and his benefytes laudynge and thankynge hym magnyfyenge his holy name and then also eate of this bread and dryncke of thys wyne to a remembraunce that Chryste hath gyuen his body and shed his bloude for vs. Math xxvi And because that it is a comyn vse that a token of remembraunce hath the name of the thynge that is remenbred by it Therfore hath Chryst called the breade his bodye and the wyne his bloude not that his substaunce is in the breade and wyne but that we sholde remember hym therby Lykewyse as the â—…aster laÌ„be was called the passyng by and yet was it not in it selfe the very pas syng by but a token or remembraunce of the passyng by Deynge now that the easter lambe hath the name of the thing that the Israelites remembred by it and wherby they myght euer lastyngly kepe in remembraunce the benefytes of god right conuenient is it that Christe hath called the breade his body and the wyne hys bloud bicause that we shoulde remeÌ„ber therby his death and passion yea the only sacrifice of his body whiche he hath sufferyd to be broken and his bloud to be shed for vs. Neuerthelesse how be it that the materyall body of Chryste is not in the bread nor his bloude in the wyne yet neuerthelesse is the supper of the Lorde 〈◊〉 parttakynge but spyrytually of the body and bloud of Chryste as Paule sayth Is not the â—…uppe of thankes geuyng wherwith we gyue thaÌ„kes a parte taking of the bloud of Christ And the bread that we breake is it not the 〈◊〉 takyng of the body of Chryste These wordes of Paule do witnesse clerely that the faythful eate the body of Christ spiritually vnder the breade and wyne yea lykewyse as a bryde receyueth her housbande with a rynge euen so receyue the faithfull Christe to be theyr owne and euerlastynge saluacyon But that some men wyll haue that the bodyly presence sholde be in the breade is a great mysse vnderstandynge of the godly worde yea it is an antechrystes doctryne which is contrary bothe to our fayth and to al holy scrypture For we be leue and holy scrypture beareth wytnes that Chryste after his resurrection is ascended vp into heauen and sytteth vpon the ryght hand of his almighty father Rom. viii And bideth ther as concernynge hys bodyly presence but spiritually he hath promised to abide with vs to the ende of the worlde in hys worde Mat. xxviii And seynge that now Chryste as concer nyng his bodely presence abydeth at the ryght hand of his father Hebre. x. so may not the body of Chryste be in the breade And agayne it is agaynst all truth that Chryste at one tyme hath ben in many or diuers places as touching his body Forthermore we do dayly se what dredful ydolatrye is sâ—…rong out of the carnall vnderstandynge of these wordes of Chryste This is my body and yet dayly spryngeth to the great and abominable slaunder of the honoure of god so that men worshype a piece of breade for theyr god yea and holde that to be theyr maker And the papystes locke hym in â—…olde and syluer not remeÌ„brynge what Paule and Stephen wytnesse sayenge The mooste hyghest wyll not dwell in temples made wyth mannes handes Actes vii and. xvii O blynde men that are so bewytched of the whore that ye can not nor wyll not beleue the manifeste truth O blyndnesse and great presumptuousnesse of the papistes that wyll take vpon them to fetche Iesu Christe out of heauen into a piece of breade whyche is consumable as we clearelye se by experience and that it shoulde be worshypped for God whyche is euerlastynge and vnchaungeable Nowe what remedye for we can not helpe it therfore muste we do as the Lorde Iesu Christe spake vnto hys apostles of the phariseis sayinge Let them go for they are blynde and leaders of the blinde wheÌ„ one blynde leadeth an othâ—…r so fall they both into the dytche Mat. xv But the Lorde muste be thaÌ„ked that out of his vnmeasurable grace hath â—…ned our eyes that we can se knowe wherfore we shal take the bread and the wyne in the supper namely for a memoriall and token of the sufferyng and death of Iesu Christ yea for the body and bloud of Christe but that for the by names sake and not of the material thynges behalfe as is aboue rehearsed of the Easter Lambe ☞ Forthermore the supper of the Lorde is also a ioynynge togyther of the christen coÌ„â—…regacion in loue And also the congregacion that wyl holde thys supper muste be well appoynted and ioyned togyther in brotherly loue yea they must stande in one spirite and soule Philip i. hauing a burning loue For Paule sayth we many are one breade and one bodye in as muche as we are partakers of one bread Lyke wise as y t mebres of one body are not in striâ—… one agaynste an other but in a charitable vnitie seruynge one an other i. Corhi xii so maye there no stryfe nor debate be founde in the con gregacion of God