thy brest that the power of Christe crucified may be euer thy succour and sure protection in all thynge ⧠Then let hym saye to the people The Lorde be wyth you ⧠Let the the people answere And wyth thy spirite ⧠The pastour Let vs praye Almightie and euerlastyng God the father of oure Lorde Iesus Christe I call the vpon thys N. thy seruaunte for whom the churche requireth the Sacramente of baptisme and therein thy grace and spirituall regeneration and thou saydeste aske and ye shal receyue etc. so gyue thy grace and mercie to thys chylde as thy church prayeth the that he maye obteine the redemption of thy sonne and inheritaunce of euerlastynge and blessed lyfe whiche thy cōgregation seeketh for hym thorowe baptisme Open to hym the dore of thy kyngdome at whiche thy churche knocketh for hym thorowe Christe our Lorde Amen ⧠Let vs praye Further almightie God whiche in olde tyme dyddeste destroye the wycked worlde wyth the floude accordynge to thy terrible iudgement and dyddeste preserue onely the familie of godly Noe eighte soules of thy vnspeakable mercie and which also dyddest droune in the redde sea obstinate Pharao the Kynge of the Egiptians wyth all his armie and warlike power and causedist thy people of Israel to passe ouer with dry feete and wouldest shadowe in them holy baptistisme the lauer of regeneration furthermore whiche dyddeste consecrate Iordane wyth the Baptisme of thy sonne Christe Iesu and other waters to holie deepynge and washynge of synnes we praye the for thy exceadynge mercie loke fauourably vpon thys Infante gyue hym true fayeth and thy holie spirite that what so euer fylth he hath taken of Adam it maye be drouned and be put awaye by thys holie floude that being seperated from the numbre of the vngodlie he maye be kepte safe in the holie arke of the churche and maye confesse and sanctifie thy name wyth a lustie and feruent spirite and serue thy kyngdome wyth constant truste and sure hope that at length he maye atteyne to the promises of eternal lyfe wyth all the godlie Amen ⧠The pastour The Lorde be with you ⧠The people And wyth thy spirite Heare the Gospell of oure Lorde Iesus Christe Marke x. In that tyme they broughte chyldren to Iesus that he might toutch them But the disciples rebuked them that broughte them When Iesus sawe that he toke indigna ion and sayed vnto them sulfure the litleoues to come vnto me etc. Beleue these wordes and thys deede of our Lorde Iesu Christe vpō them and doubt not but that he wyll so receyue your chyldren also and embrace them wyth the armes of his mercie and gyue them the blessynge of eternall lyfe and the euerlasting communion of the kyngdome of God The same Lorde and our Sauiour Iesus Christe confirme and encrease thys your fayth Amen ⧠After thys the pastoure shall laye his handes vpon the chyldes heade and the godfathers touching the child shall praye wyth hym Oure father whiche arte etc. Then they shall also rehearse the crede I beleue in God the father etc. ¶ Let vs praye After thys the churche shall synge the Psal Cxiiij Item Cxv. and. Cxxxvi. When Israell went forth etc. Not to vs Lorde etc. Item prayse the name of the Lorde etc. Ye seruauntes prayse the Lorde ⧠The pastour The Lorde be with you ¶ The people And wyth thy spirite ⧠Let vs praye Almightie and euerlastynge God heauenlie father we gyue the eternall thankes that thou haste vouchsafed to cal vs to thys knowledge of thy grace fayth towardes the. Encrease and confirme this fayth in vs euermore Gyue thy holie spirite to thys infant that he maye be borne agayne and be made heyre of euerlastyng saluation which of thy groce and mercie thou hast promised to thy holie churche to olde men and to children thorow our Lorde Iesus Christ which liueth and reigneth wyth the nowe and for euer Amen ⧠Thus gyuynge his blessynge let hym dimisse the congregation ⧠Of administration of Baptisme The daye folowinge let the infantes beinge exorcised the daye before be broughte agayne to the cōgregation a litle before the supper of the Lorde whō there the pastour after that the Gospel is reade and declared and the crede songe shal bid to be broughte to the foūtstone and shal exhort the parētes the godfathers and kinsfolke after the maner folowinge Beloued in Christ yesterday by the grace of God we hearde how exceading and vnspeakable mercie is exhibited in Baptisme Ye haue renounced Satā and the worlde ye haue cōfessed the fayth of Christe ye haue promised obedience to Christ and the cōgregation and ye haue required of God the father that for his sōnes sake our Lorde Iesus Christ he will deliuer these infātes from the kingdome of darkenes and settle thē in the kingdome of his beloued sōne You must remēbre these thinges and doubt nothing but that we shal receyue all these thynges that we require if we beleue Therefore liftynge vp your mindes vnto the Lorde appeare ye here with all religion as in the sighte of almightie God the father the sōne and the holie gost and receiue ye sure fayth and thankesgiuing the benifitte of regeneration and adoptiō into euerlastyng life of the one god him selfe the father the sonne and the holie goste And bicause the Lorde hym selfe commaunded vs to baptise in the name of the father the sōne and the holie gost vndoubtedly god him selfe baptiseth our infātes cleanseth thē frō sinnes deliuereth thē frō euerlasting death putteth vpō thē his owne rightuousnes and gyueth them life eternal We must acknowledge with true faith and euer magnifie these exceading benifittes of God Wherfore that we may steare vp our fayth and mindes Let vs heare the wordes of S. Paule folowing concernynge thys matter ⧠To Tite Chapter iij. But after that the goodnes and loue of oure sauiour God towardes mē appeared not of the workes of ryghtuousnes whiche we dyd but after his mercie he saued vs by the lauer of regeneration and renuing of the holie goste etc. ⧠The pastour The Lorde be wyth you ⧠The people And wyth thy spirite ¶ Out of the Gospell of Mathewe the laste Chapter The Lorde Iesus said vnto his disciples All power in heauen and in earth is gyuen vnto me Go ye therfore into al the worlde and preache the Gospell to al creatures and teach al the heathē baptising thē in the name of the father the sonne the holie gost etc ⧠The pastour The Lorde be with you ⧠The people And wyth thy spiritie ⧠Let vs praye Almightie and mercifull God and father thou diddest promise to Abraham oure father and the father of all that beleue and in him thou dyddeste promise to vs also his chyldren that thou wouldeste be a God to vs and to oure seede Wherefore as thou diddest receyue the infantes of the olde people into grace and into thyne owne people by circumcisiō And thy sonne Christe Iesus our Lorde and
vpon holy dayes Then some lesson conuenient for the place and time shal be recited whereby the people may be steared vp to acknowledgyng of synne and amendement of the same wherewyth we prouoke the anger of God agaynst vs and deserue al maner of calamities Furthermore they shall also be moued to prayer for remission of sinnes for Goddes mercie and healpe and also they shall be steared to liberall almes Whereunto there shall succede a litanie in douch after the fourme that foloweth And whē the people haue also sayd their priuate prayers at length the pastoure shall ende commune prayers wyth some one of those collectes that folowe the litanie here Besides these cōmune prayers in Cities and where a greate companie of people is a litanie shall be songe wyth them that come together in the spirite and commune prayers shall be made vpon an appoynted daye euerie weeke But in those supplications which are appoynted for some notable necessitie and afflictiō sent of God an holy daye and fasting shall be proclaymed to the whole people at lest vnto the ende of cōmune prayers And in suche solemne dayes of supplication some vehemente and earneste lessons shall be reade out of the Prophetes concernyng repentaunce and renuinge and correction of lyfe and out of the same the intollerable wrath of God shall be propouned to the people most diligently and vehemently ⧠Litanie ⧠Lorde haue mercie Christe haue mercie Lorde haue mercie Christe heare vs O God the heauēli father haue mercy on vs O God the sonne redemer of the worlde haue mercie on vs. O God the holy goste haue mercie on vs. ¶ Be fauourable Spare vs O Lorde Be fauourable Deliuer vs O Lorde From al synne Deliuer vs O Lorde From al errour Deliuer vs O Lorde From all euyll Deliuer vs O Lorde From the awaytes of the diuyll Deli. etc. From sodeyne and euyll death Deliuer etc. From pestilence and hungre Deliuer etc. From warre and slaughter Deliuer vs. From sedition and priuie hatred Deliuer From lightenyng and tempestes Deliuer From euerlastynge death Deliuer vs etc. By the misterie of thy holy incarnation Deliuer vs O Lorde By thy holy natiuitie Deliuer vs. etc. By thy Baptisme fastynge and tentations Deliner vs O Lorde By thyne agonie and sweatynge of bloude Deliuer vs O Lorde By thy crosse and passion Deliuer vs. etc. By thy death and buriynge Deliuer vs. By thy resurrection and ascension Deliuer By the commyng of the holy goste the comforter Deliuer vs O Lorde In all tymes of our tribulation Deliuer In all tymes of our prosperitie Deliuer vs. In the houre of death Deliuer vs O Lorde In the daye of Iudgement Deliuer vs. etc. We synners beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylte vouchsafe to rule and gouerne thy holy and catholike churche We. That thou wylte vouchsafe to keepe the bishoppes pastours ministers of the church in holsome doctrine and holy lyfe We be That thou wylte vouchsafe to take awaye sectes and al offenses We beseche the to etc. That thou wylt vouchsafe to brynge them agayne into the waye of truth whiche stray and be seduced We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylt vouchsafe to treade Satan vndre our feete We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylt sende forth faythful workmen into thy haruest We be That thou wylt vouchsafe to gyue to al the hearers encrease of thi worde and the fruite of thy spirite We beseche the to here vs. That thou wylt vouchsafe to lifte them vp that be fallen and to strengthen them that stande We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylte vouchsafe to conforte and healpe the weaklinges and suche as be tempted We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylte vouchsafe to gyue peace and concorde to al kynges and princes We. That thou wylte vouchsafe to gyue oure Emperour perpetuall victorie agaynste the enemies of God We beseche That thou wylte vouchsafe to guyde defende our prince wyth his officers We be That thou wylte vouchsafe to blesse and preserue our officer and cominaltie We be That thou wylte vouchsafe to regarde and saue the aflicted and suche as be in daunger We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wilt vouchsafe to giue luckie deliueraunce and encrease to women wyth chylde and nurses We beseche the. That thou wylte vouchsafe to cherishe and keepe Infantes and sicke folke We besech That thou wylt vouchsafe to deliuer prisoners We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylte vouchsafe to defende Orphanes and wydowes and to prouide for them We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylte vouchsafe to haue mercie on all men We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wilt vouchsafe to perdon and cōuert our enemies persecutours and sclaunderers We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylt vouchsafe to gyue and preserue the fruites of the earth We be That thou wilt vouchsafe to heare vs. We. The lambe of God which takest away the sinnes of the worlde Haue mercie on vs. The lambe of God whiche takest away the synnes of the worlde Haue mercie on vs. The lambe of God whiche takest away the synnnes of the worlde Gyue vs peace Christe heare vs. Lorde haue mercie on vs. Christe haue mercie on vs. Lorde haue mercie on vs. Amen A prayer or collecte after litanie The minister Lorde deale not with vs after our sinnes The Quier Neither rendre vnto vs according to our iniquities The minister O God the mercifull father whiche despifest not the groning of the cōtrite nor contempnest the affection of them that morne be presēt at our prayers which we poure forth before the in the affictions which cōtinually laie vpon vs and heare the same mercifully that the thynge that the gyles of Satā and mē entende maye be brought to naught and dispersed by the deuise of thy goodnes that beinge hurte wyth no persecutions we may euer giue the thankes in thy holy congregation thorowe Iesus Christ our Lorde Amē An other Collecte The minister Call vpon me in the daye of tribulation The Quier And I wyll deliuer the and thou shalte glorifie me The ministre Spare Lorde spare oure synnes And thoughe continuall payne be due vnto vs whiche synne wythout ceasyng yet graunte we beseche the that the thynge that we deserue vnto perpetuall destruction may passe frō vs vnto the furtheraunce of vertue thorowe our Lorde etc. An other Collecte The ministre Healpe vs O God our health The Quier And for the glorie of thy name deliuer vs and be mercifull to oure synnes for thy names sake The minister Almightie euerlastynge God by whose spirite the whole bodie of the congregation is sanctified and gouerned heare vs praying for al ordres and degres that bi the gift of thy grace al the same may serue the faithfully thorowe our Lorde etc. An other Collecte The minister Shewe vs Lorde thy mercie The Quier And gyue vs thy saluation The minister God from whom all holie desires good purposes and ryghtuous workes procede gyue
