euerlasting death is ouercome euerlastyng lyfe is purchessed Therefore in this sentēce also it is necessary that faith be not takē for the naked knoledg of the history but for the true trust of mercy which purchesseth remission of synnes and cōforteth our hertes and deliuereth vs frome feare and certifyeth vs of euerlastynge lyfe ☞ What then Is the knowledge of the historie to be wythdrawen from fayth No but it is necessary to beleue al the Articles of faith Yet it is not sufficyent to know the historye onely but the hystorye is to be referred vnto the finall cause whyche is the Crede that is to say I beleue remission of sinnes For this is the vse of the history That thou beleue Christ the son of God therefore to be borne in fleshe to haue suffered and risen vp againe that thou shuldest obtayne remissyon of synnes and euerlastyng lyfe ☞ What is the profession of the Christen fayeth ¶ Ther be thre Symboles Credes or professions of the Articles of oure fayeth the common crede of the Apostles that whiche was made in the counsell at Nicene And the thyrd of Athanasius ☞ Reherse the apostles Crede i. I beleue in God the father allmighti maker of heauē and earth ii And in Iesus Christ his onely son our Lorde iii. Which was cōceiued bi the holie gost borne of the vyrgyn Mari. iiii Suffered vnder ponce Pilat crucifyed dead and buried v. He descended into hel the third daye he rose from death vi He ascēded vnto heauen he sytteth at the right hande of god the father almyghty vii Frome these he shall come to iudg the quicke and the dead viii A beleue in the holy gost ix The holy catholike church the communion of Sayntes x. Remission of synnes xi Resurrection of the flesh xii And euerlastyng lyfe ☞ Saye the crede of the counsel at Nicenum ⧠I beleue in one god father al mightie maker of heauē earth al things visible vnuisible And in one lord Iesus christ the only be gotten son of god borne of hys father before the worlds god of god light of very light god of veri god begottē not made like in substāce vnto his father by whom he created althings Which for vs men and for our helth came downe frō heauen and is incarnate by the holie gost of the virgin Marye and made man crucified also vnder pōce Pilat suffered rose the .iii. day according to the scriptures he ascēded into heauen He sytteth at the ryght hand of god the father shal come againe with glorie to iudge the quick the dead whose kingdō is wtout end And in that holy gost the lord which giueth life which procedeth from the father the son which also wyth the father and the sonne is worshypped like glorified which hath spoken by the Prophetes And one holye catholike and apostolycal church I acknowledg one Baptysme in remission of synnes I loke for the resurrectiō of the deade the lyfe of the world to come So be it ¶ Say the crede of Athanasius ☞ Who so euer wil be saued before al thinges it is necessari that he kepe the general faith Which vnles euery man obserue perfecte and vndefyled he shall wtout doubt euerlastingly perish But this is the catholike fayeth that we worshipe one god in trinite and the Trinite in vnite Neyther confoundynge the persons nor seperatyng the substāce For the personne of the father is one of the son an other and of the holy gost an other But of the father and the sonne and the holy goste is one diuinitye equalle glorye lyke euerlastynge maiesty Lyke as their be not thre vncreated nor thre vnmeasurable but one vncreated and one vnmeasurable Likewise the father is almighty the son almyghtye and the holye goste almyghtye And yet be ther not thre almightyes but there is one almightye Euen so the father is god the son is god and the holy goost is god And yet be there not thre goddes but one god So the father is lorde the sonne is Lord and the holy gost is lord And yet be their not thre Lordes but ther is one Lorde For lyke as we be compelled by christen veritye to acknowledge euery persō one after an other to be god or Lorde so be we forbydden wyth catholyke religyon to saye that there be thre goddes or thre lordes The father is made of none other neither created nor yet begotten The son is of the father only not made nor created but begotten The holy gost is of the father and the son not made nor created nor begotten but procedyng Therfore ther is one father not .iii. fathers one son not iii. sonnes on holy gost not thre holy gostes And in thys trinite their is nothynge before nor after