preserued him For Dauid did it that was ryght in the syght of the Lord and al the dayes of lyfe hys dydde not he shrenke from any thyng that he coÌ„maunded him excepte in the matter of Urias the Hâ—â—hite Thus readeste thou also of Ezechias iii. Regum xviii In the iiii boke of the kynges the .xxv. chapter sayeth he Prophete Afore Josias was there no Kynge that was lyke hym whych turned hym selfe so vnto the Lord wyth all hys hart wyth all hys soule and wyth all hys power accordynge to all the lawe of Moses And afterwarde came there none lyke hym But in the seconde boke of the Cronycles the xxâ—iiii Chapter stondeth the declaracion of the foresayde place after thys maner Josyas reygned at Hierusalem xxxi yeare and dyd that whych pleased the Lord and walked in the wayes of hys Father Dauyd and declined nether to the ryght hande nor to the lyfte For in the eyghte yeare of hys reygne whyle he was yet but yonge euen syxtene yeare olde he begane to seke the god of hys father Dauid Thus muche be spoken concernynge this that Israel and all the vertuous kinges of Juda trusted vnto Chrste and not to the lawe of Moses Who so desyreth the nomber of the yeares he fyndeth .iii. Regum vi euen 480 yeares from the departynge out of Egipte vntyl the fourthe yeare of the reygne of Salomon And from that tyme vntyl the captiuite of Babilon are rekened 419. yeares or there aboutes Altogether make 899 yeares ☞ All holy Prophetes do poynte vnto Christ and preache saluacion onely in hym SOmwhat yet wyll we nowe declare farther coâ—ernynge the tymes of the kynges of Juda and Israell whych in a maner were euen as the tymes of the Judges of Israell For lyke as in the fyrst yeares of Josue god gaue great victory and honoure and afterwarde â—est and peace Euen so were the Israelytes very victorious and tryumphant vnder Dauid had great reste and peace vnder Salomon But lyke as after the death of Josue the honour of Israel decreaced and the departynge away from God folowed wyth one persecutioÌ„ vpoÌ„ another though in the meane tyme they had peace and delyuerers as Othoniel Ehud Barack GedeoÌ„ Jephthae Sampson c. EueÌ„ so dyd the worshyppe of Israell decreace after Salomons tyme. For the ten â—rybâ—s of Israel fell awaye from the house of Dauid only Juda and Ben Jamin helde Salomons sonne Roboam for theyr kynge the other made Hieroboam kynge And so of one kyngdom were made two the kingdome of Israel and the kingdom of Juda The kyngdome of Israell thorow the persuasioÌ„ of Hieroboam chose them another maner of seruynge God Not that they vtterlye denye and refused the God of theyr fathers but they serued him after a straung heythenish maner of theyr owne ymagenyng But afterward they fell the longer the more and farther in to grosse ydolatrye so longe tyll the Lorde suffered them to be roted out and caryâ—d away by the kynge of the Assprians and scatred abrode among all the Heythen The kyngdome and the kynges of Juda were somwhat better howbeit they had some also whych excelled the kynges of Israell and of the Heythen in vngodlynesse For they lykewyse went forth so longe in vnryghteousnesse tyll Nabugodonosor the kyng roted them oute and caryed them awaye vnto Babilon But afore we se that there was a wonderfull combraunce in the eyuyll police and in the religion Sometyme was all ryghteousnesse and true relygion opprest and violence and ydolatrye vsed Somtyme gat ryghteousnes vp againe the ryght true fayth had y â— victory all vnryght and ydolatrye beynge put downe Thys came to pas also in Israell vnder Helyas and kyng Jehu Yet was the ydolatrie and wronge rather punysshed â–ª then any amendement folowynge Lyke as it came also to pas after the byrth of Christ that there were vertuous kynges Emperours whych accordyng to the prophe â—ye of Esaye in the .xlix. Chapter dyd all ryghte ousnesse set vp the fayth of Christ and put downe all yd latrye Agayne there came other that sâ—t vp all vnryghteousnesse ydolatrye persecuted the trueth and at the laste receyued theyr reward coÌ„ueniÌ„et So wayghtie a matter is it to haue good or euell rulers But in these wonderfull alterations and thorowe out all the tyme of these gouernaunces of both the kyngdomes God alway sente hys seruauntes the holy prophetes â—o rebuke wronge and ydolatrye and to teache all ryghteousnesse and true seruyng of God And fyrst after the tyme of Dauid and Salomon vnder whome ther was a great multitude of lerned and holy prophetes For Dauid also and Salomon were excellently endewed wyth the sprete of wysdome and propheâ—ie aboue other meÌ„ these were the chefe mooste famous and oldest prophetes of whom the byble maketh mencion wyth worshyppe Semeias whyche lyued vnder Roboam kyng of Juda Ahâ—as the Siâ—onyte vndâ—r Hieroboam â—zariâ—s the sonne of Obed whyche lyued vnder Asa kyng of Juda Jehu the sonne of Anany whom Baasa the kyng of Israel slâ—w Helias the great prophet and Miche as the son of Jâ—mla lyued