thynges apperteyning vnto Christis relygion they must be accepted and reputed here in the worlde for the verye membres of Christes misticall body and that they ought not ne can be desseuered from them vntyll the day of iudgement At whiche tyme the sheparde shall deuyde the shepe from the gootes and the mowers shall trye and clense the corne frome the weedes and chaffe so shall brynge the corne into the barne and cast the chaffe the weedes into the fyre there to burne perpetually Of the churche also in this fyrste maner of sygnyfycation scrypture meaneth where it sayth Dani. ix Matth. xxiiii that abhomynatyon shall sytte in the holy place and that there shall aryse in the churche horryble errours and false prophetes whiche shall worke suche wonders that the electe people of God shall be almooste seduced with theym For surely not onely the wycked people whiche be mingled with the good in the churche as it is taken in this fyrste maner of sygnyfcacyon doo and shall commytte infynite errours and impieties but also the good people and suche as be the very membres of Christe do and shall erre oftymes as men and oftetymes do and shall decline for a season from the ryght way Fourthely it is to be noted that of the churche as it is taken in the seconde maner of sygnyfycation Hebr. xii Apo. xii ii Cor vi i. Tim iii. Math. v. i. Petr. ii Ephe. ii Cant. vi Cant. iiii Gala. iiii Ephe. v. i. Tim iii. ii Tim. ii It is sayde in scripture that she is the heuenly Hierusalem the Cytie of god the temple or habitacle of god the house of god buylded vpon a stone the onely doue the onely beloued of god the gardeyn mured rounde about the fountayne enclosed the well of lyuely water the paradyse full of fruite our holy mother the gloryouse espouse of Christe full of all beautie with out spotte or wryncle the misticall body of Christe the seate or pyller of trouthe the golden vessell in the noble mannes house whiche shall neuer corrupte or putryfie All whiche sentences and dyuers suche other spoken in scripture of the churche be to be referred and veryfyed of the churche in the seconde sygnyfication And fynally in this sygnyfication also the .ix. Artycle of our Crede is to be vnderstanded For surely it is necessary for our saluation to beleue that that churche or congregation whiche conteyneth the very quycke and lyuynge membres of Chrystis mysticalle bodye and whiche shall reygne euerlastyngly with hym in heuen is all holy and catholyque and that lyke as it hath ben euer in the worlde and yet is so it shall contynue for euer and for euer is shall be vnto the worldes ende spyritually and inwardely renewed quyckened gouerned iustified and sanctified with the presence and spyrytuall assistence and gracis of the holy goost and inwardely shall be connected and vnyted together in one godly consent in charitie and in the true doctryne of Christe And for confyrmation hereof it is also further to be noted and consydered that it is not onely veray necessarye for all trewe christen men to lerne and knowe the certayne notes and markes wherby the veray true churche of Christe is dyscerned frome the churche or congregation of the wycked whiche god hateth and also what is the pryncypall cause wherby they be made to be the very quycke membres of the churche of Christe but it is also one of the greatest comfortes that any christen man can haue to beleue and truste for certayne that there is suche a congregation whiche conteyneth the veray lyuely membres of Christis mystycall body and that he is a membre of the same congregation Specyally consyderynge the great and excellent promyses whiche Christe hym selfe hathe made vnto the sayde congregation beinge his owne mystycall body and his owne mooste dere and tenderly beloued espouse And for these causes and consyderations and suche other it is no doubte to be thought that this .ix. artycle was added and put into this crede specyally and pryncypally to descriue and declare the churche as it is taken in the sayde seconde maner of sygnyfycation Fyftely it is to be noted that after the mynde of certayne interpretours of scrypture the quycke and lyuynge membres of the holy and catholyque churche or congregatyon be of two sortes wherof the one parte is al redy departed this lyfe in the state of grace and is called the churche tryumphant forasmoche as after theyr victorie they doo or shall tryumphe in ioy and felicitie in heuen The other is all those true christen people whiche doo and shall lyue here in this worlde dayly and contynually fyghtynge in Christis battayle and for Christis sake ageynst theyr spirituall ennemyes the worlde the dyuell and the fleshe and for that cause is called the mylitant or fyghtynge churche Syxtely it is to be noted that althouge the lyuely membres of this militaunt churche be