Iesus Christ is that A sauiour which God promised frō the beginning of the world and is also B my sauiour And I beleeue that God will be mercifull vnto me and c forgiue me my sinnes for his sake Christ Iesus hath reconciled all the faithfull vnto God by the sacrifice of his death And is the ransome for our redemption for it pleased almighty God to haue his iustice so satisfied Christ hath D wrought and done for me all that is needfull for my saluation if I beleeue in him and trust in his death and merites Whatsoeuer Christ hath wrought for mans saluation perteineth also vnto vnto me and I shall be pertaker thereof We must not E any where else seeke saluation but onely in Christ That as by the offence of our father Adam who was the first man in this world condemnation came on all men and therfore he and his posteritie from whence we are all descended accursed So theris no meanes to bring vs from this curse and eternall damnation but only by Iesus Christ our Lord for by him God promised saluation from the beginning of the world Wherby the holy fathers before Christs 1. Cor. 10 1 to 5. Iohn 8 56. comming in the flesh were saued by beleeuing that the sauiour Christ shoulde come to redeeme them and obteine of God forgiuenes of their sins wee are saued by beleeuing Christ is come and hath wrought all that is needefull for our saluation So by F our true faith Christ his righteousnes Faith is made ours by beleuing that the once offering of his body and bloud is a full satisfaction for our sins to God the father And that by his obedience and fulfilling of the law of God we shal be made righteous iust before God For as by the disobedience of our first father Adam wee are all made sinners So Se more at large for faith after in the 10. article and at the end of the Creede by the obedience of Christ Iesus all the faithful are made righteous Al those are made righteous by Christ which do beleeue and trust in his death merits do repent and amend their wicked liues a Christ promised from the beginning is that sauiour promised Gen 3. 15. 22. 18. Gal 3. 16. Ge. 26. 4. 28. 14. Deut 18. 18. 19. Esay 7. 14. 15. 16. 9. 6. 7. 11. 42. 53. Ier. 23. 3 to 9. 33. 14. to 19. Mic 3. 5. 2 5 Zach 9. 9. to 16. 11. 12. 13. 16. 12 10. Mala 3. 1. 2. Math 1. 21. 1. Pet 1. 19. 20. Iohn 1. b Christ is my sauiour Math 1. 21. Iohn 1. 1. 2. 3. 4. 19. 1. Cor 1. 30. Eph 1. 5. 7. 2. 16. Col 1. Act. 5. 31. Rom 5. 10. 8. 2. Tim 1. 9. 10. 1. 10. 2 2 Ioh 20. 31. 3. 36. c God wil for giue me my sinnes for Christ his sake Esay 53. Ioh 20. 31. Acts 4. 12. 5. 31. 13. 38. 39. Rom 3. 24. 25. 26. 4. 25 5. 1. Cor 1. 30. 2. Cor. 5. 18. 19. 21. Gal. 3. 13. 14. 4. 4. 5. 6. 7. Eph 2. Col 1. 13 c. 1. Thes 5. 9. 10. 1. Tim 2. 5. 6. 2. Tim. 1. 9. 10. Tit 2. 11 c. 3. 4. to 8. Hebr. 9. 10. 1. Pet. 1. 18. 19. 2. 24. Reuel 5. 10. Phil 3. 20. 21. 1. Ioh 2. 2. 1. 2. Rom 8. 1. 26. 27. d Christ hat done all that is needfull fo◠my saluation Ioh. 19. 30. Luke 22. 37. Ioh 20. 31. 14. 11. to 16. 1. Ioh. 3. 22. 23. 24. E Acts 4. 12 5. 31. 13 38 39. Col. There is no saluation but onely by Christ 1. 14. 1. Thes 5 9 10. Hebr 9. Gal 3. 4. Ioh. 3 18. 2. Thes 1 8 9 Ioh 14 6. f By faith christ his righteousnes is ours Hebr 3 14 7. 9 10. Gal 3. 14 16. 1 Cor 1 30. Rom 5 19 21. Acts 3 17. 2 Tim 2 19. Christ Iesus is the onely sonne of God because his manhoode was begotten of the His only son holy Virgin Saint Mary by the holy spirite of God by that onely power without any acte of man Albeit we are the children of God by grace and adoption by Christ and that God created vs yet hee begatte none in that order with his holy spirite but only Christ Iesus our Sauiour A Christ is the naturall and onely sonne of God Therefore he is the onely naturall sonne of God A Io 1. Mat 1 3 17. Lu 2. 1. Rom 1 3 4. Christ Iesus is our Lord. For God is wel Our Lord. pleased in him A hath giuen ouer to him all power in heauen and earth that he shold giue eternal life to al those y◠beleue in him The B fulnes of the godhead and almighty power dwelleth and a abideth in Christ bodily as my soule dwelleth in my body And he hath redeemed vs doth rule and gouerne the whole world C And by his almighty power and working of the holy Ghost hee maketh all the faithfull to be his members and to be one with God as God is in him and he in God And so the faithfull haue Christ dwelling in thē and are his members and owe to him honour and reuerence as they honour the father therefore he is our Lord. a God hath giuen all power to Christ Math 28 18 Ioh 17 Ioh 1 Ma 17 5 3 17 Ioh 3 35 13 3 17 2. b The fulnes of the almighty power and godhead is in Christ and he is our lord and ruleth althings Io 1 Co 1 15 Io 3 13 35 Ma 28 18 Io 13 3 1 Ro 15 24 25 Ac 10 36 Ro 14 9 c The faithful haue Christ dwelling in them and are his members and he is their heade Ioh 17 21 22 23 1 Cor 12 27 6 15 17 19. Eph 5 23 30 1 22 Rom 12 5 8 9 10. WHich was conceiued by the holye ghost borne of the Virgin Mary This Iesus my sauiour in whom I beleeue Which was conceiued by the holy ghost was conceiued in the wombe of the holy Virgin Saint Mary A by the onelie power of the holy ghost And was borne and formed of her substance Although the holy Virgin was betrothed to Ioseph to take him for her husband and therfore acknowledged hym as her husband Neuerthelesse Iosephe knew not her body at any time before this Iesus our sauiour was borne Christ Iesus conceiued of the holy Virgin without sin by the power and vertue of the holy ghost This Iesus our sauiour B is the seede of the woman and of Abraham In whom all the nations of the earth shal be blessed And hee was borne very man of the holy Virgin formed and framed of her substaunce Beeing borne first a younge babe and after grewe vnto mans state as we doe and
