led away to Annas and Caiaphas and then posted ouer to Pilate Pilate sent him to Herode and Herode sent him back againe with mockes and tauntes in a purple robe in mockage derision of him And all this did our sauiour Christ for vs. This was much that I haue rehearsed already but yet nothing to the death of the crosse for the crosse was as odious shameful to them as the gallowes is to vs yet Christ was wel contented with it so wee might bee redeemed This is that Paul speaketh of to the Heb. 12. willing vs to follow the great humilitie of Christ in his suffering of shame saith Let vs also seeing that we are compassed with so great a cloude of witnesses cast away euery thing that presseth down and sinne that hangeth so fast on let vs runne with patience the race that is set before vs looking vnto Iesus the author finisher of our faith who for the ioy that was set before him endured the crosse despised the shame and is set at the right hand of the throne of God Consider therfore him that endured such speaking agaīst of sinners lest ye should be wearied and faint in your mindes We see many men can abide to suffer paine and griefe which yet notwithstanding are ouercome with shame and reproche and can hardly abide it One peraduenture could bee contented to suffer some trouble for his deare friende but who will bee hanged for his friende Let the same minde therefore dearely beloued be in you that was euen in Christ Iesus who being in the forme of God thought it no robberie to be equal with God but hee made himselfe of no reputation and tooke on him the shape of a seruant and was made like vnto men and was found in shape as a man he humbled himselfe and became obedient vnto the death euen the death of the crosse You see out of this place howe Christ for our sakes abased himselfe to shame which consisteth in foure poyntes It was much for him being God to become man whether it had bene King or Prince or Lorde but it was more to become a miserable man a seruant vnto men more then that it was to die but most of all was it worthy prayse and commendation that he died the death of the crosse not for his friendes but for his foes Many other thinges did our sauiour suffer of the people the Scribes the Pharises the Iewes as reuilings blasphemies bitter nippes and tauntes but al was nothing to this crosse it surmounteth all yet for all this we must not be ashamed of him for hee is our glory Galat. 6. 1. Corinth 2. they that are ashamed of him here in earth before men he wil be ashamed of thē in heauē before his father his Angels Let vs therfore confesse and acknowledge Christ crucified for vs and let vs neuer be ashamed of him when hee commeth with his crosse for he that taketh not vp his crosse dayly followeth him is not worthy to be his disciple Luke 9. He might rather haue bene ashamed of vs to see vs in that case we were worser then wee can see any poore miserable begger amongst vs here in earth We see then that by Christ crucified the blessing of Abraham is come vpon vs that were Gentiles Galat. 3. and the the serpents head is broken he being y◠true serpēt lifted vp vpon the crosse to saue al those that hope vpon him by fayth as the other brasen serpent lyfted vp by Moses in the wildernes saued all those Israelites the were stong looked vp vnto it Numb 21. verse 9. Furthermore by this crosse the hande writing of ordinances which was against vs which was cōtrary to vs he euē he tooke it out of the way fastened it vpon the crosse hath spoyled the principalities powers hath made a shew of thē opēly hath triūphed ouer thē in the same crosse Col. 2. Of this crucifying lifting vp vpō the crosse was Isaac a figure who was boūd laid vpō the altar ready to be offered And so were al the sinne offerings layde vpon the altar for he was made of God his father sinne for vs that wee might he made the righteousnes of God in him which knewe no sinne 2. Corinth 5. But of all other types and shadowes of the ceremonial lawe this taking away of sinne by Christ in his crosse was most liuely set forth and represented vnto vs as in a glasse in the scaps goate For the Lord commanded Aaron Leuit. 16. that he should take a liue hee goate and present him quicke before the Lorde to make reconciliation by him and that he should put his handes vpon the head of the goate and confesse ouer him all the iniquities of the children of Israel and all their trespasses all their sinnes putting them vpon the head of the goate should send him away by the hande of a man appointed into the wildernes so the goate shall beare vpon him all their iniquities into the lande that is not inhabited Here was our sauiour Christ figured which bare in his body vpō the crosse the iniquities of vs al Esai 53. 1. Pet. 2. and was wounded for our transgressions and caried away al our sorowes for by his stripes are wee healed Esay 53. Furthermore this betraying and crucifying of Christ and selling of him for thirty pence was also forefigured in Ioseph For as Ioseph was solde of his owne brethren into the handes of strangers so was Christ betrayed and sold of his owne disciple anddeliuered of his owne nation into the handes of Pilate and the Heathen The third thing that followeth in this article is his death He was dead in deede as the Euangelistes doe report for Luke sayth of him that he cryed with a loude voyce and sayde Father into thy hands I commend my spirit And when he had thus sayd he gaue vp the ghost Luk 23. So for the certaintie of it it is not onely said that he was crucified but also that he died for otherwise nothing had bene wrought for vs. God sayde to Adam In what day soeuer thou shalt eate of the forbidden tree of knowledge of good and euill thou shalt die the death Adam offended and brake this commandement hee was not able to make satisfaction for it to die the death of body and soule therfore the second Adam Iesus Christ died the death of body suffered the death in soule to redeeme vs and to satisfie Gods wrath displeasure conceiued most iustly against our sinne in Adam This death was signified in euery sacrifice of beastes in the olde lawe of Moses in the killing of bullockes of calues of sheepe of goates and such other things For as the Apostle sayth without shedding of blood was no remission of sinnes This was verified in Christes blood shed for vs in his death Neither was this death of Christ to be seene onely shadowed in the ceremonies
