body by faith in the meditation of the worde yet I deny that a man doth ordinarilic receiue Christes bodie by the onelie meditation of his death or hearing of his worde with so much sight by such senses be assurance whereof our infirmitie hath great need as by the receiuing of the sacrament not the Christ is not so much present in his worde preached as hee is in or with his Sacrament but because there bee mo windows open for Christ to enter into vs in the par ticipation of the Sacrament then by his worde preached or hearde For in the word Christ entereth into our hearts only by the eares and through hearing but in the sacrament is sealed the promises of God in the experience of all our sences Rom. 4.11 Qu. Then you say that the Sacrament rightlie receiued is Christes bodie and bloud do you not An. Yea I say yet further that it is Christes bodie broken which ioyned with eating doth set another difference betwene vs and the papists for that we affirme that it is not the bodie of Christe before it be eate of the faithfull Eating goeth before the testimonie that it is his body for Christ saide take eat this is my bodie so that eating doth go before which if they had knowne and considered it would easily haue put an end to all their vile and vaine questions aboute their hoste as they call it rotting in the pix and of a mouse or such like eating it Also the breaking of the bodie of Christe shedding of his bloude which the scripture witnesseth giueth vs to see the present breaking thereof and the exceeding horror of Gods iust wrath againste our sinnes The horror of Gods wrath for sinne is much more then the most can be perswaded of which could neuer be pacified or cur sinnes done away but by this meanes namely by the breaking of the bodie and shebding of the bloude of our Lorde and alone sauiour Iesus Christ Qu. What benefites haue we by receiuing the communion An. First by worthy receiuing this Sacrament we abide in Christ and Christe in vs. Also we atteine an heauenly and celestial life in assurance to be cuer with the Lorde in the lande of the liuing for it is written he that eateth my fleshe Ion. 6.41 and drinketh my blood hath cuerlasting life and I wil raise him vp at the last day And also we receiuing the Lorde Iesus Christe by faith with all the benefites of his death wee receiue in a certeine assurance the remission of our sinnes and eternall life Qu. Thus be thousands of the blinde multitude persvvaded vvhiche dreame to them selues they shall be vvell though they neuer haue more religion then a horse Is it not sufficient to holde that we are made partakers of Christes benefites though we haue in the mean time no communion or fellowshippe with the body of Christ An. That is no lesse absurde then if I shoulde say that one liueth by that meate which he did neuer eate or recouer health by that medicine which he did neuer taste Qu. Now concerning the thirde matter aboute the Sacramente in examination which as you said was the end for which it was ordeined of the Lorde and so to bee receiued of vs I pray you wherefore was it ordeined and to what end shall a christiā receiue it An. The end is Gods glory the profite of his Church To preuide for his owne glorie and the profite of his Church remedying two great and continuall euils in vs namely forgetfulnesse of Gods benefites doubtfulnesse of Gods fauoure towardes vs and also to shewe forth our profession before the Church and and in the face of the enimie First that we might be holden in continuall mindfulnesse of Gods benefites The Lordes supper doth put vs in minde of the death of Ghrist The cheefe and principall of all other is heare presented to vs namely the death of Christ the alone and deare sonne of God and to this end Christe saith Doe this in remembrance of me And to assure vs of the vnfaigned loue of God towards vs what can be more effectuall then to be in the fellowship of bys owne sonne in whom the loue that he beareth towards vs is without ende or measure I. Cor. 11.25 It doth assure vs of his loue for his mercy endureth for euer and of this loue of God towards vs we are assured in the Sacrament as it is written The bread which we breake is it not the communion of the body of Christe Is not the cuppe of blessing which we blesse the partaking of the bloud of Christ So as we are set in mindfulnesse of that which we should neuer forget so also are we put in assuraunce of that whereof we maye not doubt Qu. The Papists say that a man ought not to be sure of his saluation by Christe A doctrine fit for papistes but not for the Lords people howe thinke you of it An. No maruel though they teach men to doubt alwayes of their saluation the ground of whose teaching is their owne gayne For once let the trueth take place that Christians be by the worde and spirite of Christ assured of their saluation by him The Papistes God is his ovvne belly then downe goes