the lord we wyll celebrate to morowe by goddes grace the most holye supper of oure Lorde Iesu Christ where in he hath giuen vs hys flesh for meate and his bloud for drincke to confirme oure fayth and verie christane life it is conuenient that euerye man trye hym selfe with greate diligence as S. Paule exhorteth vs. For thys sacrament was giuen of the Lord for singuler cōsolacion and comforte to wretched and afflicted consciences which do ernestly fele and confesse their sinnes whyche be striken with the feare of the wrath of god and of death and hongre and thurste the rightuousnes of God But if euerie one of vs will examen oure selues as S. Paule teacheth we shall fynde none other thynge but all maner of horrible sinnes and euerlastinge death which we haue deserued thorought oure synnes For the rewarde of sinne is death frome whyche we can by no meanes deliuer oure selues Wherefore our Lord Iesus Christ taking pitie vpon vs was made man for oure synnes that he myght fulfyll the lawe and the whole wil of God for vs and procure our saluacion and that he hymselfe might suffer death and al that we had deserued thorough our sinnes only for vs and our redēption Which thing that we might firmely beleue and that thorough faith we might ioyfully lyue after his will whā supper was ended he toke breade gaue thankes and brake it sayinge take eate this is my bodye that is gyuen for you that is to saye that I am made man and further whatsoeuer I do and suffer all that is yours and it is giuen to you and is done for your saluacion For the testificacion and confirmacion whereof and that you maye daily a hide liue more more in me and I in you I giue my bodye vnto you to be meate and meate of euerlastynge lyfe After the same maner he toke the cuppe also saiyng Take drincke of thys all thys is the cuppe of the new testament in my bloude whiche is shed furth for you and for many vnto remission of synnes As often as ye shall do thys do it in the remembraunce of me that is to saye seinge that I haue now taken the charge of you and haue translated your synnes vpon me I will deliuer miselfe vnto death for thē I wil shedde mi bloude I wil deserue grace and remission of sinnes for you and I wyll sette vp a newe testament wherein synnes shal be perdoned and all remembraunce of thē shal be abolished For a pledge and witnesse of al these thynges and to cōfirme and further my life in you I giue you my bloud to drincke He than that eateth of this breade after thys sorte and dryncketh of the cuppe and firmely beleueth these wordes whiche he heareth of the Lorde and signes whiche he receiueth eateth truly holesomely the flesh of Christ and drinketh his bloude and more fully receiueth in to him selfe hole God and man with al his merites and fauour where wyth the father embraceth hym wyth the ryght and participation of euerlainge lyfe he abydeth in Christ the Lorde and the Lord in him he shal liue for euer Let vs thā god li recompēse these thinges with our selues let vs confirme and ster vp our faith in him lette vs celebrate the remembraunce of hym worthely let vs most studoyusly in al oure wordes and dedes exalte his death resurreccion heauenlye glorie and kingdome let vs reioyse in our owne behalfe that this sonne of God died for our sinnes rosse againe forour instificacion ascended into heauen and reigneth at the right hand of the father furthermore lette vs couragiousli euerie one of vs take vp our crosse and valiantly folowe this our capitaine and loue one another according to his cōmaundemēt as he loued vs. For al we are one bread one bodi because we be parttakers of one breade and one cup. After this praier there shall a praier be made for al the necessites of the congregaciō and cheifely for those men which shall communicate the nexte daye And whan the people haue ended their secrete praier the minister shal cōclude the preparacion with this collecte Almightie euerlastinge God heauealye father because we can please the only in thy deare sonne sanctifie our bodies and soules and graunte vs that to morowe we maye receiue the holesome communion of him in his holie supper with a godlie and faithfull desier and all thanckefulnes that beinge confirmed agayne conceruynge thy perpetual mercie and loue towardes vs and euer goinge forwarde in a new life we maye liue vnto the and serue the thorough our Lorde Iesus Christ with more feare and studie to the prayse of thy name and profyte of thy people A men ¶ How the Lordes supper must be celebrated Whan the people be come to gether vnto this ministration for asmuch as it is agreable to godlines that as often as we appere before the lorde before althinges we should acknowledge and confesse our sinnes and praye for remission of the same the minister whiche shall administer the Lordes supper whan he shal come to the altare shall make a confession in the name of the whole cōgregacion and that in the douche tonge whiche al maye vnderstande after this sorte Almightye euerlastinge God the father of our Lorde Iesus Christe the maker of all thynges the iudge of all men we acknowlege and we lament that we were conceiued and borne in sinnes and that therefore we be prone to al euils and abhorre from all good thynges that we haue also transgressed thy holie commaundmentes with out ende and measure in despisinge the and thy worde in distrustinge thy aide in trusting our selues and the worlde in wycked studies and workes where with we haue most greuousli offended thy maiestie and hurted oure neighboures Therefore we haue more and more buried oure selues in to eternall death And we are sorie for it with al our hertes and we desire pardone of the for al the thinges that we haue commited agaynst the we calle for thy helpe against sinne dwellinge in vs and Satan the kendler thereof kepe vs that we do nothyng hereafter against the and couer the wickednes that remaneth in vs with the rightuousnes of they sonne and represse it in vs with thy spirite and at length purdge it cleane out Haue mercye vpon vs most gentle father thorough thy sonne oure Lord Iesus Christe Giue and encrease thy holye spirite in vs which maie teach vs to acknowlege our synnes truly and thoroughly and to be pricked wyth a liuelye repentaunce of the same and with true fayth to apprehend and retayne remission of them in Christ our Lord that dyinge to sinnes dailye more and more we maie serue and please the in anewe lyfe to the glorie of thy name and edifiynge of thy congregacion For we acknowledge that thou iustly requirest these thynges of vs wherefore wee desire to perfourme the same Vouchsafe thou o father of heauen which hast giuen vs a wil to graunte vs also that we
prayse and magnifie the Lorde holie father almightie euerlastyng God thorowe Iesus Christ our Lorde by whom thou madest vs of nothinge vnto thy image and haste appoynted al other creatures to our vses and where as we thorowe the synne of Adam slidynge frō the were made thyne enemies and therefore subiecte to death and eternall damnation thou of thy infinite mercie and vnspeakable loue dyddest sende the same thy sonne the eternall worde into thys worlde who thorowe the crosse and death deliuered vs from synnes and the power of the Deuyll and brought vs agayne into thy fauoure by his holie spirite whom he sent to vs from the and gaue his bodie and bloude to be the fode of a newe and eternall lyfe that being more confirmed thorowe the truste of thy mercie and loue we should euer go forward to all that that is thy pleasure by renuinge and sanctifiynge of our selues and that we should glorifie and exalte the here and euermore in all our wordes and dedes and singe vnto the without ende with al thy holie Angels and beloued chyldren After these thinges Sanctus shall be songe where clerkes be in latine but of the people in douche one syde answerynge the other thryse of bothe partes As for that that is wont to be added The Lorde God of hostes and Benedictus it shal be songe cōmunely of the whole congregation and therefore in douche Streyght waye after thys let the priest synge the wordes of the Lordes supper in douche Our Lorde the nighte in whiche he was deliuered etc. But these wordes muste be songe of the priest wyth great reuerence and playnely that they maye be wel vnderstanded of all men And the people shal saye to these wordes Amen Whiche all the olde church obserued and the Grekes do yet obserue the same For the whole substance of this Sacrament is conteyned in these wordes And it consisteth altogether in the true vnderstandyng and fayth of these wordes that the Sacrament be holesomely administred and receyued ⧠Whē the people then haue answered Amen The priest shall adde lette vs praye Oure father whiche arte in heauen etc. To whiche prayer of the Lorde the people shal say agayne Amen ¶ The priest The Lordes peace be euer wyth you ¶ The people And with thy spirite After thys they which be admitted to the cōmunion and do loke for the same in their place shal come to the Lordes bourde religiously Firste men and then women and the whole Sacrament shal be gyuen to them al that they may be partakers of the body and bloud of the Lorde receiuing not only bread but also the Cuppe euen as he instituted it ¶ At the exhibition of the bodi let the the pastour saye Take and eate to thy health the body of the Lorde whiche was deliuered for thy synnes ¶ At the exhibition of the cuppe Take and drinke to thy health the bloud of the Lorde whiche was shedde for thy synnes ¶ After the communion lette Agnus dei be songe both in douche and in latine one syde answeryng the other where clerkes be And then lette thys douch songe be songe Gotte sey gelobette Item Iesus Christus Vnser Heylant If the communion shall gyue so muche tyme and leasure ¶ When the communion is ended let the priest synge turnyng to the people The Lorde be wyth ynn ⧠The people And with thy spirite ¶ The priest Let vs praye Almightie euerlastynge God we gyue thankes to thy exceadynge godnes bicause thou haste fedde vs wyth the bodie of thy only begottē sonne and gyuen vs his bloud to drynke We humbly beseche the worke in vs wyth thy spirite that as we haue receyued thys diuine Sacrament wyth oure mouthes so we maye also receyue and euer holde fast with true fayth thy grace remission of synnes and communion with Christ thy sonne Al whiche thinges thou haste exhibited vnto vs in these sacramentes thorow our Lorde Iesus Christe thy sonne whiche lyueth and reygneth wyth the in vnitie of the holie gost verie God and verie man foreuer Amen ⧠An other thankesgyuyng We gyue the thankes father almightie God whiche haste refreshed vs wyth the singuler gyfte of thy bodie and bloude we beseche thy goodnesse that the same maye healpe to confirme our fayth in the and to kendle mutual loue amonge vs by the same our Lorde Iesus Christ etc. ¶ Laste of all lette the pastoure blesse the people wyth these wordes The Lorde blesse the and keepe the the Lorde lighten his coūtenaunce vpon the and haue mercie on the. The Lorde lyfte vp his face vpon the and settle the in peace ⧠Or thus God haue mercie on vs and blesse vs lyghten his countenaunce vpō vs and gyue vs his peace Amen ⧠Or thus God the father the sonne and the holie goste blesse and keepe vs. Amen ⧠Or thus The blessyng of god the father the sonne and the holie gooste be wyth vs remaine wyth vs for euer Amen But where clerkes be not as in villages there lette all be reade and songe in douche But lette the songes be so moderated as in euerie congregation shall make to the edification of godlines But forasmuche as our Lorde instituted thys his sacrament onely for thys purpose that we shoulde eate it and drynke it for the remēbraunce of him and not that we should set it forth or carie it about to be loked vpon forasmuch as sundrie abuses be brought in the true vse of this sacramēt being ouer passed so this sacrament hath bene drawen to horrible superstition and vngodlines for the takyng awaye both of this superstition and vngodlines and also sundrie scruples of the worke and irreligious questions aboute these misteries the pastours and they that administre the Sacramente shall endeuoure them selues that as often as the supper shal be ministred whether it be in the cōgregatiō or in priuate houses for sicke folke they compte the numbre of them certeynely whiche shall communicate that accordynge to the same thei may receiue pieces of bread and measure of wyne As for the remnauntes after that the communion is ended lette the pastours them selues receyue them forthwith and lette them not keepe the same nor lay them vp in any place nor eary them away or set them forth to be beholded For the worde of God whiche saueth vs if we beleue and obey it and damneth perpetually if we do not beleue nor obey it hath thus prescribed cōcerning his sacramētes Take and eate this is my bodie Take and drinke this is my bloude Therfore we must stand in thys institution of Christe and not institute a newe vsage wythout Goddes worde about thys moste holy Sacrament And bicause also that here the Lordes death muste be preached and the communion of hym cōfirmed in vs that thorowe hym we maye be daily more crucified to the world al worldly pompe muste lykewyse be taken frō thys ministration and all tynges muste be so ordeined and moderated that thei may healpe forth and adurne the
