God to keepe these Commaundements perfectly Schol. No truly but euen they that are most holie so long as they liue Maist Why then will haue his Lawe so exactly and so seuerely preached whereas there is no man in this life that is able to keepe it Scholl First that in our whole life we might the more acknowledge how forward our nature is to sinne and so much the more earnestly desire to obtaine mercie and Righteousnes in Christ Secondly that I be continually about this and daily more and more labour to obtaine the grace of the holy Ghost to the ende wée may euery day be more and more renued according to the Image of God vntill one day at length after wee are departed out of this life we attaine with ioy to that perfection which is set before vs. Mai Wherefore is Prayer necessary for Christians Schol Because it is the principall part of that thankfulnes which God requireth at our hands As also because the Lord bestoweth his grace and the holy Ghost vpon them alone who with true gronings doe continually begge those things at his handes and doe giue him thankes for the same Mai What things are required to that Prayer wherewith God is pleased and which he heareth and graunteth Schol That with true affection of hart wee aske of the true God alone who hath reuealed himselfe in his worde all things whatsoeuer he hath commanded vs to aske of him and that with an inward féeling of our owne needie and miserable estate wee humbly throwe our selues downe before the Maistie of God leaning vppon this strong foundation So that wée albeit vnworthy are vndoubtedly heard of God for Christs sake as he hath promised vnto vs in his word Maist What are those things which God commandeth vs to aske of him Schol All that is necessary for soule and bodie which our Lorde Iesus Christ hath comprised in that Prayer which hée himselfe hath taught vs. Maist What is that Prayer Scholl Our Father which art in Heauen hallowed bee thy Name thy Kingdome come thy will bee done in Earth as it is in Heauen Giue vs this day our daily Bread and forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs and leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill for thine is the Kingdome the power and the glorie for euer and euer Amen Ma Why doth Christ command vs after this maner to cal vpoÌ„ God Our Father Schol That euen in the very entrance of Prayer hee may stirre vp in vs a reuerence and trust in GOD conuenient for the Children of God which ought to be the ground-worke of our Prayer to wit that God for Christes sake is become our Father and will much lesse denie vnto vs those things that we aske of him by a true Faith then our Parents denie vs earthly benefites Maist Why is that added Which art in Heauen Scholl That we should be assured that since God is in Heauen and there ruleth ouer all whatsoeuer is fit for vs hée is able to prouide and from thence wée must looke for all good things for soule and bodie Maist What is the first petition Schol Hallowed be thy Name that is I pray first of all that we may know thée feare thée reuerence praise thée and set forth thy power wisâ—dome goodnes righteousnes and glory which shineth in all thy workes Secondly that thou wouldest so direct all our life thoughts words and déeds that thy most holy name be not reproched by our occasion but rather be honoured and magnified Ma What is the second petition Schol Thy kingdome come that is so gouerne vs by thy word and by thy spirit that we may be more and more subiect vnto thée preserue and encrease thy Church destroy the workes of the diuell and euery power that exalteth it selfe against thy Maiestie make voide all the counsells that are taken against thy word vntill at length thou doo fully and perfectly raigne when thou shalt be all in all Maist What is the third petition Schol Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen That is graunt that we and all men renouncing our owne wills may readily and without any delay or grudging do thine owne will while we desire that we may as cheerfully execute as the holy Angels doe in heauen Maist Which is the fourth petition Schol Giue vs this day our daily Bread That is that thou wouldest giue vs all things necessarie for this present life that thereby we may acknowledge that thou art the onely fountaine from whence all good things doe slowe and except thou giue the blessing all our care and trauell yea euen thine owne gifts will be vnprosperous and hurtfull vnto vs wherefore graunt that turning our affiance from all creatures we may set it vpon thee alone Maist What is the fift petition Schol Forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them 〈…〉 That is for the blood of Christ impute not vnto vs most miserable sinners all our sinnes and euen that corruption which