Likewise after supper he toke the cuppe sayīge This cuppe is the newe testamēt or couenāt in my bloude doo ye this so ofte as ye shall drinke therof in remēbrance of me For so ofte as you shal eate this bread and drinke of this cuppe ye shall declare the lordes deathe vntill his cōminge Therfore whosoeuer shall eate this bread and drinke the cuppe of the lorde vnworthely he shal be giltie of the bodye and bloud of the lord Then see that euery mā proue ād trye hym selfe ād so let hym eate of this bread ād drīke of this cuppe for whosoeuer eateth or drinketh vnworthelye he eateth and drinketh his owne damnation for not hauinge due regarde and consideration of the lordes bodye THIS done the minister proceadith to the exhortation DEARELY beloued in the lorde forasmoch as we be nowe assembled to celebrate the holy communion of the body and bloud of our sauiour Christ let vs consider these woordes of S. Paule how he exhorteth all persons diligently to trye and examine thē selues before they presume to eate of that bread ād drinke of that cuppe For as the benefite ys great if with a truly penitent hart and liuely faith we receyue that holy sacrament for then we 1 Ioh. 6. g. spiritually eate the fleshe of Christ and drinke his bloude thē we dwell in Christ ād Christ in vs we be one with Christ and Christ with vs so is the daūger great if we receyue the same vnworthely for then we be giltie of the bodye and bloud of Christ our sauiour we eate ād drīke our own dānation not considering the lordes bodye we kīdle godes wrath agaīst vs ād prouoke him to plague vs with diuerse diseases and sundry kindes of death Therfore if any of you be 2 Gal. 3. d. a blasphemer of God an hinderer or slaunderer of his worde an an adulterer or be in malice or enuie or in any other greuous cryme bewaylle your synnes and come not to this holy table lest after the takynge of this holy sacramēt the diuell entre into you as he entred into 3 Ioan. 13. ◠Iudas and fill you full of all iniquities and bring you to destruction bothe of bodye and soule Iudge therfore your selues bretherne that ye be not iudged of the lorde 4 Matth. ◠c. Titus 2. c. repent you truly for your synnes paste and haue a lyuely and stedfast fayth in Christ our sauiour 5 Act. 4. c Gal. 2. d sekinge onely your saluation in the merites of his death and passion from hensforth refusinge and forgettinge all 6 1. pet 2. a. 1. Cor. 14. d ephe 4. a. d malice and debate withfull purpose to liue in brotherly amytie and godlye conuersation all the dais of your lyfe And albeit we fele in ourselues muche frailtie and wretchednes as that we haue not our faith so perfite and constant as we ought being many tymes readye to distruste Godes goodnes through our corrupt 7 rom 7. d. nature and also that we are not so throughlye geuen to serue God neyther haue so feruent a zeale to set forth his glory as our duetye requireth felinge still such rebellion in our selues that we haue nede dayly to 8 Gala. 5. c fight against the lustes of our fleshe yet neuertheles seinge that our lorde hath dealed thus mercifully with vs that he hath printed his 9 Hebr. 8. d Iere. 31. f. Isa 59. d gospell in our hartes so that we are preserued from falling into desperatiō and misbeliefe and seing also he hath indued vs with a 10 Rom. 7. c. d phil 1. a. 2. Cor. will and desire to renownce and withstand our own affections with a longing for his righteousenes and the keping of his commaundementes we may be now right well assured that those defautes and manifolde imperfections in vs shal be no hinderance at all against vs to cause him not to accept and impute vs as worthie to come to his spirituall table For the ende of our comming thyther is not to make 11 luk 18. c. protestation that we are vpright or iuste in our liues but contrariwise we come to seke our life and perfection in Iesu Christ acknowledging in the meane tyme that we of our selues be the children 12 Ephes 2. a. luk 18. c. of wrath and damnation Let vs consider then that