euer adde also to thys oure admonition and exhortion the sentence of Paule if they conteyne not lette them be maried For it is better to be maried then to burne what so euer men agaynste the same haue willed or commaunded or require thorowe theyr authoritie or fauour For against that that the Lord pronounceth to be better no maÌ„ mai vowe or coÌ„maund or require or perfourme by any meanes Wherefore we beseche and exhorte in the Lorde the pareÌ„tes and kinsfolke of these personnes that in them whom God hath committed to theyr charge which were borne of them and be ioined to theÌ„ by bloude or some other diuine copulation they wyll not preferre temporall coÌ„modites and ornamentes before euerlastyng and that they wyl rather considre thys thynge well and religiously that our whole wealth lyeth in the free and bolde inuocatioÌ„ of Goddes mercie thorowe our Lorde Iesus Christe Which inuocation can not stande wyth an euyl conscience But they whiche burne bicause they haue not the gyfte of geldyng them selues for the kyngdome of God if they refuse the remedie of burnynge that is to witte holie wedlocke they can verie scantly maintaine a good conscience For who so whyle he maye studieth not to embrace that that God hath iudged better he vndoudtedly dispireth god whose holsome counsel he regardeth not The Lordes worde standeth cleare and euident It is better to be maried then to burne And it oughte to comforte godly parentes whom God hath honoured rather then burthened wyth a greate meanie of chyldren that he hath promised that all other thynges shal be added vnto them which seeke the kingdome of God and the ryghtuousnes thereof thorowe his prouidence whiche surely can neuer leaue his destitute of anie maner of true commodities Lette them comforte them selues wyth thys and suche other lyke promises of God They whiche haue more chyldren then that they caÌ„ thynke that they may prouide meete mariages for them all accordynge to the dignitie of theyr familie lette them not doubte if principally they seeke the kyngdome of God and the ryghtuousues thereof for theyr daughters and sonnes permittynge vnto them holie mariage where as they haue not receyued the gyfte to serue God wythout the same let them not doubte I saye but that God wyll surely blesse both their chldren other so plentifully that they shall haue plaine experience that there is nothynge more profitable that nothinge obteineth greater blessing of god for al necessities of life theÌ„ faithfully simply to folowe his word and wil. Furthermore how horrible a thing should it be to be heard that christian noble meÌ„ or other wyse exccelleÌ„t thorowe the singuler benifites of the Lorde shoulde wyllyngly for temporal ritches and worldfly glorie putte theyr chyldren in daunger oeternall damnation and laye before them a snare of synne whom they had begotte to God to enioye eternall lyfe and not to the diuyll to suffre euerlastyng damnation and whom also they had consecrated to Christe to keepe al the thinges that he coÌ„maunded Wo be vnto them sayeth the Lorde by whoÌ„ an occasion of stumblyng commeth And if we hereafter by the councell and aduise of our prouinciall states can healpe godly and honeste men aswell noble as other whiche haue more chyldren then they can wel ioyne in matrimonie accordynge to theyr estate that they maye couple all theyr chyldren whom the Lorde hath called to holy wedlocke in mariages meete for them we wyl omitte no faythfulnes and diligence In the meane whyle lette the parentes and kinsfolke which haue the gouernaÌ„ce of their yongers laboure to shewe suche loue and faythfulnes to theyr chyldren and kinsfolke in thys behalfe whereby they maye declare that they desire nothinge more then the glorie of God to be sette forth in the wealth of they friendes So agayne lette yonge prisoners behaue them selues in suche sorte towardes theyr parentes and Elders as men whiche next after the obedience of God desire nothynge more then to ordre al theyr life to the acceptation and worshyppe of theyr parentes and kinsfolke and to do and suffre al thynges that God wyl haue them to do and suffre accordyng to theyr pleasure More then thys neither we nor other caÌ„ brynge any remedie agaynste the former inconuenience whiche men feare wyll ensue of the remission of monastical bondes I meane that virgines cloisterers returne not out of theyr abbayes to theyr frendes and be burthenous vnto them and also a disworshippe thorow vnaduised mariages or some worse chaunge of lyfe that is But that we maye ease theyr carefulnes whiche are troubled wyth the other incommoditie and feare leste their inheritaunces and patrimonies shal be diminished we beseche theÌ„ and exhorte theÌ„ in the Lorde that first they wyl wel considre that we christen men ought so to regarde teÌ„poral goodes that we do not onely preferre them in no wyse before eternall goodes but also that they be not an hidrauÌ„ce to the same in any poynte Secondly lette them remembre that Goddes lawe after whiche Abraham and other holie fathees lyued graunteth vnto parentes that they maye so distribute theyr temporal goodes amonge theyr chyldren as they shall thynke moste profitable and worshypfull both for theyr familie and also for the congregation of Christ For Abraham made Isaac his iust heyre and gaue to his other chyldreÌ„ though they were lawfulli begotteÌ„ only certain portioÌ„s of his goodes ordered and distributed accordynge to his pleasure So Dauid made not his eldâ—â—t sonne to be successour of his kyngdome but hym whom he iudged to be most meete to administre the same For the same reason Moyses his lawe whiche God him selfe gaue commaundeth that two partes of the inheritage be gyuen to the eldest sonne Thys reason then being wel considered if the same thynge shall seeme good to our diocesanes we wyll thus determine concernynge the enheritaunces of them which shal forsake Monasteries namely that none of them shall haue title to claime those enheritances whiche were distributed amonge the other heyres before that they came out of theyr Abbayes As for the enheritaunces which shal chaunce after that they haue lefte their Abbaies we wil take this ordre in theÌ„ If it be great hinderaunce to anie man to admitte theÌ„ to lyke portions which after cession of inheritaunce lefte their abbaies becaus that the persone trusting in that cession and lokinge for agreater protion of inheritaunce enterprised to marie or beganne som other trade of life so that he should be greatli endammaged if such cession of inheritauÌ„ce should be voide and if they shoulde clame againe their protion whiche had giuen vp the same at their entringe in to monasteries in such a case we wil procure that they whiche shal be putte to such hinderaunce shal be pâ—â—uided for and that they also which haue left their monasteries shal be brought to christiaÌ„ equite so that no body shall haue cause to coÌ„plaine of wronge Further it is conuenient that they which shal be deliuered out of
the fauour of God nor heyres of eternall lyfe but cast from God and that they haue a wyl turned froÌ„ God horrible darkenes concernynge God corrupte and vicious motions and inclinations in all theyr strenghthes agaynste the commaundementes of God A certayne image whereof is sette forâ—h in hym whom the Lorde by a parable declared to be wounded of theues in the waye towarde Ierico and lefte halfe dead For thys thiefe Satan hath drowned the miserable nature of man in so great nuseries that it is not onely despoiled of spirituall and moost excellent gyfres but also is miserably wounded in all hyr powers Wherof it foloweth that mannes nature wythout the healpe of the holie goste caÌ„ not turne hir selfe vnto God wyth true feare Naturall strength before regeneration ture soue and fayth and that thys thynge muste needes be done through the worde of God and the holye goste by whom the mynde beinge allumined may beleue God in Christe the lorde out of the gospell and knowe hym thorough fayth and the wyll beynge stirred vp wyth the reuerence of God and enflamed with his loue may applye hyr selfe to the commaundementes of god and turne the whole maÌ„ to the preaise and worshippinge of God But mannes wil euen before regeneration by the common healpe of God maye Of free wyll or outwarde discipline so performe and exercise outward discipline that is to saye the outwarde workes of the lawe Whiche discipline God requireth seuerelye and punisheth the contempte thereof both wyth corporal peines in thys lyfe and with euerlastinge after this lyfe i. Timo i. The lawe was made for the vuryghteous IteÌ„ to the Hebr. xiii God shal iudge fornicatours auouterers IteÌ„ honour thy father and mother that thou maiste belong liued vpon the earth Also Gene. ix he that shall shedde mannes blond vpon the earth hys bloude shal also be shedde For man is made after the image of God Wyth these and lyke sentences all men muste be admonished and steared to perfourme the outwarde workes of the lawe Furthermore Paule sayeth that the lawe is a guyde vnto Christe whereby we vnderstande that he that continueth in synnes agaynst his conscience and commeth not to a better mynde casteth awaye the worde of his owne accorde and despiceth the holye goste and hyndreth his owne health that he be not broughte to Christe In the meane whyle thys thynge also muste be taught that thys outwarde discipline deserueth not remission of synnes is not that ryghtuousnes for which we be pronounced ryghtuouse or acceptable before God For thys honoure is due onely to the sonne of God Christ the mediatoure which alone hath deserued vnto vs remission of synnes and euerlastynge lyfe whiche we obtaine with fayeth alone or truste in hym as we wyl declare more largely hereafter ¶ Of the olde testament AFter declaration of the benifittes of God whych he hath perfourmed and doth perfourme towardes al men and nations in the creation coÌ„seruation and gouernaunce of thinges the preachers shal propoune to the people What thynges so euer God commaunded promised or threatened to the people of the olde Testament the same pertain vnto vs also also those vnmeasurable benifits which he bestowed vpon the holye fathers and the whole people of Israel Item they shal declare the iudgemeÌ„tes which he executed vpon the same whan they beleued him not nether obeyed his commaundementes For the thinges that the scripture reherseth of them be writen for our doctrine as Paule sayeth those thinges happened vnto them that they myght be figures and exemples vnto vs and they were wrytten for our enstructioÌ„ vpon whoÌ„ the endes of the worlde be come Wherefore as in the articles before toutchinge the creation conseruation and goueruaunce of al thynges the power and glorie of god is knowne in al his creatures and workes and in all nations so in thys place out of the benifittes and punishmeÌ„tes which he laied vpon our fathers in the olde testament we shal learne the power mercye and ryghteousnes of God which he vsed towardes his peculyare people whome he chose out of all other nations of the earth and bound vnto hym selfe wyth the leige of grace that he myght not onely be vnto them a creatoure and Lorde but also a God that is to saye an euerlastynge sauiour of body and soule Al which thinges pertayne vnto vs whiche beleue in Christe For we are nowe the peculiar people and heritage of God the true chyldren of Abraham the true Israelites as manie of vs as beleue in Christ and put hym on thorowe Baptisme as Paule teacheth playnly to the Roma ix to the Gala. iii. Yea Christ hym selfe sayeth of them that truely beleue amonge the heathen Manie shal come froÌ„ the Est and the West and shall sit downe wyth AbrahaÌ„ Isaac and Iacob in the kingdome of heauen but the childreÌ„ of the kingdome shal be caste into outwarde darkenes Wherfore it perteyneth to the ministers of the worde to teache the people diligently that al the promises and benifittes exibited to the fathers yea vniuersally to Israell Item the threates punishmentes and preceptes saueing those that perteyne to the outwarde discipline and ciuilitie of that people which ought to stande in effecte onely tyl the tyme of Christ belonge vnto vs also The same thinges are commaunded vs the same thynges are forbydden to vs and therfore we also muste loke for the same benefittes from the godnes of God thorowe Christ whyle we continue in the fayth and loue of God and we muste feare the same punishmentes if we cast from vs the fayth and loue of God Wherfore the Apostle in the place alledged before setteth the olde people before vs for an ensample saiynge Many of them God allowed not For they were throwen downe in the wildernes But these thynges happened for a figure and exemple vnto vs that we luste not after euyll thynges as they lusted neither be made Idolaters as some of them were In the same place he addeth exemples of fornication tentation and murmuration against God and the punishmentes that God therfore toke of them and agayne he testifieth that all these thinges happened vnto theÌ„ that they might be exemplars and figures vnto vs wherin we myght know how God abhorreth these abominable mischeuous actes and that we also should learne to abhorre fle the same But before al other thinges the preachers must set forth and beate into the people the promises the leige and couenaunt of Gods beniuolence made wyth Abraham and his sede in which he promiseth him that he wil be his God that is to saye an euerlastynge sauiour and greate rewarde Item thorowe his onely free beniuolence he embraced him Howe the patriarches were enstructed in the sayth and brought hym from the laude of his natiuite further that he was iustified by fayth only and manie nations yea of al beleuing personnes a citizin of the heauenlie citie hauing a sure fundation whose artificer and maker God is Item thoughe
Christ wyth pleasaunte preachinge and remitteth and leadeth sweetely vnto hym because it preacheth hym be the onely obteiner of mercie and our sauiour whiche thinge it doeth two maner of waies First with plaine and open testimonies as thys is that we reade in Deutro xxiii The Lorde shal raise vp to the a prophete syke me Secondly wyth shadowes and pleasaunte allegories as that is of the pascal lambe So the prophetes also prophetied of Christ many waies and more openly and plētifully thē Moyses til at the last Iohn baptiste shewed hym with his singer beinge present Al whiche thinges must be preached expouned to the people wyth greate diligence out of the lawe and the prophetes These than be the causes why the lawe was gyuen whyche God knewe that we would not keepe namely that being taught and admonisched thorough it we shoulde acknowledge our weaknes and infirmitie and feele the excidinge wrath of God and thorowe a certaine Godly discipline be led vnto Christe put al our trust in him and appliynge good workes shoulde growe in to hym daylye whiche is the heade beynge furnished wyth all Godlynes and vertue After that the ministers shal be instructed of the lawe and haue taught the people faythfully than they shal both them selues vse the lawe a ryght and shal bringe the people in to the true knowledge of it shall moue thē to true repentaunce and griefe for theyr synnes and so stirre thē vp and driue them vnto Christe the redemer to serue him with al desire And because the commen people can nat vndrestande and remembre al the preceptes of the lawe seynge that they be verye many and euerye one hath a large dominion the preachers muste after recite and printe in the myndes of the hearers the briefe summes and cheife articles of Goddes law as that is that we haue in Math. xxii Thou shalte loue the Lorde thy God wyth thy whole herte and in thy whole soule and in thy whole mynde Thys is the principall and greate commaundement The seconde is lyke therunto Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe Vpō these two commaundementes the whole lawe and the Prophetes depende Item that the apostle wrate to Timothe The ende of the commaundement is loue frō a pure herte and good conscience and faith not fayned And in asmuch as it was most mercifully permitted in olde tyme that Godlie parentes shoulde teache theyr chyldren wyth al diligence the ten cōmaundementes wherein the whole doctrine of godlines is playnly cōprehended whiche thinge brought such profitte as no man can expresse the preachers shall diligently and often recite thys summe of Goddes lawe and shall declare in theyr sermons