¶ THE GROVND of Christianitie Composed in maner of a dialogue between PAVLE and TITVS Contayning all the principall poyntes of our Saluation in Christ 1. Peter 3. 15. ¶ Sanctifie the Lorde God in your hearts and be readie alwayes to giue an answere to euery one that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you AT LONDON Printed by Robert waldegraue and are to be sold at the signe of the Beare in Paules Church-yard by Thomas VVoodcocke ANNO DOM. 1584. ¶ To the right Honourable Lord Fraunces Earle of Bedford one of her maie sties most Honourable priuy Councell Knight of the Noble order of the Garter A. G. wisheth prosperity in this world with increase of peace mercy and grace and in the worlde to come life euerlasting ALbeit right Honourable the multitude of foolish Pamphlets friuolous toys which in these our dayes are put in print haue brought almost no lesse contempt of the faculty of printing then discouragement to those that woulds write more waightye matters yet I thought it in conscience good for me to bee no more therby discouraged from attempting any thing which may either tend to the glory of God or benefit of his Church then for a man to be squaimish to eate because he hath seene another surfet It could not come in my minde though it rowled too and fro towardes many vnto whome to dedicate this rude and simple worke of mine rather then vnto your honour whose iust most deserued commeÌ„dation aswell in matters of religion as also in all other politique affayres as I spare presently to vtter because to prayse any man to his face doth seeme rather fained flattery then pure loue so the trueth it selfe deuoid of partiality can not vniustly conceale nor iniuriously suppresse I coulde easily haue procured vnto my selfe many pulbacks lets and hindrances from attempting so aduenturous an enterprise had not the assured knowledge of your Honoures singuler humility in abasing your self to them of lower degree fully perswaded me to the contrary Neither the worthinesse of the writer who is as bold as blinde Baiyard nor the excellency of the worke as it proceedeth from so base a workman deserueth in any wise so excellent a patronage but in that it redoundeth to the repairation of the ruines of Christe his Church whereof as it hath pleased the Lorde in mercy to make you a maintainer so you will no doubt from Day to Day and time to time shew your selfe a notable fauourer yea euen of the smallest stones in the building which because they bee neither grauen with curious worke or pollished with exquisite art though some doe rashly condemne yet I know youre honour will not reiect but rather will consider that notwithstanding the chambers of Christs church are in some places a trimming vp with beautifull worke yet in some other places the groundsell being scarse layd strong oken Timber so it bee sounde may doe more good then fine firre if it bee weake The worke which I make bolde at this time to shrowd vnder your protection is briefe pithy framed in manner of a dialogue handling al the cheefe points of Chrstianity with many additions no lesse profitable then necessary for those that desire to be further instructed in many points where I thought it most requisite and conuenient All men yea euen the simplest haue neede nowe to get assuraunce of saluation to themselues not by workes without knowledge which bewrayeth intollerable Hipocrisye but first by true faith grounded vpon the rock of Gods word and then by workes proceeding from the same that they may bee able to giue an account of their fayth to stop the mouth of the aduersary in the day of triall The false Apostles are already craftily crept in which seeke to vndermine vnstable soules wresting and writhing the scriptures to their own damnation whose iudgement is iust for the Lorde hath sente them strong delusions that they should beleeue lies that all may bee damned which beleeue not the trueth