sinne preferring their owne imagination vnto Christes institution
clensing liuing mennes hearts by faith hearing and beleeuing the gospell why do they suffer any priestes in saying masses so dangerously and damnably to abuse the word of god and the churche and spouse of Christe contrary vnto the gospell of Christe yée that know that gods word is abused if it be not so plainly red preached or pronounced as may make men to vnderstand knowe and beleeue gods truth and that the séely soules and simple persones hated and contemned héer liuing in this world be the church and spouse which Christ hath purchased purified sanctified vnto him selfe by his owne bloud I beséeche you beware of those procters of purgatorie whiche by their masse bring themselues and all theirs into suche a madde mase as too imagine that their woords which cannot be heard and vnderstand to comforte the consciences of the liuing may in any wise serue to saue or deliuer the soules of the deade or that those landes and goods which be bestowed to replenish their temples with their owne idle bellies and with carued and painted images be any other things than the open and abhominable spoile robbery of the liuely stones members and ministers of the holie Churche and mysticall bodie of Iesus Christ. This sinfull abuse is like to cause England to be sore plaged especially bicause of suche men as did pretende a loue vnto Christes gospell to gette abbay Landes and churche goodes into their handes and nowe consent to expell and persecute the gospell to kepe the same in their hands and in the meane time neither be ashamed nor afraid of their manifest and manifold periurie in suche solemne othes for the purchase and possession of their lands goodes for the inheritance of the Crowne for the iuste authoritie of the king for the vsurped primacie of the pope for the profession both of godly religion and of vngodly Idolatrie and Superstition as by the woords of their owne mouthes taking God to witnesse they haue shewed them selues afore all the worlde periurers theeues and traitoures vnto their countrey vnto their king vnto GOD and vnto man vndoutedly these euill abuses bée sure tokens of sore vengeaunce Likewise all abused oblations and sacrifices do rather prouoke than appease the anger and wrathe of God towardes man as was wel séene in the sacrifice of Caine lacking faith and in the multitude of sacrifices offered of the Israelites with bloudie haÌ„ds of vncharitable gotten goods Wherfore the lord crieth saying that he is ouerburdened sore greeued and wearied with many sacrifices He sayth the hands of the offerers be bloudy he hateth al burnt offerings of spoile and robberie euery thing is spoile and robberie afore God that is gotten or kept vncharitably amongst men O howe vncharitably did the Pharisies catch and kéepe vnto themselues by their traditions the riches and releefe which yong men did owe vnsoo their olde impotent parentes by Gods commaundement They did pretend such a seruice towards god the father the church their moother as though al oblations coÌ„ming vnto their hands for the mayntenance thereof should best haue pleased god and most profited the people and their parents when as in déed by teaching such their traditions so contrary vnto Gods coÌ„maundements they did rob God of his honor the churche of holinesse the people of their riches and poore parentes of due and necessarie releefe and reuerence And much like or farre worsse is the manner of them which to maintaine masse as dayly sacrifice for the séely soules in Purgatorie according vnto mans imagination contrarie vnto Gods word do robbe the liuely members of Christ vpon earth â—f the comfortable light of the Gospell and of charitable reléefe of men pretending nothing to be so much vnto gods glory and all mennes profite as the masse which in deede maketh gods house of prayer a deÌ„ of theeues too rob God of his honor and gods people of much riches and of all godlinesse For pretending to honor God vpon the altare and to releeue soules in purgatorie by the sacrifice of the masse they dishonor God in heauen and dangerously blinde the mind and cumber the consciences of meÌ„ vpon earth with such doctrine and déeds according vnto the fantasie of man contrarie vnto the coÌ„mandement of God as bée indéede afore God a stinking sacrifice of vile abhomination bycause they be vncharitable and vnfaithfull Nothing can be acceptable vnto god without fayth that worketh by charitie Fayth commeth by hearing of the worde of god So whosoeuer doth not learn by the worde