thefte murder adultrye c. because we bee not worthie to obei god What housefather cōmaūdinge his seruāte to do a lawful worke would receiue such an excuse if he shuld answere that he were not worthie to obei him What is the seconde ⧠The promesse of God whiche testyfyethe that oure prayes bee hearde Iohn .xvi. I saye verilye vnto you what so euer ye shall axe my father in my name he wyl gyue it you And Luke .xi. Howe muche more wyll your father which is in heauen gyue the holy goste vnto them which desire hym Taulerus sayethe that the herte of man can neuer be so desirous to take but God is muche more desirous to gyue For he is true and kepeth his promise ☞ What is the thirde ☞ Fayethe that is to saye that we beleue oure synnes to bee forgiuen vs and oure prayers acceptable vnto god and that they bee heard for Christes sake and not to be in vayne but either to purches deliueraunce frome the presente perell or mytgatynge or some oher good thynge In presente pells we must make thys condition If it do not displease god if he iudge that it be profitable for vs like as Dauid did .ii. of the kynges xv If I cā fynd grace in the eyes of the Lorde he wyll brynge me agayne But if he shall saye I am not contente wyth the I am redye let hym do as he thynkethe good So the leper Math viii Lord if thou wylt thou cast make me cleane And Christ sayeth Father if it be possible lette thys cup passe from me neuer the lesse not as I wyll c. Therfore we ought not to prescribe vnto God the maner nor yet the tyme of oure delyuerance but lyke as Paulle sayethe That God doeth more for vs then we either desire or vnderstande More ouer oure fayeth muste not waxe faynte whē those thynges which we axe be not by and by graunted as thoughe God woulde not heare oure prayers but we muste knowe that oure fayethe is exercised wyth suche prolongynge Lyke as God dyd promise a sonne vnto Abraham yet he prouokeinge Abrahames fayeth woulde not fulfill hys promesse vntill his extreme age ☞ What is the fourth ☞ The thynge whiche is axed For oure prayer oughte not to be a vayne blatterynge But wee must either axe something of god or eles giue him thankes for some benifit receyued ☞ What is to be axed of hym ☞ The Scripture doethe commaunde vs to axe spirituall and bodily benefites priuate thynges and common thinges whyche be presente and those whyche bee to come Also we be commaunded to praye for the church that it maye be deliuered frome errours vngodlynes and from euell examples that thereby mo maye obeye the Gospell and so be saued Paul cōmaundeth vs to praye for kynges and rulers that God maye graunt vs peace Also we be commaunded to praye for our liuyng and other bodily necessaries Like as the prayer of the Lorde doeth conteyne al these Of the lordes prayer ☞ What is the praier of the Lorde ¶ It is a brief forme of praying whiche Christe taught his disciples and all fayethfull men Mathew .vi. Whē ye praye saye thus OVre father whiche arte in heauen Halowed be thy name Thi kingdome come Thy wyll be done in earth as it is in heauen Gyue vs thys daye oure dayely breade And forgyue vs oure trespases as we forgiue them that trespasse agaynste vs. And leade vs not into temptaciō But deliuer vs frō euel So be it The preface is the title For we call god oure father dwellinge in heauen wher we loke for no earthly heritage but for heauēly Ioyes and euerlastynge lyfe The firste peticion praeth for the glory of God for the doctryne and goinge forthe of the gospell that is to saye that the name of god maye be declared sete fourthe and praysed among al people For it is greate vngodlines that the name and honour of oure workes and creatures shoulde bee preferred before the glory of god The second peticion prayeth for the vertue of the gospell and for oure gouernance that is to saye that God woulde witsaffe to begynne hys kyngdome amonge vs bye the vertue of the holye gooste And that the kyngdome of the deuel may be cōfounded and broken The third peticion prayeth that here in erath al pastours Rulars and subiectes may do that whiche is acceptable vnto god Lyke as the Angels in heauen do neuer resist hys wyll These three peticions belonge vnto the glory of god these which folowe doe declare oure wrechednes and miseries The fourth praieth for oure liuinge peace defendinge agaynste oure aduersaryes good fortune in doinge oure busines bringing vp of childer to be shorte all commodites belongynge to thys present lyfe necessarye as wel for the soule as the body The first peticiō prayeth that oure synnes maye be forgyuen vs and that to be certayne if we wyl forgyue other For to the intente we should certaynely knowe that God wyll forgyue vs he settethe thys worke before vs that is to saye that we forgeue thē whyche do faute vnto vs Wherfore thys peticion teacheth that in euerye prayer we oughte to haue fayeth of remyssion of synnes and that wee muste take Christe for oure mediator The sixte peticion prayeth that wee be not