peâ—…ysh in the worcâ—…es of darckenes but to kindle the lyghte of thy â—…ountenaunce in my hearte that the godly knowledge maye daylye increase in me thorowe a ryghte and pure fayth and that I maye alwayes be â—…ounde to walcke and lyue aâ—…ter thy wyll and pleasure thorowe â—…sus Christe ouâ—…e Lord and Sanioâ—…re Amen Lorde into thy handes I commend my spryte thou haste Redemed me Lord God of truth ¶ IMPRYNted at 〈◊〉 â—…y 〈◊〉 Day dwelling ouer Alberâ—… gate beneth Sayâ—…ct Martyâ—…s ☞ These Cathechismes are to bee â—…olde at hâ—… 〈◊〉 â–ª bâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Counâ—…uit in Cheâ—…syde at the sygne of the 〈◊〉 ☞ ☞ ☜ Cum pâ—…iuilegio adimpri mâ—…ndum soluâ—… Al Christians shulde know their profession â–ª Teachyng by questyons â–ª Chylâ—…reÌ„ to be taughte trew relygion ChristiaÌ„ re ligion Partes of ChristiaÌ„ re ligion What god is The 〈◊〉 and the gos pell The scriptures preserued froÌ„ the begynnyng The creâ—…e called a â—…mbole â—…awes of the first table One God Images Takyug the name of God The Sabbat â—…awes of the seconde table Honour of Parentes Murther â—…duoutry â—…heft False wyt nesse Couetise of anothers The rewarde of y â— godly aud vngodly The suÌ„me of the lawe by Christe The lawe of nature Ignorance brought iâ—… by corrupâ—…ion of nature Why the lawe was wrytten in tables None made righteous by y â— â—…awe Ceremonies of the law Sinnes for giuen by Christes death only Why the lawe was gyuen to one people The moral lawe commune to al The crede The maâ—…uge and preseruation of the world Why wee cal God fa ther. The making of maÌ„ The names of Adam 〈◊〉 The image that man was made after Gods ymage defa ced in maÌ„ Origynall synne The meanes of 〈◊〉 tion Gods 〈◊〉 The Serpents head The seede of the woman â–ª Christes 〈◊〉 deathe â–ª refurreccion and ascension The spirite seÌ„t downe The resurrection of Christe necessarie Christ gouernith his Church ab â—…ent God Christe is absent and presente in the worrd â–ª Christes 〈◊〉 cension Christes bo dily preseÌ„ce Christe coÌ„pared to y â— sonne Our profit by Christes ascenciâ—… Causes of Christes as câ—…tion Christ do ingâ—…s for 〈◊〉 behofe ChristiaÌ„ ex ample of lyfe vnto vs. Donor of Christ. The end of â—… world The â—…ay of dome The resur rection The holly Church Who be of Christs churthe Causes of our iustification Iustification by fayth Irewe faithe and works vnseparate â–ª The churche Marks of the church Keies to bynde and loose The holly Ghost Why the holy goste is called holy Whearin resteth the holy gostâ—… sanctifica tion Communion of Sainctes Why the churche is called vniuersall CoÌ„munioÌ„ of saints Paâ—…tes of godstrew inward ser uice The Sabbat Outward seruice of God What sacraments are The ministracion of baptysme The vse of the Lords supper The meaninge of baptisme The meaninge of y â— Lords sup per. The bread The wyne Howe we feede vpoÌ„ Christes bodye and bloud Fayth the mouthe of the soule Offyce of Preachers Prayer The lords prayer Whether we maye vse anye other praier but the pa ter noster Nothyng in y â— lardes prayer hard to vn derstande What we gather of our father What is meant by whych are in heauen God is ech wheat God alwaye present to helpe vs. How goddes name is to be hal lowed Christes kingdome not yet per fect Christes kingdom Gods will to be done Our dayly bread What bread mea neth EpiousioÌ„ Daylye breade or supernaturall Why wee aske oure bread to be daylye Forgyuenes of trespasses Our couenant with god as we forgiue c Charitable forgiuenesse one to and ther ceaseth bram les The harmes of coÌ„tencion Good not euell to be reÌ„dred for euell Our weak nesse Temptation Whi this is added for thyne is y â— kingdome c. Fayth in prayer What to be asked in prayer â—…onest frame of lyfe Knoledge desier fear loue of God Christeâ—… benefites to vs. Godlessnesse Superstition hipâ—… crisie Charitie The name of brethreÌ„ The law of nature Measure another 〈◊〉 thy selfe Degrees of chariti Uices to be rooted out y â— vertues maye be planted in theyr place The blysse of the god lye
