Repentaunce and remission of synnes or as sainct Paule sayeth a regeneration or newe byrth for the dippyng into the water signieth the olde man to be mortified wyth synne the commynge vp agayne or deliueraunce out of the water signifieth the newe man to be washed and clensed and reconciled vnto God the father the sonne and the holy goste For the father receyueth the for his sonnes sake and doth promise vnto the the holy goste wherewyth he wyll geue the lyfe and sanctifie the. ☞ What is the vse of Baptisme ⧠That we may iudge thorowout aloure lyfe that remission of synnes and reconcilynge is sette furth and geuen vnto vs. For although we do fall yet vnto them whiche do amende their lyuyng the couenaunt whiche we promised vnto God in tyme paste auayleth and lowseth not the vertue because the Gospel testifieth that they whiche do amende be forgeuen ☞ May baptisme be receiued agayne or no ⧠The token oughte not to be receyued or taken agayne for the receyuynge of the ceremonie agayne auayleth nothynge And the token once receyued is a perpetuall note and a perpetual testimonie Lyke as circumcision once done was a perpetual witnesse of the bonde of God wrytten in the bodies of them whiche were circumcised Moreouer we ought to exercise the fayth of this couenaunte wyth ofte callynge it to remembraunce and keepe it so longe as we lyue Therefore it is sayed that repentaunce is nothynge elles but remembraunce of our Baptisme ☞ What difference is betwene the baptisme of Iohn and of the Apostles ¶ Goeth the Baptisms be the office and ministerie of the newe testamente and require fayth in Christ The baptisme of Iohn did testifie that Christ shoulde come The Baptisme of the Apostles testified that he was come and by that fayeth were as well they whiche Iohn Baptised as they whiche were baptised of the Apostles sanctified and saued But that Iohn sayeth I baptise in water vnto repentaunce but he whiche shall come after me wyll baptise wyth the holie goste c. He maketh no difference betwene the offices or ceremonies but betwene the personnes of the ministers the person of Christe For he testifieth that Christe is the Lorde wherby that baptisme is vertuouse which woulde geue the holie goste and euerlastynge lyfe and he professeth hym selfe to be a ministre which geueth only the outwarde signe and preacheth the worde ¶ Of the baptisme of Infantes prouynge that chyldren oughte to be baptised FYrste Christ sayth Iohn .iii. Vnles a man be renewed by water the holy goste he can not enter into the kyngdome of God This sentence is vniuersal and it testifieth that al which shal be saued ought to be renewed wyth water that is to say to be baptised therfore chylder must be baptised also that thei may be saued ⧠Seconde of the tradicion of the Apostles For so writeth Origen vpon the sixte Chapter vnto the Rom. The churche receyued a tradition of the apostles to ministre baptisme also vnto chylder For they vnto whom the secretes of the misteries of God was committed dyd know that there was natural filthinesse of synne in all men which ought to be abolished by water the spirite So doeth Ciprian Austen proue the baptisynge of chylder ¶ Thyrde by the reason whiche is broughte out of the scripture It is certeyne the kyngdome of God and promise of the Gospell to perteyne vnto chylder But wythout the churche is no saluation Therefore chylder muste be grafted and planted into the churche and the token muste be ministered vnto thē which maye testifie that the promise belōgeth vnto thē The maior is certeyne for Christe saith lette the childer come vnto me for vnto suche belongethe the kyngedome of heauen Also it is not my fathers wil whiche is in heauen that one of these litel on s shall perysh Also the angels of them dooe euer see the face of the father The minor is manyfeste For there is no saluation wythout the churche where neyther the worde nor yet the sacramentes be ministred For the churche is the kyngedome of Christ in the which christ is effectually by his word and sacramētes Therefore the conclusion foloweth that chylder oughte to be baptysed that they receyuynge the signe may be made membres of the churche and that God may giue vnto them hys promesse ☞ But the Anabaptistes obiect saiyng Seing childer do not vnderstande the worde they can not beleue wherfore the Sacramentes do not profects them ☞ Agaynst this argument fyrst of all muste we sette the example of the Infantes which were circumcised whiche also dyd not vnderstand the word and yet auayled the couenaunte or bonde and God did receiue them for his promise sake ¶ Secondarilye we muste answere althoughe they do not vnderstande the worde yet is it certayne that God taketh effecte in them accordynge vnto thys vnlesse a man be renewed by water c. Nor it belongeth not to vs to searche howe God doth worke in thē It is inough to knowe that the kyngdome of God doeth certaynely perteyne vnto chylder Wherupon it foloweth that God taketh effecte in them ¶ Of the