he rose againe rose againe by his diuine power and vnited his Godhead and soule and bodie together and in his manhoode tooke life againe Our sauiour Christ by the space of fortie daies after his resurrection often shewed him selfe aliue in his manhoode vnited to his Godheade by many infallible tokens and was conuersant with his disciples and was seene of more then fiue hundred brethren at once The same body which suffered and was put to death did rise againe and was glorified all infirmities being done away hauing the Godheade vnited to the same his mans body which rose againe B By this his rising againe Christ sheweth him selfe to be the son of God and the promised sauiour And also sheweth manifestly that he hath conquered and ouercome the deuill sin and death and is nowe the author of our life For our righteousnesse is restored by his resurrection C And his rising againe is a sure pledge to me that my bodie after this life shall in like manner rise againe This his rising againe is a most great comfort to all faithfull and the victorye of our faith D As he is risen from death so hee causeth mee as a member of him to rise from sinne and delight in righteousnes Christ hath giuen me of his holy spirite which subdueth sinne in me and so mortifieth my flesh that I hate sinne and sathan And thereby I feele sanctification and new life to be begonne in me which certifieth my conscience I am in Christ and so of God This benefitte I receaue by Christes rising againe who is nowe the author of my saluation So hee died for our sins and rose againe for our righteousnes to purchace vs life with God his father And hath sent his holy spirite to be our comfort and to gouerne leade and direct vs in our dooinges â— Whosoeuer dooth not taste of mortification and newnesse of life hath no part in the redemption of Christ For he giueth strength to the faithfull to subdue sinne in some measure and to walke in a newe life and righteousnesse here on earth F Christ rose from dead To make vs partakers of his righteousnesse sanctification and glorification which hee purchased for vs by his merit a The bodie of Christ which suffred rose againe Matt. 28 Iohn 20 and 21. Luk. 24 13 c. Acts 1 3 8 9 10. and 2 24 31. and 10 40. and 13 29 30 31 35. 1. Cor. 15. 3 to 9. Matth 20. 18. Mark 9 31. and 10. 34. Luke 9 22. 1. Peter 3 21. 2. Cor. 13 4. b He shewed his power c. that he hath conquered the deuill sinne and death Rom. 1 4. Acts 1 3 Rom. 8 1 34 1. Cor. 15 26 54 57 Ephe. 1. 19. c. Colos 1. 18 and 2. 15. Heb. 2. 14 15. c I shall rise againe in like maner 1. Cor. 15. 13. 16 20 26. 1 Thes 4 14 c. Rom. 6 23. d Christ causeth me to rise from sinne delight in righteousnes Colos 3 1 2 5. Galat. 2 20. Colo 1. 12 to 25. Rom. 6 and 7. 22 25 and 8 1 2 9 10 11 14 15 26. 1. Iohn 4 13 Iohn 3 36 and 14 16 17 18. and 16 7 13. e He that hath not newnesse of life hath not the spirit of Christ Rom. 6 6 12. 14 16. and 8 9 10 11 13 14. Col. 3 1 2 5. 1. Peter 2 24. f Christ rose from death to make vs partakers of his righteousnes 6 He ascended into heauen 1. Cor. 1 30 Rom. 4 25. Iohn 3 16 Mat. 28. 18 20. Rom 5. 19. 21 Gal. 3. 13. 14 Iohn 17 21 22 23. Acts 17 28. 1. Cor. 12 27. HE ascended into heauen Iesus Christ our Sauiour after his Resurrection was here on the earth with his corporall presence fortie dayes And after that A he ascended into heauen bodily and visibly the people looking and seeing him when he ascended Christ his mans body which he tooke in the wombe of the blessed virgin saint Marie before his ascension was not in heauen The same bodie he glorified tooke vp into heauen there to remaine vntill he come againe at the ende of the world to iudge the quicke the dead B Therfore we must seeke Iesus christ in heauen not in earth spiritually not carnally by fayth not by our senses It is by the vertue of his holy spirit that he doth coÌ„municat pertake himself vnto Spirituall thinges are not seene but with the eyes of the spirite For what is neerer to a man then his own soule yet not any man euer at any time sawe his soule or the soule of any other man C Christ his diuine presence is in the earth with vs and is euery where His diuinitie and Godhead filleth both heauen and earth and dwelleth and abideth in the faithfull The body of Christ is in heauen and hath left the world vntill he come to the resurrection and iudgement of all mankinde Neuerthelesse his holye spirite vertue and power filleth heauen and earth and ruleth and gouerneth vs. D Moreouer by this his entrye into heauen hee hath made easie vnto vs the way and dooth assure vs that the gate is already open vnto vs and that our sins be forgiuen vs the which waye before was shutte vp against vs because of our sinnes But now our sauiour Iesus is entered into the heauens with his mans body of the nature of our fleshe which is a gage and pledge that he will conduct vs thether E We haue these benefits by Christ his ascention He is in heauen our aduocate and intercessor to God his father for vs. And by him we shall also ascend into heauen and be glorified F And lastly the holy ghost is sent to vs by whome Christ gathereth comforteth and defendeth his church to the worldes ende The holy ghost was also giuen to the godly which were vnder the lawe before Christes ascension and comming in the flesh but that was in respect of his coÌ„ming in the flesh his ascentioÌ„ and glorification which was then to come After Christ his glorification the holy ghost was giuen more abundantly a Christ ascended visibly into heauen there his body to remaine till he come again to iudgement Luke 24. 51. Mar 16 19. Acts 1. 9. 10. 11. 3. 21. Ioh 20 17. 12 8. 16 28. b We must seeke Christ in heauen with our spirite and faith Acts 1. 11. 3 21. Col 3. 1. Ioh 4. 23 24. Math 15. 9. Acts 7. 55. Hebr 4. 14. 15. 16. Ephe 3. 18. Phil 3. 20. 21. c Albeit Christ his body is in heaueÌ„ yet his Godheade vertue holy spirit and diuine presence filleth heauen and earth and is euery where Math 28. 20. Col 1. 15. 19. 2. 9. Iere 23. 24 Math 18. 20. Acts 7. 49. 17 28. Ephe 1. 23. d Christ his entry into heaâ—en is a sure pledge that we shall bee there with him for where he is there