i. Corhin i. so that any man shoulde onely care and take thought for hym selfe and not care nor loke vpon his brothers lacke but the one muste helpe and care for the other in al thynges necessary where he can or maye Gal. vi and no man must seke that that is his but euery one the others wealth Philip ii And lykewise as of the graynes of corne can not be baken breade but through fyre eueÌ„ so can not the congregacion be a right spirituall lofe wherof Paule speaketh but through burning loue charitie And so ought y t christeÌ„ congregacion to be one lofe i. Cor. x. For lykewyse as many graynes are sowen to the enteÌ„t that breade shoulde be baked of it So soweth the greate father of housholde his preciouse wheate into the acre or grounde of this world to the entent that they all shoulde become one lofe and breake the supper of the Lorde rightly after the wordes of Paule we many are all one breade and one body in as much as we are parte takers of one breade i. Cor. x. And where so euer the congregacion is not so apoynted and the breade broken in thys maner there is the bread eaten and the wyne droÌ„ken to a iudgement from the whiche God the merciful father wyll defende and kepe all diligent louers of the euerlastyng trueth thoâ—…owe his vnexpressable goodnesse and mercye Amen ¶ Of the very chrstian kyngdome VVE beleue also that god the heaueÌ„ly father hath gyuen to his onely begotten sone Iesu Christe al powre in heauen and erth Math. xxviii yea as Paule sayth He hath set hym on his ryght hande in heauenly thynges aboue all powre rule myght and domynyon and a boue al that maye be named not onely in this worlde but also in the worlde tocome Ephe. i. Aboue all this hath the heaueÌ„ly father especyally instituted and ordeined Iesu Christ his onely begotten sonne to be a kyng ouer the mount of
Syon that is to say ouer the faythfull congregacyon Psalm ii whiche faythful congregacion is the kyngdome of Chryst. Col. i. And the domynyon of thys kyngdome standeth not in a carnall dominion or powre But lykewise as the lorde is a spirite ii Corhinthians iii. euen so is hys kyngdome spirituall inwardly within vs. Luke xvii and not of this worlde Iohn xviii wherefore the prophete zacharie promysed vs a kynge thorough the holy ghoste the which shold not come with viâ—…iable dominion nor great worldly tryumphe but w t an humble and a meke spyrite And shoulde not â—…ule as a worldly kynge ouer the carnal Syon or Israel but shoulde rayngne a spirytuall kynge and rule the spirituall Israelytes with the scepter of his godly worde And these are the wordes of the prophet Reioyse thou great lye O doughter Syon be glad O doughter Ierusalem beholde thy kynge cometh vnto the â—…owly and symple is he he rideth vpon an Asse and vpon the foele of an Asse euen thy rightwyse and sauyour and he hym selfe is poore 〈◊〉 ix These wordes of the prophete wytnesse clearely that Christes kyngdome is spirituall and standeth not in any outward dominion Iohn xviii And lykewyse all these prophetes do witnesse in these chapyters folowing Esa. iiii ix Ierem. xxiii xxxii Esechi xxxiiii xxxvii Myth iiii Therfore do we holde the doctryne of the carnal kingdome of Christ to be a dredfull errowr and a great heresye yea we holde it to be an heresye of the Chilcastes the which now agayne is raysed amongest theÌ„ of Mynster hath breyded her out in other places to the great slaunder and hinderaunce of the true gospel of god Forthermore yf any man take vpon him and presume to be the promysed Da uyd or a kynge of Syon as Iohn Layden at Mynster hath done hym do we holde for an antechriste aboue all antichristes yea boue the Romysh Antechryste How dredful so euer he hath slaundered god and exalted hym selfe against the almighty god and yet it is not com to suche an abhominacion as to put hym selfe a kynge of Sion or to take vpon hym to be a promysed dauyd But in these dayes ryse so many abhominable and presumptuous spirite fulfylled with all maner of wyckednes and sathans pride that take vpon them to rebbe Iesu Christe of his kingli scâ—…pter and to take it vnto them selfes wo be vnto all suche dred ful slaunderers of the godly maiesty or powre wo be also vnto the seduceres which go about with witchecrafte wherwith they haue begyled many men Wooe be also vnto all them whyche do not seperate them selues froÌ„ those antechrystes and seducers but yet do seke help or comforte of them yea that leaue the verye Moyâ—…en Iesu Christ and desire other goddes to go afore them vpon theÌ„ shal fal that which is spoken of by the prophete Ieremye Lorde they that do forsake the shalbe destroyed and they that turne from the shall be ashamed and theyr names shall be wrytten in the earthe for they haue leaft the the lyuynge fountayne of water Beholde