A most godly and vvorthy Treatis of holy Signes Sacrifices and Sacraments instituted of God euen since the beginning of the world Very necessary for Christian vnderderstanding Seene and allowed by authority LONDON Printed for G. H. 1609. A SVMME OR A briefe collection of holy Signes Sacrifices and Sacraments instituted of God euen since the beginning of the world And of the true originall of the Sacrifice of the Masse IN the time ordeyned before of God by his vnsearchable and vncoÌ„prehensible wisdome after he had created man to his owne Image and likenes to the end that he might stirre him vppe to feare and obedience and giue vnto him also some exercise of vertue to acknowledge his God his creator there were ordeyned many signes Sacrifices and Sacramentes First to our first Father Adam and to his successours being bodily men were ordayned corporal signes of God the better to approue and make knowen his obedience Trees of life Gene. 2. 3. Euseb Theodor. Seuer To wit The trees planted in the midst of the Harber and earthly Paradise These trees although they were of no other quality then the other plants yet they were dedicated consecrated of God to serue for Sacraments that is to say for holy signes their qualitie then dedicated hallowed to serue as a seale for a witnes attestation approbation of the godly will For the infinite goodnes of god willing to make knowen the fellowship bond and alliance contracted with man his creature created to his owne likenes hath from time to time ordayned outwarde and corporall signes which man might see behold with his corporal eies to serue for assurance gage and pledge of the diuine couenant like as to our first common father were ordeined trees corporall fruits left and giuen vnto him to keep without wasting eating or consuming in paine of euerlasting death We must then beleeue by faith that the trees and fruites were not signes or sacramentes of vanitie as a simple picture but more that vpon them did hange both life and death they containing the signe and the thing signified Wherein did consist the Prouerb 1. 2. 3. knowledge and wisdome to feare God and obey him This was the cause wherefore they were called the fruites of knoweledge of good and euill and the trees of life For in keeping these fruits hallowed in obeing God euerlasting life was promised contrariwise in abusing these Sacramentes in going against the will of God declared by outward tokens euerlasting death and damnation was gotten For other exercises of man towarde Sacrifices before the Lawe written God to the end that he might reuereÌ„ce honor worship him many diuers sacrifices were celebrated yea before the law writteÌ„ by Moyses And although the almighty God creator of heauen Psalm 50. of earth hath no need of mans workes neither is nourished with the bloude of beastes or fruites of the earth Yet hee hath alwaies desired to draw man vnto him in feare and outward obedience by Signes Sacrifices and Sacraments In such sort that the sacrifice of the lambes offered by Abel was pleasing vnto Gene. 4. Hâ—bre â—1 Gene. 6. 7. 9. God Noe likwise after the great flouds passed in signe of knowledge and obedience toward God did erect an aultar offered and lifted vp sacrifice of sheepe without spotte and of birdes wherewith he did make sacrifices sounde and pleasing vnto God By these examples it is easie to know that sacrifices did not begin in the time of Moyses But the innocent and iust lambe represented by the sacrifice of Abel the figure of Iesus Christ was slaine and offered vp from Apoc. 13. the beginning of the world After the rigor of the floud comen for the punishment of the offences of the tyraÌ„ts of the earth in signe of reconciliation and couenant renued our good God did ordeine the signe of the Bowe Rainâ— bow Gene. 9. in heauen for a gage and assurance of of God were holden in the wildernes of Arabia to them was ministered food of Manna heauenly bread wherewith they were Exod. 16. nourished 40. yeares This holy sacrameÌ„t instituted by the power of god was in such great admiration that euery of the people said Manhu what is this 1 Coâ—in 10. Ioh. 6. here they did see the heauenly Manna giuen vnto theÌ„ without trauell a signe of the liuing bread desceÌ„ded from heauen and giuing life to all the faithfull Also another meruailous signe was ordeined Water of the Rocke Exod. 17. Num. 20. 1 Corin. 