prayse and magnifie the Lorde holie father almightie euerlastyng God thorowe Iesus Christ our Lorde by whom thou madest vs of nothinge vnto thy image and haste appoynted al other creatures to our vses and where as we thorowe the synne of Adam slidynge frō the were made thyne enemies and therefore subiecte to death and eternall damnation thou of thy infinite mercie and vnspeakable loue dyddest sende the same thy sonne the eternall worde into thys worlde who thorowe the crosse and death deliuered vs from synnes and the power of the Deuyll and brought vs agayne into thy fauoure by his holie spirite whom he sent to vs from the and gaue his bodie and bloude to be the fode of a newe and eternall lyfe that being more confirmed thorowe the truste of thy mercie and loue we should euer go forward to all that that is thy pleasure by renuinge and sanctifiynge of our selues and that we should glorifie and exalte the here and euermore in all our wordes and dedes and singe vnto the without ende with al thy holie Angels and beloued chyldren After these thinges Sanctus shall be songe where clerkes be in latine but of the people in douche one syde answerynge the other thryse of bothe partes As for that that is wont to be added The Lorde God of hostes and Benedictus it shal be songe cōmunely of the whole congregation and therefore in douche Streyght waye after thys let the priest synge the wordes of the Lordes supper in douche Our Lorde the nighte in whiche he was deliuered etc. But these wordes muste be songe of the priest wyth great reuerence and playnely that they maye be wel vnderstanded of all men And the people shal saye to these wordes Amen Whiche all the olde church obserued and the Grekes do yet obserue the same For the whole substance of this Sacrament is conteyned in these wordes And it consisteth altogether in the true vnderstandyng and fayth of these wordes that the Sacrament be holesomely administred and receyued ⧠Whē the people then haue answered Amen The priest shall adde lette vs praye Oure father whiche arte in heauen etc. To whiche prayer of the Lorde the people shal say agayne Amen ¶ The priest The Lordes peace be euer wyth you ¶ The people And with thy spirite After thys they which be admitted to the cōmunion and do loke for the same in their place shal come to the Lordes bourde religiously Firste men and then women and the whole Sacrament shal be gyuen to them al that they may be partakers of the body and bloud of the Lorde receiuing not only bread but also the Cuppe euen as he instituted it ¶ At the exhibition of the bodi let the the pastour saye Take and eate to thy health the body of the Lorde whiche was deliuered for thy synnes ¶ At the exhibition of the cuppe Take and drinke to thy health the bloud of the Lorde whiche was shedde for thy synnes ¶ After the communion lette Agnus dei be songe both in douche and in latine one syde answeryng the other where clerkes be And then lette thys douch songe be songe Gotte sey gelobette Item Iesus Christus Vnser Heylant If the communion shall gyue so muche tyme and leasure ¶ When the communion is ended let the priest synge turnyng to the people The Lorde be wyth ynn ⧠The people And with thy spirite ¶ The priest Let vs praye Almightie euerlastynge God we gyue thankes to thy exceadynge godnes bicause thou haste fedde vs wyth the bodie of thy only begottē sonne and gyuen vs his bloud to drynke We humbly beseche the worke in vs wyth thy spirite that as we haue receyued thys diuine Sacrament wyth oure mouthes so we maye also receyue and euer holde fast with true fayth thy grace remission of synnes and communion with Christ thy sonne Al whiche thinges thou haste exhibited vnto vs in these sacramentes thorow our Lorde Iesus Christe thy sonne whiche lyueth and reygneth wyth the in vnitie of the holie gost verie God and verie man foreuer Amen ⧠An other thankesgyuyng We gyue the thankes father almightie God whiche haste refreshed vs wyth the singuler gyfte of thy bodie and bloude we beseche thy goodnesse that the same maye healpe to confirme our fayth in the and to kendle mutual loue amonge vs by the same our Lorde Iesus Christ etc. ¶ Laste of all lette the pastoure blesse the people wyth these wordes The Lorde blesse the and keepe the the Lorde lighten his coūtenaunce vpon the and haue mercie on the. The Lorde lyfte vp his face vpon the and settle the in peace ⧠Or thus God haue mercie on vs and blesse vs lyghten his countenaunce vpō vs and gyue vs his peace Amen ⧠Or thus God the father the sonne and the holie goste blesse and keepe vs. Amen ⧠Or thus The blessyng of god the father the sonne and the holie gooste be wyth vs remaine wyth vs for euer Amen But where clerkes be not as in villages there lette all be reade and songe in douche But lette the songes be so moderated as in euerie congregation shall make to the edification of godlines But forasmuche as our Lorde instituted thys his sacrament onely for thys purpose that we shoulde eate it and drynke it for the remēbraunce of him and not that we should set it forth or carie it about to be loked vpon forasmuch as sundrie abuses be brought in the true vse of this sacramēt being ouer passed so this sacrament hath bene drawen to horrible superstition and vngodlines for the takyng awaye both of this superstition and vngodlines and also sundrie scruples of the worke and irreligious questions aboute these misteries the pastours and they that administre the Sacramente shall endeuoure them selues that as often as the supper shal be ministred whether it be in the cōgregatiō or in priuate houses for sicke folke they compte the numbre of them certeynely whiche shall communicate that accordynge to the same thei may receiue pieces of bread and measure of wyne As for the remnauntes after that the communion is ended lette the pastours them selues receyue them forthwith and lette them not keepe the same nor lay them vp in any place nor eary them away or set them forth to be beholded For the worde of God whiche saueth vs if we beleue and obey it and damneth perpetually if we do not beleue nor obey it hath thus prescribed cōcerning his sacramētes Take and eate this is my bodie Take and drinke this is my bloude Therfore we must stand in thys institution of Christe and not institute a newe vsage wythout Goddes worde about thys moste holy Sacrament And bicause also that here the Lordes death muste be preached and the communion of hym cōfirmed in vs that thorowe hym we maye be daily more crucified to the world al worldly pompe muste lykewyse be taken frō thys ministration and all tynges muste be so ordeined and moderated that thei may healpe forth and adurne the
layed before the congregation and finally that he seeke recōciliation with God and the cōgregation by worthy repētaunce And the verie obedience due vnto Christ requireth that euerie man in his parishe obeye suche exhortation with al subiection and humilitie For it is a parte of the ministerie whereof Christe speaketh Luke x. He that heareth you heareth me he that despiceth you despiseth me etc. If he then whiche hath liued with an open scaunder admitteth such an exhortation and promiseth amendment fyrst he muste take away the offence that he had caused as if he keepe vnlawfull company wyth some woman he muste put hyr awaye from hym if he hath borne open hatred agaynst any man he muste be reconciled vnto hym asmuche as perteyneth to hymselfe etc. This done he must come to his pastour confesse his sinnes and promise a better lyfe and so require and receyue absolution and then be admitted to the Lordes supper But if suche a man whiche continueth in open synnes wyl not come to the pastours and other ministers of repentaunce beinge called lette him be called thrise or if he come and yet abyde obstinately in his wycked actes after the thirde admonition let the whole matter be brought before the superintēdant by the pastoure and one of them which shal be ioyned with the pastour by the appoyntment of the cōgregation to execute thys busines The superintendāt must come to that congregation where suche an obstinate wicked person shal be and shall call hym againe before hym selfe with the pastour and other appoynted to that office And if he haue not yet lefte his naughtie actes nor amēded his lyfe neither yet earnestly promiseth amendment all these personnes muste pronounce a sētence together agaynst such one and iudge hym worthy to be cast out of the congregation and to be excommunicated and wyth that theyr commune sentence they shall exclude hym from all communion of the congregation And he whom they shall so excōmunicate muste bee compted of all the congregation as one not perteynyng to the bodie of Christe and he muste not be admitted to the holie supper or to Baptisme or to the institutynge of the ministers of the churche or to the blessynge of mariage whiche is wont to be done in the congregation Howe be it he shall not be forbidden to come to sermons yea he shall be exhorted the more to heare sermons that by the worde of God he maye be admonished of the wrath of God of euerlasting and present punishmentes of his vnthankefulnes agaynste the mercie of God and the bitter death of Christ For the ministerie of the Gospell muste euer iudge of al mē in the world good and hadde must rebuke the synne of all men accordynge to thys saying of Christe The spirite shal rebuke the worlde of synne etc. And that men maye rightly vnderstande the ministerie and strength of excōmunication and that a true doctrine of thys matter may be reteyned in cōgregations this thing is diligently to be marked and taughte I meane what difference there is betwene ecclesiastical and ciuile punishmentes The ciuile officer restrayneth and punisheth mē by the cōmaundement of God with bodily punishmētes enprisonment exile losse of goodes and death And he must execute this his office not only for cōmune peace but also for the glorie of God and to reteyne discipline amonge men Ro. xiij Of whiche thinge the ministers must often admonishe the people And if the ciuile officer graunt to a man being excōmunicate the vse of the politike state and cōpanie with citizins the excōmunication of the cōgregation must not hindre ciuile cōmunion and the true and obedient membres of the cōgregation may vse the cōpany of such a person in ciuile matters and in the administration of the cōmune weale in commune iudgementes in byinge and sellinge and suche other busines of ciuile felowshyp and of the necessitie of this life But in other matters not necessarie the mēbres of Christ must auoied the cōpany of such lest they defile thē selues with other mēnes sinnes Yea they muste so behaue them selues towardes such men that both the personnes thē selues and also other maye vnderstande that they be sore agrieued wyth theyr wicked actes and sclaunders wherewith they trouble the congregation of God If any die in excōmunication let not the other mēbres of the congregation be present at his buriall but let them compte hym as a cast awaye seinge that he died wythout the inuocation of the name of Christe and acknowledgyng of his synnes Therfore the superentendant the pastour and other deputed to this ministerie muste vse excōmunication onely agaynst open il liuers whiche wyl not amende and not in ciuile matters as to require dettes for of these thinges the politike iudgemētes of the officers muste gyue sentence and obserue that waye whiche is described in our reformation set forth heretofore cōcerning this matter and if neede shal require it shall be yet more largely described by the aduise of our counsell The pastours then and teachers of congregations must diligētly teach and warne men that they despice not excōmunication nor doubte but that he whiche is lawfully excommunicated is verely reiected of God and that God to cōfirme the feare of excommunication punisheth them often wyth bodilie paynes whiche despice the excōmunication of the cōgregation For neither the blessing nor cursing of the congregation and of godly men can be in vayne as it is wrytten Gene. xiij I wyl blesse them that blesse the and curse them that curse the. And psal Cx. Let his dayes be fewe and let an other take his bishopriche Item let him put on a curse as a garmēt The exēple also of the Cor. testifieth the same So when S. Ambrose had excōmunicated Stilico the scribe the diuell inuaded him forthwyth Wherefore there is no doubte but that he shall surely be punished of God whiche despiseth lawfull excommunication But if the Lorde wyll gyue grace that he whiche is excōmunicated wyll come to hym selfe againe and leaue his wicked deedes for whiche he was excōmunicated and wyll acknowledge and confesse his synnes and be reconciled to hym whom he hath offended and asketh humbly remission of his synnes and disobedience agaynst God and the cōgregation let the pastour absolue thys man before the altare and restore him to Christe and to the congregation if he hertely cōfesse that he wyl obeye Christ and the congregation in all these poyntes as a true penitent Howe be it the other also whiche be appoynted to this ministerie must stande by the pastour as witnesses of those thinges that the man whiche shal be absolued promiseth and as witnesses of the right handling of the absolution And that no mā may haue occasion to require iudgementes by whiche he maye obteyne his ryght in dettes without vnlawful delaies and great charges we by the aduise of our counsell wil take such away in iudgementes which are executed in our name and in the names of archdeacons that they shall be
