more that Lot was threatned the sooner hee was rescued The more that Ioseph was imprisoned the sooner to a kingdome he was exalted The more Moses the children were perplexed the sooner the red sea gaue place for their deliuerance The more bitterer was Christs passion the sweeter and firmer was our saluation Therefore to conclude he that will raigne with Christ must suffer with Christ for by and through many tribulations wee must enter into the kingdome of heauen To the which God of his mercy for Christes sake bring vs all Amen A prayer of the Author of the Booke O Lord God father of my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ who preserueth al men by the grace and gift of thy holy spirit giue mee grace O mercifull father from the bottome of my hart to looke vnto the greeuousnesse of my owne sinne which euer condemneth me before thy Maiestie that I may not of my selfe presume to instruct others and forget to examine my selfe vnto ameÌ„dment of my life then learne to instruct other in thy lawe according vnto thy will and my bounden duetie because thou hast commaunded in thy holy word that after thou hast instructed vs we shoulde instruct others and not hide the tallent which is giuen vs nor yet quench thy holy spirit in vs. Graunt this O most mercifull father for thy sonnes sake our onely Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ to whome be all honour and glory for euer Amen ¶ A Dialogue of diuerse Quections demanded of the children to their father very necessary and profitable both for children and parents masters and seruants The youngest sonnes Question AFter that one of my Children had read a Chapter vnto me at supper out of the Actes of the Apostles my youngest sonne after supper sitting by the fire asked this question father sayth he what is God The fathers Answere My sonne all the wisest Philosophers that euer were could neuer yet coÌ„prehend or resolue this question the cause was they neuer searched to know him by his holy word but by their owne naturall wisedome by which wisedome it is vnpossible to please God or know him for God hath reuealed himselfe vnto vs in his holy word although S. Paul sayth God hath reuealed himselfe vnto vs by his creatures which are the heauens and earth and all things therein contayned By which they knowe there is a God but yet neither Philosopher nor any other can tel what God is but by his holy word In which he reuealeth himselfe vnto vs what he hath doone for vs and howe he hath so loued vs before wée were that he hath created all things for vs hath also giuen vs his deare only sonne Iesus Christ who beyng verie God equall with his father came downe from heauen and disdayned not the Virgins wombe and there tooke our nature on him and was made man in all points as we are onely sinne excepted and in our naturall fleshe was obedient euen vnto the very death of the Crosse wherin he suffered for vs the very paynes of hell both in soule and body was dead buried and rose againe the third day to iustifie vs and after fortie dayes he did ascend into heauen whence he came there he will sit vntill the day of iudgement hauing all power both in heauen and earth which is ment by sitting at Gods right hand And then he wil come and be our ioyfull iudge but vntill then he will be with vs in spirit and power by which spirit we haue reuelation knowledge of him and what God is And without this spirit it is vnpossible to vnderstand his holy will that is reuealed in his holy word which holy spirit is the holy Ghost which holy Ghost is the vertue and power of God procéeding from the father and the sonne the third person in the trinitie which three persons is but one God which God is almightie vnmeasurable incomprehensible and without all mens capacitie and wisedome For he is a spirit and therefore they that will worship him must worshippe and serue him in spirit and trueth â—m 18. â— 1.16 〈◊〉 6.16 for otherwise he is incomprehensible he is Alpha and Omega that is he is the first and the last without beginning or ende for no man hath séene God at any time vnto whom be all honour Amen Another sonnes Question Father you say that S. Iohn saith that no man hath seene God at any time I pray you tell vs then why God is pictured in forme like an olde man with a long white beard sitting in a golden chaire how can that be except he hath beene seene of some man The fathers aunswere My sonne I say that God is neyther olde nor young neither can any place containe him for hee filleth all places both in heauen and earth and the Sea and therefore he is euerywhere for heauen is his seate and earth is his footestoole and therefore he must haue a very great chaire to containe him Therefore such as dare presume to paint or picture him in any proportion dooth commit great and horrible blasphemie and are cursed of God himselfe Much lesse like an olde man with a long white Beard for that is the weakest sort of men But how can or dare any creature make his Creator Oh horrible execrable damnable vile presumptuous cursed wretch that dare presume to violate and breake Gods holy precept forbidden expressely in the first table and the seconde verse Good children beware of such horrible Papisticall blasphemies Another Question of the sonne Father I heard you once say that there was a man in Bridewell that affirmed by Scripture that it was not lawfull to feare God but to loue him Must we not feare God but loue him The fathers aunswere In déede there was a vile fellowe in Bridewel that affirmed out of the scriptures first out of the seconde Chap. of S. Luke the 17. verse out of the song of Zacharias in these wordes that we being deliuered out of the handes of our enemies might serue him without feare all the dayes of our life but this feare is not meant towarde God but it is that wee shoulde not feare Gods rigor and iustice that he scourgeth the wicked withall but loue him as a father neyther yet feare what the wicked can doo vnto vs in all their extremities or malice neither yet feare any of theyr threates scornes scoffes persecutions or tortures whatsoeuer but because God hath deliuered vs out of the handes of our enemies we shoulde serue him without feare all the dayes of our life not cast off our louing feare of our good God that hath deliuered vs out of the handes of the deuill hell and damnation for euer Who woulde not feare to displease such a good God louing father also diuers scriptures are our warrant against this presumptuous villaine for God promiseth great blessings vnto all such as feare him As for example in the booke of Moses it is set downe howe God loueth
