Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	commandment_n	day_n	week_n	1,142	5	10.2086	5	false

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

eternal life therin only say with Dauid I wil praise the lorde alwaies his prayse shal be euer in my mouth etc. Secōdly they must warne mē that god throw this cōmaundemēt setteth the wickednes of our hert and whol nature before our eyes to be acknoledged by reasō wherof we neglect the due praising magnifying of god wherunto we should haue a burning desire For by nature we are so corrupted with vngodlines that it is tedious to vs to heare god praysed so far of it is that we study worthely to cōfesse him to cal vpō him to magnifie the glory of his maiestie Thorowe whiche faute it cometh to passe that wyth the lest incommodities or commodities of the worlde we suffre our selues to be frayed and to be turned awaye from the true cōfession of Goddes name and frō testifying of the Gospel And if god did not sufteyne vs wyth his power we shoulde al sone fall to thys poynte that we should abuse his holie name to periurie lyes superstition and open blasphemie Thyrdly the instruction of this cōmaundement How this cōmaundement is fulfilled must be taught that mē may learne that God thorowe thys commaundement sheweth vs our natural disease of vngodlines that therby he may dryue vs to Christe his sonne the true and onely Mediatoure whiche before hym may entreate for vs and obtayne forgyuenes of thys euyll and dayly represse the same thorowe the holie goste and at length vtterly abolishe it which may moue and kendle oure hertes wyth his spirite that we maye begynne the sanctification of his name in confessynge testifyinge and praysing his name and his worde with out feare in all places wyth all reuerence and chiefely keepynge oure selues from all abusyng of the name and worde of God Thus in the fourth commaundemente remembre that thou keepe holy the Saboth daye the preachers shal teache fyrste that it is commaunded that in those appoynted tymes when the cōgregation is wont to come togither to heare the worde of God to pray and to receyue the sacramentes all christian men assemble thyther setting asyde al other busines chiefely on the sondayes and holie dayes and that they heare the holie lessons deuoutly gyue somewhat to the poore vse the sacramentes etc. For we muste all seeke an encrease and confirmation of fayeth and of al godlines for our selues and for them that be committed to theyr charge thorowe these instrumentes of religion whiche the Lorde hym selfe gaue and commended vnto vs for that purpose and we muste thorowe oure exemples approue mayntaine set forth and commende to other the common ministerie of the congregation and the administration of the worde and sacramentes and other ecclesiasticall offices And moreouer euerie Christian man ought priuately with hym selfe and wyth his familie to exercise hym selfe often and busely in readyng the holy scriptures and in prayers Therefore preachers shal fyrst teache that this is commended in the thyrde commaundement Secondly they shal teache that in this cōmaundemente oure vice and vngodlines is shewed vnto vs forasmuche as we neglecte holie cōpanies the hādeling of Gods word the participation of the sacramentes and other exercises of religion and bicause it is paynefull to vs to appeare in the syghte of God our father and there to learne the holy knowledge of him and his wyl towarde vs and to gyue him thankes wyth worthy magnifying of his name and holy gyftes Thirdly they shall teache that the Lorde discloseth vnto vs the vice of oure nature to th entent to cal vs to the repentaunce therof and to dryue vs to Christ which turneth away his wrath agaynst the same synne and represseth it dayly more and more wyth his holy spirite and gyueth vs strength to resist that euil and kendleth in vs a loue of Godly doctrine prayer sacramentes al holy assembles and exercises of religion chiefly of them that be vsed vpō holy dayes For such daies we must with principal studie religion sanctifie to the Lorde and ceasse from bodili workes and seculer busines and giue our selues wholly to the exercises of religion Howe be it we muste also at other tymes come diligentlye togyther to praye to heare and to learne the worde of God and priuately euery man ought to gyue attendaunce for his owne parte and with his housholde to reading of the scripture to exhortation and prayer as we haue sayd For all these thynges this piece of the lawe concerning the Sabbath shal be our scholemaister vnto Christe if it be applied to our life After the same maner concerning the fyrste cōmaundement honour thy father and thy mother the people muste be taughte that by the honour of our parentes it is cōmaunded that we honour al them which exhibite vnto vs fatherly and motherly kindnes either in teachyng and warnyng thynges that be Godly and wholesome or in ministrynge necessarie