this sacrament is a singuler medicine for all poore sicke creatures a comfortable helpe to weake soules and that our lord requireth no other worthines on our parte but that we vnfaynedly acknowlege our noghtines and imperfection Then to the end that we may be worthy partakers of his merites ād moste comfortable benefits which 13 Ioan. 6. f. ys the true eatinge of his fleshe and drinkinge of his bloud let vs not suffer our mindes to wander aboute the consideration of these earthlie ād corruptible thynges which we see present to our eies and fele with our hādes to seeke Christ bodely presente in thē as if he were inclosed in the breade or wyne Transsubstantiation Transelemētatiō Transmutation and Transformation as the papistes vse them are the doctrine of diuells or as yf these elementes were tourned and chaunged into the substaunce of his fleshe and blood For the only waye to dispose our soules to receiue norishment reliefe and quikening of his substance is to lift vp our mindes by fayth aboue all thinges wordlye and sensible and therby to entre into heauen The true eatyng of Christ in the sacrament that we may finde and receiue Christ where he 14 1. Timo. 6. d dwelleth vndoutedlye verie God and verie man in the incomprehensible glorie of his father to whome be all praise honor and glorye now and euer Amen The exhortation ended the minister commeth doune from the pulpet and sitteth at the Table euery man and woman in likewise takinge their place as occasion best serueth Math. 26. c. Mark 14. c Luke 22. b 1. Cor. 11. e then he taketh bread and geueth thankes either in these woordes followinge or like in effect 1 Apoc. 5. c. O Father of mercye and God of all consolation seinge all creatures do knowlege and confesse thee as gouerner and lorde it becommeth vs the workemanship of thyne own handes at all tymes to reuerence and magnifie thy godli maiestie first for that thou haste created vs to thyne own 2 Gen. 1. d. Image and similitude but chieflye that thou haste deliuered vs from that euerlasting 3 Ephe. 2. b Gala. 1. a. Gen. 3. c. death and damnation into the which Satā drewe mankinde by the meane of synne from the bondage wherof neither man nor angell was 4 Act. 4. e. heb 1. d. Apoc. 5. a able to make vs free but thou ò lord riche in mercie and infinite in goodnes haste prouided our redemption to stande in thy onely and welbeloued sone whom of verie 5 Ioan. 3. c. loue thou didest giue to be made man lyke
examine thē selues following in their hartes the tenor of his wordes A CONFESSION OF OVR SYNNES FRAmed to our tyme out of the 9. chap. of Daniel O lord God which arte 1 Nehem. 1. b. Iob. 9.38.39.40 Psal 24.76.77.139 mightie and dreadeful thou that kepest couenant and shewest 2 Exod. 20. a. luk 7. g. mercie to theym that loue thee and do thy commaundementes 3 Gen. 3. b. rom 5. b. 1. Ioh. 1. d. Psal 32. c. 106. a we haue synned we haue offended we haue wickedly and stubburnely gone backe frome thy lawes and preceptes We wolde neuer 4 Ieu 26. c. Deu. 28. b. Iere. 26. a. 29. b. Nehem. 1. c. obey thy seruantes the Prophetes that spake in thy name to our kinges and princes to our forfathers and to all the people of our lande O lord 5 psa 11. b. lam .. d Iob. 4. d. 9. a. 25. b. rightuousnes belongeth vnto thee vnto vs perteyneth nothing but open shame as it ys come to passe this day vnto our miserable contry of Englande yea vnto all our nation whether they be farre or nere through all landes wherein they are scattered for the 6 offences that they and we haue committed against thee so that the 7 Psal 89. c. Ier. 26. b. 27. a. 7 Ieu 26. c. Deu. 27.28.30 curses and ponishmentes which are wryten in thy lawe are nowe powred vpon vs and thou hast perfourmed those wordes wher with thou didest menace vs and our rulers that gouerned vs in bringinge the same plagues vpon vs which before were threatened And yet notwithstandinge bothe they and we procede in our iniquitie and sease not to heape synne vpon synne How misrable it is to retorne