¶ In the newe testamente Reade the Euangelistes of the passyon where they handle the Passyon of Christe ▪ there shalt thou fynde howe godly the Prophecyes be fulfilled and that the Euangelystes accorde ād agree with the Prophetes Lykewyse in the Actes of the Apostles .i. ij iij. iiij v. vij x. xiij xvij xx xxvi Witnesses of the Apostoles Paule Roma i. iij. where he proueth that we haue the redemption through the bloude of Christe in the .v. sayth he when we were enemyes we were reconcyled to god by the death of hys sonne Item Roman vi viij Christe dyed for vs. Roma xiiij xv To the Corinthians .i. Cor. i. ij vi viij x. xi xv ij Corinth iiij v. xiij To the Galathians i. ij iij. iiij vi To the Ephesians i. ij v. To the Philippians in the seconde teacheth he and sheweth that the sonne of God hath humbled hymselfe frō the hyghnes of hys maiestye for oure saluacyon euen vnto the most haynous deathe of the Crosse Philippen iij. To the Coloss i. ij iij. To the Tessaloniens i. ij iiij v. To Timot. i. ij To Titus .ij. In the Epistell to the Hebrewes in the .i. ij v. vi ix x. xiij Cha. Peter i. Petri. i. ij iij. iiij And also in the seconde Epistle Iohan. i. Iohan. i. ij iij. iiij Of the buryall reade Treno iij. They haue layde a stone vppon me Psalm iij. iiij xvi My flesshe shal lye sure Item Esaye xi In the newe Testamente Matth. xxvij Marci xv Luce. xxiij Iohan. xix The vnspeakeable fruyte of the hoolsome death of Iesu Christe and the infinite merites shalt thou fynde also in the places afore rehersed The fyfth Article He ascended into hel and the thyrd daye he rose agayne from the death Christe is our redemer and sauioure therfore ouercometh he all whatsoeuer is contrary to oure saluacion is synne death hell the deuyl through whose enuie death is come into the worlde Christ also descended into hell that he shoulde suppresse all powers and subtelties of the deuyl to the faythfull And he is rysen agayne for to geue a newe lyfe to the beleuynge that we here after may lyue innocently and godly Dauid speaketh thereof on thys wyse Thou shalt not leaue my soul in hell Christ descēded into hel Here is it cleare that he descēded into hell For he sayth not Thou shalt not leaue the work of my soule in hellethe sayth my soule so that the soule of Christ dyd truely descende into hel after her substaunce or beynge not onely after the worke And although we do not knowe properly what maner of descendynge into hell the same be Yet neuerthelesse wyll we surely truely beleue the wordes of the Prophetes whan he hadde commended hys blessed soule into the handes of God hys father than laye hys holye body styll but the soule went downe to hell Oh the mercyfull Lorde hathe ouercome for vs euery fearful thyng The resurrection of Christe ¶ The resurrection of Christe is a great article For it hath made the paines and sufferynges of all martyrs lyght and is the triumphe and ioye of all Christians Hys resurrectyon is oure righteousnes and worketh also oure resurrection bothe of bodye and soule Euen so sayth saint Paul Christe is rysen agayne Rom iiij Ro. viij If the spirite of hym that raysed vp Iesus from death dwell in you euen he that raysed vp Christe from death shal quicken your mortall bodyes because that hys spirite dwelleth in you i. Co. xv And to the Corinthians as by Adam all dye euen so by Christ shall all be made a lyue and euery man in hys owne ordre The firste is Christe then they that are Christes The inuincible glorye of the glorious resurrection of Iesu Christe declareth and glorifieth al that was weake feareful before dryueth awaye the feare of death and exalteth into great ioye the hertes of all faythfull Christians Vvhat ioye is greater thē that Christe is rysen in euerlastynge glorye and honour Rom. vi He dyed ones for vs and shall dye no more death shall haue no more power ouer hym Nowe be we hys membres and he is oure onely heade wheresoeuer then the heade becometh and reygneth there shall also the membres become There is oure ioye and reioysynge i. the .iiij Therfore sayth Paule That the Christians shoulde comforte themselues one another with suche wordes They are cōfortable wordes truely to all true beleuers Sūma Euangel ij This is the summe of the gospel Christe is a kyng of glorye he is borne and geuen vnto vs. Vve haue synne and death but he hath righteousnes and lyfe yf thou beleue in hym then be hys goodes thy goodes hys resurrection thy resurrectiō And it is thyne also whatsoeuer he hath wrought by hys glorious triumphāt resurrection Ro. viij God hath geuen vs hys sonne all thynges with hym as saynt Paule sayth Vvhat hath he wrought by hys resurrection Fruyct of the resurrection Truely great thynges he hath destroyed synne raysed righteousnes abolysshed death brought agayne lyfe ouercome hel and he hath geuen eternall glorye and honour Therfore syngeth the churche with great gladnes not without inspiratiō of the holy goost Christe is rysen and yf he were not rysen then were all the worlde perysshed In the old Testament is the resurrection of Christe signifyeth the prophete Ionas Ione ij Mat. xij Luce. xi He laye thre dayes and thre nightes in the bely of a great whalle after that was he delyuered as Christe hym selfe bringeth in the same The scribes and the Pharisees would see but a signe Then sayde the Lorde vnto them The signe of Ionas The euyl aduoutrous generation seketh a signe but there shall no signe be geuen to them than the signe of the Prophete Ionas For as Ionas was thre daies and thre nyghtes in the whalles belly so shall the sonne of man be thre dayes and thre nyghtes in the herte of the earth Iohn ij And in Iohn speaketh he also of thys hys resurrection saynge Destroye thys temple and in thre dayes I wyl rease it vp agayne There speaketh he of hys owne body Reade more there of in Osee and in the psalter I haue slept and am rysen That is asscrybed vnto Christe Item thou shalt not leaue my soule in hell neyther wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption Here sheweth Dauid clearly the bodely resurrection of Christe For Christe is properly called in scripture the holy one of god and he sayth thou shalt not leaue hym in hell that is as muche to saye Thou shalt sone bryng hym from theus Item thou shalt not suffre thy holy to see the corruption That is Thou shalt make haste to bringe me abroade agayne to the bodely lyfe The continual readyng in the Bible shall bryng before the more suche lyke saynges Vvitnesse of the newe Testament Mathei xx He shall ryse agayne the thyrde daye That is the worde of God that can
please God for he that cometh to God must beleue that God is and that he is a rewarder of them that seke hym We saye not I see or I knowe Ebr. xi but I beleue Paule sayth Faythe is a sure confidence of thynges whiche are hoped for and a certaynte of thinges whiche are not sene For these articles be wonderfull secretes of God which thorough mennes witte can not be obtayned and vnderstonde but onely with the eyes of fayth Mannes wysedome can not vnderstonde that god is become man and frō death rysen agayne and rayseth also the dead in Christe that he ascended into heauen sitteth on the ryghte hand of God his father Item that Goddes naturall sonne be borne of a virgyn and suche lyke Wisedome of the crosse The wysedome of the crosse is hyden from al eyes of worldly wysedome it is a mistery which is knowen by fayth All worldly policye knoweth nothynge of it i. Cor. i. Euen thus sayth Paul we preache Christ crucifyed vnto the Iewes an occasion of fallyng and vnto the Grekes folisshnes but vnto thē whiche are called bothe of Iewes and Grekes we preache Christe the power of God and the wysedome of God It semeth vnto the Gentiles to be a folissh thyng that God shoulde dye beyng the incomprehensible maiestye They knowe nothynge of the mistery of the blessed manhode whiche God toke vpon hym for oure saluacyon from the beginnynge prouyded Ephes i and ordeyned Saynt Paul speaketh vnto the Corinthians When the world through their wisedome knowe not God in hys wysedome i. Cor. i it pleased God through folyshnes of preachynge to saue them that beleue thereon Luce. ij Here is set and erected the signe which is spoken agaynst and whiche is the fall and resurrection of many in Israel Esay xxviij Here is set the stone of stomblynge and rocke of offence as Esay sayth Vvhereon many shall be brused That is the wisedome of Christen men whiche saued vs. As for all the wysedome of the Gentiles was not able to comforte her teachers effectually in their smalest grefe Mat. xi The wysedō hath God hyd from the wyse and prudent and hath opened it vnto babes The Iewes wente about Rom. xi to be made and to come ryghteous to God throughe the lawe and throughe the dedes of the lawe but so coulde coulde they not be ryghteous Roma x They haue reiected Christe the precious corner stone which is the ende of the lawe in whome is made righteous he that beleueth Rom. ix But there is another ryghteousnes whereof the Iewes knowe not whiche is called the ryghteousnes of God that is no thynge elles then to beleue in hym that iustifyeth the synner accordynge as saynte Paul witnesseth Rom iiij If I beleue truely in Christe as in the very some of God myne onely redemer and saueour truely then shall thys fayth and truste be counted vnto me for ryghteousnes before God Fayth is not a slyght thynge whiche a man may geue vnto hym selfe or make it when he wyll But it is a great myghtye thynge whiche renueth man and leaueth hym not in hys olde opinyon Vvhat is fayth and in hys olde skynne and desyres To beleue is stedfastly to cleaue vnto the worde sf God whether it be wordes of threatenynges or of promyse that thou doest truste there vpon That can no man do of hym selfe Act. iiij the spirite of God must renue illumyne hys herte before A man maye make to hymfelfe an opinyon of God that he is good and merciful but it hath no efficacye for as sone as the earnest nede cometh it vanissheth awaye as a dreame A right fayth It is not ynowgh that we speake the articles of oure fayth euery daye fyue sixe or seuen tymes after the pater noster Thei must be written in the herte that lyuely not onely mumbled with the tōg that when the affliction beginneth that it be then euen as thou speakest Thou sayest I beleue the forgeuenes of synnes when the deuyll doth assayle the in necessyte of death for thy manyfolde synnes sake then arte thou abasshed and wylt dispayre Thereby do I see that thou spekest this article with thy mouthe but thy herte knoweth nothynge thereof Thou beleuest it not truely Thou saakest I beleue the resurrection of the body and the lyfe euerlastynge but whan death breaketh in and body soule must parte than arte thou so afrayde as though