⧠A simple and religious consultation of vs Herman by the grace of God Archebishop of Colone and prince Electour 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 couÌ„sayle general or national or elles by the states of the Empire of the natioÌ„ of Germanie gathered together in the holye Gost ¶ Imprinted in the yere of our Lorde 1547. The. xxx of October I. D. ¶ We Herman by Gods grace archbishop of Colone Archchaunceler in Italye of the holye Romayne Empire And prynce Electour Duke of Westphalia and Angaria administratour of Padebourne wysheth to al them that shal reade heare and vnderstand this our boke grace peace and blisfulnes from God our father through our Lorde and onely sauiour Iesus Chryst IT is knowne to al men manifestly that our most redouted Emperour Charles our moost gratious Lorde hath ryght diligently sought sondry waies in many counsels wyth the prynces Electours and other princes and states of the holye Romayne Empire in Germany wherby these dauÌ„gerous and pernicious disseÌ„cion altercatioÌ„ in holi religion myght be taken away and a general and christian consent and reformation of congregations myght be appoynted and in troduced through the whole nation of Germanye But because the Emperours maiestie could not hitherto deuyse and constitute this general and godly concorde and reformatioÌ„ of churches he for a godly cause and very christian purpose enioyned and commaunded in the counsayle last assembled at Ratespone with the bishpop of Romes Legate to al prelates that among them selues and their diocesanes they shoulde begyne a christian correction of ecclesiastical matters which myght helpe to a comely and holsom administration of the congregations and that they shoulde propoune the same to the congregation to be obserued and mayntain it with ernest diligence and suche faythfulnes as becometh ecclesiastical persos in thys matter neither should haue any regarde of theim whiche woulde hyndre or staye thys godlye purpose because he trusted that by this meane a more coÌ„modious way myghte be made to the ordring refurming of churches and that mens mindes might be prepared the soner to coÌ„sent to a coÌ„sultatioÌ„ of religion Besides this the states of our dominion haue earnestlye required of vs in manye conuocations that we would make a godly and christian reformation And moreouer in the last Conuocation at Bone the Erls Knightes Gentilmen and cities of our dominion committed vnto vs that after the sayd maner we should procure a reformation of congregations to bee gathered to gether and to bee pubblished and propouned to the congregations committed vnto oâ—â—â— charge whiche they shoulde obserue 〈◊〉 hereunto that we our selues by most certain arguments of God do perceiue daily howe grate nede of ameÌ„dement our coÌ„gregacions haue because they be vtterlye destitute of godlie and lerned ministers and therefore no sincere and certayne doctrine is handled amoÌ„g our men where as yet the same ought alwaies to be preched and taught before old men and younge For we perceiue that of thys neglectinge of perfecte and pure doctrine horrible ignorance of God pernitious supersticion vnbelefe most greuous fautes and confusion of all good thinges folowe necessarely Therefore whan we perceyued that the saide thynges preuailed horribly it semed that we ought to make no longer delaie but rather we thought vpon the emendation of these thinges and consulted aboute the same ernestly cheifely in this our extreme olde age which surely warneth vs that we must shortely come before the iudgement seate of Christ where we knowe that we must giue an accompe of this office enioyned vnto vs. Wherefore that we myght first shewe oure selues obedient to our saniour and the Lord Christe the prynce of pastours and to hys flocke and secoÌ„dly acknowlege our supreme officer the emperour and finally seke the preseruacion and correction of religion among the people of Christe committed vnto oure charge accordinge to the office of a bishoppe enioyned vnto vs we haue applied our hole diligence hereunto accordinge to our simplicitie and the gifte which the almightie hath grauÌ„ted to vs that we might finde out some meane to reforme ecclesiasticall doctrine beinge so necessarie in thys greate perturbacion of thinges which afterwarde we mighte propoune to our men wherein if we should not do our dutie surely we shoulde stirre vp greater anger of God to warde vs and all godlie men perceiue that vndoubted and vn couerable destruction of soules wold folow thereof Wherefore we nether woulde nor coulde delaie our purpose of a reformacion Therefore we called to our coÌ„sultation manie men and those exercised men and endued wyth the feare of God and wyth spirituall wisdoÌ„e and lerninge with whom after that we had had longe communication we considered al thinges faithfulli and at the last we ordanied the forme and preparation folowinge of restoringe ecclesiastical doctrine and discipline amonge our men And thought I be their vnworthye bishop yet I was lawefully made both archbishoppe and curate of soules And sette not furth this same forme and maner of a reformation as thought nothinge coulde be ameÌ„ded or chaunged in it or as though other ought in anie wise to folowe it Thorough the grace of God we acknowledge the weaknes of our faith and the slendernes of our iudgemeÌ„t in these matters of so greate difficultie coÌ„cerning the heauen lie kingdome of our Lorde Iesu Christe and our saluation But because our dere Lord Iesus Christe praised his father and gaue hym thaÌ„ckes also for that that he had hidden the misteries of the heauenlie kyngdome from the prudent and wise meÌ„ of this world and had opened them to the simple and despised and commaunded his holesome gospel to be preached without differeÌ„ce to the lerned and vnlerned that they might attain euerlasting saluacion and moreouer promised hys spirite by whom we vndrestande and receiue those thinges whiche he hymselfe giueth vs in the gospel for our euerlastinge saluation asmanie as would seke the same in the name of his dere sonne our Lord Iesus Christ as Christe hymselfe witnesseth it shoulde not haue becomed vs whiche professe the name of Christe execute the office of a bishoppe though we grauÌ„te we do not satisfy in both I meane in Chriistan life and in the office of a bishoppe to doubte of grace and gifte of God and to distruste God our most mercifull heauenlie father as though he myght not be moued with our praiers and the godlie praiers of oure men to gene vs mercifulli his hollye spirite whereby we myght lerne of his gospel to adourne our office enioyned by him and to dispose and ordain that the peple coÌ„mitted to our charge be faithfully and diligently taught by godlie and mete ministers howe thorough
they them selues shoulde professe they re fayth in the congregacion and they them selues shoulde bynde them selues to the obedience of God and of the cōgregacion At whyche confession of fayth and profession of obedience in the cōgregacion they were wonte to bee solemly confirmed of the congregacion in religion thoroughe praier and some token of Goddes confirmacion which vnder Moses consisted in sacrifices and oblations and in the tyme of the Gospell in layinge on of handes and participation of the supper of the Lord. For this is the nature of true and liuelye fayth that eueri man desireth to sette forth and magnifye the benifites that god hath shewed him and for his parte to offer and cōsecrate himselfe to the glorifiynge of his name with all offices of godlines Wherfor the Psal xxii singeth of the is my prayse in the great congregacion Psal xxxv I wyl giue thankes vnto the in a greate assemble et ce ⧠Forthermore we are so grafted in Christ thorough Baptisme and so made the members of his bodye that is to saye of the congregacion and so ioyned in Christ to other members of Christ that we must serue al them with whom we haue anye aquaintaunce any perticipacion of kindnes cheifely for the furtheraunce of godlines religion and afterwarde also in thynges necessarye for this present life I meane that one of vs acknoledge another and embrace one another in Christe with sincere loue And fyrst that we teach one another warne correct cōforte and exhorte in those thynges that pertaine to a new lyfe in Christ Secōdly that we also helpe one another in thynges necessarye for this present lyfe with coūcel worke and seruise Therfore the comunion of both liues in Christe the Lord and the recompensation of good turnes one to another requireth that euerie man openly offere and giue himselfe to this felowshyppe of the outwarde and inward man and to this change an recompensacion of benefites Seynge than that this confession of fayth and geuyng of our selues to the obedience of Christe and commendacion of his church which the very nature of fayth and necessite of this cōmunicacion of Christe requireth canne not be done in baptisme whan infantes be baptised it must nedes be done of them that were baptised in their infantie whan they be meetely wel enstructed of relegion and whan they some what vnderstande those greate benifites that we giue in baptisme But whan they solemly professe their fayth and obedience before the cōgregacion the verie nature of fayth requireth agayne that the cōgregacion praie for them solemli and desire for them the encrease of the holye gost that he wyll confirme and preserue thē in the fayth of Christe and obedience of the congregacion and that he will euer leade hym into all truethe And for asmuche as such praier made in the name of Christ and truste of his promises can not bee but effectuous it pertanieth to the mynisterie of the congregacion to strengthen theym with the confirmacion of the hollye Gost for whom the churche hath prayed Therefore oure elders folowinge the exemple of Christ and the Apostle did vse laiyng on of handes as a signe at this confirmacion This ceremonie thā obserued in the fayth of Christ because it is vndoutedly the office of faith and christian loue agreable all maner of wayes to the wordes and institutions of the Lord and edifiyng the religion of Christ we wyl that it be restored in the congregacion to a godlie and holesome vse all abuses remoued that haue crepte into the place of this ceremonie whiche howe shameful and noysome they were to oure religion euerie Christian manne maye easelye iudge Heretofore this ministerie of confirmacion was a peculier worcke of a suffragayne But forasmuche as al thinges in the church must be referred ordained and done for the commune profite of Christen menne wee wil that hereafter this ministerye of confirmacion if it can not be done commodiously by a suffragayne or not as it ought to be done shal be done by visitours twyse a yere in principall solemnities For where as at the begynninge the office of confirmacion was only committed to bishoppes bishoprikes were not so large as they be nowe nether wer theyr dioces greater than that the bishops might visit once a yere euery parish and here him selfe and confirme the childrē beinge catechised or instructed But nowe the world is other wyse and bishoprikes be after