of God the heauens the sonne the moone the sterres and other celestial workes a religiouse consideration admiration and worshippyng of Goddes maiestie muste needes be stirred vp in vs and growe meruaylouslye and be confirmed excepte we be Godles altogyther And a religiouse and attentyue contemplation of the rest of Goddes workes in the myndes of the Godlye worketh the selfe same thynge Wherfore the preachers shal often recite and declare in their sermons wyth great diligencie suche places of the scripture toutching the creation and workes of God and therwith exhorte men that they accustome them selues with asmuch diligencie as they may that as often as they beholde them selues or other men the heauens the earth the waters and thynges conteyned therein as oftē as they vse and take fruition of the same they cal to remembraunce and considre religiously with them selues that those be the workes and gyftes of God our maker and father and that they were made of him and set before vs for this purpose that in them we shoulde acknowledge God him selfe and oure father and his almightines his euerlasting wisedome and goodnes in Christ the sauiour that we shoulde cal vpō him and magnifie him And herein let them labour to cal to theyr myndes and consideration that there is none other God the maker and preseruer of al thinges then the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ which gaue thys his sonne vnto vs and wyth hym all thinges perteynynge to the vse and saluation both of bodie and soule Whiche hath opened his word and doctrine of lyfe in the holie writinges that so they maye learne to comprehend and ioyne together the worde and workes of God and to knowe and beholde hym and his workes in his worde and to reuolue the same in theyr myndes whē they se and vse the creatures of God Lo this is thy God and maker which gaue the his sōne Christ our Lorde that he might brynge the from eternall death to eternall lyfe and hath reueiled his fatherly wyll toutchynge thy saluation in his scriptures whiche also caused his lawe and Gospell to be preached to the he of nothing made these heauens thys earth these waters these beastes these men thys meate drynke garmentes and what soeuer is before our eyes and handes and he hath layed them before the and geuen the them for thys entente that they myght serue the for thy vse and health that in these his workes and gyftes thou mayest more fully knowe hym prayse and magnifie him and serue hym frō thy whole herte wyth the very same thynges to sette forth his glorie further the health of men Whiche thynge if thou laboure to do these creatures and all the workes of God shall serue to procure thy health And if thou do not so they shall be agaynst the wyth God theyr maker and shall serue to reuenge thy vngodlines Suche a faythfull meditation and contemplation of the creatures of God bryngeth to passe that euerie worke of god preacheth God vnto vs and admonisheth vs of his diuinitie power and goodnes For whiche purpose they were also sette before vs that as the Apostle wryteth we may vnderstande by his workes thorowe the creation his eternall power and Godheade For we oughte so to beholde and considre euerie worke of God that sterynge vp a religiouse admiration of his deuine power wysedome and goodnes we maye crye out wyth Dauid Howe greate be thy workes O Lorde thou haste made al thynges wisely the earth is full of thy goodnes Psalm Ciiii. Thys wyse all the worlde is and oughte to he vnto vs the tēple of God that we may acknowledge call vpon magnifie and worshyppe God not in certayne places onely as vngodlines naturally grafted in vs alloweth but euery where in euery place of his dominion as God oure creatour and maynteyner Whereof thys foloweth that whyle in our busines and doinges we folowe the cōmaūdemētes of God and cal for his healpe we feare nothynge that anie man can do to vs we be nothynge agaste or tremble For as sone as we behold and cōsidre those men wyth whō we haue to do and which seame terrible vnto vs or the thynges them selues in whiche there appeareth some daunger or disticultie as the creatures of god and with that contemplation call to our remēbraunce and thynke religiously vpon God the maker of those men those thynges and of vs then our fayth in Goddes promyse and testimonie namely that all thinges were both made for oure health and felicitie do also necessarely worke the same styll and that they can be none other thinges then the instrumētes of God to perfourme our health and felicitie oure fayth I saye is so stered vp and strengthned to do al thynges that we take in hande to do by the commaundement of God that all feare of daunger and vnabilitie muste needes departe wyth all doubte of well bryngyng to passe the thing that we Godly take in hande to do that is to saye by the commaundement of God Thys cōsideration of thynges whiche pondreth that all thynges be the creatures of God and that God as he made them so he preserueth them for our profite and daylye bringeth them forth and giueth them vs to vse bringeth this thing to passe also that we abuse nothinge but that we haue esteame al thinges that come to our vse as the workes of the father hym selfe as they be in dede And it causeth vs to vse them wyth all moderation and holines wyth all thankesgeuyng and reuerent praysing before other and magnifiynge of Gooddes bountuousnes finally wyth liberall dealyng and bestowyng vpon them that neede It is righte necessarie that the people be taught moost diligently these thynges concernyng the beliefe of the creation and conseruation of all thynges and the faythfull contemplation and vse of the creatures of God For the comen people be muche farther drawen then men beleue from the true and lyuely knowledge and consideration of God the creatour and of his workes thorow that monstrous magnifiyng of saintes and of theyr power to healpe vs which they haue vntruely attributed vnto thē and thorowe those madde processions that settinge forth and worshippynge of images and of Sayntes bones All men in dede behold the heauens the earth and other godlye and wōderful creatures workes of God they toutch them they haue them in theyr hādes and also enioye the commoditie of them but they seldome or neuer remembre God the maker they thanke not God for these his so greate gyftes and benifittes whiche made preserueth and giueth vs al thynges for our cōmoditie health and felicitie And they defer al thynkyng on God all worshippynge of God tyl they come to theyr temples and chapelles there they wyll execute all theyr veneration worshippyng and Goddes seruice that with more securitie in all other places they maye lyue after theyr owne pleasure and nothyng at all remembre God as they shoulde and that manie wayes they maye abuse the holie creatures and
true and liuelie fayth they shoulde acknowledge oure Lorde Iesus Christ and confesse him to be the only sauiour and calle for his helpe in al trobles with a verie trust and exercise them selues in such worckes as in dede be good and fruteful in the holye sacramētes and other ceremonies of the church accordinge to Christes institution that godlines maie daily encrease more and more and that al thinges which be contrarie to Godes worde all sinnes and offences that be crept in to the church of God maye be abolisched wherefore attributinge nothinge ether to our wisdome or to the wisdome and doctrine of other but only encouraged and trusting in the true grace and sure promise of God the father and in the merite and strenghth of our Lord Iesus Christ the only hed and vigilant pastour of hys comgregation we haue determined to set furth accordynge to oure simplicite these thynges thus gathered after diligent deliberacion and correction asmuch as coulde be done in shorte tyme and asmuch as God helped vs wyth hys grace for some reformacion of Christian discipline For we graunte that it is our office to fede christes shepe and faithfully to loke to the congregacions cōmitted vnto vs. And we cal God our creator to witnesse whiche is euerlastinge truth and knoweth the hertes and seeth al thoughtes that we in al this matter of reformation seke nether our owne glorie nor oure priuate commodite but only haue respecte hereunto that the glorie of the almightie maye bee mooste largely set furth to the euerlastinge saluacion of oure men Therfore we besech al christen men of what condicion soeuer thei be which shal reade o◠heare this our preparation of a reformation by our Lord Iesus Christ whose cause matter and busines is hādled in this boke if thei shal finde anie thinge in it that shal not seme to be agreable to goddes worde and make to the true edificacion of fayth in Christe whiche resteth in the augmentacion of goddes encrease that they wil certifie vs thereof and gently teach vs out of the holie scriptur We wyll take the same by goddes grace in good parte and gladli embrace those thinges that we shal perceiue to helpe to the reparation of the church and we be readie to do them more diligently than it is set furth in this boke that nothinge wante to the nessarie reformacion of the church And contrarie wise we require of them that if they shal perceiue that the Lord hath mercifully giuē vs to attain his meaninge and wil they wil helpe vs wyth their beniuolence and diligence asmuch as they maye that these thinges as the holsome commaundementes of oure maker redemer iugde Iesus Christ maye be sette furth chiefely seing that they vnder stand that it becōmeth vs in nowyse in those thinges whiche we surely knowe to be enioyned and commaunded vnto vs by oure God and sauiour out of hys worde to differ any lōger either for the authorite and power of anie men or for the expectacion of a councell generall or nationall the thinges which perteine to the glorie of God and of his most dere sonne and the saluation of the people but rather as commodiously as we maye to propone the same to be obserued of our men and other asmuch as the almightie will helpe vs with hys diuine grace whiche we wishe to al them that seke the same truly thorough our Lord Iesus Christ As we cōmende vnto them this our obedience such as it is in this our purpose whiche we owe to the diuine maieste with al our subiectes and our office desiringe the same children of god which with a sincere herte wishe the amplification of Christes kingdom to whome vndoubtedly our necessarie diligence though it be slender shal be acceptable that they with their godlie praiers will diligentlye ayde in this our purpose and ministerie vs and our subiectes Which thinge how acceptable it was vnto vs we desire to declare to euerie one whan we shal be able ⧠Giuen at Buschonie ⧠A Table of the principall Articles in this boke of a Reformacion OF Doctrine That some Lesson muste be resited out of the holye Scripture before a Sermon and declared vnto the people That al Sermōs must be made to the magnifiyng of the Lord Christ Of the Trinitie Of the creacion and gouernaunce of all thynges Of the cause of synne and death Of original sinne and mannes wekenes before regeneration Of the olde Testament Of the difference of the olde and newe Testament Of preachyng peculiar to the newe Testament Of the preachyng of Repentaunce Of the true and proper vse of Goddes lawe A short exposition of the .x. commaundementes Of remission of synnes and iustification Of good workes Of the true and natural significatiō of this worde fayth Of the crosse and tribulations Of the church of God Of the vnitie or concorde of the church Of christian prayer A short exposition of the Lordes praier Of the abuse in prayer Of the true and false vse of Images Of Christian fast Of holy offerynges A premoniciō and commaundement against the errours of the Anabaptistes Of the administration of religion Of Sacramentes generally Of Baptisme The fourme of a Catechisme before Baptisme The exorcisme Of the administration of Baptisme Howe Baptisme must be administred at times not prescribed Of Confirmation Of the Lordes Supper At what tyme the Lordes Supper ought to be celebrated Of the cōmuniō of straungers and sickfolke Howe sicke persōs must be visited and how we must celebrate the cōmunion with thē Of communion in priuate houses for menne in health Of turning from sins and true repentaunce Of excommunication Of the makyng of Pastours Of the blessyng of Mariages Of Buriyng Of holy and feastful dayes Of fastyng dayes and Lent Of the difference of meates Of certayne other ryghtes or ceremonies of the church Of ecclesiastical rites vpon working daies Of peculiar dayes of procession Of Letany Of commune almes Of scholes for chyldren Of scholes of Diuinitie Of disputation By what meanes a christian reformation of holy ministerie and cure of soules maye be begunne and practised in parishes Of refourmyng of canonical colleges Of the reformation of monasteries both of men and women Of free and not Monasticall Colleges of virgins Of the ordre of selbrethren and laye brethrē The ende of the table Of Doctrine OUR sauiour Gods sonne Iesus Christ which cam into this world to the intent to open that wonder ful and hyd wil of God concernyng the saluation of mankynd after this sort spake to his disciples and to all them that are called to the ministery of his Gospel As the father hath sente me so I sende Iohn x. Marke the last Chap. you And in another place Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to euery creature teachyng theim to kepe all thynges that I haue cōmaunded you Further God eternal the father of our Lord Iesu Chryst Mat. iii. xvii spake thus from heauen of hys sonne Him heare
ye Wherefore let vs constitute hym a Doctoure of authoritie and iudge of all writinges Peruse Cypriās boke ij Epistle iij. And that Christ ought only to be heard the father witnesseth also from heauen saying this is my sonne in whom I am well pleased heare hym Wherfore if Christ only oughte to be hearde we must not looke what any mā before vs hath thought good to bee doone but what Christe fyrste dyd whych is before all All preachinges ought to be taken out of the holie scriptures Forasmuch as thā this doctrine of God the father and of oure Lorde Jesus Chryst is taught in no wrytinges but in the wrytynges of the Propheies and the Apostles and seyng that there is none other doctrine wherin the wyll of God from the begynnyng concernyng mannes saluation is set furth with more certayne and strong testimonies Paule saiyng also that the churche Ephe. ij is buylded therupon it is ryght necessary that al the ministers of the Gospel read often pondre the hole deuine scripture with the feare of God and exquisite diligence both that they them selues maye be better learned and also that they may enstruct other of the euerlastyng wyl of God of the law of synne of the wrath of God of grace and ryghteousnes promysed for Chryst the mediatour of lyfe euerlastyng and paynes euerlasting which the dispisers of the word must nedes suffre This wysdome as Paule witnesseth to the Corinth doth far excel al mans wisdom For he saith we speake the wisdome of God in mistery which is hid whych God predestinated before the worldes vnto our glory whyche none of the prynces of this worlde hath knowne but God hath opened it vnto vs by his spirit i. Corin. xi Wherefore forasmuch as God hathe propouned vnto vs this his holesome and heauenlye doctryne onely in the writynges of the Prophetes of the holy Apostles and because we cannot receiue the same certaine and vndouted els where al shepherdes preachers ought to exercyse them selues diligently daye and nyght in these holy and deuyne bokes that they may be apter to teach other As the holy S. Ciprian to Pompeius agaynst Stephanes Epistle I◠behoueth a byshop not only to teach but also to learne For he dothe better teache which dayely encreaseth and profiteth in learnynge better thynges Se. s Augu. also boke v. of Baptisme agaynste the Donatistes Cha. xvi Gost requireth it in them by name that they declare and shewe them selues approued to God and such workemen of Christ as nede not to be ashamed of their mynistery and whych also may rightly deuide the word of truth and teach other with fruite ij Timoth. ij Item that they holde fast that faythful word whych is accordyng to doctryne that they may bee able to exhort thorough holsome doctrine and to conuince the agaynsayers therof Titu i. In which deuine precept propouned to al teachers ministers of congregations the pastours and preachers shall obserue diligently Fyrst that it is required of thē that in teachyng they hold fast the certayne and faythful word that is to say to whych certayne and vndouted fayth ought to be geuē Wherof it foloweth that thei must take ryght diligent hede that they myngle none opinions of men with their doctryne and preachyng but that they teache religiously and deliuer to the people the syncere worde Ther be ma ▪ of God For this saiyng is euer true Euery man is a lyar Psalm Cxvi And Paule saith The natural man vnderstandeth not those thynges that be of the spirite of God for thei be folyshnes vnto hym and he cannot perceiue them i. Cori. ij After the same sort sayth Esay xl Al flesh is grasse and al the glory therof is as the flour of the felde the grasse wythereth and the floure fadeth But the word of the lorde abideth for euer Seing then that men of theyr owne nature be deceyued and can not of them selues vnderstande the doctrine of grace and seinge that theyr glorie or excellencie by whiche worde the prophete would chiefely signifie mannes wysedome falleth awaye lyke a floure howe can mannes reason and wisdome when it is not guyded and directed by the spirite and worde of God perceyue and teache anie certentie and truth chiefely concernyng diuine matters and the restitution of man And although al christian men haue the spirite of God whiche as he leadeth eche one into all truth as muche as is sufficient for his owne saluation and for the profitte of the congregation so he hath witnessed in man the gospell of Christe wyth goodly bookes and wrytynges and doeth euen vnto thys daye wytnesse and preache neuerthelesse fleshe and bloude abyde in al men be they neuer so holy and spiritual as Augustine I can not denie nether ought to denie that as in oure elders them selues so there be many thinges in so manie my workes that may be blamed wyth ryghte iudgement and no rashenes at all longe as they lyue here whiche fleshe and bloude perceyue not the thynges that pertayne vnto God The sense and vnderstandyng of the fleshe remayneth whiche stryueth agaynst God Wherfore in thys lyfe there neyther hath ben nor is anie man endued wyth so great holines or doctrine but that it hath chaunced hym often to fall and to be deceyued Wherefore as Saynte Augustine so lykewyse other fathers and olde doctours allowed not all the writinges and sentences of them whiche had taughte eyther before them or in theyr tyme for thys cause that those thynges came from men so excellent in godlines and learnynge but as farre as euerie man confirmed his doctrine The same antour in the Epistle to saint Hierome and sentence with the worde of God and sure reasons And they counted those onely reasons to be sure and certaine which thei perceiued to be deriued out of the word of God Of which sort those be with which S. Paule proueth that a woman muste couer Howe we muste iudge of the wrytynges of the fathers hyr heade in the congregation and kepe silence and not teache men i. the Corhinth xi and. xiiii For the apostle cōfirmeth these thynges wyth thys reason namely because the worde of God testifieth that the womā is of the man that she was made after the man and first admitted the gyle of Satan Item that she oughte to be subiecte to hy husbande Wherfore al cōfirmations of godlie doctrine consiste in the onely testimonie of the Vppon what foundation al godly doctrine ought to stand scripture vpon wihche scripture al that we either beleue or teache of God and oure Christe oughte to be grounded For thys scripture only setteth before vs the word of God vnmixte and certayne wherunto onely we ought to giue credence in diuine matters for it was not taught of mē but of the holy goste from heauen as S. Petre wytnesseth sayinge knowe this first that euerie prophetical scripture is not of priuate interpretation For prophecie was not at
⧠A simple and religious consultation of vs Herman by the grace of God Archebishop of Colone and prince Electour c. by what meanes a Christian reformation and founded in Gods worde Of doctrine administration of the deuine Sacramentes of Ceremonies and the hole cure of soules and other ecclesiastical ministeries may be begon among men committed to our pastorall charge vntil the lorde graunt a better to be appoynted either by a free and Christian couÌ„sayle general or national or elles by the states of the Empire of the natioÌ„ of Germanie gathered together in the holye Gost ¶ Imprinted in the yere of our Lorde 1547. The. xxx of October I. D. ¶ We Herman by Gods grace archbishop of Colone Archchaunceler in Italye of the holye Romayne Empire And prynce Electour Duke of Westphalia and Angaria administratour of Padebourne wysheth to al them that shal reade heare and vnderstand this our boke grace peace and blisfulnes from God our father through our Lorde and onely sauiour Iesus Chryst IT is knowne to al men manifestly that our most redouted Emperour Charles our moost gratious Lorde hath ryght diligently sought sondry waies in many counsels wyth the prynces Electours and other princes and states of the holye Romayne Empire in Germany wherby these dauÌ„gerous and pernicious disseÌ„cion altercatioÌ„ in holi religion myght be taken away and a general and christian consent and reformation of congregations myght be appoynted and in troduced through the whole nation of Germanye But because the Emperours maiestie could not hitherto deuyse and constitute this general and godly concorde and reformatioÌ„ of churches he for a godly cause and very christian purpose enioyned and commaunded in the counsayle last assembled at Ratespone with the bishpop of Romes Legate to al prelates that among them selues and their diocesanes they shoulde begyne a christian correction of ecclesiastical matters which myght helpe to a comely and holsom administration of the congregations and that they shoulde propoune the same to the congregation to be obserued and mayntain it with ernest diligence and suche faythfulnes as becometh ecclesiastical persos in thys matter neither should haue any regarde of theim whiche woulde hyndre or staye thys godlye purpose because he trusted that by this meane a more coÌ„modious way myghte be made to the ordring refurming of churches and that mens mindes might be prepared the soner to coÌ„sent to a coÌ„sultatioÌ„ of religion Besides this the states of our dominion haue earnestlye required of vs in manye conuocations that we would make a godly and christian reformation And moreouer in the last Conuocation at Bone the Erls Knightes Gentilmen and cities of our dominion committed vnto vs that after the sayd maner we should procure a reformation of congregations to bee gathered to gether and to bee pubblished and propouned to the congregations committed vnto oâ—â—â— charge whiche they shoulde obserue 〈◊〉 hereunto that we our selues by most certain arguments of God do perceiue daily howe grate nede of ameÌ„dement our coÌ„gregacions haue because they be vtterlye destitute of godlie and lerned ministers and therefore no sincere and certayne doctrine is handled amoÌ„g our men where as yet the same ought alwaies to be preched and taught before old men and younge For we perceiue that of thys neglectinge of perfecte and pure doctrine horrible ignorance of God pernitious supersticion vnbelefe most greuous fautes and confusion of all good thinges folowe necessarely Therefore whan we perceyued that the saide thynges preuailed horribly it semed that we ought to make no longer delaie but rather we thought vpon the emendation of these thinges and consulted aboute the same ernestly cheifely in this our extreme olde age which surely warneth vs that we must shortely come before the iudgement seate of Christ where we knowe that we must giue an accompe of this office enioyned vnto vs. Wherefore that we myght first shewe oure selues obedient to our saniour and the Lord Christe the prynce of pastours and to hys flocke and secoÌ„dly acknowlege our supreme officer the emperour and finally seke the preseruacion and correction of religion among the people of Christe committed vnto oure charge accordinge to the office of a bishoppe enioyned vnto vs we haue applied our hole diligence hereunto accordinge to our simplicitie and the gifte which the almightie hath grauÌ„ted to vs that we might finde out some meane to reforme ecclesiasticall doctrine beinge so necessarie in thys greate perturbacion of thinges which afterwarde we mighte propoune to our men wherein if we should not do our dutie surely we shoulde stirre vp greater anger of God to warde vs and all godlie men perceiue that vndoubted and vn couerable destruction of soules wold folow thereof Wherefore we nether woulde nor coulde delaie our purpose of a reformacion Therefore we called to our coÌ„sultation manie men and those exercised men and endued wyth the feare of God and wyth spirituall wisdoÌ„e and lerninge with whom after that we had had longe communication we considered al thinges faithfulli and at the last we ordanied the forme and preparation folowinge of restoringe ecclesiastical doctrine and discipline amonge our men And thought I be their vnworthye bishop yet I was lawefully made both archbishoppe and curate of soules And sette not furth this same forme and maner of a reformation as thought nothinge coulde be ameÌ„ded or chaunged in it or as though other ought in anie wise to folowe it Thorough the grace of God we acknowledge the weaknes of our faith and the slendernes of our iudgemeÌ„t in these matters of so greate difficultie coÌ„cerning the heauen lie kingdome of our Lorde Iesu Christe and our saluation But because our dere Lord Iesus Christe praised his father and gaue hym thaÌ„ckes also for that that he had hidden the misteries of the heauenlie kyngdome from the prudent and wise meÌ„ of this world and had opened them to the simple and despised and commaunded his holesome gospel to be preached without differeÌ„ce to the lerned and vnlerned that they might attain euerlasting saluacion and moreouer promised hys spirite by whom we vndrestande and receiue those thinges whiche he hymselfe giueth vs in the gospel for our euerlastinge saluation asmanie as would seke the same in the name of his dere sonne our Lord Iesus Christ as Christe hymselfe witnesseth it shoulde not haue becomed vs whiche professe the name of Christe execute the office of a bishoppe though we grauÌ„te we do not satisfy in both I meane in Chriistan life and in the office of a bishoppe to doubte of grace and gifte of God and to distruste God our most mercifull heauenlie father as though he myght not be moued with our praiers and the godlie praiers of oure men to gene vs mercifulli his hollye spirite whereby we myght lerne of his gospel to adourne our office enioyned by him and to dispose and ordain that the peple coÌ„mitted to our charge be faithfully and diligently taught by godlie and mete ministers howe thorough
into the people in sermons ¶ The article of the trinitie AL though mannes reason vnderstandeth not the nature of God yet God hath opened hym selfe in the worde and in his sonne that we maye knowe him asmuch as he hath reuelated him selfe and calle vpon him After whiche sorte whan we calle vpon God the father there is a greate difference betwene our inuocation and the inuocation of all other people and nations and this difference coÌ„sisteth cheifely in ij pointes One is that inuocation thus ordered is derected to the true and natural God Thother is that our inuocation so vsed must needes please God and not be voyde and frustrate Wherfore the preachers must teach out of the holy scripture of the true and almightie Thre persoÌ„s but one substaunce God the father the onely begotten sonne and the holie goste that they be one God of the same deuine nature and power but yet three distincted personnes And that thys one God made and maynteneth all thynges Further that the sonne of God by the vnspeakeable purpose and vnmeasurable mercie of God dyd put on mannes nature that he might be a sacrifice and a raunsome for vs and that these two natures that is to saye mannes nature and Goddes is one and vndiuided personne Iesus Christe Two natures vnited in Christ Howe be it these two natures be so knytte in Christe that they be not confounded or mixte but eche hath by it selfe his owne substaunce and proprietie As al these thynges are well knowen out of the worde of God administred by the Apostles and Prophetes and be declared in sundry confessions of the holie fathers agaynste sundrie heresies in the crede made in the counsel of Nice and in the crede of Athanasius Item in the agreable decrees and confestions of the olde and very holy counselles as Nicene CoÌ„staÌ„tinopolitane Ephesine CalchedoneÌ„se coÌ„staÌ„tinopolitane againe Further by the wrytinges of the fathers coÌ„seÌ„ting herunto whiche faught earnestly for the worde of God as by the bokes of Athanasius Basilius Nazianzenus and Augustine it appeareth Wherfore the sentence and doctrine of thys article muste be diligently propouned to the people and commended and defended that the true knowledged of God may be mayntayned and that we maye retayne a difference betwene the inuocation of christian men and other nations whiche is verye necessarye namely that thou mayste call vpon thys true God the father of Iesus Christe together wyth his sonne Iesus Christe and the holie gooste whiche hath reueyled hym selfe in the sonne for whose sake he wyll be mercifull and wyll geue the holie gooste to them that thus call vpon hym in fayeth whiche also stireeth vp in the hertes of men the true knowledge of God feare fayeth and other motions The differeÌ„ce betwene the iâ—uocation of Christians and other nations of newe lyfe For thoughe the excellente Philolophers among the heatheÌ„ the Iewes and the Mahometistes do glorye that they worshyppe not ymages and Idolles but the eternal God maker of heaueÌ„ and earth of meÌ„ and of all other thinges neuertheles semge that they wil not acknowledge thys God whiche hath opened him selfe in his word by his sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ they do not worship and call vpon the true God but they worshippe the vayne imaginations of their owne hertes and handes Neither can they persuade them selues that God is mercifull vnto them and heareth them because they refuse the Gospell and the onelye mediatoure And therfore their inuocation can in no wyse be directed to the true God the father of our Lorde and sauiour Iesus Christ but these men imagin to theÌ„ selues A peculiar God whiche is not the father of oure mediatour Iesus Christe and therfore is not the true God for whiche cause they can not persuade them sellues that theyr prayers be harde Their inuocation then haÌ„geth and abideth in the vayne deuices of theyr owne reason in images and Idoles staÌ„ding before theÌ„ and they remaine verie strauÌ„gers and abominable to the true God bicause they lyue without Christ and the worde of God as Christ sayeth he that honoureth not the sonne honoureth not the father And Paule to the Roma v. thorowe Christe we haue entraunce vnto the father Thus God also reueiled hym selfe to Iohn How the holy Trinitie was reueiled to Iohn Baptiste at the baptisme of Christ the sonne of Zacharie that he afterwarde mighte instructe the churche of true knowledge and right inuocation for in thys sorte God eternall the father witnesseth his soÌ„ne Thys is my beloued sonne in whom I am wel pleased the sonne him selfe standeth at baptisme the holie goste coÌ„meth downe opeÌ„ly vpon him to testifie that the holie gooste should be geuen both to Christ and to his coÌ„gregation Wherfore thre personnes appeared in thys place This appering theÌ„ ought to be wel considered of euerie christen man whiche chaunced not for Ihon his sake onely but for the whole congregation his sake that the same might offre praiers to the only eternall and almightie God the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ which made al thinges with the eternal soÌ„ne and the holy gost And whiche also wyl heare the churche gouerne and sanctifie it wyth his holy spirite for Christe the mediatoure his sake The wordes of Baptisme signifie the same thinge wheras it is saied I baptise the A declaration of the wordes of baptisme in the name of the father and of the sonne and of the holie goste For here be three personnes numbred of one equall power and diuitie to whoÌ„ alone the whole cause of our saluatioÌ„ is ascribed for thys is the meaning of the wordes I baptise the that is to saye I testifie by thys token of dipping or sprinklynge that thy synnes be forgeuen the and that thou art receyued into the grace of the eternall and the true God the father of Iesus Christ and that for this his soÌ„nes sake Item that the holie gooste shal worke in the effectuouslie Surely thys is an highe doctrine and aboue mannes wysedome of the nature wyl and efficacie of God towardes vs whiche maketh a difference betwene vs and al heythen comprehending most ample promises as we wyll declare herafter of whiche promises it is very requisite that the people be admonished as often as the texte of the scripture requireth it that the congregation maye be well instructed of the one and singuler diuine substaunce and of the there personnes For thys article muste be obserued of al meÌ„ and exercised in our dayly inuocation And our inuocation muste be discerned froÌ„ the inuocation of the heathen the Iewes and the mahometistes that we do beleue that God certaynly heareth vs if in oure prayer we apprehende the mediatour wherof no heathen Iewe no mahometist can certifie hym selfe For thus we must pray Almightie and eternal god the father of oure Lorde Iesus Christ which with thy A fourme of christen prayer onely begotten sonne and the holy gost madest al thinges and preseruest the
same haue mercie on me for thy sonnes Iesus Christe whiche for our sakes was made a sacrifice Kindle my minde with thy lighte and gouerne me with thy holy spirite whiche thou haste promised vs for thy sōnes sake Thus in our praier we must euer cōprehēd Christ the mediatour as the church hath vsen in collets A fourme of calling vpon Christ frō the beginning adding these wordes in th ende thorow Christ our Lorde Moreouer this is a true inuocation acceptable to God O Lorde Iesu Christe the sonne of God heare me loke vpō me pitie me and geue me thy holy spirite and eternal lyfe Thus we reade that S. Stephan Act. viij called vpō Christ Lorde Iesu receiue my spirite Such prayer attibuteth vnto Christ the glorie of diuinitie for that that God hath reueiled him selfe in hym and worketh together with hym as we reade Io. v. what so euer the father worketh the same doeth the sonne also And in the xiiij He that seeth me seeth the father I am in the father and the father is in me This is the sentence of such an inuocation Lorde Iesu Christe sōne of God healpe me geue me thy holy spirite which together cōfesseth the father the sōne whiche is mediatoure and the holy gooste Wherefore this article of the diuine substaūce and of the thre persons must be learned and exercised in dayly prayers But forasmuch as this sincere doctrine of true and godly inuocatiō is horribly darkened Agaynst the inuocation of dead sayntes and ymages thorow that abomimable wickednesse and madnes vpon Idols whiche is cōmitted in calling vpō dead men their images bones wherunto they haue boūd not only diuine power but also a certen peculiar strēgth and efficacie of saintes wheras yet it is euidēt that we must assigne the power working of god to nothing in which god him selfe hath not expressedly witnessed in his worde that he wyl gyue the same but it is playne that deade mē helpe nobody Nor worke in ydoles for these causes I saye the people muste be called backe from suche ydolotrye vnto the true and religiouse inuocation of God as to a moste godlye worke and principall worshypping of God wherin we chiefely learne and feele which is the true fayth yea this is the only worke wherby the true people of God may be most discerned from the vngodly Of the creation and gouernaunce of al thinges OVre hole saluatiō and euerlasting lyfe consisteth herin that we truly knowe God in oure Lorde Iesus Christe that is to saye with a sure and lyuely fayth In thys knowledge the chiefest poynt is to knowe that it is God which made all thinges and preserueth and gouerneth the same alone wherfore the preachers shall studye to declare to the people wyth singuler dylygence and to beate into their heads those places of the scripture that teach and testifie of the eternal substaūce of God of his power knowledge goodnesse and seueritie for wythout this knowledge and fayth we can neuer truely and effectuously fele our sinnes much lesse repent and amende our selues neyther shal the law alone driue vs therunto for what shal eyther his preceptes or threates moue or feare vs of whose power bowntuousnes or seueritie as yet we knowe or fele nothinge substantially and effectuosely wherfore he that wil comme to God muste necessarily knowe afore hande and beleue that it is God which made preserueth and iudgeth all men and largelye rewardeth them that loue him Very many boste them selues to knowe God but in that that thei studi not to frame their life according to the wil of god dispising the worde of God they beare sufficiente witnes of thē selfe to the cōtrary namely that they say in theyr hertes there is no God though they confesse the same before men It is therfore ryght necessarye that preachers often tymes and with great diligence do propounde and beate in to theyr eares the common place of creation preseruacion and gouernaūce of all thynges And in the article of the creation of thynges the pastours shal diligently teach that that Lorde whiche delyuered the ten commaundementes the whole holy scripture and the gospell it selfe is the only true God and maker of thinges whiche of no thinge created heauen earth the sea and whatsoeuer is conteined in thē our selues also and alone preserueth the same throughe his power and hath partly made the other creatures subiecte vnto vs beinge created to his ymage appoyntynge them to a profitable vse and partly ordeyned them to the ministerye of the health both of the bodye and soule Wherfore the preachers shal often allege faythfully declare and printe in the mindes of theyr herers those places of the scripture that teache that God made vs and al other thinges of no thinge and that we were fashoned after the ymage of god finally that inferiour creatures be subiecte vnto oure rule by Goddes ordinance and that the superiour creatures be appoynted to procure oure healthe that the same herers maye dayly lerne more and more the almightines and goodnes of Goddes maiestie and that in them selues and in all other thinges that they handle in whyche they be occupyed whyche they beholde here or by any meanes do exercise they knowe hym haue him in reuerēce prayse him cal vpon him And that therby they may trust more fully in the almightines goodnes of God and more cherefully obey his cōmaūdementes and also feare his wrathe the more and that they maye vse all thinges whiche they do vse in this lyfe as the moste holy creatures and gistes of God and our sauiour wyth more holynes dayly and thankfulnes and larger liberalytie towardes theyr neighbours ▪ For this cause the prophets in the prayses of God do so magnifie and sette before our eyes with moste elegant descripcions the principal and notablest workes of God in the vniuersall nature of thynges as the heauens the son the moone the sterres the Why the holy scripture often propoūneth vnto vs the merueylous workes of God clowdes the wyndes mystes rayne dewe snowe froste thunder lyghtnynge mountaynes valleys fildes contreys medowes springes riuers standinge waters sondry trees and herbes the pryncypall kyndes of beastes both tame and wylde men and other innumerable workes of God For whiche many psalmes doe greatly magnifie the glory of God as psal xix xcv Ciiii. Cxxxvi. Cxlv. Cxlvii Cxlviii Iob doeth the same thinge from the xxxviii Chapiter to th ende of his booke And Esay in the .xl. chapter vnto th ende of hys boke Lyke places ye shal finde in other canonicall bookes euery where This contemplaciō of the notable workes of God and admiracion of the diuine maieste was the cause why Christe the Lorde hym selfe and other sayntes lyfted vp theyr eyes and handes to heauē whē they praye And in the fourme of prayinge the Lorde taught vs to saye Oure father whiche arte in heauen for when we behold wyth oure eyes and myndes those mooste excellent and wonderfull workes
