aunswere to euery man that asketh me a reason of the hope that is in me that with méekenes feare hauing a good cōcience that whereas they back byte mée as an euill doer they may be ashamed that falsly accuse my good conuersation in Christ demaund therefore what pleaseth you and I will according as Gods holy spirit shall teach me aunswere to the same Father In whome doest thou beléeue and whom doest thou worshippe Sonne Acts. 24 I aunswere with Saint Paull and confesse vnto you that after the way which some called heresie so worship I the God of my fathers beléeuing al things that are written in the Law and Prophets and haue hope towards God that the resurrection of the dead shall be both of iuste and vniust and therefore I study to haue alwaies a cleare conscience towardes God and towards men Father Shew mée if thou hast read perfectly the whole booke of God Sonne Psalm 1. Yea father I may say with Dauid my delight is in the Lawe of the Lorde and in his word haue I exercised my selfe day and night Father Are all thinges necessary to saluation contained in that booke of life called the Byble Sonne Yea truly father Io. 5. search the Scriptures saith Christ for in them ye thinke ye haue eternall life and they are they which testifie of mée and yet ye will not come vnto-mée that ye might haue life Saint Iames saith Iames. 1 Suscipite insitum verbū quod potest saluare animas vestras receiue with méekenesse the worde which is grafted in you being able to saue your soules Many signes truly did Iesus in the presence of his disciples Io. 20. which are not written in the Byble but so many are written that may learne vs to beléeue that Iesus is Christ the sonne of GOD and that in beléeuing wée may haue life through his name Saint Peter sayth 1. Peter 2 although wée sée not Christ yet wee doe beléeue and reioyce with ioye vnspeakable glorious The end of faith is saluation receiuing the ende of our faith euen the saluation of our soules Io. 15. Christ Iesus himselfe saith that we are cleane through the words which he hath spoken vnto vs. Peter the Appostel rose vp and saide ye men and brethren Acts. 15. ye knowe that GOD did choose among vs that the Gentiles by my mouth should heare the worde of the Ghospell and beléeue and GOD which knoweth the hearts bare them witnesse and gaue vnto them the holie ghost euen as he did vnto vs and put no difference betwixe vs and them Purified by faith séeing that with faith he purified their hearts Saint Paull saith to Timothie continue thou in the thinges which thou hast learned which also were committed vnto thée knowing of whome thou hast learned them 2. Tim. 3 And for as much also as of a Childe thou hast knowen the holie Scriptures which are able to make thée learned vnto saluation through the faith which is in Christ Iesu for all Scriptures giuen by inspiration of GOD is profitable to teach Scripture makes men perfect in righteousnesse to improue to amēd to enstruct in righteousnesse that the man of God may bée perfect and prepared vnto all good workes Whereby you may plainelie perceiue Father that all thinges néedefull to saluation both to the Iewes and Gentiles Conclusion bonde and frée is contained in the written worde of GOD. Father Me thinkes that by these proues the holie Scriptures contained not onelie all thinges necessary for Saluation but also all other thinges néedefull for the good gouernement of a Christian life Sonne It is so Father as if it please God you shall heare afterwarde in the declaring of the duties of all estats and degrées of people for what blasphemy were it to the holy spirit of God to say that God hath left his word will and Testament vnperfect Father Is there nothinge then left out of Scripture for manne to teach that is néedefull many rites ceremonyes ordinances and inuentions of manne haue béene added thereto and taughte as things most requisite euen in my time Sonne Deu. 4. No father the Lorde saith you shall put nothing vnto the worde which I commaund you Prou 30. neither doe ought there from put thou nothing vnto his wordes least he reproue thée and thou be found a lyer Reuel 22. I testify saith Saint Iohn vnto euery man that heareth the prophecie of the Lords booke if any man shall adde vnto those thinges God shall adde vnto him the plagues that are written in that booke and if any man shall minish of the words of the prophecie of that booke God shall take away his parte out of the booke of life and out of the holy Cittie and from the things that are written in that booke who then dare be so bould father to thrust in among the ordinances and statutes of our heauenly father mans inuencions and constitutions séeing there hangeth Gods vengeance and eternall punishment ouer the heades of such ready to destroy soule and body when the Lorde commaundeth and to cast them into hell fire that neuer quecheth Father Séeing that the Scripture is the word of saluation why doe so many in these dayes refuse to heare or reade