to the olde vomitt For they which once were well instructed in the doctrine of thy gospel are nowe 8 2. pet 2. d. prou 26. b. Hebr 6 a. 10. e. gone backe frome the obedience of thy trueth and are turned agayne to that moste abhominable Idolatrie from the which they were once called by the lyuely preachinge of thy worde And we alas to this day do not earnestly repent vs of our former wickednes neither do we rightly 9 Psal 19. d. Deu. 31. d. 29. d. ezech 5. b. consider the heauynes of thy displeasure Suche is thy iuste iudgementes ò lord that thou 10 Rom. 1. d. ponishes synne by synne and man by his owne inuentions so that there can be no ende of iniquitie except thou 11 Esa 65. d. Rom. 10. c. preuent vs with thy 12 Eph. 2. ◠b. vndeserued grace Therfore 13 Psal 85. a. Ierem. 31. c. conuert vs ò lord and we shal be conuerted for we do not offer vp our prayers trustinge in our 14 Titus 3. a. 2. Timoth. 1. b. owne rightuousnes but in thy manifolde mercies And althoghe thou haste once of thy especial grace deliuered vs from the miserable thraldome of error and blindnes and called vs many tymes to the swet 15 Gal. 4.5 a libertie of thy gospell which we notwithstādīge haue moste shamefully abused in obeinge rather our owne 16 Gal. 5. b. c lustes and affections then the admonitions of thy 17 zachar 7. b. prophetes yet we beseche thee once agayne for thy 18 psal 23. a. 25. c nams sake to powre some comfortable droppe of thy accustomed mercies vpon vs 19 Psal 71. a incline thyne eares and open thyne eyes to beholde the greuous plagues of our contrie the continuall sorrowes of our afflicted bretherne and our wofull banishment let all people take hede by our example And let our afflictions and iuste ponishemente be an admonition and warninge to other nations emongest whome we are skattered that with all reuerence they may obey thy holy gospell lost for like contempte in the ende like or wourse 20 Matt. 11. c. 12. d. Luk. 10. c. plagues fall vpon theym Wherfore ò lord heare vs ò lord forgiue vs ò lord consider and tary not ouer longe but for thy deare sonne 21 Iohn 16. e. Iesus Christe sake be mercifull vnto vs and delyuer vs So shall it be knowen to all the worlde that thou onely arte the selfe same God that euer sheweth 22 psal 103.108 a 136. a. mercie to all suche as call vpon thy holy name AN OTHER CONfession for all states and tymes O Eternall God and moste mercifull father we confesse and acknowlage here before thy diuine maiestie that we are miserable 1 Rom. 3. c psal 14. b. synners 2 psal 51. a. conceyued and borne in synne and iniquitie so that in vs there is no 3 rom 7. d. goodnes For the 4 Gal. 5. c. fleshe euermore rebelleth against the spirite wherby we contynually transgresse thy holy preceptes and commaundementes and so purchase to our selues through thy iuste iudgement 5 Rom. 2. a. Iere. 3. g. Isa 40. b. death and damnation Notwithstandinge ò heauenly father forasmoche as we are displeased with our selues for the synnes that we haue committed against thee and do vnfeynedly repent vs of the same we moste humbly beseche thee for Iesus Christes sake to shewe thy mercie vpon vs to forgiue vs all our synnes and to increase thy holy spirite in vs that we 6 Col. 3. a. Rom. 6. a. Ephe. 4. c. 5. a 1. petr 2. a. acknowlaginge from the botome of our hartes our owne vnrightuousnes may from hensforth not onely mortifie our sinfull lustes and affections but also bringe forth suche fruites as may be agreable to thy moste blessed wyll not for the worthynes therof but for the 7 Rom. 5. a Hebr. 9. d. Eph. 2. d. merites of thy dearely beloued sonne Iesus Christe our onely sauyour whom thou hast already giuen an oblation and offeringe for our synnes and for whose 8 Ioh. 14. b. 16. c Math. 7. b. Iam. 1. a. sake we are certainly persuaded that thou wylt denye vs nothinge that we shall aske in his name accordinge to thy wyl For thy 9 Io. 3. d. Ro. 8. b. c. g. spirite doth assure our consciences that thou arte our mercifull father and so louest