Shall not the wycked be aswell partakers of thys resurrection as the faythfull ¶ The childe Yes verely but they shal be in condycion or state farre vnlyke for the one that is to wete the faythfull Ihon. 5. Matt. 25. shall ryse agayne to euerlastynge ioye and felycitye the other to euerlasting death and damnacion ¶ The minister Wherfore then is there not aswell mencion made of hell and death euerlastynge as of heauen and lyfe that endureth for euer ¶ The childe Bycause the Crede is a bryefe summe of oure faith conteinynge in as fewe woordes as can be that that belongeth peculyerly to comfort the consciences of Goddes faythfull therfore Gods benefytes whiche he freely bestoweth vpon hys people be rehersed alonely without any mencyon of the wycked who are cleane shute oute of hys kyngdome ¶ The minister Sonday 18 Since we haue the very foundacion grounde wher vpon our fayth is builded we maye wel gather hereof that this is the very ryghte fayth ¶ The childe what a thynge liuely faith is Yea verely that is to saye it is a sure perswasion and a stedfaste knowledge of Gods tender loue to wardes vs accordynge as he hath playnlye vttered in his ghospell that he wylbe both a father and a sauyoure vnto vs through the meanes of oure Lorde Iesu Christe ¶ The minister Is this fayth a thyng standynge in oure power eyther is it a free gyfte that God geueth at hys pleasure ¶ The childe The scrypture teacheth vs that it is a speciall gyft of the holy gost and very experience doeth also confirme the same ¶ The minister And why so ¶ The childe For the feblenes of oure wyttes is suche that we can by no meanes attayne vnto the vnderstandynge of Gods wysedome and the secretes of his spirite the which thynges be opened and made knowen vnto vs by faythe and oure heartes are naturally inclyned to a certayne distruste or at lest avaine trust either in oure selues The holy gost doth lyghten our mindes or in other creatures but what tyme Gods spirite hath lyghtened our heartes and made vs able to vnderstāde Gods wyll the whiche thyng we can not attaine other wise thā doth he arme vs also with a stedfaste cōfydence in hys goodnes sealinge as it were and impryntyng the promises of euerlastynge healthe in our heartes ¶ The minister What profyte commeth to vs through this faith whan we haue it ¶ The childe It doeth iustifie vs before God This faith maketh vs sure of our righteousnes and maketh vs enherytours of euerlastynge lyfe ¶ The minister Why thē is not a man iustyfyed through good workes if he lyue holylye and in the obedience of Goddes wyll ¶ The childe If any manne were to be founde so perfecte as to leade his life vprightly before God suche a one myghte worthelye be called a ryghteous manne but forsomuche as we euerye one maye iustlie counte our selues wretched sinners in the syght of God we are of necessytye dryuen to seeke elles where for a worthynes to make answere for vs to Gods iudgemente ¶ The minister Sonday 19 But be all our workes so disproued that they can meryte nothyng at all for vs before God ¶ The childe Fyrst al suche workes as we do of our selues by the inclination of our owne nature Al mans woorkes be damnable vntill they be regenerate through godes sprite are vtterly corrupte Wherof it foloweth necessarily that they can not please god but rather do prouoke hys wrath and he condemneth them euery one ¶ The minister Thys is then thy sayinge that vnto the tyme that God hath of his fauourable goodnes receyued vs to mercy we can doe no maner of thynge but synne Mat. 7 euen as an euell tree can brynge forth no fruite but that that is euyll ¶ The childe It is euen so for although oure woorkes make a fayre shewe outwardely to mannes syghte yet withoute doubte they are wycked in Goddes syght forsomuch as the heart is naughte and vngracious vnto the whyche God chiefly hath respecte ¶ The minister Hereby then thou doest conclude that it lyeth not in oure power to preuente God with our merytes and so to prouoke him to loue vs but muche rather contrarywyse we therby do styrre him to be more and more angry against vs. ¶ The childe Yea surelye and therfore I saye that without any maner consyderacion of oure owne workes he doth accept and receyue vs into hys fauoure of hys mere lyberall goodnes bountyful mercy Titus 3 through the merites of our sauiour Christ accountyng hys righteousnes to be ours and for hys sake so forgettynge oure fautes that he wyl lay them no more to oure charge ¶ The minister What meanest thou then that a man is iustyfied by his fayth ¶ The childe Iustification or righteousnes is attributed vnto faythe for somuche as through beleuing that is receiuynge with an assurance of the heart the promyses of the ghospell we enter into possessyon of thys ryghteousnes ¶ The minister Thys is bryfely thy meanynge that euen as God doth presente and offre thys ryghteousnes freelye vnto vs in hys gospell euen so the onely meane or way to receiue that excellente gyfte of GOD is faythe ¶ The childe Yea forsoth ¶ The minister Sonday 20 wel then after that god hath once receyued vs into hys fauour be not the workes which we doe through his grace of fayth and by the vertue or his spirite acceprable vnto him ¶ The childe The good workes whiche procede onely of faythe Yeas verely because he doth of his free goodnes so accepte them and take them and not bycause theyr worthines doth deserue so to be estemed ¶ The minister How is it that they be not worthy of themselues to be accepted since they be workes procedynge of the holy ghost ¶ The childe Forsomuch as we cary alway some infirmitie of the fleshe about vs which wyl haue a stroke and a doing in al our workes wherby they are defyled ¶ The minister By what