Supper of the Lorde ☞ What is the Lordes supper THe supper of the Lorde is a sacramente of Christes bodye and bloude wherein is called into remembraunce the offering vp of Christes bodye and the shedynge of hys bloude for vs wherein also Christen men gyue thankes to all myghtye God for their redemption ☞ By how many names is thys sacrament named ⧠The scripture calleth it the supper of the Lorde the communion a Testamente and it is called of the doctours Eucharistia Sinaris ¶ Wherfore is it called the supper of the lord ⧠Because lyke as in an other cōmon suppers breade and wyne do norishe strenghten mens bodies so Christe whiche is the heauenlye breade in thys hys supper norisheth comforteth strenghtheneth and cherisheth oure soules ☞ Why is it called a Testamente ¶ Because remission of all oure synnes is promised vnto vs in it thorowe the bloude of Christe ☞ Why is it called communion Because it teacheth vs that we ought al to be in loue and charitie and mēbers of one body wherof Christe is the heade ☞ Why is it called Eucharistia Because we oughte to magnifye hys death and giue thankes al togither for oure redemption ☞ Saye the wordes of the Lordes supper ¶ Oure Lorde Iesus Christe in that same nyght wherein he was betrayed dyd take breade and when he had gyuen thankes he brake it and gaue it vnto hys disciples sayeinge Take and eate thys is my bodye whyche is gyuen for you Thys doe in my remembraunce In lyke maner the cuppe also after he had supped and when he had gyuen thankes he dyd gyue it vnto them sayeing drynke all of thys Thys cuppe is the newe testamente in my bloude whiche is shed for you and for many in remission of synnes do this howe ofte so euer ye shall dryncke it in the remembraunce of me
partes accordynge vnto the condicion or greatenes of the faute and accordynge vnto theyr synnes so hadde they theyr rules or canonnes ☞ What is satisfaction after the papystes ¶ It is to do certayne workes prescribed to redeme paynes out of purgatorye or other temporall paines For the papistes say that synne is not forgyuen by absolution but the euerlastyng paine that was due for the synnes to be chaunged into temporall payne of purgatorye Then after saye they that some of those synnes be forgyuen by the powre of the keyes and some to be redemed wyth oure satisfactions that is with thos appointed workes So then do they teache that satisfactions deserue remission and to be a recōpence of euerlasting paines ☞ From whence commeth satisfactyon of the papistes ⧠In old time famouse sinners were not receyued into the churche wythoute open chastysynge for a certayne tyme thys was called open repentaūce and satisfaction and it was a certain outwarde and polityke order instituted by men not that it was satisfaction before God or that synnes were therefore forgyuen Afterwardes that order beynge abolyshed the worde onlye of satisfaction remayned Whereupon vnlearned men afterwardes made of a politicke order a spirituall order as a thinge necessary for remission of sinnes What is to be iudged of remission of payne and whether the keys can charg one wyth punyshment or take it away or no ⧠Fyrste of all it is to be knowē that remission as well of synne as punishment is of oure parte the vndeserued benifit of Christ and that we are deliuered both from sin and euerlastinge death ☞ Thē is dyfference to be made betwene euerlastynge payne and temporall payne for althoughe remission of euerlastyng payn be ioined with the remissyō of the syn yet neuerthelesse holy mē in this lyfe suffer cōmō miseres of mākind as corporal death and other miseries wherof Paule sayth the bodye is mortified for sinne ▪ And god somtyme punisheth for certayne sins lyke as dauid suffered punishmēt for hys adultry But that is not vniuersal for synnes be forgiuē with out the due punyshmēt Thyrdly The punishmēt whiche god doth ioyne can no powre of keyes remitte nor they haue no commandemēt of remittynge or enioining anye suche punishmente ¶ Fourthlye it is to be knowen that suche punishmentes be ofte mytigated or eles taken altogyther awaye by oure repentaunce Lyke as many tymes boeth common and pryuate myseries were mitygated by repentaunce as Paul sayeth if we woulde iudge our selfe we shuld not be iudged of the Lorde Fiftly aduersityes of mē be not alwayes punyshmentes for certayne synnes as the aduersytyes of Iob and other saintes Also the punishmēt of the Apostles and martyrs but they be synguler workes of god wherewyth the fayth of holy mē is exercised and the glorye of God is set furth Moreouer vertuouse men must iudge also thys to be the end and purpose of suche paynes and aduersityes that they be not tokens of the wrath of god but of goddes good wil that is to saye that god wyl them to be exercyses wherewyth synne maye be abolyshed out of vs and the spirituall newenes maye growe Nor godlye men oughte not to esteme that they be caste awaye of God as Paule sayeth We be corrected of the Lorde leste we shoulde be condemned with