Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	faith_n	grace_n	lord_n	6,870	5	3.6136	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A17659	A faythfull and moost godlye treatyse concernyng the most sacred Sacrament of the blessed body and bloude of our sauioure Chryst, co[m]piled by Iohn Caluyne, a man of no lesse lernyng and lytterature then godly studye, and example of liuyng. And translated into Latin by Lacius a man of lyke excellencie. And nowe last of all, translated into Englyshe by a faythfull brother, no lesse desirous to profyt the weake brotheres then to exercise the talent of the Lorde to his honoure and glorye. In declaration whereof, he hath set before this lytle booke an epistle to the reader much more effectuous then in the fyrst edicion. Whereunto the order that the churche and congregation of Christ in Denmarke doth vse at the receyuying of baptisme, the Supper of ye Lorde, and wedlocke: is added. Myles Couerdale; Petit traicté de la Saincte cene. English	Calvin, Jean, 1509-1564.; Broke, Thomas.; Coverdale, Miles, 1488-1568.; Danske folkekirke.	1548 (1548)	STC 4411; ESTC S107182	57,569	98

besech the vnfay nedly so to illuminate our mindes wyth thy holye spirite that we maye dailye increace in strenght of faythe to the in assurednesse of hope in thy promyses and feruentnesse of loue towarde the and our neyghbours to the glory and prayse of thy holy name Amen ¶ Thus the priest concludeth and endeth the office of this present misterie and blesseth the peopell rehearsyng these wordes of scripture Numer● .vi. ¶ The Lord blesse you and preserue you the Lorde shewe his face to you and haue mercye on you the Lorde turne his contenaunce vnto you ▪ geue you peace Amen And so they departe ¶ The order taken for the due ministracion of the blessed Sacrament of Baptisme ON the sondaye at one of the clocke after none they haue a sermon of an houre longe wyth lyke ryngyng and singynge of Psalmes afore in theyr mother tonge as they had in the mornynge to the whiche preachynge the people come as thycke as they dyd then And as they signe a Psalme for grace to the holy goost in the mornyng so do they here also and at euerye sermon where or when so euer it be made And lyke as in the mornynge when the sermon is done the preacher exhorteth them to cōfesse theyr synnes wyth hym in theyr hertes and there vpon doth absolue thē by the power of Goddes● worde so dothe he here also in lyke maner and in euery sermon Then synge they a lyke songe of thankesgyuynge as they dyd in the mornyng and as they ●e accustomed to do after euery preachynge ¶ In the meane season whyle thys psalme of thankes gyuyng is songe or ●ls afore the font is prepared the mydwyfe is the●● present with the childe or no mydwifes yf there be no chyldrē to be christened as there be comonly wyth a fayre company of honest sobre women And when the psalme is songe out the ministre beynge theyr ready at the font readeth a lecture of the Bible And when he hath declared it cōpendiously to the edifiynge of the congregacion he exhorteth them that for asmuche as all men are cōceyued and borne in synne and that seynge it is vnpossible for a man to come into the kyngdome of God excepte he be borne a newe and regenerate they wyll shewe and declare theyr Godly ●oue and call vpon God the father thorow Iesus Christ and in his name that he wyll mercifullye baptyse that chylde or those chyldren wyth the holy goste and receyue hym or them to grace ¶ Upō the same exhortacion they make their hertye prayer besechynge God to haue mercye on the chylde and then addeth he thys or suche a lyke peticion in theyr name sayinge ¶ O almyghty God whiche in cōmaundynge vs to praye hast assured vs that we beleuyng stedfastly in thy pro●●es shall haue all that we desyre specially concernynge the soule wherin we seke thy glory wealth of out neyghbours Our humble peticion to the O most deare father is that for asmuche as this chylde is not wythout originall synne thou wylt consyder thyne owne mercy and accordyng to thy promes sende thys chylde thy good spirite that in thy syght it be not cōpted amonge the chyldren of wrath but of lyght grace become a membre of the vndefiled churche spoused to Christ thy deare sonne in fayth and loue