oure neyghbour for Goddes sake But when we wyll serue God onely with suche a kynde of worke that perteyneth not to our neyghbour but is propre and seuerall to God alone than God commaūdeth you not to set before your eyes any outwarde worke but to rest from such workes For this God requireth of vs in thys commaundement And now good children listen vnto me and you shall know the cause why god doth thus He is so riche a God and his maiestie is so mighty y t he hath no nede of our outwarde workes nor wourshyppinges Againe he is so gentle lyberal and mercyfull that of his awne accorde he desireth to do good to all men wherby his name is praysed and honored Therfore he y t wil do pure seruice honor to God let hym gyue himselfe to rest and quietnes not workyng to be made holy by his owne outwarde workes but let hym kepe holy day let him suffer the benefites of God to be powred lyberally and frely vpō hym For to beleue that we receaue all good thinges frely from God to acknowlege them with a trew fayth and gladly to prayse thanke God for thesame is the most excellente and highest honor that can be yelded to him in this life But it is not sufficiēt for vs to kepe y e Sabboth day But the Lorde saith Thou shalte sanctifie the Sabboth day that is to saye we shall bestowe that day about holy heuenly godly thynges Now yf ye desier to knowe with what holye workes you shoulde passe away this day you shal vnderstāde that we can do no geater holy workes thā to heare y e worde of god and to learne y e trew feare of God the right faith in him to prepare our selfes that we may worthely be partakers of the Lordes table therby to receyue great comfort to the quiet of our consciences confirmatiō of oure fayth And moreouer on such dayes cheflye we ought in faythe and spirite feruently to praye to God to gyue vs all good thinges that we lacke and haue nede of and to defende and deliuer vs frō all yl thynges And thus praing we shal not faile to be hearde These be y e chiefe holy daye workes by the whiche God rather serueth and worketh for vs then we for him For when he by hys mynisters causeth his wourde to be preached vnto vs when he distributeth to vs ineffable gyftes of hys sacramentes when he heareth our prayers he is rather beneficial vnto vs thē we be to him Therfore theffecte sūme of this commaundement is as God shoulde say thus Good childerne wil you serue me do that thing that may please me then truste not in your awne workes nor put your confidence in theim For I haue no nede of your labour and workes Come hyther I wyll teache you what ye ought to beleue and to do I wil comforte you wyth the meruelous giftes of my sacramētes I wil heare your praiers you can not giue to me greater honor thē to repayre to me and to suffer me y t I maye powre my benefites vpon you that you may acknowlege me to be your father that you may cast your hole affiance in me and y t you maye loue me as chyldren loueth their fathers and mothers But of this matter you shal heare more in the Crede or articles of the faith In the meane tyme you shall specially marke that althoughe euery man hath nede to labour daily for his dayly fode yet God hath gyuen vs Sabboth dayes or resting tymes in the whiche he hath commaunded not onelye the maisters themselues but also their seruantes and cattel to cesse from bodily labores And yet on those dayes he fedeth vs aswel as on the workynge dayes By the whiche he signifieth vnto vs that althoughe we toyle not continually vntil we be wery yet he wil gyue vs aboūdantly all thinges necessarie when we obey his will first of all seke the kyngdome of God that all other thinges maye be gyuen vs. Hytherto good children you haue bene taughte in what holy workes you ought to spende the Sabboth day now it shall be declared vnto you how great a sinne it is not to sanctifye the same The whiche synne is then committed when we vpon the holye dayes do not heare with greate dilygence and reuerence sermons the most frutefull woorde of God when we do not gyue our myndes to prayer and other Godly workes but to idlenes eatinge drynkynge bankettynge dauncynge lechery dicing cardynge backebytynge slaunderyng and other vngodly workes For the which abuse of holy daies God is grieuously prouoked and punisheth vs greuouslye with dyuerse kyndes of plages but specially with nede and pouertie For so God threateneth in the .xxviii. chapter of Deuteronomie that mē shall labour and toyle bothe daye and nyght and yet shall not be able to worke themselues out of pouertie And it is no meruell For when God gyueth them restynge dayes they doo not sanctifie the same they do not heare the worde of God nor pray to him but wickedly dispise God and his honor spendyng the sabboth daye in the aboue named synfull and vngodly lyfe wherfore God iustly punisheth them with pouertie But peraduenture you wyl say God doth not punishe all y e breakers of this commaundemente with nede and pouertie Trueth it is in deede some there be whiche God doeth not punishe in this lyfe but defferreth theyr punishement vntill the houre of death whē they be vtterlye forsaken of hym whiche is a payne most horrible and euerlastyngly condemned if they amend not in due tyme. Therfore good children eschewe these synnes that be so heynous in the sight of god sanctifie youre Sabboth daye be desirouse to heare the woorde of God praye continually and gyue thankes to God for all his benefites In so doyng you shall surelye please hym and he shall sende you his grace fauour blessynge that all thing maye prosper wyth you that you maye with ioye and gladnes serue youre Lorde God and enioy manye sabbothes or restyng dayes For God is wel content that we haue many restynge dayes so that we spende them wel in holy and godlye exercises and cause not only oure bodyes to rest from labours but also oure myndes from synne For we must kepe the Sabbothe daye not onelye with our bodye but also with oure hartes and myndes which we do when we bridle our owne wil and fleshely lustes and with all reuerence humble our selues to Goddes wyll so that when we reherse the Lordes prayer we maye saye trewly and hertely Thy wyll be donne in earth as it is in heauen For so God testifieth by the prophet Esaie in the .lviii. chapiter saying yf thou wilt absteyne from doyng thy wyll on my holy daye then thou shalt be called a pleasāt Sabboth day that is to saie whē we submit our wyl to the holy wil of God and patiently suffre those thinges whiche he worketh in vs and willeth vs to suffre
