mercy promysed vs by hys gospell for thus shall we well defyne what belefe is yf we ernestly beholdâ— y â— nature of gods promysses whyche belefe so hangeth vpon the promesse hys propre foundatioÌ„ that yf ye take the promesse awaye it forthwyth fayleth goeth to nought Wherfore so longe as the Lorde offerethe vs hys mercy by hys promesse in the gospell yf we faythfully trust thervnto we be counted in faith to receyue hys word And thus doth the Apostle defyne fayth where he saith fayth is the grounde of thynges that be trusted vpon and the proufe of thiÌ„ges not sene He meaneth that fayth is none other thing but a certayne sure possession of all suche thinges as be promised vs by God an euidence of thinges that as yet do not appeare I meane of the lyfe euerlastyng wherof we coÌ„ceyue an hope and an expectation vpon the trust we haue in the goodnes of god so lyberally offered vs in his gospell And for as moche as al gods promyses are stronge in Christe and after a maner performed and made good in him it foloweth vndoubtydly that Christ hym selfe is the euerlasting Butte and marke of oure fayth in whome it may beholde all the ryches of gods depe mercye Fayth is the gifte of God IF we well ponder and weye with our selues how blynd thê oure wit is and howe farre vnhable to attayne vnto Gods heuenly secrecies with what doubte and mystrust oure hert laboureth within vs then shall we well perceyue howe farre faith surmounteth and passeth all oure naturall power howe also it is a singuler and excelleÌ„t gyfte of God For sythe that no man as Paul reasoneth is of secret counsell wyth mans wyll but only the spirite of maÌ„ whyche is in man howe maye it be that man can haue any certayne knowledge of gods counsell And for as moche as Gods open trouth is very weake amoÌ„ges vs in those thinges that here we se before our eyes how shuld it be strong and sure where god only promyseth those thinges that neuer were sene by eye nor yet coÌ„ceyued in maÌ„s wytte Now it is euident and playne that fayth is a lyghtenynge of y e holy ghost wherby our wyttes be lyghtened and our hertes established strengthened with a sure staye of conscieÌ„ce being throughly persuaded in our selues that God of hys promyse is so true faythfull and iuste that he can not but performe what so euer he hath bounde him self to by hys holy worde and promesse And for thys cause fayth is called y â— pledge or ernest because it setteth oure conscience at the staye of gods trouth It is also named a seale wherwith our hartes be sealed marked agaynst the daye of the Lorde for the Lorde himselfe is he that beareth wytnesse to oure spirite y t God is our father and we his dere beloued sonnes In christ we he made rightuouse by Fayth FOr as moche as it is euident and playne y t Christe is the euerlastyng Butte and marke of fayth we can none other wyse fele what profites benefytes we take by fayth theÌ„ onely by lokynge and hauynge a directe eye towardes him for vnto this purpose was Christe gyuen vs of the father that in hym we myght obteyne euerlastynge lyfe as he hym selfe sayth thys is the euerlastynge lyfe euen to knowe one god the father and whom he hath sent Iesus Christe Also he saith he that beleueth in me shall not dye for euer that yf he dye he shall lyue But how maye thys com to passe forsoth thus we that be vncleane by reason of synne muste be pourged and clensed in hym for no vncleane thinge shal entre into the kyngdome of God Christe therfore maketh vs parteners and as ioyntpatentes wyth hym so y t though of oure selues we be synners yet for Christes rightwysnes we be accepted for righteouse at the iugement seate of god And thus spoyled of our own rightousnes we be cladde and endewed with Christes righteousnesse So where as by workes we be vnrighteouse by fayth in Christ we be made ryghteouse I saye we be iustifyed by fayth not that we haue any rightousnes within vs of our selues but that Christes ryghtuousnes is counted for our rightuousnes and our wickednes is nothing at al layde to our charge so that wyth one worde we may call thys rightousnes forgyuenes of synnes The Apostle clerely