those things which the worde doth both suggerate and teach vs. S. With whom we must talke With whom must I confer talke F. With the learned godly and such as feare God S. Of what thing must we talke F. Of God of Gods worde of the kingdome of heauen S. How must I confer thereof F. In what sort we ought to talke of those matters Not arrogantly as they vse to do which endeauour to maintaine vaine arguments and friuolous questions but with all reuerence sobrietie wisdome and the feare of God S. How faith is fructified How is this faith fructified and made fruitfull both in my selfe and others F. Partly by godly examples partly by deuout praier religious meditatioÌ„s S. Whose examples must I place before me to be followed F. The holy examples of the faithfull whom it behoueth thée to follow and thereby also to exhibit thy selfe an example of godlinesse vnto others S. How is fayth fructified by prayer F. In thy selfe as fayth is furthered strengthened and made frutefull in thy hart in others as fayth is strengthened and propagated in them by thine holy life and religion to the glory of God S. Thus haue ye right wel instructed me in the one part of that seruice which God requireth namely faith now what say ye of the second point F. The second part of this seruice is obedience Obedience what it is S. What is that which ye cal obedience F. Obedience is that submission of the minde whereby a man yéeldeth himselfe to the worde will of him that coÌ„mandeth and doth without any contradiction performe the same to his powre obedience towards God is that submission whereby the faithfull minde gladly yéeldeth himselfe to the word and will of God and this is that new obedience which otherwise is called the fruit of righteousnesse or good works comaunded by the certaine and expresse worde of God wrought in them that be regenerated by the helpe of Gods spirit faith shining in their harts to this end that therein God may be glorified and our neighbour benefited and they are the testimonies of a true fayth S. Where are these works to be learned F. In that written word of God wherin they are prescribed is for our learning S. Then haue I throughly learned wherein this seruice of God consisteth Now teach me also the maner of this seruice I beseech you my father F. How we must serue God God béeing a spirit will be serued in spirite and truth S. How may that be F. In holinesse and righteousnesse euen before him without feare all the dayes of thy life S. Declare this more plainly I pray you F. It behooveth thée to serue God purely because he is pure iustly because he is iust that is with a faythfull hart and sound life that not onely before men but also before God himselfe and that not doubtingly nor negligently but constantly continually vnto thy liues end S. And is a man able in this sort to serue God F. He hath not of himselfe any power so to do A man hath not the power to serue God yet may well serue him by faith and yet is it possible that he may serue him S. How can that be F. By that liuely fayth whereby it pleaseth Christ to imparte vnto man his righteousnesse and sufficiencie and thereby granteth him to walke in his vocation S. But seeing I haue none habilitie of my selfe but that which enableth me must come from Christ by what meanes shall I obtayne it F. By a good faith as I haue before said but so that as faith is strengthened and fructified by praier so is obedience by inuocaâ—ion S. And doth the Lord command this to be done F. Yea Isa 44. Forget me not and the same we finde among other things included within this commaundement Forget me not S. How many things requireth the Lord by this F. Two the first wherof is this that knowing his goodnes towards vs our duty towards him we should neither ingratfully forget the one nor negligently omit the other To be thankfull to God but alwayes gratefully remember his goodnesse and serue him in our liues in holynes and righteousnesse the second is To craue helpe of God that we desire of him aide and things necessary for vs for the sake of Christ our sauiour and these two points are contayned in deuout prayer S. VVhat is that prayer F. Prayer what it is It is a part of diuine addoration wherin we haue both conuersation and familiar talke with God Or it is the same whereby the godly minde is turned vnto God with a certaine humble and spirituall affection or according to the words of our theme it is the same whereby the faithfull minde is humblie and feruently powred foorth vnto God either in praising him for his benefits receiued or in crauing of him those good things which are thought necessary for vs. S. To whom ought we to pray F. To whome we must pray To God in the Trinitie in the vnitie to God I say which is thrée one S. And may we turne our selues to none other in praier F. No indéed for in so doing we derogate from the Lord that which to him is due and giue it vniustly to another S. VVhat forme of prayer hath hee prescribed me F. That which Christ hath appointed vs for an example The forme of a ChristiaÌ„ prayer and hath commnded his Apostles and disciples with all dilligence to obserue S. Teach me to know that forme of praier F. When ye pray