for we can nother call theÌ„ fathers nor monor we be not bâ—etherne by the reason of theÌ„ nor vnite and conioyned by theyr spirites but if they haue bene true and fayethfull they be oure bretherne and haue beene lede wyth oneselfe spirite And lykewyse maye we also saye of all the monasticall sectes and diuersitie of religions For if Saynt Paule haue called the Corinthyans Sâ—smatikes whyche sayed I am of Paule and I of Cephas and I of Appollo what title or name shall I gyue them whyche saye I am of the religion of Saynte Fraunces and I of Saynte Dominike and I of S Benet other suche like which be in greater numbre amonge the christians then euer they were amonge the panims maye we not well saye vnto them wyth the Apostle is Christe deuided hathe Frauncys or Dominike dyed for you or are ye baptised in theyr names In as muche then as wee are baptised in the name of the father of the sonne and of the holye Goste what haue we neede of anye other religion but of that in the whyche thys holye spirite doth raygne which doeth learne vs to make innocatioÌ„ vnto the fathers in the name of Iesus Christ hys sonne whych hath taken vs all into theyr sauegarde and protection what haue we nede of anye othere rule but of that the whyche Iesus Christe hathe The Rule of the Religion of Châ—ist Gal. vi broughte vs from heauen Of the whych the Apostle doeth speake in thys maner all they whyche walke after thys rule peace and mercye be vpon them and vpon Israel of God Natha I haue learned manye goodlye poyntes by the occasion of thys coÌ„munion of saintes for thou haste not onelye taught me what it is but also what is the true excommunication religion and christian brotherheade and what is the honour dene vnto Sayntes therfore nowe expounde vnto me the reste Phy. Because we haue abyden solonge vpon these two articles of the church the communion of Sayntes wee maye here deuide oure matter and kepe the reste tyll an other tyme the which shal be shortly done Natha At thyne own pleasure be it ⧠In this laste dialogue shall be spokeÌ„ of the remissioÌ„ of synnes of the keyes of the kyngedome of heauen of the resurrection and immortall lyfe Nathanaell VVe haue done so muche by our Iorneis that we be al moste come to the ende of the crede seyng therfore we be arriued thus farre fourth our hertes must not faile vs for the litle waye we haue to go Phy. I haue better courage then euer I had tell me therefore what foloweth Natha The remission of synnes what is the vnderstandynge of thys article Phy. I coÌ„fesse by these wordes that I beleue that as there is one churche assemble and vnite by the holye spirite in the same oâ—e coÌ„munion of all goodes that the synnes lykewyse and the faultes be pardoned vnto the fayethfull by the grace goodnes and mercye of God whyche doeth quitte theim all theyr dettes to the ende they should not be rekened vnto theim at hys Iudgemente nor that they should not beare the payne whych they haue merited and deserued Humayn Satisfacion merets Nathan Seynge there is remission and forgiuenes it doth appeare folowe that ther is nothynge of our satisfaction for wher ther is pardone there can be nothyng of our merites Phylype There is nothynge more certayne for the dete is not forgiuen to hym that satisfieth and payeth wherfore it doeth folowe in as muche as there is remission and forgyuenes for vs that the satisfactioÌ„ is of sum other then of oure selues and that we can presâ—t no other recoÌ„pence vnto god but the satisfaction of his sonne Iesus Christe for whose loue we obteine of the father pardon of al our sinnes Natha And this pardon and remission caÌ„ we not obteygne but in the churche Phy. No for as at the time of the floude none coulde be saued whyche were wythout the shipe or arke of Noe so none can auoyde the Gen. viii Pâ—â—â—r iii. No sâ—luacion ouâ— of the church iudgement of God and obteygne grace and pardon of hys misdedes excepte he be a true membre of the church incorporated in the bodye of Iesus Christe persenerynge wyth the people of God in the vnitie of the fayeth Natha It foloweth then that all cismatykes heritikes infidels excommunicate and al authors of sectes whych be deuided and seperated frome the churche can haue no pardon of theyr synnes but abyde in death and damnation vnto suche tyme they be recouciled wyth hyr Phy. It is euen so Nathana Tell me then by what meanes we obteyne pardon in the churche Is it necessarie to confesse oure synnes vnto the priestes and to haue theyr absolution for to obteyne this remission Phy. It is verye requisite that if we will that God pardon vs that we reknoweledge oure faultes but not to the priestes for it is not agaynste theÌ„ that we haue synned but againste God whyche onelye as mooste soueraygne kynge maye gyue vs grâ—ce and pardon and thâ—refore as we haue synned agaynste hym euen so muste we conteste vnto hym our synnes and aske of him pardon accordyng to the example of Dauid of Daniell and of othere holye prophetes seruauntes of God For as Saynce Iohn sayeth if we confesse oure sinnes he is faithfull and wyll heare vs. Natha I vnderstande well we must confesse oure selues vnto God fyrste but is it not re-requisite that we confesse our selues vnto meÌ„ Phy. We maie confesse vs vnto menne in diuers sortes as fyrst If we haue offeÌ„ded anye we oughte to reknoweledge oure faultes towardes hym and aske hym pardon and enforce oure selues to returne into fauour wyth hym for we can not obteygne pardon of god so long as the iniury we haue done vnto one neyghboure doeth accuse vs before hym askynge vengeaunce agaynste vs excepte wee studie to reconcile our selues vnâ—o him whoÌ„ we haue offended and thys confession maye be called brotherlye recoÌ„siliation the whyche Iesus Christe doth greatlie recommend vnto vs. Ther is yet another maner of recoÌ„siliatioÌ„ towardes men the whych may be boeth publyke and particuler for when we haue beene Open coÌ„fesâ—â—on in errour and abused in Idolatrie and superstition and haue offeÌ„ded God we ought not to be ashamed to reknoweledge our faultes opeÌ„lie and to gyue thankes vnto God as did i timo i. Math. i. Act. ii iii. saint Paul writinge vnto Timothe and they whyche dyd come vnto the baptisme of Iohn Baptiste and they whych were conuerted by the pâ—eachynge of Saynte Petre and also of the Ephesians whyche dyd burne the bokes of sorcerie euen so theÌ„ as I may reknowledg and confesse my faultes openlye in thys maner â—efore the church of God euen so may I do in perticuler or secret vnto my neyghbour for to haue councell and consolation of him or for to reconcile my selfe vnto him if I haue Perticuler coÌ„fession offended hym or to the ende he praye
