call vpon the name of God to flye to hym for succoure with all our hope and confidence and not to runne to witchecraftes charmes sorceries and suche lyke vanities for God himselfe saieth cal vpoÌ„ me in y e day of thy tribulation I wil deliuer the and thou shalt glorifye me Here ye heare good children that God doth commaunde vs to call vpon him and not vpon any other creatures besides him and he saieth in expresse wordes call vpon me in the tyme of thy tribulation in aduersytye wheÌ„ thou art in nede and dauÌ„ger Wherfore no maÌ„ should dyspaire what soeuer kynde of afflyctions doth chaunce vnto him but praye for helpe from heauen and cal vpon the name of the Lorde who by his mighty strong hand is able and by his fatherly affeccioÌ„ wil deliuer and helpe vs what soeuer how great soeuer affliction and teÌ„tatioÌ„ ouerwhelmeth vs therfore he saieth I wil heare thy praier Here marke good childerne that it is your bounden dewtie to praye to God that they do synne heynouslye whiche do not praye wherfore ye shal learne the Lordes prayer whiche Christe hym selfe hath taught and appoynted and ye shal saye it dayly For this commaundemente dothe bynde vs to praye forasmuche as it forbiddeth thabuse of gods name commaundeth his name to be handled reuerently and religiously But we delyuer the and thou shalt honour and glorify me Here you perceiue good children that God oure heaueÌ„ly father doth hear our prayers and heapeth vpon vs infinite benefites for this cause purpose and intent y t we shoulde be glad ioyful to praise him with all our hart reÌ„dre thaÌ„kes vnto him Wherfore wheÌ„ soeuer we praie before we aske any new benefite we ought to thaÌ„ke him for tholde to glorifye his name for y e great treasures of giftes heretofore geuen vnto vs. And by this meanes both he wyll be the more willyng to heare oure prayers and also oure faithe shalbe the more strengthened and confirmed For when we call to oure remembraunce how God oftentymes heretofore hath herd our supplications and delyuered vs out of manye perrellous daungiers we be therby moued lesse to doubt of his goodnes and stedfastlye to hope that he nowe also wyll be as merciful vnto vs as he was wont to be in tymes passed Therfore sayeth the prophete Dauid I wyl call vpon the Lord praysyng him and he wyll saue me from myne enemyes Now therefore good children ye shall learne this lesson and practise it dilygently firste of al to prayse and thanke God for al hys benefites and afterwarde to call vpon him in all youre necessities So God wyll be the more redye to heare youre peticions and youre faith also thereby shall be the more nourished and increased For he that wyll trewely and effectuallye praye before al other thinges must beleue and perswade himselfe for a suertie y t God wil heare his praier Wherfore good children nowe I praye you learne so to vnderstande this seconde commaundement that ye take not the name of God in vayne that ye gyue not your selfes to Idolatrye that ye sweare not customablye nor without a necessarie cause that ye neuer commit periurie y t you curse no bodye y t ye abuse not the name and worde of God to vntruth vncleane and vnhonest coÌ„municatioÌ„ that ye applye not your mindes to witchcraftes sorceries For these faultes as yet neuer escaped vnpunyshed before God Contrarywyse you shall reuerentlye vse the name of God to his glorye and to the profit of youre neyghbour by callyng vpon him by praying and giuyng thaÌ„kes vnto him by opeÌ„ professioÌ„ of his doctrine religioÌ„ And when ye shal be demaunded howe vndrestande ye the seconde commaundemente ye shall aunswere We oughte to loue and feare God aboue all thynge not to abuse his name to ydolatrye charmes periurie othes curses ribaldrye and scoffes that vndre the pretence and coloure of his name we begyle no man by swearynge forswearynge and lyinge but in all our nedes we should cal vpon him magnifye and prayse him and with oure tongues confesse vtter and declare oure faythe in him and his doctrine The thirde sermon YE haue herde how the second commaundemeÌ„te is to be vnderstanded in the which we learne howe we ought to ordre our selfes towarde God both in herte and in wordes Nowe foloweth the thirde precepte whiche is this ¶ RemeÌ„bre that thou saÌ„ctifye the Sabboth daye THis commaundemente good children teacheth how we should behaue our selfes toward God in workes For wheÌ„ we haue a mynde to serue God and to shew to him as to our Lord and maker the greatest pleasure that we can then we muste not chose by thaduyse of oure owne imagination nether this nor that worke but we must saÌ„ctifie the sabboth day y t is to say employe bestow it vpoÌ„ godly holy workes busines And here note good chyldreÌ„ that y e Iewes in the olde testameÌ„t were commaunded to kepe the Sabboth daye and they obserued it euery seuenth day called the sabbot or satterday But we Christen men in the newe testament are not bound to such coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes of Moses law concernyng dyfferences of tymes dayes and meates but haue libertie fredoÌ„ to vse other daies for our sabboth dayes therein to heare y e worde God and to kepe an holy rest And therefore that this Christian lybertye maye be kepte and mainteyned we nowe kepe no more the sabboth or saturday as y e Iewes do but we obserue the Sondaye certayne other daies as y e magestrates do iudge it coÌ„uenieÌ„t whom in this thinge we ought to obey And to theÌ„tent you maye the better perceyue such thinges as shall be spoken herin considre I pray you howe wonderfull a commaundemente this is When worldly lordes masters receyue men into their seruyce they byd theim not kepe holy daye but they set theÌ„ on worke appoynte theim diuerse labors to be done for their seruice and behofe But our Lorde God doeth not so with vs in this commaundement He biddeth not vs to doo neyther this nor that woorke he commaundeth vs not to gadde hether and thither on pilgrimage to paynt gylâ—e or clothe sayntes ymages to set vp candels before theim nor to exercise anye suche fayned mannes workes and false honorynge of God as the deceiptefull Monkes and Friars wer wont to teche vs but he biddeth vs to rest from labours and commauÌ„deth vs to kepe holy day But yet note good children that wheÌ„ you heare say that God hath commaunded to reste from workes you must not gather herof that you shoulde cesse from suche good workes by the whiche your neyghbour is releued as to gyue almes to the poore to preache the worde of God to instruct y e ignoraunt and suche like for god hath commaunded suche workes to be donne he doth ernestly require them of vs but although we do these workes neuer so dilygently yet by theym we onlye serue and healpe