their Priesthood their pardons their trentals their dirgies their chaunteries their sencing their singing their Masses and prayers for the dead with what soeuer of like sort for take away the gaine and all these will quickly lye in the duste But we are wartanted by the word of the Lord that the Lords children oughte to bee sure of their saluation by Christ Rom. 11.1 In deede carnall men that measure all by reason see not howe But the Prophet Esay sayth Esa 26. With my body shall they rise and S. Paule sayth They shall haue rest with vs. 2. Thes 1. Also it is written His spirite doth certifie our spirite that we are the sonnes of God Now if we be sure that we are Gods sonnes we are also sure of Gods grace and fauour and so consequently of our saluation Qu. Is there no other ende of this Institution An. Yes That he which worthily receiueth should be certayne of the remission of al his sinnes how many or great loeuer they be and so labour to aduaunce the prayse of God for his mercy but howe great this kindnes of the Lorde is They beste knowe vvhat sinne is that feele the vveight of it they onely know who haue felt the burthen of sinne which of all woes in this life is the greatest and of all burthens the most heauy Agayne no man can cōmunicate with Christes body bloud but the same must communicate with his spirice He that hath not the spirite of Christ is none of his he that hath his spirite hath proofe of his effects for Christes body is no dead carkas Nowe he that communicateth with Christes spirite is made partaker of
Christes righteousnes holynes innocencie and immortalitie and of all the merites of Christ and his whole glory For it is written The glory which thou gauest me I haue giuen them He also is made partaker with the Church and all the good that euer it or any member of it had hath or shall haue for there is in it a communion and fellowshippe of Saintes which we beleue and which hath wayting on it alwayes the forgiuenes of sinnes the rising agayne and eternall lyfe with God Qu. In examining our selues The third matter in examination what els must we looke for An. Our estate before the Churche The state of the faythfull before the Church wherein is required not onely that we forgiue from our hearts those that haue offended vs that we may haue an experience within our selues of Christes spirit and so glorifie God in our heartes by assurance of his mercy in forgiuing vs and accepting of vs in Christ As it is written Forgeue and you shall be forgiuen Math. 6. But also we muste seeke to be reconciled to them whom we haue offended As it is written Mat. 5.23 If thou offrest thy gyft vpon the alter and there remembrest that thy brother hath ought agaynst thee leaue there thy gifte and go and be reconciled first to thy brother and then come and offer thy gifte and this must not only be done of vs before we come to the Sacrament but also concerning prayer to the Lorde For it is written When you pray say thus Our father c Forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse agaynst vs. Qu. But were it not better firste to doe these thinges that concerne Gods glory then to seeke reconcilement afterwardes for is not this to prefer to offices of charity before the worship of God and to set the the second table which cencerneth our brethren before the first which concerneth the Lorde him selfe An. As the heart of man is prone into the way of offence euen from the wombe and hath not any inclination of it selfe into the way of the Lord The naturall man hath an cuill heart so they in vain pretend to haue receiued eternall blessings from him by his spirite where there is not in some measure these the like fruites of the same spirite And the Lorde taxeth them as false pretenders to worship God which proudly coÌ„temn their brethren whoÌ„ they haue offeÌ„ded And vnder one kinde he setteth downe the outward exercises of the diuine worship wherby men ofteÌ„ times do more couÌ„terfet lines theÌ„ truly testify it which is the property of al hipocrits as it is seen in the pharasie Qu. The papistes in steede of all this say goe to the prieste and tell him all thy sinnes then come at Easter and receiue c. do you thinke it well An. No nothing of vs ought to bee accounted well done that is not done to the gloric of God Qu. Why they will say they doe it to the glorie of God and how can you prooue the contrarie An. There is no good thing vvithout the light of the vvorde Nothing can be done to the gloric of God without obedience There is no obedience without the worde so that I conclude nothing can bee done to the glory of God without the testemony of the worde But these vile immaginations be not only without the worde which were enough to throw them withall their good put poses intents down to the diuel in iudgment but that they may holde their interest in a deeper and more horrible vengeance they are directly agaynst the