blood not by the carnal companie of man but by the holy goost And that he was borne of the same virgin very man howbeit holy and pure without synne For all men elles are according to their owne nature bothe conceaued in synnes and borne the children of wrathe vnto deathe And in this behalfe I do playnly Original â—â—nne confesse original synne For inasmuche as all mankynde aswell the infauntes which haue not yet commytted actuall faultes as others of further age are originally poisoned Psal 51. with sinne and therfore subiecte vnto deathe as the wages of synne from Ro. 6. the which synne and deathe mankynde could not be in any wise delyuered and redemed but by Christ alone for that cause it was requisite that Christ which should put awaye the same poison shoulde he conceaued and borne holilie and purely without al spotte of synne to thinteÌ„t he might 1. Pâ— 1. Ephe. 5. Ro. 3. 5. offre a pure and a cleane sacrifice for all bothe olde and yong to make vs pure and free CoÌ„cerning the fourth Article I beleue and confesse that the same sonne The 4. Article of God and of Mary our Lord Iesus Christ in going about the busynesse and affaires of our saluacion did perfitly and fully declare the waye of saluacion here vpon earthe And that he to shewe vs more certainly that he is the only Lorde of life and deathe which is only hable to helpe and at whose haÌ„des al helpe must be sought cured all maner of diseases ceassed the rageing stormes of the wyndes and of the sea suppressed the power of satan troade downe all power of aduersaries forgaue synnes and raised vp the dead vnto life And after all this he gaue him self willingly and of his owne accorde vnto deathe And was shamefully and spitefully brought furthe and deliuered by the Iewes cruelly tormeÌ„ted of the gentiles and last of all giltlesly nailed vpon the crosse And here I confesse that this same our Lorde Iesus Christ very God very maÌ„ suffred not for him self but for vs and for our synnes sake most greuous paynes vndeserued stripes and bitter sorowes in his humayne nature which coulde dye he was vndoubtedly dead and buried in his soule he suffred most extremely the bitter sharpenesse of Goddes iudgemeÌ„t and the very paines of hel that he might deliuer vs ther from And I most faithfully and certainly beleue that this blessed passion and deathe of the innocent sonne of God Iustificaâ—ion is the only perfite and eternal righteousnesse and iustificacion of man before God and the true satisfaccion raunsome and payment for the synnes of all the hole worlde And therfore forasmuche as I am throughly instructed in this most certain and sure strong argumeÌ„t of this our true and vndoubted christen catholike faithe I plainly confesse that man can in no wise be iustified pourged of his synnes or fynde any shifte to satisfie or to be clensed of them either by any workes or merites of maÌ„ but only by the free grace of God that that is to saye by the most blessed passion and giltles deathe of the crucified sonne of God And that we are made partakers of the innocencie and merite of the deathe bloodshead of Christ at suche tyme as we doo constauntly and faithfully beleue that the soÌ„ne of God is our owne and that he suffred that bitter deathe for our synnes to make vs righteous and blessed For I will in no wise contemne or recken as of non effecte the most fauourable free grace of God which opened it self most expressely plainly in the passioÌ„ deathe of Iesus Christ But I thinke rather verily and surely beleue and coÌ„fesse that we should openly cast away and compt the deathe of Christ to be of noÌ„ effecte in case we should seke or thinke to be clensed saued iustified froÌ„ our synnes by any other meanes than through faithe by that only bloodshead deathe rauÌ„som of Iesus Christ in asmuche as we heare the holy Apostle S. Paule saye I despise not the grace of God for yf righteousnesse Gala 2. 3. come by the lawe than Christ dyed in vayne And also If the enheritaunce come of the lawe than it is not of promyse But God gaue vnto AbrahaÌ„ by promise so that they which haue fayth are blessed with faythful AbrahaÌ„ As many therfore as in the olde lawe from our furst father Adames tyme vnto the coÌ„ming of Christ were blessed and iustified I beleue verely saye that they were made blessed holy and iustifyed through faithe of free pardon and grace by none other but by Iesus Christ the blessed sede alone Touching the fyfthe article I beleue and confesse that Iesus Christe The. 5. article very God and very man in the selfe same bodye that was hanged on the crosse and from thence taken downe and buried rose agayne froÌ„ the dead For althoughe our synnes be perfitly purged by the Lordes deathe and a most full satisfaction made therby for the same yet hope of lyfe is restored