another fashion so that it is impossible that one byshoppe or sustragaine maye wyth conueniēt leasure administre this confirmaciō in hys diocese For euerie yere ther growe vp some in euerye churche whome it shal be come to professe their fayth and to be solemli cōfirmed Wherefore forasmuch as euerie congregation hath neade of yerely lookinge to and visitation and solemne profession of fayth and confirmacion of them which in age and knoledge of Christ be growen so fare the necessarie procuracion of the Lordes flocke committed vnto vs constrayneth vs that wee prouide that the congregacion wante not a mete minister for thys purpose For the health of the shepe of christ muste not serue the personnes of the mynisters but the persones of the ministers must serue to their health that al thinges maye be done according to this sayinge al are yours whether it be Paule or Apollo or Cephas i. Cor. iij. And as S. Hierome witnesseth this confirmacion was not therefore the proper office of bishoppes in olde time bicause it was not lawful for other to administre the same seing that euē commen ministers yea euerie Christen man if ordinare ministres wāted might minister Baptisme a muche more excellent sacramēt but it was cōmitted to byshops peculiarly for this cause that the byshops of euerie cōgregacion mighte attaine more certaine knoledge might haue more holesome care and charge while they them selues enquired euerie yere with what faith fulnes and diligence the pastours hade instructed bothe the rest and cheifly the yong children of Christ It holpe also togreater consent of religiō and reuerence and obedience towardes the holie ministerie when eureie one professed hys fayth and obedience of Christe to one bishoppe But forasmuch as to many congregacions be cōmitted to the charge of one bishop that euerie one can not be visited by one bishoppe or suffragane we must neades procure that this office of examinacion and confirmacion which cannot bee deferred more than a yere without the great incommoditie of the congregacions and peril of religion bee executed by more personnes seinge that it cannot be doone by one howbeit the parish preistes in euery cōgregacion with their companions certaine dayes before the comming of the visiters shal diligently prepare the children whome they purpose to offre to confirmacion to make theyr confessyon of fayth and profession of Christen communion and obediēce decētly and semely whiche must be done of theym after this sorte The demande Dost thou professe thy selfe to be a christian ▪ Answer I professe Demaunde What is it to be
true and liuelie fayth they shoulde acknowledge oure Lorde Iesus Christ and confesse him to be the only sauiour and calle for his helpe in al trobles with a verie trust and exercise them selues in such worckes as in dede be good and fruteful in the holye sacramētes and other ceremonies of the church accordinge to Christes institution that godlines maie daily encrease more and more and that al thinges which be contrarie to Godes worde all sinnes and offences that be crept in to the church of God maye be abolisched wherefore attributinge nothinge ether to our wisdome or to the wisdome and doctrine of other but only encouraged and trusting in the true grace and sure promise of God the father and in the merite and strenghth of our Lord Iesus Christ the only hed and vigilant pastour of hys comgregation we haue determined to set furth accordynge to oure simplicite these thynges thus gathered after diligent deliberacion and correction asmuch as coulde be done in shorte tyme and asmuch as God helped vs wyth hys grace for some reformacion of Christian discipline For we graunte that it is our office to fede christes shepe and faithfully to loke to the congregacions cōmitted vnto vs. And we cal God our creator to witnesse whiche is euerlastinge truth and knoweth the hertes and seeth al thoughtes that we in al this matter of reformation seke nether our owne glorie nor oure priuate commodite but only haue respecte hereunto that the glorie of the almightie maye bee mooste largely set furth to the euerlastinge saluacion of oure men Therfore we besech al christen men of what condicion soeuer thei be which shal reade o◠heare this our preparation of a reformation by our Lord Iesus Christ whose cause matter and busines is hādled in this boke if thei shal finde anie thinge in it that shal not seme to be agreable to goddes worde and make to the true edificacion of fayth in Christe whiche resteth in the augmentacion of goddes encrease that they wil certifie vs thereof and gently teach vs out of the holie scriptur We wyll take the same by goddes grace in good parte and gladli embrace those thinges that we shal perceiue to helpe to the reparation of the church and we be readie to do them more diligently than it is set furth in this boke that nothinge wante to the nessarie reformacion of the church And contrarie wise we require of them that if they shal perceiue that the Lord hath mercifully giuē vs to attain his meaninge and wil they wil helpe vs wyth their beniuolence and diligence asmuch as they maye that these thinges as the holsome commaundementes of oure maker redemer iugde Iesus Christ maye be sette furth chiefely seing that they vnder stand that it becōmeth vs in nowyse in those thinges whiche we surely knowe to be enioyned and commaunded vnto vs by oure God and sauiour out of hys worde to differ any lōger either for the authorite and power of anie men or for the expectacion of a councell generall or nationall the thinges which perteine to the glorie of God and of his most dere sonne and the saluation of the people but rather as commodiously as we maye to propone the same to be obserued of our men and other asmuch as the almightie will helpe vs with hys diuine grace whiche we wishe to al them that seke the same truly thorough our Lord Iesus Christ As we cōmende vnto them this our obedience such as it is in this our purpose whiche we owe to the diuine maieste with al our subiectes and our office desiringe the same children of god which with a sincere herte wishe the amplification of Christes kingdom to whome vndoubtedly our necessarie diligence though it be slender shal be acceptable that they with their godlie praiers will diligentlye ayde in this our purpose and ministerie vs and our subiectes Which thinge how acceptable it was vnto vs we desire to declare to euerie one whan we shal be able ⧠Giuen at Buschonie ⧠A Table of the principall Articles in this boke of a Reformacion OF Doctrine That some Lesson muste be resited out of the holye Scripture before a Sermon and declared vnto the people That al Sermōs must be made to the magnifiyng of the Lord Christ Of the Trinitie Of the creacion and gouernaunce of all thynges Of the cause of synne and death Of original sinne and mannes wekenes before regeneration Of the olde Testament Of the difference of the olde and newe Testament Of preachyng peculiar to the newe Testament Of the preachyng of Repentaunce Of the true and proper vse of Goddes lawe A short exposition of the .x. commaundementes Of remission of synnes and iustification Of good workes Of the true and natural significatiō of this worde fayth Of the crosse and tribulations Of the church of God Of the vnitie or concorde of the church Of christian prayer A short exposition of the Lordes praier Of the abuse in prayer Of the true and false vse of Images Of Christian fast Of holy offerynges A premoniciō and commaundement against the errours of the Anabaptistes Of the administration of religion Of Sacramentes generally Of Baptisme The fourme of a Catechisme before Baptisme The exorcisme Of the administration of Baptisme Howe Baptisme must be administred at times not prescribed Of Confirmation Of the Lordes Supper At what tyme the Lordes Supper ought to be celebrated Of the cōmuniō of straungers and sickfolke Howe sicke persōs must be visited and how we must celebrate the cōmunion with thē Of communion in priuate houses for menne in health Of turning from sins and true repentaunce Of excommunication Of the makyng of Pastours Of the blessyng of Mariages Of Buriyng Of holy and feastful dayes Of fastyng dayes and Lent Of the difference of meates Of certayne other ryghtes or ceremonies of the church Of ecclesiastical rites vpon working daies Of peculiar dayes of procession Of Letany Of commune almes Of scholes for chyldren Of scholes of Diuinitie Of disputation By what meanes a christian reformation of holy ministerie and cure of soules maye be begunne and practised in parishes Of refourmyng of canonical colleges Of the reformation of monasteries both of men and women Of free and not Monasticall Colleges of virgins Of the ordre of selbrethren and laye brethrē The ende of the table Of Doctrine OUR sauiour Gods sonne Iesus Christ which cam into this world to the intent to open that wonder ful and hyd wil of God concernyng the saluation of mankynd after this sort spake to his disciples and to all them that are called to the ministery of his Gospel As the father hath sente me so I sende Iohn x. Marke the last Chap. you And in another place Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to euery creature teachyng theim to kepe all thynges that I haue cōmaunded you Further God eternal the father of our Lord Iesu Chryst Mat. iii. xvii spake thus from heauen of hys sonne Him heare
ye Wherefore let vs constitute hym a Doctoure of authoritie and iudge of all writinges Peruse Cypriās boke ij Epistle iij. And that Christ ought only to be heard the father witnesseth also from heauen saying this is my sonne in whom I am well pleased heare hym Wherfore if Christ only oughte to be hearde we must not looke what any mā before vs hath thought good to bee doone but what Christe fyrste dyd whych is before all All preachinges ought to be taken out of the holie scriptures Forasmuch as thā this doctrine of God the father and of oure Lorde Jesus Chryst is taught in no wrytinges but in the wrytynges of the Propheies and the Apostles and seyng that there is none other doctrine wherin the wyll of God from the begynnyng concernyng mannes saluation is set furth with more certayne and strong testimonies Paule saiyng also that the churche Ephe. ij is buylded therupon it is ryght necessary that al the ministers of the Gospel read often pondre the hole deuine scripture with the feare of God and exquisite diligence both that they them selues maye be better learned and also that they may enstruct other of the euerlastyng wyl of God of the law of synne of the wrath of God of grace and ryghteousnes promysed for Chryst the mediatour of lyfe euerlastyng and paynes euerlasting which the dispisers of the word must nedes suffre This wysdome as Paule witnesseth to the Corinth doth far excel al mans wisdom For he saith we speake the wisdome of God in mistery which is hid whych God predestinated before the worldes vnto our glory whyche none of the prynces of this worlde hath knowne but God hath opened it vnto vs by his spirit i. Corin. xi Wherefore forasmuch as God hathe propouned vnto vs this his holesome and heauenlye doctryne onely in the