said our Lord Christ vnto them say yée Our Father which art in heauen The Lordes prayer hallowed be thy name thy kingdome come thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen giue vs this day our dayly bread and forgiue vs our tresspasses as we forgiue them that trespasse agaynst vs and leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill for thine is the kingdome the power and the glory for euer Amen S. VVhat do we in this prayer F. First The Sum of this prayer we lift vp our mindes to God with whome we haue familiar talke 2 Secondly we call and reuerently acknowledge him for our heauenly father 3 Thirdly we confesse his highest excellencie and power 4. Fourthly we prayse and glorifie his most holy name 5 Fiftly we desire the encrease of his supreame kingdome euery where both in our selues and others 6 Sixtly we relie wholy on his good will and pleasure 7 Seauenthly we craue of him such things as we want in this world both in bodie and soule 8 Eightly we humbly desire pardon of al our sinnes as we are ready to pardon them that offend agaynst vs. 9 Ninthly we beséeth him not to deliuer vs ouer into the hands of our deadly enemie the Diuell but to deliuer vs from his tyrannie 10 Tenthly we adde the reason that moueth vs to run vnto him with these our petitions the
Heuah and afterward Adam Gen. 3. S. But what is that to all other men F. The propagation of sin So effectuall that through Adam they be all dead infected with this hereditary maladie grafted in the nature of man to his destruction and eternall damnation were it not that Christ hath redéemed them whom his father had chosen S. The price of our redemption VVith what ransome did Christ redeeme me F. Not with gold or siluer or ny such like thing but with his owne precious bloud as of a Lambe vndefiled and without spot S. But thinke ye this ransome was sufficient to redeeme all the Lords elect F. Yea doubtlesse it is sufficient for them all S. How then was this applied to them of the olde Testament F. By the mercie of God who enabled them to beléeue in Christ then to come The Fathers of the old testament as we now beléeue in him béeing past S. Then the effect of his death was extended as well to them as to vs F. Yea therefore he is called a lambe slayne from the beginning of the world to be an effectuall sacrifice for all the elect S. And is not the death of Christ sufficient and effectuall vnto all F. We may not derogate from the death of Christ any thing of the sufficiencie or effect thereof for the same is both sufficient and effectuall vnto all though not to all alike S. Teach me this more plainely The sufficiency and efficacie of Christes death to all F. The death of Christ is sufficient and of power to redéeme all if al haue grace with fayth to apprehend his righteousnes his death is not onely effectuall to the chosen of the Lord to redáeeme them but also to the diuels reprobates and all the powers of darkenesse and children of perdition to condemne confound and vtterly to destroy them S. Thus haue I learned my father how the son of God hath redeemed me what say ye of Iustification the which ye did also properly attribute to Christ F. Iustification Iustification is that approbation of a man before God the father S. Wherof consisteth this Iustification F. Of the remission and putting away of sinnes and of the imputation of the righteousnesse and innocencie of Christ S. How is this applied vnto me F. It is applied vnto tháe of the méere loue and mercie of God in his sonne S. How must I apprehend the same F. By fayth onely which is the hand of the soule to accept such a benefit S. How the righteousnesse of Christ is made ours How hath he wrought this righteousnesse for me F. He satisfied for thy sinne which deserued death by his owne death hee iustified thée which had no merite by his owne iustice the which he declared in his resurrection from the deade Act. 13.38.39 S. What profit haue we by this F. As he was estéemed a sinner in that he bare our sinnes The vse of our iustification so are we estéemed righteous by the imputation of his righteousnesse vnto vs and as he died for our transgressions so doe we liue here and for euer through his righteousnesse S. Then is he no lesse worthy to be called a Sauiour to whom ye also ascribed the saluation of soules F. It is true Saluation and thereof is he rightly called Iesus Christ as he is both God and man neither is there any other name vnder the heauens in whom or by whom we be saued S. VVhat is signified by the name Iesus Iesus a Sauiour F. That he is a Sauiour S. VVhom hath he saued F. His people S. VVho be they F. The same whom the father hath chosen before and are rightly called the people of God as I sayd before S. From what doth he saue them F. From sin and the reward thereof S. What sin is What is that which ye call sinne F. That is called sinne whatsoeuer is not according to the law of God and thereof be two sortes namely originall and actuall sinne S. VVhat is that originall sinne F. Originall Originall sinne is that hereditarie desease which is descended from Adam as namely the ignorance of the minde the concupiscence of the flesh and the want