Selected quad for the lemma: doctrine_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
doctrine_n	church_n	true_a	visible_a	8,362	5	9.3033	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A03087	A simple, and religious consultation of vs Herman by the grace of God Archebishop of Colone, and prince Electour. [et] c. by what meanes a Christian reformation, and founded in Gods worde, of doctrine, administration of the deuine sacramentes, of ceremonies, and the hole cure of soules, and other ecclesiastical ministeries may be begon among men committed to our pastorall charge, vntil the Lorde graunt a better to be appoynted either by a free, and Christian cou[n]sayle, general, or national, or elles by the states of the empire of the natio[n] of Germanie, gathered together in the holye Gost; Einfaltigs Bedencken, warauff ein christliche in dem Wort Gottes gegrünte Reformation an Lehr, Brauch der heyligen Sacramenten un Ceremonien, Seelsorg und anderem Kirchendienst, biss auff eines freyen, christlichen, gemeinen oder nationals Concilii, oder dess Reichs Teutscher Nation Stende, im Heyligen Geyst versamelt, Verbesserung, bei denen so unserer Seelsorge befohlen, anzurichten seye, English	Wied, Hermann von.; Melanchthon, Philipp, 1497-1560.; Bucer, Martin, 1491-1551.	1547 (1547)	STC 13213; ESTC S103980	258,817	620

whyle the congregation suffereth them they to whom they ministre the sacramētes of Christ must neuer regarde the person or worthines of the ministers but the commaundement and promise of Christe in the holie ministerie For the Lorde maketh those thynges which he hym selfe hath ordeined in his churche to be effectuous vnto the health of his though the ministers be neuer so vnworthy and he requireth that the fayeth of his people be groūded vpon his worde and not vpon the worthinesse of the ministers Therefore Christe sayeth he that heareth you heareth me that is to say it is my worde and it worketh thorowe me the fayeth of myne muste leane hereupon and not vpō the vertue and worthines of the ministers For thys cause he compareth the churche to a fishers nette wherewith good and euyl fishes are taken And math xiij He testifieth that the euyll muste not be seuered from the good before the later daye The churche muste be exercised here and warre vndre the crosse not onely against fleshe and bloud but also against the deuyll hym selfe some of the membres thereof as it were stonpynge and gyuynge place some beinge quite ouerthrowen and some recoueryng them selues agayne and renuinge the fyghte And though manie in the churche shall gyue place to Satan and to the fleshe and shall be oppressed of these enemies yet euer some membres of the congregation must stande and ouercome some tyme more and sometyme fewer Wherfore there shal euer be some visible congregation on the earth as Christe hym selfe promiseth Mathewe the laste Lo I am wyth you vnto the ende of the worlde And Esaie xlix The Lorde sayeth And I haue made thys couenaunt wyth them sayth the Lorde my spirite which is vpon the and the workes whiche I haue putte in thy mouth shall not departe from thy mouth nor from the mouth of thy sede sayth the Lorde from thys tyme vnto euerlastyng Thys sentence teacheth what the church is and that it shall endure euer And it is a great consolation to holde both partes that we maye be sure that God hath not cast awaye whole mankynde but that he wyll euer heare and saue vs. But where wyll he do thys thynge Answer Not amonge the heathen or desperate Iewes or Mahometistes or obstinate aduersaries of Christe but amonge thē onely whiche heare retayne and beleue the worde whiche the heauenlie father hath putte in the mouthe of the Prophetes and of his sonne and call vpon hym accordynge to his moste ample promises Thys consolation taken out of the doctrine concernynge the congregation is diligently to be considered and printed deeply into our myndes and therefore the preachers muste often rehearse these thynges to the people Furthermore that grosse and pernitious errour of the Donatistes and Anabaptistes muste be reproued whiche called the people from the worde of God and the sacramētes to the person of the ministers deniyng there ministery to be effectuous which had sinnes agaynst conscience How be it this is the cōmaundement of God in the callynge of byshoppes and ministers that suche ministers be chosen for the cōgregations as be not reproueable And if while they be in theyr ministerie they fal into wycked actes that they be remoued from the same agayne accordyng to the ordre whiche the Lorde hath appoynted wherof we wyll speake hereafter In the meane whyle as I sayed we muste euer haue regarde to the commaundement of God in the worde and the sacramentes and not to the person of the ministers For we speake here of the visible churche wherin good and badde be mengled togyther in thys lyfe And god made mankinde for this purpose that there myght be some amonge whom he myght be knowen whiche should call vpon him and magnifie hym And therfore also he sent his sonne oure Lorde Iesus Christ and in hym he hath opened the exceding rytches of his grace towardes vs that they mygh●e be vnfolded and distributed amonge vs wherby many myght be saued And bicause that these workes of Goddes goodnes muste be manifeste in the worlde there muste needes be a visible churche that is to saye suche a companie in whiche thys wyl of God towardes mē is preached and celebrated Therefore the Psalme sayeth of suche a visible churche Their sounde went into all the worlde But that the churche maye be knowen and discerned from other polities and people it hath certayne propre signes namely these that folowe The first signe is true doctrine deliuered to the church in the Gospel by Christe and the Apostles after a true vnderstanding The seconde is the true and lawfull vse of the sacramētes which Christ ordeined The thirde signe is confession of godlie doctrine whiche is made both in callyng vpon God and reteynynge the cōmunion and discipline of Christe wyth the sayntes and also in professynge and maynteinyng the Gospel when neede is amonge them whiche be wythout the churche ¶ Of the vnitie or concorde of the churche AL be it that the churche in manie thynges be vnlyke the politike orders of the worlde for it is subiecte vnto the crosse yet it is like in that poynt that is principall and best in all comon weales that is to saye in greate vnitie and coniunction of the membres amonge them selues And the coniunction and vnitie of the churche consisteth in three poyntes chiefely The first is a cōsent in the doctrine of the Gospell and true vnderstandynge of the same which seinge that the Iewes Mahometistes heretikes and aduersaries of the Gospell haue not they be not the membres of the churche though the Iewes and Mahometistes glorie much that they worshyppe the true God and manie of thē lyue well and honestly For it is certayne that they are not of the people of God and ther fore that they be cast away from God and damned for euer as many as blaspheme the sonne of God our sauiour and professe opēly that they acknowledge hym not nor receyue his doctrine deliuered to the churche by Christ and his Apostles Therfore they be the enemies of god and subiected to eternall damnation In lyke maner though heretikes and persecutours of the Gospell reteyne some articles of the euangelicall doctrine and boste them selues to be christians and manie of them lyue honestly and excell in vertues of the outwarde lyfe yet they be not membres of the churche For the sentence Math. xij is sure and certayne he that blasphemeth the holie goste it shall not be forgyuen hym in thys worlde nor in the worlde to come For to blaspheme the holie gost is to speake euil of the allowed truth whiche was reueyled by the holie goste and the ministerie of the Apostles Item ij Iohn i. Euerie one that transgresseth and tarieth not in the doctrine of Christe hath not God So Gala. i. If anie man preache a Gospell to you besyde that that ye haue receyued be he accursed Hereof it maye be knowen also that they be none of the churche of Christ whiche folow straunge doctrine bicause that suche haue

partly heathnishe opinions of the diuine nature as Manicheus whiche fayned that there were two Goddes one good an other euyll both eternall and partly they haue Iewishe errours of the sonne of God and the holie Goste as Samosatenus and suche lyke Neither is it obscure that they perteine not to the churche of Christe whiche wythdrawe from Christe the Lorde the glorie of a Mediatoure assignynge the remission of synnes to the deseruynges of workes and deuising peculiar workes or worshippinges of God The same thynge do they whiche denie originall synne and seeke iustice thorowe theyr owne worthines whiche take awaye proprietie of goodes whiche cōdemne officers and iudgementes ordeined by the commaundement of God as the Anabaptistes do these felowes pinche from Christ and from the holiegoste whiche holy goste rebuketh original synne and ordeyneth and defēdeth politike ordres Wherof it appeareth that suche be not the true membres of the churche bycause that either they refuse all togyther the doctrine of the Apostles or mangle some article of the the same interpretyng them agaynst the vniuersal consent of the true churche The seconde thynge required to the vnnitie of the churche is concorde concernyng the ryght vse of those sacramentes whiche Christe instituted The third is obedience towardes the ministerie of the Gospell in all those thynges for whiche we haue the commaundementes of God I meane that the people heare the worde of God of the ministers of the Gospell whiche be