whiche shall come shortly to iudgement and vtterly destroye the kyuge dome of Antichrist whom he now kylleth with the sprete of his mouth Our possessioÌ„ is not here vpoÌ„ earth the kyngdom of heauen is our natiue countre From theÌ„ce loke we for the sauyoure Jesus Christ our Lorde which shall rayse vp oute mortall miserable body that he maye make it lyke hys excellent and glorified body ator dinge to the power wherby he maye subdue all thynges vnto hym self To him be â–ª honoure and prayse for euer and euer Amen The accustomaâ— goodnes of God God hath shewed no lesse kindnes to vs theÌ„ he did to the olde worlde Thei that folowe goddes worde are laughed to scorne The doctrine of Christes fayth is no newe thyng 1. Cor. i. â— Cor. ii To vs whiche are saued it is the power of God What fayth is Ad Romanos Gala Ephe. Jaco ii Hebre. xi Ro. xiiii Actes .xv. i. Peter v Gala. v. â— Cor. xiiii â–ª Hebre. xi Jaco i. would to god we had many suche as James the Apostle was O vnthaÌ„kful world S James wold not spare to rebuke suche AgaiÌ„st suche grosse vices wold not S James spare to â—â— speake Let euery man take the payns to rebuke his owne faulte We must put on the nature of gods doctrine Let the workes of God which are past be a warnyng to vs. The christen fayth is elder then 1500 yeares Eusebius ActuuÌ„ xi The fyrst creatioÌ„ of heaueÌ„ and earth The garnyshynge of heauen and erth The office â—â— the 〈…〉 in the firmament Fyshes Foules Beastes The treatioÌ„ of maÌ„ The creacioÌ„ of the woman The requeste of the commaundement The vnthankfulnesse and wickednesse of man The righteousnes and mercy of god The way of satisfactioÌ„ before God is Christe Synne The frowardnes of man Why god gaue the womaÌ„ vnto man Grace We all are lothe to knowlege oure selues gyltye Punyshement The promes â—ene iii. The serpeÌ„tes heade The sure foundatioÌ„ of oure fayth Ro. viii â— Corin. â— The gospell of Jesu Chryst Esaye vii A prayse of the virgin Mari Hebre. iâ— â–ª Gene. iii. Christes hâ—oe i. Pet. iiii John xiiâ—i Rom. xvi Obiection Answere Gene. iii. Gene. iii. i. Timo. 2 i. Tessa 4. Ephe. iiii Hebre. ix The summe of the Christen faith Gene. iii. Adams fayth CoÌ„forte helpe louing kindnes in the myddes of correction Gene. iii. CoÌ„forte pacieÌ„ce in Christ i. Pet. ii Adams fayth Hebre. xi Sacrifice was a token oâ— thankfulnesse Cain the father of wickednesse Abel the The difference of true false fayth â–ª The fyrst deâ—aâ—â— of the faith â–ª The reparacion of our fayth Gene. iiii â–ª Inuocaâ—e nomen domini quid sit The faith of Enoch Genesi v. the wrath of God vpon the wycked The renewynge of the promes concernynge christ The sacrifice of Noe. Gene. viii Ephesi v Math. iii. The commaundemeÌ„tes geuen vnto Noe. Thorowe Noe was the world replenshed The faith of the heitheÌ„ is ydolatry and worshyppynge of ymages â–ª Gene. xâ— â–ª Gene. xii AbrahaÌ„s fayth AbrahaÌ„s Christen workes The faith of the Jewes How olde the Christsten fayth is The faith of Isaac Jacob. Ge. xxviii Jacob sawe that christ onely is the waye to heauen The faith of Joseph The faith of Moses The Easter lambe The genynge of the lawe The fyrst table Mat. xxii The secoÌ„de table The lawe written in stone is no newe thyng The lawe written in stone was fylled afore ObiectioÌ„ Answere Gods Testament SaluatioÌ„ ObiectioÌ„ Answere why the lawe was geuen The lawe is the rule to lyue by The brasen serpeÌ„t Christe is the rock Question Answere One altar what it signified Note this well Why the ceremonies of the law were geuen The godly consideracion of fathers Question Answere Why god ordeyned such a loÌ„g seruice among the Jewes God rendreth oure weaknes Lawes iudiciall The fyrst boke Moses The secoÌ„de boke of Moses The third boke The fourthe oke The fifth boke The origenall scripture of our fayth The lawe written is no newe thynge Josue was a figure of Christ An heresy of the ana baptistes Rulers must punishe An errour Of kyng Dauid Act. xiii The holy Trynyte The faith of Dauid in Christe The spirituall kingdome of Christ Act. i. A battayll The birth of Christ The office of Christ â–ª Christes cause shal forth Christe shall destroye his enemies The passion of Christ The article of the holy Trinite Dauid was called Christes father The wayes of Dauid Kynge â—bia The departyng of Israe â–ª froÌ„ Juda. Kynge Jehu God alwaies sen deth hys prophetes The prophetes preached â—he olde â—ayth The lawe the prophetes alowe the righteousnes of god that commeth by fayth The godhead and manhode of Christ The righteous blossome John baptiste The office of Christ Christe is called Dauid The miracles of Christe The kingdome of Christ The deth of Christ The sacrifice of Christe â—acha iii. The buryall resurrection of Christ The asceÌ„sion The vocatioÌ„ of the Heithen The prophetes soughte saluacion in Christ A prophecye tolde vnto Daniell The nombre of the yeares Antiochê° God had euer some vertuous men â—achay Symeon All gods electe wer saued by Christ The olde testament is not to be refused Luk. xxiiii The new TestameÌ„t dec are â–ª h the olde Tidinges of Christes birth The grace of God Christ the onely saluacion of all the worlde Luce. iiâ— The dewry of vs. John baptist John i. John i. Mat. xi Math. iii. Math. iii â–ª The substauÌ„ce of true religion The speciall pointes of christes doctryne The pacient suffringe of Christ the frute of Christes death Water bloude The buriall of Christ The power of Christ saueth all christ hold nothinge back froÌ„ hys apostles The holy goost broughte no new doctryne Joh. xiiii Mar. xvi Act xiii â—â— xxviii The supper of the Lorde The frute of the sacramentes The Apostles dyd not ouer charge the people with ceremonies The Apostles wolde not offende the weake the decay of christes religion What in coÌ„uenieÌ„ce â–ª folowed The Pope Machomet stryâ—e agaynste Christe Let vs do as our olâ—est fathers haue done longe before vs. Philip. iii.