vnder Achab and Josaphat Now lyke as in the tyme of â—auâ— there was a great nombre of lerned men â—uen so testifieth the seconde boke of the Cronicles in the .xvii. chapter that in the tyme of Josaphat there were many lerned Leuites and Prophetes Helisâ—us was in the tyme of kyng Jâ—hu and zacharias the sonne of Joâ—ada was vnder Joas vnder whome also he was stoned Neuerthâ—â—s we haue no bokes wrytten anâ— set forthe by these Onely we haue the prophecie of Abdiaâ— whyche wrote his prophecie vnder Achab. Afterward vnder Usia JothaÌ„ Achas and Ezecâ—ias kynges of Juda lyued the moost parte of theÌ„ whose bokes are abrode For vnder these preached and wrote â—onas Oseas Isaias Johel NahuÌ„ Amos Micheas Afterward vnder kynge Manasses wrote Abacuk Under the holy kyng Josias wrote Sophonias Baâ—uch and Hieremye in whose dayes Israell had suche mystortune that Hyerusalem wyth the temple was destroyed and the pâ—ople that remained ouer and peryshed not were caried awaye captyue in to Babylon In the same Captyuiâ—e dyd Ezechâ—el and Daniell wryte theyr prophecies And after the captiuite whan Israel was delyuered agayne and came home to Hyerusalem then preached and wrote Esdras Haggeus zacharias Malachias and Nehemias Besyde these Prophrtes no doute there were other moo of whom no mencyon is made But these are the thefe by woome it pleased God to open vnto vs all that apperteyneth to our saluâ—â—ion And though we had also the wrytynges of the othâ—r â–ª yet shoulde â—e râ—ade no other thynge in them then we fynde in oure owne Prophetes for asmuche as these whome we haue agree so together all in one Now whether they be our own prophetes â–ª whose writiÌ„ges we haue or the other whose wrytinges we haue not Yet haue they all preached the suÌ„me of the doctrine and knowlege the â—ayth that we spake of afore wrote in
the worlde begynnynge of all nacions and of the Patriarkes and olde ryghteous seruauÌ„tes of god of theyr faith and conuersacion of the promises workes â—e god The same wrote he as he was inspired of the holy goost and as he had receaued of olde fathers and somwhat as he founde in the bokes of the Egipcians For Moses was excellently well lerned in all wysdome of the Egipcians as Steuen doth wytnesse of hym Act. vii The other thre bokes wrote he of hys owne tyme accordynge as he hym selfe was present sawe and knewe And specially the seconde koke concernynge the departynge out of Egipt how the people of god were oppressed in Egipte howe the Egypcians were punyshed how Israell was delyuered receaued the lawe and set vp a tabernacle wyth a gorgious seruynge of God In the thyrde boke whych is called Leuiticus are wrytten the spirituall lawes namely suche as concerneth the preestes and the presthode theyr office lyuynge knowlege sacrifices solempne feaste dayes rytes ceremonies and suche lyke In the fourth whyche is called Numeri he wryteth at length how they went thorow the wyldernesse and came to Jordane wyth a rehearsal of theyr ordre and nombre of theyr murmurynge also and punyshment and of certayne victories wyth a remembraunce of certayne lawes and statutes Besyde all thys he made yet an Enchiridion and summe of all the Actes of hys tyme and of the lawe of God whyche is called Deuteronomium the same coÌ„maunded he to be layd in the Arke at the moc oÌ„ of God and that it shulde be red vnto all the people as it is mencioned Deut. xxxi And in these fyue bokes geuen vs of God by Moses is the whole grounde of oure holy faythe For all the Prophetes afterwarde grounded them selues vpon the same and wrote therout lyke as afterwarde our Lorde Jesus and the Apostles poynte vnto Moses Nether dyd euer any ryghte wyse man of vnderstandyng and that feared God doute any thynge or blaspheme suche scriptures And from suche true seruauntes of God haue we hytherto receaued our matters in wrytinge Thus much haue I sayd concernynge the lawe howe it is no newe thynge but euen the onely wyll of god but now compre hended in wryrtynge Moreouer that all the law poynteth vnto Christ and that all men of ryght vnderstandynge whyche lyued vnder the law were Christen For manifest is it that Paull sayde Roma x. Christ is the ende of the lawe to iustifie euery one that beleueth And Galathia iii. Or euer faith that is to saye Christ came we were kepte and shut vp vnder the law vnto the fayth whyche shulde afterwarde be declared Thus was the law our scolemaster vnto Christ that we might be made ryghteous by faith All thys I suppose wyll be new and starunge in many hertes neuertheles I truste that all they whyche haue vnderstandyng do se and knowlege that thys is the true olde ryght and godly Dyuinite and Theologye whyche ascrybeth all honoure vnto god the father thorow oure Lorde Jesu Christe in the holye goost To whome be glory and prayse for euer Amen ¶ All vertuous kynges and the people of Israell trusted vnto Christ and not to the lawe AFter that the law was geuen and