10 Iohn 19. of God by the rocke flowing of liuely water in Horeb to quench the thirst of thirsty people a signe figure of the true rock Iesus christ out of whoÌ„ did issue water bloud to staunch the thirst of all sinners for euermore The signes and sacraments aforesayd Diuers sacrifices ordeined of God in the yeare of the world 2455 were not only ordained of God but also the law of Sacrificers was published by Moyses as signes figures and shadowes of the Sacrifice performed by Iesus Christ The Sacrifices are either publike or particulers some were heue offerings Holocausts sacrifices coÌ„sumed with fier other were Diuision of sacrifices drawen out of Exod. Leui. and Num. of beasts slaine and offered vp to eate some were of earthly beasts other were beastes of the ayre Among the earthly beasts were such as were most obedient as Beafe and Veale sheep and Lambe Beasts for sacrifices the Goat the Kid Among the birdes also the most tame the Pigion and the Turtle Of Sacrifices some were publike other were particuler the publike either were daily or else seuen times Daies appointed for sacrifices a day or in the new moones or in time of abstinence or else in three feasts celebrated in a yeare To witte in the daies of sweet breade when the pascall Lambe was offered and eaten without Exod. 23. leuened breade in the time also of haruest of first fruites and in the feast of Wine and Oliues toward the end of the yeare It is commanded euery day to Search the booke of Philo the Iew and Iosephus offer two Lambes the one in the morning the other at night after that the Aultar was perfumed with incense and sweet odours Also some of the sacrifices were ordeined for corporall thinges which were offered with shedding of bloud other for incorporal things without Holocaustes Philo the Iewe in his treatise of beasts appointed for sacrifices Iosephus lib. 3. cap. 10. de antiqui iudai bloud The sacrifices called Holocaustes did coÌ„cerne only the honor of God because all the sacrifice was consumed with fire for the which sacrifice Holocaustes the male not the female was receiued that is to say the Beaf the Lambe the Goat of one yeare For the sacrifice for health it was indifferent to take male or female alwaies three parts of Leui. 1 2. 3. 4. the sacrifice was reserued
wisedome of God did perceiue the hardnes and infidelity of the people of Israel which did euer continue to commit idolatry by corrupting the holy signes sacraments and sacrifices in place of acknowledgeing the infinite goodnes of God which had deliuered them from the Pharaonicall tyranny which had nourished them in the Wildernesse which had brought them into the fruitfull lande promised vnto them and which so many times had succoured them in the warres against their neighbours the Cananites Moabites Madâ—anâ—tes Philistines Ammonites Syâ—â—â—s Sâ—donians Sâ—â—yoâ—ans and other â—â—â—ous people Neueâ—theles this rude people did continueâ— their â—dolâ—tries taught them by theâ— Pâ—â—estes Sacrificers Kinges and Priâ—ces without turning to the true woâ—shipping of one onely God Wherefore after the great mercy anâ— long â—arying of the iust Iudge which bâ— all manner corrections woulde haâ—â— brought againe his people by diuiâ—â— vengeance particularly as by raisinâ— vp of warres by captiuity bondage by diuiding of the kingdome parteâ— betweene Roboam and Ierohoam thâ— sucâ—essors of Salâ—mon plunged in thâ— depth of idolatry in inward warres among the people diuided and â—y other scourges accustomed to correct those whom God doth fauour to the end to bring them to his feare and obedieÌ„ce In the end these people to much hardened and waxen old in their Idolatries were 4 King 15. 24 taken into miserable bondage vnder thy tyranny of Infidels Assirians idolatrous Babylonians their Realmes quite ouerthrowen But within a little while after that this selfe same people by the great mercy of God was deliuered from the handes vnfaithfull tyrants was set againe at liberty and was restored to their land of promise they fell againe to their Idolatries Ioseph 13. cap. the Iew antiquitie more then euer before vnder the gouernement of their Sacrificers and high Priestes which ioyned the temporalty and spiritualty so together that they were clad with Scepter Roial and Crowne Then succeeded the heresies of the Pharisees of the Saduces Esseens Galileans Masbutheens Hemerobaptistes and Samaritans corrupted by Iosephus in the booke of the antiquities of the Iewes the diuersity of strange nations which had inhabited and subdued the country of Samaria neere vnto Iudea For the Babylonians did worship for their God Soâ—cobenoth the Cutheens PersiaÌ„s hauing for their God Mergal or Mergel the HemateÌ„ses called vpoÌ„ their God Asima the Ananoys did worship their God Nebahaze and Thartace thâ— Sepâ—aâ—â—ainenses did hold vpon theâ—â— Gods Aaramelech Anameâ—ech Vnto the which Gods they sacrificed their children causing them to passeâ— through the fier Thus then when all kinde of Idolatrie was spread among the Isralites the sacrifices were altogether corrupted the Priestes became byers and sellers couetous tyrants and Idolaters the people paâ—ed tribute to the tyrants of Rome their countâ—y of Iudea made one with the Prouince ioyning vnto Syria vndeâ— Iosephus lib. 15. cap. 3. Ioâ—ephus lib. 1â— cap. 3 â—â—â—op lib. 1. cap. 2. the power of the Romains The order also the lawe election of the high Priests was corrupted their dâ—gnitie abastarded altogeather insomuch that without regard of the Leuiticall race the high ptâ—estes were appointed by Consuls or Lieutenants of Rome as pleased them And whereas before they continued during their