afterward all the people of God receaued the name Israel had many vysions of the Lorde Christ as with the ladder that stode vpon the erth the toppe reachynge to heaueÌ„ on the which the angels of god wente vp and downe For herewith was represented vnto hym the Lord Jesus whiche is the waye vnto heaueÌ„ the trueth and lyfe without whome no man commeth vnto the father Upon the vision of Jacob sayeth he also hym selfe Joh. i. Uerely Isaye vnto you heÌ„ce forth shall ye se the heauen open and the aungels of god goynge vp and downe vpon the sonne of man And so constant was Jacob in remembryng the same that afterward at the commaundement of the Lorde he set vp in the same place an altare no dout as it is sayde afore for a figure of the crosse and sacrifice of Christ and there honoured he and worshipped the Lorde he commaunded all hys people also that they shulde forsake straunge goddes and geue him the ydols that they had brought with them out of Mesopotamia he buryed them vnder an Oke that stode besyde Sichem Gene. xxxv And whan he wolde now dye he prophecied very clearly of the lord Christe how he shulde be borne out of the kynred of Juda and that he shuld be born the same tyme that the kyngdome shulde be taken from Juda. Whiche thyng also came to pas in Herodes tyme. For in the xxxii yeare of the raygne of Herode was Christe borne at BethleeÌ„ in Jewry Wher of the wordes of Jacob are these The sceptre shall not be taken awaye from Juda ner a ruler from hys fete tyll Schilo come that is to saye the sauioure and he in whome all nations shalbe blessed and the people shall fall vnto hym This sted fast fayth of Jacob dyd Joseph folow also which mortified hys owne flesh declared patience in aduersite preson and exercysed great iustice and equyte in hys gouernaunce He was a figure of oure Lord Jesus Christe who also beynge folde of hys owne vnto the Heythen preserued hys brethren alyue So that from the begynnyng of the worlde vntyll the death of Joseph the righte Christen fayth endured 2300. yea res And thus all holy patriarkes before the lawe were saued not thorowe the lawe ner by their owne strength and deseruynge but â–ª thorowe the blessed sede oure Lorde Jesus Christ The lawe of Moses ¶ The lawe of God geuen by Moses leadeth vnto Christ and maketh mention of all hys doynges THe Israelites after the death of Joseph vntyll their departyng delyuerannce out of Egipte were in the lande .c. xl yeares And lyke as afore in the tyme of Noe the dwellynge among the wicked became occasion of fallynge vn to the righteous Euen so now dyd the Israelites lerne ydolatrye and all vnhappynesse of the Egiptians For the whiche cause also they were sore opprest a longe season howbeit there remayned yet many excellent men whiche kepte styll the olde faith and hated the abhominations of the Egiptians For of Moses which was born .c. vi yeare after the death of Joseph saâ—â—th Paul Moses thorow saith whan he grâ—w vp and was great refused to be called the sonne of Pharaos daughter and chose rather to suffre aduersite with the people of God then to enâ—oye the pleasures of synne for a season and estemed the rebuke of Criste greater ryches then the treasures of Egypte for he had respecte to the rewarde Hebre xi Now can no man desyre to suffre with Christe except he haue know lege of Christes sufferynge Therfore Moses in the myddes of all persecution had know lege of Christe the fayth in Christe So is there no doute but moo vertuous people had thys true fayth whiche were all oppressed and vexed in Egypte lyke as afterwarde the right faithfwll beleuers were somwhat more persecuted as amoÌ„g the Heythen in the tymeof the Judges and kynges of Juda and Israel vnder kynge Antiochus vnder the Emperous Nero Traianus Domitianus Maximianê° Julianus and other As for the vnbeleuers they in suche myserable tymeys receaued the reward of theyr vnthankfulnesse disobedience ydolatrie and blasphemye But whan the appoynted tyme came whych god had forsene and opened vnto Abraham Gene. xv he brought the people of Israell by Moses out of Egypt wyth and thorowe great wonders and tokens By the whych he fyrst declared hys power then hys louyng kyndnesse and mercy towarde hys owne and hys terrible iustice and vengeaunce agaynste hys enemyes Wherby all the worlde myghte knowe that there was none other iust true god saue the God of Israell in whose hande onely consiste all thynges whyche also of hys mere mercy preserueth hys owne and wyth ryght indgement rewardeth hys enemyes Specially thys is mooste wonderfull that in thys great busynesse worke he hath so myghtely set forth the redemption perfourmed by oure Lorde Jesus Chryste yea and expressed it to be a very myghty redemption For the same nyght whan they shulde departe awaye and be dyspatched in the mornyng the Lord commaunded them to kyll a lambe and wyth the bloud therof to sprinkle the dores and postes of the house So whan the aungell that in the same night slew the fyrst borne of the Egyptians sawe the bloude he shuld do no harme and sley no man therin Exo xii Now te stifyeth Paul .i. Cor. v that Christ Jesus is our Ester lambe and passeouer â–ª So sayeth S. JohaÌ„ Beholde the lambe of God whyche taketh awaye the synne of the worlde Therefore were not the Israelytes spared because of the bloud of beastes but for the bloudes sake of the blessed sede that was promysed for to come And thus the whole delyuerauÌ„ce out of Egypt was a figure of the true redemption by the whych we are delyuered from the power of the deuell from