please God for he that cometh to God must beleue that God is and that he is a rewarder of them that seke hym We saye not I see or I knowe Ebr. xi but I beleue Paule sayth Faythe is a sure confidence of thynges whiche are hoped for and a certaynte of thinges whiche are not sene For these articles be wonderfull secretes of God which thorough mennes witte can not be obtayned and vnderstonde but onely with the eyes of fayth Mannes wysedome can not vnderstonde that god is become man and frō death rysen agayne and rayseth also the dead in Christe that he ascended into heauen sitteth on the ryghte hand of God his father Item that Goddes naturall sonne be borne of a virgyn and suche lyke Wisedome of the crosse The wysedome of the crosse is hyden from al eyes of worldly wysedome it is a mistery which is knowen by fayth All worldly policye knoweth nothynge of it i. Cor. i. Euen thus sayth Paul we preache Christ crucifyed vnto the Iewes an occasion of fallyng and vnto the Grekes folisshnes but vnto thē whiche are called bothe of Iewes and Grekes we preache Christe the power of God and the wysedome of God It semeth vnto the Gentiles to be a folissh thyng that God shoulde dye beyng the incomprehensible maiestye They knowe nothynge of the mistery of the blessed manhode whiche God toke vpon hym for oure saluacyon from the beginnynge prouyded Ephes i and ordeyned Saynt Paul speaketh vnto the Corinthians When the world through their wisedome knowe not God in hys wysedome i. Cor. i it pleased God through folyshnes of preachynge to saue them that beleue thereon Luce. ij Here is set and erected the signe which is spoken agaynst and whiche is the fall and resurrection of many in Israel Esay xxviij Here is set the stone of stomblynge and rocke of offence as Esay sayth Vvhereon many shall be brused That is the wisedome of Christen men whiche saued vs. As for all the wysedome of the Gentiles was not able to comforte her teachers effectually in their smalest grefe Mat. xi The wysedō hath God hyd from the wyse and prudent and hath opened it vnto babes The Iewes wente about Rom. xi to be made and to come ryghteous to God throughe the lawe and throughe the dedes of the lawe but so coulde coulde they not be ryghteous Roma x They haue reiected Christe the precious corner stone which is the ende of the lawe in whome is made righteous he that beleueth Rom. ix But there is another ryghteousnes whereof the Iewes knowe not whiche is called the ryghteousnes of God that is no thynge elles then to beleue in hym that iustifyeth the synner accordynge as saynte Paul witnesseth Rom iiij If I beleue truely in Christe as in the very some of God myne onely redemer and saueour truely then shall thys fayth and truste be counted vnto me for ryghteousnes before God Fayth is not a slyght thynge whiche a man may geue vnto hym selfe or make it when he wyll But it is a great myghtye thynge whiche renueth man and leaueth hym not in hys olde opinyon Vvhat is fayth and in hys olde skynne and desyres To beleue is stedfastly to cleaue vnto the worde sf God whether it be wordes of threatenynges or of promyse that thou doest truste there vpon That can no man do of hym selfe Act. iiij the spirite of God must renue illumyne hys herte before A man maye make to hymfelfe an opinyon of God that he is good and merciful but it hath no efficacye for as sone as the earnest nede cometh it vanissheth awaye as a dreame A right fayth It is not ynowgh that we speake the articles of oure fayth euery daye fyue sixe or seuen tymes after the pater noster Thei must be written in the herte that lyuely not onely mumbled with the tōg that when the affliction beginneth that it be then euen as thou speakest Thou sayest I beleue the forgeuenes of synnes when the deuyll doth assayle the in necessyte of death for thy manyfolde synnes sake then arte thou abasshed and wylt dispayre Thereby do I see that thou spekest this article with thy mouthe but thy herte knoweth nothynge thereof Thou beleuest it not truely Thou saakest I beleue the resurrection of the body and the lyfe euerlastynge but whan death breaketh in and body soule must parte than arte thou so afrayde as though body and soule dyed altogether as yf it were cleane done with the Se yf there were a right fayth in the of this article that there were no doubtefulnes with the in it that thy body and soule woulde sone come together agayne thou shouldest not be so fearefull For fayth is kepte in necessite euen as golde in the fyre dayly prayer Thy daily and moost diligent prayer allwayes to god shal be O Lorde euerlastyng almighty God geue me the ryght true faythe loue and hope that I maye serue my neyghboure accordynge to thy pleasure AMEN ¶ The fyrste Artycle I Beleue in God the father almighty maker of heauē and earth Here marke fyrste One god thre persons that there is but one God but they be thre personnes The father and the sonne and the holy goost as the scripture testifyeth The thre personnes be lyke euerlastyng lyke myghtye of one maiestye and beynge The sonne in the holy trinitye is sent vnto vs in the last tyme hath tagen vpō him humayne nature to thintent that he shoulde fulfylle the scripture and redeme vs accordynge to the good wyll of hys father And he hath also created all thynges with the father and the hooly goost after the Godheade in the beginnynge Deu. vi Thus sayth the scripture Heare Israel The Lorde oure God is an onely Lorde And thou shalt loue the Lord thy god with all thy herte with all thy soule with all thy mighte the nature beleueth not that there is one God The nature of mankynde is so euel so sore blynded through synne that she of her owne power and strengthe can not well comprehende thys article that there is one God yea althoughe she thynke there be somewhat that is God as the gentyle Cicero maketh mencion yet knoweth she nothyng sure of hym of hys power and wille It is easy to perceyue how littel the gentyls haue knowen of god thorough theyr own wittes thei haue made many Goddes Roma i and haue waxed ful of vanities in theyr imaginacions ād haue knowen nothynge truely of the almyghtynes of God The lyght of nature is to weake for suche hyghe matters The lyght of grace must shyne here in darkenes elles is it errour and ignoraunce God oure father God is called oure father that is a confortable thynge to the faythfull is he our father so be we hys children and heyres of hys kyngdome Euē so doeth also Esay calle hym Lord thou atre our father oure
battell as S. Paul testifyeth Here vpon earth as longe as bodye and soul be knitte together Ro. viij Hathe the vpryght ryghteous man onelye the fyrste frutes of the spirite In such maner are here yet al workes of mā spotted and polluted of the flesshe synne before the iudgement of God Therfore lette noman buylde and trust vpō hys workes Rom. iij iiij The fayth in Christe is onely oure ryghteousnes before God Vertue The thre hyest vertues Fayth Charite Hope Out of a ryghte fayth flowe the other two Charite and hope Knoweledge of the kindnesse of God For the knowledge of the godly mercyfulnes maketh that God is loued agayne maketh also that we be willinge and subdue oure selues to serue euery creature and that is called the loue of our neyghboure Hope floweth also oute of faythe for fayth is that Hope wherewith thou beleuest the worde and with hope thou lokest for that whiche is promysed vnto the through the worde What maketh me to haue hope Answer The fayth in the worde of God Therfore hange these thre vertues together The greatest vertue ¶ The greatest vertue is Gal v where of Saynt Paule speaketh Faythe whiche through loue is myghtye in operation without fayth is no vertue The greatest synne The greatest synne is vnbeleue He that beleueth not in Christe is damned Ioh. iij He shal not see lyfe but the wrath of God abydeth on hym Ro. xiiij For whatsoeuer procedeth not of fayth that same is synne The soule The soule of man is highly honoured or made honourable Gene. i. namely created after the image of the moost hyghly blessed trinite and hath thre vertues or qualities vnderstandyng wille and remembraunce and is yet but one thynge Notwithstondynge thou