neighbour but seeke reuenge God will not forgiue vs. These wordes As we forgine doeth not signifie the degree and comparison betweene God and vs as if God shoulde forgiue so farre and no more then wee doe forgiue But these assureth vs that God remitteth our sinnes as truely and certainly as we forgiue and remitte our neighbour And that if we do not forgiue our neighbour but seeke reuenge God will noâ— forgiue vs. This prouoketh vs to fayth and true repentance and to forgiue and loue our neighbours For we cannot pray in fayth and true repentaunce if wee hate our neighbour ANd lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill And lead vs not into temptation In praying that we be not a Psal 125 5 81 12 rom 1 24 26. 2 thes 2 11 12. esay 63 17. 29 10. 1 sam 16 14 iohn 14. 17. rom 6. 12 2. cor 4 7 c. 2. tim 4 18. 1 pet 1 5. 5 8 92 pet 2 9. led into temptation we desire that God will not withorawe his speciall grace from vs but defende and vpholde vs with the power of his holy spirite that we may ouercome all temptations and thereby may be deliuered from the consent and doing of euill When God b 1 Sam 16 14 1. pet 5 8 9. gal 6 1. 1 cor 7 5. rom 1 24 26. esay 63 17. withdraweth his speciall grace in preseruing and keeping vs by his holye spirite Then God suffereth the deuill and our wicked inclinations to tempt vs and to worke vs afflictions and troubles thereby to exercise our fayth or to chastice vs for our sinnes For the Lorde will c 2. Tim 3 12 reue 3 19. heb 12 6 c. 1 thes 3 3 29. 2 cor 7 10 10. pro 30. 9. correct the offences of the godly in this world by afflictions else our flesh would be wanton and forget God Therefore wee pray That he leade vs not into temptation That wee should be d 1 Cor. 10 13 ouercome of it and so consent to the doing of euill but that hee will deliuer vs from euill There are two sortes of temptations The one is from God The other is from the deuill the wicked and our corrupt inclinations The temptations whereby God tempteth vs is a e Iam 1 2 3. 12 5 10 13. 1 pet 4 12 c. deut 8 2. 2 cro 32 31. rom 5 3â— 5. 1 cor 11 10 3â— tryall and proofe of our fayth and obedience that our faith patience and constancie may be manifested vnto our selues and vnto men to his glorie and prayse when hee deliuereth vs from that temptation and tryall So were f Gen. 22 1 2 9. c 29 7 c. iob 1 7 c 2. 1 cro 21. 1. c. the temptations of Abraham Ioseph Iob Dauid and other holy men The tryall or temptation sent from God is by afflictions and troubles as aforesayde g Ioh. 15 5 6 which come on the godly in that tyme that God withdraweth his speciall grace in preseruing and keeping of them by his holy spirite And then God h Iudg. 9 25 suffereth the wicked and our euill inclinations to tempt vs and to worke vs afflictions and troubles that wee maye resort i Iohn 16 20 2 cor 4. 7 c. rom 8. 18 c. to his grace and feele the presence of his strength in succouring of vs. God not working these afflictions for he k Iam. 1. 13 14 15. tempteth none to euill but onely withdrawing his speciall grace for the time For where l 1 Sam. 16 24. heb 3 13. rom 8 9. 1 pet 5 8 9. the spirite of Christ is absent there will the wicked spirit be readie and present to worke our destruction The m Iob 1. 7 to 13 2 mat 8 31. 10 29 30 wicked spirites can do nothing vnto the faythfull but what God shall suffer them and giue them leaue For the Lorde will haue regarde that those his elect shall not perish So n Iud. 9 23. 1. King 22. 22. 2. King 17 27. 24 3. the wicked doe execute the iudgements of God All thinges o Rom. 8. 28. Esa 57 1. worke for the best to them that loue God for hee knoweth what is best for vs. Also temptations are profitable for vs when his mercie doth accompanie them Wee must not p Mat. 4. 7. Wisd 1. 2. seeke for afflictions for so wee shall tempt God and prouoke his wrath But those afflictions which be layde on the godly agaynst their will God in the ende when it pleaseth him q 2. Pet 2 9 reue 3 10 2 cor 4. 7 c. 1. Cor 10 13. will deliuer the faithfull out of those temptations and will suffer no more to be layd on them Then he will giue them strength to beare The temptation whereby the deuill How the deuil tempteth Iam. 1. 13 14. 15 1. Pet. 5. 8 9. the wicked and our corrupt inclinations doe tempt vs is euery soliciting to sinne To the ende wee may bee withdrawne from God and so to perish These are the diuersities of temptations The diuersitie of the temptations God tempteth only by the withdrawing of his speciall grace to exercise the fayth of the godly or to chasten them for their sinnes holding them still in his mercie that they shall not perish thereby to make them to resort to his grace and so to feele the presence of his strength in succouring them But the deuill tempteth to withdrawe 1. Pet. 5 8. 9. vs from God and enticeth and prouoketh vs to doe euill and wickednesse and so to forsake God that wee might be destroyed and damned BVt deliuer vs from euill But deliuer vs from euill In this wee pray That when temptations shall assault vs and prouoke vs to doe euill that God Iohn 17. 15. would deliuer vs from all euill present and to come And that hee will suffer no euill to hurt vs but that all thinges may bee vnto our saluation We shall bee led into temptations Therefore we pray that we may not be 2. Tim. 3 12. 1 Pet. 5 8 9. 1 Cor. 10. 13. ouercome of them and so to bee withdrawen from God but that we may be deliuered from euill FOr thine is the kingdome the power and the glorie for euer Amen For thine is the kingdome c. This clause serueth to confirme our fayth That 1 Chr. 29 10 11 12 Psal 14 5 13. 1. Tim. 1 17. Reue 5 13. 1 Pet. 5 11. Ephe. 3 21. Col. 3. 17. God is able to giue vs those things which we desire For the kingdome and all power and glorie is his therefore we trust in his power mercie and goodnesse Vnto this our God be all prayse glorie honour power and thankes by Iesus Christ our Lorde for enermore Amen This worde Amen signifieth That we wish and desire that it be so done or so be it The
