the trueth righteousnes Then to offre hymselfe to the father for our synnes and after the sacrifice done to ryse vp agayn froÌ„death to asceÌ„de vnto heaueÌ„ there to seyt at the ryght haÌ„de of god and eueÌ„ there as a true hye bisshoppe to appeare alwaye in the presence of god and to praye for vs. Thys is the summe of the rytes and ceremonies of the olde fathers the vnderstondynge of the figures and the sprete of the lettre wher of holy Paull hath written moche in the moost excellent epistle to the Hebrues Out of all thys is it easye to vnderstoÌ„d howe that these rytes ceremonies of the fathers were sacramentes and geuen to the people of god Not that they with the lettre and outwarde visyble and corporall thynge shulde sufficiently serue God whiche is a sprete but that they shuld lift vp their myndes aboue the same to the spirituall thynges pondrynge the mercy of God out of the whiche he beynge moued is become gracious vnto vs. And whan he might haue damned vs for oure synnes and mysdedes he spared vs for hys sonnes sake whome he gaue vnto death and hys innocent death hath he accepted for our synnes Soche a faithfull consideration whiche is the true beleue pleaseth god and with soche a fayth is god serued and soche a fayth wolde the Lorde haue taught andplanted in wyth the â—oresayde rytes and Ceremonies Therfore all they that pleased god among the olde fathers pleased hym not for the letters sake but by reason of the sprete Whaâ— the sacrifice also and ceremonye was executed after the ordinaunce of god in the congregation the beloued frendes of God had not onely respecte vnto the outewarde thynge but muche rather behelde they Chryst with the eyes of fayth thought thus Beholde the wyll of God hathe ordeyned to do sacrifice for synne now are we all synners and detters vnto god in so much that he hath power right ouer vs that lyke as the beeste whyche is now slayne and offred dyeth hath hys bloud shed Euen so myght God now also kyll vs all and coudemne vs for euer Neuerthelesse he hath takeÌ„ vs to his mercy and promysed vs a sede whiche shulde thus dye on the crosse and clense vs wyth hys bloud wyth hys deth restore vs vnto lyfe Whyche thynge no doute shall as surely come to passe as thys beest is slayne offred now a ore our eyes And lyke as the bloude is sprenkled ouer the people for the bodely cleÌ„syng So shall the bloud of Christ be sprenkled vpon oure soules c. And out of suche thoughte and faythfull consyderacion of the sacrifices grewe repentaunce and sorow for theyr synnes a gladnesse prayse comforte and thankes geuynge vnto God the mercyfull father And to thys do serue certayne Psalmes whyche were made concernynge the sacrifices To thys also serue all the rebukynges of the holy Prophetes and the refusinges of the oblations For the exteriour pompe and shewe of the offrynges wythout fayth in God and the blessed sede is nothyng worth yea it is rather abhominacion vnto god as thou seyst in the first chapter of Esaye Thou wâ—â—t aske Might not god haue taught and shewed his people the cause of Jesu Christ and of true beleue none other waye then thorowe and wyth suche cost pompe and glory of sacrifices other gorgiousnesse of the churche I answere Yf the people had not falleÌ„ to more wyckednesse in Egypt thorow their dwellynge amonge the ydolaters but had constantly and stedfastly remained as dyd theyr fathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob then myghte they well haue contynued by the olde shorte symple fourme as it was amonge the holy fathers But nowe had they sene in Egypte an outwarde costlye gods seruice wyth temples altures sacrifices preâ—â—hode holy daves ornameÌ„tes c. Lykewyse the ydolatrye increaced dayly in all the worlde so that nowe there was vtterly no people whyche had not theyr owne outwarde ceremonies â–ª wherewyth they serued God To the intente then that God myghte reâ—â—â—ne hys people wythin the compasse of fayth in one God and in the blessed sede promysed afore to the intente also that they shoulde shewe no outward â–ª seruyce to any other goddes or take vpon them to serue God after the maner of the EgipciaÌ„s or after other HeitheÌ„ he appoynted an outwarde gods seruice and coÌ„maunded to do the same vnto hym and els to none and in the same pleased it hym to set forth all the cause of the forsayde sede tyll he came and perfourmed all thynges indede that they hadde fygurally in theyr sacrifices Morouer god accordyng â—â— hys wysdome of hys speciall mercy and good herte that he hath vnto mans generation wolde wyth these outwarde tokeÌ„s tender oure weaknesse whiche of spirituall heauenly thynges hathe better vnderstandynge whan they are shewed vnto it by corporall vysible thynges God therfore thorow suche corporall representations laboured to shewe vnto that grosse and fleshly people the heuenly cause of hys sonne Neuerâ—theles the corporall visible thynges were geuen for no longer but vntyll the tyme of the fulfyllynge But now that Câ—râ—st hath appeared and fulfylled and perfourmed all that was wryteÌ„ and figured of hym in the law and the prophetes the figure ceasseth â–ª and the outewarde Sacramentes of Moses lawe â–ª are of no more value to be exercised and vsed Thus muche â—â—sayde of the ceremonyes Where as besyde the ceremonies there is muche wryten also in the lawe concernynge cyuyle policye ordynaunce iudgement to lyue peaceable and well in cytye and lande Of biyng and sellyng of warre and peace of enherytaunce and propertyes of lawes matrimonyall of punyshement of the wycked of the iudgement and connsaill of leadynge and borowynge c. It is no newes at all and serueth altogether for the declaratioÌ„ of the fyre â—oÌ„maundementes of the seconde table and is comprehended in the wordes of Paul Roma xiii Loue thy neyghboure as thy selfe â–ª And in the wordes of Christe That thou woldest not haue done vnto the doo not thou to another Math. vii Suche lawes and rules to lyue in peace in a cyuyle ordre and vertue haue also the good holy fathers had froÌ„ the begynnyng of the world wrytten in theyr hartes by God hym selse Nowe hathe God also caused all to be comprehended in wryttynge by Moses to the intente that the World myghte haue all more clearlye and perfectly and that no man myghte excuse hym selfe of ignoraunce ☞ The originall of the holy scripture and fayth thereof THys mater which I haue hytherto treated vpon haue I not feyned of my selfe but taken it out of the mouthe and worde of God For god styred vp Moses to wryte and leaue behynde hym all the matter for our lernyng and knowlege Thys dyd now Moses wyth great faythfulnesse coÌ„prehended all in foure bokes The fyrste is called the boke of the creation from the be gynnynge of the worlde vnto hys tyme of the creacion of
