plentiously And let euery man do according as he hath purposed in hys hart not grudgingly or of necessitie For God loueth a cheerefull geuer God is able to make you riche in all grace that ye in all thinges hauing sufficient vnto the vttermost may bee riche vnto all maner of good workes as it is written He hath sparsed abroad and hath geuen to the poore and hys righteousnes remayneth for euer The office of thys ministration not onely supplyeth the nede of the saintes but also is abundant herein y t for this laudable ministring thankes might be geuen to God of many which praise God for y t obedience of your consenting to y ◠Gospel of Christ and for your singlenes in distributing to them to all mē and in their prayers for you which long after you for the abundaunt grace of God in you Thankes be vnto God for his vnspeakable gift ¶ The dutie of all estates and degrees ¶ The dutie of the hie powers and of the other temporall Magistrates THe dutie of the high powers and of the other temporall rulers is to be learned in the lawe of God to maintaine pure and Christian Religion to nourishe and defend the preachers and studientes of Gods worde to banishe all false religion idolatry to punishe yea and if they wil not turne to kill the preachers and maintainers of false doctrine to iudge equally indifferently without parcialitie to take no bribes nor to oppresse the common people but to care for thē as a father for his children to defend the good to correct the euill to auaunce vertue and to punishe vice That they ought to bee learned in the lawes of God ☞ Probations out of the holy Scriptures The king shall not multiplie horses to him self neither ought he to multiply wiues vnto him self least his hart turne away neither shall he gather him siluer and golde to much And when he is set vpon the seate of hys kingdome hee shall write hym out a copie of this lawe in a booke And it shall bee with hym and hee ought to read therin all the dayes of his life that he may learne to feare the Lorde hys God and to keepe all the wordes of this lawe and these ordinaunces for to doe them and that his hart arise not aboue his brethren and that he turne not frō the commaūdement to the right hand or to the left but that he may prolong his dayes in hys kingdome Let not the booke of thys lawe depart out of thy mouth but recorde therin day night that thou mayest obserue doe according to all that is written For then shalt thou make thy way prosperous and then shalt thou do wisely Get ye vnderstanding now O ye kinges be learned ye that iudge the earth Serue the Lord in feare and reioyce vnto hym with reuerence Kisse the sonne least he be angry so ye perish frō the right way If your delight be in royall seates and scepters O ye kinges of y e people set your lust vppon wisedome that ye may raigne for euermore O loue the light of wisedome all ye that be rulers of the people ¶ Read the ix Chapter of the booke of Wisedome That they ought to maintaine pure and Christian Religion ☞ Probations out of the holy Scriptures How greatly king Dauid aduanced Gods religion sought hys glory the holy Scriptures make mencion Asa king of Iuda did that was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God For he tooke away straunge altars hill altars and brake downe the images and cut down the groues and cōmaunded Iuda to seeke the Lorde God of their fathers and to doe according to the law and commaundement Yea he put away y e abominable Idols that hys father had made And he put down Maacha his mother from bearing rule because she had made images in groues And Asa destroyed her images burnt thē by the broke Cedron The Lord God therfore gaue hym and all his land rest and quietnes Iehosaphat king of Iuda sent to hys Lordes that they shoulde teach in the cities of Iuda with them he sent Leuites and priestes And they taught in Iuda and had the booke of the lawe of God with them went about through out all the cities of Iuda and taught the people And the feare of the Lorde fell vppon all the kingdomes of the landes y t were round about Iuda they fought not agaynst Iehosaphat And the Lord stablished the kingdome in his hand and all they that were in Iuda brought king Iehosaphat presentes so that hee had abundance of riches honour King Hezekia put away the hill altars and brake the images and cut downe the groues and all to brake the brasen serpent that Moses had made He renued the feast of the Passeouer He ordayned Priestes and Leuites to serue the Lord God prouided honest liuinges for them that they might substantially apply thē selues to the lawe of the Lord. And the Lorde was with hym so that he prospered in all thynges which he tooke in hand The good king Iosias beside the purging of Iuda and Ierusalem frō hill altars groues carued images and images of metall and such other kindes of idolatry he repayred the house of the Lord his God renued the feast of the Passeouer red in the eares of all the people the wordes of the lawe of the Lorde and made a faythfull promise vnto the Lorde that he and all hys people should walke according to the statutes of that booke And they turned not aside from the Lorde God of their fathers so long as he liued The Lorde God therfore deferred hys plague y t he had threatned to Iuda suffered Iosias to liue in much honour and brought hym to hys graue in peace so that hys eyes dyd not see the mischiefe that the Lorde God afterward brought immediatly vppon Ierusalem and vppon the inhabitors of the same Kinges shall bee thy nursing fathers and Queenes shall be thy nursing mothers That they ought to punishe yea and if they will not turne to kill the preachers and maintainers of false doctrine ☞ Probations out of the holy Scriptures If there rise among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreames and geue thee a signe or wonder that signe or wonder which hee hath said come to passe and then say let vs go after straunge Gods which thou hast not knowen and let vs serue them harken not thou vnto the wordes of that prophet or dreamer of dreames For the Lorde thy God proueth you to know whether you loue the Lorde your God with all your hart with all your soule Ye shall walke after y ◠Lorde your God and feare hym and kepe his commaundement and harken vnto his voyce serue hym cleaue vnto hym And that prophet or dreamer of dreames shall die because he hath spoken to turne you away from the Lord
is such see that ye eate not Neither fornicators neither adultrers neither weaklings neither abusers of theÌ„ selues with maÌ„kind shall inherite y â— kingdome of God Let vs not be defâ—â—ed with fornication as some of them were defiled with fornication and fell in one day xxiij thousand As for fornication all vncleannes let it not be once named amoÌ„g you as it becoÌ„meth sainctes or filthines or folishe talking or iesting which are not comly but rather giuing of thankes For this ye know y â— no whoremonger nor vncleane person hath any inheritance in the kingdome of Christ and of God This is the will of God euen your holines y t ye should abstaine from fornication that euery one of you should know how to keepe his vessell in holines honour and not in y â— lust of concupiscence as do the heathen which know not God Wedlocke is honourable among all men and the bed vndefiled As for whoremongers and adultrers God shall iudge them Whoremongers haue their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone ¶ The eight Commaundement THou shalt not steale ☞ The confirmations Ye shal not steale neither lie neither deale falsly one with an other Thou shalt not do thy neighbour wrong neither rob him violently neither shall thy workmans labour abide with thee till the morning Ye shall do no vnrighteousnes in iudgement in metyard in weight or in measure True balances and true waight shall ye haue I am the Lorde If thou sellest ought vnto thy neighbour or byest of thy