be their true and faithfull subiectes of their realmes And euery king geueth commaundementes vnto his subiectes gouerneth theim in suche wyse that they do not euery man what he lyst hym selfe but what it pleaseth his prince to cōmaunde hym Euen so almighty God hath here in earth in his church an heuenly kyngdō And this kyngdō which Christ in his gospell so often calleth the kyngdome of heauen begynneth among his faithful peoble in this worlde And al that truly beleue kepe his commaūdementes parteyne vnto thys kyngdom And whan God by his gospel begynneth to cal vs vnto this kyngdom than the kyngdom of God commeth vnto vs and begynneth in vs. For God beginneth and in dede is the kyng and Lorde of theim that be godly he gouerneth and ruleth theim so that they worke not after y e lustes and desiers of their owne fleshe but as the Lord God who is their kyng teacheth and commaūdeth theim by his worde And kynges and great men in this worlde rule and gouerne by forse by soore threatenynges and greuous paynes and comstrayne their subiectes to obedyence and so they ought to do for it is the ordinance of God but God doeth not order his affaires so ī this forsaid kingdom of heuen but ruleth his subiectes lyke a gentle father by the worde of his gospel and by the holy gost that after this sort God causeth his ghospel to be preached vnto vs howe Christe for our sakes suffered death was buried and rose againe as before you herd in y e Crede Moreouer he openeth oure hertes gyueth vs faith to beleue his gospel And to them y t beleue his gospel he giueth the holy gost which doth gouerne vs and leade vs vnto all trueth For fyrste by faythe we be iustified before God for fayth maketh vs partakers of y e iustice of christ and planteth vs in Christ and he that by true faithe do receyue the promyse of grace to him God gyuethe the holye ghoste by whome charitie is spred abrode in our hertes whiche perfourmethe all the commaundementes Therfore he that beleueth in Christ and truely beleueth y e gospel he is iust holy before God by y e iustice of Christ whiche is imputed gyuē vnto hī as Paule saith Ro. iii. we thinke y t mā is iustified by faith w tout workes He is also iust before y e world because of y e loue charitie which the holy gost worketh in his herte Secondly faith worketh peace and quietnes in oure heartes and consciēces For by faith we be certified that our synnes be forgiuen Therfore saythe sayncte Paule to the Romanes Beyng iustified we haue peace and quyetnesse wyth God by our Lorde Iesus Christ. Thirdely this peace bringeth vnto vs a great and synguler ioy in our hertes and consciences and maketh vs for this excedyng benefite of gods mercy and grace towarde vs feruentely to loue him gladly to laude and praise him to honoure his name and to professe the same before all the worlde euermore to gyue vnto hym moste harti thankes and to be swift and redye to do all thinges that maye please God and to eschewe those thynges that may dysplease hym Thys good children is the sayd kyngdome of God whan by the gospell and the holy ghoste God raygneth in oure hartes whan he worketh in vs our Iustification that we hauynge peace of conscience may haue ioye and comforte in the holy gost of the abundance and plentifulnes of grace and the benefytes of Christe And this is that thinge whiche sayncte Paule speaketh of to y e Romaynes The kyngdome of God is iustice peace and ioy in the holy gost Nowe as an earthly kyng doeth gouerne his subiectes by hys lawes and commaundementes and by his mighte and power so doeth God rule and gouerne his church and true faithfull people whiche although they be here in earth yet they be of his heuenly kyngdome suche I saye he gouerneth by the holy worde of his gospell and the power of the holy ghost whom he powreth plentifully vpon al them that beleue the gospel and by that comfortable worde of the ghospell he gentilly entiseth and drawethe vs vnto him that we should gladly of our owne free will obey him For God loueth not seruyce constrayned by forse suche as slaues and bonde menne do more for the feare then loue but he wold haue his people to serue him willyngly of hearte and loue as Dauid said in the .cx. Psalme And this is the forsayde kyngdome of God whan he dothe in suche wyse raigne in vs and gouerne vs that we do not wourke after our owne wylles but in body and minde do ceasse rest from our owne euyl workes and shrewed wylles and folowe the workyng of God and the holye goste in vs. And this is to sanctifye the sabbot daye that is to say to kepe an holy rest whan we honor God with true honour whan we heare dilygently the worde of God whē we yelde our selfes clerly to God that his holy spirite maye worke in vs holy godly heuenly workes y t is to say iustice peace comfort other workes of y e holy gost Therfore he that praieth thus Thy kingdome come he prayeth nothynge elles but that God wil gyue vs grace that we maye rest from our own propre willes that we do not those thynges that delyte the body and please oure appetites but that we maye suffre God by his holy worde spirite to worke in vs holy workes that so the thirde cōmaundement maye be fulfilled Remembre that thou sanctifye the sabboth daye For so doth Esaye declare this commaūdement saying If thou worke not after thine own wyl in my holy day than thou shalt be called a pleasant rest to sanctifye and honoure the Lorde yf thou honoure him so that thou worke not after thyne owne wayes nor fynde the meanes to folowe thyne own wil nor speake thyne owne pleasure than shalt thou haue pleasure in the Lorde For all these thynges therfore good children ought you to praye to God that hys kyngdome maye come that he wil here in earth begynne his kyngdome in vs that we maye obey him in suche wyse as you haue herde Nowe the kyngdome of God commeth vnto vs two maner of wayes first by his worde faithe whan the gospell is preached vnto vs that our Lorde Iesus Christ delyuered vs frō synne death and hel by crosse death resurrection For by the preaching of his word we do lerne to put oure truste in God and to loue God And this knowlege and faith in Christe increaseth from tyme to tyme not only in theim that haue but newlye begonne to beleue but they also whiche many yeares haue professed Christe do profyt in the same faith more and more For their faith and loue towardes God by the dayly preachyng of the gospel is confirmed made more strong Secondly the kyngdome of God shall come to vs at the laste daye whan