declareth thys whyles oftentymes he setteth the rightuousnes of workes wyth the rightuousnes of fayth and sheweth howe y â— one ouerwhelmeth and turneth the other vpsyde downe Nowe by what fashion Christe hath dedeserued vs thys ryghtousnes and in what partes it is conteyned ye shall se in the symbole of faith where euery Article seuerally by it selfe shalbe orderly rehersed whervpon is founded the hole belefe of a christen maÌ„ By Fayth we be halowed and as it were seasoned to the obedience of the law LYke as Christ through his rightwysnes is a meane for vs vnto God y e father that he beyng as it were our suretie we be takeÌ„ reputed for ryghtwyse so by the partakynge of his holy spirite he haloweth vs to all purenes and innocency For vpon him rested the spirite of the Lorde aboue al measure I meane the spirite of wysedome and vnderstandynge of couÌ„sel streÌ„gth knowlege feare of the Lorde so that of hys plently fulnes we all receyue and drinke vp largely grace for grace They therfore be deceyued that boaste theyr Fayth in Christe where they be vtterlye voyde destitute of the halowynge of hys spirite For scripture teacheth that Christe is not onely made our ryghtwysnes but our halowyng also for by the selfe same couenaunt y t the Lorde maketh wyth vs in Christ he promyseth both to pardon our wyckednes and also to wryte hys law in our hertes Therfore the kepynge of the law is no worke of our hability but of a spiritual power wherby our hertes be pourged frome their corruption made softe in the obedience of ryghtuousnes Now then the vse of the lawe to Christen men is a farre other thinge from that it shuld be without fayth for wheÌ„ ones God graueth in our hertes a loue of hys ryghtousnes then the outwarde doctryne of the lawe whyche before dyd nothynge but accuse vs aswell of weakenes as of trangression is nowe becomme a lyghte to our feete that we shoulde not straye from the strayght waye it is nowe our wysedoÌ„ wherby we be enformed and styred to al honestie it is our nurtonre whiche woll not suffre vs to renne to moche at large in our selfe wyll and luste Of repentauÌ„ce and new byrth HErevpon it is easy to vnderstaÌ„de why repentauÌ„ce is alwaye ioyned wyth faythe in Christe why also the Lorde affirmeth that no maÌ„ can entre into the kyngdom of heauen except he be borne a newe for repentauÌ„ce betokeneth a retournynge wherby we byd the frowardenesse of thys world farewell and repare
holynes power and saluation By what maner we be restored agayne to lyfe and healthe FRom this knowledge of our selfe so playnly shewing vs howe we be nothyng at all if it can earnestly settle in our hertes there is a playne and redy way to a more true knowledge of God yea he hym selfe hathe nowe opened vs the fyrste gate into his kyngdome thus vnder mynyng the two moste noysom pestilences I meane the vnregardyng of goddes vengeaunce and y e false trust on our selues For then we begyn to lyfte vp our eyes vnto heauen whiche afore dyd cleaue faste vnto the grounde and we that afore reposed in our selues nowe thynke longe for the Lorde That same lord father of mercy although oure synne hathe deserued the contrary yet for his vnspeakeable mercy of hys owne mere goodnes sheweth hym selfe to the troubled and astonyed conscieces and calleth vs home agayn by what meanes he knoweth most expediēt for our weakenesse from straieng to the right way from deathe to lyfe from perdition to sauegarde yea and from the kyngdome of the deuyll to hys owne kyngedome Wherfore euen to so many as the lorde vouchsaueth to restore to y ◠enheritaūce of his heauēly lyfe he vseth such maner trade that they beyng sore wounded in conscience by theyr synnes and weryed with the burthen therof myght be styrred to fear him Fyrste of al therfore he gyueth vs his lawe to exercise vs vnto that knowledge Of the lawe of the Lorde IN the lawe of god is delyuered vs the most perfecte rule of all ryghtwysnes whiche we maye well call the euerlastynge wyll of the Lorde For there in two tables hath he playnly and fully declared what so euer he requireth of vs. In the fyrste what worshyp his maiestie alloweth