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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A03087	A simple, and religious consultation of vs Herman by the grace of God Archebishop of Colone, and prince Electour. [et] c. by what meanes a Christian reformation, and founded in Gods worde, of doctrine, administration of the deuine sacramentes, of ceremonies, and the hole cure of soules, and other ecclesiastical ministeries may be begon among men committed to our pastorall charge, vntil the Lorde graunt a better to be appoynted either by a free, and Christian cou[n]sayle, general, or national, or elles by the states of the empire of the natio[n] of Germanie, gathered together in the holye Gost; Einfaltigs Bedencken, warauff ein christliche in dem Wort Gottes gegrünte Reformation an Lehr, Brauch der heyligen Sacramenten un Ceremonien, Seelsorg und anderem Kirchendienst, biss auff eines freyen, christlichen, gemeinen oder nationals Concilii, oder dess Reichs Teutscher Nation Stende, im Heyligen Geyst versamelt, Verbesserung, bei denen so unserer Seelsorge befohlen, anzurichten seye, English	Wied, Hermann von.; Melanchthon, Philipp, 1497-1560.; Bucer, Martin, 1491-1551.	1547 (1547)	STC 13213; ESTC S103980	258,817	620

same haue mercie on me for thy sonnes Iesus Christe whiche for our sakes was made a sacrifice Kindle my minde with thy lighte and gouerne me with thy holy spirite whiche thou haste promised vs for thy sōnes sake Thus in our praier we must euer cōprehēd Christ the mediatour as the church hath vsen in collets A fourme of calling vpon Christ frō the beginning adding these wordes in th ende thorow Christ our Lorde Moreouer this is a true inuocation acceptable to God O Lorde Iesu Christe the sonne of God heare me loke vpō me pitie me and geue me thy holy spirite and eternal lyfe Thus we reade that S. Stephan Act. viij called vpō Christ Lorde Iesu receiue my spirite Such prayer attibuteth vnto Christ the glorie of diuinitie for that that God hath reueiled him selfe in hym and worketh together with hym as we reade Io. v. what so euer the father worketh the same doeth the sonne also And in the xiiij He that seeth me seeth the father I am in the father and the father is in me This is the sentence of such an inuocation Lorde Iesu Christe sōne of God healpe me geue me thy holy spirite which together cōfesseth the father the sōne whiche is mediatoure and the holy gooste Wherefore this article of the diuine substaūce and of the thre persons must be learned and exercised in dayly prayers But forasmuch as this sincere doctrine of true and godly inuocatiō is horribly darkened Agaynst the inuocation of dead sayntes and ymages thorow that abomimable wickednesse and madnes vpon Idols whiche is cōmitted in calling vpō dead men their images bones wherunto they haue boūd not only diuine power but also a certen peculiar strēgth and efficacie of saintes wheras yet it is euidēt that we must assigne the power working of god to nothing in which god him selfe hath not expressedly witnessed in his worde that he wyl gyue the same but it is playne that deade mē helpe nobody Nor worke in ydoles for these causes I saye the people muste be called backe from suche ydolotrye vnto the true and religiouse inuocation of God as to a moste godlye worke and principall worshypping of God wherin we chiefely learne and feele which is the true fayth yea this is the only worke wherby the true people of God may be most discerned from the vngodly Of the creation and gouernaunce of al thinges OVre hole saluatiō and euerlasting lyfe consisteth herin that we truly knowe God in oure Lorde Iesus Christe that is to saye with a sure and lyuely fayth In thys knowledge the chiefest poynt is to knowe that it is God which made all thinges and preserueth and gouerneth the same alone wherfore the preachers shall studye to declare to the people wyth singuler dylygence and to beate into their heads those places of the scripture that teach and testifie of the eternal substaūce of God of his power knowledge goodnesse and seueritie for wythout this knowledge and fayth we can neuer truely and effectuously fele our sinnes much lesse repent and amende our selues neyther shal the law alone driue vs therunto for what shal eyther his preceptes or threates moue or feare vs of whose power bowntuousnes or seueritie as yet we knowe or fele nothinge substantially and effectuosely wherfore he that wil comme to God muste necessarily knowe afore hande and beleue that it is God which made preserueth and iudgeth all men and largelye rewardeth them that loue him Very many boste them selues to knowe God but in that that thei studi not to frame their life according to the wil of god dispising the worde of God they beare sufficiente witnes of thē selfe to the cōtrary namely that they say in theyr hertes there is no God though they confesse the same before men It is therfore ryght necessarye that preachers often tymes and with great diligence do propounde and beate in to theyr eares the common place of creation preseruacion and gouernaūce of all thynges And in the article of the creation of thynges the pastours shal diligently teach that that Lorde whiche delyuered the ten commaundementes the whole holy scripture and the gospell