euerlastynge death thorow Jesus Christe and brought into the lande of promes euen to eternall ioye and saluation whyche God promysed vnto our fathers AdaÌ„ Noe Abraham Isaac and Jacob. Now whan the Lorde had caried hys people out of Egipt and brought theÌ„ thorow the reed see drye shode and had drowned Pharao wyth all hys people he commaunded hys folke to prepare and clense theÌ„ selues at mouÌ„t Sina For he wold binde hymselfe vnto them receaue them as hys owne people and gaue them hys law and ordynauÌ„ce Which thing he also dyd and appoynted hys law himselfe spake it wyth hys owne mouth and wrote it with hys owne fyngers in two tables of stone In the one fyrst table he ordeyned foure commaundementes concernynge the wor shippe and loue of God Namely that we shulde take hym onely for the true right God and none els besyde or excepte hym That we shuld worship and honoure hym onely and in no wyse to haue anye other God coÌ„forte nor hope Item that we shuld in no wyse make any ymage or picture of any thinges and nether to worshippe them nor serue them Morouer that we shulde not take the
good created man for hym selfe But before he created hym he prouided first for hym wonderfully and fornyshed hym wyth vnoutspeakeable ryches hys goodnesse For whan he deuysed the creacyon of man and the tyme was nowe come whych his godly wysdome and prouydence had ordeyned he fyrste of all appoynted a wonderfull lodgynge for man and garnyshed the same yet muche more wonderfully At the begynnynge whan the goodly and cleare lyghte was made the Lord prepared the instrumentes which he afterwarde sundred one from another and ordeyned euery one to some purpose Ouer the depe that is ouer the waterâ— erth whiche yet was in the water made he a firmament and spred out the heauen aboue as a pauilion Afterward out of the water he called and brought forth the erth asmoch as serued for the habitation of men and appoynted the water his bouÌ„des and markes whiche it maye not ouer passe And these thre thinges the water the erth and the firmameÌ„t that is to saye the ayre and clearnesse aboue vs vnto the heyght of heaueÌ„ are the essensial and substantiall parcels of the world and seâ—ueas an house for the habitacion of men Neuertheles as yet all this was but rough and vnfynyshed and nothing garnished at all Therfore dyd the wyse and faithful master put forth his hand wyder to perfourme and pleasauÌ„rly to garnyshe that wonderfull worke yee not onely to garnyshe it but also to make it frutefull and profitable for man â–ª whiche was the gest and in habitour for to come And first in asmoch as man shuld inhabite the erth he garnished it afore hand and clothed it with a goodly grene garment that is with a substaunce whiche he deckte first with floures and al maneâ— of herbes which not onely are pleasaunt to loke vpon and wonderfully bewtified of a pleasaunt taist and goodly coloure but also profitable for food and al maner of medicine To the same also dyd he fyrst adde sondrye trees and plantes Then watred he the erth with fayre springes riuers and rennynge waters And the grounde made he not lyke on euery syde but in many places sette it vp pleasauntly And herof haue we the walleyes playnes mountaynes and hylles whych thynges all haue theyr due operacyon frute and pleasauntnesse After thys also beganne he to garnyshe the heauen and fyrmament and set therein the Sonne and Moone the planetes and Starres whyche thynges all are goodlyer and more wonderfull then mennes tonge can expresse As for theyr offyce the cause why they are set in the heauen It is to geue vs lyght and wyth theyr vp and down goynge or mocyon to declare the tymes yeares monethes dayes deuydynge the dayes and nyghtes asunder Thyrdly he sayed hys hande lykewise in the water in the whyche he hath wrought no lesse wonders then in heauen and vpoÌ„ earth For in the water and specially in the see do the wonderfull workes of God appeare in the fysshes and meruels of the See yf a man consider the nature and disposition of them And in the ayre also hath he created and ordeyned greate tokens of hys goodnesse power and wysdome euen the foules that pleasauntly accordynge to dyuerse commodities do synge vnto man and refreshe hym At the last endewed he the erth yet more rychelye and fylled it wyth all kynde of profytable and Goodly beastes and sundred one from another pleasauntly Whan the Lorde nowe had prepared thys goodly and ryche pleasure then fyrste after all these he made man that he myght be Lord of all these thynges Hym also endewed he aboue all other creatures and created hym after hys owne ymage He made hym of body and soule whych shuld haue endured for euer yf he had not fallen into synne Nowe hath he afrayle bodye and an immortall euerlastynge soule But the fyrst man made he altogether parfecte and wythout blemyshe so that verelye he was called the ymage of God not wythoute cause The Lorde also was not suffysed in garnyshynge the erathe golye but fyrst also buylded vpon the erth a specyall garden of pleasure euen a paradyse and therin he set man hys deare beloued creature And for asmuche as he beyng so litary and alone coulde not conueniently dwell wythout a make he appoynted him first to plante and kepe the gardeÌ„ of pleasure and prouyded for hym a wyfe euen out of the bones of hys owne bodye that she myght be the mans helpe Thus wolde the goodnesse of God fynyshe and make man perfecte to the intent that he shoulde lacke nothynge whyche serued to a ryght wholsome and perfecte lyfe Therefore was it equall that man whyche was endewed wyth reasoÌ„ and hye vnderstandynge shulde shewe thankefulnesse and obedyence vnto God for suche hye gyftes Yee God hym selfe whyche is not only good but also