vnto vs and faythe in him is engendred in vs by his resurrection For yf he hade not rysen agayne we coulde not haue thought that deathe had ben ouercome And so we could not haue beleued that he hade satisfyed for our synnes For deathe is the hyre of synne And death remaynyng in his force synne must also be thought to remayne Moreouer Boddes spirite and faythe wherby Christes deathe and merites are applyed vnto vs be the gyftes of Christ raysed from the deade Of Christ I saye which hathe washed vs cleane from our synnes in his owne blood and so is become the propiciacion or mercy seate for our synnes and not for our sinnes only but for the synnes of all the hole worlde and nowe hauyng dyed for our synnes and being rysen agayne for our iustificacion he reygneth and trihumpheth ouer deathe Notwithstanding his very fleshe bones that is to saye his very humayne body with his reasonable and humaine soule was not deified that is to saye not chaunged turned in to his God-head but only clarified And the clarificacion dothe not consume waste nor take awaye the propreties of a very humaine body either the substaunce or facion therof but only despecheth deliuereth the body and the state of the body froÌ„ all diseases whether they be corrupcions or infirmities that is to saye from feare dreade sorowe heauynesse from all carke and care from hate from carnall loue couetous desires from false Ioyes and griefes froÌ„ affections troubles hoÌ„gre colde heate wearynesse and from al maner of infirmities saintnes smerte and specially from mortalitie and corruptioÌ„ And on the other parte it maketh the body and the facion of the body glorious cleare immortal and vncorruptible Suche a maner of body S. Paules wonted phrase is to call a glorious a spiritual body not that it is afterwarde no more fleshe nor that it is chauÌ„ged and turned in to the spirite 1.
to call vpon God through Iesus Christ and alwayes faithfully to set furthe his praise according to the doctrine of the holy scriptures as also to beware and take hede that ye make no inuocacion nor praier to the sayntes departed for helpe or succour forasmuche as to make any moo or any other mediatours intercessours spokesmen sutours or attournayes to the throne of Goddes mercie for any necessary thing either bodyly or goostli but only Iesus Christ our alone euerlasting sacrificer and aduocate is the horrible transgression of the furst coÌ„manÌ„demeÌ„t dishonour to the high maiestie of God the father preiudice to the honour dignite of Christes euerlastig priesthode blasphemous against the schole learning of the holy goost vtterly against our coÌ„moÌ„ catholike Crede and contrary to the doctrine and example of all the patriarkes prophetes apostles euangelistes martires confessours and virgines that haue any name or commeÌ„dacion either in the olde testament or newe a plaine denyall and falsifyeng of the hole body of the blessed Bible the most vndoubted true holy worde of almightie God Concerning the seuenth Article I beleue and confesse that the state The. 7. Article of this season and this corruptible worlde which hathe his beginnyng and was created of God shall haue also his ending and be vtterly despeched and that at the final despeche of the worlde Christ our Lorde shall in the same body that was wouÌ„ded nailed on the crosse come vnfailingly in the clowdes of heauen to iudge bothe the quicke and the dead For at suche tyme as the most parte of this worlde shall layne and holde with the power of Antichrist flyrting of the tyme in most horrible conteÌ„pt of bothe God and his worde and walowing themselfes in all kynde of sinne abominacion and lust and shal deuise and set their myndes vpon mocking and persecuting of them that be true faithful christeÌ„ beleuers than shall Christ at a sodain cheoppe as it were lightenyng from heauen com in the clowdes with his holy angelles vnto iudgement And the same houre as many as haue died from the begynnyng of the worlde vnto the last ende of the worlde shall by the might power of Christ rise strayghtwaye again vnto life the other that are not than departed this life but haue lyued still vnto the last daye shall in the space of a momeÌ„t or the twincling of an eie be chaunged from mortalitie and corruption in to immortalitie and vncorrupcion And after that all meÌ„ of al partes of the worlde shal be restored gathered together and be presented staÌ„de before the iudgement seate of Iesus Christ shall see the iudge ouer their heades corporally in the selfe same bodye that he fuffred in And than the righteous iudge our Lorde Iesus Christ shall pronounce and geue his last and most iust iudgement vpon al fleshe in the same maner fourme that he long agoo tolde before hande Matth. 