it selfe is the only true God and maker of thinges whiche of no thinge created heauen earth the sea and whatsoeuer is conteined in thē our selues also and alone preserueth the same throughe his power and hath partly made the other creatures subiecte vnto vs beinge created to his ymage appoyntynge them to a profitable vse and partly ordeyned them to the ministerye of the health both of the bodye and soule Wherfore the preachers shal often allege faythfully declare and printe in the mindes of theyr herers those places of the scripture that teache that God made vs and al other thinges of no thinge and that we were fashoned after the ymage of god finally that inferiour creatures be subiecte vnto oure rule by Goddes ordinance and that the superiour creatures be appoynted to procure oure healthe that the same herers maye dayly lerne more and more the almightines and goodnes of Goddes maiestie and that in them selues and in all other thinges that they handle in whyche they be occupyed whyche they beholde here or by any meanes do exercise they knowe hym haue him in reuerēce prayse him cal vpon him And that therby they may trust more fully in the almightines goodnes of God and more cherefully obey his cōmaūdementes and also feare his wrathe the more and that they maye vse all thinges whiche they do vse in this lyfe as the moste holy creatures and gistes of God and our sauiour wyth more holynes dayly and thankfulnes and larger liberalytie towardes theyr neighbours ▪ For this cause the prophets in the prayses of God do so magnifie and sette before our eyes with moste elegant descripcions the principal and notablest workes of God in the vniuersall nature of thynges as the heauens the son the moone the sterres the Why the holy scripture often propoūneth vnto vs the merueylous workes of God clowdes the wyndes mystes rayne dewe snowe froste thunder lyghtnynge mountaynes valleys fildes contreys medowes springes riuers standinge waters sondry trees and herbes the pryncypall kyndes of beastes both tame and wylde men and other innumerable workes of God For whiche many psalmes doe greatly magnifie the glory of God as psal xix xcv Ciiii. Cxxxvi. Cxlv. Cxlvii Cxlviii Iob doeth the same thinge from the xxxviii Chapiter to th ende of his booke And Esay in the .xl. chapter vnto th ende of hys boke Lyke places ye shal finde in other canonicall bookes euery where This contemplaciō of the notable workes of God and admiracion of the diuine maieste was the cause why Christe the Lorde hym selfe and other sayntes lyfted vp theyr eyes and handes to heauē whē they praye And in the fourme of prayinge the Lorde taught vs to saye Oure father whiche arte in heauen for when we behold wyth oure eyes and myndes those mooste excellent and wonderfull workes

but worcketh euer bestoweth benifittes and doeth al thinges for the felicite of men whereby we myght iustly acknowledge his exeding loue towardes vs. Moreouer thys article muste be taughte the people and be commended to them with singuler diligence for thys cause also that the vn Godlye custome of callinge vpon sayntes departed and desiringe of them good helth temperatines of the ayer peace and such benifittes maye be taken awaye feinge that these thinges be not the worckes of holye men nor of anye creature but be the workes and benifittes of God onely Of the cause of sinne and death VVhan mention is made of the creatiō the preachers must together Agaynste the vngodlie doctrine concerning saintes teache playnly and distinctly that synne that is to saye concupiscence corruption of iudgement and wyll and further more al noughtye motions or il doinges be not created of God but springe from the libertye of the apostata spirite and of man as it is written Iohan. viii whā the diuel speaketh a lye he speaketh of hys owne for he is a lyer and the father of lyes that is to saye the cause and the autour Psal v. Thou art not the God that willeth iniquitye Zacharye viii Lette not euerye one of you deuise euil agaynste hys frende and loue not a falfe oth for all these be the thinges that I hate sayth the Lorde Roma v. Thorowe one man synne entred into the worlde and death thorowe synne i. Iohn ij the lust of the fleshe and the lust of the eyes and pryde of lyfe is not frō the father but from the worlde By these and manie other testimonies it is euident that God wyl not synne neyther Euerie synne that man cōmitteth is cōmitted thorow his own wyll created nor worketh the same But after that the deuyll and man slydde from God suche slydynge and turnynge awaye came frome theyr owne wyll And thoughe after the fall of Adam all men conceyued by mannes seede are borne in originall synne neuertheles actuall synne is the propre and free worke of mānes wil and not necessary that is to saye al be it that the deuyl pricked forth Cain to the slaughter of his brother and though he were enflamed wyth anger neuertheles he myghte yet haue holden his handes and he cōmitted that mischiefe not thorowe a constrayned wyll but thorowe a readie wyl and agreable He shoulde haue resisted his anger and lust and haue prayed God for remission of the euyll sprongen vp in him haue asked the healpe of god to resist that mischiefe So vndoutedly he should haue felte strength to resiste Satan and the