â—iues now they changed yeâ—ely And when as the Scepter Genes 49. was taken from the stocke of Iuda and her kingdome quite ouerthrowne as before it was prophecied The incoÌ„prehensible greatnes of God did manifest it selfe by his sonne begotten before all worlds which did so humble himselfe that he tooke humane flesh of the virgins wombe to redeeme his people and restore them to grace before God For as in Adam by his breaking and A conferring of Adam with â—esus Christ abusing of the holy signe giuen vnto him to keepe all the lumpe of mankind was corrupted with the leuen of sinne Euen so by the second Adam Iesus Christ we are by grace purged from our offences To our first and vniuersall father Adam was giuen a holy signe to exercise his obedience and to his successours was giuen other holy signes sacrifices sacraments instituted of God as the tree of life the fruits of the tree of knowledge of good and euill the raine-bowe circumcision the lambe without blemish the bread without leuain the cloud the fiery piller the red sea diuided the heauenly Manna the water of the rocke the immolation and offering of beasts for sacrifices the arke of couenant the brasen serpent the purging water the Temple builded in the middest of the holy Citie All which sacred signes sacrifices and sacraments were figures of that which was accomplished by Iesus Christ For first hee was the true tree of life Iesus Christ the tree of life Apoca. 2. Rom. 1â— planted in the midest of the garden of God in whom and by whom we which were bastard trees are grafted and set to the obtaining of eternall life hee hath giuen vs the keeping of the fruites of the tree of wisedome by his holy gospell and commaunded vs to keepe it whole without abusing without corrupting without adding or diminishing in paine of eternall death He hath bin as the celestial Bow bended Rainebowe in the aire to assure vs of the bande and couenant contracted between God and vs that wee should bee no more drowned in the floud of sinne He was circumcised to accomplish the lawe in himselfe that hee might cut away the Circumcision Gala. 4. foreskinne of our hearts to spoyle vs of our old corrupted skinne in Adam The burning bushe He was the flame in the burning bush taking flesh in the wombe of the virgine conceiued by the grace of the holy Ghost without the seed of man the holy virgin as the bush remaining neuertheles perfect and vncorrupt Hee was sacrificed as the iust innocent Lambe Pascall lambe Iohn 1. Hebr 13. his bloud being shed to preserue vs froÌ„ the tyrannie of Sathan and to open vnto vs the passage into the laÌ„d of promise the kingdome of heauen He is the true Bread of life Iohn 6. bread which came downe from heauen without leauen without corruptioÌ„ and spot whereof wee must eate for our spirituall nourishment to the ende we may celebrate the feast of the Pharaonicall passage in the land of libertie Hee was 1 Cor. 5. The cloude â—â—rie piller and red sea the cloude the fiery pillour the red sea diuided which hath conducted vs which hath deliuered vs from the hands of our enemies out of whoâ—e side opened 1 Cor. 10. Iohn 19. came bloud â—nd water for our saluation and redemption He was the heauenly MaÌ„na sent from The heauenly Manna the rock flowing water of life 1. Corin. 10. heauen to nourish vs for euer and the true rocke from whence flowed water to quench the thurst of all those for euer which thurst and beleeue in him It was he that made the sacrifice of health for Sacrifice Heb. 7. 8. 9 10. the
de Rom. trium of the litle round Cakes But the Bishops of Rome Idolators did institute the killing and offering vp of beastes to the end to eate and communicate the fleshe of the offeringes in their Sacrifices specially the sheepe the Sowe the Goate and the Beefe which first were ordeyned by Euander King of Arcadie To the end therefore that the Massalian should not go out of kinde froÌ„ the Idolatries of their predecessors they haue followed this communion of flesh and are not contented with the litle round vnleauened hosts consecrated and printed full of pictures but Hosts of meale are chaunged into flesh and wine into bloud haue in time inuented a new witchcraft to change their litle hosts of floure into flesh and bone the bread being no more bread but an accidence without substance and by this meanes to change their round host of meale into an host of flesh and bloud The wine also offered in their Masse chalices to be changed into bloud the wine being no more wine but an accident without substance Was there euer any witchcraft more abhominable and heresie more detestable then this transubstatiation of the Masse When the children of Israell were wearied with the eating of Manna and the heauenly bread demanding flesh was the Mâ—uno turned into flesh bones and bloud When the Romaines the ancient Idolatours did change their round hosts of meale and demanded to eate of the flesh in their sacrifices did they vse this wichcraft of transubstantiation Wherefore I doe freely affirme