The 8. F. First he forbiddeth thée to take away from thy neighbour by stealth or any vnlawfull meanes eyther his externall good possessioÌ„s or his good name fame and reputation Next he biddeth thée to expresse and exercise towards they neighbour the vertues of liberalitie aimes déedes and mercie according to thy power and that thou be beneficiall to him his goodes and fame S. The ninth What is prescribed me in the nynth comaundement F. First thou art therein forbidden al lying periuries back bitings contumelies brawlings contentions and flatteries next that thou reporte well of thy neighbour and that thou testifie and speake the truth of him in all things S. The ten commaundemente What biddeth he in the tenth commaundement F. That thou do not so much as couet that which is an others secondly that thou endeauour that euery one may retayne his owne yea and rather to wish him some part of that which is thine then vniustly to desire that which is his S. Thus haue ye fully satisfied me in this poynt But is a man able of himselfe to obserue and performe these commandements of Almightie God F. By no meanes and yet this notwithstanding Man is not able to fufill these commaundementes the Lord hath in his mercie ordeyned man a meane the same to performe after his good pleasure S. VVhat is that meane my father F. Christ Iesus Christ is the perfection and end of the law in whom the father is very well pleased and in and by whom all such as beléeue in him doe kéepe and performe the whole for he is both the perfection and end of the law S. How many things requireth he of vs therby F. Two things wherof the one is faith Faith and obedience the other is obedience in the which also is contayned the summe of religion neither without these two things can any one of these teÌ„ coÌ„maÌ„dements be obserued S. Which of these two things doth orderlye proceede go before the other F. Fayth goeth before obedience followeth after fayth is at the roote obedience is as the fruit faith is as the cause obedience as the effect the one promiseth the other performeth and this latter is a testimonie of the former expressing that in worde and déede which was in beléeuing conceiued in the hart by the operation of the holy ghost S. What thing is that which ye call faith F. What faith is Faith is defined to be that which maketh those things to be which are hoped for demonstrateth that which is not séene S. What kinde of faith is there required in this seruice of God F. That which is called the Christian and Liuely faith the same which is proper to the true Christians and fruitfull in godly vertues S. And what is that F. It is the gift of God engendred in the soule of the spirite of God by the preaching of the word and is defined a firme opinion Christian faith and constant conscience of righteousnes and saluation obtayned by none other meanes but onely by the frée mercie of God in his sonne S. What are the things which are chiefly obiected to this faith F. The Obiectes of faith Those things which here follow in order as first God that diuine nature in the vnitie next the same God in the Trinitie thirdly the holy Catholicke Church and lastly all those Articles of the Christian faith whereof we must not doubt but be absolutely and certeinly assured in our beliefe S. What are those Articles of beliefe F. The same which are comprehended vnder the title of the simbole of the Apostles that is I beléeue in God the father almightie marker of heauen and earth The Simbole of the Apostles and in Iesus Christ his onely sonne our Lord which was conceiued by the holy ghost borne of the virgin Mary suffered vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried he descended into hell the third day he rose agayne from the dead he ascending into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the father almightie from thence he shall come to iudge the quicke and the deade I beléeue in the holy Ghost I beléeue the holy Catholick church the Communion of saintes the forgiuenesse of sinnes the resurrection of the bodie and the life euerlasting S. Must I theÌ„ beleeue in al these things To bleeue 1. that God is 2. that whicâ— God saith 3. In Gâ—â— F. It is néedfull that thou beléeue all these things to be but it is not requisite that thou beléeue in them all S. Seeing therefore that this particle In maketh such a difference in what thing then must I beleeue F. Beleeue in the holy Trinitie In that holy Trinitie namely in God the father in God the sonne and in God the holy ghost which is in nature one thing S. And what must I beleeue without this particle In F. Beleeue the holy Church c. The holy Catholicke church those other things contained in the Articles which folow in the same simbole to be true S. Ye haue before this sufficiently taught me to knowe the former obicte of my fayth namely God in the trinitie and the Trinitie in the Vnitie nowe I pray you to declare vnto me those latter pointes and first what is that Catholicke church which yee would that I should constantly beleeue F. What this Church is By this church is meant the vniuersall companie or faythfull assembly of Gods people