be once baptised but also it moch profiteth oft to be present at the ministration therof that we beinge putt in minde of the 21 Deut. 6. a. Iosue 1. b. league and conuenant made betwxit God and vs that he wil be 22 Iere. 31. f. Hebr. 8. c. our God and we his people he our father and we his children may haue occasion as wel to trye our liues past as our present coÌ„uersatioÌ„ and to proue our selues whether we stand fast in the faithe of Gods elect or contrariwise haue strayed froÌ„ hiÌ„ through 23 Ephe. 4. e Col 3. b. Heb. 2. b. incredulite and vngodly lyuinge wherof if our coÌ„scieÌ„ces do accuse vs yet by hearing the louing promises of our heaueÌ„ly father who calleth all meÌ„ to mercie by 24 Ezech. 18. Act. 11. c. 33 2. Peter 3. b Deu. 4. d. 6. a repeÌ„tance we may froÌ„ heÌ„sforthe walke more warely in our vocatioÌ„ Moreouer ye that be fathers aÌ„d mothers may take hereby moste singuler coÌ„fort to se your childreÌ„ thus receyued in to the bosome of Christes coÌ„gregatioÌ„ wherby you are daily admonished that ye norishe aÌ„d briÌ„g vp the childreÌ„ of Gods fauor aÌ„d mercye ouer whoÌ„ his fatherly ê“uideÌ„ce 25 Matt. 18. b. watcheth coÌ„tinually Which thing as it oght greatly to reioyse you knowing that 26 Matt. 6. d. luc 12. a. nothiÌ„g caÌ„ chauÌ„ce vnto theÌ„ wyth out his good pleasure So oght it to make you diligeÌ„t aÌ„d carefull to nurture and instruct theÌ„ in the 27 Deu. 4. b. 6. a 11. c. Ephe. 6. a. true knowledge aÌ„d feare of God Wherin if you be negligeÌ„t ye do not only 28 1. Sam. 2. f. 4. king 2. d. iniurie to your own childreÌ„ hydinge froÌ„ theÌ„ the good will and pleasure of almyghtie God their father What daÌ„ger haÌ„geth ouer those pareÌ„ts which neglect the briÌ„ging vp of their children in godlines but also heape daÌ„natioÌ„ vpoÌ„ your selues in sufferinge his childreÌ„ boght wyth the bloode of his deare soÌ„ne so trayterously for lacke of knowledge to turne backe froÌ„ hiÌ„ Therfore it is your duety withall diligeÌ„ce to ê“uide that your childreÌ„ in tyme conuenient be instructed in all 29 Gen. 18. c. Deut. 32. g. The true vse of the Cathechisme to the execution wherof the fathers and Godfathers bind theim selues doctrine necessarie for a true ChristiaÌ„ chiefely that they be taught to rest vpon the iustice of Christ Iesus alone and to abhorre and flee all superstitioÌ„ papistrie and idolatrie Finally to the intent that we may be assured that you the father and the suretie consent to the perfourmaÌ„ce hereof declare here before God and the face of his congregation the somme of that faith wherein you beleue and will instruct this childe Then the father or in his absence the God father shal rehearse the articles of his faithe which doone the minister exhorting the people to praye sayeth in this manner or such lyke kneeling ALmightie aÌ„d euerlasting God which of thy infinite mercie and goodnes hast promised vnto vs that thow wilt not only be our God but also the God aÌ„d father of our childreÌ„ we beseche thee that as thou hast vouchesaued to call vs to be partakers of this thy great mercie in the 1 Gal. 3. d. 1. peter 1. a. phil 3. c. felowshipe of faithe so it may please thee to sanctifie with thy 2 rom 3. d. 4. c. 2. Cor. 5. d. Rom. 8. c. Ephe. 2. d. 3. b sprite and to receiue in to the number of thy children this infant whom we shall baptise accordiÌ„g to thy 3 Matt. 28. d. Mar. 16. c. Act. 2. f. woord to the end that he coÌ„ming to perfite age may 4 Rom. 10. b. Iohn 17. a. coÌ„fesse thee onely the true God aÌ„d whome thow hast sent Iesus Christ and so serue him and be 5 rom 12. b. 1. cor 12. a. 2. Thes 5. c. profitable vnto his churche in the whole course of his lyfe that after this life be ended he may be broght as a lyuely meÌ„ber of his body vnto the full fruition of thy 6 1. Cor. 2. a. rom 6. d. Tit. 3. b. ioyes in the heaueÌ„s where thy sonne our Christ raigneth world wyth out end In whose name we pray as he hathe taught vs. Our father etc. when they haue prayed in this sort the minister requireth the childs name which knowen He saieth N. 1 Matt. 28. d. Mark 16. c. Act. 2. f. I baptise thee in the name of the father of the sonne and of the holy ghoste And as he speaketh these woords he taketh water in his haÌ„d and layeth it vpon the childes forehead which done he giueth thanckes as followeth FOR asmoche moste holy aÌ„d mercifull father as thow doest not only beawtifie and blesse vs wyth coÌ„mon benefits like vnto the rest of mankinde but also 1 Ephe. 2. b. a. 1. peter 2. b. Osee 2. d. 2. peter 2. d. heapest vpon vs moste abundantly rare and wonderfull gyftes of dutye we lyft vp our eyes and mindes vnto thee and gyue thee moste huÌ„ble thankes for thy infinite goodnes which haste not only nombred vs emongest thy 2 1. peter 2. b. Ephe. 2. d. sainctes but also of thy free mercie doest call our children vnto thee markinge theim wyth thys Sacrament as a singuler token aÌ„d badge of thy loue Wherfore moste louing father thogh we be not able to deserue this so greate a benefite yea if thow wouldest haÌ„dle vs according to our 3 Rom. 2. a. Iere. 3. g. Isa 40. b luk 17. c. merits we shuld suffer the punishemeÌ„t of eternall deathe and daÌ„natioÌ„ yet for Christes sake we beseche thee that thou wilt coÌ„firme this thy fauor more and more towards vs and take this infant into thy tuition and defence whom we offer and present vnto thee wyth common supplications and neuer suffer him to fall to such vnkindes wherby he shuld 4 2. Cor. 6. d. lose the force of this baptisme but that he may perceyue thee continually to be his mercifull father throgh thy holy spirite working in his hart by whose diuine power he may so preuayle against Satan that in the end obteyning the victorie he may be exalted into the libertie of thy kingdome THE MANER OF THE LORDES SVPPER THE day when the lordes supper is ministred which commoÌ„lye is vsed once a monthe or so oft as the Congregation shall thinke expedient the minister vseth to saye as followeth LET vs marke deare bretherne and coÌ„sider how Iesus Christ did ordayne vnto vs his holy supper according as S. Paule maketh rehearsall in the 11. chap. of the first Epistle to the Cor. I haue saith he receyued of the lorde that which I haue deliuered vnto you to witt that the lorde Iesus the same night he was betrayed toke breade and when he had geuen thankes he brake it sayinge Take ye eate ye this is my bodie which is broken for you doo you this in remeÌ„brance of me
