hope and loke for corporall goodes from him neither exercise fayeth in askynge and lokynge for those thinges from him suche a mynde shal feele muche lesse of desire and hope of spiritual and euerlastynge goodes Such causes then of good workes must be driuen into men diligently that they may be steared vp to worke well and to auoyed euyll workes Neither haue we neede of a small fyght in thys case that we beware of euyll workes and trauayle constantly in good workes For the weaknes of nature doeth not onely prouoke vs to euyl workes but the deuyll layeth in awayte for vs to dryue vs thereunto wyth merueylous enginnes as S. Petre sayeth that the deuyll goeth about roarynge lyke a Lion and seekyng whom ue maye deuoure And though these thynges seame folishe to thē that lacke the feare of God which folowe theyr lustes without care yet we haue experiēce by dayly exemples that verie manie men are miserably driuen of the deuyl into horrible mischeuous actes and so into temporall and euerlastyng punishmentes For howe many doeth he sende headlyng into Idolatrie and moste pernitious errours concernynge religion How manie driueth he to vniust murthers Howe manie leadeth he to abhominable and incestuous lecherie Whiche euyll thys thinge also is wonte to folowe whiche is moste horrible of all that synnes are punished wyth synnes whereby greater mischiues and abhominations sprynge forth For howe greate and howe horrible synnes folowed of the adulterie of Dauid No sinne is alone there cleaue alwayes to one verie manie other Wherfore the healpe of God muste be called for continually and wyth moste feruent wishes and we our selues muste lyue in feare and continuall care whiche thynge the Apostle cammaundeth Philippi ij worke your owne health wyth feare and tremblyng ¶ The fyfte question what difference is there of synnes Thys question muste be handled bycause as we haue sayd that sinne remaymeth euer in sayntes whyle they lyue here There is a question thē what maner of syn that should be that is euer founde in sayntes For thys thynge muste be wel declared and we must make a difference betwene the sinnes which the sayntes auoyd not in this lyfe and those that stāde not with faith Therfore we must knowe that there is a synne agaynst conscience that is to saye whiche a man committeth wyllyngly and knowyngly Thys in saintes hath no place And if they committe anie suche synne they caste awaye the grace of God and fayth and dryue the holy goste from them and be no longer saintes and acceptable to god Those sayinges of the holy goste testifie thys thynge clearely i. Cor. vi and Gala. v. They that do suche thynges shal not possesse the kingdome of God And i. Iohn iij. My litle chyldren let no man deceyue you he that doeth ryghtuousnes is ryghtuous but he that doeth synne is of the deuyll Wherefore Paule sayeth also i. Timo i. The summe of the commaundement is loue out of a pure herte a good consciēce and fayth not fayned Itē afterwarde keepe fayth and a good conscience Wherefore he that synneth agaynste his conscience he falleth from grace and ryghtuousnes To this kynde of synne wylfull ignoraunce pertayneth also as the ignoraunce of the heathen and pharisies was whiche reiected the Gospel preached of Christe and of the Apostle and woulde be ignoraunt And in all tymes there be many suche men whiche wyll neither heare of Christe the sauiour nor knowe hym and do playnely contemne the voice of God soundyng from heauen Thys is my deare sonne heare hym Suche in oure tyme are the Iewes and the Mahometistes and manie other amonge the aduersaries of the Gospel which fayne that they vnderstande not the Gospell whereas notwithstanding they wyl neither heare it nor admitte it into theyr hertes Hitherto we haue spoken of their synnes that continue not in the grace of God but in committing suche synnes make them selnes subiecte agayne to the wrath of God Neuerthelesse greate corruption of nature weakenes and euyll concupiscence whereof manie naughtie affections sprynge continually remaine in thē that are in fauoure and be reconciled But whyle the sayntes resiste those corrupte motions and beseche the heauenlie father to forgyue them the same for Christes sake beleuyng that thys weaknes and naughtie affections be pardoned to thē for the same Christes sake they keepe styll fayth grace and the holie goste they continue ryghtuous acceptable to God sayntes and heyres of euerlastyng lyfe as S. Paule teacheth excellently Ro. vij viij Testifiyng that no damnation remayneth vnto them that be in Christe Iesu whiche walke not after the fleshe but after the spirite The godlie muste be exercised wyth thys fyght and so they shall wel vnderstande the grace and victorie of Christe agaynste synne and Satan and they shall go forwarde in godlines and in the gyftes of God For the holie goste is not gyuen to the reconciled to maynteyne Idle slouthfulnes but that they shoulde fyghte wyth a perpetuall battayle agaynst synne and Satan and that in such a confflicte they myghte feele the healpe of the spirite Wherefore Paule sayeth i. Cor. vi We exhort you that ye take not the grace of God in vayne Of the true and Germane significatiof thys worde fayth BYcause we haue heretofore spoken muche of fayth in Christe out of S. Paule whereby as the Lorde hym selfe and the whole scripture witnesseth we obtayne remission of sinnes enheritaunce amonge the sayntes and euerlasting life the ministers must remembre and teach the people diligently that thys iustifiynge fayeth is the worke of the holie goste in the chosen of God whereby theyr myndes are so illumined and taught that they certaynly assent to the Gospell of Christ and therfore to the whole scripture and euerie word of God that a man out of the Gospel maye knowe and determine certaynly that God gyueth hym remission of synnes and euerlastyng lyfe for the onely Mediatours sake Christe that he is and wyl be his God and father and accompte hym for his sonne and that he shal be enheriter of eternal lyfe Out of thys fayeth there spryngeth necessarely a true confidence in Christe a loue of God and a desire to lyue after his commaundementes All whiche thynges the holie goste worketh in them that beleue thorowe whō we are borne agayne and be become a new creature of God made in Christe Iesu vnto good workes whiche God prepared that we shulde walke in them Therfore the ministers as we haue sayd must diligently teache the people whē they entreate of iustifiynge and sauynge fayth that thys lyuely and workyng fayth is vnderstanded whiche we defined a litle before and not suche a fayth as maye be wythout the loue of God and wythout good workes For suche one is not true fayth but as it were a dreamyng or rather a dead fayth neither that we vnderstande a maimed faith as is in Satā as was in Iudas and is in al them that despeyre of the mercie of God For this fayth beleueth not the
thy brest that the power of Christe crucified may be euer thy succour and sure protection in all thynge ⧠Then let hym saye to the people The Lorde be wyth you ⧠Let the the people answere And wyth thy spirite ⧠The pastour Let vs praye Almightie and euerlastyng God the father of oure Lorde Iesus Christe I call the vpon thys N. thy seruaunte for whom the churche requireth the Sacramente of baptisme and therein thy grace and spirituall regeneration and thou saydeste aske and ye shal receyue etc. so gyue thy grace and mercie to thys chylde as thy church prayeth the that he maye obteine the redemption of thy sonne and inheritaunce of euerlastynge and blessed lyfe whiche thy cōgregation seeketh for hym thorowe baptisme Open to hym the dore of thy kyngdome at whiche thy churche knocketh for hym thorowe Christe our Lorde Amen ⧠Let vs praye Further almightie God whiche in olde tyme dyddeste destroye the wycked worlde wyth the floude accordynge to thy terrible iudgement and dyddeste preserue onely the familie of godly Noe eighte soules of thy vnspeakable mercie and which also dyddest droune in the redde sea obstinate Pharao the Kynge of the Egiptians wyth all his armie and warlike power and causedist thy people of Israel to passe ouer with dry feete and wouldest shadowe in them holy baptistisme the lauer of regeneration furthermore whiche dyddeste consecrate Iordane wyth the Baptisme of thy sonne Christe Iesu and other waters to holie deepynge and washynge of synnes we praye the for thy exceadynge mercie loke fauourably vpon thys Infante gyue hym true fayeth and thy holie spirite that what so euer fylth he hath taken of Adam it maye be drouned and be put awaye by thys holie floude that being seperated from the numbre of the vngodlie he maye be kepte safe in the holie arke of the churche and maye confesse and sanctifie thy name wyth a lustie and feruent spirite and serue thy kyngdome wyth constant truste and sure hope that at length he maye atteyne to the promises of eternal lyfe wyth all the godlie Amen ⧠The pastour The Lorde be with you ⧠The people And wyth thy spirite Heare the Gospell of oure Lorde Iesus Christe Marke x. In that tyme they broughte chyldren to Iesus that he might toutch them But the disciples rebuked them that broughte them When Iesus sawe that he toke indigna ion and sayed vnto them sulfure the litleoues to come vnto me etc. Beleue these wordes and thys deede of our Lorde Iesu Christe vpō them and doubt not but that he wyll so receyue your chyldren also and embrace them wyth the armes of his mercie and gyue them the blessynge of eternall lyfe and the euerlasting communion of the kyngdome of God The same Lorde and our Sauiour Iesus Christe confirme and encrease thys your fayth Amen ⧠After thys the pastoure shall laye his handes vpon the chyldes heade and the godfathers touching the child shall praye wyth hym Oure father whiche arte etc. Then they shall also rehearse the crede I beleue in God the father etc. ¶ Let vs praye After thys the churche shall synge the Psal Cxiiij Item Cxv. and. Cxxxvi. When Israell went forth etc. Not to vs Lorde etc. Item prayse the name of the Lorde etc. Ye seruauntes prayse the Lorde ⧠The pastour The Lorde be with you ¶ The people And wyth thy spirite ⧠Let vs praye Almightie and euerlastynge God heauenlie father we gyue the eternall thankes that thou haste vouchsafed to cal vs to thys knowledge of thy grace fayth towardes the. Encrease and confirme this fayth in vs euermore Gyue thy holie spirite to thys infant that he maye be borne agayne and be made heyre of euerlastyng saluation which of thy groce and mercie thou hast promised to thy holie churche to olde men and to children thorow our Lorde Iesus Christ which liueth and reigneth wyth the nowe and for euer Amen ⧠Thus gyuynge his blessynge let hym dimisse the congregation ⧠Of administration of Baptisme The daye folowinge let the infantes beinge exorcised the daye before be broughte agayne to the cōgregation a litle before the supper of the Lorde whō there the pastour after that the Gospel is reade and declared and the crede songe shal bid to be broughte to the foūtstone and shal exhort the parētes the godfathers and kinsfolke after the maner folowinge Beloued in Christ yesterday by the grace of God we hearde how exceading and vnspeakable mercie is exhibited in Baptisme Ye haue renounced Satā and the worlde ye haue cōfessed the fayth of Christe ye haue promised obedience to Christ and the cōgregation and ye haue required of God the father that for his sōnes sake our Lorde Iesus Christ he will deliuer these infātes from the kingdome of darkenes and settle thē in the kingdome of his beloued sōne You must remēbre these thinges and doubt nothing but that we shal receyue all these thynges that we require if we beleue Therefore liftynge vp your mindes vnto the Lorde appeare ye here with all religion as in the sighte of almightie God the father the sōne and the holie gost and receiue ye sure fayth and thankesgiuing the benifitte of regeneration and adoptiō into euerlastyng life of the one god him selfe the father the sonne and the holie goste And bicause the Lorde hym selfe commaunded vs to baptise in the name of the father the sōne and the holie gost vndoubtedly god him selfe baptiseth our infātes cleanseth thē frō sinnes deliuereth thē frō euerlasting death putteth vpō thē his owne rightuousnes and gyueth them life eternal We must acknowledge with true faith and euer magnifie these exceading benifittes of God Wherfore that we may steare vp our fayth and mindes Let vs heare the wordes of S. Paule folowing concernynge thys matter ⧠To Tite Chapter iij. But after that the goodnes and loue of oure sauiour God towardes mē appeared not of the workes of ryghtuousnes whiche we dyd but after his mercie he saued vs by the lauer of regeneration and renuing of the holie goste etc. ⧠The pastour The Lorde be wyth you ⧠The people And wyth thy spirite ¶ Out of the Gospell of Mathewe the laste Chapter The Lorde Iesus said vnto his disciples All power in heauen and in earth is gyuen vnto me Go ye therfore into al the worlde and preache the Gospell to al creatures and teach al the heathē baptising thē in the name of the father the sonne the holie gost etc ⧠The pastour The Lorde be with you ⧠The people And wyth thy spiritie ⧠Let vs praye Almightie and mercifull God and father thou diddest promise to Abraham oure father and the father of all that beleue and in him thou dyddeste promise to vs also his chyldren that thou wouldeste be a God to vs and to oure seede Wherefore as thou diddest receyue the infantes of the olde people into grace and into thyne owne people by circumcisiō And thy sonne Christe Iesus our Lorde and
prayse and magnifie the Lorde holie father almightie euerlastyng God thorowe Iesus Christ our Lorde by whom thou madest vs of nothinge vnto thy image and haste appoynted al other creatures to our vses and where as we thorowe the synne of Adam slidynge frō the were made thyne enemies and therefore subiecte to death and eternall damnation thou of thy infinite mercie and vnspeakable loue dyddest sende the same thy sonne the eternall worde into thys worlde who thorowe the crosse and death deliuered vs from synnes and the power of the Deuyll and brought vs agayne into thy fauoure by his holie spirite whom he sent to vs from the and gaue his bodie and bloude to be the fode of a newe and eternall lyfe that being more confirmed thorowe the truste of thy mercie and loue we should euer go forward to all that that is thy pleasure by renuinge and sanctifiynge of our selues and that we should glorifie and exalte the here and euermore in all our wordes and dedes and singe vnto the without ende with al thy holie Angels and beloued chyldren After these thinges Sanctus shall be songe where clerkes be in latine but of the people in douche one syde answerynge the other thryse of bothe partes As for that that is wont to be added The Lorde God of hostes and Benedictus it shal be songe cōmunely of the whole congregation and therefore in douche Streyght waye after thys let the priest synge the wordes of the Lordes supper in douche Our Lorde the nighte in whiche he was deliuered etc. But these wordes muste be songe of the priest wyth great reuerence and playnely that they maye be wel vnderstanded of all men And the people shal saye to these wordes Amen Whiche all the olde church obserued and the Grekes do yet obserue the same For the whole substance of this Sacrament is conteyned in these wordes And it consisteth altogether in the true vnderstandyng and fayth of these wordes that the Sacrament be holesomely administred and receyued ⧠Whē the people then haue answered Amen The priest shall adde lette vs praye Oure father whiche arte in heauen etc. To whiche prayer of the Lorde the people shal say agayne Amen ¶ The priest The Lordes peace be euer wyth you ¶ The people And with thy spirite After thys they which be admitted to the cōmunion and do loke for the same in their place shal come to the Lordes bourde religiously Firste men and then women and the whole Sacrament shal be gyuen to them al that they may be partakers of the body and bloud of the Lorde receiuing not only bread but also the Cuppe euen as he instituted it ¶ At the exhibition of the bodi let the the pastour saye Take and eate to thy health the body of the Lorde whiche was deliuered for thy synnes ¶ At the exhibition of the cuppe Take and drinke to thy health the bloud of the Lorde whiche was shedde for thy synnes ¶ After the communion lette Agnus dei be songe both in douche and in latine one syde answeryng the other where clerkes be And then lette thys douch songe be songe Gotte sey gelobette Item Iesus Christus Vnser Heylant If the communion shall gyue so muche tyme and leasure ¶ When the communion is ended let the priest synge turnyng to the people The Lorde be wyth ynn ⧠The people And with thy spirite ¶ The priest Let vs praye Almightie euerlastynge God we gyue thankes to thy exceadynge godnes bicause thou haste fedde vs wyth the bodie of thy only begottē sonne and gyuen vs his bloud to drynke We humbly beseche the worke in vs wyth thy spirite that as we haue receyued thys diuine Sacrament wyth oure mouthes so we maye also receyue and euer holde fast with true fayth thy grace remission of synnes and communion with Christ thy sonne Al whiche thinges thou haste exhibited vnto vs in these sacramentes thorow our Lorde Iesus Christe thy sonne whiche lyueth and reygneth wyth the in vnitie of the holie gost verie God and verie man foreuer Amen ⧠An other thankesgyuyng We gyue the thankes father almightie God whiche haste refreshed vs wyth the singuler gyfte of thy bodie and bloude we beseche thy goodnesse that the same maye healpe to confirme our fayth in the and to kendle mutual loue amonge vs by the same our Lorde Iesus Christ etc. ¶ Laste of all lette the pastoure blesse the people wyth these wordes The Lorde blesse the and keepe the the Lorde lighten his coūtenaunce vpon the and haue mercie on the. The Lorde lyfte vp his face vpon the and settle the in peace ⧠Or thus God haue mercie on vs and blesse vs lyghten his countenaunce vpō vs and gyue vs his peace Amen ⧠Or thus God the father the sonne and the holie goste blesse and keepe vs. Amen ⧠Or thus The blessyng of god the father the sonne and the holie gooste be wyth vs remaine wyth vs for euer Amen But where clerkes be not as in villages there lette all be reade and songe in douche But lette the songes be so moderated as in euerie congregation shall make to the edification of godlines But forasmuche as our Lorde instituted thys his sacrament onely for thys purpose that we shoulde eate it and drynke it for the remēbraunce of him and not that we should set it forth or carie it about to be loked vpon forasmuch as sundrie abuses be brought in the true vse of this sacramēt being ouer passed so this sacrament hath bene drawen to horrible superstition and vngodlines for the takyng awaye both of this superstition and vngodlines and also sundrie scruples of the worke and irreligious questions aboute these misteries the pastours and they that administre the Sacramente shall endeuoure them selues that as often as the supper shal be ministred whether it be in the cōgregatiō or in priuate houses for sicke folke they compte the numbre of them certeynely whiche shall communicate that accordynge to the same thei may receiue pieces of bread and measure of wyne As for the remnauntes after that the communion is ended lette the pastours them selues receyue them forthwith and lette them not keepe the same nor lay them vp in any place nor eary them away or set them forth to be beholded For the worde of God whiche saueth vs if we beleue and obey it and damneth perpetually if we do not beleue nor obey it hath thus prescribed cōcerning his sacramētes Take and eate this is my bodie Take and drinke this is my bloude Therfore we must stand in thys institution of Christe and not institute a newe vsage wythout Goddes worde about thys moste holy Sacrament And bicause also that here the Lordes death muste be preached and the communion of hym cōfirmed in vs that thorowe hym we maye be daily more crucified to the world al worldly pompe muste lykewyse be taken frō thys ministration and all tynges muste be so ordeined and moderated that thei may healpe forth and adurne the
certayne outwarde visour For he that putteth not all hys hope and saluation in Christe onely hath nowe cast away Christe altogyther Wherefore that the Apostle myghte open more euidently to the Galathians that the lawe and ceremonies of Moyses do not profitte nowe wythout Christe yea that they hurte verie muche He compareth the olde Testamente to Hagar Abrahams handmayde and the newe Testament of Christ to free Sara And he maketh the olde Testament or lawe to brynge forth bondemen and carnall chyldren lyke Hagar whiche wyll persecute the spiritual chyldren borne of the free woman wherefore at the laste they be put from the enheritaunce of God as Hagar was dryuen out Howe the olde Testament engendâ—eth bondmen and enemies of the verie Godâ—ie of Abrahams house wyth hyr sonne And surely as manie as seeke not al health from Christe alone but aske part of the lawe and outwarde ceremonies they are the bondmeÌ„ of the lettre and rudimentes of the worlde and not the children of God yea they hate and persecute all maner of wayes the chyldren of God which studie to worship God in spirite and truth and be borne agayne of the spirite But God made not his couenauÌ„t nether with Abraham nor with Moyses for thys ende that thei should glory in the lettre and prerogatiue of the flesh refusing Christ but that they should put al theyr trust and hope of saluation in the promised Messias for whose sake god would be theyr sauiour and protectour and they thorow the faith of the same messias should be the people and worshyppers of God Seinge then that the Galathians beinge seduced thorowe falsâ— Apostles dyd putte some hope in the lawe and in the Ceremonies that the lawe appoynteth the Apostle propouned vnto them the olde testameÌ„t to coÌ„sider what it brought to passe after that sorte that they trusted in it So in an other place he coÌ„pareth the ministerie of Moyses wyth the ministery of the Gospell and newe Testamente and he testifieth that the fyrste is the ministerie of the lettre and of domnation as it is in dede to al them whose hertes God hath not purged with the fayth of his sonne and confirmed vnto them the new TestameÌ„t of grace and adoption of the chyldren of God thorowe the holie goste whiche gyueth witnes vnto our spirite that we be the chyldren of God and teacheth vs to cal vpoÌ„ God with confidence and affection of chyldren and to crye Abba O father Hither the lawe and ministerie of Moyses ought to brynge vs Christe sayeth to the Iewes If ye beleued Moyses ye would beleue me to for he wit nesseth of me Paule also the law is a guide vnto Christe But the false Apostles wyth whom Paule fighteth in no wyse taughte this vse of the olde Testament but they coÌ„tended that Mosaical ceremonies must be keepte of necessitie euen in the newe Testament and that we shoulde not seeke for saluation in Christe onely As they then abused the ministerie of Moises against Christ and to make the fayth of Christe of none effecte so they made the Testament of suche sort vnto them selues as the Apostle calleth the ministerie of the lettre and of damnation Wherefore the Apostle dyd ryghtly set that ministerie agaynste the ministerie of Christ and of the newe Testament to whoÌ„ it oughte to serue and to brynge to Christe the onely Mediatour obteiner and confirmer of the newe Testament yea of all Testamentes and leiges of Goddes beniuolence Out of thys maner of speakynge of the olde Testamente the lawe and Moyses his ceremonies cometh it that S. Paule after the preaching of the kingdome of Christ in the gospel called the ceremonies of Moyses beggerly and weake rudimeÌ„tes because that after the appearyng of Christe and the comen publishing of the Gospell into al the worlde they ledde no more to Christe but rather were an hyndraunce and let The epistle to the Hebr. speaketh also of thys abrogation of the olde TestameÌ„t saying The olde Testament is abrogated and abolished But the couenaunt of the olde testament as it was made of God wyth the olde sayntes is euerlastynge and consisteth herein that he sheweth and exhibiteth hym selfe vnto them a God a gyuer of eternall lyfe and that they be his people Thys couenaunt of God wyth the chosen is established thorowe the preachynge of the Gospell and the olde Testamente is fulfylled wyth the newe And though all the couenauntes of gods beniuolence whiche from the begynnynge of the worlde haue bene made wyth men were obteyned and confirmed thorowe Iesus Christe whiche renueth our hertes and onely writeth the lawe in them neuertheles the knowledge of Christe and a more plentifull dealynge forth of the holie goste was gyuen after the ascention of Christe and preachynge of the Gospell published thorowe the worlde And as there was feare and bondage in the olde people so loue and libertie of the spirite is more gyuen to the newe But seinge that feare and loue bondage and fredome be togyther and at one tyme and haue bene in all Godlie men the one Testament is conteyned in the other amonge all the chyldren of God as saynte Austen sayth there is one grace one Christ one fayeth one adoption and therefore also one people of God and one couenaunte of saluation Onely as I sayed the glorie and knowledge of Christe was further and more plentyfull reueyled after the ascention of Christ into heauen and the grace of the holie gooste was more aboundauntly shedde forth and therefore true and euerlastynge ryghtuousnes was communicated to more people and more effectuouslie For whiche cause Saynt Paule magnifieth so greatlie the rytches of the new Testamente and calleth it a misterie hydden from the begynnynge of the worlde sayinge that it was reueyled in the tyme of the Gospell by the Apostles thorowe the holie Goste namely that the heathen be co-heriters and of the same body with the olde people and partetakers of the same promises in Christe Iesu Wherefore if after thys sorte the preachers shall discerne and declare the thynges that as well in common as appropriatly be attributed in the scriptures to the olde and newe Testamente they shall teache the people the wrytynges of the prophetes and Apostles more certaynlye and more fruitefullye and beynge truely instructed vnto the kyngdome of God as a rytche and liberall householder they shall brynge out of the treasures of the scriptures all the promises threates exemples and commaundementes of God deliuered vnto both the people And they shall declare that in al the promises euen of bodily thinges the promises Howe Christ is enclosed in al the promises of Moyses of grace in Christ and euerlastyng lyfe be enclosed For thys promise is conteyned in all the promises of God made to the electe people of God lyke as vppon the benifit of reconciliation and adoption by Christ all other depende yea wythout thys there be no true benifittes and worthy of the children of God So they shall teache that the threates of