of the which some hauing passed the troubles of this life are with Christ in heauen and other some as yet are millitant on the earth where in the vnitie of the true doctrine and the lawfull vse of the Sacraments they cleaue together S. What is that communion of saints The communion of Sainte F. The fellowshippe familiaritie and amitie that the godly haue one with another in one fayth one hope one charity as children of one father in one house exercising mutuall beneficience works of mercie christian duties The forgiunesse of sins one towardes another S. VVhat is that forgiuenes of sinnes the which I must also beleeue F. It is the loosing and releasing of that band of obligation wherein we be tyed to eternall death and damnation yea and a pardon of that payne which our sins had deserued and that by the onely death merit of our Lord Iesus Christ S. VVhat must I beleeue touching the Resurrection of the flesh The resurection of the flesh F. That in the last day all men shall rise agayne with their bodies the godly to eternal life the wicked to eternal paine S. VVhat is that eternall life F. That blessed felicitie and happie condition which the elected saints shall haue and enioy after their resurrection from death in all eternitie The life euerlasting with Christ the sonne of God S. Thus haue ye taught me my good father what this Christian fayth is and what and wherin I must beleeue now let me know
also how this Fayth commeth F. Faith commeth by hearing of Gods word As faith is a frée gift of God as I said before so God will that this fayth should come by hearing and namely of the worde of God S. How is that wrought F. By the operation of the holy ghost which engendreth faith right happely in the hart of him who is a fruitfull hearer of the worde of God S. What is that word of God VVhat is that which ye call the worde of God F By the worde of God in this place is vnderstoode the holy scriptures both of the old new Testaments the which with many strong arguments doth demonstrate the will and workes of God and especially those promises which concerne the redéemer and eternall life for those scriptures we call the worde of God which béeing comfortable happie effectuall sufficient to man doth both instruct him in his dutie in this life also derect him to that euerlasting word of God which was with god before al worlds S. How must this worde be vnto me applied F. By the ministrie of the preachers How this word is to be applyed vnto vs. and ministers of the same S. Who be the preachers and ministers of this worde F. Those parsons The Preachers and ministers of the word whom the Lord sendeth foorth furnished with méete gifts lawfully called into the church which chiefly regard to celebrate to praise to commend with feuencie of spirit that openly before all men the name of God and the worde of his grace the kingdome of God S. What shal I do wheÌ„ ther is not a preacher nor a meete minister of the word F. First thou must pray the Lord of the haruest to send foorth labourers into his haruest then What is to be done there where the pastor is absent it is meete that thou read both dilligently reuerently the worde of God and meditate therein with a pure minde euery day S. VVhat if I cannot reade F. It behoueth thée to repayre to them that can reade and instruct thée concerning God and thy duty towards him S. How must this worde be preached and read F. How this word is to be preached and heard Faythfully distinctly discréetely wholy diligently coÌ„stantly reuerently S. How must this worde be heard F. With faith diligence reuerence feare of the Lord and harty desire to learne it to vnderstand it and to reforme this life thereby S. Thus haue ye taught me the ordinary meanes to obtayne faith now tell me also how this faith is confirmed F. How faith is conformed Ioh. 4. There was a time when that faith which came by hearing was confirmed by miracles and workes of wonder S. In what time was it confirmed F. In the time of Christ and his Apostles and in the primitiue church and néedfull it was then when the truth of the Gospell began to be published the which béeing now sufficiently confirmed vnto vs miracles are no longer néedfull S. Wherby is faith coÌ„firmed in vs now F. The vse of â— Sacraments Euen in the exercise of the same word by the which it was begon but chiefely in the true vse of the Sacraments S. How may I beter vnderstand this F. As the Sacraments themselues are the seales of Gods promises made to vs so the right vse of them ratifieth in vs that faith by the which we apprehend that which is promised S. What is that which ye cal a sacrameÌ„t What is a Sacrament F. Not only the seale of those things of which God hath promised vs as I haue before sayd but also an externall signe of some internall vertue or grace S. VVhereof is a Sacrament made F. Of these two things Whereof a sacrament is made namely the worde of God and the Element S. VVhereunto serueth the worde F. To the eare in the lawfull ministetrie thereof and to the inward man by the operation of the diuine spirite S. VVherunto serueth the Element F. To the eye the fast the féeling and