kingdome of heauen but are euen as it were in hell and the ministers receiued the keyes of the kingdome of heauen from Christe that is to say the preaching of the Gospell that therby they might open shut Therefore they open when they teache true faithe promisse eternall life and exhort all men to come vnto Christe that they may be saued And they shutte vp the kingdome of heauen when they threaten eternall damnation against the vnbeléeuers wicked men and suche as do not repente testifying vnto them that they are excluded from the kingdome of god But the power or effecte to perfourme appertaineth onely vnto the Lorde like as Paule compareth the ministers of the Churche to husbande men saying Neither is he that planteth any thing neither he vvhich vvatereth but God vvhich giueth the increase VVhat then is Paule or vvho is Appollo are they any other but Ministers by vvhome you haue beleeued euen as God hathe giuen the gifte vnto euery one Therefore it is God onely that dothe forgiue or not forgiue ours sinnes and the ministers which haue receiued the keyes are onely the publishers of this deliueraunce or captiuitie Wherefore some of the Fathers haue vsed in this case a certaine distinction saying that Christe gouerneth in the Churche by his owne proper power and the ministers as seruauntes onely And héereby it manifestly appeareth that these Romishe champions which after so straunge a manner claime vnto them selfe the power of the keyes and persuade the simple people that by the authoritie of them they haue obtained I knowe not what wonderfull power are like those vnthriftie and vntrustie seruauntes who hauing receyued some certaine and limitted office not being therewith content doe vnder the pretence thereof vsurpe the power and authoritie of their Lorde and maister So these good fellowes conuerte the vse of the keyes which they haue receyued to the accomplishing of all that them selues do like off For of the keyes which in déede is the office of preaching these Popish prelates frame vp great and maruellous matters for by them they doe aduaunce and lifte vp them selues and their authoritie aboue Kings Emperors yea ouer the soules of men their dignities goodes and bodyes Furthermore vnder the pretence of these their keyes they heape vp great treasures searche out the conseiences of men and mainetaine theyr purgatorie of which muche mighte be spoken that we heere willingly ouerpasse But we knowe that the office giuen to the priestes and ministers of the church was to preach the word of God and to giue good examples of life to the congregation administer the Sacraments to féede and preserue the flocke of God as S. Paule teacheth bothe to Timothe and Titus And as touching any other greater power which the Romishe prelates chalenge in the churche there is not one woorde spoken in the Scripture sauing that in an other respect there is somewhat written thereof in the Reuelation of S. John the. 9. 11. 13. 17. and 18. chapters The. liij Question Whether mē by this retaining of sinnes are by excommunication seperated from the churche of Christe and are deliuered to the power of sathan And whether he be to be iudged a Publicane or Heathen which will not heare the church The Answere IN good soothe I maruell that these mē dare make once mention of that kinde of excōmunicatiō which the Scripture speaketh of for it it were in vse and mighte haue his force then should them selues be firste excommunicated For euē in the same place wher Paule commaundeth him to be deliuered to Sathan which had committed incest with his mother and that to be don to the destruction of the fleshe euen there also dothe he forbidde the faithfull to haue any company with whooremaisters couetous oppressers drunkardes idolaters c. And in déede we bothe knowe and confesse that the churche of Christe hathe power to admonishe exhorte punishe correcte and to Excommunicate all those who liue in sinnes wickednesse slaunders and Idolatries hauing no regarde to repentaunce and amendment of life But howe I beséeche you haue oure Romish spiritualtie as they call them vsed excommunication in their church who are they whome they haue excommunicated For they neuer vsed the same to the rooting vp of vice and vngodlynesse but to the aduauncing and setting vp of theyr owne glory and couetousnesse yea héereby as with a bridle they haue helde in the godly to be subiecte to theyr Tyranntcall power And therefore diuers Popes and Bishoppes by meanes of this Excommunication haue not onely Excommunicated but also persecuted Kings Emperoures Princes whole Common weales and sundry honest menne yea héereby setting them together by the eares and that onely to the ende this proude spiritualtie might beare the sway alone and purchase to them selues all the authoritie and power giuen by God to the magistrate and so make Kings and Princes subiecte to them Reade the Histories of Gregorie the seconde of Gregorie the thirde and Gregorie the seuenth of Paschalis Gelasius Innocentius Alexander Bonifacius and other Popes what they did to Leo the thirde Henrie the fourth and Henrie the fifthe to Phillip and Fredericke what they did to the Princes and kings of Germanie and France with diuers others whome these Popes moste miserably bothe against the lawe of God and man excommunicated and vexed with their whole kingdomes In