Moyses when the chyldren of Israell coulde not directe theyr eyes vnto his face signified thys vngodlie persuasion For suche men haue theyr wyttes blynded as the Apostle sayth For as then the Isralites onely behelde the vayle layed vpon Moyses his face and not the face it selfe So these hypocrites se not the true meanynge of Goddes lawe but styckynge in the letter they folowe a carnall vnderstandynge whiche they falsely laye vpon the clearnes of the lawe as a certayne couer Thys vayle remayneth vnto thys daye in readynge of the olde Testament in all them from whom Christ taketh it not awaye whiche onely with his spirite openeth the true vnderstaÌ„ding of the lawe Wherefore the Apostle sayeth but when they shall be turned to God the vayle shall be taken awaye The other vnderstandyng of the lawe is true and spiritual wheÌ„ we vnderstand that not onely outwarde naughtie workes are prohibited but also inwarde that is to say euyl coÌ„câ—pisceÌ„ce euyl affections al thoughtes wordes dedes wyll inclination and what so euer thynges either in our body or soule be moued in anie wyse agaynste the lawe of God Then we acknowledge that not onely outward discipline is required of vs and vertues whiche wythout grace we maye perfourme of our owne strength but suche workes as the holie gooste hym selfe worketh in vs as a true and perfecte truste of grace and Gods healpe thorow Christe Iesus true inuocation in al perilles feruent loue of God and oure neighboure perfecte obedience from the whole herte and al oure strengthes to be pure and fre froÌ„ al naughtie motions and to be inclined and caryed onely hereunto that thou serue God onely that thou prayse and magnifie hym onely with the true loue of hym and of thy neighbour with al kindes of good workes wherby thou mayest further the health of men and therein sette forth the glorie of God Thys true and holesome vnderstandynge of the lawe is necessarie for all men wherewyth as all men be reproued of synne so also they be called backe vnto repentauÌ„ce and a waye vnto theyr hertes is prepared for the Lorde Thus also oure Lorde Iesus Christe interpreted certayne commaundementes of the lawe Math. v. wyllynge vndoubtedly that the rest shoulde be so vnderstanded and declared After the same sorte Paule lykewyse declareth the strength of the lawe Roma viij saying the lawe is spiritual but I am fleshly solde vnder synne Seinge then that the lawe is spiritual it requireth spiritual workes But man beinge fleshly doeth onely the workes of the fleshe For an euyll tree bryngeth not forth good fruites He then that wyll satisfie the lawe muste be made a pirituall man and he muste do spirituall workes as those be that the holy spirite worketh in vs as the true faith of Goddes worde and burnynge loue and feare of God and the fruites of these vertues We keepe no precept of our owne streÌ„gth Whereof it appeareth that we can not do the leste coÌ„maundementes of the lawe thorowe oure owne strengthes wythout the healpe of the holie goste The brightnes that shone in Moyses his face whiche the eyes of the Israelites coulde not abide signified the vnderstandynge of the lawe For as the Israelites could not suffre with there eyes this bryghtnesse but beinge afrayed fledde away So carnal reason can not attaine this vnderstandinge of the lawe but rather abhorreth it and iudgeth it veri mad For if it were so thincketh she al men must needes be damned eneriechon and she weneth that God doeth vniustly wyth vs if he commaunde those thynges that we can not perfurme of our owne strength This reasoÌ„ casteth away the true vnderstandinge of the lawe and casteth a vaile before hyr eyes and conforteth hir selfe with this false opinion that we haue free wil and if we do asmuch as lyeth in vs that God can not but take it in good worth and that he requireth nomore of vs at al. But we that beleue in Christe and be taught of the holye goste knowe that thys is the true sentence of the lawe whiche we haue proposed For we see the face of Moyses vncouered and haue obtained that that Paule spaketh of ii Cor. iii But whan they shal be conuerted vnto the Lorde the vayle shal be takeÌ„ awaye For after that we haue knowne and do beholde Christ thorough fayth a new glorie of god shyneth in vs and we are transformed to the same image of Christe goynge forth dailye from the clearnes of thys new lyfe be gon in vs to the clearnes of Christes lyfe and that thorough the spirite of the Lorde Seinge that Christ thaÌ„ thorough the know ledge of hym selfe gyueth vs thys spiritual lyght and clearnes of newe lyfe it is certaine that it is required of vs in the lawe and that it is necessarie for vs vnto saluation For Christ came for thys purpose rose agayne and entred in to his heauenly kingdome that he myght restore and finishe the same in vs where vnto we were first made and are called agayne by the lawe of God Wherefore the face of Moyses is now vncouered and the true vnderstandinge of the lawe is disclosed vnto vs which be conuerted to Christe the Lorde and be holde hym thorough fayth and in hym partly knowe enioye and liue the lyfe that God alloweth Thirdly whan that it is declared what muste be vnderstanded by the name of the lawe of God what is the true meaninge and interpretation of the lawe we must considre and teach diligeÌ„tly for what vse and ende the lawe was gyueÌ„ to vs of God For thought we haue in few wordes some what toutched it that is to wit that the lawe was gyuen for this purpose that thorough the knowledge of synnes whiche it causeth it myght worke repentaunce neuer theles we must declare this thing some what more pleÌ„tifully And for asmuch as S. Paul taught the strenghth and nature of the lawe wyth singuler diligence and plaines as a man that perceyued that the strength of the lawe beinge not wel declared and knowen men wil be iustified rather with the keepinge of outward discipline and couÌ„terfaite workes of the lawe than with fayth in Christe we thinke good to consider three sentences of Paule where wyth he moste clearely and playnly expouned the strength and nature and vse of the lawe that thus asmuch as is possible we maye take awaye that festred errour of meÌ„ wherby they go about to satisfie the law with theyr owne streÌ„gth and being coÌ„teÌ„ted with anoutward vaine shewe of rightuousnes they neglecte Christe and haue no care at al of the true ryghtuousnes of the herte these be the sayinges of Paule Thorow the lawe is the knowledge of syn Ro. iii. the lawe worketh wrath Ro. iiii The lawe is our scholemaister to Christ Ga. iii. Out of the first saiynge whiche is thys thorough the lawe cometh knowledge of synne we muste learne and teach that thorough the falle of Adam there is so greate darkenes broughte in to mannes reasoÌ„ that of
raysed him vp vnto supreme highnes and gaue hym a name aboue al names that in the name of Iesus all knees shoulde bowe etc. After that Christ hath thus handled our matter before the father and pleased his anger afterwarde he executeth the office of a faithful intercessour and patrone he turneth him self to vs he entreateth vs that he may heale oure synnes and weaknes For thys cause he sayed to his disciples All power in heauen and in earth is gyuen vnto me go therfore and teache al nations and receyue them into my discipline preache the Gospel to euerie creature baptising thē in the name of the father and of the sonne and of the holie goste he that beleueth and is baptised shal be saued and he that beleueth not shal be damned And teache them to keepe all those thinges that I haue cōmaunded you Thus thorowe thys shorte and simple preachinge of the Gospell he executeth the busines of oure iustification after a merueylous sorte Therfore as the strēgth and vse of the law muste be declared to the people so the vse and vertue of the Gospell muste be propouned and beaten in wyth singuler diligence For it is the power of God vnto saluation to euerie one that beleueth Ro. i. First then the preachers shall teache that the Gospell bringeth to vs remission of synnes if we beleue it truely and vnfaynedly and determine thorow this fayth that God for his sonnes sake wyll be mercifull vnto vs and accepte vs and compt vs for sonnes not for the dignitie of our workes and they shall teache that therfore it bryngeth peace to our consciences which by reason of synne were fearefull and brused of whiche peace the angelles sange in the tyme of the natiuitie of Christe Glorie in the highest to God and in the earth peace to men And Esaie the discipline of peace is vpon hym Itē Paule Roma v. Iustified of fayth we haue peace towardes God thorowe oure Lorde Christe Iesus Ephe. ij he is our peace etc. Esaie lij Ro. x. howe beautiful are the feete of them that preach peace etc. For where the voice of the Gospel soundeth not oure consciences can haue no peace as Dauid wytnesseth Psal xxxvij There is no whole part in my bodie by reason of thy wrath neither is there peace in my bones bycause of my synne etc. Secondly the Gospell bryngeth to vs the ryghtuousnes of Christe in whiche we maye trust as done for vs and gyuen vnto vs aswell as if we had perfourmed it oure selues For so Paule sayeth i. Cor. i. Christe Iesus is made vnto vs of God wysedome ryghtuousnes sanctification and redemption and Philip. iij. That I may be founde in hym not hauynge my ryghtuousnes of the lawe but that that is thorowe the fayth of Iesus Christ etc. For thys is a perfect true and euerlastyng rightuousnes For our vertues be farre from that ryghtuousnes and perfection of lyfe whiche the lawe of God requireth And besydes that verie manie synnes abyde euer in vs and wonderfull weaknes as Esaie sayeth lxiij all we are as one defiled and all oure ryghtuousnes as a garmēt of beggerlie patches And the Psal O Lorde entre not into iudgemente wyth me etc. which sentence teacheth merueilous playnelye that we can not sette oure worthines agaynste the iudgement of God Wherfore if our saluation shall be certayne vnto vs it must leaue vpō some other rightuousnes and that a perfecte rightuousnes namely vpon the ryghtuousnes of Christe as Paule wytnesseth Ro. viij God hath not spared his owne sonne etc. Therefore oure Iustification and oure rightuousnes before God which S. Paule and all the other Apostles teache consisteth in two thinges in forgiuenes of synnes and gyuynge of the rightuousnes of Christ thorowe fayeth And thys onely is a sure certayne and perpetuall ryghtuousnes which Christ hath caryed vp into heauē with him selfe to the ryght hande of God where no man can oppresse it or ouerthrowe it as innumerable daungers fal vpon our ryghtuousnes dayly Therefore our lyfe is sayed to be hidden wyth Christe in God Col. iij. And seing that we glorie of thys our Lorde and sauiour and his rightuousnes our lyfe is in the heauens Philip. iij. For where our treasure is there is our herte Wherfore the ryghtuousnes of God gyuen to vs in Christe must be diligently and continually beaten into the people by the preachers and they muste take verie good hede that the knowledge and truste thereof be not corrupted and that men slyde not backe agayne to the confidence of mannes ryghtuousnes For though that true fayth in Christ be neuer wythout good workes and loue yet workes deserue not remission of synnes neither is a man acceptable to God for workes but for Christes sake whyle he embraceth and holdeth by fayth his rightuousnes and redemption gyuen vnto hym Thirdly when a mynde affrayed wyth the feelyng of Goddes wrath susteyneth it selfe wyth the voice of the Gospel and thorowe the knowledge of the sauiour Christ and promises of God whiche Christe fulfilleth vnto vs the holie spirite is present and worketh in our hertes a sure truste of Goddes beniuolence and adoption of euerlastyng lyfe For in hearinge of the Gospel the holie spirite is gyuen as Paule wytnesseth Gala. iij. Thys one thinge I desire to learne of you receiued ye the spirite thorow the dedes of the lawe or thorowe the preaching of fayth Item iiij Bicause ye be children God hath sent forth the spirite of his sonne etc. And Iohn vij he that beleueth in me as the scripture sayeth fluddes of lyuely water shall flowe out of his bealy thys thynge sayeth Iohn he spake of the spirite whom they shoulde receyue that beleued in hym And thorowe thys receyuynge of the holie gooste a newe generation is caused whereof Iohn speaketh i. Chap. As many as receyued him he gaue them power to be the sonnes of God them I say that had beleued in his name whiche were not borne of bloud nor of the wyll of man but of God Item Ro. vij who so euer be ledde wyth the spirite of God they be the children of God And. ii Cor. iii. we representing the glorie of the Lorde in a glasse wyth a ryght face are transfigured to the same Image from glory to glorie as of the spirite of the Lorde that is to saye when we receyue thorow fayeth the exedinge mercie of God promised and exhibited in Christe the holy goste worketh in vs a newe lyfe and a newe knowledge of God vnknowen to mannes reason Moreouer thys fayth thys knowledge of God in Christ and assenting to his promises thorowe the worke of the same holie spirite the spirite of adoption kendleth susteyneth cōserueth and encreaseth such loue of God suche desire to gratifie and to serue God and to approue our selues to hym in all thynges to glorifie hym that wyth verie great diligence and carefulnes we keepe our selues from al synne and moste earnestly applie oure selues to all good workes The holy scriptures describe
euerie where thys nature thys strength of a newe creature in Christe and of a man borne agayne thys ordre and consequentie or rather lynckynge togyther of the workes of the holie gooste in the beleuynge Whiche places the preachers muste often wyth singuler diligence propoune faythfully declare and continually beate into the people Of whiche places these be some Ro. viii But ye be not in the fleshe but in the spirite for the spirite of God dwelleth in you And if anie man haue not the spirite of Christe the same is not his Nowe if Christe be in you the bodie is dead concerning synne but the spirite is life cōcerning Iustification etc. Wherefore bretherne we are detters not to the fleshe that we should liue after the fleshe for if ye lyue after the fleshe ye shall dye But if ye mortifie the dedes of the fleshe with the spirite ye shall lyue For as manie as shal be ledde wyth the spirite of God be the chyldren of God etc. ii Cor. v. Iudgyng thys that if one died for all then all were dead and he dyed for all that they whiche lyue after thys myght not lyue to them selues but to hym that died for them and rose againe etc. Gala. v. walke in the spirite and ye shall not perfourme the concupiscence of the fleshe Item but the fruite of the spirite is charitie ioye peace etc. Ephe. v. Ye were sometyme darkenes but nowe lyghte in the Lorde walke as the chyldren of lyghte etc. Item Se then that ye walke circumspectly not as vnwyse but as wyse redeamyng occasion bicause the dayes be euyl etc. Phil i. Thys I praye that your loue may abounde more and more in knowledge and all vnderstandynge that ye may allowe the thinges that be ryghte good that ye be sincere etc. Collo iii. putte on then as the chosen of God holie and beloued the bowels of compassion gentlenes sobrenes etc. Tit. ii Iesus Christ gaue hym selfe for vs for to redeame vs from all iniquitie and to purifie vs to hym selfe a peculiar people a folower of good workes i. Iohn i. And thys is the tydynges that we hearde of hym and shewe vnto you that God is lyghte and there is no darkenes in hym If we shall saye we haue felowshyppe wyth him and walke in darkenes we lye etc. Item iii. Euerie one that hath thys hope in hym purifieth hym selfe as he is pure all that committe synne the same committe iniquitie and synne is iniquitie And ye know that he appeared to take awaye synnes etc. These places and suche other in whiche the nature of regeneration and of a newe creature and the ordre cōsequence or rather the knittyng of the workes of the holy gost be declared the preachers must often recite faythfully expoune and printe into the people in theyr sermons that they maye learne thorowly and euer diligently reuolue in theyr myndes that they whiche be borne agayne in Christ and grafted in him and be made fruitefull braunches in thys lyfe and good trees muste also brynge forth good fruites and forasmuche as they be a newe and diuine creation made vnto good workes they muste trauayle also in newe and diuine workes whiche God hath prepared in them wyth his commaundement calling and gifte and worketh cōtinually wyth his spirite to his owne glorie and to the edification and repayryng of our neighbours But alwayes and before al thinges they muste be taught moste diligently that a cōscience fearfull by reason of hir synnes and the wrath of God muste comforte hyr selfe wyth the voice of the Gospell and certifie hyr selfe therby that God wyll surely gyue his holie spirite whyle we praye for it in thys distresse and that thys petition is a true and principall worshyppyng of God which god chiefly requireth of vs. And this high worshyppyng of God muste be learned onely wyth the exercise of true fayeth wherof the blinde men of this world know nothynge putting theyr ryghtuousnes and holines in outwarde ceremonies and truste of theyr owne rightuousnes But when the herte wrastleth wyth the feelynge of the wrath of God and lyuely knowledge of synnes and comforteth hyr selfe with fayth in Christe the mediatoure in thys case that sweete word of Esaie is vnderstāded which is the place of my reste sayeth the Lorde I wyll loke vpon the humble and broken in spirite and tremblynge at my worde For then the Lorde dwelleth in vs in dede when we flee to Christe the mediatour and determine wyth our selues that for his sake we be accepted and hearde of the heauenly father and made heyres of euerlastyng lyfe Wherfore the true fayth of the Gospel whereof we speake in this place signifieth not onely the knowledge of the storie as in Iames when he sayeth the deuylles beleue but it signifieth that knowledge of the Gospell and assentyng caused thorowe the spirite of Christe whereby there spryngeth in our hertes a sure truste of Goddes beniuolence and adoption thorow which we haue affiaūce that God is mercifull vnto vs and hath made vs heyres of euerlasting lyfe for his sonnes sake whiche fayth excludeth all trust of our owne ryghtuousnes and all errour concernyng God his wyl towardes vs. For thys fayth comprehendeth a sincere and perfecte vnderstandinge of all the articles of our religion and an assent therunto Therfore thys pure doctrine of the Gospel muste be reteyned of fearfull consciences that they maye knowe that they obteyne remission of synnes frely for Christes sake by fayth and not by the deseruyng of workes And let them beware that they remoue not thys glorie of the Mediatour Christe vnto mennes workes For if the promise of saluation dyd hange vpon our worthines the conscience shoulde remayne vncertaine stickyng in perpetuall doubte and shoulde flee from God For we can not satisfie the lawe of God at all and many sinnes cleaue euer in vs and there remayneth great weaknes Neither could the hert call certaynely vpon God if oure owne deseruynges were to be brought forth for it should be frayed awaye perceyuing him selfe to be destitute of those merites that God requireth Therefore we muste come vnto God wyth thys fayeth wherby we beleue that we are accepted and iustified before God for Christes sake and not for our merites Thys fundation muste be layed fyrste of al wherby we be planted in Christ and disseuered from all vngodlie men and aliauntes frō Christe Afterwarde it is necessarie to enstruct the people a right of good workes chiefely after thys sorte ¶ Of good workes That thys place may be more easely vnderstanded it shall be conuenient to deuide it into these fyue questions ¶ The first What workes are to be done ¶ The seconde Howe they may be done seing that there is so great weaknes of mannes nature and so great lettes of Satan ¶ The thirde Howe they may please God beinge vnperfecte and verie sclender ¶ The fourth Why we must do good workes and auoyed euyll ¶ The fyfth Of the difference of synnes ¶ The first
maye be more cōforted and the celebration of so great a sacrament more augmented and the benifite of Christ bestowed vppon the childe throughe Baptisme more commended the preachers shall alowe the same in the congregacion vsinge a lesson of the holye Gospel and praier after this sorte ▪ The pastor whā thei become which bring such an infante vnto the Lorde shal first demande of them Beloued in Christe forasmuche as we be al borne in synne and the wrath of God giltie of eternall death and damnacion and can by none other meanes get remissyon of sinnes righteousnes and euerlastinge lyfe than through faith in Christ and forasmuch as also this infant is borne subiect to these euils I meane of death and the wrath of god I aske of you whether he were offered to Christ and plāted in hym through baptisme If they answere that they so beleue he shal aske thē further by whom it was done and who wer presēt And whā they haue named them he shall aske him whiche bi there relacion Baptised the childe if he bee present or other whiche then were presente whether the name of the Lorde were called vpon him and prayer made for him If they answere that they did so he shall aske how the childe was baptised If thei than answere in water and wyth these wordes I baptise the in the name of the father the sonne and the holye gost he shal aske them laste of all whether they certainly knowe that thei haue rightly vsed the worde of god and if they answere that thei know and remembre that they dyd so lette the pastoure saye this moreouer Forasmuch as beloued in Christe I here that althynges concerninge the baptisme of this infante haue been done in the name of God and according to his institution I pronounce in the name of Christe that ye haue doone well For infantes wante the grace of God whych our sauiour Christ denieth not vnto theym whensoeuer it is asked for children according to his worde for he hath not bound the benifite of his redemption to anye places times or persōnes For in what place soeuer they that beleue in hym come to gether in hys name he is present in the middest of them and whan he is caled vpon thoroughe fayth he worketh in hys worde and sacramentes and he performeth in ded whatsoeuer he offreth in hys sacramentes promiseth in hys wordes And to confirme this fayeth and that we maye sterre vp our selues to thanke the Lorde for thys hys so greate benifyte ministred to this infante by baptisme lette vs heare out of the gospell howe the Lorde wyll haue children brought vnto hym and howe he wyll bountouslye blesse them whyche be offered vnto hym Marcke x. ¶ And thei brought children vnto him that he myght touche them etc. By these wordes of Christe we bee certified that as manye infantes as bee offered vnto Christ according to his word pertayne to the kingdome of God bee the chyldren of God the mēbres of Christ that the Angels be present with them as mynistres and that al the creatures of god be subiecte vnto thē to do them good Wherfore we must ministre to such with singuler diligēce that they maye bee well broughte vp in Christe and growe in him and this charge pertaineth to you parētes kinsfolkes godfathers and all other frendes which be of the body of thys our congregacion I commende than thys infante the sonne and heire of God the brother and coheire of christ the mēbre of christ and youre membre in Christe to your faithfulnes charge that ye procure hym wyth al diligence to be noryshied brought vp and enstructed to the Lord to whom he is borne again and to the kingdom of god to which he is borne againe eueri man accordinge to his vocation and power that assone as he can for hys age he maye learne to keepe all those thinges that Christe commaunded to bee kepte Wherefore it pertayneth to you chiefely parentes godfathers and kinsfoke thought all other in this congregation and all chrystian men to whome soeuer he shall come ought not to denye theire labour and healpe to procure that this infante assone as he may for his age be brought to the schole and to the congregaciō and be enstructed in the misteries wyth all faythfulnes that he may lerne to acknoledge and magnifie the moste ample benifites of God receyued in baptisme that afterwarde he maye professe his faith him selfe in the congregacion that with his owne voyce he maye renounce satan and the worlde with all his entysementes and workes before the holy congregacion that he may bynd himselfe to Christ and to his congregacion vnto all obedience and continue in the same vnto the ende as a liuelye membre of Christ and a branch continuyng in Christ and brynging furth plentiful frute vnto the praise and glorie of god and edificacion of his church After thys let him saie lainge his hande on the childe The lord bee with you Answere And with thy spirite Lette vs praye Lorde God the father of oure Lorde Iesus Christ whiche haste be gotten agayne this infant of water and the holye goste and haste giuen him in holye Baptisme remission of all sinnes confirme the same with thy grace and guide and further this new life whyche thou haste giuen and fynyshe it vp where vnto thou haste bounde the infante with this hollye Sacramente Graunte also to hys parentes and to vs all that we maye faythfully and diligently serue the in takinge charge of hym that thoroughe hym and vs all they name dayly be more and more sanctified and thei kingdom promoted vnto the full fruision of blesfulnes thorough Christ our Lord. Amē But if they whiche offre the infante can not answere sufficiently to the sayd demandes so that thei graūt that they doe not wel knowe what they thought or dyd in baptising being sore trobled with the present dāger as it often chauceth than omittinge curious disputacions lette the pastoure iudge such an infante not to be yet baptised and let him do all those thinges that pertaninge to this ministracion as we described before that is to say let him vse an admonicion and catechisme to theim that brynge the chylde and an exorsisme of the childe the commen confession of the faith and al other thinges which done lette him baptise the infant with out condicion in the name of the father the soonne and the hollye goste ¶ Of the confirmacion of thildren baptised And sōlemne profession of theyr fayth in Christ and of therir obedience to be shewed to Christe and to his congregation THys custome hath beene obserued in the olde and newe testament of the institution of God that those whych in theyr first infancie were receiued into the grace of the Lord a mong the olde people by circumsicion and in the newe people by baptisme assone as they had vnderstanded this benifite of God whiche they had receyued and assone as they hadde a fore conceyued fayth in God
