sayeth that he was hanged on a tree to the intente that he myghte take vpon hym our curse Deu. 21. Gal. 3. and so dyscharge vs. for that kynde of deathe was accursed of God ¶ The minister What is it not a greate reproche and dyshonoure vnto our Lorde Iesu to say that he was accursed and that before God ¶ The childe No not a whit for he through hys almyghtye power by taking the curse from vs vnto hymselfe did in such sort make it voyde and of none effecte that he hymselfe neuertheles continued still so blessed that he was able to fulfyll vs also with hys blessynges ¶ The minister Make an exposiciō of that that foloweth ¶ The childe In so muche as deathe was a cursse or punyshement appointed vnto man for synne Christ euen in sufferinge death vainqueshed death therfore our sauiour Christ did suffer death and by suffering ouercame it And to the entent also to make it the more certaynly knowen vnto vs that his death was not a coloured or counterfaited thing it pleased hym also to be buryed after the common maner of other menne ¶ The minister But it appeareth not that any profyte cummeth to vs by thys that Christe hathe wonne the victory of death seing that we it not withstanding cease not to dye ¶ The childe The death of the faithfull is a right passage to life euerlasting That doth not hinder for the deathe of the faythfull is nowe nothing elles but a readye passage to a better lyfe ¶ The minister It foloweth then necessarily hereof that we oughte in no wyse to be afrayde of deathe as though it were a dredefull thīg but rather it behoueth vs willingly to walke the trace of oure heade and capitayne Iesu Christ who hath walked and troden the same waye before vs not to the entente to leade vs to our destruction but to procure vs an euerlastynge sauegarde ¶ The childe It is euen so ¶ The minister Sonday 10 What is the sence of that clause whiche is putte to afterward as touchyng his descendyng into hell ¶ The childe The vnderstāding of this Christe went down into hel The ryghte meanynge therof is that Christ dyd not onelye suffre a naturall deathe which is a departyng and goyng asunder of the body and soule but also that his soule was in woōderfull dystresse beyng wofully pressed and enduring grieuous tormentes and as it were hellyke paynes Actes 2. which Sainct Peter calleth the sorowes or pangues of deathe ¶ The minister For what consideration sustained he those paynes and in what sorte ¶ The childe Becawse he presented hymselfe before God to be a sacryfice satisfactory and to make amēdes in the behalfe of synners it was mete that as he did beare the wayght and burthen of our synnes so lykewyse he shoulde feele this horryble anguyshe and greuous tormente of conscience whiche synne bryngeth beyng in case as if God had vtterlye forsaken hym and ben haynously displeased agaynste hym And in verye deede he was brought to suche extremytye of anguyshe that he was dryeuen to crye my God my God Matt. 27. Mark 15. why haste thou forsaken me ¶ The minister Why was God then angry with him ¶ The childe Nay howbeit it was cōueniente that God shoulde punyshe hym in suche sorte Esa 53. 1. Peter 2. to veryfie ād performe the wordes of Esay the Prophet who saieth that he was beatē with the hāde of his father for our sinnes ād that he dyd suffer the punishmente due to oure trangressyons ¶ The minister But howe coulde it be that he was in suche dreadefull anguyshe as though God hadde vtterly forsaken hym seing he was God hymselfe ¶ The childe We must vnderstande that he was in such destresse onlye as touchīge his humanitye And to the intente that he myghte feele these panges in hys manhoode hys Godhead dyd in the meane tyme for a lytle space kepe it selfe close as if it had bene hydd that is to saye it dyd not shewe not vtter the mygh therof ¶ The minister But how could thys be that Christe who is the health of the world could bee vnder such condemnacion ¶ The childe He was not so vnder it that he shuld cōtynewe in the same For he hath in suche wise felte these terrors whiche wee haue spoken of that he was not ouercome of the same but hath rather therby made battayll agaynst the power of hell to breake and destroye it ¶ The minister Hereby then we see the difference betwene that anguish or vexacion of mynde whiche Christe dyd suffer The difference betwene the anguishe of Christes