to considre in what signification the holye scripture doeth vse it Natha That is that whych I do aske Phy. We do fynde hel in the vsage of the holye Gene. xliiii Esai xxiiii scriptures and principally in the old testament for the death for the graue and for the state and condition of them that be departed of the which al the scripture doth beare wytnes therfor do we cal it hel which is a word takē of latin doth signifie as much as a low inferior place bicause we do put the bodie in the graue within the earth lower thē our habitatiō Natha Is that the propre significatiō Phyly That is the fyrste that it doeth signifie in the scriptures Nata Is there thē other Phy. Yea but they do hange vpon the same For as the death and the graue is the ende cōsummation of man as concernynge thys worlde euen so hell is taken for the extreme daungers miseries dolors anguishes that man may suffer and by the which he is darkned or brought vnto death Nathanael Vnderstādeste thou none other thynge by hell Phylype It is also likewise takē sūtime for the paine dew for sinne for the Iudgemente and wrathe of God and for the bottome and mischiefe of all euyll thynges of all miseries and vnhappines and bycause 〈◊〉 xvi Math. xvi that in the death and in the graue there is no thynge but stynkynge infection darknes and perpetuall horror it is somtyme taken for to siguifie the state cōdicion and the place of the damned otherwyse called Gehenue bycause that theyr death is not vnto lyfe that they Luke xvi Marc. v do abyde in the same in perpetuall darkenes of the whyche the graue is theyr beginnyng Natha Accordynge to whyche of these significations ought we to vnderstāde that Iesus Christe is descended into hell Phy. Accordynge vnto all Natha Howe so Phy. Fyrste thou muste note that he doth not saye in the singuler numbre He is discended into hell as thoughe he dyd speake of a place certayne wherunto he was goone But in the plurell He is descended to the helles comprehendynge all that which he had sayed before He hath suffred vndre ponce Pilate crucified dead and buried Natha And did it not suffice to haue already sayed the same by other wordes for if discendyd into hels doeth signifie no further what nede was it to put to this article Phy. Albeit that it do comprehende al that whyche alreadye hath bene sayed yet is it not put to without cause for it doeth better open and declare that whiche hath bene sayed doeth also better declare vnto vs the vertue and efficatie of the death and passiō of our Lord Iesus Christ doeth gyue vs to vnderstād what condemnation he hath borne how farre the vertue of hys death hath extēded Natha Expounde the same alitle better vnto me by particulers Phi. When oure Lord Iesus Christe had suffered and endured so many outrages blasphemies as when he dyd sweate bloude and was ful of anguish in his Luke xxii Math. xvi soule euen vnto the death and was shamfullie hāged betwene theues as forsakē of God of al creaturs without helpe fauour or cōsolatiō and dyd yelde vp his spirite vpon the tree of the crosse where he was hanged bearing the curse Ire and furore of God which is the verye hell felynge in hym selfe the condempnation paines and sorowes which we had deserued for oure synnes then was he truly descended into hels whych had wened to haue deuoured him but they coulde not bicause he was wythout sinne Nathana Is he no otherwise discended into hel Phy. He was also discended whē he was put Ephe. iiii into the sepulchre is discended into the lowe partes of the earth as the Apostle doth saye Nathana Dyd not hys soule and hys spirite discend to the sayntes fathers whych were dead before hys commynge Phylyp Yes Natha Where were they Phy. In the bosom of Abraham Natha What place was that Phy. The place of reste and blessednes wher all they were receyned whiche were deade in that fayeth of Abraham whiche is the fayeth in oure Lorde Iesus Christe Natha Is that limbo wher they be depriued of all the Ioyes of Paradise Phy. I haue not reade in any place in all the holye scripture that maketh mention of anye such limbo Natha was it thē in purgatorie Phy. Iesus Christ descended wel into purgatorie when he dyd humble caste down hym selfe euen vnto the mooste bitter death of the crosse sheadynge hys precious bloude for to washe purge our synnes for the same dyd obteine remission and grace other purgatory doeth not the scripture knowe but that same whyche hath efficatie in vs by fayth whyche purifieth the hertes Natha Howe is he then descended to the fathers and where was the bosome of Abraham Phy. I haue sayed that hell signifieth also the estate and cōditiō of thē that be dead departed wherfore when Iesus Christe was deade and buried he was discēded to them that be dead and departed that is to saye that he is dead for them and hathe borne the paine that they hadde merited and deserued after suche sorte that the vertue force and efficatie of the deathe of Iesus is extended not