when they praye him so giue these chyldreÌ„ the thinge that we pray the for thorowe thy sonne Christ that when we shal now say our haÌ„des vpoÌ„ them in thy name and shall certifie them by thys signe that thy fatherly hande shall be euer stretched forth vpon theÌ„ and that they shall neuer wante thy holy spirite to keepe leade and gouerne theÌ„ in the way of health and in a very christian life graunt thou I say vnto them that they maye acknowledge these thinges wyth true fayth and that they may certeynly beleue that thou wilte defende theÌ„ with thy almightie ryghte hande and keepe them froÌ„ al euil and deliuer them and leade them to al good workes Finally that thou wylt neuer take thy holy spirite from them thorowe our Lorde Iesus Christ ⧠Here the pastour laying his haÌ„des vpon them shal say O Lorde Iesu Christ the sonne of God which saidest in the Gospel If you then beinge euyl caÌ„ gyue good gyftes to your children howe muche more shal my father giue the holie goste to them that aske hym Item If two consent together vpon the earth etc. Confirme thys thy seruante wyth thy holie spirite that he may coÌ„tinue in the obedience of thy Gospell and strongly resist the diuel and his owne weakenes and not greue the holie goste or trouble or offende thy churche wyth sclaunders but that his whole lyfe maye serue to the prayse of thy glorie his owne health and commune profitte of thy congregation as thou hast prescribed to vs and as thou haste promised that thou wylte gyue to them that aske the. Amen ⧠After thys lette the Hymne be songe Nowe al thankes etc. Nowe a good whyle sithens the signe of oyle was wonte to be vsed in confirmation but bycause they abused thys signe moost superstitiously and forasmuche as also amonge christian men signes and shadowes of spiritual thinges ought not to be so much regarded as the thynge and trueth it selfe the signe of layinge on of handes shall be sufficient in thys ministration whiche the Apostles and olde fathers thoughte sufficient And that thys Ceremonie maye be haÌ„dled wyth greater granitie and reuerence and wyth more fruite both of the chyldren and of the whole congregation the deanes wyth the visiters or parishe priestes of euerie congregation shal chose out suche a place in the temples froÌ„ whence the coÌ„fession and profession of the chyldren and other thinges that muste be done there wyth all maye be clearely hearde and perceyued of the whole congregation ⧠Of the Lordes supper MEn muste be muche and often taught and warned of this most holie Sacrament that it is as Paule witnesseth a coÌ„munion of the bodye and bloude of oure Lorde Iesus Christ wherin we muste so celebrate the remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of him wyth greate religion and graue preachynge of his death and resurrection and of al thinges which he was made for vs whiche he dyd and suffered for oure saluation that our fayth in hym may be coÌ„firmed that we maye cleaue faster and lyne more fully in hym and he in vs. And forasmuch as the Lorde when he iustituted thys holie supper dyd saye Do thys in remembraunce of me the preachers shall diligently warne thys also that the Lorde coÌ„maunded that we shoulde do those thynges in this Sacrament whiche he hym selfe shewed to be done by his exemple Therefore we muste set the same acte of the Lorde before vs neither muste we in any wyse decline from the same or chaunge any thynge of it though an Angel from heauen or an Apostle did counsel and bidde vs so to do Which thinge the right holy bishop and martyr Ciprian gathereth well and truely out of these and many other wordes of the Lorde For if Christ be our onely Lorde and maister we as the ministers and disciples of hym muste needes folowe and do not the worde or dede of anie man or Angel but we muste folowe and do wyth al reuerence the thynges that he dyd and layed before vs to do neither maye we regarde what other dyd before vs but what Christe oure Lorde fyrste dyd whiche is before al thynges And al they that do not thys but chaunge somewhat of the institution of the Lorde in thys moste holie misterie ought not to be iudged his vicares or his priestes seing that for the traditions of men they caste away the commaundement of Christe The holie martyr wryteth these and muche moore seuere and earneste thynges in the same Epistle agaynste them that in the administration of this most holy SacrameÌ„t chaung any point of that the Lorde hym selfe did in his supper For he coÌ„maunded vs to do that onely Nowe if we consider howe Christe instituted this holye supper it appeareth clearelie out of the declarations of the euangelistes and saynt Paull that first he made his holie supper with his disciples and that he made the same one and commune to al that were preseÌ„t and with suche disciples as had wholye gyue theym selues to hys doctrine For thoughe Iudas were a fayned disciple and as Christ calleth him a diuyll neuertheles the other disciples dyd not yet knowe that for he dyd cleane to the Lorde in outwarde profession and lyfe as the rest did But the Lorde whan he gaue his disciples an exemple in hys supper where as he admitted Iudas he would not followe hys owne secret iudgement but that open manifest iudgemeÌ„t which his disciples might shoulde folowe afterwarde For thys cause â—n the old church which obserued that thing â—hat it had receiued of the Aposteles no maÌ„â—as admitted vnto the holye communion whiche hadde not witnessed hymselfe to be he disciple of the Lorde Further more such 〈◊〉 any companie and congregacion of the â—aythful had one supper only and that comâ—une to al so that thei al receiued the lordes â—ody in one bread and his blod in one cup. Whereof Paule writeth thus The cuppe of blessing whiche we blesse that is to saye wherwyth we giue thankes is it not the coÌ„munion of the bloude of Christe And the breade whiche we breake is it not the communion of the bodye of Christe For we beinge many are one breade and one bodie for we receiue al of one bread and of one cuppe Loo the Apostle speaketh of one cup in whoÌ„ one man gyueth not thankes for hym selfe and he speaketh of one bread whiche all we that come together breake beinge commune and he witnesseth that this is the coÌ„munion of the bodie and bloude of Christe whyche communion all we receyue together oute oâ— one Sacrament and we confirme the same because we are the members and bodye oâ— Christ Wherefore the Apostle willinge tâ— streÌ„gth the thinge that he had say I meame that the breade whiche we breake in the holie supper is the communion of the bodie oâ— Christ vsed these wordes we beinge many saieth he are one breade and one bodie as â—â— he woulde saye one breade is broken anâ— one sacrament is distributed amonge vs beinge manie for this
vpon holy dayes Then some lesson conuenient for the place and time shal be recited whereby the people may be steared vp to acknowledgyng of synne and amendement of the same wherewyth we prouoke the anger of God agaynst vs and deserue al maner of calamities Furthermore they shall also be moued to prayer for remission of sinnes for Goddes mercie and healpe and also they shall be steared to liberall almes Whereunto there shall succede a litanie in douch after the fourme that foloweth And whē the people haue also sayd their priuate prayers at length the pastoure shall ende commune prayers wyth some one of those collectes that folowe the litanie here Besides these cōmune prayers in Cities and where a greate companie of people is a litanie shall be songe wyth them that come together in the spirite and commune prayers shall be made vpon an appoynted daye euerie weeke But in those supplications which are appoynted for some notable necessitie and afflictiō sent of God an holy daye and fasting shall be proclaymed to the whole people at lest vnto the ende of cōmune prayers And in suche solemne dayes of supplication some vehemente and earneste lessons shall be reade out of the Prophetes concernyng repentaunce and renuinge and correction of lyfe and out of the same the intollerable wrath of God shall be propouned to the people most diligently and vehemently ⧠Litanie ⧠Lorde haue mercie Christe haue mercie Lorde haue mercie Christe heare vs O God the heauēli father haue mercy on vs O God the sonne redemer of the worlde haue mercie on vs. O God the holy goste haue mercie on vs. ¶ Be fauourable Spare vs O Lorde Be fauourable Deliuer vs O Lorde From al synne Deliuer vs O Lorde From al errour Deliuer vs O Lorde From all euyll Deliuer vs O Lorde From the awaytes of the diuyll Deli. etc. From sodeyne and euyll death Deliuer etc. From pestilence and hungre Deliuer etc. From warre and slaughter Deliuer vs. From sedition and priuie hatred Deliuer From lightenyng and tempestes Deliuer From euerlastynge death Deliuer vs etc. By the misterie of thy holy incarnation Deliuer vs O Lorde By thy holy natiuitie Deliuer vs. etc. By thy Baptisme fastynge and tentations Deliner vs O Lorde By thyne agonie and sweatynge of bloude Deliuer vs O Lorde By thy crosse and passion Deliuer vs. etc. By thy death and buriynge Deliuer vs. By thy resurrection and ascension Deliuer By the commyng of the holy goste the comforter Deliuer vs O Lorde In all tymes of our tribulation Deliuer In all tymes of our prosperitie Deliuer vs. In the houre of death Deliuer vs O Lorde In the daye of Iudgement Deliuer vs. etc. We synners beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylte vouchsafe to rule and gouerne thy holy and catholike churche We. That thou wylte vouchsafe to keepe the bishoppes pastours ministers of the church in holsome doctrine and holy lyfe We be That thou wylte vouchsafe to take awaye sectes and al offenses We beseche the to etc. That thou wylt vouchsafe to brynge them agayne into the waye of truth whiche stray and be seduced We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylt vouchsafe to treade Satan vndre our feete We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylt sende forth faythful workmen into thy haruest We be That thou wylt vouchsafe to gyue to al the hearers encrease of thi worde and the fruite of thy spirite We beseche the to here vs. That thou wylt vouchsafe to lifte them vp that be fallen and to strengthen them that stande We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylte vouchsafe to conforte and healpe the weaklinges and suche as be tempted We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylte vouchsafe to gyue peace and concorde to al kynges and princes We. That thou wylte vouchsafe to gyue oure Emperour perpetuall victorie agaynste the enemies of God We beseche That thou wylte vouchsafe to guyde defende our prince wyth his officers We be That thou wylte vouchsafe to blesse and preserue our officer and cominaltie We be That thou wylte vouchsafe to regarde and saue the aflicted and suche as be in daunger We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wilt vouchsafe to giue luckie deliueraunce and encrease to women wyth chylde and nurses We beseche the. That thou wylte vouchsafe to cherishe and keepe Infantes and sicke folke We besech That thou wylt vouchsafe to deliuer prisoners We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylte vouchsafe to defende Orphanes and wydowes and to prouide for them We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylte vouchsafe to haue mercie on all men We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wilt vouchsafe to perdon and cōuert our enemies persecutours and sclaunderers We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylt vouchsafe to gyue and preserue the fruites of the earth We be That thou wilt vouchsafe to heare vs. We. The lambe of God which takest away the sinnes of the worlde Haue mercie on vs. The lambe of God whiche takest away the synnes of the worlde Haue mercie on vs. The lambe of God whiche takest away the synnnes of the worlde Gyue vs peace Christe heare vs. Lorde haue mercie on vs. Christe haue mercie on vs. Lorde haue mercie on vs. Amen A prayer or collecte after litanie The minister Lorde deale not with vs after our sinnes The Quier Neither rendre vnto vs according to our iniquities The minister O God the mercifull father whiche despifest not the groning of the cōtrite nor contempnest the affection of them that morne be presēt at our prayers which we poure forth before the in the affictions which cōtinually laie vpon vs and heare the same mercifully that the thynge that the gyles of Satā and mē entende maye be brought to naught and dispersed by the deuise of thy goodnes that beinge hurte wyth no persecutions we may euer giue the thankes in thy holy congregation thorowe Iesus Christ our Lorde Amē An other Collecte The minister Call vpon me in the daye of tribulation The Quier And I wyll deliuer the and thou shalte glorifie me The ministre Spare Lorde spare oure synnes And thoughe continuall payne be due vnto vs whiche synne wythout ceasyng yet graunte we beseche the that the thynge that we deserue vnto perpetuall destruction may passe frō vs vnto the furtheraunce of vertue thorowe our Lorde etc. An other Collecte The ministre Healpe vs O God our health The Quier And for the glorie of thy name deliuer vs and be mercifull to oure synnes for thy names sake The minister Almightie euerlastynge God by whose spirite the whole bodie of the congregation is sanctified and gouerned heare vs praying for al ordres and degres that bi the gift of thy grace al the same may serue the faithfully thorowe our Lorde etc. An other Collecte The minister Shewe vs Lorde thy mercie The Quier And gyue vs thy saluation The minister God from whom all holie desires good purposes and ryghtuous workes procede gyue
other whych are nowe in Abbaies that they take good hede that this so necessarye and holesome worke of christian reformation be not made open in any part to the il speakyng of men nor hindred nor defaced wyth anye abuse or offence seyng that very many stomblyng blockes and lettes otherwyse happē to this worke before it come to any purpose and be established throughe so great wekenes of men and so sharpe and continuall awaytes of Satan As for vs we must nedes folow the Lordes worde and not to go before it whyche word not onli enioyneth not to mā wiueles lyfe nether by necessitie of commaundemēt nor by commendation or exaction of a vow or by the occasition of anye kynde of lyfe or mynistery but also it byndeth and moderateth the prayse of wyueles lyfe and not of euery wyueles lyfe but of that which may cause a man to cleaue to God and godly actions more fastly and with greate continuaunce It moderateth the praise therof I say so studiousli and with so singuler a promise that as often as it bryngeth furth any thing in the commendation of thys wyueles lyfe and of the maner of seruyng God wythout Mariage it addeth furthwyth somewhat wherby it admonisheth that it is not geuen to euery body to serue God out of wedlock and that eueri man ought to consider what gift he hath receiued of the Lord lest labourynge to higher thynges he bee not able to stand in the lower and lest whyle he foloweth the higher vertue he lese the lower and laye a snare for himselfe Thus the Lordes mouth the holy gost hath taught of wiueles lyfe Math. xix i. Cor. vij i. Timo. v. Seyng than that the Lord himselfe and master of religion commēdeth wineles lyfe after this sort and with this warines bothe by hymselfe and by his Apostle it cannot surely be lawful to vs his disciples to laye a snare to men commeuded to oure charge that we should kepe thē in the grace of God ether by any renuyng of commaundementes or exaction of vowes whereby they perishe and to thrust thē from that that might be to them a better and a surer way as it is to be ioyned in Matrimony to them which burne and to dryue them to that that is not good to theym but daungerons For as the Lorde wyll haue nothynge commaunded to manne in his name but that that certaynly pertayneth to his welth so he wyll haue no vowe either to bee commended or required whiche helpeth not to the same For he came to saue that that of mē had perished and not to bryng them into anye daunger of saluation He came not to presse doune his wyth the burthen of vnprofitable comaundementes but to deliuer them Wherfore we must stand herein nether can it be lawful vnto vs to depart from the religion of our office eyther that we may turne away anye temporal displeasures or get cōmodities For we must not do euyll that good maye happen In the meane while as all christen men so al cloisterers to must no lesse religiously cōsidre the thinges that the lorde so ernestly cōmaundeth requireth cōcerning the reuerēce obediēce of parētes kinsfolk such as in this lif ar made of the lord our gonerners Item howe we shoulde not entre into mariage but in hym that is to saye accordyng to his worde and pleasure Furthermore concernynge the eschuinge of offences and the luste that we shoulde haue to approue oureselues to all men vnto theyr wealth and edification in al our lyfe and doinges Item to folowe and to studie for all those thynges that be acceptable and of good reporte and laudable and wynne greater worshyppe to the Gospel Out of these commaundementes of the Lorde we admonishe and exhort in the Lorde and in his name al virgines cloisterers and al other men what so euer they be that they wyl godly considre and lay vp in theyr hertes al these commaundementes of the Lorde that they trouble not them at any tyme with vntymely mariages to whom they owe all honour reuerence and loue and so disworshyppe the Gospel of Christe and be offensiue to the cōgregation of God and to other mē which offense by the healpe of God thei might auoied For if any aske of God with true fayth and cal for his spirite in the name of his sonne oure Lorde Iesus Christ he wyl not denie his healpe to the perfourmance of those thynges whiche he so muche cōmaundeth and requireth Whiche thynge we see dayly in so many holy maydens and wydowes whom he preserueth in ryght puritie of lyfe wythout all foule superstition and offēce while there chaunce to them no meete husbandes to whom they myghte be maried And there is no gyfte surely perteynyng to the edifiyng and adournynge of his congregation but God wyl bountuously gyue it vs euen in this tyme so that we do not dispice nor caste away his liberalitie but seeke and praye for the same godly Wherefore God wyll gyue no lesse in thys tyme virgines and wydowes and other holie men whiche shall gelde them selues for the kingdome of heauen then he dyd in the tyme of the holie fathers if we shal godly require of hym these ornamentes of the congregation And there be some surelye in thys tyme to whome the gyfte of godlye wyueles lyfe hath chaunced from God if onely they wyl vse the same in the true feare of God and zeale of promotynge the Gospell Therfore let al cloisterers wyth al diligence and carefulnes beware that they abuse not the libertie of Christe in any thynge and make the good thynge whiche they haue receyued of the Lorde and the profession of the Gospell to be subiect to the yl speakyng of men But that they loke aboute them religiously trie and discerne whither the Lorde hath called them and doth cal thē not whither carnal curiositie and desire dryueth them which yet the Lorde wyl giue them grace to ouercome if onely they wyl diligently pray for it and labour studiosly to thys poynte and facion thys whole lyfe wyth godly care that they maye approue them selues to all men but chiefely to them amonge whom they liue by Goddes ordinaunce that they maye please them I saye unto theyr wealth and edification and seeke theyr owne in nothynge but the thynges that profite other as the Lorde requireth of all christen men by Paule To al these thynges we warne and exhort cloisterers after that sort and religion that Paule dyd namely for the true profite of cloisterers for that that is comely to them and healpeth them hereunto that they maye cleaue the better to the Lorde and more nighly and wyth lesse daunger of seperation And not in any wyse after that sort superstition that we shoulde laye a snare to anie man that is to saye that we shoulde gyue any occasion to enterprise more thynges and higher then euerie mā hath receyued power of the Lorde as we protested before Wherfore as at other tymes so we
⧠A simple and religious consultation of vs Herman by the grace of God Archebishop of Colone and prince Electour c. by what meanes a Christian reformation and founded in Gods worde Of doctrine administration of the deuine Sacramentes of Ceremonies and the hole cure of soules and other ecclesiastical ministeries may be begon among men committed to our pastorall charge vntil the lorde graunt a better to be appoynted either by a free and Christian couÌ„sayle general or national or elles by the states of the Empire of the natioÌ„ of Germanie gathered together in the holye Gost ¶ Imprinted in the yere of our Lorde 1547. The. xxx of October I. D. ¶ We Herman by Gods grace archbishop of Colone Archchaunceler in Italye of the holye Romayne Empire And prynce Electour Duke of Westphalia and Angaria administratour of Padebourne wysheth to al them that shal reade heare and vnderstand this our boke grace peace and blisfulnes from God our father through our Lorde and onely sauiour Iesus Chryst IT is knowne to al men manifestly that our most redouted Emperour Charles our moost gratious Lorde hath ryght diligently sought sondry waies in many counsels wyth the prynces Electours and other princes and states of the holye Romayne Empire in Germany wherby these dauÌ„gerous and pernicious disseÌ„cion altercatioÌ„ in holi religion myght be taken away and a general and christian consent and reformation of congregations myght be appoynted and in troduced through the whole nation of Germanye But because the Emperours maiestie could not hitherto deuyse and constitute this general and godly concorde and reformatioÌ„ of churches he for a godly cause and very christian purpose enioyned and commaunded in the counsayle last assembled at Ratespone with the bishpop of Romes Legate to al prelates that among them selues and their diocesanes they shoulde begyne a christian correction of ecclesiastical matters which myght helpe to a comely and holsom administration of the congregations and that they shoulde propoune the same to the congregation to be obserued and mayntain it with ernest diligence and suche faythfulnes as becometh ecclesiastical persos in thys matter neither should haue any regarde of theim whiche woulde hyndre or staye thys godlye purpose because he trusted that by this meane a more coÌ„modious way myghte be made to the ordring refurming of churches and that mens mindes might be prepared the soner to coÌ„sent to a coÌ„sultatioÌ„ of religion Besides this the states of our dominion haue earnestlye required of vs in manye conuocations that we would make a godly and christian reformation And moreouer in the last Conuocation at Bone the Erls Knightes Gentilmen and cities of our dominion committed vnto vs that after the sayd maner we should procure a reformation of congregations to bee gathered to gether and to bee pubblished and propouned to the congregations committed vnto oâ—â—â— charge whiche they shoulde obserue 〈◊〉 hereunto that we our selues by most certain arguments of God do perceiue daily howe grate nede of ameÌ„dement our coÌ„gregacions haue because they be vtterlye destitute of godlie and lerned ministers and therefore no sincere and certayne doctrine is handled amoÌ„g our men where as yet the same ought alwaies to be preched and taught before old men and younge For we perceiue that of thys neglectinge of perfecte and pure doctrine horrible ignorance of God pernitious supersticion vnbelefe most greuous fautes and confusion of all good thinges folowe necessarely Therefore whan we perceyued that the saide thynges preuailed horribly it semed that we ought to make no longer delaie but rather we thought vpon the emendation of these thinges and consulted aboute the same ernestly cheifely in this our extreme olde age which surely warneth vs that we must shortely come before the iudgement seate of Christ where we knowe that we must giue an accompe of this office enioyned vnto vs. Wherefore that we myght first shewe oure selues obedient to our saniour and the Lord Christe the prynce of pastours and to hys flocke and secoÌ„dly acknowlege our supreme officer the emperour and finally seke the preseruacion and correction of religion among the people of Christe committed vnto oure charge accordinge to the office of a bishoppe enioyned vnto vs we haue applied our hole diligence hereunto accordinge to our simplicitie and the gifte which the almightie hath grauÌ„ted to vs that we might finde out some meane to reforme ecclesiasticall doctrine beinge so necessarie in thys greate perturbacion of thinges which afterwarde we mighte propoune to our men wherein if we should not do our dutie surely we shoulde stirre vp greater anger of God to warde vs and all godlie men perceiue that vndoubted and vn couerable destruction of soules wold folow thereof Wherefore we nether woulde nor coulde delaie our purpose of a reformacion Therefore we called to our coÌ„sultation manie men and those exercised men and endued wyth the feare of God and wyth spirituall wisdoÌ„e and lerninge with whom after that we had had longe communication we considered al thinges faithfulli and at the last we ordanied the forme and preparation folowinge of restoringe ecclesiastical doctrine and discipline amonge our men And thought I be their vnworthye bishop yet I was lawefully made both archbishoppe and curate of soules And sette not furth this same forme and maner of a reformation as thought nothinge coulde be ameÌ„ded or chaunged in it or as though other ought in anie wise to folowe it Thorough the grace of God we acknowledge the weaknes of our faith and the slendernes of our iudgemeÌ„t in these matters of so greate difficultie coÌ„cerning the heauen lie kingdome of our Lorde Iesu Christe and our saluation But because our dere Lord Iesus Christe praised his father and gaue hym thaÌ„ckes also for that that he had hidden the misteries of the heauenlie kyngdome from the prudent and wise meÌ„ of this world and had opened them to the simple and despised and commaunded his holesome gospel to be preached without differeÌ„ce to the lerned and vnlerned that they might attain euerlasting saluacion and moreouer promised hys spirite by whom we vndrestande and receiue those thinges whiche he hymselfe giueth vs in the gospel for our euerlastinge saluation asmanie as would seke the same in the name of his dere sonne our Lord Iesus Christ as Christe hymselfe witnesseth it shoulde not haue becomed vs whiche professe the name of Christe execute the office of a bishoppe though we grauÌ„te we do not satisfy in both I meane in Chriistan life and in the office of a bishoppe to doubte of grace and gifte of God and to distruste God our most mercifull heauenlie father as though he myght not be moued with our praiers and the godlie praiers of oure men to gene vs mercifulli his hollye spirite whereby we myght lerne of his gospel to adourne our office enioyned by him and to dispose and ordain that the peple coÌ„mitted to our charge be faithfully and diligently taught by godlie and mete ministers howe thorough