this world ¶ Of absolucion ☞ What is absolution IT is a certification of remissyon of synnes and of the mercye of God toward synners For so sayeth Christ Math. xviii what so euer ye louse vpō earth it shal be loused in heauen And. Iohn xx whose synnes ye shall forgyue they shal be forgiuen ☞ Maye a man haue ofter then once remission of synnes Yes when Peter axed Christ howe ofte shall I forgyue my brothere He answered seuentye tymes seuē tymes Paul saieth If a man be possessed with any syn ye that be spirituall correcte hym in the spirite of gentilnes And the churche prayeth daily forgiue vs our faultes And Christe sayeth Luke .xv. There is Ioye amonge the Angeles of god for one sinner which doeth repent ☞ Dooe the Nouatians and Catharines rightly deny that they which fall after Baptisme dooe not obtayne remissyon of synnes Those heretikes do mischeuously erre For manye exāples maye be shewed boeth of the olde testament and the newe where they whyche were fallen dyd purches remission of sinnes and absolucion of Christe and the churche For an example by Dauid manasses Peter The church of the Galathyās was fallen called againe to repētaūce by Paul And Paule hym selfe commaundeth the lecherouse mā of the Corrinthians to be receiued after repentaūce The Lord speaketh also by Ezechiel xxxiii I lyue sayeth the Lord I wyl not the death of a synner but rather that he be conuerted and lyue Here doeth god make an oth the cōsciēces this maye be comforted and lifted vp when they here not onely the promis but also that it is established wyth an othe ☞ But what say ye to the places of the Epistel to the Hebrues .vi. It is impossible that they which be once lightened c. And .x. the whiche sinne voluntarily c. ⧠These places dooe not denye them whiche be fallen to returne vnto grace the benifit of Christ For the fyrste place intreateth of the cursed blasphemars obstinate personnes whych agaynste their owne conscience do persecute the word of god and do so sore dispise admoniciō and repentaunce that they supposinge them selfe sure dooe triumphe and dooe greately reioice in thē selfe for their wisdome because they were so bolde as to mocke the worde of God These can not be renued so long as they continue and crucyfye Christe and do not obey the gospell The other place commaundeth to kepe the fauour and benifit of Christe and to be ware that it be not loste For he which loseth the benifit of Christ is accused of iudgement ☞ Is there a synne whyche can not be forgyuen ¶ Christe Math. xii maketh distinction betwene the syn whyche may be forgyuen and that which cannot be forgyuen Who so euer speaketh a word agaynst the sonne of manne it shal be forgeuen hym But he whych speaketh a worde against the holye goste shall not be forgyuen neythere in thys worlde nor in the world to come And Iohn sayeth He whych knoweth hys brothere to commytte a synne whyche is not deadelye lette hym praye for hym and it shall be forgyuen him But ther is a synne vnto death I saie not that anye manne shal praye for it ☞ Which is syn agaynste the holye gooste ☞ Saynte Austyne vnderstandeth synne agaynst the holy goste eyther in them whiche continually do neuer repent and whych receyue not the Gospell or eles desperation For these synnes be plainly contrary vnto grace and dooe reiecte it Other synnes when we fleye vnto grace be forgeuen Therfore S. Augustine doeth so interprete the sayenge of Christe He that speaketh a worde agaynst the holy gost that is to saye he which finally doeth forsake and cast a waye
euerlasting death is ouercome euerlastyng lyfe is purchessed Therefore in this sentēce also it is necessary that faith be not takē for the naked knoledg of the history but for the true trust of mercy which purchesseth remission of synnes and cōforteth our hertes and deliuereth vs frome feare and certifyeth vs of euerlastynge lyfe ☞ What then Is the knowledge of the historie to be wythdrawen from fayth No but it is necessary to beleue al the Articles of faith Yet it is not sufficyent to know the historye onely but the hystorye is to be referred vnto the finall cause whyche is the Crede that is to say I beleue remission of sinnes For this is the vse of the history That thou beleue Christ the son of God therefore to be borne in fleshe to haue suffered and risen vp againe that thou shuldest obtayne remissyon of synnes and euerlastyng lyfe ☞ What is the profession of the Christen fayeth ¶ Ther be thre Symboles Credes or professions of the Articles of oure fayeth the common crede of the Apostles that whiche was made in the counsell at Nicene And the thyrd of Athanasius ☞ Reherse the apostles Crede i. I beleue in God the father allmighti maker of heauē and earth ii And in Iesus Christ his onely son our Lorde iii. Which was cōceiued bi the holie gost borne of the vyrgyn Mari. iiii Suffered vnder ponce Pilat crucifyed dead and buried v. He descended into hel the third daye he rose from death vi He ascēded vnto heauen he sytteth at the