in presentinge your selues before idolls but either stand in the trueth and so rather 21 Luk. 12. a. Act. 5. c. obey God then man or els followe gods callinge who hath so mercifully prouyded for you mouinge the hartes of all godlie rulers and magistrates to pitie your state and do you good so that at Emden Wesell Franckford aÌ„d in this Citie he hath appointed godlye Churches whereiÌ„ you may learne to feare him repent your synnes amende your lyues and recouer agayne his fauour and mercie And becawse there is no way more ready or sure to come to him then by framynge our selues altogether to his blessed 22 1. Sam. 15. e. Mat. 7. e. Ioh 9. f. wyll reueiled vnto vs in his worde we to whome thogh God hath geuen more libertie yet no lesse lamentinge your bondage then reioysinge in our owne deliuerance frome that Babylonicall slauery and Antichristian yooke haue earnestly endeuored emongste other thinges which might bringe vs to the woorthy 23 Iohn 5. g. Luk. 1. g. 2. Pet. 1. c. consideration of gods woorde to frame our lyues and refourme our state of religion in suche sort that neither doute of the certeintie therof shuld make vs feare nor yet mans iudgement discourage vs and cause vs shrincke from this entreprise moste acceptable to God comfortable to his churche and necessarely apparteyning to euery christian maÌ„s duetie We therfore not as the greatest clearkes of all but as the lest able of many do preseÌ„t vnto you which desire the increase of gods glorie and the pure simplicitie of his woorde a forme and order of a reformed churche lymited within the compasse of gods woorde which our sauiour hathe left vnto vs as onely 24 Gal. 1. a. 3. c. 2. Tim. 3. d. Reue. 22. d. sufficient to gouuerne all our actions bye so that what so euer is added to this worde by mans deuice seme it neuer so good holy or beautifull yet before our God whiche is ielous and can not admitt any coÌ„panyoÌ„ or counseller it is euell wicked and 25 Luk. 16. d. abominable For he that is the 26 1. Cor. 1. d. Ioh. 1. a. 14. a. Hebr. 1. a. wisdome of the father the brightenes of his glorie the true light the woorde of lyf yea trueth and lyf it self caÌ„ he gyue vnto his churche for the which he payed the raunson of his bloode that which shulde not be a sufficient assurance for the same can the woorde of trueth deceyue vs the way of life misguyde vs the worde of saluation damne vs God kepe vs from suche blasphemies and so direct our hartes with his holy spirit that we may not onely content our selues with his wisdome but so reioyse in the same that we may abhorre all thinges which are contrarye The which considerations dere bretherne when we waighed with reuereÌ„t feare aÌ„d huÌ„blenes aÌ„d also knowiÌ„g that negligence in reforming that religion which was begone in Englande was not the leaste cause of gods rodds light vpon vs hauiÌ„g now obteyned by the mercifull prouidence of our heaueÌ„ly father a free churche for all our nation in this moste wourthy Citie of Geneua we presented to the iudgement of the famous man Iohn Caluin and others learned in these parties the order which we mynded to vse in our churche who approuing it as sufficient for a christian congregation we put the same in execution nothing douting but all godly men shall be muche edified therbye and as for the Papistes or macilious men and vngodly we haue not laboured to satisfie them becawse we knewe no souueraigne medecine for their cankered sore except it may please God by our prayers to be mercifull to theÌ„ aÌ„d call theÌ„ home if They be not allready forsaken But yet for as muche as there are suÌ„me which through contynuance in their euell â—ather deliting in custome then knowlage can not suffer that men shuld once open their mouthes against certeyne olde and receyued ceremonies we thoght good in this place some what to touche that scrupulositie For as ceremonies grounded vpon Gods woorde and approuued in the newe Testament are commendable as the circumstance therof doth support so those that man hath inuented thogh he had neuer so good occasion thervnto if they be once abused import a necessitie