and acceptable vnto God for his workes sake For it is the only deathe of Christ and free grace and pardon of God that maketh a man acceptable vnto God and fitte vnto all good workes yea to speake truly and plainly All the good workes that true faithfull people doo are nothing elles but a certain free working that the grace of God enforceth procureth Wherfore all that is spoken in the scriptures concerning the merite and rewarde that the faithful shall haue ought rightly to be iudged and taken for the grace and free gifte of God By reasoÌ„ wherof S Austi also taught that all the good workes that the faythfull do are the grace of God the God dothe crowne reward his owne merites in the faithfull which he of his bounteous liberalitie reputeth as though they were our merites or as though we of our selues deserued theÌ„ Touching theight Article I beleue confesse that the holy goost the thrid The. 8 Article persone in Trinitie is the very true eternal God with the father the sonne that our Lorde Iesus now reigneth administreth al thinges in his churche by the holy goost as he him self said I wil pray the father he shal geue you an other comfortour to abyde with you for euer euen the spirite of truth which the worlde can not receaue because he seeth hiÌ„ not nor knoweth him But you knowe him for he abideth with you shal be in you Be shal teache you al thiÌ„ges put you in remeÌ„braunce of al thinges what so euer I haue spoken vnto you And againe he saieth I tel you truthe it is expedient for you that I go away For yf I go not away that comfortour shall not come vnto you But yf I goo away I shall sende him vnto you And whaÌ„ he cometh he shal reproue that world of sinne of righteousnes of iudgemeÌ„t Therfore all those that be true preachers ministers haue plaiÌ„ly instructed taught their parisheners people as I according to my poore talent haue done the our Lorde Iesus Christ is not nowe corporally with his churche here vpon earthe but that he worketh reigneth in his faithful flocke by the holy goost ê“ceding froÌ„ the father and him and by the same spirite doth comforte and sanctifie the faithfull Al the ioye all the vertue all the sanctificacion that is in the faithfull is of the spirite of God And without this spirite of God ther is nothing either holy or perfite Ther is no maÌ„ in al the wyde worlde that hathe faithe of him selfe but aswell faithe as al other good giftes are of the spirite of God as the holy apostle S. Paule dothe manyfoldly and in many places of his epistles teache and make mencion but specially Ephe. 4. and. 1. Cor. 12. The. 9. Article Concerning the nynthe Article I beleue coÌ„fesse that all they which truly beleue in Christ throughout all the hole what the true catholike churche of Christis vniuersal worlde are one body one church of Christ whoÌ„ he sanctifieth by his holy spirite in his own blood And all they are with one only boÌ„de knot of faithe through loue vnited knit to Christ one to another among them selues lyke membres all of one body and principally they are made partakers of the free grace gyftes of their heade and saueour Iesus Christ This churche is holy this churche is begotten and borne of the worde of God recorded in the holy scriptures this churche dothe frame and ordre al thynges accordyng to the worde of God this churche lyueth in christen sobrenesse and honest discipline this churche alwayes whan it maye and hauing no necessary lette is partaker of Christes most holy sacramentes which be two in nombre Baptisme the Lordes Supper From this churche the holy scriptures and syncere teachers therof do exclude and barre out nother the vse of mariage from any state or profession of men or women nor the possession and ê“pretie of worldly substaunce nether honest occupacions or worldly trauailes ne yet the ordres degrees of rulers and magistrates nother higher powers nor nobilitie ne yomaÌ„rie nether bonde nor free maister nor seruaunt nor any suche estates of meÌ„ This churche albeit not many wyse after that fleshe not many great estates nor many noble are chosen membres of the same yet for asmuche as euery long and nacion vnder heauen bothe Psal 113. of the Iewes and of the gentiles and some of euery state prayse the name of the Lorde from the rysyng of the Sunne to the Sunne settyng and seyng the voice of this churche is heard throughout all the coastes of the hole worlde and as the prophete sayeth hathe spread her braunches vnto the Psal 80. sea and her boughes vnto the ryuers therfore according to this article it is ryghtly called the catholike or vniuersal churche And bicause it is begotten borne 1. Pe. 1. of the immortall sede the worde of God mencioned in the scriptures heareth the voice of her head and shepeherde Iesus Christ sleeth from the voice of Ioh. 10. all straunge doctrines and spirites that be without or coÌ„trary to that worde and dothe all thynges lyke an obedient wyfe as her husbande Christ biddeth Ephe. 5. her in his written worde therfore is it also iustlye called