describeth he also in the foresayde verse the pure and holy Conception and byrth of our Lord Jesu Chryst And thys doth he wyth a goodly similitude sayeth Thy byrth shalbe holy and very excellent not vncleane as the byrthe of other men For lyke as the dew out of the cleare heauen out of the fayre mornynge is borne as it wereout of a mothers wombe EueÌ„ so also shalt thou be borne holy and cleane of an vndefyled virgin Wherof thou findest more instruction Luke i. The Lorde hath swome and it shall not repeÌ„t him thou art prest for euer after the ordre of Melchisedech In thys fourth verse descrâ—beth he the office of Jesu Christ how that he is ordeyned of God to be one onely preist for euer whych shuld offer vp hym selfe for the synne of the world and alway appeare in the syght of God the father and to praye for vs. All thys doth holy Paull declare at large to the Hebreues in the .v. vii viii ix and. x chap. And specially in thys verse is grounded all that is red thorowe out the scripture of the merites of Christ of the forgeuyng of sinnes of righteous making of beynge mediatoure and that he alone is the onely saluation aduocate satisfaction and ryghteousnesse of the faythfull The Lorde is at thy ryght hand he in the tyme of hys wrath shall wounde euen kynges Thys fyfth verse teacheth howe God wyll ener more and more stand on hys soÌ„nes syde further hys cause and brynge downe and destroye those kynges princes and Lordes that wyl not amende and beleue in Christ but wyll rather prouoke his wrathe then â—elyre hys grace Whyche thynge Herodes Nero Domicianus Maximinus and Julianus haue proued Yet foloweth the syxte verse declarynge the fyfth He shall iudge amonge the Heythen and fyll all full of deed bodyes and smyte the heade on the wyde grounde Christ is also preached vnto the HeitheÌ„ and reigneth among theÌ„ but many wythstande Chryste and them dothe he iudge And lyke as a kynge ouercommeth hys enemyes wyth a battayle and couereth the whole playne wyth deed bodyes visiteth also and smyteth the head of the warre the head cycie of the enemies EueÌ„ so doth Christ to his enemies and destroieth their power and kyngdome All whych thynges we haue sene in the olde vnchristeÌ„ empyre of Rome and in many other potentates and powers But specially he breaketh the head of the olde serpent accordyng to the promes Gene. iii. And at the laste shall he come to iudge the quycke and deed and destroye hys enemyes for euer Out of the broke in the way shall he drynke therfore shall he also lyfte vp the heade Fynally and in the seuenth verse he describeth the passion of Christ and his glory In the waye sayeth he that is in hys lyfe whyle he is in thys miserie He shall drynke oute of the broke that is he shall suffer be ouercome For to drynke out of the cuppe is asmuche as to suffer But to drynke oute of the broke is to be altogether full of trouble to be vexed and â—ormeÌ„ted wythoute victory and vtterly to be ouerwhelmed wyth a broke strong streame of troubles Thus was it hys mynde to declare the passion of Christ After the passioÌ„ foloweth the glory wyth the resurrection and ascensioÌ„ Paul Philip. ii speaketh of both and sayeth Chryste humbled hymselfe and became obedieÌ„t vnto death euen the deathe of the Crosse Wherfore God hath exalted hym and geuen hym a name whyche is aboue all names c. Thus muche be spoben of thys Psalme and of Dauids vnderstandyng â—hych he had of Christ Jesu and of the christeÌ„ faith Upon thys I maruayll yf after so euidente testimonies there be yet any man whych perceaueth not that Dauids faith and vnderstandyng of Christe was euen one fayth and vnderstandynge wyth the fayth that we knowlege and say I beleue in one God father alymightye c As it is in the xii articles of the Chrysten faythe For the holy trinite in one godheade doth he knowlege not onely here but also in the .xxxiii. Psalme sayenge Thorowe the worde of God were the heaueÌ„s made and all theyr power thorow the sprete of hys mouth For certayne it is that there is but one onely God maker of heauen and of erth but here is the trinite called Lord or God worde and sprete Nether is there any thynge in the Articles of the beleue concernynge the Godhead and manhode of Christ of hys concepcion byrth passioÌ„ crosse and death of the resurrection asceÌ„sion and iudgement but ti is clearly comprehended here in thys Psalme The articles of the holy churche of forgeuynge of sinnes the resurrectioÌ„ of the fleshe and an euerlastynge lyfe are conteyned in thys Psalme and are treated vpon yet more clearly and wyth many moo wordes very substantially in other Psalmes of Dauid Therfore had he our holy fayth knowleged the same was saued therein and of all holy meÌ„ was called the father of christ wyth hye commendation bycause of the promes that was made vnto hym Moreouer all the holy Prophetes folowynge had respecte vnto Dauid as to another Moses and toke many thinges out of his wryttynges For there is scace any other that so clearly wrote of the cause of christ as thys prophet Dauid and therfore hath he honoure and prayse aboue other in Israel Of whome thou readest also â–ª Eccle. xlvii Such fayth and confidence in God thorow Jesus Christ had Dauid oute of the holy goost and out of the doctrine of hys Prophetes Samuel Nathan Gad and of other hys preistes whych also had the same of God and of the holy fathers specially of Moses And no doute he desired the honoure of God and of hys soÌ„ne not to kepe it onelye hym selfe but also muche rather to requyre it of all hys people Wherfore no doute he set vp and furthured thys hys fayth and religion amoÌ„g all hys men of warre kynstolke in al hys courte Edominion before the whole congregation and in all hys kyngdome soâ— diligently ernestly and feruently that afterwarde certayne hundreth yeares they whych beleued ryghte lyued well were praysed for walkyug in the wayes of Dauid theyr father They also that dyd euell and set not forth the true fayth of them is it wryten They walked not in the wayes of Dauid theyr father Of thys hast thou many ensamples in the bokes of the kynges and in the Cronicles Many thynges also were forgeuen the kynges and all the people of Juda for Dauids sake that is for the promes sake mode vnto Dauyd euen for Jesus Christes sake whom Ezechiel calleth Dauid In the. iii boke of the kynges the xv chapter it is wrytteÌ„ thus The hert of Abia was not ryght toward hys Lord God as was the hart of Dauid hys father And for Dauyds sake dyd the Lorde geue hym a lyghte at Hierusalem so that at HierusaleÌ„ he set vp hys sonne and
receaued the same at the custome of their father Who wyth hys wyfe Eua the mother of vs all was saued by none other worke or merite of maÌ„ but onely thorow and in the blessed sede of oure Lorde Jesu Christe ¶ That the holye Patriarkes also were Chrysten â–ª and saued by Chryste SUche faith in christ Jesu as we now haue spoken of dyd the holy father Adam no doute teache hys chyldreÌ„ that they also myghte plante in to theyr chyldren the promes of god his mercy and deuyce concernynge the Messias or Sauioure that was for to come And truly Abell had suche a notable fayth in god that the holy Apostle Paul wrote of hym after thys maner Thorowe faythe dyd Abell offre a greater sacrifice theÌ„ dyd Cain therby opteyned he wytnesse that he was ryghteous For god bare recorde to hys gyftes In asmuche then as it can not be denyed but that all they whych are iust ryghteous he made ryghteous thorow the blessed sede And Abell was iustifyed It foloweth that he was made ryghteous thorow fayth in Jesus Chryste In that he dyd sacrifice it is a token frute of a hart that was thankfull and feared God It was no suche interpryse that he wolde clense and make hym selfe accepte vnto God thorow that outward sacrifice For certayne it is that no outward oblacion purifieth man wythin But the grace of god graunted vnto vs thorowe Jesus Christ purifieth vs a right And the out warde sacrifices of the olde fathers besyde that they were tokens of thankfulnesse prayse and magnifyenge of God as it is sayde afore were figures of the onely perpetuall sacrifice of our sauiour Christe And in this behalfe they were eueÌ„ asmoche as sacramentes of thinges to come Thus also and in lyke