learnest to knowe thys creation in that that the soule hath a respecte towardes God Likenes of God and hys holy worde thys testifyeth that in vs is a lykenes and Image of God No man can satisfye the large and greate desyres of the wise and prudent menne but God the creatoure hym selfe onely Then shall I be satisfyed Ps xvij sayth the Psalme when thyne Image awaketh vp The soule hath a beginnyng for she is created of god but she hath none end for she died not For thus sayth Christ Mat. x. Feare ye not thē which kyl the body be not able to kyl the soul but rather fear him whiche is able to destroye bothe soule and body into hell The soule is suche a precyous godly worke and creature that no corporall thynge may be compared vnto her what shoulde it profite a man mat xvi though he shoulde wynne al the hole worlde yf he lose hys owne soule Lyfe There is two maner of lyfes the one temporall the other perpetuall The lyfe temporall hath a beginnyng and endynge and is full of sorrowe as Iob complayneth Hiob iij and it is onely a shadowe of the ryghte euerlastynge lyfe which the creatures haue in theyr begynnynge A ryght Christen man counteth the temporal lyfe very littell and small for he knoweth through his fayth that he is not created for thys shorte temporal life He seeth with the eyes of hys fayth aboue in the ryghte true euerlastynge lyfe whiche withoute death and departynge withoute trouble and misery in certayntye in Ioye and withoute sorrowe endureth for euer Phil. i Thus sayth Paul to the Philippians Christ is to me lyfe deathe is to me aduauntage I desyre to be lowsed and to be with Christe Willyngly to dye Whosoeuer is not wyllynge and glad to dye to departe oute of thys miserable corruptible tyme the same is yet full of the olde Adam and hath yet but a small fayth The right faith kyndleth in vs and maketh vs to hate thys vngodly lyfe and to become enemye vnto it Fayth maketh a man to dye from thys lyfe and all hys lustes whylest he is yet liuynge and vnto the beleuynge is no greater reioysynge vpon earth He hath tourned away and plucked awaye hys herte from all creatures and lyueth onely in Christ Thus sayth Paul Gal. vi God forbydde that I shoulde reioyce but onely in the crosse of oure Lorde Iesu Christ wherby the worlde is crucifyeth vnto me and I vnto the world Gala. ij And in another place sayth he I lyue yet now not I but christ lyueth in me For the lyfe which I lyue now in the flesshe I lyue by the fayth of the sonne of god which loued me and gaue hym selfe for me The tēporal life is delectable vnto the heathē that knowe no better But a Christiā doth littel regarde it because he knoweth a better Therfore departed the welbeloued elect sainctes of god with myrthy and ioye from hence as out of wretchednes into the ryghte countree of theyr father Cicero in Tuscques The heathen feare the tēporall death very sore for they thinke that hereafter it is cleane done with man Al theyr wisedome conuyng and Philosophie was not able to conforte them in the feare of death albe it that they dyd enterpretyse the same He that knoweth not CHRISTE and beleueth not in hym feareth deathe and not withoute a cause for it is horryble vnto hym and an intraunce into death euerlastynge But he that knoweth Christ hath hym doth not feare deathe muche 〈…〉 hath ouercome death And hys holy woorde doth onely conforte vs effectually agaynste the horryble tempeste of death Eternal lyfe The lyfe euerlastynge is that we knowe the very god Ioh xvij and Iesus Christ whome he hath sent Nowe we see in a glasse euē in a darke speakyng i. cor xiij But then shal we see face to face Nowe I knowe it vnparfectely That is We knowe here vpon earth by fayth all what God is and what God geueth vnto vs but it is not yet the right knoweledge nothyng nygh she is also darke and vnperfecte But the knowledge to come in our fathers mansion is the ryght bryghtnes and perfecte knoweledge i. Ioh. iij For we shall see hym as he is Death There is two maners of death the one temporall the one euerlastynge The temporal whan body and soule parte the one from the other Ebre ix It is so appoynted that euery man must ones dye The euerlastynge death whan the euerlastyng soule must nedes departe from the face of God that is from her ryght onely lyfe euer more and euerlastyng with out endynge The eternall death that is ij tim i. the damnacyon infernall is vnto the elect christen menne ouercome al ready by chrste Christ hath spoyled death of hys power and brought to lyght lyfe and incorruptyble conuersacyon by the Gospell The wayght and burthen of oure synnes hath suppressed drowned vs into the botomeles pitte of hel Esa liij But God hath layed thys burthen vpon hys dearly beloued sonne Christ the same hath satisfyed for vs and delyuered vs from synne death hell There of shalt thou fynde
corne wynes shoulde not growe in the feldes yet see well ynoughe that with all theyr thought and care they be not able to put one cubite vnto their statures They be heathen Mat. vi and knowe not the care prouidence grace of God Two thynges doth the Scripture speake and touche concernyng ryches First it is daungerous to medle with them Rychesse The scripture calleth thē thornes He must nedes haue a fayre grace of God that doth not prycke hym selfe beynge amonge thornes They be wytche blynde and hynder a man very sore A certaine Iewe came vnto Christe whiche was counted before the worlde a ryght honest man But when Christe woulde teache hym the perfection and bad hym forsake hys goodes and possessyōs he went away mournynge for he had great possessyons Then sayde Christ vnto hys disciples Matth. xix Mar. x. Lu. xviij with what difficultye shal thei that haue ryches enter into the kyngdome of God The goodes are loued and man is blynded Secondarely the Scripture doth not therfore denye the kyngdome of heauen vnto the ryche but onelye sheweth them the daunger and ieopardye thereof and warneth them faythfully that they shoulde not suffre the goodes to be theyr mayster and Lord and haue none euyll concupiscence after that which is temporal Psa lxij And yf ryches do increase vnto them that they shoulde not sette theyr hertes vpon them and make an Idoll thereof The ryche man in S. Luke shoulde be a warnynge vnto them Luce. xij Verely the spirite of God which knewe very wel the perilles daungers thereof saith in sayncte Paul on thys wyse i. tim vi They that wil be ryche fall into temptation and snares and into many foolyssh noysome lustes which drowne men in perdicion and destruction For couetousnes is the rote of all euyl whiche whyle some lusted after they erred from the fayth and tangled them selues with many sorrowes In the end of the same Epistle geueth he vnto the ryche a very goodly rule to lyue by and fayth Charge thē that are ryche in thys worlde that they be not excedyng wyse and that they truste not in the vncertayne ryches but in the lyuynge God whiche geueth vs aboundantly all thynges to enioye thē and that they do good and be ryche in good workes and ready to geue and to distribute layenge vp in store for themselues a good foūdation agaynst the tyme to come that they may obtayne eternal lyfe Mat. vi Men can not serue God Mammon together Ecclesi v. Reade in the preacher of Salomon of the ryche men of thys worlde Whosoeuer doth medle moche with goodes by the way of marchādyse customes or other wyse latte hym remembre that he medleth with thornes and forgette not the brotherly loue but accordynge to the lawe of nature as he would that men shoulde deale with hym truely and vprightly so let hym deale with hys neyghboure Tob. iiij Vvhatsoeuer ye woulde that men shoulde do to you mat vij euen so do ye to them Thys is the lawe and the Prophetes Luce. vi Geue and it shal be geuen vnto you sayth Christe Lende lokynge for nothynge agayne and youre rewarde shal be greate and ye shal be the chyldren of the hyest Deute xv Item in the fyfte boke of Moyses sayth the lawe Tourne not thyne eyes from thy poore brother handle not deceatfully and craftely with hym in hys necessities that thy Lorde God maye blesse the alwayes and in all thynges that thou goest aboute or takest in hande Deute