ought not to discourage but patiently to wait for him vntill the time that he shall appeare Pap. What shall be the manner of our resurrection Pro. All they which be dead before that time shall then take their owne bodies againe vnto them howbeit they shall be after another sort that is they shall bée no more subiect to death or corruption and yet notwithstanding they shall be of the selfe same nature and substance as before and such as shall then remaine aliue God wil raise them vp maruelously and sodainly change their bodies in the twinkling of an eye as we haue said before Pap. Shall not the wicked be as well partakers of this resurrection as the faithfull Pro. Yes verily but they shall be in condition farre vnlike for the faithfull shall rise againe to euerlasting ioy and saluation and the other to euerlasting death and damnation Pap. wherefore is there mention made of life euerlasting and not of hell Pro. Because the Creed is a breefe sum of our faith containing in as few wordes as can be that which belongeth peculiarly to comfort the conscience of Gods faithfull therefore Gods benefits which be fréely bestowed vppon his people be rehearsed only without any mention of the wicked who are cleane shut out of this Kingdome The ninteenth Sunday Pap. Since we haue the foundation whervppon our faith is builded wee may gather heereof what is the right faith Pro. Yea verily that is to say it is a sure perswasion and a stedfast knowledge of Gods entire loue towards vs according as he hath plainely vttered in his Gospell that he will be a father and a Sauiour vnto vs through the meanes of Iesus Christ Pap. Doth faith stand in our power or is it a free gift of God Pro. The scripture teacheth vs that it is a speciall gift of the holy Ghost and very experience doth confirme the same Pap. How so Pro. For the féeblenesse of our wits is such that we can by no meanes attaine vnto the spirituall wisedome of God the which is reuealed vnto vs by faith and our hearts are naturally inclined to a certaine distrust or at the least a vaine trust either in our selues or in any other creatures but what time Gods spirit hath lightened our hearts and made vs able to vnderstand Gods will the which thing we cannot attaine otherwise then doth he arme vs also with a stedfast confidence in his goodnesse sealing the promises of saluation in our hearts Pap. What profit commeth to vs through this faith when we haue it Pro. It doth iustify vs before God and maketh vs inheritors of euerlasting life Pap. Is not a man then iustified through good workes if he liue holily and in the obedience of Gods will Pro. If any man were perfect before God he might worthily be called righteous but for so much as we are all wretched sinners in the sight of God we are driuen to séeke elsewhere for a worthinesse to make answere for vs to Gods iudgment The 19. Sunday Pap. But be all our workes so disprooued that they can merrit nothing at all for vs before God Pro. First all such workes as wee doe of our selues by our nature are vtterly corrupt whereof it followeth necessarily that they cannot please God but rather doe procure his wrath and he condemneth them euery one Pap This is then thy saying that vntill the time that God hath receiued vs to mercy and regenerate vs by his spirit we can do nothing but sinne euen as an euill tree that can bring forth no fruit but that that is euill Pro. Euen so it is for although our workes make a faire shew to mans sight yet they are wicked afore God so long as the heart is naught vnto which he hath cheifely respect Pap. Heereby then thou dost conclude that it lieth not in our power to preuent God with our merrits and so to prouoke him to loue vs but much rather we thereby do stirre him to be more angry against vs. P. Yea surely therfore I say that wtout any consideration of our owne workes he doth receiue vs into his fauour and of his bountifull mercy through the merites of our Sauiour Christ accoumpting his righteousnesse to be ours and for his sake imputeth not our faults vnto vs. Pap. What meanest thou then that a man is iustified by faith Pro. For as much as through beléeuing that is receiuing with an assurance of the heart the promises of the Gospell we enter into possession of his righteousnesse Pap. This is then thy meaning that as God doth offer righteousnesse vnto vs by his Gospell so the onely way to receiue it is faith Pro. So I meane The twentith Sunday Pap. Well then after that God hath once receiued vs into his fauour be not the works which we doe by the vertue of his spirit acceptable vnto him Pro. Yes verily because he doth of his frée goodnesse so accept them and not because their worthinesse doth deserue so to be estéemed Pap. How is it that they be not worthy of themselues to bee accepted since they proceed of the holy ghost Pro. Because there is mixed some filth thorow the infirmity of the flesh whereby they are defiled