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A03087 A simple, and religious consultation of vs Herman by the grace of God Archebishop of Colone, and prince Electour. [et] c. by what meanes a Christian reformation, and founded in Gods worde, of doctrine, administration of the deuine sacramentes, of ceremonies, and the hole cure of soules, and other ecclesiastical ministeries may be begon among men committed to our pastorall charge, vntil the Lorde graunt a better to be appoynted either by a free, and Christian cou[n]sayle, general, or national, or elles by the states of the empire of the natio[n] of Germanie, gathered together in the holye Gost; Einfaltigs Bedencken, warauff ein christliche in dem Wort Gottes gegrünte Reformation an Lehr, Brauch der heyligen Sacramenten un Ceremonien, Seelsorg und anderem Kirchendienst, biss auff eines freyen, christlichen, gemeinen oder nationals Concilii, oder dess Reichs Teutscher Nation Stende, im Heyligen Geyst versamelt, Verbesserung, bei denen so unserer Seelsorge befohlen, anzurichten seye, English Wied, Hermann von.; Melanchthon, Philipp, 1497-1560.; Bucer, Martin, 1491-1551. 1547 (1547) STC 13213; ESTC S103980 258,817 620

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sauiour admitted chyldrē offered vnto hym right gently and blessed thē testifiynge that the kyngdome of God perteyneth to such So let it be thy pleasure to begette our infantes agayne and to adopte thē into sonnes vnto the felowship of euerlastynge lyfe by the sacrament of baptisme Graūt then heauēly father that we may earnestly requir so gret riches of grace setfurth in baptisme for these infātes 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 thē 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 thē 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 ministratiō 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 wo●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 cōpanye 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 religiō and goddes glorye according to the exhortacion sette before whiche beginneth After that beloued etc. ¶ Of baptisme ministred to childrē assone as they be borne for danger of lyfe The peple shal be taught and warned in sermōs that they presume not lightly to ministre priuatli this most diuine sacramēt for it is worthie to be ministred in the cōgregacion bi peculiar ministers with al grauitie and reuerēce 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 presēt 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 sōne 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 thē 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 congregatiō 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
of Angels and sundry appearynges to his disciples but also by his ascension into heauen and wonderfull sendynge of the holie goste and many other miracles and signes that nothynge more certeyne euer chaunced vndre the sunne Neither did he rise from the dead for his owne cause onely but for asmuch as he abolished our dette and sinne thorowe his death the mercie and bountuousnes of God is so great towardes vs whiche beleue in Christ that he wyll not onely forgyue our synnes for Christes sake but wyll also gyue vs the fruite of his resurrection and in verie death preserue vs vnto euerlastynge lyfe He the●● that trusteth in Christe is plāted into Christ thorow faith so far that he is made a mēbre of hym Your bodies sayeth Paule be the membres of Christe And in an other place God hath putte all thynges vndre his feete and hath made hym an heade aboue al thinges vnto the congregation it selfe whiche is his bodye the fulfyllynge of hym whiche fulfylleth al thynges in all Seing then that Christe the heade of the congregation atteyned to euerlastyng lyfe and glorie thorowe his resurrection from death it is not possible that one of his membres planted in him thorowe fayth shoulde not atteyne to the same For though it be deade buried rottē wasted corrupted yet it muste needes come to passe that it shal be raysed vp againe in due tyme vnto lighte and lyfe and so enioyne eternall blisfulnes with Christe For thys cause christian men departed are not called deade but are sayed to be a sleepe euerye where in the scriptures S. Paule confirmeth this our fayth whē he saith that as Iesus died and rose againe so God shal bringe them agayne with hym whiche are fallen a sleepe thorowe Iesus He sayth thus also Philip. iij. Our cōuersation is in heauen from whence we loke for a sauiour Iesus the Lorde which shal transfigure our base bodie that he may make it like vnto his glorious bodie etc. Whiche thynge that it may be more euident the Apostle teacheth vs not onely that the deliueraunce of the faythful frō death raysyng vp againe vnto euerlastyng reste shal be moste certeine but also he addeth wyth expresse wordes i. Thessa iiij with howe great glorie and maiestie these thynges shal be done For thus he speaketh Thys we say to you in the worde of the Lorde that no man shulde thynke that these be dreames or imaginations of mēnes braynes but that it is the Lordes worde and therefore heauē and earth must needes passe awaye rather then one iote thereof shoulde fayle and thys is that true and euerlastyng and vnchaungeable worde of the Lorde that we whiche shall lyue and remayne vnto the Lordes cōming shal not preuent thē whiche sleepe For the Lorde him selfe shall descende from heauen wyth a shoute and voice of the Archangell and trompe of God that is to saye wyth so great glorie and maiestie as was neuer sene in the earth before and the deade