commaundementes to fulfyll Ro. xiiij Vvhatsoeuer is not done in faythe the same is wicked and synne where as the mercye of God is not founde in suche wyse there is surely despysynge of GOD that he is not regarded nor sette by or there is hatred Good workes Fayth bringeth alwayes her frutes with her that is good workes and wheras no workes of charitie are shewed there is nothynge elles but a dead Iaco. ij fayth A christen man shall before all thynges praye for fayth whereby he may do ryght good workes Much to bable of good workes or vndertake to do the same before that fayth be there is as moche as to bynde the horse behynde the plough Lu. xviij Much the worke or do withoute fayth is to take great paynes and laboures for noughte and with the sicke woman to spend all hys substaunce amonge the Phisiciās and yet for all that remayne sicke styl Lu. viij Power of faith Vvhat power fayth hath is descrybed in these places here after followynge Genesis xv Roma iij. iiij xiiij Galacas iij. Ephes ij Math. vi viij ix xvij xxi Marci v. ix xi Luce. viij xi xviij xix Iohannis iij. iiij vi vij viij And i. Iohannis iij. iiij v. Act iiii xvi and in many places more besydes Good workes The Iewes asked Christe in Iohn what they shoulde do Ioha vi that they might the workes of god he answered This is the worke of God that ye beleue on hym whome he hath sent First loke aboute for faythe Lu. xvij and say with the discyples of Christe Lord increace my fayth And after that loke what God wyl haue in hys commaundementes and do it these are good Christen workes for they flowe oute of fayth and are done by the commaundemente of god Vvhatsoeuer is not done by the commaundement of god whiche ordinately and sufficyently is expressed in the Scripture the same be of thy despised Isa xxix mat xv Deu. xij For God wil not be serued wyth mennes tradicyons lawes or inuentions Vvhosoeuer steppeth out of the cōmune strete of the Christen lyfe and seketh a peculyar waye to saluacion through hys owne imagyned workes the same standeth daungerousely For he that followeth not Christe in hys doctryn must nedes walke in darkenes in erronyous by pathes Ioh. viij and .xiiij Christ is the lyght of our lyfe and the waye as it is written in Iohn Vvhosoeuer maketh or instituted a perpetual lighte for the deade or sainctes and besydes that forgetteth the lyuynge saynctes the poore bretheren and systers in Christe he feleth gropeth in the darkenes and goeth a bypathe vnderstond by the example somewhat more Sacrament Sacrament is a holy token in oure faythe which putteth vs in remembraunce the promyse of God and stablyssheth oure hertes in a confidence towardes God as Baptisme and the Sacrament of the aulter Thou hearest that God promyseth vnto the pardon and forgeuenesse of synnes He suffered therfore hys sonne Christe to dye vpon the crosse that thou by the death of Christe myghtest be reconcyled agayne to God Rom. v beleue this so hast thou it And therfore hath he ordeyned and left vnto the hys body and bloude in the Sacramente as a sure holye token and bonde of suche promyse Euen as sure as Gedeon was Iudi. vi that he shoulde ouercome his enemye whē God hath promysed it vnto hym and by the fyre and flese hath assured it vnto hym So sure arte thou that thou haste obtayned mercy when thou hearest in fayth Goddes promyse of remissyon of synnes and besydes that receyuest Baptisme or the Sacrament of the aulter for an assurance of suche promyse Learne the Sacramentes a ryght with theyr vertue for the Conscience hath skant a greater comforte in earth then the Sacramētes Thys is taught Genesis in the xvij Chapter and to the Romaynes in the iiij The death of Christe The death of Christe is oure satisfaction for synne Esa liij i. Co. i Christe hath onelye satisfyed for he onelye hathe redemed Oure sufferynge vpon earth is no satisfaction for synne properlye but a mortifyenge of the olde carnall man to thintent that accordynge to the workynge and to the vertue of baptisme Ro viij a Christian myght be conformable to Christe hys heade dye and ryse agayne a newe creature in Christe Ioh. iij. A man must be borne agayne of water and of the spirite yf he shal come to heauen he must beare the crosse he must crucifye hys flesshe mat xvi Gala. v ij tim iij with the euyl concupiscences and lustes yf he wyl be Christes owne Item al that wyl lyue godly must suffre persecution Flesshe Flesshe is called in the Scripture commonly not onely the body Ephe. ij but the hole olde carnall man The sonne of Adam with body and soule Gen. vi for he is from the fyrste generation a synner and a chyld of wrath Iohn iij For whatsoeuer is borne of flesshe is flesshe A man before he is borne agayne through the spirite of fayth is he all flesshe that is concernyng hys body soule can he of hys owne power vnderstande thynke and desyre nothyng but earthy and carnal thinges heauēly thynges are to hygh for hym and to subtyl he can not attayne to them he knoweth nothynge ryght of God and godly thynges The originall synne A deadly hurte is happened vnto man in body soule of that poysoned origynall synne The origynal synne oughte not to be counted for a smal hurte Gen. vi and viij The wittes are blynded man vnderstandeth nothynge of hym selfe withoute grace The wyl is croked and tourned away from that whiche is good and so weake and wounded that he delyreth euill for good and al that is pernicious Lyke as the ague taketh away a mans taste that nothyng sauoureth vnto hym but that whiche is deadly and hurtful vnto hym that which is swete semeth vnto hym to be soure Euen so hath the stinckynge and filthy origynal sinne corrupted al the powers of man that to theyr ryght workes they can not attayne withoute a great renewyng A man muste be renewed and made hole or elles must he be damned That cometh to passe The death of Christ when the death of Christe hath and vseth hys workyng in man that the spirite of fayth doth stryue and fyghte agaynst the flesshe and at the laste the flesshe with death is destroyed and the carnall man Eph. iiij accordynge to the signifycation of Baptisme is hole drowned the fylthynes of the synfull byrthe of Adam is hool wassheth awaye and becometh a newe man whiche is shapen after God in true ryghteousnes and holynes Spirite The spirite is the holy Goost and hys motion or workynge in vs. It is one thynge The outward mā the olde Adam the flesshe the body of synne It is one thyng The newe man the inwarde man Ro. vij Gala. v Betwene the spirite and the flesshe is a contynuall
the begynnynge of the worlde Thys is the ryght saluation whiche shal begynne euen after the temporal lyfe to them that lyue in Christ In Iohn sayth Christ Ioh. iij God so loued the worlde that he hath geuē hys onely sonne that none that beleue in hym shoulde perysshe but should haue euerlasting life The scripture speaketh of the lyfe euerlastynge euerye 〈…〉 Christe that men might knowe christ a ryght the sonne of God mat xvi Therfore asked he hys disciples what thy helde of hym Then answered Peter for hym selfe and for the other Thou art Christ the sonne of the lyuyng God Vpon suche knowledge which is necessary for vs all in the Catholyke churche buylded i. Cor i. i i Cor. iij Thus sayth Paule Vve preache Christe the power and wysedome of God He wyll also suffer none other foundation but onely Iesus Christe euen as he hath preached hym That he is come from the father in the nature of mankynd and hath redemed the worlde dyed for vs vppon the crosse and is rysen agayne oure heade and Lorde Eph. ij And is sett on the ryght hande of God vnto whome we come and are saued not by oure owne workes but of grace through fayth Ioh. x Throughout the hole Gospel of s Iohn declareth he for the moost parte that he hym selfe is the sonne of God and preacheth for the moost parte that God is hys father In so muche that the yewes did reiecte hym and would stone him for the same i. Ioh. v. For Christ is come to teache fayth whereby men beleue euen in hym as in the sonne of God And fayth is the fulfyllinge of al lawes He is the righteousnes for euer he is the worke of Goddes glorie he is the