right hande of god the father almyghty vii Frome these he shall come to iudg the quicke and the dead viii A beleue in the holy gost ix The holy catholike church the communion of Sayntes x. Remission of synnes xi Resurrection of the flesh xii And euerlastyng lyfe ☞ Saye the crede of the counsel at Nicenum ⧠I beleue in one god father al mightie maker of heauē earth al things visible vnuisible And in one lord Iesus christ the only be gotten son of god borne of hys father before the worlds god of god light of very light god of veri god begottē not made like in substāce vnto his father by whom he created althings Which for vs men and for our helth came downe frō heauen and is incarnate by the holie gost of the virgin Marye and made man crucified also vnder pōce Pilat suffered rose the .iii. day according to the scriptures he ascēded into heauen He sytteth at the ryght hand of god the father shal come againe with glorie to iudge the quick the dead whose kingdō is wtout end And in that holy gost the lord which giueth life which procedeth from the father the son which also wyth the father and the sonne is worshypped like glorified which hath spoken by the Prophetes And one holye catholike and apostolycal church I acknowledg one Baptysme in remission of synnes I loke for the resurrectiō of the deade the lyfe of the world to come So be it ¶ Say the crede of Athanasius ☞ Who so euer wil be saued before al thinges it is necessari that he kepe the general faith Which vnles euery man obserue perfecte and vndefyled he shall wtout doubt euerlastingly perish But this is the catholike fayeth that we worshipe one god in trinite and the Trinite in vnite Neyther confoundynge the persons nor seperatyng the substāce For the personne of the father is one of the son an other and of the holy gost an other But of the father and the sonne and the holy goste is one diuinitye equalle glorye lyke euerlastynge maiesty Lyke as their be not thre vncreated nor thre vnmeasurable but one vncreated and one vnmeasurable Likewise the father is almighty the son almyghtye and the holye goste almyghtye And yet be ther not thre almightyes but there is one almightye Euen so the father is god the son is god and the holy goost is god And yet be there not thre goddes but one god So the father is lorde the sonne is Lord and the holy gost is lord And yet be their not thre Lordes but ther is one Lorde For lyke as we be compelled by christen veritye to acknowledge euery persō one after an other to be god or Lorde so be we forbydden wyth catholyke religyon to saye that there be thre goddes or thre lordes The father is made of none other neither created nor yet begotten The son is of the father only not made nor created but begotten The holy gost is of the father and the son not made nor created nor begotten but procedyng Therfore ther is one father not .iii. fathers one son not iii. sonnes on holy gost not thre holy gostes And in thys trinite their is nothynge before nor after nothyng greater nor lesse But the whole thre personnes be like euerlastynge wyth their selfe and lyke equall So that in al thynges as it is nowe aboue sayde and that the trinity is to be worshipped in vnitie the vnity in the Trinitie Wherfore he whych wylbe saued let hym so iudge of the Trinitie But it is necessarye for euerlastyng health that he beleue faithfully also the incarnacion of our Lord Iesus Christ Therefore it is ryght faieth that we beleue and confesse that our lord Iesus Christe the son of god is god and man He is god of the substaunce of his father gotten before the worldes and he is mā of his mother borne in the world Perfect God and perfecte man of a reasonable soule and mans flesh subsistyng Equall vnto hys father accordynge vnto hys dyuynytye lesse then hys father accordynge vnto hys humanity Whiche althought he be god and mā yet be their not two but ther is one Christ But one not in conuersion of the godheade into flesh but in takeyng of manhead in god One altogither not in confusion of substaunce but in vnitye of personne For lyke as a reasonable soule and fleshe is one man so Christ is one God and man Whyche suffered for oure saluacion wente downe vnto hell and the thirde day rose from the dead He went vnto heauen sitteth at the right hande of god the father almyghty Frō thense he shal come to iudge the quicke and the deade Vnto whose commynge all men shall ryse wyth theyr bodies And they shall gyue a counte of their owne dedes And they whiche haue done well shall enter into euerlastinge lyfe but they whyche haue done euell into euerlastynge fyre This is the catholyke fayth whiche vnlesse euery man do faythfullye beleue he can not be saued ¶ Of God ☞ What is God GOd is a spirituall vnderstandinge substaunce the euerlastinge maker keper and defender of al thinges of one endles wysdome goodnes ryghtuousnes and mercy ☞ Shewe wytnes of the vnite of God ¶ Deut .vi. Heare Israell Thy Lord god is one Lord Esai xliiii I am the fyrste and the laste and besyde me is there no god And xlv I am god nor there