subiecte to the infirmities of theyr fleshe and fall ofttymes in to errour and synne as was sayde before yet they alweyes in scripture be called holy as well bycause they be sanctified in the bloud of Christe and professynge in theyr baptysme to beleue in god and to forsake the dyuel and all his workes they be consecrated and dedycated vnto Chryste as also for that they be from tyme to tyme purged by the word of god by faith hope and charitie by the exercyse of other vertues and fynally shal be endewed with suche grace of the holy goost that they shall be clerely sanctified and puryfied from all fylthynes and shall be made the gloryouse Espouse of Christe shynynge in all cleannes without hauynge any spotte or wryncle or any other thynge worthy to be reprehended The notes of the .x. Article In the tenthe Artycle it is to be noted that dyuers interpretours of holy scrypture do dyuersely interpretate the fyrste parte therof that is to saye communyon of Saynctes For some of them do referre it vnto the .ix. Artycle and do take it as a clause added to declare and explane what to sygnified by these wordes the Catholyke Churche and so they do conioyne this clause with that that wente before in this sense I beleue that this catholyque Churche is the communyon that is to saye the multytude or the commynaltie or the commune welthe of Saynctes onely that is to saye of those whiche be vnder the kyngdome of Christe and be gouerned and sanctified with his holy spyryte and be prepared to come to euerlastynge lyfe And some interpretours do deuyde the sayde clause from the .ix. Artycle and do conioyne it with the Artycle that foloweth that is to say Remyssyon of synnes Nowe these doctours whiche be of this opinion do also dyuersely expounde the sayde clause of communyon of Saynctes For some of them do take it to sygnyfye the commune vtylytie and profytte whiche all the membres of Christis body do receyue by the commune merytes suffrages and prayers of
the similitude and lykenes of firye tongues Act. ii and dyd ligthe downe vpon all thapostelles and dysciples of Christe and inspired them also with the knowlege of all trouthe and replenyshed them with all heuenly giftes and graces And that from that day vnto the worldes ende he hath ben and shall be continually present and also chiefe president in the catholyque churche of Christe that is to say that he hath and shall continually dwell in the hertes of all those people whiche shall be the very membres of the same churche and shall teache and reuele vnto them the secretes and mysteries of all trouthe whiche is necessarie for them to knowe and that he shall also contynually from time to tyme rule them directe them gouerne them sanctyfie them and gyue vnto them remission of theyr synnes and all spirituall comforte as well inwardly by fayth and other his secrete operations as also outwardely by the open ministration and efficacie of the worde of god and of his holy sacramentes and that he shall endewe them with all suche spirituall graces and gyftes as shall be necessarie for them to haue and so fynally shall rewarde them with the gyfte of euerlastynge lyfe and ioye in heuen The sence and interpretation of the nynthe Artycle I Beleue assuredly in my harte and with my mouthe I do professe and knowlege that there is and hath ben euer from the begynnyng of the world so shal endure and continue for euer one certayne nombre societie cōmunion or company of the electe and faythfull people of god of whiche nombre our sauioure Iesu Christe is the onely heed and gouernour and the membres of the same be all those holy saynctes whiche be now in heuen and also al the faithfull people of god whiche be nowe on lyue or that euer heretofore haue lyued or shall lyue here in this wordle from the begynnynge vnto the ende of the same and be ordeyned for theyr true fayth and obedience vnto the wyll of god to be saued and to enioye euerlastynge life in heuen And I beleue assuredly that this congregation accordyng as it is called in scripture Gala. iiii Cant vi Hire xiii Rom. viii i. Cor. iii. ii Cor. vi Ephe. v. so it is in very dede the Cyte of heuenly Hierusalem the mother of all thelecte people of god the onely doue and the onely beloued of god in perfite and euerlastynge charite the holy catholyque churche the temple or habytacle of god the pure and vndefyled espouse of Christ the veray mysticall body of Christe Al and synguler whiche names and appellations and certayn suche other rehersed in holy scripture I beleue and professe that they be mooste worthely attributed vnto this holy church or congregation And lyke as citizens assembled in one citie do lyue there vnder commune lawes and in commune societie and there do consult studie and labour eche man in his roume and office and accordynge vnto his