xxiij xxiiij Geue vnto thy brother no money vpon vsury O Lorde God why do men rage so vnmanerly and abhominable for the temporall goodes seyng thei muste shortely departe from them when they dye They can not preserue them from death what shoulde it profite a man Matth xxvi though he shoulde wynne all the hole worlde yf he loose his owne soule Christe warneth you fatherly in Mathewe and sayeth Mat. vi See that ye gather you not treasure vppon the earth where ruste and mothes corrupte and where theues breake through and steale But gather ye treasures together in heauen where nether ruste nor mothes corrupte and where theues nether breake vp nor yet steale For where so euer youre treasure is there will youre hertes be also It can not well be done to followe the naked Christe and to beare his crosse where as so greate ryches and all plentie doth abounde Synne Synne is all what soeuer is against the commaundement of God There is thre maner of synnes The originall synne is an euill concupiscēce where of we be inheritours by byrthe descēdinge from Adā vpon all Adams children whiche prouoketh and enticeth to synne For it is written in the fyrst boke of Moyses The imagination of mannes herte is euyl Ge. vi and .viij euē from hys youthe Of thys synne complayneth Dauid sayenge Psal li. Rom. v Ephe. ij Beholde I was shapen in wickednes and in synne hath my mother conceyued me Thys synne bryngeth the chylde with hym euen from hys mothers wombe The deadly synne is euery synne agaynst the commaundement of god of her owne nature The daily synne The dayly synne is a synne of the Christen menne or of the saynctes is called daily for thys cause not that she is so small of her selfe but because she is forgeuen vnto the faythful thorough the mercyfulnes of God and is not imputed vnto hym for synne vnto death Briefely euery dede of man whiche is not through the faythe in Christe is a deadly synne For the frute is as the tree The tree is the carnal mā which spiritually is dead how shoulde he then of hymself bring furth a lyuing fruite that is a good worke Infirmitie For as muche as a Christen man doth not feare death he feareth much lesse bodely sickenes he escheweth only the infirmities of the soule that is to say synne The bodely infirmitye is vnto man a costely medecyne agaynst the synfull flesshe For man is neuer more righteous then when he is sicke when God scourgeth thē doth he heale Amendement of lyfe happeneth best in the tyme of all maner of tribulation Sickenes doth withdrawe him from the inordinate and vncomely loue of creatures that he begynneth to loke for the creatoure as for hym that onely can helpe on euery syde and quycken man in all hys aduersities whiche he muste suffre here It geueth also vnto man in tribulation a spirituall ioye and bryngeth a good confidence towardes god whā he thinketh accordinge as the scripture doth shewe Vvhome the lord loueth Ebr. xij hym he chasteneth and he scourgeth euery sonne that he receyueth Yf ye endure chastenynge God offereth hymselfe vnto you as vnto sonnes what sonne is that whome the father chasteneth not If ye be not vnder correction whereof al are partakers then are ye bastardes and not sonnes Moreouer seynge we had fathers of our flesshe whiche
¶ In the newe testamente Reade the Euangelistes of the passyon where they handle the Passyon of Christe ▪ there shalt thou fynde howe godly the Prophecyes be fulfilled and that the Euangelystes accorde ād agree with the Prophetes Lykewyse in the Actes of the Apostles .i. ij iij. iiij v. vij x. xiij xvij xx xxvi Witnesses of the Apostoles Paule Roma i. iij. where he proueth that we haue the redemption through the bloude of Christe in the .v. sayth he when we were enemyes we were reconcyled to god by the death of hys sonne Item Roman vi viij Christe dyed for vs. Roma xiiij xv To the Corinthians .i. Cor. i. ij vi viij x. xi xv ij Corinth iiij v. xiij To the Galathians i. ij iij. iiij vi To the Ephesians i. ij v. To the Philippians in the seconde teacheth he and sheweth that the sonne of God hath humbled hymselfe frō the hyghnes of hys maiestye for oure saluacyon euen vnto the most haynous deathe of the Crosse Philippen iij. To the Coloss i. ij iij. To the Tessaloniens i. ij iiij v. To Timot. i. ij To Titus .ij. In the Epistell to the Hebrewes in the .i. ij v. vi ix x. xiij Cha. Peter i. Petri. i. ij iij. iiij And also in the seconde Epistle Iohan. i. Iohan. i. ij iij. iiij Of the buryall reade Treno iij. They haue layde a stone vppon me Psalm iij. iiij xvi My flesshe shal lye sure Item Esaye xi In the newe Testamente Matth. xxvij Marci xv Luce. xxiij Iohan. xix The vnspeakeable fruyte of the hoolsome death of Iesu Christe and the infinite merites shalt thou fynde also in the places afore rehersed The fyfth Article He ascended into hel and the thyrd daye he rose agayne from the death Christe is our redemer and sauioure therfore ouercometh he all whatsoeuer is contrary to oure saluacion is synne death hell the deuyl through whose enuie death is come into the worlde Christ also descended into hell that he shoulde suppresse all powers and subtelties of the deuyl to the faythfull And he is rysen agayne for to geue a newe lyfe to the beleuynge that we here after may lyue innocently and godly Dauid speaketh thereof on thys wyse Thou shalt not leaue my soul in hell Christ descēded into hel Here is it cleare that he descēded into hell For he sayth not Thou shalt not leaue the work of my soule in hellethe sayth my soule so that the soule of Christ dyd truely descende into hel after her substaunce or beynge not onely after the worke And although we do not knowe properly what maner of descendynge into hell the same be Yet neuerthelesse wyll we surely truely beleue the wordes of the Prophetes whan he hadde commended hys blessed soule into the handes of God hys father than laye hys holye body styll but the soule went downe to hell Oh the mercyfull Lorde hathe ouercome for vs euery fearful thyng The resurrection of Christe ¶ The resurrection of Christe is a great article For it hath made the paines and sufferynges of all martyrs lyght and is the triumphe and ioye of all Christians Hys resurrectyon is oure righteousnes and worketh also oure resurrection bothe of bodye and soule Euen so sayth saint Paul Christe is rysen agayne Rom iiij Ro. viij If the spirite of hym that raysed vp Iesus from death dwell in you euen he that raysed vp Christe from death shal quicken your mortall bodyes because that hys spirite dwelleth in you i. Co. xv And to the Corinthians as by Adam all dye euen so by Christ shall all be made a lyue and euery man in hys owne ordre The firste is Christe then they that are Christes The inuincible glorye of the glorious resurrection of Iesu Christe declareth and glorifieth al that was weake feareful before dryueth awaye the feare of death and exalteth into great ioye the hertes of all faythfull Christians Vvhat ioye is greater thē that Christe is rysen in euerlastynge glorye and honour Rom. vi He dyed ones for vs and shall dye no more death shall haue no more power ouer hym Nowe be we hys membres and he is oure onely heade wheresoeuer then the heade becometh and reygneth there shall also the membres become There is oure ioye and reioysynge i. the .iiij Therfore sayth Paule That the Christians shoulde comforte themselues one another with suche wordes They are cōfortable wordes truely to all true beleuers Sūma Euangel ij This is the summe of the gospel Christe is a kyng of glorye he is borne and geuen vnto vs. Vve haue synne and death but he hath righteousnes and lyfe yf thou beleue in hym then be hys goodes thy goodes hys resurrection thy resurrectiō And it is thyne also whatsoeuer he hath wrought by hys glorious triumphāt resurrection Ro. viij God hath geuen vs hys sonne all thynges with hym as saynt Paule sayth Vvhat hath he wrought by hys resurrection Fruyct of the resurrection Truely great thynges he hath destroyed synne raysed righteousnes abolysshed death brought agayne lyfe ouercome hel and he hath geuen eternall glorye and honour Therfore syngeth the churche with great gladnes not without inspiratiō of the holy goost