thynges for our lyfe or in defendyng vs frō wronge of whiche sort the ministers and pastours be chiefely and the ciuile officers whiche we oughte to acknowledge to heare and to worshippe as our fathers with al humilitie obedience and thākfulnes And bycause there is no man but at some tymes he maye do vs some good turne the preachers ought to teache the people that God requireth in thys commaundement al that that S. Paule commaunded to the Ro. xiij saying go one before an other in honour Item to the Phil. ij Let nothinge be done by contention or vayne glorie but thorowe humilitie of mynde let euerie man thynke an other better then hym selfe Secondly it must be taughte out of thys commaundemēt that we haue such natural pryde that we wyl submit our selues to nobody obey nobody nor requite the benifites that we haue receuied wherof spring many variaunces diuisions of myndes and dissolution of al necessary frendshyp Thirdly thei must teach that God thorow the disclosyng of this euyl would ster vs vp to true holsome repentaunce driue vs to Christ the sauiour whiche turneth awaye the wrathe of God that we deserue with this vice and mortifieth the remnaunt thérof in the fleshe throughe the holye gost and bringeth vs so ferfurth that we studye dayly to represse that naturall arrogantie and pryde and that we compte worthy honour and do worshyp our parentes our ecclesiastical curates and other ciuile gouernours and al those that do vs good in doctrine warnyng counsel correction or with any other benefitte and further al mē with whom we lyue euery one accordyng to his state and dignitie Moreouer that we take al mēnes admonitiōs and rebukes in good worth submitte our selues gladly vnto thē obeye theyr pleasure and recompence theyr benifittes that thorowe out al oure lyfe we maye do good to many vnto the glorye of God wyth our moderation obedience and thankfulnes Whereunto thys precepte conceruynge the honouryng of oure parentes ought to be our scholemaister into Christe But in thys commaundement it is not to be omitted that S. Paule monisheth vs of that it is the fyrst with

a lesson these two exercises must be diligently retained namely that the childrē do euer declare the constructiō of the text and also adde the rules so that they recite the coniugations and declinations and shewe the rules of the same In this exercise of repetinge and examininge a lerned and faithful master shal teach how manie waies the same sentence maye be spoken in latine with such declaracions of the propriete and elegancie of the latine toung they shal cause more plentious fruit than may be here fully expressed But this matter consisteth altogether in the faythfulnes and dexterite of the master Wherfore men thoroughly learned faythfull and prompte in teachinge must be sought furth to haue the gouernance of scholes cheifely in greate townes In thys fourme there shal be a certayne howre appoynted euerye weeke at whyche howre the childrē shal reherse wythout boke the rules of grammar that they forget them not The masters maye also change thir lectures and in the howre deputed to virgil expoune Tullies epistles In thys furme also euerie childe shall write and delyuer euery weeke a latine Epistle that together thei may learne both to speake to write latyne The fourth fourme shal be of thē whiche haue lerned theyr grammare rules and construction and haue attained a metly good latyne toung To thē afterwarde some logike shal be red as the logik of Cesarius Philip or Sturmius and some easie accentinge as of Murmelius or some other lyke In thys fourme more ouer some bookes of Ouides Metamorphosis de Pōto and Tullies offices shal be red The childrē of this fourme shal also be sterred vp to write verses which they shall deliuer to the master euerie month But forasmuch as manie be of that nature that thei lern to mak verses with much difficultie the shole master shal vse such moderacion in requiringe thys studie that he maye exercise euerie one in that that he shall perceyue the nature of euerie one to preuaile in Howe be it he shall exhorte the dulle also to this arte that thei do not vtterly caste a waie thys art for the greate profite which it hath vndoubtedly But they shall stirre them to trauaile furth as much as they canne and to write some verses though they be but fewe For this exercise maketh perfite grammarians and putteth the youth in remembraūce of manie necessarie thinges of figures of sōdrie wayes to speake latine and fedeth maruailously copie of latine speach Two howres a weeke shal suffice for the readinge of logike But whan it is ended it must be begonne a gayne At other howres the master shal interprete to theim to whom logike is red the greke grammare if they be fitte for that purpose whan he hath ended the grammare he shal expoune Hesiodus or Phocilides or some like thinge as a wise master shal percieue to be profitable for the children But the exercises of