same haue mercie on me for thy sonnes Iesus Christe whiche for our sakes was made a sacrifice Kindle my minde with thy lighte and gouerne me with thy holy spirite whiche thou haste promised vs for thy sōnes sake Thus in our praier we must euer cōprehēd Christ the mediatour as the church hath vsen in collets A fourme of calling vpon Christ frō the beginning adding these wordes in th ende thorow Christ our Lorde Moreouer this is a true inuocation acceptable to God O Lorde Iesu Christe the sonne of God heare me loke vpō me pitie me and geue me thy holy spirite and eternal lyfe Thus we reade that S. Stephan Act. viij called vpō Christ Lorde Iesu receiue my spirite Such prayer attibuteth vnto Christ the glorie of diuinitie for that that God hath reueiled him selfe in hym and worketh together with hym as we reade Io. v. what so euer the father worketh the same doeth the sonne also And in the xiiij He that seeth me seeth the father I am in the father and the father is in me This is the sentence of such an inuocation Lorde Iesu Christe sōne of God healpe me geue me thy holy spirite which together cōfesseth the father the sōne whiche is mediatoure and the holy gooste Wherefore this article of the diuine substaūce and of the thre persons must be learned and exercised in dayly prayers But forasmuch as this sincere doctrine of true and godly inuocatiō is horribly darkened Agaynst the inuocation of dead sayntes and ymages thorow that abomimable wickednesse and madnes vpon Idols whiche is cōmitted in calling vpō dead men their images bones wherunto they haue boūd not only diuine power but also a certen peculiar strēgth and efficacie of saintes wheras yet it is euidēt that we must assigne the power working of god to nothing in which god him selfe hath not expressedly witnessed in his worde that he wyl gyue the same but it is playne that deade mē helpe nobody Nor worke in ydoles for these causes I saye the people muste be called backe from suche ydolotrye vnto the true and religiouse inuocation of God as to a moste godlye worke and principall worshypping of God wherin we chiefely learne and feele which is the true fayth yea this is the only worke wherby the true people of God may be most discerned from the vngodly Of the creation and gouernaunce of al thinges OVre hole saluatiō and euerlasting lyfe consisteth herin that we truly knowe God in oure Lorde Iesus Christe that is to saye with a sure and lyuely fayth In thys knowledge the chiefest poynt is to knowe that it is God which made all thinges and preserueth and gouerneth the same alone wherfore the preachers shall studye to declare to the people wyth singuler dylygence and to beate into their heads those places of the scripture that teach and testifie of the eternal substaūce of God of his power knowledge goodnesse and seueritie for wythout this knowledge and fayth we can neuer truely and effectuously fele our sinnes much lesse repent and amende our selues neyther shal the law alone driue vs therunto for what shal eyther his preceptes or threates moue or feare vs of whose power bowntuousnes or seueritie as yet we knowe or fele nothinge substantially and effectuosely wherfore he that wil comme to God muste necessarily knowe afore hande and beleue that it is God which made preserueth and iudgeth all men and largelye rewardeth them that loue him Very many boste them selues to knowe God but in that that thei studi not to frame their life according to the wil of god dispising the worde of God they beare sufficiente witnes of thē selfe to the cōtrary namely that they say in theyr hertes there is no God though they confesse the same before men It is therfore ryght necessarye that preachers often tymes and with great diligence do propounde and beate in to theyr eares the common place of creation preseruacion and gouernaūce of all thynges And in the article of the creation of thynges the pastours shal diligently teach that that Lorde whiche delyuered the ten commaundementes the whole holy scripture and the gospell it selfe is the only true God and maker of thinges whiche of no thinge created heauen earth the sea and whatsoeuer is conteined in thē our selues also and alone preserueth the same throughe his power and hath partly made the other creatures subiecte vnto vs beinge created to his ymage appoyntynge them to a profitable vse and partly ordeyned them to the ministerye of the health both of the bodye and soule Wherfore the preachers shal often allege faythfully declare and printe in the mindes of theyr herers those places of the scripture that teache that God made vs and al other thinges of no thinge and that we were fashoned after the ymage of god finally that inferiour creatures be subiecte vnto oure rule by Goddes ordinance and that the superiour creatures be appoynted to procure oure healthe that the same herers maye dayly lerne more and more the almightines and goodnes of Goddes maiestie and that in them selues and in all other thinges that they handle in whyche they be occupyed whyche they beholde here or by any meanes do exercise they knowe hym haue him in reuerēce prayse him cal vpon him And that therby they may trust more fully in the almightines goodnes of God and more cherefully obey his cōmaūdementes and also feare his wrathe the more and that they maye vse all thinges whiche they do vse in this lyfe as the moste holy creatures and gistes of God and our sauiour wyth more holynes dayly and thankfulnes and larger liberalytie towardes theyr neighbours ▪ For this cause the prophets in the prayses of God do so magnifie and sette before our eyes with moste elegant descripcions the principal and notablest workes of God in the vniuersall nature of thynges as the heauens the son the moone the sterres the Why the holy scripture often propoūneth vnto vs the merueylous workes of God clowdes the wyndes mystes rayne dewe snowe froste thunder lyghtnynge mountaynes valleys fildes contreys medowes springes riuers standinge waters sondry trees and herbes the pryncypall kyndes of beastes both tame and wylde men and other innumerable workes of God For whiche many psalmes doe greatly magnifie the glory of God as psal xix xcv Ciiii. Cxxxvi. Cxlv. Cxlvii Cxlviii Iob doeth the same thinge from the xxxviii Chapiter to th ende of his booke And Esay in the .xl. chapter vnto th ende of hys boke Lyke places ye shal finde in other canonicall bookes euery where This contemplaciō of the notable workes of God and admiracion of the diuine maieste was the cause why Christe the Lorde hym selfe and other sayntes lyfted vp theyr eyes and handes to heauē whē they praye And in the fourme of prayinge the Lorde taught vs to saye Oure father whiche arte in heauen for when we behold wyth oure eyes and myndes those mooste excellent and wonderfull workes
gyftes of God Wherfore it is merueylous necessarie that the preachers do euer wyth singuler reuerence propoune declare and beate into the people thys article of the creation and preseruation of thynges that is to wit that God made all thynges of nothynge and preserueth the same thorowe his owne onely power bringeth forth and gyueth vs al thynge thorowe his bountiousnes to the entent that they may serue to our vse health and felicite and that he maye require to be knowen and worshypped in these his workes and creatures For whiche cause those places of scripture which testifie set forth thys article shall be often alledged in their sermons faythfully declared and printed in the myndes of the people Of the gouernaunce and administration of all thynges IT is lyke necessary diligently to teache and admonishe the people of the gouernaunce and administration of thynges that they may know that they must aske and loke for healpe from God and learne therwyth that sinne and other horrible mischeifes in the world were not made by god but sprange from an other begynnynge as we wil shewe herafter Wherfore that that the scripture teacheth of the creation of thinges must be so taken as that that is taught Genes i. and. ii Psal xxxij Esai xliij and in manie other places by the prophetes and apostles and as that churche euer beleued that is to saye that God hath not lefte his worke once made as the carpenter leaueth the shippe that he hath made and cōmitteth it vnto the shyppeman beinge litle or nothynge carefull for it afterwarde But we must thinke thus that he is present with his worke and perpetually susteineth and gouerneth the same that he knoweth and beholdeth the doinges of all creatures that he seeth also the thoughtes of angelles men and diuelles and that there is nothing done wythout hym that it is he whiche wyth perpetual mouing gouerneth the heauenlie bodies maketh the grounde fruiteful gyueth life both to man and beast adding fode and other necessarie thynges as we reade actes xvij In hym we lyue are moued and haue oure beinge Hebr. i. he susteyneth al thinges wyth the worde of his power Coloss i. All thynges consist thorowe hym i. Tiuint iiii We trust in the liuinge god which is the sauiour of al mē chiefly of the faythful Here Paule testifieth that God gyueth lyfe not only to the faythful but also to the reste howe beit that is done in vnlike maner not with standinge he teacheth vs that God susteineth preserueth gouerneth the lyfe of al. As he defended Dauid against Goliath Saull Absalō and other his enemies and gaue hym manye other temporal gyftes and lykewyse encreased hym with spiritual benifittes and other gyftes with grace and the holye goste But amonge the heaten he healpeth manye with corporal giftes only as with victorye peace and ritches that politye maye be mainteined and that mankinde maye endure in erth so longe tyl he haue gathered together his whole congregation as Paul witnesseth i. Tim. vi God which quyckneth Item gyue precepte vnto the riche that they truste in God which gyueth vs al thinges abundantly to our commoditie Math. x. Two sparowes are sold for a farthinge and one of them falleth not vpon the groūde wyth out the wil of your father And the heares of your heades be al nombred Psal Ciii All thynges looke vpon the that thou wylte gyue them theyr foode in due ceason whan thou gyueste them they shal gather Whan thou openest thy hand all shal be filled wyth bountuousnes But when thou turneste awaye thy face they shal be trobled Thoue shalte take awaye theyr breath and they shall fayle and returne to theyr dust Thou shalt sende forth thy spirite and they shal be created thou shal renue the face of the erth Psal xxxiii God looke from heauen he seeth all the children of men he frameth theyr hertes euerye one and vndrestandeth al theyr workes Psal xxxvi Men and beastes shalte thou saue Lorde Psal Cxlvii Whiche couereth the heauē with cloudes and prepareth raine to the erth whiche bringeth forth grasse in the mountaynes whyche gyueth foode to theyr catail and to the yong crowes that cal vpon hym Psal Cxlv. The eyes of al loke vpon the Lorde and thou gyueste them foode in due ceason Thou openest thy hande and filleste euery creature wyth thy goodnes Io. v. my father vnto thys tyme worketh I worke By these places of the scripture we are taughte that God is present euerie where knoweth althinges conserueth and susteineth all thynges and gyueth lyfe and mouinge Wherefore this article muste be dyligently thaughte the peoqle and lerned of the same For though the heathē graūt that the world was made by god yet thei doute whether therebe anye prouidence whether God hath anye care of mennes matters and iudgeth them whether he heareth men that calle vpon hym whether he ministre fode peace helth and other benifittes to men but they thinke that these thinges begotten and mainteined by mans industrie As euer such heatheuish persuasions hange in the myndes of men whiche thinge many wordes and sentences of the vngodlye doe wel proue against which Ieremie in his lamētatiōs Cha. iii. crieth myghtely Who is this that sayeth out of the mouth of the highest nether good thynges nor badde come forth what murmureth man againste God and thincketh not howe greuously he offendeth God That the myndes of men than maye be deliuered from those heathnishe opinions the alleged testimonies of the scripture and suche lyke cōcerning the preuidence of God and goueruance of thinges must be deligētly cōsidered we must hold fast in memory that God looketh vpon the hertes of men and wyl iudge the doinges of euerye one that he with out doubte heareth them that cal ryghtly vpon him as it shal be shewed here after Item that he gyueth benifittes to men and frutefulnes of the erth defendeth them and theyr ofspringe from enemies preserueth commen weales et cet As we are cōmanded to aske these thinges and to looke for them from God whan we praye gyue vs this daye oure dayly breade and psal iv Cast thy care vpon the Lorde and he shal nonrishe the vp But howe can a man desire helpe from God if he dreame that God neglecteth creatures that he worketh not in al but that the creatures are caried at al auentures and that men doe al thinges as they list and of theyr owne strength This darcknes of mannes mynde must be ernestly reproued and we must laye euidēt testimonies of the scripture agaynst it For mannes mynde is far gone from God and is ful of doubtinge and horrible darckenes concerning God whiche that God mighte dreue out of oure myndes from the beginninge he hath opened him selfe wyth great miracles He sente also his sonne into the worlde openly which rose from death and raised many other from the dead Al which thinges oughte to strengthen oure faythe that we maye certifie our selfe that God is not ydle
baptisme Item to the Ro. xi he sayeth that we be brainches of the wylde olyue and be grafted into the naturall olyue that is to saye into the people of God thorowe Christ and that the roote beareth vs and not we the roote In an other place he sayeth that we haue receyued the same spirite of fayth with the fathers ij Corhin iiij Item Petre in the actes xv We truste that we shall be saued not by the lawe but by Christ onely as our fathers dyd also which were vnder the law For thys cause not only the Apostles but also the prophetes condempned al them as bastardes and straungers from the Testament and breakers of Goddes couenaunt whiche wythout fayth and the spirite of adoption would be called Israelites by reason of the lawe that they had receyued and for the onely keepyng of the ceremonies outwardly For the law and the couenaunte of God requireth chiefelye fayth towardes God and loue from the whole hert and whole soule and al strēghthes and commaundeth vs so to loue oure neighbour as we loue our selfe where vpō In al ceremonies Christe was shadowed and fayeth in hym was required as Christe wytnesseth the whole lawe and the prophetes depende Thus also Christe was shadowed and after a certaine wise exhibited in all ceremonies and fayeth in hym was required Finally all promises eyther of spirituall or corporall thynges were therfore made to the fathers as Christ him selfe promiseth vnto vs all good thynges if we seeke the kyngdome of God and the ryghtuousnes thereof that being deliuered from all euyls and daungers and enryched with all good gyftes we maye loue God more feruently and studie the more to obeye his cōmaundementes and magnifie his name Wherefore it perteyneth to preachers to applie handsomely vnto vs the promises and threates propouned to the people of Israel sundrie wayes aswel in open sermons of the lawe as in exemples and therof they must euer diligently warne the people that God wyl bountuously exhibite his healpe and gyue them all good thynges beleuyng in hym and obeyinge his commaundementes And cōtrarie wyse that he wyl vndoubtedly rendre punishemenent aswell presently as in the lyfe to come to the vnfaythfull and despicers of his worde These thynges shal cause the people to be returned and furthered in the feare and zeale of God As for the difference of the olde Testament The differēce of the olde and new Testament made with the fathers and the newe instituted by Christ the apostles it is thre folde First because the olde Testamēt was made wyth Abraham onely and his seede namely the people of Israel after the fleshe and wyth them whiche outwardelye also embraced the same religion But the newe Testamente was made wyth all men and nations thorowe the whole worlde as manie as beleue the Golspell and become his chyldren thorowe fayeth Secondly because in the olde Testament beside fayth obedience of the law circumcision other outward rytes of ceremonies were required But in the new Testament nothyng is required but fayth loue wyth the fruites of those vertues and a fewe ceremonies which Christ him selfe did ordaine Thyrdely for that that God had not yet opened so clearly to the olde people the grace of the Mediatoure Christe and because he helde them in great feare and bondage But the whole misterie of Christe is more fully reueiled to the newe people and a greater libertie of outwarde thynges is graūted For in the new Testamēt there is no differēce of personnes places or ciuilitie cōmaūded but Christe bad that his gospel should be preached to euery creature that al men of all nations shoulde be called to his kingdom affirming that al should be saued that shoulde beleue and be baptised Wherfore Paule also wrate that those heathē that were cōuerted were not now straūgers but the citizens of the saintes and housholde of God This in the steede of circumcision and other ceremonies with which thei were innumerably laden in the olde Testament Christe hath lefte sacramentes wyth hys church as S. Augustine sayth verie few in nombre moste certaine in obseruation and moste reuerende in signification that is to saye baptisme and the celebration of his bodye and bloude Finally he hath nowe opened the mysteries of hys grace much more clearely than in tymes paste to the fathers and he hath powred vpon vs more abundantly the spirite of ad optiō and hath mad vs fre frō Mosaical rites al rudimētes of the world And he so gouerneth our hertes with his spirite that of our owne accorde we submitte oure selfe to euerie ordinaunce of man for the profit of our neighbours appliynge oure selfe to euery mannes health and edificacion towardes saluation and seruinge plainly with a free and wyllinge spirite not constrained Furthermore they must obserue that there is other maner of speakynge of the olde testament whiche Paule and the prophetes than vse whan they reproue the vaine confidence of the Iewes in the Testament and lawe of God whiche they obserued onely outwardly with out fayth in Christe For in this place they shewe what the olde Testament After what sorte sacrifices were commaunded in olde tyme. is and what it aualeth wyth out grace and fayth in Christe Of whiche Ieremie speaketh cha vii Thys sayeth the Lord of hostes the God of Israel put your brunt offeryngs to your sacrifices and eate felsh for I spake not to your fathers and I gaue them no cōmaundement in the daye whan I brought them out of the laude of Aegipte cōcerninge brunte offringes and sacrifices but I cōmaūded them this thinge saiynge heare my voyce and I wil be your God and you shal be my people and walke in all the wayes that I haue commaunded you that you maye be in good case Lo the Lorde witnesseth that he gaue not the lawe of brunte offringes and sacrifices that he commaunded hys people notinge concerning this matter which thinge the prophete spake not absolutely of the lawe but as it was corruptly obserued of the vngodly Iewes whiche though they stil apeace prouoked God with al maner of wickid deedes yet they laboured in vaine to appease God with sacrifices done with out repentaunce and fayth That the prophete than myght more strougly throwe doune thys false confidence in them vsinge an hyperbolical or exedynge speache he sayeth that God commaunded nothynge concernynge sacrifices For God ordeyned sacrifices for thys purpose that in them faith towardes God and Messias myghte be exercised not that a libertie of sinning and careles lyuing should be established In lyke maner S. Paule speaketh of the olde Testament to the Gala. iiij Where he maynteyneth the doctrine of the Gospell agaynste false apostles whiche taughte that fayeth in Christe sufficed not vnto saluation but that men had neede of circumcision and other Mosaicall ceremonies whereby it came to passe that while they despiced the grace of Christ they retayned nothynge of the lawe and the olde Testamente but the letter and a
lawe of God whiche of right requireth of vs that we do the thinges that he commaundeth vs to do moste desirously and abhorre the thynges that he forbiddeth with al our herte and all our strength so that we abhorre nothynge more in all oure lyfe Here of it appeareth playnly that we are taughte by the lawe of God whyle we beholde it after the meaning of Christ that we be not onely sinners but also prisoners and solde vnder synne For we can not represse in any wise those inward motions with our owne strength which thing whē we learne and acknowledge out of the lawe then we haue a true and an holesome knowledge of the lawe Therfore as the Apostle teacheth diligently and beateth in thys knowledge of the law so al preachers must be most diligēt to teach and print the same in the people omitting the subtile disputations of the lawe that make nothinge to the purpose For while they cōtinually beate in this substantial obseruaūce of the law which Paule teacheth they shall steare vp in men a true knowledge of synnes and thereby a lyuely and effectuous repentaunce and a careful and earnest conuersation vnto Christe For they that geue them selues earnestly to thys perfecte obediēce of the law and turne their lyfe thereunto shall muche better perceyue then anie man can teache how great corruption there is of nature and howe greate tirannie of synne in vs. An other sayinge of Paule whereby we may know the true vse of the lawe is thys The lawe worketh wrath wherwith the Apostle signifieth that we do not onely not acknowledge sin of our selues but also neglecte it when we haue acknowledged it and dispice carelesly the iudgement and wrath of god against synne which the law threatneth as though God were not so much offēded with our sinnes as the scripture wytnesseth and as though he could wynke at them Where as yet Dauid testifieth that God wyl not iniquitie For thus he sayeth Thou arte not the God that wylleth iniquitie And thou hatest al that worke iniquitie and shalt destroy them that speake lyes Wherfore God would fraye steare and moue vs agayne wyth his heauenly voice that we myght feele his wrath in oure consciences And thys he doeth wyth threateninges of punishmētes and miseries which he added to his cōmaundemētes in the law both corporall and euerlastynge manie tymes and ryght horribly and al sinners shal suffre them if they repent not and be deliuered thorowe Christ Therfore the preachers muste diligently declare to the people these punishmētes miseries that at length they maye vnderstande the wrath of God and feele it in theyr cōsciences that being frayed wyth the intollerable iudgement of God they may be steared to seke grace in Christ and deliueraunce from thys wrath of God Hereof it appeareth sufficiently that the law was not geuē to testifie and to quicke but that thorowe it we mighte vnderstande that synne raygneth myghtely in vs and that we shoulde seeke an other waye wherby we myghte come into Goddes fauoure and obtayne that lyfe that the Gospell sheweth namely fayeth in Christ Wherof S Paule wrate to the Galathians iij. For if there had bene a lawe that had bene able to quycken ryghtuousnes had ben of the lawe in dede But the lawe iustifieth not but condemneth while it prescribeth and requireth that that God requireth of man to be done and threateneth death and hell to all them that perfourme not the thynge that it prescribeth and requireth whiche thynge no man can do For we are so destitute of the glorie of God and true ryghtuousnes so solde to sinne and plainly so dead as Paule witnesseth that the law it self which should be a remedie vnto vs and brynge vs againe to lyfe is turned into oure destruction and casteth vs further into hell concupiscence beinge steared vp thorowe it and synne encreased Wherefore thys is the vse of the whole lawe that it shewe vs thys oure perdition thorowe synne and that it dryue vs beinge stryken wyth true griefe for syne and wyth the feare of Goddes iudgement and being destistute of all hope of saluation to begotten otherwyse to Christe the sauiour which thorowe his passion and death hath remoued the wrath of God from vs hath obtayned fauoure gyueth the spirite of regeneration thorowe whiche spirite beinge sanctified and strengthened we are dryuen forth to worke well and we are stayed wyth this consolation that he is oure onely Meditoure and Sauiour whiche maye sette his perfect obediēce and rightuousnes betwene the father and vs and at length in the resurrection wyll deliuer vs from all synnes and gyue vs perfecte ryghtuousnes The thyrde place of Paule is thys The The lawe is our guyde or scholemaister to Christe law was made vnto vs a scholemaister vnto Christ Thys ende then of the lawe must be diligentlye declared and repeted in sermons For all we haue yet neede of thys scholemaistringe accordyng to the measure of fayth and the spirite gyuen to euery one For there remayneth a greate weakenesse in vs all by reason whereof we haue neede thorowe the feare of the seruile spirite to be euer dryuen to Christe and to be kept in the obedience of God vnto a fulle libertie of the spirite of chyldren Further more no small parte of christian people in thys laste and so corrupte age of the worlde after so notable a defection from the lawe of God foloweth theyr lustes without care and lyueth in manifest vices It is then as necessarie to preache the lawe to thys kynde of people and to rayse them vp from the sleepe of theyr vices thorowe the feare of Goddes iudgementes and to dryue them to Christe as it was to the olde people Therefore it shall pertayne to the preachers whyle they exhort to good workes to beate in diligently the cōmaundementes of the lawe the promises and threates ioyned to the commaundementes Howe be it they muste do it wyth such moderation that togyther wyth principall diligence they teache that it is Christe onely that worketh the true obedience of the lawe and that he satisfied thorowe his obedience that that wāted in ours wherin there is no perfection For as longe as we lyue here oure obedience is verie sclender and vnperfecte nor satissieth the lawe at anie tyme whiche lawe setteth thys marke of our obedience that we loue God wyth our whole herte our whole soule and all our strenghthes Wherefore those places in the lawe and in the prophetes that preache of Christ Euē the lawe leadeth and remitteth to Christe whereof there be manie in the scripture shal be declared and commended to the people wyth greate diligence For the lawe profiteth vs not onely in this poynte that thorouge the knowledge of synne whiche it stirreth vp and the feare of Goddes wrath whiche it causeth it calleth vs agayne to Christe and keepeth vs thorough obediēce towardes god in Christ and yet by none other strēgth thā of Christ but also it magnifieth and sheweth