the fauour of God nor heyres of eternall lyfe but cast from God and that they haue a wyl turned froÌ„ God horrible darkenes concernynge God corrupte and vicious motions and inclinations in all theyr strenghthes agaynste the commaundementes of God A certayne image whereof is sette forâ—h in hym whom the Lorde by a parable declared to be wounded of theues in the waye towarde Ierico and lefte halfe dead For thys thiefe Satan hath drowned the miserable nature of man in so great nuseries that it is not onely despoiled of spirituall and moost excellent gyfres but also is miserably wounded in all hyr powers Wherof it foloweth that mannes nature wythout the healpe of the holie goste caÌ„ not turne hir selfe vnto God wyth true feare Naturall strength before regeneration ture soue and fayth and that thys thynge muste needes be done through the worde of God and the holye goste by whom the mynde beinge allumined may beleue God in Christe the lorde out of the gospell and knowe hym thorough fayth and the wyll beynge stirred vp wyth the reuerence of God and enflamed with his loue may applye hyr selfe to the commaundementes of god and turne the whole maÌ„ to the preaise and worshippinge of God But mannes wil euen before regeneration by the common healpe of God maye Of free wyll or outwarde discipline so performe and exercise outward discipline that is to saye the outwarde workes of the lawe Whiche discipline God requireth seuerelye and punisheth the contempte thereof both wyth corporal peines in thys lyfe and with euerlastinge after this lyfe i. Timo i. The lawe was made for the vuryghteous IteÌ„ to the Hebr. xiii God shal iudge fornicatours auouterers IteÌ„ honour thy father and mother that thou maiste belong liued vpon the earth Also Gene. ix he that shall shedde mannes blond vpon the earth hys bloude shal also be shedde For man is made after the image of God Wyth these and lyke sentences all men muste be admonished and steared to perfourme the outwarde workes of the lawe Furthermore Paule sayeth that the lawe is a guyde vnto Christe whereby we vnderstande that he that continueth in synnes agaynst his conscience and commeth not to a better mynde casteth awaye the worde of his owne accorde and despiceth the holye goste and hyndreth his owne health that he be not broughte to Christe In the meane whyle thys thynge also muste be taught that thys outwarde discipline deserueth not remission of synnes is not that ryghtuousnes for which we be pronounced ryghtuouse or acceptable before God For thys honoure is due onely to the sonne of God Christ the mediatoure which alone hath deserued vnto vs remission of synnes and euerlastynge lyfe whiche we obtaine with fayeth alone or truste in hym as we wyl declare more largely hereafter ¶ Of the olde testament AFter declaration of the benifittes of God whych he hath perfourmed and doth perfourme towardes al men and nations in the creation coÌ„seruation and gouernaunce of thinges the preachers shal propoune to the people What thynges so euer God commaunded promised or threatened to the people of the olde Testament the same pertain vnto vs also also those vnmeasurable benifits which he bestowed vpon the holye fathers and the whole people of Israel Item they shal declare the iudgemeÌ„tes which he executed vpon the same whan they beleued him not nether obeyed his commaundementes For the thinges that the scripture reherseth of them be writen for our doctrine as Paule sayeth those thinges happened vnto them that they myght be figures and exemples vnto vs and they were wrytten for our enstructioÌ„ vpon whoÌ„ the endes of the worlde be come Wherefore as in the articles before toutchinge the creation conseruation and goueruaunce of al thynges the power and glorie of god is knowne in al his creatures and workes and in all nations so in thys place out of the benifittes and punishmeÌ„tes which he laied vpon our fathers in the olde testament we shal learne the power mercye and ryghteousnes of God which he vsed towardes his peculyare people whome he chose out of all other nations of the earth and bound vnto hym selfe wyth the leige of grace that he myght not onely be vnto them a creatoure and Lorde but also a God that is to saye an euerlastynge sauiour of body and soule Al which thinges pertayne vnto vs whiche beleue in Christe For we are nowe the peculiar people and heritage of God the true chyldren of Abraham the true Israelites as manie of vs as beleue in Christ and put hym on thorowe Baptisme as Paule teacheth playnly to the Roma ix to the Gala. iii. Yea Christ hym selfe sayeth of them that truely beleue amonge the heathen Manie shal come froÌ„ the Est and the West and shall sit downe wyth AbrahaÌ„ Isaac and Iacob in the kingdome of heauen but the childreÌ„ of the kingdome shal be caste into outwarde darkenes Wherfore it perteyneth to the ministers of the worde to teache the people diligently that al the promises and benifittes exibited to the fathers yea vniuersally to Israell Item the threates punishmentes and preceptes saueing those that perteyne to the outwarde discipline and ciuilitie of that people which ought to stande in effecte onely tyl the tyme of Christ belonge vnto vs also The same thinges are commaunded vs the same thynges are forbydden to vs and therfore we also muste loke for the same benefittes from the godnes of God thorowe Christ whyle we continue in the fayth and loue of God and we muste feare the same punishmentes if we cast from vs the fayth and loue of God Wherfore the Apostle in the place alledged before setteth the olde people before vs for an ensample saiynge Many of them God allowed not For they were throwen downe in the wildernes But these thynges happened for a figure and exemple vnto vs that we luste not after euyll thynges as they lusted neither be made Idolaters as some of them were In the same place he addeth exemples of fornication tentation and murmuration against God and the punishmentes that God therfore toke of them and agayne he testifieth that all these thinges happened vnto theÌ„ that they might be exemplars and figures vnto vs wherin we myght know how God abhorreth these abominable mischeuous actes and that we also should learne to abhorre fle the same But before al other thinges the preachers must set forth and beate into the people the promises the leige and couenaunt of Gods beniuolence made wyth Abraham and his sede in which he promiseth him that he wil be his God that is to saye an euerlastynge sauiour and greate rewarde Item thorowe his onely free beniuolence he embraced him Howe the patriarches were enstructed in the sayth and brought hym from the laude of his natiuite further that he was iustified by fayth only and manie nations yea of al beleuing personnes a citizin of the heauenlie citie hauing a sure fundation whose artificer and maker God is Item thoughe
Al the threatnynges of Moyses pertayne vnto vs. Goddes wrathe and eternall damnation where vnto all men be subiecte be conteyned in all the threatenynges of Moyses if Iesus Christe deliuer them not gyuynge them repentance and remission of synnes thorowe fayth in hym selfe Thus also in all the exemples of healpe and saluation whiche chaunced to the olde Howe the exemples of the scripture must be handled people thorowe princes and kynges they shall declare that euerlastynge healpe and redemption in Christ was shadowed and exhibited Agayne in the Satanicall furie and crueltie of tyrannes and wicked men agaynst the good they shall admonishe that we muste considre the power woodnes and tyrannie of the deuyl and of antichrist Out of the lyues and dedes of cōmune sayntes they shall put the people in remembraunce of the merueilous gouernaunce and preseruynge of the churche of fayeth of repentaunce and of the true fruites of fayth and repentaunce and finally of the true blisfulnes that euer foloweth these thynges In the exēples of them that haue despiced God and his lawe they shall declare the wrathe of God the reprobate sense the vngodlynes obstinate minde and damnation which suche pull vpon them selues wyllyngly beinge them selues the cause of theyr owne destruction Thus they shall teache that in all the cōmaundementes of God fayth out of a true Howe the cōmaundementes of Moyses muste be declared herte and loue is required For the whole lawe though it prescribe bodily offices is spirituall and requireth the true and spiritual rightuousnes of the herte which Christ our Lorde who onely satisfied the lawe begynneth and worketh in vs. Wherefore the preachers in declarynge euerie one of the commaundementes shall pearce vnto the hert it selfe and shal require the obedience of the herte and shall so declare and set before theyr eyes theyr natural stubburnes and rebellion agaynste God that they shall dryue them to distruste them selues and to seeke and call for the healpe of Christe of whom as of the onely sauiour and phisition they may require a newe hert and the holy goste Thys muste be done in declarynge of euerie precepte of God and thus all the cōmaundementes of the whole lawe muste From what lawes of Moyses christen men be free be opened to the people of God whiche neuertheles must not be laded wyth any thinges from whiche Christe hath deliuered them as those be that properly pertayne to the policie and discipline of Moyses in whiche the people of the lawe were kepte enclosed in the feare and fayth of God vnto Christe whiche be not necessarie vnto saluation I meane circumcision and the other ceremonies and rytes of the tabernacle and temple the ministeries of priestes sacrifices washynges and other bodilie purgynges holie dayes difference of meates politike obseruations of iudgementes and other facions of ciuile gouernaunce But as God What preceptes of religion pertayne vnto vs. in euery precepte of religion taught and required thys thynge chiefelye that the people shoulde come togyther in his name to heare his worde wyth a fayethfull herte to praye to call for healpe to sacrifice vnto hym and in sacrifices to enioye the Sacramentes of his grace and redemption in Christe and required all these thynges for thys purpose that the people therby should exercise and stablishe fayeth in his mercye and in the onelye Mediatoure Christe whose death and oure reconciliation and holesome communion obtayned by the same those sacrifices dyd shadowe and exibite So we Christen men also muste learne out of suche preceptes wyth howe greate religion wyth howe true sanctification and faythfull preparation of bodye and soule we muste come togyther into the cōmon companye before the Lorde to heare the worde of God to praye and to gyue thankes to gyue oblations vnto Christe the Lorde hongriynge and thurstynge in his members to receyue the Sacramentes and in them the communion of oure Lorde Iesu Christe and of all his merites and grace And so we must know also thys thynge out of the same kynde of preceptes howe greuous a synne we committe and howe horrible paynes we deserue if at anye tyme we so lytle esteame the worde of God the vse of the Sacramentes so Godlye gyftes of God and the common prayers of the congregation that neither we oure selfe studye to nourishe and strengthen oure fayeth thorowe these thynges nor serue other in mayntaynynge and commendinge these exercises and aydes of religion cheifely on the sondayes and holy dayes whā the whole cogregation is wont to come together Thus seinge that it is knowen that God thorogh those sondrye washinges Howe the preceptes of washynges and purginges of the olde Testament must be declared and bodilye purgynges whiche he prescribed to the olde people woulde stirre vp and moue the same that before all thinges they shoulde remēber that they ought to seeke the cleanes of herte and that they shoulde diligently beware and auoyde in theyr whole lyfe and conuersacion al those thinges that maye be abominable lothsome or in anye wyse vnacceptable and vnpleasaunte to God and theyr nighboure we oughte also in such preceptes to stirrevp and exhorte bothe our selues and also those that be committed to oure charge to thys poynte where vnto S. Paule also exhorteth ii Co. vii saiynge For asmuch as than we haue these promisses derely beloued let vs clense oure selfe from al spottes of the flesche and of the spirite workinge holines with the feare of God After the same sorte the preceptes deliuered Howe the political preceptes of Israell must be declared to Israel concerninge the forme and religion of iudgemētes and administration of that whole politie muste be confidered and hādled For in al these thinges obedience towarde the officers is commaunded whiche must be shewed from the hert and readely and further there is required in them an honeste and ciuile conuersation with al sortes of men what so euer they be and finally a good and godlye administration of the commen weale wherein euerie man maye haue his ryght and al the people maye be instituted and gouerned to liue godly and honestly and be kepte pure from al mischeuous and abominable actes For though we haue the Romaine lawes or other and verditis be gyuen accordynge there vnto and though God bounde vs not to the lawes of Moyses his politie neuertheles we must knowe the wil of God out of the selfe same lawes whiche wolde haue all greuous offences to be rigorously punisched and that men be enstructed and putte forth with good lawes and with the obseruation and punishmente of the same to al godlines and honestie Item that innocent and good men be constantly defended and malefactours restrayned and caste out of the comē weale or vtterly putte to death that they hurte not the good Finally thys thinge must be taught also out of these preceptes that euerie gouernaunce of a commen weale is Goddes and that the officers occupy the roume office of God to iudge the iudgementes of the
Christ wyth pleasaunte preachinge and remitteth and leadeth sweetely vnto hym because it preacheth hym be the onely obteiner of mercie and our sauiour whiche thinge it doeth two maner of waies First with plaine and open testimonies as thys is that we reade in Deutro xxiii The Lorde shal raise vp to the a prophete syke me Secondly wyth shadowes and pleasaunte allegories as that is of the pascal lambe So the prophetes also prophetied of Christ many waies and more openly and plētifully thē Moyses til at the last Iohn baptiste shewed hym with his singer beinge present Al whiche thinges must be preached expouned to the people wyth greate diligence out of the lawe and the prophetes These than be the causes why the lawe was gyuen whyche God knewe that we would not keepe namely that being taught and admonisched thorough it we shoulde acknowledge our weaknes and infirmitie and feele the excidinge wrath of God and thorowe a certaine Godly discipline be led vnto Christe put al our trust in him and appliynge good workes shoulde growe in to hym daylye whiche is the heade beynge furnished wyth all Godlynes and vertue After that the ministers shal be instructed of the lawe and haue taught the people faythfully than they shal both them selues vse the lawe a ryght and shal bringe the people in to the true knowledge of it shall moue thē to true repentaunce and griefe for theyr synnes and so stirre thē vp and driue them vnto Christe the redemer to serue him with al desire And because the commen people can nat vndrestande and remembre al the preceptes of the lawe seynge that they be verye many and euerye one hath a large dominion the preachers muste after recite and printe in the myndes of the hearers the briefe summes and cheife articles of Goddes law as that is that we haue in Math. xxii Thou shalte loue the Lorde thy God wyth thy whole herte and in thy whole soule and in thy whole mynde Thys is the principall and greate commaundement The seconde is lyke therunto Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe Vpō these two commaundementes the whole lawe and the Prophetes depende Item that the apostle wrate to Timothe The ende of the commaundement is loue frō a pure herte and good conscience and faith not fayned And in asmuch as it was most mercifully permitted in olde tyme that Godlie parentes shoulde teache theyr chyldren wyth al diligence the ten cōmaundementes wherein the whole doctrine of godlines is playnly cōprehended whiche thinge brought such profitte as no man can expresse the preachers shall diligently and often recite thys summe of Goddes lawe and shall declare in theyr sermons briefely and playnely the true meanynge of euery precepte ¶ A briefe declaration of the ten commaundementes IN the fyrst sentence then of the ten commaundemētes I am the Lorde thy God A sum of the first cōmaundement whiche broughte the out of Egipte etc. The preachers shal first teach that God wytnesseth with this his worde that he him selfe whiche gyueth vs thys commaundemente is the onely Lorde that is to saye the almightie maker and gouerner of all thynges onely good and the cause of goodnes and the dryuer awaye of all euyls Secondly that thorowe the preaching of the Gospell and baptisme he hath receyued vs into his people as in olde tyme he receyued Israell bryngyng him out of Egipte and the house of bondage and geuing hym his Sacramentes And that in Christe oure Lorde he wil be a God also to al vs to whō he hath caused these thinges to be preached that is to saye an author and gyuer of euerlastinge saluation of restitution both of bodie and soule And seing that it is extreme vngodlines not to heare God whē he speaketh and not to beleue him when he promiseth all good thinges the preachers cōcerning this worde next before shal teache that God requireth that with al our herte we beleue this his testimonie and promise and that we rest therin namely that we acknowledge hym to be our God and Sauiour that we worshyppe him and alwaies cal for his mercie succour and ayde thorowe our Lorde Iesus Christ and that we feare loue and magnifie hym wyth all oure hertes aboue all thynges for his vnmeasurable grace great benifittes In the seconde commaundemente thou shalt haue no straunge Goddes before me thou shalt make to thy selfe n◠grauē image to bowe downe to it or to worshyppe it the people muste be admonished fyrste that thorow straunge Gods and worshippyng Images al trust of Gods healpe is to be put in nothing besides God in Christ and that all worshyppynges of God as all those be that are in hande wythout the worde of God as the worshippynges of the Mahometistes Iewes and of them whiche goe aboute to worshyppe God and to obtaine hys helpe with such ceremonies as be not taken out of the worde of God nor serue effectuously to the gospel of Christ or wyth ceremonies not instituted by the Lorde hym selfe but vsed wyth out repentaunce and fayth The Lorde also forbiddeth in this place all Witchcrafte and all that abuse of creatures whan men either require that profite of thinges for which they were not made of God whiche thinge is committed in false dominations and other witchcrafte or whan they require profite of thinges for which they were made in dede but they require it not as coming frō God and hangynge vpō his grace praiynge for it firste of the Lorde thorough Christe and to his glorie Further they shal teach that in this commaundement there is reueled vnto vs that corruption of our defiled nature and that vngodlines that is naturally grafted in vs by reason whereof we be euer ignoraunte we fle and neglecte the true and only God and we seeke no helpe of God trustinge in mannes strenght and in our owne or we seke it not frō hym the onley and true God in Christe but from counterfaite and false Goddes and that sometymes vndre the name of the true God hym selfe whan we calle vpō God the father of our Lord Iesus Christ thorough thys only Mediator with out repentaunce and fayth and some tymes vndre other names as whā mē aske of saintes deliueraunce from synnes and helpe of this presente lyfe and of the life to come or finally whan we vse ceremonies straunge frō the worde wyth true cōuersion to God and worshippinge of the herte to seeke the helpe of God thereby and to make God bounde to vs. For al thys vngodlynes beinge naturally engendred in vs is disclosed in this seconde commaundement and sette before oure eyes to be consydered by the worde of God Thirdly we haue also in thys worde a Howe this cōmaundement is fulfylled certaine holye scholemastringe where with God by thys commaundement shewynge vs the corruptiō and weaknes of our nature wyl bringe vs to Christe hys sonne whyche maye turne awaye and pacifie hys wrath agaynst thys vngodlynes and sinne cleaninge in nature whiche moreouer may
euerie where thys nature thys strength of a newe creature in Christe and of a man borne agayne thys ordre and consequentie or rather lynckynge togyther of the workes of the holie gooste in the beleuynge Whiche places the preachers muste often wyth singuler diligence propoune faythfully declare and continually beate into the people Of whiche places these be some Ro. viii But ye be not in the fleshe but in the spirite for the spirite of God dwelleth in you And if anie man haue not the spirite of Christe the same is not his Nowe if Christe be in you the bodie is dead concerning synne but the spirite is life cōcerning Iustification etc. Wherefore bretherne we are detters not to the fleshe that we should liue after the fleshe for if ye lyue after the fleshe ye shall dye But if ye mortifie the dedes of the fleshe with the spirite ye shall lyue For as manie as shal be ledde wyth the spirite of God be the chyldren of God etc. ii Cor. v. Iudgyng thys that if one died for all then all were dead and he dyed for all that they whiche lyue after thys myght not lyue to them selues but to hym that died for them and rose againe etc. Gala. v. walke in the spirite and ye shall not perfourme the concupiscence of the fleshe Item but the fruite of the spirite is charitie ioye peace etc. Ephe. v. Ye were sometyme darkenes but nowe lyghte in the Lorde walke as the chyldren of lyghte etc. Item Se then that ye walke circumspectly not as vnwyse but as wyse redeamyng occasion bicause the dayes be euyl etc. Phil i. Thys I praye that your loue may abounde more and more in knowledge and all vnderstandynge that ye may allowe the thinges that be ryghte good that ye be sincere etc. Collo iii. putte on then as the chosen of God holie and beloued the bowels of compassion gentlenes sobrenes etc. Tit. ii Iesus Christ gaue hym selfe for vs for to redeame vs from all iniquitie and to purifie vs to hym selfe a peculiar people a folower of good workes i. Iohn i. And thys is the tydynges that we hearde of hym and shewe vnto you that God is lyghte and there is no darkenes in hym If we shall saye we haue felowshyppe wyth him and walke in darkenes we lye etc. Item iii. Euerie one that hath thys hope in hym purifieth hym selfe as he is pure all that committe synne the same committe iniquitie and synne is iniquitie And ye know that he appeared to take awaye synnes etc. These places and suche other in whiche the nature of regeneration and of a newe creature and the ordre cōsequence or rather the knittyng of the workes of the holy gost be declared the preachers must often recite faythfully expoune and printe into the people in theyr sermons that they maye learne thorowly and euer diligently reuolue in theyr myndes that they whiche be borne agayne in Christ and grafted in him and be made fruitefull braunches in thys lyfe and good trees muste also brynge forth good fruites and forasmuche as they be a newe and diuine creation made vnto good workes they muste trauayle also in newe and diuine workes whiche God hath prepared in them wyth his commaundement calling and gifte and worketh cōtinually wyth his spirite to his owne glorie and to the edification and repayryng of our neighbours But alwayes and before al thinges they muste be taught moste diligently that a cōscience fearfull by reason of hir synnes and the wrath of God muste comforte hyr selfe wyth the voice of the Gospell and certifie hyr selfe therby that God wyll surely gyue his holie spirite whyle we praye for it in thys distresse and that thys petition is a true and principall worshyppyng of God which god chiefly requireth of vs. And this high worshyppyng of God muste be learned onely wyth the exercise of true fayeth wherof the blinde men of this world know nothynge putting theyr ryghtuousnes and holines in outwarde ceremonies and truste of theyr owne rightuousnes But when the herte wrastleth wyth the feelynge of the wrath of God and lyuely knowledge of synnes and comforteth hyr selfe with fayth in Christe the mediatoure in thys case that sweete word of Esaie is vnderstāded which is the place of my reste sayeth the Lorde I wyll loke vpon the humble and broken in spirite and tremblynge at my worde For then the Lorde dwelleth in vs in dede when we flee to Christe the mediatour and determine wyth our selues that for his sake we be accepted and hearde of the heauenly father and made heyres of euerlastyng lyfe Wherfore the true fayth of the Gospel whereof we speake in this place signifieth not onely the knowledge of the storie as in Iames when he sayeth the deuylles beleue but it signifieth that knowledge of the Gospell and assentyng caused thorowe the spirite of Christe whereby there spryngeth in our hertes a sure truste of Goddes beniuolence and adoption thorow which we haue affiaūce that God is mercifull vnto vs and hath made vs heyres of euerlasting lyfe for his sonnes sake whiche fayth excludeth all trust of our owne ryghtuousnes and all errour concernyng God his wyl towardes vs. For thys fayth comprehendeth a sincere and perfecte vnderstandinge of all the articles of our religion and an assent therunto Therfore thys pure doctrine of the Gospel muste be reteyned of fearfull consciences that they maye knowe that they obteyne remission of synnes frely for Christes sake by fayth and not by the deseruyng of workes And let them beware that they remoue not thys glorie of the Mediatour Christe vnto mennes workes For if the promise of saluation dyd hange vpon our worthines the conscience shoulde remayne vncertaine stickyng in perpetuall doubte and shoulde flee from God For we can not satisfie the lawe of God at all and many sinnes cleaue euer in vs and there remayneth great weaknes Neither could the hert call certaynely vpon God if oure owne deseruynges were to be brought forth for it should be frayed awaye perceyuing him selfe to be destitute of those merites that God requireth Therefore we muste come vnto God wyth thys fayeth wherby we beleue that we are accepted and iustified before God for Christes sake and not for our merites Thys fundation muste be layed fyrste of al wherby we be planted in Christ and disseuered from all vngodlie men and aliauntes frō Christe Afterwarde it is necessarie to enstruct the people a right of good workes chiefely after thys sorte ¶ Of good workes That thys place may be more easely vnderstanded it shall be conuenient to deuide it into these fyue questions ¶ The first What workes are to be done ¶ The seconde Howe they may be done seing that there is so great weaknes of mannes nature and so great lettes of Satan ¶ The thirde Howe they may please God beinge vnperfecte and verie sclender ¶ The fourth Why we must do good workes and auoyed euyll ¶ The fyfth Of the difference of synnes ¶ The first
hope and loke for corporall goodes from him neither exercise fayeth in askynge and lokynge for those thinges from him suche a mynde shal feele muche lesse of desire and hope of spiritual and euerlastynge goodes Such causes then of good workes must be driuen into men diligently that they may be steared vp to worke well and to auoyed euyll workes Neither haue we neede of a small fyght in thys case that we beware of euyll workes and trauayle constantly in good workes For the weaknes of nature doeth not onely prouoke vs to euyl workes but the deuyll layeth in awayte for vs to dryue vs thereunto wyth merueylous enginnes as S. Petre sayeth that the deuyll goeth about roarynge lyke a Lion and seekyng whom ue maye deuoure And though these thynges seame folishe to thē that lacke the feare of God which folowe theyr lustes without care yet we haue experiēce by dayly exemples that verie manie men are miserably driuen of the deuyl into horrible mischeuous actes and so into temporall and euerlastyng punishmentes For howe many doeth he sende headlyng into Idolatrie and moste pernitious errours concernynge religion How manie driueth he to vniust murthers Howe manie leadeth he to abhominable and incestuous lecherie Whiche euyll thys thinge also is wonte to folowe whiche is moste horrible of all that synnes are punished wyth synnes whereby greater mischiues and abhominations sprynge forth For howe greate and howe horrible synnes folowed of the adulterie of Dauid No sinne is alone there cleaue alwayes to one verie manie other Wherfore the healpe of God muste be called for continually and wyth moste feruent wishes and we our selues muste lyue in feare and continuall care whiche thynge the Apostle cammaundeth Philippi ij worke your owne health wyth feare and tremblyng ¶ The fyfte question what difference is there of synnes Thys question muste be handled bycause as we haue sayd that sinne remaymeth euer in sayntes whyle they lyue here There is a question thē what maner of syn that should be that is euer founde in sayntes For thys thynge muste be wel declared and we must make a difference betwene the sinnes which the sayntes auoyd not in this lyfe and those that stāde not with faith Therfore we must knowe that there is a synne agaynst conscience that is to saye whiche a man committeth wyllyngly and knowyngly Thys in saintes hath no place And if they committe anie suche synne they caste awaye the grace of God and fayth and dryue the holy goste from them and be no longer saintes and acceptable to god Those sayinges of the holy goste testifie thys thynge clearely i. Cor. vi and Gala. v. They that do suche thynges shal not possesse the kingdome of God And i. Iohn iij. My litle chyldren let no man deceyue you he that doeth ryghtuousnes is ryghtuous but he that doeth synne is of the deuyll Wherefore Paule sayeth also i. Timo i. The summe of the commaundement is loue out of a pure herte a good consciēce and fayth not fayned Itē afterwarde keepe fayth and a good conscience Wherefore he that synneth agaynste his conscience he falleth from grace and ryghtuousnes To this kynde of synne wylfull ignoraunce pertayneth also as the ignoraunce of the heathen and pharisies was whiche reiected the Gospel preached of Christe and of the Apostle and woulde be ignoraunt And in all tymes there be many suche men whiche wyll neither heare of Christe the sauiour nor knowe hym and do playnely contemne the voice of God soundyng from heauen Thys is my deare sonne heare hym Suche in oure tyme are the Iewes and the Mahometistes and manie other amonge the aduersaries of the Gospel which fayne that they vnderstande not the Gospell whereas notwithstanding they wyl neither heare it nor admitte it into theyr hertes Hitherto we haue spoken of their synnes that continue not in the grace of God but in committing suche synnes make them selnes subiecte agayne to the wrath of God Neuerthelesse greate corruption of nature weakenes and euyll concupiscence whereof manie naughtie affections sprynge continually remaine in thē that are in fauoure and be reconciled But whyle the sayntes resiste those corrupte motions and beseche the heauenlie father to forgyue them the same for Christes sake beleuyng that thys weaknes and naughtie affections be pardoned to thē for the same Christes sake they keepe styll fayth grace and the holie goste they continue ryghtuous acceptable to God sayntes and heyres of euerlastyng lyfe as S. Paule teacheth excellently Ro. vij viij Testifiyng that no damnation remayneth vnto them that be in Christe Iesu whiche walke not after the fleshe but after the spirite The godlie muste be exercised wyth thys fyght and so they shall wel vnderstande the grace and victorie of Christe agaynste synne and Satan and they shall go forwarde in godlines and in the gyftes of God For the holie goste is not gyuen to the reconciled to maynteyne Idle slouthfulnes but that they shoulde fyghte wyth a perpetuall battayle agaynst synne and Satan and that in such a confflicte they myghte feele the healpe of the spirite Wherefore Paule sayeth i. Cor. vi We exhort you that ye take not the grace of God in vayne Of the true and Germane significatiof thys worde fayth BYcause we haue heretofore spoken muche of fayth in Christe out of S. Paule whereby as the Lorde hym selfe and the whole scripture witnesseth we obtayne remission of sinnes enheritaunce amonge the sayntes and euerlasting life the ministers must remembre and teach the people diligently that thys iustifiynge fayeth is the worke of the holie goste in the chosen of God whereby theyr myndes are so illumined and taught that they certaynly assent to the Gospell of Christ and therfore to the whole scripture and euerie word of God that a man out of the Gospel maye knowe and determine certaynly that God gyueth hym remission of synnes and euerlastyng lyfe for the onely Mediatours sake Christe that he is and wyl be his God and father and accompte hym for his sonne and that he shal be enheriter of eternal lyfe Out of thys fayeth there spryngeth necessarely a true confidence in Christe a loue of God and a desire to lyue after his commaundementes All whiche thynges the holie goste worketh in them that beleue thorowe whō we are borne agayne and be become a new creature of God made in Christe Iesu vnto good workes whiche God prepared that we shulde walke in them Therfore the ministers as we haue sayd must diligently teache the people whē they entreate of iustifiynge and sauynge fayth that thys lyuely and workyng fayth is vnderstanded whiche we defined a litle before and not suche a fayth as maye be wythout the loue of God and wythout good workes For suche one is not true fayth but as it were a dreamyng or rather a dead fayth neither that we vnderstande a maimed faith as is in Satā as was in Iudas and is in al them that despeyre of the mercie of God For this fayth beleueth not the
into his death etc. And a litle after we knowe that our olde man is crucified wyth hym that the bodie of synne myght be abolished that hereafter we serue not synne that is to saye that God hath set vs forth an exemple in Christe in whom we shoulde learne that our olde man must dye and that therefore he is euer subiecte to the crosse For he that is dead sayeth Paule is iustified from synne Therfore as necessarie as it is that oure olde man dye and cease from synnes so necessarie is the crosse without whiche the olde man can neither be tamed nor mortified Besyde thys profitte and necessitie of the crosse the dignitie also and glorie of the same muste be diligently commended to the people For God woulde haue his owne sonne in whom he had delite as he testified wyth a voice from heauen to be exalted by the crosse and death and to be crouned with glorie and honour Hebr. ij If then the sonne of God suffered so horrible thynges and thâ—rowe the crosse entred into glorie the disciple is not greater nor ought to be in better case then the maister Wherefore thoughe there were none other profitte in the crosse yet for thys cause onely we oughte to suffre it patiently and gladly that we maye be made lyke vnto Christe For seinge that Christ was ryght deare and acceptable vnto God thorowe obedience of the crosse the fathers wyll was that al whiche shoulde be glorified wyth him should suffre with him as Paule fayeth Ro. viij Whom he knewe aforehande the same he preordined lyke the Image of his sonne etc. And a litle after And if we be chyldren then be we heyres heyres I saye of God and coheyres wyth Christe if we suffre wyth him that we may be glorified wyth hym Our afliction also is planted in the passion of Christe for thorow baptisme we are grafted into his death Ro. vi So that we maye knowe certaynly that our crosse sufferinges please God as the passion of his sonne pleased hym For he is our head and we are his membres wherfore aflictions are come to both For whiche cause it was sayed to Paule persecuting the christiaÌ„s Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Wherfore if the heade if selfe were subiecte to the same as Paule witnesseth Cor. i. I reioyse in my tribulations for you etc. The crosse then is an entraunce to glory and lyfe as Paule sayeâ—h ij Timo. ii Thys is a sure saying if we be dead with him we shall lyue wyth hym if we suffre we shall reygne wyth hym etc. Neither is our tribulation at anie tyme equal wyth the greatnes of glorie according to the sayinge of Paule Ro. viii I compte that the aflictions of thys present worlde are not equall wyth the glorie whiche shal be reueyled towardes vs. Seinge then that euerie crosse is from God and Satan wyth the whole worlde can not hurte one heare of oure heade wyth out the wyll of our father men oughte to be warned diligeÌ„tly that in trouble they turne not their eyes so muche vpon the malice of Satan and wicked men as to the good wil and fatherly affection of God whiche aflicteth vs for thys purpose that we maye acknowledge our synnes and weakenes that we may be moued to true and holesome repentaunce of our sinnes and driuen to seeke grace in Christe and that we maye go forwarde in al godlines fayth inuocation and magnifiyng of Goddes name mortifiynge the fleshe and euer more fully facionynge our selues to the Image of Christe that beinge dayly more and more werie and full of thys lyfe we maye more gredely desire the lyfe to come and sone after enioye it plentuousely and reygne wyth Christe in euerlastyng glorie If these thynges shal be prynted in men diligently and commended vnto them they shal be easely retayned that they be not discouraged in aduersities that some fall not into impatiencie some slee to vngodlie aides agaynst affictions but hauing their mindes stablished wyth the trust of Goddes goodnes they shall gladly submitte them seues to the yoke of the Lorde and shall fynde rest to theyr soules Mat. xi Chiefely seinge that we haue thys coÌ„solation that God is faythfull whiche wyll not suffre vs to be tempted aboue that that we be able to beare yea wyth tentation he shal make away out that we maye suffre Besydes thys we haue an healpe and moste present counsell ordeined of God in al maner of persecutions as agaynst the Deuyll hym selfe we haue the Lordes worde agaynst violent and wycked men we haue officers ordeined of God agaynste diseases we haue sundry remedies and the arte of phisicke Finally agaynst al these togythrr we haue a mightie weapon the prayer of fayth Wherefore there is no cause why we should aske healpe of Satan in aduersitie or of magike or of other which serue the deuyll and not God as all they be that labour to seduce vs or to dryue vs froÌ„ the obedience of God Wherfore let vs vse the saied remedies commended of God agaynst the euyls that vexe vs and lette vs vse them accordynge to the worde of God wyth a good and simple conscience and if God wyl not streyght waye take our aflictions from vs by those remedies whiche he hym selfe hath ordeyned and appoynted to put awaye such euyls let vs suffre styll the hande of the Lorde with a contented mynde and neuerthelesse let vs aske coÌ„solation and healpe of hym with coÌ„tinuall and buruyng praiers thorow our Lorde Iesus Christ our onely Sauiour Vndoubtedly at length he shall turne all our aduersities to our health and profitte both present and to come ¶ Of the churche of God THe visible churche of God in this life is a coÌ„pany of personnes truly beleuyng the worde of God deliuered vnto vs by Christe and the Apostles of personnes borne agayne thorowe the holy goste In whiche companie manie abyde in thys lyfe not borne agayne hauyng sinnes agaynst theyr conscience and yet coÌ„sentyng in doctrine and true vse of the sacramentes As in Paules tyme there were at Corinthe and in other places amonge christians both godlie men hauing the holie goste and also some that synned agaynste theyr conscience whiche neuertheles spake not agaynst the true doctrine and ryght vse of the sacramentes but toke them wyth other in the congregation And it is receyued by custome that the godlie be called the quicke meÌ„bres of the churche These men whyle they be not excommunicated may execute ecclesiastical offices in teaching and ministringe the sacrameÌ„tes neither shal theyr vngodlines hurt the godlines of them whiche vse theyr ministerie wythout allowyng of their vngodlines Al be it then that the congregations and ministers of the same ought to take diligent hede that vnworthy men be not receyued to the holie ministerie and if they be receyued that as sone as theyr vngodlines is spied they be remoued from the same agayne neuertheles of what meane sorte so euer they be that ministre in holie thynges