manifect testimonies of the worde of the Lorde First they will haue the people to confesse their sinnes to them The Scripture willeth vs to confesse our sinnes to the Lorde onely Dauid sayth Remember not Lorde the sinnes of my youth Psal 25.7 Psa 51.3 4. c. And agayne Agaynst thee O Lorde haue I sinned Also Luke teacheth vs by the example of the lost sonne to confesle our sinnes to the Lorde The Publicane sayde Luc. 15.1 Luc. 18.18 Lorde be mercifull to me a sinner And where the Priestes say they must confesse all the Prophet Dauid sayth Who can tell howe ofte hee offendeth Psal 19.12 Also where as they say they can forgiue sinnes Sooner sayde then proued they shew their fust condemnation namely that the diuell and sinne reigneth in them For if they can forgiue sinnes then Christ dyed in vayne But let God be euerlastingly true and the diuell and all Papistes lyers I euen I am he sayth the Lord that put away thine iniquities for mine owne sake Esa 43.23 and will no more remember thy sinnes Psal 3.8 Also whereas they alow the Sacrament to the people onely at Easter they do in that as in the rest for as they robbe the Lorde of his honour and put an holines in the time so all the other times of the yere wherein the Lorde sayth to the whole Church in respect of the Supper beeing a publike action Take ye eaâ—e ye the Papists say let the Priest eate it alone and let all the people gase looke on But be the Lords trueth neuer so playne ageynst this kind of superstitious receyuing the Lords Sacraments yet such force hath these deuises of the diuell to holde the vngodly in condemnation that you shall see many in many places and they not the least euen at this day The Popes friends which professe to ferue the Lord by seasons come once a yere to the Sacrament more for feare of the lawe then for loue to the Lord. who at Easter will come very deuoutly and all the yere after neuer a whit in whom the foule stenche of the diuels excrementes in these and the like practises of popery hath so forestalled their senses that there is no place in them for the sweete fauour of the worde of lyfe whose condemnation sleepeth not And for so muche as these and their Popish teachers hold vp an other doctrine then Christ hath taught vs we are warranted by the Apostle to holde them accursed Qu. What say you to the place of Saint Iames which thy alleage for eare confesseon Iames. 5.16 where he saith confesse your sinnes one to another An. Saint Iames in the wisedome of the holie Ghoste prouideth for the comfort of Gods chosen in the distresse of spirite thorough the conscience of sinne in which case he adutseth the Lords people to imparte them such greefe with some such of their brethren as in the wisedome of Gods spirite according to the folowwip of his hee may iustly hope both for such counsell in the warrantise of the word as his soul needeth and also may be strengthened by his feruent prayers to the Lord and so the words following proue for he saith Confesse your sinnes one to another and pray one for another that ye may be healed c. Also if this gaue any strength to eare confession then must the prieste
before the Lorde which do not these dueties for I thinke you shall easily finde many which professe the Gospell and yet do neuer one of them but rather the contrarie So that the very Papistes and Infidels receiue more readily obey more willingly prouide for more sufficiently esteme more highly and do all other things more carefully as our experience doth approue too true for their popish sacrificers idolaters and diuell worshippers then these doe the true seruauntes and ministers of Iesus Christ An. In the Lordes presence they be found to deceiue them selues The state of such as neglect ther dutie to the Lordes messengers Mat. 7.21 whose religion is but in vayne words for that the Lord liueth not in them as in deede he doth not where his glory and kingdome is not cared for Of whom the mouth of the Lorde hath spoken that they shall neuer enter into the kingdome of heauen and they deserue to perish in extreme famine that eyther reiect or so lightly account of the spâ—rituall foode of their soules reached vnto them of the Lorde by the handes of hys Church and ministers and their iudgement sleepeth not for the Lorde him selfe â—arth Who soeuer shall not receiue you nor heare your wordes when you departe out of that house or out of that citie shake of the dust of your feete Mat. 10.14 15. Truely I say vnto you it shall be easier for them of the lande of Sodom and Gomortha in the day of iudgement then for that Citie Luc. 10.11 14 15. Qu. Many thinke them selues in best case when they haue a minister that cannot labour in preaching the worde of the Lord amongest them what do you think of their estate An. Men miserably blinde and see it not First their estate is most wretched for that as blinde men without guide they wander in darknesse for without