examine thē selues following in their hartes the tenor of his wordes A CONFESSION OF OVR SYNNES FRAmed to our tyme out of the 9. chap. of Daniel O lord God which arte 1 Nehem. 1. b. Iob. 9.38.39.40 Psal 24.76.77.139 mightie and dreadeful thou that kepest couenant and shewest 2 Exod. 20. a. luk 7. g. mercie to theym that loue thee and do thy commaundementes 3 Gen. 3. b. rom 5. b. 1. Ioh. 1. d. Psal 32. c. 106. a we haue synned we haue offended we haue wickedly and stubburnely gone backe frome thy lawes and preceptes We wolde neuer 4 Ieu 26. c. Deu. 28. b. Iere. 26. a. 29. b. Nehem. 1. c. obey thy seruantes the Prophetes that spake in thy name to our kinges and princes to our forfathers and to all the people of our lande O lord 5 psa 11. b. lam .. d Iob. 4. d. 9. a. 25. b. rightuousnes belongeth vnto thee vnto vs perteyneth nothing but open shame as it ys come to passe this day vnto our miserable contry of Englande yea vnto all our nation whether they be farre or nere through all landes wherein they are scattered for the 6 offences that they and we haue committed against thee so that the 7 Psal 89. c. Ier. 26. b. 27. a. 7 Ieu 26. c. Deu. 27.28.30 curses and ponishmentes which are wryten in thy lawe are nowe powred vpon vs and thou hast perfourmed those wordes wher with thou didest menace vs and our rulers that gouerned vs in bringinge the same plagues vpon vs which before were threatened And yet notwithstandinge bothe they and we procede in our iniquitie and sease not to heape synne vpon synne How misrable it is to retorne to the olde vomitt For they which once were well instructed in the doctrine of thy gospel are nowe 8 2. pet 2. d. prou 26. b. Hebr 6 a. 10. e. gone backe frome the obedience of thy trueth and are turned agayne to that moste abhominable Idolatrie from the which they were once called by the lyuely preachinge of thy worde And we alas to this day do not earnestly repent vs of our former wickednes neither do we rightly 9 Psal 19. d. Deu. 31. d. 29. d. ezech 5. b. consider the heauynes of thy displeasure Suche is thy iuste iudgementes ò lord that thou 10 Rom. 1. d. ponishes synne by synne and man by his owne inuentions so that there can be no ende of iniquitie except thou 11 Esa 65. d. Rom. 10. c. preuent vs with thy 12 Eph. 2. ◠b. vndeserued grace Therfore 13 Psal 85. a. Ierem. 31. c. conuert vs ò lord and we shal be conuerted for we do not offer vp our prayers trustinge in our 14 Titus 3. a. 2. Timoth. 1. b. owne rightuousnes but in thy manifolde mercies And althoghe thou haste once of thy especial grace deliuered vs from the miserable thraldome of error and blindnes and called vs many tymes to the swet 15 Gal. 4.5 a libertie of thy gospell which we notwithstādīge haue moste shamefully abused in obeinge rather our owne 16 Gal. 5. b. c lustes and affections then the admonitions of thy 17 zachar 7. b. prophetes yet we beseche thee once agayne for thy 18 psal 23. a. 25. c nams sake to powre some comfortable droppe of thy accustomed mercies vpon vs 19 Psal 71. a incline thyne eares and open thyne eyes to beholde the greuous plagues of our contrie the continuall sorrowes of our afflicted bretherne and our wofull banishment let all people take hede by our example And let our afflictions and iuste ponishemente be an admonition and warninge to other nations emongest whome we are skattered that with all reuerence they may obey thy holy gospell lost for like contempte in the ende like or wourse 20 Matt. 11. c. 12. d. Luk. 10. c. plagues fall vpon theym Wherfore ò lord heare vs ò lord forgiue vs ò lord consider and tary not ouer longe but for thy deare sonne 21 Iohn 16. e. Iesus Christe sake be mercifull vnto vs and delyuer vs So shall it be knowen to all the worlde that thou onely arte the selfe same God that euer sheweth 22 psal 103.108 a 136. a. mercie to all suche as call vpon thy holy name AN OTHER CONfession for all states and tymes O Eternall God and moste mercifull father we confesse and acknowlage here before thy diuine maiestie that we are miserable 1 Rom. 3. c psal 14. b. synners 2 psal 51. a. conceyued and borne in synne and iniquitie so that in vs there is no 3 rom 7. d. goodnes For the 4 Gal. 5. c. fleshe euermore rebelleth against the spirite wherby we contynually transgresse thy holy preceptes and commaundementes and so purchase to our selues through thy iuste iudgement 5 Rom. 2. a. Iere. 3. g. Isa 40. b. death and damnation Notwithstandinge ò heauenly father forasmoche as we are displeased with our selues for the synnes that we haue committed against thee and do vnfeynedly repent vs of the same we moste humbly beseche thee for Iesus Christes sake to shewe thy mercie vpon vs to forgiue vs all our synnes and to increase thy holy spirite in vs that we 6 Col. 3. a. Rom. 6. a. Ephe. 4. c. 5. a 1. petr 2. a. acknowlaginge from the botome of our hartes our owne vnrightuousnes may from hensforth not onely mortifie our sinfull lustes and affections but also bringe forth suche fruites as may be agreable to thy moste blessed wyll not for the worthynes therof but for the 7 Rom. 5. a Hebr. 9. d. Eph. 2. d. merites of thy dearely beloued sonne Iesus Christe our onely sauyour whom thou hast already giuen an oblation and offeringe for our synnes and for whose 8 Ioh. 14. b. 16. c Math. 7. b. Iam. 1. a. sake we are certainly persuaded that thou wylt denye vs nothinge that we shall aske in his name accordinge to thy wyl For thy 9 Io. 3. d. Ro. 8. b. c. g. spirite doth assure our consciences that thou arte our mercifull father and so louest vs thy childrene through hym that nothinge is able to remoue thy heauenlye grace and fauor from vs to thee therfore ò father with the sonne and the holy ghoste be all honor and glorye worlde with owt ende So be it This done the people singe a Psalme all together in a playne tune which ended the minister prayeth for thassistance of Gods holy spirite as the same shall moue his harte and so procedeth to the sermon Vsinge after the sermon this prayer followinge or suche lyke A prayer for the whole estate of Christes churche ALMIGHTIE God and moste mercifull father we 1 1. pet 5. b. humbly submit our selues and 2 Nom. 26. a. Deu. 9. c. Iosu 7. b. fall downe before thy maiestie besechinge thee frome the botome of our hartes that this 3 Mat. 13. a. b. seede of
7 By what reason callest thou Christ the onely sonne of God synce God doth name vs also hys chyldren ¶ The childe As touching that that we are Gods children we be not so borne neither doth it come of our nature but only by his fatherly adoption by grace in that that God doeth vouchesafe to accepte vs and take vs for his children now our Lord Iesus beyng begotten of one very substance with his father and beynge of the selfe same nature and godhead may euen of good ryght be called Gods onelye sonne for that there is none other that can clayme that tytle by naturall ryghte but he alone ¶ The minister This is then the meaning that thys honour pertayneth peculiarelye vnto hym alone as vnto whome it belongeth by course naturall the whiche notwithstandinge he hath by free gyft of hys goodnes communicated vnto vs makyng vs partakers thereof in that we are becomen his own membres ¶ The childe It is euen so and therfore in respect of that his communicatyng and alyaunce with vs the scripture calleth Christe in an other place the fyrste borne among many brethren ¶ The minister What is the meanyng of that that foloweth ¶ The childe It doth vs to wete after what sort the sonne of God was annoynted of hys father to becume our sauior that is to say he tooke