therfore wyll we by the grace of God abyde by oure spirituall Kynge Iesu Christe and pray hym that his kyngdome may encrease in vs yea that he wyll defende vs from all euyll and reserue vs to his euerlastyng heauenly kyngdome to his glory and honoure for euer Amen ¶ The weapons wherwyth a very christian ought to fyght SEynge that the whole Gospell of ourâ—… Sauiour wytnesseth that the christian must suffer in no wyse may reuenge the euil So that we thynke by the helpe of god not to turne from the holsome doctrine of our Lorde Iesu Christ. For it is righte conuenient that a seruaunt wyth his lordes coÌ„maundement and a disciple wyth his maysters doctrine to be coÌ„tented Mat x. And here now may no sophistical cauillacions nor fonde ymaginacions be alowed as though the wordes of Iesu Christe shoulde nowe be at an ende And seynge that Christ sayth vnto his apostles what I say vn to you that do I saye vnto al watche ye heauen and earth shal perishe but my wordes shal neuer peryshe Therfore do we holde them for dreadful seducers and abominable heretykes that wâ—…ll preâ—…ume to saye that the doctrine of Iesu Christ as coÌ„cernyng suffering should be â—…t an ende that the christen shoulde no more nede to suffer but that they shoulde cast away the weapons wher w t the apostles haue fought as theyr epistles rchearse put vpon them the harneys of Dauid yea that they shoulde destroy the whole worlde w t the material sworde and also take the worlde vnto them selues O what a blinde dreame is this which is spronge out of SathaÌ„ is coÌ„trary to the whole gospel of our lorde Iesu Christ. O what an iniquitie is this of theÌ„ that wyl with the chyldreÌ„ of Israel leaue the lorde the fouÌ„tayne of lyuing waters dygge them selues pyttes the whyche do seme fayâ—…e but they caÌ„ giue no water O what a blindnes yea what a folyshnes is it of them that for the sayinges of the prophetes whyche they vnderstande not wyll refuse leaue the moste highest prophet the onely begotteÌ„ sonne of god the euerlastynge veritie Iesu Christe and do not dreade to exalte the olde testamente aboue the new to set Moyses aboue Christ O god shal now the new testament auoyed for the olde shal the preciouse bloud of the innocent lambe Iesu Christ be couÌ„ted lesse then the bloud of calues O lorde how are these meÌ„ so blynded that they with the styffenecked Israelites do abhorre the lyuing breade of heauen and do desyre â—…he flesh of Egypt that is to say they do refuse Iesu Christe the very breade of heauen do huger after mennes doctrine and inueÌ„ted drâ—…es after â—…isceyuable prophetes But we wyl by the grace of god abyde by our lorde maister Iesu Christ holde it vndâ—…niable that no vncleane doctrine whiche myghte be agaynst the gospel of our lorde Iesu Christ maye be broughte in or suffered but he alone muste be allowed for he is lorde maister Sauiour besydes him is none other In summa we know of none other veritie nor of none other waye of none other lyfe but onely of Iesu Christe Iohn xiiii For thys cause yf there come any prophecies or visions that wil draw vs from this holsome doctrine of Iesu Christ they muste be accursed Furthermore how and wyth what weapons that the christian shall fyghte doth Paule clearelye teache vs to the Ephesians in the syxte Chapter wyth these wordes Stande therfore and your loynes gyr ded about wyth the truth hauyng on the brest plate of rightuousenes and shodde vpon your fete wyth the gospell of peace that you maye be prepared aâ—…oue all thynges take holde of the shelde of fayth wher wyth ye may quentch the fyry dartes of the wycked take the helme of saluacion and the sworde of he spirite whyche is the worde of God And Iohn sayth
and proued it is therfore very necessarye that we praye the lorde with all dilygence for a ryght vnderstaÌ„dyng of his godly worde and for a sure vnmouable fayth for euermor Also it is not vnnecessarye y t they beare theyr beliefe conteyned in wrytynge alwayes about them and dayly rede it partly to the eâ—…horting and confortyng of them in all persecution and tribulacions which may come vnto them by goddes worde Partly agayne for a defence agaynste all antechâ—…ystes spyrytes whyche alwayes iâ—…dae the fayth of the rightuouse how chrystenly so enâ—…r it be and how many feste so euer it agreeth with all godly scrypture foâ—… an heresye yea for a deuelyshe doctryne and gvle shal it be compted Say ii â—…or vi And of this so doynge no man shall merueyle seynge that all sayntes haue bâ—…n taken for transgressours or seducers of this euill blynde worlde Yea Iesus Christe him selfe though â—…e â—…e the euer â—…astynge truth Iohn â—…iiii was taken of vnmyse Scrihes and Pharises for a bâ—…gyler of the people Iâ—…an vii yea for a mad man and a man â—…ossessyd