begynning and makyng of man Scholer Euen that whyche Moses wrote that God shaped the fyrste man of claye and put into hym soule and life thē that he cast Adam in a deade sleepe brought foorth a woman whome he drewe oute of hys syde to make her a companiō with hym of al his life wealth And therfore was man called Adam because he tooke hys beginning of the earth and the womā called Eue. because she was appoynted to be the mother of al liuīg Mast. What image is that after the lykenesse whereof thou sayest that man was made Scholer That is most absolute righteousnesse and perfect holynes whyche moste nearely belongeth to the ◅ry nature of God and mos◅ clearely appeared in Christ our new Adā Of the whyche in vs thear scante are to be seen any sparcles Master What ▪ are ther sc◅ to be seen Scholer It is true forsooth for they do not now so shi◅ as they dyd in the begynning before mans fall for as much as man by the darknesse of synnes and myst of errours hath corrupted the bryghtnesse of thys image In suche sorte hath God i◅ hys wrathe wreaked hym vpon the synful man Maister But I pray the tell me wherefore came it thus to passe ▪ Scholer I wyll shewe you When the Lorde God had made the frame of thys world he hym selfe planted a garden full of delyte and pleasure in a certaine place Eastward and called it Eden Wherein besyde other passynge fayre trees not far frō the myddes of the garden was thear one specially called the tree of lyfe and another called y ◠tre of knowledge of good euell Herein the Lord of his singuler loue placed man and committed vnto hym the garden to dresse and looke vnto geuynge hym libertie to eate of the fruites of all the trees of paradyse except the fruite of the tree of knowledge of good euell The fruite of thys tree if euer he tasted he shoulde wythout fayle die for it But Eue deceyued by the deuell counterfetynge the shape of a serpent gathered of the forbidden fruite whych was for the fayrenes to the eye to be desyred for the sweetenesse in tast to be reached at and pleasaūt for the knowledge of good euell ▪ and she eate thearof and gaue vnto her housba◅ to eate of the same For which doing they both immediatly dyed that is to say were not only subiect to the death of the bodye but also lost the life of the soule whyche is ryghteousnesse And foorthwith the image of God was defaced in thē and the most beautiful proportion of ryghteousnesse holynesse ▪ truth and knowledge of God was confoūded and in a maner vtterly blotted out Thear remayned the earthly image ioyned with vnrighteousnesse guyle fleshly mynde depe ignoraūce of godli and heauenly thinges Hereof grew the weakenes of our flesh◅ ▪ hereof came thys corruptiō and disorder of lustes affectiōs hereof came that pestilence hereof came that seede and nurishmēt of sins wherwyth mankynd is infected and it is called synne originall Moreouer therby nature was so corrupted ouerthrowen that vnlesse the goodnes and mercye of almyghty God had holpē vs bi the medicine of grace euē as in bodi we are thrust down into al wretchedness◅ of death so muste it needes haue bene that al mē of all sortes should be throwen into euerlasting punyshment and fyre vnquencheable Master Oh the vnthankefulnesse of men But what hope had our first parents and from thence fourth the rest whearby they wear releue◅ ▪ Scholer When the Lorde God had both wyth words and dedes chastised Adam and Eue for he thrust them both out of the gardē wyth a most greeuous reproche he then cursed the serpent threatnynge hym that the tyme should one day come when the seede of the ◅omā should breake hys head After ward the Lord God stablyshed that same gloryous and most bountiful promise fyrst with a couenant made betwene hym and Abrahā by circumcision and in Isaac hys sonne then agayne by Moses last of all by the oracles of y e noble prophets Master What meaneth the serpentes head that seede that God speaketh of ▪ Scholer In the serpēts head lieth all his venim◅ ◅d the whole pyth of hys lyfe and force Thearfore do I take the serpents head to betok◅ the whole power and king dome or more truli the tirānie of the old serpe◅t the deuel The sede as saint ▪ Paul doth plainly teache is ▪ Iesus Christ the sonne of God very God and veri man cōceaned of the holy Gost engendred of the wombe and substaū◅e of Marie the blessed pure vndefiled maide and was so borne ◅ostred by her as other babes de sauinge that he was most far from all infection of synne Master All these founda◅ions that thou hast layed ar most ◅rew Nowe thearfore let vs go forwarde to those hys doinges whearin lie◅ our salua◅ion and conquest agaynst that old serpent Scholer It shalbe done good Maister After that Christe Iesus hadde delyuered incharge to his Apostles that most ioyfull and in al pointes heauenlye doctryne the gospell whych in greeke is called Euangelion in Englysh good tidinges and had as by sealyng stablished the same wyth tokens and miracles innumerable whe◅ of all hys lyfe was full at lēgth was he sore s◅urged mocked wyth pottyng sco◅nyng and spyttynge in hys face laste of all hys handes and ◅ete bored thorow with nayles and he fastened to a crosse Then he trulye dyed and was truly buryed that by hys moste sweete sacrifice he myghte pacifye his fathers wrath against mākynde and subdue hym by his death who had y e authoritie of deathe which was the deuel forasmuch not onlye the lyuinge but also the deade wear they in hell or elsse whear they all felt the power force of this death to whom lieng in prison as Peter sayeth Christe preached though dead in body yet relyued in Spirite The third daye after he vprose a gayne a lyue in bodye also and wyth manye notable profes the space of .xl. daies he abode among hys disciples eatyng and drynkyng with thē In whose syghte he was conueyed away in a cloud vp into heauen or rather aboue al heauēs wher he now sitteth at the ryght hand of God the father being made Lorde of all thinges be they in heauen or in earth kynge of all kynges our euerlasting onlye hee Bisshoppe our only attournye only mediatour onely◅ peace maker betwene God and men Now sithēs that he is entred into his glorious maiestie by sendynge downe his holy spirit vnto vs as he promised he lighteneth our dark blyndnesse moueth ruleth teacheth cleanseth cōforteth and reioyseth our myndes and so will he styll continually do tyll the end of the worlde Master Well I se thou hast touched the chiefe Articles of our religion and hast set out as in a shorte abrydgement the Creede that thou diddest
