hath made the Children of God euen to faynt in their mourning vntil they shall sée the great mercies of God to take awaye the cause of their griefe We sée the great ignorance in which the people are euery wher couered the cloudes of darknes more then the darknes of Aegypt haue so ouer shadowed them that the light of the Gospel of the glorye of Christ who is the Image of God it doth hardlye or not at all shine in their vnbeleuing hartes Scarce one of a great many can giue an accompt of their faith yet S. Peter requireth it of euery Christian. A very few haue tasted the beginninges of the Gospel of Christ and yet S. Paule biddeth that the word dwel plentifulfully in eche one of our hartes The Apostle blameth the ignoraunce of the people who haue learned yet no further then repentance from dead workes and the first enstructions of the faith toward God But O Lord howe many thousands of vs of fayth and of true repentaunce can say nothyng The Prophet speaketh of the kyngdome of Christ that in those daies the earth should be ful of the know ledge of the Lord as the waters that do couer the sea where is now that blessed spirite of vnderstandyng to be poored vpon vs And wher is this riches of the knowledge of God Are not rather the multitude of our brethren clothed with darknes so that they grope in their wayes as at midnight know nothing of the way of lyfe We pray dayly according as we are taught Let thy kingdome come if we speake not like the Parets in woordes without vnderstanding then this is our meaning let thy spirite beare rule in our hartes and the knowledge of thy woorde lighten the eyes of our mynde And what do we then els but dally with the Lord if we pray styll for knowledge and yet sleepe stil in ignorance◠Then thys is louing Brethren a good excuse for our boldnes if in so great necessitye according to our talentes we séeke to be profitable vnto many If any thinke that there are already sufficiently set forth many Catechismes I do easely graunt it but they are not sufficiently learned neither yet can be For it was necessary in the best and most godlye of these labours whilest the Christian faith is plainly taught to edifiyng of the simple and conuincing of the aduersary that the faithful teacher should vse moe wordes then can be caried in mynde of the ignorant man And therefore I thought itgood as briefly as I could to comprehende the effect of all that the begynninges beyng made playne and easely printed in memory we might enter into reasoning and disputation with our selues enstructing one another and helping one an other that we might haue the more fruit in the lōger labours of others but most of all that we might be encouraged to the most holy and liuely woord of God to drinke wyth continuall desire of the fruitfull spring euen vntyll the water of lyfe do flow vp in our hartes vnto euerlastyng gladnes the day starre do arise in our hartes which may lighten our mindes in to the knowledge of the God of glory There is nothyng remayning more why this labour should be misliked except anye man would thinke that euery Congregation had a sufficient Pastor to instruct those that were ignorant so that they should not néede any straunge Teacher God graunt that in time to come this maye be found true But yet we are farre from it euen as light from darknes or death from life or as knowledge and vnderstanding is from insensible blyndnes O that we had eyes to see so great miserie For sure it may not wel be iustified that in so cleare light of the woorde as God hath made now to shine vpon vs that there was euer nation which had so ignorant Ministers We maye here in compare with the man of synne him selfe I do not knowe that in the midst of all hys abominations there was a more lothsome sight of that idolatrous priesthood then we haue set vp among our selues to be fellow labourers among vs in the Gospell For what though they excéeded in loosnes of life Yet their darke and barbarous religion was so thicke a cloude spread ouer their maners that the fulnes of their lynnes was not easely seue But we haue the light that hath made althinges manyfest and the Sunne hath shined that hath disclosed iniquitie so that there hath not bene among vs any popish Priest so dronken nor any alehouse Chaplen at such a perpetuall truce with hys drinking pots that hath possibly purchased so much discredite to his belly God and kitchin faith as our dum Dogs and guides do dayly multiply against the God of Israel and the faith of his anointed our onely God and Sauiour It gréeneth me to remember and lotheth me much more to rehearse the estate of the ministration into whych we are fallen We haue good time now to complayne wyth the Prophet like people like priest Euen the same coueringes of Israel that shadowed then their glory they haue spread thē selues agayne as the heauens are come ouer our head in so great a tempest of blindnes ignorance that they haue shaken the foundations of all our comfort We saw in deede Halcionios dies the glad and pleasant daies in which our hope shined when first our happy gouernment turned away our sorrowes brake the yoke of Antitichrist deliuered vs from the power