and in the other what offices of loue be due to our neyghbour in fewe cōmaundementes he hathe expressed Let vs therfore heare the lawe which done we shall se what learnynge we muste take of it and what truit we ought to gather therof Exod. xx I am the Lorde thy god whiche haue brought the out of the lāde of Aegypt from the house of bōdage Thou shalte haue no straunge Goddes afore my face ONe pece of this cōmaundemēt is in stede of a preface to the hole lawe for whyles he affyrmeth that he hym selfe is the Lorde our God he meaneth that he is suche one as hathe authoritie to cōmaunde and to whose commaundementes we ought to obey As he sayeth by his prophet If I be the father where is loue If I be the lorde wher is feare he also reherseth hys benefytes to reproue our vnkyndenes if we obey not hys voyce For with the same goodnes wherby he preserued y ◠people of the Iues ones out of the bondage of Egypt dothe he also delyuer all hys seruaūtes frō theyr perpetual Egypt that is And where as he forbyddeth to haue any other goddes he restrayneth vs that we shuld not gyue that is gods dutie to any other then to him alonely He sayth therfore Afore my face wherby he declareth y t he wyll not only be knowen as a god by outwarde confession but also y ◠he wyll be truely takē for the only god īwardely in hert These thinges belong properly to god alone which without sacrilege can be gyuen to none other so that him onely we ought to honour in him to repose our trust and hope him to thāk for what soeuer good and holy thing we haue vnto him to rendre all prayse of goodnes holynesse Thou shalte not make thy self any grauen ymage nor any lykenesse of any thinge that is in heauē aboue or ī erth beneth nor in the water vnder the earthe Thou shalte not bowe downe to thē to worshype them LYke as in y e first commaūdement god declared him selfe to be but one so nowe he sheweth what a God he is and howe he wyll be honoured He forbyddeth therfore to make him any lykenes And the cause hereof he sheweth in Deut. and in Esay for that no bodyly substaunce can be resembled to a spirite He further forbyddeth vs to honour any ymage as a thinge of holynes Let vs lerne then y ◠the worshypping of God is a spiritual thinge for lyke as god him selfe is a spirite so he woll be worshypped in spirite trouth He addeth therfore an horryble thretnyng wherby he wold we knewe how greuously he is displeased w t the breache of this cōmaundement I am thy Lorde God This is afmoch as yf he should faye that he onely is the Lorde God on whom we ought to hange and that he cā suffer none to be hys felowe or matched with hym y ◠he wil also defēde his maiestie glory yf any go about to transpose it to grauen ymanges or other thinges with such vengeaūce as shal be neyther short nor sengle but y ◠shall reache to our childrē our childrēs childrē and vnto their childrē also euē as many as folowe theyr fathers wyckednes lyk as again he setteth forthe euerlastynge mercy grace to the godly and their ofsprynge also euen to as many as loue him and kepe hys lawe In thys thynge he sheweth vs the largenes of his mercy stretched forthe into a thousande generations where as he assigneth hys vengeaūce to reache onely but to foure generations Thou shalte not take the name of thy Lorde God in vayne HEre he forbyddeth vs to abuse hys holy name in swerynge eyther for folysh tryfles or to establyshe our owne lyes Othes ought not to serue neyther to selfe wyll nor pleasure but to very necessity wher eyther the glory of God must be vpholden or a thinge affermed that belongeth to the furtheraunce of our neyghbours Utterly he forbyddeth vs to de file his holy name in any thing but to vse it reuerently wyth hygh dignitie accordinge to his holynes whether we swere or what other worde so euer we speake of him And for asmoche as the principall vse of the takynge of gods holy name chiefly consisteth in callinge vpon him here we may vnderstand that we haue a cōmaundement to call vpon him In conclusion he appointeth the penaltie least those shulde trust to escape his reuengeaūce that haue abused the holynes of hys name by