the gods seruice set vp Moses the seruaunt of God dyed beynge an hundreth and twentye yeare olde and at the commaundement and commission of God he lefte gods people to be ruled and gyded by the faythfull valâ—auntâ— Josue whyche also was a figure of oure Lorde Jesu For lyke as it was not Moses but Josue that brought the people in to the lande of promes Euen so are we brought in to the eternall reste not by the workes of the lawe nor thorow our own deseruing but by the grace thorow Jesus Christ lyke as it is also wyth many wordes expressed of holy Paul Heb iiii This Josue no doute dyd kepe maynteine and defende gods fayth and religion with the sprete and vnderstandynge thereof and taught other to keye the same â–ª lyke as he thoroâ—e gods inspiration receaued it of the fathers by Moses Whyche thynge thoughe it be euydent in many poyntes yet is it manyfeste specially by thys that he wolde not suffre the chyldren of Rubâ—n and Gâ—d and the halfe tribe of Manâ—sse to set vp and haue another auture beside the onely autare that the lord had appointed them For here in as it is mencioned afore was figured the vertue and perfectnesse of the onely crosse death and sacrificyng of Jesu Christe Therefore wolde not Josue that any thynge shulde be set check mate wyth the cross and oblacion of Jesu Christ but that all honour of cleÌ„synge and forgeuenesse of synnes shulde be ascribed onely vnto hym Where as Josue now and other iudges rulers princes and kynges of Israell after hym vsed sore great warre stroke many horrible battayles destroyed muche lande and people and shed mens bloude without measure he dyd it as a chefe head and as an instrument and vessell of God at the commaundemente of God whyche wolde so punyshe the ydolatrye the great synne blasphemy of the vngodly whych he had longe suffred and exhorted them to amendement but for all hys pacient abydynge they woulde not conuerte Those now dyd he rote out thorowe the swerde of hys beloued frâ—ndes somtyme delyuered he hys people wyth the swerde of the ryghteous and saued them from the haÌ„de of theyr enemyes For because of the synnes of hys people he gaue them ouer somtyme in to the hande of theyr enemies to nurtoure and correcte them wyth the rod then fell the people of God â—â—ede before theyr enemies and were subdued and opprest of the vngodly tyll they knowledged their synnes called vpon god and amended puttynge their truste in good onely thorowe the blessed sede worshyppynge hym onely callynge vpon hym and honourynge hym accordynge to hys worde castynge a waye straunge god seruyce and ydols that shamefull blasphemous and vn godly lyuynge Then sente he them hys helpe and delyuered them in hys power by the ministration of hys appoynted captaynes And soche warrynge delyuerynge and punyshinge was no fleshly vnfaithfull worke whome no man oughte to folowe as some beynge wrapped with the vnstedfast sprete of the Manichees and Ana baptistes do meane For Paul expresseth clearly And what shall I saye of Gedeon Barach Samson and Jephthae Dauid and Samuel and the Prophetes whiche thorow faith subdued kyngdomes wrought righteousnesse opteyned the promyses stopped the mouthes of Lyons quenched the violence of fyre escaped the edge of the swerde of weake were made stronge became valeaunt in batayll turned to flyght the armyes of the aleauntes Hebre. xi All which workes the holy Apostle prayseth and commendeth as excellent workes of faith Therfore are they no workes of the flesh nâ—ther is it now contrary to the holy faith yf Christen rulers delyuer their innocent people whome God hath subdued vnto them from wrongfull violence and defende their libertye
describeth he also in the foresayde verse the pure and holy Conception and byrth of our Lord Jesu Chryst And thys doth he wyth a goodly similitude sayeth Thy byrth shalbe holy and very excellent not vncleane as the byrthe of other men For lyke as the dew out of the cleare heauen out of the fayre mornynge is borne as it wereout of a mothers wombe EueÌ„ so also shalt thou be borne holy and cleane of an vndefyled virgin Wherof thou findest more instruction Luke i. The Lorde hath swome and it shall not repeÌ„t him thou art prest for euer after the ordre of Melchisedech In thys fourth verse descrâ—beth he the office of Jesu Christ how that he is ordeyned of God to be one onely preist for euer whych shuld offer vp hym selfe for the synne of the world and alway appeare in the syght of God the father and to praye for vs. All thys doth holy Paull declare at large to the Hebreues in the .v. vii viii ix and. x chap. And specially in thys verse is grounded all that is red thorowe out the scripture of the merites of Christ of the forgeuyng of sinnes of righteous making of beynge mediatoure and that he alone is the onely saluation aduocate satisfaction and ryghteousnesse of the faythfull The Lorde is at thy ryght hand he in the tyme of hys wrath shall wounde euen kynges