vnfayned by the meanes of y ● same Iesus Chirst our Lorde Amen ¶ An other O Almyghty eternall God moste merciful father For asmuche as the iuste lyueth by fayth vnpossible it is any man w tout beliefe to please the we beseche the y ● thou wyl● graūt to this childe the gyfte of fayth wherin thou wylt seale and assure his hert in the holy gost according to the promes of thy sōne that the inward regeneracion of the spirite may be truely represented by the outwarde baptysme and that the childe may be buried with hym in death and be raysed vp by hym frome deathe againe To the prayse of thy glory and edifyinge of hys neghboure Amen ¶ Somtyme also the priest readeth this parcell of the .x. Chapter of S. Markes gospel saieng ANd they brought lytle chyldren to hym that he should touch thē And his disciples rebuked those that broughte them But whan Iesus saw it he was displeased sayed vnto them Suffer litle chyldren to come to me and forbidde them not for of suche is the kingdome of god Uerely I saye vnto you who so euer receaueth not the kyngdome of God as a chyld shal not entre therin And he toke thē vp in his armes put his handes vpon them and blessed them ¶ Then the godfather yf it be a manchilde or the godmother yf it be a womāchilde holding the chylde in his armes commeth and standeth by the prieste who asketh hym on the childes behalfe yf he forsake the deuel al his workes he saith yea and vpon the priestes interrogaciō he cōfesseth his fayth in the face of the church So the priest taketh the childe in his left hāde and w t his righthande he poureth water on his head calling him by his name as he did afore and baptisynge him in the name of the father and of the sonne a●d of the holy gooste ¶ Fynally the ministre committeth the chyldren to the prayers of the congregaciō exhorteth the godfathers and godmothers most ernestly to se that the children be brought vp and instruct in Christen knowledge vertue to the glory of God edifieng of the comen wealth ¶ Then synge they a psalme eyther that concerneth some thankes geuynge to God for his worde or els some necessary peticion And so they depart ¶ Now in lyke maner as thou seist thys blessed sacrament ministred on the sonday euē so wyth lyke reuerence do they vse it at the same houre on those wyke dayes that the congregaciō w t the authoritie of their head rulers hath appointed to that vse And yf the children in y e meane time be in any daūger thē y e mydwifes baptise thē And as the congregacion and multytude of people is greate at the ministracion of holy baptysme on the sōday so is it also on the other appoynted dayes though they be worke dayes Wherby it is to be noted that y e instituciō and ordinaunce of God is in greate reputaciō amonge them for as it is ministred reuerently so is it heard with greate deuocion and feruentnes And though there be alwaye some vnthankefull lyuers ye● the flocke of Christe be euer bringinge forth good fruites folowe the worde of lyfe in theyr cōuersacion ¶ The ordre taken for the due ministracyon of holy wedloke AS toutching Gods holy institucion of mariage thou shalte vnderstande that preuye cōtractes are auoyded asmuche as may be And yonge folkes are so well broughte vp in the feare of God and instructe in the knowledge of his worde that they wel not lightly be entyced to rūne on heade and mary without y ● honest consent of theyr parentes and

therfore we wyl confesse that when we do accordynge to the institution of the Lorde receyu● the Sacrament with fayth we are vndoubtedlye made partakers of the substaunce of the body and bloude of Christe Howe thys thynge shoulde be done some men can better define and more playnly expounde then other But thys thynge is chiefely to be remembred that we exclude all carnall imagination that the mynde ought to be erected into heauē and that we thynke not our Lorde Iesu Christe to be so vyle that he may be conteyned in corruptible elementes Agayne leste the force of thys most sacred mistery shoulde be diminished we must thynke that it is wrought by the secrete and wonderful power of God and that his spirite is the bonde of thys partaking whiche is for that cause called spirituall Finis ¶ The order that the churche and cōgregacion of Christe in Denmarke and in