Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	great_a	sin_n	transgression_n	3,082	5	10.1157	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A03087	A simple, and religious consultation of vs Herman by the grace of God Archebishop of Colone, and prince Electour. [et] 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 cou[n]sayle, general, or national, or elles by the states of the empire of the natio[n] of Germanie, gathered together in the holye Gost; Einfaltigs Bedencken, warauff ein christliche in dem Wort Gottes gegrünte Reformation an Lehr, Brauch der heyligen Sacramenten un Ceremonien, Seelsorg und anderem Kirchendienst, biss auff eines freyen, christlichen, gemeinen oder nationals Concilii, oder dess Reichs Teutscher Nation Stende, im Heyligen Geyst versamelt, Verbesserung, bei denen so unserer Seelsorge befohlen, anzurichten seye, English	Wied, Hermann von.; Melanchthon, Philipp, 1497-1560.; Bucer, Martin, 1491-1551.	1547 (1547)	STC 13213; ESTC S103980	258,817	620

as we transgresse no cōmaundement of God wythout the transgression of thys so neuertheles both thys promise and threatenyng perteyne to euerie commaundement Secondly the preachers shal also diligētly warne thys thynge cōcerning this place I wyl visite iniquities etc. that al maner of euyls punishementes corporall and spirituall temporall and eternall be cōprehended therein amonge whiche thys is the sorest when God forsaketh men when he taketh his holy spirite from them and giueth them to the desires of theyr hertes into a reprobate sense into concupiscences and lustes etc. Ro. i. Wherof the Psal lxxxi speaketh But my people hearde not my voice Israell attended not vnto me wherfore I let them go in the crokednes of theyr hertes Furthermore in thys place the people muste be ryghte diligently taughte that what so euer aduersitie chaunseth vnto men either in soule or in goodes it is vndoubtedly the punishmēt of God for our sinnes whether it be blyndnes ignoraunce darckenes of mynde perturbations naughtie desires and affections of the hert vnto vnlawfull thynges diseases corporall pestilences either in oure owne bodies or in the bodies of oure chyldren friende cattayle euyl weather for thynges of the earth euyll lucke dammages in oure businesse discorde sedition warre and all troublynge of common peace For all these thynges are sent vpon men from God for synnes and vngodlines In thys place the preachers shall adde God exerciseth vs wyth aflictions to call vs backe to repentaūce that God when he exerciseth the fayhthfull wyth sundrie aflictions correcteth them fatherly and for theyr profitte and draweth them backe to hym selfe and to his sonne Christe that they be not damned wyth the wicked worlde and that he loueth them nothynge the worse whom he punisheth wyth outwarde punishmentes and sore calamities For he is wonte to begynne his iudgement from his owne house and to chasten them whom he loueth and in them to shewe to the worlde the vehemencie of his wrath that other men beynge frayed wyth these iudgementes and wyth thys so greate seueritie of God vpon his owne chyldren shoulde forthynke the synnes in which they stycke and amende and take more diligent hede afterwarde that they synne not Thyrdly the people must be taught concernynge thys promise and threatenynge of God I wyll visite the iniquities of the fathers vpon the chyldren to the thyrde and fourth generation etc. that God wyll exercise Other mens goodnes profiteth not the vngodlie nor others vngodlines hurteth not the godlie thys reuengeaunce whiche he threateneth here to his dispicers beinge vngodlie parentes and elders vpon those chyldren onely whiche thorowe their owne wickednes haue lyke wyse well deserued the punishmentes that they suffre so that yet in thys worlde they suffre muche lesse then is due to theyr synnes and peruersitie So in lyke maner that no Godlinesse of the parentes and elders profiteth theyr chyldren whiche be vngodlie them selues and continue in theyr vngodlinesse but that it profiteth them onely whiche be inheriters of theyr elders godlines For thys threate and promyse of God can not be contrarie to his Oracle sette forth by Ezechiell that is to saye that euerie father or chylde shall either perishe thorowe his owne vngodlines or lyue thorowe his owne Godlines and that the father shall not be well entreated for the sonnes godlines nor yll for the sonnes wyckednes but that euerie man shall heare his owne synnes if he lyue vngodlie and shall enioye his rewardes if he lyue Godlie For by reason of originall synne all men are borne vndre the wrath of God and tyrannie God punisheth the wickednes of the parentes in wicked chyldren of the deuyll Wherefore if God to shewe vs his iust iudgement leaue the children of the vngodlie in the power of Satan and therefore thorowe theyr owne mischeuous actes bringe vpon them selues so horrible punishmētes that the verie world perceiueth the vngodlines of the parentes to be punished in the children also neuertheles no wronge is done to those chyldren neither is God to be accused of iniquitie seinge that they be euyll and the chyldren of wrath by nature to whom God can owe notyng but euerlasting punishmēt So if God thorowe his vnspeakable mercie in Christe Iesu deliuer thorowe his sonne the chyldrē of them that loued him from all perdition wherunto they were borne and adourne them wyth excellent godlines thorowe the gifte of his spirite and so heape so many benifittes vpō them that euery godlie man