offered vp himselfe a sacrifice and an oblation vpon the altar of the Crosse for the sinnes of the world whose bodie was betrayed and deliuered to death for vs whose bloud was shedde for the remission of our sinnes lastly whose death it selfe was the true sacrifice for the saluation of mankinde Furthermore when as Christ had alone satisfied for the sinnes of all men these fellowes shewed vs other meanes and wayes whereby we might satisfie God more fully and amply as amongest other thinges Pilgrimages appointed for deuotion sake in which verie many consumed and spent all the time of their life whilest they ranne a gadding and madding almost from the vtmost endes of the earth sometime to Rome or Hierusalem sometime to Treuirs or Compostella whilest they goe to see and visite Saint Michaels Cathedrall Churche and caue in Gargan and that most royall and magnificent Temple of Saint Lauretan namely all to this end to satisfie and appease Gods wrath for their sinnes by this means to obteine saluation Hitherto also tend the Popes indulgencies pardons either full absolute for euer or els but for a thousand yeeres an hundred yeeres or fourtie yeeres Hitherto tendes the fraternitie or fellowship of Friers which some men forsooth at this day call the Communion of Saintes and this shewe of godlinesse they pretend to cloake that superstition withall and they labour to paint out a foolishe and feigned thing wittily with such false deceipts and as it were to adorne and beautifie it with some counterfeit colours Finally hitherto tend those egregious suffrages succours of Monkes which certeinely were wont to be more esteemed then Christes propitiatorie sacrifice for the sinnes of the world yea the greatest part of men reiecting in the meane while our Sauiour Christ nothing doubted to redeeme and purchase with a great summe of monie the communitie of Monasticall workes as though the saluation of their soules did consist onely in these For Monkes commonly were accustomed to powre vppon others the superfluitie of good workes wherewith they themselues abounded ouerflowed if there were any that would laie downe redie monie for them leauing alwayes enough for the obteining of their owne saluation they were wont to obtrude set to sale those their workes which were superfluous That these thinges are thus truely reported of them those obligations or quittances which are extant at this day made for that matter are sufficient testimonies proofes Thus are they made Concedimus inquiunt praesentium tenore omnium Missarum diuinorum officiorum orationū praedicationū studiorum ieiuniorum abstinentiarum vigiliarum laborum caeterorumque bonorum omnium quae per fratres sorores ordinis fiunt communionem participationem Et iterum Statuimus vt iniungantur pro animabus vestris sacra Missarum solennia vigiliae ac caetera suffragiorum praesidia vt multiplici sacrarum orationum ac piorum suffragiorum adiuti praesidio hic diuinae gratiae augmentum in futuro vitae aeternae praemium faciliùs ac copiosiùs mereamini adipisci We doe graunt say they by the tenour of these presentes the communion and participation of all Masses of all diuine duties of all prayers preachings studies fastes abstinencies watchings labours all other good things which are done by the Friers Nonnes of this order And againe We ordeine that for your soules there be inioyned the holy rites solemnities of Masses vigils the other helpes of suffrages that you being holpen with the manifold aide of holy prayers may deserue to obteine both here in this life the increase of Gods grace and in the life to come more easily and plentifully the rewarde of eternall life Hitherto wee haue recorded and related faithfully and truely the verie woordes of the Monasticall obligation and caution least that there should be found some froward fellowe which might gainesay vs Now the Monks commanded other men so to leane and trust to these trifles which are of no value to the obteining of saluation that amongst other thinges they would cause men that lay at the point of death to remember how many and how great good woorkes they had done by whose abundance and greatnesse the offences which they in their life time had committed might be ouerwhelmed how much merites they had to which Heauen was due Now as concerning the Popes pardons many men hertofore ascribed so much vnto them that they would not sticke to say that by them a man might obteine forgiuenesse of sinnes free releasement from all villanie and wickednesse yea although a man had lien with our Ladie the virgin Christes mother an abhominable thing to speake of and although he had slaine killed Christ himselfe For with such salt was the speach of the Papistes seasoned and poudered if at any time they ment to extrude and set out to sale their pedlarie packe of pardons as they had commission and commandement from the Pope Some of them also were not afraid to auouche that the soule which was tormented in the fire of Purgatorie did flee vp into heauen at the verie same instant and moment in which a peece of monie cast into the boxe for it did gingle To these may be added this their assertion that the red crosse with the Popes armes which heretofore was wont to be erected in the midst of the Churche had no lesse force might in it to abolishe put away sinne than the crosse of our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ Moreouer that if any man had purchased the Popes pardons he needed not greatly any repentance for his sinnes onely these saide they were without all doubt sufficient to saluation Nay there haue bene men euen in our dayes which would say that they had saued more soules by the Popes pardons than euer did S. Peter by his sermons What neede many wordes All of them stoutly confidently affirmed that indulgencies pardons were of power to forgiue most fully aswell the fault as the punishment and that the superfluous merites of Saintes together with these might be cōmunicated imparted to those which would pay well and truely for them For euery man knoweth this how that the Popes bull was woont to be recited and read to those which were at the point of death in which bull there was promised both a full and absolute abolition of all crimes and also that the feare of Purgatorie should be wholy taken away These thinges verely are such that our posteritie may thinke them to be but forged fables which wee notwithstanding know very well not to be feigned but to haue bene done indeed Well seeing that there are euen now extant sundrie letters seales and monumentes of these matters there will remaine if they bee kept still and reserued an euerlasting testimonie of Popish impietie which without all doubt will be propagated and continued to all posteritie Hitherto perteines the Iubile