shal fyrste ryse agayne wyth Christe and then we whiche shal be aliue which shal remayne shal be caught vp with them in the cloudes into the ayre to mete the Lorde and so we shal be euer wyth the Lorde Seinge then that thys our brother whō we haue nowe brought to hys graue was baptised in the name of Christe and embraced his gospell and confirmed and declared the same his fayth with communicatinge at the Lordes supper and finally departed in the confession of Christ we haue good hope that God hath forgiuen him hys sinnes for Christ sake hath receyued hym in to the fauour and so ioyned him to the death and resurrection of hys beloued sonne that at the sounde of the trompe of the archaungel in a moment in the twinckling of an eye he shal come out of hys graue to meete Christ and shall obteyne with al the sayntes the inheritaūce of the heauenly kingdome and enioye euerlastinge blisfulnes Wherefore lette vs also giue thankes to oure Lorde God for him and lette vs besech hym ernestly that he wyll brynge vs to the true knowledge of Christ thorough the holi gost whereby we maye ouer come death and be kepte in death it selfe vnto euerlastinge life thorough Christe our Lorde praie ye oure father which art c. ❧ Another buriall sermon Forasmuch as it hath pleased almyghtye God that accordynge to hys mercye he woulde take thys oure brother out of thys worlde vnto hym selfe to whose buriall we are come together of brotherlie loue in the name of Christe it shall not be vnprofitable to set before you the Euangelicall lesson of Lazarus raysed vp by Christe whiche is in Iohn Chap. xi in thys sorte Martha sayed vnto Iesus Lorde if thou haddest bene here my brother had not bene dead etc. In this Gospell Christe promiseth to Martha that hir brother shall ryse againe and streighte waye he called hym agayne to lyfe beinge foure dayes dead Howbeit we must not thinke that Christ wyth thys notable miracle woulde signifie that euery mā after foure dayes shal be raysed vp to this temporall and momētaine life as Lazarꝰ was but with this acte he would cōfirme and establishe the truth of his Gospell whiche he comprehended in thys place with fewe wordes and as it were in a sūme saiyng I am the resurrectiō and lyfe he that beleueth in me though he be deade he shall lyue and euery one that lyueth and beleueth in me shall not dye for euer And though the face of death by reason of sinne be very terrible and horrible as one that of hir owne nature draweth wyth hir euerlastyng dānation yet seing that Christe hath abolished sinne and escaped the dominion of death thorowe his resurrection he hath taken also frō death all hir power and strength so that who so beleueth in him and is planted into his body thorowe fayth as a liuely mēbre he shall be preserued in death it selfe and shal be trāslated frō death to lyfe As Paule testifieth Christ is rissen from the deade he was the first fruite of thē that had fallen a sleepe For seing that death came by man the resurrection of the dead cometh also by man For as by Adam all men dye so by Christe al men be quickened etc. Wherfore the death of thē whiche cleane to the body of Christe thorowe fayth ought not to be compted suche as shoulde haue strēgth to destroye and condemne but suche as before God is compted precious and is as it were entronised cōsecrated of Christ to be the dore and entry into euerlasting life Though the bodie then beinge buried in the earth vanishe away and be cōfounded from the eyes of mē yet God which is almightie preserueth the life of it As a grayne of corne cast vpō the earth first dieth and afterward bringeth forth fruite so god hath also ordeined that mānes body being now rotten and consumed shoulde yet be restored agayne vnto lyfe This is a diuinite and an vnchaungeable truth that this selfe same
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
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
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
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 prōmoted 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 heauē 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 offēde 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 frō 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 cōmaundementes 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 wōbe 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 thē but preserue thē 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 writtē 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 chaūceth 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 absēt 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 whō their parentes kynsfolke or tutors be some what vngentle in thys behalfe And if anye haue nether parētes 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 thēselues 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 cōtrouersies which 〈◊〉 often about matrimonie may be more commodiouslye declared and decided and ●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 cōsente 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
