may y e more assuredly beleue this both Christ himself rose from death and many saintes also w t hym Fourthely we must beleue euerlastyng lyfe Wherefore it foloweth in the Crede I beleue euerlastynge lyfe that is to saye I beleue that whā we shall ryse from death then we shall lyue euer with Christe in parfite holynes and iustice and in suche a gloriouse ioy as no toung can tell nor hart thincke And this treatise of the Crede we must end with this wourde Amen which is asmuche to saye as I beleue that al the articles of our beliefe before rehersed be very true and thereof I haue a sure faithe trust and confidence Therefore good children from the bottome of your hartes you must beleue in the holy gost whiche doth promyse vnto vs remission of our synnes by al y e true preachers ministers of goddes worde And he dothe also geue light to our hartes and myndes and moueth vs to beleue goddes worde and to put our faith and trust in hym And the same holy goost dothe dayly purifye sanctifye vs purge and clense vs from sinne and after this bodily death shall rayse vs agayne to euerlasting life And take this for a sure conclusion and doubt nothynge thereof that the holy goost as he hath begonne these thīges in vs so he will fynyshe thesame in vs yf we obey him and continue in faith vnto thēde of our liues For he y t cōtinueth vnto y e ende shal be saued And this is the summe and also the most plaine vnderstāding of this thirde parte of the Crede entreatyng of our sanctificatiō or halowing Wherefore good children marke well this lesson that when ye be demaunded howe vnderstande you the thirde parte of the Crede yee may answer thus I beleue y t neither by mās strength power or wysedome neyther by myne awne endeuour nor cōpasse of myn awne reason I am able to beleue in Iesus Christ or to come vnto hym But the holy goost did call me by the worde of y e gospell and with y e giftes of his grace he hath hitherto endowed me halowed me and in the true faith he hathe hitherto preserued and confirmed me this he hath not done only to me but also he calleth and gathereth togyther in the vnitye of one faith and one baptisme all the vniuersal churche that is here in earth and he halloweth kepeth and preserueth thesame in the true knowledge of Christ and faith in his promyses And in this churche he geueth free and general pardō to me and to al that beleue in him of al our synnes offences and trespasses and at the last day he shall rayse me and all other y t be deade and al that dyed in the true faithe of Iesus Christ he shall glorifye in the lyfe euerlastyng Therefore to the sayde holy gost that sanctefyeth vs with y e father that made and created vs and the sonne that redemed vs be geuen all honour and glorye world without ende Amen ¶ A generall preface to be rehersed in the begynnynge of euery sermon made vpon the Lordes prayer YE haue learned heretofore good childrē in y e Crede what we ought to beleue and in the ten cōmaūdemētes what we ought to do but we can neyther beleue nor do as we ought to do excepte the holy gost worke with in vs bothe a true faith also a dewe obedyence towardes God and his lawe For faith is the gyfte of God and all good thinges commeth from the father of lightes Therefore we must nedes aske and craue these benefites at his hande whiche only is the gyuer of theim For so Christ saieth that God the father wyll gyue to vs his children all thinges so that we sue to hym for theim And the prophet Dauyd saieth Cal vpon me in the daye of thy trouble and I shal deliuer the and thou shalt glorifye me Also our Sauioure Christ commaūdeth vs to do y e same sayng Aske and you shal haue seke and you shall fynde knocke and the dore shall be opened vnto you Now therfore seyng that we haue learned what we shoulde beleue and do it is most necessary for vs to cal for gods grace with most feruēt and ernest prayers that we may be able to performe y e thinge whiche we are bounde to do For our sauiour Christ hath promised vs that what soeuer we aske the father in his name he wyll gyue it vs. Also he saieth that what soeuer we aske yf we beleue we shal receaue y e same Wher is to be noted that yf we wyll obteyne oure requestes we must aske in y e name of Christ and also trust assuredly that for Christes sake our praiers shal be heard To aske in Christes name is to aske accordynge to his wil that is to say to aske y t which he hath commaunded Therefore when we praye we may saye thus O God our father and the father of our Lorde Iesu Christ which art in heuē I durst not of myne awn head be so bold to come vnto thy most highe and excellent maiestye to desyer any thyng of the but thy welbeloued sonne our Lord Iesus Christ hath commaūded me so to do and only in his name and at his commaūdemente am so bolde Therfore yf thou hear me y u hearest thy dearly beloued sonne oure Lorde Iesus Christ. And yf thou heare me not thē thou hearest not Iesus Christ him selfe who hath sent me to the and hath commaunded me to aske in his name Of this prayer made in fayth speaketh saincte Iohn in his epistle saying This trust we haue in God y t when we aske any thynge accordinge to his will he doth heare vs. Therefore we shoulde stedfastly beleue that God doth heare our prayer For he that beleueth not he shall obtayne nothynge And therefore Christe saith If you beleue you shall obtayne And to thentent that we should beleue surely thynke that we be herde he hath promysed to graunt what soeuer we aske in his name And agayne to thentent that we shuld knowe and be suer that we praye accordyng to his wil he hymselfe hath taught vs howe what we should praye and aske Therfore it is not in our lybertye whether we wil praie or not but by goddes commaundement we be boūde to praye as you haue hearde in the seconde commaundement Now therefore with all dilygence lerne good children y e holy prayer of y e Lord which y e greate doctour and our Lorde Iesus Christ taught vs hymselfe saying to his disciples Ye shall praye after this maner OUre father which art in heauē halowed be thy name Thy kyngdome come Thy wil be don in earth as it is in heauē Geue vs this day our daily bread And forgeue vs our trespaces as we forgeue them that trespace against vs. And suffre vs not to be led into temptacion But delyuer vs from euyl Amen This good children is the prayer of the Lorde