rehearse Now therfore I wyll demaunde the questioÌ„s of certain pointes Scholer Do as shall please you Maister for ye maye more perfectlye instruct me in those thinges that I do not throughly vnderstand and put me in remembraÌ„ce of that I haue forgotteÌ„ and printe in my mynde deeper suche thynges as haue not taken stedfast hold thearin Master Tell me thâ—… â—…f by his death we get pardon of oure sinnes was not that enough but that he must also rise againe froÌ„ the deade â–ª Scho. It was not inough yf ye haue a respect eyther to hym or to vs. For vnlesse he hadde rysen agayne he shoulde not be taken for the sonne of God For whyche cause also whyle he hong vpoÌ„ the crosse thei that saw hym vpbrayded hym and sayde he hath saued other but can not saue hym selfe Let hym now come downe from the crosse and we will beleue hym But now vprisyng from the dead to euerlasting continuaunce of life he hathe shewed a mutche greater power of hys godheade then if by commyng downe froÌ„ the crosse he had fled from the terrible paines of death For to dye is comoÌ„ to all men but to louse the bondes of death and by his owne power to rise againe that properlye belongeth to Iesus Christe the onlye begotten sonne of God the only author of lyfe Moreouer it was necessarye that he should ryse again with glorie that the sayengs of Dauid and other prophetes of God myghte be fulfylled whych told before that neither hys body should se corruption nor hys soule be left in hel As for vs we neither had bene iustified nor had had anye hope left to ryse agayne had not he rysen agayne as Paule doth in diuerse places playnly shewe For if he had remayned in the prisoÌ„ of death in graue and bene holden in corruption as al men besyde how could we haue hoped for saf ty by hym whych saued not himself It was mete therfore needefull for the part that he had in haÌ„d and for the chiefe staye of our sauegarde that Christe shoulde fyrst delyuer hymselfe from deathe and afterwarde assure vs of safetye by his vprisyng agayne Master Thou hast touched my sonne the chiefe cause of Christes risinge agayâ—… â–ª Now would I faine heart thy mynde of his going vp into heauen What answere thinkest thou is to be made to them that say it had beâ—… better for hym to tarie hear with vs presentlye to rule gouerne vs For besyde other diuerse causes it is â—…lye that the loue of the people toward theyr prince specially beyng good and gracious should grow the grea ter by his present company Scholer All theese thynges whych he should do present that is to saye if he were in company amoÌ„g vs he doth theÌ„ absent He ruleth maintayneth strengthneth defeÌ„deth rebuketh punysheth correcteth and performeth all suche thynges as do become such a prince or rather God himself Al those thinges I saye performeth he which belong eyther to our neede or profit honour or coÌ„moditie Beside this Christ is not so all together absent from the world as mani do suppose For albeit the substaunce of his body be takeÌ„ vp from vs yet is his Godheade perpetuallye presente wyth vs although not subiect to the sight of our eyes For thynges that be not bâ—…dylye can not be perceiued by any bodyly meane Who euer sawe hys owne soulâ—… No man Yet what is theaâ—… more present or what to 〈◊〉 man nearer than hys owne soule Spiritual thinges 〈◊〉 not to be seen but wyth the eye of the spirite The arfeâ—… he that in earth wyll see the Godhead of Christ let hym open the eyes not of his bodye but of hys mynde but of his faith and he shall set him preseÌ„t whom eye hath not seen he shall see him present and in the myddes of them whearsoeuer be two or three gathered together in his name he shal see him present wyth vs euen vnto the ende of the â–ª world What sayde â–ª Iâ—… shall he see Christe present â–ª Yea he shall both se feele him dwellyng within himselfe in sutch sorte as he dothe hys owne proper soule For he dwelleth and â—…ydeth in the mynde and harte of hym whyche fasteneth all hys trust in hym Master Uery well but oure confession is that he is asceÌ„ded by into heauen Tell me thearfore how that is to be vnderstanded Scholer So vse we commoÌ„lye to say of him that hath attayned to any hye degree or dignitie that he is ascended vp or aduaunced in to some hye roume some hye place or state because heâ—… hath chaunged hys formeâ—… case and is become of more honor thaÌ„ the rest In sutâ—… case is Christ gon vp as hâ—… before came down He came downe from hiest honour to deepest dishonoure euen the dishonour and vyle state of a seruant and of the crosse â–ª And lykewyse afterwards he went vp from the depest dyshonoure to the hyest honoure euen that same honour whych he had before hys goyng vp into heauen yea aboue all heauens to the very roial throne of god muste needes be euident by moste iust reason that hys glory and maiestye myghte in comparison agreably answer to the proportioÌ„ of hys basenesse and reprochefull estate This doth Paul teach vs in hys wrytynge to the Philippians he became obedient eueÌ„ vnto death yea the very death of the crosse Whearfore God bath both aduaunced hym to the hyest state of honour and also geuen hym a name aboue al names that at y â— name of