that the Massalians haue lately instituted this addition of the Masse yea more then 1000 yeares after the incarnation of Iesus Christ This heresie began to spread In the yeare of Christ 1062. Chronolog Fon. Volater abroad greatly in the tyme of Antichrist Nicolaite crept into the Romane bishopprick by the conspiracie of Hildebrand hauing chased away by force the other chosen Bishop namely Benedict the 12. Lanfranc de sacr of that name in the yeare of Iesus Christ 1062. Afterward it aduanced it selfe by a conspiracie holden in the Lateran at Rome during the ecclesiasticall tyranny of Innocent the third of the name about 200. yeares after the solemne recantation of Berengarius deane of S. Maurice of Against transubstantiation Angiers Against the which abhominable wichcraft heresie we must briefly bring in by the way of recapitulation the institutions of the sacraments ordained of God First the fruites of the knowledge of good and euill forbidden to our first father Trees of life Adam as holy signes and Sacraments of feare and obedience wherupon did hang life and death were they changed conuerted into knowledge or death leauing the nature of trees and fruits and reduced into an accidence without substance the Manna from heauen HeaueÌ„ly Manna and the rocke flowing water and the rocke flowing with water of life sacraments agreeing with the holy sacrament of the supper were they changed into an accident without substance the lambes without spot offered Lambes offered by Abell by Abel in sacrifice well pleasing to God were they changed into another nature The little skinne cutte off for a Circumcision note and marke of the couenant vnto the good patriarch Abraham his posteritie was it changed into an accident without substance The bloud of the Pascal lambe Paschal lambe for the assurance of the health of Israel was it changed into another substance The fleshe of the vnspotted lambe ordained to bee eaten in the day of the Passeouer a true figure of the holy Sacrament of the Supper was it changed into an accideÌ„t without substance The brasen Serpent by the onely Brasen serpent sight whereof health was giuen vnto diseases left it to be a serpent of brasse was it changed in being ordained a sacrament and holy signe vnto the people of Israell The oblations offered in sacrifices The offered sacrifices as well of earthly beastes as vnleauened bread and other holy signes ordained of God for sacraments and holy signes to cleanse the people of Israel Were they changed into an accidence without substance All the holy signes ordained of God in the Church of Israel notwithstanding that they did represent really and sacramentally that which they did figure and not as a simple signe without effect yet so it is that there was neuer none so horrible an heretike that did inuent this wichcraft of transubstantiation Yet must you confesse O Massalians that the good and holie fathers of Israell were adopted grafted and regenerated by faith in Iesus Christ begotten before all worlds and that A conference of the faith of the ancient fathers of Israel with ours they were nourished and got euerlasting life by Iesus Christ and that they and wee haue but one onely God and one onely Iesus Christ our mediatour and redeemour And that they through faith did sacramentally communicate and spiritually partake the bloud of Iesus Christ for their saluation and euerlasting life And there is no difference as touching God betweene them that were before the incarnation of Iesus Christ and we that are after the incarnation But they and wee are the Church of God bought with the bloud of the iust and vnspotted lambe Iesus Christ Furthermore that they had faith in the promise to come and obserued the sacraments and holy signes of the sacrifice which ought to be finished by Iesus Christ And that we by the new law do celebrate the memorie remembrance of the sacrifice alreadie finishede by Iesus Christ hauing the fruition of his 1. Cor. 10. August in Psalm promise accomplished If then the Israelites did eate of the same heaueÌ„ly bread and drinke of the same water of life by faith that wee doe in one onely Iesus Christ if they had holy signes to represent actually and really the death of Iesus Christ to come euen as we haue had holy signes of his death present or past they for the time to come and wee for the time past Wherefore is it then that the Massalians haue inuented this new witchcraft of tourning one holy sacrament ordained of God into a wichcraft of transubstantiation and an accident without a substance If God to make knowne his power and to declare the hardinesse and stiffeneckednesse of Pharao pleased to doe merueilous things by Against the miâ—â—cles alledged by the maslalians Exod. 7. 8 14. Moyses and Aaron in changing a rod into a serpent the water of the riuer into bloud and into frogges the dust of the earth into lice and further to make the saileable sea drie and to doe many other miracles Is this to bring in a transubstantiation of little round hostes vnleauened printed full of pictures into an accideÌ„ce without substance In what place of the holy scripture when there is mention made of holy Signes Sacraments or Sacrifices ordained of God is it said the signe or sacrament is changed Contrariwise God willing to accoÌ„modate himselfe to the infirmities of man hath ordained