1. Cor. 6 15 17 19 2 Cor. 13. 5. Rom. 8. 9. partaker of Christ his benefites And after this lyfe to haue eternall in heauen with Christ Iesus my Sauiour In this holy Sacrament we are made 1. Cor. 10. 17. Rom. 12 5. members of Christ and vnited together by his holy Spirite dwelling in vs. The Ephe. 5 30 32. manner of Christ his presence and of our vniting and howe wee eate Christ and drinke his blood is a great secret and more then my tongue can expresse or any mans minde able to conceyue When wee receyue this holy Sacrament Col. 3 1. we must as deuoutly as wee can lift vp our mindes into heauen where Christ is And by our fayth receyue Gal. 2 20. Ephe. 3 17. Iohn 3 16 5 24. ephe 2 8 3 17. acts 10 43 26 18 15 9. gal 5 6. Heb 11 6. grace and vertue from his verie bodie By our true and liuely fayth we are made partakers of Christ and vnited to him by his spirite dwelling in vs and doe obteyne remission of our sinnes and saluation At the receyuing of this holy Sacrament Matth 28 20. Iohn 17 22 23. 2. Cor. 13. 5. Rom. 12 5. Christ is present by the working of his holy spirite and doth make vs one with him and members one of another And we be partakers of the godly nature 2. Pet. 1 4. in that we flee the corruption which is in this world through lust Euery one which receiueth this holy Sacrament 1 Cor 13 2 3. worthily in true fayth repentance 1. Cor. 10. 3. 4. Iohn 6. 54. to 57 63 2. cor 13 5. 1. cor 6. 15 17 19. Rom 8. 9. 12 5. ephe 5 30 1. Cor. 10 17. and charitie doe then receyue the body of Christ working by his spirite and forgiuenesse of all their sinnes Christ then dwelleth in them and they in him and are vnited to him and made members of his bodie and also members one of another by the secret and marueylous working of the holy Ghost Christ doth out of the substance of Gal. 2. 20. Rom. 8. 9. 10. 11 his flesh giue life vnto our soules And we do liue by his holy spirit and vertue abiding in vs. And by that vertue and power we doe hate sinne and the deuill and ouer come them Thus are the faythfull fâ—d with Christ Iohn 14 23. 1. Iohn 3 24 4. 13. Ephe. 3 17. 2. Cor. 1 22. Rom. 8. 11. his body and doe liue by his holy spirit and vertue abiding in them And thereby their fayth is nourished and strengthâ—ned and their soules fed with this spirituall foode in Christ vnto eternall life This is our communion with Christ and the eating of his bodie and the drinking of his blood Thus by our true faith and the working of the holy ghost we are made his members and members one of another so one body in Christ he being our heade from whom wee all Rom. 12. 5. Col. 1 18 to 2â— doe drawe of his fulnesse So wee eate Christ in such sort as hee abydeth in vs. The maner of the receyuing of this grace and vertue and the incorporating Ephe. 5 30 32 of the faythfull into Christ is a great secrete and more then our tongues can expresse or our mindes able to conceyue This holy Sacrament which some call the Lordes supper others the holy Communion of the body and blood of our Lorde and sauiour Iesus Christ and commonly the holy Communion Christ did institute and ordeyne at his Mat. 26 to 31. Mar. 14 22. to 26. Luke 22 19 20 last supper with his disciples Which institution saint Paul expoundeth and declareth in these words following I haue receyued of the Lorde that 1. Cor. 11 23 to 30. which I also haue deliuered vnto you That the Lord Iesus in the night he was betrayed tooke breade and when he had giuen thankes he brake it and said Take eate this is my bodie which is broken for you this doe yee in remembrance of me After the same maner also he tooke the cuppe when he had supped saying This cuppe is the new testament in my blood This doe as often as ye drinke it in remembraunce of mee For as often as ye shall eate this breade and drinke this cuppe yee shewe the Lordes death till he come Let a man therefore examine him selfe and so let him eate of this breade and drinke of this cuppe For hee that eateth and drinketh vnworthily eateth and drinketh his owne damnation because hee discerneth not the Lords bodie Further Saint Paule sayeth The â— Cor. 10 16 17 cuppe of blessing which wee blesse is it not the Communion of the blood of Christ The bread which we breake is it not the communion of the bodie of Christ For we that are many are one bread and one bodie because we all arâ— partakers of one bread Note that as the breade is Christs bodie So is the cup the new Testament The new Testament is the promise of saluation made to all beleuers in Christ Therefore the eating of Christs bodie is spirituall and so sayth Saint Paul 1. Cor. 10 1 2 3 4. This forme order of the Lords Supper we ought to hold wholy to keepe for the remembrance of his death and benefites till he come againe at the end of the world to iudgement THis holy sacrament is a distributing The holy Sacrament what it is wherefore ordeined of sanctified bread and wine in the assembly of the faithfull according to the commandement of Christ To testifie that hee hath deliuered his bodie to death and shedde his blood for our redemption The visible signes of the Lords supper are bread wine The things signified is the breaking of Christs body by the separation of his soule from his body and the shedding of his blood for our redemptioÌ„ And also our vnion with christ that Christ maketh the faithfull pertakers of his body blood as surely and verely as they receiue the saÌ„ctified bread and wine And that the remembraunce thereof with prayse and thankes vnto Christ for the same is vnto our soules Rom. 8 11 spirituall meate and nourishment and strengthening vnto our fayth So the inuisible grace in this Sacrament is Christ himselfe This holy Sacrament was instituted 1. Cor. 11. â—6 Suke 22 19. appointed to bee done of all the faithfull in remembrance of Christ his death and the benefites wee receyue thereby And that wee should publikely declare and confesse till hee come againe to iudge that all our trust for eternall life and saluation is in his death and merits Also this holy Sacrament is appointed Heb. 13. 15. 1. Cor. 10 31. Ephe. 5 20. Col. 3 17. to be a ceremonie of prayse thankesgiuing And that in celebrating it in our assemblies we doe with prayse and continuall thankes glorifie Christ and giue him thankes for his death and passion Further