but haue pleasure in vnrighteousnesse as they haue not regarded to know God so God hath deliuered them vp to a reprobate minde to doe those things which are not conuenient The cheefe respect and finall end of this my small labour according to my poore Talent is to helpe the simpler sort whom I know the more is the pity to be yet besotted with ignorance whome I seeke rather to enstruct because they bee not skilfull then to confound the aduersary who is very subtill Wherefore I present this small worke vnto your honour as a token of my vnfained good will and great zeal towards you beeing readye at all times and in all places to perfourm all other duties wherwith the Lord shall enable mee with no lesse feruent prayers to the Lerde for your health of bodye to his pleasure in this life then cuntinuall supplications for the placing of your soule and body in the heauens with our cheefe Lorde and Captain Iesus Christ among the angels and blessed saints in the life to come of which ioy the Lorde make your honour and all those that loue the câ—mming of Christ partakers for the same Christes same Amen Your honours most bounden Alexander Gee A Christian mans duety The reward of sinne The ground of Christianitie In maner of a Dialogue betweene PAVLE and TITVS PAVLE WHat is the chiefest duety of a Christian man in this life TITVS The chiefest duety of man and not of man onely but of all the creatures in the world in their nature is to set forth the a Gen. 1 26. eph 1 6. exod 9 16. psa 8 1. glory of God PA. How shall we performe this duety TI. To perfourme this duety it is necessary to know vnto what death we by our selues are subiect what great saluation God of his b Dent. 4 37 7 7 8 ios â—4 2 psa 44. 3. ioh 15 16. act 13 48 2â— 14. rom 5 6 9 11 1â— 11 7 35. 1. cor 4 7. eph 1 4 2 10. colo 1 12. 2 tim 1 9. free mercy hath giuen vnto vs through faith and what thankfulnes we owe vnto him for our deliuerance PA. Tell me these thinges in order first what is sinne and what doth it deserue TI. c 1. Ioh 3 4. Sinne is the breach of the law of God conteined in the ten commandements and the reward of this sinne is eternall death PA. Rehearse the ten commaundements TI. d Exod. 20. 1. God spake these wordes and sayde I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the lande of Aegypt c. Honour one onely God Images forbidâ—en PA. VVhat meaneth this commaundement thou shalt haue no other Gods but me TI. The meaning of it is that I should acknovvledge but a 1. Cor 8 4 6 ephe 4 5 6 1 tâ—m 2 5. one only God that I should b Deut. 6 13 math â— 10. honour feare him that I shoulde c Math 22. 37
ceremoniall Sacrifices of the law but he requireth e Mat. 1â— 17. Ose 6. 6. 1. Sam. 15. 2â— mercy knowledge of God and obedience in their stead Also to do good to distribute f Heb. 13. 16. phil 4. 18. to giue almes to the maintenaÌ„ce of the Minister of the pore are a sweete smelling sauor and a sacrifice acceptable and pleasaunt to God VVho may sacrifice for sinne And Saint Paul in the twelfe to the Romains saith I besech you brethren by the mercies of God that you giue vp your bodies a liuing sacrifice holye and acceptable vnto God vvhich is your reasonable seruing of God PA. VVhat Sacrificer maye offer Sacrifie for sinne TI. There is none other true and perfect Sacrificer which may offer vnto God perfect sacrifice to make an agreement betweene him and mankinde but Iesus Christ onely for so much as he is perfect and vvithout sinne a Esa 43. 11. ose 13. 4. iere 17. 5. Beside vvhich reason this is also to be noted that euen as the paine due to our sinnes is infinite euen so the sacrifice of Iesus Christ is of merite vertue infinite And the reason therof is because he is not onely vvithout sinne and vvithout spot but also because he b Heb. 1. 1. 