the word there is no light in our waies Psa 119.105 Thy worde is a lanterne to my feete and a lighte vnto my pathes and also both the one and the other be vnder the iudgement of God Mat. 15.14 The estate of the people that haue an vnpreaching minister If the blinde lead the blind doth they not both fall into the ditche Qu. Then it semeth that you tye the saluation of the people of necessitie the to preaching of the Gospell An. It is moste true for without the preaching of the Gospell there is no ordinarie meane to attaine to faith Rom. 10.14 â—7 faith commeth by hearing the worde of God preached Without faith we cannot atteine to Christ Ioh. 6.40 He that seeth the sonne and beleeueth in him hath euerlasting life c. With out Christ is no way to pacifie the fathers wrath Mat. 3.17 This is my beloued sonne in whom I am well pleased heare him And if the fathers wrath bee not pacified there is no hope of life Psa 2.12 if his wrath be kindled yea but a little we shall perish in the way The necessitie of preaching the Gospell which men make light of So that I conclude that without the preaching of the Gospell it is not possible to be saued Qu. Do you include infants fooles and deaf folkes within this necessity An. No The wisdome of Gods spirit doth leade vs in the streight wayes of the Lorde nor binde the Lorde vnto the meane but in all chinges confesse him to be free but I say that for others the Lord hath giuen vs no ordinarie meane but the preaching of his Gospell Mat. 28.19 Goe preache the Gospell to all creatures who soeuer beleeueth and is baptised shall bee saued c. Mar. 16.13 Qu. There be that thinke that if a man haue learning Selfeliking ignorance and reason that is corrupt blindes many a one especially in the sciences tonges he can not be ignorant of the way of life and so will often reason for others and persuade them selues the one say such bee learned they muste needes knowe the truth The wisdom of carnall men is against God The Lorde when he wil doth vse the meane but he is not bounde to it and the other contemne preaching as if they were too wise for it An. Albeit it pleaseth the Lorde to vse the ciuill knowledge whereof you speake for the furtherance of his gospel when one where he seeth it conuenient yet is it no sure consequent that where these thinges he there also is the sure knowledge of the Lordes truth for in Ephesus were many excellentlie learned in ciuill knowledge As Pithagoras Parmenides Zeno Democritus such like Ephes 1.13 and yet wholie ignoraunt of the way of the Lorde and Saint Paule proueth their faith in Christ to haue commed only from the preaching of the Gospell thorough the power of the spirite of Christe saying In whom ye also trusted after that you heard the worde of truth euen the gospel of your saluation Qu. Then as I take it also you would that in teaching there should onely be vsed the testimonie of the worde it selfe The maner of such as seeke more to please their cares then to profite their soule And yet many that goe for wise men do looke that the preachers should feede them with prophane stories and sayings of men Also some like to spende much time in fables and other needlesse matter Howe thinke you of it An. I graunt you that such things may carry a wilie shew to the carnall man but in all these and a thousand moe of like sort standeth not the faith of Gods chosen for it onely resteth in the word of trueth which Saint Paul testifieth in this respect Esai 55.11 to be the Gospell and when these be at the last yet want the warrant of the spirite to testifie for them that they be the word of truth Againe the Lord blesseth his own meane whose gospel hath a blessing in it selfe and neuer returneth emptie which all these earthly out showes want though in some sort the auouching of some haue their vse namely to confute them that trust in theÌ„ Act. 17.28 Tit. 5.1.12 2. Tim 4.2 as S. Paul doth in the like also they are commanded to preach the worde Mat. 28.20 1. Pet. 4.11 Iho. 9.10 Qu. I see then that the onely way to iustifie vs before God is through fayth in Iesus Christ which you proue that God worketh in our hearts by the preaching of his Gospell But by what meanes I pray you is this iustifying fayth continued and increased in vs An. By the selfe same preaching of the worde For as it is written As new borne babes 1. Pet. 2.2 desire the sincere milke of the word that you may grow thereby 1. Pet. 2.5 1. Cor. 3.2 Heb. 5.13 14. Also the holy Sacramentes are ordeined for vs of the Lord to this end The Lorde by his word and Sacramentes sheweth hys singuler care for the sauegarde of his Church Gal. 3.27 namely to confirme the promises of his Gospell vnto