briefely and playnely the true meanynge of euery precepte ¶ A briefe declaration of the ten commaundementes IN the fyrst sentence then of the ten commaundemētes I am the Lorde thy God A sum of the first cōmaundement whiche broughte the out of Egipte etc. The preachers shal first teach that God wytnesseth with this his worde that he him selfe whiche gyueth vs thys commaundemente is the onely Lorde that is to saye the almightie maker and gouerner of all thynges onely good and the cause of goodnes and the dryuer awaye of all euyls Secondly that thorowe the preaching of the Gospell and baptisme he hath receyued vs into his people as in olde tyme he receyued Israell bryngyng him out of Egipte and the house of bondage and geuing hym his Sacramentes And that in Christe oure Lorde he wil be a God also to al vs to whō he hath caused these thinges to be preached that is to saye an author and gyuer of euerlastinge saluation of restitution both of bodie and soule And seing that it is extreme vngodlines not to heare God whē he speaketh and not to beleue him when he promiseth all good thinges the preachers cōcerning this worde next before shal teache that God requireth that with al our herte we beleue this his testimonie and promise and that we rest therin namely that we acknowledge hym to be our God and Sauiour that we worshyppe him and alwaies cal for his mercie succour and ayde thorowe our Lorde Iesus Christ and that we feare loue and magnifie hym wyth all oure hertes aboue all thynges for his vnmeasurable grace great benifittes In the seconde commaundemente thou shalt haue no straunge Goddes before me thou shalt make to thy selfe n◠grauē image to bowe downe to it or to worshyppe it the people muste be admonished fyrste that thorow straunge Gods and worshippyng Images al trust of Gods healpe is to be put in nothing besides God in Christ and that all worshyppynges of God as all those be that are in hande wythout the worde of God as the worshippynges of the Mahometistes Iewes and of them whiche goe aboute to worshyppe God and to obtaine hys helpe with such ceremonies as be not taken out of the worde of God nor serue effectuously to the gospel of Christ or wyth ceremonies not instituted by the Lorde hym selfe but vsed wyth out repentaunce and fayth The Lorde also forbiddeth in this place all Witchcrafte and all that abuse of creatures whan men either require that profite of thinges for which they were not made of God whiche thinge is committed in false dominations and other witchcrafte or whan they require profite of thinges for which they were made in dede but they require it not as coming frō God and hangynge vpō his grace praiynge for it firste of the Lorde thorough Christe and to his glorie Further they shal teach that in this commaundement there is reueled vnto vs that corruption of our defiled nature and that vngodlines that is naturally grafted in vs by reason whereof we be euer ignoraunte we fle and neglecte the true and only God and we seeke no helpe of God trustinge in mannes strenght and in our owne or we seke it not frō hym the onley and true God in Christe but from counterfaite and false Goddes and that sometymes vndre the name of the true God hym selfe whan we calle vpō God the father of our Lord Iesus Christ thorough thys only Mediator with out repentaunce and fayth and some tymes vndre other names as whā mē aske of saintes deliueraunce from synnes and helpe of this presente lyfe and of the life to come or finally whan we vse ceremonies straunge frō the worde wyth true cōuersion to God and worshippinge of the herte to seeke the helpe of God thereby and to make God bounde to vs. For al thys vngodlynes beinge naturally engendred in vs is disclosed in this seconde commaundement and sette before oure eyes to be consydered by the worde of God Thirdly we haue also in thys worde a Howe this cōmaundement is fulfylled certaine holye scholemastringe where with God by thys commaundement shewynge vs the corruptiō and weaknes of our nature wyl bringe vs to Christe hys sonne whyche maye turne awaye and pacifie hys wrath agaynst thys vngodlynes and sinne cleaninge in nature whiche moreouer may
as we transgresse no cōmaundement of God wythout the transgression of thys so neuertheles both thys promise and threatenyng perteyne to euerie commaundement Secondly the preachers shal also diligētly warne thys thynge cōcerning this place I wyl visite iniquities etc. that al maner of euyls punishementes corporall and spirituall temporall and eternall be cōprehended therein amonge whiche thys is the sorest when God forsaketh men when he taketh his holy spirite from them and giueth them to the desires of theyr hertes into a reprobate sense into concupiscences and lustes etc. Ro. i. Wherof the Psal lxxxi speaketh But my people hearde not my voice Israell attended not vnto me wherfore I let them go in the crokednes of theyr hertes Furthermore in thys place the people muste be ryghte diligently taughte that what so euer aduersitie chaunseth vnto men either in soule or in goodes it is vndoubtedly the punishmēt of God for our sinnes whether it be blyndnes ignoraunce darckenes of mynde perturbations naughtie desires and affections of the hert vnto vnlawfull thynges diseases corporall pestilences either in oure owne bodies or in the bodies of oure chyldren friende cattayle euyl weather for thynges of the earth euyll lucke dammages in oure businesse discorde sedition warre and all troublynge of common peace For all these thynges are sent vpon men from God for synnes and vngodlines In thys place the preachers shall adde God exerciseth vs wyth aflictions to call vs backe to repentaūce that God when he exerciseth the fayhthfull wyth sundrie aflictions correcteth them fatherly and for theyr profitte and draweth them backe to hym selfe and to his sonne Christe that they be not damned wyth the wicked worlde and that he loueth them nothynge the worse whom he punisheth wyth outwarde punishmentes and sore calamities For he is wonte to begynne his iudgement from his owne house and to chasten them whom he loueth and in them to shewe to the worlde the vehemencie of his wrath that other men beynge frayed wyth these iudgementes and wyth thys so greate seueritie of God vpon his owne chyldren shoulde forthynke the synnes in which they stycke and amende and take more diligent hede afterwarde that they synne not Thyrdly the people must be taught concernynge thys promise and threatenynge of God I wyll visite the iniquities of the fathers vpon the chyldren to the thyrde and fourth generation etc. that God wyll exercise Other mens goodnes profiteth not the vngodlie nor others vngodlines hurteth not the godlie thys reuengeaunce whiche he threateneth here to his dispicers beinge vngodlie parentes and elders vpon those chyldren onely whiche thorowe their owne wickednes haue lyke wyse well deserued the punishmentes that they suffre so that yet in thys worlde they suffre muche lesse then is due to theyr synnes and peruersitie So in lyke maner that no Godlinesse of the parentes and elders profiteth theyr chyldren whiche be vngodlie them selues and continue in theyr vngodlinesse but that it profiteth them onely whiche be inheriters of theyr elders godlines For thys threate and promyse of God can not be contrarie to his Oracle sette forth by Ezechiell that is to saye that euerie father or chylde shall either perishe thorowe his owne vngodlines or lyue thorowe his owne Godlines and that the father shall not be well entreated for the sonnes godlines nor yll for the sonnes wyckednes but that euerie man shall heare his owne synnes if he lyue vngodlie and shall enioye his rewardes if he lyue Godlie For by reason of originall synne all men are borne vndre the wrath of God and tyrannie God punisheth the wickednes of the parentes in wicked chyldren of the deuyll Wherefore if God to shewe vs his iust iudgement leaue the children of the vngodlie in the power of Satan and therefore thorowe theyr owne mischeuous actes bringe vpon them selues so horrible punishmētes that the verie world perceiueth the vngodlines of the parentes to be punished in the children also neuertheles no wronge is done to those chyldren neither is God to be accused of iniquitie seinge that they be euyll and the chyldren of wrath by nature to whom God can owe notyng but euerlasting punishmēt So if God thorowe his vnspeakable mercie in Christe Iesu deliuer thorowe his sonne the chyldrē of them that loued him from all perdition wherunto they were borne and adourne them wyth excellent godlines thorowe the gifte of his spirite and so heape so many benifittes vpō them that euery godlie man maye easely iudge that in thē both their owne and their parentes godlines is recompensed and that it is declared how deare they were to God the vnmeasurable goodnes of God oughte to be embraced and magnified therein and therefore God is more to be loued and his worde to be receyued more desirously but the vnsearchable iudgementes of his mercie oughte not to be soughte out the deape botome of his goodnes muste not be pored into much lesse ought we to blame thys his so greate bountiousnes whiche doeth wyth his owne as pleaseth hym ¶ Howe the preachers muste teache of remission of synnes and iustification AFter that men beinge moued thorowe the preachynge of the lawe beginne truelye to acknowledge their synne and to repēt and now detestyng synne sigh for rightuousnes and carefully desire to come to Goddes fauour agayne and to worshippe hym religiously the preachynge of the Gospel muste also be added For to be sorie for synne sufficeth not to rightuousnes before God though the sorowe be so vehement that it maye consume and kyl a man as there was in Iudas But satisfaction for synnes is also required and a sure trust of Goddes mercie wyth a purposed amendement of lyfe and a continuall studie of ryghtuousnes afterwarde But mā cā perfourme none of these thinges thorow his owne strēgth neither satisfy for his synnes committed and restore hym selfe into the fauour of God nor embrace a better lyfe afterwarde Oure Lorde Iesus Christe is alone whiche thorowe his death hath satisfied for our synnes as Iohn sayth he is a propitiation or attonement for oure synnes and not for oure synnes onely but for the synnes of the whole worlde He thorowe the preachynge of the Gospell setteth forth and offreth the rytches of Goddes grace and goodnes and his owne satisfaction for our synnes and the gyft of the spirite of adoption and iustifieth deliuereth from the wrath of God and maketh parte takers of eternall lyfe all those that wyth sure fayeth whiche he hym selfe steareth vp and nourisheth in vs acknowledge hym and the father in hym and thys same his mercie redemption and satisfaction Thys is the thinge that Esaye preacheth that my ryghtuous seruaunt shal iustifie many thorowe the knowledge of hym selfe that is to saye thorowe fayeth whereby we acknowledge hym as a sauiour And Daniel in the fourth Chapter Thorowe Christe transgression shall be finished synne shal take an ende and euerlastynge ryghtuousnesse shall be brought in As for the Gospell it is the ioyfull preachyng What the Gospel
when thou arte rebuked of hym for whoÌ„ the Lorde loueth him he correcteth etc. S. Paule sayeth the same thynge i. Cor. xi When we are chastised we are corrected of the Lorde that we be not condemned wyth thys worlde Item Ro. viij We knowe that to them that loue God all thynges worke for good to them I saye whiche be called according to his determined will Thirdly they muste be taughte that the crosse and aflictions be a schole wherein we are wel nourtured and enstructed of the wil of God For Christe sayeth Luke xiiij He that beareth not his crosse and foloweth me can not be my disciple For we ought not to acknowledge an other maister vpon earth If then we can not be his disciples excepte we take our crosse vpoÌ„ vs we can not learne of hym the thynges that pertayne to oure saluation wythout the crosse and afliction Wherefore S. Paule exhorteth vs also Ro. xij to gyue our bodies a lyuely sacrifice to be killed with the crosse and that we should trie what the good wyl of God is etc. For we learne manie thynges vnder the crosse and aflictions which it skylleth vs to know vnto our saluation Of al whiche neuertheles the summe and ende is to acknowledge the good and fatherly wil of God towarde vs. But we wyll reherse some of these thinges Some vndre the crosse acknowledge their weaknes and sinnes which otherwise they would not haue founde in them selues as Iob. For when he had a while keept and shewed patience vnto God at the last being broken and ouercome wyth the moste greuous calamities wherewith the Lorde exercised hym he curssed the daye of his natiuitie and murmured agaynste God whiche faute he would neuer haue thought to haue bene in hym wythout the crosse In the crosse then we feele how much euil hangeth yet in vs the secrete vices of oure herte and naughtie concupiscence of our nature is brought forth and disclosed vnto vs. Wherfore they whiche are impatient in tribulations whiche be discouraged or moued wyth some kynde of reuengynge or flee to euyll craftes and remedies of deuyls or about the confession of the name of Christe shoulde backe and abiure the Gospel or do some thynge vngodlie and vnworthie of christian profession suche men maye learne thorowe theyr fall that they do not yet truly beleue God For such falles are vndoubted fruites of infidelitie and thei proue those men whiche so fall to distruste God and to despeyre of his gooddes healpe and that they truste in them selues and in other creatures yea in witchcraftes and moreouer in the deuyl hym selfe They then whiche beinge tried wyth the crosse fynde that there hangeth in them greate wickednes whiche they knewe not before and that they were counterfaites and emptie of true fayeth ought to be agast and to quake at this their â—ngodlines and to be moued wyth earneste repentaunce and to flee wyth all their herte vnto Christe whiche maye deliuer them of thys infidelitie gyue them stronge fayth etc. For God sendeth such miseries and tribulations for thys purpose that in them meÌ„ myghte beholde trie and acknowledge theÌ„ selues in a glasse For whyle they be in prosperitie they lyue carelesly they runne not to God they neglecte to heare his worde they call not vpon God they thynke that they knowe him and haue all thynges that they neede Some vndre the crosse call their synnes passed