mortification of the flesshe the raysinge of the spirit the subduinge of the world the subduinge of the flesshe the subduynge of hell the gates of hell cannot preuayle agaynst hym Briefely Matth. xvi Ioh. viij Ioh. xiij he is all in all thinges as he sayeth in Iohn Excepte ye beleue that I am he ye shall dye in your sinnes Itē he that beleueth in me shall neuer dye The writynges of the Apostles be full of doctryne as concernyng fayth for thereon lyeth all the matter mar xvi He that beleueth not shal be damned he that beleueth in the sonne hath euerlastynge lyfe Ioha iij. Therfore shoulde we praye continually for the ryght faith for he bryngeth with hym loue hope and all goodnes Fayth Fayth is not a slyght meanynge 〈…〉 whiche the natural witte or wyll can make to hym selfe Act. xv but it is a liuely thynge in the herte which renueth mā and purifyeth the herte It is suche a lyuely confidence and trust to God that man is sure and certayn aboue al wysedome that he pleaseth God and that he hath a mercyfull God whiche is towardes hym kynd gracious and mercyfull and forgeueth hym in all thynges that he doeth Thys fayth is the chiefest worke of the fyrste commaundement lyke as the fyrste commaundement is a measure example rule and vertu of all other commaundementes in the which as in the heade all membres lyue and haue power thereof Goode workes Euen so is fayth the heade lyfe and power of al good workes No work is good except faith hath wrought it ye except it be thorowely mixte with fayth Ro. xiiij euen as wyth newe leuyn whatsoeuer is not of faith that same is synne Ioh. vi Thys fayth is the dearest worke of god wherof Christ speaketh in Iohn This is the worke of God that ye beleue in hym whome God hath sent Therfore doth the scripture moost requyre fayth as in the Gospell often standeth Vvhen Christe would worke any myracle asked he before yf thei beleued that he coulde and woulde do suche thynges Item in marke and Mathewe Mar. ix Matth. xiij mat vij it is written that Christe hath not done many myracles in hys owne countree because of theyr vnbeleue In Mathewe sayth Christe that hys disciples could not heale the lunatike for theyr vnbeleues sake Vvheras a ryght Catholike fayth is Ephe. ij there is a creation of a newe harte The olde harte of Adā hath not thys faith of it selfe For it is a gyfte of god Many say the Crede dayly Fayth boaste there of very sore But they knowe not what it is O it maketh a meke hūble obediēt godly peple whiche trusteth in god onely hopeth loueth him aboue al things feareth him serueth his euen christen willingly with body goodes hindereth nomā suffereth gladly dāmage persecutiō Al his workes be ordered to the vtylyte and profyte of hys neyghboure be he frende or foo euen as Christe hath done vnto vs also Therfore be not all they Chrysten manne that be called Euangelical and be inclined to hurte or endamage their neyghbours in body soule honoure or goodes They be heathen vnder the name of Christe theyr frutes shewe what they be yf they were ryght christians or Euangelicall they would be obedient seruable vnto al men intendyng to hurte no man God vouchesaue to illumine them with true fayth that they maye be suche in dede as they wil be called Amen Marci ix Lorde I beleue helpe myne vnbeleue Marci xvi He that beleueth not shal be damned Marci ix All thinges are possible to hym that beleueth ¶ Here begynneth the ryght foundation and pryncypall common places of the hole godly scripture a goodly shorte declaration to all Christians profitable and necessarye for to come to the right vnderstondyng of the holy Scripture compyled for the commoditie of all Christen people By Doctor Vrbanus Regius ⧠The contentes of the common places i. Holy Scripture ij God iij. The ryght honour of God iiij Goddes greatest dishonour v The lawe vi The gospell vij Fayth viij Good workes ix Sacramente x The death of Christ xi Flesshe xij Spirite xiij Vertue xiiij The greatest vertue xv The greatest synne xvi The soule xvij Lyfe xviij Euerlastyng lyfe xix Death xx The resurrection xxi The later daye xxij Masse xxiij Righteousnes xxiiij Honour of sainctes xxv Difference of meates xxvi Holy dayes xxvij Prayer xxviij Vowe xxix Obedience xxx The wyll of God xxxi Mannes wyl xxxij Offence xxxiij Almoses xxxiiij Othe or swearyng xxxv Christian lyberty xxxvi Churche xxxvij Ryches xxxviij Synne xxxix Infirmitie xl Health xli Persecution xlij Ioye and heuynes xliij Peace xliiij Free wyl xlv Counsayll xlvi Confessyon xlvij Merytes xlviij Shepeherde Ende of the Tabell ¶ To the most reuerende father in God Thomas by the permission of God Archebysshope of Canturburye Metrapolitane prymate of all Englande Hys dayly oratoure Gwalter Lynne wyssheth lyfe euerlastynge ME thynketh most reuerēde father that this sayenge of our Sauyoure Christ be occupied til I come is an admonicyon of all other moste necessarye and profytable Luc. xix and xij Matth. xxiiij xxv mar xiij aswell for the parentes or maysters
battell as S. Paul testifyeth Here vpon earth as longe as bodye and soul be knitte together Ro. viij Hathe the vpryght ryghteous man onelye the fyrste frutes of the spirite In such maner are here yet al workes of mā spotted and polluted of the flesshe synne before the iudgement of God Therfore lette noman buylde and trust vpō hys workes Rom. iij iiij The fayth in Christe is onely oure ryghteousnes before God Vertue The thre hyest vertues Fayth Charite Hope Out of a ryghte fayth flowe the other two Charite and hope Knoweledge of the kindnesse of God For the knowledge of the godly mercyfulnes maketh that God is loued agayne maketh also that we be willinge and subdue oure selues to serue euery creature and that is called the loue of our neyghboure Hope floweth also oute of faythe for fayth is that Hope wherewith thou beleuest the worde and with hope thou lokest for that whiche is promysed vnto the through the worde What maketh me to haue hope Answer The fayth in the worde of God Therfore hange these thre vertues together The greatest vertue ¶ The greatest vertue is Gal v where of Saynt Paule speaketh Faythe whiche through loue is myghtye in operation without fayth is no vertue The greatest synne The greatest synne is vnbeleue He that beleueth not in Christe is damned Ioh. iij He shal not see lyfe but the wrath of God abydeth on hym Ro. xiiij For whatsoeuer procedeth not of fayth that same is synne The soule The soule of man is highly honoured or made honourable Gene. i. namely created after the image of the moost hyghly blessed trinite and hath thre vertues or qualities vnderstandyng wille and remembraunce and is yet but one thynge Notwithstondynge thou learnest to knowe thys creation in that that the soule hath a respecte towardes God Likenes of God and hys holy worde thys testifyeth that in vs is a lykenes and Image of God No man can satisfye the large and greate desyres of the wise and prudent menne but God the creatoure hym selfe onely Then shall I be satisfyed Ps xvij sayth the Psalme when thyne Image awaketh vp The soule hath a beginnyng for she is created of god but she hath none end for she died not For thus sayth Christ Mat. x. Feare ye not thē which kyl the body be not able to kyl the soul but rather fear him whiche is able to destroye bothe soule and body into hell The soule is suche a precyous godly worke and creature that no corporall thynge may be compared vnto her what shoulde it profite a man mat xvi though he shoulde wynne al the hole worlde yf he lose hys owne soule Lyfe There is two maner of lyfes the one temporall the other perpetuall The lyfe temporall hath a beginnyng and endynge and is full of sorrowe as Iob complayneth Hiob iij and it is onely a shadowe of the ryghte euerlastynge lyfe which the creatures haue in theyr begynnynge A ryght Christen man counteth the temporal lyfe very littell and small for he knoweth through his fayth that he is not created for thys shorte temporal life He seeth with the eyes of hys fayth aboue in the ryghte true euerlastynge lyfe whiche withoute death and departynge withoute trouble and misery in certayntye in Ioye and withoute sorrowe endureth