of the same whiche are the chiefe that god requireth thē is the hypocrisy of the hart séen For that very cause S. Iohn saith that mā which hath the goods of this world shal sée his brother in néed shal shut vp the bowels of his cōpassion frō him howe dwelleth the loue of god in him And agayn if any say I loue God yet doth hate his brother the the same is a lier for he that loueth not his brother whom he hath séen how may he loue god whom he hath not séen And we haue this commādemēt of him that he which loueth god do loue also his brother S. Iohn doth declare plainly by these words that a mā may in no wise better know of what affectiō the hart of mā is toward god thā by the which he sheweth toward his neybor brother which is the child of god bereth his image as he doth and that there is not a meane more méete to discouer the hypocrisie and dissimulation of mans harte than it For a man may by the good will that is borne to the father iudge what good will there is borne to the sonne And therefore the Prophets do often times vse these arguments to vanquish the wicked hipocrits and also our Lorde Iesus Christe in that forme of iudgemente whereof we haue alredy spoken declareth that he estéemeth all that to be done to himselfe that hathe bin don to his be it good or be it euill And by this maner of procéeding he doth right well declare that whereof we haue alredy spoken for when he doth rebuke and reproue the hypocrites the reprobates that he hath bin forsaken and euill handled by them they answere forthwith and aske when that was done as though they did not know of it Wherein they do plainely declare that they wold haue the name to beare a great good will to Iesus Christ and to do their duty toward him but he doth vanquish them of the contrary by the tokens which they haue shewed towarde his poore members in whose person he complayneth to haue bene forsaken and euill handled as he doth complayne that he was persecuted by Saule in the persecution which he vsed agaynst the Christians Hovv that the dissimulation and fayning of mans harte is declared by the transgression of the Lavve of God and hovv there is neither ignorance nor constraint nor any reason vvhat so euer it be that can excuse him T. I Thinke also that this be one of the principall causes why God doth set foorth rather the worke than any other thing in that lawe to the ende that we should not be deceiued vnder the cloke of our heart D. The matter is playne For as the heart can not be boasted of to bée good excepte the mouth confesse it and that he do declare by works the faith and charitie whereof he will so glory it can not be execused but that it is wicked and by consequent displeaseth God when he doth a wicked worke that is forbidden by God for either he doth it through ignorance or else of a certen knowledge if he do it through ignoraunce it is an assured signe that the heart of his owne nature is wicked For if it were not wicked it could not beare suche fruite by any meanes nor also could it by by any meanes ignoraunt of the will of God for the ignorance is a witnesse of the darknesse which sinne hath engendred in the vnderstanding of man and of the contempt of god and what negligence there is in man in searching to know the wil of God as it hath bene alredy more largely touched in an other place If he haue done it of knowledge what can he alleage May he alleage that he was enforced to do it and that he did it by compulsion But by what compulsion If this reason were sufficient to excuse the sinne of man there should be no sinne but should séeme worthy of excuse for so muche as it séemeth that there is none but it is cōmitted by constrainte considering that man is so corrupted by the meanes of sinne and so made subiecte to the diuell through the same that of his nature he can do nothing but sinne Wherefore sainct Paule dothe say that he can not do the good whiche he woulde doe but he dothe the euyll which he woulde not doe bicause he is a sinner and slaue to sinne and solde vnder the same which doth engēder in his members a lawe repugnant to the law of god For the like also sayeth our Lorde Iesus Christe he that sinneth is seruaunte to sinne Hovv sinne can not be but voluntary and hovv difference must be put in this matter betvveene constraint and necessitie and in vvhat signification they ought to be taken in this case T. BY this accompte sinne shoulde then be no sinne for it should not then be voluntarie And it is commonly saide that euery sinne is voluntary or otherwyse it séemeth that it shoulde deserue no punishmente D. There are many thinges to be considered in this matter The first is that it behoueth to put difference betwéene necessitie and constraint For by wanting this distinction many doe very filthily erre in the matter of frée will and of predestination and in the consideration of the nature of sin For to speke properly we may say that we do all sinne of necessitie and not by constraynt T. What difference puttest thou then betwene necessitie and constraynt for they séeme to me to be both one D. Yea but there is notwithstanding great difference but it is requisite for the better vnderstanding of it that we doe firste well consider in what meaning and in what signification these words ought to be taken First of al this worde of necessitie is commonly for want of some thing whereof we haue néede in such sort that we do oftentimes take it for lacke pouertie and miserie but we do not properly take it in that sense when we do speake of the necessitie whereby man is brought to sinne by meane of the naturall corruption that is in him but so farre foorth as we may say that he sinneth by necessity that is to say through defaulte and lacke of goodnesse iustice innocencie holinesse and other vertues and giftes and graces of God wherof he hath ben spoyled through sin vnto whom he was made subiect T. In what signification doste thou then take this worde in this matter D. I do take it for a necessarie consequent which followeth of causes that are ioyned togither with their effectes which can not be others but such as are agreable to the nature of the causes and things which are so ioyned togither and do depend the one of the other T. Giue me an example of this that thou speakest of D. Behold the Sunne his nature is to shine and by his light to make the day for vs I say then the sunne shineth it is therefore day of necessitie that is to say