vnderstondynge haue oure first fathers done sacrifice as hereafter it shall folow more largely Nowe lyke as in Abel there is set forth vnto vs an ensample of Gods sede of a regenerate true faithfull Christen man So is Cain a sede of the serpent a chylde of the deuell which despysed the inspiracion of God and harkened to the disceatfull serpent And in these two brethren we maye se what God meaned whaÌ„ he sayd I wyll put enemyte betwene the sede of the woman and thy sede As though he wolde saye There shalbe two maner of people the one shall cleue vnto Christ the blessed sede the other shall cleue vnto the deuell And these two generacioÌ„s shall in no wyse a gree but be at variavnce in fayth and religion I will endew my sede that they shall cleue onely vnto me feare me honour and worshippe me seke all saluacion in me thorow the blessed sede lyue vertuousâ—y honestly soberly Then shal the serpent tempte their â—ede with ypocâ—ysye not to loue me ner serue me right not to holde of me as they shulde not to trust in me but to loue the worde to folowe the lustes and tentacions therof All thys fynde we here in these two brethren in whome begynneth the firste difference of true and false beleuers For Abel was simple godly and of a constant faith in God And in asmoche as he toke God for his refuge he broughte hym giftes of hys bâ—ste substaunce no doubte because he had first geuen ouer hys soule and all hys power vnto God at whome alone he soughte all good without any ypocrisye He was also innocent â–ª veriuous and frendly and folowed not hys owne tentacions And for thys faithes sake dyd hys sacrifice please God but Caines pleased hym not for hys hert was not right with God he was a dissembler gredye vnfaithfull personne which set hys hert and mynde vpon erthlye thynges allwaye despysinge Gods worde and folowyng his owne tentacion Whiche thynge was euydeÌ„t in thys that he hauynge no cause onely of a wilfull hert and thorow the tentacion of the serpent murthured his own brother Wherby he hath opteyned to be the arâ—hfather of all murthurers whiche persecute and murthur the sede of god that is to saye the true beleuers onely for their faithes sake â–ª Thus became abel the firste martyr and instrumente of god and yf Christ in the holy church For these two brethren haue set forth before vs the wole battayl stryfe which the worlde the cytye of the deuelâ— the chyldren cytesyns of the cursâ—d cytye wherin the serpent is heade and master and hath the dominion shal make agaynst the cytie and cytesyns in whome Christe is the heade vnto the ende of the worlde The fre men of the cytie of God and of Christe do â—leue onely vnto God serue hym with all theyr hart buylde only vpon Christe The cytesyns of the serpent despyse god yet make they theyr boaste of God to whome also they offer and do seruice but not as they ought to do Now whaÌ„ they perceyue that theyr fayth is not ryghte and that theyr ypocrysie is spyed and myslyked then fall they to murthurynge to the whych god is an enemy and forbyddeth it wyth hys worde For Cain also exhorted he from hys purpose sayd Thou nedeste not to arme the because of thy brother for thou haste none occasyon to be angry wyth hym For yf thou doeste ryght thou shalte fynde it and haue ioye therof but yf thou doest not ryght then is thy mysfortune synne and trespace opon and thou shalte shame destroye thy selfe Thy brother goeth on wythout faulte he shall do the no hurt nor harme he shall also not be Lorde ouer the nor myny she thy â—yght Yea he shall haue respecte vnto the and thou shalt haue dominion ouer hym and so kepe thy byrth right styll remayn the fyrste borne although hys sacrifice be acceptable vnto me and not thyne Ceasse therfore from thy wicked purpose and offende not agaynst thy brother But Cain dyd as al vngodly do For he went forth and sâ—ue hys innocent brother And afterwarde whan the Lorde wolde haue brought hym in to the knowlege of hys great synne and pardon hym he despised the voyce of the Lord with crakyng and facynge For the which cause the lord was wrothe with hym and cursed hym Then dispayred he first and went forth became yet more wicked dealt altogether vngodly set first his mynde vpon earthly thynges thought to exalte hys name vpon erth and buylded the fyrst cytye whiche he called Hanoch he begat sonnes daughters but litle feare of God was before their eyes in so moche that the scripture sayeth Adam layâ— with his wyfe agaâ—â—e and she bare a sonne whome she called Seth. For God sayde she hath geuen me another sede for Abel whome Cain â—lew Seth also had a sonne and he called hym Ends. And than beganne men to call vpon the name of the Lord Out of the whiche wordes it is easie to vnderstonde that as touchynge holy Adam he helde no more of Cain then as thoughe he neuer hadde chylde For Adam feared God Cain with hys progenye
Histaspis or Artaxerres in the whiche the cytie was buylded Nâ—hemie v. vntyl the .xlii. yeare of the empire of Augustus vnder whome Christ was borne Luce. ii The aungel also gaue Daniel farther in formacion of Christ how that hys owne people shulde slaye hym fynde no fault in hym and howe that the sacrifice with the ceremonies shuld ceasse And a strauÌ„g people saieth he shall come from farre make the temple with the citte an horrible abhominacion â–ª yee they shall destroye and breake downe altogether All whiche thinges were afterward fulfylled in the last wekes that is within .c. vii yeares or there about For within .c. iii. yeares dyd Lorde growe to teach to suffre For whaÌ„ he was .xxx. yeare olde I hoÌ„ baptised him Afterward within .iii. yeares was he put to death so within .xl. yeares folowed the destruction of HierusaleÌ„ by Tytus Uâ—spasian All the tyme now yeares froÌ„ the captiuite of BabiloÌ„ to Christes birth are 626. yeares For the captiuite of BabiloÌ„ endured .lxx. yeares In the firste yeare of Cirus were they delyuered in the second yeare beganne they to buylde the teÌ„ple and buylded 46. yeares â—â—eÌ„ vntyll the vi yeare of Darius In the. 32. yeare of Darius was the citie fynished which maketh 143. yeare Adde now hereto the. 483 yeares out of Daniel thou hast the foresaid summe euen 626. yeares In the sayd yeares had oure holy fayth sore conflictes and the sede of the serpent preassed sore vpon the sede of God as the Babilonians at Babilon and the Perfians whan the people of God was come home agayne Neuertheles the trueth had euer the victory was the more clearly testified by Daniel Haggeus zachary Esdras Nâ—hâ—mias Malachy Afterwarde were they specially opprest bi the vngodly kyng Antiochê° in the tyme of the Macha bees Whan as the tymes were euer the longer the more full of parels aduersite vntyll Aulus Gabinus PoÌ„peius Crassus captaynes of Rome coÌ„quered the laÌ„d the true olde religion was vtterley gone in so moch that out of the olde serpeÌ„t there arose in Israel all maner of secâ—es Symonye whome oure Lorde Jesus Christ with his commyng in the world resisted and called them the serpentes generacion as the holy Euangelistes testifye Not witstandyng in the myddes of such mischefe in Israell there were also godly vertuous people which sought God and hys anoynted though the erroure was greate Amonge whom no doute was specially the Prest zacharias the father of Jhon Baptyst Elizabeth his wyfe and godly Simeon Whan zacharias had knowlege of the Lordes commynge he sayde with a ioyful hert Praysed be the Lorde God of Israell for he hath visited and delyuered his people and set