meanes then are they made acceptable vnto God ¶ The childe By the meanes of faith The way to do good workes to goddes plesure for through fayth a man is well assured in his conscience that God wyll not looke narowly vpon hys workes nor trie them by the sharpe rygoure of hys iustyce but that he wyl rather hyde the vnperfytnes the vncleane spottes that be in them with the vndefyled purenes of our sauiour Christ and so accoumpt them as perfecte ¶ The minister May we saye then that a Christian manne is iustifyed by his workes after that God hath called hym or that he doeth meryte through them Gods fauour to the procurement of lyfe euerlastyng ¶ The childe Psal 143. No verely but contrarywyse it is sayd that no manne lyuing shal be iustified in Gods syght and therefore it is oure dutie to praie that he do not enter into iudgemente with vs or cal vs to a coumpte ¶ The minister
be once baptised but also it moch profiteth oft to be present at the ministration therof that we beinge putt in minde of the 21 Deut. 6. a. Iosue 1. b. league and conuenant made betwxit God and vs that he wil be 22 Iere. 31. f. Hebr. 8. c. our God and we his people he our father and we his children may haue occasion as wel to trye our liues past as our present coÌ„uersatioÌ„ and to proue our selues whether we stand fast in the faithe of Gods elect or contrariwise haue strayed froÌ„ hiÌ„ through 23 Ephe. 4. e Col 3. b. Heb. 2. b. incredulite and vngodly lyuinge wherof if our coÌ„scieÌ„ces do accuse vs yet by hearing the louing promises of our heaueÌ„ly father who calleth all meÌ„ to mercie by 24 Ezech. 18. Act. 11. c. 33 2. Peter 3. b Deu. 4. d. 6. a repeÌ„tance we may froÌ„ heÌ„sforthe walke more warely in our vocatioÌ„ Moreouer ye that be fathers aÌ„d mothers may take hereby moste singuler coÌ„fort to se your childreÌ„ thus receyued in to the bosome of Christes coÌ„gregatioÌ„ wherby you are daily admonished that ye norishe aÌ„d briÌ„g vp the childreÌ„ of Gods fauor aÌ„d mercye ouer whoÌ„ his fatherly ê“uideÌ„ce 25 Matt. 18. b. watcheth coÌ„tinually Which thing as it oght greatly to reioyse you knowing that 26 Matt. 6. d. luc 12. a. nothiÌ„g caÌ„ chauÌ„ce vnto theÌ„ wyth out his good pleasure So oght it to make you diligeÌ„t aÌ„d carefull to nurture and instruct theÌ„ in the 27 Deu. 4. b. 6. a 11. c. Ephe. 6. a. true knowledge aÌ„d feare of God Wherin if you be negligeÌ„t ye do not only 28 1. Sam. 2. f. 4. king 2. d. iniurie to your own childreÌ„ hydinge froÌ„ theÌ„ the good will and pleasure of almyghtie God their father What daÌ„ger haÌ„geth ouer those pareÌ„ts which neglect the briÌ„ging vp of their children in godlines but also heape daÌ„natioÌ„ vpoÌ„ your selues in sufferinge his childreÌ„ boght wyth the bloode of his deare soÌ„ne so trayterously for lacke of knowledge to turne backe froÌ„ hiÌ„ Therfore it is your duety withall diligeÌ„ce to ê“uide that your childreÌ„ in tyme conuenient be instructed in all 29 Gen. 18. c. Deut. 32. g. The true vse of the Cathechisme to the execution wherof the fathers and Godfathers bind theim selues doctrine necessarie for a true ChristiaÌ„ chiefely that they be taught to rest vpon the iustice of Christ Iesus alone and to abhorre and flee all superstitioÌ„ papistrie and idolatrie Finally to the intent that we may be assured that you the father and the suretie consent to the perfourmaÌ„ce hereof declare here before God and the face of his congregation the somme of that faith wherein you beleue and will instruct this childe Then the father or in his absence the God father shal rehearse the articles of his faithe which doone the minister exhorting the people to praye sayeth in this manner or such lyke kneeling ALmightie aÌ„d euerlasting God which of thy infinite mercie and goodnes hast promised vnto vs that thow wilt not only be our God but also the God aÌ„d father of our childreÌ„ we beseche thee that as thou hast vouchesaued to call vs to be partakers of this thy great mercie in the 1 Gal. 3. d. 1. peter 1. a. phil 3. c. felowshipe of faithe so it may please thee to sanctifie with thy 2 rom 3. d. 4. c. 2. Cor. 5. d. Rom. 8. c. Ephe. 2. d. 3. b sprite and to receiue in to the number of thy children this infant whom we shall baptise accordiÌ„g to thy 3 Matt. 28. d. Mar. 16. c. Act. 2. f. woord to the end that he coÌ„ming to perfite age may 4 Rom. 10. b. Iohn 17. a. coÌ„fesse thee onely the true God aÌ„d whome thow hast sent Iesus Christ and so serue him and be 5 rom 12. b. 1. cor 12. a. 2. Thes 5. c. profitable vnto his churche in the whole course of his lyfe that after this life be ended he may be broght as a lyuely meÌ„ber of his body vnto the full fruition of thy 6 1. Cor. 2. a. rom 6. d. Tit. 3. b. ioyes in the heaueÌ„s where thy sonne our Christ raigneth world wyth out end In whose name we pray as he hathe taught vs. Our father etc. when they haue prayed in this sort the minister requireth the childs name which knowen He saieth N. 1 Matt. 28. d. Mark 16. c. Act. 2. f. I baptise thee in the name of the father of the sonne and of the holy ghoste And as he speaketh these woords he taketh water in his haÌ„d and layeth it vpon the childes forehead which done he giueth thanckes as followeth FOR asmoche moste holy aÌ„d mercifull father as thow doest not only beawtifie and blesse vs wyth coÌ„mon benefits like vnto the rest of mankinde but also 1 Ephe. 2. b. a. 1. peter 2. b. Osee 2. d. 2. peter 2. d. heapest vpon vs moste abundantly rare and wonderfull gyftes of dutye we lyft vp our eyes and mindes vnto thee and gyue thee moste huÌ„ble thankes for thy infinite goodnes which haste not only nombred vs emongest thy 2 1. peter 2. b. Ephe. 2. d. sainctes but also of thy free mercie doest