question What good workes must be taught and done ¶ The answer Those that God hath cōmaunded in the ten cōmaūdemātes those that be cōteyned in the same after the interpretatiō of Christ and his Apostles For we must take ryght good hede that we deuyse not worshyppinges of God and good workes wythout the worde Therfore Christe also sayeth They worshippe me in vayne wyth the cōmaūdemētes of men For God wil that not onely fayth but also al our good workes be limited with his worde as with a sure rule leste after the maner of the heathen we deuyse to our selues vayne imaginations and workes of our owne as it hath chaunsed in callynge vpon sayntes in voued pilgrimages to the bones of sayntes in forbiddynge of mariage and suche lyke ¶ The seconde question Howe maye good workes be done ¶ Answer Mānes diligēce perfourmeth outwarde discipline metely so so But the commaundementes of God require also the inwarde workes of the herte as the feare of God fayth loue towardes the cōmaundementes of God true inuocatiō patience in troubles chastitie cet And it is well knowen that mannes weakenes can in nowise perfourme such workes without Godds healpe Ther fore God poureth his spirite into the hertes of the Godlye which helpeth them whiche gyueth them newe lyght and strength and this is a true exercise wherin God wil haue vs to call vpon Christe and to flee to hym that he maye gyue vs the holie goste and guyde vs therwyth that we fall not For it was an harde thynge for Dauid not to fal into desperation when he was dryuen out of his realme and appeared to be cast away of God Therfore he fled to praier as to an onely holde that was lefte and he required to be stayed and strengthned wyth the holy goste that he myghte call vpon God and loke for the ende of the matter in patience Wherfore Christe sayeth I wyll not leaue you fatherles Item the Lorde sayth in Zacharie Cha. xij I wyl poure vpon the house of Dauid the spirite of grace and prayer that is to saye he gyueth vs the holie goste that we maye beleue vnfaynedly that we are in the fauour of God by whiche fayth our mynde is steared vp to inuocation For whē we knowledge that the mercie of God is present wyth vs we loke for healpe and comfort from him and we submitte our selues to his wyll etc. Therfore God dyd not onely commaunde vs what we shoulde do but also he promiseth and offereth vs healp to do the same The cause why few men vnderstande thys thing and considre it a right is the dissolute and vnreligious lyfe and great securitie that reigneth in the common people For they fyght not agaynst synnes but vtterly folow all maner of lust and fall into greate blyndnes of mynde so that they know neither God nor his workes in men But they that lyue in the feare of God and call earnestly for thys healpe and ayde of the holie goste haue true experience howe present and effectuous his healpe is in affictions Wherfore it is ryghte expedient fo● fearfull and weake myndes whiche haue some begynnyng and desire of godlines to considre diligently the sayinge of S. Paule Philip. ij It is God that worketh in you both to wyll and to brynge to passe accordynge to the good purpose of his mynde that is to saye though thou feele thy selfe to be weake neuertheles when thou goest aboute any good thynge in thy lyfe accordyng vnto thy vocation vnto the glorie of God be of good comforte and knowledge that God wyll healpe the in thys endeuour and gyue the his holie spirite and good successe to thy worke ¶ The thirde question Howe do good workes please God seinge that there remaineth euer in thys fleshe so great weaknes in thys lyfe For we all haue experience dayly that there sticketh in vs as yet muche doubtyng cōceruyng God and his worde distrust of his presence and healpe inordinate motions and carefulnesse of thys lyfe Whiche woundes of mannes weaknes the sayntes feele to be so much the greuouser as they more studie to remedie them Whiche thinge Paule bewayleth of him selfe Roma vij It is profitable that the people be often and playnely admonished of thys question For a great parte of men be encombred in two errours Some be in perpetual doubte being vncertaine whether their lyfe or workes please God and lyuynge in an heathnishe vngodlines For they can not call vpō God but they flee his syghte There is a verie great multitude of thys sorte amonge men Wherfore thys heathnishe blyndnesse of men muste be diligently reproued An other arrogancie and trust of our owne rightuousnes and workes as was the errour of that pharisie whiche in the temple gloried of the keepyng of the lawe not perceyuyng his owne vncleanes and synnes Therefore that thys double errour and thys blyndnes maye be ouoyded we muste knowe that three thinges are required herevnto that good workes please God Fyrste that the mā him selfe be acceptable to God and be iustified freely for Christes sake Secondly that it is requisite that a newe lyfe folowe and obedience towardes God though it be vnperfecte and though muche weakenes and manie vices remayne in vs. Wherfore we muste remēbre that it is euer needfull to aske forgyuenes of synnes As Christe taught vs all to praye to the father Forgyue vs our dettes For no man vnderstandeth sufficiently howe greate the anger of God is agaynste synne oure reconciler Christ dyd onely fully perceyue it when he sayed If they do thys in the grene wood what wyl they do in the drye we muste not then extenuate and diminishe synne Thirdly though thys obediēce be weake yet we must determine that it pleaseth God in the reconciled for his sonne sake as saynt Petre exhorteth to offre spirituall sacrifices acceptable vnto God thorow Iesus Christ as if he woulde say not for their owne worthines but for the Mediatours sake Christ our only high bishoppe euer makyng intercession for vs. Thys is it that is wonte to be sayed at other tymes that good workes oughte to be done out of fayth that is that a man should not wauer doubtynge whether his lyfe or workes please God but certayne determine that he is acceptable to God for Christes sake as we haue often sayed and therefore that his workes being commaunded by the worde of God be acceptable vnto God for the same Christes sake thoughe they be weake and vnperfecte Therfore faith must be exercised in good workes two wayes Firste that we beleue they please God Secondly that we praye to God that for Christes sake he wil healp vs both to lyue godlie and also to do those workes that shall profitte the common lyfe of mē that he wyll giue thē good successe Nowe let euerie man considre wyth him selfe howe greate thys mercie of God is and howe sweete thys doctrine is It semeth a small worke when the mother bryngeth vp hyr childrē gyueth sucke