of which by the way I haue saied somewhat before concerning the impure single life of Priestes concerning the superstition hypocrisie and tyrannie of the mendicant or begging Friers to be briefe of Pharasaisme in the Frieries and Monasteries of Epicurisme in the Collegies of Canons of Iudaisme in Ecclesiasticall rites of Paganisme in the life and manners of the Christians of the former age of so many snares of mens consciences of the feigned miracles of Saintes almost sixe hundred such like deuises But I hope that euerie man will by these few which we haue spoken of easily coniecture the rest which remaine which are very many For as I suppose I haue shewed sufficiently what hath bene the state of Christianitie now of late yeares and many ages past and I haue declared what superstitions what faultes what abuses haue crept into the Church I beseech God the father of our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ that as he hath restored the light of his Gospell to those which heretofore were compassed with the thicke cloudes of errours so he woulde open the eyes of the aduersaries of the Gospell that they may be conuerted from darkenesse to light from the power of Sathan to God finally from the vaine superstition of their auncestours and forefathers to the worshippe of true godlinesse Amen The second parte of this Discourse Wherein is declared what hath bene amended and corrected by our men in Ecclesiasticall doctrine NOW will we come to the second part of this booke and we will briefly declare what hath bene nowe at length amended and reformed in the doctrine of the Church First therefore it is plaine and euident to all men at this day that from the beginning of the worlde till now there hath alwayes beene one and the same way to obteine saluation by namely by the sole and onely trust and confidence in Christ whome the godly did beleeue should come as the Sauiour promised to Adam and to the old fathers euen from the originall of the worlde whom we now beleeue to be come alreadie at a determinate time and to haue brought saluation vnto mankinde For our faith also at this day is the very same with the faith of the Patriarchs Prophetes and finally of the whole people of Israel in times past because they expected and wayted for that to come which we doe beleeue to be alreadie done Now though we conceiue in our mindes that the holinesse of the Patriarches was exceeding greate whiche without all doubte was singular and most notable notwithstanding they were saued by no other meanes but by faith in the Redeemer of mankinde then promised to them now exhibited to vs who is the sonne of God our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ So that the holy fathers were not as yet Christians in woorde but in deede they were Christians by reason of our common faith and beliefe in Christ whome they did hope would come whome wee doe beleeue to be come long agoe Therefore all men must looke for saluation from this one and onely Christ neither is there among men any other name giuen as S. Peter saith whereby we must be saued For to this Christ giue all the Prophetes witnesse that through his name all that beleeue in him shall receiue remission of sinnes Seeing these things are so who would not maruell much at the blindnesse of the Christians both in our memorie and in former ages which did attribute that to mans merites which is due vnto Christ alone For that can not bee denied which we haue before declared more at large to witte that mortall men did not heretofore trust so much to the goodnesse clemencie bountie mercie and grace of GOD alone nor so much to the satisfaction of Christ onely for our sinnes as they did to the dignitie and woorthinesse of their owne woorkes For whitherto tend so many rites and formes of woorshipping GOD found out and ordeined by men so many will woorshippes so many fraternities so manifold varietie of Masses moreouer Pilgrimages Pardons a Monasticall life voluntarie beatings and also whippinges of our owne bodie hungers watchinges lyinges vppon the bare ground and who can rehearse all Whereto say I doe wee beleeue that all these thinges did tend but to the obteining of forgiuenesse of sinnes to the satisfaction for offences to the deliuerance from eternall death briefly to the obteining of saluation and blessednesse So now men ascribed their saluation not to the sonne of God our Lord Redeemer Iesus Christ who by his owne bloudshed satisfied for the sinnes of the worlde and pacified the wrath of God but to the worthinesse of their owne woorkes and to their owne merites and vertues Now as the people of the Iewes in olde time were of that minde that they thought the Leuiticall ceremonies and the sacrifices of the lawe were auayleable to the remission of their sinnes the Prophets in the meane time shewing them a farre other vse of the lawe and warning them of that future sacrifice of the Messias which the Leuiticall sacrifices did shadowe so the men of the former age obserued and kept superstitious rites for that they were thoroughly