as yet cleaueth vnto vs as we also feele this testimonie of thy fauour in our hearts that we haue a stediâ—st purpose from our heart and soule to forgiue all that haue iniuried wronged and offended vs. Maist What is the sixt petition Schol Le◠〈◊〉 vs not iâ—to temptation but de 〈…〉 That is forasmuch as we are of our selues feeble and weake that we cannot stand nâ— not a moment against our sworne enemies Sathan the world and the flesh which continually are tempting vs to euill it would please thee to strengthen vs with the power of thy spirit that we faint not in this spirituall combat but that we may so long stand against them all that at the last we obtaine a perfect victorie Maist How dost thou conclude thy prayer For thine is the Kingdome the power and glorie for euer Schol That is that wee aske all these things at thy handes because thou being our King and Almightie art willing and able to giue vs all things and these things wée therefore aske to the ende that by them all glorie may reâ—ound not vnto vs but vnto thy holie Name Maist What meaneth this last worde Amen Schol That the matter is certaine and not of doubt for my praier is much more certainely heard of God then I in mine owne heart do feele that I desire it perfect and absolutely with all the inward affection of my soule FINIS A prayer for the Morning O Heauenly Father which like a diligent watchman attendest alwaies vpon thy faithfull people whether they wake or sleepe mightily defendest them not onely from Sathan that old enemie of mankind but also from all other their aduersaries so that through thy godly power they be preserued harmelesse I most hartily thanke thee that it hath pleased thy fatherly goodnes so to take care of me thine vnprofitable seruant this night past that thou hast both safely kept me from all mine enemies and also giuen me sweete sleepe vnto the
THE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLE-MAISTER OR A DIALOGVE BEtweene the Maister and the Scholler By G. E. Minister of Gods word Prou. 22. 9. Instruct a Childe in the Trade of his way and when hee is olde he shall not depart from it LONDON Printed by Tho Creede and are to be sold by Wil. Barringer at his shop neere the great North doore of S. Pauls Church 1613. TO THE CHRISTIAN READER IT is the office and duetie of euery good childe that carefullie and studiouslie laboureth to obey follow his Fathers precepts and coÌ„mandements principally before all things to endeuour to know perfectly the nature and condition of his Fathers will whereof if he be ignorant many times in the same things hee iudgeth best and most pleasing hee most offendeth and incurreth greatest displeasure Euen so wee that be Subiects and Children to the great GOD and Almighty Creator of all that heauen and Earth containeth can doe nothing gratefull and acceptable vnto his Maiestie except we first know his good will pleasure towards vs concerning our duties in beliefe life and conuersation In the knowledge whereof that we might haue a setled foundation and familiar education this ensuing Catâ—â—â—iâ—me is collected and gathered from the Sacred Worde and will of Almightie God contained in the Olde and Newe Testament The commandement of God to teach and instruct children in religion is general pertaineth to all men of euery age time and therefore as well vnto vs as to the Iewes it is saide Teach 〈…〉 like of them when thou art in thine house as thou walkest by the waâ— when thou liâ—st downe when thou risest vp Deut. 11. 19. Wherevpon â— Paule saith And you Fathers prouoke not your Children to wrath but bring them vp in Instruction and Information in the Lorde Ephes 6. 4. There is but one and the same corruption of nature and our Children are as well conceiued borne in sinne as the childreÌ„ of our forefathers which corruption must be reformed by carefull and diligent instruction and long custome euen from tender yeares and this especially is required in the children of the Faithfull and beleeuers who seeing they belong to Gods Church and our Sauiour Christ commanded them to be brought vnto him It were a most heynous fault and odious shame if they should bee found vntaught ignorant of the doctrine of Christ and his Church Therfore Salomon most wisely counselleth in the 12. of his Prouerbs Instruct a Child in the trade of his way and when hee is olde he shall not depart from it That is If you would haue him leade his life godlie iustly honestlie and vertuously you must instruct him when he is young in all those things which belong to the seruice of God to the societie of men and to all speciall duties Consecrate vnto mee saith the Lorde euery one that first openeth the Wombe amongst the children of Israell Exod. 13. By which Ceremonie God did not onely call