to remembraunce and weygh them worthely at length and lamente them and truly repent of them For whyle they haue all thynges at pleasure for the moste parte they neglecte their sinnes they despice the wrath of God and thynke it not to be so muche as they heare it to be preached But when the crosse and afliction cometh vpon theÌ„ their mynde is aflight it coÌ„sidereth not that the thynges whiche it suffereth be the scourges of Goddes wrath it feareth leste God wyll shewe him selfe hereafter a rigorous iudge and reuenger of wicked actes and not a gentle father The man considereth in thys chastising of God al his sinnes whereby he desirued the punishmentes a greate whyle before whiche he nowe suffereth he weigheth them worthely at the last and condemneth him selfe and sayeth wyth him selfe in thys and that synne I well deserued thys correction of God If then true repentaunce come into his mynde and if he flee to the mercie of God in Christ he is healped also with grace For God therfore sendeth vs aflictions that we shoulde acknowledge oure sinnes that we shoulde condemne our selues and turne to the Lorde as Paul monisheth i. Cor. xi sayinge for this cause that is to saye bicause ye celebrate the supper of the Lorde vnworthely and not religiously there be many weake and feeble amonge you and manie sleepe and he addeth if we had iudged our selues that is to say if we had repented our sinnes and amended our life we should not be iudged that is we should not be subiected to so manie euyls But when we iudge not oure selues God iudgeth and chastiseth vs not wyth an enemous but wyth a beniuolent and fatherlie mynde that he maye putte vs in remembraunce of our synnes and call vs againe to repentaunce and this it is that he sayeth afterwarde But when we be iudged of God we be corrected that we be not coÌ„demned wyth the worlde Such then learne in the crosse the bouÌ„tuous and fatherly will of God in that that they knowe that God wyll not the death of a synner but rather that he be conuerted and lyue as Ezechiell testifieth xviij Whereunto he driueth euen wyth his scourges Other in the crosse acknowledge not their synnes onely or not chiefely as men hauing obteyned remission therof and which sinnes be couered by the mercie of God but they gette muche more knowledge of the mercie and excedynge goodnes of God as he that was borne blyude Iohn ix Of whom wheÌ„ the disciples had moued a questioÌ„ whether he or his Parentes had synned that he shoulde be borne blynde Iesus answered neither hath thys man synned nor his Parentes but that the workes of God maye be made manifest in him etc. Of thys sorte be the aflictions of them whiche haue somwhat profited in christian religion For God is muche redier to giue and to healpe then we be to aske it whiche thynge appeareth euidently by thys that he steareth vs vp wyth so manie his preceptes and promises to pray to him selfe promising also that he wyl gyue vs what so euer we aske in the name of Christe his sonne Therefore that we maye acknowledge this his so bountuous and verie fatherly loue towardes vs he layeth a crosse vpon vs wherein he constrayneth vs to call vpon hym that hearing vs and deliuering from euyls and heaping benifittes vpon vs he may declare his good wyll towarde vs and moue vs to loue hym agayne and to magnifie hym accordyng to the sentence of the Psal Call vpon me in the daye of trouble and I wyll deliuer the and thou shalte
goodnes diuine maiestie God hymselfe in Christ the Lord may be preached glorified acknoledged called vpon and magnified among our selues and in all the world thorowe manifest sincere and constant confession and preachyng of the Gospel openly and priuately with al mennes wordes and dedes The second wish is that at this preachyng of Gods name his kyngdome come dayly to vs to al called to the same more mightely and aboundauntly that is to say that the heauenly father wil poure vpon vs euer more plentifully the spirit of his sonne which maye brynge to passe that a iust and pure ministration of religion and dispensation of the worde sacramētes and holy lernyng may florysh and preuayle among vs and euery where all they whiche beleue in his name beyng so ioyned together and copled as it were members into his bodye so that thys selfe same body maye be repared and augmented both in number of thē that pertayne to the church also in encrease of their godlines which be alredy come to the church by euery manne that liueth in Christ specially by the holy ministre of the church But because sinne dwelling in vs and offences commyng from without hindre thys worke of the holy Gost that though we be in the church in the kyngdom of Christ and therein be dayly enstructed to godlines yet we go slouly forwarde in the same he dyd well to adde the thirde petition wherewyth we praye that Goddes wyll be done in vs whiche yet lyue in the earth and be depressed with the grosse lompe of the bodie so as it is done in heauē by the holie spirites thys burthen of the fleshe and these lettes of the worlde beinge remoued wyth lyke prompnes and studie whether we muste do or susfre any thynge for the name of Christ And bicause that as long as we lyue here we haue neede of meate and drynke and other necessaries of thys lyfe as prosperous health and good administration of the common weale in the fourth petition we desire that also vndre the name of dayly breade that we maye the better and more cōmodiouslie sanctifie the name of God promute his kyngdome and go forwarde in the same wyth all godlines We are commaunded to aske these necessaries of lyfe dayly that we maye considre that they be not layed vp in oure storehouses but in the prouidence of God and that they be euer ministred vnto vs of the free beniuolence of God and not gotten by our industrie or strength howe be it euerie man oughte to applie his industrie and labour to thys bountuousnes of God accordynge to the worde of God He addeth our and dayly bread epiousion that is to saye that whiche the instant and present vse of lyfe requireth that he maye teach vs that in these bodilie thynges we oughte to aske nor gette no more then the neede of our lyfe requireth to prouide the kyngdome of Christe in our neighbours and moreouer that we shoulde acknowledge that measure of thys oure neede that the heauenlie father hath limited and not that oure vnmeasurable desire appointeth to whom it perteineth alone to meate out to vs his chyldren oure measure that we maye thinke that to be our breade and not doubte but that it shall suffice vs abundauntly to lyue well and godlie that the heauenlie father shall gyue vs what so euer it be In these partes then of thys fourme of prayinge the Lorde hath taughte vs what good thinges we muste pray for of the heauenlie father both spirituall and corporall Afterwarde he teacheth to praye for the remouing of euyls namely our misdedes and synnes whiche we euer cōmitte and the punishmentes that we owe to Goddes iustice for the same Wherefore he taughte vs to praye Forgyue vs oure dettes For we do neuer our duetie so religiouslie in those thinges whiche God hath cōmaunded but that yet we owe a great deale more vnto the full obedience of Gods lawe Nowe we do not onely runne into those dettes of the law not fulfilled and heape daylie more and more but also we committe manie thinges playnlie against the lawe for which we are endetted to God of greuous punishmentes And we can paye neither of these two kyndes of dettes For we do not only neuer satisfie the lawe whereby we runne in newe dettes of the lawe not fulfilled but also oftentymes we committe manie thynges agaynste the lawe of God whereby we runne into infinite dettes of punishmentes Wherefore the Lorde taught vs to fleee onely to the mercie of the heauenlie father thorowe hym selfe for we muste praye for all these thynges in his name and to desire forgyuenes of oure dettes and he addeth no condition of satisfiyng For the Lorde alone hath satisfied for our synnes and he gyueth vs that satisfaction when we committe our selues vnto him But he woulde haue vs to professe that we wyll forgyue all the dettes that oure neighbours maye owe vnto vs either bicause against humanitie they haue done vs wrong or bicause they haue not done theyr duetie towardes vs and he wyl that this thinge be surely perfourmed For seinge that God in al his commaundementes prescribeth onely those thynges vnto vs whiche perteine to our health and felicitie he made this the summe of our preceptes that we loue and healpe one an other with a sincere herte and perpetuall beniuolence and he requireth verie straitlie that frō the hert we forgiue one an other mutual offences which euer more happen thorow the naughtines and weaknes of our nature yea and that we studie one to ouercome an others wronges with benifites and leaue the reuengeaunce to hym and praye that he wil remitte the same to them that hurte vs. He wyll haue suche a sure and perpetuall beniuolence to growe amonge vs and to be confirmed with all kindes of gentlenes Moreouer bicause no man can aske of the heauenlie father forgiuenes of his dettes except he humble him selfe al togither vndre his hāde and vtterly yelde him selfe to his commaundementes the Lorde hath well prescribed in this fourme of praying that we should professe before the heauenlie father that we woulde forgiue our bretherne what so euer dueties or punishmentes they myghte seme to be endetted for vnto vs in that place of prayer where we pray vnto him to forgiue vs our dettes whiche we owe vnto him infinite either for oure obedience whiche we haue not fullie perfourmed or for the punishmentes that we deserue both for neglectyng our dueties and also for the despitefull wronges that we do to his maiestie cōmittynge so manie thynges againste the duetie that we owe him Which our dettes if we rightlie acknowledge as we muste needes acknowledge thē if we aske forgiuenes of them with all oure herte we shal not doubt but that the wronges that oure neighbours do vs be the fatherlie chastisement of God muche gentler then we haue deserued and that they shal be also an holesome remedie for vs againste synnes For whiche causes it shall be easie for vs earnestly
father thorowe oure onely mediatour Christe and cal vpon hym onely in the name of his sonne wyth a sure truste of childreÌ„ towardes his more then fatherly loue wyth earneste feare also and reuerence and carefull supplication of mynde towardes his maiestie And to steare vp kendle and feede suche inuocation and praiyng Let them vse those instrumentes religiously whiche God hym selfe hath appoynted and coÌ„meÌ„ded for thys purpose I meane holy assembles the diuine scriptures the sacramentes and a godly contemplation of al his gyftes workes and iudgementes ¶ Of christian faste THe holy scriptures sette fastynge Augustine to Consulaine Priest epist lxxxviij Of the fastes of the olde fathers I sayth he in the wrytynges of the Apostles and euangelistes and all the newe testament reuoluyng that thinge in my mynde I se that fastynge is commaunded But vpon what dayes we shoulde faste or not fast by the commauÌ„demente of the Lorde or the Apostles I finde it not determined before vs as a certeyne peculiar preparation and way to more earnest prayer for the remission of sinnes for the singuler mercie grace of God and other singuler benifittes and gyftes As the Niniuites humbly prayed to God wyth moste straite fastyng for remission of synnes and forgyuenes of the punishment which God had declared vnto them Ionas iij. Such a faste it was also whiche God coÌ„maunded to the people of Israel the .x. daye of the .viij. moneth whiche was the daye of purgation in whiche all the people humbly praye God for the remission of synnes Leuiti iij. God also coÌ„maunded such a fast Ioel. ij When the people was punished of corne and wyth greuous warre for theyr synnes Turne vnto me sayeth he wyth all your herte wyth fastyng weepyng and bewaylynge Item in the same place Blowe vp a trompe in Sion sanctifie a faste etc. Such a fast also is described i. Samuel vij and thei came togyther in Masphath and drue water shedde it forth in the syght of the Lorde and fasted on that daye and sayed there we haue synned vnto the Lorde Item Dauides faste in the syckenes of his sonne whom he had fyrste of Bathseba God strucke also the yonge chylde whom the wyfe of Vrias brought forth vnto Dauid and he was despeyred of and Dauid humbly praied to the Lorde for the yonge chylde and Dauid fasted a faste and wente asyde and laye vpon the grounde Item Achab when Elias had declared vnto hym the reuengeauÌ„ce of god for the death of Naboth i. Kynges xx Of thys sorte was that faste of Paule which coÌ„tinued three dayes when the Lorde had conuerted hym nigh Damasco and had taken away his sight actes ix The faste that Iosaphat ordeyned when the Moabites and Ammonites had brought forth an huge armie agaynst hym was ioyned wyth prayer for the singuler benifitte and healpe of god The faste of Esdras was lyke wheÌ„ he prepared to returne into Iurie And that which Hester inioyned to hyr people wheÌ„ she wold speake to the kinge for the health of the people Of the same sorte it was also which the congregation of the sayntes at Antioche inioyned to them selues when laying on their handes they shoulde sende forth Paule and Barnabas to preache the Gospel to the heathen Actes xiij And it was also such a faste whiche the same two Apostles kepte when they woulde appoynte elders in the congregations of Asia whiche they had wonne to Christe Act. xiiij And that fasting ought alway to be ioyned to euerie earnest and solemne prayer the thyng that Paule wryteth of maried folkes teacheth sufficiently Let the husbande rendre due beniuolence to his wyfe and lykewyse the wife to hyr husbande defraude not one an other excepte anie thynge be done of agremente for a reason that ye maye gyue your selues to fastynge and prayer The preachers shall diligently obserue these and suche other testimonies of the holy scripture concernynge fastynge and they shal faithfully teach the people by the same Fyrst that fastyng is a certeyne propre maner and a certeyne parte of careful and earnest prayer vnto God as the places alledged and such other testifie and that it is not a worke acceptable to God by it self or holsome vnto vs. Secondly they shal diligeÌ„tly warne this also that fasting as prayer excepte it be obserued out of true fayeth and earnest repentaunce for our synnes it is not