call our children vnto thee markinge theim wyth thys Sacrament as a singuler token aÌ„d badge of thy loue Wherfore moste louing father thogh we be not able to deserue this so greate a benefite yea if thow wouldest haÌ„dle vs according to our 3 Rom. 2. a. Iere. 3. g. Isa 40. b luk 17. c. merits we shuld suffer the punishemeÌ„t of eternall deathe and daÌ„natioÌ„ yet for Christes sake we beseche thee that thou wilt coÌ„firme this thy fauor more and more towards vs and take this infant into thy tuition and defence whom we offer and present vnto thee wyth common supplications and neuer suffer him to fall to such vnkindes wherby he shuld 4 2. Cor. 6. d. lose the force of this baptisme but that he may perceyue thee continually to be his mercifull father throgh thy holy spirite working in his hart by whose diuine power he may so preuayle against Satan that in the end obteyning the victorie he may be exalted into the libertie of thy kingdome THE MANER OF THE LORDES SVPPER THE day when the lordes supper is ministred which commoÌ„lye is vsed once a monthe or so oft as the Congregation shall thinke expedient the minister vseth to saye as followeth LET vs marke deare bretherne and coÌ„sider how Iesus Christ did ordayne vnto vs his holy supper according as S. Paule maketh rehearsall in the 11. chap. of the first Epistle to the Cor. I haue saith he receyued of the lorde that which I haue deliuered vnto you to witt that the lorde Iesus the same night he was betrayed toke breade and when he had geuen thankes he brake it sayinge Take ye eate ye this is my bodie which is broken for you doo you this in remeÌ„brance of me
we seeke for thys hys woorde ¶ The childe It is conteyned in the holye scripture ¶ The minister How must we vse thys woorde to haue thys profit by it ¶ The childe We must receyue it beyng perfitly perswaded therof in oure conscience as of an vndoubted trueth sent down from heauē submittyng our selues vnto it with due obedience louing it hartely with a feruent ād vnfeyned affectiō hauing it so imprinted in our hartes that we may folowe it and conforme our liues wholy vnto it ¶ The minister Doe all these thynges lye in our power ¶ The childe No verely not one of theym all but God woorketh them in oure heartes in thys wise by hys holy spirite ¶ The minister Is it not required of our part that we take payne doe oure diligence both to heare and to reade thys doctrine whiche is set furth vnto vs ¶ The childe Yes forsoth firste it is requisite we must geue diligente labour to learne gods word that euerve man priuatly in his own house geue himselfe to the studye of this word but principally euery man is bound to haunt duely al such sermons as be made in the congregation of Christ for the better vnderstandyng of this his doctrine ¶ The minister Thinkest thou then that it is not inough that euerye manne dooe geue diligence to reade gods worde in his owne house onlesse they come also together to heare it preached openly ¶ The childe I thynke so at the least waye if God of his goodnes doe prouyde suche meanes that we may heare it ¶ The minister What is the reason ¶ The childe Ephe. 4. Because oure sauior hath set established thys ordre in hys church not to the ende that .ii. or three onely shoulde obserue it but as a generall ordre for all men he hath like wise declared that this is the onely way to build hys church to preserue the same let vs therfore euery one be content to haue recourse to this rule not become wyser then our maister ¶ The minister Pastours or ministers in the church are necessary Is it then a thing necessary to haue pastoures and ministers in the congregaciō ¶ The childe Yea very necessary at theyr mouthes men are bound to receyue the woorde of the Lorde with all humble obedience so that whosoeuer doeth set light of thē Matt. 10. Luk. 10. and regard not to heare theyr sayinges they contemne also Iesus Christe and deuyde themselues from the felowship of hys flocke ¶ The minister Is it sufficiente that we haue bene once instructed by theyr meanes either elles must we heare their doctrine continually ¶ The childe It is nothyng if a man begyn well vnlesse he continue styll in the same for we must keepe vs in Christes schole and continue stil his scholers vnto the end and for that cause he hath ordayned Ministers in the churche to teache vs continually in hys name ¶ The minister Sonday 46 Is there no other meane besides hys word by whiche God sheweth hymselfe vnto vs ¶ The childe God hath ordeined and coupled the sacramentes with the preachyng of hys woorde ¶ The minister What thing is a sacramente ¶ The childe A sacramente is an outwarde token of gods fauor Of sacramētes which by a visible signe dothe represent vnto vs spirituall thīgs to the ēd that gods promises myght take the more deepe roote in oure heartes and that we myghte so muche the more surely geue credite vnto them ¶ The minister What is this possyble that a visible and a material sygne should haue such vertue to certifye oure conscience ¶ The childe No not of it selfe but God hath ordained it forsuch an end ¶ The minister Since it is the proper office of Goddes holy spirite to seale imprinte the promises of God in our heartes how can thou attribute or geue this propertie vnto the sacramentes ¶ The childe There is a great difference betwene the one and the other for goddes spirite is he alone who in very deede is hable to touche and moue our heartes to illuminate our mindes and to assure oure consciences in suche sorte that all these ought to be accounted and reputed hys only workes so that the whole prayse and glory hereof ought to be geuē vnto hym onelye yet this notwithstandyng it hath pleased our Lorde to vse hys