is partaker of his euel dedes Furthermore Paule lorde chaunceler sayeth Other fouÌ„dacion canne no man laye then that which is laid alredy The lorde chaÌ„celer coÌ„firmith it more sayth yf an aÌ„gel shuld come froÌ„ heueÌ„ to declare any other doctrine he forfendeth to giue no credens wherfore we wyll that our lawes doth staÌ„de in his ful strength vertue without corrupcion of other doctrine ¶ Further be it enacted it shal be lawful for al men to haue these our lawes ordinances and statutes day lye red in their houses as oure captaines of oure armies had both Iosue and also Esdras and also oure speaker of parliameÌ„t Moses sayd Audi filii Israel declaring to them they shulde writ it vpon the postes and gates of their houses and to haue it in remembrance it shulde be bouÌ„de vnto their handes and so whetted vpoÌ„ their childreÌ„ that none other doctrine shuld take place that according as Paule lorde chanceler sayeth He wold of one to go before another in spiritual knowlege And Dauid the noble kynge and one of oure chefe ambassitours that brought message of oure godlye pleasure to come settynge forth also what profitablenes was in the knowlege of our lawe sayd Lex dnÌ„i immaculata conuertens aiÌ„as testimoniuÌ„ dnÌ„i fideli sapientiam prestans paruulos The lawe of the lorde is parfyte refreshynge the soule the testimony of the lorde is faithful ministringe wysedome vnto the vnlerned the coÌ„mauÌ„dementes of the Lord are ryght makinge glad the herte tho thinges whyche God coÌ„mauÌ„deth are plaine and pure and they lyghteÌ„ the eyes The feare of the Lorde is pure and holye abydynge for euer the pleasures of the Lorde are trewe and ryghte in euerye parte more worthyer to be desyred then golde and precious stones swetter then the honye combe when it droppeth Thys ambassitour kynge Dauid was in assurauns he neuer fel after he had our holye and heuenly lawe in his hert where as he said Lucerna pedibus meis verbum tuum domine et lumen semitis meis O Lord thy worde is a lanterne vnto my fete and also a light vnto my pathes And more ouer he said Iuraui et statui custodiri iudicia iusticie tue I haue sworne euen in the botome of my hert and shal ê‘forme it to kepe thy iuste pleasures So that in euery place this faithful Dauid professed our lawe to be of wonders efficacy strengthe and vertue that in maner he dyd wonder at theÌ„ and with a great vehemency spake Mirabilia tua domine c. Meruelous are thy testimonies wherfore my soule obserueth them to come but to the dore of thy scripture lighteneth and giueth vnderstandynge to the vnlearned This was he of whome we sayde we haue chosen a maÌ„ euen to our owne hert Furthermore our secretary Iohn the euangelist at the entringe first into hys office sayd In the beginninge was the worde and the worde was wyth God God was the worde so that by his auctorite who so euer receiueth our lawe receiueth vs and the contrary who so receiueth not oure lawe receiueth not vs. Wherfore man shal vnderstande it is our wil godly pleasure to haue our moste sacred worde to go forth whiche is the comforte for man to guyde hys whole lyfe with all and it was full auctorised by our only sonne Vicegerent Iesus Christe whiche dyd performe the consummacion of our sayd lawe but we wil by the vertue of this said acte that any person or ê‘sons do not onely receiue this our law carnally but we wil it shal be receyued spiritually or els as Peter the maister of our buildinges sayth it shulde be better yf they had neuer aknowen it ¶ Prouided alwayes that yf any person or persons do not accoÌ„plishe and fulfyl this our sayd lawe that then it shal be leful for hym or them to saye with our faithfull ambassitour Dauid peccaui or peccauimus cuÌ„ patribê° nrÌ„is Iniuste egimê° iniqitatem fecimus I haue sinned or we haue sinned with our fathers we haue lyued walked sinfully haue done iniquite so that yf we shal perceyue amendement of lyfe be had amonge men that then we wyll euen fatherly accepte their hertes for the sayd confessions sake spuÌ„all myndes the act before notwithstaÌ„dinge ¶ Further be it enacted that euery person or persons which murmure or groge that this our sayd lawe shuld prosecute for mannes consolacion we abiecte clene our heueÌ„ly regimeÌ„t to euerlasting punyshment euery person or persons that be