for euer Phil. i Thus sayth Paul to the Philippians Christ is to me lyfe deathe is to me aduauntage I desyre to be lowsed and to be with Christe Willyngly to dye Whosoeuer is not wyllynge and glad to dye to departe oute of thys miserable corruptible tyme the same is yet full of the olde Adam and hath yet but a small fayth The right faith kyndleth in vs and maketh vs to hate thys vngodly lyfe and to become enemye vnto it Fayth maketh a man to dye from thys lyfe and all hys lustes whylest he is yet liuynge and vnto the beleuynge is no greater reioysynge vpon earth He hath tourned away and plucked awaye hys herte from all creatures and lyueth onely in Christ Thus sayth Paul Gal. vi God forbydde that I shoulde reioyce but onely in the crosse of oure Lorde Iesu Christ wherby the worlde is crucifyeth vnto me and I vnto the world Gala. ij And in another place sayth he I lyue yet now not I but christ lyueth in me For the lyfe which I lyue now in the flesshe I lyue by the fayth of the sonne of god which loued me and gaue hym selfe for me The tēporal life is delectable vnto the heathē that knowe no better But a Christiā doth littel regarde it because he knoweth a better Therfore departed the welbeloued elect sainctes of god with myrthy and ioye from hence as out of wretchednes into the ryghte countree of theyr father Cicero in Tuscques The heathen feare the tēporall death very sore for they thinke that hereafter it is cleane done with man Al theyr wisedome conuyng and Philosophie was not able to conforte them in the feare of death albe it that they dyd enterpretyse the same He that knoweth not CHRISTE and beleueth not in hym feareth deathe and not withoute a cause for it is horryble vnto hym and an intraunce into death euerlastynge But he that knoweth Christ hath hym doth not feare deathe muche 〈…〉 hath ouercome death And hys holy woorde doth onely conforte vs effectually agaynste the horryble tempeste of death Eternal lyfe The lyfe euerlastynge is that we knowe the very god Ioh xvij and Iesus Christ whome he hath sent Nowe we see in a glasse euē in a darke speakyng i. cor xiij But then shal we see face to face Nowe I knowe it vnparfectely That is We knowe here vpon earth by fayth all what God is and what God geueth vnto vs but it is not yet the right knoweledge nothyng nygh she is also darke and vnperfecte But the knowledge to come in our fathers mansion is the ryght bryghtnes and perfecte knoweledge i. Ioh. iij For we shall see hym as he is Death There is two maners of death the one temporall the one euerlastynge The temporal whan body and soule parte the one from the other Ebre ix It is so appoynted that euery man must ones dye The euerlastynge death whan the euerlastyng soule must nedes departe from the face of God that is from her ryght onely lyfe euer more and euerlastyng with out endynge The eternall death that is ij tim i. the damnacyon infernall is vnto the elect christen menne ouercome al ready by chrste Christ hath spoyled death of hys power and brought to lyght lyfe and incorruptyble conuersacyon by the Gospell The wayght and burthen of oure synnes hath suppressed drowned vs into the botomeles pitte of hel Esa liij But God hath layed thys burthen vpon hys dearly beloued sonne Christ the same hath satisfyed for vs and delyuered vs from synne death hell There of shalt thou fynde
muste Christe nedes be a right natural sonne of a woman but with a supernaturall wyse be borne then the children of Adam of whome all the virginyte is clearly and vndoubtedly kept Firste sayth the Scripture the sede of a woman It sayth not The sede of a man It nameth onely the name of a woman Therfore the mother of thys chylde whiche conceyueth without the helpe of a man is a virgyn yet a ryght natural mother of the childe as also Paule witnesseth Gal. iiij wher as he sayth That the sonne of God is borne of a woman Other children be borne of a man and a woman Here sayth the Scripture Christe is onelye borne of a woman A woman A woman is not here taken for a womā that knoweth a man but it signifyeth the person of a woman or the name of a woman and geueth here to vnderstonde that thys byrth is done without all addition of man or helpe of man Secondarely Ge. xxij whan God promysed to Abraham Christe the ryght Messias he sayde In thy sede shall all the nations of the earthe be blessed Marye cometh bodily of Abrahā and Dauid And Christe cometh of Mary bodily and is thesame sede of Abraham through the which al natiōs be blessed Then it followeth Gal. iij that Marye is a pure virgyn For yf her sonne Christe be a blessed sede whiche taketh awaye all male diction truely than can not he be borne of a man yf he were borne of a man than were he borne after the course of nature and were a chylde of Adam polluted with synnes Now is he onely a fruyt of a womanes body and not of a man for the worke of the flesshe and the blessyng stande not together Thirdely speaketh the spirite of god through Esay Esa vij God hymselfe shal geue you a token Beholde a virgyn shal conceyue and beare a sonne c. The Hebrewe texte hath Alma that is a virgyn not as a seruyng mayde but a yonge woman person which as yet hath no husbande and weareth a garlonde which is yet vndefyleth And that is also nothynge elles but a virgyn And so do men call the mother of God a pure mayden that is a virgyn as the Iewes them selues can not deny And therfore is she a pure virgyn before the byrth and in the byrth Let the testimony of the Euangelistes Mathewe and Luke be sufficient for the for they cal Mary a virgyn Math. i Luc. i allegen the sayeng of the Prophete Esaye That she also dyd remayne alwayes a virgyn after the byrth Marye a virgyn also after the byrthe wyl I defend euen with the scripture Wherewyth the heretyke Heluidius would proue the contrary parte that she shoulde haue hadde children by Ioseph after the fyrste borne sonne Mathewe sayth Math. i Ioseph knewe her not tyl she had brought forth her first sonne hereout wille the folysshe that marke not the nature and propertye of the language defyne and conclude that she shoulde haue borne more children afterwardes But I saye loke better vpon the circumstaunce The Euangelist setteth a great meruayll before oure eyes namely that a virgin is with childe before the man taketh her into hys house and lyeth with her and before he knoweth her for as moche as she hath a sonne before whome not withstondyng she should haue In case she were knowen of hym after the common course And the wordes of saynt Mathewe tende not vppon that whiche is done after the byrth Ge. viij Item in the fyrst boke of Moyses to speake after such lyke phrase The Rauen flewe out and retourned not agayne vntyl the waters were dryed vp vppon the earth Here wyl the texte that the Rauen is not come agayne at all Euen so followeth not in the forsayde sayenge of Saint Mathewe that Ioseph afterwardes hath lyen with Mary or hath knowen her but rather the contrary parte that he neuer knewe her afterwarde Esay ix The temporall byrth of Christe hath Esaye prophecyed and notifyed A childe is borne vnto vs and a sonne is geuen vnto vs vpon hys shoulder doth hys kyngdome lye And he is called with his own name wōderful the mightye God the Prince of peace a father of the worlde to come Beholde also the xi Chap. of Esay The historye of the byrth of Christ reade Luc. ij Howe Marie the virgyn was delyuered of her childe in Bethleem Mich. v Matt. ij as the Prophete Micheas dyd say in spirite oh which wordes saynte Mathewe maketh relation sayng thou Bethlehem in the lande of Iuda arte not the leaste amonge the Princes of Iuda for oute of the shall there come vnto me the Captayne that shal gouerne me people Israel The fourth Article Vvhiche suffereth vnder Pōce Pilate was crucifyed The passyon of Christ dead and buryed That was the wille of God the father that hys onely sonne Iesu Christ shoulde dye vpon the crosse in the humayne nature to thintēt that he shoulde bryng together the children of God that were scattered Ioh. xi That was the fathers commaundement that he shoulde suffocate oure death by hys innocēt death Mat. xx That same sayde