with the deuyl ò lorde what a blasâ—…heinye And his doctâ—…ine was not taken of them as goddes worde but as a disseuable sâ—…ducynge not as breade of lyfe nor as a medicine for the soule but compted as a poyson or venym of the wycked serpent Seynge then that the Lorde dyd suffer reason it is for the seruaunte to suffer also And all that that is come vpon the lorde that muste as trewlye as Goddes worde is ouercome the seruaunt also Here vpon maye euerye seruaunt or disciple of Iesu Christe prepare hym for he must be readye to suffer all confusion sclaunder and tribulation for hys Lorde and maysters sake We therfore perceyuynge thys wyll not be moued wyth the scaunder of the wycked people the whyche sclaunder oure fayth for heresy and yet many of them knowe not what we beleue but as they here of oure aduersaryes and therafter do they iudge vs. Notwithstandynge though we do not regarde theyr sclaunder yet neuerthelesse wyll we so farre as it is possible mete them wryte through the grace of God oure fayth bycause that euerye man maye reade it and then may they wyth vnderstanding and with christen charitie iudge The which we both of al good diligent readers and also of oure aduersaryes frendely desyre and mekely pray ¶ Here endeth the Prologe The articles of the chriâ—…ten fayth I Beleue in God the father almighty maker of heaueÌ„ earth And in Iesu Christ hys onely sonne oure Lorde whyche was conceyued by the holye gooste and borne of Marye the virgyn He suffered vnder Poncius Pylate he was crucifyed dead and buryed He desended to hell and rose the thyrde daye from death He ascended to the heauens and syttteth on the ryght hande of God the father almyghty And froÌ„ thens shal he come to iudge the quicke and dead I beleue in the holy goost the holy churche catholyke to be a congregacion of sayntes to haue remission of synnes the resurrection of the fleshe and the euerlastynge lyfe ☞ At the fyrst we beleue in one God Deut. vi father of our lorde Iesus Christ. ii Cor. i. the whyche is the Lorde of heauen and earth Luke xi and creatour of al creatures Hebre. i. Yea he is father of vs all Ephe. iiii the which hath elected vs to be his crildren through Iesu Christe Ephe. i. And therfore shall we hym all onely worship besyde hym none other gods Deut. vâ—… Also we shall feare him as an almigh ty god Psal. xxxiiii and as a mercyfull father we shal loue him wyth al oure hertes with all our soule and wyth al our power and mynde Mat. xxii and vpon him muste stande all oure hope Hiere vii For he is the father of lyghte Iacob i. of the whythe all mankynde lyueth Actu xvii both â—…odelye goodes Prouerbeo x. euerlastynge saluacion Psalm xxxvii togyther wyth al perfyte gyftes come and descended Iacob i. ☞ Forthermore we beleue in Iesu Christe the soÌ„ne of the lyuing god our lorde i. Cor. vii The whiche is the very bryghtnesse of his fathers glorye and the verye ymage of his substaunce Hebre. i. Yea he is the onely begotten sonne of the father Iohn i. come forth out of the mouth of the moste hyghest God Eccles. i. xxiii fyrst borne before all creatures Collos. i. Thorowe the whiche all thynges are created Heb. i. In whom we haue redempcion namely remission of synnes thorow his bloude Col. i. wyth the whyche he hath wasshed vs. Apoc. i. and hath also recoÌ„ciled vs agayne to hys most holy and gloriouse father Ephes i. ii that were afore enemyes to God Roma viii ¶ For after the tyme that god had made man after his ymage and similitude he set hym into Paradise that he shoulde eate of al the fruites of the garden of pleasure exceptynge hym the tre of knowledge of good euyil Gene. ii But man hath disobeyed the Lorde his God and transgressed his commauÌ„dement Gen. iii. Thorowe the whyche disobedience and transgression of the godlye commaundement death and curse is come ouer all mankynde Rom. v. And when there was no helpe nor comfort for man wherby he myghte haue bene redemed or delyuered out of Sathans power Then had God the merciful father pitie vpon mankinde and promised theÌ„ a sead namely Iesus Christ his onelye begotten sonne the whiche shoulde treade vpon tâ—…e head of the serpent and ouercome the deuyll and restore theÌ„ to lyfe agayne Gene. iii. And lyke wyse as god is ryghtuouse in al his wayes and holye in all his workes Psal. criv and â—…ew in al his wordes Psal. li. so hath he kepte all his promyses truely And as the tyme was fulfylled Gala. iiii God let hys worde descende into the wombe of the vyrgyn Marye and by the workynge of the holy gooste be came fleshe as Iohn wytnesseth saiyng The word became flesh dwelt amonge vs we saw his glory as the glory of the onely begotteÌ„ sonne of the father ful of grace and verite Iohn i. Also thys onely begotten sone of god by the powre of the holy