perturyes and blasphemous othes and therfore addeth that the Lorde woll not haue him vnreuenged that taketh the name of hys Lord God in vayne Remember thou kepe holy the sabboth daye WE haue marked three causes of this commaundement for it pleased God vnder the quyete of the seuenth daye to gyue the people of Israell a fygure of a ghostly rest wherein the fayth full ought to cease from their owne wyll workes and suffer God to worke in thē Seconde he wolde also that one certayne daye were assigned wherin the people shulde assemble togither to heare the lawe and to do their honest ceremonies Thirdly God wolde that seruaūtes and suche as be at other mens commandement shulde haue one day to
of hys owne brayne forge hym a god as he him selfe lusteth but seketh the knowledge of y â— true god euen at god hym selfe and taketh him to be none other thaÌ„ suche as he sheweth and declareth him selfe to be What we ought to knowe of God SYth the very maiestie of god passeth y â— capacite of mans vnderstandyng so farre that it is impossible for him to coÌ„ceyue it it is expedient for vs to honour rather his hyghnes then rashely to serche it least of suche incomprehensible lyght we be vtterly stryken downe For this cause then god muste be sought and searched out in his workes as by certayne foresteppes for Goddes workes in scripture be called the shewes of thinges inuisible for as muche as they represente before our eyes suche thynges concernyng y â— lorde as other wayes coulde nat be seye This I saye not that god wold kepe our myndes in doubte by vayne and voyde speculations but that it is ynoughe for vs to knowe y â— true religion I meane faithe coupled with the feare of god and that the same is fyrste breathed into vs nourished and strengthened only by god for in this vniuersall ordre and coursâ— of thynges we beholde the immortalitie of our god froÌ„ whom all thynges flowe haue theyâ— begyÌ„ning we se also his myght in that he made such a worke vpholdeth y â— same his wysdom in that he hathe set in so goodly ordre suche an infinite dyuersitie of creatures keapeth theÌ„ alwayes in the same to the eschewyng of coÌ„fusioÌ„ We marke also hys goodnes whiche was the very cause bothe that these workes were made and that nowe also they stande sure and stroÌ„ge his rightwysnes in that so woÌ„derfully he declareth hym selfe in defendyng the godly and punishing the vngodly we perceiue also hys hyghe mercy in that so gentylly he suffreth our wyckednes to y â— inteÌ„t we shulde returne as his mercy giueth vs occasion to do Here vpoÌ„ myght we at large be enformed as muche as were sufficieÌ„t for vs of Gods maiestie and goodnesse and what he is but y â— our dulnes is so greate the eyesyght of our mynde so blount and daselyng at so open a lyght Neyther is it onely a blyndnes that thus causeth vs to stomble but there is also suche a frowarde and cankred opinioÌ„ in vs as in ponderyng the workes of God taketh euery thyng a mysse and cleane out of course yea tourneth vp set downe all y e heuenly wysoome so eudiently apparaunt in creatures We muste therfore nedes come to Goddes worde for in it by it I meane in the holy scriptures God is by his workes wonderous wel descrybed vnto vs where the workes theÌ„ selfes be weyed and estemed not after our frowarde iudgement but by the rule of the euerlasting truth Here thaÌ„ we learne that our God is the only and euerlasting fountayne of all lyfe ryghtwysenes wysdome power goodnes mercy from whom lyke as without exception al goodnes dothe come so all prayse ought worthely to be rendred to him as his owne And by this meanes all thyngê though they euidently appeare in euery seuerall parte bothe of heauen and earthe yet to what purpose they serue what they maye do and vnto what vse we muste vnderstande theÌ„ we shall easely espye wheÌ„ we step downe to our selues consyder howe god setteth forth his owne lyfe wysdome and power in vs and howe he practiseth his ryghtewysenes goodnesse and mercy towardes vs. Of man MAn was fyrste made to the ymage lykenesse of God that in all hys ornamentes and iewelles wher w t he was rychly decked of god he