Pap. By what meanes then are they made acceptable vnto God Pro. By faith onely whereby a man is assured in his conscience that God will not straightly examine his workes nor trye them by the sharpe rigor of his Iustice but that he will hide the vnperfectnesse and the vncleane spottes that be in them with the purenesse of our Sauiour Christ and so accompt them as perfect Pap. May wee say then that a Christian is iustified by his workes after that God hath called him or that hee doth merrit through them Gods fauour or the procurement of life euerlasting Pro. No verily but rather it is said that no man liuing shall bee iustified in Gods sight and therefore we must pray he enter not into iudgement with vs. Pap. Thou meanest not hereby that the good deeds of the faithfull are vnprofitable Pro. I meane nothing lesse for God promiseth to reward them largely both in this world and in the life to come and yet this notwithstanding those rewards of God are not giuen for our worthy desarts but onely because it pleased God of his goodnesse to loue vs fréely and so to couer and forget our faults that hee will neuer call them any more to remembrance Pap. May we be iust without good works Pro. That is not possible for to beléeue in Christ is as much to say as to receiue Christ in such sort as he doth giue himselfe vnto vs. Now this is an euident thing that Christ doth not onely promise to deliuer vs from death and to restore vnto vs the fauour of God his Father through the onely merites of his innocency but also he promiseth to make vs new Creatures by his holy spirit to the end that we should lead an holy conuersation in all good workes Pap. Then I see it is so farre from the office of faith to make men despisers of good deeds that it is the very roote whence all good workes doe spring Pro. It is most certaine and for this cause the doctrine of the Gospell doth confesse in these two points faith and repentance Heere endeth the Articles of the faith FINIS ¶ Maister D. his Counsell to all that are his as also a breefe lesson for all estates KEepe councell Vse not many wordes Tell the trueth Bee slow to speake Bridle thine anger Appease debate Hinder no mans good name Take heed of drinke Remember thy end Be mercifull Try before thou trust Repose no confidence in a reconciled aduersary Sorrow not for that which cannot bee got againe Reioyce not in thy neighbors crosse Striue not with thy ouermatch Reueale not thy secrets to thy wife nor to thy children for woemen children say all they know Thrée thinges vndid the Romans raigne priuy grudge yong heads and priuate gaine Beare with others as thou wouldst haue others beare with thee Bee not too rash hasty bold nor wise in thine owne conceit Do not speake beleue doo say all thou knowest hearest canst seest Behold the end ere thou begin Haue mind on death and feare to sin For death shal reap that life hath sowen life shal spring where death hath mowen Though Fortune haue set thee on hie Remember yet that thou shalt dye Abstinence is good for the health and wealth of the. Soule Mind and body If thou flye Idlenesse Cupid hath no might His bow lieth broken his fire hath no light FEARE GOD. And keep his Commandements FINIS
by this meanes we draw out of him as out of a fountaine al the spirituall guifts that we haue Pap. To what vse doth the Kingdome of Christ serue vs Pro. To set vs at liberty of Conscience to liue godly and holily that we being inriched with his spirituall blessings and armed with his power may be able to ouercome the Diuell sinne flesh and the world which bee pernicious enemies vnto our soules Pap. What profit haue wee of his Preisthood Pro. First by this meanes he is our mediator to bring vs vnto the fauour of God his father and againe héereby wée haue a frée entry to come in and shew our selues boldly before God to offer vp our selues with all that belongeth vnto vs for a sacrifice and in this point we are fellows after a sort of his Preisthood Pap. The vtility of his office in that hee is a Prophet is yet behind Pro. Since our Lord Iesus hath receiued his office to become the maister and teacher of his flock the end of this diuinity is to bring vs to the right knowledge of the Father and of his truth so that we might become Gods houshould schollers and of his family Pap. Then it is true that a man may breifly gather of the words that this name Christ doth include three sundry offices that God hath giuen vnto his sonne to the intent to bestow the fruit and profit of the same vpon his elect Pro. It is true The seauenth Sunday Pap. By what reason callest thou Christ the onely Sonne of God since God doth name all vs also his Children Pro. As touching that that we are Gods children we are not so of nature but only of his fatherly adoption and by grace in that God doth aceept vs for his Children now our Lord Iesus beeing begotten of the substance of his father and béeing of the selfe same