oure neyghbour for Goddes sake But when we wyll serue God onely with suche a kynde of worke that perteyneth not to our neyghbour but is propre and seuerall to God alone than God commaūdeth you not to set before your eyes any outwarde worke but to rest from such workes For this God requireth of vs in thys commaundement And now good children listen vnto me and you shall know the cause why god doth thus He is so riche a God and his maiestie is so mighty y t he hath no nede of our outwarde workes nor wourshyppinges Againe he is so gentle lyberal and mercyfull that of his awne accorde he desireth to do good to all men wherby his name is praysed and honored Therfore he y t wil do pure seruice honor to God let hym gyue himselfe to rest and quietnes not workyng to be made holy by his owne outwarde workes but let hym kepe holy day let him suffer the benefites of God to be powred lyberally and frely vpō hym For to beleue that we receaue all good thinges frely from God to acknowlege them with a trew fayth and gladly to prayse thanke God for thesame is the most excellente and highest honor that can be yelded to him in this life But it is not sufficiēt for vs to kepe y e Sabboth day But the Lorde saith Thou shalte sanctifie the Sabboth day that is to saye we shall bestowe that day about holy heuenly godly thynges Now yf ye desier to knowe with what holye workes you shoulde passe away this day you shal vnderstāde that we can do no geater holy workes thā to heare y e worde of god and to learne y e trew feare of God the right faith in him to prepare our selfes that we may worthely be partakers of the Lordes table therby to receyue great comfort to the quiet of our consciences confirmatiō of oure fayth And moreouer on such dayes cheflye we ought in faythe and spirite feruently to praye to God to gyue vs all good thinges that we lacke and haue nede of and to defende and deliuer vs frō all yl thynges And thus praing we shal not faile to be hearde These be y e chiefe holy daye workes by the whiche God rather serueth and worketh for vs then we for him For when he by hys mynisters causeth his wourde to be preached vnto vs when he distributeth to vs ineffable gyftes of hys sacramentes when he heareth our prayers he is rather beneficial vnto vs thē we be to him Therfore theffecte sūme of this commaundement is as God shoulde say thus Good childerne wil you serue me do that thing that may please me then truste not in your awne workes nor put your confidence in theim For I haue no nede of your labour and workes Come hyther I wyll teache you what ye ought to beleue and to do I wil comforte you wyth the meruelous giftes of my sacramētes I wil heare your praiers you can not giue to me greater honor thē to repayre to me and to suffer me y t I maye powre my benefites vpon you that you may acknowlege me to be your father that you may cast your hole affiance in me and y t you maye loue me as chyldren loueth their fathers and mothers But of this matter you shal heare more in the Crede or articles of the faith In the meane tyme you shall specially marke that althoughe euery man hath nede to labour daily for his dayly fode yet God hath gyuen vs Sabboth dayes or resting tymes in the whiche he hath commaunded not onelye the maisters themselues but also their seruantes and cattel to cesse from bodily labores And yet on those dayes he fedeth vs aswel as on the workynge dayes By the whiche he signifieth vnto vs that althoughe we toyle not continually vntil we be wery yet he wil gyue vs aboūdantly all thinges necessarie when we obey his will first of all seke the kyngdome of God that all other thinges maye be gyuen vs. Hytherto good children you haue bene taughte in what holy workes you ought to spende the Sabboth day now it shall be declared vnto you how great a sinne it is not to sanctifye the same The whiche synne is then committed when we vpon the holye dayes do not heare with greate dilygence and reuerence sermons the most frutefull woorde of God when we do not gyue our myndes to prayer and other Godly workes but to idlenes eatinge drynkynge bankettynge dauncynge lechery dicing cardynge backebytynge slaunderyng and other vngodly workes For the which abuse of holy daies God is grieuously prouoked and punisheth vs greuouslye with dyuerse kyndes of plages but specially with nede and pouertie For so God threateneth in the .xxviii. chapter of Deuteronomie that mē shall labour and toyle bothe daye and nyght and yet shall not be able to worke themselues out of pouertie And it is no meruell For when God gyueth them restynge dayes they doo not sanctifie the same they do not heare the worde of God nor pray to him but wickedly dispise God and his honor spendyng the sabboth daye in the aboue named synfull and vngodly lyfe wherfore God iustly punisheth them with pouertie But peraduenture you wyl say God doth not punishe all y e breakers of this commaundemente with nede and pouertie Trueth it is in deede some there be whiche God doeth not punishe in this lyfe but defferreth theyr punishement vntill the houre of death whē they be vtterlye forsaken of hym whiche is a payne most horrible and euerlastyngly condemned if they amend not in due tyme. Therfore good children eschewe these synnes that be so heynous in the sight of god sanctifie youre Sabboth daye be desirouse to heare the woorde of God praye continually and gyue thankes to God for all his benefites In so doyng you shall surelye please hym and he shall sende you his grace fauour blessynge that all thing maye prosper wyth you that you maye with ioye and gladnes serue youre Lorde God and enioy manye sabbothes or restyng dayes For God is wel content that we haue many restynge dayes so that we spende them wel in holy and godlye exercises and cause not only oure bodyes to rest from labours but also oure myndes from synne For we must kepe the Sabbothe daye not onelye with our bodye but also with oure hartes and myndes which we do when we bridle our owne wil and fleshely lustes and with all reuerence humble our selues to Goddes wyll so that when we reherse the Lordes prayer we maye saye trewly and hertely Thy wyll be donne in earth as it is in heauen For so God testifieth by the prophet Esaie in the .lviii. chapiter saying yf thou wilt absteyne from doyng thy wyll on my holy daye then thou shalt be called a pleasāt Sabboth day that is to saie whē we submit our wyl to the holy wil of God and patiently suffre those thinges whiche he worketh in vs and willeth vs to suffre then we shall trewlye kepe the Sabboth daye and therein laude and praise our Lorde God For this is no true kepyng of y e Sabboth daye