vs thy childrene through hym that nothinge is able to remoue thy heauenlye grace and fauor from vs to thee therfore ò father with the sonne and the holy ghoste be all honor and glorye worlde with owt ende So be it This done the people singe a Psalme all together in a playne tune which ended the minister prayeth for thassistance of Gods holy spirite as the same shall moue his harte and so procedeth to the sermon Vsinge after the sermon this prayer followinge or suche lyke A prayer for the whole estate of Christes churche ALMIGHTIE God and moste mercifull father we 1 1. pet 5. b. humbly submit our selues and 2 Nom. 26. a. Deu. 9. c. Iosu 7. b. fall downe before thy maiestie besechinge thee frome the botome of our hartes that this 3 Mat. 13. a. b. seede of
6 Hebr. ◠d. vnto vs in all thynges synne 7 Heb. 4. d. 7. d. except that in his bodye he myght receiue the ponishmentes of 8 1. peter 2. d. Isa 43. d. 53. a. our transgression by his death to make 9 Matt. 3. d. 17. a Hier. 31. f Heb. 8. d. Rom. 5. a. satisfaction to thy iustice and by his resurrection to 10 Hebr. 2. d destroye hym that was auctor of death and so to reduce and bring agayne 11 Iohn 6. e life to the world frome which the whole ofspringe of 12 Gene. 3. d Rom. 5. b Adame moste iustly was exiled O lord we acknowlege that no creature ys able to 13 Ephe. 3. c. comprehende the length and breadthe the depenes and height of that thy most excellent loue which moued thee to shewe mercie where none was 14 Ephe. 2. ◠deserued to promise and giue life 15 Ioan. 6. d. 17. a eph 2. b. where death had gotten victorie to receue vs into thy grace when we could do 16 Gene. 6. b. rom 3. b. Isa 64. b. psal 5. b. 14. a. Rom. 7. c. nothyng but rebell against thy iustice O lord the blynde dulnes of our corrupt 17 Math. 16. c 1. Cor. 2. d luk 11. c Math. 10. nature will not suffer vs sufficiently to waye these thy moste ample benefites yet neuertheles at the 18 Math. 26. b. c. luk 22. b. commaundement of Iesus Christ our lorde we present our selues to this his table which he hath left to be vsed in 19 1. Cor. 11. e remembrance of his death vntyll hys comming agayne to declare and witnes before the world that by him alone we haue receued 20 Ioan. 8. d Gala. 5. c libertie and life that by hym alone thou doest aknowledge vs thy chyldren and 21 Rom. 8. d. 1. peter 1. b Ephe. 1. d heires that by hym alone we haue 22 Ephe. 2. d Hebr. 4. c Rom. 3. entrance to the throne of thy grace that by hym alone we are 23 Math. 25. a. Ioan. 14. a luk 12. d possessed in our spirituall kingedome to eate and drinke at his 24 luk 22. ◠Apoc. 2. a table with whome we haue our 25 Philip. 3. d. Ephe. 2. b. conuersation presently in heauen and by whome our bodies shal be reysed vp agayne frome the dust and shal be placed with him in that endles ioye which thow ò father of mercye hast prepared for thyne elect 26 Ephe. 1. b Apoc. 13. b before the foundation of the worlde was layde And these moste inestimable benefites we acknowlege and cōfesse to haue receaued of thy 27 Rom. 3. c. Ephe. 2. b Titus 3. b free mercie and grace by thy onely beloued sonne Iesus Christ for the which therfore we thy congregation 28 Rom. 8. d moued by thy holy sprite render thee all thankes prayse and glorie for euer and euer Matth. 26. c. Mark 14. c This done the minister breaketh the breade and delyuereth it to the people who distribute and deuide thesame amongst theim selues luke 22. b. 1. Cor. 10. d accordinge to our sauiour Christes cōmandement and in likewise geueth the cuppe Duringe the which tyme 1. Cor. 11. e Iohn 13.14 some place of the scriptures is read which doth lyuely set forth the death of Christ to the intene that our eyes and senses may not onely be occupiede in these outwarde signes of bread and wyne which are called the visible woorde but that our hartes and myndes also may be fully fixed in the contemplation of the lordes death which is by this holy sacrament representede And after the action is done he geueth