persuaded that God by them was reconciled that he by them was satisfied for our sinnes our men at this day condemning this so impious a persuasion and testifying that all men obteine peace with God and pardon of their sinnes and that all receiue saluation only by faith in Christ For not mans ceremonies but that seede of the woman promised to Adam doeth breake and bruse the heade of that olde Serpent which as Iohn saith in the Reuelation is called the Diuell and Sathan that is the sonne of God our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ is he alone which doeth destroy the workes of the Diuell to witte sinne and death Not the Leuiticall sacrifices but that lambe of God whom Iohn Baptist pointeth to with his finger is he that taketh away the sinnes of the world Not by our merites and desertes but through Christ is remission of sinnes preached vnto vs as the Apostle saith Not mans satisfaction but the sonne of God him selfe as S. Iohn testifieth is the reconciliation for our sinnes We haue obteined reconciliation not by the intercession of Saintes but by our Lord Iesus Christ as S. Paule doeth witnesse For this is he alone which may reconcile vs to God being the onely Mediatour betwixt God and men as the same S. Paule saith Not he that buyeth and redeemeth the Popes bulles but he that beleeueth in the sonne as our Sauiour saith in the Gospell of S. Iohn hath eternall life Man is not iustified by his owne woorkes but by the grace of God freely through the redemption which is in Christ Iesus as saith the Apostle No man is saued by his owne good deedes but by the grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ are wee saued as saith S. Peter in the Actes I suppose that I
and turne that your sinnes may bee put away Christe him selfe in Iohn saith GOD so loued the worlde that he gaue his onely begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him shoulde not perishe but haue life euerlasting But the same Christ in Matthaewe saith Not euerie one that saith vnto mee Lorde Lorde shall enter into the kingdome of heauen but hee that doeth my fathers will which is in heauen Paule saith vnto Timothie Christ Iesus came into the worlde to saue sinners But the same Paule vnto the Corinthians saith Bee not deceiued neither fornicatours nor idolatours nor adulterers nor wantons nor theeues nor couetous persons nor dronkardes nor railers nor extortioners shall inherite the kingdome of God. I would to God I woulde to God that wee would acknowledge in parte and studie to be thankefull for so notable a benefite of GOD in restoring this sacred doctrine and that after so greate ignorance and blindnesse of men in matters perteining to saluation and which are chiefly necessarie to bee knowen Which thing verely woulde come to passe first if wee thinking vpon the infelicitie and olde superstition of former times and beeing as it were astonied at Gods greate benefites would breake foorth into the praises of God into Psalmes and hymnes into spirituall songes singing and making melodie to the Lorde in our heartes giuing thankes alwayes for all thinges vnto GOD euen the father in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christ as the Apostle saith Secondly if wee woulde labour to promote and set forward the ministerie of the woorde to keepe honour to defend and manteine godlie teachers if we would labour to helpe and releeue the necessarie studies of the Church Last of all if wee woulde liue godly and holily towardes God patiently in afflictions vprghtly towardes our neighbour diligently in our duetie temperately and soberly in our diet and in our clothing honorably towardes our parentes obediently towardes our magistrates masters louingly curteously with all men liberally towards the poore needy to be short if we would liue innocently chastely soberly friendly to our enimies profitably to the Church of God fauorably to the life of men agreably to Religion consonantly to Christianitie conueniently meete for the Gospell and as S. Paule saith Liue worthie of God that is to speake most plainely if we did both loue God with our whole heart and from our verie bowelles and also if wee did beare as great good will to our neighbour as we doe to our selues if we our selues would doe that to no man which we would not haue done to vs if we were such towardes others as we would other men were towardes vs finally if we did helpe and succour alwayes our neighbour either with our substance or with our helping hand or with our good aduise and counsell not regarding euerie man his owne thinges but the thinges of other men if we did studie to profite all men yea euen our enimies to hurt no man no not if we be prouoked lastly if wee would be terrified from sinne and wickednesse rather with the loue of God than for feare if we would not loose the bridle to our lustes if we would doe nothing which ought not to be done But O our execrable abhominable ingratitude we doe not measure and ponder as it is worthie the greatnesse of Gods benefits neither doe we sufficiently consider with our selues how great commodities this doctrine instaured by God hath brought a good while agoe vnto Christendome For in how many errours were we heretofore wrapped in in how great superstitions were wee nusled in to what passe was Christian pietie come vnto was it not come to this point that it was thought a better and a more excellent thing for a man to be called a Franciscane than simply a Christian that wee did attribute much more to mans rites than to Gods preceptes that in obteining saluation we did trust rather to ceremonies than to the fauour and mercie of God or to the merite of Christ that almost altogether excluding Christ whose death was a pacification of Gods wrath against sinne wee did of our selues seeke to satisfie for our owne sinnes that wee did not onely iudge that heauen was due to our merites but also that we did sell our good