rehearse Now therfore I wyll demaunde the questioÌ„s of certain pointes Scholer Do as shall please you Maister for ye maye more perfectlye instruct me in those thinges that I do not throughly vnderstand and put me in remembraÌ„ce of that I haue forgotteÌ„ and printe in my mynde deeper suche thynges as haue not taken stedfast hold thearin Master Tell me thâ—… â—…f by his death we get pardon of oure sinnes was not that enough but that he must also rise againe froÌ„ the deade â–ª Scho. It was not inough yf ye haue a respect eyther to hym or to vs. For vnlesse he hadde rysen agayne he shoulde not be taken for the sonne of God For whyche cause also whyle he hong vpoÌ„ the crosse thei that saw hym vpbrayded hym and sayde he hath saued other but can not saue hym selfe Let hym now come downe from the crosse and we will beleue hym But now vprisyng from the dead to euerlasting continuaunce of life he hathe shewed a mutche greater power of hys godheade then if by commyng downe froÌ„ the crosse he had fled from the terrible paines of death For to dye is comoÌ„ to all men but to louse the bondes of death and by his owne power to rise againe that properlye belongeth to Iesus Christe the onlye begotten sonne of God the only author of lyfe Moreouer it was necessarye that he should ryse again with glorie that the sayengs of Dauid and other prophetes of God myghte be fulfylled whych told before that neither hys body should se corruption nor hys soule be left in hel As for vs we neither had bene iustified nor had had anye hope left to ryse agayne had not he rysen agayne as Paule doth in diuerse places playnly shewe For if he had remayned in the prisoÌ„ of death in graue and bene holden in corruption as al men besyde how could we haue hoped for saf ty by hym whych saued not himself It was mete therfore needefull for the part that he had in haÌ„d and for the chiefe staye of our sauegarde that Christe shoulde fyrst delyuer hymselfe from deathe and afterwarde assure vs of safetye by his vprisyng agayne Master Thou hast touched my sonne the chiefe cause of Christes risinge agayâ—… â–ª Now would I faine heart thy mynde of his going vp into heauen What answere thinkest thou is to be made to them that say it had beâ—… better for hym to tarie hear with vs presentlye to rule gouerne vs For besyde other diuerse causes it is â—…lye that the loue of the people toward theyr prince specially beyng good and gracious should grow the grea ter by his present company Scholer All theese thynges whych he should do present that is to saye if he were in company amoÌ„g vs he doth theÌ„ absent He ruleth maintayneth strengthneth defeÌ„deth rebuketh punysheth correcteth and performeth all suche thynges as do become such a prince or rather God himself Al those thinges I saye performeth he which belong eyther to our neede or profit honour or coÌ„moditie Beside this Christ is not so all together absent from the world as mani do suppose For albeit the substaunce of his body be takeÌ„ vp from vs yet is his Godheade perpetuallye presente wyth vs although not subiect to the sight of our eyes For thynges that be not bâ—…dylye can not be perceiued by any bodyly meane Who euer sawe hys owne soulâ—… No man Yet what is theaâ—… more present or what to 〈◊〉 man nearer than hys owne soule Spiritual thinges 〈◊〉 not to be seen but wyth the eye of the spirite The arfeâ—… he that in earth wyll see the Godhead of Christ let hym open the eyes not of his bodye but of hys mynde but of his faith and he shall set him preseÌ„t whom eye hath not seen he shall see him present and in the myddes of them whearsoeuer be two or three gathered together in his name he shal see him present wyth vs euen vnto the ende of the â–ª world What sayde â–ª Iâ—… shall he see Christe present â–ª Yea he shall both se feele him dwellyng within himselfe in sutch sorte as he dothe hys owne proper soule For he dwelleth and â—…ydeth in the mynde and harte of hym whyche fasteneth all hys trust in hym Master Uery well but oure confession is that he is asceÌ„ded by into heauen Tell me thearfore how that is to be vnderstanded Scholer So vse we commoÌ„lye to say of him that hath attayned to any hye degree or dignitie that he is ascended vp or aduaunced in to some hye roume some hye place or state because heâ—… hath chaunged hys formeâ—… case and is become of more honor thaÌ„ the rest In sutâ—… case is Christ gon vp as hâ—… before came down He came downe from hiest honour to deepest dishonoure euen the dishonour and vyle state of a seruant and of the crosse â–ª And lykewyse afterwards he went vp from the depest dyshonoure to the hyest honoure euen that same honour whych he had before hys goyng vp into heauen yea aboue all heauens to the very roial throne of god muste needes be euident by moste iust reason that hys glory and maiestye myghte in comparison agreably answer to the proportioÌ„ of hys basenesse and reprochefull estate This doth Paul teach vs in hys wrytynge to the Philippians he became obedient eueÌ„ vnto death yea the very death of the crosse Whearfore God bath both aduaunced hym to the hyest state of honour and also geuen hym a name aboue