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

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thorowe the trust of Goddes promises he obtayned the couenaūt of grace and of his saluation and became deare to God yet that he dyed a straunger in the lande promised to hym and to hys posteritie Whō neuertheles though he were a straūger and had no certayne possession in the lande God merueilously guyded wyth his posteritie and defended from all harme and encreased hym wyth as maner of blessinges Of whō singeth the Psal Ciij When they were verie fewe in numbre and went from nation to nation and frō kyngdome to kyngdome he suffered not anie man to do them wronge and he pinished kinges for theyr sakes toutche not myne anoynted and hurte not my prophetes Vnbeliefe was the cause of miseries and punishementes in the olde people Thorowe the same fayth of his grace he gouerned and guided the other patriarches and the vniuersal people of Israell whiche were truly the people of Israel and the childrē of the promises And what so euer calamitie happened vnto them it was a punishment of theyr vnbeliefe bycause they had not obeyed to Goddes voice Finally the cōgregation must be taught thys thinge also diligently that that couenaunte Thorowe Christ all benifittes happened to the fathers of grace and al other benifites were obtained confirmed and exhibited to the fathers by the sonne of God Christ the Lorde the euerlastinge worde of the father Al thei desired to see hys daye and than they beganne to enioye the promised blessinges whan they sawe that daye he speake wyth the fathers he guyded them and fedde thē not onely wyth corporal manna rayninge doune from heauen and wyth water drawne out of the rocke by the power of God but also with spiritual meate and drinke of blessede participation wyth hym and heauenly lyfe whiche he gyueth to his whereof Paule speaketh saiyng Al eate the same spirituall meate and dranke the same spiritual drinke For they dranke of the spiritual stone folowynge them that is of Christ Wherfore they receiued the same spirituall meate and drinke namely Christe the Lorde not onely amonge them selues but also together with vs though that meate and drinke horough vnbeliefe profited not al. Wherfore lette the preachers with al diligence teach and cōfirme this thinge perpetually that al benifittes of God that were exhibited to the fathers frō the beginninge and al that be bestowed vpon vs haue ben gyuen and be gyuen by Christe onely the blessed seede of Abraham the heade and sauiour of the vniuersal churche ¶ Of the difference of the olde and newe Testament FOr as muche as not onelye Saynte Paule but also the prophete Ieremie putteth a playne difference betwene the newe and olde Testamente affirmynge that the newe Testamente pertayneth to the commynge of Christe and the olde to Moses and the olde people the preachers shal diligently obserue this difference that the places of the scripture concerning the olde testamēt and the new and olde people maye be handsomely interpreted that they wythdrawe nothynge from the grace and benifittes of God promised and exhibited either to the fathers or to vs as some are wounte to doe not vnderstandinge sufficiently the wordes of Paule Of which men some affirme that those thinges that God did with the fathers were al only corporall and erathle and so much as they can they ouer throwe or doe not ryghtly regarde manye goodlye benifities of God amonge vs and holesome ordinaunces as officers iudgementes restraynynge of malefactours whiche thynges they saye pertayne not at all to the newe Testament Other thorowe the same ignoraunce of the Gospell and newe Testament gyue more then is conueniente to iudaicall rytes and ceremonies and they set forth the obseruation of them wyth the hurte of fayeth in Christ euē in this time of christian libertie Wherfore the preachers shal obserue that A double vnderstandynge of the olde testamente one as God instituted it an other as men abuse it the prophetes the apostles speake muche otherwise of the olde Testament whē they speake of it as it was at the begyunyng cōfirmed to Abraham Moyses and all the olde people then when they haue matter in hande conceruyng the Iewes whiche brake thys couenaunte in dede and onely bosted outwarde ceremonies wythout fayeth in Christe and true obedience towardes God For when they speake of the olde Testament after the first maner that is to saye as it was deliuered from God to the fathers they testifie that it is the couenaunte of the grace of God and that it conteyneth in it the promises of Christe the Mediatoure They call the people that keepe it the fyrst begotten and peculiar people of God the kinglie priesthode the holy people to whom in thys promise I wyll be your God etc. God promised thorowe his sonne his euerlastyng mercie remission of synnes adoption to be sonnes and heyres and therfore a newe and blessed lyfe For God bestoweth all these benifites vpon them to whom he sheweth hym selfe God Which thing may appeare hereby that Christe proueth to the Saddnceis the blessed resurrection of saintes which is a passage into a newe and blessed lyfe by thys that God testified that he was the God of Abraham Isaac and Iacob which then were deade in theyr bodies For it was knowen euen amonge the Sadduceis that God is not the God of the dead but of the quycke that is to saye of them that lyue well and blisfully Thys folowed then euidently that al they to whō suche promise was made muste necessarely be raysed from death to lyfe wherein they should be heyres euē after the fleshe of saluation and euerlastyng lyfe whiche God promised them whē he testified that he was theyr God Wherfore that olde couenaūt or Testamēt made with the fathes cōprehēdeth also remission of sinnes grace and adoption into the children of God the gyuinge of the holye goste by whome he circumcided and renued theyr hertes and certified them of saluation and perpetual gouernaunce and protection And for the confirmation of thys grace he deliuered vnto them the whole religion the lawe and the possession of the lande of Canaan al that did he thorough Christe our onely mediator and sauioure and for this cause god setteth forth so greatly this his leige and he calleth the lawe and his statutes the couenaunte of life and wysedome wherein the people of Israel excelled a● nations he wytnessed wyth thys leige that he is presēt with his that he dwelleth amonge them heareth theyr prayers and deliuereth them from al daungers For whiche causes Paule also wrote of the Iewes Romano iii. and ix cha that the oracles of God were deliuered vnto them and adoption and the glorye of the childrē of God and the worshippinge of God and that Christ the Lorde was gyuē them with all the benifittes of God For thys cause also he declareth and proueth to the Gala. iii. that we whiche beleue in Christe be the children of Abraham and of the new testament after that we haue putte on Christe thorough
euerlastynge lyfe and part takers of all his benifittes bycause we be the coheyres of his Christe beinge deliuered from the tirannie of the diuell synne death and hell Wherefore I beseche you for Gods sake and your saluation that ye wyll worthely esteme and thankefully embrace so wonderfull abundaunt grace of God whiche is exhibited in thys Sacrament For Baptisme is a greate comforte vnto vs in oure daungers and afflictions and it is the fyrste entraunce vnto all the benifittes of God and to the blessed feloshyppe of all saintes Therefore that we maye considre thys vnspeakeable benifitte of God wyth a presenter minde and greater religion we must fyrste remembre into howe greate euyls the fall of Adam thrue vs. And contrariewyse how vnmeasurable grace God exhibited to mankynde thorow his sonne in that that he hath redemed vs from the same euylles by baptisme Thirdly howe thys so great mercie of God ought to be euer before our eyes in all perilles and with howe great prayses we should magnifie the grace of god which we haue receyued thorowe baptisme Fyrste then we muste considre wyth all diligence that all we thorowe the synne of Adam and enuie of Satan be subiect to the wrath of God and moreouer damned and be holden prisonners vnder the power and kyngdome of the diuell vndre death synne and hell so that we being by nature the children of wrath coulde appease God by no strength of man no vertues or workes For all that is in vs and all our workes be cursed of God and subiecte to the tirannie of Satan by reason of our corrupted nature For seinge that thorowe the inobedience of our fyrst Adam of whō we are all borne into this natural and earthlie lyfe we come al into the worlde giltie and cursed of God so that we muste all dye in hym and beare his earthie Image in thys mortall bodie it feloweth that all our lyfe and all the dedes of our nature so corrupted be condemned of God though they appeare neuer so godlie and holie before men For what so euer is borne of fleshe is flesh that is to say straūge from God repugning to the spirite and adiudged to death and hell Wherefore fleshe and bloud shal not atteine to the kyngdome of God For whatsoeuer is fleshe it sauoureth fleshely thynges and so lyueth it is an aduersarie to God for it is not subiecte to the lawe of God Wherefore they that be fleshely can not please God the wysedome of the fleshe is death And therefore oure Lorde Christe disputyng wyth Nicodemus concludeth thus Verely verely I saye vnto the excepte a man be borne agayne of water and of the spirite he can not entre into the kyngdome of God Secondly we must considre howe plentifull the grace of God gyuen to vs in baptisme is wherin his bountuousnes and loue towardes men truly appeareth in asmuche as he hath saued vs not thorowe the workes of ryghtuousnes whiche we had done but accordyng to his mercie by the lauer of regeneration and renouation of the holie gost For he thorow the vertue of his worde washeth awaye and abolisheth whatsoeuer maketh vs giltie and condemneth vs as in olde tyme he drouned in the redde sea the enemies of his people and destroyed al mākynde wyth the floude eyghte soules reserued whiche were saued in the arke So this lauer of water saueth vs thorow the word not in washyng away the fyl●h of the fleshe as it chaunseth in all other washynges but thorowe the certification of a good cōscience towardes God by the resurrectiō of Iesus Christ For by the vertue of Goddes couenaunt we are cleansed in our cōsciences and we are certified both thorow the worde and an outwarde signe that all the synnes that defiled and condemned vs be playnly abolished bycause they be forgyuē and be dead Therfore thorowe baptisme we determine certeynly that we are acceptable vnto God and ioyned vnto hym wyth an euerlastyng couenaunt of grace so that nothynge can seperate vs frō hym or condemne vs. Wherfore hensforth we muste not onely eschewe synnes but also feare them and abhorre frō them none otherwyse then from hel as men dead vnto synnes For all we as S. Paule wytnesseth whiche be baptised into Christe Iesus be baptised into his death for we are buryed wyth hym into death Therfore we be dead to synne and to the whole olde mā and broughte forth in Christe so farre that nothynge can condemne vs or seperate vs from the grace of God For he that is deade is iustified from synne he is no more subiecte to the tirannie of synne death and hell though he feele the remnauntes of synne in the fleshe yet those be not imputed vnto cōdemnation by reason of the iustification of the spirite in Christe Furthermore Baptisme worketh a newe lyfe in vs and acceptable to God For as Christe was reysed from the deade by the glory of the father so he worketh in vs with his spirite that we also maye walke in newnes of lyfe For if we be grafted in hym by the lykenes of his death surely we shal also be part takers of his resurrection vnto euerlastyng lyfe knowinge thys that oure olde man is crucified wyth him that the bodie of synne should be abolished that hereafter we serue not vnto synne Wherfore let vs recōpte that we be dead to sinnes in dede and liue to God in Christ our Lorde in whom also we be circumcised wyth a circūcision made wythout handes whyle we put of the bodie of synnes thorow the circūcision of Christ We are buried wyth hym thorow baptisme wherein we haue also rysen agayne wyth hym by the fayth of the workynge of God For God whiche raysed Christe from the deade hath quickened vs with him euen when we were dead thorowe synnes by the vncircumcision of the fleshe or fleshly lyfe For though our lyfe be hidden in God with Christ yet whē Christe our lyfe shall appeare then shall we also in hym be manifested in glorie as men whom God of his exceadyng mercie hath begotten agayne into a lyuely hope thorow the resurrection of Iesus Christe from the dead vnto I saye an incorriruptible inheritaunce vndefiled and that fadeth not away not of corruptible seede but vncorruptible namely the lyuely worde of God by which worde baptisme consisteth and worketh all the forsayed thynges in vs truely and effectuously Thyrdly we shall cōfort our selues with so great excellencie of the grace of God and benifittes bestowed vpon vs thorowe baptisme and we shall euer thanke God and that so muche the more studiously as we shall be oppressed wyth more greuous calamities confirmynge our fayth hereby that God worketh in vs mortifieth the olde mā and repayreth the newe though not after a visible sorte yet by the vertue of baptisme thorowe the worde and the spirite Wherefore lette vs confirme oure consciences and thynke that God careth for vs and that for the merite of his sonne we be acceptable and deare to hym and when we be
of Angels and sundry appearynges to his disciples but also by his ascension into heauen and wonderfull sendynge of the holie goste and many other miracles and signes that nothynge more certeyne euer chaunced vndre the sunne Neither did he rise from the dead for his owne cause onely but for asmuch as he abolished our dette and sinne thorowe his death the mercie and bountuousnes of God is so great towardes vs whiche beleue in Christ that he wyll not onely forgyue our synnes for Christes sake but wyll also gyue vs the fruite of his resurrection and in verie death preserue vs vnto euerlastynge lyfe He the●● that trusteth in Christe is plāted into Christ thorow faith so far that he is made a mēbre of hym Your bodies sayeth Paule be the membres of Christe And in an other place God hath putte all thynges vndre his feete and hath made hym an heade aboue al thinges vnto the congregation it selfe whiche is his bodye the fulfyllynge of hym whiche fulfylleth al thynges in all Seing then that Christe the heade of the congregation atteyned to euerlastyng lyfe and glorie thorowe his resurrection from death it is not possible that one of his membres planted in him thorowe fayth shoulde not atteyne to the same For though it be deade buried rottē wasted corrupted yet it muste needes come to passe that it shal be raysed vp againe in due tyme vnto lighte and lyfe and so enioyne eternall blisfulnes with Christe For thys cause christian men departed are not called deade but are sayed to be a sleepe euerye where in the scriptures S. Paule confirmeth this our fayth whē he saith that as Iesus died and rose againe so God shal bringe them agayne with hym whiche are fallen a sleepe thorowe Iesus He sayth thus also Philip. iij. Our cōuersation is in heauen from whence we loke for a sauiour Iesus the Lorde which shal transfigure our base bodie that he may make it like vnto his glorious bodie etc. Whiche thynge that it may be more euident the Apostle teacheth vs not onely that the deliueraunce of the faythful frō death raysyng vp againe vnto euerlastyng reste shal be moste certeine but also he addeth wyth expresse wordes i. Thessa iiij with howe great glorie and maiestie these thynges shal be done For thus he speaketh Thys we say to you in the worde of the Lorde that no man shulde thynke that these be dreames or imaginations of mēnes braynes but that it is the Lordes worde and therefore heauē and earth must needes passe awaye rather then one iote thereof shoulde fayle and thys is that true and euerlastyng and vnchaungeable worde of the Lorde that we whiche shall lyue and remayne vnto the Lordes cōming shal not preuent thē whiche sleepe For the Lorde him selfe shall descende from heauen wyth a shoute and voice of the Archangell and trompe of God that is to saye wyth so great glorie and maiestie as was neuer sene in the earth before and the deade shal fyrste ryse agayne wyth Christe and then we whiche shal be aliue which shal remayne shal be caught vp with them in the cloudes into the ayre to mete the Lorde and so we shal be euer wyth the Lorde Seinge then that thys our brother whō we haue nowe brought to hys graue was baptised in the name of Christe and embraced his gospell and confirmed and declared the same his fayth with communicatinge at the Lordes supper and finally departed in the confession of Christ we haue good hope that God hath forgiuen him hys sinnes for Christ sake hath receyued hym in to the fauour and so ioyned him to the death and resurrection of hys beloued sonne that at the sounde of the trompe of the archaungel in a moment in the twinckling of an eye he shal come out of hys graue to meete Christ and shall obteyne with al the sayntes the inheritaūce of the heauenly kingdome and enioye euerlastinge blisfulnes Wherefore lette vs also giue thankes to oure Lorde God for him and lette vs besech hym ernestly that he wyll brynge vs to the true knowledge of Christ thorough the holi gost whereby we maye ouer come death and be kepte in death it selfe vnto euerlastinge life thorough Christe our Lorde praie ye oure father which art c. ❧ Another buriall sermon Forasmuch as it hath pleased almyghtye God that accordynge to hys mercye he woulde take thys oure brother out of thys worlde vnto hym selfe to whose buriall we are come together of brotherlie loue in the name of Christe it shall not be vnprofitable to set before you the Euangelicall lesson of Lazarus raysed vp by Christe whiche is in Iohn Chap. xi in thys sorte Martha sayed vnto Iesus Lorde if thou haddest bene here my brother had not bene dead etc. In this Gospell Christe promiseth to Martha that hir brother shall ryse againe and streighte waye he called hym agayne to lyfe beinge foure dayes dead Howbeit we must not thinke that Christ wyth thys notable miracle woulde signifie that euery mā after foure dayes shal be raysed vp to this temporall and momētaine life as Lazarꝰ was but with this acte he would cōfirme and establishe the truth of his Gospell whiche he comprehended in thys place with fewe wordes and as it were in a sūme saiyng I am the resurrectiō and lyfe he that beleueth in me though he be deade he shall lyue and euery one that lyueth and beleueth in me shall not dye for euer And though the face of death by reason of sinne be very terrible and horrible as one that of hir owne nature draweth wyth hir euerlastyng dānation yet seing that Christe hath abolished sinne and escaped the dominion of death thorowe his resurrection he hath taken also frō death all hir power and strength so that who so beleueth in him and is planted into his body thorowe fayth as a liuely mēbre he shall be preserued in death it selfe and shal be trāslated frō death to lyfe As Paule testifieth Christ is rissen from the deade he was the first fruite of thē that had fallen a sleepe For seing that death came by man the resurrection of the dead cometh also by man For as by Adam all men dye so by Christe al men be quickened etc. Wherfore the death of thē whiche cleane to the body of Christe thorowe fayth ought not to be compted suche as shoulde haue strēgth to destroye and condemne but suche as before God is compted precious and is as it were entronised cōsecrated of Christ to be the dore and entry into euerlasting life Though the bodie then beinge buried in the earth vanishe away and be cōfounded from the eyes of mē yet God which is almightie preserueth the life of it As a grayne of corne cast vpō the earth first dieth and afterward bringeth forth fruite so god hath also ordeined that mānes body being now rotten and consumed shoulde yet be restored agayne vnto lyfe This is a diuinite and an vnchaungeable truth that this selfe same