of darknes and caryed vs among the Saints of God into the kingdome of light But our hope hath since suffered a great Eclipse from the fulnes of her beutie such hath bene the malice of Satan He attempted agaynst vs euen at the first his most pestilent practise and hath brought accordinglye hys purpose to effect When God had turned the wyl of the Magistrate and enclined his eare to vnderstāding when he had geuen vnto him courage to scatter the enemies of his truth and planted true feare in his hart to establish his Gospel then the subtile Serpent which had turned all his deuices hether he bent his violence and thys counsell pleased hym best To corrupt the Priesthoode who should instruct the Prince by Vrim and Thumim that if thus he might darken the light of the people it might be the more easy to leade them out of the way Then he entred againe and with more successe into hys first assaultes wherewyth he tempted once our sauiour Christ He robbed the Minister of his blessed hope in the prouidence of God and made him seeke the wayes ful of vile shame to get his bread He hanged before his eyes an other veale of pompe and vanitie that he could not with open countenance see Christ but folowed the present plea sures that better liked him And so first woūding the head the infection hath growen since into the other partes of the body that now al most there is nothyng but woundes swelling and sores
rest Thys is the fourth commaundement Question What meaneth the fift commaundement Honor thy father and thy mother Aunswer To honour our Parentes is to feare loue obey and reliefe them or anye other that are vnto vs in their steede As our Princes and Rulers our Pastors and Ministers our Maisters and Teachers the aged and graye headed men And also all maner of Superiors that they may be honorable they must put on a fatherly affection toward their Inferiours Question The sixt commaundement Thou shalt do no murther what meaneth this Aunswer The Lorde here forbyddeth all kyllyng fightyng quarrelling and inward hatred all desire of reuenge all reproches and mockes of the dumme the deafe the lame or anye other impotent All hurt towarde our brother and that we should do good vnto all yea euen to our enemies and loue one another as our selues Question What meaneth the seuenth commaundement Thou shalt not commit adulterie Aunswer In thys commaundement the Lorde forbyddeth all fornication adultery vncleannes wantōnes al vnnatural lusts vnpure thoughts vnchaste behauiour filthye talke wanton apparell ydle pastimes glottony dronkennes houses of open whoredome and whatsoeuer els may allure to vncleaues Question What meaneth the eight commaundement Thou shalt not steale Aunswer The Lorde here forbyddeth all stealyng both in deede thought all deceite all lying and oppression all withholding of the laborers hire all vncourteousnes to the straunger widow and fatherles all gyftes to peruert iudgement all false measures and couetousnes and chargeth vs to be content wyth our callyng and to lyue of our own To obserue these thinges is not to steale Question What meaneth the ninth commaundement Thou shalt beare no false wytnes against thy neighbour Aunswer We are here forbidden to beare witnes in any vntruth by othe or by word we are forbiddē al flatterie and dissemblyng all flaunderous and yll reportes either our selues to speake them or to heare them of others nor in priuate offences we may not speake the truth to the hurt of our brothers good name if by priuate admonitions he mai be won but carefully bold ly we must testefy al truth what so euer we knowe to the furtherance of iustice Question What meaneth the tenth commaundement Thou shalt not couet thy neyghbours house c Aunswer Here in plaine wordes God forbiddeth all inward desire what so euer is vnlawful to be done which desire is not onely synful when we consent vnto it but the very motion is enemy vnto God and banished from his presence For it is vn possible those bodyes shoulde see God which can nourish euyll concupiscence in them euen as it is vn possible that corruption should inherite incorruption or that flesh and bloud in this similitude of old Adam shoulde inherite the kyngdome of god So that by this commaūdement most clearely we may see the image of that man that plea seth God euen such a one in whom is nothing impure neither in wyll nor nature Question Sithe these are Gods commaundements I sée now most assuredly how there is no man that synneth not tell me then what punishment is due vnto our synne Aunswer The reward of synne is death not onely the present and transitory chaunge which we shal all taste of but ◠second death an other euerlasting death the cursse of God and his heauie wrath which hath no end euerlasting condemnation and the paines of hel which abide for euer not onelye in soule whose worme dyeth not but in body also whose fyre shal neuer be quenched Question How say we then that God is merciful if his anger be such as shall neuer be pacified Aunswer God is in dede a God of all mercies and father of all consolations whose louyng kyndnesse hath no end and in the great ritches of hys compassions he hath appointed to make