al names that at y â— name of Iesus eueri kne shold bow of al things in heaueÌ„ earth hell But although he be alredy gone vp into heaueÌ„ neuertheles bi his nature of godhead by his spirit he shal alwaies be preseÌ„t in his church eueÌ„ to the end of the world Yet thys proueth not that he is preseÌ„t amoÌ„g vs in his body For his Godhead hath one propertye his maÌ„head another Hys maÌ„head was create his godhed vncreate His maÌ„head is in soÌ„â—… one place of heaueÌ„ his godhed is in such sort ech wher that it filleth both heauen â–ª earthe But to make thys poiÌ„t plainer by a similitude or comparing of like to like Ther is nothyng that doth trulier like a shadow expres Christ theÌ„ the soÌ„ne for it is a fit image of the light and brightnes of Christ. The soÌ„ doth alway kepe the heaueÌ„ yet do we sai that it is preseÌ„e also in y â— â–ª world for without lyght thear is nothyng present that is to say nothyng to be seen of any man for the sonne wyth hys lyghte fulfilleth al things So Christ is lyfted vp aboue all heauens that he maye be preseÌ„t wyth all and fully furnyshe all things as S. Paul doth saye But as touchynge the bodylye presente of Christe heare in earthe if it be lawfull to place in comparison great thinges wyth small Christes bodye is present to our faith as the sonne whâ—… it is seen is preseÌ„t to the eyâ—… â–ª the bodie wherof
although it do not bodylye touche the eye nor be presently wyth 〈◊〉 together hear in earthe yet is it present to the sight notwithstanding so large a distaunce of space betwen So Christes body which at his glorious going vp was coÌ„ueyed from vs which hath left the worlde and is gone vnto hys father is a greate way absent froÌ„ our mouth euen then when we receyue wyth our mouth the holye sacrament of his body and bloude Yet is oure fayth in heauen and beholdeth that sonne of righteousnesse and is presently together wyth him in heauen in sutch sort as the syghte is in heauen with the body of the sonne or in earthe the sonne wyth the syght And as the sonne is present to all thinges by hys light so is Christe also in hys godhead Yet neither can from the body the light of the sonne be sondred nor from hys immortall bodye the godhead of Christe We muste thearfore so say that Christes bodye is in some one place of heaueÌ„ and hys godhead euerywhear that we neyther of hys godhead make a body nor of hys bodye a God Master I see my son thâ—…n art not ignorant after what sorte Christ is rightly sayd to be from vs in bodye and with vs in spirit But thyâ—… one thyng would I knowe of thee why Christ our lord is thus conueied awaye froÌ„ the syghte of oure eyes and what profit we take by his goyng vp to heauen Scholer The chefe cause theâ—… of was to plucke out of vs that false opinion whyche sometyme deceaued the Apostles theymselues that Christ should in earth visibly reigne as other kinges and rufflyng princes of the world This errour he minded to haue vtterly suppressed in vs and that we shuld thyncke hys kyngdome to consyst in hyer thynges Which thinge he thearfore thoughte fytter because it was more for our comoditie and profitte that some such kyngdome should be set vâ—… as the foundacions thearof should rest vpon our fayth Whearfore it was necessary that he shoulde be conueyed away from vs past perceyuing of all bodily sense that by thys meane oure faythe might be styrred vp and exercised to consyder hys gouernement and prouidence whom no syght of bodylye eyes can behold And forasmutch as he is not kyng of some one country alone but of heaueÌ„ and earth of quick and dead it was moste conuenient that hys kingdome should be otherwyse gouerned then our senses may aâ—…teine vnto For ells he shold haue bene constrained some tyme to be caried vp to heauen sometyme to be dryuen downe to the earthe to remoue sometyme in to one countrey sometyme into another and lyke an earthly prynce to be caryed hether thether by dyuerse chauÌ„ge of chaunsable affayres For he could not be preseÌ„tli with all at once vnlesse hys body weare so turned in to Godheade that he myght be in all or in many places together as Eutyches and certeyne lyke heretykes helde opinion Yf it so wear that he myghte be eche whear present with al at one verye instaunt time then wear he not man but a ghoste â–ª neyther shoulde he haue â–ª had a trewe bodye but a fantasticall whearof shoulde haue spronge foorth with a thowsaÌ„d errors all whych he hath dispatched by carienge hys bodie vp whole to heauen In the meane season he â–ª remaynynge inuisible gouerneth his kingdoÌ„e and commen weale that is his church â–ª with soueraign