ye Wherefore let vs constitute hym a Doctoure of authoritie and iudge of all writinges Peruse Cypriās boke ij Epistle iij. And that Christ ought only to be heard the father witnesseth also from heauen saying this is my sonne in whom I am well pleased heare hym Wherfore if Christ only oughte to be hearde we must not looke what any mā before vs hath thought good to bee doone but what Christe fyrste dyd whych is before all All preachinges ought to be taken out of the holie scriptures Forasmuch as thā this doctrine of God the father and of oure Lorde Jesus Chryst is taught in no wrytinges but in the wrytynges of the Propheies and the Apostles and seyng that there is none other doctrine wherin the wyll of God from the begynnyng concernyng mannes saluation is set furth with more certayne and strong testimonies Paule saiyng also that the churche Ephe. ij is buylded therupon it is ryght necessary that al the ministers of the Gospel read often pondre the hole deuine scripture with the feare of God and exquisite diligence both that they them selues maye be better learned and also that they may enstruct other of the euerlastyng wyl of God of the law of synne of the wrath of God of grace and ryghteousnes promysed for Chryst the mediatour of lyfe euerlastyng and paynes euerlasting which the dispisers of the word must nedes suffre This wysdome as Paule witnesseth to the Corinth doth far excel al mans wisdom For he saith we speake the wisdome of God in mistery which is hid whych God predestinated before the worldes vnto our glory whyche none of the prynces of this worlde hath knowne but God hath opened it vnto vs by his spirit i. Corin. xi Wherefore forasmuch as God hathe propouned vnto vs this his holesome and heauenlye doctryne onely in the writynges of the Prophetes of the holy Apostles and because we cannot receiue the same certaine and vndouted els where al shepherdes preachers ought to exercyse them selues diligently daye and nyght in these holy and deuyne bokes that they may be apter to teach other As the holy S. Ciprian to Pompeius agaynst Stephanes Epistle I◠behoueth a byshop not only to teach but also to learne For he dothe better teache which dayely encreaseth and profiteth in learnynge better thynges Se. s Augu. also boke v. of Baptisme agaynste the Donatistes Cha. xvi Gost requireth it in them by name that they declare and shewe them selues approued to God and such workemen of Christ as nede not to be ashamed of their mynistery and whych also may rightly deuide the word of truth and teach other with fruite ij Timoth. ij Item that they holde fast that faythful word whych is accordyng to doctryne that they may bee able to exhort thorough holsome doctrine and to conuince the agaynsayers therof Titu i. In which deuine precept propouned to al teachers ministers of congregations the pastours and preachers shall obserue diligently Fyrst that it is required of thē that in teachyng they hold fast the certayne and faythful word that is to say to whych certayne and vndouted fayth ought to be geuē Wherof it foloweth that thei must take ryght diligent hede that they myngle none opinions of men with their doctryne and preachyng but that they teache religiously and deliuer to the people the syncere worde Ther be ma ▪ of God For this saiyng is euer true Euery man is a lyar Psalm Cxvi And Paule saith The natural man vnderstandeth not those thynges that be of the spirite of God for thei be folyshnes vnto hym and he cannot perceiue them i. Cori. ij After the same sort sayth Esay xl Al flesh is grasse and al the glory therof is as the flour of the felde the grasse wythereth and the floure fadeth But the word of the lorde abideth for euer Seing then that men of theyr owne nature be deceyued and can not of them selues vnderstande the doctrine of grace and seinge that theyr glorie or excellencie by whiche worde the prophete would chiefely signifie mannes wysedome falleth awaye lyke a floure howe can mannes reason and wisdome when it is not guyded and directed by the spirite and worde of God perceyue and teache anie certentie and truth chiefely concernyng diuine matters and the restitution of man And although al christian men haue the spirite of God whiche as he leadeth eche one into all truth as muche as is sufficient for his owne saluation and for the profitte of the congregation so he hath witnessed in man the gospell of Christe wyth goodly bookes and wrytynges and doeth euen vnto thys daye wytnesse and preache neuerthelesse fleshe and bloude abyde in al men be they neuer so holy and spiritual as Augustine I can not denie nether ought to denie that as in oure elders them selues so there be many thinges in so manie my workes that may be blamed wyth ryghte iudgement and no rashenes at all longe as they lyue here whiche fleshe and bloude perceyue not the thynges that pertayne vnto God The sense and vnderstandyng of the fleshe remayneth whiche stryueth agaynst God Wherfore in thys lyfe there neyther hath ben nor is anie man endued wyth so great holines or doctrine but that it hath chaunced hym often to fall and to be deceyued Wherefore as Saynte Augustine so lykewyse other fathers and olde doctours allowed not all the writinges and sentences of them whiche had taughte eyther before them or in theyr tyme for thys cause that those thynges came from men so excellent in godlines and learnynge but as farre as euerie man confirmed his doctrine The same antour in the Epistle to saint Hierome and sentence with the worde of God and sure reasons And they counted those onely reasons to be sure and certaine which thei perceiued to be deriued out of the word of God Of which sort those be with which S. Paule proueth that a woman muste couer Howe we muste iudge of the wrytynges of the fathers hyr heade in the congregation and kepe silence and not teache men i. the Corhinth xi and. xiiii For the apostle cōfirmeth these thynges wyth thys reason namely because the worde of God testifieth that the womā is of the man that she was made after the man and first admitted the gyle of Satan Item that she oughte to be subiecte to hy husbande Wherfore al cōfirmations of godlie doctrine consiste in the onely testimonie of the Vppon what foundation al godly doctrine ought to stand scripture vpon wihche scripture al that we either beleue or teache of God and oure Christe oughte to be grounded For thys scripture only setteth before vs the word of God vnmixte and certayne wherunto onely we ought to giue credence in diuine matters for it was not taught of mē but of the holy goste from heauen as S. Petre wytnesseth sayinge knowe this first that euerie prophetical scripture is not of priuate interpretation For prophecie was not at
out of the worde of God as Paule witnesseth saiynge The swerde of the spirite is the worde of god Ephe. vi Seinge than the beginninge the middle and the ende of oure newe lyfe that is to say regeneration in to the saide lyfe the encrease of it and victorie agaynst Satan consisseth of the worde of God the feeders of congregations maye easely see in to what daunger of Goddes wrath they runne if anie be not parttakers of this regeneration thorough theyr negligence or if they that be borne agayne of the spirite wante the feedinge of goddes worde and the cherishinge of holesome doctrine of exhortation or if they falle from the lyfe and communion of Christe beinge sedused thoroughe false doctrines of men wherefore they that haue this office must euer with al diligence continue in readinge doctrine praier and other exercises spiritual that they maie saie with that faythful seruaunte Lorde thou deliueredest to me ten talētes and lo I haue gained other ten And that they maie heare agayne wel done faythful seruaunte thou wast faithful ouer fewe thinges I wil sette the ouer manie Entre in to the ioye of thy Lorde Wherfore that feeders and al ministers of congregations may the better vnderstande and handle the holye scripture we wil opē vnto thē a certaine way and we wyll declare in ordre the more notable places of the Chrystiane doctrine not that we would haue them to tary in these places but because we desire to haue them brought by these more easelie to the holy scripture it selfe out of which afterward they may be instructed more fully and perfectly ¶ That some leason out of the holie scripture muste be set forth to the people before the sermō and that the same muste be declared to them FYrste we wyll that the pastours take all theyr sermons that they make to the people out of some leason of the holie scripture whiche at the begynnynge of the sermon they shall recite wyth singuler reuerence grauitie As we know that the olde holy fathers vsed it euen from the tyme of the Apostles Which thing also was obserued in the synnagoges of the Iewes as it appeareth by that that we reade of the Lord. Luk. iiii of the synnagog Act. xiii into the whiche Paule and Baruabas entred vppon the Sabbath at Antioche of Pisidia Wherfore in olde tyme euerie congregation had peculiar readers whiche red the bokes of the holie scripture to the people out of the pulpette But this custome being abolished amonge other fautes of ecclesiasticall administration and in thys scarsnes of ministers of the worde by reason wherof Peculiar readers cānot be appointed in euerie congregation we wil that the pastours and preachers execute theyr office and religiouslie to reade to the people afore hande those thinges wherof they wyl speake that so thei may the more accustome them selues to heare the worde of God and that they maye be more fullly enstructed of their saluation It shall healpe also the pastours thē selues to make and finishe their sermons with better ordre if they shal folow the prescripte of the leason preposed and keepe thē selues wythin the bandes therof And they shall measure these leasons after the measure of those lessons that are accustomablye recited in Masses So the people maye more easily remēbre the thynges that shall be redde and the preachers also maye more comodiouslie declare them For they must diligently auoyd this faute that some haue that they tarie not vpon one or two wordes of the premised leason lettyng the reste passe vntoutched or fall quite to other matters then were redde Oure fayth must leaue vpon the pure and onelie worde of God wherefore that worde must be hearde and vnderstanded of euerie person Wherfore it shal be conuenient to reade out of the holie scripture and declare so muche as by likelihode the people may perceyue and retayne to the edification of fayth ¶ That al sermons must be made to set forth and magnifie Christ the Lorde FOrasmuch as Christ our Lorde is the ende of the lawe and Moses the psalmes Rom. x Luke the last Actes x. and the prophetes doe testifi and preach of hym that he is the onely sauiour of the chosen people in whom whosoeuer shal beleue shal receyue forgyuenes of sinnes thorowe his name all pastours must directe ordre theyr sermons to this marcke that they beare and declare witnesse of thys Christe For so he himselfe commaundid the Al christian doctrine is a testimonie of Christ the sauiour Actes i. i. Cor. ij apostles a litle before his ascention into heauen whan he instituted the holie ministerye of preaching you shal be witnesses vnto me at Hierusalē and in all Iurie and Samary vnto the vttermost endes of the earth Here of it cometh that S. Paule wryteth of hym selfe I iudged not myselfe to knowe anye thinge amonge you sauinge Iesus Christe and him crucified And he had a good cause to saye so For as he wrate to the Coloss al thinges were created by him that be in heauen and in erth visible and inuisible whether they be thrones dominations principates or powers All thynges were made by him and in him and he is before al thinges ▪ al thinges cōsist thorough is him He is the head of the body of the church which is the begining the frist begottē of the deade that he may be the chief in al thinges for it hath pleased the father that all fulnes shoulde dwelle in him and thorough hym to reconcile al thinges towardes hymselfe the thinges that be ether in heauen or in erth being pacified by the bloud of his crosse thorough the same persō Iohanne witnesseth the same thinges in the begininge of his gospel and epistle And the Lorde of hym selfe Iohan. v. iii. xii xvii and in manye other places Therefor Christe hym selfe comprehended the summe of the whole scripture in this sentence Luke the last repentaunce and remission of synnes must be preched in the name of Christ wherfore let the faythful ministers of congregations alwayes magnifie the name of oure Lorde Iesus Christe testifiynge that thys only sonne of God the true God and man is he by whome al thinges were made be Ephe. i. gouerned repared and renued which also ruleth al thinges with the worde of his power whyche gathereth together the scattered chyldren of God and straiyng sheepe Hebru i. Iohn x. and gyueth repentaunce and remission of sinnes For there is none other name vnder heauen gyuen to men wherein they shal be Act. v. Act. iiii Iohn xvii Iohn x. saued the power of all fleshe is gyuen to him that he maie gyue euerlastinge lyfe to al thē that the father hath gyuen hym He is that good shepeherde that giueth his life for his sheepe that he maye gyue them eternal lyfe which so defendeth and keepeth his sheepe that noman can take them out of his hande These and suche lyke testimonies of Christe must be often and diligintlye beatē