drawen bye the crafte and subtelti of the deuel vnto vngodlynes and other mischife leste at the lengthe wee taken in suche trappes maye fall into desperaciō The seuenth peticion prayeth for the deliueraunce from synne and wretchydnes frome the myseryees of thys presente lyfe and that euerlastynge lyfe and rightuousnes may be giuen vs. The conclusion Amen is a certificacion of the herte and conscience that we shoulde beleue vs to be heard of the father ¶ Of the office of Rulers ☞ What is the office of Rulers IT is a godli ordināce ordeined of god for kepynge of good order and peace to punishe euell doares and saue them which be innocentes wher vnto obedience is dewe not onely for the auoidinge of their oth but also for consciēce Or more briefly so It is euerye lawefull power ordeined amonge men by god for the mayntenaunce of the good and the punishemente of the euell and to iudge accordyng vnto ryght and equalnes Rom. viii ⧠What is a tiraunt He is an euell and vnequalle officer whiche ruleth not accordynge vnto the lawes but after hys owne vnright desires and malice ☞ Is the office of rulers grounded vpon holy scripture or no Yes verely As wel in the olde as newe testament Gene. viii Who so euer shall shede mans bloude his bloude shal be also shede And Exod. xxi If anye man doe purposely kyll hys neyghboure thou shalt pull hym from myne altare that he may dye Rome .xiii. Let euerye soule be obediēt vnto the superiour power for there is no power but it is of God c. i. Peter .ii. Be ye subiecte vnto all rulars which be created amonge men for the loue of god either vnto the kynge as
moste excellente or vnto captaynes as they whych be sent of hym Math. xxvi Christe sayde vnto Peter he whyche striketh with the swearde shall peryshe wythe the swearde And Luke .iii. Iohn Baptiste sayeth vnto the souldiars do no man wronge but be coÌ„ent with your wages ☞ Is then the office of Rulers the ordinaunce of God Yes The good creature of God and a thynge not only permitted of god as those thynges which be euyl are sayd to be permytted As warre pestilence et cetera But a thing allowed by the worde of God instituted ordeyned of god like as the mouyngs of the heauens celestial bodies be ordeined of god and other creatures ☞ Wherfore then doe so many vngodly and iuell persons spoyl hold offices Empies ¶ Ther must difference be made betwen the persons and the office The office is the worke of God remayneth although the persons do abuse the ordinauÌ„ce of God Like as Nero Iulianus suche lyke ☞ Vnto what thynges must the Rulers haue respect ¶ Vnto God vnto their self and vnto their Subiectes ☞ Wherfore vnto God ¶ That thei may knowe what is their deuty what God doth requiere of theÌ„ For he requirethe four thinges of them Firste the knowlege of God that is to say that thei ought to know him to be God in whose hand all powers of the earth be which gyueth the kingdoms froÌ„ one vnto an other and doth constitute Empires like as Moises saith Deut x. Dauid .i. Paralip xxx Daniel .iiii. The king of Babilon did not acknowledge the Lord to be God therfore was he driuen out of his kyngdome Secondarily the feare of God that thei may fear God in al things and walke diligentli in his ways So doth Moyses exhort Deut. xvii And Psalm .ii. And Psa lxxxii Pharao the king of Egipt bycause he would not feare the lorde God was striken with ten plages at the lengthe drouned in the sea Saul despising the coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t of God was casten out of the kyngdome Thirdly wysdome which they maye obteine of God like as Solomon .iii. Reg iii. Psal ii Be ye learned which iudge the earth Fourthly iudgement iustice that thei may iudge that whiche is right vpoÌ„ the erth So Moyses Exod. xxiii Hier. xxii Deut. xvi Esai x Sap. vi Achab the kyng of Israel bicause he exercised vnrighttuousnes againste Naboth was corrected of the lorde iii. Of kynges the last chap Camoises the kyng of the Persians Caused the false iudge to be flain in an example of feare vnto al other iudges Wherfore vnto their selfe ¶ That they maye know where they shuld seke comfort in aduersities and that thei be not able to rule al things right in the coÌ„mon wealth wythout the helpe of God against so great power of the deuel which euer goeth about to destroy and desperse kingdoms And this coÌ„fort standeth in foure thinges ¶ Firste in vocacion that they may know their selfe to be laufullly called vnto the office of a ruler For this doth speciallye comforte the conscience in aduersities Absolom died an euyl death because he inuaded the kyngdome of hys father and lykewyse the kynge of Munster ¶ Secondarely that thei maye know god to be the authour and leader in this office and that he vseth officers as instrumentes appointeth angels for the gouernaunce and sauegarde of them Daniel .xii. Iosue v. Iudi. ii ☞ Thirdly that thei maye know God to take Ciuile iustice for the most precious treasure vpoÌ„ erth in somuch that