sacramentes as certaine meane aydes or instrumētes therof according as it seemed good vnto hym without diminisshinge in the meane tyme any poynt of the vertue and woorking of his spirite ¶ The minister Thou meaneste then that the efficacy or vertue of the sacramentes doth not consyst in the outwarde elemente or visible signe but so farre furth as it pleaseth God to moue the conscience therwithall by the working of hys spirite ¶ The childe I meane euen so according as it is gods pleasure to woorke by meanes by him ordeined without any derogacion therby to his gloryous power ¶ The minister What moued God to institute such instrumentes or meanes ¶ The childe He ordeyned them to helpe and counforte oure weake nature The sacramētes were ordained to helpe our infirmitie for if we were wholye of a spiritual nature as the angelles are then we were apt to consider both God hys manifolde graces or benefites after a spiritual maner also but forsomuch as we are clogged withe earthely bodyes it was needefull for vs that God did institute sensible sygnes to represente vnto vs spirituall and heauenly thynges for otherwyse we coulde not so wel comprehende them Moreouer it is necessarye for vs that al our senses be exercised in his holy promises that we might be the better stablyshed in the same ¶ The minister Since God hath ordeined his sacramentes for our necessitie it were a point of arrogancye and presumpcion to thinke that they myghte be as well left of as vsed ¶ The childe Ye saye trueth so that whosoeuer doth willingly forbeare the vse of them estemyng them as thynges more then nedeth The sacramentes are necessarye of no importance he dishonoreth Iesus Christ he refuseth his gracious benefites and doeth willingly quenche hys holy spirite ¶ The childe But what sure certitude of gods grace be the sacramentes hable to geue seing bothe the godlye and wicked doe receiue them ¶ The minister Albeit the infideles wicked doe make the grace which is offered presented vnto them by the sacramentes voyde and to stand them in none effect yet it foloweth not that theyr office and property is such for al that ¶ The childe How is it then and when is it that the sacramentes doe produce or bryng furth theyr operacion and effect ¶ The childe When a man receyueth them in faith whan the sacramentes take theyr effect leaning onely vnto our sauior Christ his merites seking nothing els but him in thē ¶ The minister What meanest thou by saying that we may seke nothyng els but Christ in them ¶ The childe
parte what is the ryghte vsynge or receauyng of baptysme ¶ The childe The ryght vse therof standeth in these two faith and repentaūce that is wherein the right vsing of baptisme standeth in that we be sure that we haue oure consciences cleansed in the bloude of Christe And in that we both feele in oure selues and make it knowen to others by oure woorkes that hys spirite abydeth in vs to mortyfye oure affections and desyres and so to make vs ready to doe the wyll of God ¶ The minister Sonday 50 Seyng al thys is required in the ryght vsynge of baptisme how is it that lytle children be baptysed ¶ The childe I dyd not meane that fayth repentaunce oughte alwayes to goe before the ministracion of this sacrament The baptisme of infantes for that is only requisite in them that be of age and discretion so that it is sufficienre if the lytle children shew forth the fruites of baptysme when they are come to sufficient age to knowe it ¶ The minister How wylt thou proue that there is no inconuenience in thys doyng ¶ The childe For in lyke maner circumcisyon was a sacrament of repentaunce Deu. 10. and. 30. Iere. 4. Rom. 4. as Moses the Prophetes doe wyttnes ād also a sacramente of fayth as sainct Paul teacheth and yet God dyd not debarre and exclude lytle chyldren from the receyuyng of the same ¶ The minister No but arte thou able to proue sufficiently that there is as good reason they should be receiued to baptisme as that the other should be circumcised ¶ The childe The promises whiche wer made to the Iewes only are nowe offered to al men Yea for the reason is largely as sufficienente for the same promyses whiche God dyd make in tyme past to hys chosen people of Israell are now extended with muche more euydente declaration into all coastes of the worlde ¶ The minister And foloweth it therefor that we muste vse also the signe ¶ The childe Yea if we wyll consyder the thynge effectually For Christ hath not made vs partakers of that grace which belonged in time paste to the children of Israel to the intente he woulde in vs dimynishe dimynishe it and deale it more sparyngly or that he woulde make it nowe more doubteful or lesse knowen than it was before but rather to the ende he would shew forth his goodnes not onely more euidentely but also more plenteouslye ¶ The minister Doest thou coumpt then that if we dyd denye baptysme to lytle chyldren the grace and goodnes of God should be dymynished and darkened by the commynge of Christ ¶ The childe Yea surely for we shoulde be by that meanes destytute of the expresse signe of Goddes bountyfull mercye towardes our children the which thing they that were vnder the lawe had in very dede this thing serueth highly to our comfort as to the stably shynge of the promes which hath bene made vnto vs from the begynning ¶ The minister Thy minde is then that forsomuche as it pleased GOD in olde tyme to declare hymselfe to be the sauyoure yea of lytle children and that he thoughte it also good to seale hys fauorable promise in theyr bodyes by an outwarde sacramente and marke that therfore it is very good reason that ther be no lesse tokens of assuraunce after Christes comming since the self same promyse