2. is the true and naturall sonne of God and his humaine nature is ioyned to his diuine nature vvhich is infinite of the vvhich the humaine nature taketh his vertue for his humaine nature coulde not giue life of it selfe except it tooke it of the diuine nature vvhich is the fountayne and therefore Iesus Christ hath sayde c Ioh. 6. 63. The flesh profiteth nothing to vvit if it be considered as seperate from his diuine nature and from his holy spirit but it is the spirit vvhich giueth life that is to sâ—ye God dwelling in Iesus Christ corporally as Saint Paul sâ—ith to vvit really and in deede reconcileth the world to himselfe PA. How can the death of Christe alone make sufficient and ful amends for the sinnes of the whole worlde TI. d Iohn 1. 29. Behold the lamb of God saith Iohn which From whence groweth the estimation of Christes workes and passion taketh avvay the sinnes of the vvorld for of the vndiuidable and vnspeakable vnion of the Godhead and manhood in one person groweth the worthinesse estimation and endles merite of al the workes and passions of Christ Therfore when it is sayd the sonne of man hath a 1. Cori 6 20. 1 pet 1 18. 19 actes 20. 18. apoc 5. 9. redeemed vs by the desert of his passion a worke of inestimable price incomparaâ—le value is named because the same sonne of man that hath suffered is also God Also the death of the sonne of man is a satisfaction because it is the death of such a man as is God The obedience of the sonne of man is our righteousnes because it is the obedience of a man that is God So the son of man forgiueth sinnes because he is God b Math. 9. 6. mar 2. 5. 7. 9. luk 5 20. 7. 48. The flesh of Christ is the food of life because it is the flesh of a man that is God And although the Godhead in Christ suffered not but c 2. Cor. 13. 4. 1. pet 4. 1. his manhood only as saith Peter Christ suffered in the fleshe yet his passion extendeth to his vvhole person In so much that whatsoeuer reproch is done to Christs d Mat. 1. 18. 28 luk 1. 38. 42. 43. manhood the same redoundeth to the reproche of his vvhole person according to this sentence e 1 Cor. 2. 8. iohn 3. 13. acts 20. 28. 1. iohn 1. 1. 3. 16. they haue crucified the Lord of glory In consideration whereof the Church confesseth the sonne of God to haue suffered because he suffered in the manhoode which he had taken vpon him PA. Hovv manifold is the meditation of Christes passion TI. The healthfull meditation of Christes passion is sixfold f Gal 7. 9. 8â— 11. 7 8. iohn 3. 33. rom 3. 4 2. chro 12. 6. iob â— 19. esai 45. 27. apoc 16. 5. The first is that thereby wil come to our minde hovve great the vvrath of God muste needes haue beene for the sinnes of men vvhich coulde A healthfull meditation of Christes passion not be appeased by the vvorke of any creature but that of necessitie the onely begotten sonne of God muste doe to pacifie Gods vvrath by making this rightfull satisfaction for sinne a 2. Chr. 30. 9. nehem 9. 31. psalm 7. 12. esai 30. 18. ier 31. 20. ioel 2. 13. ionas 4. 2. luk 6. 36. rom 2. 4. iac 5. 11. 2. pet 3. 9. The second is that thereby vvill come to our remembrances hovv vnmeasurable and vnserchable hath beene the mercie of God the father vvho rather vvould that his only begotten sonne should suffer most â—itter death then that mankinde vvhom he had created shoulde perish Peraduenture thou maist surmize that God could haue deliuered mankind by some other mean VVhat art thou that vvill teach God what he might haue done think thou vpon Gods iustice and mercy together for as his mercy moued him to saue so his iustice moued him to looke for rightfull amends of the vvrong Man sinned and for so doing hee must eyther perish or b Math. 3. 15. rom 5. 18. 2. cor 5. 21. make amends Novv c Ro. 3. 23. 25. acts 20. 28. esai 6. 3. 11. rom 14. 23. heb 11. 6. man beeing no more but man could not satisfie Gods iustice and other then man none ought to doe it Gods vvisedome therefore found through mercy a remedie in this case vvhich vvas that the eternall sonne of God shoulde d Rom. 8. 2. 2. corin 5. 