Shall not the wycked be aswell partakers of thys resurrection as the faythfull ¶ The childe Yes verely but they shal be in condycion or state farre vnlyke for the one that is to wete the faythfull Ihon. 5. Matt. 25. shall ryse agayne to euerlastynge ioye and felycitye the other to euerlasting death and damnacion ¶ The minister Wherfore then is there not aswell mencion made of hell and death euerlastynge as of heauen and lyfe that endureth for euer ¶ The childe Bycause the Crede is a bryefe summe of oure faith conteinynge in as fewe woordes as can be that that belongeth peculyerly to comfort the consciences of Goddes faythfull therfore Gods benefytes whiche he freely bestoweth vpon hys people be rehersed alonely without any mencyon of the wycked who are cleane shute oute of hys kyngdome ¶ The minister Sonday 18 Since we haue the very foundacion grounde wher vpon our fayth is builded we maye wel gather hereof that this is the very ryghte fayth ¶ The childe what a thynge liuely faith is Yea verely that is to saye it is a sure perswasion and a stedfaste knowledge of Gods tender loue to wardes vs accordynge as he hath playnlye vttered in his ghospell that he wylbe both a father and a sauyoure vnto vs through the meanes of oure Lorde Iesu Christe ¶ The minister Is this fayth a thyng standynge in oure power eyther is it a free gyfte that God geueth at hys pleasure ¶ The childe The scrypture teacheth vs that it is a speciall gyft of the holy gost and very experience doeth also confirme the same ¶ The minister And why so ¶ The childe For the feblenes of oure wyttes is suche that we can by no meanes attayne vnto the vnderstandynge of Gods wysedome and the secretes of his spirite the which thynges be opened and made knowen vnto vs by faythe and oure heartes are naturally inclyned to a certayne distruste or at lest avaine trust either in oure selues The holy gost doth lyghten our mindes or in other creatures but what tyme Gods spirite hath lyghtened our heartes and made vs able to vnderstāde Gods wyll the whiche thyng we can not attaine other wise thā doth he arme vs also with a stedfaste cōfydence in hys goodnes sealinge as it were and impryntyng the promises of euerlastynge healthe in our heartes ¶ The minister What profyte commeth to vs through this faith whan we haue it ¶ The childe It doeth iustifie vs before God This faith maketh vs sure of our righteousnes and maketh vs enherytours of euerlastynge lyfe ¶ The minister Why thē is not a man iustyfyed through good workes if he lyue holylye and in the obedience of Goddes wyll ¶ The childe If any manne were to be founde so perfecte as to leade his life vprightly before God suche a one myghte worthelye be called a ryghteous manne but forsomuche as we euerye one maye iustlie counte our selues wretched sinners in the syght of God we are of necessytye dryuen to seeke elles where for a worthynes to make answere for vs to Gods iudgemente ¶ The minister Sonday 19 But be all our workes so disproued that they can meryte nothyng at all for vs before God ¶ The childe Fyrst al suche workes as we do of our selues by the inclination of our owne nature Al mans woorkes be damnable vntill they be regenerate through godes sprite are vtterly corrupte Wherof it foloweth necessarily that they can not please god but rather do prouoke hys wrath and he condemneth them euery one ¶ The minister Thys is then thy sayinge that vnto the tyme that God hath of his fauourable goodnes receyued vs to mercy we can doe no maner of thynge but synne Mat. 7 euen as an euell tree can brynge forth no fruite but that that is euyll ¶ The childe It is euen so for although oure woorkes make a fayre shewe outwardely to mannes syghte yet withoute doubte they are wycked in Goddes syght forsomuch as the heart is naughte and vngracious vnto the whyche God chiefly hath respecte ¶ The minister Hereby then thou doest conclude that it lyeth not in oure power to preuente God with our merytes and so to prouoke him to loue vs but muche rather contrarywyse we therby do styrre him to be more and more angry against vs. ¶ The childe Yea surelye and therfore I saye that without any maner consyderacion of oure owne workes he doth accept and receyue vs into hys fauoure of hys mere lyberall goodnes bountyful mercy Titus 3 through the merites of our sauiour Christ accountyng hys righteousnes to be ours and for hys sake so forgettynge oure fautes that he wyl lay them no more to oure charge ¶ The minister What meanest thou then that a man is iustyfied by his fayth ¶ The childe Iustification or righteousnes is attributed vnto faythe for somuche as through beleuing that is receiuynge with an assurance of the heart the promyses of the ghospell we enter into possessyon of thys ryghteousnes ¶ The minister Thys is bryfely thy meanynge that euen as God doth presente and offre thys ryghteousnes freelye vnto vs in hys gospell euen so the onely meane or way to receiue that excellente gyfte of GOD is faythe ¶ The childe Yea forsoth ¶ The minister Sonday 20 wel then after that god hath once receyued vs into hys fauour be not the workes which we doe through his grace of fayth and by the vertue or his spirite acceprable vnto him ¶ The childe The good workes whiche procede onely of faythe Yeas verely because he doth of his free goodnes so accepte them and take them and not bycause theyr worthines doth deserue so to be estemed ¶ The minister How is it that they be not worthy of themselues to be accepted since they be workes procedynge of the holy ghost ¶ The childe Forsomuch as we cary alway some infirmitie of the fleshe about vs which wyl haue a stroke and a doing in al our workes wherby they are defyled ¶ The minister By what meanes then are they made acceptable vnto God ¶ The childe By the meanes of faith The way to do good workes to goddes plesure for through fayth a man is well assured in his conscience that God wyll not looke narowly vpon hys workes nor trie them by the sharpe rygoure of hys iustyce but that he wyl rather hyde the vnperfytnes the vncleane spottes that be in them with the vndefyled purenes of our sauiour Christ and so accoumpt them as perfecte ¶ The minister May we saye then that a Christian manne is iustifyed by his workes after that God hath called hym or that he doeth meryte through them Gods fauour to the procurement of lyfe euerlastyng ¶ The childe Psal 143. No verely but contrarywyse it is sayd that no manne lyuing shal be iustified in Gods syght and therefore it is oure dutie to praie that he do not enter into iudgemente with vs or cal vs to a coumpte ¶ The minister
Thou meaneste not hereby that the good dedes of faythfull menne are to no purpose and vnprofytable ¶ The childe I meane nothing lesse for god promyseth to rewarde them largely both in this worlde in the life to come And yet thys notwithstandyng those rewardes of God be not geuē for the worthy desertes of oure dedes but onely because it pleaseth GOD of his goodnes to loue vs freely so to couer and forget our fautes that he wil neuer cal them any more to remēbraunce ¶ The minister Aright faythe is neuer ydle May we perswade our selues that we are iuste without good woorkes without the diligente applying of oure selues to walke in al Goddes holy commaundementes ¶ The childe That is not possyble for to beleue in Christ is as much to say what it is to beleue in Christ as to receiue Christ in such sort with such properties as he doth geue himselfe vnto vs now this is an euident thing that Christ doth not only promes to deliuer vs from death to restore vnto vs the louing fauour of god his father thorow the onely merites of his innocency But also he promiseth to make vs newe creatures by his holy spirite to the ende that we should leade a holy conuersacion in al good workes ¶ The minister Then I see that it is so farre from the offyce or workyng of faythe to make men despysers of good deedes or negligent to lyue godly that it is the very roote or lyuelye fountayne whereout all good woorkes doesprynge ¶ The childe Ye saye as the trueth is The effecte of the gospell is fayth repentance and for thys cause the doctryne of the gospell doeth consyste in these two poyntes faith and repentaunce ¶ The minister Sonday 21 And what maner of thynge is Repentaunce ¶ The childe It is and earneste dyspleasure to warde what repentāce is synne and therwith al a feruente desyre or longyng for godlines proceadyng of the feare or God and inducing vs to the mortifying of our carnall affectyons inclining vs altogether to the guiding and gouernaunce of the holy gost to serue God vnfeynedly ¶ The minister Thys then whiche we haue touched is the second poynt of a christen mans lyfe which standeth in seruyng of God ¶ The childe wherein the right seruinge of god stādyth Yea verely and we haue sayd also that the very ryghte and alowable seruyce of God doeth consyst in submyttyng our selues humbly vnto hym studying earnestly to doe according to hys wil. ¶ The minister Wherfore standeth gods seruice herin onely ¶ The childe Because he wil not be serued or wurshipped after our fantasy and imaginacion but after his own good pleasure ¶ The minister What rules or ordinaunces hath he prescrybed vnto vs to leade our lyfe by ¶ The childe His lawe ¶ The minister What thynges dothe yt conteyne ¶ The childe It is deuided into .ii. partes The law hath two partes where of the first doth containe foure commaundementes the seconde contayneth .vi. so that there be .x. in the whole ¶ The minister Who hath made this diuision therof ¶ The childe God hymselfe Exod. 32.34 Deu. 4.12 who also gaue it written in two tables vnto Moises saying that the whole was reduced into ten sentences ¶ The minister What is the matter or substaunce of the first table ¶ The childe It toucheth the due maner of woorshyppyng God The effecte of the first table ¶ The minister What is contayned in the seconde table ¶ The childe It sheweth vs in what maner we ought to behaue our selues towardes our neghboures The effect of the secōd table and what duetye we owe vnto them ¶ The minister Sonday 22 Rehearse the fyrste commaundement ¶ The childe The first cōmaundement Exod. 20 Deu. 5 HEarkē ād take heede Israell I am the lorde thy God whiche hath broght thee furth of the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage Thou shalt haue none other God before my face ¶ The minister Declare the meanyng hereof ¶ The childe It is a preface to begynne withal or an introduction to the whole law for he doth chalenge here vnto himself first autoritie to commaund naming hymselfe euerlasting the creator of the world and agayne after he calleth himselfe oure God wherby he moueth our heartes to haue in reuerence to esteme highly hys doctrine for if that he be oursauior it is good reason that we be also hys louing subiectes and obedient people ¶ The minister what signifieth the deliurance out of Egypte But that whiche foloweth after touching the deliueraunce from the miserable bondage of Egipt is it not referred pecularely to the people of Israel ¶ The childe Yes verely as cōcerning the deliuerāce from bodely bondage howbeit it belongeth also generallye vnto vs all with out excepciō in so much as he hath delyuered oure soules from the spirituall captiuitie of synne and from the tirāny of the deuyll and hys kyngedome whereof the bōdage of Egipt was but a figure ¶ The minister Why doeth he make mencion of thys in the very beginning of hys lawe ¶ The childe It is done to put vs in remembraunce how greatly we are bound to shewe vnto hym al obedience in performyng of his will and to sygnifye vnto vs what ingratitude and vnkindnes it is to do the cōtrary ¶ The minister And what is briefly the effecte of that he requyreth of vs in thys fyrst cōmaūdemēt ¶ The childe He enioyneth vs to reserue vnto hym onely the honor due vnto hym The summe of the first cōmaundement and that in no wyse we alienate or put it from him geuing the same vnto any other ¶ The minister What is the honour due vnto hym alone ¶ The childe To worship hym The honor that is due to god alone to put our whole trust in hym to call vpō hymād such other like which be attributed peculiarly and onely vnto his maiestye ¶ The minister Wherfore is that clause putte to before my face ¶ The childe Forsomuch as he seeth knoweth al thinges iudgeth the secret thoghtes of mens heartes he signifieth vnto vs that he doth not account it sufficient if we make a countenaunce or be are a faire shew before mē but that his wil is that also in very dede euen from the bottom of our heart with feruent affection we do take him for our only God ¶ The minister Sonday 23 Rehearse the seconde commaundement ¶ The childe The seconde cōmaundemente touching Images and the worshiping of them Se thou make thee no grauen image neither any similitude of any thing eyther in heauen aboue either in the earth beneath or in the waters which be beneth the earth thou shalt do no honor vnto them nor wurship them ¶ The minister Doth he vtterlye forbydde the makyng of any images ¶ The childe No but he doth forbid expresly eyther to make anye image thereby to represente or figure
god either to make any image to wurshyppe yt ¶ The minister Wherefore are we forbydden to make anie figure or image of God ¶ The childe Because there is no similitude nor comparison betwene hī that is an euerlasting spirite Deu. 4. Esa 41. Rom. 6. Actes 17. not able to be conceiued of the mind nor possible to be seene with eies and a material body mortal and apte to putrifye which we may both feele see ¶ The minister Thy mīde is then that he doth great dyshonor to Gods maiestie that goth about to represent or figure him in such sort ¶ The childe Yea verely ¶ The minister What maner of adoracion is here inhibited ¶ The childe We are forbydden here to come before any image to make our prayers Of honor forbyddē to images or to bowe oure knee before it or to make any other semblant or token of reuerence as though God were more present there or shewed furth hys power vnto vs more in that place than els where ¶ The minister This is not then to be taken as though al keruyng or painting of Images were vtterlye prohibited but alonly to make any image to doe God seruice therwith or therby to wurship him in visible thinges In what sort images are forbydden eyther finallye to make anye Image wherby the simple may take occasion to abuse it vnto any kind of superstition or idolatry all suche are vtterly forbydden ¶ The childe It is euen so ¶ The minister For what purpose principally was this commaundemente geuen ¶ The childe In lyke maner as in the firste commaundement God sheweth himselfe to be alone the verye same vnto whom all honor doth belong euen so now in this seconde cōmaundement he goeth about to withdrawe vs frō all superstitious kind of wurshipping proceding of our carnal imagitions ¶ The minister Sonday 24 Reharse that that foloweth this commaundement ¶ The childe He ioyneth vnto it a threatning saying I am the eternal your God almightie Iealous and punishing the wickednes of the fathers in their children vnto the third ād fowerth generatiō of such as dooe hateme ¶ The minister Wherfore doth he make mencion there of his myght ¶ The childe To put vs in remembraunce that he is of sufficient ablenes to vpholde maintayn and defende hys honour ¶ The minister What meaneth he by speaking of iealousy ¶ The childe He doth vs to wete that he can not abyde a companion with him for euen as he hath of his vnspeakable goodnes frely geuen hymselfe vnto vs in lyke maner also he chalengeth as duetye of our behalfe that we become altogether hys seruaūtes wholy addycte and