is and muche wished for of oure Lorde Iesus Christe namely that he came for thys cause into the worlde beinge made man to deliuer all them that beleue in hym from synne death and eternall damnation and to gyue them a newe and perpetuall ryghtuousnes and lyfe Whiche thynge al the prophetes spake afore hāde of him as the lorde him selfe expouned in the laste of Luke So sayeth he it behoued Christ to suffre and to ryse from the dead the thirde daye and that repentaunce and remission of synnes should be preached in his name among all nations The Apostles taught the same thynge euerie where as it appeareth in theyr actes For thus Petre preacheth repente your fautes and let euerie one of you be baptised in the name of Iesus Christ for the forgyuenes of synnes and ye shall receyue the gyfte of the holy goste actes ij Item the God of oure fathers hath raysed Iesus whom ye kylled hangyng vpon wodde hym God hath exalted wyth his ryght hande a prince and a sauiour to gyue repentaunce vnto Israell and forgyuenes of synnes etc. And agayne he commaunded vs that we shoulde preach to the people and testifie that it is he which was appointed of god a iudge of the quicke and the deade To hym all the Prophetes beare wytnes that who so beleueth in hym he shall receyue remission of synnes thorowe his name Saynt Paule preacheth the same thynge actes xiij Be it knowen to you then bretherne that thorowe thys man remission of synnes is preached etc. Though thys preachyng of the Gospell be short neuertheles it is the power of God vnto saluation to euerie one that beleueth Ro. i. Wherfore Christe also compareth the Gospell to a mustarde corne to a treasure hidde in a felde to a precious margarite for the gettyng wherof we must sell and leaue all thynges Math. xiiij But that the strēgth and efficacie of the Gospel may be more euident the preachers muste euer studiously set forth Christe and religiously preache howe great thynges he suffered for our saluation howe great thynges he did Further howe he wil haue these thynges shewed vnto vs and what he wyll worke in vs thorowe thys preaching It is euident thorow the preachyng of the lawe that all we be synners of oure selues and destitute of the glorie of God Rom. iij. Item that we are deade thorowe misdedes and synnes and be by nature the children of wrath as other be Ephesi ij prisoners and solde vnder synne that we oure selues can not ryse out of thys perdition of oure owne strengthe Roma viij Wherfore to obtaine saluation there needed a mediatour and sauiour whiche might pacifie God beinge angrie and recōcile vs to God and deliuer vs frō synne and death and make vs heyres of euerlastynge lyfe Suche a sauiour and intercessour Christe is made vnto vs. i. Timo. ij one God and one attonemaker of God and men Christe Iesus a man whiche gaue hym selfe a price of redemption for al men etc. Thys Mediatour first entreateth wyth God the father thorowe his lyfe death passion and intercession to turne his wrath frō vs to receyue vs into fauour and to gyue to vs as to his children the holy spirite and euerlastyng lyfe Further he cometh to vs and handleth his matter with vs thorowe the misterie of the Gospell his holy spirite and the crosse that we maye beleue hym and thorow faith obtayne ryghtuousnes and euerlasting life And he handleth his matter wyth God after thys sorte firste he ordred his whole lyfe accordyng to the wyl of the father beinge made obedient vnto hym vnto death whiche thynges we should haue done But bicause he sawe that they were impossible vnto vs he perfourmed them hym selfe he fulfylled the lawe as he sayth in Mathew I came not to destroye the lawe but to fulfyll it And Paule to the Gala. iiij Whē the fulnes of tyme came God sent forth his sonne made of a woman made subiecte to the lawe to redeame them that were subiecte to the lawe Therfore he wrate also to the Cor. Christe is made rightuousnes vnto vs of God that is to saye his rightuousnes was perfourmed for our sakes and gyuen vnto vs. Item Phil. iij. Yea and I thynke all thinges to be losse for the excellencie of the knowledge of Christe my Lorde and I cōpt them for refuse that I maye wynne Christe and be founde in hym not hauing my rightuousnes of the lawe but that that is thorowe the fayth of Christe etc. For whoso beleueth in Christ to him whole Christ and his perfecte ryghtuousnesse is imputed at once and togyther Secondly Christe translateth and remoueth all our synnes vpon him selfe dieth for them and suffreth al those thinges that we should haue suffred for our sinnes As Iohn Baptiste testifieth Beholde the lambe of God whiche taketh awaye the synnes of the worlde Item Esaie of a truth he bare our diseases and he susteyned our sorowes and we cōpted hym stricken wyth a plage and depressed of God But he was wounded for oure iniquities and beaten for oure synnes the chasteninge of peace was vpon hym and we were healed wyth his stripes And we haue strayed lyke sheepe euery mā into his owne way and God hath putte vpon him the iniquities of al vs. Item Paule Rom. viij God spared not his owne sonne but gaue him for vs all and Chap. iiij He was deliuered for oure synnes and raysed for our iustification So Gala. iij. Christ redeamed vs from the curse of the lawe beinge made a curse for vs for it is wrytten cursed is euerie one that hangeth on tree Thirdly he is a mediatour for vs that God wyll receyue vs into fauoure Esaie liij He bare the synnes of manie and prayed for transgressours The prayer of Christe Iohn xvij teacheth the same thynge I praye for them not for the worlde but for those whome thou hast gyuen me keepe them in thy name etc. And Paule Ro. viij Christe is at the right hande of the father and maketh intercession for vs. Itē to the Hebr. v. whiche in the dayes of his fleshe when he had offered vp with strōge criyng and teares prayers and supplications before him that was able to deliuer him etc. Yea the whole epistle sheweth thys thinge mooste euidently that Christe oure high bishoppe offred hym selfe for our sinnes and entred into the most holie place wyth his owne bloude an euerlastyng redemption beinge founde out So then Christe handled and doeth handle the matter for vs thorowe his death and obedience shewed to the father and thorowe his intercession that he reconcileth vs to God the father and for thys cause he is made Lorde ouer all thynges as the Apostle witnesseth Psal ij whiche beinge in the fourme of God thought it no robberie to be equall wyth God but he emptied him selfe taking the fourme of a seruaunt constituted in the lykenes of men and in shape founde as a man he humbled him selfe made obedient vnto the death and that of the crosse Wherfore God
maye be more cōforted and the celebration of so great a sacrament more augmented and the benifite of Christ bestowed vppon the childe throughe Baptisme more commended the preachers shall alowe the same in the congregacion vsinge a lesson of the holye Gospel and praier after this sorte ▪ The pastor whā thei become which bring such an infante vnto the Lorde shal first demande of them Beloued in Christe forasmuche as we be al borne in synne and the wrath of God giltie of eternall death and damnacion and can by none other meanes get remissyon of sinnes righteousnes and euerlastinge lyfe than through faith in Christ and forasmuch as also this infant is borne subiect to these euils I meane of death and the wrath of god I aske of you whether he were offered to Christ and plāted in hym through baptisme If they answere that they so beleue he shal aske thē further by whom it was done and who wer presēt And whā they haue named them he shall aske him whiche bi there relacion Baptised the childe if he bee present or other whiche then were presente whether the name of the Lorde were called vpon him and prayer made for him If they answere that they did so he shall aske how the childe was baptised If thei than answere in water and wyth these wordes I baptise the in the name of the father the sonne and the holye gost he shal aske them laste of all whether they certainly knowe that thei haue rightly vsed the worde of god and if they answere that thei know and remembre that they dyd so lette the pastoure saye this moreouer Forasmuch as beloued in Christe I here that althynges concerninge the baptisme of this infante haue been done in the name of God and according to his institution I pronounce in the name of Christe that ye haue doone well For infantes wante the grace of God whych our sauiour Christ denieth not vnto theym whensoeuer it is asked for children according to his worde for he hath not bound the benifite of his redemption to anye places times or persōnes For in what place soeuer they that beleue in hym come to gether in hys name he is present in the middest of them and whan he is caled vpon thoroughe fayth he worketh in hys worde and sacramentes and he performeth in ded whatsoeuer he offreth in hys sacramentes promiseth in hys wordes And to confirme this fayeth and that we maye sterre vp our selues to thanke the Lorde for thys hys so greate benifyte ministred to this infante by baptisme lette vs heare out of the gospell howe the Lorde wyll haue children brought vnto hym and howe he wyll bountouslye blesse them whyche be offered vnto hym Marcke x. ¶ And thei brought children vnto him that he myght touche them etc. By these wordes of Christe we bee certified that as manye infantes as bee offered vnto Christ according to his word pertayne to the kingdome of God bee the chyldren of God the mēbres of Christ that the Angels be present with them as mynistres and that al the creatures of god be subiecte vnto thē to do them good Wherfore we must ministre to such with singuler diligēce that they maye bee well broughte vp in Christe and growe in him and this charge pertaineth to you parētes kinsfolkes godfathers and all other frendes which be of the body of thys our congregacion I commende than thys infante the sonne and heire of God the brother and coheire of christ the mēbre of christ and youre membre in Christe to your faithfulnes charge that ye procure hym wyth al diligence to be noryshied brought vp and enstructed to the Lord to whom he is borne again and to the kingdom of god to which he is borne againe eueri man accordinge to his vocation and power that assone as he can for hys age he maye learne to keepe all those thinges that Christe commaunded to bee kepte Wherefore it pertayneth to you chiefely parentes godfathers and kinsfoke thought all other in this congregation and all chrystian men to whome soeuer he shall come ought not to denye theire labour and healpe to procure that this infante assone as he may for his age be brought to the schole and to the congregaciō and be enstructed in the misteries wyth all faythfulnes that he may lerne to acknoledge and magnifie the moste ample benifites of God receyued in baptisme that afterwarde he maye professe his faith him selfe in the congregacion that with his owne voyce he maye renounce satan and the worlde with all his entysementes and workes before the holy congregacion that he may bynd himselfe to Christ and to his congregacion vnto all obedience and continue in the same vnto the ende as a liuelye membre of Christ and a branch continuyng in Christ and brynging furth plentiful frute vnto the praise and glorie of god and edificacion of his church After thys let him saie lainge his hande on the childe The lord bee with you Answere And with thy spirite Lette vs praye Lorde God the father of oure Lorde Iesus Christ whiche haste be gotten agayne this infant of water and the holye goste and haste giuen him in holye Baptisme remission of all sinnes confirme the same with thy grace and guide and further this new life whyche thou haste giuen and fynyshe it vp where vnto thou haste bounde the infante with this hollye Sacramente Graunte also to hys parentes and to vs all that we maye faythfully and diligently serue the in takinge charge of hym that thoroughe hym and vs all they name dayly be more and more sanctified and thei kingdom promoted vnto the full fruision of blesfulnes thorough Christ our Lord. Amē But if they whiche offre the infante can not answere sufficiently to the sayd demandes so that thei graūt that they doe not wel knowe what they thought or dyd in baptising being sore trobled with the present dāger as it often chauceth than omittinge curious disputacions lette the pastoure iudge such an infante not to be yet baptised and let him do all those thinges that pertaninge to this ministracion as we described before that is to say let him vse an admonicion and catechisme to theim that brynge the chylde and an exorsisme of the childe the commen confession of the faith and al other thinges which done lette him baptise the infant with out condicion in the name of the father the soonne and the hollye goste ¶ Of the confirmacion of thildren baptised And sōlemne profession of theyr fayth in Christ and of therir obedience to be shewed to Christe and to his congregation THys custome hath beene obserued in the olde and newe testament of the institution of God that those whych in theyr first infancie were receiued into the grace of the Lord a mong the olde people by circumsicion and in the newe people by baptisme assone as they had vnderstanded this benifite of God whiche they had receyued and assone as they hadde a fore conceyued fayth in God
with true repentaunce and griefe of synnes and fayth fixed vpon oure Lord. Further that thei heare embrace the wordes here of the lord and al giftes as the words giftes of saluatiō euerlasting life as thei be in dede For this actiō is a proper and principal work of our saluatiō wherin Christ himself offceth geueth to vs all his thinges that he was made for vs that he suffred and deserued accordinge to hys name Iesus he sheweth himself a sauiour vnto vs in wordes and dedes Neyther is there anye word or dede of his set before vs to be folowed or done that doth not properly and effectuously make to our euerlastyng helth so that we take holde of it and vse it with true fayth As in this present action of the holye supper he hath heaped together with singuler and most feruente desyre to do vs good and hath comprehended in a summe and set befor vs to be knowne embraced and enioyed al those thynges that for oure saluation he spake commaunded suffred dyd and willed vs to do Wherfore whan we here those holsome wordes of Chryst in the holy Supper Take eate drynke Surely we must receyue the Sacramentes with great religion and moste bounden thankfulnes of mynde And it is a great abhominatiō to dispise the Lorde callyng vs so gently and so louingly bidding vs to this feast of health and meat of euerlastyng lyfe not to make hast most gredely to this heauenly and blessed banket Thirdly the pastours shal warne the peple that they dout nothing but the Lord him selfe is present in the myddest of theym and geueth them this very body and bloude that thei euer may more fully liue in hym and he in thē and that they may dayly grow more and more into hym whych is the heade and be moued of him as hys lyuely and vncorrupt members and require of him confidently al good thynges and al euils to be taken away and finally that they may receiue the thynges most aboundantly which thei aske For as we receiue hym in this sacrament so we receiue with him al thinges that pertain to the children of God And forasmuch as this exhibition and receiuyng of the body and bloude of Chryste this thinge and action is so heauenlye and diuine a matter of fayth and of the newe testament the pastours shall warne this also that men excludyng the iudgement of theyr owne reason geue fayth simply to the Lordes wordes and that they study to receyue this heauenly meat and this blessed communion of our onelye sauioure and Lorde with singuler desire and thankfulnes of mynde Fourthly the preachers shall diligentlye warne the people that they ernestly considre those most blessed wordes of the Lord which is geuē for you which is shed furth for you and for many vnto the forgeuenes of sinnes Item this is the newe testamēt in my bloud or this is the bloud of the newe testamente For by this only thyng that Chryst on the crosse offred his holi body and bloud to the father for our sinnes we be recōsiled to God and deliuered from the power of satan and hel beyng made the sonnes heyres of God and the newe leyge of grace the testamente of eternal saluation is ordained and confirmed betwene God and vs that God wil be our father also and acknowledge vs to bee his people yea his sonnes and heyres that he wyll driue al euils from vs and heape al good thynges vpon vs both present and to come finally that in the last day he wil raise vs from the dead and settle vs in an heauenly and ful blessed lyfe The fourth thinge that the Lorde deliuered and dyd in his holye supper is this that he saide Do this in the remembraūce of me And he gaue manie other holsome cōmaundementes to his disciples and exhortacions For he taught thē and warned them afore hande wyth manye wordes of hys passion and the fruit that we receyue by the same of his resurrection and heauenly kingdome of the office and ministerie of christen men and chiefely of theyr apostolike offyce to preach hys kingdome in al the world and together in to it the scatered children of God and to confirme and further them in the same For this cause than the preachers shal warne diligently as often as this sacrament is ministred that thei must studiously stirre vp and celebrated the remembraunce of Christe by godlye and diligente handelynge and preaching of the Gospel whereby thei shal faithfully declare to the people how necessarie it was for vs that the sonne of God shoulde take oure flesh and with hys death deliuer vs from eternall death and the terannye of Satan and howe greate benifites he obtayned and gaue vs and dayly gyueth vs thoought hys death and resurrection that is to wit remission of sinnes the spirite of adoption a newe and blessed powre of liuinge the felloshippe of resurrection vnto a verie heauenlye diuine and euerlastinge lyfe All whiche thinges muste be muste religiously preached and considered in the holie supper Wherefore in this must hollie action the doctrine of the Gospell and the lawe muste be diligently beaten in that the Lordes death and resurrectiō and al thinges that he was made for vs that he dyd and suffred that he obteyned for vs and perfourmed and dayly perfourmeth be muste studyously preached and that the remembraunce of him be fully and perfectly celebrated to this end that our fayth in him and new and blessed lyfe in the lame maye be euer confirmed and augmented Therefore we vse yet of the custome of the olde church that open and principal sermons be made a boute this ministracion of the holye masse The pastours and teachers of cōgregacions shall often and faythfully warne and enstructe the people of all these thinges So the chosen of God shal easly suffer them selues to be led awaye from al abuses of thys most reuerende and holie sacramente and be brought agayne to the true and holsome vse of the same For the shepe of Christe knowe the voyce of theyr shepeherde and folowe him hertely This maner surly canne not be obscure or vncertayn to they in that sauour anye thynge of Christ All christiane Doctrine consisteth herein and is grounded hervpon that men be taught to kepe all those thinges that oure Lorde Iesus Christe commaunded as the father hym selfe witnessed of hym from heauen sayinge Thys is my welbeloued sonne here him And he sayeth of himselfe to the Apostles al power in heauen and erth is giuen to me teach and make all the heathen my disciples baptise them in the name of the father and the sōne and the holye goste and teache them to kepe al these thsnges that I haue commaunded you But it is euident that this our only master and Lorde instituted the sacramente of thanckes gyuinge wyth these wordes and commended it vnto vs. Do this in the remēbraunce of me meaninge that that he hymselfe dyd and that that the Euangelistes