21. heb 4. 15. 1. pet 2 22. 3. 18. 1. ioh 2. 1. become man by meanes vvhereof he both vvas able to satisfiâ— Gods iustice because he vvas God ought to doe it because he had takeÌ„ mans nature vpon him Thus in Christes passion appeareth mercy to be myxed vvith iustice and vvisedome hath tempered them both The third is that therby vvill come to minde the moste excellent and vnspeakable loue of the sonne of God tovvards mankinde vvho vouchsafed to turne the vvrath of his father to himselfe and to abide so slaunderous a death and that for his enemis Rom. 5. 10. The fourth is that thereby vvill come to mind A healthfuâ—l meditation of Christeâ— passion the true meane whereby the fruite of our Lordes passion may be applyed to thee so as it may be for Application of Christes death thy soule health This applying of it is brought to passe three wayes by the word by faith and by the sacraments By the word as it were by the hande of God is the benefite of the Lordes passion offered vnto thee vvhere and as often as he Gospel of Iesus Christ is preached the Ministers of the vvorde do in Gods
stead shew the a 1. Cor. 11. 26 fruite of our Lords passion to all that heare the gospel Againe when the benefite of the Lordes passion is thus offered as it vvere by the hande of God it must be receiued by faith as it vverâ— a certaine hand of man the vvhich faith the b Rom. 10. 17. epâ—e 1. 18. 19. 1. cor 12. 5. 9. 11. ioh 17. 20. rom 14 17. 1. tâ—m 3 15. 1 cor 1. 21. holy ghost worketh in men that heare the Gospell and obey c Gen. 17. 11. exod 12. 3. 4. rom 4 11. Furthermore it is sealed vp vvith eyther Sacrament of Baptisme and of the Lordes Supper and the strength and vse therof is painted out as it were in tables Therefore vvhen thou rehersest the article of thy beleeâ—e concerning the passion of the Lord persuade thy selfe firmely beleeue most assuredly that the sonne of God suffered death for thee vvhich thing if thou doe thou art partaker of the Lordes death in so much that all the vvhole obedience of Christe is thy acquitall from d 1. Cor 1. 30. sinne and rhy righteousnesse But there is a double obedience to bee marked in Christe his obedience of the Crosse e Gala. 3. 13. and his obedience of the Lavve vvhich vvas his perfecte fulfilling of the same Like as his obedience to the Crosse is our cleansing from sinne â— f Eph. 2. 15. colos 2. 14. so his obedience of the law is imputed to vs for our righteousnes The fifth is that vvhen we be thus made partakers of the Lords passion through faith it vvill come to our remembrance Additions Christes passion and resurrection what is the lot of the Godly in this life for like as Christ hath suffered so will hee haue the rest of the godly to a Rom. 8. 28. 1. thes 1 6 1 pet 4 13 phil 1 29. 1 pet 1 11. 2. 21. 2 tim 2 11. hebru 6 8. suffer that they may be conformable to the image of the sonne of God For therfore do we suffer with him that we may be glorified together with him Rom. 8. The sixt is that wee shall call to minde what thing Christ is who hath redeemed vs with his own bloud require th at our hands for now sith wee are redeemed by him vve must obey him VVhat willeth he First that we should renounce his enemy the diuel b Iohn 8 11. rom 6 4 12. heb 12 1. 1. pe 4 2. 1. ioh 1 6. Secondly that vve shoulde fly sinne that we offende not God againe wittinglye and willingly with our sinnes Thirdly that wee giue our selues to holinesse and Godlynesse and that vvee serue him in true feare c Luk. 1 75 Ieuit. 11 44 esa 52 11 rom 6. 4. ephes 1. 4 phil 1 10 2. 15. col 1 22 1. thes 4 3 1. pet 1. 15. 1. â—ohn 3. 3. all the dayes of our life vvhich thing if wee doe wee shall obtaine the end of our faith that is the euerlasting saluation of our soules which God the father grant vnto vs through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen PA. Shevve me thy iudgement of the resurrection of Christ TI. VVhiles that wee are yet in this mortall life wee must to the vttermost of oure povver expresse this â—ayth and beleefe that we haue in the d Act. 1. 