vp the horne of saluacion in the house of Dauid his seruauÌ„t accordynge as he had promised afore by the mouth of holy prophetes c. For his wordes are red Lu i. Simeon when he sawe the childe Jesus in the temple and had taken him in hys armes he sayd Now Lord let me dye in peace according to thy worde For myne eyes haue sene thy sauyoure whom thou hast prepared before the face of all people that he myght be a lighte to geue light vnto the Heythen and the glorye of thy people Israel Luc. i lo thus the hertes of all righteous in the olde Tessament from Adam vnto Christ euen 3974. yeares haue stande onely vpon Christ in him was their comforte vpon hym they trusted it was he whom they longed for and in Christ Jesu were they saued Therfore hath oure Christen fayth endured sens the begynnyng of the worlde and is and continueth styll the onely true olde vndoubted fast grounded faith ¶ Of the tyme of the greace of Christ and how that he him selfe testifieth that the saluacion of all the worlde stondeth onely in hym HIther to haue I set for the tyme of the promyses in the whyche God thorowe the promysed â—de oure Lorde Jesus Christe conforted clensed and preserued all hys seruauntes and deare frendes There haue we lerned sene that the Christen fayth which hath endured sens the begynnyng of the worlde is the eldest vndoubted right and true faith which all holy Patriarkes had in the which they serued God and pleased him as Adam Seth Enoch and Noe Item Abraham Isaac Jacob Lykewyse the excellente highlye endewed propheet yee the father foregoer of all prophetes euen greate Moses his brother AaroÌ„ the holy Prest Eleazar and Phinees The excellent dukes also Judges Josue Gedeon and other moo Euen so lykewyse the kynges Dauid Ezechias Josaphat Josias The dearâ—i beloued of God and excellent prophetes Samuel Helias Isaias Daniel zacharias and all the other This holy fayth also had all ryghteous and such as were of godly vnderstondinge in all the congregacions of Israel froÌ„ the begynning In this were saued all they that froÌ„ the beginning were preserued ordeyned to saluacioÌ„ wherfore what soeuer they can alledge agaynst this faith whether it be coÌ„cerning holymeÌ„ olde age multitudes lerned men generall counsayls coÌ„uocations or perliameÌ„tes fathers actes statutes tokens and wonders It is all nothinge worth and is not to be reputed in comparison of oure holy faith as euery one that hath vnderstonding maye se in this treatise afore And though my purpose be now fynished euen declared out of the scripture that the Christen faith hath endured sens the begynning of the worlde Yet wyl I adde a shorte instructioÌ„ concernynge the tyme of grace perfourminge of all promises and I wyll declare that God now also thorow the appearinge of his sonne wolde bringe in to the worlde and set forth none other religion none other faith nether anye other saluacion then euen the same which was showed to the olde fathers Sauynge that now all thinges are more euydent more clerly practised accomplished fulfilled and perfourmed for the whych cause also all figures sacrifices and ceremonies do ceasse For in Christ is all perfection Yet shall we not therfore cast awaye the olde Testament as some ignoraunt vnlerned and foolysh people do but haue it in greater reputacion for asmuch as we know now thorowe Christ what euery thinge signifieth wherfore euery thinge was thus thus ordeyned vsed spokeÌ„ Now shall euery man fyrst haue a corage to reade the lawe and the prophetes whaÌ„ he seyth wher vpon euery thyng goeth And thus also at the begynnyng dyd the holy apostles preach Christ vnto the Jewes out of the lawe and the prophetes as it is oft tymes mencioned in the actes of the Apostles And our Lord him selfe whaÌ„ he weÌ„t with the two disciples towarde Emaus preached so vnto the that theyr hertes brent within them he begaÌ„ne at Moses wente thorow all the prophetes and opened vnto theÌ„ the old scriptures shewed them that so it behoued Christ to fuâ—â—re and to entre in to his glorie Thys is the cause also
name of god in vayne or lightly And that we shuld halow the Sabbath daye In the other table ordeyned he sixe commaundementes concerninge man And lyke as the soure first are comprehended in these wordes Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thy hert c. Euen so are the sixe conteyned in these woâ—des folowynge Thou shalt loue thy neyghboure as thy selfe The commaundementes are these Thou shalt honoure father mother Thou shalt not kyll Thou shalt not breawedloke Thou shalt not â—â—eale Thou shalt beare no false witnesse Thou shalt not lust In all these commaundementes is comprehended all that serueth for a godly lyfe and that any where is written of God of true seruynge of God and of right vertue towarde thys worlde Who so now doth well pondre these ten chapters or commaundementes compareth them to the doynges and workes of the holy Patriarkes and olde fathers whiche had no lawe in writtynge He shall fynde that the Lorde now with thys hys written law beganne no new thing nether oughte that was not afore in the worlde but rather renewed the olde and the lawe that he hytherto had wrytteÌ„ in the hartes of holy men now whaÌ„ the people had gotten them stony hartes he wrote the same in tables of stone For that we oughte to worshyppe and serue God onely and haue none other goddes the same dyd the holy fathers so beleue kepe that all theyr coÌ„uersacion doyng beareth recorde therof CoÌ„ternyng ymages or ydols it is euydeÌ„t that Jacob buryed the ydols of Mesopotamia vnder an Oke besyde Sichem Genesis .xxxv. We may perceyue also by the dothes of AbrahaÌ„ Jsaac and Jacob how the name of god was had in reuerence among theÌ„ of olde not takeÌ„ in vayne The Sabboth dyd not the Lorde ordeyne here first but on the seueÌ„th day of the creatioÌ„ Gen. i. The same dyd the fathers kepe a ryght no doute JohnÌ„ vii Where as Cham had not hys father Noe in reuereÌ„ce he was cursed for it Gene. iâ— Aduoutry dyd the HeytheÌ„ rulers forbyd vnder paine of death as we may se Gen. xxvi Wherby it is casye to vnderstande how the blessed frendes of God kepte holy wedlock Howe contrary the holy men were vnto theft and dysceate it apeareth in the parting of Abraham and Loth Gen. xiii And in Jacobs faithfulnesse handlyng wyth Laban hys father in law Gene. xxix xxx xxxi Lyenge false dealynge was so farre from the holy Fathers that for kepynge theyr credence and trueth they opteyned very great commendacion Notwithstondynge they were tempted with euell as all men be but they resisted the wicked lustes For manifest is the chaist acte of Joseph which wolde not touch hys maisters wyfe nor desyre her Wherfore in these commaundementes is nothynge written or requyred that was not also requyred of the fathers afore the lawe perfourmed thorow true fayth in Christe The Lorde therfore beganne no new thyng with his people whan he delyuered them the tables of the law Onely he wolde brynge in to a shorte summe and set in wrytynge all the lawe that the feathers had but not together ner comprehended in a summe to the intent that they shuld the lesse be forgotten of the people which thorow their dwellynge in Egipte amonge ydolaters false beleuers were brought in to sore offence and slaunder Thys must now be rectified agayne after thys maner As for all the lawes and ordinances whiche afterward were added vnto these two tables they were not ioyned ther vnto as principall lawes but as by lawes for the declaracion and better vnderstondynge