body and soule dyed altogether as yf it were cleane done with the Se yf there were a right fayth in the of this article that there were no doubtefulnes with the in it that thy body and soule woulde sone come together agayne thou shouldest not be so fearefull For fayth is kepte in necessite euen as golde in the fyre dayly prayer Thy daily and moost diligent prayer allwayes to god shal be O Lorde euerlastyng almighty God geue me the ryght true faythe loue and hope that I maye serue my neyghboure accordynge to thy pleasure AMEN ¶ The fyrste Artycle I Beleue in God the father almighty maker of heauē and earth Here marke fyrste One god thre persons that there is but one God but they be thre personnes The father and the sonne and the holy goost as the scripture testifyeth The thre personnes be lyke euerlastyng lyke myghtye of one maiestye and beynge The sonne in the holy trinitye is sent vnto vs in the last tyme hath tagen vpō him humayne nature to thintent that he shoulde fulfylle the scripture and redeme vs accordynge to the good wyll of hys father And he hath also created all thynges with the father and the hooly goost after the Godheade in the beginnynge Deu. vi Thus sayth the scripture Heare Israel The Lorde oure God is an onely Lorde And thou shalt loue the Lord thy god with all thy herte with all thy soule with all thy mighte the nature beleueth not that there is one God The nature of mankynde is so euel so sore blynded through synne that she of her owne power and strengthe can not well comprehende thys article that there is one God yea althoughe she thynke there be somewhat that is God as the gentyle Cicero maketh mencion yet knoweth she nothyng sure of hym of hys power and wille It is easy to perceyue how littel the gentyls haue knowen of god thorough theyr own wittes thei haue made many Goddes Roma i and haue waxed ful of vanities in theyr imaginacions ād haue knowen nothynge truely of the almyghtynes of God The lyght of nature is to weake for suche hyghe matters The lyght of grace must shyne here in darkenes elles is it errour and ignoraunce God oure father God is called oure father that is a confortable thynge to the faythfull is he our father so be we hys children and heyres of hys kyngdome Euē so doeth also Esay calle hym Lord thou atre our father oure
not lye nor faile Mar. x. Luce. xviij Mathei xxviij Mar. xvi Luce. xxiiij Iohan. xiiij xvi xx Act. i. ij iij. iiij v. x. xiij xvij xxiiij xxvi Paule Roman i. iiij v. vi vii viij x. xiiij xv i. Corinth vi xv and ij Corinth v. xiij Galat. i. iij. iiij v. Ephes i. ij iiij Phil. i. ij iij. Colloss i. ij iij. i. Thessalo iiij v. ij Thess i. ij iij. i. Tim. i. iij. ij Tim. i. ij Titu ij Ebre i. ij iiij vi vij x. xiij Petrus i. Pet. i. iij. v. Iohan. i. Iohan i. ij iiij The sixte Article Ascended into heauen and sitteth on the ryght hand of God the father almighty Christe ascended vp to heauen not that the eternall worde whiche is god hym selfe was not in heauen before For as muche as the worde is alwayes in heauen and abydeth in the father and is essentyally mightely and presently in all places But for to speake after the humanite say we that he is ascended into heauen the same was neuer in heauen before For because that the godly and humayne nature be so agreable inwardely in vnite of the personnes therfore vse we suche suche like maner of speakyng He sitteth on the ryght hande of God That is he is ordeyned of God a kyng and mightye lorde ouer all the goodes of God in heauen hell and earth Therfore is he able ynough to helpe hys faythful in all necessities Witnesse of the olde Testament In the Psalme hath the spirit of God goodly descrybed the glorinus triumphe of the ascention of Christe sayng pl. xlviij Thou arte gone vp an hye and haste led captiuite captine and hast receyued gyftes for menne Christ is gone vp to heauen by the power of the deite and hath euen there receyued all power and dignite of the father ouer all creatures and hath sent downe the holy goost with the treasure of al maner of gyftes through whome the gospel without feare is preached with power and the worlde conuerted christes ouercomynge The euill enemye hath taken men captiue for they were all synners he hath caryed them away with hys crafty subtelties from theyr Lorde God and brought them into his kyngdome of darkenes Iuce xi that is the feareful kyngdom of synne and death But there is yet come one stronger then he The stronge Lyon of the trybe of Iuda a ryght conqueror a stronge Sampson an ouercomer of death synne and hell And hath done to the deuyll a myghtye insullacyon in hys kyngdome And as a Kyng of glory destroyed the gates of hell spoylled the deuyll And hath brought agayne the princely spoyle with the triuÌ„phe of the crosse a Lorde of lyfe and of al thynges so that all they that beleue in Christe be delyuered from the power of synne death and the deuyll Reade more ouer the .i. xvij xxiiij xlvi xlvij xix and â—x Psalme ⧠Witnes of the newe Testament Thus sayth Christe Matthei xxvi Ye shal se the sonne of man sittynge on the ryght hande of power Item Marci xvi standeth thus He was receaued into heauen and is set downe on the ryght hande of God Item Luce. xxiiij Iohan. xvi I go to my father Iohan. xiiij Act. i. In the Actes of the Apostles is the story of the ascention very goodly described Euen there sayth Peter Actu ij and .v. The God of oure fathers raysed vp Iesus whome ye slewe hanged on the tree hym hath God lifte vp with hys ryght hande to be a ruler and a sauyoure for to geue repentaunce to Israel and forgeuenes of synnes Ro. viij Paule sayth He is on the ryght haÌ„de of God and maketh intercessyon for vs. Eph. i. In the Epistle to the Ephesyans hast thou a goodly witnesse There sayth Paule on thys wyse God hath rayseth Christ from death and set hym on hys ryght hande in heaueÌ„ly thinges aboue al rule power might and domination and aboue all names that are named not in thys worlde onely but also in the worlde to come and hath put all thynges vnder hys fete and hath made hym aboue al thynges the heade of the congregacyon which is hys body and fulnes of hym that filleth all in all thynges In the iiij Eph. iiij Psalm lxviij Chap. There dothe Paul bryng in the saynge out of the Psalme He is gone vp an hyghe and hath ledde captiuite captiue and hath geuen gyftes vnto men That he ascended what meaneth it but that he also desceÌ„ded first into the lowest partes of the earth He that descended is euen the same also that ascended vp aboue all heauens to fulfyll all thynges Reade the Epistel vnto the Philippians Phi. i Colo. iij in what hyghnes or dignity he is set Lykewyse to the Colossians and Ebrewes in the .i. iiij vij ix x. Chapiters Peter sayth i. Pe. iij i. Ioh. iij Christe is on the right hande of god and is gone into heaueÌ„ angilles powers and myght subdued vnto hym Marke wel the two articles Comforte of the resurrectioÌ„ and ascentioÌ„ of christ of the resurrection and ascention of Christe For there in is great comforte For to beleue that Christ is rysen froÌ„ death and ascended into heauen and sitteth on the ryght hand of God is nothyng elles than to beleue That Christe by hys death hath ouercome the eternall death and hath taken vpon hym and put awaye the feruentire of God agaynst vs Rom. v. and reconsyled vs vnto hys heauenly father made vs parteners of hys innocencye that death from hencefurth shal haue no more domination neyther ouer hym nor yet ouer his electe membres so that by hys resurrection we haue receyued a great benefyte namely pardon or forgeuenes of all synnes Ioh. xvi Matth. xxviij Eph. i. i. Ioh. ij Eph. ij To sitte on the ryght hande of god is to sitte in the power and kyngdome as a Lorde Item al power in heauen and earth is geuen vnto hym God hath caste al thynges vnder hys fete Item he is now before the father our mediatour reconciliation Through hym we haue an open waye in vnto the father he hath the euerlastynge Priesthode lyueth for euer and can perfectly saue all them that go vnto God by hym The seuenthe Article From thens he shal come to iudge the quicke the dead The daye of dome That shall be at the daye of dome whiche shall be a ioyfull daye to all faythfull Christians as Christ hym selfe witnesseth in Luke whan he had rehersed the signes and tokens whiche shoulde come before the laste daye Luce. xxi Matth. xxiiij vnto hys discyples He sayde Vvhen all these thynges begynne to come to passe then loke vp and lyfte vp your heades for youre redempcioÌ„ draweth nyghe Here he speaketh of the blessed they shall reioyce in the last daye that oure blasphemous lyfe hath an ende and that Christ is declared in all hys membres who woulde not be gladde with all hys harte of hys redempcion
euen so the sonne quickeneth whome he wyll The father hath geuen power to the sonne also to iudge The houre shal come in the whiche all that are in the graues shal heare hys voyce and shal come forth they that haue done good to the resurrectyon of lyfe and they that haue done euyll vnto the resurrection of damnatyon In the Actes of the Apostles Act. xvij preacheth Paule vnto those of Athenes the resurrectyon of the deade Item in another place sayeth Paule act xxiiij I beleue all thynges which are writtē in the lawe and the Prophetes and haue hope towardes God that the same resurrection of death which thei loke for also shal be act xxvi bothe of iuste and vniuste Rom. vi Item to the Romaynes sayth he yf we be grafte in death lyke vnto hym Ro. viij euen so muste we be lyke in the resurrection yf we be dead with christ we beleue that we shall lyue with him ¶ Item to the Corinthians i. Co. vi God hath raysed vp the Lorde and shal rayse vs vp by hys power knowe ye not that youre bodyes are the membres of Christe yf they be the mēbres of Christe then muste they be glorifyed and claryfyed with theyr heade ⧠The fyfthene Chapyter in the fyrste Epystle to the Corinthyans haue dearly in commendation wherein Sayncte Paule so excellentely and commyngly writeth of the resurrection of Christe and of oure resurrection and maketh suche an argumēt and ground Christ is rysen frō death therfore shal we ryse also Vvherfore dyed he howe hath slayne hym Truely our synnes The father hath layed all oure synnes vpon hym therfore hath he satisfyed Esa liij as Esay sayth Nowe yf he were not rysen then were all oure doyng in vayne yea we were yet in synne and dominacyon as depe as euer we were No man were poorer and more miserable then we christians yf we onely in thys shorte lyfe shoulde put oure trust in Christe and afterwarde all shoulde be at an ende Then the sinnes had ben to heauy and to stronge for hym But nowe is christe risen from death death hath no more power ouer hym Truely then hath he ouercome