Christ vnto hys twelue disciples before in the way towardes Iherusalem whā he spake Beholde we go vp to Ierusalem and the sonne of man shal be betrayed vnto the chief priestes and vnto the scrybes and they shal cōdempne hym to death and shall delyuer hym to the gentyls to be mocked and to be scourged and to be crucifyyd And the thyrde daye he shal ryse agayne Lu. xviij And in Luke speaketh Christe vnto his disciples Beholde we go vp to Ierusalem and all shal be fulfilled that are written by the Prophetes of the sonne of man c. Wheras euen the forsayde wordes followe also The Prophetes haue descrybed the death of Christe very earnestly and so playnly euery thynge that manye tymes they haue also noted howe the payne was as of thornes scourges buffettes of the crosse that men dyd playe for hys cote that men gaue him vynagre to drynke and of suche lyke many more In the olde testament seke or reade wytnes We fynde often in the olde Testament thy worde Compact couenaunt and testament whereby was signifyed that god shoulde dye in the nature of man Besydes that is hys passyon and death clearly descrybed and shewed Esay ij x.xi.xli.xlvi xlix l.liij.lxiij.lxv Iere. xi xviij.xxiij.xxxi.xxxiij Tre. iij. iiij There sayth Ieremy christe hath ben taken for our synnes Baruch v. Ezechiel xvij Osee vi xiij Iohel ij Amos. ij Ione ij Michee ij v Abacuc ij Aggei ij Zacharie ix xij xiij xiiij Dauid Psalm xx xxi.xxxvij.liiij.lxviij and also in other Psalmes I wyl onely bring the into the scripture that thou thy selfe mayest drynke of the cleare well But in especyall loke ouer and reade the .liij. Chapiter in Esaye how goodly the Prophete there descrybeth the historie of the passyon of Christe and also the fruyte of the same passyon
¶ In the newe testamente Reade the Euangelistes of the passyon where they handle the Passyon of Christe ▪ there shalt thou fynde howe godly the Prophecyes be fulfilled and that the Euangelystes accorde ād agree with the Prophetes Lykewyse in the Actes of the Apostles .i. ij iij. iiij v. vij x. xiij xvij xx xxvi Witnesses of the Apostoles Paule Roma i. iij. where he proueth that we haue the redemption through the bloude of Christe in the .v. sayth he when we were enemyes we were reconcyled to god by the death of hys sonne Item Roman vi viij Christe dyed for vs. Roma xiiij xv To the Corinthians .i. Cor. i. ij vi viij x. xi xv ij Corinth iiij v. xiij To the Galathians i. ij iij. iiij vi To the Ephesians i. ij v. To the Philippians in the seconde teacheth he and sheweth that the sonne of God hath humbled hymselfe frō the hyghnes of hys maiestye for oure saluacyon euen vnto the most haynous deathe of the Crosse Philippen iij. To the Coloss i. ij iij. To the Tessaloniens i. ij iiij v. To Timot. i. ij To Titus .ij. In the Epistell to the Hebrewes in the .i. ij v. vi ix x. xiij Cha. Peter i. Petri. i. ij iij. iiij And also in the seconde Epistle Iohan. i. Iohan. i. ij iij. iiij Of the buryall reade Treno iij. They haue layde a stone vppon me Psalm iij. iiij xvi My flesshe shal lye sure Item Esaye xi In the newe Testamente Matth. xxvij Marci xv Luce. xxiij Iohan. xix The vnspeakeable fruyte of the hoolsome death of Iesu Christe and the infinite merites shalt thou fynde also in the places afore rehersed The fyfth Article He ascended into hel and the thyrd daye he rose agayne from the death Christe is our redemer and sauioure therfore ouercometh he all whatsoeuer is contrary to oure saluacion is synne death hell the deuyl through whose enuie death is come into the worlde Christ also descended into hell that he shoulde suppresse all powers and subtelties of the deuyl to the faythfull And he is rysen agayne for to geue a newe lyfe to the beleuynge that we here after may lyue innocently and godly Dauid speaketh thereof on thys wyse Thou shalt not leaue my soul in hell Christ descēded into hel Here is it cleare that he descēded into hell For he sayth not Thou shalt not leaue the work of my soule in hellethe sayth my soule so that the soule of Christ dyd truely descende into hel after her substaunce or beynge not onely after the worke And although we do not knowe properly what maner of descendynge into hell the same be Yet neuerthelesse wyll we surely truely beleue the wordes of the Prophetes whan he hadde commended hys blessed soule into the handes of God hys father than laye hys holye body styll but the soule went downe to hell Oh the mercyfull Lorde hathe ouercome for vs euery fearful thyng The resurrection of Christe ¶ The resurrection of Christe is a great article For it hath made the paines and sufferynges of all martyrs lyght and is the triumphe and ioye of all Christians Hys resurrectyon is oure righteousnes and worketh also oure resurrection bothe of bodye and soule Euen so sayth saint Paul Christe is rysen agayne Rom iiij Ro. viij If the spirite of hym that raysed vp Iesus from death dwell in you euen he that raysed vp Christe from death shal quicken your mortall bodyes because that hys spirite dwelleth in you i. Co. xv And to the Corinthians as by Adam all dye euen so by Christ shall all be made a lyue and euery man in hys owne ordre The firste is Christe then they that are Christes The inuincible glorye of the glorious resurrection of Iesu Christe declareth and glorifieth al that was weake feareful before dryueth awaye the feare of death and exalteth into great ioye the hertes of all faythfull Christians Vvhat ioye is greater thē that Christe is rysen in euerlastynge glorye and honour Rom. vi He dyed ones for vs and shall dye no more death shall haue no more power ouer hym Nowe be we hys membres and he is oure onely heade wheresoeuer then the heade becometh and reygneth there shall also the membres become There is oure ioye and reioysynge i. the .iiij Therfore sayth Paule That the Christians shoulde comforte themselues one another with suche wordes They are cōfortable wordes truely to all true beleuers Sūma Euangel ij This is the summe of the gospel Christe is a kyng of glorye he is borne and geuen vnto vs. Vve haue synne and death but he hath righteousnes and lyfe yf thou beleue in hym then be hys goodes thy goodes hys resurrection thy resurrectiō And it is thyne also whatsoeuer he hath wrought by hys glorious triumphāt resurrection Ro. viij God hath geuen vs hys sonne all thynges with hym as saynt Paule sayth Vvhat hath he wrought by hys resurrection Fruyct of the resurrection Truely great thynges he hath destroyed synne raysed righteousnes abolysshed death brought agayne lyfe ouercome hel and he hath geuen eternall glorye and honour Therfore syngeth the churche with great gladnes not without inspiratiō of the holy goost Christe is rysen and yf he were not rysen then were all the worlde perysshed In the old Testament is the resurrection of Christe signifyeth the prophete Ionas Ione ij Mat. xij Luce. xi He laye thre dayes and thre nightes in the bely of a great whalle after that was he delyuered as Christe hym selfe bringeth in the same The scribes and the Pharisees would see but a signe Then sayde the Lorde vnto them The signe of Ionas The euyl aduoutrous generation seketh a signe but there shall no signe be geuen to them than the signe of the Prophete Ionas For as Ionas was thre daies and thre nyghtes in the whalles belly so shall the sonne of man be thre dayes and thre nyghtes in the herte of the earth Iohn ij And in Iohn speaketh he also of thys hys resurrection saynge Destroye thys temple and in thre dayes I wyl rease it vp agayne There speaketh he of hys owne body Reade more there of in Osee and in the psalter I haue slept and am rysen That is asscrybed vnto Christe Item thou shalt not leaue my soule in hell neyther wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption Here sheweth Dauid clearly the bodely resurrection of Christe For Christe is properly called in scripture the holy one of god and he sayth thou shalt not leaue hym in hell that is as muche to saye Thou shalt sone bryng hym from theus Item thou shalt not suffre thy holy to see the corruption That is Thou shalt make haste to bringe me abroade agayne to the bodely lyfe The continual readyng in the Bible shall bryng before the more suche lyke saynges Vvitnesse of the newe Testament Mathei xx He shall ryse agayne the thyrde daye That is the worde of God that can