CATHECHISMVS That is to say a shorte Instruction into Christian Religion for the synguler commoditie and profyte of childreÌ„ and yong people Set forth by the mooste reuerende father in God Thomas Archbyshop of Canterbury Primate of all England and Metropolitane Gualterus Lynne excudebat 1548. ¶ The Kyng ought to be feared as the roaryng of a LyoÌ„ who ê“uoketh him vnto anger offeÌ„deth agaiÌ„st his owne soule â–ª pro. xx ¶ Let not the book of this law depart out of your mouthes Bâ—… recorde therein daye and nyghte that you maye do accordynge â–ª all that is wrytten therin Iosua â–ª i x. Deut. xvii d To the moste excellent prince Edward the VI. by the grace of God kyng of Englande Fraunce and Irelande defendour of the Fayth in earth of the churche of Englande and Irelande immediatly vnder God supreme heed youre graces humble subiecte Chaplayne Thomas Archebysshop of Canterbury wissheth aboundaÌ„ce of al grace godlynes with a longe prosperous raigne IT is not vnknowen vnto the hole world most excelleÌ„t Prince y t your graces father a Kynge of mooste famous memorie of a feruent and ernest godly disposition and tender zele towardes y e settyng forth of goddes glorie moste diligently trauaylled for a trewe a ryght reformation and a quiet concorde in Christes religion thorowout al hys dominions wherin vndoubtedly he brought many thynges to a godlye purpose and effecte dyd abolyshe take away muche blyndnes and ignorance of God many great errors fonde and pernitious superstitions and abuses that had crepte into thys churche of Englande Irelande a longe time And I perceiuing that your magestie by thaduyse of youre moste dere vncle my lorde Protector and the reste of youre graces moste honorable counsel is moste desyrous perfytly to finyshe and brynge to passe that your father dyd mooste Godlye begynne do thynke that there is nothynge more necessarye for the furtheraÌ„ce hereof then that it myghte be forseen howe the youthe tender age of youre louynge subiectes maye be broughte vp and traded in the trewth of Goddes holy worde For it is thought not to me onely but to manye others that neyther your graces father shoulde haue been inforced in hys tyme to haue taken so greate paynes for the reformation of Christes religion neyther yet youre hyghnes in thys your time shoulde nede with suche greate difficultie go about to further goddes cause and hys trewe seruice with so many lawes iniunctions and proclamations yf so greate negligence of theducation of the youth had not bene so much suffered and the necessarie poyntes and articles of our religion profession omitted of those whose office and bounden dewty was to haue moste diligeÌ„tly instructed the youth in the same Or yf the aunciente and laudable ceremonie of Confirmation hadde continued in the olde state and bene duely vsed of the ministers in time coÌ„uenient where an exacte and strayghte examination was had of all suche as were of ful age bothe of theyr profession that they made in baptisme touching theyr belefe and kepyng of goddes coÌ„maundementes with a generall solemne rehersall of the sayde coÌ„maundementes and of all tharticles of theyr fayth Surely there can be no greater hope of any kinde of persones other to be brought to all honest conuersation of lyuynge or to be more apte to set forth and mayntayne all Godlynes and trewe religion then of suche as haue ben from childhode noryshed and fed wyth the swete milke and as it were the pappe of goddes holy worde and brydled and kept in awe with hys holy coÌ„mauÌ„dementes For commenly as we are in youth brought vp so we coÌ„tinue in age and sauer longest of that thynge that we fyrste receaue and taist of And as a fayre table fynely pulyshed tho it de neuer so apte to receaue eyther pyctures or wrytinges yet it doth neyther delyte any mens eyes neither yet profyte any thing except the paynter take hys pensill set to hys hande and wyth labour and cunnyng replenyshe it wyth scriptures or fygures as apertaineth to hys science euen so the tender wyttes of yonge chyldren beynge yet naked and bare of all knowledge thorow the grace of God be apte to receaue goddes gyftes yf they be applyed and instructed by suche schole maysters as haue knowledge to brynge them vp leade them forwardes therin And what can be more apte to be grauen or paynted in the tender hertes of youthe then Goddes holy worde what can lead them a ryghter way to god to thobedience of theyr Prince and to al vertue and honestie of lyfe then the syncere vnderstandyng of Gods worde whyche alone sheweth the waye howe to knowe hym to loue hym and to serue hym What can better kepe and staye them that they do not sodenly and lyghtly fall agayne from theyr fayth What can cause them more constantly to wythstande thassaultes of the deuyll the worlde and the fleshe and manfullye to beare the crosse of Christ theÌ„ to lerne in theyr youth to practise the same And verely it semeth no new thing that the children of them y t be godly should be thus instructed in the faythe and commaundementes of God euen from theyr infancye For doeth not God coÌ„maunde hys people to teache hys lawe vnto theyr chyldren and chylders chyldren Hath not thys knowledge continued from tyme to tyme amoÌ„gest them to whome God promysed to be theyr God and they hys people Doeth it not appeare by playne expressed wordes of Paule that Timothe was broughte vp euen from a chylde in holy scriptures Hath not the commaundementes of almyghtye God thartycles of the Christian faythe and the Lordes prayer been euer necessarelye sence Christes tyme requyred of all both yonge and olde that professed Christes name yea though they were not learned to reade For doutles in these thre pointes is shortlye and playnlye included the necessarye knowledge of the whole summe of Christes religioÌ„ and of all thynges appertaynyng vnto euerlastyng lyfe In consyderation wherof in thys tyme of your gratious reformation of all vngodlynes and the setting forth of Goddes trewe glorie I knowyng my selfe as a subiecte greatly bounden and muche the more by reason of my vocation to set forward the same am persuaded that thys my smal trauayll in thys behalfe taken shall not a lytle helpe the sooner to brynge to passe your godly purpose For by thys lytle treatyse not only y e youth of your graces realme may lerne to know God and howe they maye mooste purelye and syncerelye honoure glorifie and serue hym and may also learne their office and dewtie howe they oughte to behaue themselfes first towarde God secondly towardes your Magestie and so towardes all ministers vnder the same towardes theyr fathers and mothers and all other persones of what sorte or degree soeuer they be but also manye of the older sorte suche as loue God and haue a zele to hys honoure and glorye and yet in theyr youth throughe negligence were brought vp in ygnoraunce may