same haue mercie on me for thy sonnes Iesus Christe whiche for our sakes was made a sacrifice Kindle my minde with thy lighte and gouerne me with thy holy spirite whiche thou haste promised vs for thy sōnes sake Thus in our praier we must euer cōprehēd Christ the mediatour as the church hath vsen in collets A fourme of calling vpon Christ frō the beginning adding these wordes in th ende thorow Christ our Lorde Moreouer this is a true inuocation acceptable to God O Lorde Iesu Christe the sonne of God heare me loke vpō me pitie me and geue me thy holy spirite and eternal lyfe Thus we reade that S. Stephan Act. viij called vpō Christ Lorde Iesu receiue my spirite Such prayer attibuteth vnto Christ the glorie of diuinitie for that that God hath reueiled him selfe in hym and worketh together with hym as we reade Io. v. what so euer the father worketh the same doeth the sonne also And in the xiiij He that seeth me seeth the father I am in the father and the father is in me This is the sentence of such an inuocation Lorde Iesu Christe sōne of God healpe me geue me thy holy spirite which together cōfesseth the father the sōne whiche is mediatoure and the holy gooste Wherefore this article of the diuine substaūce and of the thre persons must be learned and exercised in dayly prayers But forasmuch as this sincere doctrine of true and godly inuocatiō is horribly darkened Agaynst the inuocation of dead sayntes and ymages thorow that abomimable wickednesse and madnes vpon Idols whiche is cōmitted in calling vpō dead men their images bones wherunto they haue boūd not only diuine power but also a certen peculiar strēgth and efficacie of saintes wheras yet it is euidēt that we must assigne the power working of god to nothing in which god him selfe hath not expressedly witnessed in his worde that he wyl gyue the same but it is playne that deade mē helpe nobody Nor worke in ydoles for these causes I saye the people muste be called backe from suche ydolotrye vnto the true and religiouse inuocation of God as to a moste godlye worke and principall worshypping of God wherin we chiefely learne and feele which is the true fayth yea this is the only worke wherby the true people of God may be most discerned from the vngodly Of the creation and gouernaunce of al thinges OVre hole saluatiō and euerlasting lyfe consisteth herin that we truly knowe God in oure Lorde Iesus Christe that is to saye with a sure and lyuely fayth In thys knowledge the chiefest poynt is to knowe that it is God which made all thinges and preserueth and gouerneth the same alone wherfore the preachers shall studye to declare to the people wyth singuler dylygence and to beate into their heads those places of the scripture that teach and testifie of the eternal substaūce of God of his power knowledge goodnesse and seueritie for wythout this knowledge and fayth we can neuer truely and effectuously fele our sinnes much lesse repent and amende our selues neyther shal the law alone driue vs therunto for what shal eyther his preceptes or threates moue or feare vs of whose power bowntuousnes or seueritie as yet we knowe or fele nothinge substantially and effectuosely wherfore he that wil comme to God muste necessarily knowe afore hande and beleue that it is God which made preserueth and iudgeth all men and largelye rewardeth them that loue him Very many boste them selues to knowe God but in that that thei studi not to frame their life according to the wil of god dispising the worde of God they beare sufficiente witnes of thē selfe to the cōtrary namely that they say in theyr hertes there is no God though they confesse the same before men It is therfore ryght necessarye that preachers often tymes and with great diligence do propounde and beate in to theyr eares the common place of creation preseruacion and gouernaūce of all thynges And in the article of the creation of thynges the pastours shal diligently teach that that Lorde whiche delyuered the ten commaundementes the whole holy scripture and the gospell it selfe is the only true God and maker of thinges whiche of no thinge created heauen earth the sea and whatsoeuer is conteined in thē our selues also and alone preserueth the same throughe his power and hath partly made the other creatures subiecte vnto vs beinge created to his ymage appoyntynge them to a profitable vse and partly ordeyned them to the ministerye of the health both of the bodye and soule Wherfore the preachers shal often allege faythfully declare and printe in the mindes of theyr herers those places of the scripture that teache that God made vs and al other thinges of no thinge and that we were fashoned after the ymage of god finally that inferiour creatures be subiecte vnto oure rule by Goddes ordinance and that the superiour creatures be appoynted to procure oure healthe that the same herers maye dayly lerne more and more the almightines and goodnes of Goddes maiestie and that in them selues and in all other thinges that they handle in whyche they be occupyed whyche they beholde here or by any meanes do exercise they knowe hym haue him in reuerēce prayse him cal vpon him And that therby they may trust more fully in the almightines goodnes of God and more cherefully obey his cōmaūdementes and also feare his wrathe the more and that they maye vse all thinges whiche they do vse in this lyfe as the moste holy creatures and gistes of God and our sauiour wyth more holynes dayly and thankfulnes and larger liberalytie towardes theyr neighbours ▪ For this cause the prophets in the prayses of God do so magnifie and sette before our eyes with moste elegant descripcions the principal and notablest workes of God in the vniuersall nature of thynges as the heauens the son the moone the sterres the Why the holy scripture often propoūneth vnto vs the merueylous workes of God clowdes the wyndes mystes rayne dewe snowe froste thunder lyghtnynge mountaynes valleys fildes contreys medowes springes riuers standinge waters sondry trees and herbes the pryncypall kyndes of beastes both tame and wylde men and other innumerable workes of God For whiche many psalmes doe greatly magnifie the glory of God as psal xix xcv Ciiii. Cxxxvi. Cxlv. Cxlvii Cxlviii Iob doeth the same thinge from the xxxviii Chapiter to th ende of his booke And Esay in the .xl. chapter vnto th ende of hys boke Lyke places ye shal finde in other canonicall bookes euery where This contemplaciō of the notable workes of God and admiracion of the diuine maieste was the cause why Christe the Lorde hym selfe and other sayntes lyfted vp theyr eyes and handes to heauē whē they praye And in the fourme of prayinge the Lorde taught vs to saye Oure father whiche arte in heauen for when we behold wyth oure eyes and myndes those mooste excellent and wonderfull workes
promise For it hath a peculiar and large promise of longe lyfe in the lande whiche the Lorde our God gyueth namely in whiche God is called vpon and worshipped whereupon his eyes loke to shewe bountiousnes on it For it becometh them to haue longe lyfe in the people of God whiche submitte them selues and shewe them selues obedient and thankefull to theyr parentes to the powers and to all men So in the sixte comaundement the preachers shal teache fyrste that by manslaughter all violence and wronge agaynst the bodie of our neighbours al reuengeaunce and vniust cōmotion of the mynde angre wrath hatred enuye and all signes wordes and dedes that come of angre be forbidden as Christe hym selfe interpreted thys sayinge Mathewe v. Secondly they shal teach that God warneth vs in thys precepte of oure natural arrogācie iniquitie and impacience Thorow whych vices it cometh to passe that we can suffer nothyng that is vnpleasaunt vnto vs but wee wyll haue all other to folowe oure lustes though they be naughti and infinite where as we in the meane ceasone wyll not onely omitte to do the thinges that be right and good to our neyghbours but we wyll also cōmitte many vnrightful and vnseamely thynges God than wyll condemne wyth thys commaundement oure naturall ignoraunce vnpatientnes luste and those that spryng therof I meane anger hatred enuy brawlynge fyghtyng etc. And God wyl set before oure eyes howe euyl these thinges be forbidding slaughter by name but aswel that that is cōmitted wyth the mynde as wyth the handes Whereby he requireth that as we abhorre all slaughter so we shoulde abhorre all causes and affection of slaughter and to do our neighbour any wrōge Thirdly they shall admonishe that God wyll with thys precepte when our vice is knowen prouoke vs to repent it and dryue vs to seeke his grace and mercie in Christe whiche onely appeaseth the wrath of God deserued thorowe these our euylles and abolisheth and mortifieth the remnauntes thereof with the holy goste and worketh and encreaseth softnes in vs that we maye ouercome the vice of impatientnes and frowarde way wardnes in other wyth oure patience gentlenes and humanitie and recompence wronges done wyth benifittes and be gentle and good towardes all men forgyuynge as Christe hath forgyuen vs. Ephe. iiij wherunto thys commaundement ministreth vnto vs an instruction in Christe In the seuenth cōmaundemēt thou shalt not committe auoutrie the people shall be taughte that God forbiddeth and damneth all copulations beside matrimonie whiche he hym selfe ordeyned and moreuer al lust and inordinate motions all intemperaunce al delites and pleasures vnseamely for christian men al riote and vncomelines in meates drynkes garmentes gesture wordes and dedes of whiche any cause of vnchastnes may rise or of any perturbation wherby the bodie shall be made vnpliable rebellious and stubburne towarde the seruice of the spirite Secondly that God warneth and accuseth vs in thys commaundement of our natural lecherie fylthy and immoderate conrupiscēce in al thynges whiche he him selfe gaue to susteyne and cherishe our bodies Thyrdly that thorow the knowledge of thys disease we are dryuen to repentaunce of the same and to seeke the grace and mercie of Christe whiche turneth away the fathers wrath deserued thorowe thys euyll and whiche quencheth the remnauntes of thys disease remaynynge in the fleshe and worketh in vs true cōtinencie chastitie and perfecte holines in all thynges that beinge healped wyth the assistence of the holy gost we maye resiste euyl concupiscences and al intemperaunce cleansinge oure selues from all fylth of the fleshe and of the spirite and workynge holines wyth the feare of God ij Cor. vij To the perfourmaunce wherof thys cōmaundement warneth and steareth vs as a scholemaister Lykewyse out of the eight commaundement thou shalt not steale we muste learne that God here by theft forbiddeth al fraud and wronge in matters perteyuynge to the vse of thys lyfe And furthermore all couetousnes nigardnes desire of more thē other haue and slacknes of due liberalitie Secondly that in thys commaundement God warneth and accuseth vs of thys couetousnes desire of more carefulnes nigardnes in thinges pertaining to this lyfe Thyrdly that he dryueth vs thorow the knowledge and condemnation of this euyl to repentaunce therof and fayth in Christe whiche remoueth the wrath of God deserued thorowe thys erockednes and damned desire and represseth the same in vs and cōtrarie wyse steareth vp and cōfirmeth suche truste of his goodnes that we maye surely certifie oure selues that God the heauenly father regardeth vs and hath care of vs and that he wyl ministre al thinges aboundauntly wherby we may susteyne cherishe and also delite this our life Thorow which truste beinge raysed vp let vs also learne to exercise true liberalitie towardes our neighbour leauing of all carefulnes for this lyfe and let vs gyue liberally to al men of that that the almightie hath gyuen vs asmuche as we be able and asmuche as the necessitie of oure neighboure requireth Whereunto this cōmaūdemēt exhorteth vs as a scholemaister In the ninth precept we must teache that God by false wytnesse forbiddeth all wordes and sayinges yea silence and dissēbling of witnesse and priuie prayse whereby the fame and reputation of our neighbours is hurted or not defended as we would haue ours to be defēded of other Finally al false and vayne speache that profiteth nothynge neither them to whom it is spoken nor them of whom it is spoken Secondly that God wyll brynge vs to acknowledge thys corruption of our nature this ambition maleuolence enuie etc. wherewyth we diminishe the estimation and excellencie of other and dissemble neglect yea and often couer and darken the thynges that pertayne to the prayse and reputation of our neighbour Thirdly that God wyll thorowe the knowledge of thys oure frowardnes prouoke vs to repētaūce therof raise vp in vs a diligence and desire to cal for the grace of Christe whiche came to pacifie thys wrath of God agaynste these oure euylles and to quenche them in vs wyth his holie spirite and to beginne suche humilitie of mynde suche loue of an others dignitie and excellencie that we be delited with the good estimation honest fame and worthy praises of other and that we wyll labour to set forth those good thynges wyth no lesse diligence then our owne fame and dignitie and that we vse in al our cōmunication truth honest interpretation and gentlenes to the edification of the hearers speaking alwayes those thynges to other and of other as we wishe other to speake to vs and of vs wyth a right iudgement of the spirite In the tenth commaūdement thou shalt not couette etc. They must fyrst teache that by the couetynge of an others thynges as his house wyfe familie etc. all euyll concupiscence is generally prohibited and all inclination motions and prones to euyll and al lothsomnes and neglecting of good workes Secondly mē must be diligently warned of this that they loke exactly vpon this commaundement and
to examine wel them selues accordyng therunto For in it God pulleth vp by the rootes and setteth before our eyes the vniuersall corruption of oure nature and the inwarde frowardnes and deprauation of the same that in thys commaundement as in a glasse we myghte se howe wretchedly and horribly we are depraued and lost thorough the fall of Adam in all our bodye all our soule and all oure strength that we maye instly crye with the Apostle wretched man that I am who shal deliuer me froÌ„ the bodie of thys death For though some maÌ„ come so farre by the grace and healpe of God that he acknowledge God wyth true fayth that he worshyp and call vpon hym as the fyrst coÌ„maundement requireth neither regardeth straung Gods nor admitteth false worshippynge of God neither in purpose of mynde nor in wordes and dedes whiche thynge the seconde commaundement forbiddeth neyther thynketh speaketh or doeth anie thynge that is coÌ„trarie to the confession and sanctification of Goddes name whiche thynge the thirde coÌ„maundement requireth and that he be diligently occupied in all exercises of religion whiche thinge the fourth commaundement requireth that he submitte hym selfe and gyue due honour both to the officers and to all men wyth whoÌ„ he lyueth as the fyrst commaundement requireth that he conteine hym selfe froÌ„ anger and all bitter thoughtes wordes dedes agaynst his neighbour as the sixt commaundement requireth that he conteine hym selfe from all lecherous lustes and lyue temperatly as the seuenth coÌ„maundement requireth that he moderate his couetous desire and be liberal to al men as the eight commaundement biddeth that he represse the disease of backebitynge and enuiyng an others excellencie and fauoure the estimation and iust prayses of all men whither the nynth commaundement calleth vs although I saye a man thorowe the benifit of Christ come to thys victory against natural vices to this great towre of vertues whiche felicitie yet none of the sayntes euer knowledged to haue chaunced vnto hym neuertheles the same man by thys tenth commaundement shal be conuicted to be a wretche styl and a damned synner and the enemie of God and when he hath well loked vpon thys commaundement he hym selfe shall bewayle that he is suche a one For as longe as he shal fynde in hym selfe I saye some motion of mynde to that that God forbyddeth and damneth but anie inclination or prones at all and a faynt and slacke courage to do that that God requireth not only a lothsomnes and resistence he shall acknowledge him selfe to be reproned and condempned