Iesus eueri kne shold bow of al things in heaueÌ„ earth hell But although he be alredy gone vp into heaueÌ„ neuertheles bi his nature of godhead by his spirit he shal alwaies be preseÌ„t in his church eueÌ„ to the end of the world Yet thys proueth not that he is preseÌ„t amoÌ„g vs in his body For his Godhead hath one propertye his maÌ„head another Hys maÌ„head was create his godhed vncreate His maÌ„head is in soÌ„â—… one place of heaueÌ„ his godhed is in such sort ech wher that it filleth both heauen â–ª earthe But to make thys poiÌ„t plainer by a similitude or comparing of like to like Ther is nothyng that doth trulier like a shadow expres Christ theÌ„ the soÌ„ne for it is a fit image of the light and brightnes of Christ. The soÌ„ doth alway kepe the heaueÌ„ yet do we sai that it is preseÌ„e also in y â— â–ª world for without lyght thear is nothyng present that is to say nothyng to be seen of any man for the sonne wyth hys lyghte fulfilleth al things So Christ is lyfted vp aboue all heauens that he maye be preseÌ„t wyth all and fully furnyshe all things as S. Paul doth saye But as touchynge the bodylye presente of Christe heare in earthe if it be lawfull to place in comparison great thinges wyth small Christes bodye is present to our faith as the sonne whâ—… it is seen is preseÌ„t to the eyâ—… â–ª the bodie wherof
that it canne not be but that he must heare me and be pleased wyth my praiers For I am hys Sonne although vnprofitable disobedient and he on the other side is my moste bountyfull father moste readye to take pity and pardon me Maist. Why doste thousaye he is in heauen is he in sō◅ o◅e certayne and lymited place in heauen ▪ what me◅ ▪ neth that which he sayth of hym selfe I fyll bothe heauen and earthe agayn the heauen is my seate and the earthe my footestoole Scholer Hereof haue I spoken some what before wher vnto I wyl ioyne this that foloweth Fyrst of all as oft as we do say which arte in heauen it is as much to sai as heauēly and diuine For we ought to thyncke much hier of our heauenly father thā of our earthly He is also sayde to be in heauen for this cause that in that hye and heauēly place the n◅ ble and wonderful workes of God do the more clearly and gloriously shewe them selues and he is now declared to be in euerlasting and full felicity whereas we abide yet banyshed in earthe full wretchedlye Moreouer as the heauen by vnmeasurable widnesse of compasse conteyneth all places the earthe and the sea and no place is thear that maye be hidde from the large reatch of heauen sith it is at euery instāt of time to euery thing present So hearby may we vnderstād that god is likewyse present to eche thynge in eche place He seeth heareth and gouerneth al thinges he beyng hym self a spirite and moste farre from al earthlye and mortall state Wytnesse whereof Hieremy the Prophete Am not I saythe the Lorde a God neare vnto you and am not I a God farre of shall anye man be able to shroude hym selfe in suche a corner that I can not espye hym This is a pithye sentence to driue feare into vs that we offend not that Lorde of so large a dominion wherby also we are perswaded assuredly to beleue that God wyll heare whensoeuer we shall stande in nede For he is at al times and in all places presente This foundacion then laid and so sweete and plesaunte entraunce prepared ther foloweth the fyrst parte of the Lordes prayer wherein we requyre that not onlye wee but also all other who soeuer maye in holynes honor reuerence and worshyp hys name Master Howe is that to bee done Scholer I shall shewe you then we do that when leauing all those that haue the name of gods be thei in hea uen or in earthe or worshipped in temples in dyuerse shapes and images wee acknowledge him alone oure father Prai to the true god and Iesus Christ hys onlye sonne whome he hath sent and by pure vnfained praier call vpon him alone wyth vprightnes of life and innocencye Master Thou hast sayd berye well proceede Scholer In the second parte we require that hys kyngedome come For we see not yet all thynges in subiection to Christe we see not the stone he wed offrō the moūtayne wythoute woorke of mā which all to brosed and brought to nought y ◠image whiche Daniell desc◅iueth that the onlye rocke Christe may obtayn and possesse the dominiō of the hole world graūted him of his father Antichrist is not yet slayne For thys cause do we longe for and praye that it may at length come to passe and be fulfylled that Christe may reign with his sainctes accordinge to Gods promises that hee maye lyue and bee Lorde in the worlde accordynge to the decrees of the holye Gospell not after the traditions and lawes of mē nor pleasure of worldlye tyrauntes Master God graunte hys kyngdome may come and that spedilye Scholer Moreouer sithe it is the chyldrens duty to frame theyr lyfe too theyr fathers wyll and not the fathers to bowe to the childrens pleasure forasmuch as our wyl is ◅ommonly by tickling of affeccions and stirringe of lustes drawen to dooe those thynges that God is displesed with it is reasō that we hange whollye vppon the b◅k of our heauēly father wholy submit oure selues to his heauenli gouermnēt Wherefore for thys cause we mortall mē do pray that we maye in like case be obedient to his commaūdemēt as are the sonne and Mone and other sterres in heauen whiche bothe by ordinarye courses and by lightninge the earthe with vncessaun◅e beames execute the Lordes wyll continuallye Or that we as the āgels and other spirites ▪ diuine in al pointes obey him which bestowe al theyr trauayle diligently to accomplish hys godly commaundementes Next after that he teacheth vs to aske of our heauenly father our breade wherby he meaneth not meate onlye but also all thynges elles needefull for maynetenaunce and preseruinge of life that we maye learn that God alone is authoure of al thynges which maketh