nothyng greater nor lesse But the whole thre personnes be like euerlastynge wyth their selfe and lyke equall So that in al thynges as it is nowe aboue sayde and that the trinity is to be worshipped in vnitie the vnity in the Trinitie Wherfore he whych wylbe saued let hym so iudge of the Trinitie But it is necessarye for euerlastyng health that he beleue faithfully also the incarnacion of our Lord Iesus Christ Therefore it is ryght faieth that we beleue and confesse that our lord Iesus Christe the son of god is god and man He is god of the substaunce of his father gotten before the worldes and he is mā of his mother borne in the world Perfect God and perfecte man of a reasonable soule and mans flesh subsistyng Equall vnto hys father accordynge vnto hys dyuynytye lesse then hys father accordynge vnto hys humanity Whiche althought he be god and mā yet be their not two but ther is one Christ But one not in conuersion of the godheade into flesh but in takeyng of manhead in god One altogither not in confusion of substaunce but in vnitye of personne For lyke as a reasonable soule and fleshe is one man so Christ is one God and man Whyche suffered for oure saluacion wente downe vnto hell and the thirde day rose from the dead He went vnto heauen sitteth at the right hande of god the father almyghty Frō thense he shal come to iudge the quicke and the deade Vnto whose commynge all men shall ryse wyth theyr bodies And they shall gyue a counte of their owne dedes And they whiche haue done well shall enter into euerlastinge lyfe but they whyche haue done euell into euerlastynge fyre This is the catholyke fayth whiche vnlesse euery man do faythfullye beleue he can not be saued ¶ Of God ☞ What is God GOd is a spirituall vnderstandinge substaunce the euerlastinge maker keper and defender of al thinges of one endles wysdome goodnes ryghtuousnes and mercy ☞ Shewe wytnes of the vnite of God ¶ Deut .vi. Heare Israell Thy Lord god is one Lord Esai xliiii I am the fyrste and the laste and besyde me is there no god And xlv I am god nor there
of Christ Also in the same places which nowe be shewed vnto you by theÌ„ which haue preached the Gospell vnto you the holy gost sent from heauen c. ¶ Actu ii out of Ioell I wyll poure out of my spirite vpon all fleshe Geare testifyeth he the holye goost whyche is poured oute not to be the person of the father and yet wheÌ„ he sayth Of my spirite he signifyeth that spirite to haue a godly nature ☞ Howe proueste thou that the holy gooste doth proced equally from the father the son ¶ Iohn .xiiii. the holye gooste whyche the father wyll sende in my name Then after sayeth Christe The holy goost whome I wyl sende you from my father Heare testifyeth he the holye gost to be sent as wel from the son as the father ¶ Of the creation ☞ What is the creation IT is the mankyng where wyth God created spirites and al bodelye natures of nothynge by hys worde for the kepeynge and preseruynge of them Gene. i. In the beginninge God created heauen and earth that is to saye all creatures In the begynnyng that is when their were as yet no creatures ☞ What is a creature ☞ It is all thys worckemaÌ„ship as well of spirites created as of other thinges and bodely natures for thys purpose made of God that they shoulde declare a God to be not alone to be playnly god but euerlastyng almyghty which can create gouerne and kepe althynges Whyche knowen God the creatour and keper myght be glorified and haue thanckes therfore ☞ Who doeth kepe thynges created ¶ In the article of creation we muste vnderstande the perpetual gouernynge vpholdynge and kepyng of thynges So that god hath not forsaken or departed from hys worckemanshippe like as the kerpender departeth from the howse whyche he hath made But God doeth alwaye gouerne vpholde kepe and defend the natures of thinges he doeth yerely make the earth plentiful he bringeth furth corne out of the earth he doth perpetually minister vnto thynges haueynge lyfe lyfe and motion Act. xviii In him do we lyue moue and haue oure beynge Colos i. All thynges consiste in hym All thynges loke forthe that thou may giue theÌ„ meat in due seasoÌ„ Psal xxxv O Lorde thou shalt saue man and beast ☞ Howe is God knowen in hys creatures as creator of thynges ☞ The vniuersall generalnes of thynge is a certayne sacramente and wytnesse that there is a god that he is good iuste wyse Also the mouynges of the elementes and heauenly bodies sunne mone