The Principles of the true Christian religion breifelie selected out of manie good Bookes First reade and then iudge Ioh 17 2 3 3 16. The Godly ioye of a true Christian is to knowe the onely God in Christ So shall hee obtaine the eternall ioyfull life 1. Tim 4 8. Godlinesse is good vnto all thinges As a thing which hath promises in the life that is now And in the life to come 1590. ⧠To the Christian Reader EVery Christian ought to haue great care to ground him selfe in the principles of christian religion a 2. Tim 3. 16. 17. Acts 17. 11. 19. 28. Ioh 5. 39 Reue 3. 15. 16. Iam 1. 6. 7. 1. Pet 3. 15. 16. Vpon the sure rocke of the holie Scriptures that he bee not caried awaie with euery winde to a newe religion nor vnto hereticall opinions nor wauering in his faith b Mar 16. 16. Ioh 3. 18. 36. 12. 48. For except a man beleeue the Catholicke faith vndoubtedlie with an assured beleefe he cannot be saued c Act 17. 11. The consideration hereof maie stirre vppe euerie Christian to search the holie Scriptures to learne to knowe Christ and howe to attaine vnto saluation These thinges caused me to select and write this little booke for mine owne instruction Reade diligentlie this little booke â—â—d I doubte not you will acknowledge to haue receiued profite worth your paines Thus wishing the encrease of the knowledge of God to al people I commend you to his gratious protection Thine in the Lord. Swithunc Butterfeild Aprill 1590. The Principles of Christian Religion EVery Christian which desireth to attaine eternall life in heauen must knowe howe condemnation Rom 5. 18. 19. and sinne came on all men by the offence of our first father Adam from whom wee are all discended And therefore hee and his posteritie accursed And how that condemnation and curse Ioh 17. 2. 3. Rom 5. 18. 19. is put from vs and the ioyfull eternall life attained Onely by the mercye of God through faith in Iesus Christ our sauiour Mar 16. 16. Mat 16. 26. 27. Ephe 1. 4. 1. Pet 1. 15. 9. Ioh 3. 18. Therefore euerie Christian must know what hee must beleeue and howe to serue God Thereby to obtaine forgiuenes of all his sinnes in this life that hee may attaine vnto eternall life in heauen The faith in Iesus Christ which wee Ioh 17. 2. 3. Mat 22. 37. to 40. Gal 5. 14. must beleeue and the true seruing of God according to his holy will Is breifely comprised in the Creede The tenne commaundementes of almightie God the Lo 〈…〉 s prayer and the right vse of the holy Sacramentes so Religion consistes in faith and obedience The Creede teacheth what we must beleeue The tenne commaundementes sheweth vs our dutie towardes God and our dutie towardes our neighbour The Lordes prayer teacheth vs how we must praâ— and for what we must pray The holy Sacramentes are ordeined to be holy signes and assured tokens to vs of the mercy of God and forgiuenes of sinnes For the merites death and passion of Christ Iesus our sauiour These foure parts containeth faith which is the beleeuing of the Gospell The Law Praier and Sacramentes Or more shorter The Lawe and the Gospell Those articles of faith which wee must beleeue are these that followe Commonlie called the Apostles Creede The Creede I Beleeue in God the father almightye maker of heauen and earth All my hope trust and beleefe for al things I beleeue in God I shall neede either heauenly or earthly is in the same A onely very God that made the heauens and the earth B The father of our Lord Iesus Christ C and my father for Christ his sake For hee hath chosen all the faithful in Christ to bee his children And loueth them Who is so D almightie that hee made Almighty maker of heauen and earth the heauens and the earth and all thinges therein with his word And doth still so preserue rule and gouerne them that nothing happeneth in this world but by his determination will and foreknowledge It is God onely that giueth faire weather and foule weather plentye and all things else as pleaseth him There is not any thing that happeneth to me in blessings or punishments but by the appointment and foreknowledge of almightie God Whereby I knowe that the deuill is not able to doe any hurt to me vntill God suffer him for my punishment and that only so farre as he giueth the deuell leaue The wicked spirites the wicked people and the wilde beasts are the messengers of God to execute his iudgementes and punishmentes C This almighty God is so wonderfull mighty and incomprehensible that my minde nor any man whatsoeuer is not able to conceiue what hee is But Christ hath taught vs that this our good God and father is a spirite a Of God Gen 1. Ioh 1 17 3. 1 Tim 2 5. 1. Cor 8 6. Eph 4 5 6. Deu 6 4. Ier 10 10 11 1 Tim 1 17. Ier 23 24. Ioh 4 24. b The father of Christ Iesus Math 1 18 20 3 17. Luk 1 32 35. Ioh 1 14. Rom 15 6. c And my father Rom 8 15 Gen 1 27 2 7 Ioh 1 12. Gal 4 6. Eph 1 5 6. Ioh 20 17 1 Ioh 3 1. Rom 5 8. D Ephe 1. Leui 26. Psal 89. 10. 91 His almighty prouidence so that nothing happeneth but by his appointment Heb 1. 3. Math 6. 31. c. Luke 21. 15. 1. Pet 5. 18. Pro 8. 15. Esay 3. 2. 1. Cor 2. 7. Ro 9. 20. Deu 11. 14. 15. 25. 32. 39. Ma. 10. 29. 30. 31. Psal 34. 7. Math 18 10. Gen 19. 22. 2. Sam 24. 1. Kings 22. 22. Math 8. 31. Iob 1. 7. 8. 12. Psal 104. 14. Acts 17. 25. c Iob 37. 5 38. 27. Exo. 21. 13. 2. Sam 17. Gen 45. 7. 8. Exod 3. 21. 4. 23. 20. Iudg 6. 7. 1 King 17 20. 22. 2. Kings 6. 7. Psal 34. 37. 127. 1. Cro 29. 11. 12. Dan 6. 22. Act. 12 Eze 14 9 Amos 3. 6. Psal 76. 2. Esay 3. 47. 5. Zach 8. 10. Esay 44. 24. 25. 45. 6. 7. Leui 19. 31. Deut 18. 10. 11. 12. Ier. 10. 2. 23. Pro 16. Eccle 11. 4. Deut 32. 39 Pro 20. 24. Act 17. 26. 27. 28. Exod 21. 13. Deut 19. 5. Iosua 11. 20. Ionas 1. 4. 1. King 12. 15. Iud 9. 23. 24. 1. Sam. 16. 14. 1. King 22. 21. 22. 2. Kin 17 26. 24. 3 2. Cor 4. 4. 1 Sam 2. 25. 2. King 7. Ier 43 11. 2. Thes 2. 9. 10. 11. Iob 1. 10. 12. Ro. 8 27. Esay 57. 1. 54. 16. Pro. 16. 3. 7. Iere. 42. 11. 12. â— Iere 23. 24. Acts 7. 48. 50. Ioh. 4. 24. What God iâ— 2 ANd in Iesus Christ his onely sonne our Lorde And I beleeue in Iesus Christ that hee And in
