heauenly father shall forgiue vs oures Master Were these things my sonne thus vsed thear shuld not at this daye thus violentlye reigne so manye brawles so many contentions so many so haynous disagremeÌ„ts eninities and hatreds of one man to another But nowe wheras ech man so staÌ„deth in hys owne conceite that he wyâ—… not lesâ—… an ynche of hys ryght neyther in honoure or wealthe it chaunceth ofte that they lease bothe theyr wealthe theyr honour and their life it selfe wythal Yea they put from them selues and turne awaye the fauoure of God and euerlasting glory But thou my sonne must not be ignorante of Christes commauÌ„demeÌ„t nor of that whiche Paul techeth that thou suffer not thy self to be ouercome of euell that is suffer not thy selfe fo to be seduced by any other mans offence as to repay euel for euel but rather ouercome euell with good I meane by doing hi good y t hath done the euell by vsing hun freÌ„dly y â— hath shewed him self thi most cru â—…ll foe Now go forward to the sixthe request Scholer I wyl with a good will as you coÌ„maunde me Forasmuchas we be feble weake subiect to a thousaÌ„d periles a M. teÌ„ptatioÌ„s easy to be ouercome redy to yeld to euerye lyght occasyon either to men fraughte wyth malice or to our owne â—…ste and appetit or finally 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 crafti malicious serpent 〈◊〉 deuel Therefore we beseche oure father that hee bringe vs into no such hard 〈◊〉 and peril nor leaue vs in the verye plunge of daunger but if it come to that poynt that hee rather take vs awaye from the present myschief and engynes of the deuell the authoure and principall cause of all euell then suffer vs to runne headlong into destruction Now haue you good Mayster in fewe woordes all that you haue taught me vnlesse paradueÌ„ ture somewhat be ouerslipped in the rehearsall Master Because thyne is the kyngdome power and glorye for euer Amen Why was it Christes pleasure to knytte vp our prayer with this clause in the ende Scholer Partly that we shuld declare our assured trust to obtayne al things that we before haue required For there is nothynge whyche if it be asked with faithe he is not able or not willing to geue who ruleth gouerneth all thynges who is able to doo all thynges who is garnyshed wyth endlesse glorye These thynges when we rehearse of God oure father there remaineth no cause to dout or suspect that we shal receaue denyall Partlye by so saying we teache our selues how mete it is to make our sute to God sithe besyde hym none glistreth with so shining glory none hath dominion so large or force so great to be able to stay him from geuing that he hathe appoynted according to his pleasure or to take awaye that he hath already geuen vs. And there is no euell of oures so great that may not be put awaye by his exceadynge greate power glorye and wysdome Master I like wel my son thys thy shorte declaration and I see nothing left out that oughte to haue beene spoken Scholer But yet thys one thynge wyll I adde therto The chiefe and Princypall thynge required in prayer is that without al douting we stedfastli beliue that god oure father wyll graunte what we do aske so y â— it bee neyther vnprofytable for vs to receiue nor vnfyt for him to giue For hee that is not assured but doutful let him not thincke as Iames. saieth to gette anye thynge at the handes of God Master I se now my deare sonne howe diligently and hedefullye thou hast applyed thy mynde to those thinges that I haue taughte y â— howe godlye and vpryghte a iudgemente thou haste of gods true seruice and of the duites of neighbours one to another Thys remayneth that from hensforth thou so frame thy life that this hea uenly and godli knowledge decai not in the nor lie soulelesse and dead as it were in a tombe of the flesh But rather see that thou whollye gyue thy self continually earnestly to these godlie studies So shalt thou liue not onlye in this present life but also in the life to come â–ª whiche is much better and blesseder than thys life present For Godlines as Paul saieth hathe a promise not in thys lyfe onlye but in the other It is conuenient therfore that we earnestlye follow godlines which plainly openeth the way to heauen if we wyll seke to attain therunto And the principal poiÌ„t of godlines is as thou hast declared euen now veri well to know God only to couet him only as the chefe felicity to feare him as oure Lord to loue and reuerence him as our father with his sonne oure sauyoure Iesus Christe Thys is he y â— hath be gotten and regenerat vs. This is he which at the beginninge gaue vs life and soule whiche mainteineth which blesseth vs with life of euerlasting coÌ„tinuaÌ„ce To thys godlynesse is directlye coÌ„trary godlessnesse As for supersticion and hipocrisye they counterfet in dede and resemble it wher as neuerthelesse they are most farre different from all true godlinesse therfore we ought to auoide theym as a pestylence as the venime most contagious enemyes of our soul and saluacioÌ„ The next poynt of godlines is to loue eche man as oure brother For if God did at the beginning create vs al if he doth fede and gouerne vs finally if he be the cause and author of our dwelling in this wide frame of the world the name of brother must nedes most fitly agree with vs with so muche streyghter bonde shall we be bound together as we approche nearer to Christ which is oure brother y â— fyrst begotteÌ„ eldest whoÌ„ he y â— knoweth not he y â— hath no hold of is vnrightous in dede hath no place amonge the people of God For Christ is the roote and foundation of al ryght and iustice he hathe poured into our hartes certaine naturall lessoÌ„s as Do that sayeth he to another that thou woldest haue done vn to thi self Beware therfore thou do nothing to ani maÌ„ that thou thy self wouldest not willinglye suffer Measure all wayes another by thine own minde as thou select in thy selfe If it greue the to suffer iniurye if thou thincke it wronge that another man doth to the iudge likewise the same in the per son of thy neyghboure that thou fealest in thy selfe and thou shalte perceiue that y â— dost no lesse wrongfullye in hurtyng another thaÌ„ other do in hurtiÌ„g the. Heare if we would stedfastlye fasten our fote heareunto if we would earnestlye trauaill we shuld attaine to y â— very hiest top of innocencye For the firste degre therof is to offeÌ„d â—…omaÌ„ The next to helpe as much as in vs lieth al meÌ„ at least to wil wish wel to al. The third which is acouÌ„ted the cheif and perfectest is to do good
