confidence of euerlastyng lyfe saluacion in Christe Iesus the sonne of God whiche is not onelye a mightie puissaunt lorde ouer synne death and hel all which he hath vtterly depriued of all theyr power and mighte that they can neuer ouercome more but also he is suche a lorde vnto vs as hath boughte and redemed vs from the bondage of synne and deliuered vs frō Sathans iurisdiccion hath taken suche charge of vs that he wyll from hencefoorth continually defende and preserue vs as any lorde will do his naturall people that are sworne subiecte vnto him M. Why do we call him Iesus S. Because he is an healper and sauiour whiche saueth and helpeth the children of god from synne and from all kynde of euill Math. i. and ix Luke ii M. Why do we call hym Christe S. Because he is the annoynted king of God which gouerneth the children of God vnto euerlastyng lyfe M. Wherin consisteth his gouernaunce S. In obteynyng vs remission of our synnes and in geuyng his spirite M. Why do we say his onely sonne S. For a differēce betwene him and vs. For he was borne very god the very brightnes of his beautie and glory out of the very nature godly substaunce of the father without all synne But we are the children of god through adopcion and grace whiche els by nature muste haue remayned the children of wrathe and of euerlastyng death M. Why sayest thou Esai ix Math. xii Collo i. i. Cor. vi our Lorde S. Because he onely hath broken the yoke of Sathan and delyuered vs frō his tyranny redemyng vs with the precious price of his bloud Wherfore we are not our owne but his and we ought to serue him onely and to lyue after his wyll and not after our owne M. What foloweth S. Whiche was conceyued by the holy gost borne out of the virgin Mary M. What beleuest thou by this S. That our sauiour Christe for our wealth is become very manne but without all maner of sin M. Whereby gatherest thou that he is without all maner of sin S. By that that he was not conceiued by any manne but by the holy ghost and borne of the pure virgin Mary M. What profit or cōforte hast thou by this belefe S. This comfort haue I therby that I beleue that he thorowe his holy and heuenly concepcion hath sāctified our vnclene and earthly concepcion and that he wyll take awaye the vncleanesse of my byrth and nature and wyll make me partaker of his blissed byrth and of the holynesse of his nature M. Why is thy nature vncleane and vnholy S. Yea for as muche as we all are conceyued borne in sinne M. what other profite is it vnto vs that the sonne of god toke mannes nature vpon hym and became man S. We are assured also thereby that he is our brother and that he and we are partakers of one fleshe and bloud And for as muche as he would ouercome sathan in our fleshe we are sure that his victorie is ours and that we are admitted and receiued vnto the euerlastyng participacion of all his heauenly goodes richesse M. What hath the sonne of God Iesus Christ doen for our sake S. He suffred vnder Ponce Pilate was crucifyed dyed and was buried descended vnto hel M. what beleuest thou in this S. Hereby I beleue that Christ dyd suffre for vs the moste vilaynous and bytterest death to reconcile vs thorow the oblacion of his owne bodye vnto god the father and to take away our synnes and so to delyuer vs from the deuill death sinne and hell M. why was it the moste vyllaynous death S. Because he was condemned vnto death as a blasphemouse and a sedicious persō and the wycked vyllayne and murtherer Barrabas quit and deliuered M. Why was it the moste bytterest death S. Because he was mocked scourged crowned with pryckyng thornes nailed vnto the crosse M. Why sayest thou Died was buried and descended to hell S. Because he dyed verely and his body was layed in the graue his soule wente vnto the soules that wer before departed M. What went he in to the paynes of the damned soules S. No but vnto the holy soules whiche did rest frō the time of Adam and Noe in the bosome of Abraham waytyng for Christes ioyfull cummyng M. And why did he descende vnto them S. In token that the frute vertue effecte of his passion dyd not apperteyne only vnto them that were than alyue but also vnto them that were dead before M. what mayest thou learne by all this S. Forsoth .iiii. speciall lessons Fyrste I maye well consyder therby the great heauynes of my sinne whiche the Lorde dyd raūsome with so paynfull smart and tormente M. What is the seconde S. Secondarilye I fynde also a singuler comforte herein whiche is this that the Lorde hath satisfied and taken awaye all my synnes together with the payne whiche I had well deserued to haue suffered for them thorough his owne death bitter passion M. And what is the thirde S. Thirdly I maye learne hereby pacientlye to suffer whatsoeuer it shall please the Lorde to lay vpon me and to beare my crosse mekelye after hym euen vnto death seyng he thorowe his Crosse and passion hath sanctifyed all manner of affliccions and made them swete pleasaūt and fruitefull for vs. And we maye be assured that if we suffer with hym we shall also lyue and reygne with him M. Now what is the fowerth and laste of all S. Forsothe that is this that I may learne hereby the hyghe and inestimable loue of God towarde mankynde whiche dydde not spare his onelye dere beloued soonne but gaue hym vnto suche a cruell and villaynous deathe for vs vnwoorthy mysyrable fylthye and wretched sinners M. What beleueste thou more of our Lorde Iesus Christe S. That on the thirde daye he arose vp agayne from the dead ascended into the heauens setteth at the ryghthande of God the father almyghtye M. What is all this to saye S. Thus muche I beleue and confesse that Iesus Christe the sonne of God beeyng without spotte or synne coulde not bee kept or holden with the bandes of death whiche came into the worlde by reason of sinne And therfore thorough his godlye power he vanquysshed bothe deathe and helle and vpon the thyrde daye he arose agayn appearyng vnto his disciples in a gloryfyed and an immortall bodye M. What doeth the resureccion of Christe profite vs S. For sothe verye muche for thereby are we assured that death hell and the deuil are ouercome and that sinne is taken awaye and euerlastyng righteousnesse sette in the place and purchased of the father for vs yf so be that we beleue in hym Furthermore it is a sure pledge vnto vs that our bodies shall also haue free passage into the euerlastyng glorye without any interupcion of deuil death or hell M. What meanest thou by this where thou sayest that Christe sitteth at the righthand of