his owne children that feare him as the wordes of the thrée men or Angels affirmeth when they vsed these words vnto Abraham Shall God say they hyde any thing from Abraham because he and all his house feare him Also Iosua or Iesus the Captaine that conducted the children of Israell after Moses vsed these words vnto them Deo you sayth he what you wyll but I and all my house wil serue and feare the Lord. Also the holy Prophet Dauid hath these warrants throughout all his Psalmes to feare God as first in the 2. Psalme verse 11. Commaunding saith sée that yée serue the Lorde in trembling and in feare Also in the 25. Psalme verse 3. They that feare the Lorde shall knowe his secrets And in the 34. Psalme vet 9.10 Feare the Lord hys holy ones for they that feare him shall lacke no good blessing And againe Come néers my children and I shall teach you howe to feare the Lord. And in the 128. Psa The holy ghost pronounceth thē blessed that feare the Lord. Also in the first Chapter of Salomons Prouerbs verse .7 The holy Ghost sayth That the feare of the Lord is the beginning of wisedome And Eccl. in his 4. Chap. ver 13. saith that a poore child which feareth God is better then a king that doteth Thus you proued by warrants of scripture the way to feare God Yet this wretch forgeth other places out of the scripture like the deuill for his purpose As out of the 8 Chap to Ro. 25. ver in these words yee haue not rescued that spirit of bondage that ye sholde feare any more but the villaine abuseth the text corruptly for the Apostle meaneth no such thing but that we shoulde not feare condemnation nor wauer or dispayre as the Papists teacheth vs to make vs dwell in bondage and feare of our saluation in Christes merits onely but to be euer in doubt dispayre which pestilent doctrine maketh thousandes to feare God and not loue him Feare not him that can kyl the body but feare him which can kill both soule and body The sonnes fourth Question Good father who are those that feare God and not loue him are there any such I pray you discribe who they be The fathers aunswere All they are those which binde themselues to the obseruation of Gods lawes and the popish ceremonies and thinke except they obserue and kéepe them they are damned for euer And when they sée that they are not able to kéepe them thē they liue in seruile feare of God and his Lawes wyshing that there were neyther God lawes nor precept These I say are those that feare God not loue him for they haue receiued the spirite of bondage that S. Paule speaketh of in his 8. Chap. to the Rom. which carnall spirit maketh them dwell euer in feare of hell and damnation and yet toyle and moyle themselues to obscure the lawe of God by their own righteousnes merits and by theyr hipocriticall ceremonies of ciuil life These I say feare God as the wicked feare the magistrates lawes of this land for they rather cursse them thē loue thē such a seruile feare haue the ignorant Athists the meritmongers the papists the double harted protestants for they feare Gods law his iudgemēt for feare of damnatiō but they loue him not Euen as the wicked feare the Prince her laws for feare of Tiborn but they loue her and her lawes as well as they loue Tyborne and all this is because the haue neither true faith true loue nor true feare of God or Prince And therefore are they neuer able to vnderstande or make any true destinctiō either of Gods lawe beléefe gospell sacrament or praier to satisfy them selues or any other in affliction but desperately voyde of all swéete ioies of heauenly comfort and consolation for euer without regeneration The sonnes 5. Question Father you sayde that no man is able to keepe and fulfill Gods commaundements VVhy should God Giue such a lawe that no man is able to keepe and yet you say if that wee doo not fulfill and keepe them we shall all be damned for euer The fathers ansvvere My sonne marke what I say God that made the law made it as he is him selfe that is iust righteous and holy and so made he man also at his first creation iust righteous and holy And so made God Adam like himselfe and then able to kéepe and performe the whole lawe Therefore man must of force séeke and practise all the meanes and wayes possible how to fulfill and kéepe the same lawe in euery poynt and title which we may by his grace working in vs bee made able to doo in some measure but yet not so perfectly by the entring in iudgement with vs he may iustly condemne vs but he will not haue any to-be saued otherwise then by mercy offered in his sonne Christ and obtayned by faith in him The sonnes 6. question or obiection Howe is it possible because you say that no man is able to keepe and fulfill it much lesse in euery poynt and title The fathers aunswer That which man is not able to doo by reason of hys fall God hath so loued vs before Adams fall that he did prouide for vs in his mercy and grace A man euen God and man Iesus Christe his onely sonne who came