of the ten chapters or commaundementes For the perfecte summe of all lawes the very righte rule of godlynesse of god seruyce of righteousnesse of good and euell conuersacion is comprehended already in the two tables But here might some men make obieccion and saye Yf all trueth be conteyned in these ten commaundementes how happeneth it that by no token there is mencioÌ„ made of the blessed sede promised vn to the fathers Hitherto is it declared and promysed vnto the holy fathers that they shal be saued thorow the blessed sede out of the very grace of God and for none of their owne deseruinges but now are written lawes which commaunde and forbyd vs as though we thorow oure owne workes and deseruinge as namely yf we kepe these commaundementes shulde be saued and accepte vnto God Where is nowe Christ Where is the faith of the Patriarkes Here is nothinge heard of faith but moche yee onely of workes Answere This obiection hath disceaued many that they haue had no right opinion and faith of the grace of God oure righteous making Therfore wyl we now geue no answere out of our selues but set forth holy Paul let hym answere that the answere maye be the more sure the better estemed Paul in the .iii. chapter to the Galathians wryteth after this maner Deare brethren I will speake after the maner of men whan a mans testament is confirmed no man doth lightely regarde or despyse it ner addeth oughte therto Now were the promises made vnto Abraham and to hys sede He sayeth not In the sedes as in many but as in one And in thy sede which is Christ All these are Pauls wordes and the meanyng of them is For asmoche as the testamentes or wor kes of men are of suche reputacion in the worlde that whan they are made ordeyned and confyrmed no man darre adde oughte to them or mynyshe any thyng froÌ„ them but euery man muste let them be as they are of them selues It is muche more reason that gods TestameÌ„t or bequest remayne styll and that nothyng be added to it or taken from it Now dyd God make a testament or bequest wyth AbrahaÌ„ and promised hym therin that he woulde geue hym a sede in whom he hys childreÌ„ shuld be saued And the same saluatioÌ„ dyd he expresly appoynte in one and not in many Wherfore we must adde nothynge vnto gods bequest seyng he hath promysed vs saluation in Christ only and not in many that is to saye in no creature not in our owne power and workes of the law nether must we thinke that the law was afterwarde added to the intent as thoughe Chryste were not able to saue vs or as though we myghte opteyne saluation by oure owne workes oute of the lawe For thus foloweth it in Paull word to word Thys testameÌ„t I saye whych afore was confyrmed to Christward is not dysanulled or made of none effecte by the Lawe whyche was geuen beyonde foure hundreth yeares ther after For yf the enheritaunce be gotten by the Lawe then is it not geuen by the promes But God gaue it frely vnto Abraham by promes These are Pauls wordes out of the which euery man maye vnderstande that to the generacion of man saluacyon is geuen onely oâ— the grace of God thorowe the promes and thorow no deseruyng at all And that the
the worlde begynnynge of all nacions and of the Patriarkes and olde ryghteous seruauÌ„tes of god of theyr faith and conuersacion of the promises workes â—e god The same wrote he as he was inspired of the holy goost and as he had receaued of olde fathers and somwhat as he founde in the bokes of the Egipcians For Moses was excellently well lerned in all wysdome of the Egipcians as Steuen doth wytnesse of hym Act. vii The other thre bokes wrote he of hys owne tyme accordynge as he hym selfe was present sawe and knewe And specially the seconde koke concernynge the departynge out of Egipt how the people of god were oppressed in Egipte howe the Egypcians were punyshed how Israell was delyuered receaued the lawe and set vp a tabernacle wyth a gorgious seruynge of God In the thyrde boke whych is called Leuiticus are wrytten the spirituall lawes namely suche as concerneth the preestes and the presthode theyr office lyuynge knowlege sacrifices solempne feaste dayes rytes ceremonies and suche lyke In the fourth whyche is called Numeri he wryteth at length how they went thorow the wyldernesse and came to Jordane wyth a rehearsal of theyr ordre and nombre of theyr murmurynge also and punyshment and of certayne victories wyth a remembraunce of certayne lawes and statutes Besyde all thys he made yet an Enchiridion and summe of all the Actes of hys tyme and of the lawe of God whyche is called Deuteronomium the same coÌ„maunded he to be layd in the Arke at the moc oÌ„ of God and that it shulde be red vnto all the people as it is mencioned Deut. xxxi And in these fyue bokes geuen vs of God by Moses is the whole grounde of oure holy faythe For all the Prophetes afterwarde grounded them selues vpon the same and wrote therout lyke as afterwarde our Lorde Jesus and the Apostles poynte vnto Moses Nether dyd euer any ryghte wyse man of vnderstandyng and that feared God doute any thynge or blaspheme suche scriptures And from suche true seruauntes of God haue we hytherto receaued our matters in wrytinge Thus much haue I sayd concernynge the lawe howe it is no newe thynge but euen the onely wyll of god but now compre hended in wryrtynge Moreouer that all the law poynteth vnto Christ and that all men of ryght vnderstandynge whyche lyued vnder the law were Christen For manifest is it that Paull sayde Roma x. Christ is the ende of the lawe to iustifie euery one that beleueth And Galathia iii. Or euer faith that is to saye Christ came we were kepte and shut vp vnder the law vnto the fayth whyche shulde afterwarde be declared Thus was the law our scolemaster vnto Christ that we might be made ryghteous by faith All thys I suppose wyll be new and starunge in many hertes neuertheles I truste that all they whyche haue vnderstandyng do se and knowlege that thys is the true olde ryght and godly Dyuinite and Theologye whyche ascrybeth all honoure vnto god the father thorow oure Lorde Jesu Christe in the holye goost To whome be glory and prayse for euer Amen ¶ All vertuous kynges and the people of Israell trusted vnto Christ and not to the lawe AFter that the law was geuen and the gods seruice set vp Moses the seruaunt of God dyed beynge an hundreth and twentye yeare olde and at the commaundement and commission of God he lefte gods people to be ruled and gyded by the faythfull valâ—auntâ— Josue whyche also was a figure of oure Lorde Jesu For lyke as it was not Moses but Josue that brought the people in to the lande of promes Euen so are we brought in to the eternall reste not by the workes of the lawe nor thorow our own deseruing but by the grace thorow Jesus Christ lyke as it is also wyth many wordes expressed of holy Paul Heb iiii This Josue no doute dyd kepe maynteine and defende gods fayth and religion with the sprete and vnderstandynge thereof and taught other to keye the same â–ª lyke as he thoroâ—e gods inspiration receaued it of the fathers by Moses Whyche thynge thoughe it be euydent in many poyntes yet is it manyfeste specially by thys that he wolde not suffre the chyldren of Rubâ—n and Gâ—d and the halfe tribe of Manâ—sse to set vp and haue another auture beside the onely autare that the lord had appointed them For here in as it is mencioned afore was figured the vertue and perfectnesse of the onely crosse death and sacrificyng of Jesu Christe Therefore wolde not Josue that any thynge shulde be