is no more besyde me i. Corinthy .viii. We knowe that an Idole is nothing in the world and there is none other God but one Eph. iiii One God and father of all aboue al and by all i. Timothe .ii. There is one God and one medyatoure of God and man ☞ Howe manye persones of the godhead be there ☞ There is only one godly substaunce but it is attributed vnto thre personnes that is ta saye the father the sonne and the holy goste which be Homousii or of one substaunce lyke vnmeasurable and lyke euerlasting ☞ What signifieth a person here ☞ A person is an vndeuidable substaunce in vnderstandyng How prouest thou that their be thre personnes Christe coÌ„maundeth al people to be baptised in the name of the father of the son of the holy goost Here by name we these personnes rehersed lyke in substaunce or homousii Alâ—o the profession of the crede testifieth the same Where we confesse our selfe to beleue in the father the sonne and the holy gost Math iii. be the personnes manifestlye perceyued when the holye gost appeareth in the similitud of a doue and the voice of the father is herd testifieng of the son This is my welbeloued sonne c. Item Ioan .xv. When the holye gooste shall come whom I wyll send you from my father Heare be thre persons ioyned togyther the holy goost commyng or sente the son sendyng and the father .i. Iohn .v. Ther be thre whych bere wytnes the father the sonne and the holy goost And these thre be one ⧠What is the father ⧠He is the fyrste person of the godhead euerlastyng vnmeasurable vnbegotteÌ„ and hauing his beyng of no man ☞ Who is the sonne ☞ He is a personne of the godhead gotten of hys father before the world homousius or lyke in substaunce vnto his father and lyke euerlasting ☞ What signifieth in the begynnyng was the worde ⧠Logos or the word is called of Iohn the sonne of god whiche is the fecond person Therefore thys is the signification in the beginning was the word that is to say the son of god was in the beginning froÌ„ euer Wherefore is he called logos or the word ☞ Because he is the personne whiche speaketh whyche hath euer spoken from the begynnynge vnto the fathers ☞ Proue that logos or the worde signifieth a person whiche is by it owne nature God Iohn speakethe of the worde that it was in the beginning that is to saye that it is euerlastyng Nowe if the worde were in the begynninge before the creatynge of althinges Therfore it is no creature but lyke euerlastinge vnto the father Then when he saith the word was wyth God Heare doeth he playnely make difference betwen the persones that the personne of the father is one and the person of the word an other A Thirdly he sayth and god was the word Heare testifieth he clearlye that the wordeis God For thys partycle Logos or Verbum is put here in the place of subiectum lyke as the greke article added therunto doeth shewe But the particle Deus is put in the place of predicatum After that the said Iohn sheweth of the word that he was in the worlde and the worlde was made by hym These be the wordes whiche muste be necessarilye vnderstanded of a parson wherein is godly nature So the other places also whyche saye that all was created by the son testifye the worde to be a persone whyche is by it owne nature God For it is certayne that the world was not builded by his manhead Coloss i. All be builded by hym and in hym and he is before althyng and al thynges do consiste by him Item Coliss ii In him dwelleth the fulnes of the godheade corporally Hebru i. by whom he made also the worldes whyche is the bryghtnes of shining and the Image of hys substauÌ„ce beryng al thiÌ„ges in the word of his power c i. Iohn .i. That which was from the begynnyng that we haue heard and that we haue sene that oure handes haue touched the worde of life that do we shew Iohn vi What if ye shal se the son of a man ascendynge wher he was before Iohn xvii Glorifye me O father wyth the glory whych I had before the worlde wyth the. Iohn viii I was before Abraham was borne Iohn .v. Like as the father rayseth vp and quyckeneth the deade so quickneth the same also whom he wyll Also what so euer he doeth that doeth the son also Iohn .x. I gyue euerlastyng lyfe vnto them etc. Iohn .xv. He sayeth that he sendeth the holye gost When the holy gost comforter shal come whom I wyll send you from my father And a littel after if I shal not depart the holi gost coÌ„forter shal not come But if I shal go I wyl send him vnto you Ioan .xx. Thomas calleth openly my Lord and my God Rom. ix Which is aboue al a blessed God c. ☞ What is the holy gost It is a godly person lyke euerlastynge and lyke in substaunce vnto the father and the son procedynge from theÌ„ boeth ☞ Shewe witnesses whyche proue that the holy gost is a personne and by nature God I haue said before that the personnes be manyfestelye deuided when Christe sayeth baptisynge them in the name of the father and the sonne and the holy goste So Mathew .iii. and