writynges of the Prophetes of the holy Apostles and because we cannot receiue the same certaine and vndouted els where al shepherdes preachers ought to exercyse them selues diligently daye and nyght in these holy and deuyne bokes that they may be apter to teach other As the holy S. Ciprian to Pompeius agaynst Stephanes Epistle I◠behoueth a byshop not only to teach but also to learne For he dothe better teache which dayely encreaseth and profiteth in learnynge better thynges Se. s Augu. also boke v. of Baptisme agaynste the Donatistes Cha. xvi Gost requireth it in them by name that they declare and shewe them selues approued to God and such workemen of Christ as nede not to be ashamed of their mynistery and whych also may rightly deuide the word of truth and teach other with fruite ij Timoth. ij Item that they holde fast that faythful word whych is accordyng to doctryne that they may bee able to exhort thorough holsome doctrine and to conuince the agaynsayers therof Titu i. In which deuine precept propouned to al teachers ministers of congregations the pastours and preachers shall obserue diligently Fyrst that it is required of thē that in teachyng they hold fast the certayne and faythful word that is to say to whych certayne and vndouted fayth ought to be geuē Wherof it foloweth that thei must take ryght diligent hede that they myngle none opinions of men with their doctryne and preachyng but that they teache religiously and deliuer to the people the syncere worde Ther be ma ▪ of God For this saiyng is euer true Euery man is a lyar Psalm Cxvi And Paule saith The natural man vnderstandeth not those thynges that be of the spirite of God for thei be folyshnes vnto hym and he cannot perceiue them i. Cori. ij After the same sort sayth Esay xl Al flesh is grasse and al the glory therof is as the flour of the felde the grasse wythereth and the floure fadeth But the word of the lorde abideth for euer Seing then that men of theyr owne nature be deceyued and can not of them selues vnderstande the doctrine of grace and seinge that theyr glorie or excellencie by whiche worde the prophete would chiefely signifie mannes wysedome falleth awaye lyke a floure howe can mannes reason and wisdome when it is not guyded and directed by the spirite and worde of God perceyue and teache anie certentie and truth chiefely concernyng diuine matters and the restitution of man And although al christian men haue the spirite of God whiche as he leadeth eche one into all truth as muche as is sufficient for his owne saluation and for the profitte of the congregation so he hath witnessed in man the gospell of Christe wyth goodly bookes and wrytynges and doeth euen vnto thys daye wytnesse and preache neuerthelesse fleshe and bloude abyde in al men be they neuer so holy and spiritual as Augustine I can not denie nether ought to denie that as in oure elders them selues so there be many thinges in so manie my workes that may be blamed wyth ryghte iudgement and no rashenes at all longe as they lyue here whiche fleshe and bloude perceyue not the thynges that pertayne vnto God The sense and vnderstandyng of the fleshe remayneth whiche stryueth agaynst God Wherfore in thys lyfe there neyther hath ben nor is anie man endued wyth so great holines or doctrine but that it hath chaunced hym often to fall and to be deceyued Wherefore as Saynte Augustine so lykewyse other fathers and olde doctours allowed not all the writinges and sentences of them whiche had taughte eyther before them or in theyr tyme for thys cause that those thynges came from men so excellent in godlines and learnynge but as farre as euerie man confirmed his doctrine The same antour in the Epistle to saint Hierome and sentence with the worde of God and sure reasons And they counted those onely reasons to be sure and certaine which thei perceiued to be deriued out of the word of God Of which sort those be with which S. Paule proueth that a woman muste couer Howe we muste iudge of the wrytynges of the fathers hyr heade in the congregation and kepe silence and not teache men i. the Corhinth xi and. xiiii For the apostle cōfirmeth these thynges wyth thys reason namely because the worde of God testifieth that the womā is of the man that she was made after the man and first admitted the gyle of Satan Item that she oughte to be subiecte to hy husbande Wherfore al cōfirmations of godlie doctrine consiste in the onely testimonie of the Vppon what foundation al godly doctrine ought to stand scripture vpon wihche scripture al that we either beleue or teache of God and oure Christe oughte to be grounded For thys scripture only setteth before vs the word of God vnmixte and certayne wherunto onely we ought to giue credence in diuine matters for it was not taught of mē but of the holy goste from heauen as S. Petre wytnesseth sayinge knowe this first that euerie prophetical scripture is not of priuate interpretation For prophecie was not at
into his death etc. And a litle after we knowe that our olde man is crucified wyth hym that the bodie of synne myght be abolished that hereafter we serue not synne that is to saye that God hath set vs forth an exemple in Christe in whom we shoulde learne that our olde man must dye and that therefore he is euer subiecte to the crosse For he that is dead sayeth Paule is iustified from synne Therfore as necessarie as it is that oure olde man dye and cease from synnes so necessarie is the crosse without whiche the olde man can neither be tamed nor mortified Besyde thys profitte and necessitie of the crosse the dignitie also and glorie of the same muste be diligently commended to the people For God woulde haue his owne sonne in whom he had delite as he testified wyth a voice from heauen to be exalted by the crosse and death and to be crouned with glorie and honour Hebr. ij If then the sonne of God suffered so horrible thynges and thâ—rowe the crosse entred into glorie the disciple is not greater nor ought to be in better case then the maister Wherefore thoughe there were none other profitte in the crosse yet for thys cause onely we oughte to suffre it patiently and gladly that we maye be made lyke vnto Christe For seinge that Christ was ryght deare and acceptable vnto God thorowe obedience of the crosse the fathers wyll was that al whiche shoulde be glorified wyth him should suffre with him as Paule fayeth Ro. viij Whom he knewe aforehande the same he preordined lyke the Image of his sonne etc. And a litle after And if we be chyldren then be we heyres heyres I saye of God and coheyres wyth Christe if we suffre wyth him that we may be glorified wyth hym Our afliction also is planted in the passion of Christe for thorow baptisme we are grafted into his death Ro. vi So that we maye knowe certaynly that our crosse sufferinges please God as the passion of his sonne pleased hym For he is our head and we are his membres wherfore aflictions are come to both For whiche cause it was sayed to Paule persecuting the christiaÌ„s Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Wherfore if the heade if selfe were subiecte to the same as Paule witnesseth Cor. i. I reioyse in my tribulations for you etc. The crosse then is an entraunce to glory and lyfe as Paule sayeâ—h ij Timo. ii Thys is a sure saying if we be dead with him we shall lyue wyth hym if we suffre we shall reygne wyth hym etc. Neither is our tribulation at anie tyme equal wyth the greatnes of glorie according to the sayinge of Paule Ro. viii I compte that the aflictions of thys present worlde are not equall wyth the glorie whiche shal be reueyled towardes vs. Seinge then that euerie crosse is from God and Satan wyth the whole worlde can not hurte one heare of oure heade wyth out the wyll of our father men oughte to be warned diligeÌ„tly that in trouble they turne not their eyes so muche vpon the malice of Satan and wicked men as to the good wil and fatherly affection of God whiche aflicteth vs for thys purpose that we maye acknowledge our synnes and weakenes that we may be moued to true and holesome repentaunce of our sinnes and driuen to seeke grace in Christe and that we maye go forwarde in al godlines fayth inuocation and magnifiyng of Goddes name mortifiynge the fleshe and euer more fully facionynge our selues to the Image of Christe that beinge dayly more and more werie and full of thys lyfe we maye more gredely desire the lyfe to come and sone after enioye it plentuousely and reygne wyth Christe in euerlastyng glorie If these thynges shal be prynted in men diligently and commended vnto them they shal be easely retayned that they be not discouraged in aduersities that some fall not into impatiencie some slee to vngodlie aides agaynst affictions but hauing their mindes stablished wyth the trust of Goddes goodnes they shall gladly submitte them seues to the yoke of the Lorde and shall fynde rest to theyr soules Mat. xi Chiefely seinge that we haue thys coÌ„solation that God is faythfull whiche wyll not suffre vs to be tempted aboue that that we be able to beare yea wyth tentation he shal make away out that we maye suffre Besydes thys we haue an healpe and moste present counsell ordeined of God in al maner of persecutions as agaynst the Deuyll hym selfe we haue the Lordes worde agaynst violent and wycked men we haue officers ordeined of God agaynste diseases we haue sundry remedies and the arte of phisicke Finally agaynst al these togythrr we haue a mightie weapon the prayer of fayth Wherefore there is no cause why we should aske healpe of Satan in aduersitie or of magike or of other which serue the deuyll and not God as all they be that labour to seduce vs or to dryue vs froÌ„ the obedience of God Wherfore let vs vse the saied remedies commended of God agaynst the euyls that vexe vs and lette vs vse them accordynge to the worde of God wyth a good and simple conscience and if God wyl not streyght waye take our aflictions from vs by those remedies whiche he hym selfe hath ordeyned and appoynted to put awaye such euyls let vs suffre styll the hande of the Lorde with a contented mynde and neuerthelesse let vs aske coÌ„solation and healpe of hym with coÌ„tinuall and buruyng praiers thorow our Lorde Iesus Christ our onely Sauiour Vndoubtedly at length he shall turne all our aduersities to our health and profitte both present and to come ¶ Of the churche of God THe visible churche of God in this life is a coÌ„pany of personnes truly beleuyng the worde of God deliuered vnto vs by Christe and the Apostles of personnes borne agayne thorowe the holy goste In whiche companie manie abyde in thys lyfe not borne agayne hauyng sinnes agaynst theyr conscience and yet coÌ„sentyng in doctrine and true vse of the sacramentes As in Paules tyme there were at Corinthe and in other places amonge christians both godlie men hauing the holie goste and also some that synned agaynste theyr conscience whiche neuertheles spake not agaynst the true doctrine and ryght vse of the sacramentes but toke them wyth other in the congregation And it is receyued by custome that the godlie be called the quicke meÌ„bres of the churche These men whyle they be not excommunicated may execute ecclesiastical offices in teaching and ministringe the sacrameÌ„tes neither shal theyr vngodlines hurt the godlines of them whiche vse theyr ministerie wythout allowyng of their vngodlines Al be it then that the congregations and ministers of the same ought to take diligent hede that vnworthy men be not receyued to the holie ministerie and if they be receyued that as sone as theyr vngodlines is spied they be remoued from the same agayne neuertheles of what meane sorte so euer they be that ministre in holie thynges
