of him Secondly that his passion and obedience is as certainely ours as if we our selues had paid the punishment of our sinnes and made satisfaction to God Mâ— What difference is there between the Supper of the Lord and the Popish Masse Schol The supper of the Lord doth witneâ— vnto vs that we haue perfect forgiuenes of all our sinnes for that onely sacrifice of Christ which he himselfe once offered vpon the crosse and then that we are by the holy Ghost ingrafted into Christ who now according to his humanitie is onely in heauen at the right hand of his Father and will there be worshipped of vs. But in the Masse it is denied that â—â—e quicke and dead haue forgiuenes of sinnes for the once suffering of Christ vnles Christ be still euery day offered for them by the Priests and then it is taught that Christ is bodily vnder the appearance of bread and wine and therefore ought to be worshipped in them And so the very foundation of the Masse is nothing else but a denying of that onely sacrifice and suffering of Iesus Christ Ma Who ought to come to the supper of the Lord Schol Onely they that are truely sorie that they haue offended God by tâ—eâ—â— sins and do beleeue that they are forgiuen them for Christs sake and that whatsoeuer infirmities they haue they are reuered by his passion and death and who desire more and more to goe forward in faith and vprightnes of life But hypocrites and they that do not truly repent do eate and drinke vnto themselues conâ—emnation Ma May they also be admitted to this supper who declare themselues by their confession and life to be vnbeleeuers and vngodly men Schol In no wise for by that meanes the couenant of God is prophaned aâ—◠〈◊〉 wrath of God prouoked against the whole congregation Wherefore the Church by the commandement of Christ and his Apostles vsing the keyes of the kingdome of heauen ought to keepe backe such from the supper vntill they repent and amend their manners Ma What are the keyes of the kingdome of heauen Sch The preaching of the Gospell and Eclesiasticall discipline whereby heauen is opened to them that beléeue and shut against vnbeléeuers Ma How is the kingdome of heauen opened and shut by the preaching of the Gospell Schol When by the commandement of Christ it is openly preached to all and euery one that beleeuerâ— that all their sins are forgiuen them by God so often as they lay bold vpon the promise of the Gospell by a true faith Contrariwise vnto all vnbeleeuers Hypocrites it is denounced that the wrath of God and euerlasting condemnation lyeth vpon them so long as they continue in their sins According to which testimonie of the Gospell God will iudge aswell in this present life as in the life to come Ma How is the kingdome of heauen shut and opened by Eclesiasticall discipline Schol When by the commandement of Christ they who are in name Christians but in doctrine and life shew themselues strangers from Christ after they haue bene once or twice admonished and will not depart from their errours or sinfull liuing are presented to the Church or to those who are appointed to that office by the Church and if they obey not their admonition are by forbidding them the Sacraments shut out from the assembly of the Church and not receiued againe till they professe amendment Ma Seeing we are deliuered from all sinnes and miseries without any desert of our owne by the only mercy of God for Christs sake to what end should we do good workes Schol Because after that Christ hath redeemed vs by his blood he doth also renew vs with his spirit according to his owne Image to the end that hauing receiued so great benefits we should all our life long shew our selues thankfull towards God and that he might be glorified by vs. Secondly that we also euery one of vs may be assured of our faith by the fruites thereof Lâ—st of all that by the vprightnes of our life we may gaine others to Christ Mâ—i Cannot they then be saued who being vnthankfull and continuing securely in their sinnes are not turned from their wickednes vnto God Schol By no meanes For as the scripture witnesseth neither vncleane persons nor Idolaters nor Adulterers nor theeues nor coueteus persons nor Drunkards nor Rulers nor Oppressors shall Inherit the Kingdome of God Mâ—i Of what parts consisteth true Repentance or turning to God Schol Of the mortifying or killing the old man and quickning of the new man Mâ— What is the mortification of the olde man Schol Truely and from the hart to be sorie that by thy sinnes thou hast offended God and more and more to hate and siye from thy sinnes Mai What is the quickning of the new man Schol True reioycing in God through Christ and a forward desire to frame our life according to Gods will and to exercise all good worâ—s Mai What works are good Schol Onely those which are done of a true Faith according to the Law of God and are referred onely to his glorie and not those which are deuised by our selues vpon a good intent or commandement by mens traditions Mai What is the law of God Schol The Lorde spake these wordes saying 1. I am Iehoua thy GOD which brought thee out of the land of Aegipt from the house of bondage thou shalt haue none other Gods but mée 2. Make not to thy selfe any grauen Image nor draw any likenes of those things which are either in heauen aboue or in the earth beneath or in the water vnder the earth