and to enstruct them of the same after thys sorte Fyrste forasmuche as it can not be that anie man shall praye truely and earnestly excepte some daunger or necessitie of lyfe driue hym thereto the preacher shall labour diligently to set before the peoples eyes the necessitie of prayinge by reason of the euyls and daungers whiche hange ouer all men ought to driue euery mā to pray earnestly Two kyndes of euylles and daungers moue vs to praye The one kynde is manifest the other is secrete To the firste as all men knowe diseases pertaine and pouertie persecution infamie hatred warre pestilence death heresies etc. What so euer be openly hurtfull whether they be corporall or spirituall And though all men do feele and take greuously these euylles yet there be fewe whiche so take them and be so greued for them as they shoulde and as the religion of Christ requireth that is to say as the scourges of God punishmentes of their sinnes whiche they shoulde labour to auoyed with true repentaunce and fayth Therefore the preachers muste teache and warne the people diligently that all these euylles happen thorowe the wrath of God agaynst synnes that in the same they maye learne to considre not onely theyr daunger and griefe but muche more the angre of God And further what damages what destruction of bodie and soule and of al honestie ryseth vpon the same that so the people maye be steared vp to religious and feruent prayer The secrete daungers to whiche we be subiecte are the snares that Satan layeth for vs by all occasions seekyng the destruction of bodie soule goodes name Which snares we coulde neuer scape excepte God of his vnmeasurable mercie and loue dyd defende vs by his angelles Otherwyse he woulde easely take away our lyfe wyth his venemous breath in some places he woulde steare vp robberies and murthers in other tempestes in other warres he woulde take from some men theyr mynde wyth horrible visions he woulde leade some out of theyr waye into vnknowen places he woulde throwe some from theyr horses some from steares some into waters Some shoulde be killed with the fal of an house some shoulde be torne of wylde beastes Some shoulde be infected or leese theyr lyfe wyth venemous beastes In some places he would sette houses on fyre in some he woulde droune all he woulde cause some to kyll them selues he woulde dryue some out of theyr wyttes he woulde furnishe some wyth euyl craftes to hurte other mennes lyfe and goodes as we se done wyth sundrie enchauntmentes In other places he woulde ouerthrowe discipline and honestie wyth all kyndes of mischeues In some places he woulde fyll maried folkes and householders wyth hatred brawlynges venimmes and murthers In some places he would trouble comō weales wyth greate cōmotions and seditions He woulde gyue some men witte and minde to depraue the scriptures and to corrupt ciuile lawes He woulde tangle some wyth pleasures and destroye the same in bodie and soule He woulde so opresse some wyth persecutions that he woulde drawe them from godlines to a careles impenitent and Epicureous lyfe He woulde dryue some hauing committed greuous offences vnto desperation Some tyme he woulde trouble the churche wyth sore sclaunders and somtyme counterfaiting an angel of lyght he would brynge in false doctrine and noysome exemples of lyfe Some tymes he woulde steare vp heresies and Idolatries Briefely there shoulde be nothynge in all the worlde safe from his malice violence which he would not depraue corrupt and destroy he would fyll all the worlde wyth calamities synnes death and all mischiefe excepte that God dyd breake and lette his tirannie For he is the prince of the worlde merueylous myghtie whiche beareth rule in the ayre Ephe. ij And he worketh in the vnfaythfull so that it is not harde for hym to sowe such errours and offences wherewyth euen the chosen myghte be brought to destruction if it were possible As we maye well se in Iob neither want we lyke exēples in these dayes wherwyth God admonisheth vs both of the daūger whiche hangeth ouer vs thorowe the malice of Satan and also of his protection whereby he disapoynteth Satans purposes that we shoulde euer praye for thys his defence and acknowledge it wyth thankes gyuyng Wherefore the preachers shall declare these daungers diligently that they maye learne how manie and necessarie causes there be that oughte euer to steare and dryue vs to prayer and to learne of that our carnall carelesnes Secondly the preachers shal note the promises of God whiche are sette forth euerie where in the scripture wherein God promiseth that he wyll turne awaye suche perils and deliuer vs when we be fallen in them And they shall cōmende the same to the people diligently when occasion shal serue that they maye learne to loke vpon them religiously in theyr prayers and to rayse vp their myndes therewyth vnto a sure truste to obtayne Goddes healpe For that prayer may be harde it muste needes be done in fayeth and in the name of Christe as Christe hymselfe warneth what so euer ye aske in my name beleuynge ye shall receyue it Math. xxi Item what so euer ye shall aske the father in my name he shal giue it you Io. xvi Therfore that we maye beleue that oure praier is harde we must needes haue Gods worde and promise whiche we may beleue For otherwise it shoulde be a false trust and vngodlines if we dyd learne onely vpō our owne iudgement and persuasion A promise then out of the worde of God where vpon our prayer maye leane is necessarie without the whiche we can in no wyse praye truely neither yet be harde But thys thynge must also be added that it be done in the name of Christ And that we do not onely when we praye wyth these wordes we beseche the father almyghtie God thorowe Iesus Christ thy sonne our Lorde but also when we pray onely for those thinges whiche Christ commaunded vs to praye for so that after thys sorte we maye praye truely O Lorde God heauēly father we come not to pray vnto the thorowe our owne lust or confidence but by the institution and commaundement of thy onely begotten sonne of whō we haue thys sentence and promise that thou wylte heare vs for his sake Neither do we praye trustyng in our worthines or in oure merites for we knowe that we haue deserued nothinge sauinge wrath and punishment but in the name of thy sonne that is to saye that thou wylt heare vs for his sake and merite This is to pray truly in the name of Christ neither can it be but that we shall be hearde as often as we praye wyth suche a mynde and suche a sure cōfidence as Iohn wytnesseth i. Epist v. Thys is the truste that we haue towardes God that it we shal aske any thynge accordyng to his wyll he heareth vs. etc. Therefore the preachers shal declare to the people diligently what a great synne doubtyng is in prayer
For seinge that our prayer hath the promise of God laied before it it foloweth that he which doubteth whether he be hearde or no doubteth also whether God be true whether he perfourm the thynge that he promiseth And there can be no greater shame done to God then if we doubte whether he be true And therfore the prayer of a man that doubteth can obtayne nothynge as Iames teacheth i. Chap. He that doubteth is lyke the waues of the sea whiche is tossed wyth the wyndes Let not a doubtynge man thinke that he shal receyue any thynge of the Lorde A man that wanereth in all his dedes can do nothynge wyth a quiet conscience In the meane whyle the preachers muste loke hereunto that they gently handle the weake consciences of the godlie which stagger in the promises of God and that they healpe theyr weakenes wyth some good cōsolation teachyng that Christe wyll mercifully beare their weaknes for a ceason as he beare the weakenes of his disciples to whō euen after his resurrection he vnbrayded vn beliefe wyth muche softnes But they shall exhorte them to praye thus constantly wyth the disciples Lorde encrease our fayth Thirdly they shal teache the people that God hath cōmaunded vs that what so euer good thynges we lacke we shoulde aske thē of hym and also that he wyll remoue the euyls that oppresse vs. Aske sayeth Christe Math. vij And ye shal receyue Item Iohn xvi Aske and ye shal receyue that your ioy maye be ful Luke xviij He teacheth vs with an apte similitude that we muste praye euer and wythout ceasyng The Lorde requireth the same thynge in the beginnyng of the ten commaundementes when he sayeth I am the Lorde thy God thou shalte not haue straunge Goddes before me sanctifie my name For he that acknowledgeth the Lorde his God that is to saye hym whiche onely giueth all good thynges and alone putteth awaye all euyll and he that setteth his trust in no creature besydes the Lorde and therefore desireth wyth all his herte all his soule and all his strength to sanctifie extoll and glorifie the name of the Lorde this mā must needes aske al thynges of God and require healpe of hym agaynst al euyls and prayse and magnifie hym for the same accordynge to the Psalme l. Call vpon me in the day of tribulation and I wyl deliuer the and thou shalt glorifie me Wherfore as he sinneth agaynste the lawe whiche honoureth not his parentes whiche committeth thefte lyeth and offendeth agaynste other commaundementes so they synne ryghte greuously and agaynste the principall commaundementes of the lawe whiche call not vpon God in theyr doinges neither aske of hym what thynge so euer they neede whether it be corporall or spirituall And that thys synne maye be more easely auoyded it is a christian and godlie ordinaunce that chyldren be diligently instructed and accustomed to prayer and that a fourme maner and ordre of praying be appoynted vnto them when where howe oftē and what they ought to pray Not that this thynge be made by a lawe wherby their cōsciences maye be entangled in superstition but onely that theyr myndes maye be induced and accustomed to praye whom also it is conuenient to allure to praye wyth chyldishe entisementes and gyftes For what so euer is broughte into custome in youth the same cleaueth faste in al ages whether it be good or bad Agayne thynges not accustomed are learned wyth greate difficultie in olde age though they be ryghte profitable and good and though we greatly desire to haue the vse of the same But to them that feare God and set much by his commaundementes there is nothynge harde Lette the ministers then admonishe the parentes that they also healpe them therein that chyldren may be enstructed and accustomed to prayer from their chyldhode chiefely when they go to bedde when they ryse whē they come to the table and go from the same in the tēple when the tyme requireth not to herken to the readynge of the holie scripture or sermons or when they muste synge wyth the congregation It shal be good also for the confirmation of godlines in them to accustome them to praye alwayes when they be alone or to call to theyr myndes some parte of the holie scripture or some workes of God For it is incredible howe manie and greuous euyls maye be auoyded if idlenes and those their wanton and wanderynge thoughtes when they are alone be restrayned wyth godlie prayers or holie meditations And God commaūded by Moyses also suche an institution and exercise of chyldren saying Deut. vi These wordes which I commaunde the thys daye shal be in thine herte and thou shalt declare them and print them in and muse vpon them sittynge in thyne house and walkynge in thy iourney goyng to bedde and rysynge And that we myghte haue no cause of excuse either that we haue no leysure by reason of oure businesse or that we can not learne howe we shoulde praye Christe hym selfe hath not onely warned vs that we neede not manie wordes but he also hath sette before vs a moste apte shorte and easy fourme of praying which we cal the Lordes prayer wherin he hath briefely comprehended what so euer we maye praye for so that we learne truely to vnderstande and weigh it And howe it ought to be vnderstanded and pondred the preachers maye teache out of our institution if they haue not a more commodious waye them selues ¶ A shorte exposition of the Lordes prayer ANd this is a summe of those thinges that ought to be considered in thys fourme of praying First we muste marke the fūdation of godlie prayer whiche is the truste of fatherlie beniuolence whereof the Lorde warned vs in thys that he commaunded to call God father though we be miserable synners Thys truste before al thinges must be confirmed thorowe fayeth in oure Lorde Iesus Christe that we maye determine that God is a father to vs also and that he wyll denie no fatherlie thynge to vs beinge nowe his chyldren for Christes sake his onely begotten sonne amonge manie brethern in whom he hath receyued vs into fauour beinge disherited and caste awaye for synne and hath begotten vs agayne and adopted vs into his sonnes and made vs partakers heyres of eternall lyfe Wherfore accordyng to his fatherlie loue towardes vs he wyll suffre hym selfe to be entreated if we shall pray in the name of his sonne as he hymselfe hathe commaunded vs. He made mencion of the heauens that we should remember that for asmuch as we are now lifted vp into heauēly thynges in Christ we ought to aske heauenly thinges to thynke vpon the same Wherfore in thinges that wepraye for or woulde haue taken awaye of God he hath prescribed this order that our wishes for spiritual thinges should go before our wyshes for bodely thynges For firste he teacheth vs to pray that the name of god be sāctified that is to say that the name of God the eternal power of God wysedome and
to forgiue oure neighbours al offences Therfore the preachers shal admonishe the people with singuler diligence aboute this place As we forgiue also that it is not suche a maner of forgyuynge as though we did aske of God that he woulde so forgiue vs our synnes as we forgiue but that it is a profession of forgiuenes whiche we also make to our detters before the heaueÌ„ly father as we require of him to forgiue vs our dettes as if we shoulde saye O heauenly father forgyue vs oure dettes as for vs we gladlie remitte and forgyue al them that maye seme to owe vs anie thinge For we acknowledge that we suffre so greuous thinges of no bodie but that we haue deserued muche worse and therfore we beare theÌ„ gladly and forgiue them wyth all our hertes that haue done vs anie harme But bycause it is not inough that God forgyue vs our synnes and the paynes that we haue deserued for them but also it is necessarie that we be kepte by him that Satan drawe vs not afterwarde to sinnes thorowe sundrie tentations the Lorde hath added an other petition for the remouinge of euylles leade ought not to pray for which thinge is done more wayes then can be numbred For the correction of these abuses those wordes of Paule Ro. viij ought to be diligently commended and weighed For we knowe not the thynge that we shall praye as it behoueth but the spirite it selfe prayeth for vs wyth vnspeakeable gronynges For if we oure selues knowe not what or howe we shoulde praye and if prayer be the propre worke of the holie goste it is meete that the people be called backe to those prayers that are propouned in the holy scriptures that they maye learne to pray to God according to his wyll and be certaine that theyr prayers be allowed The seconde abuse in prayinge is when we aske any thinge of them of whoÌ„ it ought not to be asked as when men praye saintes whiche nowe lyue wyth the Lorde that they wyll make intercession for them that they wyl gyue theÌ„ those thynges that they neede as when they pray S. Sebastian to defende them agaynste arowes and venimmes S. Antonie agaynst the Aposteme called commonly S. Antonies fyer S. Appollonie agaynst the touthache etc. IteÌ„ when they call vpon the Images and stockes of saintes as the sayntes them selues as they do whiche vow pilgrimages to certayn stockes which idolatrie hath welnigh ouerfloweÌ„ the whole worlde and that it maye be taken away the people muste be diligently called backe froÌ„ sayntes to God chiefely wyth these argumentes Fyrst that there is no commaundement that we shoulde cal vpon sayntes departed wherefore we can be but doubtfull whether that be well done or no whether it be acceptable to god or vnacceptable And that that is done with doubtyng can not be done of fayth and therefore it is synne For what so euer is not of fayth is synne as S. Paule witnesseth Ro. viij Secondly it is euident that the prayers that be in the scriptures were made of the spirite of God hym selfe and came froÌ„ him and therefore that they be most perfecte and chiefely to be folowed of vs. But in all the scripture there is no exemple of suche inuocation directed to sayntes wherfore no man can vse suche a fourme for therein he shal set the authoritie of men before the authority of god For he foloweth their authoritie whose exemples he vseth in prayings and therfore setteth it before the authoritie of the holie goste And that is a wonderous greate dispite agaynst the diuine maiestie Further if we shall vse the fourme of prayinge whiche the scripture propouneth the same shall shewe howe muche it is not coÌ„uenient to cal vpon sayntes For who would not tremble to say to saynt Petre or to some other of the sayntes oure father whiche arte in heauen whiche kynde of prayinge Christe him selfe prescribed vnto vs. For he is not God he is not our father Neither can it agree at all if we would cal vpon S. Petre or some other wyth some Psalme They then that cal vpoÌ„ sayntes do it out of the Imaginations of men Therefore seinge that no man can preferre the deuises of men before the doctrine and exemples of the holy goste wythout a moste haynous dispite of God and seinge that al the exemples of praiers deliuered by the holy goste teache to cal vpon God onely neither is there any wherein sayntes be spoken vnto euery man easely perceyueth howe vnworthie a thynge it is for christen meÌ„ which ought to seeke the healpe of God wyth true prayers to vse thys newe inuention of callynge vpon sayntes whiche in no wyse agreeth wyth the doctrine and exemples of the holie goste wherein they refuse to folowe the rule of the holy goste wherevnto they ought to sticke with al reuerence Thyrdly suche an abuse is stroungly reiected by the worde of God whiche oure sauiour Christ layed agaynst SataÌ„ Mat. iiij Thou shalte reuerence the Lorde thy God and him only shalt thou worshyp And god wyll haue none other Mediatoure but his sonne our Lorde Iesus Christe i. Timo. ij For there is one God one Mediatoure of God and men a man Iesus Christe whiche hath gyuen hym selfe a price of redemption for all And god witnesseth that he wil heare for his sake and wyll so be worshypped As we haue a testimonie of Christe thou arte a priest for euer Item Math. xi Come vnto me all ye that faynt and be laden and I wil refreshe you Iohn xv What soeuer ye shall aske in my name he shall gyue it you And Ro. ij Whom God hath sette forth a reconler For therfore our trust is fixed in Christe bicause that of hym we haue a promise and commaundement of God but of the saintes we haue no suche worde that God wyll be worshipped thorowe the inuocation of them or that he wyll heare vs for theyr sakes Therefore it is an horrible wyckednesse to transferre remoue the truste due to Christ vnto sayntes wythout the worde and commaundement of God Moreouer that seruice is condemned for this cause that it was instituted onely by mannes opinion But in condemnyâ—â— thys abuse lette the preachers vse such moderation that rude men beginne not to thinke or speake vnreuerently of the sayntes For it is one thynge to call vpon sayntes and an other to haue them in reuerence and honour We muste honour them but we muste not call vpon them nor worshyppe them whiche thynge yet the comon people do And this is a true honour and godly veneration of sayntes to prayse God for that that he adourned them with so godly giftes I meane constant fayth true feare and sundrie vertues Al whiche thynges must be set before the people that they may diligently thynke vpon them and magnifie them and chiefely prayse God and gyue him thankes whiche worketh suche thynges in sayntes Furthermore they shal also prayse the saintes which vsed those benifites so godly For thys
waye the fayth of Christ is confirmed in vs that God wyll also be good vnto vs accordynge to our portion and there is a desire steared vp in vs to folowe their exemples Thus the olde church worshypped the sayntes which thing appeareth by certayne soleme prayers called collectes For thus the churche prayeth ¶ In the memorie of the Apostles Petre and Paule Gd whiche haste consecrated thys daye wyth the martyrdome of thine apostles Petre and Paule graunt to thy churche to folowe theyr precepte in all thynges by whō it receyued the begynnyng of religion thorowe Christe our Lorde ¶ On the feast of S. Iohn Baptist God whiche hast giuen vs thys present day honourable in the natiuitie of blessed Iohn graunte thy people the grace of spirituall ioyes and guyde the mindes of al the faithfull into the waye of euerlastynge lyfe thorowe Christe our Lorde ¶ On the natiuitie of S. Stephane Graunt vs we beseche the Lorde to folowe the thynge that we haue in reuerence that we maye learne to loue euen oure enemies for we celebrate his natiuitie whiche coulde praye euen for his persecutours thorowe Christe our Lorde ¶ In the cōmemoration of saynt Laurence Graunt we besech the almightie God that we maye quenche the flames of oure vices whiche gauest the blessed Laurence thy martyre to ouercome the fyer of his tormentes thorowe our Lorde Iesus Christe ¶ In the memorie of S. Agatha God whiche amonge other miracles of thy power gaueste the victorie of martyrdome euen in a fraile kynde graunte mercifully that we maye walke vnto the by hyr exemples whose natiuitie we celebrate thorowe Christe our Lorde ¶ In the cōmemoration of S. Cecilie God which makest vs merie with the yerely solemnitie of thy martyr blessed Cecilie graunt that we may folowe hyr in exemple of godlie conuersation whom we reuerence wyth humanitie Of thys sort be all suche prayers that be anie thinge olde In other made longe afterwarde though there be somewhat mengled of the merites and intercessions of sayntes yet they be not called vpon as Lordes they be not spokē to they be not desired that they wyll offre theyr owne merites for vs to the father or that they wil healpe vs with their intercessions but God onely the father of our Lorde Iesus Christe is called vpon and desired that he wyl vouchsafe to recompēce the good dedes euē of his sayntes in vs and that he wyll both steare vp and make effectuous theyr intercession for vs thorow our Lorde Iesus Christ not by the vertue of the sayntes The thirde abuse is when the wordes of a prayer otherwyse godlie and christian are drawen to an vngodly and vnlawfull ende as when thorowe the Lordes prayer we wil staunche bloude or dryue awaye wolues that they deuoure not our sheepe As some go about to wrest the Psalme xxxv To auoyed woundes Of whiche kinde innumerable superstitiōs and impieties are vsed of vngodlie enchaunters Therefore the preachers shal warne the people diligently how greuous a synne it is howe great wydkednes to abuse the word of god to such witchcraftes and enchauntmentes Which abuse is pernitious and abhommable no lesse thē the abuse of other false and idolatrious doctrine The fourth abuse is when the ende of prayer is peruerted when men reherse the wordes of the prayers wyth thys opinion that they thynke they do acceptable seruice to God and to the sayntes euen wyth thys worke of rehersyng whereas we must pray to God not to do hym some seruice wyth that worke but that we may call for the free healpe of God being in daunger of perils and euyls whiche we haue deserued or that being vnworthie we may receyue benifittes whiche we haue not deserued And that we maye praye wyth a fuller feelynge both of our owne miserie and of the diuine goodnes of Christe and wyth feruenter desire of Goddes healpe we muste vse holy wordes in our prayes But the comon people hath ben brought into thys errour longe sithens by vnfaythfull pastours that they offre the wordes of the Lordes prayer of the Angels salutation of the Psalmes and other prayers to God the blessed virgin other sayntes as some acceptable seruice or gift wherby they thinke they deserue muche of God and sayntes that they purge their synnes and obtayne the benifittes of God Which abuse of praying doth not onely fyght with the worde of God but also is folishe and mad euen by the iudgemente of reason and it may easely be taken away if the people be so enstructed of prayer as we haue shewed before The fyrst abuse in prayinge and no lesse to be reproued and corrected is thys that men communely beleue that theyr prayer is more commended to God and soner hearde by reason of places of whiche they thynke some to be more holy then some as if the prayers be made at certaine grauen stockes or relikes of sayntes or other places wherevnto men go on pilgrimage whiche is a greate dispitefull wronge to the grace and merite of our Lorde Iesu Christe by whom onely our prayers be acceptable vnto God in what place so euer they be made as he hym selfe promised Iohn xv What soeuer ye aske the father in my name he shall gyue it you And moreouer he sayed to the womā of Samarie Woman beleue me the houre cometh when ye shall worshippe the father neither in thys hille nor at Hierusalē God is a spirite and they that worship him must worshippe hym in spirite and truth Iohn iiij And Mathew xviij He sayeth If two of you consente togyther vpon the earth of anie thynge what so euer they aske it shal be done vnto them of my father whiche is in heauen For where two or three are gathered togyther in my name there am I in the middest of them Lo here the Lorde promiseth that we shall be hearde if we consent in prayer and that he wyl be a meane betwene vs and obtayne al thynges for vs of the father whē so euer and where so euer we shall come and agree in his name These promises al they diminishe that thynke they shall be hearde more certaynly and soner in anie place for the respect of grauen stockes or relikes of sayntes or some other outward prerogatiue of the place Howebeit it becometh vs to come to the temples and cōmon places and it healpeth to praye more deuoutly for this cause that the congregation cometh togyther in those places to prayer and bycause we are there more steared vp to praier thorowe the ministerie of the worde and other holie exercises and thorowe the very cōpanie of men prayinge togyther wyth vs. So priuate places haue thys comoditie to prayer that in them we maye praye wyth a more attentiue minde and more lifted vp to God For in these places there chaūce fewer thynges to call our myndes frō the thinges that we go about in our prayers For thys cause we reade that the Lorde Iesus prayed often in mountaynes and gardines as he comaunded vs
that custome that when they come togyther to heare the worde and to receyue the sacramentes the faythfull shoulde offre theyr oblations to the Lorde and consecrate them to hym for the vse of the pore Out of these places of the scripture and institution of the olde churche the preachers shall teache the people fyrste that the sacrifice of Christe is that onely propitiatorie sacrifice of good sauour whiche by it selfe is accepted to God the father and deserueth vnto vs forgyuenes of synnes grace and other benifittes of God and that it is the sacrifice which was shadowed in al the sacrifices of the law whiche made al the other acceptable vnto God As also the sacrifice of our selues and what so euer pleasaunte thynges we can do to God be allowed and accepted of God for respecte of thys onely propitiatorie sacrifice Without Christ there is nothynge acceptable No man can do any acceptable thynge wythout Christ Wherefore the preachers muste busely beate into the people that they thynke not that acceptable seruice or worshyppe maye be done vnto God with any sacrifice or oblation be it neuer so precious for the dignifie and worthines either of the thynge or of the offerer if the same sacrifice or oblation be not offered and made acceptable in Christe the Lorde thorowe his merite Secondly that they go not about to giue any other sacrifices to God thē those which we rehearsed before that is to say the sacrifice of them selues of a brused spirite and herte afflicted thorowe synnes Item a sacrifice of prayse and thankesgyuynge for the benifittes that they haue receyued wyth liberalitie towardes the pore and other thinges that make for the promotynge of the kyngdome of Christe Wherfore to offre to God great gyftes to buylde adourne and enriche tēples altares monasteries farther then that it prouoketh the religion of Christ wyth thys false opinion as thoughe these thynges were muche moore acceptable to God then if suche gyftes were bestowed vpon the pore for Christes sake be in no wise those sacrifices which God requireth or alloweth but wherewyth the wrath of God is more prouoked And therefore the people must be warned that corporal goodes must be offered to God for none other vse then that the religion of Christe maye be furthered that the holie ministerie maye be ordeyned and maynteyned that the necessitie of the pore maye be prouided for Finally that there maye be ministered to euerie bodie as muche as is needfull to lyue godly Therefore to buylde huge temples and to decke them wyth more thynges then be requisite to thys purpose that the congregation maye haue a comelie place whereunto they maye come togyther to heare Goddes worde to receiue the sacramentes and to do other thinges perteynyng to religion is not allowed of God For these thynges make nothing for the edification of faith in Christ or for the health of our neighbours wherevnto all christian mēnes benifites and good workes should be referred seing that Christ Iesus is the summe of all the commaundementes of God and th ende of the lawe that we I saye maye truly knowe him and take holde vpon hym so that we maye lyue in hym and he in vs. And further seinge that the ende of the law is loue out of a pure hert and good conscience and fayth vnfayued i. Timo. i. Therefore lette the thynge that S. Hierome teacheth haue place that is to wit that the temples of christen men muste be so builded and decked that out of them it may appeare our riches and glorie to be sette in the crosse of Christ and that we serue suche a Lorde that gathered his congregation in the moste pouertie of the worlde wythout golde The matter stode otherwise with the people of the olde testament wich had theyr peculiar rites theyr ceremonies theyr policie their ornamētes in the tabernacle and in the temple all whiche thynges after the cōmyng of Christe ceased That people had onely one temple whiche they decked wyth some outwarde gorgiousnes in the meane whyle neuertheles they were commaunded that they shoulde haue no begger amonge them Deut. xv In the daye of iudgemente when Christe shall pronounce the laste sentence of al men he shall say thus I haue hungred thyrsted I was naked a straunger weake in bondes and you ministered vnto me For what so euer ye dyd to one of these litleones I take it to be done vnto my selfe entre therefore into the kyngedome of my father whiche was prepared for you from the begynning But to those whiche haue not done these thynges to his litleones he shall saye Go into euerlastyng fyer etc. But we shal heare no mention made of buyldyng of temples and monasteries and deckynge of the same Let the pastours then teach the people to exhibite true worshippynges vnto God to decke his true and liuely temples that is to succour the pore and afflicted whiche be the true membres and bretherne of Christe Thys thynge God hym selfe dyd not onely commaunde vs but the holie fathers also require the same of vs. S. Ambrose wryteth thus in the .ij. boke of offices Chap. xx When the Lorde shal cōplayne and require why the goodes of the churche golde and costlie vessels were not bestowed vpon the vse of the pore and redemyng of prisoners if a man wyll laye the ornamentes of temples for his excuse and saye I was a feard lest the temple of God shoulde want ornamentes he shall heare of the Lorde Sacramentes require not golde neither do those thynges please by reason of golde whiche are not bought wyth golde The raunsomming of prisoners is the verie ornamēt of sacramentes and they be verie precious vesselles whiche redeme soules from death That is the true treasure of the Lord which worketh the same thynge that his bloude wrought Then sayeth he I acknowledge the vessel of the Lordes bloud when the chalice redemeth them from the enemie whom the bloud redemed from synne etc. But our naturall blyndnes and rebellion agaynste God causeth that we neuer worshyppe him according to his prescription And thorowe our naturall pryde and vngentlenes and neglectyng of our bretherne it cometh to passe that we thinke those thynges vaynly wasted and loste or not well bestowed whiche are spent vpon the needie and despised men before the worlde Therefore men fall so farre that they had leuer offre theyr gyftes to God for an ornament of wodde stones and deade bones and for the maynteinaunce of vnprofitable felowes then for the vse of the pore where as yet he testifieth that he wyll compte those thinges done vnto him selfe what so euer we bestowe vpon the pore for his sake promisyng that he wyl recompence the same in thys worlde and in the worlde to come Wherefore thys false and peruerse opinion of the fleshe muste be earnestly rebuked and diligently corrected that they maye omitte those sacrifices vnacceptable to god and that they succour the needie and afflicted persones wyth true sacrifices and acceptable to God And
the preachers must teach and exhorte the people diligently that they brynge all their gyftes and oblations into a cōmon treasurie of the churche and that liberallie And they shall declare moreouer that this is the deutie not onely of the riche but also of all men after the measure of the goodes whiche the Lorde hath graunted to euerie one of them For Christe offered him selfe for al men no lesse for the pore then for the riche It becometh then al mē to be thākfull and to remembre that pore wydowe whiche by the iudgement of Christe in offerynge of a farthynge gaue more into the cōmon hutche then all the other Marke xij We also God wyllyng shall take suche ordre for the makynge of a cōmon treasurie of the churche wherwyth not onely the pore and beggers shal be succurred but also stipendes shall be appoynted for certayne towarde yonge men whiche shall be brought vp and instituted vnto the ministeries of the churche Wherefore the preachers shal diligently exhort the people that they offre their oblations to the Lorde liberally as often as they come togyther to heare the Lordes worde to the holie baptisme to the receyuynge of the cōmunion of the supper of the Lorde to the cōmon prayers or on the sūdayes and other accustomed festes when mariages are blessed when thankes are gyuen to the Lorde for them which haue recouered them selues from some syckenes whē women lately deliuered go to churche and when so euer god hath gyuen peculiar gyftes to men whiche thynge he doeth euen dayly For we dayly enioye the moste ample benifites of God wherefore we must dayly declare our thākfulnes wyth godlie oblations that the ministerie of the churche maye be euer repared and susteyned and that all mennes necessities maye be bountuously succurred For it is a great and an vngodlie vnthākefulnes that whereas men bestowed so manie thinges most liberally vpon stones wodde and dead mennes bones vpon stationaries and such other vnprofitable fellowes and were cōstrained to bye sacramentes and other ecclesiasticall thynges wyth money nowe in the lyght of the Gospell they wyll not contribute a litle to maynteyne the necessarie and holesome ministerie of the churche to feede the pore the membres of Christe oure bretherne chiefly seinge that they be deliuered of manie superfluous charges whiche we haue rehearsed Therefore the people must be called by the preachers with greate diligence frō those superstitious oblations whiche they were wonte to offre vnto dead sayntes theyr stockes and relikes and they muste be enstructed and exhorted to true and acceptable sacrifices vnto God wherof we haue spoken ¶ A forefence and commaundemente agaynste the errours of the anabaptistes VVe are many wayes premonished both out of the worde of God and also out of histories of ecclesiastical matters that Satan laboureth by al meanes to steare vp and to brynge into the church sundrie sclaunders and offences aswell of doctrine as of lyfe Wherefore the pastours shall watch diligently to turne awaye and disapoynt these pernitious endeuours of Satā and to keepe and deliuer the people of God from all false doctrine In whiche thynge they muste watche chiefely at this tyme. For it is manifest that the anabaptistes runne vp and doune in moste places and with merueylous craftes and giles creepe in amonge the simple whiche also haue dryuen not a fewe out of theyr wittes whō they hold entāgled caught in a snare Agaynst this incōuenience it shal be right expedient if the pastours often enstructe the people of those articles of oure religion for whiche the anabaptistes chiefely moue controuersies and cōfute their dotyng dreames substātially out of the worde of God Hereby the people certaynly knowyng how vngodly theyr opinions be being so armed aforehande shal easely determine that the authours of suche doctrine must be necessarily eschued and condemned And the more that they shal abhorre frō the vngodly faininges and blasphemies of these men the more easely they shall be reteyned in the studie of sincere doctrine and ecclesiastical consent And the diligent handlynge and large exposition of suche places causeth al men in the cōgretion to be more plentifully and certeynely enstructed and confirmed in the doctrine of Christe And that the people maye be armed aforehande agaynste the vngodlie imaginations of these men the preachers muste entreate playnely and clearely of all theyr articles and shewe howe noysome and pestilent they be and full of all pernitious perturbation of the cōmon weale sedition horrible blasphemies against god and his holy Gospell For some make for the ouerthrowyng of outwarde politie some for the confirmation and ignoraūce of synnes to blow vp a truste of oure owne ryghtuousnes and establishe a contempte and violation of the sacramētes holy ministerie of the church The chiefest then of these muste be declared to the people by name and often repeted As these be where as they say that to administre the cōmon weale to exercise cōmon iudgementes to punishe yll doers be offices and workes contrarie to the preceptes of Christ whiche a christian man ought not to do Itē that to offre an othe or to sweare at the commaundement of them that administre the cōmon power or be lawfull Iudges is agaynst the Gospell Item that it is sinne for a man to haue anie thynge propre but that all christen men oughte to make theyr goodes common Item that a Catabaptiste maye forsake his wyfe whiche alloweth not his errours and contrarie wyse It is euident that these errours be seditious and that they muste be aswell restrayned as other seditious deuises and dedes are wonte to be Wherefore the cōmon officers muste punishe these felowes with cōueniēt rigorousnes And the preachers must shewe the people by the scriptures that these Imaginations be agaynst the Gospell and that they haue theyr begynnyng frō the naturall arrogantie of mē rebellion and cōfusion whiche fyghte agaynste the kyngdome of Christe The Anabaptistes whiche keepe not the difference of spirituall and politike lyfe vnderstande not that the Gospell teacheth the knowledge of God and the inuocation of hym in Christe Iesu oure Lorde and eternall ryghtuousnes and that neuertheles it improueth not these outward thynges to eate and to drynke wyth thankesgyuyng Item these ciuile thynges to gouerne the common weale exercise Iudgementes to make warre to go a warfare to obeye the officers to marie to keepe oure owne goodes to gette and mainteyne riches with labour and lawfull bargaynes to set forth sciences profitable for our lyfe to teache wel the youth and suche lyke whiche in godlie men are the verie worshippinges of God These thinges further godlines and cōmon tranquillitie and it is profitable to amplifie thys dignitie of polityke thynges whiche when they beginne to vnderstande then mē shall applie them selues more gladly to this diuine ordinaunce and they shall learne to exercise fayeth and loue in these actions of life And they shall obeye the officers wyth all theyr hertes and as muche as in