callynge for theyr common welth and fynally be made participant or parttakers of all and syngular suche benefites and commodities as do aryse vnto them therby Euen so I beleue that the membres of this holy catholique churche or congregation be collected and gathered togyther within the same churche as within one citie or folde and that they be therin all vnyted and incorporated by the holy spirite of Christe into one body and that they do lyue there all in one faythe one hope one charitie and one perfyte vnitie consent and agrement not onely in the true doctrine of Christe but also in the ryghte vse and ministration of his sacramentes and so lyuynge in this perfytte vnytie swete harmony and concorde I beleue that they do labour contynually euery one in his vocation for the common welthe of this hole bodye and of euery parte and membre of the same And that all the prayers good workes and merites yea and all the gyftes graces and goodes whiche be conferred done or wrought in or vnto this hole body or any membre of the same shall be applyed vnto euery one of them and shall redounde communely vnto the benefytte of them all And I beleue that this hole congregation is all holy that is to saye that this churche and all the partes and membres of the same be so puryfied and mundified as well by Christis mooste precyouse bloude as also by the godly presence gouernaunce and assistence of his holy spirite whiche dwelleth and inhabiteth contynually within the sayde congregation and gouerneth and sanctifieth the same that neyther the lepry of heresie or false and peruerse doctryne neyther the fylthynes of synne neyther the gates of hell shal be hable fynally to preuayle agaynste them or to pull any of them out of the handes and possession of Christe And although god dothe oftymes suffre not onely synne errour and iniquitie so to abounde here in the worlde and the congregation of the wycked to exercyse suche tyranny crueltie and persecution ouer this holy churche and the membres of the same that it myght seme the sayde churche to be vtterly oppressed and extinguished but also suffreth many and sondry of the membres of the same holy churche to fall out from this body for a season and to cōmytte many greuouse and horryble offences and crymes for the whiche they deserue to be precyded and excluded for a season from the communion of this holy churche yet I beleue assuredly that god woll neuer vtterly abiecte this holy churche nor any of the membres therof but that the same dothe and shall perpetually contynue and endure here in this worlde and that god shall at all tymes yea whan persecution is greattest and moste feruent be present with his holy spirite in the same churche and preserue it all holy and vndefyled and shall kepe ratyfie and holde sure all his promyses made vnto the same churche or congregation And fynally that all suche membres as be fallen out from the same by synne shal at length ryse agayn by penaunce and shall be restored and vnyted agayne vnto the same holy body And I beleue assuredly that in this holy churche and with the membres of the same so longe as they be mylytant and lyuynge here in erthe there haue bene euer and yet be and euer shall be ioyned and myngled to gyther an infinite nombre of the euyll and wycked people Mat. xiii Mat. iii. Mat xiii Mat. xxv whiche all thoughe they be in dede the very membres of the congregation of the wicked and as the gospell calleth them very weedes and chaffe euyll fyshe and gootes and shall fynally be iudged to euerlastynge dampnation yet forasmoche as they do lyue in the commune societie or company of those whiche be the veray quycke and lyuynge membres of Christis mysticall bodye and outwardly do professe receyue and consent with them for a season in the doctryne of the gospell and in the ryghte vsynge of the sacramentes yea and ofte tymes be indewed with ryght excellent gyftes of
the holy gooste they be to be accompted and reputed here in this worlde to be in the nombre of the sayde veray membres of Christis mysticall bodye so longe as they be not by open sentence of excommunication precided and excluded from the same Not bycause they be suche membres in very dede but bycause the certayne iugement knowlege of that theyr state is by goddes ordynaunce hydden and kepte secrete from all mens knowlege and shall not be reueled vntyll the tyme that Christe hym selfe shall come at the worldes ende and there shall manyfest and declare his veray kyngedome and who be the veray true membres of his body and who be not And I beleue that this holy churche is catholyque that is to say that it can not be coarcted or restrayned within the limites or bondes of any one towne citie prouince region or countreye but that it is dispersed and spredde vnyuersally through out all the hole