downe from heauen from God his father and disdayned not to be inclosed in that Virgins wombe and there was made man by the power of the holy ghost in all points as we are onely sinne excepted and in our flesh and nature suffered his passion on the Crosse for vs and on it suffered the very paines and torments of hell vnto bitter death and was buried by which death and passion he hath fully accomplished our saluation and also fulfilled the whole lawe in euery point and title and also appeased Gods wrath and vanquished the deuill hell and damnation and set open the gates of heauen for al faithful beléeuers and brought vs into fauour againe with God his and our faithfull father and is ascended into heauen where hee sitteth and hath all power bothe in heauen and earth and there is our daily mediatour vnto God his and our father for vs vntill he shall come againe to be our ioyfull Iudge but yet we must striue and practise daily to fulfill to the vttermost of our power Gods holy will and commandements The sonnes 7. Question or obiection How is it possible except you can describe vs some meanes or way to practise it good deere father direct vs. The fathers aunswere By these fiue steppes or degrées which if you can keepe vnto the ende you shal kéepe Gods commandements to please him although not fulfilled it for that Christ hath doone already Which steppes are these first to heare the word of God diligently reuerently and louingly Secondly to learne it simply faithfully obediently Thirdly to vnderstand it humbly spiritually and truely Fourthly to practise it holily constantly and
righteously Fiftly and lastly to perseuer daily hourely and vnto our liues ende most triumphantly and by these fiue steps or degrées you may practise to keepe the whole decalog and will of God The sonnes 8. Question or request I pray you discribe vnto vs the true sence meaning of the Law decaloge or precept in a breefe some or expositioÌ„ The fathers description or exposition It is set downe by Moses as he receiued it from God in the Mount Sinai and he receiued it into two Tables and in 10. verses or precepts it is expressed and in the first Table is sette downe 4. precepts and in the second Table is written 6. precepts in which first table is set downe our duety toward God in the 4. first verses and in the seconde table our duety towards our neighbour for in the first table we are taught in the 4. first precepts to haue none other Gods but God onely Secondly not to reuerence or worship any thing in heauen or earth And thirdly not to abuse Gods holye name in any exercise And fourthly wee are commaunded straightle to remember to keepe holy the Lordes day And in the second table in the 6. precepts wee are commaunded in the first precept and fift commaundement for to honour our Parents Princes and Magistrates And the sixt commaundement forbiddeth murder The 7. forbiddeth adulterie The 8. forbiddeth theft The 9. forbiddeth periury and false witnes against thy neighbour And the 10. and last coÌ„maundement forbiddeth couetousnesse extortion vsury or any thing that shall preiudice thy neighbour So that in the first table practised is séene our loue holinesse faith and zeale towards God Euen so by our indeuour of the second Table is also séene our loue mercy faith and fidelity towardes our poore neighbours and brethren The summe and fulfilling of the whole lawe of God is first to loue God aboue all things whatsoeuer which is the fulfilling of the foure first preceps of the first Table And the second is to loue our neighbours brethren as our selues which is the fulfilling of the sixe last precepts in the second Table that is to liue in righteousnes all the dayes of our life which power the Lorde God graunt vs for Christes sake The sonnes 9. Question Because the scripture sayth that no man by the deedes of the Lawe can merite saluation How then is it possible to be certaine and sure of our saluation seeing we are bound to keepe the whole Lawe The fathers answere I haue sayd before that which naturall men cannot doo our Christ which is both God and man hath by his precious death and passion fully accomplished but yet we must doo our indeuour and good-will to practise his commaundement vnto the vttermost of our power And therfore the surest wae for vs is to take fast holde of Christ by a sure firme fath c. The sonnes 10. Question But what faith is that I pray you describe vnto my mother and vs the true sence and meaning thereof The fathers aunswer It is our beléefe Apostolicall commonly called the Créede of the Apostles As we say dayly I beléeue in God c. which Créede or beléefe is set downe in 12. Articles which 12. Articles are deuided into foure partes and in the first parte we confesse God our father to be almighty and the onely maker of heauen earth and in the seconde parte we doo also confesse Iesus Christ to be the onely sonne of God and the second person in the trinity who being equall with God hys and our father came downe from heauen vnto vs in earth and héere was inclosed in the virgines wombe there was made man in all poynts as we are only sinne excepted by the power of the holy ghost and was borne of the Virgin Mary in Bethlem in a stable betwéene an Oxe and an Asse cradled in a maunger or Crach and after he had liued obediently with his Mother the Virgin and his supposed father Ioseph at twelue yéeres of his age he did dispute with the mighty doctors in the middest of the Temple of Ierusalem and there expounded the scriptures and all that heard him wondred at his gratious spéeches and at the age of 30. yeeres was baptised of Iohn in Iordayne and then went into the wildernes and was tempted 3. times of the deuill and then came to Ierusalem méekly ryding on an Asse and there was receiued of men and