grammar rules and construction shal not be omitted in thys fourme but shal be vsed in the repeticion of Ouide These be the lectures whiche maye conuenently be reade the seconde thirde fifte and sixte daye of the weke For seinge that christiā scholes ought chifely to serue for the mainteinaunce and furtheraūce of the knowlege of God among men and to retaine and promote the doctrine of Christe and the hole true Christian religion we wyll and commaund that vpon the furth daie of the weke the schole cease frō other lectures and exercises and that thys daye be bestowed vpon teaching the catechisme and demaūde what the chilhren canne saye therein And we wyll do oure endeuoure that some commē and vniforme Catechisme shal be vsed thorought the hole diocese For we must not graunte to the scholemasters that euerie one shall make a newe catechisme but we wyll that they all vse the receyued whiche they shal so decylre and beate in to children that the youth maye be kepte and euer furthered in the syncere knowlege of Christ in fayth and communion of the congregacion And the selfe same doctrine must be taught in the scholes and in the cōgrgaciōs Which thinges the ouerseers of the congregacions shal cheifly loke to Furthermore the scholemayster shal exhorte his elder sholars to the communion of the Lords supper but let him first enstructe them diligently of this sacrament and examen them Finally in this fourth daye of the weke whan the catechisme shabe handled let eueri childe of the lowest fourme be hearde whether he can faye in latine and in hys mother toung the partes of the catechisme that is to saye the Lordes praier the crede the ten commaundmentes the wordes of baptisme and of the Lordes supper and of discipline and christian correction as they are wrytten Math. xviij Vpon the same day the schole master shal grammatically interprete to hys elder sholers and to suche as canne attaine to it the Gospel of the sondaye nexte folowyng and shal declare the sume of that lesson to them and shewe them what thinges are touched therein concerninge faith and other vertues that the scholemaster and the youth may accustome them selues to knowe more certainly and to serch out more religiousli the thiuges that be taught in the Gosples lette the Saturday be bestowed vpon Musike that vpon that daye the rules of Musike may be taught and the yong men enstructed and exercised to singe cheifely those songes which vpon the nexte sondaye shal be sounge in the temple For scholemaysters and scholars must not only be present at the songes in the congregacions befor other but they must al so beare the cheifeste stroke not only vpon holie dayes but also vpon other dayes whā there shal be holye assembles as it shal be appointed after the cōdicion and commodites of euerie place In this mater suche moderacion must be kept that the childrens heath be not hurted in the winter thorought colde if they be deteined to long in the temple and that they be not so occupied in singinge that theyr study of lerninge be hindred It pertaineth also to the maintenaunce and encrese of grauite and religion in temples that to sondrie and longe songes be not vsed But these thinges and suche other that pertaine to the dignitie of holie assembles edificaciō of the people of Christ the visiters shal appoint accordinge to the oportunitie of euerie place ¶ Of the schole of deuinitie But for maiteinaunce of Christean doctrine and holesome administration of churches those firste beginninges are not onely required whyche be gotten in the scholes of children but furthermore it is necessarie that men giuen theym selues altogether to lerne perfetly the vniuersal scripture of the prophetes and the Apostles and to excusse al the hearde questions whyche haue exercised the churche from the begninge Item to knowe the waye and meane whereby the holy fathers in theyr time defēded the Lordes truth in the cōgregacion and kepete the same pure vnto vs and finallye howe we maye in our time defende and retaiue the same That there maye bee

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

promise For it hath a peculiar and large promise of longe lyfe in the lande whiche the Lorde our God gyueth namely in whiche God is called vpon and worshipped whereupon his eyes loke to shewe bountiousnes on it For it becometh them to haue longe lyfe in the people of God whiche submitte them selues and shewe them selues obedient and thankefull to theyr parentes to the powers and to all men So in the sixte comaundement the preachers shal teache fyrste that by manslaughter all violence and wronge agaynst the bodie of our neighbours al reuengeaunce and vniust cōmotion of the mynde angre wrath hatred enuye and all signes wordes and dedes that come of angre be forbidden as Christe hym selfe interpreted thys sayinge Mathewe v. Secondly they shal teach that God warneth vs in thys precepte of oure natural arrogācie iniquitie and impacience