like manner we confesse that all those which will not heare the Church according to the woordes of oure Lorde and Sauioure Jesus Christe in the eightienthe Chapiter of Mathewe are like vnto the Publicanes and heathen But what I pray yée is this vnto the Papistes Doe they thincke that all those which speake and doe against the Church of Rome are Publicanes and Heathen Lette them selues firste become the Churche of Christe and then shal they be Publicanes and Heathen that will not heare them But if these Romishe sorte be Publicanes and Heathen themselues then shall all those be called and be in very déede true Christians which sette themselues againste their churche To conclude admonition exhortation reprouing correction and punishment ought to be in the churche of Christ and must be applied as cause requireth to edifying and therefore who so euer resisteth this good order doth gréeuously offend The. xv Common place Of Matrimonie Vowes and Chastitie The. liiij Question Whether mariage be lawfull and free for all men The Answere OUr Lord Christ after he had in the. 19. of Mathewe taught that a man mighte not put away his wife for euery cause and there vppon the disciples had said If the matter bee so then is it better not to marie He answereth All men cannot receiue thys saying saue they too whome it is geuen and then making mention of thrée sorts of chast addeth Hee that is able to receiue this let hym receiue it By which wordes in déed he testifieth and manifestly teacheth that the gifte to liue chast and without mariage is not common or giuen to all mē
Articles I haue here breefly set folowing in order The Common places which are handled in these Questions 1 OF the holy Trinitie Fol. 1. 2 Of the holy Christian Church and of the Churche of Rome eodem 3 Of Counsels and decrees of the church Fol. 30. 4 Of Free will. Fol. 43. 5 Of fayth and good workes Fol. 46. 6 Of the intercession inuocation and worshipping of Saincts Fol. 58. 7 Of Relikes Images and suche lyke Fol. 70. 8 Of purgatory and prayers for the dead Fol. 75 9 Of Sacraments Fol. 83. 10 Of Baptisme of children and of the Anabaptistes Fol. 85. 11 Of the Lords supper and receyuing thereof Fol. 88. 12 Of the sacrifice of the Masse Fol. 103. 13 Of repentaunce and Confession Fol. 108. 14 Of the authoritie of Priestes Fol. 116. 15 Of Mariage vowes and Chastitie Fol. 120. 16 Of Enoyling Fol. 139. 17 Of the Magistrate and lawefull obedience Fol. 141. The fyrst Common place Of the holy Trinitie The first question What they doe thinke of the holy Trinitie The Answere TOuching the holy Trinitie I doe beléeue all that which the true and sacred woorde of God dothe teache to acknoweledge beléeue To witte that there is one only true and liuing God in Trinitie one I say vndeuided in substaÌ„ce and thrée distinct parsons God the father God the sonne and God the ho y ghost being of like power and equally to be worshipped So are we taught Deut. 6. Exod. 20. Matth. 18. Luke 1. Iohn 1. 3. 5. 6. 8. 9. 10. 14. 15. 16. and 17. Rom. 1. and. 9. 1. Corinth 8. 1. Iohn 5. Likewise we confesse the true faithe of the Trinitie contained in the twelue Articles of our Christian faithe where we say I beleeue in God the father in his only begotten sonne and in the holy ghoste And therefore what so euer in times past hath bene written or taught againste this Doctrine by Praxeas Arius Macedoniâ— and suche like yea and whatsoeuer the Jewes Turkes Michael Seruetus that Spaniard with their adherentes haue written we abhorre and detest assenting only to the olde holy Apostolike Church The second Common place Of the holy christiaÌ„ church of the church of Rome The seconde Question Whether they beleue in one holy Catholike and Apostolical church The Answere LIke as there is coÌ„tained and expressed â–ª in the. xij Articles of our christian faith so do I beléeue that ther is one holy and Catholike church and that the same or the Sainctes which are therin be partakers of all the grace and giftes of Christe I call the same one and Catholicke bicause there is but one only true Churche biside the which there is none other And the same is the congregation and felowship of all the faithfull throughout the whole worlde which at any time haue liued on this earthe in what time or place so euer they haue bin or that now are or héereafter shall be And as there is one God and Lorde neither any moe Gods or Lordes â–ª as appeareth â— Corinth 8. and Ephes. 4. so also it is of necessitie that there be but one only churche Wherfore althoughe this churche be dispersed diuers times into diuers sundry members through out the face of the whole earth yet hath it but one spirite one faith beléeueth in one God the father in one sauior our Lord Jesus Christ in the holy ghost And therfore is knit in one charitie and in one mind with all faithfull where and in what place so euer they be And this church is holy that is to say sanctified purged from sinnes beutified endued with holinesse and righteousnes and that through the grace of God the father in the blud of his only sonne by the power effectuall working of the holy ghoste It is called the christian Apostolical church bicause it is grounded built by the blissed Apostles vpoÌ„ the true rock that only euerlasting foundation Jesus Christ in the which foundation also it is preserued réedified and increased by the doctrine of thapostles as we may lerne by S. Paul 1. Cor. 3. Eph. 2. 