nature may iustly bée called Gods onely sonne for that there is none other that is so by nature Pap. This is then thy meaning that this honour pertaineth peculiarly to him alone as to whom it belongeth of nature the which notwithstanding he hath by free gift of his goodnesse communicated vnto vs in that we are his members Pro. It is euen so and therfore in respect of that his communicating with vs the scripture calleth Christ in an other place the first borne among many brethren Pap. Why callest thou him our Lord Pro. Because he is appointed of the Father to haue Lordship ouer vs and to rule in Heauen and earth and to bee the head of men and Angells Pap. What is the meaning of that which followeth Pro. It declareth after what sort the sonne of God was anoynted of his father to become our Sauiour That is to say he tooke vppon him our flesh and therein fulfilled all things necessary for our redemption according as they bée héere rehearsed Pap. What meanest thou by these two clauses conceiued by the holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Mary Pro. That he was fashioned in the Virgins woombe taking very substance and manner of her that he might therby become the séed of Dauid as the Prophet had before signified and yet notwithstanding all this was wrought by the maruelous and secret power of the holy Ghost without the company of man Pap. What is it then needful that he should take vpon him our very flesh Pro. Yea verily for it was conuenient that mans disobedience against God should be purged in the nature of man And moreouer if Christ had not beene partaker of our nature hee had not beene a meet Mediator to make vs at one with God his Father Pap. Then is this thy saying that it behooueth that Christ should become very man to the end he might execute the office of a Sauiour as in our person Pro. Yea verily for we must borrow of him all that which is lacking in our selues for this our default could not otherwise be remedied Pap. By what cause was this thing wrought by Gods holy spirit and not rather by the company of man according to the order of nature Pro. Because the seed of man is of it selfe altogether corrupted with sinne it behooued that this conception of Christ should be wrought by the power of the holy Ghost whereby our Sauiour might be preserued from all corruption of sinne and replenished with all manner of holinesse Pap. So then by these sayings it is euidently declared vnto vs that he which should purify and clense others from filth of sinne must be himselfe free from al spots thereof and euen from his mothers wombe dedicated vnto God in purenesse of nature so that hee may not be guilty of that corruption wherewith the whole stock of man is infected Pro. I meane so The eight Sunday Pap. Wherefore speakest thou of his death immediatly after his birth and leauest out the whole history of his life Pro. Because there is nothing mentioned or spoken of in our Créed but that which pecularily belongeth to the substance of our redemption Pap. Why is it not said plainly in one word that he dyed without any speaking of Pontius Pilate by whose iudgement he suffered Pro. This was not onely to make the history of Christs passion to haue more euident assurance but also to declare vnto vs that he was cōdemned to death by a Iudge Pap How so Pro. He dyed to suffer the paine that was due vnto vs that we might be thereby deliuered from the same Now for so much as we were guilty before Gods iudgment as wicked misdooers Christ tooke vpon him our persons and vouchsafed to shew himselfe before an earthly Iudge and to bee condemned by his mouth that thereby wée might be declared before the iudgement seat of God Pap. Notwithstanding Pilate doth pronounce him innocent and so by that he doth not condemne him worthy of death Pro. Pilate did both the one and the other First hée was pronounced innocent and iust by the Iudges owne mouth to signifie that he suffered not for his owne desart but for our trespasses and yet withall the same Iudge did giue solemnly the sentence of death against him to testifie and expresse that hee is our true pledge and ransome as hee who also hath taken vnto him our condemnation to deliuer vs from the same Pap. That is well said for if he had beene a sinner indeed hee had not beene meete to haue suffered death for the offences of other and neuerthelesse to the end we might bee cleerely quit by his condemnation it was necessary that hee should be counted as among the wicked Pro. So I meane The ninth Sunday Pap. Where thou sayest Christ suffered on the Crosse was that kinde of death of more importance then if hee had beene otherwise put to death Pro. Yea verily and as touching that matter Saint Paul saith that he was hanged on a tree to the intent that hee might take vpon him our cursse and so discharge vs for that kinde of death was accursed of God Pap. What