the holye churche But forasmuche as the supremacie iurisdicion power antoritie lawes The popishe churche doctrine of the bishop and churche of Rome be not grouÌ„ded vpon Goddes worde which the Lordes shepe that is to saye his church and flocke heareth nor hath beÌ„ nether euer shal be heard receaued obeyed in al tongues nacions of true christen people but of a certain folkes in a fewe realmes dominions people whose eyes sathan the God of this worlde hath blinded and bewitched their myndes among whom Christ neuerthelesse scattereth his sely shepe and defendeth them vnder the shadowe of his gracious wynges euen as the heÌ„ne dothe her yong chickens therfore it foloweth manyfestlye that the bishop and churche of Rome with all his sacrificeing chaplayns other meÌ„bres coÌ„plices whosoeuer depending vpoÌ„ or cleaning to the supremacie new strauÌ„ge lawes constitucioÌ„s decrees tradicioÌ„s customes of the bishop church of Ro. may not be iustly called the catholike or vniuersal churche of Christ And forasmuche also as the supremacie lawes customes canones decrees doctrines of the bishop churche of Rome for the most parte with their meÌ„bres ar not borne nor truly grouÌ„ded vpoÌ„ the fouÌ„dacioÌ„ immortall sede of the worde of God nother do the papistes frame administre their tradicions doctrine religion sacramentes ceremonies according to the testament and gospel of God but vpon the deuises and power of men The teachers mainteners of that Romishe power supremacie religion with their membres coÌ„plices are falsely called the holy church Bicause that churche or flocke of christen shepe wherof Christ
waye to turne theÌ„ Let them runne on their rageing race vntil they bring them selues out of breathe And on the other parte Fyre fagottes hempe galowes stockes fetters prison make vs like to the ymage of the sonne of God and the suffring of deathe for the gospelles sake is the fulfilling Col. 1. of that is behinde of the passiones of Christ in our bodies to beare witnesse against tyrannes and wicked papistes and to be an example and encourageing of the hole congregacion The deathe of suche as suffre for the gospell is so precious in the sight of God that it is the ende of al troubles and sorowes and the begynnyng and entraunce of suche ioye and treasures as no eye hathe sene no eare hath â—o 5. 1. Cor. 2. hearde nor any harte is hable to perceaue This is most certainly true which as it is easily spoken or writteÌ„ but very harde for the cowardly fleshe to beleue it or to thinke on it whan the very pynce of trouble and persecucion cometh as I knowe by myne owne fearful experience ynough and to muche euen so I beseche God to lighten our hartes and remembrauÌ„ces with his holy spirite that whan the howre and fytte of sorowe and veracion cometh we maye coÌ„stauntly willingly ioyously laye the crosse on our sholders marche forewarde lustyly to the batail that is pitched against vs folowing the same trace that our captain and saueour Iesus Christ hathe ledde vs the waye so as by many tribulations and the straite Math. 7. waye which fewe fynde we maye entre in to the kingdom of heauen and receaue the crowne of eternal glorie that neuer shall fade awaye And be not deceaued my brethren with the doublefaced doinges and toyeng trades of those politike subtil sleightye wise men and nyggardly nyppe crustes which lyke as they fauour and haue set vp the Masse with al diligence some not only for auncient custome and opinatyue deuociones sake as draffe is good ynoughe for swyne but also for pretensed obedience and nien pleasing regarden the masse which is the deuilles inueÌ„cion and the workemanship of Antichrist more than they doo the syncere worde and sacramentes of God ministred according to Christes owne institucion so doo they loue and care more for their faire Abbeyes riche wealthe of ecclesiastical possessiones than they doo either for the masse or for any other religion as by their fyne frutes if they were forced to make restritucioÌ„ it wold most euideÌ„tly appeare for al their deuout masse hearing But aboue al other abhorre blisse you froÌ„ the participacioÌ„ coÌ„pany of the Diuorced priestes kynde of daÌ„nable dryuelles the priestes which in king Edwardes tyme coupled them selues in mariage som to auoide suspicioÌ„ of popery som to hyde the shame of their filthy doinges som for men pleasyng som to do as other did som for one respect som for an other And nowe whaÌ„ the doctrine of deuils is set vp againe the popishe powers of the world fauour not that chaste coÌ„dition of lyfe these dryuelles not only exâ—sse their faithlesse heartes in breaking the inseperable knotte boÌ„de of lawful mariage forsaking casting of their wyues wherby it is euident that their intent was only to couer their fleshely hoorishe lustes with the clooke of mariage without any inwarde coÌ„science to lyue in a chaste maried lyfe but also to shewe them selues the right Nu. 21. 