2. 10 40. 1. cor 15 5 6 resurrection of Christ and of our rising again through him in our conuersation and liuing walking still a newe life which in this world is to rise againe with Christ as S. Paule testifieth saying VVe e Act. 2 38 col 2. 12. rom 6. 3. gal 3. 27 are â—uried with him by baptism for to dye that likewise as Christe was raised from death by the glory of his father eueÌ„ so wee shoulde also walke in a new life For if wee be graâ—t in death like vnto him euen so must we be in the resurrection These words shall the eâ—sioâ— bee vnderstanded if weâ— will consider and marke that Additions Of Christ es resurrection the vvhole life of our Sauiour Christ ought to serue vs in steede of an example or paterne vvhereby vve should make our selues conformable vnto him spiritually in those things that haue been truly and really or in very deede fulfilled in his body and can in no vvise be fulfilled in ours as for an exaÌ„ple our sauiour Christ hath ben conceiued by the holy ghost born of the virgin Mary he hath been crucified and put to death he did rise againe the third day asceÌ„ded into heauen Al those things can not be performed not fulfilled in our bodyes as they vvere in his But let vs endeuour our selues that our spirit or invvard man may be fashioned made conformable vnto him in these things a Psal 51. 6 gen 6 5 8. 11. heb 15. 16 roman 3. 4. Our bodies are conceiued and borne in sinne not by the holy Ghost nor in the vvomb of a virgin as our sauiour Christ was but they are conceiued by the carnal copulation of man and vvoman and of corruptible seede That vve may therfore be conformable vnto him in this point let vs come vnto his true Church and beleeue his gospell vvhen vve be in the true church of Christ vvhich is both our mother a chast virgin vve shall be b 1. Pet. 1 23 conceiued begotten in it by the incorruptible seede of the vvorde of God our heauenly father and by the vertue of his holy spirite shal be borne againe the children of God made nevv creatures vve shal put off the olde man put on the nevv bearing the image of the nevv Adam vvhich is Iesus christ as we haue c 1. Cor. 1. 5 born the image of the old Adam and of the man of sin After that we be thus conceiued by the holy ghoste borne of a virgin which is the true church spouse of our sauiour Christ the residue of our life must also be conformable Additions A mortifiyng of the flesh vnto the life of our Sauiour Christ as oâ—â— spiritual conception birth is VVe be not crucified and put to death as he was but we doe learne of him to beare the a Math. 11 29 crosse with him and to be crucified vnto the vvorld that the vvorld may be crucified vnto vs as S. Paule vvryteth of him selfe But to be b Galat. â— 5. 24. 6. 14. crucified and dead vnto the vvorld is to be crucified and deade vnto sinne and to bee crucified and dead vnto sinne is to forsake sinne and to be no more a seruaunt vnto it then the dead be wont to serue the liuing For as the deade hath no more to doe vvith the liuing but are seperated from them so they be dead vnto the world that hath forsaken it to serue the liuing God c Rom. 6. 6. 13. 14. â—2 and that vvill not fashion them selnes after it nor walke after
vve doe expounde into the name that is to say into the Faith and confession of his name or into his possession povver iurisdiction or into the strength and povver or into the couenant grace of the father and the sonne and the holye spirite it is no matter for al this is true and agreeth vvith the nature of baptisme PA. Tell me must vve be nourished vvith spiritual meate and nouriture into eternal life and that by a spirituall manner agreeable to the spiritual birth Of regeneration life into the vvhich wee are regenerate by Baptisme TI. VVe are not regenerate in baptisme by anye corporall or materiall seede of the body and of the bloud of Iesus Christ nor by any naturall maner as vve are naturally begotten by our fathers and mothers a Rom. 6. 