ryghteous requyreth the same of hym and that by the meanes of the coÌ„maundement That he mighte eate of all the trees of the garden of pleasure Onely he shulde eschue the frute of knowinge good and euyll And thys commaundement was not greuous nor vnreasonable Onely it requyreth oâ—edyence and loue of God the maker vnto whome onely the treature euen man shoulde haue respecte and loke for all good at hys hande and not to take the fourme of good and euell oute of hym selfe but onely to holde that for euyll and forbydden whych God inhybyteth as euell and to compte that as good and ryghteous whych God aloweth or forbyddeth not For a representacion visible token and Sacrament God shewed hym a ryghte vysible and frutefull tree in the garden of pleasure and forbad hym wyth earneste threatenynge that in what houre so euer he dyd eate of the same tree he shuld dye an euerlastyng death But vntruly dealth maÌ„ wyth hys faithfull god transgressed hys commaundemente and gaue more credence to the persuasyon of the woman and of the serpente then to the true worde of God whyche was nothyng els but euen as much as to take the fourme of good and euell out of them sâ—lues or els where rather then of God and not to cleue and be obedyente onely vnto hym as to suche one as wysheth good vnto euery man For man beynge dysceaued thorowe the woman and the serpente dyd beleue that God was not indyfferent and that he had wythdrawen from hym some of hys godly wysdome And for asmuch as the mynde nowe was departed from God thorowe infydelyte and loked not for all good at hys hande therfore toke the hande the noysome apple and the mouth dyd eat the forbydden meate And thus thoughte he to helpe hym selfe to Goddes maiestye by another meanes rather then by God and so to repayre hys necessyte whyche he thought he had And so wyth infydelyte vnfaythfulnesse disobedyeÌ„ce and vnthank fulnesse he wroughte lyfe and dyed the deathe that is he offended agaynste God and fell in to the punishment of euerlastinge dampnacyon Yee he made hym selfe bonde vnto the Deuyll whome he was so dyligent to
describeth he also in the foresayde verse the pure and holy Conception and byrth of our Lord Jesu Chryst And thys doth he wyth a goodly similitude sayeth Thy byrth shalbe holy and very excellent not vncleane as the byrthe of other men For lyke as the dew out of the cleare heauen out of the fayre mornynge is borne as it wereout of a mothers wombe EueÌ„ so also shalt thou be borne holy and cleane of an vndefyled virgin Wherof thou findest more instruction Luke i. The Lorde hath swome and it shall not repeÌ„t him thou art prest for euer after the ordre of Melchisedech In thys fourth verse descrâ—beth he the office of Jesu Christ how that he is ordeyned of God to be one onely preist for euer whych shuld offer vp hym selfe for the synne of the world and alway appeare in the syght of God the father and to praye for vs. All thys doth holy Paull declare at large to the Hebreues in the .v. vii viii ix and. x chap. And specially in thys verse is grounded all that is red thorowe out the scripture of the merites of Christ of the forgeuyng of sinnes of righteous making of beynge mediatoure and that he alone is the onely saluation aduocate satisfaction and ryghteousnesse of the faythfull The Lorde is at thy ryght hand he in the tyme of hys wrath shall wounde euen kynges Thys fyfth verse teacheth howe God wyll ener more and more stand on hys soÌ„nes syde further hys cause and brynge downe and destroye those kynges princes and Lordes that wyl not amende and beleue in Christ but wyll rather prouoke his wrathe then â—elyre hys grace Whyche thynge Herodes Nero Domicianus Maximinus and Julianus haue proued Yet foloweth the syxte verse declarynge the fyfth He shall iudge amonge the Heythen and fyll all full of deed bodyes and smyte the heade on the wyde grounde Christ is also preached vnto the HeitheÌ„ and reigneth among theÌ„ but many wythstande Chryste and them dothe he iudge And lyke as a kynge ouercommeth hys enemyes wyth a battayle and couereth the whole playne wyth deed bodyes visiteth also and smyteth the head of the warre the head cycie of the enemies EueÌ„ so doth Christ to his enemies and destroieth their power and kyngdome All whych thynges we haue sene in the olde vnchristeÌ„ empyre of Rome and in many other potentates and powers But specially he breaketh the head of the olde serpent accordyng to the promes Gene. iii. And at the laste shall he come to iudge the quycke and deed and destroye hys enemyes for euer Out of the broke in the way shall he drynke therfore shall he also lyfte vp the heade Fynally and in the seuenth verse he describeth the passion of Christ and his glory In the waye sayeth he that is in hys lyfe whyle he is in thys miserie He shall drynke oute of the broke that is he shall suffer be ouercome For to drynke out of the cuppe is asmuche as to suffer But to drynke oute of the broke is to be altogether full of trouble to be vexed and â—ormeÌ„ted wythoute victory and vtterly to be ouerwhelmed wyth a broke strong streame of troubles Thus was it hys mynde to declare the passion of Christ After the passioÌ„ foloweth the glory wyth the resurrection and ascensioÌ„ Paul Philip. ii speaketh of both and sayeth Chryste humbled hymselfe and became obedieÌ„t vnto death euen the deathe of the Crosse Wherfore God hath exalted hym and geuen hym a name whyche is aboue all names c. Thus muche be spoben of thys Psalme and of Dauids vnderstandyng â—hych he had of Christ Jesu and of the christeÌ„ faith Upon thys I maruayll yf after so euidente testimonies there be yet any man whych perceaueth not that Dauids faith and vnderstandyng of Christe was euen one fayth and