Luke .iii. The personnes be deuyded The voyce of the fathere speaketh of Christe thys is my well beloued sonne Here be two distincte personnes of the father speking and testifiyng Christ to be his sonne Thirdly besyde that also the holy goste is described to appere in the lykenes of a doue whiche is neyther the father nor the son Iohn xiiii I wyll praye my father and the other conforter that he shal giue it you Also the comforter whom the father wil send in mi name he shall teach you al things Also he shal not speake of him selfe but he shal speake that which he shal heare Iohn .xv. When the comforter shal come whome I wyl send you from mi father he shal beare witnes of me Ro. viii Ye be not in flesh but in spirit If so be that the spirite of god inhabite you But if any man haue not the spirit of Christe he is not hys Also if the spirite of him which raised Iesus froÌ„ the dead do dwell in you c. These places dooe manyfestelye declare and decerne the holye gost from the father and the son and testifye hym to be the spirite of the father and the son In the same place Thys spirite gyueth witnes vnto oure spirite c. i. Peter .i. of the which health the prophetes haue sought and searched inquirynge in or at what tyme the spirite of Christe shewynge before woulde signifie vnto them those aduersityes which be in Christe Heare doeth he clearelye testifye that the holy gost was before the sonne of God dyd take fleshe vpon hym and he calleth him the spirite
were all taughte of the Lord Also Iohn .v. wythout me can ye do nothynge ☞ If ye teach so men wyl be affrayd from the desire of obeynge beleuynge and doynge good workes ☞ So greate is the frowardnes of mans iudgemente that when oure infirmyty is shewed vnto vs the helpe of the holy gost promised men be made more slow vnto the studye of good workes wheÌ„ thys doctryne of the gospell should rather prouoke stirre vp and in flame vs to call vpon god praie for the helpe of god In this battel the mynd must be exhorted that with al diligeÌ„ce it kepe the worde it maye not be councelled that it shal not labour and enduour it selfe but it muste be taught that she promesse is vniuersal and that it ought to beleue the promesse For Paule sayeth the holye goste healpeth oure infirmitye And Saynte Basilius sayeth God doth preuente vs he calleth vs but we muste take hede that we do not resyste For we must not giue oure selues vnto naturall mistruste or stowethfulnes Can a man do somthing by hys owne powre ¶ Althoughe ther be greate infirmitie in the godly holimen yet is ther a certayne lyberty of wyll WheÌ„ it is then helped of the holy gooste it can do somthynge in auoidynge of outward fautes and crimes therefore the helpe of the holy goste must be amplyfied and sharpened with our deligeÌ„ce So Paul commauÌ„deth vs to beware leste wee shall receyue the grace of god in vayne and Christe promiseth to gyue the holy gost not vnto them which be idle not vnto them whiche dispise it not vnto them whiche resist it not vnto them whyche praye for it Luke .xi. And god encreaseth the gyftes in them whyche vse them rightly as the similitude of them whyche exercyse marchaundyse doeth teache ☞ But what iudgest thou of the opinion of the manicheis ☞ I do not allowe the dotynge of the Maniche is whiche attrybute no actioÌ„ at al vnto the wil no not when the holye gooste helpeth it as there were no differeÌ„ce betwene a stocke and oure wyll Ecclesiasticus sayeth God lefte man in the powre of his counsel Here say I that oure wyll in godly actions and diligeÌ„tnes is not idle but yet that it muste be holpen of the holye goste and so is it verely more fre Saynte Hierome dyd teache two sentences of the whiche the one doth interprete the other these be they Accurssed be he whyche sayeth God hath commaunded vnpossible thynges And agayne he which sayeth that we can fulfyll the commaundemeÌ„tes of god wythout the grace of God accurssed be he Of the diuisioÌ„ of fre wil SOme deuid fre wil in to fre wyll before the falle and fre wyll after the falie ☞ What is fre wyl before the fale ¶ It was perfecte at full libertye of chosinge as wel good thynges as euell of kepynge the commaundementes of god as not kepynge them accordynge vnto fre wyl godly infired and imprynted in the creacion So Ecclesisti xv He setteth fyre and water before the reache thy hand vnto whiche thou wylt That fre wyl was before the falle of man suche as is yet in holy angelles Now by reason of syn the libertye of chosinge good thynges spiritual is abolished accordynge vnto thys a natural maÌ„ doth not perceyue those thynges whyche be of the spirite of God Adam might by that libertye haue done as well good as euell loued God as hated hym And euen so the Angelles whyche when they chosed the euell they dyd falle ☞ What is fre wyll after the fal ¶ In nature corrupted remaineth as yet a certeyne iudgemeÌ„t of the lawe vnderstandyng what ought to be done whiche neuerthelesse oure wyll can not bringe to passe vnlesse