oure synne and death that they can beare no more rule ouer vs. He is become theyr myghtye and stronge Lorde And as by Adam all dye euen so by Christe shal all be made a lyue Therfore let vs be mery in the Lorde oure enemys synne death hell be layde downe Christ is a kynge myghtely hys kyngedome endureth for euer where as he is there shal we be also Vvhe haue a good cause to reioyce and with thankefulnes to be freeharted and blode in Christ oure ouercomer and Lorde and to be with death at defyaunce death is swallowed vp in victory The Lorde sayth O death Ose xiij I wil be thy death O hel I wil be thy stynge Death where is thy stynge Hel where is thy victory But thankes be vnto God whiche hath geuen vs the victory Through our Lord Iesus Christe In the seconde Epistle to the Corinthians sayth he ij Cor. i that we should not put oure trust in oure selues but in God which rayseth the dead to lyfe agayne Reade a goodly example the fyfth Chapiter in the same Epistle Item we knowe that ij cor iiij he whiche rayseth vp the Lorde Iesus shall rayse vp vs also by the meanes of Iesus ij co xiij Item we shall lyue with hym by the power of God Item to the Philippians Oure cōuersacyon is in heauen from whence aso we loke for the sauyour euen the Lorde Iesus Christ whiche shal chaūge oure vyle body that he maye make it lyke vnto hys gloryous body accordyng to the workyng whereby he is able also to subdue all thynges vnto hym selfe Colo. iij Item to the Colossyans ye be now rysen with Christe therfore seke those thynges whiche are aboue i. Th. iiij Item to the Thessalonyens sayeth Paule I would not bretheren that ye should not be ignorant concerning them whiche are fallen a slepe that ye sorrowe not as other doo whiche haue no hope For yf we beleue that Iesus dyed and ryse agayne euen so them also whiche slepe by Iesus wyll God brynge agayne wyth hym And thys saye we vnto you in the worde of the Lorde that we whiche lyue and are remainynge in the commynge of the Lorde shal not come yerre then they whiche slepe For the Lorde hym selfe shall descende from heauen with a showre and the voyce of the Archangell and trompe of God And the dead in Christe shall ryse fyrste then shall we whiche lyue and remayne be caught vp with them also in the cloudes to mete the Lorde in the ayer and so shall we euer be with the Lorde wherfore comforte youre selues one another with these wordes The twelfte Artikel And the lyfe euerlastynge The life here in thys worlde is called a calamitye for we haue no restynge place here neyther shall we abyde here alwayes as Paule sayeth Ebr. xiij Here haue we no contynuynge City but we seke one to come Heauen is oure home the lyfe euerlastynge thether long we in the lyfe euerlastynge Summa summarum there is all the desyre of man whiche can be satisfyed with nothynge elles than with beholdynge and browkynge of the godly essence as Dauid saith psa xvij I wyl beholde thy presence in ryghteousnes and I shal be satisfyed when I awake vp after thy lykenes The Philosophers and world wysemen haue taken great paynes to studye seke out what thyng it myght be Saluation of man wherein the harte of man without all calamytye and miserye were satisfyed and stedfastly rested an in the ende wherevnto it is ordeyned and whiche myght be oure saluacion But lyke as they coulde see no ryghte vertue by the naturall power withoute grace euen so coulde they not knowe also that thynge where in the saluacyon of man consisteth The one thought that health is the greatest good Another toke ryches for it Some haue named vertue the saluacyon Some dyd put theyr saluatiō in thre goodes namely the goodes of fortune as ryches honour power The goodes of the bodye as healthe strengthe The goodes of the soule as science and vertue But the blynde lyghte of nature knoweth nothyng of the ryght saluation and of the ryghte lyfe euerlastynge The spirit of God doth teache it vs by the scripture For thus sayth Iohn i. Ioh. v Ioh xvij Christe is very God and eternall lyfe Item thys is lyfe eternall that then myght knowe the onely true God and Iesus Christe whome thou hast sent That is oure heauen thether be we bounde sayng This is my rest for euer that is oure kyngedome Psalm cxxxij wherein Christ hath preipared for vs many maners of dwellinge places Ioh. xiiij Matth. xxv Matt. v Into that housse shal he sende the electe and shall saye Come ye blessed of my father inherite the kyngdome prepared for you from
the begynnynge of the worlde Thys is the ryght saluation whiche shal begynne euen after the temporal lyfe to them that lyue in Christ In Iohn sayth Christ Ioh. iij God so loued the worlde that he hath geuē hys onely sonne that none that beleue in hym shoulde perysshe but should haue euerlasting life The scripture speaketh of the lyfe euerlastynge euerye 〈…〉 Christe that men might knowe christ a ryght the sonne of God mat xvi Therfore asked he hys disciples what thy helde of hym Then answered Peter for hym selfe and for the other Thou art Christ the sonne of the lyuyng God Vpon suche knowledge which is necessary for vs all in the Catholyke churche buylded i. Cor i. i i Cor. iij Thus sayth Paule Vve preache Christe the power and wysedome of God He wyll also suffer none other foundation but onely Iesus Christe euen as he hath preached hym That he is come from the father in the nature of mankynd and hath redemed the worlde dyed for vs vppon the crosse and is rysen agayne oure heade and Lorde Eph. ij And is sett on the ryght hande of God vnto whome we come and are saued not by oure owne workes but of grace through fayth Ioh. x Throughout the hole Gospel of s Iohn declareth he for the moost parte that he hym selfe is the sonne of God and preacheth for the moost parte that God is hys father In so muche that the yewes did reiecte hym and would stone him for the same i. Ioh. v. For Christ is come to teache fayth whereby men beleue euen in hym as in the sonne of God And fayth is the fulfyllinge of al lawes He is the righteousnes for euer he is the worke of Goddes glorie he is the mortification of the flesshe the raysinge of the spirit the subduinge of the world the subduinge of the flesshe the subduynge of hell the gates of hell cannot preuayle agaynst hym Briefely Matth. xvi Ioh. viij Ioh. xiij he is all in all thinges as he sayeth in Iohn Excepte ye beleue that I am he ye shall dye in your sinnes Itē he that beleueth in me shall neuer dye The writynges of the Apostles be full of doctryne as concernyng fayth for thereon lyeth all the matter mar xvi He that beleueth not shal be damned he that beleueth in the sonne hath euerlastynge lyfe Ioha iij. Therfore shoulde we praye continually for the ryght faith for he bryngeth with hym loue hope and all goodnes Fayth Fayth is not a slyght meanynge 〈…〉 whiche the natural witte or wyll can make to hym selfe Act. xv but it is a liuely thynge in the herte which renueth mā and purifyeth the herte It is suche a lyuely confidence and trust to God that man is sure and certayn aboue al wysedome that he pleaseth God and that he hath a mercyfull God whiche is towardes hym kynd gracious and mercyfull and forgeueth hym in all thynges that he doeth Thys fayth is the chiefest worke of the fyrste commaundement lyke as the fyrste commaundement is a measure example rule and vertu of all other commaundementes in the which as in the heade all membres lyue and haue power thereof Goode workes Euen so is fayth the heade lyfe and power of al good workes No work is good except faith hath wrought it ye except it be thorowely mixte with fayth Ro. xiiij euen as wyth newe leuyn whatsoeuer is not of faith that same is synne Ioh. vi Thys fayth is the dearest worke of god wherof Christ speaketh in Iohn This is the worke of God that ye beleue in hym whome God hath sent Therfore doth the scripture moost requyre fayth as in the Gospell often standeth Vvhen Christe would worke any myracle asked he before yf thei beleued that he coulde and woulde do suche thynges Item in marke and Mathewe Mar. ix Matth. xiij mat vij it is written that Christe hath not done many myracles in hys owne countree because of theyr vnbeleue In Mathewe sayth Christe that hys disciples could not heale the lunatike for theyr vnbeleues sake Vvheras a ryght Catholike fayth is Ephe. ij there is a creation of a newe harte The olde harte of Adā hath not thys faith of it selfe For it is a gyfte of god Many say the Crede dayly Fayth boaste there of very sore But they knowe not what it is O it maketh a meke hūble obediēt godly peple whiche trusteth in god onely hopeth loueth him aboue al things feareth him serueth his euen christen willingly with body goodes hindereth nomā suffereth gladly dāmage persecutiō Al his workes be ordered to the vtylyte and profyte of hys neyghboure be he frende or foo euen as Christe hath done vnto vs also Therfore be not all they Chrysten manne that be called Euangelical and be inclined to hurte or endamage their neyghbours in body soule honoure or goodes They be heathen vnder the name of Christe theyr frutes shewe what they be yf they were ryght christians or Euangelicall they would be obedient seruable vnto al men intendyng to hurte no man God vouchesaue to illumine them with true fayth that they maye be suche in dede as they wil be called Amen Marci ix Lorde I beleue helpe myne vnbeleue Marci xvi He that beleueth not shal be damned Marci ix All thinges are possible to hym that beleueth ¶ Here begynneth the ryght foundation and pryncypall common places of the hole godly scripture a goodly shorte declaration to all Christians profitable and necessarye for to come to the right vnderstondyng of the holy Scripture compyled for the commoditie of all Christen people By Doctor Vrbanus Regius ⧠The contentes of the common places i. Holy Scripture ij God iij. The ryght honour of God iiij Goddes greatest dishonour v The lawe vi The gospell vij Fayth viij Good workes ix Sacramente x The death of Christ xi Flesshe xij Spirite xiij Vertue xiiij The greatest vertue xv The greatest synne xvi The soule xvij Lyfe xviij Euerlastyng lyfe xix Death xx The resurrection xxi The later daye xxij Masse xxiij Righteousnes xxiiij Honour of sainctes xxv Difference of meates xxvi Holy dayes xxvij Prayer xxviij Vowe xxix Obedience xxx The wyll of God xxxi Mannes wyl xxxij Offence xxxiij Almoses xxxiiij Othe or swearyng xxxv Christian lyberty xxxvi Churche xxxvij Ryches xxxviij Synne xxxix Infirmitie xl Health xli Persecution xlij Ioye and heuynes xliij Peace xliiij Free wyl xlv Counsayll xlvi Confessyon xlvij Merytes xlviij Shepeherde Ende of the Tabell ¶ To the most reuerende father in God Thomas by the permission of God Archebysshope of Canturburye Metrapolitane prymate of all Englande Hys dayly oratoure Gwalter Lynne wyssheth lyfe euerlastynge ME thynketh most reuerēde father that this sayenge of our Sauyoure Christ be occupied til I come is an admonicyon of all other moste necessarye and profytable Luc. xix and xij Matth. xxiiij xxv mar xiij aswell for the parentes or maysters