4. 1. Pet. 2. And here is to be noted that as the Israelites did beléeue Moses that is to say did beleue the doctrin commaundements which he brought to theÌ„ froÌ„ God euen so the christiaÌ„s beléeue the true church Paule also calleth it the piller and fouÌ„dation of truth bicause shée heareth the voice only of hir pastor Jesus Christ not the voice of any stranger Nether is it beleued bicause it is the church only that is to say the congregation or felowship of meÌ„ but bicause it is the church of Christ heareth only his eternal truth preserueth confesseth teacheth the same and for this cause shée is called the piller fouÌ„datioÌ„ of truth Wherfore we beleue the church for Christes sake and for his truthe and doctrines sake which by his faithfull ministers is taught in the same Neither ought any maÌ„ to beléeue in the church bicause she is collected of men therfore is of the order of things created And it is manifest that God abhorreth all those which trust in men Ierem. 17. wherfore this preposition â—n is ioyned in the. xij Articles of our faith only to the thrée persones of the holy Trinitie For vve confesse that vve beleeue in God the father in his only begotten sonne and in the holy ghost Furthermore Cyprian and other holy fathers do excellently teach in their interpretations of the Créede that we must beleeue there is an holy church but not to beleue in the church And therfore do we not teache any new thing but that which the fathers before vs haue themselues most plainly diligeÌ„tly taught The third Question What they vnderstande by the name of the church The Answere WE vnderstande thereby the congregation or coÌ„pany of those which beléeue in christ For the church in the Germain tong is called Kirch as though it were deriued from the Grecians which call our Lord Jesus Christe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say lord Wherefore all those which are coupled or knitte to Christ the true head and fruteful vine as his proper members and braunches springing and growing in him are the true Christian churche And this interpretation of the name of the church we haue also in the Articles of our faith for to the confession of the catholike church we adde that we beleue in the Communion or felowship of Sainctes as though we should say the church is none other thing but the congregation of Sainctes And euen in this sort do the blessed Fathers interprete these thyngs The church is called the Communion or felowshippe of Sainctes for these causes First bicause all the faithfull there are partakers of all the giftes and graces which Christe hath purchased that is to say chéefely the remission of sinnes like as it is said in the Créede next after this Article I
holy spirite whereas notwithstanding he accuseth them of gréeuous erroures and vices and exhorteth them to repentaunce and amendment of theyr liues Whereby it is euident that euen these most excellent churches of the Apostles haue erred But there is an other Obiection brought againste vs oute of the ballades of Salomon and out of the fifth Chapiter of S. Paules Epistle to the Ephesians where it is sayde that the church is beautiful and without spot or wrinkle which place S. Augustine interpreteth saying that this puritie and holinesse is begon in this life but in the life to come vvhen through deathe vve shall putte of this fleshe it shall be fully perfited so as vve shal haue neither spot nor blemishe but be moste perfectly pure Héereunto we adde the woordes of Christe who moste plainly expoundeth this matter in the Gospell saying He that is vvashed needeth not saue to vvash his fete but is cleane euery vvhit And againe he sayeth Euery braunche vvhich bringeth forth frute my father purgeth that it may bring forthe more frute Novve are you cleane throughe the vvorde vvhich I haue spoken vnto you He doeth not onely say that the Churche is pure but altogither pure yea that it may bring foorthe frute and yet neuerthelesse he speaketh of the washing of the féete and of the purging which his father shall doe Wherby we may easily gather and perceiue that the churche is cleane throughe the grace of God in Christ Iesu and yet by hir owne nature and through the manifold infirmities of the flesh which shée retaineth euen vntill this temporall deathe shée hathe néede to be washed and purged Wherfore shée daily prayeth Forgeue vs oure trespasses as vvee forgiue them that trespasse againste vs. And S. Iohn the Apostle sayth If vvee say vvee haue no sinne vvee deceiue oure selues and there is no truthe in vs â— Iohn â— wherefore being deliuered from this miserable fleshe we are made perfectly pure in the life to come and frée from al blemishe But so long as the Sainctes liue heere on this earthe clothed with theyr flesh they are subiecte to many infirmities And therfore héereby it appeareth that by this reason the Churche bothe may and dothe erre although it cannot be moued bicause shée is grounded vpon the true rocke and so long as shée heareth and foloweth the voice of her true pastor shée erreth not The fifth Question By what markes or tokens may the church of Christ be knowen The Answere CHefely the Churche of God may be known by the pure worde of God perfect faith charity innoceÌ„cy newnesse of life the coÌ„tinual