vpon hym our flesh therin fulfilled al thinges necessarye for our redempcion according as they be here rehearsed ¶ The minister What meanest thou by these two clauses Conceyued by the holye Ghoste Borne of the virgin Mary ¶ The childe The meanyng thereof is Christ became very manne Psal 32 Mat. 1. Luke 1. that he was fashioned in the blessed virgins wombe takyng very substaunce and manhod of her own body that he myght therby become the seede of Dauid as the Prophetes hadde a longe tyme before sygnyfyed and yet notwithstandyng all thys was wroughte by the secrete and merueilous power of the holye goste with out the company of man ¶ The minister Was it then nedefull that he shoulde take vpon hym oure very fleshe ¶ The childe Roma 3. Yea verely for it was conuenient that mans transgression and his disobedience agaynste God shoulde be purged lyke wise by the nature of man And moreouer if Christe had not bene partaker of our very nature 1. Timo. 2 Hebr. 4. he had not bene a meete mediatoure to make vs at one and to ioyne vs together with God his father ¶ The minister Than thys is thy saying that it behoued that Christ shoulde become very man to the ende he myghte execute the office of a sauiour in our shape and persone ¶ The childe Christe hath perfourmed that which lacked in vs. Yea verely For we must borowe of him all that which is lacking in our selues for this our defaut cold not otherwise be recouered ¶ The minister But for what cause was thys thyng wrought by gods holy spirite and not rather by the company of man according to the ordre of nature ¶ The childe Because the seede of manne is of it selfe all to gether corrupted with synne it behooued that thys conception of Christ should be wroughte by the power of the holy goste Christe was conceiued by the spirit of God wherby our sauiour might be preserued from all corrupcyon of synne and replenysshed with all maner of holynes ¶ The minister So then by these sayinges it is euidenly declared vnto vs that he whiche should purifye and clense other from fylthe of synne muste be hymselfe free and cleare from all spottes therof and euen from his mothers wombe dedicated kept holy vnto God in purenesse of nature so that he may not be giltie of that corrupcyon where with the whole stocke of man is generally infected ¶ The childe That is the very meanyng of my woordes ¶ The minister Sonday 8 How cummeth it to passe that he is our Lorde ¶ The childe Euen by the ordinance of God himselfe Christ is our lord who also made hym our gouernor to the ende that he myght execute hys fathers kyngdom both in heauen and in earth and that he myght be heade and ruler bothe of Aungelles and of goddes faythfull people ¶ The minister Wherfore speakest thou of his deathe immediatlye after hys birth leaueste out the whole story of hys lyfe ¶ The childe For because there is nothyng mencioned or spoken of in our Cred but that whiche peculiarelye belongeth to the pyth and substance of our redemption ¶ The minister Why is it not sayde playnely in one woorde that he dyed withoute anye speakynge of Ponce Pilate by whose iugement he suffered ¶ The childe The mencion that is made of Ponce Pilate was not onelye for this consideracion to make the storye of Christes Passion to haue more euident assurance but also to declare vnto vs that his death hath taken a way our condemnacion ¶ The minister How so ¶ The childe Fyrst he suffered deathe to the ende to take a waye the payne that was due vnto vs that we might be therby clearely delyuered from the same Now for so muche as we were in faute and gyltie before gods iudgemente as wicked mysdoers Christ myndyng to take vpon him our persone and to bayle vs Christe was condemned to cleare vs. by susteyning all our miserie vouchsaued to shew hymselfe before yearthly iudges to be condemned by the sentence or iudgement of the same that therby we myght be giltlesse cleare before the iudgemente seate of oure heauenlye iudge hys father ¶ The minister Notwithstanding Mat. 27. Luke 23. Pilate doth pronounce hym innocent and so by that he doeth not condemne hym as woorthye of deathe ¶ The childe Pilate dyd bothe the one and the other Christe was cōdened for vs. first he was pronounced innocente iust by the iudges owne mouth to sygnifye that he suffered not for hys owne deserte but for our trespaces And yet withal the same iudge dyd dyd geue solemnelye the sentence of deathe agaynst hym to testifye and expresse that he is our true pledge raunsome Christ was our raunsonne as he who also hath taken vnto hym oure condemnation to make vs quite and to deliuer vs from the same ¶ The minister That is wel sayd for if he had bene a sinner in deede he had not bene meete to haue suffered death for the offences of other and neuerthelesse to the end that we myght be clearely quitte and delyuered by hys condemnacyon Esai 53. it was necessary that he should be taken and counted as a malefactoure or misdoer ¶ The childe I meane no other thynge ¶ The minister Sonday 9 Wher thou saist Christ suffred on the crosse was that kynde of deathe more auaylable and of more importaunce than if he had bene otherwyse put to deathe Christe toke vpon hymselfe the curse due vnto vs that we might be free ¶ The childe Yea verely and touching that matter Sainct Paule
wayes this resurrection of Christe doeth profite vs ¶ The childe Thre maner of ways the firste The benefyte and vertue of Christes death standeth in .iii pointes that we haue fully obtained to be ryghteous therby Secondly that his risinge frō death is asure gage and certaine assuraunce unto vs that we shall ōce ryse agayne into a lyfe without ende and moste glorious Thyrdely Rom. 4.6 1. Cor. 15. that if we be in dede truely partakers of his resurrection we ryse nowe in this present worlde in to a new kynde of lyfe addicted wholy to serue God and to leade an holye conuersation agreable to his wil and pleasure ¶ The minister Sonday 12 Let vs goe forwarde to the reste ¶ The childe He ascended vp into heauen ¶ The minister Wente Christ vp into heauen in suche sort that he was no lōger abydinge in the yearth ¶ The childe Yea Christ ascended into heauē for whan he had performed whollye all thynges that were enioyned him by the commandement of his father and had accōplished all that was necessarie for our health it was not nedefulle that he shoulde remayne any longer in the worlde ¶ The minister What profyte haue wee by hys ascension ¶ The childe The Profytte of Christes ascension stādyth in two pointes We receyue double profyte thereby for since that our sauyoure Christe is entred into heauen in our name euen inlyke maner as he came downe from thēce for oure sakes onely he hath thereby made an open entrye into the same place for vs geuynge us withal an assured knowledge that the gate of heauen is nowe wyde open to receiue vs whych was before faste shutte through our synnes The seconde profite is that he sytteth there presente alwais in the syght of God the father to make intercessyon for us Rom. 6. Hebr. 7. and to be our aduocate to make answere for vs. ¶ The minister But is oure sauioure Christ so gone out of the worlde that he is no more here with vs ¶ The childe Matt. 28. No dowteles for he hymselfe sayeth the contrarye that is that he wyl be here presente with vs vnto the worldes ende ¶ The minister Is it meant of his bodely presence that he maketh promise so to cōtynue with vs ¶ The childe No verelye Luke 24. Actes 1. for it is a nother matter to speake of hys body which was lyfte vp out of this worlde into heauen and to speake of hys godlye power whiche is spred abrode throughout the whole worlde ¶ The minister Declare the meanīg of this sentēce He sytteth on the ryghte hand of God the Father ¶ The childe The vnderstandyng of that is Matt. 28. to signifye that he hath receyued into his handes the gouernance of heauen and yearth whereby he is kynge and ruler ouer al thynges ¶ The minister What signifieth this worde ryghthande and the fyttyng on the ryghthande whereof mention is here made ¶ The childe It is a similitude or a maner of speache borowed of earthly Princes To sit on the right hande of God whiche are wonte to place on their right side suche as they substitute nexte vnder them to see to the execution of lawes and to supplye their roume and offyce in their steade ¶ The minister Then thou meanest nothing els therby Ephe. 1. but that whiche S. Paule speaketh to the Ephesians that he was constitute and appointed head of the Churche set in authoritie aboue all powers Philip. 