battell as S. Paul testifyeth Here vpon earth as longe as bodye and soul be knitte together Ro. viij Hathe the vpryght ryghteous man onelye the fyrste frutes of the spirite In such maner are here yet al workes of mā spotted and polluted of the flesshe synne before the iudgement of God Therfore lette noman buylde and trust vpō hys workes Rom. iij iiij The fayth in Christe is onely oure ryghteousnes before God Vertue The thre hyest vertues Fayth Charite Hope Out of a ryghte fayth flowe the other two Charite and hope Knoweledge of the kindnesse of God For the knowledge of the godly mercyfulnes maketh that God is loued agayne maketh also that we be willinge and subdue oure selues to serue euery creature and that is called the loue of our neyghboure Hope floweth also oute of faythe for fayth is that Hope wherewith thou beleuest the worde and with hope thou lokest for that whiche is promysed vnto the through the worde What maketh me to haue hope Answer The fayth in the worde of God Therfore hange these thre vertues together The greatest vertue ¶ The greatest vertue is Gal v where of Saynt Paule speaketh Faythe whiche through loue is myghtye in operation without fayth is no vertue The greatest synne The greatest synne is vnbeleue He that beleueth not in Christe is damned Ioh. iij He shal not see lyfe but the wrath of God abydeth on hym Ro. xiiij For whatsoeuer procedeth not of fayth that same is synne The soule The soule of man is highly honoured or made honourable Gene. i. namely created after the image of the moost hyghly blessed trinite and hath thre vertues or qualities vnderstandyng wille and remembraunce and is yet but one thynge Notwithstondynge thou learnest to knowe thys creation in that that the soule hath a respecte towardes God Likenes of God and hys holy worde thys testifyeth that in vs is a lykenes and Image of God No man can satisfye the large and greate desyres of the wise and prudent menne but God the creatoure hym selfe onely Then shall I be satisfyed Ps xvij sayth the Psalme when thyne Image awaketh vp The soule hath a beginnyng for she is created of god but she hath none end for she died not For thus sayth Christ Mat. x. Feare ye not thē which kyl the body be not able to kyl the soul but rather fear him whiche is able to destroye bothe soule and body into hell The soule is suche a precyous godly worke and creature that no corporall thynge may be compared vnto her what shoulde it profite a man mat xvi though he shoulde wynne al the hole worlde yf he lose hys owne soule Lyfe There is two maner of lyfes the one temporall the other perpetuall The lyfe temporall hath a beginnyng and endynge and is full of sorrowe as Iob complayneth Hiob iij and it is onely a shadowe of the ryghte euerlastynge lyfe which the creatures haue in theyr begynnynge A ryght Christen man counteth the temporal lyfe very littell and small for he knoweth through his fayth that he is not created for thys shorte temporal life He seeth with the eyes of hys fayth aboue in the ryghte true euerlastynge lyfe whiche withoute death and departynge withoute trouble and misery in certayntye in Ioye and withoute sorrowe endureth for euer Phil. i Thus sayth Paul to the Philippians Christ is to me lyfe deathe is to me aduauntage I desyre to be lowsed and to be with Christe Willyngly to dye Whosoeuer is not wyllynge and glad to dye to departe oute of thys miserable corruptible tyme the same is yet full of the olde Adam and hath yet but a small fayth The right faith kyndleth in vs and maketh vs to hate thys vngodly lyfe and to become enemye vnto it Fayth maketh a man to dye from thys lyfe and all hys lustes whylest he is yet liuynge and vnto the beleuynge is no greater reioysynge vpon earth He hath tourned away and plucked awaye hys herte from all creatures and lyueth onely in Christ Thus sayth Paul Gal. vi God forbydde that I shoulde reioyce but onely in the crosse of oure Lorde Iesu Christ wherby the worlde is crucifyeth vnto me and I vnto the world Gala. ij And in another place sayth he I lyue yet now not I but christ lyueth in me For the lyfe which I lyue now in the flesshe I lyue by the fayth of the sonne of god which loued me and gaue hym selfe for me The tēporal life is delectable vnto the heathē that knowe no better But a Christiā doth littel regarde it because he knoweth a better Therfore departed the welbeloued elect sainctes of god with myrthy and ioye from hence as out of wretchednes into the ryghte countree of theyr father Cicero in Tuscques The heathen feare the tēporall death very sore for they thinke that hereafter it is cleane done with man Al theyr wisedome conuyng and Philosophie was not able to conforte them in the feare of death albe it that they dyd enterpretyse the same He that knoweth not CHRISTE and beleueth not in hym feareth deathe and not withoute a cause for it is horryble vnto hym and an intraunce into death euerlastynge But he that knoweth Christ hath hym doth not feare deathe muche 〈…〉 hath ouercome death And hys holy woorde doth onely conforte vs effectually agaynste the horryble tempeste of death Eternal lyfe The lyfe euerlastynge is that we knowe the very god Ioh xvij and Iesus Christ whome he hath sent Nowe we see in a glasse euē in a darke speakyng i. cor xiij But then shal we see face to face Nowe I knowe it vnparfectely That is We knowe here vpon earth by fayth all what God is and what God geueth vnto vs but it is not yet the right knoweledge nothyng nygh she is also darke and vnperfecte But the knowledge to come in our fathers mansion is the ryght bryghtnes and perfecte knoweledge i. Ioh. iij For we shall see hym as he is Death There is two maners of death the one temporall the one euerlastynge The temporal whan body and soule parte the one from the other Ebre ix It is so appoynted that euery man must ones dye The euerlastynge death whan the euerlastyng soule must nedes departe from the face of God that is from her ryght onely lyfe euer more and euerlastyng with out endynge The eternall death that is ij tim i. the damnacyon infernall is vnto the elect christen menne ouercome al ready by chrste Christ hath spoyled death of hys power and brought to lyght lyfe and incorruptyble conuersacyon by the Gospell The wayght and burthen of oure synnes hath suppressed drowned vs into the botomeles pitte of hel Esa liij But God hath layed thys burthen vpon hys dearly beloued sonne Christ the same hath satisfyed for vs and delyuered vs from synne death hell There of shalt thou fynde
corne wynes shoulde not growe in the feldes yet see well ynoughe that with all theyr thought and care they be not able to put one cubite vnto their statures They be heathen Mat. vi and knowe not the care prouidence grace of God Two thynges doth the Scripture speake and touche concernyng ryches First it is daungerous to medle with them Rychesse The scripture calleth thē thornes He must nedes haue a fayre grace of God that doth not prycke hym selfe beynge amonge thornes They be wytche blynde and hynder a man very sore A certaine Iewe came vnto Christe whiche was counted before the worlde a ryght honest man But when Christe woulde teache hym the perfection and bad hym forsake hys goodes and possessyōs he went away mournynge for he had great possessyons Then sayde Christ vnto hys disciples Matth. xix Mar. x. Lu. xviij with what difficultye shal thei that haue ryches enter into the kyngdome of God The goodes are loued and man is blynded Secondarely the Scripture doth not therfore denye the kyngdome of heauen vnto the ryche but onelye sheweth them the daunger and ieopardye thereof and warneth them faythfully that they shoulde not suffre the goodes to be theyr mayster and Lord and haue none euyll concupiscence after that which is temporal Psa lxij And yf ryches do increase vnto them that they shoulde not sette theyr hertes vpon them and make an Idoll thereof The ryche man in S. Luke shoulde be a warnynge vnto them Luce. xij Verely the spirite of God which knewe very wel the perilles daungers thereof saith in sayncte Paul on thys wyse i. tim vi They that wil be ryche fall into temptation and snares and into many foolyssh noysome lustes which drowne men in perdicion and destruction For couetousnes is the rote of all euyl whiche whyle some lusted after they erred from the fayth and tangled them selues with many sorrowes In the end of the same Epistle geueth he vnto the ryche a very goodly rule to lyue by and fayth Charge thē that are ryche in thys worlde that they be not excedyng wyse and that they truste not in the vncertayne ryches but in the lyuynge God whiche geueth vs aboundantly all thynges to enioye thē and that they do good and be ryche in good workes and ready to geue and to distribute layenge vp in store for themselues a good foūdation agaynst the tyme to come that they may obtayne eternal lyfe Mat. vi Men can not serue God Mammon together Ecclesi v. Reade in the preacher of Salomon of the ryche men of thys worlde Whosoeuer doth medle moche with goodes by the way of marchādyse customes or other wyse latte hym remembre that he medleth with thornes and forgette not the brotherly loue but accordynge to the lawe of nature as he would that men shoulde deale with hym truely and vprightly so let hym deale with hys neyghboure Tob. iiij Vvhatsoeuer ye woulde that men shoulde do to you mat vij euen so do ye to them Thys is the lawe and the Prophetes Luce. vi Geue and it shal be geuen vnto you sayth Christe Lende lokynge for nothynge agayne and youre rewarde shal be greate and ye shal be the chyldren of the hyest Deute xv Item in the fyfte boke of Moyses sayth the lawe Tourne not thyne eyes from thy poore brother handle not deceatfully and craftely with hym in hys necessities that thy Lorde God maye blesse the alwayes and in all thynges that thou goest aboute or takest in hande Deute xxiij xxiiij Geue vnto thy brother no money vpon vsury O Lorde God why do men rage so vnmanerly and abhominable for the temporall goodes seyng thei muste shortely departe from them when they dye They can not preserue them from death what shoulde it profite a man Matth xxvi though he shoulde wynne all the hole worlde yf he loose his owne soule Christe warneth you fatherly in Mathewe and sayeth Mat. vi See that ye gather you not treasure vppon the earth where ruste and mothes corrupte and where theues breake through and steale But gather ye treasures together in heauen where nether ruste nor mothes