spirit and the conscience of the wicked and that whyche the impenytente synners dooe abyde whome God doth punyshe in hys terryble wrath for that verye payne whiche Christe sustained for a tyme the wycked must endure continually and that whych was vnto Christ but a goade as it were to prycke him is vnto the wycked in steade of a glaiue to wound them to death ¶ The childe Trueth it is for oure sauyoure Christe notwithstandynge these vexations euē in the myddes of his tormētes did not ceasse to put a ful trust euermore in God but the damned synners do dispaire withoute al confydence in Goddes goodnes yea they stomake agaynste God in so muche that they blaspheme hys maiestye ¶ The minister Sonday 11 Maye we nowe gather suffyciently of this that is sayed what fruite or profite cōmeth to vs by the death of Iesus Christe ¶ The childe Yea very well The profite ād vertue of Christes death stādeth in .iii. pointes and fyrste of all we see that it is a sacryfice wherwith he hath fully aunswared and satysfyed hys fathers iudgement in our behalfe and therby also he hath appaised Goddes wrath whiche worthely hanged ouer vs hath broughte vs into his fauoure againe Secōdlye that he shedde his bloud to purifie ād clense our soules from al maner of spottes fynally that he hath so cleane wyped awaye oure synnes through his precyous death that God wil neuer hereafter haue remēbraunce of them to call vs to any reckoninge yea euenso that the obligation or hande wrytynge whiche was to be shewed forthe againste vs to oure cōdemnation is nowe cleane cancelled and vtterlye made voyde ¶ The minister Haue we no other profite besydes this of his death ¶ The childe Yes verely that is if we be true membres of Christe our olde man is crucyfyed and our fleshe is mortyfied to the ende that no euyll lustes or affections doe herafter beare rule in vs. ¶ The minister Expound the article folowing ¶ The childe 1. Peter 3. He rose the thirde daie frō death to lyfe wherī he shewed that he had vaynquished gottē the victorie of death and synne For through his resurrection he swalowed vp death he broke asōdre the chaines wherwith the deuill did holde vs in captyuitie fynally he destroied all hys power and kyngdome ¶ The minister Tell me how many
verse 10 10 He is protector of the poore what tyme they be opprest He is in al aduersitie theyr refuge and theyr rest verse 11 11 Al they that knowe thy holy name therfore shall trust in thee For thou forsakest not theyr “ we seeke god other by prayer or by vpright and godly life sute in theyr necessitie verse 12 12 Sing psalmes therfore vnto the lord that dwelth in Syon hill Publys he among all nations his noble actes and wil. verse 13 13 For he is myndefull of the bloude of those that be opprest Forgettyng not thafflicted hart that seketh to hym for reste verse 14 14 Haue mercie lorde on me poore wretche whose enmys still remayne which from the gates of deathe art wont to rayse me vp agayne verse 15 15 In Syon that I might set foorth thy prayse with hearte and voyce And that in thy Saluacion lord my soule might still reioyce verse 16 16 The heathen sticke fast in the pit that they themselues preparde And in the net that they did set theyr owne feete fast are snarde The hebr willeth men to meditate diligently on this thinge 17 God sheweth his iudgement which were good for euery man to marke When as ye see the wicked man lie trapte in his owne warke verse 18 18 The wicked and the sinfull men goe downe to hel for euer And al the people of the worlde that will not God remembre verse 19 19 But sure the Lorde will not forget the poore mans griefe and payne The pacient people neuer looke for helpe of God in vayne verse 20 20 O lord aryse lest men preuayle that be of worldly might And let the Heathen folke receyue theyr iudgement in thy sight Lorde stryke such terrour feare and drede into the heartes of them That they may knowe assuredly they be but mortal men Domine vt quid recessisti Psal X. Th. Ster ¶ He complayneth of the fraude rapine tirannye and all kindes of wronge which worddely men vse assignyng the cawse therof which was that wicked men being as it were dronke with wordelie prosperitie and therfore settyng aparte all feare and reuerence towardes god thynke they may doo all thynges without controwlyng Therfore he calleth vppon god to send some