by hearyng of their children learne in theyr age that which passed theym in theyr youth And as myne intente and endeuoure is to profytte both and accordynge to myne office to bryng bothe to the righte knowledge of God so my most earnest and humble prayer vnto God contynuallye shalbe that my good mynde and desyre maye haue good successe and take effecte accordynge to myne expectacion Whiche thing I assuredly hope shal come to passe yf it woulde please youre highnes to suffer this lytle boke by me offered vnto youre Magestie to be redde taughte and learned of the chyldren of youre moste louyng subiectes in whome is great hope of al grace godlynes vertue Youre Graces humble subiecte and Chaplayne Thomas Archbishoppe of Canterbury ¶ A short Instruction into Christian religion for the synguler commoditie and profite of children and yonge people Ouersene and corrected by the moost reuerende father in God the Archebyshoppe of Canterburie The preface THis treatice gentile reader is not wrytten for the Curattes preachers for many of them haue so muche knowledge in holy scripture thankes be to God that they be alreadye sufficiently instructed in these matters But it is written for the behoue of the yong childreÌ„ whiche muste be brought vp with playne and shorte lessons For wee see daylye by experience that who so euer wyll teache children must vse muche discretion wysedome not to geue them to much at one time lest he dull and oppresse their wittes and yet that which he gyueth theim he muste often and many times reherse and repete vnto them agayne as nere as he can after one manner of wise and with the same wordes For if thei teache them now this now that now with these wordes now with other then the childreÌ„ learne litle or nothing thei kepe almost nothing in memorye beside that they waxe wearie of learnyng conceaue a lothsomnes therto and be more slothfull and vnapte to learne Forasmuch therfore as it was to be feared that euery pastor woulde not take the paynes to drawe out such a shorte forme of teachynge to the children nor we thought good to burden euery one with so great labours and also yf euery pastor seuerally should deuise a forme for his parishe it myght chaunce that there should be as many soundrye formes as there be pastors which diuersitie myght engender muche diuision and controuercie and be also much hinderaunce to the children yf in one place thei learne one forme and in an other place an other forme For to exchewe the said inconueniences we haue thoughte good to deuise this shorte manner and forme tynstructe children and yong men wherby they maye both shortlie and easely learne the chief pryncipilles and begynnynge of ChristeÌ„ religion and doctrine and learne aswell howe they oughte to lyue as also what they should beleue And whan they haue learned this in their tender age they shal not onely vnderstande godlye sermons and al other godly doctrine and bookes y e better but also they shall become godly men and wise louers of true religion and godlynes and to al states and orders of lyfe aswell ecclesiasticall as ciuill be more apte and towarde vnto whiche godly purpose all fathers and mothers Curattes and preachers and al christeÌ„ Magestrates and officers should with all theyr mynde and endeuore gyue their ayde and helpe Wherunto God of his grace graunt hys fauour and assistaunce Amen ¶ A shorte Instruction concernyng the ten commaundementes ¶ A general begynnyng for all sermons GRace peace and mercie be with you all froÌ„ God the father and from his onely begotten sonne Iesu Christe oure Lorde AmeÌ„ That we may profectablie and with fruite teache learne the word of God let vs call for grace and praye the Lordes praier Pater noster A generall preface to be rehersed after the prayer in the begynnyng of eche sermon made vpon the ten commaundementes THe Prophete Dauid good Children lyke a coÌ„men scholemaster in the schole of God doeth preache on thys faschyon in the xxxiiii psalme come hither he saith my sonnes herken vnto me I wil teache you the feare of the Lorde who so euer desireth to lyue and woulde fayne see good dayes let him refeaine his tongue froÌ„ euyl hys lyppes y t they speake no deceit let him eschew euel do good Let him seke peace and pursue it Now my derely beloued childreÌ„ I know suerly that there is none amonge you but that he woulde wyshe to see good dayes and lead a Godlye and quiet lyfe Then muste you folowe the counsell of the prophete Dauid with all dilygence to learne the feare of the Lord whilest ye are yet yong tender of age For y t which meÌ„ learne not in theyr youth y e same do they learne in theyr age with more difficultie Therfore learne now with all diligence the feare of the Lord deare children then shal you ware men of excellent vertue and leade a godlye lyfe and shall see good dayes For a blessed and quiet life is not bought with riches nor gotten by â—â—â—oure but by learnynge the feare of God And he that feareth his maker as an almyghtye God and Lorde which dothe mercifully healpe them that be good and greuously punysheth the wicked he wyll dyligentlye take hede that he doth nothinge contrarye to goddes pleasure but wil kepe hys commaundementes so muche as is in his power And suche godlye children proue learned and wyse men whiche maye be able to profit other and the commen welth also as Dauid saith in an other place The feare of the Lorde is the begynnyng of wisedome Wherfore if you feare God and haue a desyre to be occupyed in godlynes then learne the ten commaundementes wherby God hath taughte vs what pleaseth what dyspleaseth hym what thynge is good and what is euell And yf you learne these lessons perfectly then therby you shal purchase vnto you the beginning of trew and godly wisedome whiche is suche wisedom that many men wel striken in yeares do not attaine to it And yet this wisedom and knowlege of the ten commauÌ„dementes is but onely the begynnyng of sapience for it is the teaching of the lawe But when the doctrine of fayth in Christe is taughte vnto you then you lerne a greater and higher wysedome the whiche the vngodlye or vnfaythfull do not vnderstand nor perceyue but god onely doeth gyue it downe frome heauen to make vs feare him and beleue his holy worde Wherfore good children learne nowe dylygently the beginning of wisedom that is to saye tholy ten commauÌ„dementes and gyue so good eare vnto them that you maye learne them without booke and reherse them when you come home ¶ Here folowe the ten commaundementes which must be recited so tretably and distinctly that children by often hearinge of them maye print them in theyr memories and faye them by rote These are the holy ten commaundementes of the Lorde our God The firste I Am the Lorde thy