prayse and magnifie the Lorde holie father almightie euerlastyng God thorowe Iesus Christ our Lorde by whom thou madest vs of nothinge vnto thy image and haste appoynted al other creatures to our vses and where as we thorowe the synne of Adam slidynge frō the were made thyne enemies and therefore subiecte to death and eternall damnation thou of thy infinite mercie and vnspeakable loue dyddest sende the same thy sonne the eternall worde into thys worlde who thorowe the crosse and death deliuered vs from synnes and the power of the Deuyll and brought vs agayne into thy fauoure by his holie spirite whom he sent to vs from the and gaue his bodie and bloude to be the fode of a newe and eternall lyfe that being more confirmed thorowe the truste of thy mercie and loue we should euer go forward to all that that is thy pleasure by renuinge and sanctifiynge of our selues and that we should glorifie and exalte the here and euermore in all our wordes and dedes and singe vnto the without ende with al thy holie Angels and beloued chyldren After these thinges Sanctus shall be songe where clerkes be in latine but of the people in douche one syde answerynge the other thryse of bothe partes As for that that is wont to be added The Lorde God of hostes and Benedictus it shal be songe cōmunely of the whole congregation and therefore in douche Streyght waye after thys let the priest synge the wordes of the Lordes supper in douche Our Lorde the nighte in whiche he was deliuered etc. But these wordes muste be songe of the priest wyth great reuerence and playnely that they maye be wel vnderstanded of all men And the people shal saye to these wordes Amen Whiche all the olde church obserued and the Grekes do yet obserue the same For the whole substance of this Sacrament is conteyned in these wordes And it consisteth altogether in the true vnderstandyng and fayth of these wordes that the Sacrament be holesomely administred and receyued ❧ Whē the people then haue answered Amen The priest shall adde lette vs praye Oure father whiche arte in heauen etc. To whiche prayer of the Lorde the people shal say agayne Amen ¶ The priest The Lordes peace be euer wyth you ¶ The people And with thy spirite After thys they which be admitted to the cōmunion and do loke for the same in their place shal come to the Lordes bourde religiously Firste men and then women and the whole Sacrament shal be gyuen to them al that they may be partakers of the body and bloud of the Lorde receiuing not only bread but also the Cuppe euen as he instituted it ¶ At the exhibition of the bodi let the the pastour saye Take and eate to thy health the body of the Lorde whiche was deliuered for thy synnes ¶ At the exhibition of the cuppe Take and drinke to thy health the bloud of the Lorde whiche was shedde for thy synnes ¶ After the communion lette Agnus dei be songe both in douche and in latine one syde answeryng the other where clerkes be And then lette thys douch songe be songe Gotte sey gelobette Item Iesus Christus Vnser Heylant If the communion shall gyue so muche tyme and leasure ¶ When the communion is ended let the priest synge turnyng to the people The Lorde be wyth ynn ❧ The people And with thy spirite ¶ The priest Let vs praye Almightie euerlastynge God we gyue thankes to thy exceadynge godnes bicause thou haste fedde vs wyth the bodie of thy only begottē sonne and gyuen vs his bloud to drynke We humbly beseche the worke in vs wyth thy spirite that as we haue receyued thys diuine Sacrament wyth oure mouthes so we maye also receyue and euer holde fast with true fayth thy grace remission of synnes and communion with Christ thy sonne Al whiche thinges thou haste exhibited vnto vs in these sacramentes thorow our Lorde Iesus Christe thy sonne whiche lyueth and reygneth wyth the in vnitie of the holie gost verie God and verie man foreuer Amen ❧ An other thankesgyuyng We gyue the thankes father almightie God whiche haste refreshed vs wyth the singuler gyfte of thy bodie and bloude we beseche thy goodnesse that the same maye healpe to confirme our fayth in the and to kendle mutual loue amonge vs by the same our Lorde Iesus Christ etc. ¶ Laste of all lette the pastoure blesse the people wyth these wordes The Lorde blesse the and keepe the the Lorde lighten his coūtenaunce vpon the and haue mercie on the. The Lorde lyfte vp his face vpon the and settle the in peace ❧ Or thus God haue mercie on vs and blesse vs lyghten his countenaunce vpō vs and gyue vs his peace Amen ❧ Or thus God the father the sonne and the holie goste blesse and keepe vs. Amen ❧ Or thus The blessyng of god the father the sonne and the holie gooste be wyth vs remaine wyth vs for euer Amen But where clerkes be not as in villages there lette all be reade and songe in douche But lette the songes be so moderated as in euerie congregation shall make to the edification of godlines But forasmuche as our Lorde instituted thys his sacrament onely for thys purpose that we shoulde eate it and drynke it for the remēbraunce of him and not that we should set it forth or carie it about to be loked vpon forasmuch as sundrie abuses be brought in the true vse of this sacramēt being ouer passed so this sacrament hath bene drawen to horrible superstition and vngodlines for the takyng awaye both of this superstition and vngodlines and also sundrie scruples of the worke and irreligious questions aboute these misteries the pastours and they that administre the Sacramente shall endeuoure them selues that as often as the supper shal be ministred whether it be in the cōgregatiō or in priuate houses for sicke folke they compte the numbre of them certeynely whiche shall communicate that accordynge to the same thei may receiue pieces of bread and measure of wyne As for the remnauntes after that the communion is ended lette the pastours them selues receyue them forthwith and lette them not keepe the same nor lay them vp in any place nor eary them away or set them forth to be beholded For the worde of God whiche saueth vs if we beleue and obey it and damneth perpetually if we do not beleue nor obey it hath thus prescribed cōcerning his sacramētes Take and eate this is my bodie Take and drinke this is my bloude Therfore we must stand in thys institution of Christe and not institute a newe vsage wythout Goddes worde about thys moste holy Sacrament And bicause also that here the Lordes death muste be preached and the communion of hym cōfirmed in vs that thorowe hym we maye be daily more crucified to the world al worldly pompe muste lykewyse be taken frō thys ministration and all tynges muste be so ordeined and moderated that thei may healpe forth and adurne the
preaching of the crosse and of the death of Christe ❧ Of the communion of wayfaring men and sicke folke When it shall chaunce that wayefaryng men or such as cōmitte them selues to daungerous iourneis or be sicke shal require the Lordes supper vpon workynge dayes fearyng that they can not come to the communion the nexte holy daye the pastours shall ministre the Lordes supper vnto them vpon any daye after that they haue receyued of them a conuenient confession of theyr sinnes and fayth in Christ Howe be it as much as maye be it shal be done in the mornyng and at suche time as some assemble of the people is wont to be gathered or at the leste they shal call some together to thys ministration of the supper When then they haue admonished and exhorted in the assemble suche as wyll take iourneis in hande or be sickely of these misteries and the whole fayth in Christe they shall administre the holy supper and distribute the sacramentes in that fourme and facion that we described before saueing that they maye omitte singyng and reade all thynges whiche neuertheles muste be done playnely and clearely and wyth greate grauitie But if the sicke folke be in suche case that they can not come to the temple the pastours muste go to them and giue them the holy supper at home so that they do all thynges according to the fourme prescribed or thys that foloweth whiche is peculiarly appoynted for sicke folke asmuche as the state of them to whom the sacramēt shal be ministred wyll suffre and asmuch as shal make for the edification of saith in them that be present The pastours muste also exhort the people that not onely theyr householde but also the neighbours and kinsfolke of the sicke endeuoure to come together to the celebration of that holie supper and to receyue the sacramentes together ❧ Howe sicke folke muste be visited and howe the communion muste be celebrated wyth them ❧ An other exhortation to the sycke person My brother in the Lorde forasmuche as the Lorde visiteth the wyth sicknes of the bodie that thou mayest reste the better in his wil thou must faythfully cōsidre recompt first that diseases are sent to vs frō the Lord God for none other cause then for synnes and that originall synne whiche was deriued from Adā vnto vs draweth death wyth it selfe and what so euer perteyneth to the kingdome of death that is to saye al maner of diseases sicknesses miseries and calamities For if we had continued in originall ryghtuousnes wythout synne death should not haue had any right vpon vs muche lesse diseases and other calamities Further thou muste remembre that leste we should despeare by reason of our sinnes diseases and other tētations and anguishes of death the Gospel was giuen vs that out of the same we shoulde learne and beleue that Christe the sonne of God deliuereth vs frō synnes and saueth vs if we beleue in hym and that two maner wayes Firste in purifiynge our hertes frō the wyll and gylt of synnes here in earth by the Gospell and sacramentes Act. xv purifiynge their hertes wyth fayth Secondly when that oure consciences be thus cleansed from synnes and reconciled to God the father by fayth in takyng away and purgyng synne by litle and litle out of our nature that at length beinge made pure and perfecte from all vices and holie in all poyntes we maye lyue wyth the holie God in heauē in diuine rightuousnes and innocencie Thyrdly that for the workyng and fulfyllynge hereof God oure father sendeth vnto vs sūdrie diseases death it selfe not bicause he is angrie wyth vs or wyll destroye vs but bicause thorowe verie fatherlie beniuolence and care he wyl steare vs vp vnto true repentaunce of synnes and fayth of his sonne and so deliuer vs bothe frō synnes wherin we yet sticke and moreouer from all euyls both corporall and spirituall vnto whiche we be subiect by reason of synnes whiche thing the holie scriptures testifie abūdātly For thus saith S. Paule i. Cor. xi When we are iudged of the Lorde we are corrected that we be not dāned wyth thys worlde Roma viij To them that loue God all thynges worke health neither can anie thynge disseuer them from the loue of God whiche is in Christe Iesu not afflictition nor anguyshe nor persecution etc. Fourthly forasmuch as these thynges be euen so as I haue said and bicause thou arte taught certified out of the Gospell which the sonne of God him selfe preached and cōfirmed with his death and resurrection that al thy synnes are caste vpon Christe yea vtterly taken awaye and abolished for euer of Christe him selfe so that God hath now no cause of wrath and condemnation agaynste the beleuynge in Christ but the grace of the father mercie lyfe and health be certeynely restored to the thorowe Christe considre all these so exceading benifites of god towards the wyth sure and certeyne fayth and confirme thys truste in thy selfe that God the father compteth the not nowe for suche one as thou waste borne of Adā and made tho rowe thyne owne synnes that is to saye hatefull vnto hym and appoynted vnto destruction but compteth the for Christes sake deare and destined to eternall lyfe and be thou persuaded that thou shalt lyue for euer by the ryghtuousnes and lyfe of Christe in perfecte blisfulnes as certeynly as it is certeyne that he suffered the wrath of God and death not for his owne synnes but for thine Seinge then that it is so see that thou comforte thy selfe wyth so great benifites and knowledge certeynely that synne death and hell hath nowe no ryght vpon the but that Christe the lambe of God hath taken away al those Iohn i. For he hath translated those thynges vpon hym selfe he hath ouercomed them by hym selfe and blotted them out foreuer Wherefore be of God comforte thy synnes be forgiuen the and there is no cause if from thy herte thou beleue in Christe the Lorde but thou maist certeynely and constantly thorowe Christe oure Lorde loke for al grace consolation tymely healpe and saluation from God Therefore wyth suche truste cōmitte and gyue vp thy selfe wholy to his mercifull and fatherly wyll sayinge wyth Dauid God is my lyght of whō shal I be a frayed Heauenly father thy wyll be done Into thy handes I commende my spirite Amen After thys exhortation if the state of the sicke person wyll suffre the pastoure shall reade before hym and the present congregatiō the Lordes wordes out of the .vi. of Iohn Frō thys place verely verely I saye vnto you excepte ye eate the fleshe of the sonne of man vnto the wordes of the Euāgeliste These wordes he spake in the synagoge And he shall declare the same texte for the cōforte and edification aswel of the sicke as of the congregation that is present But the exposition shal be moderated accordyng to the commoditie of the sicke person When thexposition is ended lette the pastour rehearse a commune confession
body shal ryse agayne thorowe the power of God but neuertheles it shall not be subiecte to any incōmoditie or miseries wherwith it is now afflicted yea rather it shal be clarified wyth so great and so excellēt glorie as mānes minde cā atteine with no thought Paule then speaketh after this sorte It is sowen in corruption and riseth againe in incorruptibilitie it is sowen in dishonour and riseth in glorie it is sowen in weakenes and ryseth in power it is sowen a natural bodie and riseth agayne a spiritual body etc. Iohn also writeth thus Now we are the chyldrē of god and it hath not yet appeared what we shall be But we know that when he shal appeare we shal be lyke vnto hym etc. Seing then that so singuler and excellent glorie is layed vp for vs thorow Christ Iesus and nothinge ought to be more certeine vnto vs thē this redemption frō death and resurrectiō vnto eternal saluation not surely for ani of our merites towards god but for Christes sake in whō we beleue Vndoubtedly we oughte to endeuour our selues by all meanes that some fruites of thys glorious resurreccion may appeare in vs thorow the holy goste euen in thys temporall lyfe that is to say that we rise agayne frō sinnes and liue a blameles lyfe that we doubte not and despeyre wyth the vnfaythfull but loke for the cōminge of oure Lorde Iesu Christe wyth a sure truste This our brother also whō we brought forth euen nowe to be buried seinge that beinge baptised he acknowledged and professed the same Iesus Christ to be the true and onely authour of his saluatiō we ought not to doubt but that he is coupled to the death and resurrection of Iesus Christe that now thorowe Christe he hath obteyned remission of his sinnes and hath receiued with Christ and all the sayntes the enheritaunce of euerlastyng lyfe and peace Wherfore let vs all gyue God thākes together and let vs pray hym to mainteyne true and certeyne knowledge of Christe in vs and to make the same effectuous in vs thorowe his resurrection Praye ye and saye the Lordes prayer ❧ An other sermon at a burial of a yonge man or yonge woman Christian loue cōpassion hath brought vs to thys place to the buryall of a yonge man in Goddes name Seinge then that we can do nothynge that maye be either more fruitefull or more comfortable to vs then if we exercise oure selues in Goddes worde and considre the doctrine and actes of oure Lorde Iesu Christe diligently lette vs sette before vs that lesson of the Gospell whiche is wrytten in Luke Chap. vij And it came to passe afterwarde that Iesus went into a Citie called Naim and many of his disciples wente wyth hym and a great multitude And as he approched to the gate of the Citie beholde a corpse was in cariynge forth etc. ❧ If it be a yonge mayden let the Gospel of Mathew be reade Chapiter ix A certeine Prince came to Iesus and worshypped hym sayinge my daughter dyed euen nowe but come and lay thy hande vpō hir and she shall lyue etc. Thys present historie of the Gospell setteth before vs a notable miracle of a maiden raysed vp agayne by Christ Whiche deede we muste not so take as though Christ dyd signifie that all deade men before they be buried muste be called agayne into this life whiche is temporall wretched and subiecte to death but his purpose was to stablishe the truth of his Gospell and by the waye to declare also thys thynge that the fruite of his Gospell and heauenlie ryches perteyneth not only to aged mē but also to yonge personnes And where as we see both olde men and yonge to dye thereof we may gather that the same cometh not to passe at all auentures and by chaunce but by a certeine wōderful wysedome and purpose of God God also wyll sette before our eyes thorowe suche exemples howe vncerteyne the lotte of thys lyfe is and admonishe vs therwyth that we passe not ouer thys lyfe wyth negligence and sluggishnes but seing wythout Christe there is no saluation nor blisfulnes that we prepare our selues to the true knowledge of Christe and to christian obedience Furthermore he woulde declare the greatnes of original synne by the death of thys yonge personne For though after mannes iudgement there be greater hope of saluation in the death of a yonge man in whom so greate outwarde synnes be not founde as in men of more age yet in theyr causes we muste vse Goddes iudgemente and not mannes Neither oughte we in anie wyse to thynke that anie man shall obteyne saluation thorowe his owne innocencie But seinge that death whiche is the rewarde of synne inuadeth both yonge and olde it is a playne testimonie that they be not free frō synne but are comprehended in that general sentence of Paule to the Romaines where he sayeth by one man synne entred into the world and death thorow sinne and so death went ouer all men forasmuche as we haue synned Furthermore the nature of sinne vttereth it selfe euen in chyldrē as they growe in age by sundrie fruites of vices Wherfore God forfende that we should thynke that yonge men obteyne saluation thorowe the merite of their owne innocencie Yea they oughte aswell as olde menne to acknowledge that they receyue theyr whole saluation thorowe the innocencie of Christ Wherfore that yonge men maye be saued they muste needes enioye the innocencie of Christe For as Peter sayeth there is none other name gyuē to men wherein they must be saued but in the name of Iesus Christe Nowe yonge folke are so planted in Christe thorowe Baptisme that they are made his lyuely mēbres by that meanes haue right to all his goodes For Paule sayeth al you that be baptised haue putte on Christe For as before God there is neither bondmā nor free neither male nor female so there is neither chylde nor olde man but all we be one in Christe Iesu Vndoubtedly Christe hath deserued thorowe his death forgyuenes of synne and is rissen agayne from death Wherefore it is a thynge ryghte certeyne that younge folke also beinge Baptised in Christe haue alreadie obteyned remission of synnes and that it is not possible that they shoulde vtterly perishe in death but contrarie wyse they muste needes be raysed vp agayne frō death to life thorowe Christ For so Paule sayth we are buried with him thorowe Baptisme vnto death If we be grafted in hym by the lykenes of his death we shall also be partakers of his resurrection Seinge then thys yonge personne whose corpse we broughte forth euen nowe was baptised in the name of Christ and brought vp in Christian doctrine and moreouer acknowledged Christ to be his only saluation and openly declared this his fayth by communicatynge at the Lordes Supper surely we haue a good hope that this death is not death in deede but rather is a sleepe vnto hym out of whiche sleepe he shall be raysed inconuenient tyme vnto