worlde In so moche that in what part soeuer of the worlde be it in Affrique Asia or Europe there may be founde any nombre of people of what sorte state or condicion so euer they be whiche do beleue in done god the father creatour of all thynges and in one lorde Iesu Christe his sonne and in one holy goost and do also professe and haue all one fayth one hope and one charitie accordynge as is prescribed in holy scripture and do all consent in the trewe interpretation of the same scripture and in the ryght vse of the sacramentes of Christe we maye boldly pronounce and saye that there is this holy churche the veray espouse and body of Christe the veray kyngdome of Christe and the veray temple of god And I beleue that these particular churches in what place of the worlde so euer they be congregated be the very partes porcions or membres of this catholyque and vnyuersall churche And that betwene them there is in dede no dyfference in superioritie preeminence or auctoritie neyther that any one of them is heed or soueraygne ouer the other but that they be all equall in power and dygnitie and be all grounded and buylded vpon one foundation and be all called vnto lyke and vnto the same puretie cleannes honour and glorie and be all subiecte vnto one god one lorde one heed Iesu Christe and be all gouerned with one holye spirite And therfore I do beleue that the churche of Rome is not The churche of Rome nor can not worthyly be called the catholyque churche but onely a partycular membre therof and can not chalenge or vendicate of ryghte and by the worde of god to be heed of this vnyuersall churche or to haue any superioritie ouer thother churches of Christ whiche be in England France Espayne or in any other realme but that they be all free from any subiection vnto the sayde churche of Rome or vnto the mynyster or byshop of the same And I beleue also that the sayde churche of Rome with all thother partycular churches in the worlde compacted and vnyted togyther do make and constitute but one catholyque churche or body And that lyke as our sauyour Christe is one persone and the onely heed of his mysticall body so this hole catholyke churche Christis misticall bodye is but one bodye vnder this one heed Christe The vnitie of Christis churche And that the vnytie of this one catholyque Churche is a mere spirituall vnitie consistynge in the poyntes before rehersed that is to saye in the vnitie of Christis fayth hope and charitie and in the vnitie of the ryght doctrine of Christe and in the vnitie and vnyforme vsynge of the sacramentes consonant vnto the same doctrine And therfore althoughe the sayde partycular churches and the membres of the same do moche dyfferre and be discrepant the one from the other not onely in the dyuersite of nations and countreys and in the dyuersitie dygnitie and excellencye of certayne suche gyftes of the holy goost as they be endewed with but also in the dyuers vsynge and obseruation of suche outwarde rytes ceremonies traditions and ordynaunces as be instituted by theyr gouernours and receyued and approued amonge them yet I beleue assuredly that the vnitie of this catholyque churche can not therfore or for that cause be any thynge hurted impeched or infrynged in any poynte but that all the sayde churches do and shall contynue styll in the vnytie of this catholyke churche not with standynge any suche dyuersytie nor that any of them ought to be reputed as a membre deuyded or precyded from the same for any suche cause of dyuersytie or dyfference vsed by them or any of them in the sayde poyntes And I beleue that al the particular churches in the world whiche be membres of this catholyque churche maye all be called apostolicall churches aswell as the churche of Rome or any other churche wherin the apostels them selfes were somtyme resydent Forasmoche as they haue receyued and be all founded vpon the same fayth and doctryne that the true apostels of Christe dyd teache and professe And I beleue and truste assuredly that I am one of the membres of this catholike churche and that god of his onely mercy hath not onely chosen and called me thervnto by his holy spirite and by thefficacie of his worde and sacramentes and hathe inserted and vnited me into this vnyuersall body or flocke and hath made me his sonne and inheritour of his kyngdome but also that he shall of his lyke goodnes and by the operation of the holy goost iustifie me here in this worlde and fynally glorifie me in heuen And therfore I proteste and knowlege that in my hart I abhorre and deteste all heresies and scismes wherby the true interpretation and sence of scripture is or maye be peruerted And do promyse by the helpe of god to endure vnto my lyfes ende in the ryght profession of the faythe and doctryne of the catholyque churche The sense and