be their true and faithfull subiectes of their realmes And euery king geueth commaundementes vnto his subiectes gouerneth theim in suche wyse that they do not euery man what he lyst hym selfe but what it pleaseth his prince to cōmaunde hym Euen so almighty God hath here in earth in his church an heuenly kyngdō And this kyngdō which Christ in his gospell so often calleth the kyngdome of heauen begynneth among his faithful peoble in this worlde And al that truly beleue kepe his commaūdementes parteyne vnto thys kyngdom And whan God by his gospel begynneth to cal vs vnto this kyngdom than the kyngdom of God commeth vnto vs and begynneth in vs. For God beginneth and in dede is the kyng and Lorde of theim that be godly he gouerneth and ruleth theim so that they worke not after y e lustes and desiers of their owne fleshe but as the Lord God who is their kyng teacheth and commaūdeth theim by his worde And kynges and great men in this worlde rule and gouerne by forse by soore threatenynges and greuous paynes and comstrayne their subiectes to obedyence and so they ought to do for it is the ordinance of God but God doeth not order his affaires so ī this forsaid kingdom of heuen but ruleth his subiectes lyke a gentle father by the worde of his gospel and by the holy gost that after this sort God causeth his ghospel to be preached vnto vs howe Christe for our sakes suffered death was buried and rose againe as before you herd in y e Crede Moreouer he openeth oure hertes gyueth vs faith to beleue his gospel And to them y t beleue his gospel he giueth the holy gost which doth gouerne vs and leade vs vnto all trueth For fyrste by faythe we be iustified before God for fayth maketh vs partakers of y e iustice of christ and planteth vs in Christ and he that by true faithe do receyue the promyse of grace to him God gyuethe the holye ghoste by whome charitie is spred abrode in our hertes whiche perfourmethe all the commaundementes Therfore he that beleueth in Christ and truely beleueth y e gospel he is iust holy before God by y e iustice of Christ whiche is imputed gyuē vnto hī as Paule saith Ro. iii. we thinke y t mā is iustified by faith w tout workes He is also iust before y e world because of y e loue charitie which the holy gost worketh in his herte Secondly faith worketh peace and quietnes in oure heartes and consciēces For by faith we be certified that our synnes be forgiuen Therfore saythe sayncte Paule to the Romanes Beyng iustified we haue peace and quyetnesse wyth God by our Lorde Iesus Christ. Thirdely this peace bringeth vnto vs a great and synguler ioy in our hertes and consciences and maketh vs for this excedyng benefite of gods mercy and grace towarde vs feruentely to loue him gladly to laude and praise him to honoure his name and to professe the same before all the worlde euermore to gyue vnto hym moste harti thankes and to be swift and redye to do all thinges that maye please God and to eschewe those thynges that may dysplease hym Thys good children is the sayd kyngdome of God whan by the gospell and the holy ghoste God raygneth in oure hartes whan he worketh in vs our Iustification that we hauynge peace of conscience may haue ioye and comforte in the holy gost of the abundance and plentifulnes of grace and the benefytes of Christe And this is that thinge whiche sayncte Paule speaketh of to y e Romaynes The kyngdome of God is iustice peace and ioy in the holy gost Nowe as an earthly kyng doeth gouerne his subiectes by hys lawes and commaundementes and by his mighte and power so doeth God rule and gouerne his church and true faithfull people whiche although they be here in earth yet they be of his heuenly kyngdome suche I saye he gouerneth by the holy worde of his gospell and the power of the holy ghost whom he powreth plentifully vpon al them that beleue the gospel and by that comfortable worde of the ghospell he gentilly entiseth and drawethe vs vnto him that we should gladly of our owne free will obey him For God loueth not seruyce constrayned by forse suche as slaues and bonde menne do more for the feare then loue but he wold haue his people to serue him willyngly of hearte and loue as Dauid said in the .cx. Psalme And this is the forsayde kyngdome of God whan he dothe in suche wyse raigne in vs and gouerne vs that we do not wourke after our owne wylles but in body and minde do ceasse rest from our owne euyl workes and shrewed wylles and folowe the workyng of God and the holye goste in vs. And this is to sanctifye the sabbot daye that is to say to kepe an holy rest whan we honor God with true honour whan we heare dilygently the worde of God whē we yelde our selfes clerly to God that his holy spirite maye worke in vs holy godly heuenly workes y t is to say iustice peace comfort other workes of y e holy gost Therfore he that praieth thus Thy kingdome come he prayeth nothynge elles but that God wil gyue vs grace that we maye rest from our own propre willes that we do not those thynges that delyte the body and please oure appetites but that we maye suffre God by his holy worde spirite to worke in vs holy workes that so the thirde cōmaundement maye be fulfilled Remembre that thou sanctifye the sabboth daye For so doth Esaye declare this commaūdement saying If thou worke not after thine own wyl in my holy day than thou shalt be called a pleasant rest to sanctifye and honoure the Lorde yf thou honoure him so that thou worke not after thyne owne wayes nor fynde the meanes to folowe thyne own wil nor speake thyne owne pleasure than shalt thou haue pleasure in the Lorde For all these thynges therfore good children ought you to praye to God that hys kyngdome maye come that he wil here in earth begynne his kyngdome in vs that we maye obey him in suche wyse as you haue herde Nowe the kyngdome of God commeth vnto vs two maner of wayes first by his worde faithe whan the gospell is preached vnto vs that our Lorde Iesus Christ delyuered vs frō synne death and hel by crosse death resurrection For by the preaching of his word we do lerne to put oure truste in God and to loue God And this knowlege and faith in Christe increaseth from tyme to tyme not only in theim that haue but newlye begonne to beleue but they also whiche many yeares haue professed Christe do profyt in the same faith more and more For their faith and loue towardes God by the dayly preachyng of the gospel is confirmed made more strong Secondly the kyngdome of God shall come to vs at the laste daye whan