woorkes of supererogation Finally that leauing and refusing God euerie man did for him selfe woorshippe reuerence adore the idol of his owne hearte I doe omitte and let passe lighter matters how that we did both feare vaine apparitions and shadowes of walking spirites and also how that wee did feigne deuise Purgatorie fire out of Virgils Aeneades how that wee gaue that seruice and honour to mortall men long since departed which should haue bene giuen to God onely how that they whiche were deliuered from the plague gaue thankes to Saint Roch they whiche returned safe from battell gaue thankes to Saint George they which had escaped shipwrack gaue thankes to Saint Nicholas they which had gotte good store of riches gaue thankes to I can not tell what Saint Erasmus they whiche had a plentifull and fruitfull vineyarde gaue thankes to S. Vrban they which were eased from the torment of toothachegaue thankes to Saint Apolline they whiche had conceiued borne children without any greate paine gaue thankes to Saint Margaret For wee of these had plainely made Ethnikall and Heathenish Gods and as the Gentiles in times past were woont to pray vnto Aesculapius and Apollo for the depulsion and driuing away of diseases vnto Mars for victorie vnto Neptune for a prosperous nauigation vnto Iuno for riches vnto Bacchus for plentie of wine vnto Ceres for abundance of corne vnto Lucina for an happie childbirth so wee were woont to begge and craue the like benefites of them whom wee speake of Yea as amongest the Ethnikes in olde time euerie citie or region had their Gods whom they did peculiarly woorshippe for as the Poet saith Cecropia serues as God Minerua wise and Creete Diana dame Hipsiphile soile adores the black-smith Vulcane halt and lame But Sparta woorshippes Iunoes grace Micaena honors Pelops stock The coastes of Menalis serues that Syluan God which Faunus hight And eke Lauinia lande doth woorshippe Mars that warlik wight So at this day Venice hath her S. Marke in whose tutelship she stands Millain hath S. Ambrose Paris hath S. Denis Collin hath the three Kings or the three Magi Francia hath S. Chilian Polonia hath S. Hedeuigis finally other haue other Saintes to defend them Also euerie seuerall companie and order of craftes men hath adopted their peculiar patrons and as it were houshold gods to defend them as for example the Goldsmithes haue got them S. Eulogius the Shoomakers S. Crispin the Fullers S. Seuerus the Painters S. Luke the Physicians S. Cosma S. Damian the Lawyers S. Fuon the Students of artes and liberall sciences S. Catharine If wee would repeate call
to minde these other superstitions almost innumerable we should now the more easily measure after a sort in our minde the magnitude greatnesse of Gods benefite especially if wee did remember that as yet there are euerie where verie many countries which are ouerwhelmed in most thicke darknesse of errours ignorance not differing at all from those nations which in times past were wholy giuen ouer to the worshipping of idols as well nigh all those people be at this day which with so great clamours outcries call for that state of religiō againe which they vaunt to haue profited so long the Christian common weale who desire that the ceremonies of their fathers may be worshipped which woulde haue the Emperour bring this to passe that looke what religion they receiued when they were children the same being old men they should leaue to their posteritie to be briefe who had rather embrace obserue the institutions traditions of their Elders old customes mens prescriptes than the rites of the Apostles than the veritie of the Gospell than the cōmandements of God amongst whom the Lombardicall historie is of more authoritie than the sacred scripture the Decretals than the Gospels the Bishop of Rome than the sonne of God Christ Iesus Therfore how greatly are we bound to God for instauring the doctrine of the Gospell in this our age What thanks ought we to giue render vnto him How greatly ought we to take heede bew are that we doe not by chaunce any thing vnwittingly which might offend the authour of this benefite What great care ought we to haue alwayes to labour trauell about those things which are gratefull and acceptable to God who loueth vs so entirely But how thankfull to God the common people are for this benefite alas it appeareth too plainly euidently at this day For the greater part of those men who would be accounted Christians without enuie be it spoken is giuen to gluttonie to surfeting to all kind of wickednes the maior part I say liueth nicely delicately riotously the greater number is carried headlong into all kind of pleasure intemperancie they loue they drinke apace they runne a whore hunting they snatch catch they filch steale they sweare forsweare they cogge and lie they defraude and deceiue in summe whatsoeuer ought not to be done that they doe Now amongst the Noble men vices preuaile beare too great a sway and to be briefe these especially Otia vina Venus venatus balnea lusus that is Idlenes wine Venus way with hūting bathes diceplay In Kinges courtes dronkennesse ruleth and reigneth and now to liue there is naught else but to vie drinking there In Noble mens gorgious buildings and goodlie houses nothing else almost by their leaues is done but daily diceplaying iollie tossing of beere potts daunsing to the sound of the Citterne or Lute I doe omitte let passe how that some of these Noble mē haue turned those possessions whiche by the liberalitie of their auncestours were left to the Church into their owne vse and suffer the miserable Pastours of the Church to dy almost for hunger so farre are they off from helping and releeuing them as much as in them lieth This verely is our gratitude and thankfulnesse towardes that singular and notable benefite of God which he bestowed vpon vs in taking away from among vs superstitions and in instauring holie and