call vpon the name of God to flye to hym for succoure with all our hope and confidence and not to runne to witchecraftes charmes sorceries and suche lyke vanities for God himselfe saieth cal vpoÌ„ me in y e day of thy tribulation I wil deliuer the and thou shalt glorifye me Here ye heare good children that God doth commaunde vs to call vpon him and not vpon any other creatures besides him and he saieth in expresse wordes call vpon me in the tyme of thy tribulation in aduersytye wheÌ„ thou art in nede and dauÌ„ger Wherfore no maÌ„ should dyspaire what soeuer kynde of afflyctions doth chaunce vnto him but praye for helpe from heauen and cal vpon the name of the Lorde who by his mighty strong hand is able and by his fatherly affeccioÌ„ wil deliuer and helpe vs what soeuer how great soeuer affliction and teÌ„tatioÌ„ ouerwhelmeth vs therfore he saieth I wil heare thy praier Here marke good childerne that it is your bounden dewtie to praye to God that they do synne heynouslye whiche do not praye wherfore ye shal learne the Lordes prayer whiche Christe hym selfe hath taught and appoynted and ye shal saye it dayly For this commaundemente dothe bynde vs to praye forasmuche as it forbiddeth thabuse of gods name commaundeth his name to be handled reuerently and religiously But we delyuer the and thou shalt honour and glorify me Here you perceiue good children that God oure heaueÌ„ly father doth hear our prayers and heapeth vpon vs infinite benefites for this cause purpose and intent y t we shoulde be glad ioyful to praise him with all our hart reÌ„dre thaÌ„kes vnto him Wherfore wheÌ„ soeuer we praie before we aske any new benefite we ought to thaÌ„ke him for tholde to glorifye his name for y e great treasures of giftes heretofore geuen vnto vs. And by this meanes both he wyll be the more willyng to heare oure prayers and also oure faithe shalbe the more strengthened and confirmed For when we call to oure remembraunce how God oftentymes heretofore hath herd our supplications and delyuered vs out of manye perrellous daungiers we be therby moued lesse to doubt of his goodnes and stedfastlye to hope that he nowe also wyll be as merciful vnto vs as he was wont to be in tymes passed Therfore sayeth the prophete Dauid I wyl call vpon the Lord praysyng him and he wyll saue me from myne enemyes Now therefore good children ye shall learne this lesson and practise it dilygently firste of al to prayse and thanke God for al hys benefites and afterwarde to call vpon him in all youre necessities So God wyll be the more redye to heare youre peticions and youre faith also thereby shall be the more nourished and increased For he that wyll trewely and effectuallye praye before al other thinges must beleue and perswade himselfe for a suertie y t God wil heare his praier Wherfore good children nowe I praye you learne so to vnderstande this seconde commaundement that ye take not the name of God in vayne that ye gyue not your selfes to Idolatrye that ye sweare not customablye nor without a necessarie cause that ye neuer commit periurie y t you curse no bodye y t ye abuse not the name and worde of God to vntruth vncleane and vnhonest coÌ„municatioÌ„ that ye applye not your mindes to witchcraftes sorceries For these faultes as yet neuer escaped vnpunyshed before God Contrarywyse you shall reuerentlye vse the name of God to his glorye and to the profit of youre neyghbour by callyng vpon him by praying and giuyng thaÌ„kes vnto him by opeÌ„ professioÌ„ of his doctrine religioÌ„ And when ye shal be demaunded howe vndrestande ye the seconde commaundemente ye shall aunswere We oughte to loue and feare God aboue all thynge not to abuse his name to ydolatrye charmes periurie othes curses ribaldrye and scoffes that vndre the pretence and coloure of his name we begyle no man by swearynge forswearynge and lyinge but in all our nedes we should cal vpon him magnifye and prayse him and with oure tongues confesse vtter and declare oure faythe in him and his doctrine The thirde sermon YE haue herde how the second commaundemeÌ„te is to be vnderstanded in the which we learne howe we ought to ordre our selfes towarde God both in herte and in wordes Nowe foloweth the thirde precepte whiche is this ¶ RemeÌ„bre that thou saÌ„ctifye the Sabboth daye THis commaundemente good children teacheth how we should behaue our selfes toward God in workes For wheÌ„ we haue a mynde to serue God and to shew to him as to our Lord and maker the greatest pleasure that we can then we muste not chose by thaduyse of oure owne imagination nether this nor that worke but we must saÌ„ctifie the sabboth day y t is to say employe bestow it vpoÌ„ godly holy workes busines And here note good chyldreÌ„ that y e Iewes in the olde testameÌ„t were commaunded to kepe the Sabboth daye and they obserued it euery seuenth day called the sabbot or satterday But we Christen men in the newe testament are not bound to such coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes of Moses law concernyng dyfferences of tymes dayes and meates but haue libertie fredoÌ„ to vse other daies for our sabboth dayes therein to heare y e worde God and to kepe an holy rest And therefore that this Christian lybertye maye be kepte and mainteyned we nowe kepe no more the sabboth or saturday as y e Iewes do but we obserue the Sondaye certayne other daies as y e magestrates do iudge it coÌ„uenieÌ„t whom in this thinge we ought to obey And to theÌ„tent you maye the better perceyue such thinges as shall be spoken herin considre I pray you howe wonderfull a commaundemente this is When worldly lordes masters receyue men into their seruyce they byd theim not kepe holy daye but they set theÌ„ on worke appoynte theim diuerse labors to be done for their seruice and behofe But our Lorde God doeth not so with vs in this commaundement He biddeth not vs to doo neyther this nor that woorke he commaundeth vs not to gadde hether and thither on pilgrimage to paynt gylâ—e or clothe sayntes ymages to set vp candels before theim nor to exercise anye suche fayned mannes workes and false honorynge of God as the deceiptefull Monkes and Friars wer wont to teche vs but he biddeth vs to rest from labours and commauÌ„deth vs to kepe holy day But yet note good children that wheÌ„ you heare say that God hath commaunded to reste from workes you must not gather herof that you shoulde cesse from suche good workes by the whiche your neyghbour is releued as to gyue almes to the poore to preache the worde of God to instruct y e ignoraunt and suche like for god hath commaunded suche workes to be donne he doth ernestly require them of vs but although we do these workes neuer so dilygently yet by theym we onlye serue and healpe