Christe is rysen and yf he were not rysen then were all the worlde perysshed In the old Testament is the resurrection of Christe signifyeth the prophete Ionas Ione ij Mat. xij Luce. xi He laye thre dayes and thre nightes in the bely of a great whalle after that was he delyuered as Christe hym selfe bringeth in the same The scribes and the Pharisees would see but a signe Then sayde the Lorde vnto them The signe of Ionas The euyl aduoutrous generation seketh a signe but there shall no signe be geuen to them than the signe of the Prophete Ionas For as Ionas was thre daies and thre nyghtes in the whalles belly so shall the sonne of man be thre dayes and thre nyghtes in the herte of the earth Iohn ij And in Iohn speaketh he also of thys hys resurrection saynge Destroye thys temple and in thre dayes I wyl rease it vp agayne There speaketh he of hys owne body Reade more there of in Osee and in the psalter I haue slept and am rysen That is asscrybed vnto Christe Item thou shalt not leaue my soule in hell neyther wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption Here sheweth Dauid clearly the bodely resurrection of Christe For Christe is properly called in scripture the holy one of god and he sayth thou shalt not leaue hym in hell that is as muche to saye Thou shalt sone bryng hym from theus Item thou shalt not suffre thy holy to see the corruption That is Thou shalt make haste to bringe me abroade agayne to the bodely lyfe The continual readyng in the Bible shall bryng before the more suche lyke saynges Vvitnesse of the newe Testament Mathei xx He shall ryse agayne the thyrde daye That is the worde of God that can
comforter wyll not come vnto you And suche lyke sayenges more declare euidently the thyrd person in the godheade the holy gost Itē receyue the holy goost Act. x. In the Actes of the Apostles is it written Whyle Peter yet spake these wordes the holy goost fell on al them whiche hearde the preachynge Act. viij Item they prayed for them that they myght receyue the holy goost Rom. v. viij xv Paule to the Romayns The loue is shed abrode in oure hartes by the holy goost whiche is geuen vnto vs. Item to the Corinthians ij cor xiij The grace of oure Lorde Iesu Christ the loue of God and the felloweshyppe of the holy goost be with you all There be more other of suche lyke places in S. Paules Epistles The great maiesty and the abysme of the vnsercheable greatnes of God ought in hys essence and persons we to worshyppe with al humilitye and not presume to groūd or searche it for mannes witte cā not cōprehende it neither shal it also attayne to the knoweledge therof God hath ordeyned al thynges to thintēt that we should be ryghteous saued Offyce of the tree persons Christ hath by hys holsome death deserued that we shoulde be saued The holy goost fulfilleth nowe the desertes of Christe that we maye be ryghteous And this is euen hys offyce that he do truely bestowe Christe and all that he hath and geue it the in thy herte as thyne owne treasure Summa Shal I come to the father by Christe and be partener of his lyfe passyon of al such goodes as he hath done for my sake truely so muste the holy gost work in my before The father and the sonne must moue me by the worke of the holy gooste drawe me vp or elles am I spiritually dead The holy goost is that great thynge whereby god the father by hys sonne Christe and in Christe worketh and quickeneth all thynges The nynth Article I beleue one holy catholike church The comon Catholyke churche The cōmunion of saynctes These two partes be one thyng for cōmuniō holy catholike churche is nothynge elles then the spiritual cōgregatiō of sainctes of ryghteous faythful mē wheresoeuer they be in earthe It is also proprely no congregation that is bounde euen in one parte or place but a congregation in one faith hope and loue of the spirite The holy goost hath gathered thys churche through the worde of God he kepeth and gouerneth it The churche is dayly in the worde of God hygh blessed sacramentes augmented and nourysshed as in her foode Ephe. v The churche is a bryde of the Lord Christe as Paule sayeth Christe gaue hym selfe for it to sanctifye it and clēsed it in the fountaine of water throughe the worde to make it vnto hymselfe a glorious congregation withoute spot or wrynckle or any suche thyng But that it shoulde be holy withoute blame The vnitye betwene the man and the woman in the state of wedlocke signifyeth suche a spirituall wedlocke betwene the Catholike churche and Christe her brydegrome as in the Epistle to the Ephesians Eph. v. Gene. i. very properly is descrybed and annoted Euen as man and wyfe be one body hauynge all thynges comon so here also what soeuer Christ is and hath that is and belongeth to the congregation hys spouse Thys is a great ioyfull and blessed thynge We haue synne death hell and all shame Christe hath righteousnes lyfe saluacion and all glory This shal now be oures yf we throughe the wedding ringe of fayth be maryed vnto Christ and become one body with hym Thus saythe the Prophete Osee Osee ij I wyll mary the vnto myne owne selfe for euermore Yea euen vnto my selfe wyl I mary the in ryghteousnes in equitie in louinge kyndnes and mercy In fayth also wyll I mary the vnto my selfe And then shalt thou knowe that I am the Lorde For Christ is not onely by his becomynge man proprely and perfectely become the brydegrome of the churche But also by the consentynge of hys churche in his worde and couenaunt through fayth He that hath maryed a bryde Ihon. iij Psalm xix he is a brydegrome The consentyng maketh mariage Before the consentyng is he not called a brydegrome Therfore is hys progresse as concernynge brydegromeshyppe whereof Dauid speaketh his manifestacion in the fayth of the churche That is whan there was beleued in hym of the churche then dyd it appeare that he is a brydegrome He hath put on the humanite and so vnyed hym selfe with the churche in one flesshe Eph. v. whiche the Apostell calleth a great mystery wherein the ryche and poore the ryghteous the synner the saued and the dampned the sonne of grace and the sonne of wrathe and heuynesse are agreed for here be al hys goodes geuen vnto vs as our owne and all our pouerty and penury taken awaye i. Cor. iij i. Pet. ij In the churche dwelleth Christe he speaketh in her he is the onely foundation and grounde thereof In the Churche is one Lorde one fayth one baptisme one God and father of all thynges whiche is ouer all thynges through all thynges in all thynges Wheresoeuer the Gospel is preached there is a peere of thys churche The christen congregation she is in her selfe inuisyble not bounde to one place For it is a congregation in the spirite And the worde worketh inuisybly in her And she dothe neuer heare it without frute Esai lv as Esay sayeth My worde that cometh oute of my mouthe shall not tourne agayn voyde vnto me Lyke as in the tyme of Noe Ge. vij no mā escaped with hys lyfe but was drouned in the floude excepte he entred in to the Arke or into the Cheste of Noe. Euen so whosoeuer is not founde in thys felloweshyppe or Catholike Churche agreynge with her in one faythe worde Sacramente hope and loue he shal be loste Martion Valentinus Hebiō Cherinthus Manicheus Heluidius and suche lyke heretykes haue also had a Churche That is a heape a propresecte or felloweshyppe But it was not the Catholyke Churche wherein Christe is a bridegromes for they had not the right fayth And whereas such felloweshyppe is yet which separate themselues frō the Christen communyon and congregatiō and haue no pure syncere faith as the scripture teacheth vs and wyll not suffer thēselues to be refourmed they be heretykes and sectysshe persons and shall all be loste oneles they reconcyle them selues agayn with the churche of Christe Note we saye not I beleue in the holy Catholike churche but I beleue one holy Catholike churche pardon or remissyon of synnes and so furthe for that worde in is vsed to the trinite on or in God the father God the sonne and God the holy goost Cōmunyon of saynctes What is the communyon of sainctes Answer That the Christians and saynctes after suche a sorte be bounde and knytte together in one fraternite through the bande of