of the Leuiticall lawe but also in diuers men As Samson who died him selfe to deliuer his people from the Philistims so Christ to deliuer vs from the deuils died him selfe Dauid also was a figure of him in many thinges Here we see then what a grieuous thing sinne was in Gods sight that he could be pacified by no other meanes then by the blood death of his only and welbeloued Sonne Iesus Surely our sinnes were as hard as the Adamant stone which could not be brokē by any other meanes then by the blood of the true goate Iesus Christ Consider here the wonderfull vnspeakeable loue of Christ he would die for vs that we might escape euē as the Pelicane which hauing brought forth her young ones dead or being stong killed by serpētes she pecketh forth her heart blood to reuiue her young ones so we heing conceiued and borne in sinne and altogether dead in our trespasses and offences Ephes 2. stong of that old and fiery serpent the diuell which first beguiled our parents in paradise and so hauing the rewarde of sinne which is death we I say in this case are reuiued and quickened againe by the blood of that true Pelicane Iesus Christ which hee from his heart hath shead and powred out for vs. Thus we see how deeply we are indebted to Christ for his great loue to vs in dying for our sinnes and yet how fewe remember this death Many not once in a day nay not once in a weeke or moneth I feare some not once in a whole yeere doe remember it well they are the more vnthākeful vnkind sonnes to God so good a father Christ so louing a brother It is the only thing that should especially be remēbred although all other things be forgottē Beleeue me deare brethrē Christ died not to this ende that his death should be forgotten which was so cruell to him or that it should be lightly remēbred of vs for that he might haue vs to remēber it the better he instituted his last supper in bread wine the bread brokē to put vs in minde of his most pure pretious body broken bruised for our sinnes that it doeth nourish vs as the bread doth nourish our bodies for his flesh is meat in deede Iohn 6. The wine ordeined to put vs in mind of his blood powred out for vs to wash vs from al our sinnes 1. Iohn 1. that as the wine doth quench our thirst and refresh vs comfort our hearts being soroweful so doeth the blood of Christ al these things vnto vs in greater measure and abundance This doeth also teache vs vnitie loue together that as many grapes make but one wine and many graynes of corne wheate make but one lofe of bread so should we be but one in Christ our head for we are all members of the same body The other sacramēt also of Baptisme doth put vs in minde of Christes death for as the water in baptisme doth wash the body so doeth the blood of Christ wash our soules and clense them frō their filthines Which thing is represented vnto vs in our baptisme a signe of our newe birth and regeneration by the spirite of Christ Therefore in our baptisme we ought to remember this death for wee are buried with him into his death by this seale and sacrament of our baptisme as Paul proueth Rom. 6. Nowe we see that to the ende we may remember this great benefite of Christes death we haue tokens of it two in number the supper of Christ and baptisme for by thē we shew forth the Lords death vntil he come againe to iudgemēt 1. Cor. 11. Nowe if any man marueile why we dye since Christ hath died for vs tasted death once for all men to make reconciliatiō for the sinnes of the people to satisfie Gods iustice he may be answered that Christ hath taken away the second death of the soule not this first naturall death of the body which is common to all for by it we enter into life and although it be sometime grieuous to Gods children yet it is not deadly to them nay rather ioyfull seeing by it they come to Christ their head as it was to Paul I desire saith he to be loosed and to be with Christ meaning to die For albeit this death of the body dwelleth in vs yet it hath no dominion ouer vs by the force and efficacie of Christes death And wee knowe that it is made nowe to the elect a gate to passe by into heauen We should not then feare death seeing that the losse of this transitory life is the high way into Gods euerlasting kingdome And this may bee answered concerning sinne also If any man aske howe it commeth to passe that wee haue sinne still remaining in vs seeing Christ hath died for it to take it away I answere that Christ hath taken awaye the condemnation of sinne that it shall not hurt vs to bring vs to destruction but the full abolishing of sinne shall cease in the latter day of iudgement when all thinges shall bee restored againe to their perfection Actes 5. So that now we may say There is no condemnation of sinne to them that are in Christ Iesus which walke not after the flesh but after the spirite Rom. 8. For see the wonderfull working of God that all the curses and paynes that were in Iesus Christ are turned to our blessings and ioyes his death is our life his pouerty our riches his shame our glory his descension into hell is made our ascension into heauen and finally his misery here in this life is made our felicitie and happinesse in the life to come This is the Lordes doing and it is marueilous in our eyes O that men would therefore prayse the Lorde for his goodnes and declare the wonders that hee doeth for the children of men This death of Christe hath two benefites in it for first it causeth that wee shall not die in the life to come and then here it mortifieth our earthly members it killeth our olde man Adam within vs that it bringeth not foorth his accustomed actions of sinne within vs. Thus much concerning his death Let vs nowe consider briefly the fourth poynt in this article which is his buriall Christe was buried by an honourable Counseller Ioseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus a ruler of the Iewes who begged his body boldly of Pilate and buried it with odours as the maner was Iohn 19. His buriall is mentioned to assure vs that hee died in deede as when wee see a man buried wee doubt not but that hee is dead The lesson that we learne by this buriall of Christ is this as the Apostle Paul teacheth vs Rom. 6. and Colos 2. that we should so through baptisme bee freed and buried from sinne as he was buried in the graue that like as Christe was raysed vp from the dead to the glorie of his father so we also should walke in newenes