of originall righteousnesse in the which sinne a man is borne the childe of wrath and cannot possibly please God S. VVhat is that actuall sinne F. Actuall Actuall sinne is that what soeuer a man either thinketh or speaketh or worketh agaynst the law of God agaynst his owne conscience S. VVhereof commeth this sinne F. This sin procéedeth of the corrupt nature of man is an effect of the former S. What is the rewarde of sinne F. The reward of sinne The reward of sinne is death not onely of the body but of the soule also which is called eternall damnation S. Then from this hath the sonne of God saued his people and therefore is worthely named Iesus our sauiour but shew me also I pray you why is he called Christ F. He is called Christ What the name Christ signifieth because he is the holy anointed of Iehouah before al that rest S. With what oyle is he anoynted F. With the oyle of gladnesse S. What is that F. The Vertue of the holy ghost S. To what dignitie function or office was he anoynted with this oyle F. To be a king a priest and a prophet S. Wherein is he a king F. Not onely in that he is the very king and Lord of heauen and earth Christ is our King but also in that he hath to himselfe indued al the powers of darkenes from the which he hath reduced vs and with his great powre doth gouerne and susteine vs. S. Wherein is he our priest F. In that he hath not onely offered vp himselfe to God for vs He is our Priest but also strandeth at the right hand of the father making intercession for our health S. Wherein is he our Prophet F. In that he hath both reuealed vnto vs the diuine misteries and also that hee might dired vs the way to life hath happely gone before vs towardes the kingdome of heauen S. Then worthely is he called a redeemer a iustifier and a sauiour but by whom am I drawne vnto him F. Who draweth vs to Christ Ioh. By God the father for no man commeth to Christ but such whom the father draweth S. How doth God the father draw me to Christ F. Ierm 31.3 By his mercy he draweth thée vnto him S. And is there any cause in man that moueth God to this mercie F. None at all but that which God doth in this he doth it of his owne loue in his sonne S. Wherein doth god expresse this mercy F. In many and great things and here in the ordinarie calling of a christian for whō he predestinated them also he called S. What is the calling of a Christian F. The calling of a Christian It is that whereby he is inuited to the
kingdome of Christ fayth remission of sinnes righteousnesse holinesse and to a new life and life euerlasting S. How then am I called F. God béeing merciful vnto thée allureth thée externally by his worde preached and inwardly by the motion of his spirite S. Are both these namely the outward inward calling necessary for a christiā F. Yea and therefore we ought not to neglect the one nor contemne the other S. Thus farre haue you disputed in order touching the sonne howbeit one thing remayneth yet doubtfull my father the which I would gladly ye should discusse F. What is that my sonne S. Ye said that the father the sonne and the holy Ghost are one thing and that the diuine Nature cannot essentially be diuided and yet that neither the father nor the holy Ghost was made flesh but the sonne onely which also was the alone redeemer of mankinde Not the father nor the holy Ghost was incarnate but the sonne August de incarna cohu Iudaeos how I pray you may this be F. Let him resolue this questiō who hath for an example thereof so elegantly produced the harmonie of a musicall instrument consider sayth hée the musical instrument as it yéeldeth the harmonical sound therein thrée things séeme to be present together as namely the arte or cunning the hand and the corde the arte doeth suggerate or indite the hand striketh and the corde soundeth three here worke together yet onely the corde soundeth neyther the arte nor the hand yéeldeth sound but then only when they worke together with the corde euen so neyther the father nor the holy ghost hath taken flesh yet haue both wrought together with the sonne the corde onely yéeldeth the sound Christ onely hath béene incarnate The operation consisted of all the three but as the yéelding of the sound appertayneth onely to the corde so the taking of flesh appertayneth onely to Christ S. Ye haue excellently resolued me in this doubt and so haue sufficiently instructed me touching the sonne the second person of the diuine Trinitie Now at length I remember that to the third person ye attributed illumination regeneration and sanctification F. The workes of the holy Ghost It is true for these three things are proper to the holy ghost albeit that in the same the whole Trinitie hath his operation S. What meane ye by this illuminatiō Illumination F. Illumination as it is generally taken noteth sometimes the new birth sometimes the viuification sometimes the fréedome sometimes the iustification of a man but in this place by Illumination is meant that lightning of reason and iudgement wrougth in the faithfull by the diuine vertue whereby the eyes of the soule béeing opened they both sée God and learne to walke in his waies S. Then it appeareth that