lawfully called and teache sincerely Item that they receyue the Sacramentes of them and obey them if thorowe the authoritie and iurisdiction of the churche ordeyned of Christe they be warned rebuked and punished for their synnes or excommunicated For the ministers must be necessarely obeied in those thinges which are commaunded in the Gospell Luke x. He that heareth you heareth me etc. Hebr. xiij Obey thē that be your gouerners for they watche for your soules as men that shall gyue accompte of their office etc. But the faythfull ministers suffre persecution of the open aduersaries of the Gospel and the administration by it selfe is full of great difficulties cares and miseries Wherfore it is a great crosse if there be added vnto it arrogant behauiour and contempt of theyr hearers So contrarie wyse it is a great consolation and disburthenyng of theyr labours and paynes when their hearers obey them in the Lorde and declare a thankfull mynde for their labours and cares Whiche thinge maketh also for thys purpose that the cōsent of the whole church be maynteyned that the doctrine of Christe be sette forth more and more Finally that the offices of loue be busely excercised and that the instauration of the whole churche go wel forwarde As cōtrarie wyse where there is contempte and stubburnes of the subiectes the holie cōcord of the people of God is drawen a sundre the doctrine of the Gospell is obscured and corrupted mutuall offices of edification are hindred and manie other offences sprynge vp and the wylde behauiour of manie encreaseth Therefore that the churche of the Lorde may be maynteyned and grow forth he cōmaunded him selfe that necessarie obedience should be shewed to the ministers of congregations in those thynges whiche be committed vnto them in the Gospell For they muste exercise the authoritie of Christ not of their owne Wherefore of them selues they haue no ryght to commaunde anie thing to the people of Christ neither ought the people to obey them if they do so For christian men can obey no man in those thinges whiche be agaynste God as all those thynges be whiche are ordeyned and enacted concernyng religion not of the cōmaundement of Christe But whyle the pastours require enioyne those thynges for which they haue the commaundement of Christe they that in thys case refuse to obey caste of the yoke of Christe Paule wyth a great spirite exhorteth to thys concorde of the church and agreinge togyther of the membres of Christe amonge them selues both in other places and also in the epistle to the Eph. iiij Therefore I whiche am a prisoner of the Lorde exhorte you that you so walke as it becometh the vocation wherwith ye are called with all submission and meakenes with softnes of mynde sufferynge one an other thorowe loue labourynge to keepe the vnitie of spirite by the bonde of peace One bodie and spirite etc. But it is manifest that Paul calleth that the vnitie of the spirite in thys place that is in the true doctrine of Christe and in the obedience of the commaundementes of God For the holie goste worketh thys vnitie in them whiche beleue and thys vnitie of spirite bryngeth and preserueth the true peace and edification of the churche And the maner and ordre of chosynge or callynge the ministers of the congregation which the holie goste hath appoynted in the scriptures maketh for the preseruation of thys vnitie For as S. Paule sayeth Ephe. iiij Christe ascending vp on high ledde captiuitie captyue and gaue gyftes vnto men prophetes apostles feeders and teachers And though Christe hym selfe as the apostle wytnesseth doth chose and appoynt ministers to his churche yet he doth the same for the moste parte by the worke and ministerie of his churche To whiche churche he hath cōmaunded to bringe vp and to teache perpetuallye some vnto thys ministerye whiche beinge furnished for the same ministerie must be called and appointed by lawfull chosynge and triall Wherefore there hath remayned euer in the churche a maner to bryng vp and frame some to the holie offices of the church and also to receyue them whē they be brought vp and furnished and to ordeyne them when they be fitte for that purpose And thys ordinaunce must be euer religiously kepte that the churche may euer be edified by me●e teachers and curates as the Apostle teacheth diligently and comendeth to the Ephe. iiij and. i. Timo. iij. Tit. i. And thys must be one of the principal charges of the byshoppes that euer some be brought vp and taught and afterwarde also chosen and ordeyned beinge tryed to execute the same religiously as the apostle prescribed to his Timothe Tite and it was enacted and renued afterwarde by the decrees and canons of many counselles ¶ Of christian prayer TRue Christen praier healpeth also verie muche to the conseruation maynteynyng and encreasyng of godlines as we warned before For thorowe it we muste aske and receyue what so euer we loke for of God by fayth But thys exercise also of religion is waxen so colde yea is so quenched almoste that scarcely any know howe to praye truly and christianly In the begynnyng of the church the studie of praying so florished that not a fewe miracles were done by prayer wherof we haue manie exemples Neither should the strength of prayer be any thynge lesse nowe if we dyd applie it studiously and wyth true fayth Therfore that the diligencie of prayer maye be restored againe it shal be the ministers dutie to exhorte the people vnto it diligētly

dryuen to do that that is ryghte and the same wythout abuse of excommunication and wronge of the kayes of Christe ❧ Of the appoyntyng and institution of pastours AL men endued wyth the true feare of God and religion vnderstande that thoffice of priesthod that is to say the ministerie of preaching the Gospel and disposyng the sacramentes and discipline of Christe is and was frō the beginning of the worlde and shal be to th ende of the same right necessarie and holesome amonge al other offices ministeries wherby the cōmodities of mannes life are procured For God sent his sonne into this world whiche was promised from the begynynge to mankynde to execute thys office he sent also to men his moste excellente prophetes and patriarkes and he mainteineth the same ministerie thorowe all ages by wonderfull meanes restoreth it oftē times gloriously Wherfore he hath enioyned to al curates of congregations that they labour wyth all religion that thys treasure of euerlastynge life thys ministerie of saluation and blessed cōmunion with him and his Christe be not cōmitted but to faythful and meete mē that it may be euer kept sincere nor be quēched at any tyme as it hath chaunced amonge the heathen Wherfore we ought most diligently to cōsidre and to renue in the cōgregatiōs as muche as is possible the thinges that the holy goste hath prescribed cōcerning the religion of this ministerie both in other places also to Timothe Neither is it to be doubted but that bishops were made presidentes ouer all priestes chiefely for thys cause that they shoulde take singuler care and studie that the puritie of christian doctrine and discipline might be mainteined in cōgregatiōs and that meete mē might be admitted to the administration thereof And it is manifeste that the cōgregations frō the beginninge of the worlde haue ben moste greuously endāmaged thorowe the negligence sluggishnes rashnes and boldnes of them whiche were made ouerseers of the doctrine discipline of Christe As other commune weales also were then moste afflicted and came to ruine whē thei began to be administred by naughtie officers For euer there wāt rather meete gouernours in commune weaels to keepe mainteine and execute good lawes thē there want good and cōmodious lawes Wherefore we hertely wishe that principal diligēce be vsed hereof that faythfull and meete curates be appointed to euerie cōgregation as it is moste necessarie and as it toucheth oure office chiefely Let no man then take it in ill parte that we deuise a waye and meane wherby they that shal be admitted to the procuration of cōgregations may be examined and tried with more religion thē heretofore As for vs we wyl not take from any mā his right of appoyntyng curates to congregations But we exhort al men whiche take this authoritie vpon them that thorowe fauour carnall loue or for some other cause they thrust not such into the congregations which be sclēderly furnished or litle willing to execute thys moste holie ministerie but that they seeke out wyth all diligence suche as wyll and be able to execute thys office which thing the verie fayth of Christ greatly requireth of al christian men but chiefely of them to whom congregations be singnlerly committed for the same purpose And that we also may execute oure office in this behalfe we cōmaund that no man be admitted to the cure of any congregation whiche is not diligently tried and allowed by those examiners whō we shall appoynte to this office and bryngeth frō thexaminers a testimony of his probatiō to those to whō it shal perteine to inuest to our suffragane In the examination of these mē thre thinges must chiefely be required First that he that shall be admitted to the holy ministerie of the congregation bringe to the examiners a cōuenient testimonie sealed in letters worthy of credite concerninge his vocation and former life For God forbiddeth suche to be admitted to this right excellent office which openly despice his lawes and be subiecte to manifeste wycked actes Secondly the persone must be examined whether he sufficiently vnderstande the doctrine of Christ a somme wherof we haue cōprehended in this boke And whether he acknowledge that the same doctrine in a sūme