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
which is the first poynt ¶ The child The first is to put our whole confidence in God alone ¶ The minister Howe may that thing be done ¶ The childe We must first haue an assured knowledge that as he is almighty so he is all bountifull and parfitlie good ¶ The minister And is that sufficient The first point of honoring God ¶ The childe No. ¶ The minister Shewe the reason ¶ The childe For there is no worthines in vs why God should eyther shew his power to helpe vs or vse hys mercifull goodnes to saue vs. ¶ The minister What is than further requyred ¶ The childe This is requisite more that euerie one of vs be fully assured in his conscience that he is beloued of God that he will be both his father sauiour ¶ The minister Howe shall we be assured hereof ¶ The childe By his owne woorde wherin he vttereth moste playnlye vnto vs hys plentifull mercye in our sauiour Christ geueth vs vndoubted assurance of his louing mynd towardes vs. ¶ The minister The foundacion of our faith Well then I perceiue that the very ground to come by a sure confydence in God is to know him in our sauiour Christ ¶ The childe Yea truelye ¶ The minister Then briefelye what is the effecte and substaunce of thys knowledge of God in Christe ¶ The childe It is conteyned in the confession of the fayth vsed of all Christen men which is commonly called the Crede of the Apostles bothe because it is a compendyous and a briefe gatherynge of the articles of that faythe whiche hathe bene alwayes continued in Christes Churche and also because it was taken out of the pure doctrine of the Apostles ¶ The minister Rehearse the same ¶ The childe The Crede of the apostles I beleue in God the father almighty maker of heauen and earth And in Iesu Christ hys onely sonne our Lorde Who was conceyued by the holye Ghoste borne of the vyrgyn Marye Suffered passion vnder Ponce Pylate was crucifyed dead buried and descēded into hell He rose agayne the thyrde daye from deathe He ascended into heauen and sytteth on the right hande of God the father almyghtye From thense he wil come to iudge the quicke and the dead I beleue in the holye goste The holy Churche vniuersall the communion of Goddes electe the forgeuenesse of synnes the rysing agayne of the bodyes and lyfe euerlastyng ¶ The minister Sonday 3 To the intent that this confession maye be more particularely and playnely declared in to how many partes shal we deuyde it ¶ The childe In to foure principall partes The Christian faith standeth in four pointes ¶ The minister What be they ¶ The childe The fyrste concerneth God the father The seconde parte is of the sonne of God our sauiour Christe wherein briefly also the whole story of our redempcion is rehearsed The thyrde is touchyng the holye goste The fourth cōcerneth the holy Churche and Goddes free gyftes vnto the same ¶ The minister Seing there is but one God what moueth thee to make rehearsal of God the father God the sonne and God the holye gost as if ther were thre gods ¶ The childe As concerning the Trinitie Because that in the substance or nature of God wee haue to consider the Father as the fountayne beginning and originall cause of al thinges then secondarely his sonne who is hys euerlastyng wysedome thyrdly the holy ghoste who is his incōprehensible vertue and puissaunte myght which is extēded and spred vpon all creatures and yet neuertheles remaineth alwayes wholy in hymselfe ¶ The minister This is then the meanyng that there is no inconuenience at al to vnderstand seuerally and apart these three persons in the substāce of God who notwythstandyng is one and not therby deuyded ¶ The childe It is euen so ¶ The minister Make rehearsal nowe of the fyrst parte of the Crede ¶ The childe The first parte of the belief I beleue in God the father almighty maker of heauen and earth The minister Wherfore doest thou cal hym Father ¶ The childe I call hym so hauyng respect to Iesu Christ who is the euerlastyng worde begotten of God before all worldes without begynning The fathe who beyng afterwardes openly shewed vnto the world was euidentlye approuued and declared to be hys sonne Now seing God is oure Sauioure Christes father it foloweth necessarilye that he is also our father ¶ The minister What meanest thou by that thou callest hym Almightye ¶ The childe In that I say he is Almightye what is ment by this word almighti I meane not that he hath a power which he doth not exercise but contrariwise that al creatures be in his hād and vnder his gouernāce that he ordereth and dysposeth all thynges by hys vnsearcheable wisedome and prouidence that he ruleth the worlde as it pleaseth him and that continually he guydeth al thynges therin after hys own good pleasure The minister So then by thy saying the power of God is not ydle The power of god is not ydle nor vnoccupied but cōtinually exercised so that nothyng is done but by hym or by his leaue and ordinaunce ¶ The childe It is euen as you saye ¶ The minister Sonday 4 Wherfore is that clause added therunto Maker of heauen and earth ¶ The childe Because he hath made himselfe knowen vnto vs by his workes it is necessary for vs to seeke hym owt in thē Psal 14. Roma 1. For oure capacytye and the reache of oure vnderstanding is not sufficiēte nor able to cōprehende his diuyne substaunce but he hath made the world as a myrroure or glasse A glasse wherin we maye see God wherin we maye beholde his diuine maiestie in suche sorte as it is expediente for vs to knowe hym ¶ The minister Doest thou not comprehende all creatures in these two wordes heauen and earth ¶ The childe Yes verely they may righte well be vnderstanded in these two wordes seynge that all thinges be eyther heauenlye or earthlye ¶ The minister And why callest thou God only by the name of creator or maker seynge that to order thinges and to conserue them alwayes in their state is a thynge of muche more importaunce then to haue for one tyme created them ¶ The childe By thys worde Creator it is not onely meante that he dyd once create them hauyng no farther regarde to them afterwardes But we ought to vnderstand that as the worlde was made of him in the beginning euen so nowe he doth cōserue the same vpholdeth the state of thinges so that heauen and earth with the reste of the creatures Cōcerning the prouidence of God coulde not contynue in their estate if his power did not preserue them Moreouer seinge in this maner he dothe maintayne all thynges holdynge them as it were in his hand it must nedes folow that he hath the rule gouernance of all Wherefore in that that he is creator
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
that it was partly ordeined for the recreation and ease of seruauntes ¶ The childe To thintente that they whiche be vnder the authoritye and power of others myght be released somewhat and lyghtened of theyr paynful laboures the whiche thyng also serueth to the furtheraunce of the common wealth for somuch as euery man hath iust cause to be the readyer willynglye to trauayle the other sixe days when they consider that they may take their rest in the seuenth ¶ The minister Goe to then let vs nowe also see how this commaundement belongeth vnto vs. ¶ The childe As touching the ceremony ther of Col. 2. The ceremoniall Sabbot◠ys ended we haue nothing to do with it for the vse of al ceremonyes ceassed at the cumming of Christe who was the ende and substaunce of them ¶ The minister How so ¶ The childe For our old man vnto whome the ceremonies belonged is now crucifyed by the vertue of his death Rom. 6. through the merite of his resurrection we rise agayn into a newnes of lyfe ¶ The minister What is there than in this comaundement that concerneth vs ¶ The childe We are bounde to obserue the politique ordre appoynted in the churche for the hearyng of Goddes woorde for cumming together to make common prayers and for the ryghte vse of the sacramentes ¶ The minister And dothe the fygure profytt vs no more ¶ The childe Yes veryly for it leadethe vs to the trewth of that thing wherof the sabboth day is a figure which is that we being made the true mēbers of Christe ought to leaue of from doing the woorkes of our owne will to commit our selues wholy vnto his tuicion gouernance ¶ The minister Sonday 28 Lette vs come now to the seconde table ¶ The childe HOnor thy father thy mother ¶ The minister The 5 cōmaundement What doest thou meane by this woord Honour ¶ The childe what honor is due to our superiours The meaning is that children are of duetye bounde to vse humble obedience and lowlynes towardes their father and mother bearynge a reuerente minde towardes them ready to assyst and ayde thē and willyng to doe after theyr commaundementes according to their dutie ¶ The minister Proceade farther in thys commaundement ¶ The childe God ioyneth also a promes to this commaundement sayng that thou maist leade a prosperous lyfe many yeares in the lande whiche the lord thy God hath geuen thee ¶ The minister What is the meanyng of this promes ¶ The childe That God will indue them with a long lyfe here in thys worlde whiche haue theyr father and mother in due reuerence ¶ The minister How cummeth it to passe that god promiseth man to prolong hys life here in thys world as if it were a speciall benefite since this life present is so ful of al kynd of misery ¶ The childe Though our lyfe here in thys world be neuer so full of wretchednes yet not with standing a long life A longe life is a blessing of God vnto the faithfull for somuche as god doth shew furth his fatherly affection towardes his in that they knowe they are vnder hys protection and defence ¶ The minister May a man gather of the contrary parte that he who liueth not manye yeares is accursed of God ¶ The childe No but rather it cummeth to passe manye tymes that oure lord taketh them soneste of all out of thys world shortenyng theyr lyfe whome he loueth most dearely ¶ The minister Since he doeth thus It semeth that he keepeth not alwayes promesse ¶ The childe Benefites of this worlde are promysed with cōdicion Yes verelye for what promes soeuer god maketh vs touching the benefites of this world we ought to take it with this condicion so farfurth as it shal be expedient for the health of our soule For it were a meanes to haue the promes of god in smal reputacyon if the eyes of oure mynd wer not directed further then to cōsidre onely the state of thys present lyfe ¶ The minister And what is to be sayd of them that be disobedient vnto father and mother ¶ The childe The ponyshement of childrē whyche disobey their parents God will not onely punish them with euerlasting payne in the day of iudgement but he wil execute also punishmente on theyr bodyes here in thys worlde eyther by shortnynge their life eyther by procuring them a shameful death either at the least a life most miserable ¶ The minister Doeth not God speake expresly and namely of the lande of Canaan in thys promesse ¶ The childe Yes verely as touching the children of Israel vnto whom the commaundement was first geuen but since it hath pleased god to receyue vs also into the noumbre of hys people Psal 14 Psal 88. Psal 3. we must take it in a more general significatyon so that in somuche as the whole earthe is the lordes we ought to acknowledge that what countreye soeuer we do inhabite god hathe geuen vnto vs the same for a dwellinge place ¶ The minister Is there nothyng elles to be vnderstande in this commaundement ¶ The childe Yes for notwithstandyng no mencion is made in it expresly but of the father and mother yet we must vnderstand in them al magistrates rulers superiours for so muche as there is one maner of consideracion of theym all ¶ The minister What is that ¶ The childe AS God hath geuē vnto them all theyr authoritie and preeminence and because there is no prerogatiue of superioritye neither of father nor mother neyther of prynce or ruler magistrate or maister neyther anye other offyce or tytle of preemynence Rom. 13. but suche as God hath ordeyned therfore they require al by one maner of reason theyr due obedience ¶ The minister Sonday 29 Goe nowe to the sixt commaundement ¶ The childe The .6 commaundement THou shalt do no murther ¶ The minister Is there nothyng forbydden here but open murther ¶ The childe Yes verelye for consideryng that it is god who geueth thys in commaundemēt the which hath chiefe regarde vnto oure heartes he doth not only geue vs a law to restrayne our outward dedes but principally to brydle the affections of oure mynde ¶ The minister Thy meanynge is then that there is a certayne kinde of murther lying prieuelye in the heart the whiche is forbydden here of God ¶ The childe It is euen so and that is a malicious hatred or rancour and a desyer to doe hurt vnto our neyghbour ¶ The minister Is it inough then if we beare no hatred nor malice towardes any man ¶ The childe No for in that that god forbyddeth hatred it is to be vnderstand also that he requireth of vs to loue all men that vnfeynedly from the bottome of the hearte procuryng by all meanes theyr welth ¶ The minister Rehearse the seuenthe commaundement ¶ The childe THou shalt not commit adultery The .7 Cōmādement ¶ The minister What is the summe and