shulde honour the maker of the same and worshyp hym with suche kyndenes as became him But forasmuch as he trustyng so muche vpon the excellencye of hys owne nature that he had quyte forgoten whence he came and wherby he was mainteyned attempted to auaunce hym selfe aboue god it was necessary he shulde be spoyled of all goddes benefites wheron he was so folyshely proude to the entent that wheras he that was so rychely endowed of Goddes bounteousnesse thought scorne to know his maker in hys felicitie shulde nowe beyng naked and destitute of all his wealthe learne to knowe h yÌ„ in hys mysery Wherfore so many of vs as be spronge of the sede of Adam be borne very fleshe of fleshe y e lykenee of God vtterly abolyshed and extincte in vs so that nowe vpon what parte so euer of man we cast our eye we can se nothyng but that is vnpure vnhalowed and abominable afore god For y e wysdome of man being blynded and wrapte in infinite errours with standeth alwayes the wysdome of god his forwarde wyl full of corrupte affections hateth nothynge worse then gods ryghtwysnes his powers vntoward to all good workes run hedlong vpon all wyckednes Of free Wyll SCriptures euery where wytnesse that man is the seruaunt of syn wherby is meant that his disposicion is so tourned from the ryghtwysenes of God as he can neyther thynke luste nor employe hym to any thyng but y â— is vngodly croked nawty and vnpure for the harte beyng so in the inner partes enuenomed with y e poyson of syn can breathe nothyng but the fruites of synne Yet it may nat be so taken that man is forsed to synne as by vrgent necessitie for he synneth of hys propre and most ready wyl But forasmuche as his affectioÌ„s be corrupte he vtterly abhorreth al ryghtwysenes of God and gredely renneth vpon all kynde of wickednes And so he is clene shut out from the free power to chose good from badde whiche they call free wyll Of synne and deathe SYnne in scriptâ—â—e is called not so muche the corruption of nature whiche indede is the heade spryng of al vyce as y e ragyng lustes that spryng therof yea the heynous abominacions that brast out of these lustes as murther thefte aduoutry and other lyke Wetherfore syÌ„ners euen from our mothers wombe be all borne to the wrathe and vengeaunce of God and euer the elder we waxe the more greuous iudgement we heape vpoÌ„ vs so that all our lyfe longe we go forwarde vnto deathe for sythe it is no doubte but all iniquitie is cursed of goddes ryght wysnes what shall we wretches loke for at hys hande but very confusion for that bryngeth his displeasure with it for asmuche as we be pressed with so greuouse a burden of synnes and corrupted with so infinite drosse of vnclennes Thys thought thoughe it be hable to ouerthrowe a maÌ„ with the fear therof euen dryue him downe with despayre yet to vs it is necessary that we beyng thus striped of our owne ryght wysnes destitute of all trustynge in our owne power and put backe froÌ„ all hope of lyfe maye learne to fall downe lowe afore the lorde knowyng howe beggarly we be of our selues howe miserable and very villaynes and thus knowyng our owne wickednes dishabilitye fal that we maye gyue him all the prayse of
tychled with no maner of lust contrary to the lawe of charitie and that we be redy wyth all our hert to yelde euery man that is his Now that muste we recken to be euery mans own whych by our boundeÌ„ duty we owe vnto him The pyth of the law TO what purpose al the coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes of the law pertayne sufficiently declareth Christe oure Lorde where he sayth that the hole lawe is conteyned in two principal coÌ„mauÌ„demes that is to loue the Lorde god wyth all oure herte with all our soule and with all our power to loue our neyghbour as our selues whiche exposition he toke our euen of the selfe lawe for the firste parte is red Deut. vi and the other Leuiti .xix. What profyt commeth vnto vs by the Law onely LO here a true exemplar president of the ryght and holy lyfe yea a very perfecte ymage of ryghtwysnes it selfe so that yf any maÌ„ can inlyuing expresse y e law of god the same can lacke