2. Pe. 2. successours of Balaam the sonne of Bosor and to make their blasphemy and damnacion more notorious they renouÌ„ce recant and abiure their mariage at Antichristes coÌ„maundemeÌ„t and lyke damned dogges whom the eternal burning galowes of hell grone for they are returned to their vomite of massing and other Romishe religion crucifyeng afreshe and making Hebre. 6. Matth. 12 a mocke of the sonne of God most shamelesly blaspheme the holy goost wherof they shal be forgeueÌ„ nother in this worlde nor in the worlde to come Let them take their tyme whyle it lasteth for seyng they haue forsaken to be the membres of Christ and seyng they are made the membres of the harlot of Rome and become the temples of sathan to beare hell about with them and to glorifie the deuil in their bodies and in their bodily doinges Their finall damnacion is surely at hande At that tyme they shall knowe that it had ben better for theÌ„ to haue ben made lyke vnto the ymage of Christ in suffring the losses and reproches of the worlde for a littell whyle and shortlye after to be made partakers of his glorious resurrectioÌ„ eternal blisse than for a litel beastly bely cheare that shal sone haue an ende to suffre afterwarde perpetual paines and tormeÌ„tes with their predecessour Iudas Iscarioth world wtout ende Neuertheles I wishe them repentaunce euen from the very botom of my hearte Nether doo I speake this vpon any displeature or vncharitable affeccion conceaued agaynst any maÌ„nes person or worldly quietnes but only that it greueth the very harte roote of me to see the institucion of God so horribly dishonoured the honourable state of mariage so shamefully slaundred the congregacion of Christ so greuously offended the abominacioÌ„ of Antichrist so beastly obeyed and the holy goost so desperately blasphemed Alas why doo they not considre how haynons a synne it is to geue such an occasioÌ„ of slauÌ„dre ruine to the church of God how smal a gayne it is to wynne a smal pelting ê“mocioÌ„ of worldy liuing for a shorte space to cast awaie the price of Christes precious blood in vtterly daÌ„nyng their owne soules bequeathing theÌ„selues to the deuil for euer more For if Baalams mortal blynde asse rebuked that blynde ê“phetes folye muche more shal the immortal worme of these Asses nay Iudases consciences rebuke accuse theÌ„ of their blasphemie shameful slydig from the truthe at suche tyme as being past repentauÌ„ce they shall curse the daye that they were borne in the very howre wherin they were begotten These men be of that company vnto whom the holy goost biddeth vs not to saye so muche as God spede nether to eate nor drinke with them Finally good brethren be not partakers Masse hearing goss pellers of the example and faynt carnal excuse of those that saye although they goo to the churche and be present at the Masse yet they worship none but the lyuing God in their hartes hate the Masse as muche as we do Which sayeng is muche vnlike to be true but semeth rather a vayne pretensed fantasie and preposterous wrasting of some textes of scripture wherwith the Deuil deludeth the senses soules of many tendre carpet gospellers at this present tyme of tryall to bring them past repeÌ„taunce For Christ our saueour saithe No man can serue two maisters So it foloweth that forasmuche as the body which is the one parte of a man serueth the deuil the soule which is the other parte and ioyned with the body caÌ„not possibly
serue God For God requireth the hole mā to serue him with all the soule and powers of man or elles he reckoneth it not only for no seruice at all but also taketh it for very enemytie And therfore he saythe He that is not with me is against me The body go the not to Masse with out the company and consent of the soule And therfore it must nedes be graunted that the soule is caryed with the body to serue the deuil at Masse not the body caried awaye by the soule from that most stinking idolatrie and supersticion to the pure seruice of God Bicause Christ died for theternal saluacion aswel of the body as of the soule the holy goost commaundeth vs also to beare and glorifie God in our bodyes and that euery one should possesse The gaynes of going to Masse and vse the vessel of his body in holynesse and in honour And to bestowe our bodies vpon the seruice or presence of the synfull filthie Masse is not to possesse the vessell of the body in holynesse and honour but to defile the hole man with filthynesse and dishonestie to breake wedlocke with Christ our husbande to offēde the weake for whom Christ died to comfirme the wicked in their popery and so to prouoke the vengaūce of God vpō bothe the body and the soule Saint Iames saithe that a double mynded man is incōstaunt in al his waies and maye not loke to obteyne any thing of the Lorde wher so euer he praieth muche lesse wil God graūt his peticiones which he makteh in that temple wher God by the same peticion makers presēce is dishonoured and the congregacion which is the right temple of Christ in dede is defiled The scriptures teache vs that at the great iudgement euery one shall receaue