Thys fyfth verse teacheth howe God wyll ener more and more stand on hys soÌ„nes syde further hys cause and brynge downe and destroye those kynges princes and Lordes that wyl not amende and beleue in Christ but wyll rather prouoke his wrathe then â—elyre hys grace Whyche thynge Herodes Nero Domicianus Maximinus and Julianus haue proued Yet foloweth the syxte verse declarynge the fyfth He shall iudge amonge the Heythen and fyll all full of deed bodyes and smyte the heade on the wyde grounde Christ is also preached vnto the HeitheÌ„ and reigneth among theÌ„ but many wythstande Chryste and them dothe he iudge And lyke as a kynge ouercommeth hys enemyes wyth a battayle and couereth the whole playne wyth deed bodyes visiteth also and smyteth the head of the warre the head cycie of the enemies EueÌ„ so doth Christ to his enemies and destroieth their power and kyngdome All whych thynges we haue sene in the olde vnchristeÌ„ empyre of Rome and in many other potentates and powers But specially he breaketh the head of the olde serpent accordyng to the promes Gene. iii. And at the laste shall he come to iudge the quycke and deed and destroye hys enemyes for euer Out of the broke in the way shall he drynke therfore shall he also lyfte vp the heade Fynally and in the seuenth verse he describeth the passion of Christ and his glory In the waye sayeth he that is in hys lyfe whyle he is in thys miserie He shall drynke oute of the broke that is he shall suffer be ouercome For to drynke out of the cuppe is asmuche as to suffer But to drynke oute of the broke is to be altogether full of trouble to be vexed and â—ormeÌ„ted wythoute victory and vtterly to be ouerwhelmed wyth a broke strong streame of troubles Thus was it hys mynde to declare the passion of Christ After the passioÌ„ foloweth the glory wyth the resurrection and ascensioÌ„ Paul Philip. ii speaketh of both and sayeth Chryste humbled hymselfe and became obedieÌ„t vnto death euen the deathe of the Crosse Wherfore God hath exalted hym and geuen hym a name whyche is aboue all names c. Thus muche be spoben of thys Psalme and of Dauids vnderstandyng â—hych he had of Christ Jesu and of the christeÌ„ faith Upon thys I maruayll yf after so euidente testimonies there be yet any man whych perceaueth not that Dauids faith and vnderstandyng of Christe was euen one fayth and vnderstandynge wyth the fayth that we knowlege and say I beleue in one God father alymightye c As it is in the xii articles of the Chrysten faythe For the holy trinite in one godheade doth he knowlege not onely here but also in the .xxxiii. Psalme sayenge Thorowe the worde of God were the heaueÌ„s made and all theyr power thorow the sprete of hys mouth For certayne it is that there is but one onely God maker of heauen and of erth but here is the trinite called Lord or God worde and sprete Nether is there any thynge in the Articles of the beleue concernynge the Godhead and manhode of Christ of hys concepcion byrth passioÌ„ crosse and death of the resurrection asceÌ„sion and iudgement but ti is clearly comprehended here in thys Psalme The articles of the holy churche of forgeuynge of sinnes the resurrectioÌ„ of the fleshe and an euerlastynge lyfe are conteyned in thys Psalme and are treated vpon yet more clearly and wyth many moo wordes very substantially in other Psalmes of Dauid Therfore had he our holy fayth knowleged the same was saued therein and of all holy meÌ„ was called the father of christ wyth hye commendation bycause of the promes that was made vnto hym Moreouer all the holy Prophetes folowynge had respecte vnto Dauid as to another Moses and toke many thinges out of his wryttynges For there is scace any other that so clearly wrote of the cause of christ as thys prophet Dauid and therfore hath he honoure and prayse aboue other in Israel Of whome thou readest also â–ª Eccle. xlvii Such fayth and confidence in God thorow Jesus Christ had Dauid oute of the holy goost and out of the doctrine of hys Prophetes Samuel Nathan Gad and of other hys preistes whych also had the same of God and of the holy fathers specially of Moses And no doute he desired the honoure of God and of hys soÌ„ne not to kepe it onelye hym selfe but also muche rather to requyre it of all hys people Wherfore no doute he set vp and furthured thys hys fayth and religion amoÌ„g all hys men of warre kynstolke in al hys courte Edominion before the whole congregation and in all hys kyngdome soâ— diligently ernestly and feruently that afterwarde certayne hundreth yeares they whych beleued ryghte lyued well were praysed for walkyug in the wayes of Dauid theyr father They also that dyd euell and set not forth the true fayth of them is it wryten They walked not in the wayes of Dauid theyr father Of thys hast thou many ensamples in the bokes of the kynges and in the Cronicles Many thynges also were forgeuen the kynges and all the people of Juda for Dauids sake that is for the promes sake mode vnto Dauyd euen for Jesus Christes sake whom Ezechiel calleth Dauid In the. iii boke of the kynges the xv chapter it is wrytteÌ„ thus The hert of Abia was not ryght toward hys Lord God as was the hart of Dauid hys father And for Dauyds sake dyd the Lorde geue hym a lyghte at Hierusalem so that at HierusaleÌ„ he set vp hys sonne and