to their remembrance the benefit long before shewed their Fathers in Aegypt thereby confirme them in the Faith of Redemption that was to come but also put them in minde of their dutie that they ought to coÌ„secrate vnto him whatsoeuer was most pretious euen their Children especially For though all were not admitted to the Priest-hoode yet all were to bee instructed in the knowledge of God and though the outward Ceremonie therof together with the rest be abolished in Christ yet the commandement remaineth whereby wee are euen at this day bounde to the like holie presentation of their soules For the performance of this did the mother of Samuel voluntarilie binde her selfe vnto God saying If thou wilt giue vnto thy Handmaide a man childe then will I giue him vnto the Lorde all the dayes of his life 1. Sam. 1. 11. This did Ioseph and Marie diligently obserue towards CHRIST whome both according as it is written in the Law of the Lorde they brought him to Ierusalem to present and when hee was come to the Age of twelue yeaes they caried him thither for the seruice of God The better part of man is the soule which cannot bee redeemed with the substance of the whole worlde Are not they then most foolish and very indiscreete in their proceedings who straine themseluâ—â— to prouide for their children things pertaining to the body and the honours of this worlde in the meane time beeing vtterly carelesse whether they haue anie true knowledge of God whether they bee ioyned to him by Faith whether they know wherein consisteth the saluation of their soules and the euerlasting happines of man Abraham and the rest of the holie Fathers were farre wiser then these men whose speciall care was this to haue their Children instructed in the knowledge and feare of God for they knewe that godlines was the greatest gaine of all For these causes then the necessitie of godlie Instruction doeth appeare and to that ende this ensuing Treatise is collected wherein is layde open and expounded the Morall Lawe and the vse thereof out of which a man may knowe his owne wretched estate and his debt wherein hee standeth bounde vnto God that so hee may truely humble himselfe before him and earnestly bethinke himselfe how he may be deliuered from sinne and the punishment thereof and from the wrath of God and from the curse In the nexte place is Expounded the Creede that 〈◊〉 the doctrine of mans deliuerance from miserie by CHRIST of the person and Office of Christ of Iustification by Faith of the Sacraments of the Keyes of the Church and vse of them of true Repentance of good workâ—s and the necessitie of them for the true seruice of God Of the thankfulnes wee owe vnto God Of the insufficiencie of man in this life to fulfill the Lawe of God Last of all the sense and meaning of the Lordes Prayer This for the glorie praise and honour of the diuine Maiestie and the benefite profite happines and saluation of thy Soule Farewell In Christ Iesus THE CHRIStian Schoole-maister Maister VVHat is the only true comfort of a Christian in this life Scholler That in soule and body whether I liue or die I am not mine owne but I belong vnto my faithfull Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ who by his pretious blood most fully satisfying for all my sinnes hath deliuered me from the whole power of the diuell and doth so pâ—â—serue me that without the will of my heauenly Father not so much as a haire can fall from my head yea and all things are made to serue for my saluation wherefore he doth also assure me by his spirit of euerlasting life and maketh me forward and readie from henceforth to liue vnto him Maister How many things are needfull for thee to know to the end thou enioying this comfort maist liue die a happieman Scholler Thrée things First what is the greatnes of my sinne Secondly by what meanes I may be deliuered from my sinne and miserie And thirdly what thankfulnes
I doe owe vnto God for that deliuerance Ma How doest thou know thine owne miserie Scho By the law of God Ma What doth the law of God require of vs Schol That doth our Sauiour teach vs in the 2â— of Matt Thou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy soule and with all thy minde This is the first and greatest commandement and the second is like vnto this Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe On these two commandements hangeth the whole law and the prophets Ma. Art thou able to â—â—epe all tehse things perfectly Schol. In no wise for by nature I am prone to the hatred of God and my neighbour Ma Did God then make man so bad and corrupt Schol No truely God created him good and according to his owne Image that is endewed him with true righteousnes and holines that he might rightly know God his Creator loue him with all his