he wyl geue it you The eleuenthe Article ⧠The resurrection of the body Resurrection of the dead ¶ This article is to hyghe agayne for mannes capacite she can not see nor vnderstande with her darke lighte howe euen the same body shal come agayne which so diuersely may perysshe The one is drowned in the sea hym consume the fysshes the one is eaten of the fowles in the ayer another of the wylde beastes or wormes or is consumed of the fyre Here caÌ„ not nature comprehende howe euen that same body with all hys substaunce maye be made and brought together agayne that I shal haue eueÌ„ my firste eyes handes fete and membres as I haue now vpon me Therfore is it called a mistery of God whiche man beleueth and seeth not before hys eyes Euen the same body where with my soule nowe synneth or fasteth and doth any good shall at the laste daye be rayseth agayne and my soule shall be coupled with it agayne And shal be bothe together saued or together damned But there shal be a greate alteration in the body Now in the mortal lyfe is my body subiecte to all maner of miserye Men maye beate me wounde me the body is fowl vnhansome darke dull slowthful and sluggysshe and vseth muche payne and labour or it can come from one place to another It is fearful and weake and hyndreth the soule often in her worke If I study longe or imagine some hygh matter and subtyl anone orketh my head Of suche lyke calamytyes sticketh the body ful Therfore dyd the Platouystes call oure body a denne of the soule and death a delyueraunce from boÌ„des i. Co. xv But in the last daye shal the body of the blessed be garnysshed with fayr gyftes and glorye It shal be no more corruptyble but cleare bryght fayr In the boke of wysedome sayth the Scripture Sapi. iij The ryghteous shall shyne as the sparkes that runne through the busshe mat xiij And in Mathewe sayth Christe Then shal the ryghteous shyne as the sunne in the kyngedome of theyr father ¶ Item the body shal no more be slowfull sluggysshe and lyther but quycke and swyfte that wheresoeuer the spirite wil be euen there shall also the bodye be without delay It shall no more be wretched and sicke or weake but mightye and strong that nothing shal be able to hynder it or to kepe it in It can come oute and in thorough dores beyng shut Item it shal be no more corruptible that it may be beaten hurted or wounded but incorruptible as the shadowe of the sonne i. Co. xv The foure gyftes of glory and worshyp toucheth Paule in the Epistle to the Corinthyans Moreouer howe the one shal be clearer then the other Lyke as one starre is bryghter and clearer than the other Wherevpon sayd S. Augusten saith to Diostero God hath made the soule so mightye that thorough her perfect saluatioÌ„ floweth into the body a perpetual healthe an vnmouable power i. Co. xv Paul helpeth our weake fayth with a goodly exaÌ„ple of a grayne which is sowen in the earth and it is not quickened excepte it dye before then groweth oute of the smal corne a fayr frute euery corne of the frute hath hys owne body His natural fourme and fashion is now muche syner fayrer mightyer then before Such thynges see we daily in the workyng of nature in the incompreheÌ„sible creatures howe much more glory power goodnes wysedome science bestoweth God the creatour of al thynges vpon the reasonable creatures of men whome he hath geueÌ„ a soul fourmed after him selfe irrepreheÌ„syble In tymes past in the Aquiliane or Carthagiane Churche dyd men pronounce thys article thus I beleue the resurrectyon eueÌ„ of thys body beholde meÌ„ dyd adde to it that word eueÌ„ of thys to thinteÌ„t that it myght be plainly and cleare ynough expressed that none other body lyke vnto this shal be raysed or made but euen this same wherein I now stand sitte see heare walke and do suche lyke workes yea which vseth it selfe here with the soule in al maner of good workes Thys sheweth Iob very clearly Iob. xix wheras he saith I am sure that me redemer lyueth and that I shal ryse out of the earth in the latter daye that I shal be clothed agayn with this skinne and se God in my flesshe ye a I my selfe shall beholde hym not with other but with myne owne eyes i. Co. xv To the Corinthians sayth Paule Euen thys corruptyble thynge muste put on incorruptibilite and this mortall must put on immortalite thys is cleare ynough declared that euen this body euen these eyes shal come agayne ⧠Witnesse of the Scripture esa xxvi Esaye sayth Thy dead men shal lyue and my slayne shall ryse agayne Awake and lyue ye that lye in the duste Christe when he agaynst the vngodly Saducees defended the resurrection of the dead he brought in the saynge out of the second boke of Moyses I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Iacob But God is no God of the dead but of the lyuinge When he spake those wordes than had those thre ben dead longe before But for as muche as god nameth hym selfe a god of the aforenamed surely then they be some where and be a lyue Therfore shall theyr body and soule in tyme conuenient be ioyned agayne together In Ezechyel speaketh the scripture clearly of the generall resurrectyon Ezechi xxxvij saynge amonge other wordes Thus sayeth the Lord God Beholde I wyl open your graues and brynge you forthe of youre sepulchres Da. xij Daniel sayth Many of them that slepe in the dust of the earthe shall awake some to the euerlastyng lyfe the other to perpetuall shame ¶ Witnesse of the newe Testament In Mathewe Matth. xxij mar xij whereas Christ proueth the resurrection of the bodyes agaynst a Iewysshe secte named the Saducees is thys article of the resurrection of the flesshe grounded Mathewe sayeth Matth. xxvij The graues dyd open and the bodyes of many Saynctes whiche slept arose and came oute of the graues after hys resurrection and came into the holy citye and appered to many Luce. vij Luc. viij Christe rayseth a wydowes sonne Item he raysed vp from death a yong in â—yde Ioh. xi Act. xx Lykewyse Lazarum Paule raysed also a yonge man named Eutichus Ioh. vi In Iohn sayth Christ no man can come to me excepte the father whiche hath sent me drawe hym And I wyl rayse hym vp at the laste daye Ioh. xi Item in another place I am the resurrectioÌ„ and the lyfe he that beleueth on me yea thoughe he were deade yet shall he lyue Item he sayeth to Martha Thy brother shall ryse agayne Martha answered I knowe that he shall ryse agayne in the resurrection at the last daye Ioh. vi Lykewyse sayeth he more ouer as the father rayseth vp the deade and quickeneth theÌ„
the begynnynge of the worlde Thys is the ryght saluation whiche shal begynne euen after the temporal lyfe to them that lyue in Christ In Iohn sayth Christ Ioh. iij God so loued the worlde that he hath geuē hys onely sonne that none that beleue in hym shoulde perysshe but should haue euerlasting life The scripture speaketh of the lyfe euerlastynge euerye 〈…〉 Christe that men might knowe christ a ryght the sonne of God mat xvi Therfore asked he hys disciples what thy helde of hym Then answered Peter for hym selfe and for the other Thou art Christ the sonne of the lyuyng God Vpon suche knowledge which is necessary for vs all in the Catholyke churche buylded i. Cor i. i i Cor. iij Thus sayth Paule Vve preache Christe the power and wysedome of God He wyll also suffer none other foundation but onely Iesus Christe euen as he hath preached hym That he is come from the father in the nature of mankynd and hath redemed the worlde dyed for vs vppon the crosse and is rysen agayne oure heade and Lorde Eph. ij And is sett on the ryght hande of God vnto whome we come and are saued not by oure owne workes but of grace through fayth Ioh. x Throughout the hole Gospel of s Iohn declareth he for the moost parte that he hym selfe is the sonne of God and preacheth for the moost parte that God is hys father In so muche that the yewes did reiecte hym and would stone him for the same i. Ioh. v. For Christ is come to teache fayth whereby men beleue euen in hym as in the sonne of God And fayth is the fulfyllinge of al lawes He is the righteousnes for euer he is the worke of Goddes glorie he is the mortification of the