many places coūtreis and cities in Germany doth vse not onelye at the holy supper of the Lorde but also at the ministration of the blessed Sacrament of Baptisme and holy Wedlocke TO all that hunger and thyrst the glorye of God wealth of theyr neyghbours be grace mercye and peace from the same euerlastyng God our moste deare father in heauen thorow our Lorde and onely Sauiour Iesus Christe It were to me a singuler comfort my ryght deare and intierly beloued brethren and systers in Iesu Christe yf I myghte be wyth you my selfe continuallye comunicate vnto you some part of that litle talēt which I haue receiued of the Lorde my God for your sakes and all the lawefull wayes that I coulde deuyse I haue sought thys greate whyle to opteyne licēce of the hygher powers for the same purpose But it wyl not be Wherfore though I be hyndred and kepte from you by all the meanes that Sathan his membres can imagen yet shall ye haue my poore herte yet wyll I not ceasse to wyshe you good yet wyll I do the beste for you that I can although it be but wyth my pen. In token wherof I haue set forth vnto you the order and maner that many whiche haue receyued Goddes worde vnfaynedly do vse not onely at the mooste h●lye supper of our Lorde but also at the ministracion of the blessed Sacramente of Baptisme and when anye couple of persones are ioyned into holy wedlocke And thys haue I done to the intent that when ye haue spyed and do se that thys order is agreable vnto Gods worde not varying frō the moste wholsome doctrine therof Ye maye wyshe in your hertes to haue Goddes truth prospere lykewyse amonge you in the realme of Englande And praye vnfaynedly wyth me and all other synners that the father of mercy and God of all comforte wyll ●o lyghten and illuminate the hertes of oure rulers that they maye folowe the earnest monicion of the seconde Psalme and be no more wythout vnderstādyng but be wyse by times and embrace the sonne of God whyle he offreth him selfe vnto them And not only to suffre the worde of God to haue the vpper hande aboue all other doctrines but also them selues to laye to theyr handes in abolishyng the blasphemous and dampnable abuses that are here as yet ▪ suffred about the forsayed thre principles of Christes religion wherfore deare brethren whē ye compare this order vnder wrytten whiche is the doctrine of Goddes worde and practise of the primatyue churche to the vayne ceremonyes vsed here yet after the churche of Rome lyfte vp your hertes to almightye God and beseche hym that for Christes ●ake 〈◊〉 wyll once graunte that these thre his holy Supper holy Baptisme holy wed●ocke maye be truelye and sincerelye ministred and practised also amonge vs. To the glory of his blessed name ●nd encrease of his kyngdom for euer Amen ¶ The order taken for the due ministration of the holy Supper of the Lorde FOr thy better instruction thou shalte fyrste vnderstande that the blessed Sacrament of the bodye and bloude of the Lorde the worthy memoriall of oure redempcion is at no tyme denyed to any christen man where gods worde is truely preached yf he lawfully require it And as none dothe minister it saue the priest which is the officer appointed therto So is it not ministred but whē there be other present to receyue it as well as the pryeste Now bicause that where gods worde is truely preached mē do se the fruite of the sayd holy Sacrament therfore resort they the oftener to the same holy supper of the lorde and delyte the more therin But specially to se what a nūbre come to it on the sōdaye how reuerently it woulde do ones hert good And bicause they may the more fruitfully be partakers thereof therfore on the saterday whē the preachyng is done euery daye they haue a sermon all suche as are appoynted in them selues to be partakers of the Lordes supper come one after an other to the priest of whō they learne not onely what the Sacrament is the right vse therof but also they beynge repentaunt and sorye for theyr synnes professing amendement receyue there gods promises for theyr absolucion to the singulare comforte of theyr conscience are exhorted by the priest to do agaynste the morow as the holy Apostle Paule biddeth them that is euen to trye examen and proue them selues whether they cā be cōtent