knowen the glory of his maiestie vnto hys children But God is also iust iudgeth righteously and therfore to such as through infidelitie despise the ritches of hys goodnes and disobey the woord of hys gloryous power he hath appointed a iuste recompence of eternall death Question Now I know what is sinne euen the breache of the lawe of god And because of the excellencie of Gods maiesty whiche by sinne is offended I see the greatnes of sinne and how it deserueth eternall death of which without exception by nature we are all gyltie But tell me now is there no punishment in this lyfe by which we may recompence our sinne Aunswer There is no sufficient recompence in the world no goods nor multitude of ritches no liberalitie to the poore no whipping nor scourging nor hurt of thine own body nothing that thou canst deuise so precious is the redemption of thy soule and the continuaunce for euer Question Nowe I know what sinne is to what death it hath condemned vs without all remedie in our selues tell me now how we may be deliuered from the anger of God and the paynes euerlasting Aunswer Marke and I will tel thee pray vnto God to geue thee vnderstanding and low in humilitie of spirit I will declare the saluation of the Lorde when we had sinned and by sinne had prouoked God to anger and so wer subiect to Satan hell and condemnation that the righteousnes of God might stand it was necessary that these things should be borne and suffered the anger of God the tyrannie of Satan and the paines of hell which all folowed sinne and therefore he that shal be a sauior for our sinnes he must take this vpon him in his owne righteousnes he must be deliuered agayne from them Question Tell me then where shall we finde such a Sauiour Aunswer The Lord lighten our eyes that we may vnderstand the ritches of his glorious misterie the Lorde reueale his secret vnto vs the Lord make vs see with all his Saintes what is the height the breadthe the length the depth that we may syng vnto him the praises of al his mercies This Sauior whom we seeke for who for our synnes must taste of death yet in the power of his owne ryghteousnes must rise from death to life he cannot be found among the childrē of men All the righteousnes of Abrahā Isaac and Iacob it cannot recompence the least of all my synnes Adam and Eue while they were yet in integritie they could not beare the synne of the eating of one apple which was forbydden them Yea the Angels of heauen when they kept not the first estate but fell away from the truth in which they were created they could not beare vp their syn but it weyed them downe to hell and bound them for euer in the chaines of darknes so that in men and Angels ther is no hope But God that is ritche in mercies and whose compassions haue
may be abolished Idolatrye rooted out Antichrist ouerthrowen Satan troden downe Hel may be confouÌ„ded the Gospel may encrease righteousnes maye shine and God may haue the glory This desire is the fruite of our lyse and ther is not in the world a better portion this we haue chosen and in this we wil dwel vntyl the fulnes of tyme that we shall say in our course Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace But we haue here not a litle feare and we sée the stumbling blockes that haue made our wayes daungerous True it is many men ar greatly to be beloued but this is as true there is none so good but Sathan wyll seeke to fift him Noe Lot Aaron Miriam Samson Dauid Martha Mary men and women of most excelleÌ„t vertue and such as the world was not worthy of and yet not one of these whom Satan wounded not yea almost vnto death The most glorious of all men subiect vnto synne was Adam him selfe and yet he was throwne downe into great confusion So that the Saintes of God for so I trust I may call them because of their great 〈◊〉 the Saintes I say that God hath sent vnto vs they haue great cause to feare â— to say wyth Paule VVho seemeth to stand let him take heede he fall not Sure they are â—f continual assaultes and euen at this present one aboue other shaketh all their faith Satan hath so rent a sunder the glorye of our Ministerie that fleshe and bloud is not halfe willing to beare the shame of the world that goeth after it He hath spoyled it of the due reward of al authoritie of al obedience loue reuerence honor that man should gene vnto it He hath layd vpon it much contempt many reproches great pouertie intollerable bondage so that though the calling be in deede the most precious inheritance vnder the sun yet the glory is so darkned vnto mortal eyes that al Nobility is quite fled from it the Gentlemen afraid to come vnto it the riche man rather chuseth any other kinde of life the men nest estate so hardly contented with it that S. Paule him selfe can finde but a few folowers that wyll cast away from them the clokes of shame not degenerate from the dignitye of their office But God shall once geue agayne vnto his Ministerie beuty in stéede of ashes and ritch apparel in stéede of sackcloth when he shal turne againe the captiuitie of Syon build vp the walles of the promised IerusaleÌ„ In the meane season we wyll lyue in hope and geue thankes vnto our