is it not a great reproch and dishonor vnto our Lord Iesus Christ to say that hee was accursed and that before God Pro. No not a whit for he through his almighty power by taking the cursse from vs vnto himselfe did in such sort make it voide and of none effect that hee himselfe neuerthelesse continued still so blessed that hee was able to fill vs also with his blessings Pap. Declare that followeth Pro. In so much as death was a punishment appointed vnto man for sinne therefore our Sauiour Christ did suffer death and by suffering ouer-came it And to the intent also to make it the more certainely knowne vnto vs that his death was not counterfeit it pleased him also to bee buried after the common manner of men Pap. But it appeareth not that any profit commeth to vs by this that Christ hath wonne the victory of death seeing that wee notwithstanding cease not to dye Pro. That doth not hinder for the death of the faithfull is now nothing else but a ready passage to a better life Pap. It followeth then necessary hereof that wee ought in no wise to bee afraide of death as though it were a dreadfull thing but rather it behooueth vs willingly to walke the trace of our head and Captaine Iesus Christ Pro. It is euen so The tenth Sunday Pap. What is the sence of that clause Hee descended into Hell Pro. That Christ did not onely suffer naturall death which is a separation of the soule from the body but also that his soule after this seperation did descend into Hell or the place of the damned Pap. For what consideration would hee descend thither Pro. To shew the wicked that they were iustly condemned because they beléeued not in him and to triumph ouer the diuell in his own tents whither he pursued him and that his victorie and the soueraintie of his humane nature might appeare ouer all and lastly that we might not descend and abide there for euer he descended and returned according as it was prophecied of him Thou wilt not leaue my soule in Hell nor suffer thy holy one to see corruption Pap. Was his descending into Hell a part of his passion or humiliation Pro. No but of his victory and exaltation according to that testimony of S. Paul He spoiled principalities and powers and he led captiuity captiue This he did in Hell euen in that place where the Diuell had most power whereby both the diuell might be the more disgraced and Christ himselfe more honoured Pap. What testimonies of Scripture haue you to prooue this Pro. Psal 16.10 Thou wilt not leaue my soule in Hell which is cited by Saint Peter Act. 2.31 also Eph. 4.9 In that he ascended what is it but that hee sirst descended into the lowest parts of the earth Also Rom. 10.7 say not in thy heart who shall ascend into Heauen this is to bring downe Christ or who shall descend into the deepe this is to bring Christ againe from the dead what can be vnderstood by the déepe but Hell as it is taken Luc. 8.31 And they requested him not to send them into the deepe The eleuenth Sunday Pap. May wee now gather by this what profit commeth to the faithfull by the death of Iesus Christ Pro. Yea very well and first of all wee sée that it is a sacrifice wherewith he hath fully satisfied his Fathers iudgment in our behalfe and thereby also he hath appeased Gods wrath and hath brought vs into his fauour againe Secondly that his bloud is a washing of our soules from all maner of spottes And finally that hee hath so cleane wiped away our sinnes through his death that GOD will neuer here-after haue remembrance of them so that the Obligation which was against vs is now cancelled and made voyde Pap. Haue wee none other profit of his death Pro. Yes verily that is if wee bee true members of Christ our old man is crucified and our flesh is mortified to the end that none euill lusts doe hereafter beare rule in vs. The twelfth sunday Papist Expound the Article following Pro. Hee rose the third day from death to life wherein hee shewed that hee had gotten the victory of death and sinne For through his resurrection hee hath swallowed vp death hee brake a sunder the chaines of the diuell and finally hee destroyed all his power Pap. Tell mee how many wayes this resurrection of Christ doth profit vs Pro. Thrée manner of wayes The first that wee haue fully obtained to bee righteous thereby Secondly it is a sure gage of our immortality Thirdly that if wee bee indéed truly pertakers of his resurrection wee rise now in this present world into a new kinde of life whereby wee serue GOD onely and lead our liues agréeable to his will The thirteenth Sunday Papist Let vs now goe forward to the rest Pro. Hee ascended into heauen Pap. Went CHRIST vp into heauen in such sort that hee is no longer in the earth Pro. Yea for when hee had performed wholy all things that were enioyned him by the commandement of his Father and had accomplished all that was necessary for our saluation it was not néedfull hee should remaine any longer in the world Pap. What profit haue we by this Ascension