calling vpoÌ„ god in al her necessities For Christe plainly sayeth He that is of God heareth gods vvord And againe My shepe heare my voice but the voice of a straunger vvill they not heare but vvill flee from it And againe In this shall all men knovve that you bee my Disciples if you loue one an other And S. Paule The sure fouÌ„dation of God abideth hauing thys token God knovveth vvho are his and lette euery one vvhiche calleth on the name of Christe departe from euyll And againe Euery one vvhich calleth on the name of the Lorde shal be saued And to this ende also appertayne the blessed Sacramentes whome Christe hathe ordeyned as outwarde signes of his churche and therfore oughte moste reuerently to be receiued of vs as they haue bene by the Sainctes before in true faithe as may appeare Matth. 28. Mar. 16. Luk. 24. Act. 2. 8. 10. c. 1. Cor. 10. 11. But bicause many godly men which are the true and liuely members of Christ do ofteÌ„times want the sacraments not throughe contempte but by reason of necessitie being yet neuerthelesse knitte vnto Christe and his members by true faithe spirite loue and newnesse of life exercising themselues in all Godly studies I haue placed the firste order of signes as moste chéefe and necessarye whereby the Churche may be knowen yet not omitting these godly signes or Sacraments But nowe the Prelates of Rome thynke and say that the true and lawefull signe of Christes Churche is the orderly succession of Bishoppes in the Churche wyth theyr spirituall gouernement And bicause the Churche of Rome hathe suche succession therefore they say that it is the true and primitiue Churche and that they haue the true gouernemente of the same so that who soeuer is oute of that gouernment is out of the true Churche They call succession a contynued order wherein one Byshoppe hathe succéeded in the place of an other and hathe gouerned the Church euen from Sainct Peter the Apostles time vnto this Pope called Paule the fourthe But they greatly erre whiche thynke that any thing may be proued by succession whylest they leaue oute thaâ— â–ª which is of moste force therein That is that if like as they haue succéeded in the place of Peter and the other Godly Bishoppes which thyng we graunte them they haue also succéeded them in the spirite of Christe in Doctrine in faithe grauitie godlinesse humilitie and pacience Wherefore sithe they wante thys poynte being the chéefest as all menne knowe and finde by experyence so as it neadeth no further proofe theyr vaunte of succession is nothing els but an idle sounde to bleare the eyes of those which are simpie Saincte Paule the Apostle sayeth thus Bee yee folovvers of mee euen as I folovve Christe Whereby appeareth that Succession taketh his force and effecte onely in Christe wythoute whome it neyther proueth or auaâ—â—eth any thing Wherefore euen in theyr owne Canons it is thus wrytten Distâ—n 40. It is not an easie matter to stande in the place of Peter and Paule and to occupie the seate of those vvhiche raigne vvith Christe Bicause it is sayde they are not the children of holy menne vvhiche occupie the place of holy men but they vvhiche exercise the vvoorkes of them VVee therefore vvhich gouerne oughte to be knovvne not by the Noblenesse of birthe or of the place but by the excellencie of oure manners not by the famousnesse of Cities but by the puritie of Faithe The seat maketh not a priest but a priest maketh the seate the place sanctifieth not a man but the man the place Euery priest is not holy but euery one vvhich is holy is a prieste Hee that occupieth the seate vvell receiueth honoure of the same But he that vseth it euil dothe vvrong vnto the seate By these woordes it is manifestly taughte that the chaire or seate wherin holy Bishoppes haue sette or succession is nothing woorthe excepte he be also holy which succéedeth in the place of holy menne imitating the steppes of those which were before him but if he be wicked he then receyueth no honoure of the seate but dishonoureth the same Wherefore these Prelates may nowe consider what honoure they receiue by their succession whiche dayly to the ende they may bring vs into contempte they obiecte agaynste vs The highe Priests and Prelates who in the time of Christe
the Pope to be the true onely Church of Chryst which the faythfull throughout the whole worlde without all maner of question ought to beléeue and obey as shall manifestly appeare by the questions following And this question truely is very absurde for it is alone as if it should be demaunded whether any one citie in a Realme be the whole Realme or no Or whether that any one man in a multitude be the whole coÌ„pany or no Or whether the hand or foote of some one body be the whole body or no For before I haue already shewed that this worde Catholike signifieth vniuersal and yet I am not ignoraunte also that it may be taken for any faythfull man But by these questions they openly shew vnto the world their foolishnesse or rather their excéeding and intâ—lerable pride whilest they woulde haue vs to acknowledge one parte to be the whole and to haue full power and authoritie to gouerne in the whole kingdome company and body Wherfore to this question VVhether the Church of Rome be the true catholike Church or no I answere thus If they demaunde of the auncient Church of Rome to the whiche Paule