tentations of his proper fleshe Now punishmentes iustly accompanye sinful Synne is the cause of death and all miseries Roma v. and wycked actes Wherefore Paule sayth wel thorough sinne death entred into the worlde And agayne we maye plainly see that whole mankinde is subiecte both to perpetual sinnes and also punyshmētes and oppressed with so manye and so greate calamities that mannes mynde can not cōprehende them in thoughte but he must needes be agaste whyle he cōsidereth so greate a sea of mischeiues here we must diligently discerne betwene the creature of God and our sinne God made mā ryght and blessed hym but man gaue hym selfe amiserable wounde This wounde remaineth perpetually in the creatures thorough propagation Originall synne and generation and other infinite sinnes and punishmētes folowe this wounde And this is our faute not Gods as Oseas testifieth cha xiii Thy destruction cometh from thy selfe Israel but thy helpe is in me only Item Psal xxxix For iniquitie thou rebukest man and al his beautie wasteth awaye lyke agarment gnawen of mothes Euerye man is a certaine vaine thinge Wherfore whē we see those horrible punishmētes death sicknes war and sūdrie lyke miseries lette vs knowe that they be the punishmētes of sinne and that thei happen not to mankinde by chaunce but by the wyll and permission of God by reason of God sendeth greuouser afliction to the sayntes that he may make them vnderstande the horriblenes of synne sin And though the saintes be acceptable to God and please hym for Christes sake yet thorough the meruailous purpose of God in this lyfe they be subiecte vnto the crosse For God wyll that the churche do ernestly acknowledge hys wrath agaynst sinne and therefore be exercised wyth sorer discipline For this is the ende of tribulatiōs Wherefore S. Petre sayth also indgement beginneth at the house of God As for the cōforte that the Godlye oughte to haue in afflictions we wyll speake of it in the place of the crosse Here it is sufficient to haue admonisched that those afflictions chaunce not to the congregation with out Goddes prouidence and that God wyl not for sake hys vndre the crosse but that he wil helpe them callinge vpon him yea and he commaūdeth that we praye and looke for deliueraunce from hym As Esai xlix sayeth Can the woman forgette her childe that she wil not haue pitie on the child of hir wōbe Though she forget it yet I wil not forgette the. Beholde I haue written the in my handes etc. This shal suffice concerninge the conseruation and gouernaunce of thinges Hereafter we wyll declare what we oughte to thynke of the cause of synne and of the corruption of mannes nature and agayne what consolation we haue in so greate miseries ¶ Of originall synne and mannes weaknes before regeration GOd the euerlastyng father gaue in creation to oure fyrste parentes Adam and Eue not onely a free but also an vpryght wyll Further he dyd put into theyr myndes an exceadynge greate lyght that before the fal they might truely knowe God worshyp and loue him The other powers obeyed willynglye to thys lyght As Paule sayeth that man was made after the image of God that is to say in the knowledge of God and in right wil that he myghte perfectly obeye and satisfie the law and be as it were the tēple of God wherin God woulde haue dwelled presently and woulde haue exercised his power When man was now settled and constituted in so great blisfulnes and glorie Satā to deface the worke of God borded Eue wyth gyle and at length draue hyr so farre that togither wyth Adam she became vnobedient to the commaundement of God as Moyses deseribeth the fall of mā Gene. iii. Thorowe this inobedience oure first parentes lost those godlie gyftes of innocencie and originall rightuousnes with al theyr posteritie whiche commeth from them so that all men conceyued and borne thorow mans seede be subiecte to originall synne as Dauid testifieth Psal li. and Paule Roma v Wherfore the preachers muste teache of original synne after suche sort as the worde of God prescribeth vnto vs and which the sincerer and ryghte beleuing fathers folowed chiefly Augustine and Anselme namely that it is the wante of originall ryghtuousnes What originall synne is wherwyth we ought to excell that is to saye that men before regeneration be not in

certayne outwarde visour For he that putteth not all hys hope and saluation in Christe onely hath nowe cast away Christe altogyther Wherefore that the Apostle myghte open more euidently to the Galathians that the lawe and ceremonies of Moyses do not profitte nowe wythout Christe yea that they hurte verie muche He compareth the olde Testamente to Hagar Abrahams handmayde and the newe Testament of Christ to free Sara And he maketh the olde Testament or lawe to brynge forth bondemen and carnall chyldren lyke Hagar whiche wyll persecute the spiritual chyldren borne of the free woman wherefore at the laste they be put from the enheritaunce of God as Hagar was dryuen out Howe the olde Testament engend●eth bondmen and enemies of the verie God●ie of Abrahams house wyth hyr sonne And surely as manie as seeke not al health from Christe alone but aske part of the lawe and outwarde ceremonies they are the bondmē of the lettre and rudimentes of the worlde and not the children