righteousnesse house and lande or punyshe the shamefull blasphemers ydolaters and persecuters of the holy fayth and not suffre them to haue all their malycious wyll Neuertheles thys must be done by them to whome god hath committed the swerde For thus sayeth the Lorde Who so taketh the swerde shall perishe thorow the swerde Matthe .xxvi. But specially in the battayls of gods people and of the vnfaytfull it commeth to pas and is expresly set before our eyes that god sayde to the serpent at the begynnyng Genesi iii. I wyll put enemyte betwene thy sede and the womans sede For the righteous are the sede of Christe the vnrighteous and vnfaytfull are the sede of the deuell Betwene these now se we greate discorde but specially thys that the faythfull do alwaye treade the serpente on the headde though they them selues also be bytten in the hele For the right faythfull beleuers afore the birth of christe in the tyme of the promes had no lesse trouble and persecution not onely because of synne but also for righteousnes and faythes sake then the faythfull after Chrystes byrth in the tyme of grace and perfectnes Therfore haue they small knowlege of the doinges of the faythful which saye that the people of olde were a victoryous people and gouerued corporally but that the people after Christes comminge are borne to suffre and to no victory or gouernaunce Neuertheles in these wonderfull tymes in the whiche gods people hadde now victory and anone were subdued and oppressed the true fayth continued vpright and vnblemished from Josue forth thorowe out all the iudges vntyll the tyme and raigne of Dauid Dauid also was a man that suffred moch thorow dyuerse and long trouble thorow miserable distresse and vexacion and thorow sore persecution without ceâ—ssynge beynge proued tryed and prouoked afore he was kynge Wherof the bokes of Samuel and the more parte of the Psalmes beareth recorde But after that he was promoted vnto the kyngdome by God whiche sayde I haue founde a man after myne owne hert he auaunced set forth and magnified the true fayth righte delygently Here also to the honoure of oure Lorde Jesu Christe wyll I shortly and by the waye declare what knowlege and faith thys noble kynge and prophete had of our Lord Jesu Thys wyll I do with the declaracion of the .c. xi Psalme whose wordes are these The Lorde sayde vnto my Lorde Syt thou at my ryght hande tyll I make thyn enemyes thy foote stole In the fyrste verse Dauid knowlegeth the personnes in the holy Trinite the godheade also and the eternall kyngdome of Christe Thus lykewyse dyd our Lorde Jesus Christ vnderstonde and alledge thys verse in the Gospell Mathe .xxii. knowledgynge two of the personnes in the one onely godhead For he sayeth The Lorde sayde vnto my Lorde Now is it certayne and vndenyable that he which speaketh he to whomought is spoken are not one but two personnes Yet is ther but one Lorde and god and they both the father that speaketh and the sonne to whome is spoken are the Lord therfore are they one of one substaunce and beynge they very true god Nether is the sonne lesse then the father There can also none be a father except he haue a sonne or a chylde Now is the euer lastyng father God therfore is the sonne also euerlastynge There is also but one onely euerlastinge without begynnynge Both the father and the sonne are eternal without begynnynge therfore are they one onely true God with the holy gooste Lyke as Johan also sayeth In the begynnynge that is to saye from euerlastinge was the worde and the worde was with God and the worde was god And immediatly therafter sayeth he that the worde is Jesus Christe our Lorde For it foloweth The worde became fleshe Therfore doth Dauid also call the sonne of god specially hys Lorde sayenge The Lorde sayde vnto my Lorde And therfore calleth he Christe hys Lorde because he confesseth and beleueth that he is hys very naturall Lorde and god as Thomas also dyd knowlege My lord and my god Joh. xx Afterwarde calleth he hym hys Lorde because that after the nature of man he shulde be borne out of hys loynes For thorow out all the scripture is our Lorde Jesus called the soÌ„ne of Dauid And thus bothe Dauid knowlege two natures in Christ the nature of God and the nature of man That the kyngdome of Christ shall last for euer and that the kynde and nature of man shalbe exalted aboue all heauens aâ— Paul saieth hâ—b ii Dauid testifieth witâ— these wordes Syt thou at my ryghte haÌ„de tyl I make thyne enemies thy foâ—e stole For Marke sayeth in the .xvi. Chapter The Lorde was taken vp in to heaueÌ„ anâ— sytteth at