he wyl geue it you The eleuenthe Article ⧠The resurrection of the body Resurrection of the dead ¶ This article is to hyghe agayne for mannes capacite she can not see nor vnderstande with her darke lighte howe euen the same body shal come agayne which so diuersely may perysshe The one is drowned in the sea hym consume the fysshes the one is eaten of the fowles in the ayer another of the wylde beastes or wormes or is consumed of the fyre Here caÌ„ not nature comprehende howe euen that same body with all hys substaunce maye be made and brought together agayne that I shal haue eueÌ„ my firste eyes handes fete and membres as I haue now vpon me Therfore is it called a mistery of God whiche man beleueth and seeth not before hys eyes Euen the same body where with my soule nowe synneth or fasteth and doth any good shall at the laste daye be rayseth agayne and my soule shall be coupled with it agayne And shal be bothe together saued or together damned But there shal be a greate alteration in the body Now in the mortal lyfe is my body subiecte to all maner of miserye Men maye beate me wounde me the body is fowl vnhansome darke dull slowthful and sluggysshe and vseth muche payne and labour or it can come from one place to another It is fearful and weake and hyndreth the soule often in her worke If I study longe or imagine some hygh matter and subtyl anone orketh my head Of suche lyke calamytyes sticketh the body ful Therfore dyd the Platouystes call oure body a denne of the soule and death a delyueraunce from boÌ„des i. Co. xv But in the last daye shal the body of the blessed be garnysshed with fayr gyftes and glorye It shal be no more corruptyble but cleare bryght fayr In the boke of wysedome sayth the Scripture Sapi. iij The ryghteous shall shyne as the sparkes that runne through the busshe mat xiij And in Mathewe sayth Christe Then shal the ryghteous shyne as the sunne in the kyngedome of theyr father ¶ Item the body shal no more be slowfull sluggysshe and lyther but quycke and swyfte that wheresoeuer the spirite wil be euen there shall also the bodye be without delay It shall no more be wretched and sicke or weake but mightye and strong that nothing shal be able to hynder it or to kepe it in It can come oute and in thorough dores beyng shut Item it shal be no more corruptible that it may be beaten hurted or wounded but incorruptible as the shadowe of the sonne i. Co. xv The foure gyftes of glory and worshyp toucheth Paule in the Epistle to the Corinthyans Moreouer howe the one shal be clearer then the other Lyke as one starre is bryghter and clearer than the other Wherevpon sayd S. Augusten saith to Diostero God hath made the soule so mightye that thorough her perfect saluatioÌ„ floweth into the body a perpetual healthe an vnmouable power i. Co. xv Paul helpeth our weake fayth with a goodly exaÌ„ple of a grayne which is sowen in the earth and it is not quickened excepte it dye before then groweth oute of the smal corne a fayr frute euery corne of the frute hath hys owne body His natural fourme and fashion is now muche syner fayrer mightyer then before Such thynges see we daily in the workyng of nature in the incompreheÌ„sible creatures howe much more glory power goodnes wysedome science bestoweth God the creatour of al thynges vpon the reasonable creatures of men whome he hath geueÌ„ a soul fourmed after him selfe irrepreheÌ„syble In tymes past in the Aquiliane or Carthagiane Churche dyd men pronounce thys article thus I beleue the resurrectyon eueÌ„ of thys body beholde meÌ„ dyd adde to it that word eueÌ„ of thys to thinteÌ„t that it myght be plainly and cleare ynough expressed that none other body lyke vnto this shal be raysed or made but euen this same wherein I now stand sitte see heare walke and do suche lyke workes yea which vseth it selfe here with the soule in al maner of good workes Thys sheweth Iob very clearly Iob. xix wheras he saith I am sure that me redemer lyueth and that I shal ryse out of the earth in the latter daye that I shal be clothed agayn with this skinne and se God in my flesshe ye a I my selfe shall beholde hym not with other but with myne owne eyes i. Co. xv To the Corinthians sayth Paule Euen thys corruptyble thynge muste put on incorruptibilite and this mortall must put on immortalite thys is cleare ynough declared that euen this body euen these eyes shal come agayne ⧠Witnesse of the Scripture esa xxvi Esaye sayth Thy dead men shal lyue and my slayne shall ryse agayne Awake and lyue ye that lye in the duste Christe when he agaynst the vngodly Saducees defended the resurrection of the dead he brought in the saynge out of the second boke of Moyses I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Iacob But God is no God of the dead but of the lyuinge When he spake those wordes than had those thre ben dead longe before But for as muche as god nameth hym selfe a god of the aforenamed surely then they be some where and be a lyue Therfore shall theyr body and soule in tyme conuenient be ioyned agayne together In Ezechyel speaketh the scripture clearly of the generall resurrectyon Ezechi xxxvij saynge amonge other wordes Thus sayeth the Lord God Beholde I wyl open your graues and brynge you forthe of youre sepulchres Da. xij Daniel sayth Many of them that slepe in the dust of the earthe shall awake some to the euerlastyng lyfe the other to perpetuall shame ¶ Witnesse of the newe Testament In Mathewe Matth. xxij mar xij whereas Christ proueth the resurrection of the bodyes agaynst a Iewysshe secte named the Saducees is thys article of the resurrection of the flesshe grounded Mathewe sayeth Matth. xxvij The graues dyd open and the bodyes of many Saynctes whiche slept arose and came oute of the graues after hys resurrection and came into the holy citye and appered to many Luce. vij Luc. viij Christe rayseth a wydowes sonne Item he raysed vp from death a yong in â—yde Ioh. xi Act. xx Lykewyse Lazarum Paule raysed also a yonge man named Eutichus Ioh. vi In Iohn sayth Christ no man can come to me excepte the father whiche hath sent me drawe hym And I wyl rayse hym vp at the laste daye Ioh. xi Item in another place I am the resurrectioÌ„ and the lyfe he that beleueth on me yea thoughe he were deade yet shall he lyue Item he sayeth to Martha Thy brother shall ryse agayne Martha answered I knowe that he shall ryse agayne in the resurrection at the last daye Ioh. vi Lykewyse sayeth he more ouer as the father rayseth vp the deade and quickeneth theÌ„
euen so the sonne quickeneth whome he wyll The father hath geuen power to the sonne also to iudge The houre shal come in the whiche all that are in the graues shal heare hys voyce and shal come forth they that haue done good to the resurrectyon of lyfe and they that haue done euyll vnto the resurrection of damnatyon In the Actes of the Apostles Act. xvij preacheth Paule vnto those of Athenes the resurrectyon of the deade Item in another place sayeth Paule act xxiiij I beleue all thynges which are writtē in the lawe and the Prophetes and haue hope towardes God that the same resurrection of death which thei loke for also shal be act xxvi bothe of iuste and vniuste Rom. vi Item to the Romaynes sayth he yf we be grafte in death lyke vnto hym Ro. viij euen so muste we be lyke in the resurrection yf we be dead with christ we beleue that we shall lyue with him ¶ Item to the Corinthians i. Co. vi God hath raysed vp the Lorde and shal rayse vs vp by hys power knowe ye not that youre bodyes are the membres of Christe yf they be the mēbres of Christe then muste they be glorifyed and claryfyed with theyr heade ⧠The fyfthene Chapyter in the fyrste Epystle to the Corinthyans haue dearly in commendation wherein Sayncte Paule so excellentely and commyngly writeth of the resurrection of Christe and of oure resurrection and maketh suche an argumēt and ground Christ is rysen frō death therfore shal we ryse also Vvherfore dyed he howe hath slayne hym Truely