is truly described in this boke as surely it is the onely and vndoubted doctrine of Christe whiche the true catholike churche of Christe euer holdeth and foloweth Thyrdly it must be required of him that shall be admitted to the gouernaunce of the cōgregation of Christ whē it shal be perceiued that he vnderstādeth sufficiently this doctrine and cōfesseth it to be true that he promise to continue in the same doctrine and to deliuer the same faythfully to thē of whom he shal be made curate for that purpose and to folowe the prescripte of thys boke in all thinges diligētly and to execute his office in al pointes with al faythfulnes and diligēce When he is thus examined and proued the examiners must giue him a testimony of theyr cōprobation vnto thē whose office is to inuest him and to the suffragane Which suffragane shall vse nothinge in the ceremonies of ordination nor enioyne anie thynge in ordeynynge that agreeth not wyth thys same doctrine of Christe sette forth in thys boke For it is euidente that thys doctrine whiche is comprehended in thys boke is the verie christian doctrine and the certeyne sentence and fayth of the catholike churche Now it perteineth to vs by reason of our byshoplye office that we maynteyne not those obseruaunces whiche haue crepte in besyde the cōmaundement of God and vnto the destruction of many priestes but rather that we seeke out and deuise that waye and meane whereby we maye fynde meete ministers vnto our congregations and that they may execute their ministerie with good conscience not encombred with vniust traditions of men or vowes and call vpon God wyth sure trust and be occupied in their ministerie godly and luckely We trust also that they which nowe administre oure cōgregations wyl gladly applie them selues to this maner of teachynge and vsynge of holy ceremonies when they shall haue thorowly perceyued it and not leade a lyfe disagreinge to the same If it chaunce otherwyse in anie place the visiters shall haue commaundementes so to prouide the congregations of necessary and meete ministers that no man shall haue cause to complayne of anie vniuste burthen ❧ Of blessynge of mariages THey whiche haue mutually promised matrimonie betwene them selues shal go both the spouse and the spousesse wyth their parentes of both sydes or other kynsfolke or two or three friendes to the Pastoure or to some other ministre appoynted thereunto and shall signifie vnto them theyr hand fastynge and require the blessynge of the congregation whiche shal diligently demaunde of them whether theyr handfastynge were made after the wyll of the parentes of both parties or of thē vndre whose gouernaunce and power they be whether they haue done all other thynges lawfully and after a christian facion whether

true and liuelie fayth they shoulde acknowledge oure Lorde Iesus Christ and confesse him to be the only sauiour and calle for his helpe in al trobles with a verie trust and exercise them selues in such worckes as in dede be good and fruteful in the holye sacramētes and other ceremonies of the church accordinge to Christes institution that godlines maie daily encrease more and more and that al thinges which be contrarie to Godes worde all sinnes and offences that be crept in to the church of God maye be abolisched wherefore attributinge nothinge ether to our wisdome or to the wisdome and doctrine of other but only encouraged and trusting in the true grace and sure promise of God the father and in the merite and strenghth of our Lord Iesus Christ the only hed and vigilant pastour of hys comgregation we haue determined to set furth accordynge to oure simplicite these thynges thus gathered after diligent deliberacion and correction asmuch as coulde be done in shorte tyme and asmuch as God helped vs wyth hys grace for some reformacion of Christian discipline For we graunte that it is our office to fede christes shepe and faithfully to loke to the congregacions cōmitted vnto vs. And we cal God our creator to witnesse whiche is euerlastinge truth and knoweth the hertes and seeth al thoughtes that we in al this matter of reformation seke nether our owne glorie nor oure priuate commodite but only haue respecte hereunto that the glorie of the almightie maye bee mooste largely set furth to the euerlastinge saluacion of oure men Therfore we besech al christen men of what condicion soeuer thei be which shal reade o● heare this our preparation of a reformation by our Lord Iesus Christ whose cause matter and busines is hādled in this boke if thei shal finde anie thinge in it that shal not seme to be agreable to goddes worde and make to the true edificacion of fayth in Christe whiche resteth in the augmentacion of goddes encrease that they wil certifie vs thereof and gently teach vs out of the holie scriptur We wyll take the same by goddes grace in good parte and gladli embrace those thinges that we shal perceiue to helpe to the reparation of the church and we be readie to do them more diligently than it is set furth in this boke that nothinge wante to the nessarie reformacion of the church And contrarie wise we require of them that if they shal perceiue that the Lord hath mercifully giuē vs to attain his meaninge and wil they wil helpe vs wyth their beniuolence and diligence asmuch as they maye that these thinges as the holsome commaundementes of oure maker redemer iugde Iesus Christ maye be sette furth chiefely seing that they vnder stand that it becōmeth vs in nowyse in those thinges whiche we surely knowe to be enioyned and commaunded vnto vs by oure God and sauiour out of hys worde to differ any lōger either for the authorite and power of anie men or for the expectacion of a councell generall or nationall the thinges which perteine to the glorie of God and of his most dere sonne and the saluation of the people but rather as commodiously as we maye to propone the same to be obserued of our men and other asmuch as the almightie will helpe vs with hys diuine grace whiche we wishe to al them that seke the same truly thorough our Lord Iesus Christ As we cōmende vnto them this our obedience such as it is in this our purpose whiche we owe to the diuine maieste with al our subiectes and our office desiringe the same children of god which with a sincere herte wishe the amplification of Christes kingdom to whome vndoubtedly our necessarie diligence though it be slender shal be acceptable that they with their godlie praiers will diligentlye ayde in this our purpose and ministerie vs and our subiectes Which thinge how acceptable it was vnto vs we desire to declare to euerie one whan we shal be able ❧ Giuen at Buschonie ❧ A Table of the principall Articles in this boke of a Reformacion OF Doctrine That some Lesson muste be resited out of the holye Scripture before a Sermon and declared vnto the people That al Sermōs must be made to the magnifiyng of the Lord Christ Of the Trinitie Of the creacion and gouernaunce of all thynges Of the cause of synne and death Of original sinne and mannes wekenes before regeneration Of the olde Testament Of the difference of the olde and newe Testament Of preachyng peculiar to the newe Testament Of the preachyng of Repentaunce Of the true and proper vse of Goddes lawe A short exposition of the .x. commaundementes Of remission of synnes and iustification Of good workes Of the true and natural significatiō of this worde fayth Of the crosse and tribulations Of the church of God Of the vnitie or concorde of the church Of christian prayer A short exposition of the Lordes praier Of the abuse in prayer Of the true and false vse of Images Of Christian fast Of holy offerynges A premoniciō and commaundement against the errours of the Anabaptistes Of the administration of religion Of Sacramentes generally Of Baptisme The fourme of a Catechisme before Baptisme The exorcisme Of the administration of Baptisme Howe Baptisme must be administred at times not prescribed Of Confirmation Of the Lordes Supper At what tyme the Lordes Supper ought to be celebrated Of the cōmuniō of straungers and sickfolke Howe sicke persōs must be visited and how we must celebrate the cōmunion with thē Of communion in priuate houses for menne in health Of turning from sins and true repentaunce Of excommunication Of the makyng of Pastours Of the blessyng of Mariages Of Buriyng Of holy and feastful dayes Of fastyng dayes and Lent Of the difference of meates Of certayne other ryghtes or ceremonies of the church Of ecclesiastical rites vpon working daies Of peculiar dayes of procession Of Letany Of commune almes Of scholes for chyldren Of scholes of Diuinitie Of disputation By what meanes a christian reformation of holy ministerie and cure of soules maye be begunne and practised in parishes Of refourmyng of canonical colleges Of the reformation of monasteries both of men and women Of free and not Monasticall Colleges of virgins Of the ordre of selbrethren and laye brethrē The ende of the table Of Doctrine OUR sauiour Gods sonne Iesus Christ which cam into this world to the intent to open that wonder ful and hyd wil of God concernyng the saluation of mankynd after this sort spake to his disciples and to all them that are called to the ministery of his Gospel As the father hath sente me so I sende Iohn x. Marke the last Chap. you And in another place Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to euery creature teachyng theim to kepe all thynges that I haue cōmaunded you Further God eternal the father of our Lord Iesu Chryst Mat. iii. xvii spake thus from heauen of hys sonne Him heare