neighbors hand ye shall not deceaue one an other If thy brother bee 〈◊〉 poore and fallen into decay with thee thou shalt relieue hym that he may liue with thee Thou shalt not geue hym thy money vppon 〈◊〉 nor lend him thy corne for increase Thou shalt not take vsury of hym or vauntage If one of thy brethreÌ„ among you be poore within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lorde God geueth thee thou shalt not haâ—den thy hart nor shut thyâ—e 〈◊〉 from thy poore brother but â—pen thine hand vnto him 〈…〉 The land shall neuer be without poore and therefore I commaund thee saying Thou shalt open thine hand vnto thy brother that is needie and poore in thy land Who so keepeth company with a theefe hateth hys owne soule Wo be to thee y â— spoylest for thou thy selfe shalt be spoyled Breake thy bread to the hungry and bring the poore waudring into thine house When thou seest a naked man â—ouer him and so shalt thou not despise thy fleshe The theefe is cursed of God all that he hath shall come to nought Shame and sorow goeth ouer the theefe Anna olde Tobies wife went dayly to the weauing worke and looke what liuing she coulde gette with the labour of her handes she brought it home And it happened that she tooke a kid and brought it home and wheÌ„ her husbaÌ„d heard it cry he said looke that it bee not stollen if it bee restore it agayne to the owners for it is not lawfull for vs to eate or touch any thing that is stollen Geue almes of thy goods and turne neuer thy fare froÌ„ the poore so shall it come to passe that the face of the Lord shall not be turned away from thee Be mercifull after thy power If thou hast much geue plentiously if thou hast little doe thy diligence gladly to geue of that little For so gatherest thou thy selfe a good reward in the day of necessitie For mercy deliuereth from all sinne and from death and suffereth not the soule to come in darkenes Beholde Lorde sayd Zacheus the halfe of my goods do I geue to the poore if I haue done any maÌ„ wrong I restore him foure folde Neither theeues neither pillers shall inherite y e kingdome of God Let hym y t stole steale no more but let hym rather labour with his haÌ„des y e thyng which is good that he may geue vnto him that nedeth ¶ The ninth Commaundement THou shalt not beare false witnes agaynst thy neighbour ☜ The confirmations Thou shalt not accept a vaine tale neither shalt thou put thy hand to the wicked to be an vnrighteous witnes If any vnrighteous witnes rise vp against a man to accuse hym of trespasse then both the men which striue together shal staÌ„d before the Lord before the priestes the iudges which shall be in those dayes and the iudges shall make diligent inquisition And if the witnes be found false and that he hath geuen false witnes agaynst hys brother then shall you do to him as he had thought to do to his brother and thou shalt put away euill froÌ„ thee Cursed be he y t taketh a reward to stay the soule of innocent bloud and all the people shall say Amen The Lord hateth a false witnes that bringeth vp lies A false witnes shall not remaine vnpunished and he that speaketh lies shall perishe A false witnes shall perishe but he that is a true man boldly speaketh that he hath heard Who so beareth false witnes agaynst hys neighbour he is a very club a sworde and a sharpe arrow The mouth that lyeth slayeth the soule Thou O Lord wilt destroy all them that speake lies In no wyse speake agaynst the worde of truth but be ashamed of thy lying Use not to make any maner of lie for y â— custome therof is not good A theefe is better then a maÌ„ that is accustomed to lie but they both shall haue destruction to heritage The two elders that bare witnes against Susanna were stoned to death Out of the hart come false witnesses and those defile a man Euill speakers shall not inherite the kingdome of God Put away lying and speake euery man truth vnto his neighbour for asmuch as we are members one of an other All lyers shall haue their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone ¶ The tenth Commaundement THou shalt not couet thy neighbours house thou shalt not couet thy neighbours wife nor his seruant nor hys maide nor hys Oxe nor his Asse nor any thing that is hys ☜ The confirmations Keepe thy hart with all diligeÌ„ce for therupon hangeth life God hateth an hart that goeth about with wicked imaginations Take heede that thou lust not in thy hart after the beautie of a straunge woman Euill thoughtes are abomination to the Lord. Who soeuer loketh on an other mans wife lusting after her hath committed adultery with her already in his hart Out of the hart procede euill thoughtes and those defile a man The cares of this world and the deceitfulnes of riches the lustes of other thinges choke the worde and make it vnfruitfull Take heede to your selues least at any tyme your hartes bee ouercome
I am not come to call the righteoâ—s but sinners to repentance Come vnto me all ye that labour and are laden and I will ease you Repent and beleue the Gospell I say vnto you that ioy shall bee in heauen ouer one sinner that repeÌ„teth more then ouer ninetie and nine iust persons which neede no repentaunce The sonne of man is come to â—eke to saue that which was lost Repent and conuert that your sinnes may be done away As ye haue geuen your members seruauntes to vncleannes and to iniquitie from one iniquitie to an other euen so now geue ouer your members seruauntes vnto righteousnes that ye may be sanctified Put of that olde man which is corrupt according to the deceaueable lustes and bee ye renued in the spirite of your minde putting on that new man which after God is shapen in righteousnes and true holines Mortifiâ— your earthy members fornication vncleannes vnnaturall lust euill coÌ„cupiscence and couetousnes which is worshipping of Idoles For which thinges sake the wrath of God vseth to come on the disobedient children among whom ye walked sometime when ye liued in them But now put ye also away froÌ„ you all such thinges wrath fearcenes maliciousnes cursed speaking filthy coÌ„munication Lie not one to an other seing that ye haue put of the olde man with his workes and haue put on the new maÌ„ which is renued into the knowledge and image of hym that made hym Therfore as the electe of God holy and beloued put on tender mercy kindnes humblenes of minde meekenes long suffering forbearing one an other and forgeuing one an other if any man haue a quarrell agaynst an other as Christ forgaue you euen so do ye Aboue all these thinges put on loue which is the bond of perfection And what soeuer ye doe in word or deede doe all in the name of the Lord Iesu geuing thankâ—â— to God the father by hym ¶ Of Baptisme ¶ What Baptisme is BAptisme is the ordinaunce of Christ to washe euery beleuing Christian with water in the name of the father and of the sonne and of the holy ghost S. Paule calleth Baptisme the fountaine of the new birth and renuing of the holy ghost ☜ Probations out of the holy Scriptures All power is geuen vnto me in heauen and in earth Goe ye therefore and teach all nacions baptising them in the name of the father and of the sonne and of the holy ghost teaching theÌ„ to obserue all thinges what soeuer I haue commaunded you Goe ye into all the world and preach y â— Gospell to euery creature He that beleueth and is haptised shall be saued But he that beleueth not shall be damned Except a maÌ„ be borne froÌ„ aboue he can not see y â— kingdome of God Uerily verily I say vnto thee except a maÌ„ be borne of water and of y â— spirite he caÌ„not enter into the kingdome of God That which is borne of the fleshe is flesh and that which is borne of y â— spirit is spirite ¶ To what vse Baptisme was vsed First to be a sure seale and an euident testimony vnto vs that God the father for his sonne Iesus Christes sake hath freely forgeuen vs all our sinnes receaued vs into hys fauour