onely a thing vnacceptable to God but also abominable as if we faste by reason of the institution and custome of men or also to boste our selues whiche thinge Christe the Lorde noted Math. vi They darken theyr faces that it maye appeare vnto men that they faste A true faste and acceptable to God muste be taken in hande wyllyngly of mannes owne accorde of one whiche feeleth the burthen of synnes in his conscience whiche feareth the angre reueÌ„geaunce of God for his sinnes whiche therefore is dryuen diligeÌ„tly to seeke and praye for remission of synnes or whiche desireth to make readie hym selfe and after a certeyne wyse to sanctifie him selfe to pray more religiously for the benifittes of God Wherfore thys thynge whiche is in Ioel ij Chap. muste be euer diligently beaten into the people when we speake of fastynge Turne vnto me sayeth the Lorde wyth all your herte wyth fastyng etc. that men may learne that no fastynge pleaseth God but that that springeth out of true repentaunce and lyuely griefe for synnes and true conuersion to the mercie of God of whom we seeke remission of sinnes wyth singuler and feruent desire Thyrdly the preachers shall teache out â—f the alledged places and suche lyke that fastyng is not onely abstinence from meate and drynke but that there is required moreouer forasmuche as fastyng oughte to be a parte of carefull prayer for remission of sinnes and the grace of God that on the fastynge dayes we wythdrawe our selues vtterly from al pleasures and busynes of this lyfe and gyue our selues wholy to prayer wyth great humilitie of all our lyfe coÌ„ming from the herte and chastisynge of the bodie Hereof it came that the Lorde in Ioell commaunded to sanctifie a faste to call an asseÌ„ble to gather the elders together the spouse and the spousesse al the inhabitauntes of the lande into the house of God and crie vnto the Lorde He coÌ„maundeth also the infantes and the suckelynges to be broughte that by the syght and pitie of them they myghte be moued to greater repentaunce of theyr synnes and feruenter prayer for forgiuenes This is the cause why God so sore rebuketh the Iewes Esaie lviij Bycause on the fasting dayes they regarded theyr busynes and required theyr dettes And he testifyeth that he abhorreth theyr fastynges and that they be not those that he commaunded In whiche place thys thinge is diligently to be considered that therefore he hearde not their prayers nor accepted theyr fastes bicause they folowed theyr owne desires vpon the fastyng dayes Lo sayeth he in your fastinges your wyll is founde Wherefore it is conuenient that vpon
those dayes when fastynges are prescribed the people absteyne froÌ„ all other workes and busynes and wholy gyue them selues to heare Gods worde and to praye For thys coÌ„mon prayer of the churche hath a verie large promise propouned Math. xviij If two of you consent together vpon earth etc. Therefore we muste assemble together vnto prayer and we must applie the same that we do none other thing and that our hert and mynde be bent wholy bent thereunto Howbeit in priuate fastes in which the whole congregation is not called togyther to the worde of God and praier honeste and moderate labours of the body nothynge hyndre fastynge as they hyndre not prayer For the laboure it selfe healpeth to chastise the bodie and to drawe the mynde from the vauinitie of the world and to moue it to prayer and also to succour the poore And though at al tymes we must vse labour of the bodie for thys purpose that we may ease the neede of our brethern wheÌ„ we desirously call for the mercie and bountuousnes of God Then let thys sayinge of Paule haue place He that hath stolen lette him steale no more but let him rather worke wyth his handes that he maye succoure the needie But that faste that we take vpon vs of carefull desire to appease and to praye God wherof we recited some exemples out of the scripture byndeth a man wholy â—o prayers and other exercises of religion and draweth hym from al other cares and busines As we maye se in the faste of Dauid whiche he toke vpon hym his sonne borne of Bathseba beinge sycke he laye onely in duste lamented and knocked vpon the mercie of God wyth prayers Paule dyd the same thynge in that faste of three dayes when the Lorde had conuerted hym Fourthly the preachers shall teache that large almes muste be added to a godly fast that al vniuste burthens of our neighbours must be loosed and discharged and that we must succour the needie liberally For so the Lorde fayeth Esaie lviij Shoulde thys be the fast that I haue chosen that a maÌ„ should daily vexe his soule wryth his heade lyke a circle and caste on sacke cloth and ashes Wylt thou call thys a faste and an acceptable daye to the Lorde Is not thys rather the faste that the Lorde hath chosen Loose vngodly bondes remitte vsuries vniustly oppressynge make them free that be broken wyth pouertie and breake all burthens of dettes breake thy breade to the huÌ„grie harbour the needie and harbourles when thou seest the naked cloth hym For thys cause the holie fathers condemned all fastes as not christian nor acceptable to God though neuer so straite abstinence be kept in them and sharpe chastisyng of the bodie vsed if they that faste conuerte not theÌ„ selues from synnes wyth all their hertes to the Lorde and settynge asyde all cares and busines of thys lyfe giue them selues wholy to prayer and other exercises of religion and vse moste liberalitie towardes the pore Wherfore they taught that they which wil faste godly shoulde bestowe all that vpon the pore that they had spared in fastynge whiche is a verie rightfull thynge and takeÌ„ out of the verie nature of godlines I saye that the faythfull whyle they studiously cal for the mercie of God and desire his liberalitie shew theÌ„ selues also at that tyme chiefly mercifull and bountuous to their needie neighbours For we please God wyth such sacrifices Hebr. xiij Out of thys doctrine of christian fastes the councell Cabilonense enacted that there is required to true fastyng that the fasters The olde fathers celebrated the communioÌ„ of the supper of the Lorde on fastynge dayes at euentyde as ye may se in Athanasius de virginitate be preseÌ„t at the euening praiers which done and the coÌ„munion celebrated and alines distributed they shoulde receyue meate For the olde fathers celebrated the coÌ„munion of the holy eucharistia or thankesgyuynge on fastinges dayes at eueÌ„tyde But thys much of coÌ„mon fastyng For christian men haue a double faste a priuate faste whiche euerie man ioyneth to hym selfe or to his familie onely And a coÌ„mon faste which the gouernours of the coÌ„mon weale or the prouostes of the church inioyne to the whole coÌ„gregation for some coÌ„mon and greate necessitie that lyeth vpon all men When Dauid bewayled his synne and prayed that health myght be restored to his sicke sonne he kepte a priuate faste The fast of Cornilius was priuate whereof Luke speaketh act x. Item the faste of the Prophetisse But the faste of the Niniuites Hester Iosaphat and of many other was a coÌ„mon faste which thynge is required Ioell ij And an yerely faste in the daye of purgation is inioyned Leuiti xxiij The holy bishoppes in olde tyme and the auncient church kept two maner of these coÌ„mon fastes Some were yerely at certeine and appoynted tymes Some were not certeyne but were vsed accordyng to the necessitie that happened that they myght be readier to prayer Of the fyrst sorte lent is and other fastes returning euery yere at certeine dayes whiche dayly haue bene heaped in numbre wyth mennes traditions but verie muche hath bene wythdrawen from godlie abstinence and religious studie of prayinge to god For the institutioÌ„ of the olde churche is longe sithens corrupted For the olde byshoppes diligently exhorted the people to faste but they lefte mennes conscience free neither condemned them whiche would not or coulde not faste As Paule also onely exhorteth to faste and the Lorde him selfe layed no commaundement vpon vs coÌ„cernyng thys thinge but taught only how it should be kepte to the acceptation of the father not of men In thys moderation of exhortation and christian libertie manie wyll faste godlie and truly Now whereas fastes be most straitly inioyned no parte of fastynge or litle is kepte yea the greatest parte of the people know not what a true faste is And if anie faste and chastise theyr bodies they do it wyth manifeste vngodlines and despite of Goddes grace for wyth that worke they wyll satisfie for theyr synnes and deserue somewhat Forthermore the fathers condeÌ„ned them openly whiche were more careful for choyse of meates then for true abstineÌ„ce and chastisyng of the bodie And they reproued them also which though they vexed theÌ„ selues wyth abstinence yet in fastynge they regarded nothynge elles but abstinence nor dyd no more For we must faste for thys entent that we maye be more readie attentyue and feruent to prayer Now a daies fasting is thoughte nothynge els then to absteyne from the fleshe of foure foted beastes of birdes etc. For they serue theyr gul more daintily and exquisitely wyth fishes and other meates vpon fastyng dayes then vpoÌ„ other and they take asmuche at dynner as myght suffice for a good supper to And further that they maye seme accordynge to the olde custome to take meat after the euening praiers they haue those prayers before none Euensonge whiche accordynge to the name shoulde be sayed in the euenyng What other thynge
is thys then a mocke and despite of the diuine maiestie From whiche the preachers muste dissuade the people wyth greate diligence and call them agayne to the true maner of fastyng whiche we haue declared But we wyl determine at a conuenient tyme of the maner of inioynynge and keepyng cōmon fastes and we wyll vse suche moderation as we truste shall profitte oure people vnto the maynteynyng and amplifyinge of the studies of godlines euen as thys muste be the ende and marke of all ecclesiasticall ordinaunces that they serue to the maynteynyng and settyng forth of godlines Wherefore as often as there shal be occasion of treatynge of faystynge either out of the scriptures that shal be expouned or by reason of the tyme appoynted to fastes or thorowe some other chaunce the preachers shal diligently warne the people of the vngodlines and abuses of fastes and shall labour to corret thē First and before all thinges sette no man thynke that he oughte to faste for thys purpose that he maye deserue somwhat of God wyth that worke neither let hym be persuaded that anie fast be it neuer so hard is allowed of God except it be taken vpon vs out of true repentaunce of synnes and a sure truste of Goddes mercie to be obteyned for oure Lordes sake Iesus Christe that is to saye with a conuersion to God from the whole hert Further that fastyng be so ordeyned and kept that it serue to true and godly humblynge chastisynge and sanctifyinge of the bodie that the spirite maye be readier to prayer and other exercises of religion Thys is a godlie and acceptable fast wherunto the preachers must busily exhorte the people And cheiefly the preachers shall call the people frō that vngodlines thorow whiche some faste vnto sayntes either of inioyned satisfaction as they call it or of theyr owne wylles or that they maye obteine with that worke certeyne benifittes of the sayntes thē selues or that they may haue theyr intercession before God for certeyne benifittes For as we sayed before christian tastyng is a certeyne preparation of a true and faythfull prayer vnto God thorow Christ our Lorde and not a worke wherewyth God is worshypped by it selfe muche lesse wherewyth we might deserue anie thyng at the sayntes handes For wyth fastyng we humble oure selues and pray for remission of synnes and Origene in Leui. Ho. x. Chap. xvi Faste from euyl doinges absteine fom euyl communication conteyne frō euil thoughtes Touche not the stolen breade of peruers doctrine desire not the deceyuable meate of philosophie whiche maye seduce the frō the truth Suche a fast pleaseth god Item Athasius de virginitate for the holy goste wherby we may do those thinges that be acceptable vnto God which neuertheles are onely acceptable thorowe Christe not for oure merite bycause that God onely is to be called vpon and worshypped of vs and not the sayntes And forasmuche as the true maner of fastyng is so muche corrupted and excesse in meates and drynkes so much encreased that some on the fastynge dayes wyll absteyne verie straitly from meate and some tymes from drynke to vsynge onely water whiche the next daye and on the verie holie dayes of the saintes whereunto they prepared thē selues wyth fastynge are not ashamed to drynke tyll they be dronken to lyue shamfully the preachers whiche thinge the holie fathers dyd also shall chiefely beate in abstinence frō synnes and all excesse and fleshly pleasures and they shall exhorte them to moderation and temperance of lyfe whiche thynge we reade that the Apostles did also Thus the people at length shal be broughte to true and godly fastyng ¶ Of holie oblations THE people muste diligently be taughte thys thynge that Christe is that only acceptable and propiciatorie Chrisostome in the epistle to the Hebr. Homeli xvii chapi ix And Cirill to the quenes of the ryght faythe do testifye of the one onely offeringe sacrifice thorowe whiche we obteyne of God grace saluation and al benifittes as all the prophetes and the Apostles wytnesse and chiefly the epistle to the Hebrues from the fourth Cha. vnto the tenth Nowe moreouer thorowe Christe we offre to god the father both our bodies and oure soules an acceptable sacrifice thorowe fayth vnto the prayse glorie of his name Whereunto S. Paule exhorteth vs Ro. xij saiyng I beseche you bretherne by the mercie of God that ye giue your bodies that is to saye your selues and your whole lyfe a lyuely sacrifice holy acceptable to God your reasonable seruice and frame not your selues after the figure of thys worlde etc. So Chap. xv He glorieth that he so administred the Gospoll of God that the offering of the heathen shoulde be acceptable sanctified thorowe the holie goste Suche a sacrifice is that also whereof the Psal li. syngeth A broken spirite and an humbled herte thorowe the true knowledge of synne and repentaunce for so he meaneth is a sacrifice vnto God For they which thorowe the gospell haue truly knowen Christ by Christ haue wholy yelded them selues vnto God whē being circūuēted of Satan ouercommed of theyr owne lustes they fal into great synnes and therefore be punished of God and exercised with sundrie afliction they offre to god in their prayers for grace an hert strycken wyth the repentaunce of synnes and touched with the feare of gods iudgemēt and an hūbled and brokē spirite Whē God conforteth these men agayne and lyfteth vp theyr conscience and deliuereth from all perils and tribulations they thāke God they glorifie hym and offre vnto hym a sacrifice of prayse the fruite of lyppes confessing vnto his name Hebr. xiij As the Psal Cvij wytnesseth rehearsyng vp the chiefest daungers and calamities wherewith God is wont to chastise and exercise men They cryed to the Lorde when they were aflicted and he deliuered them from theyr necessities wherefore they gyue thākes vnto the Lorde for his mercie and for his wonderful actes towardes the chyldren of men To these sacrifices of prayinge magnifiynge God and gyuynge of thankes the sacrifice of liberalitie towardes oure neighbours chiefly the needie is ioyned For with suche sacrifices we please God Hebr. xiij For when the godly praye for so ample benifites of God or gyue thankes for receyuyng the same thē the verie nature and proprietie of godlines requireth that for Gods sake and his prayse they be liberall and bountuous towardes the pore chiefely seynge that they knowe that God accepteth these benifittes as done vnto hym selfe For which cause God commaunded the fathers also in the olde testament that at those three yerelie feastes in which al the males should appeare in his syght they shoulde not come emptie before him but that euery mā should offre accordynge to his abilitie of that blessynge that euerie one had receyued of the Lorde Exod. xxij and Deut. xv Which oblations he would haue to be gyuen forth to susteine the Leuites wydowes orphanes straungers and other pore people And ther fore the olde churche reteyned