and sterres by certayne courses from tyme to tyme preseruacyon of the kyndes of all thynges doth sufficieÌ„tly declare the world and natures of thynges not to haue their being by chaunce but to be created with the assured counsell of God to be ruled and preserued Moreouer the soules of menne be the Images and as it were glasses wherin the godhead doeth appeare wherin we ought to marke and behold the godhead Also the polityke felowshyppe of mankynde declareth manyfestely the presence of God We se also quellers and tirantes to be violently drawen vnto punishment by the certayne counsell of God ☞ Howe oughte the thynges created to be vsed ⧠It is greate godlynes so to vse thinges created that by them we maye glorifye God and declare and set furthe hys goodnes and presence giue thankes and prayse vnto hym therefore And they which do not this be very Epicures but rather godles persoÌ„nes ¶ Of the strength and power of man or of fre wyl ☞ What is fre wyll IT is the wyll aggreinge with reasone For in manne be these two Reasonne or the mynde whyche iudgeth and wyl which either obeieth or resisteth the iudgemente and ruleth the inferior powres that is to saye the affeccyons of senses or wittes ☞ Nowe is it to be axed howe oure wyll is fre and howe it can obeye the lawe of God Of thys question can no Iudgement be gyuen vnlesse we coÌ„sidre the greatenes of originall sinne Also vnlesse we knowe that the lawe of God doeth not onelye require outward ciuile workes but perpetuall perfect obedience of the whole nature For if the nature of maÌ„ were not corrupted with synne it shoulde haue more assured and manifeste knoweledge of God it shoulde not doubte of the wyll of God it shoulde haue true feare true truste to be shorte it should performe and accomplishe perfecte obedience vnto the lawe that is to saye in oure nature shoulde all motyons be agreable wyth the lawe of God euen lyke as it is in godlye angelles But nowe is the nature of man oppressed wyth the original sickenes it is full of doubtynge and dispaire of blyndenes of errous nor it doeth not truely fear God nor put confidence in hym To conclude it is â—all of vitiouse affections ☞ Consideryng thys infirmity and weakenes if is to be enquired howe muche mannes wyll can accomplishe I answere seing there is in the nature of maÌ„ a certaine choise of thynges whyche be set before reason or the sences and out warde ciuyle workes mans wyll maye by it owne powre wythout renuynge in a maner do the outward worckes of the lawe This grauÌ„t the Philosophers and holye scripture also For the scripture teacheth that there is a certayne fleshly rightuousnes and certayne workes of the lawe euen in them whych be not renued But this liberty is oft ouercome wyth naturall infirmitye and hyndered also ofte by the deuel For when nature is full of euyll affectyons men obey for the most parte desires and iustes not wyth ryght iudgement as Medea sayth in the poete I se better thinges and alow theÌ„ to be good yet folowe I theÌ„ which be worsse ii The gospell teacheth one horible corruptyon to be in nature whych resysteth and stryueth agaynste the lawe of God that is to saye it worketh so that we can not gyue true obedyence But thys corruption can nature not take awaye lyke as it can not auoyde death but rather there is so great blyndnes of nature that we can not perceyue the saide corruption therfore also can we not marke how greate the infirmity of mans powr is whych if we could perceyue then at length shoulde we vnderstande that man is not able to satisfye the lawe of God ☞ Wherefore then can men not satisfy the lawe of god ⧠The wyl of man wythout the holy goste cannot make spiritual affections whych God requireth that is to saye the true feare of god the trust of mercy sufferauÌ„ce aduersitye loue of God and lyke motions ☞ Shew scripture ☞ Rom. viii They whiche be led wyth the spirite of god they be the chylder of god Also if any maÌ„ haue not the spirite of Christe he is none of hys i. Corinthy ii All naturall men perceyue not those thynges whyche be of the spirite of God Iohn .iii. vnlesse a man be renued by water and the holy gost he can not enter into the kyngdome of god Also no man can come vnto me vnlesse my father drawe hym Also they