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
shall be present in theyr exammation and conuersion But if anie refusyng godlie admonition and doctrine shall obstinately continue in theyr impietie the officer of that place muste brynge theyr cause before an higher magistrate He shall punishe suche accordynge to the state of the personne and erroure wyth banishmente or other sore paynes after the law of the empire and the tēporal cōstitutiō decreed set forth cōceruyng these matters For we wyll that thys be knowen to all men that none in our dominions or places subiecte to our rule shal be suffered that dareth alowe one or more of the Anabaptisticall errours We wyl haue the same maner vsed with all them whiche steare vp spreade abrode or allowe anie false doctrine that fighteth with the receyued articles of our fayth ¶ Of the administration of religion that is to saye of the handlynge and dispensation of the doctrine Sacramentes and discipline of Christ in the churche And fyrste of the maner and ordre of holy sermons ON the sondaies and holie daies the preachers shal reherse and declare to the people the wonted lesson of the Gospell betwene the administration of the Sacramente as the custome is and out of that lesson they shal teache the people admonishe and argue those thinges which they shall perceyue to be moste necessarie and profitable for christian lyfe And forasmuch as al the lessons of the holy scripture preache vnto vs of God to be acknowledged in Christe of his almightines and mercie of repentaunce and forgyuenes of synnes in the name of Christe a wyse and faithful preacher shal easely chose that thing chiefely out of euerie lesson that shall make to the health and edification of the present congregation Wherfore the pastours must haue great care of the people and trye at certeyne tymes howe muche euerie one hath profited in religion in what partenerie one staggereth and is readie to fal whether it be in the doctrine of fayth or concernynge the trust of Gods mercie or in the feare of the iudgement of God or in patience loue or orderynge of maners that timelie and holesome remedies maye euer be brought out of the worde of God as out of a plentifull apothe caries shop and layed to the greuous diseases and vices of the people The lessons of the scripture beinge recited in the begynnynge of sermons muste be diligently declared to the people and that whole togither For the worde of God must be propouned to the people that they maye learne it and be enstructed to godlines therby Wherfore so muche shal be declared as was reade to the people that they maye receyue some fruite of godlines thereby But the preachers and ministers of the cōgregations shall labour diligently herein that the doctrine and exhortation whiche they wyll vse before the lessons euer be referred to those thynges wherein the people is weakeste and they shall instantly beate in the thynges whiche they shall perceyue to further the amendemēt of the people and holesome institution whiche thynge we se that the holy fathers dyd also which fyrst declared in ordre the lesson that was recited and afterwarde taryed in those places chiefely in teachyng exhortyng and reprouyng that semed moste to further the institution admonition and correction of the people But bycause all doctrine and exhortation is then ryghtly perceyued and lette to sinke deeper into the mynde if it be deriued out of certaine principles knowen before as fundacion and cōcluded in the same the preachers muste referre all doctrine and exortation in theyr sermones to some place of a Catachisme or institution as to the ten commaundementes to the articles of our faithe the Lordes praier the Sacramentes and suche lyke principall poyntes of our religion And bycause that the whole christiane doctrine and what so euer perteyneth to godlines consisteth in these sūmaries and be meetelie well knowē to the people it bringeth great light to the doctrine and it moueth the people the more if the sermons shal be referred to these poyntes as to a certeyne marke and they shall shewe the people to what parte of the catechisme that that they teache perteyneth Thys thynge shall healpe muche to thys purpose that the people maye dayly growe more and more in all godlines fayeth in Christe and loue towarde theyr neighbour The pastoure muste also teache the people the common offices and dueties of thys lyfe accordynge to euerie mannes vocation as the office of maried folke one towardes an other the office of the parentes towarde theyr chyldrē and cōtrary wise What maisters owe to their seruaūtes and seruauntes to theyr maisters Howe the officers oughte to be estemed and all other gouernours howe greate reuerence we owe them howe we oughte to lyue wyth oure superiours equalles and inferiours These thynges must be often propouned and repeted in sermons chiefely on the holie dayes when a greate cōpany of people resorteth togyther And the prayses of ciuile lyfe