maye easely iudge that in thē both their owne and their parentes godlines is recompensed and that it is declared how deare they were to God the vnmeasurable goodnes of God oughte to be embraced and magnified therein and therefore God is more to be loued and his worde to be receyued more desirously but the vnsearchable iudgementes of his mercie oughte not to be soughte out the deape botome of his goodnes muste not be pored into much lesse ought we to blame thys his so greate bountiousnes whiche doeth wyth his owne as pleaseth hym ¶ Howe the preachers muste teache of remission of synnes and iustification AFter that men beinge moued thorowe the preachynge of the lawe beginne truelye to acknowledge their synne and to repēt and now detestyng synne sigh for rightuousnes and carefully desire to come to Goddes fauour agayne and to worshippe hym religiously the preachynge of the Gospel muste also be added For to be sorie for synne sufficeth not to rightuousnes before God though the sorowe be so vehement that it maye consume and kyl a man as there was in Iudas But satisfaction for synnes is also required and a sure trust of Goddes mercie wyth a purposed amendement of lyfe and a continuall studie of ryghtuousnes afterwarde But mā cā perfourme none of these thinges thorow his owne strēgth neither satisfy for his synnes committed and restore hym selfe into the fauour of God nor embrace a better lyfe afterwarde Oure Lorde Iesus Christe is alone whiche thorowe his death hath satisfied for our synnes as Iohn sayth he is a propitiation or attonement for oure synnes and not for oure synnes onely but for the synnes of the whole worlde He thorowe the preachynge of the Gospell setteth forth and offreth the rytches of Goddes grace and goodnes and his owne satisfaction for our synnes and the gyft of the spirite of adoption and iustifieth deliuereth from the wrath of God and maketh parte takers of eternall lyfe all those that wyth sure fayeth whiche he hym selfe steareth vp and nourisheth in vs acknowledge hym and the father in hym and thys same his mercie redemption and satisfaction Thys is the thinge that Esaye preacheth that my ryghtuous seruaunt shal iustifie many thorowe the knowledge of hym selfe that is to saye thorowe fayeth whereby we acknowledge hym as a sauiour And Daniel in the fourth Chapter Thorowe Christe transgression shall be finished synne shal take an ende and euerlastynge ryghtuousnesse shall be brought in As for the Gospell it is the ioyfull preachyng What the Gospel

when thou arte rebuked of hym for whō the Lorde loueth him he correcteth etc. S. Paule sayeth the same thynge i. Cor. xi When we are chastised we are corrected of the Lorde that we be not condemned wyth thys worlde Item Ro. viij We knowe that to them that loue God all thynges worke for good to them I saye whiche be called according to his determined will Thirdly they muste be taughte that the crosse and aflictions be a schole wherein we are wel nourtured and enstructed of the wil of God For Christe sayeth Luke xiiij He that beareth not his crosse and foloweth me can not be my disciple For we ought not to acknowledge an other maister vpon earth If then we can not be his disciples excepte we take our crosse vpō vs we can not learne of hym the thynges that pertayne to oure saluation wythout the crosse and afliction Wherefore S. Paule exhorteth vs also Ro. xij to gyue our bodies a lyuely sacrifice to be killed with the crosse and that we should trie what the good wyl of God is etc. For we learne manie thynges vnder the crosse and aflictions which it skylleth vs to know vnto our saluation Of al whiche neuertheles the summe and ende is to acknowledge the good and fatherly wil of God towarde vs. But we wyll reherse some of these thinges Some vndre the crosse acknowledge their weaknes and sinnes which otherwise they would not haue founde in them selues as Iob. For when he had a while keept and shewed patience vnto God at the last being broken and ouercome wyth the moste greuous calamities wherewith the Lorde exercised hym he curssed the daye of his natiuitie and murmured agaynste God whiche faute he would neuer haue thought to haue bene in hym wythout the crosse In the crosse then we feele how much euil hangeth yet in vs the secrete vices of oure herte and naughtie concupiscence of our nature is brought forth and disclosed vnto vs. Wherfore they whiche are impatient in tribulations whiche be discouraged or moued wyth some kynde of reuengynge or flee to euyll craftes and remedies of deuyls or about the confession of the name of Christe shoulde backe and abiure the Gospel or do some thynge vngodlie and vnworthie of christian profession suche men maye learne thorowe theyr fall that they do not yet truly beleue God For such falles are vndoubted fruites of infidelitie and thei proue those men whiche so fall to distruste God and to despeyre of his gooddes healpe and that they truste in them selues and in other creatures yea in witchcraftes and moreouer in the deuyl hym selfe They then whiche beinge tried wyth the crosse fynde that there hangeth in them greate wickednes whiche they knewe not before and that they were counterfaites and emptie of true fayeth ought to be agast and to quake at this their ●ngodlines and to be moued wyth earneste repentaunce and to flee wyth all their herte vnto Christe whiche maye deliuer them of thys infidelitie gyue them stronge fayth etc. For God sendeth such miseries and tribulations for thys purpose that in them