the worlde begynnynge of all nacions and of the Patriarkes and olde ryghteous seruauÌ„tes of god of theyr faith and conuersacion of the promises workes â—e god The same wrote he as he was inspired of the holy goost and as he had receaued of olde fathers and somwhat as he founde in the bokes of the Egipcians For Moses was excellently well lerned in all wysdome of the Egipcians as Steuen doth wytnesse of hym Act. vii The other thre bokes wrote he of hys owne tyme accordynge as he hym selfe was present sawe and knewe And specially the seconde koke concernynge the departynge out of Egipt how the people of god were oppressed in Egipte howe the Egypcians were punyshed how Israell was delyuered receaued the lawe and set vp a tabernacle wyth a gorgious seruynge of God In the thyrde boke whych is called Leuiticus are wrytten the spirituall lawes namely suche as concerneth the preestes and the presthode theyr office lyuynge knowlege sacrifices solempne feaste dayes rytes ceremonies and suche lyke In the fourth whyche is called Numeri he wryteth at length how they went thorow the wyldernesse and came to Jordane wyth a rehearsal of theyr ordre and nombre of theyr murmurynge also and punyshment and of certayne victories wyth a remembraunce of certayne lawes and statutes Besyde all thys he made yet an Enchiridion and summe of all the Actes of hys tyme and of the lawe of God whyche is called Deuteronomium the same coÌ„maunded he to be layd in the Arke at the moc oÌ„ of God and that it shulde be red vnto all the people as it is mencioned Deut. xxxi And in these fyue bokes geuen vs of God by Moses is the whole grounde of oure holy faythe For all the Prophetes afterwarde grounded them selues vpon the same and wrote therout lyke as afterwarde our Lorde Jesus and the Apostles poynte vnto Moses Nether dyd euer any ryghte wyse man of vnderstandyng and that feared God doute any thynge or blaspheme suche scriptures And from suche true seruauntes of God haue we hytherto receaued our matters in wrytinge Thus much haue I sayd concernynge the lawe howe it is no newe thynge but euen the onely wyll of god but now compre hended in wryrtynge Moreouer that all the law poynteth vnto Christ and that all men of ryght vnderstandynge whyche lyued vnder the law were Christen For manifest is it that Paull sayde Roma x. Christ is the ende of the lawe to iustifie euery one that beleueth And Galathia iii. Or euer faith that is to saye Christ came we were kepte and shut vp vnder the law vnto the fayth whyche shulde afterwarde be declared Thus was the law our scolemaster vnto Christ that we might be made ryghteous by faith All thys I suppose wyll be new and starunge in many hertes neuertheles I truste that all they whyche haue vnderstandyng do se and knowlege that thys is the true olde ryght and godly Dyuinite and Theologye whyche ascrybeth all honoure vnto god the father thorow oure Lorde Jesu Christe in the holye goost To whome be glory and prayse for euer Amen ¶ All vertuous kynges and the people of Israell trusted vnto Christ and not to the lawe AFter that the law was geuen and the gods seruice set vp Moses the seruaunt of God dyed beynge an hundreth and twentye yeare olde and at the commaundement and commission of God he lefte gods people to be ruled and gyded by the faythfull valâ—auntâ— Josue whyche also was a figure of oure Lorde Jesu For lyke as it was not Moses but Josue that brought the people in to the lande of promes Euen so are we brought in to the eternall reste not by the workes of the lawe nor thorow our own deseruing but by the grace thorow Jesus Christ lyke as it is also wyth many wordes expressed of holy Paul Heb iiii This Josue no doute dyd kepe maynteine and defende gods fayth and religion with the sprete and vnderstandynge thereof and taught other to keye the same â–ª lyke as he thoroâ—e gods inspiration receaued it of the fathers by Moses Whyche thynge thoughe it be euydent in many poyntes yet is it manyfeste specially by thys that he wolde not suffre the chyldren of Rubâ—n and Gâ—d and the halfe tribe of Manâ—sse to set vp and haue another auture beside the onely autare that the lord had appointed them For here in as it is mencioned afore was figured the vertue and perfectnesse of the onely crosse death and sacrificyng of Jesu Christe Therefore wolde not Josue that any thynge shulde be set check mate wyth the cross and oblacion of Jesu Christ but that all honour of cleÌ„synge and forgeuenesse of synnes shulde be ascribed onely vnto hym Where as Josue now and other iudges rulers princes and kynges of Israell after hym vsed sore great warre stroke many horrible battayles destroyed muche lande and people and shed mens bloude without measure he dyd it as a chefe head and as an instrument and vessell of God at the commaundemente of God whyche wolde so punyshe the ydolatrye the great synne blasphemy of the vngodly whych he had longe suffred and exhorted them to amendement but for all hys pacient abydynge they woulde not conuerte Those now dyd he rote out thorowe the swerde of hys beloued frâ—ndes somtyme delyuered he hys people wyth the swerde of the ryghteous and saued them from the haÌ„de of theyr enemyes For because of the synnes of hys people he gaue them ouer somtyme in to the hande of theyr enemies to nurtoure and correcte them wyth the rod then fell the people of God â—â—ede before theyr enemies and were subdued and opprest of the vngodly tyll they knowledged their synnes called vpon god and amended puttynge their truste in good onely thorowe the blessed sede worshyppynge hym onely callynge vpon hym and honourynge hym accordynge to hys worde castynge a waye straunge god seruyce and ydols that shamefull blasphemous and vn godly lyuynge Then sente he them hys helpe and delyuered them in hys power by the ministration