cōtinuynge styll is reiterate and more openly vttered as wel by worde as dede ¶ The childe Yea and moreouer it semeth a thyng worthy of notable reprehencyon if menne woulde doe so muche wronge vnto chyldren as to denye them the signe whiche is a thynge of lesse price since the vertue and substance of baptysme belongeth vnto them whiche is of muche hygher estimacion ¶ The minister For what consideration ought we to baptise lytle children ¶ The childe To what purpose children are baptised They are christened in token and wytnes that they are enherytours of the blessynge of God which is promised to the lynage of the faythfull to this ende that when they come to age they shoulde be instructed what the substaunce and meaning of baptisme is to profite them selues therby ¶ The minister Sonday The 51. Let vs now speake of the Supper and firste what is the signyfycacion therof ¶ The childe Our lord did ordaine it to put vs in assuraunce Of the lordes Supper that by the distribuciō of his body bloud oure soules are nouryshed in the hope of lyfe euerlastynge ¶ The minister Why is it that our Lorde representeth vnto vs hys bodye by the breade and hys bloude by the wyne ¶ The childe To sygnyfye vnto vs that euen what propertie the bread hath towardes our bodies to wete Christ offereth to vs his body by the bread and hys bloude by the wyne to feede sustayne them in this transytorye lyfe the selfe same propertye also his body hath touchīg our soules that is to nourishe and refresh them spirytually And in lyke maner as the wine dothe strengthen comfort and quicken the body of man euen so hys bloude is our ful ioye our comforth and spiritual strength ¶ The minister Doeste thou meane that we must be in dede partakers of the bodye and bloude of the Lorde ¶ The childe Yea verely I meane so The onely stay of our truste for since the whole truste and assuraunce of our health and saluacion doth consist in the obedience which he hath perfourmed vnto god hys father in that that God doth accept it take it as if it were oures in deede we must fyrste needes possesse him seeing that hys benefites doe not belong vnto vs vntill he haue firste geuen hymselfe vnto vs. ¶ The minister Why did not Christ geue himselfe vnto vs what tyme he gaue himselfe to be crucified to the intēt that thereby we myght be brought into the fauour of God hys father and be deliuered from damnacion ¶ The childe Yes but that doth not suffyce vnlesse we doe receiue hym withal in such sorte as we may feele in our consciences the fruicte and efficacye of his death and passion ¶ The minister After what sorte we receiue Christe Is not faith the ready meanes to receyue Christ by ¶ The childe Yes forsoth not onely by that that we belieue that he dyed rose again to delyuer vs from euerlasting death and to procure vs also euerlastyng lyfe but also by that that we feele by fayth that he dwelleth in vs and is ioyned with his membres to the end to make vs partakets of al his graces and benefites because we are vnto hym vnited and made all one ¶ The minister Sonday 52 Haue we not Christe ioyned vnto vs so that we become partakers of hys benefytes by no other meanes than by hys Supper ¶ The childe Yes verelye for we receyue Christ with the fruicion of his benefites 1. Cor. 1. at the preaching of the gospel as S. Paule witnesseth in that that our lord Iesu doeth promise
wayes this resurrection of Christe doeth profite vs ¶ The childe Thre maner of ways the firste The benefyte and vertue of Christes death standeth in .iii pointes that we haue fully obtained to be ryghteous therby Secondly that his risinge frō death is asure gage and certaine assuraunce unto vs that we shall ōce ryse agayne into a lyfe without ende and moste glorious Thyrdely Rom. 4.6 1. Cor. 15. that if we be in dede truely partakers of his resurrection we ryse nowe in this present worlde in to a new kynde of lyfe addicted wholy to serue God and to leade an holye conuersation agreable to his wil and pleasure ¶ The minister Sonday 12 Let vs goe forwarde to the reste ¶ The childe He ascended vp into heauen ¶ The minister Wente Christ vp into heauen in suche sort that he was no lōger abydinge in the yearth ¶ The childe Yea Christ ascended into heauē for whan he had performed whollye all thynges that were enioyned him by the commandement of his father and had accōplished all that was necessarie for our health it was not nedefulle that he shoulde remayne any longer in the worlde ¶ The minister What profyte haue wee by hys ascension ¶ The childe The Profytte of Christes ascension stādyth in two pointes We receyue double profyte thereby for since that our sauyoure Christe is entred into heauen in our name euen inlyke maner as he came downe from thēce for oure sakes onely he hath thereby made an open entrye into the same place for vs geuynge us withal an assured knowledge that the gate of heauen is nowe wyde open to receiue vs whych was before faste shutte through our synnes The seconde profite is that he sytteth there presente alwais in the syght of God the father to make intercessyon for us Rom. 6. Hebr. 7. and to be our aduocate to make answere for vs. ¶ The minister But is oure sauioure Christ so gone out of the worlde that he is no more here with vs ¶ The childe Matt. 28. No dowteles for he hymselfe sayeth the contrarye that is that he wyl be here presente with vs vnto the worldes ende ¶ The minister Is it meant of his bodely presence that he maketh promise so to cōtynue with vs ¶ The childe No verelye Luke 24. Actes 1. for it is a nother matter to speake of hys body which was lyfte vp out of this worlde into heauen and to speake of hys godlye power whiche is spred abrode throughout the whole