same neyther thou nor thy sonne nor thy daughter neyther thy manseruant nor thy woman seruant nor thy cattell nor the straunger that is within thy gates for in sixe dayes the Eternall made the heauen and the earth and the sea and all the things that are in them and he rested the seuenth day And therfore the Eternall blessed the daye of rest and sanctified it The second Table Honour thy father and thy mother to the ende that thy dayes may be prolonged vpon the earth the which the Eternal thy God giueth thée The sixth Thou shalte not kill The seuenth Thou shalte not committe whooredome The eyght Thou shalte not steale The nynth Thou shalt not beare false witnesse agaynst thy neyghbour The tenth Thou shalt not couet thy neyghbours house nor his wyfe neyther his manseruant nor his woman seruaunt nor hys oxe ne yet his asse neyther any thyng that is his Behold these ar the very words which Moyses receyued of the Lorde ingraued in two Tables of stone in the fulfilling wherof he doth not regarde the outward worke onely but chiefly the affection of the heart according to the whiche he iudgeth of the works be they good or euill Of the Summarie that Iesus Christe hathe made of the law of god Chap. 25. ANd bicause that God hath bréefly cōprehended in the firste Table of the law those things whiche he requireth of men towardes his owne person and in the seconde that which he requireth also of them towardes their neighboures for his sake our Lord Iesus hath made an other Summarie yet more bréefe in the whiche he comprehendeth in two points all that whiche is conteyned in these two tables in manner folowing being taken out of the bookes of Moyses Hearken O Israell The Eternal thy God is one God only Thou shalte loue the Eternall thy God with all thy heart with all thy soule and with al thy vnderstanding and mynde It is the firste and greate commaundement And the second is like to the same Thou shalt loue thy neyghbour as thy self Of these two commaundementes depende all the lawe and the Prophetes And all that whiche you woulde that men shoulde doe to you the lyke do you to them Of the true fulfilling of the lawe of god Chap. 27. BVt euen as no man can serue God a ryght according to his will excepte he be well instructed first in his lawe and in his worde euen so it is not sufficiente to haue bene well instructed if it be not put in vse And therefore the knowledge of the same serueth but to greater condemnation if there be nothing else And bycause that man of his nature is so corrupted thorowe synne that not onely he can not of himselfe accomplishe perfectly any one of the commaundements of God but on the contrary can doe nothing else but continually resist his holy will Therfore he hath néede of Iesus Chryst chiefly for two causes The fyrste to satisfye for man in that wherein he is not able to the ende that Iesus Chryst thorowe his obedience mought recompence the fault that is in man thoroughe his rebellion The seconde is to the ende that manne béeing Iustifyed thorough Faythe in Iesus Chryste as is alreadye sayde and so foorthewyth regenerated by hys Spirite and refourmed to the very image of GOD moughte bee the better disposed to obey his holie will to dedicate and consecrate hymselfe wholly to his seruice Of good works which are the frutes of true fayth Chap. 28. IT is then easy to iudge by these things if they be well vnderstode that so much is wanting that the faith in Iesus Christ and the iustification that men obtayne by the same without their workes doe abolishe good workes and the affection of the true and faithfull to the same that there is nothyng that dothe more establyshe and confirme them and that dothe more enflame men to do them For as the soule can not be without life nor the fire without heate and light nor the good trée without bringing forth good frute euen so faith can not be a true faithe if she be not a lyuing faith and she can not be liuing but is dead if she be without good works whiche are the true frutes and the true signes of faith But to the end that none may be deceyued in the matter of good woorkes he must vnderstande that God dothe not estéeme nor doth allowe for suche any other than those whiche are commaunded by him in his worde Of the principall pointes conteined in the holie Scriptures whiche doe summarily comprehend all that which is required in the true seruice of god Chapter 29. THen if we shall speake of the true seruice of God we may reduce into foure pointes all that whiche he requireth in the same according to the declaratiō whiche he hath made in his holy Scriptures The firste is that man put all his whole truste in him alone awayting for all his saluation of him alone thorowe Iesus Christe The seconde that he call vppon him in all his necessities for all things as well corporall as spirituall according to the rule which he himself gaue vnto him The third is that he render graces thanks to him for al the benefites that he hath receiued that he doth daily receue of him The fourth that he yelde himselfe obedient vnto him in all thyngs that he shall commaunde him as well in respect of his owne person as in respect of his neighbor Of the true seruice of God whiche is spirituall Chap. 30. ANd for so muche as it concerneth the substance of the true seruice of God séeing that he is a spirite he requireth also to be serued and honored in spirite and veritie and not in visible things such as are material and corruptible as are images alters temples pilgrimages and other suche lyke superstitions and idolatries inuēted by man For if his good pleasure were that the auncient ceremonies of the lawe should be abolished in the cōming of Iesus Christ of whom they were figures to bring men to this true spirituall seruice it is easy thē to iudge how he mought endure that men shuld forge new ceremonies thorow great presumption according to their owne fantasie to serue hym after their pleasure and not after his Of the ministerie of the Gospell and of the principall partes of the same and of the true vse of the sacraments Chapter 31. FOr that cause he hath ordeyned the ministerie of the Gospell in hys Churche to teache all men according to that doctrine thoroughe the preachyng of the same Wherevnto hée hath adoyned his holye Sacramentes for many causes The fyrste is that they shoulde be vnto vs for greater confirmation of the doctrine of the whiche they are as the seales and in lyke sorte of the sayth which procéedeth of the same The seconde cause is to the ende that they may serue vs for aduertisementes to bring vs to acknowledge the benefites the whyche we haue
do more maruell of Balaam that he did not better proffite by his than he hathe done forsomuche as he hath had sufficiente vnderstanding to leade him rather to follow the people of GOD than his enimies Peter There are yet two poyntes to be noted herein by the knoweledge whereof thou mayest vnderstande the better the cause which letted Balaam to proffite better by hys prophesie and by the knowledge of God whiche he had And in like sorte thou mayest iudge of all others like M. Whiche are those two pointes P. A man cannot well honoure God if firste he knowe hym not as he ought to know him he cannot know him in such sorte excepte he be first deliuered from two great euils which are in him by the meane of sinne M. Whiche are these two great euils P. The one is the ignoraunce that hath possessed his vnderstāding M. And the other P. The malice whiche hathe corrupted not only his vnderstanding but also his whole will and consequently all the affections which are in him M. Doth the true knowledge of God comprehende the vnderstanding and the will of man P. If the true knowledge of God doth cause man to honoure him it muste then necessarily come to passe that thereby manne is refourmed as touching his vnderstāding harte will and all other his affections séeing that he cannot well honoure God if he loue him not with all his vnderstanding and with all his harte and with all his soule and with all his power and forces Of the true and full reformation of man and of the partes thereof M. BY what meane may a man be so perfectly reformed as thou sayest P. After that the