by this commaundement as a transgressour of Goddes lawe For where as the lawe requireth that no forbydden thynge please vs it requireth the same to be done of vs wyth all our hert all our soule and all our strength For the lawe requireth that God shoulde so be loued and worshipped of vs. But no man can brynge thys to passe that we be farre from all those thynges that God forbyddeth excepte the loue of God and of those thynges that God commaundeth so haue enflamed a man altogyther that he abhorre from all that that God forbiddeth wyth his whole hert his whole soule and al his strengthes But none of the sayntes atteined hereunto whyle they lyued here Wherefore it behoued to graunte that all men are conuicted by thys commaundement and that no man lyueth in thys worlde whiche in dede is of a cleane herte and hath no neede to be deliuered from the curse and damnation of the lawe thorowe Christe Seynge then that the whole lawe dependeth hereupon that we loue God wyth all oure herte etc. We are conuicted transgressours of the whole lawe by thys tenth commaundemente bycause it is proued that we haue not satisfied that poynte of the lawe where vpon the whole lawe dependeth Therefore by thys commaundemente oure crokednesse and all oure miserie togyther is mooste largelye and fullye sette before oure eyes and we are mooste myghtely dryuen to seeke repentaunce thereof and the grace and satisfaction of oure Lorde Iesus Christe whiche turneth awaye the anger and the curse of God deserued thorowe thys in obedience and stubburnesse of oure lyfe and offreth to the father for vs his obedience and perfecte ryghtuousnesse and wyth his spirite mortifieth oure fleshe corrupted thorowe concupiscences and renueth vs all togyther and rayseth vp in vs a feruent zeale towardes hym selfe and his commaundementes that wyth the spirite we maye constantly and manfullye fyghte agaynste the fleshe and cutte of the lawe of oure members and kyll the olde Adam dayly more and more puttynge on the newe man Iesus Christe whiche onely hath satisfied the lawe and is so acceptable to the father that he compteth vs pleasaunt and acceptable in that dear beloued though we be euer yet as transgressours of the law so in daunger of his wrath Thys generall summe and interpretation of the commaundementes muste bee mooste diligentlye repeted and beaten into the peoples heades in all sermons that they maye both truely acknowledge theyr owne synnes and learne to be repentaunt of them effectuouslye and that they maye be myghtelye dryuen to Christe the onelye leache and Sauioure of oure soules and also that they maye be raysed and promoted in him to true vertues to verie good workes and to worshyppynge acceptable vnto God Furthermore the people muste euer be taughte thys thynge also that the promises and threates agaynst the worshyppyng of false Goddes and Idolatrie pertayne to euerie commaundement For the cause why they be ioyned to the commaundement that toutcheth false religion is thys namely for that that the keepyng and transgression of the whole law is conteined herein that we acknowledge call vpon and worshippe wyth true fayth and feare the true God in Christe the Lorde no departe from hym to false Goddes and to a worshyppyng straunge from that that he hym selfe taughte For who so asketh euerlasting health and all good thinges wholly from God thorowe Christ Iesus and not from anie creature he shall also endeuour hym selfe diligently to keepe al those thynges that God hath coÌ„maunded For he can not once thinke what better thynge he maye do as one that beleueth that a blessed and eternall lyfe is prescribed vnto hym in these commaundementes For what thinge can he gladder do then to gratifie God whoÌ„ he loueth aboue all thynges Wherfore the Lorde also sayed he that haâ—h my coÌ„maundementes and keepeth them he it is that loueth me Therfore who so studieth not to keepe the commaundementes of God he loueth not God neither and therfore he beleueth not that he is God whiche commaundeth these thynges Wherfore he asketh his felicitie and blisfulnes of some other then of thys true and one God and he hath straung Goddes Seing then that the obseruation of al the coÌ„maundementes of God dependeth vpon the obseruation of thys commaundement concernynge the eschuinge of false Goddes and false worshyppyng of God the promise of the benifites of God and the threatenynge of Goddes reuengeaunce were ordeyned for thys purpose But
euerie where thys nature thys strength of a newe creature in Christe and of a man borne agayne thys ordre and consequentie or rather lynckynge togyther of the workes of the holie gooste in the beleuynge Whiche places the preachers muste often wyth singuler diligence propoune faythfully declare and continually beate into the people Of whiche places these be some Ro. viii But ye be not in the fleshe but in the spirite for the spirite of God dwelleth in you And if anie man haue not the spirite of Christe the same is not his Nowe if Christe be in you the bodie is dead concerning synne but the spirite is life cōcerning Iustification etc. Wherefore bretherne we are detters not to the fleshe that we should liue after the fleshe for if ye lyue after the fleshe ye shall dye But if ye mortifie the dedes of the fleshe with the spirite ye shall lyue For as manie as shal be ledde wyth the spirite of God be the chyldren of God etc. ii Cor. v. Iudgyng thys that if one died for all then all were dead and he dyed for all that they whiche lyue after thys myght not lyue to them selues but to hym that died for them and rose againe etc. Gala. v. walke in the spirite and ye shall not perfourme the concupiscence of the fleshe Item but the fruite of the spirite is charitie ioye peace etc. Ephe. v. Ye were sometyme darkenes but nowe lyghte in the Lorde walke as the chyldren of lyghte etc. Item Se then that ye walke circumspectly not as vnwyse but as wyse redeamyng occasion bicause the dayes be euyl etc. Phil i. Thys I praye that your loue may abounde more and more in knowledge and all vnderstandynge that ye may allowe the thinges that be ryghte good that ye be sincere etc. Collo iii. putte on then as the chosen of God holie and beloued the bowels of compassion gentlenes sobrenes etc. Tit. ii Iesus Christ gaue hym selfe for vs for to redeame vs from all iniquitie and to purifie vs to hym selfe a peculiar people a folower of good workes i. Iohn i. And thys is the tydynges that we hearde of hym and shewe vnto you that God is lyghte and there is no darkenes in hym If we shall saye we haue felowshyppe wyth him and walke in darkenes we lye etc. Item iii. Euerie one that hath thys hope in hym purifieth hym selfe as he is pure all that committe synne the same committe iniquitie and synne is iniquitie And ye know that he appeared to take awaye synnes etc. These places and suche other in whiche the nature of regeneration and of a newe creature and the ordre cōsequence or rather the knittyng of the workes of the holy gost be declared the preachers must often recite faythfully expoune and printe into the people in theyr sermons that they maye learne thorowly and euer diligently reuolue in theyr myndes that they whiche be borne agayne in Christ and grafted in him and be made fruitefull braunches in thys lyfe and good trees muste also brynge forth good fruites and forasmuche as they be a newe and diuine creation made vnto good workes they muste trauayle also in newe and diuine workes whiche God hath prepared in them wyth his commaundement calling and gifte and worketh cōtinually wyth his spirite to his owne glorie and to the edification and repayryng of our neighbours But alwayes and before al thinges they muste be taught moste diligently that a cōscience fearfull by reason of hir synnes and the wrath of God muste comforte hyr selfe wyth the voice of the Gospell and certifie hyr selfe therby that God wyll surely gyue his holie spirite whyle we praye for it in thys distresse and that thys petition is a true and principall worshyppyng of God which god chiefly requireth of vs. And this high worshyppyng of God muste be learned onely wyth the exercise of true fayeth wherof the blinde men of this world know nothynge putting theyr ryghtuousnes and holines in outwarde ceremonies and truste of theyr owne rightuousnes But when the herte wrastleth wyth the feelynge of the wrath of God and lyuely knowledge of synnes and comforteth hyr selfe with fayth in Christe the mediatoure in thys case that sweete word of Esaie is vnderstāded which is the place of my reste sayeth the Lorde I wyll loke vpon the humble and broken in spirite and tremblynge at my worde For then the Lorde dwelleth in vs in dede when we flee to Christe the mediatour and determine wyth our selues that for his sake we be accepted and hearde of the heauenly father and made heyres of euerlastyng lyfe Wherfore the true fayth of the Gospel whereof we speake in this place signifieth not onely the knowledge of the storie as in Iames when he sayeth the deuylles beleue but it signifieth that knowledge of the Gospell and assentyng caused thorowe the spirite of Christe whereby there spryngeth in our hertes a sure truste of Goddes beniuolence and adoption thorow which we haue affiaūce that God is mercifull vnto vs and hath made vs heyres of euerlasting lyfe for his sonnes sake whiche fayth excludeth all trust of our owne ryghtuousnes and all errour concernyng God his wyl towardes vs. For thys fayth comprehendeth a sincere and perfecte vnderstandinge of all the articles of our religion and an assent therunto Therfore thys pure doctrine of the Gospel muste be reteyned of fearfull consciences that they maye knowe that they obteyne remission of synnes frely for Christes sake by fayth and not by the deseruyng of workes And let them beware that they remoue not thys glorie of the Mediatour Christe vnto mennes workes For if the promise of saluation dyd hange vpon our worthines the conscience shoulde remayne vncertaine stickyng in perpetuall doubte and shoulde flee from God For we can not satisfie the lawe of God at all and many sinnes cleaue euer in vs and there remayneth great weaknes Neither could the hert call certaynely vpon God if oure owne deseruynges were to be brought forth for it should be frayed awaye perceyuing him selfe to be destitute of those merites that God requireth Therefore we muste come vnto God wyth thys fayeth wherby we beleue that we are accepted and iustified before God for Christes sake and not for our merites Thys fundation muste be layed fyrste of al wherby we be planted in Christ and disseuered from all vngodlie men and aliauntes frō Christe Afterwarde it is necessarie to enstruct the people a right of good workes chiefely after thys sorte ¶ Of good workes That thys place may be more easely vnderstanded it shall be conuenient to deuide it into these fyue questions ¶ The first What workes are to be done ¶ The seconde Howe they may be done seing that there is so great weaknes of mannes nature and so great lettes of Satan ¶ The thirde Howe they may please God beinge vnperfecte and verie sclender ¶ The fourth Why we must do good workes and auoyed euyll ¶ The fyfth Of the difference of synnes ¶ The first
goodnes diuine maiestie God hymselfe in Christ the Lord may be preached glorified acknoledged called vpon and magnified among our selues and in all the world thorowe manifest sincere and constant confession and preachyng of the Gospel openly and priuately with al mennes wordes and dedes The second wish is that at this preachyng of Gods name his kyngdome come dayly to vs to al called to the same more mightely and aboundauntly that is to say that the heauenly father wil poure vpon vs euer more plentifully the spirit of his sonne which maye brynge to passe that a iust and pure ministration of religion and dispensation of the worde sacramētes and holy lernyng may florysh and preuayle among vs and euery where all they whiche beleue in his name beyng so ioyned together and copled as it were members into his bodye so that thys selfe same body maye be repared and augmented both in number of thē that pertayne to the church also in encrease of their godlines which be alredy come to the church by euery manne that liueth in Christ specially by the holy ministre of the church But because sinne dwelling in vs and offences commyng from without hindre thys worke of the holy Gost that though we be in the church in the kyngdom of Christ and therein be dayly enstructed to godlines yet we go slouly forwarde in the same he dyd well to adde the thirde petition wherewyth we praye that Goddes wyll be done in vs whiche yet lyue in the earth and be depressed with the grosse lompe of the bodie so as it is done in heauē by the holie spirites thys burthen of the fleshe and these lettes of the worlde beinge remoued wyth lyke prompnes and studie whether we muste do or susfre any thynge for the name of Christ And bicause that as long as we lyue here we haue neede of meate and drynke and other necessaries of thys lyfe as prosperous health and good administration of the common weale in the fourth petition we desire that also vndre the name of dayly breade that we maye the better and more cōmodiouslie sanctifie the name of God promute his kyngdome and go forwarde in the same wyth all godlines We are commaunded to aske these necessaries of lyfe dayly that we maye considre that they be not layed vp in oure storehouses but in the prouidence of God and that they be euer ministred vnto vs of the free beniuolence of God and not gotten by our industrie or strength howe be it euerie man oughte to applie his industrie and labour to thys bountuousnes of God accordynge to the worde of God He addeth our and dayly bread epiousion that is to saye that whiche the instant and present vse of lyfe requireth that he maye teach vs that in these bodilie thynges we oughte to aske nor gette no more then the neede of our lyfe requireth to prouide the kyngdome of Christe in our neighbours and moreouer that we shoulde acknowledge that measure of thys oure neede that the heauenlie father hath limited and not that oure vnmeasurable desire appointeth to whom it perteineth alone to meate out to vs his chyldren oure measure that we maye thinke that to be our breade and not doubte but that it shall suffice vs abundauntly to lyue well and godlie that the heauenlie father shall gyue vs what so euer it be In these partes then of thys fourme of prayinge