muste be diligētly beaten into mē and chiefely the youth muste be accustomed wyth great diligence and arte to learne to haue a reuerent opinion of the officers of the lawes and of al politike thinges This reuerence is profitable to the common weale and is the nurse of great vertues On the sundayes and holie dayes at the euenyng prayers some exhortation muste be made which shal be chosen out of the epistle of the sundaye or holie day whiche the preachers when it is reade to the people shal interprete diligently They may if they wyll declare to the people the actes of the Apostles or one of the euangelistes or some epistle of Paule or the Psa●ter in ordre But let none of the preachers take in hāde to declare the bokes of Moyses the histories of the olde Testamente the prophetes but they to whom the Deanes shal committe that matter We wyll also that vpon the sundayes and holie dayes aswel in the mornynges as eueninges holie assembles be vsed holie lessons be propouned and prayers be made if there be ministers inowe and if muche people come thereunto For so seruauntes and other of the common people shall be better prouided for which can not euer come to the principall assembles of the churche In the mornyng let the catechisme be declared if it maye be if not let it be declared at euentide when the people resorte togyther For a certeyne houre on the holie dayes muste be appoynted for the ruder sorte and the youth to haue the Catechisme declared And that houre for the Catechisme shal be appoynted that is moste conuenient for the people And A Catechisme is an introductiō institution and instruction of the vnlearned in the wicke dayes two dayes or one at the leste muste be appoynted for the Catechisme from Marche to Nouember From that tyme vnto the spryngtyde the Catechisme maye be omitted on the workynge dayes by reason of youge chyldren whiche can not be present for the great colde In euerie congregation suche ministers must be chosen to the handling of
afflicted for al those whome thou chastisest with the crosse and some affliction and exercisest vnto patience with pouertie exile fetters infamie disceases and other calamites and mischaunces Graunt to them that thei maye acknowlege thy fatherlie and medicinable hand vndre which thei maye humble thē selues with al their hertes Conforte their minnes wyth fayth and confidence of thy mercye whiche moderateth all thinges yea euen aduersites for the helth of thine and deliuer them from al euils Graunte to vs also that thorough their correction and punishment we maye acknow●ege that we haue deserued thinges much more greuous that we maye amende oure liues in time before worse plages happen vnto vs. Last of al we praie the eternal God heauēlye father for vs which here come together in thy sight to thi word praier and sacramentes lighten the eyes of our minde graunte vs to considre with perfecte fayth that we haue a nature corrupted from the beginning that our flesh bloud cannot enioy thy kingdome but only commit sin delerue eternal death and encrease the same destruction with daily sinnes and that thou most mercifull father of thy vnmeasurable mercy didest loke vpon vs and sendest into this world thy eternal worde thy sonne our flesh and brother that he myght deliuer vs by his death from this our destruction and restore vs to thy Image and prayse of thy name that thou deliuerest him to the crosse and death and that he gladly offred himself vnto the in the crosse for our sinnes and satisfied for the same through loue and pitie of vs that he reconsiled vs vnto the and more ouer that he offered vnto vs his bodye and bloud to be meate and drinke that we may lyue in him and he in vs. Graunt heauenly father that we may consider and apprehend al these thynges with true and liuely fayth now and throughout al our lyues that deniyng our selues we may vtterly refuse the folysh and blynd iudgement of our reason and represse naughtie and noysome lustes and wholy geue ouer our selues to him thy dere sonne our Lord and onely sauiour and restorer that we seke and receiue comfort in al thynges al helpe ayde and sauegarde in hym onely in his death crosse and resurrection Now also let vs receiue his holy body and bloud with sincere fayth and al thanke fulnes and let vs euer magnifie him and the in hym for all thy exceadyng benifites whych thou hast geuen in makynge gouernyng and restoryng vs for the incarnation passion and death of thy sonne whereby he purged oure synnes and reconsiled vs vnto the for his resurrection ascēsion into heauen and heauenly gouernaunce wherby he restored vs vnto the and moueth and renueth vs vnto al thy pleasure Finally for this most ample benifite that he here deliuered hym selfe vnto vs to be meate and drynke vnto eternall lyfe that so thy diuine name may be dayly more more sanctified by vs in vs thy kingdome may be established and spredde abrode by vs vnto other that all thynges maye be done amonge vs in the earth accordyng to thy wil with suche feruētie and cherefulnes as they be done in heauen And that these thynges maye be done in vs gyue vs also our dayly breade all necessarie thynges for our bodies prosperous health and peace that we maye enioye these thynges vnto the glorie of thy name And forgiue vs our dettes and sinnes whiche we dayly committe and mercifully pardone vs of the punishmentes whiche we haue deserued as we also in the sight of thy maiestie do gladly and hertely forgyue all them whiche haue offended vs. And suffre not our tentator the olde enemie which studieth euer to leade vs frō the and thy worde to