vnderstandyng of man thorow sin hath ben blinded by the darknesses of error and ignorance the which it hath brought to himt he vnderstāding can not be well reformed if God by his heauenly light doe not dryue awaye these darknesses and the ignorance that there is to giue him true knowledge of God his Creator M. In what sort also is the wil reformed P. When God hath changed it from euill into good and where it is rebellious to his he maketh it lyke vnto the same M. Wilt thou then say that a man is not fully regenerate if his will and vnderstanding be not also reformed P. Hée can not be fully if that all that which hath ben corrupted in him thorow synne be not repaired and restored by the grace of God. Hovv that ignorance and malice are contrary to true regeneration and reformation and hovv there is either more or lesse ignorance and malice in some than in other some M. BVt if a man be not thorowly regenerate reformed of all these two partes may he not at the least be of one of them P. If he be not of them bothe we maye not proprely call him regenerate and reformed And yet notwithstanding I confesse that among them whiche are not regenerate and reformed by the spirite of God some haue more malice than ignoraunce and others more ignorance than malice whiche are the two vices the most contrarie to true regeneration and reformation that may bée whiche comprehende the vnderstanding and the will. For ignoraunce is proprely reported to the vnderstanding and malice to the will. Of those vvhiche offende more thorow malice than by ignorance M. SHew me by exāple what thy meaning is P. Lette vs take againe in hand the example of Balaam Thou mayst wel know by what he hath sayde done that he was more malicious than ignorant For he knew well inough the way that he ought to walk but couetousnesse wherewith he had his hearte filled did let his will not to agrée with the knowledge of God which he had M. If I haue well vnderstode that whiche thou haste alreadie said of the knowledge of God it seemeth to me that a man maye not call that of Balaam true knowledge of God forsomuche as it was not suche that hys vnderstanding was so well lightened by the spirite of God that he did foorthwyth drawe and guyde hys hearte and wyll to glorifye GOD as hée oughte Pet. That which thou sayest is true And therefore I did not cleane exempt Balaam of ignorance when I sayde that there was in him more malice than ignoraunce but I would giue to vnderstand that ther was ignorance in him albeit the malice was the greater For if hée had knowne God as he ought to haue done he hadde forthwith loued him and woulde haue endeuored himselfe rather to please him than the king Balaac and woulde not haue preferred the worldly honour and profit which he loked for at his hand to the honor of God and to his giftes and graces M. Giue mée yet some example to thys purpose by whiche I may better vnderstād this matter P. Take Annas Cayphas the Scribes and Phariseyes and suche lyke For albeit they did not truly knowe Iesus Christ as the apostles the other faithful did yet had they knowledge inough to cōdemn them bicause that their own malice did more let thē to acknowledge receyue him as their Sauiour than did the ignorance that was in them Of those whiche sinne more through ignorance than through malice M. I Am satisfyed wyth the examples that thou haste alreadie alledged of those which sinne more of malice than of ignorance Giue me now examples of the others whiche offend more of ignorance than of malice P. Séeing we haue spokē of phariseys thou haste an euident example of S. Paule if thou do cōsider whē he was a pharisey and a persecuter before that he was conuerted to the Gospell M. I know wel that he was then a greate persecuter of the Christians Pet. Hée dothe playnly confesse it himselfe But he did not persecute them with so euill a conscience as the Scribes and Phariseis did persecute Christ and his apostles For he did more of ignorance than of malice as he himselfe dothe witnesse M. But was there also no malice in him P. As I doe not cléerely exempt from ignorance those which offend more of malice thā of ignorance euen in like sort do I not exempt cléerely from malice those which offende more of ignorāce thā of malice M. Thou meanest then that bothe sorts haue both ignoraunce and malice in them and that there is no difference betwéene them but only in the muchnesse or litlenesse of the ignoraunce and malice of eyther sorte P. Thou moughtest well vnderstande it by that which I haue sayd And therfore we say that they whiche offende more of ignorance than of malice offende by zeale without knowledge and the others whiche fight against the knowledge whiche they haue do sinne and fight more openly against their owne conscience and in very déede oftentimes go so far that they sinne agaynst the holie Ghost the which as Iesus Christe wilnesseth shall neuer be pardoned of God bicause that he fighteth openly against the grace and the giftes of the holie Ghost
the firste A. The honor and obedience whiche we owe to all those that the Lorde hath appointed superiors and gouernours ouer vs. De. The other An. The care whiche we should haue both in generall and especiall the one of the others as of our selues D. What dost thou vnderstande by this care A. That we oughte with all our power to procure the honoure and profite of all men and to let their dishonour and hurte as wel in soule as in body and goodes and name D. It seemeth to mée that thou haste agayn here made a little Summarie of all the commaundementes comprehended in the second table of the lawe A. It is euen so Of Prayer D Folowing on the same which we haue sayde of Faithe and of the workes and frutes of the same I haue yet to demaūd thée one thing concernyng the inuocation of the name of God. A. What is it D. It is concerning prayer and the manner howe to pray which things we must vse A We can not followe a more certaine rule in that respect that that which Iesus Christe himselfe hath giuen vs. The forme of Prayer giuen by Iesus Christe D. Whiche is the forme of Prayer A. Our father whiche arte in heauen Thy name be halowed Thy kingdom come Thy will be done in earth as in heauen Giue vs thys day our dayly bread Pardon vs all our offences euen as we forgiue them that haue offended against vs And leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from the euill For thyne is the kingdome power and glorie for euer and ouer Sobeit Diuision of the matters conteyned in the Lordes Prayer D. What doth this forme of prayer comprehende in summe A. We may diuide the whole in two partes D. Whiche is the first A. The preface of the same D. And whiche is the seconde A. The requestes therin made Of the addresse of the Christians in their prayers and of their true aduocate in the same D. What dothe he teache vs in that preface An. To whome we ought to direct all oure Prayers and by what mediator and aduocate D. To whom must wée make our prayers A. To God only as to our very heauenly father vnto whom onely that honoure is reserued and is due De. And whome shall wée take for aduocate and mediatoure towards him An. Him only by whome he is made our father and through whome we may call vppon him as vpon our father D. Which is he A. Iesus Christe his well beloued Sonne by whome only we are made