sacred doctrine No man truely can either declare in woorde or shadowe out in thought how excellent and how great this benefite of God is For now at the length we haue learned whiche is the holie Catholike Apostolicall orthodox and true Christian Church and what that communion of Saints is whereunto they must ioyne them selues in faith in will in opinion in prayer and in confession whosoeuer will be members of the people of God and of that mysticall bodie whereof Christ is the head in what parte of the world soeuer they liue in Nowe we haue learned that thing whiche almost no man heeretofore knew namely that all mē are saued by Christ alone no man by his owne merites that all men obteine saluation and eternall felicitie through the Mediatour the sonne of God not for the dignitie of their woorkes by whiche meanes verely both the Patriarches and also the Prophetes the people of Israel and finally all the godlie which haue bene from the creation of the world vnto this day haue bene saued For Christ as he that should come to bee the deliuerer of mankinde was promised from the beginning Wherevppon in the Reuelation there is that mention of the Lambe whiche was slaine from the originall of the worlde Therefore the Gospell or Euangell that is to say that forgiuenesse of sinnes reuealed and promised from heauen by the free goodnesse of GOD for the deliuerer to come hath bene alwayes euen from the verie beginning of mankinde though not yet in name and in woord yet in deed and in truth For this redeemer Christ is that seede of the woman promised vnto Adam which shoulde breake the serpentes heade that is which shoulde destroy the woorkes of the Diuell to witte sinne and death Hee is the seede of Abraham in which seede all the nations of the earth shoulde bee blessed Hee is that Prophete promised by Moses Hee is the sonne of Dauid who shoulde reigne ouer the house of Iacob foreuer This is hee whiche was shadowed by the Leuiticall sacrifices and foretolde by the oracles of the Prophetes Therefore wee haue all the godlie which haue bene euen from the beginning of the worlde ioyned with vs in the profession of the same faith For looke in whome the Patriarches the Prophetes and the people of Israel placed all their confidence in the Messias promised to them in the very same Christ nowe exhibited vnto vs both Apostles Martyres Confessours and finally wee all put our hope of saluation And this is the true Churche whiche wee haue learned out of this doctrine renewed this is that communion of Saintes which being as I saide before euen from the beginning of the worlde after the promise concerning the deliuerer to come was first propagated and continued in the Patriarches and Prophetes afterwardes in the Apostles Martyrs so on continueth perseuereth vnto this day by diuerse degrees orders of Christians professing the same faith perfourming shewing obedience to the Ministers of the Church The sonne of God our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ doeth by his woord and Gospell gouerne and by his holy Spirit helpe and assist this Church and this communion of Saintes O thrice happie and foure times blessed are they whiche ioyne them selues vnto the societie of this Church whiche hath the sonne of GOD for her President the Angels for her protectours the holy Ghost for her sanctifier finally all the godlie and electe of all ages as many as
mouing him to mischiefe that he alwayes beware most diligently of the snares and trappes which the diuell hath laide for him that he yeelde not to him that setteth pleasure as an obiect before him or to him which is desirous to ensnare and allure him with the inticementes of vices finally that he shunne all occasions and cut off as it were the handles to sinne Neither if he once happily obteine the victorie ouer his enimie let him not by by hope for truce peace as though he were past all perill but let him remember that he must alwayes stande in the forefront of the battell neither if he bee vanquished and ouercome let him despaire nor if he bee victor let him swell with any secrete pride And let him verily enterprise al these things not trusting to his owne strength and power but hauing his hope and his whole assurance placed in Gods ayde and assistance and calling vppon the sonne of God in godlie prayers for helpe In the meane space in our Ecclesiasticall meeting wee warne him to repaire very often to the Lordes table to the end that hee by receiuing Christes body may both be stirred vp to the remembrance of the promise concerning forgiuenesse of sinnes and also confirmed concerning Gods good will and celestiall fauour towardes him For the holy Ghost doeth vse this Supper as a meane and as it were an instrument to raise vp in vs assured confidence in Christ and loue towardes our neighbour Now as Baptisme is a perpetuall signe of that free remission of sinnes and of that reconciliation for Christes sake so the Supper of the Lord doeth testifie and witnesse vnto vs that those benefits last and dure for euer at all times in the Church of Christ and that they are not voyde and of none effect streightway no not in very great and greeuous falles if so be wee being touched with repentance doe flee vnto the exceeding great mercie of God for Christ if we desire forgiuenesse of our sinnes and that not without a feruent desire and studie to returne againe into fauour and friendship with God nor without a most firme purpose to amende our liues and to keepe and obserue hereafter Gods Pawe And truely Christ would that this Sacrament of his bodie and bloude should be a perpetuall monument and pledge of his loue towards vs namely that wee repenting from our hearte may after we haue receiued this pledge stirre vp our faith and be persuaded that wee haue our sinnes forgiuen vs for Christes sake who offered vp him selfe for vs vpon the altar of his Crosse a lambe immaculate and vnspotted that