3. 1. pet 1. 18. 19. but that regeneration and newe byrth is vvrought by a seed incorruptible spirituall and diuine by the which we are begotteÌ„ into the church by the vertue of the holy b Luk. 12. 12. iohn 3. 9. 8. 1. 33. 6. 63. 14. 17. 26. 1 cor 1â— 4. 6. ghost by vvhom vve are regenerate into a nevv life PA. It is not also sayde that Iesus Christe doth giue his body his bloud in c Rom. 9. 3. 1. cor 12. 1â— 13. ephes 4. 15. 16. 5. 30. gal 3. 27. baptisme as he doth in the supper Likevvise the vvater is not called therein the body and the bloud of Iesus Christe as Iesus Christ doth in the Supper call the breade and vvine by the name of them TI. Albeit that the vvater be not there called in baptisme by that name doest thou not thinke for all that that the body and bloud of Iesus Christ bee there distributed and d Mark 1. 4. iohn 3. 5. act â— 38. tit 3. 5. communicated vnto thee in the same as vvell as the Supper PA. I doe so vnderstand it TI. Thou vvilt then ordayne a baptisme vvithout Iesus Christ PA. VVherefore TI. Because thou canst not haue Iesus Christ except thou haue him vvholly and very God and very man and that thou haue true communion vvith his body and with his bloud not onely in the Supper but also in baptisme PA. Shew me the cause thereof TI. It is because that the baptisme doeth no Of Regeneration lesse send vs to the death and passion and to the body and bloud of Iesus Christ then doth the supper forasmuch as that is proper to all a Act 2 38 Rom. 6 34 1 Cor 10. 16 11 24 Gal 3. 27 1 pet 2 2â— sacraments PA. Thou speakest as though baptisme and the supper were one very sacramente and that there were no difference betweene them TI. Not so for albeit we do as well participate of the bloud of Iesus Christ in baptisme as in the supper yet notwithstanding there is difference in the participating and in the manner therâ—of in respect of the benefites of Iesus Christe which are signified and communicated vnto vs as wel in the one of the sacraments as in the other PA. Declare vnto me more easily that which thou now speakest of TI. Although the body of Iesus Christe bee not giuen vnto vs in baptisme as for spiritual foode as it is in the supper that notwithstanding it is there giuen vnto vs in very deede as b 1. Cor 6 15 12 27 Ephe 4 â—5 5 30. a garment of innocency iustice and holinesse to couer all our sinnes before God And therefore S. Paule say th that all those which are c Gal 3 27. Rom 6 3 4. 1. Pet 3 21 baptized haue put on them Iesus Christ PA. And of the bloud what sayest thou TI. Albeit that it be not giuen to vs in baptism as for drink as it is in the supper yet notwithstanding it is there giuen vnto vs for a spirituall washing of our soules and consciences whereby Iesus Christ doth d Act â—22 16 Ephe 5 26 Tit. 3 5 6. 1 Pet. 3 21 purify clense his Church in this lauer of regeneration to the end he may make it pure and cleane without spot or wrinckle and a holy glorious church PA. I did neuer yet so well vnderstande these Of the Lords Supper pointes TI. Hovve doest thou then novve vnderstande them PA. That euen as a garment or a cloake do serue to couer the body euen so doe the innocencie iustice and holinesse of Iesus Christ serue vs to couer our sinnes at the iudgement of God to the end that there appeare no one spot of them in his sight PA. And touching the bloud of Iesus Christ what thinkest thou TI. I thinke that the a Math 26 28. Ephe r 7 5 25 Gol 1 14 20 Tit 3 5 6 Apoc 1 5. bloud of Iesus Christe is called the washing of soules of consciences not as though they must be washed and dipped in the bloud of Iesus Christ as one would vvash and dip a body that he would wash and make cleane or some other such like thing but that the holy b Ioh. 3 5. Rom 8 15 16. Heb 9 14 