corrupte and where theues nether breake vp nor yet steale For where so euer youre treasure is there will youre hertes be also It can not well be done to followe the naked Christe and to beare his crosse where as so greate ryches and all plentie doth abounde Synne Synne is all what soeuer is against the commaundement of God There is thre maner of synnes The originall synne is an euill concupiscēce where of we be inheritours by byrthe descēdinge from Adā vpon all Adams children whiche prouoketh and enticeth to synne For it is written in the fyrst boke of Moyses The imagination of mannes herte is euyl Ge. vi and .viij euē from hys youthe Of thys synne complayneth Dauid sayenge Psal li. Rom. v Ephe. ij Beholde I was shapen in wickednes and in synne hath my mother conceyued me Thys synne bryngeth the chylde with hym euen from hys mothers wombe The deadly synne is euery synne agaynst the commaundement of god of her owne nature The daily synne The dayly synne is a synne of the Christen menne or of the saynctes is called daily for thys cause not that she is so small of her selfe but because she is forgeuen vnto the faythful thorough the mercyfulnes of God and is not imputed vnto hym for synne vnto death Briefely euery dede of man whiche is not through the faythe in Christe is a deadly synne For the frute is as the tree The tree is the carnal mā which spiritually is dead how shoulde he then of hymself bring furth a lyuing fruite that is a good worke Infirmitie For as muche as a Christen man doth not feare death he feareth much lesse bodely sickenes he escheweth only the infirmities of the soule that is to say synne The bodely infirmitye is vnto man a costely medecyne agaynst the synfull flesshe For man is neuer more righteous then when he is sicke when God scourgeth thē doth he heale Amendement of lyfe happeneth best in the tyme of all maner of tribulation Sickenes doth withdrawe him from the inordinate and vncomely loue of creatures that he begynneth to loke for the creatoure as for hym that onely can helpe on euery syde and quycken man in all hys aduersities whiche he muste suffre here It geueth also vnto man in tribulation a spirituall ioye and bryngeth a good confidence towardes god whā he thinketh accordinge as the scripture doth shewe Vvhome the lord loueth Ebr. xij hym he chasteneth and he scourgeth euery sonne that he receyueth Yf ye endure chastenynge God offereth hymselfe vnto you as vnto sonnes what sonne is that whome the father chasteneth not If ye be not vnder correction whereof al are partakers then are ye bastardes and not sonnes Moreouer seynge we had fathers of our flesshe whiche
able to defende vs from synne death deuil hel He that shall do the same must nedes be God ⧠Vvitnesse out of bothe Testamentes Esa vij Iohan. i ¶ In Esay is Christ named Emanuell that is God with vs. Ihon begynneth hys gospell on thys wyse In the beginnyng was the worde and the worde was with God and God was the worde The same was in the begynnyng with God Al thynges were made by it And the worde became flesshe For as muche now as he is not made but he is the maker hymselfe so must he nedes be God Ioh. xxi Act. x Iohannis in the laste saith Thomas My Lorde my God In the Actes of the Apostles sayth Paule that god hath purchased the Churche with hys owne bloude That speaketh he of the agreynge of Persons in two natures of Iesu Christe To the Romaynes sayth s Paule Rom. ix which Christe is god ouer al thinges blessed for euer Phili. ij And to the Philippians Let euery man be mynded as Iesus Christe was whiche beyng in the shape of god thought it not robbery Colos ij to be equall with God To the Colossyans In hym dwelleth all the fulnes of the Godheade bodyly Vnto Titus sayth Paule Tit. ij that we shoulde loke for that blessed hope and gloryous appearynge Ebre i of the myghty god of our sauyour Iesu Christ To the Ebrewes speketh he vnto the sonne God thy seate shal be for euer and euer And Ihō in hys Epistel i. Ioh. v In hys sonne Iesu Christe this is the true God and eternall lyfe Psa viij In the Psalm standeth of Christe what is thys man that thou arte myndefull of hym and the sonne of man that thou regardest hym Thou madest hym lower than the Angels to crowne hym with glory and worshyppe Thou makest him to haue dummyon ouer the workes of thy handes the declaracyon of thys saynge seke in Saynt Paules Epist To the Ephesians and Colossyans to the Hebrewes Now yf god haue set Christ on his ryght hande and hathe made hym Lorde ouer all thynges in heauen earth then must he be god For it is not mete in no wyse that one shoulde be sett on the ryght hande of god and in lyke power with god the Father yf he were no god for as muche as god wil geue hys honoure to none other as Esay sayth Esa xlij xlvi and xlviij God speaketh in Osea Osee xiij Thou shalt knowe none other god but me There is none other saueour besydes me Euen so is it also written in Esaye esa xliij xliiij xlv Exo. x◠xxxiiij Deu. v vi Ioha v. and in the second fyfth boke of Moyses There wil he that mē worshyp none other or straun goddes nowe it standeth in Ihon god wyl haue that men shall honoure the sonne euē with the honour wherwith the father is honoured that is gods honour Euen so wyl god that men shall haue one God and geue the honour of god to no creature For as much as he geueth it here to Christe truely so is he god also As also witnesseth Paule Rom. i to the Romaynes in the first Chap. sayng After the flesshe is he the sonne of Dauid but after the spirite he is declared to be the sōne of god with power The scripture somtyme calleth Christ God somtyme by other wordes Vvherfore infallybly it is cōcluded that Iesus Christ is very god what nedeth it many witnesses Reade the gospel of s Ihō that is almoste nothynge elles than a witnes of the very godheade of Christe Therfor erred the Cherintians Ebionytes and Arrianes for they weaned Christ were but onely a mā no god But we beleuers be the sonnes of God onely of grace through election and adoption not of very nature Christians be the children of God Gal. iiij Ro. viij Ephe. i Of the same childhode reade the Epistle of Paul vnto the Galath Romayns Ephesians There findest thou how that we through Christ the ryght natural sonne of God of grace be accepted for the sonnes of god heyres annexed with Iesu Christ our lord The fayth in Iesu bringeth vs vnto suche hygh worthy childhode and to hys Lordely heritage and Iohan sayth As many as receyued hym Iohan. i to them he gaue power to be the sonnes of God in that they beleued on hys name ⧠The thyrde article Vvhiche was conceyued by the holy gooste borne of the virgyn Marye Thys article hath two partes The firste Christe is not of a man after the commune course of nature but of the holy gost yet naturally born The seconde The mother of Christe was not defyled as another woman that conceyueth a chyldee with hurt of her bodyly and goostly virginite but she is a virginall mother a virgyn before the byrthe in the byrthe and after the byrthe The wonderfull conceyuyng and byrthe hath the holy gost prophecyed through the Prophetes Math. i by the Euāgelistes descrybed and proued For thus sayth the Angell vnto Ioseph That whiche is conceyued in her is of the holy gost For when the blessed virgyn Mary heard the salutaciō angelical that she shoulde become a mother of so mightye a Lorde which was the sonne of the moost hyghest and that hys princely kyngdome shoulde endure for euer she asked tharchangel Gabriell with a virginal comlynesse howe that shoulde be seynge she knewe of no man Luc. i Then answered tharchangel The holy gost shal come vpō the and the power of the hyest shall ouershadowe the. Therfore also that holy thyng which shal be borne shal be called the sonne of god Here was necessary that a specyall newe mā shoulde be borne Christe most be borne pure that might take away and wash awai the corruption and disease of the fyrst synne of oure damnable byrthe of Adam with hys purenes Therfor was it here necessary to be a virginal pure birth werein were no spot of sinne nor yet maledictiō The holy ghost was the worke mayster in the workynge place of the pure immaculate body of Mary her pure flesshe and bloude was the natural sede whereout God the holy gost hath shapen the noble pure body of Christ And the wōderful holy virginite of Marye the electe virgyn is descrybed in the Prophetes and Euāgelistes with inuincyble argumentes The scripture geueth to vnderstonde Gen. iij. that Christ the blessed fruyt of Marye must be a natural childe of a woman for he is called the sede of a woman Item he must be a man of an excellent frydom aboue all men that he be aboue all synne For he shal treade downe the heade of the serpent that is synne death hel yf he were borne in synne then shoulde the deuyll also haue power ouer hym as ouer other children of wrath But he hathe no power ouer him For Christ sayth thus Ioh. xiiij The Prynce of thys worlde cometh and hath nought in me And so
muste Christe nedes be a right natural sonne of a woman but with a supernaturall wyse be borne then the children of Adam of whome all the virginyte is clearly and vndoubtedly kept Firste sayth the Scripture the sede of a woman It sayth not The sede of a man It nameth onely the name of a woman Therfore the mother of thys chylde whiche conceyueth without the helpe of a man is a virgyn yet a ryght natural mother of the childe as also Paule witnesseth Gal. iiij wher as he sayth That the sonne of God is borne of a woman Other children be borne of a man and a woman Here sayth the Scripture Christe is onelye borne of a woman A woman A woman is not here taken for a womā that knoweth a man but it signifyeth the person of a woman or the name of a woman and geueth here to vnderstonde that thys byrth is done without all addition of man or helpe of man Secondarely Ge. xxij whan God promysed to Abraham Christe the ryght Messias he sayde In thy sede shall all the nations of the earthe be blessed Marye cometh bodily of Abrahā and Dauid And Christe cometh of Mary bodily and is thesame sede of Abraham through the which al natiōs be blessed Then it followeth Gal. iij that Marye is a pure virgyn For yf her sonne Christe be a blessed sede whiche taketh awaye all male diction truely than can not he be borne of a man yf he were borne of a man than were he borne after the course of nature and were a chylde of Adam polluted with synnes Now is he onely a fruyt of a womanes body and not of a man for the worke of the flesshe and the blessyng stande not together Thirdely speaketh the spirite of god through Esay Esa vij God hymselfe shal geue you a token Beholde a virgyn shal conceyue and beare a sonne c. The Hebrewe texte hath Alma that is a virgyn not