ghoste became man and is become lyke vnto vs in all thinges except synne Hebre. ii He hathsuffered death for our sake Esay liii and hath taken awaye Sathans powre and restored lyfe in agyne i. Timot. vi yea he is made vnto vs wysdome and ryghtwysnes sanctyfyenge and redemption i. Cor. i. And lykewyse as he dyed for our synnes Hebre. ii so is he rysen agayn through the powre of his father Roma vi for our righ tuousnes Roma iiii And as he oftentymes shewed hym felfe after his resurreccyon vnto his dyscyples Acti i. so is he ascended into hea uen in thyr presence Luke xxiiii And sytteth at the right hande of the almighty rather Ro. viii Aboue all rule and myght and dominion and aboue all that maye be named not onely in thys world but also in the world to come
â—…phesi i. And hath subdewed all thynges vnder hys fete Hebre. ii in summa he is alorde aboue all lordes and a kyng aboue all kynges Apo. xix yea he is an almighty god with his fa ther. Apo. xxii Iohn x. And neuerthelesse he is also our onely aduocate and mediator i. Iohn ii Tymo ii our onely hye priest Hebre. v. the sacrifyce that he hath done for our synnes abydeth of valure for euermore 〈◊〉 ebre x. ☞ Forthermore likewyse as Christ our lord is ascended vp into heauen so shall he come agayne from heauen Act. i. wyth the dominion of his father with the angels Mat. xxv for to gyue euery man rewarde after his workes yea for to iuge y t quicke dead Act. x. Tim. iiii ☞ We beleue also in the holy gost god with the father the soÌ„ne which holy goste is a teacher of all chrysten Ioh. xiiii and he doth cloth them with his gyftes and giueth euery one the measure of feyth after his owne wyll i. Corin xii and kepeth them vnmouable in one fayth for he is a ruler of the christian congregacyon Acti xx He is also the anoyntement i. Iohn ii wherwith all christeÌ„ are anoynted and of that behalfe are called the anoynted of the lorde Psal. ciiii ☞ So is this holy gost geueÌ„ vnto the christeÌ„ as an erneste of theyr inherytaunce to theyr re dempcyon and they agayne be his owne to the prayse of his glorye Ephesi i. In summa it is impossible without this holy ghoste to knowe god ryghtly i. Cor. ii or with all the hole herte to beleue vpon hun i. Corin. xii or to call vpon him as a father Roma viii And therfore doth god poure this his holy ghoste vpon his chil dren wherby thei may rightly knowe him and ryghtly beleue in hym and as a ryght father call vpon hym Sata iiii ☞ This is our belefe to the father soÌ„ne and holy ghoste which thre we knowledge to be one god Deut. vi whose seate is the heauen and the erth is a benche of his fete Esay xivi yea the which is an euerlastynge ii Mach. i. an almyghty Psal. â—…v a ryhgtuouse Psa. ii and a mercyfull god Psal. cxiv The which alone wylbe worshypped and serued Deu. vi For he can alone helpe vs. Esaye xliii whyche he doth for his names sáke not for oure rygh tuousenes sake Esay rliii ☞ Forthermore as we haue said that al they that do beleue are ioyned togyther through the holy goost knitte in vnitie so is there a chri sten church the with is buylded of lyuing stones i. Pet. ii which church is the house of god Heb. iii. the house of god is the congregacion of God i. Timoi iii. and the congregacyon of God is the bodye of Christ. Ephesians i. And seynge that al right christians are one bodye 〈◊〉 Cor. r. in the which they al through one spirite are baptised i. Cor. rii So muste there be a coÌ„munion of sayntes namely that al sayntes or true beleuers are also ioyned togyther in vnitie as the membres of one body Rom. xii And in this coÌ„munioÌ„ of saintes is remission of sinnes that wout it is no sinne forgiueÌ„ nor any hope of saluacion Ephe. ii yea like as it is vnpossible y t a meÌ„bre caÌ„ lyue that is not in the bo dy so is it possible y t any man may lyue in hys soule caÌ„ be releaced out of death by remissioÌ„ of synne the which is not a meÌ„bre of the body of Christ. For Christ hath recoÌ„ciled vs al vnto god his father in one bodye Ephe. ii And ther fore must al they staÌ„de in variauÌ„ce y t are no 〈◊〉 bres of this body of y t which Christ is y t head Eph. i. to the which he giueth saluacioÌ„ Eph. 