wee by this assurance might comfort our selues and might raise vp and holde vp our afflicted conscience that wee might giue thankes to God for so greate a benefite that wee might declare this our thankfullnesse towardes God in our whole life in all our actions and that wee might as the Apostle saith shew foorth the Lordes death perpetually finally that wee being put in minde by this pledge may euery way boldely trust that wee are now the members of Christ and that Christes benefites belong vnto vs For this Sacrament was chiefly instituted for this cause as I saide before but must say it oftener that wee vsing it might both exercise and confirme our faith and also that wee our selues might bee comforted with the remembrance and memoriall of the Lordes death which brought saluation to vs that so at the length wee might giue that thankes to God and to the sonne of God which wee doe woorthily owe vnto them Very few in the former age knew this vse of the sacrament called the Eucharist If perhaps any calamitie fall vpon him or if our heauenly father mercifully chastise him for some deserued offence wee bid him suffer it stoutly and with a chearefull minde and to remember that by that meanes hee is called to repentance that so God hath giuen him an occasion to exercise his faith that so hee is pricked forward to prayer that so that slouthfullnesse and deade sleepe which in prosperitie possesseth mens minds is shaken off finally that so our mindes are stirred vp and awakened to acknowledge our sinnes to amend our life to despise all humane and earthlie thinges Now verely in publike sermons in which heretofore there hath bene almost no other thing woont to be intreated of than of mens traditions of forged fables lying tales and feigned miracles of Saintes of vaine visions and apparitions of shadowes of vowes of Pilgrimages of indulgencies and pardons of offering vp a reward to the Stationarie souldiers of the caue or Purgatorie of S. Patrike and of such like trifles here our Preachers at this day in their Sermons doe teache and tell vs of faith in Christ of charitie towardes our neighbour of true inuocation of the crosse or affliction of repentance and of the fruites of repentance of iustification of those woorkes which may bee truely tearmed good woorkes of the Supper of the Lorde of bringing vp children in the feare of the Lorde of liberalitie towardes the poore and of such like pointes necessarie to saluation to bee briefe they preach those thinges verie much or rather those thinges onely which become wholesome doctrine as S. Paule warneth Titus Also in the same Sermous as likewise priuately and in secret confessions both the rude and ignorant are taught and instructed and the vnwarie are admonished and the slouthfull are rebuked the forward are incited the weaklinges are strengthened the afflicted are raised vp those that straie and wander out of the way are brought in againe they which are wholy displeased with them selues for the guilte of their sinne are comforted they which sleepe secure in sinne are terrified and made affraide with threates and not to vse many woordes all men alike are pricked forward to leade their life after the will and imitation of God all men are willed to thinke vpon death hanging daily ouer our heades by reason of vncerteine chaunces and to prepare them selues for that day wherein they must departe this life neither to loose the time of repentance giuen vnto them by the benefite of God. Lastly in those Sermons of our men there are not nowe woont to bee alleadged and cited I can not tell what solemne Doctours there are quoted none of these subtile none of these Seraphicall finally none of these irrefragable Doctours as Albert Thomas Aquinas Petrus Lombardus Rabbanus Nicolaus de Lira Dunse Dorbell Occam and other such like which heretofore were rife in the Papistes mouthes but now Moses the Prophets Christ the Apostles and the Euangelistes are cited to proue and confirme the matter which they doe there entreate of Thus you haue our minde and meaning namely what kinde of man wee at this day woulde haue him to bee who professeth him selfe to bee a Christian not more in woorde than in deede You haue also a summe of Christian
Popish satisfaction For that punishment which Iesus Christ suffered for vs and which brought saluation to vs is the onely satisfaction for all the sinnes of the whole worlde And truely they which are of opinion that sinne may bee recompensed with fastinges with Pilgrimages with indulgencies and such like toyes or that Gods wrathe may any other way bee pacified rather than by the death of the Sonne of God doe not sufficiently ponder either the weight of sinne it selfe or the wrathe of GOD against our sinne Notwithstanding in Penance wee doe not disallow the auncient rites and ceremonies instituted either for example sake and for discipline or perteining to some amendement of life which smell not of gaine or couetousnesse And wee doe thinke that they which confesse their faultes ought againe and againe to bee exhorted to bring foorth those fruites which become true repentance Yea wee bid euen them which haue falne againe into sinne to satisfie as it were to pacifie God through the sorowe of repentance through the sighes of humilitie through the sacrifice of contrite heart as Dauid saith also wee bid them now chaunge their olde yll manners for better to reconcile God vnto them by almes deedes and by liberalitie towardes the poore which is principally to vse Tertullians wordes Dei misericordiae illex that is to say A verie prouoker of Gods mercie finally wee will them to bee warie heedie and diligent to auoyd those sinnes into which they haue once fallen wee bid them take heede by all meanes and beware that they offend not either in woorde or deede yea that they commit not any thing in thought which is either euill to bee done or wicked to be saide Now wee neither can