and to enstruct them of the same after thys sorte Fyrste forasmuche as it can not be that anie man shall praye truely and earnestly excepte some daunger or necessitie of lyfe driue hym thereto the preacher shall labour diligently to set before the peoples eyes the necessitie of prayinge by reason of the euyls and daungers whiche hange ouer all men ought to driue euery mā to pray earnestly Two kyndes of euylles and daungers moue vs to praye The one kynde is manifest the other is secrete To the firste as all men knowe diseases pertaine and pouertie persecution infamie hatred warre pestilence death heresies etc. What so euer be openly hurtfull whether they be corporall or spirituall And though all men do feele and take greuously these euylles yet there be fewe whiche so take them and be so greued for them as they shoulde and as the religion of Christ requireth that is to say as the scourges of God punishmentes of their sinnes whiche they shoulde labour to auoyed with true repentaunce and fayth Therefore the preachers muste teache and warne the people diligently that all these euylles happen thorowe the wrath of God agaynst synnes that in the same they maye learne to considre not onely theyr daunger and griefe but muche more the angre of God And further what damages what destruction of bodie and soule and of al honestie ryseth vpon the same that so the people maye be steared vp to religious and feruent prayer The secrete daungers to whiche we be subiecte are the snares that Satan layeth for vs by all occasions seekyng the destruction of bodie soule goodes name Which snares we coulde neuer scape excepte God of his vnmeasurable mercie and loue dyd defende vs by his angelles Otherwyse he woulde easely take away our lyfe wyth his venemous breath in some places he woulde steare vp robberies and murthers in other tempestes in other warres he woulde take from some men theyr mynde wyth horrible visions he woulde leade some out of theyr waye into vnknowen places he woulde throwe some from theyr horses some from steares some into waters Some shoulde be killed with the fal of an house some shoulde be torne of wylde beastes Some shoulde be infected or leese theyr lyfe wyth venemous beastes In some places he would sette houses on fyre in some he woulde droune all he woulde cause some to kyll them selues he woulde dryue some out of theyr wyttes he woulde furnishe some wyth euyl craftes to hurte other mennes lyfe and goodes as we se done wyth sundrie enchauntmentes In other places he woulde ouerthrowe discipline and honestie wyth all kyndes of mischeues In some places he woulde fyll maried folkes and householders wyth hatred brawlynges venimmes and murthers In some places he would trouble comō weales wyth greate cōmotions and seditions He woulde gyue some men witte and minde to depraue the scriptures and to corrupt ciuile lawes He woulde tangle some wyth pleasures and destroye the same in bodie and soule He woulde so opresse some wyth persecutions that he woulde drawe them from godlines to a careles impenitent and Epicureous lyfe He woulde dryue some hauing committed greuous offences vnto desperation Some tyme he woulde trouble the churche wyth sore sclaunders and somtyme counterfaiting an angel of lyght he would brynge in false doctrine and noysome exemples of lyfe Some tymes he woulde steare vp heresies and Idolatries Briefely there shoulde be nothynge in all the worlde safe from his malice violence which he would not depraue corrupt and destroy he would fyll all the worlde wyth calamities synnes death and all mischiefe excepte that God dyd breake and lette his tirannie For he is the prince of the worlde merueylous myghtie whiche beareth rule in the ayre Ephe. ij And he worketh in the vnfaythfull so that it is not harde for hym to sowe such errours and offences wherewyth euen the chosen myghte be brought to destruction if it were possible As we maye well se in Iob neither want we lyke exēples in these dayes wherwyth God admonisheth vs both of the daūger whiche hangeth ouer vs thorowe the malice of Satan and also of his protection whereby he disapoynteth Satans purposes that we shoulde euer praye for thys his defence and acknowledge it wyth thankes gyuyng Wherefore the preachers shall declare these daungers diligently that they maye learne how manie and necessarie causes there be that oughte euer to steare and dryue vs to prayer and to learne of that our carnall carelesnes Secondly the preachers shal note the promises of God whiche are sette forth euerie where in the scripture wherein God promiseth that he wyll turne awaye suche perils and deliuer vs when we be fallen in them And they shall cōmende the same to the people diligently when occasion shal serue that they maye learne to loke vpon them religiously in theyr prayers and to rayse vp their myndes therewyth vnto a sure truste to obtayne Goddes healpe For that prayer may be harde it muste needes be done in fayeth and in the name of Christe as Christe hymselfe warneth what so euer ye aske in my name beleuynge ye shall receyue it Math. xxi Item what so euer ye shall aske the father in my name he shal giue it you Io. xvi Therfore that we maye beleue that oure praier is harde we must needes haue Gods worde and promise whiche we may beleue For otherwise it shoulde be a false trust and vngodlines if we dyd learne onely vpō our owne iudgement and persuasion A promise then out of the worde of God where vpon our prayer maye leane is necessarie without the whiche we can in no wyse praye truely neither yet be harde But thys thynge must also be added that it be done in the name of Christ And that we do not onely when we praye wyth these wordes we beseche the father almyghtie God thorowe Iesus Christ thy sonne our Lorde but also when we pray onely for those thinges whiche Christ commaunded vs to praye for so that after thys sorte we maye praye truely O Lorde God heauēly father we come not to pray vnto the thorowe our owne lust or confidence but by the institution and commaundement of thy onely begotten sonne of whō we haue thys sentence and promise that thou wylte heare vs for his sake Neither do we praye trustyng in our worthines or in oure merites for we knowe that we haue deserued nothinge sauinge wrath and punishment but in the name of thy sonne that is to saye that thou wylt heare vs for his sake and merite This is to pray truly in the name of Christ neither can it be but that we shall be hearde as often as we praye wyth suche a mynde and suche a sure cōfidence as Iohn wytnesseth i. Epist v. Thys is the truste that we haue towardes God that it we shal aske any thynge accordyng to his wyll he heareth vs. etc. Therefore the preachers shal declare to the people diligently what a great synne doubtyng is in prayer

the preachers must teach and exhorte the people diligently that they brynge all their gyftes and oblations into a cōmon treasurie of the churche and that liberallie And they shall declare moreouer that this is the deutie not onely of the riche but also of all men after the measure of the goodes whiche the Lorde hath graunted to euerie one of them For Christe offered him selfe for al men no lesse for the pore then for the riche It becometh then al mē to be thākfull and to remembre that pore wydowe whiche by the iudgement of Christe in offerynge of a farthynge gaue more into the cōmon hutche then all the other Marke xij We also God wyllyng shall take suche ordre for the makynge of a cōmon treasurie of the churche wherwyth not onely the pore and beggers shal be succurred but also stipendes shall be appoynted for certayne towarde yonge men whiche shall be brought vp and instituted vnto the ministeries of the churche Wherefore the preachers shal diligently exhort the people that they offre their oblations to the Lorde liberally as often as they come togyther to heare the Lordes worde to the holie baptisme to the receyuynge of the cōmunion of the supper of the Lorde to the cōmon prayers or on the sūdayes and other accustomed festes when mariages are blessed when thankes are gyuen to the Lorde for them which haue recouered them selues from some syckenes whē women lately deliuered go to churche and when so euer god hath gyuen peculiar gyftes to men whiche thynge he doeth euen dayly For we dayly enioye the moste ample benifites of God wherefore we must dayly declare our thākfulnes wyth godlie oblations that the ministerie of the churche maye be euer repared and susteyned and that all mennes necessities maye be bountuously succurred For it is a great and an vngodlie vnthākefulnes that whereas men bestowed so manie thinges most liberally vpon stones wodde and dead mennes bones vpon stationaries and such other vnprofitable fellowes and were cōstrained to bye sacramentes and other ecclesiasticall thynges wyth money nowe in the lyght of the Gospell they wyll not contribute a litle to maynteyne the necessarie and holesome ministerie of the churche to feede the pore the membres of Christe oure bretherne chiefly seinge that they be deliuered of manie superfluous charges whiche we haue rehearsed Therefore the people must be called by the preachers with greate diligence frō those superstitious oblations whiche they were wonte to offre vnto dead sayntes theyr stockes and relikes and they muste be enstructed and exhorted to true and acceptable sacrifices vnto God wherof we haue spoken ¶ A forefence and commaundemente agaynste the errours of the anabaptistes VVe are many wayes premonished both out of the worde of God and also out of histories of ecclesiastical matters that Satan laboureth by al meanes to steare vp and to brynge into the church sundrie sclaunders and offences aswell of doctrine as of lyfe Wherefore the pastours shall watch diligently to turne