that shall receyue it euen as he hathe honoured doth honour hys father For he that honoureth him honoreth also the father of whiche he him self is a substantiall witnesse Maist. The end of the world hoâ—… scripture calleth the ful fyllynge parformaunce of the kyngdome and mistery of Christ and the renewing of all thynges For saythe â—…he Apostle Peter in his seâ—…oÌ„d Epistle the third chapter We loke for a new heauen and a new earth according to the promise of God whearin dwelleth ryghteousnesse And it semeth reason that corruption vnstedfaste chaunge and synne wherunto the whole world is subiect shoulde at length haue an end Now bi what way and what fasshioÌ„ circumstaunces these thinges shal come to passe â–ª I would fayne heare the tell Scholer I will tell you as well as I can accordyng to the wytnesse of the same Apostle The heauens shall passe awaye like a storme â–ª â—… elementes shal melt awaye the earthe all the workes therein â–ª shall bee consumed wyth fyre as thoughe he shuld say as gould is wont to be fined so shal the whole world be purified with fire and be broughte to hys full perfection The lesser world whiche is man folowynge the same shall lykewyse bee delyuered from corruption and chaunge And so for maÌ„ this greater worlde which for hys sake was first created shall at leÌ„gth be renewed be clad wyth another hew much more pleasaunt and beutifull Master What then remayneth Scholer The laste and generall dome For Christe shall come at whoes voice al the deade shall ryse againe â–ª perfecte and sound both in bodi and soule The whole world shall beholde hym sittynge in the Royall throne of hys Maiestie and after the examination of euerye mannes conscience the laste sentence shalbe pronouÌ„ced Then the chyldren of God shall bee in perfecte possessyon of that kingdome of fredome from death and of euerlastig life whyche was prepared for theim before the foundacyons of the world were layd And they shal reygne wyth Christe for euer But the vngodlye that beleued not shall be throwen froÌ„ thense into euerlastynge fyre appoynted for the deuyll and hys angelles Master Thou haste saide ynoughe of the agayn rising of the deade Nowe remayneth that thou speke of the holye churche whearof I would very fayne hear thy opinion Scholer I wil rehearse that in fewe words shortly whiche the holye scryptures set out at large and plentifulli â–ª Afroe that the Lorde God had made the heauen and erth he determined to haue for himself a most beautiful kyngdome and holy comoÌ„ wealth The Apostles and the auncient fathers that wrote in Greeke called it Ecclesia in englyshe a congregation or assemble into the whych he hath admytted an infinite noÌ„ber of meÌ„ that should all be subiect to one king as their souereign and only one head hym we call Christe whythe is as mutch to say as anoynted â–ª For the hye byshoppes and kinges among the Iewes who in fygure betokened Christ whom the Lord annoynted with his holy spirite wear wont by Gods appointment at theyr consecration to haue materyall oile poured on them To the furnishyng of this common weale belonge all they as many as do truly feare honour cal vpon God whol ly applyeng theyr mynde to holy and godly lyuing and all those that puttynge all theyr hope trust in hym do assuredlye looke for the blisse of euerlastig lyfe But as many as ar in this faith stedfast â–ª weare forechosen predestinate apoynted out to euerlastig lyfe before the world was made Wytnesse hereof they haue wythin in theyr hartes the spirite of Christ the author earnest vnfailable pledge of theyr fayth Whych faith only is able to perceyue the misteries of God only bryngeth peace vnto the hart onli taketh hold on the righteousnes that is in Christ Iesus Master Doth then the spirite alone and fayth sleepe we neuer so soundlye or staÌ„d we neuer so recklesse slothfull so woorke all thynges for vs as without any help of our owne to carye vs idle vp to heauen Scholer I vse maister as you haue taughte mee to make a dyfference betwene the cause and the effectes â–ª The first principall moste perfect cause of oure iustifyenge and saluation is the goodnesse and loue of God wherby he chose vs for his before he made the worlde After that god grauÌ„teth vs to be called by the preachiÌ„g of y e Gospel of Iesus Christ when the spirit of the Lord is poured in to vs by whose guyding and gouernaunce we be led to settle our truste in God and hope forthe per formaunce of all hys promises With thys choyse is ioyned as companion thâ—… mortifyeng of the old man that is of our affectioÌ„ lust FroÌ„ the same spirit also tometh our sanctification the loue of God of our neighbour iustice and vpryghtnesse of life finally to say all in summe whatsoeuer is in vs â–ª or maye be done of vs pure honest true and good that altogether spryngeth out of thys most pleasauntâ—… roote from this most plentyfull fountayne the goodnesse loue â—…hoyse and vnchauÌ„geable purpose of god He is the cause the rest are the frâ—…tes and effectes â—…et ar also the goodnesse choise spirit of God and Christe