onelye vnto them whyche were alyue but also vnto al thē whyche haue bene sēce Adam and were dead Gene. iii. in the fayeth of that promised seede vnto the whyche Iesus Christ hath bene made felow dyeinge as they and descendynge into the graue as they to the ende that they should be partakers of the resurrection and glorye of hym whyche is sauiour of the liuyng dead Nath. It seameth by thy wordes that thou doeste abolyshe boeth limbo and purgatorie Phy. God furbide that I should aboleish purgatorie for it is the same in the whych I haue all my hope wythout the whych I shoulde wholli dispaire of my saluatiō for I do know well that no poluted and vncleane thynge cā Cor. xv entre into the kyngdome of heauen except it be purged made cleane but in dede I know no other purgatorie but the bloude of Iesus The true purgatorie Christe nor yet ani fyre whiche hath power vertue to pourge our sinnes but that of hys holie spirite as for limbo I could neuer find anie in al the holie scripture I could neuer see so mani diuers estates of thē that be departed as the priests mōkes fain lodging some in paradice other in hell other in purgatorie other in limbo I do not find in the holi scriptur but of ii estates cōdicions the whiche oure Lorde Iesus Christ hath represēted and sette forthe vnto vs in the exemple of the Ryche man and Lazarus there is but one estate of the happie and blessed and another of the reproued Natha Vnto whych of those dyd Iesus Christe descende Phyly Vnto boeth but in diuers sorties he is discended to the
loued me that he hath not spared hys owne propre sonne but hathe gyuen Iohn iii. Rom. viii hym for me and vnto that same good Sauioure likewise whych hadde so feruent a loue and charitie towardes me that he woulde not refuse the death nor to gyue hys lyfe for me poore misirable synner albeit that I was his enemye as towchynge my parte and vnworthy to behold the sunne and go vpoÌ„ the earth Na. Without doubte this coÌ„sideratioÌ„ oughte well to enflame vs in the loue of that good god of the same our sauiour Iesus Christ Phylyp For this cause hath he instituted his The institutioÌ„ of â—he supper Math. xxvi i. Cor. x. xi holye ceane or supper to the ende that the remembraunce of thys greate benifite shoulde ofâ—en be hadde and refreshede amonge vs thereby the better imprinted in oure hertes and to make vs the better to feele the vertue and efficatie to growe in fayeth charitie and all good worckes and so to holde and keepe vs in the office of true christians for by these visible sygnes of the whyche the signification is declared vs by his word by his holye spirite of the which sacrameÌ„tes do take theyâ— efficatye the liuelye Image of hys death and passion is cepresented vnto vs. And therefore The memory of Christe to be celebrate in the supper when thys breade dedicated vnto the Sacramente representeth vnto me the bodye of Iesus deliuered vnto death for me and the wâ—â—â— the bloude whyche hath bene shede to washe my sinnes I do codsiâ—re howe Iesus Christe hath bene bounde ledde vnto Pilate Iudged condempned and deliuered into the haudes of the hangemen crucified dead and buried and after rysen from the deade and ascended into heaueÌ„ this may â— not onlie coÌ„sidre as a cloude or as a simple historie or as the legeÌ„de lyfe or death of some martire or some holye sainte but I muste coÌ„sidre that Iesus beynge bound for me as a stroÌ„g SaÌ„soÌ„ hath brokeÌ„ the boÌ„des of death daÌ„pnatioÌ„ hathe vnbounde me with him selfe WheÌ„ I coÌ„sidre him before the iudg here the seÌ„teÌ„ce giueÌ„ against him I do theÌ„ here mine own absolutioÌ„ deliueranc for he was led before the Iudg I of him coÌ„demned again deliuered into the haÌ„ds of the executioners to the end that I should not be codemned at the IudgmeÌ„t of God deliâ—â—red into the handes of he deuylles and sente into euerlasting fyre but that I mighte pleade for me hys ryghtuousnes so to winne my cause fynde fauoure before the great eternal Iudg and that I may saye with the apostle Whoe Rom. viii shal lay accusation agaynst the electe of god for God is he that Iustifieth and Iesu christe is oure leader aduocate and intercessour goo we then vnto the throne of grace and we shal Timo. ii i. Iohn ii Hebr. ii iiii fynde fauoure and saluation in tyme conueniente Natha I do find thys maner of remeÌ„braunce of the death and passion of oure Lorde Iesus Christe muche better and more consolation in it then in that whyche the monkes do teache vs in preachynge the passion on good friday for they preache it vs after suche sorte that we Monkish meditaâ—ioâ— of the passion of Christe learne nothynge but to despise and be angrie wyth Iudas and the Iewes and do not considre that it is we oure selues whych be the Iudas and the Iewes whyche by ours synnes haue so outragiouslye intreated hym against whom we ought not to be angrie And further they shew vnto vs Images and crucifixes for to learn vs to wepe as the pore women did weepe whiche folowed him wheÌ„ Luke xxiii he was ledde to be crucified after suche sorte as we weepe for an euyll doer or some other good man which were innoceÌ„tly put to death where as we ought rather to wepe ouer and for oure selues and for oure owne chyldrene and so to lamente langoure and sighe for our owne fautes and synnes so farre as I can conceyue or vnderstande by thy wordes there is a greate difference betwen the death of Iesus Christ and that of the martyrs for that of the martyrs can not serue vs for any satisfaction and redemption for oure synnes as that Difference betwene the suffering of martyrs Christ of Iesus Christe but onely for an example of fayth strengthe and conscience but that of Iesus Christe doeth serue vs for boeth Phy. It is verye well vnderstande of the and thou couldest haue saied no better I would to God that