Pro. We receiue double profit thereby for since that our Sauiour Christ is entred into Heauen in our name euen in like maner as he came down from thence for our sakes he hath therby made an open entry into the same place for vs giuing withal an assured knowledge that the gate of heauen is now open to receiue vs which was before shut through our sinnes The second profit is that he appeared in the sight of God the father to make Intercession for vs and to bee our Aduocate to make answere for vs. Pap. But is our sauiour Christ so ascended into heauen that hee is no more heere with vs Pro. Not so for hée him-selfe promiseth the contrary that is that he will bee present with vs vnto the worlds end Pap. Is it ment of his bodily presence that hee maketh promise soe to continue with vs Pro. No verily for it is another matter to speake of his body which was taken vp into Heauen and of his power which is spred abroad throughout the whole world Pap. Declare the meaning of this sentence he sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Pro. The vnderstanding of that is that he hath receiued into his handes the gouernance of Heauen and Earth whereby he is King and Ruler ouer all Pap. What signifieth this word right hand and the sitting at the right hand Pro. It is a similitude or manner of spéech borrowed of earthly Princes which are wont to place on their right side such as they substitute next vnder them to rule in their name Pap. Then thou meanest nothing else therby but that which Saint Paul speaketh that he was appointed head of the Church set in authority aboue all powers and that he
hath receiued a name or dignity passing all other Pro. Euen so it is The fourteenth Sunday Pap. Goe foreward to the residue Pro. From thence he will come to iudge the quick and the dead that is to say he will come downe from heauen and shew himselfe visible once againe in iudgement as he was seene to ascend Pap. Seing the iudgement of God shall be in the end of the world how may that bee which thou sayest some shall bee aliue and other shal be dead since it is a thing appointed vnto all men to dye once Pro. Saint Paul maketh answere to this Question himselfe saying that they which shall be left aliue at that time shall be suddenly changed to the end that their corruptible nature beeing abollished they may be clothed with incorruption Pap. Thy meaning is then that this change shall bee vnto them in stead of a Death in so much as it shall abollish their former nature and make them rise againe in a new state Pro. Truth it is Pap. Doe wee receiue any comfort by this that our Sauiour Christ shall come to iudge the world Pro. Yea verily and that great for we are taught certainly that his comming at that time shall be onely for our saluation Pap. Then there is no cause why we should be afraid of the day of iudgment or that we should tremble therefore Pro. No truly for that we shall apeare before no other Iudge but him who is our Aduocate and hath taken vpon him to defend our cause The fifteenth Sunday Pap. Let vs now come to the third part Pro. That concerneth our saith in the holy Ghost Pap. And to what purpose doth it serue vs Pro. It doth vs to vnderstand that euen as God hath redéemed vs and saued vs in Iesus Christ euen so it pleased him to make vs pertakers of his redemption and saluation thorow his holy spirit Pap. How so Pro. In like manner as the bloud of Christ is the onely purgation of our soules euen so the holy Ghost must sprinckle out consciences with the same to make them cleane Pap. This needeth a more euident declaration Pro. It is to say that the spirit of God dwelling in our hartes doth make vs féele the vertue of our Lord Iesus The sixteenth Sunday Pap. what followeth now next Pro. The fourth part of our beleefe where it is said I beléeue that there is an holy vniuersall Church Pap. what is the Church vniuersall Pro. It is the body and fellowshippe of them that doe beleeue whom God hath ordained and chosen vnto life euerlasting Pap. Is it necessary that wee beleeue this Article Pro. Yea vnlesse wee minde to make Christs death of none effect and make all those things to no purpose which we haue rehearsed already for all Christs dooings prooues there is a Church Pap. This is then thy saying that all which hetherto hath beene declared doth touch the cause and ground of our saluation in so much as God hath receiued vs into his fauor by the meane of our Sauiour Christ and hath established this grace in vs through his holy spirit but now the effect that commeth of all this is declared vnto vs to giue the more euident assurance thereof Pro. It is euen so Pap. What meanest thou by calling the Church holy Pro. I call the Church holy in this sence because that those whom God hath chosen be iustifieth and reformeth vnto holynesse and innocency of life to make his glory to shine in them and also our Sauiour Christ hath sanctified his Church