〈◊〉 ☞ Now must we also knowe that howe be it that God alwayes forgyueth synnes Esay xliii yet hath Christ giuen vnto his congregacion power to bynde and to lowse which shall not be vnderscaÌ„de after the antichrist doctrine the byshoppe of Rome hath power to remitte synnes but the christen congregacion whose heade is Christe and not the Romyshe Antechrist and is rewled of the holy gooste and not of the fornicatyshe spirite of the Prophetysse Iesabell Thys congregacion I saye hath power to bynde lowse that is to saye all what she byndeth other lowseth is done by the power of oure Lorde Iesu Christe i. Cor. v. and thorow the holy goste as a rewler of the christen congregacion Actu xx so is there in the christen congregacion remission of synnes ☞ There shal be also a general resurrection of the fleshe namely that all they that are dead shal ryse agayne some to euerlastyng lyfe and some to euerlasting dampnacion Iohn v And they that shall lyue and remayne vntyl the coÌ„myng of our Lorde Iesu Christe they shall be chaunged in the twynkelynge of an eye at the tyme of the last â—…ompet i. Corhin xv For the trompet sayth Paule shal blow and the dead shal ryse vncorruptible and we shalbe chaunged For this corruptible body must put on vn corruptibilitie and thys mortall bodye muste put on immortalitie i. Corhin xv ☞ At the laste is there also an euerlastynge lyfe Iohn xvii whyche all they shall receyue that beleue on Iesu Ihrist Iohn vl and stedfastlye abyde in good workes sekynge prayse honour and immortalitie Roma ii ☞ Thys is the summe of oure beliefe yea and a ryght christen beliefe thorowe the which fayth all ryghtuouse lyue Aâ—…ac ii And wyth out the whyth beliefe no man may please god Heb. xv Therfore must the euerlastynge God be blessed that out of his immeasurable mercy and grace hath gyuen vs thys fayth thorowe Iesu Christe Ephe. ii And this is the some of our fayth wyth the shortest ¶ The sacrament of Baptysme BAptysme is a sacramenttall token the whiche is geuen vs of Christe Math. xxviiii And is at the fyrste an entrynge into the christen congregacyon as Paule sayth we are baptysed in one spirite to be one bodye i. Corhi xii ☞ Secondarily it is a fountayne of regeneracion as Paul witnesseth saying that Christ hath saued vs by the fountayne of the newe byrthe and renewynge of the holy gooste Tit. 〈◊〉 Not that the water doth saue vs for nothynge can saue vs but ouely god Esay xliii But after that our Lorde Iesu christ hath spo ken that he that beleueth and is baptised shal be saued Mar. xvi and Goddes worde is veritie Iohan. xvii and his promyses maye not fayle Psal. cxlvii Therefore muste baptisme neadâ—…s bringe saluacion vnto them that in beliefe are baptised not for the workes sake but for goddes worde and promises Dâ—…u viii ☞ Thyrdely baptysme is a couenaunt of a good conscience to god i. Pet. iii. namelye that he that in beliefe is baptised bindeth him selfe or maketh a couenaunt with god that from thens forth he wyll lyue after hys wyll And of this couenauntes
and grace hathe gyuen vs a cleare vpryght fâ—…yth that he kepe and reserue vs forth in thys peryllous tyme frome all false doctrynes of the mynisters of the hellish Sathan And that we thorowe the Aungells coloure which they often tymes haue vpon them may not be perâ—…erted to â—…aue the trueth of god And fortherâ—…e do wee praye vnto the lorde that he wyll so strength and fortyfye vs with his holy gooste that we do not ware wery ofâ—…s sufferynge persecution for the ryghtuousnesset sake but that we maye be able to stande in all dreadfull sclaunder and tyrannous persecucions of the wycked Antechristes spirites yea and that we rather yf it be neade suffer thys bodely death byding in our fayth then we shoulde forsake it and dye eternally FroÌ„ the which eternal death the Lorde God preserue 〈◊〉 them that loue and seke hym wyth all theyr hert through Iesu Christe our Sauiour To whom be laude prayse honour maâ—…estie and dominion for euer Amen To the reader NOthing caÌ„ be so plain so manifest or opâ—… but the cauillour who seketh nothing els but doubtes wil finde abosidaunce of mattier therin to make the same at the fyrste syght to appeare harde obscure and darke In like maner he the lyueynge of the faythfull beleauers in Câ—…histe neuer so Godly and agreable to the truth be it neuer so quiet peaceable and ciuile yet wyl the aduersaries fynde mattier ynough to deface it so that the simple people shal iudge none other but that they be heretykes theyâ—… lyues aâ—…ominable theyr sayinges doynges sediciouse disquiet and sclaunderouse What man can deuyse to wryte more Godlye then Paule dyd to the Romaynes And yet were there some that sayed he woulde haue men to synne â—…o the intente that the mercye of God myght be the more aboundaunt in the forgiueynge of the same Roma iii. Who coulde leade so godly a lyfe in suche austeritie and hardenesse as Iohn the Baptiste dyd And dyd not the Iewse saye that he had a dyuell in hym To be bâ—…fe who conlde frequent the company of synners and misleueynge people wyth so perfyte crample of lyueynge haueynge so great force to drawe them from theyr wickednesse to folowe his example as Christe dyd And dyd not the Pharisies reporte hym to be a frende and maynteyner of euyll lyuers and open sâ—…ners Math. ri The same schole maister that instructed these false detractours hath