vnderstandynge wyth the fayth that we knowlege and say I beleue in one God father alymightye c As it is in the xii articles of the Chrysten faythe For the holy trinite in one godheade doth he knowlege not onely here but also in the .xxxiii. Psalme sayenge Thorowe the worde of God were the heaueÌ„s made and all theyr power thorow the sprete of hys mouth For certayne it is that there is but one onely God maker of heauen and of erth but here is the trinite called Lord or God worde and sprete Nether is there any thynge in the Articles of the beleue concernynge the Godhead and manhode of Christ of hys concepcion byrth passioÌ„ crosse and death of the resurrection asceÌ„sion and iudgement but ti is clearly comprehended here in thys Psalme The articles of the holy churche of forgeuynge of sinnes the resurrectioÌ„ of the fleshe and an euerlastynge lyfe are conteyned in thys Psalme and are treated vpon yet more clearly and wyth many moo wordes very substantially in other Psalmes of Dauid Therfore had he our holy fayth knowleged the same was saued therein and of all holy meÌ„ was called the father of christ wyth hye commendation bycause of the promes that was made vnto hym Moreouer all the holy Prophetes folowynge had respecte vnto Dauid as to another Moses and toke many thinges out of his wryttynges For there is scace any other that so clearly wrote of the cause of christ as thys prophet Dauid and therfore hath he honoure and prayse aboue other in Israel Of whome thou readest also â–ª Eccle. xlvii Such fayth and confidence in God thorow Jesus Christ had Dauid oute of the holy goost and out of the doctrine of hys Prophetes Samuel Nathan Gad and of other hys preistes whych also had the same of God and of the holy fathers specially of Moses And no doute he desired the honoure of God and of hys soÌ„ne not to kepe it onelye hym selfe but also muche rather to requyre it of all hys people Wherfore no doute he set vp and furthured thys hys fayth and religion amoÌ„g all hys men of warre kynstolke in al hys courte Edominion before the whole congregation and in all hys kyngdome soâ— diligently ernestly and feruently that afterwarde certayne hundreth yeares they whych beleued ryghte lyued well were praysed for walkyug in the wayes of Dauid theyr father They also that dyd euell and set not forth the true fayth of them is it wryten They walked not in the wayes of Dauid theyr father Of thys hast thou many ensamples in the bokes of the kynges and in the Cronicles Many thynges also were forgeuen the kynges and all the people of Juda for Dauids sake that is for the promes sake mode vnto Dauyd euen for Jesus Christes sake whom Ezechiel calleth Dauid In the. iii boke of the kynges the xv chapter it is wrytteÌ„ thus The hert of Abia was not ryght toward hys Lord God as was the hart of Dauid hys father And for Dauyds sake dyd the Lorde geue hym a lyghte at Hierusalem so that at HierusaleÌ„ he set vp hys sonne and
one summâ— whych fayth Adam Noe AbrahaÌ„ Mosâ—s and Dauid had And thys dyd they the more euideÌ„tly because they applyâ—d theÌ„ selues to opeÌ„ the lawe and to dryue awaye the mysvnderstandynge whyche was rysen vp among and in the people therfore poynte they euery where froÌ„ the letter vnto the sprete froÌ„ y â— outward sacrifice vnto christ Jesus from all ydolaâ—rye vnto the onely God whyche saueth vs thorow hys mercy only in the blessed sede horowe none of oure deseruinges This dyd Paul se therfore sayde he Roma iii. Thorowe the workes of the law shall no man be iustified in the syght of god For thorow the law coÌ„meth the knowlege of synne But nowe is the ryghteousâ—es of God declared wythoute the lawe for as muche as it is alowed by the â—estimoâ—y of the law the Prophetes The ryghteousnes of God coÌ„meth by the fayâ—h of Jesus Christ vnto al and vpoÌ„ al theÌ„ that beleue So sayeth Peter also in thâ— â–ª â—â— â–ª of the Actes All the prophetes from Samuell thence forth as many as haue spoken haue tolde of thâ—se dayes And in the. â— â–ª chapter â—â—oâ—hys Jesus Christ geue all the prophetes wiâ—nes that whosoeuer beleueth in hym shall thorowe hys name recyeue forgâ—uenâ—sse of synnes Who so now is lerned in the wrytynges of the Prophetes knoweth well that there is nothyng red concernyng the Lord in the new Testament whych the prophetes haue not prophecyed of afore He that is then any thynge iustructe in the Prophetes hathe no doute consydred thys in the new testameÌ„t that the apostles proue all theyr doctrine of the Lorde Jesu out of the lawe and the Prophetes Yea that the Lord hym selfe confyrmeth hys owne doynges wyth the scriptures of the prophetes and that the EuaÌ„gelistes thorow out the holy gospell set vnto the doctrine and miracles of Christ these wordes And this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken dy the prophetes Neuertheles for theyr sakes that are not yet instructe I wyll nowe declare the principall articles of our Lord Jesu Christ out of the holy prophetes As touchyng the true godheade manhode of oure Lorde Jesu Christ and that he shulde be borne at BethleeÌ„ in the lande of Jewrye of a pure virgin and maide out of the kynred of Dauid the Prophetes testifie after thys maner Esaye in the. vâ—i Chapter â—ayeth Beholde a virgin shall conceaue and beare a sonne and shall call hys name Emanuell that is to saye God wyth vs. Micheas saieth in the .v. chapter Though thou Bethleem Ephrata arte to small to be rekened amonge the pryncypall cyties of Juda yet oute of the shall there come one vnto me whych shalbe ruler in Israell whose forth goyng is from euerlastynge In the nynth Chapter of Esaye it is wrytten Unto vs is a chylde borne and to vs is geuen a sonne vppon whose shulders the kyngdome shall lye