euerye one dyd vnderstande it so well as thou and then the Sophisters should not haue Ioyned the death and sufferynge of the martyres wyth that of Iesus Christe for to make it meritorious vnto saluation and remission of synnes for vs as though that of Iesus Christe were not sufficitiente and but lytle dyfference froÌ„ that of the martires They woulde not also haue corrupted the sence of the wordes of Saynt Paul for to recompeÌ„ce by the tribulation and sufferynge of sayntes Colo. i. that whyche seameth vnto them to wante in that of Iesus Christe nor woulde not haue forged the workes of superogatioÌ„ and of superaboundaunce and theyr treasure of the church into the whyche they gather togyther all the merites of sayntes and make them selues distributers of them by theyr kepes and by the applyinge of theyr ceremonies sacrificies bulles pardons as thoughe there were other meritte then that of Iesus Christe and other maner to appli it then by the preaching of hys Gospel and administration of hys sacramentes to receiue and communicate theÌ„ by the true lyuelye fayeth the whiche onlye is receyuable of theÌ„ And further if al did vnderstand this matter well not onely the monkes shoulde learne otherwyse to preache the passion but the priestes also should be content to represent them vnto vs by the preachynge of his worde and the true vsage of hys sacramentes The true representatioÌ„ of the passion they woulde holde them selues vnto the ordinaunce of hys holy Ceane woulde vnloode them selues of so manye folish vayn and chyldishe ceremonies whyche they haue in theyr masse by the whyche they wyl represente them vnto vs as one should plai a Iuglyng caste or as it were a playe of litle chyldrene They take a kerchiefe in stead of a crown of throns they haue theyr maniple theyr stole a gyrdle of a corde in steade of the cordes bondes and crosse whyche Iesus Christ dyd beare they haue theyr albe and greate shurte in stead of hys gown that Herode gaue him And to be short it doeth seme perfectelye that they wylbe disguised for to playe or daunce a bet-morres or to make litle childreÌ„ ferd were it not much better to be coÌ„teÌ„t wyth the simple ordinaunce of Iesu Christ to hold theÌ„ vnto that holye ceane that he hath instituted as Saynt Paule hathe sette it forthe vnto the Corinthians and as the Apostles and the primatyue
the bruite beastes that we sacrifice vnto him We dye thē with Iesus Christ whē we mortifie and crucifie oure olde Adam we ryse againe also go vp into heauē with him whē we put on Iesus Christ serue vnto ryghtuousnes forsakynge thys worlde all that is Phi. iii. Eph. i. ii in it or of it hauynge our hertes and cōuersation in heauen sekynge Iesus Christe whyche is vpon the ryghte hande of God hys father Natha Trueli that is a commodious setting forth of the historie of Iesus Christe vnto vs. Phylype So doeth the Apostles teache vs and specially Saynte Paule setteth forth vnto vs the death and resurrectiō of Iesu Christ as an Image mirrour and glasse of the christi an and spirituall lyfe and doeth expound vnto vs howe the baptisme doeth conteyne the The significacion of baptisme Rom. vi Gala. ii Coll. ii Iohn iii. vii Sacramente and signification of these thynges for the water which is poured vpon our heade is fyrste vnto vs an assured and a certayne testimonie signe seate of the remission of oure synnes by the holye Goste whych is the water of lyfe that doeth washe and make cleane oure consciences from synne as the visible water doeth washe the filthe frome the bodye And further it is also a Sacramente of penaunce whych doeth teach vs that as the water is caste vpon vs so muste we drowne our olde man wyth Pharao and the Egyptians in the redde sea and muste be buried wyth Iesus Christe but by that that thys water abydeth not alwaies vpon oure heades nor doth not drowne vs is signified vnto vs that the penaunce mortification whyche God doeth require of vs is not vnto death but vnto lyfe Exo. xiii Luke xxiiii makinge vs by the death to entre into lyfe as the childrene of Israell passynge thorowe the myddeste of the deepe of the redde Sea weare broughte vnto libertie and as Iesus Christe by the death of the crosse is entred into the glorye of God hys father and so in baptisme is not onelye presented vnto vs the grace and mercie of God and be not onelye by the same receyued into hys alliaunce and into hys churche but wee haue also the sacramente of the death burial and resurrection of Iesus Christ and of ours wyth hym and the Sacramente of repentaunce and of remission of synnes and the summe of all the Euangelicall doctrine and the Image or patrone of all the christian lyfe Nathan I nowe vnderstande thys parte but there resteth yet to knowe the other maner to take example of the historye of Iesus Christe for the rulynge of oure outwarde lyfe and cōuersation Phyli I shal declare it the by exemples in somuche as thou desireste to haue the thinges playnlye expounded Fyrste in the lyfe of Iesus Christe there be diuers worckes whyche Example of Christ for the outward life Math. iiii Marc. i. be propre to hym selfe the whyche noone can do but him selfe as his fasting fourty dayes hys miracles workes which he dyd Then must not we vndertake to do suche thynges excepte we wyll as mockers make a mocke of hym and after the maner of apes counterfayte hys worckes as thynges to laughe at as manye priestes and religious hipocrites do in diuers thynges not regardynge those thynges in the whyche Christe woulde vs to folowe hym for there be other thynges done and sette forth by Christe for vs to followe as hys innocentie ryghtuousnes holines zeale Worckes of Christ for vs to folowe and feruentnes whyche he had for to aduaunce the glorye of God hys father and in settynge forthe hys trueth and hys Gospell Hys sobernes