the children of God where as naturally we were the children of wrath VVhat thinges vve ought to demande of God in our prayers D. What saist thou touching the request made in that forme of prayer A. That it is not lawfull for any man to desire or demaunde of God any other thing than that which is conteyned in them D. What is it that is comprehended in them A. All that which man may iustly desire and demaunde as well for the glory of God as for his owne saluatiō all his necessities A diuision of the requests conteyned in the Lorde his prayer D. Howe many requestes be there in the whole An. Sixe De. By what order are they disposed A. The thrée firste haue regarde chiefly to that which concerneth the glory of God. D. And the other thrée A. To that whiche is necessary for man as well for this corporall life as for his eternall saluation D. Wherefore did our Lord Iesus Christ in this matter obserue this order A. To teach vs how we ought to frame all oure desires to the glory of God and that we ought to haue the same in most speciall recommendation and to submitte vnto the same all those thinges which we require of him for vs. Of the ministerie of the Church and of the vse of the same D. Now seing that true faith is the very foundation of our saluation and the true fountaine of all good works tel me nowe how we may obtayne the same A. Thou moughtest already vnderstande it by that whiche we haue sayde of the viuification and sanctification of the faithfull by the holy Ghost D. I vnderstande wel that it is a gifte of God whiche is giuen to vs by the holy Ghost but God is the meane by the whiche the holy Ghoste is serued in this woorke A. The ministerye of the worde of God whiche hée hathe ordeyned in his Churche to that ende Of the partes of the ministerie of the Churche D. What conteyneth this ministerie A. We may make thrée parts of it D. Whiche is the first A. The administration of the pure worde of God. D. The second A. The administration of the sacramentes ordeyned in the same D. The thirde A. The conseruation of the discipline of the Churche Of the discipline of the Churche De. What meanest thou by that discipline A The pollicie which ought to be had in the Churche to keepe all things in good order in the same according to the worde of God. D. To what ende serueth that policie A. It is so necessary in the Church that without the same the admistration of the word of the sacraments can not there be entertayned conserued in his right authoritie as is requisite Of the Sacraments that are in Christes Church and of the things that ar to be considereed in them D. What callest thou sacramentes A. The signes taken of visible thyngs the whiche Iesus Chryste hath ioyned to his promises euen as it were to seale vnto vs the truth of them and to confirme the same vnto vs. Dem. What thinges are there to be considered in them A. There are thrée things principall D. Which is the first A. The worde of God which is the very foundation D. The second A. The visible signes whiche are as seales D. The third A. The things signified as well by the worde as by the signes Of the things that are to be considered in the woorde D. What is there to be considered in the worde A. Two things D. Whiche is the first A. The cōmandement of God by the whiche we are bounde to his holy Sacraments D. The second A. It is the promise by the which he doth aduertise vs of the grace that he doth offer and bestow vpon vs in them Of the vse of the signes D. To what purpose serue the signes A. To represente to the eyes and to the other corporall senses the things that are signified by the worde D. What profite commeth of this A. It serueth for greater declaration of them and for a more greater confirmation of the faith D. Do they serue to any other purpose than this A. As God by them on his parte declareth his good affection toward vs aduertising vs of the good that he will do to vs We also of our parte do set forth and declare our faith and our harte and affection towards him by them D. The sacraments then by this accoumpte are
waters vnder the earth Thou shalt do them no reuerence neither shalt thou serue them for I my self I am the Eternall thy God mightie and iealous who doe venge my selfe of the iniquitie of the fathers vppon their children and vpon the children of their children yea euen to the thirde and fourthe line of those that hate me and do shewe fauour in a thousand generatiōs to them that loue me and kéepe my commaundementes M. The third P. Thou shalt not take in vaine the name of the Eternall thy god For the Eternall will not hold him for innocent that shall take his name in vayne Math. The fourthe Peter Remember thée to sanctifie the daye of rest Sixe dayes thou shalte laboure and shalte doe all thy businesse but the seauenth daye is the rest of the eternall thy god Thou shalte in the same doe no kinde of workes neyther thou nor thy Sonne nor thy daughter neyther thy man seruaunt nor thy woman seruaunt neyther thy cattell neyther the straunger which abydeth with thée For in sixe dayes the Eternall made the Heauen the Earth and the Sea and all that which is in them did rest in the seauenth daye And therefore the Eternall did blesse the daye of rest and sanctified it The seconde Table M. REcite them of the seconde table and shewe me whiche is the fyrste thereof P. The first of that table is the first folowing the order of the foure going before M. Which is it Honoure thy father and thy mother to the end that thy dayes may be long vppon the earth that the Eternall thy GOD gyueth thée M. The sixte P. Thou shalte not kyll M. The seauenth P. Thou shalt not be a fornicatour or adulterer M. The eighte P. Thou shalt not steale M. The ninth P. Thou shalte not beare false witnesse agaynst thy neyghboure M. The tenth P. Thou shalt not couet thy neyghbours house nor his wife nor his man seruant nor his woman seruant nor his Ox◠nor his asse nor any thing that is his Of the sum of the lavve M. WHat doe the commaundements of these two tables conteyne in substance P. Iesus Chryste hath gyuen vs the sum reducing into two poyntes all the doctrine comprised in them M. Which is the sum P. Hearken Israell the Eternall thy God is God only Thou shalte loue the Eternall thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soule and with all thy vnderstanding It is the first and the greate commaundement And the second like to the same is Thou shalt loue thy neyghbour as thy selfe All the lawe and the Prophets depende of these two commaundements All things then that you would that men did to you doe you the same vnto them for it is the law and the Prophetes Of the diuision of the matters set foorth in the lawe M. WHat doe these two poynts comprehende in effecte Pet. The first comprehendeth all the commaundementes of the first table Math. What do these commaundementes of the firste table comprehende in substance P. All that whiche God requireth of man especially touching his owne person and maiestie M. And the second poynt of the sayd sūme what conteyneth it P. All the commaūdementes of the second table M. What is it that God requireth of man in them P. That whiche he woulde that all men shuld do one to an other for the loue of him The diuision of the poyntes conteined in the firste table and of the principall parts of the