the same Recusants Sonne Christ Iesus saith Io. 8. he that is of God heareth Gods wordes they therfore heare them not because they are not of God To those Recusants saith Christ further Io. eod why doe you not know my spéech euen because you cannot abide the hearing of my worde Yée beléeue not my wordes Io. 10. because you are not of my shéepe for my shéepe heare my voyce and I know them Recusants none of his sheepe and they follow mée and I giue vnto them eternall life and they shall neuer perish neyther shall anye man plucke them out of my handes He that heareth you saith Christ to his disciples heareth mee Luke 10 and he that heareth mée heareth him that sent mée Recusants despise Christ and he that dispiseth you despiseth mée and he that despiseth mee despiseth him that sent mée The Quéene of the South shall rise at the daye of iudgement Luke 11. with this nation and condemne it for she came from the vttermost partes of the earth to heare the wisedome of Salomon and beholde a greater then Salomon is héere Luke 14 Nemo virorum istorum qui vocati sunt gustabunt cenam meam None of these saith Christ that were called and refused to come shall tast of my Supper Acts. 3. The time will come sayth the Apostle That euerie soule that wil not héere that same Prophet shall bee destroyed from among the people 1. Io 4. Recusants are not of God neither know him We are of God saith Saint Iohn hée that knoweth God heareth vs he that is not of God heareth vs not hereby knowe we the spirit of God and the
A rule how TO BRING VP Children A treatise wherein is declared how the Father apposeth his Sonne in the holy Scripture whereby all Parents may be taught a rule how to bring vp their Children briefelie collected into a short volume Psalme 119. Where-withall shall a young man clense his waies euen by ruling himselfe after the word of God Iohn 5. Non quero gloriam meam sed glorïam Patris qui me misit Rom. 4. By faith is the inheritāce giuen that it might come of fauour Rom. 14. Whatsoeuer is not of faith the same is sinne ¶ To the right honorable my very singuler good Lord the Earle of Huntingdon Knight of the noble order of the Garter Lord President of her Maiesties honorable counsell established in the North partes your Lordshippes daylie Oratour and humble suppliant Iohn Lyster Clarke late Cutate of Leedes and nowe Vicar of Thorpeach wisheth good health long life much encrease of honour and after a godly and faithfull ende IN most humble wise shewing your good Lordshippe that by your lordships good meanes I obtained the benefice whereof I am now resident and remembring a saying of that worthie Philosopher SENECA that there be three degrees of thankefulnesse one recognoscere beneficium an other gratias et laudes agere and the thirde pro loco et tempore secundam suam facultatem retribuere or rather considering the Samaritan in the Ghospel healed by Christ of his Leprosie returned and acknowledged Christes mercie towardes him prostrate himselfe before him and with a loud voice gaue him thanks so likewise good my Lord I returning doe acknowledge your Lordships great goodnesse vnto mee render most hartie and humble thankes vnto your honour for the same and not being able to make anye recompence vnto your Lordshippe as Seneca teacheth although I haue meditated with my selfe sundrie times how to doe the same Yet notwithstanding that your Lordship may perceaue that I am not forgetfull or negligent of your Lordshipps great good will vnto mee I haue drawen in Dialogue wise out of scripture which is able to make one learned to saluation the dutie of all states and degrees of people howe a Christian life is to bee ledde what thinges are needefull to saluation the ende of manne and the straight accompt in the day of iudgement with the punishment of the wicked and reward of the righteous briefelie sette downe and plaine for the capacitie of the ignoraunt putting or adding nothing therevnto which I doe present vnto your good Lordshippe in remembrance of my humble duetie and obedient seruice vnto your Honour beseeching your Lordshippe to accept of my good and simple meaning and to beare with my boldnesse and small knowledge to write any thing to such a Noble personage as your Lordship And I shall incessauntlie entreate the eternall and euerliuing God till ATRAPOS shall cutte my fatall thred for the preseruation of your good Lordshippe whome the King of glorie Lord of hostes and Father of all mercie blesse saue and keepe for euer more Amen Your Lordshipps poore suppliant IOHN LYSTER To all Ministers fellow labourers in the Lords vine-yarde salutations in Iesu Christ IT is not vnknowen vnto you my brethern that the Lord hath elected vs before we were fashioned in our mothers wombe sanctified vs or euer we were borne ordained vs to be stewards of his secrets watchmen ouer his people shepperds of the sheepe of his pasture to the edifiyng of the saincts to the worke and ministration euen to the edifiyng of the