therefore they are not only Idolaters which worship and serue Idoles and strange Gods as the Ethnicks such like but also all those which worship and serue the true God of heauen after their owne fantasie or after the traditions of men without faith without the word of God otherwise thē God hath commaunded them And they only are Christians which do confesse and serue one onely God which is in heauen according to his word and commandement all whose woorkes aswell outwarde as inwarde corporall as spirituall bee the true seruice of the Lorde because the same are done in the fayth of the Sonne of God and according to the calling of the Lord after the which euery faythfull bodie ought to walke The Lxxxvi Article I beleeue and confesse that it is not lawfull for a Christian to be present eyther in spirite eyther in bodie at the idolatrous sacrifices neither to enter into their temples while they are in doing of their idolatries and sacrifices if it be not of purpose to rebuke and vtter their impietie and to teache the trueth as the holy Prophetes and Apostles did and not to dissemble as the hypocrites doe For if the bodie be the creature of God as it is in deede aswell as the soule and be the Temple of the holy Ghost and a member of the mysticall bodie of Christ and if it shall one day rise and possesse eternall life with the soule it must then followe of necessitie that it ought to be wholly dedicated vnto the ryght seruice of God in this worlde together with the soule and the spirite or else they can not at the generall resurrection be coupled together but must be separated asunder the one to be with God in heauen whome it loued and the other to be in hell with the deuill whom it serued the which thing is impossible for that cause I say that al such dissimulatiō is a plaine forsaking of Christ and of his Gospel Likewise I beleeue and confesse that all maner of such dissemblings by the which the trueth of the Gospel is hid the word of the Lord despised infidelitie and ignorance confirmed and the weake are offended the same can not be of God but of the deuill and altogether against the trueth of Gods worde And therefore there must be no halting on both sides but wee must goe and walke foorthryght and strayghtly before this great Lorde which seeth beholdeth and knoweth all things yea euen before they are begonne The Lxxxvii Article I beleeue also that the beginning of all Idolatrie was the fynding out and inuention of Images which also were made to the great offence of the soules of men and are as snares and trappes for the feete of the ignorant to make them to fal Therefore they ought not to be honoured serued worshipped neyther to bee suffered in the Temples or Churches neyther in any other places where Christian people doe meete together to heare and vnderstande the word of God but rather the same ought vtterly to bee taken awaye and throwen downe according to the effect of the second commandement of God and that ought to bee done by the common authoritie of the Magistrate and not by the priuate authoritie of any particular man For the wood of the gallowes whereby iustice is done is blessed of GOD but the Image made by mans hande is accursed of the Lorde and so is he that made it And therefore wee ought to beware of Images aboue all thinges This is that I beleeue of the Catholike faith and of the thinges that concerne the same and is for the fourth point of my faith Nowe resteth to speake of the fruites that proceed out of the same and what I receiue by the same faith which fruites are in number three whereof the first is The forgiuenesse of sinnes The Lxxxviii Article I beleeue that al those that are come and shall come of the race and lyne of Adam generally are conceiued borne in iniquitie and corruption except Iesus Christ only and that they are all sinners transgressers and breakers of the law and wil of the Lord and according to their nature they are corrupt the children of wrath worthy of Gods iudgement of condemnatiō eternal death all needing the grace and mercie of God and of Christes blood shedding For God hath wrapped all vnder sinne to the intent hee woulde haue mercie vpon all through Iesus Christ our Lorde The Lxxxix Article I beleeue that the knowledge of sinne proceedeth of the lawe but the remission and forgiuenesse of sinne commeth of the Gospel and is giuen vs by the onely grace and mercie of God in the blood of Iesus Christ through the faith wee haue therein whereby wee are counted righteous before God not through our good woorkes or deseruings neither by the merites of any other creature either in heauen or in earth For I knowe not neither do I alow any other merites but the merites of my good Lord master and onely sauiour Iesus Christ who hath merited and sufficiently satisfied for vs hath paide for his owne their dette in wiping out the hande writing and obligation which was against vs and in taking the same from vs hath fastened it vnto the Crosse The xc Article I beleeue that this iustifiyng faith is a meere and singular gift of God the which is commonly giuen by the hearing of Gods woorde whereupon onely it is builte and not vpon the doctrines and traditions of men I call a iustifiyng faith a certaine assurance and earnest perswasion of the good will loue grace bounteousnesse and mercy of God towarde vs whereby we are assured verily perswaded in our hearts of the mercy fauour and good will of God the father that he is on our side and for vs against all that are against vs and that he wil be a mercifull father vnto vs pardoning our sinnes and will giue vs his grace make vs his children by adoption and admitte vs for heires vnto eternal life and all this freely in his sonne by his only sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde and not for our merites or good workes This faith can doe all thinges and to it nothing is impossible the which faith is neuer perfect nor great ynough in vs and therefore ought wee alwayes to praye with y◠Apostles saying Lorde increase our faith helpe our vnbeliefe For that faith only doth comfort vs maketh vs holy maketh vs righteous and acceptable before the Lorde it declareth vs to be the children of GOD and heires of eternall life the which faith also is the mother the spring and roote of all good workes like as infidelitie is the fountaine and roote of all wickednes The xci Article I beleeue also that good workes are not superfluous vayne and vnprofitable but necessarie to saluation I call good workes not those which are done after the fantasie or commaundement of men but onely those that God by his woorde hath commaunded to bee done the which ought to be done