God thou shalt haue none other Goddes but me ▪ The seconde Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vayne for he shal not be gyltles before the Lorde that taketh hys name in vaine The thirde Remember that thou sanctifye the Sabboth daye The fourthe Honour thy father and thy mother that thou mayst lyue a longe lyfe in the lande whiche the lord thy God shall gyue vnto thee The fifthe Thou shalt not kyll The sixte Thou shalt committe no adulterye The seuenth Thou shalt not steale The eyght Thou shalt not beare false witnes agaynst thy neighboure The nynthe Thou shalt not couet thy neyghbours house The tenth Thou shalt not couet thy neyghboures wyfe nor hys man seruaunte nor his mayde seruaunt nor hys oxe nor hys asse nor anye thynge that is thy neyghboures Nowe good children these are the ten holye commaundementes of the lorde God in the whiche he hath opened his wyl vnto vs and hath declared what is godly and what is vngodly what we should do and what we should not do These ye shall learne with greate diligence not only to reherse them but also to vnderstande what is ment by them and what the lorde God doeth require of vs in these his commaundementes to thintēt that when you be asked any questian of them you maye answere to y ◠purpose and that also in time to come you may teache your children to feare God after suche sort and maner as you your selfes be nowe instructed For it is a great shame bothe before God and the worlde for a Christen man to be ignoraunt in the commaundemētes of God and not to know that doctryne that perteyneth to euery Christen man seynge that euerye Christen man is bounde openly to declare his doctrine to gyue a rekenyng of his fayth whē nede shall so requyre and to brynge vp his children in the same The first sermon Thou shalt haue none other Goddes but me A declaration of the first commaundement TO thintente good children that you maye the better vnderstande the lawe of the tenne commaundementes you muste firste of all knowe that God gaue to Moses the ten commaundementes writtē in two tables of stone wherfore they be diuided in two partes In the first table were written the three firste commaundementes pertaynynge to God whiche teache vs howe we shoulde behaue our selues toward God as well inwardelye in harte and mynde as outwardly in wordes and deades In thother table were grauen seuen preceptes perteynynge to oure neyghboures whiche teache vs howe we oughte to ordre our selues towardes our Prynces magistrates and rulers towardes oure wyues children seruauntes and towardes all states of men teachynge vs that we shoulde not be dysobedient that we do wronge to no man that we hurt no man that we ley not in wayte to kyll anye man that we defloure not other mennes wyfes and to be shorte that we hurte not our neighboures neither in body goods nor good name But nowe let vs consyder the first commaundement and the declaracion of the same I am the Lorde thy God thou shalte haue none other goddes but me This commaundemente good children teacheth vs howe we ought to vse oure hartes towarde God Firste that we ought to acknoulege with all our harte that God made heauen and earthe and all thinges conteyned therin and to take hym onely to be the true God and to be our God Secondarely this commaundement teacheth vs to feare him as a lyuyng God because he doeth punyshe the vngodlye and to cleaue vnto him with a sure faith because he is true and faithfull and doeth not deceyue vs in any thing whiche he hath spoken or promysed Thyrdly this commaundement teacheth vs to loue him with all our heart for of him we receiue oure lyfe oure breath oure health and all other gyftes both bodyly and goostly And we haue not the least of his giftes by our desertes but he poureth them all vpon vs frely through his infinite goodnes and endles mercy Contrarywise we ought not to receaue into our hertes as God any creature eyther in heauen or in earth that is to saye we oughte to feare no creature neither in heauē nor in earth so much as God neyther ought we to put such cōfidēce truste in any thynge neyther should we so hartily loue any creature as our Lorde God omnipotent For yf we attribute to anye creature so much feare trust loue as apperteyneth only to him that made all creatures by and by we make that creature our God ▪ and of it we frame to oure selues an Ydoll The whiche is a very heynous an abominable horrible sinne directly against the first table and the first and chefest commaundement of God Therefore suche greate offences the trewe and lyuinge Lorde God will not leaue vnpunished for he hymselfe sayeth I am the Lorde my title my name is the Lorde I wyl not gyue my glorye to another meanyng therby that he wyll not suffer that any other thinge shoulde be estemed as God besydes hymselfe or that we shoulde gyue godly honoure in heart affection woorde or deede to anye creature but onely to hym that was neuer created and yet dyd create all thinges But here peraduenture you wil muse good children askyng this question How can we haue other goddes before the Lorde seeynge there is but one God one Lorde whiche hathe made heauen and yearth To thys I aunswere that in deede there is none other God but that most excellent and omnipotent Lorde Ley sure hold on this article w t a stedfast faithe good children ▪ beleue this dowbting nothing therin cleaue surely to this rocke But yet this not withstandyng fooles infidels vngodlye men take some other thing for theyr God the which in dede is not god nor can be by any meanes For lyke as many times we take some men for honest riche or noble