true seruice of god M. WHiche be the principall pointes that he requireth of man especially concerning the person and maiestie of God P. A man may in mine opinion reduce them all chiefly in two generally M. Whiche is the firste P. The faith toward him M. And the seconde P. The testifying and manifesting of the same Of the faith tovvards God. M. WHat requireth he in the first P. That man holde him for the only and true God setting all his harte and all the trust of his saluation in him only and in no other thing whatsoeuer M. Is faith then the chiefe and principall foundation of the honoure and seruice whiche man oweth to God P. It cannot otherwise be M. Wherefore P. For that that euē as it is impossible to please God without faith euen so all that which is done without faith maye be but sinne as we haue heretofore saide M. What is the cause thereof P. It is bicause that faith is the true fountaine of that true and perfecte obedience whiche God requireth of man towarde his holy will. Wherefore he requireth it foorthwith in the first commandement of his lawe with the whole harte of man. M. Shew me this somewhat more familiarly P. I will say in effecte that God requireth that man do so set all his harte and al his trust in his God that he attende from him only all goodnesse and of none other whatsoeuer and that in all thinges he depende of none other but of him only Of the testifying and declaring of faith and of the partes thereof M. WHat meanest thou by the testifying and shewing foorth of faith whiche thou hast placed for the other point Pe. The testimonie whereby man giueth to vnderstande by the frutes that his faith bringeth forth in him that it is not vaine fained nor dead but that it is true liuely and sounde M. Which be the frutes that yeld such testimonie P. We may bring them all into thrée points M. Which is the first P. The calling vppon the name of God. M. The seconde P. Thansgiuing M. The thirde P. The charitie towards our neyghboure but this apperteyneth more aptly to the seconde table of the lawe Of the inuocation of Gods name and of the true vvorshipping of him M. WHat meanest thou by the inuocation of gods name P. I meane a pure affectiō of harte whereby faith maketh a man to run only to God in all his necessities and to worship him in spirite and truth as he requireth in the secōd and third commaundement M. What is it to worship God in spirite and truth P. It is to honoure God with a true affection procéeding from a pure and cleane harte and not by Images and other visible and corruptible thinges or else by shewes and outwarde ceremonies Of thanksgiuing M. WHat meanest thou by thanksgiuing which thou hast set forthe for the second point P. I meane that euen as God will haue man to call vppon his name he will also that he acknowledge the benefits that he hath receiued of him and that he yelde him thanks in such sorte as he himselfe hath ordeyned for the glory of his name which is also a point that he requireth in the thirde and fourth commaundemente Of the outvvard testimonie of faith vvhich God requireth of man. M. SEing that God wil be serued in spirite and truth as thou hast saide is not he contented that euen as man in his heart beléeueth in him that euen so in his heart he call
not at all against that whiche I haue now sayd For albeit that God at times doth bestowe of his gifts vppon the vnfaithfull the which in deede he doth not bestow vppon euery faithfull man yet for all that it followeth not but that he doth cōtinually chose some in his Churche to whome he giueth thys gift this office albeit he doth it not euer after one sorte For he sendeth either moe or fewe according as it is néedefull and according to the fauoure that he wil shew vnto it be it secretly or publiquely accordingly as he will make himselfe knowen to his M. But can it not well come to passe also that very those whiche are chosen in his Church may be Hypocrites and rather woolues and hierlings thā good pastors P. That commeth often times to passe and the example whiche thou hast in Iudas doth confirme sufficiently vnto vs that which thou sayest if in déede wée had none other But when the Churche knoweth them to be such she should prouide for it by the meanes that God hathe giuen hir in that behalfe M. And if they be only mercenaries and not apperante wolues may she endure them P. If they be wolues she cānot endure them for somuch as they be of false doctrine If they be onely mercenaries and if she cannot easily knowe them or that she haue not the meanes to ridde hir from them and to haue better she may beare with thē prouided that the doctrine which they set forth be not false albeit that in the rest they do not discharge the office of a pastor as they ought to do The fourthtenth Dialogue is of the preaching of the Gospell Of the principall partes of the ministerie of the Church MATHEVV NOwe séeing that weare come vnto the mynisterie of the Churche declare vnto me what it conteyneth in effecte P. We maye deuide it into thrée principall partes M. Whiche be they P. The administration of the word Sacraments and of the ecclesiastical discipline Of the administration of the vvorde and of the principall points that therein are to be considered M. WHat haue we to consider vppon the administration of the word P. There be chiefly two pointes Math. Whiche is the first P. That it be purely set foorth as God hath reuealed it vnto vs in hys holy scriptures Mathevv Which is the seconde P. That it be set foorthe in that order whiche the Lorde hath ordayned that it shoulde be and to the edifieng of all men Of the points that are required to set foorth purely the vvorde of God. M. WHich points be they that are required in the pure setting foorthe of the word of God in suche sorte as thou sayest it oughte to be set foorthe P. They maye be all comprehended in two M. Which is the firste P. It is that none set foorth any other doctrine than that which is conteyned in the holy Scriptures and that is fully agreable to the same without adding any thing to it or diminishing any thing from it and without mingling with it of any thing of the doctrines and traditions of men M. Whiche is the seconde P. It is not ynough to set foorthe that word accordingly as it is conteyned in the holy scriptures no in déede althogh men vse none other words than those very same whiche the holy Ghost hath vsed in them if the word be not foorthwith set foorth according to the meaning of the spirite of God by the whiche the same hath bene reueled in such sorte as all the passages and testimonies of the same do agree so well togither that there is no cōtradiction but that the one passage is an exposition to the other M. Thou touchest here two points which are wel worth the noting For there be some that in stéede of the worde of God do set foorth whatsoeuer commeth in their minde and pleaseth them There be others that although they set foorth the very testimonies of the holy Scriptures yet for all that they corrupte the sense of them by their false vnderstāding and exposition and by the application which they vse and cōsequences which they drawe P. The Deuill hath also alledged the expressed worde of God when he tempted Iesus Christe but that is not to alledge the worde of God but it is to abuse the language of the holy Ghoste