of hys appoynted captaynes And soche warrynge delyuerynge and punyshinge was no fleshly vnfaithfull worke whome no man oughte to folowe as some beynge wrapped with the vnstedfast sprete of the Manichees and Ana baptistes do meane For Paul expresseth clearly And what shall I saye of Gedeon Barach Samson and Jephthae Dauid and Samuel and the Prophetes whiche thorow faith subdued kyngdomes wrought righteousnesse opteyned the promyses stopped the mouthes of Lyons quenched the violence of fyre escaped the edge of the swerde of weake were made stronge became valeaunt in batayll turned to flyght the armyes of the aleauntes Hebre. xi All which workes the holy Apostle prayseth and commendeth as excellent workes of faith Therfore are they no workes of the flesh nâ—ther is it now contrary to the holy faith yf Christen rulers delyuer their innocent people whome God hath subdued vnto them from wrongfull violence and defende their libertye
waye gather vp the stones out of the strete and hang out the banner vnto the people beholde the Lorde hath caused it to be proclamed vnto the ende of the worlde Tell the daughter Syon beholde the sauyoure commeth lo his treasure and his rewarde bringeth he with him his dedes go before him And they that are redemed of the Lord shalbe called the holy people zachary sayeth in the .ix. chap. Reioyce O daughter SioÌ„ be glad O daughter Hierusalem beholde thy kyng coÌ„meth vnto the euen the righteous and sauyoure meke and symple is he he rydeth vpon an asse vpon a yong colt of the she asse He shal preach peace vnto the Hevthen his kyngdome also shall reach from the one see to the other from the ryuer vnto the vttermost parte of the erthe Of the death and passion of Christ speaketh Daniel in the .ix. chapter after this maner And after two and sixtye wekes shall Christ be slayn put to death and yet shall they haue no true testimonye that he is giltye of death Esaye in the .l. chapter sayeth thus The Lorde God opened myne eare and I refused it not nether wente I bacwarde I gaue my body to the smiters and my chekes to the nyppers and my face haue I not turned from theyr shamefull intreatinge and spittynge vpon me The Lorde God also shall help me therfore shall I not be confounded And therfore haue I hardened my face lyke a flynt stone and am sure that I shall not be confounded In the liii chapter there is writteÌ„ of Christ after this maner He shall haue nether bewtye ner fayrnesse we shall loke vpon him but we shall haue no desyre vnto hym He is despysed and conteÌ„ned of meÌ„ a maÌ„ of trouble and one that hath had experience of infirmyte He is so despysed that we shall hyde our faces from him and haue hym in no estimation And yet hath he borne oure vnperfectnesses and felt oure sorowes We also thought that he shulde be wounded smyâ—ten and punished of God But he was wounded for our synnes and slayne for oure wyckednesse sake And the punishment wherby we haue peace is layed vpon him and thorow his woundes are we made whole All we haue gone astraye lyke shepe euery one of vs hath had respecte vnto hys owne waye and the Lorde hath layed all our synnes vpon hym Uiolence and wrong was done vnto hym he hath bene euell intreated yet opened he not his mouth He shall be led as a beest to be slayen and as a shepe domme before the sherers so shall he not open hys mouth c. The whole chapter descrybeth all the cause of Christe so clearly that holy Hierome sayd not in vayne Esaye is not onely a Prophet but also an Euangelist zachary descrybeth the presthode and sacrificie of Christ and testifieth that with the same onely oblacion he hath opteyned grace for all synnes and therfore seueÌ„ that is to saye all eyes shall haue respecte vnto him and shall seke peace rest of theyr consciences in hym and shall fynde it Heare nowe O Josue thou hye prest thou and thy coÌ„panyons that syt before the seynge ye are meÌ„ of ensamples For lo I wil bring my seruauÌ„t eueÌ„ the blossome For beholde the stone whiche I haue layed before Josue wyll I brynge To the same onely stone shall seueÌ„ eyes loke Beholde I wyll dyg it vp and dssclose it sayeth the Lorde zabaoth and the synne of the erth wyll I take awaye in one daye And in that daye shall euery man call hys neghboure vnder hys vyne and fygâ—tre The buryall and resurrection of oure Lord Jesu Christ hath the prophet Jonas figured very excellently For thus sayeth oure Lorde Christ hym selfe Lyke as Jonas was thre dayes and thre nyghtes in the whalles belye so shall the sonne of man be thre dayes and thre nightes in the hert of the erthe Of the ascension of Jesu Christ and sendynge of the holy gooste hath Joel also written in the .ii. chapter and it is alledged of S. Peter Act. ii Of the callynge gathering together the Heythen and of euery thynge pertaynynge to the holy church doth Esay wryte in the .xlix. chap. and so forth to the ende of his prophecye Thus hast thou that the prophetes also in their tyme dyd preach Jesus Christe poynted not the people to truste vnto the workes of the law their own deseruing but vnto christ of whome they prophecied euery thinge that folowed after Therfore dyd Peter speake right .i. Pet. i. sayenge Ye shall receaue the ende of your fayth euen the saluacion of your soules After which saluacion haue the prophetes enquyred and searched whiche prophecyed of the grace that shulde come vnto you searchinge whan or what tyme the sprete of Christ which was in them shuld signifye which sprete testified before the passions that shuld happen vnto Christ and the glory that shulde folowe after Unto the which prophetes it was also declared that not vnto them selues onely but vnto vs they shuld ministre the thynges which are now shewed vnto you by them which haue preached vnto you the gospel thorow the holy goost that was senâ—e vnto them from