mē myghte beholde trie and acknowledge thē selues in a glasse For whyle they be in prosperitie they lyue carelesly they runne not to God they neglecte to heare his worde they call not vpon God they thynke that they knowe him and haue all thynges that they neede Some vndre the crosse call their synnes passed to remembraunce and weygh them worthely at length and lamente them and truly repent of them For whyle they haue all thynges at pleasure for the moste parte they neglecte their sinnes they despice the wrath of God and thynke it not to be so muche as they heare it to be preached But when the crosse and afliction cometh vpon thē their mynde is aflight it cōsidereth not that the thynges whiche it suffereth be the scourges of Goddes wrath it feareth leste God wyll shewe him selfe hereafter a rigorous iudge and reuenger of wicked actes and not a gentle father The man considereth in thys chastising of God al his sinnes whereby he desirued the punishmentes a greate whyle before whiche he nowe suffereth he weigheth them worthely at the last and condemneth him selfe and sayeth wyth him selfe in thys and that synne I well deserued thys correction of God If then true repentaunce come into his mynde and if he flee to the mercie of God in Christ he is healped also with grace For God therfore sendeth vs aflictions that we shoulde acknowledge oure sinnes that we shoulde condemne our selues and turne to the Lorde as Paul monisheth i. Cor. xi sayinge for this cause that is to saye bicause ye celebrate the supper of the Lorde vnworthely and not religiously there be many weake and feeble amonge you and manie sleepe and he addeth if we had iudged our selues that is to say if we had repented our sinnes and amended our life we should not be iudged that is we should not be subiected to so manie euyls But when we iudge not oure selues God iudgeth and chastiseth vs not wyth an enemous but wyth a beniuolent and fatherlie mynde that he maye putte vs in remembraunce of our synnes and call vs againe to repentaunce and this it is that he sayeth afterwarde But when we be iudged of God we be corrected that we be not cōdemned wyth the worlde Such then learne in the crosse the boūtuous and fatherly will of God in that that they knowe that God wyll not the death of a synner but rather that he be conuerted and lyue as Ezechiell testifieth xviij Whereunto he driueth euen wyth his scourges Other in the crosse acknowledge not their synnes onely or not chiefely as men hauing obteyned remission therof and which sinnes be couered by the mercie of God but they gette muche more knowledge of the mercie and excedynge goodnes of God as he that was borne blyude Iohn ix Of whom whē the disciples had moued a questiō whether he or his Parentes had synned that he shoulde be borne blynde Iesus answered neither hath thys man synned nor his Parentes but that the workes of God maye be made manifest in him etc. Of thys sorte be the aflictions of them whiche haue somwhat profited in christian religion For God is muche redier to giue and to healpe then we be to aske it whiche thynge appeareth euidently by thys that he steareth vs vp wyth so manie his preceptes and promises to pray to him selfe promising also that he wyl gyue vs what so euer we aske in the name of Christe his sonne Therefore that we maye acknowledge this his so bountuous and verie fatherly loue towardes vs he layeth a crosse vpon vs wherein he constrayneth vs to call vpon hym that hearing vs and deliuering from euyls and heaping benifittes vpon vs he may declare his good wyll towarde vs and moue vs to loue hym agayne and to magnifie hym accordyng to the sentence of the Psal Call vpon me in the daye of trouble and I wyll deliuer the and thou shalte

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 the●● that trusteth in Christe is plāted into Christ thorow faith so far that he is made a mēbre 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 rottē 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 whē 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 cōuersation 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 frō 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 mēnes braynes but that it is the Lordes worde and therefore heauē 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 cōming shal not preuent thē 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 whō 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 inheritaūce 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 mā after foure dayes shal be raysed vp to this temporall and momētaine life as Lazarꝰ was but with this acte he would cōfirme and establishe the truth of his Gospell whiche he comprehended in thys place with fewe wordes and as it were in a sūme saiyng I am the resurrectiō 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 dānation yet seing that Christe hath abolished sinne and escaped the dominion of death thorowe his resurrection he hath taken also frō death all hir power and strength so that who so beleueth in him and is planted into his body thorowe fayth as a liuely mēbre he shall be preserued in death it selfe and shal be trāslated frō death to lyfe As Paule testifieth Christ is rissen from the deade he was the first fruite of thē 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 thē whiche cleane to the body of Christe thorowe fayth ought not to be compted suche as shoulde haue strēgth to destroye and condemne but suche as before God is compted precious and is as it were entronised cōsecrated of Christ to be the dore and entry into euerlasting life Though the bodie then beinge buried in the earth vanishe away and be cōfounded from the eyes of mē yet God which is almightie preserueth the life of it As a grayne of corne cast vpō the earth first dieth and afterward bringeth forth fruite so god hath also ordeined that mānes 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