and giue vnto vs the iustice and ryghtuousnes of his sonne Iesus Christ whiche suffered for vs. These are but fewe wordes but surely they be of greate importaunce For in this sentence saynct Paule includeth the summe and effecte of the holy ghospell when he sayeth Christ was deliuered to death for our synnes and rose agayne for oure ryghtuousnes For lykewise as when an other man doeth pay my raunsome and satisfye or suffre for me I my selfe am iudged to paye the same and no man after can accuse me therof And whē an other is bounde for me yf he be by any lawful meanes discharged I my selfe am counted to be dyscharged also euen so forasmuche as Christe hymselfe toke vpon him the bande of death for vs and to satisfye for vs so did in deede by hys death we our selues for whō he was thus bounde iustely be delyuered and dyscharged from death and damnation And so we be counted righteous for asmuche as no man dare accuse vs for that syn for the which satisfaction is made by our Sauiour Christ. And when oure sauiour Iesus Christ had thus satisfied for our synne and so ouercame deathe and hell than lyke a most valiant conquerer he ascended into heauen where God hys father receyued him with a moost gloriouse triumphe and placed hym on hys ryghte hande and made him Lorde ouer all creatures and therefore he is called in y e crede also our Lorde For yf he had not raunsomed and redemed vs we had bene cast downe to hel for euer But seynge y t he redemed and bought vs therfore bewe his he is our Lorde and mayster hym we must loue obey and serue And this is oure moste hye and euerlastynge comforte that Iesus Christ is our Lorde and we his seruauntes For because he is oure Lorde therefore he wyll defende vs and delyuer vs from all daungers And althoughe we be synners yet he wil forgiue vs our synnes because he hathe payed y e raūsome and det due for thesame And althoughe we dye yet he wil rayse vs vp agayne because he hathe ouercome and conquered death And althoughe we be neuer so muche afrayed of the sorowes and paynes of hell yet they shall not be able to holde vs bycause that to theym that be hys seruauntes he hathe broken hell and set open the gates thereof Wherfore seynge that we haue so myghtye a Lorde and maister we be out of all peryll and daunger But we agayne aboue all thynges we muste studye to obey oure lord mayster and do those thinges whiche he commaundeth For he hath redemed and bought vs for thys entente and purpose that we shoulde be iust and holy as he hymselfe is holy And he that is not obediēt vnto Christes commaundementes shall be sore punyshed for oure Lorde Iesus Christ shal come agayne to iudge both the quicke and the dead Wherefore good children laboure wyth all diligence and studye that when Christe shall come againe to iudge the world he may finde you holy and obedient For then he wyll rewarde you wyth euerlastyng lyfe After thys maner Christ redemed vs frō synne and from the horryble offence of Adam by whome we were al condemned For by Christes passyon death by hys ghospell we haue obteined thus much that we may beleue and trust in god And trustyng in God we haue his holy spirite whereby we maye also loue God And thys holy gooste renueth vs and clemeth vs from all euell lustes and desires that we beynge thus made holye and rightuouse maye kepe Goddes commaundemētes and serue our Lord Iesus Christ. Wherfore good chyldren beleue ye with al your heart in thys Iesus Christ the onelye sonne of God oure Lord and doubte not but that he hath suffered for our synnes and contented the iustyce of his father for y e same and hath brought vs agayne vnto his fauour made vs his wel beloued children and heyres of hys kyngdome And when you be asked howe vnderstande you the second parte of the Crede you shall answer I beleue that Iesus Christ veray God begotten of God the father and verye manne borne of the virgin Marie is my Lorde whiche by hys precyouse bloode and holy passyon hathe redemed me a myserable damned wretch from all my synnes frome death eternall and from the tyrannie of the Deuell that I should be his owne true subiect and lyue within his kyngdome and serue hym in a newe and euerlastynge lyfe and iustice euen as oure Lorde Christe after he rose from deathe to lyfe lyueth and raygneth euerlastyngly Or elles if you wyl answere more shortely you may say thus I beleue that Christe was deliuered to death for our sinnes and rose againe for our iustification The thirde sermon of our Sanctification NOwe remayneth the third parte of the Crede to be declared whiche entreateth of our sanctificatiō how we be made holy And it is spokē in these wordes ¶ I beleue in the holy gost the holy catholicke churche the communion of saynctes the forgyuenes of synnes the risyng agayne of the bodye and lyfe euerlastyng Amen IN the seconde parte of the Crede which treateth of our Redemption and pryce giuen for vs you haue bene taughte good children to knowe the seconde persone in Trinitie Iesus Christe what he is and what he hath done for vs that he was made man for our sakes that he toke vpon him our synnes and suffered for vs y e feare and panges of deathe hel and had victory ouer them by hys passiō and death And after by his godly and victorious power he arose again from death to lyfe And after this most glorious conquest he ascended into heauen where he sitteth at the ryghte hande of his father is our Lorde and we his seruantes derely boughte All this you haue learned in the last sermon but now good childrē in this thirde parte of the Crede you shall lerne to knowe the thirde person in trinitie y e holy gost and also his benefites and giftes that we maye knowe what we haue receyued of God after our redēption wherby we may be made mete to come to euerlastynge lyfe thorough the merites of Christ. For althoughe our Lord Iesus Christ hath redemed vs from y e captiuitie of synne death and hel and hath set vs agayne in the fauor of God yet we should haue no knowledge of these great benefites we should feale in our cōsciences no comforte ioy or peace by the same yf they were not declared vnto vs by the preachīg of gods most holy word And our consciences should styl remaine troubled and the feare of eternal death and all noughty desiers and concupiscences of the frayle fleshe shoulde euer remaine in vs euē as frō Adams time thei be in vs as sone as we be borne and so we shuld be vtterly vnapte to the kyngdō of God lyfe euerlasting yf we shulde stil remayne as we be borne For yf we wyl be the heyres of god euerlastynge
ten commaundementes ¶ A general preface to be rehersed in the begynnynge of euery sermon made vpon the articles of our Faith commonly called the Crede YHe holy apostle saynct Paule good childern writteth expressely that withoute faith it is vnpossible to please God Also Christ himselfe saieth He that beleuethe and is baptised shall be saued Now I trust ther is none among you but he is desirous to please God and enioye euerlastynge lyfe Then yf you wyll attayne therto you must chiefely and most diligently applye youre myndes to learne the christian faythe and the articles of the same For you haue hearde that without it there is nothing able to reconcile vs to God y e father to pacifie his wrath and to bringe vs to the lyfe euerlastyng For althoughe the tenne commaūdementes are an excellēt godly and heauenly doctrine yet we can not be saued or iustifyed by theym For we be not able of our owne strength and power to fulfyll the lawe and goddes holy commaundementes But by theym we onelye do learne what God requireth of vs and so be brought to the knowledge of our synne For this is the office of the lawe as saincte Paule sayeth to teache vs our offences and to set before our eyes the great feare of God and the indignation whiche we haue deserued by breakynge his commaundementes to the intent that we acknowledgyng our owne weakenesse shoulde flye to Goddes grace and mercye This feare of God is learned in the ten commaundementes and it is the begynnyng of wysedome But the holy christian fayth is a muche more hyghe and excellente knowledge and wysedome as sayncte Paule wytnesseth saying We speake wysedome amonge theym that are perfecte such wisdome as is not of thys worlde nor of the rulers of thys worlde whiche be mortall but we teache the wysedome of God whiche is