confesse him to one which they wil not grant therfore they do but ingle with the Lordes trueth Qu. Then you will take nothing from any mans warrant No warrant is fase but the Loras namely the Papistes without proofe of the worde of God rightlie vndersteode An. No for leauing thē their friendes w e their vnwritten verities Ioh. 4.25.5 39 16.13 Their chopping changing of the worde Deut. 5.2.12.32 Their holding them miufficient to deeide controuersies Psa 19.7 Luk. 16.20 Therfore keeping them from the people Psal 95.10 Iohn 17.3 Their imagination of the Scriptures darknesse Psal 19.7 Some of the dregges of the Popes Church Their vayne boasting of the Churches authoritie agaynst the worde of God Iero. 7.8 1. Tim. 3.15 Their false opiniō of works Iob. 9.3 Rom. 3.10 Their presumptuous opinion of the Popes supremacie Mat. 1.28.19 Iohn 20.23 Luc. 22.26 1. Pet. 5.1 2 3. Their eare confession Psal 25.7 Their Purgatorie Mat. 25.26 Psal 51.3 4. Their praying for the dead their Masses and trentals and dirgies 2. Sam. 12.21 Luc. 19.26 Their praying to Samtes Iere. 17.5 Rom. 10.14 Their olde customes and following of forefathers Mat. 15.2 3.12.30 Their Latin seruice Mat. 7.6 7 8. Their Images Exod. 20.4 Their transubstantiation Mark 16.19 Luc. 24.16 Act. 1.9 10 11. Their vnpreaching priesthood 1. Tim. 3.2 Act. 20.28 1. Pet. 4.1 The diuersities of meates for conscience sake and a thousand mo abhominatiōs Mat. 6.11 Rom. 14.14 2. Tim. 4.3 4. We rest our selues wholly safely in the alone word of God as vpon a most trustie witnesse of all trueth that fayleth not for it is written Heauen and earth shall perishe Mat. 24.35 but not one sote of the worde of the Lorde shall fayle Qu. I woulde be moste glad to participate with the Church of God in the vse of this Saccament so oft as they come together to that ende but I see it is a thing most worthy such reuerent consideration as is commanded vnto vs in the word I see the horror of my sinnes so great The best consciences are soonest feared vvith sinne fecle in my selfe so litle repentance and fayth that I feare I am vnworthy to receiue it An. In deede to the worthy receiuing of the Lords supper suche examination of euery one in his owne conscience as the Apostle requireth is very needfull But as for sinne which is in euery one by nature which also of it selfe is deadly euen from the greatest to the least we are to discerne our estate in that case not by the sinne but by the partie as we are taught in the Rom. 6. where he willeth that sinne do not reign in vs which it doth in euery child of man till the spirite of Christ be giueu vnto vs by the preaching of the Gospell As it is written A strong man armed keeping the house all that he possesseth be in peace till a stronger then he come c. Then our sinnes bee deadely VVho sinne deadly when they haue the reigne and dominion in vs And sinne reigneth when we giue ouer to sinne when we striue not agayust it VVhen sinne hath the masterie it flayeth the man but alowe of it and consent vnto it If you yeelde your selues to obey his seruauntes you are to whom you obey whether it be of sinne vnto death or of obevieuce vnto righteousnes And this power of sinne thus raigning doth testifie that the grace of Gods spirit is wanting But if we striue against our sinne if our eye be single that is our minde vpright striuing into the waye of the Lord without hypocrisie or dissimulation though sinne be in vs yet our sinnes are not of force to separate vs from God nor are any such things as shall euer condemne vs but for Christes sake whose peculier spirite hath wrought in vs this misliking of sinne as ignoraunce want of feeling of the Lords kindnes and whatsoeuer of like sort with a longing alter the wayes of the Lorde they are forgiuen vs and shall neuer be layde to our charge because we beleeue in Christ For the distance betweene heauen and earth is not so great as is the difference betweene sinne beeing in vs Rom. 7.20 and sinne raigning in vs as maye appeare in that it is sayde Gal. 5.17 If therefore your sinnes do displease you These fruites of Christes spirit assureth vs of the grace of Christ if you purpose to be an enimie to sinne in your selfe and others if you purpose to walke al your life in the true feare of God and in the light of his worde if you beleeue in Christ Iesus for pardon of your sinnes and stay your selfe vpon his promises I testifie vnto you that you shall be a moste welcome guest to this table of the Lorde Christ hath already sealed in you that you are deare in his sight he hath giuen you of his spirite They that are least in their owne sighte are moste dear vvith the Lord. and you shall haue fellowship with him and with the father by him and with the whole Church of God Christe will dwell in you and you shall dwell in him for euer therefore measure not the Lords mercies by reason which is corrupted but let fayth holde fast his promises and be ioyfull in the Lorde and from the grounde of a pure heart giue all prayle to him to whom all prayse is due for euermore Qu. Not the deed but the maner of doing is al. How many sortes be there of them which receiue