the ryght hand of God â–ª Of thiâ— also fynde we i. Cor. xv Now he must â—â— des be very God in dede whyche reyâ—nethe for euer and to whome all enemâ—es muste be subdued yâ—a cast vtterly vnder hys fete Nowe foloweth the secondâ— verse The Lorde shall sende thy myghtye staf out of Syon thou shalâ— be Lord eueâ— in the myddes amonge thyne enemyes Here speketh he of the preaching of the holy Gospell and how the worlde shulde be conuerted vnto Christe and Chryste to reygne in the myddes of the worlde In the fyrste verse is spoken of the eternall kyngdome that he is very God lyuynge and reignynge for euer not onely in thys tyme but also after thys tyme eternally Bu here speaketh he specially of the kyngdome where as he reygneth here benethe thorow the Gospell For the staf the scepter the rodde of Chryste is the holy Gospell euen the power of god whych saueth all that beleue Roma i. Whyche maketh Christes enemies frendes and smyteth them downe that wyll not coÌ„uerte so that Chryste hath dominion and victory euen in the myddes amonge hys enemies It is he that wyth the spirite of hys mouthe slayeth the Antichristes Thys hys worde also and preachynges of the Gospell came forth fyrst from Syon or Hierusalem as Esaye Micheas Luke doth testifye Now foloweth the thyrd verse In the day of thy battayll or armye shall thy pâ—ople be well wyllynge the dew of thy byrth is vnto the in an holy maiestye oute of the wombe of the cleare mornynge Here with doth Dauid describe the glorious and victorious fayth of the christeÌ„ For whan the Gospell is preached there aryseth a conflicte betwene faith and infidelite betwene the sede of Christ and the serpent betwene ydolatrye and true godlynesse And the vnbeleuers persecute the Lorde Christe in hys membres that is to saye the faythfull but they are well conteÌ„t vtterly to geue ouer body honour and goodes theyr bloud and lyfe for gods truthes sake For the martyrs and they in the prymitiue Churche beynge gathered together of the Apostles and after the Apostles tyme haue thus kepte trueth fayth towarde the Lorde Christ and were wyllynge to dye â—or knowlegynge hym Afterward
whiche shall come shortly to iudgement and vtterly destroye the kyuge dome of Antichrist whom he now kylleth with the sprete of his mouth Our possessioÌ„ is not here vpoÌ„ earth the kyngdom of heauen is our natiue countre From theÌ„ce loke we for the sauyoure Jesus Christ our Lorde which shall rayse vp oute mortall miserable body that he maye make it lyke hys excellent and glorified body ator dinge to the power wherby he maye subdue all thynges vnto hym self To him be â–ª honoure and prayse for euer and euer Amen The accustomaâ— goodnes of God God hath shewed no lesse kindnes to vs theÌ„ he did to the olde worlde Thei that folowe goddes worde are laughed to scorne The doctrine of Christes fayth is no newe thyng 1. Cor. i. â— Cor. ii To vs whiche are saued it is the power of God What fayth is Ad Romanos Gala Ephe. Jaco ii Hebre. xi Ro. xiiii Actes .xv. i. Peter v Gala. v. â— Cor. xiiii â–ª Hebre. xi Jaco i. would to god we had many suche as James the Apostle was O vnthaÌ„kful world S James wold not spare to rebuke suche AgaiÌ„st suche grosse vices wold not S James spare to â—â— speake Let euery man take the payns to rebuke his owne faulte We must put on the nature of gods doctrine Let the workes of God which are past be a warnyng to vs. The christen fayth is elder then 1500 yeares Eusebius ActuuÌ„ xi The fyrst creatioÌ„ of heaueÌ„ and earth The garnyshynge of heauen and erth The office â—â— the 〈…〉 in the firmament Fyshes Foules Beastes The treatioÌ„ of maÌ„ The creacioÌ„ of the woman The requeste of the commaundement The vnthankfulnesse and wickednesse of man The righteousnes and mercy of god The way of satisfactioÌ„ before God is Christe Synne The frowardnes of man Why god gaue the womaÌ„ vnto man Grace We all are lothe to knowlege oure selues gyltye Punyshement The promes â—ene iii. The serpeÌ„tes heade The sure foundatioÌ„ of oure fayth Ro. viii â— Corin. â— The gospell of Jesu Chryst Esaye vii A prayse of the virgin Mari Hebre. iâ— â–ª Gene. iii. Christes hâ—oe i. Pet. iiii John xiiâ—i Rom. xvi Obiection Answere Gene. iii. Gene. iii. i. Timo. 2 i. Tessa 4. Ephe. iiii Hebre. ix The summe of the Christen faith Gene. iii. Adams fayth CoÌ„forte helpe louing kindnes in the myddes of correction Gene. iii. CoÌ„forte pacieÌ„ce in Christ i. Pet. ii Adams fayth Hebre. xi Sacrifice was a token oâ— thankfulnesse Cain the father of wickednesse Abel the The difference of true false fayth â–ª The fyrst deâ—aâ—â— of the faith â–ª The reparacion of our fayth Gene. iiii â–ª Inuocaâ—e nomen domini quid sit The faith of Enoch Genesi v. the wrath of God vpon the wycked The renewynge of the promes concernynge christ The sacrifice of Noe. Gene. viii Ephesi v Math. iii. The commaundemeÌ„tes geuen vnto Noe. Thorowe Noe was the world replenshed The faith of the