secret and hyd which God ordeyned before the worlde vnto oure glorye whiche wysedome none of the rulers of this worlde dyd knowe These be the wordes of sayncte Paule whereby he declareth that the science of fayth passeth al other sciences and teacheth heauenly and eternall wisedome that excedeth all mennes philosophye For by faythe we learne to knowe God what he is and what loue he beareth towarde vs and howe great benefites he hath heaped vpon vs. For by fayth we be made y e childrē of God and he giueth vnto vs the holy goost whiche doeth lyghten and kyndle our hartes that we maye begynne to kepe hys lawe whiche els of our owne strengthe we were not able to kepe and fulfyll Wherfore good children it is necessarie for you to learne y e doctrine of faithe for without it we can not be iustified or brought agayne into gods fauour For no man is iust or rightuous before God that hath not the holy gost and he that will receyue the holy gooste muste beleue in Christe for by faith we receyue the holy goost therefore by faith we be iustified Agayne yf we wyll be saued we must knowe God and our Lord Iesus Christ as it is written Iohn the .xvii. But we can not knowe God and his sonne Iesus Christ but by faith therfore faith iustifieth vs and bringeth lyfe euerlastyng Wherfore good children applye your selfes dylygently to learne ▪ the Christian faith the which nowe I wil shortely reherse vnto you The Apostles Crede I Beleue in God the father almighty maker of heauen and erth And in Iesus christ his only sonne our Lord which was conceiued by the holye goost borne of the virgin Marye Suffred vnder Ponce Pylat was crucified dead and buried he descended into hel And the third dai he rose againe from death He ascended into heauē and sitteth on the ryghte hande of God the father almightye From thence he shal come to iudge the quicke and the dead I Beleue in the holy gost The holy Catholyke churche The communion of saintes the forgiuenes of sinnes The resurrection of the bodye And lyfe euerlasting Amen This is the summe of oure christian faith wherein God hath shewed vnto vs what he is how great benefites he hath gyuē and daily doth gyue vnto vs to thentent that we should cast y e anchore of our faith vpon him take sure holde of his mercye and goodnes and comforte oure selues with the same bothe in oure lyfe tyme and also at our death Wherfore good children be dilygent not onely to saye by rote the wourdes of your Crede but also to vnderstande what is ment by the same so y t whē you be asked any question therof you maye be able to make a direct answere and also in tyme to come to teache y e same to your children For what thīg can be more shame to a Christen man then to professe the relygion of Christ and yet to be ignorant in the chief pointes of Christes faith and his doctrine Considering that euery Christen man is bounde openly to declare his faith whē nede shal so require and to instruct his children in the same y t they maye come to the true knowledge of Christ. This generall begynnynge muste go before euery sermon of the Crede The first sermon of the Creation TO thentent good children that you maye the better vnderstande the true Christian faythe and doctrine you muste fyrste of all learne and knowe that God is a spirituall or gostly substance as Christ sayth Iohn the .iiii. God is not a bodily thing whiche maye be sene and felte He is present in euery place he seeth and beholdeth all thinges whiche we do speake or thynke and yet he is not measured with any ende tyme or place And forasmuche as mannes witte coulde not serche or fynde out the knowlege of thys highe misterie of the substaunce of God Christ himselfe the sonne of God dyd open to vs that beleue in hym what God is That is to say that there is God the father God the sonne and God the holy goste three persones and yet one true and euerlastyng God And it is your boūdē dutie good children diligently to learne thys lesson And although these thinges passe all mennes capacities and is a doctrine harde for you to learne yet in tyme to come you shal heare more of this matier In the meane season beare awaye I praye you thys one lesson that there is one true and euerlastinge God and yet three persones the father the sonne and the holy gost And this we call the Trinitie because these thre the father the son and the holy goost are one godlye substaunce And it is a great shame for you that be christē children not to learne this lesson For all you were baptised in the name of the father and of the sonne and of the holy goost and thereby you were made christen and the childrē of God and obteyned remission of youre synnes Wherfore it is your dutie to learne knowe in whose name you ar baptised that so you maye truly know God and youre father which you
godly men be common to vs all For whan soeuer anye Godly man requireth any good thynge of God he also requireth the same for vs alone for no man oughte to praye for him selfe And this is a greate consolation for all Christian people For the scripture sayeth that the prayer of one iust man may do muche wyth God And therfore whan manye iust and godlye men do make their supplications vnto God with one accorde we may be sure that their prayers are herde And thys is the playne sense and exposition of this fourth petition Now good children I pray you diligently to remember these thynges that when you be asked thys question howe vnderstande you the fourth petition you may answere God doeth sufficientlye prouide for vs meate and lyuyng with out our desire neuerthelesse we desyre him to graunt vs that we maye knowe that we haue all thynges at his handes and that we may gyue to him due thankes for the same And yf further anye man wyll aske you what is mente by thys worde our dayly breade aunswere that by daylye breade is vnderstande all thynges necessarie for oure lyuynge as meate drynke clothe house lande cattel monye housholde stuffe a good wyfe obedyente chyldren trustye seruaūtes good gouerners a wel ordered commen wealth commen peace and tranquilitie seasenable wether holsome aier health of body constant frendes honest neighboures and suche lyke thynges whereby we maye leade in this worlde a Godly and quiet lyfe ¶ And forgyue vs oure trespaces as we forgyue them that trespace agaynst vs. YOu haue hearde howe we desyer of God oure father that for asmuche as he is the onelye and true maker of heauen and earth he wyll vouchsafe to preserue and nouryshe vs his children and that we ought to trust for this thing of no creature but of God only as you haue lerned in the firste article of oure Crede which intreateth of the creatiō Now foloweth the fifth petitiō in y t whiche we desyer God to giue vs al those thīges y t we haue lerned in the seconde parte of oure Crede whiche speaketh of our redemption and teacheth vs howe by the passion death and resurrection of our Lorde Iesus Christe we be delyuered from synne death and hel that with ioye and myrthe we maye loke for that daye in the which he shal iudge both y e quicke and the dead The wordes of this peticion be these Forgyue vs our trespaces as we forgyue theym that trespace agaynste vs. To the intent good childrē that you maye the better vnderstande this petition you shal call to your remembraunce that lesson whiche you lerned a lytle before that is to saye