not the Sacrament An. There be two sortes namely those that will not and those that can not Qu. What is the estate of both An. The estate of the one namely those that can not is not daungerous for the necessitie of the Sacramentes extendeth not so farre as to exclude them from eternall life which can not enioy the vse therof and those that haue faith which giueth them title and right to eternall life and power to discerne rightly of the Sacramentes though they haue not the means to be partakers of the Sacraments shall not be depriued nor excluded from saluation Their estate i◠not daungerous vvhiche vvould and can not Also as this estate is not dangerous so the condition of such as will not namely of those which contemne the Lords mysteries is damnable For it is vndoubtedly an act of infidelitie and worthy of damnation Their estate is damnable that can and vvill not for this and all wickednes proceedeth from vnbeliefe For it is written Take heede brethren that there be not in any of you an euill heart and vnfaithfull Heb. 3.12 to departe away from the liuing God c. Frō which estate of men the Lorde keepe all that be his for euer Amen FINIS ¶ A most godly and comfortable letter written by by maister Edvvard Deering to a Christian gentlevvoman beeing in heauinesse of spirite very needefull and by the grace of Christ helpfull to suche as be in
A Preparation into the waye of lyfe vvith a direction into the right vse of the Lords Supper Gathered by VVilliam Hopkinson Preacher of the worde of God Printed at London by Robert Walde-graue for Iohn Harrison the yonger and Thomas Manne 1581. ¶ To the right Honorable Syr Henry Sidney Lorde President of her Maiesties Counsel in the Marches of VVales Knight of the moste noble order of the Garter and of her Maiesties most honorable priuie Counsell VV. H. wisheth plentie of those blessings which haue promises of this life and the life to come SEing that it is the duetie of euery true Christian Righte Honorable from the highest to the lowest according to the measure of the grace that he hath receyued of the Lord to reache out him selfe vvith continuall attendance to profite euery his felowe neighbour especially in the charge ouer vvhiche the Lorde hath set him for the tyme so labouring in him selfe to exceede the measure of the moste vvho make muche of lyfe vvithout consideration vvherefore they liue I haue held my selfe bounden by all meanes that I might to endeuour the regarde of those ouer vvhom the Lorde by your Honour hath set me And seeing that not onely the iudgement of reason but continuall experience doth teache vs that to make a scholler learned in the tongues the readyest vvay is to begin vvith the letters or vvell profited in any Science to set first a sure foundation in the principles of the same I haue helde it the moste ready entraunce to make the Lordes trueth familiar to his people especially them of vvhom I haue speciall knowledge and ouer vvhom peculiar charge to laye the groundworke as sure as I might namely in leading them in the light of the Lords vvorde to the true sight of them selues in two respectes that is vvhat they are by nature and vvhat by grace vvherof if eyther be vvanting in the knowledge of Christians the Lorde looseth in respect of him his due glory and the people their saluation As if the first be not knowen men receiue the Lordes promises in securitie as vvhich number at this day seemeth to be great and if the second be not had mens hearts are surprised in the vvaye of death And as he that buyldeth without a foundation layde shall buylde in the ayrc so this steddie groundworke surely founded vvell beat vpon shall giue an easie entraunce to further buylding by the vvord of doctrine and faith that the Lordes Saintes by this meanes maye through his grace not onely be gathered as the Apostle sayth but that through the vvorke of the ministery they may be built vp into him vvhich is the head euen Christ Iesus And for this cause I haue as I might gathered these directions by the Lords vvorde for a perpetuall testimony to remayne vvith thē a consent to suche as turne to the Lorde and for a vvitnesse to the rest But especially next vnto this foundation layde haue I laboured to leade them into the right vse of the Lords Supper a speciall confirmation of Gods promises in Christ to our cōfort a matter also miserably neglected and lightly accounted of to the lamentable ruine and downefall of many thousande soules for the Lordes iudgementes stande inuiolably vvhose vvorkes doth testifie that they are iustly in daunger of his endles indignation vvho prophane his misteries in vnworthines of vvhat condition or sort soeuer they be for vvith him is no respect of persons In both vvhich I haue ioyned the desire of mine owne discharge vvith the peoples safetie and gathered the summe of both into suche a forme as may best agree vvith their experience not