geuen to please hym and thys is the spirituall chastitie whiche he looketh for of our soules that they be dedicated vnto hym ād kept holy for him And contrarywyse it is a very spirituall whoredome if our mindes be alyenated Thouching spiritual whordē or anye whitte withdrawen from hym to any kynde of Idolatry or supersticion ¶ The minister How ought this to be taken that he punisheth the trāsgressyōs of the fathers in theyr children ¶ The childe To pearce our hartes more depely with the terror of hys wrathe who doth not onely threaten to punishe the offenders but also their seede after theym ¶ The minister What is not this contrarie vnto the ryghteuousnes of God to punishe the one for the others faute ¶ The childe How God punisheth the fathers wickednes in the childe If we dooe waye and cōsider aryghte the state wherunto the whole nature of manne is broughte by the fall of Adā it maye be thought superfluous and more then nedeth to moue this doubte for we are euerye one of vs borne vnder the curse of God ād the childrē of hys wrathe so that we can not finde faute with God when he letteth vs alone and suffereth vs styll to contynue suche as we are of nature Nowe as it is a sure tokē of gods tender affectiō fauore towardes his seruauntes when he doth also enriche theyr children with his manyfolde blessynges so likewyse it is a most dreadfull token of Gods vengeance towardes the wycked when he suffereth theyr ofspringe to contynewe in their cursed state ¶ The minister What sayeth he more besydes this ¶ The chlide To the ende he myght styrre vs also with tender loue he saith moreouer that he sheweth foorth his aboundaunte mercy vnto the thowsand discent of suche as loue hym kepe his commaundementes ¶ The minister Doeth he meane therby that the obedyence and holye conuersacion of a faithfull man shal be suffyciente to saue his posterytie althouge it be naughte and wicked ¶ The childe Not so but the meaninge therof is How God sheweth mercye to a thowsand generacions that he wyll in suche sort shewe forth his beneficial goodnes towardes the faithful that for the fauour he beareth vnto them he will also be knowen vnto their childrē to be their God not onely midyng to prospere thē here in thynges of thys worlde but to saynctifie them also with the giftes of his spirite wherby they maye become seruisable and ready to please him ¶ The minister But this is not altogether a generall rule that the children of the wicked be accursed and contrarywyse faithfull mens children blessed ¶ The childe No Rom. 6. for our Lorde doth reserue this libertye to himselfe alwayes to shewe mercie vnto the childerne of the wicked and on the other part he hath not so bownd hys grace to the children of the faithfull but that he may at hys pleasure reiecte whome he wyll yet notwithstanding he doeth in such wyse order these thinges that all mēne may easely see that he hath not made this louyng promyse for noght ¶ The minister Wherfore doth he reherse here in the promes to a thowsand discent whereas in the threatnynge he made mencion but of .iii. or foure ¶ The minister That is done to sygnifye that God is of his owne goodwill and inclination alwayes more ready to vse gentlenes fauourablenes then roughnes or rygour accordyng as he sayeth of himselfe that he hath a ready inclinacion to do good or to shewe mercye Exod. 34. Psal 103. and cōtrariwise slowe vnto anger ¶ The minister Sonday 25 Let vs come nowe to the thyrde commaundement The iii. commaundement ¶ The chide Thou shalt not take the name of the Lorde thy God in vaine ¶ The minister What is the right vnderstanding of that ¶ The childe He doeth not onely forbid to abuse and blaspheme the blessed name of God by periurye but forbyddeth as wel al vayne Of othes and superfluous othes ¶ The minister Maye a man then sweare lawefully at any tyme ¶ The childe Yea verely when there is iust occasion that is to say to maintayne the trueth of a matter when the tyme shall require and lykewyse to kepe and nouryshe brotherly charytye amonge vs. ¶ The minister Doth he dysproue no othes but suche as are made to the
hinderaunce of Gods honour ¶ The childe In one kinde of othe he teacheth vs a generall rule to wete that we ought not sweare at all that is to saye that we maye not cal God to wytnes vnlesse it be done with al humblenes of minde hauing a reuerente feare towardes hys maiestye before oure eyes to the entent to glorifie hys name for euen as it is holye and of most worthy pryce so it behoueth vs to take diligent hede wyth what reuerence we shoulde name God that we doe not in suche sorte name hym or call hym to witnes that either we may seeme to passe lyghtelye of hym oure selues either whereby other maye take occasiō to haue him in small reuerence ¶ The minister How shal a man vse his name with suche due reuerence ¶ The childe If we doe neyther thynke nor speake of God nor of his workes but with all reuerence and honor ¶ The minister What foloweth this commaundemēte ¶ The childe He addeth vnto it a threatnynge that he wyll coumpt hym that vseth his name irreuerenlye as a wycked malefactoure ¶ The minister Seyng that God pronounceth threatiningly in other places in a generalite that he will punishe al transgressoures what vehemencye is there besides in these wordes ¶ The childe He doth expressy declare hereby in howe greate estymacion he hath the honour of hys holy name forsomuche as he sayeth precysely by euidente woordes that he can not abyde that any man doe vse it vnreuerently to the intent we migth with so much the more careful dilygence haue it in honor ¶ The minister Sonday 26 Let vs goe to the fourth commaundemente ¶ The childe REmembre to kepe holye the sabboth daye syxe dayes shalt thou laboure The .iiii. commaundement do any neadfull worke thou hast to do but the seuenth day is the reste of the lorde thy God thou shalte do no worke that daye neyther thou nor thy sonne nor thy doughter neither thy seruante nor thy handmayde no not thyne oxe or asse neither the straunger that is withe in thy gates for in syxe dayes God made heauē and earth and all that is in them but the seuenth daye he rested wherfore he hathe blessed the day of reste and hath dedicate it peculiarly to hymselfe ¶ The minister Geueth God in commaundemente that men shall trauaile sixe dayes euery weeke and so reste the seuenth ¶ The childe No he doth not precisely commaunde it but rather he doth geue menne leaue to trauaile aboute theyr commen busines for the tyme of syxe dayes and so maketh a restraint onely of the seuēth in the which he forbiddeth to laboure ¶ The minister Are we then bounde by Gods commaundement to refrayne one daye in the weeke from al maner of labour ¶ The childe This commaundemente hath a certayne speciall consideration in it for as touchynge the obseruation of bodely reste it belongeth to that parte of the olde law which is called ceremonial the which ceremonies were vtterly abolished at the comming of Christ ¶ The minister Sayest thou then that this commaundemente belongeth peculyerly vnto the Iewes that God did geue it onely for the time of the olde testament ¶ The childe Yea verely as touchyng the ceremonie therof and the outwarde bodely reste to be obserued therin ¶ The minister Why then is there any other thyng conteyned in it besydes the ceremonie ¶ The childe Yea truely for there be three