himselfe causes conioyned and coupled ethe wyth other which mai be reckened amonge the principall causes of our saluation As ofte thearfore as we vse to saye that wee are made ryghteous and saued bi only faith it is meante theareby that fayth or rather truste alone doth lay hand vpon vnderstaÌ„d and perceyue our righteousmakyng to be geueÌ„ 〈◊〉 of God freely that is to say â–ª by no desertes of oure own â–ª but by the free graâ—…e of the almighti father â–ª Moreouer sayth doth engender in vs the loue of our neyghbour â–ª and sutch workes as god is pleased wyth all For if it 〈◊〉 a liuely true faith quikâ—… ned by the holy ghost she is the mother of all good sayinge and doynge By thyâ—… short tale is it euideÌ„t wheÌ„ce and by what meanes we attayne to be made righteous For not by the worthynesse of our deseruinges were we eyther heartofore chosen or long ago saued but by the only mercy of god and pure grace of Christ oure Lorde whearby we weare in hym made to those good workes that God hath apointed for vs to walke in And althoughe good woorkes can not deserue to make vs righ teous before god yet do thei so cleaue vnto faythe that neither can fayth be founde without theÌ„ nor good workes be any whear wythout faythe Master I lyke verye well thys shorte declaration of fayth and workes for Paul playnly teacheth the same But canst thou yet further depaint me out that coÌ„gregacion whych thou callest a kingdome or comoÌ„ weale of Christianes and so set it out before mine eyes that it may seuerally and playnly be knowen asonder froÌ„ eche other fellowshyppe of men
il trauailed therin Now therfore teâ—… me my sonne what Religion that is which thou professest Scholer That good Master I professe which is the 〈◊〉 ligion of the Lorde 〈◊〉 which in the. xi of the Actes is called the christiaÌ„ 〈◊〉 Master Doâ—…st thoâ—… then 〈◊〉 fesse thy self to be a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Christian godlinesse â–ª 〈◊〉 religion and a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our Lorde Christ â–ª Scholer That forsothe 〈◊〉 I coufesse and playâ—… 〈◊〉 boldly proâ—… yea 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 accomâ—…t â—…the whoâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 al my 〈◊〉 as in the thâ—… whiche is bothe of 〈◊〉 â—…uour then that the â—…nesse of my wytte maye â—…tayne 〈◊〉 it â–ª and also more approching to God des maiestie than that I by anye 〈◊〉 of vâ—…eraunce may easely expresse it Master â–ª Tell me then deere sâ—…n as exactly as thou caÌ„st in what poyntes thou thinkest that the siÌ„nne of Christian Religion standeth Scholer In two poinâ—…tes that is to say trew fayth in God and assured persuasioÌ„ mncèâ—…ed of all those thynges which are conteined in the holy Scriptures and in charitie whiche belongeth both to God to our neigh boure Master That fayth which is 〈◊〉 bi hearing and readyng of the worde 〈◊〉 dooeth it teache the concernyng God Scholer This doeth it principally teache that there is one certayne nature one substaÌ„ce one ghost and heaueÌ„ly mynde or rather an euerlastyng spirit without beginnyng or endyng whiche we call God whom al the peoples of the worlde ought to worshyp with souerayn honour and the hyest kynde of reuerence Moreouer oute of the holy wordes of GOD which bi the prophetes and the beloued of almyghtye God are in the holye â—…okes published to the eternal glory of his name I learne the lawe and the thretnynges therof then the promyses the gospel of god These thin ges fyrst wrytten by Moses and other men of God haue bene preserued hole vncorrupted euen to our age and sythens that the cheife articles of our fayth haue bene gathered into a short abrydgement whych is comonly called the Creede or Symbole of the Apostles Maister Why is this abridgmente of the faythe termed with y â— name of a symbole â–ª Scho. A symbole is as much to say as a sygnt mark prâ—…uye token or watch worde whereby the souldioures of one campe are known from their enemies For this reason the abridgement of the fayth whereby the Christians are knowne from them that be no Christians is rightly named a Symbole Maister Fyrst tell me soÌ„what what thou thynkest of the lawe and then afterward of the Crede or Symbole Scholer I shall doe good Maister with a good wyll as you commaund me The Lorde God hathe charged vs by Moses that we haue none other God at all but hym that is to say that we take him alone for oure one only God oure maker and sauiour That we reuerence not nor worshippe any portraiture or ani image what soeuer whether it be painted carued grauen or by anye meane fashyoned howe soeuer it be That wee take not the name of oure Lorde God in vaine that is either in a matter of no wayght or of no truthe â–ª Last of al thys ought we to hold stedfastly and wyth deuout conscyeÌ„ce that we kepe holyly and religiously the Sabbat day which was appointed 〈◊〉 from the other for rest and seruice of God Master Uerye well Nowe haste thou rehearsed vnto me the lawes of the fyrst table wherein is in a summe conteyned the knowledge true seruyee of God Go forward and tell me which be the dutyes of charitye and oure loue towarde men Scholer Dooe you aske me maister what I thinke oâ—… the other parte of the lawe whiche is commonly called the second table Master Thou sayest new my sonne that is it in deede that I wold faine hear of Scholer I wyll in few wâ—…des dispatche it as my simple wit wyll serue me Moses hathe knitte it vppe in a shâ—…rte summe that is that with al louing affection we honoure and reuerence oure father mother That weâ—… kâ—…ll no man That we commit no aduoutrie That we steale nothynge That we â—…are false wytnes agaynst 〈◊〉 Last of all that we coâ—… nothynge that is oure â—…yghboures Master Howe is that commaundemente of the honoringe father