exercised wyth aduersitie and sundrie miseries we must remeÌ„bre that we are baptised and that in baptisme al our sinnes euils be ouercomed and deade and that they be dayly wasted and obolished more and more thorowe the crosse and suÌ„dry afflictions which God sendeth vnto vs and that the newe man is continually renued and repared thorow the vertue of the resurrection of Christe Therfore of ryght we oughte to thanke God for his so vnspeakeable mercie and we muste also praye therwyth that he wyll vouchsafe euer to further and at the last to finishe his worke whiche he hath begonne in vs and in all them whom he hath called to baptisme The preachers shal vse such exhortatioÌ„s loÌ„ger or shorter accordyng to the tyme out of the forsaid places of the scripture and other lyke and then they shall adde the interrogations folowyng ¶ InterrogatioÌ„s or demauÌ„des which shall be propouned to the godfathers and to the parentes of infantes Do ye beleue that those thynges be true whiche I shewed you out of the worde of God concernyng the corruption of nature thorowe originall synnne and concernynge regeneration in Christ our Lorde and euerlastyng communion wyth God whiche is exhibited thorowe holie baptisme ¶ Answere ¶ We beleue Do you require then wyth al your hertes and wyth true fayth that thys your infant whom ye haue brought and offered to Christe be deliuered from thys corruption of nature thorowe the merite and vertue of Christe in baptisme and be reconciled to God and borne againe into a new and perpetuall lyfe ¶ Answer ¶ We require it Do ye then renounce in your name and in the name of the chylde the deuyll and all his workes ¶ Answere ¶ We renounce And the worlde also and all his concupiscence ¶ Answere ¶ We renounce Do ye beleue in God the father almightie maker of heauen and earth ¶ Answere We beleue And do ye beleue that God wyll be a father to you and to thys Infante when it is baptised and that he wyll keepe you froÌ„ all euyll thorowe his almightie power wysedome and mercie and heape benifittes vpon you and that therefore you oughte to feare hym and loue hym aboue al thynges ¶ Answere We beleue Do ye beleue in our Lorde Iesus Christe his onely sonne which to redeme vs became maÌ„ suffered died was raysed froÌ„ death ascended into heaueÌ„ and sitteth on the ryght haÌ„de of the father froÌ„ theÌ„ce gouerneth his churche thorowe his almightie power and shal come in th ende of the worlde appeare to al meÌ„ a iudge of the dead and the quicke ¶ Answere We beleue Do ye confesse out of this fayth that our Lorde Iesus Christe is also your Sauiour and Sauiour of thys chylde whiche by his death hathe purged your synnes also and hath recoÌ„ciled you to God and instified you thorowe his resurrection and wyl at length fully finishe vp the Image and lyfe of God in you beinge cleansed from all synne ⧠Answere We confesse Do ye beleue also in the holie goste the holie and vniuersall churche the communion of saintes the remission of synnes the resurrection of the fleshe and lyfe euerlasting â–ª ⧠Answere We beleue Out of thys confession do you beleue that the holie goste wyl be your teacher and comforter and the teacher and comforter of thys chylde and that you be the true membres of the bodie of Chrisâ—e oure Lorde and of his churche and that thys childe by baptisme shall be a membre of Christe and his churche wherein he shall haue remission of sinnes a sure hope of resurrection and life euerlastynge ⧠Answere We beleue Wyll ye then take the infante from baptisme and compte hym for a verie sonne of God a brother and membre of Christe and as soone as he cometh to the vse of reason if peraduenture he shall leese his parentes or if they shall be negligente in thys behalfe wyll ye take the charge of him that he may learne the ten commaundementes the articles of oure fayth the Lordes prayer the sacramentes both at home and in the congregation that from his chyldehode he maye beginne to vnderstande the misterie of baptisme and the benefittes of Christe gyuen to hym therin and afterwarde when he is wel instructed in the religion of Christe that he confesse his fayth in the congregation wyth his owne mouth and thorow the participation of Christe that he gyue hym selfe to obedience towardes God and the congregation ¶ Answere We wyll ⧠Here the past oure shall exhorte agayne the parentes and the multitude standyng by RemeÌ„bre then beloued that ye must with all faythfulnes and diligence perfourme the thynge that ye haue promised here in the sight of god Christ our sauiour which is amonge vs and before his holie coÌ„gregation And all you parentes godfathers and other that staÌ„de by acknowledge this childe after that he hath receyued baptisme as the sonne of God and membre of Iesus Christ to whom the Angelles be presente as ministers and serue hym neither doubte ye but that what so euer good or euyll ye do to thys seelie Infant you do the same to God and to Christe the Lorde Lette it not be anie payne to you then that euery one of you accordynge to his state kynred and vncation procure thys chylde to be godlie and religiously broughte vp and instructed that at length he maye keepe all those thinges that Christe oure Sauiour commaunded to vs. It perteyneth then vnto you whiche are giuen of God to thys chylde to be parentes kynsfolke or godfathers to procure as sone as he is growen vp to brynge hym to scholes to the coÌ„gregatioÌ„ that he may be instructed moore fully in the misteries of Christe and in other thynges that he may perceyue the grace and exceadyng benifittes of God gyuen in baptisme that he gyue accompt of his fayth before the coÌ„gregation that he renounce in dede the diuyl the worlde wyth al concupiscences that he wholie gyue hym selfe to Christe our Lorde and to his coÌ„gregation to be obedient in all poyntes accordyng to his gospel and so coÌ„tinue in Christ our Lorde vnto th ende and euer go forward in newnes of lyfe as a lyuely membre of Christe and that beinge a fruiteful braunch in thys vinyarde he brynge forth the plentifull fruite of all good workes to the prayse of God and edification of the churche ⧠Here foloweth the Exorcisme or adiuration HEre the past oure shall coÌ„maunde the chylde to be brought nere him and shal demauÌ„d his name which knowen he shal say I coÌ„maunde all euyll spirites in the name of oure Lorde Iesu Christ to departe froÌ„ thys infant and to do hym no hurt anie maner of wayes ⧠After thys makyng the figure of the crosse wyth his thombe vpon his foreheade and vpon his brest let hym saye Take the figure of the holie crosse in thy foreheade that thou neuer be ashamed of God and Christ thy sauiour or of his Gospell take it also on
sauiour admitted chyldreÌ„ offered vnto hym right gently and blessed theÌ„ testifiynge that the kyngdome of God perteyneth to such So let it be thy pleasure to begette our infantes agayne and to adopte theÌ„ into sonnes vnto the felowship of euerlastynge lyfe by the sacrament of baptisme GrauÌ„t then heaueÌ„ly father that we may earnestly requir so gret riches of grace setfurth in baptisme for these infaÌ„tes that we may acknowledge and receyue them wyth true fayth beinge offered both in the worde and in the sacrament finallie that we maye euer thanke the and magnifie the for them And impute not to these infantes the synne of Adam issued into theÌ„ and engendred by their parentes regarde not the merites of theyr parentes and of all thys people but let the death and merite of thy sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ preuayle in them and impute vnto them his rightuousnes and obedience Plant them into his death and resurrection make them membres of his bodie put hym vpon theÌ„ that they maye be thy sonnes and heyres and continue for euer Graunte vs also that after Baptisme we maye acknowledge them for thy chyldren and membres of the bodie of thy sonne that we may godly brynge them vp in the feare of the vnto thy glorie that we maye healpe them in all corporall and spirituall thynges that also by them thy holie name maye be more magnified the kyngdome of thy sonne enlarged thy wyl be done in thys earth as in heauen Furthermore keepe them safe gyue them bountuously the necessaries of lyfe and preserue them from all euyll Amen ⧠Thys prayer ended lette the pastoure require the Infantes to be gyuen hym let hym aske the names that they shall haue and lette hym Baptise them saiynge I baptise the N. in the name of the father the sonne and the holie goste Let the godfathers forthwith receyue the Infant from Baptisme the priest saying as it foloweth The almyghtie euerlastynge God and father of oure Lorde Iesus Christe whiche hath begotten the agayne wyth water and the holie goste and hath forgiuen the al thy synnes confirme the wyth his grace vnto euerlastynge lyfe Amen ⧠The Pastour The peace of the Lorde be wyth you ⧠Answere Amen Here lette the whole congregation synge in Douche Nowe all thankes etc. or the Psalme God be mercifull vnto vs. Then let the pastour go forth in the ministratioÌ„ of the Lordes supper ¶ How baptisme must be menistead at other tymes But if the infantes be weake so that it is to be feared that they wyll not lyue to the nexte sondaie or holye daie or if for weyghtie matters Baptisme cannot bee ministred vppon those dayes the Pastoures shall warne the people that yet they bringe their chyldren to bee Baptised at those houres whan after the custoume the people resorteteth together to heare the lordes woâ—de But if that thynge cannot bee doone neyther baptisme in the meane whyle must not be denyed to the infantes offered therevnto whan so euer they be brought for as much as lieth in vs we must not suffer that any departe out of this lyfe without the sacrament of baptisme For the Lorde instituted baptisme that it maye be to vs a sacrament of regenecion and wasshinge of sinnes from whiche in this lyfe no man is free no not an infante one daye olde for it is oure parte to do in all thynges after the Lordes word and to receyue his giftes and benefites that way that he him selfe hath appoynted vnto vs. Whan baptisme than shal be mynistred vpon workynge dayes lette the pastours ioyne to gether in order the Catechisme exorcisme and baptisme and they shal moderate their exhortacions prayers according to the companie and strength of the child For if thei se that the childe is in daunger of lyfe and that the coÌ„panye is small they shal be shorte in all thynges And they shall vse only the first part of the admonicion which we willed to be saide before the Catachisme vnto these wordes wherefore we exhorte and praye you beloued etc. So they shal vse the firste parte only of the demaundes of euery article and in the exorcisme thei shal vse only one praier wyth the Lordes prayer the Crede and the Gospell Which thinges premised lette them Baptise the infante furthwith and let them exhort the parentes God fathers and other that stand by that thei determine certainly that the infant whether he lyue or dye is the sonne of God and heyre of euerlastinge life and if he lyue that they procure him to be broughte vp vnto religioÌ„ and goddes glorye according to the exhortacion sette before whiche beginneth After that beloued etc. ¶ Of baptisme ministred to childreÌ„ assone as they be borne for danger of lyfe The peple shal be taught and warned in sermoÌ„s that they presume not lightly to ministre priuatli this most diuine sacrameÌ„t for it is worthie to be ministred in the coÌ„gregacion bi peculiar ministers with al grauitie and reuereÌ„ce and that maketh much for this purpose that it maye be holesomely mynistred and receyued But if exterme necessitie pres vs that thei that be preseÌ„t with the child beinge in danger mayei ioyne them selues together in the Lorde and lyftinge vp their mindes religiously vnto God lette them calle for his mercye promised and exhibited in Christ Iesus our Lord vpon the infante and whan they haue sayde the Lordes prayer lette them baptis him in the name of the father the soÌ„ne and the hollye gost Which done lette them not doubte but that their infante is trulye baptised washed from sinnes borne agayne in Christ and made the sonne and heire of god lette theÌ„ than giue thankes to god for this his so greate benifite and let them not thynke that baptisme muste be renued in children so baptised for in all pointes asmuch as we maye we muste so do althynges as the Lord hath appoynted If any godlie man be present whan the infant is in extremitie lette hys ministerie be vsed to baptysme Further if it chaunce that the infante so baptised at home do liue it is conuenient that he be brought afterwarde to the temple of hys parentes kynsfolke and godfathers which must com with a good company and religiously as men that ought to giue thankes for this excedinge benifite of regeneracion ministred to their infante and to offer him to god and his sauiour in the congregatioÌ„ The pastours than shall aske theis men after what sort and with what wordes they baptised the infante whether they dyd baptise him as the Lord commaunded in water and in the name of the father the sonne and the holye gost Whiche if they shall answer that they called god vpon the childe and prayed for him and baptised in the name of the father the sonne and the holye goste and that thei beleue that he is truly clensed from sinnes borne againe to God the pastours must confirme them in this belefe and in no wise Baptise suche an infante againe And that men