consyderacions for the whych this commādement was geuen ¶ The minister What are they ¶ The childe The first is Thre consideracions for the whiche the sabboth day was ordained that it myght be a figure to represente our spiritual rest The seconde for a comely order to be vsed in the church or congregation And thirdely for the refreshyng of seruantes that they myghte haue some reliefe of theyr trauaile ¶ The minister What is that thou callest spiritual rest ¶ The childe That we cease to doe the workes of oure owne lustes wyl that the lorde may bring forth the woorkes of hys spirite in oure heartes ¶ The minister How may we do this ¶ The childe By mortifying our flesche and subduing the inordinate affections of our nature to the end that Gods spirite onely maye beare rule in vs. ¶ The minister Are we bound to this rest but one daye in the weeke ¶ The childe The spirituall Sabboth is cōtynuall It is our bounden duetye to continue in this rest alwayes so that when we haue once begon to entre in to it we muste goe on forwarde whiles oure lyfe lasteth ¶ The minister Howe happeneth it then that there is but one daye appointed to represent figure vnto vs a thinge that dureth our whole lyfe ¶ The childe It is not necessarye that the figure or shaddowe of a thyng doe resēble throughly in all pointes the thinge it is ordeined to represente it is to be thought suffyciente if they agre be lyke in sonne pointes ¶ The minister And wherfore was the seuenth daye appointed rather then any other ¶ The childe The numbre of seuen The nomber of seuen doth sygnifie ād importe a certayne perfection in the holye scripture wherfore the seuenth daye was moste meete to sette out vnto vs a thing that should stil continue moreouer it putteth vs in remembraunce that our spirituall rest or quietnes is not full nor perfecte whyles we lyue in this world neyther shall it be absolutely broughte to perfection vntyll we departe thys lyfe ¶ The minister Sonday 27 What is mente by that which our lord alleageth here saying that it behoueth vs to reste for so muche as he hath done the same ¶ The childe When God had created al his woorkes in syxe dayes he dedicated or appointed the seuenth to the vewe and beholding of his workmanship And to the intent we might be the more easely induced to the consideration there of he bringeth foorth his owne exaumple for that there is nothinge of so muche worthines to be desyred as to become lyke vnto him ¶ The minister Must we than daily haue consideration and remembraunce of goddes woorkes or is it inough to haue minde of them one day in the weeke ¶ The childe Verely our bound duety is to haue bothe daylye hourely a reuerent consideracion of hys merueillous woorkes We are bownde to praise God continuallie in his woorkes but for that we are through frailtie so negligent forgetful there is one certain daye peculiarelye appointed to renew from time to time the remembraūce of this our duety and that is the politique ordre which I spake of ¶ The childe What maner of ordre ought the people to obserue in that day ¶ The childe As touchinge pollitique or dre for dayes They are bounde that daye to come together and to geue diligente eare to the woorde of God to make theyr prayers vnto God and finallye to make open profession of their faith and religion ¶ The minister What meanest thou by saying
that it was partly ordeined for the recreation and ease of seruauntes ¶ The childe To thintente that they whiche be vnder the authoritye and power of others myght be released somewhat and lyghtened of theyr paynful laboures the whiche thyng also serueth to the furtheraunce of the common wealth for somuch as euery man hath iust cause to be the readyer willynglye to trauayle the other sixe days when they consider that they may take their rest in the seuenth ¶ The minister Goe to then let vs nowe also see how this commaundement belongeth vnto vs. ¶ The childe As touching the ceremony ther of Col. 2. The ceremoniall Sabbot◠ys ended we haue nothing to do with it for the vse of al ceremonyes ceassed at the cumming of Christe who was the ende and substaunce of them ¶ The minister How so ¶ The childe For our old man vnto whome the ceremonies belonged is now crucifyed by the vertue of his death Rom. 6. through the merite of his resurrection we rise agayn into a newnes of lyfe ¶ The minister What is there than in this comaundement that concerneth vs ¶ The childe We are bounde to obserue the politique ordre appoynted in the churche for the hearyng of Goddes woorde for cumming together to make common prayers and for the ryghte vse of the sacramentes ¶ The minister And dothe the fygure profytt vs no more ¶ The childe Yes veryly for it leadethe vs to the trewth of that thing wherof the sabboth day is a figure which is that we being made the true mēbers of Christe ought to leaue of from doing the woorkes of our owne will to commit our selues wholy vnto his tuicion gouernance ¶ The minister Sonday 28 Lette vs come now to the seconde table ¶ The childe HOnor thy father thy mother ¶ The minister The 5 cōmaundement What doest thou meane by this woord Honour ¶ The childe what honor is due to our superiours The meaning is that children are of duetye bounde to vse humble obedience and lowlynes towardes their father and mother bearynge a reuerente minde towardes them ready to assyst and ayde thē and willyng to doe after theyr commaundementes according to their dutie ¶ The minister Proceade farther in thys commaundement ¶ The childe God ioyneth also a promes to this commaundement sayng that thou maist leade a prosperous lyfe many yeares in the lande whiche the lord thy God hath geuen thee ¶ The minister What is the meanyng of this promes ¶ The childe That God will indue them with a long lyfe here in thys worlde whiche haue theyr father and mother in due reuerence ¶ The minister How cummeth it to passe that god promiseth man to prolong hys life here in thys world as if it were a speciall benefite since this life present is so ful of al kynd of misery ¶ The childe Though our lyfe here in thys world be neuer so full of wretchednes yet not with standing a long life A longe life is a blessing of God vnto the faithfull for somuche as god doth shew furth his fatherly affection towardes his in that they knowe they are vnder hys protection and defence ¶ The minister May a man gather of the contrary parte that he who liueth not manye yeares is accursed of God ¶ The childe No but rather it cummeth to passe manye tymes that oure lord taketh them soneste of all out of thys world shortenyng theyr lyfe whome he loueth most dearely ¶ The minister Since he doeth thus It semeth that he keepeth not alwayes promesse ¶ The childe Benefites of this worlde are promysed with cōdicion Yes verelye for what promes soeuer god maketh vs touching the benefites of this world we ought to take it with this condicion so farfurth as it shal be expedient for the health of our soule For it were a meanes to haue the promes of god in smal reputacyon if the eyes of oure mynd wer not directed further then to cōsidre onely the state of thys present lyfe ¶ The minister And what is to be sayd of them that be disobedient vnto father and mother ¶ The childe The ponyshement of childrē whyche disobey their parents God will not onely punish them with euerlasting payne in the day of iudgement but he wil