awaye and disapoynt these pernitious endeuours of Satā and to keepe and deliuer the people of God from all false doctrine In whiche thynge they muste watche chiefely at this tyme. For it is manifest that the anabaptistes runne vp and doune in moste places and with merueylous craftes and giles creepe in amonge the simple whiche also haue dryuen not a fewe out of theyr wittes whō they hold entāgled caught in a snare Agaynst this incōuenience it shal be right expedient if the pastours often enstructe the people of those articles of oure religion for whiche the anabaptistes chiefely moue controuersies and cōfute their dotyng dreames substātially out of the worde of God Hereby the people certaynly knowyng how vngodly theyr opinions be being so armed aforehande shal easely determine that the authours of suche doctrine must be necessarily eschued and condemned And the more that they shal abhorre frō the vngodly faininges and blasphemies of these men the more easely they shall be reteyned in the studie of sincere doctrine and ecclesiastical consent And the diligent handlynge and large exposition of suche places causeth al men in the cōgretion to be more plentifully and certeynely enstructed and confirmed in the doctrine of Christe And that the people maye be armed aforehande agaynste the vngodlie imaginations of these men the preachers muste entreate playnely and clearely of all theyr articles and shewe howe noysome and pestilent they be and full of all pernitious perturbation of the cōmon weale sedition horrible blasphemies against god and his holy Gospell For some make for the ouerthrowyng of outwarde politie some for the confirmation and ignoraūce of synnes to blow vp a truste of oure owne ryghtuousnes and establishe a contempte and violation of the sacramētes holy ministerie of the church The chiefest then of these muste be declared to the people by name and often repeted As these be where as they say that to administre the cōmon weale to exercise cōmon iudgementes to punishe yll doers be offices and workes contrarie to the preceptes of Christ whiche a christian man ought not to do Itē that to offre an othe or to sweare at the commaundement of them that administre the cōmon power or be lawfull Iudges is agaynst the Gospell Item that it is sinne for a man to haue anie thynge propre but that all christen men oughte to make theyr goodes common Item that a Catabaptiste maye forsake his wyfe whiche alloweth not his errours and contrarie wyse It is euident that these errours be seditious and that they muste be aswell restrayned as other seditious deuises and dedes are wonte to be Wherefore the cōmon officers muste punishe these felowes with cōueniēt rigorousnes And the preachers must shewe the people by the scriptures that these Imaginations be agaynst the Gospell and that they haue theyr begynnyng frō the naturall arrogantie of mē rebellion and cōfusion whiche fyghte agaynste the kyngdome of Christe The Anabaptistes whiche keepe not the difference of spirituall and politike lyfe vnderstande not that the Gospell teacheth the knowledge of God and the inuocation of hym in Christe Iesu oure Lorde and eternall ryghtuousnes and that neuertheles it improueth not these outward thynges to eate and to drynke wyth thankesgyuyng Item these ciuile thynges to gouerne the common weale exercise Iudgementes to make warre to go a warfare to obeye the officers to marie to keepe oure owne goodes to gette and mainteyne riches with labour and lawfull bargaynes to set forth sciences profitable for our lyfe to teache wel the youth and suche lyke whiche in godlie men are the verie worshippinges of God These thinges further godlines and cōmon tranquillitie and it is profitable to amplifie thys dignitie of polityke thynges whiche when they beginne to vnderstande then mē shall applie them selues more gladly to this diuine ordinaunce and they shall learne to exercise fayeth and loue in these actions of life And they shall obeye the officers wyth all theyr hertes and as muche as in

spent in workes fained by thē selues and in suffraūce of euyls whiche they laye or pulle vpon them selues bicause they abstaine from the administration of the cōmon weale whereby neuertheles singuler benifittes are exhibited vnto men bycause they contemne other ciuile societie reiecte iudgementes refuse to go a warre fare eschewe bying and sellyng and other contractes necessarie in thys lyfe wyth all whiche thynges christen men shall studie to do good to theyr bretherne and neighbours Furthermore bycause also they wythdrawe them selues from ecclesiasticall communion and mocke holie assembles cōmon doctrine and the Sacramentes of the church and denie their healpe to their neghbours Finallie bycause that wyth obstinate madnes they suffre spoilynge of theyr goodes exile imprisonment scourgynges and maymyng of theyr lymmes and sūdrie kindes of death for these forsayed thynges and other seditious sayinges doinges These be the good workes of these felowes this is theyr rightuousnes whiche when the preachers shal trie in theyr sermons and priuate admonitiōs wyth the diuine scriptures and trie the nature of christen religion and shal cōpare them wyth verie good workes and wyth the ryghtuousnes of fayth the knowledge and desire of true ryghtuousnes shall be merueylously confirmed and kendled amonge the people of Christe and they shall eschewe and abhorre hypocrisie and thys counterfaited ryghtuousnes of frantike felowes Thus when the preachers shal with singuler diligence declare and commende often to the people howe the Lorde instituted the ministerie of the church and howe reuerently he would haue it executed and receyued what great thinges he vouchsafeth to worke thorow the same vnto our health exhibiting his grace and the redemption and communion of his sonne thorowe these thynges mē shall more esteme the holie ministerie and vse it more religiously omitting those vaine illuminations and visions whiche frantike men loke for and exhorte other to seeke the common ministerie of the churche beinge despised We thoughte it good to putte into thys place thys generall and shorte instruction concernynge the errours wycked doctrines and pernitious sisme of the Catabaptistes that the preachers being warned may learne howe they maye call them backe into the way of holsome doctrine and ecclesiasticall communion whom they haue founde seduced of those madde spirites and be not yet obstinate with hereticall furie And that they maye arme them whiche stande yet in the holesome doctrine and consent of the cōgregation agaynste the gyles and hypocrisie of them whom Satan holdeth cōfirmed in thys madnes and keepe them in the sinceritie of fayth and cōmunion of the cōgregation and drawe them from al felowship and cōmunion of those felowes For their talke as a canker eateth vp the hole flesh in the bodie of Christe And forasmuche as heretikes be verie subtile and haue a wonderfull madde zeale to defende theyr vngodlie imaginatiōs the feders of the Lordes flocke leste anie perishe thorowe theyr slouggishnes or ignorantie be caried away by these wolues muste furnishe them selues against theyr Sophistrie and diuelishe subtilties wyth readyng of the holie scriptures and those wrytynges whiche in oure tyme haue bene sette forth of godlie and learned men agaynst these thynges After thys sorte then lette the pastours watche in theyr sermons agaynste deceites and craftie awaytes wyth the care of euery man one by one if neede be of them whiche be committed to theyr charge But who so euer perceiueth that there is some one in the citie toune or village where he dwelleth whiche cōsenteth to the errours of the Anabaptistes and alloweth them we cōmaunde such a man by the authoritie of the electorall dignitie whiche we execute that he vtter the same personne to the cōstable or gouernoure of the place wyth all speede whiche thynge becometh a good and a christian citizin to do whiche ought to preferre the sinceritie of religion and health of the churche before all other commodities And we commaunde oure officers that they procure spedely the personne that shal be accused or suspected of anabaptisme to be called before them hauyng wyth them the pastoure and other meete ministrrs of the churche and other good and godly men Then the pastour or some of the ministers whiche shall be better furnished for that purpose shall propoune to hym that is accused of anabaptisticall errours those thinges wherof he is accused Whiche man if he shall cōfesse anie errour he shal be kept in some tollerable cōmō prison til at cōuenient leasure he may be more fully examined and taught But if he acknowledge no errour neither can be conuicted thereof by true witnesses they shall lette hym go free But concernynge them whiche shal confesse them selues to be of the Anabaptistes opinion in one or two doctrines we wyll haue thys thynge obserued The officer of that place where suche one shal be as sone as he maye shall call the superintendent of that cōgregation and other fitte for that purpose both of the ministers and also of other tryed men of the congregation Before these men and the officer the superintendent or byshoppe moue interrogatories to hym whiche is fallen into anie anabaptisticall doctrine not onely of that that he hym selfe acknowledgeth but of the principall imaginations of these men wherof we spake before if he shall perchaunce be founde or if there be feare that he is snared in some other madde doctrines For there be catabaptistes whiche beare aboute in theyr brest that detestable and damnable indaical errour whiche faine that the church shall be before the laste daye a certeyne worldlie kyngdome wherein the godlie shall reygne and destroy with weapons al the vngodly and holde all the kingdomes in the worlde Some confounde the natures in Christe partly acknowledgynge in hym the diuine nature onely and partly the manhode onely Therfore they must be dilligētly demaūded of these and suche other errours and they must be earnestly and wyth all softnes of the spirite of Christe warned of those errours whiche they acknowledge and they must be brought again frō al errours to the sinceritie of faith and consent of the congregation And thys thynge muste be often assayed For we go about theyr saluation for whom the sonne of God was crucified and suffered a moste bitter and shamefull death that they myghte be called backe from errours Wherefore we muste shonne no labour so that we maye brynge agayne Christes sheepe begynnyg to straye to the sheepfolde of Christ We must assay then so lōge to deliuer suche frō theyr errours as longe as of charitie we shall perceyue anie hope to remaine that we may winne our neighbour If the Lorde shall be present at thys correction of men in errours and shal gyue his encrease that some maye turne from theyr errours we wyl that those whiche haue suffered them selues to be brought agayne into the waye shal playnely and particulerly renie and abiure that errour into which they are fallen and al other vngodlie doctrines whiche chiefly in thys tyme vexe the church before all them that