of God yea they hate and persecute all maner of wayes the chyldren of God which studie to worship God in spirite and truth and be borne agayne of the spirite But God made not his couenaūt nether with Abraham nor with Moyses for thys ende that thei should glory in the lettre and prerogatiue of the flesh refusing Christ but that they should put al theyr trust and hope of saluation in the promised Messias for whose sake god would be theyr sauiour and protectour and they thorow the faith of the same messias should be the people and worshyppers of God Seinge then that the Galathians beinge seduced thorowe fals● Apostles dyd putte some hope in the lawe and in the Ceremonies that the lawe appoynteth the Apostle propouned vnto them the olde testamēt to cōsider what it brought to passe after that sorte that they trusted in it So in an other place he cōpareth the ministerie of Moyses wyth the ministery of the Gospell and newe Testamente and he testifieth that the fyrste is the ministerie of the lettre and of domnation as it is in dede to al them whose hertes God hath not purged with the fayth of his sonne and confirmed vnto them the new Testamēt of grace and adoption of the chyldren of God thorowe the holie goste whiche gyueth witnes vnto our spirite that we be the chyldren of God and teacheth vs to cal vpō God with confidence and affection of chyldren and to crye Abba O father Hither the lawe and ministerie of Moyses ought to brynge vs Christe sayeth to the Iewes If ye beleued Moyses ye would beleue me to for he wit nesseth of me Paule also the law is a guide vnto Christe But the false Apostles wyth whom Paule fighteth in no wyse taughte this vse of the olde Testament but they cōtended that Mosaical ceremonies must be keepte of necessitie euen in the newe Testament and that we shoulde not seeke for saluation in Christe onely As they then abused the ministerie of Moises against Christ and to make the fayth of Christe of none effecte so they made the Testament of suche sort vnto them selues as the Apostle calleth the ministerie of the lettre and of damnation Wherefore the Apostle dyd ryghtly set that ministerie agaynste the ministerie of Christ and of the newe Testament to whō it oughte to serue and to brynge to Christe the onely Mediatour obteiner and confirmer of the newe Testament yea of all Testamentes and leiges of Goddes beniuolence Out of thys maner of speakynge of the olde Testamente the lawe and Moyses his ceremonies cometh it that S. Paule after the preaching of the kingdome of Christ in the gospel called the ceremonies of Moyses beggerly and weake rudimētes because that after the appearyng of Christe and the comen publishing of the Gospell into al the worlde they ledde no more to Christe but rather were an hyndraunce and let The epistle to the Hebr. speaketh also of thys abrogation of the olde Testamēt saying The olde Testament is abrogated and abolished But the couenaunt of the olde testament as it was made of God wyth the olde sayntes is euerlastynge and consisteth herein that he sheweth and exhibiteth hym selfe vnto them a God a gyuer of eternall lyfe and that they be his people Thys couenaunt of God wyth the chosen is established thorowe the preachynge of the Gospell and the olde Testamente is fulfylled wyth the newe And though all the couenauntes of gods beniuolence whiche from the begynnynge of the worlde haue bene made wyth men were obteyned and confirmed thorowe Iesus Christe whiche renueth our hertes and onely writeth the lawe in them neuertheles the knowledge of Christe and a more plentifull dealynge forth of the holie goste was gyuen after the ascention of Christe and preachynge of the Gospell published thorowe the worlde And as there was feare and bondage in the olde people so loue and libertie of the spirite is more gyuen to the newe But seinge that feare and loue bondage and fredome be togyther and at one tyme and haue bene in all Godlie men the one Testament is conteyned in the other amonge all the chyldren of God as saynte Austen sayth there is one grace one Christ one fayeth one adoption and therefore also one people of God and one couenaunte of saluation Onely as I sayed the glorie and knowledge of Christe was further and more plentyfull reueyled after the ascention of Christ into heauen and the grace of the holie gooste was more aboundauntly shedde forth and therefore true and euerlastynge ryghtuousnes was communicated to more people and more effectuouslie For whiche cause Saynt Paule magnifieth so greatlie the rytches of the new Testamente and calleth it a misterie hydden from the begynnynge of the worlde sayinge that it was reueyled in the tyme of the Gospell by the Apostles thorowe the holie Goste namely that the heathen be co-heriters and of the same body with the olde people and partetakers of the same promises in Christe Iesu Wherefore if after thys sorte the preachers shall discerne and declare the thynges that as well in common as appropriatly be attributed in the scriptures to the olde and newe Testamente they shall teache the people the wrytynges of the prophetes and Apostles more certaynlye and more fruitefullye and beynge truely instructed vnto the kyngdome of God as a rytche and liberall householder they shall brynge out of the treasures of the scriptures all the promises threates exemples and commaundementes of God deliuered vnto both the people And they shall declare that in al the promises euen of bodily thinges the promises Howe Christ is enclosed in al the promises of Moyses of grace in Christ and euerlastyng lyfe be enclosed For thys promise is conteyned in all the promises of God made to the electe people of God lyke as vppon the benifit of reconciliation and adoption by Christ all other depende yea wythout thys there be no true benifittes and worthy of the children of God So they shall teache that the threates of