10 22 goost speaketh so to giue vs to vnderstande that vvhich thou hast sayde to vvit vvhat the vvater of baptisme signifieth concerning the vvashing and purification of our soules and consciences in the bloud of Iesus Christ PA. VVhat is the Lords supper TI. The Lordes supper is the gathering together of the faithfull of Christ and the publike ministery of the new Testament in vvhich the Sacrament of the Lordes bodye and bloud is giuen and receiued according vnto the institution c Math 16 26 Luk 22 19 1 Cor. 11 24 26. of our Sauiour Christe by the misticall breaking of breade and the blessing of the Cuppe in the Communion of the church from his table and therewith the memory of the onely Sacrifice vvhich vvas d Heb 5. 6 7 26 9 11. 12 10 9 10. Rom 5 8. 6 10. 1. Cor 15 3 2 Cor 5 14. 1. Pet. 9. 18. â— once perfourmed for our saluation vpon the Altar of the Crosse The meaning of these wordes Hoc est corpus meum is celebrated vvith thankes giuing and the exercise a Math. 22. 39. rom 1. 3. of Christian loue PA. Hovv expoundest thou these vvordes Hoc est corpus meum TI. There can not be a more conuenient exposition then vvhen the Sacramentall vvordes bee Sacramentally expounded the proper properly the spirituall spiritually and the b 2. Corin. 2. 6. ioh 6. 56. 57. 7. 4. 56. rom 8. 11. 12. 12. 1. misticall mistically For the Sacramentall vvordes require none other meaning or interpretation then euen as they bee spoken but the maner of the thing vvhich is declared vttered in them is not propet but Sacramen tall for the which I doe say that c 1. Ioh. 2. 29. 3. 10 Sacramentes are Sacramentally to bee expounded as for example d Gen. 17. 10
payd in Christ yet seeing there can no vnrighteousnesse dwell vvith God how canst thou stand before Gods iudgement seat as righteous seeing thou haste no righteousnesse but such as is stayned vvith so many sinnes TI. I stand as iust and righteous before the throne of God not clothed with mine ovvne righteousnesse vvhich I haue vvrought in mine ovvne perperson but with the f 1 Cor 1 30. 2. Corin. 5. 27. righteousnesse of Iesus Christ vvhich righteousnesse beeing taken hold vpon by a g Abac. 2. â— rom 3. 28. ios 3. 18. gal 2. 16. 3 11. eph 2. 8. true and liuely fayth is made mine Thus am I iust in the sight of God not in respecte of mine ovvne vvorkes vvhich I haue vvrought but taking holde vpon Christes workes to be mine by fayth PA. Doth not this make men runne into all sinne and vvickednesse TI. No for this true fayth as soone as it is wrought The summe of our fayth One God in distinct persons in vs through the holy a Ioh. 3. 3. 5 eph 4. 20 21. 8. col 3. 9 10. rom 6. 6. 12. 12. ghost doth frame our harts anew and causeth vs to b Rom 7. 23. detest hate loth and abhorre sinne in all men but specially in our selues make vs to haue our whole c Rom 5. 11. delight and ioye in those thinges which be agreeable to Gods will and causeth vs also to d Rom. â— 11. 12. mat 7. 17. ioh 15. 5. expresse the same in our life and conuersation or elâ—e it is no true fayth but a e Iam. 2 17. deade fayth PA. Rehearse the â—umme of this fayth TI. I beleeue in God the father almighty c. PA. VVhy mâ—kest thou mention of God the Father God the Sonne and God the holy Ghost seeing there is but one God TI. As the scripture teacheth vs most plainely that there is but one God so likewise it teacheth vs that in this dinine essence three persons do subsist being in deede distinct in their seuerall properties the father f Maâ—h 3. 16. 28. 19. 1. ioh 5. 7. the sonne and the holy Ghoste which three persons are one God g Act. 17. 22. deut 4. 12. 1. cori 12. 11. eternall infinite most perfect in it selfe And when God shall giue vs such eies as shall be able to see the glorious maiestye of his Godhead then we shall haue also such heauenly wisedome as shall easily perceiue the distinction of the persons In the meane while vve vvill beleeue the truth of his eternaâ—l worde and hate and detest all contraty heresies PA. God grant vnto vs all this sobrietie But tell me now what beleeuest thou concerning God the Father TI. Firste I beleeue that God the Father through Christ into h Ioâ— 1. 