heauen c. In the which testimony the holy Apostle Peter had a speciall respecte to the prophecye of Daniel whiche dyd not onely recorde the passion glory of Christ but also poynted to the tyme in the which Christ shuld come For lyke as God in the greatest parels daungers and alteracions hath alwaye renewed more clearly expressed hys promes conceruyng the blessed sede as in the tyme of Noe whan the worlde was destroyed in the tyme of Abraham whan God wolde prepare hym selfe a new people in the tyme of Moses whaÌ„ God receaued his people and caryed them out of Egipte to bringe them in to the lande of Canaan in the tyme of Dauid whan all thynges stode so well and it must nedes be auoyded leste any man shulde thynke Dauid were the blessed sede Before the captiuite of Babylon also and in the tyme of the prophetes which as it is sayde afore preached and wrote that no man shulde doute in gods promes as who saye they were geuen vp and cast a waye though the temple were broken the cytye brent though the people of whome Christ shuld be borne were led awaye in to captiuite Euen so nowe also in the captiuite whan the faythfull might all moost haue thought that the promes of God concernynge Messia were cleane gone Euen than dyd God shewe hys seruaunt Daniel a more cleare vision of Christ after thys maner The people shalbe let go agayne out of captiuite and shall come home to HierusaleÌ„ buylde the temple and cytie agayne but with a sore tyme. And after that the cytye is buylded vnto the tyme of Christe shall be .lxix. wekes that is c. xâ—viii .iii. yeares And euen so was it from the. xxxâ—i yeare of Darius
partakers of To be shorte this is the same fayth â–ª whereby God saued those hys electe of whom sainct â–ª Paule maketh mencion in the foresayd Epistle to the Hebrues and â—eherseth many godly fruites of the same in their conuersacion This then is no newefangled fayth â–ª no straunge fayth no fayth inuented by mannes brayne but euen the same that Gods holy spirite teacheth in the infallyble trueth of his scripture and that Adam Abel Enoch and all the other seruauntes of God were saued in Why do men therfore either call it a newe fangled fayth or reporte euyll of vs for settyng it furth Why I feare me this is one cause The olde fayth that all those seruauntes of God had whoÌ„ the Apostle nameth in the eleuenth chapiter to the Hebrewes and a lyfe and coÌ„uersacion ioyned vnto it whiche was riche and ful of all good workes Therfore seyng there be so many bablers and pratlers of fayth and so fewe that bryng furth y â— worthy fruites of penauÌ„ce it geâ—eth to the worlde occasion to reporte of vs that our fayth is but new fangled They se vs not fall to labour and takyng of paynes as Adam dyd They se not the righteousnesse and thankefulnesse in vs that was in Abell They se vs not walke after the worde wyll of God as Enoch dyd They se vs not take Gods warnyng so ernestly as Noe dyd They se vs not so obedient to the voyce of God nor so wâ—â—â— willyng and content to leaue our frendes to forsake oure owne wylles oure owne laÌ„des and gooddes at Gods callyng and dwell in a straunge countre to do goddes pleasure as Abraham dyd They se that we chose not rather to suffre aduersitie with the people of God then to enioye the pleasures of synne for a seaâ—on They se vs not esteme the rebuke of Christ or trouble for his sake to be greater riches â–ª then al y e treasures of this world as Moses dyd To be shorte they se not in oure garden those swete floures and fruites â–ª of Gods holy spirite whiche were in them that had the olde fayth Ashamed may we be therfore as many of vs as either wryte teach preache speak or talke of the olde fayth if we endeuoure not our selues to haue those olde heauenly vertues that were euer plentyfull in all Goddes true seruauntes in euery one I meane accordyng to his callyng Not that it is euyl to teache or talke of the true olde sayth but this I say because that accordyng to the doctryne of sainct James they are but disceyuers of them selues that are not doers of Gods worde aswell as hearers therof And through suche slender receiuyng of Christes holy gospell it is nowe come to passe that like as we haue nede of suche an Apostle as was holy S. Paule to rebuke this vayne confidence that men put in their workes and to tel vs that no worke of our doyng but fayth of Gods workyng doth iustifye vs in his sight Euen so haue we no lesse nede of suche another Apostle as was holy sainct James to rebuke this horrible vnthankefulnes of menne that professyng theÌ„ selues to be christeÌ„ to holde of Christes olde fayth are yet dead vnto all good workes receyue not the worde of God in mekenes cast not away all vnclennes and maliciouenes are swytâ— to speake to talke to iangle and to take displeasure are forgetfull hearers of the worde and not lyuers therafter boastyng them selues to be of goddes pure and vndelyled religion and yet refrayne not their tonges from euyl visite not the poore the frendles and the desolate in their trouble neither kepe them selues vndefyled from this worlde Reade the fyrst Chapiter of his Epistle What occasion might suche an Apostle as holye sainct James was haue to wryte another yea a sharper epistle seyng so many pretendyng to be of Jesu Christes old fayth are yet so parcial haue such a carnall respecte of personnes are not riche in fayth dispise the poore practise not the lawe of godly loue talke and iangle of fayth not hauyng the workes therof clothe not the naked healpe not the poore to their liuyng regarde not theyr necessitie haue but â–ª deade fayth declare not by good and gâ—dly workes the true and olde fayth of Chryst are but vayne beleuers haue not the effectuous the workyng and liuyng fayth that Abraham and Rahab had Reade the seconde Chapiter of his Epistle Howe would