euerlasting death is ouercome euerlastyng lyfe is purchessed Therefore in this sentēce also it is necessary that faith be not takē for the naked knoledg of the history but for the true trust of mercy which purchesseth remission of synnes and cōforteth our hertes and deliuereth vs frome feare and certifyeth vs of euerlastynge lyfe ☞ What then Is the knowledge of the historie to be wythdrawen from fayth No but it is necessary to beleue al the Articles of faith Yet it is not sufficyent to know the historye onely but the hystorye is to be referred vnto the finall cause whyche is the Crede that is to say I beleue remission of sinnes For this is the vse of the history That thou beleue Christ the son of God therefore to be borne in fleshe to haue suffered and risen vp againe that thou shuldest obtayne remissyon of synnes and euerlastyng lyfe ☞ What is the profession of the Christen fayeth ¶ Ther be thre Symboles Credes or professions of the Articles of oure fayeth the common crede of the Apostles that whiche was made in the counsell at Nicene And the thyrd of Athanasius ☞ Reherse the apostles Crede i. I beleue in God the father allmighti maker of heauē and earth ii And in Iesus Christ his onely son our Lorde iii. Which was cōceiued bi the holie gost borne of the vyrgyn Mari. iiii Suffered vnder ponce Pilat crucifyed dead and buried v. He descended into hel the third daye he rose from death vi He ascēded vnto heauen he sytteth at the right hande of god the father almyghty vii Frome these he shall come to iudg the quicke and the dead viii A beleue in the holy gost ix The holy catholike church the communion of Sayntes x. Remission of synnes xi Resurrection of the flesh xii And euerlastyng lyfe ☞ Saye the crede of the counsel at Nicenum ⧠I beleue in one god father al mightie maker of heauē earth al things visible vnuisible And in one lord Iesus christ the only be gotten son of god borne of hys father before the worlds god of god light of very light god of veri god begottē not made like in substāce vnto his father by whom he created althings Which for vs men and for our helth came downe frō heauen and is incarnate by the holie gost of the virgin Marye and made man crucified also vnder pōce Pilat suffered rose the .iii. day according to the scriptures he ascēded into heauen He sytteth at the ryght hand of god the father shal come againe with glorie to iudge the quick the dead whose kingdō is wtout end And in that holy gost the lord which giueth life which procedeth from the father the son which also wyth the father and the sonne is worshypped like glorified which hath spoken by the Prophetes And one holye catholike and apostolycal church I acknowledg one Baptysme in remission of synnes I loke for the resurrectiō of the deade the lyfe of the world to come So be it ¶ Say the crede of Athanasius ☞ Who so euer wil be saued before al thinges it is necessari that he kepe the general faith Which vnles euery man obserue perfecte and vndefyled he shall wtout doubt euerlastingly perish But this is the catholike fayeth that we worshipe one god in trinite and the Trinite in vnite Neyther confoundynge the persons nor seperatyng the substāce For the personne of the father is one of the son an other and of the holy gost an other But of the father and the sonne and the holy goste is one diuinitye equalle glorye lyke euerlastynge maiesty Lyke as their be not thre vncreated nor thre vnmeasurable but one vncreated and one vnmeasurable Likewise the father is almighty the son almyghtye and the holye goste almyghtye And yet be ther not thre almightyes but there is one almightye Euen so the father is god the son is god and the holy goost is god And yet be there not thre goddes but one god So the father is lorde the sonne is Lord and the holy gost is lord And yet be their not thre Lordes but ther is one Lorde For lyke as we be compelled by christen veritye to acknowledge euery persō one after an other to be god or Lorde so be we forbydden wyth catholyke religyon to saye that there be thre goddes or thre lordes The father is made of none other neither created nor yet begotten The son is of the father only not made nor created but begotten The holy gost is of the father and the son not made nor created nor begotten but procedyng Therfore ther is one father not .iii. fathers one son not iii. sonnes on holy gost not thre holy gostes And in thys trinite their is nothynge before nor after nothyng greater nor lesse But the whole thre personnes be like euerlastynge wyth their selfe and lyke equall So that in al thynges as it is nowe aboue sayde and that the trinity is to be worshipped in vnitie the vnity in the Trinitie Wherfore he whych wylbe saued let hym so iudge of the Trinitie But it is necessarye for euerlastyng health that he beleue faithfully also the incarnacion of our Lord Iesus Christ Therefore it is ryght faieth that we beleue and confesse that our lord Iesus Christe the son of god is god and man He is god of the substaunce of his father gotten before the worldes and he is mā of his mother borne in the world Perfect God and perfecte man of a reasonable soule and mans flesh subsistyng Equall vnto hys father accordynge vnto hys dyuynytye lesse then hys father accordynge vnto hys humanity Whiche althought he be god and mā yet be their not two but ther is one Christ But one not in conuersion of the godheade into flesh but in takeyng of manhead in god One altogither not in confusion of substaunce but in vnitye of personne For lyke as a reasonable soule and fleshe is one man so Christ is one God and man Whyche suffered for oure saluacion wente downe vnto hell and the thirde day rose from the dead He went vnto heauen sitteth at the right hande of god the father almyghty Frō thense he shal come to iudge the quicke and the deade Vnto whose commynge all men shall ryse wyth theyr bodies And they shall gyue a counte of their owne dedes And they whiche haue done well shall enter into euerlastinge lyfe but they whyche haue done euell into euerlastynge fyre This is the catholyke fayth whiche vnlesse euery man do faythfullye beleue he can not be saued ¶ Of God ☞ What is God GOd is a spirituall vnderstandinge substaunce the euerlastinge maker keper and defender of al thinges of one endles wysdome goodnes ryghtuousnes and mercy ☞ Shewe wytnes of the vnite of God ¶ Deut .vi. Heare Israell Thy Lord god is one Lord Esai xliiii I am the fyrste and the laste and besyde me is there no god And xlv I am god nor there