25. Than shall euery one receaue according to their workes Than as Christes body was at his ascension taken vp from the mount Oliuete so shal they that be faithfull by the might and power of God be taken from this earthe bothe body and soule and caried vp in to the clowdes vnto Christ our Lorde Him they shall folowe and with him shall they dwell in euerlasting ioye for euermore continually to abyde And those that be vnfaithfull wicked shal be deliuered to the deuil whose chaÌ„piones and householde seruauntes they were to fele and abyde both body soule suche paynes sorowes and tormeÌ„tes as no tongue caÌ„ expresse for euer to endure worlde without ende In this behalfe I haue alwaies besought my parisheners hearers so now I require theÌ„ eftesones to the same to set euer before their eies diligently to print in their myndes that last iudgement of God and with earnest repentauÌ„ce of their former filthy life to geue themselues vnto christen charitie good workes For like as the holy scripture dothe clearely and euidently shewe that we are not made righteous blessed and holy by our owne merites and good workes but by the only grace of Christ through faithe so that all glorie and honour must be manifestly and plainly ascribed and geuen to the only fre grace and pardon of God and to the redeÌ„ption of Iesus Christ his sonne euen so haue I euer taught and now by the waraunt of Goddes most holy worde confesse and constauntly affirme that this doctrine of faithe is vnauaileable and of non effecte to impenitent hooremongers bawdes gluttones dronkerdes oppressours brivers Idolaters men pleasers epicures and other wicked vnfaithful persones And that this lyuely iustifieng faithe is the worker of all maner of good workes what so euer they be according to the worde of God For he that is iustified and made righteous as faithe only iustifieth and maketh righteous doth liue also iustly and righteously and iustly and righteously doth al thinges And he that dothe faithfully beleue the worde of God dothe without al doubt perceaue and knowe that to be good which God commaundeth and that to be euil what so euer he forbiddeth Yea it is the very wonted maner of faithe it selfe to moue and enforce the iustified maÌ„ to eschue that is euil folowe that is good and right Moreouer he that perfitly throughly by faithe vnderstandeth the mater of mannes saluacion and redempcion bothe doubtles loue bothe God his neighbour And loue is the perfite fulfilling of the lawe yea in the loue of God and a mannes neighbour heÌ„geth al the hole lawe the prophetes These maner of workes which be the frutes of the spirite faith and charitie and that we should fall to amendement of our life and what so euer the worde of God dothe furthermore commende vnto vs like as all faithfull preachers and Ministers doo diligently teache and set furthe vnto the people euen so they abhorre reiecte all suche workes as folkes are vsed to fantasie and deuise of their owne braynes deuocion or good intentes coÌ„trary or without the sure warrauÌ„t of Goddes worde how vertuous or how holy so euer they be estemed or how long so euer they haue ben accustomed and vsed For as saint Augustin saithe Whan the truth is manifestly De vnico Baptis Li. 2. shewed custoÌ„ ought to geue place vnto the truthe And moreouer he allegeth Let no man preferre custom before reason truthe for reason truthe do alwaies shutte custom out of the dores And the holy martir S. Ciprian saith also we ought not to passe what our elders and fathers that were before vs did but muche rather what Christ which was before all men coÌ„maundeth vs to doo This also doo all godly preachers ministres warne the people of that no man that walketh in the coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes of God and is riche in good workes in dede set his workes in Christes place nor put any asâ—â—aunce confidence or trust in theÌ„ as though he were made righteous holy
Cor. 15. but bicause it is no more subiecte to any cares or griefes or to corrupcions vncleanesse or infirmities of the fleshe and bicause it is garnished and beautified with vncorrupcion immortalitie and many other spirituall giftes besides out of nombre And like as the body of Christ after it was risen vp froÌ„ deathe remayned still a very body notwithstaÌ„ding it was become after the resurrection immortal and glorious euen so shall the bodies of all faithfull folke at the general resurrection be made like vnto the body of Iesus Christ wherof I shall speake more largely in the eleuenth article of our faithe For Christ our Lorde by his glorious resurreccion from the dead dothe most euidently proue and declare that he hathe despeched synne quyte out of the waye that he hathe ouercome deathe which cometh by the occasion of synne that he hathe restored life that he hathe coÌ„quered hell for all them