thanckes saing MOSTE mercifull father we render to the all prayse thankes and glorie for that thou hast vouchsafed to graunt vnto vs miserable synners so excellent a gifte and threasor as to receaue vs into the 1 1. Cor. 10. d felowship and company of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ our lorde whome thou 2 Rom. 4. d deliueredst to deathe for vs and haste giuē hym vnto us as a necessarie 3 Ioan. 6 f foode and norishment vnto euerlastynge life And now we beseche the also ò heauenly father to graunt vs this request that thou neuer suffer vs to become so vnkinde as to forget so worthy benefittes but rather imprint and fasten them sure in our hartes that we may 4 luke 17. b growe and increase dayly more and more in true faithe which continually ys 5 Gala. 5. b excersised in all maner of goode workes and so moche the rather ò lord cōfirme vs in these 6 Timo. 4. a Ephe. 5. d 2. peter 3. a perelous daies and rages of satan that we may constanly stande and continewe in the confession of the same to the aduancement of thy 7 Matth 5. b 1. peter 2. b glorye which art God ouer all things blessed for euer So be it The action thus ended the people singe the 103 psal My soule giue laud c. or some other of thancks giuynge which ended one of the blessings before mencionede is recitede and so they ryse from the table and departe To the reader IF parchaunce any wolde maruell why we followe rather this order then any other in the administration of this sacrament let him diligently consider that first of all we vtterly renownce the error of the papistes secondly we restore vnto the sacramētes theyr owne substaunce and to Christe his proper place And as for the wordes of the lordes supper we rehearce theym not bicawse they shuld chaunge the substaunce of the bread or wyne or that the repeticion therof with the intent of the sacrificer should make the sacrament as the papistes falselie beleue but they are read and pronownced to teache vs how to behaue our selues in this actiō ād that Christe might witnes vnto owr faithe as it were with his owne mowthe that he hath ordayned these signes for our spirituall vse and comforte wee do firste therefore examyne owr selues accordyng to saint Pauls rule and prepare our myndes that we may be worthie partakers of so high mysteries Then takyng bread wee geue thankes breake and distribute it Mat. 76. c. 1. Cor. 11. c luk 22. b. as Christe our sauior hath taught vs. Fynally the ministration ended we gyue thankes agayne accordyng to his example So that without his woorde and warrante there is nothyng in this holy action attempted THE FORME of Mariage AFter the banes or contracte hathe byn publisshed thre seuerall dayes in the congregation to the intent that if any person haue intereste or title to either of the parties they may haue sufficient tyme to make theyr chalenge the parties assemble at the begynning of the sermon and the minister at tyme conuenient saythe as followeth Of Mariage The exhortation DEARLIE beloued bretherne we are here gathered together in the sight of God and in the face of his cōgregation to knytt
the lord thy god alwayes and thou the tyme shalt see To geue him thākes with laude and praise For health restorde to thee Iudica me Deus Psal XLIII Th. St. ¶ He prayeth to be delyuered from theym which conspire with Absolom to the ende that he might ioyfully prayse god in his holy cōgregation IVdge and reuenge my cause o lord from them that euell be from wicked and deceyt full men o lord deliuer me For of my strenght thow art the god whye puttest thou me the fro and why walk I so heuyly oppressed with my foo verse 3 3 Sende oute thy lyghte ād eke thy trueth and leade me with thy grace Which may conduct me to thy hyll and to thy dwellynge place verse 4 4 Then shal I to the altare goe of God my Ioye and cheare And on my harp geue thākes to thee O God my God moste deare verse 5 5 Why art thou than so sad my soule and fraitest thus in my brest Still truste in god for him to praise I