ought to vse our selfe toward our neighbour ☞ Resite the ten commaundementes THou shalt haue no straing gods before me Thou shalte not take the name of God thy Lorde in vayne Remēber that thou sanctyfye the sabboth daie Honour thy father and mother that thou maye haue longe lyfe vpon the earth Thou shalte not kyl Thou shalt not cōmitte adultry Thou shalt not steale Thou shalt not speake false wytnes against thy neighbour Thou shalt not desire thy neyghbours house Thou shalte not desire hys wyfe his seruaūt his hādmaid his oxe his asse or any other thing of hys ¶ What do the preceptes commaūde vs The firste commaundeth the inwarde worshippe of God that is to saye the true and perfecte feare the true and perfecte fayth and the perfect loue of god The seconde commaundeth the outwarde worshyppe the vse of the name of god that is to say inuocacion thankes gyuynge preachinge of the word of god and cōfessiō these be sacrifices of prayse The thyrde commaundeth preaching of the word to be holyly obserued and ceremonies whiche be gyuen by god to be kepte for the minister sake that we giue some tyme to hearynge the worde and exercising by ceremonies The fourth cōmaūdeth obediēce towarde parentes officers and thys precept conteineth excellent vertues that is to saye diligence in obeyng doinge our vocaciō modestnes pitie toward our parētes the cōmō welth such like vertues The fyfte commaundeth to hurte no man it forbydeth desire of vengeaunce hatred enuy and suche lyke affections and it conteyneth many vertues that is to say iustice mekenes constaunce pacience and clemency ¶ The syxte alloweth mariage and commaundeth to absteyne frome whorhuntynge It conteyneth these vertues chastitye temperaunce continence sobriety and such lyke The seuenth defēdeth propriety of goods and commaundeth to absteine frō other mens goods It conteyneth sparynge liberality diligence and such lyke The eyght defendeth iudgementes and requireth the truch of couenaūtes and testymonyes The nynth and tenthe dooe gyue declaration vnto all the other preceptes that not onely externall factes are forbydden but also euel affections desires and that the cōscience is euer accused ☞ What be the iudiciall or polytyke lawes of Moyses ☞ Whyche commaunde of the rites of mariages of successions of punishynge of offenders and such other polityke thynges Those perteyn not vnto christen men vnlesse ther be some of them naturall as when mariage of aliance and kinfsolke is forbidden For reuerence of bloud oughte to be obserued amonge all people and at all tymes For the Cananites were destroied for vnlaufull lustes bycause they maryed theyr kynswomen ☞ Whiche be ceremoniall lawe ¶ Which commaund of the tēple rites of sacrifices which rites and customes dooe separate the Iues from the Gentiles Christen men be delyuered from these lawes Yet God wyll thys that wee vse at certayne tymes the ceremonyes whyche be commaunded vs of God and come togither vnto the preachynge of the worde for nothynge is more necessarye then the preachinge of the worde of God ¶ What is the effecte of goddes lawe and howe many offices be thereof ¶ Thre the firste the lawe doth constreine and plucke downe all menne wyth a certayne perfecte forme of liuynge Therefore saith Paulle The law is geuen for the vniust And agayne The lawe is a scholemaister vnto Christe For thys forme of good lyfe ordeyned and officers the doctryne of the lawe punishmente for mannes wretchednes etc. The seconde declareth syn accuseth affraieth condēneth our conscience whereupon Paule saieth By the lawe is knowledge of sinne Also the lawe worketh wrath Item By the lawe is sin excellētly giltye Item the pricke of death is sinne but the myghte of synne is the law The thyrd teacheth what workes be acceptable before god and commaundeth certayne workes wherein we maye exercise obedience toward god For althoughe we be fre frome the law in so muche as belongeth to iustification yet as concernynge our obedience the lawe remayneth For it is necessary that we being iustified by God obey him ☞ Maye a man by hys owne power fulfyll the law of God or no ¶ Nothynge lesse For the lawe of god is not satysfyed wyth our external workes as the papistes teach nor yet by the inward endeuour of oure wyll wtout fayth and the holye goost But Christ is the ende of the lawe that is to saye wythout Christ the lawe auaileth nothinge ☞ May a man be iustifyed by the lawe ¶ No for Paule wythdraweth iustification frome the lawe in thys corrupted nature For no-man satiffyeth the lawe wyth the powre of nature Therefore they whyche be not reconcyled wyth fayeth althoughe they fulfyl certayne workes of the lawe yet can thei not please god for thei be euer accused of the lawe and they remayne in doubt and desperatiō ⧠Wherefore then be Moyses lawes gyuē seinge they iustify not ☞ Therefore be they gyuen that the Israelytes should be knowen frō Gentyles vnto the preaching of Christe For god woulde segregate and deuid thys people from other nations that ther shoulde be a certayne kynde of people ▪ wherein Christe shoulde be borne and wherein the promises should be kepte and that ther should be certayne testimonies of the word of God therefore was thys people ledde out of Egypte wyth so many greate and wonderfull miracles Although then the Israelytes dyd not deserue remyssion of sinnes before god