interpretation of the tenthe Artycle I Beleue assuredly in my harte and with my mouthe I professe that betwene and amonge all and synguler the saintes that is to say the quycke lyuinge membres of the catholyque churche of Christe whiche is his mistycall body there is a perfyte communion and particypation of all and syngular the graces of the holy goost and the spirituall goodes and treasure whiche do belonge vnto the sayde hole body or vnto any part or membre of the same And like as al the partes membres whiche be lyuynge in the natural body of a man do naturally communicate and mynister eche to other the vse commoditie and benefite of all theyr forces nutriment and perfection in somoche that it lyeth not in the power of any man to say that the meate whiche he putteth in at his owne mouthe shall nouryshe one particular membre of his body and not an other but that all and euery one particularly shall receyue of the sayde nutriment and of the vertue and benefite therof more
to all other the workes of the flesshe and so shall contynue therin without repentaunce or thynkynge of the sayd last day vntyl the selfe same houre that Christ shall come hym selfe in person and call them sodeinly to come and appere before his presence to receyue theyr iudgement The notes of the viii Artycle In the .viii. Artycle it is specyally to be noted that not with standynge any thynge conteyned or mencyoned therin yet we muste constantely beleue in the seconde persone in Trinitie accordynge as it is declared in the former Artycles in all poyntes that is to say that our sauiour Iesu Christe hath meryted habundantly and at the full not onely cleane remyssyon of all our synnes but also our parfytte redemption and delyueraunce from all the captiuytie and thraldome of our spirituall ennemyes and also our perfyte reconciliation vnto the fauoure of god and our perfytte iustification and saluation and that his deathe and his bloude is thonely and suffycient price and valour and the iuste satisfaction for all the synnes of the worlde And that he is the onely meane and hyghe waye wherby Christen men do and muste come vnto the father and that he is our onely Aduocate and patrone in heuen by whom all the heuenly gyftes of the holy goost and what so euer els is or can be necessary or requisite to thatteynynge of euerlastynge lyfe is conferred and gyuen vnto vs. And therfore where as in this .viii. Artycle our sanctification our iustification our incorporation in to the body of Christe our gouernaunce and all the other gyftes and graces wherwith christen men be endued be attributed vnto the worke of this holy spirite it is to be vnderstanded Fyrst that lyke as Christ is the autour the meane the veray hygh way to come vnto god the father so is this holy spirite the veray conductour the guyde the dyrectoure and the gouernour to brynge vs into the same hyghe waye and to mynyster vnto vs not onely alacritie and strength to walke and runne therin but also perseuerance to contynue in the same vntyll we shall come vnto our iourneys ende ¶ Seconde that the peculiar offyce operation of this holy spirite is to reuele and teache vs the mysteryes of Christis bloude and his passion and howe he is our onely lorde our sauiour and redemer and so to bring vs into the right knowledge of all these benefites that Christe hath done for vs. For surely yf this holy spirite shulde not by his worke illumyne lyght our hartes with the knowlege of this trouth all the merites and benefites of Christe shulde be perpetually hydden from our knowledge and we shulde neuer beleue in Christe but shulde be lyke Iewes and Turkes whiche knowe not Christe and so we shulde neuer be made participant of Christis merites nor they shulde neuer be applied vnto vs. Thyrdely that it is also the peculiar function or offyce of this holy spirite after we be inspired and perfytely instructed in the sayde knowledge fyrste to purge and purifie our hartes by this faythe and knowledge from the malyce and fylthynes of synne and afterwarde to stirre inflame and rauyshe our hartes and to make vs able gladly and thankfully to embrace and receyue the sayde benefytes and so to kepe them to vse them and to dyspose theym to our owne welthe and to the edifienge and profite of our neyghbours And fynally to comforte vs and to be vnto vs in maner as acertayne pledge or an ernest peny to assure and warraunt vs by true and infalible tokens that we be in the fauour of god and his owne chyldren by grace and adoption and the ryght enheritours of heuen And for asmoche as this holy spirite beynge sent and procedynge from the father and the sonne to dwell and inhabyte in our hartes worketh in vs all these effectes holy scrypture doth worthyly attrybute vnto hym our sanctification our iustyfycation and all the other benefytes