remedy agaynste these desperat euels And at length conforteth hym selff wirh hope of delyueraunce VVhat is the cause that thou o lord art now so far frome thyne and kepest close thy countynāce from vs this troublous tyme The poore doth perish by the proud and wicked mens desire let them be taken in the craft that they themselues conspire verse 3 3 For in the lust of his owne hart thungodlie dothe delite so dothe the wicked praise hym self and dothe the lorde despite verse 4 4 He is so prowde that right and wronge he setteth all aparte nay nay there is no god sayth he for thus he thynketh in harte verse 5 5 Becawse his wayes do prosper still he dothe thy lawes neglecte and with a blaste dothe puffr agaynst suche as wolde hym correcte verse 6 6 Tushe tushe saithe be I haue no dreade leaste myne estate shoulde chaunge and why for all aduersitie to hym is very straunge He meaneth that wickednes is so farre ouergrowen that god most nedes now helpe or neuer 7 His mouth is ful of cursednes of fraude disceate and guile Vnder his tong doth mischief sit and trauayle al the whyle verse 8 8 He lyeth hid in waies and holes to sleay the Innocent Agaynst the poore that passe hym by his cruel eves are bent verse 9 9 And lyke a lyon prieuely lyeth lurking in his denne If he may snare them in hys nette to spoyle poore simple men verse 10 10 And for the nones ful craftely he crowcheth downe I say So are great heapes of poore men made by his strong power his pray verse 11 11 Tushe god forgetteth this saith he therfore may I be bolde His countenaunce is east asyde he doth it not heholde verse 12 12 Aryse O Lorde O god in whome the poore mans hope doeth rest Lift vp thyne hande forget not Lord the poore that be opprest verse 13 13 What blasphemy is this to thee lorde dost not thou abhorre it To heare the wicked in theyr heartes say tushe thou carst not for it verse 14 14 But thou seest all thys wickednesse and wel doest vnderstande That frendlesse and poore fatherlesse are left into thy hande verse 15 15 Of wicked and malicious men than breake the power for euer By the heathen he meaneth the hypocrites which gloried as if thei had bene of the churche That they with theyr iniquitie may perishe altogether verse 16 16 The lorde shall raigne for euermore as king and god alone and he will chase the heathen folke owte of his lande eichone verse 17 17 Thou hearest o lorde the poore mās plaite they re prayers and requeste they re hartes thou wilt confirme vntill thyne eares to heare be preste God helpeth when mans ayde ceaseth 18 To iudge the poore and fatherlesse and helpe them to theyr right That they may be no more opprest with men of worldly might In Domino confido Psal XI Th. Ster ¶ This psalme contayneth two parties In the first Dauid sheweth how harde assaultes of tentacions he sustayned and in how great anguishe of mynde he was whē Saul did persecute hym Then next he reioyseth that God sent hym succor in his necessitie declaryng his iustice aswell in gouernyng the good and the wicked men as the whole worlde I Trust in god how dare ye then say thus my soull vntill flee hence as fast as any foull and hyde you in youre hill Beholde the wicked bend their bowes and make theyr arrowes prest to shute in secrete and to hurt the sounde and harmles brest verse 3 3 Of worldlye hope all stayes were shrōke and clearely broght to noghte Alas the iuste and rightuous man what euell hathe he wroght verse 4 4 But he that in his temple is most holy and most hye And in the heauen hath his seate of royal maiestie All thinges are gouerned by Gods prouidence The poore and simple mans estate considereth in hys mynde And searcheth out ful narowly the maners of mankynde verse 5 5 And with a cherefull countenaunce the righteous man will vse But in his heart he doth abhorre al suche as mischiefe muse As in the distruction of Sodome and Gomorro 6 And on the synners casteth snares as thicke as any rayne fire and brymstone and whirle wyndes thicke appoynted for theyr payne verse 7 7 Ye see then how a ryghteous God doth righteousnes embrace And to the iuste and vpright man sheweth furth his pleasaunt face Saluum me fac Psal XII Th. St. ¶ The Prophet lamenting the miserable estate of the people and the decay of all good ordre desiereth God spedely to send succor to his children Then comfortyng hym selff and othere with the assuraunce of Godes helpe he commendeth the constant veritie that god