he witsafe to call the Rulers by this worde Elohim Psalm .lxxxii. I haue sayde ye be gods and that he commaundeth to praye for kynges and Rulers i. Timoth. ii ¶ Fourthly that thei euer haue before their eyes the exaÌ„ples and historyes of the olde testamente how God hath wonderfully delyuered the rulars froÌ„ preseÌ„t euels For an exaÌ„ple be AbrahaÌ„ Ioseph Gedeon Dauid Esechias c. ¶ Contrarye wyse howe he hath destroied those which make insurrection agaynste the rulars For an example be Chore DathaÌ„ Absolome Iudas of Galyle Theudas the vprore of the husband meÌ„ Wherfore muste they haue respecte vnto their subiects ¶ That thei mai know bi what meanes they oughte to rule and gouerne their subiects in peace tranquillity For they must with one eye haue a respecte vnto God and wythe the other vnto theyr subiectes ¶ Besid that that thei take not theyr subiectes as it were brute beastes but as companyons and felowe heires of euerlastyng lyfe Then after that thei defend theÌ„ which be pore widowes fatherles Childer them which need whose father and iudge God testifyeth himselfe to be that thei know them felfe also to haue a lorde in heauen Colo. iii. Thirdly that they promote and definde good meÌ„ and correcte theÌ„ whiche be euel that they whyche be good may haue peace theÌ„ after good brynggyng vp of youthe in lernyng and fynally Godlynes â— But they must correcte wyth reason as it is a coÌ„mon saiyng that thei leese not the more for the lesse that is to saie that thei do not for the cause of the manne destroye a whole city of contrey â—t is a prouerbe He caÌ„ not be a rular which caÌ„ not dessemble For an example is Dauid which woulde not kyll Ioab the murderer so long as he lyued And Augustus was wont to say To warre is to catch fishe with a golden hoke ☞ What do the Rulares owe vnto their subiects Thre thinges Firste That they heare wyth an equal minde widowes fatherles chylder poremen and iudge and promote their cause ¶ Second that they defende their subiectes and kepe them in peace that thei promote good men and punishe the euyl doers adourne the common welth with good ordinaunces and lawes ☞ Thirdly that they institute prouoke vnto godlynes and the knowledge of gods worde These workes doe greately adourne rulars and be acceptable vnto god ☞ What dooe the subiectes owe vnto their rulers ¶ Thre things tribute fear honour and loue Rom. xiii Gyue that is due vnto all men vnto whom tribute tribute vnto whom fear fear vnto whom honour honour Be in debt vnto no maÌ„ but loue one another ¶ Of tribute sayth Christ Mat. xxii Gyue vnto the Emperour that is due vnto hym Of feare Prou xxiiii My sonne feare the Lorde and the king and haue nothynge to do with the sedicious Of honour .i. Pet. ii fear God and honour the kynge Is the power of Rulers infinite No for they oughte to commauÌ„d or do nothynge agaynst the lawe of god or the law of nature Thei be to blame also when they commaund anye thynge agaynst the lawes of their kingdoÌ„e or against the fourme of their Empire It was not lawfull for Achab to take wrongfully the vyneyard of Naboth the citysen agaynste hys wyl So is it not lawful for princes to wythdrawe the goodes of their Citisens so much as thei lust and at their owne pleasure For the citisens bee Masters of their owne goodes And
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
we be not punyshed by chaunce but by the counsel sufferance of God Hereunto belōgeth the knowledge of the prouision of god Math. x. One of these littel sparowes shal not fall vpon the earth wtout the wil of mi father but euen al the heares of your head be nūbred And the .i. of the kinges ii the lord doth mortifie reuiue ¶ Secōdarely the god suffreth vs not to be punished to the intent we should perish but that he may cal vs to repētaūce and exercyse out fayth So Paule .i. Cor. xi when we be iudged of the lord we be corrected lest we should be cōdēpned with thys world Also pro. iii. The lord doth chastice him whō he loueth Hebr. xiii He doth scourge euery sonne which he receiueth Apo. iii. I chastice them whom I loue And Dauid It is good for me the thou cast me downe And Christ Blessed be thei which morne Wo be vnto you whych laught nowe c. Thirdly when we se the vngodly liue in al wealth riches and delite we our selfe neuer the lesse beinge caste awayes of all men oppressed wyth great misery that therfore we be not angrye or take indignacion but that we obeye God wyth an equall mynde knowynge that these troubles be not tokens of wraugth or reprouing but that we maye be made members like vnto the image of christ So Paule Rom. viii If we suffer wyth Christe we shall reygne wyth hym wee muste be made lyke in forme vnto the Image of the sonne of God And Peter sayeth Iudgement beginneth at the house of Dauid And Christ sayeth He whiche wyl folowe me let hym take hys crosse And Paule all that wyll lyue godly shal suffre persecutiō And Dauid They which do sowe in sorowe shall reape in ioye