is and muche wished for of oure Lorde Iesus Christe namely that he came for thys cause into the worlde beinge made man to deliuer all them that beleue in hym from synne death and eternall damnation and to gyue them a newe and perpetuall ryghtuousnes and lyfe Whiche thynge al the prophetes spake afore hāde of him as the lorde him selfe expouned in the laste of Luke So sayeth he it behoued Christ to suffre and to ryse from the dead the thirde daye and that repentaunce and remission of synnes should be preached in his name among all nations The Apostles taught the same thynge euerie where as it appeareth in theyr actes For thus Petre preacheth repente your fautes and let euerie one of you be baptised in the name of Iesus Christ for the forgyuenes of synnes and ye shall receyue the gyfte of the holy goste actes ij Item the God of oure fathers hath raysed Iesus whom ye kylled hangyng vpon wodde hym God hath exalted wyth his ryght hande a prince and a sauiour to gyue repentaunce vnto Israell and forgyuenes of synnes etc. And agayne he commaunded vs that we shoulde preach to the people and testifie that it is he which was appointed of god a iudge of the quicke and the deade To hym all the Prophetes beare wytnes that who so beleueth in hym he shall receyue remission of synnes thorowe his name Saynt Paule preacheth the same thynge actes xiij Be it knowen to you then bretherne that thorowe thys man remission of synnes is preached etc. Though thys preachyng of the Gospell be short neuertheles it is the power of God vnto saluation to euerie one that beleueth Ro. i. Wherfore Christe also compareth the Gospell to a mustarde corne to a treasure hidde in a felde to a precious margarite for the gettyng wherof we must sell and leaue all thynges Math. xiiij But that the strēgth and efficacie of the Gospel may be more euident the preachers muste euer studiously set forth Christe and religiously preache howe great thynges he suffered for our saluation howe great thynges he did Further howe he wil haue these thynges shewed vnto vs and what he wyll worke in vs thorowe thys preaching It is euident thorow the preachyng of the lawe that all we be synners of oure selues and destitute of the glorie of God Rom. iij. Item that we are deade thorowe misdedes and synnes and be by nature the children of wrath as other be Ephesi ij prisoners and solde vnder synne that we oure selues can not ryse out of thys perdition of oure owne strengthe Roma viij Wherfore to obtaine saluation there needed a mediatour and sauiour whiche might pacifie God beinge angrie and recōcile vs to God and deliuer vs frō synne and death and make vs heyres of euerlastynge lyfe Suche a sauiour and intercessour Christe is made vnto vs. i. Timo. ij one God and one attonemaker of God and men Christe Iesus a man whiche gaue hym selfe a price of redemption for al men etc. Thys Mediatour first entreateth wyth God the father thorowe his lyfe death passion and intercession to turne his wrath frō vs to receyue vs into fauour and to gyue to vs as to his children the holy spirite and euerlastyng lyfe Further he cometh to vs and handleth his matter with vs thorowe the misterie of the Gospell his holy spirite and the crosse that we maye beleue hym and thorow faith obtayne ryghtuousnes and euerlasting life And he handleth his matter wyth God after thys sorte firste he ordred his whole lyfe accordyng to the wyl of the father beinge made obedient vnto hym vnto death whiche thynges we should haue done But bicause he sawe that they were impossible vnto vs he perfourmed them hym selfe he fulfylled the lawe as he sayth in Mathew I came not to destroye the lawe but to fulfyll it And Paule to the Gala. iiij Whē the fulnes of tyme came God sent forth his sonne made of a woman made subiecte to the lawe to redeame them that were subiecte to the lawe Therfore he wrate also to the Cor. Christe is made rightuousnes vnto vs of God that is to saye his rightuousnes was perfourmed for our sakes and gyuen vnto vs. Item Phil. iij. Yea and I thynke all thinges to be losse for the excellencie of the knowledge of Christe my Lorde and I cōpt them for refuse that I maye wynne Christe and be founde in hym not hauing my rightuousnes of the lawe but that that is thorowe the fayth of Christe etc. For whoso beleueth in Christ to him whole Christ and his perfecte ryghtuousnesse is imputed at once and togyther Secondly Christe translateth and remoueth all our synnes vpon him selfe dieth for them and suffreth al those thinges that we should haue suffred for our sinnes As Iohn Baptiste testifieth Beholde the lambe of God whiche taketh awaye the synnes of the worlde Item Esaie of a truth