and geuen vs the holy ghost by whoÌ„ we are borne a new not of mortall but of immortall seede by whom also we are made the sonnes and heyres of God and through sayth reckened pure and holy in hys godly sight ☜ Probations out of the holy Scriptures He that beleueth and is baptised shall be saued Repent you of your sinnes and be baptised euery one of you in the name of Iesus Christ for the remission of sinnes and ye shall receaue the gift of the holy ghost Christ loued the congregation gaue him selfe for it to sanctifie it and clensed it in the fountaine of water through the worde to make it vnto him self a glorious coÌ„gregation without spot or wrinckle or any such thing that it should be holy and without blame Not by the deedes of righteousnes which we wrought but according to his mercy hath hee saued vs by y e fountaine of the new birth and renuing of y e holy ghost which he shed on vs abundantly through Iesus Christ our Sauiour that wâ— iustified by hys grace should bee made heyres according to the hope of eternall life Baptisme saueth vs not by the putting away of the filth of y â— flesh but in that a good conscience consenteth to God by the resurrection of Iesus Christ which is on the right hand of God and is gone into heauen Secondly to put vs in remembrance that for as much as we are become the souldiours of Christ we ought so long as we liue valiauntly to fight agaynst the deuill the world and the fleshe to mortifie all vncleane lustes to die vnto sinne and to rise againe new meÌ„ bearing the image of Christ and fashioning our conuersation and maners after his example that we may learne the Lord our God in such holines and righteousnes as is allowed before hym all the dayes of our life ☜ Probations out of the holy Scriptures know ye not that all we which are baptised into Iesus Christ are baptised to die with hym We are buried then with him by baptisme for to dye that likewise as Christ was raised from death by the glory of the father euen so we also should walke in a new life For if we bee graft in death like vnto hym euen so shall we partakers of the resurrection knowing this that our old maÌ„ is crucified with hym also that the body of sinne might vtterly bee destroyed y t hence forth we should not be seruauntes vnto sinne For hee that is dead is iustified from sinne Wherefore if we bee dead with Christ we beleue that we shall also liue with him All ye that are baptised haue put on Christ. Ye are buryed with Christ thorow baptisme in whom ye are also risen againe thorow fayth that is wrought by the operation of God which raysed hym from death If ye then bee risen againe with Christ seke those things which are aboue where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God Set your affection on heauenly thinges not on earthly thinges For ye are dead your life is hid with Christ in God When soeuer Christ which is your life shall shewe him selfe then shall ye also appeare with hym in glory ¶ Of the Lordes Supper ¶ What the Lordes Supper is THe Lordes Supper is an holy and heauenly bancket in the which the faythfull Christians besides the corporall eating of the bread the outward drinking of the wine do spiritually thorow fayth both eate the body of Christ and drinke his bloud vnto the confirmation of their fayth the comfort of their conscience and the saluation of their soules ¶ To what vse Christ did institute hys holy Supper
of any mans hand He sayd vnto them againe the Lorde is witnes agaynst you and hys annointed is witnes thys day that ye haue no euill in my handes What chaunced to Rehoboam king Salomons sonne for the vngentle entreating of hys coÌ„mons the holy histories do testifie Read iij. Regum .xij. Chapt. That they ought to care for the commoâ—â— as a father for hys children ☜ The confirmations Mercy and faythfulnes preserue the king and with louing kindnes hys seate is holden vp If thou be made a ruler pride not thy selfe therin but be thou as one of the people Take diligent care for them and looke well therto and when thou hast done all thy dutie set thee down that thou mayest be mery with theÌ„ receaue a crowne of glory With how fatherly a care Moses Samuell Dauid and diuers other noble princes gouerned their people the holy Scriptures doe euidently declare That they ought to defend the good and to correct the euill to aduaunce vertue and to punishe vice ☜ Probations out of the holy Scriptures Learne to doe right apply your selues to equitie deliuer the oppressed helpe the fatherles to his right let the widowes complaint come before you Thus the Lord commaundeth keepe equitie and righteousnes deliuer the oppressed from the power of the violent doe not greeue nor oppresse the straunger the fatherles nor the widow and shed no innocent bloud Execute true iudgement shew mercy and louing kindnes euery maÌ„ to his brother Do the widow the fatherles the strauÌ„ger poore no wrong and let no maÌ„ imagine euil against his brother in his hart Deliuer hym y â— suffereth wrong from the hand of the oppressour and be not faint harted when thou sittest in iudgement Be mercifull vnto the fatherles as a father and be in stede of an husbaÌ„d vnto their mother so shalt thou be as an obedient sonne of the hiest and he shall loue thee more then thy mother doth My song shall bee of mercie and iudgement vnto thee O Lorde will I sing O let me haue vnderstaÌ„ding in the way of godlines when wilt thou come vnto me I will walke in my house with a perfect hart I will take no wicked thing in hand I hate the sinnes of vnfaithfulnes there shall no such cleaue vnto me A froward hart shall depart froÌ„ me I will not know a wicked person Who so priuily slaundreth hys neighbor him will I destroy who so hath also a proud looke an hie stomacke I will not suffer hym Mine eyes loke vnto such as be faithfull in the land that they may dwell with me who so leadeth a godly life he shall be my seruant There shall no deceitefull person dwell in my house he that telleth lies shall not tary in my sight I shall soone destroy all the vngodly that are in the land that I may roote out all wicked doers from the citie of the Lord. Rulers are not fearefull to them that do good but to theÌ„ y â— do euill Wilt thou be without feare of the power Do well then and so shalt thou be praysed of y â— same For he is the minister of God for thy wealth But and if thou doe that which is euill then feare for he beareth not the sworde for nought for he is the minister of God to take vengeance on hym that doth euill ¶ The duteie of Subiectes vnto the high powers THe dutie of Subiectes vnto the hie powers is honourably to speake of them hartily to loue and reuerence them humâ—bly to obey them for conscience sake in all thynges that fight not with Gods worde feruently to pray for them and willingly to pay such charges vnto them as they reasonably require eyther for the mainteinance of their princelike estate or els for the sauegarde of the common wealth ☜ Probations out of the holy Scriptures Thou shalt not raile vppon the Gods that is to say the temporall Magistrates which execute that office of God neyther blaspheme the ruler of thy people Wishe the king no euill in thy thought and speake no hurt of the rich in thy priuie chaÌ„ber for a byrde of the ayre shall betray thy voyce and with her feathers shall she bewray thy wordes Let euery soule submit him selfe vnto the hier powers For there is no power but of God The powers that be are ordayned of God Who soeuer therfore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinaunce of God But they that resiste shall receaue to them selues damnation For rulers are not fearefull to them that doe good but to them that do euill Wilt thou be without feare of the power Do well then and so shalt thou be praysed of the same For he is y e minister of God for thy wealth But if thou do that which is euill then feare for hee beareth