eternall man for as a man is of two natures namely of the soule and body of the spirite and flesh so is he of the grace mercie of god edified in either of them S. How many Sacraments be there in christian vse There be two â—acramentes F. Two which are called Sacraments of the new Testament S. VVhat are those two F. Babtisme and the Supper of the Lord both the which are also signified in that water and bloud which issued from the side of Christ on the crosse S. Baptisme What is that sacrament of Baptisme F. This sacrament of baptisme or washing is diuersly defined for it is said to be either the badge of regeneration into a new life 1 Ioh. 2. and eternall health or the signe of our purgation in Christs bloud or the scale of the promise of remission of sinnes in the name of Iesus Christ S. The elemeÌ„t in Baptisme What is the Element whereunto the word adioineth to make this sacrament F. Water which washeth onely the bodie without S. VVhat is the inward grace which is therein signified F. The cleansing of vs from our sins S. And are they throughly cleansed which are washed in that water F. No for that inward washing commeth not of that worke wrought but of the holy ghost in the faythfull which vse this element as a simbole of this washing and not as the cause S. Who instituted and commaunded this to be done and vsed in the church F. Our Lord Iesus Christ who hath promised life vnto them which beléeue and be baptised and hath threatned death to them which beléeue not Mat. 16. S. What is that sacrament of the Lords supper F. The Supper of the Lord is a spirituall banquet The Lordes Supper whereby Christ witnesseth himselfe to be the bread of life by the which our soules are fed to the true imortalitie of the soule or it is an holy Simbole or signe wherein Christ offereth and communicateth his body and bloud thereby to certifie vs of the remission of sinnes and life euerlasting or it is the happy memoriall of the death of Christ and an whoalsome and memorable signe of that Sacrifice which hée made once for all on the Altar of the crosse S. VVhat is the outward Element of this sacrament The elemeÌ„t F. Bread and wine which féedeth and cheareth the bodie S. What is the inward grace which is signified thereby and giuen to the worthy receiuers thereof F. The body and bloud of Christ by the which we are nourished and cheared to eternall life S. Thus haue I hapely learned how saith is conformed in me Now also would I gladly learne how the same is encreased F. How faith is increased This faith which commeth by hearing and is confirmed in the vse of the Sacraments is also happely encreased by godly cogitations and meditations but chiefly by good conference and talke of
Godhead be distinguished into three distinct persons S. Then ye would that I should beleeue Trinitie in Vnitie three to be in one and one to be in three that is three persons in one diuine Essence and one diuine Essence in three persons F. Yea truly and that in this Trinitie there is the Father and the Sonne and the holy Ghost but in the vnitie onely one God and the same foreuer S. I like well of your plaine maner of teaching wherof I haue taken no meane instruction and comfort Now tell me father I beseech you how God is called the father F. God is called the father Although God be the common father the creator the author the gouernour and the susteyner of all things yet here he is called a father in respect of the sonne whom he hath begotten before all worldes very God of very God S. How is he called the sonne F. God the Sonne He is called the sonne in two respects first as hauing a relation to the father of whom he was begottē to whō and with whom he is coessentiall coequall and coeternall Secondly in that he became man and was borne of the virgin Mary S. The sonne was made a perfect man And was the sonne a perfect man as he was a perfect God F. Yea for as he is perfect God of the substance of God his father so is he perfect man of the substance of the virgin Mary his mother S. So then ye say that he had a reasonable soule as he had a humane bodie for this necessarily followeth F. Yea for as a perfect man consisteth both of a humane body and a reasonable soule so thou must beléeue that this second person in the Trinitie had not onely such a bodie but also such a soule as he was man S. And was that his diuine nature combined with his humane nature in this person F. Yea doubtlesse The godhead and manhood conioyned in one Christ and thereof béeing God and man he became one Christ S. VVho was his mother as he is God and who was his father as he is man F. Is he is God he hath no mother and as he is man he hath no father S. And yet he hath both father and mother must I not beleeue so Father Yes for as he is Christ he hath God his Father in heauen and the Virgin his Mother on earth S. How then was he begotten as he was man F. Of the holy spirite inspiring the holy virgin without the knowledge of any man Luke 1.35 S. This is a wonderfull conception F. So is it indeede howbeit with God it was nothing impossible S. The holy Ghost How is God called the holy spirite F. Not onely in that he is