Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
kingdom_n	heaven_n	life_n	lord_n	3,874	5	3.5801	3	true

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A02043	Lectures of I.B. vpon the xii. Articles of our Christian faith briefely set forth for the comfort of the godly, and the better instruction of the simple and ignorant. Also hereunto is annexed a briefe and cleare confession of the Christian faith, conteining an hundreth articles, according to the order of the Creede of the Apostles. Written by that learned [and] godly martyr I.H. sometime Bishop of Glocester in his life time.; Briefve et claire confession de la foy chrestienne. English.	Baker, John, minister.; Hooper, John, d. 1555.; Garnier, Jean, d. 1574. Briefve et claire confession de la foy chrestienne. English.	1581 (1581)	STC 1219; ESTC S110441	203,151	484

nor we be wearie to heare it And when we haue bene there in these delightes so long and so many thousande yeeres as there be eyther sandes in the sea or grasses vpon the whole face of the earth or starres in the skye which all are inmunerable to vs yet then we shal not come out or leaue these ioyes but still it is with vs as if it were to begin O the vnspeakable mercy of the Lord Iesus that he hath reserued for those that feare and loue him here What man therefore is so foolish so madde so beastlike in his conuersation that will not at all be mooued with these pleasures and ioyes For these things as the Angel sayd to Iohn are faithfull and true and therefore to be beleeued and they that beleeue them not their parte is in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone which is prepared for the vnbeleeuers Reuela 21. For from this roote of vnbeleefe proceede all the branches of all other sinnes wickednes whatsoeuer as lying stealing couetousnes adulterie and such like This life and the dignitie of it the Prophet Dauid in two wordes hath very well expressed in his 16. Psalme the latter ende Thou wilt sayeth he shewe me the path of life in thy presence is the fulnesse of ioye and at thy right hande there are pleasures for euermore Here in fulnesse of ioye and pleasures for euermore is all happinesse contayned For these ioyes are the greatest that may be and their endurance is for euer Considering these things ought we not to say with Paul I count that the afflictions of this present time are not worthy of the glory that shal be shewed vnto vs Rom. 8. Why alas then dearely beloued what a great matter were it if we shoulde endure here afflictioÌ„s al the dayes of our life which can not be aboue an hundred yeeres at the most so we might come in the ende to this eternall ioye and glory Paul considered this well and did so doe We faynt not sayth he but though our outwarde man perish yet the inwarde man is renewed dayly Marke well the wordes that followe and laye them vp in your mindes and you shall by the grace of God profite thereby For our light affliction which is but for a moment causeth vnto vs a farre most excellent and an eternall weyght of glory whyle we looke not on the thinges which are seene but on the thinges which are not seene For the thinges which are seene are temporall but the things which are not seene are eternall 2. Corinth 4. Shall we then for an houres pleasure here below leese the euerlasting weyght of glorie aboue God forbid we shoulde be so foolish and so besotted with this present lyfe Let this saying rather of our Sauiour Christ sounde continually in your eares What shall it profite a man if he winne the whole worlde and leese his owne soule And yet wee see howe many men do hazarde and venture their soule not for the whole worlde but for a piece of lande a litle golde or siluer or a litle credite or vayne estimation in this worlde If the whole earth then will not bee able to make a recompence or an exchange to redeeme our soules beyng once lost from the fauour of God howe much lesse then shall these beggerly things wherefore we striue so earnestly be able to doe it Nowe although this life be yet as it were hid from vs yet it is most certaine both because we haue a gage of it which is the Spirite it selfe of Christ and also inasmuch as it is hid in Christ which will keepe it well and is able to giue it to vs in due time In the meane season vntill it be reuealed from heauen we neede faith to beleeue it assuredly and hope to wayte for it with patience which hope neuer maketh a man ashamed but alwayes comforteth him euen in the middest of troubles of this life be they neuer so great For we do well knowe that when hee doeth appeare wee shall be like vnto him and no man neede to doubt but that there is such a life although it doeth not yet seeme so to vs for there is a Sunne when it is compassed in with cloudes and fire is within the ashes when it appeareth not to our sight so there is a life for the godly although deferred which Christ hath promised and spoken of Matth. 25. that it shal be giuen to his seruaÌ„ts This life euerlasting being so deare a thing and precious the deuill goeth about by all meanes to defeate vs of it and to plucke it out of our hand Therfore we must lay hold on it as Paul willed Timothie and fight the good fight of faith against him This is our crowne which we must holde fast that no man bereaue vs of it For if we misse of life in the end we misse of all and if we haue this wee haue and possesse all thinges for all blessednesse whatsoeuer is comprehended vnder the name of euerlasting lyfe But the best comfort for vs is this that this life is in the custodie of Iesus Christ and wee beyng his sheepe no man is able to plucke vs out of his handes onely this remayneth for vs to looke vnto that we abide and continue in his fold Eternal life being the euerlasting inheritance of the kingdom of heaueÌ„ the greatest treasure that the Lord hath to bestow vpon his seruantes no man must thinke that it commeth to him for his good works sake or that he doth deserue it at Gods hand this were to preiudice and ouerthrowe the bountifull goodnesse of the Lord. This benefite is the free gift of God for although wee deserue hell and death by our sinne and wickednes yet we merit not heauen by our good deedes but as Paul sayeth Euerlasting life is the free gift of God Rom. 6. And Christ telleth vs that this kingdome was prepared for vs long agoe euen before the worlde was made or we borne so that we coulde not step one foote vnto it of our selues when we were not Matth. 25. It is false then that the aduersaries of Christ the Papistes haue taught that wee may deserue this life by our good deedes and workes when as our good deedes are not pure in the sight of the Lorde In deede if our good workes were eyther perfect or as many as God commaundeth or if they were our owne and not Gods giftes in vs or if last of all wee were not bounde of duetie and by right to doe them then might wee with our owne good works deserue heauen but our deedes are vnperfite they are not our owne of duetie must we doe them therefore they deserue nothing as of duetie from the Lorde I graunt that euerlasting life is called by our Sauiour a rewarde but a rewarde is not of desert or merit but of curtesie A Noble man may rewarde his tenant for a thing not woorth a shilling by such a gifte as is worth twentie shillinges shall

of the Leuiticall lawe but also in diuers men As Samson who died him selfe to deliuer his people from the Philistims so Christ to deliuer vs from the deuils died him selfe Dauid also was a figure of him in many thinges Here we see then what a grieuous thing sinne was in Gods sight that he could be pacified by no other meanes then by the blood death of his only and welbeloued Sonne Iesus Surely our sinnes were as hard as the Adamant stone which could not be brokeÌ„ by any other meanes then by the blood of the true goate Iesus Christ Consider here the wonderfull vnspeakeable loue of Christ he would die for vs that we might escape eueÌ„ as the Pelicane which hauing brought forth her young ones dead or being stong killed by serpeÌ„tes she pecketh forth her heart blood to reuiue her young ones so we heing conceiued and borne in sinne and altogether dead in our trespasses and offences Ephes 2. stong of that old and fiery serpent the diuell which first beguiled our parents in paradise and so hauing the rewarde of sinne which is death we I say in this case are reuiued and quickened againe by the blood of that true Pelicane Iesus Christ which hee from his heart hath shead and powred out for vs. Thus we see how deeply we are indebted to Christ for his great loue to vs in dying for our sinnes and yet how fewe remember this death Many not once in a day nay not once in a weeke or moneth I feare some not once in a whole yeere doe remember it well they are the more vnthaÌ„keful vnkind sonnes to God so good a father Christ so louing a brother It is the only thing that should especially be remeÌ„bred although all other things be forgotteÌ„ Beleeue me deare brethreÌ„ Christ died not to this ende that his death should be forgotten which was so cruell to him or that it should be lightly remeÌ„bred of vs for that he might haue vs to remeÌ„ber it the better he instituted his last supper in bread wine the bread brokeÌ„ to put vs in minde of his most pure pretious body broken bruised for our sinnes that it doeth nourish vs as the bread doth nourish our bodies for his flesh is meat in deede Iohn 6. The wine ordeined to put vs in mind of his blood powred out for vs to wash vs from al our sinnes 1. Iohn 1. that as the wine doth quench our thirst and refresh vs comfort our hearts being soroweful so doeth the blood of Christ al these things vnto vs in greater measure and abundance This doeth also teache vs vnitie loue together that as many grapes make but one wine and many graynes of corne wheate make but one lofe of bread so should we be but one in Christ our head for we are all members of the same body The other sacrameÌ„t also of Baptisme doth put vs in minde of Christes death for as the water in baptisme doth wash the body so doeth the blood of Christ wash our soules and clense them froÌ„ their filthines Which thing is represented vnto vs in our baptisme a signe of our newe birth and regeneration by the spirite of Christ Therefore in our baptisme we ought to remember this death for wee are buried with him into his death by this seale and sacrament of our baptisme as Paul proueth Rom. 6. Nowe we see that to the ende we may remember this great benefite of Christes death we haue tokens of it two in number the supper of Christ and baptisme for by theÌ„ we shew forth the Lords death vntil he come againe to iudgemeÌ„t 1. Cor. 11. Nowe if any man marueile why we dye since Christ hath died for vs tasted death once for all men to make reconciliatioÌ„ for the sinnes of the people to satisfie Gods iustice he may be answered that Christ hath taken away the second death of the soule not this first naturall death of the body which is common to all for by it we enter into life and although it be sometime grieuous to Gods children yet it is not deadly to them nay rather ioyfull seeing by it they come to Christ their head as it was to Paul I desire saith he to be loosed and to be with Christ meaning to die For albeit this death of the body dwelleth in vs yet it hath no dominion ouer vs by the force and efficacie of Christes death And wee knowe that it is made nowe to the elect a gate to passe by into heauen We should not then feare death seeing that the losse of this transitory life is the high way into Gods euerlasting kingdome And this may bee answered concerning sinne also If any man aske howe it commeth to passe that wee haue sinne still remaining in vs seeing Christ hath died for it to take it away I answere that Christ hath taken awaye the condemnation of sinne that it shall not hurt vs to bring vs to destruction but the full abolishing of sinne shall cease in the latter day of iudgement when all thinges shall bee restored againe to their perfection Actes 5. So that now we may say There is no condemnation of sinne to them that are in Christ Iesus which walke not after the flesh but after the spirite Rom. 8. For see the wonderfull working of God that all the curses and paynes that were in Iesus Christ are turned to our blessings and ioyes his death is our life his pouerty our riches his shame our glory his descension into hell is made our ascension into heauen and finally his misery here in this life is made our felicitie and happinesse in the life to come This is the Lordes doing and it is marueilous in our eyes O that men would therefore prayse the Lorde for his goodnes and declare the wonders that hee doeth for the children of men This death of Christe hath two benefites in it for first it causeth that wee shall not die in the life to come and then here it mortifieth our earthly members it killeth our olde man Adam within vs that it bringeth not foorth his accustomed actions of sinne within vs. Thus much concerning his death Let vs nowe consider briefly the fourth poynt in this article which is his buriall Christe was buried by an honourable Counseller Ioseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus a ruler of the Iewes who begged his body boldly of Pilate and buried it with odours as the maner was Iohn 19. His buriall is mentioned to assure vs that hee died in deede as when wee see a man buried wee doubt not but that hee is dead The lesson that we learne by this buriall of Christ is this as the Apostle Paul teacheth vs Rom. 6. and Colos 2. that we should so through baptisme bee freed and buried from sinne as he was buried in the graue that like as Christe was raysed vp from the dead to the glorie of his father so we also should walke in newenes