same nature with the father for he is one with his father This is the third title giuen to our sauiour Christ that he is the only begotteÌ„ sonne of God but there may a question bee inade How is Christ the only sonne of God seeing we also are soÌ„nes as he is as Iohn saith As many as beleeue in Christ he gaue theÌ„ power to be the soÌ„nes of God To this we answere that Christ is the only sonne of God by nature substance and we by grace adoption which before were not For as when a man hath no childreÌ„ he maketh some by adoption and fauor whoÌ„ he loueth to enioy his lands and inheritaÌ„ce â—ounting them as his owne so it is with God and vs. He hath no moe sonnes but one onely by nature substance but by his loue and grace he maketh vs his deare children by adoption in Christ for all is done for Christes sake our elder brother as Paul proueth Ephe. 1. He hath predestinated vs to be adopted for sonnes in Iesus Christ For this then that we are sonnes to so high great a God a Lord and king ought we not to be very thankeful ought we not by all meanes to set forth his honor glory more then our own Surely we should do so for how would I loue that king here in the earth or that Queene or that noble maÌ„ that should make me a poore begger borne his louing sonne by adoption Now much more ought I to loue the sonne of God that hath made me sonne to his father by his death satisfaction And wheÌ„ Christ is called the only begotten sonne of God we must not imagine a carnall or grosse begetting as is here among meÌ„ but a diuine and heauenly incompreheÌ„sible and vnspeakable to our capacity before al beginnings most mystical secret The last title that is giueÌ„ to Christ here is the dignity honor of a Lord. We cal him our Lord that by right for his we are who hath bought vs redeemed vs by his owne body from the deuill sinne al other euils and mischiefes And this is that that the Apostle speaketh of that therefore Christ died and rose agayne that he might be lord of al both dead quicke Rom. 14 and againe Ye are not your own for ye are bought with a price 1. Cor. 6. And therefore is he made lord and king of his father ouer all the world that al should worship and honour the sonne as they honour the father him selfe for he is not only the head of men but of all the Angels in heauen as it is said Let all the Angels of God worship him Heb. 1. Ephe. 1. Thus ye see how Christ is appoynted Lorde and heyre of all thinges therefore is he called here our Lord and we then confesse our selues to be his seruantes and subiectes to do his wil and commaundement He is called also our Lord because we should conceaue comfort by it in trouble that he will be a most gratious lord vnto vs also as wel as vnto others as Thomas said of him so must we say and bee perswaded My God and my Lord. Iohn 21. Which was conceiued by the holy Ghost Nowe foloweth his coÌ„ceptioÌ„ by the holy ghost not by the seed of man for if he had bin conceiued by man he had not bene voyde of sinne as Ioh chap. 3. ver 6. Iob. 6. chap. 25. verse 5 6. and so shoulde he haue bene vnfit to deliuer vs from sinne Therefore our sauiour saith For them I do sanctifie my self And such an high Priest it became vs to haue which is holy harmeles vndefiled seperated from sinners and made hier then the heauens As that which went before did proue vnto vs sufficiently his diuinitie and godhead that he was yesterday to day for euer as is proued in the Epistle to the Hebrews cha 13. so this coÌ„ception in the wombe of the virgin doth proue that he is very and true man had a beginning according to his humanitie as the scriptures doe witnes vnto vs that he was made of the seede of Dauid according to the flesh RoÌ„ 1. And that God seÌ„t his soÌ„ne into the world made of a woman Gal. 4. The maner of this conception is described liuely vnto vs by S. Luk. Cha. 1. For after that the Angel had told Marie that she should conceiue in her woÌ„be and bring forth a sonne and cal his name Iesus she asked howe it should come to passe saying she knew no man then the Angel telleth her that the holy ghost should come vpon her the power of yâ— most high should ouershadow her therefore that holy thing which shal be borne of thee shal be called the sonne of God So likwise in Matth. 1. we reade that when Ioseph her husband would haue put her away priuily thinking she had bene with child of some maÌ„ the Angel called vnto him being thus minded in a dreame saying Ioseph thou sonne of Dauid feare not to take Mary for thy wife for that which is conceiued in her is of the holy ghost We see then that al flesh in Adam had corrupted his way before the Lord that the ordinary generatioÌ„ of maÌ„ was vncleane therfore it was necessary that Christ that should redeeme others from sinne should not be subiect to it himself but bee borne by an extraordinarie meane to cleanse vs froÌ„ all our sinnes both original actual which he was voyde of by reasoÌ„ of this coÌ„ceptioÌ„ wherfore Christ must be both maÌ„ God to redeeme vs Man because maÌ„ had offended our sinnes had deuided him froÌ„ vs as a cloude doth the bright sunne from our eies he must be God also to make reconciliatioÌ„ to God his father for vs for no Angel in heauen was able to do this office of mediation but the only God maÌ„ Iesus Christ the true mediator for al our sinnes past present or to come Here coÌ„sider the great loue of Christ toward mankinde that despised not our flesh to take it vpoÌ„ him beeing God equall to his father and hath inuested and couered himselfe with our nature but yet without sinne This doth teach vs our duety towards him in thaÌ„kfulnes our duty towards our neighbors in yelding vnto them in matters for their behalf not to please our selues but to beare with them debase our selues for them as Christ hath done for vs already Phil. 2. Let the same minde be in you which was in Christ Iesus We learne by the coÌ„ceptioÌ„ of Christ by the holy ghost that he was thus coÌ„ceiued to make our sinfull conception pure For we are conceiued and borne in sinnes euery one of vs eueÌ„ the best of vs al that come of Adam Dauid lamenteth the impurity imperfection of his conception and birth saying Behold Lorde I was borne in iniquitie in sinne hath my mother conceiued me Psal 51. as if he would say The cause of this my outward