the fruytes of the earthe bothe to growe and encrease to plentye Wherefore it is meete that we c◅ll vpon hym alone in prayer which as Dauid sayth ◅ loue feedeth a◅d maynteyneth all thinges Master Some suppose this place to meane that bread that Christe maketh men◅on of in the .vi. of Ihon. That is of the true knoweledge and taste of Christe that was borne and dyed for vs wherwyth the faithfull soule is fedde The reasō wherupon they gather this is the greke woorde epiousion whereby they vnderstande supernaturall ghostly heauenly and diuine This mea nynge I refuse not for both these expositions may fitlye agree with this place but whi calleth he it daily bred whiche is also signified by thys worde epiousion Scholer We aske daily bread that myghte be alwayes presente and accompanye vs contynuallye to slake and satisfye oure thyrstye desyre and vnsaciat stomacke least otherwise we shuld be as Christ sayeth carefull for to morowe because the morowe shall care for it selfe For it shall come not wythout his own discōmoditie care Wherfore it is not reason that one day shoulde encrease the euell of another It shall be sufficient for vs dayly to aske that our most bountifull father is readye dayly to gyue Now foloweth the fifthe requeste wherein we beseeche the father to forgeue vs oure trespasses and de◅auts that we haue committed This request doutles is veri necessarye sithe there is no man liuinge free from sinne Here therfore must we cast away all trust of our selues Heare must we plucke downe our courage Here must we prai oure moste mercifull father for the loue of Iesu Christe hys moste deare and obedyent sonne to pardō forgeue and vtterly blot oute of hys boke our innumerable offēces Heare oughte we in the meane seasō to be myndfull of the couenauute we make wyth God That it maye please God so to forgeue vs our trespaces as we our selues forgiue theim that trespasse agaynste vs. Therfore it is necessarye that we forgyue and pardone all men all theyr offenses of what sort or condition so euer thei be If we forgiue men there faultes our
il trauailed therin Now therfore teâ—… me my sonne what Religion that is which thou professest Scholer That good Master I professe which is the 〈◊〉 ligion of the Lorde 〈◊〉 which in the. xi of the Actes is called the christiaÌ„ 〈◊〉 Master Doâ—…st thoâ—… then 〈◊〉 fesse thy self to be a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Christian godlinesse â–ª 〈◊〉 religion and a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our Lorde Christ â–ª Scholer That forsothe 〈◊〉 I coufesse and playâ—… 〈◊〉 boldly proâ—… yea 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 accomâ—…t â—…the whoâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 al my 〈◊〉 as in the thâ—… whiche is bothe of 〈◊〉 â—…uour then that the â—…nesse of my wytte maye â—…tayne 〈◊〉 it â–ª and also more approching to God des maiestie than that I by anye 〈◊〉 of vâ—…eraunce may easely expresse it Master â–ª Tell me then deere sâ—…n as exactly as thou caÌ„st in what poyntes thou thinkest that the siÌ„nne of Christian Religion standeth Scholer In two poinâ—…tes that is to say trew fayth in God and assured persuasioÌ„ mncèâ—…ed of all those thynges which are conteined in the holy Scriptures and in charitie whiche belongeth both to God to our neigh boure Master That fayth which is 〈◊〉 bi hearing and readyng of the worde 〈◊〉 dooeth it teache the concernyng God Scholer This doeth it principally teache that there is one certayne nature one substaÌ„ce one ghost and heaueÌ„ly mynde or rather an euerlastyng spirit without beginnyng or endyng whiche we call God whom al the peoples of the worlde ought to worshyp with souerayn honour and the hyest kynde of reuerence Moreouer oute of the holy wordes of GOD which bi the prophetes and the beloued of almyghtye God are in the holye â—…okes published to the eternal glory of his name I learne the lawe and the thretnynges therof then the promyses the gospel of god These thin ges fyrst wrytten by Moses and other men of God haue bene preserued hole vncorrupted euen to our age and sythens that the cheife articles of our fayth haue bene gathered into a short abrydgement whych is comonly called the Creede or Symbole of the Apostles Maister Why is this abridgmente of the faythe termed with y â— name of a symbole â–ª Scho. A symbole is as much to say as a sygnt mark prâ—…uye token or watch worde whereby the souldioures of one campe are known from their enemies For this reason the abridgement of the fayth whereby the Christians are knowne from them that be no Christians is rightly named a Symbole Maister Fyrst tell me soÌ„what what thou thynkest of the lawe and then afterward of the Crede or Symbole Scholer I shall doe good Maister with a good wyll as you commaund me The Lorde God hathe charged vs by Moses that we haue none other God at all but hym that is to say that we take him alone for oure one only God oure maker and sauiour That we reuerence not nor worshippe any portraiture or ani image what soeuer whether it be painted carued grauen or by anye meane fashyoned howe soeuer it be That wee take not the name of oure Lorde God in vaine that is either in a matter of no wayght or of no truthe â–ª Last of al thys ought we to hold stedfastly and wyth deuout conscyeÌ„ce that we kepe holyly and religiously the Sabbat day which was appointed 〈◊〉 from the other for rest and seruice of God Master Uerye well Nowe haste thou rehearsed vnto me the lawes of the fyrst table wherein is in a summe conteyned the knowledge true seruyee of God Go forward and tell me which be the dutyes of charitye and oure loue towarde men Scholer Dooe you aske me maister what I thinke oâ—… the other parte of the lawe whiche is commonly called the second table Master Thou sayest new my sonne that is it in deede that I wold faine hear of Scholer