execute also punishmente on theyr bodyes here in thys worlde eyther by shortnynge their life eyther by procuring them a shameful death either at the least a life most miserable ¶ The minister Doeth not God speake expresly and namely of the lande of Canaan in thys promesse ¶ The childe Yes verely as touching the children of Israel vnto whom the commaundement was first geuen but since it hath pleased god to receyue vs also into the noumbre of hys people Psal 14 Psal 88. Psal 3. we must take it in a more general significatyon so that in somuche as the whole earthe is the lordes we ought to acknowledge that what countreye soeuer we do inhabite god hathe geuen vnto vs the same for a dwellinge place ¶ The minister Is there nothyng elles to be vnderstande in this commaundement ¶ The childe Yes for notwithstandyng no mencion is made in it expresly but of the father and mother yet we must vnderstand in them al magistrates rulers superiours for so muche as there is one maner of consideracion of theym all ¶ The minister What is that ¶ The childe AS God hath geuē vnto them all theyr authoritie and preeminence and because there is no prerogatiue of superioritye neither of father nor mother neyther of prynce or ruler magistrate or maister neyther anye other offyce or tytle of preemynence Rom. 13. but suche as God hath ordeyned therfore they require al by one maner of reason theyr due obedience ¶ The minister Sonday 29 Goe nowe to the sixt commaundement ¶ The childe The .6 commaundement THou shalt do no murther ¶ The minister Is there nothyng forbydden here but open murther ¶ The childe Yes verelye for consideryng that it is god who geueth thys in commaundemēt the which hath chiefe regarde vnto oure heartes he doth not only geue vs a law to restrayne our outward dedes but principally to brydle the affections of oure mynde ¶ The minister Thy meanynge is then that there is a certayne kinde of murther lying prieuelye in the heart the whiche is forbydden here of God ¶ The childe It is euen so and that is a malicious hatred or rancour and a desyer to doe hurt vnto our neyghbour ¶ The minister Is it inough then if we beare no hatred nor malice towardes any man ¶ The childe No for in that that god forbyddeth hatred it is to be vnderstand also that he requireth of vs to loue all men that vnfeynedly from the bottome of the hearte procuryng by all meanes theyr welth ¶ The minister Rehearse the seuenthe commaundement ¶ The childe THou shalt not commit adultery The .7 Cōmādement ¶ The minister What is the summe and
gatheringe of the whole lawe ¶ The childe The somme ād effect of the whole lawe Matt. 22. Yes verely the whole lawe is comprehended in these ii poyntes the one is that we loue God with all our hearte with all our mynde and with oure whole myghte The other is that we loue our neighboure as our selfe ¶ The minister What is included in the loue of God ¶ The childe It requireth of vs this duetye that we loue hym as oure God that we acknowledge and take hym for oure soueraine lorde master sauiour father so that hereby our duetye is to feare hym to honoure hym to put oure whole trust in him to obeye him and loue hym ¶ The minister What doest thou meane by these woordes with all oure hearte all oure mynde and oure whole strength ¶ The childe It is no more to say but that we must loue God with suche a zeale and feruente affection that there maye be in vs no desyre no will no thought no endeuour no maner of inclynacion contrarye vnto this loue ¶ The minister What is the meaning of the seconde point ¶ The childe We are taught therby that as we be naturally inclyned to loue our selues and as this affection is moste vehemente doth passe al the rest euen so our loue towardes our neighbours oughte in suche sorte to beare rule in our hartes that it shoulde rule and guyde vs altogether and shoulde be a lyne and rule therby to order all oure thoughtes and deedes ¶ The minister And whome meanest thou whan thou sayest oure neyghbours ¶ The childe I doe not onely sygnyfye by the word our kindred frendes and suche other as be of oure familier acquaintance but such also as be straungers vnto vs and more then that oure verye enemyes ¶ The minister In what bande or alliance are we in with them ¶ The childe There is a knot of frendshyp the which God hymselfe hath fastened which cannot be loosed by any mans malyce or wickednes ¶ The minister Then thou wylte saye yf any man beare any malycious hatred vnto vs that euyll affection cometh of himselfe and yet in the meāe time by the very ordre whych God himselfe hathe appoynted he ceasseth not to continue stil our neighboure and we are bounde euen so to take hym ¶ The childe Yea verely ¶ The minister Seing the law requireth such a perfect vpright maner of seruing God is not euery christen man bound to frame hys lyfe and conuersacyon after the same ¶ The childe Yes truely but we haue in vs so much weakenes No mā can fulfill the lawe that there is no man whiche fully doth perfourme all that the lawe requireth ¶ The minister Why doth God therefore require of vs suche an exquisite perfection as we be not hable to reache vnto ¶ The childe God requireth nothyng of vs but that whiche we are bound to do and our own consciences witnes that we are charged with already And agayn if we bend our selues and geue diligence to frame our lyues to this rule set furth in the law than albeit we be farre from being able to attayne vnto the perfection therof yet the lorde wil not lay to our charge that defaut or lacke of dooyng the same as our duetie requireth ¶ The minister Speakest thou generally of al men either elles meanest thou the faythful onely ¶ The childe I speake not of such as beleue not for no man is able to begyn to frame hymselfe to doe the leaste poyncte that the lawe requireth vntyll he be regenerate and fashyoned agayne throughe the spirite of God Moreouer if it were possiblé to fynde out anye manne who were able to perfourme some part of that Deu. 27 Gal. 3. that the law demaundeth it should not be enough to dyscharge hym before god for the lorde pronounceth openly thys sentence that whosoeuer doth not throughly accomplishe euerye poynte conteyned in the lawe is accursed ¶ The minister Sonday 33 Hereof we must needes gather that the law hath two distinct offices accordyng as there be two sortes of menne ¶ The childe Rom. 3. To what vse the lawe serueth touching the vnfeythful 2. Cor. 3. What elles for as touchynge them that beleue not it serueth to no other purpose but to reproue condemne them and to take from them al maner occasion to excuse themselues before god thys is that part of the office of the law which S. Paule speaketh of namyng it the instrumente of death and damnaciō but as touchyng the faythfull it serueth to an other vse ¶ The minister What profite doeth the lawe bring to the faythful ¶ The childe To what vse the lawe serue the as touchin the feithfull Fyrst the lawe maketh it knowen vnto them that they cannot be iustified by their woorkes so by humbling them through the knowledge of their miserable state it doth stirre them to search their health saluaciō in our sauiour Christ Secondarily wheras it requireth more then is possible for any man to do it warneth them to pray vnto God that he wil vouchsafe to geue them suffyciente strength that they may at least haue a ready willing minde to