holde it alwais best By him I haue delyuerance against all paynes and grief he is my god which doth alwais at need send me reliefe Deus auribus nostris Psal XLIIII Th. St. ¶ A moste earnest prayer made in the name of the faythefull when they are afflicted by their enymyes for sustaynyng the quarell of godes worde accordyng to the exposition of S. Paul 8. rom OVr eares haue heard our fathers tell and reuerently recorde the wonderous workes that thou hast done in alder tyme o lord How thou dydst cast the gentiles out and stroid them with strōge hād Plantyng our fathers in theyr place and gauest to them theyr land verse 4 4 They conquered not by sworde nor strength the land of thy beheste but by thy hande thy arme and grace becawse thou louedst theym beste verse 5 5 Thou art my kynge ò God that holpe suche Iacob in sondrye wyse verse 6 6 Led wyth thy power wee threw downe as dyd agaynste vs ryse verse 7 7 I trusted not in bowe ne sworde they could not saue me sounde verse 8 8 Thou keptst vs from our enmies rage thou didst our foes confound verse 9 9 And stil we boast of thee our God Selah and prayse thyne holy name verse 10 10 Yet now thou goest not with our host but leauest vs to shame verse 11 11 Thou madest vs flee before our foes and so were ouer troad our enmies robd and spoild our goods when we were sparst abroad verse 12 12 Thou haste vs giuen to our foes as shepe for to be slayne emongest the heathen euery where scatered we do remayne verse 13 13 Thy people thou hast solde like slaues and as a thinge of noght For proffit non thou hadst therby no gayne at all was soght verse 14 14 And to our neyghbours thou hast made of vs a laughing stocke And those that round about vs dwel at vs do grinne and mocke The state of gods children in this worlde verse 15 15 Thus we sarue for non other vse but for a common talke they mocke they scorne and nod their heads wher euer we goe or walke verse 16 16 I am ashamede continually to heare these wickedmen yea so I blushe that all my face with redd is couuered then verse 17 17 For why we heare such slaunderous wordes such false reports and lyes that death it is to see their wronges their threatenings and their cryes verse 18 18 For al this we forgot not thee nor yet thy couuenant brake verse 19 19 We tourne not backe our heartes from thee nor yet thy patthes forsake verse 20 20 Yet thou hast trode vs downe to duste where “ he meaneth emongs the infidells dennes of dragons be And couered vs with shade of death and great aduersitie verse 21 21 If we had our goddes name forgot and helpe of Idols soght verse 22 22 Wolde not god then haue tried this out For he dothe knowe our thoght verse 23 23 Nay nay for thy names sake ò lorde alwayes are we slayne thus As shepe vnto the shambles sente right so they deale with vs. verse 24 24 Vp Lord why slepest thou awake and leaue vs not for al verse 25 25 Why hydest thou thy countenaunce and dost forget our thral verse 26 26 For downe to dust our soule is broght and we now at last caste out belie like as it were glued vnto the grounde cleaueth faste verse 27 27 Rise vp therfore for our defence and helpe vs lord at neede we thee beseche for thy goodnes to rescue vs with speede Audite haec Psal XLIX Th. St. ¶ The holy ghoste calleth all men to the consideration of mās life shewing theym not to be moste happy that are moste wealthy and therfore not to be feared but contrariwise he lifteth vp our myndes to consider how all thynges are ruled by godes prouidence who as he iudgeth these worldely mysers to euerlastyng tormentes so dothe he preserue his and will rewarde theym in the day of the resurrection 2. Thess 1. ALL people hearken and geue eare to that that I shall tell both hygh and lowe bothe riche and poore that in the world do dwell For why my mouth shall make discourse of many thinges right wyse In vnderstandyng shall my heart his study exercise he will treat of waighty matters and great importance 4 I wil enclyne myne eare to knowe the parables so