whiche be not so in dede so oftentimes we feare something asmuche as we do God whiche is not God in dede And of creatures we make goddes thre manner of wayes The fyrst is when a man feareth anye creature and thynketh thus with himself yf such a thing be taken away from me yf such a greate man be angrye wyth me yf I escape not suche a daungier then I am vtterly vndone then I knowe not whether to runne for ayde and succoure whether then shall I goo who shall saue or helpe me yf thou haue anye suche thought of any creature trewly in thine harte thou makest it a God althoughe with thy mouthe thou doest not call it God And this affeccion lieth lurckynge so deaply hydde within manye mens hartes that they theimselfes scaselye feale or perceaue it But this feare oughte to be remoued farre from vs. For we must cleaue stedfastly by faithe to the trew and lyuynge God and in all kynde of aduersitie reason on this faschion Althoughe men of greate power be myne enemyes althoughe this or that perrell doeth presse me verye
howe ye maye contynually abyde and growe in Christ the whiche thing is taught you in the vse of the Lordes supper Ye shall therefore dilygentlye learne the wordes by the whiche oure Lorde Iesus Christ did institute and ordeyne his supper that ye maye repet them word for worde and so prynt thē in your memoryes that you may beare them away with you home to youre fathers houses and there oftentymes reherse them And these be the wordes of oure sauioure Christe Our Lorde Iesus Christ the same nyghte that he was betrayed toke bread gyuyng thākes brake it gaue it to hys disciples saide Take eate this is my bodye whiche is gyuen for you Do this in remembraunce of me Lykewyse he toke the cuppe also after he had supped giuyng thankes gaue it to them and sayd Drynke of this al ye This is my bloude of the new testamente whiche is shed for you for many for the forgyuenes of synnes Do this as often as ye drynke in remembraunce of me Nowe ye shall dilygentlye laboure not onely to say without boke these wordes of our sauiour Christe but also to vnderstande what oure Lorde Iesus Christe mente by the same that ye maye make answer when ye be asked any question herein and that also in tyme to come ye may be able to teache your children as ye youre selfes are now instructed For what greater dishonestye can ther be eyther in the sighte of God or man then to professe youre selues to be Christian people and to receaue the sacramētes yet not to know what Christes sacramētes be wherfore they wer ordeyned For saint Paul sayth y t he whiche eateth and drynketh the supper of the Lorde vnworthely doth eate and drynke his awne damnation Nowe therfore good children that ye may truely vnderstāde the wordes of the lordes holy supper and that ye receyue not this sacramente to youre owne damnation learne here dylygentlye that the true vnderstandyng and vse of y e Lordes supper standeth in two thynges The fyrste is to do that whiche our lord himself hath commaunded The seconde is to beleue y t which he hath promysed Of these two I wil speake in order wherto I pray you gyue good eare First our sauiour Christ taketh breade in his hand he giueth thākes he breaketh it and gyueth it to his dysciples and sayeth Take eate Lykewyse he taketh the cup and sayeth Take drynke Wherfore we ought to obey those wordes to do that which our Lord commaundeth vs. For although Christ prescribeth no certen tyme when we ought to come together to his supper althoughe also he appoynte no certen noumber of dayes howe often in the yeare we ought to receaue this supper yet this is his holy godly wyl that at some tyme we shoulde receaue this sacrament And this to do is for oure great commoditie profite for elles our Lorde wolde not haue commaunded vs so to do who knoweth better thē we what helpe and comforte we haue nede of Wherfore if we wil be christes trew disciples then we must do as he himselfe commaundeth his discyples to do Let vs therefore go to this godly supper let vs eate drinke therof let vs not absteine frō the same w tout a great cause Secondarily Christ saieth of the breade this is my bodye and of y e cuppe he sayeth this is my bloud Wherefore we ought to beleue y t in the sacrament we receyue trewly the bodye and bloud of Christ. For God is almyghtye as ye hearde in the Crede He is able therefore to do all thynges what he wil. And as saint Paul writeth he calleth those thinges whiche be not as yf they were Wherefore when Christe taketh breade and saieth Take eate this is my body we ought not to doute but we eat his veray bodye And when he taketh the cuppe and sayeth Take drynke this is my blod we ought to thynke assuredly y t we drynke his veray blode And this we must beleue yf we wil be counted Christē mē And wher as in this perellous tyme certayne deceitful persons be founde in manye places who of very frowardnes wil not graunt that there is the body and bloude of Christe but denye the same for none other cause but that they cannot cōpasse by mans blynde reason howe this thinge shoulde be broughte to passe ye good children shall with all dilygence beware of suche persons that ye suffer not your selues to be deceaued by them For suche men surely are not trew Christyans nether as yet haue thei lerned the first article of y e Crede whych teacheth that God is almightye whiche ye good children haue alredy perfectely lerned Wherfore eschewe such erroneous opinions and beleue the wordes of our lord Iesus that you eate and drynke his veray body blode although mans reason can not comprehend how and after what maner y e same is ther present For the wysedome of reason must be subdued to the obedience of Christ as the apostle Paule teacheth Thirdly he sayeth that his body was gyuē to death for vs that his blod was shed for vs. Wherfore we muste beleue and confesse this thing that all we are conceaued and borne in syn as we haue learned in the ten commaundemētes and chiefely in the two last We are therefore by nature the childrē of gods wrath shoulde be damned for euer yf Christ had not redemed vs by his holy passiō For he was made mā for vs and dyd all thinges for vs whiche we were bound to do and coulde not do that is to saye he fulfylled the lawe for vs and toke vpon hym all that crosse whiche we moste rightuously had deserued for our iniquities and offenses and he shed his