wrote his Epistle to the Romanes in the which also he remayned a prisoner and preached by the space of two yéeres then I confesse the same to be the true and faythfull Churche of Chryst but not the vniuersall Church or the head of all other churches but only a member of the vniuersall church vnder one head Chryst of like and equall power with other the churches of Chryst whiche are heere on the earthe and that the Ministers thereof are of no greater power and authoritie than the Ministers of other Churches The lyke hathe Saint Hierome written concerning the Churche of Rome and the Byshoppes thereof in these woordes Neither is it to be thought that there is one Churche of Rome and an other of the whole worlde For where so euer a Byshop is whether it be the Byshop of Rome or of EugubiuÌ„ or of Constantinople or of RhegiuÌ„ c. he is of like authoritie and like priesthoode By the whiche woordes he teacheth that the churche of Rome is no better than other churches wheresoeuer they be in the whole woride and that the Byshoppes thereof haue no more power or superioritie of Priesthoode than other Byshoppes whether they bee in small or in greate Cities But if they demaunde of the Churche of Rome whiche nowe is in the sorte and maner as all men sée vnder these Byshoppes and as it hathe bene also of late by the space of a fewe hundred yeres I aunswere that it altogither differeth from the state of the auncient and Apostolyke Churche of Rome and therefore may in no wyse bee acknowledged for the vniuersall and catholyke Churche whereof it boasteth For the signes of the true Churche of Chryst buylte by the Apostles at Rome and else where are no more there to be sounde Namely the spirite of Chryst whych loueth pure modest and humble hearts and departeth from all impuritie arrogancie and pride Yea the worde of truthe and that only voyce of the true Pastor is not onely not hearde any more nowe in the Churche of Rome purely and truely taughte but it is also forbidden and persecuted with fyre and sworde on the other side the doctrines of men whiche is contrary to the worde of GOD is by violence and all manner of deceytfull means mainteined and thrust vppo◠〈◊〉 That sincere fayth which ascribeth all mans saluation to that onely Meâ—iator betwéene God and man very God and very man our Lorde Jesus Chryst is obscured and those things which are to be sought in Chryst are appoynted to be founde in his creatures and in the workes of men The inuocation of God due to him alone through our only mediator Jesus Chryst is turned from God and attributed to many other his creatures whome they by images doo represent vnto the simple and all other christians to be honered euen in their temples The Sacraments of Chryst are moste shamefully abused for lucre and are so mingled with the opinions and ordinances of men that the sinceritie and firste institution of them can very hardely be perceiued yea euen of the faythfull What kinde of charitie and peace is in the Romishe Churche from the which what great and exceeding bloody battels and spoyling of men and Regions are sprong vp and dayly doo arise within these fewe hundred yeares in the whiche an innumerable number of widdowes and fatherlesse children are encreased excepte they would willingly be blind all men haue knowen to be tootoo much But this miserable matter is rather to be lameÌ„ted than as doubtfull to be proued like as also the things whereof I haue before spoken are too wel knowen and that to the whole worlde And touching the lyfe and maners of the Romish courte and churche especially the principall states and chéefe spirituall persons it is right euidently knowen whereas neuerthelesse Paul saith that those which name them selues Christians and yet without repentance serue Idols are couetous pillers shamelesse whoremasters adulterers drouned in all other filthy and abhominable wickednesse giuing them selues to gluttonie dronkennesse hatred and backbiting shall neuer possesse the kingdome of God yea and no christian ought to haue any company or felowship with suche And sithe it is so euery christian may hereby gather what he ought to thinke of the churche of Rome and whether he oughte to bée bounde to that Churche or rather flée from it rather to Chryst and hys true Churche as the Lorde hym selfe hathe taughte hys in the seuententhe and eyghtenthe Chapters of the Reuelation Truely it is very lamentable that so greate turmoyles and vexations of godly men shoulde be for the Romishe Churche and that suche rumors shoulde be blowen abroade as thoughe shie were styll euen as the primatiue Churche of Rome was when all men may sée what manner of Churche shée is what is doone therein and what wée may hope to haue from thence Therefore wée muste departe and flée from hir and cleaue to Chryste our Lorde and to hys Christian Churche whiche in déede wée confesse to be holy and the communion or felowshippe of all the Saincts The. viij Question If any man doubt of the church of Rome that then he shewe where the true and Catholyke Church of Chryste hath hithervnto ben or as yet is and that he name the place wher the Church is and where it may be founde The Answere THe Donatistes agaynst whoÌ„ blessed Augustine wrote dyd thinke that the Churche of Chryste was tyed or bounde to one certayne place and that she coulde bée founde no where but in Africa and the secrete corners of the Donatistes bicause they thought that in al other places she was extincted or put out In like sort these men go about to include bring the whole church of Christ into the Papal See of Rome so as there should be no christian church