not the sworde for nought for he is the minister of God to take vengeance on hym that doth euill Wherefore ye must needes obey not only for feare of punishment but also for conscience sake And for this cause pay ye tribute For they are Gods ministers seruing for the same purpose Geue to euery maÌ„ therfore hys dutie tribute to whoÌ„ tribute belongeth custome to whom custome is due feare to whoÌ„ feare belongeth honour to whoÌ„ honour pertaineth I exhort therfore that aboue all thinges prayers supplications intercessions and geuing of thankes be had for all men for kinges and for all that are in authoritie that we may liue a quiet and peaceable life with all godlines and honestie For that is good and acceptable in the â—â—ght of God our Sauiour Warne the subiectes that they submit theÌ„ selues to rule power that they obey y â— officers that they be ready vnto euery good worke that they speake euill of no maÌ„ that they bee no fighters but gentle shewing meekenes vnto all men Submit your selues vnto all maner ordinance of man for y â— Lordes sake whether it be vnto the king as vnto the chiefe head either vnto rulers as vnto them that are sent of him for y â— punishment of euill doers but for the prayse of theÌ„ that do well c. Feare God Honour the king ¶ The dutie of Bishops and Ministers of Gods worde THe dutie of Bishops Ministers of Gods word is first to feede Christes flocke with y â— sweete bread of Christes Gospell without mingling of the Phariseis leauen Secondly to lead a life agreable to their doctrine y â— they may teach both with word worke Thirdly to relieue y â— poore nedie with such goods as they receaue of y â— Church either by maintaining hospitalitie or els by some other godly meanes ☜ Probations out of the holy Scriptures ¶ Of Doctrine Goe vp vnto y â— hie hill thou that bringest good tidinges lift vp thy voyce with power O thou preacher lift it vp and be not afraide Cry now as loud as y â— canst leaue not of lift
God but one The Father Thou O Lord art our father and redemer Thy name is from euerlasting Haue not we all one father Hath not one God created vs Why then doth euery one of vs despise hys owne brother so breake the couenaunt of our fathers Call no maÌ„ your father vpon the earth for one is your father which is in heauen We haue but one God euen the father of whom all thinges are One Lorde one fayth one baptisme one God and one father of all which is aboue al and through all and in you all Almightie I am the almightie God walke before me and be thou perfecte Thou O Lorde art the great and mightie God whose name is the Lord of Hostes great in counsell and excellent in worke Beholde I am the Lorde God of all fleshe is there any thyng to hard for me Shall any thyng be vnpossible in my sight saith y â— Lord of Hostes With God al things are possible O Lorde God almightie true and righteous are thy iudgementes Maker of heauen and earth In the beginning God made heauen and earth The heaueÌ„s O Lord are thâ—â—â— the earth also is thine thou hast layde the foundation of the round worlde and all that therin is The Lorde made the heauens and spread them abroad and set forth the earth with her increase which geueth breath vnto the people that is in it and spirite to them that dwell therin O Lord God it is thou that hast made hauen and earth with thy great power and hie arme â–ª there is nothing hid from thee O Lorde thou art God which hast made heauen and earth the sea and all that in them is God made all thinges thorowe Iesu Christ. ¶ The second Article ANd in Iesus Christ hys onely begotteâ— Sonne our Lord. ☜ The confirmations And in Iesus Christ. He that beleueth on the sonne hath euerlasting life But hee that beleueth not on the sonne shall not see life but the wrath of God abydeth vpon hym Thys is the worke of God y â— ye beleue on him whom he hath sent If ye beleue not that I am hee ye shall die in your sinnes Christ said to y â— blind man whom he had made to see doost thou beleâ—â—a on the Soone of God He answered and soyd who is it Lord that I might beleue on him Iesus sayd vnto hym Thou hast seene hym and he it is that talketh with thee And he sayd Lord I beleue and he worshipped hym Christ sayd vnto Martha Hee that beleueth on me yea though he were dead yet shall hee liue And whosoeuer liueth and beleueth on me shall neuer die Beleuest thou this She sayd vnto him yea Lord I beleue that thou art Christ the â—onne of God which shoulde come into the world Ye beleue in God beleue also in me This is God the fathers commaundemeÌ„t that we beleue on the name of hys sonne Iesus Christ. He that beleveth on the sonne of God hath the witnes in hym selfe He y â— beleueth not God hath made hym a lier because hee beleued not the recorde that God gaue of hys sonne And this is that record how that God hath gaueÌ„ vnto vs eternall life this life is in his sonne He that hath the sonne hath life and he that hath not y â— sonne hath not life His onely begotten Sonne The Lord said vnto me y â— art myn soÌ„ne this day haue I begotteÌ„ thee This is my welbeloued sonne in whom I am well pleased Thou art Christ the sonne of the liuing God God hath so loued y â— worlde that he gaue hys onely begotten sonne that euery one y â— beleueth on him may not perishe but haue euerlasting life For God sent not hys sonne into the world to condemne the world but that y â— world should be saued by hym He that beleueth on hym is not condemned but hee that beleueth not is already coÌ„demned because hee hath not beleued on the name of the onely begotteÌ„ sonne of God In this appeareth y â— loue of God toward vs because y â— God sent hys onely begotten sonne into y â— world that we might liue through hym Our Lord. I am the Lord and thys is my name My glory will I geue to none other neyther myne honour to grauen Images God is faythfull by whom ye are called vnto the fellowship of hys sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. There is but one Lord eueÌ„ Iesus Christ by whoÌ„ are all thynges and we by hym Ye call me Master and Lorde ye say well for so am I in deede ¶ The thyrd Article WHich was conceaued by the holy ghost borne of the Virgin Mary ☜ The confirmations Which was conceaued by the holy Ghost Ioseph y â— sonne of Dauid feare not to take vnto thee Mary thy wife For that which is conceaued in her commeth of the holy ghost The holy ghost shall come vpon thee and the power of y â— â—iert shalt ouershadow thee Therfore that holy thyng which shall bee borne shall be called the sonne of God Borne of the Virgin Mary Beholde a Uirgin shall coÌ„ceaue and 〈◊〉 are a some and thou shalt call hys name Emanuell Unto vs is a childe borne and vnto vs a sonne is geuen There shall come a rod forth of the kinred of I say and a blossome shall florishe out of hys roote Iacob beg at Ioseph y â— husband of Mary of whom Iesus was borne which is called Christ. She shal bring forth a sonne and y â— shalt call hys name Iesus For he shall saue his people froÌ„ their sins Beholde thou shalt conceaue in thy wombe and beare a sonne and shalt call hys name Iesus When the tyme was full come God sent hys sonne made of a woman made bonde vnto the lawe ¶ The fourth Article HE suffered vnder Ponce Pilate was cruciâ—â—ed dead buried He descended into hell ☜ The confirmations He suffered vnder Ponce Pilate The kinges of the earth stoode vp and the rulers toke counsell together agaynst the Lorde and agaynst hys annoynted Of a truth O Lord agaynst thy holy childe Iesus whom thou hast annoynted both Herode and also Ponce Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israell gathered them selues together in thys citie for to do whatsoeuer thy hand and thy counsell determined before to bee done I geue thee the charge in y â— sight of God which quickneth all thinges and before Iesu Christ which vnder Ponce Pilate witnessed a good witnessing that thou keepe the commauÌ„dement and be without spot c. Was crucified They pearsed my handes and my feete He was wounded for our offences smitten for our wickednes They shall loke vpon me whom they haue pearsed As Moyses lifted vp the serpent in the wildernes so must the