nothinge to hys perfection afore god In so moche as he hym selfe is wytnesse he promiseth to those that kepe his lawe not alonly excellent prosperities and commodities of this lyfe which be reckened Leuiti .xxvi. and Deut. xxvii but also the rewarde of euerlastynge lyfe On the contrary part he thretneth punyshment of euerlastynge deathe to those that haue not fulfylled what so euer he hath gyuen them in coÌ„maundement to be done Moses also wheÌ„ he had publyshed the law called to wytnesse heauen and earthe that he had setforth to the people good and euyll lyfe and deathe Nowe where as he shew vs the waye of lyfe we must se what profyt we haue by thys appoyntynge and shewynge of the waye Uerely yf our wyl were al togither framed and bent vnto the obedience of gods wyll then were the onely knowledge of the law ynough for our saluacion but seynge oure nature beynge flesshely and corrupte warreth lyke an extreme aduersary agaynst gods lawe a thynge of the spirite and is in nothing amended by her good nurtur and instructions therfore the lawe it selfe whiche was vnto our saluation yf it coulde haue had good hearers is nowe become an occasion of synne and death for asmoche as we be all cast conuict as transgressours therof So the more openly it declareth y e ryghtwysnes of god the more hemously dothe it vtter our wyckednes And agayn the higher transgressioÌ„ the law hathe to laye to our charge the more greuous iugemeÌ„t are we condemned to Thus nowe the promyse of lyfe is vtterly takeÌ„ awaye and onely remayneth y â— curse and that vpon al our neckes by occasion of the lawe The law is meane vnto Christ. NOwe thoughe the wyekednes and damnacion of vs all be sealed vp and confermed with witnesse of the lawe yet this is not therfore done to the intent we shoulde fall into despayre or in this extreme pluÌ„ge run hedlong to oure ownede struction for the Apostell declareth vs all damned by iudgement of the lawe to thintent euery mouthe shuld be stopped and all the worlde be brought vnder gods daunger And yet the same Apostle sayth in an other place that god hath shut vp all men vnder vnbelefe not to destroye all nor to suffre theÌ„ to perishe but to haue mercy vpon al. The Lorde therfore will that we by y e law thus beynge warned of our owne weakenes and vnclennesse shoulde take comfort vpoÌ„ the trust of his power and mercye and that in Christ for whose sake he sheweth him selfe so tender mercyfull a father vnto vs. In the lawe can it not be sene that he rewardeth but onely perfecte rightwysnesse whiche all we â—acke where as otherwyse he is a strayght iudge of synnes But in Christ his face is all ful of fauour grace euen toward wretches and vnworthy synners This so wonderfull a token of his exceding loue he shewed vs by gyuyng vp his own sonne for vs in whom he hath agaynst other he extendeth the rygorousnes of his iudgemeÌ„t let vs suffer the cause to rest in his handes for thys thynge he woll haue vnknowen vnto vs all and that not without good skyll for neither the dulnesse of ourewyt is hable to abide such a lyght ne the skleÌ„der capacitie of the same is in any part sufficient to conceyue so greate a power of his wysedom For verely here who so euer wyll attempte to aduauÌ„ce him selfe not refreynynge the rashnes of hys wyt shall fynde it true y t Salomon sayth whoso woll serche the maiesty shal be oppressed of the glory Let vs only determyne this wyth our selues that this same ordinaunce of the Lorde though it be secret vnto vs yet it is righteous and holy for yf he wolde destroye al mankynd doubtles he maye of ryght do it And surely in those whom he calleth backe agayne frome daÌ„nacion we can se nothinge but his hygh goodnes Let vs thaÌ„ conceyue with oure selues that the choseÌ„ be y e vessels of mercy as they be in dede and that the forsakeÌ„ be the vessels of wrath and not but of a iuste cause But of theÌ„ both we maye take occasioÌ„ and matter to aduaunce gods glory Neyther yet shall we as many men do for a sure establyshment and knowlege of our saluacioÌ„ clyme vp to heaueÌ„ and sawcely enserch what God hath decreed of vs afore the worlde began