whyle the congregation suffereth them they to whom they ministre the sacrameÌ„tes of Christ must neuer regarde the person or worthines of the ministers but the commaundement and promise of Christe in the holie ministerie For the Lorde maketh those thynges which he hym selfe hath ordeined in his churche to be effectuous vnto the health of his though the ministers be neuer so vnworthy and he requireth that the fayeth of his people be grouÌ„ded vpon his worde and not vpon the worthinesse of the ministers Therefore Christe sayeth he that heareth you heareth me that is to say it is my worde and it worketh thorowe me the fayeth of myne muste leane hereupon and not vpoÌ„ the vertue and worthines of the ministers For thys cause he compareth the churche to a fishers nette wherewith good and euyl fishes are taken And math xiij He testifieth that the euyll muste not be seuered from the good before the later daye The churche muste be exercised here and warre vndre the crosse not onely against fleshe and bloud but also against the deuyll hym selfe some of the membres thereof as it were stonpynge and gyuynge place some beinge quite ouerthrowen and some recoueryng them selues agayne and renuinge the fyghte And though manie in the churche shall gyue place to Satan and to the fleshe and shall be oppressed of these enemies yet euer some membres of the congregation must stande and ouercome some tyme more and sometyme fewer Wherfore there shal euer be some visible congregation on the earth as Christe hym selfe promiseth Mathewe the laste Lo I am wyth you vnto the ende of the worlde And Esaie xlix The Lorde sayeth And I haue made thys couenaunt wyth them sayth the Lorde my spirite which is vpon the and the workes whiche I haue putte in thy mouth shall not departe from thy mouth nor from the mouth of thy sede sayth the Lorde from thys tyme vnto euerlastyng Thys sentence teacheth what the church is and that it shall endure euer And it is a great consolation to holde both partes that we maye be sure that God hath not cast awaye whole mankynde but that he wyll euer heare and saue vs. But where wyll he do thys thynge Answer Not amonge the heathen or desperate Iewes or Mahometistes or obstinate aduersaries of Christe but amonge theÌ„ onely whiche heare retayne and beleue the worde whiche the heauenlie father hath putte in the mouthe of the Prophetes and of his sonne and call vpon hym accordynge to his moste ample promises Thys consolation taken out of the doctrine concernynge the congregation is diligently to be considered and printed deeply into our myndes and therefore the preachers muste often rehearse these thynges to the people Furthermore that grosse and pernitious errour of the Donatistes and Anabaptistes muste be reproued whiche called the people from the worde of God and the sacrameÌ„tes to the person of the ministers deniyng there ministery to be effectuous which had sinnes agaynst conscience How be it this is the coÌ„maundement of God in the callynge of byshoppes and ministers that suche ministers be chosen for the coÌ„gregations as be not reproueable And if while they be in theyr ministerie they fal into wycked actes that they be remoued from the same agayne accordyng to the ordre whiche the Lorde hath appoynted wherof we wyll speake hereafter In the meane whyle as I sayed we muste euer haue regarde to the commaundement of God in the worde and the sacramentes and not to the person of the ministers For we speake here of the visible churche wherin good and badde be mengled togyther in thys lyfe And god made mankinde for this purpose that there myght be some amonge whom he myght be knowen whiche should call vpon him and magnifie hym And therfore also he sent his sonne oure Lorde Iesus Christ and in hym he hath opened the exceding rytches of his grace towardes vs that they myghâ—e be vnfolded and distributed amonge vs wherby many myght be saued And bicause that these workes of Goddes goodnes muste be manifeste in the worlde there muste needes be a visible churche that is to saye suche a companie in whiche thys wyl of God towardes meÌ„ is preached and celebrated Therefore the Psalme sayeth of suche a visible churche Their sounde went into all the worlde But that the churche maye be knowen and discerned from other polities and people it hath certayne propre signes namely these that folowe The first signe is true doctrine deliuered to the church in the Gospel by Christe and the Apostles after a true vnderstanding The seconde is the true and lawfull vse of the sacrameÌ„tes which Christ ordeined The thirde signe is confession of godlie doctrine whiche is made both in callyng vpon God and reteynynge the coÌ„munion and discipline of Christe wyth the sayntes and also in professynge and maynteinyng the Gospel when neede is amonge them whiche be wythout the churche ¶ Of the vnitie or concorde of the churche AL be it that the churche in manie thynges be vnlyke the politike orders of the worlde for it is subiecte vnto the crosse yet it is like in that poynt that is principall and best in all comon weales that is to saye in greate vnitie and coniunction of the membres amonge them selues And the coniunction and vnitie of the churche consisteth in three poyntes chiefely The first is a coÌ„sent in the doctrine of the Gospell and true vnderstandynge of the same which seinge that the Iewes Mahometistes heretikes and aduersaries of the Gospell haue not they be not the membres of the churche though the Iewes and Mahometistes glorie much that they worshyppe the true God and manie of theÌ„ lyue well and honestly For it is certayne that they are not of the people of God and ther fore that they be cast away from God and damned for euer as many as blaspheme the sonne of God our sauiour and professe opeÌ„ly that they acknowledge hym not nor receyue his doctrine deliuered to the churche by Christ and his Apostles Therfore they be the enemies of god and subiected to eternall damnation In lyke maner though heretikes and persecutours of the Gospell reteyne some articles of the euangelicall doctrine and boste them selues to be christians and manie of them lyue honestly and excell in vertues of the outwarde lyfe yet they be not membres of the churche For the sentence Math. xij is sure and certayne he that blasphemeth the holie goste it shall not be forgyuen hym in thys worlde nor in the worlde to come For to blaspheme the holie gost is to speake euil of the allowed truth whiche was reueyled by the holie goste and the ministerie of the Apostles Item ij Iohn i. Euerie one that transgresseth and tarieth not in the doctrine of Christe hath not God So Gala. i. If anie man preache a Gospell to you besyde that that ye haue receyued be he accursed Hereof it maye be knowen also that they be none of the churche of Christ whiche folow straunge doctrine bicause that suche haue
those dayes when fastynges are prescribed the people absteyne froÌ„ all other workes and busynes and wholy gyue them selues to heare Gods worde and to praye For thys coÌ„mon prayer of the churche hath a verie large promise propouned Math. xviij If two of you consent together vpon earth etc. Therefore we muste assemble together vnto prayer and we must applie the same that we do none other thing and that our hert and mynde be bent wholy bent thereunto Howbeit in priuate fastes in which the whole congregation is not called togyther to the worde of God and praier honeste and moderate labours of the body nothynge hyndre fastynge as they hyndre not prayer For the laboure it selfe healpeth to chastise the bodie and to drawe the mynde from the vauinitie of the world and to moue it to prayer and also to succour the poore And though at al tymes we must vse labour of the bodie for thys purpose that we may ease the neede of our brethern wheÌ„ we desirously call for the mercie and bountuousnes of God Then let thys sayinge of Paule haue place He that hath stolen lette him steale no more but let him rather worke wyth his handes that he maye succoure the needie But that faste that we take vpon vs of carefull desire to appease and to praye God wherof we recited some exemples out of the scripture byndeth a man wholy â—o prayers and other exercises of religion and draweth hym from al other cares and busines As we maye se in the faste of Dauid whiche he toke vpon hym his sonne borne of Bathseba beinge sycke he laye onely in duste lamented and knocked vpon the mercie of God wyth prayers Paule dyd the same thynge in that faste of three dayes when the Lorde had conuerted hym Fourthly the preachers shall teache that large almes muste be added to a godly fast that al vniuste burthens of our neighbours must be loosed and discharged and that we must succour the needie liberally For so the Lorde fayeth Esaie lviij Shoulde thys be the fast that I haue chosen that a maÌ„ should daily vexe his soule wryth his heade lyke a circle and caste on sacke cloth and ashes Wylt thou call thys a faste and an acceptable daye to the Lorde Is not thys rather the faste that the Lorde hath chosen Loose vngodly bondes remitte vsuries vniustly oppressynge make them free that be broken wyth pouertie and breake all burthens of dettes breake thy breade to the huÌ„grie harbour the needie and harbourles when thou seest the naked cloth hym For thys cause the holie fathers condemned all fastes as not christian nor acceptable to God though neuer so straite abstinence be kept in them and sharpe chastisyng of the bodie vsed if they that faste conuerte not theÌ„ selues from synnes wyth all their hertes to the Lorde and settynge asyde all cares and busines of thys lyfe giue them selues wholy to prayer and other exercises of religion and vse moste liberalitie towardes the pore Wherfore they taught that they which wil faste godly shoulde bestowe all that vpon the pore that they had spared in fastynge whiche is a verie rightfull thynge and takeÌ„ out of the verie nature of godlines I saye that the faythfull whyle they studiously cal for the mercie of God and desire his liberalitie shew theÌ„ selues also at that tyme chiefly mercifull and bountuous to their needie neighbours For we please God wyth such sacrifices Hebr. xiij Out of thys doctrine of christian fastes the councell Cabilonense enacted that there is required to true fastyng that the fasters The olde fathers celebrated the communioÌ„ of the supper of the Lorde on fastynge dayes at euentyde as ye may se in Athanasius de virginitate be preseÌ„t at the euening praiers which done and the coÌ„munion celebrated and alines distributed they shoulde receyue meate For the olde