as a seruyng mayde but a yonge woman person which as yet hath no husbande and weareth a garlonde which is yet vndefyleth And that is also nothynge elles but a virgyn And so do men call the mother of God a pure mayden that is a virgyn as the Iewes them selues can not deny And therfore is she a pure virgyn before the byrth and in the byrth Let the testimony of the Euangelistes Mathewe and Luke be sufficient for the for they cal Mary a virgyn Math. i Luc. i allegen the sayeng of the Prophete Esaye That she also dyd remayne alwayes a virgyn after the byrth Marye a virgyn also after the byrthe wyl I defend euen with the scripture Wherewyth the heretyke Heluidius would proue the contrary parte that she shoulde haue hadde children by Ioseph after the fyrste borne sonne Mathewe sayth Math. i Ioseph knewe her not tyl she had brought forth her first sonne hereout wille the folysshe that marke not the nature and propertye of the language defyne and conclude that she shoulde haue borne more children afterwardes But I saye loke better vpon the circumstaunce The Euangelist setteth a great meruayll before oure eyes namely that a virgin is with childe before the man taketh her into hys house and lyeth with her and before he knoweth her for as moche as she hath a sonne before whome not withstondyng she should haue In case she were knowen of hym after the common course And the wordes of saynt Mathewe tende not vppon that whiche is done after the byrth Ge. viij Item in the fyrst boke of Moyses to speake after such lyke phrase The Rauen flewe out and retourned not agayne vntyl the waters were dryed vp vppon the earth Here wyl the texte that the Rauen is not come agayne at all Euen so followeth not in the forsayde sayenge of Saint Mathewe that Ioseph afterwardes hath lyen with Mary or hath knowen her but rather the contrary parte that he neuer knewe her afterwarde Esay ix The temporall byrth of Christe hath Esaye prophecyed and notifyed A childe is borne vnto vs and a sonne is geuen vnto vs vpon hys shoulder doth hys kyngdome lye And he is called with his own name wōderful the mightye God the Prince of peace a father of the worlde to come Beholde also the xi Chap. of Esay The historye of the byrth of Christ reade Luc. ij Howe Marie the virgyn was delyuered of her childe in Bethleem Mich. v Matt. ij as the Prophete Micheas dyd say in spirite oh which wordes saynte Mathewe maketh relation sayng thou Bethlehem in the lande of Iuda arte not the leaste amonge the Princes of Iuda for oute of the shall there come vnto me the Captayne that shal gouerne me people Israel The fourth Article Vvhiche suffereth vnder Pōce Pilate was crucifyed The passyon of Christ dead and buryed That was the wille of God the father that hys onely sonne Iesu Christ shoulde dye vpon the crosse in the humayne nature to thintēt that he shoulde bryng together the children of God that were scattered Ioh. xi That was the fathers commaundement that he shoulde suffocate oure death by hys innocēt death Mat. xx That same sayde Christ vnto hys twelue disciples before in the way towardes Iherusalem whā he spake Beholde we go vp to Ierusalem and the sonne of man shal be betrayed vnto the chief priestes and vnto the scrybes and they shal cōdempne hym to death and shall delyuer hym to the gentyls to be mocked and to be scourged and to be crucifyyd And the thyrde daye he shal ryse agayne Lu. xviij And in Luke speaketh Christe vnto his disciples Beholde we go vp to Ierusalem and all shal be fulfilled that are written by the Prophetes of the sonne of man c. Wheras euen the forsayde wordes followe also The Prophetes haue descrybed the death of Christe very earnestly and so playnly euery thynge that manye tymes they haue also noted howe the payne was as of thornes scourges buffettes of the crosse that men dyd playe for hys cote that men gaue him vynagre to drynke and of suche lyke many more In the olde testament seke or reade wytnes We fynde often in the olde Testament thy worde Compact couenaunt and testament whereby was signifyed that god shoulde dye in the nature of man Besydes that is hys passyon and death clearly descrybed and shewed Esay ij x.xi.xli.xlvi xlix l.liij.lxiij.lxv Iere. xi xviij.xxiij.xxxi.xxxiij Tre. iij. iiij There sayth Ieremy christe hath ben taken for our synnes Baruch v. Ezechiel xvij Osee vi xiij Iohel ij Amos. ij Ione ij Michee ij v Abacuc ij Aggei ij Zacharie ix xij xiij xiiij Dauid Psalm xx xxi.xxxvij.liiij.lxviij and also in other Psalmes I wyl onely bring the into the scripture that thou thy selfe mayest drynke of the cleare well But in especyall loke ouer and reade the .liij. Chapiter in Esaye how goodly the Prophete there descrybeth the historie of the passyon of Christe and also the fruyte of the same passyon
commaundementes to fulfyll Ro. xiiij Vvhatsoeuer is not done in faythe the same is wicked and synne where as the mercye of God is not founde in suche wyse there is surely despysynge of GOD that he is not regarded nor sette by or there is hatred Good workes Fayth bringeth alwayes her frutes with her that is good workes and wheras no workes of charitie are shewed there is nothynge elles but a dead Iaco. ij fayth A christen man shall before all thynges praye for fayth whereby he may do ryght good workes Much to bable of good workes or vndertake to do the same before that fayth be there is as moche as to bynde the horse behynde the plough Lu. xviij Much the worke or do withoute fayth is to take great paynes and laboures for noughte and with the sicke woman to spend all hys substaunce amonge the Phisiciās and yet for all that remayne sicke styl Lu. viij Power of faith Vvhat power fayth hath is descrybed in these places here after followynge Genesis xv Roma iij. iiij xiiij Galacas iij. Ephes ij Math. vi viij ix xvij xxi Marci v. ix xi Luce. viij xi xviij xix Iohannis iij. iiij vi vij viij And i. Iohannis iij. iiij v. Act iiii xvi and in many places more besydes Good workes The Iewes asked Christe in Iohn what they shoulde do Ioha vi that they might the workes of god he answered This is the worke of God that ye beleue on hym whome he hath sent First loke aboute for faythe Lu. xvij and say with the discyples of Christe Lord increace my fayth And after that loke what God wyl haue in hys commaundementes and do it these are good Christen workes for they flowe oute of fayth and are done by the commaundemente of god Vvhatsoeuer is not done by the commaundement of god whiche ordinately and sufficyently is expressed in the Scripture the same be of thy despised Isa xxix mat xv Deu. xij For God wil not be serued wyth mennes tradicyons lawes or inuentions Vvhosoeuer steppeth out of the cōmune strete of the Christen lyfe and seketh a peculyar waye to saluacion through hys owne imagyned workes the same standeth daungerousely For he that followeth not Christe in hys doctryn must nedes walke in darkenes in erronyous by pathes Ioh. viij and .xiiij Christ is the lyght of our lyfe and the waye as it is written in Iohn Vvhosoeuer maketh or instituted a perpetual lighte for the deade or sainctes and besydes that forgetteth the lyuynge saynctes the poore bretheren and systers in Christe he feleth gropeth in the darkenes and goeth a bypathe vnderstond by the example somewhat more Sacrament Sacrament is a holy token in oure faythe which putteth vs in remembraunce the promyse of God and stablyssheth oure hertes in a confidence towardes God as Baptisme and the Sacrament of the aulter Thou hearest that God promyseth vnto the pardon and forgeuenesse of synnes He suffered therfore hys sonne Christe to dye vpon the crosse that thou by the death of Christe myghtest be reconcyled agayne to God Rom. v beleue this so hast thou it And therfore hath he ordeyned and left vnto the hys body and bloude in the Sacramente as a sure holye token and bonde of suche promyse Euen as sure as Gedeon was Iudi. vi that he shoulde ouercome his enemye whē God hath promysed it vnto hym and by the fyre and flese hath assured it vnto hym So sure arte thou that thou haste obtayned mercy when thou hearest in fayth Goddes promyse of remissyon of synnes and besydes that receyuest Baptisme or the Sacrament of the aulter for an assurance of suche promyse Learne the Sacramentes a ryght with theyr vertue for the Conscience hath skant a greater comforte in earth then the Sacramētes Thys is taught Genesis in the xvij Chapter and to the Romaynes in the iiij The death of Christe The death of Christe is oure satisfaction for synne Esa liij i. Co. i Christe hath onelye satisfyed for he onelye hathe redemed Oure sufferynge vpon earth is no satisfaction for synne properlye but a mortifyenge of the olde carnall man to thintent that accordynge to the workynge and to the vertue of baptisme Ro viij a Christian myght be conformable to Christe hys heade dye and ryse agayne a newe creature in Christe Ioh. iij. A man must be borne agayne of water and of the spirite yf he shal come to heauen he must beare the crosse he must crucifye hys flesshe mat xvi Gala. v ij tim iij with the euyl concupiscences and lustes yf he wyl be Christes owne Item al that wyl lyue godly must suffre persecution Flesshe Flesshe is called in the Scripture commonly not onely the body Ephe. ij but the hole olde carnall man The sonne of Adam with body and soule Gen. vi for he is from the fyrste generation a synner and a chyld of wrath Iohn iij For whatsoeuer is borne of flesshe is flesshe A man before he is borne agayne through the spirite of fayth is he all flesshe that is concernyng hys body soule can he of hys owne power vnderstande thynke and desyre nothyng but earthy and carnal thinges heauēly thynges are to hygh for hym and to subtyl he can not attayne to them he knoweth nothynge ryght of God and godly thynges The originall synne A deadly hurte is happened vnto man in body soule of that poysoned origynall synne The origynal synne oughte not to be counted for a smal hurte Gen. vi and viij The wittes are blynded man vnderstandeth nothynge of hym selfe withoute grace The wyl is croked and tourned away from that whiche is good and so weake and wounded that he delyreth euill for good and al that is pernicious Lyke as the ague taketh away a mans taste that nothyng sauoureth vnto hym but that whiche is deadly and hurtful vnto hym that which is swete semeth vnto hym to be soure Euen so hath the stinckynge and filthy origynal sinne corrupted al the powers of man that to theyr ryght workes they can not attayne withoute a great renewyng A man muste be renewed and made hole or elles must he be damned That cometh to passe The death of Christ when the death of Christe hath and vseth hys workyng in man that the spirite of fayth doth stryue and fyghte agaynst the flesshe and at the laste the flesshe with death is destroyed and the carnall man Eph. iiij accordynge to the signifycation of Baptisme is hole drowned the fylthynes of the synfull byrthe of Adam is hool wassheth awaye and becometh a newe man whiche is shapen after God in true ryghteousnes and holynes Spirite The spirite is the holy Goost and hys motion or workynge in vs. It is one thynge The outward mā the olde Adam the flesshe the body of synne It is one thyng The newe man the inwarde man Ro. vij Gala. v Betwene the spirite and the flesshe is a contynuall