wysdome and power It is for men to rule theyr commune weales by a certayne ciuile policie of men but for Christ and God by a heaueÌ„ lye godlyke â–ª order But all that I haue hetherto sayde conteyneth but a small parcell of the profytte that we take by the caryenge vp of Christes body into heauen For ther ar many mo thinges that heare might be rehearsed whearof large store of fruite is to be gathered But specially this may not be left vnspoken that the be nefits are sutch so greate â–ª which come vnto vs by the deathe risynge agayne and goinge vp of Christ as no tonge eyther of men or angeles is able to expres And that you maye knowe my mynde hearein I wyll rehearse certayne of the chefe whearunto as it wear two principall poyntes the rest may be applyed I say therfore that both by these and other doings of Christ two coÌ„modities do growe vnto vs the one that al the thinges that euer he hath don â–ª for our profyt and behofe he hath done theÌ„ so that they be as well oure owne yf we will cleaue thearunto wyth stedfast and lyuely faith as if we had done them oure selues He was nailed to the crosse we wear also nayled with him and in him oure synnes punished â–ª He dyed was buryed we lykewyse with our sinnes are dead buried that in sutche sorte that all remeÌ„braunce of our synnes is vtterly taken out of mynde He is risen again and we are also risen again wyth hym that is are so made partakers of hys rysyng againe and lyfe that from hensforth death hath no more rule ouer vs. For y â— same spirit is in vs that raised vp Iesus froÌ„ the deade Finallye as he is gone vp into heauenly glorye so are we lifted vp with hym Albeit that these thynges do not nowe appeare yet then shall they all be broughte to light wheÌ„ Christ the lightâ—… of the world shal shew him self in his glorye in whome all oure blisse is layde vp in store Moreouer by hys goyng vp are grauÌ„ted vs the giftes of the holy ghost as Paule doth sufficiently witnesse Ephe. iiii The other commoditie which we take by the doinges of Christ is that Christe is set for an example vnto vs to frame our lyues thereaster Yf Christe hath bene deade if he hath bene buryed for sin he was so but ones If he be risen agayne if he be gone vppe to heauen he is but ones risen but ones gone vp FroÌ„ hensforth he dieth no more but lf neth with God reygneth in euerlastyng continuauÌ„ce of glory So if we be deade if we be buried to sin Howe shall we heare after lyue in the same If we be rysen again with Christ if by sted fast hope we lyue nowe in heauen with him heauenlye and godlye thinges not earthly and frail we ought to set oure care vpon And euen as hearetofore we haue borne the image of y â— earthli man so from henseforward lette vs beare the image of the heauenly As the Lord Christ neuer ceased to do vs good by bestowing vpoÌ„ vs his holye spirite by garnyshinge his churche wyth so many notable giftes and by perpetual praying to his father for vs Lyke reason oughte to moue vs to aydâ—… oure neyghboure wyth all our endeuoure to maintain as much as in vs lyeth the bond of charity And to honoure Christ our Lord and sauioure not wyth wythed tradicions and cold deuises of men but wyth heauenly honour spiritual in dede most fyt for vs that giue it hym
that shall receyue it euen as he hathe honoured doth honour hys father For he that honoureth him honoreth also the father of whiche he him self is a substantiall witnesse Maist. The end of the world hoâ—… scripture calleth the ful fyllynge parformaunce of the kyngdome and mistery of Christ and the renewing of all thynges For saythe â—…he Apostle Peter in his seâ—…oÌ„d Epistle the third chapter We loke for a new heauen and a new earth according to the promise of God whearin dwelleth ryghteousnesse And it semeth reason that corruption vnstedfaste chaunge and synne wherunto the whole world is subiect shoulde at length haue an end Now bi what way and what fasshioÌ„ circumstaunces these thinges shal come to passe â–ª I would fayne heare the tell Scholer I will tell you as well as I can accordyng to the wytnesse of the same Apostle The heauens shall passe awaye like a storme â–ª â—… elementes shal melt awaye the earthe all the workes therein â–ª shall bee consumed wyth fyre as thoughe he shuld say as gould is wont to be fined so shal the whole world be purified with fire and be broughte to hys full perfection The lesser world whiche is man folowynge the same shall lykewyse bee delyuered from corruption and chaunge And so for maÌ„ this greater worlde which for hys sake was first created shall at leÌ„gth be renewed be clad wyth another