sometimes they haue beene darkened in their vnderstanding and know not at all how to order themselues F. It is most certaine thereof did men runne into so many grosse errours in the world as a punishment for their sinnes S. Right needefull then was it that Christ after his departure from his disciples sent the holy Ghost vnto them F. Thou hast sayd the truth for by the vertue thereof they were lightned and led into all trueth S. How is this holy spirit sayd to be giuen or receiued F. How the holy Ghost is said to be giuen As concerning his graces vertues operations and effects for otherwise being God incomprehensible and replenishing al things he is neither giuen nor taken nor said properly to remoue to go or to come from one place to another S. Ye also attributed to the holy ghost regeneration what meane ye by that F. Regeneration Regeneration is of that which is engendred againe or new borne S. Shew me this more plainely F. Euery man is spiritually dead by reason of sin therefore it is néedeful that he be reduced to that Image of God which is in him defaced by a new birth and hereof is he made a new man S. The old man VVhat is the olde man F. It is the fleshlie man S. VVho is that fleshlie man F. It is he which is not indued with the spirit of God but by nature without the holy spirit which is also called the outward man that is he which consisteth of the body and the sences which is giuen to affections and is mortall The same is also called the body of sin that is a body subdued to sinne flesh sensuall and earthly S. VVhat is that new man The new man F. It is that spirituall man S. VVho is he F. The man inspired with the graces of gods spirit whereof he is a new creature and spirit or the spirituall and inward man that is one regenerated by the worke of the holy ghost that very soule and the image of God which through faith and grace doth flourish euen in the middest of afflictions neither may he be by any meanes extinguished to this also belongeth the first and second man Ro. 5.8 1. cor 15. Adam is that first Christ is that second the first is terrene or earthly the second is celestiall or heauenly S. How doth the holy Ghost worke this in vs. F. He conuerteth vs vnto God conforming vs to the image of his sonne in the renewing of our mindes the which in the scriptures is often vnderstood in the worde Repentance S. It was not then for nought that both God and his prophets in the old Testament and Christ and his apostles in the new haue so often excited and called the people to repentance F. Well sayde neither without this can a man enter into the kingdome of heauen Io. 3.5 S. What oportunitie taketh the holy ghost in the working of this regeneratiō F. The hearing of the worde of God whereof fayth is engendred in the hart of man S. Ye also attributed as I remember to the holy spirit sanctification and what is that F. Sanctification Sanctification is the purifying of a man from all prophanitie the cleansing of a man by the mortificatiō of the flesh and the confirmation and application of vs to God by the viuification of the spirit the which indeede is the end of our deliuerance from hell death the diuell S. Thus haue I learned what are the chiefe attributes or properties of those three distinct persons in the diuine Trinitie now what remayneth els for me to learne my good father F. What God requireth of vs. Yea thou hast hard what Iehouah hath done for thée Now also must thou learne what he requireth thée to yéelde vnto him S. And what is that my good father F. Repeate the Theme or argument of our talke thou shalt therby know it S. I made thee saith Iehouah that thou shouldest be my seruant therefore thou Israell forget me not F. Well then The end of our creation redemption and regeneration to what end did Iehouah make thée aunswere me to the wordes of our Theme S.
That I should serue him as I take it and that I should not forget him F. Thou hast sayd the truth and this is the end of creation redemption and regeneration S. What is ment by this worde seruice F. The worde generally noteth that condition of a man whereby he liueth vnder the will and rule of another S. What is that ye call Gods seruice God seruice F. The Seruice of God is no seruile condition but that diuine worshippe and true execution and performance of those good workes which are prescribed and commaunded to be done in the worde of God and namely in those two tables of the lawe wherein are briefely contayned the Tenne Commaundements of Almightie God S. And what are those tē cōmandemēts F. The same which God spake and are written in the 20. chapter of the second booke of Moses which is called Exodus S. I beseech you my father to recite them all vnto me in order F. Then hearken my sonne God spake all these wordes saying The tenne commaundements of God 1 I am Iehouah thy God which haue brought thée out of the land of Aegipt from the house of bondage thou shalt haue no strange Gods before me 2 Thou shalt not make to thy selfe any grauen Image nor the similitude of any thing that is either in heauen aboue or in the earth beneath or in the water vnder the earth thou shalt not adore them nor worship them for I