God that hath brought vs hetherto One other assault of Sathan hurteth as much as this yea and so much the more because it is couered with the cloke of benefite sheweth vs a saluing medicine against the former wound For where as the Ministers liuing in most Churches is but smal he hath found this remedy that one man should haue many benefices whereas the reproche is not litle but euen the name is ful of disdain as to be called maister Parson Maister Uicar Syr Iohn a parish priest c. Agaynst this euyll he hath founde a remedye worse and geuen liberty to al that wyll to be Non residentes to forsake their charge to go where they wyl like masterles hounds to fyl the coÌ„mon wealth with worse then any ydle or vagabond persons Loe this is the vessel of poyson that Satan hath set a broch the cup of whoordome which the Pope hath begun of vnto al the world This is the head and fountaine of all spirituall darknes the roote from which the glory of Antichrist dyd first aryse the filthy spring of al abominations which by pestileÌ„t encrease hath ouerslowed kingdomes with most shameful slauery brought Princes into contempt set a vile person in the Monarchie of the world And yet at thys day it doth so dull the spirites of many excellent meÌ„ that their hartes are full of surfeting and yet they foole not their disease they wallow as I said in their own vomit and yet they see not their shame The hainousnes of this syune it is so displeasant in the sight of God that he hath reuenged it with one of his greatest plages in hardening the offenders hartes that they should haue eyes to sée not sée and eares to heare not heare and hartes to vnderstand and yet not vnderstand For wher as in many thinges they heare the voyce of God follow humbly his calling yet here they be deafe euen as the Serpent that stoppeth his eares that he may not heare the Charmer charme he neuer so wisely It is plaine y the spirit speaketh Be diligeÌ„t to know the state of thy flock and take hede to thy heards for riches remain not alway nor the crowne from generatioÌ„ to generation But yet the loue of riches gorgeous shew of honor hath so deceiued many that in many yeares they sée not their flocke nor care not at all in what pastures they be fed So much in vayne it is that the Apostle speaketh vnto them He that hath an office let him attend on his office The charge that S. Paul geueth to the Ministers of the Church of Ephesus is as plaine as may be spoken yet they caÌ„not vnderstaÌ„d it Take hede saith he vnto your selues to all the flock of which the holy Ghost hath made you ouersears to feede the Church of God which he hath purchased wich his own bloud Oh that this precept were written in our harts with an yron pen or a claw of Adamant that we could neuer forget it The often remeÌ„brance that we haue bound our fayth vnto the spirit of God that hee hath called vs for the instruction of his people and that they are the price of the blood of Christ would make vs at the last so to loue our duty that the Sunne and Moone should be ashamed at the sound of a Nonresident the name of that parson should be odious vnto vs y would take vpon him a charge and looke not after it The Prophet saith that if the Minister declare not the iudgements of God against hym that synneth the wycked man shal dye in hys syn but his blood shall be required at the hands of the negligent watchman And the Apostle to the Hebrewes speaking of the faithful Minister sayth that they watch ouer the soules of those that are committed vnto them as they that shall geue accompt if any of them perish If these two be sufficieÌ„t witnes that according to the law the truth should be estéemed by their woord most certain it is that our negligent Pastors who haue couered them selues as Salomon sayth with thicke clay and multiplyed their benefices tyll they be many in number they must needes thinke they haue an heauy accompt against the day of christ Neither gold nor siluer nor the pride of honor shall be acceptable in stéede of the soules of their brethren But so
no ende Hee sent hys owne sonne in the similitude of synfull flesh to be a redeemer and to condemne synne in the flesh So that this is the Sauiour sent into the world euen Iesus Christ the righ teous in whom the fulnes of the Godhead doth dwell bodely that when there was no saluation in al creatures GOD myght bee in Christ and reconcile the world vn to him selfe Question If Christ through the power and vertue of his Godhead did fulfill all righteousnes and satisfie for our sinne why then was he also made man lyke vnto vs Aunswer As it was necessary that Christ should be God or els he could not haue bene so perfect righteous as the lawe of God required nor yet haue borne the heauye burden of syn So it was also necessary that he should be maÌ„ or els he had bene ryghteous onely to hym selfe and we through him had not ben sauc tified For it could not be that we should haue bene partakers of his grace if he had not ben partaker of our nature nor we could not haue bene free from the wrath of God and rigour of hys lawe except our nature in him had felt his fathers anger he perfect man for vs had bene accursed