children with hosanna confessing him king of Israell and the sonne of the highest and there hee whypped out of the Temple the buyers and sellers and money chaungers and after he hadde reprooued the Scribes and Pharises and taught the Scripture vnto hys Disciples hee was Iudasly solde vnto the Scribes and Pharises mocked reuiled scorged buffeted condemned of Pilate crowned with thornes crucified on the Crosse betwene two theeues and accurssed of God hys father and dyd suffer on the Crosse the very paynes of hell bothe in bodye and soule for thée and me was dead and buryed for thée and me and the third day he rose againe to iustifie thee and mee And after forty daies when hee hao accomplished his fathers wyll in the sight of all his Apostles and many other hee did ascend vp into heauen where he sits and there he shall remaine vntill the day of iudgement where he maketh continuall intercession vnto God our Father for thée and mée who hath all power bothe in heauen and earth to helpe thée and me and will surely come againe the last day in power and glory and be a ioyfull Iudge for thée and mée This is the sum of the second part of our beléefe and in the third part of our beléefe we beléeue in the holy ghost that he is the third person in the trinitie equall with the father and the sonne and that he is the vertue and power of God procéeding both from the father and the sonne and also the Illuminator of hys elect yea â—â—d the sanctifier and preseruer of all hys saints the holy Church of God And in the fourth part of our beléefe wee beléeue and confesse the communion of saintes to be all those which beléeue that Iesus Christ is the their onely mediator and sauiour which communion of saints we beleeue is the vniuersall Church of Christe dyspersed throughout all the world commoÌ„ly called the Catholike Church dispersed héere and there vppon the face of the whole earth of which comyany Iesus Christ is the head and not the Pope which head will not lose one of his elect for we are as déere vnto him as the apple of his eye although we be héere contemned dispised derided and tormented yet our firme faith and beléefe is that our sinnes are forgiuen vs onely by our redéemer and mediator Iesu Christes merits and that our bodies and soules shal be at the ioyfull day of iudgement triumphantly with him in heauen for euer and euer and this is the whole summe of our faith But this fayth is not mans
fantasie or dreame nor the holy papists formed faith nor the Athistes frozen faith nor yet any euill faith nor an hereticall fayth but a full and firme assuraunce of saluation grounded and founded vpon the promises made in the beloued mediator Iesus Christ The sonnes 11. Question Is there any that professeth any other fayth but this which you haue alreadye described I pray you good father let vs vnderstand who they be and what they are The fathers aunsvvere Yea there is an Historical faith which the deuils Athists Epicures and all belly Gods haue that is they doo beléeue that there is a God and that the Scriptures be true and also feare and tremble but they neuer practise to doo hys wyll neither yet loue they God nor hys holie worde but they loue theyr owne pleasure and bellyes more then God therefore they shall be saued with the deuils for theyr counterfaite hypocriticall holy and euill life will not ferue There is also the Scribes Pharises and Fryers and Papists formed frozen faith which teache men that by their merits cerimonies and holye seruice that they shall escape Purgatorye and deserue heauen And so they shall as soone as the Athist Epicure bellye Gods and deuils There is yet an other sort of people that perswade themselues they haue a great faith and think that they are highly in Gods fauoure because they can make great spéeche of scripture and vse great grauity so that Butter would not séeme to melt in theyr mouthes before such as are the principall Preachers and wyll inuite them home to theyr house to cloake theyr holy hypocrisy but let a poore professor méete any of these and salute them then they wyll looke so lofty with their eye leddes and speake so strangely as though they had neuer séene or knowne them and yet of theyr olde familiar acquaintance But let a poore man make hys mone vnto them of hys néede then are they dry and altogether without any sappe of Christian loue and charity which showeth theyr hypocriticall fayth and infidelity these carnall Protestants are all one with vsurers I wyll not say Vsurers I wyll not say Leasemongers Extorcioners and proude prophane myserable merciles worldlings There is yet a simple sort of Protestants which thinke they are very religious but they are such as S. Paule speaketh off which are euer learning and yet ignoraunt asses and as proude as Pecocks All these wyll runne as fast to heauen as the Athists Epicures Papists and deuils these haue faith but without repentaunce of life it is but presumption which will bréede in the end repentaunce without fayth which bréedeth desperation from which the Lorde kéepe vs. There is also the Annabaptist and the pestilent Famelists fayth from which horrible secte good Lord of hys mercy deliuer vs all The sonnes 12. Question How shoulde one attaine vnto a sure and constant faith because you say that no ciuill lyuing can please God wythout a sure and constant fayth The fathers aunswere There is no meanes or way to attaine vnto such a faith but by frée grace from God through Iesus Christ our Lord and that onely by daily and faithful praiers vnto God our father for his onely sonnes sake and also for his holy spirite to instruct and teach vs howe to pray by none other prayer but that prayer which Christ hath taught vs in his holy Gospell which prayer soundeth thus Our father which art in heauen c. The sonnes .13 Question I pray you sir is this prayer to be deuided into parts as you haue done the commaundements and the beléefe The fathers aunswere Yea for it is deuided into .6 petitions .2 partes and in the first part is thrée petitions in the second part i◠other thrée and the first thrée petitions excelleth the thrée last as much as the firste table excelleth the second for in the thrée first petitions we craue of God all thinges necessary for our soules in the thrée last petitions we aske of God al things néedefull for our bodyes quietnesse of minde and preseruation from Sathan c. But as touching that preamble which soundeth thus Our father which art c That is none of the petitions The sonnes 14. Question What meane you by this word preamble is it not one of the .6 petitions as the rest are The fathers aunswere No it is no more but a faythfull and reuerent presentation of our selues vnto God our father in which humble faythfull salutation we acknowledge God to be our father and to be in heauē but as touching the first petition which soundeth thus hallowed be thy name in this we craue pray our good father that we may reuerence and with all our power honor sanctifie and kéepe holye his name that is that we abuse not his name by swearing by it in vayne neyther prophane it in any seruice or seremonie for that is sorcerie although the ignorant think they do god good seruice And as touching the .2 petition whiche soundeth thus thy kingdome come In this petition we craue of our good father that his kingdome may dwell with vs and raigne with vs which kingdome is his holie word all his heauenly gyftes graces therunto belonging in which petition we also pray that God woulde giue vs his holy spirite and power to withstand Sathan all his wiles for euer And in the .3 petition we craue of our louing father that we may haue power and grace to do his holye will in all our actions affections and conuersations in this life euen in earth as it is faythfully done in heauen In whiche .3 holy petitions we craue of our good God all thinges necessary for our soules As in the first table we are taught in the first foure preceptes And in the fourth petition which soundeth thus Giue vs this day our daylie bread In this petition we craue all thinges that is necessary for this life whatsoeuer In which also is concluded all thinges necessarye for this life both blessinges spirituall and blessinges temporall and that in any wise we abuse it not prodigally And in the fifth petition forgiue vs our offences as we do forgiue them that offende vs. In which prayer we aske vengance of God if we forgiue not one another therein also we showe our christian loue and chayity one towards an other yea our fayth and fidelitie And in the sixt and last petition whiche soundeth thus And leade vs not into temptation but delyuer vs from euyll In this Petition we craue of our Good Father that hee wyll not cast vs of from him to be tormented of the Diuell at his malicious will and so confounded for euer or giue vs ouer to our owne willes and pleasures but that we may by his mercifull protection be be preserued for euer In whiche thrée last petitions we craue all thinges necessary for our bodies and safetie fro◠sathan And as for the addition whiche soundeth thus For thine is the kingdome power
many thousands that are called christians pray at this day how desirous they are of all the worldly blessinges before heauenly and spirituall because they are vnregenerated and worldlyminded Vnto whome all thinges which they possesse are vncleane and cursed You haue hearde also who are those that feare God and not loue him euen suche I say that doth not knowe howe to honour God not how to serue him nor when they commit spirituall Idolatrie nor wheÌ„ they do abuse gods holy name nor when they prophane or abuse the Lordes day neyther yet knowe the great difference betwéene the first table and the seconde that is they knowe not holynesse from righteousnesse I saye gods right from mans weakenesse that is a true fayth froÌ„ mans workes which are corrupt actiue from profound passiue righteousnesse which is as great difference as is betwéene gods almighty maiestie and mans weake imbessilitie such I say that neyther knowe the articles of their fayth nor vnderstande what true beléefe is neyther yet knowe what prayer is nor do knowe howe to pray neyther yet know what a Sacrament is yet dare presume to saye that they are saued onely because they are baptised yet do lyue worse thâ—n Infidells yea dare presume to receyue the holy communion yet violate pollute the seales therof these are those which are a sléep yea dead yet aliue these are papistes Atheistes Epicures Earnall Protestants and all those wise wordly wisards whose kitching is their church and belly their God and all their glory euerlasting shame and confusion Oh Lorde reclayme them if it be thy will with thy loud cal or lure the preaching of thy Gospel that they may be brought into the tentes of Sem being yet rammish haughtie haggerdes descended from the vncleaÌ„e cage of Iaphet as some learned affirme the elder brother of Sem. Graunt this O God for Christes sake our onely Lorde and sauiour An other question of the sonne â—7 Father I haue heard you say manye times when you haue reproued manye that sweare by their fayth you haue sayd that they were as good sweare by the Trinitie the father the sonne and the holy Ghost Howe can that be doo wée sweare by them when we sweare by our fayth The fathers aunswere Yea is not your faith a stedfast beléefe in God the father the sonne and the holy Ghost And is it not the whole somm of our beliefe which we daylie confesse when we say I beléeue in God the father almightie and in Iesus Christ his onely sonne our Lorde and the holye Ghost c. Do you not