which is the first poynt ¶ The child The first is to put our whole confidence in God alone ¶ The minister Howe may that thing be done ¶ The childe We must first haue an assured knowledge that as he is almighty so he is all bountifull and parfitlie good ¶ The minister And is that sufficient The first point of honoring God ¶ The childe No. ¶ The minister Shewe the reason ¶ The childe For there is no worthines in vs why God should eyther shew his power to helpe vs or vse hys mercifull goodnes to saue vs. ¶ The minister What is than further requyred ¶ The childe This is requisite more that euerie one of vs be fully assured in his conscience that he is beloued of God that he will be both his father sauiour ¶ The minister Howe shall we be assured hereof ¶ The childe By his owne woorde wherin he vttereth moste playnlye vnto vs hys plentifull mercye in our sauiour Christ geueth vs vndoubted assurance of his louing mynd towardes vs. ¶ The minister The foundacion of our faith Well then I perceiue that the very ground to come by a sure confydence in God is to know him in our sauiour Christ ¶ The childe Yea truelye ¶ The minister Then briefelye what is the effecte and substaunce of thys knowledge of God in Christe ¶ The childe It is conteyned in the confession of the fayth vsed of all Christen men which is commonly called the Crede of the Apostles bothe because it is a compendyous and a briefe gatherynge of the articles of that faythe whiche hathe bene alwayes continued in Christes Churche and also because it was taken out of the pure doctrine of the Apostles ¶ The minister Rehearse the same ¶ The childe The Crede of the apostles I beleue in God the father almighty maker of heauen and earth And in Iesu Christ hys onely sonne our Lorde Who was conceyued by the holye Ghoste borne of the vyrgyn Marye Suffered passion vnder Ponce Pylate was crucifyed dead buried and descēded into hell He rose agayne the thyrde daye from deathe He ascended into heauen and sytteth on the right hande of God the father almyghtye From thense he wil come to iudge the quicke and the dead I beleue in the holye goste The holy Churche vniuersall the communion of Goddes electe the forgeuenesse of synnes the rysing agayne of the bodyes and lyfe euerlastyng ¶ The minister Sonday 3 To the intent that this confession maye be more particularely and playnely declared in to how many partes shal we deuyde it ¶ The childe In to foure principall partes The Christian faith standeth in four pointes ¶ The minister What be they ¶ The childe The fyrste concerneth God the father The seconde parte is of the sonne of God our sauiour Christe wherein briefly also the whole story of our redempcion is rehearsed The thyrde is touchyng the holye goste The fourth cōcerneth the holy Churche and Goddes free gyftes vnto the same ¶ The minister Seing there is but one God what moueth thee to make rehearsal of God the father God the sonne and God the holye gost as if ther were thre gods ¶ The childe As concerning the Trinitie Because that in the substance or nature of God wee haue to consider the Father as the fountayne beginning and originall cause of al thinges then secondarely his sonne who is hys euerlastyng wysedome thyrdly the holy ghoste who is his incōprehensible vertue and puissaunte myght which is extēded and spred vpon all creatures and yet neuertheles remaineth alwayes wholy in hymselfe ¶ The minister This is then the meanyng that there is no inconuenience at al to vnderstand seuerally and apart these three persons in the substāce of God who notwythstandyng is one and not therby deuyded ¶ The childe It is euen so ¶ The minister Make rehearsal nowe of the fyrst parte of the Crede ¶ The childe The first parte of the belief I beleue in God the father almighty maker of heauen and earth The minister Wherfore doest thou cal hym Father ¶ The childe I call hym so hauyng respect to Iesu Christ who is the euerlastyng worde begotten of God before all worldes without begynning The fathe who beyng afterwardes openly shewed vnto the world was euidentlye approuued and declared to be hys sonne Now seing God is oure Sauioure Christes father it foloweth necessarilye that he is also our father ¶ The minister What meanest thou by that thou callest