I wyll in few wâ—…des dispatche it as my simple wit wyll serue me Moses hathe knitte it vppe in a shâ—…rte summe that is that with al louing affection we honoure and reuerence oure father mother That weâ—… kâ—…ll no man That we commit no aduoutrie That we steale nothynge That we â—…are false wytnes agaynst 〈◊〉 Last of all that we coâ—… nothynge that is oure â—…yghboures Master Howe is that commaundemente of the honoringe father and mother 〈◊〉 be vnderstanded Scholer Honoure of father and mother coÌ„teineth loue feare and reuerence yea 〈◊〉 it further standeth in obeyinge succouring defeâ—…ding and nourishing theÌ„ if neede require It byndeth vs also moste hâ—…ly and with 〈◊〉 natural affection to 〈◊〉 the magistrate to reuerence the Miâ—…ysters of the churche oure â—…cholemasters with al oure elders and betters Master What is 〈◊〉 in that commaundementâ—… doe not kyll Scho. That we hate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reuile no man 〈◊〉 iâ—… 〈◊〉 vs that we 〈◊〉 tâ—…en our fâ—…es do good to them that hate vs and 〈◊〉 we praye for al prospeâ—… and good happe to our verye mortal ennemies Master The 〈◊〉 not commiting aduoutry what thinkest thoâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Forsothe this comâ—… conteyneth manye thinges For it forbidâ—… not only to talke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mans wyâ—…e or any other womaÌ„ vnthastly buâ—… also to touche her yea or to cast an eye at her waÌ„tonâ—…e oâ—… wyth lustfull looke to beholde her or by anye 〈◊〉 â–ª nest meane to wâ—…oe her â–ª 〈◊〉 ther our selues or any other in our behalfe finally hear in is debarred al kind of 〈◊〉 thy strayeng lust â–ª Mast. What thynkest thou of the commauÌ„dement â–ª not to steale Scholer I shal shew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 breifly as I haue done the rest â–ª yf it please you to 〈◊〉 me â–ª It commauÌ„deth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 beguyle no 〈◊〉 â–ª to 〈◊〉 no vnlawfull wares 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…e no maÌ„ hys wealth to thynke nothing profytable that either is not iust â–ª or 〈◊〉 â—…reth from ryghte and honesty Breifely rather wyllynglye leese that is thyne owne than thou wrongfullye take that is anothers and turne it to thyne owne commoditie Master Howe maye that commaundement be kepte of bearynge no false wytnesse Scholer Yf we neyther oure selues speake anye false or vayne lye nor alowe it in other eyther by speeche or silence or by our present companye But wee oughte alwayes to maintayne truth as place and tyme serueth Master Now remaineth the last coÌ„maundement of 〈◊〉 coueting any thyng that is our neighbours what meaneth that Scholer Thys lawe dothe generally forbyd al sortes 〈◊〉 euell lustes and commaundeth vs to bridle restraine al greedye vnsatiable desire of our wyl whyche holdeth not it selfe wythin the bondes of right and reason and it wylleth that eche man be coÌ„tent wyth his estate But who so euer coueteth more then ryght â–ª with the losse 〈◊〉 hys neighbour and wrong to an other he breaketh vtterly looseth the bonde of charitie and felowshippe amonge men Yea and vpon hym vnles he amende the Lorde God the most sterne reuenger of the breakynge hys law shall
that shall receyue it euen as he hathe honoured doth honour hys father For he that honoureth him honoreth also the father of whiche he him self is a substantiall witnesse Maist. The end of the world hoâ—… scripture calleth the ful fyllynge parformaunce of the kyngdome and mistery of Christ and the renewing of all thynges For saythe â—…he Apostle Peter in his seâ—…oÌ„d Epistle the third chapter We loke for a new heauen and a new earth according to the promise of God whearin dwelleth ryghteousnesse And it semeth reason that corruption vnstedfaste chaunge and synne wherunto the whole world is subiect shoulde at length haue an end Now bi what way and what fasshioÌ„ circumstaunces these thinges shal come to passe â–ª I would fayne heare the tell Scholer I will tell you as well as I can accordyng to the wytnesse of the same Apostle The heauens shall passe awaye like a storme â–ª â—… elementes shal melt awaye the earthe all the workes therein â–ª shall bee consumed wyth fyre as thoughe he shuld say as gould is wont to be fined so shal the whole world be purified with fire and be broughte to hys full perfection The lesser world whiche is man folowynge the same shall lykewyse bee delyuered from corruption and chaunge And so for maÌ„ this greater worlde which for hys sake was first created shall at leÌ„gth be renewed be clad wyth another hew much more pleasaunt and beutifull Master What then remayneth Scholer The laste and generall dome For Christe shall come at whoes voice al the deade shall ryse againe â–ª perfecte and sound both in bodi and soule The whole world shall beholde hym sittynge in the Royall throne of hys Maiestie and after the examination of euerye mannes conscience the laste sentence shalbe pronouÌ„ced Then the chyldren of God shall bee in perfecte possessyon of that kingdome of fredome from death and of euerlastig life whyche was prepared for theim before the foundacyons of the world were layd And they shal reygne wyth Christe for euer But the vngodlye that beleued not shall be throwen froÌ„ thense into euerlastynge fyre appoynted for the deuyll and hys angelles Master Thou haste saide ynoughe of the agayn rising of the deade Nowe remayneth that thou speke of the holye churche whearof I would very fayne hear thy opinion Scholer I wil rehearse that in fewe words shortly whiche the holye scryptures set out at large and plentifulli â–ª Afroe that the Lorde God had made the heauen and erth he determined to haue for himself a most beautiful kyngdome and holy comoÌ„ wealth The Apostles and the auncient fathers that wrote in Greeke called it Ecclesia in