obey hys will and therby they haue also occasion to knowledge their daylye fautes and so to thynke lowely of them selues Thyrdelye it serueth them in steade of a bridle to represse theyr carnal affections and to holde them faste in the feare of God ¶ The minister We may then finally conclude as touching thys matter that albeit for the time of this transitory lyfe we neuer attaine to be able to render perfect obedience vnto the law yet it is not to be thought a vayne thyng and to no purpose that it requireth of vs suche a precyse and exquisite perfection for thereby it setteth vp a marke vnto vs to the ēd that we euery one according to the grace wherwith God hath endued vs might continually with so muche more feruente affection walke towardes it and study dayly more and more to come vnto it ¶ The childe Ye haue vttered the thing euen as I ment it ¶ The minister Haue we not a perfect rule of all rigthtuousnes set out in the law ¶ The childe Yes verelye so that God demaundeth no other thynge of vs Obedience to the law is gods onely seruice and the sacrifice that he requireth of vs. 1. Sam. 15. Ierem. 7. then to frame and ordre al our doinges by it and contrary wise God disaloweth and refuseth whatsoeuer man taketh in hand to doe besydes For obedience is the onelye sacrifice and seruice which he requireth ¶ The minister To what purpose then doth al those monicions declarations exhortations commaundementes serue whiche the Prophetes make the apostles ¶ The childe The doctrine of the prophetes Apostles be nothing els but exposicions of the selfe same law more at large the ende of which doctrine is so farre of from the leadyng of vs from the obedience due vnto God that
it is rather in steade of a sure gyde to conduct vs and bryng vs vnto it ¶ The minister Yet it semeth that the law doth not sette out euery mans particular vocation and office ¶ The childe Where as the law of God prescrybeth that we ought to render vnto euerye man that that is his due we maye ryght well gather thereof what euerye mans duety is in his state and calling further as we haue already sayde the residue of the scripture maketh a more particular and playne declaration of the same for the selfe same thinges which God hath in few wordes comprehended in these tables of his commaundementes other partes of the scripture doe entreate here and there more at large ¶ The minister Sonday 34 Seing we haue now commoned sufficiently of the right seruyng of God that is to saye of obedience to his wil which is the second parte of the honour due vnto hym The iii. poincte towching the true honoring of God is calling on hym in our nede lette vs speake now also of the third point touching the honour which he demaundeth of vs. ¶ The childe We haue saied here before that the thyrd maner of honor which he demaaundeth of vs is to cal vpon him and to seke for helpe at hys hand in al our nedos ¶ The minister Doest thou meane that this honor to calle vpon God for help in our necessities is due vnto him alone ¶ The childe Yea for he chalengeth this as a peculiar honour due vnto hys hyghe and diuine maiestie onely ¶ The minister Since it is so after what forte is it lawefull for vs to require succor at mans hāde ¶ The childe There is great dyfference betwene those two thynges for we call vpon the name of God to protest and signifye that we looke for no helpe nor benefite but at hys hande hauynge oure whole affyance in him as a sure rocke and in none elles yet in the meane tyme we procure vse the helpe of men other creatures so farre furth as God geueth vs leaue as he hath lente thē ablenes and meanes to succour vs. ¶ The minister Thou meanest then that to demaund succor of man is no whit contrary to thys that we are boūde to make our inuocaciō prayer onely vnto God for helpe for somuch as we put not our trust in them neither seke their succour but so farre for the as God hathe ordeyned them minysters bestowers of hys goodes to oure necessitie and comfort ¶ The childe Ye say verye well ād in very dede what soeuer benence or frendshyp we receyue at anye mans hande we are bounde so to take it as if God hymselfe did deliuer it vnto vs for the trueth is that it is he who sendeth all suche benefites by the handes of hys creatures ¶ The minister Is it not then our duetye to geue thankes vnto menne for theyr benefites and to acknowledge gentilye theyr frēdelye helpe seinge the lawe of nature so teacheth ¶ The childe Yes verely and it were for no more but for that it hath pleased God to cal them to such honour as to be the dealers and distributers of hys benefites for God in so doig doth bind vs vnto them and wil that we take the same thankefullye at theyr handes but yet alwayes so that we must acknoweldge that they are but his ministers and almes dealers and that he alone is the prouyder of all ¶ The miister It appeareth by thys that we maye not call vpon Angelles or Saintes departed for helpe ¶ The childe You saye trueth for touching sainctes departed Neither Angels nor sainctes departed are to bee called vpon for any helpe God hathe not appoynted vnto them any such office as to help vs or geuen them any such charge as to ministre vnto our needes And as concerning hys angels although he haue ordeined thē as ministers to serue for oure healthe yet is it nothīg lesse then his will that we shoulde call vpon them for helpe eyther haue our recourse and refuge vnto them in time of neede ¶ The minister Thou supposest thē that whatsoeuer is not agreable to the ordre which God hath set furth vnto vs is repugnaunte vino his will ¶ The childe I meane euē so for if so be that we will become so curious as not to content our selues with that ordre and maner of doing which God hath by his woorde set furth vnto vs that is a token moste certayne of infidelitie Moreouer if in steade of seeking vpon God alone for help in al our nedes we shall haue recourse vnto Angels or anye other creatures puttinge anye parte of oure confydēce or truste in them we commytte therein dānable Idolatrie by atiributyng vnto the that thynge whiche ought to be peculiarelye reserued vnto God ¶ The minister Sonday 35 Let us come now to the right maner of makyng our prayer unto God is it inough to pray with the tongue Of prayer eyther is a feruēt minde and earnest affectiō of the hart also necessarily required ¶ The childe As for the speakyng with the tong is one of the least pointes neither is it alwaies necessary to vse the tong in praying but an attentife minde and earnest affection is alwaies necessaryly required ¶ The minister Howe proue you that ¶ The childe For somuche as God is a spirituall substance he requireth alwaies the spirite we muste praye with in hearty affection the heart as at al other tymes so specially in time of prayer when we shewe our selues in hys presence and enter into communication wih hym Psal 145. Esa 29. They are cursed of God that praye without hartie affection and therevpon he maketh a restrainte of his promise saing that he will be at hāde to heare only all them which cal vpon hym in trueth cōtrary wise he pronūceth all the accursed whiche praye hipocritically or without an earnest affection ¶ The minister I see then therby that al suche prayers as be made only with the mouth be vnprofitable and to no vse ¶ Thé childe They be not onely vnprofitable but they are superfluous prouoke God to dipleasure ¶ The minister What maner of affection is required to make the prayer acceptable ¶ The childe We must first of al haue such a feeling of oure pouertie and wretchednes that we maye perceaue an earnest vexacion griefe of minde through the lothsommes of synne or lacke of some grace expedient for vs we must also haue a feruente desire longynge to obtayne the same at gods hand which desire must kendle out hartes and engēder in vs a feruēte prayer ¶ The minister Doe these thynges procede of our nature either are they geuē vnto vs by the speciall goodnes of God ¶ The childe It is God that playeth the workeman for we are of oure selues dul and without al lust to prayer but the spirite of God doth styre vp in oure heartes such syghes as no tonge is able