eternal life therin only say with Dauid I wil praise the lorde alwaies his prayse shal be euer in my mouth etc. Secōdly they must warne mē that god throw this cōmaundemēt setteth the wickednes of our hert and whol nature before our eyes to be acknoledged by reasō wherof we neglect the due praising magnifying of god wherunto we should haue a burning desire For by nature we are so corrupted with vngodlines that it is tedious to vs to heare god praysed so far of it is that we study worthely to cōfesse him to cal vpō him to magnifie the glory of his maiestie Thorowe whiche faute it cometh to passe that wyth the lest incommodities or commodities of the worlde we suffre our selues to be frayed and to be turned awaye from the true cōfession of Goddes name and frō testifying of the Gospel And if god did not sufteyne vs wyth his power we shoulde al sone fall to thys poynte that we should abuse his holie name to periurie lyes superstition and open blasphemie Thyrdly the instruction of this cōmaundement How this cōmaundement is fulfilled must be taught that mē may learne that God thorowe thys commaundement sheweth vs our natural disease of vngodlines that therby he may dryue vs to Christe his sonne the true and onely Mediatoure whiche before hym may entreate for vs and obtayne forgyuenes of thys euyll and dayly represse the same thorowe the holie goste and at length vtterly abolishe it which may moue and kendle oure hertes wyth his spirite that we maye begynne the sanctification of his name in confessynge testifyinge and praysing his name and his worde with out feare in all places wyth all reuerence and chiefely keepynge oure selues from all abusyng of the name and worde of God Thus in the fourth commaundemente remembre that thou keepe holy the Saboth daye the preachers shal teache fyrste that it is commaunded that in those appoynted tymes when the cōgregation is wont to come togither to heare the worde of God to pray and to receyue the sacramentes all christian men assemble thyther setting asyde al other busines chiefely on the sondayes and holie dayes and that they heare the holie lessons deuoutly gyue somewhat to the poore vse the sacramentes etc. For we muste all seeke an encrease and confirmation of fayeth and of al godlines for our selues and for them that be committed to theyr charge thorowe these instrumentes of religion whiche the Lorde hym selfe gaue and commended vnto vs for that purpose and we muste thorowe oure exemples approue mayntaine set forth and commende to other the common ministerie of the congregation and the administration of the worde and sacramentes and other ecclesiasticall offices And moreouer euerie Christian man ought priuately with hym selfe and wyth his familie to exercise hym selfe often and busely in readyng the holy scriptures and in prayers Therefore preachers shal fyrst teache that this is commended in the thyrde commaundement Secondly they shal teache that in this cōmaundemente oure vice and vngodlines is shewed vnto vs forasmuche as we neglecte holie cōpanies the hādeling of Gods word the participation of the sacramentes and other exercises of religion and bicause it is paynefull to vs to appeare in the syghte of God our father and there to learne the holy knowledge of him and his wyl towarde vs and to gyue him thankes wyth worthy magnifying of his name and holy gyftes Thirdly they shall teache that the Lorde discloseth vnto vs the vice of oure nature to th entent to cal vs to the repentaunce therof and to dryue vs to Christ which turneth away his wrath agaynst the same synne and represseth it dayly more and more wyth his holy spirite and gyueth vs strength to resist that euil and kendleth in vs a loue of Godly doctrine prayer sacramentes al holy assembles and exercises of religion chiefly of them that be vsed vpō holy dayes For such daies we must with principal studie religion sanctifie to the Lorde and ceasse from bodili workes and seculer busines and giue our selues wholly to the exercises of religion Howe be it we muste also at other tymes come diligentlye togyther to praye to heare and to learne the worde of God and priuately euery man ought to gyue attendaunce for his owne parte and with his housholde to reading of the scripture to exhortation and prayer as we haue sayd For all these thynges this piece of the lawe concerning the Sabbath shal be our scholemaister vnto Christe if it be applied to our life After the same maner concerning the fyrste cōmaundement honour thy father and thy mother the people muste be taughte that by the honour of our parentes it is cōmaunded that we honour al them which exhibite vnto vs fatherly and motherly kindnes either in teachyng and warnyng thynges that be Godly and wholesome or in ministrynge necessarie thynges for our lyfe or in defendyng vs frō wronge of whiche sort the ministers and pastours be chiefely and the ciuile officers whiche we oughte to acknowledge to heare and to worshippe as our fathers with al humilitie obedience and thākfulnes And bycause there is no man but at some tymes he maye do vs some good turne the preachers ought to teache the people that God requireth in thys commaundement al that that S. Paule commaunded to the Ro. xiij saying go one before an other in honour Item to the Phil. ij Let nothinge be done by contention or vayne glorie but thorowe humilitie of mynde let euerie man thynke an other better then hym selfe Secondly it must be taughte out of thys commaundemēt that we haue such natural pryde that we wyl submit our selues to nobody obey nobody nor requite the benifites that we haue receuied wherof spring many variaunces diuisions of myndes and dissolution of al necessary frendshyp Thirdly thei must teach that God thorow the disclosyng of this euyl would ster vs vp to true holsome repentaunce driue vs to Christ the sauiour whiche turneth awaye the wrathe of God that we deserue with this vice and mortifieth the remnaunt thérof in the fleshe throughe the holye gost and bringeth vs so ferfurth that we studye dayly to represse that naturall arrogantie and pryde and that we compte worthy honour and do worshyp our parentes our ecclesiastical curates and other ciuile gouernours and al those that do vs good in doctrine warnyng counsel correction or with any other benefitte and further al mē with whom we lyue euery one accordyng to his state and dignitie Moreouer that we take al mēnes admonitiōs and rebukes in good worth submitte our selues gladly vnto thē obeye theyr pleasure and recompence theyr benifittes that thorowe out al oure lyfe we maye do good to many vnto the glorye of God wyth our moderation obedience and thankfulnes Whereunto thys precepte conceruynge the honouryng of oure parentes ought to be our scholemaister into Christe But in thys commaundement it is not to be omitted that S. Paule monisheth vs of that it is the fyrst with
question What good workes must be taught and done ¶ The answer Those that God hath cōmaunded in the ten cōmaūdemātes those that be cōteyned in the same after the interpretatiō of Christ and his Apostles For we must take ryght good hede that we deuyse not worshyppinges of God and good workes wythout the worde Therfore Christe also sayeth They worshippe me in vayne wyth the cōmaūdemētes of men For God wil that not onely fayth but also al our good workes be limited with his worde as with a sure rule leste after the maner of the heathen we deuyse to our selues vayne imaginations and workes of our owne as it hath chaunsed in callynge vpon sayntes in voued pilgrimages to the bones of sayntes in forbiddynge of mariage and suche lyke ¶ The seconde question Howe maye good workes be done ¶ Answer Mānes diligēce perfourmeth outwarde discipline metely so so But the commaundementes of God require also the inwarde workes of the herte as the feare of God fayth loue towardes the cōmaundementes of God true inuocatiō patience in troubles chastitie cet And it is well knowen that mannes weakenes can in nowise perfourme such workes without Godds healpe Ther fore God poureth his spirite into the hertes of the Godlye which helpeth them whiche gyueth them newe lyght and strength and this is a true exercise wherin God wil haue vs to call vpon Christe and to flee to hym that he maye gyue vs the holie goste and guyde vs therwyth that we fall not For it was an harde thynge for Dauid not to fal into desperation when he was dryuen out of his realme and appeared to be cast away of God Therfore he fled to praier as to an onely holde that was lefte and he required to be stayed and strengthned wyth the holy goste that he myghte call vpon God and loke for the ende of the matter in patience Wherfore Christe sayeth I wyll not leaue you fatherles Item the Lorde sayth in Zacharie Cha. xij I wyl poure vpon the house of Dauid the spirite of grace and prayer that is to saye he gyueth vs the holie goste that we maye beleue vnfaynedly that we are in the fauour of God by whiche fayth our mynde is steared vp to inuocation For whē we knowledge that the mercie of God is present wyth vs we loke for healpe and comfort from him and we submitte our selues to his wyll etc. Therfore God dyd not onely commaunde vs what we shoulde do but also he promiseth and offereth vs healp to do the same The cause why few men vnderstande thys thing and considre it a right is the dissolute and vnreligious lyfe and great securitie that reigneth in the common people For they fyght not agaynst synnes but vtterly folow all maner of lust and fall into greate blyndnes of mynde so that they know neither God nor his workes in men But they that lyue in the feare of God and call earnestly for thys healpe and ayde of the holie goste haue true experience howe present and effectuous his healpe is in affictions Wherfore it is ryghte expedient fo◠fearfull and weake myndes whiche haue some begynnyng and desire of godlines to considre diligently the sayinge of S. Paule Philip. ij It is God that worketh in you both to wyll and to brynge to passe accordynge to the good purpose of his mynde that is to saye though thou feele thy selfe to be weake neuertheles when thou goest aboute any good thynge in thy lyfe accordyng vnto thy vocation vnto the glorie of God be of good comforte and knowledge that God wyll healpe the in thys endeuour and gyue the his holie spirite and good successe to thy worke ¶ The thirde question Howe do good workes please God seinge that there remaineth euer in thys fleshe so great weaknes in thys lyfe For we all haue experience dayly that there sticketh in vs as yet muche doubtyng cōceruyng God and his worde distrust of his presence and healpe inordinate motions and carefulnesse of thys lyfe Whiche woundes of mannes weaknes the sayntes feele to be so much the greuouser as they more studie to remedie them Whiche thinge Paule bewayleth of him selfe Roma vij It is profitable that the people be often and playnely admonished of thys question For a great parte of men be encombred in two errours Some be in perpetual doubte being vncertaine whether their lyfe or workes please God and lyuynge in an heathnishe vngodlines For they can not call vpō God but they flee his syghte There is a verie great multitude of thys sorte amonge men Wherfore thys heathnishe blyndnesse of men muste be diligently reproued An other arrogancie and trust of our owne rightuousnes and workes as was the errour of that pharisie whiche in the temple gloried of the keepyng of the lawe not perceyuyng his owne vncleanes and synnes Therefore that thys double errour and thys blyndnes maye be ouoyded we muste knowe that three thinges are required herevnto that good workes please God Fyrste that the mā him selfe be acceptable to God and be iustified freely for Christes sake Secondly that it is requisite that a newe lyfe folowe and obedience towardes God though it be vnperfecte and though muche weakenes and manie vices remayne in vs. Wherfore we muste remēbre that it is euer needfull to aske forgyuenes of synnes As Christe taught vs all to praye to the father Forgyue vs our dettes For no man vnderstandeth sufficiently howe greate the anger of God is agaynste synne oure reconciler Christ dyd onely fully perceyue it when he sayed If they do thys in the grene wood what wyl they do in the drye we muste not then extenuate and diminishe synne Thirdly though thys obediēce be weake yet we must determine that it pleaseth God in the reconciled for his sonne sake as saynt Petre exhorteth to offre spirituall sacrifices acceptable vnto God thorow Iesus Christ as if he woulde say not for their owne worthines but for the Mediatours sake Christ our only high bishoppe euer makyng intercession for vs. Thys is it that is wonte to be sayed at other tymes that good workes oughte to be done out of fayth that is that a man should not wauer doubtynge whether his lyfe or workes please God but certayne determine that he is acceptable to God for Christes sake as we haue often sayed and therefore that his workes being commaunded by the worde of God be acceptable vnto God for the same Christes sake thoughe they be weake and vnperfecte Therfore faith must be exercised in good workes two wayes Firste that we beleue they please God Secondly that we praye to God that for Christes sake he wil healp vs both to lyue godlie and also to do those workes that shall profitte the common lyfe of mē that he wyll giue thē good successe Nowe let euerie man considre wyth him selfe howe greate thys mercie of God is and howe sweete thys doctrine is It semeth a small worke when the mother bryngeth vp hyr childrē gyueth sucke
whyle the congregation suffereth them they to whom they ministre the sacrameÌ„tes of Christ must neuer regarde the person or worthines of the ministers but the commaundement and promise of Christe in the holie ministerie For the Lorde maketh those thynges which he hym selfe hath ordeined in his churche to be effectuous vnto the health of his though the ministers be neuer so vnworthy and he requireth that the fayeth of his people be grouÌ„ded vpon his worde and not vpon the worthinesse of the ministers Therefore Christe sayeth he that heareth you heareth me that is to say it is my worde and it worketh thorowe me the fayeth of myne muste leane hereupon and not vpoÌ„ the vertue and worthines of the ministers For thys cause he compareth the churche to a fishers nette wherewith good and euyl fishes are taken And math xiij He testifieth that the euyll muste not be seuered from the good before the later daye The churche muste be exercised here and warre vndre the crosse not onely against fleshe and bloud but also against the deuyll hym selfe some of the membres thereof as it were stonpynge and gyuynge place some beinge quite ouerthrowen and some recoueryng them selues agayne and renuinge the fyghte And though manie in the churche shall gyue place to Satan and to the fleshe and shall be oppressed of these enemies yet euer some membres of the congregation must stande and ouercome some tyme more and sometyme fewer Wherfore there shal euer be some visible congregation on the earth as Christe hym selfe promiseth Mathewe the laste Lo I am wyth you vnto the ende of the worlde And Esaie xlix The Lorde sayeth And I haue made thys couenaunt wyth them sayth the Lorde my spirite which is vpon the and the workes whiche I haue putte in thy mouth shall not departe from thy mouth nor from the mouth of thy sede sayth the Lorde from thys tyme vnto euerlastyng Thys sentence teacheth what the church is and that it shall endure euer And it is a great consolation to holde both partes that we maye be sure that God hath not cast awaye whole mankynde but that he wyll euer heare and saue vs. But where wyll he do thys thynge Answer Not amonge the heathen or desperate Iewes or Mahometistes or obstinate aduersaries of Christe but amonge theÌ„ onely whiche heare retayne and beleue the worde whiche the heauenlie father hath putte in the mouthe of the Prophetes and of his sonne and call vpon hym accordynge to his moste ample promises Thys consolation taken out of the doctrine concernynge the congregation is diligently to be considered and printed deeply into our myndes and therefore the preachers muste often rehearse these thynges to the people Furthermore that grosse and pernitious errour of the Donatistes and Anabaptistes muste be reproued whiche called the people from the worde of God and the sacrameÌ„tes to the person of the ministers deniyng there ministery to be effectuous which had sinnes agaynst conscience How be it this is the coÌ„maundement of God in the callynge of byshoppes and ministers that suche ministers be chosen for the coÌ„gregations as be not reproueable And if while they be in theyr ministerie they fal into wycked actes that they be remoued from the same agayne accordyng to the ordre whiche the Lorde hath appoynted wherof we wyll speake hereafter In the meane whyle as I sayed we muste euer haue regarde to the commaundement of God in the worde and the sacramentes and not to the person of the ministers For we speake here of the visible churche wherin good and badde be mengled togyther in thys lyfe And god made mankinde for this purpose that there myght be some amonge whom he myght be knowen whiche should call vpon him and magnifie hym And therfore also he sent his sonne oure Lorde Iesus Christ and in hym he hath opened the exceding rytches of his grace towardes vs that they myghâ—e be vnfolded and distributed amonge vs wherby many myght be saued And bicause that these workes of Goddes goodnes muste be manifeste in the worlde there muste needes be a visible churche that is to saye suche a companie in whiche thys wyl of God towardes meÌ„ is preached and celebrated Therefore the Psalme sayeth of suche a visible churche Their sounde went into all the worlde But that the churche maye be knowen and discerned from other polities and people it hath certayne propre signes namely these that folowe The first signe is true doctrine deliuered to the church in the Gospel by Christe and the Apostles after a true vnderstanding The seconde is the true and lawfull vse of the sacrameÌ„tes which Christ ordeined The thirde signe is confession of godlie doctrine whiche is made both in callyng vpon God and reteynynge the coÌ„munion and discipline of Christe wyth the sayntes and also in professynge and maynteinyng the Gospel when neede is amonge them whiche be wythout the churche ¶ Of the vnitie or concorde of the churche AL be it that the churche in manie thynges be vnlyke the politike orders of the worlde for it is subiecte vnto the crosse yet it is like in that poynt that is principall and best in all comon weales that is to saye in greate vnitie and coniunction of the membres amonge them selues And the coniunction and vnitie of the churche consisteth in three poyntes chiefely The first is a coÌ„sent in the doctrine of the Gospell and true vnderstandynge of the same which seinge that the Iewes Mahometistes heretikes and aduersaries of the Gospell haue not they be not the membres of the churche though the Iewes and Mahometistes glorie much that they worshyppe the true God and manie of theÌ„ lyue well and honestly For it is certayne that they are not of the people of God and ther fore that they be cast away from God and damned for euer as many as blaspheme the sonne of God our sauiour and professe opeÌ„ly that they acknowledge hym not nor receyue his doctrine deliuered to the churche by Christ and his Apostles Therfore they be the enemies of god and subiected to eternall damnation In lyke maner though heretikes and persecutours of the Gospell reteyne some articles of the euangelicall doctrine and boste them selues to be christians and manie of them lyue honestly and excell in vertues of the outwarde lyfe yet they be not membres of the churche For the sentence Math. xij is sure and certayne he that blasphemeth the holie goste it shall not be forgyuen hym in thys worlde nor in the worlde to come For to blaspheme the holie gost is to speake euil of the allowed truth whiche was reueyled by the holie goste and the ministerie of the Apostles Item ij Iohn i. Euerie one that transgresseth and tarieth not in the doctrine of Christe hath not God So Gala. i. If anie man preache a Gospell to you besyde that that ye haue receyued be he accursed Hereof it maye be knowen also that they be none of the churche of Christ whiche folow straunge doctrine bicause that suche haue
partly heathnishe opinions of the diuine nature as Manicheus whiche fayned that there were two Goddes one good an other euyll both eternall and partly they haue Iewishe errours of the sonne of God and the holie Goste as Samosatenus and suche lyke Neither is it obscure that they perteine not to the churche of Christe whiche wythdrawe from Christe the Lorde the glorie of a Mediatoure assignynge the remission of synnes to the deseruynges of workes and deuising peculiar workes or worshippinges of God The same thynge do they whiche denie originall synne and seeke iustice thorowe theyr owne worthines whiche take awaye proprietie of goodes whiche coÌ„demne officers and iudgementes ordeined by the commaundement of God as the Anabaptistes do these felowes pinche from Christ and from the holiegoste whiche holy goste rebuketh original synne and ordeyneth and defeÌ„deth politike ordres Wherof it appeareth that suche be not the true membres of the churche bycause that either they refuse all togyther the doctrine of the Apostles or mangle some article of the the same interpretyng them agaynst the vniuersal consent of the true churche The seconde thynge required to the vnnitie of the churche is concorde concernyng the ryght vse of those sacramentes whiche Christe instituted The third is obedience towardes the ministerie of the Gospell in all those thynges for whiche we haue the commaundementes of God I meane that the people heare the worde of God of the ministers of the Gospell whiche be lawfully called and teache sincerely Item that they receyue the Sacramentes of them and obey them if thorowe the authoritie and iurisdiction of the churche ordeyned of Christe they be warned rebuked and punished for their synnes or excommunicated For the ministers must be necessarely obeied in those thinges which are commaunded in the Gospell Luke x. He that heareth you heareth me etc. Hebr. xiij Obey theÌ„ that be your gouerners for they watche for your soules as men that shall gyue accompte of their office etc. But the faythfull ministers suffre persecution of the open aduersaries of the Gospel and the administration by it selfe is full of great difficulties cares and miseries Wherfore it is a great crosse if there be added vnto it arrogant behauiour and contempt of theyr hearers So contrarie wyse it is a great consolation and disburthenyng of theyr labours and paynes when their hearers obey them in the Lorde and declare a thankfull mynde for their labours and cares Whiche thinge maketh also for thys purpose that the coÌ„sent of the whole church be maynteyned that the doctrine of Christe be sette forth more and more Finally that the offices of loue be busely excercised and that the instauration of the whole churche go wel forwarde As coÌ„trarie wyse where there is contempte and stubburnes of the subiectes the holie coÌ„cord of the people of God is drawen a sundre the doctrine of the Gospell is obscured and corrupted mutuall offices of edification are hindred and manie other offences sprynge vp and the wylde behauiour of manie encreaseth Therefore that the churche of the Lorde may be maynteyned and grow forth he coÌ„maunded him selfe that necessarie obedience should be shewed to the ministers of congregations in those thynges whiche be committed vnto them in the Gospell For they muste exercise the authoritie of Christ not of their owne Wherefore of them selues they haue no ryght to commaunde anie thing to the people of Christ neither ought the people to obey them if they do so For christian men can obey no man in those thinges whiche be agaynste God as all those thynges be whiche are ordeyned and enacted concernyng religion not of the coÌ„maundement of Christe But whyle the pastours require enioyne those thynges for which they haue the commaundement of Christe they that in thys case refuse to obey caste of the yoke of Christe Paule wyth a great spirite exhorteth to thys concorde of the church and agreinge togyther of the membres of Christe amonge them selues both in other places and also in the epistle to the Eph. iiij Therefore I whiche am a prisoner of the Lorde exhorte you that you so walke as it becometh the vocation wherwith ye are called with all submission and meakenes with softnes of mynde sufferynge one an other thorowe loue labourynge to keepe the vnitie of spirite by the bonde of peace One bodie and spirite etc. But it is manifest that Paul calleth that the vnitie of the spirite in thys place that is in the true doctrine of Christe and in the obedience of the commaundementes of God For the holie goste worketh thys vnitie in them whiche beleue and thys vnitie of spirite bryngeth and preserueth the true peace and edification of the churche And the maner and ordre of chosynge or callynge the ministers of the congregation which the holie goste hath appoynted in the scriptures maketh for the preseruation of thys vnitie For as S. Paule sayeth Ephe. iiij Christe ascending vp on high ledde captiuitie captyue and gaue gyftes vnto men prophetes apostles feeders and teachers And though Christe hym selfe as the apostle wytnesseth doth chose and appoynt ministers to his churche yet he doth the same for the moste parte by the worke and ministerie of his churche To whiche churche he hath coÌ„maunded to bringe vp and to teache perpetuallye some vnto thys ministerye whiche beinge furnished for the same ministerie must be called and appointed by lawfull chosynge and triall Wherefore there hath remayned euer in the churche a maner to bryng vp and frame some to the holie offices of the church and also to receyue them wheÌ„ they be brought vp and furnished and to ordeyne them when they be fitte for that purpose And thys ordinaunce must be euer religiously kepte that the churche may euer be edified by meâ—e teachers and curates as the Apostle teacheth diligently and comendeth to the Ephe. iiij and. i. Timo. iij. Tit. i. And thys must be one of the principal charges of the byshoppes that euer some be brought vp and taught and afterwarde also chosen and ordeyned beinge tryed to execute the same religiously as the apostle prescribed to his Timothe Tite and it was enacted and renued afterwarde by the decrees and canons of many counselles ¶ Of christian prayer TRue Christen praier healpeth also verie muche to the conseruation maynteynyng and encreasyng of godlines as we warned before For thorowe it we muste aske and receyue what so euer we loke for of God by fayth But thys exercise also of religion is waxen so colde yea is so quenched almoste that scarcely any know howe to praye truly and christianly In the begynnyng of the church the studie of praying so florished that not a fewe miracles were done by prayer wherof we haue manie exemples Neither should the strength of prayer be any thynge lesse nowe if we dyd applie it studiously and wyth true fayth Therfore that the diligencie of prayer maye be restored againe it shal be the ministers dutie to exhorte the people vnto it diligeÌ„tly
to forgiue oure neighbours al offences Therfore the preachers shal admonishe the people with singuler diligence aboute this place As we forgiue also that it is not suche a maner of forgyuynge as though we did aske of God that he woulde so forgiue vs our synnes as we forgiue but that it is a profession of forgiuenes whiche we also make to our detters before the heaueÌ„ly father as we require of him to forgiue vs our dettes as if we shoulde saye O heauenly father forgyue vs oure dettes as for vs we gladlie remitte and forgyue al them that maye seme to owe vs anie thinge For we acknowledge that we suffre so greuous thinges of no bodie but that we haue deserued muche worse and therfore we beare theÌ„ gladly and forgiue them wyth all our hertes that haue done vs anie harme But bycause it is not inough that God forgyue vs our synnes and the paynes that we haue deserued for them but also it is necessarie that we be kepte by him that Satan drawe vs not afterwarde to sinnes thorowe sundrie tentations the Lorde hath added an other petition for the remouinge of euylles leade ought not to pray for which thinge is done more wayes then can be numbred For the correction of these abuses those wordes of Paule Ro. viij ought to be diligently commended and weighed For we knowe not the thynge that we shall praye as it behoueth but the spirite it selfe prayeth for vs wyth vnspeakeable gronynges For if we oure selues knowe not what or howe we shoulde praye and if prayer be the propre worke of the holie goste it is meete that the people be called backe to those prayers that are propouned in the holy scriptures that they maye learne to pray to God according to his wyll and be certaine that theyr prayers be allowed The seconde abuse in prayinge is when we aske any thinge of them of whoÌ„ it ought not to be asked as when men praye saintes whiche nowe lyue wyth the Lorde that they wyll make intercession for them that they wyl gyue theÌ„ those thynges that they neede as when they pray S. Sebastian to defende them agaynste arowes and venimmes S. Antonie agaynst the Aposteme called commonly S. Antonies fyer S. Appollonie agaynst the touthache etc. IteÌ„ when they call vpon the Images and stockes of saintes as the sayntes them selues as they do whiche vow pilgrimages to certayn stockes which idolatrie hath welnigh ouerfloweÌ„ the whole worlde and that it maye be taken away the people muste be diligently called backe froÌ„ sayntes to God chiefely wyth these argumentes Fyrst that there is no commaundement that we shoulde cal vpon sayntes departed wherefore we can be but doubtfull whether that be well done or no whether it be acceptable to god or vnacceptable And that that is done with doubtyng can not be done of fayth and therefore it is synne For what so euer is not of fayth is synne as S. Paule witnesseth Ro. viij Secondly it is euident that the prayers that be in the scriptures were made of the spirite of God hym selfe and came froÌ„ him and therefore that they be most perfecte and chiefely to be folowed of vs. But in all the scripture there is no exemple of suche inuocation directed to sayntes wherfore no man can vse suche a fourme for therein he shal set the authoritie of men before the authority of god For he foloweth their authoritie whose exemples he vseth in prayings and therfore setteth it before the authoritie of the holie goste And that is a wonderous greate dispite agaynst the diuine maiestie Further if we shall vse the fourme of prayinge whiche the scripture propouneth the same shall shewe howe muche it is not coÌ„uenient to cal vpon sayntes For who would not tremble to say to saynt Petre or to some other of the sayntes oure father whiche arte in heauen whiche kynde of prayinge Christe him selfe prescribed vnto vs. For he is not God he is not our father Neither can it agree at all if we would cal vpon S. Petre or some other wyth some Psalme They then that cal vpoÌ„ sayntes do it out of the Imaginations of men Therefore seinge that no man can preferre the deuises of men before the doctrine and exemples of the holy goste wythout a moste haynous dispite of God and seinge that al the exemples of praiers deliuered by the holy goste teache to cal vpon God onely neither is there any wherein sayntes be spoken vnto euery man easely perceyueth howe vnworthie a thynge it is for christen meÌ„ which ought to seeke the healpe of God wyth true prayers to vse thys newe inuention of callynge vpon sayntes whiche in no wyse agreeth wyth the doctrine and exemples of the holie goste wherein they refuse to folowe the rule of the holy goste wherevnto they ought to sticke with al reuerence Thyrdly suche an abuse is stroungly reiected by the worde of God whiche oure sauiour Christ layed agaynst SataÌ„ Mat. iiij Thou shalte reuerence the Lorde thy God and him only shalt thou worshyp And god wyll haue none other Mediatoure but his sonne our Lorde Iesus Christe i. Timo. ij For there is one God one Mediatoure of God and men a man Iesus Christe whiche hath gyuen hym selfe a price of redemption for all And god witnesseth that he wil heare for his sake and wyll so be worshypped As we haue a testimonie of Christe thou arte a priest for euer Item Math. xi Come vnto me all ye that faynt and be laden and I wil refreshe you Iohn xv What soeuer ye shall aske in my name he shall gyue it you And Ro. ij Whom God hath sette forth a reconler For therfore our trust is fixed in Christe bicause that of hym we haue a promise and commaundement of God but of the saintes we haue no suche worde that God wyll be worshipped thorowe the inuocation of them or that he wyll heare vs for theyr sakes Therefore it is an horrible wyckednesse to transferre remoue the truste due to Christ vnto sayntes wythout the worde and commaundement of God Moreouer that seruice is condemned for this cause that it was instituted onely by mannes opinion But in condemnyâ—â— thys abuse lette the preachers vse such moderation that rude men beginne not to thinke or speake vnreuerently of the sayntes For it is one thynge to call vpon sayntes and an other to haue them in reuerence and honour We muste honour them but we muste not call vpon them nor worshyppe them whiche thynge yet the comon people do And this is a true honour and godly veneration of sayntes to prayse God for that that he adourned them with so godly giftes I meane constant fayth true feare and sundrie vertues Al whiche thynges must be set before the people that they may diligently thynke vpon them and magnifie them and chiefely prayse God and gyue him thankes whiche worketh suche thynges in sayntes Furthermore they shal also prayse the saintes which vsed those benifites so godly For thys