the ground then is hee subiect to gunshatte or other snares and daungers So it is with vs if our mindes were fixed aboue vpon heauenly things Satan coulde not take vs in his trappes but when they are altogether cast downewarde vpon the earth and earthly pleasures then we fall into his baytes and are entangled in his grennes Therefore as Christ is ascended so let vs also ascende in minde cogitation vnto him for Christ doeth bidde vs tome vnto him and this saying standeth in his full force nowe as it did when â—e spake it here with vs vpon the earth and we must come vnto him nowe Let vs then come and resorte vnto him by our earnest and heartie prayer for then wee talke with him For prayer is sayd to be a speach and communication with God and a lifting vp of our heartes vnto him in heauen We shoulde remember then that as often as we pray we speake to the maiestie of God and therefore shoulde come with feare and reuerence Let vs also come to Christ to heare hâ—â— comfortable worde and Gospel For when we heare his worde preached vnto vs or reade it our selues we must consider that God speaketh vnto vs and therefore giue diligent and attentiue heede to the things thou hearest lest they slip out of thy minde Againe let vs also ascend and come to him by heartie thanke sgiuing for al benefits receyued in our body and soule both temporall and spirituall This is to ascende vnto Christ in this life Seeing therefore that by the blood of Iesus we may be bold to enter into the holy place by the new liuing way which he hath prepared for vs through the vaile that is his flesh seeing also we haue an high Priest which is ouer the house of God let vs all draw neere with a true heart in assurance of fayth our hearts being pure from an euill conscience and washed in our bodies with pure water Let vs keepe the profession of our hope without wauering and let vs ascende whither our forerunner Iesus Christ is entred and ascended for vs already euen into the heauen of heauens Another singular coÌ„â—ort â—or to â—ead our faith vpon by Christs ascension is his power to strengthen our weakenesse for we beleeue nowe that Christ hath taken full possession of his most glorious kingdome is entred into glory to whom as Saint Peter sayth The angels and powers and myght are subiect and whatsoeuer else For God hath sayde vnto him Sit thou at my right hande vntill I make thine enemies thy footestoole the Lord shall send the â—odde of thy power out of Sion be thou buler in the middest of thine enemies Psal 110. So that wee may boldly saye as Dauid sayde sometime The Lorde is our shephearde yea the Lorde Iesus is our King therefore shall wee lacke nothing For tel me I pray you what good thing can we want Christ being our heauenly King and hauing nowe all power and authoritie giuen vnto him and sitting at the ryght hand of the almightie Father Surely his seruantes shall enioy all things as he sayeth He that ouercommeth shall inherit all things and who is he that ouercommeth but Iesus Christ in whome we by his power and vertue ouercome also that as hee is made heyre of all things so myght wee also bee made ioynt heyres with him Wherefore wee knowe Christ no more in his mortalitie and humilitie Yea although wee had knowen Christ after the flesh yet hence foorth knowe we him no more after the flesh but after the woorking of his myghtie Spirite whereby hee is able to subdue all things to him selfe Philip. 3. For here we must consider that Christ hath thus ascended into glorie for vs and hath receyued giftes for men euen great spoyles of the enemies to enrich his Church This is our reioycing which wee haue dayly in Christ Iesus here is the ioy patience and victorie of the Saints of God for he must reigne vntill hee hath put all his enemies vnder his feete Who then can he discouraged with any thing that befalleth vnto him eyther of bodie or griefe of minde or losse of goods and friends Is it not Christ that dyed for vs and which is rysen againe who is also at the ryght hande of God and maketh request for vs Who shall say any thing vnto our charge who shal condemne vs If Christ be on our side as hee is most certaynely being our head who then can bee agaynst vs howe can wee sacke any thing in this lyfe when God hath giuen his Sonne for vs What man or woman woulde thinke to lacke any thing earthly that had a King to his Father or a Prince to bee his brother and shall wee bee of so litle fayth to thinke that wee can lacke ought hauing GOD the great King ouer al the world to be our louing Father and Iesus Christ his Sonne the Prince of all princes to bee our owne brother This were madnesse to thinke or conceiue but yet if wee bee wauering through incredulitie let vs saye and waye with the man in the Gospel Lorde helpe my vnbeliefe and with the Apostles let vs saye Lorde increase our fayth in vs and make it strong agaynst all tentations of Satan Seeing then that Iesus Christ is of that power that he is able to bring to passe all thinges Gods children may assure them selues of a singular defence agaynst all their enemies For who shall separate vs from the loue of Christ Shall tribulation or anguish or persecution or famine or nakednesse or peryll or sworde Nay dearely beloued I am certaynely perswaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor thinges present nor thinges to come nor heyght nor depth nor any other creature shall bee able to separate vs from the loue of GOD which is in Christ Iesus our Lorde for in all these thinges wee are more then conquerours through him that loued vs and this is our Christ that sitteth in the heauens for vs. By this his glorie and power euer since his ascending hee hath mayntayned the estate and welfare of his Congregation and will doe to the ende of the worlde The last thing wee learne by Christes ascension is this that he is also ascended to leade captiuitie captiue that is to say to beate downe and ouerthrowe all his foes and such as ryse vp heere agaynst him so that as his power is a great comfort to his spouse so it is as great a terrour and griefe to the wicked reprobates to thinke or to consider of it For it maketh them to frette and fume and to bee euer at their wittes ende for sorowe and griefe that hee must ouercome in spite of their teeth Then wee learne that our enemies shall not alway tryumph ouer vs they shall not still haue vs in their bandes in pryson and thraldome but one day they surely them selues shall come to confusion and shame The Scriptures when they will paynt out Christ vnto vs

of heauen for yâ— elect not their works but because they were blessed of his father and that the kingdome was prepared for theÌ„ before they were borne or did any good workes for it yea before the fundations of the worlde were layde as Paul Ephes 1 sheweth most notably Wherefore good Christians flee the corruption which is in the worlde and giue great diligence to bring forth good works for those are good and profitable vnto meÌ„ and so ye shall be knowen to bee good and fruitfull trees Ioyne moreouer vertue with your faith with vertue knowledge with knowledge teÌ„perance with teÌ„peraÌ„ce patience with patience godlines with godlines brotherly kindnesse with brotherly kindnes loue For if these things be amoÌ„g you and abouÌ„de they wil make you that ye neither shall be idle nor vnfruitfull in the acknowledging of our Lorde Iesus Christ and he that hath not these things is blinde and can not see a farre off and hath forgotten that he was purged froÌ„ his olde sinnes Giue therefore diligence to make your calling and election sure for if ye doe these things ye shal neuer fal for by this meanes an entring shall be ministred vnto you abundantly into the euerlasting kingdome of our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ We haue heard nowe the sixe articles that appertaine to the person of Iesus Christ and conteine the benefites he hath wrought for vs wherein is our whole saluation For if we seeke saluation his name Iesus doeth shewe it is in him alone If we desire puritie it is in his conception If we require a kinde of familiaritie and gentlenes wherewith he hath made him selfe like vnto vs we shall haue it in his natiuitie Wouldest thou haue redemptioÌ„ for thy sinnes looke it in his passion and death If newnes of life thou hast it in his resurrection If inheritance of the heauenly kingdome it is in his ascension If thou askest a full possession of it thou shalt haue it when hee commeth to iudgement To be briefe If thou desirest the giftes of the holy ghost absolution remission of sinnes satisfaction and purgation for thy vnclennes reconciliation mortification of the flesh and at a worde all treasures of euery heaueÌ„ly gift thou hast them all in Iesus Christ as in a well euer springing and a fountaine that is neuer drie Of whose fulnes thou and all men haue receiued and he is made of God the father vnto thee wisedome righteousnesse holinesse and redemption that thou shouldest glorie in him alone Take heede therefore that seeing he is all in all to thee that thou goe not from him to any other or ascribe any one part or portion neuer so litle of thy saluation to any creature whatsoeuer For if thou doe thou marrest all Iesus Christ will haue all or neuer a whit as Esaie sayeth I will not giue my glorie to an other Well to conclude this article let vs giue to Iesus Christ most humble and heartie thanks that he wil one day come downe from heauen to fetche vs vp thither vnto him to immortall blessednesse and let vs in the meane time desire of him the spirit of patience to wayte for his comming to iudgement for our full redemption that we may haue our oyle our garmentes and our lampes ready that we may be waking when he shall knocke and open the doore forthwith vnto him that in so doing we may enter in with him to the mariage there raigne perpetually with him in the glorie of his father Which he grauÌ„t vnto vs for his sonnes sake to whom with the holy ghost three persons and one immortall God in vnitie bee rendred all prayse glorie and giuing of thankes from this time forth for euer more Come Lord Iesus quickly Amen so be it The eight Lecture vpon the eight article of our Christian fayth I beleeue in the holy Ghost HAuing ended two partes of our Christian faith the one coÌ„cerning God the father in the first article the other concerning Iesus Christ the second person in trinitie conteined in the sixe articles folowing nowe foloweth in order the third part concerning our faith in God the holy Ghost which is the third person in trinitie And this is the eight article of our beliefe I beleeue in the holy Ghost that is to say I that am a Christian man do beleeue and trust in God the holy ghost the third person in the blessed trinitie which proceedeth equally from the father and the sonne being the naturall essentiall power of them both of the same substance Which spirite sanctifieth comforteth me in all troubles and assureth me that I am the childe of God and seruant of Iesus Christ and shall haue his benefites plentifully powred vpoÌ„ me Out of this article we learne two things first what is the holy ghost secondly what are his effects workes as well in it selfe as in man in whose heart it worketh and moueth him forward to that which is good to imbrace and followe it with all earnestnes but to hate and abhorre from the heart that which is naught and wicked This holy ghost or spirit is the euerlasting power and infinite might of God the father which spirite is no creature but a creator of all things and very God because we are here taught to beleue in him which suerly except he were very God were idolatrie to do for we must not beleue in any creature or put our trust in any but in God onely And that the holy ghost is God which certaine heretikes haue denied it is manifest in the fift chapter of the Actes of the Apostles where saint Peter speaking of the holy ghost nameth him God For he reprehendeth Ananias and Sapphira his wife for their hypocrisy and dissimulation and telleth them that they lyed vnto the holy ghost and immediatly after sayth that they lyed not vnto man but vnto God In the first of Genesis it is sayde that the spirite of the Lorde moued vpon the waters This was the third person in trinitie which except he had bene God could not haue so moued vpon this great depth and secretly by his power and maiestie preserued and maintained it from falling to nothing Dauid saieth All things were made and created by the breath of his mouth Therfore if he made al things he was very God For this is proper to God alone to make to create things That argument of Paul in the 1. Cor. 2. chap. doth sufficieÌ„tly proue this matter vnto vs where hee saieth that this spirit searcheth al things yea the deepe things of God and that no man knoweth the things of God but the spirit of God Now if the spirit of God knoweth al things searcheth al things theÌ„ is he very God for no creature doth this If this be so theÌ„ we rightly beleeue in the holy ghost here we gather this singular comfort that we may pray to this holy ghost at all times for his helpe to impart some of his knowledge vnto vs