question What good workes must be taught and done ¶ The answer Those that God hath cōmaunded in the ten cōmaūdemātes those that be cōteyned in the same after the interpretatiō of Christ and his Apostles For we must take ryght good hede that we deuyse not worshyppinges of God and good workes wythout the worde Therfore Christe also sayeth They worshippe me in vayne wyth the cōmaūdemētes of men For God wil that not onely fayth but also al our good workes be limited with his worde as with a sure rule leste after the maner of the heathen we deuyse to our selues vayne imaginations and workes of our owne as it hath chaunsed in callynge vpon sayntes in voued pilgrimages to the bones of sayntes in forbiddynge of mariage and suche lyke ¶ The seconde question Howe maye good workes be done ¶ Answer Mānes diligēce perfourmeth outwarde discipline metely so so But the commaundementes of God require also the inwarde workes of the herte as the feare of God fayth loue towardes the cōmaundementes of God true inuocatiō patience in troubles chastitie cet And it is well knowen that mannes weakenes can in nowise perfourme such workes without Godds healpe Ther fore God poureth his spirite into the hertes of the Godlye which helpeth them whiche gyueth them newe lyght and strength and this is a true exercise wherin God wil haue vs to call vpon Christe and to flee to hym that he maye gyue vs the holie goste and guyde vs therwyth that we fall not For it was an harde thynge for Dauid not to fal into desperation when he was dryuen out of his realme and appeared to be cast away of God Therfore he fled to praier as to an onely holde that was lefte and he required to be stayed and strengthned wyth the holy goste that he myghte call vpon God and loke for the ende of the matter in patience Wherfore Christe sayeth I wyll not leaue you fatherles Item the Lorde sayth in Zacharie Cha. xij I wyl poure vpon the house of Dauid the spirite of grace and prayer that is to saye he gyueth vs the holie goste that we maye beleue vnfaynedly that we are in the fauour of God by whiche fayth our mynde is steared vp to inuocation For whē we knowledge that the mercie of God is present wyth vs we loke for healpe and comfort from him and we submitte our selues to his wyll etc. Therfore God dyd not onely commaunde vs what we shoulde do but also he promiseth and offereth vs healp to do the same The cause why few men vnderstande thys thing and considre it a right is the dissolute and vnreligious lyfe and great securitie that reigneth in the common people For they fyght not agaynst synnes but vtterly folow all maner of lust and fall into greate blyndnes of mynde so that they know neither God nor his workes in men But they that lyue in the feare of God and call earnestly for thys healpe and ayde of the holie goste haue true experience howe present and effectuous his healpe is in affictions Wherfore it is ryghte expedient fo● fearfull and weake myndes whiche haue some begynnyng and desire of godlines to considre diligently the sayinge of S. Paule Philip. ij It is God that worketh in you both to wyll and to brynge to passe accordynge to the good purpose of his mynde that is to saye though thou feele thy selfe to be weake neuertheles when thou goest aboute any good thynge in thy lyfe accordyng vnto thy vocation vnto the glorie of God be of good comforte and knowledge that God wyll healpe the in thys endeuour and gyue the his holie spirite and good successe to thy worke ¶ The thirde question Howe do good workes please God seinge that there remaineth euer in thys fleshe so great weaknes in thys lyfe For we all haue experience dayly that there sticketh in vs as yet muche doubtyng cōceruyng God and his worde distrust of his presence and healpe inordinate motions and carefulnesse of thys lyfe Whiche woundes of mannes weaknes the sayntes feele to be so much the greuouser as they more studie to remedie them Whiche thinge Paule bewayleth of him selfe Roma vij It is profitable that the people be often and playnely admonished of thys question For a great parte of men be encombred in two errours Some be in perpetual doubte being vncertaine whether their lyfe or workes please God and lyuynge in an heathnishe vngodlines For they can not call vpō God but they flee his syghte There is a verie great multitude of thys sorte amonge men Wherfore thys heathnishe blyndnesse of men muste be diligently reproued An other arrogancie and trust of our owne rightuousnes and workes as was the errour of that pharisie whiche in the temple gloried of the keepyng of the lawe not perceyuyng his owne vncleanes and synnes Therefore that thys double errour and thys blyndnes maye be ouoyded we muste knowe that three thinges are required herevnto that good workes please God Fyrste that the mā him selfe be acceptable to God and be iustified freely for Christes sake Secondly that it is requisite that a newe lyfe folowe and obedience towardes God though it be vnperfecte and though muche weakenes and manie vices remayne in vs. Wherfore we muste remēbre that it is euer needfull to aske