hew much more pleasaunt and beutifull Master What then remayneth Scholer The laste and generall dome For Christe shall come at whoes voice al the deade shall ryse againe â–ª perfecte and sound both in bodi and soule The whole world shall beholde hym sittynge in the Royall throne of hys Maiestie and after the examination of euerye mannes conscience the laste sentence shalbe pronouÌ„ced Then the chyldren of God shall bee in perfecte possessyon of that kingdome of fredome from death and of euerlastig life whyche was prepared for theim before the foundacyons of the world were layd And they shal reygne wyth Christe for euer But the vngodlye that beleued not shall be throwen froÌ„ thense into euerlastynge fyre appoynted for the deuyll and hys angelles Master Thou haste saide ynoughe of the agayn rising of the deade Nowe remayneth that thou speke of the holye churche whearof I would very fayne hear thy opinion Scholer I wil rehearse that in fewe words shortly whiche the holye scryptures set out at large and plentifulli â–ª Afroe that the Lorde God had made the heauen and erth he determined to haue for himself a most beautiful kyngdome and holy comoÌ„ wealth The Apostles and the auncient fathers that wrote in Greeke called it Ecclesia in englyshe a congregation or assemble into the whych he hath admytted an infinite noÌ„ber of meÌ„ that should all be subiect to one king as their souereign and only one head hym we call Christe whythe is as mutch to say as anoynted â–ª For the hye byshoppes and kinges among the Iewes who in fygure betokened Christ whom the Lord annoynted with his holy spirite wear wont by Gods appointment at theyr consecration to haue materyall oile poured on them To the furnishyng of this common weale belonge all they as many as do truly feare honour cal vpon God whol ly applyeng theyr mynde to holy and godly lyuing and all those that puttynge all theyr hope trust in hym do assuredlye looke for the blisse of euerlastig lyfe But as many as ar in this faith stedfast â–ª weare forechosen predestinate apoynted out to euerlastig lyfe before the world was made Wytnesse hereof they haue wythin in theyr hartes the spirite of Christ the author earnest vnfailable pledge of theyr fayth Whych faith only is able to perceyue the misteries of God only bryngeth peace vnto the hart onli taketh hold on the righteousnes that is in Christ Iesus Master Doth then the spirite alone and fayth sleepe we neuer so soundlye or staÌ„d we neuer so recklesse slothfull so woorke all thynges for vs as without any help of our owne to carye vs idle vp to heauen Scholer I vse maister as you haue taughte mee to make a dyfference betwene the cause and the effectes â–ª The first principall moste perfect cause of oure iustifyenge and saluation is the goodnesse and loue of God wherby he chose vs for his before he made the worlde After that god grauÌ„teth vs to be called by the preachiÌ„g of y e Gospel of Iesus Christ when the spirit of the Lord is poured in to vs by whose guyding and gouernaunce we be led to settle our truste in God and hope forthe per formaunce of all hys promises With thys choyse is ioyned as companion thâ—… mortifyeng of the old man that is of our affectioÌ„ lust FroÌ„ the same spirit also tometh our sanctification the loue of God of our neighbour iustice and vpryghtnesse of life finally to say all in summe whatsoeuer is in vs â–ª or maye be done of vs pure honest true and good that altogether spryngeth out of thys most pleasauntâ—… roote from this most plentyfull fountayne the goodnesse loue â—…hoyse and vnchauÌ„geable purpose of god He is the cause the rest are the frâ—…tes and effectes â—…et ar also the goodnesse choise spirit of God and Christe himselfe causes conioyned and coupled ethe wyth other which mai be reckened amonge the principall causes of our saluation As ofte thearfore as we vse to saye that wee are made ryghteous and saued bi only faith it is meante theareby that fayth or rather truste alone doth lay hand vpon vnderstaÌ„d and perceyue our righteousmakyng to be geueÌ„ 〈◊〉 of God freely that is to say â–ª by no desertes of oure own â–ª but by the free graâ—…e of the almighti father â–ª Moreouer sayth doth engender in vs the loue of our neyghbour â–ª and sutch workes as god is pleased wyth all For if it 〈◊〉 a liuely true faith quikâ—… ned by the holy ghost she is the mother of all good sayinge and doynge By thyâ—… short tale is it euideÌ„t wheÌ„ce and by what meanes we attayne to be made righteous For not by the worthynesse of our deseruinges were we eyther heartofore chosen or long ago saued but by the only