our synnes The father hath layed all oure synnes vpon hym therfore hath he satisfyed Esa liij as Esay sayth Nowe yf he were not rysen then were all oure doyng in vayne yea we were yet in synne and dominacyon as depe as euer we were No man were poorer and more miserable then we christians yf we onely in thys shorte lyfe shoulde put oure trust in Christe and afterwarde all shoulde be at an ende Then the sinnes had ben to heauy and to stronge for hym But nowe is christe risen from death death hath no more power ouer hym Truely then hath he ouercome oure synne and death that they can beare no more rule ouer vs. He is become theyr myghtye and stronge Lorde And as by Adam all dye euen so by Christe shal all be made a lyue Therfore let vs be mery in the Lorde oure enemys synne death hell be layde downe Christ is a kynge myghtely hys kyngedome endureth for euer where as he is there shal we be also Vvhe haue a good cause to reioyce and with thankefulnes to be freeharted and blode in Christ oure ouercomer and Lorde and to be with death at defyaunce death is swallowed vp in victory The Lorde sayth O death Ose xiij I wil be thy death O hel I wil be thy stynge Death where is thy stynge Hel where is thy victory But thankes be vnto God whiche hath geuen vs the victory Through our Lord Iesus Christe In the seconde Epistle to the Corinthians sayth he ij Cor. i that we should not put oure trust in oure selues but in God which rayseth the dead to lyfe agayne Reade a goodly example the fyfth Chapiter in the same Epistle Item we knowe that ij cor iiij he whiche rayseth vp the Lorde Iesus shall rayse vp vs also by the meanes of Iesus ij co xiij Item we shall lyue with hym by the power of God Item to the Philippians Oure cōuersacyon is in heauen from whence aso we loke for the sauyour euen the Lorde Iesus Christ whiche shal chaūge oure vyle body that he maye make it lyke vnto hys gloryous body accordyng to the workyng whereby he is able also to subdue all thynges vnto hym selfe Colo. iij Item to the Colossyans ye be now rysen with Christe therfore seke those thynges whiche are aboue i. Th. iiij Item to the Thessalonyens sayeth Paule I would not bretheren that ye should not be ignorant concerning them whiche are fallen a slepe that ye sorrowe not as other doo whiche haue no hope For yf we beleue that Iesus dyed and ryse agayne euen so them also whiche slepe by Iesus wyll God brynge agayne wyth hym And thys saye we vnto you in the worde of the Lorde that we whiche lyue and are remainynge in the commynge of the Lorde shal not come yerre then they whiche slepe For the Lorde hym selfe shall descende from heauen with a showre and the voyce of the Archangell and trompe of God And the dead in Christe shall ryse fyrste then shall we whiche lyue and remayne be caught vp with them also in the cloudes to mete the Lorde in the ayer and so shall we euer be with the Lorde wherfore comforte youre selues one another with these wordes The twelfte Artikel And the lyfe euerlastynge The life here in thys worlde is called a calamitye for we haue no restynge place here neyther shall we abyde here alwayes as Paule sayeth Ebr. xiij Here haue we no contynuynge City but we seke one to come Heauen is oure home the lyfe euerlastynge thether long we in the lyfe euerlastynge Summa summarum there is all the desyre of man whiche can be satisfyed with nothynge elles than with beholdynge and browkynge of the godly essence as Dauid saith psa xvij I wyl beholde thy presence in ryghteousnes and I shal be satisfyed when I awake vp after thy lykenes The Philosophers and world wysemen haue taken great paynes to studye seke out what thyng it myght be Saluation of man wherein the harte of man without all calamytye and miserye were satisfyed and stedfastly rested an in the ende wherevnto it is ordeyned and whiche myght be oure saluacion But lyke as they coulde see no ryghte vertue by the naturall power withoute grace euen so coulde they not knowe also that thynge where in the saluacyon of man consisteth The one thought that health is the greatest good Another toke ryches for it Some haue named vertue the saluacyon Some dyd put theyr saluatiō in thre goodes namely the goodes of fortune as ryches honour power The goodes of the bodye as healthe strengthe The goodes of the soule as science and vertue But the blynde lyghte of nature knoweth nothyng of the ryght saluation and of the ryghte lyfe euerlastynge The spirit of God doth teache it vs by the scripture For thus sayth Iohn i. Ioh. v Ioh xvij Christe is very God and eternall lyfe Item thys is lyfe eternall that then myght knowe the onely true God and Iesus Christe whome thou hast sent That is oure heauen thether be we bounde sayng This is my rest for euer that is oure kyngedome Psalm cxxxij wherein Christ hath preipared for vs many maners of dwellinge places Ioh. xiiij Matth. xxv Matt. v Into that housse shal he sende the electe and shall saye Come ye blessed of my father inherite the kyngdome prepared for you from
in Saynte Paule .i. Cor. i. Gal. i. ij Ephe. i. Col. i. Roma ij Ebre ix and to Titus ij Iohn iij In so muche that he that beleueth in Christe shal not perysshe but haue euerlastynge lyfe For thus sayth S. Paule Ro. viij There is then no damnation to them whiche are in Christe Iesu whiche walke not after the flesshe but after the spirite Therfore is there no meryer thynge vppon earthe than a ryght Christen man for he dothe not muche esteme the temporall lyfe he is sure of a better lyfe He is a Lorde ouer synne death and helle Vvhy so Answer Rom. vi Christe dyed once and dyeth no more Death shal haue no more power ouer hym Iohn Nowe bei he hath ouercome it and taken awaye synne Now he that beleueth in Christe hath Christ before hys eyes becometh one spirite wyth hym ouercometh in him and by hym synne death helle Deuyll and the worlde Ro. viij For thus sayth Saynte Paule Yf God be on oure syde who can be agaynste vs. Vvhiche also spared not hys owne sonne but gaue hym for vs all Howe shall he not with him geue vs all thynges Psalm xxx viij Vve are well delyuered into death but we ouercome all those thynges through Christe whiche hath loued vs. Vvhat hath Christe Answer He hath the righteousnes peace lyfe and saluation Euē that same hath the christen soule also which is knytte in vnite vnto Christe her lorde and head thoroughe a ryght faith Ro. viij Hose xiij She defyeth death sayth neyther death nor any creature is able to separate her from the loue of god whiche is in Christ Iesu She speaketh ioyfully i. Co. xv Death is consumed in the victory Death where is thy styng Hell where is thy victory But thankes be vnto god which hath geuē vs victory thorough our Lord Iesu Christ Deathe is not fearfull to a christen mā The tēporall deathe is vnto such a christen man no more so fearful Yea he doth desyre it for it is to hym onely a delyueraunce frō thys sinful wretched blasphemous lyfe an intraunce into the ryght lyfe vnto Christe our onely saluation A Christian knoweth that the euer lastynge death can do nothing to him yea as littel as to Christe hym selfe and the temporall death is onely a departing of the soule from the body to thiutent that they bothe beynge puryfyed pure and cleare in all perfection in the Later daye maye be agayne coupled to gether glorifyed and clarifyed And knoweth that the soule stondeth in the hande of Christ and is well preserued in the bosome of Abraham Luc. viij Therfore doth the scripture calle the Christen death a slepe because that then a Christian doth firste amende hys estate and cometh from disquietenesse to reste The ryghte Christians also should not behaue thē selues euyl or sorrowe ouer muche whan any thynge dyeth from them Paule sayth i. the. iiij Vve woulde not bretheren haue you ignorant concernynge them whiche are fallen a slepe that ye sorrowe not as the other whiche haue no hope For yf we beleue that Iesus dyed and rose agayne euen so them also whiche slepe by Iesus wyll God brynge agayne with hym The Resurrection esa xxix Ezeche xxxvij and viij In the latter daye shall the bodyes of menne by the infinite power and myght of god be raysed