men wyth all theyr hertes for the Lorde Christes sake that they serue al maner of men and do them good in all thynges that perteyne to the neede of the bodie or to ciuile societie Therefore in thys ciuile lyfe societie they exercise theyr fayth and shewe exemples of loue towardes their neighbours wyth whom they lyue in all theyr necessities all maner of wayes What soeuer geÌ„tle behauiour there is in the world what so euer perteyneth or healpeth to faythfull and honest ciuilitie and participation of present thynges and to the maynteinyng and adurnyng of the common weale that christeÌ„ meÌ„ only do rightly vnderstand labour to perfourme most proÌ„ptly In like maner the pastours must often substantially declare and excusse those doctrines also that perteyne to a spirituall lyfe for whiche the Anabaptistes make muche busines as of originall synne of the baptisme of infaÌ„tes of the rightuousnes of fayth and these thinges they shall teache out of the holie scriptures as of original synne what an horrible euyll it is bycause mannes reason doeth noâ— se those thynges to be damned whiche remayne in the nature of man I meane the ignoraunce of God want of the feare of God and distrusting of God Item that God alloweth the baptisme of our infantes receyueth our infantes into his chyldren thorowe baptisme and maketh them heyres of his grace and euerlastyng lyfe That remission of synnes the communion of Christe the felowshoppe of a newe and blessed lyfe is only in the congregation of Christ and not amonge the Iewes or Turbes or other men amonge whom the Gospell is not preached the sacramentes of Christe are not administered but rather the name and doctrine of Christ is blasphemed The matter standing thus and seinge that it is euident that God wyl be the God of our seede also that is to saye a sauiour and authour of a newe and blessed lyfe to vs which thorowe Christ be made the sonnes of Abraham and heyres of the promyse and couenaunte whiche God Gene. xvij Gala iii. made wyth hym the father of all them that beleue the matter beinge thus I saye surely we maye conclude and it is playne that our infantes borne of vs synners and loste through synnes muste be offered to Christ be incorporated to him thorowe baptisme that by hym they maye be washed in the churche from synnes and haue his ryghtuousenes gyueÌ„ theÌ„ put vpon them For seing that the kingdome of Christ is reueiled amounge vs and the mistery of redemptioÌ„ and saluation wrought by Christe is more clearely and abundauÌ„tly exhibited and preached then before for manye Kynges and prophetes desired to heare and see the thinges that we heare and se and it was not giuen to them it muste needes be that they playnlie knowe not the Gospell of Christe and coÌ„munion of sayntes amonge them selues that were sayntes in dede and acceptable to God or els that they inuade Christe and his churche with a wicked furie whosoeuer they be that wyl not haue our infantes to be purged from synnes wyth the Sacramente of regeneration and to be planted in the churche of God seinge that it behoued infantes of the olde people to be sanctified and planted into the bodie of Christ whiche is the churche wyth that Sacramente that God then gaue them for thys purpose For why shoulde oure infantes perteyne lesse to the kyngdome of God then theirs seinge that thorow Christ we be grafted in the holy roote of that people and made partakers of the blessed fatnes of thys Olyue Ro. xâ— Furthermore we haue giueÌ„ vnto vs a migâ—tier spirite Romo viij But we be gotten iâ— synnes aswel as the Iewes and haue neede to be deliuered from synnes thorowe Christ and to be brought vnto the life of God and that in Christes church For there is not saluation wythout the churche where neither the worde nor Sacrament is Infantes then muste be planted into the church we must gyue them the signe that wytnesseth that the promise perteyneth vnto theÌ„ And forasmuche as in this time the Gospel the grace of God and redemption of Christe be more clearely and effectuously exhibited and preached in the churche both wyth wordes and sacramentes then amonge the olde people euerie man surely beinge rightly warned hereof excepte he be a verie vngodlie person shall acknowledge that oure infantes also muste be washed from synnes by baptisme whiche is the Sacrament of regeneration and that they muste be planted into Christe our Lorde and his churche in whiche church Christe worketh thorowe his worde and sacramentes as Ephesâ— v. Paule sayeth that Christ loued the coÌ„gregation and gaue him selfe for it to sanctifie it and cleanse it wyth the lauer of water etc. He describeth not the congregation wythout signes and without the worde Wherefore he sayeth also in an other place one bodie one spirite one Lorde one fayth one baptisme Whiche thynges surely do testifie that they whiche perteyne to the coÌ„gregation be planted into the same wyth some outwarde signe also If meÌ„ shall be warned hereof often and substantially they shal reuerentlie vse holie baptisme they shal come to it and stande by it more religiously and they shal more feruently pray for the grace of God to them selues and to the infaÌ„tes and wyth purer myndes and greater sanctification of them selues they shal labour to offre to Christe the Lorde both their owne chyldren and also the chyldren of the whole church according to the Lordes wordes suffre the litelones to come vnto me for the kingdome of heauen perteyneth to such Whiche moste sweete sayinge of the Lorde oure sauioure they shall also embrace wyth more certeyne fayth and wyth greater deuotion gyue God thankes for his so greate benifitte Men shall moreouer be moued and enflamed to procure theyr chyldren beinge grafted in Christe to be brought vp to hym and to his churche wyth greater diligence and they shall cause them to be nosseled in the knowledge of him that they may profite the church and wheÌ„ they be growen vp they shall dedicate them betymes as the membres of Christe vnto his churche being the sonnes and heyres of God and ioynte heyres wyth Christ In lyke maner the rightuousnes of fayth must be declared and sette forth by comparyng of the Anabaptisticall imaginations For that comparison shall brynge greater lyght to thys ministerie I saye when it shal be playnely shewed howe greate difference there is betwene the true ryghtuousnes of Christ and the hypocrisie of these heretikes For that rightuousnes that the Gospel teacheth is to take handfast of Christ the lorde with sure faith so that the mynde trust therin constantly and call vpon God the father thorowe Christe wyth the coÌ„fidence of chyldren and studie to glorifie the same wyth good workes wherewyth our neighbours may be holpen by al possible meanes accordynge to all the power of the holie goste that it hath receyued But the rightuousnes whiche the Anabaptistes teache and wherin they boste themselues is al
the Catechisme as may be fouÌ„d most readie meete thereunto though they be not priestes or in other ordinarie ministeries But howe and after what fourme the Catechisme must be expouned we wyll declare hereafter In cities we wyll that euen vpon the workynge dayes there be two holy asseÌ„bles euerie day in the which holie lessons shal be reade with prayers and Psalmes if ministers wante not and if the people wyll be entreated to come togyther diligently Let suche houres be appoynted for these assembles as shal be moste comodiouse to the people In villages if it maye be for the people let holie assembles be called togyther thryse a wieke in whiche mornynge prayers and exhortations shall be vsed out the scriptures If by reason of the negligence of the people it can not be done so often they shall procure that they come togyther once or twyse ¶ Of the holy Sacramentes generally LEtte the pastours and teachers remembre that it is there duetie to enstruct the people diligentlie not onely in the administration it selfe of the SacrameÌ„tes but also ofteÌ„ in their sermons when the place shall require it what is done and exhibited in the handlynge and dispensation of euery Sacrament How meÌ„ ought to prepare them selues to receyue the SacrameÌ„tes and wyth what trust we must take them and wherein we muste putte confidence of receyuing the benifitte of God in the Sacramentes and howe much diligence religion is required to the handlyng of sacrameÌ„tes not only of them which theÌ„ selues vse the sacrameÌ„tes but also of theÌ„ which be present at the administration and dispensation of the same and chiefly of the ministers whiche exhibite and distribute theÌ„ to other But chiefely they shall warne the people that they thynke not that they maye obteine the grace of God and communion wyth Christe in the Sacramentes thorowe the streÌ„gth and worthines of outwarde worke either in him that ministreth the sacrameÌ„tes or of hym that receyueth theÌ„ but onely thorowe the strength of God and merite of Christe whiche wil worke in his worde and Sacramentes and perfourme al those thinges vndoubtedly whiche he offereth in the Sacramentes and testifieth wyth his wordes to all them whiche receyue the Sacramentes accordynge to his worde wyth true fayth ¶ Of Baptisme BAptisme is a Sacrament of regeneration whereby we be planted and incorporated into Christe the Lorde and be buried into his death and put on the same and be made thorowe hym the sonnes and heryes of God Wherefore we muste handle and receyue thys Sacrament wyth greate reuerence and religion And therfore we must vse that maner of administrynge thys Sacramente and suche tyme muste be appoynted for the administration of the same that all thynges maye serue to steare vp and encrease reuerence and religion that this holy Sacramnent may be godly and holesomly administred and receiued Amonge the auncient fathers Baptisme was openly ministred onely at two tymes in the yere at Ester Witsontyde Which constitution bicause it shoulde be harde perchaunce to renue we wyl that Baptisme be ministred onely vpon the sundayes and holie dayes when the whole congregation is wonte to come togyther if the weakenes of the infantes lette not the same so that it is to be feared that they wyll not lyue tyll the nexte holie daye for oure mynde is that the handlyng of the Sacrament of Christes bodie and bloude called Eucharistia maye be ioyned with Baptisme and that they which brynge the infantes to Baptisme maye vse the bodie and bloude of oure Lorde Iesus Christ after the maner and institution of the primitiue churche But that all thynges maye be ministred and receyued religiously and reuerently the parâ—â—es of the infaÌ„tes shall signifie the matter betymes to the pastours and wyth the godfathers shall humbly require Baptisme for their infantes That if the parentes or the godfathers or both be subiecte to manifest crimes they may be corrected of the pastoure if they wyll admitte correction or if they be incorrigible that they maye be kepte from the communion of Baptisme lest they be present at so diuine a ministration vnto damnation and wyth daunger of offending the churche For they aswell make them selues gyltie of the bodie and death of Christ whiche vnworthelie be present at thys Sacramente of Baptisme and require the same for theyr Infantes wythout true fayeth in Christe as they whiche take the bodie and bloude of the Lorde vnworthely that is to saye not after the institution of Christe namely wythout true repentauÌ„ce and faith in Christe Whrefore if suche come vnto the pastours to aske holie Baptisme whether they be the parentes of the chyldren or theyr godfathers as be defiled wyth manifeste crimes and abominatioÌ„s the preachers shall exhorte them vnto repentaunce and warne them that they be not present at the administration of the Sacramente for that tyme leste they pull damnation vpon them selues and offende the churche For suche by reason of theyr wycked actes haue no parte in the kyngdome of God neyther be they to be admitted to the participation of the sacramentes excepte they repent openly But if the parentes be founde in suche crimes they shall desire theyr kinsfolke or other frendes whiche be as yet the true and lyuely membres of the churche that in theyr steede they wyll aske Baptisme for theyr infantes If the godfathers shal be iudged vnworthie of the church other shal be desired which haue good testimonie In the request of Baptisme the pastours shal aske them whether the infantes haue not receiued Baptisme already whiche thinge is wont to chaunce when the chylde is in perill of death For if they be baptised then the pastours shall do those thynges that we wyll declare hereafter coÌ„cernyng suche infantes But if they be not baptised or not certeynly baptised or not as it behoued and if the parentes and godfathers be not subiecte to those crimes for whiche they shoulde be kepte of from Baptisme they muste be diligently warned by the pastours of the exceadynge benefitte of regeneration in Christe whiche they desire to theyr chyldren Item of the horrible fall and gilte from whiche the infantes are deliuered in Baptisme thorowe Christe Then he shall exhorte them that they be present religiously at the exorcisme and Catechisme and so afterward at the ministration of baptisme laste of all that they vse togyther the Sacrament of the bodie and bloude of the Lorde For it becometh thys thynge to be done not onely for thys cause that they be the membres of Christe and it behoueth not to be present at the Lordes borde wythout part takynge but also bycause it is an vnworthie thynge to aske the communion of Christ for infantes and to receyue it in baptisme and not to receiue the same in the Sacrament for them selues wherein it is offered to theÌ„ also For if they aske and receyue the communion of Christ in Baptisme with true fayth they can not but aske the same for them selues and receiue it desirously beinge offered in
exercised wyth aduersitie and sundrie miseries we must remeÌ„bre that we are baptised and that in baptisme al our sinnes euils be ouercomed and deade and that they be dayly wasted and obolished more and more thorowe the crosse and suÌ„dry afflictions which God sendeth vnto vs and that the newe man is continually renued and repared thorow the vertue of the resurrection of Christe Therfore of ryght we oughte to thanke God for his so vnspeakeable mercie and we muste also praye therwyth that he wyll vouchsafe euer to further and at the last to finishe his worke whiche he hath begonne in vs and in all them whom he hath called to baptisme The preachers shal vse such exhortatioÌ„s loÌ„ger or shorter accordyng to the tyme out of the forsaid places of the scripture and other lyke and then they shall adde the interrogations folowyng ¶ InterrogatioÌ„s or demauÌ„des which shall be propouned to the godfathers and to the parentes of infantes Do ye beleue that those thynges be true whiche I shewed you out of the worde of God concernyng the corruption of nature thorowe originall synnne and concernynge regeneration in Christ our Lorde and euerlastyng communion wyth God whiche is exhibited thorowe holie baptisme ¶ Answere ¶ We beleue Do you require then wyth al your hertes and wyth true fayth that thys your infant whom ye haue brought and offered to Christe be deliuered from thys corruption of nature thorowe the merite and vertue of Christe in baptisme and be reconciled to God and borne againe into a new and perpetuall lyfe ¶ Answer ¶ We require it Do ye then renounce in your name and in the name of the chylde the deuyll and all his workes ¶ Answere ¶ We renounce And the worlde also and all his concupiscence ¶ Answere ¶ We renounce Do ye beleue in God the father almightie maker of heauen and earth ¶ Answere We beleue And do ye beleue that God wyll be a father to you and to thys Infante when it is baptised and that he wyll keepe you froÌ„ all euyll thorowe his almightie power wysedome and mercie and heape benifittes vpon you and that therefore you oughte to feare hym and loue hym aboue al thynges ¶ Answere We beleue Do ye beleue in our Lorde Iesus Christe his onely sonne which to redeme vs became maÌ„ suffered died was raysed froÌ„ death ascended into heaueÌ„ and sitteth on the ryght haÌ„de of the father froÌ„ theÌ„ce gouerneth his churche thorowe his almightie power and shal come in th ende of the worlde appeare to al meÌ„ a iudge of the dead and the quicke ¶ Answere We beleue Do ye confesse out of this fayth that our Lorde Iesus Christe is also your Sauiour and Sauiour of thys chylde whiche by his death hathe purged your synnes also and hath recoÌ„ciled you to God and instified you thorowe his resurrection and wyl at length fully finishe vp the Image and lyfe of God in you beinge cleansed from all synne ⧠Answere We confesse Do ye beleue also in the holie goste the holie and vniuersall churche the communion of saintes the remission of synnes the resurrection of the fleshe and lyfe euerlasting â–ª ⧠Answere We beleue Out of thys confession do you beleue that the holie goste wyl be your teacher and comforter and the teacher and comforter of thys chylde and that you be the true membres of the bodie of Chrisâ—e oure Lorde and of his churche and that thys childe by baptisme shall be a membre of Christe and his churche wherein he shall haue remission of sinnes a sure hope of resurrection and life euerlastynge ⧠Answere We beleue Wyll ye then take the infante from baptisme and compte hym for a verie sonne of God a brother and membre of Christe and as soone as he cometh to the vse of reason if peraduenture he shall leese his parentes or if they shall be negligente in thys behalfe wyll ye take the charge of him that he may learne the ten commaundementes the articles of oure fayth the Lordes prayer the sacramentes both at home and in the congregation that from his chyldehode he maye beginne to vnderstande the misterie of baptisme and the benefittes of Christe gyuen to hym therin and afterwarde when he is wel instructed in the religion of Christe that he confesse his fayth in the congregation wyth his owne mouth and thorow the participation of Christe that he gyue hym selfe to obedience towardes God and the congregation ¶ Answere We wyll ⧠Here the past oure shall exhorte agayne the parentes and the multitude standyng by RemeÌ„bre then beloued that ye must with all faythfulnes and diligence perfourme the thynge that ye haue promised here in the sight of god Christ our sauiour which is amonge vs and before his holie coÌ„gregation And all you parentes godfathers and other that staÌ„de by acknowledge this childe after that he hath receyued baptisme as the sonne of God and membre of Iesus Christ to whom the Angelles be presente as ministers and serue hym neither doubte ye but that what so euer good or euyll ye do to thys seelie Infant you do the same to God and to Christe the Lorde Lette it not be anie payne to you then that euery one of you accordynge to his state kynred and vncation procure thys chylde to be godlie and religiously broughte vp and instructed that at length he maye keepe all those thinges that Christe oure Sauiour commaunded to vs. It perteyneth then vnto you whiche are giuen of God to thys chylde to be parentes kynsfolke or godfathers to procure as sone as he is growen vp to brynge hym to scholes to the coÌ„gregatioÌ„ that he may be instructed moore fully in the misteries of Christe and in other thynges that he may perceyue the grace and exceadyng benifittes of God gyuen in baptisme that he gyue accompt of his fayth before the coÌ„gregation that he renounce in dede the diuyl the worlde wyth al concupiscences that he wholie gyue hym selfe to Christe our Lorde and to his coÌ„gregation to be obedient in all poyntes accordyng to his gospel and so coÌ„tinue in Christ our Lorde vnto th ende and euer go forward in newnes of lyfe as a lyuely membre of Christe and that beinge a fruiteful braunch in thys vinyarde he brynge forth the plentifull fruite of all good workes to the prayse of God and edification of the churche ⧠Here foloweth the Exorcisme or adiuration HEre the past oure shall coÌ„maunde the chylde to be brought nere him and shal demauÌ„d his name which knowen he shal say I coÌ„maunde all euyll spirites in the name of oure Lorde Iesu Christ to departe froÌ„ thys infant and to do hym no hurt anie maner of wayes ⧠After thys makyng the figure of the crosse wyth his thombe vpon his foreheade and vpon his brest let hym saye Take the figure of the holie crosse in thy foreheade that thou neuer be ashamed of God and Christ thy sauiour or of his Gospell take it also on
thy brest that the power of Christe crucified may be euer thy succour and sure protection in all thynge ⧠Then let hym saye to the people The Lorde be wyth you ⧠Let the the people answere And wyth thy spirite ⧠The pastour Let vs praye Almightie and euerlastyng God the father of oure Lorde Iesus Christe I call the vpon thys N. thy seruaunte for whom the churche requireth the Sacramente of baptisme and therein thy grace and spirituall regeneration and thou saydeste aske and ye shal receyue etc. so gyue thy grace and mercie to thys chylde as thy church prayeth the that he maye obteine the redemption of thy sonne and inheritaunce of euerlastynge and blessed lyfe whiche thy cōgregation seeketh for hym thorowe baptisme Open to hym the dore of thy kyngdome at whiche thy churche knocketh for hym thorowe Christe our Lorde Amen ⧠Let vs praye Further almightie God whiche in olde tyme dyddeste destroye the wycked worlde wyth the floude accordynge to thy terrible iudgement and dyddeste preserue onely the familie of godly Noe eighte soules of thy vnspeakable mercie and which also dyddest droune in the redde sea obstinate Pharao the Kynge of the Egiptians wyth all his armie and warlike power and causedist thy people of Israel to passe ouer with dry feete and wouldest shadowe in them holy baptistisme the lauer of regeneration furthermore whiche dyddeste consecrate Iordane wyth the Baptisme of thy sonne Christe Iesu and other waters to holie deepynge and washynge of synnes we praye the for thy exceadynge mercie loke fauourably vpon thys Infante gyue hym true fayeth and thy holie spirite that what so euer fylth he hath taken of Adam it maye be drouned and be put awaye by thys holie floude that being seperated from the numbre of the vngodlie he maye be kepte safe in the holie arke of the churche and maye confesse and sanctifie thy name wyth a lustie and feruent spirite and serue thy kyngdome wyth constant truste and sure hope that at length he maye atteyne to the promises of eternal lyfe wyth all the godlie Amen ⧠The pastour The Lorde be with you ⧠The people And wyth thy spirite Heare the Gospell of oure Lorde Iesus Christe Marke x. In that tyme they broughte chyldren to Iesus that he might toutch them But the disciples rebuked them that broughte them When Iesus sawe that he toke indigna ion and sayed vnto them sulfure the litleoues to come vnto me etc. Beleue these wordes and thys deede of our Lorde Iesu Christe vpō them and doubt not but that he wyll so receyue your chyldren also and embrace them wyth the armes of his mercie and gyue them the blessynge of eternall lyfe and the euerlasting communion of the kyngdome of God The same Lorde and our Sauiour Iesus Christe confirme and encrease thys your fayth Amen ⧠After thys the pastoure shall laye his handes vpon the chyldes heade and the godfathers touching the child shall praye wyth hym Oure father whiche arte etc. Then they shall also rehearse the crede I beleue in God the father etc. ¶ Let vs praye After thys the churche shall synge the Psal Cxiiij Item Cxv. and. Cxxxvi. When Israell went forth etc. Not to vs Lorde etc. Item prayse the name of the Lorde etc. Ye seruauntes prayse the Lorde ⧠The pastour The Lorde be with you ¶ The people And wyth thy spirite ⧠Let vs praye Almightie and euerlastynge God heauenlie father we gyue the eternall thankes that thou haste vouchsafed to cal vs to thys knowledge of thy grace fayth towardes the. Encrease and confirme this fayth in vs euermore Gyue thy holie spirite to thys infant that he maye be borne agayne and be made heyre of euerlastyng saluation which of thy groce and mercie thou hast promised to thy holie churche to olde men and to children thorow our Lorde Iesus Christ which liueth and reigneth wyth the nowe and for euer Amen ⧠Thus gyuynge his blessynge let hym dimisse the congregation ⧠Of administration of Baptisme The daye folowinge let the infantes beinge exorcised the daye before be broughte agayne to the cōgregation a litle before the supper of the Lorde whō there the pastour after that the Gospel is reade and declared and the crede songe shal bid to be broughte to the foūtstone and shal exhort the parētes the godfathers and kinsfolke after the maner folowinge Beloued in Christ yesterday by the grace of God we hearde how exceading and vnspeakable mercie is exhibited in Baptisme Ye haue renounced Satā and the worlde ye haue cōfessed the fayth of Christe ye haue promised obedience to Christ and the cōgregation and ye haue required of God the father that for his sōnes sake our Lorde Iesus Christ he will deliuer these infātes from the kingdome of darkenes and settle thē in the kingdome of his beloued sōne You must remēbre these thinges and doubt nothing but that we shal receyue all these thynges that we require if we beleue Therefore liftynge vp your mindes vnto the Lorde appeare ye here with all religion as in the sighte of almightie God the father the sōne and the holie gost and receiue ye sure fayth and thankesgiuing the benifitte of regeneration and adoptiō into euerlastyng life of the one god him selfe the father the sonne and the holie goste And bicause the Lorde hym selfe commaunded vs to baptise in the name of the father the sōne and the holie gost vndoubtedly god him selfe baptiseth our infātes cleanseth thē frō sinnes deliuereth thē frō euerlasting death putteth vpō thē his owne rightuousnes and gyueth them life eternal We must acknowledge with true faith and euer magnifie these exceading benifittes of God Wherfore that we may steare vp our fayth and mindes Let vs heare the wordes of S. Paule folowing concernynge thys matter ⧠To Tite Chapter iij. But after that the goodnes and loue of oure sauiour God towardes mē appeared not of the workes of ryghtuousnes whiche we dyd but after his mercie he saued vs by the lauer of regeneration and renuing of the holie goste etc. ⧠The pastour The Lorde be wyth you ⧠The people And wyth thy spirite ¶ Out of the Gospell of Mathewe the laste Chapter The Lorde Iesus said vnto his disciples All power in heauen and in earth is gyuen vnto me Go ye therfore into al the worlde and preache the Gospell to al creatures and teach al the heathē baptising thē in the name of the father the sonne the holie gost etc ⧠The pastour The Lorde be with you ⧠The people And wyth thy spiritie ⧠Let vs praye Almightie and mercifull God and father thou diddest promise to Abraham oure father and the father of all that beleue and in him thou dyddeste promise to vs also his chyldren that thou wouldeste be a God to vs and to oure seede Wherefore as thou diddest receyue the infantes of the olde people into grace and into thyne owne people by circumcisiō And thy sonne Christe Iesus our Lorde and
sauiour admitted chyldreÌ„ offered vnto hym right gently and blessed theÌ„ testifiynge that the kyngdome of God perteyneth to such So let it be thy pleasure to begette our infantes agayne and to adopte theÌ„ into sonnes vnto the felowship of euerlastynge lyfe by the sacrament of baptisme GrauÌ„t then heaueÌ„ly father that we may earnestly requir so gret riches of grace setfurth in baptisme for these infaÌ„tes that we may acknowledge and receyue them wyth true fayth beinge offered both in the worde and in the sacrament finallie that we maye euer thanke the and magnifie the for them And impute not to these infantes the synne of Adam issued into theÌ„ and engendred by their parentes regarde not the merites of theyr parentes and of all thys people but let the death and merite of thy sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ preuayle in them and impute vnto them his rightuousnes and obedience Plant them into his death and resurrection make them membres of his bodie put hym vpon theÌ„ that they maye be thy sonnes and heyres and continue for euer Graunte vs also that after Baptisme we maye acknowledge them for thy chyldren and membres of the bodie of thy sonne that we may godly brynge them vp in the feare of the vnto thy glorie that we maye healpe them in all corporall and spirituall thynges that also by them thy holie name maye be more magnified the kyngdome of thy sonne enlarged thy wyl be done in thys earth as in heauen Furthermore keepe them safe gyue them bountuously the necessaries of lyfe and preserue them from all euyll Amen ⧠Thys prayer ended lette the pastoure require the Infantes to be gyuen hym let hym aske the names that they shall haue and lette hym Baptise them saiynge I baptise the N. in the name of the father the sonne and the holie goste Let the godfathers forthwith receyue the Infant from Baptisme the priest saying as it foloweth The almyghtie euerlastynge God and father of oure Lorde Iesus Christe whiche hath begotten the agayne wyth water and the holie goste and hath forgiuen the al thy synnes confirme the wyth his grace vnto euerlastynge lyfe Amen ⧠The Pastour The peace of the Lorde be wyth you ⧠Answere Amen Here lette the whole congregation synge in Douche Nowe all thankes etc. or the Psalme God be mercifull vnto vs. Then let the pastour go forth in the ministratioÌ„ of the Lordes supper ¶ How baptisme must be menistead at other tymes But if the infantes be weake so that it is to be feared that they wyll not lyue to the nexte sondaie or holye daie or if for weyghtie matters Baptisme cannot bee ministred vppon those dayes the Pastoures shall warne the people that yet they bringe their chyldren to bee Baptised at those houres whan after the custoume the people resorteteth together to heare the lordes woâ—de But if that thynge cannot bee doone neyther baptisme in the meane whyle must not be denyed to the infantes offered therevnto whan so euer they be brought for as much as lieth in vs we must not suffer that any departe out of this lyfe without the sacrament of baptisme For the Lorde instituted baptisme that it maye be to vs a sacrament of regenecion and wasshinge of sinnes from whiche in this lyfe no man is free no not an infante one daye olde for it is oure parte to do in all thynges after the Lordes word and to receyue his giftes and benefites that way that he him selfe hath appoynted vnto vs. Whan baptisme than shal be mynistred vpon workynge dayes lette the pastours ioyne to gether in order the Catechisme exorcisme and baptisme and they shal moderate their exhortacions prayers according to the companie and strength of the child For if thei se that the childe is in daunger of lyfe and that the coÌ„panye is small they shal be shorte in all thynges And they shall vse only the first part of the admonicion which we willed to be saide before the Catachisme vnto these wordes wherefore we exhorte and praye you beloued etc. So they shal vse the firste parte only of the demaundes of euery article and in the exorcisme thei shal vse only one praier wyth the Lordes prayer the Crede and the Gospell Which thinges premised lette them Baptise the infante furthwith and let them exhort the parentes God fathers and other that stand by that thei determine certainly that the infant whether he lyue or dye is the sonne of God and heyre of euerlastinge life and if he lyue that they procure him to be broughte vp vnto religioÌ„ and goddes glorye according to the exhortacion sette before whiche beginneth After that beloued etc. ¶ Of baptisme ministred to childreÌ„ assone as they be borne for danger of lyfe The peple shal be taught and warned in sermoÌ„s that they presume not lightly to ministre priuatli this most diuine sacrameÌ„t for it is worthie to be ministred in the coÌ„gregacion bi peculiar ministers with al grauitie and reuereÌ„ce and that maketh much for this purpose that it maye be holesomely mynistred and receyued But if exterme necessitie pres vs that thei that be preseÌ„t with the child beinge in danger mayei ioyne them selues together in the Lorde and lyftinge vp their mindes religiously vnto God lette them calle for his mercye promised and exhibited in Christ Iesus our Lord vpon the infante and whan they haue sayde the Lordes prayer lette them baptis him in the name of the father the soÌ„ne and the hollye gost Which done lette them not doubte but that their infante is trulye baptised washed from sinnes borne agayne in Christ and made the sonne and heire of god lette theÌ„ than giue thankes to god for this his so greate benifite and let them not thynke that baptisme muste be renued in children so baptised for in all pointes asmuch as we maye we muste so do althynges as the Lord hath appoynted If any godlie man be present whan the infant is in extremitie lette hys ministerie be vsed to baptysme Further if it chaunce that the infante so baptised at home do liue it is conuenient that he be brought afterwarde to the temple of hys parentes kynsfolke and godfathers which must com with a good company and religiously as men that ought to giue thankes for this excedinge benifite of regeneracion ministred to their infante and to offer him to god and his sauiour in the congregatioÌ„ The pastours than shall aske theis men after what sort and with what wordes they baptised the infante whether they dyd baptise him as the Lord commaunded in water and in the name of the father the sonne and the holye gost Whiche if they shall answer that they called god vpon the childe and prayed for him and baptised in the name of the father the sonne and the holye goste and that thei beleue that he is truly clensed from sinnes borne againe to God the pastours must confirme them in this belefe and in no wise Baptise suche an infante againe And that men
maye be more cōforted and the celebration of so great a sacrament more augmented and the benifite of Christ bestowed vppon the childe throughe Baptisme more commended the preachers shall alowe the same in the congregacion vsinge a lesson of the holye Gospel and praier after this sorte ▪ The pastor whā thei become which bring such an infante vnto the Lorde shal first demande of them Beloued in Christe forasmuche as we be al borne in synne and the wrath of God giltie of eternall death and damnacion and can by none other meanes get remissyon of sinnes righteousnes and euerlastinge lyfe than through faith in Christ and forasmuch as also this infant is borne subiect to these euils I meane of death and the wrath of god I aske of you whether he were offered to Christ and plāted in hym through baptisme If they answere that they so beleue he shal aske thē further by whom it was done and who wer presēt And whā they haue named them he shall aske him whiche bi there relacion Baptised the childe if he bee present or other whiche then were presente whether the name of the Lorde were called vpon him and prayer made for him If they answere that they did so he shall aske how the childe was baptised If thei than answere in water and wyth these wordes I baptise the in the name of the father the sonne and the holye gost he shal aske them laste of all whether they certainly knowe that thei haue rightly vsed the worde of god and if they answere that thei know and remembre that they dyd so lette the pastoure saye this moreouer Forasmuch as beloued in Christe I here that althynges concerninge the baptisme of this infante haue been done in the name of God and according to his institution I pronounce in the name of Christe that ye haue doone well For infantes wante the grace of God whych our sauiour Christ denieth not vnto theym whensoeuer it is asked for children according to his worde for he hath not bound the benifite of his redemption to anye places times or persōnes For in what place soeuer they that beleue in hym come to gether in hys name he is present in the middest of them and whan he is caled vpon thoroughe fayth he worketh in hys worde and sacramentes and he performeth in ded whatsoeuer he offreth in hys sacramentes promiseth in hys wordes And to confirme this fayeth and that we maye sterre vp our selues to thanke the Lorde for thys hys so greate benifyte ministred to this infante by baptisme lette vs heare out of the gospell howe the Lorde wyll haue children brought vnto hym and howe he wyll bountouslye blesse them whyche be offered vnto hym Marcke x. ¶ And thei brought children vnto him that he myght touche them etc. By these wordes of Christe we bee certified that as manye infantes as bee offered vnto Christ according to his word pertayne to the kingdome of God bee the chyldren of God the mēbres of Christ that the Angels be present with them as mynistres and that al the creatures of god be subiecte vnto thē to do them good Wherfore we must ministre to such with singuler diligēce that they maye bee well broughte vp in Christe and growe in him and this charge pertaineth to you parētes kinsfolkes godfathers and all other frendes which be of the body of thys our congregacion I commende than thys infante the sonne and heire of God the brother and coheire of christ the mēbre of christ and youre membre in Christe to your faithfulnes charge that ye procure hym wyth al diligence to be noryshied brought vp and enstructed to the Lord to whom he is borne again and to the kingdom of god to which he is borne againe eueri man accordinge to his vocation and power that assone as he can for hys age he maye learne to keepe all those thinges that Christe commaunded to bee kepte Wherefore it pertayneth to you chiefely parentes godfathers and kinsfoke thought all other in this congregation and all chrystian men to whome soeuer he shall come ought not to denye theire labour and healpe to procure that this infante assone as he may for his age be brought to the schole and to the congregaciō and be enstructed in the misteries wyth all faythfulnes that he may lerne to acknoledge and magnifie the moste ample benifites of God receyued in baptisme that afterwarde he maye professe his faith him selfe in the congregacion that with his owne voyce he maye renounce satan and the worlde with all his entysementes and workes before the holy congregacion that he may bynd himselfe to Christ and to his congregacion vnto all obedience and continue in the same vnto the ende as a liuelye membre of Christ and a branch continuyng in Christ and brynging furth plentiful frute vnto the praise and glorie of god and edificacion of his church After thys let him saie lainge his hande on the childe The lord bee with you Answere And with thy spirite Lette vs praye Lorde God the father of oure Lorde Iesus Christ whiche haste be gotten agayne this infant of water and the holye goste and haste giuen him in holye Baptisme remission of all sinnes confirme the same with thy grace and guide and further this new life whyche thou haste giuen and fynyshe it vp where vnto thou haste bounde the infante with this hollye Sacramente Graunte also to hys parentes and to vs all that we maye faythfully and diligently serue the in takinge charge of hym that thoroughe hym and vs all they name dayly be more and more sanctified and thei kingdom promoted vnto the full fruision of blesfulnes thorough Christ our Lord. Amē But if they whiche offre the infante can not answere sufficiently to the sayd demandes so that thei graūt that they doe not wel knowe what they thought or dyd in baptising being sore trobled with the present dāger as it often chauceth than omittinge curious disputacions lette the pastoure iudge such an infante not to be yet baptised and let him do all those thinges that pertaninge to this ministracion as we described before that is to say let him vse an admonicion and catechisme to theim that brynge the chylde and an exorsisme of the childe the commen confession of the faith and al other thinges which done lette him baptise the infant with out condicion in the name of the father the soonne and the hollye goste ¶ Of the confirmacion of thildren baptised And sōlemne profession of theyr fayth in Christ and of therir obedience to be shewed to Christe and to his congregation THys custome hath beene obserued in the olde and newe testament of the institution of God that those whych in theyr first infancie were receiued into the grace of the Lord a mong the olde people by circumsicion and in the newe people by baptisme assone as they had vnderstanded this benifite of God whiche they had receyued and assone as they hadde a fore conceyued fayth in God