hym Almightye ¶ The childe In that I say he is Almightye what is ment by this word almighti I meane not that he hath a power which he doth not exercise but contrariwise that al creatures be in his hād and vnder his gouernāce that he ordereth and dysposeth all thynges by hys vnsearcheable wisedome and prouidence that he ruleth the worlde as it pleaseth him and that continually he guydeth al thynges therin after hys own good pleasure The minister So then by thy saying the power of God is not ydle The power of god is not ydle nor vnoccupied but cōtinually exercised so that nothyng is done but by hym or by his leaue and ordinaunce ¶ The childe It is euen as you saye ¶ The minister Sonday 4 Wherfore is that clause added therunto Maker of heauen and earth ¶ The childe Because he hath made himselfe knowen vnto vs by his workes it is necessary for vs to seeke hym owt in thē Psal 14. Roma 1. For oure capacytye and the reache of oure vnderstanding is not sufficiēte nor able to cōprehende his diuyne substaunce but he hath made the world as a myrroure or glasse A glasse wherin we maye see God wherin we maye beholde his diuine maiestie in suche sorte as it is expediente for vs to knowe hym ¶ The minister Doest thou not comprehende all creatures in these two wordes heauen and earth ¶ The childe Yes verely they may righte well be vnderstanded in these two wordes seynge that all thinges be eyther heauenlye or earthlye ¶ The minister And why callest thou God only by the name of creator or maker seynge that to order thinges and to conserue them alwayes in their state is a thynge of muche more importaunce then to haue for one tyme created them ¶ The childe By thys worde Creator it is not onely meante that he dyd once create them hauyng no farther regarde to them afterwardes But we ought to vnderstand that as the worlde was made of him in the beginning euen so nowe he doth cōserue the same vpholdeth the state of thinges so that heauen and earth with the reste of the creatures Cōcerning the prouidence of God coulde not contynue in their estate if his power did not preserue them Moreouer seinge in this maner he dothe maintayne all thynges holdynge them as it were in his hand it must nedes folow that he hath the rule gouernance of all Wherefore in that that he is creator
wayes this resurrection of Christe doeth profite vs ¶ The childe Thre maner of ways the firste The benefyte and vertue of Christes death standeth in .iii pointes that we haue fully obtained to be ryghteous therby Secondly that his risinge frō death is asure gage and certaine assuraunce unto vs that we shall ōce ryse agayne into a lyfe without ende and moste glorious Thyrdely Rom. 4.6 1. Cor. 15. that if we be in dede truely partakers of his resurrection we ryse nowe in this present worlde in to a new kynde of lyfe addicted wholy to serue God and to leade an holye conuersation agreable to his wil and pleasure ¶ The minister Sonday 12 Let vs goe forwarde to the reste ¶ The childe He ascended vp into heauen ¶ The minister Wente Christ vp into heauen in suche sort that he was no lōger abydinge in the yearth ¶ The childe Yea Christ ascended into heauē for whan he had performed whollye all thynges that were enioyned him by the commandement of his father and had accōplished all that was necessarie for our health it was not nedefulle that he shoulde remayne any longer in the worlde ¶ The minister What profyte haue wee by hys ascension ¶ The childe The Profytte of Christes ascension stādyth in two pointes We receyue double profyte thereby for since that our sauyoure Christe is entred into heauen in our name euen inlyke maner as he came downe from thēce for oure sakes onely he hath thereby made an open entrye into the same place for vs geuynge us withal an assured knowledge that the gate of heauen is nowe wyde open to receiue vs whych was before faste shutte through our synnes The seconde profite is that he sytteth there presente alwais in the syght of God the father to make intercessyon for us Rom. 6. Hebr. 7. and to be our aduocate to make answere for vs. ¶ The minister But is oure sauioure Christ so gone out of the worlde that he is no more here with vs ¶ The childe Matt. 28. No dowteles for he hymselfe sayeth the contrarye that is that he wyl be here presente with vs vnto the worldes ende ¶ The minister Is it