men wyth all theyr hertes for the Lorde Christes sake that they serue al maner of men and do them good in all thynges that perteyne to the neede of the bodie or to ciuile societie Therefore in thys ciuile lyfe societie they exercise theyr fayth and shewe exemples of loue towardes their neighbours wyth whom they lyue in all theyr necessities all maner of wayes What soeuer geÌ„tle behauiour there is in the world what so euer perteyneth or healpeth to faythfull and honest ciuilitie and participation of present thynges and to the maynteinyng and adurnyng of the common weale that christeÌ„ meÌ„ only do rightly vnderstand labour to perfourme most proÌ„ptly In like maner the pastours must often substantially declare and excusse those doctrines also that perteyne to a spirituall lyfe for whiche the Anabaptistes make muche busines as of originall synne of the baptisme of infaÌ„tes of the rightuousnes of fayth and these thinges they shall teache out of the holie scriptures as of original synne what an horrible euyll it is bycause mannes reason doeth noâ— se those thynges to be damned whiche remayne in the nature of man I meane the ignoraunce of God want of the feare of God and distrusting of God Item that God alloweth the baptisme of our infantes receyueth our infantes into his chyldren thorowe baptisme and maketh them heyres of his grace and euerlastyng lyfe That remission of synnes the communion of Christe the felowshoppe of a newe and blessed lyfe is only in the congregation of Christ and not amonge the Iewes or Turbes or other men amonge whom the Gospell is not preached the sacramentes of Christe are not administered but rather the name and doctrine of Christ is blasphemed The matter standing thus and seinge that it is euident that God wyl be the God of our seede also that is to saye a sauiour and authour of a newe and blessed lyfe to vs which thorowe Christ be made the sonnes of Abraham and heyres of the promyse and couenaunte whiche God Gene. xvij Gala iii. made wyth hym the father of all them that beleue the matter beinge thus I saye surely we maye conclude and it is playne that our infantes borne of vs synners and loste through synnes muste be offered to Christ be incorporated to him thorowe baptisme that by hym they maye be washed in the churche from synnes and haue his ryghtuousenes gyueÌ„ theÌ„ put vpon them For seing that the kingdome of Christ is reueiled amounge vs and the mistery of redemptioÌ„ and saluation wrought by Christe is more clearely and abundauÌ„tly exhibited and preached then before for manye Kynges and prophetes desired to heare and see the thinges that we heare and se and it was not giuen to them it muste needes be that they playnlie knowe not the Gospell of Christe and coÌ„munion of sayntes amonge them selues that were sayntes in dede and acceptable to God or els that they inuade Christe and his churche with a wicked furie whosoeuer they be that wyl not haue our infantes to be purged from synnes wyth the Sacramente of regeneration and to be planted in the churche of God seinge that it behoued infantes of the olde people to be sanctified and planted into the bodie of Christ whiche is the churche wyth that Sacramente that God then gaue them for thys purpose For why shoulde oure infantes perteyne lesse to the kyngdome of God then theirs seinge that thorow Christ we be grafted in the holy roote of that people and made partakers of the blessed fatnes of thys Olyue Ro. xâ— Furthermore we haue giueÌ„ vnto vs a migâ—tier spirite Romo viij But we be gotten iâ— synnes aswel as the Iewes and haue neede to be deliuered from synnes thorowe Christ and to be brought vnto the life of God and that in Christes church For there is not saluation wythout the churche where neither the worde nor Sacrament is Infantes then muste be planted into the church we must gyue them the signe that wytnesseth that the promise perteyneth vnto theÌ„ And forasmuche as in this time the Gospel the grace of God and redemption of Christe be more clearely and effectuously exhibited and preached in the churche both wyth wordes and sacramentes then amonge the olde people euerie man surely beinge rightly warned hereof excepte he be a verie vngodlie person shall acknowledge that oure infantes also muste be washed from synnes by baptisme whiche is the Sacrament of regeneration and that they muste be planted into Christe our Lorde and his churche in whiche church Christe worketh thorowe his worde and sacramentes as Ephesâ— v. Paule sayeth that Christ loued the coÌ„gregation and gaue him selfe for it to sanctifie it and cleanse it wyth the lauer of water etc. He describeth not the congregation wythout signes and without the worde Wherefore he sayeth also in an other place one bodie one spirite one Lorde one fayth one baptisme Whiche thynges surely do testifie that they whiche perteyne to the coÌ„gregation be planted into the same wyth some outwarde signe also If meÌ„ shall be warned hereof often and substantially they shal reuerentlie vse holie baptisme they shal come to it and stande by it more religiously and they shal more feruently pray for the grace of God to them selues and to the infaÌ„tes and wyth purer myndes and greater sanctification of them selues they shal labour to offre to Christe the Lorde both their owne chyldren and also the chyldren of the whole church according to the Lordes wordes suffre the litelones to come vnto me for the kingdome of heauen perteyneth to such Whiche moste sweete sayinge of the Lorde oure sauioure they shall also embrace wyth more certeyne fayth and wyth greater deuotion gyue God thankes for his so greate benifitte Men shall moreouer be moued and enflamed to procure theyr chyldren beinge grafted in Christe to be brought vp to hym and to his churche wyth greater diligence and they shall cause them to be nosseled in the knowledge of him that they may profite the church and wheÌ„ they be growen vp they shall dedicate them betymes as the membres of Christe vnto his churche being the sonnes and heyres of God and ioynte heyres wyth Christ In lyke maner the rightuousnes of fayth must be declared and sette forth by comparyng of the Anabaptisticall imaginations For that comparison shall brynge greater lyght to thys ministerie I saye when it shal be playnely shewed howe greate difference there is betwene the true ryghtuousnes of Christ and the hypocrisie of these heretikes For that rightuousnes that the Gospel teacheth is to take handfast of Christ the lorde with sure faith so that the mynde trust therin constantly and call vpon God the father thorowe Christe wyth the coÌ„fidence of chyldren and studie to glorifie the same wyth good workes wherewyth our neighbours may be holpen by al possible meanes accordynge to all the power of the holie goste that it hath receyued But the rightuousnes whiche the Anabaptistes teache and wherin they boste themselues is al
euerlastynge lyfe and part takers of all his benifittes bycause we be the coheyres of his Christe beinge deliuered from the tirannie of the diuell synne death and hell Wherefore I beseche you for Gods sake and your saluation that ye wyll worthely esteme and thankefully embrace so wonderfull abundaunt grace of God whiche is exhibited in thys Sacrament For Baptisme is a greate comforte vnto vs in oure daungers and afflictions and it is the fyrste entraunce vnto all the benifittes of God and to the blessed feloshyppe of all saintes Therefore that we maye considre thys vnspeakeable benifitte of God wyth a presenter minde and greater religion we must fyrste remembre into howe greate euyls the fall of Adam thrue vs. And contrariewyse how vnmeasurable grace God exhibited to mankynde thorow his sonne in that that he hath redemed vs from the same euylles by baptisme Thirdly howe thys so great mercie of God ought to be euer before our eyes in all perilles and with howe great prayses we should magnifie the grace of god which we haue receyued thorowe baptisme Fyrste then we muste considre wyth all diligence that all we thorowe the synne of Adam and enuie of Satan be subiect to the wrath of God and moreouer damned and be holden prisonners vnder the power and kyngdome of the diuell vndre death synne and hell so that we being by nature the children of wrath coulde appease God by no strength of man no vertues or workes For all that is in vs and all our workes be cursed of God and subiecte to the tirannie of Satan by reason of our corrupted nature For seinge that thorowe the inobedience of our fyrst Adam of whoÌ„ we are all borne into this natural and earthlie lyfe we come al into the worlde giltie and cursed of God so that we muste all dye in hym and beare his earthie Image in thys mortall bodie it feloweth that all our lyfe and all the dedes of our nature so corrupted be condemned of God though they appeare neuer so godlie and holie before men For what so euer is borne of fleshe is flesh that is to say strauÌ„ge from God repugning to the spirite and adiudged to death and hell Wherefore fleshe and bloud shal not atteine to the kyngdome of God For whatsoeuer is fleshe it sauoureth fleshely thynges and so lyueth it is an aduersarie to God for it is not subiecte to the lawe of God Wherefore they that be fleshely can not please God the wysedome of the fleshe is death And therefore oure Lorde Christe disputyng wyth Nicodemus concludeth thus Verely verely I saye vnto the excepte a man be borne agayne of water and of the spirite he can not entre into the kyngdome of God Secondly we must considre howe plentifull the grace of God gyuen to vs in baptisme is wherin his bountuousnes and loue towardes men truly appeareth in asmuche as he hath saued vs not thorowe the workes of ryghtuousnes whiche we had done but accordyng to his mercie by the lauer of regeneration and renouation of the holie gost For he thorow the vertue of his worde washeth awaye and abolisheth whatsoeuer maketh vs giltie and condemneth vs as in olde tyme he drouned in the redde sea the enemies of his people and destroyed al maÌ„kynde wyth the floude eyghte soules reserued whiche were saued in the arke So this lauer of water saueth vs thorow the word not in washyng away the fylâ—h of the fleshe as it chaunseth in all other washynges but thorowe the certification of a good coÌ„science towardes God by the resurrectioÌ„ of Iesus Christ For by the vertue of Goddes couenaunt we are cleansed in our coÌ„sciences and we are certified both thorow the worde and an outwarde signe that all the synnes that defiled and condemned vs be playnly abolished bycause they be forgyueÌ„ and be dead Therfore thorowe baptisme we determine certeynly that we are acceptable vnto God and ioyned vnto hym wyth an euerlastyng couenaunt of grace so that nothynge can seperate vs froÌ„ hym or condemne vs. Wherfore hensforth we muste not onely eschewe synnes but also feare them and abhorre froÌ„ them none otherwyse then from hel as men dead vnto synnes For all we as S. Paule wytnesseth whiche be baptised into Christe Iesus be baptised into his death for we are buryed wyth hym into death Therfore we be dead to synne and to the whole olde maÌ„ and broughte forth in Christe so farre that nothynge can condemne vs or seperate vs from the grace of God For he that is deade is iustified from synne he is no more subiecte to the tirannie of synne death and hell though he feele the remnauntes of synne in the fleshe yet those be not imputed vnto coÌ„demnation by reason of the iustification of the spirite in Christe Furthermore Baptisme worketh a newe lyfe in vs and acceptable to God For as Christe was reysed from the deade by the glory of the father so he worketh in vs with his spirite that we also maye walke in newnes of lyfe For if we be grafted in hym by the lykenes of his death surely we shal also be part takers of his resurrection vnto euerlastyng lyfe knowinge thys that oure olde man is crucified wyth him that the bodie of synne should be abolished that hereafter we serue not vnto synne Wherfore let vs recoÌ„pte that we be dead to sinnes in dede and liue to God in Christ our Lorde in whom also we be circumcised wyth a circuÌ„cision made wythout handes whyle we put of the bodie of synnes thorow the circuÌ„cision of Christ We are buried wyth hym thorow baptisme wherein we haue also rysen agayne wyth hym by the fayth of the workynge of God For God whiche raysed Christe from the deade hath quickened vs with him euen when we were dead thorowe synnes by the vncircumcision of the fleshe or fleshly lyfe For though our lyfe be hidden in God with Christ yet wheÌ„ Christe our lyfe shall appeare then shall we also in hym be manifested in glorie as men whom God of his exceadyng mercie hath begotten agayne into a lyuely hope thorow the resurrection of Iesus Christe from the dead vnto I saye an incorriruptible inheritaunce vndefiled and that fadeth not away not of corruptible seede but vncorruptible namely the lyuely worde of God by which worde baptisme consisteth and worketh all the forsayed thynges in vs truely and effectuously Thyrdly we shall coÌ„fort our selues with so great excellencie of the grace of God and benifittes bestowed vpon vs thorowe baptisme and we shall euer thanke God and that so muche the more studiously as we shall be oppressed wyth more greuous calamities confirmynge our fayth hereby that God worketh in vs mortifieth the olde maÌ„ and repayreth the newe though not after a visible sorte yet by the vertue of baptisme thorowe the worde and the spirite Wherefore lette vs confirme oure consciences and thynke that God careth for vs and that for the merite of his sonne we be acceptable and deare to hym and when we be
exercised wyth aduersitie and sundrie miseries we must remeÌ„bre that we are baptised and that in baptisme al our sinnes euils be ouercomed and deade and that they be dayly wasted and obolished more and more thorowe the crosse and suÌ„dry afflictions which God sendeth vnto vs and that the newe man is continually renued and repared thorow the vertue of the resurrection of Christe Therfore of ryght we oughte to thanke God for his so vnspeakeable mercie and we muste also praye therwyth that he wyll vouchsafe euer to further and at the last to finishe his worke whiche he hath begonne in vs and in all them whom he hath called to baptisme The preachers shal vse such exhortatioÌ„s loÌ„ger or shorter accordyng to the tyme out of the forsaid places of the scripture and other lyke and then they shall adde the interrogations folowyng ¶ InterrogatioÌ„s or demauÌ„des which shall be propouned to the godfathers and to the parentes of infantes Do ye beleue that those thynges be true whiche I shewed you out of the worde of God concernyng the corruption of nature thorowe originall synnne and concernynge regeneration in Christ our Lorde and euerlastyng communion wyth God whiche is exhibited thorowe holie baptisme ¶ Answere ¶ We beleue Do you require then wyth al your hertes and wyth true fayth that thys your infant whom ye haue brought and offered to Christe be deliuered from thys corruption of nature thorowe the merite and vertue of Christe in baptisme and be reconciled to God and borne againe into a new and perpetuall lyfe ¶ Answer ¶ We require it Do ye then renounce in your name and in the name of the chylde the deuyll and all his workes ¶ Answere ¶ We renounce And the worlde also and all his concupiscence ¶ Answere ¶ We renounce Do ye beleue in God the father almightie maker of heauen and earth ¶ Answere We beleue And do ye beleue that God wyll be a father to you and to thys Infante when it is baptised and that he wyll keepe you froÌ„ all euyll thorowe his almightie power wysedome and mercie and heape benifittes vpon you and that therefore you oughte to feare hym and loue hym aboue al thynges ¶ Answere We beleue Do ye beleue in our Lorde Iesus Christe his onely sonne which to redeme vs became maÌ„ suffered died was raysed froÌ„ death ascended into heaueÌ„ and sitteth on the ryght haÌ„de of the father froÌ„ theÌ„ce gouerneth his churche thorowe his almightie power and shal come in th ende of the worlde appeare to al meÌ„ a iudge of the dead and the quicke ¶ Answere We beleue Do ye confesse out of this fayth that our Lorde Iesus Christe is also your Sauiour and Sauiour of thys chylde whiche by his death hathe purged your synnes also and hath recoÌ„ciled you to God and instified you thorowe his resurrection and wyl at length fully finishe vp the Image and lyfe of God in you beinge cleansed from all synne ⧠Answere We confesse Do ye beleue also in the holie goste the holie and vniuersall churche the communion of saintes the remission of synnes the resurrection of the fleshe and lyfe euerlasting â–ª ⧠Answere We beleue Out of thys confession do you beleue that the holie goste wyl be your teacher and comforter and the teacher and comforter of thys chylde and that you be the true membres of the bodie of Chrisâ—e oure Lorde and of his churche and that thys childe by baptisme shall be a membre of Christe and his churche wherein he shall haue remission of sinnes a sure hope of resurrection and life euerlastynge ⧠Answere We beleue Wyll ye then take the infante from baptisme and compte hym for a verie sonne of God a brother and membre of Christe and as soone as he cometh to the vse of reason if peraduenture he shall leese his parentes or if they shall be negligente in thys behalfe wyll ye take the charge of him that he may learne the ten commaundementes the articles of oure fayth the Lordes prayer the sacramentes both at home and in the congregation that from his chyldehode he maye beginne to vnderstande the misterie of baptisme and the benefittes of Christe gyuen to hym therin and afterwarde when he is wel instructed in the religion of Christe that he confesse his fayth in the congregation wyth his owne mouth and thorow the participation of Christe that he gyue hym selfe to obedience towardes God and the congregation ¶ Answere We wyll ⧠Here the past oure shall exhorte agayne the parentes and the multitude standyng by RemeÌ„bre then beloued that ye must with all faythfulnes and diligence perfourme the thynge that ye haue promised here in the sight of god Christ our sauiour which is amonge vs and before his holie coÌ„gregation And all you parentes godfathers and other that staÌ„de by acknowledge this childe after that he hath receyued baptisme as the sonne of God and membre of Iesus Christ to whom the Angelles be presente as ministers and serue hym neither doubte ye but that what so euer good or euyll ye do to thys seelie Infant you do the same to God and to Christe the Lorde Lette it not be anie payne to you then that euery one of you accordynge to his state kynred and vncation procure thys chylde to be godlie and religiously broughte vp and instructed that at length he maye keepe all those thinges that Christe oure Sauiour commaunded to vs. It perteyneth then vnto you whiche are giuen of God to thys chylde to be parentes kynsfolke or godfathers to procure as sone as he is growen vp to brynge hym to scholes to the coÌ„gregatioÌ„ that he may be instructed moore fully in the misteries of Christe and in other thynges that he may perceyue the grace and exceadyng benifittes of God gyuen in baptisme that he gyue accompt of his fayth before the coÌ„gregation that he renounce in dede the diuyl the worlde wyth al concupiscences that he wholie gyue hym selfe to Christe our Lorde and to his coÌ„gregation to be obedient in all poyntes accordyng to his gospel and so coÌ„tinue in Christ our Lorde vnto th ende and euer go forward in newnes of lyfe as a lyuely membre of Christe and that beinge a fruiteful braunch in thys vinyarde he brynge forth the plentifull fruite of all good workes to the prayse of God and edification of the churche ⧠Here foloweth the Exorcisme or adiuration HEre the past oure shall coÌ„maunde the chylde to be brought nere him and shal demauÌ„d his name which knowen he shal say I coÌ„maunde all euyll spirites in the name of oure Lorde Iesu Christ to departe froÌ„ thys infant and to do hym no hurt anie maner of wayes ⧠After thys makyng the figure of the crosse wyth his thombe vpon his foreheade and vpon his brest let hym saye Take the figure of the holie crosse in thy foreheade that thou neuer be ashamed of God and Christ thy sauiour or of his Gospell take it also on
purpose that we being many which receiue this sacrameÌ„t with trâ—â— faith shoulde be more and more vnited in â— one bodie euen the bodie of Christ and thâ— we should altogether abide and liue in hiâ— and he in vs after that we hade gotten the true communion of his bodie Thys is singulerly to be noted that the Apostle willinge to proue that we which in the holye supper of the Lorde are partakers of the Lordes bodye and bloude be one bodye added furthwith For al we be parttakers of one bread whereby he signifyed also the communion of one cuppe Lette vs than consider this reason of the Apostle diligentli For if we testifie and declare therebi that we are one bodye and one breade of Christ and that we truly receyue and obteyne the communion of Christes bodye and bloude from the Lordes table whaÌ„ al we that come â—ogether to the Lordes table be parttakers â—f one breade and one cup two thinges suer â—â— folow hereof one that they which in one â—ongregacion of the faythfull doe minister â—ore than one supper of the Lord testifie of â—â—em selues therby that they be not one boâ—ye and one breade of Christ nether rightly â—â—ceiue nor haue the coÌ„munion of the Lordes â—odye and bloude The other is that they â—hiche be present at the Lordes supper and â—â—eyue not the sacramentes testifie by thys â—â—eir abstinences from the lordes table that â—â— wil not be a meÌ„ber with other Christiâ—â—s whyche receyue the sacramentes that they wyll not be one bodye with them and one breade of Christe if they be sufficiently enstructed of thys institution of the Lorde and haue not a lawful cause to abstaine froÌ„ the sacramentes Therefore for thys verye cause that the Lord conmanded vs to do that in his holie supper that he himselfe dyd and he celebrated it wyth those hys disciples only whych had wholy giuen theÌ„selues to hys doctrine and euer folowed hym and celebrated one supper only the prechers shal obserue two thynges First they shall teach and exhorte the people wyth all diligence that in thys most holy sacrament they shewe them selues the true disciples of the Lord that is to saye such as putte al their trust in the Lord hymself and haue bound them selues wholy to his worde and folowe the fame studiously in al thinges For thus the lord sayeth Iohn iij. If ye abyde in my worde ye are my disciples in deade But they that wyll declare themselues to be faythful ministres of the Lorde in the administracion of these misteries shall not admitte anie other to the lordes supper but such as be tried and haue confessed before the congregacion that they haue giuen theÌ„ selues to the Lorde and haue proued the same with theyr life as the Lord also celebrated the supper wyth chosen disciples Secondly that in one coÌ„gregacioÌ„ of the faythfull one supper be ministred and that the pastour himself celebrate it if he may by anie meanes at such tyme whan the whole congregacion is wont to come together as vpon sondayes and holye dayes if so be there shal be present that wyl communicate as men that be one bodye and one breade of Christ and are so outwardly also ioyned together of the Lord that thei pertain to one congregacion and pastoral cure and receiue the communioÌ„ of the Lord out of one bread and one cuppe The seconde thynge that the Lorde dyd in his supper is this he gaue thanges to the father and that in such language as the disciples might vnderstand al thinges and be sterred vp wyth hym to prayse God For whyche cause the pastours shall warne the people firste that in the administracion of thys sacrament we must gyue thankes to God throughe oure Lorde Iesus Christe for al the benifites that he hath gyuen and giueth to vs dayly and cheifely for that benifite out of whyche al other come and be made true benifites vnto vs I meane that he so loued vs that he gaue vs hys sonne a redemer that all that beleue in him shoulde not perishe but haue euerlasting lyfe Iohn iij. wherefore he hath giuen vs all thynges wyth hym Ro. viij remyssion of synnes the spirite of adoption and al thinges that may dooe vs good ether in body or soule in this lyfe or in the life to come Secondly that the prieste and ministre of this sacrament in gyuinge thankes to God giueth thankes in his owne name and in the name of the whole coÌ„gregacion wherfor the people must lyft vp theyr mindes and herkeÌ„ to the thinges that are spoken of the priest that thei maye praise and thanke God together with the preist For in thys giuinge of thankes as Chrisostome well warneth all thinges must be commune betwene the people and the prieste where vnto all men that be present are called whan the preiste saieth lifte vp your hertes Item lette vs giue thankes to oure Lord God And they promise the same whan they Answer we haue vnto the Lord. It is worthi and right For in old time as S. Cipriane testifieth whan the prieste or ministre sayde lyfte vp your hertes the people aunswered we haue vnto the Lorde But all these thinges must be done before the Lord in spirite and truth Wherefore the people must wyth all dyligence ioyne theyâ— myndes wyth the wordes of the priest thaâ— with one hert one mouth thei may magnifi and thank God with him The. iii. and principal poynt in the Lordes supper is this that he distributed the bread and the cuppe to al and bad al take both that al should eate the bread and drink of the cup and added This is mi bodi which is giueÌ„ for you This is mi bloud of the new TestameÌ„te which for you and for many is shed furth vnto the remyssion of sins Out of these wordes of the Lord the pastour shal teach the people with great reuereÌ„ce and diligence that this is the principal point and work in the supper of the Lord that sacrameÌ„tes be distributed according to the insttitucioÌ„ of our Lorde Iesus Christ and receyued with true faith in Christ with this faith I saie that we certanly beleue that our Lord Iesus Christ himselfe is here present in the midest of vs and that he himself though iâ— be bi the ministerie of the church doth truly giue vs his body blod and together althinges whatsoeuer he obteined deserued by the offryng of his bodye on the crosse I meane remissioÌ„ of sins the euerlastyng couenant of Gods grace the blessed adoption of God that we be the sons heires of God â—is coheires Out of these thinges yâ— pastors â—hal teach warne the peple with al possible â—iligence First that they come to these most deuyne misteries not as the common sorte were wont to do heretofore wyth cold myndes far from a faythful and religious consideration of the thynges that bee here executed but that they sterre vp theim selues and come with a godly burning desyre of Christ flamynge furthe