that Christ hath promysed that he wyll gyue vs all thinges whiche we aske in faithe and true belefe Nowe true faith is grounded vpon the promyse of god and it is not buylded but vpon the foūdacion of his word Wherfore yf we wyll aske any thing in true belefe we must aske as the worde of God teacheth vs and we muste take suer holde of Gods promise declared in the scripture For it is not faithe to beleue oure owne phantasies or dreames of the whiche God hath nothynge spoken or taught As yf a man would beleue that by Goddes healpe he shoulde not be drouned although he leapte into the sea this were no faith but a tēptaciō of god a very heynous sinne commyng dowtles of the deuel who on this wise tēpted our master Christ when he set him vpon the pinnacle of the temple in the holy cytie and said vnto him If thou be the sonne of God cast thy selfe downe But Christe refused so to do answered thus Yt is written Thou shalte not tempte thy Lorde God Nowe there is not in the whole scripture anye one promyse that God wyll helpe me yf I do any suche acte but yf we do suche thynges as God hathe commaunded vs he hathe made vs manye promyses that he wyll ayde and succour vs in al our necessities and troubles By the whiche promyses he hath declared his fatherly loue towardes vs intendyng therby to stirre and prouoke vs to runne vnto him in all oure cares and nedes Wherefore it is our bounden dutye to cal vpon his name in al our necessities to trust vpon hys promyses to put him as it were in remembraunce of them and ernestly to desier hym to performe y e same But amonge al other promyses this promyse is speciallye to be remembred where Christ promyseth thus Yf ye will forgyue men their trespaces my heauenly father also wyll forgyue you youre trespaces But yf you wyl not forgyue men their trespaces thē wyl not my heuēly father forgiue you In the whiche promyse Christe dothe not onely offer vnto vs remission of our synnes and suche thynges as apperteyne to euerlastyng lyfe but also he promiseth vs hereby peace and quietnes in this transitorye lyfe with concord and a louyng harte towarde our neyghboure And accordynge to this promyse Christe our master hath taught vs to pray after this sort Forgiue vs our trespaces as we forgiue them that trespace agaynst vs. For it were not reasonable nor agreyng to iustyce that we should require God to forgiue vs our trespaces agaīst him whē we are not minded to forgyue our neighbours their offēces against vs. Nor God would neuer heare vs yf we shoulde so praye For yf we haue causes why we wyll not forgyue our neighbors thē suerly God hath both mo more weightie causes wherfore he wil not forgyue vs. So that yf God were mynded to forgyue vs oure synnes yet yf we be not mynded to forgyue our neyghbors he wold stay and as it wer cal againe this his purpose by the reason of oure vncharitablenes and dissobediēce as Christe hymselfe doth playnly teache vs by the example of the seruaunt whyche after he had hys dette forgyuen him was compelled to paye all the monye wherof before he was dyscharged by hys maysters pardon because he wold not forgyue his felow Wherefore good childrē accustome your selfs euē from your tendre age gladly to forgyue them that haue offended you Be not desyrous to reuenge your awn quarels and thē youre heuenly father wil also forgyue you Yf you be angry synne not nor let not the sunne set vpon your anger For it is not possible that any man can trewlye beleue that God hath forgyuen him hys synnes when he hymselfe is not willyng to forgiue his neighbore Wherfore God our heuēly father dyd not entende to hurte or hindre vs when he sayde that he woulde not forgyue vs except we dyd forgyue other and yf we forgyue our neyghbors their offēces that then he wil also forgyue vs. But God dyd knyt thys condytion to this promyse for our great welth and benefyte For vnder these wourdes ther lyeth hyde great cōforte for troubled conscyences where vnto yf you wil lysten dilygently ye shal knowe the synguler goodnes of God and his fatherly loue towardes you It
is not vnknowen to God how harde a thynge it is for vs to beleue that God frelye and for his mere mercye wyll pardon vs whan we haue offended him Wherfore he hath added to his promyse this token whereby we might be assured that he hath forgyuen vs that is to saye when we forgyue our neighbors For although it be harde to forgyue our neyghbours their offēces against vs yet more harde it is to beleue that God hath forgyuen vs. Let vs therfore lay aside al anger and dyspleasure and accustome our selues gladly to forgyue our neyghboures that thereby we maye the soner beleue that our Lorde God hath forgyuen vs. For God is muche more inclyned and redye to mercye then we mortal menne be Moreouer the forgyuyng of oure neyghboure Christe here in dothe not only stablyshe our faith y t our synnes be forgiuē of God but also it doth nouryshe peace concorde brotherly charitie For if we shuld not muche forbeare and forgyue one another but euery man shuld studye howe he mighte be reuenged of his neighboure for euerye matter eyther by force or elles by subtiltie then we shoulde neuer haue measure nor ende of chiding scoldynge layinge in watche one of an other deceauynge lawyng fightyng and suche lyke Then fare wel all quietnes peace concorde and good ordre And this reuengynge of oure selfes should greatly hurt vs both in oure bodye soule good name honore and ryches as experience dayly teacheth vs. For oftentimes we see that whyle a man goeth to lawe for two or thre crownes he spendeth twentye or thirthye And manye men be kylled themselues whyle they go aboute to stryke or woūd other Wherefore it is much better one of vs to forgyue an other then to prouoke and increace the anger and malyce one of another And although we lose part of our goodes thereby yet we shall haue this great wynnynge therby that God wil forgyue vs euen as we forgyue them that trespasse agaīst vs. And note wel good children that Christ doth not teache vs to saye forgyue vs oure grosse synnes but forgyue vs our dettes or trespaces For it is a greater benefyte to haue oure dettes and all offences forgyuen then to haue oure grosse synnes forgyuen vs. For that we proprely cal synne which we do directly agaīst gods commaundement But that is called dette or offence whē we ought to do good do it not or do good vnperfitely although dyrectly we do no hurte to no man And we Christen men althoughe by baptisme we be made the chyldren of God receiue y e holy gost which doeth healpe vs to withstande all euil to do y t is good although we cōmit no grosse sin nor breake the law by any outwarde acte yet we do not perfectely fulfyll gods commaūdementes nor do al thinges whiche we ought to do And when we do not all thinges which we oughte to do then euer we be detters synners in some thyng But God forgyueth vs these dettes for Christes sake when we praye to him therfore and forgiue our neighbours for his sake And this is the cause why we can not be iustified or deliuered from syn death and hell by oure own workes For in asmuche as oure good workes be euer vnperfecte and haue nede of pardon therefore we must nedes be redemed by the passion death resurrectiō of Christ as it hath ben taught you in that part of y e Crede which intreateth of our redemption wherfore in as much as