comonly do attribute our regeneratiō to hys 18 Rom. 10. b. 1. peter 1. a. resurrection for as by 19 Mat. 28. b. Act 10. f. 1. Cor. 15. c. rysinge agayn frome the graue the third day The third daie he rose againe frome deathe he 20 Ose 11. d. 1. Cor 15. g. 2. Cor. 13 b. conquered deathe euen so the victorie of our faith standeth in his resurrection and therfore without the one we can not fele the benefite of the other For as by death 21 Rom. 4. d. synne was taken awaye so our rightuousnes was restored by his resurrectiō And because he wolde 22 Ephe. 4. b. Ioh. 14. Ephe. 2. b. accomplishe all thinges and take possession for vs in his kingdome he 23 Mar. 16. d. Luk 24. g. Act. 1. b. 1. Cor. 15. b. ascended into heauen He ascended into heauen to enlarge that same kingdome by the aboundant power of his 24 luk 24. g. Ioh. 14. b. Act. 2. a. spirite by whome we are moste assured of his contynuall 25 rom 8. g. heb 9. f. 1. Ioh. 2. c. intercession towardes God the father for vs. And althoghe he be in 26 Act. 1. c. 3. c. heauen as towchinge his corporall presence where the father hathe nowe set him on his 27 Col. 3. a. rom 8. g. heb 1. a. 10.12 right hande And sytteth at the right hand of God the father almyghtie committinge vnto him the administratiō of all 28 Ephe. 1. d. philip 2. b. Col. 2. c. thinges aswel in heauē aboue as in the earthe benethe yet is he 29 Matt. 28. d. present with vs his membres euen to the ende of the world in preseruinge and gouernynge vs with his effectuall power and grace who whē all thinges are 30 Act. 3. c. fulfilled which God hath spoken by the mowth of all hys prophetes since the world began wyll come in the 31 Act 1. b. same visible forme in the which he ascēded Frome thense shal he come to iudge the quicke an◠the dead with an vnspekable 32 Matt. 25. c. Philip. 3. d. Maiestie power and companye to separate the lambes frome the goates thelecte frome the reprobate So that 33 matt 24. c. Act. 10. f. 1. Cor. 15. c. 1. Thes 4. 2. Thes 1. 2. Tim. 4. a. none whether he be alyue thē or deade before shall escape his iudgement MOREOVER I beleue I beleue in the holie ghoste and confesse the holy ghoste 1 Matth. 3. d. 1. Ioh. 5. c. 1. pet 1. b. 1. cor 6. Ioh. 16. d. Act. 17. God equall with the father and the sonne whoe regenerateth and sanctifieth vs ruleth and guideth vs into all trueth persuadinge moste assuredly in our 2 consciences Rom. 8. c. gal 4. a. that we be the childrene of God bretherne to Iesus Christe and fellowe heires with him of lyfe euerlastinge Yet notwithstandinge it is not sufficiēt to beleue that God is omnipotent and mercifull that Christ hath made satisfaction or that the holy ghoste hath this power and effect except we do 3 Abac. 2. a. rom 1. b. 10. c 1. Ioh. 3. d. applie the same benefites to our selues which are Gods 4 Ioh. 17. a. elect The holie catholike churche the communion of sainctes I beleue therfore and cōfesse one holye 5 Matt. 16. c. Ioh. 10. a. Ephe. 5. b. rom 8. Can. 2. churche which as 6 Ephe. 1. d. Col. 1. d. 1. Cor. 12. c. membres of Iesus Christe thonely 7 Ephe. 4. d. heade therof 8 Ephe. 4. a. philip 3. d. Col. 2. a. cōsēt in faithe hope and charitie vsinge the giftes of God 9 Act. 2. g. 4. g rom 12. c. 1. cor 12. b. ephe 4. c. whether they be temporall or spirituall to the profit and furtherance of the same Whiche churche is not 10 Rō 111. a. sene to mans eye but onely knowen to God who of the loste sonnes of Adā hath ordeyned some as 11 Rom. 9. e eph 1. a. b. vessels of wrathe to damnation and hathe chosen others as vessels of his mercie to be saued the whiche also in due tyme he 12 Rom. 8. eph 5. c. callethe to integritie of lyfe and godly conuersation to make them a glorious churche to him selfe But that churche which is 13 Matt. 18. c. 1. cor 13. b. visible and sene to the eye hathe three tokens or markes wherby it may be discerned First the 14 Matt. 28. d. rom 10. c. 2. Cor. 3.4 ephe 2. d. Ioh. 10. a. 2. tim 3. d. 2. peter 1. d. worde of God cōteyned in the olde ād newe testament which as it is 15 Ephes 2. d. matth 17. c. Ioh. 10. a. b. aboue the autoritie of the same churche and onely 16 Ioh. 20. g. 2. tim 3. d. sufficient to instruct vs in all thinges concernynge saluation so is it left for 17 Ios 1. b. Ioh. 5. c. all degrees of men to reade and vnderstand For without this worde 18 Ephes 5. c. mat 15. b. neither churche concile or decree can establishe any point touching saluation The seconde is the holy 19 Matt. 26. c. 28. f. rom 4. a. Ephe. 5. f. sacrements to witt of Baptisme and the Lordes Supper which sacramentes Christ hathe left vnto vs as holie signes and seales of Gods promesses For as by Baptisme once receyued is signified that we aswel infants as others of age and discretion being 20 Rom. 5. b. Ephe. 2. a. Tit. 3. b. gal 3. c. rom 7. d. straungers frō God by originall synne are receyued into his familie and congregation with full assurance that althoghe this roote of synne lye hyd in vs. yet to the electe it shal not be 21 Rom. 4. a. Psal 31. a. imputed So the 22 1. Cor. 11. e. supper declareth that God as a moste prouident father doth not onely fede our bodies but also spiritually nurisheth our soules with the 23 Ioh. 6. d. graces ād benefites of Iesus Christ which the scripture calleth eatinge of his flesh and drinkinge of his bloode nether must we in the administratiō of these sacramētes followe mās phātasie but as Christ him self hath ordeyned so must they be ministred and by suche as 24 Heb. 5. b. Ioh. 3. d. by ordinarie vocatiō are therunto called Therfor whosoeuer reserueth and worshippeth these sacramēts or contrariwyse contemneth them in tyme and place procureth to him self damnatiō The third marke of this church is 25 Matt. 18. b. luk 17. a. leui 19. d. Ecles 19. b. ecclesiasticall discipline which standeth in admonitiō and correction of fautes The finall ende wherof is excommunication by the consent of the churche 26 1. Cor. 5. a. determyned if the offender be obstinate And besides this ecclesiasticall censure I acknowlage to belonge to this church a politicall 27 Rom. 13. a. wisdome 6. a Tit. 3. a. 1.
thy worde nowe sowen emongest vs may take suche depe roote that neither the burninge heate of persecution cause it to wither nether the thorny cares of this lyfe do choke it but that as seede sowen in good grownde it may bringe forth thirtie sixtie ād an hundreth folde as thy heauenly wisdome hathe appointed And becawse we haue nede continuallie to craue many thinges at thy handes we humbly beseche thee ò heauēly father to graunt vs thy holy 4 luk 11. b. rom 8. c. Iam. 5. d. 1. Ioh. 5. c. rom 12. c. wisdome 9. c. spirite to directe our peticions that they may procede frome suche a feruēt mynde as may be agreable to thy moste blessed wyll And seinge that our infirmitie is hable to do nothinge without thy helpe 5 2. Cor. 3. a. Io. 15. a. phil 2. b. and that thou arte not ignorant with how many and greate 6 psa 40. c. 1. pet 1. a. temptations we poore wretches are on euery side inclosed and compassed let thy strenghe ò lord susteyne our weaknes that we beinge defended with the force of thy grace may be sauely preserued against all assaultes of Satan who goeth abowte cōtinually like a 7 2. Peter 5. b. roaringe lyō sekinge to deuoure vs. 8 luk 17. a. Encrease our faith ò mercifull father that we do not swarue at any tyme frome thy heauēly worde but augment in vs hope and loue with a carefull kepinge of all thy commaundementes that no 9 Psal 95. b. Hebr. 3.4 c. hardnes of harte no hypocrisie no 10 1. Ioh. 2. c. concupiscence of the eys nor intysementes of the worlde do drawe vs away frome thy obedience And seinge we lyue nowe in these moste 11 1. Tim. 4. a. 2. peter 3. a. 2. Tim. 3. a. Iude a. b. c. d. perillous tymes let thy fatherly prouidēce defende vs against the violence of all our enemies which do euery where pursue vs but chiefely againste the wicked rage and furious vproares of that Romyshe idoll ennemie 12 2. Thes 2. a. 1. Ioh. 2. c. reue 13. d. 17. d to thy Christe Fordermore forasmoche as by thy holy Apostle we be taught to make our 13 1. Tim. 2. a. prayers and supplications for all men we praye not onely for our selues here present but beseche the also to reduce all suche as be yet ignorant from the miserable captiuitie of blindnes and error to the pure vnderstandinge and knowlage of thy heauenly trueth that we all with one 14 Rom. 15. b. 1. Cor. 1. b. Ephe. 4. a. consent and vnitie of myndes may wourshippe thee our onely God and sauiour And that all Pastors shepherds and ministers to whome thou hast committed the 15 Ioh. 21. d. Matt. 28. d. 1. Cor. 9. c. Mark 16. d. dispensation of thy holy woord and 16 1. Peter 5. a. charge of thy chosen people may bothe in their lyfe and doctrine be fownde faithfull settinge onely before their eyes thy glorie and that by theim all poore shepe which wander and go astray may be gathered ād broght home to thy foulde Moreouer becawse the 17 prouer 21 a. hartes of rulers are in thy hands we beseche thee to direct and gouerne the hartes of all kinges Princes and Magistrates to whome thou haste cōmitted the 18 Rom. 11. b. Ioh. 19. b. sworde especially ò lord accordinge to our bondendutie we beseche thee to mainteyne ād increase the honorable estate of this Citie For the prosperous estate of Geneus into whose defense we are receyued the Magistrates the counsell and all the whole bodye of this commō weale Let thy fatherlye fauor so preserue theym and thy holy spirite so gouerne their hartes that they may in suche sorte execute their office that thy religion may be purely mainteyned 19 1. Tim. 1. a. lam 1. d. māners refourmed ād synne ponished accordinge to the precise rule of thy holy woord And for that we be all 20 1. Cor 12. d. rom 12.2 mēbres of the mysticall body of Christ Iesu we make our requestes vnto the ò heauenly father for all suche as are 21 Iam 5. c. afflicted with any kinde of crosse or tribulation as warre plague famine sikenes pouertie imprisonement persecution banishemēt or any other kinde of thy roddes whether it be 22 2. Cor. 1. b. Heb. 13. a. calamitie of bodie or vexation of mynde that it wold please thee to gyue them pacience and constancie tyll thou send them full deliuerance of all their troubles And as we be bownde to loue and 23 Exo. 20. b. honor our parentes kinsfolkes friendes and contrye so we moste humbly beseche thee For England to shewe thy pitie vpon our miserable contrie of England which once through thy mercie was called to libertie and now for their and our synnes is broght vnto moste vile slauery and Babylonicall bondage Roote owte from thence ò lord all raueninge 24 Matt. 7. c. act 20. f. wolues which to fyll their 25 Ezech. 34. a. Rom. 16. c. philip 3. d. bellies destroie thy flocke And shewe thy great mercies vpon those our bretherne which are persecuted cast in 26 Heb. 13. d. Rom. 8. g. psal 43. d. prison and dayly condemned to deathe for the testimonie of thy trueth And thogh they be vtterly destitute of all 27 Ioh. 16. f. mans ayde yet let thy swete comfort neuer departe frome them but so inflame their hartes with thy holy spirite that thei may boldely and chearefully abide suche 28 1. peter 1. b. tryall as thy 29 Act. 2. d. Matt. 10. d. luk 21. d godly wisdome shall appoint So that at lenght aswell by their 40 Rom. 14. b deathe as by their life the kingdome of thy sonne Iesus Christ may increase and shyne through all the worlde In whose name we make our humble peticions vnto thee as he hath taught vs. Our father Which arte in heauen etc. ALMIGHTIE and euer lyuinge God vouchsaue we beseche thee to grant vs perfite contynuance in thy liuely faith 1 luk 17. b. augmentinge the same in vs dayly tyll we growe to the full measure of our 2 Ephes 4. a. perfection in Christ wherof we make our confession sayinge I beleue in God c. Then the people singe a Psalme which ended the minister pronounceth one of these blessinges and so the congregation departeth THE lord blesse you and saue you Nom. 6. d the lord make his face shyne vpon you and be mercifull vnto you the lord turne his countenance towardes you and graunt you his peace THE grace of our lord Iesus Christ 2. Cor. 13. d. the loue of God and communion of the holie ghoste be with you all so be it IT shall not be necessarie for the minister dayly to repete all these thinges before mentioned but beginnynge with some maner of confession to procede to the sermon which ended he either vseth the prayer for all