flesshe the raysinge of the spirit the subduinge of the world the subduinge of the flesshe the subduynge of hell the gates of hell cannot preuayle agaynst hym Briefely Matth. xvi Ioh. viij Ioh. xiij he is all in all thinges as he sayeth in Iohn Excepte ye beleue that I am he ye shall dye in your sinnes Itē he that beleueth in me shall neuer dye The writynges of the Apostles be full of doctryne as concernyng fayth for thereon lyeth all the matter mar xvi He that beleueth not shal be damned he that beleueth in the sonne hath euerlastynge lyfe Ioha iij. Therfore shoulde we praye continually for the ryght faith for he bryngeth with hym loue hope and all goodnes Fayth Fayth is not a slyght meanynge 〈…〉 whiche the natural witte or wyll can make to hym selfe Act. xv but it is a liuely thynge in the herte which renueth mā and purifyeth the herte It is suche a lyuely confidence and trust to God that man is sure and certayn aboue al wysedome that he pleaseth God and that he hath a mercyfull God whiche is towardes hym kynd gracious and mercyfull and forgeueth hym in all thynges that he doeth Thys fayth is the chiefest worke of the fyrste commaundement lyke as the fyrste commaundement is a measure example rule and vertu of all other commaundementes in the which as in the heade all membres lyue and haue power thereof Goode workes Euen so is fayth the heade lyfe and power of al good workes No work is good except faith hath wrought it ye except it be thorowely mixte with fayth Ro. xiiij euen as wyth newe leuyn whatsoeuer is not of faith that same is synne Ioh. vi Thys fayth is the dearest worke of god wherof Christ speaketh in Iohn This is the worke of God that ye beleue in hym whome God hath sent Therfore doth the scripture moost requyre fayth as in the Gospell often standeth Vvhen Christe would worke any myracle asked he before yf thei beleued that he coulde and woulde do suche thynges Item in marke and Mathewe Mar. ix Matth. xiij mat vij it is written that Christe hath not done many myracles in hys owne countree because of theyr vnbeleue In Mathewe sayth Christe that hys disciples could not heale the lunatike for theyr vnbeleues sake Vvheras a ryght Catholike fayth is Ephe. ij there is a creation of a newe harte The olde harte of Adā hath not thys faith of it selfe For it is a gyfte of god Many say the Crede dayly Fayth boaste there of very sore But they knowe not what it is O it maketh a meke hūble obediēt godly peple whiche trusteth in god onely hopeth loueth him aboue al things feareth him serueth his euen christen willingly with body goodes hindereth nomā suffereth gladly dāmage persecutiō Al his workes be ordered to the vtylyte and profyte of hys neyghboure be he frende or foo euen as Christe hath done vnto vs also Therfore be not all they Chrysten manne that be called Euangelical and be inclined to hurte or endamage their neyghbours in body soule honoure or goodes They be heathen vnder the name of Christe theyr frutes shewe what they be yf they were ryght christians or Euangelicall they would be obedient seruable vnto al men intendyng to hurte no man God vouchesaue to illumine them with true fayth that they maye be suche in dede as they wil be called Amen Marci ix Lorde I beleue helpe myne vnbeleue Marci xvi He that beleueth not shal be damned Marci ix All thinges are possible to hym that beleueth ¶ Here begynneth the ryght foundation and pryncypall common places of the hole godly scripture a goodly shorte declaration to all Christians profitable and necessarye for to come to the right vnderstondyng of the holy Scripture compyled for the commoditie of all Christen people By Doctor Vrbanus Regius ⧠The contentes of the common places i. Holy Scripture ij God iij. The ryght honour of God iiij Goddes greatest dishonour v The lawe vi The gospell vij Fayth viij Good workes ix Sacramente x The death of Christ xi Flesshe xij Spirite xiij Vertue xiiij The greatest vertue xv The greatest synne xvi The soule xvij Lyfe xviij Euerlastyng lyfe xix Death xx The resurrection xxi The later daye xxij Masse xxiij Righteousnes xxiiij Honour of sainctes xxv Difference of meates xxvi Holy dayes xxvij Prayer xxviij Vowe xxix Obedience xxx The wyll of God xxxi Mannes wyl xxxij Offence xxxiij Almoses xxxiiij Othe or swearyng xxxv Christian lyberty xxxvi Churche xxxvij Ryches xxxviij Synne xxxix Infirmitie xl Health xli Persecution xlij Ioye and heuynes xliij Peace xliiij Free wyl xlv Counsayll xlvi Confessyon xlvij Merytes xlviij Shepeherde Ende of the Tabell ¶ To the most reuerende father in God Thomas by the permission of God Archebysshope of Canturburye Metrapolitane prymate of all Englande Hys dayly oratoure Gwalter Lynne wyssheth lyfe euerlastynge ME thynketh most reuerēde father that this sayenge of our Sauyoure Christ be occupied til I come is an admonicyon of all other moste necessarye and profytable Luc. xix and xij Matth. xxiiij xxv mar xiij aswell for the parentes or maysters
in Saynte Paule .i. Cor. i. Gal. i. ij Ephe. i. Col. i. Roma ij Ebre ix and to Titus ij Iohn iij In so muche that he that beleueth in Christe shal not perysshe but haue euerlastynge lyfe For thus sayth S. Paule Ro. viij There is then no damnation to them whiche are in Christe Iesu whiche walke not after the flesshe but after the spirite Therfore is there no meryer thynge vppon earthe than a ryght Christen man for he dothe not muche esteme the temporall lyfe he is sure of a better lyfe He is a Lorde ouer synne death and helle Vvhy so Answer Rom. vi Christe dyed once and dyeth no more Death shal haue no more power ouer hym Iohn Nowe bei he hath ouercome it and taken awaye synne Now he that beleueth in Christe hath Christ before hys eyes becometh one spirite wyth hym ouercometh in him and by hym synne death helle Deuyll and the worlde Ro. viij For thus sayth Saynte Paule Yf God be on oure syde who can be agaynste vs. Vvhiche also spared not hys owne sonne but gaue hym for vs all Howe shall he not with him geue vs all thynges Psalm xxx viij Vve are well delyuered into death but we ouercome all those thynges through Christe whiche hath loued vs. Vvhat hath Christe Answer He hath the righteousnes peace lyfe and saluation Euē that same hath the christen soule also which is knytte in vnite vnto Christe her lorde and head thoroughe a ryght faith Ro. viij Hose xiij She defyeth death sayth neyther death nor any creature is able to separate her from the loue of god whiche is in Christ Iesu She speaketh ioyfully i. Co. xv Death is consumed in the victory Death where is thy styng Hell where is thy victory But thankes be vnto god which hath geuē vs victory thorough our Lord Iesu Christ Deathe is not fearfull to a christen mā The tēporall deathe is vnto such a christen man no more so fearful Yea he doth desyre it for it is to hym onely a delyueraunce frō thys sinful wretched blasphemous lyfe an intraunce into the ryght lyfe vnto Christe our onely saluation A Christian knoweth that the euer lastynge death can do nothing to him yea as littel as to Christe hym selfe and the temporall death is onely a departing of the soule from the body to thiutent that they bothe beynge puryfyed pure and cleare in all perfection in the Later daye maye be agayne coupled to gether glorifyed and clarifyed And knoweth that the soule stondeth in the hande of Christ and is well preserued in the bosome of Abraham Luc. viij Therfore doth the scripture calle the Christen death a slepe because that then a Christian doth firste amende hys estate and cometh from disquietenesse to reste The ryghte Christians also should not behaue thē selues euyl or sorrowe ouer muche whan any thynge dyeth from them Paule sayth i. the. iiij Vve woulde not bretheren haue you ignorant concernynge them whiche are fallen a slepe that ye sorrowe not as the other whiche haue no hope For yf we beleue that Iesus dyed and rose agayne euen so them also whiche slepe by Iesus wyll God brynge agayne with hym The Resurrection esa xxix Ezeche xxxvij and viij In the latter daye shall the bodyes of menne by the infinite power and myght of god be raysed agayne and be coupled agayne with the soules But in the blessed shall