worlde ¶ The minister Declare the meanīg of this sentēce He sytteth on the ryghte hand of God the Father ¶ The childe The vnderstandyng of that is Matt. 28. to signifye that he hath receyued into his handes the gouernance of heauen and yearth whereby he is kynge and ruler ouer al thynges ¶ The minister What signifieth this worde ryghthande and the fyttyng on the ryghthande whereof mention is here made ¶ The childe It is a similitude or a maner of speache borowed of earthly Princes To sit on the right hande of God whiche are wonte to place on their right side suche as they substitute nexte vnder them to see to the execution of lawes and to supplye their roume and offyce in their steade ¶ The minister Then thou meanest nothing els therby Ephe. 1. but that whiche S. Paule speaketh to the Ephesians that he was constitute and appointed head of the Churche set in authoritie aboue all powers Philip. 2. and that he hath receiued a name or dignitie passynge all other ¶ The childe My meanynge is none other ¶ The minister Goe forwarde to the residue ¶ The childe Sonday 13 From thence he wil come to iudge the quycke ād the dead that is to saye he will come doune from heauē and shewe himselfe visibly once agayne in iudgement euen in that shape Actes 1. wherin he was seen to ascend ¶ The minister Seynge the iudgemente of God shal be in the ende of the worlde how maye that be whych thou saiest some shal be a lyue and other some shal be dead namely since also it is a thing most certainly oppointed vnto all men Hebr. 9. to dye once ¶ The childe S. Paule maketh answer to this questiō himselfe saying that they which at that time shal be lefte on liue 1. Cor. 15. 1. Thes 4. shal be sodainly chāged in a momēt of time to the end that their corruptible nature maye be altered and that they may receiue a newe body whiche shal be no more subiect to corruption ¶ The minister Thy meaninge is then that this alteratiō or change shal be vnto them in steade of a death in somuche as it shal do a way abolyshe their former nature and make them ryse againe in a newe more glorious state ¶ The childe It is euen so ¶ The minister Doe we receyue any comfort by this that our sauiour Christ will come once to iudge the worlde ¶ The childe Yea verely and that a synguler great comforte for we are taught certeynly that hys commyng at that tyme shal be onely for our saluation ¶ The minister Wel then there is no cause why we shoulde be afrayde of the day of iudgement or wherfore we shoulde lothe the cummyng thereof ¶ The childe No truely Christe shal both Iudge vs and aunswer for vs. forsomuch as we shall appeare before no other iudge but him who is our aduocate and hath taken vpon hym to defende our cawse ¶ The minister Sonday 14 Let vs nowe come to the third parte ¶ The childe That part cōcerneth our fayth confidence in the holy goste The third parte of the crede ¶ The minister And to what purpose doth it serue vs ¶ The childe It doth vs to vnderstād that euen as God hath first redemed vs Of the holy gost and his giftes geuen euerlasting health vnto vs in Iesu Christ euē so it pleased hym to make vs partakers of these his graces ād benefites through his holy spirite ¶ The minister How so ¶ The childe In lyke maner as the bloud of Christe is the onelye thyng that pourgeth oure soules 1. Peter 1. euē so the holy ghost must sprinkle ād moysten our cōsciences with the same to make them pure and cleane ¶ The minister Yet this needeth a more euident declaration ¶ The childe It is no more to saye but that the holye spirite of God dwellyng in our heartes doth make vs feele the vertue and goodnes of our Lord Iesus Rom. 5. for it is he that doth open the eyes of our hearte to beholde gods benefites towardes vs he doeth seale and imprint his aboundante graces in our soules and this spirite doeth also regenerate vs and make vs new creatures in such sort Ephe. 1. that by his meanes we receiue to our most cōfort al those giftes and benefites which be offered vnto vs so plentifully in Christ our sauiour ¶ The minister Sonday 15
euerlastinge ¶ The minister What do the bread and wyne represent in the lordes Supper ¶ The childe This that as our bodies are norished therwith so our sowles are susteyned and norished with the vertue of Christs body ād bloode not that they are inclosed in the breade and wyne but we muste seeke Christ in heauen in the glorie of God his father ¶ The minister By what meanes may we attayne vnto hym there ¶ The childe By faith which gods spirite worketh in our hartes assuringe vs of Gods promisses made to vs in his holy ghospell Th end A FOVRME OF prayers to be vsed in priuat houses euery morninge and euenynge Morninge prayer ALMIGHTIE God and most mercifull father we do not 1 Daniel 9. c. present our selues here before thy Maiestie trusting in our owne merites or worthynes but in thy manifold mercies which hast promised to heare our prayers and 2 Ioh. 16. c graunt our requestes which we shall make to thee in the name of thy beloued sonne Iesus Christ our lord who hath also commaunded vs to assemble our selues together in his 3 Matt. 18. c. name with ful assurance that he wyll not onely be emongst vs but also be our 4 1. Tim. 2. b. mediator ād aduocate towards thy Maiestie that we may 5 1. Ioh. 3. d. obteyne all thinges which shall seme expedient to thy blessed wyll for our necessities Therfore we beseche thee most mercifull father to tourne thy louynge contenance towardes vs and 6 Psal 32. a. impute not vnto vs our manyfold synnes and offences wherby we iustely deserue thy wrath and sharpe punishement but rather receyue vs to thy mercye for Iesus Christes sake acceptinge his death and passion as a iuste 7 1. Ioh. 2. a. recompence