which he redéemed To the end it might bee glorious and without spotte Pap. What meaneth this word Catholike or vniuersall Pro. It serueth to put vs in remembrance that as there is but one head of the faithfull euen so it behoueth them to be knit together in one body so that there bee not diuers Churches but one Church onely dispersed through out the whole world Pap. Declare as touching the communion of Saints Pro. That clause is put too for a more plaine declaration of the vnity of the members of Christs Church Moreouer it doth vs to vnderstand that all the benefits that Christ hath giuen to his Church belongeth to the profit and saluation of euery faithfull person for so much as they haue all a community together The seuenteenth Sunday Pap. But is this holynesse of that Church now already perfect Pro. No verily for it is in continuall battaile so long as it is in this world and laboureth alwayes vnder imperfection and infirmities which shall neuer bee cleane taken away vntill it be altogether coupled to her head Christ by whom it is perfectly sanctified Pap. Is there none other way to know this Church but by faith Pro. Yes verily there is a Church which may be séene to the eye for somuch as God hath giuen sure tokens by the which wee may know the same But héere in this place mention is made properly of that Church which hee hath chosen by his secret election to euerlasting life the which cannot be perfectly discerned by our sences Pap. What is there more Pro. I beléeue the remission of sinnes Pap. What is the proper signification of this word remission Pro. That God doth fréely forgiue all the sinnes of them which beléeue in him in such sort that they shall neuer bee called to any account to receiue any punishment therefore Pap. It is easie then to be gathered of this that we do not merit by our owne satisfaction that God should pardon our sinnes Pro. Yée say true for our Sauiour Christ hath made satisfaction by suffering the paine due vnto the same for we of our part be not able to make any recompence to God but of his méete liberality wee obtaine this benefit freely Pap. Wherefore doost thou make mention of remission of sinnes immediatly after thou hast spoken of the Church Pro. Because that no man can receiue forgiuenesse of sinnes vnlesse he be ioyned in the fellowship of Gods people and so continue in the vnity of Christs body euen to the end like a true member of his Church Pap. By this saying then without the Church there is nothing but hell death and damnation Pro. That is most certaine for all such as do deuide themselues from the body of Christ to breake the vnity there by sects are vtterly destitute of all hope to enioy euerlasting life whiles they kéepe themselues so deuided The eighteenth Sunday Pap. What followeth more Pro. The rising againe of the body and life euerlasting Pap. Whereto serueth this Article of our beleefe Pro. To teach that our felicity consisteth not in any thing vppon earth the which knowledge may serue vs for two necessary purposes first it teacheth vs to passe through this transitory world as through a strange Contrey setting not by earthly thinges Secondly it putteth vs in comfort that although we doe not as yet enioy the fruit of that grace which our Lord God hath freely giuen vs in Christ that yet wee
inconuenience at all to vnderstand seuerally these three persons in the God-head who not withstanding are one and not thereby deuided Pro. It is euen so Pap. I pray yee make rehearsall of the first part of the Creed Pro. The first part of the Creed I beléeue in God the Father Almighty maker of heauen and earth Pap. Wherefore doost thou call him father Pro. I call him so hauing respect to Iesus Christ who is the euerlasting word begotten of God before all worlds who being afterwards openly shewed vnto the world was euidently declared to bee his sonne Now séeing God is our Sauiour Christs Father it followeth necessarily that he is also our Father Pap. What meanest thou by that thou callest him almighty Pro. What is meant by this word Almighty I meane not onely that he hath a power which he doth not excercise but also that all creatures be in his hand and vnder his gouernance that he disposeth all things by his prouidence That hee ruleth the world as it pleaseth him and guideth all things after his owne good pleasure Pap. The power of God is not Idle So then by thy saying the power of God is not Idle but continually exercised so that nothing is done but by him and by his ordinance Pro. That is most true The fourth Sunday Pap. Wherefore is that clause added maker of heauen and earth Pro. Because he hath made him-selfe knowen vnto vs by his workes it is necessary for vs to séeke him out in them For our capacitie is not able to comprehend his diuine substance A glasse wherein we may see God therefore hee hath made the world as a glasse wherein we may behold him in such sort as it is expedient