forgyuenes of synnes As Christe taught vs all to praye to the father Forgyue vs our dettes For no man vnderstandeth sufficiently howe greate the anger of God is agaynste synne oure reconciler Christ dyd onely fully perceyue it when he sayed If they do thys in the grene wood what wyl they do in the drye we muste not then extenuate and diminishe synne Thirdly though thys obediēce be weake yet we must determine that it pleaseth God in the reconciled for his sonne sake as saynt Petre exhorteth to offre spirituall sacrifices acceptable vnto God thorow Iesus Christ as if he woulde say not for their owne worthines but for the Mediatours sake Christ our only high bishoppe euer makyng intercession for vs. Thys is it that is wonte to be sayed at other tymes that good workes oughte to be done out of fayth that is that a man should not wauer doubtynge whether his lyfe or workes please God but certayne determine that he is acceptable to God for Christes sake as we haue often sayed and therefore that his workes being commaunded by the worde of God be acceptable vnto God for the same Christes sake thoughe they be weake and vnperfecte Therfore faith must be exercised in good workes two wayes Firste that we beleue they please God Secondly that we praye to God that for Christes sake he wil healp vs both to lyue godlie and also to do those workes that shall profitte the common lyfe of mē that he wyll giue thē good successe Nowe let euerie man considre wyth him selfe howe greate thys mercie of God is and howe sweete thys doctrine is It semeth a small worke when the mother bryngeth vp hyr childrē gyueth sucke

shall be present in theyr exammation and conuersion But if anie refusyng godlie admonition and doctrine shall obstinately continue in theyr impietie the officer of that place muste brynge theyr cause before an higher magistrate He shall punishe suche accordynge to the state of the personne and erroure wyth banishmente or other sore paynes after the law of the empire and the tēporal cōstitutiō decreed set forth cōceruyng these matters For we wyll that thys be knowen to all men that none in our dominions or places subiecte to our rule shal be suffered that dareth alowe one or more of the Anabaptisticall errours We wyl haue the same maner vsed with all them whiche steare vp spreade abrode or allowe anie false doctrine that fighteth with the receyued articles of our fayth ¶ Of the administration of religion that is to saye of the handlynge and dispensation of the doctrine Sacramentes and discipline of Christ in the churche And fyrste of the maner and ordre of holy sermons ON the sondaies and holie daies the preachers shal reherse and declare to the people the wonted lesson of the Gospell betwene the administration of the Sacramente as the custome is and out of that lesson they shal teache the people admonishe and argue those thinges which they shall perceyue to be moste necessarie and profitable for christian lyfe And forasmuch as al the lessons of the holy scripture preache vnto vs of God to be acknowledged in Christe of his almightines and mercie of repentaunce and forgyuenes of synnes in the name of Christe a wyse and faithful preacher shal easely chose that thing chiefely out of euerie lesson that shall make to the health and edification of the present congregation Wherfore the pastours must haue great care of the people and trye at certeyne tymes howe muche euerie one hath profited in religion in what partenerie one staggereth and is readie to fal whether it be in the doctrine of fayth or concernynge the trust of Gods mercie or in the feare of the iudgement of God or in patience loue or orderynge of maners that timelie and holesome remedies maye euer be brought out of the worde of God as out of a plentifull apothe caries shop and layed to the greuous diseases and vices of the people The lessons of the scripture beinge recited in the begynnynge of sermons muste be diligently declared to the people and that whole togither For the worde of God must be propouned to the people that they maye learne it and be enstructed to godlines therby Wherfore so muche shal be declared as was reade to the people that they maye receyue some fruite of godlines thereby But the preachers and ministers of the cōgregations shall labour diligently herein that the doctrine and exhortation whiche they wyll vse before the lessons euer be referred to those thynges wherein the people is weakeste and they shall instantly beate in the thynges whiche they shall perceyue to further the amendemēt of the people and holesome institution whiche thynge we se that the holy fathers dyd also which fyrst declared in ordre the lesson that was recited and afterwarde taryed in those places chiefely in teachyng exhortyng and reprouyng that semed moste to further the institution admonition and correction of the people But bycause all doctrine and exhortation is then ryghtly perceyued and lette to sinke deeper into the mynde if it be deriued out of certaine principles knowen before as fundacion and cōcluded in the same the preachers muste referre all doctrine and exortation in theyr sermones to some place of a Catachisme or institution as to the ten commaundementes to the articles of our faithe the Lordes praier the Sacramentes and suche lyke principall poyntes of our religion And bycause that the whole christiane doctrine and what so euer perteyneth to godlines consisteth in these sūmaries and be meetelie well knowē to the people it bringeth great light