Thorow whych vices it cometh to passe that we can suffer nothyng that is vnpleasaunt vnto vs but wee wyll haue all other to folowe oure lustes though they be naughti and infinite where as we in the meane ceasone wyll not onely omitte to do the thinges that be right and good to our neyghbours but we wyll also cōmitte many vnrightful and vnseamely thynges God than wyll condemne wyth thys commaundement oure naturall ignoraunce vnpatientnes luste and those that spryng therof I meane anger hatred enuy brawlynge fyghtyng etc. And God wyl set before oure eyes howe euyl these thinges be forbidding slaughter by name but aswel that that is cōmitted wyth the mynde as wyth the handes Whereby he requireth that as we abhorre all slaughter so we shoulde abhorre all causes and affection of slaughter and to do our neighbour any wrōge Thirdly they shall admonishe that God wyll with thys precepte when our vice is knowen prouoke vs to repent it and dryue vs to seeke his grace and mercie in Christe whiche onely appeaseth the wrath of God deserued thorowe these our euylles and abolisheth and mortifieth the remnauntes thereof with the holy goste and worketh and encreaseth softnes in vs that we maye ouercome the vice of impatientnes and frowarde way wardnes in other wyth oure patience gentlenes and humanitie and recompence wronges done wyth benifittes and be gentle and good towardes all men forgyuynge as Christe hath forgyuen vs. Ephe. iiij wherunto thys commaundement ministreth vnto vs an instruction in Christe In the seuenth cōmaundemēt thou shalt not committe auoutrie the people shall be taughte that God forbiddeth and damneth all copulations beside matrimonie whiche he hym selfe ordeyned and moreuer al lust and inordinate motions all intemperaunce al delites and pleasures vnseamely for christian men al riote and vncomelines in meates drynkes garmentes gesture wordes and dedes of whiche any cause of vnchastnes may rise or of any perturbation wherby the bodie shall be made vnpliable rebellious and stubburne towarde the seruice of the spirite Secondly that God warneth and accuseth vs in thys commaundement of our natural lecherie fylthy and immoderate conrupiscēce in al thynges whiche he him selfe gaue to susteyne and cherishe our bodies Thyrdly that thorow the knowledge of thys disease we are dryuen to repentaunce of the same and to seeke the grace and mercie of Christe whiche turneth away the fathers wrath deserued thorowe thys euyll and whiche quencheth the remnauntes of thys disease remaynynge in the fleshe and worketh in vs true cōtinencie chastitie and perfecte holines in all thynges that beinge healped wyth the assistence of the holy gost we maye resiste euyl concupiscences and al intemperaunce cleansinge oure selues from all fylth of the fleshe and of the spirite and workynge holines wyth the feare of God ij Cor. vij To the perfourmaunce wherof thys cōmaundement warneth and steareth vs as a scholemaister Lykewyse out of the eight commaundement thou shalt not steale we muste learne that God here by theft forbiddeth al fraud and wronge in matters perteyuynge to the vse of thys lyfe And furthermore all couetousnes nigardnes desire of more thē other haue and slacknes of due liberalitie Secondly that in thys commaundement God warneth and accuseth vs of thys couetousnes desire of more carefulnes nigardnes in thinges pertaining to this lyfe Thyrdly that he dryueth vs thorow the knowledge and condemnation of this euyl to repentaunce therof and fayth in Christe whiche remoueth the wrath of God deserued thorowe thys erockednes and damned desire and represseth the same in vs and cōtrarie wyse steareth vp and cōfirmeth suche truste of his goodnes that we maye surely certifie oure selues that God the heauenly father regardeth vs and hath care of vs and that he wyl ministre al thinges aboundauntly wherby we may susteyne cherishe and also delite this our life Thorow which truste beinge raysed vp let vs also learne to exercise true liberalitie towardes our neighbour leauing of all carefulnes for this lyfe and let vs gyue liberally to al men of that that the almightie hath gyuen vs asmuche as we be able and asmuche as the necessitie of oure neighboure requireth Whereunto this cōmaūdemēt exhorteth vs as a scholemaister In the ninth precept we must teache that God by false wytnesse forbiddeth all wordes and sayinges yea silence and dissēbling of witnesse and priuie prayse whereby the fame and reputation of our neighbours is hurted or not defended as we would haue ours to be defēded of other Finally al false and vayne speache that profiteth nothynge neither them to whom it is spoken nor them of whom it is spoken Secondly that God wyll brynge vs to acknowledge thys corruption of our nature this ambition maleuolence enuie etc. wherewyth we diminishe the estimation and excellencie of other and dissemble neglect yea and often couer and darken the thynges that pertayne