in Saynte Paule .i. Cor. i. Gal. i. ij Ephe. i. Col. i. Roma ij Ebre ix and to Titus ij Iohn iij In so muche that he that beleueth in Christe shal not perysshe but haue euerlastynge lyfe For thus sayth S. Paule Ro. viij There is then no damnation to them whiche are in Christe Iesu whiche walke not after the flesshe but after the spirite Therfore is there no meryer thynge vppon earthe than a ryght Christen man for he dothe not muche esteme the temporall lyfe he is sure of a better lyfe He is a Lorde ouer synne death and helle Vvhy so Answer Rom. vi Christe dyed once and dyeth no more Death shal haue no more power ouer hym Iohn Nowe bei he hath ouercome it and taken awaye synne Now he that beleueth in Christe hath Christ before hys eyes becometh one spirite wyth hym ouercometh in him and by hym synne death helle Deuyll and the worlde Ro. viij For thus sayth Saynte Paule Yf God be on oure syde who can be agaynste vs. Vvhiche also spared not hys owne sonne but gaue hym for vs all Howe shall he not with him geue vs all thynges Psalm xxx viij Vve are well delyuered into death but we ouercome all those thynges through Christe whiche hath loued vs. Vvhat hath Christe Answer He hath the righteousnes peace lyfe and saluation Euē that same hath the christen soule also which is knytte in vnite vnto Christe her lorde and head thoroughe a ryght faith Ro. viij Hose xiij She defyeth death sayth neyther death nor any creature is able to separate her from the loue of god whiche is in Christ Iesu She speaketh ioyfully i. Co. xv Death is consumed in the victory Death where is thy styng Hell where is thy victory But thankes be vnto god which hath geuē vs victory thorough our Lord Iesu Christ Deathe is not fearfull to a christen mā The tēporall deathe is vnto such a christen man no more so fearful Yea he doth desyre it for it is to hym onely a delyueraunce frō thys sinful wretched blasphemous lyfe an intraunce into the ryght lyfe vnto Christe our onely saluation A Christian knoweth that the euer lastynge death can do nothing to him yea as littel as to Christe hym selfe and the temporall death is onely a departing of the soule from the body to thiutent that they bothe beynge puryfyed pure and cleare in all perfection in the Later daye maye be agayne coupled to gether glorifyed and clarifyed And knoweth that the soule stondeth in the hande of Christ and is well preserued in the bosome of Abraham Luc. viij Therfore doth the scripture calle the Christen death a slepe because that then a Christian doth firste amende hys estate and cometh from disquietenesse to reste The ryghte Christians also should not behaue thē selues euyl or sorrowe ouer muche whan any thynge dyeth from them Paule sayth i. the. iiij Vve woulde not bretheren haue you ignorant concernynge them whiche are fallen a slepe that ye sorrowe not as the other whiche haue no hope For yf we beleue that Iesus dyed and rose agayne euen so them also whiche slepe by Iesus wyll God brynge agayne with hym The Resurrection esa xxix Ezeche xxxvij and viij In the latter daye shall the bodyes of menne by the infinite power and myght of god be raysed agayne and be coupled agayne with the soules But in the blessed shall they wonderfully be chaunged and endued with foure gyftes honour and glorye with impassiblenes with brightenes with swyftenes and with subtilenes For thus sayth Saynt Paule i. Co. xv The flesshe is sowen in corruption and ryseth in incorruption It is sowen in dishonour ryseth in honour It is sowē in weakenes ryseth in power It is sowen a naturall body ryseth a spiritual body For a lyttell before sayth he For as in Adam all dye euen so by Christe shall all be made a lyue and euery mā in hys owne ordre The fyrste is Christe then they that are Christes at his commynge Then commeth the ende when he hath delyuered vp the kyngdome to God the father when he hath put downe all rule authorite and power Christ is rysen from death therfor shall we ryse also Thys artycle of oure fayth is al the hole somme and contayned all the hole matter Yf Christe were not rysen then had synne and death ben to stronge for him But for as moche as he is rysen from death so is synne and death ouercome and we shall ryse also in glorye purchaced prepared for vs by Christe Ro. viij But then when the spirite of God that raysed vp Iesus from death quickeneth your mortall bodyes because of his spirite whiche dwelleth in you Ioh. xi Christe sayth I am the resurrectiō and the lyfe He that beleueth on me yea though he were deade yet shall he lyue And whosoeuer lyueth and beleueth on me shall neuer dye Item this is the wyl of hym that sent me Ioh. vi that euery man which seyth the sonne and beleueth on hym haue euerlastinge lyfe And I wyll rayse hym vp at the last daye hiob xix Item I am sure that me redemer lyueth and that I shall ryse oute of the earthe in the later daye that I shall be clothed agayne with thys skynne and see God in my flesshe yea I my selfe shal beholde hym not with other but with these same eyes Itē the houre shall come in the whiche al that are in the graues shall heare hys voyce and shall come forthe they that haue done good vnto the resurrection of lyfe and they that haue done euyll vnto the resurrection of damnation One Christian shoulde conforte another with suche wordes of Scripture agaynst the feare of death as Saynte Paule teacheth in the Epistle to the Thessalonians i. Th. iiij The Latter daye Of the last daye hath the Scripture two poyntes The fyrst Christe hath geuen sure sygnes which be the messagers of the last iudgement Reade the Gospelles of Mathewe Marke Matth. xxiiij mar xiij Luc. xxi and Luke All maner of persecutions of the faythfull shall aryse Item warre insurrection offence euyl maners quenchynge of charite Item the abhomination in the holy place in the tempel of God Dan. ix whiche exalteht hym selfe and sheweth hym selfe as God Item an abhominable departynge ij Th. ij and fallyng from the faythe vnto mānes institutions and traditions For thus sayth Christe when the trees shute forth theyr buddes it is a sure signe that Sōmer is then nygh at hāde So lykewyse ye when ye see those thynges come to passe vnderstonde that the later daye is at hande The other Euen thesame poynte of thys laste tyme the daye or houre can no man knowe Christe geueth signes Matth. xxiiij but he sayth in Mathewe Of that daye and houre knoweth noman no not the Angels of heauen but my father onely and recyteth euen in the same place
Howe that in the dayes of Noe the floudde came vnwarres and ouer hasted the worlde So shal the cōmynge of the sonne of man be when men wyl least loke for hym i. thes v. ij thes ij Euen thus sayth Paule also The daye of the Lorde cometh as a thefe in the nyghte Matth. xxiiij and xxv i. the .iiij The fourme fasshyon processe and iudgement of the Latter daye Reade in Mathewe and in the Epistle vnto the Thessaloniens I wyll not brynge the oute and from the scripture with my laboure but in and to the Scripture Euery water is better in hys fyrst sprynge than it is in the fellowynge crekes or ryuers The Masse The masse is a testamente of Christ wherein is promysed pardon and remissyon of synnes vnto all faythfull Christians and soundeth thus As they dyd eate the Lorde Iesus loke the breade and gaue thankes brake it gaue it to hys disciples and sayd Take eate thys is my body And he toke the cuppe thanked and gaue it them and saide drynk of it euery one Thys is the cuppe the newe Testament in my bloude that shall be shed for you and for many for the remissiō of synnes Matth. xxvi mar xiiij Luc. xxij i. Cor. xi Thys do in the remembraūce of me Reade Mathewe Marke Luke and the Epistle of Paule to the Chorinthians Euen there is the masse instituted of Christ Therfore what so euer is more there by they additiōs of menne These forsayd wordes must euery mā knowe perfectely remembre thē in a right stedfaste faith It is not lauful that they shoulde be hidden and spokē secretely yf thou wilt heare masse a right remembre that here is a meate and drynke therfore muste thou eate and drynke or elles thy masse hearynge is of no valoure To heare masse a ryght Howe shall I do then Take the wordes of the masse before the and remembre them in a ryght fayth that thou doubte not but as Christe hath promysed thy euen so shall it come to passe vnto the and in the fayth of the same wordes receyue the blessed Sacrament as a sure holy token vnder the whiche suche promyse is made vnto the whereby thyne herte is broughte to the wordes to beleue them This is spiritually and corporally to go to goddes borde Goyng to Goddes borde Whan the Sacramente is not ministred vnto the but thou hearest masse onelye then take the wordes of the Testament into thy herte and remembre there what thy God and Lorde Iesus Christe hath done for the howe he by hys death hath redemed the and deserued for the eternall lyfe And besydes thys hast thou the very right lyuynge token and seall hys body hys bloude Beleue the wordes and the token so obtaynest thou the promysed inheritaunce and goest to Goddes borde spiritually thou doest strengthen thy selfe oute of the wordes of Christe thou doest conforte the preserue and amende the. For he that doth accepte the wordes and token in fayth is nourysshed and strengthened agaynst all temptations and necessities and moued and prouoked to geue thankes vnto the plenteous mercyfull father which hath geuen and made suche a ryche costely Testamente to vs poore damnable synners Here maye be no doubte at all in the promyse For it is therfore called a Testamente that is a thynge which can not be called agayne a sure promyse whiche is sealled and confirmed with the precious death of the Sonne of God Ebre xi Here is no bloude shed of vnreasonable cattell whiche can not take awaye synne but the precyous innocent bloude of Iesu Christ Ebre ix which pourgeth our consciences from deade workes whiche for that cause is a mediatour of the newe testamēt Rom. iij as Paule doth name hym the masse is no sacrifyce The masse is properly no oblation but is a remembraunce of the hyghe worthy oblation or Sacrifice whiche Iesus Christe the sonne of God in heauen Hebr. ix offred