hinder gods woorde or be drawen into a superstition without respect oght to be abolished For if 17 4. kyng 18. a. Ezechias was coÌ„mended by the holy ghoste for breaking in pieces the brasen serpent which Moses had erected by gods commandement and now had continued aboue 800. yeres which thing of it self was not euell but rather put men in remembrance of gods benefit yet becawse it begaÌ„ to minister occasion to the people to coÌ„mitt idolatrie was not to be borne withall how muche more oght we to take heed that through our occasion men committ not idolatrie with their owne imaginations and phantasies It was not with out great cause commanded by almyghtye god that the 28 Deu. 12. a. d. 13 c. d. 4. kyngs 18. a places and other appertinances which had serued to Idolatrie shuld be vtterly consumed lest babes and children through occasion remembring the same shuld falle into like inconuenience And thinke you that we oght to be wiser and not rather take heede that those things which the papistes and other idolaters haue inuented or els obserue as inuented by maÌ„ may not enter in to Christes churche as well to th ende that the weake may not be 29 1. Cor. 8. c. 10 rom 14. c. confirmed in their error as that we may altogether 30 2 Cor. 6. d. Esa 52. c seperate our selues from that idolatrous Babylon and temple of Belial wherwith Christ hath no concorde nor agrement Ther was no one ceremonie more auncient nor yet of better autorite then the wasshing of the Disciples feet which was obserued alonge time in the church and institute by 31 Ioh. 13. a. Christ him selfe yet when some wer persuaded that it was a portion of the lordes supê‘ aÌ„d others thoght it serued in steade of Baptisme the godly churches in S. 32 Epist. 119. ad Ian. August tyme thoght it better to leaue that which was ordeyned for a good vse theÌ„ by reteyning the same coÌ„firme an error or suê‘stition The CorinthiaÌ„s for the relief of the poore and to increase brotherly amytie together dyd institute 33 1. Cori. 11. d a feast immediatly 34 Chrisost in 11. cap. 1. Cor Tertul. lib. ad vxorem after the lordes supê‘ but how sharply S. Paul did repreheÌ„de the same coÌ„demniÌ„g in comparaison that meÌ„ shuld adde any thing to the lordes institution it appeareth by that he saith I haue receyued of the lorde that whiche I gaue you We reade also that Ezechias and his nepheu Iosias 35 2. Chro 30. a 4. king 23. e 2. Chro. 30. a restored the vse of the passeouer which had bene a very loÌ„g tyme discoÌ„tynewed but in the ministration
therof they obserued noÌ„ other ceremonies theÌ„ God had left to 36 Exod. 12. c. Leu. 23. c. Deu. 16. a. Moses froÌ„ the beginniÌ„g CircuÌ„cisioÌ„ likewise a SacrameÌ„t was euermore after one sort ministred 37 Gene 17. b. Iosu 5. b. euen as the lord coÌ„maÌ„ded it But such is the nature of fleshe it wil be wise aÌ„d haue astroke in gods doiÌ„ges yea and how wilfully it causeth man to maynteyne his owne phaÌ„tasies it is manifest to theÌ„ which haue perused the auncieÌ„t recordes of the churche For begynniÌ„g at HierusaleÌ„ aÌ„d so coÌ„ming to the rest of the churches as ConstaÌ„tinople Antioche Alexandrie and Rome he shall see playnly that their greatest disturbaunce and ouerthrowe chanced through ceremonies What coÌ„flict was at all tymes betwixt the Latine aÌ„d Greeke churches for the same no Christian can consider without teares And was ther any thinge more obiected against S. Paul both of the 38 Gal. 1.2 Act. 21. d. GalatiaÌ„s and also of others then that he woulde not obserue the Ceremonies as the chiefe Apostles dyd and yet he kept them whiles any hope was to gayne the weake bretherne and therfore circumcised 39 Act. 16. a. Timothe but when he perceyued that men wolde retayne theÌ„ as necessarie thinges in the churche he called that which before he made indifferent wicked and impious saiÌ„g that 40 Gal. 5. a. Act. 15. a. who so euer was circumcised Christ coulde nothyng profitt them fearing also lest he had taken paynes amonges theÌ„ in 41 Gal. 4. b. vayne which ioyned Christ with beggerly ceremonies Therfore deare bretherne being hereby persuaded