and mother 〈◊〉 be vnderstanded Scholer Honoure of father and mother coÌ„teineth loue feare and reuerence yea 〈◊〉 it further standeth in obeyinge succouring defeâ—…ding and nourishing theÌ„ if neede require It byndeth vs also moste hâ—…ly and with 〈◊〉 natural affection to 〈◊〉 the magistrate to reuerence the Miâ—…ysters of the churche oure â—…cholemasters with al oure elders and betters Master What is 〈◊〉 in that commaundementâ—… doe not kyll Scho. That we hate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reuile no man 〈◊〉 iâ—… 〈◊〉 vs that we 〈◊〉 tâ—…en our fâ—…es do good to them that hate vs and 〈◊〉 we praye for al prospeâ—… and good happe to our verye mortal ennemies Master The 〈◊〉 not commiting aduoutry what thinkest thoâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Forsothe this comâ—… conteyneth manye thinges For it forbidâ—… not only to talke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mans wyâ—…e or any other womaÌ„ vnthastly buâ—… also to touche her yea or to cast an eye at her waÌ„tonâ—…e oâ—… wyth lustfull looke to beholde her or by anye 〈◊〉 â–ª nest meane to wâ—…oe her â–ª 〈◊〉 ther our selues or any other in our behalfe finally hear in is debarred al kind of 〈◊〉 thy strayeng lust â–ª Mast. What thynkest thou of the commauÌ„dement â–ª not to steale Scholer I shal shew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 breifly as I haue done the rest â–ª yf it please you to 〈◊〉 me â–ª It commauÌ„deth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 beguyle no 〈◊〉 â–ª to 〈◊〉 no vnlawfull wares 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…e no maÌ„ hys wealth to thynke nothing profytable that either is not iust â–ª or 〈◊〉 â—…reth from ryghte and honesty Breifely rather wyllynglye leese that is thyne owne than thou wrongfullye take that is anothers and turne it to thyne owne commoditie Master Howe maye that commaundement be kepte of bearynge no false wytnesse Scholer Yf we neyther oure selues speake anye false or vayne lye nor alowe it in other eyther by speeche or silence or by our present companye But wee oughte alwayes to maintayne truth as place and tyme serueth Master Now remaineth the last coÌ„maundement of 〈◊〉 coueting any thyng that is our neighbours what meaneth that Scholer Thys lawe dothe generally forbyd al sortes 〈◊〉 euell lustes and commaundeth vs to bridle restraine al greedye vnsatiable desire of our wyl whyche holdeth not it selfe wythin the bondes of right and reason and it wylleth that eche man be coÌ„tent wyth his estate But who so euer coueteth more then ryght â–ª with the losse 〈◊〉 hys neighbour and wrong to an other he breaketh vtterly looseth the bonde of charitie and felowshippe amonge men Yea and vpon hym vnles he amende the Lorde God the most sterne reuenger of the breakynge hys law shall
execute moste greuous punyshmente On the other side he that liueth accordynge to the rule of these lawes shal fynde both prayse and blysse and God also hys mercyful and boūtyfull good Lord. Master Thou haste shortlye sette out the. x. commaundementes Now then tell me how all these thinges that thou haste particularlye declared Christe hath in fewe wordes conteyned settyng◅ forth vnto vs in a sūme the whole pyth of the law Scholer Wil you that I knit vp in a briefe abrydgement all that belongeth bothe to God to men Master ◅ea Scho. Christ sayeth thus Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God wyth al thy hart wyth all thy soule wyth all thy mynde and with al thy strength Thys is the greatest commaundement in the lawe The other is lyke vn ▪ to this Thou shal◅ loue thy neyghbour as thy selfe Up ▪ on these two commaundemētes hang the whole law ▪ and the Prophetes Master I wyll nowe that thou tell me further what lawe is that whyche thou speakest of that whych we call the lawe of nature or some other besydes Scholer I remēber maister that I learned that of you longe ago that it was ingraffed by God in the nature of man whyle nature was yet sounde and vncorrupted But after the ētrā◅ of synne although the wyse were somewhat after a sort ◅ot vtterly ignorant of that ◅yght of nature yet was it ◅y that tyme so hydde from the greatest part of mē that they scāt perceyued any shadow thereof Master What is the cause that god willed it to be written out in tables and that i◅ should be priuatli appointed to one people alone Scholer I wyll shewe you ▪ By oryginal synn◅ and euel custome the image of God in mā was so at the begynning darkened the iudgemēt of nature so corrupted that man him selfe doth no◅ snfficiently vnderstād wha◅ difference is betwene ho◅ stye and dyshonestye rygh◅ and wrong The bountyfull God thearefore myndynge to renewe that image in vs fyrst wrought this by y ◠law wrytten in tables that wee myght knowe our selues therin as it were in a glasse behold the fylthe and spots of oure soule and stubborne hardnes of a corrupted hert that by thys meane yet acknowledgynge our synne perceiuing the weakenes of our fleshe and the wrathe of God fear◅ely bent agaynste vs for synne we myghte the ◅ore feruently long for oure ◅ior Christ Iesus which ◅y hys deathe and precious ◅prynklynge of hys bloude hath clensed and washed away our sinnes pacified the wrath of the almyghtye father by the holye breathe of hys Spirite createth newe hartes in vs and reneweth our mindes after the image and lykenesse of theyr Creator in true ryghteousnes holynes Whych thyng neither the iustyce of the lawe nor any sacrifices of Moses were able to performe And that no man is made ryghteous bi the law it is euidēt not onelye thereby that the ryghteous lyueth by fayth but also hereby that no mortal man is able to fulfyll all that the law of both the tables commaundeth For we haue hindraūces that striue agaynste the lawe as the weakenes of the fleshe