he bare our diseases and he susteyned our sorowes and we cōpted hym stricken wyth a plage and depressed of God But he was wounded for oure iniquities and beaten for oure synnes the chasteninge of peace was vpon hym and we were healed wyth his stripes And we haue strayed lyke sheepe euery mā into his owne way and God hath putte vpon him the iniquities of al vs. Item Paule Rom. viij God spared not his owne sonne but gaue him for vs all and Chap. iiij He was deliuered for oure synnes and raysed for our iustification So Gala. iij. Christ redeamed vs from the curse of the lawe beinge made a curse for vs for it is wrytten cursed is euerie one that hangeth on tree Thirdly he is a mediatour for vs that God wyll receyue vs into fauoure Esaie liij He bare the synnes of manie and prayed for transgressours The prayer of Christe Iohn xvij teacheth the same thynge I praye for them not for the worlde but for those whome thou hast gyuen me keepe them in thy name etc. And Paule Ro. viij Christe is at the right hande of the father and maketh intercession for vs. Itē to the Hebr. v. whiche in the dayes of his fleshe when he had offered vp with strōge criyng and teares prayers and supplications before him that was able to deliuer him etc. Yea the whole epistle sheweth thys thinge mooste euidently that Christe oure high bishoppe offred hym selfe for our sinnes and entred into the most holie place wyth his owne bloude an euerlastyng redemption beinge founde out So then Christe handled and doeth handle the matter for vs thorowe his death and obedience shewed to the father and thorowe his intercession that he reconcileth vs to God the father and for thys cause he is made Lorde ouer all thynges as the Apostle witnesseth Psal ij whiche beinge in the fourme of God thought it no robberie to be equall wyth God but he emptied him selfe taking the fourme of a seruaunt constituted in the lykenes of men and in shape founde as a man he humbled him selfe made obedient vnto the death and that of the crosse Wherfore God

holie scripture the priestes haue nothyng more then the lay men but all thynges are commune to both and one breade of the Lorde and one cuppe is sette before al men togyther and equally Thus the Lorde instituted thus the olde churche obserued alwayes Therefore none other thynge coulde be instituted of mē neither dyd the fathers euer institute anie other thynge But in these later tymes when the gouernours of congregations dyd vtterlie neglecte theyr office thys abuse crepte in secretely that in the holy supper the Lordes breade onely should be distributed whether priestes or laye men dyd communicate But that all the abuses that haue crepte into thys Sacrament maye be vtterly takē away and rooted vp by the true vse of thys Sacrament whiche the Lorde hym selfe cōmaunded the pastours and preachers shall diligently warne and exhort the people that as often as they come togyther to the holie supper of the Lorde with the bretherne they gyue them selues wholy to the Lorde to be his disciples that they thynke that all his wordes be spoken vnto them and that they beleue them certeynely that they feruently desire the communion of the Lorde to be encreased in them and that they receyue the same offered in the Sacramēt wyth a faithfull and thankeful minde briefely that they euer go forwarde in the faith of Christ and in the whole newe lyfe wyth Christ neither stande there as dispisers of so great gyftes whiche in the holie supper be offered to all that are present nor make to them selues an hurtfull spectacle of a blessed teaste Surely he that is not meete to receyue the Sacrament is not meete neither to praye wyth the cōgregation as S. Chrisostome doth rightly gather Thys Sacrament is not only the meate of the stronger but also the medicine of the weake onely lette no man receyue it whiche sticketh in synnes agaynste his conscience For he that cōtinueth in such sinnes wyll not lyue in Christe the Lorde he refuseth his communion in dede and vtterly renounceth Christ and his kyngdome Wherfore he must absteyne frō those Sacramētes in whiche the cōmunion of Christe is exhibited And such sticke also in the condemnation of hell and haue no parte in the kyngdome of Christe Wherfore they can neither be present nor ought to be present at the holie supper nor pray wyth the congregation For no man that determineth to continue in open synnes and in the despite of God can call vpon God his father wyth true fayth and praye for the sanctification of his name the commyng of his kyngdome and obedience of his wyll But they that repent them selues of theyr synnes that desire the grace of God and reteyne the cōmunion and lyfe in Christe our Lorde and wishe the same to be encreased in them neither be commaunded by the congregation to absteyne these men I saye maye muche lyfte vp and conforte them selues wyth fayth and kendle them selues wyth the desire of a newe lyfe thorowe the participation of Sacramentes at euerie supper whereat they be present Therfore they ought not in anie wyse to despice so great bountuousnes of Christ the Lorde beinge freely offered to them but 〈◊〉 ther receyue it wyth mooste feruent 〈◊〉 and great thankefulnes remembryng 〈◊〉 blessed worde of the Lorde alluryng● 〈…〉 to him Come vnto me al ye that 〈…〉 Item take eate thys is my bodie 〈…〉 of thys al thys is my bloude etc. 