holy sainct James reproue these bryngers vp of straunge doctrines blasphemers bacbyters belyers of good men false teachers against goddes truth dissemblers with the same cary fyre as they say with the one hand and water in the other pretende to belearned and yet bryng not furth the workes of good conuersacion in mekenes out of goddes wysedome but in fro wardnes and out of carnall doctrine Howe would he take vp these that delyght in malyce and stryfe belye goddes trueth are geuen to yearthy fleshely and deuelishe wysedome are vnstable ful of al euyl workes are not in the scole of Gods wysedome and lernyng are not geuen to vnfaynednes of heart are not peaceable are churlishe vneasye to be intreated c. Reade the third chapiter of his Epistle What would suche an holy Apostle say to this wicked world wherin a great nombre pretendyng to be Chrysten men are geuen so to quarelyng and fightyng to voluptuâ—usnesse and inordinate lustes to enuye and indignacion to vnlawfull spendyng and consumyng of that they may get to aduoutrye to the dispâ—syng of holy wedlocke to shamefull vâ—clennes either not willyng to mary or els puttyng awaye theyr wyues for lyght occasions and for satisfiyng of theyr owne triflyng lustes â–ª fallyng in loue with the vayne frendshippe of this worlde takyng parte against God yea where as by their profession othe and allegiaunce whiche they owe to their moost high soueraigne the kyng of heauen they should in a vertuous conuersacion mayntayne al godlynesse are become euen enemies suppressours and ouerthrowers therof aswell thorowe their obstinate and cruel resistyng of Gods worde as by other wicked examples of their vycions and fylthye lyuyng what wolde holy S. James saye to suche vnthankfull belyes that knowyng the trueth lyue of such a sorte wolde he spare them though they were neuer so ryche and welthy Reade the fourth chapter of hys epistle and the fyrst parte of hys fifth chapter and ye wyll iudge the contrary Wherfore moost deare Readers who soeuer of you hath bene slacke to folowe the good lyfe and godly conuersasion that S. James and all the other scriptur besyde requyreth to be in theÌ„ which professe the olde fayth let hym take better holde turne agayne to the trueth and folowe that louynge exhortacioÌ„ which holy S. James maketh in the later ende of his epistle And yf he haue at the firste not enclyned to Gods worde nor receaued it vnfaynedly in mekeuesse nor submitted hym selfe to be ordred therby and to caste awaye all vnclennesse â—cÌ„ But
Jordan whaÌ„ Christ was baptysed Thys is my deare beloued sonne in whome I am pacified or reconcyled Besydes thys the Lord gaue vnto Noe certayne lawes but none other then euen soche as he had geuen to hys fore fathers and written in their hertes The first pertayneth to mariage and bringynge vp of chyldren in the whiche is comprehended all that is written concernyng nurtour clenlynesse and temperaunce of care and bryngynge vp of chyldren in the feare of God vertue obedience and lerninge The seconde forbybddeth violence and diseate namely that no man shall eate bloude For it is a figuratyue precepte commaundynge that no man get hys lyuynge by murthur by oppressyng the poore by vsury by extorcion by falshode and disceate Moreouer all thynges lyuynge were subdued vnto hym and all meates were permitted hym In conclusion what soeuer concerned to loue God and their neyghboure the same is here renewed vnto Noe and his chyldren and requyred of them Of Noe came afterwarde all people yea amonge hys thre sonnes Japhet Sem and Cham he had both the sede of God of the froward serpent that is soche as had respecte vnto God and them also that regarded the deuell Of Cham came the Egipcians Assyrians Babylonians by and frome whome sprange ydolatrye offryng to ymages and frome whome false religion came vp first and was brought in amonge other nacions by the helpe of the olde serpent as amonge the Grekes Romaynes and other people By this is it good to vnderstande that our holy Christen faith is elder then anye other For here maye we se clearly that after a thousand and certayne hundreth yeares almoost in the eight hundreth or nyne hundreth yeare came vp the first begynnynge of the Heithens beleue offrynge to ymages and yet came it of wicked cursed men For cursed Cham was the begynnynge of the EgipciaÌ„s and Nimroth the vngodly extorcioner and tyrauÌ„te was the first founder of the kingdome of Babilon which kyngdome with the buyldinge of a mightie tower set forth his pryde Neuerthelesse the hande of God declared it selfe immedyatly as it is red in the eleuenthe chapter of Genesis Summa in the generation of Cham had the serpent great power howebeit in the posterite of Japhet also of whome the Almaynes come and in the posterite of Sem he had hys ysâ—ue lykewyse Of the progenie of Sem were borne AbrahaÌ„ Isaat and Jacob. Gene. xi And as it is sayd afore the syncere fayth was somewhat darkyned in Caldea therfore dyd God call Abraham out from the ydolatrie and renewed wyth hym the old true Christen fayth begonne wyth Adam and sayde Genesis .xii. Get the out of thy couÌ„tre and from thy kynred in to a laÌ„de that I wyll shewe the and I wyll blesse the and make a greate nacyon of the. And in the shall all the nacion of the earth be blessed Item in the. xxii Chapter speakethe God yet more clearly and sayeth In thy sede shall all the nacyons of the earthe be blessed Thys dothe Paull declare in the iii. to the Galathiaus and sayeth In thy sede whyche is Christe Therfore was the same now an other renewyng of the promesse of Christe the blessed sede For fyrst whaÌ„ he promised vnto Adam afterwarde was the promes renewed wyth Noe and now wyth Abraham And al thys now is but one promes one sauioure and one fayth AbrahaÌ„ also beleued in Jesus christ and was saued by