vnfaynedlye in theyr hertes to take better holde on the kyngdome of God then they haue done in tymes paste to be more stedfaste in fayth and hope towarde god hys promyses to bemore feruent in prayer and loue towarde God and for hys sake to shewe vnfayned soue towarde euery man to forgeue hertely as they wolde be forgeuen to mortyfie theyr fleshe dalie more and more by reasonable abstynence and godly exercises of the spirite and vertuous occupacion of the bodye to bee glad in distrybutynge the workes of mercy to the poore c. And whē the pryest preacher or curate for al is on thynge hathe geuen euerye one thys or suche a lyke exortation and enioyued ech one hys penaūce accordyng to his estate as subiectes to be true obediēt to their rule●s seruātes to be faithful and diligent in waytyng on their masters conmaundement children to honour and ob●ie their parentes ▪ and to lerne vertue whyle they be yonge housholders to kepe their houses in the feare of God so forth whē the priest I saye hath enioyned them thus to lyue and to increase in the same wel doynge he commytteth them to God and to the worde of hys grace And so they departe ¶ On the sondaye in the mornyng at .vi. of the clocke in Sōmer and at .vii. in winter the bell ryngeth and the people prepare them selues to the churche so that sone after the bel hath ronge the seco●de tyme the churche is almost full of men women and chyldren Then a lytle a fore the houre is expired they rynge y ● bell the thirde tyme whiche ceasseth

remembraunce An other signe to declare thys misterye by Thys cuppe of wyne is but one body and yet is it made of many grapes and so are you but one bodye althoughe you be manye so longe as you be ioyned together by fayth It comforteth the herte and the lyuely spirites of the bodye and so doth my bloude shed on the crosse comforte the soule By thys action haue I declared vnto you the misterie of the paticipation you haue in me by fayth Use you the same that thys your delyueraunce by me may neuer slippe out of your mynde We haue eaten the lambe whyche putteth vs in remembraunce of the wonderfull delyueraūce out of the captiuitie in Egypte whyche was done more then a thousande yeares paste So shall you eat thys bread and drynke this cuppe in remembruance of your redemption and deliueraūce our of the spiritual Egipte and from the spiritual Pharao the dyuell And when you shalbe demaunded what you meane by this eatynge drynkynge you shall saye We where through the synne and transgression of the fyrst man Adā made bonde mē and captynes to the dyuel out of whyche bondage we could by no meanes be delyuered tyll it had pleased God the father to sende hys onelye begotten sonne to take oure nature vpon hym that he myght dye and be an acceptable sacryfyce to pacyfye the fathers wrathe Wherfore the night before he suffered he declared vnto vs by these visyble sygnes what cōmunyon we haue in hym of all that euer he deserued for vs. And then he cōmaūded vs to vse the same bycause we shoulde be alwayes put in remembraunce of that our redemption and delyueraunce none other wyse them Moyses dyd to the Israelytes the nighte before he dyd by the wonderfull myght of God brynge them out of the greate captiuytie wher in they were holden in Egypt The wordes of saynt Paule to the corhinthians do teach no lesse them I haue here wrytten For he sayeth so often as you eate thys breade and drynke this cup you shal declare the death of the lorde tyll he come And therfore who so euer eateth of thys bread or drynketh of thys cup vnworthely doth eate and drynke hys owne dampnation Here is a playne declaration of the ende purpose of Christ when he instituted this most sacred sacramēt Forsoth to kepe in remēbrāce hys mooste dolorouse death preciouse bloude moste plēteously shed vpō the crosse And who so euer eateth drinketh it vnworthly that is to saye for any other purpose thē for the same it was ordeined for the same eateth drinketh hys owne dāpnation I thynke not contrarie but y ● moste men wyl thynke this a straūge interpretation of this place for as moche as the moste auncient yea all y e doctours that make any mencion of this place and Caluine hym selfe in this boke whyche I haue translated do applye the vnworthynesse in receyuynge