when we go about to marie oureselues not makynge our parentes priuie to suche contractes or bargaynes but contemnyng theyr authoritie that God wil not prosper such mariages nor giue therto his fauour and blessyng But if you wil kepe gods cōmaūdementes honoure your parents then God wyl loue you and powre hys gyftes vpon you most aboūdantly Now good childrē you haue herde what you ought to do I praye you be willing to performe that thing which your bounden dewtie requireth of you For saincte Paul saieth that this is the first or chiefe commaūdemente hauynge a promyse annexed vnto it For herin god doth promyse that he whiche doeth honour his father and mother shall lyue a long lyfe and shal abyde in his natiue countrey And he that doeth not honoure theym shalbe dryuen out of his countrey shal shortely dye And surely this we proue to be true by dayly experyence For when childerne be wanton wilde stiffenecked stubburne and refuse to be ruled by their parētes and scholemasters or do not serue their maisters truelye when thei wyl not haue in reuerēce their preachers and curates or do not obey the common rulers then God scourgeth theym some wyth one punishment some with an other Some is maymed some leaseth an eye one hathe suche a fall from an horse y t he lyeth for starke deade an other is drowned And here I wyl not speake of those vnthrifty young men whiche be pickers of quarels and in their wylfulnes thone slayeth thother But yf perchaunce these dysobedyente childerne escape punyshmente in theyr yought yet when they come to mans state and kepe howses of their awne then commonly suche children do not auoide this threat and indignation of God For then many times they runne into suche dette that they be compelled to forsake their natiue countrey and to flye into sanctuarie or elles to wandre in straunge regions lyke banyshed menne farre from their kynsfolkes acquaintaūce frendes where no man doth helpe thē trust them or hath pitie of theym And many of them whilest they go aboute to auoyde extreme pouertie by lying stelyng robbyng other ill meanes are cast in pryson and afterward hanged These and such lyke paynes men do worthely suffer in their age whiche in theyr youth dysdayned to folowe the counsell of theyr parentes Wherfore good children obey youre parentes and magistrates then you shall proue wise men able to helpe both your selues and other Then God shall blesse you that you may longe continewe in the contrey wherin you wer borne and bredde and dwell amonge your parentes brethren sisters frendes and acquayntaūce many yeares Then extreme pouertie shall not oppresse you whereby you should be compelled to leaue your countrey neyther the rages or partels of warre shal driue you out from thense So manye and so great benefites hath God promysed to obedyent chyldren And there is no doubt but that he will perfourme that thinge whiche he hath promised As we feale by experiēce y t as long as we obey oure parentes and suffer our selues to be gouerned accordynge to Gods wyll so long we be brought vp in the feare of God to our great cōmoditie and profit And thys is the true meanynge of the fourthe precept whiche I praye you depely to prynt into youre memories that when you shall be asked how you vnderstand the fourth cōmaūdemēt you may answer we ought to loue dreade our Lord God for his sake to honor our parētes teachers masters gouernours to obey thē in no wise to dispise thē The fifte sermon ¶ Thou shalt not kyll IN the former sermon it hath ben declared vnto you howe you shoulde vnderstande the fourth precept in y e which you haue learned how you muste behaue youre selues towardes youre fathers mothers all cōmen ministers in the publyke weale Now foloweth the fift commaundemente Thou shalte not kyll Whiche teacheth vs howe we oughte to ordre oure selues towardes eche of oure neighbours that we hurte theym not nether in theyr goodes nor in theyr lyfe For among al worldlye goodes and bodely gyftes there is none more precious thē healthe and lyfe Therfore God before al other damages and hurtes doeth chiefely forbydde this that we kil not our neyghbour And this commaundement dothe not onelye restrayne our handes from kyllyng with violence and force but it for byddethe also all angre enuye wrathe hatred and malyce that we be not manquellers neyther in harte wourde nor deade For the lawe is spirituall as saynt Paule sayeth and requyreth of vs obedience not onli in outward worke but also in thaffection of hart and inwarde motions and most secret senses of the same And it is an hye wysedome to looke in the botome of this commaundemente ryghtly to vnderstande the same Therfore our lorde Iesus Christ dyd expounde thys commaundement his own selfe lest we should erre and falsely vnderstande it as the Iewes dyd For the Iewes thought that as long as they had refrayned theyr handes from killyng and slayng so long they had kept this commaundement And althoughe theyr hert had ben full of hatred enuye malice towardes their neighbour with cōtumelious wordes or dedes hadde gyuen occasion of manslaughter yet thys they counted for no syn and their scribes pharises did so teache thē Therfore Christ in the fifte of Mathew sayth Uerely I saye vnto you excepte your ryghteousnes excede the righteousnes of the scribes and pharises ye can not entre into the kyngedome of heuen Ye haue heard that it was sayde vnto them of the olde tyme Thou shalt not kyll Whosoeuer kylleth shalbe worthy to be iudged But I saye vnto you y t who soeuer is angry with hys brother shalbe worthy to be iudged Here you see good children that Christ doeth as ernestly forbydde hathered angre and enuye as he doeth bloudy māslaughter For he that is angry with his neyghbour killeth hys neyghbour in harte and wyll and breketh this commaundemente of God thou shalte not kyll And marke well good children that he sayeth not thy hande shall not kyl or thy sworde spere or gunne shall not slaye But he sayeth thou shalt not kyll that is to saye thou whiche arte made of bodie and soule shalte neyther kil with any of thy bodely members neyther yet with thy inward mind or wyll neyther wyth woorde nor deede But here paraduenture some wyll saye What thinke you syr of traytors commen theues robbers and murtherers oughte not suche to be kylled I answere that they ought to be kylled but yet God saieth thou shalt not kil thou shalt kepe peace with all mē Who then shall kyll suche malefactors Leaue punishemēt to me sayeth God and I will reuenge God himself wyl do execution vpon suche open trāsgressors of hys lawes And therfore here in this world God hath ordeyned vnder him kinges princes and other magistrates and hathe gyuen theim their swordes to this vse that thei should be his deputies in kylling such