2. and that he hath receiued a name or dignitie passynge all other ¶ The childe My meanynge is none other ¶ The minister Goe forwarde to the residue ¶ The childe Sonday 13 From thence he wil come to iudge the quycke ād the dead that is to saye he will come doune from heauē and shewe himselfe visibly once agayne in iudgement euen in that shape Actes 1. wherin he was seen to ascend ¶ The minister Seynge the iudgemente of God shal be in the ende of the worlde how maye that be whych thou saiest some shal be a lyue and other some shal be dead namely since also it is a thing most certainly oppointed vnto all men Hebr. 9. to dye once ¶ The childe S. Paule maketh answer to this questiō himselfe saying that they which at that time shal be lefte on liue 1. Cor. 15. 1. Thes 4. shal be sodainly chāged in a momēt of time to the end that their corruptible nature maye be altered and that they may receiue a newe body whiche shal be no more subiect to corruption ¶ The minister Thy meaninge is then that this alteratiō or change shal be vnto them in steade of a death in somuche as it shal do a way abolyshe their former nature and make them ryse againe in a newe more glorious state ¶ The childe It is euen so ¶ The minister Doe we receyue any comfort by this that our sauiour Christ will come once to iudge the worlde ¶ The childe Yea verely and that a synguler great comforte for we are taught certeynly that hys commyng at that tyme shal be onely for our saluation ¶ The minister Wel then there is no cause why we shoulde be afrayde of the day of iudgement or wherfore we shoulde lothe the cummyng thereof ¶ The childe No truely Christe shal both Iudge vs and aunswer for vs. forsomuch as we shall appeare before no other iudge but him who is our aduocate and hath taken vpon hym to defende our cawse ¶ The minister Sonday 14 Let vs nowe come to the third parte ¶ The childe That part cōcerneth our fayth confidence in the holy goste The third parte of the crede ¶ The minister And to what purpose doth it serue vs ¶ The childe It doth vs to vnderstād that euen as God hath first redemed vs Of the holy gost and his giftes geuen euerlasting health vnto vs in Iesu Christ euē so it pleased hym to make vs partakers of these his graces ād benefites through his holy spirite ¶ The minister How so ¶ The childe In lyke maner as the bloud of Christe is the onelye thyng that pourgeth oure soules 1. Peter 1. euē so the holy ghost must sprinkle ād moysten our cōsciences with the same to make them pure and cleane ¶ The minister Yet this needeth a more euident declaration ¶ The childe It is no more to saye but that the holye spirite of God dwellyng in our heartes doth make vs feele the vertue and goodnes of our Lord Iesus Rom. 5. for it is he that doth open the eyes of our hearte to beholde gods benefites towardes vs he doeth seale and imprint his aboundante graces in our soules and this spirite doeth also regenerate vs and make vs new creatures in such sort Ephe. 1. that by his meanes we receiue to our most cōfort al those giftes and benefites which be offered vnto vs so plentifully in Christ our sauiour ¶ The minister Sonday 15
Shall not the wycked be aswell partakers of thys resurrection as the faythfull ¶ The childe Yes verely but they shal be in condycion or state farre vnlyke for the one that is to wete the faythfull Ihon. 5. Matt. 25. shall ryse agayne to euerlastynge ioye and felycitye the other to euerlasting death and damnacion ¶ The minister Wherfore then is there not aswell mencion made of hell and death euerlastynge as of heauen and lyfe that endureth for euer ¶ The childe Bycause the Crede is a bryefe summe of oure faith conteinynge in as fewe woordes as can be that that belongeth peculyerly to comfort the consciences of Goddes faythfull therfore Gods benefytes whiche he freely bestoweth vpon hys people be rehersed alonely without any mencyon of the wycked who are cleane shute oute of hys kyngdome ¶ The minister Sonday 18 Since we haue the very foundacion grounde wher vpon our fayth is builded we maye wel gather hereof that this is the very ryghte fayth ¶ The childe what a thynge liuely faith is Yea verely that is to saye it is a sure perswasion and a stedfaste knowledge of Gods tender loue to wardes vs accordynge as he hath playnlye vttered in his ghospell that he wylbe both a father and a sauyoure vnto vs through the meanes of oure Lorde Iesu Christe ¶ The minister Is this fayth a thyng standynge in oure power eyther is it a free gyfte that God geueth at hys pleasure ¶ The childe The scrypture teacheth vs that it is a speciall gyft of the holy gost and very experience doeth also confirme the same ¶ The minister And why so ¶ The childe For the feblenes of oure wyttes is suche that we can by no meanes attayne vnto the vnderstandynge of Gods wysedome and the secretes of his spirite the which thynges be opened and made knowen vnto vs by faythe and oure heartes are naturally inclyned to a certayne distruste or at lest avaine trust either in oure selues The holy gost doth lyghten our mindes or in other creatures but what tyme Gods spirite hath lyghtened our heartes and made vs able to vnderstāde Gods wyll the whiche thyng we can not attaine other wise thā doth he arme vs also with a stedfaste cōfydence in hys goodnes sealinge as it were and impryntyng the promises of euerlastynge healthe in our heartes ¶ The minister What profyte commeth to vs through this faith whan we haue it ¶ The childe It doeth iustifie vs before God This faith maketh vs sure of our righteousnes and maketh vs enherytours of euerlastynge lyfe ¶ The minister Why thē is not a man iustyfyed through good workes if he lyue holylye and in the obedience of Goddes wyll ¶ The childe If any manne were to be founde so perfecte as to leade his life vprightly before God suche a one myghte worthelye be called a ryghteous manne but forsomuche as we euerye one maye iustlie counte our selues wretched sinners in the syght of God we are of necessytye dryuen to seeke elles where for a worthynes to make answere for vs to Gods iudgemente ¶ The minister Sonday 19 But be all our workes so disproued that they can meryte nothyng at all for vs before God ¶ The childe Fyrst al suche workes as we do of our selues by the inclination of our owne nature Al mans woorkes be damnable vntill they be regenerate through godes sprite are vtterly corrupte Wherof it foloweth necessarily that they can not please god but rather do prouoke hys wrath and he condemneth them euery one ¶ The minister Thys is then thy sayinge that vnto the tyme that God hath of his fauourable goodnes receyued vs to mercy we can doe no