fathers celebrated the coÌ„munion of the holy eucharistia or thankesgyuynge on fastinges dayes at eueÌ„tyde But thys much of coÌ„mon fastyng For christian men haue a double faste a priuate faste whiche euerie man ioyneth to hym selfe or to his familie onely And a coÌ„mon faste which the gouernours of the coÌ„mon weale or the prouostes of the church inioyne to the whole coÌ„gregation for some coÌ„mon and greate necessitie that lyeth vpon all men When Dauid bewayled his synne and prayed that health myght be restored to his sicke sonne he kepte a priuate faste The fast of Cornilius was priuate whereof Luke speaketh act x. Item the faste of the Prophetisse But the faste of the Niniuites Hester Iosaphat and of many other was a coÌ„mon faste which thynge is required Ioell ij And an yerely faste in the daye of purgation is inioyned Leuiti xxiij The holy bishoppes in olde tyme and the auncient church kept two maner of these coÌ„mon fastes Some were yerely at certeine and appoynted tymes Some were not certeyne but were vsed accordyng to the necessitie that happened that they myght be readier to prayer Of the fyrst sorte lent is and other fastes returning euery yere at certeine dayes whiche dayly haue bene heaped in numbre wyth mennes traditions but verie muche hath bene wythdrawen from godlie abstinence and religious studie of prayinge to god For the institutioÌ„ of the olde churche is longe sithens corrupted For the olde byshoppes diligently exhorted the people to faste but they lefte mennes conscience free neither condemned them whiche would not or coulde not faste As Paule also onely exhorteth to faste and the Lorde him selfe layed no commaundement vpon vs coÌ„cernyng thys thinge but taught only how it should be kepte to the acceptation of the father not of men In thys moderation of exhortation and christian libertie manie wyll faste godlie and truly Now whereas fastes be most straitly inioyned no parte of fastynge or litle is kepte yea the greatest parte of the people know not what a true faste is And if anie faste and chastise theyr bodies they do it wyth manifeste vngodlines and despite of Goddes grace for wyth that worke they wyll satisfie for theyr synnes and deserue somewhat Forthermore the fathers condeÌ„ned them openly whiche were more careful for choyse of meates then for true abstineÌ„ce and chastisyng of the bodie And they reproued them also which though they vexed theÌ„ selues wyth abstinence yet in fastynge they regarded nothynge elles but abstinence nor dyd no more For we must faste for thys entent that we maye be more readie attentyue and feruent to prayer Now a daies fasting is thoughte nothynge els then to absteyne from the fleshe of foure foted beastes of birdes etc. For they serue theyr gul more daintily and exquisitely wyth fishes and other meates vpon fastyng dayes then vpoÌ„ other and they take asmuche at dynner as myght suffice for a good supper to And further that they maye seme accordynge to the olde custome to take meat after the euening praiers they haue those prayers before none Euensonge whiche accordynge to the name shoulde be sayed in the euenyng What other thynge
the preachers must teach and exhorte the people diligently that they brynge all their gyftes and oblations into a cōmon treasurie of the churche and that liberallie And they shall declare moreouer that this is the deutie not onely of the riche but also of all men after the measure of the goodes whiche the Lorde hath graunted to euerie one of them For Christe offered him selfe for al men no lesse for the pore then for the riche It becometh then al mē to be thākfull and to remembre that pore wydowe whiche by the iudgement of Christe in offerynge of a farthynge gaue more into the cōmon hutche then all the other Marke xij We also God wyllyng shall take suche ordre for the makynge of a cōmon treasurie of the churche wherwyth not onely the pore and beggers shal be succurred but also stipendes shall be appoynted for certayne towarde yonge men whiche shall be brought vp and instituted vnto the ministeries of the churche Wherefore the preachers shal diligently exhort the people that they offre their oblations to the Lorde liberally as often as they come togyther to heare the Lordes worde to the holie baptisme to the receyuynge of the cōmunion of the supper of the Lorde to the cōmon prayers or on the sūdayes and other accustomed festes when mariages are blessed when thankes are gyuen to the Lorde for them which haue recouered them selues from some syckenes whē women lately deliuered go to churche and when so euer god hath gyuen peculiar gyftes to men whiche thynge he doeth euen dayly For we dayly enioye the moste ample benifites of God wherefore we must dayly declare our thākfulnes wyth godlie oblations that the ministerie of the churche maye be euer repared and susteyned and that all mennes necessities maye be bountuously succurred For it is a great and an vngodlie vnthākefulnes that whereas men bestowed so manie thinges most liberally vpon stones wodde and dead mennes bones vpon stationaries and such other vnprofitable fellowes and were cōstrained to bye sacramentes and other ecclesiasticall thynges wyth money nowe in the lyght of the Gospell they wyll not contribute a litle to maynteyne the necessarie and holesome ministerie of the churche to feede the pore the membres of Christe oure bretherne chiefly seinge that they be deliuered of manie superfluous charges whiche we haue rehearsed Therefore the people must be called by the preachers with greate diligence frō those superstitious oblations whiche they were wonte to offre vnto dead sayntes theyr stockes and relikes and they muste be enstructed and exhorted to true and acceptable sacrifices vnto God wherof we haue spoken ¶ A forefence and commaundemente agaynste the errours of the anabaptistes VVe are many wayes premonished both out of the worde of God and also out of histories of ecclesiastical matters that Satan laboureth by al meanes to steare vp and to brynge into the church sundrie sclaunders and offences aswell of doctrine as of lyfe Wherefore the pastours shall watch diligently to turne awaye and disapoynt these pernitious endeuours of Satā and to keepe and deliuer the people of God from all false doctrine In whiche thynge they muste watche chiefely at this tyme. For it is manifest that the anabaptistes runne vp and doune in moste places and with merueylous craftes and giles creepe in amonge the simple whiche also haue dryuen not a fewe out of theyr wittes whō they hold entāgled caught in a snare Agaynst this incōuenience it shal be right expedient if the pastours often enstructe the people of those articles of oure religion for whiche the anabaptistes chiefely moue controuersies and cōfute their dotyng dreames substātially out of the worde of God Hereby the people certaynly knowyng how vngodly theyr opinions be being so armed aforehande shal easely determine that the authours of suche doctrine must be necessarily eschued and condemned And the more that they shal abhorre frō the vngodly faininges and blasphemies of these men the more easely they shall be reteyned in the studie of sincere doctrine and ecclesiastical consent And the diligent handlynge and large exposition of suche places causeth al men in the cōgretion to be more plentifully and certeynely enstructed and confirmed in the doctrine of Christe And that the people maye be armed aforehande agaynste the vngodlie imaginations of these men the preachers muste entreate playnely and clearely of all theyr articles and shewe howe noysome and pestilent they be and full of all pernitious perturbation of the cōmon weale sedition horrible blasphemies against god and his holy Gospell For some make for the ouerthrowyng of outwarde politie some for the confirmation and ignoraūce of synnes to blow vp a truste of oure owne ryghtuousnes and establishe a contempte and violation of the sacramētes holy ministerie of the church The chiefest then of these muste be declared to the people by name and often repeted As these be where as they say that to administre the cōmon weale to exercise cōmon iudgementes to punishe yll doers be offices and workes contrarie to the preceptes of Christ whiche a christian man ought not to do Itē that to offre an othe or to sweare at the commaundement of them that administre the cōmon power or be lawfull Iudges is agaynst the Gospell Item that it is sinne for a man to haue anie thynge propre but that all christen men oughte to make theyr goodes common Item that a Catabaptiste maye forsake his wyfe whiche alloweth not his errours and contrarie wyse It is euident that these errours be seditious and that they muste be aswell restrayned as other seditious deuises and dedes are wonte to be Wherefore the cōmon officers muste punishe these felowes with cōueniēt rigorousnes And the preachers must shewe the people by the scriptures that these Imaginations be agaynst the Gospell and that they haue theyr begynnyng frō the naturall arrogantie of mē rebellion and cōfusion whiche fyghte agaynste the kyngdome of Christe The Anabaptistes whiche keepe not the difference of spirituall and politike lyfe vnderstande not that the Gospell teacheth the knowledge of God and the inuocation of hym in Christe Iesu oure Lorde and eternall ryghtuousnes and that neuertheles it improueth not these outward thynges to eate and to drynke wyth thankesgyuyng Item these ciuile thynges to gouerne the common weale exercise Iudgementes to make warre to go a warfare to obeye the officers to marie to keepe oure owne goodes to gette and mainteyne riches with labour and lawfull bargaynes to set forth sciences profitable for our lyfe to teache wel the youth and suche lyke whiche in godlie men are the verie worshippinges of God These thinges further godlines and cōmon tranquillitie and it is profitable to amplifie thys dignitie of polityke thynges whiche when they beginne to vnderstande then mē shall applie them selues more gladly to this diuine ordinaunce and they shall learne to exercise fayeth and loue in these actions of life And they shall obeye the officers wyth all theyr hertes and as muche as in
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