Wherefore â—ithe wée giue our whole diligence labour and studie that the Auncient and Primatiue puritie and vnitie of the fayth and christian Apostolike Church may be restored and that Chryst may obteine that reuerence in the heartes of the faythfull which is due vnto him and wée in this lyfe may lyue holily and in the lyfe to come eternally in him I hope that no good and godly man can then slaunder or condemne vs for Heretikes bycause we haue forsaken not the aunciente Churche of Rome in those things whiche shée had common with the vniuersall Apostolike Church but this latter Romishe Churche yea and that onely in those thinges whiche to moste shamefull abuse and offence shee hathe deuysed and ordayned not by the authoritie of Goddes woorde but of hir owne brayne yea and moreouer bycause shee is fraughte with all horrible filthinesse and that our Lorde commaundeth vs to go out of hir Rom. 16. 2. Cor 6 Apoc. 18. c. The thirde Common place Of the Decrees and Counsels of the Churche The. x. Question Whether they do stedfastly and without all doubt teach and beleeue that which the holy Catholike church of Rome doth commaunde and teache to be beleeued The Answere TOuching the holy Catholike Churche wée haue already wrytten that the Gospel teacheth vs shée only heareth the voyce of hir only pastor and not of any straunger Wherby we may easily conclude that she commandeth nothing to be beléeued which shée hathe not heard from the mouth of our Lorde and that chiefly bicause Paule sayth that fayth commeth by hearing and hearing by the worde of God or of Chryst Wherfore when the faythfull doo stedfastly beléeue the word of God then doo they also beléeue all that the holy Churche commaundeth and teacheth to be beléeued for she commaundeth nothing to bée beléeued but that which is conteined in the word of god And whatsoeuer is contrary to Gods worde oughte not to bée beléeued although it were colored with the name of the Churche or any other tytle And as touching the churche of Rome it is manyfest that vnder hir name many things were commaunded to be beléeued and kepte whiche were bothe vnknowen to the primatiue Churche and cleane contrary to the worde of God And all suche things God forbiddeth to beléeue or to receiue saying by his prophet Jeremie Do yee not hearken to the words of the Prophets which speak the imaginations of their owne hearts and not out of the worde of the Lorde And our Lorde out of the prophet Csai sayth in the Gospell â–ª They worshippe me in vayne teaching for doctrynes the preccptes of men And Paule affirmeth there is no truthe in the decrées of men and curseth euery doctrine that is contrarie to the Gospell By this Question it may easily appeare that these men desire or couete nothing else but that the Churche of Rome that is to say themselues might be accounted the only and true church and that whatsoeuer they commaunde to bée kepte and beléeued myght without further question bée receyued But why coÌ„maunde they not all men without all question to beléeue the holy Scripture or woorde of GOD and to acknowledge that all which is néedefull to saluation is fullie conteyned faughte and written therein lyke as Paule sayth in his seconde Epistle to Timothe the thirde Chapter Truely bycause they seeke not the honour of God and the encrease of hys woorde but theyr owne honoure the authoritie confirmation of their owne lawes and customes The. xj Question Whether they doo beleeue that the Decrees and Preceptes of the Churche the Canones and Ordinaunces of the Fathers be of the holy Ghost and not contrary to Christ or the Scriptures The Answere TOuching the decrées of the Churche wée haue answered in the former question But concerning the Canones and ordinances which the fathers haue ordeyned thus muche of them God our moste saythfull father gaue vnto his Churche his holy worde conteyned in both the Testamentes to be as a certayn direction or touchstone by the which all that in stéede of golde that is to say for the ordinaunce of god vndoubted truth was offered vnto vs mighte be tried proued whether they were pure or corrupted Now the Canons and ordinances of the fathers are offered vnto vs for Golde and as the true Oracles of god But sithe them selues were men and might erre and did also commaunde their ordinaunces and decrées to be no further beléeued but as they were proued and allowed by the touchestone of the holy Scriptures they ought therefore to be tryed and proued by the same as Paule teacheth 1. Thessa. 5. and John. 1. Epist. 