laudes and thankes vnto him for suche excellente benefites geuyng vp and yeldyng our selues wholly vnto hym M. What maner of people are to bee admytted vnto this supper S. All that are truly repentaunte and sorye for their sinnes and yet beleue stedfastlie that god for Christes sake wyll be mercyfull vnto them and that they are the true membres of Christe liuing in the feare and true obedience of the Lord and in perfect loue of theyr neighbour as brethren of one kyngdome membres of one bodye and redemed with one bloud of Iesus Christ redye to confesse the doctrine of the holy gospell in the middes of all persecucion and affliccion and to defende it euen vnto death M. what thinkest thou of thē whiche will neuer receiue this holy supper with the faithfull congregacion of Christe S. If they abstaine from it wilfullye of concempte and stubbernes that is to saye yf they maye haue it ministred vnto them after the institucion of the Lorde and yet regarde it not and will not receyue it it is an euidente token that they pertayne nothing at all vnto the body of Christe For whosoeuer beleueth in the Lorde truly can not neglecte or contemne any of his hollye ordinaunces but with all reuerence vse them as ofte he maye M. Where as s Paul sayeth Lette euery manne proue hymselfe and so eate of that bread What is mente therby or whan eate we this supper wurthyly S. Of our selues we can neuer be woorthy vnto it But God of his grace and mercye reputeth vs woorthy of his heauenlye misteries and benefites whansoeuer we referre the remission of oure sinnes and oure saluacion vnto the death and resurreccion of Christe and seke it therat onely Wherfore whansoeuer I receyue the holy supper with this faythe and belefe that Christe Iesus gaue his tender bodye vnto death for me and shedde his precious bloud for me and so redemed me from euerlastyng deathe And that his fleshe and bloude are the foode and sustenaunce of my soule whereby I am refresshed and nourisshed vnto euerlastynge lyfe submitting my selfe in this faythe hartilye and fullye both bodye soule vnto the will of god and vtterly detesting in word dede and example almaner of sinne and wickednes and whatsoeuer maye geue any occasion therunto c. then receyue I this hollye supper wurthyly For this is the true communion and participacion of Christes bodye and bloud wherby we are sure that he dwelleth in vs and we in hym For els we coulde doe none of this at all M. Me thynketh by thy answers that the holy supper of the Lorde sendeth and referreth vs all together vnto the deathe and passion of Christe that we maye so by that meanes enioye and haue fruicion of the same S. Yea forsouth for whan he suffred vpon the crosse then he was made the onely euerlastyng sacrifice sufficiente for our saluacion wherefore there is nothyng remaynyng for vs more but that we maye enioy and haue the fruicion of hym M. And was not the supper ordeyned of God to bee a propiciatory sacrifice wherin the body of Christe should be offered vnto God of freshe or of newe S. No forsouth For that were iniurious vnto his death And the woordes doe sounde thus take and eate c. Where he commaundeth vs not to sacrifice or to offer his body but onely to eate c. M. And why was it ordeyned to bee receiued in two diuerse kyndes S. That was done for our infirmities sake to teache vs the more plainly that he is not only the meate wherwith our soules are norished but also the verye drynke wherwith they are refreshed that we shoulde seke no parte of our spirituall lyfe any where els sauyng at hym and in hym alone M. And ought all men generally without excepcion to receyue both kyndes S. Yea for south so do the woordes of Christe commaund saying drinke ye all of this from the whiche to derogate or mynishe any thyng it were an heynous synne M. But now how oughteste thou to behaue thyselfe after thou haste thus receiued this holy supper S. I oughte fyrste to reioyce in the remission of my synnes in the lyfe of Christe in me and in the blissed resurreccion whan as he shall lyue fully in me and in vs be all in all And thus to auaunce my selfe agaynste synne agaynst the deuyll death and hel And to geue God eternall thankes for all these his excedyng benefites M. What oughtest thou els to doe S. I ought also to subdue to tame and to crucify mine owne fleshe and bloud with al maner of wicked lustes and affecciōs to liue hereafter as a mēbre of that body onely whose head is Christe and not as a membre of any other body But vtterly to yelde and geue ouer myselfe vnto my lorde God to bee one breade and one bodye with all faythfull christians whyche doe truely inuocate and call vpon the name of the Lorde to lyue with them in perfite loue and charitie and wyth this bande of loue to haue my heart fixed and knitte vnto theirs and thus euermore to remayne cōtinue And I ought also to confesse and magnifie my Lorde Iesus in his churche and congregacion with all my woordes and dedes awaytyng dayly to haue this lyfe changed with a better and into a better lyfe M. What yf we receyue the supper with suche as be vnwoorthy doe we make our selues also vnworthy by reason of that S. No we doe not if so be that we consente not vnto theyr synnes but haue in mynde and will yf we can know them and may come vnto them to exhorte and admonishe them faythfully our selues or els cause some other to doe it For it pertayneth vnto no priuate person to exclude any man out of the churche or congregacion but onely vnto the whole churche or vnto them that are chosen appointed of the same vnto that office And theyr duetie it is to considre bothe in this matter and all other what may be most profitable and expediente vnto edificacion M. But nowe why should men receyue this sacramente ofte seing they receyue the sacramente of baptisme but once S. Baptisme is a sacramente of enteraunce into the religiō of Christ and betokeneth that menne are nowe dead vnto the olde lyfe wyll from thencefoorth walke in a newe lyfe Wherfore lyke as Christe died but once that for our synnes and shall from hence foorth dye no more euen so ought the sacrament of baptisme whiche representeth the same to bee receyued but once But the holye supper is a sacramente of procedyng and goyng forward in the religion of Christ and signifieth that the manne whiche is once incorporate vnto Christe and fed or susteyned continually through hym wyll euermore continue procede and goe forwarde in a perfite christian life And forasmuche as many impedimentes lets and temptacions doe chaunce vnto suche menne by the waye which notwithstandyng doe styll hungre and thurst after ryghteousnesse And this supper