maner of thynge but synne Mat. 7 euen as an euell tree can brynge forth no fruite but that that is euyll ¶ The childe It is euen so for although oure woorkes make a fayre shewe outwardely to mannes syghte yet withoute doubte they are wycked in Goddes syght forsomuch as the heart is naughte and vngracious vnto the whyche God chiefly hath respecte ¶ The minister Hereby then thou doest conclude that it lyeth not in oure power to preuente God with our merytes and so to prouoke him to loue vs but muche rather contrarywyse we therby do styrre him to be more and more angry against vs. ¶ The childe Yea surelye and therfore I saye that without any maner consyderacion of oure owne workes he doth accept and receyue vs into hys fauoure of hys mere lyberall goodnes bountyful mercy Titus 3 through the merites of our sauiour Christ accountyng hys righteousnes to be ours and for hys sake so forgettynge oure fautes that he wyl lay them no more to oure charge ¶ The minister What meanest thou then that a man is iustyfied by his fayth ¶ The childe Iustification or righteousnes is attributed vnto faythe for somuche as through beleuing that is receiuynge with an assurance of the heart the promyses of the ghospell we enter into possessyon of thys ryghteousnes ¶ The minister Thys is bryfely thy meanynge that euen as God doth presente and offre thys ryghteousnes freelye vnto vs in hys gospell euen so the onely meane or way to receiue that excellente gyfte of GOD is faythe ¶ The childe Yea forsoth ¶ The minister Sonday 20 wel then after that god hath once receyued vs into hys fauour be not the workes which we doe through his grace of fayth and by the vertue or his spirite acceprable vnto him ¶ The childe The good workes whiche procede onely of faythe Yeas verely because he doth of his free goodnes so accepte them and take them and not bycause theyr worthines doth deserue so to be estemed ¶ The minister How is it that they be not worthy of themselues to be accepted since they be workes procedynge of the holy ghost ¶ The childe Forsomuch as we cary alway some infirmitie of the fleshe about vs which wyl haue a stroke and a doing in al our workes wherby they are defyled ¶ The minister By what meanes then are they made acceptable vnto God ¶ The childe By the meanes of faith The way to do good workes to goddes plesure for through fayth a man is well assured in his conscience that God wyll not looke narowly vpon hys workes nor trie them by the sharpe rygoure of hys iustyce but that he wyl rather hyde the vnperfytnes the vncleane spottes that be in them with the vndefyled purenes of our sauiour Christ and so accoumpt them as perfecte ¶ The minister May we saye then that a Christian manne is iustifyed by his workes after that God hath called hym or that he doeth meryte through them Gods fauour to the procurement of lyfe euerlastyng ¶ The childe Psal 143. No verely but contrarywyse it is sayd that no manne lyuing shal be iustified in Gods syght and therefore it is oure dutie to praie that he do not enter into iudgemente with vs or cal vs to a coumpte ¶ The minister
gatheringe of the whole lawe ¶ The childe The somme ād effect of the whole lawe Matt. 22. Yes verely the whole lawe is comprehended in these ii poyntes the one is that we loue God with all our hearte with all our mynde and with oure whole myghte The other is that we loue our neighboure as our selfe ¶ The minister What is included in the loue of God ¶ The childe It requireth of vs this duetye that we loue hym as oure God that we acknowledge and take hym for oure soueraine lorde master sauiour father so that hereby our duetye is to feare hym to honoure hym to put oure whole trust in him to obeye him and loue hym ¶ The minister What doest thou meane by these woordes with all oure hearte all oure mynde and oure whole strength ¶ The childe It is no more to say but that we must loue God with suche a zeale and feruente affection that there maye be in vs no desyre no will no thought no endeuour no maner of inclynacion contrarye vnto this loue ¶ The minister What is the meaning of the seconde point ¶ The childe We are taught therby that as we be naturally inclyned to loue our selues and as this affection is moste vehemente doth passe al the rest euen so our loue towardes our neighbours oughte in suche sorte to beare rule in our hartes that it shoulde rule and guyde vs altogether and shoulde be a lyne and rule therby to order all oure thoughtes and deedes ¶ The minister And whome meanest thou whan thou sayest oure neyghbours ¶ The childe I doe not onely sygnyfye by the word our kindred frendes and suche other as be of oure familier acquaintance but such also as be straungers vnto vs and more then that oure verye enemyes ¶ The minister In what bande or alliance are we in with them ¶ The childe There is a knot of frendshyp the which God hymselfe hath fastened which cannot be loosed by any mans malyce or wickednes ¶ The minister Then thou wylte saye yf any man beare any malycious hatred vnto vs that euyll affection cometh of himselfe and yet in the meāe time by the very ordre whych God himselfe hathe appoynted he ceasseth not to continue stil our neighboure and we are bounde euen so to take hym ¶ The childe Yea verely ¶ The minister Seing the law requireth such a perfect vpright maner of seruing God is not euery christen man bound to frame hys lyfe and conuersacyon after the same ¶ The childe Yes truely but we haue in vs so much weakenes No mā can fulfill the lawe that there is no man whiche fully doth perfourme all that the lawe requireth ¶ The minister Why doth God therefore require of vs suche an exquisite perfection as we be not hable to reache vnto ¶ The childe God requireth nothyng of vs but that whiche we are bound to do and our own consciences witnes that we are charged with already And agayn if we bend our selues and geue diligence to frame our lyues to this rule set furth in the law than albeit we be farre from being able to attayne vnto the perfection therof yet the lorde wil not lay to our charge that defaut or lacke of dooyng the same as our duetie requireth ¶ The minister Speakest thou generally of al men either elles meanest thou the faythful onely ¶ The childe I speake not of such as beleue not for no man is able to begyn to frame hymselfe to doe the leaste poyncte that the lawe requireth vntyll he be regenerate and fashyoned agayne throughe the spirite of God Moreouer if it were possiblé to fynde out anye manne who were able to perfourme some part of that Deu. 27 Gal. 3. that the law demaundeth it should not be enough to dyscharge hym before god for the lorde pronounceth openly thys sentence that whosoeuer doth not throughly accomplishe euerye poynte conteyned in the lawe is accursed ¶ The minister Sonday 33 Hereof we must needes gather that the law hath two distinct offices accordyng as there be two sortes of menne ¶ The childe Rom. 3. To what vse the lawe serueth touching the vnfeythful 2. Cor. 3. What elles for as touchynge them that beleue not it serueth to no other purpose but to reproue condemne them and to take from them al maner occasion to excuse themselues before god thys is that part of the office of the law which S. Paule speaketh of namyng it the instrumente of death and damnaciō but as touchyng the faythfull it serueth to an other vse ¶ The minister What profite doeth the lawe bring to the faythful ¶ The childe To what vse the lawe serue the as touchin the feithfull Fyrst the lawe maketh it knowen vnto them that they cannot be iustified by their woorkes so by humbling them through