mercy of god and pure grace of Christ oure Lorde whearby we weare in hym made to those good workes that God hath apointed for vs to walke in And althoughe good woorkes can not deserue to make vs righ teous before god yet do thei so cleaue vnto faythe that neither can fayth be founde without theÌ„ nor good workes be any whear wythout faythe Master I lyke verye well thys shorte declaration of fayth and workes for Paul playnly teacheth the same But canst thou yet further depaint me out that coÌ„gregacion whych thou callest a kingdome or comoÌ„ weale of Christianes and so set it out before mine eyes that it may seuerally and playnly be knowen asonder froÌ„ eche other fellowshyppe of men
that it canne not be but that he must heare me and be pleased wyth my praiers For I am hys Sonne although vnprofitable disobedient and he on the other side is my moste bountyfull father moste readye to take pity and pardon me Maist. Why doste thousaye he is in heauen is he in sō◅ o◅e certayne and lymited place in heauen ▪ what me◅ ▪ neth that which he sayth of hym selfe I fyll bothe heauen and earthe agayn the heauen is my seate and the earthe my footestoole Scholer Hereof haue I spoken some what before wher vnto I wyl ioyne this that foloweth Fyrst of all as oft as we do say which arte in heauen it is as much to sai as heauēly and diuine For we ought to thyncke much hier of our heauenly father thā of our earthly He is also sayde to be in heauen for this cause that in that hye and heauēly place the n◅ ble and wonderful workes of God do the more clearly and gloriously shewe them selues and he is now declared to be in euerlasting and full felicity whereas we abide yet banyshed in earthe full wretchedlye Moreouer as the heauen by vnmeasurable widnesse of compasse conteyneth all places the earthe and the sea and no place is thear that maye be hidde from the large reatch of heauen sith it is at euery instāt of time to euery thing present So hearby may we vnderstād that god is likewyse present to eche thynge in eche place He seeth heareth and gouerneth al thinges he beyng hym self a spirite and moste farre from al earthlye and mortall state Wytnesse whereof Hieremy the Prophete Am not I saythe the Lorde a God neare vnto you and am not I a God farre of shall anye man be able to shroude hym selfe in suche a corner that I can not espye hym This is a pithye sentence to driue feare into vs that we offend not that Lorde of so large a dominion wherby also we are perswaded assuredly to beleue that God wyll heare whensoeuer we shall stande in nede For he is at al times and in all places presente This foundacion then laid and so sweete and plesaunte entraunce prepared ther foloweth the fyrst parte of the Lordes prayer wherein we requyre that not onlye wee but also all other who soeuer maye in holynes honor reuerence and worshyp hys name Master Howe is that to bee done Scholer I shall shewe you then we do that when leauing all those that haue the name of gods be thei in hea uen or in earthe or worshipped in temples in dyuerse shapes and images wee acknowledge him alone oure father Prai to the true god and Iesus Christ hys onlye sonne whome he hath sent and by pure vnfained praier call vpon him alone wyth vprightnes of life and innocencye Master Thou hast sayd berye well proceede Scholer In the second parte we require that hys kyngedome come For we see not yet all thynges in subiection to Christe we see not the stone he wed offrō the moūtayne wythoute woorke of mā which all to brosed and brought to nought y ◠image whiche Daniell desc◅iueth that the onlye rocke Christe may obtayn and possesse the dominiō of the hole world graūted him of his father Antichrist is not yet slayne For thys cause do we longe for and praye that it may at length come to passe and be fulfylled that Christe may reign with his sainctes accordinge to Gods promises that hee maye lyue and bee Lorde in the worlde accordynge to the decrees of the holye Gospell not after the traditions and lawes of mē nor pleasure of worldlye tyrauntes Master God graunte hys kyngdome may come and that spedilye Scholer Moreouer sithe it is the chyldrens duty to frame theyr lyfe too theyr fathers wyll and not the fathers to bowe to the childrens pleasure forasmuch as our wyl is ◅ommonly by tickling of affeccions and stirringe of lustes drawen to dooe those thynges that God is displesed with it is reasō that we hange whollye vppon the b◅k of our heauēly father wholy submit oure selues to his heauenli gouermnēt Wherefore for thys cause we mortall mē do pray that we maye in like case be obedient to his