to the prayse and reputation of our neighbour Thirdly that God wyll thorowe the knowledge of thys oure frowardnes prouoke vs to repētaūce therof raise vp in vs a diligence and desire to cal for the grace of Christe whiche came to pacifie thys wrath of God agaynste these oure euylles and to quenche them in vs wyth his holie spirite and to beginne suche humilitie of mynde suche loue of an others dignitie and excellencie that we be delited with the good estimation honest fame and worthy praises of other and that we wyll labour to set forth those good thynges wyth no lesse diligence then our owne fame and dignitie and that we vse in al our cōmunication truth honest interpretation and gentlenes to the edification of the hearers speaking alwayes those thynges to other and of other as we wishe other to speake to vs and of vs wyth a right iudgement of the spirite In the tenth commaūdement thou shalt not couette etc. They must fyrst teache that by the couetynge of an others thynges as his house wyfe familie etc. all euyll concupiscence is generally prohibited and all inclination motions and prones to euyll and al lothsomnes and neglecting of good workes Secondly mē must be diligently warned of this that they loke exactly vpon this commaundement and

For seinge that our prayer hath the promise of God laied before it it foloweth that he which doubteth whether he be hearde or no doubteth also whether God be true whether he perfourm the thynge that he promiseth And there can be no greater shame done to God then if we doubte whether he be true And therfore the prayer of a man that doubteth can obtayne nothynge as Iames teacheth i. Chap. He that doubteth is lyke the waues of the sea whiche is tossed wyth the wyndes Let not a doubtynge man thinke that he shal receyue any thynge of the Lorde A man that wanereth in all his dedes can do nothynge wyth a quiet conscience In the meane whyle the preachers muste loke hereunto that they gently handle the weake consciences of the godlie which stagger in the promises of God and that they healpe theyr weakenes wyth some good cōsolation teachyng that Christe wyll mercifully beare their weaknes for a ceason as he beare the weakenes of his disciples to whō euen after his resurrection he vnbrayded vn beliefe wyth muche softnes But they shall exhorte them to praye thus constantly wyth the disciples Lorde encrease our fayth Thirdly they shal teache the people that God hath cōmaunded vs that what so euer good thynges we lacke we shoulde aske thē of hym and also that he wyll remoue the euyls that oppresse vs. Aske sayeth Christe Math. vij And ye shal receyue Item Iohn xvi Aske and ye shal receyue that your ioy maye be ful Luke xviij He teacheth vs with an apte similitude that we muste praye euer and wythout ceasyng The Lorde requireth the same thynge in the beginnyng of the ten commaundementes when he sayeth I am the Lorde thy God thou shalte not haue straunge Goddes before me sanctifie my name For he that acknowledgeth the Lorde his God that is to saye hym whiche onely giueth all good thynges and alone putteth awaye all euyll and he that setteth his trust in no creature besydes the Lorde and therefore desireth wyth all his herte all his soule and all his strength to sanctifie extoll and glorifie the name of the Lorde this mā must needes aske al thynges of God and require healpe of hym agaynst al euyls and prayse and magnifie hym for the same accordynge to the Psalme l. Call vpon me in the day of tribulation and I wyl deliuer the and thou shalt glorifie me Wherfore as he sinneth agaynste the lawe whiche honoureth not his parentes whiche committeth thefte lyeth and offendeth agaynste other commaundementes so they synne ryghte greuously and agaynste the principall commaundementes of the lawe whiche call not vpon God in theyr doinges neither aske of hym what thynge so euer they neede whether it be corporall or spirituall And that thys synne maye be more easely auoyded it is a christian and godlie ordinaunce that chyldren be diligently instructed and accustomed to prayer and that a fourme maner and ordre of praying be appoynted vnto them when where howe oftē and what they ought to pray Not that this thynge be made by a lawe wherby their cōsciences maye be entangled in superstition but onely that theyr myndes maye be induced and accustomed to praye whom also it is conuenient to allure to praye wyth chyldishe entisementes and gyftes For what so euer is broughte into custome in youth the same cleaueth faste in al ages whether it be good or bad Agayne thynges not accustomed are learned wyth greate difficultie in olde age though they be ryghte profitable and good and though we greatly desire to haue the vse of the same But to them that feare God and set much by his commaundementes there is nothynge harde Lette the ministers then admonishe the parentes that they also healpe them therein that chyldren may be enstructed and