as it is in heauen geue vs this daye oure daylye breade forgeue vs our trespaces as we for geue them that trespasse against vs and leade vs not into temptacion but delyuer vs from euyl For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory worlde withoute ende So be it ¶ The minister For the more easie vnderstandyng hereof tell me how manye articles or particuler requestes be conteined herein ¶ The childe Syxe The deuision of the lordes prayer of whiche the .iii. firste do concerne the glory of God withoute any respecte or consideration of our selues the other iii. touche vs properlye and concerne our wealth and profyte ¶ The minister Why then ought we to desyre any thing of God that bringeth no maner of commoditie vnto our selues ¶ The childe This is true that God of his infinite goodnes doth dispose and ordre all thinges in suche sorte that nothyng can turne to the glory of hys name which is not also profytable vnto vs so that when hys name is saynctyfyed honored he maketh it redounde to oure sanctyfycacion and whē hys kingdome cōmeth we are after a sort partakers therof yet notwitstādinge oure duetye is at suche tyme as we aske and desyre these thynges to haue onely regarde to hys honour without any consideration to our selues or to our owne commoditie and profit ¶ The minister By thy saying then though these .iii. first peticions are greatly profitable to vs yet we may not make them for anye other purpose but onely to desyre to haue God glorifyed honored ¶ The childe It is euen so and likewyse albeit the three first requestes be ordeyned to praye for thynges expedient and necessary for vs yet euen in them also we ought most earnestly to seeke goddes honor so that it must be the chief ende and marke wherunto all our wisshinges and desyres be dyrrected ¶ The minister Sonday 38 Let vs come now to the exposicion of it and before that we proceade any farther wherfore is god named here our father rather thenby some other name ¶ The childe Since in time of prayer speciallye we oughte to haue a strong confydence and a stedfaste assureaunce of Goddes fauour in our consciences In what sence we call God father it pleaseth God to be called of vs by a name whiche soundeth nothing but al swetenes boūtye and mercifulnes thereby to dryue away all doubtfulnes and feare and to make vs conceyue a bolde courage to come familyarelye into hys presence ¶ The minister Maye we then come boldlye and familiarely vnto god euen as a childe may vnto hys father ¶ The childe Yea and with a great deale more assured confidence to obteyne whatsoeuer we shall desyer for if we being euyll Mat. 7. cannot chose but geue vnto our children bread meate whē they aske it howe muche lesse can our heauenlye father refuse to geue vs such thinges as we haue neede of since he is not alonelye good but the very souerain goodnes it selfe ¶ The minister May we not proue sufficientlye by thys that God is named our father the same thing which we affyrmed touchyng Christe that our prayer ought to be grounded vpon sure trust in his merites intercession ¶ The childe Yes certainely for god doth acknowledge vs no otherwyse to be hys chyldren but onelye insomuch as we be the membres of hys deare sonne ¶ The minister Wherefore doest thou not rather call God thy father than our father as it were in comon ¶ The childe why we call hym our father Euery faythful mā may right wel call God hys father particularelye but in thys forme of prayer our sauiour Christ doth teache vs to pray in common that we myght remembre therby the duety charitie whiche we owe to oure neyghboures in our prayers and to monishe vs not to care onelye for oure selues ¶ The minister What meaneth thys clause which art in heauen ¶ The childe It is asmuche to saye as to name hym hygh myghtye and of a maiestye incomprehensible ¶ The minister To what purpose serueth that ¶ The childe It serueth to thys ende that when we cal vpon him by prayer we myghte learne to lyfte vp our mindes to withdraw our imaginacyon from thynking any thyng of hym wordly or earthly that we shoulde not measure hym by our fleshly iudgement and so make hym subiect or appliable to our wil or appetyte but rather that we myght with all humblenes of mynde honour hys excellēte maiestye and also that we myght haue occasion to putte so much the more our trust assuredlye in hym consideryng that he is Lorde and maister of all ¶ The minister Sonday 39 Make an exposicion of the fyrst peticion ¶ The childe peti ∣ tion The first The name of god is hys honor renoume wherby he is sanctified and praysed amongest men therfore we desyre that his glory may be auaunced aboue al thinges euery where ¶ The minister Doest thou meane that thys hys glory may eyther increase or dymynyshe ¶ The childe No verelye in it selfe In what sence we wyshe the setting forth of gods glorye but the meanynge hereof is that it may be knowen as it ought to be and that all the woorkes whiche God doeth maye appeare vnto menne to be gloryous and worthy of high praise euen as they be in very deede so that he myght by al meanes be magnifyed ¶ The minister peti ∣ tion The second What doest thou meane in the seconde requeste by the kyngdome of God ¶ The childe Thys kyngdome consysteth pryncypallye in two poyntes wherin the kingdome of God consisteth that is to saye fyrste in that he guydeth and gouerneth hys elect through hys holye spiryte And agayn in that he destroyeth bryngeth to vtter shame confusion the wicked whiche wil not become subiectes to his kyngdome to the ende that it maye euidentlye appeare that there is no power hable to withstande hys incomparable myghte ¶ The minister What vnderstandest thou in praying that thys kyngdome may come ¶ The childe The meanyng is that it wil please god from daye to day to encrease the number of his faithful flocke The kingdome of Christe that he wil continually more and more shew furth hys fauour in bestowyng the gyftes of his holy spirite emong them vntil the time come in whiche they shal be fullye replenished that it may also please hym to cause the lyghte of hys trueth more more to shine amongest vs that he will in suche wyse make hys iustice to be knowen that the deuyll and hys kyngdome of darkenes maye come to vtter confusion and that all wickednesse may be cleane abolished rooted out ¶ The minister Is nor thys requeste perfourmed in thys worlde ¶ The childe It is partly fulfylled already The perfeict state of Christes kyngdome yet our duety is to desyre that it may be continually increased and that he wil auaunce styll and further hys kingdome vnto such tyme as it