commaūdemēt as are the sonne and Mone and other sterres in heauen whiche bothe by ordinarye courses and by lightninge the earthe with vncessaun◅e beames execute the Lordes wyll continuallye Or that we as the āgels and other spirites ▪ diuine in al pointes obey him which bestowe al theyr trauayle diligently to accomplish hys godly commaundementes Next after that he teacheth vs to aske of our heauenly father our breade wherby he meaneth not meate onlye but also all thynges elles needefull for maynetenaunce and preseruinge of life that we maye learn that God alone is authoure of al thynges which maketh the fruytes of the earthe bothe to growe and encrease to plentye Wherefore it is meete that we c◅ll vpon hym alone in prayer which as Dauid sayth ◅ loue feedeth a◅d maynteyneth all thinges Master Some suppose this place to meane that bread that Christe maketh men◅on of in the .vi. of Ihon. That is of the true knoweledge and taste of Christe that was borne and dyed for vs wherwyth the faithfull soule is fedde The reasō wherupon they gather this is the greke woorde epiousion whereby they vnderstande supernaturall ghostly heauenly and diuine This mea nynge I refuse not for both these expositions may fitlye agree with this place but whi calleth he it daily bred whiche is also signified by thys worde epiousion Scholer We aske daily bread that myghte be alwayes presente and accompanye vs contynuallye to slake and satisfye oure thyrstye desyre and vnsaciat stomacke least otherwise we shuld be as Christ sayeth carefull for to morowe because the morowe shall care for it selfe For it shall come not wythout his own discōmoditie care Wherfore it is not reason that one day shoulde encrease the euell of another It shall be sufficient for vs dayly to aske that our most bountifull father is readye dayly to gyue Now foloweth the fifthe requeste wherein we beseeche the father to forgeue vs oure trespasses and de◅auts that we haue committed This request doutles is veri necessarye sithe there is no man liuinge free from sinne Here therfore must we cast away all trust of our selues Heare must we plucke downe our courage Here must we prai oure moste mercifull father for the loue of Iesu Christe hys moste deare and obedyent sonne to pardō forgeue and vtterly blot oute of hys boke our innumerable offēces Heare oughte we in the meane seasō to be myndfull of the couenauute we make wyth God That it maye please God so to forgeue vs our trespaces as we our selues forgiue theim that trespasse agaynste vs. Therfore it is necessarye that we forgyue and pardone all men all theyr offenses of what sort or condition so euer thei be If we forgiue men there faultes our
heauenly father shall forgiue vs oures Master Were these things my sonne thus vsed thear shuld not at this daye thus violentlye reigne so manye brawles so many contentions so many so haynous disagremeÌ„ts eninities and hatreds of one man to another But nowe wheras ech man so staÌ„deth in hys owne conceite that he wyâ—… not lesâ—… an ynche of hys ryght neyther in honoure or wealthe it chaunceth ofte that they lease bothe theyr wealthe theyr honour and their life it selfe wythal Yea they put from them selues and turne awaye the fauoure of God and euerlasting glory But thou my sonne must not be ignorante of Christes commauÌ„demeÌ„t nor of that whiche Paul techeth that thou suffer not thy self to be ouercome of euell that is suffer not thy selfe fo to be seduced by any other mans offence as to repay euel for euel but rather ouercome euell with good I meane by doing hi good y t hath done the euell by vsing hun freÌ„dly y â— hath shewed him self thi most cru â—…ll foe Now go forward to the sixthe request Scholer I wyl with a good will as you coÌ„maunde me Forasmuchas we be feble weake subiect to a thousaÌ„d periles a M. teÌ„ptatioÌ„s easy to be ouercome redy to yeld to euerye lyght occasyon either to men fraughte wyth malice or to our owne â—…ste and appetit or finally 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 crafti malicious serpent 〈◊〉 deuel Therefore we beseche oure father that hee bringe vs into no such hard 〈◊〉 and peril nor leaue vs in the verye plunge of daunger but if it come to that poynt that hee rather take vs awaye from the present myschief and engynes of the deuell the authoure and principall cause of all euell then suffer vs to runne headlong into destruction Now haue you good Mayster in fewe woordes all that you haue taught me vnlesse paradueÌ„ ture somewhat be ouerslipped in the rehearsall Master Because thyne is the kyngdome power and glorye for euer Amen Why was it