englyshe a congregation or assemble into the whych he hath admytted an infinite noÌ„ber of meÌ„ that should all be subiect to one king as their souereign and only one head hym we call Christe whythe is as mutch to say as anoynted â–ª For the hye byshoppes and kinges among the Iewes who in fygure betokened Christ whom the Lord annoynted with his holy spirite wear wont by Gods appointment at theyr consecration to haue materyall oile poured on them To the furnishyng of this common weale belonge all they as many as do truly feare honour cal vpon God whol ly applyeng theyr mynde to holy and godly lyuing and all those that puttynge all theyr hope trust in hym do assuredlye looke for the blisse of euerlastig lyfe But as many as ar in this faith stedfast â–ª weare forechosen predestinate apoynted out to euerlastig lyfe before the world was made Wytnesse hereof they haue wythin in theyr hartes the spirite of Christ the author earnest vnfailable pledge of theyr fayth Whych faith only is able to perceyue the misteries of God only bryngeth peace vnto the hart onli taketh hold on the righteousnes that is in Christ Iesus Master Doth then the spirite alone and fayth sleepe we neuer so soundlye or staÌ„d we neuer so recklesse slothfull so woorke all thynges for vs as without any help of our owne to carye vs idle vp to heauen Scholer I vse maister as you haue taughte mee to make a dyfference betwene the cause and the effectes â–ª The first principall moste perfect cause of oure iustifyenge and saluation is the goodnesse and loue of God wherby he chose vs for his before he made the worlde After that god grauÌ„teth vs to be called by the preachiÌ„g of y e Gospel of Iesus Christ when the spirit of the Lord is poured in to vs by whose guyding and gouernaunce we be led to settle our truste in God and hope forthe per formaunce of all hys promises With thys choyse is ioyned as companion thâ—… mortifyeng of the old man that is of our affectioÌ„ lust FroÌ„ the same spirit also tometh our sanctification the loue of God of our neighbour iustice and vpryghtnesse of life finally to say all in summe whatsoeuer is in vs â–ª or maye be done of vs pure honest true and good that altogether spryngeth out of thys most pleasauntâ—… roote from this most plentyfull fountayne the goodnesse loue â—…hoyse and vnchauÌ„geable purpose of god He is the cause the rest are the frâ—…tes and effectes â—…et ar also the goodnesse choise spirit of God and Christe himselfe causes conioyned and coupled ethe wyth other which mai be reckened amonge the principall causes of our saluation As ofte thearfore as we vse to saye that wee are made ryghteous and saued bi only faith it is meante theareby that fayth or rather truste alone doth lay hand vpon vnderstaÌ„d and perceyue our righteousmakyng to be geueÌ„ 〈◊〉 of God freely that is to say â–ª by no desertes of oure own â–ª but by the free graâ—…e of the almighti father â–ª Moreouer sayth doth engender in vs the loue of our neyghbour â–ª and sutch workes as god is pleased wyth all For if it 〈◊〉 a liuely true faith quikâ—… ned by the holy ghost she is the mother of all good sayinge and doynge By thyâ—… short tale is it euideÌ„t wheÌ„ce and by what meanes we attayne to be made righteous For not by the worthynesse of our deseruinges were we eyther heartofore chosen or long ago saued but by the only mercy of god and pure grace of Christ oure Lorde whearby we weare in hym made to those good workes that God hath apointed for vs to walke in And althoughe good woorkes can not deserue to make vs righ teous before god yet do thei so cleaue vnto faythe that neither can fayth be founde without theÌ„ nor good workes be any whear wythout faythe Master I lyke verye well thys shorte declaration of fayth and workes for Paul playnly teacheth the same But canst thou yet further depaint me out that coÌ„gregacion whych thou callest a kingdome or comoÌ„ weale of Christianes and so set it out before mine eyes that it may seuerally and playnly be knowen asonder froÌ„ eche other fellowshyppe of men
Scholer I will proue howe well I can do it your pleasure is maister as I take it that I point ye out some certaine congregation that may be seene Master That it is in dede so it shal be good for y ◠to do Scholer That congregation is nothing elsse but a certayne multytude of menne which wher soeuer they be professe the pure vprighte learning of Christ and that in such sort as it is faithfully set fourth in the holye testamēt by the Euangelists and Apostles whiche in al points are gouerned and ru led by the lawes statutes of theyr kinge and hye Byshoppe Christe in the bonde of charity which vse his ho lye misteryes that are commonlie called sacramentes with such purenesse simplicity as touchinge theire nature and substaunce as the Apostles of Christ vsed and left behinde in writing The marckes therefore of this churche are firste pure preachyng of the gospel thē brotherly loue out of which as members of al one body springeth good wyl of eche to other thirdlye vprighte and vncorrupted vse of the Lordes sacraments accordynge to the ordynaunce of the Gospell laste of all brotherlye correction and excōmunication or banishynge those out of the church that wyll not amend their liues This marcke the holye fathers tearmed discipline This is that same churche that is grounded vpon the assured rocke Iesus Christ and vpō trust in hym This is that same church which Paul calleth the piller and vpholding stay of truth To this church belōg the keies whearwyth heauen is locked and vnlocked for that is done by the ministration of the worde wherunto properly appertayneth the power to bynde and louse to holde for gylty and forgiue synnes So that whosoeuer beleueth the Gospell preached in thys church he shal be saued but whoso beleueth not he shal be dāpned Master Now wold I fain heare thy