it the communion of sainctes S. Because all they which do truly beleue in Christ and are so sanctified thorow his bloud which are the very right sainctes whersoeuer they bee scattered in the whole worlde i. Tho. xii they are one bodye one temple vnder one head Iesus Christe with whome and with the father they haue felowshippe i. Iohn i and thorowe the holye ghoste they are ioyned and knitte together in one God one fayth i. cho vi Ephe. iiii one baptisme one loue M. And haue they no maner of felowshyp with the wicked and vnfaythfull ii cho vi i. cho v S. None at all so nere as they canne knowe and discerne them leste they myght seme to consente vnto theyr vngodlynesse or peraduenture myght bee infecte thorowe theyr wicked exaumple ii thes iii For the holy ghoste commaundeth all suche to bee auoyded except they will suffer themselues to bee admonyshed and exhorted ii Ch. vii ii thes iii. and wyll earnestlye repente lamente theyr synnes and amende M. Nowe what followeth nexte S. Remission of sinnes M. What beleuest thou herein Esai xxxiii Iere. xxxi and .xxxiii Mat. xviii S. Here I confesse and beleue that in the holy christen churche and no where els I and all faythfull beleuers haue daylye forgeuenesse of all our synnes so that we hartylye repente and be sory for them and that the Lorde wyll neuer enter into Iudgemente with vs nor neuer recken oure synnes vnto vs vnto dampnacion nor neuer punishe vs for them with suche payne as they haue deserued i. Cho. v M. So heare I well that the christians haue still synne But howe agreeth with this the former article of the holy communion of sainctes S. They are both trewe For the churche of Christe thorow perfyte fayth in hir brydegrome head Christe is pure and holy Ephe. i. v For as muche as there canne be no synne nor vnpurenesse in Christ but of hir selfe she is cōpased with diuerse infirmities and synnes whiche she daylye feleth confesseth and lamenteth with an heuy sorowfull hart And seketh for helpe and grace at Christe and so reneweth hir selfe dayly thorow the holy gost and laboreth contynually in mortifying the residewe of the olde man that styll remayneth M. But howe may we obteyne this dayly remission of synnes S. Esai xlv Not thorow any workes of our owne nor yet thorowe the merites Ti. iii workes or desertes of any saincte that is dead but only thorowe the mere grace and mercy of God Ephe. ii vndeserued of vs thorowe the free redēcion of our sauior Iesus Christe whiche hathe purchased and bought vs this pardone forgeuenesse with his precious bloud Esai liii For his innocent death is the ransom of our trāsgressions and iniquities As the gospell testifieth M. For as muche as thou hast made mencion of the ghospell tell me what is that ghospel Luke i. S. To speake properly it is a glad ioyfull tidynges and message of the grace and loue of God towarde vs thorowe his sonne Iesus Christe M. Vnto whome is this ghospell preached and publyshed S. Vnto all menne vniuersally Mat. xvi sauyng onely suche as wilfully and malyciouslye contemne mocke and blaspheme it But it sheweth hir vertue power specially in them that are poore in spirite and are ouerladen with the burthē of their sinnes Mat. xi laboryng to bee rydde quite and eased of them M. What foloweth S. Resurreccion of the fleshe M. What beleuest thou herein S. By this I confesse and beleue that all menne that are dead shall be raised vp agayne at the latter daye from death Exo. iii Esai xxvi Eze. lvii Iob. xix Iohn .v. ii Cho. v. ii Cho. xv So that euerye bodye that is dead and rotten in the yearth or consumed with water fyer or by any other meanes shall receyue his owne forme and proporcion agayne and shall bee vnited and knytte again with the soule and shall ryse vppe agayne from the dead Mat. xxviii Iohn .xx. Exo. vi immortall and incorruptible Lyke as Christe our head is risen vppe with his very true body M. But howe can that be possible S By God whiche is the woorker of it Act. xxvi ii cho v. Phil. iii. Gene. ii is nothyng vnpossible no more than it was impossible for him to make and create mankynde of nought M. What is the resurreccion of the bodye necessarye Were it not enough that the soule alone should reigne eyther in glorye and honor or els in shame and confusion S. It pleased not God that man beyng made vnto hope and created vnto saluacion of two partes body soule should only remaine with the one parte and enioy euerlasting lyfe with the one alone but that the body also should receyue rewarde with the soule and remayn for euer holy immortall ii Ch. v without any maner of temptacion or infirmitie decked with power and honor euen as the Angels of God yea euen after the example of Christ himselfe as he was transformed before his disciples vpon the mounte Tabor M. He that coulde beleue this perfitely howe coulde he be afrayed of death S. Luke xxii The feare of death is of very nature as we may perceyue in Christe And forasmuche as death is the punyshemente of sinne Gene. iii therfore mankynd dredeth death by reason of his synne the more Whiche feare and drede yet the faythfull beleuers do ouercome Philip. i forasmuche as they knowe that it is the rediest waye vnto euerlastyng felicitie to die And for this cause the faithfull are not so vnmeasurablye heuy sorowfull for the death of their faythfull frendes Apoca. xiiii i. thes iiii as the hethen and vnfaithfull are which haue no beliefe in the resurreccion Lyke as the housebande manne taketh no thought nor sorowe for the sede that is caste into the yearth because he hath a sure trust hope that it shall come againe with a plentifull and an excedyng recompence M. Now what is the laste article of our christen faith S. And the euerlasting life M. What is thy belief in this Soph. iii. S. Hereby I confesse and beleue Iohn v i. Cho. v i. Peter i that I with bodye soule vnited knitte together againe after the resurreccion shall enioye the kyngdome of God and liue euerlastynglye in the ioye felicitie of heauen with oure sauior Christe the soonne of God i. thes iiii Mat. xxv i. cho xv as one of the membres of his body M. what maner of ioye shall this be S. That can no toungue expresse Esai lxiiii i. cho ii nor no hearte comprehende But it shall consiste speciallye herein that the faythful shall know and behold euerlastynglye Ion. xix Iohn xvii euen with their corporall iyes the euerlastyng light and the highest ioye And beyng incorporate with God for euer shall haue perpetuall participacion of all heauenlye