noted vpon Christes birth the circumstances of it with the fruite that commeth vnto vs by it and howe wee shoulde vse this day and what is our duetie in it Let vs thanke our sauiour Christ that he woulde be thus borne for vs and pray vnto him that we may remember it and haue the ende of this his cōming in the flesh the saluatiō of our foules which he graūt vnto vs to whom with his father and the holy ghost be giuen all prayse and glory for euer and euer Amen The fourth Lecture vpō the 4. article of our Christian faith Suffered vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried descended into hell WE haue seene in the other two articles going before the cōception of Christ and his birth and what things were in them to be considered of now cōsequētly foloweth his death with certayne circumstances of it as what foloweth after it But here may a question be asked why there is no mention made of his life which went betweene his birth and death To this it may be answered that seeing the benefites of his life be cōprehended in his death for whatsoeuer he did in al his whole life we inioy it in his passion therefore his life is not here set down because we do beleeue it in his death This article of Christs death is very necessary for nothing had bene brought to passe for our saluation neither should we haue had any profite at al by Christ vnlesse he had bin crucified for vs. Therefore it is not sufficient to beleeue his conception natiuitie except we also confesse with our mouthes and beleeue in our hearts stedfastly his death and bitter passion for vs. Therfore Christ is alwayes to be cōsidered of a Christian man as he was crucified for his sinnes The meaning of this article is this in other words I that am a christian man or woman do beleeue confesse that Christ my sauiour suffered whē Pilate was deputy in Iurie was condemned by him most vniustly and that he was crucified vpō the crosse or tree for my sinnes to redeeme me that he died for me to bring me to life that he was buried and laide in the graue as other men suffered the tormēts of hell in body soule to acquit me before the iudgement seat of God his father In this article are fiue things noted vnto vs. First vnder whom he suffered what iudge condemned him secondly what maner of death he died he was crucified thirdly his death it selfe fourthly what was done after he was buried lastly what paines he suffered he descended into hel Al these things are expressed vnto vs in this one article first is declared vnto vs the name of him that condemned Christ which is Pilate a Romane as Iohn 19. And this his name is set downe not only for the credit of the historie to beleeue it the better but also because this appertained to the misterie of our redemptiō that we might knowe his death to bee ioyned with the condemnation of an earthly iudge For seeing that by the death of Christ not onely our sinnes must bee purged but also the condemnation for them to be taken away it was necessary that hee should die by the sentence of a iudge and no otherwise that we might be absolued before the great iudge of all the worlde If Christ had been killed by theefes or murdered in a tumult or sedition by priuate men there had bene no redemption for vs in such a death no kinde of satisfaction But when we reade in the Euangelistes in their Gospell that he was arraigned at the barre accused by witnesses and condemned by the sentence of Pilate although iniuriouslye hee pronouncing him iust once or twise confessing that he found no fault in him we vnderstand by those thinges that hee sustayned not the person of him selfe but of al vs most miserable sinners that should haue bene so condemned before his father if he had not suffered this vnder Pontius Pilate for vs. And here are two things to be noted of vs which are both confirmed by the testimonies of the Prophets and do also giue a notable consolation and confirmation to our fayth for when wee heare that Christe was sent to death from the iudgement seate and was hanged betwene the theeues wee haue a full accomplishment of that prophesie which is cited of the Euāgelist He was reckoned or counted among the wicked Esay 53. And why was this so truely that he might sustaine the condition and estate of a sinner and not of a iust man as hee suffered death not for righteousnes sake but for sin and the transgressions of the wicked Againe when we heare that he was pronounced innocent by the same man of whome he was condemned let vs remember that which another Prophet speaketh of him I restored that which I tooke not Psal 69. that is Christ payed for sin bought if full dearely which he neuer had nor committed for there was no guile found in his mouth And why did Pilate then condemne him Because he feared man more then God Cesars displeasure more then the wrath of God for when the people cryed If thou let him goe thou art not Caesars friend then he consented vnto them to crucify him against his owne conscience to pleasure the people to gratifye the Emperour Tiberius So we see that he was a parcial feareful vniust iudge had not the properties of a good iudge as is required Exod. 18. First that they should be mē of courage secondly fearing God thirdly men dealing truely fourthly hating couetousnes Let all Iudges take example warning by Pilate to execute iustice and iudgement indifferently to all men For Pilate afterward as histories recorde for anguish and sorowe of minde hanged himselfe as Iudas did before him And here wee see that as a Romane then condemned Christ and as alwayes afterwarde hee was persecuted by the Romaine Emperours so it is at this day by that great Antichrist of Rome the Pope and his adherentes he is still persecuted in his members This is the iust iudgement of God vpon them God giue them grace if it bee his will to repent to come to the knowledge of the trueth Amen Secondly let vs consider the maner of his death what it was It was the crosse most shamefull and accursed not onely in mans sight but also of God him selfe Deut. 21. The curse of God is on him that is hanged This Paul repeateth Gala. 3. and saith Christ hath redeemed vs from the curse of the lawe being made a curse for vs for it is written Cursed is euery one that hangeth on tree Thus we see still in euery article and in euery point of our saluation that exceeding great loue of Christ our master to vs that not onely he was contented to suffer most grieous paine for vs but also shame and reproche ignominie and contempt of the worlde He was at the first taking