the holye gooste come and helpe oure wyl and endeuores in outewarde thynges Our wil hath power of outward thynges wythout the reneweynge of the holye gooste whyche neuerthelesse maye be hyndered of the deuell ☞ What then is lefte vnto oure arbitrâ—mente in spiritual thinge ☞ A certayne iudgemente of those thynges to be done whiche is the lawe of nature wyll endeuoure study course thynkynge whyche all be nothynge vnlesse the holye gooste come thereto wherefore the Apostle prayeth eeuerye where for the churches whereunto he wryteth that God woulde vouchsafe to make perfecte that Good thynge that he hadde begonne in them ¶ Of predestination ☞ What is predestination IT is a certayne fore ordeynyng of god wherby al thynges come to passe as well inwarde as outwarde workes and thoughtes in all creatures accordynge vnto the decre of the wyll of god Election or choyse whereby God hath chosen vs in hym selfe before the grounde workes of the world were laied that we should be vnreprouable before hym by charity that he myght by electioÌ„ chose vs to be hys chylder by Iesus Christ in hym selfe according vnto the pleasure of hys wyll Ephe v. And Mathe. x. of the two sparowes c. ☞ Wherupon must predestinatioÌ„ beginne â–ª Not of the lawe nor yet of reason but of the gospell wherby the promesse is vniuersalle If anye man searche for the cause of election wythout the gospel he must nedes erre Besyde that if anye man go aboute to make a pertycular promyse of the vnyuersall promyse he shall make the promise plainly vncertaine and take away fayth Wherefore predestinacion must be estemed by the vniuersal promise That done no other occasioÌ„ shal remayne of troublynge of mynde wyth anye particularnes How many maners of predestination be ther ¶ Two One of obligatioÌ„ or necessitie and the other of coÌ„dition ObligacioÌ„ is the necessytye of present thinges as if a thing apeare to be preseÌ„t by the prouisioÌ„ of god the of necessite must come to passe although it haue no natural necessity as it is necessary that al men be mortall God so prouidynge ConditioÌ„ is as if Adam shal eate of the apple he shal dye If Israell shal walke in the way of the lord and kepe his commaundementes it shal be saued if thou shalt receyue the gospel and beleueinge stycke vnto it vnto the ende of thy life thou shallt be saued but if thou wilte not receyue it thou shalt be condempned So Saynte Austyne God made predestination wyth man â–ª that if he woulde be obedyente vnto hym and abstaine from the tasting of the forbiden apple he shoulde remayne in lyfe but if he woulde be disobedient he shoulde be in daunger of death For we be predestinate vnder a condicyon that if we wyll receyue the worde we shall be the chylder of God if not we shal be condempned ii Timothe .ii. Paule sayeth If anye man wylle pourge hymselfe from these that is to saye frome false and vngodlye doctrines he shal be a vessell sanctifyed into the honor applyed vnto the vse of the Lorde prepared vnto euery good worke ☞ Shew places of the scripture whiche declare the promisse to be vniuersal ¶ Paule Romaynes .iii. The ryghtuousnesse of God by the fayeth of Iesus Christe whyche is in all and
What is the principal ende of this supper ¶ The principal ende of this supper is that it maye be a token of the promise of Christe towarde vs monishyng vs and testifying that the benefites of Christe be gyuen vnto vs and therfore it auayleth to stirre vp and confirme our fayeth There be also other endes that is to saye thankesgyuynge for so greate a benifite Also that wee maye be prouoked vnto good workes and to eschewe sinne because we heare nowe that we be made membres of Christes bodye and that Christ wyl take effect in vs. Also the fruite of loue charitie must folowe that we one toward an other do the offices of loue as cōmune mēbres of Christes body ☞ What is the holsome vse of this supper ¶ When we hauynge fayeth do vse it wherby we beleue that the benifites of Christ do truly come vnto vs that is to saye remission of synnes and that we be truly grafted in Christe and that he wyll take effecte in vs as in his owne membres Thys beleue causeth the vse of thys Sacramente to be holsome vnto vs and it cōforteth our consciences And the vse of thys Ceremonie doeth not auayle wythout thys fayeth lyke as the vnlearned do sometyme Imagine them selfe to purchase remission of synnes by the selfe worcke of receyuynge that is to saye because they come and do vse the Sacramente with other Lyke as the Papistes taughte the Messe to auayle by the worcke whiche is wroughte ☞ I reason agaynste the where thou sayests the vse of the Lordes supper to be to confirme and establishe our fayeth ¶ No outwarde thyng but onely the holye goost doeth confirme oure fayth The vse of the supper is an outwarde thynge Therefore by thys worcke oure fayeth is not confirmed I answer vnto the maior It is true that the holye goste doeth onely confirme oure fayeth but he doeth vse outwarde tokens as it were