heitheÌ„ is ydolatry and worshyppynge of ymages â–ª Gene. xâ— â–ª Gene. xii AbrahaÌ„s fayth AbrahaÌ„s Christen workes The faith of the Jewes How olde the Christsten fayth is The faith of Isaac Jacob. Ge. xxviii Jacob sawe that christ onely is the waye to heauen The faith of Joseph The faith of Moses The Easter lambe The genynge of the lawe The fyrst table Mat. xxii The secoÌ„de table The lawe written in stone is no newe thyng The lawe written in stone was fylled afore ObiectioÌ„ Answere Gods Testament SaluatioÌ„ ObiectioÌ„ Answere why the lawe was geuen The lawe is the rule to lyue by The brasen serpeÌ„t Christe is the rock Question Answere One altar what it signified Note this well Why the ceremonies of the law were geuen The godly consideracion of fathers Question Answere Why god ordeyned such a loÌ„g seruice among the Jewes God rendreth oure weaknes Lawes iudiciall The fyrst boke Moses The secoÌ„de boke of Moses The third boke The fourthe oke The fifth boke The origenall scripture of our fayth The lawe written is no newe thynge Josue was a figure of Christ An heresy of the ana baptistes Rulers must punishe An errour Of kyng Dauid Act. xiii The holy Trynyte The faith of Dauid in Christe The spirituall kingdome of Christ Act. i. A battayll The birth of Christ The office of Christ â–ª Christes cause shal forth Christe shall destroye his enemies The passion of Christ The article of the holy Trinite Dauid was called Christes father The wayes of Dauid Kynge â—bia The departyng of Israe â–ª froÌ„ Juda. Kynge Jehu God alwaies sen deth hys prophetes The prophetes preached â—he olde â—ayth The lawe the prophetes alowe the righteousnes of god that commeth by fayth The godhead and manhode of Christ The righteous blossome John baptiste The office of Christ Christe is called Dauid The miracles of Christe The kingdome of Christ The deth of Christ The sacrifice of Christe â—acha iii. The buryall resurrection of Christ The asceÌ„sion The vocatioÌ„ of the Heithen The prophetes soughte saluacion in Christ A prophecye tolde vnto Daniell The nombre of the yeares Antiochê° God had euer some vertuous men â—achay Symeon All gods electe wer saued by Christ The olde testament is not to be refused Luk. xxiiii The new TestameÌ„t dec are â–ª h the olde Tidinges of Christes birth The grace of God Christ the onely saluacion of all the worlde Luce. iiâ— The dewry of vs. John baptist John i. John i. Mat. xi Math. iii. Math. iii â–ª The substauÌ„ce of true religion The speciall pointes of christes doctryne The pacient suffringe of Christ the frute of Christes death Water bloude The buriall of Christ The power of Christ saueth all christ hold nothinge back froÌ„ hys apostles The holy goost broughte no new doctryne Joh. xiiii Mar. xvi Act xiii â—â— xxviii The supper of the Lorde The frute of the sacramentes The Apostles dyd not ouer charge the people with ceremonies The Apostles wolde not offende the weake the decay of christes religion What in coÌ„uenieÌ„ce â–ª folowed The Pope Machomet stryâ—e agaynste Christe Let vs do as our olâ—est fathers haue done longe before vs. Philip. iii.
the trueth righteousnes Then to offre hymselfe to the father for our synnes and after the sacrifice done to ryse vp agayn froÌ„death to asceÌ„de vnto heaueÌ„ there to seyt at the ryght haÌ„de of god and eueÌ„ there as a true hye bisshoppe to appeare alwaye in the presence of god and to praye for vs. Thys is the summe of the rytes and ceremonies of the olde fathers the vnderstondynge of the figures and the sprete of the lettre wher of holy Paull hath written moche in the moost excellent epistle to the Hebrues Out of all thys is it easye to vnderstoÌ„d howe that these rytes ceremonies of the fathers were sacramentes and geuen to the people of god Not that they with the lettre and outwarde visyble and corporall thynge shulde sufficiently serue God whiche is a sprete but that they shuld lift vp their myndes aboue the same to the spirituall thynges pondrynge the mercy of God out of the whiche he beynge moued is become gracious vnto vs. And whan he might haue damned vs for oure synnes and mysdedes he spared vs for hys sonnes sake whome he gaue vnto death and hys innocent death hath he accepted for our synnes Soche a faithfull consideration whiche is the true beleue pleaseth god and with soche a fayth is god serued and soche a fayth wolde the Lorde haue taught andplanted in wyth the â—oresayde rytes and Ceremonies Therfore all they that pleased god among the olde fathers pleased hym not for the letters sake but by reason of the sprete Whaâ— the sacrifice also and ceremonye was executed after the ordinaunce of god in the congregation the beloued frendes of God had not onely respecte vnto the outewarde thynge but muche rather behelde they Chryst with the eyes of fayth thought thus Beholde the wyll of God hathe ordeyned to do sacrifice for synne now are we all synners and detters vnto god in so much