beliefe of the holy ghost Scholer I confesse him to be the thyrd person of the holy trinitie Andsith be is equal with the father the sonne of the verye same nature that he ought egally to bee worshipped with thē bothe Mast. Whi is he called holy Scholer Not onelye for hys owne holynesse but for that by hym are made holye the chosen of God and members of Christe And thearfore haue the scriptures termed him the spirit of sanctification or makyng holy Master Wherin consysteth thys sanctification Scholer Fyrste we be newe gotten by his inward motion And therfor said Christ we muste be newe borne of water and of the spirit Thē by his inspiration are we adopted as it wer bi choise made the chyldren of God For whych cause he is not causelesse called the spirit of adoption By his lyght are we lightened to vnderstand Gods misteryes By hys iudgemēt are sinnes pardoned and reteined By his power is the fleshe wyth her lustes kept downe tamed Bi his pleasure ar the manifold gyftes dealt amonge the holye Finallye by hys meanes shal our mortal bodies be relyued Therfore in the author of so great gifts we do not wythout a cause beleue honor cal vpō him ▪ Master Wel thou hast now said sufficiently of the holly ghost But thys woulde I heare of thee why it immediatelye foloweth that we beleue the holye vniuersall churche and the communiō of Sayntes Scholer These two thinges I haue alwai thoght to be most fitly coupled togither Because the felowshyppes and incorporacions of other men procede and be gouerned by other meanes policies but the church whyche is an assemble of men called to euerlastinge saluacion is bothe gathered together gouerned by the holy ghost of whom we euē now made mention Which thyng sith it can not be perceiued bi bodily sense or light of nature is by right and for good rea son heare reckened amonge thynges that are knowē by beleife And thearfore thys calling togither of the faith full is called vniuersall because it is bonde to no one speciall place For God thorowout al costes of y ◠world hath them that worshyppe hym Whych thoughe they be far scattered a sonder by diuerse distāce of countries and dominions yet ar they members most nearlye ioyned of that same bodi wherof Christe is the heade and haue one spirit fayth sacramētes prayers forgiuenesse of sinnes and heauēly blisse common among them all and be so knyt with the bōd of loue that they e◅deuour thēselues in nothyng more than eche to help other and to build together in Christ. Master Seynge thou haste already spokē of the knowledge of god and his members I woulde also heare ▪ what is the true seruyce of God Scholer Fyrst we must consider that the right trewe knowledge of God is the principal and onli fundatiō of Gods seruyce The same knowledge fear doth foster and mayntayne whyche in scriptures is called the begynnyng of wisedōe Faith and hope are the proppes and staies whearupō leane all the rest that I haue rehearsed Furthermore charitie whych we call loue is lyke an euerlastyng bonde by the strayght knot wherof al other vertues be boūd in one together and theyr force encreased These be the inward partes of Gods seruice that is to say whyche consyst in the mynde Master What hast thou to say of the Sabbat or the ho ly dai which euē now thou madest mention of amonge the lawes of the firste table Scholer Sabbat is as much to sai as rest It was apoin ted for onlye honoure and seruice of God and it is a figure of that reast and quiet nes whiche they haue that beleue in Christe For oure trust in Christ doth set our myndes at liberty from all slauishe feare of the law sin deathe and hel assuring vs in the meane season that by him we please God that he hath made vs hys chyldren and heiers of his kingdome wherby thear groweth in our hartes peace and true quietnes of mind whiche is a certayn foretaste of y ◠moste blessed quiet whiche we shall haue in hys kyngdome As for those thynges that are vsed to bee done on the sabbothe daye as Ceremonies and exercises in the seruyce of God they are tokens and wytnesses of thys assured truste And mete it is that faithfull Christiās on such daies as are apointed oute for holye thynges shold lay asyde vnholy your kes and gyue them selues earnestly to religion and ser uynge of God Master What be the parts of that outwarde seruynge God whyche thou saydest euen now dyd stand in certain bodily exercises which are also tokēs of the inward seruinge hym Scholer Fyrst to teache and heare the learnynge of the gospel thē the pure and naturall vse of the ceremonies and sacramentes last of all prayer made vnto God by Christe and in the name of Christ which without faile obteineth the holly ghoste the moste assured author of all trew seruynge God and vpryght religion Master Tell me what thou callest sacramentes Scholer
away the sinnes of y â— world and sinne as Sainte Ihon sayeth was not in him But the rest yea although we be baptised and borne agayne in Christe yet wee offende in manye thynges and if we saye we haue no synne we deceiue our selues and the truthe is not in vs. ¶ Of sinne against the holy Ghoste EUerye deadly sinne willingly committed after Baptisme is not Sinne against the holye ghost and vnpardonable Wherefore the place for penitents is not to bee denied to suche as fall into sinne after Baptysme After wee haue receiued the holy ghoste we may depart from grace geueÌ„ and fall into synne and by the grace of God we may rise agayne and amende oure lyues And therfore they are to be condemned whych say they can nomore Synne as longe as they lyue heare or denie the place for penitents to such as truelye repente and amend their liues ¶ Blasphemy againste the holye Ghoste BLasphemye against the holye Ghost is when a man of malyce stubbournes of minde â–ª doeth rayle vppon the trueth of Goddes word manifestly perceiued and being enemye therunto persecuteth