as refusing or lightly accouting of the labors of such godly brethren as haue much profited the Lords people in the lyke vvay but as casting in two mytes vvith the poore VVidow to the Lotds vvorke vvhich as it vvas specially ment for mine owne charge so haue I yeelded to the perswasion of certayne godly friendes to communicate the same vvith the Church of God by suffering it to be published in print both for the comfort of the godly the Lorde blessing it and testifie to the Papistes the Lordes enimies that though the varietie of speach be diuers yet that vvee holde firmely one and the selfe same grounde and substance of trueth and that there is not amongst vs at all any oddes or varietie of doctrine vvhatsoeuer they and their lyke shame not vniustly to say agaynst vs. But in this case considering that it must vndergoe the viewe aswell of foes as fauourers that as I am assured of fauourable acceptation amongst the godly yet as the sunne neuer vvanteth light the fyre heate or the srostie vvynter coldnes so haue there euer bene and vvyll be plentie of such vvho in steade of vvell deseruing do please them selues vvith vniust reproching of others labours In this respect as that I might content my selfe in accepting gladly any iust occasion to leaue some testimonie of a right thankfull heart for your Honours fauours many wayes vouchsafed me vvhereby I holde my selfe in the Lorde continually bounde to your Honorable house in all that I maye and in consideration vvherof vvhen other meanes be vvanting wherby to testifie the same I shall not cease I truste right humbly to commende your estate vnto the Lorde vvho hath promised to heare the iuste prayers of his seruauntes for the vvorthines of his Christ So haue I bene bolde to present the same vnto your Honour such as it is the rather hauing iust cause to perswade my selfe of your honorable acceptation and protection of vvhatsoeuer may profite the Church of God I haue also together deliuered to the print for the care I haue of my brethrens health a most notable and christian cōfortable letter vvritten by that notable member of the Church of God in his time M. Edward Dering to a godly christiā gētlewomā by which through the Lordes blessing I must needes confesse to haue gayned muche comfort as also mine hartie desire and hope is that others shall So that vvhile the vncleane and impure Atheistes frozen harted Papistes temporisers carnall Gospellers and infidels shall suppe out the measure of Gods iudgementes to the bottome vve vvell vvarranted in our Christian estate soundly directed in the right vse of the Lordes mysteries by the vvorde preserued in the extremities of sinne and in all lightned to the right application of the grace of Christ shall vvith inuincible constancie runne out the course that is set before vs and patiently vvayte for our deliueraunce euen the comming of our Lorde Iesus Christ of vvhom it is vvritten that he shall appeare the seconde time vvithout sinne to saluation to them that vvayte for him VVhich that vve maye continually do our good God and Father graunt vnto vs by the speciall direction of his holy spirite of sanctification and grace and powre plentifully vpon your Honour those blessings vvhich speciallye concerne the aduauncement of his glory your Honours safetie both in body and
vs and to confirme our fayth in the same As appeareth All ye which are baptized into Iesus Christ haue put on Christ Act. 2.38 And Ioh. 6.51 I am the liuing bread which came downe from heauen if any man eate of this bread he shall liue for euer c. Qu. Are there no necessarie helpes vnto these for the increase and confirmation of our fayth An. Yes and those that can not be wanting without great preiudice to the Church of God namely true earnest and often prayer and discipline according to the worde As for the first it is sayde Aske and haue and whatsoeuer you aske of the father in my name he will giue it you And for the seconde it is written thus Cor. 5 3 4 5. I verily as absent in body but present in spiriie haue determined already as though I were present the he that hath thus done this thing when you are gathered togeather and my spirite in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christ that suche a one I say by the power of our Lorde Iesus Christ be deliuered to Satan for the destruction of the fleshe that the spirite may be saued in the day of the Lorde Iesus Qu. What is a Sacrament An. A Sacrament what it is An outward signe ordeined of God for the greater assurance and strength of our fayth beeing vnto vs sure pledges of those venesites of our saluation which we receiue in Christ to be ours For it is written Gen. 17.11 Ye shall circumcize the foreskinne of your fleshe and it shall be a signe of the couenaunt betweene me and you Exo. 12.3 4 5 6. Rom. 4.11 Qu. How many Sacraments be there in the church of Christ An. Two baptisme the Lords supper as