little flocke for it is your fathers pleasure to giue vnto you the kingdome Luke 12. He shoulde haue sayde great flocke according to the Papistes opinion Againe when one asked our sauiour Christ whether there were fewe that shoulde be saued hee answered in effect that it was so saying Striue to enter in at the strayte gate for many I saye vnto you will seeke to enter in and shall not be able Luke 13. Here Christ sayeth flatly that many that is the multitude shall not enter in at heauen gates which yet notwithstanding must bee saued if the Church as the aduersaries saye consist of multitude for the Church shall bee saued Here Christ excludeth multitude from his Church and kingdome and in the 7. of Matthewe wee shall see that hee maketh paucitie and the small number to bee an argument of his Church quite contrarie vnto the blinde Papistes saying Strayte is the gate and narrowe is the way that leadeth vnto life and fewe there be that finde it Are there fewe that finde this gate then are there but fewe of this Church of Christ Wherefore wee haue the more neede to watche to striue and to contende to be of this small companie for surely many are called to the Gospell but fewe and very fewe are chosen But let vs see the examples of the holy Scripture Was not Noah onely founde righteous with his housholde before the Lorde when the flood was brought in vpon the wicked worlde For all flesh had corrupted his way before God Genes 6. Was the greatest multitude in Sodome founde to be of this Church of God Surely if it had bene so Sodome had not bene destroyed But there were not ten righteous men to bee founde within it onely Lot with his wife and two daughters escaped the fire all the rest were wicked and therefore most fearefully coÌ„sumed with fire and brimstone from heauen to make others to feare thâ— like sinnes as Saint Peter sayeth Gen. 19. 2. Peter 2. There came but two into the promised lande of Canaan of all the sixe hundred thousande men beside women and children that came out of the lande of Egypt and they were Iosua and Caleb the rest iustly perished in the wildernesse for their vnbeliefe and disobedience But let vs see further when this Church was more increased in the times that followed Was not Elias onely against the foure hundred false prophetes of Achab and Iezabel 3. Reg. 18. And did not he thinke that there had bene none aliue that appertayned vnto the Lorde but he onely And although the Lorde sayd vnto him that he had reserued vnto himselfe seuen thousand that had not bowed the knee to the idole Baal yet was that to the multitude and number of yâ— wicked that were then in Israel Againe was not the kingdom of Israel farre greater then the kingdome of Iuda and yet was the true worshippe and seruice of the Lorde onely with the Iewes in Ierusalem and not in Dan or Bethel where were the golden calues of Ieroboam Was not Micheas in his time onely one Prophete that was good against foure hundred lying prophetes of Achab He was ouercome there by multitude and yet hee had onely the trueth and worde of the Lorde on his side 3. Reg. 22. If wee list to come neerer the time of Christ vnder the Gospell we shall see the fewest to holde with him Was not the whole multitude of the Iewes with the chiefe Scribes and Pharises and hye Priestes against Christ and condemned him to death crying Crucifie him crucifie him Iohn 19. Afterwarde in the succession of the Church wee shall see the Christians to bee the smallest number Vniuersalitie then and multitude is no argument of the Catholike Church of Christ but rather the contrarie may bee affirmed the least number to be his Secondly they will haue Antiquitie to bee a note and token of this Church If they will stande to Antiquitie and long prescript and continuance of time euen here also must they needes fall For their Masse with her reliques was neuer heard of within the space of fiue hundred yeeres at the least after Christ as a godly and learned man doeth auouche vnto them which if they coulde prooue he woulde haue subscribed vnto them and their transsubstantiation was neuer spoken of before the Council of Lateran and so all their trumpery hath bene patched together by Popes and Councils at diuers times Whereas wee can prooue our holy Communion euen from Christ and his Apostles vsing it in the same order with bread and wine in a knowen tongue as he did to his Apostles If their Masse be of such great antiquitie as they beare vs in hande it is great maruayle that the very name of it can not once be founde or read of in the Scriptures but it is an vnknowen name for an vnknowen thing Here we see antiquitie doeth confute them although antiquitie be not alwayes a good argument to prooue a matter by For if it were then murder shoulde be good which is as auncient as Cain the seconde man that was here vpon the earth Gen. 4. From the first king of Israel which was Ieroboam after that the kingdome was deuided in Solomons time vntill the last king of the same kingdome which was Hoshea the golden calues were still mainteyned which were erected first of all by Ieroboam and continued for the space of three hundred yeeres or there about And yet for all this was not their religion good although they receyued it still by tradition custome from their fathers by the prescript of so many yeeres For the Prophetes notwithstanding did still reprehende the idolatrous and wicked kinges for their superstitious worshipping of these calues which they shoulde not haue done if the argument of our Papistes bee good to bring and alleadge their forefathers custome traditions Councils and antiquitie for then Achab might haue sayde vnto Elias if this be true why doest thou reprehende me for this worshippe I haue receyued it from the first king Ieroboam and my fathers haue liued and dyed in it and I haue antiquitie to pleade for mee But Elias knewe well ynough that this was no argument and therefore tooke him vp sharpely as we may our Papistes although they haue had their Masses these seuen or eyght hundred yeeres Agayne if antiquitie or custome bee a generall rule to confirme a doctrine in religion then myght the Pagans and Ethnikes haue alleadged agaynst the Apostles these thinges when they came to preache Christ Iesus crucified vnto them and to alter their olde religion wherein they had continued so long Wee see then that antiquitie fauoureth them not at all neither yet can they father their Church and religion which they haue at Rome vpon the succession ordinarie descent of their Bishops and Popes seeing trueth goeth not by succession inheritance but by the grace and mercy of God But if succession of bishops and hie Priestes as they fayne from Peter to this time doeth prooue

as Dauid sayeth If thou take away thy breath from them That is his power from his creatures they dye So that here we see Gods prouidence ouer vs and all things For he woorketh dayly by preseruing and keeping his creatures in their estate as Christ saith My Father hitherto woorketh and I woorke by maynteyning things created For God is not like a carpenter that maketh an house and setteth it vp in deede but afterwarde neuer peraduenture seeth it againe but leaueth it to the dweller and owner of it the master thereof and careth no more for it If God shoulde deale so with vs it woulde be ill and wrong with vs for the deuill woulde dayly destroy vs if he did not keepe vs and all ours For we are not able to keepe our selues no not a minute of an houre Here therefore acknowledge in the mercie of God his Fatherly care and prouidence ouer vs and all his creatures 4 The last thing we learne of the creation of the worlde is the iustice of God how he gouerneth it rightly in equitie iudgement as the Prophet singeth All the waies of the Lord are iudgement equite For vnlesse hee dyd execute his iustice vpon the wicked they woulde destroy his Church but he keepeth them vnder as it were with a bridle and hampereth euen the proude tyrants and deuils of hell by his seuere iustice shewed vpon them So that the Lorde is iust in all his wayes yea his wil is a most perfite rule and patterne of iustice Dauid often repeateth this lesson to terrifie the wicked Iust art thou O Lorde right are thy iudgements Psalm 119. So sayde the Emperor Mauricius being killed by Phocas This do the wicked confesse theÌ„selues when they feele his heauy hand vpon them for their sinnes and offences as Pharao did when the hayle destroyed the cattell of Egypt saying vnto Moses Aaron I haue nowe sinned the Lorde is righteous but I and my people are wicked Exod. 19. Thus the reprobate whether they will or no must confesse the Lorde to be righteous in his workes For as the Lord is merciful to Forgive the sinnes of his children that are truely penitent and not obstinate so is he also a most iust Iudge ouer all the earth to execute his sharpe punishments vpon the malitous and wilful sinners The Iudge of the worlde doeth according to iustice as Abraham sayde of him when he was about to destroy Sodoma Gen. 18. I delite sayth the Lorde in iustice mercy and iudgement Ierem. 9. Examples of his iustice he hath shewed in the flood brought in vpon the wicked Example of his mercie in sauing Noe and his familie so that his iustice and mercie goeth alwaies together as Dauid saith I will sing of mercie and iudgement Psal 101. representing the person of Christ which should be in his kingdom as wel iust as mercifull a Lion of the tribe of Iuda to teare in pieces the wicked and a Lambe to preserue his with al gentlenesse softnesse Looke vpon Sodome how the Lord shewed there his extreme and seuere Iustice vpoÌ„ those miscreants to consume them with fire and brimstone from heauen most terribly Gen. 19. and as Peter sayeth Made them an example for all ages and posterities to come of his iustice against sinne and vncleannes 2. Pet. 2. But yet then hee deliuered iust Lot out of tentation and trouble Note his mercy in it to the good godly I might heere recken vp the examples of Sennacherib of Achab of Nabuchodonozor of Herode of Iulian and such other persecuting kings and Emperours against the Church of Christ whome all God in his iustice hath ouerthrowen and vtterly destroyed This we learne that God doeth also preserue the state of mankinde by his iustice that one doeth not ouerrunne another as wilde beastes Then by this wee learne to stand in feare of Gods iustice if we sinne at any tyme desperately least we be caught vp with it and suddenly consumed If his wrath be kindled yea but a litle blessed are al they that put their trust in him Psalme 2. For our God in his wrath and iustice is a consuming fire as Hebr. 12. And it is an horrible thing to fall into his handes If he be angry who may abide or stande in his sight when the hilles melte away and the sea is dried vp and the hard rockes cleaue asunder O that we had this consideration of his iustice before our eyes continually it would keepe vs from all sinne and vngodlines for therefore we sinne because wee feare not this iustice of the Lordes There is no feare of god sayeth Dauid of the wicked before their eyes therefore they sinne We see then what wee haue to note vpon this article of our Christian beliefe and what commodity commeth vnto vs of the creation of all thinges by God howe we gather and consider of his infinite greatnesse by his wonderfull woorkes for the heauens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handy worke And this is one way to come to God as to be without excuse before his tribunall seate in the day of iudgement when the secretes of all heartes shall be disclosed and all thoughts opened before the Lorde By this creation the heathen men are without excuse and haue knowen him generally as Paul sayeth Romanes the first chap. That which may be knowen of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it vnto them For the inuisible things of him that is his eternall power and Godhead are seene by the creation of the worlde being considered in his workes to the intent that they should be without excuse because that when they knew God they glorified him not as God neyther were thankefull but became vayne in their imaginations their foolish heart was full of darknesse when they professed themselues to be wise they became fooles God is knowen three wayes by his works by his worde and by his holy spirit of adoption Although God be knowen by all these wayes of his elect yet he is knowen of the reprobate onely by his worde and workes which see the workes and heare his worde but neuer haue his Spirite directing them aright which is proper onely to his owne children Of the first way speaketh Paul in this place vnto the which the creation is a glasse to bring vs to a full consideration of his greatnesse Wel we learne by the creation of heauen and earth his power his wisedome his goodnesse and iustice and whatsoeuer else may be in God This is great comfort to the godly and bringeth great boldenesse vnto them and trust in the last day that they haue such a father and do beleeue in such a God as is maker of heauen and earth this teacheth vs our duetie to referre all our actions to his honour and glory to coÌ„fesse him alone to acknowledge that he made vs and not we our lelues to liue to him to dye to him to do al things for his sake