also and doeth daylye instructe oure papistes in the â—…ame his documentes and playne lections The deuyll I saye leaueth not hys olde prâ—…actyse but kepeth his dearelye beloued â—…n â—…re wythal Yf any man preache or wryte of the iustificacion by fayeth and doe therin declare the vnworthinesse of vs and our workes whyche can desetue nothinge towarde our iustification incoÌ„tinent they câ—…e out vpon hym heretyke he sayeth men shal be saued thought they lyue neuer so vngodlye Vf he speake any thynge concernynge the abuse of the ceremonies and sacramentes what â—…rclamacions do they make howe do they reporte hym to be a sacramentarye Yf he speake anye thynge of Baptisme declaryng that neyther the holynes of the water neyther of the oyle can gyue the grace therin promised and that the was shynge in the founte auayleth not them that obserue not the profession they make there howe detestable an anabaptiste shall he be compted Of the supper of the Lorde who can wryte or speake any thynge concernyng the abuse therof but he is charged wyth the vtter deniall of the same That thou therfore christen reader mayst so wythdrawe thy credyt froÌ„ these false reporters that thou wylte but once thynke it possible that they maye belye these men whom they cal men of the newe learnyng I haue set forth thys lyttle boke wherein thou mayste se what fayth they haue that beare thys euyl reporte And that thou mayste thereby be prouoked fyrste to trye the spirites whether they be of God or not and after to credyt them euen as thou shalte fynde them worthye The prouerbe teacheth the that it is not all golde that glyttereth and we haue learned by experience that it is not all Gospell that the prieste preacheth Trye the golde therfore by the toutche stone â–ª the priestes preachinge by the worde of God Prouâ—… the spirites and knowe for certentie that that spirite is not of God whyche denieth that Christe is come in the fleshe And what other thynge is that then to denye that hys comynge in the fleshe is the sufficient and onelye satisfaction for oure synnes Who so euer he be therfore that denieth vs to be frelye redeamed by Christe wythout any part of our desertes the same denyeth Christe to be come in the fleshe If thou proue them therfore once to haue denyed on thys wyse that Christ came in the flesh I besech y â— euen for Christes sake to trye theyr reportes by the scripture or thou credyt them And theÌ„ as thou fyndest them so take them The Lorde open the eyes of thyne herte that thou mayst se the hydde and secretes abhominacions Amen ☞ Praye Christian reader that the worde of the Lord may haue free passage and that we may lyue a God ly lyfe there after that it may be acceptable in hys syght FINIS
behalfe whiche muste be done out of a cleane faythfull herte hath the baptysme powre and not for the waters sake wherwith the fylthynesse of the fleshe myghte be washed awaye But wythout it be that the hertes of them that are baptysed be cleansed Act. xv thorowe Goddes worde Iohn rv the water can not 〈◊〉 them Wherwith it is also proued that baptisme without fayth may in no wyse be broked ☞ Forthly baptisme sygnifieth an offeryng of the fleshe and a resurrectyon into a newe lyfe as we haue vnto the Romaines know ye not sayeth Paule that al we whiche are baptysed in the name of Iesu Christe are baptysed to dye wyth him Therfore are we buryed wyth hym by baptysme for to dye that lyke wyse as Christ was raysed vp from death by the glory of the father eueÌ„ so we should walke in a newe lyfe 〈◊〉 Rom. vi This is now shortly expressed what baptysme is and what it signifyeth Nowe muste we also knowe that seynge no good worke wythout fayth maye be done Rom. xiiii So muste he that shal be baptysed beleue or els he can not ryghtly be baptised as we maye clearelye vnderstande in the wordes of Christ Iesu wherwyth he hath institute this baptysme and commaunded his apostles sayinge Go and preache the gospell to 〈◊〉 creatures he that beleueth and is baptysed shalbe saued Mar. xvi Here wyll no sophistiâ—… reasonynges and dreames be alowed for the Lorde wyll destroye the wysedome of the wyse and wyll take awaye the vnderstanding of the prudent and wyl make the wisedome of thys worlde folishnesse i. Cor i. and. iii. But the worde of God shal abyde for euer i. Pet. i. And Christe sayeth that heauen and earth shal perishe but my wordes shal abide Mat. xxiiii Therfore muste also the wordes of Christe he that beleueth and is baptysed c. not be altered or chaunged And seynge that Christe hath instituted or ordeyned fayth afore baptisme so muste he that shal be baptised beleue or els the wordes of Christ suffereth force and are wholye and falsâ—…lye altered and chaunged as we now a dayes alas may â—…e and it is a miserable