they them selues shoulde professe they re fayth in the congregacion and they them selues shoulde bynde them selues to the obedience of God and of the cōgregacion At whyche confession of fayth and profession of obedience in the cōgregacion they were wonte to bee solemly confirmed of the congregacion in religion thoroughe praier and some token of Goddes confirmacion which vnder Moses consisted in sacrifices and oblations and in the tyme of the Gospell in layinge on of handes and participation of the supper of the Lord. For this is the nature of true and liuelye fayth that eueri man desireth to sette forth and magnifye the benifites that god hath shewed him and for his parte to offer and cōsecrate himselfe to the glorifiynge of his name with all offices of godlines Wherfor the Psal xxii singeth of the is my prayse in the great congregacion Psal xxxv I wyl giue thankes vnto the in a greate assemble et ce ⧠Forthermore we are so grafted in Christ thorough Baptisme and so made the members of his bodye that is to saye of the congregacion and so ioyned in Christ to other members of Christ that we must serue al them with whom we haue anye aquaintaunce any perticipacion of kindnes cheifely for the furtheraunce of godlines religion and afterwarde also in thynges necessarye for this present life I meane that one of vs acknoledge another and embrace one another in Christe with sincere loue And fyrst that we teach one another warne correct cōforte and exhorte in those thynges that pertaine to a new lyfe in Christ Secōdly that we also helpe one another in thynges necessarye for this present lyfe with coūcel worke and seruise Therfore the comunion of both liues in Christe the Lord and the recompensation of good turnes one to another requireth that euerie man openly offere and giue himselfe to this felowshyppe of the outwarde and inward man and to this change an recompensacion of benefites Seynge than that this confession of fayth and geuyng of our selues to the obedience of Christe and commendacion of his church which the very nature of fayth and necessite of this cōmunicacion of Christe requireth canne not be done in baptisme whan infantes be baptised it must nedes be done of them that were baptised in their infantie whan they be meetely wel enstructed of relegion and whan they some what vnderstande those greate benifites that we giue in baptisme But whan they solemly professe their fayth and obedience before the cōgregacion the verie nature of fayth requireth agayne that the cōgregacion praie for them solemli and desire for them the encrease of the holye gost that he wyll confirme and preserue thē in the fayth of Christe and obedience of the congregacion and that he will euer leade hym into all truethe And for asmuche as such praier made in the name of Christ and truste of his promises can not bee but effectuous it pertanieth to the mynisterie of the congregacion to strengthen theym with the confirmacion of the hollye Gost for whom the churche hath prayed Therefore oure elders folowinge the exemple of Christ and the Apostle did vse laiyng on of handes as a signe at this confirmacion This ceremonie thā obserued in the fayth of Christ because it is vndoutedly the office of faith and christian loue agreable all maner of wayes to the wordes and institutions of the Lord and edifiyng the religion of Christ we wyl that it be restored in the congregacion to a godlie and holesome vse all abuses remoued that haue crepte into the place of this ceremonie whiche howe shameful and noysome they were to oure religion euerie Christian manne maye easelye iudge Heretofore this ministerie of confirmacion was a peculier worcke of a suffragayne But forasmuche as al thinges in the church must be referred ordained and done for the commune profite of Christen menne wee wil that hereafter this ministerye of confirmacion if it can not be done commodiously by a suffragayne or not as it ought to be done shal be done by visitours twyse a yere in principall solemnities For where as at the begynninge the office of confirmacion was only committed to bishoppes bishoprikes were not so large as they be nowe nether wer theyr dioces greater than that the bishops might visit once a yere euery parish and here him selfe and confirme the childrē beinge catechised or instructed But nowe the world is other wyse and bishoprikes be after another fashion so that it is impossible that one byshoppe or sustragaine maye wyth conueniēt leasure administre this confirmaciō in hys diocese For euerie yere ther growe vp some in euerye churche whome it shal be come to professe their fayth and to be solemli cōfirmed Wherefore forasmuch as euerie congregation hath neade of yerely lookinge to and visitation and solemne profession of fayth and confirmacion of them which in age and knoledge of Christ be growen so fare the necessarie procuracion of the Lordes flocke committed vnto vs constrayneth vs that wee prouide that the congregacion wante not a mete minister for thys purpose For the health of the shepe of christ muste not serue the personnes of the mynisters but the persones of the ministers must serue to their health that al thinges maye be done according to this sayinge al are yours whether it be Paule or Apollo or Cephas i. Cor. iij. And as S. Hierome witnesseth this confirmacion was not therefore the proper office of bishoppes in olde time bicause it was not lawful for other to administre the same seing that euē commen ministers yea euerie Christen man if ordinare ministres wāted might minister Baptisme a muche more excellent sacramēt but it was cōmitted to byshops peculiarly for this cause that the byshops of euerie cōgregacion mighte attaine more certaine knoledge might haue more holesome care and charge while they them selues enquired euerie yere with what faith fulnes and diligence the pastours hade instructed bothe the rest and cheifly the yong children of Christ It holpe also togreater consent of religiō and reuerence and obedience towardes the holie ministerie when eureie one professed hys fayth and obedience of Christe to one bishoppe But forasmuch as to many congregacions be cōmitted to the charge of one bishop that euerie one can not be visited by one bishoppe or suffragane we must neades procure that this office of examinacion and confirmacion which cannot bee deferred more than a yere without the great incommoditie of the congregacions and peril of religion bee executed by more personnes seinge that it cannot be doone by one howbeit the parish preistes in euery cōgregacion with their companions certaine dayes before the comming of the visiters shal diligently prepare the children whome they purpose to offre to confirmacion to make theyr confessyon of fayth and profession of Christen communion and obediēce decētly and semely whiche must be done of theym after this sorte The demande Dost thou professe thy selfe to be a christian ▪ Answer I professe Demaunde What is it to be
a Christian Answere To be borne agayn in Christ and to haue remission of sinnes and partipation of euerlastinge lyfe through him Demaunde Wher by trusteste thou that these thynges be geuen the Answere Bicause I am Baptised in the name of the father the sonne and the holie gost Demaunde What beleuest thou of God the father the sonne and the holie gooste Answere The same that the articles of oure crede do comprehende DemaÌ„ Rehearse them Answer I do beleue in God the father almightie etc. ¶ Let the chylde in this place recite al the articles of the crede playnely and distinctlie Demaun What vnderstaÌ„dest thou whaÌ„ thou sayest I beleue in God the father in the sonne and in the holie goste Answere That they be three personnes of one substance and power and yet but one God Demaun Why sayest thou God almightiâ— maker of heauen and earth Answere Bycause I beleue that god as he made al otheâ— thynges so he made me of nothynge by hiâ— onely sonne oure Lorde Iesus Christe and preserueth and gouerneth thorowe the same Iesus Christe alone and is present in euerie place and worketh all good thynges in all men thorowe his onely euer wyse purpose and ryghtuous wyl Demaund How doest thou vnderstand the second article of Christ our Lorde Answere I knowledge thereby that our nature thorowe the fal of Adam is so corrupted that no angell nor man coulde purge oure synnes and satisfie for them so that it was necessarie that the eternal worde the sonne of God shoulde be made man coÌ„ceyued of the holie goste and borne of the substance of the virgin Marie a verie man vndoubtedly but wythout sinne which thorowe his death satisfied for our synnes and thorowe his resurrection and ascention into heauen he sat vs wyth hym selfe in heauenly thynges to whom the father hath gyuen alpower in heaueÌ„ and in earth that he may gouerne vs and restore in vs his owne Image and at length when he shall come to iudge the quicke and the deade that he may â—ayse vs from the deade and that he maye gyue to vs whiche were perfectly framed againe to his owne Image the enheritaunce of eternall bliffulnes in heauen and deliuer other to be punished in euerlastynge fyre whiche haue obstinately despised him Demaund What is the meanyng of the thirde article Answere Thus that Christe the Lorde hath gyueÌ„ the holy goste to vs which thorowe the ministerie of the Gospel gathereth togyther the faythfull into his congregation wherin they must be euer steared vp vnto repentaunce and vnto fayth and to receyue remission of synnes by the worde of God and sacrameÌ„tes of the communion of Christ and so in leadyng a lyfe holie godly and profitable to theyr neyghbours wyth a good coÌ„science that they loke for Christ the sauiour which shal take theÌ„ vp to him selfe in heauen out of thys worlde and shall also rayse vp agayne theyr bodies in the daye of iudgement vnto an heauenlie life Demaun Doest thou then surelie beleue al these thinges Answere I beleue them al and I praye God that he wyl vouchsafe to encrease this fayth in me Demaunde What ought thys fayth to worke in the. Answ That I doubte nothynge but that God and the father of oure Lorde Iesus Christe whiche wyth this his sonne sent vs his word and gaue vs all thynges is the only true God that he made all thynges of nothynge that he onely worketh and gyueth all good thynges and that he wyl shewe hym selfe a father vnto me also for the same his soÌ„nes sake our Lorde Iesus Christe that he washed me from synnes wyth holie Baptisme that he gaue me his holie spirite that he incorporated me to his deare sonne so receiued me into his church and adopted me to be his sonne and heyre that also he wyll keepe me in his congregation gyue me in the same repentaunce and remission of synnes and the communion of his sonne that thorowe hym I may euer cal vpoÌ„ his name with childrens trust and that in the renuing of my self I may profit dayly vnto his Image furthemore I beleue that thorowe his worde and sacramentes he wyll confirme and encrease the same in me so that I maye studie continually to sanctifie his name and to serue his congregation wyth all maner of good workes tyl he take me out of thys worlde vnto heauenlie ioyes and the blessed resurrection Al which thynges I acknowledge that thei be perfourmed vnto me and shal be thorowe the onely free mercie of the heauenlie father and thorowe the inestable merite of his sonne oure Lorde Iesus Christ Demaund God and our heauenlie father encrease and confirme this thy fayth thorowe his sonne oure Lorde Iesus Christe Amen Doest thou thynke then and doest thou acknowledge in thys fayth that thou art verily the sonne of god his heyâ—e the brother and ioynt heyre of our lorde Iesu Christ and therfore a meÌ„bre of his bodie which the coÌ„gregation is Ans I thinke so acknowledge trustyng in the most certeyne promise of Gods beniuoleÌ„ce and in the merite of our lorde Iesus Christ Dem. Doeth that please the theÌ„ and doest thou allowe it and wilte thou continue in the same that thy godfathers promised and professed in thy name at holy baptisme when in thy steede thei renouÌ„ced SataÌ„ the world and bound the to Christe and to his congregation that thou shouldest be thorowlie obedient to the Gospel Ans I allowe these thinges and by the healpe of our Lorde Iesus Christ I wyl coÌ„tinue in the same vnto th ende Dem. And doest thou thy selfe renounce Satan and all his workes wyth thy herte and mouth here in the syght of God and before his holie coÌ„gregation Ans I renounce Dema. And the worlde and all his coÌ„cupiscences Ans I renounce Dema. And doest thou wholy giue selfe vnto al obedience of Christ and his coÌ„gregation Ans I wholy giue ouer my selfe thereunto Dema. How wast thou first adopted of God to be his sonne to be receyued into his coÌ„gregation Ans By holie baptisme Dema. What is baptisme The laâ—â—eâ— of regeneration wherby I am washed from sinnes and grafted in Christe the Lorde and haue put him vpon me Dem. Wilt thou coÌ„tinue in this coÌ„munioÌ„ of Christ vnto th ende Ans I will by the healpe of our Lorde Iesu Christ Dem. What requireth this coÌ„munioÌ„ of Christe Ans That I coÌ„tinue in this doctrine that I haue coÌ„fessed in al the articles of our fayeth and that I beleue that I haue remission of sinnes in Christ the Lord that I am iustified acceptable to God and heyre of euerlastynge lyfe for this deare beloued soÌ„nes sake not thorow myne owne merite of rigtuousnes further that I studie to liue according to al the coÌ„mauÌ„dementes of God And that I may go forwarde in this knowledge of God and obedieÌ„ce it requireth that I diligently heare the worde of God by the ministers chiefely vpoÌ„ the suÌ„daies and holy dayes and if the Elders of
the congregation or other that wyll shewe me suche loue do reproue me of sinne that I take it in good parte and amende my lyfe that I also thorow a sincere zeale of Christ their health warne my neighbours liuing il and inordinately and amende them if I can but if I cā not that I take other wyth me whiche I thinke may do more wyth them and if they wyl not heare them neither that I bring the whole matter before the elders of the cōgregatiōs whō if they despise to heare be therfore excōmunicated that I take thē for heathē publicanes and auoide their cōpanies asmuch as my vocacion wil suffer and ciuile busines wyth them and their necessitie accordyng to the word of God Demaūd What doeth the communion of the congregacion of Christ require beside Answ It requireth also that I receyue the supper of the Lorde with other Christian men to whom I come and with whom I dwell as one that is one breade and one bodie with them in Christe Demaunde What is this sacramēt Ans It is the communion of the bodye and bloude of Christ whiche in the Lordes supper whā it is celebrated accordinge to the institution of the lord be truly exhibited with the bread and wine De. To what vse doest thou receiue the bodie and bloude of the Lord. Answer That mi fayth in him and truste of the newe and eternal testament of the grace of God redemptiō of Christ and communion wyth hym maye be confirmed in me more and more and that I maye lyue lesse to my selfe more in hym that he may repaire a new holy life in me For as cōcerning mine owne flesh and bloud I canne do nothyng but sinne and lyue an vngodly lyfe Demā What more doeth the communion of the congregation require Ans That I adde my prayers to the commen prayers of the churche that I come together with thē and gyue their oblations and almes lyberally to the vse of the pore and so behaue my selfe in al thynges as a mēbre of Christe ioyned in Christe and cleauynge togyther with all godly men and that I acknowledge and reuerently vse in all thynges those whom the Lorde hath made feeders of his cōgregatiōs curates of soules and elders as it becometh an obedient sonne of God finally that I be thankeful for these exceadinge benifittes the Gospel and cōmunion of his sōne our Lorde Iesus Christ Dema. Wilt thou faythfully perfourme and obserue al these thynges as thou haste nowe professed I wyll by the healpe of oure Lorde Iesus Christe After that one of the chyldrē hath rehearsed a ful cōfession of his fayth hath professed the obedience of Christ before the whole cōgregation it shal be sufficient to propoune questiōs to the other childrē after thys sorte Demaūd Doest thou also thy sonne beleue and cōfesse and wylt thou wholy gyue ouer thy selfe vnto the cōmunion and obedience of Christ and his cōgregatiō as thou heardest euen now thys childe to beleue and cōfesse that he woulde bynde hym selfe to the obedience of Christe and his congregation ⧠Here it shall suffice that euerie one answere thus for hym selfe I beleue and confesse the same and yelde vp my selfe to Christe and his cōgregation trusting in the grace and healpe of our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ But where chyldren be not so exercised in the knowledge of religion that they can answere by herte according to the prescribed fourme the visiter whiche shal administer confirmation muste reade al the answers to suche children and it shal be sufficient if they answere simply that they beleue the thinges that were read how be it he shall labour so to declare all thinges vnto them that they may vnderstande what thei go about and what thei cōfesse and professe Howbeit they must be diligently warned that they remēbre that they stand in the sight of god whō they cā not deceyue which beholdeth the herte And that therefore they must procure with al reuerēce that they declare the same thinge in their lyfe that they professe wyth their mouth and thynke in their herte But as we warned before al the chyldrē one by one muste be exercised and prepared hereunto and diligētly examined the wieke before by the ministers and Elders of euerie congregation and the pastours and Elders must bring no childrē before the visiter to be cōfirmed but such as they trust know the summe of religion and beleue truely in Christe It is not to be required precisely that the childrē answer featly cōcerning the wordes for it chaūceth oftē that they which be wel enstructed in the knowledge of faith can not verie handsomely vtter the thynges that they meane chiefly in an open place either for shame or some other weaknesse of minde Wherefore we muste more regarde which childrē truly vnderstāde the thynges that perteine to religion then which cā featly declare them with wordes wherein those excell moore often whiche haue lesse godlie myndes Nowe further when the children which shal be confirmed haue confessed their fayth and professed the obediēce of the Gospell the cōgregation muste be warned that they humbly pray for these chyldrē Whose prayer the pastoure shall offre to the Lorde wyth suche a collecte ⧠The Collecte Almightie and merciful God heauēly father whiche onely workest in vs to wil and to performe the thynges that please the and be good in dede we besech the for these childrē whō thou hast gyuen to thy church and hast begottē againe to thy selfe by holy baptisme and in whom thou haste powred that light that they acknowledge and cōfesse before the cōgregatiō thy grace and benifittes towardes them selues and their redemption in Christ Iesu and wil wholy giue ouer thē selues to the and thy congregation to be obedient to thy cōmaundementes confirme this thy worke which thou hast wrought in them encrease in them the gift of thy spirite that euer going forwarde in the knowledge and obedience of thy Gospell in thy cōgregation they may cōtinue to th ende and that they go no where aside from that fayth and obedience of the Gospell whiche they haue now confessed and professed beinge seduced thorowe some peruerse doctrine or dryuen forth by the lustes of the fleshe Graūt them that they luckely springinge vp in thy sonne our Lorde Iesu Christe the heade of vs all may grow into him tyl they come to mānes age fully and perfectly in al wysedome holines and rightuousnes that they may more fully know and more feruently loue the the father and thy sōne our Lorde Iesus Christ and that they may confesse exhalt and magnifie the same more earnestly and effectuously before their neyghbours both in wordes and deedes And as thou haste promised vs that thou wilt giue vs what so euer we shal aske of the in the name of thy deare sonne as thy sonne promised vs that thou wouldest gyue vs requirynge the a good spirite much more prōptly then any father gyueth his children good thinges
when they praye him so giue these chyldreÌ„ the thinge that we pray the for thorowe thy sonne Christ that when we shal now say our haÌ„des vpoÌ„ them in thy name and shall certifie them by thys signe that thy fatherly hande shall be euer stretched forth vpon theÌ„ and that they shall neuer wante thy holy spirite to keepe leade and gouerne theÌ„ in the way of health and in a very christian life graunt thou I say vnto them that they maye acknowledge these thinges wyth true fayth and that they may certeynly beleue that thou wilte defende theÌ„ with thy almightie ryghte hande and keepe them froÌ„ al euil and deliuer them and leade them to al good workes Finally that thou wylt neuer take thy holy spirite from them thorowe our Lorde Iesus Christ ⧠Here the pastour laying his haÌ„des vpon them shal say O Lorde Iesu Christ the sonne of God which saidest in the Gospel If you then beinge euyl caÌ„ gyue good gyftes to your children howe muche more shal my father giue the holie goste to them that aske hym Item If two consent together vpon the earth etc. Confirme thys thy seruante wyth thy holie spirite that he may coÌ„tinue in the obedience of thy Gospell and strongly resist the diuel and his owne weakenes and not greue the holie goste or trouble or offende thy churche wyth sclaunders but that his whole lyfe maye serue to the prayse of thy glorie his owne health and commune profitte of thy congregation as thou hast prescribed to vs and as thou haste promised that thou wylte gyue to them that aske the. Amen ⧠After thys lette the Hymne be songe Nowe al thankes etc. Nowe a good whyle sithens the signe of oyle was wonte to be vsed in confirmation but bycause they abused thys signe moost superstitiously and forasmuche as also amonge christian men signes and shadowes of spiritual thinges ought not to be so much regarded as the thynge and trueth it selfe the signe of layinge on of handes shall be sufficient in thys ministration whiche the Apostles and olde fathers thoughte sufficient And that thys Ceremonie maye be haÌ„dled wyth greater granitie and reuerence and wyth more fruite both of the chyldren and of the whole congregation the deanes wyth the visiters or parishe priestes of euerie congregation shal chose out suche a place in the temples froÌ„ whence the coÌ„fession and profession of the chyldren and other thinges that muste be done there wyth all maye be clearely hearde and perceyued of the whole congregation ⧠Of the Lordes supper MEn muste be muche and often taught and warned of this most holie Sacrament that it is as Paule witnesseth a coÌ„munion of the bodye and bloude of oure Lorde Iesus Christ wherin we muste so celebrate the remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of him wyth greate religion and graue preachynge of his death and resurrection and of al thinges which he was made for vs whiche he dyd and suffered for oure saluation that our fayth in hym may be coÌ„firmed that we maye cleaue faster and lyne more fully in hym and he in vs. And forasmuch as the Lorde when he iustituted thys holie supper dyd saye Do thys in remembraunce of me the preachers shall diligently warne thys also that the Lorde coÌ„maunded that we shoulde do those thynges in this Sacrament whiche he hym selfe shewed to be done by his exemple Therefore we muste set the same acte of the Lorde before vs neither muste we in any wyse decline from the same or chaunge any thynge of it though an Angel from heauen or an Apostle did counsel and bidde vs so to do Which thinge the right holy bishop and martyr Ciprian gathereth well and truely out of these and many other wordes of the Lorde For if Christ be our onely Lorde and maister we as the ministers and disciples of hym muste needes folowe and do not the worde or dede of anie man or Angel but we muste folowe and do wyth al reuerence the thynges that he dyd and layed before vs to do neither maye we regarde what other dyd before vs but what Christe oure Lorde fyrste dyd whiche is before al thynges And al they that do not thys but chaunge somewhat of the institution of the Lorde in thys moste holie misterie ought not to be iudged his vicares or his priestes seing that for the traditions of men they caste away the commaundement of Christe The holie martyr wryteth these and muche moore seuere and earneste thynges in the same Epistle agaynste them that in the administration of this most holy SacrameÌ„t chaung any point of that the Lorde hym selfe did in his supper For he coÌ„maunded vs to do that onely Nowe if we consider howe Christe instituted this holye supper it appeareth clearelie out of the declarations of the euangelistes and saynt Paull that first he made his holie supper with his disciples and that he made the same one and commune to al that were preseÌ„t and with suche disciples as had wholye gyue theym selues to hys doctrine For thoughe Iudas were a fayned disciple and as Christ calleth him a diuyll neuertheles the other disciples dyd not yet knowe that for he dyd cleane to the Lorde in outwarde profession and lyfe as the rest did But the Lorde whan he gaue his disciples an exemple in hys supper where as he admitted Iudas he would not followe hys owne secret iudgement but that open manifest iudgemeÌ„t which his disciples might shoulde folowe afterwarde For thys cause â—n the old church which obserued that thing â—hat it had receiued of the Aposteles no maÌ„â—as admitted vnto the holye communion whiche hadde not witnessed hymselfe to be he disciple of the Lorde Further more such 〈◊〉 any companie and congregacion of the â—aythful had one supper only and that comâ—une to al so that thei al receiued the lordes â—ody in one bread and his blod in one cup. Whereof Paule writeth thus The cuppe of blessing whiche we blesse that is to saye wherwyth we giue thankes is it not the coÌ„munion of the bloude of Christe And the breade whiche we breake is it not the communion of the bodye of Christe For we beinge many are one breade and one bodie for we receiue al of one bread and of one cuppe Loo the Apostle speaketh of one cup in whoÌ„ one man gyueth not thankes for hym selfe and he speaketh of one bread whiche all we that come together breake beinge commune and he witnesseth that this is the coÌ„munion of the bodie and bloude of Christe whyche communion all we receyue together oute oâ— one Sacrament and we confirme the same because we are the members and bodye oâ— Christ Wherefore the Apostle willinge tâ— streÌ„gth the thinge that he had say I meame that the breade whiche we breake in the holie supper is the communion of the bodie oâ— Christ vsed these wordes we beinge many saieth he are one breade and one bodie as â—â— he woulde saye one breade is broken anâ— one sacrament is distributed amonge vs beinge manie for this
purpose that we being many which receiue this sacrameÌ„t with trâ—â— faith shoulde be more and more vnited in â— one bodie euen the bodie of Christ and thâ— we should altogether abide and liue in hiâ— and he in vs after that we hade gotten the true communion of his bodie Thys is singulerly to be noted that the Apostle willinge to proue that we which in the holye supper of the Lorde are partakers of the Lordes bodye and bloude be one bodye added furthwith For al we be parttakers of one bread whereby he signifyed also the communion of one cuppe Lette vs than consider this reason of the Apostle diligentli For if we testifie and declare therebi that we are one bodye and one breade of Christ and that we truly receyue and obteyne the communion of Christes bodye and bloude from the Lordes table whaÌ„ al we that come â—ogether to the Lordes table be parttakers â—f one breade and one cup two thinges suer â—â— folow hereof one that they which in one â—ongregacion of the faythfull doe minister â—ore than one supper of the Lord testifie of â—â—em selues therby that they be not one boâ—ye and one breade of Christ nether rightly â—â—ceiue nor haue the coÌ„munion of the Lordes â—odye and bloude The other is that they â—hiche be present at the Lordes supper and â—â—eyue not the sacramentes testifie by thys â—â—eir abstinences from the lordes table that â—â— wil not be a meÌ„ber with other Christiâ—â—s whyche receyue the sacramentes that they wyll not be one bodye with them and one breade of Christe if they be sufficiently enstructed of thys institution of the Lorde and haue not a lawful cause to abstaine froÌ„ the sacramentes Therefore for thys verye cause that the Lord conmanded vs to do that in his holie supper that he himselfe dyd and he celebrated it wyth those hys disciples only whych had wholy giuen theÌ„selues to hys doctrine and euer folowed hym and celebrated one supper only the prechers shal obserue two thynges First they shall teach and exhorte the people wyth all diligence that in thys most holy sacrament they shewe them selues the true disciples of the Lord that is to saye such as putte al their trust in the Lord hymself and haue bound them selues wholy to his worde and folowe the fame studiously in al thinges For thus the lord sayeth Iohn iij. If ye abyde in my worde ye are my disciples in deade But they that wyll declare themselues to be faythful ministres of the Lorde in the administracion of these misteries shall not admitte anie other to the lordes supper but such as be tried and haue confessed before the congregacion that they haue giuen theÌ„ selues to the Lorde and haue proued the same with theyr life as the Lord also celebrated the supper wyth chosen disciples Secondly that in one coÌ„gregacioÌ„ of the faythfull one supper be ministred and that the pastour himself celebrate it if he may by anie meanes at such tyme whan the whole congregacion is wont to come together as vpon sondayes and holye dayes if so be there shal be present that wyl communicate as men that be one bodye and one breade of Christ and are so outwardly also ioyned together of the Lord that thei pertain to one congregacion and pastoral cure and receiue the communioÌ„ of the Lord out of one bread and one cuppe The seconde thynge that the Lorde dyd in his supper is this he gaue thanges to the father and that in such language as the disciples might vnderstand al thinges and be sterred vp wyth hym to prayse God For whyche cause the pastours shall warne the people firste that in the administracion of thys sacrament we must gyue thankes to God throughe oure Lorde Iesus Christe for al the benifites that he hath gyuen and giueth to vs dayly and cheifely for that benifite out of whyche al other come and be made true benifites vnto vs I meane that he so loued vs that he gaue vs hys sonne a redemer that all that beleue in him shoulde not perishe but haue euerlasting lyfe Iohn iij. wherefore he hath giuen vs all thynges wyth hym Ro. viij remyssion of synnes the spirite of adoption and al thinges that may dooe vs good ether in body or soule in this lyfe or in the life to come Secondly that the prieste and ministre of this sacrament in gyuinge thankes to God giueth thankes in his owne name and in the name of the whole coÌ„gregacion wherfor the people must lyft vp theyr mindes and herkeÌ„ to the thinges that are spoken of the priest that thei maye praise and thanke God together with the preist For in thys giuinge of thankes as Chrisostome well warneth all thinges must be commune betwene the people and the prieste where vnto all men that be present are called whan the preiste saieth lifte vp your hertes Item lette vs giue thankes to oure Lord God And they promise the same whan they Answer we haue vnto the Lord. It is worthi and right For in old time as S. Cipriane testifieth whan the prieste or ministre sayde lyfte vp your hertes the people aunswered we haue vnto the Lorde But all these thinges must be done before the Lord in spirite and truth Wherefore the people must wyth all dyligence ioyne theyâ— myndes wyth the wordes of the priest thaâ— with one hert one mouth thei may magnifi and thank God with him The. iii. and principal poynt in the Lordes supper is this that he distributed the bread and the cuppe to al and bad al take both that al should eate the bread and drink of the cup and added This is mi bodi which is giueÌ„ for you This is mi bloud of the new TestameÌ„te which for you and for many is shed furth vnto the remyssion of sins Out of these wordes of the Lord the pastour shal teach the people with great reuereÌ„ce and diligence that this is the principal point and work in the supper of the Lord that sacrameÌ„tes be distributed according to the insttitucioÌ„ of our Lorde Iesus Christ and receyued with true faith in Christ with this faith I saie that we certanly beleue that our Lord Iesus Christ himselfe is here present in the midest of vs and that he himself though iâ— be bi the ministerie of the church doth truly giue vs his body blod and together althinges whatsoeuer he obteined deserued by the offryng of his bodye on the crosse I meane remissioÌ„ of sins the euerlastyng couenant of Gods grace the blessed adoption of God that we be the sons heires of God â—is coheires Out of these thinges yâ— pastors â—hal teach warne the peple with al possible â—iligence First that they come to these most deuyne misteries not as the common sorte were wont to do heretofore wyth cold myndes far from a faythful and religious consideration of the thynges that bee here executed but that they sterre vp theim selues and come with a godly burning desyre of Christ flamynge furthe
with true repentaunce and griefe of synnes and fayth fixed vpon oure Lord. Further that thei heare embrace the wordes here of the lord and al giftes as the words giftes of saluatiō euerlasting life as thei be in dede For this actiō is a proper and principal work of our saluatiō wherin Christ himself offceth geueth to vs all his thinges that he was made for vs that he suffred and deserued accordinge to hys name Iesus he sheweth himself a sauiour vnto vs in wordes and dedes Neyther is there anye word or dede of his set before vs to be folowed or done that doth not properly and effectuously make to our euerlastyng helth so that we take holde of it and vse it with true fayth As in this present action of the holye supper he hath heaped together with singuler and most feruente desyre to do vs good and hath comprehended in a summe and set befor vs to be knowne embraced and enioyed al those thynges that for oure saluation he spake commaunded suffred dyd and willed vs to do Wherfore whan we here those holsome wordes of Chryst in the holy Supper Take eate drynke Surely we must receyue the Sacramentes with great religion and moste bounden thankfulnes of mynde And it is a great abhominatiō to dispise the Lorde callyng vs so gently and so louingly bidding vs to this feast of health and meat of euerlastyng lyfe not to make hast most gredely to this heauenly and blessed banket Thirdly the pastours shal warne the peple that they dout nothing but the Lord him selfe is present in the myddest of theym and geueth them this very body and bloude that thei euer may more fully liue in hym and he in thē and that they may dayly grow more and more into hym whych is the heade and be moued of him as hys lyuely and vncorrupt members and require of him confidently al good thynges and al euils to be taken away and finally that they may receiue the thynges most aboundantly which thei aske For as we receiue hym in this sacrament so we receiue with him al thinges that pertain to the children of God And forasmuch as this exhibition and receiuyng of the body and bloude of Chryste this thinge and action is so heauenlye and diuine a matter of fayth and of the newe testament the pastours shall warne this also that men excludyng the iudgement of theyr owne reason geue fayth simply to the Lordes wordes and that they study to receyue this heauenly meat and this blessed communion of our onelye sauioure and Lorde with singuler desire and thankfulnes of mynde Fourthly the preachers shall diligentlye warne the people that they ernestly considre those most blessed wordes of the Lord which is geuē for you which is shed furth for you and for many vnto the forgeuenes of sinnes Item this is the newe testamēt in my bloud or this is the bloud of the newe testamente For by this only thyng that Chryst on the crosse offred his holi body and bloud to the father for our sinnes we be recōsiled to God and deliuered from the power of satan and hel beyng made the sonnes heyres of God and the newe leyge of grace the testamente of eternal saluation is ordained and confirmed betwene God and vs that God wil be our father also and acknowledge vs to bee his people yea his sonnes and heyres that he wyll driue al euils from vs and heape al good thynges vpon vs both present and to come finally that in the last day he wil raise vs from the dead and settle vs in an heauenly and ful blessed lyfe The fourth thinge that the Lorde deliuered and dyd in his holye supper is this that he saide Do this in the remembraūce of me And he gaue manie other holsome cōmaundementes to his disciples and exhortacions For he taught thē and warned them afore hande wyth manye wordes of hys passion and the fruit that we receyue by the same of his resurrection and heauenly kingdome of the office and ministerie of christen men and chiefely of theyr apostolike offyce to preach hys kingdome in al the world and together in to it the scatered children of God and to confirme and further them in the same For this cause than the preachers shal warne diligently as often as this sacrament is ministred that thei must studiously stirre vp and celebrated the remembraunce of Christe by godlye and diligente handelynge and preaching of the Gospel whereby thei shal faithfully declare to the people how necessarie it was for vs that the sonne of God shoulde take oure flesh and with hys death deliuer vs from eternall death and the terannye of Satan and howe greate benifites he obtayned and gaue vs and dayly gyueth vs thoought hys death and resurrection that is to wit remission of sinnes the spirite of adoption a newe and blessed powre of liuinge the felloshippe of resurrection vnto a verie heauenlye diuine and euerlastinge lyfe All whiche thinges muste be muste religiously preached and considered in the holie supper Wherefore in this must hollie action the doctrine of the Gospell and the lawe muste be diligently beaten in that the Lordes death and resurrectiō and al thinges that he was made for vs that he dyd and suffred that he obteyned for vs and perfourmed and dayly perfourmeth be muste studyously preached and that the remembraunce of him be fully and perfectly celebrated to this end that our fayth in him and new and blessed lyfe in the lame maye be euer confirmed and augmented Therefore we vse yet of the custome of the olde church that open and principal sermons be made a boute this ministracion of the holye masse The pastours and teachers of cōgregacions shall often and faythfully warne and enstructe the people of all these thinges So the chosen of God shal easly suffer them selues to be led awaye from al abuses of thys most reuerende and holie sacramente and be brought agayne to the true and holsome vse of the same For the shepe of Christe knowe the voyce of theyr shepeherde and folowe him hertely This maner surly canne not be obscure or vncertayn to they in that sauour anye thynge of Christ All christiane Doctrine consisteth herein and is grounded hervpon that men be taught to kepe all those thinges that oure Lorde Iesus Christe commaunded as the father hym selfe witnessed of hym from heauen sayinge Thys is my welbeloued sonne here him And he sayeth of himselfe to the Apostles al power in heauen and erth is giuen to me teach and make all the heathen my disciples baptise them in the name of the father and the sōne and the holye goste and teache them to kepe al these thsnges that I haue commaunded you But it is euident that this our only master and Lorde instituted the sacramente of thanckes gyuinge wyth these wordes and commended it vnto vs. Do this in the remēbraunce of me meaninge that that he hymselfe dyd and that that the Euangelistes