frowarde appetite and lust naturally engēdred As for sacrifice cleansynges washinges and other ceremonies of the lawe they were but shadoes lykenesses images and figures of the trew and euerlastyng sacrifice of Iesus Christ done vppon the crosse By the benefit wherof alone all the synnes of all beleuers euen from the begynnynge of the worlde ▪ ar ◅ardoned by the onlye mercye of God and by no desert of ours Master I heare not yet why almyghty Gods wyll was to declare hys secrete pleasure to one people alone whi che was the Israelites Scholer Forsooth that had I almost forgotten I suppose it was not don for this entent as thoughe the lawe of the. x. commauudements dyd not belong generally to ail men for asmuche as the Lord our God is not onelye the God of the Iewes but also of the Gentiles but rather this was ment thearby that the true Messias whiche is our Christ myght be knowen at hys commynge into the worlde who muste nedes haue beene borne of that natiō and none other for true perfourmannce of the promise For the whych cause Gods pleasure was to appoynt out for hymselfe one certaine people holy sōdred from the rest and as it were peculiarly hys owne That bi this meane his diuine worde might be continually kept holy pure and vncorrupted Master Hitherto thou hast wel satisfied me deare sōne Now lette vs come to the Christian confession whych I wyll that thou playnlye reherse vnto me Scholer It shall be done I beleue in God the father al myghty maker of heauen and earthe And in Iesu Christ hys only sonne our Lorde whych was conceiued by the holy Gost borne of the virgin Mary Suffered vnder Pōce Pilate was crucified dead and buryed He went downe to hell the thyrde daye he rose agayne from the deade He went vp to heauen sytteth on the ryght hande of God the father almighty from thence shall he come to iudge the quycke and the dead I beleue in y ◠holy gost I beleue the holy vniuersall church the communion of sayntes the forgeuenes of synnes the rysynge agayne of the flesh the lyfe euerlastynge Master All these my sōne thou hast rehersed generallye and shortelye Therefore thou shalt do wel to set out largelye all that thou hast spokē particularlye that I may playnly perceiue what thy belefe is concerning ech of them And fyrst I wolde heare of the knowledge of god afterward of the right seruing of hym Scholer I wil wyth a good wyl obey your plesure dear Maister as far as my simple wytte wyll suffer me Aboue all thynges we muste stedfastly beleue and holde that God almyghtye the father in the begynnyng of nothyng made fashyoned this whole frame of the world and al things what soeuer are conteined therin and that they all are made by the power of hys worde that is of Iesu Christe the sonne of God Which thing is sufficientlye approued by witnes of scriptures Moreouer that whē he had thus shapen all creatures he ruled gouerned saued them by hys bountie and liberall hand hath ministred yet also ministreth most largelye all that is needefull for mayntenaunce and preseruynge of oure lyfe that we should so vse them as behoueth myndeful and godlye chyldren Master Why dost thou call God father Scholer For two causes the one for that he made vs all at the beginning and gaue life vnto vs all the other is more weyghtye for that by hys holy spirit and by faith he hath begottē vs agayne makynge vs hys chyldren gyuing vs hys kyngdome and the enheritaunce of lyf◅ euerlastynge wyth Iesu Christ hys owne trew and naturall sonne Master Seynge then God hath created all other thinges to serue man and made man to obey honour gloryfye him What canst thou say more of the
begynning and makyng of man Scholer Euen that whyche Moses wrote that God shaped the fyrste man of claye and put into hym soule and life thē that he cast Adam in a deade sleepe brought foorth a woman whome he drewe oute of hys syde to make her a companiō with hym of al his life wealth And therfore was man called Adam because he tooke hys beginning of the earth and the womā called Eue. because she was appoynted to be the mother of al liuīg Mast. What image is that after the lykenesse whereof thou sayest that man was made Scholer That is most absolute righteousnesse and perfect holynes whyche moste nearely belongeth to the ◅ry nature of God and mos◅ clearely appeared in Christ our new Adā Of the whyche in vs thear scante are to be seen any sparcles Master What ▪ are ther sc◅ to be seen Scholer It is true forsooth for they do not now so shi◅ as they dyd in the begynning before mans fall for as much as man by the darknesse of synnes and myst of errours hath corrupted the bryghtnesse of thys image In suche sorte hath God i◅ hys wrathe wreaked hym vpon the synful man Maister But I pray the tell me wherefore came it thus to passe ▪ Scholer I wyll shewe you When the Lorde God had made the frame of thys world he hym selfe planted a garden full of delyte and pleasure in a certaine place Eastward and called it Eden Wherein besyde other passynge fayre trees not far frō the myddes of the garden was thear one specially called the tree of lyfe and another called y ◠tre of knowledge of good euell Herein the Lord of his singuler loue placed man and committed vnto hym the garden to dresse and looke vnto geuynge hym libertie to eate of the fruites of all the trees of paradyse except the fruite of the tree of knowledge of good euell The fruite of thys tree if euer he tasted he shoulde wythout fayle die for it But Eue deceyued by the deuell counterfetynge the shape of a serpent gathered of the forbidden fruite whych was for the fayrenes to the eye to be desyred for the sweetenesse in tast to be reached at and pleasaūt for the knowledge of good euell ▪ and she eate thearof and gaue vnto her housba◅ to eate of the same For which doing they both immediatly dyed that is