the possession of the inheritaunce of the heauenly kyngdome Wherefore remembrynge so great bountuousnes lette vs onely gyue thankes to the Lorde God and praye that he wyll teache vs earnestly to considre the thynges that be in the Psalme writer namely that our daies be shorte that we slide awaye violently lyke a shoure of rayne that we are as it were a dreame that we maye be chaunged incontiuently lyke an herbe whiche florisheth and is freshe in the morninge and in the euening wythereth and is cutte vp And these thynges we muste do for thys entente that we may come to our selues in tyme and be conuerted to a better lyfe that we may leade an honeste lyfe and acceptable to God in the feare of the Lord and finally that in death it selfe we may be preserued vnto euerlastyng lyfe thorowe Christe our Lorde ¶ Praye ye to God Our father etc. When the prayer is done let the mininister saye ❧ The Lorde be wyth you ❧ Let vs praye Almightie God and moste louynge father encrease in vs the belefe of the resurrection where vnto thou haste called vs thorowe oure Lorde Iesus Christe that beinge grounded vpon thys beliefe we maye comforte oure selues in the death of thys oure brother or sister whose bodie we haue now committed to the earth accordyng to thy ordinaunce and that we maye also comforte oure selues in other calamities whyche in thys valleye of teares we worthyly suffre for oure synnes Further that we maye lifte vp oure myndes and thoughtes vnto the heauenlye lyfe to come and seke the thinges that are aboue where Christe thy sonne is sittinge at they right hande finally that diinge to sinne daily we maye serue the al the dayes of oure lyfe in all sanctification and ryghtuousnes throughe the same Christe oure Lorde ❧ Another collecte We gyue thanckes vnto the almyghtye God hauenlie father for that that thou hast vouchsafed to cal this our brother or sister to the knowledge of thi deare sonne and his communion and to preserue him in the same and nowe to sende for hym and remoue him to thy kingdome Graunte vs we besech the thorough the same thy sonne that in thys place and in al other we maie truly acknowlege our synnes earnestly lament them and knowe and prayse the dayly more and more in the newnes of lyfe and that so beynge strenghthned with good hope we maie loke for that blessed hope and appearinge of the glorie of the greate God and oure sauiour Iesus Christe whiche liueth God and raigneth with the in the vnite of the holye goste thorough out al generations Amen And for the consolacion of the faythfull in the Lord and mouinge the zeale of godlynes it shall be conuenient whan the corpse is brought to the burynge place to propoune and declare before the people gathered ther together the lesson folowinge out of the .xv. Chap. of the first to the Corinth But nowe Christe is risen from the dead c vnto this place what dooe we c. ❧ Or From thys place ❧ Thys I saye brethern that fleshe and bloude vnto the ende of the Chap. ❧ Or To the Philip. iij. ❧ For our conuersacion is in heauen vnto the ende of the Chap. ❧ Or To the Rom. vi ❧ And if we be dead with Christe we beleue that we shall lyue wyth hym c. vnto thys place lette not synne than reigne c. ¶ Of holy and festiual dayes FIrst we wyl that oure men vpon sondaies apply them selues wholy to the Lord and cease from all corporal worckes and busines and also from all iorneyes not necessarye and practising of merchaundises As God comaūded in his lawe In six dayes lette them finish and make an ende of all their worcke and lette them sanctifie the sondaye altogether vnto the Lorde that vpon that daie they maye be enstructed and renued in faith and religion out of goddes word And seuerli it is a great profe that that man careth litle for God and his owne saluacion which of the whole weke wyl not bestowe somuch as one daye vpon heauenlye matters to make hym selfe readye vpon that daye and to come together with a godlye zeale to heare goddes worde and to receyue the diuine sacramentes and to praye together with the sayntes For the spirite of the newe testament ought to kendle in vs a much more feruent studie of these thynges than was stirred vp in the olde people thorough the lawe Wherefore the preachers shal oftē warne the people how greate a sinne it is to spende those dayes in idlenes surfettinge dronckennes riotte in nawghtye and filthye lustes as we se done communely which be appointed to God and to relygious and spirituall exercises For thorough this vngodlines the calamites that we suffer and that hange yet sorer ouer oure heades are specially prouoked The pastours than must pulle the people from thys vngodlines wyth all possible diligence by goddes worde ¶ Beside sondaies we wyl haue holy daies to be kepte and celebrated ❧ Christmas The daie of Stephane and Iohan. ❧ Of Circumcision ❧ Of the Epiphanie ¶ Of the conuersion of Paule ¶ Of the purificacion of Marie ¶ Of the Annunciation ¶ The thursdaie and fridaie before Easter for thys entente that vpon those dayes the historie of the passion of Christe maye be propouned and declared to the people ¶ Easter daye with the two dayes folowinge ¶ Ascension daye ¶ Whittesondaye with the mondaie folowinge The day of the natiuite of Iohn Baptist ❧ Of Peter and Paule ❧ The daie of the visitacion of Marie ❧ Of Michael vpon which daie a sermon shal be made of the Angels out of thys place Math. xviij Their Angels euer se the face c. Item hebru i. Angels be ministringe spirites c. ¶ Out of these places the pastours shall warne the people of this singuler benifite of God to wardes vs in that that he hath gyuen hys Angels to be the ministers of oure welth and they shall exhorte them to gyue God thankes continually for thys benifite and to take hede that they grieue not the Angels with theyr synnes but rather studie to make them gladde wyth all holynes and godlynes Vpon the festeas of the Apostles we wyl that the people cease from labour til the end of the holye sermon than it shal be lawfull for euerie man to returue to his worcke For it is euident that to cease from labour after dinner is hurteful to agreat parte of the people For in that time commenly they offende God with carnal wantōnes more greuously than vpon other dayes Therefore they that will kepe these h●lye dayes holye must se hereunto that they also sanctifie thē wholy to God and passe them ouer with godlie exercises of religion and not bestowe them vpon those thynges whereby the wrath of God is cheifely prouoked Vpō those holye dayes on which we celebrate and extol such benifites of God as be peculierly mentioned in the histories of the holie scripture the same histories
of God the heauens the sonne the moone the sterres and other celestial workes a religiouse consideration admiration and worshippyng of Goddes maiestie muste needes be stirred vp in vs and growe meruaylouslye and be confirmed excepte we be Godles altogyther And a religiouse and attentyue contemplation of the rest of Goddes workes in the myndes of the Godlye worketh the selfe same thynge Wherfore the preachers shal often recite and declare in their sermons wyth great diligencie suche places of the scripture toutching the creation and workes of God and therwith exhorte men that they accustome them selues with asmuch diligencie as they may that as often as they beholde them selues or other men the heauens the earth the waters and thynges conteyned therein as oftē as they vse and take fruition of the same they cal to remembraunce and considre religiously with them selues that those be the workes and gyftes of God our maker and father and that they were made of him and set before vs for this purpose that in them we shoulde acknowledge God him selfe and oure father and his almightines his euerlasting wisedome and goodnes in Christ the sauiour that we shoulde cal vpō him and magnifie him And herein let them labour to cal to theyr myndes and consideration that there is none other God the maker and preseruer of al thinges then the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ which gaue thys his sonne vnto vs and wyth hym all thinges perteynynge to the vse and saluation both of bodie and soule Whiche hath opened his word and doctrine of lyfe in the holie writinges that so they maye learne to comprehend and ioyne together the worde and workes of God and to knowe and beholde hym and his workes in his worde and to reuolue the same in theyr myndes whē they se and vse the creatures of God Lo this is thy God and maker which gaue the his sōne Christ our Lorde that he might brynge the from eternall death to eternall lyfe and hath reueiled his fatherly wyll toutchynge thy saluation in his scriptures whiche also caused his lawe and Gospell to be preached to the he of nothing made these heauens thys earth these waters these beastes these men thys meate drynke garmentes and what soeuer is before our eyes and handes and he hath layed them before the and geuen the them for thys entente that they myght serue the for thy vse and health that in these his workes and gyftes thou mayest more fully knowe hym prayse and magnifie him and serue hym frō thy whole herte wyth the very same thynges to sette forth his glorie further the health of men Whiche thynge if thou laboure to do these creatures and all the workes of God shall serue to procure thy health And if thou do not so they shall be agaynst the wyth God theyr maker and shall serue to reuenge thy vngodlines Suche a faythfull meditation and contemplation of the creatures of God bryngeth to passe that euerie worke of god preacheth God vnto vs and admonisheth vs of his diuinitie power and goodnes For whiche purpose they were also sette before vs that as the Apostle wryteth we may vnderstande by his workes thorowe the creation his eternall power and Godheade For we oughte so to beholde and considre euerie worke of God that sterynge vp a religiouse admiration of his deuine power wysedome and goodnes we maye crye out wyth Dauid Howe greate be thy workes O Lorde thou haste made al thynges wisely the earth is full of thy goodnes Psalm Ciiii. Thys wyse all the worlde is and oughte to he vnto vs the tēple of God that we may acknowledge call vpon magnifie and worshyppe God not in certayne places onely as vngodlines naturally grafted in vs alloweth but euery where in euery place of his dominion as God oure creatour and maynteyner Whereof thys foloweth that whyle in our busines and doinges we folowe the cōmaūdemētes of God and cal for his healpe we feare nothynge that anie man can do to vs we be nothynge agaste or tremble For as sone as we behold and cōsidre those men wyth whō we haue to do and which seame terrible vnto vs or the thynges them selues in whiche there appeareth some daunger or disticultie as the creatures of god and with that contemplation call to our remēbraunce and thynke religiously vpon God the maker of those men those thynges and of vs then our fayth in Goddes promyse and testimonie namely that all thinges were both made for oure health and felicitie do also necessarely worke the same styll and that they can be none other thinges then the instrumētes of God to perfourme our health and felicitie oure fayth I saye is so stered vp and strengthned to do al thynges that we take in hande to do by the commaundement of God that all feare of daunger and vnabilitie muste needes departe wyth all doubte of well bryngyng to passe the thing that we Godly take in hande to do that is to saye by the commaundement of God Thys cōsideration of thynges whiche pondreth that all thynges be the creatures of God and that God as he made them so he preserueth them for our profite and daylye bringeth them forth and giueth them vs to vse bringeth this thing to passe also that we abuse nothinge but that we haue esteame al thinges that come to our vse as the workes of the father hym selfe as they be in dede And it causeth vs to vse them wyth all moderation and holines wyth all thankesgeuyng and reuerent praysing before other and magnifiynge of Gooddes bountuousnes finally wyth liberall dealyng and bestowyng vpon them that neede It is righte necessarie that the people be taught moost diligently these thynges concernyng the beliefe of the creation and conseruation of all thynges and the faythfull contemplation and vse of the creatures of God For the comen people be muche farther drawen then men beleue from the true and lyuely knowledge and consideration of God the creatour and of his workes thorow that monstrous magnifiyng of saintes and of theyr power to healpe vs which they haue vntruely attributed vnto thē and thorowe those madde processions that settinge forth and worshippynge of images and of Sayntes bones All men in dede behold the heauens the earth and other godlye and wōderful creatures workes of God they toutch them they haue them in theyr hādes and also enioye the commoditie of them but they seldome or neuer remembre God the maker they thanke not God for these his so greate gyftes and benifittes whiche made preserueth and giueth vs al thynges for our cōmoditie health and felicitie And they defer al thynkyng on God all worshippynge of God tyl they come to theyr temples and chapelles there they wyll execute all theyr veneration worshippyng and Goddes seruice that with more securitie in all other places they maye lyue after theyr owne pleasure and nothyng at all remembre God as they shoulde and that manie wayes they maye abuse the holie creatures and
but worcketh euer bestoweth benifittes and doeth al thinges for the felicite of men whereby we myght iustly acknowledge his exeding loue towardes vs. Moreouer thys article muste be taughte the people and be commended to them with singuler diligence for thys cause also that the vn Godlye custome of callinge vpon sayntes departed and desiringe of them good helth temperatines of the ayer peace and such benifittes maye be taken awaye feinge that these thinges be not the worckes of holye men nor of anye creature but be the workes and benifittes of God onely Of the cause of sinne and death VVhan mention is made of the creatiō the preachers must together Agaynste the vngodlie doctrine concerning saintes teache playnly and distinctly that synne that is to saye concupiscence corruption of iudgement and wyll and further more al noughtye motions or il doinges be not created of God but springe from the libertye of the apostata spirite and of man as it is written Iohan. viii whā the diuel speaketh a lye he speaketh of hys owne for he is a lyer and the father of lyes that is to saye the cause and the autour Psal v. Thou art not the God that willeth iniquitye Zacharye viii Lette not euerye one of you deuise euil agaynste hys frende and loue not a falfe oth for all these be the thinges that I hate sayth the Lorde Roma v. Thorowe one man synne entred into the worlde and death thorowe synne i. Iohn ij the lust of the fleshe and the lust of the eyes and pryde of lyfe is not frō the father but from the worlde By these and manie other testimonies it is euident that God wyl not synne neyther Euerie synne that man cōmitteth is cōmitted thorow his own wyll created nor worketh the same But after that the deuyll and man slydde from God suche slydynge and turnynge awaye came frome theyr owne wyll And thoughe after the fall of Adam all men conceyued by mannes seede are borne in originall synne neuertheles actuall synne is the propre and free worke of mānes wil and not necessary that is to saye al be it that the deuyl pricked forth Cain to the slaughter of his brother and though he were enflamed wyth anger neuertheles he myghte yet haue holden his handes and he cōmitted that mischiefe not thorowe a constrayned wyll but thorowe a readie wyl and agreable He shoulde haue resisted his anger and lust and haue prayed God for remission of the euyll sprongen vp in him haue asked the healpe of god to resist that mischiefe So vndoutedly he should haue felte strength to resiste Satan and the tentations of his proper fleshe Now punishmentes iustly accompanye sinful Synne is the cause of death and all miseries Roma v. and wycked actes Wherefore Paule sayth wel thorough sinne death entred into the worlde And agayne we maye plainly see that whole mankinde is subiecte both to perpetual sinnes and also punyshmētes and oppressed with so manye and so greate calamities that mannes mynde can not cōprehende them in thoughte but he must needes be agaste whyle he cōsidereth so greate a sea of mischeiues here we must diligently discerne betwene the creature of God and our sinne God made mā ryght and blessed hym but man gaue hym selfe amiserable wounde This wounde remaineth perpetually in the creatures thorough propagation Originall synne and generation and other infinite sinnes and punishmētes folowe this wounde And this is our faute not Gods as Oseas testifieth cha xiii Thy destruction cometh from thy selfe Israel but thy helpe is in me only Item Psal xxxix For iniquitie thou rebukest man and al his beautie wasteth awaye lyke agarment gnawen of mothes Euerye man is a certaine vaine thinge Wherfore whē we see those horrible punishmētes death sicknes war and sūdrie lyke miseries lette vs knowe that they be the punishmētes of sinne and that thei happen not to mankinde by chaunce but by the wyll and permission of God by reason of God sendeth greuouser afliction to the sayntes that he may make them vnderstande the horriblenes of synne sin And though the saintes be acceptable to God and please hym for Christes sake yet thorough the meruailous purpose of God in this lyfe they be subiecte vnto the crosse For God wyll that the churche do ernestly acknowledge hys wrath agaynst sinne and therefore be exercised wyth sorer discipline For this is the ende of tribulatiōs Wherefore S. Petre sayth also indgement beginneth at the house of God As for the cōforte that the Godlye oughte to haue in afflictions we wyll speake of it in the place of the crosse Here it is sufficient to haue admonisched that those afflictions chaunce not to the congregation with out Goddes prouidence and that God wyl not for sake hys vndre the crosse but that he wil helpe them callinge vpon him yea and he commaūdeth that we praye and looke for deliueraunce from hym As Esai xlix sayeth Can the woman forgette her childe that she wil not haue pitie on the child of hir wōbe Though she forget it yet I wil not forgette the. Beholde I haue written the in my handes etc. This shal suffice concerninge the conseruation and gouernaunce of thinges Hereafter we wyll declare what we oughte to thynke of the cause of synne and of the corruption of mannes nature and agayne what consolation we haue in so greate miseries ¶ Of originall synne and mannes weaknes before regeration GOd the euerlastyng father gaue in creation to oure fyrste parentes Adam and Eue not onely a free but also an vpryght wyll Further he dyd put into theyr myndes an exceadynge greate lyght that before the fal they might truely knowe God worshyp and loue him The other powers obeyed willynglye to thys lyght As Paule sayeth that man was made after the image of God that is to say in the knowledge of God and in right wil that he myghte perfectly obeye and satisfie the law and be as it were the tēple of God wherin God woulde haue dwelled presently and woulde haue exercised his power When man was now settled and constituted in so great blisfulnes and glorie Satā to deface the worke of God borded Eue wyth gyle and at length draue hyr so farre that togither wyth Adam she became vnobedient to the commaundement of God as Moyses deseribeth the fall of mā Gene. iii. Thorowe this inobedience oure first parentes lost those godlie gyftes of innocencie and originall rightuousnes with al theyr posteritie whiche commeth from them so that all men conceyued and borne thorow mans seede be subiecte to originall synne as Dauid testifieth Psal li. and Paule Roma v Wherfore the preachers muste teache of original synne after suche sort as the worde of God prescribeth vnto vs and which the sincerer and ryghte beleuing fathers folowed chiefly Augustine and Anselme namely that it is the wante of originall ryghtuousnes What originall synne is wherwyth we ought to excell that is to saye that men before regeneration be not in
Lorde as Iosaphat saide to his officers and therefore that God wil require a straite cōpte of the gouerners of his people toucthing their administratiō If the preachers shal propoune and declare to the people after this sorte what thinges God hath commaunded and dyd to the olde people aswel in heapinge most ample benifites vpon them as in chastisynge wyth horrible punishmentes and if they shal sette forth al the exemples that God hath exhibited in the scriptures to be considered either of his bountiousnes and seueritie or of hys kindnes and vnkindnes of the people they shal for theyr measure perfourme that thing that the Lorde witnessed of hym selfe I come not to breake the lawe but to fulfil it And that that the apostle saieth we abolishe not the law but astablish it ¶ Of preachinge appropriated to the newe Testament The preachinge of the newe Testament is to preach repentaunce and remission of sinnes in the name of our Lorde Iesu Christe For so the Lorde him selfe sayde and prescribed Luke xxiiii Bicause it is so written and so it be houed Christe to suffre and to ryse agayne from the deade the third daye and that repētaunce and forgyuenes of sinnes shoulde be preached in his name amonge al nations begynninge at Ierusalem Out of this cōmaundement of Christe S. Petre also testified before the assemble of the Iewes and the priestes actes v. in this sorte The God of our fathers hath raised vp Iesus whome ye slue hanged vpon the crosse This prince and sauiour God hath exalted with his ryght hande to gyue repētaunce and remission of sinnes vnto Israel In lyke maner he preacheth also before Cornelius act x. he cōmaunded that we shoulde preach to the people and testifie that it is he that was appoynted of God a iudge of the dead and quicke to him al the prophetes beare witnes that whosoeuer beleueth in hym shall receyue remission of sinnes thorowgh hys name Paule also in the synagoge at antioche of pisidia actes xiii sayeth thus Be it knowen to euerie one of you bretherne that thorowgh thys man remission of sinnes is preached vnto you thorough thys man euerye one that beleueth is instified frō al thinges from which ye coulde not be iustified by the lawe of Moyses So he sayeth also to the elders whiche he called from Ephesus to Milites cha xx ye knowe from the first daye that I entred in to Asia howe I was with yon at al tymes seruing God with al humblenes of minde and wyth manye teares and tentations which chaunced vnto me thorough the layinges awaite of the Iewes how I ouer slipped nothinge that myght be profitable vnto you but preached vnto you and taught you openly and in euerie house testifiyng both to the Iewes also to the greekes that repētaunce that is towarde God and that faith that is towardes our Lorde Iesus By these testimonies it is euident that A double preachyng of the Gospell there be two partes of the preachinge of the gospel or newe testament that is to saye a preachinge of repentaunce and of remission of sinnes Wherefore the preachinge of the newe testamēt must be ginne at repētaunce as the exemples of Iohan baptiste of oure Lorde Iesus Christe and the apostles doe teach For al these men beganne theyr preachinge wyth these wordes repent your former lyfe for the kingdome of God approcheth and beleue the gospel that is to saye the preachinge of remission of sinnes But in thys place the preachers muste declare what repētaunce we ought to vnderstande Whiche is true repentaunce For thys saiynge muste not be taken of euery repentaunce but of that that is towarde God which Christ the Lorde him selfe raiseth vp in our myndes And that is true contritiō and a iust griefe for our sinnes which we haue committed in thought wordes or deedes agaynste the lawe of God Whiche griefe anguish driueth vs to fle to Christe with fayth and truste that for hys sake we shal be deliuered from al our sinnes and frō the wrath of God and that for hys sake we shal be nombred amonge the ryghteous before God and shal be compted heyres of euerlastinge lyfe This is a verie euangelical and Christian repentaunce For it is not inoughe for holsome repētaunce to be grieued and vexed for oure synnes and to feare the iudge mēt of God with which repentaunce Cain and Iudas perished wherewith at length al vngodlye men perishe after that they beginne to feele what anger of God what dānation they haue purchased to them selfe thorough theyr sinful actes But as Paule sayeth we must necessarely haue repētaunce towardes God that is to saye we muste therfore be greued for our sinnes and feare the iudgemēt of God because we haue offēded god our creator and redemer and haue forsaken hym thorough sinnes that besydes contrition for our sinnes there be in vs also a burninge desire and studie of reconciliatiō with God a truste to obtaine the same and a sure purpose to amende our lyues and to yelde our selues wholy in to the obediēce of God Al whiche thinges a true repentaunce muste haue desire and perceyue and that thorough our onely bischoppe and redemer Iesus Cehrist which alone stirreth vp and worketh true repentaunce in vs whyle he maketh the preachinge of repentaunce effectual in our hertes gyuinge his encrease Of the preachinge of repentaunce But to raise vp this repētaunce in our hertes we must cheifely vse the preachinge of the death and passiō of our Lorde Iesus Christe wherewith he satisfied God the father for our sinnes And we muste also vse a continual declaration and repetinge of the lawe of God wherein God sheweth what thinges he alloweth in vs and what he disaloweth and how gētly and bountiously he handleth them that obey hys commaūdimentes and howe rigorously That repentaunce muste be taught out of the ignominious death of Christe he punisheth thē that contemne the same Wherefore the preachers in theyr sermons and in the administration of the sacramētes must preach the death of the Lorde with singuler diligence and sette before the eyes of the people and warne them studiously that the sonne of God whiche neuer committed anye sinne suffred that most bitter and shāful death onely for our sinnes For thei shal teach that thei be so abominable in the sight of the lorde that they could be purged with none other sacrifice with no merites or peynes either of men or angells but only with the precious death of the sonne of God For this cause the preachers shall admonish mē of the greatnes of sinne and of the wrath of God and they shal stirre them vp to repent earnessly And because Christe our Lorde is the onely glasse and exemplar of a godly lyfe we maie learne certainly and substantially out of the lyfe and obedience of Christe to what maner of lyfe we be made and called what stubburnes ther is in vs agaynst god and what corruption of nature whereby