the knowledge of their miserable state it doth stirre them to search their health saluaciō in our sauiour Christ Secondarily wheras it requireth more then is possible for any man to do it warneth them to pray vnto God that he wil vouchsafe to geue them suffyciente strength that they may at least haue a ready willing minde to obey hys will and therby they haue also occasion to knowledge their daylye fautes and so to thynke lowely of them selues Thyrdelye it serueth them in steade of a bridle to represse theyr carnal affections and to holde them faste in the feare of God ¶ The minister We may then finally conclude as touching thys matter that albeit for the time of this transitory lyfe we neuer attaine to be able to render perfect obedience vnto the law yet it is not to be thought a vayne thyng and to no purpose that it requireth of vs suche a precyse and exquisite perfection for thereby it setteth vp a marke vnto vs to the ēd that we euery one according to the grace wherwith God hath endued vs might continually with so muche more feruente affection walke towardes it and study dayly more and more to come vnto it ¶ The childe Ye haue vttered the thing euen as I ment it ¶ The minister Haue we not a perfect rule of all rigthtuousnes set out in the law ¶ The childe Yes verelye so that God demaundeth no other thynge of vs Obedience to the law is gods onely seruice and the sacrifice that he requireth of vs. 1. Sam. 15. Ierem. 7. then to frame and ordre al our doinges by it and contrary wise God disaloweth and refuseth whatsoeuer man taketh in hand to doe besydes For obedience is the onelye sacrifice and seruice which he requireth ¶ The minister To what purpose then doth al those monicions declarations exhortations commaundementes serue whiche the Prophetes make the apostles ¶ The childe The doctrine of the prophetes Apostles be nothing els but exposicions of the selfe same law more at large the ende of which doctrine is so farre of from the leadyng of vs from the obedience due vnto God that
we seeke for thys hys woorde ¶ The childe It is conteyned in the holye scripture ¶ The minister How must we vse thys woorde to haue thys profit by it ¶ The childe We must receyue it beyng perfitly perswaded therof in oure conscience as of an vndoubted trueth sent down from heauē submittyng our selues vnto it with due obedience louing it hartely with a feruent ād vnfeyned affectiō hauing it so imprinted in our hartes that we may folowe it and conforme our liues wholy vnto it ¶ The minister Doe all these thynges lye in our power ¶ The childe No verely not one of theym all but God woorketh them in oure heartes in thys wise by hys holy spirite ¶ The minister Is it not required of our part that we take payne doe oure diligence both to heare and to reade thys doctrine whiche is set furth vnto vs ¶ The childe Yes forsoth firste it is requisite we must geue diligente labour to learne gods word that euerve man priuatly in his own house geue himselfe to the studye of this word but principally euery man is bound to haunt duely al such sermons as be made in the congregation of Christ for the better vnderstandyng of this his doctrine ¶ The minister Thinkest thou then that it is not inough that euerye manne dooe geue diligence to reade gods worde in his owne house onlesse they come also together to heare it preached openly ¶ The childe I thynke so at the least waye if God of his goodnes doe prouyde suche meanes that we may heare it ¶ The minister What is the reason ¶ The childe Ephe. 4. Because oure sauior hath set established thys ordre in hys church not to the ende that .ii. or three onely shoulde obserue it but as a generall ordre for all men he hath like wise declared that this is the onely way to build hys church to preserue the same let vs therfore euery one be content to haue recourse to this rule not become wyser then our maister ¶ The minister Pastours or ministers in the church are necessary Is it then a thing necessary to haue pastoures and ministers in the congregaciō ¶ The childe Yea very necessary at theyr mouthes men are bound to receyue the woorde of the Lorde with all humble obedience so that whosoeuer doeth set light of thē Matt. 10. Luk. 10. and regard not to heare theyr sayinges they contemne also Iesus Christe and deuyde themselues from the felowship of hys flocke ¶ The minister Is it sufficiente that we haue bene once instructed by theyr meanes either elles must we heare their doctrine continually ¶ The childe It is nothyng if a man begyn well vnlesse he continue styll in the same for we must keepe vs in Christes schole and continue stil his scholers vnto the end and for that cause he hath ordayned Ministers in the churche to teache vs continually in hys name ¶ The minister Sonday 46 Is there no other meane besides hys word by whiche God sheweth hymselfe vnto vs ¶ The childe God hath ordeined and coupled the sacramentes with the preachyng of hys woorde ¶ The minister What thing is a sacramente ¶ The childe A sacramente is an outwarde token of gods fauor Of sacramētes which by a visible signe dothe represent vnto vs spirituall thīgs to the ēd that gods promises myght take the more deepe roote in oure heartes and that we myghte so muche the more surely geue credite vnto them ¶ The minister What is this possyble that a visible and a material sygne should haue such vertue to certifye oure conscience ¶ The childe No not of it selfe but God hath ordained it forsuch an end ¶ The minister Since it is the proper office of Goddes holy spirite to seale imprinte the promises of God in our heartes how can thou attribute or geue this propertie vnto the sacramentes ¶ The childe There is a great difference betwene the one and the other for goddes spirite is he alone who in very deede is hable to touche and moue our heartes to illuminate our mindes and to assure oure consciences in suche sorte that all these ought to be accounted and reputed hys only workes so that the whole prayse and glory hereof ought to be geuē vnto hym onelye yet this notwithstandyng it hath pleased our Lorde to vse hys sacramentes as certaine meane aydes or instrumētes therof according as it seemed good vnto hym without diminisshinge in the meane tyme any poynt of the vertue and woorking of his spirite ¶ The minister Thou meaneste then that the efficacy or vertue of the sacramentes doth not consyst in the outwarde elemente or visible signe but so farre furth as it pleaseth God to moue the conscience therwithall by the working of hys spirite ¶ The childe I meane euen so according as it is gods pleasure to woorke by meanes by him ordeined without any derogacion therby to his gloryous power ¶ The minister What moued God to institute such instrumentes or meanes ¶ The childe He ordeyned them to helpe and counforte oure weake nature The sacramētes were ordained to helpe our infirmitie for if we were wholye of a spiritual nature as the angelles are then we were apt to consider both God hys manifolde graces or benefites after a spiritual maner also but forsomuch as we are clogged withe earthely bodyes it was needefull for vs that God did institute sensible sygnes to represente vnto vs spirituall and heauenly thynges for otherwyse we coulde not so wel comprehende them Moreouer it is necessarye for vs that al our senses be exercised in his holy promises that we might be the better stablyshed in the same ¶ The minister Since God hath ordeined his sacramentes for our necessitie it were a point of arrogancye and presumpcion to thinke that they myghte be as well left of as vsed ¶ The childe Ye saye trueth so that whosoeuer doth willingly forbeare the vse of them estemyng them as thynges more then nedeth The sacramentes are necessarye of no importance he dishonoreth Iesus Christ he refuseth his gracious benefites and doeth willingly quenche hys holy spirite ¶ The childe But what sure certitude of gods grace be the sacramentes hable to geue seing bothe the godlye and wicked doe receiue them ¶ The minister Albeit the infideles wicked doe make the grace which is offered presented vnto them by the sacramentes voyde and to stand them in none effect yet it foloweth not that theyr office and property is such for al that ¶ The childe How is it then and when is it that the sacramentes doe produce or bryng furth theyr operacion and effect ¶ The childe When a man receyueth them in faith whan the sacramentes take theyr effect leaning onely vnto our sauior Christ his merites seking nothing els but him in thē ¶ The minister What meanest thou by saying that we may seke nothyng els but Christ in them ¶ The childe