to say were not only subiect to the death of the bodye but also lost the life of the soule whyche is ryghteousnesse And foorthwith the image of God was defaced in thē and the most beautiful proportion of ryghteousnesse holynesse ▪ truth and knowledge of God was confoūded and in a maner vtterly blotted out Thear remayned the earthly image ioyned with vnrighteousnesse guyle fleshly mynde depe ignoraūce of godli and heauenly thinges Hereof grew the weakenes of our flesh◅ ▪ hereof came thys corruptiō and disorder of lustes affectiōs hereof came that pestilence hereof came that seede and nurishmēt of sins wherwyth mankynd is infected and it is called synne originall Moreouer therby nature was so corrupted ouerthrowen that vnlesse the goodnes and mercye of almyghty God had holpē vs bi the medicine of grace euē as in bodi we are thrust down into al wretchedness◅ of death so muste it needes haue bene that al mē of all sortes should be throwen into euerlasting punyshment and fyre vnquencheable Master Oh the vnthankefulnesse of men But what hope had our first parents and from thence fourth the rest whearby they wear releue◅ ▪ Scholer When the Lorde God had both wyth words and dedes chastised Adam and Eue for he thrust them both out of the gardē wyth a most greeuous reproche he then cursed the serpent threatnynge hym that the tyme should one day come when the seede of the ◅omā should breake hys head After ward the Lord God stablyshed that same gloryous and most bountiful promise fyrst with a couenant made betwene hym and Abrahā by circumcision and in Isaac hys sonne then agayne by Moses last of all by the oracles of y e noble prophets Master What meaneth the serpentes head that seede that God speaketh of ▪ Scholer In the serpēts head lieth all his venim◅ ◅d the whole pyth of hys lyfe and force Thearfore do I take the serpents head to betok◅ the whole power and king dome or more truli the tirānie of the old serpe◅t the deuel The sede as saint ▪ Paul doth plainly teache is ▪ Iesus Christ the sonne of God very God and veri man cōceaned of the holy Gost engendred of the wombe and substaū◅e of Marie the blessed pure vndefiled maide and was so borne ◅ostred by her as other babes de sauinge that he was most far from all infection of synne Master All these founda◅ions that thou hast layed ar most ◅rew Nowe thearfore let vs go forwarde to those hys doinges whearin lie◅ our salua◅ion and conquest agaynst that old serpent Scholer It shalbe done good Maister After that Christe Iesus hadde delyuered incharge to his Apostles that most ioyfull and in al pointes heauenlye doctryne the gospell whych in greeke is called Euangelion in Englysh good tidinges and had as by sealyng stablished the same wyth tokens and miracles innumerable whe◅ of all hys lyfe was full at lēgth was he sore s◅urged mocked wyth pottyng sco◅nyng and spyttynge in hys face laste of all hys handes and ◅ete bored thorow with nayles and he fastened to a crosse Then he trulye dyed and was truly buryed that by hys moste sweete sacrifice he myghte pacifye his fathers wrath against mākynde and subdue hym by his death who had y e authoritie of deathe which was the deuel forasmuch not onlye the lyuinge but also the deade wear they in hell or elsse whear they all felt the power force of this death to whom lieng in prison as Peter sayeth Christe preached though dead in body yet relyued in Spirite The third daye after he vprose a gayne a lyue in bodye also and wyth manye notable profes the space of .xl. daies he abode among hys disciples eatyng and drynkyng with thē In whose syghte he was conueyed away in a cloud vp into heauen or rather aboue al heauēs wher he now sitteth at the ryght hand of God the father being made Lorde of all thinges be they in heauen or in earth kynge of all kynges our euerlasting onlye hee Bisshoppe our only attournye only mediatour onely◅ peace maker betwene God and men Now sithēs that he is entred into his glorious maiestie by sendynge downe his holy spirit vnto vs as he promised he lighteneth our dark blyndnesse moueth ruleth teacheth cleanseth cōforteth and reioyseth our myndes and so will he styll continually do tyll the end of the worlde Master Well I se thou hast touched the chiefe Articles of our religion and hast set out as in a shorte abrydgement the Creede that thou diddest
Scholer I will proue howe well I can do it your pleasure is maister as I take it that I point ye out some certaine congregation that may be seene Master That it is in dede so it shal be good for y ◠to do Scholer That congregation is nothing elsse but a certayne multytude of menne which wher soeuer they be professe the pure vprighte learning of Christ and that in such sort as it is faithfully set fourth in the holye testamēt by the Euangelists and Apostles whiche in al points are gouerned and ru led by the lawes statutes of theyr kinge and hye Byshoppe Christe in the bonde of charity which vse his ho lye misteryes that are commonlie called sacramentes with such purenesse simplicity as touchinge theire nature and substaunce as the Apostles of Christ vsed and left behinde in writing The marckes therefore of this churche are firste pure preachyng of the gospel thē brotherly loue out of which as members of al one body springeth good wyl of eche to other thirdlye vprighte and vncorrupted vse of the Lordes sacraments accordynge to the ordynaunce of the Gospell laste of all brotherlye correction and excōmunication or banishynge those out of the church that wyll not amend their liues This marcke the holye fathers tearmed discipline This is that same churche that is grounded vpon the assured rocke Iesus Christ and vpō trust in hym This is that same church which Paul calleth the piller and vpholding stay of truth To this church belōg the keies whearwyth