sonne of man be lifted vp that euery one which beleueth on hym may not perishe but haue euerlasting lyfe Ye seeke Iesus y t was crucified We preach Christ crucified Christ hys owne selfe bare our sinnes in hys body on the tree that wee being deliuered from sinne should liue vnto righteousnes By whose stripes ye were healed Dead After thys ixij. weekes shall Christ be flame and they shall haue no pleasure in hym When we were yet â—â—uâ—ers Christ dyed for vs. Christ died for our sinnes according to the Scriptures Buryed Hys grace was geueÌ„ hym with the condeumed First of all I deliuered vnto you that which I receaued how that Christ dyed for our sinnes agreing to the Scripture and that he was buryed Ioseph and Nicodemus tooke Iesus body and buried it in a new graue Hee descended into hell Thou shalt not leaue my soule in hell neither shalt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption Thou through the bloud of thy couenaunt shalt let the prisoners out of the pit wherin is no water O death I will be thy death O hell I will be thy destruction Christ hath once suffered for sins the iuste for the vniust to bryng vs to God and was killed as pertaynyng to the fleshe but was quickned in the spirite In which spirite hee also went and preached vnto the spirites that were in prison ¶ The fift Article THe thyrd day hee rose agayne from the dead ☜ The confirmations I layd me downe and slept and rose vp againe for the Lord sustained me After two daies shall he quicken vs and in the third day shall hee raise vs vp so that we shall liue in hys sight Ye slew the authour of lyfe whom God hath raised vp from the dead Iesus Christ our Lorde rose agayne from the dead Christ died for our sinnes rose agayne for our iustification Iesus Christ rose agayn y â— third day according to the Scriptures Remember that Iesus Christ of the seede of Dauid rose againe froÌ„ death according to my Gospell ¶ The sixt Article HE ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almightie ☜ The confirmations Hee ascended into heauen God is gone vp with a mery noyse and the Lorde with y â— sound of the trumpe Thou art gone vp on hie thou hast led captiuitie captiue and receaued giftes for men It came to passe as hee blessed them hee departed from them and was caryed vp into heauen Iesus was taken vp on hie and a cloude receaued hym vp out of their sight And while they looked stedfastly vp toward heauen as he went beholde two men stoode by them in white apparell which also said ye meÌ„ of Galile why stand ye gasing vp into heauen This same Iesus which is taken vp froÌ„ you into heauen shall so come as ye haue seene hym go into heauen WheÌ„ he went on hie he led captiuitie captiue and gaue giftes vnto men That hee ascended what meaneth it but that he also descended first into the lowest partes of the earth He y â— descended is euen the same also y â— ascended vp aboue all heauens to fulfill all thinges And sitteth on the right hand of God the father almightie ☜ The confirmations The Lord sayd vnto my Lord sit thou on my right hand vntill I make thine enemies thy fotestoole When the Lord had spoken vnto them he was receaued into heauen and is sitting on y â— right hand of God Christ is on y â— right hand of God and maketh intercession for vs. If ye be risen againe with Christ seke those things which are aboue where Christ sitteth on the ryght hand of God Christ hath by hys own person purged our sinnes sitteth on the right hand of the maiestie on hie ¶ The seuenth Article FRom thence hee shall come to iudge the quicke and dead ☜ The confirmations The Lord shall iudge y â— world with righteousnes and the people with equitie Read the xxv chapt of S. Mathewes Gospell The father hath committed all iudgement vnto the sonne because that all meÌ„ should honor the sonne as they honour the father Christ was ordayned of God to be iudge of quicke and dead We must all appeare before the iudgemeÌ„t seate of Christ that euery man may receaue the works of his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad Our conuersation is in heauen from whence we looke for a Sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ which shall chaunge our vile body that he may make it lyke vnto hys glorious body accordyng to the working wherby he is able to subdue all thinges vnto hym selfe The Lorde Iesus Christ shall iudge the quicke and the dead at his appearing in his kingdome God is ready to iudge y â— quicke and the dead ¶ The eight Article I beleue in the holy Ghost ☜ The confirmations The spirite of God moued vpon the face of the waters Take not thy holy spirite froÌ„ me When Christ was baptised the holy ghost came downe vpon hyâ— in the likenes of a doue Christ coÌ„maunded hys disciples to baptise in the name of the father and of the sonne and of the holy ghost The holy ghost shall reproue the world of sinne There are three which geue witnesse in heauen y â— father the sonne and the holy ghost and they three are one ¶ The ninth Article I Beleue the holy vniuersall congregation which is the fellowship of Sainctes ☜ The confirmations If he will not heare the congregation let him be vnto thee as an heathen man and as a Publicane Christ loued the congregation and gaue him self for it to sanctifie it and clensed it in the fountayne of water through y â— word to make it vnto him self a glorious congregation without spot or wrinckle or any such thyng that it should be holy and without blame I write these thinges vnto thee that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behaue thy selfe in the house of God which is the congregation of the liuing God the piller and ground of the truth All that beleued kept themselues together and had all thinges common and sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all meÌ„ as euery man had neede And they continued dayly with one accorde in the temple brake bread from house to house and dyd eate their meate together with gladnes and singlenes of hart praysing God The multitude of them that beleued were of one hart and of one soule Neither sayd any of them that ought of the thinges which he possessed was hys owne but they had all thinges coÌ„mon And great grace was with them all Neither was there any among them that lacked For as many as were possessors of landes or houses solde them and
brought the price of the thinges that were solde and layde it down at the Apostles feete And distribution was made vnto euery man according as he had neede ¶ The tenth Article I Beleue in the forgeuenes of sinnes ☜ The confirmations I am he yea I am he which put away thine iniquities and that for mine owne sake and will remember them no more The Lorde shall put downe our wickednesses cast all our sinnes into the bottome of the sea Loke how wide the east is from the west so farre hath hee set our sinnes from vs. Yea like as a father pitieth hys owne children euen so is the Lord mercifull vnto all them that feare him For hee knoweth perfectly wherof we be made he remeÌ„breth that we are but dust Christ hath taken vpon hym our infirmities and borne our diseases The sonne of man came to seeke and saue that was lost All that beleue in Christ shall not perishe but haue euerlasting life Thys is a true saying and worthy to bee noted that Christ Iesus came into y â— world to saue sinners The bloud of Iesus Christ maketh vs cleane froÌ„ all sinne If we say we haue no sinne we deceaue our selues the truth is not in vs. But if we confesse our sinnes God is faithfull and righteous to forgeue vs our sinnes and to make vs cleane from all iniquitie ¶ The xj Article I Beleue the resurrection of the body ☜ The confirmations I beleue that my redemer liueth and that I shall rise out of y â— earth in the latter day and that I shall be clothed again with this skinne and see God my Sauiour in my fleshe Yea I my selfe shall behold hym not with other eyes but with these same eies Thys hope is stedfastly set in my hart Thy dead men shall liue euen with my body shall they rise again Awake and sing ye that dwell in the duste For thy dewe is euen as the dew of herbes the earth shall cast out them that be vnder her O ye dry bones he are the worde of the Lord. Thus sayth the Lorde God vnto these bones beholde I will put breath vnto you that ye may liue I will geue you sinewes and make fleshe grow vpoÌ„ you and couer you ouer with skinne and so geue you breath that ye may liue and know that I am the Lord. Behold I will open your graues O my people and take you out of your Sepulchres The houre shall come in y â— which all that are in y â— graues shall heare the voyce of the sonne of God and shall come forth they y t haue done good vnto the resurrection of lyfe and they that haue done euill vnto the resurrection of damnation If Christ be preached how that he rose froÌ„ the dead how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead If there be no rising agayne of the dead then is Christ not risen againe If Christ bee not risen agayne then is our preaching in vaine and your fayth also is in vaine Read the whole Chapter We know that he which raysed vp the Lord Iesus shall raise vs vp also by the meanes of Iesus If we beleue that Iesus dyed and rose againe euen them also which sleepe by Iesus will God bring againe with him Read y â— latter end of the chapter ¶ The xij Article I Beleue euerlasting life ☜ The confirmations Many of them that sleepe in the dust of the earth shall awake some to euerlasting life some to perpetuall shame reprofe The wise such as haue taught 〈◊〉 her shall glister 〈◊〉 the shining of heauen and those that haue instructed the multitude vnto godlines shal be as y â— starres world without end ¶ Read the. 2. Chapter of the 4. booke of Eâ—â—ras The righteous shall goe into euerlasting life My sheepe heare my voyce I know theÌ„ and they follow me and I geue them euerlasting life This is euerlasting life euen to know thee y t alone true God and whoÌ„ thou hast sent Iesus Christ. O Father these that thou hast geueÌ„ me I will that where I am there also they bee with me that they may see my glory which thou hast geuen me The eye hath not seene and the eare hath not heard neither haue the thinges entred into the hart of man which God hath prepared for them thâ—t loue hym We know that if our earthly maÌ„sion of this dwelling were destroyed we haue a building of God an habitation not made with hands but euerlasting in heauen Amen ¶ All these Articles aforesayd I with my whole hart beleue with my mouth vnfaynedly confesse to be true and agreable to Gods holy word ¶ The Prayer of the Apostles Lord increase our fayth ¶ Of Prayer ¶ What Prayer is PRayer is a lifting vp of a pure minde vnto God wherein we aske somewhat of God that is agreable to hys holy will ☞ Probations out of the holy Scriptures We know not what we shoulde desire pray for as we ought nevertheles the spirite it self maketh intercession mightely for vs with vnspeakeable gronings Howbeit he that searcheth the hart knoweth what the minde of the spirite is for hee maketh intercession for the sainctes according to y e pleasure of God The tyme commeth and is now already that the true worshippers shall worship in spirite and truth For y â— father will haue such to worship him God is a spirite and they that worship him must worship him in spirite and truth We are the circumcision euen we that serue God in spirite I will that all men pray in all places lifting vp pure haÌ„des without wrath and strife This people honoureth me with their lips but their hartes is farre from me verily they worship me in vaine Aske and it shall be geuen you Seeke and ye shall finde knocke and it shall bee opened vnto you For whosoeuer asketh receaueth and he that seketh findeth and to hym y â— knocketh it shall be opened Thys is the trust that we haue in God that if we aske any thyng according to hys will hee heareth vs. And if we know that he heareth vs whatsoeuer we aske we know that we haue the peticious that we desire of hym What benefites we receaue of God by prayer By prayer we are deliuered out of trouble ☞ Probations out of the holy Scriptures When I was in trouble I called vpon the Lorde and hee graciously heard me Call on me in the day of trouble and I will deliuer thee and thou shalt honour me He shall call vpoÌ„ me and I will heare hym yea I am with him in trouble I will deliuer hym and bring hym to honour When any man in hys trouble did turne vnto the Lorde God of Israell and sought hym hee was found of hym By prayer we are preserued from our enemyes ☞
The kingdome of God is not meate and drinke but righteousnes peace ioy in the holy ghost The kingdome of God is not in wordes but in power ¶ The third Peticion THy will be done as in heauen so likewyse in earth ☞ The confirmations Teach me O Lorde to doe thy will for thou art my God Not euery one that sayth vnto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdome of heauen but hee that doth the will of my father which is in heauen Whosoeuer doth the will of my father which is in heauen he is my brother sister and mother This is the will of him that sent me that whosoeuer seeth y â— sonne and beleueth on him hath euerlasting life Fashion not your selues lyke vnto thys world but bee ye chaunged through the renuing of your mind that ye may proue what thing that good and acceptable and perfecte will of God is This is the will of God euen your sanctifying that ye abstaine from whoredome that euery one of you know how to keepe his vessell in holâ—â—es and honour and not in the lust of concupiscence as the heathen do which know not God For asmuch as Christ hath suffered for vs in the flesh arme ye your selues likewise with y e same minde For he which suffereth in the flesh ceaseth from sinne that hee from hence forth shoulde liue as long time as he remayneth in the flesh not after the lustes of men but after the will of God For it is sufficient for vs that we haue spent the time that is past of the life after the will of the Gentiles walking in wantonnes lustes excesse of drinking and abominable idolatry ¶ The fourth Peticion GEue vs this day our dayly bread ☞ The confirmations I haue bene younge now am old yet saw I neuer y e righteous forsakeÌ„ nor hys sede begging their bread He is euer mercifâ—â—â— and lendeth yet haue his children Gods plentie and inough The eyes of all waite vpon thee O Lorde and thou geuest them their meate in due season Thou openest thy hand and fillest euery liuing creature with thy blessing The Lorde will not let the soule of y e righteous suffer hunger but he taketh away y e riches of y e vngodly The blessing of the Lord maketh men rich as for carefull trauaile it doth nothyng therto Two thinges haue I required of thee that thou wilt not deny me before I dye Remoue from me vanitie and lies Geue me neither pouertie nor riches onely graunt me a necessary liuing least if I be too full I denie thee and say who is the Lord And least I being constrayned through pouertie fall vnto stealing and forsweare y â— name of my God Be not careful for your life what ye shall eate or drinke nor yet for your body what rayment ye shall weare Is not the life more worth then meate and the body more of value then rayment Read forth the chapter Cast all your care on God for he careth for you ¶ The fift Peticion ANd forgeue vs our debtes as we forgeue our debters ☞ The confirmations And forgeue vs. I am he yea I am he which put away thine iniquities and that for mine owne sake and will remeÌ„ber thy sinnes no more As for thine offences