frome heauen of whome who so euer eateth shall lyue for euer and raigne with hym in glorie worlde without ende So be yt A Thankes geuinge after meales LEt all nations magnifie the lord Psal 117. let all people reioyce in praysinge and extollinge his great mercies For his fatherly kindnes is plentifully shewede forth vpon vs and the trewth of his promesse endureth for euer WE render 1 Col. 3. c. thākes vnto thee ò lord God for the manifold benefites which we contynually receyue at thy bountefull hande not onely for that it hath pleased thee to feede vs in this present lyfe geuinge vnto vs all thinges necessarie for the same but especially because thow haste of thy free mercies 2 Rom. 8. c. Tit. 3. b. fashioned vs a newe into an assured hope of a farr better lyfe the which thowe hast 3 2. Tim. 1. b. declared vnto vs by thy holye gospell Therfore we humbly beseche the o heauenly father that thow wylt not suffer our affections to be so 4 1. Ioh. 2. ◠entangled or rooted in these earthly and corruptible thinges but that we may alwayes haue our mindes directed to thee on 5 1. Tim. 2. b. high continually watchinge for the 6 1. Cor. 1. b comminge of our lord and sauyor Christ 7 Rom. 8. d what tyme he shall appeare for our full redemption to whom with thee and the holie ghost be all honor and glorie for euer and euer So be it Euenynge prayers O LORD God father euerlastinge and full of pitie we acknowledge and confesse that we be not 1 Luk. 15. d. 18. c worthie to lyft vp our eies to heauen muche lesse to present our selues before thy Maiestie with confidence that thow wilt heare our prayers and grawnt our requestes if we consider our owne deseruinges for our consciences do accuse vs ād our synnes witnes against vs ād we knowe that thow arte ā vpright iudge which doest not iustifie the sinners ād wicked mē but 2 Exod. 2. a. ponishes the fautes of all suche as transgresse thy commaundementes Yet moste mercifull father since it hath pleased thee to 3 Psal 50. c. commaunde vs to call on thee in all our troubles and aduersities promesinge euen then to helpe vs when we fele our selues as it were swalloued vp of death and 4 Psal 18. a desperation we vtterly renounce all worldely confidence and flee to thy soueraigne bountie as our onely stay and refuge besechinge thee not to call to 5 Psal 79. b. remembrance our manifold synnes and wickednes wherby we contynually prouoke thy wrath and indignation against vs neither our negligence and vnkindnes which haue neither worthely estemed nor in our lyues sufficiently expressed the swete comfort of thy gospell reueled vnto vs but rather to accept the obedience and death of thy sonne Iesus Christ who by offeringe vp his bodie in 6 Hebr. 9 10 sacrifice once for all hath made a sufficient recompence for all our synnes Haue mercie therfore vpon vs o lord and forgiue vs our 7 Psal 19. d offences Teache vs by thy holie spirite that we may rightlye waye theym and earnestly repent for the same And so muche the rather o lord becawse that the 8 Psal 58. a reprobate ād suche as thow hast forsakē can not prayse thee nor call vpon thy name but the 9 Psal 5. e repētinge harte the sorowfull minde the consciēce oppressed 10 Psal 107. a hungringe and thirstinge for thy grace shall euer sett forthe thy prayse and glorie And albeit we be but 11 Psal 22. a. wormes and dust yet thow arte our creator and we be the worke of thy handes yea thow arte our 12 2. Cor. 6. b. father and we thy children thow arte our shepherde ād we thy flocke thow arte our redemer and we the people whom thow haste boght thow arte our God and we thyn enheritance 13 Ier. 10. b. Psal 6. a. Correcte vs not therfore in thyne anger ò lord neither accordinge to our desertes poneshe vs but mercifully chastice vs with a fatherly affectiō that all the world may knowe that at what 14 Eze. 18. d tyme so euer a synner doth repent hym of his synne frome the bottome of his hart thow wylt put away his wickednes owt of thy remembrāce as thow haste promesed by thy holy Prophete (.) This marke directeth vs to that part of the morninge prayer that is for thincrease of the gospell which also may be sayd here as tyme erueth Finally forasmoche as it hath pleased thee to make the night for man to rest in as thow haste ordeyned hym the day to trauell graunt o deare father that we may so take our bodely rest that our soules may contynually 15 Luke 12. e. watche for the tyme that our lord Iesus Christe shall appeare for our deliuerance owte of this mortall lyfe and in the meane season that we not ouercome by any 16 Mat. 6. b. tentations fantasies dreames or illusions may fully set our mindes vpon thee loue thee feare thee and rest in thee furthermore that our sleape be not 17 Luke 21. e. excessiue or ouermoche after the insaciable desires of our fleshe but onely sufficiēt to content our weake nature that we may be better disposed to lyue in all godly conuersation to the glory of thy holy name and profett of our brethern So be it A PRAYER MADE at the first assemble of the congregation When the confessiō of our faithe and Whole orders of the church Was there red and approued O lord God almightie and father moste mercifull there is 1 3. king 8. c. none lyke thee in heauen nor in earthe which workest all thinges for the glorie of thy name and the comfort of thyne elect Thow dydst once make man ruler ouerall thy creatures and 2 Gen. 1. d. 2. b. placed hym in the garden of all pleasures but how sone alas dyd he in his felicitie 3 Gen. 3. d. forget thy goodnes Thy people Israell also in their wealth dyd euermore runne 4 Exod. 23. b. astray abusinge thy manifold mercies lyke as all fleshe contynually rageth when it hath gotten libertie and externall prosperitie But such is thy wisdome adioyned to thy mercies deare father that thow 5 Ezech. 18. g. sekest all meanes possible to brynge thy chyldrene to the sure sens and lyuely feelinge of thy fatherly fauor And therfore when prosperitie wyll not serue then sendest thow aduersitie graciously 6 Hebr. 12. a. Prouerb 7. a. correctinge all thy chyldren whome thow receyuest into thy howshold Wherfore we wretched and miserable synners render vnto thee moste humble and hartie thankes that yt hath pleased thee to call vs home to thy folde by thy fatherly correction at this present wheras in our prosperitie and libertie we dyd neglect thy graces offred vnto vs. For the which negligence ād many other greuous synnes wherof we now accuse our selues before thee thow mightest moste iustely haue gyuen vs vp to 7 Rom. 1. d reprobate mynds and induration of our hartes as thow haste done others But suche is thy goodnes ô lord that thow semest 8 Esa 47. d. to forget all our offences and haste called vs of thy good pleasure frome all Idolatries into this Citie moste christianlye refourmed to professe thy name and to suffer some 9 Matth. 