and he shalbe called after hys own name euen the wondefull counsaill geuer the myghty one of Israel the eternall father the Prince of peace hys kyngdome shall increace and of hys peace there shalbe no ende and he shall reigne vppon the seate of Dauid hys father In the. xxiii of Hieremy it is wrytten thus Beholde the tyme commeth sayth the Lorde that I wyl tayâ—e vp the ryghteous blossome of Dauid he shall be kyng and reygne and prospere iudgemente and ryghteousnesse shall he eâ—â—cute vpon earth In thys tyme shall Juda be saued and Israell shall dwell wythoute feare thys is the name wherwythe he shall be named euen God oure ryghteousnes Concernynge the commynge of John the baptist wâ—ych was the fore runner of oure Lorde Christ and prepared the people for hym Hath Malachy wrytteÌ„ in the thyrde chapter after thys maner Beholde I wyll sende my messaunger whych shall prepare the waye before me and the Lord whome ye longe for shall shortly come to hys temple and the messaunger of the couenaunt whome yâ— wolde haue Beholde he commeth sayeth the Lord zebaoth And after warde Beholde I wyll sende Helias the Prophete afore the commynge of the greate and fearefull Daye of the Lorde Of Christes preachynge of the grace of God of the forgeuing of synnes of the wonders also and tokens of the Lorde speaketh Esaye in the. lâ—i Chapter after thys maner The spirite of the Lorde god is vpon me and therfore hath the Lorde anoynted me to preache the Gospel to the meke harted hath he sente me to heale the broken harted to preache delyueraunce to the captyue to open the pryson to suche as are in bondes to proclame the yeare of Gods gracyous wyll and to brynge consolation to all them that are in heuynes In the .xxxiiii. chapter of Ezechiell it is wrytten thus Ouer my shepe wyll I rayse vp one onely shepherde whych shall fede theÌ„ eveÌ„ Dauid my seruaunt whych shall fede them and he shalbe theyr shepherde I the Lorde also wyll be theyr God and Dauid shalbe theyr prince euen I the Lorde haue spoken it In the .xxxv. Cha. of Esaye it is wrytten thus Saye vnto them that are of a feble hart Be stronge and feare not beholde oure god commeth to take vengeauÌ„ce reward God coÌ„meth hym selfe wyll delyuer you Then shall the eyes of the blynde be opened c. Then shall the lame man leape as an hert and the tonge of the Domne shall geue prayse Of the kyngdom of Christ in the which he hym selfe alone is kynge all the world beynge subiecte vnto hym declarynge hys dominion and royall maiestye wrytteth Esaye thus in the seconde Chapter And it shall come to passe in the last tyme that the hyll of the house of the Lorde shall be exalted vpon the hyght of mountaynes aboue all litsâ— hylles and all nacions shall come together vnto hym the people shall go to him and saye Come let vs go vp to the mount of the Lorde euen to the house of the God of Jacob that he maye shew vs hys waye and we wyll walke in hys pathes For the lawe shall come forth froÌ„ Sion and the worde of God from Hierusalem In the .vii. of Daniel it is writteÌ„ thus I sawe a vision in the nyght and beholde there came one in the cloudes of heauen like the sonne of man which came to the olde aged and they brought hym before hys presence And he gaue hym power glorie and the kyngdome and all people nacions and tonges must serue him his power is an euerlastyng power which shall not be taken from hys hys kyngdome shall not perishe Esaye sayeth in the ixii capter And the Heythen shall se thy righteousnesse all kynges thyne honoure and he shall call the by a newe name O Syon and the mouâ—h of God shall geue the name And thou shalt be a crowne of glorye in the hand of the Lorde and a royall crowne of the kyngdome in the hand of thy God And soone after it folowethe Make ready make ready the
lyfe tyme he dyd chose Apostles whome he receaued to be witnesses of all hys doctryne miracles enfourmyng them diligently helde nothyng backe from them For he sayeth vnto them Ye are my frendes yf ye do all that I commaunde you I wyll hence forth call you no more seruauntes for a seruant woteth not what hys Lorde doth But I haue called you my frendes for all that I haue heard of my father haue I opened vnto you Joh. â—v But for asmoche as they yet lacked vnderstondnge were forgetfull and had euer straunge ymaginacions of the kyngdome of Christ therfore whan he now ascended vnto heauen he charged them not to departe from Hierusalem but to wayte for the holy gooste whome he also gaue vnto them vpon the fiftieth daye after his resurrection that is vpon the tenth daye after his ascension euen the fiftenthe daye of Maye by the which holy goost they beynge illuminate spake with all maner of langagâ—â— and were myndfull of all that the Lorde had commaunded them aâ—oâ—e For the holy goost dyd not endew them with a newe doctryne but it that the Lord had taught them out of the lawe and the prophetes the same dyd he bringe to their remembraunce and illucidate all thinges prynted them more clearly in ther hertes For so sayeth the. Lorde in the gospell The conforter euen the holy gost whom the father wyll sende in my name he shall teache you all thinges and bringe all thynges to youre remembraunce that I haud sayde vnto you Therfore so longe as the Lorde was with them and tolde them all the matter of hys passion they were sorye and coulde not beare awaye all that he sayd vnto them But after that he was taken vp frome the erth in to heauen he sent the holy goost euen him whome the prophetes also had before that led them into all Christen veryte So whan they were endowed with the holy gooste they beganne accordige to the Lordes commaundemente to preach in all the world the foresayde matter of saluacion purged and obteyned