〈…〉 thys meate and drynke he truly refresheth and receyueth vs vnto euerlastyng lyfe The fathers in the primitiue church which obserued the Apostles tradition estemed so muche these wordes of Christ that they excōmunicated them that were present at the Lordes supper and woulde not be parte takers of the sacramentes wyth the rest For thys cause was that ordeined that we reade distinct ij of the cōstitutions whē the consecration is ended let al cōmunicate they that wil not let them not come into the temple For so the Apostles ordeyned and the holie Romaine churche holdeth Lo this decree speaketh of one consecration and it requireth that al that be present do cōmunicate and that vndre the payne of excōmunication It witnesseth also that the Apostles so constituted whiche had receiued it of the Lorde Item that the Romaine church doth so holde which thinge also al other cōgregations obserued as many as had ●eteined thordinaūce of the lorde of thapostles This is the cause why S. Chrisostome so sore rebuked thē whiche in his cōgregation taried in the temple at the celebration of the Lordes supper yet did not cōmunicate and he saied that they stode at the Lordes supper vnshāfastly and stubburnly and not wythout the dispite of Christ and cōtempt of his so great bountuousnes which he offereth vs in the holie supper For thei that be not the mēbres of Christ neither of true repētaūce and griefe of their synnes seeke renuinge of lyfe in Christe but wil cōtinue in their sinnes willingly or haue offended the cōgregation of Christe with so greuous sinnes that except they first repent and approue them selues wyth a better lyfe thei cā not come to the Lordes borde al these whiles the Lordes moste holy supper is ministred oughte to be awaye and not once to beholde the Sacrament of the Lorde as S. Chrisostome with greate grauitie warneth and that out of the deede and wordes of the Lorde whiche as he hym selfe did so he cōmaunded that this supper shoulde not be celebrated but wyth his disciples wyth suche I saye which haue gyuen them selues to his worde which desire remission of synnes and saluation out of true repētaunce and griefe of synnes which be made part takers of the newe Testamēt and be the sonnes of God Al which thinges as we shewed before are cōprehēded in the very wordes of the Lorde As the pastours then muste deligently teache and dissuade them whiche wyth the rest of the congregation can not communicate bycause they sticke in open synnes that they be not present at the holie supper and testifie vnto them that if they stande at the supper wyth suche a mynde they do spite vnto Christe and that it shall be damnation vnto them So they muste also diligently warne and exhort them which wyth a good conscience may be present at the supper that is to saye whiche truly beleue in Christ the Lorde that they receyue the Sacramentes wyth other membres of Christe But forasmuch as thys institution of the Lorde that all they whiche be present at the same supper of the Lorde should communicate of one breade and cuppe his bodie and bloude is to muche out of vse and couered a greate whyle sithens thorowe commune ignoraunce it shall be needefull to call men backe agayne treateably and gently to the obseruation of thys tradition of the Lorde and they muste beware that the myndes of the simple whiche neuertheles be the true disciples of the Lorde and are entangled in no mischiuous and wycked actes for the whiche they shoulde be restrayned from the Lordes

dryuen to do that that is ryghte and the same wythout abuse of excommunication and wronge of the kayes of Christe ❧ Of the appoyntyng and institution of pastours AL men endued wyth the true feare of God and religion vnderstande that thoffice of priesthod that is to say the ministerie of preaching the Gospel and disposyng the sacramentes and discipline of Christe is and was frō the beginning of the worlde and shal be to th ende of the same right necessarie and holesome amonge al other offices ministeries wherby the cōmodities of mannes life are procured For God sent his sonne into this world whiche was promised from the begynynge to mankynde to execute thys office he sent also to men his moste excellente prophetes and patriarkes and he mainteineth the same ministerie thorowe all ages by wonderfull meanes restoreth it oftē times gloriously Wherfore he hath enioyned to al curates of congregations that they labour wyth all religion that thys treasure of euerlastynge life thys ministerie of saluation and blessed cōmunion with him and his Christe be not cōmitted but to faythful and meete mē that it may be euer kept sincere nor be quēched at any tyme as it hath chaunced amonge the heathen Wherfore we ought most diligently to cōsidre and to renue in the cōgregatiōs as muche as is possible the thinges that the holy goste hath prescribed cōcerning the religion of this ministerie both in other places also to Timothe Neither is it to be doubted but that bishops were made presidentes ouer all priestes chiefely for thys cause that they shoulde take singuler care and studie that the puritie of christian doctrine and discipline might be mainteined in cōgregatiōs and that meete mē