12. rom 8. 1. 11. galac 3. 26. whose body I am grafted by fayth is not onely a i Rom. 8 25. 16 2 Corin. 6. 18. father of other faithfull but euen my father and therefore loueth k Rom. 5. 8. 9. â—sâ— 54. 6. 7. 8. me Secondly that he Christ God and man Christ our Lord and Sauiour is almighty that is that he hath all a Esa 45 5 6. 7. 12 46 10. 11. power in his hande guiding and ruling all things so that nothing can be done in b Amos. 3. 6. psa 139. 7. 8. 9. 10. heauen earth nor hell without his prouidence PA. VVhat beleeuest thou concerning God the Sonne TI. I beleue that Iesus Christ is one God c Rom. 9. 5. 1. â—â—h 10. 11. in sub stance vvith the Father and the holy Ghoste took d Rom. 1. 3. math 1. 20. flesh of the virgine and is become perfect man as I am in all things sinne onely excepted e Heb. 2. 14. 15 and in my nature hath wrought for me whatsoeuer is needeful for my saluation PA. VVhat meaneth the name Iesus TI. Iesus is as much to say a f Math. 1. 21. Sauiour because he hath saued his people from their sinnes PA. VVhy is he called Christ TI. Because he was ordayned of the Father and was annointed of the holy g Eph 4. 7. ioh 3. 34. luk 4. 18. Ghost the highest prophet and Doctor vvhich hath opened vnto vs the secrete counsell and all the vvill of his Father concerning our redemption and deliueraunce and the h Heb. 9. 26. 28. 7. 25. highest priest who with one sacrifice offering of his body and no mo hath appeased Gods vvrath bought vs againe and continually maketh intercession for vs to his Father and a king vvhich gouerneth vs by his worde and his spirite and defendeth and keepeth the saluation vvhich vve haue gotten by him PA. In vvhat respect sayest thou that hee is our Lord. TI. Not onely because we are his creatures but chiefly because he buying i 1 Cori. 6. 20. againe our bodies and souls from sinne not k 1. Pet. 1. 18. 19. Act. 20. 28. Apo. 5. 9. with gold nor siluer but with Christ is our Lord. Suffered vnder Ponce Pilate Crucified dead and buried his precious bloud and also deliuering them from the captiuity and tyranny of the diuell to set them in full spirituall liberty and to leade and gouerne them as a spirituall king and to make them partakers vvith him of his heauenly kingdom hath a Mala. 1. 6. claymed vs for his ovvne proper Seruaunts and peculier people vvhich he hath vvoon to him selfe and can by right belong to none other Lord or master PA. VVhat meanest thou when thou sayest He suffered vnder Ponce Pilate TI. Because the maner of death which men doe suffer by the sentence of the Iudge and vnder the title of Iustice is more b Deut. 21. 23. philip 2. 8. gal 2. 13. shamefull slaundrous and terrible then if a man shoulde dye naturally in his bed therefore Christe tooke on him our person to shevv him selfe before an c Psal 2. 2. act 4. 27. 28. earthly Iudge and to be condemned by the d Math. 27. 26. iohn 19. 1. 13. 19. mouth of Pilate he beeing then Iudge that thereby vve might be cleared before the iudgement seat of God PA. VVhat meanest thou vvhen thou sayest Christ vvas crucified dead and buried TI. I meane that he payde the whole and full satisfaction for our sinnes which he tooke vpon him he vvas bound to vnbinde vs condemned to e Esa 53 12. Rom. 1. 8. 1. Pet. 2. 24. deliuer vs he suffred great and infinite shame to deliuer vs from all confusion hee vvas nayled f Colos 2. 14. luk 23. 33. on the Crosse to fasten thereon our sinnes he dyed and sustained the cursse and malediction which was g Gal. 3. 13. 14. due to vs to appease the vvrath of God for euer by his onely oblation once made he was h Math. 27. 57. 58. mark 15. 43. luk 23. 52. ioh 19. 40. buried to approue and verifie his death and to