of thys Sacrament to the vnpenitent hert of the persone whiche receyueth it And in very dede such one is farre vnworthy to receyue so worthy a Sacrament for as much as he is not the membre nor seruaunt of Christ but a membre of the deuyll and seruaunt to synne And thys interpretation is no lesse godly then fruitfull For therby are the membres of Christe put in feare to presume to come to the table of the lorde vnlesse they haue fyrst examined found them selues the trewe membres of Christe indued and adorned with perfyt faith hope and charitie But yf we wyl go to the natyue sence of the text we shal perceyue that in this place Paule speaketh of the small regarde the Corhinthians had to thys mooste sacred Sacrament not vsyng it wyth so much reuerence as they ought to do For he addeth these wordes Puttynge no difference of the Lordes body As he shoulde haue sayed esteamyng it nothing better then the cōmune bread wherwyth they fedde theyr bodyes The phrase of speakyng gyueth this interpretation for yf I say This man was not worthely enterteyned I meane not that the partie whiche enterteyned him was not worthye to enterteyne so noble a man but that he was not vsed as was beseamyng for such a mā to be vsed So that to receyue the Sacramēt vnworthely is to receyue it otherwyse or for an other purpose then it oughte to be receyned for y ● is after any other forme or for any other purpose then y ● wordes of y ● first institutiō do declare For whē y e vse of good thinges is altred frō y ● purpose ende they were fyrste ordeyned for then are they vnworthely handled Al they therfore whyche do priuately receyue the Sacramēt eyther to merite them selues or other other that do make it a sacrifyce for the redemption of synne or to pacify goddes wrathe in any cōdition or after any other forme or for any other purpose thē is declared in the wordes of the fyrst institution do receyue it to theyr dampnation putting no difference of the Lordes bodye but vsynge it as a matter of marchaundyse or occupacion to get theyr lyuynge vpon They onely receyue it worthely which receiue it as a most worthy Sacrament and signe representynge vnto vs the cōmunion and partipacion we haue in all that euer Christe dyd or purchased for vs by taking our nature sufferyng therin al maner of moste miserable afflicions finally by hys mooste cruel and dolorouse death Therfore to hoyse it ouer theyr heades to daunce it ouer the cuppe to cary it in the stretes wyth a great pompe and glorye to bowe theyr knees and to knocke theyr breastes before it and to locke it vp in a pire to haue it ready to serue at al houres all suche chapmen as shall cal for it is but a polytyke caste of the marchauntes whyche displeye and set abrode to be sene suche marchaundyse as they woulde faynest sel As they do offende whiche neglecte and contemne thys moste holy mistery esteaming it no better then the comon breade wherewyth ou●e bodyes be fedde so do they also offende whiche honoure it wyth diuine honoure makynge it therby an ydol of all other moste to be abhorred both for that as they vse it it is a playne Antichriste spoylynge Christe of his victorye atchyued by the ones offeryng of hym felfe for all and al●o for that it pulleth the beleauers theron from the true adoracion of God the father and maketh them to ho●our for the inuisible immēse and eternall god that visible mensueable and corruptible breade wyne Yea as they vse it it is not the communion of Christes body and bloude at all but a fonde inuencion of theyr owne For Christe dyd not make so manye crossynges and blessinges and then eate it vp all him selfe But we must beleue that they recey●● it for vs and in all oure names We must beleue that theyr receauynge of it is the application of Christes merites to vs. We must beleue that they can therby releue y ● soules in y