Adams trasgression S. Forasmuche as he displeased God therfore dyd God punyshe hym withall his posteritie so that euer synce that fall of Adam both he and we all are depriued spoyled of the image of God and so are borne into the worlde euen from our mothers wombe sinners vnrighteous and children of wrathe M. Than canst thou not be saued S. After my fyrst byrth I cānot be saued but through my secōde byrth in Christe I haue an vndoubted hope and assured trust to be saued M. What art thou than after thy seconde byrth S. I am a christian M. What is a Christian S. A Christian is one that acknowlegeth himselfe a synner and beleueth stedfastly that God our heauēly father is mercyfull vnto hym through the gloryous passion and bloud sheddyng of our sauiour Iesus Christe M. Whereby knowest thou that thou art a Christian S. Because I doe faythfully beleue the same and vpon this belefe am baptysed or chrystened in the name of the father of the sonne and of the holye ghoste M. What belieuest thou of the father of the sonne and the holy ghoste S. I beleue that the father is God the sonne is God the holy ghoste is God and yet as these are three destincte persones eguall in substaunce glorye and maiestie so is he but onely one God eternall without begynnyng euerlastyng without ende almyghtifull and altogether bounteous good mercyfull louyng tendre beneficiall vnto man M. What dooest thou ferther beleue of thesame God the father the sonne and the holy ghoste S. I dooe firmely and stedfastely beleue whatsoeuer is wrytten of God in the holy scriptures and all that euer is conteyned in the speciall poyntes and artycles of the chrysten religion whiche the lorde hym selfe taught vs and commaunded his dysciples to teache the same M. What are the speciall pointes of the christen religion and howe many are they S. They are syxe M. which syxe be they S. The fyrst is the .x. commaundementes ii The artycles of the holy christian fayth iii. The holy prayer of the Lorde iiii The woordes and institucion of the holy baptisme v. The woordes of the holy supper of the Lorde vi The woordes of the Ecclesiasticall discipline and brotherly correccion M. Now rehearse me the woordes of all the syxe pryncypall poyntes and articles one after an other as I haue out of the places of Goddes holy scripture taught it vnto thee before this tyme. S. The .x. commaundementes are wrytten in the xx chapiter of Exodus in these wordes i. I the lord am thy God which haue brought the out of Egipt out of the land of bōdage thou shalt haue none other Goddes besyde me or in my syght ii Thou shalt make to thyselfe no grauen ymage nor symylitude of any thyng that is in heauen aboue or in the earth beneth or in the waters vnder the earth thou shalt neyther bowe thee downe before them nor shewe any seruice or reuerence vnto them For I am the lorde thy God a strong and gelous God for I auenge the vnrighteousnesse of the fathers vpon the children euen vnto the thyrde and fourthe generacion of them that hate and despyse me and I shewe mercye euen vnto the thousandest generacion of them that loue me kepe my commaundementes iii. Thou shalt not take the name of thy lorde god in vayne For the Lorde wyll not suffer him vnpunished that taketh his name in vayne iiii Remembre that thou kepe the Sabboth daye holy Sixe dayes shalte thou laboure and doe all thy buisinesse but the seuenth daye is an holy Sabboth day vnto the lord thy god Vpon that daye shalt thou doe no woorke at all neyther thou thy selfe nor thy sonne nor thy daughter neyther thy manseruaunte nor thy mayd seruaunt nor thy cattell nor thy geast whiche kepeth or lodgeth in thy house For in syxe dayes made the lord heauē and earth and the sea withal that is therin but vpon the seuenth daye dyd he rest from all maner of labour therfore the lorde hath honoured and halowed the Sabboth daye v. Honour thy father and mother that thy dayes maye bee prolonged in the lande that the Lorde thy God wyll gyue thee vi Thou shalt not murther vii Thou shalt not commit aduoutry viii Thou shalt not steale ix Thou shalt not beare false wytnesse against thy neighbor x. Thou shalt nor couet nor lust after thy neyghboures house thou shalt not luste after thy neybours wife nor his seruaūt nor his mayde nor his oxe nor his Asse nor after any thyng that is thy neybours ¶ The articles of the holy Christen feith and belefe are these and they conteyne .iii pryncipall articles I Beleue in God the father almyghtie maker of heauē and yearth And in Iesus Christ his onely sonne our lord which was conceyued by the holy ghost borne out of the virgin Mary suffred vnder Ponce Pylate was crucifyed dyed and was buried Descended vnto the helles and vpō the thyrd day he rose again from the dead ascended vnto the heauens and syttteth at the ryghthande of God the father almyghtie from thence he shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead iii. I beleue in the holy ghost an holy Chatholyque Churche the communion of sainctes the forgeuenes of synnes the resurreccion of the fleshe and the lyfe euerlastyng Amen ¶ The Lordes prayer wrytten in the .vi. of Matthewe and the .xi. of Luke is this OVr father whiche arte in heauen halowed bee thy name thy kyngdome come thy will be doen vpon earth as it is in heauen Geue vs this daye our dayly bread And forgeue vs our trespaces as we forgeue them that trespace agaynst vs. And leade vs not in to temptacion But deliuer vs from the euill For thine is the kyngdome and the power and the glory for euer Amen ¶ The woordes and instituciō of the holy baptisme conteyned in the newe testament are these Math. xxviii ANd Iesus came spake vnto his dysciples saying All power is geuen vnto me in heauen in yearth Goe ye therfore and teache all nacions baptisyng theim in the name of the father and of the sonne of the holy ghoste teaching thē to obserue all thinges whatsoeuer I haue commaūded you And loe I am with you alway euen vntyll the ende of the worlde Marke .xvi. And he sayde vnto them Goe ye into all the worlde preache the Gospell to all creatures He that beleeueth and is baptysed shall be saued But he that beleeueth not shall be damned Roma vi Knowe ye not that all wee whiche are baptysed in Iesus Christ are baptised to dye with him We are buryed then with him by baptisme for to dye that lykewyse as Christ was raised vp frome deathe by the glorye of the Father euen so wee also shoulde walke in a new lyfe Gala iii. For all ye that are baptysed haue put on Christ There is no Iewe neyther gentile there is neyther bonde neyther free there is neither manne nor womā For ye are