according to oure Crede we beleue that God for Christes sake hathe forgyuen vs all oure synnes and dettes we oughte also earnestly to praye y t he wil deale with vs accordynge to our faithe and forgyue vs our trespaces as we forgyue theim that trespace agaynst vs. And this is the playne vnderstāding of this fifth petitiō whiche we dayly hourely ought to make to God And now I pray you good children that you wyll dilygentlye recorde the true meanyng of this petition And when you be asked this question howe vnderstande you the fifthe petitiō Answere and saye Herein we desyere that our heuenly father will not loke vpon oure synnes and for theim cast vs awaye For we haue not deserued those greate gyftes and grace whiche we desier at gods hādes nor we be not worthye to haue the same but we desyer God that althoughe we dayly offende him deserue greuous punyshmentes for our synnes yet he of his mere grace mercye wyl heare our prayers and frely forgyue vs oure offences And we offer our selues for his sake frō the botome of our heartes to forgyue them that haue offended vs. ¶ The syxte petition And suffer vs not to be led into temptacion NOwe you haue hearde how in the fyfte petition we desire God to giue vs all those thynges whiche oure Lord Iesus Christ hath deserued for vs by his passion deathe and glorious resurrection that is to say forgiuenes of our synnes and all therto belongynge euen as we forgyue them that haue offended vs as you haue learned in the seconde part of the Crede which intreateth of our Redemption Now therfore foloweth the syxt petitiō in the whiche we praye that God wyll gyue vs all those thinges whiche we haue learned in the .iii. parte of the Crede whiche intreateth of our Sanctification that is to saye we desyre that God will vouchesafe to sende vs the holye ghost whiche may assist vs in our continuall batell agaynste synne the fleshe the world and the deuel that in all temptations and skyrmishes with the same we may māfully withstande theim and ouercome theim For this we desyre when we say And suffer vs not to be led into temptation And to the intent that ye maye the better vnderstande this petition ye shall first dilygentlye learne this lesson that althoughe synne is forgyuen vs by Christ yet it is not whollye purged or dryuen oute of vs but synne yet sticketh fast in our flesh which doeth tempte and prouoke vs to do against Gods commaundementes For ye haue all redye lerned by the tenne commaundementes what synne is and what is very vngodlynes to y e intent ye may eschew it Also you haue herd in your Crede that God doth forgyue vs our synnes and doeth no more condempne vs for the same when we beleue in the son of God our sauiour Iesus Christe But yet neuertheles we feale the temptations of synne which cleueth to vs lyke glewe And that this is true euery one of you doth feale in your selues by dayly experience For when you grudge to do that thing whiche your parentes commaundeth you to do then synne tempteth you and prouoketh you to stoubbernes and disobedience towarde your father and mother But yelde not you to this temptacion but obey your father and mother as God hathe commaunded you Lykewise when you see other children haue any gay thing whiche pleaseth you so well that you woulde fayne haue the same then synne tempteth and
these sacramentes is baptisme by the whiche we be borne again to a new and heauenly lyfe and be receaued into gods churche and congregation whiche is the foundation and pyller of the trueth The seconde is absolution or the authoritie of y e keyes wherby we be absolued from suche synnes as we be fallen into after oure baptisme The thirde sacrament is the communion or y e Lordes supper by the whiche we be fedde and nourished and fortified in y e faith of the ghospell and knowlege of Christ that by this fode we maye growe more and more in newnes of lyfe so that we maye be no longer children but maye waxe perfecte men and ful growē in Christ. For I wolde you should wel know this good children that a Christen mās knowlege and lyfe is a more excellēt thing than vnlerned people can iudge For a christen man hathe the certen worde of God where vpon he maye grounde hys conscience that he is made a christen man and is one of Christes mēbers which he is assured of by baptisme For he that is baptysed maye assuredlye saye thus I am not now in this wauering opiniō that I only suppose my selfe to be a christiā man but I am in a sure belefe that I am made a Christen mā For I know for a suerty that I am baptised I am sure also that baptysme was ordeyned of God and that he whiche baptysed me did it by gods commission and commaundemente And the holy goste doth witnes that he whiche is baptysed hathe put vpon hym Christ. Wherfore the holy gost in my baptisme assureth me that I am a Christen man And this is a true and syncere fayth whiche is able to stande agaynste the gates of hell for asmuche as it hath for it the euydence of gods worde and leaneth not to any mans saying or opinion Furthermore good chyldren you shall dylygentlye learne the cause wherefore we are baptysed You haue alredy herde y t by baptisme we be borne agayne The cause of this our secōd birth is the synfulnes and filthynes of our first birth For by our first natiuitie whan we were borne of our fathers and mothers all we were borne in synne and whē we yssued out of oure mothers wombe we were laden with synne and Gods angre as it was at large declared vnto you in the exposition of y e ten cōmaundements and speciallye in the last cōmaundement For as Adam did synne and by sinne was so corrupted both in his body and soule that by his awne power or strēgth he was not able to do any good thinge euen so all the children ofspring of Adam be borne synners so that they can not be iustified by themselues or by their awn strength but are inclined and bent to synne at all tymes And as saynt Paul saieth by nature they be the children of Gods wrath That is to saye God is angrye w t vs for those synnes whiche by nature be as it wer a kynne to vs and we be borne with theim into this world But when we be borne againe by baptisme thē our sinnes he forgyuen vs and the holy goste is giuē vs which doth make vs al so holy doth moue vs to al goodnes Wherefore good children whē a man is baptysed it is as muche to saye as he dothe there confesse that he is a synner and that he is vnder the rule and gouernaūce of sinne so that of himselfe he can not be good or ryghtuous And therefore he commeth to baptisme and there seketh for helpe and remedy and desyreth God first to forgyue him his synnes at length to deliuer him clerely from all synne and perfectely to heale his soule from the sykenes of synne as the physitian doth perfectely heale his patient from bodely diseases And for his parte he promyseth to God againe and solemply voweth that he wyl fyght againste synne with all his strength and power that he wyll gladly beare the crosse and al suche afflictiōs as it shal please God to lay vpon him and that also he wil be contēt to dye y t he may be perfectly healed and delyuered from synne For God doth forgiue vs our synnes by faith but by afflyctions and death he dothe take theim cleane away as saint Peter witnesseth sainge He y t suffereth or is afflycted in y e fleshe doth cesse from synne And sainct Paule sayeth he that