softnes benignitie patiēce cōstancie temperaunce the paynes trauels and labours whyche he toke as a true pastour for hys churche for the saluation and consolatiō of menne and for the solace and conforte of theyr bodies and soules nor neuer fayled persone when it was expedient and conueniente for hys office or for anye other that had nede and hadde to do wyth hym all pastours and ministers of the churche all true christians haue in him a goodly mirrour or glasse and a very plaine rule for to learne vs how to leade conducte and vse our selues in thys humayn lyfe and therefore we oughte to traueile and drawe as neare vnto him as to vs shal be possible by holie life cōuersatiō to the end that the lighte of his image maye be sene to shine Ephes v. Colo. iii. Phil. ii Tessalo i. ii in vs in suche sorte that we may be the lyght of the worlde and that we maye shewe lighte euē in the middest of the darkenes of the same as goodly lightes folowyng principally his inestimable humilitie patiēce and charitie to the ende that wee maye saye as the Apostle dyd Be ye folowers of me as I am of Iesu Christe and in doynge after thys sort it shall ◠Cor. x. well suffice vs to haue Iesus for oure patron and leader and if we wyll haue the Sayntes for oure patrones we ought not to take them for suche otherwyse but as that holye Apostle doeth teach vs and not in electyng them for oure mediatours and aduocates for there is no suche patrone but Iesus Christe but in folowing theyr holye life cōuersatiō as they haue folowed that of Iesu Christ whom they haue taken for theyr true patrone for patrone is to be vnderstand the thyng vpō the which wee do take example and then can we fynde none more apte meete or conueniente then Iesus Christe Nathana I do vnderstande well this matter Phy. I wyll yet shewe the howe thys passion doeth serue me for a remedye and a medicine The suffering of Christe a remedie agaynste all euyll agaynste all the temptations combraūce sykenes aduersities and perelles that maye come vnto me into thys worlde for if anye mā haue done me a displeasure or iniuri whether it be wyth right or wronge I haue in cōsolation if I do suffre wyth good ryght and i. Petre. iii. Luke xxiii that I haue deserued it I do considre Iesus Christe which hath suffered innocētly and do thynke in my selfe if Iesu Christ which hath suffered innocently hath borne patientlye all the iniuries and outragies done vnto hym hath prayed for hys enemies the whych had persecuted and pursued hym euen vnto the death of the crosse haue I not then a good occasion patiently to suffre the euil which I do suffre for my synnes to condemne my selfe and to pray for them whyche persecute me be sente to me of God for my chasticement not to curse and aske vengeaunce vpon them and if I do suffer wrongefullye wythout hauynge deserued towardes men I do reioyce and take consolation in my tribulations and gyue thankes vnto God the whyche hathe made me not onelye a fellowe partaker of Math. v. i. Petre. iiii hys prophetes and Apostles but also of him selfe also in that that he wyl as a membre of
Natha Certaynely the consolation is greate principallie for the poore people which sumtyme be extremly oppressed in al maners as well with sykenes as wyth extreme pouertie wythout hauyng anye ayde or healpe of any persoÌ„ there is none so sore sike but it is greate pitie howe wel so euer they be kepte and treated But lette vs theÌ„ behold and thinke what it is or maye be in them that haue extreme pouertie toyned with theyr sicknes and haue nothynge to healpe theim selues wyth nor no bodye for to keepe them as it is mooste often sene principallye in the tyme of the plage in the whyche the mooste richeste theim selues haue manye tymes muche adoe to fynd anye that wyll serue keepe them happye be they then that in suche anguishes and distres haue remembraunce of Iesus Christe and haue the consideration that thou speakeste of Phy. Also lykewyse when I am in anye maner of burnynge and extreme heate that doth so alter me that it doeth seme vnto me as fire were in my bodye impossible to stacke my thyrste and that my mouth is so brought out of taste that I can awaye wyth no maner of meates nor drynkes what so euer they be Then I do thynke of two thynges the firste is I considre the paynes of the poore vnhappye and dampned and perceiue in my selfe that if a lytle pece of an humour and a litle excessiue and extra ordinarie heate hathe engeudred in me such payne and griefe that I haue almooste loste all patience alas maye I then thynke howe shoulde I endure or suffre that whyche Iesus Christe hathe suffered for me or howe should I do if I should be caste into that ardent eternall fyre and beare all the ire iudgmente and malediction of God whyche the vnfayethfull reprobate do beare as Iesus Christe hathe borne for me I fynde my selfe then muche bounde to gyne hym thankes seyng he hath deliuered me froÌ„ such tormentes and ought to esteme thys worldly paynes verye lyghte and as thynges to learne me the feare of God to flee from synne and to putte my whole trust in Iesus Christ for the auoidynge of that horible and fearful iudgmente of God of the whych the sicknesses and al other aduersities be but as small aduertismentes the better to learne vs to know his grace the better to withdraw vs from this world And of the other part wheÌ„ I do coÌ„sidre thinke vpon the thirste alteration that Iesu Christ myght haue after his greate tormeÌ„tes which he suffered aâ—l the nyght and al the daye after he had almoste shed all hys bloude and was hangded vpoÌ„ the crosse all moste thre houres and yet coulde not haue so much as one drop of water to quenche hys thyrste wyth al but hadde gyuen hym in the stede of good drinke bitter gall vunger and myrre I maye then thynke in my selfe to haue greate cause