vpon holy dayes Then some lesson conuenient for the place and time shal be recited whereby the people may be steared vp to acknowledgyng of synne and amendement of the same wherewyth we prouoke the anger of God agaynst vs and deserue al maner of calamities Furthermore they shall also be moued to prayer for remission of sinnes for Goddes mercie and healpe and also they shall be steared to liberall almes Whereunto there shall succede a litanie in douch after the fourme that foloweth And whē the people haue also sayd their priuate prayers at length the pastoure shall ende commune prayers wyth some one of those collectes that folowe the litanie here Besides these cōmune prayers in Cities and where a greate companie of people is a litanie shall be songe wyth them that come together in the spirite and commune prayers shall be made vpon an appoynted daye euerie weeke But in those supplications which are appoynted for some notable necessitie and afflictiō sent of God an holy daye and fasting shall be proclaymed to the whole people at lest vnto the ende of cōmune prayers And in suche solemne dayes of supplication some vehemente and earneste lessons shall be reade out of the Prophetes concernyng repentaunce and renuinge and correction of lyfe and out of the same the intollerable wrath of God shall be propouned to the people most diligently and vehemently ❧ Litanie ❧ Lorde haue mercie Christe haue mercie Lorde haue mercie Christe heare vs O God the heauēli father haue mercy on vs O God the sonne redemer of the worlde haue mercie on vs. O God the holy goste haue mercie on vs. ¶ Be fauourable Spare vs O Lorde Be fauourable Deliuer vs O Lorde From al synne Deliuer vs O Lorde From al errour Deliuer vs O Lorde From all euyll Deliuer vs O Lorde From the awaytes of the diuyll Deli. etc. From sodeyne and euyll death Deliuer etc. From pestilence and hungre Deliuer etc. From warre and slaughter Deliuer vs. From sedition and priuie hatred Deliuer From lightenyng and tempestes Deliuer From euerlastynge death Deliuer vs etc. By the misterie of thy holy incarnation Deliuer vs O Lorde By thy holy natiuitie Deliuer vs. etc. By thy Baptisme fastynge and tentations Deliner vs O Lorde By thyne agonie and sweatynge of bloude Deliuer vs O Lorde By thy crosse and passion Deliuer vs. etc. By thy death and buriynge Deliuer vs. By thy resurrection and ascension Deliuer By the commyng of the holy goste the comforter Deliuer vs O Lorde In all tymes of our tribulation Deliuer In all tymes of our prosperitie Deliuer vs. In the houre of death Deliuer vs O Lorde In the daye of Iudgement Deliuer vs. etc. We synners beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylte vouchsafe to rule and gouerne thy holy and catholike churche We. That thou wylte vouchsafe to keepe the bishoppes pastours ministers of the church in holsome doctrine and holy lyfe We be That thou wylte vouchsafe to take awaye sectes and al offenses We beseche the to etc. That thou wylt vouchsafe to brynge them agayne into the waye of truth whiche stray and be seduced We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylt vouchsafe to treade Satan vndre our feete We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylt sende forth faythful workmen into thy haruest We be That thou wylt vouchsafe to gyue to al the hearers encrease of thi worde and the fruite of thy spirite We beseche the to here vs. That thou wylt vouchsafe to lifte them vp that be fallen and to strengthen them that stande We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylte vouchsafe to conforte and healpe the weaklinges and suche as be tempted We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylte vouchsafe to gyue peace and concorde to al kynges and princes We. That thou wylte vouchsafe to gyue oure Emperour perpetuall victorie agaynste the enemies of God We beseche That thou wylte vouchsafe to guyde defende our prince wyth his officers We be That thou wylte vouchsafe to blesse and preserue our officer and cominaltie We be That thou wylte vouchsafe to regarde and saue the aflicted and suche as be in daunger We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wilt vouchsafe to giue luckie deliueraunce and encrease to women wyth chylde and nurses We beseche the. That thou wylte vouchsafe to cherishe and keepe Infantes and sicke folke We besech That thou wylt vouchsafe to deliuer prisoners We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylte vouchsafe to defende Orphanes and wydowes and to prouide for them We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylte vouchsafe to haue mercie on all men We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wilt vouchsafe to perdon and cōuert our enemies persecutours and sclaunderers We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylt vouchsafe to gyue and preserue the fruites of the earth We be That thou wilt vouchsafe to heare vs. We. The lambe of God which takest away the sinnes of the worlde Haue mercie on vs. The lambe of God whiche takest away the synnes of the worlde Haue mercie on vs. The lambe of God whiche takest away the synnnes of the worlde Gyue vs peace Christe heare vs. Lorde haue mercie on vs. Christe haue mercie on vs. Lorde haue mercie on vs. Amen A prayer or collecte after litanie The minister Lorde deale not with vs after our sinnes The Quier Neither rendre vnto vs according to our iniquities The minister O God the mercifull father whiche despifest not the groning of the cōtrite nor contempnest the affection of them that morne be presēt at our prayers which we poure forth before the in the affictions which cōtinually laie vpon vs and heare the same mercifully that the thynge that the gyles of Satā and mē entende maye be brought to naught and dispersed by the deuise of thy goodnes that beinge hurte wyth no persecutions we may euer giue the thankes in thy holy congregation thorowe Iesus Christ our Lorde Amē An other Collecte The minister Call vpon me in the daye of tribulation The Quier And I wyll deliuer the and thou shalte glorifie me The ministre Spare Lorde spare oure synnes And thoughe continuall payne be due vnto vs whiche synne wythout ceasyng yet graunte we beseche the that the thynge that we deserue vnto perpetuall destruction may passe frō vs vnto the furtheraunce of vertue thorowe our Lorde etc. An other Collecte The ministre Healpe vs O God our health The Quier And for the glorie of thy name deliuer vs and be mercifull to oure synnes for thy names sake The minister Almightie euerlastynge God by whose spirite the whole bodie of the congregation is sanctified and gouerned heare vs praying for al ordres and degres that bi the gift of thy grace al the same may serue the faithfully thorowe our Lorde etc. An other Collecte The minister Shewe vs Lorde thy mercie The Quier And gyue vs thy saluation The minister God from whom all holie desires good purposes and ryghtuous workes procede gyue