that are true faithfull beleuers and that he hathe mightily put sathan to flight CoÌ„cerning the sixthe Article I beleue and confesse that our Lorde Iesus The. 6. article Christ ascended in to heaueÌ„ with the very self same his humaine body that rose again from the dead and sithence exerciceth not his dominion and gouernement here vpon earthe corporally For according to the nature propretie of his very humayne body he is in no mo places but in only one in one self same moment And forasmuche as he hathe caried our fleshe in to heauen hathe placed it at the fathers right hande that is to saye in euerlasting ioye felicitie all faithfull beleuers knowe now for a certaintie that the waye to heaueÌ„ is vnshutte set wyde open that they also shall through Christ in whom they beleue be caried bothe body and soule in to euerlasting life For the Lorde him self with manifest Ioh. 17. and playne wordes hathe saide I wil father that wher I am ther shal my seruaunt be also Seing than that the body and fleshe of our Lorde and brother Christ is abyding and resteth now in heauen our fleshe hath this certaine assured hope that it shal be caried thider also ther according to Christes promise Ioh. 14. shal haue a perpetual dwelling place Further more Christ our Lorde sytteth on the heaueÌ„ly fathers right haÌ„de that is to saye euen he that is bothe very God very man reigneth hathe dominion in like power like glorie with God the father so as al thinges are in subiectioÌ„ vnder his power he with the father the holy goost vpholdeth ê‘serueth al thinges is also wourshipped serued the vndoubted true eternal almightie God The chief bishop most high king of al faithfull people sitteth on the right haÌ„de of God Christ Iesus is the only eternal faithful true bishop priest of al true beleuers It is he that dothe most trustily pleade al that matters causes of his faithfull people before God his heaueÌ„ly father It is he the offreth vp all our good wishes and faithfull folkes prayers to God the father It is he that appeareth coÌ„tinually in the sight of God prayeng and making intercession for them geueth them his blessing And so those that be of the true faithful belief in dede wil nother seke allowe nor receaue any other mediatour intercessour spokes-man attournaye or entreatour but Christ alone He is that only and eternall sacrifice and oblacion which being ones offred for all endureth for euer clenseth and saÌ„ctifieth al them that are true beleuers And euen he this selfe same high Bishop and priest of ours dothe daily with his spirite worde instructe teache his churche and congregacion geueth them trusty and syncere vpright men to be their teachers and ministers whom he also garnisheth and decketh with his grace and most excellent giftes and defeÌ„deth from al euil Vpon Goddes right hande sitteth Christ our most roial king the king of kinges the iudge mightie Lorde of heaueÌ„ earth He it is that informeth and ordreth his churche and people with holsome and good lawes according whervnto they frame and addresse all their matters to the loue of God and of their neighbour This king of ours beholdeth vs faithfully and layeth vp all our griefes and sorowes trustily in his harte He is content with good will to heare the complaintes sutes and desyres of all his faithfull flocke and is neuer wearied nor grieued with the tediousnesse of them He also is that most pleynteous fountayne which alwaies geueth liberally and yet neuer waÌ„teth which only filleth and yet is neuer the lesse nor any whitte decreaceth FroÌ„ him ther can nothing at all no not so muche as meÌ„nes inwarde thoughtes be hidden or kept secrete He is the righteous true iudge iudgeing after thintent and purpose of the harte and rendreth aswell to the good as to the badde all that they doo without all respecte of persones Those that be oppressed he relieueth with his ioyfull and comfortable succour But as for theÌ„ that are stowte arrogauÌ„t prowde braggers of their owne powers whan he seeth his iust tyme he is on the bones of theÌ„ strayght waies and hurleth them downe and the necke before Ther is no maner of thing but he hathe a respecte and a consideracion vnto it His infinite wisdome in euery thing and euery where vseth iuste and right deserued meanes He by his exceding great grace sendeth faithfull trusty and good meÌ„ to be gouernours and rulers And theÌ„ he directeth and maynteneth in his churche And contrary wise he dothe somtymes take awaye good gouernours as he did lately our most christen king Edwarde the sixte and setteth vp naughti and wicked persones in autoritie now and than as bloody bishoppes proude popishe pestileÌ„t priestes vnnatural merciles forayners to reigne rule the rost to punyshe hipocrites couÌ„trefaicte gospellers and worldlinges withall