haue in heauen And this doth plainly and shortly teache vnto you the Crede For in the Crede wherin we saye thus I beleue in God y e father almightye And I beleue in Iesus Christ his onely sonne and last of all we saye I beleue in y e holy gost these thre sentences be asmuche to saye as I beleue in God whiche is the father the sonne and y e holy gost Infidels and vngodly people do not knowe this nor can vnderstande the same But Christē men haue this mysterye so openlye declared vnto them in the worde of God that babes and yong childrē may heare and learne this lesson almost as soone as they be able to crepe out of their cradell Wherefore we are boūde hartely to thāke God which hath opened vnto vs so great wisedome and mysteries Hereby you perceaue good childerne that in this shorte treatice called the Crede as I said before we be taught what God is that is to saye God the father God the sonne and God the holy gost Also herby we learne what great benefytes God hath gyuen vnto vs and howe tenderly he loueth and fauoreth vs lyke a moost gentle and mercifull father In y e whiche knowlege consisteth our felicitie and blessednes For yf we did only knowe what God were dyd know nothing of his wil towarde vs whether he were our frende or foo fauourable or angrie pleased or displeased with vs then oure conscience beynge waueryng and doutful shoulde be destitute and voide of comforte Wherfore lysten to me dilygently good childerne that you maye knowe what benefites those be which god hath gyuen among you what loue he beareth towarde you and what is the hope of euerlastynge lyfe to the whiche we be called The benefites of God towarde vs be infynite and innumerable yet neuertheles as God himself is thre persons the father the sonne and the holy gost so there be thre specyall workes whereby he hath declared his singular loue towarde vs. The first is that God the father hath creat made vs of nothing and gyuen to vs bodye and soule and all thinges necessarye to the maintenaunce of our lyues and hath made vs lordes ouer al erthly creatures The seconde is that whan we were all borne in synne God y e sonne dyd redeme vs from our synnes and wicked lyfe The thirde is that the holy gooste doth renewe our hartes sanctifye vs and make vs the temples of God And in these thre benefytes gyuen vnto vs by y e thre parsons of the most blessed Trinitie consisteth the matier and effecte of the hole Crede For this is the briefe summe of the Crede to saye I beleue in God the father whiche did creat and make me I beleue in God the sonne whiche did redeme me And I beleue in the holy gost whiche hath sanctifyed and halowed me For the whiche consyderations we entende to deuyde this our exposition made vpō the Crede into thre partes of y e which the first shalbe of y e Creation the second of the Redemptiō and the third of Sanctificatiō And first we will entreat of the Creation which is expressed in these wordes I beleue in God the father almightie maker of heauē earth Where note good children that this worde I beleue signifyeth asmuche in this place as I truste So that this sentence I beleue in God the father is asmuch to saye as I trust in God the father and loke assuredly to receaue all good thinges at his hande Wherefore this is the meanyng of the forsaid artycle that we ought to put oure trust in no creature but in the true and liuing god only For no creature cā do vs any good or harme without the wil of him We oure selues made not oure selues as it is writtē in the psalme nor we can nether saue ourselfes nether delyuer vs from any perrel Therfore we ought to put our trust in God only sticke fast to him hang vpon hym and to loke for al good thinges at his hande They therfore that trust in men in theyr fauour or frēdship they that trust in their owne learnyng wysedome riches power frendes or any such thing they do not truely beleue in God truly holly trust in him nor loke for al good thinges from him but rather dispise him and worship for theyr God and make an ydole of that thynge wherin they put their trust and so greuously offēd god Wherfore it must nedes be that at the length thei must be brought to confusion and ruine that they may lerne by their owne fal and decay that those wer but vaine thynges wherin they put their truste cōfidence and that onely God is the sure rocke and staye vpon whome who so euer leaneth shall not be deceyued nor confounded For it is the Lord god whiche daily pourethe vpon vs infinite benefites whiche giueth vs al thinges y t we haue nede of defendeth vs from all thinges y t may hurt vs ether in body or in soule And this is y e fatherly loue whiche he bereth toward vs to do al goodnes toward vs without our merites or deseruynges Wherefore we ought to trust in him yelde our selfes holly into his protection to loke for all good thinges at his hande with a mery harte and constant faith to cleaue to his goodnes in all thynges And this is the highest and chiefest sacrifice wher with God is pleased worshipped And whosoeuer beleueth in him after thys sort those he taketh for his welbelouyd children and in all thynges he declareth to thē that he is their louyng father Wherefore good children let vs not put our trust in any creature or in any worldly thing but at all tymes let vs fastē oure sure trust in our Lord God So we shalbe made his children and enioy lyfe euerlastinge Nowe considre good chyldren what a God he is in whome we beleue and in whome we put oure trust He is God the father the almyghtye maker of heauen and earthe And these woordes good children ought not slyghtly to be passed ouer for they be of greate weight and importaunce Wherfore I pray you as it were in balance to wey them dyligently and learne to vnderstande theym For these wordes conteine not in them worldly phylosophye or mannes sapience but heauenly and Godly wysedome Wherfore I praye you gyue good eare whiles I do declare them to you First this article teacheth vs that God is almyghtye that is to saye that he hath power to worke do all thinges whatsoeuer pleaseth hym and no creature in heauen or earth is able to let or withstande him and that no thynge is vnpossible vnto him And this is the foundacion and begynnynge of christian knowledge and faith to beleue that God is almyghtye The whiche many men do not beleue and yet neuertheles they will be counted christen men or rather great clarkes In thys number be they that do not beleue the bodye of Christ truely to be gyuen in the