that he hath power right ouer vs that lyke as the beeste whyche is now slayne and offred dyeth hath hys bloud shed Euen so myght God now also kyll vs all and coudemne vs for euer Neuerthelesse he hath takeÌ„ vs to his mercy and promysed vs a sede whiche shulde thus dye on the crosse and clense vs wyth hys bloud wyth hys deth restore vs vnto lyfe Whyche thynge no doute shall as surely come to passe as thys beest is slayne offred now a ore our eyes And lyke as the bloude is sprenkled ouer the people for the bodely cleÌ„syng So shall the bloud of Christ be sprenkled vpon oure soules c. And out of suche thoughte and faythfull consyderacion of the sacrifices grewe repentaunce and sorow for theyr synnes a gladnesse prayse comforte and thankes geuynge vnto God the mercyfull father And to thys do serue certayne Psalmes whyche were made concernynge the sacrifices To thys also serue all the rebukynges of the holy Prophetes and the refusinges of the oblations For the exteriour pompe and shewe of the offrynges wythout fayth in God and the blessed sede is nothyng worth yea it is rather abhominacion vnto god as thou seyst in the first chapter of Esaye Thou wâ—â—t aske Might not god haue taught and shewed his people the cause of Jesu Christ and of true beleue none other waye then thorowe and wyth suche cost pompe and glory of sacrifices other gorgiousnesse of the churche I answere Yf the people had not falleÌ„ to more wyckednesse in Egypt thorow their dwellynge amonge the ydolaters but had constantly and stedfastly remained as dyd theyr fathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob then myghte they well haue contynued by the olde shorte symple fourme as it was amonge the holy fathers But nowe had they sene in Egypte an outwarde costlye gods seruice wyth temples altures sacrifices preâ—â—hode holy daves ornameÌ„tes c. Lykewyse the ydolatrye increaced dayly in all the worlde so that nowe there was vtterly no people whyche had not theyr owne outwarde ceremonies â–ª wherewyth they serued God To the intente then that God myghte reâ—â—â—ne hys people wythin the compasse of fayth in one God and in the blessed sede promysed afore to the intente also that they shoulde shewe no outward â–ª seruyce to any other goddes or take vpon them to serue God after the maner of the EgipciaÌ„s or after other HeitheÌ„ he appoynted an outwarde gods seruice and coÌ„maunded to do the same vnto hym and els to none and in the same pleased it hym to set forth all the cause of the forsayde sede tyll he came and perfourmed all thynges indede that they hadde fygurally in theyr sacrifices Morouer god accordyng â—â— hys wysdome of hys speciall mercy and good herte that he hath vnto mans generation wolde wyth these outwarde tokeÌ„s tender oure weaknesse whiche of spirituall heauenly thynges hathe better vnderstandynge whan they are shewed vnto it by corporall vysible thynges God therfore thorow suche corporall representations laboured to shewe vnto that grosse and fleshly people the heuenly cause of hys sonne Neuerâ—theles the corporall visible thynges were geuen for no longer but vntyll the tyme of the fulfyllynge But now that Câ—râ—st hath appeared and fulfylled and perfourmed all that was wryteÌ„ and figured of hym in the law and the prophetes the figure ceasseth â–ª and the outewarde Sacramentes of Moses lawe â–ª are of no more value to be exercised and vsed Thus muche â—â—sayde of the ceremonyes Where as besyde the ceremonies there is muche wryten also in the lawe concernynge cyuyle policye ordynaunce iudgement to lyue peaceable and well in cytye and lande Of biyng and sellyng of warre and peace of enherytaunce and propertyes of lawes matrimonyall of punyshement of the wycked of the iudgement and connsaill of leadynge and borowynge c. It is no newes at all and serueth altogether for the declaratioÌ„ of the fyre â—oÌ„maundementes of the seconde table and is comprehended in the wordes of Paul Roma xiii Loue thy neyghboure as thy selfe â–ª And in the wordes of Christe That thou woldest not haue done vnto the doo not thou to another Math. vii Suche lawes and rules to lyue in peace in a cyuyle ordre and vertue haue also the good holy fathers had froÌ„ the begynnyng of the world wrytten in theyr hartes by God hym selse Nowe hathe God also caused all to be comprehended in wryttynge by Moses to the intente that the World myghte haue all more clearlye and perfectly and that no man myghte excuse hym selfe of ignoraunce ☞ The originall of the holy scripture and fayth thereof THys mater which I haue hytherto treated vpon haue I not feyned of my selfe but taken it out of the mouthe and worde of God For god styred vp Moses to wryte and leaue behynde hym all the matter for our lernyng and knowlege Thys dyd now Moses wyth great faythfulnesse coÌ„prehended all in foure bokes The fyrste is called the boke of the creation from the be gynnynge of the worlde vnto hys tyme of the creacion of