and with many mooâ— reasons confirmed which opportunitie permitteth not here to writ we haue contented our selues with that wisdome which we haue learned in godes booke where we be taught to 42 Act. 2. g. Matt. 26.28 preache the woorde of god purely minister the Sacramentes sincerely and vse prayers and other orders therby approued to the increase of godes glorye and edification of his holye people As touchinge preaching for asmuche as it is allowed of all godly men we may at this tyme leaue the probation therof and also for the ministration of the two sacramentes our booke geueth sufficieÌ„t ê“ffe But because prayers are after two maner of sortes that is either in wordes only or els with songe ioyned ther vnto and thys later part as well for lack of the true vse therof as due consideration of the same is called by many into dout whether it may be vsed in a reformed church it is expedient that we note briefly a fewe thinges perteyniÌ„g therunto S. Paul geuing a rule how men shulde singe first saith I 43 .2 Cor. 14. c. will singe in voice and I will sing with vnderstanding and in an other place shewing what songes shulde be songe exhorteth the Ephesians to 44 Ephes 5. d. Iam. 5. c. edifie one an other with psalmes songes of praise and such as are spirituall singinge in their heartes to the lord with thankes geuing As if the holy ghoste wolde saye that the songe did inflame the heart to call vpon god and praise him with a more feruent and lyuely zeale and as musike or singinge is naturall vnto vs and therfore euery man deliteth therein so our mercifull god setteth before our eyes how we may reioyce and singe to the glorie of his name recreation of our spirites and profit of our selues But as ther is no gift of god so precious or excellent that Satan hath not after a sort drawen to him selfe and corrupt so hath he most impudentlye abused this notable gifte of singinge chieflye by the papistes his ministers in disfiguring it partly by strange language that can not edifie and partly by a curious wanton sort hyringe men to tickle the eares and flatter the phantasies not esteminge it as a gifte approued by the worde of god profitable for the churche and confirmed by all antiquitie As besides other places is moste manifest by the wordes of 45 Epist li. 10. Plinius called the younger who when he was depute in Asia vnto the Emperour Traian and had receyued charge to enquire out the Christians to put them to deathe writ emongs other thinges touchinge the Christians that their maners were to singe verses or psalmes earely in the morninge to Christ their god yf any paraduenture wolde doute when or by whom these churches or assembles were institute it is likewise euideÌ„t that S. 46 Eccle. hist lib. 3. cap. 22. Iohn the Apostle who althogh in DomitiaÌ„s tyme he was banished in the I le Pathmos yet when Nerua his successor and next before Traian raigned retourned to Ephesus and so planted the churches as the stories reaport Seinge therfore gods woorde dothe apê“ue it antiquitie beareth witenes therof aÌ„d best reformed churches haue receyued the same no man can reproue it except he will coÌ„temne gods worde despice antiquitie aÌ„d vtterlie coÌ„demne the godlie reformed churches And there are no songes more meete then the psalmes of the Prophete Dauid which the holy ghoste hath framed to the same vse and commeÌ„ded to the churche as conteininge the effect of the whole scriptures that hereby our heartes might be more lyuelie touched as appereth by 47 Exo. 25. a. Esa 38. c. Iud. 16. a. Iug. 5. a. Luk 1. f. Luk. 1. c. Moses Ezechias Iudith Debora Marie Zacharie and others who by songes and metre rather then in their coÌ„mune speache and prose gaue thankes to god for suche comfort as he sent them Here it were to loÌ„ge to intreate of the metre but for asmuche as the learned dout not therof and it is playnly prouen that the psalmes are not only metre and coÌ„teyne iuste Cesures but also haue grace and maiestie in the verse more then any other places of the scriptures Reade Moses Chabib in his bookes called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we