bodie of Christ till we all come to the vnitie of faith and knowledge of the sonne of God vnto a perfect man euen vnto the measure of the full perfect age of Christ And knowing my selfe to be the meanest among you in respect of my knowledge not worthie to be of that calling although the grace of God hath otherwise dealt with mee in calling me to that function and hath giuen one talent vnto mee for the instructing a little number of his flocke which he hath bought with his bloud of whome he hath made me an ouerseer and therefore it is not meete for me to passe ouer the sum of this life with the singing Grashopper till the stormie nightes and Boriall blastes of winter come vpon mee neither to let the cleare day passe idlelie till the darke night come when none can trauell neither to followe the drone Bee eating the labours of others but rather to studie to discharge in some measure my selfe according to my function and to profite others Seeing that I perceaue the greatest number of you my brethren to followe the example of the Emmit working in the day and busie as the Bees in the spring of the yeere to gather their home so you to accomplish the worke wherevnto you are called the Lord prosper you and continue your proceedings I haue therefore for my parte drawen a shorte treatise in Dialogue manner betwixt the Father and the Sonne out of Scripture wherein may fullie and perfectlye be perceaued the duties of all sortes of people how a Christian life is to be ledde what thinges are needefull to saluation the ende of man and straite accompt in the fearefull iudgement with a punishment of the wicked and reward of the righteous not seeking any prayse for the same but Gods glorie which all men ought to doe seeing we are oftentimes tryed by our cheife Diocesan according to our gracious Princesse commaundement how we profet Gods people cōmitted vnto vs within his graces prouince but especyally seeing we shall appeare before the great shepperd and Bishop of our soules Iesus Christ to giue accompts of the bestowing of our Talents that wee may receiue an incorruptable crowne of glorie where they that haue taught others shall bee as the shining of heauen and they that haue instructed the multitude vnto Godlynesse shall bee lyke the starres world without ende and thus not doubting of your great care and dyligence in your functions I beseech the eternall God from whome all good gruiftes doe proceede encrease you with wisdome and knowledge in this life and with eternal happinesse in the world to come Thorpearche within the ancienty or lyberties of Yorke the 12. day of Iunne 1587. Your faithfull yokefellow in the Lord Iohn Lyster The Father examineth his sonne how he hath profited in the word of Saluation Father MY Sonne séeing it is the duty of parents not only to educate and bring vp their Children with meate and apparel but also to enstruct and teach them in the feare of God and Christian religion for which cause I haue cōmitted thée to the gouernement of a learned and Godlie Maister these seauen yéeres past Wherefore my will and minde is to know how thou hast profited in the same and what thy profession is Sonne Good Father 1. Peter 3 séeing it is your pleasure to demaunde of mée a reason of my faith I must follow the exhortation of the Appostle Saint Peter that I be ready to giue
spyrite of errour Math. 10. When Christe sent his Desciples to preach he said whosoeuer will not receaue you nor heare your preaching when you depart out of that house or that Cittie shake of the dust of your féete agaynst them Recusants worse then Sodomits verely I say vnto you it shall be easier for the Land of Sodom and Gomorra in the day of iudgement then for that Cittie Cōclusion Whereby you may perceaue Father that the Recusantes to heare the blessed woorde of OOD taught by his true preachers are alreadie condemned with the Cities of Sodom and Gomorra Io. 8. Except they repent and a mend for he that beléeueth not saith Christ is alreadie condemned because he beléeueth not in the onelie begotten sonne of God Father If those that refuse to heare the worde of God be in such perill of condemnation why are they so bewitched that they deny their owne saluation Sonne They are so taught by the Priestes of Baall who cause diuision Seminarie◠and giue occasions of euill Rom. 16 contrarie to the wholesome doctrine which wée haue learned and therefore auoyde them for they that are such serue not the Lorde Iesus but their owne bellies and with swéete and flattering woords deceaue the hartes of the Innocents The Apostle S. Paull Prophecyeth and foretelleth 2. Tim. 4 that the time shall come when they shall not suffer wholesome doctrine but after their owne lustes shall they gette them an heape of teachers and shall withdraw there eares from the truth and shal be turned vnto fables Acts. 20. He sheweth further hat after his departing should come gréeuous woolues among the people not sparing the flocke and speake peruerse