hym selfe for oure synnes vpon the crosse ones This rememberaunce shall be very newe vnto all hertes whereby man is taught what he hath ben and what God hath done for hym There of groweth then confidence in suche a kynde Lorde and redemer Also loue is raysed towardes God and towardes oure neyghbour and a renewynge of the olde man We haue nowe many masses but the death of the Lorde is seldome shewed the plentyfull grace of the death of Christe shoulde alwayes be shewed thereby And we shoulde admonysshe exhorte one another to the loue of God and of our neyghbours For thys Sacrament signifyeth vnite in loue as the names therof clearly do declare A testament Briefely whatsoeuer a Testamēte hath in it selfe in especyall that same hath also the masse The Testatour is Christe The testamente are the wordes as is a fore sayde whereby Christe dyd institute the blessed Sacramēt of the aulter therein is contayned with fewe wordes what Christe hath bequethed and geuen vs. The sealle i. Tim. ij bonde and assuraunce is the body bloude of Christe a pledge token and sealle of the Godly promyse and redemption for vs. The heyres are all faythfull Christians The inheritaunce is pardon and remissyon of synnes Where as remission of synnes is there followe all goodes promysed and geuen in the Testament For whan the synnes be remitted and forgeuen then haue we a mercyfull God throughe Christe Christ is then oures Ro. viij and with hym all thynges Thys is nowe the inheritaunce The Sacrifyces of the olde Testamente were vnperfecte Ebre x for they dyd not take and wasshe awaye synne thei were a figure of the ryght perfecte sacrifyce the oblacion of Christe whiche taketh away our synnes and maketh vnto vs a mercyfull God That was Christe which dyed vpon the crosse a ryght onely sacrifyce of the newe Testamente for oure synnes oure onely sanctification iustifycacyon and satisfaction Nowe whē we haue masse or go to Goddes borde than may we not saye properlye that Christ is offred agayn for he dyeth now no more Ebre vi ix Rom. vi The Apostle sayth He hath done it once And after that fayth he agayne Once dyd he entre into the holy place He offreth not him selfe often he was offred but ones But proprely is it a remembraunce of the ryght perfecte oblacyon which once vpon the crosse is accomplysshed And here is the passyon of Christ earnestly remembred through the which fayth is strengthened and augmēted loue towardes God and man kyndeled and hope stablysshed and confirmed Therfore sayde Christe Thys do in the remembraunce of me that is when ye eate my body and drynke my bloude then remember my death that I dyed for you and redemed you and became an oblation for your synnes Righteousnes A ryght fayth in the mercy grace of God in Iesu Christe is onelye oure ryghteousnes Ro. iiij To hym that beleueth is hys fayth counted for ryghteousnes Abraham beleued God Gen. xv and it
readde and knowe in the scripture that CHRISTE is GOD and man Lykewyse as I beleue that Aristotell was scoole mayster to great Alexander thys goeth not earnestly to the herte I beleue it as an other historye or acte Suche a knoweledge or colde fayth of Christe doth not iustifye me for the vngodly beleue this also and the Deuyls haue thys fayth also it is a dead fayth with oute workes as S. Iames sayth Iaco. ij and it is of none effect Vvhere as no good workes folowe there is also no fayth but onely an Ipocrisie in the herte withoute fayth or confidence towardes God The christen fayth But the right Christē liuely fayth is a strong trust confidence in the promyse of God as that Christe is geuen for me that Christ doth wassh awaye my synnes that Christ quickeneth me this is the ryght Euāgelical fayth which onely iustifyeth man Thys is onely that faith which is coūted of God for oure righteousnes I speake here in comparison betwene faith and workes Otherwyse knoweth euery man well ynough howe that God Christe the spirite and sacramēt doth iustifie But the workes seme they or be they neuer so good or holy yet are they not counted for righteousnes But yf faith do grafte and plante vs in Christe our lorde then are we made righteous and therfore will god also counte vs for righteous And so doth Paule sette it furth very goodly to the Galathians Gal. iij. God hath promised vs iustification and lyfe through Christe The promise is beleued Nowe is a promyse beleued or onely obtayned through faith therfore be we also iustifyed onely by faith Lyke as no man despiseth a mannes testamēt or addeth any thinge thereto nor taketh any thinge frō it euen so maye nothinge be substracted from the Testament of God neither any thinge added therevnto Nowe hath God ordeyned geuen and appointed lyfe in the Testamente vnto all beleuers withoute respecte of any maner of workes for nought There oute foloweth that we are not counted iuste for any workes sake but onely thorough faith Gal. iij. and .iiij. Ro. iiij Haue in mynde the Epistles to the Galathians and to the Romaynes there shalt thou fynde that a Christen man setteth his cōscience at rest quyet onely by faith The right hollsome doctrine of the Gospell concernynge the right lyuely faith is an onely conforte and stablysshynge of the cōscience agaynst death synne and hell I knowe very well that the righte spirituall Euangelicall doctrine will be at the fyrst somewhat straunge to a man that beginneth to learne it after the scripture of the scolers and after their carnall doctrine i. Cor. ij For as Paule saith The naturall mā perceaueth not the thinges of the spirite of God For they are vnto hym but foolyshenes neyther can he perceyue them because he is spiritually examined It will not sauoure very well vnto the at the fyrste For thyne vnderstondinge is yet full of Phantasticall Imaginations of mennes dreames But take thyne vnderstandynge captiue to the glorye of Christe in faythe then shal the holy spirite of God declare hym selfe vnto the and teache the a ryght suche thynges as no hygh scoole teacheth And thys is the cause that nowe a daies slighte and symple persons are founde whiche through the maistery of the spirite of God vnderstand and expounde the Scripture better then great Doctours and breake and plucke downe by the Spirituall armours of oure Cheualrye all hyghe worldely wysedome whiche exalteth her selfe agaynste knoweledge of God It is a great errour to thynke that the knoweledge of the scripture perteyneth onely to the prestes that weare Crounes longe gownes and whose fyngers are anoynted No my frēde the tyme is nowe at hande where of Esaye sayth Esa iiij That the science cometh not onely oute of the hye scooles as hath ben thaught hitherto but the Christians are taughte of GOD hymselfe as it is contayned in Saynt Iohn It is not necessary that men rede Aristotell Plato Ioh. vi and other bokes of the heathen for the ryght vnderstondynge of the scripture as thus longe they haue borne vs in hande The Apostles redde neuer a heathen mayster they were also no suche doctours as nowe a dayes are made in the vniuersities but simple people Nowe yf the holy goost could instructe them the Euangelical trueth with oute the helpe of the heathen Philosophye Scotistrye The holy goost teacheth goddes worde and other mennes bokes truely then can he also hym selfe open and teache nowe a simple and humble laye man The ryght vnderstandyng of the godly scripture God regardeth hym Esaye lxvi i. Pet. v that is poore and of a lowly troubled spirite and receyueth hys godly wordes with reuerence and standeth in awe thereof as Esaye writeth He resisteth the proude and geueth grace to the humble The holy Saint Bernarde learned hys science throughe hys deuoute prayer vnder the Oken trees Aristotell and other heathen whiche are taught do hynder and destroy mannes vnderstondyng so pituously that a man becometh so muche the more vnapte to receyue and perceiue the Godly wysedom in the scripture For mannes wysedome and the Godly scripture Esa lv do nothynge agree together as Esaye declareth very goodly All worldly Philosophie for the moost parte hath her beginnynge owt of mannes witte and interpretation For as muche nowe as the same is carnal blynded thorough synne so is she darke and errynge and vnderstandeth of her selfe nothynge but that whiche is carnall and knoweth nothyng groundely of spirituall thynges and of GOD. Therfore when the herte of man is voyde quyte not hyndered of suche heathen sciences and mēnes dreames then is it more apte to receiue the godly doctryne and wysedome then whā it is encombred and entangled with suche phantasies inuented of man The wysedome of man whereof they boaste hym selues highly is terrestriall carnall and deuelysshe Iaco. iij. Colo. ij as Iames elegantly declareth And Paule warneth vs for mannes wysedome sayenge Beware lest any man come and spoyle you thorough Philosophie and deceatfull vanitie thorough the tradicions of men and ordinaunces after the worlde and not after Christ The Philosophie and mannes witte and exposition is cleane contrarye to oure fayth as it is euident and cleare ynough among the learned neyther can they agree together Therfore let the laye people be of good chere and take no thoughte for it bycause they haue not studyed in great vniuersities but with humilite and pure herte and hygh reuerence reade the costely treasure of holy scripture both Testamentes and praye vnto Christe for the ryght vnderstandyng which hath the kepe of Dauid Apo. iij The knoweledge of the Scripture is a littel deuyed vnto the as vnto the moost excellent doctour of all Omelia vpon Iohn Euen so taught the holy Chrisostome his people also at Constantinoble The Pharisees despised the common people thought also that they shoulde knowe the trueth alone and sayde Ioh. vij The common people whiche knowe not the lawe are cursed Euen so saye they nowe lykewyse Howe shoulde haue taught it vnto the plowemen as though all science did come from the hye scoles But I aske them this question My maisters I pray you howe taught the common symple people that they helde more of Christe then the chiefe priestes scribes It is euident that the common people had alwayes a righter iudgement better knoweledge of Christe then the chiefe lordes at Ierusalē as Chrisostome writteth FINIS Psalm lxviij ⧠Let God aryse and let hys enemyes be scattered let them also that hate hym flye before hym ⧠Imprinted for Gwalter Lynne dwellyng vpon Somers kaye by Byllinges gate In the yeare of oure Lorde M.D.XLVIII And they by to be solde at Poules churche yarde at the North doore In the signe of the Bybell By Richard Iugge ⧠Cum Gratia et Priuilegio ad imprimendum solum ☞ Seke peace ensueit Psalm xxxiij i. Petr. iij. Psalm C. xi Prouerb ix ¶ The feare of the Lorde is the begynnynge of wysedome