for all our offences in whome onely thow art pleased and throgh whome thow canst not be offended with vs. And seinge that of thy great mercies we haue quietly passed this night graunt ò heauenly father that we may spēd and bestowe this day wholy in thy seruice so that all our 8 Col. 3. c. thoghtes wordes ād deedes may redounde to the glorie of thy name ād good ensample to all men who seinge our good workes may glorifie thee our heauenly father And forasmoche as of thy mere beneuolēce and loue thow haste not onely created vs to thyme owne 9 Gen. 1. d. similitude and lykenes but also haste chosen vs to be heyres with thy dere sonne Iesus Christ of that immortall kingdome which thow preparedst for vs before the beginnynge of world we beseche thee to 10 Luk. 17. a. encrease our faith and knowlage and to lighten our hartes with thy holy spirite that we may in the meane tyme lyue in golyd cōuersation and integritie of lyfe knowinge that 11 Gal. 5. d. idolaters adulterers couetous men contentious persons dronkardes glotons and suche lyke shall not inherite the kingdome of God And becawse thou haste commaūded vs to pray one for on other we do not onely make request ò lord for our selues and theym that thow hast already called to the trew vnderstandinge of thy heauenly wyll but for all people and 12 Act 10. e 1. Tim. 2. a nations of the world who as they knowe by thy wonderfull workes that thow arte God ouer all so they may be instructed by thy holy spirite to beleue in thee their onely sauiour and redemer But forasmoche as they can not 13 Rom. 10. d beleue except they heare nor can not heare but by preaching and none can preache except they be sent therfore ò lord rayse vp faithfull distributers of thy mysteries who settinge a parte all worldely respectes may bothe in theyr lyfe and doctrine onely seke thy glorie Contrarely confownd 14 Rom. 16. c Satan Antechrist with all hyrelinges and papistes whome thow hast already cast of into a reprobate sense that they may not by sectes schismes heresies and errors disquiet thy lytle flocke And becawse ò lord we be fallen into the latter days and 15 2. Tim. 3. a daungerous tymes wherin ignorance hath gott the vpper hand and Satan with his ministers seeke by all meanes to quenche the light of thy gospell we beseche thee to mayntayne thy cawse against those 16 Matt. 7. c raueninge wolues and strengthen all thy seruantes whome they kepe in pryson and bondage Let not thy longe sufferinge be an occasion either to encrease theyr tyrannye or to discorage thy childrene nether yet let our synnes and wickednes be a hinderance to thy mercies but with spede ò lord consider these great miseries and chieflye the afflictions of our Contrie which once florished through thy mercies and nowe for contempt of thy worde is 17 Amos 8. Matth. 11. c plaged accordinge to thy iudgement Alas lord mayst thow not be intreated shall we thus be left in dispayre shall all the world laugh at our shame for 18 Psal 77. b. euer truthe it is lord that we were more then sufficiently warned of this thy vengeance to come both by thy worde ād exemples of others For thy people Israell many tymes by their 19 Exo. 32. a synnes prouoked thyne anger and thow ponishedest theym by thy iuste iudgement yet thogh theyr synnes were neuer so greuous if they once returned frome their iniquitie thow receyuedst theym to 20 Esa 37. a mercie we therfore most wretched synners bewayle our manyfolde synnes and earnestly repent vs for our former wickednes and vngodly behauyor towardes thee and wheras we can not of our 21 Rom. 7. d 2. Cor. 3. Luk. 17. c selues purchase thy pardon yet we humbly beseche thee for Iesus Christ sake to shewe thy mercies vpon vs and restore vs agayne to thy fauour Graunt vs deare father these our requestes and all other thinges necessarie for vs and thy whole churche accordinge to thy promes in Iesus Christe our lorde In whose name we beseche the as he hath taught vs saing Our father c. A prayer to be sayd before meales ALL thinges depende vpon thy prouidence o lord to receyue at thy handes due sustenance in tyme conuenient Psal 104. Thou geuest to theym and they gather it thow openest thy hand and they are satisfyede with all good thinges O heauenly father which arte the fountayne and full treasure of all goodnes we beseche thee to shewe thy mercies vpon vs thy children and 1 1. Tim. 4. b. sanctifie these giftes which we receyue of thy mercifull liberalitie grauntinge vs grace to vse theym 2 Tit. 2. c soberlie and purely accordinge to thy blessed will so that hereby we may ackonwledge the to be the author ād gyuer of all good thinges and aboue all that we may remembre cōtinually to seeke the 3 Ioh. 6. c. d spirituall foode of thy woorde wherewith our soules may be norished euerlastingly through our sauiour Christ who is the trewe 4 Ihon. 6. c breade of lyfe which came downe