to corrupte and peruerte it and to couer lies with truth as charmers and enchaunters do make the wordes of holy scriptures to serue to their sorceries and charmes Of the principall pointes of Gods worde vvhich oughte to be set foorth by the preaching of the same what order there ought to be obserued in setting of it foorth M. I Vnderstand well that the worde of God may not properly be called the word of God if it be not purely set foorthe as God hath reuealed it and according to the true meaning of the holy Ghost by whome he hath reuealed it But I would gladly that thou diddest touch in briefe the principall pointes which are conteyned in that worde and in what order it ought to be set foorthe and taughte P. As touching the principall points of the same we haue alredy hādled the greatest parte Thou shalte heare afterward the reste which we haue yet to handle But séeing thou desirest as it were a summarie Iesus Christe hath comprehended all the preaching of the Gospell in two principall points when he commaunded his Apostles to preach in his name repentance and forgiuenesse of sinnes to al people M. Folowing then the diuision which Iesus Christ hath made of the doctrine whyche oughte to be preached by the Gospell it then shoulde followe that we must begin by the preaching of repentaunce and thē to come to the remission of sinnes Peter Séeing that Iesus Christe himselfe hath shewed that we must kéepe that order there can be no better had Of repentaunce by the vvhiche the preaching of the Gospell must be begonne M. SHew me now what repentaunce is properly P. It is a very displeasure which man hath in his harte of his sinne the whiche engendreth in him an hatred against sinne and a desire to liue better in time to come refourming his life to the will of God. M. Séeing it is so man may not then haue true repentance if he know not first his sinne and how muche it displeaseth God and in like sorte doe chaunge his manner of life to witte from euill to good and from good to better P. It is easie to vnderstande Hovve that true repentaunce cannot be vvell preached vvithout ioyning of the doctrine of the lavve and the Gospell togither M. ANd by what meane maye a man come to this knowledge of hys sinne P. By the law of god the which doth not only make them manifest to mē but doth also shewe vnto them the wrathe of God against them M. There is then no minister that may wel preach repentāce withoute preaching the lawe of God. P. It cannot otherwise be done But it
Sauior and redéemer Iesus Christ M. This good God and Father giue vs the grace the whiche I humbly desire in the name of his sonne Iesus Chryst that it may please him so to imprinte in our heartes all that doctrine by his holie Spirite that we may well put it in vse to the glorie of his holy name and to the edification of all men P. This good God giue vs the grace and not to vs only but also to all the people of the earthe to the ende that euen as he is God only and that there is but one onely mediator Iesus Christ and one lawe and one Gospel and one Baptisme and one Church euen so that al may be vnited in him by his holy Spirite to serue and to honoure him in truthe and in Spirite euen as to hym only all honour and glorie doth belong for euer and euer Sobeit The ende ¶ The Printer to the Readers greeting FOr somuche as many good men desire to haue the copie of the prayer whiche the Author of this booke hath accustomed to make at the beginning of his sermons so haue I thoughte it no inconuenient to printe it here to the ende that all suche as woulde mought vse it to the aduancement of the glorie of God to whose grace I commende you The Prayer ACknowledging oure faultes and imperfections and that of our selues we can haue no good thyng if it be not giuen vs from heauen wée will humble our selues before the high maiestie of our good God and Father full of all goodnesse and mercie beséeching him that he will not enter into Iudgemente wyth vs to correct and punishe vs in his anger and wrath hauing regarde to our sinnes and iniquities but that he looke vpon the innocencie iusties and obedience of hys sonne Iesus Chryst whom he hath giuen to death for vs for whose sake if maye please him to receiue vs al to mercy and by his heauenly lyghte to driue oute of our heartes all darknesses erroures and ignorances and to fill vs with his graces and the graces of his holy spirit which may bring vs to the ful knowledge of al truth and may open to vs the true vnderstanding of his holy word to the ende that it be not corrupted by our carnall sense and vnderstanding but that he may giue vs the grace as he hath spoken by his holy Prophetes and Apostles that being gouerned by one very Spirite we may declare it to his honoure and glory and to the edification of all men and that we do not heare it only with our carnal eares to oure iudgemente and condemnation as the Infidels and hypocrites doe but that we maye receyue the same into our hartes as true children of GOD thorowe true and lyuely Fayth the whiche may be effectuous and working thorowe charitie learning thereby to renounce oure selues all Idolatrie all wycked superstitions and carnall affections to put wholly all oure trust in hym and to consecrate and conforme oure selues wholly vnto hys holy will to the ende that our lyfe and conuersation may bée to his honour and his praise and that for our Lord Iesus Christs sake we may be found without blame and without spotte before his face the whiche things wyth all others whiche this good GOD and Father doothe knowe to be necessarie for vs wée will demaunde them of him as this great Sauiour and Redéemer Iesus Chryste his deare Sonne our Soueraigne mayster hathe taughte vs saying all with one heart Oure Father whiche arte in Heauen c. The Exposition of the Preface of the Law set foorth by maister Peter Viret Minister of Gods worde I Am the Eternal thy God which haue brought thée out of the land of Egypt from the house of bondage Questions concerning the presence of God in the mountayn of Synai and of his voyce and of the lawe giuen by the Angelles TIMOTHE DANIEL BEfore that we enter into the Exposition of the Cōmaundements conteined in the Law according to our agréement I woulde gladly vnderstande two litle poyntes of thée which Moyses maketh mention of Daniel What are those pointes Timothie The first is howe that God whiche is in all places and doth fil both heauen and earth and is infinite did descende into the mountayne of Synai for was he not there before The other howe he spake in proper person for somuche as he hathe neyther bodye mouth nor voyce like vnto mans voyce if we doe consider him in his béeing and diuinitie On the other syde S. Paule and S. Stephen doe playnly testifie that the lawe was giuen by the Angels Of the presence of God in general which is common to all men and creatures and of his speciall presence towardes his seruantes D. THere is no greate difficultie in these questions For albéeit God doth fill bothe heauen and earth through his diuinitie yet notwithstanding for so muche as he doth not alway declare his maiestie his power his wisedome and goodnesse so manifestly and familiarly in one place as in an other the holie scripture to condescend and agrée to our grosnesse doth oftentimes attribute that vnto God whiche