of coÌ„plaint seing that I maye haue the good maluesey all other thynges that I can aske for the comfortynge of my herte and my sauiour Iesus Christe myghte not haue so muche as one sope of water to quench hys thyrste wheÌ„ I haue well considered all thys and haue a lytle mingled and steped wyth my meates poreges and suppynges of thys vineger gal and myrre whyche Iesus Christ dyd taste feele I do fynd it more swete then huny And yet is ther one thinge that I do learne by the same to kepe miself froÌ„ doing wroÌ„g or imurie Ephe. v. to anie creature nor to hate my christian brother knowing that wheÌ„ I so do I do giue vnto Iesus Christe to drynke viniger gall and myrre am a braunch of that vnhappie iudicall vine whiche in the stede of good grapes hrynge forth thornes sloes which be so excedynge bytter for to make drinke for hys sauioure which hath made planted and dreste it Natha Thys is not euil taken for so farre as I cause the death and passion of Iesus Christ is a consolation medicine remedye against all sikenesses deseases both of bodie soule Phy. But yet where it doeth mooste chieflye serue me is wheÌ„ I do fele the temtation assautes of death I do theÌ„ cal vnto remeÌ„brance Remedye against the assaultes of howe Iesus Christe is dead for me how that he is riseÌ„ hath triumphed ouer death This remembraunce consideration doth mitigate the feare of death which al meÌ„ haue naturally doth assure coÌ„firme me agaynste al the assaultes of death of synne and of Sathan and of hell knowinge that he which beleueth Iohn v. vi in Iesus dyeth not nor entreth not into iudgmente but is already passed from death vnto lyfe for this same corporal death is not death but onely a passage froÌ„ miserie into pleasure and felicitie and awaye by the whych we entre into eternal glorye wherefore I reioyce in my hert do say with the holi Apostle death Ose v. i. Cor. xv wher is thy sting hel wher is thivictorie Na. This is a verifearful assault wherfor it is veri necessari nedeful a maÌ„ to shew him self at that houre to be a true champion and a christian knyghte Phylype It is the same houre by the whych it shall be plainly knowen whether we haue beene hypocrites or true christians whether we beleue wyth oure hertes that whythe we confesle with oure mouthes for there be such whyche haue so greate feare of death haue hadde so little experience of the death and resurrection of Iesus Christ that when they be syke if a man aduise them to loke on their coÌ„sciences and dispose theyr houses and make theyr wylles they before greued somtime angrie wyth theim that moue theim and be merueylouslye greued where as they ought to returne vnto God wyth all theyr hertes folowe the exemple of the good patriarkes whyche dyd not leaue theyr busines vndone theyr goodes vndisposed til they felt death Gen. xl readye to stop theyr throtes but dyd it while they hadde tyme and theyr wyttes and vnderstandyng perfecte Of the whych also Iesus Christe hathe gyuen vs an exemple and hathe shewed vs in the same what care wee oughte to haue for theim the whyche be gyuen vs in charge when that he dyd recoÌ„mend hys mother vnto S. Iohn but they whych be so fearde of death do she we that the death and resurrection of Iesus Christe is not well printed in theyr hertes for that is the Souerayngne remedie the true armore to strentheÌ„ vs in thys battell ther is no other true consolatioÌ„ they that be syke or in other aduersitie haue manye tymes conforters but manye be suche as came vnto Iobe more lyke to bringe hym to desolation and dispayre then to consolatioÌ„ Some sette before them theyr good workes or as a man myght better saye theyr supersticitions hypocrisies do learne theÌ„ to put theyr trust other which shal in the same be done by them after their death
should be a newe God whiche had some beginnynge the whyche is a thinge repugnaunt vnto the nature of God Natha But mai not God do what so euer he wyll in asmuche as the diuinitie of Iesus Christe can not be seperated from hys humanitie is not hys bodye in all places wher his diuinitie is Phy. Nothinge is impossible vnto God and albeit he may do al yet neuertheles his power is aswayes conioyned wyth hys wisdome and vseth it not disordinatly but alwayes in suche sorte that hys worckes be not confused but that hys creature abideth alwayes a creature gyuing him suche propreties as he will and yet foloweth it not that the diuinitie and humanitie of oure Lorde Iesus Christe be so inseperable that hys humanitie fulfilleth the heauen and the earth as hys diuinitie doeth for my body and my spirite be conioyned togyther and yet it foloweth not therefore that my bodye shoulde be in all places where my spirite maye be for my spirite maye be rauished euen vp into heauen and yet my bodye neuertheles shal be in the earth or and if thou loueste better the cōparison of Saynt Austen God dwelleth in vs by hys holy spirite and yet neuertheles we be not in all places and enerye where where God is albeit he dwelleth in Iesus Christe otherwyse then in vs but thys ioyninge togither or comunction of two natures doeth not take from the natures theyr propreties Natha But is there no difference betwen the bodies glorified and the mortall and corruptible bodies Phy. Yes verye greate and I denye not but The glorious body of chirst that the gloriousse bodie of Iesus Christe is now farre other then it was before his death and resurrectiō yet hathe he not for all that chaūged his body but hath alwaies kept the same he had before hathe not chaunged his substaūce except that he hath put of the qualities of imperfectiōs miseres which he toke for vs is immortal glorious or otherwise he shoulde not be trulie rysen nor we shoulde not call the resurrection resurrection excepte that same propre bodie and that same propre flesh whych is