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
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
me oute of this myserye necessitye and nede verse ך ך Beholde my pouertye mine anguyshe and my paine Remit my synne and myne offence and make me cleane agayne verse ך ך O lorde beholde my foes howe they do styll increase Pursuyng me with deadly hate Ioh. 15. d that fayne woulde lyue in peace verse ש ש Preserue and kepe my soule and eke delyuer me And let me not be ouerthrowen because I truste in thee verse ח ח Let my simple purenes me from myn enmies shende because I looke as one of thine that thou shuldest me defende verse פ פ Deliuer lorde thy folke and send them some reliefe I meane thy chosen Israell from all their payne and griefe Ad te Domine clamabo Psal XXVIII Th. St. ¶ Being in great feare and pensiuenes to see god dishonored by the wicked men he desiereth to be rid of theym and crieth for vengeaunce agaynste theym and at lengthe assuereth hym selfe that god hathe hearde his prayer vnto whose tuicion he commendeth all the faithefull THou art o lord my streīgth and staye the succour whych I craue neglect me not lest I be lyke to them that go to graue The voyce of thy suppliant heare that vnto thee doth crye when I lyft vp my handes vnto thy holy arke most hye verse 3 3 Repute not me among the sorte of wycked and peruerte That speke right faire vnto their frendes and thinke ful yll in heart verse 4 4 Accordyng to their handy worke as they deserue in dede And after theyr inuencions let them receyue theyr meede verse 5 5 For they regard nothing gods workes his lawe ne yet his lore Therfore wil he them and their seed destroye for euermore verse 6 6 To render thankes vnto the lorde howe greate a cause haue I My voyce my praier and my complaint that heard so wyllynglye verse 7 7 He is my shyelde and fortitude my buckler in dystresse My hope my helpe my heartes releife my song shall him confesse verse 8 8 He is “ meanige him selfe and his companions our strength and our defence oure enmyes to resiste The health and the saluacion of his elect by Christe verse 9 9 Thy people and thyne herytage lord blesse guide and preserue encrease them lord rule their harts that they maye neuer swerue Afferte Domino Psal XXIX Th. St. ¶ An excellent Psalme wherin the Prophete exhorteth the very princes and rulers of the worlde which other wise for the moste parte thynke there is no god at the leaste to feare hym for the thunders and tempestes for feare wherof all creatures tremble And thogh therby god threateneth synners yet is he alwayes mercifull to his and moueth theym ther by to prayse his name GEue to the lorde ye potentates ye rulers of the world geue ye all prayse honour and strēgth vnto the lyuinge lorde Geue glory to his holy name and honour hym alone worship hym in his maiestie within his holy throne verse 3 3 His voyce dothe rule the waters all euen as hymselfe doth please He doth prepare the thunderclappes He meaneth the thūderings and tempestes and gouerneth all the seas verse 4 4 The ‖ voyce of god is of great force and wonderous excellent it is moste mighty in effecte and muche magnyficente verse 5 5 The voice of god dothe rent and breake the Cedre trees so longe the Cedre trees of Libanus which are moste high and stronge verse 6 6. And maketh theym leape like as a calf or els the vnicorne not onely trees but mountayns great wheron the trees are borne verse 7 7 His voyce deuideth flames of fyer and shaketh the wildernesse the lightening verse 8 8 It maketh the desert quake for fear that called is Cades verse 9 9 It maketh the hinds for feare to calue and maketh the couert plaine Then in his temple euerye man hys glory doth proclayme verse 10 10 The lorde was set oboue the floodes rulyng the ragyng sea so shall he raigne as lorde and kyng for euer and for aye verse 11 11 The lord will geue his people power in vertue to encrease The lorde will blesse hys chosen folke with euerlastinge peace Exaltabo te Domine Psal XXX I. H. ¶ when Dauid shoulde haue dedicated his house to the Lorde he fell so extreme sicke that he was without all hope of lyf and therfore after his recouerie he rendreth thancks to god exhortinge others to do the like and learne by his example that god is rather mercifull then seuere and rigorous towards his children and also that the fall frō prosperitie to aduersitie is sodeyn This done he retourneth to prayer promisinge to praise god for euer ALL laude and prayse with hart and voyce ò lorde I geue to the which didst not make my foes reioyse but haste exalted me ò lorde my god to thee I cried in all my payne and griefe thou gauest an eare and didst prouide to ease me with reliefe Of thy good will thow hast cald back my soule frome hell to saue thow didst reuiue when strēgth did lack and kepte me frome the graue verse 4 4 Sing praise ye sainctes that proue and see The goodnes of the Lorde In memory of his maiestie Reioyce with one accorde verse 5 5 For why hys anger but a space Doth last and slake agayne But in his fauour and his grace Alwais doth life remayne Thogh gripes of grief and panges ful sore Shall lodge with vs all night The lord to ioy shal vs restore Before the day be light verse 6 6 When I enioyed the world at wil Thus would I boast and saye Tushe I am sure to feele none ill This wealth shal not decay verse 7 7 For thou O Lord of thy good grace Hadst sent me strength and ayde But when thou turnedst away thy face From prosperitie to aduersitie the fall is sodayne My mynd was sore dismayde verse 8 8 Wherfore agayne yet did I crye To thee O Lord of might My god with playntes I dyd apply And prayde both day and nyghte verse 9 9 What gayne is in my bloud sayde I If death destroye my dayes Doth dust declare thy maiestie Or yet thy trueth doth prayse verse 10 10 wherfore my God some pitie take O Lorde I thee desyre Doe not this simple soule forsake Of helpe I thee require verse 11 11 Than dydst thou turne my grief and woe Vnto a chereful voyce The mourning weede thou tokest me fro and madest me to reioyce verse 12 12 Wherfore my soule vncessauntly Shal syng vnto thee prayse My Lord my God to thee will I Geue laude and thankes alwayes Beati quorum Psal XXXII Th. St. ¶ Dauid ponished with greuous sickenes for his synnes counteth theym happy to whome god dothe not impute their transgressions And after that he had confessed hys synnes and obtayned pardon he exhorteth the wicked men to lyue godlie and the good to reioyse THe man ys blest whose wikednes the lorde hath cleane remitted and he whose synne
body both doth thurst of thee to taste And in thys baren wildernes where waters there are none my fleshe ys partcht for thoght of thee for thee I wish alone verse 2 2 That I might see yet once agayne thy glorie strength and might As I was wont it to beholde within thy temple bright verse 3 3 For why thy mercies farre surmount this life and wretched dayes My lyppes therfore shal geue to thee due honour laude and prayse verse 4 4 And whiles I lyue I wil not fayle to worship thee alway And in thy name I shal lift vp my handes when I doe pray verse 5 5 My soule is filled as with marowe which is bothe fat and swete My mouthe therfore shall synge suche sōges as are for thee moste mete verse 6 6 When as in bed I thynke on thee and eke all the night tyde verse 7 7 For vnder couert of thy winges thou art my ioyful guide verse 8 8 My soule doth surely sticke to thee thy right hande is my power 1. Sam. 31. 9 And those that seke my soule to stroy them death shal sone deuoure verse 10 10 The swoorde shall thē deuoure eichone their carcases shall feed the hongrye foxes which do roue their praye to seeke at need verse 11 11 The king and all men shal reioyce that doe “ hebr that sweare by him that is which worshipe him alone professe Gods woorde For lyers mouthes shall then be stopt which haue the truth disturbde Exurgat Deus Psal LXVIII Th. St. ¶ In this Psalme Dauid settith forthe as in a glasse the wonderfull mercies of god towardes his people who by all meanes and moste strange sortes declared hym selff to theym And therfore gods churche by reason of his promyses graces and victories dothe excell withowte comparison all worldelie thynges he exhorteth therfore all men to prayse god foreuer LEt god arise and then his foes will turne them selues to flyght his enmyes then wyll runne abroade and scater out of syght And as the fyre dothe melt the waxe and wynde blowe smoke away so in the presence of the lorde the wycked shall decaye verse 3 3 But rightuous men before the lorde shall hartelie reioyse They shal be glad and mery all and cherefull in theire voyce verse 4 4 Synge prayse synge prayse vnto the lorde who rideth on the skie Extolle this name of “ Iah is one of the propre names of god and signifieth euermore Iah our god and hym do magnifie verse 5 5 That same is he that is aboue within his holy place That father is of fatherles and iudge of widdowes case verse 6 6 Howses he geueth and issue bothe vnto the comfortlesse He bryngeth bondmen owte of thrall and rebelles to distresse verse 7 7 When thou didst marche before thy folke the gyptians from emonge And broght them throgh the wildernes Selah which was bothe wide and longe verse 8 8 The earth did quake the rayne powred down hearde were great clappes of thūder the mont Sinay shoke in such sort as it wolde cleaue a sonder verse 9 9 Thyne heritage with dropes of rayne abundantly was washt and if perchance it baran waxt The abundāce and plentifulnes of the lande of Canaan by thee it was refresht verse 10 10 Thy chosen fllocke dothe there remayne thou haste prepard that place and for the poore thou doeste prouide of thyne especiall grace verse 11 11 God will gyue “ wemen causes iuste As Miriam Dehora Iudith to magnifie his name when as his people triomphes make and purchase brute and fame verse 12 12 For puissāt kynges for all their power shall flee and take the foyle and wemen which remayne at home shall help to parte the spoyle verse 13 13 And thogh you were as blacke as “ or triuets pottes your hewe should passe the doue whose wynges and fethers seme to haue syluer and golde aboue verse 14 14 When in this land god shall triumphe ouer kynges bothe high and lowe then shall it be lyke Salmon hill as whit as any snowe The churche of god doth excell all wordely things not in out warde pōpe but by the grace of god which ther remayneth because of his promes verse 15 15 Thogh Basan be a frutefull hill and in height others passe yet Zion godes moste holie hill dothe farre excell in grace verse 16 16 Why bragge ye thus ye hils moste high and leape for pride to gether this hill of zion god dothe loue and there will dwell for euer verse 17 17 Gods “ or charettes armie is two millions of “ or charettes warriours good and stronge he vnderstādeth Angells the lorde also in Sinai is present theym amonge * God toke not taxes to enrich him selfe but tob estowe thē on his church and therfore in the 4 to the Eph. S. Paul saith he gaue giftes followīg the greke translation Selah 18 Thou didst ò lorde ascend on high and captiues led theym all who in tymes paste thy chosen flocke in prison kept and thrall Thou madst theym tribute for to paye and suche as did repyne thou didest subdewe that they might dwell in thy temple dyuyne verse 19 19 Now praysed be the lorde for that he powrth on vs suche grace from day to day he is the god of owre health and solas verse 20 20 He is the God from whome alone saluacion cummeth playne He is the God by whome we scape all dangers death and payne verse 21 21 Thus God will wound his enmies head and breake the heary scalpe Of those that in theyr wickednes continually do walke verse 22 22 From “ He meaneth the victorie which Dauid had of Og kynge of Basan Basan wil I bring sayd he my people and my shepe And al myne owne as I haue doone from daunger of the depe verse 23 23 And make them dippe theyr feete in bloode of those that hare my name And dogges shall haue theyr tōges embrewed with licking of the same verse 24 24 All men may see how thou O God thyne enmies dost deface And howe thou goest as God and king into thy holy place verse 25 25 The syngers goe before with ioye the minstress folow after And in the middes the damsels playe with timbrel and with taber verse 26 26 Now in thy congregacions O Israel prayse the lorde And Iacobs whole posteritie geue thankes with one accorde verse 27 27 Theyr chief was “ Because he was the yōgest of the Patriarches Iacobs sōnes he calleth him litle Beniamin litle Beniamin but Iuda made their hoste with Zabulon and Neptalim which dwelld abowte their coste verse 28 28 As God hath geuen power to thee so lord make firme and sure The thing that thou hast wroght in vs for euer to endure verse 29 29 And in thy temple giftes will we giue vnto thee ò lord for thine vnto hierusalem sure promesse made by woord Yea and strange kyngs to vs subdued shall do like
of heauen earth it is he that by hys bountyfull goodnesse myghtye power and hyghe wisedome doth conducte and guide the whole order of nature It is he that sendeth raine and drought haile tempestes and fayre wether he sēdeth fertilite and barennes dearth and plentie health and sycknes to be shorte he hath all thynges at commaundement to do hym seruice at his owne good pleasure ¶ The minister What saiest thou as touching the deuels and wicked persons be they also subiecte to hym and at hys commaundement ¶ The childe Albeit that God dothe not guide them wyth his holy spirite Concernyng deuylles yet he doth brydell them in such sort that they be not able to styrre or moue without his permission and appointment yea moreouer he doth compel them to execute his will pleasure although it bee cleane agaynst theyr intent purpose ¶ The minister To what purpose doth it serue thee to knowe this ¶ The childe The knowledge hereof doeth wonderfully comforte vs for we might thinke our selues in a miserable case if the deuylles and the wycked had power to do any thynge contrary to Gods wil or appointment And moreouer we could neuer be quiete in our cōsciences yf we shuld think our selues to be in theyr daunger The deuill hath no power but of God But forsomuche as we know that God brydeleth them fast and chayneth them as it were in a prison in suche wise that they can do nothing but as he permitteth we haue iuste occasion not onely to bee quiete in mind but also to receyue most confortable ioye since God hath promysed to bee our protectour and defender ¶ The minister Sonday 5 Go to then lett vs come to the seconde parte of our beliefe The second parte of the beliefe ¶ The childe And in Iesu Christe his onely sonne our Lorde ¶ The minister What is bryeflye the effecte and substance of thys parte ¶ The childe It is to acknowledge the sonne of God to be our sauiour and to vnderstand the meane wherby he hath redemed vs from death and purchased lyfe vnto vs. ¶ The minister What sygnifyeth thys worde Iesus by whych thou namest hym ¶ The childe It is as muche to saye as Sauyour This word Iesus Matt. 1. and thys name was geuen vnto him by the angell at Gods commandement ¶ The minister What is that of more estimacion than if that name hadde bene geuen vnto hym by men ¶ The childe Yea a great deale for since Goddes pleasure was that he shoulde be so named it geueth vs certayne knowledge that he is our very sauiour in dede ¶ The minister What sygnifyeth then thys woorde Christe whiche foloweth after This word Christe ¶ The childe This word Christe doth expresse more effectually his office and doth vs to wete that he was anointed of oure heauenlye father to sygnifye that he was ordeined to be a kynge Prieste and Prophete ¶ The minister How hast thou the knowlege hereof ¶ The childe By the scripture whiche doth suffyciently teache vs that anointynge dyd serue for these three offices or dignities the which be also attributed vnto hym in many places of the scriptures ¶ The minister But what maner of oyle was it wherewith he was anointed ¶ The childe It was no such material oile as we vse and as did serue in olde time to the ordeininge or institutiō of kynges Priestes and Prophetes but a farre more excellent oyle euen the grace of Gods holy spirite wherof the aunciente anointing in the olde testamente was a fygure ¶ The minister What maner of kyngdom is that wherof thou speakest ¶ The childe Thys kyngdome of Christe The kingdome o Christe is not earthly but spirituall the substaunce wherof doeth consist in Gods worde and in his holy spirite wherin is conteined both ryghteousnesse and lyfe euerlastynge ¶ The minister And what is his Priesthoode ¶ The childe It is an offyce and auctorytie to presente himselfe before God The pristhoode of Christe Heb. 7.8.9 10.13 to obtayne grace fauour for vs and to pacifye hys fathers wrath by offering vp the most acceptable sacryfyce of hym selfe vnto him ¶ The minister Why callest thou hym a Prophete ¶ The childe Bycause that he came downe into the worlde wherein Christ war a Prophete Esa 7. Hebr. 1. to brynge vnto vs the moste worthy ioyfull embassie or message of God his father to declare at large most euidently to the worlde his fathers wil and to finishe all reuelations and Prophecyes ¶ The minister Commeth there any profite vnto thee by those names and dignities of Christe ¶ The childe Yea they altogether belonge to our comfort and proffit For Christ did receiue all these of hys father to make vs partakers therof wherby we myghte euerye one receyue of hys fulnesse ¶ The minister Declare thys thyng vnto me more at large ¶ The childe He receiued the holy ghost in moste full perfection with all the giftes and graces of the same to bestowe them on vs and to distribute them vnto euerye one of vs in the measure and quantytye that God knoweth to be moste mete and expediente for vs and so by this meanes wee drawe oute of hym as if it were oute of a fountayne Christ is the fontayne of all goodnes all the spirituall gyftes that we haue ¶ The minister To what vse doth the kyngdom of Christ serue vs ¶ The childe To what vse the kyngdōe of Christ serueth vs. To set vs in libertie of conscience to lyue godly and holily that we beinge enriched with hys spirituall treasures and armed with his power may be able to ouercome the deuyll synne fleshe the worlde whych bee euery one pernycyous enemies vnto our soules ¶ The minister What profite haue we of his priesthoode ¶ The childe The profyte of Christes priesthoode Hebru vii viii.ix.x.xiii First by this meanes he is our mediator to bring vs into the fauour of God his father and againe hereby wee haue a fre entrye to come in and shewe oure selues boldely before God and to offre vp our selues with al that belongeth vnto vs for a sacrifice and in thys poynt we are felowes after a sorte of his priesthood ¶ The minister The vtilitye of his office in that he is a Prophete is yet behynde The childe Since our lorde Iesu hath receyued this office to become the master and teacher of hys flocke the ende of this dignitie is wherfore Christ was a prophete to bring vs to the righte knowledge of god and of his trueth so that wee myght become Gods houshold scholers and of hys familye ¶ The minister This is then it that a man may briefly gather of thy wordes that these thre titles or names of Christ do include thre sundry offices the which God hath geuen vnto his sonne to the entent to bestow the fruit profite of the same vpon his elect ¶ The childe Ye saye truely ¶ The minister Sonday
7 By what reason callest thou Christ the onely sonne of God synce God doth name vs also hys chyldren ¶ The childe As touching that that we are Gods children we be not so borne neither doth it come of our nature but only by his fatherly adoption by grace in that that God doeth vouchesafe to accepte vs and take vs for his children now our Lord Iesus beyng begotten of one very substance with his father and beynge of the selfe same nature and godhead may euen of good ryght be called Gods onelye sonne for that there is none other that can clayme that tytle by naturall ryghte but he alone ¶ The minister This is then the meaning that thys honour pertayneth peculiarelye vnto hym alone as vnto whome it belongeth by course naturall the whiche notwithstandinge he hath by free gyft of hys goodnes communicated vnto vs makyng vs partakers thereof in that we are becomen his own membres ¶ The childe It is euen so and therfore in respect of that his communicatyng and alyaunce with vs the scripture calleth Christe in an other place the fyrste borne among many brethren ¶ The minister What is the meanyng of that that foloweth ¶ The childe It doth vs to wete after what sort the sonne of God was annoynted of hys father to becume our sauior that is to say he tooke vpon hym our flesh therin fulfilled al thinges necessarye for our redempcion according as they be here rehearsed ¶ The minister What meanest thou by these two clauses Conceyued by the holye Ghoste Borne of the virgin Mary ¶ The childe The meanyng thereof is Christ became very manne Psal 32 Mat. 1. Luke 1. that he was fashioned in the blessed virgins wombe takyng very substaunce and manhod of her own body that he myght therby become the seede of Dauid as the Prophetes hadde a longe tyme before sygnyfyed and yet notwithstandyng all thys was wroughte by the secrete and merueilous power of the holye goste with out the company of man ¶ The minister Was it then nedefull that he shoulde take vpon hym oure very fleshe ¶ The childe Roma 3. Yea verely for it was conuenient that mans transgression and his disobedience agaynste God shoulde be purged lyke wise by the nature of man And moreouer if Christe had not bene partaker of our very nature 1. Timo. 2 Hebr. 4. he had not bene a meete mediatoure to make vs at one and to ioyne vs together with God his father ¶ The minister Than thys is thy saying that it behoued that Christ shoulde become very man to the ende he myghte execute the office of a sauiour in our shape and persone ¶ The childe Christe hath perfourmed that which lacked in vs. Yea verely For we must borowe of him all that which is lacking in our selues for this our defaut cold not otherwise be recouered ¶ The minister But for what cause was thys thyng wrought by gods holy spirite and not rather by the company of man according to the ordre of nature ¶ The childe Because the seede of manne is of it selfe all to gether corrupted with synne it behooued that thys conception of Christ should be wroughte by the power of the holy goste Christe was conceiued by the spirit of God wherby our sauiour might be preserued from all corrupcyon of synne and replenysshed with all maner of holynes ¶ The minister So then by these sayinges it is euidenly declared vnto vs that he whiche should purifye and clense other from fylthe of synne muste be hymselfe free and cleare from all spottes therof and euen from his mothers wombe dedicated kept holy vnto God in purenesse of nature so that he may not be giltie of that corrupcyon where with the whole stocke of man is generally infected ¶ The childe That is the very