thynge that thys baptysme is so euyll vnderstande and so shamefully broken And seynge that the scripture doth so clearely therof wytnesse Though that all the wytnesses of scripture perteynyng to thys matter be not here alledged for the shortnesse sake yet do we take out one of them namely the example of the Apostle Philip which when he shewed Goddes worde vnto the gelded man whyche was the chamberlayne to Candas Quene of the Moryans and he him selfe desyred to be baptised but the â—…ewe minister of god Philip woulde not baptyse hym excepte he dyd not onely beleue but also openly coÌ„fessed it Act. viii This example is well worthye to be marked for â—…t the fyrste we maye se here the greate diligence and howe desyrous the chamberlayne was of baptysme whyche is a learnyng vnto al them that loue theyr saluacion that they shal desyre thys worke hertelye and not deferre it bâ—… as sone as they by hearyng of the worde of 〈◊〉 Roma x. wyth the operacion of the holy goâ—…st i. Cor. xiâ—… hath receyued fayth And yf there be any maÌ„ that wyl not be satisfied with this ensample of Philip let hym perceyue also howe Ananias dyd compel Paule saying vnto him why taryest thou aryse and be baptysed and washe a waye thy synnes Aâ—…tu xxii Here we se that Baptysme after the fayth is receyued maye not be deferred Therfore hath the cham berlayne with greate diligence desyred baptisme after that he dyd beleue saying vnto Philip Beholde here is water what shoulde lefte me to be baptysed Actuum viii Forthermore seynge â—…he trewe minister of God Philippe woulde not baptyse hym excepte he confessed his fayth doubtlesse he hath therwyth teached vs that all they that wyll be baptysed muste confesse theyr beliefe as ye se the chamberlayne dyd But for as muche as all the former scriptures are spoken of them onelye that bee of yeres of discretion before they receyue the fayeth of Christ It is no altering of the institution and worde of Christe to baptyse the innocentes and vnbeleuynge infauntes whyche haue not as yet receyued the vse of reason wherby they myght decerne fayth to beleue and professe the name of Christe For as in the circumsition of the olde lawe the fayth of the parentes sufficed to make the chylde one of the chosen people of God notwythstandyng that the circumsicion of the flesh is not circuÌ„sicion as Paule wrytteth to the Romaynes but the circumsion of the herte euen so in the baptisme of our infantes notwythstandynge that the washing of the body in water is not baptysme but the washynge of the soule in the bloude of Christe by fayth yet shall the fayth of the parentes be accepted of God and theyr chyldren made meÌ„bers of the churche of Christe therby Yf anye require wytnesses of the scripture for thys assersion lette hym reade and consyder well the storye of Samson and Samuell wyth other lyke storyes of the olde testament wherin may easilie be perceyued how god dyd then accepte the chyldren for the parentes fayth Let him coÌ„ syder also the stories of the gospel wherin appeareth how Christ woulde not haue the chyldreÌ„ kepte froÌ„ him when theyr pareÌ„tes brought them to hym that he myght laye his handes vpon them and how certeyne chyldren were cured of diseases euen for the fayeth that was founde in theyr parentes And laste of all it is euident both in the Actes and Epistles of the Apostles that when certeyne men receyued the gospell both they and theyr whole housholdes were baptysed Where it is not to be thought that the infantes were reiected bycause they could not vnderstande the Apostles preaching For saynte Paule wrytiynge to the Corhinthians as concernynge the chyldren begotten betwene an heathen man and a faythfull woman or betwene an heathen woman a faythfull man sayeth that the chyldren are cleane by the reasone that one of his parentes is faythfull And what other thynge shoulde â—…e meane therâ—…y but that God accepteth those chyldren for members of his churche whom the faythfull parentes do wyllyngly brynge to the foun tayne of regeneratioÌ„ there to receyue the signe of the euerlastynge couenaunte betwene God and vs And yf any man wyl wyllingly withstande Christe and his Apostles and do other wyse then Christe hath commaunded and his Apostles taughte and dyd he is blynded but his blyndnesse shall waxe manifest well ynough Lykewyse as the Egypcians sorcerars the whiche wythstode Moyses and Aaron but at the laste were manifestlye seen and knowen ii Timo. iii. Thys is wyth the shortest the fayth of our baptisme ¶ Of the supper of the lorde THe supper of the lorde is a memoriall tokeÌ„ of the suffering and death of Iesu Christe and is instituted of Chryste for this cause that the faythfull congregacyon of Iesu Chryst sholde come togyther for to shewe the death of Iesu Chryst