surely we haue deserued that we shulde suffre eternally those punishmentes that the sonne of God suffred for vs seynge that inobedience and stubburnnes agaynste God do euer remayne in vs. Hereof it commeth that the Apostles in theyr sermons as we maye see in the actes were wonte to ioyne together the deathe and resurrection of Christe as the principal poyntes of Christian doctrine which al mē ought euer to haue in theyr sight And vndoubtedly they euer declared the same diligently and taught thereby howe Christe thorough the preordeined purpose and prouidence of God was deliuered and died for our sinnes and rose for oure ryghteousnes Wherefore thorough the preachinge of the passion and death of Christ they exhorted the people to acknowledge theyr sinnes and to repent truly and by the testimonies of the resurrection they stirred them vp to fayth and truste of grace and for gyuenes of synnes For they that can truly beleue and perswade them selues that the sonne of God was smitten for theyr sinnes and that the horriblenes of oure synnes is so greate that it behoued the sonne of god to suffre so shameful and cruel a punishmente for the purgation of them while he would redeme vs from eternal death these men vndoubtedly shal be ashamed repentaunt of theyr sinnes such men shal abhorre excedinglye and feare synnes And so they shal conceyue a liuely and substātial repentaunce Wherfore whan Paule exhorteth to profit and go forwarde in repentaunce of sinnes and warneth that we liue not to satisfie sinnes but to kille them in vs and to dye concerninge the same he is wonte to make mention of the passion and death of Christe Roma vi Knowe ye brethern that as manie of vs as be baptised into Christe Iesus we be baptised into his death That he dyed he dyed for synne Item hym whiche knew not sinne he made sinne for vs that is to saye a sacrifice for synne The Apostle doeth the same thynge in manie other places where he allureth to a newe lyfe and to amendement that is to saye to true repentaunce Ephesi iiij Philip. ij iij. and. Collo ij and in other places For whiche cause also in mentioning both the Sacramentes Baptisme and the the supper of the Lorde he preacheth of the death and passion of Christ For as he sayd of baptisme that we are buried with Christ so he addeth in the description of the supper do thys in my remembraunce For as often as ye shall eate thys breade and drynke of this cuppe ye shall shewe forth the death of the Lorde tyll he come So. S. Petre sayeth also Se that hauyng your conuersation in feare ye passe the tyme of your dwellynge knowyng that you were redemed frō your vayne conuersation whiche ye receyued of the fathers teachynge not wyth transitorye thynges as with syluer and golde but with the precious bloude as of an vnspotted and vndefiled lambe Christe After the same sorte it shall be the preachers parte aswell in sermons as in the administration of the Sacramentes to shewe forth diligently to the people the death of the Lorde as the onely satisfaction for oure synnes and thorowe the same to rayse them vp and to dryue them vnto repentaunce And they muste witnesse to them that synne careleslie and stubburnly the thynge that is in the Epistle to the Hebru that is to saye that suche with theyr wicked life do stampe the sonne of God with theyr fete and defile the bloude of the Testament and therefore shall be punished of God at length horriblebly and euerlastyngly ¶ Of the true propre vse of Gods lawe FOrasmuche as the true acknowledgynge of synnes is necessarie to repētaunce or contrition the lawe of God must be continually declared and beaten into the people and the horrible punishmentes whiche God in the lawe threatneth to them that synne both wyth terrible wordes and moste dreadfull exemples whiche he sheweth in punishing the vngodlie must be sette before them For though Christe alone be the author of repentaunce towardes God that is to saye of holesome contrition and griefe for synne whereby the herte of man is perfectlye turned vnto God and brought agayne vnto the obedience of him yet he wyll that the preachynge of his lawe be applied to thys purpose and he wyll not denie the encrease of his spirite when it is faythfully applied Thys thynge then is chiefely to be warned to the entent that men maye be ryghtly taught of the lawe namely that all that is called the lawe or commaundemēt of God is so in dede that declareth vnto vs what god requireth of vs what pleaseth him and what displeaseth hym And this thing must What is to be vnderstāded by the name of the lawe necessarely be taughte because of thē which thinke that the lawe is not conteyned in the bokes of the newe Testamēt and that there be no cōmaundementes taught therein And agayne that there is no Gospell in the olde Testament Which errour maketh mē vnfitte and vntowarde to vnderstāde the scripture a right Wherefore where so euer commaundemētes are taught with whiche god sheweth what he alloweth ordisalloweth in vs whether they be in the newe Testament or in the olde they ought to be compted for the lawe of God and they must be none otherwyse taughte and declared then those that Moyses taught Secondly we must knowe thys also that there is a double vnderstādyng of the law A double vnderstandinge of the lawe The fyrste is flesly and grosse when men thynke that onely outwarde actes are prohibited in the lawe whiche if a man auoyed metely wel he hath satisfied the law though there remayne styll in the mynde euyll affections and concupiscence repugnant and cōtrarie to the lawe which is onely restrained for feare of punishmentes that it breake not forth into outwarde mischeuous actes As if a man should thinke when the law sayth Thou shalte not steale that he hath obeyed thys precept when he hath holden him selfe from manifest robberie and thefte though in the meane whyle his herte boyle wyth couetise and carefulnesse of thys lyfe and burne wyth the desire of an others good Surely thys vnderstandynge of the lawe is a false and a verie heathnishe erroure whiche maketh nothing els then hipocrites of whiche sorte that pharisee was standyng in the tēple and praying I thanke the God that I am not as other men be raueners vn iuste adulterers as also thys publicane is They then that thynke so carnally of the lawe haue muche a do and greate difficultie to come to the knowedge of Christe For they loke onely to outwarde workes which they thynke they can perfourme wyth their owne strength and therfore they truste that they maye obteyne forgyuenes of synnes and saluation wyth theyr owne workes And as for the preachynge of free remission of synnes thorowe Christe and the ryghtuousnes of fayeth they are either offended wyth it or despice it as folishe The vayle in olde tyme layed ouer the face of
to examine wel them selues accordyng therunto For in it God pulleth vp by the rootes and setteth before our eyes the vniuersall corruption of oure nature and the inwarde frowardnes and deprauation of the same that in thys commaundement as in a glasse we myghte se howe wretchedly and horribly we are depraued and lost thorough the fall of Adam in all our bodye all our soule and all oure strength that we maye instly crye with the Apostle wretched man that I am who shal deliuer me frō the bodie of thys death For though some mā come so farre by the grace and healpe of God that he acknowledge God wyth true fayth that he worshyp and call vpon hym as the fyrst cōmaundement requireth neither regardeth straung Gods nor admitteth false worshippynge of God neither in purpose of mynde nor in wordes and dedes whiche thynge the seconde commaundement forbiddeth neyther thynketh speaketh or doeth anie thynge that is cōtrarie to the confession and sanctification of Goddes name whiche thynge the thirde cōmaundement requireth and that he be diligently occupied in all exercises of religion whiche thinge the fourth commaundement requireth that he submitte hym selfe and gyue due honour both to the officers and to all men wyth whō he lyueth as the fyrst commaundement requireth that he conteine hym selfe frō anger and all bitter thoughtes wordes dedes agaynst his neighbour as the sixt commaundement requireth that he conteine hym selfe from all lecherous lustes and lyue temperatly as the seuenth cōmaundement requireth that he moderate his couetous desire and be liberal to al men as the eight commaundement biddeth that he represse the disease of backebitynge and enuiyng an others excellencie and fauoure the estimation and iust prayses of all men whither the nynth commaundement calleth vs although I saye a man thorowe the benifit of Christ come to thys victory against natural vices to this great towre of vertues whiche felicitie yet none of the sayntes euer knowledged to haue chaunced vnto hym neuertheles the same man by thys tenth commaundement shal be conuicted to be a wretche styl and a damned synner and the enemie of God and when he hath well loked vpon thys commaundement he hym selfe shall bewayle that he is suche a one For as longe as he shal fynde in hym selfe I saye some motion of mynde to that that God forbyddeth and damneth but anie inclination or prones at all and a faynt and slacke courage to do that that God requireth not only a lothsomnes and resistence he shall acknowledge him selfe to be reproned and condempned by this commaundement as a transgressour of Goddes lawe For where as the lawe requireth that no forbydden thynge please vs it requireth the same to be done of vs wyth all our hert all our soule and all our strength For the lawe requireth that God shoulde so be loued and worshipped of vs. But no man can brynge thys to passe that we be farre from all those thynges that God forbyddeth excepte the loue of God and of those thynges that God commaundeth so haue enflamed a man altogyther that he abhorre from all that that God forbiddeth wyth his whole hert his whole soule and al his strengthes But none of the sayntes atteined hereunto whyle they lyued here Wherefore it behoued to graunte that all men are conuicted by thys commaundement and that no man lyueth in thys worlde whiche in dede is of a cleane herte and hath no neede to be deliuered from the curse and damnation of the lawe thorowe Christe Seynge then that the whole lawe dependeth hereupon that we loue God wyth all oure herte etc. We are conuicted transgressours of the whole lawe by thys tenth commaundemente bycause it is proued that we haue not satisfied that poynte of the lawe where vpon the whole lawe dependeth Therefore by thys commaundemente oure crokednesse and all oure miserie togyther is mooste largelye and fullye sette before oure eyes and we are mooste myghtely dryuen to seeke repentaunce thereof and the grace and satisfaction of oure Lorde Iesus Christe whiche turneth awaye the anger and the curse of God deserued thorowe thys in obedience and stubburnesse of oure lyfe and offreth to the father for vs his obedience and perfecte ryghtuousnesse and wyth his spirite mortifieth oure fleshe corrupted thorowe concupiscences and renueth vs all togyther and rayseth vp in vs a feruent zeale towardes hym selfe and his commaundementes that wyth the spirite we maye constantly and manfullye fyghte agaynste the fleshe and cutte of the lawe of oure members and kyll the olde Adam dayly more and more puttynge on the newe man Iesus Christe whiche onely hath satisfied the lawe and is so acceptable to the father that he compteth vs pleasaunt and acceptable in that dear beloued though we be euer yet as transgressours of the law so in daunger of his wrath Thys generall summe and interpretation of the commaundementes muste bee mooste diligentlye repeted and beaten into the peoples heades in all sermons that they maye both truely acknowledge theyr owne synnes and learne to be repentaunt of them effectuouslye and that they maye be myghtelye dryuen to Christe the onelye leache and Sauioure of oure soules and also that they maye be raysed and promoted in him to true vertues to verie good workes and to worshyppynge acceptable vnto God Furthermore the people muste euer be taughte thys thynge also that the promises and threates agaynst the worshyppyng of false Goddes and Idolatrie pertayne to euerie commaundement For the cause why they be ioyned to the commaundement that toutcheth false religion is thys namely for that that the keepyng and transgression of the whole law is conteined herein that we acknowledge call vpon and worshippe wyth true fayth and feare the true God in Christe the Lorde no departe from hym to false Goddes and to a worshyppyng straunge from that that he hym selfe taughte For who so asketh euerlasting health and all good thinges wholly from God thorowe Christ Iesus and not from anie creature he shall also endeuour hym selfe diligently to keepe al those thynges that God hath cōmaunded For he can not once thinke what better thynge he maye do as one that beleueth that a blessed and eternall lyfe is prescribed vnto hym in these commaundementes For what thinge can he gladder do then to gratifie God whō he loueth aboue all thynges Wherfore the Lorde also sayed he that ha●h my cōmaundementes and keepeth them he it is that loueth me Therfore who so studieth not to keepe the commaundementes of God he loueth not God neither and therfore he beleueth not that he is God whiche commaundeth these thynges Wherfore he asketh his felicitie and blisfulnes of some other then of thys true and one God and he hath straung Goddes Seing then that the obseruation of al the cōmaundementes of God dependeth vpon the obseruation of thys commaundement concernynge the eschuinge of false Goddes and false worshyppyng of God the promise of the benifites of God and the threatenynge of Goddes reuengeaunce were ordeyned for thys purpose But
glorifie me This way the crosse is easely suffered and becometh pleasaunt For who woulde not be blynde for a whyle if he knewe that his syght shoulde be restored to him sone after by the hādes of Christ hym selfe and also inwarde syght wyth the outwarde Who woulde not wishe exie and persecution with Dauid if he knewe that he shoulde be merueylously deliuered of God and that he shoulde be extolled to sanctifie his name and dilate his knyngdome Who woulde not chose to be troubled and despiced wyth Iob if he knewe that at length he shoulde be pronounced ryghtuous by the iudgement of the diuine maiestie it selfe and that he shoulde recouer his former dignitie yea and more to both in temporal and euerlasting goodes But we must be as certaine of the healpe of God and deliueraunce as Dauid Iob and other were whose exemples the scripture setteth before vs so that we call vpon God wyth true fayth Wherfore the people muste be often warned hereof bi the ministers that by this meane faith and the inuocation of God beinge nowe welnigh quenched may be raised vp againe and florishe There be some also whiche whyle they are aflicted learne the peculiar loue of god towardes them and gette glorie euen in the crosse as the Apostles Act. v. When they were beaten wyth roddes for the name of Christe and confession of the Gospel went from the councell reioysinge that they were compted worthie to be spitefully handled for his names sake Therefore it muste be ascribed to the peculiar goodnes of god whē he iudgeth vs worthy to be troubled for his names sake for if we suffre wyth hym we shall also be glorified wyth him as Paule witnesseth Ro. viij Surely it was a greate benifitte and greate glorie to the Apostles that they had so great fayth and loue to promote the kingdō of God that they thought they oughte to reioyse and to glorie in the trouble and despite whiche they suffered for the name of Christe whereof vndoubtedly they toke great consolation Therefore christian men muste euer labour to gette suche perfection whiche reade that manie Martyres shewed men women chyldren yonge and olde learned and vnlearned so that we maye once saye wyth Paule Be it farre from me that I glorie sauynge in the crosse of oure Lorde Iesu Christe etc. In this place it shal pertayne to the preachers to arme the people agaynste the errours of the Anabaptistes whiche contende that no crosse auayleth to health sauynge that that is layed vpon vs for faythes sake and for the confession of Christe neither wil they acknowledge anie to be a christian mā which hath not this crosse that he suffre persecution for the cōfession of Christe Whose errour is lyke the erroure of the donatistes whiche as S. Augustine witnesseth draue men euen agaynste theyr wylles to kylle them selues Therfore the preachers muste teache the people three kyndes of aflictions and of the crosse First when we suffre persecution for the confession of Christe and for rightuousnes whiche afliction crosse is moste holesome and most to be wished for accordynge to the saying of Christe Math. v. Blessed be they that suffre persecutions for ryghtuousnes sake etc. The seconde kinde of tribulatiō is wherby God correcteth vs for synne and calleth vs agayne vnto repentaunce as be diseases pouertie hūgre pestilence etc. In these if we shewe patience to God and obey his wyll and seeke his grace in Christe being so pricked wyth true repentaunce of synnes and earnest fayth thys shal be a pleasaunt sacrifice vnto God whiche thynge is toutched in the parable Luke xiij Of the great banekette to whiche the bidden gestes refused to come and the pore lame blynde etc. were brought and compelled to come The thirde kynde of the crosse is when malefactours are punished for their wicked actes as he murtherers adulterers theues robbers Thys kynde of tribulation becometh not christian men Wherfore we must take diligent hede that we be not troubled thys waye as wicked and euylles doers i. Petri. iiij Lette none of you be aflicted as a murtherer as these etc. But if anie man be troubled as a christian let hym not be ashamed but glorifie God in thys behalfe But if anie suche thing chaunce and if some heynous act be committed the person must not despeare therfore but he must acknowledge that he is punished for his deseruing Wher fore he muste haue patience and praye for forgyuenes and so thys crosse though it be brought vpon vs thorowe our wicked actes becometh holie acceptable to God as we may se in the thiefe whiche on the crosse acknowledged and called vpon Christe Here the preachers shall also warne diligently that it is not in our choyse to lay the crosse vpon vs as we liste but that euerie man muste beare that crosse whiche God layeth vpon hym accordynge to the sayinge of Christ he that wyl be my disciple let him take vp his owne crosse not Christes crosse or Petres or Paules but his owne Th●refore lette euerie man be contented wyth h●s owne crosse onely lette him ●●w are that he pull not a crosse vpon hym selfe wyth his owne wicked dedes The onely exemple of Iohn the Euangeliste proueth sufficiently that it is not necessarie that euerie man be exercised wyth the crosse for the confession of fayth For thys mā hough he were right deare vnto Christe yet he dyed a naturall death and in extreme age and was not put to death for the confession of fayeth as the moste parte of the other Apostles were Furthermore thys thynge also must be taught about thys place that it is not onely profitable but also necessarie that we be troubled in thys lyfe and exercised with sūdrie aduersities by reason of our naughtie fleshe and olde Adam to whiche it is needefull to be repressed tamed wyth the crosse as meate and drynke be needeful for the bodie For oure olde man in prosperitie for the moste parte wareth riotous and insolent forgetteth God and looseth the brydle to allustes and mischiues as Moyses testifieth Deut. xxxij The beloued was batted and kycked he was batted and made fatte and lefte God his maker and departed from God his health Wherfore Solomon prayeth Pro. xxx Neither pouertie nor rytches gyue me leste I beinge fylled denie the and saye who is the Lorde etc. To auoyed these so great euyls the crosse is surely necessarie so that if God lay vpō vs no peculiar crosse we must humble and chastise our fleshe our selues as Paule wrate of hym selfe i. Cor. ix I chastise my bodie and brynge it into bondage etc. For the olde man must needes be mortified and perishe if the newe shal be renued And thys the holie goste worketh in vs chiefely by the law and aflictiōs wherewith we are moued and nurtured to vnderstande the lawe Wherefore in baptisme we submitte oure selues to the crosse and to death accordynge to the sayinge of Paule Ro. vi As manie of vs as be baptised into Christe are baptised