of God to beléeue in God and liue in charitie but will presume vppon his owne ymagination to offer vnto God the sacrifice of his seruice according as hée seeth in the fashion of this world commonly hée caÌ„ not attaine vâ—to saâ—uation by fayth in Chryste as Abel did but deserue damnation for his owne doings as Cain did He that liueth in idlenesse vpon other mennes labours or that is much occupied in anie other than in his owne office cannot offer his own body in diligent doinâ— of his owne dutie as a sacrifice holie liuelie and acceptable vnto God for hee hath no faith working by charitie according vnto Gods worde but some such wittie and worldly policie as by couetousnesse and ambition is framed alwayes according vnto the fashion of the worlde Such were the priestes pastors in Israell féeding theÌ„selues not the flock Such were the prelates in Ierusalem voyde of humble diligence in godly doctrin full of arrogant businesse in ciuill matters Suche were the carnall Gospellers and couetous worldlings and painted prelates in England euer pretending such religion and reformation as best pleased the King the Quéene or highest in authoritie and neuer ceassing in shifting and séeking for their owne safetie profite and vainglorie to turne many things froÌ„ euill vnto worse vnto the great slaunder of godly religion vtter abolishment of all reformation Suche hauing no liuely faith in Christes merits desired and deserued the shadow of death vnder diuellishe abuses in a solemne Masse The grosse vices in manifest abuses afore were neuer so euill and abhominable as was in Christes time the fine coloured hipocrisy of those which once caused Christ to bée crucified at Hierusalem or of suche as yet take vppon them dayly to sacrifice Christ in all places AdaÌ„ in Paradise abused an apple a small trifle neglecting many good gifts of God they in Hierusalem in al places teache kéepe mens traditioÌ„s neglecting making of no force the coÌ„maundementes of God. Many men at other times abhominably sinned concerning godly Matrimonie and natural séed moued only by couetousnesse or carnall beautie to take wiues and kéepe whoores or otherwise vnnaturally to satisfie their filthie lusts these Priests through couetousnesse and ambition with vsurped authoritie did then in the Iewishe Synagoge and do nowe in the Romish churche abuse the amiable daughters of the holy citie the consciences of deuoute men in the spiritual Hierusalem also vnkindly conuey and corruptly abuse
the immortall séed of the woorde of the liuing god Naturall séede is ordeined of God to continue succession vnto men vppon earth and the séede of Gods woorde to serue in regeneration of Gods children vnto Gods kyngdome And what good fruite can spring of suche good séede amongest them that condemne and forsweare godly matrimonie and that wilfully spill by Massing suche séede as should be well sowen in preaching Aaron in wildernesse of the golde that was brought out of Egypte made a Calfe so to bée honoured as caused God to bée offended and the people plagued The Priestes in Hierusalem of the law that was giuen by Moses to lead men vnto Chryst did set vp such an Idol in mens hearts at Hierusalem as caused men to kil Chryste And nowe priests of the supper at the Lords table wheras Christe should be remembred make a Masse at their altare there to haue him daylie sacrificed Ieroboam knowing that God had ordayned for his glory that al Israel should yearly appeare afore his face only in Hierusalem yet to drawe and keepe the ten tribes from God vnder his dominion did set vp two golden calues the one in Dan and the other in Bethel saying this is my GOD which brought thée out of Egipt to Israell The chéefe priestes and the elders being certified by the Souldiers whiche watched the sepulchre that Chryst was risen with maiestie and glorie yet to keep themselues in estimation and authoritie did giue mony to set forth not a figure of a golden calfe but a diuelish face of a forged lie And now when as the holie Ghost with preachers of the Gospell witnesseth that Christcs body is glorified in heauē in forme of man yet to drawe and kéepe mens mindes from heauen and to continue a pretenced priesthoode in estimation vppon earth they haue pretended a presence and sacrifice of Christes bodie voyd of all glory vnder the forme of bread and wine Christes bodie was once for all sacrificed and then for euer so glorified that as he was once in forme of man seen and conuersant amongst men vpon earth so is hee nowe taken from amongst men and glorified in Heauen