agayne and be coupled agayne with the soules But in the blessed shall they wonderfully be chaunged and endued with foure gyftes honour and glorye with impassiblenes with brightenes with swyftenes and with subtilenes For thus sayth Saynt Paule i. Co. xv The flesshe is sowen in corruption and ryseth in incorruption It is sowen in dishonour ryseth in honour It is sowē in weakenes ryseth in power It is sowen a naturall body ryseth a spiritual body For a lyttell before sayth he For as in Adam all dye euen so by Christe shall all be made a lyue and euery mā in hys owne ordre The fyrste is Christe then they that are Christes at his commynge Then commeth the ende when he hath delyuered vp the kyngdome to God the father when he hath put downe all rule authorite and power Christ is rysen from death therfor shall we ryse also Thys artycle of oure fayth is al the hole somme and contayned all the hole matter Yf Christe were not rysen then had synne and death ben to stronge for him But for as moche as he is rysen from death so is synne and death ouercome and we shall ryse also in glorye purchaced prepared for vs by Christe Ro. viij But then when the spirite of God that raysed vp Iesus from death quickeneth your mortall bodyes because of his spirite whiche dwelleth in you Ioh. xi Christe sayth I am the resurrectiō and the lyfe He that beleueth on me yea though he were deade yet shall he lyue And whosoeuer lyueth and beleueth on me shall neuer dye Item this is the wyl of hym that sent me Ioh. vi that euery man which seyth the sonne and beleueth on hym haue euerlastinge lyfe And I wyll rayse hym vp at the last daye hiob xix Item I am sure that me redemer lyueth and that I shall ryse oute of the earthe in the later daye that I shall be clothed agayne with thys skynne and see God in my flesshe yea I my selfe shal beholde hym not with other but with these same eyes Itē the houre shall come in the whiche al that are in the graues shall heare hys voyce and shall come forthe they that haue done good vnto the resurrection of lyfe and they that haue done euyll vnto the resurrection of damnation One Christian shoulde conforte another with suche wordes of Scripture agaynst the feare of death as Saynte Paule teacheth in the Epistle to the Thessalonians i. Th. iiij The Latter daye Of the last daye hath the Scripture two poyntes The fyrst Christe hath geuen sure sygnes which be the messagers of the last iudgement Reade the Gospelles of Mathewe Marke Matth. xxiiij mar xiij Luc. xxi and Luke All maner of persecutions of the faythfull shall aryse Item warre insurrection offence euyl maners quenchynge of charite Item the abhomination in the holy place in the tempel of God Dan. ix whiche exalteht hym selfe and sheweth hym selfe as God Item an abhominable departynge ij Th. ij and fallyng from the faythe vnto mānes institutions and traditions For thus sayth Christe when the trees shute forth theyr buddes it is a sure signe that Sōmer is then nygh at hāde So lykewyse ye when ye see those thynges come to passe vnderstonde that the later daye is at hande The other Euen thesame poynte of thys laste tyme the daye or houre can no man knowe Christe geueth signes Matth. xxiiij but he sayth in Mathewe Of that daye and houre knoweth noman no not the Angels of heauen but my father onely and recyteth euen in the same place
synfull chylde of Adam and vessell of damnatiō a vessell of glory Rom. ix Praynge hym that he wil graunte vnto me suche a faith suche loue and hope as the deare sainctes haue had to thintent that I may be shortely ioyned with them as with my brethren in Christe and fellowe membres The sainctes loue vs Also I dowte not at all that forasmoche as here vppon earthe they were yet tymorous and frayll and yet loued their neyghbour truely so do they loue vs hartely and reioyce highly when oure saluation approcheth and the kyngdome of God cometh vnto vs that the will of God is done in vs that oure blasphemous lyfe doth crasse and we be conuerted that the spirituall body with all the membres soone may be fullfilled and to the laude and honour of God may be songe Hos xiij i. Co. xv this mery songe death is swallowed vp in the victory death where is thy stynge hell where is thy victory Where as then the laste enemy the death shal be destroyed and all faithfull Christians coupled vnyed with Christ as the bryde with her bridegrome i. co xiij Luc. xv then shall there be Ioye withoute ende For the loue decreasseth not in heauē but she is there fyrst made perfecte For the angells of God in heauen Luc. xv reioyce ouer one synner that doth repente more then ouer nynty nyne iuste persons which nede no repētaūce But howe the saynctes praye for vs yf they knowe and see oure prayers Roma i i. The. v Coll. iiij i. Thes i Ac. xiij in the glasse of the eternall worde and after what maner it is done is not necessary for vs to knowe We ought here vpon earth to praye one for another as we are taughte in the Pater noster And Paul desyreth euery where the supplication for the congregation He prayeth also earnestely for it here and there in hys Epistles There is but one name wherein we maye be saued namely Iesus Christ Christ sayde Ioh. xvi xiiij whatsoeuer ye shall are the father in my name he will geue it you Euē so doth also the churche conclude her collectes through our Lorde Iesus Christe That in the olde testament in prayers sometyme the names of Saynctes are brought in remembred as Abraham Isaac Iacob Dauid and suche other that is not done therfore that theyr names shoulde be sette vp or exalted as though thei were the helpers but God is onely admonysshed there by to remēbre the couenaūt which he made with the same saynctes of hys great mercy Euen so myghte I saye yet O mercyful euerlastynge God that hast geuen to the blessed saincte Saynct Peter suche a fayth I beseche the strengthen my fayth also And suche remembraunce is not properlye worshippyng or adoryng of the sainctes but it is to laude God onely in the saynctes and to admonyshe hym of hys trueth and mercyfulnes i. Iohn i In the name of Iesus shoulde all prayers be made for he is onely oure reconciliation before God For so is geuen to the saynctes that belongeth vnto thē and also vnto God that which is his Let the lyuinge saynctes be highly cōmitted vnto the for they haue nede of thy helpe S. Nycolas hath no nede of thy mony but the poore whiche is thy neyghbour Matth. xxv geue it vnto the poore for Goddes sake thys is as acceptable vnto Christe as though it were done to hymselfe Difference of meates God dyd commaunde the Iewes in the Olde Testamente to absteyne from eatyng of certayne beastes But in the newe testamente is no more for biddynge of meates but onelye the abuse of them is forbidden and not the ryghte vse of them for the necessary sustenaunce of man Euerye daye mayest thou Christenly eate al maner of meates for the sustentation of thy body fysshe egges what soeuer it be with thankes geuynge mat xv mar vij Colo. ij What soeuer entreth in to the mouthe defyleth not the man but onely that which cometh owte from the herte Thys is grounded in the Euangelistes Titus i Ro. xiiij and in saynt Paules Epistles For vnto the pure that is vnto the beleuyng are al thinges pure But for as moche as many are entangled with mennes traditions i. Cor. x and viij thinkynge that it is not alwayes laufull to eate flesshe So shalt thou auoyde the offence and for thy neyghboures sake somwhat forbeare thy Christian liberty in that whiche is not agaynste god and instructe teache hym what is commaunded of god or lycensed For yf thou wylt be a right Christian then must thou haue a respecte vnto the wordes of Christe and vse thy selfe thereafter But yf thou regard more the wordes of mē thē the wordes of god thē arte thou no Christiā but a papist God hath not layed his word before the for nought Thinkest thou Thou Ipocryte blynde myserable wretche that God was not able to shewe the ryghte waye to saluation wilt thou with thy good thynkynge inuente a better waye ioh xiiij and viij Christe is the way and the lighte He that followeth not hys doctryne and inuenteth another waye