meanyng of my woordes ¶ The minister Sonday 8 How cummeth it to passe that he is our Lorde ¶ The childe Euen by the ordinance of God himselfe Christ is our lord who also made hym our gouernor to the ende that he myght execute hys fathers kyngdom both in heauen and in earth and that he myght be heade and ruler bothe of Aungelles and of goddes faythfull people ¶ The minister Wherfore speakest thou of his deathe immediatlye after hys birth leaueste out the whole story of hys lyfe ¶ The childe For because there is nothyng mencioned or spoken of in our Cred but that whiche peculiarelye belongeth to the pyth and substance of our redemption ¶ The minister Why is it not sayde playnely in one woorde that he dyed withoute anye speakynge of Ponce Pilate by whose iugement he suffered ¶ The childe The mencion that is made of Ponce Pilate was not onelye for this consideracion to make the storye of Christes Passion to haue more euident assurance but also to declare vnto vs that his death hath taken a way our condemnacion ¶ The minister How so ¶ The childe Fyrst he suffered deathe to the ende to take a waye the payne that was due vnto vs that we might be therby clearely delyuered from the same Now for so muche as we were in faute and gyltie before gods iudgemente as wicked mysdoers Christ myndyng to take vpon him our persone and to bayle vs Christe was condemned to cleare vs. by susteyning all our miserie vouchsaued to shew hymselfe before yearthly iudges to be condemned by the sentence or iudgement of the same that therby we myght be giltlesse cleare before the iudgemente seate of oure heauenlye iudge hys father ¶ The minister Notwithstanding Mat. 27. Luke 23. Pilate doth pronounce hym innocent and so by that he doeth not condemne hym as woorthye of deathe ¶ The childe Pilate dyd bothe the one and the other Christe was cōdened for vs. first he was pronounced innocente iust by the iudges owne mouth to sygnifye that he suffered not for hys owne deserte but for our trespaces And yet withal the same iudge dyd dyd geue solemnelye the sentence of deathe agaynst hym to testifye and expresse that he is our true pledge raunsome Christ was our raunsonne as he who also hath taken vnto hym oure condemnation to make vs quite and to deliuer vs from the same ¶ The minister That is wel sayd for if he had bene a sinner in deede he had not bene meete to haue suffered death for the offences of other and neuerthelesse to the end that we myght be clearely quitte and delyuered by hys condemnacyon Esai 53. it was necessary that he should be taken and counted as a malefactoure or misdoer ¶ The childe I meane no other thynge ¶ The minister Sonday 9 Wher thou saist Christ suffred on the crosse was that kynde of deathe more auaylable and of more importaunce than if he had bene otherwyse put to deathe Christe toke vpon hymselfe the curse due vnto vs that we might be free ¶ The childe Yea verely and touching that matter Sainct Paule
wayes this resurrection of Christe doeth profite vs ¶ The childe Thre maner of ways the firste The benefyte and vertue of Christes death standeth in .iii pointes that we haue fully obtained to be ryghteous therby Secondly that his risinge frō death is asure gage and certaine assuraunce unto vs that we shall ōce ryse agayne into a lyfe without ende and moste glorious Thyrdely Rom. 4.6 1. Cor. 15. that if we be in dede truely partakers of his resurrection we ryse nowe in this present worlde in to a new kynde of lyfe addicted wholy to serue God and to leade an holye conuersation agreable to his wil and pleasure ¶ The minister Sonday 12 Let vs goe forwarde to the reste ¶ The childe He ascended vp into heauen ¶ The minister Wente Christ vp into heauen in suche sort that he was no lōger abydinge in the yearth ¶ The childe Yea Christ ascended into heauē for whan he had performed whollye all thynges that were enioyned him by the commandement of his father and had accōplished all that was necessarie for our health it was not nedefulle that he shoulde remayne any longer in the worlde ¶ The minister What profyte haue wee by hys ascension ¶ The childe The Profytte of Christes ascension stādyth in two pointes We receyue double profyte thereby for since that our sauyoure Christe is entred into heauen in our name euen inlyke maner as he came downe from thēce for oure sakes onely he hath thereby made an open entrye into the same place for vs geuynge us withal an assured knowledge that the gate of heauen is nowe wyde open to receiue vs whych was before faste shutte through our synnes The seconde profite is that he sytteth there presente alwais in the syght of God the father to make intercessyon for us Rom. 6. Hebr. 7. and to be our aduocate to make answere for vs. ¶ The minister But is oure sauioure Christ so gone out of the worlde that he is no more here with vs ¶ The childe Matt. 28. No dowteles for he hymselfe sayeth the contrarye that is that he wyl be here presente with vs vnto the worldes ende ¶ The minister Is it meant of his bodely presence that he maketh promise so to cōtynue with vs ¶ The childe No verelye Luke 24. Actes 1. for it is a nother matter to speake of hys body which was lyfte vp out of this worlde into heauen and to speake of hys godlye power whiche is spred abrode throughout the whole worlde ¶ The minister Declare the meanīg of this sentēce He sytteth on the ryghte hand of God the Father ¶ The childe The vnderstandyng of that is Matt. 28. to signifye that he hath receyued into his handes the gouernance of heauen and yearth whereby he is kynge and ruler ouer al thynges ¶ The minister What signifieth this worde ryghthande and the fyttyng on the ryghthande whereof mention is here made ¶ The childe It is a similitude or a maner of speache borowed of earthly Princes To sit on the right hande of God whiche are wonte to place on their right side suche as they substitute nexte vnder them to see to the execution of lawes and to supplye their roume and offyce in their steade ¶ The minister Then thou meanest nothing els therby Ephe. 1. but that whiche S. Paule speaketh to the Ephesians that he was constitute and appointed head of the Churche set in authoritie aboue all powers Philip. 2. and that he hath receiued a name or dignitie passynge all other ¶ The childe My meanynge is none other ¶ The minister Goe forwarde to the residue ¶ The childe Sonday 13 From thence he wil come to iudge the quycke ād the dead that is to saye he will come doune from heauē and shewe himselfe visibly once agayne in iudgement euen in that shape Actes 1. wherin he was seen to ascend ¶ The minister Seynge the iudgemente of God shal be in the ende of the worlde how maye that be whych thou saiest some shal be a lyue and other some shal be dead namely since also it is a thing most certainly oppointed vnto all men Hebr. 9. to dye once ¶ The childe S. Paule maketh answer to this questiō himselfe saying that they which at that time shal be lefte on liue 1. Cor. 15. 1. Thes 4. shal be sodainly chāged in a momēt of time to the end that their corruptible nature maye be altered and that they may receiue a newe body whiche shal be no more subiect to corruption ¶ The minister Thy meaninge is then that this alteratiō or change shal be vnto them in steade of a death in somuche as it shal do a way abolyshe their former nature and make them ryse againe in a newe more glorious state ¶ The childe It is euen so ¶ The minister Doe we receyue any comfort by this that our sauiour Christ will come once to iudge the worlde ¶ The childe Yea verely and that a synguler great comforte for we are taught certeynly that hys commyng at that tyme shal be onely for our saluation ¶ The minister Wel then there is no cause why we shoulde be afrayde of the day of iudgement or wherfore we shoulde lothe the cummyng thereof ¶ The childe No truely Christe shal both Iudge vs and aunswer for vs. forsomuch as we shall appeare before no other iudge but him who is our aduocate and hath taken vpon hym to defende our cawse ¶ The minister Sonday 14 Let vs nowe come to the third parte ¶ The childe That part cōcerneth our fayth confidence in the holy goste The third parte of the crede ¶ The minister And to what purpose doth it serue vs ¶ The childe It doth vs to vnderstād that euen as God hath first redemed vs Of the holy gost and his giftes geuen euerlasting health vnto vs in Iesu Christ euē so it pleased hym to make vs partakers of these his graces ād benefites through his holy spirite ¶ The minister How so ¶ The childe In lyke maner as the bloud of Christe is the onelye thyng that pourgeth oure soules 1. Peter 1. euē so the holy ghost must sprinkle ād moysten our cōsciences with the same to make them pure and cleane ¶ The minister Yet this needeth a more euident declaration ¶ The childe It is no more to saye but that the holye spirite of God dwellyng in our heartes doth make vs feele the vertue and goodnes of our Lord Iesus Rom. 5. for it is he that doth open the eyes of our hearte to beholde gods benefites towardes vs he doeth seale and imprint his aboundante graces in our soules and this spirite doeth also regenerate vs and make vs new creatures in such sort Ephe. 1. that by his meanes we receiue to our most cōfort al those giftes and benefites which be offered vnto vs so plentifully in Christ our sauiour ¶ The minister Sonday 15
What foloweth now next ¶ The chide The fourth part of our beliefe The fowerth part which is of the churche where it is sayde I beleue that there is a Catholique or uniuersal churche ¶ The minister What is this Churche ¶ The childe It is the felowship or congregation of them that belieue what the church is whom God hathe ordeyned and chosen unto life euerlasting ¶ The minister Is it necessary that we beleue this artiticle ¶ The childe Yea it is a thyng very necessarye onlesse we mynd to make Christes death vtterlye voyde and of none effect and to make all those thiÌ„ges superfluous aÌ„d to no purpose whiche we haue rehearsed alreadye for the church is the verye fruite that proceadeth of all Christes dooinges ¶ The minister This is thaÌ„ thy sayiÌ„g that all which hither to hath bene declared For what purpose Christe suffered deathe doth touche the cause aÌ„d grownde of our saluatioÌ„ insomuche as God hath receiued vs into his fauoure by the meanes of our sauiour Iesus Christ hath stablished this grace in vs through his holy spirite But nowe the effect that cuÌ„meth of all this is declared vnto vs to geue the more euideÌ„t assurance therof ¶ The childe It is euen so as you say ¶ The minister What meanest thou by saying The holy churche ¶ The childe I call the Churche holy in this sence because that those whoÌ„ God hathe chosen he iustifieth renueth vnto holynes aÌ„d innoceÌ„cy of lyfe to make his glory to shyne in theÌ„ Ephe 5. And also oure sauiour Christe hath saÌ„ctified his churche which he redemede to the ende it myght be glorious and without spot ¶ The minister What meaneth this worde Catholique or vniuersall ¶ The childe The meaning of this word catholique Ephe. 4. 