the Catechisme as may be foūd most readie meete thereunto though they be not priestes or in other ordinarie ministeries But howe and after what fourme the Catechisme must be expouned we wyll declare hereafter In cities we wyll that euen vpon the workynge dayes there be two holy assēbles euerie day in the which holie lessons shal be reade with prayers and Psalmes if ministers wante not and if the people wyll be entreated to come togyther diligently Let suche houres be appoynted for these assembles as shal be moste comodiouse to the people In villages if it maye be for the people let holie assembles be called togyther thryse a wieke in whiche mornynge prayers and exhortations shall be vsed out the scriptures If by reason of the negligence of the people it can not be done so often they shall procure that they come togyther once or twyse ¶ Of the holy Sacramentes generally LEtte the pastours and teachers remembre that it is there duetie to enstruct the people diligentlie not onely in the administration it selfe of the Sacramētes but also oftē in their sermons when the place shall require it what is done and exhibited in the handlynge and dispensation of euery Sacrament How mē ought to prepare them selues to receyue the Sacramētes and wyth what trust we must take them and wherein we muste putte confidence of receyuing the benifitte of God in the Sacramentes and howe much diligence religion is required to the handlyng of sacramētes not only of them which thē selues vse the sacramētes but also of thē which be present at the administration and dispensation of the same and chiefly of the ministers whiche exhibite and distribute thē to other But chiefely they shall warne the people that they thynke not that they maye obteine the grace of God and communion wyth Christe in the Sacramentes thorowe the strēgth and worthines of outwarde worke either in him that ministreth the sacramētes or of hym that receyueth thē but onely thorowe the strength of God and merite of Christe whiche wil worke in his worde and Sacramentes and perfourme al those thinges vndoubtedly whiche he offereth in the Sacramentes and testifieth wyth his wordes to all them whiche receyue the Sacramentes accordynge to his worde wyth true fayth ¶ Of Baptisme BAptisme is a Sacrament of regeneration whereby we be planted and incorporated into Christe the Lorde and be buried into his death and put on the same and be made thorowe hym the sonnes and heryes of God Wherefore we muste handle and receyue thys Sacrament wyth greate reuerence and religion And therfore we must vse that maner of administrynge thys Sacramente and suche tyme muste be appoynted for the administration of the same that all thynges maye serue to steare vp and encrease reuerence and religion that this holy Sacramnent may be godly and holesomly administred and receiued Amonge the auncient fathers Baptisme was openly ministred onely at two tymes in the yere at Ester Witsontyde Which constitution bicause it shoulde be harde perchaunce to renue we wyl that Baptisme be ministred onely vpon the sundayes and holie dayes when the whole congregation is wonte to come togyther if the weakenes of the infantes lette not the same so that it is to be feared that they wyll not lyue tyll the nexte holie daye for oure mynde is that the handlyng of the Sacrament of Christes bodie and bloude called Eucharistia maye be ioyned with Baptisme and that they which brynge the infantes to Baptisme maye vse the bodie and bloude of oure Lorde Iesus Christ after the maner and institution of the primitiue churche But that all thynges maye be ministred and receyued religiously and reuerently the par●●es of the infātes shall signifie the matter betymes to the pastours and wyth the godfathers shall humbly require Baptisme for their infantes That if the parentes or the godfathers or both be subiecte to manifest crimes they may be corrected of the pastoure if they wyll admitte correction or if they be incorrigible that they maye be kepte from the communion of Baptisme lest they be present at so diuine a ministration vnto damnation and wyth daunger of offending the churche For they aswell make them selues gyltie of the bodie and death of Christ whiche vnworthelie be present at thys Sacramente of Baptisme and require the same for theyr Infantes wythout true fayeth in Christe as they whiche take the bodie and bloude of the Lorde vnworthely that is to saye not after the institution of Christe namely wythout true repentaūce and faith in Christe Whrefore if suche come vnto the pastours to aske holie Baptisme whether they be the parentes of the chyldren or theyr godfathers as be defiled wyth manifeste crimes and abominatiōs the preachers shall exhorte them vnto repentaunce and warne them that they be not present at the administration of the Sacramente for that tyme leste they pull damnation vpon them selues and offende the churche For suche by reason of theyr wycked actes haue no parte in the kyngdome of God neyther be they to be admitted to the participation of the sacramentes excepte they repent openly But if the parentes be founde in suche crimes they shall desire theyr kinsfolke or other frendes whiche be as yet the true and lyuely membres of the churche that in theyr steede they wyll aske Baptisme for theyr infantes If the godfathers shal be iudged vnworthie of the church other shal be desired which haue good testimonie In the request of Baptisme the pastours shal aske them whether the infantes haue not receiued Baptisme already whiche thinge is wont to chaunce when the chylde is in perill of death For if they be baptised then the pastours shall do those thynges that we wyll declare hereafter cōcernyng suche infantes But if they be not baptised or not certeynly baptised or not as it behoued and if the parentes and godfathers be not subiecte to those crimes for whiche they shoulde be kepte of from Baptisme they muste be diligently warned by the pastours of the exceadynge benefitte of regeneration in Christe whiche they desire to theyr chyldren Item of the horrible fall and gilte from whiche the infantes are deliuered in Baptisme thorowe Christe Then he shall exhorte them that they be present religiously at the exorcisme and Catechisme and so afterward at the ministration of baptisme laste of all that they vse togyther the Sacrament of the bodie and bloude of the Lorde For it becometh thys thynge to be done not onely for thys cause that they be the membres of Christe and it behoueth not to be present at the Lordes borde wythout part takynge but also bycause it is an vnworthie thynge to aske the communion of Christ for infantes and to receyue it in baptisme and not to receiue the same in the Sacrament for them selues wherein it is offered to thē also For if they aske and receyue the communion of Christ in Baptisme with true fayth they can not but aske the same for them selues and receiue it desirously beinge offered in
exercised wyth aduersitie and sundrie miseries we must remēbre that we are baptised and that in baptisme al our sinnes euils be ouercomed and deade and that they be dayly wasted and obolished more and more thorowe the crosse and sūdry afflictions which God sendeth vnto vs and that the newe man is continually renued and repared thorow the vertue of the resurrection of Christe Therfore of ryght we oughte to thanke God for his so vnspeakeable mercie and we muste also praye therwyth that he wyll vouchsafe euer to further and at the last to finishe his worke whiche he hath begonne in vs and in all them whom he hath called to baptisme The preachers shal vse such exhortatiōs lōger or shorter accordyng to the tyme out of the forsaid places of the scripture and other lyke and then they shall adde the interrogations folowyng ¶ Interrogatiōs or demaūdes which shall be propouned to the godfathers and to the parentes of infantes Do ye beleue that those thynges be true whiche I shewed you out of the worde of God concernyng the corruption of nature thorowe originall synnne and concernynge regeneration in Christ our Lorde and euerlastyng communion wyth God whiche is exhibited thorowe holie baptisme ¶ Answere ¶ We beleue Do you require then wyth al your hertes and wyth true fayth that thys your infant whom ye haue brought and offered to Christe be deliuered from thys corruption of nature thorowe the merite and vertue of Christe in baptisme and be reconciled to God and borne againe into a new and perpetuall lyfe ¶ Answer ¶ We require it Do ye then renounce in your name and in the name of the chylde the deuyll and all his workes ¶ Answere ¶ We renounce And the worlde also and all his concupiscence ¶ Answere ¶ We renounce Do ye beleue in God the father almightie maker of heauen and earth ¶ Answere We beleue And do ye beleue that God wyll be a father to you and to thys Infante when it is baptised and that he wyll keepe you frō all euyll thorowe his almightie power wysedome and mercie and heape benifittes vpon you and that therefore you oughte to feare hym and loue hym aboue al thynges ¶ Answere We beleue Do ye beleue in our Lorde Iesus Christe his onely sonne which to redeme vs became mā suffered died was raysed frō death ascended into heauē and sitteth on the ryght hāde of the father frō thēce gouerneth his churche thorowe his almightie power and shal come in th ende of the worlde appeare to al mē a iudge of the dead and the quicke ¶ Answere We beleue Do ye confesse out of this fayth that our Lorde Iesus Christe is also your Sauiour and Sauiour of thys chylde whiche by his death hathe purged your synnes also and hath recōciled you to God and instified you thorowe his resurrection and wyl at length fully finishe vp the Image and lyfe of God in you beinge cleansed from all synne ❧ Answere We confesse Do ye beleue also in the holie goste the holie and vniuersall churche the communion of saintes the remission of synnes the resurrection of the fleshe and lyfe euerlasting ▪ ❧ Answere We beleue Out of thys confession do you beleue that the holie goste wyl be your teacher and comforter and the teacher and comforter of thys chylde and that you be the true membres of the bodie of Chris●e oure Lorde and of his churche and that thys childe by baptisme shall be a membre of Christe and his churche wherein he shall haue remission of sinnes a sure hope of resurrection and life euerlastynge ❧ Answere We beleue Wyll ye then take the infante from baptisme and compte hym for a verie sonne of God a brother and membre of Christe and as soone as he cometh to the vse of reason if peraduenture he shall leese his parentes or if they shall be negligente in thys behalfe wyll ye take the charge of him that he may learne the ten commaundementes the articles of oure fayth the Lordes prayer the sacramentes both at home and in the congregation that from his chyldehode he maye beginne to vnderstande the misterie of baptisme and the benefittes of Christe gyuen to hym therin and afterwarde when he is wel instructed in the religion of Christe that he confesse his fayth in the congregation wyth his owne mouth and thorow the participation of Christe that he gyue hym selfe to obedience towardes God and the congregation ¶ Answere We wyll ❧ Here the past oure shall exhorte agayne the parentes and the multitude standyng by Remēbre then beloued that ye must with all faythfulnes and diligence perfourme the thynge that ye haue promised here in the sight of god Christ our sauiour which is amonge vs and before his holie cōgregation And all you parentes godfathers and other that stāde by acknowledge this childe after that he hath receyued baptisme as the sonne of God and membre of Iesus Christ to whom the Angelles be presente as ministers and serue hym neither doubte ye but that what so euer good or euyll ye do to thys seelie Infant you do the same to God and to Christe the Lorde Lette it not be anie payne to you then that euery one of you accordynge to his state kynred and vncation procure thys chylde to be godlie and religiously broughte vp and instructed that at length he maye keepe all those thinges that Christe oure Sauiour commaunded to vs. It perteyneth then vnto you whiche are giuen of God to thys chylde to be parentes kynsfolke or godfathers to procure as sone as he is growen vp to brynge hym to scholes to the cōgregatiō that he may be instructed moore fully in the misteries of Christe and in other thynges that he may perceyue the grace and exceadyng benifittes of God gyuen in baptisme that he gyue accompt of his fayth before the cōgregation that he renounce in dede the diuyl the worlde wyth al concupiscences that he wholie gyue hym selfe to Christe our Lorde and to his cōgregation to be obedient in all poyntes accordyng to his gospel and so cōtinue in Christ our Lorde vnto th ende and euer go forward in newnes of lyfe as a lyuely membre of Christe and that beinge a fruiteful braunch in thys vinyarde he brynge forth the plentifull fruite of all good workes to the prayse of God and edification of the churche ❧ Here foloweth the Exorcisme or adiuration HEre the past oure shall cōmaunde the chylde to be brought nere him and shal demaūd his name which knowen he shal say I cōmaunde all euyll spirites in the name of oure Lorde Iesu Christ to departe frō thys infant and to do hym no hurt anie maner of wayes ❧ After thys makyng the figure of the crosse wyth his thombe vpon his foreheade and vpon his brest let hym saye Take the figure of the holie crosse in thy foreheade that thou neuer be ashamed of God and Christ thy sauiour or of his Gospell take it also on
thy brest that the power of Christe crucified may be euer thy succour and sure protection in all thynge ❧ Then let hym saye to the people The Lorde be wyth you ❧ Let the the people answere And wyth thy spirite ❧ The pastour Let vs praye Almightie and euerlastyng God the father of oure Lorde Iesus Christe I call the vpon thys N. thy seruaunte for whom the churche requireth the Sacramente of baptisme and therein thy grace and spirituall regeneration and thou saydeste aske and ye shal receyue etc. so gyue thy grace and mercie to thys chylde as thy church prayeth the that he maye obteine the redemption of thy sonne and inheritaunce of euerlastynge and blessed lyfe whiche thy cōgregation seeketh for hym thorowe baptisme Open to hym the dore of thy kyngdome at whiche thy churche knocketh for hym thorowe Christe our Lorde Amen ❧ Let vs praye Further almightie God whiche in olde tyme dyddeste destroye the wycked worlde wyth the floude accordynge to thy terrible iudgement and dyddeste preserue onely the familie of godly Noe eighte soules of thy vnspeakable mercie and which also dyddest droune in the redde sea obstinate Pharao the Kynge of the Egiptians wyth all his armie and warlike power and causedist thy people of Israel to passe ouer with dry feete and wouldest shadowe in them holy baptistisme the lauer of regeneration furthermore whiche dyddeste consecrate Iordane wyth the Baptisme of thy sonne Christe Iesu and other waters to holie deepynge and washynge of synnes we praye the for thy exceadynge mercie loke fauourably vpon thys Infante gyue hym true fayeth and thy holie spirite that what so euer fylth he hath taken of Adam it maye be drouned and be put awaye by thys holie floude that being seperated from the numbre of the vngodlie he maye be kepte safe in the holie arke of the churche and maye confesse and sanctifie thy name wyth a lustie and feruent spirite and serue thy kyngdome wyth constant truste and sure hope that at length he maye atteyne to the promises of eternal lyfe wyth all the godlie Amen ❧ The pastour The Lorde be with you ❧ The people And wyth thy spirite Heare the Gospell of oure Lorde Iesus Christe Marke x. In that tyme they broughte chyldren to Iesus that he might toutch them But the disciples rebuked them that broughte them When Iesus sawe that he toke indigna ion and sayed vnto them sulfure the litleoues to come vnto me etc. Beleue these wordes and thys deede of our Lorde Iesu Christe vpō them and doubt not but that he wyll so receyue your chyldren also and embrace them wyth the armes of his mercie and gyue them the blessynge of eternall lyfe and the euerlasting communion of the kyngdome of God The same Lorde and our Sauiour Iesus Christe confirme and encrease thys your fayth Amen ❧ After thys the pastoure shall laye his handes vpon the chyldes heade and the godfathers touching the child shall praye wyth hym Oure father whiche arte etc. Then they shall also rehearse the crede I beleue in God the father etc. ¶ Let vs praye After thys the churche shall synge the Psal Cxiiij Item Cxv. and. Cxxxvi. When Israell went forth etc. Not to vs Lorde etc. Item prayse the name of the Lorde etc. Ye seruauntes prayse the Lorde ❧ The pastour The Lorde be with you ¶ The people And wyth thy spirite ❧ Let vs praye Almightie and euerlastynge God heauenlie father we gyue the eternall thankes that thou haste vouchsafed to cal vs to thys knowledge of thy grace fayth towardes the. Encrease and confirme this fayth in vs euermore Gyue thy holie spirite to thys infant that he maye be borne agayne and be made heyre of euerlastyng saluation which of thy groce and mercie thou hast promised to thy holie churche to olde men and to children thorow our Lorde Iesus Christ which liueth and reigneth wyth the nowe and for euer Amen ❧ Thus gyuynge his blessynge let hym dimisse the congregation ❧ Of administration of Baptisme The daye folowinge let the infantes beinge exorcised the daye before be broughte agayne to the cōgregation a litle before the supper of the Lorde whō there the pastour after that the Gospel is reade and declared and the crede songe shal bid to be broughte to the foūtstone and shal exhort the parētes the godfathers and kinsfolke after the maner folowinge Beloued in Christ yesterday by the grace of God we hearde how exceading and vnspeakable mercie is exhibited in Baptisme Ye haue renounced Satā and the worlde ye haue cōfessed the fayth of Christe ye haue promised obedience to Christ and the cōgregation and ye haue required of God the father that for his sōnes sake our Lorde Iesus Christ he will deliuer these infātes from the kingdome of darkenes and settle thē in the kingdome of his beloued sōne You must remēbre these thinges and doubt nothing but that we shal receyue all these thynges that we require if we beleue Therefore liftynge vp your mindes vnto the Lorde appeare ye here with all religion as in the sighte of almightie God the father the sōne and the holie gost and receiue ye sure fayth and thankesgiuing the benifitte of regeneration and adoptiō into euerlastyng life of the one god him selfe the father the sonne and the holie goste And bicause the Lorde hym selfe commaunded vs to baptise in the name of the father the sōne and the holie gost vndoubtedly god him selfe baptiseth our infātes cleanseth thē frō sinnes deliuereth thē frō euerlasting death putteth vpō thē his owne rightuousnes and gyueth them life eternal We must acknowledge with true faith and euer magnifie these exceading benifittes of God Wherfore that we may steare vp our fayth and mindes Let vs heare the wordes of S. Paule folowing concernynge thys matter ❧ To Tite Chapter iij. But after that the goodnes and loue of oure sauiour God towardes mē appeared not of the workes of ryghtuousnes whiche we dyd but after his mercie he saued vs by the lauer of regeneration and renuing of the holie goste etc. ❧ The pastour The Lorde be wyth you ❧ The people And wyth thy spirite ¶ Out of the Gospell of Mathewe the laste Chapter The Lorde Iesus said vnto his disciples All power in heauen and in earth is gyuen vnto me Go ye therfore into al the worlde and preache the Gospell to al creatures and teach al the heathē baptising thē in the name of the father the sonne the holie gost etc ❧ The pastour The Lorde be with you ❧ The people And wyth thy spiritie ❧ Let vs praye Almightie and mercifull God and father thou diddest promise to Abraham oure father and the father of all that beleue and in him thou dyddeste promise to vs also his chyldren that thou wouldeste be a God to vs and to oure seede Wherefore as thou diddest receyue the infantes of the olde people into grace and into thyne owne people by circumcisiō And thy sonne Christe Iesus our Lorde and