whiche thought can no other thing do but bring vs in a miserable doubte and trouble But let vs rather be coÌ„tent wyth the wytnesse wherwyth y e Lorde hath sufficiently made our saluacion strong and sure for lyke as in Christe were all the chosen euen as many as afore the foundatioÌ„ of the earth was layd ordeined vnto lyfe so is he y e person in whom resteth the assurauÌ„ce of our saluacion yf we by faith receyue and embrace him For what other thiÌ„g do we serche in the election but to be partetakers of the euerlastinge lyfe And this saluacioÌ„ we obteyne in Christe whiche was the selfe lyfe frome the begynnyng and was made ruler ouer vs vnto lyfe that all those that beleue in hym shulde not peryshe but haue euerlastynge lyfe Wherfore yf we possessinge Christ by fayth possesse also in hym euerlastynge lyfe it is no point of oure charge to make any further enquirye of gods eternall counsell Christe is not onely a glasse wherin gods wyl is represented vnto vs but also an euidence wherin it is after a maner sealed vp for vs. What is true fayth THe christiane fayth ought to be taken neyther for a bare knowledg of God neyther yet for suche an vnderstandyng of scripture as lyke a fansye flyeng here there in the brayne â–ª worketh no good mocion noâ— goostly affection in the herte as wheÌ„ commenly men conceyue in their heades certayne opinions of suche matters as seme to haue strong reasons to make with them But it is a sounde stedfast belefe of herte wherby we safely rest aud staye our consciences in gods
brought to suche obedience we suffre our selues to be ordred at tharbitremeÌ„t of gods prouisioÌ„ easely we shal lerne to continue in prayer and referrynge oure requestes vnto the lorde pacyently to awayt his pleasure beynge assured that god is alway present with vs though it seme not so and that when he seeth his tyme he wol declare that he gaue no deafe eares to our praiers That yf after longe awaytyng our mynd caÌ„not attayne what it hath profyted by prayer nor fele any frute goten therby yet our fayth shall certyfye vs of that that by felynge we coulde not perceyue euen how we haue obteyned that expedient was for vs. And thus shall faythe worke that in pouertie we maye possesse aboundance and in trouble comforte for yf all togyther go to wreck fayle vs yet shal god neuer fayle vs neuer forsake vs sithens he can not disapoynte the awaytynge and longe suffrauÌ„ce of his him alone may we haue in steade of all thynges for he coÌ„teyneth in hym all goodnes whiche without doubte in tyme to come he woll shewe vs all at large and most fully Of Sacramentes wherfore they properly serue SAcramentes be ordeyned that both before god and man they shulde be exercyses of our fayth Before the lorde they exercyse our faythe whyles they establysshe it in gods truthe for where as the Lorde perceyued it expedyent for the ignoraunt of our fleshe he dyd setforth heaueÌ„ly mysteries to be beholden vnder carnall elementes Not that any suche powers be gyuen to the selfe natures of thynges as be propowned to vs in sacramentes but that by the lordes word they be signed hereunto For y â— promesse coÌ„meth alwaye afore whiche promes is conteyned in the worde then foloweth the token to strengthen seale the promesse to make it of more authoritie amonges vs eueÌ„ as the Lorde forseech that it is expedient for the capacite of oure weakenesse For vndoubted so smal and weake is oure faithe that except it be propped vp on euery syde born vp by al meanes and wayes possible anone it wolle qwayle be shaken a peeces and ouerthroweÌ„ Nowe this fayth is also amonges meÌ„ exercised by sacramentes whyles by the same it goeth opeÌ„lye to shewe her selfe to the worlde and is styrred vp to render due prayses to the Lorde What a sacrament is and how many there be A SacrameÌ„t is therfore properly an outewarde signe wherin God representeth and wytnesseth his good wyll towardes vs to susteyne the weakenesse of our fayth Or an other waye more shorte also more playne A sacrament is a wytnesse of gods fauoure declared by an outwarde sygne Now there be dyuers holso me sacramentes in the church