set check mate wyth the cross and oblacion of Jesu Christ but that all honour of cleÌ„synge and forgeuenesse of synnes shulde be ascribed onely vnto hym Where as Josue now and other iudges rulers princes and kynges of Israell after hym vsed sore great warre stroke many horrible battayles destroyed muche lande and people and shed mens bloude without measure he dyd it as a chefe head and as an instrument and vessell of God at the commaundemente of God whyche wolde so punyshe the ydolatrye the great synne blasphemy of the vngodly whych he had longe suffred and exhorted them to amendement but for all hys pacient abydynge they woulde not conuerte Those now dyd he rote out thorowe the swerde of hys beloued frâ—ndes somtyme delyuered he hys people wyth the swerde of the ryghteous and saued them from the haÌ„de of theyr enemyes For because of the synnes of hys people he gaue them ouer somtyme in to the hande of theyr enemies to nurtoure and correcte them wyth the rod then fell the people of God â—â—ede before theyr enemies and were subdued and opprest of the vngodly tyll they knowledged their synnes called vpon god and amended puttynge their truste in good onely thorowe the blessed sede worshyppynge hym onely callynge vpon hym and honourynge hym accordynge to hys worde castynge a waye straunge god seruyce and ydols that shamefull blasphemous and vn godly lyuynge Then sente he them hys helpe and delyuered them in hys power by the ministration of hys appoynted captaynes And soche warrynge delyuerynge and punyshinge was no fleshly vnfaithfull worke whome no man oughte to folowe as some beynge wrapped with the vnstedfast sprete of the Manichees and Ana baptistes do meane For Paul expresseth clearly And what shall I saye of Gedeon Barach Samson and Jephthae Dauid and Samuel and the Prophetes whiche thorow faith subdued kyngdomes wrought righteousnesse opteyned the promyses stopped the mouthes of Lyons quenched the violence of fyre escaped the edge of the swerde of weake were made stronge became valeaunt in batayll turned to flyght the armyes of the aleauntes Hebre. xi All which workes the holy Apostle prayseth and commendeth as excellent workes of faith Therfore are they no workes of the flesh nâ—ther is it now contrary to the holy faith yf Christen rulers delyuer their innocent people whome God hath subdued vnto them from wrongfull violence and defende their libertye
righteousnesse house and lande or punyshe the shamefull blasphemers ydolaters and persecuters of the holy fayth and not suffre them to haue all their malycious wyll Neuertheles thys must be done by them to whome god hath committed the swerde For thus sayeth the Lorde Who so taketh the swerde shall perishe thorow the swerde Matthe .xxvi. But specially in the battayls of gods people and of the vnfaytfull it commeth to pas and is expresly set before our eyes that god sayde to the serpent at the begynnyng Genesi iii. I wyll put enemyte betwene thy sede and the womans sede For the righteous are the sede of Christe the vnrighteous and vnfaytfull are the sede of the deuell Betwene these now se we greate discorde but specially thys that the faythfull do alwaye treade the serpente on the headde though they them selues also be bytten in the hele For the right faythfull beleuers afore the birth of christe in the tyme of the promes had no lesse trouble and persecution not onely because of synne but also for righteousnes and faythes sake then the faythfull after Chrystes byrth in the tyme of grace and perfectnes Therfore haue they small knowlege of the doinges of the faythful which saye that the people of olde were a victoryous people and gouerued corporally but that the people after Christes comminge are borne to suffre and to no victory or gouernaunce Neuertheles in these wonderfull tymes in the whiche gods people hadde now victory and anone were subdued and oppressed the true fayth continued vpright and vnblemished from Josue forth thorowe out all the iudges vntyll the tyme and raigne of Dauid Dauid also was a man that suffred moch thorow dyuerse and long trouble thorow miserable distresse and vexacion and thorow sore persecution without ceâ—ssynge beynge proued tryed and prouoked afore he was kynge Wherof the bokes of Samuel and the more parte of the Psalmes beareth recorde But after that he was promoted vnto the kyngdome by God whiche sayde I haue founde a man after myne owne hert he auaunced set forth and magnified the true fayth righte delygently Here also to the honoure of oure Lorde Jesu Christe wyll I shortly and by the waye declare what knowlege and faith thys noble kynge and prophete had of our Lord Jesu Thys wyll I do with the declaracion of the .c. xi Psalme whose wordes are these The Lorde sayde vnto my Lorde Syt thou at my ryght hande tyll I make thyn enemyes thy foote stole In the fyrste verse Dauid knowlegeth the personnes in the holy Trinite the godheade also and the eternall kyngdome of Christe Thus lykewyse dyd our Lorde Jesus Christ vnderstonde and alledge thys verse in the Gospell Mathe .xxii. knowledgynge two of the personnes in the one onely godhead For he sayeth The Lorde sayde vnto my Lorde Now is it certayne and vndenyable that he which speaketh he to whomought is spoken are not one but two personnes Yet is ther but one Lorde and god and they both the father that speaketh and the sonne to whome is spoken are the Lord therfore are they one of one substaunce and beynge they very true god Nether is the sonne lesse then the father There can also none be a father except he haue a sonne or a chylde Now is the euer lastyng father God therfore is the sonne also euerlastynge There is also but one onely euerlastinge without begynnynge Both the father and the sonne are eternal without begynnynge therfore are they one onely true God with the holy gooste Lyke as Johan also sayeth In the begynnynge that is to saye from euerlastinge was the worde and the worde was with God and the worde was god And immediatly therafter sayeth he that the worde is Jesus Christe our Lorde For it foloweth The worde became fleshe Therfore doth Dauid also call the sonne of god specially hys Lorde sayenge The Lorde sayde vnto my Lorde And therfore calleth he Christe hys Lorde because he confesseth and beleueth that he is hys very naturall Lorde and god as Thomas also dyd knowlege My lord and my god Joh. xx Afterwarde calleth he hym hys Lorde because that after the nature of man he shulde be borne out of hys loynes For thorow out all the scripture is our Lorde Jesus called the soÌ„ne of Dauid And thus bothe Dauid knowlege two natures in Christ the nature of God and the nature of man That the kyngdome of Christ shall last for euer and that the kynde and nature of man shalbe exalted aboue all heauens aâ— Paul saieth hâ—b ii Dauid testifieth witâ— these wordes Syt thou at my ryghte haÌ„de tyl I make thyne enemies thy foâ—e stole For Marke sayeth in the .xvi. Chapter The Lorde was taken vp in to heaueÌ„ anâ— sytteth at the ryght hand of God â–ª Of thiâ— also fynde we i. Cor. xv Now he must â—â— des be very God in dede whyche reyâ—nethe for euer and to whome all enemâ—es muste be subdued yâ—a cast vtterly vnder hys fete Nowe foloweth the secondâ— verse The Lorde shall sende thy myghtye staf out of Syon thou shalâ— be Lord eueâ— in the myddes amonge thyne enemyes Here speketh he of the preaching of the holy Gospell and how the worlde shulde be conuerted vnto Christe and Chryste to reygne in the myddes of the worlde In the fyrste