To be shorte Christ dothe at all tymes defende and kepe those that his be from their enemies and foes bothe visible and inuisible After this sorte Christ sitteth on the right haÌ„de of God and thus is he the only head of his faithfull beleuing people the only most high bishop the most roial euerlasting kyng and prince of them that be his He is neuer out of their coÌ„gregacion and company he is alwaies occupied in the myddes of them so that he nedeth nother the seruice aide nor assistence of any vicegerent or helpe felowe For he is the only and euerlasting suÌ„ne of righteousnesse whiche altough as concerning his humayne corporal presence he be in one only place in heaueÌ„ yet he doth worke seÌ„siblie frutefully with his vertue light glorie nourishement and power in al them that be faithfull In coÌ„sideracioÌ„ hereof I admonishe in Goddes behalfe require you as I haue accordiÌ„g to mi litel taleÌ„t alwaies taught my parisheners and in other places wher I haue occupied the rowme of a preacher aswell to pray and without ceassing
and disposeth mennes synnes to his glorie welth of his chosen And wher I haue learned in the holy scriptures that the remissiō and forgeuenesse of synnes is nother borowed nor bought for any money or for any other ware or corruptible thing And seing S. Petre did in Symon Magus bitterly curse and crye out vpon all them and their money bothe which thinke that the giftes of God maye be bought out for money Albeit I sawe no great occasion during all the tyme of my ministerie to speake muche against peltīg Romishe pardones and pilgrimage gates for the people did abhorre them almost of their owne accorde yet bicause the horrible supersticion of the popes poticary ware which the idolatreus priestes vsed afore tyme and now set freshely a sale again in stede of holsome medicine to the soule and al for money is through false persuasions of couetous lyeng hipocrite priestes through goodly gaye shewes lōg cōtinuaūce cākred depe into many peoples cōsciēces especially of olde folkes supsticious wilful womē I declared vnto my parisheners and neighbours as place occasion of mater serued that the cōiured water salt palmes ashes ymages candles masses diriges and such other like being raised and set vp without cōtrary to the worde of god only of couetousnesse for filthy lucres sake to occupie the rowme to claime the merite honour vertue of Christes death bloodshead were not only vayne vnprofitable dumme ceremonies but also most haynous and damnable supersticion And in consideracion therof I besought them so I doo still in the bowels of Iesus Christ as they wil auoyde the peril of their owne damnaciō not only to put no confidence trust nor affiaunce in any of them but also to flee frō thē abhorre them as the most present pikepurce pestilent poisō of the soule And namely that priuate popishe masse wherin forasmuche as the creature is worshipped in the stede of the creatour the idole of bread is caried about reserued hanged vp to be gased at worshipped in the stede of Christ the priest eateth drinketh alone the one halfe of the sacramēt is nypped awaye front the laye people their is no publike thankes geuen of the priest the people for Christes passion Finally Christes most sacred institucion is altred defiled quyte turned vpside downe And seing furthermore that the Masse is demed and vsed as a sacrifice propiciatorye that is to wete to purchace and geue remissiō of sinnes bothe to the quicke and dead which is the only office worke and merite of the one only sacrifice ones offred for all whan the body of Christ was broken and his precious blood sheadde vpon the aultare of the crosse for the forgeuenesse of the synnes of al mākynde Therfore I affirme and constauntly confesse that the same apishe paynted Masse is not only vnprofitable and vneffectual to purchace or geue remission of synnes either for the quicke or for the dead but that it is also the damnablest idolatrie and supersticion as ye maye see by the causes rehearsed the most detestable defiling of the Lordes most sacred supper the most cursed doctrine the most horrible heresie the bawdiest spiritual hooredome that euer sathan inuēted to breake faithe loue knotte of mariage betwene Christ the husbande and his spouse the christē flocke the greatest preiudice to the honour and dignitie of Christes crosse passion the maintenaunce and chief keye of Antichristes cursed kingdom the priestes chief marchaundise and money marte finally the deuilles owne yo le game or entrelude For as Bede in rehearsing S. Augustin vpō 1. Cor. 10. sayeth Quid lusui puerili magis Simile est quam idola colere what is more like a boyes game than the worshipping of ydoles What cuckoldrye that cursed Masse causeth what for nicacion it enticeth what careles life it occasioneth