heauen is locked and vnlocked for that is done by the ministration of the worde wherunto properly appertayneth the power to bynde and louse to holde for gylty and forgiue synnes So that whosoeuer beleueth the Gospell preached in thys church he shal be saued but whoso beleueth not he shal be dāpned Master Now wold I fain heare thy beliefe of the holy ghost Scholer I confesse him to be the thyrd person of the holy trinitie Andsith be is equal with the father the sonne of the verye same nature that he ought egally to bee worshipped with thē bothe Mast. Whi is he called holy Scholer Not onelye for hys owne holynesse but for that by hym are made holye the chosen of God and members of Christe And thearfore haue the scriptures termed him the spirit of sanctification or makyng holy Master Wherin consysteth thys sanctification Scholer Fyrste we be newe gotten by his inward motion And therfor said Christ we muste be newe borne of water and of the spirit Thē by his inspiration are we adopted as it wer bi choise made the chyldren of God For whych cause he is not causelesse called the spirit of adoption By his lyght are we lightened to vnderstand Gods misteryes By hys iudgemēt are sinnes pardoned and reteined By his power is the fleshe wyth her lustes kept downe tamed Bi his pleasure ar the manifold gyftes dealt amonge the holye Finallye by hys meanes shal our mortal bodies be relyued Therfore in the author of so great gifts we do not wythout a cause beleue honor cal vpō him ▪ Master Wel thou hast now said sufficiently of the holly ghost But thys woulde I heare of thee why it immediatelye foloweth that we beleue the holye vniuersall churche and the communiō of Sayntes Scholer These two thinges I haue alwai thoght to be most fitly coupled togither Because the felowshyppes and incorporacions of other men procede and be gouerned by other meanes policies but the church whyche is an assemble of men called to euerlastinge saluacion is bothe gathered together gouerned by the holy ghost of whom we euē now made mention Which thyng sith it can not be perceiued bi bodily sense or light of nature is by right and for good rea son heare reckened amonge thynges that are knowē by beleife And thearfore thys calling togither of the faith full is called vniuersall because it is bonde to no one speciall place For God thorowout al costes of y ◠world hath them that worshyppe hym Whych thoughe they be far scattered a sonder by diuerse distāce of countries and dominions yet ar they members most nearlye ioyned of that same bodi wherof Christe is the heade and haue one spirit fayth sacramētes prayers forgiuenesse of sinnes and heauēly blisse common among them all and be so knyt with the bōd of loue that they e◅deuour thēselues in nothyng more than eche to help other and to build together in Christ. Master Seynge thou haste already spokē of the knowledge of god and his members I woulde also heare ▪ what is the true seruyce of God Scholer Fyrst we must consider that the right trewe knowledge of God is the principal and onli fundatiō of Gods seruyce The same knowledge fear doth foster and mayntayne whyche in scriptures is called the begynnyng of wisedōe Faith and hope are the proppes and staies whearupō leane all the rest that I haue rehearsed Furthermore charitie whych we call loue is lyke an euerlastyng bonde by the strayght knot wherof al other vertues be boūd in one together and theyr force encreased These be the inward partes of Gods seruice that is to say whyche consyst in the mynde Master What hast thou to say of the Sabbat or the ho ly dai which euē now thou madest mention of amonge the lawes of the firste table Scholer Sabbat is as much to sai as rest It was apoin ted for onlye honoure and seruice of God and it is a figure of that reast and quiet nes whiche they haue that beleue in Christe For oure trust in Christ doth set our myndes at liberty from all slauishe feare of the law sin deathe and hel assuring vs in the meane season that by him we please God that he hath made vs hys chyldren and heiers of his kingdome wherby thear groweth in our hartes peace and true quietnes of mind whiche is a certayn foretaste of y ◠moste blessed quiet whiche we shall haue in hys kyngdome As for those thynges that are vsed to bee done on the sabbothe daye as Ceremonies and exercises in the seruyce of God they are tokens and wytnesses of thys assured truste And mete it is that faithfull Christiās on such daies as are apointed oute for holye thynges shold lay asyde vnholy your kes and gyue them selues earnestly to religion and ser uynge of God Master What be the parts of that outwarde seruynge God whyche thou saydest euen now dyd stand in certain bodily exercises which are also tokēs of the inward seruinge hym Scholer Fyrst to teache and heare the learnynge of the gospel thē the pure and naturall vse of the ceremonies and sacramentes last of all prayer made vnto God by Christe and in the name of Christ which without faile obteineth the holly ghoste the moste assured author of all trew seruynge God and vpryght religion Master Tell me what thou callest sacramentes Scholer