thou shalt not fall downe before them nor worship them for I thy Lord and God strong and Iealous auenging the sinnes of the fathers vpon the children and that to the third and fourth generation of them that hate mee and shewing mercie vpon thousands in them that loue me and keepe my commandements 3. Take not the Name of the Lord thy God in vaine for the Lord will not let him goe vnpunished that taketh his Name in vaine 4. Remember to kéepe holie the Saboth day sixe dayes shalt thou labour and doe all thy worke but the seuenth day shall be the Sabaoth of the Lord thy God Thou shalt doe no worke neither thou nor thy sonne nor thy daughter nor thy seruant nor thy handmaide nor thy cattell nor the stranger that is within thy gates for in sixe dayes the Lord made the heauen the earth the Sea and all things that are in them and rested the seuenth day therefore the Lorde blessed the seuenth day and hallowed it 5. Honour thy father and thy mother that thou mayest liue long vpon the Land which the Lord thy God shall giue thée 6. Thou shalt not kill 7. Thou shalt not commit Adultery 8. Thou shalt not steale 9. Thou shalt not beare false witnes against thy neighbour 10. Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours house thou shalt not couet thy neighbours wife nor his
seruant nor his maide nor his Oxe nor his Asse nor any thing that is his Mai What requireth God in the first Commandement Schol That as I loue the saluation of mine owne soule so I diligently shunne and auoyd all Idolatrie coniuring inchauntment superstition praying to Saints or other creatures and doe rightly acknowledge the onely and true God trust in him alone submit mâ— selfe with all humilitie and patience vnto him looke for all good things from him alone and with the most inward affection of my hart loue reuerence and worship him so that I will rather forsake all creatures then commit the least thing against his will Mâ—i What is Idolatrie Schol It is in the place of one God or besides that one and true God who hath reuealed himselfe in his word to deuise or haue anie other thing wherein to put our trust Mâ—i What doth the second commandement require Schol That wée expresse not God by any Image or shape neither serue him after any other manner then as in his word he hath commaunded himselfe to be serued Ma Ought we then to make no Images nor pictures Schol God neither ought nor can by any meanes be drawne or pictured and although it be lawfull to resemble creatures yet God forbiddeth to haue or make their Images to worship or honour either them or God by them Ma What meaneth God in the third commandement Schol That we doe not reprochfully or vnreuerently vse the name of God in cursing swearing forswearing nor yet take part in those horrible sinnes by holding our peace aâ—d winking at them but that we vse the sacred name of God with great religion and reuerence that by true and constant confession and calling vpon him and finally by all our words and deedes he may be praised and euer magnified Ma Is it then so great a sinne to take the name of God in vaine either by swearing or by cursing That God is also angry with them who as much as in them lyeth do not forbid or hinder it Schol Surely a most grieuous sinne for there is no greater sinne or which doth more offend God then the reproch of his holy name wherefore also he commaunded that sinne to be punished with death Ma But may any man lawfully and in a godly sort sweare by the name of God Schol He may when either the magistrate requireth it of his subiects or necessitie requireth that by this meanes faith be assured and truth established to the end that the glory of God may be set forth and the saluation of other men furthered for this kind of oath is confirmed in the word of God and therefore hath bene rightly vsed by holy men both in the old and new Testament Maist Is it not lawfull to sweare by Saints and other creatures Schol No for a lawfull oath is a calling vpon God wherein a man desireth that he being the only beholder of the heart would giue witnes to the truth and punish the swearer if he deceiue wittingly now this honour agreeth to no creature Ma What doth God require in the fourth commandement Schol First that the ministrie of the Gospell schooles be maintained and that both vpon other daies and especially vpon holy daies I do diligently frequent the holy assemblies heare the word of God attentiuely vse the Sacraments and to the publike praiers ioyne also mine owne priuate and according to my abilitie bestow something vpon the poore Secondly that in all my life I abstaine from wicked actions yéelding vnto the Lord that by his spirit he may worke his good worke in me and so that I begin that Euerlasting Saboth or rest in this life Ma What doth the Lord enioyne vs in the fift commandement Schol That we performe vnto our parents and euen to all that are set ouer vs due honour loue and fidelitie and do submit our selues to their faithfull preceps and chastisements with that obedience which is meete Secondly that we patiently beare with their faults alwaies hauing in remembrance that Gods will is to leade and rule vs by their hand Ma What doth God require in the sixt commandement Schol That neither by thought nor by word nor by gesture much lesse by déede either by my selfe or by any other I do reuile or hate or hurt or