fayth For Jesus christ sayeth hym selfe in the eyghte Charter of Johan Abraham sawe my daye and reioysed What is now the daye of Chryste but the clearnesse of y e holy gospell This lyght had he not bodely but sawe it wyth the eyes of fayth and the same made hym ioyfull and saued hym For Chryste is the true ioye of troubled consciences Thus became Abraham the father of all faythfull beleuers Roma iiii And yf we beleue and do as AbrahaÌ„ dyd then are we Abrahams chyldren and shall rest wyth him in hys bosome eueÌ„ in the kyngdome of God Luke .xiii. xvi xix Mat. viii Paull also to the Galathians in the .iii. chapter sayeth Yf ye be Chrystes then are ye Abrahams sede and heyres accordynge to the promes Out of thys fayth in Christ dyd AbrahaÌ„ ChristeÌ„ workes For with a good wyl left he hys own natyue countre all ydols and all ymages all mysfortune honger miserye toke he paciently he was not harde agagynst Loth hys neuye but ioparde his body and lyfe for the oppressed he was liberall mercyfull harberous he prayed ferueÌ„ty vnto God for the poore synners he suffred oppresion violence wronge and for Gods sake also he thought to sacrifice and offre vp hys own moost dearly beloued sonne Isaac Summa there is no reasonable good Christen worke but thou seyst it in y e lyfe of AbrahaÌ„ Therfore to vs also for an ensample of oure fayth and conuerâ—acion he is set forthe of the Lorde hym selfe and hys apostles thorow out the new Testament Here also is it manifest that our holy faith is elder then the Jewish faith For the Jewes do boaste them selues of the Circumcision and because they are called Jewes and Israel and that the lawe the presthode and the gods seruyce was geuen vnto them And yet Gene xv and .xvii. and Roma iiii is it euydent that AbrahaÌ„ was gods frende and iustified or made righteous or euer he was circuÌ„cysed For whan he was circuncysed he was 99. yeare old Gene. xvii Nowe was the promes made vnto hym many yeares afore The scripture also sayeth planely Abraham beleued God the same was couÌ„ted vnto him for righteousnesse Genesi xv So was it many yeares after or euer Israel Juda was borne of whome they haue taken their name The lawe also was geuen 430 yeares after the promes as Paull made the rekenynge Gala. iii. It foloweth therfore that oure christen fayth is 2048. yeares elder then the CircuÌ„cision and. 2449. yeare elder then the lawe the presthode ceremonies of the Jewes For from Adam vnto the floud were 1656. yeares And froÌ„ the floude vntill the departynge of Abraham out of Caldea 363. yeares From that tyme are rekened 430. yeares vntyll the departynge of Israel out of Egipte And on the. 50. daye after the departinge was the lawe geuen vnto Israel vpon mounte Sina Exo. 19. 20. And after certayn dayes was the presthode ceremonies appoynted them Where as God then made a couenaunt with AbrahaÌ„ whan he ordeyned the circuncision It serueth more to the coÌ„firmacion of oure holy christen faith then to the mayntenaunce of the Jewish ceremonyes Isaac and Jacob were Abraham chyldren not onely after the flesh but also after the sprete For they had the fayth of their father and graundfather Abraham put their trust onely in god thorow Jesus Christ and lyued a sober vertuos lyfe Of thys doth the scripture beare them recorde thorow out Jea Jacob whome the Lorde also called otherwyse Israell of whome
the trueth righteousnes Then to offre hymselfe to the father for our synnes and after the sacrifice done to ryse vp agayn froÌ„death to asceÌ„de vnto heaueÌ„ there to seyt at the ryght haÌ„de of god and eueÌ„ there as a true hye bisshoppe to appeare alwaye in the presence of god and to praye for vs. Thys is the summe of the rytes and ceremonies of the olde fathers the vnderstondynge of the figures and the sprete of the lettre wher of holy Paull hath written moche in the moost excellent epistle to the Hebrues Out of all thys is it easye to vnderstoÌ„d howe that these rytes ceremonies of the fathers were sacramentes and geuen to the people of god Not that they with the lettre and outwarde visyble and corporall thynge shulde sufficiently serue God whiche is a sprete but that they shuld lift vp their myndes aboue the same to the spirituall thynges pondrynge the mercy of God out of the whiche he beynge moued is become gracious vnto vs. And whan he might haue damned vs for oure synnes and mysdedes he spared vs for hys sonnes sake whome he gaue vnto death and hys innocent death hath he accepted for our synnes Soche a faithfull consideration whiche is the true beleue pleaseth god and with soche a fayth is god serued and soche a fayth wolde the Lorde haue taught andplanted in wyth the â—oresayde rytes and Ceremonies Therfore all they that pleased god among the olde fathers pleased hym not for the letters sake but by reason of the sprete Whaâ— the sacrifice also and ceremonye was executed after the ordinaunce of god in the congregation the beloued frendes of God had not onely respecte vnto the outewarde thynge but muche rather behelde they Chryst with the eyes of fayth thought thus Beholde the wyll of God hathe ordeyned to do sacrifice for synne now are we all synners and detters vnto god in so much that he hath power right ouer vs that lyke as the beeste whyche is now slayne and offred dyeth hath hys bloud shed Euen so myght God now also kyll vs all and coudemne vs for euer Neuerthelesse he hath takeÌ„ vs to his mercy and promysed vs a sede whiche shulde thus dye on the crosse and clense vs wyth hys bloud wyth hys deth restore vs vnto lyfe Whyche thynge no doute shall as surely come to passe as thys beest is slayne offred now a ore our eyes And lyke as the bloude is sprenkled ouer the people for the bodely cleÌ„syng So shall the bloud of Christ be sprenkled vpon oure soules c. And out of suche thoughte and faythfull