a Christian Answere To be borne agayn in Christ and to haue remission of sinnes and partipation of euerlastinge lyfe through him Demaunde Wher by trusteste thou that these thynges be geuen the Answere Bicause I am Baptised in the name of the father the sonne and the holie gost Demaunde What beleuest thou of God the father the sonne and the holie gooste Answere The same that the articles of oure crede do comprehende DemaÌ„ Rehearse them Answer I do beleue in God the father almightie etc. ¶ Let the chylde in this place recite al the articles of the crede playnely and distinctlie Demaun What vnderstaÌ„dest thou whaÌ„ thou sayest I beleue in God the father in the sonne and in the holie goste Answere That they be three personnes of one substance and power and yet but one God Demaun Why sayest thou God almightiâ— maker of heauen and earth Answere Bycause I beleue that god as he made al otheâ— thynges so he made me of nothynge by hiâ— onely sonne oure Lorde Iesus Christe and preserueth and gouerneth thorowe the same Iesus Christe alone and is present in euerie place and worketh all good thynges in all men thorowe his onely euer wyse purpose and ryghtuous wyl Demaund How doest thou vnderstand the second article of Christ our Lorde Answere I knowledge thereby that our nature thorowe the fal of Adam is so corrupted that no angell nor man coulde purge oure synnes and satisfie for them so that it was necessarie that the eternal worde the sonne of God shoulde be made man coÌ„ceyued of the holie goste and borne of the substance of the virgin Marie a verie man vndoubtedly but wythout sinne which thorowe his death satisfied for our synnes and thorowe his resurrection and ascention into heauen he sat vs wyth hym selfe in heauenly thynges to whom the father hath gyuen alpower in heaueÌ„ and in earth that he may gouerne vs and restore in vs his owne Image and at length when he shall come to iudge the quicke and the deade that he may â—ayse vs from the deade and that he maye gyue to vs whiche were perfectly framed againe to his owne Image the enheritaunce of eternall bliffulnes in heauen and deliuer other to be punished in euerlastynge fyre whiche haue obstinately despised him Demaund What is the meanyng of the thirde article Answere Thus that Christe the Lorde hath gyueÌ„ the holy goste to vs which thorowe the ministerie of the Gospel gathereth togyther the faythfull into his congregation wherin they must be euer steared vp vnto repentaunce and vnto fayth and to receyue remission of synnes by the worde of God and sacrameÌ„tes of the communion of Christ and so in leadyng a lyfe holie godly and profitable to theyr neyghbours wyth a good coÌ„science that they loke for Christ the sauiour which shal take theÌ„ vp to him selfe in heauen out of thys worlde and shall also rayse vp agayne theyr bodies in the daye of iudgement vnto an heauenlie life Demaun Doest thou then surelie beleue al these thinges Answere I beleue them al and I praye God that he wyl vouchsafe to encrease this fayth in me Demaunde What ought thys fayth to worke in the. Answ That I doubte nothynge but that God and the father of oure Lorde Iesus Christe whiche wyth this his sonne sent vs his word and gaue vs all thynges is the only true God that he made all thynges of nothynge that he onely worketh and gyueth all good thynges and that he wyl shewe hym selfe a father vnto me also for the same his soÌ„nes sake our Lorde Iesus Christe that he washed me from synnes wyth holie Baptisme that he gaue me his holie spirite that he incorporated me to his deare sonne so receiued me into his church and adopted me to be his sonne and heyre that also he wyll keepe me in his congregation gyue me in the same repentaunce and remission of synnes and the communion of his sonne that thorowe hym I may euer cal vpoÌ„ his name with childrens trust and that in the renuing of my self I may profit dayly vnto his Image furthemore I beleue that thorowe his worde and sacramentes he wyll confirme and encrease the same in me so that I maye studie continually to sanctifie his name and to serue his congregation wyth all maner of good workes tyl he take me out of thys worlde vnto heauenlie ioyes and the blessed resurrection Al which thynges I acknowledge that thei be perfourmed vnto me and shal be thorowe the onely free mercie of the heauenlie father and thorowe the inestable merite of his sonne oure Lorde Iesus Christ Demaund God and our heauenlie father encrease and confirme this thy fayth thorowe his sonne oure Lorde Iesus Christe Amen Doest thou thynke then and doest thou acknowledge in thys fayth that thou art verily the sonne of god his heyâ—e the brother and ioynt heyre of our lorde Iesu Christ and therfore a meÌ„bre of his bodie which the coÌ„gregation is Ans I thinke so acknowledge trustyng in the most certeyne promise of Gods beniuoleÌ„ce and in the merite of our lorde Iesus Christ Dem. Doeth that please the theÌ„ and doest thou allowe it and wilte thou continue in the same that thy godfathers promised and professed in thy name at holy baptisme when in thy steede thei renouÌ„ced SataÌ„ the world and bound the to Christe and to his congregation that thou shouldest be thorowlie obedient to the Gospel Ans I allowe these thinges and by the healpe of our Lorde Iesus Christ I wyl coÌ„tinue in the same vnto th ende Dem. And doest thou thy selfe renounce Satan and all his workes wyth thy herte and mouth here in the syght of God and before his holie coÌ„gregation Ans I renounce Dema. And the worlde and all his coÌ„cupiscences Ans I renounce Dema. And doest thou wholy giue selfe vnto al obedience of Christ and his coÌ„gregation Ans I wholy giue ouer my selfe thereunto Dema. How wast thou first adopted of God to be his sonne to be receyued into his coÌ„gregation Ans By holie baptisme Dema. What is baptisme The laâ—â—eâ— of regeneration wherby I am washed from sinnes and grafted in Christe the Lorde and haue put him vpon me Dem. Wilt thou coÌ„tinue in this coÌ„munioÌ„ of Christ vnto th ende Ans I will by the healpe of our Lorde Iesu Christ Dem. What requireth this coÌ„munioÌ„ of Christe Ans That I coÌ„tinue in this doctrine that I haue coÌ„fessed in al the articles of our fayeth and that I beleue that I haue remission of sinnes in Christ the Lord that I am iustified acceptable to God and heyre of euerlastynge lyfe for this deare beloued soÌ„nes sake not thorow myne owne merite of rigtuousnes further that I studie to liue according to al the coÌ„mauÌ„dementes of God And that I may go forwarde in this knowledge of God and obedieÌ„ce it requireth that I diligently heare the worde of God by the ministers chiefely vpoÌ„ the suÌ„daies and holy dayes and if the Elders of
bodies holye seede and children of thy kyngdome graunte that thei maye brynge theym vp to thy glorye that thy holye name maye be euer more sanctified and glorified by them and by theyr chyldren and by vs with them in al our wordes and dedes and that so thy kingdome maye be euer proÌ„moted and amplified and that al oure conuersation vpon erth maye be so framed to thy pleasure wyth lyke readynes of mynde and zeale as they whiche be in heaueÌ„ obeie they wil. And that these thinges maie preuaile in vs and be dayly encreased gyue vs also our dayly breade necessarie thinges for the bodye prosperous health peace and tranquillite that we maye gette and enioye those thinges that be nedeful for oure life to thi glorie Forgiue vs also our dettes which we dayly renne in to thoroughe neglectinge oure duties forgeue vs oure synnes wherewith we offeÌ„de the perpetually and remoue mercyfully thei scourges which we wel deserue through our misdedes and synnes as we also before thine eyes doe gladli forgiue al them whiche maye seme to owe vs anye thynge either in omittinge theyr dutie or in dowinge wronge nether leade vs in to anye tentation whom thou instly examinest and tryest wyth sonder tentations on the ryght hande and the lyste with prosperite and aduersite But deliuer vs froÌ„ the deuil the olde craftie enenie Satan and from al hys subtillities and violente inuasions wherewith he tempteth vs sondrie waies and euer laboreth to pulle vs from the and thi coÌ„maundementes deliuer vs I saye that we maye neuer decline from the and thy worde nor suffer oure selues at anye tyme to bee drawen awaye therwyth entisementes or terrible threates but that we maye continue to the ende in the fayth of thy worde and in the obedience of thy commaundementes as they true and germain children for thou arte our only God and father thine is the kingdome and the power and the glorie with our lord Iesu Christe thy sonne and the holye goste now and euerlastingly ⧠Or more breifely Lorde God whyche wouldest ioyn man and woman in matrimonie and hast blessed them with the fruite of the woÌ„be and wouldest that in theyr copulacion a sacrament of thy loue towardes the congregacion should be sette furth we beseche thy mercifulnes that thou wilte not suffer this thy institucion and holie worcke to be in anye wife violated in thy seruauntes or thy blessinge to be turned from theÌ„ but preserue theÌ„ thorough thy bountuousnes and encrease in them the thinge that thou hast begonne to the welth of them and of thy congregacion and giue them the ample blessinge of thy mercye thorough our Lorde Iesus Christ The pastoures shal cause also the names of them whome he hath maried or baptised to be writteÌ„ in a boke with a note of the daie and the yere And forasmuche as the ingnorauncie of degres of consanguinite and affinite causeth often tymes muche busines and manye errous we wil procure that they shal be clearely and distinctly sette furth whiche the pastoures shal often declare to the people Furthermore greuous offences and many periuries growe of this that yonge persones promise matrimonie one to a nother rashly and priuily with out witnesses For it sone chauÌ„ceth that they forsweare theyr promisses we wil therefore that no promisse of matrimoni bee ratified that is made the parentes not knowinge of it or not consentynge ther vnto or agaynst the myndes of their kynsfoke or tutors if theyr parentes be abseÌ„t or not able to rule themselues But if the parentes kinsfolke or tutors wil haue yonge men or maidens beinge of ripe age to differre mariage or dryue theym to vnpleasaunte mariages which thing as it fighteth with humanite and with the worde of God so it is also forbiden by the lawes than they that be so burthened shal bringe the matter before the pastours and officers whiche shal labour to aswage the rigorousnes of the parentes kinsfolke or tutors wyth a frendlie exhortacion and if they can preuaile nothinge with that exhortacion they shall referre the mater to an ordinarie officer which by iudicial authoritie shall resiste the vniust rigorousnes of the parentes kinsfolke or tutors and he shal chose and appoynte some honest and wyse men by whose aduise some thinge shal be determined to the glori of God welth of the yong persons and edificacion of the churche concerninge the mariage of theym to whoÌ„ their parentes kynsfolke or tutors be some what vngentle in thys behalfe And if anye haue nether pareÌ„tes nor tutors neuertheles the despousation and promisse of mariage which they make is not to be compted of effecte if both the parties acknowlege it not or if there were not at the lest three or foure witnesses at the handfastinge which muste be honest men and worthey to be beleued For mariage is an holie thing and therefore we must go aboute the same with good aduisement and with the feare of God not thorough anie passion or desire of the flesh raschnes gylte deceyte and nawghtie craftes Whereof the pastours must often warne the people and declare howe vnsemelye a thinge it is for Christian menne to contracte matrimonie the ryght holie copulacion of men secretely and raschly that hereby yong men and maydens maye be ware that they knytte not theÌ„selues together folishlye and craftely whereof periuries debates diuorces and miseries and that that is most greuous of all the wrathe of God is wonte to folowe But that those coÌ„trouersies which 〈◊〉 often about matrimonie may be more commodiouslye declared and decided and â—hat ignorante persones maye be the better prouided for we wil appoynte iudgementes in certayne places of our dominion to whiche suche matrimoniall causes shal be referred It shal also pertayne to the pastoures to enstruct to the people certaye tymes in the yere of Matrimonye wyth what religion and reuerence it ought to be taken in hande and to be kepte And they must teach wyth singular diligence what an holie copulacion of men marige is and what an excellent benifite it is of goddes prouidence to obtyne a good and tractable husbande or wyfe that they maye learne to praie God humbly and relygiously that he wyll prouide them and theyr children of conuenient mariages Let the pastoures also warne how grate a sinne it is and howe it is forbidden of God with a peculier curse not to regarde religion aboue al thinges in contractynge of mariage that euerye body seke principally a companion of fayth whiche dothe knowledge call vpon and worshippe Christ the Lord which maye be with him one man in the Lord and an helpe to goforwarde in the fayth and seruice of Christ Item after a consideracion of a consente in religion that they muste also se that there be a singuler coÌ„sente of myndes and a likenes of maners and honest desiers whiche are wounte to be signes of goddes copulation fruther more that they must prefere the affinite of godlye and honest men by whom a man maye be encreased in