Iewelles the sacramentes of Christ●s body and bloude and howe he laboureth daylye in hys members the wycked papistes to wyth holde from vs the knowledge of the spiritual eating and drynkynge of Christe whiche begynneth nowe to spreade the worlde ouer all Lette vs runne therfore vnto oure present and onelye succour in thys greate daunger To Christe I saye let vs runne moste humbly besekyng him oure Sauiour and redeamer plenteouslye to poure out of his spirite of knowledge vpon vs all that we maye daylye more and more fynde out the hydde and secrete abhominacions to the vtter extirpacion and rowtyng out of the same And in the meane tyme let vs pray to gyther that it may please the Lorde to augment the nūbre of his faythful tournynge Saules in to Paules that the harde hertes may be molified by hearing the persecutours preach Christ whom they persecuted The spirite of truth be wyth you al. So be it It is the spirite that quyckeneth the fleshe profiteth nothynge at all Iohn svi FOr as moche as the most holye supper of our lorde Iesu Christ hath of longe tyme ben lapped vp in manyfold and great errours and euen of late dayes wrapped in many opinions and contentions nothynge so quiet as was besemyng no meruayle thoughe certayue weake conscienced persones can not wel determyne what thynge they ought chyflye to folowe but do wyth indeferente and suspense mynde loke whan the seruauntes of God settinge all contention a parte shall agree amonge them selues and brynge the matter to some concorde and vnitie And seynge that such kynde of doubte hath no smal incommoditye annexed and that it is a thyngee mooste dayngerouse to haue no certayne determinacion of that mistrye the knowledge wherof is so necessarye to our saluation I haue thought it a thynge moste profytable bryeflye to spake of the chiefe sume of the matter and yet playnlye to declare what thynge we oughte chyeflye to sticke vnto therin More ouer certayne honeste men perceyuynge the matter to require no lesse desyred me earnestly to take it in hande whose requeste I coulde by no meanes denye vnlesse I wolde haue bene slake in doynge my dutye And that the difficultie therof may the more easely be opened it is neadfull to declare what order we intende to folowe herein Fyrst I shall declare for what cause and to what ende the Lorde hath instituted this most holye sacramente Then what ●ruite we take therof and herein I wyll declare howe the bodye of Chryst● is geuen vs in it Thyrdlye what is the ryght vse therof Forthlye I shall reherse the erroures and superslicions wherby it hath ben defaced and so wyll I declare howe the seruauntes of God ought to differ from the papistes Finallye I wyll declare the originall of that contencion whiche hath ben so ernestlye mayntayned euen of the same men whyche in our time haue applied al theyr studye to bring the gospel to lyght agayne to replenish againe the congregatiō and to restore the syncere and pure doctryne As concernynge the Fyrste When it pleased the almyghty oure God by baptisme to chose vs into the cōgregation that is to saye into his house whyche he wyll nouryshe and defende and that he hath receyued vs not onely as houshold seruauntes but also as his chyldren it behoueth hym yf he wyl playe the parte of a good father to bringe vs vp ministrynge vnto vs all thynges necessarye to foode and clothynge But as concernynge the thinges that pertayne to the educacion of the bodye bycause they be common to all men so that as well the euyl persones as y ● good be partakers therof they are not to be taken as for thynges appertaynyng to his houshould onely No doubt in that he feadeth and defendeth our bodies and whiles we be partakers of al those good thinges which he most plēteously and liberally geueth vs is declared a great tokē of his father●y goodnes towarde vs. But in lyke maner as the lyfe wherin he hath regenerate vs is spi●ituall so is it neadfull that the meate wherwith we should be susteyned strēgthed be al●o spiritual For we muste vnderstande y ● we are not called to possesse the celestiall inheri●aunce in tyme to come onely but y ● throughe ●ope we are in maner set in possession therof ●l ready So y ● he hath not onely promised vs lyfe but delyueringe vs from death he hath al ready ledde vs into it in very dede And thys thinge opteyned we whē he begate vs a newe wyth the sede of immortalitie y ● is to saye his worde whiche through the holy goste he hath prynted fastened in our hertes That we ther fore may defende susteyne this lyfe we must not seke y ● caducal corriptible meates wherwith the bealy is fed but we must prouide for our soules much better more excellent foode And the