for kepynge of these lawes yet god dyd subiecte them vnto these lawes as vnto a schole maister as Paulle sayeth But they dyd obteyne remission of synnes by the truste of the mercy of god promised vnto them for Christes sake whyche was to come whome the gospell declareth nowe to be come ¶ Of the Gospel ¶ What is the Gospel IT is the preachynge of repentaunce and remission of sinnes and iustification whiche naturall reason can not perceyue but it is godly declared wherein god promyseth that he wyll forgyue synnes for Christe hys sonnes sake and pronownceth vs iustifyed that is to saye acceptable and gyueth vs the holye gooste and euerlastinge lyfe If we beleue onely that these do vndoubtedlye chaunce vnto vs for Christes sake ☞ What difference is betwene the law and the Gospell ¶ The lawe requireth perfecte obedience the true feare of God true beleue it affrayeth oure hertes and consciences it forgyueth not synnes for nothinge it pronownceth vs not rightuousse vnlesse we fulfyll the lawe And allthough it hath promises yet they require the condicion of the lawe fulfilled that is to saye He that doeth these shal lyue in them Item do thys and thou shalt lyue But the Gospel is the preachinge of repentaunce conteyning the promises of the benifites of Christe It comforteth the hertes which be affraied it forgiueth sinne for nothinge and pronounceth vs iustifyed although we do not fulfil the law ¶ Of promissions ☞ Howe manye promissions of the holye scripture be ther TWo some be added vnto the law and haue the condicion of the lawe that is to saye they
beleue in him and that we shal iudge this to be the euerlastynge and vnchāgeable wil of god that for Christes sake al these thynges are vndoubtedly graunted vnto vs which the gospel promiseth ☞ Haue we then merit in reconciliation ☞ We haue no merite whereby we cā obteyne grace that is remissiō of synnes reputacion of righteousnes but it is the vndeserued rewarde as Paul sayeth it is the gyft of god not of you lest ani mā shuld glory Also Ro. vi The gift of god is euerlastyng lyfe Therfore thys meane is takē away in reconciliatiō not because we shuld do nothing be idle but because the promis is a rewarde to the intente it maye be certayne that is to aye not hauing ought of the conditiō of oure worthines yet we in the meane season muste receyue not reiecte the promisse ☞ Which be the effectes of grace ☞ The effectes be motions of the holy goste which be when we receyue the Gospell And the firste and princypall effecte is fayeth whereby wee lyfte vp oure selfe and iudge God to be mercyefull vnto vs for Christes sake This motiō is called a reuiuing for wythe fayeth the threateninges and feares of synne and death be ouercome And thys trust is deliueraunce from synne and euerlastynge death and the verye begynnynge of euerlastynge lyfe Then after folowe other motions that is to saye a newe obedyence toward god inuocatiō feare loue paciēce other vertues Ther be also other effectes of grace the helpe of god againste the deuyll and death comforte in aduersities Also delyueraunce from the lawe The laste effecte is which solowyth the finall cause Renewing of hole nature euerlasting lyfe ☞ By what menanes doth grace deliuer vs from syn and death seinge syn remayneth as yet infixed in our flesh and also bodely death ⧠I answere Although in this life the fleshe abideth as yet viciouse yet this presente infirmitye is not imputed vnto them which beleue althoughe thys euel by it owne nature is synne or a thyng whyche deserueth dampnatyon moreouer newe motyons and a newe lyfe is begune in vs which shal be made perfecte when thys fleshe mortified shal be renewed And so grace deliuereth from synne after two sortes For it is remission of synnes whyche bee past and forgyuenes or not reputynge of the presente euell which is in vs remayneth infixed in our fleshe Secondarily we be delyuered from death For nowe is euerlastynge death taken awaye to thē which beleue Then remaineth as yet bodilye deathe and other aduerlityes in thys lyfe but yet is death robbed of his darte and only bodelye death doth remaine for thys purpose that thys vicyouse and corrupted flesh should be abolyshed Afterwardes shall thys bodelie deathe bee also abolyshed and a newe glorified nature shall come after in the resurrection of the dead ☞ Wherfore maketh Paule difference betwen Grace and the reward Paule calleth grace remission of sinnes or reconcilynge or the vndeserued acceptinge for Christes sake He calleth the rewarde the gyuing of the holy gooste and euerlastinge life Therfore thys word reward signifieth the very effectes of grace whereof I haue spoken But althoughe these two be so cōioyned yet Paule lernedly maketh difference betwene them for a necessari cause And thys is the maner of dyfference as is aboue sayed For althoughe it be necessarye that new spiritual motiōs be begunne in vs yet oure conscience is stryuynge and before the iudgement of god must not haue respecte to the renuinge of it whych is done by the holy gooste nor yet to seke if it haue vertues inowe or no whether it beleue loue inough For so can it neuer be certified of remission of synnes but it muste playnely behold the promisse of the gospel iudge that it hath vndoubtedly remission of synnes vndeserued for Christes sake not for any dignity or vertues which it hath ⧠What signifyeth the spirite of grace and prayer in the prophet zacharie †zacharias Chapi xii hath most pleasātly described the benifytes of the new testament in these words I wyl poure out vpō the house of Dauyde the spirite of grace and prayers He calleth the spirite of grace whereby we knowe that God is mercyful vnto vs forgyueth oure synnes The spirite of prayers conteyneth all inwarde worshyp inuocation and all exercisynges of fayeth whiche the holye goste performeth after we haue receyued confort and beleue that we haue remissyon of sinnes for Christes sake ¶ Of Iustification ☞ What signifye these two wordes to be iustifyed and iustification TO be iustifyed signifyeth properly in the hebrue Phrases to bee quyte from sinne and to be pronounted iuste that is to say acceptable as if thou woulde saye he is absolued and recōciled or receiued into fauour So sayth Paul Rom. iiii To hym whyche beleueth in hym whyche iustifyeth the vngodlye that is to saye delyuereth and pronounceth ryghtuouse Euē so Iustificatiō signifieth the recōcilyng or acceptation of god For although it be necessary that newe motions be in them whych be recōciled yet iustifycatiō must not be vnderstanded in thys proposition we be iustifyed by fayth of the diuicyon of qualityes or newe vertues But it muste be vnderstanded in referrynge to an other thynge that is to saye the wyll of God acceptynge and allowynge vs euen wyth the remission of synnes and pacifiynge of conscience So also this worde Iustus signifyeth in comparison of an other not one hauyng new qualities but one reconciled or accepted hauing remissiō of synnes ☞ What doeth iustification conteyne It conteyneth thre membres remission of sinnes acceptation vnto euerlastynge lyfe and giuyng of the holy gooste Althoughe the reste be contayned in remission of synnes yet for the cause of teachinge it is expediente to discerne these thre that we maye perceiue all thes to be gyuen vnto vs not for our worthines but onelye by mercy for Christe And not to be Imagined that althoughe wee obtayne remissyon of synnes by mercy yet after that we be iustifyed by oure owne qualityes or vertues ☞ How is iustification ⧠It is sayed aboue in the gospel thes two to be taught repentaunce and remission of sinnes in my name Therefore we must begynne wyth the same preachyng whyche rebuketh synne and setteth forth the benifites of Christ Therefore thys is the waye of iustification Contrition is necessarye whyche maye esteme that God is angrye wyth synne and maye ernestlye be sorye for it In suche feares the conscience muste be lyfted vp wyth fayeth whyche taketh the promisse of the gospell of Christe and accordynge vnto it determyneth oure synnes to be forgyuen vs and that we be reputed iust and inheriters of euer lastynge lyfe for Christes sake by hys mercye of oure parte vndeserued When we be so comforted in repentaunce or contrition we be iuste or acceptable vnto god that is to saye we haue remission of synnes and acceptatyon vnto euerlastynge lyfe not for our dygnitye but for Christe whom neuer the lesse we muste receyue
partes accordynge vnto the condicion or greatenes of the faute and accordynge vnto theyr synnes so hadde they theyr rules or canonnes ☞ What is satisfaction after the papystes ¶ It is to do certayne workes prescribed to redeme paynes out of purgatorye or other temporall paines For the papistes say that synne is not forgyuen by absolution but the euerlastyng paine that was due for the synnes to be chaunged into temporall payne of purgatorye Then after saye they that some of those synnes be forgyuen by the powre of the keyes and some to be redemed wyth oure satisfactions that is with thos appointed workes So then do they teache that satisfactions deserue remission and to be a recōpence of euerlasting paines ☞ From whence commeth satisfactyon of the papistes ⧠In old time famouse sinners were not receyued into the churche wythoute open chastysynge for a certayne tyme thys was called open repentaūce and satisfaction and it was a certain outwarde and polityke order instituted by men not that it was satisfaction before God or that synnes were therefore forgyuen Afterwardes that order beynge abolyshed the worde onlye of satisfaction remayned Whereupon vnlearned men afterwardes made of a politicke order a spirituall order as a thinge necessary for remission of sinnes What is to be iudged of remission of payne and whether the keys can charg one wyth punyshment or take it away or no ⧠Fyrste of all it is to be knowē that remission as well of synne as punishment is of oure parte the vndeserued benifit of Christ and that we are deliuered both from sin and euerlastinge death ☞ Thē is dyfference to be made betwene euerlastynge payne and temporall payne for althoughe remission of euerlastyng payn be ioined with the remissyō of the syn yet neuerthelesse holy mē in this lyfe suffer cōmō miseres of mākind as corporal death and other miseries wherof Paule sayth the bodye is mortified for sinne ▪ And god somtyme punisheth for certayne sins lyke as dauid suffered punishmēt for hys adultry But that is not vniuersal for synnes be forgiuē with out the due punyshmēt Thyrdly The punishmēt whiche god doth ioyne can no powre of keyes remitte nor they haue no commandemēt of remittynge or enioining anye suche punishmente ¶ Fourthlye it is to be knowen that suche punishmentes be ofte mytigated or eles taken altogyther awaye by oure repentaunce Lyke as many tymes boeth common and pryuate myseries were mitygated by repentaunce as Paul sayeth if we woulde iudge our selfe we shuld not be iudged of the Lorde Fiftly aduersityes of mē be not alwayes punyshmentes for certayne synnes as the aduersytyes of Iob and other saintes Also the punishmēt of the Apostles and martyrs but they be synguler workes of god wherewyth the fayth of holy mē is exercised and the glorye of God is set furth Moreouer vertuouse men must iudge also thys to be the end and purpose of suche paynes and aduersityes that they be not tokens of the wrath of god but of goddes good wil that is to saye that god wyl them to be exercyses wherewyth synne maye be abolyshed out of vs and the spirituall newenes maye growe Nor godlye men oughte not to esteme that they be caste awaye of God as Paule sayeth We be corrected of the Lorde leste we shoulde be condemned with this world ¶ Of absolucion ☞ What is absolution IT is a certification of remissyon of synnes and of the mercye of God toward synners For so sayeth Christ Math. xviii what