verse is spoken of the eternall kyngdome that he is very God lyuynge and reignynge for euer not onely in thys tyme but also after thys tyme eternally Bu here speaketh he specially of the kyngdome where as he reygneth here benethe thorow the Gospell For the staf the scepter the rodde of Chryste is the holy Gospell euen the power of god whych saueth all that beleue Roma i. Whyche maketh Christes enemies frendes and smyteth them downe that wyll not coÌ„uerte so that Chryste hath dominion and victory euen in the myddes amonge hys enemies It is he that wyth the spirite of hys mouthe slayeth the Antichristes Thys hys worde also and preachynges of the Gospell came forth fyrst from Syon or Hierusalem as Esaye Micheas Luke doth testifye Now foloweth the thyrd verse In the day of thy battayll or armye shall thy pâ—ople be well wyllynge the dew of thy byrth is vnto the in an holy maiestye oute of the wombe of the cleare mornynge Here with doth Dauid describe the glorious and victorious fayth of the christeÌ„ For whan the Gospell is preached there aryseth a conflicte betwene faith and infidelite betwene the sede of Christ and the serpent betwene ydolatrye and true godlynesse And the vnbeleuers persecute the Lorde Christe in hys membres that is to saye the faythfull but they are well conteÌ„t vtterly to geue ouer body honour and goodes theyr bloud and lyfe for gods truthes sake For the martyrs and they in the prymitiue Churche beynge gathered together of the Apostles and after the Apostles tyme haue thus kepte trueth fayth towarde the Lorde Christ and were wyllynge to dye â—or knowlegynge hym Afterward
lyfe tyme he dyd chose Apostles whome he receaued to be witnesses of all hys doctryne miracles enfourmyng them diligently helde nothyng backe from them For he sayeth vnto them Ye are my frendes yf ye do all that I commaunde you I wyll hence forth call you no more seruauntes for a seruant woteth not what hys Lorde doth But I haue called you my frendes for all that I haue heard of my father haue I opened vnto you Joh. â—v But for asmoche as they yet lacked vnderstondnge were forgetfull and had euer straunge ymaginacions of the kyngdome of Christ therfore whan he now ascended vnto heauen he charged them not to departe from Hierusalem but to wayte for the holy gooste whome he also gaue vnto them vpon the fiftieth daye after his resurrection that is vpon the tenth daye after his ascension euen the fiftenthe daye of Maye by the which holy goost they beynge illuminate spake with all maner of langagâ—â— and were myndfull of all that the Lorde had commaunded them aâ—oâ—e For the holy goost dyd not endew them with a newe doctryne but it that the Lord had taught them out of the lawe and the prophetes the same dyd he bringe to their remembraunce and illucidate all thinges prynted them more clearly in ther hertes For so sayeth the. Lorde in the gospell The conforter euen the holy gost whom the father wyll sende in my name he shall teache you all thinges and bringe all thynges to youre remembraunce that I haud sayde vnto you Therfore so longe as the Lorde was with them and tolde them all the matter of hys passion they were sorye and coulde not beare awaye all that he sayd vnto them But after that he was taken vp frome the erth in to heauen he sent the holy goost euen him whome the prophetes also had before that led them into all Christen veryte So whan they were endowed with the holy gooste they beganne accordige to the Lordes commaundemente to preach in all the world the foresayde matter of saluacion purged and obteyned onely by Christ and gotten by true faith For he had sayde Go your waye in to all the world and preach the gospell vnto all creatures Who so beleueth and is baptised shalbe saued c. And therwith comprendeth he both the poyntes whiche the Apostles vsed and practised euen the preachyng of the faith in Jesus Christ and of the ministracion of the sacramentes And how the Apostles doctryne was it is manifest out of the Actes of the Apostles But shortly and in a summe they preached amendement of lyfe and remission of synnes thorow Jesus Christ That is to saye howe that the whole generacion of man laye in the dominion of the deuel and in y e bondes of synne cursed and damned but God had mercy on vs all sente his soone in to this worlde to dye and with hys death to restore vs vnto lyfe and to wash vs with his bloude that who so euer beleueth in hym shulde not perish but haue eternall lyfe All this declared they out of the lawe and the prophetes proued that Jesus Christ whome they preached is the blessed sede promised vnto the fathers Who so is desyrous to haue a perfecte ensample of this declaracion he fyndeth two sermons of the famous Apostles Peter and Paul the one in the Actes of the Apostles the secoÌ„de chapter the other in the. xiii chap. There doth the holy Apostle open the mistery of our holy faith very excellently declaringe it from the tyme of Abraham vnto Dauid from him vnto Jhon the baptist There vpon sheweth he how Christ suffred dyed was buried and rose agayne from death All this confirmeth he with the scriptures of the prophetes At the last he concludeth the sermon after this maner Be it kowen vnto you therfore ye men and brethren that thorowe Jesus is preached vnto you forgeuenesse of synnes and that by hym all they that beleue are iustified from all thynges from the which ye coulde not be iustified by the lawe of Moses To this now also the sermon of Peter Yee all the scryptures of the Apostles do fynally accorde to the same effect Hereout also bring they y e doctrine of repentaunce and amendment of lyfe the rebuking of synne conslacions exhortacions and drawyng to all maner of good workes that folowe out of faith The speciall sacramentes whiche the lord dyd chefely institute and commaunde the Apostles to praise in the churche are holye Baptyme and the blessed supper of oure Lorde Jesus Christ Concernynge y â— first he saieth To me is geuen all power in heauen and in erth therfore go youre waye and teach all people baptise them in the name of the father of the sonne and of the holy goost and teach them to kepe all that I haue commaunded you The other dyd he institute at the last supper For thus is it written in the holy gospell WhaÌ„ they were eatynge he toke bred and whan he had geuen thankes he brake it and gaue them sayeng Take eate this is my bodye whiche shall be geueÌ„ for you this do in the remembraunce of me So toke he also y â— cuppe whan they had supte and sayde Drynke ye all out of this This is my bloud of y â— new testament which shall be shed for the remission of sinnes With suche sacrameÌ„tes thorow outward visible stourmes for our infirmities sake pleased it the lord to shewe set before oure eyes his heueÌ„ly in visible grace not that we shuld continue still hanginge in the visible thing but that we shuld lyft vp our myndes and with a true beleue to holde fast to prynte sure in oure myndes to worshippe and to enioye the thinges that faith sheweth vs by the outward sacramentes With these outward sacramentes also hath it pleased him to opeÌ„ declare and shewe vnto vs his grace and louynge kydnesse Namely how that he geueth vnto vs him self and all his riches clenseth vs fedeth and moystureth oure soules wyth hys flesh and bloud that he is at one with vs and we with him so that we vse and practise the sacramentes with a true faith For the outward enioyeng of the sacramentes of it selfe alone doth not reconcyle vs wyth God but yf they be vsed with fayth than as Saynte Peter saieth Act. xv thorow faith doth God purifye the hertes With the sacramentes pleased it hym to leue behynd him a remembraunce of his giftes benefites to the intent that we shuld neuer forget them but prayse and thanke him therfore Morouer with vysible sacramentes was it his will to gather vs together and to marke vs in remembraunce of oure dewty how we are one body to gether and ought to applye our selues to all righteousnesse All which thinges are foude at lenthe in the scriptures of the Apostles As for the Apostles they mynistred the. sacramentes diligently puâ—râ—ly and symply and so without anye addicion distributed them vnto