heart and liue in blessednes with him for euer Ma From whence then ariseth this corruption of mans nature Schol From the fall and disobedience of our first parents Adam and Eue in Paradice where our nature was so corrupted that we are all conceiued and borne in sinne Ma But are we so corrupt that we are not at all fit to doe well but apt vnto all euill Schol Yea truely vnlesse we be regenerate by the holy Ghost Ma Doth not God then deale Iniuriously with man when he requireth that of him in his law which he is not able to performe Schol Not at all for God so created man that he was able to performe it but man inticed by the diuell by his owne disobedience depriued himselfe and all his posteritie of those gifts of God Ma What then will God let goe this disobedience and backsliding of man without punishment Schol No surely but he is most grieuously angry both with our naturall sinnes and with those sinnes which we our selues do commit and doth punish the same in most iust iudgement both with temporall and Eternall punishments euen as himselfe prenounceth Cursed is euery one who continueth not in all things that are written in the booke of the law to do them Ma What is not God mercifull also Schol Yes truely he is mercifull but so also he is iust Therefore his iustice requireth to haue that punished with euerlasting punishment of soule and body whatsoeuer is committed against the maiestie of so soueraigne and almightie a God Ma Seeing then we are by the iust iudgment of God in danger of temporall and euerlasting punishment Is there any way or meanes left whereby we may be deliuered from these punishments and be reconciled to God Schol God will haue his Iustice satisfied wherâ—â—ore we must néedes make satisfaction either by our selues or some other Ma Are we able to satisfie by our selues Schol Not one whit but rather daily do encrease our debt Ma Can any creature in heauen or in earth make satisfaction for vs Schol None at all for first God will not punish any other creature for that sinne that man hath committed Secondly that which is but an onely creature is not able to endure the wrath of God against sinne and to deliuer others from it Ma Then what manner of mediator and deliuerer must we seeke for Schol Such a one as is true man and perfectly iust and yet notwithstanding more mightie then al creatures that is one who is also true God Ma Wherefore must he needs be true man and perfectly iust Schol Because the iustice of God requireth that the same nature of man which sinned should also pay the punishment of sinne but he that were a sinner himselfe could not pay for other men Ma Wherefore ought he also to be true God Schol That by the power of his Godhead he might be able to sustaine the burthen of Gods wrath in his flesh and to recouer and restore vnto vs the righteousnes and life that we had lost Ma But who is that mediator which is both true God and true perfect man Schol Our Lord Iesus Christ who is made vnto vs of God wisedome righteousnes satisfaction and perfect redemption Ma Whereby knowest thou this Schol By the Gospell which God first reuealed in Paradice and afterwards did publish by the Patriarkes and Prophets shadowed out in Sacrifices and Ceremonies and last of all accomplished by his onely begotten sonne Ma Is saluation then restored by Christ to all men that perished in Adam Schol No not to all but onely to those who are ingrafted into him by true faith and do lay hold vpon all his benefites Ma What is true faith Schol It is not onely a knowledge by which I do stedfastly assent vnto all things which God hath reuealed vnto vs in his word but also an assured affiance and trust kindled in my heart by the holy Ghost through the Gospell by which I rest vpon God making sure account that forgiuenes of sinnes euerlasting righteousnes and life is bestowed not onely vpon others but also vpon me and that freely by the mercy of God for the merit and desert of Christ alone Maister What are those things which a Christian man must of necessitie beleeue Schol All those things which are promised vnto vs in the Gospell the sum whereof is briefly comprised in the Apostles Creeds or in the chiefs heads of the Catholike and vndoubted faith of all Christians Maist What is that Creed of the Apostles 1. I beleeue in God the father almightie maker of heauen and earth 2. And in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne our Lord. 3. Which was conceiued of the holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Mary 4. Suffered vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried descended into Hell 5. Rose againe the third aay from the dead 6. And ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the father almightie 7. From thence he shall come to Iudge