at home abroad by sea and by land as the Euangelists doe sufficiently all of them record in their gospels neither did he teach theÌ„ the wil of his father publikely in the synagogues only but priuately also in families houses as when he was receiued into Marthas house he sate taught there Mary others whereby wee that are the Lordes Prophets ministers may learne by this good exaÌ„ple howe carefully readyly with al payne and diligence to behaue our selues in the preaching of the word of God his Gospell not to cease at any time but to doe as he hath done before vs. If then Christ be our Prophet as Moses sayth of him A Prophet shall the Lord your God rayse vp vnto you of your brethren like vnto me him shal you heare in al thinges that he shal speake vnto you Deut. 18. we must heare him alone not others that teach false doctrine as the papists for Christs sheepe heare his voyce Ioh. 10. We learne againe that no man beside Christe was able to instruct vs in the will of his father but hee alone as Iohn sayth Chap. 1. No man hath seene God at any time the only begotten son of God which is in the bosome of his father he hath reuealed him vnto vs. Againe we vnderstand that al men by nature are ignorant of the will of God their dutie because we haue neede of Christ to informe vs in the right way to leade vs in the trueth least we be deceued with lyes For of his fulnesse haue wee all receiued Ioh. 1. Therefore is he called of Esay The angel of great Counsell and that the spirit of the Lord should rest vpon him the spirit of wisedome vnderstanding the spirit of Counsel and strength the spirit of knowledge and of the feare of the Lord Isa 11. This is a great comfort to vs to haue such a teacher and Prophet giuen to vs as is made to vs of God wisedome 1. Corin. 1. But the wicked can haue here no part at all with him for they do not heare his word and voyce neither wil they receiue his doctrine instruction Nowe we see how faithfully Christ hath fulfilled this office of preaching as Marke sayth of him 1. Chap. Let vs goe into the next Townes that I may preache there also for I came out for that purpose The ende of this prophecie and teaching is that we shoulde bee made his disciples and schollers which God graunt vnto vs all Amen The second office that is in Christ for his Church is his priesthode for after hee had taught the people which thing he first tooke in hand hee sealed his doctrine with his owne blood and offered vp him selfe a sacrifice most perfect sweete and acceptable to God his father for vs al to purge vs from our sinnes to serue the liuing God For this also was the duetie of the priests in the Leuitical lawe that they should offer sacrifices for the sinnes of the people pray to God for them This hath Christ fulfilled by his death passion which was so effectual meritorious to take away sinnes that the father saith of him Thou art a Priest for euer after the order of Melchiesedech Of this sacrifice speaketh abundantly the Epistle to the Hebremes but especially in the 9. Chap. saying That Christ was once offered to take away the sinnes of many and to put away sinne by the sacrifice of himselfe And againe that the blood of Christ which through the eternal spirit offered himselfe without fault to God shall purge our consciences from dead workes to serue the liuing God so that nowe he is become our mediatour betweene God vs doeth appeare in the sight of God for vs. This is a great comfort for vs. But we see in this sacrifice the vilenesse greatnesse of sinne how lothsome detestable it was in Gods sight that nothing in heauen or earth could put it away or purge it but the onely body blood of Christ this hie priest most pure and immaculate This doth teach vs to abhorre sinne seeing Christ payed so dearely for it And this driueth vs to coÌ„sider how we are indebted to our good sauiour Christ for dying so mercifully for vs so that wee are worse then beasts vnlesse we giue him continuall thanks for it Nothing could pacifie Gods wrath conceiued against our sinnes but only his deare sonne for in him he was wel pleased Matth. 3. So that nowe wee which were sometime farre off strangers from the coÌ„mon wealth of Israel are made neere by the blod of Christ to offer our selues to him al ours our prayers our thanks that with boldnesse without feare as Zachary sayth Luk. 1. The third office that we consider in him is his spirituall euerlasting kingdom for spiritual it is not carnal earthly as he himself said to Pilate My kingdoÌ„ is not of this world And it is euerlasting as the Angel sayde to Mary He shal reigne ouer the house of Iacob of his kingdom there shal be no end So then he is a king as Zachary also sayth Behold thy king coÌ„meth vnto thee meeke O daughter Ierusalem Chap. 9. This kingdom he last of al tooke vpon him after that he had taught and offered vp him selfe euen then when hee ascended to sit at the right hand of God that is to haue all power and authority in heauen and earth This kingdome doeth consist chiefly in gouerning his electe and his Church by his holy spirite for hee hath gotten this kingdome for vs because hee armeth vs with power to resist sinne and giueth vs of his princely treasures gifts and wil at the last himselfe lift vs vp thither and set vs with him in glory and honour to raine for euer euer as he saith It is your fathers wil to giue you a kingdome and he that ouercommeth shall sit with mee in my kingdome as I haue ouercome sit with my father in his kingdom Reue. 3. SecoÌ„dly this kingdom of Christ doth beat downe al force raysed vp against his kingdome as the deuil the Turke the Pope the wicked ones of this world Here he sheweth himself a mighty king ouer al the earth to preserue his Church hauing so many enemies For surely if he did not preserue it it would bee swallowed vp euery houre satan is so greedy to destroy it What they haue don against it we see but they could neuer preuaile for this is a comfortable saying The gates of hell shall not preuaile against it Of this we gather that Christ shall euer haue his Church because his power in his kingdom is infinit to keep it let the wicked rage neuer so much yet Christ is king of the whole earth yea the world Thus much for his kingdoÌ„ It followweth his only sonne Here is declared vnto vs the Iesus Christ is the only sonne of God therfore God because the sonne is of the

sinne actual as murder adultery is that I was conceiued in sinne and can doe nothing els of my selfe but sinne euery houre as Paul also coÌ„plaineth of himselfe RoÌ„ 7. O wretched maÌ„ that I am who shal deliuer me froÌ„ the bodie of this death and then coÌ„meth vnto Christ thanketh him that he hath deliuered him from it We haue theÌ„ to coÌ„fort our selues in this that Christ was conceiued for vs borne for vs died for vs whatsoeuer he did he did it for our profite and coÌ„modity In that that Christ was conceiued we also vnderstand the verity of Gods promises made vnto vs in the prophtes which had loÌ„g before prophecied of it As in Esai 7. Behold saith he A virgin shall conceiue beare a sonne and she shall call his name Immanuel So we gather that God hauing perfourmed this he is alwayes iust true in his promises that he maketh to a thousaÌ„d generatioÌ„s And furthermore that the Prophets spake not by their own wil as Peter saith but by the wil spirit of God euen as they were led moued by the holy ghost 2. Pet. 1. So the whatsoeuer God ether speaketh or promiseth to the good godly to their comfort it shal come to passe as here in Esai God promiseth the coÌ„ceptioÌ„ of Christ for a coÌ„fort to HierusaleÌ„ besieged wÌ„t her enemies wheÌ„ Achaz was king Esa 7. Likewise on the contrary part whatsoeuer the Lord of hosts threatneth to the wicked destroyers of his Church shal also in due time be fulfilled and accoÌ„plished to the vttermost as vpoÌ„ the Iewes for murdering of Christ vpon the Romane Emperours for going about to ouerthrow his coÌ„gregatioÌ„ flock Although it be many times long before the Lord doth either deliuer the godly or punish the reprobate yet it is most sure certaine because his mouth hath spokeÌ„ it that can not lie or deceiue as Balaam saith of him Hath he spoken shal he not performe it said it shal he not make it good That were vnpossible When we say that Christ was conceiued in the wombe of the virgin Marie his mother by the operation and worke of the holy ghost we meane that to bee spoken according to his humanitie only and not according to his diuinitie for so hee is likened to Melchisedech without father as touching his flesh without mother as concerning his godhead and yet we say that Christ was conceiued because Christ both God maÌ„ was ioined together in one person Therfore we must wisely distingush make a differeÌ„ce betweene yâ— two natures properties of Christ his maÌ„hod Godhead WheÌ„ Christ saith he can of him self do nothing he iudgeth no maÌ„ he knoweth not the day of iudgemeÌ„t that the father is greater theÌ„ hee with such like senteÌ„ces in that Gospel you must vnderstand these things to be spokeÌ„ as he was only man In that he saith he was before Abraham and the father and he are al one and that the scripture termeth him The first begotteÌ„ of all creatures the lord of al things the brightnes of his father these sayings are all applied to Christ as he is the sonne of God and God himselfe that made al things as Iohn saith of him By him al things were made If we marke obserue these two points the diuinity of Christ his humanity we shal finde great light and easines in reading the newe testament and things which were hard before wil seeme plaine euident vnto vs by this rule Thus haue ye heard the meaning the good lessons that may be gathered out of this 2. article of our christiaÌ„ faith yâ— coÌ„ception most pure most cleane of our sauior Iesus Christ First that he was conceiued as the word doth testifie Secondly wherefore he was conceiued which was because he might become very man to redeeme and suffer for man offending the maiestie of the almightie God Nowe let vs giue most huÌ„ble and heartie thankes as we are bound to this Iesus Christ yâ— being so hie he woulde vouchsafe to descende so lowe for vs poore wretches as to be conceiued in the wombe of a maide to make vs pure and let vs also pray vnto his Maiestie that seeing his conceptioÌ„ is pure vnspotted he would also make ours so to be with the free imputatioÌ„ of his conception all other benefites of his death and passion that he would kill sinne in vs more and more daily by his spirit of sanctification that we may liue here in righteousnes and holines before him without feare al the daies of our life wheÌ„ the sinfull course of this traÌ„sitorie life is ended we may haue that life which neuer shall haue ende whose ioyes neither eye hath seene nor eare hath heard nor heart of maÌ„ can possibly conceiue or thinke which God grant vnto vs for his Sonne Christs sake to whom with the holie ghost be rendred al power dominioÌ„ praise and thankesgiuing both now and for euer So be it The third Lecture vpon the third Article of our Christian fayth which is Borne of the virgin Marie IN this article is mentioned and set downe vnto vs the natiuitie and birth of our Sauiour Iesus Christ how that he was borne not after the coÌ„mon sort of men but of a maide or virgin not a married woman which knewe any man so that the meaning of this article in moe wordes is this I that am a Christian man or woman doe beleeue also that as Iesus Christ was conceyued by the holy Ghost so was he borne likewise for mee of his mother Marie she notwithstanding remayning still a virgin Out of the which article we haue to note these three good lessons and poyntes for our instruction and consolation First the birth it selfe secondly the maner of it with all the circumstances of the same thirdly the profit and commoditie that we may reape by it beleeuing it truely as we ought to doe 1 As concerning his birth Esai in his seuenth and ninth Chapter saith The Lord him selfe shall giue you a signe Beholde a virgin shall conceiue and beare a Sonne and she shall call his name Immanuel butter and honie shall he eate till he haue knowelege to refuse the euil and to chuse the good Likewise the ninth Chapter Vnto vs a childe is borne and vnto vs a sonne is giuen and the gouernment is vpon his shoulder and he shal call his name Wonderful CouÌ„seller The mightie God The euerlasting Father The Prince of peace the increase of his gouernment and peace shal haue no end he shal sit vpoÌ„ the throue of Dauid and vpon his kingdome to order it and to establish it with iudgement and with iustice from henceforth eueÌ„ for euer The zeale of the Lord of hosts will performe this Thus we see howe euidently Esai long before prophesied of this birth to the comfort of the people in his time The like thing doeth Ieremie also declare vnto vs in