often as ye do it in remēbraunce of me it is euident herby that Christe causeth euen at thys tyme his bodye and bloude to be in the sacrament after that maner and fashion as it was at that tyme when he made his maundye with his disciples For elles we coulde not do that thyng whiche his disciples dyd But Christ hath commaunded vs to do the selfe same thing that his disciples dyd and to do it in the remembraunce of him that is to saye to receaue his bodye and bloude euen so as he himselfe did gyue it to his dysciples And let not the foulyshe talke of vnbeleuers moue you who are wont to aske this question Howe can the pryest or minister make the bodie and bloude of Christ To the whiche I answer that the minister doth not this of himself But Christ himselfe doth gyue vnto vs his fleshe blode as his wordes dothe euydētly declare Nether let their argumētes or reasons perswade you whiche say y t the sacramēt ought not to be receaued vnder both kyndes but vndre one kynde only For Christ gaue to his disciples both kindes and hath bydde vs that we also shoulde do the same And when he gaue the cuppe to his dysciples he added therto this commaundemēt in these expresse plaine wordes saying Drinke ye al of this Now we ought to obey god more then men We ought therefore to receaue the sacrament vnder both kyndes as Christe commaunded vs. And regarde not the gageling of theim that speake againste the vse of the sacramētes vnder both kyndes sayinge It maketh no great matier whether ye receaue it vndre both kyndes or one alone y t it perteineth not to saluation to receiue it vnder both kindes But what shal I dispute long in this matier Take this for a cōclusion that it is only laudable good to do that thinge whiche Christ hathe commaunded and not to swarue from the same So we ought to receaue this blessed sacrament in the remembraunce of Christ as saint Paule saieth that is to saye we ought to preache his death vntil he come againe For he wil suerely come againe and iudge bothe the quicke and y e deade as ye haue lerned in your Crede In the meane season we ought to remembre and preach his death that he hath redemed vs with his death and sheding of his most precious bloude purchased for vs forgyuenes of oure synnes And this we ought euer to haue in oure remembraunce that in no wyse we forget this his exceding great benefyte and that we seke not for remyssion of synnes by any other wayes or meanes then by fayth in Christe Nowe when we preache the death of the Lord and shewe that he hathe redemed vs thereby we ought also to call this to our remembraunce that he dyed not for vs onely but for all men that beleue in him And forasmuche as Christe loued al men so entierely that he dyed for theym we ought for Christes sake to loue our neyghbours for whom Christe hathe dyed For Christ sayeth All men shall knowe by thys token that ye be my disciples if one of you loue another And this is it that saincte Paule sayeth All we that be pertakers of one breade are one bodye and one breade As often therefore good children as you shal come to the Lordes table whiche ye shall vse to do when ye shall come to further yeares of discretion you shal seke the comforte of your consciences and do as sainct Paule saieth in these wordes Let a man examine himselfe and so let him eat of the breade and drynke of the cuppe For he that eateth or drinketh vnworthely eateth and drinketh his awne damnation because he maketh no dyfference of the Lordes bodye And when ye shal haue examined your selues ye shal fynde that ye are synners and that ye haue nede that Christ should giue his bodye for you and shede hys bloude for you And this to do is truly to examine and trye youre selues For sainct Paule saieth Yf we wold iudge our selues we should not be iudged of the Lord. But when we are iudged of the Lorde we are chasticed that we should not be dampned with the worlde For him that doth not acknowlege his faute God doeth iudge and chastice with dyuerse afflictions that at the length he maye cause him therby to confesse his fautes and repent him that his synnes may be forgyuen him Ye shal also examine yourselues whether ye be able to do y t Christ commaundeth and to beleue that Christ saith Furthermore ye shal make an inquirie in your conscyences whether you be gladde in youre harte to forgyue youre neyghboure his offences against you and to loue him hartely and vnfaynedly for Christes sake For when ye do thus then ye worthely receaue the body and bloud of Christ. And he that so receaueth it receaueth euerlastyng lyfe For he doth not only with his bodyly mouthe receaue the bodye and bloude of Christ but he doth also beleue the wordes of Christ wherby he is assured that Christes bodye was gyuen to death for vs that his bloude was shed for vs. And he y t this beleueth eateth and drynketh the bodye and bloude of Christ spiritually Of this Christ speaketh when he sayeth He that eateth my fleshe and drynketh my bloud abydeth in me and I in him And when we be planted in Christ then we maye come to this holy supper as often as we wyll that by this gostlye fode we may dayly more and more waxe stronger in our faith that Christe was gyuen to be the raunsome for our synnes and that he dwelleth in vs and we in him For seyng that we are planted in Christ by baptisme and are bound to grow and increase in him and to be made lyke vnto him it is not conueniēt that we shoulde onely haue a waueryng opinion that we dwell in Christe and growe in faith charitie but we muste haue a sure worde and worke of God to the whiche we maye leane in all temptations therby be assured that we do spiritually growe and increase in Christe And this worde and worke of God is set before our eyes in the Lordes supper For seyng oure sauioure Christ doth gyue vs his bodye to be oure meate and his bloude to be our drynke and thereby doth declare that he wil effectually dwel in vs strengthen and preserue vs to euerlastyng lyfe we may stedfastly beleue that Christ doth worke in vs and that he wil giue vs gostly strength and stedfastnes that we lyke grene braunches maye continew in the vyne and so be full of sappe and bryng forth good fruit And this is the meanynge and playne vnderstandynge of the wordes of the Lordes supper Wherefore learne them dilygently I pray you y t when ye be asked what is y e Cōmuniō or the lordes supper ye maye answer It is the trew body and true bloude of our Lorde Iesus Christe whiche was ordeyned by Christ