thefte murder adultrye c. because we bee not worthie to obei god What housefather cōmaūdinge his seruāte to do a lawful worke would receiue such an excuse if he shuld answere that he were not worthie to obei him What is the seconde ⧠The promesse of God whiche testyfyethe that oure prayes bee hearde Iohn .xvi. I saye verilye vnto you what so euer ye shall axe my father in my name he wyl gyue it you And Luke .xi. Howe muche more wyll your father which is in heauen gyue the holy goste vnto them which desire hym Taulerus sayethe that the herte of man can neuer be so desirous to take but God is muche more desirous to gyue For he is true and kepeth his promise ☞ What is the thirde ☞ Fayethe that is to saye that we beleue oure synnes to bee forgiuen vs and oure prayers acceptable vnto god and that they bee heard for Christes sake and not to be in vayne but either to purches deliueraunce frome the presente perell or mytgatynge or some oher good thynge In presente pells we must make thys condition If it do not displease god if he iudge that it be profitable for vs like as Dauid did .ii. of the kynges xv If I cā fynd grace in the eyes of the Lorde he wyll brynge me agayne But if he shall saye I am not contente wyth the I am redye let hym do as he thynkethe good So the leper Math viii Lord if thou wylt thou cast make me cleane And Christ sayeth Father if it be possible lette thys cup passe from me neuer the lesse not as I wyll c. Therfore we ought not to prescribe vnto God the maner nor yet the tyme of oure delyuerance but lyke as Paulle sayethe That God doeth more for vs then we either desire or vnderstande More ouer oure fayeth muste not waxe faynte whē those thynges which we axe be not by and by graunted as thoughe God woulde not heare oure prayers but we muste knowe that oure fayethe is exercised wyth suche prolongynge Lyke as God dyd promise a sonne vnto Abraham yet he prouokeinge Abrahames fayeth woulde not fulfill hys promesse vntill his extreme age ☞ What is the fourth ☞ The thynge whiche is axed For oure prayer oughte not to be a vayne blatterynge But wee must either axe something of god or eles giue him thankes for some benifit receyued ☞ What is to be axed of hym ☞ The Scripture doethe commaunde vs to axe spirituall and bodily benefites priuate thynges and common thinges whyche be presente and those whyche bee to come Also we be commaunded to praye for the church that it maye be deliuered frome errours vngodlynes and from euell examples that thereby mo maye obeye the Gospell and so be saued Paul cōmaundeth vs to praye for kynges and rulers that God maye graunt vs peace Also we be commaunded to praye for our liuyng and other bodily necessaries Like as the prayer of the Lorde doeth conteyne al these Of the lordes prayer ☞ What is the praier of the Lorde ¶ It is a brief forme of praying whiche Christe taught his disciples and all fayethfull men Mathew .vi. Whē ye praye saye thus OVre father whiche arte in heauen Halowed be thy name Thi kingdome come Thy wyll be done in earth as it is in heauen Gyue vs thys daye oure dayely breade And forgyue vs oure trespases as we forgiue them that trespasse agaynste vs. And leade vs not into temptaciō But deliuer vs frō euel So be it The preface is the title For we call god oure father dwellinge in heauen wher we loke for no earthly heritage but for heauēly Ioyes and euerlastynge lyfe The firste peticion praeth for the glory of God for the doctryne and goinge forthe of the gospell that is to saye that the name of god maye be declared sete fourthe and praysed among al people For it is greate vngodlines that the name and honour of oure workes and creatures shoulde bee preferred before the glory of god The second peticion prayeth for the vertue of the gospell and for oure gouernance that is to saye that God woulde witsaffe to begynne hys kyngdome amonge vs bye the vertue of the holye gooste And that the kyngdome of the deuel may be cōfounded and broken The third peticion prayeth that here in erath al pastours Rulars and subiectes may do that whiche is acceptable vnto god Lyke as the Angels in heauen do neuer resist hys wyll These three peticions belonge vnto the glory of god these which folowe doe declare oure wrechednes and miseries The fourth praieth for oure liuinge peace defendinge agaynste oure aduersaryes good fortune in doinge oure busines bringing vp of childer to be shorte all commodites belongynge to thys present lyfe necessarye as wel for the soule as the body The first peticiō prayeth that oure synnes maye be forgyuen vs and that to be certayne if we wyl forgyue other For to the intente