thinges to drawe disciples after them Father What is the practise of these seducers and Seminaryes goe about and what punishment hath happened to some of them Sonne Acts. 17. The Appostle sheweth that the Iewes which beleeued not had indignation and tooke vnto them euill men which were vagabounds Seminaries wold make rebellion and gathered a companye and sette an vprore amongst the people Acts. 13. One Sergius Paullus a prudent man and ruler of the Countrie called Paull Barnabas and desyred to heere the word of GOD but Elymas the sorcerer withstood them and sought to turne the ruler from the Faith Then Paull béeing full of the holie Ghost looked on him and saide oh full of subtyltie and deceipte thou Childe of the Diuill A seducer smitten with blindnesse thou enymie of righteousnesse wilt thou not cease to peruert the streight wayes of the Lorde and the Lord smote him that he was blinde Corah Dathan and Abyron Numer 16 going about to seduce the people of Israell from the lawe of GOD taught by Moyses and Aron the earth opened her mouth and they there wiues children famely cattell and all that they had Sunck to hell quick went downe quicke into hell Whereby you may sée Father that vtter ruyne and perpetuall desolation is ordained of the almighty for al Seminaries of false doctrine and seducers of his people from his holy Lawes Father Séeing that the Scripture is the word of saluation and that there bee many that goe about to seduce vs from the same tell me in what language or kinde of speache ought that word to bée Seruice in a knowne tongue Sonne Euen in such a spéech or language that euery one may learne the same Deu. 4. for the Lord commanded that the people should teach their children euen their sonnes and their sonnes sonnes the ordinances and Lawes which he sette before them Deu. 6. Moyses sayde vnto the people the Lord your God commanded me to teach you his cōmandements ordinances and laws that they might do them in the land which they go to possesse it Esay 28. If he that speaketh to the people be euen as one the vseth rudenesse of speach and a strange language whom then shall such one teach knowledge Mark 4. The candle sayth Christ is not lighted to be putte vnder a Bushell or vnder the Table but it is lighted to be put on a Candlesticke for there is nothing so priuye that shall not be opened neither so secret but it shall come abroad Acts. 8. The chāberlaine of Candice Quéene of the Ethiopeans although he red the Prophet Esay yet he confessed he coulde not be profited thereby The way to be expounded except he hadde a guide and the spirit of God caused Philip the Apostle to reade and expound it vnto him in his owne language Acts. 2. There were at Ierusalem of euerie nation of them that were vnder heauen and after they had receyued the Holie Ghost euerie one of them hearde them speake in his owne language the great workes of God Saint Paull sayeth 1. Cor. 14. greater is he that prophecieth then he that speaketh with tongues Except he expound it that the congregation may haue edifiyng let all things be done to edifiyng For when thou blessest with the spirit how shal he that occupieth the rowme of the vnlearned say Amen at the geuing of thankes séeing he vnderstandeth not what thou sayest thou verelie giuest thankes well but the other is not edified I had rather sayth the same Appostle in the congregation to speake fyue words with my vnderstanding to the informacion of others Eod. rather then tenne thousand wordes with the tongue Conclusion And therefore you may well perceiue Father that the sacred word of our mercyfull God and louing Father hath béene kéept to long hidde vnder avayle from vs his people who now imbrace it with ioye and gladnesse as it is in déede the worde of saluation Father Thou saydest my Sonne that the written word of God contained not onely all thinges necessarie to saluation as thou proued but also all things néedfull for the gouernment of a christian life Sonne 2. Tim. 3 I said so Father for saint Paull sayth all scripture giuen by inspiration of God is profitable to teach to improue to amēd and to instructe in righteousnes that the man of God may be perfect and prepared vnto all good workes Father Shew vnto me then Sonne how euery perticuler person ought to behaue himself towards God his creator towards his owne soule and conscience and towards all men generally Sonne I am most willing to do your cōmaundement louing Father but first I bescéeh you declare vnto me whether I shall béeginne with the inferiour lowest degrée or with the supreme chiefe head and gouernour Father Sonne beginne at the superiours and so discend shewing first who is the supreme head Sonne Christ that anoynted of the Lord God 1. Cor. 12 is supreme head ouer all people and the faithfull and elect are his body and members one of another Father Declare that the Church is the bodie of Christ with some definition thereof that the better the Church of God may bee knowen Church Sonne