onely by Christ and gotten by true faith For he had sayde Go your waye in to all the world and preach the gospell vnto all creatures Who so beleueth and is baptised shalbe saued c. And therwith comprendeth he both the poyntes whiche the Apostles vsed and practised euen the preachyng of the faith in Jesus Christ and of the ministracion of the sacramentes And how the Apostles doctryne was it is manifest out of the Actes of the Apostles But shortly and in a summe they preached amendement of lyfe and remission of synnes thorow Jesus Christ That is to saye howe that the whole generacion of man laye in the dominion of the deuel and in y e bondes of synne cursed and damned but God had mercy on vs all sente his soone in to this worlde to dye and with hys death to restore vs vnto lyfe and to wash vs with his bloude that who so euer beleueth in hym shulde not perish but haue eternall lyfe All this declared they out of the lawe and the prophetes proued that Jesus Christ whome they preached is the blessed sede promised vnto the fathers Who so is desyrous to haue a perfecte ensample of this declaracion he fyndeth two sermons of the famous Apostles Peter and Paul the one in the Actes of the Apostles the secoÌ„de chapter the other in the. xiii chap. There doth the holy Apostle open the mistery of our holy faith very excellently declaringe it from the tyme of Abraham vnto Dauid from him vnto Jhon the baptist There vpon sheweth he how Christ suffred dyed was buried and rose agayne from death All this confirmeth he with the scriptures of the prophetes At the last he concludeth the sermon after this maner Be it kowen vnto you therfore ye men and brethren that thorowe Jesus is preached vnto you forgeuenesse of synnes and that by hym all they that beleue are iustified from all thynges from the which ye coulde not be iustified by the lawe of Moses To this now also the sermon of Peter Yee all the scryptures of the Apostles do fynally accorde to the same effect Hereout also bring they y e doctrine of repentaunce and amendment of lyfe the rebuking of synne conslacions exhortacions and drawyng to all maner of good workes that folowe out of faith The speciall sacramentes whiche the lord dyd chefely institute and commaunde the Apostles to praise in the churche are holye Baptyme and the blessed supper of oure Lorde Jesus Christ Concernynge y â— first he saieth To me is geuen all power in heauen and in erth therfore go youre waye and teach all people baptise them in the name of the father of the sonne and of the holy goost and teach them to kepe all that I haue commaunded you The other dyd he institute at the last supper For thus is it written in the holy gospell WhaÌ„ they were eatynge he toke bred and whan he had geuen thankes he brake it and gaue them sayeng Take eate this is my bodye whiche shall be geueÌ„ for you this do in the remembraunce of me So toke he also y â— cuppe whan they had supte and sayde Drynke ye all out of this This is my bloud of y â— new testament which shall be shed for the remission of sinnes With suche sacrameÌ„tes thorow outward visible stourmes for our infirmities sake pleased it the lord to shewe set before oure eyes his heueÌ„ly in visible grace not that we shuld continue still hanginge in the visible thing but that we shuld lyft vp our myndes and with a true beleue to holde fast to prynte sure in oure myndes to worshippe and to enioye the thinges that faith sheweth vs by the outward sacramentes With these outward sacramentes also hath it pleased him to opeÌ„ declare and shewe vnto vs his grace and louynge kydnesse Namely how that he geueth vnto vs him self and all his riches clenseth vs fedeth and moystureth oure soules wyth hys flesh and bloud that he is at one with vs and we with him so that we vse and practise the sacramentes with a true faith For the outward enioyeng of the sacramentes of it selfe alone doth not reconcyle vs wyth God but yf they be vsed with fayth than as Saynte Peter saieth Act. xv thorow faith doth God purifye the hertes With the sacramentes pleased it hym to leue behynd him a remembraunce of his giftes benefites to the intent that we shuld neuer forget them but prayse and thanke him therfore Morouer with vysible sacramentes was it his will to gather vs together and to marke vs in remembraunce of oure dewty how we are one body to gether and ought to applye our selues to all righteousnesse All which thinges are foude at lenthe in the scriptures of the Apostles As for the Apostles they mynistred the. sacramentes diligently puâ—râ—ly and symply and so without anye addicion distributed them vnto
the people of God Touching baptyme ther are many ensamples in the actes of the Apostles The supper of Jesus Christ had the Corinthians somwhat altered And whan Paull poynted them agayne to the true ordinaunce and right vse he taketh the symple wordes institucion of Jesu Christ without anye more addicion and layeth those before them commaundeth them to folowe the same and holdeth him therwith well content .i. Corinth xi And thus dyd the holy Apostles gather together all HeytheÌ„ and people thorow the preachinge of the gospell and mynistracion of the sacramentes in the church whose heade is Christ in whom they are buylded and preserued Morouer they dyd not layed them sore with any ceremonies For in the Actes of the Apostles the .ii. chap where as a perfecte shappe of a right Christen congregacion is descrybed we haue fyrst the â—eudinge of the Apostles amonge whom Peter dyd fyrst preach the gospell that is to saye repentaunce and forgeuenesse of synnes in Christ Jesu Then baptised he theÌ„ that were become the people of God Afterward foloweth it that they whych were become Christen contynued in