consyderacion of the sacrifices grewe repentaunce and sorow for theyr synnes a gladnesse prayse comforte and thankes geuynge vnto God the mercyfull father And to thys do serue certayne Psalmes whyche were made concernynge the sacrifices To thys also serue all the rebukynges of the holy Prophetes and the refusinges of the oblations For the exteriour pompe and shewe of the offrynges wythout fayth in God and the blessed sede is nothyng worth yea it is rather abhominacion vnto god as thou seyst in the first chapter of Esaye Thou wâ—â—t aske Might not god haue taught and shewed his people the cause of Jesu Christ and of true beleue none other waye then thorowe and wyth suche cost pompe and glory of sacrifices other gorgiousnesse of the churche I answere Yf the people had not falleÌ„ to more wyckednesse in Egypt thorow their dwellynge amonge the ydolaters but had constantly and stedfastly remained as dyd theyr fathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob then myghte they well haue contynued by the olde shorte symple fourme as it was amonge the holy fathers But nowe had they sene in Egypte an outwarde costlye gods seruice wyth temples altures sacrifices preâ—â—hode holy daves ornameÌ„tes c. Lykewyse the ydolatrye increaced dayly in all the worlde so that nowe there was vtterly no people whyche had not theyr owne outwarde ceremonies â–ª wherewyth they serued God To the intente then that God myghte reâ—â—â—ne hys people wythin the compasse of fayth in one God and in the blessed sede promysed afore to the intente also that they shoulde shewe no outward â–ª seruyce to any other goddes or take vpon them to serue God after the maner of the EgipciaÌ„s or after other HeitheÌ„ he appoynted an outwarde gods seruice and coÌ„maunded to do the same vnto hym and els to none and in the same pleased it hym to set forth all the cause of the forsayde sede tyll he came and perfourmed all thynges indede that they hadde fygurally in theyr sacrifices Morouer god accordyng â—â— hys wysdome of hys speciall mercy and good herte that he hath vnto mans generation wolde wyth these outwarde tokeÌ„s tender oure weaknesse whiche of spirituall heauenly thynges hathe better vnderstandynge whan they are shewed vnto it by corporall vysible thynges God therfore thorow suche corporall representations laboured to shewe vnto that grosse and fleshly people the heuenly cause of hys sonne Neuerâ—theles the corporall visible thynges were geuen for no longer but vntyll the tyme of the fulfyllynge But now that Câ—râ—st hath appeared and fulfylled and perfourmed all that was wryteÌ„ and figured of hym in the law and the prophetes the figure ceasseth â–ª and the outewarde Sacramentes of Moses lawe â–ª are of no more value to be exercised and vsed Thus muche â—â—sayde of the ceremonyes Where as besyde the ceremonies there is muche wryten also in the lawe concernynge cyuyle policye ordynaunce iudgement to lyue peaceable and well in cytye and lande Of biyng and sellyng of warre and peace of enherytaunce and propertyes of lawes matrimonyall of punyshement of the wycked of the iudgement and connsaill of leadynge and borowynge c. It is no newes at all and serueth altogether for the declaratioÌ„ of the fyre â—oÌ„maundementes of the seconde table and is comprehended in the wordes of Paul Roma xiii Loue thy neyghboure as thy selfe â–ª And in the wordes of Christe That thou woldest not haue done vnto the doo not thou to another Math. vii Suche lawes and rules to lyue in peace in a cyuyle ordre and vertue haue also the good holy fathers had froÌ„ the begynnyng of the world wrytten in theyr hartes by God hym selse Nowe hathe God also caused all to be comprehended in wryttynge by Moses to the intente that the World myghte haue all more clearlye and perfectly and that no man myghte excuse hym selfe of ignoraunce ☞ The originall of the holy scripture and fayth thereof THys mater which I haue hytherto treated vpon haue I not feyned of my selfe but taken it out of the mouthe and worde of God For god styred vp Moses to wryte and leaue behynde hym all the matter for our lernyng and knowlege Thys dyd now Moses wyth great faythfulnesse coÌ„prehended all in foure bokes The fyrste is called the boke of the creation from the be gynnynge of the worlde vnto hys tyme of the creacion of
describeth he also in the foresayde verse the pure and holy Conception and byrth of our Lord Jesu Chryst And thys doth he wyth a goodly similitude sayeth Thy byrth shalbe holy and very excellent not vncleane as the byrthe of other men For lyke as the dew out of the cleare heauen out of the fayre mornynge is borne as it wereout of a mothers wombe EueÌ„ so also shalt thou be borne holy and cleane of an vndefyled virgin Wherof thou findest more instruction Luke i. The Lorde hath swome and it shall not repeÌ„t him thou art prest for euer after the ordre of Melchisedech In thys fourth verse descrâ—beth he the office of Jesu Christ how that he is ordeyned of God to be one onely preist for euer whych shuld offer vp hym selfe for the synne of the world and alway appeare in the syght of God the father and to praye for vs. All thys doth holy Paull declare at large to the Hebreues in the .v. vii viii ix and. x chap. And specially in thys verse is grounded all that is red thorowe out the scripture of the merites of Christ of the forgeuyng of sinnes of righteous making of beynge mediatoure and that he alone is the onely saluation aduocate satisfaction and ryghteousnesse of the faythfull The Lorde is at thy ryght hand he in the tyme of hys wrath shall wounde euen kynges Thys fyfth verse teacheth howe God wyll ener more and more stand on hys soÌ„nes syde further hys cause and brynge downe and destroye those kynges princes and Lordes that wyl not amende and beleue in Christ but wyll rather