nor ought to allow that necessitie of certeine woorkes which was woont to bee put vpon those which had confessed their sinnes and that way of satisfying for their sinnes and of deseruing deliuerance from the punishments of Purgatorie fire prescribed to the people by the sacrificing Priestes As concerning the sacrifice of the Masse thus wee thinke that the true Masse in the Church of God is that common Supper of the Lorde in which the bodie and bloud of our Lorde is distributed to renew the memorie of the most wholesome death of Christ and of his torments which hee suffered for the redemption of mankinde For the Fathers and Doctours of the Church in old time vsed to call the Supper of the Lord A sacrifice for that it was instituted and ordained to this end to wit that the same might stirre vs vp to the remembrance of that sacrifice of Christ who offered vp himselfe to his father vpon the crosse a sacrifice for the sinnes of the world according to that saying of Christ Doe this in remembrance of mee For least wee should forgett Christes death Christ now readie to passe out of this worlde vnto his father left vnto vs a memoriall of himselfe namely his body in the Eucharist and mysticall banket Wherefore we in our Churches haue restored the true right vse of the Eucharist according to the institution of Christ and according to the obseruation of the primitiue Church to wit that it might be the communion of Christian people to the receiuing and participation of the bodie and bloud of our Lorde Iesus Christ that it might also be a thankesgeuing whence it taketh his name of the Greeke worde Eucharistia and finally that it might be a godly recordation and remembrance of that one onely sacrifice of Christ and of that immolation done vppon on the altar of the Crosse We doe condemne and take away the abuses of those men which with this sacrifice worship Saintes which by it deliuer the dead from the fire of Purgatorie which thinke they doe obteine for others either pardon of their sinnes or an happie successe in their affaires And we denie not that to be true which that instaurer of auncient Diuinitie complaineth of namely that heretofore the Masse hath bene either a gaine for filthie Massemonging Priestes or else a trustie staffe and staie for all men that haue ledde an euill life For we must needes confesse that which by no meanes can be denied But also as concerning the taking away of the cup frō the Laie people which is contrarie to Gods institution wee doe not thinke it to bee in any wise allowable as likewise neither that reseruation of the Lordes bread nor that ostentation and open shewe of it in publike Processions and Ecclesiasticall pompes Wee haue wholy taken away those ceremonies which helpe nothing at all to promote and further godlinesse yea which rather hurt and hinder it as the consecration and hallowing of salte and of herbes the aspersion or sprinkling of holie water the circumgestation or carrying about of images and pictures the fuming and burning of Franckincense before the altars of Saintes the baptising of belles the yeerely exequies and solemnities for the dead the obseruation and keeping of the houres of our Ladie other innumerable like to these which are ioyned with a certeine impietie and superstition But hitherto of these matters wee haue spoken sufficiently The thirde parte of this discourse wherein the obiections of the Aduersarie are plainely refuted NOwe let Vs fall to the third part of this book wherein as muche as in vs lieth we will labour to confute those things which in this cause are woont to be brought against vs First of all many men are offended at this that our Preachers teach of onely faith in Christ but truely if we will iudge aright they are offended without any weightie or probable cause at the least much more without any iust and necessarie cause For when as wee say that wee are iustified by faith alone wee doe not take away good deedes or honest actions but wee exclude confidence and trust in woorkes and wee shut out mens merites which ought to haue no place in the matter of iustification But all men almost were heeretofore fully persuaded that these merites of men were of abilitie and power to remit sinnes and to satisfie for them in so much that the Monkes would not freely communicate to others their woorkes of supererogation which they had lesse neede of themselues to their owne saluation but would set them to sale at a price if any man would redeeme them with monie Therefore we excluding mens merites doe teache that all the trust and assurance of our saluation ought to bee put and placed in the onely free mercie and reconciliation of God for Christ who gaue himselfe an expiatorie sacrifice for mankinde And that which the Apostle saith Gratis freely excluding verely the condition of dignitie and merite the same we doe say with the Ecclesiasticall fathers Sola fide by faith alone least you should thinke the mutation of the wordes to change the thing it selfe These things as I suppose are both so cleare and