meant of his bodely presence that he maketh promise so to cōtynue with vs ¶ The childe No verelye Luke 24. Actes 1. for it is a nother matter to speake of hys body which was lyfte vp out of this worlde into heauen and to speake of hys godlye power whiche is spred abrode throughout the whole worlde ¶ The minister Declare the meanīg of this sentēce He sytteth on the ryghte hand of God the Father ¶ The childe The vnderstandyng of that is Matt. 28. to signifye that he hath receyued into his handes the gouernance of heauen and yearth whereby he is kynge and ruler ouer al thynges ¶ The minister What signifieth this worde ryghthande and the fyttyng on the ryghthande whereof mention is here made ¶ The childe It is a similitude or a maner of speache borowed of earthly Princes To sit on the right hande of God whiche are wonte to place on their right side suche as they substitute nexte vnder them to see to the execution of lawes and to supplye their roume and offyce in their steade ¶ The minister Then thou meanest nothing els therby Ephe. 1. but that whiche S. Paule speaketh to the Ephesians that he was constitute and appointed head of the Churche set in authoritie aboue all powers Philip. 2. and that he hath receiued a name or dignitie passynge all other ¶ The childe My meanynge is none other ¶ The minister Goe forwarde to the residue ¶ The childe Sonday 13 From thence he wil come to iudge the quycke ād the dead that is to saye he will come doune from heauē and shewe himselfe visibly once agayne in iudgement euen in that shape Actes 1. wherin he was seen to ascend ¶ The minister Seynge the iudgemente of God shal be in the ende of the worlde how maye that be whych thou saiest some shal be a lyue and other some shal be dead namely since also it is a thing most certainly oppointed vnto all men Hebr. 9. to dye once ¶ The childe S. Paule maketh answer to this questiō himselfe saying that they which at that time shal be lefte on liue 1. Cor. 15. 1. Thes 4. shal be sodainly chāged in a momēt of time to the end that their corruptible nature maye be altered and that they may receiue a newe body whiche shal be no more subiect to corruption ¶ The minister Thy meaninge is then that this alteratiō or change shal be vnto them in steade of a death in somuche as it shal do a way abolyshe their former nature and make them ryse againe in a newe more glorious state ¶ The childe It is euen so ¶ The minister Doe we receyue any comfort by this that our sauiour Christ will come once to iudge the worlde ¶ The childe Yea verely and that a synguler great comforte for we are taught certeynly that hys commyng at that tyme shal be onely for our saluation ¶ The minister Wel then there is no cause why we shoulde be afrayde of the day of iudgement or wherfore we shoulde lothe the cummyng thereof ¶ The childe No truely Christe shal both Iudge vs and aunswer for vs. forsomuch as we shall appeare before no other iudge but him who is our aduocate and hath taken vpon hym to defende our cawse ¶ The minister Sonday 14 Let vs nowe come to the third parte ¶ The childe That part cōcerneth our fayth confidence in the holy goste The third parte of the crede ¶ The minister And to what purpose doth it serue vs ¶ The childe It doth vs to vnderstād that euen as God hath first redemed vs Of the holy gost and his giftes geuen euerlasting health vnto vs in Iesu Christ euē so it pleased hym to make vs partakers of these his graces ād benefites through his holy spirite ¶ The minister How so ¶ The childe In lyke maner as the bloud of Christe is the onelye thyng that pourgeth oure soules 1. Peter 1. euē so the holy ghost must sprinkle ād moysten our cōsciences with the same to make them pure and cleane ¶ The minister Yet this needeth a more euident declaration ¶ The childe It is no more to saye but that the holye spirite of God dwellyng in our heartes doth make vs feele the vertue and goodnes of our Lord Iesus Rom. 5. for it is he that doth open the eyes of our hearte to beholde gods benefites towardes vs he doeth seale and imprint his aboundante graces in our soules and this spirite doeth also regenerate vs and make vs new creatures in such sort Ephe. 1. that by his meanes we receiue to our most cōfort al those giftes and benefites which be offered vnto vs so plentifully in Christ our sauiour ¶ The minister Sonday 15