darke and open al my doubtful speche in Metre on my harpe verse 5 5 Why should I feare afflictions or any carefull toyle or els my foes which at my heeles are prest my lyfe to spoyle verse 6 6 For as for such as riches haue wherin their trust is moste and they which of their treasure great them selues do bragge and boste The terme of mans lif is onely in gods handes verse 7 7 There is not one of theym that can his brothers deathe redeme or that can giue a price to god sufficient for hym verse 8 8 It is to great a price to pay none can therto attayne verse 9 9 Or that he might his lyfe prolong or not in graue remayne verse 10 10 They see wise men as well as foles subiecte vnto deathes handes and being dead straungers possesse their goodes their rentes theyr landes verse 11 11 Their care is to builde houses fayre The dreame ā immortalitie in this life althogh daily the see the contrary by experience and so determine sure To make theyr name ryghte great in earth for euer to endure verse 12 12 Yet shal no man alwaies enioye high honor welth and reste but shall at length taste of deathes cup as well as the brute beaste verse 13 13 And thogh they trie these folishe thoghtes to be moste lewde and vayne Solab their children yet approue their talke and in like synne remayne verse 14 14 As shepe into the folde are broght so shall they into graue Death shall them eate and in that day the iuste shall
sayeth that he was hanged on a tree to the intente that he myghte take vpon hym our curse Deu. 21. Gal. 3. and so dyscharge vs. for that kynde of deathe was accursed of God ¶ The minister What is it not a greate reproche and dyshonoure vnto our Lorde Iesu to say that he was accursed and that before God ¶ The childe No not a whit for he through hys almyghtye power by taking the curse from vs vnto hymselfe did in such sort make it voyde and of none effecte that he hymselfe neuertheles continued still so blessed that he was able to fulfyll vs also with hys blessynges ¶ The minister Make an exposiciō of that that foloweth ¶ The childe In so muche as deathe was a cursse or punyshement appointed vnto man for synne Christ euen in sufferinge death vainqueshed death therfore our sauiour Christ did suffer death and by suffering ouercame it And to the entent also to make it the more certaynly knowen vnto vs that his death was not a coloured or counterfaited thing it pleased hym also to be buryed after the common maner of other menne ¶ The minister But it appeareth not that any profyte cummeth to vs by thys that Christe hathe wonne the victory of death seing that we it not withstanding cease not to dye ¶ The childe The death of the faithfull is a right passage to life euerlasting That doth not hinder for the deathe of the faythfull is nowe nothing elles but a readye passage to a better lyfe ¶ The minister It foloweth then necessarily hereof that we oughte in no wyse to be afrayde of deathe as though it were a dredefull thīg but rather it behoueth vs willingly to walke the trace of oure heade and capitayne Iesu Christ who hath walked and troden the same waye before vs not to the entente to leade vs to our destruction but to procure vs an euerlastynge sauegarde ¶ The childe It is euen so ¶ The minister Sonday 10 What is the sence of that clause whiche is putte to afterward as touchyng his descendyng into hell ¶ The childe The vnderstāding of this Christe went down into hel The ryghte meanynge therof is that Christ dyd not onelye suffre a naturall deathe which is a departyng and goyng asunder of the body and soule but also that his soule was in woōderfull dystresse beyng wofully pressed and enduring grieuous tormentes and as it were hellyke paynes Actes 2. which Sainct Peter calleth the sorowes or pangues of deathe ¶ The minister For what consideration sustained he those paynes and in what sorte ¶ The childe Becawse he presented hymselfe before God to be a sacryfice satisfactory and to make amēdes in the behalfe of synners it was mete that as he did beare the wayght and burthen of our synnes so lykewyse he shoulde feele this horryble anguyshe and greuous tormente of conscience whiche synne bryngeth beyng in case as if God had vtterlye forsaken hym and ben haynously displeased agaynste hym And in verye deede he was brought to suche extremytye of anguyshe that he was dryeuen to crye my God my God Matt. 27. Mark 15. why haste thou forsaken me ¶ The minister Why was God then angry with him ¶ The childe Nay howbeit it was cōueniente that God shoulde punyshe hym in suche sorte Esa 53. 