Mathew Marcke Luke and Paule clearely describe vnto vs as we shewed before Who is he than whiche beinge well admonished hereof wil not coÌ„clude furthwith that al they that wil christianely and holesomely handle this sacrament must consider and folowe as S. Ciprian very godly warneth not that that some other hath done before vs no not what the hole world doth or thyncketh to be done but what Christe the Lord dyd and coÌ„maunded to be done which is before al thinges whych is the maker and redemer of the world nether only the highest amonge vs but also our only master and teacher and finaly they must further consyder that all they whyche dare other wise administer this sacrament do administer it vnworthyly that is to say other wise than it be cometh and thei do make them selues gyltie of the body and bloud of the Lord. The fautes that we haue coÌ„mitted heretofore in this most holy mistery vsing it otherwyse than the Lord coÌ„maunded the Lord hath mercifully forgeueÌ„ vnto his which haue put al their trust in him his merite not in the worke of the sacrameÌ„t other mynistred or receiued But we to whom the lorde hath giuen sure knoledge of his institucioÌ„ and commaundemeÌ„t shal not be pardonned if we neglect the thing that Christ did in this sacrament and commaunded vs to do preferring that befor the Lords institution that hath ben brought in by men swaruynge from hys worde and coÌ„mauÌ„dmeÌ„t Before al thinges the pastours must labour to take out of mennes myndes that false and wicked opinion wherebi men thincke communly that the prieste in masses offreth vp Christe oure Lorde to God the father after that 〈◊〉 â—â—at wyth hys intention and prayer he 〈◊〉 Christe to become a newe and acceptable sacryfice to the father for the saluacioâ—â—â—â—en applyeth and communicateth the 〈◊〉 of the passion of christ and of the sauing â—â—â—rifice wherebi the lord hym selfe offred hâ—â—â—â—lfe to the father a sacrifice the crosse to â—hem that receiue not the same with theyr owne fayth For to make men partakers in the supper of the Lorde of the sacrifice and merite of oure Lorde Iesu Christe the minister canne helpe no more than that firste he exsibite and ministre the holye supper as the Lord instituted and than faythfully declare and celebrate religiously the ministerie of it the redemption and communion of oure Lord Iesus Christe and further more dispense the sacramentes whereby he maye stirre vp and confirme in them that be present tru faith in Christ by which faith euerye man maie him selfe apprehend and receyue the merite and sacrifice of Christe as gyuen vnto hym Fynaly that he praye for suche fayth to all men in the name of the hole congregacion and of his owne charite For he that without hys owne fayth ether ministreth thys supper of the Lorde or is presente at it or receyueth it pulleth damnacion vpon hym selfe and is made gyltie of the Lorâ—s body and blond But it is plaine that 〈…〉 euerie where in this errour that they beleue if they be present whan the prieste sayeth masse and take parte of the masse only wyth theyr presence that this verie worcke and sacrifice of the preiste whereby he offerâ—â—â— thâ— sonne to the father for their sinnes that 〈…〉 setteth him before the father with his 〈…〉 prayer is of suche efficacie that it turneth al euil from them and bringeth them al felicite of bodie and soule though they continue in all maner of sinnes and mischeues againste God and their coÌ„scieÌ„ce and nether perceiue or receyue the sacramentes oute of the masse but onely beholde the outwarde action as a spectacle and honour it wyth bowynge of knes and other gestures and signes of veneracion But what more spightfull shame can be doone to goddes maieste and to the kynge of glorye Iesu Christe than that thys moste diuine sacrament whiche he himselfe instituted and commended vnto vs that throught it we shoulde be confirmed in fayth towardes hym and shoulde dye more and more to sinnes and liue more fully in hym is so peruerted that of goddes institucioÌ„ it is made a playn inuention of manne and suche one that men trust moste in it against God and our Lorde Christe For thorowe thys worke of the masse thei are made more careles and stronger in theyr synnes and contempte of Christe thynkynge that by that ceremonie the wrath of God is turned from them and all other euilles That the grace of God is gotten to them and all blisfulnes though thorowe theyr whole lyfe they be agaynste God and abuse all thynges agaynst God and that wythout anie earnest thoughte of repentaunce Wherefore the preachers shall enstruct the people wyth al diligence of this vngodlie truste of the worke and sacrifice of a priest and they shall call them froÌ„ the same by all maner of wayes And where as the holie fathers call the ministration of thys Sacrament a sacrifice and oblation and wryte sometyme that the priest in administrynge the supper offereth Christe let the preachers knowe and teache other when neede shall be that the holie fathers by the name of a sacrifice vnderstode not application whiche was deuised a great whyle after the fathers and preuaised wyth other abuses but a solemne remembraunce of the sacrifice of Christe as Augustine expouneth it For whyle the supper of the Lorde is ministred as the Lorde instituted it the sacrifice of Christe is celebrated and exhibited therein thorowe the preachynge of his death and distribution of the sacramentes that al they whiche rightly vse the holie supper receiue the fruit of this sacrifice The pastours shall warne moreouer that it is no smal abuse of thys Sacrament that it is wonte to be set forth and caried about to be gased vpoÌ„ and to be worshypped wyth golde and syluer and other suche carnall ornamentes and that wyth thys opinion as though thys cariynge aboute and shewing forth and outwarde worshppyng of the SacrameÌ„t were able to turne away all incoÌ„modities though they do not once thynke of true repentaunce of sinnes fayth in our Lorde Iesus Christ Wherfore we wyl in anie wyse that the pastours hereafter set not forth nor cary about the SacrameÌ„t wyth lyke diligence they shal teache the people that the Lorde instituted and commended to all that beleue in hym both partes of the Sacrament the cuppe no lesse then the bread that in them they might receyue his bodie and bloude For thus it is in Paule I receyued of the Lorde that that I deliuered also vnto you But the Apostle deliuered to the whole congregation of the Corhinthians the communion aswell of the cup as of the breade Wherefore some make a rashe and a lyght argumeÌ„t that the Lorde in his supper gaue the whole Sacrament to his Apostles whiche were all priestes and that we can not gather therof that the cuppe must be also gyueÌ„ to the lay meÌ„ For in thys Sacrament saith S. Chrisostome and that out of the testimonies of the
holie scripture the priestes haue nothyng more then the lay men but all thynges are commune to both and one breade of the Lorde and one cuppe is sette before al men togyther and equally Thus the Lorde instituted thus the olde churche obserued alwayes Therefore none other thynge coulde be instituted of meÌ„ neither dyd the fathers euer institute anie other thynge But in these later tymes when the gouernours of congregations dyd vtterlie neglecte theyr office thys abuse crepte in secretely that in the holy supper the Lordes breade onely should be distributed whether priestes or laye men dyd communicate But that all the abuses that haue crepte into thys Sacrament maye be vtterly takeÌ„ away and rooted vp by the true vse of thys Sacrament whiche the Lorde hym selfe coÌ„maunded the pastours and preachers shall diligently warne and exhort the people that as often as they come togyther to the holie supper of the Lorde with the bretherne they gyue them selues wholy to the Lorde to be his disciples that they thynke that all his wordes be spoken vnto them and that they beleue them certeynely that they feruently desire the communion of the Lorde to be encreased in them and that they receyue the same offered in the SacrameÌ„t wyth a faithfull and thankeful minde briefely that they euer go forwarde in the faith of Christ and in the whole newe lyfe wyth Christ neither stande there as dispisers of so great gyftes whiche in the holie supper be offered to all that are present nor make to them selues an hurtfull spectacle of a blessed teaste Surely he that is not meete to receyue the Sacrament is not meete neither to praye wyth the coÌ„gregation as S. Chrisostome doth rightly gather Thys Sacrament is not only the meate of the stronger but also the medicine of the weake onely lette no man receyue it whiche sticketh in synnes agaynste his conscience For he that coÌ„tinueth in such sinnes wyll not lyue in Christe the Lorde he refuseth his communion in dede and vtterly renounceth Christ and his kyngdome Wherfore he must absteyne froÌ„ those SacrameÌ„tes in whiche the coÌ„munion of Christe is exhibited And such sticke also in the condemnation of hell and haue no parte in the kyngdome of Christe Wherfore they can neither be present nor ought to be present at the holie supper nor pray wyth the congregation For no man that determineth to continue in open synnes and in the despite of God can call vpon God his father wyth true fayth and praye for the sanctification of his name the commyng of his kyngdome and obedience of his wyll But they that repent them selues of theyr synnes that desire the grace of God and reteyne the coÌ„munion and lyfe in Christe our Lorde and wishe the same to be encreased in them neither be commaunded by the congregation to absteyne these men I saye maye muche lyfte vp and conforte them selues wyth fayth and kendle them selues wyth the desire of a newe lyfe thorowe the participation of Sacramentes at euerie supper whereat they be present Therfore they ought not in anie wyse to despice so great bountuousnes of Christ the Lorde beinge freely offered to them but 〈◊〉 ther receyue it wyth mooste feruent 〈◊〉 and great thankefulnes remembryng 〈◊〉 blessed worde of the Lorde alluryng◠〈…〉 to him Come vnto me al ye that 〈…〉 Item take eate thys is my bodie 〈…〉 of thys al thys is my bloude etc. 〈…〉 thys meate and drynke he truly refresheth and receyueth vs vnto euerlastyng lyfe The fathers in the primitiue church which obserued the Apostles tradition estemed so muche these wordes of Christ that they excoÌ„municated them that were present at the Lordes supper and woulde not be parte takers of the sacramentes wyth the rest For thys cause was that ordeined that we reade distinct ij of the coÌ„stitutions wheÌ„ the consecration is ended let al coÌ„municate they that wil not let them not come into the temple For so the Apostles ordeyned and the holie Romaine churche holdeth Lo this decree speaketh of one consecration and it requireth that al that be present do coÌ„municate and that vndre the payne of excoÌ„munication It witnesseth also that the Apostles so constituted whiche had receiued it of the Lorde Item that the Romaine church doth so holde which thinge also al other coÌ„gregations obserued as many as had â—eteined thordinauÌ„ce of the lorde of thapostles This is the cause why S. Chrisostome so sore rebuked theÌ„ whiche in his coÌ„gregation taried in the temple at the celebration of the Lordes supper yet did not coÌ„municate and he saied that they stode at the Lordes supper vnshaÌ„fastly and stubburnly and not wythout the dispite of Christ and coÌ„tempt of his so great bountuousnes which he offereth vs in the holie supper For thei that be not the meÌ„bres of Christ neither of true repeÌ„tauÌ„ce and griefe of their synnes seeke renuinge of lyfe in Christe but wil coÌ„tinue in their sinnes willingly or haue offended the coÌ„gregation of Christe with so greuous sinnes that except they first repent and approue them selues wyth a better lyfe thei caÌ„ not come to the Lordes borde al these whiles the Lordes moste holy supper is ministred oughte to be awaye and not once to beholde the Sacrament of the Lorde as S. Chrisostome with greate grauitie warneth and that out of the deede and wordes of the Lorde whiche as he hym selfe did so he coÌ„maunded that this supper shoulde not be celebrated but wyth his disciples wyth suche I saye which haue gyuen them selues to his worde which desire remission of synnes and saluation out of true repeÌ„taunce and griefe of synnes which be made part takers of the newe TestameÌ„t and be the sonnes of God Al which thinges as we shewed before are coÌ„preheÌ„ded in the very wordes of the Lorde As the pastours then muste deligently teache and dissuade them whiche wyth the rest of the congregation can not communicate bycause they sticke in open synnes that they be not present at the holie supper and testifie vnto them that if they stande at the supper wyth suche a mynde they do spite vnto Christe and that it shall be damnation vnto them So they muste also diligently warne and exhort them which wyth a good conscience may be present at the supper that is to saye whiche truly beleue in Christ the Lorde that they receyue the Sacramentes wyth other membres of Christe But forasmuch as thys institution of the Lorde that all they whiche be present at the same supper of the Lorde should communicate of one breade and cuppe his bodie and bloude is to muche out of vse and couered a greate whyle sithens thorowe commune ignoraunce it shall be needefull to call men backe agayne treateably and gently to the obseruation of thys tradition of the Lorde and they muste beware that the myndes of the simple whiche neuertheles be the true disciples of the Lorde and are entangled in no mischiuous and wycked actes for the whiche they shoulde be restrayned from the Lordes
bourde be striken and troubled wyth sore rebukes or vntymely thrustynge vnto the receyuynge of the Sacrament For there be not a fewe whiche though they can not thorowlie vnderstande this misterie and the perfecte vse of Sacramentes yet they haue suche fayth in Christe that they can praye wyth the congregation and be somewhat edified in fayth thorow holie doctrine and exhortations that be wonte to be vsed aboute the holie supper and the ministration thereof yea and they maye be taughte and moued by litle and litle to a perfecter knowledge of thys misterie and an oftner vse of the Sacramentes euen by thys that they be present at the holie supper which absteyne not from the Lordes supper of anie contempte of the Sacramentes which they acknowledge in them selues but of a certeine weakenes of men and preposterous reuerence of the Sacramente These men the pastoures muste fatherlie and gentlie teach and enstructe dayly of these misteries and brynge them fayre and softlie to a perfecter knowledge and vse of the same declarynge diligently and printynge in them the thynges that we haue taughte in this place concerning the true and perfect administratiō and vse of this Sacramēt and they must not fray them away and driue them frō the hole action of the supper whyle they haue anie hope of them that they wil go forward in the studie and communion of Christ ¶ At what tyme the supper of the Lorde muste be celebrated ⧠Therfore that thys moste holie Sacrament may be better knowen among al godlie men and that the true vse of it maye be more easely restored and muche estemed we wyll that it be ministred as sone as the people of euerie cōgregation for the moste part be well enstructe out of Goddes worde of the true vse of it onely vpon the sundayes and holie dayes or vpon suche dayes when great companies assemble together to commune prayer Thys thynge was obserued in the time of the fathers also in greater and muche more populous cōgregations then we haue For the Lorde instituted not thys Sacramēt vnto vs for a thinge to be beholded but he commaunded it to be ministred for the commune and holsome receyuyng of his bodie and bloude whiche thynges al the membres ought equally to receyue in euery great holie assemble from one table and one altare Hereof S. Ciprian amonge other alledgeth thys cause why we celebrate this holy supper in the mornyng whereas Christe dyd it after supper bycause sayeth he that when we suppe we can not cal the commune people to our feaste that we maye celebrate the trueth of the Sacrament al the brotherhode beinge present These be the wordes of Ciprian whiche he toke out of the doctrine of Paul i. Cor. x. which we alledged before For the truth of thys Sacrament is as the Apostle teacheth in the same place that all we whiche are the membres and bodie of Christe should receyue the bodie and bloud out of the same Sacramēt Wherfore the father 's iudged that thys supper is not truly rightly celebrated except the whole brotherhode be present I meane thys commune supper For the holie bishoppes dyd sometymes celebrate the holie supper priuately that is to saye the whole congregation not beinge present sometymes wyth straungers and sometymes wyth the better and feruenter sorte of bretherne and that in their peculiar prayinge places and sometymes also in priuate houses wyth sicke folke of whose communion we wyll speake hereafter And these the holie fathers called priuate masses not bicause that in them the Sacramentes were distributed to no bodie but bycause they were distributed to fewe and the whole cōgregation not beinge present and that euen as it were in a priuate place For the holie fathers celebrated no supper wythout distribution of the Sacramentes For they doubted not but that that dyd vtterly fyghte wyth the Lordes Institution ⧠Of the preparation to the supper of the Lorde Seinge that the Lordes supper as we sayed before ought not to be celebrated but wyth his disciples and for asmuche as the ministers must be faythfull disposers of the misteries of God and must take great hede that they caste not an holie thynge before dogges and pearles before swyne we wyll that the pastours admitte no mā to the Lordes supper which hath not first offered him selfe to thē and after that he hath first made a confession of his synnes being Catechised he receyue absolution accordyng to the Lordes worde And that there may be a certeine and appoynted tyme for the doinge hereof I meane that they whiche shall cōmunicate be prepared and sanctified to the cōmunion of Christ with an holy instructiō and prayer let the pastours procure that the people be called together in the temple at euentyde the day before the celebration of the Lordes supper and lette them make a preparation and sanctification vnto the Lordes bourde after thys sorte Wheree clerkes shall be or scholers let them in the meane ceason while the people come together syng a Psalme or two with a dominical antiphone or Hymne whiche yet we wyll haue to be pure that is to saye diffenting in no parte from the holie scripture To these let them adde the songe of the Lordes mother Magnificat and some conuenient Collecte Afterwarde when the people be come together they shall synge a Psalme in the Douche tonge And then the pastour or ministre to whom the office of thys preparation is committed shall reade some place of the Lordes supper out of the Euangelistes or out of Paule Chap. x. xi Of the firste to the Corhinthi or out of the Lordes sermon Iohn vi For though the Lorde speake not in that place of the Sacramēt of the supper whiche he had not yet made neuertheles he preacheth of the true eatynge of his bodie and drynkyng of his bloude for the exhibition wherof he afterwarde instituted the holie supper Out of such lessons the ministers shall diligently teache the people to what vse the Lorde ordeined his supper and howe we may receiue it holsomely after this sort ¶ Ashorte institution or sermon of the Lordes supper Forasmuche as we entende to keepe tomorowe the moste holie supper of our sauiour Christe by his healpe for the celebration of a blessed remembraūce of him and cōfirmation of our fayth first it is conuenient to declare with fewe wordes and call to our mindes the misterie of this right diuine Sacrament Before al thinges then the Lorde offereth vnto vs his fleshe and his bloude and biddeth vs to take the same and affirming that we shall not haue lyfe but shall remayne in euerlasting death excepte we eate his fleshe and drinke his bloud Let vs remembre and acknowledge that our fleshe and bloud that is to saye our whole nature is thorow wickednes so loste adiudged to eternal death by the iust wrath of God that of our selues we can neuer obteyne euerlastynge life and the inheritaunce of the heauenly kingdome Thys remembraunce acknowledging of our destruction
ought vnterly to humble and caste vs doune before the Lorde and to cutte our hertes wyth suche repentaunce of synnes that we shoulde be pricked forth and enflamed to seeke receyue with sure fayth and greatly desire the grace of God offered to vs in the worde and sacramentes and the restitution and renuinge of our selues thorowe the coÌ„munion of Christe and holsome participation of his fleshe and bloude Furthermore let vs diligently considre that the eternal worde of God the sonne of God al. mightie to deliuer vs out of thys meserie was made flesh was made our brother that there myght be some holie fleshe and holie bloude that is to saye a verie heauenlie and diuine man by whom the fleshe and bloude of all vs mighte be restored and sanctified whiche thinge is then brought to passe wheÌ„ we truly eate his flesh and drinke his bloud Iohn vi Here it is meete that we be moued the more to wondre at and to embrace with certeyner fayth and gredier wil in this onely begotten sonne of God our sauiour the exceadynge and vnspeakable loue of God towardes vs whiche gaue his sonne vnto vs that beleuyng in him we should not perishe as we were borne and as we deserued but haue euerlastynge lyfe whiche he deserued and gyueth vnto vs. Thirdly let vs acknowledge and firmely beleue that the Lorde Iesus truely offereth vnto vs this his sanctifiyng fleshe and bloude in his holie supper wyth visible signes of breade and wyne by the ministerie of the congregation and exibiteth the same vnto the remission of synnes to be meate of euerlastyng lyfe to confirme the couenaunt of Gods adoption and of euerlastyng lyfe for so be his wordes Wherefore they caÌ„ not deceyue and they shall remayne when heauen and earth passe awaye and they truely exhibite and gyue vnto vs the thinges that they preache so that we applie true fayeth vnto them Take sayeth he eate thys is my bodie that is gyuen for you Item drinke of thys all thys is my bloud of the newe testament whiche is shedde forth for you and for many vnto the remission of synnes we must receyue these wordes wyth true fayth and doubte nothynge but that the Lorde when we celebrate the holie supper after his institution is in the middeste of vs and offereth hym selfe vnto vs by the ministerie of the congregation whiche he instituted for the same purpose and deliuereth his bodie and bloude and all his merites and satisfaction for oure synnes whiche he perfourmed his bodie and his bloude beynge offered on the crosse remission of synnes and the grace of the father and the ryghte of the Testament of the euerlastynge couenaunte of adoption and communion vnto the lyfe of God so that the breade that we breake in the holie supper is truely euen to vs the communion of his bodie and the cuppe at whiche we blesse the communion of his bloude Therefore lette vs euer religiously considre why the Lorde doeth often exhibite vnto vs thys holie and holesome communion of himselfe in the sacrament namely for this purpose that he maye brynge vs daily in to the knowlege of our sinnes and more ernest repentaunce that we maye desire more feruently remission of the same by him and receyue it with perfecter fayth gredier mindes and so be more confirmed and sette for warde in a new lyfe thorough the true communion of him that so we maye daily more and more abide and lyue in hym and he in vs and be more fully his dodie and meÌ„bers and he our heade whiche thinge we professe whan we all receiue the communion of him in his sacrament so beinge parttakers of his bodye and bloude as we in coÌ„men be parttakes of one brade and cuppe Finally we must praye and labour also to receyue these heauenlye giftes wyth true fayth and greate reuerence and that we celebrate the holesome remeÌ„brauÌ„ce of the Lord wyth godly ioye and pleasaunt thankfullnes and that we gyue vp our selues and all ours to him and testifie the same with collacions and almes for the vse of the poore lyberally and accordinge to euerie mans power finally that we euer prayse and magnifie Christe in al oure wordes and worckes for these so greate benifites for his incarnacion whereby he was made oure heade and brother for hys most bitter death whereby he satisfied for our sinnes for his resurrection and ascencioÌ„ in to heauen heaueÌ„ly kingdoÌ„ which he administreth at the ryght hand of the father maketh vs perfect and absolute in his lyfe beinge quickened with his spirite and sette in heauenlye thinges whiche lyfe he hath gyuen in the lyfe of God and it is an euerlastinge lyfe for this holesome communion of hys bodie and bloude whereby we are confirmed in this same lyfe of God and are sette forwarde and euer finyshed vp For al which thynges we must chiefely geue thanckes in the coÌ„munion of this supper And forasmuch as our God is such one as alloweth not wickednes nether canne all thei stande before him which worcke iniquitie it is necessarie that we knowe that those men muste not be admitted to the supper of the Lorde that is to saye to his communion whiche lyue without true faith and loue by whome the glorie of God is manifestly blemisched and hys congregacion is offended I meane all vnbeleuers and manyfest Idolaters whiche calle vppon and worshippe saints departed Angels or other creatures whiche honour paynted or grauen stockes Item all enchaunters and sothsaiers which wil preserue catel and other thinges against perils with their consecrations yea and I meane those to which beleue shuch enchaumentes and the manifest despicers and blasphemers of God the mockers of goddes worde and sacrameÌ„tes Item al those which at appointed tymes wildely continue in neglectinge sermons and other open exercises of the congregacion which obeye not accordinge to goddes commaundement theyr parentes ordinarye officers and maisters but speake euil of theÌ„ and rayle vpon theÌ„ do theÌ„ spight and resiste them seditiously and stubburnly whiche bringe not vp their children familie shuch as they haue charge of nor enstructe them to godlynes honestie and iustice Furthermore I meane murtherers and all those whych willingely continue in hatred of their bretherne in braulinges and shedinge of their neygboures bloude Item al whoremongers aduoâ—â—erers and Dronkerdes al theues vserers raueners disers vnlaufull gainers exercisers of faulse marchandises al those lykewise which lyue idely without a lawful excuse and burthen other al ilspeakers liers periuers backbyters and whych confesse not the truth and rightuousnes and confirme not the same wyth theyr testimonies where they are bounde to do it by reasone of their vocacion All these felowes as longe as thei liue and continue in such sinnes nether haue a true purpose to amende their liues maye in no wise be admitted to the holye supper of the Lorde seinge that they be restrayned and excluded from thens by God by his owne worde Another exhortacion Forasmuch as deareli beloued in
the lord we wyll celebrate to morowe by goddes grace the most holye supper of oure Lorde Iesu Christ where in he hath giuen vs hys flesh for meate and his bloud for drincke to confirme oure fayth and verie christane life it is conuenient that euerye man trye hym selfe with greate diligence as S. Paule exhorteth vs. For thys sacrament was giuen of the Lord for singuler cōsolacion and comforte to wretched and afflicted consciences which do ernestly fele and confesse their sinnes whyche be striken with the feare of the wrath of god and of death and hongre and thurste the rightuousnes of God But if euerie one of vs will examen oure selues as S. Paule teacheth we shall fynde none other thynge but all maner of horrible sinnes and euerlastinge death which we haue deserued thorought oure synnes For the rewarde of sinne is death frome whyche we can by no meanes deliuer oure selues Wherefore our Lord Iesus Christ taking pitie vpon vs was made man for oure synnes that he myght fulfyll the lawe and the whole wil of God for vs and procure our saluacion and that he hymselfe might suffer death and al that we had deserued thorough our sinnes only for vs and our redēption Which thing that we might firmely beleue and that thorough faith we might ioyfully lyue after his will whā supper was ended he toke breade gaue thankes and brake it sayinge take eate this is my bodye that is gyuen for you that is to saye that I am made man and further whatsoeuer I do and suffer all that is yours and it is giuen to you and is done for your saluacion For the testificacion and confirmacion whereof and that you maye daily a hide liue more more in me and I in you I giue my bodye vnto you to be meate and meate of euerlastynge lyfe After the same maner he toke the cuppe also saiyng Take drincke of thys all thys is the cuppe of the new testament in my bloude whiche is shed furth for you and for many vnto remission of synnes As often as ye shall do thys do it in the remembraunce of me that is to saye seinge that I haue now taken the charge of you and haue translated your synnes vpon me I will deliuer miselfe vnto death for thē I wil shedde mi bloude I wil deserue grace and remission of sinnes for you and I wyll sette vp a newe testament wherein synnes shal be perdoned and all remembraunce of thē shal be abolished For a pledge and witnesse of al these thynges and to cōfirme and further my life in you I giue you my bloud to drincke He than that eateth of this breade after thys sorte and dryncketh of the cuppe and firmely beleueth these wordes whiche he heareth of the Lorde and signes whiche he receiueth eateth truly holesomely the flesh of Christ and drinketh his bloude and more fully receiueth in to him selfe hole God and man with al his merites and fauour where wyth the father embraceth hym wyth the ryght and participation of euerlainge lyfe he abydeth in Christ the Lorde and the Lord in him he shal liue for euer Let vs thā god li recompēse these thinges with our selues let vs confirme and ster vp our faith in him lette vs celebrate the remembraunce of hym worthely let vs most studoyusly in al oure wordes and dedes exalte his death resurreccion heauenlye glorie and kingdome let vs reioyse in our owne behalfe that this sonne of God died for our sinnes rosse againe forour instificacion ascended into heauen and reigneth at the right hand of the father furthermore lette vs couragiousli euerie one of vs take vp our crosse and valiantly folowe this our capitaine and loue one another according to his cōmaundemēt as he loued vs. For al we are one bread one bodi because we be parttakers of one breade and one cup. After this praier there shall a praier be made for al the necessites of the congregaciō and cheifely for those men which shall communicate the nexte daye And whan the people haue ended their secrete praier the minister shal cōclude the preparacion with this collecte Almightie euerlastinge God heauealye father because we can please the only in thy deare sonne sanctifie our bodies and soules and graunte vs that to morowe we maye receiue the holesome communion of him in his holie supper with a godlie and faithfull desier and all thanckefulnes that beinge confirmed agayne conceruynge thy perpetual mercie and loue towardes vs and euer goinge forwarde in a new life we maye liue vnto the and serue the thorough our Lorde Iesus Christ with more feare and studie to the prayse of thy name and profyte of thy people A men ¶ How the Lordes supper must be celebrated Whan the people be come to gether vnto this ministration for asmuch as it is agreable to godlines that as often as we appere before the lorde before althinges we should acknowledge and confesse our sinnes and praye for remission of the same the minister whiche shall administer the Lordes supper whan he shal come to the altare shall make a confession in the name of the whole cōgregacion and that in the douche tonge whiche al maye vnderstande after this sorte Almightye euerlastinge God the father of our Lorde Iesus Christe the maker of all thynges the iudge of all men we acknowlege and we lament that we were conceiued and borne in sinnes and that therefore we be prone to al euils and abhorre from all good thynges that we haue also transgressed thy holie commaundmentes with out ende and measure in despisinge the and thy worde in distrustinge thy aide in trusting our selues and the worlde in wycked studies and workes where with we haue most greuousli offended thy maiestie and hurted oure neighboures Therefore we haue more and more buried oure selues in to eternall death And we are sorie for it with al our hertes and we desire pardone of the for al the thinges that we haue commited agaynst the we calle for thy helpe against sinne dwellinge in vs and Satan the kendler thereof kepe vs that we do nothyng hereafter against the and couer the wickednes that remaneth in vs with the rightuousnes of they sonne and represse it in vs with thy spirite and at length purdge it cleane out Haue mercye vpon vs most gentle father thorough thy sonne oure Lord Iesus Christe Giue and encrease thy holye spirite in vs which maie teach vs to acknowlege our synnes truly and thoroughly and to be pricked wyth a liuelye repentaunce of the same and with true fayth to apprehend and retayne remission of them in Christ our Lord that dyinge to sinnes dailye more and more we maie serue and please the in anewe lyfe to the glorie of thy name and edifiynge of thy congregacion For we acknowledge that thou iustly requirest these thynges of vs wherefore wee desire to perfourme the same Vouchsafe thou o father of heauen which hast giuen vs a wil to graunte vs also that we
prayse and magnifie the Lorde holie father almightie euerlastyng God thorowe Iesus Christ our Lorde by whom thou madest vs of nothinge vnto thy image and haste appoynted al other creatures to our vses and where as we thorowe the synne of Adam slidynge frō the were made thyne enemies and therefore subiecte to death and eternall damnation thou of thy infinite mercie and vnspeakable loue dyddest sende the same thy sonne the eternall worde into thys worlde who thorowe the crosse and death deliuered vs from synnes and the power of the Deuyll and brought vs agayne into thy fauoure by his holie spirite whom he sent to vs from the and gaue his bodie and bloude to be the fode of a newe and eternall lyfe that being more confirmed thorowe the truste of thy mercie and loue we should euer go forward to all that that is thy pleasure by renuinge and sanctifiynge of our selues and that we should glorifie and exalte the here and euermore in all our wordes and dedes and singe vnto the without ende with al thy holie Angels and beloued chyldren After these thinges Sanctus shall be songe where clerkes be in latine but of the people in douche one syde answerynge the other thryse of bothe partes As for that that is wont to be added The Lorde God of hostes and Benedictus it shal be songe cōmunely of the whole congregation and therefore in douche Streyght waye after thys let the priest synge the wordes of the Lordes supper in douche Our Lorde the nighte in whiche he was deliuered etc. But these wordes muste be songe of the priest wyth great reuerence and playnely that they maye be wel vnderstanded of all men And the people shal saye to these wordes Amen Whiche all the olde church obserued and the Grekes do yet obserue the same For the whole substance of this Sacrament is conteyned in these wordes And it consisteth altogether in the true vnderstandyng and fayth of these wordes that the Sacrament be holesomely administred and receyued ⧠Whē the people then haue answered Amen The priest shall adde lette vs praye Oure father whiche arte in heauen etc. To whiche prayer of the Lorde the people shal say agayne Amen ¶ The priest The Lordes peace be euer wyth you ¶ The people And with thy spirite After thys they which be admitted to the cōmunion and do loke for the same in their place shal come to the Lordes bourde religiously Firste men and then women and the whole Sacrament shal be gyuen to them al that they may be partakers of the body and bloud of the Lorde receiuing not only bread but also the Cuppe euen as he instituted it ¶ At the exhibition of the bodi let the the pastour saye Take and eate to thy health the body of the Lorde whiche was deliuered for thy synnes ¶ At the exhibition of the cuppe Take and drinke to thy health the bloud of the Lorde whiche was shedde for thy synnes ¶ After the communion lette Agnus dei be songe both in douche and in latine one syde answeryng the other where clerkes be And then lette thys douch songe be songe Gotte sey gelobette Item Iesus Christus Vnser Heylant If the communion shall gyue so muche tyme and leasure ¶ When the communion is ended let the priest synge turnyng to the people The Lorde be wyth ynn ⧠The people And with thy spirite ¶ The priest Let vs praye Almightie euerlastynge God we gyue thankes to thy exceadynge godnes bicause thou haste fedde vs wyth the bodie of thy only begottē sonne and gyuen vs his bloud to drynke We humbly beseche the worke in vs wyth thy spirite that as we haue receyued thys diuine Sacrament wyth oure mouthes so we maye also receyue and euer holde fast with true fayth thy grace remission of synnes and communion with Christ thy sonne Al whiche thinges thou haste exhibited vnto vs in these sacramentes thorow our Lorde Iesus Christe thy sonne whiche lyueth and reygneth wyth the in vnitie of the holie gost verie God and verie man foreuer Amen ⧠An other thankesgyuyng We gyue the thankes father almightie God whiche haste refreshed vs wyth the singuler gyfte of thy bodie and bloude we beseche thy goodnesse that the same maye healpe to confirme our fayth in the and to kendle mutual loue amonge vs by the same our Lorde Iesus Christ etc. ¶ Laste of all lette the pastoure blesse the people wyth these wordes The Lorde blesse the and keepe the the Lorde lighten his coūtenaunce vpon the and haue mercie on the. The Lorde lyfte vp his face vpon the and settle the in peace ⧠Or thus God haue mercie on vs and blesse vs lyghten his countenaunce vpō vs and gyue vs his peace Amen ⧠Or thus God the father the sonne and the holie goste blesse and keepe vs. Amen ⧠Or thus The blessyng of god the father the sonne and the holie gooste be wyth vs remaine wyth vs for euer Amen But where clerkes be not as in villages there lette all be reade and songe in douche But lette the songes be so moderated as in euerie congregation shall make to the edification of godlines But forasmuche as our Lorde instituted thys his sacrament onely for thys purpose that we shoulde eate it and drynke it for the remēbraunce of him and not that we should set it forth or carie it about to be loked vpon forasmuch as sundrie abuses be brought in the true vse of this sacramēt being ouer passed so this sacrament hath bene drawen to horrible superstition and vngodlines for the takyng awaye both of this superstition and vngodlines and also sundrie scruples of the worke and irreligious questions aboute these misteries the pastours and they that administre the Sacramente shall endeuoure them selues that as often as the supper shal be ministred whether it be in the cōgregatiō or in priuate houses for sicke folke they compte the numbre of them certeynely whiche shall communicate that accordynge to the same thei may receiue pieces of bread and measure of wyne As for the remnauntes after that the communion is ended lette the pastours them selues receyue them forthwith and lette them not keepe the same nor lay them vp in any place nor eary them away or set them forth to be beholded For the worde of God whiche saueth vs if we beleue and obey it and damneth perpetually if we do not beleue nor obey it hath thus prescribed cōcerning his sacramētes Take and eate this is my bodie Take and drinke this is my bloude Therfore we must stand in thys institution of Christe and not institute a newe vsage wythout Goddes worde about thys moste holy Sacrament And bicause also that here the Lordes death muste be preached and the communion of hym cōfirmed in vs that thorowe hym we maye be daily more crucified to the world al worldly pompe muste lykewyse be taken frō thys ministration and all tynges muste be so ordeined and moderated that thei may healpe forth and adurne the