bloude for vs that oure synnes might be forgyuen vs. All these thinges we oughte stedfastly to beleue Wherfore they be in a great errore whiche wyll make satisfaction for their synnes with fastyng prayer almes dedes and suche lyke good workes For althoughe we are boūde to do these good workes yet they be not a sufficient price raunsome or satisfaction for oure synnes but onely the death and bloude of our sauyoure Christ was a sufficient and worthy sacrifice to take away our synnes and to obteyne for vs forgyuenes of oure offenses as it is written in the seconde chapter of saincte Iohn his firste epystle Christ is that sacryfice that pacyfyeth Gods dyspleasure obteyneth pardon for oure synnes and not for our synnes onely but also for the synnes of all the worlde Fourthly Christ sayeth do this in the remembraunce of me Here also it is oure dutye to obey the worde of Christ and to do y t thing which he hath cōmaūded vs to do Wherefore good children doubt not but ther is the bodye bloud of our Lorde which we receaue in the lordes supper For he hath sayed so and by the power of his worde hath caused it so to be Wherefore seyng Christ saieth do this as
him selfe to be eaten and dronken of vs Christen people vnder the forme of breade and wine Furthermore yf any maÌ„ wil aske ye wher is this writen ye shall answer These be the wordes which the holy Euangelistes Mathewe Marke Luke and the Apostle Paule do writ Our Lorde Iesus Christ the same nyght that he was betrayed toke breade and gyuyng thankes brake it gaue it to his disciples and said Take eate This is my bodye whiche is giuen for you Do this in remembraunce of me Lykewyse he toke the cup after he had supped and giuynge thankes gaue it to them and sayed Drynke of this all ye This is my bloude of the new testament which is shed for you and for manye for the forgyuenes of synnes Do this as often as ye drincke in remembraunce of me Furthermore yf any man aske ye what auayleth it thus to eate and drynke ye shall answer These wordes do declare what profit we receaue thereby my bodye whych is giuen for you my bloud which is shed for you for the forgiuenes of synnes By the whiche wordes Christe declareth that by this sacramente and wordes of promyse are gyuen to vs remission of synnes lyfe and saluation For where as forgyuenes of synne is ther is also lyfe and saluation Againe yf a man wyl go further with you aske you How can bodily eatyng and drynkynge haue so greate strength and operation ye shall answer To eate and to drynke doth not worke so great thynges but this worde promyse of God my bodye whiche was gyuen for you my bloude whiche was shede for you for y e remyssion of sinnes This worde of God is added to the outwarde sygnes as the chief thing in this sacramente He that beleueth these wordes he hathe that thinge whiche the wordes do promyse that is to saye forgyuenes of his synnes Besyde this yf a man aske of you who be they that do worthely receaue this sacrament ye shal answere That fastyng abstinence and suche other lyke do perteyne and are profitable for an outward discypline or chasticement of y e body But he receaueth the sacrameÌ„t worthely that hath faith to beleue these wordes My bodye whiche was gyuen for you my bloude whiche was shed for you for the remission of synnes But he that beleueth not these wordes or doubteth of theÌ„ he receaueth the lordes supper vnworthely For this worde giuen for you doth require a faithful and beleuyng harte So good children ye haue the trew vnderstanding of y e wordes of Christe and the trew vse of the holy supper of the Lorde Learne al these lessons dilygently I pray you that ye also in tyme to come maye worthely receaue this sacrament and from daye to daye sticke and cleaue more stedfastlye to the wordes of our Lord Iesus Christ and so coÌ„tinuyng in Christe maye bryng forthe good fruyt And yf you do so then youre heauenly father wil purge and prune you as the husbande man dothe the brauÌ„ches of his vyne that ye may daily floryshe more and more bring forth fruit more plenteouslye that God may be glorified by you and your fruyt maye abyde contynually And so at the length ye shall receaue lyfe and euerlastynge saluation and glorie with oure sauiour Iesus Christ the which God graunt vs all Amen FINIS ¶ The contentes of this boke The preface THe first coÌ„mauÌ„dement fo ix The .ii. coÌ„mauÌ„dement fo xx The .iii. commauÌ„dement fo xxxi The .iiii. coÌ„maundement fo xxxix The .v. coÌ„maundement fo liiii The .vi. coÌ„maundement fo lxiiii The .vii. coÌ„maundemeÌ„t fo lxxiii The .viii. coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t fo lxxxiii The .ix. commaundement fo xcii The .x. commaundement fo xcix Deut. xi ii Tim. iii. Psa. xxxiiii 1. Pet. iii. Prouerb xii xiii xxi Iac. i. iii Psal. cxi Exo. xx Mat. xviii 〈…〉 Math. vi Luke xxi deu xxviâ—… Esa. lviii Mat. xv Deut. xxi i. Tim. v. Ephe. vi Actes v. Ephes. v. Roma vii Math. v. Rom. xiii Genes ix Math. xix Gene. i. i. Cor. vii Deut. xxiii Ephes. v. Luce. xi Mat xxvâ— Pro. xxvi Thes. v. 1. Cor xiii Ephes. v. Mat. xviii Roma â— Psal. xiii i. Timo. i. Hebr. xii Mat. xvi Roma iii. i. Cori. ii Ioh. xv 〈◊〉 iiii Mat. vi Psal. li. Ephes. ii Roma i. Iohn ii Galat. iiii Rom. vi Iacob i â–ª Psalm i. Mat. vii Iere. xxix Mar. vii Luke xi Ioh. xvi Ioh. xiii â–ª Mark xi Roma iii. Rom. iiii Rom. xiiii Psal. cx Esa. lviii i. Iohn iii Math. x. Luke xii Rom. viii Luke ii â–ª Prou. liiâ— â–ª Hebr xii Luke xxi Lu. xviii Iohn xiii Mat iiii Deut. vi mat xviii 〈◊〉 iiii â–ª i. Cor. xii Apoca. xii Rom. viii Iohn iii Math. â—â— Titum iii Iohn iii. a Rom. vi a Collo ii b â— Pet. iii. â— mat xxviii Mar. xvi Ephes. ii i. Pet. iiii ActuÌ„ ii Rom. xvii ActuÌ„ iii. ActuÌ„ iii. 1. Cor. iii. â— Iohn vi b Actum ii â— Roma x â— Mat. xvi Iohn xx â— Mark iii. Luke vi Luke x. Iohn xvii Luke â— Mat. xviii 〈◊〉 xviii Mark ii Luke v. Iohn ix Mat. 26. c Mar. 14. c Luc. xxii b Iohn vi and xiii i. Cor. xi c i Cor. xi i Ioh. xiii â— i. Ioh. ii â— and .iii. b i Corin. x. Iohn vi