the doctryne of the Apostles in prayer in breakinge of the bred in the foloshippe Here are the ryght substanciall poyntes of the Cristen church sufficiently expressed the doctryne of amendment of lyfe remission of synnes baptyme the contynuynge and increasyng in Christes doctrine prayer the holy supper of the Lorde and the feloshyppe that is loue kyndnesse and workes of mercy Now where as Act. xv it is ordeyned that the Heythen shoulde eate no bloude nor strangled it endured but for a tyme and theyr meanyng was therby to a voyde offendynge of the weake Otherwyse haue the Apostles euery where specially Paul very exnestly exhorted men to contynue by the doctrine that was shewed delyuered theÌ„ and to be at a poynte in theÌ„ selues to auoyde suche lernynge as was new and brought vp by men because they leade meÌ„ farre froÌ„ the trueth as we fynde Collos ii Philip. iii. i. Timoth. iiii vi and Titum i. And thus is it manifest that the apostles taught al natioÌ„s no newer strauge thyng but euen the same that they had receyued of the Lorde ☞ A conclusion that this fayth is the ryght true olde fayth whyche alway shall stonde sure THis holy vndefiled faith which the Lorde â—â—anted and set vp in all nations by the Apostles immediatly after the Apostles dysseasse was â—ore â–ª attempted by sondrye vncleaâ—e personnes whych brought vp false customes and misbeleuers and made perâ—ous sectes Besydes thys also was it sore persecuted wyth the swerde of tyrauntes But in all such daungers the trueth ouer came and had the victory For though the cytezins of the deuels cytye accordinge to the dispositioÌ„ of theyr patriarke Cain dyd mur thur â— all though falfe prophetes brought vp euell counsaill yet the cytye of God triumpheth and the bloude of innocent Abell and his brethren speaketh yet But after that the persecucioÌ„ was somwhath â—rassed and the persecuters sore and horrâ—bly punished for their bloude sheddinge the heresies also beinge well brought downe by faythfull shepherdes In the same rest also was oure holy fayth not a litle hurt For rest put a waye feare brought ydle felicite voluptuousnes and fleshly sekynge of riches and dominyon and so thorow couetousnes and ambisioÌ„ there was pouâ—ed great poyson in to the church wherby religion sore decayed For whyle the mynisters of the worde laboured more after riches then to perfourme their office and charge and to edt â—â—e the church they were pleased with supersticiousnes in steade of true religion Of â—â—uâ—s then folowed it farther that the singlenesse of fayth was forgotten newe lawâ—s made the olde rytes and customes ether peruerted or els vtterly ouerthroweÌ„ and abused wherby men came farrâ— from the doctryne and Christen ceremonies from the waye of trueth in to erâ—oure foo â—â—â—ly partly in to ceremonies of ydolatrye Here of commeth it that we haâ—â— now the abhomination of the popes power of pardons of masses for the deed and quycke of merites power and intercession of sayntes in heauen of worshyppinge their bones vpon eâ—th of ydols and vayne ornamentes pompe pryde of the church of hyred syngynge and prayenge in the temple and of the whole swarme of ydele religious All whiche thynges with other moâ— like fondnesse are nothing but new alteracions peruertinges and contrary to all olde ordinaunces hauynge no grounde in gods woâ—de and are cleane agaynst God though many hardnecked people are yet in a furye and braule for such hinges and wyll make all the world beleue that thys theyr foolishnes alteracion peruerâ—â—nge of Gods ordinaunce is the olde fayth And yet woâ—e they or wyll not knowe that theyr â—abling hath very litle grounde and that they yf they considred the matter as it is are very naked and miserable And though this papisticall religioÌ„ hath endured preuayled triumphed now certayne hundreth yeares yet hath God all waye sent his â—aythfull seruantes and had a litle holy flock of his owne like as afore tyme in the dayâ—s of the iudges oft the kinges of Juda and Israel and in the captiuite of Babilon though it was all moost at the worst afore at the coÌ„minge of Christ Like as it is also with vs the nyer the second commynge of Christ the worse is it in the world Neuertheles as I sayde afore God all waye set forth his worde and doth yet Contrary wyse the pope with his multitude and â–ª Machomet with his as it semeth and becometh very Antichristes haue hitherto vndertaken to suppresse the olde religion and to set vp hys owne ordinaunce vnknowne to oure fathers of olde tyme to bringe it in to possession and vnder y â— name of God and his holy church to sprede it vpon all christendome For out of y â— Actes and statutes of the pope and hys wanton spiritualtye and out of the lawes of Machomet it is manifest what the one hath taken in hand and done now more then 600. yeares and the other vpon a 900 yeares It is cuident yet also euen now wherto hys generall coun sayls and perliamentes do extende But not â–ª regardinge how he threnteneth â—nd faceth and how he garnisheth hys new and wanton religions with false but dissemblynge titles boastinge of many hundreth yeares many generall counsayles fathers holy men doctours vniuersities closters syngyng prayeng fasting almes geuinge deâ—plynge and telleth suche lyke All hys â–ª bragginge set a syde let vs cast hys relygion from vs take vpon vs vnfaynedly the true olde religion which hath endured sens the begynnyng of the worlde by the which all holy mâ—n haue euer loued worshipped and serued God knew nothinge vtterly of the Popes religion And yf we must for thys cauâ—e be hated and persecuted of the worlde well it happened euen so vnto all holy Prophetes before vs lykewyse and specially vnto Jesus Christe our Lorde