by the testimonies of all the Prophetes Marke his wordes wel for they proue our purpose and confirme the three points that we haue set downe in this article first that we al are sinners secōdly that Christ doth forgiue thē freely thirdly y◠by faith it is we lay holde on this remissiō His words are these euery one of them very effectuall To him saith hee meaning Christ of whom hee made that excellent sermon going before vnto the captaine Cornelius giue all the Prophets witnesse that through his name all that beleeue in him shal receiue remission of sinnes Peter doeth shewe that this doctrine which wee teache is not newe or hereticall but catholike and such as the Prophetes them selues all long agoe did teache that by fayth in Christ euery one that beleeueth shall haue pardon of all his sinnes whether they be committed before or after baptisme whether they be actuall or originall or whether they be in thought or in worde or in deede if wee beleue stedfastly they shall all bee forgiuen vs for Christs sake I speake here nothing of that great and horrible sinne against the holy Ghost which is irremissible I hope in the Lorde wee shall neuer haue any thing to doe with it and therefore I will not intreate of it or what it is Let this bee our comfort that wee that haue any feare of God any loue to Iesus Christ our sweete sauiour any reuerence to heare his blessed worde and Gospell and to receiue his holy sacramentes we I saye that haue any motion to these thinges are farre off from this sinne and it shall not come nere our dwellings You haue heard nowe dearely beloued what it is we haue to learne and beare away vpon this article what is the meaning of it what partes of doctrine it doeth conteine in it This article and the beliefe of it is very comfortable yea the ioyfullest thing of all others in this life is to heare of the remission of sinnes and that of all when the least of them is able to plucke vs downe to hell and there to holde vs in chaynes of darkenesse for euer and euer without any hope of recouery were it not for his mercies in Iesus Christ The Lorde doeth in deede bestowe dayly many good and great blessings vpō vs in his mercy for the which wee ought continually to thanke him but this benefite of the washing away of all our sinnes in Christes blood doeth as farre passe and excell them all as either the Diamonde doeth the stone in the streate or els the purest and finest golde that may bee the filthiest drosse and durt that can be founde so great a grace is it in Christ freely to haue all our sinnes wiped out of Gods remembrance But nowe let vs giue as wee are dieply bounde most humble and hearty thankes to God the father for sending Iesus Christ his sonne into the worlde to take vpon him our sinnes and to beare them all away in his body and let vs withall thanke this good and bountiful sauiour Iesus Christ for vouchsauing to humble him selfe so farre for our sakes as to haue our sinnes imputed vnto him and to bee layde vpon his backe and to suffer the punishment dewe for them all And let vs also pray both night and daye vnto him to take them away from vs more and more and to kill this raging sinne within vs by the scepter of his holy woorde and operation of his mighty spirite that notwithstanding sinne be in vs as it shall be to the last daye yet it may not reigne in vs or be a tyrant ouer vs but that we may mortifie it from time to time vntill wee come to that state wherein it shall bee cleane put awaye and altogether destroyed which will bee when we shall meete together in the ioyfull and happy resurrection of our bodyes whereof we are to speake in the article following These thinges the Lorde God graunt vnto vs al for his sonnes sake to whome with the holy Ghost be rendred all prayse and glorie and thankesgiuing both nowe and for euer more Amen The eleuenth article of our Christian faith and the eleuenth lecture vpon it which is The resurrection of the body IN the fourth part of this our Christian beliefe which was of the church I declared that there were three consequents or benefites annexed vnto it The first you haue heard which was the remission of sinnes Now doth ensue the second which is the resurrection or rising againe of our flesh and bodie And this article doeth folowe in very good and apt order after the former for as by the first Adams sinne and ours our bodies became mortall subiect vnto death so hauing remission of our sinnes by Christ the second Adam our bodies shal hereafter be made immortall raised from death to an euerlasting better life thē that which we should haue had in Paradise if Adam we had cōtinued in our state of innocency This resurrection is the repairing and the renuing againe of the whole man to a most blessed and perfite estate of lyfe The meaning therefore of this article is thus much I that am a Christian do most certainely beleeue that not only my body but the bodyes of all men that euer haue bene from the beginning of the world to the end of it shall at the last day of iudgement by the power of Christ at his comming be raysed vp againe being the same in substance but not in qualities whether they be rotted in the graue or burnt in the flaming fire or consumed of beastes or drowned in the sea deuoured of fishes or els of birds And I moreouer beleeue that they shal be ioyned to their soules inseperably at the which resurrection the godly shall haue a full ende of all their miseries and paynes here with full possession of eternall life and that the wicked and reprobate shall goe into euerlasting hel fire which is prepared for the deuil and his angels This is the true sense and meaning of this article of the resurrection Now let vs see what good lessons may be gathered out of it for our instruction that wee may the better profite in the way of true godlinesse and Christianity Three things are to be cōsidered in this resurrectiō First that according to the scriptures there shall one day be a generall resurrection of good and bad Secondly to what ende this shal be Thirdly the consolation and comfort that wee may reape and inioy by this resurrection in the applying of it to our owne consciences I am not ignorant howe that very many thinges must be repeated here which haue bene spoken of before both in the article of Christes resurrection which is a playne confirmation and proofe of this and also in the other artice of his cōming agayne to iudgement which shal be then when this article shal be fully accomplished vnto vs. These thinges are so incident the one to the other I meane Christes