so euer ye louse vpō earth it shal be loused in heauen And. Iohn xx whose synnes ye shall forgyue they shal be forgiuen ☞ Maye a man haue ofter then once remission of synnes Yes when Peter axed Christ howe ofte shall I forgyue my brothere He answered seuentye tymes seuē tymes Paul saieth If a man be possessed with any syn ye that be spirituall correcte hym in the spirite of gentilnes And the churche prayeth daily forgiue vs our faultes And Christe sayeth Luke .xv. There is Ioye amonge the Angeles of god for one sinner which doeth repent ☞ Dooe the Nouatians and Catharines rightly deny that they which fall after Baptisme dooe not obtayne remissyon of synnes Those heretikes do mischeuously erre For manye exāples maye be shewed boeth of the olde testament and the newe where they whyche were fallen dyd purches remission of sinnes and absolucion of Christe and the churche For an example by Dauid manasses Peter The church of the Galathyās was fallen called againe to repētaūce by Paul And Paule hym selfe commaundeth the lecherouse mā of the Corrinthians to be receiued after repentaūce The Lord speaketh also by Ezechiel xxxiii I lyue sayeth the Lord I wyl not the death of a synner but rather that he be conuerted and lyue Here doeth god make an oth the cōsciēces this maye be comforted and lifted vp when they here not onely the promis but also that it is established wyth an othe ☞ But what say ye to the places of the Epistel to the Hebrues .vi. It is impossible that they which be once lightened c. And .x. the whiche sinne voluntarily c. ⧠These places dooe not denye them whiche be fallen to returne vnto grace the benifit of Christ For the fyrste place intreateth of the cursed blasphemars obstinate personnes whych agaynste their owne conscience do persecute the word of god and do so sore dispise admoniciō and repentaunce that they supposinge them selfe sure dooe triumphe and dooe greately reioice in thē selfe for their wisdome because they were so bolde as to mocke the worde of God These can not be renued so long as they continue and crucyfye Christe and do not obey the gospell The other place commaundeth to kepe the fauour and benifit of Christe and to be ware that it be not loste For he which loseth the benifit of Christ is accused of iudgement ☞ Is there a synne whyche can not be forgyuen ¶ Christe Math. xii maketh distinction betwene the syn whyche may be forgyuen and that which cannot be forgyuen Who so euer speaketh a word agaynst the sonne of manne it shal be forgeuen hym But he whych speaketh a worde against the holye goste shall not be forgyuen neythere in thys worlde nor in the world to come And Iohn sayeth He whych knoweth hys brothere to commytte a synne whyche is not deadelye lette hym praye for hym and it shall be forgyuen him But ther is a synne vnto death I saie not that anye manne shal praye for it ☞ Which is syn agaynste the holye gooste ☞ Saynte Austyne vnderstandeth synne agaynst the holy goste eyther in them whiche continually do neuer repent and whych receyue not the Gospell or eles desperation For these synnes be plainly contrary vnto grace and dooe reiecte it Other synnes when we fleye vnto grace be forgeuen Therfore S. Augustine doeth so interprete the sayenge of Christe He that speaketh a worde agaynst the holy gost that is to saye he which finally doeth forsake and cast a waye
victory ☞ Howe shall they aryse Gloryously wyth all perfection gostely and bodely Paul .i. Corin xv Dothe numbre foure giftes of a gloryfyed body clearnes power or leithweiknes quicknes or redines This body sayth he is sowne that is is buried in the earth in corruption infamy infyrmity a natural body It shal aryse in incorruptiblenes glory power a spirituall body ☞ Shewe a figure of the resurrection by the creatures Behold a corne of wheat which is casten dry into the earth and it is not reuyued so that it can not growe vnlesse it be dead or roten before Ioh. xii Christ saith vnlesse the corne of wheat ct The corne is sowne into the ground litle vile an dry whych putrified in the earth as it were reuiuing groweth into a teÌ„dregrasse anone after cometh stalkes and then the eares So shal thy sayde bodye whyche is buryed at the length aryse but wyth an vnspeakable beuty For the ryghteouse shall shyne in the kyngdome of god as it were the sunne ☞ But what shall come of them whom the last daye shal fynde yet lyuyng in fleshe ¶ They shall not fall in the haÌ„des of them which buri the dead For Paule saythe .i. Thessa iiii We whyche remayne as yet shal be also caryed vp wyth them whych be dead before into the cloudes for the metyng of the lord in the ayer and so shal we euer be wyth the lorde ¶ Of the end of the worlde of the iudgment or the last day of the lorde ☞ What is the consumation of the world IT is wheÌ„ the state of this world and the course of tymes shall passe away when Summer winter day nyght shall cease Gene. x. ☞ What is the last iudgement or the day of the lord It is wheÌ„ the lord Iesus Christe in his comyng wyth great power and maiesty shall gyue equal vndenyable iudgement vnto all meÌ„ according vnto their workes as well vnto the godly as the vngodli either vnto euerlasting life or euerlasting punishment ☞ How many commings of the lord be ther ¶ The scripture doth teach vs that there be two comings of the lord The first was lowly wheÌ„ he was incarnate in the shape of a seruaÌ„t that he myght beare oure sinnes The other shal be gloryouse and terrible when he shal come as the laste iudge in an vnspekeable maiesty in the end of the worlde to iudge the quicke and the deade Augustinus Christe did come priuily to be iudged He shal come openly also for to iudge Act. x. Christ is ordeined of god the iudge of the lyuyng and the dead Acte xvii He hathe appoynted a daye wherein he wyl iudge the worlde in equalnes Howe shal he come to iudge ☞ Visibly in a cloude lyke as he hath ascended vp Actes i And in maiestie