the people of God Touching baptyme ther are many ensamples in the actes of the Apostles The supper of Jesus Christ had the Corinthians somwhat altered And whan Paull poynted them agayne to the true ordinaunce and right vse he taketh the symple wordes institucion of Jesu Christ without anye more addicion and layeth those before them commaundeth them to folowe the same and holdeth him therwith well content .i. Corinth xi And thus dyd the holy Apostles gather together all HeytheÌ„ and people thorow the preachinge of the gospell and mynistracion of the sacramentes in the church whose heade is Christ in whom they are buylded and preserued Morouer they dyd not layed them sore with any ceremonies For in the Actes of the Apostles the .ii. chap where as a perfecte shappe of a right Christen congregacion is descrybed we haue fyrst the â—eudinge of the Apostles amonge whom Peter dyd fyrst preach the gospell that is to saye repentaunce and forgeuenesse of synnes in Christ Jesu Then baptised he theÌ„ that were become the people of God Afterward foloweth it that they whych were become Christen contynued in the doctryne of the Apostles in prayer in breakinge of the bred in the foloshippe Here are the ryght substanciall poyntes of the Cristen church sufficiently expressed the doctryne of amendment of lyfe remission of synnes baptyme the contynuynge and increasyng in Christes doctrine prayer the holy supper of the Lorde and the feloshyppe that is loue kyndnesse and workes of mercy Now where as Act. xv it is ordeyned that the Heythen shoulde eate no bloude nor strangled it endured but for a tyme and theyr meanyng was therby to a voyde offendynge of the weake Otherwyse haue the Apostles euery where specially Paul very exnestly exhorted men to contynue by the doctrine that was shewed delyuered theÌ„ and to be at a poynte in theÌ„ selues to auoyde suche lernynge as was new and brought vp by men because they leade meÌ„ farre froÌ„ the trueth as we fynde Collos ii Philip. iii. i. Timoth. iiii vi and Titum i. And thus is it manifest that the apostles taught al natioÌ„s no newer strauge thyng but euen the same that they had receyued of the Lorde ☞ A conclusion that this fayth is the ryght true olde fayth whyche alway shall stonde sure THis holy vndefiled faith which the Lorde â—â—anted and set vp in all nations by the Apostles immediatly after the Apostles dysseasse was â—ore â–ª attempted by sondrye vncleaâ—e personnes whych brought vp false customes and misbeleuers and made perâ—ous sectes Besydes thys also was it sore persecuted wyth the swerde of tyrauntes But in all such daungers the trueth ouer came and had the victory For though the cytezins of the deuels cytye accordinge to the dispositioÌ„ of theyr patriarke Cain dyd mur thur â— all though falfe prophetes brought vp euell counsaill yet the cytye of God triumpheth and the bloude of innocent Abell and his brethren speaketh yet But after that the persecucioÌ„ was somwhath â—rassed and the persecuters sore and horrâ—bly punished for their bloude sheddinge the heresies also beinge well brought downe by faythfull shepherdes In the same rest also was oure holy fayth not a litle hurt For rest put a waye feare brought ydle felicite voluptuousnes and fleshly sekynge of riches and dominyon and so thorow couetousnes and ambisioÌ„ there was pouâ—ed great poyson in to the church wherby religion sore decayed For whyle the mynisters of the worde laboured more after riches then to perfourme their office and charge and to edt â—â—e the church they were pleased with supersticiousnes in steade of true religion Of â—â—uâ—s then folowed it farther that the singlenesse of fayth was forgotten newe lawâ—s made the olde rytes and customes ether peruerted or els vtterly ouerthroweÌ„ and abused wherby men came farrâ— from the doctryne and Christen ceremonies from the waye of trueth in to erâ—oure foo â—â—â—ly partly in to ceremonies of ydolatrye Here of commeth it that we haâ—â— now the abhomination of the popes power of pardons of masses for the deed and quycke of merites power and intercession of sayntes in heauen of worshyppinge their bones vpon eâ—th of ydols and vayne ornamentes pompe pryde of the church of hyred syngynge and prayenge in the temple and of the whole swarme of ydele religious All whiche thynges with other moâ— like fondnesse are nothing but new alteracions peruertinges and contrary to all olde ordinaunces hauynge no grounde in gods woâ—de and are cleane agaynst God though many hardnecked people are yet in a furye and braule for such hinges and wyll make all the world beleue that thys theyr foolishnes alteracion peruerâ—â—nge of Gods ordinaunce is the olde fayth And yet woâ—e they or wyll not knowe that theyr â—abling hath very litle grounde and that they yf they considred the matter as it is are very naked and miserable And though this papisticall religioÌ„ hath endured preuayled triumphed now certayne hundreth yeares yet hath God all waye sent his â—aythfull seruantes and had a litle holy flock of his owne like as afore tyme in the dayâ—s of the iudges oft the kinges of Juda and Israel and in the captiuite of Babilon though it was all moost at the worst afore at the coÌ„minge of Christ Like as it is also with vs the nyer the second commynge of Christ the worse is it in the world Neuertheles as I sayde afore God all waye set forth his worde and doth yet Contrary wyse the pope with his multitude and â–ª Machomet with his as it semeth and becometh very Antichristes haue hitherto vndertaken to suppresse the olde religion and to set vp hys owne ordinaunce vnknowne to oure fathers of olde tyme to bringe it in to possession and vnder y â— name of God and his holy church to sprede it vpon all christendome For out of y â— Actes and statutes of the pope and hys wanton spiritualtye and out of the lawes of Machomet it is manifest what the one hath taken in hand and done now more then 600. yeares and the other vpon a 900 yeares It is cuident yet also euen now wherto hys generall coun sayls and perliamentes do extende But not â–ª regardinge how he threnteneth â—nd faceth and how he garnisheth hys new and wanton religions with false but dissemblynge titles boastinge of many hundreth yeares many generall counsayles fathers holy men doctours vniuersities closters syngyng prayeng fasting almes geuinge deâ—plynge and telleth suche lyke All hys â–ª bragginge set a syde let vs cast hys relygion from vs take vpon vs vnfaynedly the true olde religion which hath endured sens the begynnyng of the worlde by the which all holy mâ—n haue euer loued worshipped and serued God knew nothinge vtterly of the Popes religion And yf we must for thys cauâ—e be hated and persecuted of the worlde well it happened euen so vnto all holy Prophetes before vs lykewyse and specially vnto Jesus Christe our Lorde