fallen by death were rysen vp agayne nor shoulde not receyue lyfe by the same so myght it be rather called mutation or chaunging thē resurrectiō thē to dispute subtellye curiouslye of the properties of the bodye glorified of the place where the bodye of Iesus Christe is shoulde be a thynge not onelye vnseamynge but also vnworthye of the simplicitie and of the euangelicall doctriue we ought to contēt our selues to knowe Luke xxiiii Iohn xxi that Iesus Christe is in the celestiall glorye and that he hath a verie true body such as he shewed it vnto hys disciples hauyng fleshe bones and that it is not chaunged into spirite but doeth holde alwayes the properties of a verye true bodye suche as appertayneth vnto a verye and true glorified bodye whyche not wythstādynge it hath put of al humaine infirmities yet followeth it not for all that that it is in al places nor in diuers or manye places al at one tyme instante We oughte to beleue that he is in heauen sette vpon the ryghte hande of God hys father where as Act. vii saynte Stephan dyd see hym For to dispute and diffine what is thys heauen that ryght hande of God is here no neade but is more sure to putte it of and leaue oure disputation vnto the tyme we came there and maye se it by experience and that we maye vse suche diligence to folowe Iesus Christe in the tyme we be in thys lyfe that we may come thether and beholde hym Natha And if it be thus as thou sayest howe can we make it agree wyth that whyche the priestes make vs beleue that the body of Iesu Christ is in the hoste betwene theyr handes The corporal presence or in the pixkes euen as greate and large as he was vpō the crosse Phy. They whyche beleue that beleue not that he is sette vpon the ryghte hand of God And shall come frō thense to iudge the quicke and the dead Natha Wherefore not Maye he not as well come downe and goe vp by the vertue of the sacramentall wordes as he is goue vp Phy. To what purpose or what neade is it that he should come downe descend or ascende seing he fulfilled all by hys vertue and power If it were neadful that hys bodie should be presented vnto vs carnallye wherefore is not he taried wyth vs or wherefore is he not returned to be cōuersaunte as he was before with hys disciples wherefore did he saye vnto his disciples It is expediente for yo◠that I depart for excepte I depart that conforter shall not come If the corporal presēce he Iesu christ dyd wyth holde the hertes of the Apostles here in this lowe earth and dyd hyndre them to knowe hym spirituallye howe shoulde he haue wylled vs to sette oure spirites to seeke hym in almorsell of breade in the handes of a synner or in a pixce or boxe hathe he not sayed he woulde be prayed vnto of them whiche shoulde honoure and seeke hym in spirite and in trueth and that suche be the true honorers and howe shall wee honoure hym in spirite trueth if we goe aboute to seeke and honoure hym in visible and corruptible thynges and Ihon. iiii in houses made wyth the handes of menne and to muse vpon a morsell of breade or vpō a pyxe or boxe howe maye thys agree wyth that whyche Saynte Paule commaundeth vs sayinge If ye be rysen agayne wyth Iesus Christe seeke not the thynges whyche be Colo. iii. on the earth but those that be aboue wher Iesus Christe is vpon the ryght hande of God the father or wherefore do the priestes synge in theyr masses Sursum corda haue your hertes on hye and wherfore do the other answer We haue thē to God Why wyll they rote them here in thys lowe earth and holde them in the Imagination of corporall and carnall presence rather then to learne them to know Iesus Christe spirituallye makynge theim to fele the fruite of hys bitter death passiō For thys cause hath he instituted hys holye Institucion of the supper supper not for to make vs seke a corporal presence but for to represent hym self vnto vs by these visible sygnes for to learne vs by the same to go vp into heauen to hym for he wyl not that we drawe hym from heauen by wordes as coniurars and enchaunters but will drawe vs vnto hym self by hys holy spiritte and wylleth that oure hertes be lyfted by vnto hym and that we there be traunslated and traunsported by hys vertue to receiue repast nouryshmente of hys fleshe of hys bloud wherefore it is no neade that he shoulde descend or go vp for if he myght not communicate hys fleshe and hys bloude vnto vs other wyse then by hys corporall and carnall presence and wythout descendynge
should be moste miserable of all meÌ„ should reuerse al the euaÌ„gelical preachyng whych shoulde also be faulse â—ame if it were otherwyse Natha What vnderstandeste thou then by the resurrectioÌ„ of the flesh Phy. I vnderstaÌ„de that euerie one shall aryse trulie in hys propre body that the same bodye the same flesh which shal haue slepte shal haue bene corrupted and coÌ„sumed in the earth vnto powdre shal be fullie restored agayne coÌ„ioyned wyth his soule after she shall haue put of al infirmitie corruptioÌ„ for to be lyke vnto the glorious bodie of Iesus Natha How maye it be done that the bodye whyche Ihon. xix hath be turned into pondre earth should be restored into greater dignitie then euer iâ— was to be immortal Phi. We may not aske how that may be done which god hathe promised for that is most sure he that hath made maÌ„ of nothing is he not stronge inoughe to restore him againe we se euerie daye the experieÌ„ce of this in the corne wheÌ„ it is sowen it semeth to be loste doeth corrupt in the earth but after it coÌ„meth forth much fayrer and fruitful Nathanaell Then when a man is put in the earth accordynge to the ordinaunce of God he is sowen as the wheate in the earth and abideth the time ordeined of god at the which tyme he doeth aryse come forth of the earth is all togyther perfecte Phy. Euen so it is for as the wheate bicause of