1. Cor. 12. It serueth to put vs in remeÌ„braÌ„ce that as there is but one head of the righte beleuers eueÌ„ so it behoueth theÌ„ to be knit together in one bodye iÌ„ such sorte that there be not diuers churches but one churche alonely disê‘sed thorowout the whole worlde ¶ The minister Declare as touchiÌ„g the communioÌ„ of sainctes ¶ The childe The communioÌ„ of the faithfull That clause is putte to for a more playne declaration or setting furth of the vnitie and coupling together of the membres of Christes church Moreouer it doth vs to vnderstand that al the benefites that Christe hath geueÌ„ and all the good that he hathe done for his church belongeth to the profite and saluacion of euerye faithfull personne for so much as they haue all a common partaking together ¶ The minister Sonday 16 But where thou namest the churche holye is the holinesse therof now alreadi vpright and perfecte ¶ The childe No verely for it is in contynuall battayll so longe as we are in this world and laboreth alwaye vnder imperfectioÌ„ aÌ„d infirmities which shal neuer be cleane taken a way vntill we be al together coupled to our head Iesu Christ by whome we are perfitly sanctified and made holy ¶ The minister Is there no other way to knowe this church but by beliefe or faithe ¶ The childe Yes verely there is a church or coÌ„panye of Goddes people which may be sene to the eye forsomuch as God hath geueÌ„ outwarde tokens and SacrameÌ„tes by the whiche we may knowe the same But here in this place meÌ„cioÌ„ is made onely of the peculiar and chosen coÌ„pani of Goddes childreÌ„ whoÌ„ whom he hath chosen to euerlasting lyfe the whiche feloweshyppe cannot be perfectely discerned here by our sences nor by outward tokens ¶ The minister What is there more ¶ The childe Touchinge the forgiunes of sinnes I beleue the remission of our synnes ¶ The minister What is the ryghte or proper signification of thys woord Remissyon ¶ The childe It signifyeth properlye that God doeth freelye forgeue al the sinnes of them whiche beleue in hym in suche sorte that they shall neuer be called to any accounte neyther shall they make anye aunswere before Goddes iustice seate therby to receyue any punishement ¶ The minister It is easy than to be gathered of this that we doe not merite or deserue by any satisfaction or amendes that we can make that God shoulde pardon our synnes ¶ The minister Ye say true for oure sauiour Christ hath made the full payment himself and hath sustayned the payne due vnto the same for we of our parte be not able to make anie maner of recoÌ„pence but we are drieueÌ„ to seeke vpon God that of his mere liberalitie we may obtayne this benefyt frely ¶ The minister Wherefore doest thou make mencion of remissyon immediatelye after that thou hast spoken of the churche ¶ The childe Because that no manne can receyue forgeuenes of his sinnes vnles he be incorporated Ther is no remission of synnes without the body of the churche and ioyned in the felowshyp of Goddes people and so continue in the vnitie common partakynge of Christes benefites with the same hys bodye euen to th ende lyke a true membre of hys Churche ¶ The minister By thys saying than without the churche ther is nothing but hel death and damnacion ¶ The childe That is most certayne for all such as do deuide disseuer them selues from the body of Christe to the intente to make a sect and breake the vnitie therof are vtterly destitute of al hope to enioy euerlasting lyfe whiles they kepe themselues so diuided and a parte ¶ The minister Sonday The 17 What foloweth more ¶ The childe Of oure resurrection The rysyng agayne of the body and lyfe euerlasting ¶ The minister Whereto serueth thys article in our beliefe ¶ The childe It doeth vs to vnderstande that our ioye and felicitie consysteth not in anye thynge vpon earthe the which knowledge maye serue vs for two necessary purposes The firste it serueth to teache vs to passe through this transitory world as if it were through a strange countreye settyng litle by the thynges of thys worlde and not settyng oure affectyon on thynges of so vnstable continuaunce Then secondarily it putteth vs in couÌ„fort that although as yet we haue no full taste or enioying of the felicitie which our Lord god hathe freelye prepared for vs in our sauiour Christ that yet we oughte not for that to dyscourage our selues but paciently to wayte for hym vnto the tyme that he shall appere ¶ The minister What shal be the maner of our resurrection ¶ The childe Al they which be dead before that tyme shal then take theyr own bodyes agayn vnto them 1. Cor. 15. howbeit they shal be of a nother sorte or fashion that is to wete they shal be no more subiecte to death or corrupcion and yet notwithstanding they shal be of the selfe same nature and substaunce as before And suche as shal then remayne alyue God wyll rayse them vp maruelously and sodainely chaunge theyr bodyes in the twinklinge of an eye as we haue sayd before ¶ The minister
Shall not the wycked be aswell partakers of thys resurrection as the faythfull ¶ The childe Yes verely but they shal be in condycion or state farre vnlyke for the one that is to wete the faythfull Ihon. 5. Matt. 25. shall ryse agayne to euerlastynge ioye and felycitye the other to euerlasting death and damnacion ¶ The minister Wherfore then is there not aswell mencion made of hell and death euerlastynge as of heauen and lyfe that endureth for euer ¶ The childe Bycause the Crede is a bryefe summe of oure faith conteinynge in as fewe woordes as can be that that belongeth peculyerly to comfort the consciences of Goddes faythfull therfore Gods benefytes whiche he freely bestoweth vpon hys people be rehersed alonely without any mencyon of the wycked who are cleane shute oute of hys kyngdome ¶ The minister Sonday 18 Since we haue the very foundacion grounde wher vpon our fayth is builded we maye wel gather hereof that this is the very ryghte fayth ¶ The childe what a thynge liuely faith is Yea verely that is to saye it is a sure perswasion and a stedfaste knowledge of Gods tender loue to wardes vs accordynge as he hath playnlye vttered in his ghospell that he wylbe both a father and a sauyoure vnto vs through the meanes of oure Lorde Iesu Christe ¶ The minister Is this fayth a thyng standynge in oure power eyther is it a free gyfte that God geueth at hys pleasure ¶ The childe The scrypture teacheth vs that it is a speciall gyft of the holy gost and very experience doeth also confirme the same ¶ The minister And why so ¶ The childe For the feblenes of oure wyttes is suche that we can by no meanes attayne vnto the vnderstandynge of Gods wysedome and the secretes of his spirite the which thynges be opened and made knowen vnto vs by faythe and oure heartes are naturally inclyned to a certayne distruste or at lest avaine trust either in oure selues The holy gost doth lyghten our mindes or in other creatures but what tyme Gods spirite hath lyghtened our heartes and made vs able to vnderstāde Gods wyll the whiche thyng we can not attaine other wise thā doth he arme vs also with a stedfaste cōfydence in hys goodnes sealinge as it were and impryntyng the promises of euerlastynge healthe in our heartes ¶ The minister What profyte commeth to vs through this faith whan we haue it ¶ The childe It doeth iustifie vs before God This faith maketh vs sure of our righteousnes and maketh vs enherytours of euerlastynge lyfe ¶ The minister Why thē is not a man iustyfyed through good workes if he lyue holylye and in the obedience of Goddes wyll ¶ The childe If any manne were to be founde so perfecte as to leade his life vprightly before God suche a one myghte worthelye be called a ryghteous manne but forsomuche as we euerye one maye iustlie counte our selues wretched sinners in the syght of God we are of necessytye dryuen to seeke elles where for a worthynes to make answere for vs to Gods iudgemente ¶ The minister Sonday 19 But be all our workes so disproued that they can meryte nothyng at all for vs before God ¶ The childe Fyrst al suche workes as we do of our selues by the inclination of our owne nature Al mans woorkes be damnable vntill they be regenerate through godes sprite are vtterly corrupte Wherof it foloweth necessarily that they can not please god but rather do prouoke hys wrath and he condemneth them euery one ¶ The minister Thys is then thy sayinge that vnto the tyme that God hath of his fauourable goodnes receyued vs to mercy we can doe no maner of thynge but synne Mat. 7 euen as an euell tree can brynge forth no fruite but that that is euyll ¶ The childe It is euen so for although oure woorkes make a fayre shewe outwardely to mannes syghte yet withoute doubte they are wycked in Goddes syght forsomuch as the heart is naughte and vngracious vnto the whyche God chiefly hath respecte ¶ The minister Hereby then thou doest conclude that it lyeth not in oure power to preuente God with our merytes and so to prouoke him to loue vs but muche rather contrarywyse we therby do styrre him to be more and more angry against vs. ¶ The childe Yea surelye and therfore I saye that without any maner consyderacion of oure owne workes he doth accept and receyue vs into hys fauoure of hys mere lyberall goodnes bountyful mercy Titus 3 through the merites of our sauiour Christ accountyng hys righteousnes to be ours and for hys sake so forgettynge oure fautes that he wyl lay them no more to oure charge ¶ The minister What meanest thou then that a man is iustyfied by his fayth ¶ The childe Iustification or righteousnes is attributed vnto faythe for somuche as through beleuing that is receiuynge with an assurance of the heart the promyses of the ghospell we enter into possessyon of thys ryghteousnes ¶ The minister Thys is bryfely thy meanynge that euen as God doth presente and offre thys ryghteousnes freelye vnto vs in hys gospell euen so the onely meane or way to receiue that excellente gyfte of GOD is faythe ¶ The childe Yea forsoth ¶ The minister Sonday 20 wel then after that god hath once receyued vs into hys fauour be not the workes which we doe through his grace of fayth and by the vertue or his spirite acceprable vnto him ¶ The childe The good workes whiche procede onely of faythe Yeas verely because he doth of his free goodnes so accepte them and take them and not bycause theyr worthines doth deserue so to be estemed ¶ The minister How is it that they be not worthy of themselues to be accepted since they be workes procedynge of the holy ghost ¶ The childe Forsomuch as we cary alway some infirmitie of the fleshe about vs which wyl haue a stroke and a doing in al our workes wherby they are defyled ¶ The minister By what meanes then are they made acceptable vnto God ¶ The childe By the meanes of faith The way to do good workes to goddes plesure for through fayth a man is well assured in his conscience that God wyll not looke narowly vpon hys workes nor trie them by the sharpe rygoure of hys iustyce but that he wyl rather hyde the vnperfytnes the vncleane spottes that be in them with the vndefyled purenes of our sauiour Christ and so accoumpt them as perfecte ¶ The minister May we saye then that a Christian manne is iustifyed by his workes after that God hath called hym or that he doeth meryte through them Gods fauour to the procurement of lyfe euerlastyng ¶ The childe Psal 143. No verely but contrarywyse it is sayd that no manne lyuing shal be iustified in Gods syght and therefore it is oure dutie to praie that he do not enter into iudgemente with vs or cal vs to a coumpte ¶ The minister