is proper to man to declare vnto vs the more plainly and familiarly his presence and assistance There is no dout but that God was alreadie in the mount Sinai before the time that he gaue his lawe as he was throughout the whole worlde and euen as he is at this day but he did not shew him selfe in such sorte as he did then there shewe him selfe to his people wherefore the Scripture sayth bicause of such a shewyng of his presence that he did there descend Of the voice of God vvhich vvas heard by men and of his lavve giuen by the Angels T. ANd what sayest thou concernyng the other pointes D. Albeit that God haue no body as concernyng his diuine essence or beyng nor voice like vnto the voyce of man so is it notwithstanding an easie matter for him to whome nothing is impossible to make him selfe a voyce and to take such forme and likenesse as pleaseth him to cause him to be heard and knowen so farre sorth as is méete for the saluation of man the infirmitie of mā may endure And also there is no inconuenient to say that the lawe which God gaue was giuen by Angels for so much as God was serued by their ministerie in the giuing of it and that his maiestie was not there shewed but being accompanied with his Angels which are alwaies prepared ready to serue him wherefore both the one and the other is true to wéet that God himself did speake giue his lawe and that it was giuen by the ministerie of his Angels Of the preface of God in his Lavve and of the titles vvhich he giueth to himself in the same and of the poynt that is chiefly required in that Lavve T. BEfore that God did take in hand to giue his cōmaundements he doth first vse a Preface whiche semeth to belong onely
if it be a worke whereby thy neyghboure receyueth any comforte or helpe in hys person it is then so muche the more profitable Wherefore albeit that the worke be not such as God requireth yet forsomuch as it serueth somewhat to the glory of God and to the edification of our neyboure God is so good that he will not suffer it to be vnrecompenced T. What recompence will he then giue him D. That whiche the worker requireth he desireth glory among men and his particular cōmoditie which things he doth often times receiue for his hire which extend no further than his life for he hathe no further regard at all T. By this accoumpte then thou wouldest conclude that it were better yet that a man should assist the worde of god and his Church and also the poore and that he should do such like works although that his harte were not throughly such as it ought to be rather thā to do nothing at all or to the contrary so that he do it not in any wise to the intente to dishonor God and of a determinate purpose or else rather to hurte his neyghbor than to profite him D. It is true for we haue in the holy Scriptures many examples whiche declare that God hath often times in this worlde done greate good to many that haue not had suche hartes as they ought to haue had bycause that their workes did serue somewhat to his glory and to the reléefe of his people In vvhat sorte the harte of man maye fulfill the lavve of God or no and may be condemned or absolued by the same vvithout the vvorks which god requireth of him in the same T. SEing that the worke which séemeth to be good cannot please God but so farre foorth as the hart from whence they do procéede doth please him and that the harte doth make the worke to be accepted or refused at his hande I do firste aske thée if GOD can contente him selfe without the worke with the harte alone The other is if the worke which of him selfe is euill may please him or else may be suffered by him when he that doth it doth it not for any euill purpose but doth it of force against his harte or else bicause he thinketh it not to be euill The thirde to know in déede if GOD do condemne the wicked thoughte although it be not put in execution and whether it doe as muche displease him as if the effect were ioyned with it D. As touching the firste it is sure that if God haue the harte of man he hath the whole therefore it cannot be but that the harte doth offer and presente vnto him the worke that he requireth of hym wherefore the worke may not be separated from the harte no more than the frute from the trée for euē so as the good trée neuer fayleth to bring foorthe hys frute in his due time and season so doth the good harte at all times and in all seasons that GOD requireth it if he do it not the cause is for that hée wanteth meane to do it and also power or else that he hath not a will to do it if he haue a will and haue no power and meanes to do it that wyll béeing good God dothe accepte and estéemeth it as well as if the facte were done The lyke dothe hée also if the wyll be wicked albeit that it haue not the power to put his wicked thought in execution Wherfore the wicked worke doth not only displease God but also the wicked will and affection in sorte that if it do procéede so farre that it is not long of hir that she doth not execute hir euill purpose and that there is nothing doth hinder it but want of power there is no doubte but that God accompteth the wickednesse done For that cause our Lord Iesus Christ and Sainte Iohn following his doctrine doth compare to a murtherer him that hateth hys brother and estéemeth him an adulterer that behouldeth an other mans wife coueting hir We must vnderstand the like of all other vices according to the interpretation that oure Lorde Iesus Christe himselfe and after him his Apostles gaue vs of the lawe of God but if the hart had the meane the power to do that whiche was commaunded him to do and hathe not only lefte it vndone but hath also not employed him selfe by al meanes possible to vse those occasions wherby he mought do them it is a certaine testimonie and an assured signe that it is not good and that there is no good will in it for if it were good that the will were such as it ought to be it should not be more desirous of any thing than to yeld vnto God that obedience honoure and seruice which is due vnto him and that he requireth of hym wherefore God cannot be pleased wyth such an hart for it is fayned and vntrue Hovve that men do glory in vayne of their good harte and of their faithe if their vvorkes beare not vvitnesse of it and for vvhat cause the iudgement shal be giuen by God according to theyr vvorks and vvhy the Prophets do so ernestly require them exhorting the people of God to repentaunce T. WE do then in vayne glory of the hart if the worke beare not good witnesse of the same D. Yea as well as of the faithe Wherefore we may well here saye with Saincte Iames shewe me thy harte and thy faith by thy workes for as the faith that is without works is not a true faith but onely a vayne and fayned faith and dead and a false shewe of faith hauing nothing of true faith sauing only the name without the effect no more doth the harte liue to God nor is dedicated vnto him that doth not declare himselfe by good works For the fire how litle soeuer it be cannot be without light without heate and at the least without some litle smoke for this cause in the manner of Gods iudgement which is set foorth to vs by our Lord Iesus Christ there is in manner no mention made but onely of works by the which euery man is iudged forsomuch as they shall beare witnesse of the harte and faith of euery man Likewise when the Prophets exhorte men to true repentaunce they doe euer prayse works and namely suche as do concerne our neyghboure forsomuche as hipocrisie may least be therein cloked and that mā doth declare by that whiche he doth concerning the commaundements of the second table and toward his neyghboure what harte he beareth toward God and in what reuerence he hath the commandements of the first table for it is an easie matter for a man to boast himselfe to haue a sound and perfecte harte towarde God and to make a shew by the obseruation of the outward ceremonies but whē he must in déede lay hande to the worke which is to say to the true charitie which is the ende and fulfilling of the lawe and to the workes