then sweare by the Trinitie when you sweare by your beléefe whiche is the verye Christians fayth and is not your fayth a sure hope hold and confidence on and in the father the sonne and the holy Ghost by and through the merits and passion of christ Iesus with a sirme beléefe true and pure vnderstanding of his holy worde and Sacramentes vnto life euerlasting The wife and sonnes aunswere with an other Question Yes verily and so we now confesse and are fully resolued but nowe we praye you let vs vnderstand the sence or meaning of a Sacrament and what it is The fathers aunswere or difinition A Sacrament is when the holy word of God is ioyned with an element as in Baptisme the word is ioyned with the element water and in the Lordes supper the word is ioyned with elementes bread and wine the whith elementes and word ioyned together doth make the definition of a Sacrament and the meaning of a Sacrament is a true and visible signe of an inuisible grace that is the .3 Elements to be séene as the very water bread and wine is veryly present in our sight euen so that inuisible grace working in our harts by the spirite and power of God by faith althings necessary for our saluatioÌ„ by through Iesus Christ and they are also sure seales of the certaintie of our fayth The sonnes .19 Question We pray you sir whether do the Sacraments of them selues giue grace to the faithful receyuers or no We praye you certifie vs or ought we to worship them as God The fathers aunswere They neyther of them selues nor in them selues doth include or giue anye grace for it is the onely gift and worke of the holy Ghost neyther are they to be worshipped as God but we ought to eleuate or lift vp our hartes vnto Iesus Christ who is in heauen our onelye mediator and aduocate vnto God our father for vs and that onely by fayth who is the onely author of these sacramentes commaunding so often as we vse them to do it in the remeÌ„brance of his last comming when we shall receiue it in full ioy with him in his euerlasting kingdome yet they are holy signes seales of our fayth as it were by an instrument God doth worke and seale grace in our harts only by the hande of fayth neither yet are they bare naked signes but grace is truely presented to our fayth when and so often as we receiue the same with a firme fayth constant beléefe in the only merites of christe Iesus our onely Lord and Sauiour The .20 Question We pray you sir is there any more sacraments then two for I haue heard some say there are fiue some affirme there are seuen but we are taught in our church there are but only two The fathers aunswere Howe many soeuer the pestilent papistes haue in their sinfull sinagogue whether they haue fiue seuen or seuen hundred that is nothing to vs for euery seremoniall thing or seremony or any thyng els whiche they thinke is holye in theyr Holye Holie Church or sinnagogue must vpon payne of the Popes cursse be holy adorned and worshipped for it is with them a sacrament or as great yea the very dust and swéeping of their Sinagogue but in Christes holye Churche there is nor neuer was more then two th one is Baptisme the other is the Lords Supper for by the first we are receyued into Christes Church and by the other we are nourished by fayth in our soules into life euerlasting and also remember Christes death vntill hée come agayne to be our ioyfull iudge The sonnes 21. Question We pray you sir certifie vs more plainly what is the true sence substance and meaning of Baptisme The fathers Aunswere Baptisme is the holy sacrament of our regeneration or newe birth vniting and incorporating of vs vnto the body of Christ being therby made a member of his Church by which Sacrament we are purged and washed from al our sinnes for as the water washeth awaye all our filthinesse of the bodie euen so by fayth the blood of Christ sprinckled on our soules by the hand of faith washeth away all our sinnes yea and also all our paynes due vnto the same so being made members of Christes owne body we are partakers of all the benefites and blessinges of Christ our elder brother and head if we
daylie die vnto sinne lyue vnto righteousnesse which is called mortification of life for except we be regenerated into a spirituall body we shall neuer be partakers of christes naturall body and then voyde of all the benefites of Christes passion which is the som and effect of all our fayth sacramonts and religion For to be worldly minded is death euerlasting but to be spiritually minded is life euerlasting sayth S. Paul vnto the which god graunt vs for his mercy sake The sonnes .22 Question I pray you sir is there any such necessitie in Baptising young children that is if they die before they be baptised that they are damned as some affirme for the scripture savth except ye be Baptised ye cannot be saued The fathers aunswere Neyther is saluation tyed vnto these that are baptised nor yet damnation vnto such as are vnbaptised no more then they were all saued that were circumcised and all damned that were vncircomcised for then what had become of all the children that dyed in the wildernesse and all the women Iewes and all the Gentiles that neuer had circumcision But that is all Papistes religion popish womens opinion For. S. paul saith that neyther circumcision nor vncircumcision doth preuaile any thing but a new creature for euery faythfull christian doth beléeue that his childe is sanctified in the mothers wombe if eyther of them be faythfull and also saued frō euerlasting damnation by the fayth of their Parents if eyther of them be faythfull Christians or els our séede wers vncleane but if both Father and Mother are infidelles or Papistes then I doubt what their childrē are Because S. paul so affirmeth to the Corrinthians in his first Epistle the .7 Chapter