suddaine repentant this poore and little but yet truly greeued member hath communion if the loue and charitie of any one member be languishing and faint but yet true and vnfained yet the loue of the church and spouse and head of the church whereunto that member with all the rest is laced and lincked is infinite exceeding feruent and strong of whose infinite loue the weakest feeblest hath as full partaking communion as the strongest lastly if any one member bee spotted and stained and defiled with the filthines of sinne yet the head and rest of the members to which it is ioyned by a true though neuer so little and weake faith and in whom it reioyceth through the bond of true and vnfained loue though neuer so languishing faint and cold loue springing of that weake and yet true faith this head I say Iesus Christ through whom it hath communion with the rest of the members and partaketh of all that the head and the rest of the members haue from the head are faire and beautifull by which faith and loue flowing of the same through the speciall and alone working of the holy Ghost whatsoeuer the head or any of the members haue had haue or shall haue by distributioÌ„ of grace from the head is made common to the beautifying of the weakest feeblest the most defiled and fowlest member for so the head hath distributed to all the members to helpe one another that the most honest parts doe couer keepe and honour the lesse honest according as the Apostle affirmeth To all the true beleeuers then that haue true faith true charitie true honesty without hypocrisie though neuer so weake cold and smal in comparison of others the faith the charitie the prayers the fastings the almes deeds the vertue the temperaÌ„ce the patience the chastitie the cleaÌ„nes the weakenes the brotherly kindnes the loue and whatsoeuer else may be named of the benefits and graces of the head our Sauiour Iesus Christ or distributed by him by any speciall grace to the beautifying of any the members redoundeth to the comfort benefitting and honesting of the least and lowest of the faithfull in the mysticall body of Christ For what grace or benefit can bee in the head whereof all the members receiue not comfort seing they are made partakers therof To coÌ„clude such is the comfort of the least and lowest of the faithfull in this mysticall body of Christ that no penne nor tongue in this life can serue to expresse it neither any heart able fully to conceiue it the full knowledge and feeling whereof is laid vp for the life to come forasmuch as no heart is strong nor large enough to conceiue or beare the ioy thereof in this mortall life Out of which mysticall body being the holie church of God the spouse and bodie of Christ flesh of his flesh and bone of his bones there is no saluation forgiuenes of sinne or soules health to bee found hoped or looked for and in this bodie whereof Christ is the head there is no condemnation to any the faithfull and true beleeuers how greeuous soeuer their sinnes seeme vnto them so that if Sâ—tan doe summon any of them to answere for their debts and sinnes in that the wife is no person to be sued but the husband euery of the faithfull may wel bid him enter his action against their husband Christ and he will make him a sufficient answere for being once knit by a true liuely faith vnto this head and body of Christ there shall no sinne so farre preuaile as to haue full dominion ouer them and be able euer to separate them from the loue fauour grace benefits and mercies of God which are in Christ Iesus both for that they haue communion partaking and fellowship of Christ himselfe and of all the benefits of his suffering and passion being made partakers also of all his vertues and graces and through him of all the good vertues and holinesse distributed or to bee distributed by him to all or any member that euer hath beene is or shal be of his said mysticall body the church so that the whole church doth still pray for them by Christs coÌ„mandement Forgiue vs our sinnes lead vs not into temptation deliuer vs from euill yea Christ himselfe being their head their redeemer their Sauiour their onely stay and cause of al this comfort doth pray for them and whatsoeuer is euill in them that hee taketh away and whatsoeuer is good in them that he taketh and distributeth amongst them and through his owne vertue and power purgeth and cleanseth them from all their vncleannes filthines both of body and soule being true meÌ„bers of his said mystical body as all and euery one is indeed and without all doubt hauing neuer so little of true saith which faith is not as a cause but as a certificate or instrument giuen them of God whereby the faithfull