I driue theÌ„ away like the cloudes thy sinnes as the miste Turne thee again vnto me and I will deliuer thee God is the king which forgeueth hys seruaunt the ten thousand talentes No man can forgeue sinne but God alone God is the most louing father which ioyfully receaueth home againe hys lost sonne when hee repenteth and conuerteth Our debtes They are all gone out of y e way they are altogether abominable there is none that doth good no not one Who can tell how oft hee offendeth Oh clense thou me from my secrete faultes Who can say my hart is cleane I am free from sinne There is not one righteous maÌ„ in all the earth that doth good and sinneth not Behold God hath found vnfaithfulnes among his own Sainctes Yea y â— very heauens is vncleane in hys sight How much more then abominable and vile is maÌ„ which drincketh wickednes lyke water All the children of men are wicked all their workes are nought neither is there any truth in them All are hypocrites and wicked We are all become vncleane and all our righteousnesses are as a cloth polluted with menstrue We are all vnprofitable seruants All haue sinned and want the glory of God If we say we haue no sinne we deceaue our selues and the truth is not in vs. But if we confesse our sinnes God is faithfull and righteous to forgeue vs our sinnes and to make vs cleane froÌ„ all iniquitie As we forgeue our debters He that seeketh vengeance shall finde vengeance of y e Lorde which shall surely keepe hym hys sinnes Forgeue thy neighbour the hurt that he hath done thee and so shall thy sinnes bee forgeuen thee also when thou prayest A man that beareth hatred agaynst an other how dare hee desire forgeuenes of God He that sheweth no mercy to a man which is lyke him selfe how dare he aske forgeuenes of his sinnes If he that is but fleshe beareth hatred and kepeth it who will intreate for hys sinnes Remember the ende and let emnitie passe If ye forgeue other men their trespasses the heauenly Father shal forgeue you But if ye wil not forgeue men their trespasses no more shall your Father forgeue you your trespasses When ye stand pray forgeue if ye haue ought against any maÌ„ that your father also which is in heaueÌ„ may forgeue you your trespasses Forgeue and it shal be forgeuen vnto you Forbeare one an other and forgeue one an other If any man haue a quarell agaynst an other like as Christ hath forgeuen you euen so do ye likewise Christ forgaue his persecutors and prayed for them saying father forgeue them for they know not what they do S. Stephen forgaue his enemies and prayed for them on thys maner O Lord lay not this sinne to their charge ¶ The sixt Peticion ANd lead vs not into temptation ☞ The confirmations My Sonne if thou wilt come into the seruice of God stand fast in righteousnes and feare arme thy soule to temptation c. Watch and pray that ye fall not into temptation The spirite is willing but the flesh is weake Blessed is the man that standeth fast in temptation For when he is tried he shall receiue the crowne of life which the Lord hath promised to them that loue him Let no man say wheÌ„ he is tempted that he is tempted of God For as God cannot be tempted with euill so neither he himselfe tempteth any man vnto euill But euery maÌ„ is tempted when he is drawen away and
which haue brought thee out of the land of Aegypt out of the house of bondage Thou shalt haue no straunge Gods before me ☜ The confirmations The Lord he is God and there is none but he alone Understand and thinke it in thy hart that the Lorde hee is God in heauen aboue vpon the earth beneath neither is there any other Heare O Israell The Lord our God is God alone Thou shalt loue y â— Lord thy God with all thine hart and with all thy soule with all thy might Thou shalt feare the Lorde thy God and serue hym alone If thou forget the Lorde thy God walke after strauÌ„ge Gods and serue them and worship them I testifie vnto you that ye shall surely perishe Now O Israell what doth the Lorde thy God require of thee but that thou shouldest feare the Lorde thy God and walke in hys wayes and loue hym and serue the Lorde thy God with all thy hart with all thy soule and keepe the commaundementes of the Lord If thine hart turne away from God so that thou wilt not heare hys word but go astray and worship strauÌ„ge Gods and serue them I pronouÌ„ce vnto you this day that ye shall surely perishe and not liue long on the earth See now how that I yea that I am God there is none but I. I will assure thee O Israell if thou wilt â—arken vnto me There shall no straunge God bee in thee neither shalt thou worship any other God I am the Lord thy God Besides me there was neuer any God neither shal there be after me I am yea I am the Lord alone besides me there is no Sauiour There is none other God but I. A true God and such a one as saueth there is none but I alone Thou shalt loue the Lorde thy God with all thy hart and with all thy soule and withâ— all thy minde This is the first and greatest commaundement This is euerlasting life euen to know thee y â— alone true God and whoÌ„ thou hast sent Iesus Christ. There is none other God but one And although there be y t are called Gods whether in heauen or in earth as there bee many Gods and many Lordes yet vnto vs there is but one God There is one God and one Mediatour ¶ The second Commaundement THou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen image nor the likenes of any thyng that is in heauen aboue nor in the earth beneath nor in the waters vnder the earth Thou shalt not bowe downe to them nor worship them For I the Lorde thy God am a ielouse God and visite the sinnes of the fathers vppon the children vnto the thyrd and fourth generation of theÌ„ that hate me and shew mercy vnto thousandes to them that loue me and kepe my Commaundementes ☜ The confirmations Ye shall not turne vnto Idolls nor make you Gods of metall Take heede vnto your selues that ye forget not the appointment of the Lorde your God which hee made with you and that ye make you no grauen image nor any picture that the Lorde thy God hath forbidden thee For the Lorde thy God is a consuming fire a ielouse God If ye do wickedly and make any maner of grauen image and worke euill in the sight of the Lord thy God to prouoke hym to anger I call heauen and earth to recorde agaynst you thys day that ye shall shortly perishe Ye shall ouerthrow the altars of the Idols breake downe their pillers cut down their groues and burne their grauen images with fire For thou art an holy nacion vnto the Lord thy God Cursed be the man that maketh any carued or molten image an abomination vnto the Lorde the worke of the handes of the craftesman putteth it in a secrete place and all the people shall aunswere and say Amen Confounded be all they y â— worship carued images and that delite in vaine Gods I am the Lorde and this is my name My glory will I geue to none other neither mine honour to grauen Images ¶ Read the 44. and 46. chapters of Esay Be conuerted and forsake your Idoles The seeking out of Idoles is the beginning of whoredome and the bringing vp of them is the destruction of lyfe For they were not froÌ„ the beginning neither shall they continue vnto the end The wealthy idlenes of men hath found theÌ„ out vppon the earth therefore shall they come shortly to an end The honouring of abominable images is the cause the beginning and the end of all euill ¶ Read the 13. 14. 