entreateth of the benefites or fruites which we receiue by the same fayth which he maketh in number three the first is the forgiuenesse of sinnes the second is the resurrection of the fleshe the third last fruit is life euerlasting Of these fiue parts he hath made an hundreth seuerall articles the first parte conteyneth 14. The second 27. The third 5. The fourth 41. The fifth and last part conteyneth thirteene articles the contents of which articles are handeled as followeth A briefe and cleare confession of the Christian faith containing an hundred articles according to the order of the Creede of the Apostles I beleeue in God the father almighty maker of heauen and earth The first Article I Beleeue in one God onely one in essence and substance three in person the Father the Sonne the holy Ghost I beleeue in the Father as the originall and beginning of all things as well visible as inuisible Of whome also they depende as well in their being as also in their conseruation and he dependeth vpon none but on him selfe being eternall and euerlasting without end or beginning I beleeue in the Sonne as the diuine worde and wisdome of the father which is eternally and before al worlde 's engendred of the father of his proper substance and nature because in him shineth his shape and proper Image which otherwise is inuisible vnto mortal man I beleeue in the holy Ghost as a vertue eternall power which neither is made nor created neither engendred but proceeding of the father and of the sonne eternally euen as a loue proceeding from both persons The second Article I beleeue that these three persons are of one and the selfe same essence and substāce nature authoritie power will goodnes wisdome and eternitie and that these three are but one spirituall substance eternall without ende or beginning true good iust mercifull of a souerayne power and wisdome hauing and containing in it selfe all goodnes not needing any thing The third Article I beleeue that this God which is one in essence and three in person ought onely to be serued honored feared loued worshipped and to be called vpon in all our necessities as he that onely can and will prouide therefore and none other And therefore I say and confesse that I beleeue in one God onely that is to say that I knowledge and receiue him for one onely Lord master and sauiour of whome proceedeth all that is good in me by whom I can do al things without whom I can do nothing In him onely doe I set mine affiance and set mine heart hoping that he assisting me with his holy spirit shall be with me against all mē and that he will deliuer me from al perils and daungers through his grace and mercie without any merites of mine owne and that he shall minister to me all things necessarie as well for my soule as body euen like a good father as hee hath promised by his holy word The fourth Article I beleeue that the same God almightie hath of nothing created from the beginning both heauen and earth and all things in them conteined that is to say all things as well heauenly as earthly visible as inuisible reasonable as vnreasonable sensible as insensible the which hee doth entertaine leade guide gouerne by his diuine wisdom without whose prouidēce nothing commeth to passe either in this world or in the other The fift Article I beleeue that the same God the father the sonne and holy Ghost after that hee had created all things did create and shape man to his own image likenes that is to say immortal good iust true wise mercifull and perfit in all things making him partaker of the goodnes iustice and other perfections of God hauing a will that could agree in all things vnto the will of his Lorde but all that thorowe grace without any kinde of merit The vi article I beleeue also that as the Lord hath created al things heauenly and earthly for the seruice of man and to the ende that by his creatures he might come to the knowledge of the creator euen so also hath he formed made man for thim selfe that of him and by him he might be knowen loued feared serued honored which is the greatest good thing that is or can be in man and that in him might shine the image of diuine vertues and perfections through good works the which God hath ordeined because wee should walke in them vnto his honour and praise to the confusion of the aduersary and that by this meane the fal of the Angels might be repaired and that mā might possesse the euerlasting kingdome made and prepared for him before the foundations of the worlde were laide The vii article I beleeue that the same man was ordeined of the Lord God a master ruler ouer all his creatures the which thing he hath lost through his sinne aswell for his owne part as also for al his posteritie The which rule Lordship I beleeue doth chiefly appertaine vnto Iesus Christ verely God man to those vnto whom he wil communicate the same as vnto his owne faithfull and not vnto the infidels and damned The viii article I beleeue that the first man through the craft and subtiltie of Satan did slide and fall from the excellencie wherein the Lord had created him consenting thorowe his owne free will which at that time he had vnto the subtil suggestion of the Serpent whereby he lost the graces that the Lorde had giuen him in such sort that of wise hee became foolish of iust vniust of true a liar of perfit altogether vnperfect hauing frō thenceforth a will wholly corrupted which neither could nor would agree with the will of God but altogether with the wil of the deuil the worlde the flesh sinne which could do nothing of him selfe but euill seeing that he is altogether carnal bond captiue and sold vnder sinne This is the free yea to say more truely the bond will that man hath in this present life The ix Article I beleeue that this disorder and corruption of nature was not only in Adam because of his sinne but is also in all men generally which come of him Iesus Christ only excepted and that in such sort that all men after their own nature are corrupt vniust lyers ignorant vnkind and imperfect in al things haue no power of their owne nature to do thinke speake or will any thing that may please God vntil that they be regenerate renewed by the spirit of the Lord. The x. Article I beleeue that this corruption of nature otherwise called original sinne is the fountayne roote of all other sinnes for the which all the miseries aduersities that wee endure in this present life aswell in bodye as soule do come vnto vs yea in the end double death that is to say both of bodie soule These be the fruites rewards of sinne But although the same