4. Wherfore if they agrée with the scriptures then are they of the holy Ghost and not contrary to Chryste and hys worde but if they agrée not with them then are they not of the holy ghost but contrary to Chryst and his worde and therefore ought not to be beléeued nor kepte But howe many Decrées of the fathers do apparantly shew themselues contrary to the Scriptures it would be too tedious to recite and therefore as muche as is néedefull to be knowen may easily by these questions be perceiued For almoste all that these men striue for are nothing else but the ordinances and decrées of the fathers or of other men And to say the truthe the decrées of the fathers are many tymes cleane contrary one to an other For some of their decrées forbidde the mariage of the Ministers of the Churche and on the contrarie parte it is euident what the Counsell of Gangraâ—â— dyd teache concerning the same excommunicating all those whiche forsake or despise those Priestes that hée maried And many suche like shal yée finde yea euen in the very Popes decrées But why I beséech you doo not they sée men striue as earnestly for the Lawes and ordinances of God to commende them as the holsome knowledge of our saluation vnto the worlde But truely in all their Questions there is not one word spoken hereof Doo they not therfore moste liuely represente vnto vs the Scribes and Pharisies who were at continuall debate with Chryste and hys Disciples and that onely aboute the decrées of the fathers neglecting the lawe of God and as Chryste often did â—ast in their téeth preferred them to the â—awe of God Math. 15. Mark. 7. The xij Question Whether those generall Councelles whiche are lawefully kepte oughte to bee beleeued and obeyed and whether they may bee called into question as though they had erred and so be disputed vpon The Answere THis Question conteyneth thrée others First whether those generall Councelles whiche are lawfully made ought to be obeyed and beléeued To this we answere that all councels both vniuersall and prouincial as they terme them oughte to take their authoritie from the worde of god Wherfore if the lawes decrées of Councels be deriued from the worde of God and confirmed by the same then ought they no lesse to be
vvill of your heauenly father yea all the haires of your heade are numbred Bee not therfore afraide for you are more vvorth than many sparowes Euery one therefore that shall confesse me before men him also vvil I confesse before my father vvhich is in heauen and vvho so denieth mee before men him also vvill I denye before my father vvhich is in heauen And hee that loueth father or mother more than mee is not meete for me And hee that taketh not vppe his crosse and folovveth mee is not vvorthy of me VVho so vvill seeke to saue his life shall lose it and he that vvill lose his life for my sake shal finde it And vnto this doctrine that is so ful of consolation and comfort let vs earnestly sticke my brethren and so couple oure selues to the grace and power of Christe lette vs boldly confesse his name doctrine and refusing what so euer is contrary to the same Let vs call vpon him craue his grace and holy spirite to abide sted-fastly in his holy worde euen to deathe And so let vs ioyntly all pray vnto oure Lorde that he will haue mercy vppon al men and strengthen all those which suffer for his sake and lighten the harts of the persecuters that with S. Paule they may cleerely sée and vnderstande how hard a thing it is to kicke againste the pricke God oure heauenly father haue mercie on his poore afflicted Churche and comforte the same shortly with his comming through Jesus Christe our Lorde Amen FINIS Howe what we ought to beleue of the holye Trinitie There is but one Catholike Church The Church is holy Why the church is called Apostolicall Hovve the Churche is beleeued Wee muste not beleue in the Church What the Church is The Communion of saincts Sainctes 1. Cor. 12. Ephesi 4. Howe the vniuersal Churche is deuided Hipocriâ—s in the Church 1. Iohn 2. God gouerneth hys churche by his holy spirite Math. 28. 18 Iohn 14 The ende of this Question Howe the Church eyther erreth or doth not erre 2. Cori. 1. 6. Galat. 1. 1. Iohn 13. Iohn 15. The cheefe tokens of the Church The SacrameÌ„ts are signes of the Church The succession of Bishoppes Successâ—oÌ„ proueth nothing Succession of Bishops against Christ and hys Apostles Succession degenerated Of the Apostolicke seate What Paul teacheth touching the succession of Byshoppes Whether the Church of Rome be the catholick Churche What vve ought to thinke of the auncient Churche of Rome The new or late Church of Rome is not the Catholicke Churche 1 â–ª Cor. 5. 6. Ephesi 4. 5. To tye the Churche of Christ to onâ— place only The â—â—spell tooke not hyâ— beginning froÌ„ Rome There are many countryes that dothe not acknovvledge the Pope Out of the christian Churche there is no saluation There maye be saluation without the Churche of Rome Of the faythe and saluatioÌ„ of our forefathers 3. Reg 19. What is to breede Scismes or Heresies Deut. 4. 1â— Where in the vnitie of Christes Churche doth consist An example of the breach of vnitie in the Churche and faythe The first Heretickes Scismaticks in the Churche whither they be Heretycks which in our age doe peache the Gospell In what sort we must beleue the decrees of the Church Iere. 22. Esay 29. Math. 15. Tit. 1. Gala. 1. The purpose of this question How far the decrees of the fathers are to be beleued In what sorte general councels are to be beleued Constantinâ— Whether Counsels haue erred Psal. 1â— Rom. 3. â—acob â— Whether the articles vvhiche are decided coÌ„firmed may be disputed on agayne Whether it be lavvfull to dispute againste popish doctrin Augustines iudgement touching the counsels and the fathers The Papistes will be bothe accusers and Iudges Whether the Apostles admitted Hereticks into the Counsel The some of Paules doctrine and of his aduersaries Whither Heretikes ought to be admitted into a counsell Whether the Apostles admitted laye meÌ„ Heretiks into the CouÌ„sell It was not lawful for the Apostles to haue any agreement with their aduersaries Galat. 