the quicke and the dead 8. I beleeue in the holy Ghost 9. I beleeue the holy Catholike Church the communion of Saints 10. I beleeue the forgiuenes of sinnes 11. The resurrection of the flesh 12. And the life Euerlasting Maist Into how many parts is the Creed diuided Schol Into thrée parts The first is of the euerlasting Father and of our Creation The second is of the Sonne and of our Redemption The third is of the holy Ghost and our Sanctification Maist Seeing there is but one onely substance of God why doest thou name those three the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost Schol Because God hath so reuealed himselfe in his word that these thrée distinct persons are one true and euerliuing God Maist What beleeuest thou when thou saist I Beleeue in God the Father Almightie Schol I beléeue the euerlasting Father of our Lord Iesus Christ who created of nothing the heauen and the earth and all things that are therein and doth vphold and gouerne the same by his euerlasting counsell and prouidence to
be by the meanes of Christ â—ay God and my father therefore I so trust in him and so repose my selfe vpon him That I doubt not but he will prouide all things necessarie both for my soule and for my body And moreouer also that what soeucr euill he sendeth vpon me in this miserable life he will turne the same vnto my saluation seeing he is both able to do it as being God Almightie and willing to do it as being my mercifull father Maist What is prouidence Schol The Almightie and euerie where present power of God whereby he doth as it were beare vp with his hand and gouerne the heauen and earth with all creatures So that whatsoeuer groweth out of the Earth as also Rayne and drouth Plentie and dearth meate and drinke health and sicknes Riches and pouertie Finally all things that are fall out not rashly or by chance and fortune but by his Fatherly counsell and will Maist What profit haue we by this knowledge of the creation prouidence of God Schol Hereby we are in aduersitie made patient in prosperity thankfull for the time to come we haue a good hope reposed in GOD our most trustie Father knowing assuredly that nothing can drawe vs from his loue séeing all Creatures are so in his power that without his pleasure they are not able not onely not to doo any thing but not so much as to stirre or haue motion Maist Wherefore is the Sonne of GOD called IESVS that is a 〈◊〉 Scholl Because he saueth and deliuereth vs from all sinnes neither ought saluation to be sought for in any other neither can it elsewhere be sound Maist Do they belieue in the onely Sauiour Iesuâ— who seeke for happines from Saints or from themselues or from any thing else Scholl No for although in worde they glorie in him as a Sauiour yet in déede they denie the onely Sauiour Iesus Christ for it must néedes be that either Iesus is not a perfect Sauiour or else that whosoeuer by true Faith imbrace him as a Sauiour they also are possessed of all things in him which are required vnto saluation Maist Wherfore is he called Christ that is Annoynted Scholl Because he is ordained of the Father annointed with the holy Ghost to be the chiefe Prophet and teacher to reueale vnto vs the secret Counsell and will of the Father concerning our Redemption and to be our high and onely Priest to redéeme vs by the onely sacrifice of his owne bodie daily to make intercession vnto the Father for vs and to be the Euerlasting King to gouerne vs by his word and with his spirit and to preserue and maintaine that saluation which he hath purchased for vs. Maist Why art thou called a Christian Scdoll Because by Faith I am a member of Christ Iesus and partaker of his anointing so that I both confesse his Name and present my selfe vnto him a liuely offering of thanksgiuing and in this life with a frée and good conscience fight against sinne Sathan and after this life to possesse with Christ an euerlasting Kingdome ouer all creatures Maist For what cause is Christ called the onely begotten Sonne of God whereas we also are the Sonnes of God Schol Because Christ is the Eternall and naturall Sonne of his Eternall Father but we for his sake by grace are made the Sonnes of the Father by adoption Mai Wherefore doest thou call him our Lord Schol Because he hath redéemed our bodies and soules from sinne not with gold nor with siluer but with his owne pretious blood and hauing deliuered vs from all power of the diuell doth challenge vs properly to belong vnto himselfe Maist What doest thou beleeue when thou saist He was conceiued by the holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Mary Schol That the very Sonne of God who is and abideth true and euerlasting God did through the working of the holy Ghost take the very true nature of man of the