nede not to enter into any probation For they that are skilfull in the hebrewe tounge by comparinge the psalmes with the reste of the scriptures easelie may perceyue the metre and to whome is it not knowen how the holy ghoste by all meanes soght to helpe our memorie when he facioned many psalmes accordiÌ„ge to the lettres of the Alphabet so that euery verse begiÌ„neth with the lettres therof in ordre sometimes A. beginneth the halfe verse aÌ„d B. the other halfe and in an other place thre verses yea and eight verses with one lettre euen the psalme throughout as if all men shulde be inflamed with the loue therof bothe for varietie of matter aÌ„d also briefenes easines aÌ„d delectation Nowe to make you priuie also why we altered the ryme in certeyne places of hym whome for the gyftes that God had geuyn him we estemed and reuerenced thys may suffice that in this our eÌ„treprise we did onely set God before our eyes and therfore wayed the wordes and sense of the Prophete rather coÌ„sideringe the meanyng therof then what any man had wrytt and chiefly beinge in
this place where as moste perfite and godly iudgemēt dyd assure vs ād exhortatiōs to the same encorage vs we thoght it better to frame the ryme to the Hebrewe sense thē to bynde that sense to the Englishe meter and so either altered for the better in suche places as he had not attayned vnto or els where he had escaped parte of the verse or some tymes the whole we added the same not as men desyrous to finde fautes but onely as suche which couuete to hyde theym as the learned can iudge It remayneth last of all that you vnderstande the reasons which mouede vs to chuse owte and followe this Catechisme of Geneua rather then any other for consyderinge that the true vse of a Catechisme is to instruct a christian fully in all pointes of belief and christian religion ād wherein this is moste easely order ly and perfitely taught that to be the best we coulde fynde none in so great a nombre which either for the facilitie is equall or els for the perfectiō to be compared Moreouer the daungers which hang ouer Christes Church in these dais moued vs verie muche for as men may see present signes of certaine barbarousnes and puddells of errors whiche are lyke to chaūce in the chur che of god so there is no better preseruation against the same then if all godly churches wolde agre in one kinde of doctrine and confession of faith which in all points were agreable to gods holy worde 48. Psal 89. a. that our posteritie might be confirmed by the vniuersall example of Christes Churche against all heresies persecutions and other daungers perceuinge that it is not onely the doctrine of one man but the consent of the whole christian church and that wherein all yowthe hathe bene broght vp and trayned in The which thinge seinge none hath so farre performed nor yet is in such towardnes to the same as this Catechisme is being for the worthines therof already translated into Hebrue Greeke Latin frenche Italian Spaynishe Dutch and Englishe we cowld do no lesse but willingly and gladly embrase the same Wherfore we beinge nowe vnder the same crosse of affliction that you owr deare brethern are and yet altogether the childrē of God our mercifull father through Iesus Christ desir you in his name with iudgement to reade our doings tryinge theym onely by the towchestone of his worde that either if they be founde fawtie they may be reiected or els if they be profitable god may be glorifyede his churche edifyed and the malicious confounded Fare wel deare bretherne and let vs all pray to our louinge god that he wold be mercifull vnto vs restore his holy woorde comfort and strengthen his children and finally confounde Satan Antichrist and all his enymies At Geneua the .10 of february Anno. 1556. THE CONfession of our faithe Which are assembled in the Englishe cōgregation at Geneua I beleue in god the father almightie maker of heauen and earth I 1 Rom. 10. b. BELEVE and cōfesse 2 Gen. 17. b. Psal 63. a. 139. a my lorde God eternal infinite vnmeasurable incomprehensible and inuisible 3 Gen. 1. a. Ephe. 4. a. one in substāce and 4 Gen. 1. d. 1. Io. 3. b. matt 3. d. 28. d three in persone father sonne and holy ghoste who by his almightie 5 Heb. 1. a. Prouer. 