and how many pointes to marke for our instruction be in it There are three things in this article first his ascension secondly to what ende he is ascended lastly the benefites that come to vs by this his ascension into heauen These things well marked will be for our consolation and comfort against many temptations and troubles in this life which the deuill assaulteth vs with that we should despaire of the mercie of God in Iesus Christ But this will be a remedy for them all euen his ascension into heauen and that for vs. Christes ascending into heauen is manifestly proued vnto vs in the holy scriptures not in one or two places but in many that we may be the better confirmed in this behalfe either against theÌ„ that doubt of it or beleeue it not yea or against Satan that wil go about to perswade vs that he is not there S. Marke doth shew vs that after the Lord had spokeÌ„ certaine things vnto his disciples in Bethanie he was receiued into heauen and sate at the right hand of God Mark 16. 19. for those are his very words in the place Likewise S. Luke saith And it came to passe that as he blessed theÌ„ he departed from theÌ„ was caried vp into heauen Neither do the Euangelists Apostles of Christ proue this only vnto vs which were after him had familiarity with him but the Prophet Dauid to make it the more euident to all the world long before the coÌ„ming of Christ in the flesh spake of it by the spirit of prophecie moued by the direction of the holy ghost saying God is gone vp with triumph eueÌ„ the Lorde with the sound of the trumpet alluding in this ascension of Christ for the glory ioyfulnes of it vnto the truÌ„pets the were bloweÌ„ at the soleÌ„ne feasts of the Iewes Psal 47. Also in the 68. Psal Thou art gone vp on hie thou hast led captiuitie captiue We see then the in the mouth of two or three witnesses this matter is proued vnto vs ought therfore to be beleeued of vs fully established But because no man doth as I thinde the is a ChristiaÌ„ doubt of this neither is it in controuersie betweene the Papists vs as coÌ„cerning his ascensioÌ„ although in the maner of it there be coÌ„tention I wil therefore come to the second point which is to consider how after what sorte he is ascended and remaineth in heauen and to what ende signified in these words and sitteth at the right haÌ„d of God the father almighty To sit at Gods right hande is to haue and to be aboue all rule power might and dominion euery name that is named not onely in this world but also in the worlde to come Ephe. 1. It is then as our sauiour Christ saith Matt. 11. and 28. To haue all things giueÌ„ vnto him al authoritie both in heauen and in earth For the right hand of God signifieth the euerlasting and infinite power of God Wee must not thinke that God being an infinite most blessed spirit and not a body hath either right hand or lefte eyes or armes or such like partes and members of a maÌ„s body but when the scripture giueth these properties speaches vnto God as it doth often it is for our weaknes and capacitie which are children and babes in Gods matters therfore can not vnderstand him in his maiestie speaking to maÌ„ vnles he lispe as it were vnto vs like a nurce vnto her young children For we are so grosse that we vnderstaÌ„d not how greatly the Lord is angry with maÌ„ for his sinne wickednes vnles he speake after the maner of men say he repenteth that euer he made man Againe we vnderstaÌ„d not or conceiue his wonderfull power and strength except it be by a great and mighty and stretched out arme or hande So by the eyes of the Lord is meant his carefull vigilant prouidence foresight ouer all his creatures and by his countenance is most commonly meant his terrible wrath and anger When the scripture giueth an eare to God wheÌ„ the preachers saye in their Sermons that he hath an eare you must vnderstand that he heareth all things bee they neuer so secretly spoken of any man as by his eye hee seeth al things in this world although they be neuer so much hid and done in darke secret places as the wicked doe their euill workes As we see then that kings and noble men do place at their right hande such as are either their betters or equals or doe gouerne in their steade so is it here Christ is exalted and placed in that dignitie honour that his father is because he is equall vnto him And this latter part of the article to sit at Gods right hand being in the last chapter of Marke from whence it seemeth this was taken S. Paul doth expounde very well in the 1. Ephes that God hath set him farre aboue all principalitie and power might and domination And in an other place Philip. 2. hath highly exalted him and giueÌ„ him a name aboue euery name that at the name of Iesus shoulde euery knee bowe both of things in heaueÌ„ and things in earth things vnder the earth and that euery tongue shoulde confesse that Iesus Christ is the Lorde vnto the glory of God the father This is the meaning of these words he sitteth at the right hand of God It is not of any corporall sitting for it may as wel be sayd that he staÌ„deth at the right hand of God For so did Saint Stephen see him Actes 7. Therefore both by sitting and standing there is meant that he is aduaunced to great glorie as hath bene sayde already And here in this his ascension so glorious is his kingdome to be seene which hee did not take vpon him here in the earth So that although Christ did shewe great glorie in his resurrection all mortalitie being layde away yet by his ascension into heauen hee hath more notably declared his power for now he gouerneth all things and ruleth as a king ouer all the earth And this doeth the Apostle teache vs that he ascended farre aboue all heauens to fulfill all things For we see and reade how aboundantly and most miraculously he powred downe his holy spirit vpoÌ„ his Apostles Act. 2. howe he hath increased his church and kingdome in euery part of the earth how he hath euer since his ascension mightily defended his sharply punished his enemies So that although he be in heauen according to his bodily presence and not in earth as the Lutheranes Papistes do imagine him to be in the communion contrary to this article he ascended which is to be meant only of his body not of his diuine nature which doeth fill all things needeth not to descend or ascend yet I say Christ is with vs as hee him selfe saith euen vnto the end of the world Mat. 28. 19. by his power

spirit by his grace and godhead which is euery where For he sayeth that he will not leaue vs fatherles but will come vnto vs which he meant by sending his spirit Iohn 14. We are not then to looke for Christes body here nowe vpon the earth as certaine heretikes do suppose euen as he him selfe saith Matt. 26. Me shal you not haue alwayes Surely this saying can by no meanes be true if his body be euery where in euery place at euery sacrament then is not his body departed from vs then is he not ascended into heauen but remaineth here still in the earth But the Angell sayde to the women that he was not there That was some place then he had a glorified body And it is said that heauen must conteine him vntill all things bee restored Act. 3. Surely being now ascended in body we neither reade of nor beleeue any other descension in body then that wherein he shall desceÌ„de to iudge at the latter day as the Angels spake to the disciples This Iesus which is taken vp froÌ„ you into heauen shall so come as ye haue seene him go into heauen So that vnles we see Christ so come down as he went vp we will not beleeue the papistes that say he is in the boxe or pixe much lesse them that say he is euery where making him in deede to haue no body at all but altogether swallowed vp by his diuinitie For tell mee I pray you if Christ had meaÌ„t his body should alway remaine here vpon the earth why did he say that he must depart from them They cannot meane it of his diuinity but of his humanitie Againe what needed his disciples to bee so sorowefull for his going away if they had had his body with them Here they answere The disciples had not his body visibly but his body inuisible or not seene But surely the disciples if they had vnderstoode it so as the Papistes say of his inuisible body they were not such children but that they would haue contented them selues as well with his inuisible body as his inuisible spirit and grace afterwardes therfore they would needes know howe they should be comforted when hee was gone from them Christ told them by his spirite although inuisible and not by his body inuisible which surely would haue comforted them although they saw it not if it had then bene with them as his spirite was but Christ meant no such thing and therefore promised euer his spirit to them and all others after and not his inuisible body This is a plaine case but I leaue to discourse of it any further because I intend in this booke to edifie and instruct the simple readers onely in the poyntes of Christianitie concerning their faith and not to make any treatise for the learned Seeing then wee haue a great hie Priest which is entred into heaueÌ„ euen Iesus the sonne of God let vs hold fast our professioÌ„ as the Apostle sayth and let vs goe boldly vnto the throne of grace that we may receyue mercie and finde grace to helpe in time of neede For this was the third point that I sayde was to be obserued of vs to weigh with our selues what profit and commodity thereby doeth ensue to all the faythfull that hee is in heauen Surely this cannot be but great comfort to al the faithful for they all are assured by Christes ascension that they also shall one day euen at the resurrection of their bodies ascende with him for he is gone to prepare a place for them as he testifieth in Iohn 14. I goe to prepare a place for you and if I goe to prepare a place for you I will come agayne and receyue you vnto my selfe that where I am there may ye be also Christ by his ascension hath opened the gates and doores of heauen and Paradise for vs which were shut against vs before so that wee had no entrance thither For this is most certayne and true that if the head be there then shall the body and members be there also and if our captayne be there then shall his souldiers which are we be one day with him and the master will haue there his seruantes to wayte and attend vpon him in his house And to be short seeing Christ is in heauen he wil haue his true Christians to be with him Is not this a great comfort in all troubles and hurlyburlies in this life to meditate vpon this that one day we shall come into the presence of our louing Master Iesus Christ Surely this would comfort any poore afflicted soule or body if he did remember it but we forget it and then what ioy can wee haue in this vale of miserie This comforted Dauid in his banishment saying When shal I come to appeare before the presence of God This reioyced Paul greatly when he sayd A crowne of righteousnesse is layde vp for me in that day when the Lord shal appeare 2. Timothie 4. So then this is the first and one of the greatest benefites that by Christes ascension wee haue an assurance of our owne For when Christ shall appeare then shall we also appeare with him in glory Colossians 3. But yet wee must remember that as Christ first suffered shame and reproche and bitter death also and so in the ende entred into heauen by diuers crosses and calamyties so must wee also for the most part enter in the same way with him for by many tribulations must we enter into the kingdome of heauen and all that wil liue godly in Iesus Christ shal suffer persecution For you knowe that the seruant must not looke to be better handled theÌ„ his master or the scholer to be in better case then his teacher nor we theÌ„ Christ Againe Christ by his ascension doth solicite al our sutes causes matters iniuries which we suffer to God his father For hee is our Atturney pleadeth for vs as Iohn sayth If any man sinne we haue an aduocate with the father Iesus Christ the righteous Is it not a great comfort to a poore man that can not make friendes or come vp to the prince because of costs and charges to haue alway one of the priuy counsell to helpe and further his sutes as readily and diligently as if hee were there himselfe So surely it is with vs wee haue alwayes Iesus Christ at hand with God his father being of his most priuy and secrete counsell to make requestes to God for vs continually to pardon our sinnes to grant vs grace and all other thinges necessary This is singular ioy to a godly heart so that wee neede not to seeke any other Mediatour as the Papistes doe as if hee were not sufficient of him selfe or as mercifull to heare vs as his mother or Peter or any other saynt in heauen This is their folly and madnes let vs be contented with our only Mediatour Iesus Christ because he is most able and most willing to heare vs yea biddeth vs to come to