of synnes whereunto he shall adde an absolution Then he shall recite the Crede shal make suche a prayer ¶ The pastour The Lorde be with you ¶ They whiche be present And wyth thy spirite Almightie euerlastyng God whiche of thy exceadyng mercie haste gyuen vs thy sonne and all thynges wyth hym lighten our hertes and myndes that we may certeynly beleue and acknowledge thy sonne to be oure onely sauiour and the in hym our God and father and that we maye so receyue and enioye the communion of his bodie and bloud from thys his table ordeined by his cōmaūdement that his newe and diuine lyfe wyth al trust of his grace and sure expectation of blessed resurrection may be cōfirmed and encreased in thys oure sicke brother or sicke sister and in vs all that we also may be content to susteyne thy hande in this present visitation and loke wyth affiaunce for thy callyng out of thys wycked worlde and that as longe as it shall please the we maye lyue here and more sanctifie thy name and sette forth thy kyngdome thorowe the same thy beloued sonne our Lorde Here the pastoure shall saye the Lordes prayer That done he shall wishe peace to the sicke person and all that be present Thē he shall rehearse the wordes of the supper playnely and reuerently The Lorde that night that he was betrayed etc. When he hath rehearsed those wordes lette hym giue the whole Sacrament to the sicke personnes and to those of the standers by which shal offre them selues gistes to the Lordes bourde as it behoueth wyth those wordes that we rehearsed before After the cōmnunion let hym cōclude the Lordes supper with thākesgiuyng blessyng as is described before The sicke folke also muste be euer exhorted to liberalitie towards the pore Of cōmunion in priuate houses for men in health Bicause some both of the ordre of knighthode and men of other degrees dwell farther from temples then that they can euer come together to the commune assemble of theyr parish in the winter other incommodious tymes of the yere the pastours shall not be grieued to celebrate the holie supper in theyr houses at conuenient tymes when they shall require it and when there shall be iust causes so to do by thē selues or by other meete ministers after the maner and facion that is described before But they whiche dwell so nigh the temples of theyr parishes that they maye well come together to the cōmune communion of theyr parish shal haue no priuate cōmunion in theyr houses administred whiche thynge the olde holie fathers forbadde to be done ⧠Of conuersion from sinnes or repentaunce and christian excommunication IT is greatly to be lamēted that mannes weakenes the diuyls power is so great that so manie of thē which be receyued amonge the childrē of God fal so sone frō the begonne obedience of God and caste awaye the grace whiche they had receyued and the holie goste beinge vnthankefull towardes God theyr father whom they offende so vngodly and towardes theyr sauiour Christ whō they madly put from them and agaynste the holy goste whom they so traiterously agrieue and finallie moste noysome agaynste thē selues For they prouoke the wrath of God agaynst thē selues which shall punishe thē euē with temporal paynes and not onely them but also those that be ioyned vnto them by any meanes Whiche thynge the historie of Saul Dauid and other testifieth Furthermore they take from them selues the mooste excellent consolation in thys lyfe I meane the callynge vpon God For they that cōtinue in synne against theyr conscience can not call vpon God Finallie they bynde them selues to eternal dānation and that that is moste horrible they whiche haue fallen suffre not them selues to be moued for the moste parte that they may returne vnto God Wherefore it shall perteyne to a good pastour to be euer more busie aboute hym selfe and other in godlie exhortatiōs that they may worke theyr health wyth feare trēbling as Paule sayeth and that they suffre not the gyfte of God to be idle in them and to vanishe awaye but that they steare vp and exercise the same desiring that the same may be confirmed in them fleinge peruerse entisementes and resistynge naughtie affections as we sayed before in the place of good workes But if any man hath fallen and hath sinned euen agaynst his conscience secretely or openly let hym neuertheles heare the worde of god so fatherly alluring vs vnto amendment when he sayeth in Ezechiell as truely as I lyue I wyll not the death of a synner but that he be conuerted and lyue Therfore God would also and so greatly commaunded that in the cōgregation the doctrine of repentaunce should be beaten in whiche he hym selfe beganne in Paradise when he rebuked Adam and Eue after the fall and cōforted them agayne wyth a most ample promise of grace by the seede that shoulde come Al the sermons of the prophetes teach the same thinge and therfore Iohn Baptist and Christ hym selfe and the Apostles groūded the summe of theyr preaching hereupon Come agayne to your selues repent etc. As for repentaunce it is a griefe and anguishe of mynde by reason of synne out of a faythful consideration of the filthines and abomination whiche the lawe sheweth to be in synne and out of the feare of Gods iudgement agaynst sinne which the law threateneth driuynge vs to seeke forgyuenes of synnes and the grace of God wyth all diligence And therfore Ioell ij Cutte sayeth he your hertes and not your garmentes and turne to the Lorde your God for he is gentle and mercifull patient and of great compassiō recōcileable touchyng wickednes etc. Itē in Esai Where shal the Lorde dwel in a broken and humbled spirite etc. Psalme xxxviij My bones haue no peace frō the sight of my synnes Esaie i. Cease to do frowardly learne to do well The preachers must be diligent to steare vp thys repentaunce wyth preachynge of Goddes worde whiche is taughte vs in the lawe and Gospell For thereby synne is vttered and reproued as Paule sayth thorowe the lawe is the knowledge of synne It admonisheth also that these miserable calamities of mankynd so manie warres so daungerous commotions and all destruction of peace and politie wyth other euyls whiche dayly sprynge vp newe by the punishmētes of Goddes angre kendled agaynste vs for synnes Finally it rehearseth vnto vs terrible exemples of gods chastisinge the floude the dronynge of Pharao the destruction of the kyngdome of Israel and Hierusalē etc And where as the Lordes word testifieth that what so euer aduersitie chaunceth vnto vs it is sent from God for oure synnes the same worde of the Lorde by these dayly miseries and incommodities admonesheth vs of our sinnes and calleth vs vnto repētaūce Finally the Gospel most vehemently rebuketh the contempte of Christ that men wyll not acknowledge hym and his exceadynge benifites that they refuse his grace offered to them that they neglecte to cal vpon God wyth
theyr be anye lawefull impediment of theyr copulation For if there be any impediment that they can not lawefully and wythout sclaunder be ioyned together in matrimonie let not the pastoure alowe theyr mariage in any wyse or blesse it in the cōgregation tyll that lette be remoned and theyr copulation be alowed by thē whiche shall be appoynted to suche matters and causes by our cōmaundement Further the ministre shall exhorte them that they solemnise suche a mariage as becommeth christians and that they folowe not the pompe and excesse of the heathen Then lette hym wryte both theyr names and aske the banes vpon three holie dayes or sundayes after thys sorte Iohn N. and Anne N. haue made promise eche to other of holie matrimonie and thei desire that the same be alowed and blessed of the congregation Therefore they require that the congregation wyll praye for them that they maye beginne thys kynde of lyfe in the Lordes name and that they maye lyue in the same vnto the prayse and glorie of God If anie man know anie lawful impediment of theyr copulation let him shewe the same in tyme to the glorie of Christ and for the remouinge of an offence to the cōgregation Such a publication as I sayed muste be made vpon three holy dayes nexte ensuinge one an other except some special and weightie cause require an other thynge and suffre not so longe delayinge But no man muste haue anie thinge dispensed of thys thryse askynge excepte they permitte it to whom we shal cōmitte the office of causes of matrimony and when it is manifeste that there is no lawfull lette of theyr matrimonie Howbeit the banes of suche personnes also muste be asked in the cōgregation at the lest vpon one holy daye Furthermore we wyll haue thys thynge obserued that the weddyng of al personnes whether the brides be virgines or widowes be confirmed and sanctified in the cōgregation by the worde of God and prayer and that they come to the congregation wyth al sobrietie and honestie as it becommeth thē whiche come together in the Lorde and truly desire the blessyng of the Lorde vnto their mariage Wherefore they shall endeuoure them selues to brynge verie many wyth thē vnto the holie assemble thoughe christian moderatiō requireth not so many to be bidden to the mariage feast For the prayers of many are godly desired But bicause they come together to praye for the grace and good spirite of God to be gyuen to the despoused personnes thorowe our Lorde Iesus Christe and hym crucified they muste so appeare in his syghte that the glorie of the crosse of Christ be not blemished by worldly pompe and excesse Finally they must come into the tēple at that houre when Christes congregation cometh together at other times and they must be at the begynnynge of the holie assemble that wyth the reste of the people of Christe they may heare the lordes worde and make theyr prayers to God When they then be present in the temple wyth the congregation in a place appoynted thereunto whiche shal be open to al men the pastour shall saye to the brydgrome and the bryde Be ye then presente here in the syghte of God oure father and of oure Lorde Iesus Christe before his congregation to professe your mariage which ye haue promised eche to other in the Lorde and that ye maye receyue blessing and sanctification of the same from the Lorde by the ministre of the cōgregacion ⧠The answer of the brydgrome and the bryde We are present for that purpose ¶ Then the Pastoure shal saye further Seinge then that after the open askynge of banes no bodie hath come forth whiche woulde gaynesaye the coniunction of these personnes or coulde declare anie lawful impedement by reason of kinred or of affinitie or for some other cause the heauenly father vouchsafe to confirme that that he hath wrought in you And that ye maie the better vnderstande and acknowlege how great a grace and benifite the heauenlie father hath gyuen youe herin which hath ioyned you together with holie matrimonie and that ye maye lerne to giue him condigne thanckes for this his beniuolence and bountiousnes towardes you and embrace one a nother wyth more firme fayth as ioyned to gether by the hande of God cal for his helpe with more cōfidēce and euer serue him in this state finally that ye maye more fully knowe the promisse and office of matrimonie and perfurme the same more promptly ye shal heare with reuerente mindes some testimonies of the scripture and a religious exhortacion out of the same And first ye shal here out of the secōde Cha of Genes the firste institution of holye matrimonie God saide it is not good that mā be a loue lette vs make hym an helpe to be with him God sent a sleepe vpon Adā c. ¶ Nowe heare ye the voice of Christ out of the gospel Math. xix ¶ The phariseis came vnto Iesus tēptinge hym and sayinge to hym maye a man make a diuorce with his wife for euerie cause etc. ⧠Thirdly heare ye also the cōmaundement of the holie Gost concerning the office of mariage For thus he prescribed to maried folke Ephe. v. ⧠Men loue your wiues as Christ loued the congregation c. reade furth to the ende of the Chapter ⧠Out of these places the despoused persones and rest of the congregacion must be warned that they lerne and considre firste howe holie a kinde of lyfe and howe acceptable to God matrimonie is For by these places we knowe that God him selfe instituted holye wedlocke and that in paradise man beinge yet perfecte and holye and that he hath greatly blessed thys copulasion and ioyneth hymselfe all those together whyche contracte matrimonie in hys name and gyueth the husband to be an heade and sauiour to the wyfe as Christe is the heade and the sauioure of the congregacion and further more giueth the wife a bodie and a helpe to the husbande that here in thys worlde they maye leade a godlye honest and ioyous lyfe together Hereof a godlie minde shal certainly conclude that this copulacion of man and woman is without doubte acceptable to God and therefore holye and luckie which thinge appeareth by this that God planteth in thē whyche be ioyned in matrimonye so greate and so meruailous faythfulnes loue and most serniceable mindes both towardes thē selues mutually also towardes their children kinsfoke and allied by any meane to ether parte For God is loue and he that abydeth in loue abideth in god and the whole lawe is fulfiled with the loue of oure neighboure Where fore in what soeuer state of life more faithfulnes and loue and a redier mynde to procure the commodites of oure neighboures accordinge to the Lordes word is wounte to spring furth the same vndoub tedli is more acceptable to God more holie and blessed But there is no surer faythfulnes no feruenter loue no nerer frendshippe no prompter will to warne on
another than that is which is among suche maryed folke as be ioined together in the lord and sofurth amonge their children and all those whome mariage hath allied together on both parttes Wherfor al they whō god hath brought to thys kynde of lyfe ought to geue greate thankes vnto God for this so greate a benifite that he hath called thē to so holie a kind of life and so acceptable to him selfe Nether must the husbaunde other wyle receiue hys spouse nor the spouse hir husbande than deliuered and ioined together with the Lordes hāde and whatsoeuer aduersite shal chaunce in matrimonie as this copulacion is as you woulde saye a singler shoppe of godlie and faythfull inuocation they must fle to God with sure confidence and require helpe and consolation of him For the most beninge father canne not for sake hys chyldren in that kinde of life to whiche he himselfe appoynted them he cannot but aswage the difficulties and exercises of obediēce which he hym selfe will haue to be in this state to trie and to stirreup the fayth of hys and not to afflycte them The pastoures thā shal diligently warne and exhorte that men conclude these thinges out of the forsayde places of the scripture concerninge the hollines of matrimonie and the helpe of God prepared for thys state and that they learne thereby to gyue God thanked for this so great a benifite and call for his helpe with confidence in all distresses that shal happen in thys state Further more they shal teach and warne this also out of the same places with al possible diligence with how greate beniuolence and loue they that be coupled in matrimonie ought to embrace one another by what meanes and with what redines of mynde the one oughte to do the other good wyth what diligence the man must shew himselfe an heade and sauioure to his wife and the womā a bodie and faythful helpe in al thinges to hir husband breifely with what care they must mainteine betwene themselues agrement of mindes and auoyde all disseuering of the same seinge that they must nedes be one fleshe one mā and liue together with one minde and one herte and haue al thiges commune both those that pertayne to God and those that partaine to menne Greate is the coniunction and nere is the frendshyppe of allies and kinsfolke and other frendes amonge them selues and the same be greater betwene parentes and children but the greatest of al must be betwene maried persons For they must be so glued one to another with the affectiō of loue that they make one mā al other being left and set apart Imean not as touchig charite other duties but as touchinge the vse companie of the hole life Such an exhortation must be made wyth more or fewer wordes as it shal appere conuenient or necessarie for the present congregacion and the despoused persones whiche done the pastour shal exhorte the newly maried folke and the whole congregation that they make their praiers religiosly to God that wyll graunte to the personnes entrynge in to holye wedlocke so to beginne it and kepe it thorough all their lyfe as they be taught out of the worde of God Whan the congregacion hath ended hir praiers in silence lette the minister bidde the bridegrome and the bride to come nere and first lette hym demaunde the bridegrome after thys sorte Iohan N. haste thou than determined before the Lorde to take Anne N. to thy wyfe in the Lorde and so to lyue wyth hir all thy life as thou heardest euen now that it is required of a Christiane husbande Answere I haue so determined by the Lordes helpe Hast thou also determyned Anne N. before the Lorde to take Iohan N. to thy husband in the Lord and so to liue wyth him thorough out al thi life as thou wast taught euen nowe that it is required of a Christian wyfe Answere I haue determined by the Lordes helpe Than if perchaunce they haue ringes lette them put them one vpon anothers finger and so lette the minister ioine their right handes together and saye that that God hath ioyned lette no man disseuer And lette the pastoure saye more ouer wyth a lowde voyce that maye be hearde of all men Forasmuche as than this Iohan N. desireth thys Anne to be hys wife in the Lorde and this Anne desireth thys Iohan to be hir husbande in the Lorde and one hath made the other a promisse of holie and Christian matrimonie and haue now both professed the same openly and haue confirmed it with giuinge of ringes ech to other and ioininge of handes I the minister of Christ and the congregacion pronounce that they be ioyned together with lawfull christian matrimony I confirme this their mariage in the name of the father the sonne and the holie Gost Amen After this lette the psal Cxxvij be redde or sounge excepte the Lorde builde the house c. And the Psalme Cxxviij Blessed are all they whiche feare the Lorde c. ¶ Than lette the minister conclude the whole matter with this prayer Almyghtie God and heauenlye father whiche with thyn owne worde hast witnessed that it is not good for man to be alone and therefore at the begynninge madest a wife to man of himselfe and diddest ioyne hir to him for an helpe that thei might passe theyr whole lyfe luckely in all holynes and rightuousnes and diddest ordaine the man to be the heade the sauiour of the woman which also shoulde gouerne and ayde the wyfe his bodye to al godlines and honestie and hast adourned and blessed this copulation as holie and acceptable to the in it selfe a syngular exercise and aide of fayth thorought thy goodnes we beseche the for thy sonnes sake our Lorde whō thou wouldest haue to be borne of a virgine despoused and ioined to Ioseph in holie matrimonie which also honoured matrimonie wyth hys presence and wyth the begininge of his miracles and woulde haue it to be a token and misterie of his exceadinge loue to wardes the congregacion we beseche the I saye that thou wilt mercifully perdonne these thy children if anie thinge hath crepte in and mingled it selfe in their copulation at the beginning or at this present beside thi constitutiō thorough mannes weaknes and the craftye snares of Satan and that thou wilte keepe them in the feare and obedience of the and encrease these thi giftes in the daily Strenthen thou and encrease their fayth that they doubte not but that they are ioyned together with thy hande thoughe it bee by oure ministerie that they maye be one man in th◠sonne our Lorde Iesus Christe and so lyue and serue the with one herte and one minde that no creature may euer disseuer them or anye thinge dimynishe this greate loue and consent betwene them but that the husbāde maye be an heade to the wyfe and the wife an helpe to the husbāde in al thinges which thou alowest in them Giue them also plentiful fruite of their
bodies holye seede and children of thy kyngdome graunte that thei maye brynge theym vp to thy glorye that thy holye name maye be euer more sanctified and glorified by them and by theyr chyldren and by vs with them in al our wordes and dedes and that so thy kingdome maye be euer proÌ„moted and amplified and that al oure conuersation vpon erth maye be so framed to thy pleasure wyth lyke readynes of mynde and zeale as they whiche be in heaueÌ„ obeie they wil. And that these thinges maie preuaile in vs and be dayly encreased gyue vs also our dayly breade necessarie thinges for the bodye prosperous health peace and tranquillite that we maye gette and enioye those thinges that be nedeful for oure life to thi glorie Forgiue vs also our dettes which we dayly renne in to thoroughe neglectinge oure duties forgeue vs oure synnes wherewith we offeÌ„de the perpetually and remoue mercyfully thei scourges which we wel deserue through our misdedes and synnes as we also before thine eyes doe gladli forgiue al them whiche maye seme to owe vs anye thynge either in omittinge theyr dutie or in dowinge wronge nether leade vs in to anye tentation whom thou instly examinest and tryest wyth sonder tentations on the ryght hande and the lyste with prosperite and aduersite But deliuer vs froÌ„ the deuil the olde craftie enenie Satan and from al hys subtillities and violente inuasions wherewith he tempteth vs sondrie waies and euer laboreth to pulle vs from the and thi coÌ„maundementes deliuer vs I saye that we maye neuer decline from the and thy worde nor suffer oure selues at anye tyme to bee drawen awaye therwyth entisementes or terrible threates but that we maye continue to the ende in the fayth of thy worde and in the obedience of thy commaundementes as they true and germain children for thou arte our only God and father thine is the kingdome and the power and the glorie with our lord Iesu Christe thy sonne and the holye goste now and euerlastingly ⧠Or more breifely Lorde God whyche wouldest ioyn man and woman in matrimonie and hast blessed them with the fruite of the woÌ„be and wouldest that in theyr copulacion a sacrament of thy loue towardes the congregacion should be sette furth we beseche thy mercifulnes that thou wilte not suffer this thy institucion and holie worcke to be in anye wife violated in thy seruauntes or thy blessinge to be turned from theÌ„ but preserue theÌ„ thorough thy bountuousnes and encrease in them the thinge that thou hast begonne to the welth of them and of thy congregacion and giue them the ample blessinge of thy mercye thorough our Lorde Iesus Christ The pastoures shal cause also the names of them whome he hath maried or baptised to be writteÌ„ in a boke with a note of the daie and the yere And forasmuche as the ingnorauncie of degres of consanguinite and affinite causeth often tymes muche busines and manye errous we wil procure that they shal be clearely and distinctly sette furth whiche the pastoures shal often declare to the people Furthermore greuous offences and many periuries growe of this that yonge persones promise matrimonie one to a nother rashly and priuily with out witnesses For it sone chauÌ„ceth that they forsweare theyr promisses we wil therefore that no promisse of matrimoni bee ratified that is made the parentes not knowinge of it or not consentynge ther vnto or agaynst the myndes of their kynsfoke or tutors if theyr parentes be abseÌ„t or not able to rule themselues But if the parentes kinsfolke or tutors wil haue yonge men or maidens beinge of ripe age to differre mariage or dryue theym to vnpleasaunte mariages which thing as it fighteth with humanite and with the worde of God so it is also forbiden by the lawes than they that be so burthened shal bringe the matter before the pastours and officers whiche shal labour to aswage the rigorousnes of the parentes kinsfolke or tutors wyth a frendlie exhortacion and if they can preuaile nothinge with that exhortacion they shall referre the mater to an ordinarie officer which by iudicial authoritie shall resiste the vniust rigorousnes of the parentes kinsfolke or tutors and he shal chose and appoynte some honest and wyse men by whose aduise some thinge shal be determined to the glori of God welth of the yong persons and edificacion of the churche concerninge the mariage of theym to whoÌ„ their parentes kynsfolke or tutors be some what vngentle in thys behalfe And if anye haue nether pareÌ„tes nor tutors neuertheles the despousation and promisse of mariage which they make is not to be compted of effecte if both the parties acknowlege it not or if there were not at the lest three or foure witnesses at the handfastinge which muste be honest men and worthey to be beleued For mariage is an holie thing and therefore we must go aboute the same with good aduisement and with the feare of God not thorough anie passion or desire of the flesh raschnes gylte deceyte and nawghtie craftes Whereof the pastours must often warne the people and declare howe vnsemelye a thinge it is for Christian menne to contracte matrimonie the ryght holie copulacion of men secretely and raschly that hereby yong men and maydens maye be ware that they knytte not theÌ„selues together folishlye and craftely whereof periuries debates diuorces and miseries and that that is most greuous of all the wrathe of God is wonte to folowe But that those coÌ„trouersies which 〈◊〉 often about matrimonie may be more commodiouslye declared and decided and â—hat ignorante persones maye be the better prouided for we wil appoynte iudgementes in certayne places of our dominion to whiche suche matrimoniall causes shal be referred It shal also pertayne to the pastoures to enstruct to the people certaye tymes in the yere of Matrimonye wyth what religion and reuerence it ought to be taken in hande and to be kepte And they must teach wyth singular diligence what an holie copulacion of men marige is and what an excellent benifite it is of goddes prouidence to obtyne a good and tractable husbande or wyfe that they maye learne to praie God humbly and relygiously that he wyll prouide them and theyr children of conuenient mariages Let the pastoures also warne how grate a sinne it is and howe it is forbidden of God with a peculier curse not to regarde religion aboue al thinges in contractynge of mariage that euerye body seke principally a companion of fayth whiche dothe knowledge call vpon and worshippe Christ the Lord which maye be with him one man in the Lord and an helpe to goforwarde in the fayth and seruice of Christ Item after a consideracion of a consente in religion that they muste also se that there be a singuler coÌ„sente of myndes and a likenes of maners and honest desiers whiche are wounte to be signes of goddes copulation fruther more that they must prefere the affinite of godlye and honest men by whom a man maye be encreased in
of Angels and sundry appearynges to his disciples but also by his ascension into heauen and wonderfull sendynge of the holie goste and many other miracles and signes that nothynge more certeyne euer chaunced vndre the sunne Neither did he rise from the dead for his owne cause onely but for asmuch as he abolished our dette and sinne thorowe his death the mercie and bountuousnes of God is so great towardes vs whiche beleue in Christ that he wyll not onely forgyue our synnes for Christes sake but wyll also gyue vs the fruite of his resurrection and in verie death preserue vs vnto euerlastynge lyfe He theâ—â— that trusteth in Christe is plaÌ„ted into Christ thorow faith so far that he is made a meÌ„bre of hym Your bodies sayeth Paule be the membres of Christe And in an other place God hath putte all thynges vndre his feete and hath made hym an heade aboue al thinges vnto the congregation it selfe whiche is his bodye the fulfyllynge of hym whiche fulfylleth al thynges in all Seing then that Christe the heade of the congregation atteyned to euerlastyng lyfe and glorie thorowe his resurrection from death it is not possible that one of his membres planted in him thorowe fayth shoulde not atteyne to the same For though it be deade buried rotteÌ„ wasted corrupted yet it muste needes come to passe that it shal be raysed vp againe in due tyme vnto lighte and lyfe and so enioyne eternall blisfulnes with Christe For thys cause christian men departed are not called deade but are sayed to be a sleepe euerye where in the scriptures S. Paule confirmeth this our fayth wheÌ„ he saith that as Iesus died and rose againe so God shal bringe them agayne with hym whiche are fallen a sleepe thorowe Iesus He sayth thus also Philip. iij. Our coÌ„uersation is in heauen from whence we loke for a sauiour Iesus the Lorde which shal transfigure our base bodie that he may make it like vnto his glorious bodie etc. Whiche thynge that it may be more euident the Apostle teacheth vs not onely that the deliueraunce of the faythful froÌ„ death raysyng vp againe vnto euerlastyng reste shal be moste certeine but also he addeth wyth expresse wordes i. Thessa iiij with howe great glorie and maiestie these thynges shal be done For thus he speaketh Thys we say to you in the worde of the Lorde that no man shulde thynke that these be dreames or imaginations of meÌ„nes braynes but that it is the Lordes worde and therefore heaueÌ„ and earth must needes passe awaye rather then one iote thereof shoulde fayle and thys is that true and euerlastyng and vnchaungeable worde of the Lorde that we whiche shall lyue and remayne vnto the Lordes coÌ„ming shal not preuent theÌ„ whiche sleepe For the Lorde him selfe shall descende from heauen wyth a shoute and voice of the Archangell and trompe of God that is to saye wyth so great glorie and maiestie as was neuer sene in the earth before and the deade shal fyrste ryse agayne wyth Christe and then we whiche shal be aliue which shal remayne shal be caught vp with them in the cloudes into the ayre to mete the Lorde and so we shal be euer wyth the Lorde Seinge then that thys our brother whoÌ„ we haue nowe brought to hys graue was baptised in the name of Christe and embraced his gospell and confirmed and declared the same his fayth with communicatinge at the Lordes supper and finally departed in the confession of Christ we haue good hope that God hath forgiuen him hys sinnes for Christ sake hath receyued hym in to the fauour and so ioyned him to the death and resurrection of hys beloued sonne that at the sounde of the trompe of the archaungel in a moment in the twinckling of an eye he shal come out of hys graue to meete Christ and shall obteyne with al the sayntes the inheritauÌ„ce of the heauenly kingdome and enioye euerlastinge blisfulnes Wherefore lette vs also giue thankes to oure Lorde God for him and lette vs besech hym ernestly that he wyll brynge vs to the true knowledge of Christ thorough the holi gost whereby we maye ouer come death and be kepte in death it selfe vnto euerlastinge life thorough Christe our Lorde praie ye oure father which art c. ⧠Another buriall sermon Forasmuch as it hath pleased almyghtye God that accordynge to hys mercye he woulde take thys oure brother out of thys worlde vnto hym selfe to whose buriall we are come together of brotherlie loue in the name of Christe it shall not be vnprofitable to set before you the Euangelicall lesson of Lazarus raysed vp by Christe whiche is in Iohn Chap. xi in thys sorte Martha sayed vnto Iesus Lorde if thou haddest bene here my brother had not bene dead etc. In this Gospell Christe promiseth to Martha that hir brother shall ryse againe and streighte waye he called hym agayne to lyfe beinge foure dayes dead Howbeit we must not thinke that Christ wyth thys notable miracle woulde signifie that euery maÌ„ after foure dayes shal be raysed vp to this temporall and momeÌ„taine life as Lazarê° was but with this acte he would coÌ„firme and establishe the truth of his Gospell whiche he comprehended in thys place with fewe wordes and as it were in a suÌ„me saiyng I am the resurrectioÌ„ and lyfe he that beleueth in me though he be deade he shall lyue and euery one that lyueth and beleueth in me shall not dye for euer And though the face of death by reason of sinne be very terrible and horrible as one that of hir owne nature draweth wyth hir euerlastyng daÌ„nation yet seing that Christe hath abolished sinne and escaped the dominion of death thorowe his resurrection he hath taken also froÌ„ death all hir power and strength so that who so beleueth in him and is planted into his body thorowe fayth as a liuely meÌ„bre he shall be preserued in death it selfe and shal be traÌ„slated froÌ„ death to lyfe As Paule testifieth Christ is rissen from the deade he was the first fruite of theÌ„ that had fallen a sleepe For seing that death came by man the resurrection of the dead cometh also by man For as by Adam all men dye so by Christe al men be quickened etc. Wherfore the death of theÌ„ whiche cleane to the body of Christe thorowe fayth ought not to be compted suche as shoulde haue streÌ„gth to destroye and condemne but suche as before God is compted precious and is as it were entronised coÌ„secrated of Christ to be the dore and entry into euerlasting life Though the bodie then beinge buried in the earth vanishe away and be coÌ„founded from the eyes of meÌ„ yet God which is almightie preserueth the life of it As a grayne of corne cast vpoÌ„ the earth first dieth and afterward bringeth forth fruite so god hath also ordeined that maÌ„nes body being now rotten and consumed shoulde yet be restored agayne vnto lyfe This is a diuinite and an vnchaungeable truth that this selfe same
body shal ryse agayne thorowe the power of God but neuertheles it shall not be subiecte to any incōmoditie or miseries wherwith it is now afflicted yea rather it shal be clarified wyth so great and so excellēt glorie as mānes minde cā atteine with no thought Paule then speaketh after this sorte It is sowen in corruption and riseth againe in incorruptibilitie it is sowen in dishonour and riseth in glorie it is sowen in weakenes and ryseth in power it is sowen a natural bodie and riseth agayne a spiritual body etc. Iohn also writeth thus Now we are the chyldrē of god and it hath not yet appeared what we shall be But we know that when he shal appeare we shal be lyke vnto hym etc. Seing then that so singuler and excellent glorie is layed vp for vs thorow Christ Iesus and nothinge ought to be more certeine vnto vs thē this redemption frō death and resurrectiō vnto eternal saluation not surely for ani of our merites towards god but for Christes sake in whō we beleue Vndoubtedly we oughte to endeuour our selues by all meanes that some fruites of thys glorious resurreccion may appeare in vs thorow the holy goste euen in thys temporall lyfe that is to say that we rise agayne frō sinnes and liue a blameles lyfe that we doubte not and despeyre wyth the vnfaythfull but loke for the cōminge of oure Lorde Iesu Christe wyth a sure truste This our brother also whō we brought forth euen nowe to be buried seinge that beinge baptised he acknowledged and professed the same Iesus Christ to be the true and onely authour of his saluatiō we ought not to doubt but that he is coupled to the death and resurrection of Iesus Christe that now thorowe Christe he hath obteyned remission of his sinnes and hath receiued with Christ and all the sayntes the enheritaunce of euerlastyng lyfe and peace Wherfore let vs all gyue God thākes together and let vs pray hym to mainteyne true and certeyne knowledge of Christe in vs and to make the same effectuous in vs thorowe his resurrection Praye ye and saye the Lordes prayer ⧠An other sermon at a burial of a yonge man or yonge woman Christian loue cōpassion hath brought vs to thys place to the buryall of a yonge man in Goddes name Seinge then that we can do nothynge that maye be either more fruitefull or more comfortable to vs then if we exercise oure selues in Goddes worde and considre the doctrine and actes of oure Lorde Iesu Christe diligently lette vs sette before vs that lesson of the Gospell whiche is wrytten in Luke Chap. vij And it came to passe afterwarde that Iesus went into a Citie called Naim and many of his disciples wente wyth hym and a great multitude And as he approched to the gate of the Citie beholde a corpse was in cariynge forth etc. ⧠If it be a yonge mayden let the Gospel of Mathew be reade Chapiter ix A certeine Prince came to Iesus and worshypped hym sayinge my daughter dyed euen nowe but come and lay thy hande vpō hir and she shall lyue etc. Thys present historie of the Gospell setteth before vs a notable miracle of a maiden raysed vp agayne by Christ Whiche deede we muste not so take as though Christ dyd signifie that all deade men before they be buried muste be called agayne into this life whiche is temporall wretched and subiecte to death but his purpose was to stablishe the truth of his Gospell and by the waye to declare also thys thynge that the fruite of his Gospell and heauenlie ryches perteyneth not only to aged mē but also to yonge personnes And where as we see both olde men and yonge to dye thereof we may gather that the same cometh not to passe at all auentures and by chaunce but by a certeine wōderful wysedome and purpose of God God also wyll sette before our eyes thorowe suche exemples howe vncerteyne the lotte of thys lyfe is and admonishe vs therwyth that we passe not ouer thys lyfe wyth negligence and sluggishnes but seing wythout Christe there is no saluation nor blisfulnes that we prepare our selues to the true knowledge of Christe and to christian obedience Furthermore he woulde declare the greatnes of original synne by the death of thys yonge personne For though after mannes iudgement there be greater hope of saluation in the death of a yonge man in whom so greate outwarde synnes be not founde as in men of more age yet in theyr causes we muste vse Goddes iudgemente and not mannes Neither oughte we in anie wyse to thynke that anie man shall obteyne saluation thorowe his owne innocencie But seinge that death whiche is the rewarde of synne inuadeth both yonge and olde it is a playne testimonie that they be not free frō synne but are comprehended in that general sentence of Paule to the Romaines where he sayeth by one man synne entred into the world and death thorow sinne and so death went ouer all men forasmuche as we haue synned Furthermore the nature of sinne vttereth it selfe euen in chyldrē as they growe in age by sundrie fruites of vices Wherfore God forfende that we should thynke that yonge men obteyne saluation thorowe the merite of their owne innocencie Yea they oughte aswell as olde menne to acknowledge that they receyue theyr whole saluation thorowe the innocencie of Christ Wherfore that yonge men maye be saued they muste needes enioye the innocencie of Christe For as Peter sayeth there is none other name gyuē to men wherein they must be saued but in the name of Iesus Christe Nowe yonge folke are so planted in Christe thorowe Baptisme that they are made his lyuely mēbres by that meanes haue right to all his goodes For Paule sayeth al you that be baptised haue putte on Christe For as before God there is neither bondmā nor free neither male nor female so there is neither chylde nor olde man but all we be one in Christe Iesu Vndoubtedly Christe hath deserued thorowe his death forgyuenes of synne and is rissen agayne from death Wherefore it is a thynge ryghte certeyne that younge folke also beinge Baptised in Christe haue alreadie obteyned remission of synnes and that it is not possible that they shoulde vtterly perishe in death but contrarie wyse they muste needes be raysed vp agayne frō death to life thorowe Christ For so Paule sayth we are buried with him thorowe Baptisme vnto death If we be grafted in hym by the lykenes of his death we shall also be partakers of his resurrection Seinge then thys yonge personne whose corpse we broughte forth euen nowe was baptised in the name of Christ and brought vp in Christian doctrine and moreouer acknowledged Christ to be his only saluation and openly declared this his fayth by communicatynge at the Lordes Supper surely we haue a good hope that this death is not death in deede but rather is a sleepe vnto hym out of whiche sleepe he shall be raysed inconuenient tyme vnto