is deade is iustified or delyuered from synne These be the promyses which we make whē we are baptised And of this mind must all they be whiche shall haue any fruite by baptisme Wherfore seyng all you that be here are alredy baptysed continewe I praye you in this good mynde and purpose knowlege in your hartes before God that you be synners be sory for y e same and praye to God to heale and delyuer you frō youre sinne Beware you fal not to sinne againe haue no delite in sinne nor synne not wyllyngly But be godly and holy and suffer gladly suche afflictions as God shall lay vpon your backes And yf you do thus then your baptisme shal be auaile able vnto you God shall worke in you by his holy spirit and shall fynyshe in you all those thinges which by baptisme he hath begon Hitherto you haue herde what we promyse to God when we are baptised now learne also I pray you what God worketh in vs by baptisme what benefites he gyueth vs in the same For baptysme is not water alone and nothinge els besides but it is the water of god and hath his strength by y e worde of God and is a seale of gods promyse Wherefore it doth worke in vs all those thinges where vnto God hath ordeyned it For oure Lord Iesus Christ saieth Go and teache all nations and baptyse them in the name of y e father and the sonne and the holy gost This god commaunded his disciples to do Wherfore by the vertue of this commaūdement which came from heuen euen from the bosome of god baptisme doeth wourke in vs as the wourke of God For when we be baptised in the name of God that is as muche to saye as God him selfe shoulde baptise vs. Wherfore we oughte not to haue an eye only to the water but to God rather whiche did ordeine the baptisme of water and commaūded it to be done in his name For he is almyghtye and able to worke in vs by baptisme forgiuenes of our synnes al those wonderful effectes and operatiōs for the whiche he hathe ordeyned the same althoughe mannes reason is not able to conceyue the same Therfore consider good chyldren the greate treasures and benefytes whereof God maketh vs partakers when we are baptised whiche be these The firste is that in baptisme our synnes be forgyuen vs as sainct Peter witnesseth saiynge Let euerye one of you be baptised for the forgiuenes of his synnes The seconde is that the holy gost is gyuen vs the whiche doth sprede abrod the loue of
God in oure harte whereby we maye kepe Goddes commaundementes accordyng to this saying of saynt Peter Let euerie one of you he baptised in the name of christ and then you shall receyue the gyft of the holy ghost The thirde is that by baptisme the whole rightuousnes of Christ is gyuen vnto vs that we maye clayme the same as our owne For so saincte Paule teachethe saying As many of ye as are baptised in Christe haue putte vpon you Christ. Fourthly by baptisme we die with Christ and are buried as it were in his bloude death that we shoulde suffer afflictions and death as Christ himself hath suffered And as that man whiche is baptised doth promise to God that he wyll dye with Christ that he maye be deade to synne and to the old Adam so on the other part God doth promise againe to him that he shalbe partaker of christes death and passion And also God maketh al afflictions whiche he sufferethe to be good and profitable vnto him as was the passion of Christ and not damnable as it was to Iudas and dyuerse other vngodlye parsons By thys which I haue hetherto spoken I trust you vnderstaÌ„de good children wherfore baptisme is called the bath of regeneratioÌ„ and howe in baptisme we be borne agayne and be made new creatures in Christe The whiche doctryne you shall the better vnderstande yf you consider in what coÌ„dition you were before you were baptised and in what state you stande in after your baptisme Firste before we were baptised it is euideÌ„t that we were synners and he that is a synner can haue no peace nor quietnes of coÌ„science before he come to Christ so muche he feareth Goddes wroth and euerlastyng damnation But after that oure synnes in baptisme be forgyuen vs and we beleue the promyse of God and so by oure faith be iustified than our conscyences be quieted and we be glad and mery trustyng assuredly that God is no more angrye with vs for our former offences and that we shal not be damned for y e same And thys is a meruelous alteration and renewyng of the inward manne the whyche coulde be wrought by the power of no creature but by God alone Also before we were baptised we were slaues and boundemen to synne so that we neyther coulde do that good which we would haue done nor could kepe vs from that euil whiche we would not haue done as saint Paule complaynethe of himselfe But whan by baptysme the holy gost was gyuen vs the whiche did spread abrode the loue of god in our hartes and did also delyuer vs from y e boundage and tyrannye of synne and gaue vs new strength power to wrastle against synne and manfullye to withstande our gostly enemye the deuel thaÌ„ after a certen maner we were able to fulfyl gods commauÌ„dementes And this is a greate chaunge and renewyng of the inwarde man And this I wold you shoulde know for a suertye good childreÌ„ stedfastly beleue y e same that no child of y e Iewes or Turkes whiche is not baptysed hathe the holy ghoste neyther that anye suche can vnderstande the worde of God neyther that anye suche is holy or righteous before God Wherefore you shall thanke God with all youre harte whiche hath brought you to baptysme And when you beleue in the name of Christ and loue the ghospell and are glad dyligeÌ„t to hear y e same theÌ„ this is a suer tokeÌ„ y t by the gospel you haue receaued y e holy gost Furthermore he that is a synner not baptised althoughe he had the holy ghoste to this effecte to helpe him to fight againste synne yet oftentymes he is ouer come and falleth to synne And althoughe he doth oftentimes ouercome sinne yet this is a great vnperfectenes y t he dothe it not willingly but that this fight against sinne is tedious and greuous vnto him Wherefore he is euer in perrel lest he be ouercome of syn And in case he doth manfully w tstande synne yet he seeth that his iustyce and obedience be to weake and vnperfecte to stande before the iudgement of God as in dede no man not the holyest is able to stande before y e iudgemeÌ„t of God by his awne rightuousnes But when in baptisme the rightuousenes of Christ is gyuen and imputed to hym then he is delyuered from al those perrels For he knoweth for a suerty that he hath put vpoÌ„ him Christ and that his weakenes imperfectioÌ„ is couered hydde with the perfecte ryghtuousnes and holynes of Christ. Wherfore after baptisme he doth not trust in his awne rightuousnes but in Christ only And he is no more pensyue or doubteful coÌ„syderynge his awne weaknes but he is ioyful because he coÌ„sidereth that he is made partaker of Christes rightuousnes And this agayne is a great alteratioÌ„ and renewyng of the inwarde man These newe affections and spiritual mocions are in the soulles of suche as are borne again by baptisme but they be vnknowne to worldly men and suche as be not led by the spirite of God And wheÌ„ they that beleue and be baptysed do continewe in this their faith to â—he ende of their lyues then God shall rayse them vp from death to lyfe that they maye be immortall and lyue