they wonderfully be chaunged and endued with foure gyftes honour and glorye with impassiblenes with brightenes with swyftenes and with subtilenes For thus sayth Saynt Paule i. Co. xv The flesshe is sowen in corruption and ryseth in incorruption It is sowen in dishonour ryseth in honour It is sowē in weakenes ryseth in power It is sowen a naturall body ryseth a spiritual body For a lyttell before sayth he For as in Adam all dye euen so by Christe shall all be made a lyue and euery mā in hys owne ordre The fyrste is Christe then they that are Christes at his commynge Then commeth the ende when he hath delyuered vp the kyngdome to God the father when he hath put downe all rule authorite and power Christ is rysen from death therfor shall we ryse also Thys artycle of oure fayth is al the hole somme and contayned all the hole matter Yf Christe were not rysen then had synne and death ben to stronge for him But for as moche as he is rysen from death so is synne and death ouercome and we shall ryse also in glorye purchaced prepared for vs by Christe Ro. viij But then when the spirite of God that raysed vp Iesus from death quickeneth your mortall bodyes because of his spirite whiche dwelleth in you Ioh. xi Christe sayth I am the resurrectiō and the lyfe He that beleueth on me yea though he were deade yet shall he lyue And whosoeuer lyueth and beleueth on me shall neuer dye Item this is the wyl of hym that sent me Ioh. vi that euery man which seyth the sonne and beleueth on hym haue euerlastinge lyfe And I wyll rayse hym vp at the last daye hiob xix Item I am sure that me redemer lyueth and that I shall ryse oute of the earthe in the later daye that I shall be clothed agayne with thys skynne and see God in my flesshe yea I my selfe shal beholde hym not with other but with these same eyes Itē the houre shall come in the whiche al that are in the graues shall heare hys voyce and shall come forthe they that haue done good vnto the resurrection of lyfe and they that haue done euyll vnto the resurrection of damnation One Christian shoulde conforte another with suche wordes of Scripture agaynst the feare of death as Saynte Paule teacheth in the Epistle to the Thessalonians i. Th. iiij The Latter daye Of the last daye hath the Scripture two poyntes The fyrst Christe hath geuen sure sygnes which be the messagers of the last iudgement Reade the Gospelles of Mathewe Marke Matth. xxiiij mar xiij Luc. xxi and Luke All maner of persecutions of the faythfull shall aryse Item warre insurrection offence euyl maners quenchynge of charite Item the abhomination in the holy place in the tempel of God Dan. ix whiche exalteht hym selfe and sheweth hym selfe as God Item an abhominable departynge ij Th. ij and fallyng from the faythe vnto mānes institutions and traditions For thus sayth Christe when the trees shute forth theyr buddes it is a sure signe that Sōmer is then nygh at hāde So lykewyse ye when ye see those thynges come to passe vnderstonde that the later daye is at hande The other Euen thesame poynte of thys laste tyme the daye or houre can no man knowe Christe geueth signes Matth. xxiiij but he sayth in Mathewe Of that daye and houre knoweth noman no not the Angels of heauen but my father onely and recyteth euen in the same place
Howe that in the dayes of Noe the floudde came vnwarres and ouer hasted the worlde So shal the cōmynge of the sonne of man be when men wyl least loke for hym i. thes v. ij thes ij Euen thus sayth Paule also The daye of the Lorde cometh as a thefe in the nyghte Matth. xxiiij and xxv i. the .iiij The fourme fasshyon processe and iudgement of the Latter daye Reade in Mathewe and in the Epistle vnto the Thessaloniens I wyll not brynge the oute and from the scripture with my laboure but in and to the Scripture Euery water is better in hys fyrst sprynge than it is in the fellowynge crekes or ryuers The Masse The masse is a testamente of Christ wherein is promysed pardon and remissyon of synnes vnto all faythfull Christians and soundeth thus As they dyd eate the Lorde Iesus loke the breade and gaue thankes brake it gaue it to hys disciples and sayd Take eate thys is my body And he toke the cuppe thanked and gaue it them and saide drynk of it euery one Thys is the cuppe the newe Testament in my bloude that shall be shed for you and for many for the remissiō of synnes Matth. xxvi mar xiiij Luc. xxij i. Cor. xi Thys do in the remembraūce of me Reade Mathewe Marke Luke and the Epistle of Paule to the Chorinthians Euen there is the masse instituted of Christ Therfore what so euer is more there by they additiōs of menne These forsayd wordes must euery mā knowe perfectely remembre thē in a right stedfaste faith It is not lauful that they shoulde be hidden and spokē secretely yf thou wilt heare masse a right remembre that here is a meate and drynke therfore muste thou eate and drynke or elles thy masse hearynge is of no valoure To heare masse a ryght Howe shall I do then Take the wordes of the masse before the and remembre them in a ryght fayth that thou doubte not but as Christe hath promysed thy euen so shall it come to passe vnto the and in the fayth of the same wordes receyue the blessed Sacrament as a sure holy token vnder the whiche suche promyse is made vnto the whereby thyne herte is broughte to the wordes to beleue them This is spiritually and corporally to go to goddes borde Goyng to Goddes borde Whan the Sacramente is not ministred vnto the but thou hearest masse onelye then take the wordes of the Testament into thy herte and remembre there what thy God and Lorde Iesus Christe hath done for the howe he by hys death hath redemed the and deserued for the eternall lyfe And besydes thys hast thou the very right lyuynge token and seall hys body hys bloude Beleue the wordes and the token so obtaynest thou the promysed inheritaunce and goest to Goddes borde spiritually thou doest strengthen thy selfe oute of the wordes of Christe thou doest conforte the preserue and amende the. For he that doth accepte the wordes and token in fayth is nourysshed and strengthened agaynst all temptations and necessities and moued and prouoked to geue thankes vnto the plenteous mercyfull father which hath geuen and made suche a ryche costely Testamente to vs poore damnable synners Here maye be no doubte at all in the promyse For it is therfore called a Testamente that is a thynge which can not be called agayne a sure promyse whiche is sealled and confirmed with the precious death of the Sonne of God Ebre xi Here is no bloude shed of vnreasonable cattell whiche can not take awaye synne but the precyous innocent bloude of Iesu Christ Ebre ix which pourgeth our consciences from deade workes whiche for that cause is a mediatour of the newe testamēt Rom. iij as Paule doth name hym the masse is no sacrifyce The masse is properly no oblation but is a remembraunce of the hyghe worthy oblation or Sacrifice whiche Iesus Christe the sonne of God in heauen Hebr. ix offred hym selfe for oure synnes vpon the crosse ones This rememberaunce shall be very newe vnto all hertes whereby man is taught what he hath ben and what God hath done for hym There of groweth then confidence in suche a kynde Lorde and redemer Also loue is raysed towardes God and towardes oure neyghbour and a renewynge of the olde man We haue nowe many masses but the death of the Lorde is seldome shewed the plentyfull grace of the death of Christe shoulde alwayes be shewed thereby And we shoulde admonysshe exhorte one another to the loue of God and of our neyghbours For thys Sacrament signifyeth vnite in loue as the names therof clearly do declare A testament Briefely whatsoeuer a Testamēte hath in it selfe in especyall that same hath also the masse The Testatour is Christe The testamente are the wordes as is a fore sayde whereby Christe dyd institute the blessed Sacramēt of the aulter therein is contayned with fewe wordes what Christe hath bequethed and geuen vs. The sealle i. Tim. ij bonde and assuraunce is the body bloude of Christe a pledge token and sealle of the Godly promyse and redemption for vs. The heyres are all faythfull Christians The inheritaunce is pardon