we should certaynely knowe that God wyll forgyue vs he settethe thys worke before vs that is to saye that we forgeue thē whyche do faute vnto vs Wherfore thys peticion teacheth that in euerye prayer we oughte to haue fayeth of remyssion of synnes and that wee muste take Christe for oure mediator The sixte peticion prayeth that wee be not drawen bye the crafte and subtelti of the deuel vnto vngodlynes and other mischife leste at the lengthe wee taken in suche trappes maye fall into desperaciō The seuenth peticion prayeth for the deliueraunce from synne and wretchydnes frome the myseryees of thys presente lyfe and that euerlastynge lyfe and rightuousnes may be giuen vs. The conclusion Amen is a certificacion of the herte and conscience that we shoulde beleue vs to be heard of the father ¶ Of the office of Rulers ☞ What is the office of Rulers IT is a godli ordināce ordeined of god for kepynge of good order and peace to punishe euell doares and saue them which be innocentes wher vnto obedience is dewe not onely for the auoidinge of their oth but also for consciēce Or more briefly so It is euerye lawefull power ordeined amonge men by god for the mayntenaunce of the good and the punishemente of the euell and to iudge accordyng vnto ryght and equalnes Rom. viii ⧠What is a tiraunt He is an euell and vnequalle officer whiche ruleth not accordynge vnto the lawes but after hys owne vnright desires and malice ☞ Is the office of rulers grounded vpon holy scripture or no Yes verely As wel in the olde as newe testament Gene. viii Who so euer shall shede mans bloude his bloude shal be also shede And Exod. xxi If anye man doe purposely kyll hys neyghboure thou shalt pull hym from myne altare that he may dye Rome .xiii. Let euerye soule be obediēt vnto the superiour power for there is no power but it is of God c. i. Peter .ii. Be ye subiecte vnto all rulars which be created amonge men for the loue of god either vnto the kynge as
ought to vse our selfe toward our neighbour ☞ Resite the ten commaundementes THou shalt haue no straing gods before me Thou shalte not take the name of God thy Lorde in vayne Remēber that thou sanctyfye the sabboth daie Honour thy father and mother that thou maye haue longe lyfe vpon the earth Thou shalte not kyl Thou shalt not cōmitte adultry Thou shalt not steale Thou shalt not speake false wytnes against thy neighbour Thou shalt not desire thy neyghbours house Thou shalte not desire hys wyfe his seruaūt his hādmaid his oxe his asse or any other thing of hys ¶ What do the preceptes commaūde vs The firste commaundeth the inwarde worshippe of God that is to saye the true and perfecte feare the true and perfecte fayth and the perfect loue of god The seconde commaundeth the outwarde worshyppe the vse of the name of god that is to say inuocacion thankes gyuynge preachinge of the word of god and cōfessiō these be sacrifices of prayse The thyrde commaundeth preaching of the word to be holyly obserued and ceremonies whiche be gyuen by god to be kepte for the minister sake that we giue some tyme to hearynge the worde and exercising by ceremonies The fourth cōmaūdeth obediēce towarde parentes officers and thys precept conteineth excellent vertues that is to saye diligence in obeyng doinge our vocaciō modestnes pitie toward our parētes the cōmō welth such like vertues The fyfte commaundeth to hurte no man it forbydeth desire of vengeaunce hatred enuy and suche lyke affections and it conteyneth many vertues that is to say iustice mekenes constaunce pacience and clemency ¶ The syxte alloweth mariage and commaundeth to absteyne frome whorhuntynge It conteyneth these vertues chastitye temperaunce continence sobriety and such lyke The seuenth defēdeth propriety of goods and commaundeth to absteine frō other mens goods It conteyneth sparynge liberality diligence and such lyke The eyght defendeth iudgementes and requireth the truch of couenaūtes and testymonyes The nynth and tenthe dooe gyue declaration vnto all the other preceptes that not onely externall factes are forbydden but also euel affections desires and that the cōscience is euer accused ☞ What be the iudiciall or polytyke lawes of Moyses ☞ Whyche commaunde of the rites of mariages of successions of punishynge of offenders and such other polityke thynges Those perteyn not vnto christen men vnlesse ther be some of them naturall as when mariage of aliance and kinfsolke is forbidden For reuerence