and namely seuen recounted of the fathers Matrimonie Baptisme Confirmation Penaunce Eucharistia comonly called the sacrament of the aultare Orders and extreme vnction Matrimonye god hym selfe did fyrste institute in paradyse and saynt Paule calleth it honorable in all thynges By penauÌ„ce we atteyne the hyghe benefite of absolution neyther oughte we to neglecte the power or keyes of the churche sythe to it Chryste sayeth Whose synnes so euer ye forgyue shalbe forgyuen whose synnes ye reteyne shalbe reteyned And agayn he saith Who heareth you heareth me The sacrament of orders is wherby by layeng on of y â— handes persons of suche qualities and condicions as Paule describeth to Timothie and Tite shulde be called and elected not only to ministre sacramentes but moche rather to preache gods worde purely syncerely to the people Confirmation and extreme vnction the auncient fathers of the churche takyng occasion and groundyng themselfes vpon the doynges and actes of thappostles haue receiued But of baptisme Eucharistia bycause they be the principall sacramentes in the new testament instituted expressely by Chryste hymselfe I intende somewhat more at large to intreate Of Baptisme BAptisme is gyuen vs of God bothe to serue oure faythe before hym and to serue our professioÌ„ before men Fayth hath eye to the promyse wherby the mercyful father offerethe vs the felawshyp of his Christe that we endowed with hym myghte be partakers of his goodes And two thinges it chiefly representeth vnto vs the clensynge whiche we haue in Christes bloude and the â—leynge of our fleshe whiche we haue obteyned throughe his deathe For the Lorde coÌ„mauÌ„ded his to be baptised into remyssyon of synnes And Paule teacheth that the churche is halowed of Christ her spouse and washed in the lauer of water in the worde of lyfe Furthermore he declareth that we be baptysed into Christes deathe buryed with hym to thinteÌ„t we might walke in newnes of lyfe wherby it is not meaned that the cause or power of clensyng and of newe byrth is in the water but onely that in this sacrament is perceiued a knowledge of suche gyftes when we be accounted to take obteyne purchase that whiche we beleue to be gyuen vs of the Lorde whither we fyrste espye it or whyther it were knowen to vs afore and be here more certaynly enformed of the same Nowe as touchyng our profession before men this Sacrament also serueth for it is a marke or token wherby we openly professe that we wyll be accompted amonges the people of god that with all other godly personnes by lyke relygion we worshyppe that same one god Syth then in Baptysme the couenaunt of the lord is specyally made with vs therefore of good ryght we baptise also our infauntes in that they be felowes and partakers with vs of the euerlasting couenaunt wherein the Lorde promyseth hym selfe to be the God and graciouse lorde not to vs onely but to oure seede also Of the lordes souper or sacrament of the aultare UNto what ende the mystery of this sacrament whiche saynt Paule calleth the lordes souper is called of the fathers Eucharistia and Synaxis was ordeyned whervnto it serueth the promesse there added euydeÌ„tly declareth which is to acertayne vs that the lordes body was ones so offered so betrayed for our sakes that now it is ours yea and euermore shall be and that his bloude was ones so sprynkled and shed for vs that it shulde be ours for euermore The bodyly eye seeth but the sygnes figures of bread and wyne but the inwarde eye of fayth vnder those signes seeth how the lord gyueth the true partakynge of his body and bloude For all thoughe he beynge now taken vp into heauen kepeth his residence in heauen and no longer in earthe I meane in personall and humayne lykenes yet no distauÌ„ce of place can let him to fede his faythefull with his owne selfe so to worke that they thoughe heauen earthe be neuer so far asunder shulde yet haue moste presente felowshyp and companye with hym And hereof haue we a lesson gyuen vs in this sacrament so certayne and manifeste that we muste fastly beleue that chryst with all his rychesse is here gyuen and presented vnto vs