liued here on the earth vntil the thirtie three yeere of his age Hee hungred and thirsted slept and was werie of trauell Thereby shewing that hee was perfect man And also by his wonderfull miracles shewed him selfe to bee perfect God C Christ as concerning his diuine nature is very God he descended merueilously Iohn 1. 14. from heauen and yet his diuine nature left not heauen His diuine power and maiestie filled the whole worlde as God And where it is said the word was made fleshe that is to bee vnderstoode That Christ vnited and ioyned the manhoode to the Godheade So as the Godhead had his seuerall propertie and was not infused or turned into fleshe nor mingled with the bodie but had his seate in the manhoode As my soule hath in my bodie For my soule is not my body nor my body is not my soule But either of them haue their seuerall properties remaining So is Christ one God in substance with the father and the holy ghost And perfecte man also as I am in all thinges sinne excepted It was his wil to be merueilously conceiued in the virgins wombe and to dwell in her wombe for a time and of her to be borne and to be conuersant heere on earth vntill the thirty three yeere And so was the sonne of God as begotten of the father almightie and the sonne of man and seede of Abraham by being borne and nourished in the wombe of the holy Virgin Sainte Marie a Christ Iesus was conceiued by the holy Ghost Math 1 18. Luke 1 35. Ioh. 1 14. b Christ is the seed of the woman and of Abraham in whom we are blessed And is very man Gen 3 15 22 18. Esay 7 14. Ma. 1 18. Luke 1 31 2 7. Acts 3 25. Gal 3 8 4 4. 5. Gen 12 3 18 18. Ioh 4 6. Mat 4 2. Luke 2 40 19 41. c Christ is very God and very man vnited together Ioh 1. 10 8 42 17 5 21 10. 30 Rom 1 4 9 5. Heb 1 3 5 8. Col 1 13 2 9 Math 3. 17. Ephe. 4 9 10. Math 28 20. HE suffered vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried A Christ suffered vnder Pontius Pilate He suffered vnder Pontius Pilate when hee was gouernour ouer the Iewes in Iurie Christ then suffered his manhood to be most wickedly betrayed by Iudas his own disciple and to be most falsely and malitiously accused by the Iewes condemned and scourged with other vile abuses And finally suffered his manhode or mans nature To be put to death on the crosse as a malefactor Because it was so appointed by God from the beginning of the world that the same manhoode or mans nature should be put to death and suffer those iniuries for a sacrifice and redemption for the sins of all the world Christ was crucified hee in all his lyfe Was crucified time heere on the earth suffered paine and greife for our sinnes Christ yeelded himselfe in our place and steed to satisfie God his father for our sins and by his death and extreame torments he appeased the wrath of God towardes vs and reconciled vs to God and so by his death hath deliuered vs from the tiranny of the deuill and from eternall death if wee beleeue in him God was displeased with vs for the offence of our first father Adam and in his iustice he would not leaue that sinne vnpunished euen to Adams whole posteritie For that we were not able to satisfie his wrath therefore Christ Iesus came pure and innocent and obeyed God his father in all thinges and fulfilled the lawe and suffered his manhoode to bee put to a vile death on the crosse that his obedience and death might bee a raunsome for our sins to God his father And that the sinnes of all that truely beleeue and trust in him might be laid vpon him and forgiuen them And so by faith in Christ Iesus and trust in Gods mercie for his sake we are absolued obteine remission of our sinnes and be reconciled to God ANd buried A Christ his manhood being dead was And buried buried after the common maner of men And his bodie lay in the graue till his resurrection The stone ouer the graue where Christ was buried vntill his resurrection was kept with souldiers whereby appeareth euident the very death of his manhoode and the separation of his soule from his body And so by his death the mysterie of our redemption was accomplished the wrath and anger of God appeased and peace made betweene God and vs. Our redemption dependeth wholy of the death of the manhood of Christ for the ransome for our sinnes is his death and passion A Mat 27 24 c Luk. 23 Iohn 19. Christ suffred his manhood to be put to death for to be a sacrifice attonemēt for the sinnes of all the elect and faithfull Acts 2 23 4. 27 28. Luk. 24 26. 2. Cor. 15 18 c. Ephe. 2 16. Col. 1 20. Esay 53 Gal. 3 13 14 4. 4 5. Deu. 21 23. Gal. 1 4. Eph. 1 2. 11. c. Col. 1 2. 1. Pe. 2. 24. 3 18. 4 1. Ro. 5 8 c. Heb. 2 14 15 7 24 c. 9 11 c. 10. 12 c. Ro. 8 1 2 33 34. 1. Ioh. 1 7. Apo. 1 5. 1. Tim. 2 5. 2. Tim. 1 9 10. 1. Iohn 2 1 2 4. 10 Ioh. 3 16. 6 51. Rom. 1 16. 17 3 24 25. Act. 4 10 12 5 31 10 43. 1. Cor. 15 3. Mar. 10. 45. b Christ his manhoode being dead was buried Mat. 27. 5 7 c. Mar. 15 43. c. Lu. 23 52 53. Ioh. 19 40 41. Mat. 12 40 Act. 13 29. 1. Cor. 15 4. Lu. 22 37. Ioh. 20 31. HE descended into hell A Christ suffered for me all mankind He descended into hell in his soule and manhood The paines and torments of hel which is due vnto the wicked therby to redeeme me and all those that beleeue in him from hell and from the eternal death Also he suffred the punishment due to our bodies and soules both by death of his manhood and by the torments and anguish of his soule B Christ by his death hath vāquished and ouercome the deuil sinne death And by the vertue of his death he stroke a great terror into the deuils wicked wherby they knew that christ in his māhood hath vāquished ouercom them a Christ his sufferings and torments Esa 53 6 10 Mat. 26 38. 27 46 50 Luk. 22 42 44. Ioh. 12. 27. Luk. 23 43 46. Mat. 12 40. Lu 11. 29 30 Act. 2 31. Ps 19 10. ◠Hebr 2. 14. 15. Col 2. 15. 1. Cor 15. 24 25. 1. Pet 3. 18 19. 20. 2. Tim 1. 9. 10. THe third day hee rose againe from the deade A Christ the third day after his death The third day