ouerthrowe vs at anie tyme wyth his tētations But deliuer vs from hym and all euyl for thou onely art our God and father thyne is the kyngdome the power and glorie for euer Amen ¶ An other and a shorte fourme of prayinge Mercifull God heauenly father whiche commaundedest vs to come together in thy name and in the name of thy sonne oure Lorde and sauiour Christe and thorowe the same our onely Mediatour to praye the for al thynges the whiche we desire for our selues and for other addynge a moste ample promise that we shoulde obteyne what soeuer we woulde aske of them trustyng in this thy cōmaundement and promise we stande in the syght of thy diuine maiestie we praye and beseche the in the name of thy deare sonne our onely sauiour that thou wilt forgyue vs all our iniquities and synnes that thou wylte renue our hertes wyth thy holie spirite and steare vp and kendle the same to thy sonne Christe that for all the necessities of thy cōgregation of al mē we may call vpon the and obteyne what so euer is good for vs vnto the glorie of thy name We praye the then chiefely for thy congregations deliuer and preserue them from al those ministers whom thou hast not sent sende them suche ministers whiche wyth all faythfulnes and diligence wyl seeke thy scatered sheepe and brynge them to Christ our Lorde which is onely their good shepeherde and wyll studie to feede them faythfully vndre hym that all vngodlines heresies sectes all naughtie doctrines and peruerse seruice of God may be taken away and that in the vnitie of true fayth and knowledge of thy sonne we maye growe and go forwarde to al thynges that please the. So we pray the also for the Emperoure for our kynge for all kynges princes and comune powers and officers and specially for oure moste reuerende archbishoppe for his counsellers and officers for the counsell and communaltie of thys Citie graunt that all these maye execute theyr office according to thy wyll that they maye turne awaye all noysome thynges from theyr subiectes and procure and maynteyne all good thynges that beinge deliuered out of the handes of our enemies we maye serue the wyth a quiet mynde in all holines and ryghtuousnes We praye furthermore mercifull father for all men as thou wylte be the sauiour of all men drawe them to thy sonne which yet perteyne not to hym and graunt that they whom thou haste drawen to hym alreadie maye growe and be confirmed dayly more and more in the knowledge loue of him We praye also for them whom thou chastifest wyth sundrie miseries and afflictions for an exemple vnto vs that thou wylt conforte them and deliuer them from al euilles graūt vs that we may diligently regarde thy fatherlie nurture whiche thou settest before vs in them considerynge that we haue deserued greuouser thinges that in time we maye iudge and amende our selues that it be not needful that we be corrected and condemned of the. Graunt also to vs all whiche here in thy sight come together to thy worde prayer almes and diuine sacramentes that we maye truly come together onely in thy name and in the name of thy deare sonne that we may take holde of thy diuine law and holie
of synnes whereunto he shall adde an absolution Then he shall recite the Crede shal make suche a prayer ¶ The pastour The Lorde be with you ¶ They whiche be present And wyth thy spirite Almightie euerlastyng God whiche of thy exceadyng mercie haste gyuen vs thy sonne and all thynges wyth hym lighten our hertes and myndes that we may certeynly beleue and acknowledge thy sonne to be oure onely sauiour and the in hym our God and father and that we maye so receyue and enioye the communion of his bodie and bloud from thys his table ordeined by his cōmaūdement that his newe and diuine lyfe wyth al trust of his grace and sure expectation of blessed resurrection may be cōfirmed and encreased in thys oure sicke brother or sicke sister and in vs all that we also may be content to susteyne thy hande in this present visitation and loke wyth affiaunce for thy callyng out of thys wycked worlde and that as longe as it shall please the we maye lyue here and more sanctifie thy name and sette forth thy kyngdome thorowe the same thy beloued sonne our Lorde Here the pastoure shall saye the Lordes prayer That done he shall wishe peace to the sicke person and all that be present Thē he shall rehearse the wordes of the supper playnely and reuerently The Lorde that night that he was betrayed etc. When he hath rehearsed those wordes lette hym giue the whole Sacrament to the sicke personnes and to those of the standers by which shal offre them selues gistes to the Lordes bourde as it behoueth wyth those wordes that we rehearsed before After the cōmnunion let hym cōclude the Lordes supper with thākesgiuyng blessyng as is described before The sicke folke also muste be euer exhorted to liberalitie towards the pore Of cōmunion in priuate houses for men in health Bicause some both of the ordre of knighthode and men of other degrees dwell farther from temples then that they can euer come together to the commune assemble of theyr parish in the winter other incommodious tymes of the yere the pastours shall not be grieued to celebrate the holie supper in theyr houses at conuenient tymes when they shall require it and when there shall be iust causes so to do by thē selues or by other meete ministers after the maner and facion that is described before But they whiche dwell so nigh the temples of theyr parishes that they maye well come together to the cōmune communion of theyr parish shal haue no priuate cōmunion in theyr houses administred