whole scripture witnesseth y ● the selfe same wordes wherby the lorde hath begotten vs a new is y ● spiritual bread wherby our soules are susteined fedde the reasone is this by cause in it Christ our onely life is giuē ministred vnto vs. For when god would that al abundance of lyfe shoulde remayne in Christ to the intent y ● by hym he myght make vs partakars therof he ordayned the worde also wherby Christ all his mercyes myght be ministred vnto vs. Thys sentence therfore is infallibly true that our soules are fed nourished wyth none other foode then Iesu Christ. Wherfore the heauenly father being careful for our educacion gaue vs none other foode yea rather he committed thys vnto vs singularly And for as muche as it is sufficient ynoughe for the recreacion and sustenaunce of our soules he wyll●d vs to content oure selues therewith and that our soules shoulde rest t●gether therin bycause we maye by no meanes be with out that foode whyche beynge taken awaye none other can be founde Nowe do we perceyue after what sort Christe is y ● onely foode wherwyth our soules be sedd●●●ut bycause he is distributed vnto vs by the worde of y ● lorde as by the instrument appoynted for the same purpose he is named breade and wyne And that whyche is spoken of the worde appertayneth also to the sacrament of the supper wherby the Lorde leadeth vs vnto the partakyng of Christ. For because we be so weake and feble that we can not wyth vnfayned trust of mynde receyue hym when he is offred vnto vs in the bare preachyng of the doctrine the father of mercye wyllyng to accommodate hym selfe vnto our infimitie therin hath ioyned vnto the worde a signe to be sene with the eyes whereby he myght represent vnto vs the very substance of his promesses that al doubt and wauerynge taken awaye we myght be cōfyrmed and strengthened in hym Seynge therfore thys misterye is hyghe and harde to attayne to and that we can not by witte comprehende or by studye vnderstāde howe the bodye and bloude of Christe maye be

be abolished let those y ● feare god vnfaynedly be feruent in theyr prayers increace in all thākfulnesse veriuous lyuyng towarde God men Let no mā womā nor chylde of god be flacke in his deutie but let fayth increace in strength let hope be euermore and more assured of gods promises let charitie alway loue God and her neighbour and leaue no good worke vndone that may be to gods glory mans profyt And thē shal we be knowen not onely readers and hearers of the truth but true disciples of the same And though we can not atteyne to the perfec●nesse of that comon wealth whiche I spake of afore where Gods ordinaunces are so reuerētly ministred the poore so richely pro uided for youth so vertuous●y broughte vp neuertheles we doinge our best and begginge strēgth of god to do more then we cā do of our selues shall not onelye be alowed accepted in his sight but also haue the cōtinuall assistence of his holy spirite wherby we sufficinetly harnessed and armed agaynste all temptacions of synne hel the deuyl our owne fleshe shall as wel haue the vpper hande of them as we haue thorow the onelye power of God ouercome many sturdy wyndes and tempestes of aduersitie in tyme paste and as we hope to escape these present troubles by the helpe of Iesus Christ whose name be blessed for euer Amen ¶ A litle complaynte with a short exhortacion made vnto all them that are no dissemblers w t gods worde but vnfaynedly lyue there after LYke as God accordyng● to his moste blessed nature euer louyng gracious mercyfull true both alwaye sende ●is worde afore he pl●ge the worlde and gyue●h vs warnyng afore the destruction come wyllynge vs to cōuerte vnto him to forsake our owne euyll wayes to lay hande on eternal lyfe Euen so cōtrary wise the deuyl the father of falsheade and lyes en●ying mans saluaciō casteth euer one bone or other in the way to hindre the glory of God to stoppe his worde to kepe backe his truth least thorow the stedfast beleauinge folowing therof his owne kyngdom shoulde be minished gods amplified encreased ▪ Somtime to hynder the gospell of the glorye of the great god he steareth vp tirāny cruelnes and mo●eth some rulers or great mē of the worlde to take part agaynst it to persecute it to trouble vere thē whō god hath