for vs to know him Pap. Doost thou not comprehend all creatures in these two words Heauen Earth Pro. Yes verily they may be right wel contained vnder these two words séeing that al things be either heauenly or earthly Pap. And why callest thou God onely Creature seeing that to order things and to conserue them alwaies in their state is a thing of much more importance then to haue for one time created them Pro. By this word Creator is not onely meant that God once created them hauing no further regard to them afterwards but we ought to vnderstand that as the world was made of him in the beginning euen so now he doth conserue the same so that heauen and earth with the rest of the creatures could not continue in their state if his power did not preserue them Moreouer séeing in this manner hee doth maintaine all things holding them as it were in his hand it must néeds follow that he hath the rule and gouernance of all Wherefore in that that hee is Creator of heauen and earth it is he that by his goodnesse power and wisdom doth gouerne the whole order of nature It is hee that sendeth raine and drought haile tempest and fayre weather fertility and dearenesse dearth and plenty health and sicknesse and to bee short hee hath all things at commandement to doe him seruice at his owne good pleasure Pap. What sayest thou as touching the diuels and wicked persons be they also subiect to him Pro. Albeit that God doth not guide them with his holy spirit yet he doth bridle them in such sort that they bee not able to stirre or mooue without his permission and appointment yea and moreouer hee doth compell them to execute his will although it bee against their intent and purpose Pap. To what purpose doth it serue thee to know this Pro. The diuell â—ath no â—ower but â—y God The knowledge hereof doth wonderfully comfort vs. For wee might thinke our selues in a miserable case if the diuels and the wicked had power to do any thing contrary to Gods will And moreouer we could neuer be quiet in our consciences if wée should thinke our selues to be in their danger But for so much as we know that God bridleth them fast and chaineth them as it were in a prison in such wise that they can doe nothing but as he permitteth we haue iust occasion not onely to be quiet in minde but also to receiue most comfortable ioy since God hath promised to bee our protector and defendor The fift Sunday Pap. Goe too then let vs come to the second part of our beleefe Pro. The second part of the Creed And in Iesus Christ his onely sonne our Lord. Pap. What is the effect of this part Pro. It is to acknowledge the sonne of God to be our Sauiour and to vnderstand the meanes whereby he hath redéemed vs from death and purchased life vnto vs. Pap. What signifieth this word Iesus by whom thou namest him Pro. It is as much to say as Sauiour and this name was giuen vnto him by the Angell at Gods commandement Pap. What is that of more estimation then if that name had beene giuen him by men Pro. Yea a great deale for since Gods pleasure was that he should be so named he must néeds bee our Sauiour indéed Pap. What signifieth then this word Christ Pro. This word Christ doth expresse more effectually his office and doth giue vs to vnderstand that hee was annointed of his Father King Priest and Prophet Pap. How hast thou the knowledge hereof Pro. By the Scriptures which doe teach vs that annoynting did serue for these officers the which be attributed vnto him in many places of the same Pap. But what manner of oyle was it wherewith he was anointed Pro. It was not such materiall oyle as we vse and as did serue in old time to the ordaining of Kinges Preists and Prophets but a farre more excellent oyle euen the grace of Gods holy spirit whereof the outward anointing in old time was but a figure Pap. What manner of Kingdome is that whereof thou speakest Pro. It is spirituall and doth consist in Gods word and in his holy spirit wherein is contained both righteousnes and life euerlasting Pap. And what is this Preisthood Pro. It is an office and authority to present himselfe before God to obtaine grace and fauour for vs and to pacify his fathers wrath by offering an acceptable sacrifice vnto him Pap. Why callest thou him Prophet Pro. Because that he came downe into the world as chéefe Ambassador of God his Father to declare at large his fathers wil and to finish all reuelations Prophesies The sixt Sunday Pap. Commeth there any profit vnto thee by those names and dignities of Christ Pro Yea they altogether belong to our comfort for Christ did receaue all these of his father to make vs partakers thereof whereby we might euery one receiue of his fulnesse Pap. Declare this thing more at large vnto me Pro. He receiued the holy Ghost in full perfection with all the guifts of the same to bestow them on vs and to distribute vnto euery one of vs in the measure quantity that God knoweth to be most méet and so