Ephe. 1. and therfore in the place aboue recited this spirit is called the spirit of promise because it doeth assertaine and assure vs of all the blessinges and promises of God that are made vnto vs. In the Actes it is sayde that Lydia a woman being a seller of purple came to heare Paul preach the Gospel but marke what Saint Luke saieth whose heart sayeth he the Lord opened that shee attended to the things which Paul spake So that except God open our closed and hard shutte hearts by the secret inspiration of this holy spirite in vayne shall we eyther preach or the people heare We haue neede then all of vs before we come to heare his word pray to God to giue vs grace to perceyue vnderstand his will and mysteries to soften our stony hearts that they may receiue the worde and to circumcise our eares to heare it This it that Dauid sayde O Lord open thou mine eyes that I may see the wonderfull things of thy Lawe and againe O giue me vnderstanding I wil keepe thy Lawe Now Dauid knewe very well that all these things were done by the operation of Gods spirite as Paul sayeth The spirit hath reuealed these things vnto vs 1. Cor. 2. for it is hee that helpeth all our infirmities Rom. 8. This is the marke whereby God doeth seale and print in the forehead to be seene of all men those that are his and without the which no man can truely assure him selfe that he belongeth vnto Christ for as the same Apostle witnesseth If any man haue not the Spirite of Christ the same is none of his Nowe how greatly this holy spirit is to be desired of all of vs there is no man that hath read the Scriptures but well vnderstandeth This made Eliseus a notable man the scholer of Elias when his master bad him to aske of him what he would that he might do it for him before he was taken away from him into heauen that he asked his spirite to bee doubled vpon him whereby he might the better serue the Lord and his Church in his vocation and calling 2. King 2. and so by this spirit he wrought wonderful miracles and did much good by it to the whole kingdome of Israel Wee see by this petition of this notable father godly man what we also shoulde especially desire of God in our prayers not riches or wealth so much which al do perish but this holy spirite which liueth remaineth for euer in them that haue him and can neuer be lost or taken away And this is the self same thing that our Sauiour Christ would haue vs to aske in our praiers of God his father for speaking of praier to his disciples he sheweth that God his Father is most ready to giue vs our requests as soone as we aske of him as our earthly father is willing to bestow that vpon vs which he is able to giue And of all other things that God giueth he maketh mention of this spirit saying If ye which are euill can giue good giftes vnto your children how much more shall your heauenly Father giue the holy Ghost to theÌ„ that desire him Luk. 11. Signifying this Spirite to be the excellentest gift that God coulde giue or we desire of him We haue nowe heard the meaning of this article of the holy Ghost what it is and what are the wonderfull and comfortable effectes of it in the Church and howe the Lorde hath promised neuer to leaue his destitute of it vnto the worlds ende We haue seene also howe we must beleeue in him as the true and euerlasting God equally proceeding from the Father and the Sonne because he is the power and vertue whereby they doe worke and create all things Seeing therefore this heauenly spirit is so necessarie and so great a treasure let vs that are true Christians most duetifully thanke our heauenly Father for bestowing of him vpon his whole familie here in earth and vpon euery one of vs that are his seruants wherby we are knowen in the worlde and among our selues that wee are his owne And let vs also pray vnto our Lorde Iesus Christ the sender of this holy spirit to kindle and stirre him vp in our heartes dayly more and more that by his assistance we may haue an earnest feeling and lothing of our sinnes and so bee brought to doe his will and pleasure with a carefull keeping of all his commaundements vntill we all come to a full perfection in Iesus Christ euen vnto that hope which is layde vp for vs in the newe and heauenly Ierusalem which Christ hath purchased full dearely for vs with his owne precious heart blood To whom with his Father and the holy ghost three persons in trinitie and yet one God in vnitie be rendred all prayse honour glorie and thankes giuing both nowe and for euermore Amen The ninth Lecture vpon the ninth Article of our Christian fayth The holy catholike Church the communion of Saints WE haue declared alreadie vnto you three parts of this our Christian fayth the fyrst wherein we doe beleeue and confesse the Father to bee the Creator and maker of all things the seconde part wherein we acknowledge the Sonne Iesus Christ the redeemer of mankinde the thirde sheweth vnto vs the holy Ghost the comforter of our heartes and the confirmer of all these things which are conteyned in these former eyght articles which we haue proued all out of the euerlasting worde of GOD. Nowe followeth consequently the fourth part of our Christian beliefe which is concerning the Church the ninth article with other three which are annexed vnto the Church as the especiall blessings and benefites which flowe and issue out of the former partes and alwayes doe accompanie and followe the spouse of Christ The causes and matter of our saluation being alreadie handled the effect doeth followe which is the Church Otherwise in vayne shoulde God create and Christ redeeme and the holy Ghost inspire and confirme these benefites and giftes vnlesse there were some that myght bee partakers of those treasures brought out and founded by the blessed Trinitie Againe seeing the kingdome of Christ is euerlasting it is very necessarie and requisite that there be alwayes some which may acknowledge him for their King and gouernour To this ende hath Christ his continuall Church and shall haue to the ende of the worlde as he hath had euer from the first beginning The meaning therefore of this article is this I beleeue that God almightie hath alwayes had from the first creation of the worlde and hath presently and shall haue vnto the consummation of the worlde his Church here in earth which is the coÌ„munion of Saints that is to say a company and congregation of faythfull men and women which doe truely beleeue in Iesus Christ acknowledging him for their onely Sauiour and seruing him according to his worde receyuing his Sacraments and taking holde of all his mercies and benefites by fayth onely

to Christ are gentle as sheepe not cruel as wolues for they shall not hurt nor destroy in al the mountayne of my holines saith the Lorde of hosts by his Prophet This name of the church excludeth yâ— bloody church of Rome for they are as wolues cruell beastes deuouring the sheepe as well with vs appeared in Queene Maries dayes howe bloodthirstie they were in that the wolues slewe so many of the sheepe of Christ It is called the spouse of Christ therefore they that giue them selues to another head and husband as the false Romanes doe are not of this church It is also compared and likened to the moone because the churche taketh all her light and brightnes of Iesus Christ the true sunne of righteousnes as the moone doeth take of the sunne all her light which thing the Papistes doe not for they ascribe not all to Christ but some things to the Pope some to them selues and others And as the moone is not alway visible being in her change so is not this churche to the eye of man alwayes in a visible she we as the proude churche of Rome is but hath sometime warre and aduersitie sometime peace prosperitie It is moreouer like vnto a ship vpon the seas tossed in deede with the waues from one place to an other but yet neuer drowned because Christ Iesus is in it and holdeth the sterne with his hande These thinges vnto the which the church is likened doe very well conuince Rome to be no church of God at all for it is alwayes visible to the eie and in great wealth and prosperitie as Babylon was so it boasteth of her selfe as shee did It neuer at all mourneth or is in the pit of afflictioÌ„ as Christ said his church shouldbe Iohn 16. And as we reade in Ezechiel 9. this church of Rome doth alwayes laugh and reioyce and neuer feeleth the rodde which is a token of bastards and such reprobates and not of Gods children Heb. 12. This true church of Christ is but one For there is but one mediator one husband and therefore one spouse and one body as Paul proueth Ephes 4. and is called vniuersall because it is in all partes of the earth and the Lord hath of his church out of all nations and kinreds tongues Reuel 7. Which church yet notwithstanding is deuided into particular churches of euery couÌ„trey kingdom where as they al make but one general church For they are ioyned together in the same spirite fayth baptisme and Lorde Iesus which is one head to them all There was a particular church in the house of Philemon as Paul reporteth in that epistle and he also calleth the CorinthiaÌ„s a church others too vnto whom he wrote meaning that they were speciall churches of this vniuersall church And here the ignorance of the Papistes is seene and manifested which make that to be general and catholike which is but particular special For although their Rome were a true church yet can it not be termed by any meanes Catholike except all the saintes and good men aliue vpon the earth were in it which can not be Here theÌ„ they are deceiued in the worde Catholike making that to bee generall which is but in part so Paul did neuer write to any church which hee called Catholike for if hee had meant so that Rome had bene the catholike church when hee wrote vnto it then could he not properly haue called Corinth a church at all The summe of all that we haue said hitherto is thus much that there is an holy church whose head is Iesus Christ alone to this end and purpose called of God by his woord that it should gloryfie him for his goodnesse For looke whatsoeuer our God doth he doth it in yâ— behalfe of his holy church For this end doeth hee destroy sometymes mightie kingdomes and great Princes that hee might deliuer his church and verily for this ende doeth hee keepe and preserue so long this wicked worlde vntill the number of his elect be fulfilled He neuer destroyed any nation but it was for his churches sake Oh howe greatly are we then bound to the goodnes of this our Christ which worketh so great thinges for vs shall we not magnifie his grace shal we not yeelde him continuall thanks and that in the middest of the great congregation Beleeue me deare brethren we are elect ereated redeemed iustified sanctified preserued dayly by his power shal be gloryfied in the life to come with his holy angels and saintes that we should set forth his praise glory And this is yâ— thing which the blessed Apostle S. Peter doth in his first Epistle the second Chapter so earnestly exhort vs vnto saying To the church of God the trewe christians of Pontus Asia Cappadocia Galatia and Bithynia and in them to vs all you are sayth he a chosen generation a roial priesthood an holy nation a people set at lybertie Marke nowe dearely beloued the chiefest poynt to what ende all these thinges are done vnto vs that yee shoulde sayth hee shewe foorth the vertues of him that hath called you out of darknesse vnto his marueilous light Doe wee nowe shewe foorth his goodnesse with thankesgiuing then are we good Christians and serue to the ende whereunto the Lord hath made vs. Are wee not all carefull of this duety to praise God his name daily Surely we haue then transgressed and degenerated from the ende of our creation and calling The praise of God is such a thing so hye and so excellent that if all the Angels in heauen with their force and might and all the men in earth with all their speach and eloquence goe about to set it forth and declare it they shall not do it sufficienly and as it deserueth to be done We ought then to do what lieth in vs and this thing doth the triumphant church in heauen of Angels and Saints teache vs that we should neuer cease to exto his name at al times as they do for they cannot satisfy themselues with crying Holy holy holy is the Lorde God of hostes the whole worlde is full of his glory Esay 6. And in the Reuelation the fourth chapter the foure beastes and the Elders cease not day nor night crying Holy holy holy Lorde God almighty which was which is and which is to come And yet for all this wee here in earth can satisfy our selues and be contented to set foorth his praise either neuer a whit or els so negligently and by such startes as wee declare wee haue no great loue and care thereunto so colde is our zeale in this poynt and yet most hot in trifles and vanites apperteining to our pleasures profits in this life Wee haue nowe heard dearely beloued the meaning of this article concerning the Catholike Church what it is and who is the head of it what authoritye it hath by what signes it may bee alwayes knoweÌ„ from the Romish or false Church We