They are certayne customeable reuerēt doings and Ceremonyes ordeyned by Christe that by them he might put vs in remēbrāce of his benefits we myght declare oure profession that we be of the nomber of thē which are partakers of the same benefites and whyche fasten all theyr affiaunce in hym that we are not ashamed of the name of Christ or to bee termed Christes Scholers Master Tell me my sonne how these two sacramentes be ministred baptisme and that whyche Paule calleth the supper of the Lord. Scholer Hym that beleueth in Christ professeth the Articles of the Christian religion myndeth to be baptised I speake nowe of thē that be growē to ripe yeres of discretion sith for the yōg babes theyr parentes or the churches professiō sufficeth the minister dyppeth in or washeth with pure cleane water onlye in the name of the father and of the sonne and of the holy ghost thē commendeth him by praier to God in to whose churche he is now openly as it wear enrowled that it mai please God to graunte hym hys grace whearhy ▪ he may answer in belefe and life agreablye to his profession Master What is the vse of the Lordes supper Scholer Euē the very same that was ordayned by the Lord himself Iesus Christ ▪ Which as S. Paul sayeth y ◠same nyghte that he was betrayed tooke breade and when he had geuen thankes brake it sayde Thys is my body which is brokē for you Do thys in the remembraūnce of me In like maner whē supper was ended he gaue thē the cuppe sayenge Thys cuppe is the newe testamēt in my bloud ▪ Do thys as ofte as ye shall drinck thearof in the remēbraunce of me Thys was the maner and order of the Lordes supper whyche we ought to holde kepe that the remēbraunce of so great a benefite the passyon and deathe of Christ be alwaye kepte in mynde that after that the worlde is ended he may come and make vs to fit wyth hym at hys owne borde Master What doth baptisme represēt set befor oureyes Scholer That we are by the spirite of Christ new borne and cleansed from syn that we be members and partes of his churche receiued into the communion of sainctes For water signifieth the spi rite Baptisiue is also a fygure of our burial in Christ and that we shall be raysed vp agayne wyth hym in a newe lyfe as I haue before declared in Christes resurrection Master What declareth betokeneth the supper vnto vs whych we solemnly vse in the remembraunce of the Lorde ▪ Scho. The Supper as I haue shewed a lytle before is a certayne thankfull remembraunce of the deathe of Christe for asmuch as the bread representeth his bodi betrayed to be crucifyed for vs The wyne standeth in steade place of his bloude plentuouslye shed for vs. And euen as by breade and wyne oure natural bodies are susteined and nourished so by the body that is y ◠flesh bloude of Christ the soule is fedde through fayth and quickened to the heauenlye and godly lyfe Master Howe come these thynges to passe Scholer Theese thynges come to passe by a certayne secreate meane and liuelye working of the spirit when we beleue that Christ hath ones for all gyuen vppe his bodye aud bloude for vs to make a sacrifice and moost pleasaūt offring to his heauenly father and also when we cōfesse and acknowledge him oure onlye sauyour hie Bishoppe mediatoure and redemer to whome is dewe all honour and glory Master All this thou doest well vnderstande For me thinketh thy meanynge is that faith is the mouthe of the soule whearby we receiue thys verye heauenlye meate full both of saluatiō and immortalitye dealt among vs by the meanes of the holy ghost Now sythe we haue entreated of the sacramentes passe forward to the other partes of Gods seruyce Scholer I will do your cōmaūdemēt Thear remaine two thinges belongyng to the perfection of Gods seruice First our Lord Iesus Christes wil was that ther shoulde be teachers and Euangelistes that is to saye preachers of the gospell to this entent that hys voyce myght continually be hard soūd in his church He that coueteth as all oughte to couet to beare the name of a Christiane maye haue no doubte that he ought wyth moste earnest affection and feruēt desyre endeuour himselfe to heare and soke into his mynde the worde of the Lord not lyke the words of anye man but lyke as it is in dede the word of almigh tie god Secōdarily bicause all that is good and that ought of a Christian to be desyred cometh vnto vs frō God and is by him graunted thearefore of hym we ought to require al things and by thankesgeuinge acknowledge them all receyued of him Which thing he so well liketh that he estemeth it in stede of a passing pleasauut sacrifice as it is most euidēt by the witnesse of the prophets Apostles Master Hast thou any certayne and appoynted maner of prayeng Scho. Yea forsoth euen the very same that oure Lorde taught his disciples and in them all other Christians Who beynge on a tyme required to teache them some sort of praier taughte them this Whē ye pray quod he say Our father whych art in heauen hallowed be thy name Thi kingdom come Thy will be done in earthe as it is in heauen Gyue vs thys day our dayly breade and forgyue vs our trespasses as we forgyue thē that trespasse agaynste vs. And lead vs not into temptaciō But delyuer vs from euell For thyne is the kyngdom power glory for euer Amē Maist. How thinkest thou◅ is it lawfull for vs to vse any other wordes of prayer Scho. Althoughe in thys short abridgement are suffiently conteyned all thinges that euery Christian ought to praye for yet hathe not Christe in thys prayer tyed vs vp so shorte as that it we are not lawfull for vs to vse other woordes and maner of prayer But he hathe set out in this prayer certain principall poyntes whearvnto all our prayers should he referred But let eche mā aske of God as hys present nede requireth Whatsoeuer ye aske the Father in my name saith Christ he shall gyue it you Master For as much as there is in all this praier nothing doubtfull or beside the purpose I woulde heare thy mynde of it Scholer I do well perceyue what y ◠wordes do signifie Master Thinkest thou then that there is in it nothynge ◅arcke nothynge hidde nothyng hard to vnderstād Scholer Nothing at al. For neither was it Christes plesure that there shuld be any thynge in it dareke or farre from our capacity specyally sithe it belongeth egally to all and is as necessarye for the lewd as the learned Mast. Therefore declare vn to me in fewe woordes eche parte by it selfe Scholer When I say oure father which art in heauē thys do I thincke with my selfe