for God had so appointed that the soule that had sinned it should die and he is not like vnto man that he should repent but the woord that he had spoken he would surelye accomplishe And therfore that God myght be righteous in hys iudgement Christe was maÌ„ like vnto vs and so in our flesh offered him selfe vnto death as if he should haue sayd vnto hys father Execute O God thy iudgements against man loe beholde me a perfect man I will beare theÌ„ And thus was our sauiour Christ perfect God that he might be stronger then Sathan and take synne away and perfect man that wee might haue part of his redemption who in all thinges was lyke vnto vs synne onely excepted Question Sithe Christ God and man hath thus payde the punishment of our sinnes are we now all discharged before God Aunswer No not euery one shall be saued by Christ but they alone that doo beleue in a true fayth take hold of his mercies Question Rehearse the Articles of this fayth Aunswer I beleue in God the father c. Question Why makest thou mention of God the Father God the Sonne God the holy Ghost seing there is but one God Aunswer As the scripture teacheth vs most plainly that ther is but one God so likewyse it teacheth me that the saâ—â— diuine substance is distinguished into three persons into the Father the Sonne and the holye Ghost Whych three persons are one God eternall infinite most perfect in it selfe And when God shall geue vs such eyes as shall be able to see the glorious Maiesty of his Godhead then we shall haue also such heauenlye wysedome as shall easely perceiue the distinction of the persoÌ„s In the meane while we wyll beleue the truth of hys eternall woord and hate and detest all contrary heresies Question God graunt vnto vs al this sobrietie but tel me now what is the effect of the Articles of thy fayth Aunswer First I beleue that God the Father the maker of all thinges for his sonne Christes sake is my Father and therfore loueth me Secondly that God the Sonne was made maÌ„ for me hath wrought for me what so euer was needefull to saluation Thirdlye I beleue that God the holy Gost dwelleth in my hart as the seale of myne election and perswadeth me that Christes benefites are all myne worketh in mee that I dye vnto synne and lyue vnto righteousnes Question What is it that thou callest the Catholike Church Aunswer The catholicke Churche is the whole company of the faythfull which haue ben here to fore or are now or shall be to the latter ende euen the whole fellowshyp of the elect of God I beleue the God know eth them all that he hath and wyll take them all into his glory Question What callest thou the coÌ„munion of saints Aunswer The coÌ„munion of Saintes is the society that we haue all with God through Christ Iesu the employing of all Gods benefits both spiritual temporal to the mutual help and comfort one of an other according to the measure offaith that we haue receiued Thus I beleue the Saints of God wil do and while they are in this life lyue one to another Question What is it to beleue the forgeuenes of syn Aunswer To beleue that the punishment of our synnes is fully payd by Iesus Christ and therefore freely forgeuen vnto all that beleue in him Question What beleuest thou of the resurrection of the bodie Aunswer I do beleue that after thys lyfe ended my soule shal go to God that gaue it that my body shal rest in the graue till the apointed tyme then I shal see God in my flesh I my selfe shal see him myne owne eyés shall looke vpon hym euen in this body made glorious and with out al corruption like vnto the body of Christ. Question What is it thou sayest of life euerlasting Aunswer I beleue that when God shal raise againe this body ioyne agayne in one my body soule that then my body shal be without al corruptioÌ„ no more subiect to any chauÌ„ge but that Death it selfe our last enemye shal be taken away swallowed vp in victory I shall lyue so that I shal neuer dye God strengthen vs by his spirit in the inner man that we may be able to compreheÌ„d with al his Saints what is the leÌ„gth the breadth the height the depth that we may know the loue of Christ and be filled with al fulnes of God. Question The Lord increase this faith in vs But tell me haue we this faith in our owne power to beleue if our selues wyll Aunswer No but faith is the gift of God euen as our saluation likewyse is of our selues there is not one of vs that caÌ„ so much as name the Lord Iesus but it is wrought in vs by the holy Ghost through the preaching of the woord confirmed and made strong by the same Spirite through the vse of the woorde and Sacramentes Question How many Sacramentes are there Aunswer Two Baptisme and the Lordes Supper Question What strength of fayth haue we through our Baptisme Aunswer Baptisme is a seale and token by whych God wyll haue me assured that my syns are forgeuen me and that my lyfe is acceptable in hys sight That like as the water washeth away the filthines of our bodies so our soules throughe the bloud of Christ are made cleane froÌ„ the corruption of syn And as after our outward washing the bodye is more comely so after our Baptisme the spirit of God woorketh in vs that syn is