stâ—y my neighbour but cast away all desire of reuenge Moreouer that I hurt not my selfe nor wittingly cast my selfe into any daunger And therefore also that murthers might be auoyded hee hath armed the magistrate with the sword Ma Why but this commandement seemeth to forbid onely murther Schol For the staying of murther God teacheth that he hateth the roote and original of murther to wit anger enuie hatred and desire of reuenge and doth account all these for murther Ma What is the meaning of the seauenth commandement Schol That God doth abhorre all filthines and therefore that we also ought to hate and detest it and on the other side that we ought to liue soberly modestly and chastly either in holy wedlocke or single life Ma Doth God forbid nothing else in this commandement but adulterie and such kind of filthines Schol Forasmuch as our body and soule are the temples of the holy Ghost the will of God is that we possesse both body and soule purely and holily And therefore he doth generally forbid filthie deedes gestures behauiours speeches thoughts and desires and whatsoeuer may allure vs hereunto Ma What doth God forbid in the eight commandement Schol Not onely those thefts and robberies which the magistrate doth punish but vnder the name of theft he comprehendeth all naughtie shifts and deuises whereby we catch after other mens goods and labour to conueigh them to our selues either by force or by colour of right as are vnequall weights an vniust meatewand false measure deceitfull words counterfaite mony vsurie or any other forbidden way or meanes to thrine get wealth adde herevnto all couetousnes and the manifold mispending the gifts of God Ma What doth the ninth commandement require Schol That I beare no false witnes against any man that I shall misconsture no mans words that I backebite or reproach no man that I condemne no man rashly before his cause be heard but that I doe with all carefulnes auoyde all kinde of Lying and deceit as the proper workes of the Dâ—uell vnles I will prouoke the most gréeuous displeasure of Almightie God a-against my selfe and that in Iudgements and other affaires I follow the truth and freely and constantly professe the matter to bée euen as it is Moreouer that as much as in me lyeth I defend and encrease the good name and credit of others Maist What doth the tenth Commandement forbid Schol That our hearts be neuer tempted no not with the least desire or thought against any Commandement of God but that alwayes from the heart wee detest all sinne and contrarywise take pleasure in all kinde of Righteousnes Maist Are they able who are conuerted vnto
THE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLE-MAISTER OR A DIALOGVE BEtweene the Maister and the Scholler By G. E. Minister of Gods word Prou. 22. 9. Instruct a Childe in the Trade of his way and when hee is olde he shall not depart from it LONDON Printed by Tho Creede and are to be sold by Wil. Barringer at his shop neere the great North doore of S. Pauls Church 1613. TO THE CHRISTIAN READER IT is the office and duetie of euery good childe that carefullie and studiouslie laboureth to obey follow his Fathers precepts and coÌ„mandements principally before all things to endeuour to know perfectly the nature and condition of his Fathers will whereof if he be ignorant many times in the same things hee iudgeth best and most pleasing hee most offendeth and incurreth greatest displeasure Euen so wee that be Subiects and Children to the great GOD and Almighty Creator of all that heauen and Earth containeth can doe nothing gratefull and acceptable vnto his Maiestie except we first know his good will pleasure towards vs concerning our duties in beliefe life and conuersation In the knowledge whereof that we might haue a setled foundation and familiar education this ensuing Catâ—â—â—iâ—me is collected and gathered from the Sacred Worde and will of Almightie God contained in the Olde and Newe Testament The commandement of God to teach and instruct children in religion is general pertaineth to all men of euery age time and therefore as well vnto vs as to the Iewes it is saide Teach 〈…〉 like of them when thou art in thine house as thou walkest by the waâ— when thou liâ—st downe when thou risest vp Deut. 11. 19. Wherevpon â— Paule saith And you Fathers prouoke not your Children to wrath but bring them vp in Instruction and Information in the Lorde Ephes 6. 4. There is but one and the same corruption of nature and our Children are as well conceiued borne in sinne as the childreÌ„ of our forefathers which corruption must be reformed by carefull and diligent instruction and long custome euen from tender yeares and this especially is required in the children of the Faithfull and beleeuers who seeing they belong to Gods Church and our Sauiour Christ commanded them to be brought vnto him It were a most heynous fault and odious shame if they should bee found vntaught ignorant of the doctrine of Christ and his Church Therfore Salomon most wisely counselleth in the 12. of his Prouerbs Instruct a Child in the trade of his way and when hee is olde he shall not depart from it That is If you would haue him leade his life godlie iustly honestlie and vertuously you must instruct him when he is young in all those things which belong to the seruice of God to the societie of men and to all