15. and 16. chapters of Wisedome Read also the 6. chapter of the Prophet Baruck We preach vnto you that ye shoulde turne from these vanities vnto the liuing God which made heauen and earth and the sea and all thinges that are therein My sentence is y t we trouble not theÌ„ which froÌ„ among the Gentiles are turned to God but y t we write vnto them that they abstaine theÌ„ selues froÌ„ the filthines of Images They are not Gods which are made with handes Be not worshippers of Images No worshippers of images shall inherite the kingdome of God Babes keepe your selues from Images ¶ The third Commaundement THou shalt not take the name of the Lorde thy God in vayne for the Lorde will not holde hym giltles that taketh hys name in vayne ☜ The confirmations Ye shall not sweare by my name in vayne neyther shalt thou defile the name of thy God I am the Lorde He y â— hath not sworne to deceaue hys neighbour hee shall receaue blessing from the Lord and mercy from God hys Sauiour He that blasphemeth the name of the Lorde let hym be slaine and all the multitude shall stone hym to death Thou shalt sweare the Lord liueth in truth in equitie and righteousnes My curse and vengeance sayth the Lord shall fall vpon his house that falsly sweareth by my name and shall remaine in his house and consume it with the timber and stones therof Ye haue heard how it was said to them of old tyme thou shalt not forsweare thy selfe but shalt performe vnto the Lord those thinges that thou swearest But I say vnto you sweare not at all neyther by the heauen for it is Gods seate neither by the earth for it is hys footestoole neither by IerusaleÌ„ for it is the citie of the great king neither shalt thou sweare by thy head because thou canst not make one heare white or blacke But your coÌ„munication shall be yea yea and nay nay For what soeuer is added more then these it coÌ„meth of euill Aboue all thinges my brethren sweare not neither by heauen nor by earth neither any other oth but let your yea be yea and your nay nay lest ye fall into hypocrisie Let not thy mouth bee accustomed with swearing
your God The Prophet which shall presume to speake a word in my name which I haue not commaunded hym to speake or that he speaketh in the name of straunge Gods the same Prophet shall die Iehu king of Israell caused all the priestes of Baal to be slaine and all the images to bee fet out of the temple of Baal to bee burnt He caused also hys captaines and men of warre to breake the image of Baal and to destroy the house of Baal so y t Baals house was made a draft house vnto thys day And because Iehu thus sought the glory of God and destroyed idolatry with the maintainers therof he liued quietly in hys kingdome vnto hys dying day and hys children vnto the fourth generation sat on the seate of Israell King Iosias put downe the ministers of Baal whom the kings of Iuda had fouÌ„ded to burne incense in the hill altars and cities of Iuda that were round about Ierusalem also them that burnt incense vnto Baal to the Sunne to the Moone to the Planets and to all the Hoste of heauen That they ought to iudge equally ☜ Probations out of the holy Scriptures Ye shall doe no vnrighteousnes in iudgement Thou shalt not fauour y e poore nor honour the mightie but in righteousnes shalt thou iudge thy neighbour Moses sayd to y â— Iudges heare the cause of your brethren iudge righteously betwene euery maÌ„ and his brother the straunger that is with hym See that ye know no faces in iudgement but heare the small as well as the great and be afrayde of no man for the iudgement is Gods King Iehosaphat said also to the Iudges Take heede what ye do for ye execute not the iudgementes of man but of God which is with you in iudgement Wherfore now let the feare of the Lord be vppon you and take heede be doing the thing that pleaseth hym For there is no vnrighteousnes with y â— Lord our God that should haue any respect of persons or take rewardes A king that sitteth in the throne of iudgement and looketh well about hym driueth away all euill He that sayth to y â— vngodly thou art righteous him shall the people curse yea the comminaltie shall abhorre hym But they that rebuke the vngodly in them doth God delight and a rich blessing shall come vpon them Iudge the thing that is right O ye sonnes of men O loue righteousnes ye that are the Iudges of the earth That they ought to take no bribes ☜ Probations out of the holy Scriptures Thou shalt take no giftes for giftes blinde the fight and peruert the wordes of the righteous Wrest not thou y â— law nor know any person neither take any reward for giftes blind the wise and peruert the wordes of the righteous That which is iuste and right shall thou follow that thou mayest liue and enioy the land which the Lord geueth thee Thou shalt seeke out among all the people men of actiuitie such as feare God true men hating couetousnes and make them heades ouer the people The fire shall consume y â— houses of such as are gredie to receiue giftes Woe be to them y â— geue sentence with y â— vngodly for rewardes but coÌ„demne the iust cause of the righteous Therfore like as fire licketh vp the straw and as the flame consumeth y â— stubble eueÌ„ so theyr roote shall be as corruption their blossome shall vanish away like dust He that kepeth hys hand that he touch no reward he which stoppeth hys eares that hee heare no counsell against the innoceÌ„t bloud he it is that shall dwell on hie That they ought not to oppresse the common people ☜ Probations out of the holy Scriptures The encrease and prosperitie of the commons is y â— kinges honour but the decay of the people is the confusion of the prince Like as a roaring Lion and as an hungry Beare euen so is an vngodly prince ouer the poore people Where the prince is without vnderstanding there is great oppression and wronge but if he bee such a one as hateth couetousnes hee shall long raigne When the righteous haue the ouerhand the people are in prosperitie but when the vngodly beare rule then that people mourne With true iudgement y â— king setteth vp the land but if he be a maÌ„ y â— oppresseth the people with gatheringes he turneth it vpside downe O heare thys worde ye that do poore meÌ„ wronge and oppresse the needie ye that say to your Lordes bring hether let vs drinke Therfore the Lorde hath sworne by hys holines The dayes shall come vpon you that the enemies shall cary you away c. O woe be to the proud wealthy to such as thinke theÌ„ selues so sure which hold them selues for the best of the world and rule the house of Israell euen as they list Ye are taken out for the euill day euen ye that sit in the stoole of wilfulnes Ye that lye vpon beds of Iuory â—nd vse your wantonnes vppon your couches ye that eate the best lambes of the flocke and the fattest calues of the droue ye that sing at the lute and in playing of instrumentes compare your selues to Dauid ye that drinke wine out of goblets and annoynt your selues with the best oyle but as for Iosephes hurt none of you all are sory for it Therfore now shall ye be the first of them that shall be led away captiue and the lustie cheere of the wilfull shall come to an end c. The Lorde is minded to smite the great houses For ye haue turned true iudgement vnto bitternes and the fruite of righteousnes into wormewoode O ye that oppresse the poore and destroy the needie in the land shall not your destruction come vppon you as a water streame c. O ye heades of the house of Iacob ye leaders of the house of Israell should not ye know what were lawfull right But ye hate the good loue the euill Ye plucke of men skinnes and the fleshe from their bones Ye eate the flesh of my people and fâ—ay of their skinne ye breake their bones ye chop them in peeces as it were into a Caldrone as fleshe into a pot Now the time shall come that when they call vnto the Lorde hee shall not heare them but hide hys face from them because that through their own imaginations they haue delt so wickedly c. Beholde here am I sayd Samuell to the children of Israell beare recorde of me before y â— Lord before his annoynted Whose oxe haue I takeÌ„ or whose Asse haue I taken whom haue I done wrong to whom haue I hurt or of whose hand haue I receaued any bribe to blind my eies therwith and I will restore it you againe They sayd thou hast done vs no wronge nor hurt vs neither hast thou taken ought