or the chamber of presence for a maÌ„ can haue no accesse thither vntill he haue passed through many other doores and houses so surely it is in the life to come We can not come or enter into the kingdome of heaueÌ„ euen the priuy chamber of Iesus Christ and there behold his presence except we first passe by many doores in this life which doe leade vs thither as for example we must first passe by our election then by our creation thirdly by our redemption wrought by Christ vpon the crosse fourthly by iustification fiftly by sanctification of life and last of all we must come to the resurrection as the last doore if we will haue our finall glorification which is euerlasting life to beholde and inioy the sweete and louing countenance of the Lorde Yea Paul goeth further and sayth that by many tribulations as strayte doores and gates which wring vs wee must enter into the kingdome of God Needes therefore must the resurrection be ioyfull wheÌ„ as it leadeth vs directly to such a palace of pleasure as shall neuer ende therefore is called of Peter the time of refreshing both of bodye and soule in the presence of the Lorde Actes 3. The holy Apostle willed the Thessalonians to coÌ„fort them selues with the ioyfull remeÌ„brance of this day 1. Thess 4. For it shal be vnto vs as a new birth or natiuitie in al purenes And if wee so celebrate the dayes of our birth wherein we were borne into a vale of myserye and troubles howe ought wee to celebrate and keepe holy this day wherein we shall be exempted from all curses of this present life This day is termed our marriage day if we reioyce here when we are married to a mortall creature peraduenture to our greater payne and trouble theÌ„ before oh dearely beloued how should we be affected what tokens of ioy ought we to shewe foorth when wee shal be marryed to the sonne of God Christ Iesus for euer in fayth and trueth with a band which neuer shal be broken as the Lord speaketh in Ose 2. chapter and Reuelat. 19. In this day shall the gates of heauen be set wide open vnto vs which were shut vp before our bodies shall so much excell the bodyes which we now beare about with vs as the sunne doeth passe and ouercome the moone in brightnesse and light O what a ioye is this to haue our estate like vnto the blessed Angels of God most pure and diuine creatures If this cannot moue vs I see nothing that may doe it I am sure this reward so moued good Moses that hee forsooke the kingdome in Egypt and suffered paine with the people of God to come to this life in the ende Hebr. 11. Yea this hope of life to come made Abraham to leaue his couÌ„trey and to goe to the land of Canaan as a poore stranger Gen. 12. This made Paul to go through thicke and thinne in this life that he might attayne to the resurrection when he had seene the ioyes and pleasures that were shewed vnto him in Paradise when hee was taken vp thither 2. Cor. 12. Of this ioy our Sauiour gaue his disciples a tast in the Mount when hee was transfigured before them but it was nothing in respect of this Nowe as these thinges are most comfortable to the godly to heare that their bodyes shall be raysed vp to such glory So is this day most fearefull to the vngodly which haue here liued a dissolute life For they shall say at that day to the hilles Fall vpon vs and to the mountaynes Couer vs. but this shall not preuayle for they shal be raised vp but to their shame and confusion for euer as Daniel saith Cha. 12. They shal come forth as our sauiour sayth but to the resurrection of condemnation and so to be punished from the presence of the Lord Iesus with the worme of coÌ„science which shal neuer leaue to bite theÌ„ with the fire which shal not be quenched So they shal perish worthily through their owne corruption and receiue the wages of vnrighteousnesse as they which count it pleasure dayly to liue dilitiously These men would willingly wishe that this day might neuer be but it shal come vpon them and that suddenly and they shal be taken and snared not escape this iudgement For they must yeeld an accouÌ„t of al their vngodly works wherby they haue both displeased the Lord and euil intreated his sayntes here vpon earth Thus you haue heard dearely beloued brethren the treatise of the resurrection by the scriptures discoursed First how that there is a generall rising of all fleshe Secondly the endes wherefore it is ordayned and then the coÌ„fortable doctrine that the godly by this may lay hold on in all miseries of this life Nowe it remayneth for a finall conclusion that while we liue here we indeuour to haue our part in the first resurrection with Christ that we may by this come to the second and be blessed with him Let vs therefore giue thankes to our Lord Iesus Christ who is the resurrection and the life in that he hath vouchsafed to giue vnto vs an assurance of it in his owne person in that he rose againe from the dead And let vs likewise pray vnto him that we may so liue as we may be children of this happy resurrection to life hauing an effectual fayth with charitie which worketh by loue in vs that al our actions whatsoeuer may be seasoned powdered with it preparing our selues against this day with mortifying of our flesh seeing wee shal meete so victorious glorious a Lord comming in the cloudes let vs purge our selues from all filthinesse of the fleshe and spirit for no vncleane thing shall enter in with him God for his sonnes sake giue vs the grace to doe these things to the which blessed and immortall God with the sonne and the holy Ghost be rendred all prayse glory and thankesgiuing for euermore Amen The twelfth Lecture vpon the twelfth article of our Christian fayth which is The life euerlasting THis is the last article of our ChristiaÌ„ faith the last greatest benefite that God doth bestow vpoÌ„ his church which is yâ— third benefit of theÌ„ that followe the church for after remission of sinnes and the resurrection of our bodyes followeth this free gifte of life which is the ende of all our fayth as S. Peter calleth it 1. Pet 1. The resurrection going before giueth a passage vnto this endlesse life for except that resurrection come we cannot fully haue this benefit As remission of sinnes by Christ is the greatest gifte that God doeth bestowe vpon his children in this life so in the world to come this euerlasting life doeth so far surmount all the rest as the earth in coÌ„passe doth passe the bignesse of a tennys bal. This article shal then haue his effect wheÌ„ Christ shal come to iudgment not before For of al the articles of our faith these three only

remain to be accoÌ„plished the general iudgmeÌ„t the resurrectioÌ„ and this life euerlasting which shal al be fulfilled together The meaniÌ„g of this article is this I that am a true christiaÌ„ do stedfastly beleeue that as I haue already a sure pledge of this life in me which is the holy ghost working in my heart full hope of it by the seede of Gods word so I shal in the world to come haue this blessed life most abundantly powred vpoÌ„ me in ful measure of al happines both in body also in soule which shal neuer haue any terme of yeeres but shal coÌ„tinue for euer as the Lord himself doth without ending in which state I shal prayse the Lord my God not in part as I did here and with the dregges of sinne but wtout all sinne neuer ceasing to praise him yet without al wearines Re. 21. As coÌ„cerning the excellency of this eternal life if all the tongues of men of angels were ioyned vnited together all in one with all their knowledge eloqueÌ„ce to expresse it if they should be about it a thousaÌ„d thousaÌ„d yeres yet notwithstanding they al shal not be able to expresse vtter the least part of it no not the ioy and pleasure of one quarter of an houre so great so inspeakable so incomprehensible are the thinges that the Lord Iesus hath layd vp for al them that loue serue him For although wee heare this life to be replenished with ioy happines pleasure yet these thinges are farre remoued froÌ„ the capacitie of our senses vntill the day come wherein we shall see him as he is he reueile his glory vnto vs euen face to face yâ— we may see him perfectly Wherefore the prophets and Apostles seeing this blessed kingdome wherin wee shall be placed to be in it selfe inestimable not to be declared as it is in deede to giue them a taste of it whome they would sturre vp to be in loue with it they all haue described it by earthly pleasures coÌ„modities which heere we make great account of So our Sauiour vsed to expresse it by an earthly table of kinges princes furnished with all maner of deynties delicates to please both the eye the taste of maÌ„ saying to his disciples Ye are they which haue coÌ„tinued with me in my tentations therefore I appoint vnto you a kingdoÌ„e as my father hath appointed vnto me that ye may eate and drinke at my table in my kingdome sit on seates and iudge the twelue tribes of Israel Luke 22 Here Christ expressed spirituall thinges by corporal and earthly blessings But this we must thinke If the Lord God do conteine in himselfe the fulnesse of all felicitie good things then we hauing the fruitioÌ„ of the Lord shal desire nothing besides him And this is that most great precious promise that Peter speaketh of which is giueÌ„ to vs That wee should be partakers of the diuine nature 2. Pet. 1. For the Lord shal be gloryfied in all his Saintes shal be made marueilous in theÌ„ that beleeu If theÌ„ the Lord God shall coÌ„municate impart with his elect his glory his iustice his vertue his goodnes yea after a sort shal giue himselfe vnto theÌ„ wee may be sure that we shal haue ioyes infinite without ende such in deede as yâ— eye hath not sene nor the eare heard nor the toÌ„gue caÌ„ speak nor the heart mind of man caÌ„ possibly conceaue imagine which passe al vnderstanding so that they ought to make vs woÌ„derfully amased astonied wheÌ„ we coÌ„sider of theÌ„ they do so far exceede our capacitie reach of wit The excellencie of this life may be seene in these 2. things first in the happines of our soule then in the welfare of our body As touching the soule it shal be most happy for it shal cease to sin shal be wholy ioyned to the Lord in faith truth neuer displease him any more What a great ioy is this Againe the things that theÌ„ shal beautify our soule shal be most perfit our knowledge our wisedome our vnderstanding which here is all darkned shal there be inlightned with the glory and light of the Lorde all vertues and ornaments of the minde shal abound in vs euen to the full and euery thing that is vnperfite shal be then done away no griefe of the minde no sorow of heart no torment of conscience any more but peace ioy and tranquillity euer to endure This is the Image wherein wee were first created and shall then be renewed to a more perfite estate of life then it was in before the fall of Adam Our soule there shall not be enemy to the body neither shall the spirit rebel agaynst the fleshe but it shall loue the Lord with all his might And if the ioy of the minde and soule be so great here many times in the childreÌ„ of God that they seeme to be in heaueÌ„ what shal it be there thinke yee when it shal be in full possession of all his delights and spirituall pleasures euer singing and making sweete melody to the Lorde and yet without any wearynesse at al For olde things are al passed away and behold all things shal become new againe and the thinges that are there shal be eternall For Christ shall giue vnto all his eternall life Iohn 17. This is the happines of the soule Now let vs see the blessed estate also of the body and that shall the better appeare if we compare it with the state that it is in here Our bodies are nowe deformed there they shall be most faire and beautifull yea that which is more they shal be like the glorious and immortall bodie of Iesus Christ himselfe Here the body is many times maymed and vnperfit there it shal be perfite and in his integritie here it is in sickenesse in pouertie in nakednesse in woundes in stripes in botches in sores and in all incurable diseases there shall it bee whole and all sounde rich and glorious clothed with innocency and neuer able to feele any infirmitie any more For heere it is sowen in dishonour in weakenesse in corruption and there it riseth in honour in power in incorruption and immortalitie Here be many things that make it to offend agaynst God there is nothing that shall cause it to sinne it shall not as it did here lust against the spirit but be at peace and vnitie with it the sight of it most quicke in seeing and very perfite it shall be in all the senses in hearing in smelling in tasting in handling It shall haue all melody and musike to delite the eare euen angels singing continually it shall haue all sightes and shewes to delite and please the eye euen the perpetuall presence of the blessed Trinitie All odoriferous smels as it were of musks perfumes flowers the sweete incense of praise and thankesgiuing to smell delectably in the nostrels of the Lorde and ours shall not