speciall duties Consecrate vnto mee saith the Lorde euery one that first openeth the Wombe amongst the children of Israell Exod. 13. By which Ceremonie God did not onely call to their remembrance the benefit long before shewed their Fathers in Aegypt thereby confirme them in the Faith of Redemption that was to come but also put them in minde of their dutie that they ought to coÌ„secrate vnto him whatsoeuer was most pretious euen their Children especially For though all were not admitted to the Priest-hoode yet all were to bee instructed in the knowledge of God and though the outward Ceremonie therof together with the rest be abolished in Christ yet the commandement remaineth whereby wee are euen at this day bounde to the like holie presentation of their soules For the performance of this did the mother of Samuel voluntarilie binde her selfe vnto God saying If thou wilt giue vnto thy Handmaide a man childe then will I giue him vnto the Lorde all the dayes of his life 1. Sam. 1. 11. This did Ioseph and Marie diligently obserue towards CHRIST whome both according as it is written in the Law of the Lorde they brought him to Ierusalem to present and when hee was come to the Age of twelue yeaes they caried him thither for the seruice of God The better part of man is the soule which cannot bee redeemed with the substance of the whole worlde Are not they then most foolish and very indiscreete in their proceedings who straine themseluâ—â— to prouide for their children things pertaining to the body and the honours of this worlde in the meane time beeing vtterly carelesse whether they haue anie true knowledge of God whether they bee ioyned to him by Faith whether they know wherein consisteth the saluation of their soules and the euerlasting happines of man Abraham and the rest of the holie Fathers were farre wiser then these men whose speciall care was this to haue their Children instructed in the knowledge and feare of God for they knewe that godlines was the greatest gaine of all For these causes then the necessitie of godlie Instruction doeth appeare and to that ende this ensuing Treatise is collected wherein is layde open and expounded the Morall Lawe and the vse thereof out of which a man may knowe his owne wretched estate and his debt wherein hee standeth bounde vnto God that so hee may truely humble himselfe before him and earnestly bethinke himselfe how he may be deliuered from sinne and the punishment thereof and from the wrath of God and from the curse In the nexte place is Expounded the Creede that 〈◊〉 the doctrine of mans deliuerance from miserie by CHRIST of the person and Office of Christ of Iustification by Faith of the Sacraments of the Keyes of the Church and vse of them of true Repentance of good workâ—s and the necessitie of them for the true seruice of God Of the thankfulnes wee owe vnto God Of the insufficiencie of man in this life to fulfill the Lawe of God Last of all the sense and meaning of the Lordes Prayer This for the glorie praise and honour of the diuine Maiestie and the benefite profite happines and saluation of thy Soule Farewell In Christ Iesus THE CHRIStian Schoole-maister Maister VVHat is the only true comfort of a Christian in this life Scholler That in soule and body whether I liue or die I am not mine owne but I belong vnto my faithfull Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ who by his pretious blood most fully satisfying for all my sinnes hath deliuered me from the whole power of the diuell and doth so pâ—â—serue me that without the will of my heauenly Father not so much as a haire can fall from my head yea and all things are made to serue for my saluation wherefore he doth also assure me by his spirit of euerlasting life and maketh me forward and readie from henceforth to liue vnto him Maister How many things are needfull for thee to know to the end thou enioying this comfort maist liue die a happieman Scholler Thrée things First what is the greatnes of my sinne Secondly by what meanes I may be deliuered from my sinne and miserie And thirdly what thankfulnes
God to keepe these Commaundements perfectly Schol. No truly but euen they that are most holie so long as they liue Maist Why then will haue his Lawe so exactly and so seuerely preached whereas there is no man in this life that is able to keepe it Scholl First that in our whole life we might the more acknowledge how forward our nature is to sinne and so much the more earnestly desire to obtaine mercie and Righteousnes in Christ Secondly that I be continually about this and daily more and more labour to obtaine the grace of the holy Ghost to the ende wée may euery day be more and more renued according to the Image of God vntill one day at length after wee are departed out of this life we attaine with ioy to that perfection which is set before vs. Mai Wherefore is Prayer necessary for Christians Schol Because it is the principall part of that thankfulnes which God requireth at our hands As also because the Lord bestoweth his grace and the holy Ghost vpon them alone who with true gronings doe continually begge those things at his handes and doe giue him thankes for the same Mai What things are required to that Prayer wherewith God is pleased and which he heareth and graunteth Schol That with true affection of hart wee aske of the true God alone who hath reuealed