what idlenesse and mischief it mainteneth what vngeaūce of God it prouoketh it were to long to make rehearsal at this present yea it cānot possibly be exprest with tongue or pēne Therfore assure your selfe that like as if a man thrust his body and his clothes in to a fornace of hotte scaldīg pitche he shall marre his clothes and put his body in peril of destruccion euē so he that thrusteth him self in to the presence worshipping or hearing of the masse and other popishe supersticiones marreth his new garment Iesus Christ as muche as in him lyeth and putteth him self bothe body and soule in perile of perpetual damnacion And as euery honest harted husbande wolde not only be ashamed of his wife but also onles she repented put her out of his companye for euer if she were bothe an harlot of her lyuing and a common bawde to stande by whā her neighbours wyues were defiled also euē so our saueour Christ being the head and the husbande of all the hole christen congregacion is ashamed offended dishonoured and angred whan any man or woman kepeth company with that hooremōging masse or stādeth by 〈◊〉 in presence whā other christen people are defiled with it If a gelous husbāde can not abide to haue his wife to be kissing familiar with other men Remēbre that the almightie strong gelous Lorde God can not abyde to see his wyfe the christen flocke to cōmit hooredō before his face with Antichrist in the mischeuous masse Awaye awaye sayeth the prophet get Esa 52. out from thence you that beare the vesselles of the Lorde The vesselles signifie not only your soules but also your bodies which ye ought to possesse and kepe in holynesse honour 1. Thes 4. 1. Cor. 6. 1. Cor. 3. bycause they are the mēbres of Christ and the temple of God Who so euer defyleth the temple of God the Lorde shall destroye him For the temple of the Lord is holy which ye are Seing than you belong holly vnto Christ aswell body as soule and that you haue no power of your selues being the spause of Christ and the very temple of God wherin the holy goost maketh his dwelling what a doo hathe the tēple of God wyth Idoles Take hede therfore in tyme. For though God of his merciful benignitie did beare with vs in the tyme of ignoraunce yet we maye not loke that he wil do so nowe in the tyme of stubburne wilfulnesse seyng the light of his glorious gospel is spread opēly before al our eyes so that no pretēse nor excuse in that behalfe wil be pleadable at the barre before our most iuste iudge and gelous husbāde Iesus Christ I knowe wel ynough it is as hard a case as Susannes case was But forasmuche as it is a mater in myne opinion bothe vndisputable and vndispēsable our best sauegarde is to resigne our owne carnall reasons cōmitte al to the prouidence of God sayeng with Susanna It is better for me to fall into the handes of men without the dede doing than to transgresse the lawe of the Lorde my God In she
wil some saye God is merciful It is true His mercie is on thē that feare him throughout al generacions But wittingly and willingly to heape synne vpō synne in hope of goddes mercy is most shamelesly to abuse the goodnes of God and stampe vnder foote the graces of his spirite according to the hardnesse of the hart that can not repent to laye wrathe together in stoare against the daye of wrathe at the open declaracion of the iust iudgement of God which shall rendre to euery one according to this dedes Neuertheles I say not this to dryue myne olde neighbours and countrey men in to desperacion for setting vp or hearing of that wicked Masse but to moue them vnto earnest repētaūce to powre out their continual hūble hartie praiers greuous gronynges before the throne of Goddes grace aswel for pardon of their deserued euil as for the repulse of this massing mischief out of the realme to thintent thei may also haue a good hope of god des mercie that he for his sonne Christes sake will defende and deliuer his persecuted flocke by sō doughty Daniel as he did Susanna according to his promise by the prophet Dauid Now for the comfortles troubles safe of the Psal 12. nedy and bicause of the depe sighing of the poore I will vp saithe the Lorde Alas whā was ther more comfortles trouble Whā was ther more nede Whā was ther more cause of depe sighing than now Repēt therfore for Goddes sake repent and praye And forasmuche as we nother knowe nor acknowlage any other Purgatory purgacion or purgatorie clensing awaye of synnes but only the blood of Iesus Christ I haue euer taught and still doo affirme that the soules of thē which be departed this life are pourged or scowred no where elles nother in any purgatory fire nor popes scalding house but I saye that the powches of them that be alyue are rather emptied and scowred by purgatorie purgacion through these false lyeng lickepeny