Aristotles his Ethikes in greke and shall introduce the youth to the readynge of these bokes The fifte reader shal be a grammarian for though thys schole shall be appoynted and instituted for theÌ„ that haue learned graÌ„mare in the scholes of chyldren yet for as muche as the wittes of chyldren and yonge folke be vnlike and some when they come to these coÌ„mune lectures knowe not theyr graÌ„mare fully and some forget the same it shall be necessarie that amonge other coÌ„mune lectures some chyldely exercise in grammare be also reteyned Lette the professours then wheÌ„ they haue tried the learnynge of euerie one distribute the chyldreÌ„ into certeyne fourmes as euerie one hath profited in learning and lette them pricke those forwarde whiche haue not bene sufficiently trained in grammare to learne the same more perfectly To thys reader there muste be two houres assigned euerie daye in whiche he shall cause the youth to rehearse wythout boke the rules of grammare euerie one in ordre And thys custome must needes be euer reteyned in scholes and not chaunged And forasmuche as the youth vnwillingly susteyneth thys exercise the professours muste all agree vpon the maynteynaunce of thys statute and coÌ„pell the youth wyth punishmentes to thys exercise euerie one accordynge to his age and according as he hath profited in learnynge that they may make theyr hearers perfecte grammarians whiche thinge healpeth excedynge muche to true and substantiall learnynge For coÌ„mune studies are greatly endamaged in thys tyme by reason that a perfecte institution of grammare is neglected and manie yonge men go to other professions and artes before that they haue perfectly learned grammare Of whiche hinderaunce though all faythfull enstructours of youth complayne and as muche as in them lyeth woulde gladly remoue the same from theyr scholars and compell them to learne grammare perfectly yet they wante the authoritie and ayde of them whiche haue superiour power in scholars Wherefore we wyll that oure ouerfears shall diligently resiste thys euyll and procure wyth all diligence that thys exercise of grammare be faythfully maynteyned and sette forth In the other houre thys reader shall cause the chyldren to rehearse without boke the accentynge of Mycillus and shall require of them that they exercise them selues in wrytyng of verses And for thys purpose he shall expoune some Poete vnto them We wyll that the sixte professoure shall reade Mathematicall sciences and naturall Philosophie and we thynke it sufficient that he reade one houre in a daye Therefore on the seconde and thyrde daye of the wieke he shall teache Arithmetike and that done he shal reade the litle boke of the Sphere made by Iohn de Sacro busto whiche muste be diligently declared to the youth Afterward he shall returne to Arithmetike and shal coÌ„tinue therin On the other two daies namely vpon the fifte and the sixte he shall professe somewhat in naturall Philosophie and he shall chuse some vsed and approued boke in thys arte as summula Alberti or Philippes boke De anima or some such that is not veri loÌ„ge nor obscure WhaÌ„ these be ended he shall take in hande to declare some short Cosmographie as the Cosmographie of Appian wherein he shal teache the youth the maner of comptyng diligently The seuenth reader shall be a lawyar whyche shalle expowne the Institutions of Iustinian one houre euerie daye For it shal be good to introduce gentlemeÌ„nes children and the chyldren of other worshypfull Citizins whiche shall come to thys schole to the knowledge of the lawe teachynge the fyrste principles of thys arte Whiche thing shall haue thys commoditie that while they trauayle in the lawe they shal perceiue how greate the vse of other artes is chiefely of Rhethorike and Logike But bycause manie chyldren and yonge men shall come into thys schole a phisition and an Apothecharies shoppe shall be needfull Where we wyll haue an eye to this coÌ„moditie also Euerie wieke on the fourth day thre professours shall come togyther the Rethoritian the Logitian and the Grammarian that they maye examen the yonge mennes wrytynges as well prose as verses and amende some of them that the youth maye see what thynges be fautie and learne to auoyed the same and to wryte better The professours also shall procure asmuche as maye be that the scholars do euer speake latine ⧠Of disputation It pleaseth vs also that foure tymes in a yere a disputation of diuinitie be kept vpon a saturdaye in whiche disputation the professours of diuinitie shall sitte as Iudges by course But the professours of artes shall procure that some disputation or declamation be vsed euerie moneth In disputations lette the better learned amonge the studeÌ„tes make argumentes and then the professours theÌ„ selues At these disputatioÌ„s we wyl haue a Rector to be euer presente that they maye dispute comely and wyth friendlie myndes and that the disputations gyue not occasion to pernitious brawlynges and dissentions Further it shall perteyue to the Rector to see that profitable matters be sette forth to be disputed of and suche as be offensiue to no man The same man shall diligently exhorte the youth to the holie communion and shal laboure to bringe to passe that they go to the Lordes table often in the yere But they that shal come to the communion shall fyrste aske absolution and then they shall be examined what they haue profited in the doctrine of Christe But howe the houres shall be destributed when euerie professoure shall reade the professours them selues wyth the Rectour shall appoynte whom we wyl also to make statutes by commune aduise concernynge the maners of the studentes whereby they maye be allured and dryuen to those thynges that perteyne to godlines and other vertues and whereby also they maye be an exemple to other men of godlinesse and honestie The Rectour then and the professours shall make lawes that the Scholars at conuenient tymes go to the temple comely and together that they be present in the holie assembles heare sermons praye wyth the coÌ„gregation vse the Sacramentes offre their gyfttes to Christe the Lorde for the pore that they eschue vngodly othes euyll speakyng eursynge and all noysome and vncleane speache all gloutonie dronkennes and vnchastnes that they weare comely and honest apparell not iagged or otherwise gaye and proude that theyr gounes come doune beneth theyr knees These thynges and suche lyke perteynynge to discipline semely for christian Scholars and to honestie shall be comprehended in statutes and enaâ—ted with punishmentes Suche a Schole out of which most ample coÌ„modities shal come to the congregation and that eueri ordre of meÌ„ mai be wel instituted and mainteined so that not only the professors shal haue iuste stipendes but also certeine poore scholars shal be founde if the reuenues of one abbaie be appoynted hereunto which now be wretchedly wasted For ye maye fynde many Monasteries euerie where in whiche there scarcely remaine fiue or sixe monkes and such men as neither be nor caÌ„ be any waies
profitable to the coÌ„gregation and whiche moste shamefully waste so greate riches consecrated to Christe the Lorde and to his coÌ„gregation Wherfore al princes and such as administre the supreme power ought to see that these thinges be corrected after a christian sort and that these coÌ„secrated gyftes of godly meÌ„ may be turned to that vse for which they were dedicated to the Lorde Whiche thinge we truste by the healpe of God we wyll procure not vnprofitably with the aduise of our men ⧠By what meanes a christiaÌ„ reformation of holy ministerie and cure of soules may be begonne and practised in parishes THat parishes and the holye ministeries in the people of Christe maye be ryghtly seene vnto it is chiefely necessarie that euerie parishe haue his meete ministers whiche wyll do theyr office in the congregations wyth al faythfulnes and diligence Wherfore first we wyl procure that al parishes be exactly visited by wyse and graue men whiche woulde gladly Christes worde to be promoted These men shal exameÌ„ what maner of pastours and ministers be in euerie congregation For if the people shal be ryghtly brought to Christ the Lorde and be instituted edified in faith towardes hym they muste needes haue suche guydes and pastours as be learned vnto the kyngdome of God as saynte Paule prescribeth vnto his disciples Timothe and Tite and such as burne wyth a zeale to brynge many therunto finally suche as be meete to teache other to keepe those thynges that Christe hath commaunded vs all to keepe so that the pastours and ministers be furnished to teache other faste keepers of the faythfull worde that they may be able to exhorte thorowe holesome doctrine and confute them that gaynesaye the same For if the salte be made vnsauerie no thynge caÌ„ be salted therwyth and if the light be darkened darkenes obscureth all thynges But it behoueth pastors techers of coÌ„gregatioÌ„s to be to other in the steede of salte and a candle in the waye of the Lorde You be sayeth Christe to his disciples the salte of the earth and the light of the world Wherefore by the healpe of God we wyll procure wyth as great diligence as we can that in oure dominion suche be made pastours and ministers ouer congregations as wyth vnfeyned diligence laboure to lyue accordynge to the Canon taught of the holie goste by the ministerie of saynt Paule and moste straitely required by all the Canons of the holie fathers though being letted thorowe mannes weaknes they can not perfectly atteyne to the same neuertheles at the leste in the principall matters whiche perteyne to the holie ministerie they shall ordre all theyr doinges accordynge to thys Canon Firste then whiche thynge is also necessary to the reformatioÌ„ of the church we haue determined to admitte none to the administration of congregations â—e to suffre anie in the same whiche is in a manifeste crime of intemperantie or vnchastnes or couetousnes by vniust gaine by vsurie or any other fraude in bargaining or in any wroÌ„ge done to his neighbour yea whiche declareth not a true zeale to lyue temperately iustly gently friendly and godly and to enstructe their household in the same way For where thys zeale wanteth there lyuely fayth can not be nor the true knowledge of Christe Howe can suche then teache fruitefully and be meete witnesses of the fayth in Christe For asmuche as they buyld wyth doctrine so muche they pull doune agayne with their vncleane lyfe For it can not be that suche should coÌ„stantly teache true doctrine seinge they loue not God truely Wherefore it is muche more tollerable to haue fewe and the same verie godly pastours and feruent in the zeale of Christ tyl God him selfe vouch safe to thruste forth more meete workmen in to his harnest then to coÌ„mitte the congregations though they be neuer so small to their faythfulnes whiche them selues knowe not Christ For no man knoweth Christ which studieth not to obey his commaundementes and to keepe him selfe cleane froÌ„ wicked and mischeuous actes i. Iohn iij. Euerie one that sinneth hath not sene God nor knoweÌ„ him And that al vnchastnes and vncleane life may bemore easely turned awaye from the ministers of the congregations we beseche exhort and require of them al whiche be now set ouer the coÌ„gregations or shal be hereafter that wyth all diligence they ordre theyr lyfe so godly temperately chastly and holily that they maye be guydes to the people of Christe not onely in doctrine but also in exemple of life and that they may bring the same to Christe castinge before no man anie blocke to stumble at thorowe dissolute and vnchast lyfe But to whoÌ„ it is not giueÌ„ to liue blameles and holily without mariage we thynke it not our parte to forbidde them holie mariage But thys we beseche them and require of them that if they wyl entre into holy mariage they entre into it holily and in the Lorde that is to saye lette them seeke them selues suche wyues as they maye well hope shal be an healpe to them not onely to leade forth theyr priuate lyfe