8. c. power and wisdome hathe not onely of 6 Gen. 1. a. Iere. 32. b. Psal 33. c. nothinge created heauen earthe and all thinges therein cōteyned and man after his owne 7 Gen. 1. d. Ephe. 4. c. Col. 3. b. image that he might in hym be 8 1. Cor. 6. d. Iohn 17. a. prouer 16. a. glorifiede but also by his 9 Matt. 6. d. luc 12. c. 1. Peter 5. c. Philip. 4.2 fatherlye prouidēce gouerneth maynteyneth and preserueth the same accordinge to the 10 Ephe. 1. b. purpose of his will And in Iesus Christe his onely sonne our lord I Beleue also and cōfesse 1 Matt. 1. d. act 4. b. 1. Tim. 1. d. Iesus Christe the onely sauiour and Messias who beinge equall with 2 Ioh. 1. c. philip 2. a 1. Tim. 3. d. 1. Ioh. 5. d. rom 9. b. God made him self of no reputation but tooke on him the shape of a seruant and became 3 Hebr. 2. d. philip 2. b. 1. Peter 2. d. 1. Ioh. 3. a. man in all thinges like vnto vs synne except to 4 Rom. 8. f. g. 1. Ioh. 2. a. assure vs of mercie and forgiuenes For whē through our father 5 Gen. 3. a. rom 5. d. Ephe. 2. a. Gal. 3. b. Adams transgression we were become childrene of perdition there was no meanes to bring vs from that yoke of synne and damnatiō but 6 Act. 4. b. 1. peter 2. a. Isaie 28. d. rom 9. g. onely Iesus Christe our lord who giuinge vs that by grace which was his by 7 Ioh. 1. b. Hebr. 1. c. rom 1. a. psal 2. c. nature made vs through faith the 8 Gal. 3. d. rom 8. c. ioh 1. d. ephe 1. a. childrene of God who whē the 9 Gal. 4. a. Act. 2. c. fulnes of tyme was come was cōceyued by the power of the 10 Isai 7. c. luk 1. d. rom 1. a. holy ghoste Which was conceyued by the holie ghost borne of the vigine Marie Suffered vnder Pōtius Pilate was crucifiede◠deade an◠buried borne of the virgine Marie accordinge to the fleshe and 11 Act. 10. f. rom 1. a. preached in earthe the gospell of saluatiō tyll at lenght by tyrānye of the 12 Ioh. 7. e. 11. f. g. 12. c. matt 12. b. 27. b. luk 23. c. Isa 53. a. priestes he was gilteles cōdemned vnder Pōtius Pilate thē presidēt of Iurie ād moste slaunderously hanged on the crosse betwixte two theues as a notorious trespasser where takinge vpō hym the 13 Gal. 3. b. punishement of our synnes he delyuered vs frome the curse of the lawe And forasmoche as he beinge onely God could not feele deathe nether beinge onely man could ouercome deathe he ioyned bothe to gether and suffred his humanitie to be punished with moste cruell death felinge in him selfe the anger and seuere iudgement of God euen as if he had bene in the extreme 14 Act. 2. d. 1. peter 2. d. Isai 53. c. tormētes of hell He discended into hell and therfore cryed with a lowde voice 15 Psal 22. a. matt 27. c. My God my God why haste thou forsaken me Thus of his 16 Isa 53. a. hebr 9. c. 10. c gal 1. a. rom 4. d. 5. b. 1. Ioh. 1. b. fre mercie without compulsion he offred vp him selfe as the onely sacrifice to purge the synnes of all the world so that all other sacrifices for synne are blasphemous and derogate frome the sufficiencie herof The which death albeit it did sufficiently 17 Col. 1. c. reconcile vs to God yet the scriptures
estates before mentioned or els prayeth as the spirite of God shall moue his harte framinge the same accordinge to the tyme and matter which he hath intreated of And yf there shal be at any tyme any present plague famine pestilence warre or such like which be euident tokens of Gods wrath leu 26. d. Deu. 28. b. 3. kyngs 8. d 2. kyngs 24. c as it is our parte to acknowlage our synnes to be the occasion therof so are we appointed by the scriptures to giue our selues to mournynge fastinge and prayer as the meanes to turne awaye Gods heauie displeasure Therfore it shal be conuenient that the minister at suche tyme do not onely admonyshe the people therof but also vse some forme of prayer accordinge as the present necessitie requireth to the which he may appoint by a common consent some seuerall daye after the sermon wekely to be obserued THE order of Baptisme FIrst