themselues may bee certaine of their good husband Christ and therefore when their conscience feeleth it selfe disquieted for feare of Gods iudgemeÌ„t against sinne they may in no wise looke vpon the worthines and sufficiencie of their own faith because they neuer beleeue so fully and sufficiently as they should and ought to beleeue but onely let them looke on Gods grace eternall mercy and peace in Christ so shal they be at quiet when they looke for their saluation altogether out of theÌ„selues in Gods mercy in Christ Iesus in whose lap if they rest their head then are they happie and shall find quietnes indeed The other part of the coÌ„munion which the members of Christs mysticall body haue and ought to haue one with another is touching the temporal blessings of this present life who being all laced and knit together by the bond of true charity they doe and are at all times readie to communicate for the mutuall helpe and comfort one of an other all such temporall blessings as God hath bestowed vpon them for the vse and necessitie of their life as to pray one for another to helpe comfort and counsell one another in all things needfull either for soule or body to minister to the necessities one of another in a franke liberall distribution of almes deedes according to such measure as God hath dealt to euery one a power and abilitie to helpe and releeue such as are in need misery or want either by pouertie sicknes imprisonment or banishment by which outward deeds of charitie their faith and loue to God is witnessed and declared as on the contrary by their couetousnes hardnesse of heart and vnmercifulnes to the poore they giue plaine witnesse and testimonie they neither loue nor beleeue in God what florish or boasting soeuer they make to the coÌ„trary according as Saint Iohn affirmeth in his first epistle and 3. chap. saying My little children let vs not loue in word neither in tongue onely but in deede and in truth whosoeuer hath this worlds goods seeth his brother haue
need and shutteth vp his compassion from him how dweleth the loue of God in him beloued let vs loue one another for loue coÌ„meth of God and euery one that loueth iâ— borne of God and knoweth God heâ— that loueth not knoweth not God for God is loue In this appeareth the loue of God towards vs because God sent his onely begotten son into the world that we might liue through him herein is loue not that we loued God but that he loued vs first and sent his sonne to be a reconciliation for our sinnes beloued if God so loued vs we ought also to loue one another no man hath seene God at any time if wee loue one another God dwelleth in vs and his loue is perfect in vs God is loue and hee that dwelleth in loue dwelleth in God and God in him we loue him because hee loued vs first if any man say he loue God and hate his brother he is a lier for how can hee that loueth not his brother whom hee hath seene loue God whom he hath not seene and this coÌ„mandement haue we of him he that loueth God should loue his brother also By this instruction of the Apostle in this epistle it appeareth that it is a false lying and vaine boasting of any man to say hee loueth and beleeueth in God truly when hee shuteth vp all his compassion from the helpe of mankind which beare the image of God in the person of our Sauiour Christ which was both God and man who presenteth himselfe to vs to bee beloued in them which beare the image of his maÌ„hood For no man can truly say he hartely loueth the father but hee must also loue the sonne and although the sonne be naughtie and vnthriftie yet for his fathers sake hee must helpe to better him and euen lament and bee sorry for the sonnes wickednes euen so much the rather seing God hath appointed and by his holy ordinance commaunded that whatsoeuer any true Christian man is or whatsoeuer hee hath hee should thankfully receiue it as of the free bountie and gift of God who himselfe is the fountaine and full treasure of all good things the onely author and giuer of euery good and perfect gift giuing and distributing to euery one of the abundance of his riches treasures to this end and purpose that â—ach should communicate to other of the goods they haue receiued for the supply of each others want and necessitie For which cause euery true Christian man must loue good meÌ„ in Christ and euill men for Christes sake who so loued vs when wee were his enemies that he gaue vp of his own life for our redemption let him embrace the one because they are good the other neuerthelesse to make them good let him forgiue and pray for his enemies persecutors slanderers that God would turne their harts open their blind eies and giue them true knowledge of himselfe his word coÌ„mandements in whose nature let him see and behold as in a glasse the image of his own crookednes corruptioÌ„ for there is no maÌ„ so mad cruell furious or hard hearted but all other as of themselues are as farre wide from God as hee so that euery man which escapeth the filthinesse and corruption of the