godly and wythout reprofe but also to execute the holie ministerie of the coÌ„gregation more readely and religiously Let them then desire of the Lorde and wyth godly diligeÌ„ce let them seeke women excellinge in religion and all honestie godly and holily brought vp hauyng good testimonie amonge the congregation For the holie goste requireth suche wyues of the ministers of the congregation and the verie great necessitie of the congregations requireth the same They that desire to marie them whom they had for concubines before shall not be permitted so to do wythout the consent of the visitors whiche shall determine herein that that shall seme to be profitable for the congregation and conuenient for the holie ministerie For euen the familie of the pastours must garnishe the Gospel of Christ and theyr wyues muste be an exemple to other wiues in al godlinesse and chastitie As the holy goste commaunded by S. Paule Secondly we haue determined to admit no man to thys ministerie nor to suffre anie therein whiche applieth not the readynge of the holie Bible and hath not profited so far in christian doctrine and lyfe and also in the knowledge of administringe the congregation of God that at the lest he be able to declare the customable and communely vsed lessons whiche are wonte to be propouned to the whole congregation out of the scriptures and conueniently handle by the same the principal articles of oure doctrine and moreouer enstructe tollerably chyldren and more aged folke yea the vniuersal people of Christ in the religion of Christ Thirdly whereas that a maÌ„ may rightly ordre the holy ministerie profitably serue the coÌ„gregations therin it is necessarie that he entangle not hym selfe in the busines of thys lyfe but gyue hym selfe wholy with al diligence to readyng doctrine prayer we exhort and require by the coÌ„maundement of Christ and by the authoritie of our archebishoply
office of al pastours and curates of soules that they vtterly bid al worldly and fleshly cares and busines farewel and caste the same froÌ„ theÌ„ as beside the lawe of god the canons require with great seueritie For coÌ„cerning the necessaries of life we wil faith fully procure that euery maÌ„ shal be liberally prouided for that beinge discharged of the care of this lyfe they maye wholy gyue theÌ„ selues both to lerne the holy scripture and to study the same day and night whiche onely enstructeth vnto saluation thorowe fayth in Christ and also to prayers wyth which only we may obteyne the true vnderstandyng of the scripture and the gift and grace to de liuer the same wholsomely vnto other and luckely to serue Christ the Lorde in thys office vnto the edification of the coÌ„gregation Fourthly we coÌ„maund that the pastours haue often coÌ„uocations and godly exercises in the same whiche we wyl appoynte in certeyne and conuenient places and tymes as the coÌ„moditie of the coÌ„gregatioÌ„s and ministers shall suffre and herein they shall vse none excuse excepte it be verie necessarie In these conuocations one shall faythfully enstructe warne and exhorte an other of the sincere vnderstandyng of the scriptures and of the holesome administracion of their office For seing that the knowledge and vse of a pastorall office is so miserably lost we wyll appoynte by oure visitors as much as we maye some pastours and teachers in certaine places which be some what more furnished in the knowledge and religion of the holie ministerie to whoÌ„e the other pastours and ministers dweling nigh aboute shal resorte euery weke or as often as it shal be conuenient and shal heare of them the exposition of the scriptures and other thinges pertaning to pastoral cure so better furnish theÌ„ selues vnto their office And if cases and difficultes hapeÌ„ in theyr ministerie out of which thei can not vnfolde theÌ„ selues let theÌ„ vse the counsel of these men And if they be warned that thei haue erred or don amis in ani thing let them take that warninge in good parte and regarde it wel and diligentli amend theÌ„ selues in that wherein they erred and lette them if they haue not fully execuited theyr office in anye pointe recompense the same studiously Further more we wil also institute greatter conuocations to be kepe twise a yere and beside those we wyll haue two to be kepte euerie yere in our cite of Colone as the olde custome is wherunto the Deanes onli shal resort and thei which haue some peculier busines there or be called thither To these conuocatioÌ„s than the pastours and Deanes euery man according to his ordre shal come together studiouslye neyther shal they absent them selues from thens except it be for a necessary cause we wil prouyde also that euery congregation shal be visited euery yeare by mete visiters whiche if they haue perceiued any faute to haue crept into the parishes which thei them selues caÌ„not amende they shall propoune the same in the greater conuocations that it maye be ameÌ„ded by the authoritie of a synode Wher for we wyl chuse men excellyng in wysdom faythfulnes and authoritie asmuche as the Lord shal geue to rule this conuocatioÌ„s and to execute visitations to whom we wil geue such authoritie that they maye resist fautes and inconueniences whan they aryse and vse fit remedies Nowe all the actes of conuocations and visitations must be referred hereunto that al parishes may haue faythful and mete ministers whych may execute their ministerye faythfully accordyng to Gods worde and want not iust defence against vniust violeÌ„ce and cauillations of wicked menne And that thei which haue not faithfully executed the holy ministery or be found to haue committed any faut in their liuyng be corrected or if that cannot be brought to passe that they be remoued from the holy ministery Finally forasmuch as sondry chaunses diseases and other lets of the holy ministery happen dayly vnto pastours as vnto meÌ„ this thing shal also be decreed in coÌ„uocations visitations whaÌ„ it happeneth to some minister by reason of siknes or some other cause that he cannot execute his ministery himselfe that some of his felowes if ther be sondry ministers in the same congregation as it happeneth in tounes or some of his neighbours if any haue no felow as it is wont to be in vilages shal supply the rome of the minister so empesched that the peple be not ani wher defrauded of the holye ministery of Christ ⧠Of the reformation of canonical colledges CAnonical colledges ar now a daies for the most parte of two sortes Some ther be into which the sons of Dukes Erles knightes and noble men are only receiued Ther be other in to which the children of other men ar admitted Nowe where as all these wil be counted clearkes and partly also priestes deacons subdeacons and some caÌ„nons that is to say reguler clarkes if a lawful and canonical reformation of these persons shoulde be taken in hand it behoued surely that al thei shuld buckle theÌ„ selfes to that maner of ministring to the coÌ„gregatioÌ„ also of liuyng which the rules prescribe to such persons that is to sai they should apply them selues to the cure of soules and to the edifiyng of the reste of the coÌ„gregatioÌ„ in the doctrine of Christ I mean that the preistes should endeuour theÌ„ selues to preach and minister the sacramentes and gouerne ecclesiastical discipline the deacons and subdeacons should apply the ministery of the same doctrine and sacrameÌ„ts and the distributing of almes wheruÌ„to the other orders of the clerks shuld set their hands also eueri maÌ„ according to his place degre For this is the proper office of al the cleargie as the authorities of the caÌ„noÌ„s and olde fathers testifie to fede the flocke of Christ Clerkes fede the shepe I am fed sayth Ierome to He liodo where he numbreth him selfe amonge Monckes and sheweth a difference betwne Monckes and clearkes And where as in a christian reformation of churches we ought to haue a regard here vnto to seke this thing with al diligeÌ„c naÌ„ely that al thinges may be restored in the coÌ„gregations right coÌ„modiously with as lytle offence of meÌ„ as may be that the reformatioÌ„ consist not only in glorious writinges nothing in dede for the christian meÌ„ must do al thinges sincerly therfor in the reformaâ—ioÌ„ of ecclesiasticall matters we must brynge to passe that the holy ministery and hole doctrine of Christ may be restored to a sure instauratioÌ„ of religion and to the welth of the vniuersal congregatioÌ„ This ende thaÌ„ being set before vs sincerely regarded we think this way of reformation should be taken in hand in canonical colleges First we wil that our reuereÌ„d chapter of the hiest and principal colledge shal retaine and kepe styl their free and canonical election of al their felowes and prelates al their dignitie old laws libertes and preuileges as they hane had of old time and vse
cloister bondage shewe themselues so thanckeful to God for his inconparable benifite of the pure doctrine of the gospel restored vnto thē and of christian libertie that they shall sone cōpte that sufficient that shal be allotted vnto them how litel soeuer it be only if they maie therewith serue God with a free and safe cōscience But howe soeuer these thinges shall happen and howe soeuer these controuersies maie be prouided for yet Christiā men must remembre that we praie for dailie breade after the sanctificaciō of goddes name and the cōminge of his kingdome wherefore al carefulnes for temporal thinges must serue and gyue place to the sanctificacion of goddes name and to his kingdome ⧠Of fre and not monasticall Colleges of virgines FIrst we will that euerie college shal be lefte in that cōdition cōcerning dignite of birth wherein it is nowe I meane that suche colleges as were appointed to the daughters of Erles be lefte to them and suche as were appointed to knightes daughters be distributed to the same Secondly that abbasses and other virgines in colleges conforme themselues to this our reformacion in doctrine administration of the sacramentes other ceremonies item in the maner of readinge and singinge in the temples so that they reade and sing al thinges in a tounge which they vnderstande It shal be the abbasses parte to bringe vp and reteine the other virgines in the feare of the Lorde in holie moderacion of lyfe and in al honeste and therfore to stirre thē vp with diligēt warning and with the exēple of their owne life Lette the other virgines shew thē selues obedient to the abbasse and other rulers in all godlines sobrietie honest moderaciō of meates drinckes clothing and other thinges and doinges ⧠Of the ordre of sel bretherne And laie brethern SElle brethern in their profession are nexte to true monckrie they liue together they haunte scholes and labour with their hādes Wherefore we will maintein and aide them for these purposes requiring of them only that they purge and moderate their ceremonies lessons and songes accordinge to this our reformacion and that they liue a blameles life in the communion of the congregation where they dwell and in the obediēce of the cōmune pastours So likewise laie bretherne sustine them selues with their labours minister to the sicke and burie