Christes pleasure to knytte vp our prayer with this clause in the ende Scholer Partly that we shuld declare our assured trust to obtayne al things that we before haue required For there is nothynge whyche if it be asked with faithe he is not able or not willing to geue who ruleth gouerneth all thynges who is able to doo all thynges who is garnyshed wyth endlesse glorye These thynges when we rehearse of God oure father there remaineth no cause to dout or suspect that we shal receaue denyall Partlye by so saying we teache our selues how mete it is to make our sute to God sithe besyde hym none glistreth with so shining glory none hath dominion so large or force so great to be able to stay him from geuing that he hathe appoynted according to his pleasure or to take awaye that he hath already geuen vs. And there is no euell of oures so great that may not be put awaye by his exceadynge greate power glorye and wysdome Master I like wel my son thys thy shorte declaration and I see nothing left out that oughte to haue beene spoken Scholer But yet thys one thynge wyll I adde therto The chiefe and Princypall thynge required in prayer is that without al douting we stedfastli beliue that god oure father wyll graunte what we do aske so y â— it bee neyther vnprofytable for vs to receiue nor vnfyt for him to giue For hee that is not assured but doutful let him not thincke as Iames. saieth to gette anye thynge at the handes of God Master I se now my deare sonne howe diligently and hedefullye thou hast applyed thy mynde to those thinges that I haue taughte y â— howe godlye and vpryghte a iudgemente thou haste of gods true seruice and of the duites of neighbours one to another Thys remayneth that from hensforth thou so frame thy life that this hea uenly and godli knowledge decai not in the nor lie soulelesse and dead as it were in a tombe of the flesh But rather see that thou whollye gyue thy self continually earnestly to these godlie studies So shalt thou liue not onlye in this present life but also in the life to come â–ª whiche is much better and blesseder than thys life present For Godlines as Paul saieth hathe a promise not in thys lyfe onlye but in the other It is conuenient therfore that we earnestlye follow godlines which plainly openeth the way to heauen if we wyll seke to attain therunto And the principal poiÌ„t of godlines is as thou hast declared euen now veri well to know God only to couet him only as the chefe felicity to feare him as oure Lord to loue and reuerence him as our father with his sonne oure sauyoure Iesus Christe Thys is he y â— hath be gotten and regenerat vs. This is he which at the beginninge gaue vs life and soule whiche mainteineth which blesseth vs with life of euerlasting coÌ„tinuaÌ„ce To thys godlynesse is directlye coÌ„trary godlessnesse As for supersticion and hipocrisye they counterfet in dede and resemble it wher as neuerthelesse they are most farre different from all true godlinesse therfore we ought to auoide theym as a pestylence as the venime most contagious enemyes of our soul and saluacioÌ„ The next poynt of godlines is to loue eche man as oure brother For if God did at the beginning create vs al if he doth fede and gouerne vs finally if he be the cause and author of our dwelling in this wide frame of the world the name of brother must nedes most fitly agree with vs with so muche streyghter bonde shall we be bound together as we approche nearer to Christ which is oure brother y â— fyrst begotteÌ„ eldest whoÌ„ he y â— knoweth not he y â— hath no hold of is vnrightous in dede hath no place amonge the people of God For Christ is the roote and foundation of al ryght and iustice he hathe poured into our hartes certaine naturall lessoÌ„s as Do that sayeth he to another that thou woldest haue done vn to thi self Beware therfore thou do nothing to ani maÌ„ that thou thy self wouldest not willinglye suffer Measure all wayes another by thine own minde as thou select in thy selfe If it greue the to suffer iniurye if thou thincke it wronge that another man doth to the iudge likewise the same in the per son of thy neyghboure that thou fealest in thy selfe and thou shalte perceiue that y â— dost no lesse wrongfullye in hurtyng another thaÌ„ other do in hurtiÌ„g the. Heare if we would stedfastlye fasten our fote heareunto if we would earnestlye trauaill we shuld attaine to y â— very hiest top of innocencye For the firste degre therof is to offeÌ„d â—…omaÌ„ The next to helpe as much as in vs lieth al meÌ„ at least to wil wish wel to al. The third which is acouÌ„ted the cheif and perfectest is to do good