effect of this prayer In the first petition the Lord commandeth vs to desire the true knowledge and worship of God In the second That God woulde gouerne vs with his spirite and so continually preserue and confirme vs in this knowledge In the thirde That euery of vs by the helpe of his holy spirite and gouernment may doe and fulfill our duetie in our vocation that we may doe nothing against his will In the fourth That God would giue vs corporall blessings whereby euery of vs may doe his duetie In the fift That he would giue vs spirituall blessings in forgiuing vs our sinnes In the sixt and last That wee may bee vpholden by his grace that thereby we may bee deliuered from all euill And that so wee may bee able to hallow prayse and glorifie his name through Christ our Lord and Sauiour Before hath bene declared three parts of Religion fayth the lawe and praier nowe followeth the last part which is Sacraments Of Sacraments THe Sacraments which Mat. 28. 19. 20. Mark 16 16. Luk. 22. 19. 20. are to be vsed of vs Christians are onely those which our sauiour Christ did institute and command vs to vse Which are only twoo Baptisme and the Lords Supper which we commonly call the holy Communion These two Sacraments Baptisme and the holy Communion are holy signes ordeyned Gen. 17. 11. Rom. 4. 11. Exod. 12. 14. to be assured tokens and testimonies to me and all the faythfull of the mercie of God and forgiuenesse of sinnes for the merits death and passion of Christ Iesus my sauiour And with those holy Sacraments I receyue such grace and vertue from Christ the which my tongue cannot expresse And the holy Ghost by them doeth moue my heart to beleeue A Sacrament is a testimonie of Gods A Sacrament what it is fauour towardes vs confirmed by an outward signe Or a visible signe of inuisible grace There are three thinges in a Sacrament The first is the visible signe as in Baptisme water and in the holy Communion bread and wine The seconde is the wordes of the Lords ordinance And the third is The thing signified by them The thing signified is Christ for he is the substance of all Sacraments and they doe promise nothing without him For by Christ is the mercie of God and saluation giuen vnto vs. Our Sauiour Christ for the strengthening of our fayth hath ordeyned the preaching of the Gospell And for the further encreasing and confirming of our fayth hath instituted and left to be vsed of vs for euer so long as wee are in this world the twoo Sacraments aforesayde Baptisme and the holy Communion to be testimonies of his grace and saluation These are called the Sacraments of the newe Testament because Christ did institute them and left them to be vsed of all Christians And none other are to be vsed of vs as Sacraments but those onely The vse of our Sacraments are to be Why the Sacraments were ordeyned signes and testimonies of the eternal couenant of remission of sinnes or promise of saluation which God hath made to the faythfull in Christ And also serue to confirme our fayth for that they set before our eyes the good will of our heauenly father and leade vs vnto Christ to seeke our saluation onely in and by him And further by receyuing them wee testifie our profession before men that wee are Christians not Infidels Acts 10 47. And by them wee binde our selues to God to followe godlinesse in fayth and Rom. 6 3 4. Ephe 4 3 to 7. charitie and yeelde vnto God obedience prayse and thankes for our redemprion And in giuing vs these visible signes God testifyeth his benefites towardes vs. The Sacramentes before Christ Gen. 17 4 7 10 21. 1 Cor. 10 1 2 3 4. testified that Christ shoulde come for without Christ none was nor neuer shall be saued And the Sacraments which Christ hath left vs testifie that Christ is Mat. 28 19 20 1 Cor. â—1 26. come and are to vs signes of the couenant of saluation as aforesaid Christ teacheth and instructeth vs with his worde then strengtheneth our fayth with sacraments and by his holy spirite he openeth our hearts to receyue the word and sacraments which otherwise would nothing moue our inwarde parts So without the worke of the holy Ghost the sacraments doe nothing at all profite vs. It is the spirite of God which is the authour of the encrease of our fayth The office of the sacraments The office of the SacrameÌ„ts is to set forth Christ vnto vs and in him the treasures of heauenly grace And to confirme our fayth in setting before our eyes the good will of our heauenly father And by the healthfull working of the holy Ghost the faythfull do receyue with the sacraments such grace and vertue from Christ our sauiour the which we are not able to expresse And so that Note most learned man master Caluin writeth in his booke of institutions If any man aske me saith M Caluin what maner of presence of Christ is in the Lords supper I wil not be ashamed to confesse that it is a higher secret then that it can be either comprehended with my wit or vttered with my wordes And to speake it more plainly I rather feele it then I can vnderstand it Therefore I do here embrace the truth of God wherein I may safely rest With the holy sacraments Christ with his spirit discendeth to the faithful that he may truely quicken their soules Gal. 2. 20. Ephe. 3. 17. 2. Cor. 13. 5. 1. Cor. 6. 15 17. 19. 12. 13. Rom 8 9. 12 5. 1. Cor. 10. 17. Ephe. 5. 30. and dwell in them and they in him and they vnited to him and made members of his bodie he being their head and also members one of another by the wonderfull working of the holy Ghost This secret vniting of Christ with the godly is by nature impossible to bee comprehended For our instruction herein beholde Note the Sùnne shining forth his beames on the earth how it is one thing in the firmament yet all the worlde and euery thing is nourished and comforted with the light and heate thereof Much more and more then may bee expressed with our tongues or coÌ„ceyued in our minds doth the extending beames of the spirite of Christ discende to the faythfull to quicken comfort and defend them with the grace vertue and power that commeth from the bodie of our sauiour Christ Iesus whereby they hate the deuill and sinne and ouercome them Albeit the faythfull receyue the benefites Iohn 3. 18. 1. Pet. 3. 21. Acts 8. 13. 18. 20. 21. Ioh. 1 33 Rom 2. 29. 1. Cor. 10. 4 5. aforesayde with the holy Sacraments yet there is no such secret power knit and fastned to the Sacraments that they may of themselues giue vs the graces of the holy ghost The Sacraments doe not profite vs vnlesse the holy ghost ioyne with them