the lord we wyll celebrate to morowe by goddes grace the most holye supper of oure Lorde Iesu Christ where in he hath giuen vs hys flesh for meate and his bloud for drincke to confirme oure fayth and verie christane life it is conuenient that euerye man trye hym selfe with greate diligence as S. Paule exhorteth vs. For thys sacrament was giuen of the Lord for singuler cōsolacion and comforte to wretched and afflicted consciences which do ernestly fele and confesse their sinnes whyche be striken with the feare of the wrath of god and of death and hongre and thurste the rightuousnes of God But if euerie one of vs will examen oure selues as S. Paule teacheth we shall fynde none other thynge but all maner of horrible sinnes and euerlastinge death which we haue deserued thorought oure synnes For the rewarde of sinne is death frome whyche we can by no meanes deliuer oure selues Wherefore our Lord Iesus Christ taking pitie vpon vs was made man for oure synnes that he myght fulfyll the lawe and the whole wil of God for vs and procure our saluacion and that he hymselfe might suffer death and al that we had deserued thorough our sinnes only for vs and our redēption Which thing that we might firmely beleue and that thorough faith we might ioyfully lyue after his will whā supper was ended he toke breade gaue thankes and brake it sayinge take eate this is my bodye that is gyuen for you that is to saye that I am made man and further whatsoeuer I do and suffer all that is yours and it is giuen to you and is done for your saluacion For the testificacion and confirmacion whereof and that you maye daily a hide liue more more in me and I in you I giue my bodye vnto you to be meate and meate of euerlastynge lyfe After the same maner he toke the cuppe also saiyng Take drincke of thys all thys is the cuppe of the new testament in my bloude whiche is shed furth for you and for many vnto remission of synnes As often as ye shall do thys do it in the remembraunce of me that is to saye seinge that I haue now taken the charge of you and haue translated your synnes vpon me I will deliuer miselfe vnto death for thē I wil shedde mi bloude I wil deserue grace and remission of sinnes for you and I wyll sette vp a newe testament wherein synnes shal be perdoned and all remembraunce of thē shal be abolished For a pledge and witnesse of al these thynges and to cōfirme and further my life in you I giue you my bloud to drincke He than that eateth of this breade after thys sorte and dryncketh of the cuppe and firmely beleueth these wordes whiche he heareth of the Lorde and signes whiche he receiueth eateth truly holesomely the flesh of Christ and drinketh his bloude and more fully receiueth in to him selfe hole God and man with al his merites and fauour where wyth the father embraceth hym wyth the ryght and participation of euerlainge lyfe he abydeth in Christ the Lorde and the Lord in him he shal liue for euer Let vs thā god li recompēse these thinges with our selues let vs confirme and ster vp our faith in him lette vs celebrate the remembraunce of hym worthely let vs most studoyusly in al oure wordes and dedes exalte his death resurreccion heauenlye glorie and kingdome let vs reioyse in our owne behalfe that this sonne of God died for our sinnes rosse againe forour instificacion ascended into heauen and reigneth at the right hand of the father furthermore lette vs couragiousli euerie one of vs take vp our crosse and valiantly folowe this our capitaine and loue one another according to his cōmaundemēt as he loued vs. For al we are one bread one bodi because we be parttakers of one breade and one cup. After this praier there shall a praier be made for al the necessites of the congregaciō and cheifely for those men which shall communicate the nexte daye And whan the people haue ended their secrete praier the minister shal cōclude the preparacion with this collecte Almightie euerlastinge God heauealye father because we can please the only in thy deare sonne sanctifie our bodies and soules and graunte vs that to morowe we maye receiue the holesome communion of him in his holie supper with a godlie and faithfull desier and all thanckefulnes that beinge confirmed agayne conceruynge thy perpetual mercie and loue towardes vs and euer goinge forwarde in a new life we maye liue vnto the and serue the thorough our Lorde Iesus Christ with more feare and studie to the prayse of thy name and profyte of thy people A men ¶ How the Lordes supper must be celebrated Whan the people be come to gether vnto this ministration for asmuch as it is agreable to godlines that as often as we appere before the lorde before althinges we should acknowledge and confesse our sinnes and praye for remission of the same the minister whiche shall administer the Lordes supper whan he shal come to the altare shall make a confession in the name of the whole cōgregacion and that in the douche tonge whiche al maye vnderstande after this sorte Almightye euerlastinge God the father of our Lorde Iesus Christe the maker of all thynges the iudge of all men we acknowlege and we lament that we were conceiued and borne in sinnes and that therefore we be prone to al euils and abhorre from all good thynges that we haue also transgressed thy holie commaundmentes with out ende and measure in despisinge the and thy worde in distrustinge thy aide in trusting our selues and the worlde in wycked studies and workes where with we haue most greuousli offended thy maiestie and hurted oure neighboures Therefore we haue more and more buried oure selues in to eternall death And we are sorie for it with al our hertes and we desire pardone of the for al the thinges that we haue commited agaynst the we calle for thy helpe against sinne dwellinge in vs and Satan the kendler thereof kepe vs that we do nothyng hereafter against the and couer the wickednes that remaneth in vs with the rightuousnes of they sonne and represse it in vs with thy spirite and at length purdge it cleane out Haue mercye vpon vs most gentle father thorough thy sonne oure Lord Iesus Christe Giue and encrease thy holye spirite in vs which maie teach vs to acknowlege our synnes truly and thoroughly and to be pricked wyth a liuelye repentaunce of the same and with true fayth to apprehend and retayne remission of them in Christ our Lord that dyinge to sinnes dailye more and more we maie serue and please the in anewe lyfe to the glorie of thy name and edifiynge of thy congregacion For we acknowledge that thou iustly requirest these thynges of vs wherefore wee desire to perfourme the same Vouchsafe thou o father of heauen which hast giuen vs a wil to graunte vs also that we
Gospel wyth true fayth that dying dayly more and more to our selues we may wholy giue ouer our selues to thy deare sonne our onely sauiour which onely thorowe his stripes and moste bitter death hath redemed vs frō sinnes and eternal damnation hath restored vs into thy fauour thorow his resurrection and heauenly kyngdome hath called vs vnto him selfe into his congregation and hath planted vs into hym selfe vnto euerlystyng lyfe and made vs his owne membres that we shoulde lyue more and more in hym and he in vs that thy holie name maye be more largely sanctified by vs in all oure lyfe and all our doinges that thy kyngdome may be amplified by vs and in other that at lēgth all thynges maye be done amonge vs vpon earth wyth suche prompnes and cherefulnes as they be done in heauen And for thys purpose that we maye wholy liue and serue vnto the gyue vs also our dayly bread etc. as in the prayer before After thys solemne prayer lette the whole congregation synge the Crede For thys confession of our fayth when the Gospell is hearde and declared oughte to be done of ryght by all men communely as al equally heard the Gospel and the declaration therof And bicause no man can heare the Gospell wyth fayth and knowe and cōsidre out of the same howe greate loue and gentlenes God hath shewed towardes vs in that that he gaue vs his sonne and all thynges wyth hym which shal not out of this fayth wholy gyue ouer and bynde hym selfe to oure Lorde Iesus Christe thys thynge foloweth also out of the nature of true fayth that the faythfull studie to declare thys byndyng of them selues to the obedience of Christe and thankefulnes of theyr myndes for so greate godnes of God towardes thē selues which at that tyme they more earnestly remembre wyth holie oblations for Christe being needie in his litleons Therefore whyle the Crede is in syngynge lette the faythfull offre theyr free oblations euerie mā according to the blessyng whiche he hath receyued of the liberall and bountuous hande of God To whiche office of fayth and godlines the pastours and teachers shall diligētly exhort the people teachyng them that these oblations ought to folowe the confession of fayth and prayer euen by the verie nature of true religion neither cā be absent from the same when we wante not wherewyth to declare thys liberalitie And that thys worke of religion maye be cōueniently done and rightly commended to the faythfull we wyl that there be some notable place appoynted in euerie temple not farre frō the altare which euerie man maye comely go to and where the faythful may offre theyr oblations opēly before the whole congregation Whiche after that the sacramēt is ended the officers of the holie treasure shall gather together and shal lay the same vp in the treasurie the congregation lokyng vpon them It was the maner of the olde church and that taken out of Goddes worde that after the preachyng of the Gospell before the ministration of the Sacramēt should beginne not onely those shoulde be commaunded to go out of the tēple whiche were not admitted into the cōgregation nor perteined there vnto but they also whiche were yet in repētaunce and not reconciled to the congregation wyth open absolution of sinnes Therfore bycause thys discipline was taughte of the Lorde hym selfe and oughte of ryghte to be called agayne into the congregation the pastours shall diligently and often exhorte those whiche lyue in suche synnes as be against theyr conscience that they leaue them and turne them selues wyth all theyr hertes vnto the Lorde And after that they be restored into the fauour of God and begynne agayne to be the true disciples of the Lorde then lette them be present at the Lordes supper and communicate But if anie will not suffre them selues to be brought thereunto and wyll continue in theyr synnes wyth so great cōtempt of God and his Christe let the preachers declare to suche that they maye not be present at the Lordes holie supper and if they take vpon them to be present that they do despite vnto Christe and prouoke vpon them selues the muste greuous iudgement of God As for other whiche lyue not wyth an euyll conscience and yet receyue not the sacramet wyth other or seldome receiue it the pastour must often warne them that it perteyneth to the dutie of a christen man to be often partaker of the Lordes bourde and so to feede and strēgthen his fayth and to witnes the same vnto the congregation to the edification of many seinge that God hath instituted thys moste holie exercise of religion for his that they myght therby be established and enflamed in fayth and study of godlines Wherfore we see that they whiche neglect so great a benifite of God become dayly colder in al godlines and religion For they greuously offende God thorowe cōtempt of his bountuousnes and they hurt the cōgregation verie sore wyth that euyll exemple and moreouer they make thē selues giltie of the Lordes bodie and bloude abhorryng this meate and drynke of euerlastynge lyfe so irreligiously and so vnthankefully But forasmuch as both the knowledge of thys misterie and moreouer al the discipline of the congregation is so much gone out of vse and therof cometh so great weakenes of the verie faythful the pastours must restore to the people the knowledge existimation of so greate misteries wyth conuenient and tymelie admonition and not trouble anie man wyth vntimely rigorousnes as we admonished before For firste the sheepe of Christe so miserably scatered and diseased muste be fully broughte to Christe and be healed before that any rigorous discipline be restored and exercised amonge them But howe so euer the rest be handled in the congregation at thys tyme they neuertheles that shall be admitted to the communion as sone as they haue made theyr oblation must go together to that place that shall be appoynted vnto them nigh to the altare For in euerie temple there muste some place be appoynted nigh the altare for them whiche shal communicate accordyng to the oportunitie and fitnes of euerie temple They then whiche shal be admitted to the cōmunion of the Lordes bourde shal stande in that place the men in theyr propre place and the womē in theyr place and there they shall gyue thākes and pray religiously wyth the pastour The gyuynge of thankes shall be handled after the accustomed maner but in douche that the people vniuersally may gyue thankes as both the exemple and the commaundement of the Lorde requireth and also the olde churche obserued ⧠The priest The Lorde be with you ¶ The people And wyth thy spirite ⧠The priest Lyfte vp your hertes The people We haue vnto the Lorde The priest Lette vs gyue thankes vnto the Lorde oure God ⧠The people It is meete and right ¶ The priest It is verely a thing worthy right meete and holsome that we gyue thankes vnto the alwayes and euerie where that we
preaching of the crosse and of the death of Christe ⧠Of the communion of wayfaring men and sicke folke When it shall chaunce that wayefaryng men or such as cōmitte them selues to daungerous iourneis or be sicke shal require the Lordes supper vpon workynge dayes fearyng that they can not come to the communion the nexte holy daye the pastours shall ministre the Lordes supper vnto them vpon any daye after that they haue receyued of them a conuenient confession of theyr sinnes and fayth in Christ Howe be it as much as maye be it shal be done in the mornyng and at suche time as some assemble of the people is wont to be gathered or at the leste they shal call some together to thys ministration of the supper When then they haue admonished and exhorted in the assemble suche as wyll take iourneis in hande or be sickely of these misteries and the whole fayth in Christe they shall administre the holy supper and distribute the sacramentes in that fourme and facion that we described before saueing that they maye omitte singyng and reade all thynges whiche neuertheles muste be done playnely and clearely and wyth greate grauitie But if the sicke folke be in suche case that they can not come to the temple the pastours muste go to them and giue them the holy supper at home so that they do all thynges according to the fourme prescribed or thys that foloweth whiche is peculiarly appoynted for sicke folke asmuche as the state of them to whom the sacramēt shal be ministred wyll suffre and asmuch as shal make for the edification of saith in them that be present The pastours muste also exhort the people that not onely theyr householde but also the neighbours and kinsfolke of the sicke endeuoure to come together to the celebration of that holie supper and to receyue the sacramentes together ⧠Howe sicke folke muste be visited and howe the communion muste be celebrated wyth them ⧠An other exhortation to the sycke person My brother in the Lorde forasmuche as the Lorde visiteth the wyth sicknes of the bodie that thou mayest reste the better in his wil thou must faythfully cōsidre recompt first that diseases are sent to vs frō the Lord God for none other cause then for synnes and that originall synne whiche was deriued from Adā vnto vs draweth death wyth it selfe and what so euer perteyneth to the kingdome of death that is to saye al maner of diseases sicknesses miseries and calamities For if we had continued in originall ryghtuousnes wythout synne death should not haue had any right vpon vs muche lesse diseases and other calamities Further thou muste remembre that leste we should despeare by reason of our sinnes diseases and other tētations and anguishes of death the Gospel was giuen vs that out of the same we shoulde learne and beleue that Christe the sonne of God deliuereth vs frō synnes and saueth vs if we beleue in hym and that two maner wayes Firste in purifiynge our hertes frō the wyll and gylt of synnes here in earth by the Gospell and sacramentes Act. xv purifiynge their hertes wyth fayth Secondly when that oure consciences be thus cleansed from synnes and reconciled to God the father by fayth in takyng away and purgyng synne by litle and litle out of our nature that at length beinge made pure and perfecte from all vices and holie in all poyntes we maye lyue wyth the holie God in heauē in diuine rightuousnes and innocencie Thyrdly that for the workyng and fulfyllynge hereof God oure father sendeth vnto vs sūdrie diseases death it selfe not bicause he is angrie wyth vs or wyll destroye vs but bicause thorowe verie fatherlie beniuolence and care he wyl steare vs vp vnto true repentaunce of synnes and fayth of his sonne and so deliuer vs bothe frō synnes wherin we yet sticke and moreouer from all euyls both corporall and spirituall vnto whiche we be subiect by reason of synnes whiche thing the holie scriptures testifie abūdātly For thus saith S. Paule i. Cor. xi When we are iudged of the Lorde we are corrected that we be not dāned wyth thys worlde Roma viij To them that loue God all thynges worke health neither can anie thynge disseuer them from the loue of God whiche is in Christe Iesu not afflictition nor anguyshe nor persecution etc. Fourthly forasmuch as these thynges be euen so as I haue said and bicause thou arte taught certified out of the Gospell which the sonne of God him selfe preached and cōfirmed with his death and resurrection that al thy synnes are caste vpon Christe yea vtterly taken awaye and abolished for euer of Christe him selfe so that God hath now no cause of wrath and condemnation agaynste the beleuynge in Christ but the grace of the father mercie lyfe and health be certeynely restored to the thorowe Christe considre all these so exceading benifites of god towards the wyth sure and certeyne fayth and confirme thys truste in thy selfe that God the father compteth the not nowe for suche one as thou waste borne of Adā and made tho rowe thyne owne synnes that is to saye hatefull vnto hym and appoynted vnto destruction but compteth the for Christes sake deare and destined to eternall lyfe and be thou persuaded that thou shalt lyue for euer by the ryghtuousnes and lyfe of Christe in perfecte blisfulnes as certeynly as it is certeyne that he suffered the wrath of God and death not for his owne synnes but for thine Seinge then that it is so see that thou comforte thy selfe wyth so great benifites and knowledge certeynely that synne death and hell hath nowe no ryght vpon the but that Christe the lambe of God hath taken away al those Iohn i. For he hath translated those thynges vpon hym selfe he hath ouercomed them by hym selfe and blotted them out foreuer Wherefore be of God comforte thy synnes be forgiuen the and there is no cause if from thy herte thou beleue in Christe the Lorde but thou maist certeynely and constantly thorowe Christe oure Lorde loke for al grace consolation tymely healpe and saluation from God Therefore wyth suche truste cōmitte and gyue vp thy selfe wholy to his mercifull and fatherly wyll sayinge wyth Dauid God is my lyght of whō shal I be a frayed Heauenly father thy wyll be done Into thy handes I commende my spirite Amen After thys exhortation if the state of the sicke person wyll suffre the pastoure shall reade before hym and the present congregatiō the Lordes wordes out of the .vi. of Iohn Frō thys place verely verely I saye vnto you excepte ye eate the fleshe of the sonne of man vnto the wordes of the Euāgeliste These wordes he spake in the synagoge And he shall declare the same texte for the cōforte and edification aswel of the sicke as of the congregation that is present But the exposition shal be moderated accordyng to the commoditie of the sicke person When thexposition is ended lette the pastour rehearse a commune confession
theyr be anye lawefull impediment of theyr copulation For if there be any impediment that they can not lawefully and wythout sclaunder be ioyned together in matrimonie let not the pastoure alowe theyr mariage in any wyse or blesse it in the cōgregation tyll that lette be remoned and theyr copulation be alowed by thē whiche shall be appoynted to suche matters and causes by our cōmaundement Further the ministre shall exhorte them that they solemnise suche a mariage as becommeth christians and that they folowe not the pompe and excesse of the heathen Then lette hym wryte both theyr names and aske the banes vpon three holie dayes or sundayes after thys sorte Iohn N. and Anne N. haue made promise eche to other of holie matrimonie and thei desire that the same be alowed and blessed of the congregation Therefore they require that the congregation wyll praye for them that they maye beginne thys kynde of lyfe in the Lordes name and that they maye lyue in the same vnto the prayse and glorie of God If anie man know anie lawful impediment of theyr copulation let him shewe the same in tyme to the glorie of Christ and for the remouinge of an offence to the cōgregation Such a publication as I sayed muste be made vpon three holy dayes nexte ensuinge one an other except some special and weightie cause require an other thynge and suffre not so longe delayinge But no man muste haue anie thinge dispensed of thys thryse askynge excepte they permitte it to whom we shal cōmitte the office of causes of matrimony and when it is manifeste that there is no lawfull lette of theyr matrimonie Howbeit the banes of suche personnes also muste be asked in the cōgregation at the lest vpon one holy daye Furthermore we wyll haue thys thynge obserued that the weddyng of al personnes whether the brides be virgines or widowes be confirmed and sanctified in the cōgregation by the worde of God and prayer and that they come to the congregation wyth al sobrietie and honestie as it becommeth thē whiche come together in the Lorde and truly desire the blessyng of the Lorde vnto their mariage Wherefore they shall endeuoure them selues to brynge verie many wyth thē vnto the holie assemble thoughe christian moderatiō requireth not so many to be bidden to the mariage feast For the prayers of many are godly desired But bicause they come together to praye for the grace and good spirite of God to be gyuen to the despoused personnes thorowe our Lorde Iesus Christe and hym crucified they muste so appeare in his syghte that the glorie of the crosse of Christ be not blemished by worldly pompe and excesse Finally they must come into the tēple at that houre when Christes congregation cometh together at other times and they must be at the begynnynge of the holie assemble that wyth the reste of the people of Christe they may heare the lordes worde and make theyr prayers to God When they then be present in the temple wyth the congregation in a place appoynted thereunto whiche shal be open to al men the pastour shall saye to the brydgrome and the bryde Be ye then presente here in the syghte of God oure father and of oure Lorde Iesus Christe before his congregation to professe your mariage which ye haue promised eche to other in the Lorde and that ye maye receyue blessing and sanctification of the same from the Lorde by the ministre of the cōgregacion ⧠The answer of the brydgrome and the bryde We are present for that purpose ¶ Then the Pastoure shal saye further Seinge then that after the open askynge of banes no bodie hath come forth whiche woulde gaynesaye the coniunction of these personnes or coulde declare anie lawful impedement by reason of kinred or of affinitie or for some other cause the heauenly father vouchsafe to confirme that that he hath wrought in you And that ye maie the better vnderstande and acknowlege how great a grace and benifite the heauenlie father hath gyuen youe herin which hath ioyned you together with holie matrimonie and that ye maye lerne to giue him condigne thanckes for this his beniuolence and bountiousnes towardes you and embrace one a nother wyth more firme fayth as ioyned to gether by the hande of God cal for his helpe with more cōfidēce and euer serue him in this state finally that ye maye more fully knowe the promisse and office of matrimonie and perfurme the same more promptly ye shal heare with reuerente mindes some testimonies of the scripture and a religious exhortacion out of the same And first ye shal here out of the secōde Cha of Genes the firste institution of holye matrimonie God saide it is not good that mā be a loue lette vs make hym an helpe to be with him God sent a sleepe vpon Adā c. ¶ Nowe heare ye the voice of Christ out of the gospel Math. xix ¶ The phariseis came vnto Iesus tēptinge hym and sayinge to hym maye a man make a diuorce with his wife for euerie cause etc. ⧠Thirdly heare ye also the cōmaundement of the holie Gost concerning the office of mariage For thus he prescribed to maried folke Ephe. v. ⧠Men loue your wiues as Christ loued the congregation c. reade furth to the ende of the Chapter ⧠Out of these places the despoused persones and rest of the congregacion must be warned that they lerne and considre firste howe holie a kinde of lyfe and howe acceptable to God matrimonie is For by these places we knowe that God him selfe instituted holye wedlocke and that in paradise man beinge yet perfecte and holye and that he hath greatly blessed thys copulasion and ioyneth hymselfe all those together whyche contracte matrimonie in hys name and gyueth the husband to be an heade and sauiour to the wyfe as Christe is the heade and the sauioure of the congregacion and further more giueth the wife a bodie and a helpe to the husbande that here in thys worlde they maye leade a godlye honest and ioyous lyfe together Hereof a godlie minde shal certainly conclude that this copulacion of man and woman is without doubte acceptable to God and therefore holye and luckie which thinge appeareth by this that God planteth in thē whyche be ioyned in matrimonye so greate and so meruailous faythfulnes loue and most serniceable mindes both towardes thē selues mutually also towardes their children kinsfoke and allied by any meane to ether parte For God is loue and he that abydeth in loue abideth in god and the whole lawe is fulfiled with the loue of oure neighboure Where fore in what soeuer state of life more faithfulnes and loue and a redier mynde to procure the commodites of oure neighboures accordinge to the Lordes word is wounte to spring furth the same vndoub tedli is more acceptable to God more holie and blessed But there is no surer faythfulnes no feruenter loue no nerer frendshippe no prompter will to warne on