prouoke his wrathe then â—elyre hys grace Whyche thynge Herodes Nero Domicianus Maximinus and Julianus haue proued Yet foloweth the syxte verse declarynge the fyfth He shall iudge amonge the Heythen and fyll all full of deed bodyes and smyte the heade on the wyde grounde Christ is also preached vnto the HeitheÌ„ and reigneth among theÌ„ but many wythstande Chryste and them dothe he iudge And lyke as a kynge ouercommeth hys enemyes wyth a battayle and couereth the whole playne wyth deed bodyes visiteth also and smyteth the head of the warre the head cycie of the enemies EueÌ„ so doth Christ to his enemies and destroieth their power and kyngdome All whych thynges we haue sene in the olde vnchristeÌ„ empyre of Rome and in many other potentates and powers But specially he breaketh the head of the olde serpent accordyng to the promes Gene. iii. And at the laste shall he come to iudge the quycke and deed and destroye hys enemyes for euer Out of the broke in the way shall he drynke therfore shall he also lyfte vp the heade Fynally and in the seuenth verse he describeth the passion of Christ and his glory In the waye sayeth he that is in hys lyfe whyle he is in thys miserie He shall drynke oute of the broke that is he shall suffer be ouercome For to drynke out of the cuppe is asmuche as to suffer But to drynke oute of the broke is to be altogether full of trouble to be vexed and â—ormeÌ„ted wythoute victory and vtterly to be ouerwhelmed wyth a broke strong streame of troubles Thus was it hys mynde to declare the passion of Christ After the passioÌ„ foloweth the glory wyth the resurrection and ascensioÌ„ Paul Philip. ii speaketh of both and sayeth Chryste humbled hymselfe and became obedieÌ„t vnto death euen the deathe of the Crosse Wherfore God hath exalted hym and geuen hym a name whyche is aboue all names c. Thus muche be spoben of thys Psalme and of Dauids vnderstandyng â—hych he had of Christ Jesu and of the christeÌ„ faith Upon thys I maruayll yf after so euidente testimonies there be yet any man whych perceaueth not that Dauids faith and vnderstandyng of Christe was euen one fayth and vnderstandynge wyth the fayth that we knowlege and say I beleue in one God father alymightye c As it is in the xii articles of the Chrysten faythe For the holy trinite in one godheade doth he knowlege not onely here but also in the .xxxiii. Psalme sayenge Thorowe the worde of God were the heaueÌ„s made and all theyr power thorow the sprete of hys mouth For certayne it is that there is but one onely God maker of heauen and of erth but here is the trinite called Lord or God worde and sprete Nether is there any thynge in the Articles of the beleue concernynge the Godhead and manhode of Christ of hys concepcion byrth passioÌ„ crosse and death of the resurrection asceÌ„sion and iudgement but ti is clearly comprehended here in thys Psalme The articles of the holy churche of forgeuynge of sinnes the resurrectioÌ„ of the fleshe and an euerlastynge lyfe are conteyned in thys Psalme and are treated vpon yet more clearly and wyth many moo wordes very substantially in other Psalmes of Dauid Therfore had he our holy fayth knowleged the same was saued therein and of all holy meÌ„ was called the father of christ wyth hye commendation bycause of the promes that was made vnto hym Moreouer all the holy Prophetes folowynge had respecte vnto Dauid as to another Moses and toke many thinges out of his wryttynges For there is scace any other that so clearly wrote of the cause of christ as thys prophet Dauid and therfore hath he honoure and prayse aboue other in Israel Of whome thou readest also â–ª Eccle. xlvii Such fayth and confidence in God thorow Jesus Christ had Dauid oute of the holy goost and out of the doctrine of hys Prophetes Samuel Nathan Gad and of other hys preistes whych also had the same of God and of the holy fathers specially of Moses And no doute he desired the honoure of God and of hys soÌ„ne not to kepe it onelye hym selfe but also muche rather to requyre it of all hys people Wherfore no doute he set vp and furthured thys hys fayth and religion amoÌ„g all hys men of warre kynstolke in al hys courte Edominion before the whole congregation and in all hys kyngdome soâ— diligently ernestly and feruently that afterwarde certayne hundreth yeares they whych beleued ryghte lyued well were praysed for walkyug in the wayes of Dauid theyr father They also that dyd euell and set not forth the true fayth of them is it wryten They walked not in the wayes of Dauid theyr father Of thys hast thou many ensamples in the bokes of the kynges and in the Cronicles Many thynges also were forgeuen the kynges and all the people of Juda for Dauids sake that is for the promes sake mode vnto Dauyd euen for Jesus Christes sake whom Ezechiel calleth Dauid In the. iii boke of the kynges the xv chapter it is wrytteÌ„ thus The hert of Abia was not ryght toward hys Lord God as was the hart of Dauid hys father And for Dauyds sake dyd the Lorde geue hym a lyghte at Hierusalem so that at HierusaleÌ„ he set vp hys sonne and