note that for asmoche as it is not permitted by Gods woord 1. Cor. 14. f. 1. Tim. 2. d. Matt. 28. d. The transgression of Gods ordināce is called iniquitie and Idolatrie and is compared to witchcrafte sorcerie 1. Sam. 15. o How dangerous also it is to enterprise any thinge rashely or without the warrant of Gods woorde thexāples of Saul Oza Ozias Nadab and Abiu oght sufficiently to vvarne vs. 1. Sam. 13. c 2. Sam. 6. b. 2. Chro. 26. c. leu 10. a. Nom. 3. a. that wemen should preache or minister the Sacramentes and it is euident that the sacramentes are not ordeined of God to be vsed in priuat corners as charmes or sorceries but left to the congregation and necessarely annexed to Gods woord as seales of the same therfore the enfant which is to be baptised shal be broght to the churche on the day appointed to comen prayer and preachinge accompanied wyth the father and god father So that after the Sermon the chyld beinge presented to the minister he demaundeth this question DO you present this childe to be baptised earnestly desiring that he may be ingrafted in the mysticall bodye of Iesus Christ The answer Yea we require the same The minister procedeth THEN let vs cōsider dearly beloued how almyghtie God hath not onely made vs his children by 1 rom 8. c. Gal. 4. a. Ephe. 1. a. 2. c. adoption and receiued vs into the fellowship of his churche but also hath promised that he wil be our 2 Gen. 17. a. Exod. 20. a. Deu. 7. b. Esa 59. d God and the God of our childrē vnto the thousand generation Whych thinge as he confirmed to his people of the olde testament by the sacrament of 3 Gen. 17. b. Rom. 4. b. circumcision so hath he also renewed the same to vs in his new testament by the sacrament of 4 Col. 2. e Gal. 3. d Act. 2. f baptisme doing vs therby to wyt that our infantes apperteyne to hym by couenaunt and therfore oght not to be defrauded of those holy signes and badges 5 Act. 10. g wher by his children are knowen from infidells and pagans Neither is it requisite that all those that receyue this sacramente haue the vse of vnderstanding and fay the but chiefelye that they be conteyned vnder the name of 6 Act. 2. 2. Cor. 7. c. gods people So that remission of synnes in the bloode of Christ Iesus doth appertaine to thē by Gods promise Which thing is most euident by 7 1. Cor. 7. c sainct Paul who pronounceth the childrē begotten and borne either of the parents being faythful to be cleane and holy Also our sauiour Christ admitteth 8 Mar. 10. b. mat 19. b. luk 18. c. psal 22. d children to his presence imbrasing and blessinge theim Which testimonies of the holy ghoste assure vs that infants be of the number of Gods people and that remission of synnes doth also apperteyne to theim in Christ Therfore wythout iniurie they can not be debarred from the common signe of Gods children Neither yet is this owteward action of suche necessitie that the 9 rom 4. b. Gal. 3. a. Iam. 2. d. Gen. 15. b. 17. b lacke therof shuld be preiudiciall to their saluation yf that preuented by deathe thei may not conueniently be presented to the church But we hauinge respect to that obedience which christians owe to the voice and ordinance of Christ Iesus who commanded 10 Mark 10. b. Matt. 28. d. to preache and baptise all wyth out exception do iudge theym onely vnworthy of any felowship wyth him who contemptuosly refuse suche ordinary meanes as his wisdome hath appointed to the instruction of our dull senses Furthermore it is euident that baptisme was ordeined to be ministred in the element of 11 matt 3. c. 1. Peter 3. d. 1. Ioh. 5. b. Cor. 10. a. water to teache vs that lyke as water outwardly dothe washe a way the fylthe of the bodye so inwardly dothe the vertue of Christs blood purge our sowles from that corruption and deadly poyson wherwith by 12 Ephe. 2. a. nature we were infected Whose venemous 13 rom 7 dreggs althogh they continewe in this our flesh yet by the merits of his deathe are not 14 rom 4. a. Gal. 3. a. psal 32. a. imputed vnto vs by cause the iustice of Iesus Christ is made 15 Rom. 6. a gal 3. d. Iudas Simon Magus Hymeneus Alexander Philetus ours by