the Lorde hath taughte vs what good thinges we muste pray for of the heauenlie father both spirituall and corporall Afterwarde he teacheth to praye for the remouing of euyls namely our misdedes and synnes whiche we euer cōmitte and the punishmentes that we owe to Goddes iustice for the same Wherefore he taughte vs to praye Forgyue vs oure dettes For we do neuer our duetie so religiouslie in those thinges whiche God hath cōmaunded but that yet we owe a great deale more vnto the full obedience of Gods lawe Nowe we do not onely runne into those dettes of the law not fulfilled and heape daylie more and more but also we committe manie thinges playnlie against the lawe for which we are endetted to God of greuous punishmentes And we can paye neither of these two kyndes of dettes For we do not only neuer satisfie the lawe whereby we runne in newe dettes of the lawe not fulfilled but also oftentymes we committe manie thynges agaynste the lawe of God whereby we runne into infinite dettes of punishmentes Wherefore the Lorde taught vs to fleee onely to the mercie of the heauenlie father thorowe hym selfe for we muste praye for all these thynges in his name and to desire forgyuenes of oure dettes and he addeth no condition of satisfiyng For the Lorde alone hath satisfied for our synnes and he gyueth vs that satisfaction when we committe our selues vnto him But he woulde haue vs to professe that we wyll forgyue all the dettes that oure neighbours maye owe vnto vs either bicause against humanitie they haue done vs wrong or bicause they haue not done theyr duetie towardes vs and he wyl that this thinge be surely perfourmed For seinge that God in al his commaundementes prescribeth onely those thynges vnto vs whiche perteine to our health and felicitie he made this the summe of our preceptes that we loue and healpe one an other with a sincere herte and perpetuall beniuolence and he requireth verie straitlie that frō the hert we forgiue one an other mutual offences which euer more happen thorow the naughtines and weaknes of our nature yea and that we studie one to ouercome an others wronges with benifites and leaue the reuengeaunce to hym and praye that he wil remitte the same to them that hurte vs. He wyll haue suche a sure and perpetuall beniuolence to growe amonge vs and to be confirmed with all kindes of gentlenes Moreouer bicause no man can aske of the heauenlie father forgiuenes of his dettes except he humble him selfe al togither vndre his hāde and vtterly yelde him selfe to his commaundementes the Lorde hath well prescribed in this fourme of praying that we should professe before the heauenlie father that we woulde forgiue our bretherne what so euer dueties or punishmentes they myghte seme to be endetted for vnto vs in that place of prayer where we pray vnto him to forgiue vs our dettes whiche we owe vnto him infinite either for oure obedience whiche we haue not fullie perfourmed or for the punishmentes that we deserue both for neglectyng our dueties and also for the despitefull wronges that we do to his maiestie cōmittynge so manie thynges againste the duetie that we owe him Which our dettes if we rightlie acknowledge as we muste needes acknowledge thē if we aske forgiuenes of them with all oure herte we shal not doubt but that the wronges that oure neighbours do vs be the fatherlie chastisement of God muche gentler then we haue deserued and that they shal be also an holesome remedie for vs againste synnes For whiche causes it shall be easie for vs earnestly
to forgiue oure neighbours al offences Therfore the preachers shal admonishe the people with singuler diligence aboute this place As we forgiue also that it is not suche a maner of forgyuynge as though we did aske of God that he woulde so forgiue vs our synnes as we forgiue but that it is a profession of forgiuenes whiche we also make to our detters before the heaueÌ„ly father as we require of him to forgiue vs our dettes as if we shoulde saye O heauenly father forgyue vs oure dettes as for vs we gladlie remitte and forgyue al them that maye seme to owe vs anie thinge For we acknowledge that we suffre so greuous thinges of no bodie but that we haue deserued muche worse and therfore we beare theÌ„ gladly and forgiue them wyth all our hertes that haue done vs anie harme But bycause it is not inough that God forgyue vs our synnes and the paynes that we haue deserued for them but also it is necessarie that we be kepte by him that Satan drawe vs not afterwarde to sinnes thorowe sundrie tentations the Lorde hath added an other petition for the remouinge of euylles leade ought not to pray for which thinge is done more wayes then can be numbred For the correction of these abuses those wordes of Paule Ro. viij ought to be diligently commended and weighed For we knowe not the thynge that we shall praye as it behoueth but the spirite it selfe prayeth for vs wyth vnspeakeable gronynges For if we oure selues knowe not what or howe we shoulde praye and if prayer be the propre worke of the holie goste it is meete that the people be called backe to those prayers that are propouned in the holy scriptures that they maye learne to pray to God according to his wyll and be certaine that theyr prayers be allowed The seconde abuse in prayinge is when we aske any thinge of them of whoÌ„ it ought not to be asked as when men praye saintes whiche nowe lyue wyth the Lorde that they wyll make intercession for them that they wyl gyue theÌ„ those thynges that they neede as when they pray S. Sebastian to defende them agaynste arowes and venimmes S. Antonie agaynst the Aposteme called commonly S. Antonies fyer S. Appollonie agaynst the touthache etc. IteÌ„ when they call vpon the Images and stockes of saintes as the sayntes them selues as they do whiche vow pilgrimages to certayn stockes which idolatrie hath welnigh ouerfloweÌ„ the whole worlde and that it maye be taken away the people muste be diligently called backe froÌ„ sayntes to God chiefely wyth these argumentes Fyrst that there is no commaundement that we shoulde cal vpon sayntes departed wherefore we can be but doubtfull whether that be well done or no whether it be acceptable to god or vnacceptable And that that is done with doubtyng can not be done of fayth and therefore it is synne For what so euer is not of fayth is synne as S. Paule witnesseth Ro. viij Secondly it is euident that the prayers that be in the scriptures were made of the spirite of God hym selfe and came froÌ„ him and therefore that they be most perfecte and chiefely to be folowed of vs. But in all the scripture there is no exemple of suche inuocation directed to sayntes wherfore no man can vse suche a fourme for therein he shal set the authoritie of men before the authority of god For he foloweth their authoritie whose exemples he vseth in prayings and therfore setteth it before the authoritie of the holie goste And that is a wonderous greate dispite agaynst the diuine maiestie Further if we shall vse the fourme of prayinge whiche the scripture propouneth the same shall shewe howe muche it is not coÌ„uenient to cal vpon sayntes For who would not tremble to say to saynt Petre or to some other of the sayntes oure father whiche arte in heauen whiche kynde of prayinge Christe him selfe prescribed vnto vs. For he is not God he is not our father Neither can it agree at all if we would cal vpon S. Petre or some other wyth some Psalme They then that cal vpoÌ„ sayntes do it out of the Imaginations of men Therefore seinge that no man can preferre the deuises of men before the doctrine and exemples of the holy goste wythout a moste haynous dispite of God and seinge that al the exemples of praiers deliuered by the holy goste teache to cal vpon God onely neither is there any wherein sayntes be spoken vnto euery man easely perceyueth howe vnworthie a thynge it is for christen meÌ„ which ought to seeke the healpe of God wyth true prayers to vse thys newe inuention of callynge vpon sayntes whiche in no wyse agreeth wyth the doctrine and exemples of the holie goste wherein they refuse to folowe the rule of the holy goste wherevnto they ought to sticke with al reuerence Thyrdly suche an abuse is stroungly reiected by the worde of God whiche oure sauiour Christ layed agaynst SataÌ„ Mat. iiij Thou shalte reuerence the Lorde thy God and him only shalt thou worshyp And god wyll haue none other Mediatoure but his sonne our Lorde Iesus Christe i. Timo. ij For there is one God one Mediatoure of God and men a man Iesus Christe whiche hath gyuen hym selfe a price of redemption for all And god witnesseth that he wil heare for his sake and wyll so be worshypped As we haue a testimonie of Christe thou arte a priest for euer Item Math. xi Come vnto me all ye that faynt and be laden and I wil refreshe you Iohn xv What soeuer ye shall aske in my name he shall gyue it you And Ro. ij Whom God hath sette forth a reconler For therfore our trust is fixed in Christe bicause that of hym we haue a promise and commaundement of God but of the saintes we haue no suche worde that God wyll be worshipped thorowe the inuocation of them or that he wyll heare vs for theyr sakes Therefore it is an horrible wyckednesse to transferre remoue the truste due to Christ vnto sayntes wythout the worde and commaundement of God Moreouer that seruice is condemned for this cause that it was instituted onely by mannes opinion But in condemnyâ—â— thys abuse lette the preachers vse such moderation that rude men beginne not to thinke or speake vnreuerently of the sayntes For it is one thynge to call vpon sayntes and an other to haue them in reuerence and honour We muste honour them but we muste not call vpon them nor worshyppe them whiche thynge yet the comon people do And this is a true honour and godly veneration of sayntes to prayse God for that that he adourned them with so godly giftes I meane constant fayth true feare and sundrie vertues Al whiche thynges must be set before the people that they may diligently thynke vpon them and magnifie them and chiefely prayse God and gyue him thankes whiche worketh suche thynges in sayntes Furthermore they shal also prayse the saintes which vsed those benifites so godly For thys
men wyth all theyr hertes for the Lorde Christes sake that they serue al maner of men and do them good in all thynges that perteyne to the neede of the bodie or to ciuile societie Therefore in thys ciuile lyfe societie they exercise theyr fayth and shewe exemples of loue towardes their neighbours wyth whom they lyue in all theyr necessities all maner of wayes What soeuer geÌ„tle behauiour there is in the world what so euer perteyneth or healpeth to faythfull and honest ciuilitie and participation of present thynges and to the maynteinyng and adurnyng of the common weale that christeÌ„ meÌ„ only do rightly vnderstand labour to perfourme most proÌ„ptly In like maner the pastours must often substantially declare and excusse those doctrines also that perteyne to a spirituall lyfe for whiche the Anabaptistes make muche busines as of originall synne of the baptisme of infaÌ„tes of the rightuousnes of fayth and these thinges they shall teache out of the holie scriptures as of original synne what an horrible euyll it is bycause mannes reason doeth noâ— se those thynges to be damned whiche remayne in the nature of man I meane the ignoraunce of God want of the feare of God and distrusting of God Item that God alloweth the baptisme of our infantes receyueth our infantes into his chyldren thorowe baptisme and maketh them heyres of his grace and euerlastyng lyfe That remission of synnes the communion of Christe the felowshoppe of a newe and blessed lyfe is only in the congregation of Christ and not amonge the Iewes or Turbes or other men amonge whom the Gospell is not preached the sacramentes of Christe are not administered but rather the name and doctrine of Christ is blasphemed The matter standing thus and seinge that it is euident that God wyl be the God of our seede also that is to saye a sauiour and authour of a newe and blessed lyfe to vs which thorowe Christ be made the sonnes of Abraham and heyres of the promyse and couenaunte whiche God Gene. xvij Gala iii. made wyth hym the father of all them that beleue the matter beinge thus I saye surely we maye conclude and it is playne that our infantes borne of vs synners and loste through synnes muste be offered to Christ be incorporated to him thorowe baptisme that by hym they maye be washed in the churche from synnes and haue his ryghtuousenes gyueÌ„ theÌ„ put vpon them For seing that the kingdome of Christ is reueiled amounge vs and the mistery of redemptioÌ„ and saluation wrought by Christe is more clearely and abundauÌ„tly exhibited and preached then before for manye Kynges and prophetes desired to heare and see the thinges that we heare and se and it was not giuen to them it muste needes be that they playnlie knowe not the Gospell of Christe and coÌ„munion of sayntes amonge them selues that were sayntes in dede and acceptable to God or els that they inuade Christe and his churche with a wicked furie whosoeuer they be that wyl not haue our infantes to be purged from synnes wyth the Sacramente of regeneration and to be planted in the churche of God seinge that it behoued infantes of the olde people to be sanctified and planted into the bodie of Christ whiche is the churche wyth that Sacramente that God then gaue them for thys purpose For why shoulde oure infantes perteyne lesse to the kyngdome of God then theirs seinge that thorow Christ we be grafted in the holy roote of that people and made partakers of the blessed fatnes of thys Olyue Ro. xâ— Furthermore we haue giueÌ„ vnto vs a migâ—tier spirite Romo viij But we be gotten iâ— synnes aswel as the Iewes and haue neede to be deliuered from synnes thorowe Christ and to be brought vnto the life of God and that in Christes church For there is not saluation wythout the churche where neither the worde nor Sacrament is Infantes then muste be planted into the church we must gyue them the signe that wytnesseth that the promise perteyneth vnto theÌ„ And forasmuche as in this time the Gospel the grace of God and redemption of Christe be more clearely and effectuously exhibited and preached in the churche both wyth wordes and sacramentes then amonge the olde people euerie man surely beinge rightly warned hereof excepte he be a verie vngodlie person shall acknowledge that oure infantes also