and glory .i. Thes iiii in the voyce of the archaungell and in the trumpet of God Wherfore to iudge That he may geue vnto the godly euerlastyng lyfe both bodily gostly and vnto the vngodly punyshment and euerlastyng fyre ¶ What order of the last iudgmeÌ„t shal ther be ¶ Certayne tokens shall go before the day of iudgement Certayne shal be vpon the same day and certaine shall folowe What tokens shall goe before ¶ The Empire of Rome shal be destroyed The maÌ„ of sinne shal be declared ii Thess ii Their shall false Christes ryse and false prophets The church of Christe shal suffer most greuouse persecutioÌ„s Math. xxiiii Ther shal be tokens in the sunne and mone c. Luke xxi The Gospell shal be preached in the whole worlde ☞ What tokens shall appeare vpon the same day ¶ The cominge of Christ shal be sodden like as the fleyng of the lyghtenyng from the east vnto the west fyer shall goe before his face Psalm .lxxx. vi The tokens of the sonne of man shal appeare in heauen All dead men shal aryse as well godly as vngodlye Christe will deuid the good from the euel and will gyue the last iudgement Mathew .xxv. ☞ What token shal folowe ¶ Visible renewinge of the worlde Punyshment of the vngodly life of the godly Euerlasting ☞ Can the houre and the day of the iudgement be knowen ¶ Of that day and houre saythe Christe Mathew .xxiiii. No man knoweth no not the Angels but mi father alone And the .i. Thess v. The day of the lord like as a thefe vpon the nyght So shall it come when they shal say peace tranquillity then shal the sodden destruction come vpon them ¶ Of Euerlastyng lyfe What is euerlastynge lyfe IT is the euerlastyng taste and fealing of grace and the mercy of god and peace or euerlastyng ioy of conscience in the hertes of the faythfull Or it is a certayne knowledge of god and oure lorde in Iesu Christe which begyneth here in faith vnder a sure hope spirite it shal be openly declared after this lyfe vnto euerlastynge ioyes and an immortall heritage more breifly so Euerlastyng lyfe is to know the true god and Iesus Christe whoÌ„ he hath seÌ„t Ioh. xvii ☞ What is euerlastyng deathe ☞ It is euerlastynge sorow and feare of conscience for the wrath of god ☞ Who hath promised euerlastyng lyfe ¶ Christe oure lorde ¶ Vnto whome ¶ Vnto them whych beleue For so hath he said Ioh. iii. He which beleueth in the son of god hath euerlastynge lyfe but he whyche doth not beleue in the son he shal not se lyfe but the wrath of god taryeth vpon him Iohn .v. Vereli verely I sai vnto you he which heareth my word and beleueth in hym whych hath sent me he hath euerlastyng lyfe and he shal not come into iudgement but he shal passe from death into lyfe ¶ Which be the effects and vertues of euerlastyng lyfe ¶ Not to fele any more synne death but to haue euerlastynge Ioyes and gladnes Esaie xxv And death shal be vtterly deuoured and god shal wipe all tears from the eyes of them and ther shal be no more death nor sorow nor Crieng c. Apoc. xxi Esa lxv â—o I create new heauens and they which were before shal be no more remembred nor yet ascend into your hertes but ye shal reioyce be mery for euermore in those whych I create Bicause lo I create Iherusalem gladnes and the people of it reioyce and they shal be mery in Iherusalem and I will reioyce in my people and the voyce of weping wailing and the voyce of Cryeng shal be heard no more in it c. Also Chap. li. They whych be redemed of the lord shall returne and come praisinge into Syon and euerlasting ioyes vpoÌ„ their heads They shal reioyce and be mery and sorowe and mornynge shal be abolished Psal iiii Pore men shall eate be satisfyed and they shall prayse the lorde whych do seeke for hym and their herts shall lyue for Euermore Psalm .iiii. They shal abound wyth corne wyne But I wil sleep and take reste bicause thou lord dost make my dwellyng place sure Esaie lxiiii Ther is no eye whych seeth but thou alone O God what thou hast prepared vnto them whych loue the. ¶ These testimonies doe declare that euerlastynge lyfe is such astate wherin we be delyuered froÌ„ synne and death and from all miseries and wretchednes shall liue in euerlastynge lyghte the treue knowledge of god and shall haue euerlastyng Ioyes and euerlasting myrth Which god graunt vnto vs for the loue of his sonne Iesus Christe which liueth and reygneth wyth the father and the holy goste blessed aboue al thyngs for euer more Amen ☞ * ☜ ⧠Imprinted at London by Iohn Day and Wyllyam Seres dwellynge in Sepulchres Parish at the signe of the Resurrection a litle aboue Holbourne Conduite ☞ M.D. xlviii the .v. of October ⧠Cum gratia priuilegio ad imprimendum solum
were all taughte of the Lord Also Iohn .v. wythout me can ye do nothynge ☞ If ye teach so men wyl be affrayd from the desire of obeynge beleuynge and doynge good workes ☞ So greate is the frowardnes of mans iudgemente that when oure infirmyty is shewed vnto vs the helpe of the holy gost promised men be made more slow vnto the studye of good workes wheÌ„ thys doctryne of the gospell should rather prouoke stirre vp and in flame vs to call vpon god praie for the helpe of god In this battel the mynd must be exhorted that with al diligeÌ„ce it kepe the worde it maye not be councelled that it shal not labour and enduour it selfe but it muste be taught that she promesse is vniuersal and that it ought to beleue the promesse For Paule sayeth the holye goste healpeth oure infirmitye And Saynte Basilius sayeth God doth preuente vs he calleth vs but we muste take hede that we do not resyste For we must not giue oure selues vnto naturall mistruste or stowethfulnes Can a man do somthing by hys owne powre ¶ Althoughe ther be greate infirmitie in the godly holimen yet is ther a certayne lyberty of wyll WheÌ„ it is then helped of the holy gooste it can do somthynge in auoidynge of outward fautes and crimes therefore the helpe of the holy goste must be amplyfied and sharpened with our