baptisme Not that we thinke any suche vertue or power to be included in the visible water or owtward action for many haue bene baptised and yet neuer inwardly purged but that our sauiour Christ who commanded baptisme to be ministred will by the power of his holy spirite effectually worke in the harts of his 16 Act. 2. g. 13. g. elect in tyme conuenient all that is ment and sygnified by the same And this the scripture calleth our 17 Eph. 3. a. 1. Cor. 12. b. Rom. 6. a. Coll. 2. b. regeneration which standeth chiefli in these two points in mortificatiō that is to say a resisting of the rebellious lustes of the flesche The fruit of baptisme standeth in two points mortificatiō and regeneration and in newnes of lyffe wherby we continually stryue to walke in that purenes and perfection wherwyth we are cladd in baptisme And althogh we in the iourney of this lyffe be 18 1. peter 5. b. Luk 22. d. Iob. 7. incumbred wyth many ennemies whych in the way assayle vs yet fyght we not wyth out fruite For this 19 Rom. 5. a. 1. Peter 1. a. Iam. 1. a. Ephe. 6. b. continuall battaill which we fight against synne deathe ād hell is a most infallible argumēt that God the father mīdfull of his promise made vnto vs in Christ Iesu doth not only gyue vs motions and courage to resist theim but also assurance to 20 1. Cor. 15. g Osee 13. d. Heb. 2. d. Iob. 16. d. ouercome ād obteine victorie Wherfore dearly beloued it is not only of necessitie that we
of the holy gospell then may you be certayne that God hathe euyn so knytt you together in this holy state of wedlocke Wherfore applie your selues to lyue a chaste and holie lyfe together in godlie loue in christian peace and good example euer holdinge faste the band of charitie withowte any breache kepinge faithe and trueth th one to the other euen as godes woorde dothe appoynte Then the minister commendeth theym to God in this or suche like sorte THE lorde sanctifie and blesse you the lorde powre the riches of his grace vppon you that ye may please hym and lyue together in holy loue to youre lyues ende So be it Then is songe the 128. Psalme Blessed are they that feare the lorde c. or some other appertaynyng to the same purpose The visitation of the sicke BEcawse the visitation of the sicke is a thyng verie necessarie and yet not withstandyng it is hard to prescribe all rules appertaynyng therunto wee refer it to the discretion of the godlie and prudent minister who accordinge as he seethe the pacient affected either may lift hym vp with the swete promesses of godes mercy through Christe if he perceiue hym moche afrayde of godes thretenynges or cōtrarie wise if he be not towched with the felinge of his synnes may beate hym downe with godes iustice Euermore like a skilfull phisition framyng his medicine accordyng as the disease requireth and if he perceyue hym to wante any necessaries he not onelie releueth hym accordyng to his abilitie but also prouideth by others that he may be furnissed sufficiently Moreouer the partie that is visited may at all tymes for his comforte sende for the minister who dothe not onelie make prayers for hym there presentlie but also if it so requyre commendeth hym in the publique prayers to the congregation Of Buriall THE corps is reuerently brought to the graue accompagnied with the congregatiō with owte any further ceremonies which beyng buriede the minister goeth to the churche if it be not farre of and maketh some comfortable exhortacion to the people towchyng deathe and resurrection THE ORDER of the ecclesiasticall discipline AS no Citie Towne howse or familie can maynteine their estate and prospere The necessitie of discipline without policie and gouernaunce euen so the churche of God which requireth more purely to be gouerned then any Citie or familie can not without spirituall policie and ecclesiasticall discipline continewe encrease and florishe And as the 1 Ephe. 5. f word of God is the life and soule of this churche so this godlie ordre and discipline is as it were synewes in the bodie which knit and ioyne the membres to gether with decent order and comelynes It is a brydle