to the doctrine and it moueth the people the more if the sermons shal be referred to these poyntes as to a certeyne marke and they shall shewe the people to what parte of the catechisme that that they teache perteyneth Thys thynge shall healpe muche to thys purpose that the people maye dayly growe more and more in all godlines fayeth in Christe and loue towarde theyr neighbour The pastoure muste also teache the people the common offices and dueties of thys lyfe accordynge to euerie mannes vocation as the office of maried folke one towardes an other the office of the parentes towarde theyr chyldrē and cōtrary wise What maisters owe to their seruaūtes and seruauntes to theyr maisters Howe the officers oughte to be estemed and all other gouernours howe greate reuerence we owe them howe we oughte to lyue wyth oure superiours equalles and inferiours These thynges must be often propouned and repeted in sermons chiefely on the holie dayes when a greate cōpany of people resorteth togyther And the prayses of ciuile lyfe muste be diligētly beaten into mē and chiefely the youth muste be accustomed wyth great diligence and arte to learne to haue a reuerent opinion of the officers of the lawes and of al politike thinges This reuerence is profitable to the common weale and is the nurse of great vertues On the sundayes and holie dayes at the euenyng prayers some exhortation muste be made which shal be chosen out of the epistle of the sundaye or holie day whiche the preachers when it is reade to the people shal interprete diligently They may if they wyll declare to the people the actes of the Apostles or one of the euangelistes or some epistle of Paule or the Psa●ter in ordre But let none of the preachers take in hāde to declare the bokes of Moyses the histories of the olde Testamente the prophetes but they to whom the Deanes shal committe that matter We wyll also that vpon the sundayes and holie dayes aswel in the mornynges as eueninges holie assembles be vsed holie lessons be propouned and prayers be made if there be ministers inowe and if muche people come thereunto For so seruauntes and other of the common people shall be better prouided for which can not euer come to the principall assembles of the churche In the mornyng let the catechisme be declared if it maye be if not let it be declared at euentide when the people resorte togyther For a certeyne houre on the holie dayes muste be appoynted for the ruder sorte and the youth to haue the Catechisme declared And that houre for the Catechisme shal be appoynted that is moste conuenient for the people And A Catechisme is an introductiō institution and instruction of the vnlearned in the wicke dayes two dayes or one at the leste muste be appoynted for the Catechisme from Marche to Nouember From that tyme vnto the spryngtyde the Catechisme maye be omitted on the workynge dayes by reason of youge chyldren whiche can not be present for the great colde In euerie congregation suche ministers must be chosen to the handling of

euerlastynge lyfe and part takers of all his benifittes bycause we be the coheyres of his Christe beinge deliuered from the tirannie of the diuell synne death and hell Wherefore I beseche you for Gods sake and your saluation that ye wyll worthely esteme and thankefully embrace so wonderfull abundaunt grace of God whiche is exhibited in thys Sacrament For Baptisme is a greate comforte vnto vs in oure daungers and afflictions and it is the fyrste entraunce vnto all the benifittes of God and to the blessed feloshyppe of all saintes Therefore that we maye considre thys vnspeakeable benifitte of God wyth a presenter minde and greater religion we must fyrste remembre into howe greate euyls the fall of Adam thrue vs. And contrariewyse how vnmeasurable grace God exhibited to mankynde thorow his sonne in that that he hath redemed vs from the same euylles by baptisme Thirdly howe thys so great mercie of God ought to be euer before our eyes in all perilles and with howe great prayses we should magnifie the grace of god which we haue receyued thorowe baptisme Fyrste then we muste considre wyth all diligence that all we thorowe the synne of Adam and enuie of Satan be subiect to the wrath of God and moreouer damned and be holden prisonners vnder the power and kyngdome of the diuell vndre death synne and hell so that we being by nature the children of wrath coulde appease God by no strength of man no vertues or workes For all that is in vs and all our workes be cursed of God and subiecte to the tirannie of Satan by reason of our corrupted nature For seinge that thorowe the inobedience of our fyrst Adam of whō we are all borne into this natural and earthlie lyfe we come al into the worlde giltie and cursed of God so that we muste all dye in hym and beare his earthie Image in thys mortall bodie it feloweth that all our lyfe and all the dedes of our nature so corrupted be condemned of God though they appeare neuer so godlie and holie before men For what so euer is borne of fleshe is flesh that is to say straūge from God repugning to the spirite and adiudged to death and hell Wherefore fleshe and bloud shal not atteine to the kyngdome of God For whatsoeuer is fleshe it sauoureth fleshely thynges and so lyueth it is an aduersarie to God for it is not subiecte to the lawe of God Wherefore they that be fleshely can not please God the wysedome of the fleshe is death And therefore oure Lorde Christe disputyng wyth Nicodemus concludeth thus Verely verely I saye