transgressours of oure sayd lawes and be in minde to coÌ„tinue styl in such rebellious life shal haue like punishmeÌ„t be wiped clene out of the boke of lyfe ¶ Prouided alwayes we wold maÌ„ shuld knowe our pardon is incoÌ„parable so that men wil be obedient reconsiled vnto our lawe when so euer our grace is offerde For we wil not the death of no synner yf he wil coÌ„uert turne we wil turne to hym againe wyl thinke nomore on his disobedieÌ„s his sinnes shal passe froÌ„ our syght as corrupt water that is put into a faire running ryuer So that we wyl maÌ„ shall lay ful holde trustyng hole to the restitucioÌ„ that we haue by our owne soÌ„ne vicegerent ê“uided for hiÌ„ which is the painful passioÌ„ that our soÌ„ne dyd suffer in whose blode we be moued to mercy when so euer maÌ„ by fayth layeth the same before vs. Clerelye as we sayde before of the synnes that man hathe done to thinke no more on them that act before notwithstandinge ¶ Further be it enacted our Beatitude shal be vpon almen that shall with a willynge herte do or consent to obserue and do all that we haue coÌ„maunded their catel their corne with al other their substance shal be multiplied and encreased And contrary euery person or persons that with a grudgynge hert do not or at the least consent vnto al that we haue coÌ„maunded to the vttermoost of their powers that then let them be sure that oure moste godly encrease shal be withdrawen from them for cursed shal they be their corne their catel with al other their substance ¶ Prouided alwayes it shal be mete for vs to take oure pleasure aboue al other And where as we dyd permyt sathan to tempt oure onelye sonne and Vicegerent Iesus Christ And also in lyke case oure faythfull seruaÌ„t Iob to be tried by aduersite It shal be vnderstande many times we be so minded to proue our faithfull to withdrawe vaine thinges froÌ„ them to bring them to the knowlege of more parfiter gyftes For it is our nature diuers times to set vp and after to pul downe many times we exalt the wicked to drowne them hole in their lubricite For of al creatures we know the intent of the creacioÌ„ we are as the potter that maye do what him lyst with the lumpe of claye when he hath it in his haÌ„des to make it a vessell of honoure or a vessel of dishonour and yet we wyll not be resoned
¶ An heauenly acte concernynge how man shal lyue made by our suffraine lorde God the father God the sonne and God the holye goost and al the whole clergie in heuen consenting to the same ¶ Make no taryeng to turne vnto the Lorde and put not of from daye to daye for sodenly shal his wrathe come and in time of vengeaunce he shal destroye the. Ecclesi vi God the father WHere as we ê‘ceiued that after we had created maÌ„ settinge him in a place of high pleasure leuiÌ„g him in the councell of his owne handes to chose whether that he wolde die or not die And thus beynge a spiritual body after our own similitude coulde not for all this stande in the same state but abusinge our celestiall giftes and fel from our precept neglecting what liberte to him was deliuered so chaunginge him selfe from heuenli libertie vnto eternall bondage in whome we se what he was of him selfe nothinge but sinfulnes refusing our liberties fill vnto the fulnes of his owne sinne Whom we lamented of oure mere mercy couÌ„celling with our selfe we wolde not haue him whole lost vpoÌ„ which consideracion we exiled him our compani and to liue in the borders of our wast grounde takinge him his as aliantes straungers vnto vs exempt from eternal wisedom and so brought to worldly policies NotwithstaÌ„ding as we haue said our petie and clemencie prouided al maner of thinges and comodites for him by the which he might ê‘ceiue our potencial power as wel before towarde him as then Wherfore vpon coÌ„sideracion of our owne good will we enacted by oure owne councel so to prouide to set againe at libertie the dauÌ„gers also to take away that maÌ„ was fallen in which coulde not be done but thorow him that was clene pure without sinne for sinne coulde not take awaye sinne but the time we reserued vnto our owne selfe and at the length to stablishe and confirme our saide act and purpose we sent downe our only begotteÌ„ sonne to ê“claime oure wil what it was vnto the which he set to his seales hanginge vpon the