any maner of false seruice vnder the pretence of deuocion or holynes as diriges coÌ„mendacions pardons priuate satisfactory masses for the quicke the dead with such lyke supersticious goddes seruice though it hath neuer so high and gloryous a shine yet they offende agaynst this commaundement M. Why do not all thynges please God whiche are doen of a good mynde entent zeale and deuocion Math. xv and in the honor of God S. No forsoth Deut. xii for god abhorth as moste detestable idolatrie all maner of seruice whiche himselfe hath not instituted nor commaunded in his worde And willeth vs to flee auoyd with al our hartes all suche maner of straunge and newe deuised seruice of our Esa ii owne inuentyng Ierem. vii as moste pestilent and corrupt poyson M. Why hath God forbidden any reuerence to be geuen vnto ymages Deut. v S. Because that God beeyng of his owne substaunce euerlasting immortall incompreheÌ„sible and inuisible willeth that we should wholly cleaue vnto his woorde Esa xliiii Iere. xxiii and record thesame continually both night and day bearing it about with vs in our hertes lest thorowe any image we might peradueÌ„ture forget him Osee iiii or be hindered in his true seruice M. What can images hindre any manne in the true seruice of God Heb. ii S. There is nothyng that so muche withdraweth vs from the true perfecte knowlege seruice of God as these supersticiouse idolatries images Psal xiv Ier. xxi For the only syght of them draweth vs from the knowlege of God For the whiche cause holy scripture calleth theim deuyls traps or snares of soules Sap. xiiii the worshippyng of them it nameth idolatry a woorke of the flesh Gal. v M. May not images be as lay mennes bookes to put theim in remembraunce of God or of the sayntes lyues S. Whosoeuer setteth vp any image for any such purpose declareth euideÌ„tly that he hath denied in his hert the very liuing god is in his hert a very worshipper of idols For the boke whiche onely can bring leade all men both laye other to the knowlege of God is onely the worde of God conteyned in holy scripture in the byble That ought to be the booke of euery laye man ii Tim. iii. ii Pet. i For therin is sufficiently contained all thynges necessary for the saluacion of maÌ„ and it nedeth the helpe of none other booke for it is sufficiente of it selfe M. Is there no maner of image wherby we maye be put in remeÌ„braunce of god S. Gen. ii Yes mankynde is the lyuely Image of god made of god hymselfe without the hande of man Lykewise the heauen and yearth the sonne and moone with other lyke creatures of god These may put vs dayly in remembraunce of the infinite power goodnes and wisedom of God Psal xix Rom. i M. What is the vnderstandyng of the thirde commaundement Thou shalt not take the name of the Lorde thy God in vayne c. S. In this commaundement is forbidden all maner of periury sweryng Math. v blasphemyng of God and his holy name M. Wherby is the name of God moste specially blasphemed Leui. xix and .xxiiii S. By false doctrine supersticious inuocacion or prayer muÌ„blyng of Matyns or Euensong in a straunge tounge without deuocion M. Whereby els S. By false customable swearyng cursyng charmyng coniuryng or inchauntyng by the name of God also by any maner of supersticious vsyng the name or woorde of God or of our sauior Christe M. Is it a great siÌ„ne to sweare or to curse rashely by the name of God of our sauior Iesus Christ by his meÌ„bres workes woundes and blissed passion S Yea it is suche an horrible an haynous blasphemye that God did coÌ„maunde in his lawe to bee punyshed with stonyng vnto death Leui. xxiiii M. But maye a man in no case sweare lawfully without offeÌ„ce to God Exod. xxii S. Yes yf any man bee required of a magistrate and other wyse also yf it maye serue to the glory of God to the confirmacioÌ„ of the trueth Gene. xxi or to the welth and ê“fite of our neyghbour in the same ii Ch. i For by suche othes is the name of God sanctified and not blasphemed M. WhaÌ„ kepest thou this commaundemente Psal xlix Exod. xv S. Whansoeuer I confesse prayse extoll magnifie his name his wordes and workes in eche tyme and place as I ought to do committyng my selfe wholly vnto my heauenly father through Iesus Christe our sauior and callyng vpon his helpe and ayde in all maner of affliccion necessitie rendryng vnto hym continuall thankes for all his benefites auoyding all manier of thinges where through his worde his workyng or his glorye might in any wise be hindred contemned or diminished M. How vnderstaÌ„dest thou the fowerth commaundement The .iiii. commaundemente Remembre that thou sanctifie the sabboth daye c. S. Lyke as there are two maner of sabbothes a spirituall an exteriour sabboth so likewyse is the sabboth kept or brokeÌ„ two maner of wayes M. What requireth the spirituall sabboth S. That we should continually mortifie tame crucifie our fleshe with all the lustes and concupiscence therof and haue our continuall meditacion vpon the kyngdom of God that we should praise and thanke hym aswell in prosperitye as in aduersitye bearing all manier of affliccion paciently And whansoeuer we do the contrarye than breake we this sabboth M. And whan is the exteriour or outwarde sabboth kept S. Whan euery man applyeth himselfe to come vnto the churche and congregacion to heare the worde of god where it is preached to be present at the common prayers endeuouryng hymselfe to pray with the faythfull congregacion to receiue the holy sacrameÌ„tes with thesame accordyng vnto the institucion and ordinaunces of Christe and also to bryng and geue his almes in the congregacion for the succour and reliefe of the poore And so to confirme and strengthen his owne faythe and to geue a good example of vertue vnto others And that we myght the more quietly perfourme yesame with out any let or hinderauÌ„ce therfore he coÌ„mauÌ„deth that neither our seruauntes catell nor nothyng about vs should do any labor vpon that daye M. Why so S. Not as though it were synne to doe any honest labour for labour is commaunded of God or as though it were vnpleasyng Gene iii. Ephe. iiii to God that we helpe our selfe or succour our neyghbour in tyme of nede but that we myght bee more quiet to serue God that our children householde myght haue some tyme to here learne the worde of God to remembre considre his benefites to inuocate and to call vpon hym to laude and to thanke hym M. And ought a man to doe no speciall labour vpon that day S. No not for any couetousnes of worldely encreace or aduauntage or for any pryuate pleasure