5. a. crosse emongeste thy people for thy trewth ād gospells sake and so to be thy 10 Luk 24. g. Acte 1. a. wytnesses with thy prophets and Apostles yea with thy dearely beloued sonne Iesus Christ our head to whome thow dost begynne here to fashon vs lyke that in his 11 1. Ioh. 3. a. glorie we may also be lyke hym when he shall appeare O lord God what 12 Psal 8. a. are we vpon whome thowe shuldest shewe this great mercye O moste louynge lord forgyue vs our vnthankefulnes and all our synnes for Iesus Christs sake O heauenly father increase thy holie spirite in vs to teache our hartes to crye 13 Gal. 4. a. Abba deare father to assure vs of our eternall election in Christ to reuele thy wyll more and more towards vs to confirme vs so in thy trewthe that we may lyue and dye therein and that by the power of the same spirite we may boldely gyue an accompts of our faith to all men with humblenes and mekenes that 14 1. Peter 3. c. where as they backbyte and slaunder vs as euyll doers they may be ashamed and once stopp their mowthes seinge our good conuersation in Christ Iesu for whose sake we beseche the o lord God to guyde gouerne and prosper this our enterprise in assemblinge our bretherne to prayse thy holie name And not onely to be here present with vs thy chyldrene 15 Math. 18. d. according to thy promesse but also mercifullie to assist thy like persecuted people our bretherne gathered in all other places that they and we consentinge together in one 16 Rom. 15. b. spirite and truethe may all worldly respectes set a part seke thy onely honor and glorie in all our and their assembles So be it 1. Cor. 3. No man can laye any other foundation then that which is layed euen Iesus Christe INTRATE PER ARCTAMVIAM Imprinted at Geneua by Iohn Crespin Anno. D. M.D.LVI the tenthe of february
I signify therby that we may not occupye oure myndes in considering the outwarde or earthly sygnes Howe Christe oughte to be soght in hys sacramentes as though we would seke our health saluacion in thē neither may we ymagine that there is anie peculiare vertue inclosed or hidde in thē but contrariwise we do take the signe for an ayde or helpe to leade to directe our mindes straight into heauen to the intent that we maye there seeke our sauiour Christ al health and goodnes in him alone ¶ The minister If faith then be required in the ministracion of them how may it be that they are ordeined geuen vnto vs to strengthen stablishe vs in the faith and to assure vs of gods promises ¶ The childe It is not inough that faith be once begonne in vs for a tyme The sacramētes be meanes to nouryshe our faith but we must styll nourishe it mayntaine it so that it may grow daily be encreased in vs. For the nourishement strength encrease therefore of our faythe God hath geuen vs the sacramentes conteining hys merciful promises the which thing Sainct Paule declareth Rom. 4. sayng that the vse of thē is to seale or-print the promises of God in our hartes ¶ The minister But tell me is not thys a token of infidelitie whan the promyses of God be not sufficient of themselues to geue vs certayne assurance onlesse there be some visible sygne as an ayde ioyned vnto them ¶ The childe Verely as ye say it is a token of a litle slender weake fayth yet of that sort the fayth of the most part of al the childrē of God is Godes children are not fully perfecte in this lyfe notwithstandyng they ceasse not therfore to be called faythfull albeit they haue not as yet attayned vnto the perfection thereof For so longe as we lyue in thys worlde there abydeth cōtinually certayn remnauntes of vnbeliefe in oure fleshe therfore we must endeuour by al meanes continually to profit encrease in fayth ¶ The minister Sonday 48 Howe many sacramentes be there in the churche of Christe ¶ The childe How many sacramentes ther be Ther be but .ii. which be commune vnto all menne and whyche Christ hymselfe ordayned for hys whole faythfull flocke ¶ The minister What be they ¶ The childe The sacrament of Baptisme and the holy Supper ¶ The minister In what poyntes doe they agree and wherin dyffer they the one frō the other ¶ The childe Baptysme is as it were an entree into the felowshippe or congregation of God Of baptisme for it witnesseth certaynly vnto vs that wheras we were before straungers from God he doth now receiue vs into his family and houshoulde The Supper of the Lorde is a sure witnesse or testymonye vnto vs that God wyll nouryshe and refreshe vs with foode euen as a good master of a house studieth with paynefull dilygence to sustayne feede suche as be of hys houshoulde ¶ The minister To the ende that we maye vnderstande them both somuch the better The signification of baptisme let vs consider them a parte one after another fyrste what is the ryghte sygnificacyon of Baptisme ¶ The childe The significacion thereof standeth in .ii. poyntes fyrst our lord representeth vnto vs herin the remissyon of our synnes secondarely Ephe. 5 Rom. 6. oure regeneration or newe byrth in spirite ¶ The minister Sonday 49 What similitude or agreablenes is there betwene water and those thynges whereby it maye be thoughte meete to represente them ¶ The childe Fyrste the remission of synnes is a maner of washing The mistery of the water in Baptisme wherby oure soules are clensed from theyr fylthynes euen as the vnclenly fylthe of our body is washed a waye with water ¶ The minister What saiest thou concerning the other poynt of regeneration ¶ The childe Because the beginning of our regeneration standeth in the mortyfycation of our nature that is to say in the killyng of our affections and the ful accomplishynge of the same consisteth in that that we become newe creatures as touchinge our cōuersaciō through the spirite of God therfore the water is powred vpon the head to sygnifye that we are dead or buryed Wherfore the water is powred on the head that in suche sorte that our risyng againe into a new life is therwithall fygured in that that the powring of the water is but a thing of a very shorte continuance and not ordeined that we shoulde be drouned herby ¶ The minister Thou meanest not that the water is the thyng wher with oure soules be washed The water doth not clense vs but the blood of Christ onely 1. Ihon. 1.2 Peter 1. ¶ The childe No for that belongeth to the bloude of oure sauioure Christ alone which was shed to the ēde that al oure fylthe vnclēnes myght be cleane wipt away that we myghte be counted pure and withoute spotte euen before God the whiche thinge then taketh effecte in vs what tyme oure consciences be sprinkled therwith by Goddes holy spirite but the sacramente doth testifye and declare it vnto vs. ¶ The minister Why then meanest thou that the water standeth in no othet stead vnto vs but as a figure ¶ The childe It is suche a figure as hath the veritie substāce of that thing which it signifieth The water is not a bare sygne The promyse is ioyned to it ioyned vnto it for God is a true keper of hys promise deceaueth no man wherfore it is certaine that remission of synnes and newnes of lyfe is offered vnto vs in baptysme that we receiue the same there ¶ The minister Is this grace receyued indifferently of all men ¶ The childe No for dyuers through theyr peruerse minde and vnbeliefe do refuse this free offer wherby it standeth thē in no steade neuertheles the sacrament loseth not hys propertye for it offereth thys gyfte vnto them also albeit that none feele the comfort therof but onely the faithfull ¶ The minister What thynge is that wherby our regeneracion is wrought in vs ¶ The childe wherby we are renued in spirite By the death and resurrection of oure sauioure Christe for hys death standeth in this steade vnto vs that by it our olde Adam is crucified and our synnefull nature is as it were buried so that the affections and desires therof beare no more rule in vs. As touchynge the other part which is the newnes of lyfe to vse a newe conuersacion in obeying Goddes wyll and folowyng hys ryghteousnes that we obtayne by hys resurrection ¶ The minister Howe is it that we obtayne thys grace in baptysme ¶ The childe It is geuen vnto vs in that that Christ doth there garnish and decke our soules with the garmente of hys holy spirite if so be that we make not our selues vnworthy of hys promyses whiche be there geuen vnto vs. ¶ The minister As touchyng our