by hearyng of their children learne in theyr age that which passed theym in theyr youth And as myne intente and endeuoure is to profytte both and accordynge to myne office to bryng bothe to the righte knowledge of God so my most earnest and humble prayer vnto God contynuallye shalbe that my good mynde and desyre maye haue good successe and take effecte accordynge to myne expectacion Whiche thing I assuredly hope shal come to passe yf it woulde please youre highnes to suffer this lytle boke by me offered vnto youre Magestie to be redde taughte and learned of the chyldren of youre moste louyng subiectes in whome is great hope of al grace godlynes vertue Youre Graces humble subiecte and Chaplayne Thomas Archbishoppe of Canterbury ¶ A short Instruction into Christian religion for the synguler commoditie and profite of children and yonge people Ouersene and corrected by the moost reuerende father in God the Archebyshoppe of Canterburie The preface THis treatice gentile reader is not wrytten for the Curattes preachers for many of them haue so muche knowledge in holy scripture thankes be to God that they be alreadye sufficiently instructed in these matters But it is written for the behoue of the yong childreÌ„ whiche muste be brought vp with playne and shorte lessons For wee see daylye by experience that who so euer wyll teache children must vse muche discretion wysedome not to geue them to much at one time lest he dull and oppresse their wittes and yet that which he gyueth theim he muste often and many times reherse and repete vnto them agayne as nere as he can after one manner of wise and with the same wordes For if thei teache them now this now that now with these wordes now with other then the childreÌ„ learne litle or nothing thei kepe almost nothing in memorye beside that they waxe wearie of learnyng conceaue a lothsomnes therto and be more slothfull and vnapte to learne Forasmuch therfore as it was to be feared that euery pastor woulde not take the paynes to drawe out such a shorte forme of teachynge to the children nor we thought good to burden euery one with so great labours and also yf euery pastor seuerally should deuise a forme for his parishe it myght chaunce that there should be as many soundrye formes as there be pastors which diuersitie myght engender muche diuision and controuercie and be also much hinderaunce to the children yf in one place thei learne one forme and in an other place an other forme For to exchewe the said inconueniences we haue thoughte good to deuise this shorte manner and forme tynstructe children and yong men wherby they maye both shortlie and easely learne the chief pryncipilles and begynnynge of ChristeÌ„ religion and doctrine and learne aswell howe they oughte to lyue as also what they should beleue And whan they haue learned this in their tender age they shal not onely vnderstande godlye sermons and al other godly doctrine and bookes y e better but also they shall become godly men and wise louers of true religion and godlynes and to al states and orders of lyfe aswell ecclesiasticall as ciuill be more apte and towarde vnto whiche godly purpose all fathers and mothers Curattes and preachers and al christeÌ„ Magestrates and officers should with all theyr mynde and endeuore gyue their ayde and helpe Wherunto God of his grace graunt hys fauour and assistaunce Amen ¶ A shorte Instruction concernyng the ten commaundementes ¶ A general begynnyng for all sermons GRace peace and mercie be with you all froÌ„ God the father and from his onely begotten sonne Iesu Christe oure Lorde AmeÌ„ That we may profectablie and with fruite teache learne the word of God let vs call for grace and praye the Lordes praier Pater noster A generall preface to be rehersed after the prayer in the begynnyng of eche sermon made vpon the ten commaundementes THe Prophete Dauid good Children lyke a coÌ„men scholemaster in the schole of God doeth preache on thys faschyon in the xxxiiii psalme come hither he saith my sonnes herken vnto me I wil teache you the feare of the Lorde who so euer desireth to lyue and woulde fayne see good dayes let him refeaine his tongue froÌ„ euyl hys lyppes y t they speake no deceit let him eschew euel do good Let him seke peace and pursue it Now my derely beloued childreÌ„ I know suerly that there is none amonge you but that he woulde wyshe to see good dayes and lead a Godlye and quiet lyfe Then muste you folowe the counsell of the prophete Dauid with all dilygence to learne the feare of the Lord whilest ye are yet yong tender of age For y t which meÌ„ learne not in theyr youth y e same do they learne in theyr age with more difficultie Therfore learne now with all diligence the feare of the Lord deare children then shal you ware men of excellent vertue and leade a godlye lyfe and shall see good dayes For a blessed and quiet life is not bought with riches nor gotten by â—â—â—oure but by learnynge the feare of God And he that feareth his maker as an almyghtye God and Lorde which dothe mercifully healpe them that be good and greuously punysheth the wicked he wyll dyligentlye take hede that he doth nothinge contrarye to goddes pleasure but wil kepe hys commaundementes so muche as is in his power And suche godlye children proue learned and wyse men whiche maye be able to profit other and the commen welth also as Dauid saith in an other place The feare of the Lorde is the begynnyng of wisedome Wherfore if you feare God and haue a desyre to be occupyed in godlynes then learne the ten commaundementes wherby God hath taughte vs what pleaseth what dyspleaseth hym what thynge is good and what is euell And yf you learne these lessons perfectly then therby you shal purchase vnto you the beginning of trew and godly wisedome whiche is suche wisedom that many men wel striken in yeares do not attaine to it And yet this wisedom and knowlege of the ten commauÌ„dementes is but onely the begynnyng of sapience for it is the teaching of the lawe But when the doctrine of fayth in Christe is taughte vnto you then you lerne a greater and higher wysedome the whiche the vngodlye or vnfaythfull do not vnderstand nor perceyue but god onely doeth gyue it downe frome heauen to make vs feare him and beleue his holy worde Wherfore good children learne nowe dylygently the beginning of wisedom that is to saye tholy ten commauÌ„dementes and gyue so good eare vnto them that you maye learne them without booke and reherse them when you come home ¶ Here folowe the ten commaundementes which must be recited so tretably and distinctly that children by often hearinge of them maye print them in theyr memories and faye them by rote These are the holy ten commaundementes of the Lorde our God The firste I Am the Lorde thy