crosse giuinge vp his life thorowe moste painful death by the whiche the attonement was made betwene man and vs and so our anger was pacified and we haue also prepared eternal rest for maÌ„ so that after this he wil kepe couenant with vs and liue in our lawes and statutes that we haue set forth by our high court of parliament both of lordes spiritual and temporal to the same consentinge ¶ We haue enacted in our heueÌ„ly court that man shall loue vs aboue al thinge with hert soule minde and al the powers he hath to haue none other God or goddes but vs and vs onely to serue vpon the paine of euerlastinge dampnacion ¶ We haue enacted also by the auctorite aforesaid that our blessed name be not taken in vaine but moste reuereÌ„tly to be had in honor vpon the paine before rehersed vterly of vs forsakeÌ„ to the coÌ„firmacioÌ„ wherof our vicegereÌ„t Iesus Christ willeth maÌ„ not swere at al but that his othe shal be yea yea nay nay for what soeuer is more is sin Also Iames the apostle archbishop of al Galacia sayth Let your yea be yea your nay be nay SalomoÌ„ to whom we gaue great wisedoÌ„ so that many regions wondred ther at giueth warniÌ„g to great swerers sayth that our plage shal not depart froÌ„ the house of a customable swerer wherfore who the offeÌ„deth in this is vtterly of vs forsaken ¶ Prouided always yf ye shal be required of your faith of any in auctorite to whoÌ„ ye are doutful or the obediens to your priÌ„ce shal be required of you by othe besydes to testifie for the truth of your neibour so much as eqite iustice doth reqire ye maye lawfully take vs to witnes for your faith to take vs to witnes for yor obedieÌ„s to iustify your neibour in a right cause ye may reherse our name for so is it not in vaine the acte before notwithstandinge Furthermore we wil be worshipped the .vii. day the maÌ„ shal giue vs honor worship for the beneficial kindnes that we haue done to him seasing froÌ„ al labours that daye both he al his ¶ Prouided always wher as nede shal reqire as our only sonne vicegerent Iesus Christ gaue exaÌ„ple in healing the lame maÌ„ vpon the sabboth day so the al actes may redouÌ„de vnto our glory lawfully to be vsed the acte before notwithstandinge ¶ Further be it enacted for the vnite concorde which we wold shuld be betwene our creatures we will one shal do vnto another as he wold be don to To the coÌ„firmacioÌ„ of this said act our only son vicegereÌ„t saieth man shall praye vnto vs for the forgiuenes of his sinnes none otherwise then he doth forgiue other Also the said Iesus Christ saieth openinge this acte very plainly Yf ye shal forgiue those that hath offeÌ„ded you your heuenly father shal al so remit you your offences he wil al so that man shal forgiue his mortal enemies and to blesse where as they do curse And although the auctoritie of this acte be sufficient as is before spoken yet maÌ„ shal vnderstaÌ„de our lordes of our ê‘liameÌ„t haue giueÌ„ their voice vnto it And first the lord secretary Ihon the euangelist sette his hande and writ Deus caritas est God is charite who that abideth in charite abideth in God and God in him And Paule the lorde chauÌ„celer sayeth Yf he could speak with tonges of men or with tonges of angels so that he coulde remoue mountaines with his faith Yf he shulde giue his body to be burned without he haue charite it ê“fiteth nothinge so that in conclusion he doth affirme and saieth Caritas noÌ„ querit que sua sunt Charite seketh not only his owne but that that longeth to Iesus Christ our only soÌ„ne and Vicegerent whose example we wil maÌ„ shal folow sayeng Mandatum nouum do vobis vt diligatis inuicem sicut dilexi vos To you I giue a new coÌ„maundement that ye loue one another euen as I haue loued you Also maÌ„ shal vnderstande our loue was vnspeakable towarde him as our lord secretary Iohn the euaÌ„gelist writ Sic deus dilexit muÌ„dum vt vnigenitum suuÌ„ daret pro mundum We had suche loue vnto man that we gaue our welbeloued sonne for him that al that beleue in him shuld not perishe but haue lyfe euerlastinge Wherfore we will by our heuenly coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t that this acte do extende to all creatures one to loue another for as our lord chaÌ„celer Paul saith loue is the fulfilling of the lawe the coÌ„trary where loue is not there is not god where god is not there is wickednes and where wickednes is there is dampnacion ¶ Also it is enacted maÌ„ shal be obedieÌ„t vnto his father mother in doyng their coÌ„maÌ„demeÌ„t in so doing we made maÌ„ a ê“mise that his life shuld be