parte what is the ryghte vsynge or receauyng of baptysme ¶ The childe The ryght vse therof standeth in these two faith and repentaūce that is wherein the right vsing of baptisme standeth in that we be sure that we haue oure consciences cleansed in the bloude of Christe And in that we both feele in oure selues and make it knowen to others by oure woorkes that hys spirite abydeth in vs to mortyfye oure affections and desyres and so to make vs ready to doe the wyll of God ¶ The minister Sonday 50 Seyng al thys is required in the ryght vsynge of baptisme how is it that lytle children be baptysed ¶ The childe I dyd not meane that fayth repentaunce oughte alwayes to goe before the ministracion of this sacrament The baptisme of infantes for that is only requisite in them that be of age and discretion so that it is sufficienre if the lytle children shew forth the fruites of baptysme when they are come to sufficient age to knowe it ¶ The minister How wylt thou proue that there is no inconuenience in thys doyng ¶ The childe For in lyke maner circumcisyon was a sacrament of repentaunce Deu. 10. and. 30. Iere. 4. Rom. 4. as Moses the Prophetes doe wyttnes ād also a sacramente of fayth as sainct Paul teacheth and yet God dyd not debarre and exclude lytle chyldren from the receyuyng of the same ¶ The minister No but arte thou able to proue sufficiently that there is as good reason they should be receiued to baptisme as that the other should be circumcised ¶ The childe The promises whiche wer made to the Iewes only are nowe offered to al men Yea for the reason is largely as sufficienente for the same promyses whiche God dyd make in tyme past to hys chosen people of Israell are now extended with muche more euydente declaration into all coastes of the worlde ¶ The minister And foloweth it therefor that we muste vse also the signe ¶ The childe Yea if we wyll consyder the thynge effectually For Christ hath not made vs partakers of that grace which belonged in time paste to the children of Israel to the intente he woulde in vs dimynishe dimynishe it and deale it more sparyngly or that he woulde make it nowe more doubteful or lesse knowen than it was before but rather to the ende he would shew forth his goodnes not onely more euidentely but also more plenteouslye ¶ The minister Doest thou coumpt then that if we dyd denye baptysme to lytle chyldren the grace and goodnes of God should be dymynished and darkened by the commynge of Christ ¶ The childe Yea surely for we shoulde be by that meanes destytute of the expresse signe of Goddes bountyfull mercye towardes our children the which thing they that were vnder the lawe had in very dede this thing serueth highly to our comfort as to the stably shynge of the promes which hath bene made vnto vs from the begynning ¶ The minister Thy minde is then that forsomuche as it pleased GOD in olde tyme to declare hymselfe to be the sauyoure yea of lytle children and that he thoughte it also good to seale hys fauorable promise in theyr bodyes by an outwarde sacramente and marke that therfore it is very good reason that ther be no lesse tokens of assuraunce after Christes comming since the self same promyse cōtinuynge styll is reiterate and more openly vttered as wel by worde as dede ¶ The childe Yea and moreouer it semeth a thyng worthy of notable reprehencyon if menne woulde doe so muche wronge vnto chyldren as to denye them the signe whiche is a thynge of lesse price since the vertue and substance of baptysme belongeth vnto them whiche is of muche hygher estimacion ¶ The minister For what consideration ought we to baptise lytle children ¶ The childe To what purpose children are baptised They are christened in token and wytnes that they are enherytours of the blessynge of God which is promised to the lynage of the faythfull to this ende that when they come to age they shoulde be instructed what the substaunce and meaning of baptisme is to profite them selues therby ¶ The minister Sonday The 51. Let vs now speake of the Supper and firste what is the signyfycacion therof ¶ The childe Our lord did ordaine it to put vs in assuraunce Of the lordes Supper that by the distribuciō of his body bloud oure soules are nouryshed in the hope of lyfe euerlastynge ¶ The minister Why is it that our Lorde representeth vnto vs hys bodye by the breade and hys bloude by the wyne ¶ The childe To sygnyfye vnto vs that euen what propertie the bread hath towardes our bodies to wete Christ offereth to vs his body by the bread and hys bloude by the wyne to feede sustayne them in this transytorye lyfe the selfe same propertye also his body hath touchīg our soules that is to nourishe and refresh them spirytually And in lyke maner as the wine dothe strengthen comfort and quicken the body of man euen so hys bloude is our ful ioye our comforth and spiritual strength ¶ The minister Doeste thou meane that we must be in dede partakers of the bodye and bloude of the Lorde ¶ The childe Yea verely I meane so The onely stay of our truste for since the whole truste and assuraunce of our health and saluacion doth consist in the obedience which he hath perfourmed vnto god hys father in that that God doth accept it take it as if it were oures in deede we must fyrste needes possesse him seeing that hys benefites doe not belong vnto vs vntill he haue firste geuen hymselfe vnto vs. ¶ The minister Why did not Christ geue himselfe vnto vs what tyme he gaue himselfe to be crucified to the intēt that thereby we myght be brought into the fauour of God hys father and be deliuered from damnacion ¶ The childe Yes but that doth not suffyce vnlesse we doe receiue hym withal in such sorte as we may feele in our consciences the fruicte and efficacye of his death and passion ¶ The minister After what sorte we receiue Christe Is not faith the ready meanes to receyue Christ by ¶ The childe Yes forsoth not onely by that that we belieue that he dyed rose again to delyuer vs from euerlasting death and to procure vs also euerlastyng lyfe but also by that that we feele by fayth that he dwelleth in vs and is ioyned with his membres to the end to make vs partakets of al his graces and benefites because we are vnto hym vnited and made all one ¶ The minister Sonday 52 Haue we not Christe ioyned vnto vs so that we become partakers of hys benefytes by no other meanes than by hys Supper ¶ The childe Yes verelye for we receyue Christ with the fruicion of his benefites 1. Cor. 1. at the preaching of the gospel as S. Paule witnesseth in that that our lord Iesu doeth promise