Iehouah thy God am a iealous God The first Table visiting the iniquities of the fathers vpon the children in the third and fourth generation of them which hate me and shewing mercie to thousands of them that loue me and keepe my commaundements 3 Thou shalt not take the name of Iehouah thy God in vayne for Iehouah will not hold him guiltlesse that taketh his name in vayne 4 Remember the Saboth day that thou sanctifie it six dayes shalt thou labour and do all thy worke but in the seauenth day is the Saboth of Iehouah thy God in it thou shalt not do any worke thou and thy sonne and thy daughter thy manseruant and thy maideseruant thy cattell and the stranger that is within thy gates for in six dayes Iehouah made heauen and earth the sea and all that in them is and rested the seauenth day and therefore Iehouah blessed the seauenth day and hallowed it These foure commandements are contayned in the first table the six that follow are of the second table 5 Honor thy father and thy mother that thy dayes may be prolonged in the land which Iehouah thy God giueth thée The second Table 6 Thou shalt not kill 7 Thou shall not commit adultrie 8 Thou shalt not steale 9 Thou shalt not beare false witnesse agaynst thy neighbour 10 Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours house thou shalt not couet thy neighbours wife or his seruant or his maide or his oxe or his asse or any thing that is thy neighbours S. The Summe of the tē cōmaundementes How many things doe these commandements generally concerne F. Two things first thy dutie towards God next thy dutie towards thy neighbour S. Ye haue sufficiently taught me cōcerning the nature essence of God Now briefely in the way I beseech you to shew me who is my neighbour F. Who is my neighbour Generally all men borne of Adam and Heuah are thy neighbours but chiefely they which are of the familie of fayth be thy neighbours for all which are of the same familie are also of the same bodie in Christ and coheires of the kingdome of heauen S. Which of those commaundementes do concerne my dutie towards God F. Those foure which are contayned in the first table S. Which doe concerne my dutie towardes my neighbour F. Those sixe cōtained in the second table S. Wherein are those commandements perfected F. In loue The perfection of the law namely that thou loue God and thy neighbour S. How must I loue God F Thou shalt loue Iehouah thy God with al thy hart and with al thy minde Loue God and with all thy strength and with all thy thought S. How must I loue my neighbour F. Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe Loue thy neighbour S. Howbeit it seemeth vnto me that some of those commaundements do not prescribe vnto vs any singuler worke but onely do forbid the doing of some certayne things F. Here thou must obserue my sonne that those commandements wherein we are forbidden that which is euill In those commaundementes wherein we are forbidden the euil we are commaunded to doe the good we are commanded to do the contrarie that is that we do that thing which is good and that in those other commandements whereby we be commanded to doe those works which are good honest we are forbidden to do the cōtrary that is such works as be vngodly and dishonest S. I pray you teach me this matter more playnely F. Must gladly howbeit aske of me I will certifie thée of all things S. The first cōmaundement Go to then first God hath said I am Iehouah thy God c what hath God commaunded herein F. First he cōmandeth that we should take and estéeme him the onely Iehouah for our God next that we should not feigne vnto our selues any strange gods S. The 2. VVhat commaundeth he in the second commaundement F. First he forbiddeth all idolatrie and feigned worshippe secondly that thou worship him and serue him onely not in the likenesse of any forme but in spirit and truth S. The 3. VVhat commaundeth he in the third commaundement F. In this he commaundeth thée to abstayne from al vaine oathes and from the prophane abuse of the name of God moreouer he teacheth thée to call on and to sweare by his name with all reuerence and in the feare of God S. The 4. What willeth he in the fourth F. First that sixe dayes thou shalt labour in the worke of thy vocation next that thou presume not on the seauenth day to do any seruile labour but that thou kéepe holy the seauenth day S. What hath he enioyned me in the fift commaundement The 5. F. That thou honour obey thy parents aswell spirituall as bodily with loue reuerence modestie feare and dutie and on the other side that thou dishonour them not nor vnreuerently abuse them nor in any sorte neglect them S. What hath God prescribed me in the sixt The 6. F. That thou kill not any man in thought worde or déede next that thou thinke well of thy neighbour and report him well and that thou endeauour to profit all persons and reléeue them and preserue the life of them to thy power S. What commandeth he in the seauenth commaundement tell me The 7. F. First he commaundeth thée to abstaine from all fleshly lustes and vncleaues of the body secondly that thou walke honestly and soberly in this life S. What saieth he in the eight commaundement