wicked and vngodly may thanke God that keepeth him by his grace from that or the like impietie as for example thou seest a man that is a theefe a whoromonger and an hereticke or idolator there thou seest euen thine owne image and picture for if God keepe thee not of his mercifull grace and goodnes out of such vices thou wouldest be euen as euill and bad as he and seeing thou art not such a one glory in God and not in thy selfe hate not nor bee not angry with those which are diseased in sinne no more than a faithfull physition hateth a sicke man but rather lament and bee sorrie for their euils be thou an enemie onely vnto sinne and vice the greater the disease is the more care will true charity haue to remoue it is he an adulterer or hath he coÌ„mitted sacriledge or is he a Iew Turke Heretike or Infidel hate the adulterie sacriledge heresie idolatrie and infidelitie of the man and seeke to remoue purge and cleanse these vices wherewith the man is defiled and wherin he is wrapped and entangled through his owne fault so that the man may bee saued which God made let euery true Christian wil well wish well and doe well vnto all men â—â—â—fainedly not hurting them which haue diserued it but doing good to them which haue not diserued it according to the instruction of the Apostle Gal 6. Ro. 12. Whilst we haue time let vs do good vnto all men especially vnto those which are of the houshould of faith Therefore if thine enemy hunger feed him if he thirst giue him drinke for in so doing thou shalt heape coles of fire vpon his head Be not ouercome of euill but ouercome euill with good For a true Christian man must bee glad and reioyce for all mens commodities as for his owne and so to take to heart and be sorrie for an other mans harmes as if they had fallen vpon himselfe and to weepe with them that weepe and to ioy in all maner good things with them that reioyce as the same Apostle also teacheth He must not thinke with himselfe after the fashion of the worldlings and wicked men what haue I to doe with this fellow he is a man vnknowne to mee hee is a stranger hee neuer did ought for mee hee hath hurt mee some times but hee neuer did me good hee must I say thinke none of these things but remember onely what Christ hath done for thee who willeth his kindnes shewed towards thee should be requited not in himselfe which thou canst not nor shalt not bee able to doe but to shew such kindnes for his sake towards all men as hee requireth of thee distributing of such bodily or ghostly goods as he hath giuen thee to the releefe of others necessities euen to the vttermost of thine abilitie For so doth the holy scripture teach euery christian man in many places of the same as Luke 3. v. 11. Let him that hath two coates parte with him that hath none and he that hath â—eate let him doe likewise by which two examples of food and rayment the faithfull are warned by a common care and indeuour and by a particular speciall care in euery one to prouide that the necessities and wants of the poore be holpen and supplied according as God shall haue delt to them a portion of abilitie to doe it for so is it commaunded in other places of the scripture as in the I. of Tim. the 6. chap. Charge them which are rich in the world that they be readie to giue and glad to distribute laying vp in store for themselues a good foundation against the time to come that they may attaine eternall life and Math. 6. Lay not vp for
wicked cease from their tyranny and they that haue laboured valiantly shall be at rest there shal the prisoners rest together heare no more the voyce of the oppressor there shal be small and great and the seruant shal be free from his master and euery man liuing shal draw after them as before there were innumerable wee shall bee brought all vnto death and to the house appointed for all the liuing For in the hand of the Almightie is the soule of euery liuing thing and the breath of all mankinde the daies of man are determined the number of his monethes are with him hee hath appointed him as bounds which he cannot passe man knoweth not the houre of his death for when his flesh is vpon him he shal be sorrowful while his soule is in him it shal mourn but when death shal come then he sleepeth and riseth not for he shall not wake againe nor be raised from his sleep vntill the heauens be no more For all shall go to one place all was of the dust all shall returne to the dust But though after our skins wormes destroy this body yet shal we see God in our flesh whom we our selues shall see and our eies shall behold and none other for vs though our reines be consumed within vs for our redeemer liueth and he shall stand the last on the earth and he shall bring euery worke to iudgment with euery secret thought whether it be good or euill Therfore take away griefe anger and enuie out of the heart and cause euill to depart from thy flesh thinke oft on the saying of the Apostle in the 9. to the Hebrues It is appointed vnto all men that they shall all once die and after