and the .14 verse But because we are the children of wrath by Adams corruption vnto whom the promise of gods mercy and fauour reacheth vnto lyfe euerlasting we therefore bring our children to be Baptised in the same fayth that we protest because they are the seales of our fayth An other Question or obiection 23. Because you said before that the infidells and papists childrē are not christians borne as you proued by S. Paules words in the .7 Chap. to the Cor. and 14. ver 1. Epistle we pray you are Papistes no better then infidels are they not Christians The aunswere to the obiection Although they are borne in christendome yet are they not therefore true christians no more then they are al true English men that are borne in Englād there should not be so many Mongrills neyther yet so many vnnatural rebels as the trayterous vile Iesuites filthy papistes that are borne in Englande neyther loueth God Christ Prince nor yet their owne natiue cuntrie of which sorte I woulde there were not so many in this land But to our purpose and proofe is it possible for such to be Christians that are gods vtter enimies Is it possible for him to be a christian that denyeth Christes powes to be sufficiēt for our saluation but the pestilent Papistes and Traytors Iesuites denieth and teacheth that fayth onely in Christes merites is not sufficient for our saluation therefore it is not possible that any such Papistes can be christians And except their righteousnesse excéede the righteousnesse of the scribes and Pharisies they shall neuer come where Christes kingdome is the scribs and pharisies beléeued that because they were Abrahams children and circumcised therfore they were saued And the Papists belefe is because they haue left in them some féede of grace to doo good workes by it they deserue saluation because they are Baptised and so they shall with the vnbeléeuing Iewes that were circumcised therfore good children of all people beware the Papists The sonnes .24 Question I pray you good father certifie vs also of the holy communion and as you haue don of Baptisme the true sence effect thereof The fathers aunswere This Sacrament is the signe seale and pledge of our saluation redemption which Christs our sauiour hath left vs to remember his precious death and passion and to increase our fayth vntyll he come agayne to be our ioyfull iudge and so remember that by the mercifull eating and drinking of Christes very body and blood in the substance of bread and wine by a firme fayth we are surely partakers of all the benefites and blessinges of Christes death and passion for as the material bread doth comforte our hartes and the naturall wine doth reuiue our spirites and sences euen so the spirituall eating of Christes bodie the true bread of life doth comforte our spirituall bodies the spiritual drinkeing of his precious blood shed for vs on the crosse doth reuiue and reioyce all our spirituall sences and powers of the soule vnto life euerlasting if we lift vp our hartes and mindes vnto Christe which is in heauen and with al thanks féede on him by fayth This is the true and right receyuing of the Lordes supper and the true sence and meaning in which we must remember Christes death and passion vntil he come againe to be our ioyfull iudge The sonnes 25. Question I pray you sir how must we frame our selues for to receyue this holy sacrament faithfully and worthily The fathers Aunswere First we must remember the gréeuousnesse of our sinnes from the verie bottome of our hartes and vnfaynedly detest them and euer after frame and force our selues vnto a godly vertuous and sober life secondly we must trye and examine our selues whether we haue a true firme and a constant fayth on and in the promises of Christe Iesus or no And thirdly we must humbly louingly and brotherly yea faithfully reconcile our selues vnto suche as in any kind we haue offended euen vnto our enimies and so hauing left our gyft on the alter we may then come boldly offer our gyft in Christian loue charitie with out the which we must not dare presume to receyue the holy communion this is the best way that I know howe to frame our selues to receyue this holy sacrament The sonnes .26 Question I pray you sir doth all men that receyue this sacrament receiue the spirituall graces alike The fathers aunswere As in Baptisme none but the faithfull doth receyue the forgiuenesse of sinnes euen so none in the Lords supper are partakers of the benefites and graces of Christ but such as receyue him with a true and vnfayned fayth as for the faith les they receiue not the thing finished but a bare sacrament vnto their vtter destruction From the which the almightie of his mercy deliuer vs for euer The sonnes .27 Question I pray you good father let me aske you one question more which is this we reade in the .14 Psal of Dauid these words there is saith the prophet no good man no not one and in his .37 psal he playnely expresseth both a iust a wicked mā I pray you good father make those scriptures agree that I may be resolued The fathers aunswere My sonne marke this