euer in the congregation meete men and well furnished to set furthe and defende the doctrine of Christe and that so the true doctrine of Christ reueled vnto vs from God and comended and beclared by the Appostles which the true catholike church of Christe hath euer holden maye be kepte and sprede furth vnto oure posterite by the grace and goodnes of christ thys of righte ought to be chiefeste care of great princes and al gouerners of commenweales as in dede it is the principall seruice of God For these causes the Apostles and their disciples instituted in theyr congregacions such peculiar lectures and scholes as we read of Iohan the Euāgeliste Pof olicarpus of the scholes erected Antioch Alexandre and constātinople And such wer scholes at the beginning whych nowe be ecclesiastical colleges And this maner of institutinge such scholes was verie profitable to the cōgregacions for foure causes First that the writinges of the Apostles and prophet in such colleges and scholes might be preserued from perishinge Secōdly that there myght euer be witnesses of the Apostolike writinges whyche shoulde be true and which counterfeit For euen streyght waye at the beginninge some wrytinges were carred aboute vnder the name of the Apostles vntruly whyche were furth with reiected and noted by these scholes As we reade that Ihon the Euangeliste reproued one for addyng a false appendice to the Actes of the Apostles Thirdlye that such scoles might bear witnes what doctrin and vnderstandinge of the scriptures was taught by the Apostles least straunge doctrines and enterpretations of the scriptures and suche as fyght with the doctrine of the Apostles might crepe in the authours wher of should be vnknowne or elles aduersaries to this testimoni of the cōgregacion Fourthly that out of suche colleges and scholes meete teachers and gouerners might be taken for other churches also These I thinck wer the causes whither wer alwaies in the congregations such companies and colledges from the beginninge whyche after that they wer enriched by the liberalitie of princes and godlye men thei were broughte to such colledges of Cannons as we se nowe a dayes But forasmuch as the studie of the holie scriptures is euer quēched a greate while sithens in these colledges many other slanders pernitious to the cōgregations ar com in with a lamentable ignorance of holy matters surely the great nede necessitie of the congregations requireth that scholes be restored and preserued asmuche as the Lorde wyl helpe thereunto Wherfore we also haue purposed to erect and cōstitute such a schole of Diuinitie at Bonne wherein after the custome some mete readers shal teach the holye scriptures and other good learnyng in which we wyll also procure that the studentes shal haue a place and a table as the maner is in other vniuersities And moreouer we wyl depute somwhat for pore younge men There shall then be appoynted for a beginning seuē professours in this our schole The firste shall professe diuinitie and shall teache openly two dayes of the wieke in the olde testament and two other in the newe to whose iudgement we wyll permitte that he shall chuse out of the holie bokes those that he thynketh wyll be moste profitable for the hearers as in the olde Testament Genesis Deutoronomie the Psalmes Esaie In the newe Paule Iohn Luke And this professoure shall so moderate his doctrine that it agre with this sūme of holie doctrine which we haue described in thys boke and whiche is in deede the doctrine and meanyng of the true and catholike churche of Christe This principall reader of diuinitie shall also exercise the office of the superintendant in the cōgregrations nigh aboute and as the rector of thys schole he shall haue charge of the other reders and shal warne thē of their duti if neede be and if they do not their duties he shal bryng the matter before them whō we wyl appoint to be vphoders and maynteyners of thys our ordinaunce He shal labour also to maynteyne mutuall cōcorde betwene the professours that one hurte not an other wyth wordes writinges or other wayes And he shall decree and put in execution by the aduise and assent of the other readers thynges perteynynge to the discipline and correction of the youth The seconde reader shal also examine the holie scripture but there wythall he shall teache the hebrue tonge Two daye in the wicke he shall enterprite some boke wyth a theological exposition Foure dayes he shall reade hebrue in order First he shal teach the grammer and then he shall expoune some boke of the Bible and therin he shal declare the rules and vse of the grammer that thys tonge maye be more certeynely knowen of yonge men and be made more familiar vnto them The thyrde professour shal reade logike and the greke tonge both twaine euerie day in the wieke in the which he muste teache as vpon the seconde the thyrde the fifte the sixt day of the wieke Which thynge shal not be harde vnto hym whiche hath atteyned but euen a meane knowledge of both the artes For he that hath once wel perceyued the ru●es of Logike shall not haue muche a do to teache them But he shal chuse some cōmune and good Logike as is the Logike of Cesarius philip or Sturmius And he shal not chaunge that that he hath begonne to teache and moreouer as often as he hath ended the same he shall adde some boke of Aritoteles his Logike whom he shall interprete in greke But he shall chose the easiar bokes as is the boke of Porphyrius or of the Predicamentes or some parte of the Analitikes that the youth maye be prepared to the readyng of Aristotle And he shall moderate all these thynges accordynge to the capacitie of the hearers When the boke of Aristotle is finished he shall returne to the accostomed Logike of Cesarie Philippe or Sturmius In the other houre when he muste reade greke this reader shal first teache the grammar and afterward Hesiodus or some part of Homere or some Tragidies of Euripides or Sophocles or some oratiō of Isocrates or somewhat of Luciane or Herodotus Those ended he shall returne to the grammare The fourth reader shall professe Rhetorike and shall reade euerie daye twyse one houre he shal bestowe vpon the preceptes of Rhetorike and he shal chuse some good Rhethorike cōmunely vsed in the scholes which ended he shall expoune Erasmus his boke de copia rerum and after that some bokes of Quintilian namely the second the thirde the eight and the tenth On the other houre he shal expoune some ●ration of Cicero wherein asmuche as he shall thynke needfull he shall declare howe the oration agreeth wyth the rules and preceptes of Rhethorike Howbeit some tymes in the steede of oratiōs he shall mengle some what out of the poetes This reader of Rhethorike shal also professe moral philosophie Therefore in the houre deputed to thys lecture he shall expoune sometymes Tullies offices and sometymes he shal interprete

shall be present in theyr exammation and conuersion But if anie refusyng godlie admonition and doctrine shall obstinately continue in theyr impietie the officer of that place muste brynge theyr cause before an higher magistrate He shall punishe suche accordynge to the state of the personne and erroure wyth banishmente or other sore paynes after the law of the empire and the tēporal cōstitutiō decreed set forth cōceruyng these matters For we wyll that thys be knowen to all men that none in our dominions or places subiecte to our rule shal be suffered that dareth alowe one or more of the Anabaptisticall errours We wyl haue the same maner vsed with all them whiche steare vp spreade abrode or allowe anie false doctrine that fighteth with the receyued articles of our fayth ¶ Of the administration of religion that is to saye of the handlynge and dispensation of the doctrine Sacramentes and discipline of Christ in the churche And fyrste of the maner and ordre of holy sermons ON the sondaies and holie daies the preachers shal reherse and declare to the people the wonted lesson of the Gospell betwene the administration of the Sacramente as the custome is and out of that lesson they shal teache the people admonishe and argue those thinges which they shall perceyue to be moste necessarie and profitable for christian lyfe And forasmuch as al the lessons of the holy scripture preache vnto vs of God to be acknowledged in Christe of his almightines and mercie of repentaunce and forgyuenes of synnes in the name of Christe a wyse and faithful preacher shal easely chose that thing chiefely out of euerie lesson that shall make to the health and edification of the present congregation Wherfore the pastours must haue great care of the people and trye at certeyne tymes howe muche euerie one hath profited in religion in what partenerie one staggereth and is readie to fal whether it be in the doctrine of fayth or concernynge the trust of Gods mercie or in the feare of the iudgement of God or in patience loue or orderynge of maners that timelie and holesome remedies maye euer be brought out of the worde of God as out of a plentifull apothe caries shop and layed to the greuous diseases and vices of the people The lessons of the scripture beinge recited in the begynnynge of sermons muste be diligently declared to the people and that whole togither For the worde of God must be propouned to the people that they maye learne it and be enstructed to godlines therby Wherfore so muche shal be declared as was reade to the people that they maye receyue some fruite of godlines thereby But the preachers and ministers of the cōgregations shall labour diligently herein that the doctrine and exhortation whiche they wyll vse before the lessons euer be referred to those thynges wherein the people is weakeste and they shall instantly beate in the thynges whiche they shall perceyue to further the amendemēt of the people and holesome institution whiche thynge we se that the holy fathers dyd also which fyrst declared in ordre the lesson that was recited and afterwarde taryed in those places chiefely in teachyng exhortyng and reprouyng that semed moste to further the institution admonition and correction of the people But bycause all doctrine and exhortation is then ryghtly perceyued and lette to sinke deeper into the mynde if it be deriued out of certaine principles knowen before as fundacion and cōcluded in the same the preachers muste referre all doctrine and exortation in theyr sermones to some place of a Catachisme or institution as to the ten commaundementes to the articles of our faithe the Lordes praier the Sacramentes and suche lyke principall poyntes of our religion And bycause that the whole christiane doctrine and what so euer perteyneth to godlines consisteth in these sūmaries and be meetelie well knowē to the people it bringeth great light to the doctrine and it moueth the people the more if the sermons shal be referred to these poyntes as to a certeyne marke and they shall shewe the people to what parte of the catechisme that that they teache