of bloud oughte to be obserued amonge all people and at all tymes For the Cananites were destroied for vnlaufull lustes bycause they maryed theyr kynswomen ☞ Whiche be ceremoniall lawe ¶ Which commaund of the tēple rites of sacrifices which rites and customes dooe separate the Iues from the Gentiles Christen men be delyuered from these lawes Yet God wyll thys that wee vse at certayne tymes the ceremonyes whyche be commaunded vs of God and come togither vnto the preachynge of the worde for nothynge is more necessarye then the preachinge of the worde of God ¶ What is the effecte of goddes lawe and howe many offices be thereof ¶ Thre the firste the lawe doth constreine and plucke downe all menne wyth a certayne perfecte forme of liuynge Therefore saith Paulle The law is geuen for the vniust And agayne The lawe is a scholemaister vnto Christe For thys forme of good lyfe ordeyned and officers the doctryne of the lawe punishmente for mannes wretchednes etc. The seconde declareth syn accuseth affraieth condēneth our conscience whereupon Paule saieth By the lawe is knowledge of sinne Also the lawe worketh wrath Item By the lawe is sin excellētly giltye Item the pricke of death is sinne but the myghte of synne is the law The thyrd teacheth what workes be acceptable before god and commaundeth certayne workes wherein we maye exercise obedience toward god For althoughe we be fre frome the law in so muche as belongeth to iustification yet as concernynge our obedience the lawe remayneth For it is necessary that we being iustified by God obey him ☞ Maye a man by hys owne power fulfyll the law of God or no ¶ Nothynge lesse For the lawe of god is not satysfyed wyth our external workes as the papistes teach nor yet by the inward endeuour of oure wyll wtout fayth and the holye goost But Christ is the ende of the lawe that is to saye wythout Christ the lawe auaileth nothinge ☞ May a man be iustifyed by the lawe ¶ No for Paule wythdraweth iustification frome the lawe in thys corrupted nature For no-man satiffyeth the lawe wyth the powre of nature Therefore they whyche be not reconcyled wyth fayeth althoughe they fulfyl certayne workes of the lawe yet can thei not please god for thei be euer accused of the lawe and they remayne in doubt and desperatiō ⧠Wherefore then be Moyses lawes gyuē seinge they iustify not ☞ Therefore be they gyuen that the Israelytes should be knowen frō Gentyles vnto the preaching of Christe For god woulde segregate and deuid thys people from other nations that ther shoulde be a certayne kynde of people ▪ wherein Christe shoulde be borne and wherein the promises should be kepte and that ther should be certayne testimonies of the word of God therefore was thys people ledde out of Egypte wyth so many greate and wonderfull miracles Although then the Israelytes dyd not deserue remyssion of sinnes before god for kepynge of these lawes yet god dyd subiecte them vnto these lawes as vnto a schole maister as Paulle sayeth But they dyd obteyne remission of synnes by the truste of the mercy of god promised vnto them for Christes sake whyche was to come whome the gospell declareth nowe to be come ¶ Of the Gospel ¶ What is the Gospel IT is the preachynge of repentaunce and remission of sinnes and iustification whiche naturall reason can not perceyue but it is godly declared wherein god promyseth that he wyll forgyue synnes for Christe hys sonnes sake and pronownceth vs iustifyed that is to saye acceptable and gyueth vs the holye gooste and euerlastinge lyfe If we beleue onely that these do vndoubtedlye chaunce vnto vs for Christes sake ☞ What difference is betwene the law and the Gospell ¶ The lawe requireth perfecte obedience the true feare of God true beleue it affrayeth oure hertes and consciences it forgyueth not synnes for nothinge it pronownceth vs not rightuousse vnlesse we fulfyll the lawe And allthough it hath promises yet they require the condicion of the lawe fulfilled that is to saye He that doeth these shal lyue in them Item do thys and thou shalt lyue But the Gospel is the preachinge of repentaunce conteyning the promises of the benifites of Christe It comforteth the hertes which be affraied it forgiueth sinne for nothinge and pronounceth vs iustifyed although we do not fulfil the law ¶ Of promissions ☞ Howe manye promissions of the holye scripture be ther TWo some be added vnto the law and haue the condicion of the lawe that is to saye they