whiche Christe by his passyon hath meryted and deserued for vs. Whiche neuerthelesse be also the workes of the hole Trynytie and be not to be separated in any wyse al thoughe scrypture commonly dothe attrybute them vnto the holy gooste as it doth attrybute power vnto the father and wysdome vnto the sonne whiche neuer the lesse be commune vnto all thre The notes of the ix Article In the nynthe Artycle many thinges be to be noted First that this worde Church in scripture is taken sometyme generally for the hole congregation of them that be chrystened and professe Christis gospell And somtyme it is taken for the catholyque congregation or noumbre of theym onely whiche be chosen called and ordeyned to reygne with Christe in euerlastynge lyfe Seconde it is to be noted that the churche in the fyrste sygnyfycation is in scrypture compared sometyme vnto a felde full of good corne and noughty weedes myngled togyther Mat. xiii Act. xx Mat. xxv Math. iii Luke iii. and somtymes vnto a nette full of good fyshe and badde and somtymes vnto a flocke of shepe and gootes gathered togyther in one fold and somtymes vnto the threshyng flower of almyghty god ii Tim. ii wherin is conteyned corne and chaffe both togyther and sometymes vnto a great mannes house in the whiche be some vessels or instrumentes of golde some of syluer some of tree some of erth some to be had in honour and pryce and suche as woll neuer be corrupted and putrifyed and some to be had in contempt to serue only for vile vses Thyrdly it is to be noted that by these parables certayn suche other rehersed in scrypture is sygnyfied that amonge them which be chrystened do professe Christis gospell and lyue in the comune societie cōmunion of the sacramētes of the churche dyuers be in dede the very quycke lyuynge membres of Christis mystical body and shal reygne euerlastingly with hym in honour And that the congregation or societie of them is the very felde and they be the very good corne or seede whiche Christe hym selfe dyd sowe And dyuers be in dede chaffe or stynkynge and naughty weedes sowen by the dyuell noughty fyshes stynkyng and baren gootes vessels dyspysed or instrumentes prepared to euerlasting fyre that is to saye they be the veray membres of the synagoge of the dyuell not the lyuyng membres of Christis mystycall body By these parables also it is signyfied that in this present lyfe these two sortes of people good and badde be contynually myxted and myngled togyther in the churche as it is taken in the fyrst sygnyfication And that the sayd membres of the synagoge of the dyuell so longe as they growe in the same felde wherin the good corne groweth that is to saye so longe as they do in outwarde apparaunce professe the same fayth of Christ whiche the very membres of Christis churche do professe and do consent agree with them outwardly in the doctryne of the gospell and in all other
here in this worlde they care not or lytell regarde the wyl pleasure and cōmaundementes of god And therfore surely we haue greatte nede contynually to pray accordynge to Christes doctrine in this thyrde petition for ayde vnto our heuenly father that being thus clothed and encombred with this corruptyble flesshe here in this worlde whiche dulleth and draweth downe mannes mynde as the wyse man sayth It may please hym to graūt vs the grace that so longe as we lyue here we maye fulfylle his wyll in all thynges and not our owne and so to haue a dwellynge place in his citie And contrarye that the dyuelle may neuer haue power to take vs and to bringe vs vnto his citie and possessyon ¶ The sense and interpretation of the fourth Petition O Oure heuenly father we beseche the gyue vs this daye our dayly breadde Gyue vs meate drynke and clothynge for oure bodyes Sende vs encrease of corne fruyte and catayle Gyue vs helthe and strengthe reste and peace that we may leade a peasible and a quiete life in al godlines and honestie Graunte vs good successe in all our busynes helpe in aduersytie and peril Graunt vs we beseche the all thynges conuenient for our necessitie in this temporalle lyfe And to thē to whom thou doest vouchsafe to gyue more than theyr owne portion necessarie for theyr vocation and degree gyue thy grace that they maye be thy dylygent and true dyspensatours and stewardes to dystrybute that they haue ouer and aboue that is necessarie consyderynge theyr astate and degree to them that haue nede of it For so good lorde thou doest prouyde for thy poore people that haue nothyng by thē whiche haue of thy gyfte suffycyent to relieue them selfe and other And gyue also thy grace to vs that we haue not to moche solicitude and care for these transytorye and vnstable thynges but that our hartes may be fyxed in thynges whiche be eternall and in thy kyngedome whiche is euerlastynge And yet