perteyneth Thys thynge shall healpe muche to thys purpose that the people maye dayly growe more and more in all godlines fayeth in Christe and loue towarde theyr neighbour The pastoure muste also teache the people the common offices and dueties of thys lyfe accordynge to euerie mannes vocation as the office of maried folke one towardes an other the office of the parentes towarde theyr chyldrē and cōtrary wise What maisters owe to their seruaūtes and seruauntes to theyr maisters Howe the officers oughte to be estemed and all other gouernours howe greate reuerence we owe them howe we oughte to lyue wyth oure superiours equalles and inferiours These thynges must be often propouned and repeted in sermons chiefely on the holie dayes when a greate cōpany of people resorteth togyther And the prayses of ciuile lyfe muste be diligētly beaten into mē and chiefely the youth muste be accustomed wyth great diligence and arte to learne to haue a reuerent opinion of the officers of the lawes and of al politike thinges This reuerence is profitable to the common weale and is the nurse of great vertues On the sundayes and holie dayes at the euenyng prayers some exhortation muste be made which shal be chosen out of the epistle of the sundaye or holie day whiche the preachers when it is reade to the people shal interprete diligently They may if they wyll declare to the people the actes of the Apostles or one of the euangelistes or some epistle of Paule or the Psa●ter in ordre But let none of the preachers take in hāde to declare the bokes of Moyses the histories of the olde Testamente the prophetes but they to whom the Deanes shal committe that matter We wyll also that vpon the sundayes and holie dayes aswel in the mornynges as eueninges holie assembles be vsed holie lessons be propouned and prayers be made if there be ministers inowe and if muche people come thereunto For so seruauntes and other of the common people shall be better prouided for which can not euer come to the principall assembles of the churche In the mornyng let the catechisme be declared if it maye be if not let it be declared at euentide when the people resorte togyther For a certeyne houre on the holie dayes muste be appoynted for the ruder sorte and the youth to haue the Catechisme declared And that houre for the Catechisme shal be appoynted that is moste conuenient for the people And A Catechisme is an introductiō institution and instruction of the vnlearned in the wicke dayes two dayes or one at the leste muste be appoynted for the Catechisme from Marche to Nouember From that tyme vnto the spryngtyde the Catechisme maye be omitted on the workynge dayes by reason of youge chyldren whiche can not be present for the great colde In euerie congregation suche ministers must be chosen to the handling of

a lesson these two exercises must be diligently retained namely that the childrē do euer declare the constructiō of the text and also adde the rules so that they recite the coniugations and declinations and shewe the rules of the same In this exercise of repetinge and examininge a lerned and faithful master shal teach how manie waies the same sentence maye be spoken in latine with such declaracions of the propriete and elegancie of the latine toung they shal cause more plentious fruit than may be here fully expressed But this matter consisteth altogether in the faythfulnes and dexterite of the master Wherfore men thoroughly learned faythfull and prompte in teachinge must be sought furth to haue the gouernance of scholes cheifely in greate townes In thys fourme there shal be a certayne howre appoynted euerye weeke at whyche howre the childrē shal reherse wythout boke the rules of grammar that they forget them not The masters maye also change thir lectures and in the howre deputed to virgil expoune Tullies epistles In thys furme also euerie childe shall write and delyuer euery weeke a latine Epistle that together thei may learne both to speake to write latyne The fourth fourme shal be of thē whiche haue lerned theyr grammare rules and construction and haue attained a metly good latyne toung To thē afterwarde some logike shal be red as the logik of Cesarius Philip or Sturmius and some easie accentinge as of Murmelius or some other lyke In thys fourme more ouer some bookes of Ouides Metamorphosis de Pōto and Tullies offices shal be red The childrē of this fourme shal also be sterred vp to write verses which they shall deliuer to the master euerie month But forasmuch as manie be of that nature that thei lern to mak verses with much difficultie the shole master shal vse such moderacion in requiringe thys studie that he maye exercise euerie one in that that he shall perceyue the nature of euerie one to preuaile in Howe be it he shall exhorte the dulle also to this arte that thei do not vtterly caste a waie thys art for the greate profite which it hath vndoubtedly But they shall stirre them to trauaile furth as much as they canne and to write some verses though they be but fewe For this exercise maketh perfite grammarians and putteth the youth in remembraūce of manie necessarie thinges of figures of sōdrie wayes to speake latine and fedeth maruailously copie of latine speach Two howres a weeke shal suffice for the readinge of logike But whan it is ended it must be begonne a gayne At other howres the master shal interprete to theim to whom logike is red the greke grammare if they be fitte for that purpose whan he hath ended the grammare he shal expoune Hesiodus or Phocilides or some like thinge as a wise master shal percieue to be profitable for the children But the exercises of grammar rules and construction shal not be omitted in thys fourme but shal be vsed in the repeticion of Ouide These be the lectures whiche maye conuenently be reade the seconde thirde fifte and sixte daye of the weke For seinge that christiā scholes ought chifely to serue for the mainteinaunce and furtheraūce of the knowlege of God among men and to retaine and promote the doctrine of Christe and the hole true Christian religion we wyll and commaund that vpon the furth daie of the weke the schole cease frō other lectures and exercises and that thys daye be bestowed vpon teaching the catechisme and demaūde what the chilhren canne saye therein And we wyll do oure endeuoure that some commē and vniforme Catechisme shal be vsed thorought the hole diocese For we must not graunte to the scholemasters that euerie one shall make a newe catechisme but we wyll that they all vse the receyued whiche they shal so decylre and beate in to children that the youth maye be kepte and euer furthered in the syncere knowlege of Christ in fayth and communion of the congregacion And the selfe same doctrine must be taught in the scholes and in the cōgrgaciōs Which thinges the ouerseers of the congregacions shal cheifly loke to Furthermore the scholemayster shal exhorte his elder sholars to the communion of the Lords supper but let him first enstructe them diligently of this sacrament and examen them Finally in this fourth daye of the weke whan the catechisme shabe handled let eueri childe of the lowest fourme be hearde whether he can faye in latine and in hys mother toung the partes of the catechisme that is to saye the Lordes praier the crede the ten commaundmentes the wordes of baptisme and of the Lordes supper and of discipline and christian correction as they are wrytten Math. xviij Vpon the same day the schole master shal grammatically interprete to hys elder sholers and to suche as canne attaine to it the Gospel of the sondaye nexte folowyng and shal declare the sume of that lesson to them and shewe them what thinges are touched therein concerninge faith and other vertues that the scholemaster and the youth may accustome them selues to knowe more certainly and to serch out more religiousli the thiuges that be taught in the Gosples lette the Saturday be bestowed vpon Musike that vpon that daye the rules of Musike may be taught and the yong men enstructed and exercised to singe cheifely those songes which vpon the nexte sondaye shal be sounge in the temple For scholemaysters and scholars must not only be present at the songes in the congregacions befor other but they must al so beare the cheifeste stroke not only vpon holie dayes but also vpon other dayes whā there shal be holye assembles as it shal be appointed after the cōdicion and commodites of euerie place In this mater suche moderacion must be kept that the childrens heath be not hurted in the winter thorought colde if they be deteined to long in the temple and that they be not so occupied in singinge that theyr study of lerninge be hindred It pertaineth also to the maintenaunce and encrese of grauite and religion in temples that to sondrie and longe songes be not vsed But these thinges and suche other that pertaine to the dignitie of holie assembles edificaciō of the people of Christ the visiters shal appoint accordinge to the oportunitie of euerie place ¶ Of the schole of deuinitie But for maiteinaunce of Christean doctrine and holesome administration of churches those firste beginninges are not onely required whyche be gotten in the scholes of children but furthermore it is necessarie that men giuen theym selues altogether to lerne perfetly the vniuersal scripture of the prophetes and the Apostles and to excusse al the hearde questions whyche haue exercised the churche from the begninge Item to knowe the waye and meane whereby the holy fathers in theyr time defēded the Lordes truth in the cōgregacion and kepete the same pure vnto vs and finallye howe we maye in our time defende and retaiue the same That there maye bee