appeareth Brethren I would not haue you ignorant the al your fathers were vnder the cloude and al passed through the sea were al baptised vnto Moses in the cloude and in the sea 1. Cor. 10.1 2 3 4. and did all eate of the same spirituall meate and did all drinke of the same spiritual drink for they dranke of the spirituall rock that followed them and the rocke was Christe Qu. Who shall minister the Sacraments An. He in whose mouth the Lorde hath put his worde for the people as it is written Go teach al nations baptising them in the name of the father and the sonne and the holy ghost Christ gaue this commaundement neither to midwiues as they call them or any other women or to priuate men but to those whom he had chosen his Apostles and had giuen them warrant habilitie to teach Mat. 28.19 The Sacraments ministred where the worde is preached whereby appeareth that the word preached and Sacraments must go together Act. 10.47 Act. 16.32.33 Qu. Where must it be ministred An. Where the worde is preached and because this Sacrament comprehendeth an holy and solemne introduction or admittance into the Church of God Priuate places be not fit for publique actioÌ„s Mat. 28.19 and is a testimonie of our heauenlie deliuerance it is not lawfull to minister it but in the asseÌ„bly of the faithful as appeareth in that is said Go preach and baptize c. and. Mar. 16.15.16 Qu. To the strengthning of our faith how many thinges do we principally learne by baptisme An. Especially two First as water washeth away the filthines of the flesh so the bloode of Christe doth wash away sin from my soule as is written Mar. 1.4 Iohn did baptise in the wilderues preach the baptism of amendment of life for remission of sinns Secondly I am taught to rise to newnesse of life For it is written we are buried then with him by baptisme into his death Rom. 6.4 that like as Christ was raised vp from the dead by the glory of his father so we also should walke in newnesse of life Qu. Wherein is the faith strenthened in the vse of the Lordes supper An. First as by the hande and mouthe my bodie receiueth bread and wine so by faith my soule feedeth of the body and blod of Christ Iesus said vnto them Ioh. 6.35 I am that bread of lyfe he that commeth to me shall not hunger and he that beleeueth in mee shall neuer thirste Secondly all the benefites of Christes passion and his righteousnes are as surely sealed to be mine as I am sure my body hath receiued the bread and wine and as if I my selfe had wrought them For it is written He was deliuered to death for our sinnes Rom. 4.25 and is risen agayne for our iustification Qu. Who shal be admitted to the Lords Supper An. A Christian choyse in admitting to the Lords Supper Only they that can do those things that are required of them that be partakers thereof Qu. Children fooles madde folks and the ignorant must not be admitted for they can not doe this What must they doe that be partakers thereof An. Examine them selues as it is written Let a man examine himselfe and so let him eate c. Qu. Must euery one that receiueth the Lordes Supper of necessitie examine him selfe An. 1. Cor. 11.28 Hee must of necessitie or else hee shall bee guilty of a moste horrible sinne Qu Of what sinne shall he bee guiltie An. Vnworthy receiuers equall with the murthereâ—s of Christ 1. Cor. 11.27 Of the death of Christe and shall be equall with those murtherers that slew him for it is written Who soeuer shall eat this breade and drinke the cup of the Lorde vnworthilie shall bee guilty of the bodie and bloode of the Lorde Qu. What is the rewarde of that sinne An. Gods standing vengeance eternall death for it is written he that eateth and drinketh vnwortily 1. Cor. 11. eareth and drinketh his owne damnation Qu. Seing the necessitie of this examination is so great as may appeare by the iudgements of God for the want of it Ignorant ministers carelesse people shift sinne betvvixt them which yet is greatly to bee feared that very fewe do rightly consider of How many thinges muste they especially seeke for in them selues that do communicate An. Three Three things to be especially considered in examination Namely their estate before God their right knowledge concerning the Sacrament and their estate towards their brethren or before the Church Qu. In seeking their estate before God what must they doe An. First seeke their estate by nature according to the lawe rightly vnderstoode where they shall finde themselues in the wrath of God as S. Paule testifieth to the Ephesians saying Ephes 2.3 We were by nature the children of wrath as well as others Qu. Whereto serueth this in searching their estate before God In all our actions vve musâ—â— especially caâ—e for the glory of God An. First for the glory of God whiche is not duly considered where our condemnation is not knowen For it is written Who careth for the Phisition that is not sicke VVe must not