vnto the excepte a man be borne agayne of water and of the spirite he can not entre into the kyngdome of God Secondly we must considre howe plentifull the grace of God gyuen to vs in baptisme is wherin his bountuousnes and loue towardes men truly appeareth in asmuche as he hath saued vs not thorowe the workes of ryghtuousnes whiche we had done but accordyng to his mercie by the lauer of regeneration and renouation of the holie gost For he thorow the vertue of his worde washeth awaye and abolisheth whatsoeuer maketh vs giltie and condemneth vs as in olde tyme he drouned in the redde sea the enemies of his people and destroyed al mākynde wyth the floude eyghte soules reserued whiche were saued in the arke So this lauer of water saueth vs thorow the word not in washyng away the fyl●h of the fleshe as it chaunseth in all other washynges but thorowe the certification of a good cōscience towardes God by the resurrectiō of Iesus Christ For by the vertue of Goddes couenaunt we are cleansed in our cōsciences and we are certified both thorow the worde and an outwarde signe that all the synnes that defiled and condemned vs be playnly abolished bycause they be forgyuē and be dead Therfore thorowe baptisme we determine certeynly that we are acceptable vnto God and ioyned vnto hym wyth an euerlastyng couenaunt of grace so that nothynge can seperate vs frō hym or condemne vs. Wherfore hensforth we muste not onely eschewe synnes but also feare them and abhorre frō them none otherwyse then from hel as men dead vnto synnes For all we as S. Paule wytnesseth whiche be baptised into Christe Iesus be baptised into his death for we are buryed wyth hym into death Therfore we be dead to synne and to the whole olde mā and broughte forth in Christe so farre that nothynge can condemne vs or seperate vs from the grace of God For he that is deade is iustified from synne he is no more subiecte to the tirannie of synne death and hell though he feele the remnauntes of synne in the fleshe yet those be not imputed vnto cōdemnation by reason of the iustification of the spirite in Christe Furthermore Baptisme worketh a newe lyfe in vs and acceptable to God For as Christe was reysed from the deade by the glory of the father so he worketh in vs with his spirite that we also maye walke in newnes of lyfe For if we be grafted in hym by the lykenes of his death surely we shal also be part takers of his resurrection vnto euerlastyng lyfe knowinge thys that oure olde man is crucified wyth him that the bodie of synne should be abolished that hereafter we serue not vnto synne Wherfore let vs recōpte that we be dead to sinnes in dede and liue to God in Christ our Lorde in whom also we be circumcised wyth a circūcision made wythout handes whyle we put of the bodie of synnes thorow the circūcision of Christ We are buried wyth hym thorow baptisme wherein we haue also rysen agayne wyth hym by the fayth of the workynge of God For God whiche raysed Christe from the deade hath quickened vs with him euen when we were dead thorowe synnes by the vncircumcision of the fleshe or fleshly lyfe For though our lyfe be hidden in God with Christ yet whē Christe our lyfe shall appeare then shall we also in hym be manifested in glorie as men whom God of his exceadyng mercie hath begotten agayne into a lyuely hope thorow the resurrection of Iesus Christe from the dead vnto I saye an incorriruptible inheritaunce vndefiled and that fadeth not away not of corruptible seede but vncorruptible namely the lyuely worde of God by which worde baptisme consisteth and worketh all the forsayed thynges in vs truely and effectuously Thyrdly we shall cōfort our selues with so great excellencie of the grace of God and benifittes bestowed vpon vs thorowe baptisme and we shall euer thanke God and that so muche the more studiously as we shall be oppressed wyth more greuous calamities confirmynge our fayth hereby that God worketh in vs mortifieth the olde mā and repayreth the newe though not after a visible sorte yet by the vertue of baptisme thorowe the worde and the spirite Wherefore lette vs confirme oure consciences and thynke that God careth for vs and that for the merite of his sonne we be acceptable and deare to hym and when we be

godlines and honestie before the affinite of riche men from whome only outwarde ryches come vnto vs. The pastours than shal endeuoure them selues to enstructe the people diligently of the holines nature and hole strength of this most holye copulacion as we haue here described it that the youth knowinge the institution of God and the dignitie of thys coniunction maye learne to a voide al those thin ges which in cōtracting and keping of wedlocke are contrarie to the ordinaūce of God and to the holynes of that kinde of life finally that they may enter into and mayntayn thys holie purpose of liuinge as God hath cōmaunded and as it may be to theyr welth ❧ Of Buriynge AS touchyng dead personnes wee wyl haue thys difference obserued that if any departe in the manifest contempte of Christ their corpses shal not be buried amonge the bodies of the faythful nor anye of the ministers of the congregation shal folow them to theyr graues But if thei departe in the communion of Christ and of hys congregacion cheyfely if in the extreme danger of life they haue professed the same and haue receyued the holy sacrament of the Lordes bodye and bloude and absolucion suche I saye shal be caryed furth honorably and bee buried in places appoynted there vnto Neyther shall