1. Peter 2. to veryfie ād performe the wordes of Esay the Prophet who saieth that he was beatē with the hāde of his father for our sinnes ād that he dyd suffer the punishmente due to oure trangressyons ¶ The minister But howe coulde it be that he was in suche dreadefull anguyshe as though God hadde vtterly forsaken hym seing he was God hymselfe ¶ The childe We must vnderstande that he was in such destresse onlye as touchīge his humanitye And to the intente that he myghte feele these panges in hys manhoode hys Godhead dyd in the meane tyme for a lytle space kepe it selfe close as if it had bene hydd that is to saye it dyd not shewe not vtter the mygh therof ¶ The minister But how could thys be that Christe who is the health of the world could bee vnder such condemnacion ¶ The childe He was not so vnder it that he shuld cōtynewe in the same For he hath in suche wise felte these terrors whiche wee haue spoken of that he was not ouercome of the same but hath rather therby made battayll agaynst the power of hell to breake and destroye it ¶ The minister Hereby then we see the difference betwene that anguish or vexacion of mynde whiche Christe dyd suffer The difference betwene the anguishe of Christes spirit and the conscience of the wicked and that whyche the impenytente synners dooe abyde whome God doth punyshe in hys terryble wrath for that verye payne whiche Christe sustained for a tyme the wycked must endure continually and that whych was vnto Christ but a goade as it were to prycke him is vnto the wycked in steade of a glaiue to wound them to death ¶ The childe Trueth it is for oure sauyoure Christe notwithstandynge these vexations euē in the myddes of his tormētes did not ceasse to put a ful trust euermore in God but the damned synners do dispaire withoute al confydence in Goddes goodnes yea they stomake agaynste God in so muche that they blaspheme hys maiestye ¶ The minister Sonday 11 Maye we nowe gather suffyciently of this that is sayed what fruite or profite cōmeth to vs by the death of Iesus Christe ¶ The childe Yea very well The profite ād vertue of Christes death stādeth in .iii. pointes and fyrste of all we see that it is a sacryfice wherwith he hath fully aunswared and satysfyed hys fathers iudgement in our behalfe and therby also he hath appaised Goddes wrath whiche worthely hanged ouer vs hath broughte vs into his fauoure againe Secōdlye that he shedde his bloud to purifie ād clense our soules from al maner of spottes fynally that he hath so cleane wyped awaye oure synnes through his precyous death that God wil neuer hereafter haue remēbraunce of them to call vs to any reckoninge yea euenso that the obligation or hande wrytynge whiche was to be shewed forthe againste vs to oure cōdemnation is nowe cleane cancelled and vtterlye made voyde ¶ The minister Haue we no other profite besydes this of his death ¶ The childe Yes verely that is if we be true membres of Christe our olde man is crucyfyed and our fleshe is mortyfied to the ende that no euyll lustes or affections doe herafter beare rule in vs. ¶ The minister Expound the article folowing ¶ The childe 1. Peter 3. He rose the thirde daie frō death to lyfe wherī he shewed that he had vaynquished gottē the victorie of death and synne For through his resurrection he swalowed vp death he broke asōdre the chaines wherwith the deuill did holde vs in captyuitie fynally he destroied all hys power and kyngdome ¶ The minister Tell me how many