muste be washed from synnes by baptisme whiche is the Sacrament of regeneration and that they muste be planted into Christe our Lorde and his churche in whiche church Christe worketh thorowe his worde and sacramentes as Ephesâ— v. Paule sayeth that Christ loued the coÌ„gregation and gaue him selfe for it to sanctifie it and cleanse it wyth the lauer of water etc. He describeth not the congregation wythout signes and without the worde Wherefore he sayeth also in an other place one bodie one spirite one Lorde one fayth one baptisme Whiche thynges surely do testifie that they whiche perteyne to the coÌ„gregation be planted into the same wyth some outwarde signe also If meÌ„ shall be warned hereof often and substantially they shal reuerentlie vse holie baptisme they shal come to it and stande by it more religiously and they shal more feruently pray for the grace of God to them selues and to the infaÌ„tes and wyth purer myndes and greater sanctification of them selues they shal labour to offre to Christe the Lorde both their owne chyldren and also the chyldren of the whole church according to the Lordes wordes suffre the litelones to come vnto me for the kingdome of heauen perteyneth to such Whiche moste sweete sayinge of the Lorde oure sauioure they shall also embrace wyth more certeyne fayth and wyth greater deuotion gyue God thankes for his so greate benifitte Men shall moreouer be moued and enflamed to procure theyr chyldren beinge grafted in Christe to be brought vp to hym and to his churche wyth greater diligence and they shall cause them to be nosseled in the knowledge of him that they may profite the church and wheÌ„ they be growen vp they shall dedicate them betymes as the membres of Christe vnto his churche being the sonnes and heyres of God and ioynte heyres wyth Christ In lyke maner the rightuousnes of fayth must be declared and sette forth by comparyng of the Anabaptisticall imaginations For that comparison shall brynge greater lyght to thys ministerie I saye when it shal be playnely shewed howe greate difference there is betwene the true ryghtuousnes of Christ and the hypocrisie of these heretikes For that rightuousnes that the Gospel teacheth is to take handfast of Christ the lorde with sure faith so that the mynde trust therin constantly and call vpon God the father thorowe Christe wyth the coÌ„fidence of chyldren and studie to glorifie the same wyth good workes wherewyth our neighbours may be holpen by al possible meanes accordynge to all the power of the holie goste that it hath receyued But the rightuousnes whiche the Anabaptistes teache and wherin they boste themselues is al
euerlastynge lyfe and part takers of all his benifittes bycause we be the coheyres of his Christe beinge deliuered from the tirannie of the diuell synne death and hell Wherefore I beseche you for Gods sake and your saluation that ye wyll worthely esteme and thankefully embrace so wonderfull abundaunt grace of God whiche is exhibited in thys Sacrament For Baptisme is a greate comforte vnto vs in oure daungers and afflictions and it is the fyrste entraunce vnto all the benifittes of God and to the blessed feloshyppe of all saintes Therefore that we maye considre thys vnspeakeable benifitte of God wyth a presenter minde and greater religion we must fyrste remembre into howe greate euyls the fall of Adam thrue vs. And contrariewyse how vnmeasurable grace God exhibited to mankynde thorow his sonne in that that he hath redemed vs from the same euylles by baptisme Thirdly howe thys so great mercie of God ought to be euer before our eyes in all perilles and with howe great prayses we should magnifie the grace of god which we haue receyued thorowe baptisme Fyrste then we muste considre wyth all diligence that all we thorowe the synne of Adam and enuie of Satan be subiect to the wrath of God and moreouer damned and be holden prisonners vnder the power and kyngdome of the diuell vndre death synne and hell so that we being by nature the children of wrath coulde appease God by no strength of man no vertues or workes For all that is in vs and all our workes be cursed of God and subiecte to the tirannie of Satan by reason of our corrupted nature For seinge that thorowe the inobedience of our fyrst Adam of whoÌ„ we are all borne into this natural and earthlie lyfe we come al into the worlde giltie and cursed of God so that we muste all dye in hym and beare his earthie Image in thys mortall bodie it feloweth that all our lyfe and all the dedes of our nature so corrupted be condemned of God though they appeare neuer so godlie and holie before men For what so euer is borne of fleshe is flesh that is to say strauÌ„ge from God repugning to the spirite and adiudged to death and hell Wherefore fleshe and bloud shal not atteine to the kyngdome of God For whatsoeuer is fleshe it sauoureth fleshely thynges and so lyueth it is an aduersarie to God for it is not subiecte to the lawe of God Wherefore they that be fleshely can not please God the wysedome of the fleshe is death And therefore oure Lorde Christe disputyng wyth Nicodemus concludeth thus Verely verely I saye vnto the excepte a man be borne agayne of water and of the spirite he can not entre into the kyngdome of God Secondly we must considre howe plentifull the grace of God gyuen to vs in baptisme is wherin his bountuousnes and loue towardes men truly appeareth in asmuche as he hath saued vs not thorowe the workes of ryghtuousnes whiche we had done but accordyng to his mercie by the lauer of regeneration and renouation of the holie gost For he thorow the vertue of his worde washeth awaye and abolisheth whatsoeuer maketh vs giltie and condemneth vs as in olde tyme he drouned in the redde sea the enemies of his people and destroyed al maÌ„kynde wyth the floude eyghte soules reserued whiche were saued in the arke So this lauer of water saueth vs thorow the word not in washyng away the fylâ—h of the fleshe as it chaunseth in all other washynges but thorowe the certification of a good coÌ„science towardes God by the resurrectioÌ„ of Iesus Christ For by the vertue of Goddes couenaunt we are cleansed in our coÌ„sciences and we are certified both thorow the worde and an outwarde signe that all the synnes that defiled and condemned vs be playnly abolished bycause they be forgyueÌ„ and be dead Therfore thorowe baptisme we determine certeynly that we are acceptable vnto God and ioyned vnto hym wyth an euerlastyng couenaunt of grace so that nothynge can seperate vs froÌ„ hym or condemne vs. Wherfore hensforth we muste not onely eschewe synnes but also feare them and abhorre froÌ„ them none otherwyse then from hel as men dead vnto synnes For all we as S. Paule wytnesseth whiche be baptised into Christe Iesus be baptised into his death for we are buryed wyth hym into death Therfore we be dead to synne and to the whole olde maÌ„ and broughte forth in Christe so farre that nothynge can condemne vs or seperate vs from the grace of God For he that is deade is iustified from synne he is no more subiecte to the tirannie of synne death and hell though he feele the remnauntes of synne in the fleshe yet those be not imputed vnto coÌ„demnation by reason of the iustification of the spirite in Christe Furthermore Baptisme worketh a newe lyfe in vs and acceptable to God For as Christe was reysed from the deade by the glory of the father so he worketh in vs with his spirite that we also maye walke in newnes of lyfe For if we be grafted in hym by the lykenes of his death surely we shal also be part takers of his resurrection vnto euerlastyng lyfe knowinge thys that oure olde man is crucified wyth him that the bodie of synne should be abolished that hereafter we serue not vnto synne Wherfore let vs recoÌ„pte that we be dead to sinnes in dede and liue to God in Christ our Lorde in whom also we be circumcised wyth a circuÌ„cision made wythout handes whyle we put of the bodie of synnes thorow the circuÌ„cision of Christ We are buried wyth hym thorow baptisme wherein we haue also rysen agayne wyth hym by the fayth of the workynge of God For God whiche raysed Christe from the deade hath quickened vs with him euen when we were dead thorowe synnes by the vncircumcision of the fleshe or fleshly lyfe For though our lyfe be hidden in God with Christ yet wheÌ„ Christe our lyfe shall appeare then shall we also in hym be manifested in glorie as men whom God of his exceadyng mercie hath begotten agayne into a lyuely hope thorow the resurrection of Iesus Christe from the dead vnto I saye an incorriruptible inheritaunce vndefiled and that fadeth not away not of corruptible seede but vncorruptible namely the lyuely worde of God by which worde baptisme consisteth and worketh all the forsayed thynges in vs truely and effectuously Thyrdly we shall coÌ„fort our selues with so great excellencie of the grace of God and benifittes bestowed vpon vs thorowe baptisme and we shall euer thanke God and that so muche the more studiously as we shall be oppressed wyth more greuous calamities confirmynge our fayth hereby that God worketh in vs mortifieth the olde maÌ„ and repayreth the newe though not after a visible sorte yet by the vertue of baptisme thorowe the worde and the spirite Wherefore lette vs confirme oure consciences and thynke that God careth for vs and that for the merite of his sonne we be acceptable and deare to hym and when we be
the congregation or other that wyll shewe me suche loue do reproue me of sinne that I take it in good parte and amende my lyfe that I also thorow a sincere zeale of Christ their health warne my neighbours liuing il and inordinately and amende them if I can but if I cā not that I take other wyth me whiche I thinke may do more wyth them and if they wyl not heare them neither that I bring the whole matter before the elders of the cōgregatiōs whō if they despise to heare be therfore excōmunicated that I take thē for heathē publicanes and auoide their cōpanies asmuch as my vocacion wil suffer and ciuile busines wyth them and their necessitie accordyng to the word of God Demaūd What doeth the communion of the congregacion of Christ require beside Answ It requireth also that I receyue the supper of the Lorde with other Christian men to whom I come and with whom I dwell as one that is one breade and one bodie with them in Christe Demaunde What is this sacramēt Ans It is the communion of the bodye and bloude of Christ whiche in the Lordes supper whā it is celebrated accordinge to the institution of the lord be truly exhibited with the bread and wine De. To what vse doest thou receiue the bodie and bloude of the Lord. Answer That mi fayth in him and truste of the newe and eternal testament of the grace of God redemptiō of Christ and communion wyth hym maye be confirmed in me more and more and that I maye lyue lesse to my selfe more in hym that he may repaire a new holy life in me For as cōcerning mine owne flesh and bloud I canne do nothyng but sinne and lyue an vngodly lyfe Demā What more doeth the communion of the congregation require Ans That I adde my prayers to the commen prayers of the churche that I come together with thē and gyue their oblations and almes lyberally to the vse of the pore and so behaue my selfe in al thynges as a mēbre of Christe ioyned in Christe and cleauynge togyther with all godly men and that I acknowledge and reuerently vse in all thynges those whom the Lorde hath made feeders of his cōgregatiōs curates of soules and elders as it becometh an obedient sonne of God finally that I be thankeful for these exceadinge benifittes the Gospel and cōmunion of his sōne our Lorde Iesus Christ Dema. Wilt thou faythfully perfourme and obserue al these thynges as thou haste nowe professed I wyll by the healpe of oure Lorde Iesus Christe After that one of the chyldrē hath rehearsed a ful cōfession of his fayth hath professed the obedience of Christ before the whole cōgregation it shal be sufficient to propoune questiōs to the other childrē after thys sorte Demaūd Doest thou also thy sonne beleue and cōfesse and wylt thou wholy gyue ouer thy selfe vnto the cōmunion and obedience of Christ and his cōgregatiō as thou heardest euen now thys childe to beleue and cōfesse that he woulde bynde hym selfe to the obedience of Christe and his congregation ⧠Here it shall suffice that euerie one answere thus for hym selfe I beleue and confesse the same and yelde vp my selfe to Christe and his cōgregation trusting in the grace and healpe of our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ But where chyldren be not so exercised in the knowledge of religion that they can answere by herte according to the prescribed fourme the visiter whiche shal administer confirmation muste reade al the answers to suche children and it shal be sufficient if they answere simply that they beleue the thinges that were read how be it he shall labour so to declare all thinges vnto them that they may vnderstande what thei go about and what thei cōfesse and professe Howbeit they must be diligently warned that they remēbre that they stand in the sight of god whō they cā not deceyue which beholdeth the herte And that therefore they must procure with al reuerēce that they declare the same thinge in their lyfe that they professe wyth their mouth and thynke in their herte But as we warned before al the chyldrē one by one muste be exercised and prepared hereunto and diligētly examined the wieke before by the ministers and Elders of euerie congregation and the pastours and Elders must bring no childrē before the visiter to be cōfirmed but such as they trust know the summe of religion and beleue truely in Christe It is not to be required precisely that the childrē answer featly cōcerning the wordes for it chaūceth oftē that they which be wel enstructed in the knowledge of faith can not verie handsomely vtter the thynges that they meane chiefly in an open place either for shame or some other weaknesse of minde Wherefore we muste more regarde which childrē truly vnderstāde the thynges that perteine to religion then which cā featly declare them with wordes wherein those excell moore often whiche haue lesse godlie myndes Nowe further when the children which shal be confirmed haue confessed their fayth and professed the obediēce of the Gospell the cōgregation muste be warned that they humbly pray for these chyldrē Whose prayer the pastoure shall offre to the Lorde wyth suche a collecte ⧠The Collecte Almightie and merciful God heauēly father whiche onely workest in vs to wil and to performe the thynges that please the and be good in dede we besech the for these childrē whō thou hast gyuen to thy church and hast begottē againe to thy selfe by holy baptisme and in whom thou haste powred that light that they acknowledge and cōfesse before the cōgregatiō thy grace and benifittes towardes them selues and their redemption in Christ Iesu and wil wholy giue ouer thē selues to the and thy congregation to be obedient to thy cōmaundementes confirme this thy worke which thou hast wrought in them encrease in them the gift of thy spirite that euer going forwarde in the knowledge and obedience of thy Gospell in thy cōgregation they may cōtinue to th ende and that they go no where aside from that fayth and obedience of the Gospell whiche they haue now confessed and professed beinge seduced thorowe some peruerse doctrine or dryuen forth by the lustes of the fleshe Graūt them that they luckely springinge vp in thy sonne our Lorde Iesu Christe the heade of vs all may grow into him tyl they come to mānes age fully and perfectly in al wysedome holines and rightuousnes that they may more fully know and more feruently loue the the father and thy sōne our Lorde Iesus Christ and that they may confesse exhalt and magnifie the same more earnestly and effectuously before their neyghbours both in wordes and deedes And as thou haste promised vs that thou wilt giue vs what so euer we shal aske of the in the name of thy deare sonne as thy sonne promised vs that thou wouldest gyue vs requirynge the a good spirite much more prōptly then any father gyueth his children good thinges