called vnto it Ensāple wherof ye se in Pharao in king Achab in Antiochus in Herode in those greate prelates that shewed their hote charitie vpon our Sauiour Christ his Apostles The deuyl also to set vp his kyngdome the better getteth him chaplens for his owne ●oeth such as were Baals prophetes .iii. Regū .xxii. that they may euer eyther in confessions or otherwise moue kynges princes to take parte agaynste theyr owne saluacion to trouble such as tel thē no dreames nor fātasies but euen the very word of god As the prophete Mych●as dyd Somtime I saye least the truth shoulde be beleued the deuyll as he is the father of all lyes so getteth he false wytnesses to testify euen agaynst Christ against poore Steuē Paule his seruaūtes yea to preache that theyr doctrine is naught sedicious newe learning and heresy Mat .xxvii. Mat .i. Aetu .vii .xxi ▪ ii y ● they wyll destroy good workes Ro .iii. y ● they wyll kepe no holy daye Mat .xii. Iohn .v. that they wyll not fast Mat .ix. Mar .ii. Luc .v. Thus I say is the deuyl euer about to ouerthrow Christes kyngdome to set vp his owne And bycause his lyinge chaplens shoulde the better fyght agaynste Christ he teacheth them to go crattely to worke to lye spare not to cal the disciples of Christ newe felwes to saye that they care neyther for fasting nor praying for almes dede nor for good worke yea make the worlde beleue sayth the deuyll y ● they care neyther for one cerimonye nor other for one sacramēt nor other Such lying lessons doth the deuyl teach his scholers not onely this but also to wrest and wrynge the scripture frō the manifest vnderstanding of it of the which iuglyng cast he hath gyuen thē an ensāple in the .iiii. of Mat and .iiii. of Luke Who now cōsidering this greate decaye of godlynes that the deuyl hath brought into the worlde partly thorow the tyrāny that he hath steared vp in great mē partly thorowe the false wytnes bearyng of hypocrites and lyinge teachers hathe no cause to mourne in this behalfe Who wyl not be sory to se Gods holy worde thus persecuted thus exiled thus cruelly reported thus belyed Neuerthelesse al thys euyll doth not the deuyll thynke sufficient he can not here withall be cōtent but he entreth in also amonge them that professe the name of Christe y ● are called brethren disciples that pretende to loue and fauour his truth And amonge them loke who is mete for his purpose moste inconstant and leas● regardeth Christes worde in his herte of hym he maketh eyther an whoremonger and disceyuer of his neyghbour or a folower of other vyces of his owne carnal lustes robbyng him vtterly of that moste holy moste stedfaste and lyuynge fayth that Chryst taught also of those worthy fruites of y ● spirite of god repētance workes of light whiche y ● scripture speaketh of By the meanes wherof because he bareth the name of a Chrysten brother ther fore euen as he behaueth hym selfe nowe and as he lyueth so must we be reputed of the vngodly and such lyuers must we be called Yf he be a breaker of peace a maker of sediciō a drōkarde a false byer and seller a folower of fylthy lustes a brynger vp of s●ctes as God euer suffrethe them to be disceaued that wyl not abyde the ordre of hys worde Then muste we also be called breakers of comē ordre raylers makers of insurrectiō droūkardes false dealers wyth oure neyghboures Heretikes folowers of a fleshlye and carnall lyberte Yea though all oure teachynge wrytynge talking and lyuing be to the cōtrary Yet beare we the blame so blynd is thys wyckede world in iudgement so vnthankfull in theyr lyuynge are a great nombre of them that are called Chrysten men as I vnderstand on the other syde ¶ Wherfore to you dearlye beloued in God electe and chosen to an hye vocacion in Iesus Christ euē to be flesh of his flesh bone of his bones to be citezens wyth the sayntes and of the housholde of God to you I make this my mo●e afore rehearced trusting that though nether the world nor those false brethren which because they were not of vs are gone frome among vs .i. Ihoā .ii. are fallen in loue wyth this world after the ēsāple of Demas .ii. Ti .ii though nether of them both I saie wyll harkē to y ● voyce of God whyle it is called To daye but styll harden theyr hertes agaynste Godds trueth My trust is as