the dead Wherefore we wyll also helpe them fatherly and aide them in thys their holie kinde of life asmanie as wil faith fulli exequite these ministeries leade furth all their lyfe godly in the communion of the rest of the cōgregacion and in the obedience of the commune pastours Al these persones must be diligently examined bi the visiters of their ministeries and of their other conuersation and they muste lerne of the same a certaine form and rule of theyr lyfe and treade of lyuinge and they must obserue the same faythfully ⧠The conclusion of the worcke IT hath semed good vnto vs to publishe and set abrode amonge our men al the premisses beynge thus deuised deliberated and gathered together accordyng to oure simplicite but yet faithfully and with a true zeale of our Lorde Iesus Christe as a plaine introductiō to a christiā reformaciō of ecclesiastical matters and therwyth asmuch as the Lord shal permit to satisfie the office and cōmaūdemēt which we acknowlege to be enioyned vnto vs bi God our creator and also by the decree of the cōuocaciō of Ratespone which thinge moreouer our diocesanes haue required of vs haue cōmitted the same vnto vs to set an order therein Which thinges neuertheles we set furth to be receyued and obserued of men committed to oure charge none otherwise than as a beginninge of so holie and necessarie a thinge vntil a generall reformacion of congregacions be made by the holie empire by a fre and christian counsel vniuersall or nacionall or by the most redoubted emperour our most gracious Lord with the princes electors other princes cōmune estates of the holie empire gathered together in the holie Goste Which that the Lord wil graunte to be appointed and receiued with concorde of mindes for the settinge furth of hys glorie and the promotinge of our helth we ought cōtinually to desire and praie of the same Lorde and our God And where as in the meane ceason we offer thys our deuise to our men we do it for none other cause than we haue declared We labour to a voide the faute of inobedience chefely towardes God whyche hath sondrie wayes prescribed vnto vs in hys lawe this charge and thys worcke Secondly also towardes our superiours who inioyned the same thing vnto vs by the decre of the cōsel of Ratespōe Furthermore we studie to eschue the crime of vnfaithfulnes towardes our subiectes to whome requiring nowe the seconde tyme a godli reformacion of ecclesiastical ministerie and giueing vs authorite to order the same we promised this our diligēce which we also owe vnto thē bi reason of our office of an Archbyshop Therefore that we maye perfourme though not fully yet somewhat the thing that was enioined to vs by God and our sauiour and by our superiors and was required of oure men and by vs promised vnto them we bring furth these our deuises and deliberate sentences and deliuer them vnto our men sekinge therewith to promote and maintayne asmuche as the Lorde will vouchsafe to graunte a godlie concorde and holesome edificacion of al men in doctrine holie ceremonies and discipline of Christe and to preserue oure men chefely in thys so daungerous a time in whiche so many heresies and wicked opinions are daili more perniciousli stirred vp aboute vs from al false doctrine and perdicion which certainli foloweth wicked doctrine But if the Lorde hereafter shall reuele his wil vnto vs more largely shal giue vs more of hys grace and spirite we now kepe this liberte vnto vs to enlarge to shorten to chaunge to correcte to declare farther these our deuises institutiōs howbeit none other wise thā after the worde of God and as the Lorde shall graunt vs to perceyue that the same is for hys glorie and the edifcacion of his people whome he hath cōmitted vnto vs. We thought good to declare and testifie these thinges to al christian men which shal reade this boke vnto the glorie of God and profite of his congregacion Whome almightie God and our heauenlie father vouchsafe to illumine dayely more plentifully wyth his spirite and to brynge them farther in to the knowledge of his wyl to giue and encrease in theym mightie strength to folowe the same in all poyntes and at lēgth to make theym throughly blessed through oure sauioure the Lord Iesus Christ to whō be praise honoure glory for euer and euer Amen Finis ⧠Imprinted at London by Iohn Daye dwellyng in Sepulchres paryshe at the sygne of the Resurrection a lytle aboue Houlbourne Conduyt ⧠☞ ✚ ☜
theyr be anye lawefull impediment of theyr copulation For if there be any impediment that they can not lawefully and wythout sclaunder be ioyned together in matrimonie let not the pastoure alowe theyr mariage in any wyse or blesse it in the cōgregation tyll that lette be remoned and theyr copulation be alowed by thē whiche shall be appoynted to suche matters and causes by our cōmaundement Further the ministre shall exhorte them that they solemnise suche a mariage as becommeth christians and that they folowe not the pompe and excesse of the heathen Then lette hym wryte both theyr names and aske the banes vpon three holie dayes or sundayes after thys sorte Iohn N. and Anne N. haue made promise eche to other of holie matrimonie and thei desire that the same be alowed and blessed of the congregation Therefore they require that the congregation wyll praye for them that they maye beginne thys kynde of lyfe in the Lordes name and that they maye lyue in the same vnto the prayse and glorie of God If anie man know anie lawful impediment of theyr copulation let him shewe the same in tyme to the glorie of Christ and for the remouinge of an offence to the cōgregation Such a publication as I sayed muste be made vpon three holy dayes nexte ensuinge one an other except some special and weightie cause require an other thynge and suffre not so longe delayinge But no man muste haue anie thinge dispensed of thys thryse askynge excepte they permitte it to whom we shal cōmitte the office of causes of matrimony and when it is manifeste that there is no lawfull lette of theyr matrimonie Howbeit the banes of suche personnes also muste be asked in the cōgregation at the lest vpon one holy daye Furthermore we wyll haue thys thynge obserued that the weddyng of al personnes whether the brides be virgines or widowes be confirmed and sanctified in the cōgregation by the worde of God and prayer and that they come to the congregation wyth al sobrietie and honestie as it becommeth thē whiche come together in the Lorde and truly desire the blessyng of the Lorde vnto their mariage Wherefore they shall endeuoure them selues to brynge verie many wyth thē vnto the holie assemble thoughe christian moderatiō requireth not so many to be bidden to the mariage feast For the prayers of many are godly desired But bicause they come together to praye for the grace and good spirite of God to be gyuen to the despoused personnes thorowe our Lorde Iesus Christe and hym crucified they muste so appeare in his syghte that the glorie of the crosse of Christ be not blemished by worldly pompe and excesse Finally they must come into the tēple at that houre when Christes congregation cometh together at other times and they must be at the begynnynge of the holie assemble that wyth the reste of the people of Christe they may heare the lordes worde and make theyr prayers to God When they then be present in the temple wyth the congregation in a place appoynted thereunto whiche shal be open to al men the pastour shall saye to the brydgrome and the bryde Be ye then presente here in the syghte of God oure father and of oure Lorde Iesus Christe before his congregation to professe your mariage which ye haue promised eche to other in the Lorde and that ye maye receyue blessing and sanctification of the same from the Lorde by the ministre of the cōgregacion ⧠The answer of the brydgrome and the bryde We are present for that purpose ¶ Then the Pastoure shal saye further Seinge then that after the open askynge of banes no bodie hath come forth whiche woulde gaynesaye the coniunction of these personnes or coulde declare anie lawful impedement by reason of kinred or of affinitie or for some other cause the heauenly father vouchsafe to confirme that that he hath wrought in you And that ye maie the better vnderstande and acknowlege how great a grace and benifite the heauenlie father hath gyuen youe herin which hath ioyned you together with holie matrimonie and that ye maye lerne to giue him condigne thanckes for this his beniuolence and bountiousnes towardes you and embrace one a nother wyth more firme fayth as ioyned to gether by the hande of God cal for his helpe with more cōfidēce and euer serue him in this state finally that ye maye more fully knowe the promisse and office of matrimonie and perfurme the same more promptly ye shal heare with reuerente mindes some testimonies of the scripture and a religious exhortacion out of the same And first ye shal here out of the secōde Cha of Genes the firste institution of holye matrimonie God saide it is not good that mā be a loue lette vs make hym an helpe to be with him God sent a sleepe vpon Adā c. ¶ Nowe heare ye the voice of Christ out of the gospel Math. xix ¶ The phariseis came vnto Iesus tēptinge hym and sayinge to hym maye a man make a diuorce with his wife for euerie cause etc. ⧠Thirdly heare ye also the cōmaundement of the holie Gost concerning the office of mariage For thus he prescribed to maried folke Ephe. v. ⧠Men loue your wiues as Christ loued the congregation c. reade furth to the ende of the Chapter ⧠Out of these places the despoused persones and rest of the congregacion must be warned that they lerne and considre firste howe holie a kinde of lyfe and howe acceptable to God matrimonie is For by these places we knowe that God him selfe instituted holye wedlocke and that in paradise man beinge yet perfecte and holye and that he hath greatly blessed thys copulasion and ioyneth hymselfe all those together whyche contracte matrimonie in hys name and gyueth the husband to be an heade and sauiour to the wyfe as Christe is the heade and the sauioure of the congregacion and further more giueth the wife a bodie and a helpe to the husbande that here in thys worlde they maye leade a godlye honest and ioyous lyfe together Hereof a godlie minde shal certainly conclude that this copulacion of man and woman is without doubte acceptable to God and therefore holye and luckie which thinge appeareth by this that God planteth in thē whyche be ioyned in matrimonye so greate and so meruailous faythfulnes loue and most serniceable mindes both towardes thē selues mutually also towardes their children kinsfoke and allied by any meane to ether parte For God is loue and he that abydeth in loue abideth in god and the whole lawe is fulfiled with the loue of oure neighboure Where fore in what soeuer state of life more faithfulnes and loue and a redier mynde to procure the commodites of oure neighboures accordinge to the Lordes word is wounte to spring furth the same vndoub tedli is more acceptable to God more holie and blessed But there is no surer faythfulnes no feruenter loue no nerer frendshippe no prompter will to warne on