the possession of the inheritaunce of the heauenly kyngdome Wherefore remembrynge so great bountuousnes lette vs onely gyue thankes to the Lorde God and praye that he wyll teache vs earnestly to considre the thynges that be in the Psalme writer namely that our daies be shorte that we slide awaye violently lyke a shoure of rayne that we are as it were a dreame that we maye be chaunged incontiuently lyke an herbe whiche florisheth and is freshe in the morninge and in the euening wythereth and is cutte vp And these thynges we muste do for thys entente that we may come to our selues in tyme and be conuerted to a better lyfe that we may leade an honeste lyfe and acceptable to God in the feare of the Lord and finally that in death it selfe we may be preserued vnto euerlastyng lyfe thorowe Christe our Lorde ¶ Praye ye to God Our father etc. When the prayer is done let the mininister saye ⧠The Lorde be wyth you ⧠Let vs praye Almightie God and moste louynge father encrease in vs the belefe of the resurrection where vnto thou haste called vs thorowe oure Lorde Iesus Christe that beinge grounded vpon thys beliefe we maye comforte oure selues in the death of thys oure brother or sister whose bodie we haue now committed to the earth accordyng to thy ordinaunce and that we maye also comforte oure selues in other calamities whyche in thys valleye of teares we worthyly suffre for oure synnes Further that we maye lifte vp oure myndes and thoughtes vnto the heauenlye lyfe to come and seke the thinges that are aboue where Christe thy sonne is sittinge at they right hande finally that diinge to sinne daily we maye serue the al the dayes of oure lyfe in all sanctification and ryghtuousnes throughe the same Christe oure Lorde ⧠Another collecte We gyue thanckes vnto the almyghtye God hauenlie father for that that thou hast vouchsafed to cal this our brother or sister to the knowledge of thi deare sonne and his communion and to preserue him in the same and nowe to sende for hym and remoue him to thy kingdome Graunte vs we besech the thorough the same thy sonne that in thys place and in al other we maie truly acknowlege our synnes earnestly lament them and knowe and prayse the dayly more and more in the newnes of lyfe and that so beynge strenghthned with good hope we maie loke for that blessed hope and appearinge of the glorie of the greate God and oure sauiour Iesus Christe whiche liueth God and raigneth with the in the vnite of the holye goste thorough out al generations Amen And for the consolacion of the faythfull in the Lord and mouinge the zeale of godlynes it shall be conuenient whan the corpse is brought to the burynge place to propoune and declare before the people gathered ther together the lesson folowinge out of the .xv. Chap. of the first to the Corinth But nowe Christe is risen from the dead c vnto this place what dooe we c. ⧠Or From thys place ⧠Thys I saye brethern that fleshe and bloude vnto the ende of the Chap. ⧠Or To the Philip. iij. ⧠For our conuersacion is in heauen vnto the ende of the Chap. ⧠Or To the Rom. vi ⧠And if we be dead with Christe we beleue that we shall lyue wyth hym c. vnto thys place lette not synne than reigne c. ¶ Of holy and festiual dayes FIrst we wyl that oure men vpon sondaies apply them selues wholy to the Lord and cease from all corporal worckes and busines and also from all iorneyes not necessarye and practising of merchaundises As God comauÌ„ded in his lawe In six dayes lette them finish and make an ende of all their worcke and lette them sanctifie the sondaye altogether vnto the Lorde that vpon that daie they maye be enstructed and renued in faith and religion out of goddes word And seuerli it is a great profe that that man careth litle for God and his owne saluacion which of the whole weke wyl not bestowe somuch as one daye vpon heauenlye matters to make hym selfe readye vpon that daye and to come together with a godlye zeale to heare goddes worde and to receyue the diuine sacramentes and to praye together with the sayntes For the spirite of the newe testament ought to kendle in vs a much more feruent studie of these thynges than was stirred vp in the olde people thorough the lawe Wherefore the preachers shal ofteÌ„ warne the people how greate a sinne it is to spende those dayes in idlenes surfettinge dronckennes riotte in nawghtye and filthye lustes as we se done communely which be appointed to God and to relygious and spirituall exercises For thorough this vngodlines the calamites that we suffer and that hange yet sorer ouer oure heades are specially prouoked The pastours than must pulle the people from thys vngodlines wyth all possible diligence by goddes worde ¶ Beside sondaies we wyl haue holy daies to be kepte and celebrated ⧠Christmas The daie of Stephane and Iohan. ⧠Of Circumcision ⧠Of the Epiphanie ¶ Of the conuersion of Paule ¶ Of the purificacion of Marie ¶ Of the Annunciation ¶ The thursdaie and fridaie before Easter for thys entente that vpon those dayes the historie of the passion of Christe maye be propouned and declared to the people ¶ Easter daye with the two dayes folowinge ¶ Ascension daye ¶ Whittesondaye with the mondaie folowinge The day of the natiuite of Iohn Baptist ⧠Of Peter and Paule ⧠The daie of the visitacion of Marie ⧠Of Michael vpon which daie a sermon shal be made of the Angels out of thys place Math. xviij Their Angels euer se the face c. Item hebru i. Angels be ministringe spirites c. ¶ Out of these places the pastours shall warne the people of this singuler benifite of God to wardes vs in that that he hath gyuen hys Angels to be the ministers of oure welth and they shall exhorte them to gyue God thankes continually for thys benifite and to take hede that they grieue not the Angels with theyr synnes but rather studie to make them gladde wyth all holynes and godlynes Vpon the festeas of the Apostles we wyl that the people cease from labour til the end of the holye sermon than it shal be lawfull for euerie man to returue to his worcke For it is euident that to cease from labour after dinner is hurteful to agreat parte of the people For in that time commenly they offende God with carnal wantoÌ„nes more greuously than vpon other dayes Therefore they that will kepe these hâ—lye dayes holye must se hereunto that they also sanctifie theÌ„ wholy to God and passe them ouer with godlie exercises of religion and not bestowe them vpon those thynges whereby the wrath of God is cheifely prouoked VpoÌ„ those holye dayes on which we celebrate and extol such benifites of God as be peculierly mentioned in the histories of the holie scripture the same histories
myght applye them selues to relygious fastes and praiers Therefore that oure men maye be so deliuered from that supersticion and hypocrisie where wyth they prouoked the wrath of God more greuously vpon theÌ„ that neuertheles they maye wante nothinge whereby they maye be allured sette forwarde both to liuelye and effections repentaunce of sinnes and to a coÌ„stante carefulnes to go fore ward in the Lordes waye by which thinges the wrath of God is pacified and his benifites be more plentuously obtained we wyl that euerie daye in the lente if it maye be obtayned that the people wil come together holye assembles bee made and that lessons be reliouslired and declared out of the scriptures which do more vehementli prouoke to repentaunce of synnes and to a diligeÌ„te studye to goe forewarde in the waye of Christ Whereout the pastoures shall make ernest and feruent exhortations and adde therevn to somewhat longe prayers and they shall kepe this asseÌ„bles somewhat later farther furth in the daye chiefely three dayes in the weeke namely vpon the seconde the fourth and the sixte daye that they in whom a wyl to fast godly is stirred vp maye haue more occasion and oportunite therunto For we can not wel hope that the olde maner of fastinge maye be called againe chiefely among vs Germaines which was to differ meate vnto the euening and to bestowe the whole daie in holie doctrin and praiers Wherefore we shal be contente if we maye obtayne that after lessoÌ„s sermons and prayers which shal be ended at noone tyme than as the custome nowe is euerye man take meate accordynge to the necessite of nature and as euery man is stirred vp to faste so that we calle it not ennynge whan it is not yet none as we doe now a dayes to folishly I had almost sayde peruersly But whereas we chiefely require lenten exercises three dayes only in the weeke noman shal thincke that we do remissi and neglygently herein which wyll godly consider to how fewe the true religion of fastinge is knowen now a dayes where as in ChristiaÌ„ congregacions all thynges must be instituted and done in spirite and truth and by all meanes we muste fle al hypocrisie which is abominable to God Thus we reade that in the tyme of the holye fathers Ambrose and Augustine euen at Rome and in mani other places vpon the fifte and seuenth daye of the weke fastyng was remitted in the lent Vpon the dayes of the foure tymes communli called quatuor temporum embring daies let holy lessoÌ„s sermones and praiers ernest and somwhat longe be vsed and later in the daie as in lente and lette the people be stirred vp diligently to true repeÌ„taunce and the worckes of the same fasting praier and almes Of difference of meates NO true Christian doubteth hereof al the fathers haue witnessed and taught it with manie wordes that the onlie difference of meates with out the abstinence of thynges dilitinge this fleshe whiche maye more prepare and sancsifie our bodies to the spirite of Christ in vs for the performance of alworkes of godlynes is a verye vayne thynge and vnpleasaunt to God as he himselfe hath wytnessed Esaye lviii yea that it is an abomynable thinge if anye trust of merite be putte in it before hym which thinge he hym selfe hath also witnessed Esaie i. cha howbeit among Christen men there haue been now a greate whyle not a fewe whych haue thought that it is a true faste if vpon certaine dayes they abstayne only from the fleshe of fowle and foure footed beastes thoughe in the meane ceason they dilitiously fede them selues with the fleshe of fisthes and other meates much costlier and delicater than the commune vse of fleshe is The olde fathers in manye cogregations were wounte to faste vpon the fourth and syxte daye of the weke to which dayes some after warde added the saturdaie also herof cam the custome to abstain from flesh and egges vpon those dayes For the old fathers vpon fastinge dayes abstayned from those meates howbeit they abstained not onely from those but also from fishes and all delycate meates and from wyne to But for asmuche as it hath been begonne a good wyle sithens that grauntes be made to all sortes of men and not to princes only to eate al maner of meates both in lent and vpon other fastinge dayes and our bischoplye office requireth that we ordaine all thinges amonge our men acordinge to the word of God and to the edification of fayth consideringe these thinges we see not what we maye enioyne to oure men concerninge the only differrence of meates we commaunde our pastours and preachers this one thyng that they teach the people what is the true and Christian abstinence and moderatioÌ„ of meate and drincke and other thinges which God hath geueÌ„ for the nede of the body and that they exhort them to the same most diligently I saye to that obstimence whereby the fleshe is more subdued and made more obedieÌ„t to the spirite and that the pore maye feale some comforte while we giue theÌ„ that that we withdrawe from our selues They shall also warne this diligently that all abstinence of thinges which the Lord hath created and giuen to vs for oure vse if we take it not vpon vs for this intent that thorough the same religion towardes God and liberalitie towardes our neyghbour maye be encreced is very heathinish and Monkishe superstition whiche God abhorreth though it be rigorous and cause a sharpe chastisemeÌ„t of the bodye Howe wyll God take such an vnshamefast faininge of abstinence yea rather not a fayning but a verie wicked mocking of the diuie maiestie while vpon those dayes in which abstimence of flesh is bosted men fede to the full and delite them seluâ—â— wyth suche and other meates much more costlye and delicate than the coÌ„mune meates of flesh be But for our parte we ernestly desire and exhorte al our men and euerye one of the pastours that they laboure to warne and exhorte them of whom they haue charge to turne them selues from the excesse in tem perante and wastfulnes whyche they nowe vse to true sparing and moderacion of meates and drinkes and other thynges whyche this bodye nedeth remembringe this saying of the Lorde Take hede to your selues leste at anye tyme your hertes be laden with surfettinge and dronckennes and cares of this worlde Item Petr. i. v. Be sobre and watch for your aduersarie the diuel walketh about lyke a roringe lion seekinge whom he made deuoure ⧠Of certayne other rites and ceremo ⧠nies of the churche THat holie daies maye be consecrated and sanctified truli and wholy to God we wyl that nothing be omitted that pertaineth to the stirring vp and prickinge furth of the people to this santificacion of Christ Wherefore in touÌ„nes and great villages where schloles or more ministers of the â—ongregacion shal be we will that an asseÌ„ble of the people be appoynted there in the mornyng early as it shal be moste commodious