when they praye him so giue these chyldrē the thinge that we pray the for thorowe thy sonne Christ that when we shal now say our hādes vpō them in thy name and shall certifie them by thys signe that thy fatherly hande shall be euer stretched forth vpon thē and that they shall neuer wante thy holy spirite to keepe leade and gouerne thē in the way of health and in a very christian life graunt thou I say vnto them that they maye acknowledge these thinges wyth true fayth and that they may certeynly beleue that thou wilte defende thē with thy almightie ryghte hande and keepe them frō al euil and deliuer them and leade them to al good workes Finally that thou wylt neuer take thy holy spirite from them thorowe our Lorde Iesus Christ ❧ Here the pastour laying his hādes vpon them shal say O Lorde Iesu Christ the sonne of God which saidest in the Gospel If you then beinge euyl cā gyue good gyftes to your children howe muche more shal my father giue the holie goste to them that aske hym Item If two consent together vpon the earth etc. Confirme thys thy seruante wyth thy holie spirite that he may cōtinue in the obedience of thy Gospell and strongly resist the diuel and his owne weakenes and not greue the holie goste or trouble or offende thy churche wyth sclaunders but that his whole lyfe maye serue to the prayse of thy glorie his owne health and commune profitte of thy congregation as thou hast prescribed to vs and as thou haste promised that thou wylte gyue to them that aske the. Amen ❧ After thys lette the Hymne be songe Nowe al thankes etc. Nowe a good whyle sithens the signe of oyle was wonte to be vsed in confirmation but bycause they abused thys signe moost superstitiously and forasmuche as also amonge christian men signes and shadowes of spiritual thinges ought not to be so much regarded as the thynge and trueth it selfe the signe of layinge on of handes shall be sufficient in thys ministration whiche the Apostles and olde fathers thoughte sufficient And that thys Ceremonie maye be hādled wyth greater granitie and reuerence and wyth more fruite both of the chyldren and of the whole congregation the deanes wyth the visiters or parishe priestes of euerie congregation shal chose out suche a place in the temples frō whence the cōfession and profession of the chyldren and other thinges that muste be done there wyth all maye be clearely hearde and perceyued of the whole congregation ❧ Of the Lordes supper MEn muste be muche and often taught and warned of this most holie Sacrament that it is as Paule witnesseth a cōmunion of the bodye and bloude of oure Lorde Iesus Christ wherin we muste so celebrate the remēbraūce of him wyth greate religion and graue preachynge of his death and resurrection and of al thinges which he was made for vs whiche he dyd and suffered for oure saluation that our fayth in hym may be cōfirmed that we maye cleaue faster and lyne more fully in hym and he in vs. And forasmuch as the Lorde when he iustituted thys holie supper dyd saye Do thys in remembraunce of me the preachers shall diligently warne thys also that the Lorde cōmaunded that we shoulde do those thynges in this Sacrament whiche he hym selfe shewed to be done by his exemple Therefore we muste set the same acte of the Lorde before vs neither muste we in any wyse decline from the same or chaunge any thynge of it though an Angel from heauen or an Apostle did counsel and bidde vs so to do Which thinge the right holy bishop and martyr Ciprian gathereth well and truely out of these and many other wordes of the Lorde For if Christ be our onely Lorde and maister we as the ministers and disciples of hym muste needes folowe and do not the worde or dede of anie man or Angel but we muste folowe and do wyth al reuerence the thynges that he dyd and layed before vs to do neither maye we regarde what other dyd before vs but what Christe oure Lorde fyrste dyd whiche is before al thynges And al they that do not thys but chaunge somewhat of the institution of the Lorde in thys moste holie misterie ought not to be iudged his vicares or his priestes seing that for the traditions of men they caste away the commaundement of Christe The holie martyr wryteth these and muche moore seuere and earneste thynges in the same Epistle agaynste them that in the administration of this most holy Sacramēt chaung any point of that the Lorde hym selfe did in his supper For he cōmaunded vs to do that onely Nowe if we consider howe Christe instituted this holye supper it appeareth clearelie out of the declarations of the euangelistes and saynt Paull that first he made his holie supper with his disciples and that he made the same one and commune to al that were presēt and with suche disciples as had wholye gyue theym selues to hys doctrine For thoughe Iudas were a fayned disciple and as Christ calleth him a diuyll neuertheles the other disciples dyd not yet knowe that for he dyd cleane to the Lorde in outwarde profession and lyfe as the rest did But the Lorde whan he gaue his disciples an exemple in hys supper where as he admitted Iudas he would not followe hys owne secret iudgement but that open manifest iudgemēt which his disciples might shoulde folowe afterwarde For thys cause ●n the old church which obserued that thing ●hat it had receiued of the Aposteles no mā●as admitted vnto the holye communion whiche hadde not witnessed hymselfe to be he disciple of the Lorde Further more such 〈◊〉 any companie and congregacion of the ●aythful had one supper only and that com●une to al so that thei al receiued the lordes ●ody in one bread and his blod in one cup. Whereof Paule writeth thus The cuppe of blessing whiche we blesse that is to saye wherwyth we giue thankes is it not the cōmunion of the bloude of Christe And the breade whiche we breake is it not the communion of the bodye of Christe For we beinge many are one breade and one bodie for we receiue al of one bread and of one cuppe Loo the Apostle speaketh of one cup in whō one man gyueth not thankes for hym selfe and he speaketh of one bread whiche all we that come together breake beinge commune and he witnesseth that this is the cōmunion of the bodie and bloude of Christe whyche communion all we receyue together oute o● one Sacrament and we confirme the same because we are the members and bodye o● Christ Wherefore the Apostle willinge t● strēgth the thinge that he had say I meame that the breade whiche we breake in the holie supper is the communion of the bodie o● Christ vsed these wordes we beinge many saieth he are one breade and one bodie as ●● he woulde saye one breade is broken an● one sacrament is distributed amonge vs beinge manie for this
bourde be striken and troubled wyth sore rebukes or vntymely thrustynge vnto the receyuynge of the Sacrament For there be not a fewe whiche though they can not thorowlie vnderstande this misterie and the perfecte vse of Sacramentes yet they haue suche fayth in Christe that they can praye wyth the congregation and be somewhat edified in fayth thorow holie doctrine and exhortations that be wonte to be vsed aboute the holie supper and the ministration thereof yea and they maye be taughte and moued by litle and litle to a perfecter knowledge of thys misterie and an oftner vse of the Sacramentes euen by thys that they be present at the holie supper which absteyne not from the Lordes supper of anie contempte of the Sacramentes which they acknowledge in them selues but of a certeine weakenes of men and preposterous reuerence of the Sacramente These men the pastoures muste fatherlie and gentlie teach and enstructe dayly of these misteries and brynge them fayre and softlie to a perfecter knowledge and vse of the same declarynge diligently and printynge in them the thynges that we haue taughte in this place concerning the true and perfect administratiō and vse of this Sacramēt and they must not fray them away and driue them frō the hole action of the supper whyle they haue anie hope of them that they wil go forward in the studie and communion of Christ ¶ At what tyme the supper of the Lorde muste be celebrated ❧ Therfore that thys moste holie Sacrament may be better knowen among al godlie men and that the true vse of it maye be more easely restored and muche estemed we wyll that it be ministred as sone as the people of euerie cōgregation for the moste part be well enstructe out of Goddes worde of the true vse of it onely vpon the sundayes and holie dayes or vpon suche dayes when great companies assemble together to commune prayer Thys thynge was obserued in the time of the fathers also in greater and muche more populous cōgregations then we haue For the Lorde instituted not thys Sacramēt vnto vs for a thinge to be beholded but he commaunded it to be ministred for the commune and holsome receyuyng of his bodie and bloude whiche thynges al the membres ought equally to receyue in euery great holie assemble from one table and one altare Hereof S. Ciprian amonge other alledgeth thys cause why we celebrate this holy supper in the mornyng whereas Christe dyd it after supper bycause sayeth he that when we suppe we can not cal the commune people to our feaste that we maye celebrate the trueth of the Sacrament al the brotherhode beinge present These be the wordes of Ciprian whiche he toke out of the doctrine of Paul i. Cor. x. which we alledged before For the truth of thys Sacrament is as the Apostle teacheth in the same place that all we whiche are the membres and bodie of Christe should receyue the bodie and bloud out of the same Sacramēt Wherfore the father 's iudged that thys supper is not truly rightly celebrated except the whole brotherhode be present I meane thys commune supper For the holie bishoppes dyd sometymes celebrate the holie supper priuately that is to saye the whole congregation not beinge present sometymes wyth straungers and sometymes wyth the better and feruenter sorte of bretherne and that in their peculiar prayinge places and sometymes also in priuate houses wyth sicke folke of whose communion we wyll speake hereafter And these the holie fathers called priuate masses not bicause that in them the Sacramentes were distributed to no bodie but bycause they were distributed to fewe and the whole cōgregation not beinge present and that euen as it were in a priuate place For the holie fathers celebrated no supper wythout distribution of the Sacramentes For they doubted not but that that dyd vtterly fyghte wyth the Lordes Institution ❧ Of the preparation to the supper of the Lorde Seinge that the Lordes supper as we sayed before ought not to be celebrated but wyth his disciples and for asmuche as the ministers must be faythfull disposers of the misteries of God and must take great hede that they caste not an holie thynge before dogges and pearles before swyne we wyll that the pastours admitte no mā to the Lordes supper which hath not first offered him selfe to thē and after that he hath first made a confession of his synnes being Catechised he receyue absolution accordyng to the Lordes worde And that there may be a certeine and appoynted tyme for the doinge hereof I meane that they whiche shall cōmunicate be prepared and sanctified to the cōmunion of Christ with an holy instructiō and prayer let the pastours procure that the people be called together in the temple at euentyde the day before the celebration of the Lordes supper and lette them make a preparation and sanctification vnto the Lordes bourde after thys sorte Wheree clerkes shall be or scholers let them in the meane ceason while the people come together syng a Psalme or two with a dominical antiphone or Hymne whiche yet we wyll haue to be pure that is to saye diffenting in no parte from the holie scripture To these let them adde the songe of the Lordes mother Magnificat and some conuenient Collecte Afterwarde when the people be come together they shall synge a Psalme in the Douche tonge And then the pastour or ministre to whom the office of thys preparation is committed shall reade some place of the Lordes supper out of the Euangelistes or out of Paule Chap. x. xi Of the firste to the Corhinthi or out of the Lordes sermon Iohn vi For though the Lorde speake not in that place of the Sacramēt of the supper whiche he had not yet made neuertheles he preacheth of the true eatynge of his bodie and drynkyng of his bloude for the exhibition wherof he afterwarde instituted the holie supper Out of such lessons the ministers shall diligently teache the people to what vse the Lorde ordeined his supper and howe we may receiue it holsomely after this sort ¶ Ashorte institution or sermon of the Lordes supper Forasmuche as we entende to keepe tomorowe the moste holie supper of our sauiour Christe by his healpe for the celebration of a blessed remembraūce of him and cōfirmation of our fayth first it is conuenient to declare with fewe wordes and call to our mindes the misterie of this right diuine Sacrament Before al thinges then the Lorde offereth vnto vs his fleshe and his bloude and biddeth vs to take the same and affirming that we shall not haue lyfe but shall remayne in euerlasting death excepte we eate his fleshe and drinke his bloud Let vs remembre and acknowledge that our fleshe and bloud that is to saye our whole nature is thorow wickednes so loste adiudged to eternal death by the iust wrath of God that of our selues we can neuer obteyne euerlastynge life and the inheritaunce of the heauenly kingdome Thys remembraunce acknowledging of our destruction
ought vnterly to humble and caste vs doune before the Lorde and to cutte our hertes wyth suche repentaunce of synnes that we shoulde be pricked forth and enflamed to seeke receyue with sure fayth and greatly desire the grace of God offered to vs in the worde and sacramentes and the restitution and renuinge of our selues thorowe the cōmunion of Christe and holsome participation of his fleshe and bloude Furthermore let vs diligently considre that the eternal worde of God the sonne of God al. mightie to deliuer vs out of thys meserie was made flesh was made our brother that there myght be some holie fleshe and holie bloude that is to saye a verie heauenlie and diuine man by whom the fleshe and bloude of all vs mighte be restored and sanctified whiche thinge is then brought to passe whē we truly eate his flesh and drinke his bloud Iohn vi Here it is meete that we be moued the more to wondre at and to embrace with certeyner fayth and gredier wil in this onely begotten sonne of God our sauiour the exceadynge and vnspeakable loue of God towardes vs whiche gaue his sonne vnto vs that beleuyng in him we should not perishe as we were borne and as we deserued but haue euerlastynge lyfe whiche he deserued and gyueth vnto vs. Thirdly let vs acknowledge and firmely beleue that the Lorde Iesus truely offereth vnto vs this his sanctifiyng fleshe and bloude in his holie supper wyth visible signes of breade and wyne by the ministerie of the congregation and exibiteth the same vnto the remission of synnes to be meate of euerlastyng lyfe to confirme the couenaunt of Gods adoption and of euerlastyng lyfe for so be his wordes Wherefore they cā not deceyue and they shall remayne when heauen and earth passe awaye and they truely exhibite and gyue vnto vs the thinges that they preache so that we applie true fayeth vnto them Take sayeth he eate thys is my bodie that is gyuen for you Item drinke of thys all thys is my bloud of the newe testament whiche is shedde forth for you and for many vnto the remission of synnes we must receyue these wordes wyth true fayth and doubte nothynge but that the Lorde when we celebrate the holie supper after his institution is in the middeste of vs and offereth hym selfe vnto vs by the ministerie of the congregation whiche he instituted for the same purpose and deliuereth his bodie and bloude and all his merites and satisfaction for oure synnes whiche he perfourmed his bodie and his bloude beynge offered on the crosse remission of synnes and the grace of the father and the ryghte of the Testament of the euerlastynge couenaunte of adoption and communion vnto the lyfe of God so that the breade that we breake in the holie supper is truely euen to vs the communion of his bodie and the cuppe at whiche we blesse the communion of his bloude Therefore lette vs euer religiously considre why the Lorde doeth often exhibite vnto vs thys holie and holesome communion of himselfe in the sacrament namely for this purpose that he maye brynge vs daily in to the knowlege of our sinnes and more ernest repentaunce that we maye desire more feruently remission of the same by him and receyue it with perfecter fayth gredier mindes and so be more confirmed and sette for warde in a new lyfe thorough the true communion of him that so we maye daily more and more abide and lyue in hym and he in vs and be more fully his dodie and mēbers and he our heade whiche thinge we professe whan we all receiue the communion of him in his sacrament so beinge parttakers of his bodye and bloude as we in cōmen be parttakes of one brade and cuppe Finally we must praye and labour also to receyue these heauenlye giftes wyth true fayth and greate reuerence and that we celebrate the holesome remēbraūce of the Lord wyth godly ioye and pleasaunt thankfullnes and that we gyue vp our selues and all ours to him and testifie the same with collacions and almes for the vse of the poore lyberally and accordinge to euerie mans power finally that we euer prayse and magnifie Christe in al oure wordes and worckes for these so greate benifites for his incarnacion whereby he was made oure heade and brother for hys most bitter death whereby he satisfied for our sinnes for his resurrection and ascenciō in to heauen heauēly kingdō which he administreth at the ryght hand of the father maketh vs perfect and absolute in his lyfe beinge quickened with his spirite and sette in heauenlye thinges whiche lyfe he hath gyuen in the lyfe of God and it is an euerlastinge lyfe for this holesome communion of hys bodie and bloude whereby we are confirmed in this same lyfe of God and are sette forwarde and euer finyshed vp For al which thynges we must chiefely geue thanckes in the cōmunion of this supper And forasmuch as our God is such one as alloweth not wickednes nether canne all thei stande before him which worcke iniquitie it is necessarie that we knowe that those men muste not be admitted to the supper of the Lorde that is to saye to his communion whiche lyue without true faith and loue by whome the glorie of God is manifestly blemisched and hys congregacion is offended I meane all vnbeleuers and manyfest Idolaters whiche calle vppon and worshippe saints departed Angels or other creatures whiche honour paynted or grauen stockes Item all enchaunters and sothsaiers which wil preserue catel and other thinges against perils with their consecrations yea and I meane those to which beleue shuch enchaumentes and the manifest despicers and blasphemers of God the mockers of goddes worde and sacramētes Item al those which at appointed tymes wildely continue in neglectinge sermons and other open exercises of the congregacion which obeye not accordinge to goddes commaundement theyr parentes ordinarye officers and maisters but speake euil of thē and rayle vpon thē do thē spight and resiste them seditiously and stubburnly whiche bringe not vp their children familie shuch as they haue charge of nor enstructe them to godlynes honestie and iustice Furthermore I meane murtherers and all those whych willingely continue in hatred of their bretherne in braulinges and shedinge of their neygboures bloude Item al whoremongers aduo●●erers and Dronkerdes al theues vserers raueners disers vnlaufull gainers exercisers of faulse marchandises al those lykewise which lyue idely without a lawful excuse and burthen other al ilspeakers liers periuers backbyters and whych confesse not the truth and rightuousnes and confirme not the same wyth theyr testimonies where they are bounde to do it by reasone of their vocacion All these felowes as longe as thei liue and continue in such sinnes nether haue a true purpose to amende their liues maye in no wise be admitted to the holye supper of the Lorde seinge that they be restrayned and excluded from thens by God by his owne worde Another exhortacion Forasmuch as deareli beloued in