dreames A faithfull mannes soule as sone as it departeth from the body go the straight to heauen and the vnfaithfull mannes soule straight to hell as it shall anon be declared more plainly In like maner the religious life of cloystre men and women is not to be compted meritorious for the remission Cloistre religion of synne nor among the states of an holy life as it is vsed vnder the papacie but rather an idle supersticious and an Antichristian life a very enemye to the religiō and doctrine of Christ and his apostles and good for no honest vse in the common weale as their filthy dedes foūde in the kinges visitacion are not yet out of remembraunce Concerning the eleuenth Ariticle Th◠11. Article I beleue and confesse that these our bodies wherin we doo worke in this worlde either good or euil shal ryse agayne from the deade and non other for them nor in their stede that is to saye that this same fleshe of ours being raysed vp at the later daye shal by the power of God risepfitly in dede and that dead folkes soules being returned thā to their raised bodies shal-be ioyned and coupled to them again that all maner of folkes be the good and badde shall ryse and appeare accordig to S. Paules sayeng We must 2. Cor. 5. nedes be all presented before the iudgement seate of Christ that euery one may receaue the workes of his body according to that he hathe done in the body whether it be good or badde Neuerthelesse the righteous shall after thexample of their head Christ be gloriously clarified in their bodies vnto vncorrupcion eternal lyfe and euerlasting ioye that no tongue can expresse Than shal the righteous shyne lyke the sūne in the kingdome of the father where cōtrary wyse the vnfaithfull folkes shall not be clarified but shal be made immortal vncorruptible that they may endure eternal sorowes paines heauynesse tormentes worlde without ende But this resurrecciō of the dead shal be in the last daye whan our Lord shal come as we said before to iudge bothe the quicke the deade Finally as to the .xii. Article I beleue confesse that after this our transitorie The. 12. Article lyfe ther shal an eternal euerlasting lyfe folowe which God of his owne mere grace fauour prepared for mankynde before the beginning of the worlde hathe promised it in Christ to al them that be faithful and wil bothe truly faythfully performe bestowe it vpō thē So that whā a faithful persone departeth his soule goeth nother into any iudgemēt nor into any fire ne into the slaughterhouse of any maner of payne nother doth it fall on siepe for it can not slepe nor dyeth t the bodie for it cā not dye but only it departeth frō the body is by the power of Christ takē vp receaued into euerlasting ioye blisse And cōtrarywise almightie god of his iustice hath p̄pared ordained after this lyfe eternal death also that is to saye eternal euerlasting payne eternal tormētes sorowes euerlasting dānacion for al them that are vnfaithfull and can not repent so that whan an vnfaithfull person dieth out of the fauour of Christ and perisheth in his sinnes his soule also as sone as it is out of the bodie is straight caried to hell and put in to euerlasting sorowes and tormentes And albeit the vnfaithfull mannes soule shall at the resurreccion of the dead returne to his bodye and be ioyned again vnto it yet it shal be dryuen away with the body and with the deuil him self frō the sight and presence of God in to euerlasting paynes euē as the faithfull people shall at the last daye be receaued bothe bodye soule in to euerlasting ioye Amen Lo my good brothren and louing frendes This is my belief this is my faithe this is the pith and sūme of the chief most maters that I euer taught among my parisheners and neighbours during the tyme of my ministerie And I am sure that this is no new fangled nor erroneous doctrine neither any kīde of heresie but the most vndoubted true the very catholike christen faithe and the most aunciēt and substauntical learning and doctrine beleued and preached by the prophetes and apostles as they receaued learned it of the Lorde God him selfe And although tyrānes and papistes with other phantastical spirites of errour do conspire conuent murther emprison racke rage neuer so craftily neuer so maliciously neuer so slaunderously and neuer so furiously against the preachers and ministers of this faithe yet the deuil him self and the gates of hell shall neuer preuaile against it Therfore seing it hathe pleased our most mercifull God to geue vnto me most vnworthy wretche his gracious light of this faithe and particular charge in this ministerie Considering also that Iesus Christ wolde not that the candelles appointed to serue his householde with their light shoulde be shoued vnder a bushell but
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