shal be propouned and declared to the people And wereas we haue no certayne knowlege of the Apostles doynges besyde those thynges that we reade in the Gospels the Actes of the Apostles and in theyr Epistles vpon the holye dayes of those Apostles of whome the holye scripture maketh no peculiar mention the pastoures muste warne the people and enstructe thē of the office of the Apostles and of the ministerie of the gospel generally out of these lessons of the Gospel Iesus sente his twelue disciples c. Mathe. x. Item Iohā xv I am a true vyue and you be braunches c. Or out of some other lyke lesson For hidden writinges called Apocripha or suche histories as men doubte of the certaintie therof ought not to be red in churches whiche thinge was also decreed in the holye counsels Forther vpon those dayes on whiche the memories of the more notable sayntes haue ben customeably celebrated heretofore whether men cease from bodylye labour vpon those dayes or not lette the pastours make holye sermons and theyr in if there be anye historie of those saintes worthey belefe lette them bringe furth out of the same pure examples of fayth and true frutes of fayth and lette thē preach and exalte the same that they may be folowed So yet that some lesson of the holye scripture be red aforehande at the beginninge that the sermon maye be deriued out of that lesson cheifely as we reade that the holye fathers dyd also And if anye supersticious tales monstrous false miracles of saynetes haue ben accustommed to be sette furth heretofore vpon those dayes the postours shal studie to bringe furth and confute those lyes as in lyke maner al false worshippinge of sayntes And lette them alwayes declare in these sermons wyth al faythfulnes and diligēce how sondrie and horrible impieties and abommacions haue flowē ouer the people thoroughe suche monstrous praises and false worshippinges of saintes where with as the glorie of God so the honour of saintes also hath ben horibly defaced obscured Wherefore as often as anie holie daye or memorie of Sayntes shal happen the ministers of the congregacions shall warne the people howe the memories of saintes maye be godly celebrated namely thus first that we knowe theyr fayth and the frutes of the same that we haue in reuerence the gyftes and meruaylous worckes of God that we prayse and magnifie God for them further that thereby we confirme in our selues faith and hope towardes God and praye God with more confidence to giue vs lyke fayth and to confirme the same for asmuch as he hath promysed that he wylbe our God no-lesse than he is the God of the Sayntes departed Thirdly that we be enflamed by the examples of the Sayntes to folowe them godly that we also maie raise vp the giste of God that is giuē vs and religiuossi folowe the steppes of the Saintes euery man accordinge to his vocacion Finally forasmuch as almost in al the other holye dayes yea euen in those whyche were appoynted for the remēbraunce of Christ the sauiour manifold superstition is crepte in and manie vngodlie fables and very heathnish obseruaciōs haue borne aswinge lette the pastours enquire diligently what parte of these toyes and superstitions remayneth yet in ani people and lette them confute the same ernestly by the scriptures and call men backe agayne from those erroures to worshippe God in spirite and truth and that purely and simply accordinge to his word For he hath redeined vs with the precious bloud of his sonne Christ the vnspotted lambe from these vaine rites deliuered from the fathers i. Peter i. ¶ Of fastinge dayes and of lent TThe pastours and teachers of congregacyons shall dilygently teach the people what true fastynge is out of those thynges that we haue touched before concerninge Christian faste For thereby anye man maye easely se that a true faste and suche as wee beginne out of true fayth must be taken vpon vs willingly with true repentaunce and wyth a godlye geale to make our supplicacious to God not bi anie necessite of a lawe not for the custome of men other wyse they shall teach that it is not only of none effecte before God but is also abominacion vnto hym For it is euident that that wil to faste that repentaunce and desire to praye humbly to God can be stiered vp by no commaundement outwardly vsed For we haue not receiued the spirite of Christ by the lawe but thorough the hearinge of the Gospell Gala. iij. Wherefore nether the Lorde himselfe Christe nor the Apostles or the saintes either after them prescribed anye certayne daye for fastinge by a lawe but only exhorted the congregacion and euerie Christian man to fast godli their consciences in the meane while beinge boūde with no lawe So in the olde testament fastinge was commaunded by the lawe only vpon one daye in the yere Wherefore it can not become vs the ministers of the new testament not of the letter but of the spirite to make lawes of fastynge and there wyth to snare the consciences of Christian people Therefore we thincke it shal be sufficient that the pastours exhorte the people diligētely to godlie fastes and vpō the fasting daies to allure them with those exercises of religion whyche the fathers also vsed Whereof we haue entreated before in theyr place Wherefore we wil haue lente to be kepte after thys sorte Firste that the preachers admonisch the congregacion dyligently as at al other ceasons so at this tyme also of their weaknes and of theyr synnes and exhorte them to true and liuelie repentaunce Secōdly that they declare that the more religious sorte of Christen men and the feruenter in the zeale of Christe haue euer obserued to giue them selues somewhat more at certaine tymes to the worckes of repentaunce as fasting ernest supplications and liberal almes by that meanes renuinge in them selues the studie of godlines and stirring vp themselues frō their natural faintnes and sluggishnes in goinge forwarde in the waye of the Lorde For our nature is so defiled with vngodlines and peruerse lustes of thinges partaining to this life that all care of god wareth feble and colde in vs if we do not often raise it vp and kendle it with singuler meditacion of goddes worde and feruent preayers to God Further more lette them declare that the obseruacion of lente was instituted of the olde fathers for thys purpose that if anie in the rest of the yere had fallen in to some greuous sinnes or liued carelesly being touched with no iuste repentaunce of theyr sinnes or other wyse had behaued them selues neglygētli in religion both which euils are woūte to inuade verie manie such persones should be stirred vp and kendled at this tyme to ernest repentaunce of their sinnes and liuelye exercises of godlines by sondrie and graue sermōs bi religious supplicatiōs of the whol congregacions and also by the examples of them that were more feruent in the zeale of godlines that they also
myght applye them selues to relygious fastes and praiers Therefore that oure men maye be so deliuered from that supersticion and hypocrisie where wyth they prouoked the wrath of God more greuously vpon theÌ„ that neuertheles they maye wante nothinge whereby they maye be allured sette forwarde both to liuelye and effections repentaunce of sinnes and to a coÌ„stante carefulnes to go fore ward in the Lordes waye by which thinges the wrath of God is pacified and his benifites be more plentuously obtained we wyl that euerie daye in the lente if it maye be obtayned that the people wil come together holye assembles bee made and that lessons be reliouslired and declared out of the scriptures which do more vehementli prouoke to repentaunce of synnes and to a diligeÌ„te studye to goe forewarde in the waye of Christ Whereout the pastoures shall make ernest and feruent exhortations and adde therevn to somewhat longe prayers and they shall kepe this asseÌ„bles somewhat later farther furth in the daye chiefely three dayes in the weeke namely vpon the seconde the fourth and the sixte daye that they in whom a wyl to fast godly is stirred vp maye haue more occasion and oportunite therunto For we can not wel hope that the olde maner of fastinge maye be called againe chiefely among vs Germaines which was to differ meate vnto the euening and to bestowe the whole daie in holie doctrin and praiers Wherefore we shal be contente if we maye obtayne that after lessoÌ„s sermons and prayers which shal be ended at noone tyme than as the custome nowe is euerye man take meate accordynge to the necessite of nature and as euery man is stirred vp to faste so that we calle it not ennynge whan it is not yet none as we doe now a dayes to folishly I had almost sayde peruersly But whereas we chiefely require lenten exercises three dayes only in the weeke noman shal thincke that we do remissi and neglygently herein which wyll godly consider to how fewe the true religion of fastinge is knowen now a dayes where as in ChristiaÌ„ congregacions all thynges must be instituted and done in spirite and truth and by all meanes we muste fle al hypocrisie which is abominable to God Thus we reade that in the tyme of the holye fathers Ambrose and Augustine euen at Rome and in mani other places vpon the fifte and seuenth daye of the weke fastyng was remitted in the lent Vpon the dayes of the foure tymes communli called quatuor temporum embring daies let holy lessoÌ„s sermones and praiers ernest and somwhat longe be vsed and later in the daie as in lente and lette the people be stirred vp diligently to true repeÌ„taunce and the worckes of the same fasting praier and almes Of difference of meates NO true Christian doubteth hereof al the fathers haue witnessed and taught it with manie wordes that the onlie difference of meates with out the abstinence of thynges dilitinge this fleshe whiche maye more prepare and sancsifie our bodies to the spirite of Christ in vs for the performance of alworkes of godlynes is a verye vayne thynge and vnpleasaunt to God as he himselfe hath wytnessed Esaye lviii yea that it is an abomynable thinge if anye trust of merite be putte in it before hym which thinge he hym selfe hath also witnessed Esaie i. cha howbeit among Christen men there haue been now a greate whyle not a fewe whych haue thought that it is a true faste if vpon certaine dayes they abstayne only from the fleshe of fowle and foure footed beastes thoughe in the meane ceason they dilitiously fede them selues with the fleshe of fisthes and other meates much costlier and delicater than the commune vse of fleshe is The olde fathers in manye cogregations were wounte to faste vpon the fourth and syxte daye of the weke to which dayes some after warde added the saturdaie also herof cam the custome to abstain from flesh and egges vpon those dayes For the old fathers vpon fastinge dayes abstayned from those meates howbeit they abstained not onely from those but also from fishes and all delycate meates and from wyne to But for asmuche as it hath been begonne a good wyle sithens that grauntes be made to all sortes of men and not to princes only to eate al maner of meates both in lent and vpon other fastinge dayes and our bischoplye office requireth that we ordaine all thinges amonge our men acordinge to the word of God and to the edification of fayth consideringe these thinges we see not what we maye enioyne to oure men concerninge the only differrence of meates we commaunde our pastours and preachers this one thyng that they teach the people what is the true and Christian abstinence and moderatioÌ„ of meate and drincke and other thinges which God hath geueÌ„ for the nede of the body and that they exhort them to the same most diligently I saye to that obstimence whereby the fleshe is more subdued and made more obedieÌ„t to the spirite and that the pore maye feale some comforte while we giue theÌ„ that that we withdrawe from our selues They shall also warne this diligently that all abstinence of thinges which the Lord hath created and giuen to vs for oure vse if we take it not vpon vs for this intent that thorough the same religion towardes God and liberalitie towardes our neyghbour maye be encreced is very heathinish and Monkishe superstition whiche God abhorreth though it be rigorous and cause a sharpe chastisemeÌ„t of the bodye Howe wyll God take such an vnshamefast faininge of abstinence yea rather not a fayning but a verie wicked mocking of the diuie maiestie while vpon those dayes in which abstimence of flesh is bosted men fede to the full and delite them seluâ—â— wyth suche and other meates much more costlye and delicate than the coÌ„mune meates of flesh be But for our parte we ernestly desire and exhorte al our men and euerye one of the pastours that they laboure to warne and exhorte them of whom they haue charge to turne them selues from the excesse in tem perante and wastfulnes whyche they nowe vse to true sparing and moderacion of meates and drinkes and other thynges whyche this bodye nedeth remembringe this saying of the Lorde Take hede to your selues leste at anye tyme your hertes be laden with surfettinge and dronckennes and cares of this worlde Item Petr. i. v. Be sobre and watch for your aduersarie the diuel walketh about lyke a roringe lion seekinge whom he made deuoure ⧠Of certayne other rites and ceremo ⧠nies of the churche THat holie daies maye be consecrated and sanctified truli and wholy to God we wyl that nothing be omitted that pertaineth to the stirring vp and prickinge furth of the people to this santificacion of Christ Wherefore in touÌ„nes and great villages where schloles or more ministers of the â—ongregacion shal be we will that an asseÌ„ble of the people be appoynted there in the mornyng early as it shal be moste commodious
cloister bondage shewe themselues so thanckeful to God for his inconparable benifite of the pure doctrine of the gospel restored vnto thē and of christian libertie that they shall sone cōpte that sufficient that shal be allotted vnto them how litel soeuer it be only if they maie therewith serue God with a free and safe cōscience But howe soeuer these thinges shall happen and howe soeuer these controuersies maie be prouided for yet Christiā men must remembre that we praie for dailie breade after the sanctificaciō of goddes name and the cōminge of his kingdome wherefore al carefulnes for temporal thinges must serue and gyue place to the sanctificacion of goddes name and to his kingdome ⧠Of fre and not monasticall Colleges of virgines FIrst we will that euerie college shal be lefte in that cōdition cōcerning dignite of birth wherein it is nowe I meane that suche colleges as were appointed to the daughters of Erles be lefte to them and suche as were appointed to knightes daughters be distributed to the same Secondly that abbasses and other virgines in colleges conforme themselues to this our reformacion in doctrine administration of the sacramentes other ceremonies item in the maner of readinge and singinge in the temples so that they reade and sing al thinges in a tounge which they vnderstande It shal be the abbasses parte to bringe vp and reteine the other virgines in the feare of the Lorde in holie moderacion of lyfe and in al honeste and therfore to stirre thē vp with diligēt warning and with the exēple of their owne life Lette the other virgines shew thē selues obedient to the abbasse and other rulers in all godlines sobrietie honest moderaciō of meates drinckes clothing and other thinges and doinges ⧠Of the ordre of sel bretherne And laie brethern SElle brethern in their profession are nexte to true monckrie they liue together they haunte scholes and labour with their hādes Wherefore we will maintein and aide them for these purposes requiring of them only that they purge and moderate their ceremonies lessons and songes accordinge to this our reformacion and that they liue a blameles life in the communion of the congregation where they dwell and in the obediēce of the cōmune pastours So likewise laie bretherne sustine them selues with their labours minister to the sicke and burie the dead Wherefore we wyll also helpe them fatherly and aide them in thys their holie kinde of life asmanie as wil faith fulli exequite these ministeries leade furth all their lyfe godly in the communion of the rest of the cōgregacion and in the obedience of the commune pastours Al these persones must be diligently examined bi the visiters of their ministeries and of their other conuersation and they muste lerne of the same a certaine form and rule of theyr lyfe and treade of lyuinge and they must obserue the same faythfully ⧠The conclusion of the worcke IT hath semed good vnto vs to publishe and set abrode amonge our men al the premisses beynge thus deuised deliberated and gathered together accordyng to oure simplicite but yet faithfully and with a true zeale of our Lorde Iesus Christe as a plaine introductiō to a christiā reformaciō of ecclesiastical matters and therwyth asmuch as the Lord shal permit to satisfie the office and cōmaūdemēt which we acknowlege to be enioyned vnto vs bi God our creator and also by the decree of the cōuocaciō of Ratespone which thinge moreouer our diocesanes haue required of vs haue cōmitted the same vnto vs to set an order therein Which thinges neuertheles we set furth to be receyued and obserued of men committed to oure charge none otherwise than as a beginninge of so holie and necessarie a thinge vntil a generall reformacion of congregacions be made by the holie empire by a fre and christian counsel vniuersall or nacionall or by the most redoubted emperour our most gracious Lord with the princes electors other princes cōmune estates of the holie empire gathered together in the holie Goste Which that the Lord wil graunte to be appointed and receiued with concorde of mindes for the settinge furth of hys glorie and the promotinge of our helth we ought cōtinually to desire and praie of the same Lorde and our God And where as in the meane ceason we offer thys our deuise to our men we do it for none other cause than we haue declared We labour to a voide the faute of inobedience chefely towardes God whyche hath sondrie wayes prescribed vnto vs in hys lawe this charge and thys worcke Secondly also towardes our superiours who inioyned the same thing vnto vs by the decre of the cōsel of Ratespōe Furthermore we studie to eschue the crime of vnfaithfulnes towardes our subiectes to whome requiring nowe the seconde tyme a godli reformacion of ecclesiastical ministerie and giueing vs authorite to order the same we promised this our diligēce which we also owe vnto thē bi reason of our office of an Archbyshop Therefore that we maye perfourme though not fully yet somewhat the thing that was enioined to vs by God and our sauiour and by our superiors and was required of oure men and by vs promised vnto them we bring furth these our deuises and deliberate sentences and deliuer them vnto our men sekinge therewith to promote and maintayne asmuche as the Lorde will vouchsafe to graunte a godlie concorde and holesome edificacion of al men in doctrine holie ceremonies and discipline of Christe and to preserue oure men chefely in thys so daungerous a time in whiche so many heresies and wicked opinions are daili more perniciousli stirred vp aboute vs from al false doctrine and perdicion which certainli foloweth wicked doctrine But if the Lorde hereafter shall reuele his wil vnto vs more largely shal giue vs more of hys grace and spirite we now kepe this liberte vnto vs to enlarge to shorten to chaunge to correcte to declare farther these our deuises institutiōs howbeit none other wise thā after the worde of God and as the Lorde shall graunt vs to perceyue that the same is for hys glorie and the edifcacion of his people whome he hath cōmitted vnto vs. We thought good to declare and testifie these thinges to al christian men which shal reade this boke vnto the glorie of God and profite of his congregacion Whome almightie God and our heauenlie father vouchsafe to illumine dayely more plentifully wyth his spirite and to brynge them farther in to the knowledge of his wyl to giue and encrease in theym mightie strength to folowe the same in all poyntes and at lēgth to make theym throughly blessed through oure sauioure the Lord Iesus Christ to whō be praise honoure glory for euer and euer Amen Finis ⧠Imprinted at London by Iohn Daye dwellyng in Sepulchres paryshe at the sygne of the Resurrection a lytle aboue Houlbourne Conduyt ⧠☞ ✚ ☜
true and liuelie fayth they shoulde acknowledge oure Lorde Iesus Christ and confesse him to be the only sauiour and calle for his helpe in al trobles with a verie trust and exercise them selues in such worckes as in dede be good and fruteful in the holye sacramētes and other ceremonies of the church accordinge to Christes institution that godlines maie daily encrease more and more and that al thinges which be contrarie to Godes worde all sinnes and offences that be crept in to the church of God maye be abolisched wherefore attributinge nothinge ether to our wisdome or to the wisdome and doctrine of other but only encouraged and trusting in the true grace and sure promise of God the father and in the merite and strenghth of our Lord Iesus Christ the only hed and vigilant pastour of hys comgregation we haue determined to set furth accordynge to oure simplicite these thynges thus gathered after diligent deliberacion and correction asmuch as coulde be done in shorte tyme and asmuch as God helped vs wyth hys grace for some reformacion of Christian discipline For we graunte that it is our office to fede christes shepe and faithfully to loke to the congregacions cōmitted vnto vs. And we cal God our creator to witnesse whiche is euerlastinge truth and knoweth the hertes and seeth al thoughtes that we in al this matter of reformation seke nether our owne glorie nor oure priuate commodite but only haue respecte hereunto that the glorie of the almightie maye bee mooste largely set furth to the euerlastinge saluacion of oure men Therfore we besech al christen men of what condicion soeuer thei be which shal reade o◠heare this our preparation of a reformation by our Lord Iesus Christ whose cause matter and busines is hādled in this boke if thei shal finde anie thinge in it that shal not seme to be agreable to goddes worde and make to the true edificacion of fayth in Christe whiche resteth in the augmentacion of goddes encrease that they wil certifie vs thereof and gently teach vs out of the holie scriptur We wyll take the same by goddes grace in good parte and gladli embrace those thinges that we shal perceiue to helpe to the reparation of the church and we be readie to do them more diligently than it is set furth in this boke that nothinge wante to the nessarie reformacion of the church And contrarie wise we require of them that if they shal perceiue that the Lord hath mercifully giuē vs to attain his meaninge and wil they wil helpe vs wyth their beniuolence and diligence asmuch as they maye that these thinges as the holsome commaundementes of oure maker redemer iugde Iesus Christ maye be sette furth chiefely seing that they vnder stand that it becōmeth vs in nowyse in those thinges whiche we surely knowe to be enioyned and commaunded vnto vs by oure God and sauiour out of hys worde to differ any lōger either for the authorite and power of anie men or for the expectacion of a councell generall or nationall the thinges which perteine to the glorie of God and of his most dere sonne and the saluation of the people but rather as commodiously as we maye to propone the same to be obserued of our men and other asmuch as the almightie will helpe vs with hys diuine grace whiche we wishe to al them that seke the same truly thorough our Lord Iesus Christ As we cōmende vnto them this our obedience such as it is in this our purpose whiche we owe to the diuine maieste with al our subiectes and our office desiringe the same children of god which with a sincere herte wishe the amplification of Christes kingdom to whome vndoubtedly our necessarie diligence though it be slender shal be acceptable that they with their godlie praiers will diligentlye ayde in this our purpose and ministerie vs and our subiectes Which thinge how acceptable it was vnto vs we desire to declare to euerie one whan we shal be able ⧠Giuen at Buschonie ⧠A Table of the principall Articles in this boke of a Reformacion OF Doctrine That some Lesson muste be resited out of the holye Scripture before a Sermon and declared vnto the people That al Sermōs must be made to the magnifiyng of the Lord Christ Of the Trinitie Of the creacion and gouernaunce of all thynges Of the cause of synne and death Of original sinne and mannes wekenes before regeneration Of the olde Testament Of the difference of the olde and newe Testament Of preachyng peculiar to the newe Testament Of the preachyng of Repentaunce Of the true and proper vse of Goddes lawe A short exposition of the .x. commaundementes Of remission of synnes and iustification Of good workes Of the true and natural significatiō of this worde fayth Of the crosse and tribulations Of the church of God Of the vnitie or concorde of the church Of christian prayer A short exposition of the Lordes praier Of the abuse in prayer Of the true and false vse of Images Of Christian fast Of holy offerynges A premoniciō and commaundement against the errours of the Anabaptistes Of the administration of religion Of Sacramentes generally Of Baptisme The fourme of a Catechisme before Baptisme The exorcisme Of the administration of Baptisme Howe Baptisme must be administred at times not prescribed Of Confirmation Of the Lordes Supper At what tyme the Lordes Supper ought to be celebrated Of the cōmuniō of straungers and sickfolke Howe sicke persōs must be visited and how we must celebrate the cōmunion with thē Of communion in priuate houses for menne in health Of turning from sins and true repentaunce Of excommunication Of the makyng of Pastours Of the blessyng of Mariages Of Buriyng Of holy and feastful dayes Of fastyng dayes and Lent Of the difference of meates Of certayne other ryghtes or ceremonies of the church Of ecclesiastical rites vpon working daies Of peculiar dayes of procession Of Letany Of commune almes Of scholes for chyldren Of scholes of Diuinitie Of disputation By what meanes a christian reformation of holy ministerie and cure of soules maye be begunne and practised in parishes Of refourmyng of canonical colleges Of the reformation of monasteries both of men and women Of free and not Monasticall Colleges of virgins Of the ordre of selbrethren and laye brethrē The ende of the table Of Doctrine OUR sauiour Gods sonne Iesus Christ which cam into this world to the intent to open that wonder ful and hyd wil of God concernyng the saluation of mankynd after this sort spake to his disciples and to all them that are called to the ministery of his Gospel As the father hath sente me so I sende Iohn x. Marke the last Chap. you And in another place Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to euery creature teachyng theim to kepe all thynges that I haue cōmaunded you Further God eternal the father of our Lord Iesu Chryst Mat. iii. xvii spake thus from heauen of hys sonne Him heare