S. Forasmuche as they haue the fauor of God through Christe whatsoeuer is required in them that haue thei also sufficientlye in and through Christe whiche hath taken theyr weakenes vpon himselfe is become their satisfaccion as he is to all others And his fayth and obedience is of grace imputed vnto them and throughe his spirite they are sanctified to bee the tēples of God whose heade and sauior is Christe and they membres of his body M. Than may they be baptised with a good conscience S. Yea no doubt For seyng they are reputed as faythfull in the syghte and iudgement of god thorowe Christe they ought as faythfull to bee baptised that thorowe the ministracion of the churche they may haue a sure token witnes that they are the heyres of the blessyng promised vnto the sede of the faythfull the membres of our sauior Christe cleane purged and washed from all theyr synne in his bloude M. From what synne nedeth a chylde that is newe borne whiche hath wrought neither good nor euil to be purged or washed S. From original sinne whiche is the verye roote of all other synne M. What is originall sinne S. It is the poison infeccion or corrupcion of nature wherein we are conceyued Whiche alwayes resisteth rebelleth and lusteth againste the wyll of God and is euer inclined and redye vnto all euill wickednes and hath a luste and delite therin From the whiche we can none otherwyse be deliuered or pourged but alonlye throughe the power of God in our sauior Christ M. But how are we pourged from this sinne through baptisme S. In as muche as in baptisme we haue a promise that it is forgeuē vs and not imputed to damnacion vnto vs. And againe that the holy ghost is also geuē vs whiche shall dayly mortifie kyll and subdue this synne and wicked inclinacion in vs begynnyng and daylye increasyng in the stede therof a newe affeccion and nature in vs obediente vnto the wyll of God and deliting therin whiche in the blessed resurreccion shall bee altogether perfite M. Nowe tell me what ought our baptisme to worke in vs and to put vs in remembraunce of S. Firste we ought to bee thankefull vnto God for it and vnto our parentes also for furtheryng and healpyng vs vnto it and to receyue all doctrine and correccion of them obediently and redily M. What more S. It ought also to put vs in remēbraunce of the remission of our synnes of the grace and mercye of God and of the blessed resurreccion wherin we shall aryse agayne vnto euerlastyng lyfe By the remembraūce wherof we maye haue a singular comforte agaynst all synne agaynst the deuyll death hell damnacion M. And what els S. Finally it ought to worke in vs a perfite obedience vnto the wyll of God to leade our liues in continuall repentaunce and amendemente praying ernestly that he wyll strengthen and make more perfite in vs through his holy woorde and spirite the newe byrth whiche is already begonne in vs and dayly to mortifie our fleshe and to practise with all faythfulnes and diligence to serue God and to kepe his commaundemētes M. Nowe what is the .v. speciall article of the christen doctrine or religion S. The holy supper of the lorde M. What is the supper of the Lorde S. It is an holy ordinance and institucion of our sauior Christe wherby christen people are commaūded to eate and drynke the bread and cuppe of the Lorde together therby to remembre his passion and to be assured of theyr communion with hym in his body and bloud For it is a pledge and an assuraunce that the Lorde geueth them his bodye bloud to be the foode and nourishemēt of theyr soules vnto euerlastyng lyfe M. Than is it not a bare signe and an vnfruitfull token S. No. For we receyue in the supper a spirituall meate and drinke wherin by the lordes owne institucion the true communion and participaciō of the bodye and bloud of Christe is most liuely represented and confirmed vnto vs. And at the ministracion therof beeyng ministred after Christes institucion it is certayne that he is alwaies presente and worketh effectuously therwith M. How ought this supper to be ministred S. In euery poynte condicion as the Lorde himselfe dyd ministre and ordeyne it M. Where is it written how the lorde did ministre and ordeyne it S. In the holy Euangelistes Mat. xxvi Marc. xiiii Luke xxii Matthew Marke Luke And in the .xi. Chapiter of the fyrst Epistle to the Corinthians in these woordes In the same night that the Lorde Jesus was betrayed he tooke bread and whan he had geuen thankes he brake it M. What learnest thou out of these wordes S. Fyrst I lerne that this supper sealeth vp confirmeth assureth vnto vs the verye true communion of the true body and bloud of Christ with all the frutes and benefites whiche he dyd euer pourchase and merite thorowe his body bloud M. Howe canste thou proue that S. By the verye woordes of the institucion For whereas he commaundeth vs to eate his body and drynke his bloud that is to saye to receyue our nouryshement vnto euerlastyng lyfe thorowe fayth of his bodye and bloud he addeth immediatlye Whiche is geuen vp for you and shed for you By the whiche woordes he signyfieth seeyng we are partakers of his bodye and bloud and in faythe fleshe of his fleshe and bones of his bones he our head and we his members that we are also partakers of all that he did euer purchasse or merite thorow his passion and bloud shedyng that is reconciliacion with God the father remission of our synnes righteousnes and euerlasting lyfe M. What lernest thou more out of the forsayed woordes S. I learne also that the Lorde geueth me thorowe this supper a sure hope and comforte that I am partaker of the new testament and of the couenaūt of grace whiche he confirmed and sealed with his precious bloud M. What is that newe Testamente or couenaunte of grace S. It is this that almyghtye God for the bitter passion and deathes sake of his deare beloued sonne wyll freely pardon and forgeue me all my synnes and take me for his childe and heyre and at the latter daye will rayse me vp agayne vnto euerlastyng ioye requiryng that I should beleue all this stedfastly and loue and serue him obediently M. And is nothyng els to bee noted in the woordes of the institucion S. Yes this also is to be learned that al they which minister or receyue this holy sacramente muste celebrate kepe the memoriall or remembraūce of our sauiour Christe Iesus M. Wherin consisteth this memoriall or remembraunce S. It cōsisteth specially herein that we beeyng assembled and gathered together in his name considre and setfoorth with all diligence and reuerence all the benefites of our Lorde Iesus whiche he hathe doen and suffered for vs or will yet hereafter do for vs And agayne that we render moste highe