I signify therby that we may not occupye oure myndes in considering the outwarde or earthly sygnes Howe Christe oughte to be soght in hys sacramentes as though we would seke our health saluacion in thē neither may we ymagine that there is anie peculiare vertue inclosed or hidde in thē but contrariwise we do take the signe for an ayde or helpe to leade to directe our mindes straight into heauen to the intent that we maye there seeke our sauiour Christ al health and goodnes in him alone ¶ The minister If faith then be required in the ministracion of them how may it be that they are ordeined geuen vnto vs to strengthen stablishe vs in the faith and to assure vs of gods promises ¶ The childe It is not inough that faith be once begonne in vs for a tyme The sacramētes be meanes to nouryshe our faith but we must styll nourishe it mayntaine it so that it may grow daily be encreased in vs. For the nourishement strength encrease therefore of our faythe God hath geuen vs the sacramentes conteining hys merciful promises the which thing Sainct Paule declareth Rom. 4. sayng that the vse of thē is to seale or-print the promises of God in our hartes ¶ The minister But tell me is not thys a token of infidelitie whan the promyses of God be not sufficient of themselues to geue vs certayne assurance onlesse there be some visible sygne as an ayde ioyned vnto them ¶ The childe Verely as ye say it is a token of a litle slender weake fayth yet of that sort the fayth of the most part of al the childrē of God is Godes children are not fully perfecte in this lyfe notwithstandyng they ceasse not therfore to be called faythfull albeit they haue not as yet attayned vnto the perfection thereof For so longe as we lyue in thys worlde there abydeth cōtinually certayn remnauntes of vnbeliefe in oure fleshe therfore we must endeuour by al meanes continually to profit encrease in fayth ¶ The minister Sonday 48 Howe many sacramentes be there in the churche of Christe ¶ The childe How many sacramentes ther be Ther be but .ii. which be commune vnto all menne and whyche Christ hymselfe ordayned for hys whole faythfull flocke ¶ The minister What be they ¶ The childe The sacrament of Baptisme and the holy Supper ¶ The minister In what poyntes doe they agree and wherin dyffer they the one frō the other ¶ The childe Baptysme is as it were an entree into the felowshippe or congregation of God Of baptisme for it witnesseth certaynly vnto vs that wheras we were before straungers from God he doth now receiue vs into his family and houshoulde The Supper of the Lorde is a sure witnesse or testymonye vnto vs that God wyll nouryshe and refreshe vs with foode euen as a good master of a house studieth with paynefull dilygence to sustayne feede suche as be of hys houshoulde ¶ The minister To the ende that we maye vnderstande them both somuch the better The signification of baptisme let vs consider them a parte one after another fyrste what is the ryghte sygnificacyon of Baptisme ¶ The childe The significacion thereof standeth in .ii. poyntes fyrst our lord representeth vnto vs herin the remissyon of our synnes secondarely Ephe. 5 Rom. 6. oure regeneration or newe byrth in spirite ¶ The minister Sonday 49 What similitude or agreablenes is there betwene water and those thynges whereby it maye be thoughte meete to represente them ¶ The childe Fyrste the remission of synnes is a maner of washing The mistery of the water in Baptisme wherby oure soules are clensed from theyr fylthynes euen as the vnclenly fylthe of our body is washed a waye with water ¶ The minister What saiest thou concerning the other poynt of regeneration ¶ The childe Because the beginning of our regeneration standeth in the mortyfycation of our nature that is to say in the killyng of our affections and the ful accomplishynge of the same consisteth in that that we become newe creatures as touchinge our cōuersaciō through the spirite of God therfore the water is powred vpon the head to sygnifye that we are dead or buryed Wherfore the water is powred on the head that in suche sorte that our risyng againe into a new life is therwithall fygured in that that the powring of the water is but a thing of a very shorte continuance and not ordeined that we shoulde be drouned herby ¶ The minister Thou meanest not that the water is the thyng wher with oure soules be washed The water doth not clense vs but the blood of Christ onely 1. Ihon. 1.2 Peter 1. ¶ The childe No for that belongeth to the bloude of oure sauioure Christ alone which was shed to the ēde that al oure fylthe vnclēnes myght be cleane wipt away that we myghte be counted pure and withoute spotte euen before God the whiche thinge then taketh effecte in vs what tyme oure consciences be sprinkled therwith by Goddes holy spirite but the sacramente doth testifye and declare it vnto vs. ¶ The minister Why then meanest thou that the water standeth in no othet stead vnto vs but as a figure ¶ The childe It is suche a figure as hath the veritie substāce of that thing which it signifieth The water is not a bare sygne The promyse is ioyned to it ioyned vnto it for God is a true keper of hys promise deceaueth no man wherfore it is certaine that remission of synnes and newnes of lyfe is offered vnto vs in baptysme that we receiue the same there ¶ The minister Is this grace receyued indifferently of all men ¶ The childe No for dyuers through theyr peruerse minde and vnbeliefe do refuse this free offer wherby it standeth thē in no steade neuertheles the sacrament loseth not hys propertye for it offereth thys gyfte vnto them also albeit that none feele the comfort therof but onely the faithfull ¶ The minister What thynge is that wherby our regeneracion is wrought in vs ¶ The childe wherby we are renued in spirite By the death and resurrection of oure sauioure Christe for hys death standeth in this steade vnto vs that by it our olde Adam is crucified and our synnefull nature is as it were buried so that the affections and desires therof beare no more rule in vs. As touchynge the other part which is the newnes of lyfe to vse a newe conuersacion in obeying Goddes wyll and folowyng hys ryghteousnes that we obtayne by hys resurrection ¶ The minister Howe is it that we obtayne thys grace in baptysme ¶ The childe It is geuen vnto vs in that that Christ doth there garnish and decke our soules with the garmente of hys holy spirite if so be that we make not our selues vnworthy of hys promyses whiche be there geuen vnto vs. ¶ The minister As touchyng our
parte what is the ryghte vsynge or receauyng of baptysme ¶ The childe The ryght vse therof standeth in these two faith and repentaūce that is wherein the right vsing of baptisme standeth in that we be sure that we haue oure consciences cleansed in the bloude of Christe And in that we both feele in oure selues and make it knowen to others by oure woorkes that hys spirite abydeth in vs to mortyfye oure affections and desyres and so to make vs ready to doe the wyll of God ¶ The minister Sonday 50 Seyng al thys is required in the ryght vsynge of baptisme how is it that lytle children be baptysed ¶ The childe I dyd not meane that fayth repentaunce oughte alwayes to goe before the ministracion of this sacrament The baptisme of infantes for that is only requisite in them that be of age and discretion so that it is sufficienre if the lytle children shew forth the fruites of baptysme when they are come to sufficient age to knowe it ¶ The minister How wylt thou proue that there is no inconuenience in thys doyng ¶ The childe For in lyke maner circumcisyon was a sacrament of repentaunce Deu. 10. and. 30. Iere. 4. Rom. 4. as Moses the Prophetes doe wyttnes ād also a sacramente of fayth as sainct Paul teacheth and yet God dyd not debarre and exclude lytle chyldren from the receyuyng of the same ¶ The minister No but arte thou able to proue sufficiently that there is as good reason they should be receiued to baptisme as that the other should be circumcised ¶ The childe The promises whiche wer made to the Iewes only are nowe offered to al men Yea for the reason is largely as sufficienente for the same promyses whiche God dyd make in tyme past to hys chosen people of Israell are now extended with muche more euydente declaration into all coastes of the worlde ¶ The minister And foloweth it therefor that we muste vse also the signe ¶ The childe Yea if we wyll consyder the thynge effectually For Christ hath not made vs partakers of that grace which belonged in time paste to the children of Israel to the intente he woulde in vs dimynishe dimynishe it and deale it more sparyngly or that he woulde make it nowe more doubteful or lesse knowen than it was before but rather to the ende he would shew forth his goodnes not onely more euidentely but also more plenteouslye ¶ The minister Doest thou coumpt then that if we dyd denye baptysme to lytle chyldren the grace and goodnes of God should be dymynished and darkened by the commynge of Christ ¶ The childe Yea surely for we shoulde be by that meanes destytute of the expresse signe of Goddes bountyfull mercye towardes our children the which thing they that were vnder the lawe had in very dede this thing serueth highly to our comfort as to the stably shynge of the promes which hath bene made vnto vs from the begynning ¶ The minister Thy minde is then that forsomuche as it pleased GOD in olde tyme to declare hymselfe to be the sauyoure yea of lytle children and that he thoughte it also good to seale hys fauorable promise in theyr bodyes by an outwarde sacramente and marke that therfore it is very good reason that ther be no lesse tokens of assuraunce after Christes comming since the self same promyse cōtinuynge styll is reiterate and more openly vttered as wel by worde as dede ¶ The childe Yea and moreouer it semeth a thyng worthy of notable reprehencyon if menne woulde doe so muche wronge vnto chyldren as to denye them the signe whiche is a thynge of lesse price since the vertue and substance of baptysme belongeth vnto them whiche is of muche hygher estimacion ¶ The minister For what consideration ought we to baptise lytle children ¶ The childe To what purpose children are baptised They are christened in token and wytnes that they are enherytours of the blessynge of God which is promised to the lynage of the faythfull to this ende that when they come to age they shoulde be instructed what the substaunce and meaning of baptisme is to profite them selues therby ¶ The minister Sonday The 51. Let vs now speake of the Supper and firste what is the signyfycacion therof ¶ The childe Our lord did ordaine it to put vs in assuraunce Of the lordes Supper that by the distribuciō of his body bloud oure soules are nouryshed in the hope of lyfe euerlastynge ¶ The minister Why is it that our Lorde representeth vnto vs hys bodye by the breade and hys bloude by the wyne ¶ The childe To sygnyfye vnto vs that euen what propertie the bread hath towardes our bodies to wete Christ offereth to vs his body by the bread and hys bloude by the wyne to feede sustayne them in this transytorye lyfe the selfe same propertye also his body hath touchīg our soules that is to nourishe and refresh them spirytually And in lyke maner as the wine dothe strengthen comfort and quicken the body of man euen so hys bloude is our ful ioye our comforth and spiritual strength ¶ The minister Doeste thou meane that we must be in dede partakers of the bodye and bloude of the Lorde ¶ The childe Yea verely I meane so The onely stay of our truste for since the whole truste and assuraunce of our health and saluacion doth consist in the obedience which he hath perfourmed vnto god hys father in that that God doth accept it take it as if it were oures in deede we must fyrste needes possesse him seeing that hys benefites doe not belong vnto vs vntill he haue firste geuen hymselfe vnto vs. ¶ The minister Why did not Christ geue himselfe vnto vs what tyme he gaue himselfe to be crucified to the intēt that thereby we myght be brought into the fauour of God hys father and be deliuered from damnacion ¶ The childe Yes but that doth not suffyce vnlesse we doe receiue hym withal in such sorte as we may feele in our consciences the fruicte and efficacye of his death and passion ¶ The minister After what sorte we receiue Christe Is not faith the ready meanes to receyue Christ by ¶ The childe Yes forsoth not onely by that that we belieue that he dyed rose again to delyuer vs from euerlasting death and to procure vs also euerlastyng lyfe but also by that that we feele by fayth that he dwelleth in vs and is ioyned with his membres to the end to make vs partakets of al his graces and benefites because we are vnto hym vnited and made all one ¶ The minister Sonday 52 Haue we not Christe ioyned vnto vs so that we become partakers of hys benefytes by no other meanes than by hys Supper ¶ The childe Yes verelye for we receyue Christ with the fruicion of his benefites 1. Cor. 1. at the preaching of the gospel as S. Paule witnesseth in that that our lord Iesu doeth promise