Wherefore he can not bée cloked or shewed heere or there vnder anie forme of fishe or soule man or beast bread or wine or of any bodily creature vntill he appeare in maiesty and glorie as the lightning most clearely shining from the Easte vnto the Weast openly vnto all men Euen so comming as he was séene ascending and departing that is euen in the same forme of man glorified in the which he suffered and died He did not die in the forme of man to be sacrificed offered vnder the forme of bread he is not glorified God and man in heauē to be consecrated or coniured vnder the form of bread wine vpō earth CHAP. VIII All good things bee giuen of God vnto man in Christ seene by the light of the Gospell and receyued by Fayth CHriste by his owne perfecte obedience oblatiō sacrifice once for all hath purchased of God vnto them that beléeue truly in him suche forgiuenes of sins such bearing with infirmities such gracious goodnesse that they shall not bée charged for not fulfilling the lawe beyng a yoke to heauie to be borne of mans infirmitie but they shal be commēded and rewarded as kéepers of Gods commaundement by reason of Faith that woorketh by charitie he hathe so abolisht sacrifices ceremonies that now vnto the Faithfull there remaineth no darknesse vnder shadowes and figures but great abundance of most comfortable light in spirit and truthe For whē as he had put awaye and abolished figures and shadows fully and clerely performing the truth in bodily presence then did hée in body ascende from the earth to bée glorified in heauen so as all Faithfull in euery place vppon earth might haue a more comfortable and commodious presence of Chryste with them in spirite than coulde haue continued vnto some men in any one place in body So nowe the mercifull goodnesse of God is in many things by many meanes so signified as after a sort it might bée spied and perceiued but in Christe only so promysed and perfourmed and by preaching of the Gospell through power of the spirite so reuealed offered as vnto saluation it may be receyued and enioyed Seing therfore that it hath pleased God to graunt giue vnto man in Christe after suche sorte all treasures man can haue no néede nor shuld not haue any will or desire to take any thing either of any other persō or els after any other sort or fashion For it is an abhominable contempt of God to disdain any thing fréely offred of him to seke or desire the same or a worse to be gotten and purchased of any other It is a spitefull mocking of Christe to say that any thing may be graunted and gotten by some other meane which Christ did purchase and buy with his precious bloud as though Christe had not so well and wisely bestowed hys bloodsheding as some other might haue bestowed some meaner thing Some men imagin that they néed not for euery thing to call vpon Christ and that they shoulde not themselues presume to pray vnto God but rather humble them selues in praying to saincts to be mediators for them vnto god These mens presumptuous arrogancie is abhominable afore the face of God for that they wil not know themselues to be so vile and sinfull that none other can bée able or méete to bring them vnto God or by anie meane to purchase vnto them any thing of GOD but onely Christe by his precious bloud They doe imagine after a worldelie fashion GOD to be like a proud Prince whiche woulde haue suters to speake vnto his seruants and so in iudging of God contrary vnto al examples doctrine in Gods word they dare not take the way in at the dore by the which all faithful be called and receiued as Gods fréendes but in bold and blinde presumption to climbe ouer otherwayes deserue to bée repulsed and throwē downe as despisers of Gods grace breakers of his ordinances and traytours vnto his maiesty For god is robbed of his honor due to his maiesty by such as presume contrary to the truth of his holie word to iudge him like vnto proud princes of this wicked worlde And saincts departing from hence be not put in office and placed afore God to bee hearers and offerers of men and their prayers For onely Christe whiche is the dore of grace euer standing open vnto all faythfull is sufficient to bée mediatour between God and mā in this matter of prayer to bring present men and their prayers afore the face of god And so Paul 1. Timoth. 2. witnesseth whereas hée speaking of prayer sayeth There is one God and one mediator betwixt God and man euen the man Christe Iesus Nothing that is good can be giuen of any but of God onely God gyueth nothing by force but by fauour Nothing can