the same doth erre and feleth and gropeth in the darkenes Then wilt thou saye shall then the Popes lawes and the institutions of the Counsaylles be of no reputation Answer The pope and the counseylles maye erre and haue many tymes erred shamefully but yf thou wilt not erre then followe the scripture It is to vs a sure marke that the scripture of the Bybell cometh from the holye gooste yf the institutions of the Popes and counseils be conformable and agreynge with the Byble then are they conclusyons oute of the Bible to be kepte But yf they be contrary to the Bible then is it errour The holy goost is not wauerynge that whiche he hath ones spoken through the Euangelistes for the saluation of the soule the same is sure and he doth not agayne saye it or speake agaynst hym selfe Wilt thou proue be sure yf the spirite of the Pope or of the counseils be of God then beholde reade theyr writtynges cōparing thē with the Bible yf they be agreable to the Byble then is it the spirite of God yf not Pro xxx deu viij so is it the spirite of the deuyll For there oughte nothynge to be added vnto the worde of God mat iiij The worde of God is the sustenaūce of the soule and maketh a newe vprighte ioyfull conscience and sheweth vnto mā the nexte streyghtest waye to saluation But the worde of men is a poyson to the soule and maketh a troubled i. tim iiij ij Cor. x sorowfull fearfull and erronious conscience whiche is marked with an hote Iron Holy dayes Vnto a Christen man is nowe one daye as the other he must kepe holye daye euery daye vnto God in the newe Testament The Sabboth muste euery daye be kepte holy that we leaue the euyll workes of the olde man and
Phil. iiij whiche passeth all vnderstondynge kepe youre hertes and myndes in Christe Iesu And to the Ephesians Ephe. ij Rom. v He is oure peace Item to the Romaynes Because therfore through Christe when God is a mercyfull father and so continueth then desyreth she no further Therfore dyd the Prophetes name the kyngdome of Christe a kyngdome of saluation Esaye xxxij For thus sayth Esaias And the rewarde of ryghteousnes shal be peace and her frute reste and quietnes for euer And my people shall dwell in the innes of peace and in sure dwellynges in safe places of conforte The worde of God bryngeth thys spirituall peace and destroyeth the body of Behemoth but the carnal peace it bryngeth not for it is a word of the crosse and not of the wicked voluptuous lyfe vpon earth Therfore shall no man merueyll that through the preachynge of the cleare pure syncere worde of God ryseth contencion discorde for it is hys nature and propertye to separate the good from the euyll lyke as the fyre doth separate the copper from the golde Therfore knowe not the enemyes of GODDES worde what they speake whan thei say yea what good cometh by the preachynge that is vsed nowe a dayes it causeth nothyng but discorde and sedition I saye deare frēde thou vnderstandest not the matter a ryght It ought to be so It is a blessed discorde when the electe embrace the worde of God and wyll not haue theyr porcyon with the vngodly It can be none other wyse i. Cor. xi For thys waye muste the ryghte Christians be knowen and tryed It was euen so lykewyse in the primityue Church The Christians which dyd receyue the gospell separated themselues from the Gentyls and woulde not erre wyth the greate multitude It stode neuer better with the churche then when euery daye some shedde theyr bloude for the knoweledgyng of the holy name of Christe as Cyprian sayth and thys do we learne oute of the wordes of Christ wheras he speaketh Luc. xij I am come to kindle fyre vpō earth notwithstōding I must be baptised with a baptisme how am I payned till it be ended what is my desyre but that it were all ready kyndled Suppose ye that I am come to send peace on earthe I tel you nay but rather debate For frō hence forthe there shall be fyue in one house deuyded thre agaynst two and two agaynst thre The father shal be deuided against the sonne and the sonne against the father The mother against the doughter and the doughter agaynst the mother The mother in lawe against her doughter in lawe and the doughter in lawe against her mother in lawe Ebr. iiij The two edged swearde of the holy goost whiche entreth through euen vnto the diuidinge a sonder of the soule and the spirite and of the ioyntes and the Mary iudgeth the thoughtes the intentes of the herte is now abroade Therfore let noman merueill at the dissention whiche nowe is euery where The inwarde peace can not be well withoute suche an owtewarde battail Free will Man had in Paradise in the state of innocencye a free wyll There vpō soundeth the sayenge in the wyse mā But after the tyme that Adam had synned Eccl. xv dyd also the spirite of god forsake man In so much that he became hole blynde ignoraunt and erronious and the Scripture doth call hym after the first byrth flesshe Gen. vi Not because onely the comprehensyble power is prone to euyll and is carnall but because the body and soule through the poyson of synne is hole infected and made vncleane In so much that man from hys fyrste byrthe through al his naturall power can do nothynge but synne The Scripture calleth the hert impure The herte is vncleane Heb. xij Ge viij mar vij what goodnes and purenes can then be in man He must be borne a newe elles is he hole vnprofitable and nothynge but flesshe that is proue to thynges terrestriall and al euyll he seketh not after God he regardeth hym not neyther holdeth he of hym Euen thus doth the Scripture conterfayte hym Ro. viij Saynt Paule speaketh to the Romaynes They that are carnall are carnally mynded but they that are spirituall are goostely mynded they that are geuen to the flesshe can not please God For the flesshely mynde is enemitie against God for it is not obedient to the lawe of God nether can be Augustyne Therfore called Augustine in the secōde booke agaynst Iulian the heretike the will of man a bonde will Ioh. viij accordinge to the wordes of Christe in Iohn who so euer committeth synne is the seruaunt of synne Libertie of the wyll Howe be it this will maye be made free agayne through the grace of God For thus is it conteyned euen in the same place of Iohn If the sonne shall make you free Ioh. viij then are ye free in dede The sonne of God Christe hath purchased agayne for vs the spirite and grace of God If we beleue than maye we and can do good agayne Notwithstondynge it must all be asscribed vnto the grace of God whiche worketh in vs and nothinge appropriated to oure owne naturall power or workinge whereof the will is also partely named to be an occasion of the good worke as the miserable Sophistes seduce the worlde In Paule is it written on this wyse ij Co. iij We are not sufficient of oure selues to thinke any thinge as it were of oure selues but oure ablenes cometh of God Yf then we can thynke no good of oure selues why presume the Sophistes by the power of the free wille to do any good Thus saith Paule It is God Phili. ij whiche worketh in you bothe the will and also the dede i. Co. xv Euen so doth he speake also in another place I laboured more aboundantly then all the other not I but the grace of God whiche is with me Euen so do all saynctes asscribe all goodnes onely to God knoweledge them selues as an instrumēt of the Godly grace sayēge with Dauid Not vnto vs O lorde Psa cxv Not vnto vs but vnto thy name geue the prayse Item Iohn iij A man can receyue nothinge at all excepte it be geuen hym from heauen Item Iohn vi No man can come to me excepte the father which hath sent me drawe hym And of suche lyke is the Scripture full Therfore is it euen as muche whē any man boasteth of hys free wyll that he of hym selfe maye begynne to do any good before grace and to obtayne the grace by workes As yf a man should boaste moche of a Castell that were brent and al destroyed with shutyng of ordinaunce whereas onely were left the place with brokē walles where as the towres were fallen downe and no defence left at all and yet woulde presume to kepe it perforce A broken Castell hath yet the olde name that men saye There standeth suche a Castell