or as S. Paule speaketh abounde more euerie day than other in it But O the execrable and abhominable negligence of men in repeating and calling to minde Gods benefites in rendering due and deserued thankes to so gratious and bountifull a god For wee liue so that wee differ nothing at all from Epicures that the name of God is for our sakes contumeliously reproched and euill spoken of amongst the Turkes that wee doe alienate all men from religion vnto which wee ought by our honest manners and good conuersation to inuite and to allure all men And in the meane season whilest we liue so wee both greeue the holie Spirit and cause that wicked and vncleane spirit to reioyce at vs and also wee yeeld our selues whom Christ hath redeemed by his bloud voluntarily to the bondage seruitude and slauerie of Sathan wee whom Christ hath deliuered from our sinnes doe wittingly willingly rush headlong againe into sinne wee whom he hath made heires of the heauenlie kingdome doe cause our selues through our owne fault to be disinherited This verely is all the thankes that wee giue vnto GOD for this doctrine of the Gospell renewed this is the thankes wee giue vnto Christ for giuing vs saluation so wee giue our selues to bee ruled and gouerned by the holie Ghost With these deedes wee approche and drawe neere vnto the Lordes Table So doe wee expect and waite for the comming of Christ And for ought that I see death is like to attache vs so doing so wee are like to come vnto Gods iudgement seate But that I may returne to my purpose truely I my selfe thinking and musing with my selfe vppon Christ whom wee beginne to confesse and acknowledge truely by this doctrine instaured am incredibly moued and affected neither is there any thing whereby I doe receiue either greater comfort or greater pleasure than by the remembraunce of Christes benefites and of the good will of our heauenlie father towardes vs who hath so loued the worlde that he hath preferred our saluation before the loue of his onelie sonne And falling into this cogitation I can not temper and refraine my selfe but I must needes exclame and crie out sundrie times with Saint Paule If God be on our side for vs who can be against vs Hee that spared not his owne sonne but gaue him for vs all to death howe shall he not with him giue vs all thinges also Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen It is God that iustifieth who shall condemne It is Christ which is dead yea or rather which is risen againe who is also at the right hand of GOD and maketh request also for vs yea and in this cogitation of Christ there is nothing at all which may dismay and discomfort a conscience laden with greeuous sinnes much lesse driue it to desperation For if the lawe being broken and transgressed doeth woorke a feare terrour in vs let vs remember that Christ hath redeemed vs from the curse of the lawe if sinne terrifie vs let vs remember that the bloud of Christ hath cleansed vs from all sinne if death daunt vs let vs remember that Christ is the life and the resurrection if the wrath iudgement of God amaze vs let vs remember that we are reconciled to God by Christ if Sathan assault vs let vs remember that Christ hath triumphed ouer him being vanquished and subdued if hell fire make vs affraied let vs remember that Christ hauing beaten downe hell hath giuen vs an entrie into heauen In such terrours and in such a tast and feeling of eternall death you should in old time haue sought for this consolation in vaine in the Popes kingdome For that was nothing but mans satisfaction Romish indulgencies and the communion of Monasticall woorkes bought both with suite and with siluer the sacrifice of the Masse Pilgrimages to holie places and such other like trifles were opposed and set against sinnes and against death euerlasting The habit and weede of a Franciscane Frier and that staffe of reede that is that help of their seruice for the dead that helpe of memories of anniuersaries of oblations of nightwatchers as were set against Sathan and hell fire These thinges I rehearse to this end and purpose that it may the better be vnderstood how deepely we are indebted vnto our heauenlie father for this renouation of Ecclesiasticall doctrine that by this meanes we may be the more excited and stirred vp to pay with mindfull hearts deserued thankes to God so bountifull and so benigne vnto vs For vnlesse thou doest often call to minde with thy selfe what great blindnesse there hath bene heretofore in Christendome howe grosse darknesse and thicke cloudes of errours and ignorance vnlesse thou by diligent cogitation and consideration doest often remember the superstition of the former age surely thou shalt neuer vnderstand how great commoditie the instauration of holie doctrine hath brought vnto vs And it is a certeine part of gratitude or thankfulnesse to repeate in memorie the euilles passed from whence thou art deliuered that so thou maist the better ponder and also weigh the greatnesse of the benefite that so thou maist consider well what good thing thou hast receiued that so thou maist commend and praise that same benefite with a gratefull commemoration and that so thou maist offer alwayes to God through Christ the sacrifice of praise that is that so thou maist with thy whole heart giue thankes to Gods goodnesse and that thou maist pay thy vowes vnto the Lorde before all his people as the Psalmist saith For God requireth of vs this sacrifice called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or a sacrifice of thankesgiuing And if the Ethnikes and Panims in olde time when any thing had fallen out fortunately and luckily amongst them were woont to declare their grateful good will towards the gods by appointing solemne Processions and supplications to be said about all the temples and tabernacles of their gods or by offering vp sacrifices vnto them how much rather ought we to see to this in this renouation of the doctrine of the Church than which there could no greater benefite haue bene giuen vnto vs that we be mindfull and thankefull and that we declare and witnesse to the world this our thankfulnesse by celebrating the praises of God continually by singing hymnes to God both with our selues at home and also in the congregation and companie of the godlie abroade by assisting and succouring the Ministers of the worde by godlinesse and holinesse of life by doing our dueties towardes our neighbour by suffering aduersitie patiently finally by what meanes soeuer wee can And surely in this instauration of the doctrine of the Church we may almost feele with our verie handes that I may so speake the goodnesse of God towardes vs The diligent consideration of which thing ought worthily to stirre vs vp as I said before to giue thankes to God for so great bountie