entreateth of the benefites or fruites which we receiue by the same fayth which he maketh in number three the first is the forgiuenesse of sinnes the second is the resurrection of the fleshe the third last fruit is life euerlasting Of these fiue parts he hath made an hundreth seuerall articles the first parte conteyneth 14. The second 27. The third 5. The fourth 41. The fifth and last part conteyneth thirteene articles the contents of which articles are handeled as followeth A briefe and cleare confession of the Christian faith containing an hundred articles according to the order of the Creede of the Apostles I beleeue in God the father almighty maker of heauen and earth The first Article I Beleeue in one God onely one in essence and substance three in person the Father the Sonne the holy Ghost I beleeue in the Father as the originall and beginning of all things as well visible as inuisible Of whome also they depende as well in their being as also in their conseruation and he dependeth vpon none but on him selfe being eternall and euerlasting without end or beginning I beleeue in the Sonne as the diuine worde and wisdome of the father which is eternally and before al worlde 's engendred of the father of his proper substance and nature because in him shineth his shape and proper Image which otherwise is inuisible vnto mortal man I beleeue in the holy Ghost as a vertue eternall power which neither is made nor created neither engendred but proceeding of the father and of the sonne eternally euen as a loue proceeding from both persons The second Article I beleeue that these three persons are of one and the selfe same essence and substaÌ„ce nature authoritie power will goodnes wisdome and eternitie and that these three are but one spirituall substance eternall without ende or beginning true good iust mercifull of a souerayne power and wisdome hauing and containing in it selfe all goodnes not needing any thing The third Article I beleeue that this God which is one in essence and three in person ought onely to be serued honored feared loued worshipped and to be called vpon in all our necessities as he that onely can and will prouide therefore and none other And therefore I say and confesse that I beleeue in one God onely that is to say that I knowledge and receiue him for one onely Lord master and sauiour of whome proceedeth all that is good in me by whom I can do al things without whom I can do nothing In him onely doe I set mine affiance and set mine heart hoping that he assisting me with his holy spirit shall be with me against all meÌ„ and that he will deliuer me from al perils and daungers through his grace and mercie without any merites of mine owne and that he shall minister to me all things necessarie as well for my soule as body euen like a good father as hee hath promised by his holy word The fourth Article I beleeue that the same God almightie hath of nothing created from the beginning both heauen and earth and all things in them conteined that is to say all things as well heauenly as earthly visible as inuisible reasonable as vnreasonable sensible as insensible the which hee doth entertaine leade guide gouerne by his diuine wisdom without whose prouideÌ„ce nothing commeth to passe either in this world or in the other The fift Article I beleeue that the same God the father the sonne and holy Ghost after that hee had created all things did create and shape man to his own image likenes that is to say immortal good iust true wise mercifull and perfit in all things making him partaker of the goodnes iustice and other perfections of God hauing a will that could agree in all things vnto the will of his Lorde but all that thorowe grace without any kinde of merit The vi article I beleeue also that as the Lord hath created al things heauenly and earthly for the seruice of man and to the ende that by his creatures he might come to the knowledge of the creator euen so also hath he formed made man for thim selfe that of him and by him he might be knowen loued feared serued honored which is the greatest good thing that is or can be in man and that in him might shine the image of diuine vertues and perfections through good works the which God hath ordeined because wee should walke in them vnto his honour and praise to the confusion of the aduersary and that by this meane the fal of the Angels might be repaired and that maÌ„ might possesse the euerlasting kingdome made and prepared for him before the foundations of the worlde were laide The vii article I beleeue that the same man was ordeined of the Lord God a master ruler ouer all his creatures the which thing he hath lost through his sinne aswell for his owne part as also for al his posteritie The which rule Lordship I beleeue doth chiefly appertaine vnto Iesus Christ verely God man to those vnto whom he wil communicate the same as vnto his owne faithfull and not vnto the infidels and damned The viii article I beleeue that the first man through the craft and subtiltie of Satan did slide and fall from the excellencie wherein the Lord had created him consenting thorowe his owne free will which at that time he had vnto the subtil suggestion of the Serpent whereby he lost the graces that the Lorde had giuen him in such sort that of wise hee became foolish of iust vniust of true a liar of perfit altogether vnperfect hauing froÌ„ thenceforth a will wholly corrupted which neither could nor would agree with the will of God but altogether with the wil of the deuil the worlde the flesh sinne which could do nothing of him selfe but euill seeing that he is altogether carnal bond captiue and sold vnder sinne This is the free yea to say more truely the bond will that man hath in this present life The ix Article I beleeue that this disorder and corruption of nature was not only in Adam because of his sinne but is also in all men generally which come of him Iesus Christ only excepted and that in such sort that all men after their own nature are corrupt vniust lyers ignorant vnkind and imperfect in al things haue no power of their owne nature to do thinke speake or will any thing that may please God vntil that they be regenerate renewed by the spirit of the Lord. The x. Article I beleeue that this corruption of nature otherwise called original sinne is the fountayne roote of all other sinnes for the which all the miseries aduersities that wee endure in this present life aswell in bodye as soule do come vnto vs yea in the end double death that is to say both of bodie soule These be the fruites rewards of sinne But although the same

not to deserue or merite any thing thereby at Gods hande or by the same to escape eternall condemnation but onely because God hath commanded them and that they might testifie the loue that we haue vnto our Lord and our obedience to his holy woorde and commaundement and to the intent that in vs and by vs hee might be glorified and that our neighbours aswell the infidels vnbeeleeuers as the faithful might therby be edified and in like maner to shewe and to manifest the faith that we haue in God and in his worde as the good tree sheweth it selfe and is knowne by his fruite yea to make sure and certaine vnto vs our calling election predestination To these endes serue all the good works commaunded by God and who soeuer doeth them to any other ende doeth misuse them sinneth and doth iniurie to the blood of Christ and dishonoureth God and his word for in so doing he declareth Christ died in vayne The xcii Article I beleeue that there is none either in this worlde or in the other worlde eyther in heauen or in earth which can forgiue mee and pardon my sinnes but onely God which hath giuen power and authoritie to the ministers of his worde to declare to all faithfull beleeuers which are of a contrite heart and be truely penitent that all their sinnes through the free mercy of God are forgiuen them through the blood of Iesus Christe which was shedde for them yea to declare vnto them that they are pardoned of their sinnes and that the same is done by the ministery of the worde of the holy Church in the which this remission is exhibited and giuen and not otherwise But on our part is required perfecte repentance the which hath two partes The first is contrition that is to say the knowledging hating and abhorring of sinne the which thing is administred by the Lawe and bringeth vs to despaire if with the contrarie we be not holpen with a lyuely fayth and the mercie of GOD the Father thorowe the blood of Iesus Christ which proceedeth out of the Gospel This fayth comforteth vs maketh vs stedfast and causeth vs to fynde fauour before the iudgement seate of God The xciii Article I beleeue that sinne dwelleth stil in man yea in the very saintes and children of God after their newe birth through Baptisme and the holie Ghost the which sinne neuerthelesse shall not be laied to their charge because of the faith they haue in Iesus Christ for as al the sinnes of the infidels and reprobate bee damnable and shall not bee pardoned because of their infidelitie euen so all the sinnes of the faithfull and chosen bee veniall sinnes and forgiueable because of their faith And therefore I beleeue that there is one onely sinne that is mortall and irremissible which is vnbeliefe or infidelitie that is to say not to beleeue in the sonne of GOD. For where true faith in Christ is founde there all sinnes are hid couered and pardoned I beleeue the resurrection of the flesh which is the second fruite of my faith The xciiii Article I beleeue that there shall bee one resurrection which shall bee generall to all the worlde aswell of the good as of the badde which shall bee in the ende of the worlde by the power of Christ and through the ministerie of the angels the which with a great voice of a trumpette shal cal together all the worlde before the Lorde and shall gather together the electe and chosen from the foure windes euen from the highest of the heauens vnto the endes of the earth and deuide the euill from the good and the wicked shall they cast into the fierie fornace where is weeping and gnashing of teeth and then shall the righteous shine as the sunne in the kingdome of their father and shall bee together and bee companions with the Angels of God This is the seconde resurrection and blessed is hee that shall haue part of portion therein for the same shall not be touched with the seconde death The xcv Article I beleeue that this resurrectioÌ„ shal be of the flesh not of the spirit that is to say that the spirit or soule of maÌ„ shal not rise because it is immortal dieth not But the body which before aswel by the reasoÌ„ of nature as also because of sinne was subiect vnto death and corruption to rotte and to be brought to ashes shall be raysed vp and shal be coupled with his owne proper soule and spirite and shall bee set in a more perfect estate then that wherein the first man was before hee sinned and shall be clearely exempted from al maner of corruption of sinne and so consequently from all maner of imperfections and shall bee fashioned like vnto the glorious bodie of Christ The xcvi Article I beleeue that I shall rise not in any other mans flesh and body but in myne owne that I brought out of my mothers wombe euen with the self same body and bones that I haue at this present but the same altered and chaunged made of mortall immortall of corruptible incorruptible of vile and contemptible glorious And therefore I doe waite for the comming of my sauiour Iesus Christ the which through his power will change my vile body which was but a cast-away to make it like vnto his owne glorious bodie according to the power whereby he is able to subiect all things to him selfe I beleeue eternall life which is the third and last fruite of my faith The xcvii Article I beleeue that I shal rise as I haue said with all the faithful and elect not to die any more as did they that miraculously were raysed vp from death as well by Christ the Prophets the Apostles and such other but vnto a life that is immortall euerlasting shall endure for euer to raygne eternally with God both in body soule And thereof I am sure and doubt nothing at all knowing that whosoeuer doubteth of his saluation by Christ the same shall not bee saued Wherefore as I am sure and certaine that Christ is dead and risen againe for me and therein do not doubt euen so am I sure and certaine of my saluation wrought by him and that without fayle I shall be saued and by him shall enter into eternall life The xcviii Article I beleeue that then I shal see him face to face whome now I see as thorow the glasse of faith and then shall knowe him perfitly whome now I know but in part who after that he hath destroyed and confounded al his aduersaries and hath made them his footestoole shall make all thinges newe for the glory of those that are his TheÌ„ shal he be an whole God in all and ouer al things Then shal none teach his brother saying Knowe the Lord for then all shall knowe him from the greatest vnto the least The xcix Article I beleeue also that as the spirites of the infidels wicked and reprobate after they are departed from their bodies incontinently do goe to hell vnto euerlasting fire their bodies neuerthelesse abiding in the earth corrupting and rotting euen so likewise the soules and spirites of the faithfull and chosen children of God incontinently after they doe depart from their bodies without any tarying are on high in heauen to be in glory with the Lord and there do stil wayte with an earnest desire for the comming and whole redemption of their bodies the which they haue left rotting and corrupting in the earth the which thing they shall obtayne at the last daye and not before Wherefore I refuse the fonde opinion of the Sleepers which affirme that the spirits of the saintes are not yet in heauen but do sleepe in a certaine place vnknowen to vs vntill they shal receiue their bodies at the last day At which day the mysticall body of Christ wholly perfectly and fully must enter into eternall glory The C. Article I beleeue for a conclusion that as the Saintes and the blessed when the iudgement is ended shall goe with Christ triumphantly through the aire in body and soule to dwell euerlastingly in glory with him his Angels euen so the wretched wicked and miserable damned shal go to hell in bodie and soule with the deuil and his angels eternally to dwel and to be tormented with him in the fire of hell which neuer shall be quenched whereas shall be continuall weeping wayling and gnashing of teeth stung to the quicke with the worme that neuer shall dye From the which the Lorde God of his great mercie and grace vouchsafe to preserue and keepe vs. Amen FINIS Â¶ Imprinted at London by Christopher Barker Printer to the Queenes most excellent Maiestie Anno 1581. Actes 16. 1. Tim. 2. Potentia Dei Sapientia Dei Bonitas Dei God is knowen three wayes Psal 45. 7. Luk 9. 35. Christs priest hoode Psal 110. 5. Heb. 9. 14. Matth. 16. Luke 19. Psal 22. 1. Matt. 27. 46. Iohn 8. 56. Actes 4. 12. Col. 2. 14. Actes 27. 37. Matth. 28. 6. Gen. 4. 14. Exod. 8.8 and 9. 28. Gen. 27.38 2. Cor. 25. Luke 1. 75. Luke 24. What it is to sit at Gods right hand Iohn 1. 18. and 4. 24. Esaie 11. 1 Pet. 2. 9. Esa 1. Luke 17.

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