more ouer good lorde not onely giue vs our necessaries but also conserue that thou dost gyue vs cause that it maye come to our vse by vs to the poore people for whome by vs thou hast prouided Giue vs grace that we may be fed and nourisshed with al the lyfe of Christ that is to say bothe his wordes workes And that they maye be to vs an effectual example spectacle of al vertues Graunt that al they that preache thy worde may profytably godly preache the thy sonne Iesu Christ through all the worlde And that all we whiche here thy worde preached maye so be fed therwith that not onely we may outwardely receaue the same but also digest it within our hartes and that it maye soo worke and fede euery parte of vs that it may appere in all the actes and dedes of oure lyfe Graunte that the holy sacramente of the Altare whiche is the breade of lyfe and the veray flesshe and bloode of thy sonne Iesu Christe maye be purely mynystred and dystrybuted to the comforte and benefyte of all vs thy people and that we also may receaue the same with a ryght faythe and perfyte charytie at all tymes when we ought to receaue the same and specyally agaynst our deathe and departynge out of this worlde soo that we maye be than spiritually fedde with the same to our saluation and therby enioy the lyfe euerlastynge Gyue vs an inwarde hungre thyrste to haue thy worde and the ryghtuous lyuynge taught in the same Graunte this also mercyfull father that all false doctrines contrary to thy worde whiche fedeth not but poysoneth and kylleth the soule may be vtterly extincte and cast awaye out of thy Churche so that we maye be fedde as well with the true doctrine of thy worde as with all other thinges necessary for vs in this lyfe ¶ For the better vnderstandynge of this fourthe petition we thynke it conuenient that all bysshoppes and preachers shall instructe and teache the people commytted vnto theyr spirituall charge Fyrste howe that our lorde teacheth vs not in this petition to aske any superfluous thynges or thynges of pleasure or delyte but onely thynges sufficient And therfore he byddeth vs onely aske breade wherin is not mente superfluous ryches or great substaunce or habundaunce of thynges aboue our estate and condycyon but suche thynges onely as be necessary and suffycyent for euery man in his degree And that this is the meanynge of this worde i. Tim. vi saynct Paule declareth at good lengthe where he sayth we haue brought nothyng in to this worlde ne shal take any thing with vs whā we shall departe hense And therfore yf we haue meate and drinke and clothe that is to say thynges sufficient we ought to holde our selfe contente For they that set theyr myndes on ryches and woll haue superfluities more than nedeth or is expedient to theyr vocation they fall into dangerous temptations and into the snares of the dyuell and into many and vnprofytable and noysome desyres whiche drowne men into perdicion and euerlastynge damnation for the sprynge and rote of all euyls is suche superfluous desyre Prou. iii. The wyse man also makynge his suite to our lorde sayth Gyue me neyther pouertie ne excesse but only thinges sufficient for my liuing left that hauynge to moche I be prouoked to denye god and to forgette who is the lorde and on the other syde lest that by pouertie constrayned I falle vnto thefte and forsweare the name of my god These two wyse men the one of the olde the other of the newe testamente agree with the lesson of our sauyour Bothe aske breade that is thynges necessary and bothe refuse and renounce superfluities as thynges vnprofytable daungerous and noysome ¶ Seconde that in these wordes of our sauyour Iesu Christ be reproued all those persones whiche eate not theyr owne breade but deuoureth other mens breade Of whiche sorte be all those whiche lyue of rauyn and spoyles of thefte of extorcyon of crafte and deceyte Item all they whiche neyther laboure with theyr handes nor otherwyse apply theyr study industry and dylygence to some thynge whiche is good and beneficial in the cōmune weale and to the honour of god but lyue in ease reste ydelnes and wanton pleasures without doynge or carynge for any suche thynge Item all they whiche beyng called in this worlde vnto any roume office or auctoritie do abuse the same and do not employ them selfe accordyng to theyr vocation ¶ Thyrdely that althoughe we be bounde by labour or other laufull meanes to prouyde for our selfes frome tyme to tyme a suffycyent lyuynge yet we muste surely beleue and truste that oure father in heuen prouydeth for vs also and that all our owne prouysyon and industrie is in vayne without his prouysyon For it is he that gyueth vnto vs and taketh from vs at his pleasure more or lesse Therfore not withstandynge all our owne laboure industrye and dylygence yet we must thanke hym