may y e more assuredly beleue this both Christ himself rose from death and many saintes also w t hym Fourthely we must beleue euerlastyng lyfe Wherefore it foloweth in the Crede I beleue euerlastynge lyfe that is to saye I beleue that whā we shall ryse from death then we shall lyue euer with Christe in parfite holynes and iustice and in suche a gloriouse ioy as no toung can tell nor hart thincke And this treatise of the Crede we must end with this wourde Amen which is asmuche to saye as I beleue that al the articles of our beliefe before rehersed be very true and thereof I haue a sure faithe trust and confidence Therefore good children from the bottome of your hartes you must beleue in the holy gost whiche doth promyse vnto vs remission of our synnes by al y e true preachers ministers of goddes worde And he dothe also geue light to our hartes and myndes and moueth vs to beleue goddes worde and to put our faith and trust in hym And the same holy goost dothe dayly purifye sanctifye vs purge and clense vs from sinne and after this bodily death shall rayse vs agayne to euerlasting life And take this for a sure conclusion and doubt nothynge thereof that the holy goost as he hath begonne these thīges in vs so he will fynyshe thesame in vs yf we obey him and continue in faith vnto thēde of our liues For he y t cōtinueth vnto y e ende shal be saued And this is the summe and also the most plaine vnderstāding of this thirde parte of the Crede entreatyng of our sanctificatiō or halowing Wherefore good children marke well this lesson that when ye be demaunded howe vnderstande you the thirde parte of the Crede yee may answer thus I beleue y t neither by mās strength power or wysedome neyther by myne awne endeuour nor cōpasse of myn awne reason I am able to beleue in Iesus Christ or to come vnto hym But the holy goost did call me by the worde of y e gospell and with y e giftes of his grace he hath hitherto endowed me halowed me and in the true faith he hathe hitherto preserued and confirmed me this he hath not done only to me but also he calleth and gathereth togyther in the vnitye of one faith and one baptisme all the vniuersal churche that is here in earth and he halloweth kepeth and preserueth thesame in the true knowledge of Christ and faith in his promyses And in this churche he geueth free and general pardō to me and to al that beleue in him of al our synnes offences and trespasses and at the last day he shall rayse me and all other y t be deade and al that dyed in the true faithe of Iesus Christ he shall glorifye in the lyfe euerlastyng Therefore to the sayde holy gost that sanctefyeth vs with y e father that made and created vs and the sonne that redemed vs be geuen all honour and glorye world without ende Amen ¶ A generall preface to be rehersed in the begynnynge of euery sermon made vpon the Lordes prayer YE haue learned heretofore good childrē in y e Crede what we ought to beleue and in the ten cōmaūdemētes what we ought to do but we can neyther beleue nor do as we ought to do excepte the holy gost worke with in vs bothe a true faith also a dewe obedyence towardes God and his lawe For faith is the gyfte of God and all good thinges commeth from the father of lightes Therefore we must nedes aske and craue these benefites at his hande whiche only is the gyuer of theim For so Christ saieth that God the father wyll gyue to vs his children all thinges so that we sue to hym for theim And the prophet Dauyd saieth Cal vpon me in the daye of thy trouble and I shal deliuer the and thou shalt glorifye me Also our Sauioure Christ commaūdeth vs to do y e same sayng Aske and you shal haue seke and you shall fynde knocke and the dore shall be opened vnto you Now therfore seyng that we haue learned what we shoulde beleue and do it is most necessary for vs to cal for gods grace with most feruēt and ernest prayers that we may be able to performe y e thinge whiche we are bounde to do For our sauiour Christ hath promised vs that what soeuer we aske the father in his name he wyll gyue it vs. Also he saieth that what soeuer we aske yf we beleue we shal receaue y e same Wher is to be noted that yf we wyll obteyne oure requestes we must aske in y e name of Christ and also trust assuredly that for Christes sake our praiers shal be heard To aske in Christes name is to aske accordynge to his wil that is to say to aske y t which he hath commaunded Therefore when we praye we may saye thus O God our father and the father of our Lorde Iesu Christ which art in heuē I durst not of myne awn head be so bold to come vnto thy most highe and excellent maiestye to desyer any thyng of the but thy welbeloued sonne our Lord Iesus Christ hath commaūded me so to do and only in his name and at his commaūdemente am so bolde Therfore yf thou hear me y u hearest thy dearly beloued sonne oure Lorde Iesus Christ. And yf thou heare me not thē thou hearest not Iesus Christ him selfe who hath sent me to the and hath commaunded me to aske in his name Of this prayer made in fayth speaketh saincte Iohn in his epistle saying This trust we haue in God y t when we aske any thynge accordinge to his will he doth heare vs. Therefore we shoulde stedfastly beleue that God doth heare our prayer For he that beleueth not he shall obtayne nothynge And therefore Christe saith If you beleue you shall obtayne And to thentent that we should beleue surely thynke that we be herde he hath promysed to graunt what soeuer we aske in his name And agayne to thentent that we shuld knowe and be suer that we praye accordyng to his wil he hymselfe hath taught vs howe what we should praye and aske Therfore it is not in our lybertye whether we wil praie or not but by goddes commaundement we be boūde to praye as you haue hearde in the seconde commaundement Now therefore with all dilygence lerne good children y e holy prayer of y e Lord which y e greate doctour and our Lorde Iesus Christ taught vs hymselfe saying to his disciples Ye shall praye after this maner OUre father which art in heauē halowed be thy name Thy kyngdome come Thy wil be don in earth as it is in heauē Geue vs this day our daily bread And forgeue vs our trespaces as we forgeue them that trespace against vs. And suffre vs not to be led into temptacion But delyuer vs from euyl Amen This good children is the prayer of the Lorde