the sproute that he doeth beare doeth take agayne and is reuined euen so the fayethfull whyche dye and go to reste wyth the sproute of Iesus Christe whyche is the spirite of god is raised againe by the self same spirite which raysed vp Iesu Christe from the dead Nathanaell There ryseth none then but the true christians Phylyp All shall aryse both good and euyll Natha But in asmuche as the vnfaythful de parte not from thys worlde wyth the sproute or spryng of Christe howe be they partakers of his resurrection Phy. They are not partakers of hys resurrection seynge they ryse in condemnatioÌ„ for to go vnto the second death but as they be dead wyth the sproute of SathaÌ„ whiche is mortal euen so shal they aryse for to be punished eternally with hym Nath. Ther is theÌ„ a life eternal and a death eternal Phi. We must not doubt the one is comuneto the good the othere vnto the reproued and therefore do we conclude the articles of oure faith by the eternal lyfe whyche is the ende coÌ„suÌ„mation of al thynges Natha Dyd it not suffise to say I beleue the resurrectioÌ„ Wherfore put we to Of the flesh Or wherfore say we not aswel the resurrection of the bodye as of the fleshe Phy. We say fyrst The resurrection for to declare that the same selfe man whyche dyd fal by death shal arise and be raysed and to the ende that none should thynke that the resurrection shal be only of the soule wythout the bodye in the immortalitie of the same as the philosophers haue thought or that the same propre bodyes whiche we haue should not aryse agayne but should be chauÌ„ged into other or should be coÌ„uerted into spirite we do say notabli the resurrection of the flesh for to declare that the selfe same body and the selfe same flesh whych we haue borne frome the wombe of oure mother shall arise in glory in incorruption immortalitie Nathan And dyd it not suffice to confesse the resurrection of the flesh wythout put tynge to of the eternal life Is it not al one Phy. We declare by that that we do not rise for to dye agayne as they dyd whyche were raysed agayne miraculously by Iesu Christ by the Apostles and prophetes but shal arise into a lyfe farre differing froÌ„ this which shall be immortall and perdurable for euer for we shal be out of all miseries and shal be no more subiectes to pouertie hungre thyrste sickenes death sinne nor hell but shal be lyke vnto Math. xxii the Angels of God wyth the whyche we The fode of eternal lyfe shall raygne eternally Natha Thys shall be then a lyfe wythout eatyng or drinkynge Phy. No but the meat that we shall eate and the pleasures that we shall haue shall not be suche as Mahumite doeth promise to them that kepe hys lawes but al shall be sateled satisfied of the tre bread of life of the goodnes and glorye of God for of meates and other i. Cor. xv corruptible thinges there shal be no nede wheÌ„ the cause for the which we vse them shal be taken away that is to saye wheÌ„ that death shall be abolished and that oure corruption mortalitie shall be turned into incorruption immortalitie and that the laste enemye synne death Sathan and hell shall be ouerthroweÌ„ and that God shal be all in all Natha Seynge the euyl and reproued shall as well aryse as the fayethfull and that there is as well an eternall death for them as a life eternal for the faythfull Wherefore makeste thou no mention but of the one and speakeste no worde of the other Phy. Bycause the fayethfull haue nothynge adoe wyth the vnfayethful And therefore do we leaue aparte and do not touch in this sum of oure fayeth but that whyche serueth vnto the consolation of the elected for to shewe vnto theÌ„ the goodes that be gyuen theÌ„ of God Nathana In what maner may we vse thys article to oure profit Phylype It doth teach The soueraigne goodnes of man vs that whyche we haue all readye treated in the begynnynge of oure matter that is to say in what doeth lye the Soueraygne goodnes and the felisitie of manne wee maye well by thys knowe that we muste not seeke it in thys earth nor in thys presente lyfe and if we well vnderstande this we shall also knowe that al thys mortall lyfe is but a pilgrimage that we muste not seeke here anye permanente citie or dwelling nor to rote our hertes in these Hebr. xiii corruptible thynges but to seke an other and to repute oure selues as straungers in thys worlde accordynge to the exemple of the holye patriarkes Thys fayeth also teacheth vs not to be discoraged thoughe we fele our selues ouerwhelmed wyth so manye euiles in the meane time whyleste oure lyfe is as yet hydden in Iesus Christe and that we can not as yet fullye fele Colo. iii. the fruite nor the grace that God hathe done to vs in him and for to redres vs in hope and to susteyne and suffer by patience vnto suche tyme that Iesus Christe shal be reueiled from heauen and that we shall haue full reioysyng of the glorie and felicitie that wee abyde and looke for Nathanaell Thou haste so well satisfied me in all thinges that I can aske nor require any more but to gyue the thankes for the payne thou haste taken wyth me and yelde graces thankes vnto God whoe hathe doone vs so muche good To whom I praye that it wyll please hym so well to imprinte in oure hertes thys fayeth of the whyche we haue so muche spoken that it may haue efficatie in vs by charitie in suche sorte that the Image of Iesus Christe may be sene in vs to shyue And that by hym wee may come vnto the same soueraigne goodnes eternal beatitude vnto the which we be borne called Phylip. God giue vs that grace as I hope he wil do vnto whoÌ„ I also pray to haue the alwais in his keping Natha So be it of the FINIS Imprinted at London by Iohn Day and Wyllyam Seâ—es dwellynge in Sepulchres Parish at the signe of the Resurrection a litle aboue Holbourne Londuite Cum gratia priuilegio ad imprimendum solum