that commeth the iudgement So Christ was once offred to take away the sins of many and vnto them that looke for him he shall appeare the second time vnto saluation for we must all appeare before the iudgement seate of Christ that euery man may receiue the things that he hath done in his body according to that he hath done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or euill This death thē vnto which all flesh shal come is either an entrance or gate to perpetual liberty and pleasure or to perpetual prison and paine the death which maketh entrance to euerlasting paine is termed Ghostly and the sicknes which warneth of the same is also Ghostly which Ghostly sicknes and infection proceedeth of the malice of Satan and corruption of our owne wicked nature driuing all of whom it taketh hold either to errour in religion errour in life or errour in both Of errour in life the booke of Wisedome speaketh saying Seeke not death in the errour of your life destroy not your selues through the workes of your owne hands And of errour in religion it is spoken in the 106. Psalme and 39. verse Thus were they steined with their owne workes went a whooring with their owne inuentions The like wherof is affirmed in the 2. Epistle of S. Iohn where it is said He that transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God he that continueth and abideth in the doctrine of Christ he hath both the Father and the Sonne which commandement and lesson our Sauiour had taught before in the Gospel of S. Mathew the 15. chapter and the 9. verse And in vaine do they worship mee teaching doctrines commandements of men as do all the heathenish idolaters Iewes Infidels Turks Heretikes Miscreāts which do worship false gods or honour and serue the true God after a false manner according to the inuentions and commandements of men embracing doctrines and traditions for the worship and seruice of God more then are deliuered in the holy scriptures the word of God and some also contrary to the same according as doth the Court or Church of Rome and all the company of Catholike Papists disciples and followers of the Court and Church of Rome which ghostly sicknes infectiō of errour in religion errour in life or errour in both bringeth with it euerlasting death both of body and soule if the infected truely penitent renouncing and detesting all his former errours both of religion life be not washed purged and clensed in the pretious bloud of Iesus Christ the sonne of God so through Gods mercifull grace and goodnesse granted in his beloued sonne bee forgiuen and fully pardoned of the same according as S. Paul affirmeth That without bloud nothing can be made cleane and the bloud of Christ shal cleanse our conscience from all sin It is then necessarie for you and all others that looke and hope for saluation to beleeue and hold stedfastly vnto your liues end the true holy Catholike and Christian saith cōteined sūmarily in the articles of our beleefe according as the same hath bin of ancient time gathered and drawē out of the scriptures of the old new testament the holy writtē word of God and is more amply and large declared in those holy bookes with all other things taught in those bookes necessarie for a Christian man to instruct him fully perfectly and sufficiently in the way to euerlasting life Quest Do you then truely and vnfeynedly beleeue that all things pertaining to the true worship and seruice of God and for the instruction and guiding of your soule in the right knowledge of the way to euerlasting life and saluation are sufficiently and fully contained and taught in the holy written word of God of the old and new Testament and will you heartily and vnfeinedly renoūce al other faiths worship and seruice of God not being most truely conteined and taught in those holy bookes Answ I beleeue and embrace that faith worship and seruice of God conteined and taught in the holy books aforsaid as only fullie sufficient through the grace of Gods spirit to instruct and teach my soule in the way to euerlasting life and I do heartilie vnfeinedlie renounce all faithes worship and seruice of God more then that or contrarie to that which is most truelie and sufficientlie taught and deliuered in those holie bookes of the old and new Testament Reioice then and be of good comfort that god doth giue you grace to beleeue and hold stedfastly the true ancient Catholike Christian faith of our Lord Iesus Christ contained and fully taught in the holy bookes oforesaid Qu. Do you as all true beleeuers christiās confesse according as you are taught in gods holy word that you haue not spēt the time of your life past so holy vprightly as you ought to haue done hauing in thought word deed many times and waies transgressed the most holy cōmandemēts of god deseruing therby the sentence condēnation of eternall punishment and he◠fire Answ I confesse it Quest Are you truely and vnfainedly heartily sorry for it Answ ◠am and I beseech God by his grace to make me truelie penitent of all my offences