whiche thynge the olde holie fathers forbadde to be done ❧ Of conuersion from sinnes or repentaunce and christian excommunication IT is greatly to be lamēted that mannes weakenes the diuyls power is so great that so manie of thē which be receyued amonge the childrē of God fal so sone frō the begonne obedience of God and caste awaye the grace whiche they had receyued and the holie goste beinge vnthankefull towardes God theyr father whom they offende so vngodly and towardes theyr sauiour Christ whō they madly put from them and agaynste the holy goste whom they so traiterously agrieue and finallie moste noysome agaynste thē selues For they prouoke the wrath of God agaynst thē selues which shall punishe thē euē with temporal paynes and not onely them but also those that be ioyned vnto them by any meanes Whiche thynge the historie of Saul Dauid and other testifieth Furthermore they take from them selues the mooste excellent consolation in thys lyfe I meane the callynge vpon God For they that cōtinue in synne against theyr conscience can not call vpon God Finallie they bynde them selues to eternal dānation and that that is moste horrible they whiche haue fallen suffre not them selues to be moued for the moste parte that they may returne vnto God Wherefore it shall perteyne to a good pastour to be euer more busie aboute hym selfe and other in godlie exhortatiōs that they may worke theyr health wyth feare trēbling as Paule sayeth and that they suffre not the gyfte of God to be idle in them and to vanishe awaye but that they steare vp and exercise the same desiring that the same may be confirmed in them fleinge peruerse entisementes and resistynge naughtie affections as we sayed before in the place of good workes But if any man hath fallen and hath sinned euen agaynst his conscience secretely or openly let hym neuertheles heare the worde of god so fatherly alluring vs vnto amendment when he sayeth in Ezechiell as truely as I lyue I wyll not the death of a synner but that he be conuerted and lyue Therfore God would also and so greatly commaunded that in the cōgregation the doctrine of repentaunce should be beaten in whiche he hym selfe beganne in Paradise when he rebuked Adam and Eue after the fall and cōforted them agayne wyth a most ample promise of grace by the seede that shoulde come Al the sermons of the prophetes teach the same thinge and therfore Iohn Baptist and Christ hym selfe and the Apostles groūded the summe of theyr preaching hereupon Come agayne to your selues repent etc. As for repentaunce it is a griefe and anguishe of mynde by reason of synne out of a faythful consideration of the filthines and abomination whiche the lawe sheweth to be in synne and out of the feare of Gods iudgement agaynst sinne which the law threateneth driuynge vs to seeke forgyuenes of synnes and the grace of God wyth all diligence And therfore Ioell ij Cutte sayeth he your hertes and not your garmentes and turne to the Lorde your God for he is gentle and mercifull patient and of great compassiō recōcileable touchyng wickednes etc. Itē in Esai Where shal the Lorde dwel in a broken and humbled spirite etc. Psalme xxxviij My bones haue no peace frō the sight of my synnes Esaie i. Cease to do frowardly learne to do well The preachers must be diligent to steare vp thys repentaunce wyth preachynge of Goddes worde whiche is taughte vs in the lawe and Gospell For thereby synne is vttered and reproued as Paule sayth thorowe the lawe is the knowledge of synne It admonisheth also that these miserable calamities of mankynd so manie warres so daungerous commotions and all destruction of peace and politie wyth other euyls whiche dayly sprynge vp newe by the punishmētes of Goddes angre kendled agaynste vs for synnes Finally it rehearseth vnto vs terrible exemples of gods chastisinge the floude the dronynge of Pharao the destruction of the kyngdome of Israel and Hierusalē etc And where as the Lordes word testifieth that what so euer aduersitie chaunceth vnto vs it is sent from God for oure synnes the same worde of the Lorde by these dayly miseries and incommodities admonesheth vs of our sinnes and calleth vs vnto repētaūce Finally the Gospel most vehemently rebuketh the contempte of Christ that men wyll not acknowledge hym and his exceadynge benifites that they refuse his grace offered to them that they neglecte to cal vpon God wyth
preaching of the crosse and of the death of Christe ❧ Of the communion of wayfaring men and sicke folke When it shall chaunce that wayefaryng men or such as cōmitte them selues to daungerous iourneis or be sicke shal require the Lordes supper vpon workynge dayes fearyng that they can not come to the communion the nexte holy daye the pastours shall ministre the Lordes supper vnto them vpon any daye after that they haue receyued of them a conuenient confession of theyr sinnes and fayth in Christ Howe be it as much as maye be it shal be done in the mornyng and at suche time as some assemble of the people is wont to be gathered or at the leste they shal call some together to thys ministration of the supper When then they haue admonished and exhorted in the assemble suche as wyll take iourneis in hande or be sickely of these misteries and the whole fayth in Christe they shall administre the holy supper and distribute the sacramentes in that fourme and facion that we described before saueing that they maye omitte singyng and reade all thynges whiche neuertheles muste be done playnely and clearely and wyth greate grauitie But if the sicke folke be in suche case that they can not come to