deligeÌ„ce So Paul commauÌ„deth vs to beware leste wee shall receyue the grace of god in vayne and Christe promiseth to gyue the holy gost not vnto them which be idle not vnto them whiche dispise it not vnto them whiche resist it not vnto them whyche praye for it Luke .xi. And god encreaseth the gyftes in them whyche vse them rightly as the similitude of them whyche exercyse marchaundyse doeth teache ☞ But what iudgest thou of the opinion of the manicheis ☞ I do not allowe the dotynge of the Maniche is whiche attrybute no actioÌ„ at al vnto the wil no not when the holye gooste helpeth it as there were no differeÌ„ce betwene a stocke and oure wyll Ecclesiasticus sayeth God lefte man in the powre of his counsel Here say I that oure wyll in godly actions and diligeÌ„tnes is not idle but yet that it muste be holpen of the holye goste and so is it verely more fre Saynte Hierome dyd teache two sentences of the whiche the one doth interprete the other these be they Accurssed be he whyche sayeth God hath commaunded vnpossible thynges And agayne he which sayeth that we can fulfyll the commaundemeÌ„tes of god wythout the grace of God accurssed be he Of the diuisioÌ„ of fre wil SOme deuid fre wil in to fre wyll before the falle and fre wyll after the falie ☞ What is fre wyl before the fale ¶ It was perfecte at full libertye of chosinge as wel good thynges as euell of kepynge the commaundementes of god as not kepynge them accordynge vnto fre wyl godly infired and imprynted in the creacion So Ecclesisti xv He setteth fyre and water before the reache thy hand vnto whiche thou wylt That fre wyl was before the falle of man suche as is yet in holy angelles Now by reason of syn the libertye of chosinge good thynges spiritual is abolished accordynge vnto thys a natural maÌ„ doth not perceyue those thynges whyche be of the spirite of God Adam might by that libertye haue done as well good as euell loued God as hated hym And euen so the Angelles whyche when they chosed the euell they dyd falle ☞ What is fre wyll after the fal ¶ In nature corrupted remaineth as yet a certeyne iudgemeÌ„t of the lawe vnderstandyng what ought to be done whiche neuerthelesse oure wyll can not bringe to passe vnlesse the holye gooste come and helpe oure wyl and endeuores in outewarde thynges Our wil hath power of outward thynges wythout the reneweynge of the holye gooste whyche neuerthelesse maye be hyndered of the deuell ☞ What then is lefte vnto oure arbitrâ—mente in spiritual thinge ☞ A certayne iudgemente of those thynges to be done whiche is the lawe of nature wyll endeuoure study course thynkynge whyche all be nothynge vnlesse the holye gooste come thereto wherefore the Apostle prayeth eeuerye where for the churches whereunto he wryteth that God woulde vouchsafe to make perfecte that Good thynge that he hadde begonne in them ¶ Of predestination ☞ What is predestination IT is a certayne fore ordeynyng of god wherby al thynges come to passe as well inwarde as outwarde workes and thoughtes in all creatures accordynge vnto the decre of the wyll of god Election or choyse whereby God hath chosen vs in hym selfe before the grounde workes of the world were laied that we should be vnreprouable before hym by charity that he myght by electioÌ„ chose vs to be hys chylder by Iesus Christ in hym selfe according vnto the pleasure of hys wyll Ephe v. And Mathe. x. of the two sparowes c. ☞ Wherupon must predestinatioÌ„ beginne â–ª Not of the lawe nor yet of reason but of the gospell wherby the promesse is vniuersalle If anye man searche for the cause of election wythout the gospel he must nedes erre Besyde that if anye man go aboute to make a pertycular promyse of the vnyuersall promyse he shall make the promise plainly vncertaine and take away fayth Wherefore predestinacion must be estemed by the vniuersal promise That done no other occasioÌ„ shal remayne of troublynge of mynde wyth anye particularnes How many maners of predestination be ther ¶ Two One of obligatioÌ„ or necessitie and the other of coÌ„dition ObligacioÌ„ is the necessytye of present thinges as if a thing apeare to be preseÌ„t by the prouisioÌ„ of god the of necessite must come to passe although it haue no natural necessity as it is necessary that al men be mortall God so prouidynge ConditioÌ„ is as if Adam shal eate of the apple he shal dye If Israell shal walke in the way of the lord and kepe his commaundementes it shal be saued if thou shalt receyue the gospel and beleueinge stycke vnto it vnto the ende of thy life thou shallt be saued but if thou wilte not receyue it thou shalt be condempned So Saynte Austyne God made predestination wyth man â–ª that if he woulde be obedyente vnto hym and abstaine from the tasting of the forbiden apple he shoulde remayne in lyfe but if he woulde be disobedient he shoulde be in daunger of death For we be predestinate vnder a condicyon that if we wyll receyue the worde we shall be the chylder of God if not we shal be condempned ii Timothe .ii. Paule sayeth If anye man wylle pourge hymselfe from these that is to saye frome false and vngodlye doctrines he shal be a vessell sanctifyed into the honor applyed vnto the vse of the Lorde prepared vnto euery good worke ☞ Shew places of the scripture whiche declare the promisse to be vniuersal ¶ Paule Romaynes .iii. The ryghtuousnesse of God by the fayeth of Iesus Christe whyche is in all and