that spirituall Essence but also in that he powreth foorth of his vertues and graces wherein he is sayd to procéede from the father and the sonne S. What is that holy spirite then F. That diuine person in the Trinitie which procéedeth from the father and the sonne to whom and with whom he he is both coeternall and coessenciall which replenisheth the faythfull with all good things S. Then this I learne that the father is the first person in the diuine Trinitie not made nor created The sonne is the second person begotten of the father the holy Ghost is the third person proceeding from the father and the sonne F. Thou sayest well and it is needefull that thou thus beléeue as touching the Trinitie S. VVhat do you distinctly attribute to those three distinct persons F. Although that neither the Godhead is diuided nor the persons seperated in substāce or working Distinct operations of the three distinct persons howsoeuer they be distinguished yet to euery one of those persons is attributed a proper worke in and for the good of the chosen S. VVhat is that which is properly attributed to God the father F. Election and creation S. What is there attributed to the son F. Redemption iustification saluatiō S. VVhat may we attribute to the holy Ghost F. Illumination regeneration and sanctification S. What is that which ye call election Election F. Election is that diuine choyse and sure mercie of God whereby before he made the world he did foreknow them whom he wold glorifie that they might stand before him without blame and become his adopted children through Christ according to the good pleasure of his owne will Ephe. 1. S. VVas there no good thing then in man which God foresaw to merite or deserue this choyse F. Nothing at all for whatsoeuer he did therein God elected his of his own accord and that freely was of his owne accorde S. And is not man able to deserue for this F. Never albeit he should liue tenne thousand yeares neyther indeede dath God expect it for God elected him of his owne will so he elected him fréely knowing well that man could neuer be of power to requite him S. Then we haue no merite whereof to challenge heauen or to iustifie our selues before God F. None at all therefore we are said to be seruants vnprofitable and sinners S. The approbation of man before God By whom are we accepted and iustified then F. By Christ Iesus our Lord who dyed for them whom the father had known before and chosen S. Creation Ye attributed also to God the worke of creation what hath God created and of what matter hath he created the same F. God hath created heauen and earth yea and that of no former matter for to create is properly to make something of nothing S. Then so in them hath God created me F. Yea and he hath made and formed thee S. Of what matter hath he made mee The matter whereof man was made F. As touching thy body of the dust of the earth as touching thy soule of the breath of life S. VVhat thing was I then made F. A liuing soule S. In whose image was I formed F. In the Image of God Gen. 1.27 S. VVhat Image is that for God is a spirite F. Wisdome holinesse righteousnes The image of God and all perfection S. Now what say ye of the proper office of the sonne The proper office of Christ F. As God the father elected and created so the sonne redéemeth iustifieth and saueth S. VVhat is that which ye call redemption redemption F. The recouering agayne buying fréeing of that which was sold the price thereof béeing paied so he redemptiō of mankinde is the recouering fréeing and taking home agayne of mankinde from the bondage of hell death and the diuel his ransome béeing payed S. How was man sold away into that miserie F. Through his owne sinne and rebellion agaynst the law of God S. The malice of the diuel Who moued him to that rebellion F. The Diuel by his subtill temptatiō S. How did the Diuell tempt him F. He abused the bodie of the serpent in whom he spake thereby beguiled first
Heuah and afterward Adam Gen. 3. S. But what is that to all other men F. The propagation of sin So effectuall that through Adam they be all dead infected with this hereditary maladie grafted in the nature of man to his destruction and eternall damnation were it not that Christ hath redéemed them whom his father had chosen S. The price of our redemption VVith what ransome did Christ redeeme me F. Not with gold or siluer or ny such like thing but with his owne precious bloud as of a Lambe vndefiled and without spot S. But thinke ye this ransome was sufficient to redeeme all the Lords elect F. Yea doubtlesse it is sufficient for them all S. How then was this applied to them of the olde Testament F. By the mercie of God who enabled them to beléeue in Christ then to come The Fathers of the old testament as we now beléeue in him béeing past S. Then the effect of his death was extended as well to them as to vs F. Yea therefore he is called a lambe slayne from the beginning of the world to be an effectuall sacrifice for all the elect S. And is not the death of Christ sufficient and effectuall vnto all F. We may not derogate from the death of Christ any thing of the sufficiencie