the temple the pastours muste go to them and giue them the holy supper at home so that they do all thynges according to the fourme prescribed or thys that foloweth whiche is peculiarly appoynted for sicke folke asmuche as the state of them to whom the sacramēt shal be ministred wyll suffre and asmuch as shal make for the edification of saith in them that be present The pastours muste also exhort the people that not onely theyr householde but also the neighbours and kinsfolke of the sicke endeuoure to come together to the celebration of that holie supper and to receyue the sacramentes together ❧ Howe sicke folke muste be visited and howe the communion muste be celebrated wyth them ❧ An other exhortation to the sycke person My brother in the Lorde forasmuche as the Lorde visiteth the wyth sicknes of the bodie that thou mayest reste the better in his wil thou must faythfully cōsidre recompt first that diseases are sent to vs frō the Lord God for none other cause then for synnes and that originall synne whiche was deriued from Adā vnto vs draweth death wyth it selfe and what so euer perteyneth to the kingdome of death that is to saye al maner of diseases sicknesses miseries and calamities For if we had continued in originall ryghtuousnes wythout synne death should not haue had any right vpon vs muche lesse diseases and other calamities Further thou muste remembre that leste we should despeare by reason of our sinnes diseases and other tētations and anguishes of death the Gospel was giuen vs that out of the same we shoulde learne and beleue that Christe the sonne of God deliuereth vs frō synnes and saueth vs if we beleue in hym and that two maner wayes Firste in purifiynge our hertes frō the wyll and gylt of synnes here in earth by the Gospell and sacramentes Act. xv purifiynge their hertes wyth fayth Secondly when that oure consciences be thus cleansed from synnes and reconciled to God the father by fayth in takyng away and purgyng synne by litle and litle out of our nature that at length beinge made pure and perfecte from all vices and holie in all poyntes we maye lyue wyth the holie God in heauē in diuine rightuousnes and innocencie Thyrdly that for the workyng and fulfyllynge hereof God oure father sendeth vnto vs sūdrie diseases death it selfe not bicause he is angrie wyth vs or wyll destroye vs but bicause thorowe verie fatherlie beniuolence and care he wyl steare vs vp vnto true repentaunce of synnes and fayth of his sonne and so deliuer vs bothe frō synnes wherin we yet sticke and moreouer from all euyls both corporall and spirituall vnto whiche we be subiect by reason of synnes whiche thing the holie scriptures testifie abūdātly For thus saith S. Paule i. Cor. xi When we are iudged of the Lorde we are corrected that we be not dāned wyth thys worlde Roma viij To them that loue God all thynges worke health neither can anie thynge disseuer them from the loue of God whiche is in Christe Iesu not afflictition nor anguyshe nor persecution etc. Fourthly forasmuch as these thynges be euen so as I haue said and bicause thou arte taught certified out of the Gospell which the sonne of God him selfe preached and cōfirmed with his death and resurrection that al thy synnes are caste vpon Christe yea vtterly taken awaye and abolished for euer of Christe him selfe so that God hath now no cause of wrath and condemnation agaynste the beleuynge in Christ but the grace of the father mercie lyfe and health be certeynely restored to the thorowe Christe considre all these so exceading benifites of god towards the wyth sure and certeyne fayth and confirme thys truste in thy selfe that God the father compteth the not nowe for suche one as thou waste borne of Adā and made tho rowe thyne owne synnes that is to saye hatefull vnto hym and appoynted vnto destruction but compteth the for Christes sake deare and destined to eternall lyfe and be thou persuaded that thou shalt lyue for euer by the ryghtuousnes and lyfe of Christe in perfecte blisfulnes as certeynly as it is certeyne that he suffered the wrath of God and death not for his owne synnes but for thine Seinge then that it is so see that thou comforte thy selfe wyth so great benifites and knowledge certeynely that synne death and hell hath nowe no ryght vpon the but that Christe the lambe of God hath taken away al those Iohn i. For he hath translated those thynges vpon hym selfe he hath ouercomed them by hym selfe and blotted them out foreuer Wherefore be of God comforte thy synnes be forgiuen the and there is no cause if from thy herte thou beleue in Christe the Lorde but thou maist certeynely and constantly thorowe Christe oure Lorde loke for al grace consolation tymely healpe and saluation from God Therefore wyth suche truste cōmitte and gyue vp thy selfe wholy to his mercifull and fatherly wyll sayinge wyth Dauid God is my lyght of whō shal I be a frayed Heauenly father thy wyll be done Into thy handes I commende my spirite Amen After thys exhortation if the state of the sicke person wyll suffre the pastoure shall reade before hym and the present congregatiō the Lordes wordes out of the .vi. of Iohn Frō thys place verely verely I saye vnto you excepte ye eate the fleshe of the sonne of man vnto the wordes of the Euāgeliste These wordes he spake in the synagoge And he shall declare the same texte for the cōforte and edification aswel of the sicke as of the congregation that is present But the exposition shal be moderated accordyng to the commoditie of the sicke person When thexposition is ended lette the pastour rehearse a commune confession