flesh and blood of the Virgin Mary so that he is also the true séede of Dauid like vnto his brethren in all things sinne onely excepted Maist What fruit reapest thou by the holy conception and birth of Christ Schol That he is our Mediator and by his Innocencie and perfect holines doth couer my sinnes wherein I am conceiued and kéepeth them from comming in the sight of God Maist What beleeuest thou when thou saist He suffered Schol That in the whole time of his life which he continued heere vpon earth but especially in the end thereof he sustained both in body and soule the wonderfull paine and griefe of God for the sin of all mankind that by his suffering as by the only sacrifice of reconciliation he might both deliuer our soules from euerlasting condemnation and might also purchase for vs the fauour of God righteousnes and euerlasting life Maist What reason was there why hee suffered vnder Iudgâ— Pilate Schol That he an Innocent being condemned before a ciuill Iudge might set vs frée from the straight iudgment of God which was to fall vpon vs. Maist Is it any more that he was fastned to the crosse then if he had bene put to any other kind of death Schol Yea truly it is more for by this I am sure that he hath taken vpon him the curse which did hang ouer me for the death of the crosse was cursed by God Maist Why was it necessarie that Christ should humble himselfe vnto the death Schol Because the iustice and truth of God could by no other meanes be satisfied for our sinnes but by the death of the Sonne of God Maist Wherefore was he also buried Schol That he might thereby make it knowne that he was truly dead Maist But seeing Christ died for vs why must we also die Schol Our death is not a satisfaction for our sinnes but an vtter destroying of sinne and a passage into euerlasting life Maist What profit receiue we further by the sacrifice and death of Christ Schol That by the power of his death our old man is crucified together with him and is also dead and buried that the euill concupiscences and desires of the flesh may not hereafter raigne in vs but that we may offer our selues vnto him a sacrifice of thanksgiuing Maist Why is this added he descended into Hell Schol That in my greatest sorrowes and most grieuous temptations I may vphold my selfe with this comfort that my L. Iesus Christ hath deliuered me from the anguish and torments of Hell Maist What doeth Christs rising againe profit vs Schol First by his rising againe he hath ouercome death that he might make vs partakers of that righteousnes which he purchased by his death Secondly we also now by the power thereof are raised vp vnto a new life Last of all the rising againe of Christ our head is a pledge vnto vs of our glorious resurrection Mâ—ist How dost thou vnderstand that he ascended into Heauen Schol That in the sight of his Disciples Christ was taken vp from earth to heauen
and is yet there for vs and shall be till he come againe to iudge the quicke and the dead Maist What then is not Christ with vs as he promised vnto the end of the world Schol Christ is true God and true man therefore according to his manhood he is not now vpon earth but according to his Godhead his grace and his spirit is at no time from vs. Maist Are not the two natures of Christ by this meanes pulled asunder if the manhead be not wheresoeuer the God-head is Schol Not a whit for séeing the Godhead cannot be contained in any compasse and is present in all places it followeth necessarily that it is without the nature of man which it hath taken and yet neuertheles is in it also and remaineth personally vnited vnto it Ma What fruit doth Christs ascention into heauen bring vs Schol First that he maketh intercession in heauen vnto his Father for vs. Secondly that we haue our flesh in heauen whereby is a certaine Pledge we may be assured that hoe who is our Head will lift vp vnto him vs that are his members Thirdly that he sendeth vnto vs his Spirite as a Pledge betwéene vs by the working whereof we séeke not things on Earth but things that are aboue where hee sitteth on the Right hand of GOD. Mâ—ist Why is it added Hee sitteth on the Right hand of God Schol Because Christ did therefore ascend into heauen that he might there declare himselfe the head of his Church by which his Father gouerneth all things Mâ—i What doth this glorie of Christ our Head auaile vs Schol First that by the holie Ghost he powreth vppon vs his members heauenly gifts and then that by his power hee doth protect and defend vs against all enemies Maist What comfort doeth Christs comming againe to Iudge the quicke and deade bring thee Scholl That in all miseries and persecutions I lifte vp my head and waite for him who did before stand in my stead before Gods Iudgement seate