wel it doth me good that you aske such questions for it commeth not from fleshe and blood These holye scriptures are both very true As for the first wordes in the 14. Psalme That there is none good no not one God by the holy prophet speaketh it to the wicked worldlinges the sencelesse Athistes and vnregenerated men That man that sayth in his hart there is no God As. S. Paul affirmeth in the .3 Chapter of his Epistle to the Rom. the .10.11.12.13 verses In whiche he describeth the qualities of the wicked Read that Chapter but in respecte to compare with God there is indéede none good but God his onely sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde who is both God and man For to compare with God there is none good no not one But to affirme the wordes of the holy Ghoste in the .37 Psalme Doubtlesse there is on the earth both good men euyll iust and vniust righteous and wicked the elect and reprobate saintes and deuilles incarnate for God him selfe doth iustifie Iobe to be a iust man and yet he was but a man and the holy ghost describeth a iust man by Iob saying that suche as feareth God escheweth euyll and doth good but in the .37 Psalme The holie Ghost describeth at large a iust man and also a wicked for the thirtie verse of this Psalme hath these wordes the iust man sayth he his mouth doth euer speake of matters wise and high and his tongue doth talke to edifie but contrary the wicked man blasphemeth the Lord and séeketh howe to slay the righteous Also in the â—1 ver before is sayde that the wicked borroweth muche and neuer payeth agayne of the abundance which God hath lent him but the iuste is liberall and lendeth also in the 35. 36. verse of this Psalme The prophet sayth I haue béen young and nowe am olde yet did I neuer sée the righteous forsaken nor his séede begging their breade in diuers and many places in the holy scriptures For in the 33. Psal the Prophet sayth reioyce ye righteous for it becommeth vpright men to be thankefull Also in the Prouerbs of Salomon the .10 Chapter and the .3 verse sayth that the Lord will not famish the soule of the righteous but he casteth away the substance of the wicked and in Ecclesiastes the preacher sayth in his 3. Chapter and 17. ver I thought in mine hart that God woulde iudge the iust and the wicked for there is a time for all workes Also the Euangelist S. Mathew in his first Chap and 9. verse Pronounceth Ioseph the husband of Mary a iust man Also S. Peter termeth Lot a iust man in his .2 Chap. and .7 verse Throughout the whole scriptures the holy Ghost iustifieth that there is both iust and wicked men But it is a corsie to a cankered Atheist to heare a man speake of a good man then he will storme and frette and qualifie you with this .14 Psalme saying there is not one good or iust man no not one and we are all sinners c. But they speake it because they woulde haue all men like them and they bring in Saint Paules wordes saying that God hath lapped all men vnder sinne because he will haue mercy on all men and he wil not the death of a sinner and therefore we hope all shal be saued But yet the wicked shall all goe quicke to hell An other question of the sonne 28. Father because that S. Paul sayth that God will haue all men to be saued come to the knowledge of the truth and also as you haue saide defore that Saint Paul saith that God hath lapped al men vnder sinne that he wil haue mercy vpon all This scripture is plaine and I thinke that god wil saue al men we pray you giue vs the true sence and meaning thereof The fathers aunswere My sonne indéed the wordes are plaine but many do erre because they knowe not the scriptures nor the true spiritual sence thereof and the cause of their errour is because they pray not for the holy spirit of God to teache them neyther yet giue faithful eare vnto the preachers of gods word For. S. Paul meaneth by this word all men all manner of men that is God will saue some of all sortes and degrées of all countries and kinreds that is of all sortes of kinges and Princes Nobles Maiestrats MarchaÌ„tes Artificers laborers poore men slaues bondmeÌ„ Iewes Turkes Infidels Papists pagans yea Atheists Epicures Iesuits and familistes also all sorts of people if they repent be conuerted vnto Christ of all sorts he will cal some for God hath no respect of persons for he would not the death of a sinner but the he should coÌ„uert liue this is the meaning of the holy ghost by S. Pauls words The sonnes .29 Question Father can a man shorten these daies which God hath appoynted hym to liue on earth before his time because the prophet Dauid sayth in his .55 Psal and the last verse thereof That the wicked shall not liue out halfe their dayes hath not God saith the prophet appoynted euery man how long he shall liue the which he shall not passe and shall mans wickednesse preuent God for he hath numbred mans dayes howe long he shall liue good father resolue vs in this The fathers aunswere If God were not almightie then man might preuent him but surely God hath numbred the dayes of man which he shall not passe no not one hower or minute therefore mans wickednesse cannot preuent God neyther yet shorten the time and houre that God hath sette downe and yet the worldly couetous bloodthirstie and dispitefull man shall not liue out halfe his dayes as the holye Ghost affirmeth in the .55 Psalme and last verse But the prophet Dauid nor the holy ghost neaneth not by these wordes any of those dayes which God hath appoynted him to liue no not to shorten any one hower of those dayes although he should kil hang or drowne him selfe yea murder or steale and by the lawe be cut offe yet can he not preuent God for he séeth and suffereth him vntill his hower appointed of God who in mercy did suffer him to liue repent but this is the meaning of these words halfe his dayes the holy Ghost by the mouth of the Prophet speaketh vnto the couetous wicked worldlinges whiche scrape so for the cromes that fall from gods childreÌ„ I meane the wealth pelfe and pleasures of this present worlde being so in loue with it more then God that they sell both their bodies soules to the diuell to possesse it and so poynt them felues their dayes to liue for say they If I can get and scrape to be able to liue with the best of my neighbours and then liue to beare the offices in the Citie and in countenaunce and credit in the worlde also to liue yet longer to be in aucthoritie then I will serue God and be mercifull But beholde or these his appoynted