vpon holy dayes Then some lesson conuenient for the place and time shal be recited whereby the people may be steared vp to acknowledgyng of synne and amendement of the same wherewyth we prouoke the anger of God agaynst vs and deserue al maner of calamities Furthermore they shall also be moued to prayer for remission of sinnes for Goddes mercie and healpe and also they shall be steared to liberall almes Whereunto there shall succede a litanie in douch after the fourme that foloweth And whē the people haue also sayd their priuate prayers at length the pastoure shall ende commune prayers wyth some one of those collectes that folowe the litanie here Besides these cōmune prayers in Cities and where a greate companie of people is a litanie shall be songe wyth them that come together in the spirite and commune prayers shall be made vpon an appoynted daye euerie weeke But in those supplications which are appoynted for some notable necessitie and afflictiō sent of God an holy daye and fasting shall be proclaymed to the whole people at lest vnto the ende of cōmune prayers And in suche solemne dayes of supplication some vehemente and earneste lessons shall be reade out of the Prophetes concernyng repentaunce and renuinge and correction of lyfe and out of the same the intollerable wrath of God shall be propouned to the people most diligently and vehemently ⧠Litanie ⧠Lorde haue mercie Christe haue mercie Lorde haue mercie Christe heare vs O God the heauēli father haue mercy on vs O God the sonne redemer of the worlde haue mercie on vs. O God the holy goste haue mercie on vs. ¶ Be fauourable Spare vs O Lorde Be fauourable Deliuer vs O Lorde From al synne Deliuer vs O Lorde From al errour Deliuer vs O Lorde From all euyll Deliuer vs O Lorde From the awaytes of the diuyll Deli. etc. From sodeyne and euyll death Deliuer etc. From pestilence and hungre Deliuer etc. From warre and slaughter Deliuer vs. From sedition and priuie hatred Deliuer From lightenyng and tempestes Deliuer From euerlastynge death Deliuer vs etc. By the misterie of thy holy incarnation Deliuer vs O Lorde By thy holy natiuitie Deliuer vs. etc. By thy Baptisme fastynge and tentations Deliner vs O Lorde By thyne agonie and sweatynge of bloude Deliuer vs O Lorde By thy crosse and passion Deliuer vs. etc. By thy death and buriynge Deliuer vs. By thy resurrection and ascension Deliuer By the commyng of the holy goste the comforter Deliuer vs O Lorde In all tymes of our tribulation Deliuer In all tymes of our prosperitie Deliuer vs. In the houre of death Deliuer vs O Lorde In the daye of Iudgement Deliuer vs. etc. We synners beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylte vouchsafe to rule and gouerne thy holy and catholike churche We. That thou wylte vouchsafe to keepe the bishoppes pastours ministers of the church in holsome doctrine and holy lyfe We be That thou wylte vouchsafe to take awaye sectes and al offenses We beseche the to etc. That thou wylt vouchsafe to brynge them agayne into the waye of truth whiche stray and be seduced We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylt vouchsafe to treade Satan vndre our feete We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylt sende forth faythful workmen into thy haruest We be That thou wylt vouchsafe to gyue to al the hearers encrease of thi worde and the fruite of thy spirite We beseche the to here vs. That thou wylt vouchsafe to lifte them vp that be fallen and to strengthen them that stande We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylte vouchsafe to conforte and healpe the weaklinges and suche as be tempted We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylte vouchsafe to gyue peace and concorde to al kynges and princes We. That thou wylte vouchsafe to gyue oure Emperour perpetuall victorie agaynste the enemies of God We beseche That thou wylte vouchsafe to guyde defende our prince wyth his officers We be That thou wylte vouchsafe to blesse and preserue our officer and cominaltie We be That thou wylte vouchsafe to regarde and saue the aflicted and suche as be in daunger We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wilt vouchsafe to giue luckie deliueraunce and encrease to women wyth chylde and nurses We beseche the. That thou wylte vouchsafe to cherishe and keepe Infantes and sicke folke We besech That thou wylt vouchsafe to deliuer prisoners We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylte vouchsafe to defende Orphanes and wydowes and to prouide for them We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylte vouchsafe to haue mercie on all men We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wilt vouchsafe to perdon and cōuert our enemies persecutours and sclaunderers We beseche the to heare vs. That thou wylt vouchsafe to gyue and preserue the fruites of the earth We be That thou wilt vouchsafe to heare vs. We. The lambe of God which takest away the sinnes of the worlde Haue mercie on vs. The lambe of God whiche takest away the synnes of the worlde Haue mercie on vs. The lambe of God whiche takest away the synnnes of the worlde Gyue vs peace Christe heare vs. Lorde haue mercie on vs. Christe haue mercie on vs. Lorde haue mercie on vs. Amen A prayer or collecte after litanie The minister Lorde deale not with vs after our sinnes The Quier Neither rendre vnto vs according to our iniquities The minister O God the mercifull father whiche despifest not the groning of the cōtrite nor contempnest the affection of them that morne be presēt at our prayers which we poure forth before the in the affictions which cōtinually laie vpon vs and heare the same mercifully that the thynge that the gyles of Satā and mē entende maye be brought to naught and dispersed by the deuise of thy goodnes that beinge hurte wyth no persecutions we may euer giue the thankes in thy holy congregation thorowe Iesus Christ our Lorde Amē An other Collecte The minister Call vpon me in the daye of tribulation The Quier And I wyll deliuer the and thou shalte glorifie me The ministre Spare Lorde spare oure synnes And thoughe continuall payne be due vnto vs whiche synne wythout ceasyng yet graunte we beseche the that the thynge that we deserue vnto perpetuall destruction may passe frō vs vnto the furtheraunce of vertue thorowe our Lorde etc. An other Collecte The ministre Healpe vs O God our health The Quier And for the glorie of thy name deliuer vs and be mercifull to oure synnes for thy names sake The minister Almightie euerlastynge God by whose spirite the whole bodie of the congregation is sanctified and gouerned heare vs praying for al ordres and degres that bi the gift of thy grace al the same may serue the faithfully thorowe our Lorde etc. An other Collecte The minister Shewe vs Lorde thy mercie The Quier And gyue vs thy saluation The minister God from whom all holie desires good purposes and ryghtuous workes procede gyue
much further thys grauitie and vehemencie if the preachers with the commandementes of God shal diligently sette forth and declare the threates also terrible exemples of Goddes wrath that the people mai be fraied from sinninge Item if they shall sette forth the mercie and promises of God with noâ—able exemples of Goddes helpe deliueraunce that in like maner men maye he allured to trust more constantly in God and to loue hym and so beinge inflamed with the zealle and loue of God they may goe forth in al good worekes and valiauntly suffre ouercome afflictions for the glorie of the Lorde The feeders thaÌ„ and preachers that wil faythfully serue theyr vocation must necessarely not only be furnished to exhort the sorowful and to comforte the weake but also they muste be readie and haue a burnning zeale therunto For the obtaininge of both whyche thinges as they haue neede of continual readinge and studiyng of the scripture so they haue neede of continual prayer and all other spirituall exercises and therfore also of great werines lest by anie meane they be entangled in the Howe errours and deprauations of Gods worde must be refused busynesses of thys lyfe and carnall cares Thirdly it is required of feeders curates of Christes people that they be able also to confute the agaynsayers and aduersaries wyth euident and effectuall testimonies of the scripture For Satan is busiest in thys poynte that he maye corrupte the perfecte and sincere doctrine raysyng vp sundry heresies that the fayeth of Christe being shaken and at the laste abolished he maye stablishe and mayntayne his owne tirannie Hereof it commeth that as we haue redde that in the tyme of the Apostles and Martyres longe sithens it happened and aâ— al other tymes when the pure doctrine of God hath bene sincerely preached so in oure time also newe heretikes sprynge dayly whiche labour and establishe their wicked doctrine with depraued testimonies of the scriptures as S. Petre wryteth that such men euen in i. of Petre the laâ—t Chap. his tome beganne to wrest the writinges of S. Paule that be hearde to vnderstande as the other scriptures vnto theyr owne destruction Neither is it meruayle that Saâ—aÌ„ worketh thys thynge in his ministers I meane that he laboureth to corrupt and ouerthrow the doctrine of godlines whiche is taughte in the scripture onely by the testimonies of the scripture it selfe but the same being depraued and corrupted For wyth thys arte he durste assayle the Lorde Christe when in the holie Citie Hierusalem he sette him vpon the pinacle of the temple and sayed vnto him if thou be the sonne of God cast thy selfe downe For it is wrytten he hath geueÌ„ coÌ„maundement to his angelles concerninge the they shal beare the in theyr handes leste perchaunce thou shouldest hurte thy fote at a stone Psal xci Math. iiii Wherfore let the faythfull ministers of Christe knowe that the more sincerely they preach the true word of God with so much the greater diligence and laboure shal Satan lay in awayte for them and theyr flocke and shall endeuoure him selfe by reason of the simplicitie of the comen people weakenes of theyr iudgement to begyle theÌ„ wyth depraued scriptures For when he seeth that men wyll admitte no authoritie but the authoritie of the scripture he also layeth nothynge more to theyr charge then scripture that he maye more coÌ„modiously creepe into them that be accustomed to heare the scripture onely and thrust in his lyes more easely that the pastours and ministers of the coÌ„gregation may disclose this gyle of Satan and stoppe the mouthes of Sophisters his ministers and eyther preserue or cal againe the flocke coÌ„mitted vnto them from wycked errours they must watche and labour with singuler diligence and care in this behalfe For as the Apostle sayeth there be many vntreatable and vayne ianglers begylers of myndes which ouerthrow whole houses teachynge thynges that oughte not to be taughte for fylthy gayne whose mouthes muste be stopped Tite i. But that such may be more coÌ„modiously Rules to reproue and coÌ„fute heretikes and groundly conuinced and coÌ„futed these rules chiefely are to be obserued Fyrste that the articles of oure fayth be confirmed wyth sure and euident testimonies of the scripture The seconde rule is that the wordes in sentences and testimonies which are alledged in disputation be compared together after the propre sense of the scripture wythout sophistrie and that thorow suche conferryng the true seÌ„tence of the holie gost may be drawen forth concerning anie question of religion The thyrde rule is that darke sentences An exaÌ„ple of the disputation against Arrius be declared with other places that are plain open and pertaining to the controuersie As when Arrius denied that the sonne of God sprange out of the substaunce of the father and that he was god by nature he corrupted the true sentence of thys saiyng And God was the worde For he sayed that thys vocable God in this place did not signifie god Iohn i. which by nature almightines is God but some excellent creature passinge all other in maiestie dignitee This false interpretation holy goste by the apostle Paule hath layed vpon all bishoppes and ministers of coÌ„gregations i. Petri. i. i. Petri. ij when he sayeth thus A bishoppe muste holde faste the faythfull worde that he maye be able to exhorte and confute the agaynsayers Of which prouince and burthen we wyll al pastours and preachers to be admonished that they maye busely exercise them selues day and night in the studie of the holy scriptures and so that they may vse their ministerie wyth ample fruite and therfore that they wythdrawe them selues not onely from worldely intisementes and carnall concupiscences but also from al occupations and businesses of the worlde as muche as the vse of thys present lyfe wyll suffre that they maye all togyther applye so harde and diuine a ministerie and execute theyr office wyth al diligence And yet this labour ought not to greue them which the religion of theyr office requireth seinge that otherwise it is the parte of euerie Christian maÌ„ to coÌ„sume the whole course of hys lyfe in the study of Goddes worde For we can not entre in to the kingdom of God excepte we be borne agayne As for this regeneration it coÌ„sisteth not of mortal seede but of immortal seede and euerlastinge that is to say of the worde of God that liueth and abideth for euer as Petre witnesseth Moreouer whan we are so borne agayne and reÌ„nued we haue neede of spirituall meat also which like wise is the word of God where vnto S. Petre allureth vs saiynge Couette that reasonable milke not of the bodye but of the mind which knoweth no gile newly borne childreÌ„ that ye may growe thorough it Finally whan we growe forth being fed vp and nouryshed by the worde of God SataÌ„ seaseth not to assaut vs and to resist hym we haue neede of spiritual weapons and armour