c. Fourthely that in all these we do receyue and kepe stedefastelye fayeth that is to saye that God will be present with vs and helpe vs and for his wisdome and goodnes wyll once deliuer vs. And in thys fayth is god to be called vppon for wee be ofte punished of God that we maye haue occasion of exercisynge our fayth inuocation And by thys occasion the knowledge of God is more excellente and it encreasethe in vs as the example of kynge Manasses doethe teache That the lorde is god Which knowledge of god in idlenes and pleasure and prosperitye is forgotten Lyke as the example of the children of Israell doeth teach The people dyd syte to eate and to dryncke and dyd ryse vp to playe Wherfore doth the scripture so diligently setfurth and intreat these cōfortes ☞ That we may accustome oure myndes vnto true repentaunce and that we maye learne to suffer aduersities and erercise our obedience and fayeth specially that wee maye represse the affections of the mynde when we be prouoked with wronge we fall into desire of reuenging So Esaias In silence and hope shal thy strength be And Christ sayth In your pacience shal ye possesse your hertes Luke .xxi. ¶ What is true patience ☞ Not onely to obeye God in aduersities but also to ouer come the indignation of nature whych is feble or eles certaynelye to resiste it And thys vertue is necessary in the churche and the common wealth that is to saye to forgyue priuate wronges for the trāquility of the common wealth leste contencions bee stirred vp in the churche Lette vs esteme rather that we oughte to suffer aduersities then trouble the quietnes of the common wealth for priuat iniury done vnto vs. But what euyl worketh impatience ☞ It is angry wyth God and it doeth expel firste obedience and then after fayth out of the hertes Therfore in great aduersities manye bee altogether blasphemers and they seke for coūceles agaynst the commaundement of God lyke as Saul did axe coūsel of a witch Also the sorowe of iniurye ingendereth hatred and doeth prouoke vnto reuengynge Of the whiche thynge ariseth not onely priuate discordes but also sedysions and stryfe in the common wealth Also herysies and many other euyles These muste be farre from a christen man ¶ Of humiliation or Lowlines ☞ What is humiliation HVmiliation or makynge lowe is the true feare of God towarde God wherbye consciences affrayede wyth the iudgement of God cast away al confidence of their owne powere of theyr owne wysedome or rightuousnes We haue an example in Dauid when he was chidden of Nathan the prophet he perceyued hys synne not trustyng that he could pease the wrath of god by his owne rightuousnes When he dyde se that he was expelled out of his kingdome he dyd knowe that it was by the counsel of God therefore he did not trust that he was able to kepe the kyngdō withe hys owne power or wysedō Of this lowelines is mention made Esaie .lxvi. Vpon whome shall my spirite reste but vpon him which is lowely And Christ Blessed be the humble Therfore they which be lowely be hearde of God Psalme Ci. He hath loked vpon the prayer of the lowely c. They be exalted of god Luke .i. He hath deposed the mighty from theyr seate and hath exalted the humble The humiliation of Monkes whiche they haue fayned in outward vertues and ceremonies is plainly Hypocrisie and it may rather be called pride ¶ Of prayer ☞ What is prayer IT is a peticion of a certayne thinge of God with the affection of the herte and wyth fayth and thankes gyuinge vnto God for the benifites receyued Therfore to praye is to speake wythe God and to desire some thynge vpon hym ☞ Howe manye kyndes of prayer bee there ☞ Two Inuocation or yrayer and thankes giuinge ⧠What is inuocation It is whereby God is called vpon in any thyng or wherby a certayne thynge is axed of God Hereunto belonge psalmes which be prayers How many thinges be required in inuocation or prayer Foure The commaundemente of god the promesse fayeth and the thynge which is desired ⧠What is the fyrst The authoritye of gods commaundement whiche commaundeth vs to praye and cal vpō god Lete vs learne that to swere bye the name of God to steall to committe adultery c. bee not onelye sinnes but also that it is sinne not to praye not to require somethynge of god not to loke for helpe in pereles not to gyue thankes for the benifites receyued Also it is not in oure choise to praye or not to praye but it is a necessarye worcke commaunded of God But thou wilte saye my misbelue my vnworthynes doth affraye me When misbeleue tempteth the resiste it wythe the worde of God Math. vii Are it shal be gyuen you for euery on whiche axeth receiueth And Psalm xlix Cal vpon me in the daye of thy tribulation and I shall heare the. c. But when thy vnworthines accuseth the thou shalt remember that the authoritie of godes commaundement ought not to be denied for oure vnworthynes It were surely a greate madnes to dispute as concerninge the other cōmaundemētes that we would not absteine from