2. Why Paule vvent to Hierusalem Paul had the chefest place in the counsell The doctrine of free vvill is an arrogante doctrine Ioan. 15. 2. Corin. 3. 1. Corin. 4. Philip. 1. â— Fayth Hope Charitie Eche of these vertues haue their peculiar properties These three vertues are so coupled togither that the one springeth of the other Fayth is one but not all one Faythe iustifieth To be iustified before God. why god chose vs to be his sonnes heirs By what meanes rightuousnesse is impuâ—ed to vs. Why vvoorkeâ— do not iustifie Iob. 9. Psal. 14â— The summe of this doctrine Iohn 5. Iohn 8. Act. 8. How works are called righteousneâ— Fayth bringeth foorthe good works Of the discerâ—ing of workes Whether our mericeâ—â— are made meritorious by the merites of Christ The revvard of woorkes Rom. 6. Rom. 8. Luke 7. Marie therfore loued bicause hir sinnes were remitted Fayth to work miracles Why Christe wil iudge not according to fayth but according to works Math. 25. Christ is the onely intercessor with the father Heb. 9. Rom. 8. Heb. 7. 1. Tim. 2. 1. Iohn 2. The Scriptures maketh no mention of the intercession of Sainctes or Aungels Howe wee praye in Christes name when wee saye the Lordes praier Whether the Saincts in heauen do pray fos vs bicause they haue charitie Whether the sainctes bycause they prayed here on earth doe the same for vs nowe in heauen The glorie of the saincts which are in heauen Whether the rich maÌ„ in the 16. of Luke did praye for his brethren Of the worshipping of sainctes What wee ought to think of the blissed virgin Mary What we ought to think of the Apostles and other Sainctes How the saynctes are to be worshipped Rom. 10. We haue neede of an aduocate for vs to God. The Angels and saynctes send vs from themselues to Christ. Iohn 2. Act. 3. Of the reliques of sainctes 2. Pet. 1. Of Teâ—ples dedicated to sainctes The vse of candels in the churches Lactan. inst li. 6. cap. 1. Math. 5. Rom. 22. Lightes before the sacrament Of Images God nor hys sainctes can by Images be represented The making of holivvateâ— holy fire Eyther men dy in faythe or in infidilitie We are not counted pure for our own works sake Of praiers such lyke things done for the dead Thei are but filthy marchandise vvherevvyth they vvoulde haue vs redeemâ— souls We may not for purgatories sake truste in any thing Iohn 1â— Act. â—0 Hovve and vvherfore the apostles did pray Where Lazarus vvas that time he vvas dead Of the seconde booke of the Machebes Hovve many Sacramentes there be Of the vertue and power of the Sainctes Whether the sacramentes receiued do giue vs grace Of the Anabaptistes Baptisme of infantes Actes 10. Anabaptism Diners opinions touching Christes presence in the Sacramente The true and auncient doctrine of the sacrameÌ„t against transubstantiation The faythefull doe not receiue bread only in the Supper Howe the true bodie of christ must be receiued How ech man oughte to behaue himselfe in the controuersie of the sacrament The presence of Christ. Whether the Priests make bred wine the verie body and bloud of Christ. The true ordering or making of ministers Whether Christ be wholi vnder one kind The papistes wil eate vp al Christ and no more Whether the Lordes supper were giuen to the Apostles only Both the kinds in the sacrameÌ„t are due to al men The supper of Christ vvyth his tvvo disciples at Emaus The Corrinthians dydde not offend bycause they vsed the cup of our Lord. The councel of Constance touchyug bothe the kyndes of the decrees and sclanders that happe in the vse of both kindes Christes body is offered no more Of the sacrifices of Christians Christ is the onely sacrifice that taketh avvay sinne In the Lordes supper ther is onely a remeÌ„brance of his only sacrifice The sacrifice of praise thanks giuing What repentance is True repentance What confeâ—sion is good necessariâ— â–ª We must confesse vs vnto God. The confession to our neyghboure Against confession made to the priest Of popishe satisfaction The exercise of the faythfull Iohn â— Romish indulgences â—â—remi 7. Iohn 2. 〈…〉 21. Power is an office The kayes of the kingdome of heauen Of binding and loosing 1. Corin. 3. The office of priestes and ministers Of excoÌ„munication and the abuse thereof Not to heare the churche Mariage is frâ—â— for al 〈…〉 The vowes which are made in our daies are onely idle woordes without effect or workes Al vowes are not acceptable to god neyther yet to be perfourmed We must kepe promis Whither god giueth chastitie to euery man bicause he caÌ„ giue it An exhortation agaynst persecution The mariage of Priestes is lavvefull Whether 〈…〉 age vvhich is coÌ„tracted afterâ— vovv be lavvâ—â—â— â–ª Cyprians iudgement Against those vvhich sclander and forbid mariage What the holy Scripture teacheth of enoyling Actes 8. 10. 19. The spiritual Magistrates 1. Thessa. 5 Hebr. 13. Luke 10. The ciuill Magistrate The magistrate can coÌ„maunde nothing contrarie to the churche of Chryst. The godlyâ— Magistrate may make lawes and decrees against the false church â–ª Imprinted at London by Henrie Bynneman for George Bishop ANNO. 1572.