other aduersaries of Christ the which presently doe yet exercise tyrannie vpon all his members and holde them vnder their clawes chaynes and bondes But then we as people rauished with ioye shall saye this worde which is written O death where is thy victorie Thankes be vnto God which hath giuen vs victorie thorow Iesus Christ our Lorde The xl Article I beleeue that this maruaylous terrible and fearefull iudgement vnto the euill wicked and reprobate is very much desired and of great consolation vnto the good the faithfull and the elect because that then their whole redemption that is to saye of the bodie shall bee made an ende of and they shall receyue the fruite of their labours Then their innocencie shall openly bee declared and knowen to all the worlde and they shall see the vengeance and condemnation of the wicked which haue vsed them tyrannously afflicted and tormented them in this worlde whose iniquitie shall bee manifested by the Lorde and shal be clearely knowen of all to their great confusion and to the honour and glory of the righteous children of God the which shall be in peace and perfite tranquillitie and shall haue full reioysing and fruition of all that he hath promised and prepared for all those that loue him the which no eye hath seene no eare hath heard neyther can bee comprehended by the heart of man Therefore doe I abyde this great daye of retribution with a great desire as the same which shall bring and shewe vnto mee the selfe same good thing The xli Article I beleeue that we shall not all dye but that we shall bee chaunged in a moment that is to saye that in this last daye and iudgement generall some shall be founde aliue the which dyed not neyther shall they die as concerning the separation of the bodie from the soule but shall continue aliue eternally to the ende that Christ may be knowen to bee Lorde and Iudge of the liuing and dead and that his grace and merites may be found greater then the sinne of Adam For as sinne hath raygned vnto death so likewise must grace raygne thorowe Iesus Christ vnto eternall life The same neuerthelesse shall be changed transformed from corruption vnto incorruption from mortalitie vnto immortalitie from contempt and ignominie vnto glory after such sort that they shal be made partakers of all the giftes graces benefites the which the Lorde shall giue vnto those that before were dead in him the which shall not be before the others but all together shal be taken vp in the cloudes and in the ayre and shall all together be with the Lord. This is the second poynt of my faith touching Iesus Christ the seconde person in Trinitie and of his restoring and repayring of man let vs nowe come to the third poynt which is of the holy Ghost by whom man beyng restored is mayntayned and preserued in his integritie and perfection 3. I beleeue in the holy Ghost the holie Catholike Church the communion of Saints the forgiuenesse of sinnes the resurrection of the bodie and the life euerlasting Amen The xlii Article I beleeue that the holy Ghost is a diuine person distinct from the Father and the Sonne proceeding from them both in and through all thinges equall and coeternall with them by the which holy Ghost the Church hath alwayes bene is nowe and shall be ruled guyded directed and gouerned vnto the ende of the worlde By whome also all the Saintes Patriarkes Prophets and Apostles of our Lorde Iesus Christ haue spoken And therefore I do neither beleeue nor receiue any other Vicar or Lieutenant to Christ vpon earth within his Church then this holy Ghost which can not be receiued of the wicked The xliii Article I beleeue that the holy Ghost is the pledge and earnest of our heauenly heritage by the which we be assured ascertained and certainly perswaded in our consciences that we be the children of God brethren adoptiues to Iesus Christ and consequently coheires of eternal life The same holy Ghost also is the finger of God the which imprinteth in our heartes and spirites the faith of these things aforesaide It sealeth and confirmeth the promises of the Lord within our hearts thorowe his goodnes and grace because we should in no wise doubt The xliii Article I beleeue that this holy Spirit dwelling in vs through his grace and vertue doth regenerate vs into a newnesse change of liuing mortifying in vs all that is of vs and of the old man of the flesh and of the world and quickening al that is his in vs So that we liue not thenceforth after our own lusts but according to the wil of God Which holy Ghost also worketh in vs all good workes and doeth reprooue rebuke condemne the world of sinne of righteousnes iudgemēt The xlv Article I beleeue that the holy Ghost is the teacher of the ignorant which teacheth guydeth and leadeth vs vnto the knowledge of the trueth and by it onely are we brought deliuered out of darkenes set in the perfit light Likewise I beleeue that it is the comforter of the poore afflicted persecuted in all their troubles vexations and aduersities doeth so helpe strengthen comfort and assist all such that it will not suffer them to despaire as doe the wicked reprobate but maketh them to taste and feele the sweetenes goodnes mercy of God the Father which by persecution and diuers tribulations leadeth his owne vnto eternall glory The xlvi Article I beleeue that this holy Ghost is the spirit of life which quickeneth al other spirits as well heauenly as earthly that the same only of it selfe is holy that all others by it are made holy So that if any spirits be holy as there be either in heauen or in earth they are none otherwise holy but by the holines of the same holy Ghost and that is the cause why I beleeue in him that is to saye for that cause I put my whole faith hope trust affiance in him euen as I haue sayd before of the Father the Sonne This is the third poynt of my faith which is concerning the holy Ghost the third person in the holy Trinitie by the which holy Ghost after that we are made by the Father and repaired and restored by the Sonne wee are maynteyned and gouerned vnto the ende There remayneth nowe to entreate of the fourth poynt of my faith which is concerning the Church and of the things that concerne the same 4. I beleeue the holy Catholike Church the Communion of Saintes I beleeue and confesse one onely Catholike Vniuersal Church which is an holy congregation assemblie of all faithful beleeuers which are chosen predestinate vnto euerlasting life before the foundations of the worlde were layde of whose nomber I count my selfe beleeue that I am through the onely grace and mercy of the Father by the merits of my good Lord and Master Iesus Christ not