euerlastingly with christ And then when syn and the kingdome of death is vtterli abolished and destroied we shalbe perfectly holy and rightuous both in body and soule And for this cause our sauioure Christ doth cal in y e gospel the rysyng againe from death a regeneration or a seconde begettyng Al these thynges doth baptisme worke in vs wheÌ„ we beleue in Christe And therefore Christe sayeth He that wyll beleue and be baptysed shall be saued But he that wyl not beleue shalbe damned Wherefore good children learne dylygentlye I praye you the fruyt operation of baptisme For it worketh forgyuenes of sin it delyuereth from death power of the deuel it gyueth saluation euerlastynge lyfe to all them that beleue As the wordes of Christes promyse doth euydently witnesse But peraduenture some wil saye Howe can water worke so greate thinges To whome I answere that it is not the water that dothe these thinges but the almyghtye worde of God whiche is knyt and ioyned to the water faith which receyueth gods worde promyse For with out the worde of God water is water and not baptisme But when the worde of the liuing God is added and ioyned to the water then it is the bathe of regeneration and baptisme water and the lyuely springe of eternall saluation and a bathe that wassheth our soules by the holy ghoste as saynct Paule calleth it saying God hath saued vs thorowe hys mercy and made vs partakers of the rightuosnes of hys welbeloued sonne Iesus Christ. Now consyder depely I praie you how great benefytes these be that you maye not be vnkynde to him that hath done so much for you but stedfastlye beleue these thinges mortifye synne
sente to me one of hys ministers he in the name and place of God hathe declared to me the forgyuenes of my synnes and hath baptised me in the assurance of the same Wherfore I doubte not but that my synnes be forgyuen and that I am made the sonne heire of God Thus good children you ought generally in all temptations to fortifie youre fayth and to comforte your selfes with the authoritie of Goddes word but specially you shall learne this also that oure Lorde Iesus Christe dyd entende by this authoritie of the Kayes to comforte the troubled consciences of them that after their baptisme do fall in to haynous offences For it is not so easye a thyng to rise agayn from synne as the mad and blynde worlde doeth thynke but when the deuel and oure faith shall skyrmishe together then in those straites and troubles of cōscience we haue nede of the helpe of some trewe minister of y e churche whych as it were in our swonynge maye lyft vs vp wyth the wourde of God comforte and refreshe vs. As the wyse kyng Salomon doth declare by thys sentence Wo to that man whyche is alone for when he falleth he hath no mā to lyft hym vp agayn And oure Lorde Iesus Christe doeth speake so often tymes in the gospel of the authoritie of the kayes and hathe added so great promyses to the same that it may wel appere by the earnestnes of Christes wourdes how careful he was for troubled consciences and how fatherly an effection he had to comforte thesame Wherof it vndoutedly foloweth y t we haue great nede of thys comforte and that it is moche to be estemed and set by For first of al our sauiour Christ before he gaue these kayes ī dede he promysed to Peter y t he would gyue them saying I wyl gyue to the the kayes of the kyngdome of heauen What so euer thou shalt bynde vpon earth shalbe bounde in heauen and what so euer thou shall louse vpon earth shalbe also loused in heauen Secondarelye Christe doeth teache vs howe we shall vse these kayes both in open and in secrete synnes Of the vse of the kayes in opē synnes Christ speaketh these wourdes Yf thy brother trespace agaynst the go and tell hym hys faulte betwene him and the alone Yf he hear the thou hast wonne thy brother But yf he heare the not then take yet wyth the one or two that vpō the mouthe of two or thre wytnesses euery worde maye stande Yf he heare not them tell it vnto the cōgregacion Yf he heare not the cōgregation let hym be vnto the as an hethen and publican Uerely I saye vnto you what so euerye bynde on earth shalbe bounde in heauen And what so euer ye lose on earth shalbe loused in heauen And of the vse of the kayes in priuye and secrete synnes oure sauiour Christ hath taught vs by his awne dede and example For the mā that was sycke of the palsey Christ said thus Sonne cōceaue a stedfast fayth thy synnes be forgyuen the. And as touching byndyng of synnes he sayd to y e hard herted and stubburne Iewes Yf you were blinde you shulde haue no synne But nowe bycause you saye you see your synne abydeth styll that is to saye it is not forgyuen Thyrdlye oure Sauioure Christe after his resurrectiō gaue the kaies to his apostles as before he had promysed breathynge vpon theim and saying Receaue the holy gost whose synnes ye shall forgyue they are for gyuen Now forasmuche as oure sauioure Christe in gyuynge the keyes did promise vs so great cōforte dyd so dylygentlye teache the vse of them and dyd so faythfully and louyngly ordeyne and commende them and put theim as it wer into the handes of his apostles their successors we ought in no wyse to dyspyse this greate authoritie whiche God hath gyuen vnto men but thankefully to vse it For knowe this for a suertye good children that it is a very great offence against God lytle to care for hys great gyftes and benefites Therefore when we fal agayne to great synnes after that we are ones baptysed we oughte not to walke in a certē rechelesnes thynkyng that our synnes be forgyuen vs onely because God is merciful For this opinion or wauering imaginatiō is more weake and feble thē that in the feare and battaile of the conscience it is able to stande against the violent force and craftye assaultes of the deuel But in this fight betwene our cōscience the deuel our great trust and comforte is y e sure worde and worke of God whiche maye asserteyne vs that our synnes are forgyuen that is to say whan we obteyne forgyuenes of oure synnes and absolutiō of the ministers of the churche to whome Christ hath deliuered the kaies and hath promysed saying Whose synnes ye shall forgyue in earthe their synnes be forgyuen in heauen also And this also is to be reproued that some men whiche continue in manyfest and open synne and go not about to amende their lyfes yet they wil be counted christē mē and interpryse to receaue the same sacramētes that other do to come to y e churche to worship God and to praye with other Suche muste be warned of their fautes and yf they refuse to heare and amende then they ought to be excommunicate and put out of the christen cōgregation vntil they repente and amende their lyfes Lest by suche manifest sinne and euel examples other men might be prouoked to do the lyke and so at length many might be infected and the Christē religyon dispysed and euel spoken of as thoughe it wer the worst relygyon forasmuche as Christian men shoulde thā leade a shameful and vngodly lyfe And so by this meanes y e name of God and God himselfe might be blasphemed amonge the heathen people And althoughe those canons ordynances and rites whiche be agreable to the gospel and were ordeyned in tyme past to punyshe suche opē trāsgressors and malefactors are nowe in oure tyme almost vtterly abolyshed and taken awaye yet for this cause we ought not to dispise or cast awaye the authoritye vse of the kayes For they which presumptuously do cast away all pokes of ecclesiasticall discipline or chasticement do let that such kynde of correction whiche is agreable to the gospel maye not be restored againe shall haue without doubte God for their iudge But let vs praye our Lord Iesus Christ that as it hath pleased him to restore vnto vs his moste blessed worde and the true vnderstādyng of the same so also he wyll vouchesaue to rendre and sende agayne to vs these and suche lyke good and holsome ordinances agreable to his worde Now when a man after baptisme hath greuously synned and doubteth in his conscience whether he be in the fauour of God or no as oftentymes yt happeneth then it is harde for hym to trust to his awn bare imaginations thinking on this fashion I know y t I haue synned but yet I