the name and authoritie of our sauior Iesus Christ also in the name of the whole congregacion M. After what maner and fourme S. with all godlye feruentnes and earnest praier vnto God For the which cause also it must be done in the open congregacion beeyng assembled together with theyr consente M. Proue me this by the woorde of God S. The Lorde sayeth in the chapiter before rehersed whansoeuer two or thre among you do consente together whatsoeuer they shall praye for that shall be doen vnto them of my father in heauen For whersoeuer two or thre are gathered together in my name there am I in the middest amōg them M. Here the lorde maketh mencion of two or three onely S. That he doeth to confirme the greater nūbre by the smaller M. But shewe me some scripture that maketh expresse mencion of the whole congregacion S. The holye Paul wryteth thus .i. Corin. v. J as one that am absent from you in bodye but yet present with you in spirite haue already as presente determined and concluded against him that hath committed that dede in the name of our lorde Iesus Christe and in your congregacion with my spirite and with the power or authoritie of our lorde Jesus Christe to geue him euer vnto the deuill to the confusion and perishyng of his fleshe that his spirite may be safe at the daye or cummyng of the lorde Jesus M. And what is the ministers or pastors duetie to doe in all this S. He ought in no wise to admit vnto the communion of the sacramentes suche as bee excluded by the churche or by the appoynted elders vntill suche time as they be reconciled therunto agayne And besides that he ought to bee as it were the mouth of the cōgregacion to open and to declare vnto the transgressours the heauinesse of theyr synnes to moue them vnto heartie repentaunce that they maye come out of the deuils snares M. But nowe cōcerning these that be sicke howe shall the minister ordre them S. If he perceyue that they be sorye and repentaunte for theyr sinnes and are desirous of the fauoure of God of remission than ought he to comfort them with some promyse of grace to preache vnto them free remission and absolucion in the presence of suche as are there by assistente leste peraduenture their conscience being vexed and their sickenes increased the wicked enemie preuent and ensnare them and so seduce and conueigh them into desperacion M. Where hast thou any example of scripture for that S. Our sauiour Christe as soone as he sawe the bedredde before hym doubtlesse in feare of hys synnes he sayed vnto him My sonne bee of good comforte thy synnes are forgeuen thee And agayne to the woman that had synned he sayed Goe thy way in peace thy fayth hath saued thee M. Hast thou no further commaundemente of the visitacion comfort of the sick to be doen by the ministers of the churche S. Yes the holye Apostle S. Iames teacheth that the praier of faythe whiche the seniors or elders of the churche doe make for the sicke shall help them and the lorde shall comforte them yf they be in synne it shall be forgeuen them M. Nowe what fruite and profite ought all this to worke in thee S. Fyrste I ought to learne hereby to receyue of any manne thankefully all maner of christian and brotherly correccion warning and informacion And also by the verye duetie and bonde of loue truely and faythfully to admonishe reproue my neyghboure whiche is euery christian man if I shal see him offēde M. why what hast thou to do with thy neighbour S. Forsouth forasmuche as we are all the mēbres of one body If I cā finde in my heart to see any to loyter and perishe in his synne not so much as to admonish him therof than it may appere that there is no christian loue in me M. Well what other fruit may thys doctryne worke in thee S. This also i. Corin. v. ii Thes ii that I contemne not in any wyse the disciplyne of binding loocyng of the churche but esteme drede it reuerently eschewyng and auoydynge all felowshippe and familiaritie of suche as wyll not conforme themselues vnto thesame M. what scripture haste thou for that S Euen the woordes of oure sauiour Christ wher he saieth Jf he heare not the church or congregacion than take or repute hym as an heathen and an vnchristian that is to say as an infidele that is sundered and seperate from al christian ordre and felowship But yet we ought not vtterly to reiecte and to hate him in our heartes but to praye hartily vnto God for hym that he may be conuerted from his wickednes againe and than with all ioyfulnes to receyue hym into all christen felowship agayne M. Well this is sufficient of this article also Now tell me what is thy dayly exercise in the seruice of God S. Morning and euening whan I arise or goe to bed lykewise before after meate I vse these prayers folowing or suche like Fyrste at my vprisyng I falle doune on my knees and lyftyng vp my handes and iyes vnto heauen I cōfesse my synnes vnto God my heauenly father after this maner A generall confession of synnes to be sayed euery morning O Almyghtie God our heauenlye father I confesse knowlege that I am a miserable a wretched synner haue manifolde wayes moste greuouslye transgressed thy moste godly cōmaūdementes thorow wicked thoughtes vngodlye lustes sinfull woordes dedes and in my whole lyfe In synne am I borne and conceyued and there is no goodnesse in me in asmuche as yf thou shouldest entre into thy narowe iudgemente with me iudgyng me accordyng vnto the same I were neuer hable to suffer or abyde it but must nedes peryshe and be damned for euer So lyttle help comfort or succour is there either in me or in any other creature Onely this is my comfort o heauenly father that thou diddest not spare thy only dere-beloued sonne but diddest geue him vp vnto the moste bittur moste vile slaūderous death of the crosse for me that he myght so pay the raūsom for my sinnes satisfie thy iudgement still and pacifie thy wrathe reconcyle me agayne vnto the and pourchace me thy grace and fauour and euerlastyng lyfe Wherefore thorowe the merite of hys moste bitter death and passion and thorow his innocent bloud sheadyng I beseche thee o heauēly father that thou wylt vouchsafe to bee gracious and mercyfull vnto me to forgeue and to pardon me all my synnes to lyghten my harte with thy holy spirite to renewe confirme and strengthen me with a right and a perfite fayth and to inflame me in loue towarde thee my neybour that I may hēceforth with a willing and a glad harte walk as it becūmeth me in thy moste godly commaūdementes and so glorifie prayse thee euerlastingly And also that I maye with a free conscience and a quiet