y â— same And because suche be guiltye of goddes cursse they entangle theÌ„ selues wyth a most greuous hainous crime wherupon this kinde of sin is called and affirmed of the Lord vnpardonable ¶ Of predestination and Election PRedestination to lyfe is the euerlastynge purpose of God wherby before the foundations of the worlde were layed he hathe constantlye decreed by hys owne iudgemente secreate to vs to delyuer frome cursse and damnation those whom he hath chosen oute of mankinde and to bryng them to euerlasting saluation by Christ as vessels made to honoure Whereupon suche as haue so excelleÌ„t a benefit of God geuen vnto them be called according to goddes purpose by his spi rite workyng in due season they throughe grace obey the calling thei be iustified freli thei be made sonnes by adoption thei be made like the image of Gods onlye begotten sonne Iesu Christe they walke religiously in good works and at length by Goddes mercy they attain to euerlasting felicity As the Godlye consideratyon of Predestination and our election in Christ is full of swete pleasaunt and vnspeakeable confort to godly parsons and such as fele in them selues the woorkynge of the spirite of Christe mortifying the workes of the flesh and theyr earthlye members and drawyng vp theyr mynde to high and heauenlye thinges aswel because it doeth greatly establyshe and confyrme theyr faythe of eternall saluation to bee enioyed throughe Christ as because it doth ferueÌ„tly kindle their loue towards god So for curyous and carnall persones lacking the spirit of Christ to haue continuallye before theyr eyes the sentence of Goddes predestination is a most dauÌ„gerous downe fall whereby the Deuyll may thrust them either into despe racion or into a rechlesnesse of most vncleane liuing no lesse perilous then desperacyon Furthermore although the decrees of predestynation are vnknowen vnto vs yet we must receyue Goddes promyses in suche wyse as they be generallye settefourthe to vs in holye scrypture and in our doynges that wyll of God is to be folowed whiche we haue expressely declared vnto vs in the worde of God ¶ We must trust to obteine eternall Saluation onely by the name of Christ. THey also are to be had accur sed and abhorred that presume to say that euery man shalbe saued by the Lawe or sect whiche he professeth so that he be diligeÌ„t to frame hislife according to that lawe and the lighte of nature For holye Scripture dothe set out vnto vs only the name of Iesu Christe wherby men muste be saued ¶ All menne are bounde to kepe the Morall coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes of the Law THe law which was geueÌ„ of god by Moses althoughe it binde not christian men as concerning the ceremonies and Rites of the same Neyther is it required that the ciuile Precepts and ordres of it shoulde of necessity be receiued in anye common we ale yet no manne be he neuer so perfecte a christian is exempte and loose from the Obedience of those commaundementes which are called Moral Wherfore they are not to be harke ned vnto who affirm that holy Scripture is geuen onlye to the weake and dooâ—… boaste them selfes continually of the spirit of whom they say they haue learned such thyngs as they teache although the same be most euidentlye repugnante to the holye Scripture ¶ Of the Churche THe visible Church of Christe is a congregatyon of faythefull menne in the whych the Pure word of god is preached and the sacramentes be duelye minystred accordinge to Christes ordynaunce in all those thynges that of necessitye are requisite to the same As the church of Ierusalem of Alexandria and of Antioch hathe erred So also the Churche of rome hath erred not only in their liuing but also in maters of their faythe ¶ Of the aucthoritie of the Churche IT is not lawful for the church to ordeine anye thynge that is contrarie to Goddes word writteÌ„ Neither may it so expoune one place of scripture that it be repugnante to an other Wherefore although the churche be a wytnesse and a keper of holy wrytte yet as it ought not to decree any thinge againste the same so besides the same ought it not to enforce any thinge to be beleued for necessity of Saluation ¶ Of the authority of generall Counsailes GEnerall counsailes maye not bee gathered together withoute the commaundemente and wyll of Prynces and whan they be gathered for as muche as they bee an assemblie of menne whereof all be not gouerned with the spirite â–ª and word of God they may erre â–ª and sometyme haue erred not only in worldly matters â–ª but also in thynges pertaynynge vnto God Wherefore thyngs ordeyned by them as necessarye to Saluation haue neither streÌ„gth nor auctoritye onlesse it maye be declared that they be taken oute of holye scrypture ¶ Of Purgatorye THe Doctryne of Schole aucthoures concerning purgatorye Pardones Worshipping and adorocion aswel of Images as of reliques and also inuocation of Sainctes is a fond thyng vainly feigned and grounded vpon no warraunte of scripture but rather repugnante to the woorde of God ¶ No manne may minister in the Congregation except he be called IT is not lawfull for anye man to take vppon him the offyce of Publique preachinge or mynystringe the Sacramentes â–ª in the congregation before he be lawefullye called and sente to execute the same And those we oughte to iudge lawfully called and sente whiche be chosen called to thys worcke by menne who haue publique auctoritie geuen vnto them in the congregation to call and sende ministers into the Lordes vineyarde ¶ Men muste speake in the Congregation in such toung as the people vnderstandeth IT is moste semely and most agreable to the woorde of God that in the congregatyon nothynge be openlye readde or spoken in a tounge vnknowen to y â— people The whiche thynge saynt Paule did forbid except soÌ„e were present that shuld declare y