with al for the cause but we wyl man shal aplye his hole wil vnto our will and to saye wyth our only sonne and Vicegerent Iesus Christ Fiat voluntas tua Not our wylles but this thy wyll in all thinges maye be done For thy wyll is holy and is a wyll that can not alter and chaunge vnto the which all creatures in heauen earth and hell muste obeye Yf man shall thus obedientlye prostrate his whole herte vnto oure correction Whether it be in losse of goodes sycknes or any other aduersities what so euer it shall please vs to touche man with all That then man shall be sure we wyll so vse hym at length he shal not be tempted aboue that he is able to beare And as our lorde chanceler Paule sayeth Who so euer doth put their truste in vs shall not be confounded And oure ambassitour kynge Dauid sayeth Multi tribulationes iustorum et de omnibus hiis liberauit eum dominus Vnto the iuste happeneth many tribulacions but the lorde deliuereth them from all Therfore we wyll man shal be faythful in temptacion yea and to gyue vp hys hole lyfe into our handes and to feare nothing that shall come of vs what so euer shal be layed to his charge but to remember that in all thinge we seke his profyte yea thoughe that we take his temporall lyfe from hym in the whiche we wyll be glorifyed and glorifie him agayne For as it is sayd Preciosa in conspectu domini mors sanctorum eius That is the death of the faithful is precious in our syght we wyl man shall take no paines for our pleasure but that we wyl double recompens agayne For our only sonne and vicegerent hath sayd Beati qui lugent Beati qui persecuntur c. Blessed are they that mourne for they shal be comforted blessed are they that suffer ê‘secucion for righteousnes sake for thers is the kingdome of god blessed are you when men shall reuile you persecute you falsly saye al maner of euyl saynges against you for my names sake Reioyce be glad for great is your rewarde in heuen what may be more sayd what thing can we more promise wherfore maÌ„ shall vnderstande in all thynges we wyll that man shal be obedient and confirmable vnto our will and godly pleasure the acte before notwithstandynge ¶ Also we haue enacted that euery person or persons shal vnderstande that neuer after this we shall alter or chaunge any parte or partes of that we haue inacted but as our Vicegerent sayeth Heuen earth shal alter but our worde shall not alter for our word is our owne selfe and we are not chaungeable in our selfe we are omnipoteÌ„t wtout beginning wtout endinge holiest of al holiest so fixed knet in euerlastinge truth that al that we haue said can not alter nor be vndone but euermore to stande Wherfore by vertue of this said acte we wyl that none other of oure terrestriall creatures shall in their counsel or councelles inueye or suppresse any parte or partes of that that we haue sayde or enacted but that euery person or persons in al their councels shal haue prospect to our lawes groundynge them selues on our fouÌ„dacion that we haue layed For we knowe our selfe to be as wyse as they in al thinges what was mete and what was vnmete whose lawes also be sanctifyed by our lawes if they be consonant and whose lawes also be acursed by our lawes yf they be contrarye so that with what measure so euer is delyuered the same shal be delyuered agayne yet by our law althinge shal be iustly iuged ¶ Be it knowen therfore that thys is the fyrste and the last parliament that we haue or wyll to enacte oure lawes for euermore And when the tyme shall come as we haue it appointed to cal kinges emperours with all other potentates before vs to render accompt before vs for the executinge of oure wyll and lawes whether they haue bene done worthelye or vnworthelye before vs it shal appere and those that we haue founde faythfull and trusty we shal deliuer them from the daungers of the lawe to raigne wyth vs euerlastinge And againe the transgressours or malefactours of the same shal fal into euerlasting curse of the lawe which is dampnacion for euer more ¶ Printed at Amstredam be Ian Peterson