might be admitted to the administration thereof And it is manifeste that the cōgregations frō the beginninge of the worlde haue ben moste greuously endāmaged thorowe the negligence sluggishnes rashnes and boldnes of them whiche were made ouerseers of the doctrine discipline of Christe As other commune weales also were then moste afflicted and came to ruine whē thei began to be administred by naughtie officers For euer there wāt rather meete gouernours in commune weaels to keepe mainteine and execute good lawes thē there want good and cōmodious lawes Wherefore we hertely wishe that principal diligēce be vsed hereof that faythfull and meete curates be appointed to euerie cōgregation as it is moste necessarie and as it toucheth oure office chiefely Let no man then take it in ill parte that we deuise a waye and meane wherby they that shal be admitted to the procuration of cōgregations may be examined and tried with more religion thē heretofore As for vs we wyl not take from any mā his right of appoyntyng curates to congregations But we exhort al men whiche take this authoritie vpon them that thorowe fauour carnall loue or for some other cause they thrust not such into the congregations which be sclēderly furnished or litle willing to execute thys moste holie ministerie but that they seeke out wyth all diligence suche as wyll and be able to execute thys office which thing the verie fayth of Christ greatly requireth of al christian men but chiefely of them to whom congregations be singnlerly committed for the same purpose And that we also may execute oure office in this behalfe we cōmaund that no man be admitted to the cure of any congregation whiche is not diligently tried and allowed by those examiners whō we shall appoynte to this office and bryngeth frō thexaminers a testimony of his probatiō to those to whō it shal perteine to inuest to our suffragane In the examination of these mē thre thinges must chiefely be required First that he that shall be admitted to the holy ministerie of the congregation bringe to the examiners a cōuenient testimonie sealed in letters worthy of credite concerninge his vocation and former life For God forbiddeth suche to be admitted to this right excellent office which openly despice his lawes and be subiecte to manifeste wycked actes Secondly the persone must be examined whether he sufficiently vnderstande the doctrine of Christ a somme wherof we haue cōprehended in this boke And whether he acknowledge that the same doctrine in a sūme is truly described in this boke as surely it is the onely and vndoubted doctrine of Christe whiche the true catholike churche of Christe euer holdeth and foloweth Thyrdly it must be required of him that shall be admitted to the gouernaunce of the cōgregation of Christ whē it shal be perceiued that he vnderstādeth sufficiently this doctrine and cōfesseth it to be true that he promise to continue in the same doctrine and to deliuer the same faythfully to thē of whom he shal be made curate for that purpose and to folowe the prescripte of thys boke in all thinges diligētly and to execute his office in al pointes with al faythfulnes and diligēce When he is thus examined and proued the examiners must giue him a testimony of theyr cōprobation vnto thē whose office is to inuest him and to the suffragane Which suffragane shall vse nothinge in the ceremonies of ordination nor enioyne anie thynge in ordeynynge that agreeth not wyth thys same doctrine of Christe sette forth in thys boke For it is euidente that thys doctrine whiche is comprehended in thys boke is the verie christian doctrine and the certeyne sentence and fayth of the catholike churche Now it perteineth to vs by reason of our byshoplye office that we maynteyne not those obseruaunces whiche haue crepte in besyde the cōmaundement of God and vnto the destruction of many priestes but rather that we seeke out and deuise that waye and meane whereby we maye fynde meete ministers vnto our congregations and that they may execute their ministerie with good conscience not encombred with vniust traditions of men or vowes and call vpon God wyth sure trust and be occupied in their ministerie godly and luckely We trust also that they which nowe administre oure cōgregations wyl gladly applie them selues to this maner of teachynge and vsynge of holy ceremonies when they shall haue thorowly perceyued it and not leade a lyfe disagreinge to the same If it chaunce otherwyse in anie place the visiters shall haue commaundementes so to prouide the congregations of necessary and meete ministers that no man shall haue cause to complayne of anie vniuste burthen ❧ Of blessynge of mariages THey whiche haue mutually promised matrimonie betwene them selues shal go both the spouse and the spousesse wyth their parentes of both sydes or other kynsfolke or two or three friendes to the Pastoure or to some other ministre appoynted thereunto and shall signifie vnto them theyr hand fastynge and require the blessynge of the congregation whiche shal diligently demaunde of them whether theyr handfastynge were made after the wyll of the parentes of both parties or of thē vndre whose gouernaunce and power they be whether they haue done all other thynges lawfully and after a christian facion whether