thy seruauntes that peace whiche the worlde can not gyue that our hertes beinge wholy cōsecrated to thy cōmaundementes and the feare of our enemies being remoued oure tyme thorowe thy protection maye be wythout stormes and quiet thorowe oure Lorde etc. An other Collecte The minister Entre not Lorde into iudgemente wyth thy seruaunt The Quier For no liuing creature shal be iustified in thy syght The minister Almightie God which knowest that we beinge in the middest of so great perels can not stande by reason of mannes weakenes graunt vs saluation of bodie and soule that by thy healpe we may ouercome those thinges whiche aflicte vs for oure synnes thorowe our Lorde etc. ⧠Of cōmune almes IT is the propre and necessarie office of euerie cōgregation rightly ordred and instituted to prouide that none amonge thē want necessarie thynges to lyue well and godly but that euerie mā whom God hath broughte and enioyned to eche cōgregation be ministred vnto asmuche as shall suffice hym to lyue godly and moreouer that they procure that no mā liue idly and be burtheuous to other to which ministerie the primitiue churche appointed Stephane wyth his cōpanions Act. vi Wherefore we wyll also procure that in euerie cōgregation some mē of notable godlines wysedome and faythfulnes beinge approued by the testimonies of euerie cōgregatiō shal be appointed by the visiters as many as shal seme to suffice for that purpose in euerie place These men shal note the names of all needie folke and shall diligētly obserue in what neede euerie man is and howe he liueth and they shal also exhort euerie man to worke accordynge to his strēgth and shal withdrawe almes frō them that cā worke and wyl not according to the saiynge of Paule he that worketh not lette hym not eate It shall perteyne to these prouostes of the holy almes to laye vp in the ecclesiasticall treasurie all maner almes and oblatiōs that godly men shal offre to the Lorde in the congregatiō or giue priuately and therout they shal distribute to pore folke according to euerie mānes necessitie and shal giue an accōpte of al that they receyue and lay forth to thē whom we wyll appoynt thereunto And that mē may offre their giftes to the Lorde more liberally we wyl that there be a peculiar place and chest ordeyned in euerie tēple for this purpose not farre frō the alter that it maye be in the sighte of al the people And the preachers shall diligently exhorte the people that they appeare not emptie before the Lorde chiefely vpon sūdaies and as oftē as a great cōpanie is gathered together when baptisme is ministred the Lordes supper cōfirmation the blessing of mariage and when men resorte together to a buriall Itē as oftē as mē priuately either desire the healpe of God in some greate necessitie or gyue thākes to God for singuler benifitee as whē the Lorde hath sent or remoued diseases or other daungers or hath otherwyse dealte bountuously wyth vs. Furthermore we wyll that the foure offeryng daies in a yere be kept that thei which communicate at the Lordes table may offre some gifte foure tymes in the yere whiche thing they ought to do no we the more gladly for that that they knowe that they truly offre to Christ him selfe in his mēbres according to his worde wherfore they shal heare in time to come that blessed voice Come the blessed of my father possesse a kyngdome prepared for you frō the begynnynge of the worlde for I hungred and you gaue me to eate etc. We wyl also prouide by the healpe of God that in no parte of these ablations of the faythfull be gyuen to anie bodie but suche as neede in deede and chiefely to Citizins and Iudwellers of euerie place and amonge those to them principally that be in greatest neede as to widowes Orphanes sicke folke such as be otherwise oppressed with nede miserie Finalli asmuch as may be spared shall also be giuen to straungers And forasmuche as this maner of gatherynge and distributing the offerynges and almes of the faythfull was taught of God him selfe both in the newe testament and in the olde the faythfull wyl gladly applie thē selues therunto and wil much rather cōferre these their almes into the cōmune treasurie of the cōgregatiō thē distribute the same to poure folke after their owne myndes For when most approued mē shal be made ouerseers of this matter by the hole cōgregatiōs after the institution of the holie goste what man is there that wyl stande so much in his owne conceyte that he wyll not beleue that suche men shall both se better than he hymselfe canne in whome Christ the Lorde is to be cherished and wyth a more sincere iudgement distribute to the membres of Christe For God is not absente with his blessinges from his owne institucions As for commen almes remayninge and other reuenues giuen to the Lord for the vse of the poore Item the goodes that fraternites haue for the same liberalite we wyl procure that they shal be broughte together by the visitours into the commune treasurie of euerye cōgregacion that al poore folke maie be more lyberally succoured It is a verye harde thinge and full of busines to minister thinges necessarie for lyfe to all persones that nede neuertheles bi the helpe of Christ the Lorde wee wyll so order this promision for the pore and cause it so to be administred that we doubte not it shall shortely come to passe that al maner of necessarie thinges shal be liberally ministred to all such as nede vn fainedly and that wilful beggerie shal be taken awaye and euerye man putte to such labour as shal be profitable and comodious for him so that he shal burthen no man with out cause If theyr remainie in anye plase hospitalles for poore people for orphanes for olde men and women for sicke and leprosse persones we shal procure that the same shal be diligently loked vpon and reformed that nedie and miserable folke for whome those prouisions were made maye haue consolacion and comforte from thens as largely and cōmodiously as maye be And the cheife deacons of congregacions and wardens of the holie treasure shal haue charge of them so that by them whiche heretofore haue had the procuration of such hospitalles all thynges shal be so administred as they were first instituted that all the necessites of the faythful maie be most commodiously holpen and succourred accordynge to the Lordes commaundment and that alfautes and incommodites whyche are wounte to crepe into these holi institutions shal be resisted in tyme and that effectuosly ⧠Of erectinge of Scholes for Children GOd hath comprehended in the writinges of the prophetes and the Apostles hys doctrine of saluacion whereby he bringeth men to euerlastinge life and sheweth vs awaye to calle vpon him and to praye to hym fore thinges that be verie necessarie to passe furth this present life handsomely and honestly He hath cōmaūded that men be taught this
a lesson these two exercises must be diligently retained namely that the childrē do euer declare the constructiō of the text and also adde the rules so that they recite the coniugations and declinations and shewe the rules of the same In this exercise of repetinge and examininge a lerned and faithful master shal teach how manie waies the same sentence maye be spoken in latine with such declaracions of the propriete and elegancie of the latine toung they shal cause more plentious fruit than may be here fully expressed But this matter consisteth altogether in the faythfulnes and dexterite of the master Wherfore men thoroughly learned faythfull and prompte in teachinge must be sought furth to haue the gouernance of scholes cheifely in greate townes In thys fourme there shal be a certayne howre appoynted euerye weeke at whyche howre the childrē shal reherse wythout boke the rules of grammar that they forget them not The masters maye also change thir lectures and in the howre deputed to virgil expoune Tullies epistles In thys furme also euerie childe shall write and delyuer euery weeke a latine Epistle that together thei may learne both to speake to write latyne The fourth fourme shal be of thē whiche haue lerned theyr grammare rules and construction and haue attained a metly good latyne toung To thē afterwarde some logike shal be red as the logik of Cesarius Philip or Sturmius and some easie accentinge as of Murmelius or some other lyke In thys fourme more ouer some bookes of Ouides Metamorphosis de Pōto and Tullies offices shal be red The childrē of this fourme shal also be sterred vp to write verses which they shall deliuer to the master euerie month But forasmuch as manie be of that nature that thei lern to mak verses with much difficultie the shole master shal vse such moderacion in requiringe thys studie that he maye exercise euerie one in that that he shall perceyue the nature of euerie one to preuaile in Howe be it he shall exhorte the dulle also to this arte that thei do not vtterly caste a waie thys art for the greate profite which it hath vndoubtedly But they shall stirre them to trauaile furth as much as they canne and to write some verses though they be but fewe For this exercise maketh perfite grammarians and putteth the youth in remembraūce of manie necessarie thinges of figures of sōdrie wayes to speake latine and fedeth maruailously copie of latine speach Two howres a weeke shal suffice for the readinge of logike But whan it is ended it must be begonne a gayne At other howres the master shal interprete to theim to whom logike is red the greke grammare if they be fitte for that purpose whan he hath ended the grammare he shal expoune Hesiodus or Phocilides or some like thinge as a wise master shal percieue to be profitable for the children But the exercises of grammar rules and construction shal not be omitted in thys fourme but shal be vsed in the repeticion of Ouide These be the lectures whiche maye conuenently be reade the seconde thirde fifte and sixte daye of the weke For seinge that christiā scholes ought chifely to serue for the mainteinaunce and furtheraūce of the knowlege of God among men and to retaine and promote the doctrine of Christe and the hole true Christian religion we wyll and commaund that vpon the furth daie of the weke the schole cease frō other lectures and exercises and that thys daye be bestowed vpon teaching the catechisme and demaūde what the chilhren canne saye therein And we wyll do oure endeuoure that some commē and vniforme Catechisme shal be vsed thorought the hole diocese For we must not graunte to the scholemasters that euerie one shall make a newe catechisme but we wyll that they all vse the receyued whiche they shal so decylre and beate in to children that the youth maye be kepte and euer furthered in the syncere knowlege of Christ in fayth and communion of the congregacion And the selfe same doctrine must be taught in the scholes and in the cōgrgaciōs Which thinges the ouerseers of the congregacions shal cheifly loke to Furthermore the scholemayster shal exhorte his elder sholars to the communion of the Lords supper but let him first enstructe them diligently of this sacrament and examen them Finally in this fourth daye of the weke whan the catechisme shabe handled let eueri childe of the lowest fourme be hearde whether he can faye in latine and in hys mother toung the partes of the catechisme that is to saye the Lordes praier the crede the ten commaundmentes the wordes of baptisme and of the Lordes supper and of discipline and christian correction as they are wrytten Math. xviij Vpon the same day the schole master shal grammatically interprete to hys elder sholers and to suche as canne attaine to it the Gospel of the sondaye nexte folowyng and shal declare the sume of that lesson to them and shewe them what thinges are touched therein concerninge faith and other vertues that the scholemaster and the youth may accustome them selues to knowe more certainly and to serch out more religiousli the thiuges that be taught in the Gosples lette the Saturday be bestowed vpon Musike that vpon that daye the rules of Musike may be taught and the yong men enstructed and exercised to singe cheifely those songes which vpon the nexte sondaye shal be sounge in the temple For scholemaysters and scholars must not only be present at the songes in the congregacions befor other but they must al so beare the cheifeste stroke not only vpon holie dayes but also vpon other dayes whā there shal be holye assembles as it shal be appointed after the cōdicion and commodites of euerie place In this mater suche moderacion must be kept that the childrens heath be not hurted in the winter thorought colde if they be deteined to long in the temple and that they be not so occupied in singinge that theyr study of lerninge be hindred It pertaineth also to the maintenaunce and encrese of grauite and religion in temples that to sondrie and longe songes be not vsed But these thinges and suche other that pertaine to the dignitie of holie assembles edificaciō of the people of Christ the visiters shal appoint accordinge to the oportunitie of euerie place ¶ Of the schole of deuinitie But for maiteinaunce of Christean doctrine and holesome administration of churches those firste beginninges are not onely required whyche be gotten in the scholes of children but furthermore it is necessarie that men giuen theym selues altogether to lerne perfetly the vniuersal scripture of the prophetes and the Apostles and to excusse al the hearde questions whyche haue exercised the churche from the begninge Item to knowe the waye and meane whereby the holy fathers in theyr time defēded the Lordes truth in the cōgregacion and kepete the same pure vnto vs and finallye howe we maye in our time defende and retaiue the same That there maye bee
profitable to the coÌ„gregation and whiche moste shamefully waste so greate riches consecrated to Christe the Lorde and to his coÌ„gregation Wherfore al princes and such as administre the supreme power ought to see that these thinges be corrected after a christian sort and that these coÌ„secrated gyftes of godly meÌ„ may be turned to that vse for which they were dedicated to the Lorde Whiche thinge we truste by the healpe of God we wyll procure not vnprofitably with the aduise of our men ⧠By what meanes a christiaÌ„ reformation of holy ministerie and cure of soules may be begonne and practised in parishes THat parishes and the holye ministeries in the people of Christe maye be ryghtly seene vnto it is chiefely necessarie that euerie parishe haue his meete ministers whiche wyll do theyr office in the congregations wyth al faythfulnes and diligence Wherfore first we wyl procure that al parishes be exactly visited by wyse and graue men whiche woulde gladly Christes worde to be promoted These men shal exameÌ„ what maner of pastours and ministers be in euerie congregation For if the people shal be ryghtly brought to Christ the Lorde and be instituted edified in faith towardes hym they muste needes haue suche guydes and pastours as be learned vnto the kyngdome of God as saynte Paule prescribeth vnto his disciples Timothe and Tite and such as burne wyth a zeale to brynge many therunto finally suche as be meete to teache other to keepe those thynges that Christe hath commaunded vs all to keepe so that the pastours and ministers be furnished to teache other faste keepers of the faythfull worde that they may be able to exhorte thorowe holesome doctrine and confute them that gaynesaye the same For if the salte be made vnsauerie no thynge caÌ„ be salted therwyth and if the light be darkened darkenes obscureth all thynges But it behoueth pastors techers of coÌ„gregatioÌ„s to be to other in the steede of salte and a candle in the waye of the Lorde You be sayeth Christe to his disciples the salte of the earth and the light of the world Wherefore by the healpe of God we wyll procure wyth as great diligence as we can that in oure dominion suche be made pastours and ministers ouer congregations as wyth vnfeyned diligence laboure to lyue accordynge to the Canon taught of the holie goste by the ministerie of saynt Paule and moste straitely required by all the Canons of the holie fathers though being letted thorowe mannes weaknes they can not perfectly atteyne to the same neuertheles at the leste in the principall matters whiche perteyne to the holie ministerie they shall ordre all theyr doinges accordynge to thys Canon Firste then whiche thynge is also necessary to the reformatioÌ„ of the church we haue determined to admitte none to the administration of congregations â—e to suffre anie in the same whiche is in a manifeste crime of intemperantie or vnchastnes or couetousnes by vniust gaine by vsurie or any other fraude in bargaining or in any wroÌ„ge done to his neighbour yea whiche declareth not a true zeale to lyue temperately iustly gently friendly and godly and to enstructe their household in the same way For where thys zeale wanteth there lyuely fayth can not be nor the true knowledge of Christe Howe can suche then teache fruitefully and be meete witnesses of the fayth in Christe For asmuche as they buyld wyth doctrine so muche they pull doune agayne with their vncleane lyfe For it can not be that suche should coÌ„stantly teache true doctrine seinge they loue not God truely Wherefore it is muche more tollerable to haue fewe and the same verie godly pastours and feruent in the zeale of Christ tyl God him selfe vouch safe to thruste forth more meete workmen in to his harnest then to coÌ„mitte the congregations though they be neuer so small to their faythfulnes whiche them selues knowe not Christ For no man knoweth Christ which studieth not to obey his commaundementes and to keepe him selfe cleane froÌ„ wicked and mischeuous actes i. Iohn iij. Euerie one that sinneth hath not sene God nor knoweÌ„ him And that al vnchastnes and vncleane life may bemore easely turned awaye from the ministers of the congregations we beseche exhort and require of them al whiche be now set ouer the coÌ„gregations or shal be hereafter that wyth all diligence they ordre theyr lyfe so godly temperately chastly and holily that they maye be guydes to the people of Christe not onely in doctrine but also in exemple of life and that they may bring the same to Christe castinge before no man anie blocke to stumble at thorowe dissolute and vnchast lyfe But to whoÌ„ it is not giueÌ„ to liue blameles and holily without mariage we thynke it not our parte to forbidde them holie mariage But thys we beseche them and require of them that if they wyl entre into holy mariage they entre into it holily and in the Lorde that is to saye lette them seeke them selues suche wyues as they maye well hope shal be an healpe to them not onely to leade forth theyr priuate lyfe godly and wythout reprofe but also to execute the holie ministerie of the coÌ„gregation more readely and religiously Let them then desire of the Lorde and wyth godly diligeÌ„ce let them seeke women excellinge in religion and all honestie godly and holily brought vp hauyng good testimonie amonge the congregation For the holie goste requireth suche wyues of the ministers of the congregation and the verie great necessitie of the congregations requireth the same They that desire to marie them whom they had for concubines before shall not be permitted so to do wythout the consent of the visitors whiche shall determine herein that that shall seme to be profitable for the congregation and conuenient for the holie ministerie For euen the familie of the pastours must garnishe the Gospel of Christ and theyr wyues muste be an exemple to other wiues in al godlinesse and chastitie As the holy goste commaunded by S. Paule Secondly we haue determined to admit no man to thys ministerie nor to suffre anie therein whiche applieth not the readynge of the holie Bible and hath not profited so far in christian doctrine and lyfe and also in the knowledge of administringe the congregation of God that at the lest he be able to declare the customable and communely vsed lessons whiche are wonte to be propouned to the whole congregation out of the scriptures and conueniently handle by the same the principal articles of oure doctrine and moreouer enstructe tollerably chyldren and more aged folke yea the vniuersal people of Christ in the religion of Christ Thirdly whereas that a maÌ„ may rightly ordre the holy ministerie profitably serue the coÌ„gregations therin it is necessarie that he entangle not hym selfe in the busines of thys lyfe but gyue hym selfe wholy with al diligence to readyng doctrine prayer we exhort and require by the coÌ„maundement of Christ and by the authoritie of our archebishoply
the same frely and fraÌ„kly without let or perturbatioÌ„ of any man howbeit vnâ—er this coÌ„ditioÌ„ that in doctrine celebratioÌ„ of Masses administratioÌ„ of the sacrameÌ„tes and other ecclesiastical ministeries thei so behaue them selues as it is described in thys our forme of reformaâ—ioÌ„ and that thei ordre their life as it becommeth theÌ„ that profes the discipline of clearks and thei must passe other in religioÌ„ that not only nobody be offeÌ„ded with their conuersaâ—ioÌ„ but that manie by theyr exemple may be alured and stirred vp vnto al godlines and honesti Further that thei so order and moderat their lessoÌ„s and soÌ„ges in the teÌ„ple that thei fech al thinges that thei wil read or sing out of the diuine scriptures or at the lest that thei disseÌ„t not froÌ„ the same Which thing that we may bring to passe more coÌ„modiously certainli we offer our selues to chuse to ioyne mete meÌ„ for this purpose to theÌ„ whoÌ„ it shal please our supreÌ„e caÌ„ons to depute to this matter which with their choseÌ„ meÌ„ shal examen the bokes of holie lessoÌ„s and soÌ„ges that ar now vsed and shal frame al thinges that must be read or songe in the temples thorough the yere according to the rules of the holie scriptures So that not only our principal Chap college but also al other clerkes thorough oure citie and diocese shal haue a forme and maner that they maye folowe to reade and singe in temples And that the vse of the latine tounge maye be keptein congregacions we wil that it be fre and lawful not only to our principal Cha. and college but also to al other colleges thorough our diocese to vse the latine tounge in goddes seruice yet so that wher as parishes be incorporated to colleges those lessoÌ„s and soÌ„ges which are vsed for the peple be red and soÌ„g in douch as it is coÌ„stituted in this our fourme of reformacion that the coÌ„men people maye vnderstande the thinges that shal bee red or songe out of the scripture and adde their A men to the same Thirdly let the colleges of CanoÌ„s thorowe our whole dioses prouide that the parishes which they haue had long time in corporated wante not mete pastours teachers and scholemasters And that they be not defrauded of iuste wages lest these coÌ„gregacions shoulde want lawful ministerie both of religioÌ„ also of coÌ„mune lerninge And if the colleges shall thyncke that they are burthened therewith their maye some vicarages whan they shall be vacant be turned to thys vse which is right necessarie for the coÌ„gregacioÌ„s Fourthly that there be appointed in our preÌ„cipal college tow men of excelleÌ„t lerninge religion to preach to the coÌ„men people daily to whom let their be tow prebeÌ„des assigned and it shal be coÌ„uenieÌ„t that they be exeÌ„pted froÌ„ the quiare for the purpose rehersed Fiftly that thei order a schole of the college with singular diligeÌ„ce that the yonge princes and Erles whiche be appoÌ„inted to the high college and also other maye be so taught and enstructed therein that they maye be an ornament and aide boeth to theÌ„selues and also to other and to the hole congregacion of God Sixtly we require that eueri prelate and caÌ„non of our principal colledges execute the ministerie that is peculyarly enioyned to euery man faythfully and diligently that is to say that the prouost and eueri ArchdeacoÌ„ prouide euerye man in his Archdenerie first that the congregations and scholes be fayth fulli loked vpoÌ„ and renued in tyme. SecoÌ„dly that the goodes of the church be faithfully kept and distributed and nothing wasted therof or alienated from the congregation Furthermore that euery maÌ„ exercise his iurisdictioÌ„ in his Archedenery after that sorte and reformation that hertofore we haue prescribed in our seculer and ecclesiastical iudgemeÌ„tes and will prescribe hereafter by the aduise and consent of our counsayle Finallye let this be the proper charge of the prouest that asmuch as he may he mantain the goodes of al the churches and suche as shal be geuen to scholes and that he bring to passe that al the ministeries of the congregacioÌ„s of hys Archedenery be restored and preserued euery where and renued whaÌ„ the matter shal so require accordinge to Gods word and this is our forme of reformatioÌ„ So it shal pertain to the Deane of the principal colledge first to labour herein that all ecclesiastical ministeries administrations of sacrameÌ„ts and their ceremones be ordred and executed chiefli in the principal college afterwarde in other coÌ„gregatioÌ„s also accordynge to the lordes worde and thys our reformatioÌ„ Secondly that all the Canons of the principal college order theyr life wel and honestli and liue in Christian discipline as their profession requireth Further that he bestowe faithful labour aboute the colleges matters that they maye be rightly and timeli haÌ„dled and dispatched as coÌ„modiously as maye be Finalli that he haue a peculiar charge of the preachers of the high college that there be euer mete meÌ„ appointed and that they which be appointed do their dutie diligently For the perfurmaunce of al these thinges the SubdeaÌ„e or VicedeaÌ„e muste be an helper to the Deane and in the absense of the Dean he must exequute al the forerehersed matters pertaning to the Deane The ouerfear of the Quiar shal procure that al thinges be coÌ„ely and religiously red and soung in the Quiar and in the assemble that is wounte to come to gether to the principal temple and that al troblesome and vncomelie actioÌ„s be eschwed The office of the scholerulers of the principal college shall be first to prouide diligently that the schole of the high colege haue faithfull and mete teachers and that the same order and exequite their lecturs and ecclesiastical exercises rightli and coÌ„ely SecoÌ„dli to procure that the yonger Canons be stirred vp warned and pricked furth to godlie and honest studies of lerninge and also to a semelie institution and framinge of their life and maners Further to watch that thei which must be appointed to the holie ministeries be lawfully examined and that no maÌ„ be admitted or ordained to any holy ministery except he be approued accordinge to this our reformacion Finally he shall faythfully exequite his wounted office in the chapter houses in demaundinge of sentences and in speakinge and aunswering In the name of the chapter After the same sorte other Canons also must faithfully applie their office and ministerie aswel noble meÌ„ as priestes in reading and in haÌ„dlinge matters of the college in the Chapter and obeinge theyr prelates as it is conuenient And whaÌ„ Canons which be priestes shal not be bouÌ„d to somanie masses as they haue ben heretofore it woulde please vs that this waie be kepte coÌ„cernig them hereafter namely that tow of them be deputed and bounde vpon the soÌ„daies and holie daies to celebrate the holie Eucharista and to dispense sacramentes Tow to preache whyche therefore shoulde be fre froÌ„ the Quiar Tow to reade diuinite in the scholes
euer adde also to thys oure admonition and exhortion the sentence of Paule if they conteyne not lette them be maried For it is better to be maried then to burne what so euer men agaynste the same haue willed or commaunded or require thorowe theyr authoritie or fauour For against that that the Lord pronounceth to be better no maÌ„ mai vowe or coÌ„maund or require or perfourme by any meanes Wherefore we beseche and exhorte in the Lorde the pareÌ„tes and kinsfolke of these personnes that in them whom God hath committed to theyr charge which were borne of them and be ioined to theÌ„ by bloude or some other diuine copulation they wyll not preferre temporall coÌ„modites and ornamentes before euerlastyng and that they wyl rather considre thys thynge well and religiously that our whole wealth lyeth in the free and bolde inuocatioÌ„ of Goddes mercie thorowe our Lorde Iesus Christe Which inuocation can not stande wyth an euyl conscience But they whiche burne bicause they haue not the gyfte of geldyng them selues for the kyngdome of God if they refuse the remedie of burnynge that is to witte holie wedlocke they can verie scantly maintaine a good conscience For who so whyle he maye studieth not to embrace that that God hath iudged better he vndoudtedly dispireth god whose holsome counsel he regardeth not The Lordes worde standeth cleare and euident It is better to be maried then to burne And it oughte to comforte godly parentes whom God hath honoured rather then burthened wyth a greate meanie of chyldren that he hath promised that all other thynges shal be added vnto them which seeke the kingdome of God and the ryghtuousnes thereof thorowe his prouidence whiche surely can neuer leaue his destitute of anie maner of true commodities Lette them comforte them selues wyth thys and suche other lyke promises of God They whiche haue more chyldren then that they caÌ„ thynke that they may prouide meete mariages for them all accordynge to the dignitie of theyr familie lette them not doubte if principally they seeke the kyngdome of God and the ryghtuousues thereof for theyr daughters and sonnes permittynge vnto them holie mariage where as they haue not receyued the gyfte to serue God wythout the same let them not doubte I saye but that God wyll surely blesse both their chldren other so plentifully that they shall haue plaine experience that there is nothynge more profitable that nothinge obteineth greater blessing of god for al necessities of life theÌ„ faithfully simply to folowe his word and wil. Furthermore how horrible a thing should it be to be heard that christian noble meÌ„ or other wyse exccelleÌ„t thorowe the singuler benifites of the Lorde shoulde wyllyngly for temporal ritches and worldfly glorie putte theyr chyldren in daunger oeternall damnation and laye before them a snare of synne whom they had begotte to God to enioye eternall lyfe and not to the diuyll to suffre euerlastyng damnation and whom also they had consecrated to Christe to keepe al the thinges that he coÌ„maunded Wo be vnto them sayeth the Lorde by whoÌ„ an occasion of stumblyng commeth And if we hereafter by the councell and aduise of our prouinciall states can healpe godly and honeste men aswell noble as other whiche haue more chyldren then they can wel ioyne in matrimonie accordynge to theyr estate that they maye couple all theyr chyldren whom the Lorde hath called to holy wedlocke in mariages meete for them we wyl omitte no faythfulnes and diligence In the meane whyle lette the parentes and kinsfolke which haue the gouernaÌ„ce of their yongers laboure to shewe suche loue and faythfulnes to theyr chyldren and kinsfolke in thys behalfe whereby they maye declare that they desire nothinge more then the glorie of God to be sette forth in the wealth of they friendes So agayne lette yonge prisoners behaue them selues in suche sorte towardes theyr parentes and Elders as men whiche next after the obedience of God desire nothynge more then to ordre al theyr life to the acceptation and worshyppe of theyr parentes and kinsfolke and to do and suffre al thynges that God wyl haue them to do and suffre accordyng to theyr pleasure More then thys neither we nor other caÌ„ brynge any remedie agaynste the former inconuenience whiche men feare wyll ensue of the remission of monastical bondes I meane that virgines cloisterers returne not out of theyr abbayes to theyr frendes and be burthenous vnto them and also a disworshippe thorow vnaduised mariages or some worse chaunge of lyfe that is But that we maye ease theyr carefulnes whiche are troubled wyth the other incommoditie and feare leste their inheritaunces and patrimonies shal be diminished we beseche theÌ„ and exhorte theÌ„ in the Lorde that first they wyl wel considre that we christen men ought so to regarde teÌ„poral goodes that we do not onely preferre them in no wyse before eternall goodes but also that they be not an hidrauÌ„ce to the same in any poynte Secondly lette them remembre that Goddes lawe after whiche Abraham and other holie fathees lyued graunteth vnto parentes that they maye so distribute theyr temporal goodes amonge theyr chyldren as they shall thynke moste profitable and worshypfull both for theyr familie and also for the congregation of Christ For Abraham made Isaac his iust heyre and gaue to his other chyldreÌ„ though they were lawfulli begotteÌ„ only certain portioÌ„s of his goodes ordered and distributed accordynge to his pleasure So Dauid made not his eldâ—â—t sonne to be successour of his kyngdome but hym whom he iudged to be most meete to administre the same For the same reason Moyses his lawe whiche God him selfe gaue commaundeth that two partes of the inheritage be gyuen to the eldest sonne Thys reason then being wel considered if the same thynge shall seeme good to our diocesanes we wyll thus determine concernynge the enheritaunces of them which shal forsake Monasteries namely that none of them shall haue title to claime those enheritances whiche were distributed amonge the other heyres before that they came out of theyr Abbayes As for the enheritaunces which shal chaunce after that they haue lefte their Abbaies we wil take this ordre in theÌ„ If it be great hinderaunce to anie man to admitte theÌ„ to lyke portions which after cession of inheritaunce lefte their abbaies becaus that the persone trusting in that cession and lokinge for agreater protion of inheritaunce enterprised to marie or beganne som other trade of life so that he should be greatli endammaged if such cession of inheritauÌ„ce should be voide and if they shoulde clame againe their protion whiche had giuen vp the same at their entringe in to monasteries in such a case we wil procure that they whiche shal be putte to such hinderaunce shal be pâ—â—uided for and that they also which haue left their monasteries shal be brought to christiaÌ„ equite so that no body shall haue cause to coÌ„plaine of wronge Further it is conuenient that they which shal be deliuered out of
cloister bondage shewe themselues so thanckeful to God for his inconparable benifite of the pure doctrine of the gospel restored vnto thē and of christian libertie that they shall sone cōpte that sufficient that shal be allotted vnto them how litel soeuer it be only if they maie therewith serue God with a free and safe cōscience But howe soeuer these thinges shall happen and howe soeuer these controuersies maie be prouided for yet Christiā men must remembre that we praie for dailie breade after the sanctificaciō of goddes name and the cōminge of his kingdome wherefore al carefulnes for temporal thinges must serue and gyue place to the sanctificacion of goddes name and to his kingdome ⧠Of fre and not monasticall Colleges of virgines FIrst we will that euerie college shal be lefte in that cōdition cōcerning dignite of birth wherein it is nowe I meane that suche colleges as were appointed to the daughters of Erles be lefte to them and suche as were appointed to knightes daughters be distributed to the same Secondly that abbasses and other virgines in colleges conforme themselues to this our reformacion in doctrine administration of the sacramentes other ceremonies item in the maner of readinge and singinge in the temples so that they reade and sing al thinges in a tounge which they vnderstande It shal be the abbasses parte to bringe vp and reteine the other virgines in the feare of the Lorde in holie moderacion of lyfe and in al honeste and therfore to stirre thē vp with diligēt warning and with the exēple of their owne life Lette the other virgines shew thē selues obedient to the abbasse and other rulers in all godlines sobrietie honest moderaciō of meates drinckes clothing and other thinges and doinges ⧠Of the ordre of sel bretherne And laie brethern SElle brethern in their profession are nexte to true monckrie they liue together they haunte scholes and labour with their hādes Wherefore we will maintein and aide them for these purposes requiring of them only that they purge and moderate their ceremonies lessons and songes accordinge to this our reformacion and that they liue a blameles life in the communion of the congregation where they dwell and in the obediēce of the cōmune pastours So likewise laie bretherne sustine them selues with their labours minister to the sicke and burie the dead Wherefore we wyll also helpe them fatherly and aide them in thys their holie kinde of life asmanie as wil faith fulli exequite these ministeries leade furth all their lyfe godly in the communion of the rest of the cōgregacion and in the obedience of the commune pastours Al these persones must be diligently examined bi the visiters of their ministeries and of their other conuersation and they muste lerne of the same a certaine form and rule of theyr lyfe and treade of lyuinge and they must obserue the same faythfully ⧠The conclusion of the worcke IT hath semed good vnto vs to publishe and set abrode amonge our men al the premisses beynge thus deuised deliberated and gathered together accordyng to oure simplicite but yet faithfully and with a true zeale of our Lorde Iesus Christe as a plaine introductiō to a christiā reformaciō of ecclesiastical matters and therwyth asmuch as the Lord shal permit to satisfie the office and cōmaūdemēt which we acknowlege to be enioyned vnto vs bi God our creator and also by the decree of the cōuocaciō of Ratespone which thinge moreouer our diocesanes haue required of vs haue cōmitted the same vnto vs to set an order therein Which thinges neuertheles we set furth to be receyued and obserued of men committed to oure charge none otherwise than as a beginninge of so holie and necessarie a thinge vntil a generall reformacion of congregacions be made by the holie empire by a fre and christian counsel vniuersall or nacionall or by the most redoubted emperour our most gracious Lord with the princes electors other princes cōmune estates of the holie empire gathered together in the holie Goste Which that the Lord wil graunte to be appointed and receiued with concorde of mindes for the settinge furth of hys glorie and the promotinge of our helth we ought cōtinually to desire and praie of the same Lorde and our God And where as in the meane ceason we offer thys our deuise to our men we do it for none other cause than we haue declared We labour to a voide the faute of inobedience chefely towardes God whyche hath sondrie wayes prescribed vnto vs in hys lawe this charge and thys worcke Secondly also towardes our superiours who inioyned the same thing vnto vs by the decre of the cōsel of Ratespōe Furthermore we studie to eschue the crime of vnfaithfulnes towardes our subiectes to whome requiring nowe the seconde tyme a godli reformacion of ecclesiastical ministerie and giueing vs authorite to order the same we promised this our diligēce which we also owe vnto thē bi reason of our office of an Archbyshop Therefore that we maye perfourme though not fully yet somewhat the thing that was enioined to vs by God and our sauiour and by our superiors and was required of oure men and by vs promised vnto them we bring furth these our deuises and deliberate sentences and deliuer them vnto our men sekinge therewith to promote and maintayne asmuche as the Lorde will vouchsafe to graunte a godlie concorde and holesome edificacion of al men in doctrine holie ceremonies and discipline of Christe and to preserue oure men chefely in thys so daungerous a time in whiche so many heresies and wicked opinions are daili more perniciousli stirred vp aboute vs from al false doctrine and perdicion which certainli foloweth wicked doctrine But if the Lorde hereafter shall reuele his wil vnto vs more largely shal giue vs more of hys grace and spirite we now kepe this liberte vnto vs to enlarge to shorten to chaunge to correcte to declare farther these our deuises institutiōs howbeit none other wise thā after the worde of God and as the Lorde shall graunt vs to perceyue that the same is for hys glorie and the edifcacion of his people whome he hath cōmitted vnto vs. We thought good to declare and testifie these thinges to al christian men which shal reade this boke vnto the glorie of God and profite of his congregacion Whome almightie God and our heauenlie father vouchsafe to illumine dayely more plentifully wyth his spirite and to brynge them farther in to the knowledge of his wyl to giue and encrease in theym mightie strength to folowe the same in all poyntes and at lēgth to make theym throughly blessed through oure sauioure the Lord Iesus Christ to whō be praise honoure glory for euer and euer Amen Finis ⧠Imprinted at London by Iohn Daye dwellyng in Sepulchres paryshe at the sygne of the Resurrection a lytle aboue Houlbourne Conduyt ⧠☞ ✚ ☜