or effect thereof for the same is both sufficient and effectuall vnto all though not to all alike S. Teach me this more plainely The sufficiency and efficacie of Christes death to all F. The death of Christ is sufficient and of power to redéeme all if al haue grace with fayth to apprehend his righteousnes his death is not onely effectuall to the chosen of the Lord to redáeeme them but also to the diuels reprobates and all the powers of darkenesse and children of perdition to condemne confound and vtterly to destroy them S. Thus haue I learned my father how the son of God hath redeemed me what say ye of Iustification the which ye did also properly attribute to Christ F. Iustification Iustification is that approbation of a man before God the father S. Wherof consisteth this Iustification F. Of the remission and putting away of sinnes and of the imputation of the righteousnesse and innocencie of Christ S. How is this applied vnto me F. It is applied vnto tháe of the méere loue and mercie of God in his sonne S. How must I apprehend the same F. By fayth onely which is the hand of the soule to accept such a benefit S. How the righteousnesse of Christ is made ours How hath he wrought this righteousnesse for me F. He satisfied for thy sinne which deserued death by his owne death hee iustified thée which had no merite by his owne iustice the which he declared in his resurrection from the deade Act. 13.38.39 S. What profit haue we by this F. As he was estéemed a sinner in that he bare our sinnes The vse of our iustification so are we estéemed righteous by the imputation of his righteousnesse vnto vs and as he died for our transgressions so doe we liue here and for euer through his righteousnesse S. Then is he no lesse worthy to be called a Sauiour to whom ye also ascribed the saluation of soules F. It is true Saluation and thereof is he rightly called Iesus Christ as he is both God and man neither is there any other name vnder the heauens in whom or by whom we be saued S. VVhat is signified by the name Iesus Iesus a Sauiour F. That he is a Sauiour S. VVhom hath he saued F. His people S. VVho be they F. The same whom the father hath chosen before and are rightly called the people of God as I sayd before S. From what doth he saue them F. From sin and the reward thereof S. What sin is What is that which ye call sinne F. That is called sinne whatsoeuer is not according to the law of God and thereof be two sortes namely originall and actuall sinne S. VVhat is that originall sinne F. Originall Originall sinne is that hereditarie desease which is descended from Adam as namely the ignorance of the minde the concupiscence of the flesh and the want of originall righteousnesse in the which sinne a man is borne the childe of wrath and cannot possibly please God S. VVhat is that actuall sinne F. Actuall Actuall sinne is that what soeuer a man either thinketh or speaketh or worketh agaynst the law of God agaynst his owne conscience S. VVhereof commeth this sinne F. This sin procéedeth of the corrupt nature of man is an effect of the former S. What is the rewarde of sinne F. The reward of sinne The reward of sinne is death not onely of the body but of the soule also which is called eternall damnation S. Then from this hath the sonne of God saued his people and therefore is worthely named Iesus our sauiour but shew me also I pray you why is he called Christ F. He is called Christ What the name Christ signifieth because he is the holy anointed of Iehouah before al that rest S. With what oyle is he anoynted F. With the oyle of gladnesse S. What is that F. The Vertue of the holy ghost S. To what dignitie function or office was he anoynted with this oyle F. To be a king a priest and a prophet S. Wherein is he a king F. Not onely in that he is the very king and Lord of heauen and earth Christ is our King but also in that he hath to himselfe indued al the powers of darkenes from the which he hath reduced vs and with his great powre doth gouerne and susteine vs. S. Wherein is he our priest F. In that he hath not onely offered vp himselfe to God for vs He is our Priest but also strandeth at the right hand of the father making intercession for our health S. Wherein is he our Prophet F. In that he hath both reuealed vnto vs the diuine misteries and also that hee might dired vs the way to life hath happely gone before vs towardes the kingdome of heauen S. Then worthely is he called a redeemer a iustifier and a sauiour but by whom am I drawne vnto him F. Who draweth vs to Christ Ioh. By God the father for no man commeth to Christ but such whom the father draweth S. How doth God the father draw me to Christ F. Ierm 31.3 By his mercy he draweth thée vnto him S. And is there any cause in man that moueth God to this mercie F. None at all but that which God doth in this he doth it of his owne loue in his sonne S. Wherein doth god expresse this mercy F. In many and great things and here in the ordinarie calling of a christian for whō he predestinated them also he called S. What is the calling of a Christian F. The calling of a Christian It is that whereby he is inuited to the