instrumentes wherewith he doeth admonyshe vs and by them as certayne testymonyes and seales doeth stirre vp and confirme our fayeth none otherwyse then by the word he admonisheth moueth and stirreth vp our herts to beleue c. What is the worthy preperation and to whō ought thys sacrament to be ministred ¶ They come and receiue it worthyly which doing repentaunce and beinge afrayed for their synnes do seeke conforte beleuynge that their sinnes be forgeuē accordyng vnto the promise of Christ and for the cōfirmation and establishynge of thys fayeth doe vse thys sacrament as a witneshing or testimonie of remission of synnes And because they muste vse this sacrament which do repente therfore the churche in tyme past dyd dryue them frome the communion whiche were open synners Nor they oughte not to be admitted vnto the supper of the Lorde whiche be manifest and open euyl doars and wyl do no repentaunce ☞ What difference is betwene a sacrament and a sacrifice ¶ Sacramentum is a cerimonie or token of promission whereby God promiseth or giueth vnto vs a certeyne thyng So was circumsicion a certeyne token whereby God promised that he woulde receyue the circumcised Baptisme is a token whereby God worketh wyth vs and receiueth vs into grace and he hym selfe doeth in a maner baptise vs for the minister doeth baptise in the steede of Christe ☞ Sacrificium is a ceremonie or a worcke of oures whiche we gyue vnto God wherby we may honour him that is that we may testifie vs to acknowledge hym vnto whome we make suche obedience to be true God and that for that cause we geue hym suche obedience ¶ Of sacrifices ☞ How many kindes of sacrifices be there TWo The one is called propiciatoriū that is whiche obteyneth mercie and appeaseth the wrath of God The other is called Eucharisticū that is to saye of thankes geuynge ⧠What is sacrificiam propiciatorium ⧠It is a worcke whyche deserueth for other remission of sinnes and euerlastynge punishmente or a worcke reconcilynge God or appeasynge his wrath for other men a satisfaction for synne and euerlastyng death ☞ And there is only one sacrifice which deserueth remission of sinnes that is to saye the passion or death of Christ Hebrues .ix. Certeyne sacrifices in the lawe were called propitiatoria not because they deserue remission of synnes before God but because they dyd siginifie the sacrifice of Christe whiche was to come ☞ What is a sacrifice of thankes geuing ¶ Not that which deserueth remission of synnes or reconcilyng but it is done of vs whiche be reconciled that for receyuynge of remission of synnes and for other benifites we maye gyue thankes vnto God wyth thys oure obedience ☞ Whiche be sacrifices Eucharisticall or of prayse ¶ In the lawe were offeringes washinges restoringe firste fruites tithes c. Nowe by fayeth preachinge of the Gospel inuocation gyuinge of thankes confession the crosse humility the aduersities afflictions of sayntes prayer also all good workes of holye men These sacrifices be no satisfactions for them which do them or appliable for other whyche can deserue for them bye the worcke whyche is wroughte remission of synnes or reconcilynge but they please God for our fayth sake Of thys kynde of sacrifices be ther manye sentences in the prophetes and Psalmes Psalm .li. A trobeled herte is a sacrifice vnto god Psalm .xlvi. Offer vnto God a sacrifice of praise And Peter sayeth ye be a kynde whyche is chosen an holy priesthode that ye maye offer spiritual sacrifices And Hebrues .xiii. By hym maye we euer offer a sacrifice of prayse the fruite of the lippes of them whych do acknowledge his name that is to saye inuocation thankesgeuynge confession and suche lyke For in the newe Testament the liuitical worshyppynges and sacrifices be abrogated and a spirituall worshyppe or seruice vnto God muste succede in the stede of them that is the ryghtuousnesse of fayeth and the fruite of fayth accordyng vnto thys The true worshyppers shall worshyp the father in spirite and trueth Iohn .iiii. ¶ Of the crosse and aduersities ☞ What is the crosses IT is anye aduersitye gyuen or layed vpon vs by God not to the entente he woulde that we should perishe but that he maye cal vs to repentaūce and exercise our fayth or it is anye aduersitye or trouble which chaunseth vnto vs by the certaine counsel good wyll of God that therby the faith of holye men maye be proued the loue that they haue toward god maye be knowen and that the godly maye be adorned wyth an excellēt and notable deliuerance before them whiche do persecute them The crosse is the felowe or companion of the moste fayethful worde But aduersities as it is sayed be sacrifices of prayse yet to be applied for other accordyng vnto thys of Paule Euerie one shall take reward according vnto his laboure Also Abacuc .ii. The rightuous shal liue by his fayth ☞ Howe shall we conforte oure selues in the crosse and aduersitie ☞ In al kyndes of tribulations must we haue in a redynes foure speciall comfortes ⧠The fyrst that