mā able to kepe and fulfill the law and .x. cōmaundements of god and so to attayne vnto euerlastyng saluacion of his owne naturall power and strength S. No for than should the sōne of God haue descended from heauen in vayne whiche came downe for none other purpose but to fulfill that for vs which no mā els was able for weaknes and infirmitie to accomplishe M. Why hath not man free libertie to kepe hymselfe from syn S. In the first creacion of man before his fall he was so created had suche libertie But thorow the transgression of Adam we were all depriued therof M. And why dyd God than geue vs suche commaundementes knowing before that we wer not able to fulfill and accomplishe them S. There are two special causes why god gaue the lawe of the .x. commaūdementes Fyrst that we myght therby learne to knowe both that perfeccion wherein man was fyrst created also the feblenes weaknes and corrupcion of our nature beeyng otherwyse inclined and affect than the lawe of god requireth Secondarily that it myght bee our scholemaister and guide vnto the onely sauior and mercy stole Christe whiche is the ende of the lawe For seyng we perceyue by the lawe that we are miserable synners and not able to perfourme that whiche the lawe requireth we must nedes flee vnto Christ for helpe and comforte staying our selues vpon hym only thorowe a true and a perfecte fayth M. Well God geue vs all suche a fayth Nowe what is the seconde speciall poynte or article of the christen religion S. The articles of the holy Christian faythe M. Declare me those articles of the fayth first what faythe is S. Faythe is a sure trust and a stedfaste confidence in the very true eternall liuing god wherthorowe our hartes are thorowly perswaded that he wyll bee mercyfull vnto vs thorowe the death and passion of his onely begotten sonne our lorde Iesus Christe M. Whervnto serueth this fayth S. It serueth profiteth vs for this pourpose to teache vs what we must hope and loke for to receyue of God whereby we may learne to knowe what god is And it teacheth vs also how we may performe all that God requireth of vs in the .x. commundementes M. What dooeth it teache vs of God S. To beleue all thinges that are writen in holy scripture of him the summe and effecte whereof is conteyned in the articles of the common crede J beleue in God c. M. How may those articles be briefly deuided S. They maye be deuided into .iii. chief principall articles The first of god the father our creator The second of god the sonne our redemer The thirde of god the holy gost our sanctifier which hathe sanctified and brought vs to the knowlege of the father and of the sonne M. Me thinke by this diuisiō thou makeste .iii. gods god the father god the sonne and god the holy gost S. No the whole scripture teacheth that there is but one god as in the .vi. of Deut. The lord our god is one only god There is but one God and one father of all c. Ephe. iiii Item i. Timo. ii There is one God one mediator c. But in thesame one Godhead are three sondry persons of like substance accordyng vnto the three sondry workes whiche are knowen of God namely the creacion the redemcion the sanctificacion Wherof the fyrste is ascribed vnto the father the seconde to the sonne the thirde to the holye gost And for this cause we saie and beleue that there are three persons and but one God M. Whiche are the woordes of the first chiefe principal article S. I beleue in god the father c. M. What is it to beleue in god S. It is to knowe god as he is M. What is God S. God is the euerlastyng and endelesse welspryng of all goodnesse Iac. i. Roma iii by whōe we may seke whatsoeuer we lacke to whōe we may rūne and complayne in what sorow vexacion and nede soeuer we be and we shall be sure to finde comforte helpe succour and defence at him M. Why doeth the scripture call God a father S. To confyrme and stablishe our fayth also to comfort the weake and feble heartes of all faythfull beleuers M. What comfort is it vnto the to beleue that God is an almyghtye father S. It is a singular cōfort vnto me to beleue that the almightie God the father of our Lorde Iesus Christe wyll also be my father and take no lesse but a thousande tymes more care charge and sorow for me a miserable worme than anye naturall father can do for his child and wyll repute and take me for a chyld and heyre of his kyngdome euerlastyng lyfe M. Is God suche a father vnto all men without excepcion S. No althoughe he be the lorde creator and susteiner of all yet he is onely the father of the faithful which know feare and loue his onelye begotten sōne and put their whole trust in him M. What comforte is it vnto the to beleue that God is almightie and creator of heauen and yearth S. Throughe beleuyng of that I am assured that I maye boldly and safelye trust and cōmitte my selfe vnto him whō no creature can hinder or let whiche as he of his fatherly goodnes wyll help vs so can he through his almyghtie power geue to vs his heritage and ayde vs in euery ease wherin and whāsoeuer he will Wherfore vnder his protecciō we may be of good comforte without feare of any maner of creature For all creatures must serue vs for our wealth profite M. If God be suche an almightie father why doeth he suffre his chyldren sometime to be so grieuously afflicted and vexed doeth not helpe them S. He suffereth it not as though he would not or coulde not helpe them but because it is for the glorye of his name for the sufferers soule helth that it should so be And although it semeth contrary to the affeccion and desyre of the fleshe yet the spirite of fayth feleth continually the present ayde of god in suche affliccion M. Is it sufficiente for vs thus to beleue of God the father as is nowe rehersed S. It is sufficiente ynoughe so that we learne thereby to putte all our hope and confidence of euerlasting lyfe and saluacion in hym only as the head welspring of all goodnes cōmittyng our selues vnto his almyghtie power and fatherly louyng goodnesse Which declareth hymselfe through his vnspeakable wysedome in the creacion of the world after suche sorte that no manne can bee excused whiche dooeth not put his trust in hym euer more adore worship glorifie him M. well what foloweth next S. The second principall article of God the sonne oure sauior Christe M. what are the wordes of this article S. J beleue in Jesus Christ c. M. What is al that to saye S. It is thus muche to saye I put al my trust