for it is the holy ghost that encreaseth and strengtheneth our fayth and maketh the Sacraments to bring forth fruit in vs. We doe not denie but Christ himselfe Matth. 28. 20. with the power of his spirit is present at the administration of the holye Sacraments and the grace of God is there truely present to our fayth when we receyue them Neuerthelesse the inwarde grace of the spirite is seuered from the outward ministerie And the Sacraments doe not profite but being receyued by fayth All that are baptised haue not the spirite of Christ Simon Magus was baptised Acts 8. 13. 18 to 25. by Philip the Apostle but had not the grace of the holy ghost he confessed the truth yet was not regenerate by the holy ghost So Baptisme and the Lords supper may be receyued without the holy ghost Albeit God inwardly worketh by the holy ghost that which the Sacraments testifie Hee that despiseth the holy sacraments and willingly doth forbeare the Gen. 17 13 14. Luke 14 24. Mar. 8 38. vse of them as though he needed them not he is not to bee accounted any of Gods people And also thereby he refuseth the grace of Christ But he that receyueth Iohn 3 16. 17 20 c. them in fayth and repentance vnto him the holy Sacraments seale and confirme most assuredly the promise of 1. Iohn 2 3 Rom. 3 25. 5 9 2. cor 5 21. Gal 3 1â— heb 9 14. 10 10. Col 1 14. grace and forgiuenesse of sinnes and that he shall bee partaker of Christ and his benefites and dwell with him in heauen for euer Of Baptisme BAptisme is a holy signe and an assured Mark 16 16. Tit. 3 5. Gal 3 27. 1. Cor. 12 13. token to mee that my sinnes are forgiuen mee for Christ his sake and that I am receyued into the holy Church as a member of the same and vnited vnto Christ by the speciall working of the holy Ghost Baptisme hath the promise of forgiuenesse Matt. 28 19. Mark 16 16. Rom. 6 3. Tit. 3 5. 1. Pet 3 21. of sinnes and saluation annexed to it that euery one which beleeueth and is baptised shall be saued And in Baptisme wee are renued by the holye Ghost whereby our euill inclinations are chaunged into good that wee haue thereby an hatred of sinne In Baptisme the offence and punishment Gal. 3 27. Ephe. 5 26. Tit. 3 5. 1. Pet. 3 21. of our sinne is taken away Neuerthelesse the corruption or inclination to sinne remayneth in vs which maketh euery one of vs subiect to sinne and alwayes to neede the mercie of God and 1. Iohn 1 8 9 10 forgiuenesse of sinnes Baptisme is a ceremonie or outwarde What Baptism is and wherefore it was ordeyned signe instituted by Christ being washed with water in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost Whereby Christ testifyeth 1. Iohn 1 7. Ephe. 5. 26. to vs that wee are cleansed from our sinnes by his blood And Baptisme is also a solemne signe of our receyuing into the holy Church and the marke whereby Christians are knowne from Infidels Also it is the Sacrament Acts 2 38. of Christian profession for by my receyuing of Baptisme I do professe 2. Cor. 5 17. Rom. 6 3 4. to liue a Christian to beleeue trust for my saluation all things else which I shall neede onely in the name of the father the sonne and the holy ghost three persons and one true and euerlasting God And I doe thereby solemnly binde my selfe to Christ to keepe his commaundements to my power and to beleeue and trust in his merits death and passion for my saluation And so by Acts 22. 16. 15 9. Mar. 16 16. Tit. 3. 5. fayth in Christ I am sanctified by the spirite vnto eternall life The visible signe in Baptisme is water with which the person baptised is washed The spirituall and inuisible grace is 1. Cor. 6 1 1. Tit. 3. 5. forgiuenesse of sinnes and the renuing by the holy ghost After our Baptisme Christ with his grace by the working of the holy ghost doeth regenerate and frame the faithfull to newnesse of life by fayth and repentance so long as they liue here in this worlde whereby they hate sinne and the deuill and in the end ouercome them To be baptised in the name of the father the sonne and the holy ghost signifieth into the Religion profession and grace of the father the sonne and the holy ghost Baptisme is the solemne receyuing of vs into the holy Church and into Gods fauour therefore euery of vs are but once baptised in our whole life Although our baptisme doe require Baptisme of infants fayth and repentance yet the Baptisme of infants doth very well agree with the institution of Christ and the nature of the signe For the signes consist not in the outward ceremonies but principally Acts 2. 39. Gal. 3 7. 29. Gen. 17 7. 1. Cor. 12. 13. depende vppon the promise of saluation which belong also to the children of the faythfull and wee and our children by baptisme enter into the profession of God that we may be reckoned his people Also Baptisme hath the same office with vs as Circumcision had with the Iewes And God commanded the Iewes to circumcise their infants Infants Mat. 19 14. 15. mar 10. 14. 15. 16. Gal. 3. 29. are partakers of Christ and heyres by promise Therefore are not to be debarred from baptisme The children of Christians are accounted holy although they bee the 1. Cor 7 14. issue but of one faythfull parent Therefore the childe of a Christian may bee baptised The Prophet Ieremie and saint Iohn Baptist were sanctified in Iere. 1 5. Luke 1 15. their mothers wombes whereby plainly appeareth saluation is according to Gods election albeit the infant were Tit. 3. 5. 2 Thes 2. 13 neuer baptised God hath chosen vs before the foundation of the worlde So then saluation is not in him that willeth Ephe. 1. 4. Rom. 9 16 nor in him that runneth but in God that sheweth mercie Of the holy Communion THe holy Communion I receyue in remembraunce Luke 22. 19 20 1. Cor. 11 24. 25 26. Rom. 4 25. that Christ dyed for my sinnes and rose againe to giue mee and all the faythfull eternall life And in this holy Sacrament receyuing the same in true fayth and repentaunce I receyue by the 1. Cor. 13 2 3. working of the holy Ghost grace and vertue from heauen from the verie bodie and blood of our Sauiour Iesus Christ for out 1. Cor. 10 3 4 16 17. gal 2 20 Iohn 6 51 c. of the substance of his flesh he giueth life to my soule and the holy Ghost doeth thereby nourish my heart to beleeue faythfully in Christ his death and merits for my saluation and dwelleth in mee and vniteth mee vnto Christ And also maketh mee