to staye the wicked frome their myschiefes It is a spurre to pricke forward suche as be slowe and necligent yea and for all men it is the fathers rodde euer in a readines to chastice gentelye the fautes committed and to cawse theym afterward to lyue in more godlie feare and reuerence What discipline is Finallye it is an ordre left by God vnto his churche What discipline is wherby men learne to frame their wills and doinges accordinge to the lawe of God hy instructing and admonishīge one an other yea and by correctinge and ponishinge all obstinate rebells and contemners of the same There are thre cawses chiefly which moue the churche of God to the executinge of discipline For what causes it oght to be vsed First that men of euell conuersation be not nombred emongst Gods childrene to their fathers 2 Ephe. 5. f. reproche as if the churche of God were a sanctuary for naughtie and vyle persons The second respect is that the good be not infected with compagnyinge the euell which thinge S. Paule forsawe when he commaunded the Corinthians to banishe frome emongst theym the incestuous adultether saīge a litle 3 1. Cor. 3. b. Gal 5. b. leauyn maketh sowre the whole lump of dowe The third cawse is that a man thus corrected or excommunicated might be 4 2. The. 3. b. 1. Cor. 5. c. ashamed of his faut and so through repentance come to amendement the which thinge the Apostole calleth deliueringe to Satan that his soule may be saued in the day of the lord meaning that he might be ponished with excommunication to the intent his soule shuld not perishe for euer First therfore it is to be noted that this censure corrrection or discipline is either priuate or publike The order of procedinge in priuate discipline priuate as if a man committ either in maners or doctrine against thee to admonishe hym brotherly 5 Matt. 18. b. luc 17. a. iam 5. d. leu 19. d. 2. Thes 3. d. betwixt him and thee if perchaunce he stubburnely resist thy charitable aduertisementes or els by contynuance in his faut declare that he amendeth not then after he hath bene the second tyme warned in presence of two or three witnesses and continueth obstinately in his error he oght as our sauior Christ commaundeth to be disclosed and vttered to the church so that accordinge to publike discipline publicke discipline he either may be receyued through repentance or els be ponished as his faut requireth And here as towchinge priuate discipline thre thinges are to be noted First What thīges are to be obserued in priuate discipline that our admonitions procede of a godly zeale and conscience rather sekinge to wynne our brother then to slaunder him Next that we be assured that his faut be reprouuable by gods woord And finally that we vse suche modestie and wisdomē that if we somewhat dout of the matter wherof we admonishe hym yet with godly exhortatiōs he may be broght to the knowlage of his faut Or if the faut apperteyne to many or be knowen of diuers that our admonition be done in presence of some of theym Brefly if it concerne the whole churche in suche sorte that the concelinge therof might procure some daunger to the same that then it be vttered to the ministers and seniors to whome the policie of the church doth apperteine Also in publike discipline of publike discipline and of the end therof it is to be obserued that the Ministerie pretermit nothinge at any tyme vnchastised with one kind of ponishement or other if they perceyue any thinge in the Congregation either euyll in example slaunderous in maners or not besemynge their profession as if there be any couetous personne any adulterer or fornicator forsworne thief briber false witnes bearer blasphemer dronkarde slaunderer vsurer any person disobedient seditious or dissolute any heresie or sect as papisticall anabaptisticall and suche lyke briefly what so euer it be that might 6 Ephe. 5. f. spott the christian congregation yea rather what so euer is not to edification oght not to escape either admonition or ponishement And becawse it happeneth sometyme in the churche of Christ that when other remedies assayed proffitt nothinge they