anye thinge either be required of anye man or receyued for such buriynge which thynge cannot be done without the manifeste wickednes of Simonie While the corpes is caried furth it shal be lawefull to synge in the mydde waye the Psalme From the deepe or suche other lyke songes And that the people maye be more diligently admonished of those thynges which are to be considered aboute burials it shall not be vnprofitable if a certeyne tyme of buriall shall be appoynted at whiche tyme some apte place of scripture maye be reade wyth a short exposition of the place and admonition and exhortatiō deriued out of the same wherein thynges of thys sorte shal be sette forth Chiefely the exceading greatnes of synne and of the wrath of God wherevpon death ensued Secondly the singuler and inestimable benifite of the redemption of Christ whiche trāslated synne vpon him selfe and in diyng ouercame death briefely purchased and prepared to all the faythfull a newe and heauēly lyfe thorowe his moste holie resurrection and ascention And hereof a consolation shal be taken and applied to the departed person who beinge translated from death to lyfe thorowe fayth in Christe lyueth wyth the Lorde and restynge in eternall peace loketh for vs. Hereunto lette an exhortation be added for thē that stande by namely that they shoulde dayly dye more and more to synne and prepare them selues to the heauenly life that is to come and so praye God continually that he wyll graunt them a luckie and good ende of thys lyfe And if there be anie notable proues of goddes goodnes declared towardes the deade person in his lyfe or death the ministre shall declare and prayse the same wyth a good and godly commemoration to the glorie of God and edification of the church wherin neuertheles he must beware that he seme not to haue gone about to please mennes eares but to haue regarded wyth a pure herte the institution of the congregation and commendations of gods gyftes And as cōcernig buriyng there is a most apte place in the first epistle of Paule Thessalo Chap. iiij We wyl not that ye be ignoraunt concernyng them that sleepe etc. Out of which place there may be a sermon made after thys sorte For asmuch as we are come togethee by the callynge of God to burie our brother a membre of the same body of Christe and seinge also that in the companie of Christian men all thynges muste be done to commune edification we haue thought good to declare some thynge vnto you more exactly out of the sermon that S. Paul made of them that sleepe that by the healpe of the holy goste we maye receyue some godly and christian cōsolation thereof in the sundry tentatiōs of our fayth and in the straites of death S. Paule then wryteth after thys sorte iiij Thess I wyll not that ye be ignoraunte bretherne concernynge them that are fallen a sleepe that ye sorowe not as other mē do Thys is that notable place of S. Paule concernyng them that sleepe that is to saye concernynge christian men departed whiche we ought to take not as a deuise of mā but as the true and sincere oracle of god wherof we maye not onely gette consolation in thys mornefull sorowe whiche we be in by reason of the death of our brother but also healpe and conforte agaynst the terrours of death The philosophers haue disputed of the despisyng of death wyth many and sundry argumentes as when they say that death is a commune dette of mankynde and an ende of all the miseries that chaunce to the lyfe Whiche sayinges amonge men in prosperous health and such as are careles as touchyng Goddes iudgement seme godly and haue a colour of wysedome But in the true terrours of death they are vayne and can brynge no substantiall consolation For if 〈◊〉 mā loke more narrowly vpon the causes of death he shall fynde that death is in dede as Paule sayeth the rewarde of synne And as Moyses speaketh also we are wasted thorowe thy wrath and by reason of thy hote indignation we are throwen donne Thou hast sette our iniquities before thy syght etc. Now it is well knowen that God so hateth synne that he wyll punishe the same not only for a tyme but for euer Death thē is such a punishmēt of the moste ryghtful wrath of God that man shall not onely be depriued of thys lyfe but also of euerlastynge saluation and shall be adiudged to euerlastynge damnation So farre of it is then that the ende of euyl is in death as the philosophers falsely persuaded them selues that rather if ye haue a respecte to synne it is a dore and entrie vnto euerlastyng miserie These thinges than must be knowen cōsidered and sette before our eyes continually not that we shoulde take thereof an accasion to despeyre or to doubte of our saluation as the heathen and vngodly do but rather that beinge moued wyth thys condesideration we maye be steared vp and dryuen to Christe to seeke our only saluation in his Gospel thorowe faith and to require of him onely deliueraunce from death And though death bringe certeine destruction and condemnation wyth it if you put Christe a parte and haue a respecte to synne yet seinge that Christ neuer committed any synne verie giltles if ye regarde his owne person suffred death surely she had no right at all agaynst hym Wherof it came to passe that she coulde not holde hym nor destroye hym but was compelled to restore him For where as he was deade in the fleshe and afterwarde buried forthwyth vpon the thyrde daye he rose agayne wyth greate glorie and so openly and euidently declared the same his resurrection not onely by the testimonie