and did take away all curse from me to come from heauen as a Iudge to throw all his and mine enemies into euerlasting paines and to receiue mee with all the Elect vnto himselfe into heauenly ioyes and euerlasting glorie Maist What belieuest thou of the Holie Ghost Scholl First that hée is true GOD and coeternall with the euerlasting Father the Sonne then that hée is also giuen to me that through Faith hee may make me partaker of Christ and all his benefites may comfort me and abide with me for euer Maist What belieuest thou of the holy Catholike Church of Christâ— Scholl I belieue that the Sonne of God doth by his Spirit and by the Word gather vnto himselfe out of all mankinde from the beginning of the world vnto the ende a congregation chosen vnto euerlasting life agréeing in true Faith and doth maintaine the same and preserue it and that I am a liuely member of that congregation and shall so for euer abide Maist What meaneth the Communion of Saints Schol First that all and euery one of she beléeuers haue fellowship with Christ and all his benefits as being members of him Secondly that euery one who hath receiued gifts ought to imploy them readily and chearefully for the common profit a nd saluation of all Mâ—ist What beleeuest thou concerning forgiuenes of sinnes Schol I beleeue that God for the satisfaction of Christ hath quite put out of his remembrance all my sinnes and euen that corruption also wherewith I must striue all my life long and doth fréely giue vnto me the righteousnes of Christ so that I shall neuer come into iudgement Mâ—â—st What comfort doth the resurrection of the flesh minister vnto thee Schol Not onely that my soule shall straight way after it is departed out of the body be taken vp vnto Christ the head thereof but that this flesh of mine also being raised vp by the power of Christ shall be vnited againe to my soule and shall be made conformable vnto the glorious body of Christ Maist What comfort receiuest thou by the Article of Euerlasting life Schol That because in this present life I feele the beginning of euerlasting ioy in my heart I shall after this life enioy full and perfect blessednes wherein I shall praise God for euer which blessednes neither eye hath seene nor eare hath heard nor any heart of man can conceiue Maist When thou beleeuest all these things what benefit commeth to thee thereby Schol That in Christ I am righteous before God and heire of life Euerlasting Maâ—st How art thou righteous before God Schol By faith alone in Iesus Christ so that although mine owne conscience doe accuse me that I haue most grieuously offended against all the commandements of God and haue not kept any one of them moreouer also that I am prone to all euill yet notwithstanding so that I do embrace these benefits with true affiance of mind without any merit of mine owne of the meere mercy of God the perfect satisfaction righteousnes and holines of Christ is imputed and giuen vnto me as if I had neither committed any sinne neither were there any blot or corruption cleauing vnto me Yea as if I had my selfe perfectly performed that obedience which Christ hath performed for me Maist Why doest thou say that thou art righteous by faith Schol Not because by the worthines of my faith I please God but because the onely satisfaction righteousnes holines of Christ is my righteousnes in the sight of God and I can lay hold vpon and apply the same vnto my selfe by no other meanes but by faith Maist Why cannot our good workes be righteousnes or any part of righteousnes in the sight of God Schol Because that righteousnes which is able to abide the iudgment of God must be most perfect and in all points agreeing with the law of God but our best workes that we do in this life are imperfect and euen defiled with sinnes Maist How sayest thou that our good workes deserue nothing whereas God promiseth that he wil giue vs a reward for them both in this life and in the life to come Schol That reward is giuen not of desert but grace Maist Doth not this doctrine make men secure and prophane Schol No for it cannot be but they who are ingrafted into Christ by faith should bring forth fruits of thankfulnes Maist Seeing then faith alone maketh vs partakers of Christ and all his benefits from whence proceedeth this faith Schol From the holy Ghost who by the preaching of the Gospel doth kindle the same in our hearts and doth confirme it by the vse of the Sacraments Maist What are Sacraments Schol They are holy and visible signes and soules ordained of God to this end that he might thereby more fully declare and seale vnto vs the promise of the Gospell to wit that he doth fréely giue forgiuenes of sinnes and life euerlasting not onely to all in generall but euen to euery one that beléeueth