one summâ— whych fayth Adam Noe AbrahaÌ„ Mosâ—s and Dauid had And thys dyd they the more euideÌ„tly because they applyâ—d theÌ„ selues to opeÌ„ the lawe and to dryue awaye the mysvnderstandynge whyche was rysen vp among and in the people therfore poynte they euery where froÌ„ the letter vnto the sprete froÌ„ y â— outward sacrifice vnto christ Jesus from all ydolaâ—rye vnto the onely God whyche saueth vs thorow hys mercy only in the blessed sede horowe none of oure deseruinges This dyd Paul se therfore sayde he Roma iii. Thorowe the workes of the law shall no man be iustified in the syght of god For thorow the law coÌ„meth the knowlege of synne But nowe is the ryghteousâ—es of God declared wythoute the lawe for as muche as it is alowed by the â—estimoâ—y of the law the Prophetes The ryghteousnes of God coÌ„meth by the fayâ—h of Jesus Christ vnto al and vpoÌ„ al theÌ„ that beleue So sayeth Peter also in thâ— â–ª â—â— â–ª of the Actes All the prophetes from Samuell thence forth as many as haue spoken haue tolde of thâ—se dayes And in the. â— â–ª chapter â—â—oâ—hys Jesus Christ geue all the prophetes wiâ—nes that whosoeuer beleueth in hym shall thorowe hys name recyeue forgâ—uenâ—sse of synnes Who so now is lerned in the wrytynges of the Prophetes knoweth well that there is nothyng red concernyng the Lord in the new Testament whych the prophetes haue not prophecyed of afore He that is then any thynge iustructe in the Prophetes hathe no doute consydred thys in the new testameÌ„t that the apostles proue all theyr doctrine of the Lorde Jesu out of the lawe and the Prophetes Yea that the Lord hym selfe confyrmeth hys owne doynges wyth the scriptures of the prophetes and that the EuaÌ„gelistes thorow out the holy gospell set vnto the doctrine and miracles of Christ these wordes And this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken dy the prophetes Neuertheles for theyr sakes that are not yet instructe I wyll nowe declare the principall articles of our Lord Jesu Christ out of the holy prophetes As touchyng the true godheade manhode of oure Lorde Jesu Christ and that he shulde be borne at BethleeÌ„ in the lande of Jewrye of a pure virgin and maide out of the kynred of Dauid the Prophetes testifie after thys maner Esaye in the. vâ—i Chapter â—ayeth Beholde a virgin shall conceaue and beare a sonne and shall call hys name Emanuell that is to saye God wyth vs. Micheas saieth in the .v. chapter Though thou Bethleem Ephrata arte to small to be rekened amonge the pryncypall cyties of Juda yet oute of the shall there come one vnto me whych shalbe ruler in Israell whose forth goyng is from euerlastynge In the nynth Chapter of Esaye it is wrytten Unto vs is a chylde borne and to vs is geuen a sonne vppon whose shulders the kyngdome shall lye and he shalbe called after hys own name euen the wondefull counsaill geuer the myghty one of Israel the eternall father the Prince of peace hys kyngdome shall increace and of hys peace there shalbe no ende and he shall reigne vppon the seate of Dauid hys father In the. xxiii of Hieremy it is wrytten thus Beholde the tyme commeth sayth the Lorde that I wyl tayâ—e vp the ryghteous blossome of Dauid he shall be kyng and reygne and prospere iudgemente and ryghteousnesse shall he eâ—â—cute vpon earth In thys tyme shall Juda be saued and Israell shall dwell wythoute feare thys is the name wherwythe he shall be named euen God oure ryghteousnes Concernynge the commynge of John the baptist wâ—ych was the fore runner of oure Lorde Christ and prepared the people for hym Hath Malachy wrytteÌ„ in the thyrde chapter after thys maner Beholde I wyll sende my messaunger whych shall prepare the waye before me and the Lord whome ye longe for shall shortly come to hys temple and the messaunger of the couenaunt whome yâ— wolde haue Beholde he commeth sayeth the Lord zebaoth And after warde Beholde I wyll sende Helias the Prophete afore the commynge of the greate and fearefull Daye of the Lorde Of Christes preachynge of the grace of God of the forgeuing of synnes of the wonders also and tokens of the Lorde speaketh Esaye in the. lâ—i Chapter after thys maner The spirite of the Lorde god is vpon me and therfore hath the Lorde anoynted me to preache the Gospel to the meke harted hath he sente me to heale the broken harted to preache delyueraunce to the captyue to open the pryson to suche as are in bondes to proclame the yeare of Gods gracyous wyll and to brynge consolation to all them that are in heuynes In the .xxxiiii. chapter of Ezechiell it is wrytten thus Ouer my shepe wyll I rayse vp one onely shepherde whych shall fede theÌ„ eveÌ„ Dauid my seruaunt whych shall fede them and he shalbe theyr shepherde I the Lorde also wyll be theyr God and Dauid shalbe theyr prince euen I the Lorde haue spoken it In the .xxxv. Cha. of Esaye it is wrytten thus Saye vnto them that are of a feble hart Be stronge and feare not beholde oure god commeth to take vengeauÌ„ce reward God coÌ„meth hym selfe wyll delyuer you Then shall the eyes of the blynde be opened c. Then shall the lame man leape as an hert and the tonge of the Domne shall geue prayse Of the kyngdom of Christ in the which he hym selfe alone is kynge all the world beynge subiecte vnto hym declarynge hys dominion and royall maiestye wrytteth Esaye thus in the seconde Chapter And it shall come to passe in the last tyme that the hyll of the house of the Lorde shall be exalted vpon the hyght of mountaynes aboue all litsâ— hylles and all nacions shall come together vnto hym the people shall go to him and saye Come let vs go vp to the mount of the Lorde euen to the house of the God of Jacob that he maye shew vs hys waye and we wyll walke in hys pathes For the lawe shall come forth froÌ„ Sion and the worde of God from Hierusalem In the .vii. of Daniel it is writteÌ„ thus I sawe a vision in the nyght and beholde there came one in the cloudes of heauen like the sonne of man which came to the olde aged and they brought hym before hys presence And he gaue hym power glorie and the kyngdome and all people nacions and tonges must serue him his power is an euerlastyng power which shall not be taken from hys hys kyngdome shall not perishe Esaye sayeth in the ixii capter And the Heythen shall se thy righteousnesse all kynges thyne honoure and he shall call the by a newe name O Syon and the mouâ—h of God shall geue the name And thou shalt be a crowne of glorye in the hand of the Lorde and a royall crowne of the kyngdome in the hand of thy God And soone after it folowethe Make ready make ready the