I signify therby that we may not occupye oure myndes in considering the outwarde or earthly sygnes Howe Christe oughte to be soght in hys sacramentes as though we would seke our health saluacion in thē neither may we ymagine that there is anie peculiare vertue inclosed or hidde in thē but contrariwise we do take the signe for an ayde or helpe to leade to directe our mindes straight into heauen to the intent that we maye there seeke our sauiour Christ al health and goodnes in him alone ¶ The minister If faith then be required in the ministracion of them how may it be that they are ordeined geuen vnto vs to strengthen stablishe vs in the faith and to assure vs of gods promises ¶ The childe It is not inough that faith be once begonne in vs for a tyme The sacramētes be meanes to nouryshe our faith but we must styll nourishe it mayntaine it so that it may grow daily be encreased in vs. For the nourishement strength encrease therefore of our faythe God hath geuen vs the sacramentes conteining hys merciful promises the which thing Sainct Paule declareth Rom. 4. sayng that the vse of thē is to seale or-print the promises of God in our hartes ¶ The minister But tell me is not thys a token of infidelitie whan the promyses of God be not sufficient of themselues to geue vs certayne assurance onlesse there be some visible sygne as an ayde ioyned vnto them ¶ The childe Verely as ye say it is a token of a litle slender weake fayth yet of that sort the fayth of the most part of al the childrē of God is Godes children are not fully perfecte in this lyfe notwithstandyng they ceasse not therfore to be called faythfull albeit they haue not as yet attayned vnto the perfection thereof For so longe as we lyue in thys worlde there abydeth cōtinually certayn remnauntes of vnbeliefe in oure fleshe therfore we must endeuour by al meanes continually to profit encrease in fayth ¶ The minister Sonday 48 Howe many sacramentes be there in the churche of Christe ¶ The childe How many sacramentes ther be Ther be but .ii. which be commune vnto all menne and whyche Christ hymselfe ordayned for hys whole faythfull flocke ¶ The minister What be they ¶ The childe The sacrament of Baptisme and the holy Supper ¶ The minister In what poyntes doe they agree and wherin dyffer they the one frō the other ¶ The childe Baptysme is as it were an entree into the felowshippe or congregation of God Of baptisme for it witnesseth certaynly vnto vs that wheras we were before straungers from God he doth now receiue vs into his family and houshoulde The Supper of the Lorde is a sure witnesse or testymonye vnto vs that God wyll nouryshe and refreshe vs with foode euen as a good master of a house studieth with paynefull dilygence to sustayne feede suche as be of hys houshoulde ¶ The minister To the ende that we maye vnderstande them both somuch the better The signification of baptisme let vs consider them a parte one after another fyrste what is the ryghte sygnificacyon of Baptisme ¶ The childe The significacion thereof standeth in .ii. poyntes fyrst our lord representeth vnto vs herin the remissyon of our synnes secondarely Ephe. 5 Rom. 6. oure regeneration or newe byrth in spirite ¶ The minister Sonday 49 What similitude or agreablenes is there betwene water and those thynges whereby it maye be thoughte meete to represente them ¶ The childe Fyrste the remission of synnes is a maner of washing The mistery of the water in Baptisme wherby oure soules are clensed from theyr fylthynes euen as the vnclenly fylthe of our body is washed a waye with water ¶ The minister What saiest thou concerning the other poynt of regeneration ¶ The childe Because the beginning of our regeneration standeth in the mortyfycation of our nature that is to say in the killyng of our affections and the ful accomplishynge of the same consisteth in that that we become newe creatures as touchinge our cōuersaciō through the spirite of God therfore the water is powred vpon the head to sygnifye that we are dead or buryed Wherfore the water is powred on the head that in suche sorte that our risyng againe into a new life is therwithall fygured in that that the powring of the water is but a thing of a very shorte continuance and not ordeined that we shoulde be drouned herby ¶ The minister Thou meanest not that the water is the thyng wher with oure soules be washed The water doth not clense vs but the blood of Christ onely 1. Ihon. 1.2 Peter 1. ¶ The childe No for that belongeth to the bloude of oure sauioure Christ alone which was shed to the ēde that al oure fylthe vnclēnes myght be cleane wipt away that we myghte be counted pure and withoute spotte euen before God the whiche thinge then taketh effecte in vs what tyme oure consciences be sprinkled therwith by Goddes holy spirite but the sacramente doth testifye and declare it vnto vs. ¶ The minister Why then meanest thou that the water standeth in no othet stead vnto vs but as a figure ¶ The childe It is suche a figure as hath the veritie substāce of that thing which it signifieth The water is not a bare sygne The promyse is ioyned to it ioyned vnto it for God is a true keper of hys promise deceaueth no man wherfore it is certaine that remission of synnes and newnes of lyfe is offered vnto vs in baptysme that we receiue the same there ¶ The minister Is this grace receyued indifferently of all men ¶ The childe No for dyuers through theyr peruerse minde and vnbeliefe do refuse this free offer wherby it standeth thē in no steade neuertheles the sacrament loseth not hys propertye for it offereth thys gyfte vnto them also albeit that none feele the comfort therof but onely the faithfull ¶ The minister What thynge is that wherby our regeneracion is wrought in vs ¶ The childe wherby we are renued in spirite By the death and resurrection of oure sauioure Christe for hys death standeth in this steade vnto vs that by it our olde Adam is crucified and our synnefull nature is as it were buried so that the affections and desires therof beare no more rule in vs. As touchynge the other part which is the newnes of lyfe to vse a newe conuersacion in obeying Goddes wyll and folowyng hys ryghteousnes that we obtayne by hys resurrection ¶ The minister Howe is it that we obtayne thys grace in baptysme ¶ The childe It is geuen vnto vs in that that Christ doth there garnish and decke our soules with the garmente of hys holy spirite if so be that we make not our selues vnworthy of hys promyses whiche be there geuen vnto vs. ¶ The minister As touchyng our