and badges of our profession that is to say by them we protest openly that we are the people of God and make open profession of our christen relygyon ¶ The minister What shall we then iudge of him that refuseth to vse them ¶ The childe We ought not to count hym a christen mane for in so doing he refuseth to confesse or knowledge hymselfe to be a christian and what is that els but as it were couertly to refuse Christe ¶ The minister Is it inough to receyue them bothe once onelye in oure lyfe tyme ¶ The childe Baptisme was ordeyned to be receiued but once wherefore it is not lawfull to be christened again but it is other wise to be thought of the supper ¶ The minister What is the reason therof ¶ The childe How it is that we receaue the supper oftimes though we maye be but once baptysed This by baptysme God doethe brynge and receyue vs into his churche and when he hath once receyued vs he declareth also to vs by the supper that he wyll feede vs continually ¶ The minister Sonday 55 To whome belongeth the minystracion of baptisme and of the Lordes supper ¶ The childe Vnto them who haue taken charge to preach openly in the churche To whom the ministracion of the sacrameÌ„tes doe belonge for the preachyng of Goddes worde and the ministracion of the sacramentes be thynges ioynctely belongyng to one kynde of office ¶ The minister Is there not a substancyal profe to be brought for thys ¶ The childe Yes verely Mat. 28 for our Lorde geueth speciall charge to hys Apostles as well to baptyse as to preach and as touchyng the supper he geueth them iniunction to folowe hys exaumple nowe he did the parte of a minyster in that he gaue and distributed it to others ¶ The childe The pastours who be the mynysters of the sacramentes ought they to receyue indifferently euery person that commeth ¶ The childe As touchyng baptisme whoe oughte to he shut out froÌ„ the supper forsomuche as there be none in our tyme baptysed but lytle chyldren there oughte to be no choise vsed but as coÌ„cerning the supper the minister muste haue so muche dyscrecyon as to refuse to geue it to them that be vtterly vnworthy ¶ The minister Wherfore ¶ The childe Because that otherwyse the supper of the Lorde should be defyled and dishonored ¶ The minister But yet our Lorde admytted Iudas to the holy supper notwithstanding his wickednes ¶ The childe wherefore Iudas was admitted to the supper Yea for his wickednes was hytherto hyd aÌ„d albeit oure Lorde knewe it ryghte well yet was it not notoryous and knowen vnto men ¶ The minister What waye is to be vsed then towardes the hipocrites ¶ The childe The minister ought not to exclude aÌ„dshut oute them as vnworthy but he must tary vntill it shall please GOD to make their close wyckednesse knowen ¶ The minister What if he hymselfe knowe or if he be prieuely aduertised of any suche ¶ The childe That is not a sufficiente cause for him to denie them the supper vnlesse he haue the thinge tryed by suffyciente profe and ther with the iudgement of the congregacion ¶ The minister Is it then meete to haue a polytyke order touchynge thys matter ¶ The childe What els if the congregacion be wel ordered there muste be certayne appoynted to watche and take dyligente heede for suche opeÌ„ crimes as may be committed and they hauynge auctorytye ought in the name of the whole congregation to inhibite such as be by no meanes mete neither can be partakers therof withoute the dyshonoure of God and the offence of the faythfull The ende of the instruction of children in the fayth THE MANER TO EXAmine chyldren before they be admitted to the Supper of the lord ¶ Fyrst the Minister asketh IN whome doest thow beleue ¶ The childe answereth I beleue in god the father and in Iesus Christ his sonne and in the holy ghoste and loke to be saued by non other meanes ¶ The minister The father the sonne and the holy ghost be they any more then one god ¶ The childe No althogh they be distinct in persone ¶ The minister What is the effect of thy fayth ¶ The childe That god the father of our lord Iesus Christ and so by hym of vs all is the beginnynge aÌ„d principall cause of all thiÌ„ges the which he gouerneth in such sorte that nothinge can be done with owte his ordinance and prouidence Next that Iesus Christ his sonne came downe into this world aÌ„d accomplished all thinges which were necessary for our saluation And asceÌ„ded into heauen where he sitteth at the right haÌ„d of the father that is that he hath all power in heauen aÌ„d in earth And shall come agayne frome thence to iudge the whole world Forthermore that the holy ghoste is very god becawse he is the vertue aÌ„d power of god aÌ„d impriÌ„teth iÌ„ our hartes the ê“messes made vnto vs in Iesus Christ And fynally that the churche is sanctified and delyuered from their synnes through the mercies of god and shall after this life rise againe to lyfe euerlastinge ¶ The minister Must we serue God accordinge as he hath commaunded or elles as mens traditions teache vs ¶ The childe We most serue hym as he hath taught vs bi his word and coÌ„maundementes and not accordinge to the commaundementes of men ¶ The minister Canst thow kepe gods commaundements of thy selfe ¶ The childe No verely ¶ The minister Who then doth kepe and fulfill theym in thee ¶ The childe The holy ghoste ¶ The minister When God then geuethe thee his holy ghoste caÌ„st thou parfytely obserue theym ¶ The childe No not so ¶ The minister Why God doth curse and reiect all such as do not in euery point fulfyll his commaundements ¶ The childe It is true ¶ The minister By what meanes then shalt thow be saued aÌ„d deliuered frome the curse of God ¶ The childe By the death and passion of our lord Iesus Christ ¶ The minister How so ¶ The childe For becawse that by his death he hath restored vs to lyfe and recoÌ„ciled vs to God his father ¶ The minister To whome doest thow make thy prayers ¶ The childe I pray to God in the name of our lord Iesus Christ our aduocat and mediator referring all my prayers to that scope which Christ our sauiour hath left vs as a moste sufficient and absolute rule ¶ The minister How many Sacraments are there in Christs Church ¶ The childe Two Baptisme and the lords Supper ¶ The minister What is ment by Baptisme ¶ The childe First it signifieth that we haue forgiuenes of our synnes by the blood of Christ Secondly it setteth before our eyes our regeneration or newe spirituall birth ¶ The minister What signifieth the Supper of the lord ¶ The childe That by the spirituall eatinge and drinkinge of the body and bloude of our lord Iesus Christ our sowles are norished vnto lyfe
lordship haue Their ymage and their royall porte shall fade and quite decaye when as from house to pitt they passe with wo and weale a waye verse 15 15 But god will surely preserue me from death endles paine Because he will of his good grace Selab my soule receyue agayne verse 16 16 If any man waxe wonders riche feare not I say therfore Althogh the glory of his house increaseth more and more Iob. 27. 1. Tim. 6. 17 For whē he dieth of al these thinges nothing shal he receiue His glory wil not folow him his pompe wil take her leaue verse 18 18 Yet in thys lyfe he taketh hymselfe the happiest vnder sunne and others likewise flatter hym sayng all is well done verse 19 19 And presuppose he lyue as longe as did his fathers olde yet moste he nedes at length gyue place and be broght to deathes folde verse 20 20 Thus man to hounor god hath called yet dothe he not consider but like brute beastes so doth he lyue which turne to duste and powder Miserere mei Deus Psal LI. ¶ when Dauid was rebuked by the Prophete Nathan for his great offences he dyd not only acknowlage the same to god with protestation of his naturall corruption and iniquitie but also left a memoriall therof to his posteritie Therfore first he desireth god to forgiue his synnes and renewe in him his holy spirite with promesse that he will not be vnmyndfull of those great graces finally fearinge lest god wolde ponishe the whole churche for his faute he requireth that he wolde rather increase his graces towards the same O Lorde consider my distresse and now with speed some pitie take my synnes deface my fautes redresse good lorde for thy great mercies sake Washe me ó lorde and make me cleane from this iniuste and synnefull acte and purifie yet once againe my hainous crime and bloodie facte verse 3 3 Remorce and sorrowe do constrayne me to acknowlege myne excesse My synne alas dothe still remayne before my face withowte relesse verse 4 4 For thee alone I haue offended comittyng euell in thy sight Rom. 3. and if I were therfore condemned yet were thy iudgement iust and right verse 5 5 It is to manifest alas that first I was conceyud in synne yea of my mother so borne was and yet vile wretche remaine therin verse 6 6 But notwithstanding thou doest loue the inwarde trueth of a pure hart therfore thy wisedome from aboue Nu. 19. Iea. 14. Isa 1. thou haste reueld me to conuert verse 7 7 If thou with hissope purge this blot I shal be cleaner then the glasse and if thou washe away my spot the snowe in whitenes shall I passe verse 8 8 Therfore o lorde suche ioy me send that inwardelie I may fynde grace and that my strength may now amend which thou haste swagd for my trespas verse 9 9 Turne backe thy face and frowning ire for I haue felt ynough thy hand and purge my synnes I thee desire which do in nomber passe the sand verse 10 10 Make new my harte within my brest and frame it to thy holy will thy constant spirit in me let rest which may these ragyng enmys kill verse 11 11 Cast me not owte lorde frō thy face but spedelie my torments ende take not from me thy spirite grace which may from daungers me defend verse 12 12 Restore me to those ioyes agayne which I was wonte in thee to fynde and let me thy free spirite retayne which vnto thee may styre my mynde verse 13 13 Thus when I shall thy mercies knowe I shall instructe others therin and men that are likewise broght lowe by myne ensample shall flee synne verse 14 14 O god that of my health art lorde forgyue me thus my bloodie vice my harte and tongue shall then accorde to synge thy mercies and iustice verse 15 15 Touche thou my lippes my tōg vntie ò lorde which art the onlie kaye and then my mouthe shall testifie thy wōdrous woorkes and prayse alway verse 16 16 And as for owteward sacrifice I wolde haue offred many one but thou estemes theym of no prise and therin pleasure takest thou none verse 17 17 The heauie hart the mynde opprest ò lorde thou neuer doest reiecte and to speake truthe it is the best and of all sacrifice theffecte verse 18 18 Lorde vnto Zion tourne thy face powre owte thy mercies on thy hill and on Hierusalem thy grace builde vp the walles and loue it still verse 19 19 Thow shalt accept then our offrynges of peace and rightuousnes I saye yea calues and many other thynges vpon thyne aulter will we laye Quid gloriaris Psal LII I. H. ¶ Dauid describeth the arrogant tyrannie of his aduersarie Doeg Sauls chief shepherde who by false surmises caused Achimelech with the rest of the pryestes to be slayne Dauid prophecieth his distruction and encourageth the faithfull to put their confidence in god whose iudgements are moste sharpe against his aduersaries And finally he rendreth thanks to god for his deliuerance In this psal is liuely set fourth the kyngdome of Antichriste VVhy doest thou tyrant boast abroad thy wicked workes to prayse dost thou not know ther is a god whose mercies last alwayes why doth thy mynd yet styll deuyse such wicked wiles to warpe thy tonge vntrue in forginge lyes is lyke a rasour sharpe verse 3 3 On mischiefe why settst thou thy minde and wilt not walke vpright Thou hast more lust false tales to fynd Selah than bring the trueth to light verse 4 4 Thou dost delite in fraude and guile In mischief blood and wrong Thy lippes haue learnde the flatteryng style O false disceitful tong verse 5 5 Therfore shal God for euer confound And pluck thee from the place Thy seede roote out from of the ground Selah And so shal thee deface verse 6 6 The iust when they beholde thy falle with feare wil prayse the lord And in reproche of thee withal “ hebr shall laugh or mocke Crye out with one accord verse 7 7 Behold the man which would not take The lord for his defence But of his goodes hys god did make And trust his corrupt sense verse 8 8 But I an Olyue freshe and greene Shal spryng and sprede abrod For why my trust al tymes hath bene Vpon the liuyng God verse 9 9 For this therfore will I geue prayse To thee with heart and voyce I wil set furth thy name alwayes Wherin thy sayntes reioyce Deus Deus meus Psal LXIII Th. St. ¶ Dauid after he had bene in great daunger by Saul in the desert of Ziph made this psalme wherin he giueth thankes to god for his wonderfull delyuerannce in whose mercies he trusted euen in the myddes of his myseries propheciynge the destruccion of godes ennymies and contrariwise happynes to all theym that trust in the lorde 1. Sam. 23. O God my God I watche betyme to come to thee in haste for why my soule and