the glory of God to be preferred to all creatures And if that al the creatures should perish wherefore should we thinke it straunge if god were glorified in their perdition and that it did so please him T. No man ought to finde that straunge excepte he do more estéeme the creature than the Creator D. Therefore it is playne that this offence whiche many giue vnto themselues in the matter of reprobation of the reprobates procedeth not but from a maruellous greate pride and arrogancie of the flesh whiche estemeth itselfe more than it ought to do for if it had so small an estimation of it selfe as the worthynesse therof requireth and did estéeme God his glory so muche as it ought to do he should not onely not finde it straunge to knowe that god hath ordeyned to be glorified in the damnation of some no although it should be done with his owne person he shoulde glorifie God in his iust iudgement he would not murmure against him to wage the lawe with him and to play the lawyer and to pleade againste him to mainteyne the cause of the reprobates accusing hym as though he should do them wrong but rather he would desire himselfe to be damned as Saincte Paule desired for his bretherne the Israelites if it were possible that it moughte be done and that God mought be the more magnified and glorified therein From whēce then come these cōtrary thoughts but only of the horrible pride that is in our corrupted nature for what are we from whence came we what wrong may God do vnto vs wherin are we able to accuse him or attribute vnto him the faulte of our offences and of oure damnation and to set him in the place of the Deuill author of sinne considering that what determination so euer he haue made of vs we cānot complaine that we haue any other force violence constrainte to do euill but onely of oure owne wicked concupiscence vnlesse that happily we would complayne in that that he hath not made vs suche as coulde not sinne or else hauing sinned that he dothe not bestow vppon all like grace and that he dothe not saue all forsomuche as he moughte if that he woulde otherwise he shoulde not be God nor almightie but it hath pleased him that not without good and iust cause the whiche is continually such albeit that we cannot vnderstand it Therefore we must continually say with the Prophete that oure damnation is of our selues and our saluation of God only and say with S. Paule But o thou mā what arte thou that pleadest against god shall the thing that is fashioned say vnto him that fashioned it why hast thou shaped and made me thus The potter hathe he not power of the clay to make of one very lumpe one vessel to honoure and an other to dishonor And what if God wold to shewe his wrath and to make his power knowne suffer with great pacience the vessells of wrath prepared to perdition and to shewe the riches of his glory vppon the vessells of his mercie which he hath prepared to glorye and agayne O the déepenesse of the riches of the wisedome and knowledge of God his iudgementes are not to be searched out and his wayes are impossible to be found For who is he that hath knowne the Lordes intente or who hath bin his counsellor or who is he that gaue to him firste and he shal be recompenced Hovve that the vvill of man cannot by any meanes be constrayned no not by the deuill himselfe but only of his ovvne vvickednes T. FOr my parte I graunte to all that which thou hast sayde but yet canst thou not denye but that mā is yet oftentimes constrained to sinne by meane of the temptacion and soliciting of the deuill D. This constraint wherof thou speakest is cōstraint without cōstraint for it is not in the power of al the deuils nor of al the creatures that are to constraine the will of one mā Wherfore what temptatiō or solicitatiō so euer happē vnto him if he did not willingly consent therevnto he could not be induced to do any kinde of thyng against his will. But it fareth with hym as it doth with a harlot for if she be solicited by bawdes and whoremasters she will giue ouer hir selfe vnto them which thing an honest woman will not do but will resist all suche temptations and procurements wil ouercome them Therfore albeit that the harlot may impute some parte of the cause of the offēce that she hath committed to those that did entise hir and procure hir therevnto yet notwithstanding she may not say that she hath bin constrayned so to do nor may by that meane excuse hir selfe for if she had not agréed therevnto of hir owne will she had not at all playde the harlot but bycause that she was already naturally thervnto enclyned these procuremēts did serue hir as it were matches oyle wood throwne into the fire which would kindle nor slame neuer the sooner nor the more if it were not naturally enclyned and prompte therevnto In like sorte is man broughte to euill thorough his owne concupiscence the which being wakened and sturred vp by the diuell dothe the more declare it selfe and sheweth more plainely what his nature is wherfore thou séest here howe that man dothe continually sinne of his owne will and if he will saye that he hath bin constrayned to do any kind of worke the which he knoweth manifestly to be against the will of God it must be considered wherein he hath bin enforced and cōstrayned if he haue in any wise bin enforced by the force of others so that he could not be in any wise master of his members although he did resist it by all the meanes that he coulde and dyd declare by his wordes and actes that hys harte and will did in no wise consente thervnto he may be excused as an honest womā may that hath bin takē of force the which notwithstanding hath cried and resisted by all meanes possible against the whoremaster and hath bin as willing to lose hir life as hir chastitie but if thou doest an euill worke either to please men or else for feare that thou shouldest fall into their displeasure or indignation and receyue any dishonor or wordly hindrance thou maist in suche a case alledge none other constrainte but only that of thy wicked wil no more than Pilate might whē he condemned Iesus Christe enforced by the constrainte of the Iewes For if thou didst loue God with al thy harte and better than thy selfe and didst more estéeme his glory than thine owne and thy soule than thy body and the heauen more than thou doest the earth thou moughtest be frée from losing that whiche thou fearest to lose and shouldest not lose it at all but shouldest gaine it double For as Iesus Christ saith he that shall loose his life for my sake the same shall finde it and he that feareth