often as ye do it in remēbraunce of me it is euident herby that Christe causeth euen at thys tyme his bodye and bloude to be in the sacrament after that maner and fashion as it was at that tyme when he made his maundye with his disciples For elles we coulde not do that thyng whiche his disciples dyd But Christ hath commaunded vs to do the selfe same thing that his disciples dyd and to do it in the remembraunce of him that is to saye to receaue his bodye and bloude euen so as he himselfe did gyue it to his dysciples And let not the foulyshe talke of vnbeleuers moue you who are wont to aske this question Howe can the pryest or minister make the bodie and bloude of Christ To the whiche I answer that the minister doth not this of himself But Christ himselfe doth gyue vnto vs his fleshe blode as his wordes dothe euydētly declare Nether let their argumētes or reasons perswade you whiche say y t the sacramēt ought not to be receaued vnder both kyndes but vndre one kynde only For Christ gaue to his disciples both kindes and hath bydde vs that we also shoulde do the same And when he gaue the cuppe to his dysciples he added therto this commaundemēt in these expresse plaine wordes saying Drinke ye al of this Now we ought to obey god more then men We ought therefore to receaue the sacrament vnder both kyndes as Christe commaunded vs. And regarde not the gageling of theim that speake againste the vse of the sacramētes vnder both kyndes sayinge It maketh no great matier whether ye receaue it vndre both kyndes or one alone y t it perteineth not to saluation to receiue it vnder both kindes But what shal I dispute long in this matier Take this for a cōclusion that it is only laudable good to do that thinge whiche Christ hathe commaunded and not to swarue from the same So we ought to receaue this blessed sacrament in the remembraunce of Christ as saint Paule saieth that is to saye we ought to preache his death vntil he come againe For he wil suerely come againe and iudge bothe the quicke and y e deade as ye haue lerned in your Crede In the meane season we ought to remembre and preach his death that he hath redemed vs with his death and sheding of his most precious bloude purchased for vs forgyuenes of oure synnes And this we ought euer to haue in oure remembraunce that in no wyse we forget this his exceding great benefyte and that we seke not for remyssion of synnes by any other wayes or meanes then by fayth in Christe Nowe when we preache the death of the Lord and shewe that he hathe redemed vs thereby we ought also to call this to our remembraunce that he dyed not for vs onely but for all men that beleue in him And forasmuche as Christe loued al men so entierely that he dyed for theym we ought for Christes sake to loue our neyghbours for whom Christe hathe dyed For Christ sayeth All men shall knowe by thys token that ye be my disciples if one of you loue another And this is it that saincte Paule sayeth All we that be pertakers of one breade are one bodye and one breade As often therefore good children as you shal come to the Lordes table whiche ye shall vse to do when ye shall come to further yeares of discretion you shal seke the comforte of your consciences and do as sainct Paule saieth in these wordes Let a man examine himselfe and so let him eat of the breade and drynke of the cuppe For he that eateth or drinketh vnworthely eateth and drinketh his awne damnation because he maketh no dyfference of the Lordes bodye And when ye shal haue examined your selues ye shal fynde that ye are synners and that ye haue nede that Christ should giue his bodye for you and shede hys bloude for you And this to do is truly to examine and trye youre selues For sainct Paule saieth Yf we wold iudge our selues we should not be iudged of the Lord. But when we are iudged of the Lorde we are chasticed that we should not be dampned with the worlde For him that doth not acknowlege his faute God doeth iudge and chastice with dyuerse afflictions that at the length he maye cause him therby to confesse his fautes and repent him that his synnes may be forgyuen him Ye shal also examine yourselues whether ye be able to do y t Christ commaundeth and to beleue that Christ saith Furthermore ye shal make an inquirie in your conscyences whether you be gladde in youre harte to forgyue youre neyghboure his offences against you and to loue him hartely and vnfaynedly for Christes sake For when ye do thus then ye worthely receaue the body and bloud of Christ. And he that so receaueth it receaueth euerlastyng lyfe For he doth not only with his bodyly mouthe receaue the bodye and bloude of Christ but he doth also beleue the wordes of Christ wherby he is assured that Christes bodye was gyuen to death for vs that his bloude was shed for vs. And he y t this beleueth eateth and drynketh the bodye and bloude of Christ spiritually Of this Christ speaketh when he sayeth He that eateth my fleshe and drynketh my bloud abydeth in me and I in him And when we be planted in Christ then we maye come to this holy supper as often as we wyll that by this gostlye fode we may dayly more and more waxe stronger in our faith that Christe was gyuen to be the raunsome for our synnes and that he dwelleth in vs and we in him For seyng that we are planted in Christ by baptisme and are bound to grow and increase in him and to be made lyke vnto him it is not conueniēt that we shoulde onely haue a waueryng opinion that we dwell in Christe and growe in faith charitie but we muste haue a sure worde and worke of God to the whiche we maye leane in all temptations therby be assured that we do spiritually growe and increase in Christe And this worde and worke of God is set before our eyes in the Lordes supper For seyng oure sauioure Christ doth gyue vs his bodye to be oure meate and his bloude to be our drynke and thereby doth declare that he wil effectually dwel in vs strengthen and preserue vs to euerlastyng lyfe we may stedfastly beleue that Christ doth worke in vs and that he wil giue vs gostly strength and stedfastnes that we lyke grene braunches maye continew in the vyne and so be full of sappe and bryng forth good fruit And this is the meanynge and playne vnderstandynge of the wordes of the Lordes supper Wherefore learne them dilygently I pray you y t when ye be asked what is y e Cōmuniō or the lordes supper ye maye answer It is the trew body and true bloude of our Lorde Iesus Christe whiche was ordeyned by Christ