and remissyon of synnes Where as remission of synnes is there followe all goodes promysed and geuen in the Testament For whan the synnes be remitted and forgeuen then haue we a mercyfull God throughe Christe Christ is then oures Ro. viij and with hym all thynges Thys is nowe the inheritaunce The Sacrifyces of the olde Testamente were vnperfecte Ebre x for they dyd not take and wasshe awaye synne thei were a figure of the ryght perfecte sacrifyce the oblacion of Christe whiche taketh away our synnes and maketh vnto vs a mercyfull God That was Christe which dyed vpon the crosse a ryght onely sacrifyce of the newe Testamente for oure synnes oure onely sanctification iustifycacyon and satisfaction Nowe whē we haue masse or go to Goddes borde than may we not saye properlye that Christ is offred agayn for he dyeth now no more Ebre vi ix Rom. vi The Apostle sayth He hath done it once And after that fayth he agayne Once dyd he entre into the holy place He offreth not him selfe often he was offred but ones But proprely is it a remembraunce of the ryght perfecte oblacyon which once vpon the crosse is accomplysshed And here is the passyon of Christ earnestly remembred through the which fayth is strengthened and augmēted loue towardes God and man kyndeled and hope stablysshed and confirmed Therfore sayde Christe Thys do in the remembraunce of me that is when ye eate my body and drynke my bloude then remember my death that I dyed for you and redemed you and became an oblation for your synnes Righteousnes A ryght fayth in the mercy grace of God in Iesu Christe is onelye oure ryghteousnes Ro. iiij To hym that beleueth is hys fayth counted for ryghteousnes Abraham beleued God Gen. xv and it
synfull chylde of Adam and vessell of damnatiō a vessell of glory Rom. ix Praynge hym that he wil graunte vnto me suche a faith suche loue and hope as the deare sainctes haue had to thintent that I may be shortely ioyned with them as with my brethren in Christe and fellowe membres The sainctes loue vs Also I dowte not at all that forasmoche as here vppon earthe they were yet tymorous and frayll and yet loued their neyghbour truely so do they loue vs hartely and reioyce highly when oure saluation approcheth and the kyngdome of God cometh vnto vs that the will of God is done in vs that oure blasphemous lyfe doth crasse and we be conuerted that the spirituall body with all the membres soone may be fullfilled and to the laude and honour of God may be songe Hos xiij i. Co. xv this mery songe death is swallowed vp in the victory death where is thy stynge hell where is thy victory Where as then the laste enemy the death shal be destroyed and all faithfull Christians coupled vnyed with Christ as the bryde with her bridegrome i. co xiij Luc. xv then shall there be Ioye withoute ende For the loue decreasseth not in heauē but she is there fyrst made perfecte For the angells of God in heauen Luc. xv reioyce ouer one synner that doth repente more then ouer nynty nyne iuste persons which nede no repētaūce But howe the saynctes praye for vs yf they knowe and see oure prayers Roma i i. The. v Coll. iiij i. Thes i Ac. xiij in the glasse of the eternall worde and after what maner it is done is not necessary for vs to knowe We ought here vpon earth to praye one for another as we are taughte in the Pater noster And Paul desyreth euery where the supplication for the congregation He prayeth also earnestely for it here and there in hys Epistles There is but one name wherein we maye be saued namely Iesus Christ Christ sayde Ioh. xvi xiiij whatsoeuer ye shall are the father in my name he will geue it you Euē so doth also the churche conclude her collectes through our Lorde Iesus Christe That in the olde testament in prayers sometyme the names of Saynctes are brought in remembred as Abraham Isaac Iacob Dauid and suche other that is not done therfore that theyr names shoulde be sette vp or exalted as though thei were the helpers but God is onely admonysshed there by to remēbre the couenaūt which he made with the same saynctes of hys great mercy Euen so myghte I saye yet O mercyful euerlastynge God that hast geuen to the blessed saincte Saynct Peter suche a fayth I beseche the strengthen my fayth also And suche remembraunce is not properlye worshippyng or adoryng of the sainctes but it is to laude God onely in the saynctes and to admonyshe hym of hys trueth and mercyfulnes i. Iohn i In the name of Iesus shoulde all prayers be made for he is onely oure reconciliation before God For so is geuen to the saynctes that belongeth vnto thē and also vnto God that which is his Let the lyuinge saynctes be highly cōmitted vnto the for they haue nede of thy helpe S. Nycolas hath no nede of thy mony but the poore whiche is thy neyghbour Matth. xxv geue it vnto the poore for Goddes sake thys is as acceptable vnto Christe as though it were done to hymselfe Difference of meates God dyd commaunde the Iewes in the Olde Testamente to absteyne from eatyng of certayne beastes But in the newe testamente is no more for biddynge of meates but onelye the abuse of them is forbidden and not the ryghte vse of them for the necessary sustenaunce of man Euerye daye mayest thou Christenly eate al maner of meates for the sustentation of thy body fysshe egges what soeuer it be with thankes geuynge mat xv mar vij Colo. ij What soeuer entreth in to the mouthe defyleth not the man but onely that which cometh owte from the herte Thys is grounded in the Euangelistes Titus i Ro. xiiij and in saynt Paules Epistles For vnto the pure that is vnto the beleuyng are al thinges pure But for as moche as many are entangled with mennes traditions i. Cor. x and viij thinkynge that it is not alwayes laufull to eate flesshe So shalt thou auoyde the offence and for thy neyghboures sake somwhat forbeare thy Christian liberty in that whiche is not agaynste god and instructe teache hym what is commaunded of god or lycensed For yf thou wylt be a right Christian then must thou haue a respecte vnto the wordes of Christe and vse thy selfe thereafter But yf thou regard more the wordes of mē thē the wordes of god thē arte thou no Christiā but a papist God hath not layed his word before the for nought Thinkest thou Thou Ipocryte blynde myserable wretche that God was not able to shewe the ryghte waye to saluation wilt thou with thy good thynkynge inuente a better waye ioh xiiij and viij Christe is the way and the lighte He that followeth not hys doctryne and inuenteth another waye the same doth erre and feleth and gropeth in the darkenes Then wilt thou saye shall then the Popes lawes and the institutions of the Counsaylles be of no reputation Answer The pope and the counseylles maye erre and haue many tymes erred shamefully but yf thou wilt not erre then followe the scripture It is to vs a sure marke that the scripture of the Bybell cometh from the holye gooste yf the institutions of the Popes and counseils be conformable and agreynge with the Byble then are they conclusyons oute of the Bible to be kepte But yf they be contrary to the Bible then is it errour The holy goost is not wauerynge that whiche he hath ones spoken through the Euangelistes for the saluation of the soule the same is sure and he doth not agayne saye it or speake agaynst hym selfe Wilt thou proue be sure yf the spirite of the Pope or of the counseils be of God then beholde reade theyr writtynges cōparing thē with the Bible yf they be agreable to the Byble then is it the spirite of God yf not Pro xxx deu viij so is it the spirite of the deuyll For there oughte nothynge to be added vnto the worde of God mat iiij The worde of God is the sustenaūce of the soule and maketh a newe vprighte ioyfull conscience and sheweth vnto mā the nexte streyghtest waye to saluation But the worde of men is a poyson to the soule and maketh a troubled i. tim iiij ij Cor. x sorowfull fearfull and erronious conscience whiche is marked with an hote Iron Holy dayes Vnto a Christen man is nowe one daye as the other he must kepe holye daye euery daye vnto God in the newe Testament The Sabboth muste euery daye be kepte holy that we leaue the euyll workes of the olde man and