loste for he hath ben dead for our synnes whych he hath al clensed purged by his death hath abolished our death and he is made resurrection lyfe vnto al them which beleue He which beleueth in him althoughe he shal be dead yet shal he lyue And euery one whych lyueth beleueth in him shal neuer dye Iohn .xi. Our bodies be meÌ„bres of Christe Therfore lyke as God hath raysed vp Christe our lorde our head eueÌ„ so will he raise vp vs by his power .i. Corinth vi ¶ Of the rysyng again of the dead ☞ What is the resurrection of the dead IT is wherin at the laste day al men shal ryse from death they which be godly vnto euerlastiÌ„g lyfe and they whych be vngodly vnto euerlastyng punishement ⧠How canst thou proue the resurrection of the dead ☞ This article of our fayth is counted the best for whose cause we professe al the other Therfore the scripture specyally the newe Testament is ful of testimonies And to confyrme oure myndes agaynst Epicures opinions and to noryshe fear and our fayth it is good to haue in a redynes many testymonies which may testyfye that we shal rise wyth these same bodies Math xxiii Christe proueth the resurrection of the dead because God hath sayed I am the god of Abraham and the god of Isaac and the god of Iacob etc. God sayth he is not the god of the dead but of the liuyng Therfore it is necessari that holy meÌ„ which be dead shall ryse agayne wythe their bodyes Also cap. xix He calleth resurrectioÌ„ a regeneratioÌ„ wheÌ„ these bodâ—es raised from their graues or sepulchres shal be renewed Luke .xiiii. It shal be restored to the resurrection of the iuste Iohan .vi. This is the will of my father that euery one which seth the sone beleueth in him shall haue euerlasting lyfe and I will rayse hym vp agayne in the laste daye Rom. viii If the spirite of hym whiche raised Iesus from death do dwell in you he wyll reuyne your mortal bodies for the spirite of him which dwelleth in you In the same place But we also hauing the first fruits of the spirite do longe after the election of the childer of god amonge our selues lokynge for the redemption of our bodies i. Corinth xv He dothe purposly defend this article thorow out the hole Chap. For he proueth by the resurrection of Christe that we shal also of necessity ryse agayne For therfore hath Christe rysen that he myght ouercome and abolyshe death and that he myght restore anewe an euerlastynge lyfe vnto them whych beleue Lyke as death sayth he entered in by man euen so by man is the resurrectioÌ„ of the dead And like as al be dead in AdaÌ„ euen so shal al be reuiued in Christ ii Cor. iiii Euer cariing about the diyng of Iesu christ in our bodies that the life of Iesu might also appere in our bodies If the lyfe of Christ ought to be declared in our bodies it is necessary that our bodies deliuered from death and raised vp againe shall liue an euerlastynge life If we beleue the Christ is dead hath riseÌ„ againe Thessa ii euen so wil god bring theÌ„ wyth him whych haue sleped ☞ Brynge forth wytnesse out of the olde Testament Esa xxv The face of theÌ„ which be wrapped in shal be deuoured in this hill wherwythe all people be wrapped and the couering wherwyth all people be couerede and death shal be deuoured for euermore The prophet calleth the face of them whych be wrapped death synne wherin al people be wrapped for deathe before God is as it were a wrappyng in wherin al the world is inuolued but this wrappyng in in the hil Syon that is in the church shal be abolished froÌ„ the godly for that is the fruit of the Gospel that it reuiue theÌ„ which be dead ¶ Esaie xxvi The deade shall lyue My kylled menne shal ryse Awake and be mery ye whyche dwel in duste etc. Go my people entre into thy chambre and shite thy dores c. Esech xxxvii Loe I will open your graues bring you out of your sepulchres mi people etc. Iob xix I know that my redemere lyueth and in the laste day shall I be raysed from the erth and I shal be couered agayne in my Skyn in my fleshe I shal fe god my sauiour ¶ To be shorte this artycle is conteined al ouer in the promisses exaÌ„ples of the fathers For bicause delyueraunce and gloryfication is promised vnto holy men and yet they neuer thelesse be in this lyfe punyshed and in the power of deathe therfore it is necessary an other life to remayne wherin they gloryfied shal lyue euerlastingly So the epistle vnto the Hebrues teacheth that the fathers of the old testament keped the faythe and beleue of resurrectioÌ„ For in faith be they al dead not receyuyng the promysses etc. Therfore Iacob commaunded his childer to bury him in the sepulchre of his fathers And Ioseph commauÌ„ded his bones to be caried out of Egipt ☞ Shal al men ryse both good and euel The resurrection of al men shall be one comoÌ„ as wel of the godly as of the vngodly but in vnlyke conditioÌ„ For the godly shal ryse into euerlastyng lyfe but the vngodlye into iudgement and euerlastyng paynes ☞ Proue that the vngodly shal also rise wyth there bodies vnto punishment ☞ Iohn .v. Christe sayth The hour shall come wherin all they whych be in theyr graues shall heare the voyce of the son of man and they whych haue done good shal procede into resurrection of lyfe but they whych haue done euel into resurrection of iudgmeÌ„t ¶ Daniel .xii. Manye of these whych do slepe in the duste of the earth shall awake Some into euerlastyng lyfe and some into Euerlastyng reproffe that they mai se euermore ii Corinth iiii We must al appeare before the iustice seate of Christe that euery one maye make account of his owne deedes like as he hath done whether it be good or euel Math. x. Feare hym whych can cast both the body and the soule into euerlasting fire Esai lxvi They shal goe forth se the carcases that is to saye the bodies of men whyche haue broken my commaundementes The worme of them shal not dye and the fire shal not be quenched and al fleshe shal be ful wyth syght of them ☞ How shal the resurrection be ¶ Paule .i. Corinth xv In the twyncklyng of an eye in the last trumpet for the trumpet shall blowe and the deade shall aryse vncorrupted we shall be chaunged ☞ How shall this alteration be ¶ That whyche is corruptible saith he must be made vncorruptible and that which is mortalle must be chaunged into immortalitie but when that whych is corruptyble shal be made incorruptible and that whych is mortal shal be chaunged into immortalitie Then shal the word be fulfylled whych is wryten death is deuoured and swalowed vp in the