himselfe in his worde all things whatsoeuer he hath commanded vs to aske of him and that with an inward féeling of our owne needie and miserable estate wee humbly throwe our selues downe before the Maistie of God leaning vppon this strong foundation So that wée albeit vnworthy are vndoubtedly heard of God for Christs sake as he hath promised vnto vs in his word Maist What are those things which God commandeth vs to aske of him Schol All that is necessary for soule and bodie which our Lorde Iesus Christ hath comprised in that Prayer which hée himselfe hath taught vs. Maist What is that Prayer Scholl Our Father which art in Heauen hallowed bee thy Name thy Kingdome come thy will bee done in Earth as it is in Heauen Giue vs this day our daily Bread and forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs and leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill for thine is the Kingdome the power and the glorie for euer and euer Amen Ma Why doth Christ command vs after this maner to cal vpoÌ„ God Our Father Schol That euen in the very entrance of Prayer hee may stirre vp in vs a reuerence and trust in GOD conuenient for the Children of God which ought to be the ground-worke of our Prayer to wit that God for Christes sake is become our Father and will much lesse denie vnto vs those things that we aske of him by a true Faith then our Parents denie vs earthly benefites Maist Why is that added Which art in Heauen Scholl That we should be assured that since God is in Heauen and there ruleth ouer all whatsoeuer is fit for vs hée is able to prouide and from thence wée must looke for all good things for soule and bodie Maist What is the first petition Schol Hallowed be thy Name that is I pray first of all that we may know thée feare thée reuerence praise thée and set forth thy power wisâ—dome goodnes righteousnes and glory which shineth in all thy workes Secondly that thou wouldest so direct all our life thoughts words and déeds that thy most holy name be not reproched by our occasion but rather be honoured and magnified Ma What is the second petition Schol Thy kingdome come that is so gouerne vs by thy word and by thy spirit that we may be more and more subiect vnto thée preserue and encrease thy Church destroy the workes of the diuell and euery power that exalteth it selfe against thy Maiestie make voide all the counsells that are taken against thy word vntill at length thou doo fully and perfectly raigne when thou shalt be all in all Maist What is the third petition Schol Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen That is graunt that we and all men renouncing our owne wills may readily and without any delay or grudging do thine owne will while we desire that we may as cheerfully execute as the holy Angels doe in heauen Maist Which is the fourth petition Schol Giue vs this day our daily Bread That is that thou wouldest giue vs all things necessarie for this present life that thereby we may acknowledge that thou art the onely fountaine from whence all good things doe slowe and except thou giue the blessing all our care and trauell yea euen thine owne gifts will be vnprosperous and hurtfull vnto vs wherefore graunt that turning our affiance from all creatures we may set it vpon thee alone Maist What is the fift petition Schol Forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them 〈…〉 That is for the blood of Christ impute not vnto vs most miserable sinners all our sinnes and euen that corruption which as yet cleaueth vnto vs as we also feele this testimonie of thy fauour in our hearts that we haue a stediâ—st purpose from our heart and soule to forgiue all that haue iniuried wronged and offended vs. Maist What is the sixt petition Schol Le◠〈◊〉 vs not iâ—to temptation but de 〈…〉 That is forasmuch as we are of our selues feeble and weake that we cannot stand nâ— not a moment against our sworne enemies Sathan the world and the flesh which continually are tempting vs to euill it would please thee to strengthen vs with the power of thy spirit that we faint not in this spirituall combat but that we may so long stand against them all that at the last we obtaine a perfect victorie Maist How dost thou conclude thy prayer For thine is the Kingdome the power and glorie for euer Schol That is that wee aske all these things at thy handes because thou being our King and Almightie art willing and able to giue vs all things and these things wée therefore aske to the ende that by them all glorie may reâ—ound not vnto vs but vnto thy holie Name Maist What meaneth this last worde Amen Schol That the matter is certaine and not of doubt for my praier is much more certainely heard of God then I in mine owne heart do feele that I desire it perfect and absolutely with all the inward affection of my soule FINIS A prayer for the Morning O Heauenly Father which like a diligent watchman attendest alwaies vpon thy faithfull people whether they wake or sleepe mightily defendest them not onely from Sathan that old enemie of mankind but also from all other their aduersaries so that through thy godly power they be preserued harmelesse I most hartily thanke thee that it hath pleased thy fatherly goodnes so to take care of me thine vnprofitable seruant this night past that thou hast both safely kept me from all mine enemies and also giuen me sweete sleepe vnto the