according to the dedes that are done by the bodie And at the general resurreccion the body and the soule shal be ioyned together perpetually to abide either ioye or sorowe so that the bodye must nedes goo to hell for defiling it self with the abominable Masse and other popery And the soule can not chose but goo with the body and take suche parte as the body dothe For God wil not parte stakes with the deuill Therfore it is but a vayne pretense and a very mocking of God to saye that the harte and soule serueth God seing the body ioyned with the soule serueth the deuil in the sight of God and men So it semeth manifest that suche gospellers as be masse hearers are not spiritual gospell folowers but carnall gospell slaunderours and walke after the fleshe vpon whome the holy Goost geueth sharpe sentence sayng Yf ye lyue after the fleshe you shall dye Considre brothren that we are now after our syncere gospelling ledde of the holy goost in to wildernesse as Christ was after his baptisme to be tempted of the deuil Therfore we must either take the deuilles counsail and so distrusting the might mercifull prouidence of God make stones stockes and idolatrous popishe Masses bread to poisō our selues withall or throwe our selues downe headlōg from the highe pynnacle of Goddes temple the celestial Ierusalem in to the botomles pitte of all errous infidelitie and hell or fall to the deuilles fete and take him for our good Lorde Or elles contrary wise sticking fast to the scriptures and gospel of Iesus Christ bidde the deuil auaunt Satan with all his mummyng Masses and styncking supersticion We wyll non of thē though we neuer haue breade though we be torne in pieces for it Euery cowherde will for couetousnesse of wages and fee be glad to be reteyned in garison and set the better legge before as though he wolde be a good souldiour while no daungier of batail is at hande and while ther is peace take all one parte And so in blessed king Edwardes daies euery wan almost pretended frendeship forewardenesse to the doctrine of the gospell and englishe churche seruice seing the Magistrates multitude layne to that syde some of consciēce som of flattery but the most men for the commodious gayne that they founde by churche landes goodes not mynding to amende their lyues towardes God by the gospel but vnder colour therof to augment their lyuinges and pelfe in this worlde But like as if a souldiour rūne frō the armye of his souerayne liege Lord to the enemies side although he saye his harte was with his soueraine stil and that he ranne awaye only for feare must nedes be demed a traitour a cowhearde and rennagate euen so shal euery one that professeth the name and religion of Christ to be one of his souldiours for our life is a very warfare vpon earthe be demed and conuicte of highe treasō against his most natural souerayne liege Lorde Iesus Christ king of all kinges which in tyme of his spirituall warres for the gospelles sake renneth awaye frō his standarde and garison in to the deuilles campe to take parte with popishe massemongers the most deadly foes of Christes gospell and bloodshead Now is the fielde pitched now our enemies bende their ordinaūce agaīst vs face to face now they see the campe of gospellers weakened and lye open vnto their municiones They see som fall to their side som speake faire som dissemble and fewe are glad to abide the bickering that maketh the cruell papistes to make so thicke Larūmes and to com on so lustily with their hotte skyrmishes on euery side against Christ our captaī al his armye roial Howbeit seing Christ hathe the victorie and shall make al his enemies his foote stole and seing also he promiseth patentes of so large honourable fee wages to such his souldiours as by pacient suffring of persecuciōs stande māfully to his standarde and abyde the ende of the fraye as he by his heraulde of armes thapostle Paule maketh open proclamacion in his coate armour sayeng Yf we dye with Christ here we shall lyue with him 2. Tim. 2 ▪ euerlastingly Yf we suffre with him here we shall reigne with him in his eternal glorious heauenly kingdom And on the cōtrary parte forasmuche as the same proclamacion declareth the payne of suche of vs as rēne away frō Christes ensigne or stādarde sayeng Yf we denye or forsake him he wil also denye forsake vs. And whā the general mustre and paye daye cometh wher the constaunt souldiours shal be crowned with glorie and honour in the eternal heauenly kingdom Christ the captain and iudge shal saye vnto suche shrinking traytours and cowheardly rennagates Auaunt you workers of wickednesse I knowe yow not Get you hence you cursed in to euerlasting fyre which is p̄pared for the deuil and his angelles I thinke therfore it is necessary good and very highe tyme for vs to arme our selues cappe a pee as the same Heraulde of armes Paule commaundeth vs in king Iesus name Ephe. 6. and for our owne sauegarde vauntage to kepe batail raye through persecucions troubles rebukes and slaūders of the worlde and