afflicted for al those whome thou chastisest with the crosse and some affliction and exercisest vnto patience with pouertie exile fetters infamie disceases and other calamites and mischaunces Graunt to them that thei maye acknowlege thy fatherlie and medicinable hand vndre which thei maye humble thē selues with al their hertes Conforte their minnes wyth fayth and confidence of thy mercye whiche moderateth all thinges yea euen aduersites for the helth of thine and deliuer them from al euils Graunte to vs also that thorough their correction and punishment we maye acknow●ege that we haue deserued thinges much more greuous that we maye amende oure liues in time before worse plages happen vnto vs. Last of al we praie the eternal God heauēlye father for vs which here come together in thy sight to thi word praier and sacramentes lighten the eyes of our minde graunte vs to considre with perfecte fayth that we haue a nature corrupted from the beginning that our flesh bloud cannot enioy thy kingdome but only commit sin delerue eternal death and encrease the same destruction with daily sinnes and that thou most mercifull father of thy vnmeasurable mercy didest loke vpon vs and sendest into this world thy eternal worde thy sonne our flesh and brother that he myght deliuer vs by his death from this our destruction and restore vs to thy Image and prayse of thy name that thou deliuerest him to the crosse and death and that he gladly offred himself vnto the in the crosse for our sinnes and satisfied for the same through loue and pitie of vs that he reconsiled vs vnto the and more ouer that he offered vnto vs his bodye and bloud to be meate and drinke that we may lyue in him and he in vs. Graunt heauenly father that we may consider and apprehend al these thynges with true and liuely fayth now and throughout al our lyues that deniyng our selues we may vtterly refuse the folysh and blynd iudgement of our reason and represse naughtie and noysome lustes and wholy geue ouer our selues to him thy dere sonne our Lord and onely sauiour and restorer that we seke and receiue comfort in al thynges al helpe ayde and sauegarde in hym onely in his death crosse and resurrection Now also let vs receiue his holy body and bloud with sincere fayth and al thanke fulnes and let vs euer magnifie him and the in hym for all thy exceadyng benifites whych thou hast geuen in makynge gouernyng and restoryng vs for the incarnation passion and death of thy sonne whereby he purged oure synnes and reconsiled vs vnto the for his resurrection ascēsion into heauen and heauenly gouernaunce wherby he restored vs vnto the and moueth and renueth vs vnto al thy pleasure Finally for this most ample benifite that he here deliuered hym selfe vnto vs to be meate and drynke vnto eternall lyfe that so thy diuine name may be dayly more more sanctified by vs in vs thy kingdome may be established and spredde abrode by vs vnto other that all thynges maye be done amonge vs in the earth accordyng to thy wil with suche feruētie and cherefulnes as they be done in heauen And that these thynges maye be done in vs gyue vs also our dayly breade all necessarie thynges for our bodies prosperous health and peace that we maye enioye these thynges vnto the glorie of thy name And forgiue vs our dettes and sinnes whiche we dayly committe and mercifully pardone vs of the punishmentes whiche we haue deserued as we also in the sight of thy maiestie do gladly and hertely forgyue all them whiche haue offended vs. And suffre not our tentator the olde enemie which studieth euer to leade vs frō the and thy worde to ouerthrowe vs at anie tyme wyth his tētations But deliuer vs from hym and all euyl for thou onely art our God and father thyne is the kyngdome the power and glorie for euer Amen ¶ An other and a shorte fourme of prayinge Mercifull God heauenly father whiche commaundedest vs to come together in thy name and in the name of thy sonne oure Lorde and sauiour Christe and thorowe the same our onely Mediatour to praye the for al thynges the whiche we desire for our selues and for other addynge a moste ample promise that we shoulde obteyne what soeuer we woulde aske of them trustyng in this thy cōmaundement and promise we stande in the syght of thy diuine maiestie we praye and beseche the in the name of thy deare sonne our onely sauiour that thou wilt forgyue vs all our iniquities and synnes that thou wylte renue our hertes wyth thy holie spirite and steare vp and kendle the same to thy sonne Christe that for all the necessities of thy cōgregation of al mē we may call vpon the and obteyne what so euer is good for vs vnto the glorie of thy name We praye the then chiefely for thy congregations deliuer and preserue them from al those ministers whom thou hast not sent sende them suche ministers whiche wyth all faythfulnes and diligence wyl seeke thy scatered sheepe and brynge them to Christ our Lorde which is onely their good shepeherde and wyll studie to feede them faythfully vndre hym that all vngodlines heresies sectes all naughtie doctrines and peruerse seruice of God may be taken away and that in the vnitie of true fayth and knowledge of thy sonne we maye growe and go forwarde to al thynges that please the. So we pray the also for the Emperoure for our kynge for all kynges princes and comune powers and officers and specially for oure moste reuerende archbishoppe for his counsellers and officers for the counsell and communaltie of thys Citie graunt that all these maye execute theyr office according to thy wyll that they maye turne awaye all noysome thynges from theyr subiectes and procure and maynteyne all good thynges that beinge deliuered out of the handes of our enemies we maye serue the wyth a quiet mynde in all holines and ryghtuousnes We praye furthermore mercifull father for all men as thou wylte be the sauiour of all men drawe them to thy sonne which yet perteyne not to hym and graunt that they whom thou haste drawen to hym alreadie maye growe and be confirmed dayly more and more in the knowledge loue of him We praye also for them whom thou chastifest wyth sundrie miseries and afflictions for an exemple vnto vs that thou wylt conforte them and deliuer them from al euilles graūt vs that we may diligently regarde thy fatherlie nurture whiche thou settest before vs in them considerynge that we haue deserued greuouser thinges that in time we maye iudge and amende our selues that it be not needful that we be corrected and condemned of the. Graunt also to vs all whiche here in thy sight come together to thy worde prayer almes and diuine sacramentes that we maye truly come together onely in thy name and in the name of thy deare sonne that we may take holde of thy diuine law and holie
Gospel wyth true fayth that dying dayly more and more to our selues we may wholy giue ouer our selues to thy deare sonne our onely sauiour which onely thorowe his stripes and moste bitter death hath redemed vs frō sinnes and eternal damnation hath restored vs into thy fauour thorow his resurrection and heauenly kyngdome hath called vs vnto him selfe into his congregation and hath planted vs into hym selfe vnto euerlystyng lyfe and made vs his owne membres that we shoulde lyue more and more in hym and he in vs that thy holie name maye be more largely sanctified by vs in all oure lyfe and all our doinges that thy kyngdome may be amplified by vs and in other that at lēgth all thynges maye be done amonge vs vpon earth wyth suche prompnes and cherefulnes as they be done in heauen And for thys purpose that we maye wholy liue and serue vnto the gyue vs also our dayly bread etc. as in the prayer before After thys solemne prayer lette the whole congregation synge the Crede For thys confession of our fayth when the Gospell is hearde and declared oughte to be done of ryght by all men communely as al equally heard the Gospel and the declaration therof And bicause no man can heare the Gospell wyth fayth and knowe and cōsidre out of the same howe greate loue and gentlenes God hath shewed towardes vs in that that he gaue vs his sonne and all thynges wyth hym which shal not out of this fayth wholy gyue ouer and bynde hym selfe to oure Lorde Iesus Christe thys thynge foloweth also out of the nature of true fayth that the faythfull studie to declare thys byndyng of them selues to the obedience of Christe and thankefulnes of theyr myndes for so greate godnes of God towardes thē selues which at that tyme they more earnestly remembre wyth holie oblations for Christe being needie in his litleons Therefore whyle the Crede is in syngynge lette the faythfull offre theyr free oblations euerie mā according to the blessyng whiche he hath receyued of the liberall and bountuous hande of God To whiche office of fayth and godlines the pastours and teachers shall diligētly exhort the people teachyng them that these oblations ought to folowe the confession of fayth and prayer euen by the verie nature of true religion neither cā be absent from the same when we wante not wherewyth to declare thys liberalitie And that thys worke of religion maye be cōueniently done and rightly commended to the faythfull we wyl that there be some notable place appoynted in euerie temple not farre frō the altare which euerie man maye comely go to and where the faythful may offre theyr oblations opēly before the whole congregation Whiche after that the sacramēt is ended the officers of the holie treasure shall gather together and shal lay the same vp in the treasurie the congregation lokyng vpon them It was the maner of the olde church and that taken out of Goddes worde that after the preachyng of the Gospell before the ministration of the Sacramēt should beginne not onely those shoulde be commaunded to go out of the tēple whiche were not admitted into the cōgregation nor perteined there vnto but they also whiche were yet in repētaunce and not reconciled to the congregation wyth open absolution of sinnes Therfore bycause thys discipline was taughte of the Lorde hym selfe and oughte of ryghte to be called agayne into the congregation the pastours shall diligently and often exhorte those whiche lyue in suche synnes as be against theyr conscience that they leaue them and turne them selues wyth all theyr hertes vnto the Lorde And after that they be restored into the fauour of God and begynne agayne to be the true disciples of the Lorde then lette them be present at the Lordes supper and communicate But if anie will not suffre them selues to be brought thereunto and wyll continue in theyr synnes wyth so great cōtempt of God and his Christe let the preachers declare to suche that they maye not be present at the Lordes holie supper and if they take vpon them to be present that they do despite vnto Christe and prouoke vpon them selues the muste greuous iudgement of God As for other whiche lyue not wyth an euyll conscience and yet receyue not the sacramet wyth other or seldome receiue it the pastour must often warne them that it perteyneth to the dutie of a christen man to be often partaker of the Lordes bourde and so to feede and strēgthen his fayth and to witnes the same vnto the congregation to the edification of many seinge that God hath instituted thys moste holie exercise of religion for his that they myght therby be established and enflamed in fayth and study of godlines Wherfore we see that they whiche neglect so great a benifite of God become dayly colder in al godlines and religion For they greuously offende God thorowe cōtempt of his bountuousnes and they hurt the cōgregation verie sore wyth that euyll exemple and moreouer they make thē selues giltie of the Lordes bodie and bloude abhorryng this meate and drynke of euerlastynge lyfe so irreligiously and so vnthankefully But forasmuch as both the knowledge of thys misterie and moreouer al the discipline of the congregation is so much gone out of vse and therof cometh so great weakenes of the verie faythful the pastours must restore to the people the knowledge existimation of so greate misteries wyth conuenient and tymelie admonition and not trouble anie man wyth vntimely rigorousnes as we admonished before For firste the sheepe of Christe so miserably scatered and diseased muste be fully broughte to Christe and be healed before that any rigorous discipline be restored and exercised amonge them But howe so euer the rest be handled in the congregation at thys tyme they neuertheles that shall be admitted to the communion as sone as they haue made theyr oblation must go together to that place that shall be appoynted vnto them nigh to the altare For in euerie temple there muste some place be appoynted nigh the altare for them whiche shal communicate accordyng to the oportunitie and fitnes of euerie temple They then whiche shal be admitted to the cōmunion of the Lordes bourde shal stande in that place the men in theyr propre place and the womē in theyr place and there they shall gyue thākes and pray religiously wyth the pastour The gyuynge of thankes shall be handled after the accustomed maner but in douche that the people vniuersally may gyue thankes as both the exemple and the commaundement of the Lorde requireth and also the olde churche obserued ❧ The priest The Lorde be with you ¶ The people And wyth thy spirite ❧ The priest Lyfte vp your hertes The people We haue vnto the Lorde The priest Lette vs gyue thankes vnto the Lorde oure God ❧ The people It is meete and right ¶ The priest It is verely a thing worthy right meete and holsome that we gyue thankes vnto the alwayes and euerie where that we
godlines and honestie before the affinite of riche men from whome only outwarde ryches come vnto vs. The pastours than shal endeuoure them selues to enstructe the people diligently of the holines nature and hole strength of this most holye copulacion as we haue here described it that the youth knowinge the institution of God and the dignitie of thys coniunction maye learne to a voide al those thin ges which in cōtracting and keping of wedlocke are contrarie to the ordinaūce of God and to the holynes of that kinde of life finally that they may enter into and mayntayn thys holie purpose of liuinge as God hath cōmaunded and as it may be to theyr welth ❧ Of Buriynge AS touchyng dead personnes wee wyl haue thys difference obserued that if any departe in the manifest contempte of Christ their corpses shal not be buried amonge the bodies of the faythful nor anye of the ministers of the congregation shal folow them to theyr graues But if thei departe in the communion of Christ and of hys congregacion cheyfely if in the extreme danger of life they haue professed the same and haue receyued the holy sacrament of the Lordes bodye and bloude and absolucion suche I saye shal be caryed furth honorably and bee buried in places appoynted there vnto Neyther shall anye thinge either be required of anye man or receyued for such buriynge which thynge cannot be done without the manifeste wickednes of Simonie While the corpes is caried furth it shal be lawefull to synge in the mydde waye the Psalme From the deepe or suche other lyke songes And that the people maye be more diligently admonished of those thynges which are to be considered aboute burials it shall not be vnprofitable if a certeyne tyme of buriall shall be appoynted at whiche tyme some apte place of scripture maye be reade wyth a short exposition of the place and admonition and exhortatiō deriued out of the same wherein thynges of thys sorte shal be sette forth Chiefely the exceading greatnes of synne and of the wrath of God wherevpon death ensued Secondly the singuler and inestimable benifite of the redemption of Christ whiche trāslated synne vpon him selfe and in diyng ouercame death briefely purchased and prepared to all the faythfull a newe and heauēly lyfe thorowe his moste holie resurrection and ascention And hereof a consolation shal be taken and applied to the departed person who beinge translated from death to lyfe thorowe fayth in Christe lyueth wyth the Lorde and restynge in eternall peace loketh for vs. Hereunto lette an exhortation be added for thē that stande by namely that they shoulde dayly dye more and more to synne and prepare them selues to the heauenly life that is to come and so praye God continually that he wyll graunt them a luckie and good ende of thys lyfe And if there be anie notable proues of goddes goodnes declared towardes the deade person in his lyfe or death the ministre shall declare and prayse the same wyth a good and godly commemoration to the glorie of God and edification of the church wherin neuertheles he must beware that he seme not to haue gone about to please mennes eares but to haue regarded wyth a pure herte the institution of the congregation and commendations of gods gyftes And as cōcernig buriyng there is a most apte place in the first epistle of Paule Thessalo Chap. iiij We wyl not that ye be ignoraunt concernyng them that sleepe etc. Out of which place there may be a sermon made after thys sorte For asmuch as we are come togethee by the callynge of God to burie our brother a membre of the same body of Christe and seinge also that in the companie of Christian men all thynges muste be done to commune edification we haue thought good to declare some thynge vnto you more exactly out of the sermon that S. Paul made of them that sleepe that by the healpe of the holy goste we maye receyue some godly and christian cōsolation thereof in the sundry tentatiōs of our fayth and in the straites of death S. Paule then wryteth after thys sorte iiij Thess I wyll not that ye be ignoraunte bretherne concernynge them that are fallen a sleepe that ye sorowe not as other mē do Thys is that notable place of S. Paule concernyng them that sleepe that is to saye concernynge christian men departed whiche we ought to take not as a deuise of mā but as the true and sincere oracle of god wherof we maye not onely gette consolation in thys mornefull sorowe whiche we be in by reason of the death of our brother but also healpe and conforte agaynst the terrours of death The philosophers haue disputed of the despisyng of death wyth many and sundry argumentes as when they say that death is a commune dette of mankynde and an ende of all the miseries that chaunce to the lyfe Whiche sayinges amonge men in prosperous health and such as are careles as touchyng Goddes iudgement seme godly and haue a colour of wysedome But in the true terrours of death they are vayne and can brynge no substantiall consolation For if 〈◊〉 mā loke more narrowly vpon the causes of death he shall fynde that death is in dede as Paule sayeth the rewarde of synne And as Moyses speaketh also we are wasted thorowe thy wrath and by reason of thy hote indignation we are throwen donne Thou hast sette our iniquities before thy syght etc. Now it is well knowen that God so hateth synne that he wyll punishe the same not only for a tyme but for euer Death thē is such a punishmēt of the moste ryghtful wrath of God that man shall not onely be depriued of thys lyfe but also of euerlastynge saluation and shall be adiudged to euerlastynge damnation So farre of it is then that the ende of euyl is in death as the philosophers falsely persuaded them selues that rather if ye haue a respecte to synne it is a dore and entrie vnto euerlastyng miserie These thinges than must be knowen cōsidered and sette before our eyes continually not that we shoulde take thereof an accasion to despeyre or to doubte of our saluation as the heathen and vngodly do but rather that beinge moued wyth thys condesideration we maye be steared vp and dryuen to Christe to seeke our only saluation in his Gospel thorowe faith and to require of him onely deliueraunce from death And though death bringe certeine destruction and condemnation wyth it if you put Christe a parte and haue a respecte to synne yet seinge that Christ neuer committed any synne verie giltles if ye regarde his owne person suffred death surely she had no right at all agaynst hym Wherof it came to passe that she coulde not holde hym nor destroye hym but was compelled to restore him For where as he was deade in the fleshe and afterwarde buried forthwyth vpon the thyrde daye he rose agayne wyth greate glorie and so openly and euidently declared the same his resurrection not onely by the testimonie