accustomed to prayer from their chyldhode chiefely when they go to bedde when they ryse whē they come to the table and go from the same in the tēple when the tyme requireth not to herken to the readynge of the holie scripture or sermons or when they muste synge wyth the congregation It shal be good also for the confirmation of godlines in them to accustome them to praye alwayes when they be alone or to call to theyr myndes some parte of the holie scripture or some workes of God For it is incredible howe manie and greuous euyls maye be auoyded if idlenes and those their wanton and wanderynge thoughtes when they are alone be restrayned wyth godlie prayers or holie meditations And God commaūded by Moyses also suche an institution and exercise of chyldren saying Deut. vi These wordes which I commaunde the thys daye shal be in thine herte and thou shalt declare them and print them in and muse vpon them sittynge in thyne house and walkynge in thy iourney goyng to bedde and rysynge And that we myghte haue no cause of excuse either that we haue no leysure by reason of oure businesse or that we can not learne howe we shoulde praye Christe hym selfe hath not onely warned vs that we neede not manie wordes but he also hath sette before vs a moste apte shorte and easy fourme of praying which we cal the Lordes prayer wherin he hath briefely comprehended what so euer we maye praye for so that we learne truely to vnderstande and weigh it And howe it ought to be vnderstanded and pondred the preachers maye teache out of our institution if they haue not a more commodious waye them selues ¶ A shorte exposition of the Lordes prayer ANd this is a summe of those thinges that ought to be considered in thys fourme of praying First we muste marke the fūdation of godlie prayer whiche is the truste of fatherlie beniuolence whereof the Lorde warned vs in thys that he commaunded to call God father though we be miserable synners Thys truste before al thinges must be confirmed thorowe fayeth in oure Lorde Iesus Christe that we maye determine that God is a father to vs also and that he wyll denie no fatherlie thynge to vs beinge nowe his chyldren for Christes sake his onely begotten sonne amonge manie brethern in whom he hath receyued vs into fauour beinge disherited and caste awaye for synne and hath begotten vs agayne and adopted vs into his sonnes and made vs partakers heyres of eternall lyfe Wherfore accordyng to his fatherlie loue towardes vs he wyll suffre hym selfe to be entreated if we shall pray in the name of his sonne as he hymselfe hathe commaunded vs. He made mencion of the heauens that we should remember that for asmuch as we are now lifted vp into heauēly thynges in Christ we ought to aske heauenly thinges to thynke vpon the same Wherfore in thinges that wepraye for or woulde haue taken awaye of God he hath prescribed this order that our wishes for spiritual thinges should go before our wyshes for bodely thynges For firste he teacheth vs to pray that the name of god be sāctified that is to say that the name of God the eternal power of God wysedome and

those dayes when fastynges are prescribed the people absteyne frō all other workes and busynes and wholy gyue them selues to heare Gods worde and to praye For thys cōmon 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 whē 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 ●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 mā 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 hūgrie 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 thē 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 takē 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 thē 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 communiō of the supper of the Lorde on fastynge dayes at euentyde as ye may se in Athanasius de virginitate be presēt at the euening praiers which done and the cōmunion celebrated and alines distributed they shoulde receyue meate For the olde fathers celebrated the cōmunion of the holy eucharistia or thankesgyuynge on fastinges dayes at euētyde But thys much of cōmon 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 cōmon faste which the gouernours of the cōmon weale or the prouostes of the church inioyne to the whole cōgregation for some cōmon 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 cōmon 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 cōmon 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 institutiō 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 cōcernyng 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 condēned them openly whiche were more careful for choyse of meates then for true abstinēce and chastisyng of the bodie And they reproued them also which though they vexed thē 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 vpō 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

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